Wilki-noying

I just have to say that I checked out the Wilkipedia entry on BHS and I felt compelled to edit it to state that it is the ONLY school in North America (and perhaps the free world) that has a seahorse for a mascot. However, the stupid edit feature would NOT let me edit the descriptive tag line (which contained the only seahorse reference).

I also don't know why the BHS drama program is so highly touted ("hilarious takes on classic theatre"? sold out performances???) unless things have changed a LOT since Shyla Nelson belted out all those hits in "George M," "Oklahoma" and other jewels of classic, um, theatre. Hilarious is not the word that springs to mind, but that could just be me.

Milia, that sucks about your job, though may I be the first to say that when one door closes, another opens. I wouldn't have found the courage to try and make a go of this if the legal profession hadn't robbed me of my sanity and my patience... despite the fact that I pretty much knew I wanted to do this since I was about 8. Follow your bliss, I say. The money, hopefully, will follow. Or so they tell me... I'm still kind of waiting.

So glad you chicks like my books! Post an Amazon review, OK? Please??? My mom can't write them all!

I Like When Maria Touches Me.

Just wanted to put that out there. Anyhow, I think I should say that Deirdre and her family, while crazy, are happy. There's just a lot of manufactured drama that gives me agita, but that's the way they seem to like things.

I am not sure how to make things more navigateable (is that a word??), if anyone has any suggestions feel free to let me know! I can make everyone an admin and then everyone could change everything whenever they come on. Now that would be fun! I did add the link to BHS's Wikipedia entry, because we are going to have to do some work on that, and also a webcam for Burlington that you may or may not enjoy. I went into work today which SUCKED. Actually, it really wasn't that bad; I just hate having a job that I need to go into on the weekends. It's not like I'm a fucking doctor or something that would require life-saving skills and, well, intelligence. Feh. Let's just say I went to every gas and sip between here and North Ferrisburgh to buy Powerball tickets.

Full disclosure

I know most of you probably could give a shiite about various children's book authors (obscure and not-so-obscure), so I hope you'll forgive that aspect of the post I put on this blog AND my own website one. I know it is lame to put the same thing both places, but perhaps less lame than not posting at all (I hope). Thanks to all you guys for buying my new book, giving it to kiddos you know and demanding it at bookstores... it actually means a whole lot to me! Do me one more favor and write an Amazon review and I'll die happy. Not that I'm dying or anything soon. I hope.

Love on ya' (Bowie) - boy, those Oread quotes just keep on giving, don't they? - and Don't Stop Believing (I agree, Kate). xo, Rickera

ps = Oh, by the way, guess who one of those old friends who showed up at my NYC readings was? Ursula Owre! No joke. With her cute parents and two cute kids. Major points will be awarded to her. Her hair, btw, was symmetrical and she looked great. Not particularly Japanese, but great.

S'WONDERful

I just got back from a WONDERful weekend in NYC. The cap's represent the fact that part of what made it so very divine was that I read and signed books at Books of Wonder, which is one of my favorite places on the planet. I mean, what could be better? Incredible selection, big browsing space, great displays, knowledgable staff and, if that's not enough, cupcakes.

PLUS I got to rub elbows with such greats - old and new - as:

• Jim Trelease (who put down my child's school the minute he met me, but what the hey)
• Amy Schwartz (A TEENY TINY BABY, BEA AND MR. JONES, and many more)
• Sergio Ruzzier (THE ROOM OF WONDERS, plus illustrations for Emily Jenkins' spot-on & super-funny LOVE YOU WHEN YOU WHINE)
• David Gavril (shout out to my fellow Hampshire alum! and author/ill. of PENELOPE NUTHATCH AND THE BIG SURPRISE)
• Leonard Marcus (I cannot put his DEAR GENIUS down! Plus now I need WAYS OF TELLING real bad!!) and
• K.J. Dell'Antonia (shout out to my fellow alum of the Manhattan Criminal Courts - no, that does not mean that KJ and I did time together, though I guess we kind of did, in a manner of speaking - and big props for puttin CHICKEN BEDTIME IS REALLY EARLY in READING WITH BABIES TODDLERS AND TWOS without realizing we knew each other from our former lives!). I also got to meet
• Emily Jenkins, whose TOYS GO OUT is emerging as her finest work of many fine works. Plus she was really nice, which always works for me.
  

