Below are the most recent 17 friends' journal entries.

Monday, December 21st, 2009
jbknowles	8:25a	Holiday Memories When we were little, one of our Christmas traditions was going to the Kellerhaus to pick out an ornament. The Kellerhaus (owned by my dad's step-uncle) was this very fancy store that had all kinds of beautiful ornaments, candies and an ice cream parlor where you could make your own sundaes. It also had incredible toys you never saw anywhere else. There was one room that had just ornaments and we three kids would stand there and turn in circles, studying each one before we made a choice. This is the earliest choice I can remember: She's pretty faded and not very fancy-looking now, but I remember loving her the moment I saw her. I have other ornaments from those years hanging on our tree, too. And each year when I hang them up, I think about those days when my mom took us on that special annual excursion. I can smell the store—scented candles and newly made fudge and ribbon candy. I can feel the excitement as we got closer to the ornament room, and the longing as we browsed the toys we couldn't afford but loved dreaming about anyway. And getting a sample of fudge from our uncle Seth if he was there. And the box of ribbon candy my mom always bought, that we'd have to wait to eat at our Christmas Eve party as we tried to stay up until midnight to hear the animals talk. So many memories. So many. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Write about a holiday tradition you remember from your childhood. If you have a photo, share! :-) (6 Comments |Comment on this)
slatts	6:02a	• • • • • • • • • Monday 21 December'09 The Weekend Report The following are the highlights, low-lights and other observations of the previous weekend from just after posting "FAB FOUR for FRIDAY" to lights-out on Sunday...( Read more... ) (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, December 18th, 2009
jbknowles	12:58p	busy busy busy I love revising!!! Here are what some of my notes on my editorial letter for PEARL look like: And here's what my average manuscript page is looking like: And here is what my inspiration for daring looks like, thanks to my awesome class who gave me this for an end-of-semester present: :-) Must stop now to attend my son's holiday party, where there will be more singing! Yup, it's still all holiday tunes all the time at chez Jo's. Have a great weekend, everyone!!! Current Mood: energetic (12 Comments |Comment on this)
slatts	6:20a	• • • • • • • • • • • • • Friday 18 December 2009 My FAB FOUR for FRIDAY 1. "Picture yourself" with Picture Book ARTISTS and a... 2. "Paperback writer" or two or three or six and (hard cover writers and editors, too). 3. "Last night is the night I will remember" 4. "Ev'rybody had a good time" Oh, yeah! at Nancy's Holiday Party for the Western Massachusetts Illustrators' Guild 1.Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds; 2.Paperback Writer; 3.The Night Before; 4.I've Got a Feeling • • • • • • • • • • • • • (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
slatts	6:56a	• • • • • • • • • • Thursday 17 December 2009 Charlie Horse pours coffee black in his hollow leg In the eve whiskey red Come morning it's a peg • • • • • • • • • • (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
jbknowles	10:09a	The best kind of reminder Sometimes things can start to feel so overwhelming. Even discouraging (hello superintendent from Kentucky). And then something like this shows up in your e-mail and you realize, well, you realize all that other stuff doesn't matter so much: Hello, My name is X and I live in X. I am 16 years old and I have never really had luck when it comes to reading. I can never just sit down and read a book. In English class we had to choose a book for a project and luckily I came across your book! And for once, I sat down and read every single word!!! I have never read a book like this; at first I was a little hesitant. But, I just told myself, Okay I have to do this. But, after 15 pages or so, I could not stop reading! I just wanted to tell you that I really love your book! I am, for the first time ever, looking forward to reading. I can't stop smiling. :-) :-) :-) See? I was serious. :-) :-) I also found out today that Jumping Off Swings was nominated for the Milwaukee County Teen Book Award! There are 15 finalists and I seriously cannot believe my book is on the same list as the other books on that list. :-) :-) OK. I'll stop. :-) (sorry) Current Mood: cheerful (38 Comments |Comment on this)
slatts	6:17a	• • • • • • • • • • Wednesday 16 December 2009 I'll have another cigarette.... (9 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
