Julie Halpern's Blog of Wonder

Get Well Soon Audiobook Contest Winners!

2009-07-02T19:43:00.002-05:00

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the Get Well Soon Audiobook contest. I feel bad that I didn't respond personally to many of the nice blog comments. They got ahead of me, and I didn't know how to get back and make nice. I am baby disorganized for a good, long while. However, I was organized enough to pick the three winners (actually, I let Romy pull them out of a hat. If I didn't grab them fast enough, she also would have eaten them). Congratulations to
*celi.a
*Jake Lsewhere
*Alexa

I will send emails to everyone tomorrow, or, if you read this first, you can send an email with your address to me @ julie@juliehalpern.com

And now for a truly excellent Julie's Most Awesome Book Cover.

Hee hee. This book was actually in my library. Sick.

Ode to Jacko

2009-07-01T12:52:00.001-05:00

It’s my turn to write about Michael Jackson. I’ve been thinking so much about him lately, so why not? I cried when I found out he was actually dead (after all of the TMZ and Facebook chatter, is he or isn’t he, type stuff). Just a little, but I still cried. I don’t quite know why. Loss of life is always sad, thinking of his family, his brothers and sisters, of his kids. Remembering him from my childhood, feeling old myself, thinking how sad his true fans must feel. And then I thought back to all of the times in my life that were filled with Jacko. Here’s a list of random memories:

-When the video for Thriller came out, I was so excited-- overly excited-- sick to my stomach if I couldn’t see the full, extended version excited. I watched the video every single time it came on, loved the mix of costumes, great story, fantastic dancing, the song, and Vincent Price’s laugh.

-My friend, Beth, needed a belt for a school play, and all the store had was stretchy belts with Michael Jackson’s face on the buckle. This was in ’85, past the Thriller hype, so she covered the face with a rainbow sticker.

-I ate up every one of his videos because of the dancing, even when I was in junior high and too cool to be into him (I was getting into my “alternative” era, as they called bands like U2, The Church, INXS, and REM in those days.). “Smooth Criminal” was my favorite.

-In health class my junior year of high school, we had to practice CPR on a dummy whose name happened to be Annie. Every person had to shake the doll and say, “Annie, are you OK?” Smooth Criminal! I laughed every time and couldn’t get the song out of my head for days.

-At a house party in college they played “Wanna Be Starting Something,” and I couldn’t help but dance, and seeing everyone else dance, and thought, how cool that all of the hipsters and hippies are all loving this song?

-Somewhat recently, maybe three years ago, Matt, my sister and I went to one of those instant warehouse Halloween stores that pops up for a month or so and then disappears (this one never to return, which is a bummer because it was so huge). The store was packed, the weekend before Halloween, and “Thriller” came out of the ceiling. The whole store started dancing. Little bits at first, and then you could just see it. How that song made everyone groove uncontrollably.

-Most recently I was driving to work at seven in the morning, late spring, when it started to snow. Usually snow that time of year is insanely frustrating because it’s just time for it to go away, but as I drove, “Man in the Mirror” came on my iPod (for some reason that’s the only Michael Jackson song I have on my iPod, even thought it’s not my favorite). The snowflakes were falling in slow motion, and that beautiful song played. It made me cry.

I think I’m going to jump on the bandwagon and buy a copy of Thriller on CD. My cassette disappeared a long time ago with all of my parachute pants and crispy jackets. As wacko as Michael Jackson was for a good chunk of his adult life, and who doesn’t love a good freak show, he affected me, as I know he did others, with his music, style, and dance. I can’t wait to dance around my house with Romy when Thriller arrives. R.I.P MJ.

PS The Get Well Soon Audiobook Contest ends tomorrow.

