tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44191605377033885972024-02-20T00:00:56.266+08:00The Slight DetourMy countdown to my debut novel’s release and a chronicle of my attempt to not go stir crazy while waiting.
(I post here on Mondays and Fridays. See you then!)Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-62564278960282779102011-06-28T18:52:00.002+08:002011-06-28T20:25:16.412+08:00I've Moved!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshXWk6-UKI58Dp-rjFNhr-jSsnuIzRFizDIXlHFC-V-7oLbO0BMn5cRGDXRZ3UcE4onurOAowOnruZ8bECUiSgOXvI80n_fe7FLSsM3AJEFmIE0xmza33FQfshM49EuMlm0PKoQvXhQQ/s1600/moving+truck_medium.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshXWk6-UKI58Dp-rjFNhr-jSsnuIzRFizDIXlHFC-V-7oLbO0BMn5cRGDXRZ3UcE4onurOAowOnruZ8bECUiSgOXvI80n_fe7FLSsM3AJEFmIE0xmza33FQfshM49EuMlm0PKoQvXhQQ/s1600/moving+truck_medium.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">You can find my latest post at <a href="http://samanthasotto.com./"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">samanthasotto.com.</span></b></a> See you there! :-)</div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-48704435998175634962011-06-23T20:55:00.000+08:002011-06-23T20:55:28.963+08:00It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's a Book Trailer!Hi, Guys!<br />
<br />
I have two things I need to tell you.<br />
<br />
<b>First:</b><br />
<br />
This will be my LAST POST - HERE. I will be moving to my NEW HOME and you're invited to the housewarming party! Do you have a pen so I can give you my new address? No? Not to worry. I've left a trail of bread crumbs (or maybe in this case, egg shells) to show you the way.<br />
<br />
<b>Second:</b><br />
<br />
To find me, you will need to take a slight detour to ODE TO EGGS.<br />
<br />
This is the <a href="http://www.ode2eggs.com/2011/06/quest-is-over-best-baked-eggs-has-been.html">LINK.</a> You will find the VIDEO TEASER to the book there as well as the next link that will take you to the FULL BOOK TRAILER and my new home.<br />
<br />
Have fun and see you there!!!<br />
<br />
SamSamantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-30476097213756786832011-06-20T17:42:00.002+08:002011-06-20T21:25:41.666+08:00Game of Thrones and Other Blogging Lessons<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">I confess. I was a bad blogger last week. I wish I could say that I had a great excuse for missing the Friday Field Trip, but the truth of the matter is…I was weak. I cheated on the blog with movies. A lot of movies. And tv shows. Between Ryan Reynolds in twinkly green spandex and a marathon session of Game of Thrones, I really didn’t stand much of a chance. I checked Amazon to buy more hours in a day but they were all out. This week, however, is a new week. I’ve dug myself out of my tub of popcorn and have learned my lesson. In fact, I’ve learned five. <br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Top Five Blogging Lessons I’ve Learned (While Playing Hooky)</b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyI3XfV7xLbe5UD2EBIXRzrrngQp2uvggMFtxKrYnbVTVlzpqxLV5jE3FAg2MG4F0LUAwXgTVGh8JguDW5hS4P41CEpXxdcLxgTNrn6GKJFpFHUSKyLDKVSBYEN8Cr6f4EmZtbzk3ps8/s1600/X-Men-First-Class-Featured-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyI3XfV7xLbe5UD2EBIXRzrrngQp2uvggMFtxKrYnbVTVlzpqxLV5jE3FAg2MG4F0LUAwXgTVGh8JguDW5hS4P41CEpXxdcLxgTNrn6GKJFpFHUSKyLDKVSBYEN8Cr6f4EmZtbzk3ps8/s400/X-Men-First-Class-Featured-01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b>1.) “Mutant and proud” – Amy, X-Men First Class</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Know what your mutant power is and own it, baby. Don’t be afraid to be different. Speak your mind and use your own unique voice. Black and yellow jumpsuits are optional.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIRMIyOwmLM57v-XQRDG1sSoE7kEgxSBc_whcq_ata5QkMaF7qVO-1GcxI67LguQXZhRCrv6xTWYmC69a2NR8dVmAzj1DRatx946S5q7d9DovPzY040bt5ACkgX-bWUW5xZZXmhL9Sg8/s1600/super-8-01_510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIRMIyOwmLM57v-XQRDG1sSoE7kEgxSBc_whcq_ata5QkMaF7qVO-1GcxI67LguQXZhRCrv6xTWYmC69a2NR8dVmAzj1DRatx946S5q7d9DovPzY040bt5ACkgX-bWUW5xZZXmhL9Sg8/s400/super-8-01_510.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>2.) “Production value!” - Charles, Super Eight </b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Charles knew that production value was going to spell the difference for his little Super 8 Zombie movie at the film competition. The same principle holds true for blogs. Words are great, but posting them on a spruced up page is even better. It’s no different from tidying up the living room when you have visitors. Offer cupcakes and I’ll love you forever. <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06UrGQksNrSExMzJPxv7SB24HBTVPwKCb_06NYNwLk1DQHeBZlYKhdHDZk-7d7A-Xh1PkVtzNbgDpmqdtM2YqeRSFyyIXJB3Yjez9RjaCPni-JWHjMWgFxtXNDgLCL1Rvh5mKb7Wf7ZI/s1600/Green+Lantern+Green+Lantern+Corps+Theatrical+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06UrGQksNrSExMzJPxv7SB24HBTVPwKCb_06NYNwLk1DQHeBZlYKhdHDZk-7d7A-Xh1PkVtzNbgDpmqdtM2YqeRSFyyIXJB3Yjez9RjaCPni-JWHjMWgFxtXNDgLCL1Rvh5mKb7Wf7ZI/s400/Green+Lantern+Green+Lantern+Corps+Theatrical+Banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>3.) “Individually, we are vulnerable. Together, we are unstoppable!” – Sinestro, Green Lantern</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Blogging is about connecting with people and being in a community. Half of what makes a blog a joy to read is the interaction that takes place. Comments, blog hops, guest posts – they keep the virtual cobwebs away.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsGZZzi1pwj4SmwFt1GH0fiLyVTlT5MXpmycThZTKO6hnQUfQh60vUgFAXof9M6Zxr5egBFi81y9_t2IW4mmKPH42iFMzfYccjGBvbJd3p2AXpAiGSPdWk514Tf-OUwGHv7IL-HBT0vo/s1600/ed-helms-hangover-2-tattoo_288x288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsGZZzi1pwj4SmwFt1GH0fiLyVTlT5MXpmycThZTKO6hnQUfQh60vUgFAXof9M6Zxr5egBFi81y9_t2IW4mmKPH42iFMzfYccjGBvbJd3p2AXpAiGSPdWk514Tf-OUwGHv7IL-HBT0vo/s1600/ed-helms-hangover-2-tattoo_288x288.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>4.) “This is a real tattoo!” – Stu, The Hangover II</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">“Drunk” posting is never a good idea. While it’s great to speak your mind, it’s also worthwhile to take time to think about your posts /comments and make sure that you aren’t immortalizing something you’ll regret the second after you click “publish.” You don’t lose anything by taking time to step back and think about what you want to say and how you want to say it.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jkwuZmUj1-xLQy5txKTK42isqQ7uaUH4l9ZI_6F_pZfwnxh_tN4YfB2nh3v6E02YT3CaUpIpQnEU-NtnTjftKqRVMdlCjHtP1zU0KPrND_BuVYm6SWpNQTQCPn3bF_7Ts0XGYOdPtk0/s1600/469461-ned_stark___throne_super.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jkwuZmUj1-xLQy5txKTK42isqQ7uaUH4l9ZI_6F_pZfwnxh_tN4YfB2nh3v6E02YT3CaUpIpQnEU-NtnTjftKqRVMdlCjHtP1zU0KPrND_BuVYm6SWpNQTQCPn3bF_7Ts0XGYOdPtk0/s320/469461-ned_stark___throne_super.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>5.) “Winter is coming.” – Ned Stark, Game of Thrones</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Um, okay…I don’t really have a lesson for this quote, but hey, isn’t it Just.So.Cool? If you think of one, let me know! :D</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-39757954967423539892011-06-13T18:23:00.000+08:002011-06-13T18:23:40.380+08:00The Other First Lines<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuGQAHk2k_vzs6NhVG5ehtUlM_OoIWIbOuuMWElUCjwYKrX2gcqCgoDwe2ReWlK3DCUVDXvcYyU2VTwy0a1dPfl3mqT8YClxjA9gJVtCLz6DvcWhVVUAlXuWhaAUaLf5V2t5MkHH2d5I/s1600/book+page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuGQAHk2k_vzs6NhVG5ehtUlM_OoIWIbOuuMWElUCjwYKrX2gcqCgoDwe2ReWlK3DCUVDXvcYyU2VTwy0a1dPfl3mqT8YClxjA9gJVtCLz6DvcWhVVUAlXuWhaAUaLf5V2t5MkHH2d5I/s1600/book+page.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ehow.com/info_8245690_book-dedication-ideas.html">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“All children, except one, grow up.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal">Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">1984, George Orwell</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Brilliant. Grabbing. Memorable. These opening lines have it all. I could name a few more of my favorites, but I won’t. This post isn’t about those first lines. It’s about the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">other</i> ones – the first lines we read in the book, though the last the author writes. I’m talking about dedications. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I am fascinated by dedications. It is the last glimpse I have of the author before I go on the journey he or she has set before me and make it my own. They range from the poignant to the hilarious, but they share one thing in common: they are the truth beneath the author’s wings that allowed imagination to take flight. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve put together a small collection of dedications that I thought you might enjoy:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVQmH_KM8KuJUyC6z2H6q3ukkgS9wDpyrfwtbLOSPszKR3j7RtLTPnIZ0I6sRddKJ7M3bXMo6rxXtnNSL0qn78nvZfzxPjx2-2b5TlutkNvjKmtHqEr41L5Gcz35D0NaoloTLQN-AaOg/s1600/Cuckoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVQmH_KM8KuJUyC6z2H6q3ukkgS9wDpyrfwtbLOSPszKR3j7RtLTPnIZ0I6sRddKJ7M3bXMo6rxXtnNSL0qn78nvZfzxPjx2-2b5TlutkNvjKmtHqEr41L5Gcz35D0NaoloTLQN-AaOg/s1600/Cuckoo.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“To Vic Lovell for telling me that dragons don't exist, and then leading me to their lair.”</i> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNXRsmrsKsQBRFzFf7OflilLsBOyil679D2wVsAPn1qW-fX2hFBuvNpXUHqLRChramlfBUfMoazX1qtPuWQyLrWDvia0bdCdU9VmPrsWSrUyN_lfM9aKyFMq96i1Cg3Z1SDOdapcQaYc/s1600/lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNXRsmrsKsQBRFzFf7OflilLsBOyil679D2wVsAPn1qW-fX2hFBuvNpXUHqLRChramlfBUfMoazX1qtPuWQyLrWDvia0bdCdU9VmPrsWSrUyN_lfM9aKyFMq96i1Cg3Z1SDOdapcQaYc/s320/lion.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“My Dear Lucy,<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand, a word you say, but I shall still be your affectionate Godfather, C. S. Lewis”<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">C.S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpezq3OJPnPGJXbNEpEEso1S4n3b4xyWIuB_QpWqQur9iZR7smDr3rBz3mNJQ79JwOLlOvjsJajmkjMkO_TmZvrUwWDMk9NYPW5NPOO-bH1eX5HLNyR_eBqP5jQryfHfFe58vUPosZTys/s1600/HP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpezq3OJPnPGJXbNEpEEso1S4n3b4xyWIuB_QpWqQur9iZR7smDr3rBz3mNJQ79JwOLlOvjsJajmkjMkO_TmZvrUwWDMk9NYPW5NPOO-bH1eX5HLNyR_eBqP5jQryfHfFe58vUPosZTys/s320/HP.jpg" width="211" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The dedication of this book is split seven ways: to Neil, to Jessica, to David, to Kenzie, to Di, to Anne, and to you, if you have stuck with Harry until the very end.</i>”</div><div class="MsoNormal">J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj333luMpJMypQ9k3BODorw1eszNAG1Uihf_a_NgAU2_1nRcBKmGTz4wwiaT5fkp5ZhfOVnX1TZE9yQEjILsW9pDgXZSzb6GUT6pTqbMNBHn2GjdvVojgNKpuSNgdJG1xVIxf54oIeX7V8/s1600/otherland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj333luMpJMypQ9k3BODorw1eszNAG1Uihf_a_NgAU2_1nRcBKmGTz4wwiaT5fkp5ZhfOVnX1TZE9yQEjILsW9pDgXZSzb6GUT6pTqbMNBHn2GjdvVojgNKpuSNgdJG1xVIxf54oIeX7V8/s320/otherland.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>Here are dedications from a series:</div><div class="MsoNormal">Book 1: City of Golden Shadow</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“This Book is dedicated to my father Joseph Hill Evans with love.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Actually Dad doesn’t read fiction, so if someone doesn’t tell him about this, he’ll never know.”<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">Book 2: River of Blue Fire</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“This Book is dedicated to my father Joseph Hill Evans with love.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">As I said before, Dad doesn’t read fiction. He still hasn’t noticed that this thing is dedicated to him. This is Volume Two – let’s see how many more until he catches on.”<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">Book 3: Mountain of Black Glass</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“This is still dedicated to you-know-who, even if he doesn’t.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maybe we can keep this a secret all the way to the final volume.”<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">Book 4: Sea of Silver Light</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“My father still hasn’t actually cracked any of the books – so, no, he still hasn’t noticed. I think I’m just going to have to tell him. Maybe I should break it to him gently.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Everyone here who hasn’t had a book dedicated to them, take three steps forward. Whoops, Dad, hang on there for a second...' “<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">Tad Williams, Otherland series<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4IY2e0BGtGFt43ThTWox81ToTKg-rmw8OVyo3wRzSvWdSPFLPs579sCZLyhUw0jP8ajgVssfmTk9YZxHxYS6s5SPoTb48W3_ND0llN8izrVkRyhXeZzZshlu5U23P5BfgFeTKYIKeR0/s1600/anansi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4IY2e0BGtGFt43ThTWox81ToTKg-rmw8OVyo3wRzSvWdSPFLPs579sCZLyhUw0jP8ajgVssfmTk9YZxHxYS6s5SPoTb48W3_ND0llN8izrVkRyhXeZzZshlu5U23P5BfgFeTKYIKeR0/s320/anansi.jpg" width="197" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“You know how it is. You pick up a book, flip to the dedication, and find that, once again, the author has dedicated a book to someone else and not to you.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not This Time.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Because we haven't yet met/have only a glancing acquaintance/are just crazy about each other/haven't seen each other in much too long/are in some way related/will never meet, but will, I trust, despite that, always think fondly of each other...<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This one's for you.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">With you know what, and you probably know why. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">Neil Gaiman, Anansi Boys</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve saved my all time favorite for last…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUu0ziMo8DhKHTPreNB9S9iCL73_xgeCE6H0E-o__uHleY6XyVueo59iQwE0bXzHJQtiL2QQOFhj4SeLilsUJJAxMOBdbhs_J0MNb0Qcg00rrksNDGfd2MTRgqpNU8d68g0zPY9onmtbw/s1600/Austenland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUu0ziMo8DhKHTPreNB9S9iCL73_xgeCE6H0E-o__uHleY6XyVueo59iQwE0bXzHJQtiL2QQOFhj4SeLilsUJJAxMOBdbhs_J0MNb0Qcg00rrksNDGfd2MTRgqpNU8d68g0zPY9onmtbw/s320/Austenland.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For Colin Firth--You're a really great guy, but I'm married, so I think we should just be friends.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal">Shannon Hale, Austenland</div><div class="MsoNormal">Do you have any favorite dedications in mind? Or better yet, what dedication would you write? </div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-43655594371041887212011-06-10T09:04:00.001+08:002011-06-10T13:17:41.570+08:00I'm Back!!!<style type="text/css">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.clipartheaven.com/">Clipart from Clipartheaven.com</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="p1">What did I miss? What did I miss? Well, of course I missed YOU, silly! :-)</div><div class="p1"><br />
