Driving Me Crazy.....

Sorry Gang, I've been in and out so much visiting schools, I let this get past me. I think my schedule is driving me crazy. Starting today, I'm slowing down.
I started driving at 16 in my brother's old stick-shift jalopy. Although we had some good times piling teenagers into the homemade convertible, we probably took way too many risks.
My first real car came with my first teaching job. It was a 1965 Volkswagen beetle, dark green. It cost $1,800. brand new. We drove it as a second car for years.
I'm driving my third white Dodge caravan. Love it. Love the space, the high seat. My vanity plate says, "Whodunit" in honor of my mystery series.
I know I must trade one day for something greener, but not yet. Thought you might like this picture of my grands driving across my driveway.

Daily Thoughts 4/30/2009

Elisabeth Maria Anna Jerichau-Baumann, 1855 (right: Jacob Grimm; left: Wilhelm Grimm)

Daily Thoughts 4/30/2009

Today was another intensely busy day. The new slat walls were put up yesterday. We shifted over most of the new books to the new display area. It looks a lot better than the old place where we kept the new books.

I also worked on a few other minor projects; putting together a list of graphic novels for a bookmark, filing some looseleafs, arranging for a program, and attending a meeting. I had a chance to read the latest Publishers Weekly, but not much else.

I read some more of Good to Great on the train. The message is fairly clear; choose great people before you plan anything, be humble, face your problems, and focus on discipline.

City, Pond, Water

Cities are imagined

like pools of water

around a quiet spring

They grow rapidly

along the river edge

spreading like new grass

Skyscrapers are weeds

blotting the horizon

rising in the sun

Houses are mushrooms

clumped close together

around paved street roots.

Cities grow organically

to fill empty spaces

consuming the wild world

Help! Alguém pode me ajudar com o Feng Shui?

Meninas, estou trabalhando para que meu escritório fique aconchegante sem gastar muito (na verdade, quero custo quase zero, hehe). Mas ontem, eu coloquei o baguá sobre a planta do escritório. Pra começar, coloquei a área do Trabalho na porta de entrada (entrada do escritório, saindo da loja). A área da Educação caiu sobre um armário embutido, onde guardo documentos, apostilas e material de trabalho. Minha mesa ficou na área do Sucesso, mas bem próxima ao centro. A outra mesa ficou na área do Relacionamento, divisa com a Criatividade. Na área dos amigos está um basculante que permanece fechado quase o tempo todo (do outro lado desta parede tem um vestiário).

Vamos às dúvidas:

1 – Devo realmente colocar a área do trabalho na porta de entrada ou devo ver a posição Norte/ Sul/Leste/Oeste?

2 – Não tenho nenhuma janela, como neutralizar esse problema?

3 – No canto da parede onde está o Relacionamento, tenho um cofre e um fax, que não tenho como tirar deste lugar. Há problema nisso?

4 – Como usar as cores certas em cada área, num espaço tão pequeno?

Please, se alguém entende um pouco mais que eu (bom, isso é fácil...), me dá uma luz!!!

Beijos!

Baby You Can Drive My Car

by Pam Ripling

My first car: Of course, it was older than dirt, older than me, older than the universe.

Have fun with me as I reminisce about my history of driving.

Ah... the 1963 Oldsmobile F-85, forerunner of the popular Olds Cutlass that debuted the following year. Mine got me to school and back, cracked block and all. Four doors, bench seats... I hated my parents. HATED them! The most uncoolest car in the lot.


The Ghia. My beach car. Wrecked it twice before selling it to my boyfriend, who wrecked it again. Great car, bad karma.

Did you know the trunk was in the front? 1969 VW Karmann Ghia. RIP.






Funny thing about driving a BMW. People flip you off for no reason. I wrecked this car, too. Ran over a median curb. Hard enough to set off the airbags. My bad.

We called this '02 530i a "Friday car", because it had so many defects--myth is that Friday afternoon workers are tired and want to go home. 'Nuff said. But it drove like a dream.



I know, I know. I never should have gotten rid of this one. Can you spell C L A S S I C? The 1966 Ford Mustang is still a hot selling car today.

Now this one, my boyfriend wrecked and we then painted it orange. Bad idea. You've heard of orange peel-textured paint? This one was the worst ever.



We called it the "kidney-shaker". Give you a clue? I learned to drive a stick-shift in this monster. Great for off-roading, not the most comfortable vehicle around town.

If you ever get offered a ride in the back, turn it down. Trust me. Take note: 1972 Toyota LandCruiser.





Now this is a car. My beloved '91 Miata. Drove it all the way to Las Vegas and back, alone. Sunburned the heck out of my head. Was worth every mile. Once crammed three kids in it -- please don't tell their parents. I still miss this gem.

Note: Not good when vs. Escalade on freeway.


1973. VW "181" Thing.

Top down, barreling down the I5 into Mexico with my 2 BFF's. Broke down only twice.

How did we live to tell? We called it the square rolling lemon. Wonder why?


Okay, now you know my life in cars. But here's the catch. One of these is a blatant, all out lie. Can you spot the fraud?

Pam Ripling is the author of middle-grade mystery, LOCKER SHOCK! Buy it at Quake, Fictionwise or Amazon today! E-book version now available for your Kindle! Visit Pam at www.BeaconStreetBooks.com.

Lessons in Life and Driving

You know that poster about everything we need to know about life we learned in Kindergarten? Let's see if it applies to driving...

Don't hit people, keep your hands to yourself.
Oh, I think this is a match. Even though they say 'keep your hands on the wheel' in driver's ed, they also tell you not to mess with the driver lest the car become a weapon of mass destruction.

Watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
Well, I know from being both a kid and a mom that Moms will do the arm bar thing for whoever or whatever is in the passenger seat (even if it's just her purse) if something happens on the road, so I'll count this one too.

In Kindergarten you learned the biggest word of all: 'LOOK'
This definitely applies, though often while driving it becomes 'LOOK OUT'...for the squirrel, bicycle, or (ahem) the Kindergartner.

