'Tis the Season for Giving

'Tis the season for giving to those less fortunate. So, I propose, that if you happen to be one of the many readers of Letters that is silently following, or following and for some reason ashamed to admit it--Now is the time to proclaim your love! We have a literary agent who will be viewing Letters soon. We have so many people who personally email us, or tell us in person how much they enjoy Letters, but very few {but beloved} of you are brave enough to bless us with a "follow." Now, naturally, if you despise me, or think Letters is crap, then disregard! Disregard! I still love you all anyway! Well, that's a lie. Wait, I changed my mind. Yes, I will definitely still love you all--all 14 of you who read this blog. So pass up that Salvation Army bell-ringer this year, and donate your charity to me.

P.S. I also accept cash.

P.S.S. But it won't be spent on writing-related material. It will be spent on food. For me.

Secrets of the Letters, Edition I

Writing for Letters is amazing. Mostly, because I get to write with Liz. I have learned so much from her already! Liz and I were just discussing how the letters are getting harder to write. They are beyond the first stages of the story, where there's character introductions, and the framework of the story was being laid. Now, the plot thickens! The funny thing about Letters is--I think I'M the biggest fan! I can't WAIT until Liz posts a letter.

As we've done from the beginning, we are keeping the story as true to historical fact as possible. Edward Steichen, (who spelled his name Eduard in 1902) was a real American photographer living in Paris at the time, who goes on to be quite famous for his work after returning to America (and breaking Addie's imaginary heart.) Liz and I are constantly delving into the past to discover everything from the indigenous trees in Paris, to the Christmas traditions in both London and France in the early 20th century (which vary from social class and region, by the way.) There is research done on just about every aspect of Letters. Liz has researched Victorian slang terms, and I've been researching the history of the French Navy, for the reintroduction of the infamous, Julien Fortesque. If the characters have tea, we have to research where that would happen--the parlor? No, it's the parlour if you're British. Letters, has really become something we're proud of, and something we may try to publish when finished.

Maisie is falling in love, while Addie is falling out of love (was she ever really in love with Eduard?) But questions are arising about Stuart; does Maisie really know Stuart? Christmas is approaching in the next few letters, and things are starting to get interesting. Addie finds shocking news about the little girl in the portrait, and Maisie, well, even I'M not exactly sure what's next for Maisie! That Lizzie and her secrets!

Thanks to everyone for supporting Letters--it's so nice to see friends and family are enjoying it!!! A special thank you, goes out to Amy for blogging about Letters recently--that--was awesome. Any of you that feel so inclined may follow suit. :)

Now, go read LETTERS!

My Frenemy, CT

We're approaching half a year here in Connecticut. CT, started out with quite a few strikes. Just to recap: No pools, no fountain drinks in the gas stations, no waves, tick bites, no General Conference on T.V., no Carl's Jr. What's life, if a girl can't have a Western Bacon Cheeseburger? What's more, CT is really far--from what's far away ... like Disneyland!

I made one last deal with Connecticut, I gave it one more chance. I said, "Okay, constitution state--nutmeg state, whoever you are; you have once last chance to win me over." You know, CT actually had the nerve to bite back. But I put CT in it's place, "Just because you're one of the original colonies, doesn't make you automatically better than the other states! I mean, the U.S. constitution was not written, nor was it signed IN Connecticut! You know, you can't piggy-back on New York's coolness forever." I think I crossed the line with that one.

But like the good state that CT is, it reminded me: there are no drive-bys & no shankings in the school yards. Then our little family went apple picking and it's getting crisp and colors are trickling down into the veins of all the green leaves, turning them red and orange-yellow. There are pumpkins and gas street lamps, and cobblestone streets. I think, it's making me--happy.

So, CT and I are pretty tight these days. CT has been really supportive lately, and actually apologized--for not being culturally diverse enough, and for not having any good Mexican food.

I Didn't Get Mugged!

{ ... no, I did not take these pictures of the crazies, sorry for the confusion!}

The New York subway, is scary.

Not only is it AWESOME that this guy is knitted from head-to-toe in pink and purple and green--it is also awesome how close he is snuggling to the lady beside him, despite empty space right next to him.

So THIS is what the Santa at the mall looks like in the off-season.

This is disturbing on many levels. I'm assuming he whipped out the chef's knife in his pocket to . . . cut some bread?

Yesterday I went into New York City with Henry for the first time. Now, you may think that was easy--people do it everyday. No. I have a deep-seeded fear of the subway. I have been into the city many times with Randy. Each time we rode the subway I felt more comfortable and at times felt like I could go it alone. But then we'd go through some weird passageway and the signs would have two trains BOTH called #7 and my brain started to hurt, so I just put it out of my mind. The subway's not for me.

But yesterday I was in a weird mood. I felt like accomplishing something. So, after puting the kids on the bus to get to school, Henry and I boarded the train bound for Grand Central Station. Then, came the dreaded subway. I just kept telling myself, "If the homeless can figure out the subway, so can you, Michelle." I figured out that there are uptown trains and downtown trains. I plotted my route to Randy's office. Getting Henry through the turnstyle was difficult. I was carrying the folded stroller and my camera bag and Henry ended up going through first. I followed right behind. I only had a mild stoke during the moments that my metro card wouldn't immediately swipe and my 2 year-old baby was out of my grasp (hoping off-season Santa/Knife Boy/Mummy Man were nowehere nearby.) We got on the 7 and some nice French ladies flirted with Henry. We arrived in Times Square and boarded the 1. By this time, I was much less intimidated. I knew how many stops I had to go to get to Franklin St. (thanks to the subway map on my iphone.) We emerged victorius from the depths of the New York underground. Then we were lost.

You see, when you exit the subway, you really have no idea which way is which. I got flustered, and I chickened out and hailed a cab. The cabbie made fun of me when I told him where I needed to go . . . since it was 4 blocks away. But I had no clue in which direction to walk four blocks! It was five dollars well spent if you ask me.

We surprised Randy for lunch. What's better, is that the food was AMAZING. It was tons of fun. I can't wait to do it again! The conductor on the train was really nice to Hank and waived goodbye to us. A nice young man offered to help me carry the stroller upstairs in the subway. It wasn't scary at all. Henry decided that our train looked more like Spencer than Thomas (clearly) and he seemed to love every minute of our first of many adventures in the city.

Tapenade-esque dressing to dip my panino in.

Caprese Panino.

Henry on a ledge outside Randy's office building in Tribeca.

Randy at Dean's restaurant.

Man-blogs

So, I was chatting with my husband's bro-mance partner, Brigham today and decided to address the subject of male blogging. Why don't more men blog? I mean, I think men offer a fresh perspective to this female-dominated world of Internet journaling. So go show your support for a man who's not afraid to get his blog on. Become a follower, (at least 5 of you) and you, too, will enjoy the fruits of his man-musings.

Quote of The Day

"Happily ever after is a lot of damn hard work." --Janine Jones

Back to School