<a href="http://theslightdetour.blogspot.com/2011/05/im-off-to-see-three-wizards.html">The quest was a success.</a> I found my three wizards. Are you ready to meet them?</div><div class="p1"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wizard 1</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhSBdt8qTsnpicVWd1_3GzwiHQ8OQX6-AtW96jfAlT3BfzrdClr0a6NwBIiJt9zD1iO1hA-HU53TcYv0yX7jlhMksIZc1UDPLARayUzSRt51tQQE6lVesqS0stYDq-c7mU7IZvfwpdPA/s1600/P1030022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhSBdt8qTsnpicVWd1_3GzwiHQ8OQX6-AtW96jfAlT3BfzrdClr0a6NwBIiJt9zD1iO1hA-HU53TcYv0yX7jlhMksIZc1UDPLARayUzSRt51tQQE6lVesqS0stYDq-c7mU7IZvfwpdPA/s320/P1030022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I found the first wizard over here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><span id="goog_1983241946"></span><span id="goog_1983241947"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhCOpghk13jT01cPTXWHkF3zfcP1bFQz8aCJ7UMpcsCVhPt4YjANnTBp32AxNBzijKNqky8F_7PsJjz5lFNaMb6f1_djMp83nZSp-oLbNcmJJptgu_zzfeNYNenYcSTwbi7ap1puintg/s1600/P1020999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhCOpghk13jT01cPTXWHkF3zfcP1bFQz8aCJ7UMpcsCVhPt4YjANnTBp32AxNBzijKNqky8F_7PsJjz5lFNaMb6f1_djMp83nZSp-oLbNcmJJptgu_zzfeNYNenYcSTwbi7ap1puintg/s320/P1020999.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>Allow me to introduce you to my incredible agent, Stephanie Kip Rostan. Don't let the lack of a wand fool you. It was her magic that rescued me from the slush pile. The person standing next to her is no less a wizard. There would be no “Levine” in the Levine Greenberg Literary Agency without the awesome Jim Levine.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwVcGrfSRZ2lI-0B3QSTuxkdUY3fNJGBVwQqx9hmD14lYrjq8fb1587eNlNNG3zbRemoCrn43of7Lh7fuxMEhPtmBhGSCnIag-IZLKEP6DdCIbPccLd6qwKYJHUxds1KgaWrxghujBx8/s1600/P1040037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwVcGrfSRZ2lI-0B3QSTuxkdUY3fNJGBVwQqx9hmD14lYrjq8fb1587eNlNNG3zbRemoCrn43of7Lh7fuxMEhPtmBhGSCnIag-IZLKEP6DdCIbPccLd6qwKYJHUxds1KgaWrxghujBx8/s320/P1040037.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I also had a chance to meet the other wonderful members of the agency...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWVi56nhvOOQpZuqJmBMwbIM0BjU-pkZDdI0a33S2eDcgIKZVFgMiXYS9Gf7mLcfp3ZhW0zofWSQsDa95JW7Jmb6RkjUSXJcAj7LE2LGDVY8jCpU46EGjQ0xw9aHkF9cG0_BrXY2CnPE/s1600/P1030002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWVi56nhvOOQpZuqJmBMwbIM0BjU-pkZDdI0a33S2eDcgIKZVFgMiXYS9Gf7mLcfp3ZhW0zofWSQsDa95JW7Jmb6RkjUSXJcAj7LE2LGDVY8jCpU46EGjQ0xw9aHkF9cG0_BrXY2CnPE/s320/P1030002.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">....including Jim’s puppet alter-ego.</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="p1"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wizard 2</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ41Hkv5NlYOHg3YiZq5I8bl-J0pvkipP0Lgy-aoEj77BcYiRvR1bQf8AHPPCOeOvNXjTL7HfpllZZWZfWXbBxs-ioEpjx5DNF_ODNVF2OM9lKmgFk6AClMCR_xMG5sRxN4ZseiG9Y5pw/s1600/P1030040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ41Hkv5NlYOHg3YiZq5I8bl-J0pvkipP0Lgy-aoEj77BcYiRvR1bQf8AHPPCOeOvNXjTL7HfpllZZWZfWXbBxs-ioEpjx5DNF_ODNVF2OM9lKmgFk6AClMCR_xMG5sRxN4ZseiG9Y5pw/s320/P1030040.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><b><br />
</b></div><div class="p1"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwlk52wfUBSBhkksKcogn87g3_Lptcw6dD5fnR1D4-rEuDpOt9TG7cC01yh1AUuWTrBQEhqMU97cmQ9NjT0VYr8-TjRQXTARXwcdgJhTlRpL8fNGBn8Melt8MwTxl6xmzR5DKA29s3pA/s1600/P1030038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwlk52wfUBSBhkksKcogn87g3_Lptcw6dD5fnR1D4-rEuDpOt9TG7cC01yh1AUuWTrBQEhqMU97cmQ9NjT0VYr8-TjRQXTARXwcdgJhTlRpL8fNGBn8Melt8MwTxl6xmzR5DKA29s3pA/s320/P1030038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For the record, walking through the Random House lobby, surrounded by their first edition archive was one of the most surreal moments of my LIFE. (Up until the point the security guard told us we weren't supposed to take pictures there. Oops.)</div><div class="p1"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqorMHjObxVaeMNpPIy6Cfe6zelGAHZd9tvQ41ZfNfaMd58eukebTb_aJn3ZDrhXZnMFHPIceKSKHKBma-CjFwk3_pqO-2f4BFxbTleOzHvWoiyVexxDqKN7EqfDoINe0wZEvTm7nmXWI/s1600/P1030042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqorMHjObxVaeMNpPIy6Cfe6zelGAHZd9tvQ41ZfNfaMd58eukebTb_aJn3ZDrhXZnMFHPIceKSKHKBma-CjFwk3_pqO-2f4BFxbTleOzHvWoiyVexxDqKN7EqfDoINe0wZEvTm7nmXWI/s320/P1030042.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finally “meeting” my editor, Kate Kennedy after TWO years of exchanging emails with her was another such moment. If you don’t believe in magic, all you have to do is look at the first draft of Before Ever After and compare it to the final book to know what a wizard this woman is.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdMlnlc7g8U-eCIteZRgUZmtcv1Jr1XDUb2KpPdUJN5XR2oCm68FtyrDrL2Kxjh13pYlJGJhHCPpcrQtcZWErGVzyVFBri9T28AGeIwYJnDam1ZtxUK3U8rNJyyqudCYhkH118W87w14/s1600/P1030050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdMlnlc7g8U-eCIteZRgUZmtcv1Jr1XDUb2KpPdUJN5XR2oCm68FtyrDrL2Kxjh13pYlJGJhHCPpcrQtcZWErGVzyVFBri9T28AGeIwYJnDam1ZtxUK3U8rNJyyqudCYhkH118W87w14/s320/P1030050.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wondering what we're all happy about? </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVUo3sPz0v7Jh9ho_Wu8uBxDntXojVY5hUbkGFeVPWq35ObAXN_xbfybIhrv9HE7c5ZuJXNGdxvcBKtuNUpgH2CBoo8RAHcdS21ykcTqOqIJ34pKq4lWJXgmzkrzQRKEMgwN0qhGPRPY/s1600/P1030043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVUo3sPz0v7Jh9ho_Wu8uBxDntXojVY5hUbkGFeVPWq35ObAXN_xbfybIhrv9HE7c5ZuJXNGdxvcBKtuNUpgH2CBoo8RAHcdS21ykcTqOqIJ34pKq4lWJXgmzkrzQRKEMgwN0qhGPRPY/s320/P1030043.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ta-dah! </span></td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">I know. Book jackets are great, but what does the REAL book look like? Your wish is my command...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNMjXjWPu0929-I7PCEZSDYhKJVnHoQxPYTsfsLiO-rg3idE7s-9_KbEaT-cjXEJI47s58exCac3q0LnqRY-svlRtqea-cyn0S0kC2bYYMr7cM-8SYzZ61X0fAjyeBVawnSHUjmo01BU/s1600/P1040108+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNMjXjWPu0929-I7PCEZSDYhKJVnHoQxPYTsfsLiO-rg3idE7s-9_KbEaT-cjXEJI47s58exCac3q0LnqRY-svlRtqea-cyn0S0kC2bYYMr7cM-8SYzZ61X0fAjyeBVawnSHUjmo01BU/s200/P1040108+-+Version+2.jpg" width="125" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">What? Too small? Oh. Okay. No worries. I can fix that. Read on while I get my wand…</div></div><div class="p1"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wizard 3</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4AZrhd49HEJLO4Mh2gEt7BeEG3uy7cVnNvkjTOfKjJt6qMPcijj9tHvrwmGzIDZSd97GtiMNpNZt4CZh3YJpZ-LpEYrCxkHAA6RZGfmeM41eQWh7cokOffMvDyQHhUk5NeGGXXcn3yY/s1600/wizarding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4AZrhd49HEJLO4Mh2gEt7BeEG3uy7cVnNvkjTOfKjJt6qMPcijj9tHvrwmGzIDZSd97GtiMNpNZt4CZh3YJpZ-LpEYrCxkHAA6RZGfmeM41eQWh7cokOffMvDyQHhUk5NeGGXXcn3yY/s200/wizarding.jpg" width="176" /></a></div><b><br />
</b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">What magical trip would be complete without a pilgrimage to Hogwarts?</div></div><div class="p1"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvq4NJnz9gjkzVYeTfEHGgFTYI-7BQryX-7rWzg2XhovTDO34nU4NC55Stu3qG3jw6hLWvI087a941UFxyWHYaCjgVIzNYCuTb37Ka3CFXbKrjQyUG-vg65kDF-OX-2tjyFI59G6uSt7M/s1600/DSC_0055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvq4NJnz9gjkzVYeTfEHGgFTYI-7BQryX-7rWzg2XhovTDO34nU4NC55Stu3qG3jw6hLWvI087a941UFxyWHYaCjgVIzNYCuTb37Ka3CFXbKrjQyUG-vg65kDF-OX-2tjyFI59G6uSt7M/s320/DSC_0055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or Hogsmeade?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCxpCAJGE2RwNajRNULxP3eb8hhYU9A527z0LO6CSbc826TS_R7YeU1KFqqjZg3TsnMwUeuobwRCqmlLGTQ3Edb5puRW0k8KR4IxloFVvPMolvQkpZ7e_LHlu-EromfjxtknCcUPW_aY/s1600/DSC_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCxpCAJGE2RwNajRNULxP3eb8hhYU9A527z0LO6CSbc826TS_R7YeU1KFqqjZg3TsnMwUeuobwRCqmlLGTQ3Edb5puRW0k8KR4IxloFVvPMolvQkpZ7e_LHlu-EromfjxtknCcUPW_aY/s320/DSC_0039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z7SwvUFYYOh02_rvXrR_zcpDmS6jqBuAg-ZqtpYXrUvHo6CG-5bUL40jae8NyKJzl6yK2LFDMvIABnNzgvgKwKaCAQEb_riJd-900aAcUv2XknYkhIgBNjFP3H3Pwn8d6Rj-kfSOHIU/s1600/DSC_0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z7SwvUFYYOh02_rvXrR_zcpDmS6jqBuAg-ZqtpYXrUvHo6CG-5bUL40jae8NyKJzl6yK2LFDMvIABnNzgvgKwKaCAQEb_riJd-900aAcUv2XknYkhIgBNjFP3H3Pwn8d6Rj-kfSOHIU/s320/DSC_0027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="p1"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And while I was there, I got you some presents...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zVyMHhrQ3BhNAn1O87bK-5JnBrw3NNY2v-YWer0snu0TtX6VpGu-yaAbMeKlHhcq0e1FPoejHcj8AaeRk0xrQjpZ9uiLhVyDu-3jWoY1_22nnhKDd46OBDrieyCsrnaE-P2eNrousyg/s1600/DSC_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zVyMHhrQ3BhNAn1O87bK-5JnBrw3NNY2v-YWer0snu0TtX6VpGu-yaAbMeKlHhcq0e1FPoejHcj8AaeRk0xrQjpZ9uiLhVyDu-3jWoY1_22nnhKDd46OBDrieyCsrnaE-P2eNrousyg/s320/DSC_0032.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chocolate Frogs, anyone?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TG10-oGiHPnf1itVgkXPwaYU9HXBVVNQ7Yvq-WaCPhkRxjDpu7Ei-TOTzlOCc1WkOizfhZwgdM2JTU-jrjIIkPNzoYCxNf9LRCLQUpVdbehOLV087EhKqJlA7qItJjngIRPjU7IQRDU/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TG10-oGiHPnf1itVgkXPwaYU9HXBVVNQ7Yvq-WaCPhkRxjDpu7Ei-TOTzlOCc1WkOizfhZwgdM2JTU-jrjIIkPNzoYCxNf9LRCLQUpVdbehOLV087EhKqJlA7qItJjngIRPjU7IQRDU/s320/DSC_0036.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Or do you prefer Butter Beer?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwELByO31dsN5C0u0tG2VleG2VOZorp1yZltfm7a4goSDRG4e2x-WNG7MqiIO7lifdnWGu6-WlUJCVI6qEeA78Z_HrvDIvIA62mn74joTDQTmDS1O5v7Tfb1cfDSCecGq030bd5YYio1c/s1600/DSC_0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwELByO31dsN5C0u0tG2VleG2VOZorp1yZltfm7a4goSDRG4e2x-WNG7MqiIO7lifdnWGu6-WlUJCVI6qEeA78Z_HrvDIvIA62mn74joTDQTmDS1O5v7Tfb1cfDSCecGq030bd5YYio1c/s320/DSC_0058.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh, I know! Wands for everyone!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Well, that's all for now...Huh? What? Oh, right! I almost forgot. (Too much Butter Beer. Sorry.) I was supposed to get my wand and show you the hardcover mock-up of Before Ever After.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQ-pHUrhHDFtvfAcVS6tMggBAeaWJng1Ye3rAD6PdolC6JWTDKb96J_ypQr4rNNWfHsXqZaHZoDpX_XlUsWYz5g_bahdmVgbYBQtNe0_MWt0XidBWm_Ifi_8HHYANwivhwWriVNsPY_M/s1600/P1040105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQ-pHUrhHDFtvfAcVS6tMggBAeaWJng1Ye3rAD6PdolC6JWTDKb96J_ypQr4rNNWfHsXqZaHZoDpX_XlUsWYz5g_bahdmVgbYBQtNe0_MWt0XidBWm_Ifi_8HHYANwivhwWriVNsPY_M/s320/P1040105.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hmmm. Okay...now how do you use this thing? I suggest you stand back...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XaDK8hQNMhVn3hh5qrk5Y9uugBGUvbRSYV54nnl8xlXV4EE_GTpjgc6b2f9xKIzvVRXVJhaPFxx4CdBjF1a8TFaDWOuWFNNDi4LP8uo4ys08PJZpjpLuXMbnOSEJ9cmmbByw63rlmaE/s1600/P1040113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XaDK8hQNMhVn3hh5qrk5Y9uugBGUvbRSYV54nnl8xlXV4EE_GTpjgc6b2f9xKIzvVRXVJhaPFxx4CdBjF1a8TFaDWOuWFNNDi4LP8uo4ys08PJZpjpLuXMbnOSEJ9cmmbByw63rlmaE/s320/P1040113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let me try changing this paperback ARC into...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyrvR0Su_YHrETrZzowXHC_o5_42fBgBg9sAn39e41kg3JSXgPyfbZ8z8RxR2dbZJCAKyo4BCTnWBOgnBw-076qk3PX0_x26zioJlm6kRzvR3RTJOzSopZjsWeFslNWm0nbJ2Tj6Etl8Y/s1600/thumb3_colorful_sparks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyrvR0Su_YHrETrZzowXHC_o5_42fBgBg9sAn39e41kg3JSXgPyfbZ8z8RxR2dbZJCAKyo4BCTnWBOgnBw-076qk3PX0_x26zioJlm6kRzvR3RTJOzSopZjsWeFslNWm0nbJ2Tj6Etl8Y/s400/thumb3_colorful_sparks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6Mbca9QwdrQv0bAMzQCBlT39QgNkMHNpjSemvA5g-yLyaiEvgNn9-ZpN_-MpX21mwmWmMIAQ5IHbCYDtF1F89cKcMx1BJ6fesQEfM-alcY9XDRR7ab4PQr1mQIC2Hu8xyw_V6jg07Zs/s1600/P1040114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6Mbca9QwdrQv0bAMzQCBlT39QgNkMHNpjSemvA5g-yLyaiEvgNn9-ZpN_-MpX21mwmWmMIAQ5IHbCYDtF1F89cKcMx1BJ6fesQEfM-alcY9XDRR7ab4PQr1mQIC2Hu8xyw_V6jg07Zs/s320/P1040114.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">..a hardcover copy!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dgvNvzXIagC4waGbuda7pMQhJ_dsNZUW9Xua7CYzVZpau0mEWZQG5c36R2Dkw18Q63jr_p817nUeP-D6QbO5dD7L-V6nArQbBXG_g_k7b1Lfje-2eU4w10rlmr090lRdwStEfFrZJEs/s1600/P1040108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dgvNvzXIagC4waGbuda7pMQhJ_dsNZUW9Xua7CYzVZpau0mEWZQG5c36R2Dkw18Q63jr_p817nUeP-D6QbO5dD7L-V6nArQbBXG_g_k7b1Lfje-2eU4w10rlmr090lRdwStEfFrZJEs/s320/P1040108.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="p1"><br />
</div><div class="p1">Phew! For a second there I thought I was going to blow up this blog. So do you think Professor Dumbledore will let me keep my robe?</div><div class="p1"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkJClmmEFCzxWx7L2PUTkOCT2riCB85q7a49MTH54pDUitg96JGWE5xearL00ifOYskcZKxWnS8DkEAk8XXr0yPKG4F6dmpMSCp08E-vRB3-sEUljTBJ-POTtLRmHeir0jT8QWhSuQVk/s1600/DSC_0070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkJClmmEFCzxWx7L2PUTkOCT2riCB85q7a49MTH54pDUitg96JGWE5xearL00ifOYskcZKxWnS8DkEAk8XXr0yPKG4F6dmpMSCp08E-vRB3-sEUljTBJ-POTtLRmHeir0jT8QWhSuQVk/s320/DSC_0070.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="p1"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-22223108696460530342011-05-10T17:31:00.000+08:002011-05-10T17:31:24.456+08:00I'm Off to See THREE Wizards!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3O9R44gZ6OghamH9auCItIS4XGLEQFhkQzMXuhBPz2yz70H7wZ4IkCZzrrEO3ee1pB9wL3m2gcqRtcoaQVWemnIREXtsYVmDsQLeMC-cQm1d9ibL3lEM6-71o6B5HULKbm8r4C8Hg3hI/s1600/suitcase-before-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3O9R44gZ6OghamH9auCItIS4XGLEQFhkQzMXuhBPz2yz70H7wZ4IkCZzrrEO3ee1pB9wL3m2gcqRtcoaQVWemnIREXtsYVmDsQLeMC-cQm1d9ibL3lEM6-71o6B5HULKbm8r4C8Hg3hI/s320/suitcase-before-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/05/before-after-daniel-and-devons-suitcase.html">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Hey, gang! I'll be travelling for about a month, so I may not be able to join the fun in the blogosphere while I'm out. It's always a tough call choosing between paying for Hotel Wi-Fi and eating.<br />
<br />
I'll try to drop you guys some postcards during my quest to meet three amazing "wizards." Who are they? I wouldn't be me if I told you who they were, right? Don't worry. I'll leave you some clues. I'm not <i>that</i> evil. Well, okay. Maybe just a little ;-)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Wizard One - </b><a href="http://theslightdetour.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-i-met-my-agent.html">When I first met her, I was over the moon!</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYal0Bngl9O4tUMGOmRGnshoqy8kIWpyRN9V8rqn80DQxcfrV3fBgpiRZHV__Phlfgut4OZSqxrP5LjcKufcTE0umx9LuOaLh_DS4W2hlB7CYGkf-_ypETUY0NK8HygNtJl8kQAa3qTE/s1600/and_the_Cow_Jumped_Over_the_MOOn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYal0Bngl9O4tUMGOmRGnshoqy8kIWpyRN9V8rqn80DQxcfrV3fBgpiRZHV__Phlfgut4OZSqxrP5LjcKufcTE0umx9LuOaLh_DS4W2hlB7CYGkf-_ypETUY0NK8HygNtJl8kQAa3qTE/s320/and_the_Cow_Jumped_Over_the_MOOn.jpg" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.godoreen.com/">photo credit</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Wizard Two - </b>"So much of life life, it seems to me, is determined by pure <b><i>random</i></b>ness." - Sydney Poitier</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mVGIk-KPDJkHUP0t2QxTupBqYB1HHivT99k-IavTYXQzs-5w3PZHIyRCjsy14XWKb9zyRt8kTx8nJGQWDOPe9K3ot8c2wzTce19aJ62-gorzOnKognAt3PnpUW5C9aWGT081QmPv0Ko/s1600/Random-House_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mVGIk-KPDJkHUP0t2QxTupBqYB1HHivT99k-IavTYXQzs-5w3PZHIyRCjsy14XWKb9zyRt8kTx8nJGQWDOPe9K3ot8c2wzTce19aJ62-gorzOnKognAt3PnpUW5C9aWGT081QmPv0Ko/s320/Random-House_0.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/about/contact.html">Does this house look familiar?</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Wizard Three - </b>I'm all out of <a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Floo_Powder">Floo Powder</a>, so I might just have to catch a train to see him.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeY87NxG3qQWoScAHlgYsFqdx2O2NRmgdzFo9EDXKlD4i04UfrNTykYMmfWjhjwmGPCH-PLerxq4UbKSZWUn11lVXPDQhwqKAwv7ECToc22pB7acjqlZFF8ekfrMAbPE59s_fNcxB-ACc/s1600/_42723085_hogwarts_pa416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeY87NxG3qQWoScAHlgYsFqdx2O2NRmgdzFo9EDXKlD4i04UfrNTykYMmfWjhjwmGPCH-PLerxq4UbKSZWUn11lVXPDQhwqKAwv7ECToc22pB7acjqlZFF8ekfrMAbPE59s_fNcxB-ACc/s320/_42723085_hogwarts_pa416.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_6490000/newsid_6491000/6491027.stm">photo credit</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">See you soon!</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span id="goog_381482268"></span><span id="goog_381482269"></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><b><br />