Congratulations! You can rest easy knowing you've actually been learning to drive since Kindergarten!

Regan
Accomplished driver and author of the Hobbitville saga and the Shadows of Justice series available at Quake and Echelon Press

Daily Thoughts 4/29/09

Reading Lady. Kamisaka, Sekka -- Artist Woodcuts From:Momoyogusa = Flowers of a Hundred Generations. c1909

Daily Thoughts 4/29/09

Today is rather interesting. We had a morning meeting discussing the many things which are currently happening. We are doing a lot with getting the library collection more organized. I spent a considerable amount of time making sure the law collection was being covered properly today.

We have a reggae poet doing a workshop right now. I stopped in for a minute to check on things. He was talking about how to do free writing. He has a cd of his poetry which he is giving to participants. There is also a class visiting from the local baptist church who are working on a project on different countries around the world. The final thing which is happening is a city Green Committee which is meeting for the first time in the community room. We are making a concerted effort to increase community involvement in the library. The reggae poet did very well. He wants to come back again to do another workshop. He gave two of his spoken word cds to the library.

I started working on a bookmark for graphic novels. It has a nice short selection of what I think people might like to read. I might also do one for writing as well.

On the train home, I started reading Good To Great Why Some Companies Make The Leap... And Others Don't by Jim Collins. There is also an accompanying monograph called Good To Great And The Social Sectors Why Business Thinking Is Not The Answer by Jim Collins. The monograph is quite short, only 35 pages of text.

Meu escritório

Acho que vocês já viram a história do incêndio no blog da Margaret, então não vou repetir. Fato é que remontei meu escritório com móveis que ganhei ou comprei bem baratinho, pra voltar a trabalhar. Consequência: ficou aquela misturada, sem nenhum padrão. Mas não me incomodava tanto. Até outro dia. É que como fiquei desde o começo do ano por conta de tirar carteira, e só trabalhava 2 ou 3 horas por dia, aquilo ficou um horror! Abandonaram o meu cantinho! Ninguém caprichava na limpeza (só uma vassourinha básica), os papéis foram se amontoaando, misturando, minha cadeira giratória quebrou e foi substituída por uma de madeira sem almofada, uma das lâmpadas queimou e ninguém trocou, tudo foi piorando... Quando cheguei para trabalhar na sexta-feira, pirei! Então, munida de alguns materiais e várias idéias na cabeça, comecei uma reforma total! E bem no estilo Ruby: custo quase zero, aproveitamento máximo do que tenho em casa. Até agora só gastei com papel e minha nova cadeirinha. Espero terminar rapidinho minha reforma, mas como também tenho que trabalhar, ainda deve durar uns dois ou três dias. Até lá vou visitando vocês em busca de idéias para deixar meu escritório menos impessoal e mais com a minha cara. E não vou mostrar nada do que já fiz até agora porque não quero estragar o antes e depois... Mas se alguém tiver qualquer idéia legal principalmente para as paredes...

Beijos!

I Had A Fast Car...

Dear Diary,

Even though I’ve found happiness here (finally!), I can’t help but think of the world I came from. My friends, my family, my job…and there are so many simple things that I miss, like turning on the radio or the television any time you want to, taking a shower whenever you’re dirty, toothpaste, cell phones…you get the drift.
Out of all the things I had, though, I have to say the one I miss the most here is my car. It’s not that I had a tricked-out sports car or anything—it was a Subaru Outback sedan, kind of a maroon color, but I loved it.

I miss it for the obvious reason, of course—we’ve made most of this trip on either horseback or foot, except for the very memorable dragon ride—and that takes a toll, not to mention time. It’s become a fact of life now that, when I roll myself up in the blanket next to the fire at night, my back hurts, my legs and my feet ache, and I’m exhausted.

You don’t realize how much cars protect you, either, from the dust and pollen in the air, bugs flying in your face and down your shirt, and of course, from crazy alien guys attacking you with spears. I never thought about how safe being encased in that glass and steel capsule made me feel until I didn’t have it anymore.

But there’s the memories, too, and I think that bothers me more than anything. Memories of driving in the summer with Shannon and Ashleigh, all the windows down, singing to the radio at the top of our lungs, our hair whipping each other in the faces. And sitting in the parking lot of Rita’s with a strawberry ice, bare feet propped up on the open windowsill, talking and giggling and slurping Italian ice…having a car, and being in a car, kind of symbolizes being carefree to me now. And carefree is something I don’t know if I’ll ever be again.

--June

June is the heroine of Surviving Serendipity, by Jacquelyn Sylvan. Buy now at Amazon or Quake Direct!

Watercolor Memories

I don’t know how to begin….ah. Well, my name is Andy, Andy Riley actually and I’m a little nervous, never spoke to this many people before you know. I’m filling in for Martin Bartloff today who asked me to introduce myself to ya’ll and say a few things about fantasy and stuff.

I grew up in Virginia and lived there most of my life. At seventeen I moved in with my aunt in Baltimore. That wasn’t my idea and I didn’t want to, but my aunt made me. She threatened to call the police if I didn’t get on that train. I don't like her; she was very mean to me and treated me like a moron. I ran away after ten days of pure ugliness, got back on a train to Virginia. Not sure that was a good thing though. I made some bad decisions, but you can believe me, I’m not a bad kid!

Hey when I was nine I had a video game called Final Fantasy, does that count? No? Well the game sucked anyway and I joined a soccer team for a while to get out of the house. That reminds me. Have you ever been soaked in a rainstorm so bad, the wet clothes felt like you weigh three times as much as normal? I have!

Once I went on a long trip with my friend Jason and his parents, the Mitchell’s. We drove on the Interstate for hours. I was so bored and stared out the window the whole entire time when suddenly I found myself in a fantasy world. I was at this beach and there was a humongous waterfall crashing into the lake. There were great looking girls all over the place, a ten foot table with the finest foods imaginable. My dad waved at me from a balcony of a gigantic mansion and my mom was planting flowers in a garden as big as a parking lot. Great isn’t it? I think we were rich or something. I had my own yacht and the guys who used to bully me growing up were working for us as servants. They were preparing a bonfire for a huge party we were having that night.



