Oh, So Many Manias...

Finished a book!

2010-02-06T09:59:00.000-08:00

The Good Mood Diet: Feel Great While You Lose Weight by Susan M. Kleiner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Awesome lifestyle book. I'm under a lot of stress (physical and mental) from work (standing all day, lifting heavy books), and after work (doing volunteer work at a community theatre with crazy horrible hours... where I stand for hours...) so I've been searching for relief of some kind. I've been doing vitamins, abusing Starbucks mochas, etc... and to think all I had to do was read this book and make a few changes.

I haven't incorporated all of the changes in the book, but by adding a nightly cocoa drink, by having a hardboiled egg every morning, I'm already much happier and much more energetic. I still need caffeine, but I'm not whining and as miserable as I was... I'm looking forward to trying her recipes and incorporating more of the plan into my life. I love this diet because the author repeatedly says hey, don't worry about cheating... if you cheat, just keep eating your good mood foods and it'll all come out in the end.

It's a good low stress way to change your life.

View all my reviews >>

Battle of The Prizes Reading Challenge

2010-01-30T14:41:00.000-08:00

I haven't been to this blog in a long time... It's not so surprising... my reading jags are few and far between.... well that is until I downloaded the Kindle App for my phone. I love Kindle! Thank you Amazon and Steve Jobs! Anyway, the future looks bright for reading as I also bought the Kindle (although I love my phone app the most). In recognition of this, I've decided to sign up for a reading challenge. If you choose to join me, here's the info:

Rose City Reader is hosting The Battle of the Prizes, American Version. Here's what she says:

This challenge pits winners of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction against the winners of the National Book Award in the American Version of the Battle of the Prizes. (Click here for the British Version.)

Does one prize have higher standards than the other? Pick better winners? Provide more reading entertainment or educational value? Maybe challenge participants will be able to answer these and more questions – maybe they will simply read three great books!

DETAILS

Chose three books that you have not read before:

1) One that won both the Pulitzer and the National (here is a list of double dippers);
2) One that won the Pulitzer but not the National (Pulitzer winners are here); and
3) One that won the National but not the Pulitzer (National winners are here).

OPTION: For those who have already read all six of the double-dippers, or otherwise do not want to read one of those six, pick two Pulitzer winners and two National winners for a total of four books.

OFFICIAL RULES

Overlap with other challenges is allowed -- and encouraged! The Pulitzer Project and The National Book Award Project are logical crossovers. The great thing is, for those working on both these lists, completing the challenge means reading three books, but crossing four items off the lists.

You do not have to commit to your choices now; you can change your mind about books at any time.

And there's more info if you go to the challenge blog. Anyway, I'm off to sign up and make it all official.

Bootleg Pictures Of The Play!

2008-10-12T20:02:00.000-07:00

Weekend One of "Wait Until Dark", the current offering by the Hart County Community Theatre... and you probably missed it, but I had the best/worst seat in the house... for the radio show, that is. The photo tells the story... yes, I was a stowaway on the set of "Wait Until Dark"! I thought about popping out and adding an character to the play, but the play was just too taut and together and my villainy wasn't needed. So I just... did my job... and took a picture instead! On the sly! Oh, how I love the I-phone. It just put the I (me!me!me! that is) into WaIt UntIl Dark.

To add to the suspense of the play, I shall not reveal my position in the theatrical lineup! (Clue No One: Swing low... swing way down to the bottom) I confess I am in the program and figuring it out is a no-brainer, but even so, I shall not cooperate!

And to my friends who are clueless... just what is "Wait Until Dark?" It's the dark, suspenseful, Halloween offering by the theatre... a contemperary take on the movie that Audrey Hepburn starred in, back in the day. It takes place in the swinging sixties (but be assured, no actual swinging goes on, only some hand wringing both onstage and off... and much bell ringing, and much hat wearing, but no cat in the...) in the apartment of Sam and Suzie Hendrix, a young couple just trying to keep from answering that doorbell...

The photo below is of Jay Gordon and Jennifer Donald. I'm sorry, dear reader, that the picture is too small and that you too can't look for blood, but i can't work my iphone. Sometimes the i fails the me,me,me, then youyouyou...

Having the best/worst seat in the house is interesting... You hear snippets of conversation before, during and after the show... Jennifer Donald, playing Susy Hendrix, the lead actress, injured her foot. How? Dwayne Donald, one of many leading men... smacked his head on an unforgiving surface... as he was tumbling towards... who? (Alas, I have only my faulty hearing as a source. Oh, if only the Hartwell Sun had covered this episode... but since no reporters were present, you'll have to go with my hearsay.) Was there blood? If so, it was scooped up and saved for a future production. (HCCT Theatre is a nonprofit organization, after all.) I didn't see any though... or did I? Kinsey Ethridge, the lead in oh so many ways, was wielding a mop after the show today.... Hmmm... I shall have to count the cast on Friday. We might have lost one.

I hate it when that happens.

More on the play tomorrow... which has three more times at bat... October 17 and 18th at 8pm (sharp! due to the the theme of the play...) Get your tickets by calling 706-376-5599 or email hcct@hartcom.net

Things People Say To Bikers

2008-09-30T20:02:00.001-07:00

I LOVE blogging with pictures. There's something about... not having to write as much? Or perhaps am I just trying to keep up with the Shoefields? A member of that court has inspired me to add a little documentary effect toward my tall tale of the day. So without further ado, I'll introduce my new bike! The Jamis Commuter 3!

The bike came with a beautiful, black metal basket, but alas, it fell off the bike mid transport and left me with a gaping... gap... and an ugly, cheap basket that sigh, will never take its place. I shall replace it! I shall!

But this is not about my projectile wallet. This is about the random bits of conversation that come your way while pedaling in different locations. While scrambling past the front of Bell's Grocery Store last week, a man paused and let me pass, reflecting on the possibility that, "It'd just be my luck to get hit by a bike."

Tonight I took a ride to Lavonia, on behalf of Cookie
(see Exhibit A where subject cat is spewing hatred because wacko owner dared to leave the sofa where she was happy). I wanted to check out Pedi Paws, a new pet store that surely would have eco-responsible cat litter. No clay mined toxic spew for Cookie! Well! I risked my gas, my time for so little. The shop seems to cater to iguana or would be iguana owners. No cat litter at all! So... all I could do was ride the Jamis. People seemed to react as though it was the first bike ever seen anywhere. One man said my flashing bike light looked like a police light. Hope I didn't make him nervous.

Okay so maybe people in Hartwell are funnier than those in Lavonia, but oh, I had fun spinning my wheels tonight. Lavonia has some good, low traffic roads... I will surely return... if that whole gas thing works out, that is.

Wrap Up Of The Summer That... Was or Wasn't?

2008-09-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

I've been way too busy to blog this summer. It's been a summer of change! I'm still 5k-ing... although my challenge of late has been how to get to one on time. I've acquired a cat! The 11 year old Cookie as of July 4, 2008. I've taken up chair yoga! And it's redheaded stepsister, the more traditional forms of yoga. I refer you to the accompanying picture of shoes, cat and mat as evidence to support my claims.

Thanks to some biker friends, I now possess an Iphone, so until I drop it and watch it explode into jigsawed pieces, I'll be posting pics of my adventures. The phone makes life so much easier... I really wanted to be a Steve Jobs snob, but alas, I am now in the freak cult. I may change my middle name to Apple... hey, do you think that's what was behind Gwyneth Paltrow's name choice for her firstborn????? I thought she was a fan of her local farmer's market, but possibly it's more due to that freak obsession...

So anyway, I've been doing. This photo below taken in Colbert Ga. I bought a folding bike this summer... the Cayne Rambler and now when I travel, I stop and get some about 30 minutes
of biking in. It comes in handy... when you don't make it to your early riser races. I must be a unaware vampire as I am a-feared of early morning light!. Two weeks ago, I got up at an absurd hour, drove to Athens and drove right into the middle of a 5k being held at Milledge Avenue Baptist Church. They had no sign out front advertising their 5k, so I went up this narrow, winding driveway... and here are 150 or so runners ambling toward the starting point and the race director is trying to wave me through... all of those bodies. Somehow I parked and decided I didn't want to run that badly... It's not good when you're the star of bad driving behavior of the 5k. So... I park and before I can escape, a police car blocks me in... then 150 runners run very slowly past me.... just as I was plotting my escape, 150 runners ran even slower past me again. Never has having front row seats to insta replays of my bad decision been so painful. But I had the last laugh! On the way home I took this beautiful ride. Colbert is such a good area for biking. It's flat, there are few cars about and no aggressive dogs... although I did see some adventurers.

Enjoy the view.

2008-07-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

I joined The Slow Biking Movement this weekend! An appropriate group for me since I am the slowest cycler alive... Today I went to the grocery store which was 1.7 miles away... took me 15 minutes and my average speed was 6.5 miles per hour. Yeah, I think I qualify. Anyway, I'm going to track my savings/freedom from Big Oil. Yes, I still take the car to work but it's turning out to be a real joy to commute by bike after work.

The bike however is just an environmental mission. The real purpose of this blog is to track activities in our area. I jogged the Firecracker Frolic 5k in Easley, SC today for the fourth... Easley is a great town... with good coffee and great bacon and cheese biscuits. Next time I go, I'm checking out the Twisted Bean. If I'd had a folding bike, I could have checked out more of the town, but oh well, I covered a certain amount by foot.

Well tomorrow if you are so inclined, get up early and go run in this beautiful race... July 5, Lake Rabun - Rabun Ramble 5K & 10K, 7:30am. Info: Sandy O'Brien (706)782-7043, (917)903-8961. One year I'm going to make it.

Idina Menzel (from Wicked! And Rent?) is going to appear 7/18/2008 8:00 PM in the Chastain Park Amphitheatre inAtlanta, GA Should I go? Are they sold out? She's a magnificent singer, so there may be no more tickets at this point. anyway, this goes on my hmmmm.... list.

And Urinetown is on in Atlanta so I need to put that on my definite to do list... I'll find the url later on. Right now I'm on the hunt for fireworks. I think I want to find some...

Slogging Onward With The Blog

2008-06-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

My community spirit died a few months ago, but heh, I feel the phoenix rising... even as I gag on the ashes pouring down from the blackened sky. Oh well, "the host is the bit player in my world" says the parasite.

okay, okay enough psycho-rambling. I've been so busy the past few months... running... a few 5ks here and there, lots of training run... lots of whining about not being able to run... but the big news was my turn as stage manager of the HCCT Theatre's production of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown." I did a lousy... er nonjob of promoting it... heavy sigh... but I was so tired! I'll do better next time. At any rate, I had a blast and met some incredible people. I love the theatre!

Okay, back to running... there's a 5k in Cartersville this weekend that I'd like to run in just for the t-shirt... The M*A*S*H 5km on Sat 06/14/2008 But alas, I'm having relatives swoop in so that won't be possible.

I'm toying with the idea of getting my brother hooked on this one... before he comes home for the weekend.... The GA 400 Road Race in Atlanta, GA Sat 06/14/2008 It's a four miler and I really like those. And we could do brunch afterward!!!!! Oh, what a glorious idea! I doubt it'll happen, but I can dream...

And I'd really like to do this Sunrise Run 8k in Greenville, SC on June 14th. But alas, I fear I lack the early morning wakeup gene.... And staying up all night and driving for an hour, sweating, straining, groaning for one more is not always advisable when the coffeehouses are closed.

And last I leave you with news of the Saturday Swat Trot, a 5K run, 5K walk, 1K fun run in Snellville, GA. That would probably be more to my brother's taste. We shall see if I can stick this on the to do list...

2008-04-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

Your weekly reading assignment is at http://www.birdandmoon.com/55words/story30.html

So get to it! I'm way ahead of you. This week must be book week. I went shopping this weekend and kept picking up discount books... I'm going to try to read 4 or 5 books at one time as my Goodreads/Shelfari shelves are lacking... and my friends are speeding past me in the book count. At Shelfari, I joined a short story group that is reading BASS 2007 and the first story out was an interesting clunker, Louis Auchinclosss, "Pa Darling." (That's what happens when Stephen King edits? The jury is still out. I'm willing to give the ole fopdoodle a chance... but selection no. 2 must be brilliant or else! And the inserting of the word fopdoodle was no accident... that is a gift from book no 2, "Poplollies and Bellibones, a Celebration of Lost Words" by Susan Kelz Sperling. It's not a good word... but it's not a bad word, just a mean 'un and is entirely unfair to the editor. So, I'll not give the explanation... Let's just say that when I'm cruising 'round the square tomorrow and I get cut off in traffic like I did this morning (I did! I did!) I'm going to hang my head out the window and shriek, "Hey you worthless fopdoodle! Where did you learn to drive?!? Or did you? Maybe you never got beyond parking? Maybe you drive like I program my dvd player, like I work my cell phone (barely, that is.)" Well anyway, because of the fopdoodle in the opposite lane, I had to park halfway to Anderson. Volksmarching in the the early morning! That's all I'm saying.

