Sunday

Photo by me.

Saturday Inspiration

Need a pick-me-up? Click here.

This link was sent to me by my friend Maia Cheli-Colando.

Pint-Sized Fuzzy Dinosaur

The March 19, 2009 issue of Nature (vol. 458, p. 333) reports a cool new proto-feathered dinosaur, Tianyulong confuciusi. Most of the feathered dinosaurs discovered so far are two-legged carnivores who nested on the branch of the evolutionary tree that led to modern birds. Tianyulong confuciusi belongs to the other major branch of dinosaurs that includes armored, horned, spiked and duck-billed species. Psittacosaurus is the only other dinosaur in this group known to have integumentary structures (fur, feathers, etc.)*. This implies that feathers evolved earlier that previously suspected, or both branches of the dinosaurs evolved feathers independently.

Tianyulong confuciusi’s feathers were not true feathers as are found on birds. They appear to be hollow filaments known as proto-feathers or “dinofuzz". These plant-eating dinosaurs were about the size of a cat and had long tails. The Not Exactly Rocket Science blog has an artist’s rendition of the dinosaur and some photos of the proto-feather fossils.

*Psittacosaurus had tail bristles.

What Color is a Gray Wolf?

Wolves range in color from white or cream to gray and black. The darker colors are common in wolves that live in forested areas, but rare in wolves in the Canadian tundra. Scientists have proposed that darker fur color confers a selective advantage in a forested habitat and have speculated about linked genetic advantages not related to color.

In the March 6, 2009 issue of Science (vol. 323, p. 1339), Dr. Gregory Barsh and graduate student Tovi Anderson describe the genetics of black coloration in wolves. They examined genetic variation in wolves, dogs and coyotes, and concluded that dark coloration was introduced into the wolf population from domesticated dogs. Black wolves probably started appearing shortly after the first humans (and their domesticated dogs) migrated to North America.

Humans often have disastrous effects on wolf populations. Global warming and land development reduce wolves’ habitat. It is ironic that a gene introduced to the wolf population by man’s best friend may help wolves survive.

Here is a related article in Science Daily.

Overheard #54

"Most committees decide action is useless."

Finding Time to Write

I recently learned that Sir Thomas Malory, author of Le Morte d'Arthur committed a variety of heinous crimes. He spent the last years of his life in Newgate Prison where he did much of his writing.

Sure, it's hard to find time to write.

But there has to be an easier way.

Sunday

Photo by me.

Baby Mammoth

I haven't had a science post in a long time. Here and here are a couple links about a baby mammoth that was discovered in Siberia in 2007. The mammoth is the cover story of the May issue of National Geographic Magazine and will be featured in a special called Waking the Baby Mammoth (April 26, 2009, 9:00 PM ET/PT) on the National Geographic channel.

Change

In a graduation speech at the University of Michigan, Cathy Guisewite said, "If you want something to change, do something different." She did not say "do something differently", meaning take something you're already doing and tweak it a bit. By using an adjective to modify something, She suggested an entirely new approach.

Major revisions are difficult. Even a short novel is unwieldy to turn inside out and attack from a different angle. I've decided to start the revolution.

Today I sent my fictional heroes to Laguna Beach. They had a lousy time, but I enjoyed my mini, expense-free vacation on a gray Michigan day.

Sunday

Photos by me.

Primary Colors

Good Advice

Lately, I've been reading a lot of historical fiction, specifically the Sharpe's series by Bernard Cornwell. I had to smile at this line in the Historical Note section of Sharpe's Tiger (HarperCollins, 1997).

"I changed the nature of that explosion, and delayed it by two days, because fictional heroes must be given suitable employment."

How did he know my fictional heroes and I have been lollygagging in a very rough first draft? Pay attention, boys. It's time to get back to work!

The Problem with Parents

You’ve gotta love those spunky orphans. And there are so many to love in tween and teen literature. Writers need to get helpful parents out of the way so protagonists can solve their own problems, and orphans come with a ready made solution.

I’d like to propose an alternate approach. The parent can be clueless. This oblivious parent doesn’t have to be in prison or on mind altering drugs. He or she can be loving and attentive, but simply not know what’s going on.

What happens in school stays in school.

Last night I attended Jeremy’s choir concert and discovered he was singing a solo. Surprise! He sang the “EEEE-EE-EE-EE-EE um um awaaaaay” on Mbube (The Lion Sleeps Tonight) and sounded terrific.

I’ve blogged about The Cone of Silence before. I’ve even written about this song, but alas, I didn’t suspect the solo.

