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Last Blog Of 2004, that is. What a year. What more could I possibly add to the endless blogs of year-end reviews and complaints. To be truthful, I haven't had much to complain about in 2004; it was one the better years I have lived thus far: *I had a baby *I met Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson *I had another book published *I didn't suffer any horrendous mountain bike accidents *I didn't get fired *The Red Sox! It sucks Jerry Orbach had to die, though, but we'll have 12 seasons worth of snappy one-liners to be aired in eternal reruns by which to remember him. 2005 is looking promising as well, with a new book and the reprint of Little Flowers on the way. Looks like Randy's going to the Yankees, and maybe that will be Dale Jr.'s year, too. All that's left is the Appalachian Trail. Good thing I got a Baby Bjorn at my baby shower. Also, the last ring update of the year. We welcome: A Catholic in Chicago Ebomania I'm So Glad Lilltle Catholic Home Skeptic Thoughts More to come next year. Ringsurf is acting up for me. 2004/12/30
I think we've pinpointed the problem, she's not feeding enough at night. It appears we're back down to feeding every two hours instead of three for the time being. We tried that last night and she didn't fuss at all, went right to sleep. That being the case, I'll have to get Malc a pump, too, because I don't think I can handle the demand. :p 2004/12/28
Blessedly, we made it through the night without any trouble. I fed and she went right to sleep. But there always seems to be one period in time when she just howls. Yesterday it was the drive home, from Charlottesville to the beach (3 hours). Her stomach becomes hard as a rock and her legs stiffen, like she's trying to expel something nasty. People keep saying breastfed babies don't get gas or stomach pains, but this isn't the first time this has happened. Seems she's always like this now, and I don't know what to do. 2004/12/27
2004/12/23
2004/12/21
Couldn't find the appropriate card Today is 12/21. In Europe it's displayed thusly: 21/12 or 2112. Therefore, today is Rush Day. And on Rush Day we gather by the Orbit Room's main entrance and wait for Alex Lifeson to come out. And if he sees his shadow it's six more weeks of winter. Trivial Excuses Got a nice e-mail from a reader asking about a sequel to Murder Most Trivial, my free eBok mystery. I had one outlined, but I haven't had the time to sit down and write. I've been thinking about another Ash Lake story and the sequel to Pithed, too. Maybe I should just write one big book with everybody in it. Jason of MMT could be ordained and be sent to St. Lorena's, while Andy's car breaks down in Ash Lake, and hilarity ensues. 2004/12/17
Why I'm a Rush Fan, Part 12 Steve Perry fan fiction, because somebody had to write it. Not me, though, I keep confusing Steve Perry with Joe Perry, which is weird because Joe doesn't sing. You'd think I'd be confusing Steve Perry with Steven Tyler, even though Steven Tyler doesn't look like anybody else. I haven't had coffee yet, sorry. 2004/12/16
Good news all around: I made it through the first outing without calling the sitter. She didn't cry at all the whole time we were gone. Why is it that they'll behave for others? And I'm an auntie again. Samantha Grace was born last night at 5lb. 11oz. Sis-in-law and baby are fine. 2004/12/14
Welcome to the ring Catholic, Young and Minister crazyacres Ipsissima Verba A Penitent Blogger TxCatholic And to clarify, since I am late in learning of Gerard's passing, the St. Blog's Webring was not associated with Gerard Serafin's directory. I don't know the fate of the directory, but the ring is still here and still active. 2004/12/13
And Ringo Starr as the Little Drummer Boy Posh and Becks nativity creche vandalized. To think I believed those figurines of Jesus throwing a football to some kid were cheesy. The Archies are next, I'm telling you The Pretenders?! Yes, I can see U2 and the O'Jays, but The Pretenders?! Ugh, whatever. It's not like I'm going to Cleveland anytime soon. They won't let you take pictures in the museum, anyway. 2004/12/04
Potpourri for $500, Alex Accolades! Not for me, but for Stacy King, designer of the Pithed cover. Stacy won Best in Category Ariana award in this year's QUASAR contest with my book's cover. The QUASAR is sponsored by EPIC, and now Stacey and Pithed go on to compete in the Best Overall Cover Award. So you know, the cover looks even better if you buy your own, and there's a great book inside it. I've sworn up and down that I wouldn't get hooked on any reality shows, but along came The Real Gilligan's Island. It's a glorious train wreck, though I'm sad Gooner didn't make the final seven; he was the only one really worth pulling for. December 7th, a day that will live in infamy: Malc changes his first diaper. And it was a messy one, too, I hear. Changes a coming at blogs4God. I've been absent there lately because of the baby; I should put in an appearance soon. I'm on the lookout for paid freelance writing work. The hope is to make enough a month where I can stay home. If you can help, please e-mail. Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome Accidental Nomad Butterfly Blog Catholic T Fiddleback Fever For the Love of Mary Immaculate Domine, Non Sum Dingus Real Catholic Veritas What a Mystery! To new registrants, make sure your code is on your blog ASAP. Do not apply again if you don't hear anything right away. I update once a week, or so. 2004/12/03
Light blogging, for more than one reason. I've started back at work, which is somewhat of a necessity. Downside is, my job still won't bring in enough to pay for infant care. Staying home is not an option, so Genny is going back and forth between jobs. Don't know how long we can keep this up. Prayers welcome for a solution. 2004/11/22
I don't follow Desparate Housewives... ...but I've seen enough of the show to believe that no way in hell could I be this person:  Congratulations! You are Bree Van De Kamp, the Martha Stewart on steroids, whose family is about to mutiny. Which Desperate Housewife are you? brought to you by Quizilla Insert Wardrobe Malfunction Joke Here Wouldn't you know, my parents, the Jaguars season ticket holders, couldn't get Super Bowl tix for the game in Jax in 2005, and guess who's doing the halftime show? Paulie! Last time Paulie played the Gator Bowl (now Alltel Stadium) was, I think, 1964, when Hurricane Dora threatened to cancel the Beatles concert. Gah! At long last, A Summer Knight's Tale by Ronda Chervin and Gene Grandy is available again, this time in print. New cover, too, designed by moi. Just in time for Christmas. Welcome to the ring 3 Streams Catholic in the Public Square CatholicUK Thoughts of Apolonio Latar III Time New Roman 2004/11/20
Wish me luck. Today is Chesapeake Bay Academy's Festival of the Book, and I'm signing copies of Pithed. Let's see if I sell any. 2004/11/18
Never hurts to think ahead: APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO DATE MY DAUGHTER NOTE: THIS APPLICATION WILL BE INCOMPLETE AND REJECTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A COMPLETE FINANCIAL STATEMENT, WORK HISTORY, LINEAGE, AND CURRENT MEDICAL REPORT FROM YOUR DOCTOR. 1. NAME_________________________________ DATE OF BIRTH___/___/___ 2.HEIGHT__________________WEIGHT___________IQ______GPA_______ 3. SOCIAL SECURITY#______________DRIVERS LIC#_______________ 4. BOY SCOUT RANK___________________________ 5. HOME ADDRESS______________CITY/STATE_______________ZIP_______ 6. DO YOU HAVE ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE PARENT?_______________ IF NO, PLEASE EXPLAIN___________________________________ 7. NUMBER OF YEARS PARENTS MARRIED?____________________ 8. DO YOU OWN A VAN?________________MOTORCYCLE?______________ TRUCK WITH OVERSIZED TIRES?___________WATERBED?____________ DO YOU HAVE AN EARRING?____NOSE RING?____BELLY BUTTON RING?__ 9. IN 50 WORDS OR LESS, WHAT DOES DON'T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER MEANS TO YOU?__________________________________________________ 10. IN 50 WORDS OR LESS, WHAT DOES LATE MEAN TO YOU?________________________________________________________ 11. IN 50 WORDS OR LESS, WHAT DOES ABSTINENCE MEANS TO YOU?__________________________________________ 12. CHURCH YOU ATTEND?________________________ 13. WHEN WOULD BE THE BEST TIME TO INTERVIEW YOU FATHER?_________MOTHER?___________PRIEST?__________ 14. ANSWER BY FILLING IN THE BLANK. PLEASE ANSWER FREELY, ALL ANSWERS ARE CONFIDENTIAL (THAT MEANS I WON'T TELL ANYONE) A. IF I WERE SHOT, THE LAST PLACE ON BY BODY I WOULD WANT WOUNDED IS THE ________________ B. IF I WERE BEATEN, THE LAST PLACE I WOULD WANT BROKEN IS MY _____________ C. A WOMAN'S PLACE IS IN THE ______________ D.. THE ONE THING I HOPE THIS APPLICATION DOESN'T ASK IS _________ E. WHEN I FIRST MEET A GIRL, THE THING I NOTICE FIRST IS HER ________ 15. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE IF YOU GROW UP?________________ I SWEAR THAT ALL OF THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED ABOVE IS TRUE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH, DISMEMBERMENT, NATIVE AMERICA ANT TORTURE, ELECTROCUTION, CHINESE WATER TORTURE, RED HOT POKERS. _________________________________ SIGNATURE (THAT MEANS YOU SIGN YOUR NAME) THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST. PLEASE ALLOW FOUR TO SIX YEARS FOR PROCESSING. YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED IN WRITING IF YOU ARE APPROVED. PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR WRITE (as it will delay your application.) 2004/11/17