And speaking of Anderson! Thursday offers some entertainment there. Thursday means that it's time for Downtown Sounds! See the schedule at http://www.mainstevents.com/downtownsounds2.html

The music scheduled for this week is "ANDERSON'S OWN" MISS WANDA JOHNSON
If you like passionate vocals, powerful stage charisma, great original songs, and a soulful performer who really connects with her audience, you will love Wanda Johnson. She is accompanied by Charleston-based pianist/composer Shrimp City Slim (Gary Erwin) and his band.

Influences: All the great women blues, soul & gospel singers. Sounds Like: Uniquely herself, but Wanda has drawn comparisons to the young Irma Thomas, Nina Simone, Norah Jones, and (believe it or not) Amy Winehouse

Check her music out at http://cdbaby.com/cd/wandaj2

I liked her style... but I think I'll sit this one out. Price of gas isn't exactly going down... We must be choosy on behalf of the addled republic.

I did some interneting this weekend and I found this site: http://www.shopforthelibrary.net/
If you shop at the participating stores, you can earmark a certain amount of money for the library of your choice. I haven't checked out the fine print yet, but it looks interesting...

And as far as the theatre goes... my vote goes to the Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta... A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Directed by Drew Reeves
April 11-May 4
$12 General Admission Preview April 10
Fairies, woods, and miscommunication…need we say more? Yes! Tickets go “swifter than an arrow from the Tartar’s bow!” Join the cast and crew members for a Question and Answer session on Sunday April 20 after the show!

I luv this play! I must see it again. Why, it's been years... since I saw my first Shax play and laughed my head off. The tavern is on Peachtree St and serves dinner with the play. Oh the Shepherd's pie... I would herd goats for the chance to eat that again... And the blondie brownie at intermission! And the best actors anywhere. Yes, I must put that on my schedule...

Good night!

An Animal Theme

2008-04-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

Breaking news! I noticed that Anderson, SC is starting their downtown music series this week: http://www.mainstevents.com/downtownsounds2.html I LOVE their downtown music jams! I discovered a couple of interesting bands last year and I didn't even attend one fourth of the shows. This year... well, this year is the year. Of the early bird. Of the go-getting go-pher it! Having said all of that nonsense, I doubt I'll make this first show. HA!

Well, I would, but the first group up is a band called The Nightcrawlers (yet another animal!). If you want to sample their music, check out http://www.nightcrawlersband.com/Home.html

From the website: April 3 - NIGHTCRAWLERS
A four piece from the Asheville NC area, they bring an improvisational blend to their blues, soul and rock and roll material while still maintaining the directness and vitality of a good dance band. Featuring guitar, sax/keyboard, bass, and drums – the band members provide a solid rock groove along with powerful vocals and tasteful solos.

I listened to a song about Katrina and I liked it, but not enough for the price of gas. On the other hand, I need to buy BASS (le animal once more!) 2007 for a reading group, so if I remember to buy it... well, anything could happen. I really like going downtown, walking around and listening to the music or sitting around the courthouse and listening to music. And for the foodies who might be reading, they do have beer... which is...er practically liquid bread. And wine... which is er... smushed grapes. (Not to mention... roadkill! Sorry, but your roundup of current events has been interrupted by your subliminal animal theme!) Well okay, real food is... a restaurant away. Myself, I usually go and get the OREO Speedwagon from the E City Coffeehouse... which is gobs of ice cream and just enough coffee to singe my eyebrows.

But if you are traveling in another direction, you might do well to check out Atlanta Shakespeare tavern and their production of "Of Mice (OOOH! OOOH!) and Men" By John Steinbeck. April 6 is the last day so clutch your credit card now and put your credit limit in overdrive... The cost is $12 General Admission. From the website: A tender (yes! I think it counts!) and heartbreaking story of two emigrant workers who end up victims of forces beyond their control. In Steinbeck’s lovingly created adaptation of his classic novel, Lennie, a large, strong man with the intellectual capabilities of a small child and his short stocky companion George struggle to seek their own utopia in California during the Depression.

I do hate to be a total naysayer... but you know, I read the book so, I don't think I'll be making the trip (price of gas you know). It's a beautiful book, blah blah blah and I love-love-love the Tavern... but eh... I'm getting my funk on just thinking about the whole depressing, distressing, Depression of the plot, that whole ultra-reality thing which could bring on our looming recession just by way of... thinking about it all, so... I think by way of antidote, I'll watch 36 Lifetime movies instead. Or maybe the E channel... they're probably still showing old profiles of Anna Nicole. Surely I haven't learned everything...

And I vowed not to cover running since I've been doing so well with it, but since I ran (from... an animal????? ) tonight (3.6!) and since there's nothing really going on in the theatre world until next week... well, I might as well mention the Doug Harris Memorial Half Marathon and 10K on April 5th. Both races are trail runs through the Issaqueena Forest (loads of animals there!) in Clemson, SC

And in another direction, on the same day, Athens, Georgia is hosting the Saturday Red Carpet Day 5K Fun Run/Walk

Since I'm not really covering running tonight, you're on your own! Go to Active.com and check out the details in greater de-tail. And so we end with a tail! The animal theme sticks around to the bitter end!

Good night, night owls! (Oh, Oh! Oh!)

Runner's Story Time!

2008-04-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true I haven't blogged, but only because I've been out and about, doing this and that. So my sins are... well, minimized. Right? Well okay maybe not when it comes to my trip to Laurens, SC...

I spent my weekend traveling to and fro the lovely 5th Annual Laurens Little River Bridge 8K Run/5K Walk. Thanks to Google and my own incompetence, the trip only took 47 hours (Google promised me it was an hour and 37 minutes from my house! Those cyber cads!) and this greatly complicated my life as I got to the race with only one minute to spare. I had to sprint to the check in table... I grabbed my goodie bag... I gasped at the size of my goodie bag (it was so heavy it almost broke my arm!) As I was tying on my timing chip onto my shoe, I threw my wallet and keys into my large goodie bag/new pocketbook... and then panicked as I realized that I couldn't possibly run 5 miles with my new hulking goodie bag that surely weighed 40 pounds... So... I threw my bag at a startled volunteer and said, "See ya after the race!" And... I laughed and laughed and laughed at my audacity... until 2 miles later when the race was well underway, when I'm in the middle of a strange neighborhood 47 hours away from home.... er I remembered those keys, credit cards, accompanied by a little bit of the green. And then I cried and cried and cried at my audacity/foolishness... but running fool that I am, I kept on going, content in my belief that race volunteers are a cut above (they are!) and that every finish line brings about a happy result. So... I ran my race without a bib (oh the shame!) convinced that someone was going to pull me out of the race at any minute (no one did!), I ran through the most beautiful neighborhoods and people were watching the race and cheering us along all along the way (nice touch, Laurens, SC!)... I ran past a beautiful coffeehouse and made a mental note to return (I did! I did!)... and as I crossed the finish line, oh woe was me, I came to the bitter end... Somehow the goodie bag had walked away! Taken off for a better situation, probably 22 hours down the road ahead of me already... Well, at first I was calm. I slowly drank my water and recovered from the race, having a total out of body experience as the volunteers hyperventilated and madly searched for the goodie bag. I had total faith in them and only began to panic when I considered my miserable luck, incredible capacity for stupidity... and figured I would be completely stupid if I didn't panic (fractions are more honorable)... so I allowed myself to panic a bit... But even though my recklessness caused several heart attacks, my volunteers came through for me and finally it was revealed that Jonathon had the goodie bag in his truck for safekeeping. Yay! I think we all cried at that point.

Even though I have surely been BANNED from Laurens, SC for several lifetimes, I had a wonderful time and got to meet some incredible, if slightly stressed volunteers. Why next year I'm going to run under an assumed name... and when they see my mug coming, people are going to scatter! Yes, that plan is flawed, but oh well... I'm still going to put this on my schedule for next year. This was my best race ever! I haven't even had any post race soreness and this was my first 8k. And I was so impressed by those volunteers... I got to talk to several and one of them, the startled volunteer who had the misfortune to get my bag at the beginning of the race actually told me later that she was prepared to drive me back home... the whole 47 hour trip. Now that's courage, isn't it? Committing your evening to driving a crazy woman around the southeast... There were several volunteers that helped look for the bag, so I want to publicly thank each and every one. I remember your mug and will... er... leave you in peace next year! Thanks so much Laurens, SC!

Green Bean Doings and Undoings

2008-03-26T20:21:00.000-07:00

Does an evening of yapping at the Green Bean count as a cultural outing? After all... those present and alert did discuss... er... the subtext, exquisite imagery (blonde!), continuing motifs (shirts off! more 007 abs!), etc. contained within... double er... Casino Royale, the latest Bond offering. We analyzed the point of departure from previous Bond efforts, attached that to the larger context of... "do you take yours on the sweet side or the coffee side?" heh, yes, as you suspected, your bit of intellectual fluff was hi-jacked by a real moment down at the Coffeehouse. (Think of it as a second long reality series. A web cam without the technology. A bit of addled babbling due to a late night shot of expresso? Goodness gracious! Now that is slander!)

Question of the day: How many crunches did (insert actor's name here) 007 have to do... to create his magnifique physique? Not that anyone should ever try that at home.

Question Two: How does one manage to channel one's ancient French class after watching the Paris expisode of the HBO drama, "John Adams"? Will the flashbacks continue?

Back to reality. Back to the Bean means Friday night to see Adam Brown. Since I can't ever remember to get on their mailing list, I'm not sure of the time... but I'm guessing 8pm. Adam has a day job (dentist!) and plays by night... covers and original tunes. He has a lot of fans so get your buzz on early! After all, the world has a limited amount of chairs.

In an unrelated item, due to an ooh and an ah overheard at the Bean tonight, apparently there are new and exciting teas at the Bean! Line up early and get yours, hopefully in time to synchronize your sipping with the latest episode of John Adams, the new HBO drama. Twitch alongside (insert actor's name here) John Adams as he shakes his head in exasperation at Ben Franklin, wife Abagail and those frivolous Franks! Heh, it really is wonderful show. Oooh, oooh, cultural offering! I get points for my pretentiousness! And in a related note, how about that alliteration!

Okay, okay on the un-selfabsorbed side... UNCLE VANYA, by Anton Chekhov (a really good playwright) is playing this weekend in Athens. So stay in Hartwell on Friday, then go to Athens on Saturday. See? It works so well. It's playing Mar 26-30 @ 8:00 pm and Mar 30 @ 2:30 pm
at the Cellar Theatre, in the Fine Arts Bldg at the University of Ga. (Go down Lumpkin St and turn left at some point. Heh.)

From the website:Chekhov’s heart-rending tale of wasted lives and the comic moments that surround them is a masterpiece of modern drama. (Does that mean... that my wasted life and the comic moments that surrounds my wastedness... is a masterpiece of my modern drama queenedness????? Oh how easily my head swells! Which I hate actually because my crown never fits properly afterwards...)

The most important info: Admission: $7 for UGA students & seniors 60+ and $10 general admission.

And if thinking is just TOO hard.. especially about your wasted life... then go get wasted at The 27th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival of Conyers which takes place Saturday, Mar 29, 2008 10 AM - 5 PM at the Georgia International Horse Park - Conyers, GA , 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway

From the website: The City of Conyers is proud to present the 27th annual Cherry Blossom Festival of Conyers. The Festival began as a way to encourage cultural understanding and friendship through international music, dance, games, food, and crafts. There are over 300 booths, continuous entertainment from two stages and children's activities. $0. Parking Fee: $5.00 770-602-2606.

And that's all I can do. Party's over! Good night!

Running and More Running

2008-03-24T19:40:00.000-07:00

The Ives play was a bust. I didn't make it due to... either insanity or illness. It's so hard to know what is which sometimes. Oh well... nothing ventured... yeah that's right, nothing gained. heh.

But enough whining. On to the shapeless future.

For your mindless entertainment... I found this on a friend's site. Go calculate your worth:
http://www.oneplusyou.com/q/v/cannibal_lunch I'm not telling how many cannibals I can juggle!

And yes, it's time for another installment of the Attack/Ambush Bookclub! Click and discuss!

http://www.birdandmoon.com/55words/guest32.html

And what have I done lately? Thanks to the best movie reviewers/lenders around, I did get a chance to watch Casino Royale, the latest Bond movie. For a long while, I wasn't too sure of the movie... it seemed to be a pale imitation of a bad Tom Cruise movie. OO7 jumped, hopped, and skipped onto every exploding tanker in the Western Hemisphere with nary a scratch... thens snoozed through a curiously inactive poker game (was that intermission and I just wasn't in the know?)... and just when I picked up my laptop, the movie heated up, took off, spun around... Oh my! my palpitating heart! And curses, it was curfew time! I plan to watch it again, to make sure I didn't miss a crumb or two of intrigue. And oh the banter! I did enjoy that subtle, cutting English wit/sarcasm.