If kids don’t talk about positive stuff, who knows what else lurks beneath the surface?

Overheard #53

"I don't like vampires. I don't even like mosquitoes."

Sunday

Photo by Z.F. Burton

Spring Break

Lately, I've been having a problem with manuscript fidelity. Usually, I cuddle up with my WIP, and stick with it until submissions do us part. This past week, I couldn't seem to decide which manuscript was my heart's desire.

Last Monday, I posted that I was putting aside TAoCBS. I started an exciting new affair with DB. I adored the protagonist of DB for at least a couple chapters. Then, alas, TAoCBS started looking better. I remembered its laughter and light-hearted spirit.

In honor of the NCAA playoffs, I revisited G&G, my basketball novel. Perhaps G&G is my true champion.

Fortunately, CBL is off getting a paid critique. Out of sight. Out of mind.

I noticed something important during my wild and crazy spring break. The manuscripts with male protagonists have more action than the ones with female protagonists. Who knew my muse was so sexist?

The Magnitude of the Error

I didn't realize the rejection letter fiasco involving the California university was big enough to make the news. Thanks to Jacqui Robbins for cluing me in.
Click here to read more.

The UCSD notified acceptances in March, but they do not send rejection letters. It's easy to see why so many students were upset.

There might be a story in here somewhere.

A New Take on Rejection

Last week Sam received an email from a university in California that contained a congratulatory message of acceptance and an invitation to attend freshman orientation. A few days later, he received a second email that said the first was a mistake, apologized for any undue disappointment and wished him luck in his educational pursuits. Sam had already decided to attend the University of Michigan, so he didn't care, but I'm sure some of the applicants who received that pair of emails were distraught.

The next time I get a rejection, I'm going to console myself by realizing the agent did not write, "Yes!" then later tell me, "Uh, sorry. I meant another writer."

And the next time one of my characters has to face disappointment, I will first set him on top of the world.

Overheard #52

"I grew up in the Age of Aquarius, but now I live in the Age of Infinite Accountability."

More on Teen Driving

As a followup to a previous post on teen driving, here's what Sam said about NCAA commercials.

"They tell me what car I should drive, what beer I should drink, and what insurance I should buy if I do both simultaneously."

Progress Report

I finished the first draft of TAoCBS. It was difficult to write, so finishing even a short, rough, first draft is an accomplishment. This manuscript is different from all my other projects, and I'm glad I attempted it.

Now it's time to put it aside. I’m not doing this because The Voice of Doubt has joined a street gang which he/she/it has. The Voice of Reason is telling me that I know enough about writing to recognize that this manuscript is not a novel. Maybe someday, I'll figure it out, but right now, I don’t have the answers.

Meanwhile, there are other stories to tell and other voices to discover.

Sunday

Photo by Z.F. Burton

Froggie went a-courtin'

What Did You Mean, Exactly?

Have you ever noticed how some phases in the English language are intended to be untruthful?

Yeah, right
With all due respect
Fine
Don’t worry about it
Pretty good
Leave it to me
It’s easy
No, really
Just follow the instructions
You’ll be done in no time
Trust me on this
It’s not that bad

The Target Audience

Every YA author should have to teach a teen to drive. In case you don’t have a young driver handy, here are two conversations that occurred while Jeremy was behind the wheel.

Jeremy (singing falsetto): In the jungle, the mighty jungle,
Me: Don’t sing while you’re driving.
Jeremy: the lion sleeps tonight.
Me: Okay. Only at red lights.

Me (after emphatically correcting a driving error): When I was learning to drive, Grandma got mad at me.
Jeremy: You must have been terrible. Grandma was really nice.

Overheard #51

"Is there a reason why you put the mark of Zorro in my underwear?"

One Year

Misplaced Electrons is one year old today. That’s 328 posts.

For me, the past year held numerous changes, and many of them have been recorded here.

As I accumulate quotes for the Overheard series, I am reminded how lucky I am to be surrounded by such pithy, funny and wise people.

I started my Sunday nature series to add some color to an otherwise text-dominated blog. I do not claim to be a nature photographer, and admit some pictures are more effective than others. However, I learned the importance of focusing on at least one interesting thing each week.

I cannot predict what next year will hold, but I’ll probably end up blogging about it.

Sunday

Photo by Z.F. Burton

Click on the photo to magnify it.

