Voices from Cinderella - part 1

I recently read a book called "If the Shoe Fits" by Laura Whipple. A description right from the book says, “In thirty-three poems it brings to life not only the voices of well loved characters, but also the voices of characters not usually heard from---including the glass slipper, without which the story would not have a happy ending. " I have four selections I'd like to share with you through out the next week or so. The First:

Who is this girl in the mirror?
The feet. Bare, dirty.
Where are her shoes?
The dress. Torn, dusty.
Has she no clean gowns?
The hair. Long, scraggly.
Where's a comb?
The face.
Tired tear trails.
The mouth.
No song.


I think it's me.
I see myself and the trail behind me:
"Ella, don't be lazy.
You know so much about herbs,
please help with the meal."
"Of course."
"Oh, the horses love you; please groom them for us."
"Yes, I love horses."
It seemed right to help; we were family.

When they wanted more
and more
and more
and more,
I finally understood it was to late for sisterhood.
It's a problem, a puzzlement, what to do about me.
Just hoping is and endless conundrum, a maze.
Father would say to me,
"Use your brain, my dear."

Something will come to me.
The garden's still sweet,
there are songs to sing.
No weeping.
No moping.
No melancholy.
I wish---I wish I were not
not quite
so alone.
Father...? Mother...?
I miss you.


Puss,
purr that you love me.
I'll sing you a song,
hold you soft in my arms,
and we'll dance in the garden.

Next poem will be "The Rat's Ride"

Blood Brothers

Blood Brothers
By S.A. Harazin

Clay has known Joey just about all his life. When they were young they spit into a coke bottle making themselves official blood brothers because they considered saliva on a par with blood. One night when Clay was visiting Joey he found his friend out of control and obviously drunk or on drugs, this was not like him at all! Now Joey was in the hospital fighting for his life. Clay, having been blamed for Joey’s condition must prove his innocence, keep his job at the hospital, and recount painful memories to find out who ruined his best friend’s life, perhaps permanently.

Blood Brothers is a novel about the painful and gruesome facts and stories of teenage drug and alcohol abuse. This book broadened my view of this tragic and widespread problem. My heart aches for any person struggling with substance abuse. Also, many people don’t consider the pain of parents and friends watching their loved one destroy their lives. Unfortunately, this book has offensive language, graphic detail of surgical procedures, and sexual references. This wasn’t a warm, fuzzy, feel-good novel nevertheless I respect the author’s realistic presentation of the grim circumstances surrounding illicit drug use. This story will probable stick with me for the rest of my life.

This book review also posted on flamingnet.com

Football Season

As most of you know I am an avid fan of Boise State Football. :D

As most of you don't know, their first game is in 5 DAYS! *screams with joy*

You can be assured that I will keep you all updated on how they do......

I can just see everyone of you bubbling over with joy. ;)

I will try hard to make it interesting for those of you who are football challenged.

Here is a picture of my favorite player scoring the winning two point conversion at the Fiesta Bowl.

Go Orange! Go Big Blue! Fight, Fight, BSU!!

Author Interview: N.D. Wilson

N.D. Wilson is the author of Leepike Ridge (see my review here) and an upcoming fantasy trilogy. I used to go to the same church as him so it was great to be able to talk with him!
Please check out his website at: www.ndwilson.com

You have young children, how do you build a sense of curiosity, exploration and adventure in them?

The most important thing is to have a sense of curiosity, exploration and adventure yourself. If you don't, then why would they? If you do, then you don't need to worry much about whether they will. Just bring them along with you. We do a lot of reading, a lot of story-telling, and a lot of insect/frog/turtle hunting. We also have wars with yellow jackets and hornets. The rule for my son is that he can mess with them (with hose or plastic cup) as long as he doesn't scream when he gets stung.

How does Leepike Ridge differ from other literature for young people?

This is hard for me to answer. I'm hardly objective about Leepike, and there's a fair amount out there that I like. Any comparison from me wouldn't be accurate. A third party would be better for that.

Did you like to play with refrigerator (or other large) boxes when you were little?

Sure (but not 'store' or 'school'). Actually, in third grade, a friend of mine found a huge chunk of Styrofoam in a creek. I was over at his house before a baseball game (we were both in uniform), and we decided to float the creek. Big surprise, it got bigger and faster and we sank. I vividly remember going down and watching my friend leap for a rock, wrap his arms around it, and slide right under the surface. Then I jumped for the bank and dragged myself out with two fistfuls of thistles. The walk back to his house was long and squishy.

What was the first thing you did once you found out Leepike Ridge was going to be published by Random House?