So what have I done lately? Ahem, I swear I've been out on a couple of good runs... and I actually signed up for an 8k in Laurens, SC this weekend. Here are the dirty details.... Yes it takes place on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 5:00 PM. The venue is Laurens Little River Trail, 345 East Main Street Laurens, SC 29360 . The race will attempt to answer many frivolous questions... will I be able to find the starting point? And what about a PR? Can it happen? Shall I make the extra mileage? Tune in on Sunday to... read about the senseless carnage! Unlike 007, there will be more than just a scratch. Unless I only scratch the surface... oh yeah, in that case, it will be my usual nonevent lol. But hey, LOL makes everything nice!

But back to reality: According to the brochure, the race starts on the picturesque Little River Bridge; the course is hilly and fast. The 8 kilometer course winds its way past downtown, historic residential neighborhoods, and finishes along the scenic river trail. I can't wait! Oh wait... hills... what was I thinking????? Oh dear, I've signed up for a 007 run! And I'm built like Ms. Moneypenny or whatever her poor, tired name was...

On the other hand, iff you're not psycho and are looking for a nice, relaxing Georgia race, you might try The INAUGURAL DAWG TROT 5K RUN/WALK in Athens,Georgia on Saturday, March 29th at UGA Stegman Coliseum 100 Smith Street

Come join the UGA Alumni Association for the Inaugural DAWG Trot 5K Run/Walk to be held on the campus of the University of Georgia. The race will wind through the campus, past Stanford Stadium, Stegman Coliseum, and Butts/Mehr Building.

Fees: $15.00 by 3/19/08, $20.00 afterwards to race day.
Online Reg. Closes: March 27, 2008 11:59 PM Pacific Time

The entire course is run on paved streets throughout the campus of the University of Georgia. Packet pickup and race day registration will be held at Stegman Coliseum beginning at 7:00AM. This event is part of the 2008 Run and See Georgia Grand Prix Series.

And we'll end out this pitiful blog effort with a bit on the theatre. Check out Clue: The Musical at The Schaeffer Center in Toccoa, GA on Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29 at 8 PM. Ticket prices will be $15 for adults and $10 for students and may be ordered by calling HCT at 706-839-1315 or by ordering online.

Based on the popular board game, CLUE brings the world’s best-known murder suspects to life on the stage and invites the audience to play along to solve the mystery. The suspects sing, dance and joke their way into your heart... or into suspicion, as you guess which one of the 216 possible endings, different every performance, is the answer to: whodunit, in what room, with what weapon.

Hone your detective skills as you try to decide who killed Mr. Boddy, the musical's savvy host, who senses motive in the air. His guests won't rest easily until he rests permanently.

Was it Mrs. Peacock, well-traveled, well-known and well-preserved? Could the murderer have been Mr. Green - Sultan of the stock market, King of Commodities - an entrepreneur who owns the world’s most popular discount air carrier, Pennies in Heaven? Perhaps it was Colonel Mustard who stormed bunkers and triumphed in war... not with might, but imagination?

Would your choice be Miss Scarlet - an actress, well a singer - no, more like a performer. She does it all! That's what her men friends tell her. How about Professor Plum? He's an author by trade, intellect by birth, Southern by choice. Don’t overlook Mrs. White, the cook/housekeeper who works seven, long hard days a week with no rest for her weary bones, muscles, hands, feet, eyes, nose, hair...

That sounds like fun! Since I'll be in the opposite direction, I might be checking out The Anderson Celtic Street Fest at 7:30pm. For more info go to www.aifestival.com

And that's it for tonight. Good night!

Happily AWOL

2008-03-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

OMG, I hardly blogged for the whole of March!!!! Now how did that happen? Ah yes, nailed to the wall by Daylight Savings Time! I was robbed of my month! Beaten, thrown to the gutter by Father Time! For forty days, forty nights, I wandered, stumbled through the fog, looking for a kindly barista with a 100 watt cup of coffee... something with the proper wattage, capable of alleviating my morning S.A.D. disorder... No wonder the month was so hard! There I was... trying to make do with the usual cup of 60 watt coffee... Arrgh! Hindsight should be so dimly lit... then that whole ignorance is bliss theory might actually work out.

But enough whining. Another reason why I haven't been writing is because the doing takes all of the ambition out of me. I actually got up and ran in Atlantic Station's Shamrock and Roll 5k on March 16th. I was DETERMINED to observe St Pat's Day. This required getting up in the middle of the night, feeling my way to the car... driving with no coffee in my system, no breakfast... oh never mind as this is causing the most inconveniently vivid flashbacks... So the end result was that my time was lousy, but I didn't care bee-cause I had a fine time! It was a fairly large race with 666 (what a number!) runners overall. There were 22 runners in my age group… most runners were in their thirties, according to the Junior League website (sponsors of the race.) I should have run the 10k, but chickened out... There were 789 runners in that race.

It was a lot of fun afterwards... some arts and crafts, Irish Step dancers, an Irish band.... runners with kilts, etc. And socks! I just asked for directions and somehow snagged a free pair of socks. You just cannot beat free socks.

But enough of useless stats and ancient personal history. On to the present!

Thanks to the looming pressure of this blog, I actually got with it and ordered tix for OnStage Atlanta's production of "All In The Timing" by David Ives. It is a series of one acts, a different combination of which will be performed nightly. The last performance is Saturday night, so if you're interested, get your google finger in the proper position. I ordered my tix online. I just love online convenience...

I LUV U, David Ives & I'm going to C U!!!!! Yay! I promise to report on the night... Ives is a comedienne who just happens to like the title playwright... So, I'm expecting great things from my evening of hilarity.

Also this same theatre is going to perform Urinetown later on in the summer, so that's something to put on my calendar. I've never seen the play, but I luv the music. And Onstage Atlanta is in Decatur, and I luv u, Decatur. So the night will be fun, fun, fun! A town with good coffee (Indie Coffee), good food (J. Christopher) and good theatre (the aforementioned... for goodness sakes, weren't you paying attention?????)

And last and surely least... another installment of the Ambush/Attack Book Club. Your link for the week is: http://www.elimae.com/fiction/Antosca/Birthday.html Your challenge is to figure out the relevance of the title to the story.... Er... the link escapes me...

and enough about enough. Good night!

The Diddly Squat Weekend

2008-03-10T20:25:00.000-07:00

My weekend was so unimpressive, uninspiring, that I didn't even want to write down the details. The low point came when I was going through my email Sunday night... and boo hoo sob, noticed that Stateboro, Ga has a huge, relatively new bookstore... and boo hoo sob, I was there! I went! I looked around... and yet, I failed to conquer. And when will I venture back? Who knows? I only go a couple of times a year, so that was one wasted opportunity. Oh well... if I save the money I would have spent on books (er... maybe 46.89...) and put it into a CD... perhaps by the time I go back... I'll have 47.60. Woo hoo! Wachovia, here I come!

Oh well, as Scarlett always noted, "Tomorrow is another day." Hopefully I'll be able to get out this weekend. There are some worthy offerings if you're willing to travel. In the theatre world, you might head toward Clemson, SC to check out The Adventures of Robin Hood, written by Michele L. Vacca. The website is at: http://www.clemsonlittletheatre.com/news.htm
The performances are on March 7, 8, 9 & 14, 15, 16, 2008

From the website: Sherwood Forest comes to our stage, as this delightful, fast moving, and witty play brings Robin and his Merrie Band looking for an opportunity to perform daring, dashing deeds in their customary fun-loving fashion. Learning that the nasty and nefarious Sheriff of Nottingham is about to collect taxes (again!), they don disguises and dash into town, temporarily foiling the Sheriff in a series of clever ploys. Later, a disguised Robin and his friends mingle with the crowds at the fair in Nottingham, and engage in a number of bold, dramatic, and comic adventures, as each side attempts to outwit the other. The action fills the stage with archery and swordplay. Can triumph for our hero, Robin, be far behind? Join us in Sherwood for the excitement, the spectacle, and the fun!

I don't know if that's a show geared for children... or for the thumb sucking adult... who er... enjoys Those-Younger-Than-Young-Adult-Writers... heh, okay, before the hate mail starts, yes I'm kidding! Anyway, I should google that playwright, but er... I see I haven't, so er... maybe you should meet me halfway. Self serve and all of that. Does Google deliver? If so, I'll take extra cheese with my info. And a side of fries.

And to continue the theme of Arrested Juvenelia Developmentia, you could also head over to the Abbeville Opera house to go see The Wizard Of Oz! Check out the website at http://www.abbevillecitysc.com/history/schedule.aspx The performance dates are at 8:00 pm on Friday, March 7,Saturday, March 8, Friday, March 14, Saturday, March 15, and Afternoon Matinees (3:00 pm) on Saturday, March 8 and Saturday, March 15

And in Greenville, SC... check out: warehousetheatre.com
The play is Sight Unseen by Donald Margulies. The time is Mar. 14-16, 20-23, 27-29

From the website: Sight Unseen is the story of wildly successful painter Jonathan Waxman who is in search of the one thing that once made him truly great…Patricia. The only problem is Patricia has married Nick and won’t forgive Jonathan for what he did in the past. This production follows the events that lead up to this English country-side meeting where all three people search for answers and the nature of true art.

The playwright Donald Margulies was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1954. He has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation and won a Pulitzer.

This would definitely be for the adult theatre-goer. Yup, one less thing to google. ah, certainty is a grand thing...

And oh! I DID do something today... I hosted the second installment of The Attack/Ambush Bookclub! It was a fascinating experiment. You go up to a person with their guard down... you throw your printout at them... And oh yeah, this week's offering is http://rumble.sy2.com/stories/55word.html... Meanwhile, your captive audience is reading their 55 words thinking it's a grocery list, a to do list, whatever... and then, in the space of 2 20 seconds or less, you have implanted a story virus into someone's brain. Today's ambush went rather well. They liked the story, but sadly had no time to get into imagery, metaphor, etc. After all, I had ordered my drink and was waiting for my check so my reader was busy lol. Hopefully as the week goes on, I'll have more ambushes to describe.

So... read, reflect and consider going on the attack! People say they have no time to read... but you can force the process! This is step One in taking our culture back.

On that note... Good night!

2008-03-08T21:50:00.000-08:00

Today's cultural report is meager, falling far short of the recommended daily allowance of distraction, delight and whimsy. Oh well... tomorrow is another day after all.

Today was all about driving... communing with squirrels in South Georgia. (Long boring story of duty, family obligations, etc.) My road map should have been dotted with excursions into coffeehouses along the way... especially since the March winds have been rattling around the house and keeping me up. (In downtown Hartwell today, I had to fight the urge to look for the whistling teakettle--the sound effects were really impressive!) I only made it into the Green Bean for a delicisio Java Chip blender... and later into The Daily Grind in Statesboro, Ga for a substandard chilled cappuccino. Grind, I love ya, but it's sad when the name of the drink is more interesting than the dreck. The moral of the story seemed to be too much chocolate syrup. Ick, gack, ick. It was like drinking maple syrup. I only wish I had choked on a hair ball. Oh well, the cake I bought was excellent, so no bad reviews there.

Next time I'll be checking out, The Coffeepot in Thomson, Ga (new!), The Good Day Cafe in Waynesboro, Ga (weird hours), Latte-Da and Statesboro Brews in Statesboro, Ga. I've tried Statesboro Brews before (luv it!) but not Latte-Da so my to drink list is still rather long...

I looked at a Kate Nash and Ingrid Michaelson video on Youtube... does that count as partaking in local culture? Well okay maybe not. But at least it shows I'm still have a few inquisitive brain cells.

Tomorrow I may partake of a 5k. I doubt it since I didn't feel like running Friday night and today has been so chillerly (sorry, I feel like making up bad words today. Bad as in unnecessary, unfunny, heh.) I'm not even going to name the 5k since I probably won't do it. Why force myself to cut and paste for no reason? Yes, I feel better already, having saved myself so much effort.

And movies are playing! I took a peek at everything playing in the Anderson/Athens area, and this is what sounded the best:

AmStar Stadium 14 - Anderson
193 Civic Center Boulevard, Anderson, SC, USA - (864) 225-7827

The Bank Job
1hr 50min - Rated R - Suspense/Thriller
1:55 4:25 7:00 9:30 12:05

It's an English movie. Cockney accents, so they say. Take your international hearing aid!

Penelope
1hr 29min - Rated PG - Comedy/Drama/SciFi/Fantasy
3:35pm 5:35 7:35 12:10am

The snout story. I was prepared to ignore the bad make up job on what's her name, but the reviews made me think otherwise.

Regal Starlight Stadium 14
141 Interstate Blvd, Anderson, SC, USA - (864) 222-3808

The Bank Job
1hr 50min - Rated R - Suspense/Thriller
1:25 4:50 7:45 10:20

Atonement
2hr 3min - Rated R - Drama
1:20 4:15 7:00 9:40

Still playing! I must see this oppressively gloomy Brit movie. Why didn't I go when it was raining? A double shot of gloom and doom... it would have been perfect!

