Happy Thanksgiving!

This photo made me laugh when I came across it.  It turns out that Dave Barry posted it on his blog.  I read a few of the comments people had left after he had posted it, and one of them was, "Drunk turkeys are hilarious." 

My Remote Sales & PR Departments

When I offered up my book for pre-order my mother sent an email saying, "I want ten."  That email was soon followed by an email saying, "No, I want twenty.  I'll sell them at work."

Very very early this morning I got an email from her telling me that she only had 2 or 3 left.  She wondered should she possibly need more could she get them before Christmas?   That email was followed an hour later with one asking, "How about 5 - 7 more books before Christmas?"  Later in the afternoon she sent me an email which read, "I was thinking that maybe you could send 10 - 15 books if you are able to.  Let me know the chances of getting them."  Then she wrote some very nice things relating to how well the book is being received, etc. 

The very last paragraph of that email consists of a single sentence which states that yesterday my father sent my book to Oprah. 

My father, who could bench press your father, sent something to Oprah Winfrey yesterday. 

I imagine after reading this you will want them for your own parents, but I am sorry, my brother & I beat you to them.  

Tap Dancing in Roller Skates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfJIarhYYZQ&NR=1

Roller skates never had it so good.

S & D

The book is sold out.  There are still people trying to buy it.  From what I remember from my 8th grade Economics class- I think this means that I am on the right side of Supply & Demand.

Goodwill toward Snowmen

When I was at my local post office earlier (shipping more books!) I overheard a woman & the very pleasant postman talking about stamps for her Christmas cards.  As it is really getting to be the time for that I decided to share with you these fun holiday cards that one of the other fabulistas makes.  Last year I admired some that she had done, and those were on a nice natural background of a cardboardy color, and I wanna say she did some on a cheery red backing as well.  We can certainly find out specifics if need be.

I could say more about this fabulista, but she has her own blog & I don't want to steal all her material.  What I will tell you is that she holds the distinction of being:
1)  The only person I have ever heard of who's been struck in the face by a live fish.  (It had leapt out of the ocean & her face just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.)
2)  She owned the shiniest vehicle that I have ever seen.
And my friend, Steve, once saw a dolphin jump right over her head.  In short, you just cannot buy holiday cards from anyone else with these qualifications.

Plus, look at how cute they are!  Wee Snowpeople!!!!  (well, one snow, one sand- but both wee!)

The cards are sold individually at $4 a piece, or in a pack of 10 for $25.  Each card is made with an actual photograph.  You can buy them from her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/seejaneshoot

Or she says better to contact her directly by email juanarama@hotmail.com or to go to her photography blog:  http://janewertzphotography.blogspot.com/

With that Sandy the Snowman card I'd be tempted to go with a greeting of either Mele Kalikimaka or I hope Sandy Clause brings you everything you asked for this year.  tee hee.

As for Marty the Littlest Snowman, she showed me a video her sister took the day they made Marty.  If only these cards could be made into the musical type of card- it would be worth any amount of money to hear those two giggling & carrying on about their little snowman!  Holiday cheer indeed!

Holiday Spirits

There is a chance that I live down the street from the friendliest most well appointed liquor store in all the land.  In addition to what you might expect, they also carry homemade deli sandwiches, whole avocados & other fresh fruit, whole wheat pasta, sea salt, firewood, various types of over the counter allergy/cold/flu medication, toilet paper, Draino, motor oil- every time that I have ever gone there to see if by chance they had what I needed- they have.

They let me park my bike inside.  If there weren't probably codes against letting someone bring their really waggedy dog inside, which would surely prevent them from allowing any such thing ever to occur, they are so friendly- they would let someone do that.  (wink wink.)

At 9:45pm I know I can get both a bag of popcorn for my hot air popper & good conversation there.

When I was in earlier I saw that they had raised the bar on themselves.  At the end of the aisle displaying the magazines & just before the movie rentals was a Rubbermaid flat topped wheeled cart with several rolls of wrapping paper, four different color choices of long shiny ribbon, tape, and a sign informing shoppers that this was a complimentary gift wrapping station.  If that doesn't warm your heart, well, they've also got an entire shelf of brandies from which to choose.

Fit for a P.I.

     Today when I was over at the coffee shop one of the fabulistas who works there said, "I've got to make more mustache pillows.  I got three more orders." 

     To which I said something like, "Hmmm?  Pardon?  Que?  What?  Mustache pillows, hello?"

     She then told me that she makes pillows shaped like giant mustaches, and sells them over the internet.  I laughed, slapped my hand on the counter, and said, "Fantastic!"  Because, boy oh boy do I love a good bit of ridiculousness.

     When she originally had the idea she looked to see if anyone else was already making giant mustache pillows, and what do you know- no one was!  So, she is the exclusive manufacturer of giant mustache pillows in all the world.  I live in the Giant Mustache Pillow capital of the world.

     Here is the link to her Etsy shop- just in time for all your giant mustache pillow holiday needs:

 http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34575949

Super Power: Grinning

Ok, so obviously I love dogs.  But, come on- look at this!

My cousin sent this photo of her dog, Will, taken at the Howl-o-ween party at their local dog park.  She reports that Will smiles when he's happy & when you ask him, "Who's handsome?"

Will looks like a party all on his own.

The Speed Must Be in the Spots

A friend sent me this photo of her dog outrunning the purported fastest land mammal.  The cheetah can do 0 to 60 in 3 seconds!  Apparently, Hershey can do it in 2.

Though, possibly it was just home court advantage, as this looks to be our local beach.  I wonder if the cheetah will now demand a rematch in the Serengeti. 

Photo credit T.Springstead

Happy Campers

Seeing as my book goes on sale in a few hours I've been tempted to go over to the shop to check if people are camping out to buy it.  Obviously I'm joking, but it got me thinking about that whole camping out on the sidewalk business.

There are musicians who have fans who will camp out on sidewalks to buy tickets to their concerts.  A few years ago when I went to pick up the last Harry Potter book at Border's it was One o'clock in the morning, and the place was mobbed.  Can you imagine what it must feel like to have something you thought of, something from your imagination create such enthusiasm?

Of course, people will also sleep in a parking lot in front of Wal Mart on Thanksgiving so that they can buy a TV on sale the next morning.     
...to each their own. 

They're Here!

"They're Here!"  That is what my fairy godmother instructed me to write on the chalkboard today. 

The books have arrived.  Currently, they are in the storage room at the shop.  They're going to start selling them on Monday.  Or as the fairy godmother put it, "Now for the fun part!"

Stick Chewing Ballerina

On Halloween I saw my dog out in the front yard happily chewing a stick whilst wearing her ballerina costume.  It made me smile.  I tried to snap a photo, but she tends to be an awfully mobile model.