#book photo challenges by amy

[dragonbadgerbooks]

(Click for Better Quality)

Guess who's baaaaaack~

It's that time where I get back on my bookish banter, which includes picking up Fun Day BPC! I tweaked September, considering some holidays move around, and am excited to see how y'all interpret the prompts!

As always, please interpret the prompts in whatever way you want, the only "rule" is to have a good time!

[leer-reading-lire]

JOMP Book Photo Challenge || January || 12 || What Got You Into Reading

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

[askamydaily]

FINALLY ...

I don't have to care about gender reveal parties.

(The following column runs in newspapers across the country on May 24th, 2024)

Dear Readers: After 21 years writing the “Ask Amy” column, I’m announcing that I’m leaving this space. My final column will run at the end of June.

I’m healthy, happy, and 64-years-old. This is a decision I’ve been wrestling with for over a year.

When I was first hired by the Chicago Tribune to write an advice column after Ann Landers’ death, I was a middle-aged single mother. My daughter Emily and I moved from our long-time home in Washington DC and relocated to Chicago. 

[Emily and Amy, Freeville, NY. Photo by Chris Walker for the Chicago Tribune]

My welcome to Chicago was to deliver a solo performance of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” in front of 35,000 baseball fans during the 7th inning stretch of a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.

This turned out to be a metaphor for my experience writing this column, which has been an exuberant and sometimes nerve-wracking effort of trying to hit the right notes before a huge audience. 

After several great years in Chicago, Emily left for college and I moved back to my tiny hometown of Freeville, NY (pop. 505), to spend time with my sisters, aunts and cousins, and to be with my mother at the end of her life. 

My experiences have mirrored those of many of my readers. For me, these last two decades have been about the intensity and consequences of both love and loss. 

After returning home, I promptly tumbled into a Hallmark Channel plotline, when I fell in love with and quickly married a man I’ve known since childhood (we grew up on neighboring dairy farms). My husband Bruno and I then blundered into the oftentimes awkward blending of our family of five daughters. 

[2008, Freeville, NY]

I became a stepmother, and then a grandmother, all before I believed I was ready. 

My mother and her three wonderful sisters are gone, now. A niece and nephew died, tragically, while in their teens. Much of my recent life has been absorbed by caregiving, mourning, and recovery.

Day in, day out -- over the last two decades – readers have generously shared their own vulnerabilities about many of our common experiences. I’m grateful that we’ve been able to help each other.

I’ve burned through eight laptops, opened bushels of postal mail, written columns in the car, on board planes, in hospital waiting rooms, on my honeymoon, and at my mother’s bedside. During this time, I’ve also written two books, a screenplay, and scores of essays. 

Doing this work has sent me into therapy. It has inspired me to explore the teachings of world religions, and to seek the insight of thinkers like Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung. I’ve quoted the wisdom of Maya Angelou, Joni Mitchell and Fred Rogers -- as well as dozens of poets, social scientists and psychologists. 

I’ve made my share of mistakes, been well-pranked – at least twice (that I know of), and learned how to apologize, ask for forgiveness, and to forgive other people for their own mistakes. Inspired by readers’ dilemmas, I’ve also worked hard to mend fractured family relationships and to be a better friend.

My personal experiences are a reminder that we humans can’t really control what happened before or what happens next. Joy, like grief, comes at you in such unexpected ways. That’s why it is so important to pay attention. I’ve learned to do that.

Being an advice-giver has challenged me to be aware of cultural, social, and relationship trends -- and to appreciate the quirks of human behavior.

When readers get frustrated by my lengthy answers to sometimes petty problems, they will often suggest that I should just tell people to “get a life!,” but I think that wrestling with our questions – from the quotidian to the profound – is living.

For the next month, I’ll continue to publish fresh columns and rerun some favorites. After that, my fantasy is to drive an RV across the country, visiting people I’ve met through this work who have challenged me and tantalized readers with their anonymous requests for advice.

In my hometown, I’m opening a little lending library. You can find me on social media, through my Asking Amy newsletter, at amydickinson.com, or at the Freeville Literary Society on Main Street – talking books with kids and offering advice to anyone who asks.

Love,

Amy

[alwaysxlarrie]

like a dream but i wasn't asleep by @alwaysxlarrie / alwaysxlarrie

General Audiences | Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson | 2.4k

"It's cold outside and Harry just wants to get into his hotel room and go to bed. It should be a simple task, but it’s made more challenging by his complicated relationship with gravity, a booking mixup, and a really hot guy.

Receptionist Amy is the only victim here."

**all pictures used were found on pinterest & google images -- if any of these are your photos & you want direct credit or for me to remove them & use other photos, no worries, just lmk!!**

[magpiefngrl]

July Books

Photo Credit (original): Ed Robertson

Jul 2023

I know I do this bi-monthly but I'm off work with plenty of time in my hands and in a great mood to talk books, so let's do a monthly recap.

In July, I read 10 books, 2 of which filled 2 categories of my Reading Challenge. I didn't read any physical books but I finished a series I began years ago (Checkmate!), for which I'm nothing short of ecstatic. Overall, I'm doing OK as regards my 2023 reading goals.

I've been incredibly thirsty for romance this month: 7 out of the 10 books!

I loved:

Seven Summer Nights by Harper Fox (historical m/m romance) (magical. wrote a rec for it in July's newsletter)

The Lodestar of Ys by Amy Rae Durreson (fantasy m/m romance novella--available FREE) (enjoyed it so much that I'm currently rereading it)

The Scottish Boy by Alex de Campi (historical m/m romance) (used to be a stucky fic. Sexy af)

Not a romance: I really love Tana French's prose. Absolutely adore. I read her second novel, The Likeness, a murder mystery, which was wonderful.

What's next?

Planning to finish my current 650-page literary novel. Though, more likely, I'll read even more romance, which is the way my summer is going :D

[twwpress]

Weekly Press Briefing #71: October 29th to November 4th

Welcome back to the Weekly Press Briefing, where we bring you highlights from The West Wing fandom each week, including new fics, ongoing challenges, and more! This briefing covers all things posted from October 29 - November 4, 2023! Did we miss something? Let us know; you can find our contact info at the bottom of this briefing! 

Challenges/Prompts:

There are no open challenges/prompts that we know of this week. Do you have a challenge or event you’d like us to promote or know of one we’re missing? Be sure to get in touch with us! Contact info is at the bottom of this briefing.

This Week in Canon:

Welcome back to This Week in Canon, where we revisit moments in The West Wing that occurred on these dates during the show’s run.

Season 1, Episode 6: Mr. Willis of Ohio aired on November 3, 1999.

Season 2, Episode 5: And It’s Surely to Their Credit aired on November 1, 2000.

