Today is errand day. I'm at Grub Street's Muse and the Marketplace writer's conference all weekend and I have things to do that are normally weekend things. So, no post. Besides, the weather in Boston is gorgeous, which means I should be outside anyway. The White One however isn't allowed outside. He'll chill out someplace non-cat approved. (See below.) ______ Last.fm hit of the day : On Your Marks, Get Set, Rock by Crazy Lixx

Zombie Thur sdays is a weekly feature with guest blogger, Miranda. You can read more about her here . Last week from Florida I shared with you the video "Fashion Freak." As stated, I couldn't really tell whether or not it had anything to do with zombies, fashion, or freaks. Ironically, those are three things I'm in love with! Clearly you all know about the obsession with zombies, and some may even have an understanding of my love affair with freaks and freak shows (and no, 'freaks' is not a pejorative term, just read my thesis!). Since you all are learning so much about my world, I suppose I should share another aspect of it-- I love shopping. And I love shopping for clothes. This should come as no surprise; I am a girl, after all. I'm the kind of girl who will walk into Target to buy some Coke, a loaf of bread, and a few other food essentials, and instead I will walk out with two new shirts, a new sweater, and will have forgotten the need for other sus...

Hubby pointed me to this. This is what happened with the air traffic over Europe after that volcanic eruption in Iceland. (Speaking of which, if you want to see some kick-ass photos from there, check out The Boston Globe's Big Picture .) Airspace Rebooted from ItoWorld on Vimeo . I got to say, it's pretty neat. And the air traffic makes a pretty pattern. _______ Last.fm hit of the day : Space Lord by Monster Magnet

I went through a brief phase studying Shakespeare. This also tied in with my 'I can act' phase. (Hey, college is about experimentation.) Most of the time, I faked my way through. The stories in Shakespeare are great, but the language is a terrible barrier to that world. In college, the director always 'updated' whatever Shakespeare play we were doing to make it more 'timely,' but stuck with iambic pentameter and archaic terminology. Sometimes, I just want it told plainly. Whenever someone dumbs down Shakespeare, I get excited. I like to understand what I'm reading and not work to translate it into Alicia-speak. Shouldn't the time come when the Bard's writings get updated for a new generation? It's been done with Hamlet. Hamlet as Told on the Street by Shel Silverstein. Hamlet (Facebook News Feed Edition) by Sarah Schmelling I'm not talking about movies or books that take the plot and twist it into something else. I mean taking ...

First off, I've noticed I've gotten some new followers. Hi, welcome, and Happy Monday. A few months ago, Cathy in marketing showed me the most disturbing Etsy find ever. The release of Regretsy reminded me of it's existence. Yes, this is a unicorn. Yes, you can find it on Etsy . Yes, this bothers me. While taxidermy is useful from a scientific perspective, I wouldn't want to own any. If I really want to see some, all I need to do is go to the Harvard Museum of Natural History where they have a full display from fishes to cloven footed animals. Maybe I should write a letter. Dear Taxidermist, While I appreciate the work it took to make this unicorn and how in some sense of the word, it's art, I'm more than a little skeeved by the concept. I see you also have a traditional white unicorn, both from dead-from-natural-causes lambs. I think that may be what's bothering me. Kudos for working with what you got, but I don't need the guarantee ...

Too busy catching up on editing today, so enjoy the triple judging eye of The White One behind the door. Photo made with Aviary software . ______ Last.fm hit of the day : Storm in a Teacup by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Hello, zombie fans! Miranda here-- This week I am taking a much needed break and vacation in the sun of Florida (insert joke about "Goths in the Sun" here...), but is that stopping me from bringing you some undead goodies on this Zombie Thursday? Absolutely not! I'm about to head out to the beach after just getting an hour long massage (jealous yet?), but I wanted to share with you an awesome video my friend Shae showed me last year. The band is called Naked Ape and the song is "Fashion Freak." The music is all synthesized and the vocals are slightly distorted, so to be honest, I'm not even sure if the song has anything to do with zombies. But the video... well, you'll see! It's directed by Eric Althin, and if you have a zombie fetish and a clean car fetish, get ready to pull the curtains down and lock the doors. Enjoy!

I'm on my third manuscript free day. This isn't because I've been such a kick-ass kid and deserve a break. Nope. It's because after slowing to freight train status, I've hit a new scene that I don't want to write. Not quite writer's block, but definitely a mental block. Which got me thinking about scene blockage. How it manifests. Why it comes about. How can it be defeated. How. When I say 'begins,' I really mean stall tactics. Facebook. Twitter. Bejeweled. Your tenth shower of the day. The things you do in your downtime. When you turn towards your WIP and are about to touch pen to paper (or finger to key), but suddenly you remember you have to walk the dog? All signs of something bigger happening. It can take a while to notice it, but you're avoiding that scene. Why. Psychological, definitely. Livia might have an actual explanation while all I can do is talk from experience. The scene could be deal with issues that you're sensitive ...