On Knitting and Writing

I once knew a woman who was a terrible knitter, but she had a wonderful sense of color and texture. She’d buy fabulous collections of yarns and create beautiful, striped blankets. When the blankets were washed, they’d fall apart because she’d dropped so many stitches.

As I understand it, there are two ways to repair dropped stitches.
1) A skilled needle-person can rescue the dropped stitch in with a crochet hook.
2) The knitter can rip out the knitting back to the mistake then knit it again.

By now the analogy to revising a novel must be obvious.

First drafts may be full of dropped stitches. The loose loops can either be crocheted back into the story or the manuscript can be rewritten.

Today I read all that I have of TAoCBS. I’m searching for a crochet hook.

Click here to see how to repair a dropped stitch.

Uplifting Links

Lately I've been thinking that this is a metaphor for my career. So here are a few pick-me-up links:

Debbie Diesen's Library Loving Challenge.
Kirby Larson's two posts about Laurie Halse Anderson. (Read them, then get back to work!)
A sweet story about why one highly published author started writing books. (Read the bio.)
Everyone has days like this.

Overheard #50

"I read it in the news-pixels."

First Crocus

Photo by me.

Spring Fever?

This weekend, robins staked out their territories on the baseball diamond at the park. A single red-winged blackbird perched on a withered cattail over the marsh. Skunk cabbages have started to sprout.

I read two novels, went on three bike rides, and totally ignored my WIP.

Sunday

Photo by me.

Overheard #49

"Pain is the best teacher."

The Shadow

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of first drafts?
The Shadow knows!

I'm counting on The Shadow to help me find, expand, then conquer the evil in my remaining chapters.

Click the link. Come on. Click the link.

Family Counseling for Your WIP

or why I’m not a psychologist

List your protagonist’s family members. Choose one relationship to focus on.
Write a few sentences describing your protagonist.
Write a few sentences describing the family member.

What is the major source of conflict between your protagonist and the family member?
List 5 things your protagonist finds annoying about the family member. Does the family member do these things to intentionally irritate your protagonist?
List 5 things the family member finds annoying about your protagonist. Does your protagonist intend to irritate the family member?

Write a scene that displays the conflict between your protagonist and the family member. Write it from the family member’s point of view. Try to include some of the little irritating things.

List 5 things the protagonist could do to help mend the rift with the family member.
List 5 things the family member could do to help mend the rift with the protagonist.

Write a scene in which the protagonist and the family member try to make up, but end up in a worse conflict. The scene can be written from either point of view.

Writing Exercises

Part of my critique group meets one evening a month for writing exercises. Often the scenes I create, never make it into a WIP. The few passages that do appear in a manuscript are changed significantly.

Why do we do it?

The goal of a useful exercise is to help the writer discover something about his or her WIP. Last night, I brought the exercise, and a glaring problem with my WIP smacked me in the face. The central conflict between the brothers in my novel is nebulous. I need to clarify it.

My exercise was more difficult than I'd intended, and we didn't finish all of the steps. Everybody wrote one scene, and most of us complained about having to think too hard.

I'll paste the exercise into another post.

Postscript: Last night I worked on my current WIP (TAoCBS), but my previous WIP (CBL) could also benefit from this exercise. And since I need to revise CBL before I send it out again, this exercise might be a good place to start.

Napkins

Perhaps it's appropriate to follow up a post on lemon meringue pie with something about napkins*.

I asked my sons if they'd noticed that when I pack their lunches,** I wrap the napkin around the drink so they have to take it out of the bag. Then I asked if they use their napkins.

Sam said he usually gives his napkin to someone who needs it more than he does.

That kid has a heart of gold, if sometimes a messy face.


*Yes, I know I haven't blogged about writing lately, but I did have a couple math-related posts. And since I write about teens, real-life teenager interactions must be related somehow.

** Yes, I know they are big enough to pack their own lunches. Yes, I know. Yes, I know.

Lemon Meringue

As part of our Pi Day celebration, my sons lobbied for a lemon meringue pie. I haven't made one in years, so I forgot how much effort is involved. But here it is.

Sam pointed out that we could also celebrate Approximate Pi Day on July 22 because 22/7 is an approximation for π.

I told him that would be Inverse Pi Day. (Think visually.)

"Not in Europe," he said.

We'll see. Perhaps in July, I'll bake an approximate pie.

Sunday

Photo by me.

Apollo and Venus.

Next time I'll use the tripod.

Happy Pi Day

Today is π Day - March 14 or 3-14. I will arrange for this post to appear at 1:59 AM to get a few more digits into my celebration.