Season 3, Episode 4: On the Day Before aired on October 31, 2001.

Season 4, Episode 6: Game On aired on October 30, 2002.

Season 5, Episode 5: Constituency of One aired on October 29, 2003.

Season 6, Episode 3: Third-Day Story aired on November 3, 2004.

Season 7, Episode 6: The Al Smith Dinner aired on October 30, 2005.

Photos/Videos:

Here’s what was posted from October 29 - November 4:

Allison Janney posted a photo and touching message in memory of Matthew Perry. Amy Landecker posted in memory of Ady Barkan, sharing a photo of herself and Bradely Whitford with Ady and a thoughtful message. 

Bradley Whitord posted a video of himself and Matthew Perry, along with a moving tribute to his late friend. 

Dule Hill posted a video collage of his stay at St. Regis Mexico City with his wife Jazmyn (their first trip in 4 years!).

Josh Malina posted an infographic about a 17-year-old taken hostage by Hamas.

Kim Webster posted a photo of herself and a friend in Halloween costumes. 

Kim Webster posted photos of herself in costume as Jessica Rabbit. 

Marlee Matlin posted a birthday message for Henry Winkler and a photo of herself holding his book. 

Marlee Matlin posted a photo and message in memory of her brother-in-law Dr. Jay Goldstein, who passed away this week. 

Marlee Matlin posted a photo of herself and her “girls” at the National Association of the Deaf Breakthrough Awards. 

Melissa Fitzgerald posted a graphic promoting Dule Hill playing for All Rise on Celebrity Jeopardy on November 2nd. 

Rob Lowe posted a throwback photo of himself as a little kid. 

Donna Moss Daily: October 29 | October 30 | October 31 | November 1 | November 2 | November 3 | November 4

Daily Josh Lyman: October 29 | October 30 | October 31 | November 1 | November 2 | November 3 | November 4

No Context BWhit: October 29 | October 30 | October 31 | November 1 | November 3 | November 4

@twwarchive: October 30 | October 31 

Edits/Artwork:

#thewestwing : wE cHaNgED TiMe zOnEs by @abigailbrtlet [VIDEO EDIT]

Editors’ Choice: 

Sometimes you just need a change. This week, we’re recommending some of our favorite alternate universe fics! There are so many great ones that we had trouble narrowing it down, so be sure to share some you love as well!

darling, so it goes (some things are meant to be) by mikaylawrites | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | “Hey,” Josh says as he approaches his friend, gesturing in the general direction of the stage. “Who is this?” Sam rolls his eyes. “I’m doing well, thank you for asking.” When Josh doesn’t respond, Sam gives him what he wants by responding, “It’s Donna.” “Donna?” “Donna Moss.” The name sounds vaguely familiar, but Josh can’t put his finger on why. “You know, Donna? She and I were on Andy Wyatt’s tour together last fall? She’s the one who said she didn’t believe I could go shot for shot with her at a dive bar after our St. Louis show and ended up having to drag me back to the hotel and put me into bed afterward.” The story of rising country singers Josh Lyman and Donna Moss everybody talks (it started with a whisper) by JessBakesCakes | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress | Being the White House Press Secretary, Josh realizes, is one of the toughest jobs in the administration to begin with. But with her co-workers' propensity for going viral, CJ certainly deserves a raise. (The West Wing, set 20 years later.) Wear the Crown by sam_writes_fics | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress | but some knights are meant to wear the crown. and proving worthy of its power is a noble quest indeed. // royalty/fantasy au yeah, me too by smallandblueandloud | Rated G | C. J. Cregg/Andrea Wyatt/Toby Ziegler | Complete | “Josh, what is it?” He’s got his gaze firmly three inches to the left of her face. “Have you been getting the feeling that something’s going on? Something they’re not telling us?” (or, Toby knows something. CJ and Josh don't. They'll be #19 and 20, eventually.) rewrite an ending or two by jazzjo | Rated G | C.J. Cregg/Andrea Wyatt | Complete|  It didn’t do her well to dwell on the reasons why her mornings were the most peaceful part of her day.  It did her even less good to press on the bruise that was her discomfort at leaving after closing.  or, on a clear day you can see forever, and it's the first clear day in years. i think i missed the gun at the starting line by ansatz for heliotropic | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | "I really wanna win this thing." // After qualifying for the Olympics in 2016, but being unable to compete due to an injury, Donna Moss is back, ready to run, and completely focused on earning a medal for Team Canada. Enter Josh Lyman, reigning Olympic champion with a heart of—you guessed it—gold. Two countries, two sports: one chance to fall in love? Flour Dusted Smiles by JediAnnieScrambler | Rated T | C. J. Cregg/Toby Ziegler | Complete | “Did Sam let you in?” Toby asked, crossing the kitchen. CJ jumped between him and the oven, holding her arms out like a shield, “You can’t look in the oven.” “It’s my oven!” “You weren’t supposed to be here until later!” Butterfly is the Worst Stroke by myrmeraki for dogsbreath | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Sam Seaborn | Complete | A snapshot of swimmer Sam and his increasingly tired boyfriend. Yeah I headcanon butterfly to be Sam's favorite stroke, yeah it's also *the* worst stroke, this does not conflict.

We will be reblogging this post to add this week's fics shortly!

[hallmark-movie-fanatics]

See first photos of 42 new Hallmark Christmas movies (Entertainment Weekly) - Hallmark Channel Part 1

Checkin' it Twice Premieres: Oct. 20, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Kim Matula, Kevin McGarry Contains: Ice sports, new neighbors Official description: "A journeyman hockey player (McGarry) falls for a real estate agent (Matula) in a career crisis when he's traded to her hometown and moves into the cottage in her hockey loving family's backyard."

Where Are You, Christmas? Premieres: Oct. 21, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Lyndsy Fonseca, Michael Rady, Jim O'Heir, Julie Warner Contains: A sprinkle of holiday magic, unexpected consequences, Garry Jerry Lenny Larry Terry Gergich Official description: "Addy (Fonseca) wishes for a year without Christmas and she wakes up in a world of black and white. She must work together with the town mechanic (Rady) to restore Christmas."

Under the Christmas Sky Premieres: Oct. 22, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Jessica Parker Kennedy, Ryan Paevey Contains: A life-altering accident, an out-of-this-world romance Official description: "Kat (Kennedy) is an esteemed astrophysicist, who is scheduled for her first trip into space next year until an accident grounds her.  While on leave, coming to terms with the reality that her dream of being an astronaut is over, she volunteers at the local planetarium.  There, she is paired up with by-the-book David (Paevey) to work on an exhibit opening right before Christmas. Will the stars align to bring these two together at the holidays?"