With my editing/ revising deadline encroaching upon my life and the world's most soul-destroying data entry project nipping at my brain, I have no true blog post today. Instead, I'm offering up an interview I just watched through ArtistDirect . You'll have to click through to watch it and I have to tell you that the language is definitely NSFW unless you have headphones. But, click here and scroll down to the interview. Then come back. I'll wait. I swear. ... Welcome back! It's not music you would listen to, I know. But sometimes you need something loud and angry to get your frustrations out. If you sometimes feel that need, you should probably pick this out when it comes out. (Which is August, according to rumor.) Reasons I'm Excited for this Album Murderdolls has Wednesday 13, aka fangirl crush number 1 . The original CD didn't leave my CD player for six months . The original songs were written by Wednesday 13 & Joey Jordison when th...

This creepy guy stared me in the face upon exiting the local Stop and Shop yesterday morning. I find this planter frightening for one reason. It's a squirrel. It looks unsuspecting, but I know better. Those glassy eyes most likely include hidden cameras. Squirrels will take over the world. Mark my words. _____ Last.fm hit of the day : The Impartial Orchestral Mix by The Clockwork Dolls

I can't believe we've hit the halfway mark with April. I mean, didn't I just turn the calendar? (Actually, I did. Last week.) It's getting closer to June - my goal date . I'm starting to think I won't succeed. Goal 1: Complete the most recent FALLING TO NORMAL revision before conference time. Status : Conference time for me is May 1st. I'm long-handing my draft because the siren song of Bejeweled Blitz still calls. I'm somewhere in the middle and moving things around the way The White One bats at a penny. A lot of energy drinks will need consumption to get everything in gear. Only I'm starting to lose steam and need to do something fun. Date night tonight and friend visiting this weekend should help with this problem. (I hope.) Goal 2: Keep up with the blogging. Status : I am. Some days are harder than others and I Jim over Dystel & Goderich blogged about having blogger's block . He didn't have any ways to combat it - just asked...

Zombie Thursdays is a weekly feature with guest blogger, Miranda. You can read more about her here . It seems like web series and ‘webisodes’ are all the rage these days. I’m guessing they are cheaper, quicker, and easier to produce than a full length television series, and they don’t require a huge studio backer or even a channel to air them. Anyone with the drive and talent can create these series and put them up on the internet to be viewed by millions. Even major television shows are jumping on the band wagon by producing the short ‘webisodes’ to post online during the week before a new episode airs on the station. It’s no surprise to me that zombies are also infecting the internet airwaves with their own web series! This week, I’m going to feature one such show called Semi-Dead , a web based horror/comedy series created by Chris Wiltz (who also independently financed the project). I first heard of this show randomly. Because of my Twitter account , I’m constantly followed...

Dear Parent, We are currently planning an in-school field trip in our sixth grade science classes, and your child is invited to participate. Please read carefully the information about this field trip, below. If you would like your child to participate, please sign the Parent Permission Form (attached) and return it by the date indicated. Students who do not return a signed Permission Form by the deadline date will be denied participation in this trip. Again this year, all costs for field trips must be borne by the students participating. All payments for field trips must be in the form of checks made out to the middle school. Please be advised that the school will impose a $15 fee for any check that is returned, to cover our own bank charges. Please also be advised that if the Superintendent of Schools deems it necessary to cancel a field trip at the last moment due to unforeseen circumstances, a full or even partial refund may not be possible to be granted, and the school or dis...

In case you haven't been paying attention, I write. Shocking, yes, but true. I write with the intent of getting published and will make that goal reality. But this isn't an entry about goals. I've already done one of those . This is another one of those I've-entered-a-contest-and-really-want-to-win entries. The deal There's a website called Dear Editor . Writers can send in questions about craft or the publishing industry that will get answered. How awesome. The contest Dear Editor's only been around for a month. To celebrate, the editor is giving away a free manuscript edit to anyone who writes middle grade or young adult. This is a huge deal. An in-dept line edit generally starts at 1 - 2 cents a word, which can cost over $1000 for an edit. But this also includes information on plot and characters and other things that make a book what it is. That I think becomes an hourly service. I know some places charge $65 and hour for that. To enter, all you...