Jason was there, fishing off a boat in the lake. He reeled in one catfish after another and they were all as big as sharks, just like he always said. It was a fantasy world with no worries. I leaned back in my beach chair, enjoying the great view, sipping ice tea. Then a female voice whispered softly through the sound of the waterfall. “You…strong... Andy.” I couldn’t understand what the voice said, so I leaned forward. The voice became louder, repeating the same over and over again. “You have to be strong now Andy.” The voice was my mom's. I turned to look and my mom was no longer in the garden anymore, and there was no garden, mansion, or yacht. Everything was gone, only Jason remained on the boat in the lake, trying desperately to get my attention.

“Andy wake up, wake up dude wake up!”

I was scared so I yelled for my mom and dad, but when I opened my eyes Jason was right in my face.

“Mom, dad? Dude it’s me Jason, are you in a coma or something?”

I thought I had dozed off in the car, but Jason said I was asleep for hours. His mom handed me a bottle of water from the cooler. I drank and closed my eyes again, trying to return to my fantasy world, and my mom and dad, but I realized the sound of the waterfall was fabricated by the worn door gaskets of the Mitchell's rusted car and that my parents had both died.


If you want to know more about me you’re gonna have to read Martin’s YA novel “Torn from Normal” aka “Like a Snowflake in Summer.” I’ll be here all day, answering any questions you might have. Ask me anything you like, I’ve lost everything, time I got plenty.

Andy Riley.

Martin Bartloff - Follow me on Twitter

http://martinbartloff.blogspot.com/

Follow Martin on Myspace

Fantasy has Wings!

Fantasy often brings to mind images of magic, wizards, mayhem, and dragons. I've loved hearing stories about dragons, both good and bad, since I first started reading fairytales. The great thing about these creatures is that they are so captivating that they have appeared in nearly every culture of the world since ancient times. Chinese, Japanese, even Native American cultures all had some sort of dragon- whether they breathed fire or not! Dragons may never have really walked the earth, but they are part of the world's history- and are a figurehead for fantasy.

My favorite fantasy books of all time have included a dragon (or other mystical winged creature) in some way, shape, or form. Eragon and the rest of Christopher Paolini's Inheritance books are probably the most well-known dragon novels right now. I have read and re-read every one, and Paolini makes Saphira and the other creatures so real, I can almost imagine flying with them through their travels.

Even the Harry Potter books featured dragons in The Goblet of Fire.

But I am a firm believer in a classic tale- and you can't get much more classic than J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit or Anne and Todd McCaffrey's the Dragon Riders of Pern. Tolkien's Smaug may have been the villain of The Hobbit, but he was the epitome of a gluttonous, winged jewel-thief.

The Pernese dragons are probably my ultimate favorites, though. While they aren't technically magical, they're genetically engineered, plus they have telepathic and teleportation abilities. Later in the series, the dragons even discovered that they had telekinesis! Anne McCaffrey's books cross the bridge between science-fiction and fantasy. The adventures that the dragons and their riders get into are amazing, making the Pern books an epic fantasy saga that is never to be forgotten.

So go out, grab a fantasy, and grow wings! You never know where your dragon will take you next!

Iris Black

Enter Sam's Space now!

Green Fingers

This term Y3G are finding out all about plants in science and will be growing them from seed.
On Tuesday the 21st April (which was the first day back for the children after the Easter holidays) we all planted a sunflower seed in a pot of damp compost. We are gong to keep a record of how each seed germinates and how the plant develops and we will keep you posted with our results on the blogspot.
Eventually we will be planting our sunflowers in the border at the front of the school like we did last year.
We must remember to take some photographs this year!

Living Your Fantasy

One of my favorite things to do is attend comic cons every year. Forget the stereotype of some dingy hotel ballroom packed full of smelly and expensive discolored comics, creeping with a bunch of “Comic Book Guy” character doppelgangers from The Simpsons. The larger cons are exactly the opposite. Sharing the common thread of offering thousands of comic purveyors to the starving masses, comic cons these days are more of a pop culture assemblage. If you live in San Diego, New York or Atlanta , you know what I am talking about. These places are where the three biggest comic cons happen. The San Diego Comic Con, Dragon Con and The New York Comic Con.


These cons (or conventions to be exact) manifest the wildest dream of every fantasy fan into reality. Not only is it completely acceptable to dress like your favorite superhero, movie character, or villain, it is actually honored and adored. Trust me; your first encounter with a group of fully-geared Stormtroopers in line at Subway will be a bit surreal. The point is anything goes. Not only can you hear about the filming of the second Dark Crystal movie from Jim Henson’s daughter, but you can sit in on panels on everything from Jughead to Battlestar Gallactica.


These events are an absolute Mecca for everything the fantasy fan could desire. Want to meet Ray Parks who played Darth Maul in Star Wars? How about Sarah Michelle Gellar? Or does Natalie Portman strike your fancy? All have attended these types of events, and for the fans, the excitement lies in the chance to connect with their heroes in one form or another. To thank them for capturing the roles of their beloved characters on film and to involve themselves with the actual person that played the character if only for a moment.


Cons are treasure troves though which new ideas, fantastic artists and epic adventures await discovery. At Dragon Con in Atlanta I experienced the full creativity of the fantasy fan as troupes of Steampunks proudly marched through the halls. Everything appreciable is there. Who knew people dressed up as characters from Serenity, or in full on latex laden Hellboy costumes? They do and they love it. If you get a chance, every fantasy fan should attend one of these events. Heck, for the bold at heart, try dressing up in your best Cat Woman or Freddy Krueger outfit; you will be in good company.

http://nickvalentino.blogspot.com

Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!

Eu consegui! Finalmente tirei carteira! Tô bamba até agora... Beijos!

Twilight - Fantasy or Horror?

