(How did I make those awesome ransom-style letters? Find out here.)I'm working on a magazine that had a big photo shoot this week. It was downtown near Wall Street, next to all these towering skyscrapers. It made me remember a part of NYC that I overlook -- the vertical part! I can't show a lot from the shoot, but here are some peeks. We shot on an amazing balcony, and this was the Northern view: In the lobby, there was a giant chandelier designed by Phillipe Starck. It was impressive. Also in the lobby: giant mirror, cases full of luxury merchandise, and me, taking a photo and looking like a ghost. (BTW, I use the hipstomatic app to make my iphone photos vintagey -- it's fun.) Happy Friday!
Photo Friday
Photo Friday: The Best of Both Worlds
City life is fun--there are always a ton of parties in the summer. Here I am at the opening of the restaurant Covet with my friends Erin (left) and Kristine (right). Ramona Singer from The Real Housewives of NYC was there, but I missed her! Bummer. Yes, I love the city. But for the Fourth of July, some friends rented a farmhouse we'd been to in the summer of 2008, and I fell in love with the country all over again... Not to be all Miley Cyrus, but it does feel like the best of both worlds. On the drive up, Dave posed with Jacob at Burger King. This makes me laugh: Reading on the front porch (in a swing that rocks. Seriously, like back-and-forth rocks): Playing badminton: Walking to the swimming hole: The swimming hole itself, where I sat on that log and read an ARC of Robin Benway's The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June, though you can't see that I'm trying to hold it up here: On the porch, there was a little baby swallow gearing up to leave its nest and we all watched it throughout the weekend. It felt symbolic or something, and I know it's flown by now! There may have been some fireworks... And perhaps a little light beer pong before bed... Of course, there were also s'mores around the fire pit. I heart summer! What are you guys up to this month? Happy July!
Photo Friday: ALA, DC and Swayze in Shoes
I had a ton of fun doing a panel at ALA last weekend in DC with (from left) Malinda Lo, Margaret Stohl (me) and Kami Garcia! And I made Dave jump in front of the Capital, despite the heat: Swayze, my cat, was wearing my shoes when we got back (should I submit this to lolcats?): Happy Friday!
Photo Friday: Charlotte Sometimes
You guys know I love Charlotte Sometimes. The songs. The voice. The total package. Her new EP is available for free download here. Go get it!My friend Erin and I got to see her show earlier this week, and here's a pic of the three of us (Erin, Charlotte and me). Watch this video for a taste of her awesomeness (this is my favorite song on the new EP), and then go get that EP! PS-We're talking music over on Teen Fiction Cafe too. Come visit! PPS-I'm speaking at the YALSA annual pre-conference in DC today with awesome authors Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl and Malinda Lo! Will report soon. (Say hi if you're coming!)
Photo Fr-Saturday: Dad
So tomorrow is Father's Day, and it's actually the 6th anniversary of my dad's death. Yeah, Father's Day--what a day to go. Time has mostly been healing, and I have the best memories a daughter could have. So bear with me if I ramble for this Photo entry?In the summer, my family always visited to the cemetery in Three Churches, WVA (where Dad is buried today). Here's one of him pointing out gravestones of relatives with me in his arms. Dave once said, "You have a lot of childhood photos in this graveyard." And I said, "Well, sure! It's a family reunion in there." A few weeks ago, I got an email from the office of my dad's college roommate, Ralph Nader. He invited me and Dave to a dinner at Princeton on the weekend of my dad's 55th reunion. Of course, we had to go. We heard Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, speak -- he was the most inspiring person I've ever met in person. Then I snapped a photo with Ralph, who spent a few minutes talking to me and telling me how much he misses Dad. I also got to meet a classmate of my dad's. Oral is blind, and he was blind when he went to Princeton! Talk about gumption. He's a lawyer, and he's also a sweet guy. I teared up a little during a slideshow of old classmate photos where I saw my dad, and Oral must have heard me sniffling. He leaned over and said, "What's wrong?" I told him I'd just seen a picture of my dad. He said, "I can still remember your father's voice." And I thought that was the greatest thing anybody could have said. Thanks, Oral. Here's just one last photo, taken a few years before Dad died. He's aboard his and my mom's last sailboat, "Innisfree." It's a big inspiration for my new book, which is appropriate since it was Dad who was the writer. Happy Father's Day. Hug your dad!
Photo Friday: In My Mind, I'm Gone to Carolina...