Ghosts of Blogs Past

2009-06-28T15:29:00.005-05:00

This is so weird. Sometimes, I don't get a single comment on my blog posts (for which I don't blame you, since I know I can be sporadic about posting. But I have been much better this summer, haven't I?). But I STILL get comments on a post from almost ONE YEAR ago. The post (click here to read it) was a little rant about how Chandler's assignment notebooks had gone out of business and where the heck was I going to find a suitable replacement (which, gack, has not happened and I had to make do with a Trapper Keeper version and put in a makeshift address book). Like I said, that post has almost been up for an entire year, and just today I received another comment on it! I figured out a while back that the reason people are finding it is that they do a Google search for "Chandler's," and my post comes up. But I think it's really funny that people are so passionate about the Chandler's that they feel the need to comment.

And now for another Julie's Most Awesome Book Cover:
from a Time Life series on Human Behavior. Not much more to add to this fabulous atrocity.

Don't forget the Get Well Soon Audiobook Contest! Click here to enter!!!

Get Well Soon Audiobook Contest!

2009-06-25T11:08:00.003-05:00

Yeah, it's time for another contest. I was sort of saving it, to spread the contests out, but then I thought, why? I can have another contest soon to win Into the Wild Nerd Yonder buttons (oooooh!), a Get Well Soon paperback contest, and then, soon enough, a full-on Nerd hardcover contest. Calm down, calm down. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Today begins the Get Well Soon audiobook contest! If you love audiobooks (and who doesn't?), or if you love Get Well Soon (I sure hope you do), or if you just love me (um, no pressure, really), then please enter to win one of three, that's right, THREE copies of Get Well Soon on audio. These are finely crafted, Listening Library audio CDs, ladies and germs, all in a shiny, yellow plastic case. Read by the wonderful Mandy Siegfried. Here's the lowdown on Get Well Soon (just in case you don't already know):
Anna Bloom is depressed—so depressed that her parents have committed her to a mental hospital with a bunch of other messed-up teens. Here she meets a roommate with a secret (and a plastic baby), a doctor who focuses way too much on her weight, and a cute, shy boy who just might like her.

But wait! Being trapped in a loony bin isn’t supposed to be about making friends, losing weight, and having a crush, is it?

In her fiction debut, Julie Halpern finds humor in the unlikeliest of places, and presents a character whose voice—and heart—will resonate with all of us who have ever felt just a little bit crazy.

Here's the ol' webpage link to get the full on scoop.

All you have to do to enter is comment on this blog post about anything. Could be about this post, could be about SYTYCD, could be about what you had for dinner last night. I'll draw the three winners in one week (if I remember to do it next Thursday. Otherwise, possibly next Friday. It's kind of like at the end of voting shows, where they say, "The phone lines will be open for at least two hours after the show." What's that about? How do you know when to stop calling then?).

Good luck, loyal listeners!

Spawn of Satan

2009-06-23T18:29:00.003-05:00

Earwigs. What gives? Why are they still so disgusting and scary to me? Forever, I have been terrified of them. I wrote a series of zine articles about them when I published my zine, cul-de-sac, my favorite being a story from when I worked in a public library in Madison. A woman came up to me and asked for info about earwigs. I told her I was sort of an expert, since I was so afraid of them. She pulled me aside, and in a thick, East Coast accent asked me, "Will they go--" For which I promptly interrupted her and said, "No, they won't go in your ears. That's a myth." To which she said, "No. Will they go in my pubic area?" Hee hee. Anywho, the whole point of that was that there was an earwig in my bed last night. Matt caught it before I could see it, but still. Nightmares all night long.

In other news, I got my hair highlighted today. I have some grays, and I thought highlights would be a nice way of covering them without committing to coloring all of my hair all of the time. It looks nice, but I still see the grays! Why didn't the colorist make it a point to seek out all 27 of the gray hairs and paint them individually? Did I need to pay extra for that or something?

Even though I have never watched John and Kate Plus Eight, I feel icky about their divorce. Even ickier than I feel about her hair.

So how many of my blog readers are going to ALA this year?

Get Well Me?

