Archives for : October2010

Halloween

Posted by :Annika On : October 31, 2010
1

Category: Sam

I’ll post about our costumes tomorrow, when I’ve had time to get some photos off the camera (or possibly force the children to pose in the better light we’re sure to have in the morning–they’re both sleeping in their costumes, so it should be easy).

Sam just had a night terror, the first in ages (I want to say it’s been something like a year and a half). It woke Grace up–that’s a first. When I finally figured out what it was (I am slow) I fixed it the only way that has ever worked. He gulped down milk for about 30 seconds, then settled in against me, back to real sleep.

You know how people say trite things about wishing they could take their child’s pain/anxiety/fear/whatever as their own?

Yeah.

Flashback Friday: Autumn 2007

Posted by :Annika On : October 22, 2010
4

Category: Sam

autumnalsam1

autumnalsam2 autumnalsam3

autumnalsam4

I could probably get a lot more writing done if I still started with the TOC.

Posted by :Annika On : October 21, 2010
8

Category: Bookish, nostalgia

My father just emailed me this transcription of a scrap of paper he saved from the mid-late 1980s. I present it here without comment.

GHOST MISTERIES (1)

THE GHOST
IN THE HIDDEN
CHAMBER

By Annika Barranti

Table of Contence:

1 Elizabeth p.1
2 The Missing Ring p.4
3 The Hounted House p.7
4 The Hidden Chamber p.10
5 A Suspect p.14
6 A Kidnapping p.17
7 The Rescue p.20
8 The Ghost’s Secret p.24

Oh all right, just one comment: I read a LOT of Nancy Drew “Misteries” in the mid-late 1980s. CAN YOU TELL?

Now We Are Six

Posted by :Annika On : October 18, 2010
10

Category: mawwiage

5f88I’m late in mentioning that Saturday was our six year wedding anniversary. Which means we are less than four months away from 13 years together.

Yeesh! How did THAT happen?

Six is the iron anniversary. Because we had to prove that we’ve been together forever, we secretly purchased each other coordinating gifts: I bought him a grill press and he bought me a dutch oven. Same brand. I KNOW.

We also had dinner at our favorite Spanish restaurant (warning: site plays music), where we ate tapas (which is what was served at our reception). I had a bowl of amazing gazpacho and Will had the mixed grill plate o’ meat. We brought home dessert to share with K, and I have to say theirs is the best chocolate mousse ever.

Next year is the wool anniversary. I CAN’T WAIT.

Photo copyright © Diana Jeong October 16, 2004

My sister is Hi-larious.

Posted by :Annika On : October 17, 2010
1

Category: I've been hypnotised

Discussing Laurie‘s photo of herself in a James Marsters-Nick Brendan sandwich–

me: I always found Xander more attractive than Spike.

K: Spike had a certain something, but it wasn’t looks.

me: Confidence and charisma.

K: Not Charisma. She played Cordelia.

Is 32 too old for a new nickname?

Posted by :Annika On : October 13, 2010
31

Category: Stuff

Look, this is probably some weird hormonal thing or something, but today it occurred to me that I am tired of my name. I’m sure I’ll get over it, but just in case can we tackle the problem as though we were going to do something about it?

My name is Annika. It’s pronounced like Monica, without the M. It could be shortened to pretty much any form of Anne, or conceivably to Nicky. It never has been. (MY name, I mean. Other people named Annika probably have.) Wait, I was briefly called Anni by one person and Anna by another (both pronounced “On” rather than “Ann”), not at the same time. Very briefly. I don’t want to use either again.

On the other hand, there are a few hundred people who call me Bettie, often including my own husband. But that is really an internet name, and not one I would use with people I meet in real (er, corporeal? non-internet) life.

The only other nicknames I’ve ever had were parental pet names, which I am simply not going to try to introduce for formal use. That would be like Future Sam trying to get people to start calling him Bammer.

So. If I am not going to go by Annika anymore (which I probably am, but we’re pretending–remember?), what should I go by?

Near Witch cover! (I am very excited!)

Posted by :Annika On : October 12, 2010
3

Category: Bookish

You guys! Okay, here’s the deal: I have not read The Near Witch yet, because it has not been published yet. But I am SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.

