Friends, it is officially autumn and I have a gallon of hot cider to prove it (topped with Cool Whip's amazing cinnamon awesomeness, naturally). So to celebrate, here's one of my favorite front stoop moments of all time, recorded on the first day of autumn 3 years ago. The mastermind behind this group Ingrid Michaelson sing-a-long is my favorite pal, Trish. She is so obsessed with fall that she has an annual party just to welcome the season in style, which I totally approve. What is your favorite part about fall? Freshly sharpened pencils? Sweaters? Pumpkin-flavored everything? All of the above (YES!)?
Saturday, 22 September 2012
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Saturday, AKA: the best day of the week, is typically pure bliss. I usually sleep in while Warren plays basketball. But a few Saturdays ago, I was rudely awakened from my sweet slumber by a phone call. It was Warren who said something articulate like: "Uh, hey, I'm driving to the emergency room..."Because his finger looked like this:
Which doesn't look that bad, but here's what it looked like on the inside (ouch):
During his five hour emergency room stay, we did a lot of this:
Yep, we waited five hours for the doctor to take 0.3 seconds to put the finger back into place. About three hours in, I told Warren I would watch a YouTube tutorial and do the job myself and get us out of there no problem. Warren, oddly, declined my generous offer. So the true test of friendship: have you ever fixed someone's dislocated joint (or other injury)?
In other news, Dark Sky Magazine's very sad, very sudden last issue is graciously being hosted by the esteemed Barrelhouse Magazine. Barrelhouse is being a true prince in the hard knock world of literary magazines. DSM's Gabe Durham and company really knocked the issue out of the park. I am honored to be part of this farewell issue, alongside such wonders as Kristina Marie Darling's "Footnotes to a History of Correspondence." Take a looksy over here.
Which doesn't look that bad, but here's what it looked like on the inside (ouch):
During his five hour emergency room stay, we did a lot of this:
Yep, we waited five hours for the doctor to take 0.3 seconds to put the finger back into place. About three hours in, I told Warren I would watch a YouTube tutorial and do the job myself and get us out of there no problem. Warren, oddly, declined my generous offer. So the true test of friendship: have you ever fixed someone's dislocated joint (or other injury)?
In other news, Dark Sky Magazine's very sad, very sudden last issue is graciously being hosted by the esteemed Barrelhouse Magazine. Barrelhouse is being a true prince in the hard knock world of literary magazines. DSM's Gabe Durham and company really knocked the issue out of the park. I am honored to be part of this farewell issue, alongside such wonders as Kristina Marie Darling's "Footnotes to a History of Correspondence." Take a looksy over here.
Sunday, 16 September 2012
Fact: the photo below was not taken in some tropical paradise, even though it looks like one. Yes, friends, we went to the very exotic destination known as "America" for our summer vacation--Michigan's Upper Peninsula, to be exact. Once known for its booming copper mines, the UP (pronounced "you" "pee"--har har) is now riddled with ghost towns and shipwrecks. However, its utter isolation is actually one of its best features, as far as tourism goes. It is just one gorgeous white sand beach strewn after another.
Here are a few things to remember if you find yourself heading across Big Mac, the super long and kind of freaky Mackinac Bridge, to see the magic that is the UP.
1. You gotta stay in a town literally called "Paradise" and watch the moon rise. If time permits, wake early to watch the sunrise while Lake Superior gently laps at your feet. We relived our sunrise engagement, naturally :)
2. Drive to the end of the road to the Shipwreck Museum and take a long walk on the lovely driftwood beach.
4. Take a leisurely boat ride through Pictured Rocks national lakeshore. Note "Indian Chief Rock." And the waterfall. And the amazing chemical reactions that produce the painterly strokes across the sandstone cliffs.
Here are a few things to remember if you find yourself heading across Big Mac, the super long and kind of freaky Mackinac Bridge, to see the magic that is the UP.
1. You gotta stay in a town literally called "Paradise" and watch the moon rise. If time permits, wake early to watch the sunrise while Lake Superior gently laps at your feet. We relived our sunrise engagement, naturally :)
2. Drive to the end of the road to the Shipwreck Museum and take a long walk on the lovely driftwood beach.
3. Climb to the top of a dune. Marvel at the pristine blue of Lake Superior. I mean, really marvel here. How does this even exist? And why didn't I know about it before I moved to Michigan?
5. Decide to never leave, until you have to, then dream about returning pretty much every moment of your life back in the Lower Peninsula. Some fun facts: Yoopers (Upper Peninsula natives) call those who live below Mackinac Bridge "trolls." Hilarious. And no relation to Troll Village. Also, tourists who go to the UP for fudge are called "fudgies" (and yes, the fudge is divine). With this trip, we successfully completed #13 of our 101 Things list! Score!
This trip was one of the absolute highlights of our Pretty Cool Summer. What about you? How did you spend your summer vacation? Or, if you were stuck at home, where would you spend your dream vacation?
Thursday, 6 September 2012
1. Research "The Market"
2. Discover that the New York Times bestsellers list is consistently topped by inspirational animal books like Dewey the Library Cat: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World AND its hit sequel, Dewey's Nine Lives: The Legacy of a Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions.
3. Bemoan the world that allowed these books to make millions of dollars because they had large photos of cuddly animals on their covers.
4. Have an A-Ha! Moment: Must write a nonfiction book that stars a cuddly critter doing inspiring things in the human world, thus bringing Mini Donkeys Take Manhattan to life.
5. Make a fellow MFA alum pretend to write above fake book with you and create an accompanying fake book cover and fake book blurb. It's just so crazy that it might work!
Thus, I present to you what has been at least three years in the making, a sure fire plan that will rake in the moolah in no time flat. I mean, just take a look at the future book cover. It's fail proof!
"Just when everyone, including every MFA graduate in existence, thought that an MFA in nonfiction writing was useless, this sparkling, poignant, debut emerges from the ashes to change your attitude, your life, and--yes-- even the world: MINI DONKEYS TAKE MANHATTAN.
You're so in, am I right? So, if you could make your millions by writing an inspirational animal book such as Dewey the Library Cat or Mini Donkeys Take Manhattan, what would be your animal and how would it inspire the world?Written by two gifted alumni of the University of Iowa's Nonfiction Writing Program, Lina F. (originally from Argentina) and Amy S., this moving collection of photo essays documents a herd of mini donkeys as they navigate the cruel, cold streets of Manhattan.Follow young Cupcake, Sprinkles, and Fred, as they lead their innocent herd to famed sights, such as the Empire State Building, Chinatown, and Central Park. As you watch them nibble on treats from Magnolia Bakery and scamper in the autumnal landscape of the city's parks, your heart will melt and you will understand the precious, fragile, vulnerable, essential beauty of the human--and animal--condition: a beating heart."
*Fake book inspired by and dedicated to Sunbun, the cutest mini donkey I know.
**THIS JUST IN: MERYL STREEP IS GOING TO STAR IN THE DEWEY MOVIE!!!!! Best tip ever from Kendra. Meryl Streep, people! Seriously.
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