Carmike 12 - Athens
1570 Lexington Road, Athens, GA, USA - (706) 354-0584 -

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
1hr 32min - Rated PG-13 - Comedy/Drama
1:00 3:15 5:30 7:45 10:00

Now this is supposed to be interesting... the book that this movie was made from is a forgotten classic, curtesy of Persephone books... or some website that has that same combo of letters. Anyway, I read about the company somewhere. They're collecting the books that never made it back in the day, that should have. Check it out sometime... if... er... I have the right name there... Otherwise get your Google finger ready.

Penelope
1hr 29min - Rated PG - Comedy/Drama/SciFi/Fantasy - IMDb
1:10 3:20 5:30 7:40 9:50

The Bank Job
1hr 50min - Rated R - Suspense/Thriller
1:30 4:10 7:10 9:50

GTC Beechwood 11 Cinemas
196 Alps Road, Athens, GA, USA - (706) 546-1011 -

Penelope
1hr 29min - Rated PG - Comedy/Drama/SciFi/Fantasy
1:10 3:20 5:30 7:40 9:50

The Bank Job
1hr 50min - Rated R - Suspense/Thriller
1:50 4:20 7:05 9:40

And I suppose you can still catch a matinee performance at the Historic Elbert Theatre! Call ahead though to make sure at 706-283-1049. The prices are 10/adv., $12/door. The time is Mar. 9, 2 p.m. The play is Twelve Angry Men presented by The Elberton Bar Association. The play is a legal drama in which a dozen men's prejudices and idiosyncrasies reveal themselves in a polyphonic blitzkrieg of integrity and wit.

Hmm... I wish I could see that... when I get mad, I just turn into a pig... into... Penelope! (I'm seeing a link here...) Sadly I never have any polyphonic blitzkriegs... Where art thou, on aisle 4? Seat D47? Tellest all thy secrets, Elberton Theatre! I must have the latest polyphonic blitzkriegs! Aargh!

So there's a few! Hit the trail and have something to talk about come Monday! Good night!

Food and Drink Is Your Best Option...

2008-03-06T21:06:00.001-08:00

Well I'm still going out of town... so since I'm not really interested in promoting anything locally... I just have fun dissing what's going on in our area... without ME... boo, hiss! What a terrible idea lol.

This bit of bad news came in my inbox...

THE CLASSIC CENTER THEATRE

Coming up on Saturday, March 8, is the Broadway musical, “Ring of Fire,” the final show in the 2007-08 season’s Country Series. This incredible production is based on the music of the legendary Johnny Cash and features 38 of his signature songs. Join us in honoring the life, the legend and the music of “The Man in Black.”

Tickets: $25-$59
Showtime: 8 p.m.

Ouch, I'd sooner see a splatter flick. I hear Johnny Cash on the radio and I start punching buttons. A whole two hours... only earplugs could save me. I'd sooner go see an Elvis impersonator. Even a bad one. Even one who lip synced. I think I heard "A Boy Named Sue" too one too many times in the seventies... it killed a lot of brain cells and I bitterly resent their removal. The last 30 years have been difficult... and yes, I think I'll blame Johnny Cash for every trial and tribulation. But hey, don't mind my ignorant self... enjoy the night if you're so inclined! Just don't share the details or let me listen via your Iphone during the concert. I'll be dragging my fingernails across a blackboard. Listening to cats fight in the alley. Anything!

On a more pleasant note, Autumn’s Tragedy is playing at the Green Bean Coffee Café on Friday night, March 7th at 8 pm. It's an acoustic show of Christian rock and admission is FREE... so... get a jump on Sunday and hey, no collection plate will be coming your way... so Go! How often does your wallet... get to rejoice? Who knows, it may get so excited that it converts to Euros right on the spot. Now that would be a genuine miracle and with the sorry state of the dollar, that just means that you can buy twice as many lattes. Several miracles later... well, you won't be sleeping, that's a given.

So... on day two of your weekend, you'll need to calm yourself, to purge yourself of the coffee jitters... so head across the street to Tastes Of Georgia. Their Thursday newsletter reports that they have "A FEW SLOTS LEFT for our INCREDIBLE SPRING HARVEST DINNER this Saturday night, March 8th! We are also rolling out a new lunch and dinner menu this week!"

Tastes of Georgia
Spring Harvest Dinner
March 8, 2008
Fixed Price Dinner $24 Wine Flight $11 for 4 paired wines
Seatings 5PM-8PM BY RESERVATION (706)376-0953

And the wines for the wine tastings come from Australia.

I wish I could see this! But I can't. Boo hoo.

"Our Town." 8 p.m. March 6-8. New look at Thornton Wilder's classic with Del Hamilton, artistic director of 7 Stages. Tickets $7; $5 senior citizens and students. Conant Performing Arts Center, 4484 Peachtree Road, Oglethorpe University, Atlanta. For more information, please call 404-504-1074 or visit www.oglethorpe.edu/arts .

Now don't you know that would be interesting? maybe if I went to see it... I'd finally figure out what it's all about. (I had to read that play a lot in school... traumatic flashbacks are forthcoming...)

And that's it for the weekend. So go do something! Make your weekend count! Good night!

2008-03-04T20:23:00.000-08:00

It seems that I'm going to be out of town this weekend, so I won't be able to attend anything in the area... excuses, excuses! Yeah, yeah, yeah that's what I'm all about... It's a pity because there's a lot of interesting events going on in our area...

There's always a good run going on in Athens. They have more runs than any other town/city! (Not that I'm complaining...)

I thought about doing this race early on in the week, but I have a competing event... but if you're free in the middle of the day, you might check out The 3rd Annual South Jackson Jog 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run on Saturday,March 8, 2008 - in Athens, GA of course. The one miler is at 2:00 PM and the 5K is at 2:30PM

Come join us at South Jackson Elementary School for the 3rd Annual South Jackson Jog 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run. The start/finish is located at South Jackson Elementary School, which is located at 8144 Jefferson Hwy, Athens, GA 30601 (8 miles north of the Loop 10 bypass on US 129 - Jefferson Hwy). Proceeds from the race will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The course is run entirely on paved streets through the countryside around the school. This event is part of the 2008 Run and See Georgia Grand Prix Series.

Fees: $13.00 by 3/1/08, $16.00 afterwards. That's a cheap one! Most of them are more expensive... especially for those of us who like to pay at the last minute.

Online Registration at Active.com closes: 03/06/08 at 11:59 PM

Or if an afternoon race doesn’t suit…

Mar 8, 2008 Inaugural St. James UMC Missions Possible 5K Run/Walk - Watkinsville, GA 5K - 8:30AM Saturday, March 8, 2008 The 5K will begin at 8:30AM. Watkinsville First Baptist Church 1610 Simonton Bridge Road Watkinsville , GA

Come join the Missions Possible Team for the Inaugural Missions Possible 5K Run/Walk to be held at the First Baptist Church in Watkinsville, GA. The church is located at 1610 Simonton Bridge Road, Watkinsville, GA 30677. The host sponsor for the race is St. James UMC.

Fees:
$15.00 by 3/3/08, $20.00 afterwards to race day.
Online Reg. Closes: March 6, 2008 11:59 PM Pacific Time

Event Description:
Pottery awards from Happy Valley Pottery (Oh, I'd love to win some pottery!) will be awarded to Overall Male/Female, Masters Male/Female, and top three Male/Female in age groups beginning 10 and under through 70 and over. Proceeds from the race will benefit the St. James UMC World Missions Outreach. The entire course will be run on paved streets through neighborhoods adjacent to the First Baptist Church. Packet pickup and race day registration will begin at 7:00AM at the Family Life Center of the Watkinsville First Baptist Church.

If only I was going in the right direction, I'd go check out "All in the Timing." Through March 22. 8 p.m. Fridays - Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. A collection of one-acts, by David Ives. Directed by members of the New Artistic Company. Tickets 420; $17 senior citizens and students. OnStage Atlanta, 2597 N. Decatur Road, Decatur. For more information, please call 404-897-1802 or visit www.onstageatlanta.com

I LOVE, LUV, J'ADORE David Ives! So few playwrights are funny on the page. I would be that he's even funny in the phone book. I so need to check out these one acts. Where is my theatre group! It's time to come together Me, Myself, and I!!!!! Maybe next week. Hope springs eternal. People, get your datebooks ready!

I also have an item on the progressive/subversive agenda (my fave!)... The Green Bean Coffeehouse wish list includes a bookclub for impossibly busy people who would read if they felt like it, if the lighting was better, if the temp/barometric pressure... yes, you get the picture. So I've had to come up with my plan for world domination... which can be ignited with the perfect book/short story, whatever. If Hewlett, The Angry Packard cooperates, I'll be able to force the formula on the unwary at some point during this week. And if that mad power grab doesn't fullfull, I'm may start an online book club... torturing the locals probably won't be enough. It'll be necessary to take the pain worldwide! (Unplug your computers now!)

Why do I feel like a wrestler tonight? If you are reading this, I bet I have you in a headlock! Wham! I hope that wasn't me hitting the canvas.... Uh oh, I think the Packard is gaining on me... Good night before... I lose my edge!

The Weekend Wind Up

2008-03-02T20:22:00.000-08:00

And so this marks the official end of the weekend. I didn't get everything done that I wanted/needed to do, but there were a few surprises, so all in all it was a decent weekend.

I'm more than a little sad that I didn't make it to The Odd Couple. I heard it was hilarious. I wanted to go, but I had company and timewise, I couldn't make it work.

Oh well...

On the plus side, I'm a couple pounds heavier due to The Green Bean and Tastes of Georgia. My sister blew into town with her two unruly dogs, so we went for a walk at the dam... first stopping in for fuel at The Green Bean. I had a wonderful blender mocha (insert praiseworthy poem here. Don't people create sonnets, poems to honor... great mochas? The title to one such poem escapes me, but I'm sure thousands exist.... so feel free to insert said work of genius here.) ... and my sister had a regular coffee with three shots of expresso... Plain coffee????? That's just so black and white TV. (Insert static here. TV with no sound. A blank sheet of paper. Tasteless Tofu.... and on and on and on...) On the plus side, the Green Bean did get her overly caffeinated seal of intense approval so in the long run, it's all good.

It was beautiful day down at the Dam. The water was so blue and even the wretched shore line looked fab... It was a windy day, and some enterprising kids were making good use of the weather, flying their kites and they were staying up without much effort. Now that's a great idea... Seeing as March is just beginning, it might be a good time to make use of all of the March winds.

For us, the only sour note was a couple of loose dogs, but then my sister seems to bring them out. There were no dog fights though, so it was a peaceful experience.

Then we went for dinner at Tastes Of Georgia. It was wonderful. We started off with Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Platter, comprised of three different cheeses. I forget all the varieties but I remember goat cheese was one of them. The bread was wonderful and oh, those toasted pecans! Everything was top notch, and after devouring the platter and downing a bowl of chicken/broccoli soup, we were almost too full for the entree, but hey, we managed to pack most of it in.

I went for Chicken Rollatini which was chicken breast stuffed with Proscuitto and Thomasville Tomme cheese paired with Red Mule Grits and the best steamed broccoli. How often do you get excited about steamed broccoli? Not often... apparently only when you go to Tastes Of Georgia. (At my house, it's all about static. Black and White TV, etc. Sometimes I just eat the pictures on the boxes and come out better.)

We finished off the night with three Harbor Sweets chocolates. A perfect way to cap off a sweet evening! And of course there was wine, followed by whine and more wine. I forget the varieties... something about Luna... Alexander... maybe... nah, I forget. It was an interesting evening because our host talked about his favorites, the new wines, what was popular, etc. I really enjoyed that.

For the curious, Tastes Of Georgia is located on the square at 350 East Howell St, Hartwell, GA 30643 and the phone number is 706-376-0953. Their website is www.tastesofgeorgia.com
Their weekly dinner service is on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5pm-8pm.

Check out their upcoming Spring Harvest Dinner which takes place on March 8, 2008
The fixed price dinner is $24. The wine flight $11 for 4 paired wines. Seatings take place from 5PM-8PM and don't fail to make reservations at (706)376-0953

Also bear in mind that they have free wine tastings on Fridays and Saturdays from 4-6PM.

And on Sunday, I subbed a snarky little humor piece. Heh. Enough said. It doesn't pair well with memories of good food, nutritious vegetables.... so, Good night!

Making My List, Checking It Twice...

2008-02-28T19:31:00.000-08:00

The first thing on my to do list is to get tickets for The Odd Couple, now playing at the Hart Community Theatre. I hope it's on yours! I hope to go on Friday, tomorrow that is. (See yesterday's post for the details.) I hope to have many questions answered, the most important being.. Am I an Oscar or a Felix type? I think most of my critics would put me into the Oscar category... Which one are you? Will you truly be able to navigate future challenges without knowing the answer to one of life's most basic questions? And once we decide on our category... what to do then? Clean the house or raid the fridge? Oh just go see the play and surely your angst/confusion will ease.