Other highlights of my visit were mostly culinary (soup dumplings - yes, I'm old and out of it, okay? I eat foods that were fads a decade ago, and I say things like "shout out" which no one says anymore - cupcakes, and excellent popcorn at Film Forum (where I'd sit through pretty much any movie for the popcorn).

Plus I got to see many dear family members and friends, including my charming hostess, the lovely Ms. Kenna Kay. Some old friends came and surprised me at my readings (and brought kids I've heard about but never had the pleasure of meeting), which was extra nice!

And my own kids stayed home. Which can be a nice thing too (absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that).

One last bit of news: When I got home, I learned that Neal Pollack's new website (for which I've been asked to contribute a column) will be up and running soon! The website is offsprung.com and the working title for my column is Pajamazon. As in, "if you want to hear bedtime stories, get yer freaking pajamazon!" It will be a column about kids and kids' books and it will include the contributions of my own darling kids, assuming they don't lose all their stories goofing around when they are supposed to be getting ready for bed.

O Canada

This weekend I went to Canada to be physically and mentally abused by Deirdre's children, some Belgian people and a woman with severe B.O. at the local marche. Binney's sister got married in Mansonville, on Lake Memphremagog. It was a lovely locale, but of course we left Burlington at 10:15 PM on Thursday night and the girls were completely out of their trees. All I know is Deirdre nearly drove off the road near St. Albans due to a veining-out screamfest. The oldest and youngest were both crying, but the middle one didn't start crying until Deirdre dropped the F bomb. She also told Johannah (10) that she would not be dominating this weekend and J shreiked back, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS BUT I AM NOT DOING THAT!!" That was a great ride.

Once in Canada we all stumbled in to bed, me sharing a dormer-type setup with the kids, who were forced to wear pull-ups and sleep on garbage bags due to a tendency to wet the bed. Another highlight - the sound of children tossing and turning on trash bags.

Eileen, Deirdre's sister, joined us the next night in full-Britney mode. She's 8 months pregnant and sports tube dresses, cowboy boots and popped-out varicose veins. While in the shower she read the body wash bottle, which was written in french, of course (gel pour la douche) and yelled "Am I supposed to douche with this??" So. Many.Things.Wrong. The next night was wedding reception time and I settled in to the
nice house while the party raged 200 yards below. Binney's sister had spent a year abroad in Belgium and her best friend from that time attended, and I was only too happy to watch her 18 month old daughter. The child was adorable and well-behaved, outside of the whole doesn't speak or understand English bit. I said the following things to her, ad naseum: "Ou est Sara?" "Va a dormir?" (I think that one was a Spanish/French hybrid) and "Belle Jolie Sara!" Ai caramba. Her mom said "she cough? So she take this?" as she gestured to a bottle of Tussin-like liquid. Then her husband arrived and said "That is for, you know, the ass?" Um, no I don't know, pal. "The Tussin?" "No, no, no. You know, how you say..." "A thermometer?" At this point all I can think is: Dude, it doesn't matter what all the item is, I'll not be putting anything in your child's ass, ok? "A suppository?" "OUI!" That is it." Argh. Turned out they hadn't packed it, or perhaps I chose not to acknowledge its existence.

Eileen made it up to the house shortly afterwards and I recounted the story to her. She shook her head, snorted and said "Those Belgiums." She's also threatening to name her unborn child Lourdes.

It just keeps getting better here in Vermont, girls!

Guess What I Just Ordered?

That's right! Very excited to distribute them to the various children I know. Congratulations, Erica!

Don't Stop Believin'

Sorry about the problems - what can I say. I went to BHS.

It's Labor Day and I'm happy to not be at work, of course. The big news is that the Dog Team Tavern burned down, with the owner inside. Well, they said there was a body inside but never confirmed it was him - then his family ran his obituary. Too bad. No more relish wheels or sticky buns.

And the other big happening right now is the Fair! Oh, how I loved the fair when I was a kid. Bracelet Day! I remember walking out of there with a roach clip ("It's a barrette!") and Journey's Escape album, which, let's face it, is one of the all time greatest.

Hope all is well! If you want a different template, let me know. None of them are speaking to me, frankly.

Hello Chicks!

I'm very impressed that you got this up and running! Now what?

Testing one two three.