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friday feast: blue state special

~ jama ~ 22 Comments

So, it’s been quite an exciting week, no?

Our new President may be African American to you, but he’s Hawaiian to me! Added to that particular point of pride is that, this time, Virginia stepped up to the plate. All hail the Commonwealth!

Today, I’m celebrating with a poetic serving from my favorite Virginian, Thomas Jefferson. I mean no disrespect to the other seven Presidents from Virginia — Washington, Madison, Monroe, Harrison, Tyler, Taylor, and Wilson. It’s just that in addition to all his other talents, Jefferson was a devoted foodie :).

While reading about his gastronomic adventures recently, I discovered he was also an ardent scrapbooker. Who knew? While in office between 1801-1809, he apparently cut and pasted poems from newspapers and periodicals, arranged them thematically, then sent the books as gifts to his granddaughters.

This is just as endearing as his practice of writing down favorite recipes while he traveled in Europe!

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look who rolled into town!

~ jama ~ 8 Comments

Earlier this week, Len and I headed over to Tysons Corner Mall in McLean, Virginia.

Laurie Halse Anderson was in town, promoting Chains (Simon & Schuster, 2008), which was recently named a National Book Awards Finalist!

  

She gave a little talk before her signing, condensing 35 years of her life in 30 minutes, touching on her writing process and inspiration for both her Young Adult and historical fiction novels. Then she graciously answered questions and basically wowed everyone with her enthusiasm, energy, and deep, deep commitment to telling our nation’s story, and opening up a dialogue about difficult or painful topics.

It was pretty surreal to meet someone in person whom you only "know" online. Laurie was only the second writer/blogger I’ve actually seen in the flesh (Sara Lewis Holmes was the first). Way cool!

 
   Hopelessly out-of-focus shot compliments of Len.


Check out Laurie’s tour schedule to see if she’ll be rolling into a town near you, and don’t forget to read Chains!

uh-huh

~ jama ~ 23 Comments

        by Patrick Moberg (thanks to BB-Blog for the link)!

i voted!

~ jama ~ 14 Comments


As I drove over to my polling place (a local elementary school), a light drizzle spotted my windshield. A little rain is a Hawaiian blessing.

I purposely waited until early afternoon to avoid long lines, and was relieved when I got there — the 6-9 a.m. crowds were gone. After asking a nice lady passing out Democratic sample ballots to snap a photo, I walked in and voted.

And yes, it felt different this time around. I looked at the Obama/Biden box and thought, oh my, at last. Tom Hanks said there’s no crying in baseball, but there are tears of joy in voting.

When I drove up my driveway, the trees looked more beautiful.

  

And my kitchen helpers were thrilled to hear about my experience.

   

  
                    What a good day!

See who else voted today at kmessner ‘s blog!

a beautiful thing!

~ jama ~ 11 Comments

     

Happy Election Day!

I’m proud and happy to be included on this list of over 1000 children’s authors and illustrators all voting for Barack Obama today.

                    

Authors and Illustrators for Children (AIC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the world for children:

Authors & Illustrators for Children values a government that cares for children’s needs and plans for the needs of future generations.

We believe children have the right to quality education, health care and a clean environment.

We believe that children should be encouraged to think and dream – that is what their minds are for – and that the freedom to express their ideas and dreams is a human right.

We believe personal responsibility should be taught by example at all levels.

Every person listed here believes that Barack Obama is the  candidate who best represents these values. If you haven’t already done so, please read these two inspiring and heartfelt "This I Dream" essays by Bruce Coville and David LaRochelle.

Then take a deep breath, because it’s happening even as we speak. Change, for the better, is coming!!


My half-sister, Sylvia, and her husband, Jim, met Barack at campaign headquarters
in Bend, Oregon, this summer.