Happy birthday, Cousin Dan

Cousin Dan with his buffalo, 2003 JMH

8-17-06-

Happy Birthday, Cousin Dan!

Dan was a favorite of my mother's. He's a pastor, and she taught him Spanish before he went on a mission to Mexico years ago. That trip became the inspiration for a character in my new (unpublished) book, Custer and His Naked Ladies, although the story in the book is nothing like Dan's real story.

Dan and I both love local Oklahoma history, and we both love buffalo! Even better, he has a pond on his ranch that is filled with turtles! Me encanta!

His wife, Gloria, would make me an awfully good sister if we weren't so far away. Wish I could be there to eat some cake today!

Hot Moms-those who know me and know how conservative I am have been really amused by the ad Google has been running on my blog off and on lately. It reads: Hot Moms-Free to join-1000's of pictures and videos of beautiful single moms...eeek! Needless to say, I have no control over my blog's advertising. I tried to delete it, but got lost in html and was afraid I'd end up deleting the wrong thing. It'll pass on it's own. I think.

Language-Tortue (French) turtle

Do ya have your Comanche Dictionary yet?

Quote du jour:

"If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead." --Johnny Carson

They hate us! They really hate us!

© 2006 Janelle Meraz Hooper (Long Beach, Washington)

8-10-06-In the news :
Wow! They hate us! They really hate us! The latest plan to blow up multiple planes brings into focus (again!) how much the terrorists hate us. I’m speechless. Well, I’m not—not really—but it’s pointless to repeat what I’ve said in the past. Don’t think I’m not still mad at Israel, because I am!

China-I’ve become numb to war news, but I broke down and cried at the news about the Chinese having to kill their dogs because of a rabies problem. I couldn’t even finish the article, so I don't know... don’t they have rabies vaccine over there? If not, can we send them some?

On my DVD machine-Rick Steve’s travel shows, courtesy of a good friend. I’m going to watch them all, I am. I really am. IF I can get myself to stop watching the show on Italy. Could I be Italian? Is there a Rio Grande there? I guess not...

On my bed table-I won’t say because I’m really hating it. I should have listened to the reviewers. It’s a book by a well-established writer and I’m thinking it could have used another rewrite and some intersting characters. And maybe a plot. If there is one, I haven't found it yet. It must be good to be famous and be able to slop a book together. Don’t email me about this. My lips are zipped.

Language- Wakaree (Comanche), turtle

In the mail- As I writer, I love and honor all language. The Comanche Language and Preservation Committee has a dictionary out that is terrific. It has Comanche to English and English to Comanche sections. Price $34.00 that includes shipping and handling. They also have other language materials in a varied price range, some come with a CD to help with pronunciation. Contact them:
Comanche language and Cultural Preservation Committee
P. O. Box 3610
Lawton, OK 73502-3610

Quote du jour:

“Sometimes I think war is God’s way of teaching us geography.” Paul Rodriguez

Coming soon!

Custer and His Naked Ladies

Before Glory boards an Oklahoma-bound plane at the Sea-Tac Airport, she takes the framed photo of her husband out of her gym bag and dumps it--frame and all--into the nearest trash bin. She has wasted too many years on a man who doesn't want her, and her biological clock is beginning to pound like a powwow drum.

This probably isn't the final cover. My mother did this drawing years ago, and I've always liked it. Who knows? Maybe I'll grow so attached to it that I'll keep it!

Author's note: Now here's a fun read for all of the people who told me it hurt to read A Three-Turtle Summer...Custer and His Naked Ladies is the last book in my turtle trilogy, but it stands alone.