I found some fun links.

pi day site

one million digits of pi

pi facts

cool graphic of a circle unrolling

pi song

My Sons Think It's Weird

My sons think it's weird when I greet them at the door after school. If I hear them drive up, I open the door wide and watch them laughing together as they come up the walk. It's one of the best parts of my day.

Asymptote

Some days I feel that the asymptote is the mathematical model for my writing career.

What is an asymptote? Googling the word results in many links but few clear definitions. An asymptote is a line that a curve approaches, getting ever nearer, but never crossing, even if you extend the curve to infinity. Now the metaphor is obvious.

A favorite example of an asymptote is y = 1/x because it has both vertical and horizontal asymptotes. As you make x smaller and smaller, y gets larger and larger. But when x becomes zero, y is infinity. You can't plot infinity, so you never intersect the y-axis. The same is true for the x-axis, but this blog post is getting pretty nerdy, so I'll stop here.

What is the solution to an asymptotic career? Change the equation!

Waiting for the Coup

There is always a point during the first draft when my WIP takes over my brain. The characters hold me hostage, and the plot stages a sit-in in my cerebrum. Even when I’m not writing, I can’t escape. My desk becomes littered with little notes about changes. (Wouldn’t it be orderly to keep them in a notebook or even an envelope?) My chapter headings acquire large graffiti-like markings, “So-and-so has to do such-and-such.”

Sometimes the coup occurs on the first page of chapter one.

Sometimes it doesn’t.

Like now.

Since my brain is not under occupation, there is plenty of room for The Voice of Doubt.
You’re not the person to write this story.
You think you can be funny? Ha!
Is this novel about something?

Yesterday was a good writing day. I started to hear the rumblings of revolution. Maybe the coup is at hand.

Today's Fortune Cookie

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

Update on Eric the Black Belt Heavy Metal Rock Star

Sparing matches in Tae Kwon Do are scored on a point system. Each ring has a center judge who acts as a referee and three corner judges who keep track of points. When a contestant lands a solid kick, the corner judges record the point by pushing buttons on electronic controllers. The data is fed to a laptop computer operated by a parent (like me).

On Saturday, I volunteered at a Tae Kwon Do tournament, and Eric, the black belt heavy metal rock star, was a corner judge in my ring. One of the kids who was waiting to compete had inched forward onto the mat, and was in danger of getting kicked or tripping the competitors. Eric put out his foot and gently nudged the kid off the mat. He never took his eyes off the sparing match.

Eric, the black belt heavy metal rock star, can multi-task.

Sunday

Photo by me.

The deer missed this one!

Doomed If You Do and Doomed If You Don't

What do you call the moment in a novel when the protagonist is faced with an impossible choice? Is it a turning point or a moment of truth? Graham Salisbury calls it a pigeon moment and anyone who has read his novel, Under the Blood-Red Sun, will understand why.

Right now, my WIP doesn’t have one. At least I don’t know what it will be. Thinking this was a critical flaw in my plan, I hesitated about leaping into the writing. Then I remembered how the moments of truth for other novels popped into my brain. For G&G, I’d written only a few chapters, but I was working on a synopsis for a critique group exercise. That book’s Tough Choice was really a symmetry consideration. If I started here, I had to end there. For CBL, the action involved in the Big Moment came from a Write Night exercise, but the emotional impact didn’t strike me until I actually wrote the scene in the next to last chapter.

So I trudge forward, searching for truth.

Fit for Spring

My new exercise regimen involves the spring clean up of a yard with many large and lovely trees (burr oak, yew, ash, wild cherry and a smattering of maples). Today I spent two hours raking and managed to clear one half of one side of the house. I am already aware that I used many winter-dormant muscles.

Who needs an expensive membership at a fancy health club?

I have a rake.

Overheard #48

"There's a reason why "wind sprints" and "shin splints" rhyme."

Three Happy Discoveries

1. I just learned over at Jacqui's Room that today (03-03-09) is Square Root Day. When Math-Kid-Sam gets home from school, I will certainly greet him with that news.

2. Yesterday we saw a marsh hawk roosting on a dead tree in the back yard. I hope she and her mate will decide to nest here. (I was unable to get a photograph.)

3. Thanks to a heads up from Ruth McNally Barshaw, I found Anastasia Suen's blog, Children's Book Biz News. Wow, what a wealth of information!

Sunday

shelf mushroom full of snow

mushroom magnified

Photos by Z.F. Burton

I Wish I Could Say The Inspiration Came from Will Shakespeare

For my new WIP, I have lots of character sketches, plot outlines and scene descriptions. I've even written a few chapters. But it's not quite working.

