September
28
September
27
Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary
Ralph is tired of his relatives trying to make him share his beloved motorcycle. And he’s afraid zooming through the mud puddles in the lobby of the inn where he lives has gotten his friend Matt in trouble. So with the help of his human friend Ralph runs away, to Irwin J. Sneed Elementary School, where there are long halls without carpet to ride on and plenty of good things to eat.
Except that the students of Room 5 turns Ralph into a class project and an article in the town paper accuses the school of being infested with mice! And worst of all now Ralph’s motorcycle is broken and he has no way to get back home.
Ralph S. Mouse is a classic kid’s chapter book. While amusing at times I found Ralph to be pouty and selfish, not exactly a hero. Cleary does mention the reality of mice (being vermin and all), but doesn’t quite manage to set Ralph apart, other than his intelligence and his abilities to ride a motorcycle and speak (but only to certain, lonely children).
My son enjoyed being read chapters of Ralph at night, but didn’t connect with Ralph’s pouting or anger. He was most interested in the beginning and the end, with a lull of interest in the surly middle parts.
Ralph would probably most interest children who are also feeling surly, angry, and like the world is against them. Its strength is in showing kids that they’re not alone in those feelings and teaching them to look for ways to solve their problems, because they might not be as bad as it seems.
September
27
Context 21: Day One
So all is said and done for today, my first real day, hours from home at a real con. I have to says I really feel like I’m my own element and while people have found it puzzling I also am a little surprised at how welcomed and included I’ve felt.
Deb Kuhn and I left from Louisville about 11 am. We talked nonstop for the whole trip, and didn’t even begin to exhaust our conversation. Really she is such a sweetie. I can see why we don’t have many SF/F/H writers in Louisville, we lucked out to get Deb.
We arrived about three. The hotel is a mess because there’s construction going on. Yay! Like a fool I caught some caution tape in the zipper of my suitcase and didn’t notice until I strated dragging the poles the tapes was attached to with me. Brilliant Michele. And how did I manage to, out of the whole suitcase, get the tape into the zipper?
The room is great. I should get some pictures of it, because it’s one the nicer rooms I’ve stayed in. I have a king sized bed, a desk, couch, chair and free wireless. Okay, so I had to ask someone else how to work the wireless, but here I am.
We actually got here early so after ditching our stuff Deb and I headed into the bar to get something on our stomach (I’d had two doughnuts. Deb said she hadn’t had anything.) So, guess who was in the bar, and guess who recognized me (by name at least) Brian Keene and his entourage (which included JF Gonzalaz and the gorgeous Alethea Kontis). We all had lunch together at the bar.
After foodination we went up and registered for the con (yay I got a free copy of Dead Sea!) Then we went over to see if Jason Sizemore was setting up the Apex booth yet. He was, and I was his first customer, buying a shot glass and a copy of Momma’s Boy (because the two electronic copies aren’t enough… unless I want Fran to sign my computer.) While hanging out there I met Michael Knost (whose little girl is absolute adorable! I got to see pictures!) and Brian Hatcher, and just as I was set to wander off Fran came up and I got hugs and damn does she smell good.
I went to my first panel at 7pm, one on Urban Fantasy.
I had been getting wrried that UF was reaching a glut, but Linda Robertson, Tanya Huff and Paula Guran gave a pretty positive and entertaining chat on the genre. I will try to post notes later, because it was a blast.
Next I went to a panel with the Dead Body Guy, who is hilarious. apparently he also had a bit part in an upcoming movie called Thankskilling where a demon turkey gets revenge on town. The good news is the movie is supposed to be tongue in cheek.
I went back to the Dealer room after that, to check on poor lonely Jason Sizemore. As it turned out the room was closing so we headed over to get free con food together. During the conversation I got to meet the gorgeous new editor for Clarkesworld Magazine. Jason had a panel at 10pm with Juno editor Paula Guran so I tailed a long for that.
The Rise of the Medium Press panel. I think Jason was a little flattered that he was put on this panel. I didn’t really learn anything new, but it was fun, and by that point I was a familiar face to both of them (having asked a lot of questions at the UF panel).
Neither one of us was ready to go back to being alone yet, so we headed down to the bar to see if we could find Deb. She was indeed there. So were a lot of people. I mean, people introduced themselves to me! And gods I’m bad with names but I had a nice conversation with Skippy Carl and an Odarker (I am horrible for not remembering your name, but I’m tired and my brain is starting to fail me. Case and point, I typed “Brian” three times right there.)
And you know know what’s worse than me mispronouncing like everyone’s names today? I think Kealan Patrick Burke said a cheerful enthusastic hi to me in the bar and I wasn’t sure if it was him or not, and cowardly me (I was on the way out the door) I didn’t go back to find out. I’ll kick myself if it was him and I missed my chance to hug him and get a picture.
We went over to a book release party (because the wine and grub was free. Oddly, I didn’t have either.) there I got to chat with Maurice Broaddus, Jason, Deb and more people whose names escape me because I’ve only met them once.
I am so exhausted. I want to say more. I want to make this a fabulous post and make myself sound much smoother than I was, but I feel like I’ve been blundering through this con. I also feel like I don’t care if i make a fool of myself. I love it!
And you know what… I have met so many great people and had such a great time so far, but I’ve gotten no pictures with me and anyone.
September
25
Depp to Star in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland
*joygasm* Sparse details here.
September
25
10 Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew by Ellen Notbohm
This book reads easy and fast and it should be handed out to every parent whose child is diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. It can change the perceptions of anyone–family, friend, educator or counselor–who is face with the baffling behavior of an autistic child. I cannot impress just how much this slim volume can help.
The core beliefs in 10 Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew are:
-All behaviors happen for a reason.
And
-All behavior is communication.
The focus is on presenting (not really exploring or solving problems) the possible causes of “bad” behavior and realigning the thought patterns neurotypical people have when dealing with those on the spectrum. It can also help parents get behind the possible causes of misbehavior on the part of “normal” children.
Some principals in this book are–or should be–universal. Don’t let one term (Autism, ADHD, or even “trouble child”) define all your child is. Focus on what your child can do instead of getting lost in what he or she can’t do. All behavior has a cause, ferreting out the cause can go very far in helping to resolve negative behavior. And most importantly of all, love should not be dependent on good grades, good behavior or “being normal”. Love should be unconditional.
If there was ever an Idiot’s Guide to Raising a Child this might be it. An essential book for understanding the social, language and sensory challenges experienced by many types of special needs children. This book should be mandatory reading for anyone whose life is touched by Autism Spectrum Disorders.