Whole bunch of sites added to the ring. You know who you are, welcome. Got an IE error and it erased the list as I was typing. Can't repeat, hard to type while nursing. 2004/11/15
The Internet equivalent of the slide show Where I lock the doors and force you to sit through picture after picture of my precious snookums: 
Going home from the hospital 
Playing peek-a-boo with Daddy 
On the Boppy pillow. I love that pillow. I don't what pioneer moms did without them. It was a fluke. Although, she's not waking every two hours anymore since we instituted a more structured feeding schedule. A few weeks ago we were feeding nearly every time she cried, which was bad because she got caught up in cluster feeding. I think we're getting the hang of it now, but I dread going back to work after Thanksgiving. Speaking of, this will be our first turkey day at home, ever. We want her schedule solidified before we start with the overnight trips, and the best part is we're going out to eat, so no cleanup for me! 2004/11/14
Would you believe she slept through the night? From eleven to eight this morning. Please tell me it's not a fluke. 2004/11/13
Crossing the Border My Borders Bookstore experiment worked. I successfully ordered a copy of Pithed and it's at the store waiting for me. So any bookstore that tells you they can't order my book is mistaken. Order it, now. Or my child will go without booties. It's cold outside. You don't want that. 2004/11/11
Prayers for discernment going out today. If things go as planned there are big decisions to make soon. Let's hope they're the right ones. 2004/11/07
Truly the fun part of motherhood is anticipating when accidents are going to happen, and expecting the unexpected. Like yesterday, when I changed Genny's diaper before feeding her, as you're supposed to do. Got the clean diaper on her, and in two seconds she messed it up again. Malc happened to be standing there and howled with laughter. Then he left me to clean up the mess again. She's his daughter, all right. 2004/11/01
Just a reminder, vote early, vote often. John Mallon forwards notice of Inside the Vatican's guide for Catholic voters, now available in PDF format, for you undecided. Genny T. still has her days and nights mixed up. She likes riding in the car, though. If only gas didn't cost so much. 2004/10/31
Welcome to the Ring Get comfy. Being! or Nothingness Bethune Catholic Catholic Kerry Watch The Catholic Song Dialogue Frank in a Sense and Mirth - my title of the week Living Catholicism Moniales OP Not So Deep Thoughts Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - Lynden Rodriguez's blog Paper Moon Pat's Online Journal Ponderings of Adam Recta Ratio The Seventh Age Someday Saint 2004/10/29
Elsewhere... Books-A-Million and Barnes and Noble list Pithed online, as does Borders. I'm going to order it from the Borders online system to see if it works. I've received word from friends who are having trouble buying it. The book should be available to order from any physical store. 2004/10/26
Sparing most detail I went to work on the 22nd with the intent to call my doctor's office to let them know I didn't want to be induced, that I wanted to wait to see if it would happen on its own. They got to me first and strongly recommended I change my mind. Apparently there are guidelines to which they must adhere, that they cannot let a pregnancy go beyond 42 weeks, and that deadline was the 23rd. Malc and his parents had gone out to breakfast, so I had to leave a message on the machine. Called my mother's work and left another message, then went to the hospital. My in-laws were actually leaving that day, thinking it would be a while. Luckily Mom got to them before they left, and before Malc went on his bike ride (he's usually gone for hours). Hospital, check-in, nice private room. They broke my water at 10:30, started a small dose of pitosin at 1. Thankfully I didn't need much before active labor hit. Around 4 the contractions became too much and I opted for the epi. After about 45 minutes of pushing, out came Genny with the cord around her neck. If it hadn't been there I might have had her out sooner. The only true pain I felt in this time was a pinched nerve on my right hip, which hurt like hell in the position I was in (on my back, I wouldn't recommend this). The epi did nothing for it. We had been warned that if we had waited chances were high the placenta would become useless, risking stillbirth. When Genny was born the doctor told us there wasn't much vernix on her skin, which indicated this was going to happen soon, so in the end I think we did the right thing by inducing, though I had really hoped we wouldn't have to do so. But she is okay now, except her feed is off. Hopefully the pediatrician will help us with this. 2004/10/24
Here's Genny! Geneva Therese, born 10/22/04 at 6:32PM 
Don't worry, she cleaned up well. 
With Mom. 
With Dad. Light blogging for a while, needless to say. 2004/10/20
What hasn't worked We have decided not to induce labor. Malc doesn't like the idea of me being pumped with pitosin. He thinks inducing labor would turn this from an experience to a medical procedure, and all along he's been convinced the doctors were off on the due date to begin with. I'm not crazy about the idea, either. I would rather let nature takes its course. Let's see how long before I change my mind. 2004/10/18
Warm Fuzzies Received word from Ken at Catholic World Mission that a Blessed Miguel Pro biographer gave the thumbs up to my children's book and radio drama version of the priest's life story. He didn't mention any names, but I can think of only one person who qualifies, whose book I have read, and whose book is probably the definitive bio of Blessed Pro. The book should be ready next month. The radio show is supposed to air on WEWN. Will post dates as I get them. Reasons why she's late She's waiting to see if the Red Sox pull through. She's protesting NASCAR's swacking Dale, Jr. 25 points for the saying the F-word on TV, and won't come out until the points are reinstated. Perhaps enough people will have sympathy on her poor mother and buy nicer gifts. It's cold out there! She won't come out until Pithed makes the NYT bestsellers list. She really, really wants that pony. 2004/10/16
New on the Catholic publishing scene REQUIEM PRESS is a new Catholic book publishing company specializing in books on prayer, and Catholic and biblical history. HERIDITAS MAGAZINE is a new Catholic literary magazine publishing original short fiction, poetry, drama, prose poems, translations, critical analysis, and book reviews for an all-Catholic audience. I imagine they'd take a review of Pithed if written from a Catholic perspective, hint hint. 2004/10/15
Rock Lobster! Down, Down... Didn't work. Maybe the mashed potatoes I had with dinner neutralized the pitosin? 2004/10/14
I dreamed last night that I was praying for the good Lord to give me a sign that this was drawing to a close, and I turned on the radio to hear the song "It Don't Come Easy." Then some snickering, and a Voice. Hey, you like that Ringo guy, don't you?" Maybe she's waiting for the feast of St. Teresa of Avila. Isn't that tomorrow? 2004/10/12
Why Can't We Be Friends, Why Can't We... We can be friends with Ingram again, the paperback of Pithed is now available instead of out of stock. So you can buy it there. Now. Today. I've also installed these nifty Amazon.com boxes to the right. I hope they show up for fast one-click convenient ordering of my book. Now. Today. Day 3 of BabyWatch: nothing. 2004/10/09
Lost track of how many minutes and counting No baby yet, but I got the latest Mystery Scene Magazine with Faye and Jonathan Kellerman on the cover. My essay on Pithed, called "Killing Your Boss for Fun and Profit," is on page 41! The mag is sold at B&N and Borders, I know, so check it out. Then take the mag with page 41 folded back and show it to the clerk and tell them you want to order the book. 2004/10/08
The Lively Plan So Malc has it all figured out. We're going to divide parental responsibility in five-year increments: BIRTH-FIVE YEARS - KAT: Diapering, colic, potty training, runny noses, midnight feedings SIX-TEN - MALC: Driving to and picking up from school, T-ball and Girl Scouts, playing with toys ELEVEN-FIFTEEN - KAT: Birds and bees talk, buying the first bra, dealing with her wanting to get pierced ears, racy clothes, makeup, profanity-laden CDs, etc. Weathering the "I hate you!" phase. SIXTEEN-TWENTY - MALC: Lecture about the responsibility of driving the car, chasing away potential suitors with shotgun, perfecting the "Go ask your mother" response, dropping her off at college, writing checks. TWENTY-ONE-TWENTY-FIVE - KAT: Explaining why her latest ex is a rat bastard and why she can do so much better, calling every weekend to find out why she's not calling, writing checks. TWENTY-SIX-THIRTY - MALC: Helping her move her stuff back in after she's decided she wants to go to graduate school and save money on room and board, chasing away potential suitors with shotgun, writing checks. Thirty onward will be a draw. Never laughed so hard in my life. 2004/10/07
