I'm on Twitter!
Here.

Yes, a friend asked me to join. It's rather interesting. I'm discovering that there are some benefits!

I've tried to follow most of my friends, but if you're reading this and you're on Twitter please let me know!

Books, Toys, Etc. news

In the spirit of the "toy season", today starts a daily update on what's new in the toy industry. Just a little taste of what I deem newsworthy for parents, grandparents, toy industry professionals, and creative types!

Is it me or are there some great toys this year?
I really haven't been too impressed with many toys in the past five or more years.
Last month, while going through a recent toy catalog, I was rather excited about the new products coming out. This is a little disconcerting. Due to the fact, this past year is the year that toy industry leaders have personally pulled me back into the biz. Yes, I'm playing with the big kids again! And, I'm impressed with my competition!

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Yeah, yeah, I know it's Wednesday... but have fun with me here!

In case any of you have any interest in the toy industry, I just joined a group on LinkedIn called Kid Toyology. I love to talk about the toy industry.

I chimed in yesterday with 2 comments.

First question:
(1.) What was your favorite toy growing up?
(2.) What is the single most important thing for you in a toy? (Look, function, safety, play value?) & Why???

My one Little Kiddle, one Barbie, Crissy Doll, Easy Bake oven, super ball, and books!
As a mom (and toy inventor), any toy that is played with more than once is great. But, if that toy can be played with for years (well-made), by several children (play value), AND encourage creative play it's GOLDEN!

Second Question:
Do you think more and more toys will come with online communities? Think Webkinz, Barbiegirls.com, etc.

New report by The MacArthur Foundation concludes the internet is okay for teens' development. The report was the topic of a recent NYT article. Yes, I know the report is specifically about teens but the gist is that they are "learning technology and literacy needed in the contemporary world"...and social skills.

My 8YO son plays WOW (World of Warcraft) and loves it. Many 50YOs that he plays with would be shocked to know his age. We closely monitor his activity - i.e. if the conversations become too adult, and he jumps right off if we ask. He has never had any interest in Webkins. 16YO daughter plays Sims occasionally to de-stress. Grandparents bought some Barbie computer interaction playset for her one year. Didn't even make it out of the box! 14YO son is the king of MySpace.
Three VERY different kids... I have learned that kids are all different. (Just like adults.) That's also why I have a basement of toys that have never been played with!

Parents have to know/understand their children and monitor their activities. Online communities may not be for many children. They all play differently. My main concern is that the 'net doesn't become a babysitter. Parents need to take responsibility, supervise, and be aware of limits for their children.

Personally, I worry online activities take away from right-brain development. I feel our future will need the creative ideas of our children.
Just my two cents!

Anyone have a comment?
Remember, I love to talk toys!

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What a difference a day (or two) makes!


Friday, November 28 2008

Monday, December 1 2008
(E waiting for bus! Came home and played in the snow!)

It just seems a little surreal for me.

Trying to get back into the swing of things. Slowly getting caught up on all my LJ friends. Hope you all had a fantastic Turkey Day. We had a superb buffet dinner at the resort. No after dinner dishes to clean... perfect!

More to come!

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1800's Vampire Killing Kit sells for $14,850 at auction.

News article here.

Tell me that there's at least ONE great story in here!
Really cool.

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So, I was working on the laptop doing this...

No, really, I was working really hard earlier.
But then I got up and saw this...

Cali was right next to my head and e was asleep at my feet.
AHHHHHHH!

I think it's time for bed.
Good nite!

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1. Once again, it is my turn to post on INK: Interesting Nonfiction for Kids.

My post is titled "Borrowing" Fiction to Create Nonfiction.
Here's the link. Please comment. I like comments.

2. My 16YO daughter has been raving all week about this book.

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
E explained that this is THE book that has made her feel like she is living the story... even when she's not reading it. Last night, she looked at the car's gas gauge and thought, "Got to get gas, but it's $7 per gallon." Whenever she sees the moon, she immediately is transformed back into the book. She was reading the book during study hall the other day and had a hard time transitioning to real life walking to her next class.

I have to mention that this is a big thing. E won the award for reading the most books in 7th AND 8th grade. She reads close to one book per day during the summer, and she reads "the good stuff". She was a writing consultant last year in high school. And, she just got an A in AP English (there were only 4 As in 8 AP classes... very proud Mom moment!).  BTW she's been writing a YA fantasy for the last 2 years... watch out!

E didn't pick out the book to read herself. Her BFF told her that she needed to read it, and they have been sharing their reactions to the book. Isn't it great when your BFF has the same passion for books?