</b>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-45721894890416451402011-05-06T00:01:00.001+08:002011-05-06T11:10:16.453+08:00Friday Field Trip: Scavenger Hunt Down Under<style type="text/css">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6vKOg5f6ZEI2bFVWLTxqNWVDNfryUXv8GHq_DQkqhQ-pTZqjzlkNWN7mgx67ewRKFabhLdjy5vMkzmIEcUgJPVIqwnsihlznHvELVL1MsyCJFB6DbRjtYjFZqcpbEHU3shho9S1nVf0/s1600/Aqua+duck.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6vKOg5f6ZEI2bFVWLTxqNWVDNfryUXv8GHq_DQkqhQ-pTZqjzlkNWN7mgx67ewRKFabhLdjy5vMkzmIEcUgJPVIqwnsihlznHvELVL1MsyCJFB6DbRjtYjFZqcpbEHU3shho9S1nVf0/s1600/Aqua+duck.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.backpackertours.info/tours/aqua_duck_-_gold_coast/">Aqua Duck - Gold Coast</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hey, campers! Glad you’re here for the second part our Adventure Down Under Field. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One thing I love about traveling is how it can make the ordinary seem new again when viewed in a different environment or context. It’s the same thing I appreciate about my favorite authors. They can make the mundane feel special, the big appear small and keep the spectacular hidden in plain sight. They are experts at the art of illusion and blindsiding.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On today’s field trip, we’re going on an Australian scavenger hunt for little seeds of storytelling inspiration that you might like to plant in your organic idea garden. You'll be harvesting fresh plot twists before you know it. </span><br />
<div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Are you ready? Stay sharp and don’t forget to look in the corners. Ready…get set…go!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Perspectivus Zoomous Inus</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When fully grown, this tree bears the "A-ha!" fruit which allows main characters to see things from a different angle.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72HDd-5DwWzxAdgMGPsiTFZyvJHzysLfu1zCLtgFF8TdtW35ySSacCmnF414JGyuejobNwn06NsNyYGWXTxY7YdLGHLwnD2HG3xtRDiUeIIQUTkjM7BIXdfoT9QtIMWZierGOPiukfO8/s1600/P1020696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72HDd-5DwWzxAdgMGPsiTFZyvJHzysLfu1zCLtgFF8TdtW35ySSacCmnF414JGyuejobNwn06NsNyYGWXTxY7YdLGHLwnD2HG3xtRDiUeIIQUTkjM7BIXdfoT9QtIMWZierGOPiukfO8/s320/P1020696.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">An earless pig or is it a...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsUHO3WOg6ImTVOdc6KHgOvUwxQgqtEdmNv-kVA7Augf6t0TZW0SwHecvKOVPUeUOZPjKjHUmK9GG2aM83GxzfmMnQ53P-vMUuEN4zR36Nr9uzcuVjIDCVqBh945sMwSlLZAHgqOmhNg/s1600/P1020697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsUHO3WOg6ImTVOdc6KHgOvUwxQgqtEdmNv-kVA7Augf6t0TZW0SwHecvKOVPUeUOZPjKjHUmK9GG2aM83GxzfmMnQ53P-vMUuEN4zR36Nr9uzcuVjIDCVqBh945sMwSlLZAHgqOmhNg/s320/P1020697.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And how about this?</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWxJ4gkTQWAmIHX9ChTGS1M_7_D-ALXKPrRjyUOANGHcVlarD0B4pGyt_jyMVOP0tj_i48wxfMDPDQAj9qN7Yio8TKTS6Hks00f47Opg_8dtE1Ph2kNnedNvz2ZDqWWD1KKNVJi0iRUI/s1600/P1020693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWxJ4gkTQWAmIHX9ChTGS1M_7_D-ALXKPrRjyUOANGHcVlarD0B4pGyt_jyMVOP0tj_i48wxfMDPDQAj9qN7Yio8TKTS6Hks00f47Opg_8dtE1Ph2kNnedNvz2ZDqWWD1KKNVJi0iRUI/s320/P1020693.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Is it a marshmallow with Kim Kardashian's eyelashes or is it....<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenT0462tXaXVjXIzQjz5jSRiPeEW5cDBL2TOFcyFLbwx1fZsMvJUzOfK8LtJggSBGM0z5hbrFkPkOiK-wRRaRDWd271OBCBz48xnMt41LCWy0n0uvWGVQObCt3WguMZ7kqBSkQG0ZuAc/s1600/P1020694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenT0462tXaXVjXIzQjz5jSRiPeEW5cDBL2TOFcyFLbwx1fZsMvJUzOfK8LtJggSBGM0z5hbrFkPkOiK-wRRaRDWd271OBCBz48xnMt41LCWy0n0uvWGVQObCt3WguMZ7kqBSkQG0ZuAc/s320/P1020694.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Dinosaurus Restroomus </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The leaves of this plant must be steeped in boiling water to make tea. Readers must drink this tea from floral cups until they feel so calm that they...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPhOJ3oaWIjVEKcNkU5xXlOW4u9rerUu7E3wbY5qLDUeoY3tPOzkjFm-tvtDrEQdnMO8S8FQYqSDSrycynl64v4Fuu3AF0cjXyYDJyrIeNvPaKJosych31JaaHRs7UyjDWEN4qgqNUeE/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPhOJ3oaWIjVEKcNkU5xXlOW4u9rerUu7E3wbY5qLDUeoY3tPOzkjFm-tvtDrEQdnMO8S8FQYqSDSrycynl64v4Fuu3AF0cjXyYDJyrIeNvPaKJosych31JaaHRs7UyjDWEN4qgqNUeE/s400/DSC_0242.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">...can hear the waves,</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMI3f_XmYaMLfLyJBjrH5gBCZ4f-L7IuvChfrbm_QPa_nmQ77Xed2Zsmd40L8mp8E_Qy8Q997i-cMVss97sbSYKhEMNUhAAruK8Lr9Iq7VqPE7D8LU4_RAcw2gzf-yor7WWSuzyedck_8/s1600/DSC_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMI3f_XmYaMLfLyJBjrH5gBCZ4f-L7IuvChfrbm_QPa_nmQ77Xed2Zsmd40L8mp8E_Qy8Q997i-cMVss97sbSYKhEMNUhAAruK8Lr9Iq7VqPE7D8LU4_RAcw2gzf-yor7WWSuzyedck_8/s400/DSC_0142.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">....feel the breeze in their hair,</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoZo_gov5-boRZd4Qaxem2pYyVp_tPjEMJZ_n5RCAfRxp7kzGHIWFVGCqvZDbNoksiW69dzSP9WadUBr1rbJLm3EmRl4ePb5gzg67IHseEB3PZ6JkQSKmqaE314ticIHjHLFOAYHZkuQ/s1600/DSC_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoZo_gov5-boRZd4Qaxem2pYyVp_tPjEMJZ_n5RCAfRxp7kzGHIWFVGCqvZDbNoksiW69dzSP9WadUBr1rbJLm3EmRl4ePb5gzg67IHseEB3PZ6JkQSKmqaE314ticIHjHLFOAYHZkuQ/s400/DSC_0133.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and feel the warmth of the sun on their skin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
And then, at the peak of bliss, at the point where they think that they cannot possibly feel more relaxed....<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sq7Ud117y0F_tkRgYaZfC7UK3x_BCiTuBx5bdHRZFV4zdTrUe0mTKRypGCcu1dEqsx9avl67fIh8E6GLZbqFMb5Y4jeral3GQDupazcHkKYja1qFwKZlXE7uPQabaErOSUZCfmSyit4/s1600/P1020615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sq7Ud117y0F_tkRgYaZfC7UK3x_BCiTuBx5bdHRZFV4zdTrUe0mTKRypGCcu1dEqsx9avl67fIh8E6GLZbqFMb5Y4jeral3GQDupazcHkKYja1qFwKZlXE7uPQabaErOSUZCfmSyit4/s400/P1020615.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...send a dinosaur to get them in the ladies room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRP_n7FQjYvJqaSOXJmxcx4fMpRDetF0o252swTvV8A3r1ZVN7y0II6_x2TNbKdoLdcJmPA9bIFFpqV1u3MkkpUPSNZi9GE3VlpnfqP9syPVrOe6g03X5f8mE-BH1uYM1uU2_JPtmkwyg/s1600/P1020618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRP_n7FQjYvJqaSOXJmxcx4fMpRDetF0o252swTvV8A3r1ZVN7y0II6_x2TNbKdoLdcJmPA9bIFFpqV1u3MkkpUPSNZi9GE3VlpnfqP9syPVrOe6g03X5f8mE-BH1uYM1uU2_JPtmkwyg/s400/P1020618.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Burp* Who's next?</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Evilus Koala-us </b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Choose the cutest, cuddliest and sweetest characters. Let them chew a mouthful of this herb to turn them from this... </span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pqs_EWT8m7d3c276iXRljTRIIL1q4z3mlUvcBZstHVH_wk6CDpjs0eGqfQZDzIXNZjtZZAuCBsx4atd1ZyA3Zy3hyphenhyphenMdrGhVuP0XgOiGVVXAlt0QEJhlp82YveX7NaA6L7zUB_G9s1O8/s1600/DSC_0809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pqs_EWT8m7d3c276iXRljTRIIL1q4z3mlUvcBZstHVH_wk6CDpjs0eGqfQZDzIXNZjtZZAuCBsx4atd1ZyA3Zy3hyphenhyphenMdrGhVuP0XgOiGVVXAlt0QEJhlp82YveX7NaA6L7zUB_G9s1O8/s400/DSC_0809.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">....into this. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCcLt7fHH4W0oDwOq2IKKNwHXg3st6JEJAqLDpwoRQWfodZbpr4KFZFOy6namxkyDBz2Tlhp7X2223rEAvU61DWN1AiIPmVRL8IoyWYqR6MAEkigz4x1s20QgTKBKPQyukPZZyErC_5k/s1600/P1020705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCcLt7fHH4W0oDwOq2IKKNwHXg3st6JEJAqLDpwoRQWfodZbpr4KFZFOy6namxkyDBz2Tlhp7X2223rEAvU61DWN1AiIPmVRL8IoyWYqR6MAEkigz4x1s20QgTKBKPQyukPZZyErC_5k/s320/P1020705.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div></div><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Dreamus Sequencus </span></b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Grind up the roots of this plant and slip into a main character's drink to induce a deep sleep. </span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvxEM6Wmu7CSZ_nuxzFfTtxOaypDu7EsfB2DVZ7IpRcHIX54hLV0-Wl5_C3-NpJFPGABtz7-0qPuXYP5FukphkzlhNoby2gcd8WydnSoBarEXcGptK_OnIlWa0z6cq-uEH224a6gkAGQ/s1600/DSC_0968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvxEM6Wmu7CSZ_nuxzFfTtxOaypDu7EsfB2DVZ7IpRcHIX54hLV0-Wl5_C3-NpJFPGABtz7-0qPuXYP5FukphkzlhNoby2gcd8WydnSoBarEXcGptK_OnIlWa0z6cq-uEH224a6gkAGQ/s400/DSC_0968.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">*Cue psychedelic dream sequence*</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYo-XBviQgE4y3Zm9TjaJluxmkYwr6LgrWGQkv-uZGby4bGODf4jwv51hhYjW7DST_djUhdbZNzCNzG8RkTyyYgFitGcgix9nh7TIZk4SBzglmDQWE7Sf3zvpRUQ68FBa02uyaF37Dxkg/s1600/DSC_0983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYo-XBviQgE4y3Zm9TjaJluxmkYwr6LgrWGQkv-uZGby4bGODf4jwv51hhYjW7DST_djUhdbZNzCNzG8RkTyyYgFitGcgix9nh7TIZk4SBzglmDQWE7Sf3zvpRUQ68FBa02uyaF37Dxkg/s400/DSC_0983.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mwveC4ztaXbkcdGjk5BjZp4UUrC4fMF8EXo6Eo8XQ4WVMgkl5X_clwNy6kluKokDtdKQY68r3X2pkVBDGR_h7mvWWLAsIA07zp4hTeHsfIxnXsoexF0v0SM-VO24ioov_uE3pcik1ns/s1600/P1020722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mwveC4ztaXbkcdGjk5BjZp4UUrC4fMF8EXo6Eo8XQ4WVMgkl5X_clwNy6kluKokDtdKQY68r3X2pkVBDGR_h7mvWWLAsIA07zp4hTeHsfIxnXsoexF0v0SM-VO24ioov_uE3pcik1ns/s320/P1020722.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then wake them up with an attack of mutant insects.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbtX1D_PxoviWa0QwwG3M9_20UMySwGEmCsX_XPj35YJppBklKiozc98hI-8v_4Y4oyCPs3FJ8m3Ct0-ydXAw0774dcGypUHEbdXNt9b-IWYxnhRJ6RJZSdF9ZXe7ha6Mi1TQqBxCcPk/s1600/DSC_0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbtX1D_PxoviWa0QwwG3M9_20UMySwGEmCsX_XPj35YJppBklKiozc98hI-8v_4Y4oyCPs3FJ8m3Ct0-ydXAw0774dcGypUHEbdXNt9b-IWYxnhRJ6RJZSdF9ZXe7ha6Mi1TQqBxCcPk/s400/DSC_0076.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I hope you enjoyed our little scavenger hunt, campers! Don't forget to take care of your plants and water them everyday. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-65952740105230988082011-05-02T21:40:00.000+08:002011-05-02T21:40:55.481+08:00Sshhh! I Have Another Secret!<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, I can't tell you what it is just yet. Patience, little grasshopper. In two months, all will be revealed.<br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I suppose I could leave you with a little clue...<br />
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</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAghzBgUVHGxRdalngRGVuI9c4epEVznO_qnQWJBwxLtvRAcR1EUKeQBFNKLchju82zlIhZEUGvNvvVKiCWWlIVZ1Ns18mfjYix34kM01TheEwqEBYWQ9td95Ur59I92pwEpgLj3W7Dk/s1600/P1020910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAghzBgUVHGxRdalngRGVuI9c4epEVznO_qnQWJBwxLtvRAcR1EUKeQBFNKLchju82zlIhZEUGvNvvVKiCWWlIVZ1Ns18mfjYix34kM01TheEwqEBYWQ9td95Ur59I92pwEpgLj3W7Dk/s400/P1020910.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is for work. Really.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div></div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-72935283764607283812011-05-01T00:04:00.000+08:002011-05-01T00:04:33.581+08:00Breaking News: First Vlog review of Before Ever After!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5-KXsW2cMHfzzrtfNVzFRj4juoelCvTDNpldpE5fAb-dihhjWsqpuchQSFCS26nuUXfqDOLOXM9Pjcf3vBH1hDu-PUzRXPUBAfCjU_itSL8pgS7CgF8nt7I9oiAmbbKfbWMis9bEIms/s1600/e640ec9fd0d77402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5-KXsW2cMHfzzrtfNVzFRj4juoelCvTDNpldpE5fAb-dihhjWsqpuchQSFCS26nuUXfqDOLOXM9Pjcf3vBH1hDu-PUzRXPUBAfCjU_itSL8pgS7CgF8nt7I9oiAmbbKfbWMis9bEIms/s1600/e640ec9fd0d77402.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">I was literally about to go to sleep when I found out that the a-mazing <a href="http://www.kateevangelista.com/">KATE EVANGELISTA</a> posted the FIRST EVER VLOG REVIEW of Before Ever After. (And now that I've watched her review, I don't think I'll be able to go back to bed! :D)</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">You can check out her vlog<a href="http://kateevangelistarandr.blogspot.com/2011/04/before-ever-after-by-samantha-sotto.html"> HERE.</a></span></span><br />
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</span></span>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-7748786687772047892011-04-30T22:59:00.000+08:002011-04-30T22:59:50.233+08:00Now you see me...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqYqxLxu4HHaYHVn4QOTOkVGC8I_p86bcwCHAZ6vzkYhYE43ldwpoMQ1OYvMMYYcok7q8RtvydJz0BOSUB39IaDAM8BFiXJVsIKidlxafpwRsT-7SFzLS3rbFeSSAwm9b9CsP_oFXCvU/s1600/Easter-rabbit-in-the-hat-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqYqxLxu4HHaYHVn4QOTOkVGC8I_p86bcwCHAZ6vzkYhYE43ldwpoMQ1OYvMMYYcok7q8RtvydJz0BOSUB39IaDAM8BFiXJVsIKidlxafpwRsT-7SFzLS3rbFeSSAwm9b9CsP_oFXCvU/s320/Easter-rabbit-in-the-hat-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;">...now you don't! That's because I'm </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;">guest blogging over at "Everyday Gyaan" today. See you <a href="http://www.everydaygyaan.com/2011/04/surprise.html">there!</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-78586321418144441132011-04-29T08:28:00.000+08:002011-04-29T08:28:01.563+08:00Want a FREE book? Join Goodreads' Before Ever After Giveaway Promo!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVa-zzU8vCxvTwdkjxAV4M6kFU1FFFBul6eT1GhqakChkADG8BwgEwBxm-GPA6HD_BcF1H1cun_FaOaIEMIJv4bm4-eEf0U5EJt7pER5W3iEvLMytXtyBdOYKjFs8kPrV8OhQxOTLV9Wg/s1600/Buried+in+books+-+Salon.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVa-zzU8vCxvTwdkjxAV4M6kFU1FFFBul6eT1GhqakChkADG8BwgEwBxm-GPA6HD_BcF1H1cun_FaOaIEMIJv4bm4-eEf0U5EJt7pER5W3iEvLMytXtyBdOYKjFs8kPrV8OhQxOTLV9Wg/s1600/Buried+in+books+-+Salon.com.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://beattiesbookblog.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Hi, US-based friends! Have you requested for a FREE copy of Before Ever After yet? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">There's <b>ONE DAY more to go before Goodreads giveaway promo ends!</b> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdz96yOAQ4fN0qBNK7B0AD87Kzcw2UX0oTMPukMmwIs9f5jtKMdT4PsA6fPLh4njN_gxpf7UJbmPTLsh375dOyyq86ucSqxdMba4CjXq5avYUrd3sCGu7OLLUO768aCqIMiGprLda4lY/s1600/goodreads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdz96yOAQ4fN0qBNK7B0AD87Kzcw2UX0oTMPukMmwIs9f5jtKMdT4PsA6fPLh4njN_gxpf7UJbmPTLsh375dOyyq86ucSqxdMba4CjXq5avYUrd3sCGu7OLLUO768aCqIMiGprLda4lY/s1600/goodreads.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Add Before Ever After to your Goodrads<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> <b>to-read shelf today</b></span> and click <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/9605-before-ever-after">HERE</a> to join the promo!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Winner Winner Chicken Dinner! Good luck! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-9676014446238767282011-04-28T21:45:00.000+08:002011-04-28T21:45:14.917+08:00Koala Conga Time! More Praise for Before Ever After! Woohoo!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_XE3qSG0MxXPsFfYzJuHAK1a1euq6zBvSMFc0G1zPjal66-ipHXBXWBEbSUszuR_BGqgExWJ-nPSYIXk-pPgjK_1gNUHaX4g3_g1Y7c3Cd7KRIFEt2xMmtKA_DeThaPkzSUZfzxGbgg/s1600/Koala+Conga.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_XE3qSG0MxXPsFfYzJuHAK1a1euq6zBvSMFc0G1zPjal66-ipHXBXWBEbSUszuR_BGqgExWJ-nPSYIXk-pPgjK_1gNUHaX4g3_g1Y7c3Cd7KRIFEt2xMmtKA_DeThaPkzSUZfzxGbgg/s400/Koala+Conga.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kevincharnas.com/labels/Song%20and%20Dance.html">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>G'Day! You may have noticed that our little van has been hijacked again. I really must set up better security for our Friday Field Trips. But what's a tour guide to do when not one - but TWO - amazing blurbs hop aboard the bus? Why, I start a Koala Happy Dance Conga line of course! (Can you tell that I'm still hungover from my recent holiday Down Under? Must have been all that Eucalyptus...)<br />