Before the play starts on Saturday, you might want to take a short drive and check out The 14th Annual Athens Home and Garden Show from 10 AM - 6 PM

I hadn't planned to go to Athens this weekend, but oh, I may have to check this out on Sunday afternoon. (My dance card is full for Saturday.)

It will be at The Classic Center, 300 N. Thomas St., Athens and will present great exhibits and demonstrations of the latest in indoor and outdoor home improvements. A special "Kid's Corner" will include activities, arts and crafts, and other family events to keep them all smiling. Come on out to enjoy this annual event. 2008 ticket prices: $5 adults/$4 seniors/$3 age 3-12/ under 3 free. Parking Fee: $5. 706-357-4444.

I really want to get ahead of the long, hot summer and see what water saving devices are on the market, available for our area. So far I haven't had much luck in finding the plumber of my dreams (anybody interested in the new gadgets) but hope springs eternal. So... maybe this show will be a source of much needed info.

My sister is coming to town so there won't be much on the weekend agenda, but coffee, coffee and more coffee, but I plan to torture her overscheduled self with news of a weekly offering at the Atlanta History Center on Sunday afternoon, Mar 2, 2008 12 PM - 5 PM

Join the Atlanta History Center in celebrating the heritage of Ireland with traditional Irish music performances on multiple instruments; haunting and hilarious Irish songs; Ceili (Kaylee) dancing; and spirited colorful Irish step dancing. This program is free with general admission. For more information, please call 404.814.4116 or visit www.AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.

Admission: This program is free with general admission.
Parking fee: $0
Event Phone: 404-814-4000

She would so be there if the price of gas was a dollar less, if Monday didn't present scheduling difficulties. So... if you're broke, and the gas card is on the coffee table... zoom on up to Atlanta for a few hours!

And what have I been doing lately besides throwing things at my computer? Well tonight I went for a run. It was lackluster, but I made it to 3.1 miles and entered my total into
http://exercise.lbl.gov/index.html;jsessionid=C73234F402D2234D74BBF27E2528C11B

I love that site. It's made me work out so much harder. check it out... Tomorrow! Good night!

Thank You Mozilla

2008-02-28T15:45:00.000-08:00

(FYI, this is Tuesday's blog... that I lost and rewrote on Wednesday, then almost lost again and finally loaded on Thursday. My technological burdens are so heavy... anyway, hopefully today will be a double post. If I can stand my own efficiency, that is...)

Curses! I cannot believe that I failed to mention that The Odd Couple is playing at the Hart County Community Theatre in Hartwell, Ga! Sob, it opened last weekend… and have I bought my tickets yet? No, no, but yes, I’m going to, I promise! I cannot believe that my brain failed me, that it could be such a heel… hmmm… if I’m walking on it, that just might explain its chronic ineffectiveness. But I digress! The point is, the Odd Couple is playing on Depot Street February 22-24, 29 & March 1-2, 2008... So give your heel-brain a wonderfully sadistic workout, RUN over there and get your tickets! I’ve heard that the director is very young, and very talented so it‘ll be interesting to see the play through the eyes of Generation Y.

If you decide to go to see the play on Saturday, you might start your day in Athens, Ga at
The 2008 Inaugural Fred Birchmore Run for Fun 5K/1M in Athens, GA. The 5K is at 3:30PM and the one miler is at 3:00PM. Isn’t that time the greatest? You can watch Conan, sleep late, eat a big breakfast and burn half the calories…

From Active.com:

The race takes place at Sandy Creek Nature Center / North Oconee Greenway
which is located at 205 Old Commerce Road, Athens, GA 30607.

Come celebrate with the legendary Fred Birchmore at the Inaugural Fred Birchmore Run for Fun 5K and 1 Mile. Fred Birchmore, 96 years young, is a world traveler, adventurer, sportsman, author, naturalist, historian, and builder of the Great Wall of Happy Hollow. He has been a member of the Athens Kiwanis Club for 76 years.

The course will run on the North Oconee Greenway on paved surfaces and is flat and fast. Registration will open at 1:30PM at the parking lot for the Allen House, which is located next to Sandy Creek Nature Center.

Fees: $15.00 by 2/15/08, $20.00 afterwards thru race day.
Online Registration Closes: 02/28/08 11:59 PM
Website: http://www.runningintheusa.com/crs

Now doesn't that sound like fun? I think "you" should do it. I have a wayward relative coming through town, so I doubt I'll be able to go.

After the race, head on down to Hartwell, take a polar dip in the rather large… er puddle… formerly known as Lake Hartwell, sigh… and wash off the stink off (who knew endorphins stunk so?! I thought they were a good thing!) BEFORE heading down to Depot Street, to the Odd Couple. (If you skip step 2, er… watch who you sit next to…Just a thought…)

On the industrious side, I subbed a playlet to The Women's Theatre Project. They’re putting together a reading of women's short plays (10 minutes), scenes and monologues to celebrate International Women's Day. The reading will be on Sunday, March 9th in Ft. Lauderdale. FL. This is a meaningless ritual, but hey, at least I got to poke that send button. (Every finger should get its daily workout. I'm a firm believer in that.) And the artistic director sent me a nice, "you go girl" confirmation, so that seemed civilized. I doubt my feeble offering will make the cut, but at least… my brain also got it's aerobic workout! Yeah, I'm sure I was going for that. I hope that’s called fulfillment lol. … Is that related to being full of oneself? I sense a strong connection.

On that out-of-tune note, stay tuned for more great discoveries and blown deadlines… Good night!

Road Trip!

2008-02-24T20:34:00.000-08:00

Now why did I name this blog ReadWriteRun… I mean, I’ve done the running, the writing… but have I done any reading since starting this blog? Well, I’ve read a bit of “The Year Of Living Bibically” by A. J. Jacobs… which I love! But why so silent?

Maybe this newsflash will get me going! A mindless Google search led me to the news that Tracy Chevalier will be at Wordsmiths Books in Decatur on February 28, 2008. I don’t know that Tracy is my favorite author, but I love her writer’s mindset. I got so much out of “Girl With A Pearl Earring” because she showed me how a painter approaches his subject. She’s a combo of how to manual and poet. Or so she was in “Girl…” It’s not like I’ve read anything else of hers, like I’m an expert. Hmmm… perhaps I should rectify that and read Burning Bright. Then I could be a two book expert. “ Burning Bright” is about William Blake, the poet so that should be a beautiful book. As Tracey’s appearance at Wordsmiths will be her only appearance in Georgia, I’d like to see her. I’ll have to seriously consider that….

Sadly I did little this weekend… well, nothing that meets blogging standards. Recycling newspapers generally doesn’t inspire comment. Nor does losing keys and cell phones. Paying bills. Watching Jane Austen… well, maybe that’s borderline. It IS an elevating experience, even if I have seen the mini-series 99,000 times.

I did experience the good life. I dined at Sullivan’s Metro Grill on Main Street in Anderson, SC. You don’t eat at Sullivan’s. You dine. It was wonderful. Salmon, all sorts of cheesecakes, caramel cake… Check it out at http://www.sullivansmetrogrill.com/find_us.html

I started 3 plays so maybe that counts for something… but not for finishing though. Everything just seemed to LOOM… each project went King Kong on me, seeming too big and unruly to tackle on a Sunday night while trying to sort of watch the Oscars (boring!) and Pride And Prejudice (my salvation! Darcy took the bitter aftertaste of the Oscars right out of me! Yeah!). I’ll have to try them again while… House is playing in the background… or maybe another mindless episode of Law and Order. Or CNN and their two minute loop of stories. Oh, how many times I heard the same three tired stories over and over again. Are their writers still on strike? Do they have any writers?

But on a less cynical note: I ate lunch on Saturday at McIntosh’s Coffeehouse. Spinach quiche with potato salad… It was a fine experience. Note to self: go there more often. Just don’t buy the antiques. That could set you back a few bbq sandwiches.

I also checked out the perfumed, sugary air at Donuts on Depot. I went through the door as an inspector, but was immediately sacked (which was filled with incriminating bear claws and cinnamon donuts!) as everything there is so intoxicating… After leaving, I found that my sugar level was 4.0 over the legal limit, and I hadn’t eaten the first pastry! And to make matters worse, I think I was spritzed with candy gas and made to order brownie pie and lemon donuts and… oh, never mind the listing of my sins. I’m not exactly looking for redemption… unless it’s covered in chocolate…. or found within a loaf of apple bread. In fact I was pleased to find that eating apple bread while watching Jane Austen really made me feel the authenticity of the… well, okay it didn’t, but it sure did make me happy. One more note to Self: Don’t forget the importance of apple bread in the diet.

Enough prattle. It’s time for sleep! For visions of sugar plums to dance… Good night!

Now Where Was I?

2008-02-18T21:04:00.000-08:00

Last night I didn’t finish my weekend report due to my inability to win my wrestling match with Hewlett, The Angry Packard. (I’ll spare you the boring blow by blow description of my defeat. Suffice to say there were bruises! All mine. Talk about pathetic. Yes, I‘m still crying.) So… let’s continue with more positive developments/details, whatever :

I did a good bit of stepping out on Saturday. (We won’t discuss Sunday… which uh… oh yeah, that was a day of rest. Woo hoo, what an incredible save!) The back door was swinging all day… first the 5k, then I ran to the last Saturday class at bell, Book, and Candle at the Health and Nutrition Center in Lavonia, Ga on Vickery Street. Sadly the bookstore is going to change ownership and while I’m glad it’s going to stay open, I’m sad that the writer’s club, the Saturday classes, and the book club are all going to be no more. There just wasn’t enough interest.

The last Saturday class was a good one! We tasted different varieties of chocolate and compared and contrasted dark chocolate and milk chocolate. It was the funniest class! You kind of had to be there to appreciate the insanity of eating so much chocolate in such a short period of time… Sorry, I would describe the mouthwatering experience, but you snooze, you lose… so I leave you with only your starved for details imagination.. Which is lacking… chocolate. On the plus side, you weigh 5 pounds less than I do, so go ahead and snicker. What? Did I hear a Snickers bar unwrapping? Am I paranoid? Or just hungry? I could never live in Hungary. What do people do there?

But perhaps I'm going off on an unfunny tangent...

And I ended the night at a pub on the corner of Hull and Hancock. I forget the name of the pub, but it was a great place… quiet. I met a friend and we sat outside in the courtyard and there was a homemade skee ball area where people were competing… and inside a sewing class was meeting, so it’s the sort of place where you can do your own thing. Nice!

And my friend and I decided to create a theatre club. If you want to join, feel free to fill out a ten page application, after which you should be prepared to provide a hair sample… then maybe a urine… on second thought, maybe that last requirement could be omitted... At any rate, we decided to write, sub a play on quilts to a theatre in Kentucky so the theatre club will be a fantastic learning opportunity.

And tonight I went out for a run. 3.5 miles. I was almost Gone With The Wind, but luckily I persevered because frankly, I just didn’t… heh, heh. When I came home, I entered my time at http://exercise.lbl.gov/index.html and I’m currently 1.16 mi from Chavies, KY which is in Perry County fyi. If you don’t know what lbl.gov is then it must be Google time. At any rate, Chavies, Ky isn’t too impressive. Lots of trees, a transfer truck that may have crashed into a chain link fence. (And that’s more drama than is usually found at lbl.gov so consider yourself lucky.)

Okay I’ll end the night with a little bit of info. On Saturday, there’s a race in Flowery Branch. The 1st Annual 5K Racket Run/Walk at 9 a.m.

While meanwhile, on the other side of the creative divide….

In Athens, at The Town and Gown theatre, Glengarry Glen Ross is playing February 22 through February 24, 2008.

And that’s it, folks! Good night!

The Weekend Rolls To A Close

2008-02-17T20:24:00.000-08:00

And it was busy!

My weekend score is at least a C… On Saturday, the back door was swinging all day... I made it to several events. We won't talk about Sunday, which could have been a recovery day.

Somehow I did indeed make it to the St Joe’s Jog 5k! I don’t know how as the morning races are so brutal to the pysche (oh, you should see the bruises!), but bravely, I sallied forth. Without the aid of coffee, nothing stronger than filtered water, I made the journey and only came to a screeching halt 5 minutes before the race started. I had time for a lunge and a half before they waved us off, but my legs didn’t complain so much as I came in 114 out of 153 runners. My time was 34:49.7. Not great, but not so lousy. I can handle that range! I came in fourth in my age group and no. 3 came in two minutes faster, so I’ll have to get better batteries for the next race.