This afternoon, I read a few scenes from Romeo and Juliet to Jeremy. He has been sick for most of the week, and is behind with homework. Jeremy finds the play difficult, so I selflessly offered to read aloud some of the most beautiful writing in the English language. During a pause while Jeremy wrote down a scene summary, I let my eyes wander to the bookshelf.

And then I realized what was wrong with my plot. It's so obvious. I've written about this concept in numerous blogs. Yet, it took me a long time to figure it out.

The protagonist needs to confront his own demons. Frodo must destroy The Ring. Harry must face Lord Voldemort (at least seven times). Stanley Yelnats must carry Zero up the mountain.

Duh.

As soon as I figure out what Troy's demons are, I'll make him confront them.

Overheard #47

"I asked a yes or no question, and you gave me a [expletive deleted] paragraph."

(I'm trying to adhere to Blogger's guidelines on adult content.)

Signs of Spring?

My snowdrops usually bloom around the beginning of March. Yesterday I discovered they’d been eaten.

To round up the usual suspects, click here or here.

They were supposed to look like this.

Things I Should Have Realized a Long Time Ago - Part 4

You are what you wear – at least if you’re a teen. Many kids’ identities are strongly associated with their group, and their style announces their allegiance.

Some kids go beyond choir sweatshirts and Letterman’s jackets. Last summer the varsity football team shaved their heads.

The heavy metal rock performance I mentioned in yesterday's post was long and loud, and I had time to study the musicians. Of course, they wore lots of metallic accessories, and many were pierced and tattooed. The female base player seemed undecided between rocker and popular high school girl. She wore tight jeans, Ugg® boots and a black designer sweatshirt with silver ornamentation. The boys in the band had skinnier arms than Sam’s iron-pumping football pals.

In my WIP, I hope to make the most of fashion, without making too much of it.

Things I Should Have Realized a Long Time Ago - Part 3

On Saturday, Jeremy had a guitar recital. We were surprised to discover that Eric, a friend from Tae Kwon Do, was also performing with his band.

Tae Kwon Do behavior involves a lot of standing at attention, bowing, and saying, “Yes, Sir!” Eric is a soft-spoken teen who helps teach the Tiger Tots and the Junior classes. Eric and Sam have been sparring partners for years.

When we got home, I told Sam that Eric played lead guitar in a heavy metal band. He’d perfected all the rock star moves and was skilled and talented. Sam’s eyes popped open.

Eric has a secret life. Maybe some of my characters should too.

My new WIP has a character who needs to jump off the page. Should I make him a closet rocker or something equally outrageous?

Sunday

Photo by me.

It's been a busy week, so I dredged up this photo from last May.

999

That's how many words I cut on my last read through.

How embarrassing is that! Where does all that excess verbiage come from? How did it survive so many previous drafts?

I'm still thinking of taking out a few scenes at the end. I find it hard to say goodbye to my characters so I tend to drag out endings. Snip. Snip. Snip.

Overheard #46

"If the sky’s the limit, then that’s just boring."

So, How Is the Writing Going?

I started a new project last month that I will affectionately refer to as TAoCBS. I brought the first chapter to my critique group for a thumbs up or thumbs down vote. They voted up. Whew.

Those guys are really smart, though, and they mentioned many aspects to consider and work on. I knew my plot needed some filling out and filling in. Little did I know how much it needed.

Inspiration hasn't exactly been forthcoming.

Going on a long walk every day might help with that inspiration problem. Today, I will walk for sure.

In the mean time, I've been reading my previous work-in-progress (CBL) out loud to check for rhythm, flow and repeated words. I repeat words too often. (See?) 60,000 words is a lot say out loud (more repeated words). I've been indulging in herbal tea and peppermints.

Sunday

Photo by Z.F. Burton

February Moon

Happy Valentine's Day

Photo by me.

I photographed this rose last August when my brother sent me a bouquet for my birthday. Another way to recycle.

Neanderthals Are In the News

Svante Pääbo and his coworkers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig have mapped 63% of the Neanderthal genome. This is a daunting task considering the age and fragmentation of available Neanderthal DNA.

Most of the news coverage I’ve seen ignores the obvious anthropological and evolutionary significance of this work and focuses on the burning question, “Can we clone one?”

Dr. Pääbo says no.

Here is the New York Times science page article. I'll try to add the reference from Science when the journal comes home from the lab.

