David Lubar's Blog, page 28

Jersey Bedevils

I just learned that NJ Governor Krusty is planning to cut 75% of state funds to public libraries, eliminate a variety of efficient programs, and kill free internet access. This is madness at a time when more people than ever are using libraries. You can read the details in this article, which points out some of the absurdities of the governor's actions. Even if you don't live in New Jersey, please spread the word. The more people who know about this, the better chance that public opinion...

(Colo)RADoh!

I get my fair share (or unfair share, if that's how you think of my work) of state award nominations. But the bulk of the nominations go to my novels and chapter books. So it is cause for cheer when the Weenies get a nod. The wonderful folks at the Colorado Council International Reading Association have nominated The Battle of the Red Hot Pepper Weenies and Other Warped and Creepy Tales for the 2011 Colorado Children's Book Award. I'm in amazing company, including Wendy Mass, Gordon Kor...

TV or not TV

I was invited to do a segment on a national television show. But toward the end of our long discussion, the guest coordinator mentioned that since the show was making such a large investment in producing the segment, they required $4,900 in "insurance money" from my publisher. That struck me as a bit sketchy. I have a feeling we're going to decline the opportunity. I'll keep you posted.

Come back, little shiba

So, last weekend was a killer. My daughter has wanted a dog for many years. She finally decided to get one. After looking for months, she found the dog she wanted, a six-month old shiba inu that had been returned to the breeder and needed a caring home. Here is how last Friday was supposed to go.

Get up at 5:15, as usual.
Drive 60 miles to the school where she works.
Drive 100 miles to visit my wife and me on the way to the dog breeder.
Drive 20 miles to the breeder.
Drive home (another 60 or 7...

Don't quit your acting job

I was reading a short story by a well-known actor last night. This sentence slowed me down:

"The building is beige, but the shadows make it shadow color."

I figured anyone could slip up a little, or maybe it was a stylistic thing involving echoes of images. But this next one almost stopped me cold:

"His window is all the way down, and he breathes his smoke out the black gaping gap."

The gaping gap? I can't think of any way a phrase like that could make it into print. Maybe this is irony or so...

Extremely high fives

Okay -- two things to celebrate, each of which is tied to the number 5. (Don't worry, this isn't a math post.)

I just sent in the final version of Enter the Zombie, (yes, the homage to Bruce Lee is intentional) the 5th and FINAL!!!!! book in the Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie series. It's done. That won't sink in on me for a while. But I did it. I wrote a five-book series. I made most of my deadlines. (I know I just posted that I was taking a day off, but the tweaks my editor wan...

Pseudosick day

I'm not quite ready to describe the horror of my weekend. (It all ended well, so this is not intended to be a cliff hanger.) But I missed my chance to recover from my previous week of deadlines and drives. I'm home today and tomorrow, and I accidentally discovered that it feels great to act as if I'm taking a sick day. I'm not sick. I'm not gulping cough medicine, wheezing, or carrying around a box of tissues, but I'm robed and unambitious. There are no tasks on my schedule. Whenever I...

Revolvo

I just heard that Volvo has been purchased by a Chinese company. I guess, from now on, every part of the car will contain antifreeze.

The topic of cancer

Three years ago, I had surgery for prostate cancer, so I have to get my PSA checked every six months. My latest lab tests came back fine (I crammed the night before). They say that if the cancer doesn't come back in five years, it won't come back at all. Unless it does. Being morbidly curious, I asked my doctor how long I'd live if it came back aggressively. (This is highly unlikely, but I am highly morbid.) He said ten years. That's not bad, though I suspect the last couple years migh...

Don't tell the cats

Rumor has it, I'm getting a granddog on Friday.