The big word for 2009? Twilight.

While vampire stories used to be strictly considered horror, lines between genres seem to be blurring. But Stephenie Meyer's Twilight still didn't make the top 25 with fantasy readers. (It came in at #31.)

According to this list of the Top 100 Fantasy books, the real favorite was -
Ta-da! The Lord of the Rings, which ranked at #1.

I admit, I didn't read many from the list either. How many did you read? (Well, seeing the movie counts for something, right?)

And what is Twilight - horror or fantasy?

Here's the top 10 Fantasies with older and some new authors:

1 Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkein
2 Harry Potter series, JK Rowling
3 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkein
4 Wheel of Time series - Robert Jordan
5 A Song of Ice and Fire - George RR Martin
6 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
7 The Belgariad Series - David Eddings
8 Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind
9 Magician - Raymond E. Feist
10 His Dark Materials Trilogy - Philip Pullman

** Your turn: What's your favorite fantasy book? (Or movie?)

My Greek Holiday

Oh, I have been so lax about photographing and posting my paintings. I just don't seem to strike the right time of day to take photos and all the latest ones have such glare on them. Even this one, which was taken by a friend of mine while on holiday in Greece, had a shine on it that I battled to subdue.

I need to search back through r.garriott's photoshop tips on lessons to combat this!

In the meantime, I painted this in January before I went to a cold, snowy, Sweden. Quite a contrast!

Look at that Shining Star!

I don't have children so I miss out on a lot of moments reserved for proud parents. But over the course of time I have become a member of a few families that have embraced me and who I have grown to love dearly. One of those families is "Team Quake." Even though I own the company, it is still heartwarming to be embraced by the authors I publish.

Right now I want to share a moment that involves a member of the "Team Quake" family. Fifteen-year-old Iris Bailey is currently the youngest author to be published by Quake. In fact, today is the release of her first short story with us--Just one of the Guys.

Not only is Iris a tremendous writer, but she is one of the most brilliant youngsters I have ever met. I can honestly say that there has been more than one occasion when I found myself floundering on my end of a conversation with her. She is just brilliant.

I am so proud to announce that on top of all of Iris's other accomplishments (and I don't even have time to go into all of them), Iris has been accepted into the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics. If you are not familiar with establishment, it is an extraordinary school for academically talented high school juniors and seniors. The positions for enrollment are limited and well-earned.

I've known Iris for several years, and have watched her grow into a beautiful and committed young woman. I hope you will take a moment to help me congratulate Iris on this accomplishment.

Iris is only one aspect of what makes Quake such a great place for you and your kids to become a part of. It is the creative and personal goals for each member of "Team Quake" to offer entertainment and encouragement for people of all ages to chase their dreams and strive for all that is important to their spirit of survival and success.

Congratulations, Iris, we are all so very proud of you and all you are sure to become.

And don't miss Iris Bailey's Debut Short Story Just One of the Guys available May 1st!

A turma da IB

Essas meninas são 10! Uma noite com elas é sinal de pura diversão, muitas risadas e fim do stress!Paulinha, Lili, Lu, eu e Ida.

Ah, e esta é a entrada da casinha que quero decorar...

Beijos!

Minha aura é lavanda!

Incrível! Descobri em um teste que minha aura é lavanda...

A cor da sua aura é:
Lavanda: Serenidade, individualismo e capacidade de sonhar. Está sempre com a cabeça nas nuvens, tem uma alma artística e gosta de se expressar em palavras escritas. Sua missão é viver mais no mundo real e menos no da fantasia.

E isso tem tudo a ver comigo. E mais: Sempre que vou ao supermercado comprar material de limpeza, qual é a fragância que sempre escolho? Lavanda!

E você, sabe qual é a cor da sua?
Beijos!

Fantastical Paths from Pages to Film

Fantasy books.

Fantasy movies.

Fantasy books adapted into fantasy movies.

Hey everyone! It’s Melanie Ryder, one of Alyssa Montgomery’s characters, and I’m back for yet another blog!

One of my favorite genres to read is fantasy books. I simply love how authors create their own universe that you can easily blend yourself into and understand.

But one thing that always amazes me, however, is how they are able to take that fantasy book and adapt it into a movie that plays on the big screen. An idea that was once on paper has now come to life as an absolute vision so everyone can now, not only read it, but see it.

How cool is that??

I think one of the best examples of this adaptation is Harry Potter. These are my favorite books, and I get so excited each and every time the next book is made into a movie. What the people who work on the Harry Potter movies are able to do is amazing! Both Cal and I absolutely love the floating candles in the Great Hall (and not to mention the sky). And what about Quidditch? Those scenes were exactly as I had pictured them in the books! (And Parker wants to let you all know that the scenes are exactly the way he pictured them too).

So now that you all know about my love (and Cal’s and Parker’s) for the Harry Potter books and the adaptation of them into movies, what about everyone else? Are there any fantasy books that you love the movie adaptations of?

Melanie Ryder can be found in Alyssa Montgomery's short stories, Where Are You? and 9:53 P.M. (from the Heat of the Moment Anthology).

Fantastic Fantasy

Fantasy is one of the oldest writing genres on the planet, going back to Beowulf, King Authur, er, Arthur, and other mystical, magical beginnings.

It's a style with no rules, and when science started catching up, it spawned two related genres, Sci-Fi and the more fantastical of horror. These three genres intertwine like a handful of worms.

Fantasy is also the most liberating genre of all, because, frankly, anything goes. If you want your vampire to be all sparkly and pretty, sure, go for it. Wood elves, trolls, goblins ... do you want your elves to be good elves, or something darker and more foreign? Doesn't matter, there's no right or wrong way to do it.

In fact, the more novel, the more unique, the better. Books that give us a new look at an old topic are all the rave. Look at the success spawned by Wicked. Imagine, taking the old witch from the Wizard of Oz and making her someone you cared about.

