Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Blogging vaction

Life is crazy busy right now, so I've decided to cut myself a little slack.  I'm taking a blogging vacation until things settle down a little.  Feel free to peruse the past few years of  posts.  I'll still be tweeting and facebooking on occasion so I won't be disappearing entirely.  Happy spring.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

My friend Margaret

Yesterday I visited my dear elderly friend Margaret in the hospital.  She's had a stroke, and is making pretty good progress. But Margaret is a fish out of water in the hospital. She misses her books, even though she is still too weak to hold them. A smattering of magazines and a few soft covered picture books are not enough to feed Margaret's lively curiosity and active mind.  She's one of those people who has read at least a book a day since forever.  She can discuss Virginia Wolf, the latest Margaret Atwood, or the appropriateness of the ending of Lane Smith's It's a Book, with equal ease.  Unfortunately, talking books don't work for Margaret as she is a little deaf and is in a room with several others.

Every Thursday since Margaret has been housebound (several years now) she has held a "salon" day where friends dropped by toting books and ideas.  Lively discussions, wonderful snacks, and exotic teas have always been part of those Thursdays which I have missed since Margaret's illness.  Still, Margaret is tenacious, and although she desperately wants to be home, with her books, and the lovely garden that her husband Ernst has created, Margaret is still with us. For that I am grateful. There aren't many people in this world as generous, kind, loving and cracker-jack smart as Margaret.  Today after work, I will bring along my Kobo, and my boyfriend's iPad to see if either work for Margaret. I have my fingers crossed that one of them will do the trick.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Celebrate Teen Lit Day with Rock the Drop


Yep, it's Teen Lit Day today, and there is no shortage of ways to celebrate.  For ideas on how to make this day rock, check out YALSA (Young Adult Library Services)

Meanwhile, readergirlz, one of my favorite blogs, have come up with a pretty cool way to get the word out. It's called Rock the Drop!  Here's what you do.

1. Visit their site (the link is above)
2. Download the same bookplate I've snagged below
3. Print it
4. Paste it into your favorite YA novel
5. Drop the book in a public place (bus stop, coffee shop, etc.
6. Snap a photo 
7. Send it on over to readergirz AT gmail Dot com 
8. check out their site to see the YA love
9. Thank the cool ladies at readergirlz
10. spread the word


Here's my contribution.  I left it in the lobby of my local rec. centre and it was gone when I finished my workout an hour later.  I know that whoever has it will enjoy Miss Smithers by Susan Juby.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

National Volunteer Week

This is National Volunteer Week, a special time in the year to celebrate how important volunteers are in our community. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that volunteers make the world go around.  So, be sure to let volunteers know how much you appreciate them no only this week, but every day of the year.  And while your at it, consider becoming a volunteer yourself if you haven't already...become a big sister or big brother, offer to drive seniors in your community to appointments, help out with a school fundraiser, volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen, organize a beach or park clean-up, donate one on one time to a literacy group, or offer your building skills to Habitat for Humanity.  There are endless ways that you can make our world a better place.  Make a difference today.  Volunteer!

Thursday, April 07, 2011

When work is good...

Yesterday I started playing around with a new picture book manuscript over lunch but had to leave it to get back to what I'd been working on earlier.  Last night I dreamed about poka dot pajamas and this morning I got up and the words to the yesterday's picture book flowed through my fingers onto the screen.  Magic I tell you...pure magic.  Of course, tomorrow when I look at it again, I'll see all the little flaws that will require painstaking and finicky editing, but for now, I'm thrilled.

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Professional development is better with muffins

What a great morning.  It started out at 5am.  I was on Galiano Island visiting friends, but had to rush back to meet up with fellow author Julie Lawson for a little  private professional development, and of course food; muffins and tea in this case.  What fun.  Be sure to catch Julie at the Victoria Children's Literature Roundtable on Monday, and watch for her new book, Ghosts of the Titanic.

Sunday, April 03, 2011

Yikes...I missed International Children's Book Day

Can't believe that I missed International Children's Book Day which was April 2, the birthday of Hans Christian Anderson.

I guess I was just too caught up in March Madness basketball and wedding stuff. More wedding venues coming up.  Looking at a little community hall by a lake out of town, a friends farm, and then taking the ferry to Galiano Island where we'll check out a friend's place for the ceremony, and the community hall for the reception.  So much to do!

Saturday, April 02, 2011

Weddings and Basketball

Today is all about weddings and basketball...I can already hear you saying,"What?"

It makes sense, honestly... In a few minutes I'll be heading out to the ferry to pick up my daughter & her longtime boyfriend ( I suppose I should be saying fiancĂ© now that they are engaged) to look at wedding venues.  As a former UBC basketball star, this 6 foot 8 inch sweetheart of a guy is very very into basketball.  And, as it turns out, today is the showdown for "The Final Four" of NCAA March Madness; and will likely be some of the best college ball of the season.  So, you see, weddings and basketball.  They go together, at least in our family.