tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74396733551441656972024-03-13T00:11:01.277-04:00Life from Ann ArborCrysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.comBlogger336125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-60092575129575986152024-02-13T23:15:00.001-05:002024-02-13T23:15:06.837-05:00Story Time<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div><div>I was watching Journey Across Japan on the Abroad in Japan YouTube channel, and the two guys go shopping at Daiso, one of the largest 100 yen shop chains in Japan. It's like a dollar store, except 10,000 times better with actually good quality and useful products. And I used to work at one.</div><div><br></div><div>How is that when I was only in Japan for 3 months in 2003? Because I lived in Mountain View, California for 4 months, and Daiso has (some) stores in the U.S. I put on the application that I minored in Japanese, and at the time my Japanese skills were stronger than they are now (though I've been practicing lately). This got me hired.</div><div><br></div><div>The store manager was Japanese, sent to the U.S. from Japan specifically to manage this store. All Daiso management is from Japan. There was one other Japanese employee when I started, a student who ended up losing her visa, and she was deported back to Japan. A manager-in-training was later sent from Japan, and he was adorably genki. The rest of my coworkers were Mexican American and Chinese American, both Cantonese and Mandarin speakers. Some of them did not speak English, but we all found a way to communicate and got along great. They were some of the best people I've ever worked with. </div><div><br></div><div>The Daiso was run like a Japanese store. We all changed stations every hour or two. (If you're familiar with Trader Joe's, they got this model from Japan.) However, wherever I was and whatever I was doing, I was very frequently being paged over the PA system and called to different departments. Why? Because I could read the packaging. Everything in the store was Japanese, thus so was the packaging. On the weekends, I was usually the only person in the store who could read it. (The manager didn't work weekends.)</div><div><br></div><div>The most common questions I was asked:</div><div><br></div><div>1) Is this a pen or a pencil? </div><div>2) Is this microwavable?</div><div>3) Is this dishwasher safe?</div><div>4) What is this?</div><div><br></div><div>If there is a moral to this story it's that you should study and learn whatever you want to in life, no matter how impractical it may seem to other people. Because you never know what wacky places it will take you. One day your very livelihood may depend on whether you can tell a pen from a pencil. </div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-24376744832298099122023-08-19T14:55:00.000-04:002023-08-19T14:55:56.973-04:00Long Covid Continues to be Terrible<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div>You may have noticed that it's been a while since I've updated. Lots has happened in my life, both positive and very sad. <div><br></div><div>I'm working on two books at the moment, one fiction and one nonfiction. So that's fun! I've also been working regularly as a feature writer for <a href="https://www.mashed.com/author/crystacoburn/">Mashed</a>, which has been good for my spirit. But since having Covid, my energy is constantly low. </div><div><br></div><div>I've stuck with the library because it's a solid, reliable income, but it takes a lot more energy to maintain than it used to. I can rarely manage 19 hours a week now, and it's not exactly an intense job. Same with writing. All of my responsibilities used to be simple, but now it's like running a marathon just to stay at the circulation desk for more than 3 hours. And then I need a nap afterwards!