First of all, the description? Sounds like a book someone write after wondering what it would take to excite me and Will both about a book:

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

There are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

RIGHT?

Second of all, Victoria is the most adorable person ON EARTH. Seriously. Check out the video she made to reveal her book’s cover:

Seriously. Don’t you just want to shove her in your oven and then eat her up?

Wait. Wrong witch.

Anyway. If you’re feeling super-nice, you might head over to her blog and let her know what you think. Or you could leave a comment here if you prefer–she’ll see it.

Edited to add Amazon link because The Near Witch is available for pre-order!

Reeling, Writhing, and Fainting in Coils

Posted by :Annika On : October 11, 2010
6

Category: Bookish, writer

Here’s the trick: I need to find time for both reading and writing. I am not currently getting either done.

Will has finished some revisions on his novel. I’ve been trying to read them for TWO WEEKS and am only about 50 pages in. I could (in theory) get through it quickly if I were just reading, but I’m taking notes as I go because I don’t see any point in being his first reader if I am not helpful. Because a manuscript is such a large thing, I can’t read in any of my usual spots (tub, toilet, comfy chair), so I have to reserve quiet time in the bedroom. This is why it’s taking two weeks–it has actually been two weeks since I last looked at it. Horrible.

I also have a stack of books I want to read, including Freefall. I am SO FAR BEHIND in my reading! I keep sneaking newer books to the front of the line, which is oddly not doing anything to make the pile smaller. (Hint: if you want me to read your book, your chances improve if 1. I know you, and 2. You put my name in it. I am cheap, but also easy.)

And then there is writing, my constant bugbear, my bête noire. (SEE WHAT I DID THERE?) Lately I have had so many ideas. SO MANY. But when do I work on them? Never, that’s when. I do have down time–I’d be a pretty crappy liar if I tried to tell you otherwise–but it is never distraction-free and I am lousy at focusing.

I did decide something recently that has opened up a WHOLE NEW WORLD for me: if I want to write young adult and middle grade stories, but I don’t feel that I have novels in me, then by gum (BY GUM!) I am going to write young adult and middle grade short stories. As far as I can tell, there is no market whatsoever for them, but I don’t give a damn. I am going to write them anyway. If I can ever find the goddamn time.

In other news, I think I need a writer’s group but I kind of hate most other writers. Crap.

Cute Sam Story

Posted by :Annika On : October 8, 2010
1

Category: Sam

We took out the Halloween boxes before dinner tonight. We haven’t got the place fully decorated yet but we’re on the way and it’s feeling like home again.

Every time we pulled out something with a bat, Sam squealed with glee: “Batman!”

Random Friday

Posted by :Annika On : October 8, 2010
14

Category: lists, Stuff

Today I tried pilates and didn’t die. I assume this means I did it wrong.

We bought one of those amber teething necklaces for Grace. So far she is still acting like a banshee, but now she is a well-accessorized banshee.

Someone (her father) thought the necklace was for her to chew on, and was far less impressed when someone else (me) explained.

It has been October for a whole week and we haven’t put up the Halloween decorations! Ack!

My copy of Freefall arrived yesterday. Mindi mentioned me in the acknowledgments which I was not expecting and I might have cried a little. (I don’t know if there is a score card, but that is three books and one movie I am thanked in.)

On the other hand, no one has ever asked me to be in their wedding. My sister thinks this is all right as I am married myself, but I think it is sad.

Today is Star Wars All Day Day. Yes, it is a crappy name. But it’s an awesome day! Sam is celebrating as hard as he can. I just made his day by unearthing the DVD of Episode III.

It is also Unofficial Play With The Recycling Day, according to Grace. Oh well.

All the pieces are cut out for Grace’s Halloween costume, except for the cape and the Robin symbol. I guess I should do those next! I’m not sewing until everything is ready to go, since I don’t have a permanent place for my machine, and also because Sam likes to “help,” which is awesome when I can actually sit down at the machine with him but quite a hindrance when I am trying to do something else at the same time.

Speaking of costumes, quick poll: what kind of footwear for Batman?