2009-06-22T10:38:00.004-05:00

I am having a hard time. I don't know if it's due to events that are going on today (sorry, I will not talk about what those events are, so I shouldn't even have brought it up. But it's a slight context for this post, anyway), or if it's due to lack of sleep (both natural and baby related), or if it's my joyous chemical makeup that has caused me so much beef in the past. I am in a funk. It's like I'm excited about things (including my amazing daughter), but I feel like I should be more excited. I'm stoked about ALA, but now I am feeling pressure to befriend all sorts of other authors and bloggers in an effort to "fit in." I think that's what I'm doing. I like knowing and meeting people, but part of me just feels like a poseur. That, yes, I am an author and, yes, I am a blogger, but am I really legit enough to hang with others of that persuasion? The only people at ALA I feel truly cozy with are my fellow librarians, probably because a) I've been doing that for over ten years, b) I've been on ALA committees and won ALA awards and have already been to numerous conferences, so, yeah, I'm legit, and c) I'm a really good librarian (this is something I know in my gut). Why am I telling you this? Dunno. How about I lighten the mood with a hilarious book cover from my recently weeded NF collection?
Um, maybe not so hilarious? Don't get me wrong. I'm not making fun of suicide, of course (I totally feel like I need to back that up, even with all of my own depression history), but this book cover is funny. The book was published around the time of my own hospitalization as a teen, and I can't imagine looking to this book for guidance. All I can think of is the photo shoot, and the photographers saying things like, "Look sadder! No! Sadder! Touch the pills! Touch them. And be sure to show off those fabulous leopard print leggings!" Is this in poor taste? I sure hope not. I don't need another thing to feel depressed about.

Julie's Most Awesome Book Covers

2009-06-18T22:13:00.005-05:00

I've been hoarding silly book covers for a while now. This is the fourth library I have worked in, and I have seen my share of hilarity. I wish I saved every one because I know there are some doozies that are lost forever in the stacks. I do have several, though, collected in the past few years that I will begin sharing in a new blog segment called Julie's Most Awesome Book Covers (is that a lame segment name? It's late. I'll try to think of something catchier. Or, if you like, suggest one for me). I'm starting with one of the best. It's a YA novel (as most will be) by Neal Shusterman. Neal's books can be pretty scary and suspenseful. The cover of Speeding Bullet, however, appears to be the scariest thing about this book, published in 1991.
Now check out my AWESOME tweak of the cover. I worked hard on this, ladies and gents, painstakingly cutting and coloring the M. And let me tell you, if you want to make me laugh, this is the way to go (click to enlarge):
Every time. It is freakin' hilarious EVERY TIME. I sure hope you agree.

Deliver Me

2009-06-16T18:05:00.004-05:00

I am going to respond to two things that people wrote in my comments recently. The first being about my audiobook for Get Well Soon, for which I will soon be having a contest where you can win a copy of your very own! Fancy packaging from Listening Library and everything! But the question was about who's reading it, and the answer is the fabulous Mandy Siegfried. I really like the work she's done in the past with teen girl audios (she even reads Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak!). Hope you do, too! I think Listening Library was going to actually let me try out for the reader, or maybe they were just humoring me, but it was right around the time I got pregnant with Romy, and I didn't want to fly out to LA because I was all sick. Plus, they were probably just humoring me. Maybe not?

The second thing I have to respond to is my cousin Dan's comment about my obsession with the movie Deliverance. This was about ten years ago, and I don't know what I was thinking. How can anyone, particarly a twenty-something (at the time) female have an obsession with such a sick, man-centered horror story? Maybe I was really anti-male at the time. Or maybe my whole obsession was with the inbred banjo player (really, does that make it any better?), but I obviously tried to rid my brain of this memory because I completely forgot about it until my cousin brought it up in this here blog. Thanks, Dan. I may have some banjo playin' nightmares tonight.

In happier, poll-tastic news, I just updated my webpage. So please visit the Into the Wild Nerd Yonder page (where I still have to fix a technical glitch with the cover image) and take a quickie poll. It's fun and easy to do! No inbred banjo players allowed.

Early, Schmearly

2009-06-15T05:39:00.003-05:00

I don't know why I can't sleep past 4:45. Every morning, I think, OK, I will have to wake up and feed Romy soon, and then I look at my clock and it's not that soon at all. Right now, I should be sleeping. I don't have to go to work that early, and I could use the sleep. But I'm up. I have no idea why. I don't think I'm thinking about anything too much. Bummer. It makes me look so saggy when I don't get enough sleep.

