Sunday, September 28, 2008

Banned Books Week

Banned Books WeekThis year marks the 27th anniversary of Banned Books Week, September 27 - October 4. This event is a reminder not to take for granted the freedom of expression and the choice to read freely. You can visit the Banned Books Week site or the American Library Association site to find out more about this celebration and events happening in your local area.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Trixi Thursday

Did someone find Mr. Sun by the chair?Trixi-Belle

Yes, someone found Mr. Sun by the chair!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

52 Ways to Use Your Library Card

I meant to post this at the first on the month, but some how it became the end of the month. I am not sure how that happened? Any way, September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. As I posted earlier, my sister and I visited Riverside Cemetery at the beginning of the month. After visiting this oldest cemetery in the Denver area I wanted to find out more on its history. What did I do? I got out my library card went online to Douglas County Library's web site and checked out the book, Riverside Cemetery, Where the History Lies by Annette Student. Then I did a little perusing of their catalog and also checked out Denver's 2008 One Book, The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett along with Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex, Full Moon by Jim Butcher, and The Iron Tonic by Edward Gorey, because of course no library visit is complete without at least one Gorey book.

If you don't have a library card now is a great time to pick one up. You can read more about Library Card Sign-Up Month on the American Library Associations web site. They have materials you can download including 52 Ways to Use Your Library Card, which I also included below. HAPPY READING!

52 Ways to Use Your Library Card
(for each week of the year)


1. Get to know your librarian, the ultimate search engine @ your library.
2. Update your MySpace page.
3. Research new job opportunities.
4. Find a list of childcare centers in your area.
5. Learn about local candidates for office.
6. Pick up voter registration information.
7. Check out your favorite graphic novel.
8. Pick up a DVD.
9. Get wireless access.
10. Participate in a community forum.
11. Find out how to navigate the Internet.
12. Prepare your resume.
13. Get new ideas for redecorating your house.
14. Get a list of community organizations.
15. Attend a lecture or workshop.
16. Hear a local author reading his/her latest novel.
17. Join a book discussion group.
18. Attend preschool story hour with your child.
19. Get homework help.
20. Look up all kinds of health information.
21. Research the purchase of a new car.
22. Trek to another planet in a Sci-Fi novel.
23. Call the reference desk if you have a question.
24. Research your term paper.
25. Learn about the history or your city or town.
26. Decide which computer to buy using a consumer guide.
27. Check your stock portfolio.
28. Borrow or download an audiobook for your next road trip or commute.
29. Use the library’s resources to start a small business.
30. See a new art exhibit.
31. Volunteer as a literacy tutor.
32. Find a new recipe.
33. Ask for a recommended reading list for your kids.
34. Make photocopies.
35. Get a book from interlibrary loan.
36. Enroll your child in a summer reading program.
37. Take a computer class.
38. Hear a poetry reading.
39. Take out the latest fashion magazine.
40. Enjoy a concert.
41. Trace your family tree.
42. Check out a special collection of rare books.
43. Check out a legal question or issue.
44. Find out how to file a consumer complaint.
45. Learn about home improvement.
46. Borrow some sheet music.
47. Learn how to use a database or computerized catalog.
48. Find the latest romance paperback.
49. Pick up tax forms.
50. Connect with other people in the community.
51. Find a quiet spot, curl up with a book and enjoy.
52. Read a newspaper from another country.




Friday, September 12, 2008

Cameras, Grave Stones, Comic Books and Cereal

As this weekend starts, I feel I am still recovering from the past weekend’s activities. Last Friday the illustrious illustrator, Pamela McCarville, and I went to a taping of Off The Page to talk about our children’s book, Willow May Goes to the Midnight Carnival. This will be our first big TV debut and even though I tried real hard not to be, yes, I was incredibly nervous. Luckily, Off The Page has the most gracious host, Stacy McKenzie, which help put us to ease. We were both quite impressed with her production and found the whole filming process fascinating.

I still feel I came across nervous, but I think maybe my hair will distract viewers from that fact. It had been warm and dry all week, but of course on the day of filming, it was cold and wet with 100% humidity, which natural curly hair just loves....NOT! I believe my hair took up another zip code that day and I am sure it not only frightened the camera crew and host, but also the illustrator sitting next to me who was probably afraid it was going to take over her seat at any moment.