I think this is one of the reasons I was drawn to the genre. After all, reading is, in a way, escapism, and if you're going to escape, why not go to a world so completely different than ours that your fascination with the world brings you more colorfully and lucidly into the story.

Look to the success of games like Dungeons and Dragons. If you liked the first Harry Potter, you loved them all, and you lived the story along with Harry, Ron and Hermione all the way to the end.

Fantasy allows the author a freer hand than any other genre. The science in Sci-fi has to be palatable, if not provable. Mysteries have to walk the line between being too easy and too hard to solve. Westerns have to be ... um ... I dunno, I don't read them. But the horses have to be vegetarians and have four hooves, all of which touch the ground.

When I wrote my Adventures of Guy series, I didn't intend on them being fantasy at all. My heroes were three college roommates and a mother from up the street who get involved on a Quest. Of course, every quest has to have an elf, sorcerer, Unbeliever, a warrior and attorneys, er, otherworldly evil creatures.

But fantasy? Nah, I just wanted the freedom to have whatever I wanted to happen in the stories happen , and if it took a bit of magic, so be it.

Still, though, I have to admit to some surprise when reviewers started using the word 'fantasy.'

But with my upcoming book, Fang Face, all pretense is thrown away. It's definitely fantasy ... a vampire story, cut and dried. And I get to make the rules. The vampires don't sparkle, can't come out in the day once they are fully Undead, and they can't tolerate Doritos.

And believe me, I love the freedumb ... freedom ... to do whatever I want.

Norm

www.normcowie.com

Mais SelinhoSSS!!!

erandRecebi esse selinho da Estela, do Guardados e Achados. Obrigada Estela por ser sempre tão carinhosa.

São estes os desafios
1º desafio: postar a 3ª foto no seu 3º arquivo e falar sobre ela.
2º desafio: citar três coisas que você gosta de fazer.
3º desafio: abrir o livro que está lendo, aleatoriamente e copiar o 3º parágrafo da página.
Escolher pelo menos três pessoas pra mandar o selo desafio e avisá-las.

A foto:

Novembro de 2007, meu filho "surfando" na praia de Ipanema. Pouco surf, muita pose... (Ai se ele me pega falando isso!)

Três coisas que gosto de fazer:
Aproveitar o tempo com meus filhos e o maridão.
Viajar.
Cantar, de preferência acompanhada pelo meu primo Léo no violão.


O livro: Comer Rezar Amar, de Elizabeth Gilbert - pág. 187

"Essa é a minha missão, e ela nunca vai terminar."

Pra quem vou mandar:
Aline, Falta do que Fazer
Jo, Vi por aí
Sutana, Blog da Sutana

Recebi esse selinho da sempre atenciosa Aline, do Falta do que Fazer. Obrigada!

As regras são:

Escrever uma frase, citar um título ou contar uma historinha sobre seis assuntos nos seguintes segmentos: VIDA, CINEMA, LITERATURA, VIAGEM, AMOR E SEXO;
• Convidar seis colegas de blogs que você realmente considere femininas e inteligentes;

• Linkar o blog que a convidou;

• Postar as regras para que outros as repassem;

• Inserir o selinho que você recebeu ....

Vida: é pra ser MUITO bem vivida, afinal é uma só!

Cinema: um bom filme, um grande pacote de pipocas, um imenso copo de refri, e no fim, um gosto de quero mais...

Literatura: indispensável

Viagem: Amo, amo,amo! Se ganhar na loteria talvez consiga ir a todos os lugares que sonho ir.

Amor: impressindível

Sexo: deve-se administrar doses diárias regadas a muita paixão

Minhas indicações:

Estela, Guardados e Achados

Edna, do Jardim das Alamandras

Ruby, Meu Canto, Minha Prosa
Eliene, Mulher Severino,Simplesmente Faz-Tudo

Beijos!

Sweet Secrets

Gossip is like sugar: it can be really bad for us but we just love the stuff. Why is that?

I think the popularity of gossip comes from two basic elements: the first is summed up in the old saying that "knowledge is power." Everyone wants to be in the know, right? Everyone wants to be the first one to tell the news. The second element is the sense of belonging. If you have a secret to tell about someone else, or if someone shares a secret with you, there's a bond between the two of you. Kind of an instant "us" situation, as in shared secret knowledge between "us." No wonder the people sharing the gossip can get such a warm fuzzy from it! Unfortunately, the person being gossiped about is frequently in a position to get hurt, which is what makes gossip a twisty, slippery, and very often nasty thing to handle.

Is all gossip bad? Maybe not. It's pretty harmless to share the news that Jenny's hot cousin is coming to stay at her house for the summer again this year, or that Wyatt was the first to get a job at the new clothing store at the mall. Once we cross into the territory of spreading tales about someone's really personal stuff, though, that's when the change comes in. Like with sugar, that's when the line is crossed from nibbling a couple of cookies to chowing down an entire cake with ice cream on the side and a candy bar chaser.

So maybe think of gossip as a very sweet dessert. It's okay to have a little serving of it, but if you have too much, well, remember that the initial rush feels super, but the subsequent crash can feel really bad for a long time after.

Ophelia Julien, author of Hunting Spirits coming May 2009 from Quake

Layin' the Smackdown on Chatty Cathy

I get it…Everybody wants to be in on a big secret; it’s human nature. People are naturally curious and everybody wants to appear important by being “in the know.” But is it worth someone’s reputation? Gossip, like cockroaches, has followed us since the Stone Age.

First people talked trash about how bad Cro-Magnon’s sloped head looked in that animal skin. I mean really! He’s going out like that? Then people talked smack over the back fence when they were hanging out the laundry about how much Mr. Jones’ paid for that fancy car. Then they got on the telephone to dis’ Martha’s meatloaf recipe.

Today we have an updated term and method for gossip. We call it “cyber bullying.” Problem is, once you post: “Cindy is a slut,” as they say about venereal disease…that crap is forever. Even if you take it down, if someone has forwarded your text or email or link, then it’s out there. Why, my dear friends, do you think they call it “viral?”