In other news, I think I am going to trim down my personal facebook account a bit. Lately, I have friended more of my students and book business people than I am comfortable with. Really, I just wanted to use facebook as a way to connect with friends from the past and family that I don't see much. But it's turned more businessy, and the fact is that I have a million pictures of my baby on there and much family stuff, and I guess I'm not all that comfortable with people I don't know all that well looking at it. So-- I have now created a new facebook page that will allow me to connect with book people for book reasons! No more status updates about breastfeeding and baby poo! And this way I can friend a bunch of other authors and book people and talk about book stuff, which will be super cool. I am doing all of this at the serious asscrack of dawn, so if anything does not make sense, blame the lack of sleep. Please friend me on my new facebook page! And if I unfriend you on my personal page, please don't be too mad at me to accept my friend request to my new, author page. I now am going to try to go back to sleep for an hour before I actually have to get up and go to work. I think I was probably a better sleeper before the internet was invented. But then I never would have met my husband...

Time to feed the babe.

TV Granny (or is that with an ie?)

2009-06-13T12:23:00.003-05:00

I'm sure everybody has already seen this, but it's so funny and timely, what with the TV transition and all. Speaking of, I have crappy cable, but I also have a digital TV (or a new big, crazy TV. Whatever.) and a digital antenna, yet I still can't get the greatest channel on earth, MeTv. Why is someone tormenting me so? Anyway, enjoy the granny (it won't let me embed it, so you have to follow the link):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w34nNux4Xw

The ITWNY Contest Winner!

2009-06-12T16:58:00.002-05:00

And the winner is...

(Play this clip before you read the winner's name to make it more exciting. I swear I will never NOT laugh at this)

biblauragraphy! Contact me with an email to julie@juliehalpern.com with all of your addressy details! And to everyone else, thank you so much for entering! I hope to see many of you at ALA this summer, where there will be more galleys. And keep reading the blog because I will soon have another contest up where someone can win an audiobook of my novel, Get Well Soon!

I have used way too many exclamation points in this. Blame the bowl of Frosted Flakes and handful of Zours I just ate.

Galley Contest, Part Doo

2009-06-06T08:42:00.003-05:00

I think I was trying to say "deux" in French, but doo is much funnier. To me, anyway. Since my last contest attempt was so lame, I'm making a sequel. And you're all invited! Once again, I am offering you, my loyal blog readers, a chance to win a galley (that's pre-published to you and me, Rusty) of my upcoming YA novel, Into the Wild Nerd Yonder. The story:

It's Jessie's sophomore year of high school. A self-professed "mathlete," she isn't sure where she belongs. Her two best friends have transformed themselves into punks and one of them is going after her longtime crush. Her beloved older brother will soon leave for college (and in the meantime has shaved off his mohawk and started dating...the prom Princess!)...

Things are changing fast. Jessie needs new friends. And her quest is a hilarious tour through high school clique-dom, with a surprising stop along the way--the Dungeons and Dragons crowd, who out-nerd everyone. Will hanging out with them make her a nerd, too? And could she really be crushing on a guy with too-short pants and too-white gym shoes?

If you go into the wild nerd yonder, can you ever come back?

If you'd like to be entered, make a comment about the new book cover, or the weather, or So You Think You Can Dance, or just stop by and say hello. Your name will be entered into a hat that I will draw from at the end of next week. The 12th. This book is for 13 years-old and up, btw. Good luck! May the best nerd win.

Inappropriate

2009-06-05T18:04:00.002-05:00

As a completely inappropriate follow-up to my Grandma Sylvia post, I now must ask: why do middle schoolers draw pictures of penises in each other's yearbooks? It's so gross to open a kid's book to sign it, and there's a penis! One girl had some boobs in her book. Really? I don't get it. I guess it has always been that way, since I distinctly remember Abe Betancourt, who I didn't even know but who I rode the bus with, signed my 8th grade yearbook: "Have a f%$*in' headbangin' summer. Do bongs." Um, will do, Abe. And then he promptly threw my awesome green pen out the bus window. Nice.