</div><div><br></div><div>I read a book on long Covid that included info on acquiring aid for help around the house, which I'm considering looking into because I have trouble even unloading the dishwasher in one try. It usually takes 3 attempts before it gets fully emptied. </div><div><br></div><div>So many people now are disabled because of Covid. I keep hoping this isn't permanent, but not enough is known about Long Covid, and it's been over a year for me. Not that I've been able to afford to take time off to actually recover anything. I think if I had a month of no responsibilities, I'd feel much better. But who knows? That's unlikely to ever happen. </div><div><br></div><div>When I have more to share about the books, I will post here. I suggest keeping up with <a href="https://www.hauntedmitten.com/">Haunted Mitten</a>, which is where a lot of my energy is going. </div><div><br></div><div>Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! <a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn">Just click the link right here.</a></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-45438419140295296992022-09-29T00:01:00.001-04:002022-09-29T00:01:00.167-04:00FrankenFest Detroit 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEezkL_Xglh0DTc4g7yGMA1mu3NgiHxflEc4RAQiWdxvFtwqofgAvyHCbsV_KWnNdHPqPTnD6VsHYXDCne4BJyAB6lJrOG9s7RUPdzfXbncBs_pk7ise1_IIY_wGdFhW-o8RUgPBRathKmr7WdzGeLFedz3J9CXDObJrLuG_KZWoaLGDKga8Wd0TifA/s3000/Historic-Fort-Wayne-Detroit-Soldier.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A wooden sign with a soldier drawn on it that says, "Want to be a soldier?"" border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEezkL_Xglh0DTc4g7yGMA1mu3NgiHxflEc4RAQiWdxvFtwqofgAvyHCbsV_KWnNdHPqPTnD6VsHYXDCne4BJyAB6lJrOG9s7RUPdzfXbncBs_pk7ise1_IIY_wGdFhW-o8RUgPBRathKmr7WdzGeLFedz3J9CXDObJrLuG_KZWoaLGDKga8Wd0TifA/w400-h400/Historic-Fort-Wayne-Detroit-Soldier.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Haunted Mitten has a bunch of upcoming appearances in October, so I suspect my blog updates are going to be scarce for a few weeks. <p></p><p>A few weeks ago, my podcast cohost Kay and I presented for the second year at <a href="https://www.frankenfest.com/" target="_blank">FrankenFest Detroit</a>. (<a href="https://lifefroma2.blogspot.com/2021/09/frankenfest-detroit-2021.html" target="_blank">Click here to read about FrankenFest Detroit 2021</a>). It was another great year, though it was pretty hot in the room. We don't blame anyone who had to leave to get some fresh air. Who thought it would nearly 90 degrees F halfway September? We had so many good questions and a wonderful audience. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4JCcAutB5Zg2qdH0j1vClhWINZt9oWKiNom27DbV8tRz0NdWpto4qcfP-LN7S9NwDpWzOkkwq6-CbsDKCnu-ejDRO6VkLbNRZCZawEQlayQT-KOVPoE5BE1h3VtghnNmgqn6d2UKThrbXjYSL5RcztFE01wDdUnIKB--6PiZbJCJxme21Nw7oWFMVA/s3018/Haunted-Mitten-Historic-Fort-Wayne-Detroit-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Me and Kay presenting at FrankenFest." border="0" data-original-height="3017" data-original-width="3018" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4JCcAutB5Zg2qdH0j1vClhWINZt9oWKiNom27DbV8tRz0NdWpto4qcfP-LN7S9NwDpWzOkkwq6-CbsDKCnu-ejDRO6VkLbNRZCZawEQlayQT-KOVPoE5BE1h3VtghnNmgqn6d2UKThrbXjYSL5RcztFE01wDdUnIKB--6PiZbJCJxme21Nw7oWFMVA/w320-h320/Haunted-Mitten-Historic-Fort-Wayne-Detroit-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />One moment in particular stuck out to me and Kay. A pair of listeners came up and asked if we could record a video for a young listener who couldn't be there that day. Y'all, my heart... Of course we recorded the video and thanked them all for being fans! Haunted Mitten had become so much more popular and more quickly than we ever dreamed. It's surreal and amazing, and I couldn't be happier. Some beautiful friends who moved away during the pandemic drove up for the day, and it was just so awesome to be there, it really was.