Antiques Roadshow Part 275

Well, since I am home sick from work today, naturally I am wasting the day on the internet (when I am not sleeping). I found this whole page from the episode of Antiques Roadshow I was on two years ago. You can actually watch the clip, which is hilarious because I hear both my elfish sounding voice (which totally does not sound like that in my head) and my grandma comments (That's wonderful!). Check it out if you haven't already:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/200604A33.html

Eating, Driving, and Cathair Purses

I just ate so much food. I don’t get why delis have to give so much food. Really? I need a twenty-foot high sandwich and two thousand French fries and coleslaw. It’s kind of gross, but it’s so tasty that I am compelled to eat until I can’t stand it anymore. And I really can’t stand it anymore.

But what I CAN stand is Bravo’s hilarious new show, the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Why do they call it the “Real Housewives?” I have always wondered that. I love Nene and her sass. I am not as fond of the blonde lady and her nasty boobs that are always hanging out of her shirt. What’s up with that?

In other randomness (that’s all I have in me these days), my commute has been getting longer and crazier. I don’t know why the roads are so backed up. Is it because gas is cheaper, and all of a sudden people are like, “Yay! I can drive and sit in my car for a really long, pointless amount of time?” My new thing is getting so disgusted by the backup that I try and find an alternate route and it ends up taking me way longer and is usually so stressful because I get lost. Today was the last straw (actually, yesterday was the straw, since it took me TWO HOURS to get home), when I got onto my normal route and it was the most backed up I have ever seen. So I turned around, tried another route, drove around for a half hour, and then just went home. I then left an hour and a half after I usually leave, and it took me a pleasant 35 minutes to get to work. Grumble grumble. The nicest thing was yesterday when I was going crazy on the road, I talked to Matt and asked if he would put up the Halloween decorations so that when I arrived home they would make me smile. And there they were, and yes I did! Speaking of Matt, you all must check out his blog for a hilarious story about his Southern stepmom and her cathair purse.

Cake Love

First thing’s first: check out this fancy interview with my insanely talented husband, Matthew Cordell, at jamespreller.com (Matt just finished illustrating Preller’s new picture book, Mighty Casey, out in March!). I like to read the answers he gives. Usually he doesn’t surprise me, but I was very surprised that he said his favorite dessert was cake. Because that’s my favorite dessert, and I’m much more of a dessert person that he. However, his fave cake is chocolate, whereas I prefer a yellow with buttercream frosting (or whip cream). Mmmmm. Cake. Strange that today my assistant went to a little bakery that we like to buy a piece of my favorite local cake, and they were out of it! The funny thing is that the cake in question was, gasp, County Fair Chocolate Cake! Yes, a chocolate cake. Which I would never just order, except in this instance because it’s SOOOOOO good. I can’t believe they were out of it. What if I really needed it? What if I was having a horrid day, and the only thing that would make me feel better is a piece of that delightful cake and they failed me?! FAILED me. I’m getting all worked up. If only I had a piece of cake to calm me down.

Really?

Funny story. So you know I’m pregnant. 30 weeks pregnant, actually. See picture below to get the full effect (and love my fab maternity shirt). Another teacher at my school is now 4 months pregnant. She just told her students yesterday that she's pregnant, and they, in turn, asked her (in whispered voices, she tells me), “Is Ms. Halpern pregnant?” Um, really? Do they just not notice me, or are they just being cautious? And when she said yes, another student asked, “Is she married?” A student I know rather well, btw. These are 8th graders. 13 and 14 year-olds. Still so darn cute! But kind of oblivious.

Name my book. Please!

So I still have to name my next novel (out fall 2009). You may recall (or not) that I wanted to name it "Roll for Initiative," but people have not been jiving with that. I figure when I get the book back from the copywriter (righter? Why don't I know which is correct?) I will read it again and hopefully get inspired. But if not, I could use your help. So here is a list of things in my novel. Maybe someone out there can come up with a good title. I do not want a list title, however, like, "Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging" because that is one of my faves, and I feel like ever since it came out there are too many book titles like that. Here we go:

-teenage girl
-sews skirts out of funny fabrics (one for each day of the school year)
-plays the drums
-has two best friends who are kind of annoying and end up sort of betraying her
-likes audiobooks
-is very smart
-befriends weird nerd girl
-doesn't want to become a nerd necessarily herself
-learns how to play Dungeons and Dragons

OK. Go to it. Ask me questions if you have any. Thank you in advance for your help (if you are, in fact, in the helping mood).