Standing Water in the Backyard

... or why I'm checking the sump pump frequently. Usually the backyard looks like this in April.

Overheard #45

"I stole a valence electron."

Decisions

My older son is trying to decide whether to attend The University of Michigan or Michigan State University, so yesterday we attended Campus Day at U of M. We were told that Robert Frost is believed to have been inspired to write "The Road Not Taken" while visiting the U of M Arboretum. Perhaps this legend is true. It is certainly a good excuse to read the poem again.

P.S. I just changed the link for the poem, so readers can enjoy it without seeing ads.

Sunday

Photo by me.

These begonias are blooming in our sun room now.

The Labyrinth

I just finished reading a disappointing book in which the labyrinth is merely a metaphor for political scheming.

My view of the labyrinth is different. Isn't a labyrinth at its most trivial and most profound a model for the brain? A character who enters a labyrinth must face dangers and overcome fear, but most importantly, the character must face himself, and emerge a changed person.

Toward the end of my mother's life, her memory failed. She had few topics to discuss, and I could predict at the start of each conversation where it would lead. I imagined the brain to be a city map, and a person could move from one place to another by walking, running, jumping or even flying. My mother's map became simple and the traveling slow and measured. Perhaps as her vision and her memory dimmed, she feared getting lost.

On Vampires

No one in my family has read the Twilight series, but that doesn't stop us from discussing the popularity of these books.

Jeremy (9th grade) complained that nearly every girl in his class gave a book report on one of the Twilight series.

Sam (12th grade) noted that his criticisms of Twilight (on his blog) could alienate 85% of his potential dating pool.

My husband quipped, "Teen satire is better than teen vampires."

Overheard #44

"You gotta hang out on the half notes."

Groundhog Day

I've never understood Groundhog Day.

Of course we celebrated it when I was in elementary school, but the end of winter is not meaningful when you live in Southern California. Click here to see the monthly temperature variation in Los Angeles.

Later, I moved to Madison, Wisconsin, and I could never figure out if six more weeks of winter was good news or bad. If the little rodent didn't see his shadow, could winter last even longer?

Sunday

Photo by me.

Only a couple more months until spring brings color to Michigan.

Boys

As soon as the boys walked in the door after Tae Kwon Do today, Jeremy got Sam in a headlock.

Sam said, "There are aspects of this with which I must disagree."

Paint

The house painting project is taking a bit longer than expected because many things need to be fixed first. The mice I wrote about here and here have been living it up in the attic and causing significant damage.

Today we moved the gecko (and his tank) downstairs so he wouldn't have to breathe paint fumes. He seems at home next to my in-laws' glassware.

The painters are worried about where they will work when this job is finished, so during breaks, they call the unemployment office. The line is always busy.

My brother emailed me about graffiti in Los Angeles. I shouldn't have been surprised that the paint presents an environmental hazard.


Remembering this picture book makes me smile.

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!

by Karen Beaumont

illustrations by David Catrow

Harcourt, 2005

It's Sort of Like Camping -

except it isn't fun.

I decided it was time (after living in this house for 21 years) to get the inside painted. We recently solved (I hope) the problem of rain in the kitchen,* but the damage was huge.

Monday, I spent the day moving chachkas to the basement and taking pictures off the walls. My sons own a huge number of tippy trophies.

Yesterday, while the painters repaired drywall, I moved my parents' and my in-laws' china and glassware to the basement so the china cabinets could be moved. My parents and in-laws certainly bought a lot of dishes during their lifetimes. Why did it all end up here?

Everything upstairs is covered in tarps - except my sons' beds. The boys have threatened to move to the Tae Kwon Do studio in search of a little peace and quiet.

The smoke alarms keep going off. I think it's from the paint fumes.

This morning, the painters will be back at 8:30, and my computer will be unplugged. So long ...


*I was going to blog about this problem, but Jacqui Robbins' post about the rain in her kitchen was funnier.

Overheard #43

"Somewhere between 4 to 6 strikes and you're out."

Things I Should Have Realized a Long Time Ago - Part 2

The other day, I ran into a woman I hadn’t seen in a long time. I was amazed at how much she knew about my sons, while I had next to no information about her daughter.

Later, I told the story to Jeremy and said, “I know nothing about your friends. Is that because girls talk more than boys?”

He grunted.

See what I mean?

So I developed guidelines for how my characters can communicate with each other about each other.
1. Moms gossip.
2. Teenage girls may discuss their lives at home.
3. Teenage boys exist within a cone of silence.