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But before you put on your dancing shoes, come and read what these wonderful authors have to say about Before Ever After:<br />
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<div class="p1"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbzun0LoOFLxHYVrUz3V27FymwotGzEKrDUwkf4QNum8bOso53_ecFdXAyMT1dD771Im1oO5tPgiAT6kD5T_mGu5ROXo3JVYsxpkA9BH0f7FFetMOrJqgAzt-NxgBm-AxRWWQjdH107M/s1600/Smolinski.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbzun0LoOFLxHYVrUz3V27FymwotGzEKrDUwkf4QNum8bOso53_ecFdXAyMT1dD771Im1oO5tPgiAT6kD5T_mGu5ROXo3JVYsxpkA9BH0f7FFetMOrJqgAzt-NxgBm-AxRWWQjdH107M/s1600/Smolinski.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://jillsmolinski.com/index.php">Jill Smolinski, author of THE NEXT THING ON MY LIST and FLIP FLOPPED</a>:</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">"I was absolutely enchanted by <i>Before Ever After</i> - it's a highly original and engaging mix of romance, mystery and magic that will challenge everything you think you know about happily ever after."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span">(p.s. See you Monday for part 2 of our Adventure Down Under!)</span></span><br />
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</span></div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-13663973455317597442011-04-24T20:56:00.000+08:002011-04-24T20:56:24.789+08:00Not-Quite-Friday Field Trip: Adventure Down Under!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKj1I3rEeyIhzWpJdsbG5TvrmQHTUGTfSXuzoGPVnDL_5pJ_dSpjxLdflUGzoKHQOywhxM5y6WRtdXQsT8ZY7iHs6HbyjaAD8gnKKu7nyY3FzbE40I-iVhgr83E5lFEBLgcCirn1vz_g/s1600/P1020224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKj1I3rEeyIhzWpJdsbG5TvrmQHTUGTfSXuzoGPVnDL_5pJ_dSpjxLdflUGzoKHQOywhxM5y6WRtdXQsT8ZY7iHs6HbyjaAD8gnKKu7nyY3FzbE40I-iVhgr83E5lFEBLgcCirn1vz_g/s200/P1020224.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>G'Day mates! Greetings from Australia! I'm on vacation at the moment, but I was lucky enough to find a substitute guide for our Fill-in-the-day-the-WiFi-decides-to-cooperate-and-finish-uploading-my-photos Field Trip.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmw-0eipTn-QXupevKB7xbYxg3VMTIVSmWn6HWenCkF8ADMR1gJhAF0izRKnNSeiRW0AenVSC-p_jC50WcJ-JhUE76aH9wb_NMeo1sKgcqQ2NZvS-SsuukD_Q1pXL6TjYeBqDqJLEMv7U/s1600/DSC_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmw-0eipTn-QXupevKB7xbYxg3VMTIVSmWn6HWenCkF8ADMR1gJhAF0izRKnNSeiRW0AenVSC-p_jC50WcJ-JhUE76aH9wb_NMeo1sKgcqQ2NZvS-SsuukD_Q1pXL6TjYeBqDqJLEMv7U/s320/DSC_0319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
She's far more seasoned at this sort of thing than I am. Ah! Here she is now.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLjafJhk8LvcukWoOBwRBkKLPsbIeAPpLvy38So17C2j85Ifg8Srgb_-hg6Y3K-X_YaoFB0Uq_FlioT-dM6uqjmTwF7YAr8Y5k4sy07N0G2OXQ090lWdyCMUW7rpmp44etpUNeCi4e8M/s1600/P1020128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLjafJhk8LvcukWoOBwRBkKLPsbIeAPpLvy38So17C2j85Ifg8Srgb_-hg6Y3K-X_YaoFB0Uq_FlioT-dM6uqjmTwF7YAr8Y5k4sy07N0G2OXQ090lWdyCMUW7rpmp44etpUNeCi4e8M/s320/P1020128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
And it looks like she even brought her own photographer!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_aiZOr2jc1xWt2X7PqfgHIFrvFm6Dqmwgg_EDJE8POosEeSCyllesSx3_tEmsk4CXZ92uc7NTv4ZthyphenhyphenwwxRJYh4UmrV6TXrF5ZHn9VIHeEeK_TL6KAcTkw8IMaYFrr1vaHKTmD-piak/s1600/P1010992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_aiZOr2jc1xWt2X7PqfgHIFrvFm6Dqmwgg_EDJE8POosEeSCyllesSx3_tEmsk4CXZ92uc7NTv4ZthyphenhyphenwwxRJYh4UmrV6TXrF5ZHn9VIHeEeK_TL6KAcTkw8IMaYFrr1vaHKTmD-piak/s320/P1010992.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Are you ready? Just follow the girl in the pink backpack!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZuHQo-p-E7AUaNfaYzwFYPg2BCvEV1_F7wvV2OOFcGffXk_tRSfk791WYD1A6H2CQb9tpH8uNjy4vyqOpKECaTFE3-4fe8pTWtacMXzVx3AaubYT3r6-qFeSBEWUG_4ejwoZGDK1upo/s1600/DSC_0591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZuHQo-p-E7AUaNfaYzwFYPg2BCvEV1_F7wvV2OOFcGffXk_tRSfk791WYD1A6H2CQb9tpH8uNjy4vyqOpKECaTFE3-4fe8pTWtacMXzVx3AaubYT3r6-qFeSBEWUG_4ejwoZGDK1upo/s320/DSC_0591.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Hi, campers! This is where we'll be staying on our trip to the Gold Coast.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8N3sGv8GNi5kHUpoCC3nK__p49yU73cxg8Dlvezt94VrDnYYcDwBB7GZ3SOKvN46PZWJOWHWqrWcya8ciurb4cS75yLaP6be2aZa2Cv2xBVQK_YSUcBfyk4NvZJ4zcTQB1hXFZtEVNs/s1600/P1010962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8N3sGv8GNi5kHUpoCC3nK__p49yU73cxg8Dlvezt94VrDnYYcDwBB7GZ3SOKvN46PZWJOWHWqrWcya8ciurb4cS75yLaP6be2aZa2Cv2xBVQK_YSUcBfyk4NvZJ4zcTQB1hXFZtEVNs/s320/P1010962.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Can you give me a second to figure out our first stop?</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlZk-E0APOgOeqH249sWAzSqWBoiZvmgqBBbp0vdzqC1oM0aRxpatF7M2X5MUmwzCQsFaqUUMpafrHaNnph1zpCNRrRCB0AgUgY6M3O66-MPgFGC79AGBrDBqXWVXHGgaghhSe8fzMls/s1600/DSC_0238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlZk-E0APOgOeqH249sWAzSqWBoiZvmgqBBbp0vdzqC1oM0aRxpatF7M2X5MUmwzCQsFaqUUMpafrHaNnph1zpCNRrRCB0AgUgY6M3O66-MPgFGC79AGBrDBqXWVXHGgaghhSe8fzMls/s320/DSC_0238.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Hey! It looks like the perfect day for the beach.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-ULNA2TyZV0cGV1UeUv4aUN7T8kLfiWUN2fc98B2GQg9FMGQFaeHNPUy3i9X06m_mII03qwljW9HN0XzsFAFUtwDk6M3W-KrhOE6kyR1B3N1HSRwrRXWDA4sCA7T-AFHRdOoLmAl1UM/s1600/DSC_0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-ULNA2TyZV0cGV1UeUv4aUN7T8kLfiWUN2fc98B2GQg9FMGQFaeHNPUy3i9X06m_mII03qwljW9HN0XzsFAFUtwDk6M3W-KrhOE6kyR1B3N1HSRwrRXWDA4sCA7T-AFHRdOoLmAl1UM/s320/DSC_0252.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Let's go!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW0gXF7c0bGs5IrU7-trfxpDrXt1TnC2HlilMgBzF274lZRQeh0rkTbApeo6F9uJw8a6BoGhLBVTTmWTdFTcndzGfrYSmuVpRBYXwdsVbFeNmgbRh1r-vb-g_XscYmwPnY5wSgBPmjkQ/s1600/DSC_0731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW0gXF7c0bGs5IrU7-trfxpDrXt1TnC2HlilMgBzF274lZRQeh0rkTbApeo6F9uJw8a6BoGhLBVTTmWTdFTcndzGfrYSmuVpRBYXwdsVbFeNmgbRh1r-vb-g_XscYmwPnY5wSgBPmjkQ/s320/DSC_0731.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_zIq1yiEV30Epo8syBEO-bMEBA_XHu0_7_wwBIUnzfAaTBgb57vp3ic7EV9nU6ILfcwF1I5-ULggJYu1PRMqM4sbR9YNPWrFN5ba172BfzZ-fcsnObE7nhwCdkkxk8mHcEZ94V2YZVk/s1600/DSC_0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_zIq1yiEV30Epo8syBEO-bMEBA_XHu0_7_wwBIUnzfAaTBgb57vp3ic7EV9nU6ILfcwF1I5-ULggJYu1PRMqM4sbR9YNPWrFN5ba172BfzZ-fcsnObE7nhwCdkkxk8mHcEZ94V2YZVk/s320/DSC_0246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9c8CkzpoGmmPsg9NAjQ93GTdU5l0Swob7qJdbMKfMxoHTR66_scleUncIfbTKaJVamgOGmlt_Duez4KtL3x179RLCZ95OmE51ocbDu-Qns9_EH3mWdjXGfovZRi6kjqpbWMnYHRHYh2o/s1600/DSC_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9c8CkzpoGmmPsg9NAjQ93GTdU5l0Swob7qJdbMKfMxoHTR66_scleUncIfbTKaJVamgOGmlt_Duez4KtL3x179RLCZ95OmE51ocbDu-Qns9_EH3mWdjXGfovZRi6kjqpbWMnYHRHYh2o/s320/DSC_0240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And what would a trip to the Gold Coast be without a visit to one of its theme parks?</i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5dWJ5IT_8hguvckQAKj03Y7LFtxk-bJ4EQJ4VhYKlZJzL2IsjSHutzcTSLWwXsFF8gwW6lkLAGIAc1cHytTkmWJAjmU_O-vFtqs5RXjMN-Frr7bShOKLw2D3EpJyMq2oQC5IhedNdss/s1600/DSC_0398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5dWJ5IT_8hguvckQAKj03Y7LFtxk-bJ4EQJ4VhYKlZJzL2IsjSHutzcTSLWwXsFF8gwW6lkLAGIAc1cHytTkmWJAjmU_O-vFtqs5RXjMN-Frr7bShOKLw2D3EpJyMq2oQC5IhedNdss/s320/DSC_0398.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Dream World, here we come!<br />
</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4By6TgsYFmMzL4KBh8iZGRkRQA1aPZp4rIRNLfS6wZGKRm7ahkuwZiBekmAEFBbmmuTxxKeJqvWrGqk-czoSkCtKSavs_cy4WBIxP5euttqZnoIrMJvtyNOE6m0d85g3yvFMv-t6cP1I/s1600/P1020022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4By6TgsYFmMzL4KBh8iZGRkRQA1aPZp4rIRNLfS6wZGKRm7ahkuwZiBekmAEFBbmmuTxxKeJqvWrGqk-czoSkCtKSavs_cy4WBIxP5euttqZnoIrMJvtyNOE6m0d85g3yvFMv-t6cP1I/s320/P1020022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Oooh! This ride is just my thing! :)</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XEgwx0gInPn2fccweejPaipKqBaIui-OX079noz2HY1W-5tpMC4dpExskuWrz8vh_HgdCnsP04gQCgeTVM81g2uSbpQ46V5TvLqAlcZGP8CZKF_yCVOfSzUchDRM3fDdH9BCdRTBV40/s1600/P1020017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XEgwx0gInPn2fccweejPaipKqBaIui-OX079noz2HY1W-5tpMC4dpExskuWrz8vh_HgdCnsP04gQCgeTVM81g2uSbpQ46V5TvLqAlcZGP8CZKF_yCVOfSzUchDRM3fDdH9BCdRTBV40/s320/P1020017.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Um...okay. Maybe not.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoilozihg0dMlM3TuhaMSU0bJw9vf5MAwI9AVugXSIon3Q8GqGtFYlZIuaWMKnqnHAKV7g1bMQdLtYxUzqsK9TJF0m8_5Wdjygf8wZya568TPVjs9vUp5bZt346tM2IDYvDNySCjenaQ/s1600/P1020014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoilozihg0dMlM3TuhaMSU0bJw9vf5MAwI9AVugXSIon3Q8GqGtFYlZIuaWMKnqnHAKV7g1bMQdLtYxUzqsK9TJF0m8_5Wdjygf8wZya568TPVjs9vUp5bZt346tM2IDYvDNySCjenaQ/s320/P1020014.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>I didn't really want to go on it anyway.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfctcPXqH0wK80t7jrPRCjXExSiYOvg8LoBRpEGiyNBw-hesB0CU77jCe6b5q66whA9Nh3j4lwrYR3mDhmeX9lIE2jXSuMkEkYqYkggIm24c2s5QkA_sjMj49k8Aq-2m6SHXLKGb88Cw/s1600/P1020166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfctcPXqH0wK80t7jrPRCjXExSiYOvg8LoBRpEGiyNBw-hesB0CU77jCe6b5q66whA9Nh3j4lwrYR3mDhmeX9lIE2jXSuMkEkYqYkggIm24c2s5QkA_sjMj49k8Aq-2m6SHXLKGb88Cw/s320/P1020166.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Teacups are far more exciting.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-4HIEgpt9CS31kNX9_uicg13Dl_RABiNsjb-Juc3yG4-psEadx06M5THn0bpwmp4vw3yGgG8AUhDIvd-iw2bldQD2fcIqdlJO4WGKcgTNnvJHKEWyd8DxALb_TgWx3KiBDeHP5xHxGU/s1600/P1020005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-4HIEgpt9CS31kNX9_uicg13Dl_RABiNsjb-Juc3yG4-psEadx06M5THn0bpwmp4vw3yGgG8AUhDIvd-iw2bldQD2fcIqdlJO4WGKcgTNnvJHKEWyd8DxALb_TgWx3KiBDeHP5xHxGU/s320/P1020005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>They're almost as much fun as wrestling crocodiles.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitm3qvkypjyb1eYakM8yynIXDofBSv4KGqMsNUrwJlalaBODIK2WWf4n72zEd0z3wL6d8AKQYY23KYlc5CFTtRu1MWsisLjG3Bkl5cO-itcT4ecFOpruFt0J7NnIGOOnIBwRW8kNt-kFU/s1600/DSC_0424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitm3qvkypjyb1eYakM8yynIXDofBSv4KGqMsNUrwJlalaBODIK2WWf4n72zEd0z3wL6d8AKQYY23KYlc5CFTtRu1MWsisLjG3Bkl5cO-itcT4ecFOpruFt0J7NnIGOOnIBwRW8kNt-kFU/s320/DSC_0424.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>And riding pink ponies.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3B3TEjtTX6wwr8hWNUFT7FNoT9akapj5mJCj3G3yUfWgac2MH5UXL4y0aGk2CTwv9Z7x-IkxAaOB36TNIOMOWF_tVs0Aa3Z4JMbfzJ9UA_mhU-OjgD8fqQZRT9gj8WPlGE7X3HphuoCc/s1600/P1020086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3B3TEjtTX6wwr8hWNUFT7FNoT9akapj5mJCj3G3yUfWgac2MH5UXL4y0aGk2CTwv9Z7x-IkxAaOB36TNIOMOWF_tVs0Aa3Z4JMbfzJ9UA_mhU-OjgD8fqQZRT9gj8WPlGE7X3HphuoCc/s320/P1020086.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>But there's nothing better than feeding kangaroos. </i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyHxw5CeM2iUEOvDSU8wLIkKLIsqOaNfjz1C88TTygKCPhHWTRJymoe2T5OKuP6TAvRATBq5JsCFASL7VqZqXAnmjjo9EIeTNPmdNmsQ0DUlovR2U5Be5CBUNRDjzoDTo-oIOBFBIOaw/s1600/P1020064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyHxw5CeM2iUEOvDSU8wLIkKLIsqOaNfjz1C88TTygKCPhHWTRJymoe2T5OKuP6TAvRATBq5JsCFASL7VqZqXAnmjjo9EIeTNPmdNmsQ0DUlovR2U5Be5CBUNRDjzoDTo-oIOBFBIOaw/s320/P1020064.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Well, except maybe for...</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw6VwAtbu18hFRLY3GMw0I32emWQoKG-VlTzuzAjTUPxQLprrxOB5TyjvJKejVhHMVXf8ebu7ghS0NoXGfZ_LHw3z4x7aHrOlZplqPMw85qAYAAnf1x3pN3fYBvUQVoDedlkx-DwZRZk/s1600/P1020065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw6VwAtbu18hFRLY3GMw0I32emWQoKG-VlTzuzAjTUPxQLprrxOB5TyjvJKejVhHMVXf8ebu7ghS0NoXGfZ_LHw3z4x7aHrOlZplqPMw85qAYAAnf1x3pN3fYBvUQVoDedlkx-DwZRZk/s320/P1020065.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>...white tigers!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZw1v4gnOk4rS8ISw3nMmV6-tem29AY0Ts0-Kee-aLqKFQyBAetFqlKs-BZzhs4JC1zQaMafBCARFcSkL9gC_xnIZbS0jO677pKB89r9SFS8EVdHW6kGZmKCoFYKr_Tp6Gdm2pUvAB5E/s1600/P1020078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZw1v4gnOk4rS8ISw3nMmV6-tem29AY0Ts0-Kee-aLqKFQyBAetFqlKs-BZzhs4JC1zQaMafBCARFcSkL9gC_xnIZbS0jO677pKB89r9SFS8EVdHW6kGZmKCoFYKr_Tp6Gdm2pUvAB5E/s320/P1020078.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Let's go for a walk and see what else we can find.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXEqIKABosG4JbgFxTa9aPRXLXGeaU8Wdtvt5D0bPepZDYWTgARsH5rhHbE3bo0FUef4N2FdqNiebshUYI5RfR-DWWyoV5BvYPZAK3E0LSxarJ0_2U4KR8kpWONyZYwgzRP9GmqulTgE/s1600/P1020134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXEqIKABosG4JbgFxTa9aPRXLXGeaU8Wdtvt5D0bPepZDYWTgARsH5rhHbE3bo0FUef4N2FdqNiebshUYI5RfR-DWWyoV5BvYPZAK3E0LSxarJ0_2U4KR8kpWONyZYwgzRP9GmqulTgE/s320/P1020134.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Hello? Anybody home?</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ14gwPRuPpeGDZQbNGA8igBgSCXQ3InJtqUTQhBilm8kCx9hL55wIuC1U5TJMyN6aCfTwUZ941ujK6J5jxHNXkeakPU8LGi9uyMLaCsAS7CD_l4V0X710x4xG394sX98jVHcYhqOeoJw/s1600/P1020085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ14gwPRuPpeGDZQbNGA8igBgSCXQ3InJtqUTQhBilm8kCx9hL55wIuC1U5TJMyN6aCfTwUZ941ujK6J5jxHNXkeakPU8LGi9uyMLaCsAS7CD_l4V0X710x4xG394sX98jVHcYhqOeoJw/s320/P1020085.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>"Welcome to my parlor!" said the spider to the...</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjR7Iq549ff-o96hYQ5fvijEMFz0d6ccyAvtcNtIr2B8bvrwGBpDKP3hJ0hGMhOJOGGdNb67PcZR-eO_rebqV4fbI7fUqQ9nW3jozGzdbAh8k_F1c8UvpaagQe6yrys9oWCMrP2WCpwrk/s1600/P1020157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjR7Iq549ff-o96hYQ5fvijEMFz0d6ccyAvtcNtIr2B8bvrwGBpDKP3hJ0hGMhOJOGGdNb67PcZR-eO_rebqV4fbI7fUqQ9nW3jozGzdbAh8k_F1c8UvpaagQe6yrys9oWCMrP2WCpwrk/s320/P1020157.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>...EEEW-guana.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhsaNubuGNrU3CwfKMyoFUy5moGUgkVlSYLH9S7gLJZVk5hxMcTqFyFD_d0y8BbTr1I7VeVGXluIVBvPl_KKR1hXnRhCpDLDpKtF3iHa3K0uFHYrgaK-44KjYV0Q-6OrdakcFxQA1YPM/s1600/P1020090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhsaNubuGNrU3CwfKMyoFUy5moGUgkVlSYLH9S7gLJZVk5hxMcTqFyFD_d0y8BbTr1I7VeVGXluIVBvPl_KKR1hXnRhCpDLDpKtF3iHa3K0uFHYrgaK-44KjYV0Q-6OrdakcFxQA1YPM/s320/P1020090.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Koalas are so much cuter than lizards. This one looks tired.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwoBN_L0MC0FYbsRMNnQ3-93cqSZf5kkF8EHP-vf6nC_K3iWKK56ktotdID6hD5-lR09RZlG8pAnb7s63wwv6_k-X063ap8r0oTWdKadFD59iRQG8bO_AbtgI01KcbBYDqs_TVgHFWTI/s1600/Sleeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwoBN_L0MC0FYbsRMNnQ3-93cqSZf5kkF8EHP-vf6nC_K3iWKK56ktotdID6hD5-lR09RZlG8pAnb7s63wwv6_k-X063ap8r0oTWdKadFD59iRQG8bO_AbtgI01KcbBYDqs_TVgHFWTI/s320/Sleeping.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>And so am I.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Shhh. Looks like out little tour guide needs a nap. Hopefully, she'll be up and about in time for Part 2 of our Field Trip. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">p.s. Don't forget to bring your life jackets. We're taking a duck...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWGVFoDHLztPQJYN6vEfXLF0aVBRjwzq77Il_QIdWun-OAOQO9LNGQvWznopLOH_udRrQxoxBFhBTAn4WoLEo3iXxH4L2F0pUWjbuuZI4zXllJ5CjYZvV60dIyxkHi4UW0gi0uK9opmM/s1600/P1010961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWGVFoDHLztPQJYN6vEfXLF0aVBRjwzq77Il_QIdWun-OAOQO9LNGQvWznopLOH_udRrQxoxBFhBTAn4WoLEo3iXxH4L2F0pUWjbuuZI4zXllJ5CjYZvV60dIyxkHi4UW0gi0uK9opmM/s320/P1010961.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2J8Qvqa_NcDeDzjrADh3aw8QQkYxvbnmbSehdXB-Yl6XGYWNs24t3DJxfzgMqOMHss2ILGJYEbZyPGaz7d49gQQg3wieUA2h7yFed_FV55-LINxhyQZGKJ1JHjGdr2o8pWKEr26hSEw/s1600/DSC_0675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2J8Qvqa_NcDeDzjrADh3aw8QQkYxvbnmbSehdXB-Yl6XGYWNs24t3DJxfzgMqOMHss2ILGJYEbZyPGaz7d49gQQg3wieUA2h7yFed_FV55-LINxhyQZGKJ1JHjGdr2o8pWKEr26hSEw/s320/DSC_0675.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy Easter, guys!!! </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<br />