Maybe I should try this Bid to be a murder victim in some guy's novel. Maybe with Collared I could write in a character based upon a winning bidder as well. I'll make you as thin or give you as much wavy, thick hair as you want. Hell, I'll hook you up with Pamela Anderson or Brad Pitt or whoever, just make sure the check doesn't bounce. Welcome to the Ring CathColl.net Crusader of Justice My Domestic Church My Spiritual Diary Our Homeschool Tremendous Trifles Trubador Una Donna Mobile Why Fret? Habbakkuk 2 Vs. 2 Thru 4 is loading too slowly for me to check. If anybody spots the code in the template, let me know and I'll add it, too. Also did some major housecleaing of the queue. If a blog was there for more than a month without the code, it's deleted. If a site registered that wasn't a blog, it's deleted. I've only made one exception, the St. Blog's Parish Hall board, but I won't be doing any more. Code has to be in the template, and it has to be on a blog. This will probably be the last update before birth, I keep saying that, but this time it could be true. 2004/10/06
Warm fuzzies Round Table Reviews has a nice review of Pithed for your reading pleasure. For more pleasure, buy the book. 2004/10/05
Rass-fracking Ingram This would have to happen right when I have a book out, and right when I'm counting days to giving birth, so I'm not necessarily in a position to do anything about it. There are issues with regards to Ingram (mondo book distributor) and Lightning Source (printer of Pithed and other Mundania Press titles). Ingram is revising their policy on carrying POD titles, apparently in an attempt not to clog their warehouses with millions of copies of Joe Schmo's My Unedited, Vanity Press 400-Page Piece of Crap. What this means is that if you go to Amazon.com or any other online store to buy Pithed in paperback, you'll see it's out of stock. Grr. The eBook, however, can be bought immediately, and that's a nice option especially if you have a handheld device or have trouble seeing, since you can manipulate the size of the page in Adobe Reader. What does this mean for me? It means I am going to recommend to you to either order Pithed directly from Mundania, or call your local bookstore and order from them. When I get my books I'll be making the rounds of stores, baby in tow (great marketing tool), with copies to give the managers. I have postcards on the way to send to indie stores, too. Maybe they'll be more receptive. This really stinks, because it further puts a stigma on print on demand books. Not every POD title is a Joe Schmo masterpiece; I have read a number of IUniverse titles that are well-written, more so than what Big-Ass NYC Publisher is putting out these days. I'm not saying Pithed is any better or worse, but a small press liked it enough to publish it, and people should have the opportunity to order it. Mundania Press is not a slouch operation, either. They are contracted to publish Piers Anthony's backlist and recently acquired the backlist of sci-fi author Robert Adams. I'm not big on sci-fi, but I understand these names are rather big. So call your local brick and mortar. Now. 2004/10/01
 Oh! What mysteries will be revealed to us later... How often have I thought that I perhaps owe all the graces showered upon me to the earnest prayer of a little soul whom I shall know only in Heaven. It is God's will that in this world by means of prayer Heavenly treasures should be imparted by souls one to another, so that when they reach the Fatherland they may love one another with a love born of gratitude, with an affection far, far exceeding the most ideal family affection upon earth.
There, we shall meet with no indifferent looks, because all the Saints will be indebted to each other. - St. Therese Were it not for St. Therese, I don't think Little Flowers would have been written, or published. If you've read it, you'll know she was a major character in the story, of sorts. I only wish I had better opportunity the first time around to successfully market that book. Perhaps with next year's reprint I'll be able to do Little Flower justice. 2004/09/30
Amazonian News Pithed is available via Adobe download at Amazon.com. The paperback link is also up, though it says out of stock. Should be remedied soon, however. 2004/09/29
Pithed is here!  Pithed is now available for sale through Mundania Press! The best ten dollars you'll ever spend - you're not only getting a nice story of the back-stabbing world of the public school system, you'll be putting Genny T. through braces and college (braces especially if she takes after Malc). Other sale outlets forthcoming.
Better yet, go to your bookstore and order it special, that way my book gets into their systems like a virus and may end up on their regular order list. Whatever keeps an extra copy of The Da Vinci Code out, eh? As a bonus, here's a nice review from the Murder and Mayhem Book Club. 2004/09/28
The Home Stretch As in stretch marks. Just a few last minute things to take care of, and we should be fine. We need diapers, and something in which to put the soiled ones. Nursing pads, baby detergent, we're fine on everything else. So we want to believe. A bag is packed, just finished programming my MP3 player with the music I'm taking to drown out my screams of labor agony. I'll update this post with the final list. 2004/09/23
Not Pithed An intriguing and sympathetic main character is central to any good mystery. From Chandler's Philip Marlowe to Paretksy's V.I. Warshawski, it's the detective who makes the reader long to see the criminal caught and justice done. Ms. Lively has introduced a delightful new character to the genre. I liked Andy's sardonic view of the life, a world-weary cynicism tempered by loyalty, love and faith. There are times in the story when Andy is tired and discouraged, but he never gives up or sinks into bitterness. There's a lot to like about PITHED. I like Andy's voice, a balance of pedantic and informal that's perfect for a high school biology teacher. Ms. Lively's descriptions of the school itself and the rest of its faculty are equally excellent. Including religion in a story can be tricky, but Ms. Lively weaves expressions of Andy's faith seamlessly throughout the story, lending a richness and depth rare in genre fiction. - from the Scribes World review of Pithed The inconsistencies mentioned further down in the review have hopefully been cleared up in the final edit. I sent SW an early draft in anticipation of the August release, but in retrospect I'm glad we're waiting because now I can say we produced a good product. Book News Looks like it's going to be a bountiful Autumn for the CWO. Pithed is very close to publication, I promise you. In addition: Tim Drake's Young and Catholic: The Face of Tomorrow's Church, is available for pre-order from Sophia Institute Press. Pete Vere reviewed it for The Wanderer. Pete also has a book coming out with Patrick Madrid called More Catholic Than the Pope: An Inside Look at Extreme Traditionalism. Idylls Press is taking pre-orders for Debra Murphy's Catholic mystery The Mystery of Things. The St. Linus Review of Catholic fiction and poetry launches today. Have you subscribed yet? I know, I need to, too. The winners of their first contest were announced, look in the next Write Stuff for the press release. Meanwhile, change of plans for NaNoWriMo. I'm going to do Collared, the sequel to Pithed, after all. The other book I'm going to start early, and I anticipate that one will be longer. 2004/09/22
Professor Wiggles Malc and I long ago decided we are going to be the kind of parents who don't get caught up in juvenile fads and such, particularly where television is concerned. To be honest, I don't have much affinity for shows geared toward children; it's a vast, scary world. The Teletubbies disturb me, Barney nauseates, and every time I see Elmo I want to put my hands through the screen and strangle his third-person talking, Muppet ass. It's sad, too, because I was raised on Sesame Street, but I just can't watch it today. I miss the old school days of Prairie Dawn, Roosevelt Franklin, Herry, and Super Grover. Are these characters even on the show anymore, or have they been stuffed in a cardboard box, left to rot in Brian Henson's garage? Elmo, blech. I'll concede to Dora the Explorer, to an extent, anyway. There's only so much I can take of The Backpack Song. Our friends' have a three-year-old who sings it constantly; it has the same repetitive quality of "I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am," with fewer lyrics. And Blue's Clues, though I always preferred Steve to Joe. Steve was hot. But nothing creeps me out more than The Wiggles, a group of terminally happy grown men hanging out with what looks like discarded mascots from 70s McDonaldland (there was a pirate mascot in the 70s, just before Mayor McCheese was impeached). Just the name "Wiggles" inspires chills, has nobody else found that name odd? I just don't know if I can allow my child to watch that, because that would mean I would have to watch it. I was telling to this to a friend, who thought my attitude odd, considering this: This Wiggle 
looks a lot like this guy: 
right down to the hat. This must explain why The Wiggles won't do "The Camera Eye" in concert, either. Man, I would kill for the original Electric Company on DVD. 2004/09/21
Bucky hates beavers: why I get weird looks from people who pass my cubicle at work, because I'm laughing so hard. "Don't go into labor," they caution. 2004/09/20