The program will air on Broomfield Public Access TV, Channel 8, starting in October. We will be getting a DVD of the show and Stacy said we could put it up on our blog or website, so I will try to do that. I asked her if it would be okay if I had the illustrator Photoshop Jennifer Aniston in for me, but she seemed to frown upon that idea. I do want to thank her and the crew for putting together a great show that supports local Colorado authors and illustrators.

The next morning a project that my sister and I are working on took us to the Riverside Cemetery. Founded in 1876, this is the oldest operating cemetery in Denver. In its heyday the cemetery use to be quite lavish sitting next to the South Platte River with green lawns, trees, flowers and shrubs. Now it is in the middle of an industrial park right next to the railroad tracks where we had to wait for the longest and slowest coal train to pass by before we could drive through the gates. The cemetery is no longer being watered or regularly maintained and was vandalized a few years ago, which is sad considering the wealth of Colorado history that is beneath its grounds and the art above. The cemetery statuary is amazing. Since I feel this post is getting a bit long winded, I will post more in the coming days on our morning’s journey through stones of Riverside and the stories that reside with them.

From the cemetery we made our way to Mile High Comics to get our comic and graphic novel fix. I got an eclectic grouping consisting of Igor, Hell Boy, The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo, The Umbrella Academy and a few others of varying genres. Should be some interesting reading (if I can just find the time). After that we stopped at our favorite eating place, The Shoppe, to fortify up with a big bowl of cereal and fruit. Next we stopped at the Tattered Cover to stock up on even more reading material. Finally after a few more stops and a harrowing near miss by a red car that did its darnedest to hit us, we arrived back home and collapsed on the couch for the rest of the evening. Who knew cemeteries and comic books would be so exhausting.

Here are a few of the photos from Riverside:

Riverside 1Riverside 2Riverside 3Riverside 4

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Trixi Thursday

Trixi-BelleHelping Dad celebrate his birthday.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Storm Front Book One of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

Storm Front Book One of the Dresden Files
Harry’s classified reads as follows:

HARRY DRESDEN-WIZARD,
Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, Parties, or Other Entertainment.

That’s right, Harry is a wizard in modern day Chicago and you can hire him if you need help finding your car keys or what is going bump in the middle of the night up in your attic. Well that is when he is not helping out the Chicago P.D. decipher their own paranormal investigations.

In Storm Front, Book One of the Dresden Files, Lieutenant Karrin Murphy needs Dresden’s help on a gruesome double homicide. It does not take Harry long to know that black magic is behind these deaths. What Harry doesn’t know is the trouble he is about to encounter with vampires, toad demons, gangsters, fairies, killer scorpions, a sexy journalist, and one irate Chicago Police Lieutenant.

I enjoyed the storyline and Jim Butcher’s humor in this book but then I also enjoyed the brief TV series where Dresden used a hockey stick as his staff. I was disappointed when the series was canceled and did not think the Sci-Fi Channel did right by it.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Trixi Thursday with Special Guest

Hi. My Mommy went to the mountains this last weekend and took this picture of my cousin Nugget enjoying the upper deck of her cabin. She has to go out every morning and inspect all the plants to make sure they are being cared for properly, especially her catnip.

Nugget


Next week back to me!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Weekend in the Mountains

This past holiday weekend we took an overnight trip to the mountain to visit my parents. They live outside of Glen Haven in an area known as The Retreat. We had a wonderful time hiking in the Comanche Peak Wilderness on Saturday and then even a better time at the Estes Puppy Park Sunday morning. My understanding is we did a good job wearing the pups out (and they did a good job of wearing us out too). Though short, it was a great weekend and here are a few photos from the trip.

Start of HikeAt the start of the Comanche Peak Wilderness Trail Head leading to the Big Thompson River















Yellow FlowersView from trail

















By The RiverThe gang taking a breather by the Big Thompson River

















Rushing WaterThe Big Thompson

















ScenicRiver scene from trail

















Wild FlowerWild flower by trail

















Big ThompsonClose up of the rushing cold water of the river

















Robbie and LaKeitMan and his dog

















End of TrailPosing on the trail

















The infamous group photo at the end of the hike, Dad, Mom, Tasha, Rob, and LaKeit