Christmas By Design  Premieres: Oct. 27, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Rebecca Dalton, Jonathan Keltz Contains: Christmas couture, learning what matters most Official description: "A fashion designer (Dalton) gets accepted into a Christmas challenge to create a new holiday-themed collection and not only finds the inspiration for her next line but decides to redesign her approach to what's most important in life."

Mystic Christmas Premieres: Oct. 28, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Jessy Schram, Chandler Massey, Patti Murin, William R. Moses Contains: Mystic Pizza-adjacent, fish friends, Mystic, Conn.  Official description: "Juniper (Schram) travels to Mystic, Connecticut during the holidays to work at the rehabilitation center and aquarium. She reconnects with Sawyer (Massey), the owner of the pizza shop."

Joyeux Noel Premieres: Oct. 29, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Jaicy Elliot, Brant Daugherty Contains: France, a mysterious artist, an editor and reporter on the case  Official description: "When a romantic painting of a Christmas market captures the imagination of copy editor Lea (Elliot), she is sent to France with pragmatic reporter Mark (Daugherty) to uncover the mystery behind the artist."

Flipping for Christmas Premieres: Nov. 3, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Ashley Newbrough, Marcus Rosner Contains: Real estate agents, a supposedly simple house renovation Official description: "It's almost Christmas when busy realtor Abigail (Newbrough) agrees to help her sister with the 'simple flip' of a recently inherited home. Unfortunately, co-beneficiary Bo (Rosner) has other plans in mind."

Never Been Chris'd Premieres: Nov. 4, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Janel Parrish, Pascal Lamothe-Kipnes, Tyler Hynes Contains: Reunited BFFs, a reignited high school love triangle  Official description: "Home for the holidays, BFFs Naomi (Parrish) and Liz (Lamothe-Kipnes) reconnect with high school crush Chris Silver (Hynes). A complex love triangle forms, forcing them to take stock of their lives and find the value of friendship."

The Santa Summit Premieres: Nov. 5, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Hunter King, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Amy Groening, Stephanie Sy Contains: A Santa convention, chasing down a lost Claus  Official description: "Jordin (King), Ava (Groening) and Stella (Sy) are three best friends who head out for a night on the town to take part in the annual Santa Summit, an event where revelers don Santa suits and visit local spots on the circuit to eat, drink and be merry in true holiday fashion… and set out to find a secret Santa (Hollingsworth) Jordin connected with at the start of the night's festivities."

Everything Christmas Premieres: Nov. 10, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Katherine Barrell, Cindy Busby, Corey Sevier, Matt Wells Contains: Holiday road trip, unforeseen circumstances Official description: "Lori Jo's (Busby) love for Christmas takes her on a road trip to Yuletide Springs with her roommate Tori (Barrell), where Christmas is celebrated year-round, to participate in a longstanding town tradition to honor her late grandmother.  Along the way, the friends meet Carl (Sevier) and Jason (Wells), and the foursome make stops during their journey to enjoy more small-town Christmas attractions. But when a series of events puts a damper on their plans, a little Christmas magic may put this trip back on the right path."

Christmas Island Premieres: Nov. 11, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Rachel Skarsten, Andrew Walker Contains: Inclement weather, a career on the line Official description: "When a snowstorm diverts Kate's (Skarsten) first private flight en route to Switzerland to Christmas Island, she must team up with an air traffic controller (Walker) to secure her dream job as the family's pilot."

A Heidelberg Holiday  Premieres: Nov. 12, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Ginna Claire Mason, Frédéric Brossier  Contains: Germany, a holiday market, getting in touch with one's roots  Official description: "Heidi Heidelberg (Mason) receives the dream opportunity to sell her beautiful, handmade glass ornaments at the prestigious Heidelberg Christmas Market in Germany. While there, she meets Lukas (Brossier), a local artisan who helps her reconnect with her lost heritage."

Navigating Christmas Premieres: Nov. 17, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Chelsea Hobbs, Stephen Huszar Contains: A divorcée, ringing in the holidays on a remote island, a hot lighthouse operator Official description: "Recently divorced Melanie (Hobbs) and her son Jason visit a remote island for Christmas, only to find themselves running a real working lighthouse where she connects with the curt but cute owner (Huszar)."

A Merry Scottish Christmas Premieres: Nov. 18, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Lacey Chabert, Scott Wolf Contains: A Party of Five reunion, a brother-and-sister duo, Scotland, hidden secrets Official description: "When estranged siblings, Lindsay (Chabert) and Brad (Wolf) Morgan travel to Scotland at Christmas to reunite with their mother Jo, a big family secret is revealed."

Holiday Hotline Premieres: Nov. 19, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Emily Tennant, Niall Matter Contains: London, love at first phone call, a secret connection Official description: "After leaving London, Abby (Tennant) connects with an anonymous caller while working at a cooking hotline. The caller is single dad 'John' (Matter) who Abby unknowingly has become smitten with in real life."

Catch Me If You Claus Premieres: Nov. 23, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Italia Ricci, Luke Macfarlane Contains: An ambitious news anchor, a home intruder purporting to be Santa's son, a high-stakes Christmas caper Official description: "Avery Quinn (Ricci) is an aspiring news anchor who's finally getting her big break on her station's Christmas morning newscast. But that's put in jeopardy when she captures an intruder in her home wearing a red suit claiming to be Chris (Macfarlane), Santa's son, who is on his first mission. A night of adventure ensues as they find themselves being pursued by the police as well as some shady characters. Along the way, they connect over living in the shadow of their parents and inspire each other to go after their dreams."

Letters to Santa Premieres: Nov. 24, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Katie Leclerc, Rafael de la Fuente Contains: A wish-granting pen, children of divorce Official description: "When young siblings receive a magic pen from Santa that appears to be granting wishes, they request a Christmas gift they want more than anything – for their separated parents (Leclerc, de la Fuente) to reunite."

Holiday Road Premieres: Nov. 24, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Warren Christie, Sara Canning Contains: Inspired by real events, canceled flights, unexpected allies, holiday road trip Official description: "When bad weather leaves each of them stranded at the airport for the holidays, a tech entrepreneur (Christie), a travel writer (Canning), a devoted mother (Enid-Raye Adams) and her son (Kiefer O'Reilly), a stubborn senior (Trevor Lerner), an enigmatic woman with a hint of mystery (Brittany Willacy), a couple traveling from Beijing (Sharon Crandall, Ryan Mah) and a social media influencer (Princess Davis) all agree to rent a shared van to embark on a road trip to Denver. When their unexpected journey brings them into uncharted territory, they navigate a series of misadventures together and form a deeper bond that just might change the trajectories of each of their lives. Inspired by true events."

