What do you think?

Okay I don't usually whine...much...but last week on Friday night it was my niece's 40th birthday...yeah, I'm old. But anyway, she is a mother of 7...yes, count them, 7 children...but that's not the awe...mazing thing. The amazing thing is that she adopted three children, after having four biological children. She adopted all three because her daughter became friends with the oldest and she and her siblings were taken away from their mother and going to be put in a foster home.

Anyway, that's the kind of woman my niece is. She couldn't stand the thought of the kids being split up . . . so she adopted them all.

And, like I was saying, Friday night was her 40th birthday and her entire family was going to a football game where her son would be playing in his senior game against her old high school.

So, I got an idea. I called the school district and the athletic director/vice principal of the school where the game was being played (the school where my--40 year old--niece and nephew went to high school). I told them the situation, you know, that my niece and nephew had gone to their school back when they were young and they would all be sitting in the bleachers that evening to watch her son play his senior game against their old school and wouldn't it be nice if they could announce "Happy Birthday Nikki" over the loudspeaker at half time...?

I got an email back that said, "No. Their job is to make an entertaining evening for the home team."

They wouldn't wish my niece a happy 40th birthday because her son was playing on the opposing side...
even though it was her alma mater...

Now, what kind of an adult would say that? What kind of community building is that?

I don't know...I was really kind of depressed after that but what do you think?

Shadow of a pumpkin

So first I painted my pumpkin black then I put lace over the top and spray-painted it gold.

Now I have a few more ideas...

Pacific Rim - the Movie

My hubby and I went to see Pacific Rim this past weekend. It was Godzilla meets the Transformers.

It was a fun action film. I don't usually like these kinds of shows but it was kind of fun because it reminded me of watching one of those Godzilla films I used to watch on Saturday afternoons when I was growing up.

It also sort of reminded me of Stephen King's movie/book "The Mist".

In Pacific Rim, alien dinosaur-type creatures come through a rift in the earth (kind of like middle earth ;)
Only this rift is down underneath the water...

So all in all it was a fun night out.

The Muppets

I've been on a Muppet Kick!

I've been making Miss Piggy and Kermit this week. I also made a minion and I'm working on a new pumpkin . . . see him in the background...he's pretty plain right now but give me a day or two...

Here's how I made Kermie.

I took some green duck tape and covered the pumpkin.

Then I used ping-pong balls for eyes. I used bamboo skewers to hold the ping pong balls to the pumpkin.

Originally I just drew a mouth on him. But my boys said no one would be able to tell who he was. So I added the collar out of fabric I had around the house and used an old paper plate and some construction paper to make his mouth.

I glued it all together and then put Kermie with his love Miss Piggy.

And I was pretty happy with how he turned out. Of course the boys still don't think anyone will know who he is...I must be getting old because who doesn't know the muppets...?

How Far Will You Go?

So there's no doubt about it. I love conferences. I love classes. And most of all I just love to learn new things. It's not true that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. . .

So, I'm going to head up to the Western Washington SCBWI for one of their October events.

This will be a character building, not mine, but fictional characters workshop and a query building workshop.

So while I love to learn new things, I can also stop by and see my cousin and his family and catch up with them. I love Seattle.

So how bout you...what will you go a long ways for....?

Gonzo

I love to decorate for Halloween and I had this little squash sitting around. I asked my daughter, "what do you think I'm going to do with this?"

She grinned and said, "Gonzo!"

She immediately knew what I was thinking before I said a word.

She knows how I think.

First I cut the ping-pong balls in half and colored them with pens to make eyes. Then I cut little slots to put the "eyes" inside the squash.

After I had the eyes in place I started painting.

Then I added a little wire hair.

I propped him up on a cake stand. I still have more to do but this was fun.

Whistle in the Dark by Susan Hill Long

Last Thursday I went to the debut book opening of Whistle in the Dark. It was held at the Cedar Hills Powell's Books.

This is a fictionalized historical novel about a young boy who wants a dog but gets a miner's cap instead.

I haven't read it yet but I have started it.

It was a fun evening listening to Susan Hill Long talk about her journey as a writer.

I'll post more when I finish the story. . . but for now, you just might want to run out and get your own copy.