The race was a good one. I would do it again. We started out on Prince Avenue, in front of St. Joseph Catholic School and it wound around the Historic Boulevard area, so there was some nice scenery… and the hills! Oh the hills! Yes, the hills were alive… with the sound of my screaming! I don’t run in Athens very much because I lived there for years and it’s hardly an exotic location, but I should run there more often just so I can torture my heels with their hills. I admit to some traumatic flashbacks because of the killer... hills... that taunted me with their… great, unrelenting height, but even so I kept running and didn’t suffer so much. (It really helps your endurance if you're capable of going 00000.2 miles an hour.) So eventually I quit my sobbing. Especially when the other runners asked me to stop. All those babies in their strollers were getting irritated.

I can’t run next weekend due to relatives coming to town, so I’ll offer up two interesting races that are scheduled for Saturday:

The 5th Annual Barrow Boogie 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run is also on Saturday. The 5K begins at 9:00AM, the 1 Mile at 8:30AM. The start/finish is located at Barrow Elementary School next to the UGA Track and Butts-Mehre Building. The course will run through the UGA campus and adjacent neighborhoods

Fees:
$15.00 by 2/15/08, $18.00 afterwards to race day.

Online Reg. Closes:
February 21, 2008 11:59 PM Pacific Time

The second race takes place on Saturday as well… at the Mall of Georgia. Oh, I want to run and go shopping! I can’t-I can’t-I can’t… Arrrgh!

The Mall of Georgia is located just off I-85 in Buford, GA. The proceeds from the race wil benefit the Children's Miracle Network, Miss Mall of GA Scholarship Fund, and Simon Foundation for Children.

Fees:
$15.00 BY 2/14/08, $20.00 afterwards to race day.

Online Reg. Closes:
February 21, 2008 11:59 PM Pacific Time

The race takes place on paved roads going around The Mall of Georgia. So run to the finish line and keep on going inside... do a little shopping and finish yourself off with some fattening treat. That sounds like heaven! Well okay, maybe it will lead to heaven... but still, what a great way to run!

I had more to report, but Word keeps messing with me and I keep losing my posts! The cyberdog keeps eating my homework! So there will be more tomorrow. Good night!

This And That

2008-02-13T20:21:00.000-08:00

Tonight I was poking around the Internet and I noticed that the theatre at Furman University in Greenville, SC is performing "Proof" by David Auburn. It won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2001 Tony Award for Best Play. I've heard so much about this play... I'd really like to see it and see if it's worthy... I'm mulling it over for the weekend... I'm definitely going to a race in Athens (a non-thinking event so of course that's confirmed...) ... so that'll be a bit of driving... (more mindlessness, so yeah, that's doable...), but it could work out.... er... if... uh, I was up to the content of the play.... I hear it's intellectually rigorous. At the end of the day? Should I see Fool's Gold instead? Can my tired, underachieving brain cells... handle a Pulitzer Prize winner? Time will tell, probably on me. At any rate, for you adventuresome types, the box office phone number isite is: 294-2125 and the website is: http://facweb.furman.edu/%7Erbryson/dramadept/dramadept.html

the times are February 06-09 & 12-16 - 8 PM, matinee February 10 at 3 PM

I think I've already mentioned this before, but A Streetcar Named Desire is playing at Town and Gown Theatre in Athens, Ga this weekend... this is the last weekend, so if you're going to go... For more info, the website is http://townandgownplayers.org/ I just don't think I can do it. I've seen that movie one too many times. Stellllllllllllaaaaaaaaa! I wonder if The Flintstones ever did a parody? Fred would have made a fine Stanley. And Wilma a great Stella. But Blanche? Would Betty have made the cut? I could totally see Barney as one of the poker buddies. Great, now I've channeled the entire movie through my high speed mental Ipod. Traumatic flashbacks included.

And on the depressing, frustrating writer's front... I found two interesting submission... er make that rejection opportunities lol. But on the positive side,, they sound like great reading experiences...

Check out:

"At Sniplits, we're simply crazy about short stories. We think more of them should be published, and we've decided to do something about it. So, we're working furiously toward launching as a new short story publisher. Our goal is to make Sniplits the single best place to find wonderful, short tales for downloading to your MP3 player, cellphone or whatever. We're accepting and reviewing manuscripts now, and we welcome the work of new as well as established authors."
SNIPLITS - Audio short stories to go
Submission Guidelines: www.sniplits.com
Pays: $30 - $150/story

I collect mini mags and this is one I intend to subscribe to... $4 a year! Can't beat it! Snotty, elitest magazines for the underclasses! That's the price of lunch... in 1994!

Check it out:

Inch is the magazine of short poetry and microfiction. We are currently accepting submissions for our Fall 2006 issue.

Poetry: We are looking for smart, complete poems one to nine lines in length. Don't send us a good line or three-- send us a complete poem that bites, resonates, or sleeps with giants. Submit one to five poems with a cover letter. You may include more than one poem per page provided that you insert ample space in between. We do not accept previously published work or simultaneous submissions. Submit your work to Inch because it belongs in our magazine, not because you're desperate to place it somewhere. All rights revert to the author upon publication, though we will occasionally ask if we may reprint poems in our double-sized spectacular issues. Pays three copies. Submissions that include poems longer than nine lines in length will be read and ignored.

Fiction: Flash fiction. Microfiction. Call it what you will; Inch publishes the finest stories of 750 words or less. Submit one to three stories for consideration. Include a cover letter. All rights revert to the author upon publication, though we will occasionally ask if we may reprint fiction in our microfiction bonanza issues. Pays three copies.

Submissions should be addressed to the fiction or poetry editor's attention.

Mail submissions to:
Inch / Bull City Press
1217 Odyssey Dr.
Durham, NC 27713
E-mail submissions are not accepted.

And thus ends another anemic edition of Run-Write... whatever the name of my blog is...

Good Night!

2008-02-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

I went for a glorious run tonight and am in a fine mood! All is right with the world. On behalf of the running world, I offer up two weekend races:

This first one you'll have to travel for, but it must be a good run because every runner seems to have a t-shirt from it. I bet it's one of those glorious, good food/good goodies races. I doubt I'll go but I may have to go look at the description for it (don't have time tonight.) there is nothing better than a well-stocked goodie bag... full of useless junk.

2/16/08
12:00 AMRun the Reagan
Reagan Parkway & Hwy 124
Snellville, GA

And... a Sunday race! I love Sunday races... when they're late in the afternoon, that is. I think this one takes place at Sandy Creek Park. I love running on the greenway. I did a Halloween race there and it was wonderful!

Feb 17, 2008 10th Annual Frog Hop 5K & Tadpole 1 Mile Fun Run - Athens, GA Mail-in Registration Online Registration 5K - 2:30PM

(Details on both are at active.com. I'm running late and can't be bothered tonight!)

Well... after my lousy experience of yesterday, I shouldn't even list a writing opportunity, but why shouldn't I try to ruin yet another day? Yes, I could waste more time! What a concept!

Quay, a literary arts journal, is soliciting submissions in poetry and prose as well as drama through the end of February for our print edition coming out May 1. The editors at Quay are hoping that many of you will have something on your desk that is dying to be sent off - here's the time and the place! The following link explains our submission guidelines.

We are looking forward to reading your work. Please forward this invitation for submissions to any writers you know who are looking for a venue for their work.

Happy Writing,
The Editors of Quay

http://www.quayjournal.org/submit.htm

And although I'm leaving the writing world behind (haha), I think I'll throw my Canadian reader a bone...

Submissions :: Puritan Magazine 3.17.08
The Puritan, Ottawa's Literary Prose Magazine, is accepting submissions for the Spring 2008 issue: fiction and creative non-fiction,500-7500 words. Deadline: March 17, 2008.

And finally, the seriousness is over and done with. Sorry, but tonight's blog does not come with jokes. That would be $9.99, sold seperately. In fact... feel free to insert your own. Anywhere. Just clean up after your're done.

Giving Up Writing For Lent

2008-02-11T20:41:00.000-08:00

Well at least I'm ahead of schedule. And this is important to me, as I'm usually lagging behind.

And I'd like to publicly boo-hiss Bill Gates for my decision. Enough said.

But on a positive note, I'm definitely going to go to a race this weekend.

I am eyeing this...

Saturday, February 16, 2008 at9:00 AM

Come join us for the 9th Annual St. Joe's Jog 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run. The start/finish will be at St. Joseph Catholic School which is located at 134 Prince Avenue, Athens, GA 30601. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Clute Barrow Nelson Children's Center of St. Mary's Hospital and educational programs at St. Joseph's Catholic School.

Additional Information
Pottery awards in the 5K will be presented to Overall Male/Female, Masters Male/Female, and top three Male/Female in age groups beginning 15-19 through 75 and over. The two lower age groups will receive special trohpies. All participants in the 1 mile fun run will receive medals. This race is part of the 2008 Run and See GA Grand Prix Series. Early packet pickup is available on Friday, February 15, 2008 between 11:00AM and 6:00PM. Race day registration and packet pickup will begin at 7:00AM. The entire course will be run on paved streets in the historic Boulevard district of Athens, GA.

Fees:
$18.00 by 2/9/08, $20.00 afterwards to race day.
Online Registration Closes:
02/14/08 11:59 PM
Website:
http://www.runningintheusa.com/crs

The Weekend Report

2008-02-10T20:28:00.000-08:00

And how did you fare? Did you use your time wisely? Do you have dozens of dazzling anecdotes destined to drum up despair down at the.... You and I both must be really glad that I can''t continue that twister! I was never a fan, I admit. Couldn't dance either.

I did accomplish a few things:

1. Went for a run. 3.1 miles.

2. Watched "Music From The Heart" with Meryl Streep. I get points subtracted for watching it on tv... since great chunks of the movie were excised in order to sell shoes, but even so, I managed to enjoy and understand the video.

3. Entered The Binnacle contest! As they get 600 subs on average, I felt like I threw my submission away... and I won't be able to resubmit until May when the winners are announced... but still, I rescued a story snippet from my hard drive, and it was fun to chisel it into a story. The story had to be 150 words, and that was a challenge. First I had 276 words and I was shocked as there was so little story to that... and then I started hacking off limbs, and I made it to 173... then after that, it was a piece of cake. (Angel food--not so much in importance, but low-cal and that's something.) It's interesting working on a story of so few words because one word has to point into 3 directions in order to serve both character and plot. It's an interesting process to change a word and see the interplay between the two open up... just on the strength of a mere word. In one case, I changed his to their, and the story exploded... well, sort of... in a Roman candle, sort of low-key way.

4. I picked out a couple of play contests to enter... then I struggled with headers, footers, and cover pages for way too long. I really despise Word. If I wasn't so aggravated, I'd send WORD to Bill Gates of my irritation, but nah, I think I'll just smack my header with my footer since it dovetails with my interest in yoga... Or would that fall under the header of Taking An Unneccessary Beating? I'll be sure to send my bandaid bill to proper noun Bill.

5. I half-watched Pride and Prejudice on PBS. I was still footering my teetering header, so it kept me from fully engaging with the plot... but even so, I looked up every now and then and enjoyed whatever... what was that, now?. Is that evidence of ADD or multi-tasking? You be the judge!

And so that's that. I give myself a D. And how did you do? Tally your score, and give yourself a beating, if need be. I'll resume listing things to do on Monday.

The Pressure Of The Weekend Intensifies

2008-02-09T23:36:00.000-08:00

And how is your weekend going? Remember, you have one more day to cram it all in, to get out there and do something, one more opportunity to create meaningfull conversation around the water cooler... You know... I have never discussed anything around a water cooler. I get the water, I move on. Am I living right? Is conversation more meaningful around a water source?

I have however uttered/taken in lots of gibberish at the coffeepot. Yes, I am a tongue flutterer.... but then most people seem to be, so maybe that's no huge confession.

So far, I haven't lived up to the weekend challenge. This does not surprise me. I would have attended the wine/cheese pairing lecture... but it was cancelled due to illness... and I should have gone to a race, but I cracked open a case of procrastination instead. I should have blogged Friday, but I watched the second half of "The Family Stone" and spent the rest of the night filling in the first half of the movie. It was exhausting yet oddly exhiliarating.

I did run tonight. I ran like a 98 year old, but oh well, at least that's one stat for the weekend. And hopefully it'll bode well for a race next weekend.

I may sneak off to Anderson on Sunday and see "The Atonement." I wish I could say I was excited about the Oscar movies, about seeing everything that's been nominated, but I keep going down the list... blood, blood, blood, more gore. Does Daniel Day Lewis choose his roles according to how many body parts he's allowed to scatter? And "No Country For Old Men" sounds like a splatter fest too. I think I'll go see Atonement and root for it... if there is an Oscars ceremony. Sigh. Bring the writers back!

There is a 3pm showing of "The Seagull" in Greenville on Sunday, but I doubt I can make that.... real life and all of that. Maybe next time, Anton...

I found an interesting writing opportunity and the deadline is looming... (I did spend some of my Saturday working toward this so, hey, I'm not a total slacker!)