Christmas in Notting Hill Premieres: Nov. 25, 6 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Sarah Ramos, William Moseley  Contains: Haddie Braverman and Peter Pevensie, London, a famous footballer, an American on holiday  Official description: "Famous soccer star, Graham Savoy (Moseley), has always been too busy for love, but when he comes home to Notting Hill for Christmas, he changes his mind after meeting Georgia (Ramos) – a visiting American and the one person who has no idea who he is."

Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up Premieres: Nov. 25, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, Stephen Tobolowsky, Melissa Peterman, Ellen Travolta, Seth Morris, Jennifer Aspen Contains: A sequel, new neighbors, lots and lots of holiday decorations Official description: "As the holidays approach, Emily (Chabert) and Jared (Brown) are looking forward to celebrating the holidays together again, this time as a couple. Emily, now embracing Evergreen Lane's uniquely festive spirit, is ready to work with Jared, Ned (Tobolowsky), Mary Louise (Travolta) and Pamela (Peterman) to make this year's Christmas celebrations the best yet – even if being the HOA president's girlfriend doesn't stop those dreaded decorating citations.  When a house on the block goes up for sale, it causes quite a stir with residents.  When the soon-to-be neighbors turn out to be holiday royalty (Morris, Aspen), it looks like this year's competition is about to heat up. As the welcoming committee prepares for the new arrivals, only one thing is certain – this Christmas, Evergreen Lane is going to sleigh!"

Our Christmas Mural Premieres: Nov. 26, 6 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Alex Paxton-Beesley, Dan Jeannotte Contains: Home for the holidays, single mother, a holiday art contest Official description: "Olivia (Paxton-Beesley) is a single mom who returns home for Christmas. Her mom secretly enters her into a mural contest; she wins but partners with teacher Will (Jeannotte) to create a Christmas masterpiece."

A Biltmore Christmas Premieres: Nov. 26, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Bethany Joy Lenz, Kristoffer Polaha, Jonathan Frakes, Robert Picardo Contains: Star Trek and One Tree Hill stars, the Biltmore Estate, a screenwriter penning a classic holiday film reboot, time travel, a 1940s film star, a time paradox Official description: "Lucy Hardgrove (Lenz) is a screenwriter who lands the job of a lifetime when she's hired to pen the script for a remake of the beloved, holiday movie classic, His Merry Wife!, which was filmed in 1947 at the beautiful, historic Biltmore House. When the head of the studio isn't satisfied with the ending Lucy wrote because it deviates from the original's feel-good conclusion, he sends Lucy to Biltmore Estate for research and inspiration. While there, she unwittingly discovers the ability to travel to the 1947 set of His Merry Wife! through the help of an hourglass. While on set, she and Jack Huston (Polaha), one of the film's stars, spend time together and become close. But her sudden appearance has set off a chain of events that put the production in jeopardy. Before she can return to the present, Lucy must make things right or threaten to alter the future forever."

My Norwegian Holiday Premieres: Dec. 1, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Rhiannon Fish, David Elsendoorn Contains: Christmas in Norway, a mysterious connection, troll history Official description: "JJ (Fish), grieving the loss of her grandmother and seeking dissertation inspiration, stumbles upon an unexpected holiday destiny. Meeting Henrik (Elsendoorn), a Norwegian from Bergen, their connection deepens when he discovers she has a troll figurine from his hometown. To explore the troll's history and her grandmother's ties, JJ agrees to join Henrik on a journey to Norway. In Bergen, they're drawn into Henrik's family Christmas and wedding traditions, with his sister's wedding the day before Christmas Eve. JJ embarks on a holiday adventure, uncovering the troll's origins and finding her own path to healing, love and family."

A Not So Royal Christmas Premieres: Dec. 2, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Brooke D'Orsay, Will Kemp Contains: A journalist tracking down a story, a hidden identity, missing royalty Official description: "Tabloid journalist Charlotte (D'Orsay) attempts to land an interview with a reclusive Count. In response, the royal family has a groundskeeper (Kemp) pose as the Count since the real one fled years ago."

Christmas With a Kiss (working title) Premieres: Dec. 3, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Mishael Morgan, Ronnie Rowe Jr., and Jaime M. Callica Contains: Home for the holidays, a family-run Christmas carnival Official description: "A Mahogany presentation. A woman (Morgan) returns home to help with her family's Christmas Carnival and romance ignites. A photojournalist (Rowe) curates a surprise reunion."

Magic in Mistletoe Premieres: Dec. 8, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Lyndie Greenwood, Paul Campbell Contains: A curmudgeonly author who sparks backlash online, his well-meaning publicist, and a Christmas festival  Official description: "Harrington (Campbell) is the author of a popular book series but commercial success has left him a bitter recluse. As he returns to his hometown for an annual Christmas festival celebrating his books, he's joined by April (Greenwood), a publicist for the major publishing house he works with.  April is there for damage control after Harrington's recent comments on social media have ruffled some feathers. But as she gets to know him better, hope springs that April can unlock Harrington's guarded heart and help him rediscover the spirit of the holiday."

Christmas on Cherry Lane Premieres: Dec. 9, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel Cast: Catherine Bell, Jonathan Bennett, John Brotherton, Erin Cahill, James Denton, Vincent Rodriguez III Contains: Aaron Samuels, a neighborhood coming together for the holidays Official description: "A young couple preparing to welcome their first child (Brotherton, Cahill); an empty-nester (Bell) and her fiancé (Denton) ready to start a new chapter; and a couple (Bennett, Rodgriquez III) who unexpectedly have the chance to expand their family on Christmas Eve celebrate the holiday as they navigate these turning points in their lives."

Click these links for more, ew.com, today.com, tvinsider.com

[lightswings]

luna • lux et lex

updated september 22, 2024

hey studyblr, i’m luna. with september starting, i thought now is as good a time as any to set up my blog for studyblr posting. it’s nice to meet you and i look forward to working hard together.

about me:

luna: twenty-six years old (november 11), based in canada

law student: third year, business law focus with particular interest in corporate, entertainment, and multi-residential housing

languages: arabic (intermediate), japanese (intermediate), latin (beginner), french (beginner)

about this blog:

mostly runs on a queue that posts five times a day

studyblr: periodic updates, thoughts and reflections on what i’m learning, and possibly some study challenges

topics: ancient civilizations, art, architecture, books, philosophy, photography, social justice

looking for more blogs to follow: active studyblr blogs (especially law students), original photographers (especially academia aesthetics, architecture, art, and café), non-fiction readers who post about their reading (especially ancient civilizations, ethics, law, and philosophy) - if this is you, please like or reply to this post and i’ll check out your blog

first: vincent van gogh. second: amy friend. third: unknown (ancient art from japan). photos are mine.