Welcome to the Ring Catholic White Boy Chastity Revisisted Contemplating the Laundry Doxology Illuminated Obscurity Moteworthy Mystica.cc Notes Quo Vadis? sotto sotto Thirsty Will try to get one more sweep of the queue before Genny T. gets here. That's what I'm going to call her for now. We're waffling between Genny and Eva. If she turns out to be a diva, Evita. Malc's school recently began a weekly Mass for the Catholic students; a retired priest comes down for the celebration, so we've decided to support it and hopefully drum up some interest. There isn't yet a Catholic students association at the school, because there is no organization. With the school being aligned with the Methodist Church, they are naturally more prominent, but there are a fair number of Catholic students, and the nearest Catholic Church from campus is a drive. Malc's offered to be the faculty advisor, so we'll see what happens. 2004/09/17
If you have the time today, send up a prayer for the editor. We found so many discrepancies in Pithed, and I'm so happy we were able to clear them before the book goes into print. I would have looked like a jackass for all the names I screwed up throughout the book. Here's a tip, if you write a book keep it to three characters or less. Much easier on the brain. Once this is done, I can concentrate on the sequel, Collared. The outline is done, just have to write it. It won't, however, be my NaNo project. Yes, I'm doing a third year, with Geneva in tow. I figure I'll be up anyway; I can teach her to type early on so I'll have a little helper. No, the NaNo will be a romance novel based upon an idea given to me through a message board community I frequent. I just need to iron out some particulars before November. 2004/09/16
Down to One: Goodbye, Johnny. So who's left, Marky? This sucks. Meanwhile all Backstreet Boys roam unfettered. 2004/09/14
Life in these United States As I assembled the stroller: "We don't strap our astronauts into the Space Shuttle with this much precision." - Malc J. Geils????? Yes, I think we've pretty much accepted that the only way Rush is getting into the HoF is if everybody at Rolling Stone is stricken with the plague and falls dead on their signed copies of Oops...I Did It Again, but J. Geils? Uh, how about Yes? Boston (are they eligible)? Man, I can't wait for the 2010 induction ceremony with Wham! and Wang Chung. Geneva it is We both like the name, and I'm the one who has to deliver, so why shouldn't I have a say? Geneva it is. (Watch this space for changes.) Down to the wire: I'm already at 3CM, with about three weeks to go. The one couple due a week before in birthing class had their baby on the 10th. I'm not liking these omens. You don't get prorated on the class if you give birth early. So now I'm paranoid. The bag is packed; I have to get diapers and others things. It's like she's threatening to beat the publication of my next book. 2004/09/13
Book News Got the galleys for Pithed. Gonna bust my ass to get them looked at and sent back so the book will be published before the end of the month. FIE alum Pete Vere has a new site for his book, Suprised by Canon Law. 2004/09/11
Today I learned the true meaning of panic, after exhibiting some pre-labor symptoms and being put on hold while calling the emergency line of my doctor's office. Fortunately, everything is fine, and if something were to happen I'm at least at the point now where the baby is considered full-term. Still, I was so freaked out this morning. I spent the entire day trying to be still and willing the baby to move so I'd know she was okay. We still don't have a name. It looked like we were going with Geneva, but Malc is rethinking it. At least we have a car seat in which to take our nameless baby home. 2004/09/09
Heh, Mary From Studio Arena and the Nunsense gang comes the new musical Hail Mary: "a brand new comedy about a plucky young novice who puts her future as a nun in jeopardy when she teaches her personal unorthodox views of God and religion. Add to the mix a traditional Mother Superior and a childhood sweetheart and you’ve got the makings for another rib-tickling Dudzick hit!" Well, consider my ribs tickled. Ever notice when nuns are portrayed in TV, movies and such they are either plucky young novices or crotchety old battleaxes? There's no in-between with nun portrayals. Maybe I should give up the novel-writing gig and try a musical about crotchety novices and plucky Mother Superiors who fight crime like the Powerpuffs Girls, and fly! Numerology 45: Number of times I have heard the quip "Of course Mike Moore isn't going for Best Documentary. His movie is fiction!" 30, or thereabouts: days left until La Lively's big debut 1982: the year Mats Wilander won the US Open, at least that's I what I heard during the rain delay 25: number of minutes it took to assemble the bassinet 0: hours of sleep I expect to get in the next three months 2004/09/07
I walk the line 
A recent pic of Malc. Over the last year he has lost so much weight that he is nearly back down to what he weighed when we first met. He and I seem to be on opposite scales (no pun) when it comes to weight - he's up when I'm losing, and vice versa. Now, though, my weight issues are all pregnancy related, so it appears I have a lot of work to do to get down to my ideal fighting weight. Only part of his weight loss is attributed to actual diet and exercise. The rest of it dropped so quickly because of illness, but hopefully that is going to end soon. I never realized how difficult it is to find a diagnosis for "I just don't feel good." 2004/09/04
Fictionwise.com is the Amazon.com of eBooks, and finally they have made Saints Preserve Us available for sale. You can buy it for 15% off regular price in Adobe and MS Reader formats. I imagine Pithed will eventually be listed there as well, soon as it's ready to go. 2004/09/03
In keeping with the times, the stroller/car seat combination we're getting as a gift is much nicer than the car in which it will be stored. 2004/09/02
I've begun a new love affair with the thrift shop. Got a big sack of clothes for four bucks at the Salvation Army. Nice stuff, too. Carter's and Osh Kosh and Old Navy. I figure there's no point in buying new. I don't plan to enter La Lively into any pageants, and if she wants to do that later in life she can do what I did - get a job and pay her own expenses. This is all dependent, of course, on whether or not her pro tennis career takes off. 2004/09/01
New Book Murder Plus Five by Karen Ross is a new release from Whiskey Creek, a book I edited. It's a nice, quick murder mystery, told from various points of view. No graphic situations or language, a story that breaks down gradually and builds with suspense. Check it out. Welcome to the Ring Eddy's Vocation Journey North Western Winds Nosce Te Ipsvm Of the Cross And to address one point, as sent by an applicant: I usually check new blogs once a week before adding to the ring. 2004/08/31
N-n-n-n-n-no, Sharona! Ye gads, is Monk strapping on the water skis to jump the shark? Just heard Bitty is leaving Monk. It doesn't sound good, unless the show can pull off a successful switch a la Rebecca Howe for Diane Chambers. On the upside, though, there's a job opening here; they're looking for a weary woman in her 30s. That's me. 2004/08/30
Two ways to get here Now if you plug in www.livelywriter.com, it will take you here. I've had that URL for a while, in addition to www.kathrynlively.com; it used to be home to FrancisIsidore E-Press, but I have decided to shut down that enterprise. eBooks do sell, just not in the niche market of Catholic fiction (print Catholic novels are just as bad, but that's another blog for another day). Fun while it lasted, we raised some money for the Order of the Alhambra, and we received three EPPIE nominations and a Dream Realm nomination in the two years we were active, which just goes to show we had some quality writers. Ronda Chervin's Summer Knight's Tale will be republished through Booksurge later this year, and hopefully Lynden, Carolyn, Karina and Rob and Pete will find other publishers. Little Flowers, of course, will be reprinted in 2005, and Murder Most Trivial will remain available for free online since it is mine. Wish I could have done more with FIE, but with La Lively on her way it's going to eat into my personal writing time, to say nothing of the works of others. 2004/08/27
Welcome to the Ring An Aid to Memory Ancient and Future Catholic Musings Diary of a Suburban Priest Inside the Box Jumping Without a Chute Keli's Blog Ruminations St. Blog's Parish Hall - not a blog, but being it is a forum for St. Blog members I've decided to add it Glory, Glory November is now the target date for the release of the coloring book I wrote on Blessed Miguel Pro for Catholic World Mission. I'm told a former Disney artist who did the animation for Robin Hood (one of my favorite Disney animated films, coincidentally) designed the cover. The corresponding radio show, which I also wrote, will debut in November on EWTN Kids radio! It's a been a long time coming, but it's heartening to know La Lively will be here for the debut. But don't get me started on that little diva today. We videotaped my ultrasound this morning, and she decided she wasn't going to move. Kept her back to us the whole time. Didn't help that Malc had to comment that she's definitely my child. 2004/08/26
