Kelsey Timmerman's Blog, page 79
August 7, 2009
Great Expectations: Fatherhood vs. Authorhood
I've heard about authors saying that releasing your book to the world is like becoming a new parent – all that excitement and anxiety.
Since my book and my first child were separated by little more than one month, I believe I have a unique perspective on this and I'm prepared to make the definitive statement on the matter:
Releasing a book is nothing like having your first child. I suspect, if I would have been the one doing the pushing, sweating, and contracting for 23 hours, I would be even mor
August 6, 2009
Daily Show names Bill Clinton as the Most Interesting Man in the World
Bill Clinton has got it. And by it, of course I mean the Most Interesting Man in the World Syndrome.
Jon Stewart on the Daily Show:
The man hopped on a plane to North Korea, freed a couple of ladies, and got back in time to watch the season finale of So You Think You Can Dance! You know who he is…
He's The Most Interesting Man in the World
And here's the whole segment:
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
William Jefferson Airplane
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes
August 5, 2009
In Lesotho, A River Runs Denim
Do you know where Lesotho is? I'll be honest, I don't.
I do know that it's in Africa. I look it up on Google Maps every time I wear my favorite corduroy pants that were made there. But I just can't seem to commit to memory where in Africa Lesotho is.
"Lesotho" doesn't seem like a real name of a country to me, but more of an assassin's name in the StarWars. Each time I try to remember where exactly Lesotho is, I start imagining what the assassin would look like: how far his eyes are apart; the ty
August 3, 2009
The Most interesting Man in the World Syndrome
Yesterday I cracked open a Dos Equis.
Why?
Because it was a rest day from my marathon training (ran 12 miles yesterday) and I'm a total sucker for their "The Most Interesting Man in the World" commercials so I bought a 6 pack.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Have you ever met a traveler that acted and talked as if he or she was the most interesting person in the World?
If you mention kitty litter, they've got a tail about their trip in the Ukraine. Mention a hat and they'll rundown a list of
July 31, 2009
A reader shares "My Journey from Cambodia as a Sweatshop Worker"
The other day I got an amazing email from Sina Li, a Clothing Design student at University of Minnesota who was born in Cambodia. She read WAIW? and enjoyed it, which thrilled me. Her sister works at a garment factory and Sina almost did before coming to the United States.
I asked her to tell her story and she did so in the comments of this post, but I thought I would share them here, too. Thanks for Sharing Sina!
My journey from Cambodia as a sweatshop worker
This is for Kelsey asking me to wri
July 30, 2009
Why I'm running the NYC marathon and how you can help
Annie gave me The Look that I've become all too familiar with…
You're doing what?
I saw it after college when I moved to Key West. I saw it when I told her about my plan to go to Bangladesh because my underwear was made there.
She had just returned from a full day of work and was smartly clad in her office attire. I was still in my writer's uniform: shorts, ratty T-shirt, and barefoot. I looked like her jobless, thirty-something, live-in mooch.
"I've committed to running the NYC marathon and raisin
July 27, 2009
The Yes Men
The Yes Men setup fake corporate websites mimicking companies like Exxon and Dow Chemical. And Then they wait for an invite to speak at an event. Shennanigans follow. I can't wait to see this movie.
Yes, it's fraud. Yes, it's ridiculous. But is it funny and sad at the same time? Yes!
Here's a great sample of them dooping folks (the BBC no less!):
Click here to view the embedded video.
These guys are really good at what they do. They are much smoother than I was impersonating an underwear buyer
July 26, 2009
The Skill is Gone
The other day I was driving through Farmland, Indiana. It was rush hour somewhere, but not in Farmland that day…or ever.
The town has a population of 1,340 plus one guy who looked a little out of place. He was doing the strut where one arm swings and the other holds the waist of his pants to keep them from falling below his knees.
"I wonder where his underwear were made," I thought, because that's how much of a problem I have.
I'm not against the baggy-pants look, but Farmland is the kind of pla
July 22, 2009
Notes to Aspiring Writers
Tomorrow the Midwest Writers' Workshop kicks-off in Muncie. It was there that I met my agent two years ago. (Here's a recap of the 2007 conference.) This year I'll be a junior member of the faculty. I don't think they actually have junior members, but my duties are light.
Here's my schedule:
Thursday: I'll be lingering all day, attending sessions and eating cookies, but I'll officially be schmoozing at
3:45-4:15 Social Time / Book Signings; coffee
Friday: 4:15-5:15 pm [1:] Panel: Path to Print: F
July 20, 2009
40 years later and still no "Beach House on the Moon"
Beach House On The Moon - Jimmy Buffett
Today is the 40th anniversary of the moon landing and now there's renewed talk about going to Mars. To celebrate, I thought I'd re-post a piece that I wrote when President George W. Bush began his own renewed talks about going to Mars. The idea fell to Earth like a lead balloon. With President Obama facing a universe worth of other issues, I doubt that he's going to jump on the Mission to Mars with much gusto. Today he'll probably pose with th