[jcmarchi]

The MIT Press announces Grant Program for Diverse Voices recipients for 2024

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/the-mit-press-announces-grant-program-for-diverse-voices-recipients-for-2024/

The MIT Press announces Grant Program for Diverse Voices recipients for 2024

Launched in 2021, the Grant Program for Diverse Voices from the MIT Press provides direct support for new work by authors who bring excluded or chronically underrepresented perspectives to the fields in which the press publishes, which include the sciences, arts, and humanities.

Recipients are selected after submitting a book proposal and completing a successful peer review. Grants can support a variety of needs, including research travel, copyright permission fees, parental/family care, developmental editing, and other costs associated with the research and writing process. 

For 2024, the press will support five projects, including “Our Own Language: The Power of Kreyòl and Other Native Languages for Liberation and Justice in Haiti and Beyond,” by MIT professor of linguistics Michel DeGraff. The book will provide a much-needed reassessment of what learning might look like in Kreyòl-based, as opposed to French-language, classrooms in Haiti. 

Additionally, Kimberly Juanita Brown has been selected for “Black Elegies,” which will be the second book in the “On Seeing” series, which is published in simultaneous print and expanded digital formats. Brown says, “I am thrilled to be a recipient of the Grant Program for Diverse Voices. This award is an investment in the work that we do; work that responds to sites of inquiry that deserve illumination.”

“The recipients of this year’s grant program have produced exceptional proposals that surface new ideas, voices, and perspectives within their respective fields,” says Amy Brand, director and publisher, the MIT Press. “We are proud to lend our support and look forward to publishing these works in the near future.”

Recipients for 2024 include: 

“Black Elegies,” by Kimberly Juanita Brown

“Black Elegies” explores the art of mourning in contemporary cultural productions. Structured around the sensorial, the book moves through sight, sound, and touch in order to complicate what Okwui Enwezor calls the “national emergency of black grief.” Using fiction, photography, music, film, and poetry, “Black Elegies” delves into explorations of mourning that take into account the multiple losses sustained by black subjects, from forced migration and enslavement to bodily violations, imprisonment, and death. “Black Elegies” is in the “On Seeing” series and will be published in collaboration with Brown University Digital Publications.

Kimberly Juanita Brown is the inaugural director of the Institute for Black Intellectual and Cultural Life at Dartmouth College, where she is also an associate professor of English and creative writing. She is the author of “The Repeating Body: Slavery’s Visual Resonance in the Contemporary” and “Mortevivum.”

“Our Own Language: The Power of Kreyòl and Other Native Languages for Liberation and Justice in Haiti and Beyond,” by Michel DeGraff

Kreyòl is the only language spoken by all Haitians in Haiti. Yet, most schoolchildren in Haiti are still being taught with manuals written in a language they do not speak — French. DeGraff challenges and corrects the assumptions and errors in the linguistics discipline that regard Creole languages as inferior, and puts forth what learning might look like in Kreyòl-based classrooms in Haiti. Published in a dual-language edition,“Our Own Language” will use Haiti and Kreyòl as a case study of linguistic and educational justice for human rights, liberation, sovereignty, and nation building.

Michel DeGraff is an MIT professor of linguistics, co-founder and co-director of the MIT-Haiti Initiative, founding member of Akademi Kreyòl Ayisyen, and in 2022 was named a fellow of the Linguistic Society of America. 

“Glitchy Vision: A Feminist History of the Social Photo,” by Amanda K. Greene

“Glitchy Vision” examines how new photographic social media cultures can change human bodies through the glitches they introduce into quotidian habits of feeling and seeing. Focusing on glitchiness provides new, needed vantages on the familiar by troubling the typical trajectories of bodies and technologies. Greene’s research operates at the nexus of visual culture, digital studies, and the health humanities, attending especially to the relationship between new media and chronic pain and vulnerability. Shining a light on an underserved area of analysis, her scholarship focuses on how illness, pain, and disability are encountered and “read” in everyday life.

Amanda Greene is a researcher at the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan.

“Data by Design: A Counterhistory of Data Visualization, 1789-1900,” by Silas Munro, et al.

“Data by Design: A Counterhistory of Data Visualization, 1789-1900” excavates the hidden history of data visualization through evocative argument and bold visual detail. Developed by the project team of Lauren F. Klein with Tanvi Sharma, Jay Varner, Nicholas Yang, Dan Jutan, Jianing Fu, Anna Mola, Zhou Fang, Marguerite Adams, Shiyao Li, Yang Li, and Silas Munro, “Data by Design” is both an interactive website and a lavishly illustrated book expertly adapted for print by Munro. The project interweaves cultural-critical analyses of historical visualization examples, culled from archival research, with new visualizations. 

Silas Munro is founder of the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color)-owned graphic design studio Polymode, based in Los Angeles and Raleigh, North Carolina. Munro is faculty co-chair for the Museum of Fine Arts Program in Graphic Design at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

“Attention is Discovery: The Life and Work of Henrietta Leavitt,” by Anna Von Mertens

“Attention is Discovery” is a layered portrait of Henrietta Leavitt, the woman who laid the foundation for modern cosmology. Through her attentive study of the two-dimensional surface of thousands of glass plates, Leavitt revealed a way to calculate the distance to faraway stars and envision a previously inconceivable three-dimensional universe. In this compelling story of an underrecognized female scientist, Leavitt’s achievement, long subsumed under the headlining work of Edwin Hubble, receives its due spotlight. 

Anna Von Mertens received her MFA from the California College of the Arts and her BA from Brown University.

[timetravelauthor]

New priorities for a new year

The road ahead looks different now. Three weeks into retirement, it looks more like Nevada's Route 50, the "loneliest road in America," than a busy thoroughfare dotted with attractions and billboards.

Even so, it is not empty. It's more like a path that offers new opportunities for an author who loves challenges and a change of pace. Fresh from an enjoyable nine-day vacation in Puerto Rico, I am already mapping out the possibilities for a productive 2024.

My first order of business, of course, is to start a new series. With the Carpenters and the Second Chance triology in my rear-view mirror, I am now focused on new characters and storylines. In fact, I have already begun outlining a time-travel series where two orphaned brothers, moved by their grandfather's deathbed confession, begin a life-changing journey to the 1770s and the Philadelphia of America's founders.

If that theme sounds familiar, it should. In my next project, I will borrow from The Fire, Class of '59, The Lane Betrayal, Duties and Dreams, and other works in creating a trilogy that will blend old and new. In doing so, I will delve into the American Revolution for the first time.