</div></div></div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-5155553273830704752011-04-18T08:16:00.000+08:002011-04-18T08:16:55.228+08:00Gone Fishing...Sort of<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0RAa7pol68B9dHKp2PC5wjOHCxwf4cQwyxWRb0iK1ASPo7YO7eh0dGFlkMEx4wvNXYXA1xHMrWEtF038_bHxTpGVlzNBJe9ixJjIalbIHLjfWxfE5MCvsZgplOwy_Db_ITHDLFeqfjE/s1600/Kangaroo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0RAa7pol68B9dHKp2PC5wjOHCxwf4cQwyxWRb0iK1ASPo7YO7eh0dGFlkMEx4wvNXYXA1xHMrWEtF038_bHxTpGVlzNBJe9ixJjIalbIHLjfWxfE5MCvsZgplOwy_Db_ITHDLFeqfjE/s400/Kangaroo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worth1000.com/contests/22639/kangaroos">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Three guesses where I am. Wifi willing, I'll see you on Friday for our field trip! (And don't forget to bring sunscreen.)Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-76687325221675201692011-04-15T00:01:00.003+08:002011-04-15T07:26:08.758+08:00Friday Field Trip: My Deep Dark Secret<style type="text/css">
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<div class="p1"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Jv_x4BDQFbXe0iVIKdqMv01QCFn84xvpci2JjtudYcix67iLHtyHtgEgpc3VHpJHwgng8Q9l81Njjwq85Kt69gnaY537cZcjRUaAZWjgEtO3wBaX84C_UVBz-VMUHLPjuC2FKjWiEZc/s1600/P1000962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Jv_x4BDQFbXe0iVIKdqMv01QCFn84xvpci2JjtudYcix67iLHtyHtgEgpc3VHpJHwgng8Q9l81Njjwq85Kt69gnaY537cZcjRUaAZWjgEtO3wBaX84C_UVBz-VMUHLPjuC2FKjWiEZc/s200/P1000962.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><i>“A black-cloaked monk unlocked the library’s door. Ginger steeped with cloves. Shelley caught its scent in the spiciness of the weathered leather-bound pages that surrounded her. The smell reminded her of her father’s evening ritual up until the time he needed to use a feeding tube. Her mother continued to brew it for him just the same. And when he had gone, she still set a cup on his bedside table. Shelley remembered watching and breathing in the fragrant and frail wisps of steam rising from it. That was the only time she allowed herself to miss her dad. Her mother mourned him enough for the two of them. She didn’t think their house could hold any more grief. She was glad to get away. She scanned the library, desperate to remind herself of how far she was from home.” </i>p. 126, Before Ever After</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">If you promise not to laugh, I’ll let you in on my deepest and darkest secret. Pinky swear? Great!</div><div class="p1"><br />
Okay…here it goes.</div><div class="p1"><br />
*whispers* In sixth grade, I…um…was president of….*takes a deep breath* …the Library Club.</div><div class="p1"><br />
There. I said it. Phew.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="p1"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iOfwpkykFDZ4TqdkPJYbZ8QChy2s_-edeW7ufxKuyI_FTXorcjA7E7a69Wp1isSFdK863eosrMn_lQoj07QXYIj21NJ9nG_KGfOKrNIlh2YAqcDcNSFtdiUFNoCsDObvxX2s_xhk6dU/s1600/Glee-Slushies-glee-17816685-600-600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iOfwpkykFDZ4TqdkPJYbZ8QChy2s_-edeW7ufxKuyI_FTXorcjA7E7a69Wp1isSFdK863eosrMn_lQoj07QXYIj21NJ9nG_KGfOKrNIlh2YAqcDcNSFtdiUFNoCsDObvxX2s_xhk6dU/s200/Glee-Slushies-glee-17816685-600-600.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vanguardngr.com/allure/2011/february/27022011/glee-slushie-wallpaper"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Source</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I certainly did not earn any cool points by joining the club. (You wouldn’t be wrong if you likened it to Glee, but without the impromptu Lady Gaga song and dance numbers in the hallway.) But I loved it. I loved being surrounded by the smell of paper and ink. I loved the cool and quiet sanctuary of its little nooks. I loved the little clicking sound the date stamp made when I pressed it against the book card. *Looks around furtively for incoming Slushies*</div><div class="p1"><br />
No Slushie grenade? I love you guys. Thank you for not judging me. Now I don’t have to run home and change my shirt before our field trip.</div><div class="p1"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>To celebrate my coming clean, today we’re taking our little van to some of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Are you ready, Campers? Follow the red umbrella and remember to keep your voices down, okay?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-B5UZL-phyQS8BXDOQRNXzguw7Gj2CQXXlGrTNZBNTGvElynnG9e5_sXf6GLUCZYs6I4ovYtcmW9-768pjHii3zctdqbkn7HhyoslGvca9q1dxxdw68IL08W0w8ZbQ5dO-3D8IaIWfc/s1600/Small+Red+Umbrella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-B5UZL-phyQS8BXDOQRNXzguw7Gj2CQXXlGrTNZBNTGvElynnG9e5_sXf6GLUCZYs6I4ovYtcmW9-768pjHii3zctdqbkn7HhyoslGvca9q1dxxdw68IL08W0w8ZbQ5dO-3D8IaIWfc/s1600/Small+Red+Umbrella.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdd81tVtZ1Wd6TAOhBwlehd-dGDo4okmhWwrBrqK_TmLeLkchWCvJt5TfphB7kpXLr457ZjXFwf0PMkWxlYWEeAVT9ERLFRWnm0Frn-tPYktq5Wi2M_MRWTufhxheFeWSxc-Impj8QcgM/s1600/Strahov+Philosophical+Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdd81tVtZ1Wd6TAOhBwlehd-dGDo4okmhWwrBrqK_TmLeLkchWCvJt5TfphB7kpXLr457ZjXFwf0PMkWxlYWEeAVT9ERLFRWnm0Frn-tPYktq5Wi2M_MRWTufhxheFeWSxc-Impj8QcgM/s400/Strahov+Philosophical+Hall.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.boredstop.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=156">Strahov Philosophical Hall, Prague</a></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXictb39aD7sZfzf91AMomP6kVul-U3gsa6so_zgXnPMswtXnIRdkwLJzGQR4f8VuuNWPVde7R85YjdLSZuoJ-PL9bLuNLdZPvozpLFupEWvvghRcd1wJCgyxfVG-tvh840jFF2RCVZY/s1600/Abbey+Library+St.+Gallen%252C+Switzerland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXictb39aD7sZfzf91AMomP6kVul-U3gsa6so_zgXnPMswtXnIRdkwLJzGQR4f8VuuNWPVde7R85YjdLSZuoJ-PL9bLuNLdZPvozpLFupEWvvghRcd1wJCgyxfVG-tvh840jFF2RCVZY/s640/Abbey+Library+St.+Gallen%252C+Switzerland.jpg" width="484" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.oddee.com/item_96527.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Abbey Library St. Gallen, Switzerland</span></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprd32GtHTMnv1MiNwfnt4dPbA51xQ6dt8KUIdbPXQp64FsX-4d1jkU7kzxbApQTsWF2quJXniK2yjcAXIa_7jlcQn8gsV1E9dVfSXgCnrpR7MyFRC-5l8LeYk1d86BZ2ade0vqrfY0z8/s1600/Real+Gabinete+Portugues+De+Leitura%252C+Rio+De+Janeiro%252C+Brazil+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprd32GtHTMnv1MiNwfnt4dPbA51xQ6dt8KUIdbPXQp64FsX-4d1jkU7kzxbApQTsWF2quJXniK2yjcAXIa_7jlcQn8gsV1E9dVfSXgCnrpR7MyFRC-5l8LeYk1d86BZ2ade0vqrfY0z8/s1600/Real+Gabinete+Portugues+De+Leitura%252C+Rio+De+Janeiro%252C+Brazil+.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.oddee.com/item_96527.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Real Gabinete Portugues De Leitura, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil</span></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP52IGy4rGoIGBPx3YljUKARUStaF-lyMQRFbSVNoiIl-bNz1mFtvtg1NJrG61b89BDemLiqJEwcrrjUl0MJITDDzX65oex6duMjZTRN-0jcgPIxZkfTkQI5B2iH-ae0dujAktTQPyYwQ/s1600/delft-university-library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP52IGy4rGoIGBPx3YljUKARUStaF-lyMQRFbSVNoiIl-bNz1mFtvtg1NJrG61b89BDemLiqJEwcrrjUl0MJITDDzX65oex6duMjZTRN-0jcgPIxZkfTkQI5B2iH-ae0dujAktTQPyYwQ/s400/delft-university-library.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.miragebookmark.ch/most-interesting-libraries.htm">The Library of the University of Delft, The Netherlands</a></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBqGZlK5t1CGrHs-u3KulFM5c3sIBWlRnWv512X52k-eVzrKppUWLY_WaG5z9Xt8ExSbzeYaqpkeWkNM6meT_I8xAN0bJqM6Nrk47h1wW0IfvvHXppShtoo27LAxoPShg9H-5gMQKK5g/s1600/central-library-vancouver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBqGZlK5t1CGrHs-u3KulFM5c3sIBWlRnWv512X52k-eVzrKppUWLY_WaG5z9Xt8ExSbzeYaqpkeWkNM6meT_I8xAN0bJqM6Nrk47h1wW0IfvvHXppShtoo27LAxoPShg9H-5gMQKK5g/s640/central-library-vancouver.jpg" width="412" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.miragebookmark.ch/most-interesting-libraries.htm">The Central Public Library in Vancouver, Canada</a></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjTiFqX5t9b2sb7s6i7-ApLVuCIOpSRIp7DNErWpkw3mY94dESvBhrGwVBkP3mOo-Cy8I21vbVh9IjJ_L5hRqgGJfFS6gB8ADhMNKPz7RM6muTxrd6N8GzeeiVBFCNmZD7UH_hI4QHz4/s1600/George+Peabody+Library%252C+Baltimore%252C+Maryland%252C+USA++.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjTiFqX5t9b2sb7s6i7-ApLVuCIOpSRIp7DNErWpkw3mY94dESvBhrGwVBkP3mOo-Cy8I21vbVh9IjJ_L5hRqgGJfFS6gB8ADhMNKPz7RM6muTxrd6N8GzeeiVBFCNmZD7UH_hI4QHz4/s640/George+Peabody+Library%252C+Baltimore%252C+Maryland%252C+USA++.jpg" width="497" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.oddee.com/item_96527.aspx">George Peabody Library, Baltimore, Maryland, USA </a></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9Xv7Ag1vObcRn2RS4cer54mvhI1BE_gKUIc-LPnMKq0BwUunJmpAOGEXswKcf3V6m-3O2heAI8Vop6xRrE_7wTDn0XAfZAn75qrEKNdP9ZdN88PGReAZDs76iEVujyPWUBiBBuXeOEQ/s1600/city-library-of-stockholm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9Xv7Ag1vObcRn2RS4cer54mvhI1BE_gKUIc-LPnMKq0BwUunJmpAOGEXswKcf3V6m-3O2heAI8Vop6xRrE_7wTDn0XAfZAn75qrEKNdP9ZdN88PGReAZDs76iEVujyPWUBiBBuXeOEQ/s400/city-library-of-stockholm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.miragebookmark.ch/most-interesting-libraries.htm">Main reading hall of the City Library of Stockholm</a></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our final stop isn't a actually a library, but I thought it deserved a place on the tour. Can you guess what it is?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbFN1oFU-f97aDxdLPD0WoD6zVOfvlYMTZjC8fBpGPnXY6E5dmO0usLx8MAP18JAGXNFpPQrYMF-EjUtJL_JWOjLOZx0befbhN7isS9QQLbAGqJGRwH1sMOJzPQfxqjn25YeqKqlqRn4/s1600/Ateneo-Grand-Splendid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbFN1oFU-f97aDxdLPD0WoD6zVOfvlYMTZjC8fBpGPnXY6E5dmO0usLx8MAP18JAGXNFpPQrYMF-EjUtJL_JWOjLOZx0befbhN7isS9QQLbAGqJGRwH1sMOJzPQfxqjn25YeqKqlqRn4/s400/Ateneo-Grand-Splendid.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://buenosaires.for91days.com/2011/02/09/the-ateneo-grand-splendid-bookstore/">No, it isn't a theater...</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl3t3z4lbrY2r5F52LrBwcbnf4a67NGWZ1pCzBgOKTAZwifLpV5picso_6KGDKHOqIpfNms1OD3eGr6oT-xY8WzFHQ0JPS1KCI-NL7PRsLrfBEQpDfoJ8668ZvBxFClT1ZRNiKBk8Qz4/s1600/Ateneo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl3t3z4lbrY2r5F52LrBwcbnf4a67NGWZ1pCzBgOKTAZwifLpV5picso_6KGDKHOqIpfNms1OD3eGr6oT-xY8WzFHQ0JPS1KCI-NL7PRsLrfBEQpDfoJ8668ZvBxFClT1ZRNiKBk8Qz4/s400/Ateneo.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://buenosaires.for91days.com/2011/02/09/the-ateneo-grand-splendid-bookstore/">....or a museum. </a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPU7YzLhC1i3WFZo5CynK_W0T5kKAVTMJuNnbt1v0LoqiaH8jLNYjtI4BEU9iBZHjz8rkU2cJuQ9SQS3nlQYPoy4sE8OwM4uFQkrFdxrG6yFEL4xcDMwQRQ6nCw7kTwPPh8NWCYYDmuI/s1600/Grand-Splendid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPU7YzLhC1i3WFZo5CynK_W0T5kKAVTMJuNnbt1v0LoqiaH8jLNYjtI4BEU9iBZHjz8rkU2cJuQ9SQS3nlQYPoy4sE8OwM4uFQkrFdxrG6yFEL4xcDMwQRQ6nCw7kTwPPh8NWCYYDmuI/s400/Grand-Splendid.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://buenosaires.for91days.com/2011/02/09/the-ateneo-grand-splendid-bookstore/">It's the Ateneo Grand Splendid</a><br />
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</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3LCTsZ_F0v34fUGiaHX_StYumfHSm39MRqDdXUB6YzaDDSQHS8ZjsJZExVCdsCjQIcHe05Sk6JsOzrG0RBq52K51nni4aDfaOBGjCI_tkahXeKH8VVBpQY4M_qlBzOciTpBcgeCP5ss/s1600/Reading-Buenos-Aires.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3LCTsZ_F0v34fUGiaHX_StYumfHSm39MRqDdXUB6YzaDDSQHS8ZjsJZExVCdsCjQIcHe05Sk6JsOzrG0RBq52K51nni4aDfaOBGjCI_tkahXeKH8VVBpQY4M_qlBzOciTpBcgeCP5ss/s400/Reading-Buenos-Aires.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://buenosaires.for91days.com/2011/02/09/the-ateneo-grand-splendid-bookstore/">And it's a BOOK STORE.</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-45317738260980795842011-04-12T07:14:00.001+08:002011-04-12T07:18:28.395+08:00Praise for Before Ever After from Melissa Senate!<a href="http://gallery.neoseeker.com/Name%20Undisclosed/3251-memes/4058166335"><img alt="" height="200" src="http://i.neoseeker.com/mgv/506500-Name%20Undisclosed/500/29/dancing_banana_icon.gif" width="200" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg180u8ewQqKPLiAPbBIstbIoD2hJAegnjyM8VaYvzEXlizGTVJj9smXMzxPI51e8kTKaiv8TDJBI198OJP-OXsjcZXmiTVza8rqg3yqUARL_4t0YKtd4PwZ5KNCu_zc-wc9XkpFjl_2fc/s1600/Melissa+Senate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg180u8ewQqKPLiAPbBIstbIoD2hJAegnjyM8VaYvzEXlizGTVJj9smXMzxPI51e8kTKaiv8TDJBI198OJP-OXsjcZXmiTVza8rqg3yqUARL_4t0YKtd4PwZ5KNCu_zc-wc9XkpFjl_2fc/s1600/Melissa+Senate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg180u8ewQqKPLiAPbBIstbIoD2hJAegnjyM8VaYvzEXlizGTVJj9smXMzxPI51e8kTKaiv8TDJBI198OJP-OXsjcZXmiTVza8rqg3yqUARL_4t0YKtd4PwZ5KNCu_zc-wc9XkpFjl_2fc/s1600/Melissa+Senate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 14px;">I hope you guys brought your dancing shoes because....The Happy Dancing Banana Disco is OPEN!!! Woooohoooo!!! (My two left feet are going to kill me tomorrow, but it's soooo worth it :D) </span></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></em></span></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg180u8ewQqKPLiAPbBIstbIoD2hJAegnjyM8VaYvzEXlizGTVJj9smXMzxPI51e8kTKaiv8TDJBI198OJP-OXsjcZXmiTVza8rqg3yqUARL_4t0YKtd4PwZ5KNCu_zc-wc9XkpFjl_2fc/s1600/Melissa+Senate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg180u8ewQqKPLiAPbBIstbIoD2hJAegnjyM8VaYvzEXlizGTVJj9smXMzxPI51e8kTKaiv8TDJBI198OJP-OXsjcZXmiTVza8rqg3yqUARL_4t0YKtd4PwZ5KNCu_zc-wc9XkpFjl_2fc/s1600/Melissa+Senate.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 14px;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">From<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_752122298"> </a>the AWESOME </span><b style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.melissasenate.com/">Melissa Senate</a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">, bestselling author of </span><b>See Jane Date</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">, </span><b>The Love Goddess’ Cooking School</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">, and eight other fabulous novels:</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></em></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><em><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></i></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">“Exquisitely written and inventively told, Before Ever After is a beautiful, moving — and quite fun — exploration of what you <b>think </b>you know about your own life.”</span></span></span></span></i></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></i></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></i></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></i></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></div></div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-54229058214452738182011-04-11T06:32:00.000+08:002011-04-11T06:32:16.860+08:00"Inception"...Volcano Style<style type="text/css">