BINNACLE 5TH ANNUAL ULTRA-SHORT CONTEST - Deadline: Feb. 15, 2008. No entry fee. Fiction, Please submit original poetry, short fiction, short short fiction, creative non-fiction, as well as photography and other works of visual art, both color and black and white. 150 Words Max. Poetry, 16 Lines Max. Submit to editor: ummbinnacle@maine.edu Prizes To $150, URL: http://www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/binnacle/ Click on submission guidelines.

The Binnacle will sponsor its Fourth International Ultra-Short Competition in the 2007-2008 academic year. We are looking for poetry of sixteen lines or less and prose works of 150 words or less. All submissions should be made via email to ummbinnacle@maine.edu. Please include the work in the body of the email message, if possible. If you would like to send it via attachment, we prefer ,doc, .txt, or rtf files. A minimum of $300 in cash prizes will be awarded, with a minumum prize of $50. Please submit no more than two works total, prose and/or poetry. When you submit your work, please be sure to include your postal address as well as a thirty-five to fifty word self-description.

There is no submission fee. Deadline for submission is February 15, 2008.) Notifications will be made around May 15, 2008. Because of the volume of submissions, we are not always able to send notifications to all works that have not made the cut. To gain news about the winners and those who will be included in the edition, please keep checking our website. Look especially on the Updates page.

Hey you teens! Here's an opportunity to make some moolah with last week's homework assignment. Dig through your book bag and smooth out the edges of that wadded-up essay, and send it off!

Learning Through History magazine is a bi-monthly history publication for readers in middle thru high school. We are accepting submissions for the Nazi Germany issue through February 20, 2008. Here are just a few of the many topics that would be of interest - we also encourage writers to submit manuscripts and queries on other possible topic(s) that are related to the issue theme.

For this issue, we are interested in articles on the Nazi German state itself versus WWII specific articles (battles, etc.)

The Rise of the Nazi Party, Night of the Long Knives, Reichstag Fire, 1936 Olympics
Nuremberg Laws,The Hitler Youth, Goebbels and the Propaganda Ministry
Hitler's Henchmen (Goring, Himmler) , Lebensraum , The Gestapo
Dachau: The First Concentration Camp , The Munich Agreement, The Anschluss
Kirche, Kinder, Kuchen: Women in Nazi Germany , The End: Third Reich in Ruins

Learning Through History pays $75 per non-fiction articles of 1000-1200 words, plus a complimentary issue in which your work appears. We also accept arts and crafts project submissions. Please see the freelance guidelines section of our website for complete details on how to submit to our magazine at http://www.learningthroughhistory.com/

I had to laugh when I saw this competition. I was able to come up with 3 contenders immediately... that's nothing to brag about, is it? I wasn't going to submit because of the embarassment of being successful... but a) I'll probably fail, which means... er... oh let's not go there... and b) oh why not... what's a little... more humiliation? I would hate to run out of everpresent ooze.

LANDLESS PLAY COMPETITION! "SO BAD, IT'S GOOD!" We are looking for a play to produce in June, 2008, that fits our theme, "So Bad, It's Good." How you interpret this is up to you: Is it the play? The subject of the play? The theme of the play? What the theme is about? The playwright? Etc.? Etc.? If you've got a play in your computer or in the back of a drawer or in the back of your mind and you know it is perfect for Landless (that is, so bad it's good!) then we'd like to see it, read it, and consider it or a full-scale production! And we are talking the best director, actors, and set that no-budget can buy, and a completely mounted late-night show in the Adams-Morgan neighborhood of the Nation's Capital. We will have a distinguished panel of judges: primarily, our fans via voting on our Web site, make the selection. What do we want? Your play, say 45-90 minutes in runtime. Include with it a synopsis of the play, suitable for posting on our Web site (we will ask our fans to read these synopses, along with a short bit of dialogue from your play, and vote on what they'd love to see performed, so make this synopsis appealing), and a little bit about yourself (contact information, biography, etc.) When do we want it? On or before February 14, 2007 (Valentine's Day!). So, if there is some writing to be done, what are you waiting for? Where do we want it? Email to shakespeare@landlesstheatrecompany.org, or contact at this address for other arrangements. What's in it for you? A full-scale production by one of the District of Columbia's premiere professional fringe theater companies, see www.landlesstheatrecompany.org for information. Important Dates: 14 February 2008 Deadline for submission 31 March 2008 Notification of the judges' decision 13 June 2008 So Bad, It's Good World Premiere!

And that's it for Saturday night. Go forth and make something out of your Sunday!

The Weekend Is Here! Start Your Engines!

2008-02-07T19:58:00.000-08:00

Okay now it’s Thursday night, the weekend’s staring us in the face, and friends, it’s time to get serious, to quit yapping about that distant, faraway mirage of a weekend; it's time to make the final decision, to make your reservations despite your reservations (there's just something so wrong about that whole concept) lest you have nothing pretentious to talk about yet again on that always looming, not-really-so-far-away Monday morning.

Now I’m committed to the Shimkets lecture on wine and cheese pairing at bell, Book, and candle in Lavonia, so everything else will have to be, scheduled around that… so… my options are:

1) a race in Athens, Ga:

Come join us for the 23rd Annual Spartan 5K and Spartan Sprint. Come set you PR in the 5K as the last 3/4 mile is all downhill. Arrive early as the 5K participants will be bussed to the start. Packet pickup is at the Tillman Center on the Athens Academy Campus. Athens Academy is located on US 441 between Athens and Watkinsville, GA.
Fees:
$15.00 by 1/31/08, $20.00 afterwards.

Event Description:
Hand painted earthenware awards will be presented to the Overall Male/Female, Masters Male/Female and top three Male/Female in age groups beginning 10 and under through 75 and over.

I could run that and then go to the lecture in Lavonia. Since the lecture will be on wine and cheese pairing, there's a good chance that Exhibit A will be some stinky, exotic French cheese... and that might work well as I try to linger too long in a small room in sweaty clothes… Perhaps I won'tt stand out if there's some Limburger cheese in the house! But with my luck, the cheese of the day will probably be Havarti. And tongues would wag...

So… that "pairing" could be a poor combo. What does go with sweat? More sweat? Perhaps sports and culture (usually involving crowded rooms full of gossipers...) can’t co-exist so easily…

Verdict: I probably won’t do the run based on my poor performance this week… so… my second option is:

Culture! Sitting in a chair! Letting my cell phone go off during the performance! (People like that…) After my lousy run tonight, that sounds like a great way to spend the weekend. (Didn't even make the usual 3.1 miles... barely made it past the Serial Killer motel (just a little joke!), my fave landmark at the beginning of my run... and horror of horrors... I actually... gasp... WALKED! Oh the shame! I have a big ole Scarlet S on my forehead for Slacker, of course.

But enough of my problems. Next up on the list of possibilities is...

In Athens, “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams is playing Feb 8 through Feb 10 & Feb 14 through Feb 17... So I could go next week, and spend this weekend developing the fine art of procrastination, getting in touch with my inner wishy-washy... or I could get with it and actually be able to compare the play to the movie version… Hmmm… Not that I’m dying to do a book report on my weekend, but hey, it's an option, lousy though it be. The website is : http://www.townandgownplayers.org/

Oh and my fave theatre of all time is doing… a rerun! I think I’ve seen this show… This theatre is in downtown Greenville. The website is here: http://www.cafeats.com/main.htm
And… from their website:

What happens to women from all walks of life as they approach middle age, sail through it, and come out fatter on the other side? It may sound like a simple question, but there are NO simple answers. That’s why you should make reservations now to see DESPERATE HOUSEFLIES, a spirited and spunky examination of how our heroines deal with aging . . . or ignore it all together!

Join us Wednesday through Saturday at 6:30 pm for dinner. To make a reservation, call 864/232-2287, or use our handy reservation page.
Performances take place at 8:15, and admission is still only $15.00 per person.

And I probably won’t make that (boo hoo, sob sob), but option 3 is also in Greenville… Check out the website: http://www.warehousetheatre.com/

Well… I’ve never seen this one. This is the last weekend, so would it be sold out? If I had an assistant, I would know this already. If I were serious about going, I bet I would know already. Oh well, read the synopsis along with me, and we’ll all feel enriched. It sounds good though! I might have to look into it. I would like to know if I liked ole Anton. Plus, one of the best plays that I've ever seen was a "stylized contemporary approach" to a realistic play. That is some serious fun. My adventure was with "An Inspector Calls." I saw that play years ago and I still think about it.

From the website:
The Seagull
Anton Chekhov
Directed by Matthew Earnest
Feb. 3, 7-9
Synopsis & Description
This classic play gets a modern makeover. The play is one of the first examples of modern realism in the cannon of dramatic literature…and The Warehouse Theatre will give it a decidedly more stylized contemporary approach. Truly an “event in space” this story of wayward, misplaced love comes alive, as if stepping off the canvas and onto the stage this production reminds the audience of Chekhov’s words, “Please, understand your life.”

Well now there's a few things to mull over. I really hope I do more than talk about it. I'm way too good at that. I should end with a joke and get out of this blog going nowhere, but where are my jokes? I have misplaced my jokes. I hate it when that happens. (Yes, it happens way too much.)

Good night!

2008-02-06T21:17:00.000-08:00

This Friday night at 8 pm, Adam Davis and Brian Carely, two members of the Elberton band Wacko Mazoe will be playing at the Green Bean Coffee Café. If you’d like to preview the show, head over to their My Space page:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=40922851

It’s going to be an acoustic show. And for all you cheapskates, there will be no cover fee…. So save your lunch money for the Green Bean Coffee Café pastries… Yes! You can do the Green Bean Coffee Café on $5 a day! (Sadly, due to the strength of the Euro, Europe is out, but if it’s Tuesday, you must be leaning on the counter, ordering a Java Chip blender with two shots of expresso, dreaming of Prague, and cursing the fact that you left your Czech dictionary at home. Ahoj!) A $3 coffee, a $1 brownie and… er… well maybe some of that psychodelic cereal along the wall, and look at that, you even have enough left over for a lousy tip! And remember... the chair dancing is also free! (The word at the assisted living centers is that it’s one… slow… workout… well actually, only if you limit yourself to chair polka. They say the chair tango is quite invigorating… especially when tempos vary, when too many participants insist on leading, causing feminist-chauvinst power struggles and all of that, and… before you know it’s a ten chair pileup! Yes! Free firewood at the Green Bean Coffee Café! Come on down! Or maybe lots of new coffee stirrers. Okay, okay, even the voices in MY head are begging me to shut up. Sorry.)

Also, if you go to Wacko Mazoe's myspace page, you can hear snippets of songs... so you know... you won't get burned on that exorbitant free cover scam. Then again, maybe the website has the whole song. I don't know, I just won't do the math. Go and time your own selections, please. I’m listening to them now… but I’m not wearing a watch, so no, I repeat, I will not do the math. Sorry! I realize it’s a burning question.

Also, the myspace page is quite informative… the band Wacko Mazoe (And how does one pronounce that? Is it one of those tomato-tomahto faux pas in the making?) needs a drummer! So get your chopsticks out, and start practicing now! You have two days to leave your old life behind, to get your act together! (And read your fortune cookie beforehand, and save yourself some grief.)

But semi-seriously, you can also go to http://www.wackomazoe.com/ for more info. I had to buy shoes tonight and had little time to check it out, so maybe more I'll have even more info. It would be nice to be an expert on something. (but I have shoes!)

Next on the cultural agenda…

The Hart County Community Theatre is going to Chattanooga! On March 5-9, two high school seniors are going to compete in the 59th Annual Southeast Theatre Conference. Sadly this will not be a $5 a day trip… it’s going to cost $5,000, so the theatre has set up an account at Athens First Bank and Trust for anyone who’s willing to contribute to a very worthy cause.

It’s exciting to me, because last October, I opened the Hartwell Sun newspaper and noticed a familiar name… one that I know from online writing sites, Lou Catron. He wrote the play that the theatre performed at the Georgia Theatre conference, the conference where they won several awards. (After you win at the state level, you’re automatically eligible to compete at the regional level.) Lou is a well-known professor and playwright, someone that I’ve “chatted” with via internet message boards for a couple of years. He’s an amazingly nice guy and extremely talented writer. The theatre is going to do another performance of the his one act at some point so I hope I get to see it. When I told him the theatre wanted to perform a trilogy of his and there was one part that was out of print… he actually pulled his personal copy off of his bookshelf, copied it on a busy Saturday morning and suffered through a long line at the post office in order to get to the theatre post haste. That was awesome!

Friends, it is with some regret and much relief that I tell you that ReadWriteRunMania has met its daily quota of consonants. Admittedly there are three leftover vowels, (u, e, and i) and you are welcome to continue the program, if you are willing. Let's see... perhaps you might experiment with a yoga moan? (you know one of those yoga chant thingies...)

Good night!