I intend to research the period through the winter and begin writing in April. I hope to have the first book in the series out by the fall.

I also hope to convert at least two more books to audio in 2024, including The Refuge, which should be out sometime next month. With the release of that title, narrated by Roberto Scarlato, nineteen of my twenty-three novels will be available as audiobooks.

Though I will not be as driven to sell books as in past years, I will not neglect the business side of things either. I passed the 800,000 lifetime sales mark on Amazon in December 2023 and hope to hit the million mark before putting my MacBook Air out to pasture.

I should note, of course, that Amazon counts free and discounted books as "sales," which is why I am still writing and not building matching bungalows on Bora Bora, but the seven-figure-sale milestone is still important. It represents one of the few remaining objectives I want to reach in a career that began as a hobby a dozen years ago.

Beyond writing, I hope to do more traveling and reading in the coming year. Trips to Florida, the Pacific Northwest, and possibly the wine country of Northern California loom. So do more examinations of the framers. Walter Isaacson's Ben Franklin is my next read, followed by David McCullough's John Adams, a book I read years ago.

I am also going to keep an open mind toward getting a dog. Spending quality time with "Backup," my daughter Amy's lovable lab-pit mix, in Puerto Rico has prompted me to explore the notion again. In the meantime, I will find useful ways to use my newfound time.

I hope the holidays have been good to you and yours and wish you the best in whatever you take on in the coming year!

Photo: With "Backup," in Carolina, Puerto Rico, on New Year's Eve.

[thatmissquin]

2023 was a year of major change for me. at the beginning of it my husband was finishing up a month long stay at the cancer Institute and undergoing some potentially fatal treatment I am grateful he made it home safe to me and our pets, Gideon and Tink. due to sky high costs of the medical treatment even with help from precious people through our gofundme we had to downsize majorly on our home to a much smaller place. my husband's healing from treatment turned into another disaster by developing graft vs host disease which I was surprised could happen since he was given his own stem cells back to him but bodies can be strange. we found some medication combinations that work and also take their toll but for now it's manageable. we suffered loss of loved ones this year as well. our dear cat Tink had a freak brain tumor and passed away with myself, my husband and Gideon around her. she knew she was loved and for 6 years she completed our little family. loved relatives and friendships passed on. life moves on and relationships shift. I was able to heal in my own ways this year .I conquered my fear of driving and got my license a month before turning 35 (never too late!) and that's give me a lot more freedom to rely on myself and spend time with Gideon around town as evidence by all of our photos together this year. I was able to attend my first Heilung ritual with my girlfriend Ami Mercury it was a powerful experience I am still reeling from months after. some day I do hope to see them at red rocks venue. I let myself enjoy hobbies more and reacquainted myself with comic books (Deadpool and Ironman) and my first video game play since 2005. I'm sure you've noticed around my social media accounts that I'm trapped under the massive rock that is Baldur's gate 3. so much fun and so impressive. video games sure have come a long way!! overall I'm making healthier choices for myself and intend to keep doing so in 2024. I appreciate each and every one of you who have stuck by me over the years despite transitions and challenges and cannot wait to see what the future holds for us all.

[dragonbadgerbooks]

I don't know about you, friends, but I had a lot of fun with August's Fun Day Book Photo Challenge and loved seeing y'all's take on the prompts! Since the besties (you're my besties now, btw) said they want to continue, let's continue the Fun Day prompts into September!

As always, you can participate as much or as little as you'd like and you can interpret the prompts however you want! Tag your posts with "FunDayBPC," "FDBPC," and "DragonBadgerChallenge" and feel free to tag me in the post as well! I will usually reblog the posts within a day, so please let me know if I don't reblog your post within a couple of days!

Excited to keep this trend going!

[pitchperfect-4]

Pitch Perfect 4: When Will the sequel to the movie be released?

The film was created by Kay Cannon and is based on the popular non-fiction book Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate a Cappella Glory by Mickey Rapkin. Pitch Perfect was released in 2012 and became an instant hit.

After the movie premiere in the cinema, fans were enthralled by the musical drama created by Kay Cannon. The film was released in three parts over time, and now, everyone eagerly awaits Pitch Perfect 4.

The last blockbuster movie released four years ago is still a big hit. Musical college drama first released its part in the past decade, and it has been almost a decade since this musical movie became a blockbuster hit Pitch Perfect 4.

The film is a hit with both the audience and critics. All these factors make people wonder if the movie will have a fourth part. This article is for those who are eagerly awaiting the fourth part. Read this article until the end for all the latest information about the movie.

Does Pitch Perfect Season 4 get renewed or not?

Pitch Perfect is the story of an all-girl college group chasing their dream of winning a national championship. The other film stars are Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Adam DeVine, and Brittany Snow.

The first part was released over a decade before, and it gained massive popularity with the public. The film's potential was realized over time, and two sequels were released.

The fans began to question whether or not there would be a fourth part. The official statement about the future has made them challenge the possibility, even though the ending was satisfactory.

The cast has hinted at Pitch Perfect 4 on several occasions. In an interview, Anna Kendrick confirmed that she would return in the fourth installment if one were to happen. She expressed her desire to appear in the film.

The showrunners are yet to confirm if there will be a Pitch Perfect 4. Fans have speculated about the show and the storyline of the girls who left the previous time on a sour note.

Fans are still eager to know more about these girls' lives after nearly four years of the famous Musical comedy film.

When Wilson appeared on the famous Ellen DeGeneres Show and was asked if she would be in another film, Wilson replied, "I can't tell you anything officially, Ellen."

She continued, "But all the girls love each other."

The movie series is likely to return.

When will Pitch Perfect season 4 be released?

Fans of the film series are speculating about the release date of the fourth season. The cast of Pitch Perfect uploaded a new photo on Instagram. They seemed to be enthralled by it. It's a good idea to keep an eye out for the fourth movie, but is this confirmed?

As of yet, there has been no official announcement on the subject. Officials have yet to confirm if there will be a second season of the film series.

Rebel Wilson shared a photo that included Brittany Snow and Anna Camp. The picture may seem simple to an average person, but Pitch Perfect fans have a different opinion. All the actresses holding their hands in fours is a great way to get people thinking about "Pitch Perfect 4".

Officers have yet to announce any official remake. The cast, on the other hand, was shady. We will let you know as soon as we have the answers.

The next part of the movie will happen either in 2023 or 2024.

Pitch Perfect 4 Cast - Who will return?

There is still no information on the cast for the fourth season. The Pitch Perfect television series tells the story of four young girls and their struggles. Anna Kendrick plays Beca in the series; Rebel Wilson is Fat Amy, Brittany Snow is Chloe, and Anna Camp is Aubrey. Hailee Steinfeld is Emily, Hana-Mae Lee, Lilly, and Ester Dean are Cynthia.

