Edgy Mama

In my column this week, I relate how I introduced the concept of fewer gifts for Christmas this year to my kids. Basically, it’s not to early to start talking more about less!

Here are my photos of Obama and the rally that I took for Mountain Xpress. More tomorrow. I’m wiped!

but…this cracked me up.

From Julie at Bruisin’ Ales’ mom:

A brilliant idea for $10, or even $5 — Instead of (in addition to?) us all sending around more emails about how horrible Palin is, let’s all make a donation to Planned Parenthood in Sarah Palin’s name.

And here’s the good part: when you make a donation to PP in her name, they’ll send her a card telling her that the donation has been made in her honor.

Here’s the link to the Planned Parenthood website.

Be sure sure you use that link above or choose the pull down of Donate–Honorary or Memorial Donations, not the regular “Donate Online” or the card won’t be sent!

You’ll need to fill in the address to let PP know where to send the “in Sarah Palin’s honor” card. I suggest you use the address for the McCain campaign headquarters, which is:

Sarah Palin
c/o McCain for President
1235 S. Clark Street
1st Floor
Arlington, VA 22202

  Steve Almond reads at Malaprop’s last Friday

I’m behind on my weekend wrap-up. My weekly deadlines are Tuesday (column, all Mt. X stories.) and Wednesday (biz profile), so you all should know that very little other than work happens for me between 9 a.m. Monday and 5 p.m. Wednesday.

But, I had a fabulous weekend, that I want to tell you about, beginning with Steve Almond. Actually, it begins with the phone interview I did with him about a month ago for Mt. X, when he mentioned finding a place to watch the first Presidential debate after his reading.

I’d planned to take the bus downtown to Malaprop’s for the reading, but it was POURING rain, and I was running late. Unfortunately, lots of folks who otherwise would have been at Steve’s reading were stymied by the lack of gas or the rain or both.

Still, there was a decent crowd, numbering around 30 folks. And Steve delivered. Not only is the guy an amazing writer, but he’s an excellent speaker and funny in person. In addition to reading excerpts from Not That You Asked and My Life in Heavy Metal, he read a number of rude letters sent to him when he resigned from Boston College, protesting the school’s invitation to Condolezza Rice as commencement speaker. Steve’s responses to these letters were alternately hilarious, silly, and moving–much like most of his writing.

After the reading, I stuck around and accompanied Steve and a number of Malaprop’s employees to The Bier Garden (feeling rather like an inept fangirl). We watched Obama rock the debate (ok, I’m biased), then chatted in the smoke-laden pub.

Booksellers are just good peeps (again, I’m biased as I once was one). Thank you, Malaprop’s, for buying me two beers. That was an unnecessary but generous gift.

And Steve’s a sweetheart–just a good, self-deprecating, gentle, geeky guy. Who didn’t hold it against me when I tried to send him the wrong way to his hotel at the end of the night.

Anyway, read Steve’s books. All of them. Then we can talk.

My wrap-up of the superfantastic blog party to come tomorrow.

…plus see the film while drinking champagne.

From director Chusy Jardine:

ANYHWERE USA, the LOCALLLY PRODUCED, SUNDANCE AWARD-WINNING FILM will hold a ONE-NIGHT-ONLY, CHAMPAGNE SCREENING FUNDRAISER, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2008 , AT 8 PM AT THE FINE ARTS THEATRE. TICKETS ARE $50.00 PER PERSON and can be purchased at the box office.

The film Quentin Tarantino suggests “reduces audiences into a delighted, giggling mob” will be shown one night only at the Fine Arts Theatre in downtown Asheville to raise funds for its makers to attend festivals and promote their film far and wide. Champagne will be served and a Q & A with the director will follow the film’s screening.

We’ve been accepted to one of the ne plus ultra festivals in Europe the British Film Institute’s LONDON FILM FESTIVAL. It is our best and last chance to showcase our film before distributors from the and and for them to see the impact it has on collective audiences. Our presence is imperative to drum up interest, make ourselves available to sales agents and to attend the question and answer period afforded the filmmakers.
ANYWHERE, USA is a comedy of manners in three parts. It won the SPECIAL JURY PRIZE for singularity of vision and spirit of independence, in a jury led by Quentin Tarantino at the 2008 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL. The film will screen next in Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, The United Kingdom, Sweden and will be the opening night film of this year’s Chicago Underground Film Festival.

For more information, visit the website.

Here’s my story for Mountain Xpress about the film after it won the Sundance Award.

I was sorely motivated to write about my concerns for my kids’ futures in this week’s column for Mountain Xpress.

How are you all feeling about this? How are you handling it?

xoxoxo

Me winning the “Best Writing” award and a cool, but decrepit Smith-Corona designed by Carmen Ghia!

Yes, the huge annual, multi-syllabic blogger party is over. My bad photos are here (my excuse–most of these weren’t taken by me as my position as awards gift giver and hugger of all winners precluded photography).

Unlike Aric, I didn’t have any actual party wounds, but I’m wiped out after an unusually happening weekend.

Read all about the party at Blogasheville.  I’ll give you the lowdown on drinks and debates with Steve Almond later.

Nap time!