blog the vote: are you ready to make history?

November 3, 2008 ~ jama ~ 28 Comments

"Should things go wrong at any time, the people will set them to rights by the peaceable exercise of their elective rights. "
~ Thomas Jefferson

I’m so excited! Tomorrow I will vote in the most important election of my life. While I’ve exercised this hard-won privilege many times before, I can honestly say that I’ve never been this eager, this emotional, this honored, to be able to participate in such a defining moment of our nation’s history.

When I was born, Hawai’i was still a Territory of the United States, so my parents could not vote in a presidential election. They could elect a representative to Congress, but he or she was not allowed to vote on bills or other issues. Hawaiians could also elect their own legislators, but the Governor was appointed by the President.

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friday feast: hallowhine

October 31, 2008July 4, 2018 ~ jama ~ 24 Comments

Bah humbug!

Oops, wrong holiday.

I have such mixed feelings about Halloween. Blame it on my candy conundrum. Or my pumpkin problem. (Why do I keep alliterating? Somebody, stop me.)

While most people are happily carving pumpkins, passing out candy, dressing up in cool costumes, or gorging on treats, I’m trying really hard not to dwell on the “traumatic Halloween incident.” *Sniff*

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pumpkin tricksters

October 29, 2008 ~ jama ~ 21 Comments

Remember a couple of weeks ago, when I posted pictures of the pumpkin farm?

Well, we came home with two big pumpkins, and four small sugar pumpkins. Each was perfect — blemish-free, and carefully hand picked by me. They looked very nice on our front porch, and seemed quite happy there.

Not for the squeamish!

let’s talk candy!

October 27, 2008 ~ jama ~ 13 Comments

Last week I read this Yahoo article about the 10 Least Favorite Types of Halloween Treats. Among the items listed were Smarties, Tootsie Rolls, Dum Dums, apples, toothbrushes, treat-size chocolates, raisins, and candy corn.

I definitely remember hating those little dum dum lollipops as a child, and loving Nestle’s Crunch/Hershey’s Krackle best of all. I didn’t mind the treat-size chocolates, but back then they were much larger than they are now (and they’re still shrinking).

No, I haven’t bought any candy yet. When we lived at our old house, we had lots of kids come by — but now, living at the end of a very long, dark driveway, only the brave few dare approach us. We’ve rewarded these adventurous souls with full-size chocolate bars and Pez. We’ve had as many as 24 kids, and as few as 2 (last year).

I know if I don’t buy any candy, lots of them will come. If I buy a lot of candy, nobody will come. And then we’ll be "stuck" eating all the leftovers!

Oh, the pressure! The angst! Now that I’ve read the undesirables list, I find myself wanting to buy candy that kids actually like (as opposed to stuff we like).

So, what are you giving out this year? What did you like most when you were a kid? What do your kids like most? Do you think kids these days have different preferences from previous generations?

Inquiring (and chocoholic) minds want to know!

soup of the day: chains by laurie halse anderson

October 21, 2008 ~ jama ~ 11 Comments

Three million ginormous cheers for the one and only Laurie Halse Anderson! Her brand new middle grade historical novel, Chains (Simon & Schuster, 2008), is officially out today!!

         CHAINS by Laurie Halse Anderson
          (Simon & Schuster, 2008), ages 9-12, 320 pp.

As I’m sure you’ve heard, last week Chains was named a Finalist for the 2008 National Book Awards. Woo hoo! This prestigious honor comes on the heels of glowing, positively sizzling starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus, in addition to unbridled praise and enthusiasm from blog reviewers, such as Betsy Bird ( aka, Fuse 8, blogging at School Library Journal) and prolific author Kate Messner .

In the spring of 1776, as the American Revolution is just beginning, thirteen-year-old Isabel and her younger sister Ruth, two slave girls who were supposed to be freed upon the death of their owner, are instead sold to the Locktons, a Loyalist couple in New York. Isabel then meets Curzon, a slave who offers her the chance to help the Patriot cause by spying on the Locktons. What unspeakable thing happens to Ruth? Where should Isabel’s loyalty lie now? What will she do to fight for her own freedom?

Publishers Weekly says:

Anderson (Speak; Fever 1793) packs so much detail into her evocation of wartime New York City that readers will see the turmoil and confusion of the times, and her solidly researched exploration of British and Patriot treatment of slaves during a war for freedom is nuanced and evenhanded, presented in service of a fast-moving, emotionally involving plot.

Laurie begins a 27-city tour in support of Chains today. Read about it and her reactions to all the accolades on her blog.

And to top everything off, her birthday is this Thursday, October 23rd! Happy Birthday, Laurie!

You can see we have LOTS to celebrate today. Better grab your biggest spoon, slurp extra hearty, and join me in cheering for Laurie in your loudest voice!