3. Twilight, the Movie, comes out next Friday. WooHoo!

Problem is that we'll be driving to Florida for a much needed week of vacation next Friday. E insists that we have to wait to leave until she goes with her friends to see Twilight. I did some research and there is a huge movie complex not too far from where we're staying. I had to pinky swear that we will see it once we get settled.

4. I think One Tree Hill may have  "jumped the shark" for next week's episode.

Anyone? Thoughts?
(Had to explain "jumped the shark" to E.)

5. Why is it that when you take a clean blanket out of the dryer and place it on the couch the cat IMMEDIATELY finds the blanket and sleeps there all week?

Cali has been here on the couch in my office ALL week. Amazing!

Sorry I have been AWOL around here lately. I have become obsessed with a new nonfiction PB project. Have I missed anything that I should know about?

Have a great weekend everyone!

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Well, truth be known, I am debunking today... delving way too deep into artists' biographies!

Debunking
Debunking
Debunking

tamarak artistq kporterbooks goadingthepen are all "UNK"ing today, too!

How about you?

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I voted today.
And, I got teary-eyed in the parking lot.
Did anyone else have this response?
(Of course, I tear up to many things.)

I've been studying American Painters lately.
Today, I have to post a few.


William Hogarth
"The Election 3: The Polling"
1754
(Okay, not American... but in theme.)


George Caleb Bingham
"Verdict of the People"
1854


Robert Edge Pine
"Congress Voting the Declaration of Independence"
1776


Norman Rockwell
"Undecided"
1944

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brian_ohio got me thinking and looking. Since I'm about to post pics from this weekend's costume from the party, I dug up old costumes from the past. I can't believe I found them.


Yes, we had a pink door. I'm on the left, in the witch costume. If you look closely, you can see my mom holding my little brother the_easter_pig looking out the window.

Yes, those are decorations I made for the pink door. I guess I'm a German girl. My little brother the_easter_pig is, I think, Casper. (I still have the hat, BTW. Here it comes again... 10 years later!)

In college, my roommate, Linda, and I donned my old German Dirndl dresses for a great costume party. My parents bought them for me when I was 12... they're not too small, are they? Linda's wearing that hat from before. And, if any Cincinnati people are reading this: yes, that is a Rookwood fireplace in the background! We had a very nice apartment right across the street from campus.

At the Mattel costume contest, hmmm... the Dirndl dress my parents bought me when I was 16. I swear, I think we went in every store in Germany to find this dress. (It is very sunny in SoCal!)

Better picture with Greg, another designer. Yes, I think he made the costume!

Coming up in my next post, the costumes from this past weekend's party.

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The kids were racing around and screaming,
"It's snowing, it's snowing, it's snowing."

Just great, real great! When's spring?



The hammock died in Sunday's wild wind storm!







I'll be sitting by the fire 'til April.

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1. Today is my post on INK: Interesting Nonfiction for Kids.
For Arts and Humanities month, I have provided the link to Dan Pink's Oprah Soul Series Interview. It is in 2 parts, each half 30 minutes but the interview is fantastic. Or you can link here.


I just went online and submitted Dan Pink and Arts Education & Creative Thinking as a Oprah TV show idea.

2.  I finally decided and ordered books from B&N using the gift card my brother sent me for my birthday. I used part of the card a few weeks ago to buy the new CWIM. The box just came and it was like opening the Arc of the Covenant. I could hear trumpets and angels singing.
Here's what I ordered:

Fireflies in the Dark 
The Story of Friedl Dicker-Brandeis and the Children of Terezin
by Susan Goldman Rubin


Painting in a Man's World
Four stories about Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, Eva Gonzales, Marie Bracquemond
by Diane Broeckhoven, Noelle Chatelet, Annette Pehnt, Alissa Walser


3.  I'm so excited to teach a new Art Appreciation lesson to my son's class on Monday.
The painting to discuss is:

Two Cats
by Franz Marc  1912

Don't you just love those colors?
Did you know that Marc died in WWI on the battlefield?
I recently came across a painting by Paul Klee (another Blue Rider) after WWI:

Destroyed Place
by Paul Klee   1920

This painting made me very sad.
(The actual painting is much darker than this pic from the internet.)

4.  Last week I came across Maggie Stiefvater's m_stiefvater post where she bought a beautiful print with a recent book advance. Maggie definitely made the best choice. I went to the website of the gallery where the print came from. Very Nice! Inspired me to try to get into my studio. So, I'm working on BIS instead of BIC. A little S here, a little C there.

5.  One month til our vacation! Woohoo!

Have a great weekend!

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October is going by quickly... can't believe I haven't made an announcement about Arts and Humanities Month.
Please go check out the Americans for the Arts website to learn more about cool art activities in your area!
Thank You!