The bad thing is this kind of gossip has lasting effects. When you’re done reading this, go Google “suicide and cyber bullying.” You’ll get 126,000 hits in 0.19 seconds.

Ancient people felt so strongly about gossiping that it made the BigTen. Commandment number nine says, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”

I used to be a cop. I wish I could share the stories and pictures of the young men and women (teenagers) who I helped shove into body bags because someone “heard” they had said something untrue and scandalous about them. Take it from me, slander and a 9mm ain't a goood mix.

Our grandmothers had it right when they said, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” 'Nuff said.

Gossipy Minds Want To Know

Gus and Cynthia "Dishing The Dirt"

Cynthia and I don’t gossip, never did. We just get mad at each other and say stupid things. But, plenty of our friends do. And, this is waaaay back in the 60s! We'll gossip about things like: “Cindy’s wearing Tom’s letterman jacket!” Or, “I saw Mike walk Linda to Geometry class.”

Gossip is more difficult in mine and Cynthia's time. You actually have to physically whisper in someone’s ear! Ewwww! Oh, sure we always have the phone, but it's impossible to say anything private with my nosy brother eavesdropping. And, believe it or not, I can't take the phone into my room because the receiver is connected by a cord! I know. Hard to imagine.

You guys have it so easy today with email and texting.

“OMG. Did u c C n T :-<>” (for those of you over age 30, the symbol :-<> shows surprise).

I may just be an old-fashioned, 1960s twelve-year-old (soon to be thirteen!), but the statement above seems to lose something in the translation. On the other hand, texting might keep flu bugs from spreading. Waaahh...choooo!

Still, Cynthia and I are gonna have to study this texting thing. I just figured out that lol doesn’t mean, “lots of love!” Now, there’s a gossip topic! Think of all the people I woulda thought were sending me “love” before I realized they were laughing with (at) me! LOL!

Getting off the gossip track, so I’ll bring this puppy back around (somehow).

Do you like gossip, as long as it doesn’t involve you? Or, is gossip always mean? What’s your favorite way to gossip? Ear-to-ear ? Text-to-text?

Gossipy minds want to know.

BFF, Gus

Mary Cunningham Books

Quake

Cynthia's Attic Blog

Selinho novo!

Recebi este selinho da Edna, do Jardim das Alamandras. Obrigada pelo carinho Edna!

Vamos lá as regras:

1 - Exiba a imagem do selo que você acabou de ganhar
2 - Poste o link do blog que te indicou.

3- Indique até 10 blogs de sua preferência.

E este selinho vai para... (tãrãrãrã...)

Margaret

Elisa

Manuela

Hazel

Aline

Dolly

Andréa

Keka

Ju

Patrícia

Pena não poder ser pra todo mundo... Peraí, quem falou que não pode? Tá passando por aqui? Pega pra você também, é seu!

Beijos!

Virtual Gossip

It's rare to find someone who isn't interested in other people and their lives. As the previous posts covered here, passing along some one's private business (or your own) is not good, but people would not be honest if they didn't admit that there is something definitely irresistible about listening to tidbits, or conversations out in public.

There are many places to indulge in the business of other people without hurting anyone online or in books. If you think about it, books are the ultimate gossip, because you get hints of people's lives, are invited in and get to share in all their dirty laundry.

Do you read People magazine or subscribe to entertainment news online? I do. Reading about stars' lives seems harmless and far away to me, though I'm sure they are not always thrilled to be in those publications. But how else would I know which stars are adopting, getting married or meeting hard times?

My family is currently addicted to Animal Crossing on Wii. It's always funny to see the characters on there talking about other characters. One asked my five year old son's character if he thought two other animal characters were 'lovey-dovey'? I had to explain what that is, and Josh said "ick". Then he asked why they all talk about each other? I said I didn't know. How funny to get a lesson in gossip from a family game.

Think Before You Send!

by Pam Ripling

Gossip. I've been waiting for this topic to come around, wanting to comment on the recent go-round of forwarded emails describing a planned gang initiation that was to take place a local big box store. Three females, the message read, would be murdered at the site, and recipients of the email would be wise to stay away.

While I, personally, did not receive the warning, by afternoon, my 13 year old daughter had read it on her cell phone, my girlfriend had it on her Blackberry and my adult son mentioned he’d seen it on his own phone. That evening, our local high school district had released a statement, phoned to each subscribing household, that the message was indeed a hoax, one that had been forging a nasty path through several other states since 2005.

The whole incident got my back up. My daughter was upset, my friend was justifiably concerned. Both struggled with what to do. Do we call the Sheriff? Do you think they know? I assured them both that the missive was a malicious attempt to stir up fear and possibly even launch a “denial of service”-like scheme as an attack on Wal-Mart, the store mentioned. I don’t know the legal term, but I do know you cannot attempt to prevent patronage of a business based on a fraudulent claim. Whether you like or dislike Wal-Mart, the point is that this could just as easily have been aimed at Mom & Pop’s Bakery on the corner.

My parents used to tell me, when I was a young, impressionable child, “Don’t believe everything you see on TV.” Because we did, back then. Yeah, people joke about it now, would never admit to it, but we did think that if we saw it on TV, it must be true.

Just after 9/11, I received an email warning me to stay away from our local Mall, because it was targeted to be blown up by terrorists. In the nightmarish atmosphere that pervaded following the attacks, I was ripe to believe anything. I immediately forwarded the email to everyone in my address book. I was quickly and gently reprimanded for falling prey to an internet hoax, and I have since refrained from sending anything to anyone without first checking with Snopes (which I consider to be the best online source for debunking urban myths and hoaxes.)

The case of the gang-initiation-at-Wal-Mart email is no different. I took the opportunity to use the incident as a learning experience for my daughter. Just because someone you like or know from school sends you (what you might call)“forwards” doesn’t mean that it’s (a) true or, God forbid, (b), you should perpetuate the “forward” and add to the needless hysteria intended by some sick mind.