Kill Gonzo, Vol. 1 I suppose Tarantino appearing in the new Muppet film would be cool, but if Beaker's not in it, I'm not paying full price. 2004/08/25
Can't blog. Birthday. Mom called at seven and wondered why I wasn't up yet. I couldn't get up. Seriously. I could not move. Gravity is not my friend these days. I'm not expecting a nice haul this year. Presents just don't seem to hold for me the excitement and anticipation of my youth. It's nice to get a book I'd like to read or a CD I've been wanting, and Malc's been prodding me to make a wishlist, but I really can't of anything I Must. Have. Now. Yeah, I still haven't bought Feedback or Neil Peart's new book, but they're secondary to, oh, getting a crib. The other birthday St. Blogger got Triplets of Belleville, but I saw it in the theater already. My DVD tastes tend to run closer to TV series. M*A*S*H and The Simpsons, but I wouldn't mind the first season of Monk or the Trailer Park Boys collection, if I could find the time to watch them. Better to stock up on Veggie Tales or something along that line. 2004/08/24
Tuesday Musings Dude, Where's My Placenta?: the director's cut of Butterfly Effect, according to The Movie Spoiler, has Ashton Kutchner's character time-traveling all the way back to before he was even born so he can strangle himself in the womb, thereby preventing his birth and all the bad stuff that happened in the movie. Uh, gross. I'll take "Movies that probably won't be shown at the next HLI Film Festival" for $500, Alex. Quitcher Bitching: Paul Hamm won the gold in the male all-around. It's over, it's done, get over it, move on with your lives. You had a window of opportunity to file a legitimate complaint and it lapsed, tough. If it had been anybody other than an American in that position, I have to wonder if there would be an investigation. I'm beginning to wonder if the Olympics are slowly becoming outdated; everything has to be questioned and analyzed now. Next thing you know people will want the US women's softball team to give their medals to the other teams to make them feel good. Hey, let's give everybody a gold medal just for showing up because we're all winners. Sure, Michael Phelps might be the fastest guy in the water, but we can't discount the feelings of the guy who swam six body lengths behind him. Mike, you got gold to spare. Share the wealth. Yeesh. Back in fourth grade I was upset because I didn't get a citizenship award at the end of the year. You know what my teacher said? "Maybe you didn't deserve one." And, in retrospect, I didn't. I was a terror. I didn't file a complaint to Sister Josephine. She probably would have told me to get over it, too. Down to the Wire: No film on the first night of birthing class, which is a good thing because I suppose they don't want to scare us outright. There was one mother-to-be freaked out about a few things (the E word, especially), which is understandable. The thing that gets to me about this class and the whole situation is the slow realization that yes, there is a person growing inside me, and yes, she's going to want to come out soon. It's finally coming to me that in about eight weeks I'm going to have to give birth, and what's especially weird is that I've had trouble remembering a time when I was not pregnant. So much time has elapsed since January, and the months have disappeared. This has been my reality for too long, and I wonder how I will feel physically when it's all over. I'm too used to seeing myself in the mirror now, like that's the way I should look for all time. Maybe this is how post-partum depression starts; you start to miss the movement inside you because it's been a part of you for so long. And to think people actually advocate ending it through such barbaric means. Because I Don't Have Enough to Do Already Dept.: The Write Stuff newsletter for Catholic writers is going to print in September. I had created some sample back issues for a job application packet, and I figured why not try a prototype issue for September? If response is good, I'll see about making it a regular thing. If you'd like a sample WS in print, e-mail or note it in the comment box and I'll get back to you with the address for PayPal or a SASE. 2004/08/23
My back is feeling better now. Last week must have been an isolated incident. I hope this means the baby has turned and I shouldn't have to expect any more surprise pains until magic hour. On a related note, birthing class begins tonight. Good chance we won't be watching the the cool Thunderbirds-inspired mini-film that played after intermission at the Rush show, but after a straight week of the Olympics I'm ready for something new, even if it is a birthing video. 2004/08/20
Glow, schmo This needs to end now. My back is killing me. I about collapsed at Starbuck's, I was in so much pain. I suppose it serves me right for going to Starbuck's in the first place, but man! It started as a sharp twinge at the small of my back, and now the pain is centered behind my left hip. Malc says it has to be that a nerve is pinched. I'm fine if I get up and walk around, and I have a back pillow, but I'm still uncomfortable. And eight more weeks of this. Ugh. Hey! Show 'em my motto! What is with this search bar on top of my blog blocking my banner ad for my books? Get it off! Hey, St. Blog's swag, courtesy of Southfarthing Soapbox. No thongs, though. 2004/08/19
Staying gold. S.E. Hinton is back, with a new book after 16 years. The Outsiders was one of my favorite books of all time, one of the few books I can remember reading over and over again. Same with the movie, I wore out the copy I had, and can't find it on DVD anywhere. Can't wait for this one. 2004/08/17
In addition, Harry will learn Voldemort is his father, Hermione is his sister, and the famous Weasley hair is actually the product of a magical bottle job. And Billy Dee Williams will be giving the commencement address on graduation day. There, I just saved you forty bucks. You're welcome. The new gene pool Now it's Zorak's turn. Seriously, we need to get a survey of pregnant St. Bloggers here. I know there's quite a few. Maybe get a pool going, see who gets closest to her due date without going over. Rock and roll beer cans: People are complaining a black artist was excluded from this commemorative series. I say, you're complaining? For one thing, it's Miller beer, nothing over which to be sore (A-B put Malc through college). For two, maybe beer companies should reserve photo space on their cans for something more important, like missing husbands. Football season started, you know, I'm already missing mine. Speaking of which, I got a good draw on my Fantasy team, the Vapor Trails. I got Hasselback and Priest Holmes and Vinny Testaverde, and Elam's kicking. Just need to find a better defense squad. 2004/08/13
Chee-burger, chee-burger. No gin, Pepsi. Asked by a radio interviewer once what her ultimate meal would be, Child said: "Red meat and a bottle of gin." Yeah, baby. My grandmother cooked everything in bacon fat and lived to be 102. God bless them both. Barbie is running for president. One could argue this is a more attractive option than the two currently in the race (though I shudder to think she'd turn Air Force One into her Malibu Dream Plane), but I'd have to know Barbie's platform on abortion and gay marriages first before I decide to throw away my vote on a third-party candidate. 2004/08/12
Anybody familiar with the Front Royal, VA area? Is cost of living high? Could one feasibly live in Maryland and commute to work there without having to deal with traffic? Good schools, bad schools, is there a good church there? 2004/08/09
Welcome to the Parish Ring Cradle Catholic Hanging On Dressing with Dignity - Colleen Hammond's blog for her book of the same name Irish Law Just Bein' Frank Musings of a Pertinacious Papist - maybe he should change it to "Postings" to keep up the alliteration. ;-) Spiritus et Sponsa ::thinking out loud:: Times Against Humanity Potpourri for $500 Got a kick out of Oblique's visit to Wal-Mart during the school supply shopping season. I shudder to think what I'll have to buy in five years. When I was kindergarten I remember one required item was a cigar box in which to keep all the supplies. For some reason, when Dad let me have a Hav-A-Tampa box he had recently emptied, Mom wouldn't let me use it. A message board I'm reading is all hot and bothered over Rick James's untimely (?) demise. Should we speak ill of the dead, should we eulogize him with fondness? I don't know what was going on in his final moments, but I suppose we can all hope he got things straightened out before time ran out. 2004/08/06
If you give a snake a heating pad... ...he'll eat it. I'll lay odds Ozzy's bats never gave him this much trouble. Paulie re-records his Live Aid vocals for upcoming DVD, to be released Christmas. I might actually consider getting this one; surprised they didn't wait a year to commemorate the 20th anniversary. It would be nice to see some of the performances without Martha Quinn getting in the way and yammering on about she wished the people at home could see everything. We would have been able to if she had just gotten the hell off camera, and if MTV had not loaded the day's airing with commercials. I can still remember all of this after 20 years. Judges of the Supreme Court? I can name five. Hamlet's soliloquy? Forget it. 2004/08/04