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<div class="p1"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3z5KBvBbJqKFYoWTFm4UELgfcLg695VJ07pykHKe76JU9_X4V0gC3EMdmyAjMfmwlQz9JEZQDauK4MIpv3LZjRlB9UbyFMJJlf7vqLSd2b3QBoRyqBnnT5JvmoMUopNbYAIeW9t-n5JI/s1600/Tshirt+Blog.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3z5KBvBbJqKFYoWTFm4UELgfcLg695VJ07pykHKe76JU9_X4V0gC3EMdmyAjMfmwlQz9JEZQDauK4MIpv3LZjRlB9UbyFMJJlf7vqLSd2b3QBoRyqBnnT5JvmoMUopNbYAIeW9t-n5JI/s200/Tshirt+Blog.gif" width="200" /></a></div>Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten. We were<a href="http://theslightdetour.blogspot.com/2011/04/friday-field-trip-hijacked.html"> hijacked</a> last week and I owe you a field trip. So who’s up for playing hooky today and visiting an active volcano? Oh, come on. I know you’re braver than that. I spent the night over there last weekend and I survived. Shall we go? Great! That’s the spirit! Here are your lifejackets. We’re taking the boat today.</div><div class="p1"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg257lW13K6syBB4uFQGQL3hb_QvZ_bxnXIuJlPQ7tK48ZHGaA8yXMX4dhO9jalWec3jyK5yynbwq-39iVmjnxMI54Q4lQM4VXZFEG2yupS1gwZ8r__zecMFNH2m-KQU2XhqhlqiW5I3P4/s1600/boat-journey-tagaytay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg257lW13K6syBB4uFQGQL3hb_QvZ_bxnXIuJlPQ7tK48ZHGaA8yXMX4dhO9jalWec3jyK5yynbwq-39iVmjnxMI54Q4lQM4VXZFEG2yupS1gwZ8r__zecMFNH2m-KQU2XhqhlqiW5I3P4/s320/boat-journey-tagaytay.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-00c4-06dc-c3dd">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taal_Volcano">Taal </a>is quite the wonder. Here you’ll find a lake.<br />
<br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8UBj2eLNCm2mIMGJn_V4asEJIPqaay_KF2ft8HiWZCyQZ32iwYFYyUcFo_c7_vLfeVqDs7gV2AtX0jgI_5_-lFoaRd78f6mXodDPQePXRA5fI__Ab6qrqxfe2mULDQ8eGW_6QufrQ8Y/s1600/Small+lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8UBj2eLNCm2mIMGJn_V4asEJIPqaay_KF2ft8HiWZCyQZ32iwYFYyUcFo_c7_vLfeVqDs7gV2AtX0jgI_5_-lFoaRd78f6mXodDPQePXRA5fI__Ab6qrqxfe2mULDQ8eGW_6QufrQ8Y/s320/Small+lake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bigthink.com/ideas/31819">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="p2">Inside a volcano.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4N8W4sC5SOyKPtx-Jy317NctsTEtsNAtYh3keITruni_c19GJTSuOWjbKMLX0XzOKjYCw5WGZZRp8jhO6s7qOCJ0Sjsy-zcc1muR1kcJRNUCJVYNKTlJOvUZBPV7FXYK4U3o0VPGFVEE/s1600/Crater+lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4N8W4sC5SOyKPtx-Jy317NctsTEtsNAtYh3keITruni_c19GJTSuOWjbKMLX0XzOKjYCw5WGZZRp8jhO6s7qOCJ0Sjsy-zcc1muR1kcJRNUCJVYNKTlJOvUZBPV7FXYK4U3o0VPGFVEE/s320/Crater+lake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/img_taal.html">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="p2">In a lake.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1llh0oMaOZ8TTE5un1vjhNFMhcGPDr_5aIizW4Vu3oJNO644sAeyfOBI5Dj9m-XtQ-dAB2kmgXai-7-B0IIi2JKFjYCCiPMWn3cK48pnckKLL0euueKZ-ZUepOAHoU-JXQ7Q5lV-YCYY/s1600/Crater+lake_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1llh0oMaOZ8TTE5un1vjhNFMhcGPDr_5aIizW4Vu3oJNO644sAeyfOBI5Dj9m-XtQ-dAB2kmgXai-7-B0IIi2JKFjYCCiPMWn3cK48pnckKLL0euueKZ-ZUepOAHoU-JXQ7Q5lV-YCYY/s320/Crater+lake_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/img_taal.html">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p2">Inside a volcano.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFvVduzNFFKdp4roqDzJddic77-aLDp1zquSo-EPoo9UzflfU5jt4WVEiLKHeClhbnMbg9WpjLy18RzEj9HAYyl7YrTDkK_YLQ6EUJqx5xu41u-q1iqVjmvSx1o7aGBpBbWMgpRgOtAs/s1600/Big+volcano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFvVduzNFFKdp4roqDzJddic77-aLDp1zquSo-EPoo9UzflfU5jt4WVEiLKHeClhbnMbg9WpjLy18RzEj9HAYyl7YrTDkK_YLQ6EUJqx5xu41u-q1iqVjmvSx1o7aGBpBbWMgpRgOtAs/s320/Big+volcano.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/therealbrute/4639392140/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="p2">In a lake.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9ft9hyQfHtKdNphVWgyNMqe-L6uEDO9X56O83Xbb_8MsF95gIHB93n5Fg3ZMmQg1GtJNj_K1tJ4ezsSw3xEFnd2aX7Nj_3I9imJNiZEN1eV2iGdvEZTEWaJlLknZOuHTEWKmitEOn9I/s1600/Big+volcano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9ft9hyQfHtKdNphVWgyNMqe-L6uEDO9X56O83Xbb_8MsF95gIHB93n5Fg3ZMmQg1GtJNj_K1tJ4ezsSw3xEFnd2aX7Nj_3I9imJNiZEN1eV2iGdvEZTEWaJlLknZOuHTEWKmitEOn9I/s400/Big+volcano.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/therealbrute/4639392140/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p2"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxQPQ8FuZhzo8oywsAPwOWKJxW4-P9uzKMyRgi25cEVkgumTrxzGpBfqSoFEqJV5LsjqxY5zT38I77bpBpr6BnXn4lz99runwhZXLWlT-Guq1xt858qqncPgyQ2DKR332Gs69FMCckUM/s1600/DSC_0254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxQPQ8FuZhzo8oywsAPwOWKJxW4-P9uzKMyRgi25cEVkgumTrxzGpBfqSoFEqJV5LsjqxY5zT38I77bpBpr6BnXn4lz99runwhZXLWlT-Guq1xt858qqncPgyQ2DKR332Gs69FMCckUM/s400/DSC_0254.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My hubby took this photo from our hotel room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>When I see this, I can’t help but take a deep breath of fresh air, exhale, smile and think…wow-zer, that’s a pretty big writing prompt. (I bet Christopher Nolan looked at this and thought, “Yeah…a movie about a dream within a dream within a dream. I could make that work…”)</div><div class="p1"><br />
</div><div class="p1">What story does Taal tell you?</div><div class="p3"><br />
</div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-6337787364166706432011-04-08T00:01:00.004+08:002011-04-08T06:33:08.405+08:00Friday Field Trip: Hijacked!<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6W-BGxA6Aw_Nvrmi4ILLFMfj4sG5FeCVg_9SdnYAcSD3hvA2RmLJdgCU_b0K4UxF51Z2-650ygrCO6apBOdiaPRiY-e2XisAwEHsT9_U_u0aCLq1SFylcdt1c94Gn1N_U5bA6dA3m-0/s1600/P1000962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6W-BGxA6Aw_Nvrmi4ILLFMfj4sG5FeCVg_9SdnYAcSD3hvA2RmLJdgCU_b0K4UxF51Z2-650ygrCO6apBOdiaPRiY-e2XisAwEHsT9_U_u0aCLq1SFylcdt1c94Gn1N_U5bA6dA3m-0/s200/P1000962.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Everyone - please remain seated. Stay calm. The van has been hijacked, but there’s no need to panic. Something hopped aboard the van just as I started the engine and it has unfortunately left me in no state to drive. Don’t worry. I’m okay. In fact, I’m more than okay. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3dnL2cSrsNC3AKgbjXyVXer3_zIPxy2mfTFx-9Ueyz1eDl9n3ZiCZg_0sglt9LabbN6MCtONIOMoJhAEeZa546F4p6Oxqz18tyRFR5Jap3HOFGbvaE_5udQHJjYLhcTbtbZndI6ZKmU/s1600/AnneJuliet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3dnL2cSrsNC3AKgbjXyVXer3_zIPxy2mfTFx-9Ueyz1eDl9n3ZiCZg_0sglt9LabbN6MCtONIOMoJhAEeZa546F4p6Oxqz18tyRFR5Jap3HOFGbvaE_5udQHJjYLhcTbtbZndI6ZKmU/s200/AnneJuliet.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Getting a blurb from the AMAZING <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-Fortier/264394547257">Anne Fortier</a>, New York Times -Best Selling author of last year’s blockbuster, <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/features/anne_fortier/">JULIET</a>, has been scientifically proven to make your head spin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Strap on your time-jumping goggles and fasten the seatbelt of your favorite armchair ... Samantha Sotto is going to take you on a rollercoaster ride that will leave your teacup hanging in mid-air. I was floored by the gutsy scope of this highly unusual love tragicomedy, and loved the spunky writing that strings together the rambunctious plot. BEFORE EVER AFTER is one of those books that challenges the natural laws of fiction writing, but in a frisky and highly entertaining way.”</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">*FAINTS *</div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-77057358875966268822011-04-04T21:13:00.001+08:002011-04-04T21:32:24.107+08:00For the Sake of PosterityAs as a follow up to yesterday's post about <a href="http://theslightdetour.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-final-cover-and-scariest-thing-ive.html">the scariest thing I've ever seen</a>, I am now posting the scariest thing YOU will ever see... ME without makeup. (Just keep your eyes on the galley I'm holding and I don't think you'll suffer from permanent eye damage. I hope.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaqkIzZ_p-Py9Qw5dzvQ6U_HaiGLtFJW_d1lprYrz-PApJMk_YuJGG7O0ve-bS8pPLlT6c4Hm11yTu9EPyKeTSkZ4j2n4ExkJXI4Hu0425zO9r7MkR8uofH_5vvr7xTMwA6UvR-wXFJY/s1600/Galley+Avatar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaqkIzZ_p-Py9Qw5dzvQ6U_HaiGLtFJW_d1lprYrz-PApJMk_YuJGG7O0ve-bS8pPLlT6c4Hm11yTu9EPyKeTSkZ4j2n4ExkJXI4Hu0425zO9r7MkR8uofH_5vvr7xTMwA6UvR-wXFJY/s1600/Galley+Avatar.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbW4v47ZBzFPQiIiOrSe0dZOZ-nIHcknp7T4LItaR47blZHHsnZS1MXoY-LbRv8I6hU0dzSpBDe6tneGctVJu6QNBnBZ0o5yCtaTP8H5PuMELNaKH-4YPLcIdPNz38UYvKGe2a6ojRqo/s1600/Galley+Package.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbW4v47ZBzFPQiIiOrSe0dZOZ-nIHcknp7T4LItaR47blZHHsnZS1MXoY-LbRv8I6hU0dzSpBDe6tneGctVJu6QNBnBZ0o5yCtaTP8H5PuMELNaKH-4YPLcIdPNz38UYvKGe2a6ojRqo/s1600/Galley+Package.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tBHyHdoblERWqhds8EMa0whxNsroETQI_9h2ESIGiZvUEGoTPqXY8xwwIFqwdtoNwH8mVIWr_VVbjNUY0DVvvVn7pyylCj_JVr2B0jhDIUV_LwDLbg_T7jlZbz7ebmnsQ8Hr6wgpYmc/s1600/Galley+Stack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tBHyHdoblERWqhds8EMa0whxNsroETQI_9h2ESIGiZvUEGoTPqXY8xwwIFqwdtoNwH8mVIWr_VVbjNUY0DVvvVn7pyylCj_JVr2B0jhDIUV_LwDLbg_T7jlZbz7ebmnsQ8Hr6wgpYmc/s1600/Galley+Stack.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-92141714151379384262011-04-04T00:01:00.001+08:002011-04-04T00:01:00.475+08:00NEW Final Cover and the Scariest Thing I’ve Seen. Ever.<style type="text/css">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.socuteanimals.com/cat-in-a-burrow-cat-picture-00726257/big/">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="p1">I suppose when you name your blog “The Slight Detour,” you’re just begging the universe to send twists and turns your way. Well, this is the latest surprise it sprung on me. I have a new cover. Yup, you heard me right. Before Ever After has a new face – and I couldn’t be happier! Quick! You have 3 seconds to tell me what changed.</div><div class="p2"><br />
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</div><div class="p1"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPb4ib_V85Y00EQdQgOHq4YbffUnoXrwGIz6RqKiiX0la00HDuSHjtcKZf7fsTZaADVSGNFwHmJz9LObz-g8K_eZXoU8M1TyqZuR0iOA-ojBdnwHyv4HHvVM-zEyWsU0UzAySM4DjarFE/s1600/Fabio+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPb4ib_V85Y00EQdQgOHq4YbffUnoXrwGIz6RqKiiX0la00HDuSHjtcKZf7fsTZaADVSGNFwHmJz9LObz-g8K_eZXoU8M1TyqZuR0iOA-ojBdnwHyv4HHvVM-zEyWsU0UzAySM4DjarFE/s320/Fabio+Cover.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="p1">I’m kidding. Here’s the real cover. Your time starts now. One…two…<br />
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</div><div class="p2"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi9xuQkG_ApYMkaHRc_BeoAxEnb6o1icPM-DO67XCNFLwduZvpWQgQKkkJuxdLhP7JerzaIAtrJZQK4OI8kSd8Kh4id4IHMduLUNwWg4_lsyGSi9CspD5lU7l3tOf3KIO7zwxVlmL_nE/s1600/Before+Ever+After.APVD23.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi9xuQkG_ApYMkaHRc_BeoAxEnb6o1icPM-DO67XCNFLwduZvpWQgQKkkJuxdLhP7JerzaIAtrJZQK4OI8kSd8Kh4id4IHMduLUNwWg4_lsyGSi9CspD5lU7l3tOf3KIO7zwxVlmL_nE/s320/Before+Ever+After.APVD23.30.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br />
*presses the buzzer* Wow! You’re good! Practicing on all those “Where is Wally” books has paid off. </div><div class="p1"><br />
I really like the new “old” locket my publisher has decided to use. I feel that it evokes the theme of the story a whole lot more.<br />
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</div><div class="p1">Now moving on to the scariest thing I’ve ever seen…it’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s my GALLEY. *shivers*</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGbauppF0FD60UTCpbbaMbijJKBDNhsx7tFmYNLeGhcyoFPE1URjvbLt19uSQn27uwxf-LxJyQ1fqVA8sZcfXNhhZHOEZBdLhJO37tBNhakQ_Su6AfHK7lcAAeoJLynYOdUqKXUtPv3w/s1600/2011-03-28+16.23.37_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGbauppF0FD60UTCpbbaMbijJKBDNhsx7tFmYNLeGhcyoFPE1URjvbLt19uSQn27uwxf-LxJyQ1fqVA8sZcfXNhhZHOEZBdLhJO37tBNhakQ_Su6AfHK7lcAAeoJLynYOdUqKXUtPv3w/s320/2011-03-28+16.23.37_2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="p2">What? It didn’t make you tremble? Not even a little bit? But…but…it’s a galley! It’s the uncorrected mock-up of the book that is being sent out to *lowers voice*…<i>reviewers</i> as we speak. Just thinking about *lowers voice even more* <i>reviews </i>makes me break out into a cold sweat. Dear God, can you please just wake me up when it’s over? *hides under the blanket*</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-87683293700896362502011-04-01T00:01:00.001+08:002011-04-01T00:01:01.993+08:00Friday Field Trip: The REAL Slight Detour (Part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><style>
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</style> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2rfN9HAlv67ZuiSk4p-Xh4Ddrb95IHPVS3oTINeTwOkB7wBPaWcvd-hqZHneUQq4xht7tsuMIilFDsyYOetsSiPswnUMiMrGBzZi9wZ5bJASKX7_BZxP-o_6nFK3rLXy0gigyDqoH_M/s1600/P1000962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2rfN9HAlv67ZuiSk4p-Xh4Ddrb95IHPVS3oTINeTwOkB7wBPaWcvd-hqZHneUQq4xht7tsuMIilFDsyYOetsSiPswnUMiMrGBzZi9wZ5bJASKX7_BZxP-o_6nFK3rLXy0gigyDqoH_M/s200/P1000962.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt;">“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” – Pat Conroy</span></i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hey, Campers! Glad you could join us for the second part of the "real" Slight Detour, the backpacking trip that inspired Before Ever After. If you missed the first part of the tour, you can hop aboard it <a href="http://theslightdetour.blogspot.com/2011/03/friday-field-trip-real-slight-detour.html">here</a>. I'm not sure if everyone on the van knows each other, so this might be a good time for you to say hello to the person sitting next to you (read: why not leave a link to your blog after your comment? Sorry, I don't know how to set up those fancy linky-thingamajigs yet.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For this trip, I thought it would be fun to let you in on some little known facts that could make you rich should you ever become a contestant on Jeopardy. If you win, no need to thank me. Cash will suffice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Are you ready? Follow the red umbrella!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_m8DzvQ2XSl1WySysnyELShH9UXPer7MoZ0RcdXqCsm_olspv_Z1BhG9UXqbmq6N-32F263_xT5Q7IMfW2ePiva7yz8OW3fhbJGBlOOEPZIoHgaA2w_As3cKtgRGzAHUKqlVdqpuqoc/s1600/Europe+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_m8DzvQ2XSl1WySysnyELShH9UXPer7MoZ0RcdXqCsm_olspv_Z1BhG9UXqbmq6N-32F263_xT5Q7IMfW2ePiva7yz8OW3fhbJGBlOOEPZIoHgaA2w_As3cKtgRGzAHUKqlVdqpuqoc/s320/Europe+14.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vienna, Austria</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Good news! On this leg, we no longer have to sleep on a bridge like we did in Lucerne. Your accommodations have been upgraded to a...belfry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMMFFjUdx2WYATPdVGn2InOgt57y1vhO-fc8acXkx1ZpimvdnVhDgpyaxjURQnTd5TZiox-6WiYjfcgqCN161kuUv3jiNg16iMmjqUm55P3xJe8Q1hCQ_HtZn8W9aygMKAMmu-BzBc5k/s1600/Europe+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMMFFjUdx2WYATPdVGn2InOgt57y1vhO-fc8acXkx1ZpimvdnVhDgpyaxjURQnTd5TZiox-6WiYjfcgqCN161kuUv3jiNg16iMmjqUm55P3xJe8Q1hCQ_HtZn8W9aygMKAMmu-BzBc5k/s320/Europe+15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vienna, Austria</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">Europe's second largest cemetery, the Zentralfriedhof, can be found in Vienna.