Sylvia

2009-06-01T21:56:00.002-05:00

My Grandma Sylvia passed away Saturday night. It was not unexpected, but it's still sort of shocking. She was my last living grandparent, outlasting my Grandma Bess by over ten years. I never knew either of my grandfathers. I was never extremely close to my Grandma Sylvia, and yet we had so many weird things in common. Not exactly in common. No. More like, we had some weird connection. My grandma was a smart woman. Wickedly sharp and funny. I feel like I can parallel so many things that she did in her life with things I found interest in at one time or another. She published her own newspaper; I published a zine (and subsequently met my husband that way). She built her own dollhouses; I have always been afraid, yet drawn to dolls. She sold wigs at a place called The Wigwam; and for a while I was a collector and wearer of wigs, too. And Riverview. For those who don't know, Riverview was an amusement park in Chicago, one that closed down before I was even born. Our local PBS channel filmed a special about it. My parents reminisce about it. And my Grandma Sylvia worked there as a ballyhoo girl, calling patrons in to rides and games. "Three balls for a nickel!" Stuff like that. I have always held a wonder and fascination with carnivals. The weirdest carnival memory I have was when I went on a camp field trip with the one summer camp I hated. I had no friends there, and for some reason we went to a carnival. Small town. Seedy. Walking by myself, I came upon a tent. "Snakewoman," it said. Freaked the CRAP out of me. I was terrified, and yet, I wanted to see her. I chickened out, of course, but I'll always have that combination of wonder and terror about carnivals. When I lived in Australia, I nearly interviewed for a job at Luna Park, until I met the sleazo who would be hiring me. I guess I wasn't a true carnie. But my grandma was. It even says so in her obituary. I come from carnie blood, and I'm quite proud of it. It kind of makes sense.

You, and all of your bizarre, hilarious, dollhoused, wig-covered ways will be missed, Grandma Sylvia. I hope you and Grandma Bess, Grandpa Joe and Grandpa Jack are having fun on all of the rides together, painting the town bright red.

Nerd Book Cover!

2009-05-29T18:39:00.002-05:00

Here it is! The Into the Wild Nerd Yonder book cover! How amazing is it? I am super happy with the way it came out. The ever fantastical (and hilarious) designer, Rich Deas, created it. And those dice? Those are drawn by nonother than my husband, Matthew Cordell. They were originally drawn for me to use on my Dungeons and Dragons Club's t-shirts (and have since been seen on two of them, one reading "Don't make me roll for initiative" and the other "That's how we roll."). Based on the cover, would you read this book? (um, please say yes).

My Car Wash Song

2009-05-28T18:21:00.002-05:00

I have found the perfect song to listen to while you go through a carwash. Actually, I have been using it for several years now. It's a song called "Golden Brown" by an Australian band called The Stranglers, and I first heard it in the Aussie movie, "He Died with a Felafel in His Hands." There is a whole other story about that movie and how when I lived in Oz I almost became a production assistant on the film, except that by the time they actually began filming, I had moved on to another city. Anywho, this song's length and magical, carnivalesque qualities help set the mood in the carwash. Put it on, sit back, and watch the bubbles engulf you.

Toot Toot Zoom! Contest

2009-05-27T21:14:00.002-05:00

So my husband, illustrator Matthew Cordell, is having a contest over at his blog to win a copy of his latest illustration creation, Toot Toot Zoom! Enter now! (And can I just say I am a little jealous at how many people enter his blog contest and how FEW people entered my contest? Not to mention that the winner of my contest never even claimed her prize? How lame am I??? What do I need to do to get people to read my blog again? Hmmmm... Because bribery didn't work the first time around.) Going to feed the wee one now. G'night.