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6EJbmzSXTqutEoI4AJwsUpEpxL4Pm6ZIULhDvwtDJP0_Z_ZkN_KRQ3Uk_3RpG21lJCNctjsaKZM1TOmf1kHUBGfN8x-HY5BqkW8YHBjt3JSVm-s-rwVoRr5HbNtAIdnmzwEo8UxAiZZhe46qWqsXhYEsDtDULfwihffrkTeNS6ZJLkMpv9Qd_1qPQg/s4000/Haunted-Mitten-Historic-Fort-Wayne-Detroit-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kay sitting behind our table at FrankenFest." border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6EJbmzSXTqutEoI4AJwsUpEpxL4Pm6ZIULhDvwtDJP0_Z_ZkN_KRQ3Uk_3RpG21lJCNctjsaKZM1TOmf1kHUBGfN8x-HY5BqkW8YHBjt3JSVm-s-rwVoRr5HbNtAIdnmzwEo8UxAiZZhe46qWqsXhYEsDtDULfwihffrkTeNS6ZJLkMpv9Qd_1qPQg/w320-h240/Haunted-Mitten-Historic-Fort-Wayne-Detroit-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.ntgypsi.org/" target="_blank">Neighborhood Theatre Group</a> was also there this year and had a table next to ours. So even more friends! Three performers, including my husband Greg, gave a bit of a teaser for Black Cat Cabaret, which I encourage everyone local to buy tickets for. Also in the room with us was <a href="https://www.savingscalesmi.org/" target="_blank">Saving Scales Reptile Rescue</a>. Unsurprisingly, the reptiles really ruled that room, which we were totally fine with. All of the animals got adopted well before the end of the day, which is wonderful. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yquc8Rdv5hLv-pOUW8-yL34tSIHX6z-QKe8dXoD3EWqQacn2b6OsQIejHBMPAEGYxJEWXY5g2aanQTxppRCOuKBzA7fMwQOlZK0Zp1JfKHFwDWDafqh5JFhyaD94Wp_T6VAcqATt3HEHBUzh_rh0ChsIpQsK1mp6PzPpNhakvfuGWuvAbDzGl11gXg/s541/lizard1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A bearded dragon cocking her head to the side." border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="541" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yquc8Rdv5hLv-pOUW8-yL34tSIHX6z-QKe8dXoD3EWqQacn2b6OsQIejHBMPAEGYxJEWXY5g2aanQTxppRCOuKBzA7fMwQOlZK0Zp1JfKHFwDWDafqh5JFhyaD94Wp_T6VAcqATt3HEHBUzh_rh0ChsIpQsK1mp6PzPpNhakvfuGWuvAbDzGl11gXg/w320-h319/lizard1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSroS8J-hoGg7QgKXWwIwLyQFD7j9SEUe7ttqCFOJRxDnDBrVLtUlNZOs-LViMaqs9a0y_Vng8ziKjTHpAPjUcl0TWS89Q-p8JuT_je42unnV0B2_fPEfJaZ4uZU1rrAoZJkhw0UAugz5QoMvUEJt5agHSySDrfFgV4btUF8vEgQEPfckYHaAHKNZUIw/s2086/lizard2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A bearded dragon looking charming and sophisticated." border="0" data-original-height="2086" data-original-width="2085" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSroS8J-hoGg7QgKXWwIwLyQFD7j9SEUe7ttqCFOJRxDnDBrVLtUlNZOs-LViMaqs9a0y_Vng8ziKjTHpAPjUcl0TWS89Q-p8JuT_je42unnV0B2_fPEfJaZ4uZU1rrAoZJkhw0UAugz5QoMvUEJt5agHSySDrfFgV4btUF8vEgQEPfckYHaAHKNZUIw/w320-h320/lizard2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Look at that beautiful dragon! She was quite the diva.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I believe our next public appearance will be at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1857169984467666" target="_blank">The Vintage Market presents: Wicked Pickin'</a> on Sunday, October 9th at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. We'll be live recording all day for our Patreon patrons and talking with people about their paranormal experiences. I'd say I can't wait, but I still have a lot of preparation to do! We're also currently recording season four. So like I said at the beginning, lots going on! Check back for more updates, brief as they may be.