Who goes there? Please leave comments so (An Aries Knows)!
Sir Tyson, who is fostered by Timothy through the amazing rescue organization Scout’s Honor,
is happy when surrounded by toy carnage.
Tyson will gladly find YOU something to be happy about from this book if you comment with a page number between 1 and 611, and another number between 1 and 25. Unless, you know, you hate dogs, happiness, and America.
My nephew Harley is a fierce hunter. Here, he catches Santa Dog trying to steal from his box of Christmas treats.
Two days later, Santa Dog joins Shredded Teddy on the wall of Harley’s Trophy Room.
While at one sister-in-law’s house, we cracked open a liqueur she’d bought on a cruise: Sheridan’s Coffee Layered Liqueur. Two bottles are fused together, one containing the coffee liqueur, the other containing cream. You tilt the bottle, pour over ice, and even a person who drinks infrequently like me gets a little taste of liquid heaven. Might be worth going on a cruise just to get this stuff. This photo is blurred not because I can’t hold my liqueur, but because the D40 chose to focus on other people’s wineglasses.
The next night, to usher in the new year, we all had a little champagne in untraditional glasses cups:
Last night, I inadvertently discovered that my grand-niece Amelia is planning to be a spokesmodel:
Here, she extolls the value of Finding Nemo.
I’ve got material for posts, but it’ll have to wait until I get back to The Compound and back in my groove. One thing I’ve enjoyed on this trip is stopping into bookstores and signing stock of A Coventry Wedding. In one store in Birmingham, they had only one copy, and I bought it to give to someone. The associate who rang me up saw me signing it and wanted it for herself. She offered to pay for it, but I gifted it to her. It seemed a small price to pay for her enthusiasm and the way she turned around and ordered more copies of it and A Coventry Christmas for her store.
I’ve already started getting e-mails from friends as well as new readers and they’re all positive. This has been a fantastic way to start the new year, especially after such a challenging 2008. Thank you to EVERYONE who’s posting about the book and e-mailing me. I tip a virtual coffee liqueur to you–in the drinking vessel of your choice.
I’m not sure I’ll ever know what day it is again. But I do know that Harley is 75 pounds of hilarious goodness.
Tomorrow, I’ll have my fifth Christmas.
I’ve gotten tons of writing material over the past few days. Now I just need to write a few chapters and get a contract. A book contract is one of my new year’s resolutions. The other is to go back to the gym. I’m keeping 2009 simple.
You?
Even though I’m far from The Compound and my dogs, I’m still getting plenty of dog love from:
Sequoia and Sherman
Cocoa and Mystery
and Biscuit.
Completely unrelated, I saw that former senator Claiborne Pell died. RIP to the man who helped many people fulfill their dreams of going to college. From the AP report:
When asked his greatest achievement, Pell always was quick to answer, “Pell Grants.”
Legislation creating the Basic Educational Opportunity Grants passed in 1972, providing direct aid to college students. The awards were renamed “Pell Grants” in 1980. By the time Pell retired, they had aided more than 54 million low- and middle-income Americans.
Pell also shared a strong interest in the arts, and was chief Senate sponsor of a 1965 law establishing the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Pell was well-liked among peers from both political parties, who respected his non-confrontational style. “I believe in letting the other fellow have my way” was a favorite refrain Pell used to refer to his negotiating skills.
For that last quote alone, he’s worthy of the Aries Hall of Fame (though he was born under the sign of Cancer). Supporting the arts was just the icing on the cake.
At least I think it’s Wednesday. I only have seconds to post, because I’m en route from one city to another, and my Internet time is running out quickly. However, I wanted to give you an opportunity to comment with a page number between 1 and 611, and another number between 1 and 25, so I can find you something to be happy about from this book.
Although I may be unable to give you the answer until late tonight or tomorrow, isn’t happiness a great way to start the new year? Everyone be joyful and safe, and I’ll leave you with a view I stopped and shot this morning.
…and then it does?
Today I managed to accomplish every goal I set for myself. While I was doing it, I got to speak by phone to Lynne, Marika, my sister Debby, my friend Debbie, Jim–I feel like I’m leaving out someone, but at age thirty-five, a memory lapse or two is to be expected. I’ve missed calls from Timmy and Amy, but we’ll catch up soon.
I took some photos that you can see after the cut.
Continue reading “You know how it sometimes seems a day can’t get any better…”
From The Compound…
Back in November of 2006, I explained the origin of the angels that adorn The Compound every Christmas. Over the years, these paper angels have been cut out, colored, painted, and otherwise gussied up by friends, family, and me. The book they come from, A Christmas Angel Collection, is a little pricier than in the old days when I bought several, because it’s out of print now. The drawings are based on famous paintings from centuries past.
I store them flat in an angel tin, and every year, it’s Tim’s job to take them out, fix them so they’ll stand, and put them on the molding over our living room and dining room windows. And it’s our job not to turn on the ceiling fan in the dining room, because that sends angels a’flyin’.
Something that makes me happy: The way the lights from the Christmas tree reflect off a bedroom door in our house.
Do YOU want something to be happy about? Look; it’s the Christmas Gecko!
He can’t get you a lower rate on your car insurance, but if you comment with a page number between 1 and 611, and another number between 1 and 25, he will hasten to find what in this book will make you happy.
The Christmas Gecko was provided by codyfrizbeejr. Thank you, Rob, and I’m sending good thoughts to you during a bad time.