Your RDA of Infomation For GA-SC

2008-02-05T20:19:00.000-08:00

Friends, tie your shoelaces now! bell, Book and candle (the bookstore in downtown Lavonia, Ga) is hosting Richard Shimkets of Tastes of Georgia on Saturday, at 1:oo pm. The "class" (don't sweat it, there will be no pop test, and recess is guaranteed... but no running in the bookstore, okay?) The hour talk is going to be on wine and food pairing... according to Jean, the owner who frequently wonders... "What beer really goes with Moo Goo Gai Pan? PBR? Guiness? Molson?" (Her joke, not mine... I wish!)

And if you are not familiar with Tastes of Georgia, check it out: http://www.tastesofgeorgia.com

A snippet from their website:
Tastes of Georgia is Hartwell's healthiest restaurant and wine shop, with fresh, biologically-conscious dishes made from artisan breads, fresh cheeses, meats and jams from Georgia that are prepared using only healthy oils, such as olive and canola oil. Best of all, if you find a wine, cheese, bread, or chocolate that you fall in love with, you can take some of it with you!

It should be a real treat to hear Richard talk. Sadly, there will be no wine served, but the good news is that Richard is such an interesting speaker, that we'll feel like we've sampled Havarti cheese, guzzled... er... sipped um... Chablis November 2007? No... better make that Pinot Noir '98 from... uh oh, ladies and gentlemen, this bulletin is interrupted by my general inability to understand/fill in the joke... knowledge is so hard to fake! Guess I'll be taking notes on Saturday...

And please show up. Even if you're still in your jammies and bunny slippers. Nobody will laugh at your pink curlers, I promise, no matter what you choose to roll up... But hey, don't dare show up with your Arbor Mist, tucked under your arm... even I know that much. Hic! On second thought, bring your red neck on down!. (Othewise I'll waste my precious Saturday guzzling PBR with Jean over cold Moo Goo Gai Pan, trying, straining, stuggling to say something nice about beer... what can be said about beer? Aand yes, if you wondered, that is indeed the menu planned for the Apocalypse. No wonder Jean's excited.)

DESPERATE NOTE TO SELF: Before a 3 mile run... do not down a substantial helping of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and consider that your pre-run carb loading or whatever it is you're supoosed to do before running.

Okay, on to the writing opportunities:

3/15/08 DIAGRAM Big Sexy Innovative Fiction Contest Prizes: $1,000, T-shirts, and publication Fee: $5 DIAGRAM $5IFC
648 Crescent NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 nmp (at symbol, you know, the "@") thediagram.com Judge: Kelly Link Notify: Story: We don't make money on this contest (obviously). This contest also has no frills: we can't send out snail mail contest announcements or e-mail announcements of the finalists or winner (though if you submit electronically, you'll get a response). All submissions are read anonymously by an anonymous panel of judges and screeners (different group than last year). This is an ethical contest, so please, close friends or former students of the judge, you're not welcome to enter this time (sorry). All submissions are considered for publication by DIAGRAM. All stories submitted must be unpublished (personal website and blogs excepted). The entry fee per story is $5, paid via paypal or check or cash. This year we will accept submissions via two methods: snail mail (not preferred, but okay if you want to do it): mail the story (w/a removable cover sheet with your contact info & the story title) and a check or cash. Sorry, but we can't notify via SASE. If you want a notification, go for #2: the DIAGRAM submissions manager system: much preferred; this way you will definitely get a response—create an account and submit your story, and this is important, you must choose the genre as "$5 IFC" for your story to be considered; you must also pay the entry fee ($5) through PayPal or via post. Note that you will receive an automated submission acknowledgment via email (it's the boilerplate one we send for regular DIAGRAM submissions, so ignore that part of the e-mail).
http://thediagram.com/contest.html

2008 Submission Guidelines The Sin Cycle For ten years Atlantis Playmakers has produced works from playwrights around the world. In 2008, we are expanding our new works program to include an entire cycle of plays, "The Sin Cycle." Every month begining in January, a new sin or two will be announced as the topic for that month's entries. Each topic will have a specific deadline, but all will follow the guidelines below. Please FOLLOW the guidelines. We receive hundreds and hundreds of scripts each year and unfortunately cannot consider works for this PlayFEST if they don't meet the requirements. Selections - scripts may be selected for readings throughout the winter and spring, and/or for full production in the SAS PlayFEST. A minimum of seven entries will be chosen for the final "Sin Cycle" in the SAS PlayFEST (summer 2008). Please read ALL the guidelines and make sure that your script is topical. Please note, individual themes have specific deadlines. Email entries must be received by midnight on the deadline date. Snail mail entries must be postmarked on the deadline date. "Sin Cycle" topics will be announced on February 1, March 1, April 1 and May 1. Entry deadlines are February 15, March 15, April 15 and May 15 respectively. 1) Actor limit - the SAS PlayFEST is an ensemble piece. As such, we will cast only three men and three women to play all roles in all entries. It is highly recommended that you limit your characters from two to five. 2) Time limit - Submissions must run no more than fifteen minutes long. 3) Set limit - Simple sets are recommended. 4) Submissions MUST be unproduced, staged readings are OK. We define a staged reading to include all of the following: actors on-book, volunteering their tme or receiving a small stipend, no set, no costumes, and the audience does not pay to view the reading. 5) Do not send a bio, resume, quotes from critics or other propaganda. We don't read them. We only read the scripts, and we don't even look at your name until after your script has been selected. Seriously. After we select your script, then we'll want to hear all about you. 6) Selected works MUST have their world premiere at the SAS PlayFEST. 7) All production rights for the plays revert to the playwright after the Festival, Atlantis Playmakers merely has the right to produce the premier. we are not able to offer individual critiques. Unused scripts are recycled. FORMAT: Entries must be typed, and include a cover page with the playwright's name, address, phone, and e-mail. You do not need to use a specific script program. Old fashioned typing is fine. BY MAIL: Please mail hard copy submissions to 4611 Monroe St Hollywood FL 33021 SUBMIT BY EMAIL: Word format ONLY to kdb@AtlantisPlaymakers.com. If we cannot open the file, we simply cannot accept the entry.

There. I think that's enough useless information for the day. Good night!

Current Events in NE Ga and SC

2008-02-04T17:17:00.000-08:00

I hate missing out on weekend events in my area. It happens all the time. I have CIA-like files of running events, local theatrical productions, book-related events, and writing opportunties... everything that I care about, everything that I constantly forget about... until Monday morning, that is. So, in an effort to improve my life, my plan is to note some of the events going on in Northeast Georgia and South Carolina… (I’m a dabbler, and I try to do it all.)

Book Events:

There is a new bookstore, “bell, Book, and candle,” in downtown Lavonia, Georgia on Vickery Street. It’s located inside the Health and Nutrition Center. I’m partial to the store because it’s owned by a friend of mine, but hey, even if I didn’t know Jean, I’d be hanging out at the place. Jean sells new books, used books, candles and other gifts, so check it out.

On Saturday, her new book club met, and we discussed “Garden Spells” by Sarah Addison Allen. (For an in-depth review, look for my comments at Goodreads.com.) I started reading this book reluctantly at 12am Friday night… only because the book club met the following day at 2pm… and I couldn’t put it down. I read until 4:30 in the morning. It was bawdy, it had a oh-my-what’s-going-to-happen-next kind of plot, and say yes to the lovely language! It read like a long poem… Sarah Addison Allen (shorten that name, Missy!) has a gloriously poetic style that oddly enough isn’t obtuse or hard to read. It’s the kind of book that you can read after a hard day at work… when you don’t even feel like reading cereal boxes. Or frozen pizza microwave instructions. And it’s light reading, but it’s a book you can give to a picky, snotty literary fiction type of reader, (me!) and they’ll read it eagerly without complaining (not once!). Sarah Addison Allen (have ya shortened that name yet, Missy?) is the bridge between the Grisham and Pynchon crowd… She's a Can’t we just all get along, Rodney King type of writer… well, okay maybe that’s pushing it, but it is next year's perfect Xmas gift… sadly only 944 days away. But hey, thanks Jean for making me read Allen. I can’t WAIT until her next book… and you know, when that book comes out, I’m going to that book signing! I want to meet the person who has created the world’s most unusual, and insane villains.

So... The book for next month’s book club is Jodi Picoult’s Vanishing Acts.

Okay enough about books. Trees are getting nervous.

Upcoming road races:

Yes, you should consider a 5k. It would be good for your poor unused legs. You can walk ‘em… in some of them, you can give your dog a workout, (although some races don’t encourage man’s best friend to show up. You’ll have to call ahead as the rules are different in each race.). Your kids can run and get a ribbon. Your grandma can run and beat me… It’s a good way to start or end the day. There are races that would probably let you crawl in one…. Er… yeah, come to think of it, I think I’ve done that more than once… I confess I became obsessed last year when a 75 year old whipped past me, finishing about 9 minutes faster than I did. It's amazing how fast humilation grows on you. And how it sticks to you. How it won't come off. How... Okay, never mind.

1) Spartan 5K and Sprint, Athens, Ga 9 a.m. Come join us for the 23rd Annual Spartan 5K and Spartan Sprint. Come set your PR in the 5K as the last 3/4 mile is all downhill. Arrive early as the 5K participants will be bussed to the start. Packet pickup is at the Tillman Center on the Athens Academy Campus. Athens Academy is located on US 441 between Athens and Watkinsville, GA.

Hand painted earthenware awards will be presented to the Overall Male/Female, Masters Male/Female and top three Male/Female in age groups beginning 10 and under through 75 and over. Finish line management by Classic Race Services with complete results online within 24 hours at www.runningintheusa.com, www.active.com, and www.coolrunning.com.
Fees:
$15.00 by 1/31/08, $20.00 afterwards.
Online Registration Closes:
02/07/08 11:59 PM

2) Inaugural 5K Mission Track & 1M Journey Sprint - Monroe, GA- 3:00PM
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Venue: Harmony Baptist Church, 1310 Harmony Church Road, Monroe, GA 30655

Come join us at Harmony Baptist Church for the Inaugural 5K Mission Track and 1 Mile Journey Sprint. The start/finish will be held at Harmony Baptist Church, located just 20 minutes south of Athens, GA at 1310 Harmony Church Road, Monroe, GA 30655. Proceeds from the race will benefit the various mission projects of the church.
Packet pickup and race day registration will be held at the church beginning at 2:00PM. The course will run through the country side of Walton County on paved roads.
Fees:
$15.00 BY 1/31/08, $20.00 afterwards to race day.
Online Registration Closes:
02/07/08 11:59 PM

3) FEBUARY 9, 2008 (Saturday) 3pm ABBEVILLE 8K
Venue: Abbeville Area Rehab & Wellness Center 428 Thomson Circle, Abbeville, SC 29620

Come on down and enjoy the scenic historical views of down town Abbeville. Stay and have dinner in one of the local restaurants or shop in one of the many stores located in the down town area. You can also feel good in knowing that you are helping our community as we are raising money for community wellness programs for children in the area.
Fees:
$15.00 with student ID, $20.00 pre-registration(01/09/08), $25.00 race day registration

For more info and to sign up, go to active.com (That’s where I sign up 90 per cent of the time.)

Okay, enough about races. You weren’t going anyway.

Writing opportunities:

TheatreRats is now accepting submissions for The Fourth Annual Chester Horn Short Play Festival, to be held late Spring/Early Summer 2008. Plays may be any genre, any cast size. Scripts must be 15 pages or less. Submissions must be submitted electronically as Word or PDF files. Limit: 2 submissions per playwright. Due to the high volume of submissions, entries that do not follow these guidelines will not be considered.
International submissions and short musicals are strongly encouraged as well. Please send all submissions electronically to scripts@theatrerats.com. Submission deadline is February 15, 2008.

WAFFLE HOUSE STORIES-- DEADLINE: February 15, 2008 GENRE: Short Stories/Nonfiction DETAILS: Unpublished, short stories 3,000 words or less, must be set inside of waffle house. PRIZE: Publication in anthology. URL: http://www.wafflestories.com EMAIL: wafflestories@gmail.com

The Underground Players are pleased to announce the 1st Annual Longwood Ten-Minute Play Festival. Open to any theme, style and approach, all playwrights (except those affiliated with Longwood University) are invited to submit no more than two scripts.
Here are the details:
Scripts should run no longer than ten minutes.
Stapled copies are fine.
Set and technical requirements should be minimal.
Each script must include author-contact information on its cover page.
Winners will be notified by e-mail and then posted on brierycreekpress.org on or before March 1, 2007. Plays will be produced in late April. Winners will receive a DVD recording of their play.
Please send plays (hard copies only) to the following address by February 16:
Longwood Ten-Minute Play Festival
English Department
Longwood University
Farmville, VA 23909

4) A Call for Submissions... of the Faery Taile Kynde!

CatsCurious Press is looking for humorous fairy tale re-tellings written from ONE POV only... the protagonist's. Story length must be between 5,000 and 10,000 words. Detailed guidelines are at http://www.catscuriouspress.com/guidelines.aspx The deadline is 3/31/2008

And with that, TREES ARE FALLING… RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! Oh dear, I’ve already covered running… Good night!