</p><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teal Background with a coffee cup with a heart on it that says Buy Me a Coffee." border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/w200-h50/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-69035524463489680112022-09-08T00:01:00.001-04:002022-09-08T00:01:00.172-04:00Summer Equals Great Times, Great Lakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDiOI5-EtlOI84xc3uE-doKgCmhZmTr2A0Nt7XbH0_vi8DDrF6MzJWRuod7VNFgGheIW6l819BhGrd3O_FvlcUf_i7D9AwGAiCt26MgkMjmw28L7JOn3AwrvbQzYHNIXV-vfMul0owRwpZfCvRJHTDxFmksP_YdfVyawAPqOaGvcgD1PuxeHCNcf6sg/s4000/Lake-Huron.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Looking west along the beach to the golden sunset. Decks and water toys are visible." border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDiOI5-EtlOI84xc3uE-doKgCmhZmTr2A0Nt7XbH0_vi8DDrF6MzJWRuod7VNFgGheIW6l819BhGrd3O_FvlcUf_i7D9AwGAiCt26MgkMjmw28L7JOn3AwrvbQzYHNIXV-vfMul0owRwpZfCvRJHTDxFmksP_YdfVyawAPqOaGvcgD1PuxeHCNcf6sg/w400-h300/Lake-Huron.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">This summer has been a pretty erratic one. There were either stormy days or ridiculously hot days. So not too many I really wanted to spend time outdoors in. But I need my lake time, or I become incredibly depressed. (Or depression deepens, depending on how you look at it.) </p><p style="text-align: left;">It has also been a busy summer for Haunted Mitten with multiple appearances and prepping for a growing number of appearances this fall. (I think we are up to 4 events in October alone.) And we still need to record season 4! So I really needed some time away to just relax.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Luckily, some friends of ours own a house on Lake Huron and hosted a Game Night weekend away! (Read about last year's <a href="https://lifefroma2.blogspot.com/2021/08/fabulous-friends-getaway-to-lake-huron.html" target="_blank">Fabulous Friends Getaway to Lake Huron</a>.) I did have to finish up an article for <a href="https://www.mashed.com/author/crystacoburn/" target="_blank">Mashed</a>, but to be honest, waking up by the lakeshore and spending the first couple of hours working on my laptop while sipping a cup of tea was heavenly. That is what I want my life to be.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABOCredPz7k2MS3nYte6aLcynxt1z6qMImAlEqtq2tAi11hWF9Eig5xTg2Vbn-wHag4aD7Do7i34kkn8Rt8JIMKIZ5TIi12CyGIxuiH411pvXZQ6ZNPdKkvilgp_UnP_vs0709V4AhvfIyVjN3I3DrXhesn2luYnmOpksDSkCW951FJO9VJUHyqW0pQ/s3000/Rainbow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A rainbow is visible over the rooftop." border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABOCredPz7k2MS3nYte6aLcynxt1z6qMImAlEqtq2tAi11hWF9Eig5xTg2Vbn-wHag4aD7Do7i34kkn8Rt8JIMKIZ5TIi12CyGIxuiH411pvXZQ6ZNPdKkvilgp_UnP_vs0709V4AhvfIyVjN3I3DrXhesn2luYnmOpksDSkCW951FJO9VJUHyqW0pQ/w400-h300/Rainbow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />With my freelance work really (finally) taking off, my part-time library job is feeling more and more like a coat that no longer fits. It's an easy, well-paying, supportive job working with and for people I genuinely like. But it is still working someone else's schedule rather than my own. I have to wake up according to my work schedule, and I have to plan my entire week around it. It leaves me feeling like I have no free time. Maybe if it were a set schedule, it would be easier, but it isn't, which keeps my anxiety level constantly higher than normal as I am always worried about being late or forgetting a shift. (This is likely from my ADHD.)<p></p><p style="text-align: left;">I don't plan on quitting any time too soon as we are currently looking for a new house, and lenders like seeing reliable, concrete jobs rather than jobs that pay me when they pay me. I can't say for sure I will be getting more money by staying than going totally freelance, but the library does pay regularly. It is sounding like Haunted Mitten needs to be transformed into a business rather than a hobby, though, so maybe next year?