It was a dark and busty night.. Looks like I've been going about this publishing thing backwards. Apparently, in order to seal the big time contract, I was supposed to grow really big boobs, be on TV, have my honeymoon video uploaded on the Internet, marry and divorce a tattoed drummer, and date Kid Rock first. All those years of college and reading Hemingway, wasted. All the news that's fit to pith Now, when you join the brand spanking new official Mundania Press readers mailing list, you'll get all the latest news on Pithed, like when it's coming out, how to order it, what the critics are saying, where Kathryn is signing it, why should you buy it, what will happen to you and your loved ones if you don't, how your selfish inability to buy this book will prevent Kathryn and Malcolm from starting a college fund for La Lively...all the good stuff you might not normally read here. Yeah, and they'll have information on their other authors, like Piers Anthony, whoever he is. Paging Jay Leno 130,000 condoms to be made available at Olympic Village. Okay, 130K should take care of the US basketball team, but what about everybody else? On a more serious note, when are they going to find the time, and won't their significant others at home be kind of peeved? 2004/08/03
And spring gave summer a miss and went straight to hurricane season So I got me a box of books, made some of Dr. B's chili, and bought some marshmallows for the cocoa. Nothing to do but wait out Hurricane Alex. And stay dry. And read all the Hurricane Alex jokes on the Rush message board. Now, of course, would be the time for that second wind to kick in. I was up 'til one this morning baking and cooking. It might have had something to do with this iron supplement I started taking on the advise of my physician, as my regular iron deficiency has become more apparent in recent months. I eat lots of turkey and spinach, so I don't know why I keep having this problem. It used to crop up once in a while when I tried to give blood. Maybe I should cut down on something else? 2004/08/02
Come chat with me I am the scheduled mystery author for chat at Mystery Reads tonight at 9PM EST. This is my first publicity chat, and I'm looking forward to it, so if you're into chat and truly want to know how this mind works, come on down. Even if you don't want to know how this mind works, come on down anyway. I type pretty fast, so the chat should go well. 2004/07/30
2004/07/28
Headline of the week: SEC Probes Twinkies Maker. I hope this doesn't mean there won't be anymore Twinkies. I 7 1/2 months pregnant; Twinkies are a food group now. 2004/07/27
Fun things to do in your third trimester Go to Borders or your favorite newsstand and ask the clerk for the latest issue of Soldier of Fortune. When strangers come up and ask when the baby is due, look at them funny and say, "What baby?" When entering a buffet restaurant, walk right up to the buffet and loudly advise the people gathered around that unless they want to be missing some fingers, they best stand back. Misc. Catholic/Christian Book Review blog is finally updated, and a new ish of LivelyWriter Reviews is out. Finishing up editing work on Morgan J. Blake's Western, Redemption, which is going to be very good. More than suitable reading for anybody who likes Westerns and isn't into a lot of gratuitous sex (there is a bit of violence, but that comes with the territory, pardon the pun). It's the planned first of a trilogy, too. Everybody's saying I grew overnight; I think I did. I did not really notice this morning; neither did Malc until he picked me up for lunch, and when he saw me his eyes bugged out of his head. Thanks, guy. I feel lower to the ground and I'm moving slower. The weather is terrible and I still have two more months to go. Ugh. And, happy early 51st birthday to Geddy. I was only four months along here: 
2004/07/26
Can you tell me how to get...how to get to Christopher Street? Don't ask me why news of the upcoming gay/lesbian TV channel has me thinking about children's toys. While roaming through Target the other day I noticed Strawberry Shortcake is making a comeback. I used to have some of those scenteed dolls when I was younger (I had SS, Lemon Meringue, and Orange Blossom)and I suppose she'll be around long enough for La Lively to want some, too -- the circle of merchan-, er, life is sustained. It got me to thinking about those old Strawberry Shortcake TV specials, which had a villain called the Peculiar Purple Pieman of Porcupine Peak. I don't think they had that doll out. So I'm standing in this store, memories flooding back to me, and I realized, man, the Pieman had to have been the gayest cartoon character of his time. More so than Gargamel, anyway. Where was Pat Robertson when this guy was infiltrating the airwaves? I guess I just made a connection between that and this new gay TV. Maybe they'll pick up the show in the morning. We'll have to watch something now that the Tour de France is over. 2004/07/25
Just got back from a trip to Charlottesville, celebrating the big 1-0. Had to listen to Malc doing his impression of John Cusack's friend in Grosse Point Blank the whole weekend. Ten years! Ten freakin' years! That got old rather quickly. Anyway, if you're celebrating your tenth, twentieth, or just like to go out, we heartily recommend The Oakmoor Inn B&B outside of Waynesboro. Nice folks, great digs. Peace and quiet, and it's near some great hiking, biking, and Virginia wineries. For dinner, it was Jarman Gap in Crozet. Crozet, BTW, is the inspirational setting for Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy mystery series - the protagonist is the town Postmaster. Town wasn't what I had pictured originally, and we did find a post office, which is nothing like I pictured, either. Too modern-looking. But it's a nice town and the food was excellent. And Charlottesville is always a nice place to see; better to go when UVA isn't in session. 2004/07/22
2004/07/20
Your tongue twister for this morning La Lively likes Lyle Lovett. I gathered as much watching him on John McEnroe's show last night, from the way she constantly kicked. Never kicks during a Beatles or Rush tune. It's going to be a long eighteen years. I also seem to have grown significantly overnight, according to witnesses. For the past six months, people were literally holding spyglasses to my stomach, and now I'm actually pregnant. I feel it, too. The back aches, the front aches, thankfully my ankles are not swelling yet. I'm still walking my allotted thirty minutes, but distance has changed over the weeks. I'm a moving kinda slow at the junction, if you know what I mean. 2004/07/19
While watching the Jaguar ahead of us clog up the turn lane MALCOLM: No, don't make a U-turn? Why are you going into McDonald's for? KATHRYN: After making a car payment for that, it's probably all she can afford. 2004/07/16
Welcome to the Ring Ad Limina Apostolorum A Country Boy Writes... Deus Volent Laodicea Just a few more notes, since I received an e-mail this morning: once you're accepted into the ring, the ring code must always be on your blog. If you remove it, you're removed from the ring. Also, the ring is not affiliated with Gerard's list of blogs. This is a separate deal, so please no more e-mail asking why you're not in the ring or on Patrick's aggregator if you're listed on Gerard's list. Where's that second wind? I'm supposed to get a burst of energy in the second trimester. Did I miss it? I want to take a nap. BTW, it's not a good idea to leave me with a wish list pricing gun at Target. People are going to wonder what the baby needs with a Weber Grillmaster 12000. 2004/07/14
Save Ferris, er Funky Some of you might know that I keep a Funky Winkerbean fan site on the Net; it needs to be updated, yet from time to time I get e-mail about the strip. Mind you, I no Funky expert, but I did receive a thumbs up from Tom Batiuk, which is cool. Anyway, today's Funky mail comes from St. Louis: Help, please! The St. Louis Post Dispatch has reorganized the comics pages. This brings the loss of several comics strips to make room for new ones, My favorite comic strip, Funky Winkerbean, has been eliminated. I am mounting a campaign of support of the comic strip in hopes they will reverse this action. They have asked for comments. I am sending an e mail to protest this decision would ask that you do the same. Please write to: comics@Post-Dispatch.com If you're in the area, or even if you're not, drop them a line. Funky is still a good strip. Not as offensive as others, anyway. If you've read it over the years as I have, you'll know Batiuk has matured the strip somewhat in a For Better or For Worse kind of way, tackling serious topics at times. Some people don't believe that sort of thing belongs in comic strips, but I like to think it's a sign that a strip isn't going stale, like others I know and have stopped reading. 2004/07/13