Pam Ripling is the author of middle-grade mystery, LOCKER SHOCK! Buy it at Quake, Fictionwise or Amazon today! E-book version now available for your Kindle! Visit Pam at http://www.beaconstreetbooks.com/.

Promoção da Margaret

Meninas, hoje foi publicada a minha história no blog da Margaret. Então, por favor, passem por lá e deixem um comentário!
Beijos!

Link da Margaret: http://margaretss.blogspot.com/

Gossip Girls and Boys

Best friends are hard to come by and sometimes even harder to keep. In a world where airing dirty laundry can launch YouTube fame and be very lucrative, it’s not surprising that dishing the dirt is an American pastime as popular as baseball.

Not to get all biblical here, but there is a reason “bearing false witness” is one of the Ten Commandments. Even God knew how damaging the gossip mill could be. After all, look what happened when all those people went around saying Jesus was a ‘pretender’ (or a poser) and want to start a revolution against the Roman Empire.

So if you’ve ever been the target of untrue or malicious gossip, you’re in good company. If not, you probably know someone or witnessed how another was disliked because of rumors. The truth is, many cultures place high importance on reputation, and reputations are made or destroyed by word of mouth.

How can we tell if we’re just gabbing good-naturedly, or participating in gossip? The very simple answer to this is a question: What good will come from saying this?

If there isn’t any good that will result, then don’t waste your time by repeating the information. Share what will have a good outcome and be purposeful about creating positive energy, not just in your life, but in the lives of others.

There are times when speaking about something that is less than positive is necessary. When a person’s well being will be negatively impacted by your silence, then speaking up is necessary. Sharing with your friend’s mother that she has started cutting or your buddy’s dad that he’s been drinking and driving may not be appreciated in the moment, but could save the life of the person you care about.

Doing the right thing is rarely doing the easy thing. Courage is doing that right thing even if you fear the impact on yourself or the relationship with another. Refrain from harming others and allowing others to be harmed or harm themselves. You’ll soon discover the reward of true friendships that will last your lifetime.

Have you had an experience with gossip? Have you ever saved a friend by sharing what you know with the right people? What was the outcome?

J.R. Turner is the author of the Extreme Hauntings series. The first book, DFF: Dead Friends Forever is available at Amazon.com, Kindle, Fictionwise, and Echelon Press.com

Rumors

Rumors can be nasty, scary things. When I was in eighth grade, some members of a local Satanist cult got arrested after they were discovered doing a pretty gross ritual involving a teenage girl.

That week, rumors flew that the members of the Satanist cult who remained free planned to kidnap a blond-haired, blue-eyed girl from our Valentine’s Day dance and sacrifice her in another ritual. Even the brunettes were terrified. Fortunately, the rumor was just that—a rumor.

A similar thing happened at Boston Latin School last month. Rumors flew that one of the girls who attended there was…a vampire. People said she’d been seen scratching her boyfriend’s neck and drinking his blood. Of course, it didn’t stop there. Someone said the police had come to arrest her. Someone else said she wasn’t the only vampire.

Of course, none of this was true, but after the rumors got so ferocious a few “Goth” teens were bullied, the principal was forced to step in and send a memo to parents and teachers, asking them to help stop the rumors from being perpetuated and to stop innocent people from taking flak.

What was the worst rumor you ever heard? Did you pass it on, or just shake your head in disbelief?

Jacquelyn Sylvan is the author of Surviving Serendipity.

Painting the Masters

A lovely lady, Michelle Burnett, from Utah, decided to start a blog along the same lines as Karin Jurick's Different Strokes blog. She has called it 'Following the Masters'. I thought this would be quite fun, as I've been told that practising your painting by copying the masters, is a very worthwhile exercise.

The first one is 'Narcissus' by John William Waterhouse, and this is my effort. Have a look at her blog - I think the next one is going to be quite exciting!


I am having major hiccoughs with my computer just lately; I have tried to comment on a number of blogs, but Firefox just throws me off! Am I the only one?

The other side of Fashion

For those who don’t know me yet, my name is Martin Bartloff, the newest member of Team Quake. This is my very first blog on Teen-Seen and I like you to know, I’m very excited to entertain you every other Sunday from now on. Let me say this up front, before I forget. I’m honored to be here and entertain the masses!

When I think “fashion” I think of clothes and the everyday hassle to dress appropriately for different tasks. While fashion is not only about the clothes you wear, you’re often measured and judge by what you wear.

This is a sore subject for the younger generations, so I whine little about my earlier days. I’ve always had a hard time keeping up with fashion, when it wasn’t for the money it was my taste, but let’s not go there.

Just a few days ago, I stumbled upon some old school pictures of mine and I got to thinking. Three long days I dreaded writing this blog about fashion, much like I dreaded being called out in 7^th grade by the teacher to solve a math problem on the chalkboard in front of the entire class. There I was lost and exposed, a total Geekwad. Stained jeans, much too short and worn tennis shoe where the sole slapped the floor well before my foot did. Every year for Christmas my wealthy aunt dropped off two large sacks of used clothes, previously worn by her slightly younger and smaller children. My brother and I spent hours sifting through the clothes, often fighting over what fit neither of us in the end. The hand-me-down clothes I wore to school were often subject for bullies. For that alone I hated going to school just as much as I hated not being wealthy like my aunt.

Back then I stood in front of twenty classmates while some students snickered and others whispered. Do not move, I froze staring, embarrassed back and forth between teacher and chalkboard waiting for a clue, a tip, the help you expect from a teacher, right? I wanted to punch those kids who made fun of me. I sucked so bad at math and I hated school. Fashion had a lot, if not all to do with it. Fashionable clothes are not cool if they don’t fit you. I often pretended to be sick and stayed home. My mom wrote excuses and when I returned to school I was even more behind and taunted. The teacher once told me, and I will never forget the look on his face, “I’m surprised you’re still alive as many times as you have been sick this year.” I assure you, he meant it!

