Happy Veterans Day

Today's the holiday where we honor the military personnel who have served our country. If you want to read more about the holiday, check it out here.

And to all the military personnel out there, I hope you have a relaxing day filled with family, friends and good food.

Running to Work and Running Nerdom

I love having a goal in mind. And I love running. But sometimes even the best of plans goes awry. I was running to work last week, in the dark. It was about 6:30 a.m. and (this was before daylight savings time kicked in) it was dark. Really dark. Of course I run with a reflective vest on--even though I'm running on the sidewalk. You know, safety first and all.

But there's a really dark portion of the run where I tend to speed up. It's surrounded by trees that block out the light from passing cars, street lights or pretty much anything. And I, being a lover of Stephen King and all that's dark and gruesome, still don't love running through dark secluded areas. Not so much.

Anyway, I was sprinting really fast--well, fast for me--when my foot hit a divot in the sidewalk that I couldn't and didn't see. My foot went to the left, while my body went to the right.

Not a pretty picture. A chubby old lady, running like a Bat Out of Hell, falling...

I went down, hard and fast. It was mere seconds but I had the time to think as I plummeted toward the cement, "If I was younger, I wouldn't be falling."

I've never had a sprain before. But, I guess it's like they say, there's a first time for everything.

Anyway, all this to say, if you're going to do something, you should have the proper gear. I should have had a headlight on like one of these or one of these.

Now, I know it sounds silly to wear a headlamp but do you want to be laid up for a few weeks? Not me. I'm feeling fairly miserable about this. I have to keep my ankle wrapped and try to stay off of it.

Impossible.

But I'm trying. So, if you're concerned about the Runner Nerdom of running with a headlamp on, don't be. First off, if you're running in the dark, no one's going to know it's you. Second, you don't look that good when you run anyway. Believe me. No runner is going to be winning a beauty contest at 6:30 in the morning, when they're sprinting. And lastly, and most importantly: Be safe! Not sorry. Or you just might end up looking like me, scary! No, I'm talking about my feet! See the photo above.

Fun Science for Kids - Homemade Crystals

When I was a kid, I loved to experiment. I was always combining ingredients I found sitting around the house to make my next "invention". I would use sugar, epsom salts and even toothpaste - if it's all I had. I grew all sorts of molds and created all sorts of mayhem for my poor Mom. And it's not like she didn't have enough to do already with nine kids and her mother to take care of.

But as Halloween was approaching I thought, I'd like to make black crystals to use on a pumpkin for hair. This is how I did it.

What you Need to Do:

Before you begin: Write your hypothesis. What do you think will happen?

Then boil the 1/2 cup water and mix in the 1/4 cup epsom salts. Mix the epsom salt until dissolved. When the salt is completely dissolved (you can add food coloring--just a couple drops and stir it up), pour the mixture in to the cookie sheet, barely covering the bottom of the pan (or you can hang a string on a cup and pour the mixture over the string.) Then put your "experiment" in the window or a nice warm place where it won't be disturbed for a couple of days. Every day check on the growth of your crystals (observe) and record (document) your findings. 

What You Need

• 1/4 cup epsom salts (magnesium sufate)
• 1/2 cup water
• shallow cookie sheet, bowl or dish
• food coloring (optional)
• string (optional)

See my picture above for results. Note: It didn't work for hair on the pumpkin. I didn't make enough and it melts really quickly ;D

OryCon In Portland, Oregon

 

OryCon 34: Oregon's Premier Science Fiction Convention, “Apocalypse How?” was held in Portland at the Doubletree Hotel this past weekend, November 2-4. It offered all sorts of events and classes. It even had an evening masquerade ball. 

I went to the hotel to meet with my critique group. We wanted to meet there because one of our members was participating in the conference and a lot of us simply wanted to see the wonderful costumes that came and went with the participants. 

Here are a few photos of a couple costumes but there were so many more. I just didn't get my camera out in time and wasn't clicking fast enough to keep up with them as they hurried from one class or exhibit to another.

But there's always next year. . .

DO YOU WANT YOUR VOICE HEARD?

Then vote.

Word Count for Writers

Writers are always wondering How Long their books should be. Really it's probably a little flexible based on the writing but there is one definitive source for words of wisdom on word counts: and here it is.

If you want to be safe, you should stay in the "acceptable" range. I know it's easy to fall outside the norm but don't give agents and editors a good reason to toss your pages in the trash. Edit, edit, edit until you fit the mold they're looking for.

Now, Happy Writing!

SKINNY MINNIE - SERIOUSLY - MICKEY COME TO THE RESCUE

Who loves Mickey and Minnie? Everyone. But these mice are icons to little kids. And by little I'm talking about 4 and 5 year olds who want to go to Disneyland to have breakfast with the cartoon characters. So we are talking about VERY impressionable little ones here. And I'm saying this is just Crazy! I don't want to see a Skinny Minnie in Barney's window or anywhere, especially at Christmas. I'd like and really want to see a Fit Minnie - Not a Skinny Minnie - or anorexic image for our girls. I'd like to promote a healthy, happy, fit image for little girls. And, yes, I realize she's a mouse and a cartoon character but this is one that has been an icon for decades to our little ones. Let's keep her the way she is or make her FIT not cadaver thin.

Girls have too many unrealistic expectations put on them by the media as it is. Do we really want our little girls growing up with the idea that this is pretty, normal/natural or desired? I don't want girls thinking Thin is In - or that it should be. The message we promote to little girls should be Fit is It! Especially when we're expecting most Americans to be obese by 2030. Let's revolutionize the concept of beauty. We should strive for fitness not anorexia.

Israel did something right when they banned underweight models. Now if we could get everyone else to follow suit. 

Mothers unite, tell Disney we don't want to send this message to our daughters. Skinny Minnie should not be Disney's new image and Barney's shouldn't encourage it either.