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">This is not the Zentralfriedhof.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepMPTrn41Z-mmgmOSXzRJSFH1Ccfx7w1jnPsBgMt0JLTN1jSS_k41LGdXWGiPJFNNB4pHGxHWjrwjQ8LIK0enL9hVy2nrA1vNRCSwltbGKFoI0wCGSOvIFWYjahEr83oLEaaAQDqlJno/s1600/Europe+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepMPTrn41Z-mmgmOSXzRJSFH1Ccfx7w1jnPsBgMt0JLTN1jSS_k41LGdXWGiPJFNNB4pHGxHWjrwjQ8LIK0enL9hVy2nrA1vNRCSwltbGKFoI0wCGSOvIFWYjahEr83oLEaaAQDqlJno/s320/Europe+17.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venice, Italy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Venice has less than 20 plumbers. This is not why it is sinking.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">St. Mark's Square is the only place in Venice where it is legal to feed the pigeons. The pigeons are not aware of this law.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD95HDpsm6rhVopvyAkq6I9sfYPVAX5krLhkPbcJ_HE-e5hALFNblOPxfmq3GzLSfDXtTFJiFr35lueAgtDKtV8oEaholI9FAPynCuIhSre9wN87sUJaWd8xE6VAvsMQN3JGUNmzBjaTA/s1600/Europe+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD95HDpsm6rhVopvyAkq6I9sfYPVAX5krLhkPbcJ_HE-e5hALFNblOPxfmq3GzLSfDXtTFJiFr35lueAgtDKtV8oEaholI9FAPynCuIhSre9wN87sUJaWd8xE6VAvsMQN3JGUNmzBjaTA/s320/Europe+16.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florence, Italy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The clock at Florence's Duomo runs counter clockwise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3_Q6dvw2Ddq3aubNdb959_vrM-PQ6V4m78Msf_kchuAnl91f8yzYa7aEeGCjomiKO-SHgzOA0kxTfUf3duPK34JDpWcQ26ecSugrDpLkNtOI0YcTApAFezmIGoXqNR-A6HoDgjmfeJE/s1600/Europe+18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3_Q6dvw2Ddq3aubNdb959_vrM-PQ6V4m78Msf_kchuAnl91f8yzYa7aEeGCjomiKO-SHgzOA0kxTfUf3duPK34JDpWcQ26ecSugrDpLkNtOI0YcTApAFezmIGoXqNR-A6HoDgjmfeJE/s320/Europe+18.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Vatican, Italy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">In Italy, it is good luck to hear a cat sneeze.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kycXyza2HgUI-EBpZ9DNBMPCqUUxRrwLFuz_unIvlTwFOGX3E-wzo8jW2Xf8U1ZUcKb7b3mrIobl7yWwLZrz8N5BMFodkC16gx6kv1xza0NyeDTXg4wNXZoLLMr4U5ySZgwDnErwo00/s1600/Europe+19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kycXyza2HgUI-EBpZ9DNBMPCqUUxRrwLFuz_unIvlTwFOGX3E-wzo8jW2Xf8U1ZUcKb7b3mrIobl7yWwLZrz8N5BMFodkC16gx6kv1xza0NyeDTXg4wNXZoLLMr4U5ySZgwDnErwo00/s320/Europe+19.JPG" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rome, Italy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Italians invented the ice cream cone.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyhlns0cV2pkDC-1u1xricDH1x_IoDrDJ69zGdX2T6DChW6UkB31mp7U4eLGVmwqewoNHKg7SiZfr5h5yYpOtPXMz0GTXM76myn0aAb8bjF3Gk2zZSRrnVeW7IYFl-Yo4pbXdfEGpucs/s1600/Europe+20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyhlns0cV2pkDC-1u1xricDH1x_IoDrDJ69zGdX2T6DChW6UkB31mp7U4eLGVmwqewoNHKg7SiZfr5h5yYpOtPXMz0GTXM76myn0aAb8bjF3Gk2zZSRrnVeW7IYFl-Yo4pbXdfEGpucs/s320/Europe+20.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Athens, Greece</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Greece is the leading producer of sea sponges.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38PgMWjPWNiJhWx7xQEg5GXk_FhVVx95QGlY3NS5Jg9toi0czQujf1W1L6mpfd7mE9L_EEoRakEuST0PHvIFUR89HNIdLIk-YoqJRvnYcAktnKw_gKVhqgmHfYXxvOBIlABzLyINALCI/s1600/Europe+21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38PgMWjPWNiJhWx7xQEg5GXk_FhVVx95QGlY3NS5Jg9toi0czQujf1W1L6mpfd7mE9L_EEoRakEuST0PHvIFUR89HNIdLIk-YoqJRvnYcAktnKw_gKVhqgmHfYXxvOBIlABzLyINALCI/s320/Europe+21.JPG" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Athens, Greece</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><style>
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</style> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The word “tragedy” is Greek for “goat-song.” Early Greek tragedies were held in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine. Actors in these plays wore goatskins.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ios island, Greece</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Sleeping on the beach is not a good idea. Even if you are drunk. And broke. Don't do it. Don't.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ios island, Greece</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">You have to pay to sit under these umbrellas. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">(I did not believe the hairy shirtless man who told me this. He asked me if I wanted him to prove it. I <s>snapped</s> said yes. He told me to come with him. I agreed. I hopped on the back of his motorcycle. We sped away. Far, far away. I thought I was going to die. I didn't. On the other end of the beach was a sign. It said you had to pay to sit under the *bleep* umbrellas.) </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">And that concludes our tour, dear campers. I hope you had fun. Remember, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"a<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 14px;"> man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it" (George Moore) and when in doubt, PLEASE just pay the hairy shirtless man his dollar. </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-47875348489681525782011-03-29T19:50:00.001+08:002011-03-29T21:10:06.308+08:00I'm on Facebook! :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwt0J1rhRbPefFKsjof9PfPHEftgEsqwRG96aFqVkcSJidqzmgKrjp5IYRBLXaPw5J0G8DuTHImMynDmZOoGGljSrTPFJFsYAcSuNAL-fEPQaV7UWLMFoMGmWfWETBhnrbb6gQXNP5Vg/s1600/FB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwt0J1rhRbPefFKsjof9PfPHEftgEsqwRG96aFqVkcSJidqzmgKrjp5IYRBLXaPw5J0G8DuTHImMynDmZOoGGljSrTPFJFsYAcSuNAL-fEPQaV7UWLMFoMGmWfWETBhnrbb6gQXNP5Vg/s1600/FB.jpeg" /></a></div>Hi, guys!<br />
<br />
I just set up my new <a href="http://www.facebook.com/samanthasotto">FB Author Page</a>. Hope you can visit me over there and "like" the page. Thanks a lot! :)<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
SamSamantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-512862374588349392011-03-28T06:43:00.004+08:002011-03-28T07:13:29.756+08:00Top Ten Movie Quotes* to Get You Unstuck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5jDUeLKHrN82kVdoWTtafBOAUmNqhP_IgyiLqTRgrV4BN_1oNcyKP-5LQzvkfjZFYNaD2AzuZji2tBtgiLOso_kHwR4DxJKzMsh3vbtHLK8a7J-G9pODI20_d4dOIkhpQZgrLla6HwQ/s1600/Popcorn.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5jDUeLKHrN82kVdoWTtafBOAUmNqhP_IgyiLqTRgrV4BN_1oNcyKP-5LQzvkfjZFYNaD2AzuZji2tBtgiLOso_kHwR4DxJKzMsh3vbtHLK8a7J-G9pODI20_d4dOIkhpQZgrLla6HwQ/s1600/Popcorn.jpeg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://movie-entertainment.net/Showtimes/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">source</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rut. Funk. Writer’s Block. We’ve all been wedged at one time or another – in a routine, a project, the middle of a blog post or a novel. Luckily, it’s nothing a night at the movies can’t fix. So grab some popcorn and enjoy the show! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p>(*Top ten movie quotes according to</o:p> <i><a href="http://www.filmsite.org/topquotes.html">The Guinness Book of Film</a></i>)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0.1pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0.1pt; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLmERbX6RrYzjQUgCuqYttgKIYbSCzgk8fNNdT9SPgtkoKlBNfBznm1MaxABH6tQbzoU_sfMDdlo5eqUMHxv1Q9NWS-gCJpXeqFLK4o01JmycxB7V1saZxz_13sQuLpB4WRFIxmVEO7U/s1600/Bond.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <b>"...Bond. James Bond." </b>(Sean Connery, <i>Dr. No (1962)</i>) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0.1pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, now look into a mirror and say that with your best British accent. I’m kidding. But this quote made the cut because James Bond does have the coolest toys. An invisible car, a jet pack, an Omega Seamaster watch with a laser beam cutter – they helped him save the day. The good news is we don’t need anything nearly as fancy to save ours. Heck, even a Play-Doh or a box of Lego will do. Find a toy and play with it. Playing relaxes your mind and sets your thoughts free. Who knows? Your imaginary friends might even come out to join you.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0.1pt;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzS56HOEtgUe_CTdc60XmKXGth5PPSi3mxdMARRAEWKV5kp958IoYUM-XdweNNxmuY-U9NvL_wifSkfHWN0EkDArWk_Mm_dDodF_1m3hd2b1fDEN6cMHMno1-VkVxx5rRceDDJQv7GsJc/s1600/Casablanca.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <b>"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine." </b>(Humphrey Bogart, <i>Casablanca (1942)</i>) </span></div><span style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Try working from some place new. Even if it just means picking up your laptop and moving from one end of the couch to the other, the move may help you see things from a different perspective. </span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oDY_tS0jfoj3K7pYEypO0TADT0gZDGkUjdIMQrxrhRyHu6F5QoVO0TalJWQA0tzav9g3IoiWLgTbVlD9kYr244EoFoBXxxEgwOFX1fwj44wze0UR8Aa5wI14RbtYZHhx6P0GeA_umpc/s1600/May+West.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oDY_tS0jfoj3K7pYEypO0TADT0gZDGkUjdIMQrxrhRyHu6F5QoVO0TalJWQA0tzav9g3IoiWLgTbVlD9kYr244EoFoBXxxEgwOFX1fwj44wze0UR8Aa5wI14RbtYZHhx6P0GeA_umpc/s1600/May+West.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <b>"Well, it's not the men in your life that counts, it's the life in your men." </b>(Mae West, <i>I'm No Angel (1933)</i>) </span></div><span style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take a hard look at each of your characters. Are they as fleshed out as possible? While figuring out where to take your story, examine your characters to see if they need to be developed more. This exercise might help you determine where your story needs to go next.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiaHmMBydP-iKQQo__5TNEPUuQSAnu4GARFI4ITA7sjSWQmU__dxL6g8P4GiVpWKybkeEZFfUekLIXiU7rIwEFC6pv3hMEttN_myLEKJx7rAYRwqbMndCZEXnl42ih0Q77sQzGurV7YU/s1600/Terminator.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiaHmMBydP-iKQQo__5TNEPUuQSAnu4GARFI4ITA7sjSWQmU__dxL6g8P4GiVpWKybkeEZFfUekLIXiU7rIwEFC6pv3hMEttN_myLEKJx7rAYRwqbMndCZEXnl42ih0Q77sQzGurV7YU/s1600/Terminator.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. <b>"I'll be back." </b>(Arnold Schwarzenegger, <i>The Terminator (1984</i>)</span></div><span style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take a break. Step away from your project and breathe. Come back when the urge to throw your laptop in the bin has passed.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4cpdggrRBlZ0ZUNbXTaLrvidCd2V8i90pkdgptwq8PpDfo4WclZKqiBJcWpQeYpvLVsvclu01YB1giKw_a5jfwSNCCRrVoD5Bui4JhaHp-FwFXTcT1DXKBtvYS0tapBvxAVEc1xGgbI/s1600/Blazing+saddles+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4cpdggrRBlZ0ZUNbXTaLrvidCd2V8i90pkdgptwq8PpDfo4WclZKqiBJcWpQeYpvLVsvclu01YB1giKw_a5jfwSNCCRrVoD5Bui4JhaHp-FwFXTcT1DXKBtvYS0tapBvxAVEc1xGgbI/s1600/Blazing+saddles+2.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5.<b> "Won't you excuse me for a moment while I ... slip into something a little bit more ... comfortable?" </b>(Madeline Kahn, <i>Blazing Saddles</i> (1974))</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you wear pants while working, slip into a dress. If you usually wear shoes, go barefoot. Shaking up your routine should help get the creative juices flowing.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tx-SlHBjYqwklm-2mYKZjRM0zP8SXzMfN1b5_-ZC7kNobHu5kINifkWEzPmcveeAtn41JtQJe2YwO7uhO68srPzQdaAdnzzjQC_CkgcAxHzdaD_E7pDz4aw7IwU2CNmUELKcsehQ1Z0/s1600/forest+gump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tx-SlHBjYqwklm-2mYKZjRM0zP8SXzMfN1b5_-ZC7kNobHu5kINifkWEzPmcveeAtn41JtQJe2YwO7uhO68srPzQdaAdnzzjQC_CkgcAxHzdaD_E7pDz4aw7IwU2CNmUELKcsehQ1Z0/s320/forest+gump.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <style>
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</style> 6. <b>"My Mama always said, 'Life was like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get.'" </b>(Tom Hanks, <i>Forrest Gump (1994)</i>) </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0.1pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep a box of writing prompts handy. Draw a prompt from it when you’re stuck. It may not be an exact match for the particular writing project that you’re working on, but it may help to get the wheels in your head turning. (If your project isn’t writing related, I recommend keeping an actual box of chocolates on hand.) </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauiDWKO9ZaBb5R2JKjq_kuQJJDzmNFq_osqNceuIq9U2l-BsRrDNsmY-un6d3rdLWggjfIUs8jLQDeGYMLKACHdTi3QgTddGDW2ZcF3-ZlNtfVh7NYAGtJDbcVmVmP77fuxyU8imBzS4/s1600/ducksoup.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauiDWKO9ZaBb5R2JKjq_kuQJJDzmNFq_osqNceuIq9U2l-BsRrDNsmY-un6d3rdLWggjfIUs8jLQDeGYMLKACHdTi3QgTddGDW2ZcF3-ZlNtfVh7NYAGtJDbcVmVmP77fuxyU8imBzS4/s1600/ducksoup.gif" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. <b>"I could dance with you till the cows come home...On second thought, I'd rather dance with the cows when you came home." </b>(Groucho Marx, <i>Duck Soup (1933</i>) </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First of all, skip the cows, but do turn up the music and dance. Sing! Let the music carry your thoughts away and inspire you.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFedE0vgZbZ9DlTF5gPV5_oKdqn9d8nhS0qeUk5AMx7QFy7IPszU5e34koQobBoZerE02HaiglG4AzlulHp_tqMHtBWnLUZJuj5MCgDZhHak_SniACK4KMYPRoAmvz8dGLKC6U8V6enY/s1600/Clark+Gable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFedE0vgZbZ9DlTF5gPV5_oKdqn9d8nhS0qeUk5AMx7QFy7IPszU5e34koQobBoZerE02HaiglG4AzlulHp_tqMHtBWnLUZJuj5MCgDZhHak_SniACK4KMYPRoAmvz8dGLKC6U8V6enY/s1600/Clark+Gable.jpg" /></span></a></div><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">8. <b>"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn!" </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">(Clark Gable, <i>Gone with the Wind (1939)</i>)</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0.1pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As “The King” said, don’t give a damn. Write, write, write regardless of whether you think it’s crap. You might find a shiny little nugget in the steaming pile the next day.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9oZXZi3JXmnaJZ-pVVe7Oe0eTeqbK2ccriNDkCiTb40kXwZM5vzaXM66j5TkmGAz3q8w0PxOvp532t2VwQWv5zHEGepG1kNmXo8yxppY5ciJx7iFbHIbYs23xs3VhkIFKbwvEQoNU8Q/s1600/De+Niro.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9oZXZi3JXmnaJZ-pVVe7Oe0eTeqbK2ccriNDkCiTb40kXwZM5vzaXM66j5TkmGAz3q8w0PxOvp532t2VwQWv5zHEGepG1kNmXo8yxppY5ciJx7iFbHIbYs23xs3VhkIFKbwvEQoNU8Q/s1600/De+Niro.jpeg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. <b>"You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Well, who the hell else are you talkin' to? You talkin' to me? Well, I'm the only one here. Who the f--k do you think you're talkin' to?" </b>(Robert De Niro, <i>Taxi Driver (1976)</i>) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sit down with your characters and have a chat with them. Ask them about their family, their favorite food and what they think about that last episode of Fringe. Their answers may surprise you. And if turns out that they don’t like Fringe, kill them off. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpRsiY0rJTaE4TNNY4MSHsHjMaw-JblyZ74WaWnUzaAFSbpXqjtzUDe6zZ666jJXvJnz-7lxaNaRuVqWRiuPJuZR0WLyNeFoSMi86sLiYDcA9sqHl8E19SGiM_X_OI8f4ASecLe7R5Eo/s1600/Garbo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpRsiY0rJTaE4TNNY4MSHsHjMaw-JblyZ74WaWnUzaAFSbpXqjtzUDe6zZ666jJXvJnz-7lxaNaRuVqWRiuPJuZR0WLyNeFoSMi86sLiYDcA9sqHl8E19SGiM_X_OI8f4ASecLe7R5Eo/s1600/Garbo.jpeg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><style>
