{blurtings of a tired brain}

Yes. Black socks. Sandals. Bermuda shorts. That’s my Dad. And yes, this is the kind of pointless snickering I’m doing, instead of real work. My goodness, I am tired…!

Moving is a kind of relentless process. By the time you’re packed, you’re sick of your possessions. By the time you’re leaving town, you’re both wound up and exhausted at the prospects before you. By the time you’ve gotten the last box into the room where its contents will be eventually unpacked and set into place, you’re listing to the side and much too giddy that you’re IN AT LAST to do much more than find utensils, have a bowl of cereal (did you remember to buy milk??) and go to bed.

Or, if you’re thoroughly abnormal, you go to the library with the house still full of boxes and find a Jasper Fforde book you hadn’t read. You then proceeded to a.) produce something with your new address on it and get your new library card, and then b.) prop your feet ON a box and c.) read until you realize you are giggling at things that aren’t jokes (although with Jasper Fforde, you never know). After that, then you can see about that cereal, after which you just about drown falling asleep in the tub.

Of course, while all of this was ongoing, Tech Boy was busily unpacking the kitchen. I couldn’t help him with that; I saw a MASSIVE spider in there…

Do you get the feeling we’re not going to be unpacked any time really soon? Me, too. One the other hand, I am an ACE at doing laundry, so we’ll look tidy whilst being thoroughly disorganized…

Some points of light to share: Tara Austen Weaver is a writer, editor, and traveler, and I went to grad school with her, which is the least of her claims to fame. She’s the author of The Butcher and the Vegetarian and she is also a darned fine foodie. Some of my best memories of grad school are reading her seamless prose about food and family in Japan, and so I want to assure you that her latest book, TALES FROM HIGH MOUNTAIN is going to be gorgeous. Tara writes about her life in Japan where she lived for five years, and the beautiful people she encountered. The best part? The proceeds from this book go to rebuilding Japan.

Says Tara: “I’m sending the little book I’ve written out into the world. It’s not the full story of my five years in Japan—just the first part (if there is interest, I will continue it). I’m selling it as a fundraiser, to raise money to continue supporting people who have had their lives shattered. A portion of the money will be donated directly to organizations doing work in the earthquake zone, a portion I may use to put in place some morale boosting efforts. There will be more information about that in the next month or so, along with some creative ways you may be able to participate (this could be fun!). They have to do the hard work of rebuilding, but we can cheer them along, remind them of hope and kindness.”

I’ll be sharing this link on all of my blogs. Please click through and look at Tara’s photography and find the link to purchase. TALES FROM HIGH MOUNTAIN is available for Kindle, in .pdf form, and Tara will list it for Nook if anyone is interested. Please pass the word along.

The other love of my heart, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) has recently raised 4.9 million dollars to assure putting a million books into the hot little hands of young readers. I was so crushed when they lost their funding, but Carol Rasco is made of stern stuff, and she and her people really prevailed. It’s an honor to have been a teensy part of this. EVEN COOLER, now RIF and the Kidlitosphere have joined forces to give more books. “Kid Lit Con is establishing a fundraising relationship with Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF) which this year will take the form of encouraging contributions to be credited to KidLitCon. In the future the KidLitCon organizers will be working to establish new and exciting ways to contribute to the work of RIF.” I truly believe that reading is fundamental. Also, fun.

There are boxes calling my name – or calling me names, I can’t quite tell which yet. As Garrison Keillor always says, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”