The Soft Pretzel Bacon Burger . . . Just Seems Wrong
Sunday, August 1st, 2010 Posted in Bystander, Current Events | 4 Comments »No one goes to Friendly's anymore. Honestly, I don't know how they stay in business. No. One. Goes. There. But still, you see the restaurants all over the place, parking lots empty except for a few battered Fords and some wind-blown litter, ...
Patti Smith Commencement Speech: Direct from the Heart
Thursday, June 10th, 2010 Posted in Current Events, Greatest Hits, Interviews & Appreciations | No Comments »I am a huge Patti Smith admirer, for many years now, but especially now after reading her fascinating memoir, Just Kids. A fabulous, uplifting book that could have been subtitled: "Portrait of an Artist as a Young Woman." I'd love ...
Jigsaw Jones, The Musical: Both Thumbs, Way Up
Friday, April 30th, 2010 Posted in Current Events, Happenings, Jigsaw Jones, School Visits | 1 Comment »I want to share a few photos and give my belated reaction to seeing the musical, Jigsaw Jones: The Case of the Class Clown. From left to right in the above photo: Benjamin K. Glaser (Jigsaw Jones), Jill Kurzner (Helen/Athena), ...
COMING MAY 1st: “The 2nd Annual Hudson Children’s Book Festival” — Highly Recommended!
Monday, April 19th, 2010 Posted in Current Events | 6 Comments »I don't know how to say this except for . . . You should go. YOU should go. You SHOULD go. Really, you should go. It's a great event. And an absolute privilege that it's up in our neck of the woods ...
Empire State Book Festival: April 9-10
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 Posted in Current Events, Happenings | No Comments »It's coming to Albany and -- who knows! -- maybe it will be fun. I know I'll be there, signing books (1:45 - 2:45) and participating in a Panel Discussion, "Get Real," along with Jan Cheripko, Daphne Grab, Todd Strasser, ...
Bring Change 2 Mind: “Words Have Power Over Us.”
Monday, March 15th, 2010 Posted in Bystander, Current Events, Family | 2 Comments »I was impressed and pleased to find this full-page advertisement, featuring actress Glenn Close, that addressed the stigma of mental illness: Here's the body copy of the advertisement: Glenn Close's sister Jessie and Jessie's son Calen have a disease. And even though ...
World Maths Day: “Beat ‘em!”
Thursday, March 4th, 2010 Posted in Current Events, Family | 4 Comments »"A day late and a dollar short!" That's my motto around here; it should become the subhead for my blog. Because yesterday was World Maths Day. Yes, yesterday. But why stop now? Let the mental gymnastics continue! Besides, my two youngest ...
Overheard: “Mom, I Can’t Say THAT!” Subtitle: Gavin and Valentine’s Day
Friday, February 12th, 2010 Posted in Current Events, Family, Jigsaw Jones | No Comments »Ah, Valentine's Day. What torture. And when did it become almost exclusively about candy? I'm reminded of one of my favorite comments made by Jigsaw Jones eleven years ago in The Case of the Secret Valentine. Jigsaw has just made an unnerving ...
RIP, J.D.
Thursday, January 28th, 2010 Posted in Current Events, Interviews & Appreciations | No Comments »"I hope to hell that when I do die somebody has the sense to just dump me in the river or something. Anything except sticking me in a goddam cemetery. People coming and putting a bunch of flowers on your ...
Award Season: “Brrrrrr!”
Thursday, January 14th, 2010 Posted in Around the Web, Current Events, the writing process | 5 Comments »Feel that chill? The cold wind rattling the panes? That's right, it's that season come round again, when folks eagerly anticipate the big book awards. Which titles will be this year's big winners? And on and on and so it goes. Wonderful, terrific, ...