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0.1pt;"><div style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">10. <b>"Gimme a whiskey, ginger ale on side. And don't be stingy, baby." </b>(Greta Garbo, Anna Christie (1930))</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0.1pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enough said. ;-)</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0.1pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0.1pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you have any favorite ways to get unstuck? I'd love to hear them. Go ahead, make my day :D</span></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpRsiY0rJTaE4TNNY4MSHsHjMaw-JblyZ74WaWnUzaAFSbpXqjtzUDe6zZ666jJXvJnz-7lxaNaRuVqWRiuPJuZR0WLyNeFoSMi86sLiYDcA9sqHl8E19SGiM_X_OI8f4ASecLe7R5Eo/s1600/Garbo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a></div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-55375921469089848942011-03-24T20:50:00.001+08:002011-03-25T05:50:17.296+08:00Friday Field Trip: The REAL Slight Detour (Part 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8oz0-uTYA5ho8PuyTZm7RAG3cbQafbcVTRzJDW8mYP3teV67jifPiBXJotux620eXgOU3lWxmQNZljJ0VPK_OCWHuxXLNxel2qTnUaQtsT4yZ3YTIxWi9E0F54W0CVhbSOe74DnuZXs/s1600/P1000962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8oz0-uTYA5ho8PuyTZm7RAG3cbQafbcVTRzJDW8mYP3teV67jifPiBXJotux620eXgOU3lWxmQNZljJ0VPK_OCWHuxXLNxel2qTnUaQtsT4yZ3YTIxWi9E0F54W0CVhbSOe74DnuZXs/s200/P1000962.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><style>
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</style> <i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">"Writing, I think, is not apart from living. Writing is a kind of double living. The writer experiences everything twice. Once in reality and once in that mirror which waits always before or behind." ~Catherine Drinker Bowen, Atlantic, December 1957</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hey, campers! Welcome to our Friday field trip! Today we're making a u-turn in time, to the backpacking trip that helped inspire Before Ever After. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a spur of the moment adventure that I took with a good friend during a time when we were both sick and tired of our jobs and had just watched the movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Before_Sunrise">Before Sunrise</a>. The film hopelessly infected us with a bad case of wanderlust. We flipped a coin on our lunchbreak to decide whether to take a camel tour of Mongolia or make our way around Europe. (I'll give you one guess which trip won out.) We hopped on a plane without any firm plans other than the fact that we needed to be in Athens on the date printed on our return ticket. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, are you ready to see the REAL Slight Detour? Oh, wait. Before we leave, there are a few new rules that you need to be aware of:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. There will be no laughing about 90s hairstyles or wardrobe choices. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">2. There will be no laughing about 90s hairstyles or wardrobe choices. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">3. There will be no laughing about 90s hairstyles or wardrobe choices. </div></div><div><br />
</div>Hey, you in the back of the van - I can still hear you snickering!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now that we've gotten that out of the way, follow the red umbrella!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsI1iVttRSp0PxRuSp3Oewr76XeRUJ53A_8Dv3GOCAMphjI_OrQeaFhN02M2NTzYzSJKzIHNW3dXbXWZkXuPwEdyD913ufBp_bPsc7vq-AjXaCQazE_q4gkMnsEmUPR4nDWoanhKIwmzA/s1600/Small+Red+Umbrella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsI1iVttRSp0PxRuSp3Oewr76XeRUJ53A_8Dv3GOCAMphjI_OrQeaFhN02M2NTzYzSJKzIHNW3dXbXWZkXuPwEdyD913ufBp_bPsc7vq-AjXaCQazE_q4gkMnsEmUPR4nDWoanhKIwmzA/s1600/Small+Red+Umbrella.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPXe7givoapzqvYs7P7rzjAhk7i3VTjOqMLTpi_tNi6l2rD_xwzZ6W-_QHG-ESTqWIM8NLxJL7HtJHMEBXwXQlRvu7STwEmOftNl119BtuZVUeJ-gmb3k8OmRFDd9OWNqsbuTGIZGL6Y/s1600/Backpack+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPXe7givoapzqvYs7P7rzjAhk7i3VTjOqMLTpi_tNi6l2rD_xwzZ6W-_QHG-ESTqWIM8NLxJL7HtJHMEBXwXQlRvu7STwEmOftNl119BtuZVUeJ-gmb3k8OmRFDd9OWNqsbuTGIZGL6Y/s320/Backpack+1.png" width="250" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Remember this picture. This will be the cleanest I will be on the trip.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg1BJQcgV2dOHoZVNpSH5KtsfvoEU0G4I3gj9DJIm5hxq8yWGP28AA3wXAXoRqQEdXDkYNglvN8ddRkkPcUtBhEJoy0dIcO5bTmgutKwJ9p8Ir6ovs1tTdTBgU7iHi36KYdj-4mCIuwg/s1600/Europe+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg1BJQcgV2dOHoZVNpSH5KtsfvoEU0G4I3gj9DJIm5hxq8yWGP28AA3wXAXoRqQEdXDkYNglvN8ddRkkPcUtBhEJoy0dIcO5bTmgutKwJ9p8Ir6ovs1tTdTBgU7iHi36KYdj-4mCIuwg/s320/Europe+2.JPG" width="289" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Can you spot me? I'm the white splotch sitting in front of the decayed tooth, er, Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Bu6T3L7br9TWEH9J1L3Q7Y9VxruP1TkguZYARPKyLl96S_6rjmbIi75F3bv8ZkAUs1akzde2bgWlwDG-RiAOTbI5DhblhS54P9-rluQNzHiHDxSPHS7EJb-N06XAp2vmmzmyYia8iOQ/s1600/Europe+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Bu6T3L7br9TWEH9J1L3Q7Y9VxruP1TkguZYARPKyLl96S_6rjmbIi75F3bv8ZkAUs1akzde2bgWlwDG-RiAOTbI5DhblhS54P9-rluQNzHiHDxSPHS7EJb-N06XAp2vmmzmyYia8iOQ/s320/Europe+4.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In my "Before Sunrise" sundress at Versailles. You will see this dress many (many, many) more times before the tour is over. Don't judge me. ;-)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93brHa-eBaw_it_iz_jTa7Fvs45FfSjWDsXNP54INWdcRmFChqnaBStP9xq0vX3RUrvfH7YZ9dJUCemHF8dkFuXEf4-ecqOycqE6WgarLxg3gHfIh3RUh_HJdVZrTqFw6SgQptjVZbpc/s1600/Europe+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93brHa-eBaw_it_iz_jTa7Fvs45FfSjWDsXNP54INWdcRmFChqnaBStP9xq0vX3RUrvfH7YZ9dJUCemHF8dkFuXEf4-ecqOycqE6WgarLxg3gHfIh3RUh_HJdVZrTqFw6SgQptjVZbpc/s320/Europe+5.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hmm. I wonder why Dan Brown didn't include this statue in the Da Vinci Code?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcTJv98dAfptw8ePDvdg6HgVwyqaYmLTgjK5TMogL4zQlYiDr1qkU7j6WouUAGNh7ypAFkUAFb65uBVqtr17GSg0OwNrJjQsLNMmCWTOXubTVaOgiLIKlW67H92GleQYik2e1k_VQAFE/s1600/Europe+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcTJv98dAfptw8ePDvdg6HgVwyqaYmLTgjK5TMogL4zQlYiDr1qkU7j6WouUAGNh7ypAFkUAFb65uBVqtr17GSg0OwNrJjQsLNMmCWTOXubTVaOgiLIKlW67H92GleQYik2e1k_VQAFE/s320/Europe+6.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Or this one?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7QELbWljE47cyHIfu7Eiuskp3EzcEySUu4YrkQa6UedzxWyvNpqeaoOuDpD2mq_mYP_qf5NqlKX87c_FbeCwGhC-sTyvOGynoTi0scdw0AV0p9_mCVHf4ILFcqmo-eqynwiaievCA2g/s1600/Europe+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7QELbWljE47cyHIfu7Eiuskp3EzcEySUu4YrkQa6UedzxWyvNpqeaoOuDpD2mq_mYP_qf5NqlKX87c_FbeCwGhC-sTyvOGynoTi0scdw0AV0p9_mCVHf4ILFcqmo-eqynwiaievCA2g/s320/Europe+7.JPG" width="226" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Luckily, unlike my main character, Shelley, I didn't have to race up the more than two hundred steps to the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Sacré-Cœur Basilica to take this photo.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tqVWm2kq9JLwD6yfw-D3cpeweJ7E5JgLoyhFAC2fEP7LehBoA95vKCcWEZpdwTOS7CDjKZVSPx1YY_5l2X5csTcMZhk89fu52XYC1GnyOH14tkIdWXvc7tDYvv_iy9G-6WkgSZkS5Vg/s1600/Europe+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tqVWm2kq9JLwD6yfw-D3cpeweJ7E5JgLoyhFAC2fEP7LehBoA95vKCcWEZpdwTOS7CDjKZVSPx1YY_5l2X5csTcMZhk89fu52XYC1GnyOH14tkIdWXvc7tDYvv_iy9G-6WkgSZkS5Vg/s320/Europe+8.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was young.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DnSgLzhES0Z75PP4EYv9DQIzZ2OMtimI7HnEtcs-I-yXQM7d7RhGk4FUK-NWAKBGD9MQv-FQO_hoeJX2JitHatENeMKWbY2WEA3LHhf9_IcPlqGTiHXuuukHZ5ZJoejMbYJBjnabdqc/s1600/Europe+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DnSgLzhES0Z75PP4EYv9DQIzZ2OMtimI7HnEtcs-I-yXQM7d7RhGk4FUK-NWAKBGD9MQv-FQO_hoeJX2JitHatENeMKWbY2WEA3LHhf9_IcPlqGTiHXuuukHZ5ZJoejMbYJBjnabdqc/s320/Europe+9.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Notre Dame required a more dignified pose.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaU18WbOdM2qAxZDU4DKuXNipY1kg1Gzv1ZmLrwmqlRiq0FOqFQEUA5D8NpSHFuFkTE0Va5v1usebIONy42wd3OAvjcYqsNM0JkRu0iCVm74yi-HPTpVUuhw2ShFBd8SYQB-8KKB1cJU/s1600/Europe+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaU18WbOdM2qAxZDU4DKuXNipY1kg1Gzv1ZmLrwmqlRiq0FOqFQEUA5D8NpSHFuFkTE0Va5v1usebIONy42wd3OAvjcYqsNM0JkRu0iCVm74yi-HPTpVUuhw2ShFBd8SYQB-8KKB1cJU/s320/Europe+10.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The bridge in the background is where we spent a homeless night in Lucerne when we got kicked out of the train station when it closed for the day.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnuaxHZAcxOroDgW0rq7ZUysoFvbBjwhFRlSJaN5ouGQJkJMSh7gl4vP8cLQlWT5CpUANQEBpSE0efblFlLpGpq9FSIZJG7Jo20tq0QWZrrK-DZ8FFdb8z0WZiguuFIlhLMzdv6hoTSA/s1600/Europe+13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnuaxHZAcxOroDgW0rq7ZUysoFvbBjwhFRlSJaN5ouGQJkJMSh7gl4vP8cLQlWT5CpUANQEBpSE0efblFlLpGpq9FSIZJG7Jo20tq0QWZrrK-DZ8FFdb8z0WZiguuFIlhLMzdv6hoTSA/s320/Europe+13.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Meet our guide. We met him when we arrived in Austria and joined "Bob's Bavarian Mountain Tour." He offered to take us around Austria in his dad's convertible, but the van he drove had its own charm. (He's standing on the van in this photo - which explains the perspective of the shot. <i>Why </i>he is standing on the van is another story.)<br />
</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That's all I have for you now, but make sure to come back next week for the second part of the tour!</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419160537703388597.post-67848123808038475002011-03-21T20:08:00.001+08:002011-03-21T20:09:10.178+08:00Greetings. I'm from the Future.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw8SoUsY3ueizwxAbnbLLdgldrTNYU4nLcjlxHGWBqXABYHXfBkjFdPFA5XulJ28D2xTBwMRdz7DNp8jyz0uD4yZekfc9ptF4X1scBTffUf5U6D_kDWDHL_eH7L2YcrQIBz77bSmy8vQ/s1600/woman+robot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: blue; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: underline;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw8SoUsY3ueizwxAbnbLLdgldrTNYU4nLcjlxHGWBqXABYHXfBkjFdPFA5XulJ28D2xTBwMRdz7DNp8jyz0uD4yZekfc9ptF4X1scBTffUf5U6D_kDWDHL_eH7L2YcrQIBz77bSmy8vQ/s1600/woman+robot.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Living on this side of the planet has its perks. For starters, I live a day ahead of most of you lovely people who read this blog. (Email me if you want me to sneak a peek at the lottery numbers for you. 50/50 split sound good?)</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We also get summer early. But don’t be too envious. In a month, we’ll be frying eggs on the pavement. Personally, I prefer using the hood of the car. Asphalt has an aftertaste. Right now, though, the weather is just PERFECT. The sun is out, the wind is cool, and the sky can’t be bluer. So to everyone who can’t wait for summer to arrive, I’ve had a sneak peek and I can tell you that it’s going to be awesome. :D</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But even if I weren’t in this time zone, I find that as a writer, living in the future is a job requirement. For me, knowing how my story is going to end is essential. Give me an opening line, a last sentence, a pot of dark roast coffee and I’m set.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrw0KkSoaVWTjLWl5k6XGertfg5dU0eUmN8FSeh6wCEFfwthA4PUa6K0upzPZ306GXnJJiY3U0Py3PUhN4VfIFvY5R37kS8TPVpEItQy02GDho1Bhx_J0Q8e3_5whxB_evFkBXOqF0BI/s1600/typewritter_once_upon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: underline;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrw0KkSoaVWTjLWl5k6XGertfg5dU0eUmN8FSeh6wCEFfwthA4PUa6K0upzPZ306GXnJJiY3U0Py3PUhN4VfIFvY5R37kS8TPVpEItQy02GDho1Bhx_J0Q8e3_5whxB_evFkBXOqF0BI/s200/typewritter_once_upon.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://freeali.wordpress.com/" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">source</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The middle, however, is trickier. I want to be surprised as much as the next reader. If the middle doesn’t keep me guessing while I write it, I probably won’t be motivated to finish the book. And here lies the challenge: you’ve seen the future and now you have to herd your characters towards it - <i>without</i> being predictable. How do you blindside yourself? The solution: play <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket_God" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">“Pocket God.”</a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJV4HhJxzN-_aeDBXMxW01n3XCu7IvRqxec_bh7j4504SlXMQ_TPLIHjoFr7y2QkUwqB9O4yzU_mfy2PAcZRLZJgaCz3nP3ZkTAJC9FqLG9VYEJh4p3Pu661xd_TiSEwRejzXYdlSSQE/s1600/pocket+god.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: underline;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJV4HhJxzN-_aeDBXMxW01n3XCu7IvRqxec_bh7j4504SlXMQ_TPLIHjoFr7y2QkUwqB9O4yzU_mfy2PAcZRLZJgaCz3nP3ZkTAJC9FqLG9VYEJh4p3Pu661xd_TiSEwRejzXYdlSSQE/s1600/pocket+god.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This app allows you to creatively torment the cute inhabitants of a little island who live only to appease you. Squish them, roast them, feed them to sharks – they won’t love you any less.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">When I want to keep the middle of the story interesting, I unleash my inner Pocket God on my beloved characters. I heighten conflict, steal their hearts' desire, and raise the stakes. Then I make it rain and break their umbrella. And kill their pet turtle. I’m kidding, I’m kidding. No animals were harmed in the making of Before Ever After.</div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTw3n8TPbRL31VRZcn_RVh4rT3D8H88dcN7ffp_tmXBmxr4_5yU1vOdYdJgjSHNrEgzB-iIdXSANTGDLKkiwRrNNHPvmN0azXG6jr-bQfKnwD-5HeclqM94xqvrP0mJTT3WBKO5PJO-s/s1600/cute-turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTw3n8TPbRL31VRZcn_RVh4rT3D8H88dcN7ffp_tmXBmxr4_5yU1vOdYdJgjSHNrEgzB-iIdXSANTGDLKkiwRrNNHPvmN0azXG6jr-bQfKnwD-5HeclqM94xqvrP0mJTT3WBKO5PJO-s/s200/cute-turtle.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></span></a></div></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://tintation.com/2010/07/13/50-amazing-3d-images-graphics-pictures/" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">source</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But all this of course comes from a place of love. I know what the future holds and I want the way to it to be as shark-infested, er, interesting as possible. They will be richer for their experiences along their journey. After all, they know that I would never lead them to an ending other than happily ever after. Sometimes. ;-)</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROpHAt1hSF8yfQelp3MIc8-IrsXld2rh80wc44ZlOWtc-tfSAoOIMw1ggg-cMCA0Q63mW6B4kFtkkIAJHWs9KABDBHS5vrS5pQlwv3Rc6V15_Tq0NgDJ0dpKsZRu4pOyK_9qIchblXCA/s1600/book+pages.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: underline;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROpHAt1hSF8yfQelp3MIc8-IrsXld2rh80wc44ZlOWtc-tfSAoOIMw1ggg-cMCA0Q63mW6B4kFtkkIAJHWs9KABDBHS5vrS5pQlwv3Rc6V15_Tq0NgDJ0dpKsZRu4pOyK_9qIchblXCA/s1600/book+pages.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div><br />
</div></div>Samantha Sottohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116257082088369600noreply@blogger.com45