slatts	5:47a	. . . . . 15 December'09 Jo Knowles said "write a poem with 21 questions." Here goes! Would you meet me in a bar? Would you walk? Or drive your car? Would you come and hear my band? Would you dance? Or wave your hand? Would you like to hear some sax? Songs of love? And railroad tracks? Would you dance to thumping bass? Rhythmic drums? In any place? Would the squeeze box make you smile? Jump up and down? Act like a child? Would you like some rock n' roll? Some R&B? Or funk with soul? Would you want some country, too? Something happy? Something blue? Would you listen to us sing? As it is? Or our own thing? Would you like to hear a song? We made up? Or brought along? (21 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, December 14th, 2009
jbknowles	10:26a	Monday Morning Meme Time (yup, made that up) :-) It’s been a looooong time since I’ve seen a meme floating around the blog world. For today’s Monday Morning Warm-Up, lets do 21-questions poetry. What does that mean? I have no idea. But I thought it would be fun! So, form 21 questions into a poem and post them on your blog. You don't have to tag anyone, just invite everyone to participate, like I am doing now. And, if you feel like it, answer my questions in the comments section! :-) I’ll go first... Do you know me? Do you know me? Do you want to? Are we friends? Do you write, too? Do you tell the truth? Do you cry sometimes? Do you have a secret? Will you ever tell? Why? Do you know my books? Do you like them? Are you lying? Have we met in person? Did we share our light? Do you know what that means? What do you really want? Do you know what makes you happy? Can you just want what you have? Do you want to change the world? Do you think you can? Should we try together? ~*~*~*~*~* :-) Your turn... Current Mood: meme-y (10 Comments |Comment on this)
slatts	6:08a	. . . . . Monday 14 December'09 The Weekend Report The following are the highlights, low-lights and other observations of the previous weekend from just after posting "FAB FOUR for FRIDAY" to lights-out on Sunday...( Read more... ) (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, December 11th, 2009
jbknowles	1:08p	Agent appreciation redux, thanks to Slatts Oh. Em. Gee. slatts came through! Here is my new booklet, updated by slatts! :-) SLATTS YOU ARE AWESOME!!! Cover: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BARRY GOLDBLATT Page 2: Who is Barry Goldblatt? Barry Goldblatt is a literary agent. He represents children's and young adult authors, including: • Libba Bray • Holly Black • Cassie Claire • Angela Johnson • Shannon Hale. Barry has over 40 clients. Every summer, they gather for an epic retreat in which pork rinds are forced upon new clients. Page 3: Why should I learn about him? Because Barry Goldblatt is often misunderstood! Barry is known to have a rough exterior. However, he is: Generous Barry has been known to secretly send assistance in various forms to clients who are down on their luck. Caring Barry will call clients after reading their neurotic blog entries to make sure they are ok. Thoughtful Barry calls clients on their birthdays. Pages 4-5: You can live well with Barry Goldblatt! Having Barry for an agent means: Having someone swear for you. Barry has a very good vocabulary. Having someone cheer for you. Barry has a loud voice. Having someone to share your joy with. Barry has no problem jumping up and down and squeeing over clients' good news in public. Having a shoulder to cry on. Barry is a good listener. He is also a good problem-solver. Having someone to count on. Barry always returns e-mail and phone calls right away. Page 6: Know the warning signs of a problem Barry is honest. If you don't like getting honest feedback, Barry is not right for you. Barry does not pull punches. Barry's feedback on manuscripts can cause pain. However, it is only because he loves you and wants you to do your best. If you don't like to work hard, Barry is not right for you. Barry may force you to get angry. Barry recognizes the importance of finding the emotion in your work. If you are afraid of your emotions, stick with Barry. He is a good therapist. Page 7: Learn more about Barry Goldblatt today! You can learn more about Barry Goldblatt by: Visiting his Web site: http://www.bgliterary.com Following him on LiveJournal: http://bgliterary.livejournal.com Following him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/barrygoldblatt You can live well with Barry Goldblatt! (12 Comments |Comment on this)
