We make all sorts of resolutions during the New Year, but maybe we shouldn't make resolutions. Maybe we should ask questions. Like, what do I want to do with my life? And what will make me happy/proud/content/inspired/challenged/exillerated? And maybe those answers will lead somewhere interesting in 2013...and beyond.
More later,
Tammar
First of all, happy end of 2012 to you all. May the next year bring us peace and happiness, success and lots of time spent with family and friends.
Now that I got that out of the way, are you ready for my news? You sure?
I moved! I don't live in Florida anymore. I live in the Washington DC area.
It was a very dramatic time for the Stein household (hence the long blog-silence) the move involved two trips to the ER (in two different states, no less) three different strains of stomach bug--at least I assume they were different since we all kept getting sick again and again and in slightly different variations of the unmentionably vile and unpleasant ways that stomach bugs manifest themselves. Mountains of boxes, epic amounts of packing paper. And it snowed TWICE the first week we arrived--shivering our thin coats and mesh covered athletic shoes.
It's both exciting and intimidating here in the nation's capitol. We seem to get honked at a lot when we drive (perhaps too much Florida driving has rubbed off on us) but on the other hand, in face-to-face interactions people have been lovely and we've already been to the various (and amazing) Smithsonian museums twice.
Macy's is full of fancy ball gowns because while in the rest of the country the party season is over, here in DC it's just starting with the whole city getting gussied up for the inaugural balls. I'd almost forgotten about that. (If anyone has an extra ticket they don't know what to do with, I'm totally free that night. I'm just sayin'.)
It's a different world from my warm, tropical, kookie Florida--though I'm sure DC has it's share of kooks.
I'll keep you posted on my various (mis)adventures.
More later and happy new year's!
Tammar
Besides wonderful charities like Heifer International or Smilesquared, there's another possibility for a thoughtful gift this holiday season.
Books!
Reading is a joy, an escape, and a philanthropic donation to support the humble, quiet, brilliant writers in our midst. (I'm just saying.)
If any of you decide to gift Light Years, High Dive, or Spoils this holiday season, drop me an email and I'll mail you a signed bookplate to stick on the inside cover and personalize the gift.
Happy shopping!
Tammar
How did your cyber Monday go? Did you shop? (I did.) But as I bought some things, I kept wondering if I should be making donations in people's names instead--you know, charity instead of stuff. And then I came across SmileSquared. Best of both worlds.
They sell these awesome-looking bamboo handled toothbrushes--very echo-chic. And for every brush you buy, they give one to needy children in developing countries. The founders of SmileSquared realized this need while on a humanitarian mission in Central America. Most poor children don't have access to a toothbrush and 90% of cavities are not treated.
Spread the love this season. Sparkling white teeth for you and the rest of the world.
More later,
Tammar
Sure, it was yesterday, but I hope you had a nice one, hopefully spending a relaxed day with friends and/or family. We went to a vegan feast last night. It was surprisingly normal. Other than the turkey, all the traditional Thanksgiving meal foods are very vegan friendly. Our menu had "creamy" pumpkin soup with curried pecans, roasted sweet potato fries, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry relish and this awesome stuffing roll with gravy that sort of replaced the center stage spot that the turkey always has.
I made salad with roasted butternut squash and beets, inspired by this book.
(Totally awesome read, all about economy and grace in the kitchen, loved it! Plus, the author has a great name, right?)
Now it's Friday and the paper is full of photos of shoppers who camped out all day yesterday to snag good deals. I can't help feeling like that's kind of a hollow way to "celebrate" Thanksgiving. Most of them are doing it to save money on gifts, and spending money on others is a great way to happiness, but still, something about the getting of "stuff" superseding the spending of time together weirds me out. But people tell me I'm wrong. They say it's a bonding experience with a great vibe. You don't have to be sitting around the table to enjoy the people you're with.
So what do you think? Did you go shopping last night/this morning? Was it fun? Would you do it again?
More later,
Tammar
on the horizon. Can't share it with you yet, but keep checking.
In the meantime, I'm super stressed and overwhelmed, so what better than wasting time, er, I mean relaxing, by looking at amazing craft projects I will never do.
Do you guys sew? Anyone? It's on my to-do list to learn how. Because then I could make cool things like this.
How cool is that? A home-made bath mat.
One day, baby, one day.
More later,
Tammar
I believe I've mentioned that megaladon--the dinosaur shark that menaced the waters in prehistoric times-- had teeth the size of my hand. Well, here's the jaw those teeth go with. Gulp.
(I'm only smiling because it's extinct.)
Seriously, it's not often I think of myself as an afternoon snack...
For those of you affected by super storm Sandy, stay safe and dry. At least you don't have to worry about being eaten, right? It's the small blessings in life that get us through.
More later,
Tammar
I'll admit, there are some nice perks to being a novelist. Like going to work in your pyjamas. Or having a meeting with your editor, in your pyjamas. And the short morning commute. In your pyjamas.
Okay, yes, I spend much of my days wearing pyjamas. But yesterday I had to put on some real clothes. Because one of the other great perks (aside from wearing PJs all day and reading novels to work on "craft") is doing research. Sometimes, research can be fun.
Like when I drove to the South Florida Museum and the curator of the collection, Ashley Burke, let me in and took me behind the scenes.
This is Ashley.
That's an Indian depiction of a manatee. Or at least that's what some experts say.
A ancient shell drinking cup. The inside has been perfectly smoothed. There are even right-handed drinking cups and left-handed ones.