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When I saw this cartoon in the Sunday Trib, I immediately thought of sruble (aka Fang Breath, as I have been calling her!):


Here's the link to Mark Tatulli's Lio cartoon.
Mwhahahahha!

(BTW I'm putting up my Halloween decorations today!)

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Seems the fantastic Halloween Costume that everyone is telling me to wear is unoriginal.
(I've been getting a lot of Sarah Palin and Tina Fey suggestions!)
The Chicago Tribune said it today here.
And I quote:
"Seems like everybody's planning to dress as Sarah Palin this Halloween. Don't be so unoriginal: There are plenty of females who made news."

ARGH!!!!!!

Sarah Palin wearing a beauty queen sash that says:
President Sarah Palin
Now wouldn't that be the most scary most costume you could think of? (Sorry, Republican friends!)

And, here's a website with instructions on Make your own Sarah Palin Costume for Halloween.
They stole my Baby Trig prop idea. But, they don't have a flute to steal from their daughter! Mwhahahahha!

Great! Now, the big news story is that Lindsey Lohan is planning to dress up as Sarah Palin.


Thing is, the costume party has awards for the most "entertaining". I guess that wouldn't be too entertaining.
And, as most of you probably know, I like to be original and creative.

Anyone have any new Halloween Costume ideas for me?
PLEASE! 

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Last week, I was helping my 3rd grader (little e) with his multiplication facts. He was having trouble with 7 x 7. I said that I see Halloween and vampire fangs when I see 7 x 7. (Weird, huh?) He responded with, "No, 7 is green!"
Hmmm... and then we made a list of all the colors and numbers. My 11th grader (big E) wandered into the room, started arguing with e, and added her colors to the list. Then, DH came into the room and had no idea what we were talking about. All I got from 14YO was that when he was bored in class a few years ago he went around the room asking kids what colors they see. They all laughed.

Here's the list from e and E:

A       Red                 Yellow
B       Orange           ???
C       Orange           Cool blue
D       Black              Blue
E       Yellow             Pink
F        Blue                Red/Orange
G       Blue                Green
H       Orange/Brown   ?
I         Black              Green/Gray
J        Blue                Stripes
K        Pink                Silver
L        Orange           Yellow/orange
M       Black              ?
N       Orange            Green?
O       Black               Black (wow, they agreed)
P       Red                  Pink
Q       Black               ?
R       Red                  Red
S       Red                  Bluish
T       Green               ?
U       Yellow              Some Yellow
V       Orange             ?   
W      Blue                 White
X       Pink                 Black! (huge argument)  
Y       Yellow              Yellow
Z       Blue                  Silver
1       Black                White! (another argument)
2       Orange             Brown
3       Purple              Some Purple
4       Green               Light Yellow
5       Blue                  Red!
6       Red                   Blue!
7       Green               Yellow
8       Purple               Purple  
9       Red                   Purple
10     Black                 Also, White 

They were both very adamant about their color choices!
I googled "Seeing colors with numbers" and got a lot of hits.
Here's an article from ABCNews.

I love how our brains work!
Anyone else see colors? Anyone?

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Kid Lit Central News
Today is my post for Meet-and-Greet Monday. Hop over and read about the very cool IL-native Ruth Spiro and her new book, Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist.

I.N.K. - Interesting Non Fiction for Kids
Last week, my post on I.N.K.was titled Very Interesting Non Fiction for Kids - Graphic Novels. A few librarians chimed in with their comments... always fun to see!

Dancing With the Stars: I Kissed a Girl
Last week I caught a few seconds of Dancing With the Stars. Lance Bass and Lacey Schwimmer performed the Paso Doble to I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry.

I CANNOT GET THAT SONG OUT OF MY HEAD!!!
Believe me, I tried. I shared my problem with any and every child that has been in the car with me all week. My DH, who shockingly has not heard the song, gave me strange looks all week as I sang the lyrics to myself. (I have no idea why.) I have to watch the Youtube version every couple of hours. 
And, then, the kids all went wild when Saturday Night Live did a parody this weekend on Katy Perry and the song!

So, please, watch the video so hopefully the song muses will take the song out of my head OR tell me the song that's stuck in your head so this one (even though it is stuck-worthy) will move over!

HELP ME!

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I do not like change.

Over the years in many of meme when asked what my favorite time of the week was, my answer has been - Sunday morning with a cup of coffee, Chicago Tribune and New York Times Book Sections and the Chicago Tribune Crossword Puzzle (no not the NYT Crossword, I'm not that smart).

