Our Son went back to school this week. I don't know why I was surprised I felt a bit blue. It's not like I didn't know that even though I'm thrilled he's there, I still miss him. I even know it will pass. We adjust to changes. We can't help it, even if we don't want to adjust, we just DO.

So the writing didn't go well last week, while I was in "gently blue empty nest land." Feeling better this week, even though I spent hours in the UPS Store mailing Our Son's stuff to him. There are huge benefits to having your kids go to school out of state, the biggest being: what you can't see happening, you won't worry about. But mailing computers and stuff back and forth is not a benefit. It's a pain.

Is anyone else watching The Middle Man in ABC? And if you aren't, do you realize you are sending yet another show I like into possible cancellation? I've already lost Stargate Atlantis and am in mourning about that. It's not enough to get movies out of the deal. Movies take too long. And what are they thinking to launch yet another Lost in Space show in its place? And how is getting lost in a ship a stargate show?

WHAT ARE THEY THINKING???????

Not that I think actual thinking is happening there!

Okay, finished Larklight. This was a really fun YA, steampunk story. It would be something fun to read aloud with your middle grade kids, too, IMHO.  Read some books I didn't like that much, but won't mention the names. I know not everyone likes what I write, but I still hate reading about it, so won't do it to any author. And since both book seem to be generally popular, clearly I have a problem. I'm out of touch with the rest of the reading world. Sigh.

Anyone read Mrs. Mike? It's a book I read when I was young (in the dark ages) and stumbled across it again. Great, true story. A romance, adventure and inspiring to boot.

Do you ever think about books you just loved when you were young? I ran into this book about a girl in early American days who becomes a pirate. I loved that book. It was called Jade and sometimes I can remember the author. Books like that launched my love of adventure in my books and probably helped to shape the writer I became.  (Did you notice I didn't mention any classics? Even back then I loved the popular fiction. **g**)

While stuck in the UPS store, I was chatting with a lady who told me about a band her cousin is in called The White Tie Affair. I like that name. What surprised me, there is also a Black Tie Affair. I guess its a reminder that no matter how creative and clever we think we are, there really isn't much that is truly new or unique.

I'm doing a new contest at Author Island (where I'm also author of the week for August 26th, 2008). Here's a picture of the prize package:



The purse charm was created by my amazing sister, who also scouted out the fun soaps (yes, the pig is a soap). Bookmark designed by one of my daughter's and the lip gloss was hand crafted by my sister-in-law. I'm surrounded by talent and delighted to be surrounded by them.

Up next on my TBR pile, Hacksaw by Mark and Charlotte Phillps on my Sony Reader and Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon on my iPhone.

Here's hoping Gustav doesn't pay us a visit!
Perilously yours,
Pauline