</p><p style="text-align: left;">That being said, keep an eye on <a href="https://www.hauntedmitten.com/" target="_blank">Haunted Mitten</a>!! Big things are coming, and we are incredibly excited. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JAnTNb5IiKgXkAJpXxOmP7roU_t4v1nKJf2wIhyDdg8tvmLqJFwCypjVvz2uUIfqlMf2DgF6kRIN_T4CD1nqzXFdsxQ7aJhps5yAJjQGIHXiUE3_vnXpNAs18LKWV6TF5aKih7_r9oR_iG_1gVS3RHXVxWCyhgfZ844rW6hWJQgT2d4JtuKbFCXvvg/s1010/Lake-Huron-Deck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A deck with patio furniture overlooking Lake Huron." border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1010" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JAnTNb5IiKgXkAJpXxOmP7roU_t4v1nKJf2wIhyDdg8tvmLqJFwCypjVvz2uUIfqlMf2DgF6kRIN_T4CD1nqzXFdsxQ7aJhps5yAJjQGIHXiUE3_vnXpNAs18LKWV6TF5aKih7_r9oR_iG_1gVS3RHXVxWCyhgfZ844rW6hWJQgT2d4JtuKbFCXvvg/w400-h300/Lake-Huron-Deck.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teal Background with a coffee cup with a heart on it that says Buy Me a Coffee." border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/w200-h50/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div><p></p>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-17706542240045850102022-08-26T11:38:00.000-04:002022-08-26T11:38:32.972-04:00We Have Expanded Our Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bZmeuwz8RCtpAudT3eZB-ZpupLoPvuY5brSbhhjphqSGrhmk-HVs7z7dx8LPA9Zfc7dsQOiu9B-FnF43FbLhJIT1pzdy-lk9BhbOms7gtvBc0lcBDLLLGRDdMOzhTfM_IUba6L7sWlb_SsTAjUlIeNwNB2_6C9p4mW63GJDjvcwksgbTgBEaUYK41w/s1440/Kittens1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A gray kitten (Leota) and black kitten (Raistlin) napping. Leota uses Raistlin's tail as a pillow." border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bZmeuwz8RCtpAudT3eZB-ZpupLoPvuY5brSbhhjphqSGrhmk-HVs7z7dx8LPA9Zfc7dsQOiu9B-FnF43FbLhJIT1pzdy-lk9BhbOms7gtvBc0lcBDLLLGRDdMOzhTfM_IUba6L7sWlb_SsTAjUlIeNwNB2_6C9p4mW63GJDjvcwksgbTgBEaUYK41w/w400-h400/Kittens1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>After the passing of our beloved boy Memphis, our house felt so empty. We still have our baby girl Tully, but even she seemed to be feeling the gaping hole that was left in our lives, behaving extra clingy and overly excited to see us when we arrived home after being away for even a few hours.</p><p>So my husband Greg and I decided to adopt two kittens. We were pretty sure that Tully was lonely, having never been alone before, but I worried that if we got one kitten, she might get annoyed with the constant attention the baby would inevitably give her. Two kittens could occupy each other while Tully got a break. </p><p>We first visited <a href="https://www.tinylions.org/" target="_blank">Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center</a> just to see how we felt being around other cats, and it was so lovely that we made a return trip a week or so later, when a few new batches of kittens ready for their new homes had arrived. </p><p>There were quite a few other people there, including a number of excited children, which was making many of the newly arrived kittens nervous. I watched a tiny black fluff scurry across the floor, dodging sneakers, and dart into a box. Since this kitten had gone unnoticed, I decided to investigate. I sat down next to the box and waited. I soon saw two little golden-brown eyes peer out at me. I picked up a nearby toy and dangled it just outside the box. Two little black paws instantly went wild trying to catch the toy. