Happy Fathers Day

Now, the truth is I don't really like Fathers Day. My own father is really not particularly nice, although all the public ever sees is his pretend persona -- which is genial and loving. I get to be seriously nauseated upon watching him interact with people outside of his immediate family. At home (though fortunately I no longer reside with him) he was always ... you know. Well. Not very nice, as I said.

I would, however, love to wish all my readers a Happy Fathers Day, especially those without fathers or those who are enduring difficult times with their fathers. And also to all the fathers.

Happy Fathers Day.

~Emily

On Sunday I paid a visit to Barrington Books in Barrington to attend a book signing by Kelly Easton, author of Hiroshima Dreams and White Magic (which I reviewed for VOYA), amongst others. It was a very small group -- including her husband and young son, and two of her friends, both of whom were also authors -- and was very cozy and friendly. I've never experienced that kind of atmosphere at a book signing, probably because I haven't been to many, and those I have attended were by very widely read authors. But it was nice -- we all chatted for about an hour. I was very excited when Kelly told me she had actually seen my review in the magazine. The only really unpleasant bit for me was around the end, when my allergies gave a great cackle and lunged for my throat. Sometimes I just start to choke on things in the air, and, however invisible the little demons might be, they make me feel as though I am about to throw up. I have to drink lots of water to keep that from happening; of course I could not hold a proper thanks-so-much-it-was-so-great-to-meet-you-stay-in-touch while I was choking. I kept trying to apologize but couldn't really do it without coughing. My eyes were streaming. It was absolutely absurd. As genuine as she was in claiming that she could sypmathize, it was a very embarrassing moment.

This little episode did not, I might add, spoil my day. I hate to end a post on such a negative note!

~Emily

Ill

I woke at two-thirty this morning with a stupendously sore throat, and the next morning it seemed to have had an effect on my ears, because I was horribly nauseated. (Take a look at http://emetophobia.bravepages.com/ for information on why I was less than thrilled.) Fortunately had some ginger gum on hand and that must be magical, because it worked amazingly well. I'm much better now but can hardly wait for the sore throat to go away.

I guess I'm all done complaining. I hope all my readers are well.

~Emily

Something I wrote is on page thirty of the summer issue of Teen Ink. A copy of the magazine arrived in the mail today, along with the pen and sticky-pad that the writers get when their work appears in it.

Earlier today I thought abotu stating this information matter-of-factly, as though to incline that I were merely pleased.

Screw modesty. I'm enormously excited. I am, in fact, jubilant, and undoubtedly thrilled.

The title is Unforgotten. If ever you feel interested, check page thirty.

~Emily

We're Off to See the Wizard ...

My mother and I followed a Wizard of Oz parade float through town today. It was a long but fun journey by foot. There was so much activity going on and I ran into some old friends while on the way; many had come out to watch the Memorial Day procession. The music from the Oz float was excurciatingly loud but I clapped to it and could hardly not dance just a little to Follow the Yellow Brick Road and the like. We followed the entire parade to the very end because we wanted to see Jack (almost eleven) and William (almost seven) on the float ... they're getting ready to do a play in June, and Jack was all dressed up in a plaid shirt and straw hat as Uncle Henry, while William wore baggy a baggy pinstriped vest and trousers and had his cheeks painted blue. He is a Tough-Guy Munchkin -- one who represents the Lollipop Guild.

I am unashamed to confess that I wanted to cry watching little William, since it was such a thrilling event and he was a part of it and he will remember it for the rest of his life ... and I know he will! My mother and I were astonished and delighted to hear one man's story of how his forty-year-old son was a Flying Monkey so many years ago.

There was a news crew there too, so we're keeping our eyes on channel ten.

Dorothy and The Cowardly Lion and The Scarecrow and The Tin Man all skipped ahead and waved to the spectators. Some of the kids on the float pelted candy at them. Being so near, I got hit more than once.

There was also a float full of people dressed as colonial figures, as well as a Democratic Party float and a Republican Party float.

I think this post may possibly sound vague or forced, but that's because Jack is watching The Even Stevens Movie at one end of the family room and William is watching Zathura at the other, and it's a small room.

I hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day as well!

~Emily

Pizza Tonight

It's up in the seventies today, and is due to be eighty on Monday. I always kind of look forward to the hot weather in late May or early June, since it means the cold weather is probably leaving for the rest of the season.

Today is also my grandmother's birthday, which is exciting because The Doctors had told us she Wasn't Going to Make It. And now there is no trace of the illness left. We are very happy that she is here and she's coming from Massachusetts to have a pizza dinner with us tonight ....

I'm spending time at the library before she arrives, and think I will take a walk in the lovely green village.

~Emily

Boys and Girls and Books for Girls That Some Boys Like to Read

I just discovered, via a customer review on http://barnesandnoble.com, that a boy read Susan Runholt's novel -- The Mystery of the Third Lucretia -- and loved it! Hopefully you will read it and love it too ....

Another series I always enjoy is the Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (who has several wonderful books to her name), and lots of young women -- as well as some middle-aged women, I've heard -- tend to love them. And I was surprised to learn a couple of years ago that boys read and enjoy them too.

(A quick but vaguely interesting note: I have words on the back of Dangerously Alice, which is still in hardcover. If you can find it, something I once said to the author is at the bottom of the back cover.)

~Emily