jbknowles	8:56a	It is Agent Appreciation Day For several years, I worked for a publishing company writing booklets about health and social issues. Most of these booklets were titled, "WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT [fill in any disease, safety issue, or school problem imaginable here]." And then they followed a distinct structure with similar headlines, like this: Page 1 (cover): What You Should Know About Diabetes Page 2: What is diabetes? Page 3: Why should I learn about it? Pages 4-5: You can live well with diabetes Page 6: Know the warning signs of a problem Page 7: Learn more about Diabetes today! These booklets are actually really helpful for people just learning about a disease they or someone they love has been diagnosed with. I learned at TON working for this company. And, it's where I met the infamous slatts. Anyway, since I feel the general public would benefit from learning more about my agent, Barry Goldblatt--and since it is Agent Appreciation Day--I decided to write a Barry Goldblatt booklet. I wish slatt could illustrate it for old times sake. [NOTE: This is not to say Barry is at all like a disease! Not not not!] OK. Here it is: Cover: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BARRY GOLDBLATT Page 2: Who is Barry Goldblatt? Barry Goldblatt is a literary agent. He represents children's and young adult authors, including: • Libba Bray • Holly Black • Cassie Claire • Angela Johnson • Shannon Hale. Barry has over 40 clients. Every summer, they gather for an epic retreat in which pork rinds are forced upon new clients. Page 3: Why should I learn about him? Because Barry Goldblatt is often misunderstood! Barry is known to have a rough exterior. However, he is: Generous Barry has been known to secretly send assistance in various forms to clients who are down on their luck. Caring Barry will call clients after reading their neurotic blog entries to make sure they are ok. Thoughtful Barry calls clients on their birthdays. Pages 4-5: You can live well with Barry Goldblatt! Having Barry for an agent means: Having someone swear for you. Barry has a very good vocabulary. Having someone cheer for you. Barry has a loud voice. Having someone to share your joy with. Barry has no problem jumping up and down and squeeing over clients' good news in public. Having a shoulder to cry on. Barry is a good listener. He is also a good problem-solver. Having someone to count on. Barry always returns e-mail and phone calls right away. Page 6: Know the warning signs of a problem Barry is honest. If you don't like getting honest feedback, Barry is not right for you. Barry does not pull punches. Barry's feedback on manuscripts can cause pain. However, it is only because he loves you and wants you to do your best. If you don't like to work hard, Barry is not right for you. Barry may force you to get angry. Barry recognizes the importance of finding the emotion in your work. If you are afraid of your emotions, stick with Barry. He is a good therapist. Page 7: Learn more about Barry Goldblatt today! You can learn more about Barry Goldblatt by: Visiting his Web site: http://www.bgliterary.com Following him on LiveJournal: http://bgliterary.livejournal.com Following him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/barrygoldblatt You can live well with Barry Goldblatt! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Thanks for being my agent, Barry! You are the best and I don't know how I'd survive this business without you. Also, thanks for being a fantastic friend. :-) (29 Comments |Comment on this)
slatts	6:17a	• • • • • • • • • • • • • Friday 11 December 2009 My FAB FOUR for FRIDAY 1. "When I wake up early in the morning, lift my head, I'm still yawning" I'm only shopping. 2. "His sister, Pam, works in a shop" Maybe like the new "art shop" in town? 'Wait a minute!' We'll have to 'check it and see!' 3. "Honey Don't"...put too much on my Honey-Do list this weekend. Please. Please. ~me 4. "Eight Days A Week" Happy first day of Hanukkah! • • • • • • • • • • • • • (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
slatts	6:09a	• • • • • • • • • • Thursday 10 December 2009 One hundred and seventy nine years ago today...( Read more... ) • • • • • • • • • • (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
jbknowles	9:02a	Snow Day! Yesterday I asked everyone to wish for a snow day and it worked! But oh, it is pretty scary looking out there. I wonder how the beavers are feeling about this. Maybe they'll move south! Last night, AFTER making my wish, my son made this announcement: "Since it's almost Christmas, I'm going to start Christmas Caroling. All the time. Non stop." Oh boy. The first one he started with was actually... http://s0.ilike.com/play#Barenaked+Ladies:Hanukkah%2C+Oh+Hanukkah:193264:m2266817 (I dare you to click this link ;-) ) Followed by some rather unfortunate dance moves. And now that song (and image) is permanently stuck in my head. What's your favorite holiday tune? :-) (21 Comments |Comment on this)
slatts	6:05a	• • • • • • • • • • Wednesday 9 December 2009 "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" This isn't right way to write a book. I know. But try to see it my way, only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong. (10 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
slatts	8:00a	• • • • • • • • • • Monday 7 December 2009 BAND Camp canceled. Last minute schedule-snafu means no music fix for slatts this week. All work and no "playing music" makes Jack a very favorable drink to dull this boy's blues • • • • • • • • • • (9 Comments |Comment on this)