Happy Memorial Day

2009-05-25T14:07:00.002-05:00

Today has been interesting. I don't spend much time just me and Romy. On weekends, there's a lot of me and Matt and Romy. During the week, I am at work, and when I'm home there's a lot of getting ready for work the next day and trying to squeeze in Romy time. So today, I'm home and Matt is trying to work on a book for which he has a deadline. Ro and I have been kickin' it. Yesterday we also kicked it at a b-day party while Matt worked. And I have to say-- I love the stuffing out of this girl. She is so sweet and funny and likes to snuggle and sleep and laugh and smile. She cries, yes, and is rarely awake when I want her to be and asleep when I want her to be, but she is amazing. I feel insanely lucky.

In other news, I just spilled a Brita pitcher all over myself. Apparently, Matt had just filled it, and therefore it was top heavy. Ha. That was a really boring story. I am duddish right now. Happy Memorial Day, everyone!

Glee!

2009-05-22T18:25:00.001-05:00

Yeah, I loved Glee. I hope the hype continues and it rocks the fall season. And not that I care, but I can't believe Clay Aiken was talking crap about Adam Lambert. Um, really? From you?

Randomness #2

2009-05-14T18:10:00.003-05:00

I don't understand why my XM radio in the car sometimes changes stations. Like, the Elvis channel and Backspin, classic hip-hop, changed places today. Seriously. Backspin was my programmed channel 5 and Elvis was 6, and now Elvis is 5 and Backspin is 6. Plus, somehow channel 10 was BPM (dancey stuff) and changed into LOVE. How does that happen? Does my radio just decide it wants to hear certain stuff? Does it think Elvis is more important than old skool rap? Creepy.

Randomness #1

2009-05-13T17:32:00.000-05:00

Since I sug at blogging lately, I thought I might try getting back in the habit by posting random thoughts once day. I guess it's sort of Twitter-ish or Facebook status-y, but on my blog and not on Twitter or Facebook. And I'll try to throw in some normal blog posts when I get the chance.

Today's randomness:

I would watch any movie starring Queen Latifah. My fave: Last Holiday. I think maybe I should buy that movie because I could watch it over and over. Maybe I will.

Comic-Con: The Third

2009-05-03T17:15:00.002-05:00

I can't believe it, but I ordered plane tickets today to go to San Diego Comic-Con this summer. For those who don't know, I have already been twice: once on my honeymoon (the end of a fabulous Southern California road trip) and once two years ago (revisit with pics here --sorry so slow loading). Last summer Matt and I sort of missed it, but I was pregnant, and things were complicated, plus it's super expensive, so we didn't go. But we thought, wouldn't it be great to go with our little baby when we have her? So we booked our hotels and bought our four day passes before she even arrived. And then we had a baby. And things became waaaaay more complicated. But now that she's six months-old(can you believe it?! Six moths already!), and she's a little doll and I wear her around EVERYWHERE (did you know there's a whole movement of moms called babywearing? I guess I'm a part of that. I am all about the Moby Wrap.), we started thinking about it again. And now there's no turning back because I bought the plane tickets! I have less than three months, which really isn't all that long, to panic about the craziness that will be the San Diego Comic-Con with baby. Now which superhero should Romy dress as?

Harry Potter at the Museum!

2009-04-28T16:59:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I went to Harry Potter: The Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. I had heard about this exhibit months ago during my re-dork-ulous Potter obsession phase. All the HP fan sites knew there would be an exhibition, but it wasn’t known which cities would host it. I was super excited that Chicago ended up being the first. The exhibit doesn’t officially open until April 30, but members to the museum could take advantage of the preview days. Therefore, I became a member. Not only did I get to see the exhibit before anyone else did, but because it was a member preview, there were way fewer people at the exhibit than there would be during normal hours (I know this from previous museum member previews).

Sadly, photography was not allowed in the exhibit (why not? Did they think I’d take pictures of official things and then try to recreate them? I don’t get it. Was it always this way in museums?), so I can’t show you all of the funny, cool things there. But here is the lowdown.