You know, I think I was out to dinner with my lovely wife when my agent called. So the first thing I probably did was finish my hamburger. We were already drinking wine. It's all pretty blurry. We probably sat on the porch swing later and said profound things like "wow" and "fun." I'm sure I kissed her and she probably kissed me.
5. Can you tell me about your current projects?Leepike is out right now, but I begin a fantasy series in December. 100 Cupboards kicks that off and it's completely finished. I'm currently working toward a second draft of its sequel (Dandelion Fire). The fantasies have been a blast for me thus far. Hopefully, readers will feel the same.

Which character do you identify with most?

I have to identify with them all in order to write them, but afterward, I identify with Tom and Reg and Argus the dog. And Elizabeth. And Ted. And even Old Nestor. So I guess that's all of them again (excluding Jeffrey and villains).

What would your advice be for young aspiring writers?

My advice isn't really original. Every writer gives the same advice, but that's because it's true. My advice to aspiring writers is: write. Don't be afraid of doing it badly. That has to come first. Just sit down and start writing as consistently as you can. Then find what you dislike and try to correct it. And do it again. And again.

If you could meet any person in the world, who would it be?

Huh. That's a bit hard. Living or dead? I'll do both. Of all the dead folk, I would most like to meet . . . probably Moses (assuming a translator was available). Of the living, I'd have to say King Arthur.


Thanks a million, Mr. Wilson!

Emma

First off, I'm sorry it has been so long since I posted. We are still having trouble recieving internet....

Second, I auditioned for my highschool play "Emma" last week and got the role of 'Harriet'!
Below are some quotes from the book that describe her character.

Miss Harriet Smith:

"Miss Smith was a girl of seventeen, whom Emma knew very well by sight, and had long felt an interest in, on account of her beauty."

"was the natural daughter of somebody."

"She was short, plump, and fair, with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features, and a look of great sweetness." FYI: this does not describe me...;)

"She (Emma) was not struck by any thing remarkably clever in Miss Smith's conversation, but she found her altogether very engaging."

"Harriet certainly was not clever, but she had a sweet, docile, grateful disposition, was totally free from conceit, and only desiring to be guided by any one she looked up to."

Random Pictures

Just for fun, I found some cool/freaky pictures I would like to share with you all. Mwahaha!

Picture Titles:

1. Praying Mantis
2. Camel Spider
3. Beautiful Butterfly
4. Fangtooth Fish
5. Huge Jelly Fish
6. Funny Fish
7. Humpback Whale (one of my favorite animals)
8. Creepy Beetle

Science Museum- Part 3

The last of the pictures...

Books

----I got this from Bohae’s blog----

For a complete list of the books please go to her blog.

I'm doing this "game thing" all wrong, but it's all I have time for with school and all. Also, it looked really fun! ;)

I decided to edit the major list down to books that made a difference in my life by encouraging me to read more by being such great books and/or touching me in certain ways.



The Bible

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald

~~~~~~~ my additions~~~~~~~

I’d Choose You by John Trent
Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine
The Bridge to Teribithia by Katherine Paterson
Penolope Bailey Takes the Stage by Susanna Reich
For Freedom, The Story of a French Spy by Kimberly B. Bradley
The Rising Star of Rusty Nail by Lesley M. M. Blume

Science Museum- Part 2

More Pictures...

Fun

I found this really cool quiz on Bohae's blog. Some of this is me, some of it is totally not. I just thought it was kind of funny...

You're a Hyena!

You have quite a sense of humor, though many others find it derisive
rather than appealing. You are perceived as being a coward, but actually have moments
of great bravery and have even stood up to those much larger than yourself. You like
hanging out in groups and are always making a lot of noise. Disney thinks you are an
idiot.

Take the Animal Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Science Museum- Part 1

This place was so huge and so fun! The building had four floors of exhibits including lots of dinosaurs, bugs, whales, underwater creatures, savannah animals, and lots more. Also, on mostly every floor some group or duo was playing jazzy fun music. Unfortunately I didn't see a monkey or Teddy Roosevelt. (for those of you who have seen 'Night at the Museum’) I highly recommend going to something like this before you die. :D

Our new home....... ;)

Lavender-Green Magic

Holly Wade, her sister Judy, and her brother Crockett are in a bad mood. Their mother is sending them to live with their grandparents while she goes and works in a different town.

While Judy and Crockett start to adjust to living in a junkyard and going to school, Holly refuses to enjoy anything. When she and her siblings find a magical pillow and mysterious maze things start changing drastically, but not necessarily in a good way.

It took me a little bit to get into this book, but once I did it was a cute read. Mazes have always interested me so I enjoyed reading what Andre Norton thought up.

Another thing I liked was the insights into African- American culture. Some very good lessons I got from this book were how to distinguish good and evil, listen to your heart, and believe in your family.

Review also posted on Flamingnet.com