According to Twitter, today is National Grilled Cheese Day. This is awesome for so many reasons. Cheese is dairy. Dairy is good for you . Grilled cheese is one of the 3 things the Friendly's in my hometown can make accurately. Picky children around the world can eat their fill. You can find a lot of different ways to funkify (yes, funkify) your grilled cheese sandwich here . My favorite type of grilled cheese contains cheddar and a spicy cheese with tomatoes. Any type of bread will do. What is yours? _____ Last.fm hit of the day : Sex Beat by Fear Cult

Subject: upcoming quiz and event Hello parents, We will be having a quiz on April 13th.  Children are receiving a review sheet in class today.  It is also highly suggested that they reread the Biosphere 2 reading in preparation. On May 10th, we will have visitors from the Dolan Harbor DNA Labs.  There is an $8.00 fee for this in school field trip.  Permission slips are going home today. Warm regards, B Fisher Oh, Beth. Why would you want the kids to reread a 272 page book in a weekend? They have other things to do like not read nonfiction. Don't get me wrong. I support reading as much as the next fictional mother and aspiring writer, but the book looks boring. I doubt I'd be able to get through one reading, let alone a reread. Has anyone read Biosphere 2? Does it actually pertain to what Tasma's learning? Come to think of it, I don't think Tasma read it the first time. That little girl is in trouble. _________ Last.fm hit of the day : Penetrate by Godh...

Zombie Thursdays is a weekly feature with guest blogger, Miranda. You can read more about her here .   Despite having satellite television with several hundred channels, I often find myself watching the same shows over and over. It’s hard to break out of my routine of watching the same shows every day, week, and month. The last new television show I started watching was this past Fall’s premier of NBC’s Community , and I only started watching that because I am a huge fan of Joel McHale (the star) from his other show The Soup on E! Channel, a show which I have been watching for years. But recently, a friend of mine recommended a new show that debuted on Comedy Central a few weeks ago-- Ugly Americans . The name doesn’t sound like much and, to be honest, unless she had specifically told me that it was a show made just for me (“Miranda, it has zombies!”), I probably would never have bothered watching it. I was finally able to record and watch an episode, and it seems like it i...

Last night, Hubby and I spent an hour in our local Newbury Comics enjoying the 32% off everything flash sale. We spent money and all of it was necessary (wink) items. I love Newbury Comics. One of the best things about them besides the obscure books and used CDs is the random merchandise they sell. Like, lawn ornaments. "You're doing it wrong, Bob." These guys have nothing on the Gnome Be Gone , but the display cracked me up. With gnomes 1 and 2 doing something entirely different than gnome 3. Also the first two look like they're on the lookout or something. No matter how funny these little guys are, I can't picture them on a lawn. If you happen to see one, take a picture and send it in. ______ Last.fm hit of the day: Sweethome Under White Clouds by Virgin Prunes

I'm chipping away at the growing "to do" list on my desk, so watch a cat grooming video. I was surprised that it didn't end in a fight, but with The Stripey One getting more comfortable. (Grooming = cat fight.) ______ Last.fm hit of the day : Outta Control by Alien Sex Fiend

My "too read" section. Since I was a wee lass, my mother would buy me books. If I wanted a toy, she'd buy me a book. She had no problems spending my dad's hard-earned cash on the publishing industry and would rather spend it that way than on Cabbage Patch Kids. And much to Freud's delight, my love for books can be traced back to me being a child and my mother (and in part, my father). My apartment is flowing with books. There are boxes still in my parents' basement that are filled with methodology books, Nancy Drew, and a lot of Egyptology. The collection at home is mostly fiction-based with a heavy focus on paranormal/ fantasy and young adult. The number of (auto)biographies are growing due to my interest in the tolls that the music industry takes on the average bear. Craft books that need a home. We can't even use the desk since it's stacked with SCBWI bulletins and Writer's Digest back issues. Not to mention that the surrounding floo...

Hey guys... Over here! I can't get enough of Seal Bomb. The little guy looks so happy chilling (literally!) with the extras from March of the Penguins , it makes me smile and eventually crack up with laughter. Even the non-cropped version makes me laugh. Why? It's unsuspecting . We've all seen pictures of Emperor Penguins and they all look the same. And since the focus is supposed to be on them, you miss the surprise on first glance. The penguins aren't in danger . Not all seals eat penguins. And from the picture, this guy looks like a Weddell Seal . According to the Smithsonian , they eat fish and krill. I can picture The White One doing this . He's been accused of looking like a seal when he stretches out since he is so fat. And we know he likes to mug for the camera .

Zombie Thursdays is a weekly feature with guest blogger, Miranda. You can read more about her here . Well, I survived my first HorrorHound Weekend .... and it SUCKED. Okay, April Fool’s! Actually it was awesome! I’ve barely had anytime to rest since returning, and I’m already off on my next adventure-- getting ready to perform Repo! the Genetic Opera in Chicago on April 9th at the Music Box Theatre (end shameless self-promotion). As such, I will try to keep today’s Zombie Thursday entry short and sweet because by the time you all are reading this, I’ll be on a train headed for Chicago to rehearse. My HorrorHound adventures are quite lengthy, but what I will share today is what you all really want to know about-- meeting George Romero ! As I anticipated, my official meeting with him was very brief. But I had a few other awesome Romero moments throughout the weekend anyway. First off, let me just state that George Romero’s manager is awesome! He was a really cool guy and really...