The collection is an amazing look at Florida flora, fauna, and evolving civilization and the museum in a gorgeous building and overlooks the sparkling waters of Tampa Bay, because that's how we roll here in Florida. You should see the view from the library.
Thanks Ashley! Thank you South Florida Museum!
More later,
Tammar
Was a lot of fun! Thanks for everyone who came to my talk at the Safety Harbor Library. Read about it here.
Thanks for Jeff Rosenfield from Safety Harbor Patch for the photos and the lovely article.
USF--you're next! See you next week.
More later,
Tammar
Because things like this wash up on our shores.
Yup. Some beachcomber, looking for shells, came across a GIANT EYE BALL!! It's a big as a softball. Can you imagine the freak-out session that ensued?
A few years ago, an eleven-year-old kid found a megalodon tooth as big as his head on a beach not far from where I live (megalodons were dinosaur sharks that were up to 60 feet long. Gulp.) It does lend hanging out at the beach a bit of spicy adventure. You never know what you'll find.
No matter what you find on your next beach adventure, I hope you stop by and see me tomorrow at the Safety Harbor Library, 6pm.
More later,
Tammar
Check out this lovely profile of yours truly on Safety Harbor Patch!
It was so much fun to be interviewed by Jeff Rosenfield, didn't he do an awesome job? He took like, 5 pages of single space hand written notes to pull that piece together.
For all you local Tampa Bay types, I'll be speaking at the Safety Harbor Library on Oct 16 at 6pm. It's for Teen Read Week, but it'll be a great event for all ages, a very hands on expirence to get people bit by the writing bug.
Hope to see you there!
More later,
Tammar
I believe I've mentioned that I've been blessed with two amazing sister-in-laws. One is a former Naval Officer and currently works here. The other was recently seen hanging out with this guy:
Seriously, how cool is that???
More later,
Tammar
How do I love thee, Charlottesville? Let me count the ways.
Blue Ridge Brewry pizza
Cafe Cubano!
Saturday morning farmer's market!
Home of UVA!
Skyline drive and Blue Ridge National Park
Apples in the fall!
Cool, crisp nights and lovely, no-humidity days. The downtown mall with its ever growing hot spots, bars, restaurants and boutiques. Oh my, do I love this place.
More later,
Tammar
A friend shared this with me and it pretty much lines up with my personal philosophy. I'm a tea drinker (as opposed to a coffee drinker--it's kind of like the dog/cat split, you're either one or the other.)
Pipping hot Earl Gray wiht milk in the morning.
Pots of green tea during the day (especially when I'm writing.)
And a nice mug of Sleepytime or mint tea before bed.
What do you drink to get your started and keep you going when you work?
More later,
Tammar
My cousin Layne is in an a cappella group called Voiceplay. These guys have been together for years and it really shows. Their level of showmanship is Hollywood caliber and they sing with the vocal precision of German-built engineering. There's times when you just cannot believe the music is coming from five guys and no instruments. I've been to their show and it's a blast. They left today on a massive 60-day, 75 show tour (isn't that insane?) If you live anywhere near where they'll be, you have go. Check 'em out. Layne is the cutie who starts the video. Isn't he great?
More later,
Tammar
I promised pics and reports from the front lines, but Isaac was a well-mannered guest here in Tampa Bay, and other a bit of wind and some rain, really didn't leave much of an impression. I'm certainly hoping he's as polite as he heads up north to New Orleans.
I also promised more photos from Panama and here they are.
I'm standing in front of the white house! The president of Panama lives in a white house just like the president of the United State. As you can see, however, his security is a bit more relaxed. This is the front of his house and the guards lets us peek in and take photos. Somehow, I don't think the Secret Service would do the same.
Molas, the colorful fabric pictures that depict everything from parrots to sea turtles to abstract art, are the number one tourist souvenir to buy in Panama. They're made by the Kuna Indians, traditionally Kuna women would wear these on their blouses,but now they're on everything from eyeglass cases to pot holders to cell phone covers.
And one last photo from our rain forest hike. I could not get over this "camouflage" tree. It looks identical to the old American camo pattern and I can only assume that its designer was hiking in Panama and thought "They'll never be able to see us wearing this!"
More later,
Tammar
Check out Tampa Bay Times book editor Colette Bancroft's review of 15 Views of Tampa Bay here!
Pretty cool, huh?
I did promise more pictures from Panama, but folks, Isaac is coming to town bringing winds, rains, and 3-5 feet of storm surge (pretty meaningful in a place where 10 feet of elevation is considered high ground.)
We're bringing in the sun umbrella and various outside accouterments and loading up on water, batteries, and popcorn.
I'll keep posting, maybe with pictures, once the storm arrives.
More later,
Tammar
Our gallant band of trekkers, mid way through our rain forest hike.
Look closely. Do you see the poison arrow tree frog?
Self explanatory.
Yeah. Really, really big tree.
The famous canal that changed the world. Great book by David McCullough explains the incredible skill and effort that went into creating it. No one knows for sure how many lives were lost building it. Easily in the tens of thousands.
More photos to come...stay tuned.
Tammar
It's finally up! You can read my part of the series here. But for clarity, you really should start at the beginning. Then stop by Burrow Press every Tuesday for the next 12 weeks to find how is all ends (in a hilarious, wonderful closing by the talented Rita Ciresi.)
My husband and I just returned from an amazing weekend in Panama. Stay tuned for photos and tall tales of poison arrow tree frogs, toucans, and more. They're coming, I promise, as soon as I catch my breath.
More later,
Tammar
