In case you missed it, I have a great giveaway going on for a FREE copy of my book The Wind Could Blow a Bug!
The Wind Could Blow a Bug by Jennifer Friess
Contest ends at midnight EDT on 3/18/15.
For complete details on how to enter, please read here: https://imnotstalkingyou.com/2015/03/12/excerpt-the-wind-could-blow-a-bug-chapter-19/
My first book, The Wind Could Blow a Bug is NOW AVAILABLE!
WARNING: Highly addictive and possibly annoying, depending on your personality.
Narwhals, by Weebl, recently featured in Sprint commercials.
My first book, The Wind Could Blow a Bug is NOW AVAILABLE!
This week I learned that I can’t run the space heater downstairs at the same time that I run the space heater upstairs. At least not in using the outlets I tried with the other day. I tripped my circuit breaker.
Not my actual heater
This week I also learned that it might not be wise to burn candles directly underneath my thermostat. It turns out, the radiant heat that it produces is enough to throw off the thermometer just enough that the furnace will not come on as often as it should.
Yes, it was damn cold this week in Michigan.
My first book, The Wind Could Blow a Bug is NOW AVAILABLE!
The other day my son was begging for a buffer to put at the end of his track, so that the trains would not roll off.
My first thought was that SOMEONE must sell such a thing, but that by the time you added the cost together with the shipping, the price would be pretty cost-prohibitive. If you decide that you want to go this route, you can visit TrainsGalore.com, which is an awesome website with almost anything you can imagine for Thomas-type trains. Here is their link to order buffers: http://www.trainsgalore.com/Search.aspx?k=buffer
I once ordered unpainted Thomas wooden railroad cars from them and had kids decorate them as party favors at my son’s birthday.
The car I designed (that the dog promptly ate).
I chose the cheap, crafty route and fashioned a buffer out of a spare piece of track that we already had and some popcicle sticks. I also used an exacto knife to saw through the wood, and an engine to make sure the dimensions seemed appropriate.
Supplies I used to make a Thomas buffer
I glued it all together with some wood glue and allowed to dry away from tiny, excited hands. I added two dots of red paint (any old paint you have laying around) to signify reflectors. Here are pictures of the finished product.
Finished buffer
Close-up of finished buffer
My son was so excited that he wanted to show the completed buffer to everyone. He even told me, “Mommy, you are the best mommy.” I don’t get that everyday. I actually get that never!
I will admit that this design may be best suited to use on a train table environment. My son plays trains on the floor, and the buffer tends to not handle being stepped on by humans or dogs very well. But, we just glue it back together again. You might also think about trying a more triangular design, which might have more stability.
The few minutes of crafting I did were worth this very happy boy.
Happy boy
My first book, The Wind Could Blow a Bug is NOW AVAILABLE!
Sometimes, I check out a CD or a movie because someone suggests it to me. Sometimes I am interested because it is perpetually in pop culture for decades and I cannot avoid it.
In these circumstances, I am probably not eager to try it, and expect to not enjoy it. But I consider it “research”.
I was told years ago by a co-worker to listen to “Nothing’s Shocking” by Jane’s Addiction. He told me if I liked Kid Rock, I should listen to this CD because it is what came before. He was kind of weird and cool, so I got the CD. I would disagree that it really has anything to do with Kid Rock’s sound, but it was an alright CD. I considered it a failed research project though. My life wouldn’t have been missing anything had I never listened to it.
I got the books “Forever” by Judy Blume and “The Perks of Being a “Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky because everyone always talks about them being great books, especially in the Young Adult genre. I was highly dissatisfied with Perks. I think I would be better off if I had never read it. As for Forever, I think maybe Blume’s books are best enjoyed at the age for which they are written. When I was in 4th grade, Tales of a Forth Grade Nothing” was da bomb. I could never diss Mrs. Blume.
I decided I needed to either read or watch Pride and Prejudice, because everyone talks about it all the time. Actually, the last straw was when I was reading an article called “Sex, Lies, & Fifty Shades” in my Entertainment Weekly magazine. It used Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice as an example of The Prince Paradigm.
Pride and Prejudice meme
Since I generally do better with visual than I do books, especially ones filled with fancy old British talk, I chose to watch the BBC miniseries from 1995 starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. I was a little concerned about a 6 hour miniseries. But it had a 5 star ranking on Amazon.com.
How many other movies rate that high?
The costumes and all the formality of courting and dancing, etc. back then would have driven me nuts. Once I sort of associated it with when I watch “Anne of Green Gables” (PBS, starring Megan Follows), as being of a time whose customs I know not, it was easier to watch. Just like Anne, Pride featured beautiful shots of the countryside–England, rather than Canada, of course.
The first hour I spent just trying to remember everyone’s name and what they did. But, as I reached the end of episode 5 and found it was now 2:15AM, I realized I had been drawn into the story. I actually cared about Lizzy and Mr. Darcy and if they were ever going to get together.
I actually feel really cheated that I didn’t watch Pride and Prejudice sooner. So many other movies I watch are based off of this story that came first. I recently watched the movie “Austinland” which, while a great movie, no doubt would have made more sense had I watched P & P first. And I have watched “Bridget Jones Diary” in the past. Wait, why does Colin Firth keep playing characters named Mr. Darcy? Is that a really common name in England?
Anyway, Pride and Prejudice was definitely worth my time checking out. I enjoy writing bantering dialogue between my leads and feel like I was “schooled” by the movie. I might benefit from reading the original book. I did find a free eBook version, although I enjoy reading physical books more.
I must admit, I may be a little obsessed now. And that really should have happened years ago. Maybe I wasn’t mature enough yet in 1995 to see past the dresses that look like nightgowns and the lack of kissing.
BTW, I am sooo glad that Lizzie and Mr. Darcy get to kiss at the end.
Next up on my research list? Flowers in the Attic.
My first book, The Wind Could Blow a Bug is NOW AVAILABLE!
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