Sunday

Photo by me.

Evidence of at least one sunny day during the Michigan winter.

Overheard #42

"Your heroes get judged by the quality of their enemies."

Things I Should Have Realized a Long Time Ago - Part 1

Yesterday my sons came home from school and collapsed in front of the TV in a middle-of-finals-week stupor. The TV was tuned to yet another comedian lambasting his wife. The comedian explained when men argue, they have it out right away, while women save up grudges then argue days later. (Okay, his routine was a little funnier than that, but not much.)

How did this comedian know that in my WIP, I'd delayed an argument between two brothers for an entire day? Today I rearranged scenes so their emotional explosion was immediate.

A Little Light Reading

"Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story..."

What a first line!*


The Iliad and The Odyssey
by Homer
translated by Robert Fagles

I recently purchased a boxed set of The Iliad and The Odyssey. When I wondered aloud if I taken on too large a task, Jeremy said, "Mom, you're the best reader I know. If you're not doing something in the kitchen, you're either reading or writing."

How's that for a summation of my life?

I'll admit here, before all of cyberspace, that I'm relying on some help from sparknotes and plan to rent movies of the two stories. So far, I'm enjoying The Iliad.

*Some translations of The Odyssey begin with those words.

What a Day!

Is there anything I could write about such a momentous occasion that hasn't already been said? Probably not. I will watch the Inauguration on TV today with pride.

Jay Asher's blog has a beautiful watercolor by Lea Lyon

Yesterday was also quite a day. In response to Barack Obama's call for volunteerism, Shutta Crum started a volunteer manuscript critique event within the Michigan chapter of SCBWI. Ruth McNally Barshaw's blog describes it elegantly.

Bog Child

Bog Child

by Siobhan Dowd

David Fickling Books (division of Random House), 2008

I am intrigued by dual story novels. When written well, the two plot lines are synergistic; each enhances the other, yet carries its own weight. The stories should shift back and forth like a holographic image. Bog Child is one of the best dual story novels I've read.

The main story takes place in Ireland in 1981 near the north-south border where political unrest affects every aspect of life. 18-year old Fergus hopes to escape the violence and turmoil of Northern Ireland, yet he is pulled inexorably into the fray.

The second story occurred in the Iron Age (80 AD). Fergus, when illegally digging peat with his uncle, discovers the body of a child, who lived nearly 2000 years earlier. The story of Mel, the bog child, is told through Fergus’ dreams, but this is not another prophetic-dream-sequence novel. The dreams seem like those a teenage boy might have after discovering a body, and he doesn’t always remember them. Mel’s story is beautifully told, yet spare, reflecting the limited amount we can know about people who lived so long ago.

I highly recommend Bog Child. Click here for a detailed review.

Sunday

Photo by Z.F. Burton

Overheard #41

"He should be forced to read his own writing though all eternity."

Because Today's High Temperature is Five Degrees

and I don't mean Centigrade.


This is Santa Monica Beach. My hometown beach is usually less crowded and sports fewer bright umbrellas.



Photo by PDPhotos.org

On Topic

Writing:
I am pondering a new project, brainstorming scenes, sketching characters and enjoying myself - so far. Yes, I know the main character needs a name.

Reading:
Sam said that while his English class is reading Heart of Darkness, he welcomes homework interruptions of all kinds, even requests to shovel the driveway.

Math:
Sam is taking an Advanced Placement calculus class online. I emailed the distance learning institution several times to request the bill. They responded that it would be sent later. I worried that if we never paid, Sam wouldn't get credit for the course. They finally sent the bill; I paid it. We are no longer stealing a calculus class.

Science:
Jeremy's science book states that ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the most important biological molecule. My husband wondered why they wanted the kids to memorize that little fact because there are at least 500 molecules required for life. I responded that cyanide poisoning is almost instantaneous, and since it works by inhibiting electron transport and thus the production of ATP, organisms die quickest without ATP. Oxygen deprivation takes longer to snuff out the test subject. Then, my husband reminded me that anaerobic bacteria need no oxygen, but do require ATP. That settles it ATP is the most important biological molecule. We agree that Mg+2* is the most important biological ion.

*Again, Blogger thwarts my desire to use superscripts.

The Dangers of Being Marooned on a Tropical Island

For Jeremy’s current book report, I recommended an action-fantasy novel that I had read and enjoyed a few years ago. He’s having a hard time making progress, so I opened the book and read a bit.