By 8^th grade I finally figured it all out, skipping school was making things much worse. By that time I had an equal, not so-fashionable friend who happened to be the tallest, most feared individual in the school. Needless to say I was never messed with again and I improved to be the 3^rd best student in my class. While bullies dropped out early, I decided to pull the, then optional year to graduate with a high school diploma. I miss going to school and I’d do it all over again if I could.

Let’s get back to fashion. While writing “Torn from Normal” I made sure to dress Andy Riley, my main character, appropriately so he wouldn’t have the same problems I did. Although bullied, neither fashion nor raggedy clothes are among the reasons. I’d tell you, but I’d rather have you read “Torn from Normal” and find out for yourself as my debut novel will take you very deep into the emotional depth of seventeen-year-old Andy Riley.

“Torn from Normal” is scheduled for release in June this year, but I prepared an excerpt on my blog for those that can’t wait to meet Andy Riley.

Martin Bartloff - Follow me on Twitter

http://martinbartloff.blogspot.com/

http://www.MartinBartloff.com

Fashion For the Ages!

Converse shoes. Nearly every teenager nowadays has a pair... or two... or three (like me!).

The great thing about these shoes is that they change with the ages. The original canvas models were made for basketball players to support their ankles on the court. Now, they come in all sorts of colors, styles, and materials: leather, canvas, suede, high-tops, low-tops, ultra high-tops, and everything in-between.

I have the misfortune of being cursed with loose joints, which has led to weak ankles. Converse high-tops have been the most stylish support solution (as compared to dull black braces in normal gym shoes). They're great for kicking back and hanging out. Another great thing: they're machine washable! Except for the leather ones...

The best part is that they have a shoe for every person, style, and outfit imaginable. Some of my friends have walked the school hallway in denim shoes, marked-up leather, purple bedazzled kicks, and even microchip/cyborg style sneakers. (I must admit to possession of black-and-red plaid textile, flower watercolor canvas, and basic black leather high-tops. I love them all!)

Not only are these shoes manufactured to be varied- but they are customizable to! Most of the shoes have a white (or other pale color) rubber toe. A creative application of ink pens and Sharpies in the back of a boring class can lead to instant artwork! Some of my friends have even used their shoes to collect phone numbers from new buds at summer camps or to write down their BFF's birthday. If you want a completely custom shoe, go to the Converse website where you can design and order your own pair. You can even get your name stitched onto the heel!

Sam, the main character in my upcoming short story, JUST ONE OF THE GUYS, loves her pink high-tops, as shown on the cover (left). They go with absolutely everything!

So what are your favorite shoes? Do you have Converse or do you prefer another brand/style? I want to know how you like to dress your feet!

Top photo courtesy of myshoeblog.com

Iris Black

enter Sam's Space now!
JUST ONE OF THE GUYS coming soon from Quake Publishing!

Feliz Páscoa!

Aproveitem bastante o feriado! E divirtam-se nas reuniões de família!
Beijos!

Goggles, Guns & Corsets. OH MY!

Hello, for those that don't know me, my name is Nick Valentino. Karen found me at the Southern California Writers Conference in San Diego and through a rather random chain of events, we began talking about a growing subculture of Science Fiction and my novel Thomas Riley. I am going to stroll off the beaten path of normal fashion to talk about a sub genre of fiction that has given birth to a new and so far underground fashion that is spinning cosplay on its head. Steampunk.

For those that don’t frequent pop culture cons such as Dragon Con, or The San Diego Comic Con, you may be unfamiliar to the newest subculture fashion frenzy. If so, picture masses of people in Victorian era clothing wandering the halls of some convention center or hotel ballroom decked out in top hats, elaborate filigreed goggles, and a host of copper plated backpacks decorated with everything from blue glowing orbs to giant hoses. No, I am not talking about someone that screwed up their Ghostbusters costume. The steampunk culture is based in fashion. The idea: embrace the intellectual, and look your best while you kick someone’s butt… all while possessing the most genteel of demeanors, of course.What exactly is steampunk you ask? The short and sweet of it is that it is an alternative history. So let’s say instead of electricity being discovered and exploited, that steam and alchemy became the internet boom of the 1800s. So everything is based around steam, gasses, and natural Earth products.

Men usually sport pinstriped dress jackets (extra points if it has tails). A linen shirt topped with a black or brown vest is normally paired with appropriate slacks. As for accessories, a top hat, monocle, wire framed glasses, and pocket watch finish off the outfit. The essential accessory to all steampunk wear, is goggles. In the world of dirigibles, sky pirates and floating rogue battleships, everyone must have goggles. Feel free to put them over your eyes while in action, but while in casual situations, most people have them on their heads.

Ladies, I am not leaving you out by any means. In fact you are the ones that get to wear the good stuff in this subculture. While the guys stay traditional and debonair, you have a little more freedom to express your Victorian inspired style savvy with an array of hats, corsets, wide bottomed dresses, fingerless gloves, ribbon wrapped pony tails, and boots galore. Always remember that the steampunk calling card is the goggles, so ladies, make sure that these are incorporated somehow in your outfit. You surely wouldn’t want to get caught having to fly out of some dangerous situation without them.

Well Nick, you ask, how am I going to wear any of this? I can’t go to a restaurant, club or even a party wearing goggles and a corset on the outside of my dress. On the contrary! Ok, you will be made mercilessly fun of if you show up at a party for some of this, but the way to bring this into real life is to use elements of it. Ladies, it doesn’t matter if you are 12 or 21, you like a nicely dressed guy right? And fellas, don’t you dare tell me that you don’t like a classy well dressed girl in say, some long pony tails and a pinstriped dress.

The trick is to take the elements of steampunk and apply what is appropriate for your social situation. If you are going to a party, ladies wear a nice but off the wall form fitting dress and some riding boots. Gents, put on a sport coat with some nice shoes (the ladies will notice your shoes) and maybe throw on a weathered linen shirt.

Just a few thoughts on the exploding steampunk world and a few ways that you can utilize it to look edgy but classy. Still not sure what I am talking about? Here are a few examples. Enjoy!