Check your closets So, exactly how many more lost Beatles recordings can we expect to discover in the next ten years? Future US Women's Olympic soccer star, Rockette, it's all good Lying in the recliner last night, enduring massive kicking, I decided if it was something I could actually see as well as feel. Malc gave me an odd look as I pulled up part of my shirt, but when he saw my abdomen jut forward with one of La Lively's kicks he was amazed. "She's going to town," he said. Yes, there's actually someone moving around in there, kicking away trying to get out. It was like watching Alien for a second; a bit scary, too. To think in a few months it will be over and there will be a small, living being dependent upon me. Yikes. One thing ran through my mind the whole time: why anybody would willingly advocate termination is beyond me. All these actresses and activists marching en masse, raising their fists for choice, some of whom no doubt have experienced something like I did (am doing now). How could anyone look at such movement and says it's okay if you want to put a stop to it? 2004/07/12
I feel his pain; a stack of books once landed on me, too The overwhelming life of a book reviewer. Right now there's a stack of books and ARCs where the crib is supposed to be. I imagine I'll get a lot done reading La Lively to sleep, using her as a gauge. If she falls asleep during the first chapter, two stars. Of course, there's always Children's Books Online. You could get lost in there. Heyyyyyyyy, Macarena!  Malc actually suggested Condoleeza as a girl's name once. Condoleeza Therese Lively? Another one down On the Pulitzer list: I hate editing. I've found so many continuity errors in Pithed today; Andy was fifty-two in one chapter and in his sixties later in the book, for example. The story doesn't span that many years. 2004/07/09
The View Through the Windshield reviews The Man Who Saved My Soul, a book on my summer reading list. You'll have to scroll down for it. I should receive such fan mail If Malc were here he would use today's Get Fuzzy as proof of the importance of a strong vocabulary. But I do get warm fuzzy mail about my books from time to time: "In Pithed, Kathryn Lively keeps us guessing as story events unfold in entertaining twists and turns told in prose sparkling with wit and unsentimental charm." - Bob Stanton, author of Views from a Window, Conversations with Gore Vidal and The Devil's Rood Venerate that. 2004/07/08
In answer to The Curt Jester on an old comment question, I haven't bought Feedback yet (yes, I'm too strapped to buy an EP, of all things), but I did find this interesting article on Ged's parents who, I had not realized before, survived the Holocaust. Very touching story. But who will play Tim? My sister has tix for the Chicago previews, I might just have to call in sick and haul La Lively out there to see it. 2004/07/07
Welcome and G'Day! Andrew Cusack, no relation to John or Joan or Clyde or Skippy CowPi Journal (mmm, pi) Credibility, something we could all use - or is that good credit? Dust in the Light Inter Alia from Down Under (our first Aussie blog?) Little Fish, not directed by Tim Burton Mass Reflections Mystery Achievement SharpeBlog Back from whatever ailed Blogger... ...and the mothership. Saw Earth, Wind, and Fire last night at the amphitheatre. Great show. Didn't realize they had as many songs as they did - most I had erroneously attributed to The Commodores or another R&B/funk group with 50 members. They were paired with Chicago, but we didn't stay long after that; they seem to tour every year, so we'll catch them next time. Rewrites to be done on the Blessed Miguel Pro radio script I did for Catholic World Mission. They want it longer (!) and asked to punch up the dialogue. Said it was stilted. Kind of an ego blow, considering the most common compliment I get about my books is the great dialogue. Who's the patron of screenwriting, St. Eszterhas? I need somebody's help. 2004/07/03
This Ain't Shakespeare This Ain't Shakespeare, a production of the Julia Street Players in Titusville, FL, is scheduled for late August. The show is a series of comedic sketches, some written by yours truly. Sales of the DVDs of the event will benefit The American Legion, and disc will be sent to the troops overseas. 2004/07/02
Six minutes and counting Rush.com published my review of the VB show. To get there, click on "Touring," then "Tour Reviews," then Virginia Beach. You'll have to scroll down a bit. I'm the third or fourth one down. 2004/07/01
Welcome to the Ring It's the promise of life, the joy in your heart Just One Friar The Pope Blog, all Pope, all the time Also went through the queue and deleted applicants from May and before who never put up their code. So if you applied in May or before that and never got a confirmation, it's because I didn't see the code on your blog. The ring code has to be there or else I can't add your name to these nifty little lists I publish. Also, if you sign up for the blog ring with a site that's not a blog, forget it. But do I get a 10% discount at area Waffle Houses by flashing my card? I've just been invited to join the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy, and have my named engraved on a certificate stating as much, suitable for framing. That's going to look great on my wall next to the Charlie Brown posterboard holding my 50 States Quarters. 2004/06/30
Slow days ahead. Been challenged by one of my publishers to increase sales, right around the time a shipment of 5000 bookmarks arrived via UPS (split between eight other authors, it was a co-op). Looking into joining Friends of the Library and getting more involved in the neighborhood, since it appears we may stick around more than six months. I'm sick of moving. Then there's the big 4th bash at the farm, with a parade this time to commemorate the high school's 60th anniversary of winning the state basketball title. The school is gone, but they have most of the original team there for the float. Malc's trying to get me to ride one. I am a float, I tell him, but maybe I can throw the bookmarks at people... Still tired. Stayed up to watch Randy Johnson pitch number 4,000. Crowd seemed more excited than he did about it. Did they win? 2004/06/28
More Than You Needed To Know Dept. I've consulted various books and talked to a number of people and am still not certain: is it okay to sleep on your back six months along? I hear yes, I hear no. It's just that sleeping on my side is getting very uncomfortable, and I always feel better sleeping on my back. Not only that, there's less chance Malc will kick me awake if I do because of my so-called snoring (I'm putting sleep aid things up my nose at night, waking up to a bleeding nose and he says it doesn't work). Any of you mothers hear you couldn't sleep a certain way? 2004/06/25
Anybody care to suggest an appropriate Van Halen lyric to accompany this article about DLR training to be an EMT. W-O-W! Rollergirl, don't worry, DJ plays the movies all night long... ...but they don't play enough of Dire Straits. A shame. 2004/06/24
Welcome to the ring A Call to Adventure The Den Mother In Today's News Jeff Burden: Once Upon a Midnight Dreary Wired Catholic - yah, it looks more like the Drudge Report site, and I debated whether or not to add it, but given it's constant updating it seems fairly bloggish. I would have guessed The Beach Boys, or the Wiggles HoustonPress.com: Rush, the whitest band on Earth? What is St. Blog's talking about? Check out Extreme Catholic's St. Blog's word frequency count. Some words I'd like to see next time: buy kathryn lively's books I'm sure they're buying beer, too Those other acts that over the decades have shared the airwaves with Rush -- Styx, Heart, Foreigner -- are all playing state fairs for beer money and barbecue, if they're playing at all. Rush continues selling out Big Rock arenas. Two years ago, they played a soccer stadium in Sao Paolo to 60,000 fans. That's the number "6" followed by four zeros. Not exactly. Styx is playing here this weekend at the Amphitheatre, but they're practically giving away tickets. I'd go, but Malc absolutely refuses to see them without Dennis DeYoung. He likens it to paying too much to see a cover band - even free tickets are too much. I find his logic amusing, considering the one time he did see Styx with DeYoung he swore DeYoung was so high/stoned/drunk/coked up that he kept flubbing lyrics all night. Thanks to the anonymous tipster for the article. I'll edit later tonight with the pic from my Meet and Greet. 2004/06/23
Book 'Em, Waynesboro I had been invited to speak at the First Annual Book ‘Em event in Waynesboro, VA, which is near part of the Appalachian Trail, beautiful country out there. Only problem is, the event is to be held on October 23, and La Lively is scheduled to arrive around Columbus Day, so I unfortunately had to pass. I will try, though, to donate some books for their drawings. If you're in the area, check out the link and stop by. The event is organized to promote literacy, which is something Malc and I always support. Hopefully it will be successful enough for a second year and I can go to that one. 2004/06/22