There is the film may bring new Bellas to the public. There is currently no confirmation on the cast. We will keep you informed as soon as we have more information.

Pitch Perfect 4, Plot: What will it be about?

After three years, Bellas is seen leaving. We found out that we could win a place with DJ Khaled.

DJ Khaled, however, was not pleased with Bellas. He wanted Beca there. We can see that the story ended perfectly for every character. Fans were happy to hear that the third part of this movie brought a satisfying conclusion for each character.

The fourth film part has a lot of twists and turns. It has to go around the world. There is still no official confirmation of what will happen in the next part, but we know it will be new.

Anna Camp revealed her next film idea in an interview. She told Collider she wanted to act in retirement homes until they were old.

She added: "Does Fat Amy Have Kids?" Fat Amy and Bumper are a couple? What would it be like to discover what happened to these characters in five years?

Does the movie have an official trailer?

There is a high chance that the fourth reason will happen. However, those eagerly awaiting the latest Pitch Perfect Season 4 updates must wait. Watch the trailer of the third part to find out all the latest updates.

The conclusion of the article is:

The movie pitch perfect has not been updated yet for Season 4. There is no official announcement from the producers regarding the renewal of this movie. Without an official statement, a release date cannot be confirmed.

[bewitchingbooktours]

Cranberry Cake Recipe with Hollie Smurthwaite - Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza

The Color of Trauma

The Psychic Colors Series

Book One

Hollie Smurthwaite

Genre:  Paranormal Romantic Suspense, PNR

Publisher: Hollie Smurthwaite

Date of Publication:  August 30, 2021

ISBN:978-1737118916

ASIN: B09B2QWV52

Number of pages:  358

Word Count: 95,000 words

Cover Artist: Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations

Book Description:

Experiencing another's past could end her future . . .

Kiera Brayleigh is a memory surgeon. In the ten years since her “gift” manifested, she’s helped dozens of women deal with trauma by removing their horrific memories—burns, rapes, tortures.  It pays well, but she holds those moments, making her a fiery mess. The bizarre request from a Chicago homicide detective is the last thing she needs.

Detective Dean Matthson is burdened with an uncanny ability to get inside the minds of criminals. In a dead-end hunt to capture a serial killer, he risks his hard-earned reputation by doing the unthinkable: recruiting a memory surgeon to probe the mind of a comatose victim.  

Kiera might appreciate the cop’s dimples and his commitment to the job, but only an idiot would agree to experience a rape-murder victim’s last memories. Kiera, it turns out, is that idiot. Dean’s dedication and calming presence challenge Kiera’s distrustful nature, and she finds herself falling for Dean even as he struggles with his own demons. 

Can two broken people find love? 

When the killer discovers Kiera’s on the case, he realizes she is exactly what he needs to relive his kills. Dean and the killer both close in on their targets, and it becomes a race to catch the monster before he catches Kiera.

The Color of Trauma is a thought-provoking paranormal romantic suspense novel with an unconventional heroine, dark themes, and psychological drama.

Amazon      Kobo      BN      Indiebound

“I’m not sure how much Ms. Morten has shared with you, but—”

Kiera lifted a finger; thankfully, her index. “Dr. Patty told us you had questions about memory reading as it might apply to one of your cases. Read memories aren’t admissible in court. You’re wasting your time.”

“I don’t need evidence like that,” Dean said, deciding not to point out that Patty hadn’t graduated yet and wasn’t, technically, a doctor.

“Whew,” the blond he didn’t recognize said. “It’s one of the frustrating things about what we do.” The memory surgeons all winced when she spoke, though the blond didn’t appear to notice.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

She beamed. “Amy Carter.”

“Do you mind telling me what’s your specialty?”

“Bitching and complaining,” Kiera replied in a tight voice.

Amy’s lips compressed, but she didn’t say anything. Was Kiera the group’s bully? Was that how she controlled the narrative? Everyone looked to her, even Patty.

Kiera sighed. “Dr. Schwartz is the expert in the field. Look into his research. Gilfoile and Roberts are hacks, and the rest don’t know shit but still want to capitalize on the memory-surgeon thing.”

He wrote down “Schwartz” in his notebook, surprised at her generosity. “Thank you.”

She stared at him with those blue eyes that didn’t blink enough. “That all?”

“Not quite.”

“Yeah, I figured.” She shook her head. “They don’t fully understand how memory works, so it’s going to be a while before they figure out how we’re able to access people’s memories and how they can be removed and kept in someone else’s mind. We can’t help you with the science stuff.”

“I’m more interested in how it works from a practical standpoint.” He directed his questions at everyone else, but the only one looking directly at him was Kiera. Fine. If he won her over, the others would follow. “I’m trying to ascertain what you can and can’t do.”

“Why?”

No time to finesse. With his attention still on Kiera, he handed Brittany Kolchek’s picture to Ramon and asked him to look and pass it on.

“I’ve never seen her before,” Ramon said. “Is she missing?”

Dean waited until everyone had viewed the photo, because he didn’t want to give them the opportunity to refuse.

Beth looked last, and she studied Brittany for several seconds. “She seems nice.” Then she walked the photo back to him.

“Her name is Brittany Kolchek,” he said. “She’s in a coma.” As a group, they cringed, even Kiera. Good—they cared. “The doctors say she won’t wake.”

“You don’t want information. You want one of us to jump into her memories,” Kiera said, her face as hard as her voice.

“We believe she’s the third victim of a serial killer targeting young women. All three scenes have little physical evidence. This might be our only chance to catch a break.” When nobody spoke or moved, he added, “He’ll kill again.”

About the Author: 

Hollie Smurthwaite is a paranormal romantic suspense author of The Color of Trauma and The Color of Betrayal. The Color of Trauma was the winner of the 2020 Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project in adult fiction. She lives in Chicago with her husband, son, and too few pets. In past lives, she's been a checkout clerk, massage therapist, office manager, recruiter, magazine staff writer, pepper spray hawker, and belly dancer.

Website: https://holliesmurthwaite.com

LinkTree https://linktr.ee/hollie_smurthwaite

Twitter: https://twitter.com/H_Smurthwaite

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/2336027206

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hsmurthwaite/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollieSmurthwaiteAuthor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollie-smurthwaite-03376516b/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/hollie_smurthwaite

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/75834809-hollie-smurthwaite

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[wahlpaper]

The Summer of Jordi Perez Review

The Summer of Jordi Perez by Amy Spalding

CW: Parents Not Believing Their Child, Emotionally Bad Experience with a Cop, Fat-phobia, Fat-shaming, Queerphobia, Heteronormativity, Self-esteem Issues, Capitalism, Bad Parents, Unpaid Internship, Diet Talk

5/5

It's official! This is the 84th book that I have read this year, breaking my record of 83 in 2021! It was a very good choice of book to do that with. The Summer of Jordi Perez is a cute queer teen romance with a fat main character! Author, Amy Spalding, is plus sized herself, giving the book an "Own Voices" element. I, the reviewer, am also fat. Further down I will talk about my personal relationship to the book and its themes.