My friend Jeff from high school got married over Memorial Day weekend in gorgeous, sunny Chapel Hill. In true Jeff style, the ceremony was at the Old Well -- a central campus landmark. It was beautiful, Stephanie his bride looked gorgeous (and she's smart and funny too!), and the whole thing just gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. Aw, I love high school friends. Nipsy, you did well. Hipstomatic vows shot:
Dave and Silent Sam. Man, I love this campus. (Go Heels!)
Me with Stephanie (is her hair the best you've ever seen or what?):
Two of my best high school friends, Jeff (the groom) and Jed. See, those friendships totally last!
Happy weekend!
Photo Friday: Book Week + Birthday Love!
I am so lame that I didn't have a camera for any BEA or Teen Author Carnival or Books of Wonder events. But I had fun! And here are some pics I stole from other people (hope they don't mind).First, here's part of the "Real Life" panel I was on at the Teen Author Carnival (which was super fun--thanks, Devyn, Mitali and Korianne!). That's, L to R, Jon Skovron, Stephanie Kuehnert, Barry Lyga, Ned Vizzini and Me! (Other fabulous authors not pictured here who were also on the panel: Sarah Mlynowski, Sarah Darer Littman, Lauren Oliver, Amy Brecount White and Courtney Sheinmel. Yay!) Just before the carnival, I got to have lunch with Kristi The Story Siren and Cat from Beyond Elsewhere! There was lots of book talk and bistro food. Yay! I promise next year I'll have a new book to sign! Also, I think I found my youngest fan. Theo picked Violet by Design off the shelf and asked his mom to read it to him. Maybe it's Violet's short skirt? Happy weekend! PS-It's my birthday. Thanks for all the twitter and facebook love! Lurkers, if you want to give me a present, say hi here. I always wonder who's reading this blog. xoxo PPS-Adele! Thank you! I love being the wardrobe and the tornado! PPS-Breaking news. My friend Charles really knows how to make a girl feel special. (That would be with a balloon bouquet that spells out my age... love it!) Thanks, CT!!
Photo Fr-Saturday: Massachusetts!
I didn't get Photo Friday up yesterday, so here it is today. Last weekend Dave and I went to Massachusetts to visit our friends and their new baby. I'm not sure they want me posting baby photos here, so I will just say: baby Eleanor is a BEAUTY! Now here are some photos that don't include her. We went to the amazing deCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA (if you live near here you must go!). We walked around in the sun and hung out with art (that's me and Dave, above, with hearts). Ruby Slippers made of tires! Dave, framed: Eyeball tree! Pinecone army: And we went to Walden Pond for a walk, which made me happy: Also this week: I made candy with a Glee Candy Making Kit! It's sitting on my Jonathan Adler plate that I got when I met him at a brunch. Hope you had a ruby-slipper-and-candy-filled week! Happy Saturday!
Photo Friday: Balloons!
Last weekend, I went out for my friend Anne's birthday. I got her a cake: That was nice, but here's the kicker: There were balloons! Somehow, they turned the evening into a photo shoot... here's Caroline shooting Anne: And Mariel caught in the flash: Me, hamming it up: Erin, almost flying away: We carried them all around Brooklyn and lots of people noticed us (consider this your how-to-meet-a-guy tip: Carry balloons!). I'm just saying: These helium-filled rainbow orbs can make a party. Get some for your next soiree. (Thanks, Marie and Johan!) Oh, and thanks to Nicole for sending me this pic -- her library finally got the Violet books! Yay! Happy weekend!
Photo Friday: One More Time, For Spain!
This will be my last Spain Photo Friday--I promise. But I had to share a few more gallivanting pictures (who knows when I'll take a trip this grand again?!). Plus, Becky gave me her photos so I have more to foist upon you (isn't foist such a weird word)! Here goes (sorry if they're fuzzy--click for clear!).Dreaming at The Alhambra... and on the Balcony of Europe in Nerja: It was too cold for a Carolina girl to swim (boo!)... but not too cold for ice cream (yay!) There were camels in Morocco. I'm not proud of this photo. And there was spinning in Valencia (I love this!): There was by-the-pool time with Dave... and cultural Gaudi time with Becky: There were boys racing up stairs (yes, this still happens after 30)... and I stole someone's wedding petals to use in a Becky-in-front-of-charming-Barcelona-chapel photo. Don't worry, the wedding was over. These were fair game! And through it all, there was... PAELLA!! Thank you for letting me share! PS-A quick plaza-in-Granada video, just because I was so enchanted. Spin with me!