But does he sign body parts? "Bill Clinton is a rock star," said Lynne Roberts, 37, who set up camp on the sidewalk Monday night. "He is our cultural icon and we miss him now more than ever, given everything that's going on in the world." Not the term I would have used to describe Bill. From Tim Drake (Just voted myself. Was surprised to see Life is Beautiful did not make the cut, but Moonstruck did?) Dear friends, On behalf of the National Catholic Register I'm sending this to Catholic friends both far and wide. Please, feel free to vote for your favorite "pro-Catholic" films and feel free to forward this to friends and family who are tired of the anti-Catholic shlock that Hollywood usually produces. Thanks, Tim Drake, staff writer National Catholic Register ------------- Dear Concerned Catholic, Thank you for nominating your favorite 'pro-Catholic' films for the National Catholic Register and Faith and Family magazine Catholic Movie Poll. Now it's time to vote for the finalists. Visit http://www.catholicworldmission.kintera.org/catholicmoviepoll. There, you can choose your personal TOP FIVE movies that make you proud to be Catholic from the final list of nominees. Hurry: Voting ends on June 28, 2004. Please forward this email to your family and friends so they can vote, too! Thank you, Father Owen Kearns, LC The National Catholic Register and Faith and Family Magazine 2004/06/21
Unanswered Questions of the Universe, Pt. 12 If The Flintstones is supposed to be set in the time before Christ, why was there a Christmas special? If you try to fail but succeed, then which have you really done? I imagine this will make more sense to me once I've read the book Or at least rented the Masterpiece Theater version of it. Thanks, Elinor, now I can't get the theme song out of my head. You are Lady Cordelia Flyte. You are loving and loyal. You're not a sentimental dowdy, however: you have a lively sense of humor and keen intellect. What Brideshead Revisited character are you? brought to you by Quizilla 2004/06/18
2004/06/17
You want to know what I got? A briefcase, to use for college Link via Fr. Bryce: The latest graduation gift for teenaged girls: breast implants. When I was sixteen, I wanted to go on the Spanish Club Spring Break trip to Mexico City. I needed $600 to pay my way. My mom said, "We don't have $600. You'll have to get a job and pay for it yourself." So I got a job at McDonald's as hostess. A hostess at McDonald's sweeps up after everybody, refills straw containers, and supervises those damn kiddie parties. The customers treated me like crap, the managers treated me like crap, and my fellow workers were indifferent, probably because they all believed I did not have the know-how to do anything more than push a broom. Never mind that I was a college-bound honor student who understood the symbolism in Chaim Potok's The Chosen and could recite Hamlet's soliloquy from memory; such knowledge has no bearing in the world of fast food production and sales. I was not skilled enough to operate the shake machine, which always seemed to be broken anyway. I hated that job with a passion, but in due time I earned enough to go to Mexico. It was worth the pain. I saw ancient ruins, absorbed a different culture, and ordered food in a different language. I attended Mass in a huge cathedral and watched how things were done, people lighting candles and crying during the Rosary. I stepped on a conveyer belt under the blessed tilma Juan Diego wore when visited by Our Lady of Guadalupe and snapped picture after picture. Why am I telling you this story? Because when I was sixteen I wanted opportunities like the one I experienced, I didn't want big boobs. I'm not going to say I didn't have moments of vanity as a teenager, and that I did not wish to be blonder, thinner, and/or have flawless skin, but I made do with what I had, and I turned out fine. If you stand tall enough and smile and look confident to a world that prizes its own definition of physical beauty, you're going to do just fine yourself. Here it is, fifteen years later, and I have many memories of a wonderful trip I took, paid in full by yours truly. What will the girl who gets implants have? Back pain? Cancer? What would possess somebody to put a foreign substance like that in her body? The Big Macs I used to get at work for free were probably damage enough to my system. Save your money, girls, or use it for something else. Travel. Buy books. Give it to the poor. Drink water, zero carbs If the Old Oligarch doesn't like it, it must be bad. I don't see the point of Coca-Cola 2, either. Sequels are seldom good, unless directed by Francis Coppola or Peter Jackson. 2004/06/16
I hate Mondays, too Garfield as a soulless marketing tool, from Slate.com. FWIW, I thought the strip was funny in its earlier years, and for the longest time it was Malc's favorite strip (Ours is a mixed marriage: a Garfield fan marrying a Peanuts fan). Now we both read Get Fuzzy; let's hope Darby doesn't lose his soul. I thought it was a joke... seen on King of the Hill, but there actually is an International Federation of Competitive Eating, according to the New York Post (yes, I am considering the source). I see they have a website, too, where I notice a state record for hot dog eating was broken in my own backyard. Can't believe I missed that. Considering my current condition, I'm surprised I didn't enter. What else is going on in Norfolk? We're trying to a get a major league baseball team this time, after failing to get the old Charlotte Hornets. There's a plan to paint all the sewer covers in town to look like baseballs. Maybe they should fix the roads first before they do that. What a wild week, and it's only half over. Waiting for news on Buddie wiped us both us out, so neither of us got to see the Pistons win. I feel bad Jack Nicholson had to fly all the way out to Detroit to be disappointed, but at least he can afford it. And, I suppose, there's always Anger Management 2 to look foward to. One is the loneliest number: Getting closer to a Ramones reunion in the next life. That stinks for us, though, since we're still subject to Motley Crue (I don't know where the umlauts go, Nihil; I'm too tired to check). Why is it that these guys can shoot themselves up with Drano and drive their cars off of a fifty-foot burning building and walk away unscathed while everybody else gets called sooner? Are they proof of the old bumper sticker motto: Heaven doesn't want me and Hell is afraid I'll take over? Father-in-law Update Thanks for the prayers and kind thoughts. Buddie only had to have a stint in one artery. He is doing well and will hopefully be home at the end of the week. Turns out there was no need for surgery. We'll have to be on him to make sure he doesn't work too hard. 2004/06/15
Regardless of what people in Chaucer's day might have thought... Try calling any of my friends the C-word and see if you don't have to spend the rest of the afternoon picking up your teeth. Prayer emergency Malc's father suffered a heart attack last night. He seems to be stable now; they're going to try a catheter first before determining if they need to do a bypass. Please pray for Buddie. I would really like for La Lively to have both sets of grandparents around for a while. 2004/06/14
I'm not one to run away with unconfirmed rumors, but somebody had posted on a mailing list I read that the great mystery writer Dick Francis has passed. Granted, he did retire a few years back after his wife/writing partner passed away, so it makes sense that he hasn't been heard from in a while, but I can't find any other confirmation. I mean, the man is a multiple Edgar Award winner, was named a Grand Master of the genre, and rode horses for the former Queen of England. Surely his passing would be mentioned prominently? Seeing nothing, I'm hoping this is just hearsay. That would just break my heart. Francis is one of my all-time favorites; I missed meeting him when he was signing Wild Horses several years back, but I did get a personalized, signed copy from Oxford Books in Atlanta (a victim of B&N and the like). If anybody has heard different, please let me know. The new season of Monk can't get here quickly enough Last night, during the Pistons/Lakers game, we saw trailers for upcoming shows about wife-swapping and cheating housewives. It's times like this I'm almost saddened Friends is gone. 2004/06/11
Welcome to the Ring Air Catholic Canada Aurora Borealis blog.cathcoll.net The Four Pillars TORC Blog Girlie Books The nursery looks more like our library now; it will double as my office because naturally I'm going to be spending a lot of time there. Some boxes need to be cleared away still, but I think we'll have room for everything. Malc saved an impressive collection of those old "Cornerstone of Freedom" books. You might have had some when you were little. They are short picture books about various historical events and objects. The story of Mount Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, the Revolutionary War, etc. Of course, La Lively will have a wealth of reading material as she grows, it's just a matter of picking and choosing. I'd like to get all the original Pooh Corner books, and the original Little House books I read growing up, to read to her at night. For fun I bought Hoot by Carl Hiaasen (big fan), but that will be out of her range for a while. I'm thinking also the Narnia books. Sweet Valley I won't bother with 'til she's older (if those books are still around). I've not read the Lemony Snicket books...any opinions on those? Or any others? Yes, I realize this sounds a bit much for a baby not yet born, but her mother is a writer and her father is a reading education professor. Did you think we were going to give her Tinkertoys? 2004/06/10
Book news Pithed has been pushed back to August, which suits me fine. It gives me more time to focus on a marketing plan using what I observed at Book Expo. Given the sleuth is a teacher, it would make a great back-to-school gift for your favorite educator, you think? Only
 
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