The Summer of Jordi Perez (and The Best Burger in Los Angeles) is about Abby Ives, a gay teen fashion blogger experiencing her first big crush. When she starts her summer internship, she's blindsided with the news that she'll be sharing it with her classmate, Jordi Perez. What's even worse is that they'll be competing for a job set to start in the fall. Instead of hating each other though, they fall for each other. Unfortunately, first relationships are hard to navigate and neither girl is as sure of themselves as they seem. They'll have to be patient if they want things to work.

This book is cute, sweet, and just the right amount of serious. Abby has had small crushes before Jordi, but over the course of the book she experiences a lot of "firsts" for crushing and then "firsts" for dating. She obsesses over Jordi, second guesses every interaction, gushes to a friend, and more. While the relationship between Abby and Jordi is cute to experience, the characters also deal with important matters. They both have parents that don't see the best in them. Abby's mom is disappointed in her weight and her lesbianism. Jordi's parents don't trust her to behave. They deal with self-esteem, heteronormativity, capitalism, mistakes, and more. I appreciate everything Spalding takes the time to tackle in The Summer of Jordi Perez.

I only disliked one part of the book, the subtitle. "And The Best Burger in Los Angeles" refers to the subplot between Abby and her new friend, a jock named Jax. However, I'm not sure it needed to be included in the title. Jax needs to rate burgers to help out with his father's new app idea. He wants to do it with Abby. It is a sweet subplot, but the burgers quickly become something they do off-page. The subtitle raises their importance, but the book ends the quest in an anticlimactic way. I don't mind how it ended, but the title would be better off without the subtitle.

As I mentioned above, Abby is a fat girl. She loves fashion and blogging about it, but she doesn't like to share photos of herself in the clothes she suggests. Over the past few months I have started working with my therapist on body image issues and my relationship with food. My journey isn't precisely the same as Abby's, but I feel we are both at the middle point of our journey and have had the same negative influences. I have spent the last week taking at least one selfie a day so that I can be more comfortable in pictures. Jordi is a photographer, so Abby is forced to face a similar challenge. We both have different things that we’re more comfortable with already and different things we need to grow towards in the future. Spalding really captures the struggle of knowing it's okay to be fat in theory, but failing to apply that to oneself.

The Summer of Jordi Perez worked its way into my life at the right time. The fat girl trying to navigate dating is exactly the kind of representation I needed. I hope that this book will speak to others as well. A little bit of fat neutrality and a little bit of fat positivity, piled on top of "Healthy At Every Size" is the perfect recipe. I highly recommend Spalding's book to all!

[shaneericksonsketchbook]

Top Girls Week 2

The costume part of my week once again started on a Tuesday. I spent Monday helping Amy with model making. This time I focused on painting model pieces and figuring out how to make a canoe which became a bit of a personal vendetta. Being away worked out because Mariella and Katie were both in classes and meetings all day on Monday so it became a lost day in our schedule. 

Tuesday was my first big admin day of the show. Mariella and Katie went for a second Bristol trip to pick up what had been pulled last Thursday and do a final pass for other items. I was really relieved to finally have a day to myself to focus solely on organising everything from the past week. Jumping between Top Girls and Book of Dust, while enjoyable, left me a little scatter brained. I knew that things were about to really start kicking off later in the week and Mariella, Katie and I would also be in and out for lecture days and meetings. I wanted to give us a solid foundation on the administrative side of things so we would be organised and focused in the work we needed to get done. 

Once I got the design drawings and measurement sheet sections set up in the bible, I turned to my biggest project of the day. Katie sent me all this pictures of the items already pulled from Bristol so I could start to catalogue everything to get a head start. Mariella suggested using an Excel sheet like they used in Fledermaus. I simply could not get an Excel sheet to work for me and found that making a table in word worked far better for formatting pictures. I was a bit frustrated at first about not being able to get Excel to work and that I had nobody around at the time to ask about it. Once I pushed past the frustration and turned to Word, I realised it was just part of the process and finding what would work best for me as a costume assistant. At the end of the day it’s good to take inspiration from others and learn from how they did things, but I also work best when I make things my own and tailor it to my needs and workflow. 

I also found it frustrating to try and catalogue all the items entirely on my own. Not having Mariella or Katie around to ask what a garment would be called was challenging and led to a lot of Google searches and pulling up of Quizlets from my undergrad costume history classes. Despite my few frustrations from the day with cataloging, I think it was for the best for me to be left alone for a bit to figure things out on my own. If I were to work as a costume assistant professionally I likely would not have peers constantly around to answer questions I had. 

Katie and Mariella didn’t get back until 5:30 so we quickly photographed and organised the garments from Bristol and headed home. We would resume our work again on Thursday since all three of us had classes and meetings all day on Wednesday. 

(Costumes from Ray Holman’s Lecture) 

After a lovely day with Ray Holman, Thursday was frankly gruelling yet very informative. The garments from Bristol had all come back with their own handwritten descriptions and for cataloging purposes those needed to be matched with their photos. The handwriting was its own challenge to decipher but the biggest hurdle was learning a lot of new costume descriptors and matching them to many similar garments. This was an occasion where I do think it was best to have had Mariella and Katie around for, at least at the beginning. After awhile they helped more to confirm my interpretation of the handwriting rather than having to explain everything to me. The task did leave me with a very large sense of accomplishment in the end and it will certainly help me with costume identification in the future. (My favourite new word I learned was “slub” which I did think was completely made up at first.)

From This: 

To This: 

Our week ended with our first charity shop trip. All three of us packed up and went off to Cowbridge Road in Canton. While we got some good items the trip  had its frustrating moments. Somehow we forgot both measurement sheets and measuring tapes so I had to purchase a measuring tape in Home Bargains so we could purchase things. I think this was a fumble on all our parts but it also made me realise that I will likely need to be the organisational glue of this production especially when going out shopping. Even though we had to guess on some measurements, I think we did a good job of finding items that could really work in the show. It’ll just be up to fittings now to see how they end up working. 

(Shopping List from Friday) 

I am excited to have fittings next week so we can actually see what works and what doesn’t. I think that will help give us the momentum that will push us forward into our last week and into tech beyond that.