Laini Taylor's Blog, page 12

Christmas tree -- already?

We got our Christmas tree yesterday, probably the earliest we've ever gotten it. Clementine helped pick it.
She was most helpful with the decorating as well.

Speaking of trees and Christmas, I got a cute advent calendar in Seattle the other day.
I loved the advent calendar as a kid -- my mom has one sewn by my grandmother, with pockets for candy, and my brother and sister and I had to take turns getting the candy. So we'd count ahead to see which days would be ours, and swap the candy around so...

Around the World With Mouk by Marc Boutavant

I still need to post about the National Book Award events but all week long I haven't been able to get it together to put up a long post full o' photos that somehow does justice to it all. Now I'm typing one-handed with a precious Clementine on my lap, curved like a little comma around my body, so I think I'll just put up a quickie post to rave about a picture book I got yesterday in Seattle:
Around the World With Mouk , by Marc Boutavant, pub. Chronicle Books.

I LOVE this book, so much so that...

Clementine in the Big Apple

Clementine was an amazing little trooper in New York. When we first found out about the award and knew we'd be traveling, I was anxious, because going to New York with a three-month-old is a bit different than going to New York without one. Especially when there are bookstore and library readings and ceremonies and a black tie dinner involved! Luckily, my mom was game to come with us and help out. Whew! Thank you, mom!
We went several days ahead to be tourists and give the little one some time...

Whew, we're home!

It's been an amazing week! I have so many thoughts and photos to organize, but I wanted to jump in here and apologize for the absence (I've tweeted a little, but forgot to say to check the sidebar for updates) and to follow up on that last post, wherein I was pinching myself with amazement that Arthur Levine was coordinating his tie to my hair for the National Book Awards ceremony!!! I mean, in what dreamland does that happen?

Apparently, in the same one that this happens . . .

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Snazzy

If you had told me a few years ago that Jim and Arthur Levine -- Arthur Levine! -- would be picking out matching ties (to match my hair) for the National Book Award dinner, I would not have believed you.

*grins*

That is one photo I can't wait to snap!

Thank you

Thank you to everyone for your heartfelt condolences. I know this is something almost all of us share, the loss of a beloved pet. Reading all of your messages was really nice.

It's hard following up a serious and sad post like the last one -- it feels as though the follow-up ought to have some gravity too. I'd thought this would be a perfect time to attempt to put into words some of my thoughts and feelings on new parenthood. To follow a post about death with one about life. But I haven't had ...

A life of love

I'm so very sad to tell you that this week we lost our Leroy, our underfoot maniac, our grizzled old boy, our little love monster, at the age of 16. We are missing him terribly. Leroy had a way of making his presence felt like very few animals I've known.

He was a dog that wanted to have physical contact with his people at all times, if at all possible. That might mean putting his foot over your foot while standing beside you, or jutting his face into your lap while you're sitting on the sofa....

Alt Laini's Ladies

So, how I said there are a lot of great quotes that are unsuitable for Laini's Ladies? Here are a few. Enjoy!

"Is that a bullet-proof vest? See, now, that's so insulting. That's like saying I'm not smart enough to shoot you in the head."
- Janet Evanovich

"God created war so that Americans would learn geography."
- Mark Twain

"Remember to always be yourself. Unless you suck."
- Joss Whedon

"Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese."
- G.K. Chesterton

"All God does is watch us and k...

Call for quotes. And stuff.

In searching for quotes for new Laini's Ladies, I tend to find lots of wonderful quotes that wouldn't make good Laini's Ladies, but are nevertheless inspiring or profound or witty. Here's a good one relevant to something we were talking about lately, which was: the challenge of keeping at a manuscript after the initial honeymoon stage has passed.

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing--that's why we recommend it daily."
- Zig Ziglar

Love it. I firmly believe ...

Ah, old pets . . .

I tweeted yesterday (yes, I tweet now. Occasionally.) that "Old pets are expensive." I don't think I need to have added that they are worth it, as they are family. But just in case that wasn't understood: they are totally, totally worth it.
This seemingly disembodied head is dear 16-year-old Leroy in his cone, to prevent him from chewing at the growth on his chest. You might not know this, but these cones are really noisy in the middle of the night when the dog starts bumbling around, bumping ...