Category: LHA

First – my walk. On my walk this morning I saw young starlings, goldfinches, house sparrows, and mockingbirds learning how to fly. They weren’t all learning together, though it would have been cooler if they had – you know, what with the economy and all, more and more bird parents having to put their toddlers in day care while they go off to hunt for worms and the like, so you’d see all the birds in these big schools (no – that’s fish), in these big fledgling flocks doing baby bird stuff. I also saw a red-winged blackbird chasing two cardinals. Have no idea what was up with that. Maybe a dispute about rent.

I was thinking about the pacing in my WIP as well. Right now it is set up to unfold over a 10-week period. Last night I almost convinced myself it should actually cover four months. This morning I came to my senses. I’m going to stick with the program until this draft is finished.

Yesterday’s comments about the book covers were fascinating. I keep thinking about what dirrtypop1 said, that she buys used CDs all the time based on the album art. So here is my question: do you ever buy CDs (used or new) based on the album art? Has it worked out? Do you buy books based on the covers? Are there any books you have not bought (or read) because you hated the covers?

Maybe when I finish my novel, I’ll apply for this guy’s job.

BH is driving back North today, so I am a little blue. We had dinner last night at a friend’s house, one of those awesome dinners filled with hours of good food and great conversation. Wound up staying much later than I thought we would, so I’m dragging a little today. I still don’t feel like my mind has clicked into gear.

I am too lazy to dust off the scanner, so here’s a link to the British version of PROM. (Ignore the word “audiobook” this is what the paperback looks like there.) You can also look at the British version of Fever 1793 and Speak.

What do you think of these across the pond covers?

Meredith marching in! (Guy on the right is a total stranger.)

The graduation was wonderful, simply wonderful.

Bad weather forced the ceremony into the auditorium. Because of that, only Greg (Mer’s dad) and I were able to see the actual event. But because Hatboro-Horsham in awesome, they televised the ceremony live on a local cable channel. So while we fought back the tears in the auditorium, the rest of the family: stepparents, various and sundry siblings, and friends, watched the TV and ate pizza in our apartment. One amusing note: I did not see a single person (not including the graduates) in the auditorium who was not carrying some kind of still or video camera. The amount of money spent on all those cameras probably exceeds the GDP of many small nations.

Rowdy parents on the balcony.

I was wrong about the final size of the graduating class. It is 424 kids.

The students were nearly unrecognizable in their caps and gowns, which was fitting, because they left their high school bodies when they were handed their diplomas. Now they have to figure out how to fit into their new skin. There were many rounds of picture-taking after the event was over.

Her pals (Mer is on the far right)

I did well, if I do say so myself. I limited my boo-hoos to about five minutes, and I think I managed not to embarrass my kid. We had a festive romp back at the apartment with the family and friends after the ceremony. We ate cheesecake, which I consider nearly a sacrament. A great day, all around!

Here’s to life, in the full fruit of its poignancy, here’s to love and to loss and to growth and to change.

Carpe diem, my friends: seize the day.

In a couple hours, my daughter Meredith and the 419 other seniors of Hatboro-Horsham High School will finally graduate!!!!!

*tries to put on brave face*
*vows not to embarass daughter by wailing at ceremony, or attaching self to daughter’s ankle*

Know that everyone in our extended, blended family is mad proud of you, sweetie. You rock our world!!!!

Roald Dahl struggled, too. Take a look at this summary of the drafts of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.