Monthly archive

June 2009

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

In which we fashion a Mobius strip of blogs

Some time ago I posted a link to Kasmira's fashion blog, What I Wore Today. I love peeking into other people's closets--in a virtual and vicarious manner only, of course. Anyway, several of you followed the link which made her curious about me and mine, and when she saw a recommendation for my novels, she not only went out and got SITG, she based an outfit on it! How fun is that? I swoon.
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Monday, June 29, 2009

In which I have made a new friend


Say hello to Szofia, a Eurasian Eagle Owl. She was lovely to meet, very serene and demure, except when she decided to flap her wings and hang upside down from her tether--alarming for me, but routine for her trainer. She's chatty, vocalizing quite a lot if you aren't paying attention to her, but the minute she settles onto your arm, she is quietly assessing. The best part of meeting her was when she swiveled her head around and gave me a long look from those amazing amber eyes.
Saturday, June 27, 2009

In which I feel greedy


When I look at a stack of unread and much anticipated books, I feel greedy, like a small child with a whole pie to herself. It seems like just too much good stuff for one person. So I'm sharing the stack--glorious things that I've picked up to enjoy over the summer. There is a slender copy of Isabella Bird on the top, and the bottom is Murder of a Medici Princess, if you can't quite make it out. Yum!
Friday, June 26, 2009

In which I wish I were going to be in Louisville

I've never been to Kentucky, but I hear it is a very nice place and now I am certain of it. The good people of Louisville are holding their 2nd Annual Jane Austen Festival on July 18-19. There will be tea and shopping and period sewing classes, capped off by a ball--what could be finer than that, I ask you? If you're interested, do have a look at the official website.

Also, I am informed that the audiobook versions of ALL three Julia Grey books will be available for re-download with narration by the estimable Ellen Archer beginning June 30 from Audible.com. Believe me when I tell you that I have just told you all that I know, but I am VERY pleased that both my publisher and Audible responded to urgent reader/listener requests that Ms. Archer be brought back to record. I can tell you that I received several e-mails from the recording geniuses when Ms. Archer was recording because she was determined to do a thorough and flawless job, and I have NO doubt she has done so. I am BEYOND happy about this. So, if you downloaded the audio version and were not satisfied with the quality of the narration, do pootle over to Audible and avail yourself of the new downloads.
Thursday, June 25, 2009

In which I want poultry


No, REALLY. I am dying for some chickens. So far I've been outvoted--the family stands at 3-2 in favor of NOT having chickens, and until I can sway the other bloc, I'm afraid I shall remain chickenless. Now, let me be clear, I like the IDEA of chickens. The reality might be another thing entirely, and when it was brought to my attention that I travel a bit too much and would have to hire a chicken-sitter, I decided to retreat and do some strategic thinking about my poultry ambitions. All I want is a few little hens for eggs and general cluckery. My husband, who has far more experience with chickens than I, has explained that they are not cute and nice and funny, but rather are dirty, stupid, and a little mean. (I think the fact that he had a few hundred at one time has colored his observations. He still maintains that chicken manure is an appalling smell and until I can find chickens that excrete flower essences, he's not on board.)

Anyway, as part of my strategic planning, I ordered a catalog from Murray McMurray Hatchery, one of the premier hatcheries in the country. (For me this is akin to armchair travel. I may never actually GO to Bali, but I can read about it and that's the next best thing.) I figured I would flip through the catalog and my poultry-longings would be assuaged.

UNTIL I FOUND THE PEACOCKS. That's right--Murray McMurray sells PEACOCKS. For $28 and some change, I could own my very own peacock. Forget the chickens. I'm on to plan B...

As inspiration, I offer you the photo of a Castle Howard peacock, a very noble and quizzical fellow.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009

In which I made the Hall of Fame!

The Apron Hall of Fame, that is--at horrorhomemakers.com. Please notice I am picking poisonous mushrooms in an evening gown with opera gloves. Because writing is both a glamorous and dangerous occupation...
Tuesday, June 23, 2009

In which I offer a reminder

Yesterday I did something I do not like to do--I went to the dermatologist for my annual mole patrol. I don't like it because, honestly--who does? But it was over in less than an hour and I have a very thorough and lovely dermie who checked me out and said I'm good for another year. Have you had your full screening yet? I'm not going to squick you out with pictures of melanomas or horror stories of people who were killed by a single rogue freckle gone bad, but IT HAPPENS. Get yourself checked!
Monday, June 22, 2009

In which we are frivolous

Today's re-post is not a single entry, but a few links originally posted on the Blog A Go-Go that I want to be sure we don't lose. First up, Human Shield. If memory serves, I'm only willing to die if I can save twenty people, so if there are only nineteen of you, you're on your own. Next, how many countries can you name in five minutes? (This game is infinitely crueler than the one I posted a few weeks ago--no map as an aide-memoire.) Then it's on to the Cannibalization Quiz for some rather gruesome speculation on how you would fare if your soccer team crashed in the Andes. And finally, check your reaction times by shooting the sheep! (No animated sheep were harmed in the making of this game.)
Saturday, June 20, 2009

In which I am not doing recreational drugs

but you'd never know it by my dreams. They have been bizarre this week, very vivid and full of strange details. The oddest moment was perhaps when I found myself playing frisbee with Jennifer Aniston in Central Park. (She kept dropping it, and I kept yelling at her, which is completely off-the-wall because as you know, I am not particularly gifted at the physical coordination, and I'm pretty sure Jennifer Aniston could take me down hard in a frisbee tournament.) Anyway, the best dream I had in the last week was when I was driving a glossy black Aston-Martin at insane speeds down a windy Italian highway. I was wearing a long black scarf and just when I was about to arrive at my destination, the pup barked and woke me up. So now I'll never know how or why I was driving James Bond's car....le sigh.
Friday, June 19, 2009

In which we like verification

Ever wonder if the celebrity you friended on Facebook or follow on Twitter is the real deal? Valebrity knows! Well, I think they know--I haven't actually verified Valebrity. But they SEEM to know, and that's helpful, no? The ever-knowledgeable Kimmy Darling (I really, REALLY wish that was her actual surname, like the family in Peter Pan...) shared this link a bit ago and I just now remembered to pass it along.

In puppy news, the monstrous little scamps have DOUBLED their size since we got them, and in two weeks, when they get their last vaccines, we can finally take them out properly! It's been so difficult to leave them behind when we go out. Sometimes we take them for rides or we coordinate errands so that one person always stays in the car with them while someone else takes care of getting the library books or the stamps, but it will be MUCH more fun when we can walk them like actual grown-up dogs.

And those of you who have been hanging around my little corner of the blogosphere know what July means to me--TOUR DE FRANCE! I am already buzzy, people, and it doesn't even begin until July 4. I cannot wait to see the start in Monaco! Luckily, my July travel will coincide with some flat stages between the mountains, so I won't miss too much of the good stuff, and the day after I get back is a rest day which means LOADS of tivo to catch up on what I missed. Lance Armstrong is in, Tom Boonen is out--it's already shaping up to be a hellaciously good Tour. (Edited to add: I have nothing against Tom Boonen personally except it would be very nice if he stopped testing positive for things for which he ought not to be testing positive. I just meant there's lots to talk about this year.)