At Jeremy’s bookmark, our heroes are on a transoceanic voyage. They have been attacked by pirates and their ship was damaged by a storm. (So far, so good.) Then they found refuge on a tropical island, where both our heroes and the plot became marooned. Sure the heroes are repairing the ship and pushing back the frontiers of natural science, but other than that nothing is happening. They while away the pages with snappy banter.

Snappy banter isn’t all bad. I find that in early drafts of my manuscripts, letting my characters talk to each other is a good way for me to get to know them. But then a lot of it has to go. I recently cut 10,000 words of snappy banter from my WIP.

I’m trying to decide on a new writing project, and I’m leaning toward the idea that has more potential for action.

Photo from Getty Images.

Overheard #40

"It's laundry time. Do you know where your iPod is?"

Sunday

Photo by me.

Perhaps it's time to look for a new photographic subject. You can also see this crabapple tree here, here, here and here. I promise to post a picture of something else next week.

Does The Cheese Stand Alone?

So, how was that applewood-smoked, paprika-dusted cheddar?

I'm going to rate it a resounding --- Pretty Good.

Smoked cheeses tend to taste like a tailgate party, but the smokiness of this cheese was more interesting that usual. Would I be able to differentiate between applewood smoke and some other kind of smoke, like maple or cherry? Unlikely. The paprika was mild, and I wished they'd used the spicier variety.

Was this cheese my favorite of all time? No.
Did I like it? Yes.
Who knew buying cheese could be so much fun?


Wasn't it only last week, that I resolved to keep this blog on topic?

A Cheesy Experience

Yesterday, when I was at the cheese section in the grocery store, a man I didn't know (not a store employee) handed me a chunk of applewood-smoked cheddar, sprinkled with paprika and told me it was great.

"If you buy this cheese, you'll remember me," he said.

My face must have had the Oh-No-Another-Grocery-Store-Crazy look because he said, "I'd better stop talking to you before my wife gets back." I edged away from him, the cheese still in my hand.

When I got to the checkout lane, the checker said, "You must really like cheese."

I explained how a person I didn't know recommended the applewood cheese. "I wanted to try some new cheeses because the family of a close friend started a magazine just about cheese," I said.

The look on his face was Oh-No-Another-Grocery-Store-Crazy, so I went on to explain it was an upscale magazine like Bon Appétit or Gourmet. This seemed to reassure him because he told me a story about a friend who, when visiting France, was served cheese with maggots in it. The maggots were supposed to be there as they were part of the delicacy.

When I told my husband about the maggots, he said, "Chimps eat maggots and are glad to get them."

I haven't tried my applewood cheese yet, but I'm sure it has no maggots.

Waving from the evolutionary tree ...

To Wear Pants or Not ...

The idea started in NYC. January 12, 2008 was the 7th annual pantless subway day. One Saturday each year, several hundred brave souls ride the New York City subways without pants. (Yes, they wear underwear.)

The trend is spreading across the country. Tomorrow (1-10-09) is pantless day for the Los Angeles subway system. Yep, that Commander Dan Finkelstein they interviewed is my very own brother.

Somehow, this event seems less meaningful in Los Angeles. The weather is warm, and winter fashions tend to show skin anyway.

If I lived in a place that had a subway system, I would not participate. I'd be home revising my novel.

Overheard #39

"You're the apple of my eye, but we cantaloupe."

Caffeine

Lately, I've been trying to cut down on the amount of coffee I drink. Amy Huntley told me that Shakespeare wrote Hamlet before Europeans knew about coffee.

Writing without caffeine must be possible.

Writing without chocolate is not.

Zero

Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea

by Charles Seife

Penguin Books (2000)

If you've always hated math, this book probably won't change your mind. For people like me, who enjoy numbers, science, questions and history, it is a fascinating read.

Seife describes the roll of zero in mathematical history. Early number systems did not include zero because people did not need zero to count sheep or barter grain. Later, zero was banned for religious reasons because accepting zero, meant acknowledging infinity, and numeric infinity threatened Medieval concepts of God. Seife gently leads the reader through calculus, relativity, quantum mechanics and string theory. He finishes by explaining why the universe will end in ice not fire.

Sunday

Three magnifications.

Photos by me.

Overheard #38

"Who are The Bills, and why do we have to pay them?"

Okay, Some Resolutions

My 2009 Writing Goals are:

1. Finish and submit CBL (current WIP).
2. Start a new WIP.
3. Keep Misplaced Electrons on topic.

Happy New Year!

Photo by Z.F. Burton