About a year ago, the Tribune messed up my routine. Yes, they moved the Book Section to Saturdays. I adjusted. The Saturday read was a warm up for Sunday's festivities. I learned to live with it.

This week, the Chicago Tribune went through a redesign. DH was not happy on Monday morning. My biggest concern was that the comics page changed. The cartoons now look like this:

I can live with that. I just need to find my reading glasses. See, I can adjust.

But this morning, I was shocked!

The Book Section is now called Books & Media and it is a full-page section, not my cute, little, read on the couch with a cup of coffee section. 
I found this online:

Letter from the editor: New Books & Media section
Elizabeth Taylor Literary editor October 4, 2008

Reading is often the most solitary of acts. But when we are moved by words on a page—in a book, a magazine or a newspaper—we are compelled to share them. And in that moment, the act of reading becomes an act of community.

This is the goal of the redesigned, reinvigorated Books & Media section: Creating a community of ideas, actively encouraging debate and exchange between writers, readers, media mavens and local tastemakers.

As befits a reinvention, our new section is very much a work in progress. We invite you to weigh in on the changes, to let us know what you like, as well as what's not working for you. This community of readers—and listeners and viewers—can't thrive without your opinions, good and not so good. And we can't wait to hear them.

I do not like change.

This is actually interesting given what happened with the Sunday comics about 6 months or so ago:

The Sunday comics went from a full page to a half-page section... yes, again, we adjusted.

I do not like change.

At least, I have Sunday and the New York Times Book Section and the Chicago Tribune Crossword Puzzle... wait a second, I may come unglued tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.

i do not like change.

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Because the Sh-Eye-Lock Homies rule...


Escher Eye!


Picasso Eye!


Mona Lisa!

If you need an explanation of this post, go here!

We will be awaiting our clue!
(You should be very happy, Brian! I crawled out of my hiding place to post this.)
Okay, now... I'm back to work!!!

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I found this interview with Tom Robbins by Michael Dare and wanted to share it.
Here's a section of that interview:
Tom briefly explained how he wrote his books. He treats writing like a nine-to-five job, writing eight hours a day, Monday through Friday. No writing allowed on weekends. He gets up in the morning, makes himself breakfast, lights a cigar, and sits at his typewriter.
When he starts a novel, it works like this. First he writes a sentence. Then he rewrites it again and again, examining each word, making sure of its perfection, finely honing each phrase until it reverberates with the subtle texture of the infinite. Sometimes it takes hours. Sometimes an entire day is devoted to one sentence, which gets marked on and expanded upon in every possible direction until he is satisfied. Then, and only then, does he add a period.
Next, he rereads the first sentence and starts writing a second, rewriting it again and again until it shimmers. Then, and only then, does he add a period. While working on each sentence, he has no idea what the next sentence is going to be, much less the next chapter or the end of the book. All thoughts of where he is going or where he has been are banished. Each sentence is a Zen universe unto itself, and while working on it, nothing exists but the sentence. He keeps writing in such a manner until he eventually reaches a sentence which he works on like all the others. He adds a period and the book is done. No editing or revising in any way. When you read a Tom Robbins book, you are experiencing the words not only in the exact order that he wrote them but almost in the exact order that he thought them.
“But wait a minute,” I interrupted. “The first sentence of your first book, Another Roadside Attraction, is ‘The magician’s underwear has just been found in a cardboard suitcase floating in a stagnant pond on the outskirts of Miami.’ Are you telling me you wrote that sentence having absolutely no idea where it was leading?”
“Yes,” he said. “I knew I could explain it later. I like painting myself in corners and seeing if I can get out.”

I have always been amazed by the first line of Skinny Legs and All ---
"It was a bright, defrosted, pussy willow day at the onset of spring, and the newlyweds were driving cross-country in a large roast turkey."

And, who can forget the first line of Villa Incognito ---
"It has been reported that Tanuki fell from the sky using his scrotum."
(HeeHee, I typed the word scrotum today!)

Oh, yeah... now, that's what I'm talkin' about!


I recently picked up this book:
  
How I Write: The Secret Lives of Authors
Edited by Dan Crowe

Yes, there's nothing like reading about how other authors write instead of WRITING YOURSELF!
Am I right?
Maybe I'll share some wise wisdom that I glean from this book in the next few posts.

Now, get to work... and stop reading about reading about how authors write.
(Did I say that right?)

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In the name of fun, I went with my girlfriend to the COOLEST store in the entire world last week!
Mr. Kitschy
Geneva IL
Here's a link to an article about the store.