The exhibit begins with a crowd gathered around a museum worker dressed in robes. There is a stool next to her, so, of course, it’s time for the sorting ceremony. She called up a child, asked her what house she wanted to be in, then held the sorting hat over her head (I’m assuming not ON her head due to lice issues). A recording of the sorting hat voice played, and of course the girl was a Gryffindor. Then a little boy went up. He also wanted to be a Gryffindor. Same recording. Then a twenty-something guy went up, and he also wanted to be a Gryffindor. Slytherin! That was kind of funny, and the best part was how everyone applauded each time someone’s house was chosen. It could have been better. I think they should have somehow sorted everyone, perhaps when you order tickets, or you get to take a survey, or something. And then everyone gets a sticker of the house crest, so while you walk around the exhibit, you can see other people from your house and smile or perform a secret handshake.

The rest of the exhibit was packed (and it really was packed) with items from many of the films. There were Ron and Harry’s beds, complete with crazy Weasley bedspread, loads of costumes (including Ron’s hideous dress robes!), and artifacts galore. One of the coolest was the tri-wizard cup. Truly, there were so many things there that it would take hours (well, lots of minutes) to describe them all. If you have questions about specifics, I’d be happy to answer. All in all, I was very happy, if not blown away, by the exhibit. I’m pretty sure I’ll go back. It’s there through September, and I’m a member now, so why not? Romy liked it, too. She didn’t sleep the entire time, and she really looked at everything. I wonder what she liked best.

The gift shop was another piece that I should mention. It felt like a dark, Potterverse store. There were many items of weirdness, like expensive busts and snow globes, wands, stuffed animals, and hideous museum t-shirts. I wanted to buy a pair of Luna Lovegood radish earrings, but they were part of a set for $60! Instead, I plan to order a similar pair off of Etsy. I kind of wish I bought the tiny sorting hat they were selling. Why, I don’t know. I keep picturing Tobin wearing it. I ended up buying a tiny bust of Ron Weasley that actually looks more like Fred or George, but it was only $6.00. I guess a Weasley is a Weasley. I had a tiny fantasy that Rupert Grint would show up at the museum for the special occasion, but, alas, he did not.

And that is the Harry Potter Exhibit report. Any questions?

I Hate You. Go Die.

2009-04-21T17:59:00.000-05:00

I just heard a student yell the above in the hallway. Hilarious. I’m at work now, and I just had to type a blog entry because I feel so sad and guilty that I haven’t blogged in a while. I’ve meant to, but life is just, well, living these days. Romy is all funny and laugh and quite demanding of attention. Plus, I’m not home so much during the week, so the guilt is on when I’m home and NOT giving her attention. Sad, but true.

I’m trying to look ahead to summer. I’m excited about sitting outside in the kiddie pool, getting my first tan in years and trying to prevent Romy from getting her first sunburn. I’m hoping to find time to squeeze in my next novel, as well as some gym time. Too lofty of goals, probably, but I like to set ‘em high.

I got my first really great, positive review of my new novel, Into the Wild Nerd Yonder, coming this fall.

“I would have treasured this book as a teen. I wish Jessie had been my best friend in high school. I think readers are really going to relate to this story.” OK, so the review is from my friend, Nina Hess, but she’s an author, too, so it totally counts! Buy her book “A Practical Guide to Monsters” now!

It’s back to work for me. And hopefully, you’ll get a little more blog action soon. If you want it.

Creepy morn

2009-04-05T07:38:00.002-05:00

I woke up this Sunday morning at 6 to feed Romy, and then I decided not to go back to sleep. I don't know why, but it's been one of those mornings where everything feels creepy. I've bee reading Neal Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, but I seriously do not think that's the reason. I felt creepy before I began reading today. Right now I'm trying to exorcise the creeps by watching multiple episodes of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. It's not working. Moving on...

I am hoping to update my website today to add an Into the Wild Nerd Yonder page. But I have many lofty plans that are easily squashed by the cuteness and neediness of Romy.

We are having a contest in the library for people to create a diorama based on a book using Peeps. It is beyond fabulous. My assistant, Katie, and I have already had way too many laughs on the matter. Katie created this scene based on Roald Dahl's The Twits.

And here's mine, A Weasley Family portrait. This picture does not show the intricate details (sweaters, hairdos) of the individual Weasley members, so I plan to take more pics tomorrow. I am in love with this!