At the store, I found the perfect birthday present for my brother the_easter_pig --- maybe I'll explain someday why he's The Easter Pig.
Note to brother:
Dear brother, I know you are reading this but you CANNOT peek behind the cut! You CANNOT comment because that shows the cut. Just go back to work... or go to my other blog Books, Toys, Etc. if you need some interesting reading today.

WARNING TO BROTHER:
Do not peek!!!

Here's the coolest present..


Isn't this sooooo cool?!
I had a Frankenberry car/vehicle in my arms but when I saw this I dropped the car and clutched this and RAN to the front desk. BTW if you can't tell, it is about 18 inches high and a bobble head.
And I couldn't pass up this:

It's a wind--up walking Lederhosen. Doesn't everyone need one?
Okay, we're German.
And, do I need to explain this one?

When you pull out the fly on a string and let go, the 'turd' shakes!
 Now, my problem is finding a box to mail it in.

Here's the email I sent him:
I
JUST
BOUGHT
YOU
THE
MOST
AWESOME
BIRTHDAY
PRESENT
IN
THE
ENTIRE
WORLD
!!!!!!!!!!

And in a million years you'ld never guess what it is!!!!!!!!!
And the other 2 super little things I bought are super cool, too!!!!
TeeHee!
Sister!!!!!!

My wish to all my LJ friends is that you all go have some fun today!

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I just saw this weird thing in the sky. Has anyone seen this before?




Seriously, I just saw this...
Chicago Seeks Aid After Worst Rain in at Least 137 Years


I really should watch the news more often.
The yards on either side of us are completely flooded... and ducks were swimming in them today. 
On Saturday, I had to go out and drive through the flooded streets of our neighborhood. 
The major rain came yesterday and Ike came through today.
It smells like earthworms outside.

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Recently, the term Hockey Mom has been bantered about; more specifically, the difference between Hockey Moms and Soccer Moms. I just finished reading an article about Hockey Moms in the Chicago Tribune and I've had enough, I need to vent.

In 1996, when the word Soccer Mom became popular, this is the definition that made me feel proud to be labeled a Soccer Mom:

In the presidential election of 1996, the political strategists for Bill Clinton and Bob Dole discovered a newly significant voter to whom they hastened to pay their respects. They called her the soccer mom. They and the American electorate were informed about the hard-working upscale young woman of the 1980s who had married, started a family, and transformed herself into a hard-working upscale mother of the 1990s with a political agenda of her own.
The soccer mom was portrayed as someone who managed her children's development as energetically as she had managed her yuppie career. She championed soccer as a sport for her children, not only for the fresh air and vigorous exercise but also for providing, in its American youth version, equal opportunity for both genders, all ages, and all athletic abilities, free of the Macho (1927) posturing of American professional sports. So she piled her kids, and her neighbors' kids, in her minivan and drove them to weekday soccer practice and weekend games.

Though the soccer mom was affluent, she was said to have a liberal attitude toward government support of education and welfare, and to favor the charismatic and residually liberal Candidate Clinton. With her help, he won handily over traditional conservative Dole.

Soccer moms are ALL parents that achieved education beyond HS and had a career before deciding to put that aside to raise a family, and all that entails; carpools, sideline cheering, PTO meetings, etc. We are intelligent and have strong opinions about the government. And, according to some, she helped Clinton win over Dole in 1996. We are not defined by what sport our children play. We are not numb, vehicle driving robots.

When the definition of soccer mom becomes clouded by which sport we play, it demeans the whole point of the term Soccer Mom. Soccer moms, Hockey moms, Football moms, La Crosse moms, Gymnastic moms... we are all the same!

And, to emphasize the difference instead of the similarities defeats the whole reason for bringing up the label in the first place.

After spending 10 years on the sidelines of a soccer field, I now spend my time in the bleachers watching football games but I still consider myself a soccer mom... by definition. We are not separated by what field we are on, we are united by our intelligence, values, and strong political views.

Okay, rant over... off to drive a child somewhere... now, where is my lipstick?


 

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1. The kids went back to school this week.

2. Today's my post on Kidlit Central News.
    My topic is Friday Fun Day! Brainstorming!
    Please stop by and comment.

3. My post last Friday on INK: Interesting Nonfiction for Kids was mentioned in this weekend's Amazon blog.

4. I bought 2 bags of Caramel Cremes at Walgreen's on Wednesday. Why can't I stop eating them? They are actually worse than my Peppermint Patty problem.

5.  My daughter FINALLY got back Breaking Dawn. Daughter read it in one day and then she reread it. Her best friend read it in a couple days. But, then the book was kidnapped. I have been trying really hard not to read all the spoilers, but some of the major points were everywhere. I can't wait to read all the discussions.

Have a great weekend! I'm off to have coffee and great conversation with a friend!

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