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2o6DrjfPATCs_wPX5X9jLWyrimUtHCVgZvRBOp28CHQUnI_-hZ0xzUa5tSBAXK02cDOzK-fqaYqXYbrFde8HB_SOhqsCfaCQV9JdXc57sZzY27JNnMv9ofC_kufhO2iwaQGN3n9n4X_HbXkJfL9D_pPoHBBAnHbVbE_-lBFCDYy8ad2MVRxsotnfX2Q/s1440/Kittens3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2o6DrjfPATCs_wPX5X9jLWyrimUtHCVgZvRBOp28CHQUnI_-hZ0xzUa5tSBAXK02cDOzK-fqaYqXYbrFde8HB_SOhqsCfaCQV9JdXc57sZzY27JNnMv9ofC_kufhO2iwaQGN3n9n4X_HbXkJfL9D_pPoHBBAnHbVbE_-lBFCDYy8ad2MVRxsotnfX2Q/s320/Kittens3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />While the tiny black kitten and I were playing, a tiny gray kitten with the same golden-brown eyes sauntered over and plopped down in my lap, purring. This did not last long. Once the gray kitten realized there was playing happening, she joined in, and I had two tiny kittens playing with me! Clearly this was a sign. (Not necessarily a cosmic sign. Animals have different levels of comfort, and they won't always get along with all people. We tried playing with another kitten later who was terrified of us.)<p></p><p>Later, just before we were set to leave, the tiny black kitten had gotten herself stuck on top of a half-wall and was mewing. So I picked her up, thinking to set her down on the floor or cat tree so she could scamper off and continue playing, but she had other plans. As soon as I had her in my arms, she climbed up on my shoulder and decided to hitch ride with me, destination unknown. </p><p>Greg and I decided to adopt these two little balls of energy and bravado, but we weren't ready to take them home that day. We made arrangements to pick them up that Sunday, a few days later. But when Sunday arrived, I received a call about 30 minutes before our appointment. The kittens weren't doing well. They were lethargic, barely playing, not eating well, and had lost weight. Our poor babies! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7aLUMaXOM6fhRDYuNoAUiuO-dlvbYdehdwcq8-mPdh02ExDdJguditd1_9nCYvzw6qnGvuMqhk4sN0wOUII4PvVX_JiQL0GMJvfcZ0AKMM6nv1pxSPyy_rDRP195m5O8ENL3H9Q30ZTwTSRSyyOmuEhxvFsTrTeKPZkdaXT-1jlLvMODEtl8u70NqA/s1440/Kittens4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7aLUMaXOM6fhRDYuNoAUiuO-dlvbYdehdwcq8-mPdh02ExDdJguditd1_9nCYvzw6qnGvuMqhk4sN0wOUII4PvVX_JiQL0GMJvfcZ0AKMM6nv1pxSPyy_rDRP195m5O8ENL3H9Q30ZTwTSRSyyOmuEhxvFsTrTeKPZkdaXT-1jlLvMODEtl8u70NqA/s320/Kittens4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I was given two options: 1) Bring them home and see how they did. 2) Let them stay and see how they did, which included a checkup with the vet on staff. I chose the second option because that seemed the smartest, especially after our recent experience with Memphis. And it turned out to be the correct one! The two babies tested positive for feline panleukopenia virus, aka feline parvovirus. This can be serious if not quickly treated, which the kittens were. It is also highly contagious, though Tully had been vaccinated for it earlier this year, so she would have been fine. (We double-checked with our vet just to be sure.) The kittens went home with a foster who took care of them and got them healthy again. <p></p><p>It was an anxious couple of weeks for us, but the kittens were eventually given the all-clear, and we went to the <a href="https://www.hshv.org/" target="_blank">Humane Society of Huron Valley</a>, which also operates Tiny Lions, to pick up our babies and bring them to their new home. We had prepared the library for them with a kitten-sized litter box, scratching post, food and water dishes, cat beds, and plenty of toys. The black kitten we named Raistling, and the gray kitten we named Madame Leota, or just Leota for short.</p><p>That first night was a little worrying because Tully positioned herself outside the library door, yowling and hissing. We didn't know if she was mad about the kittens or that we had kicked her out of the library, her favorite room in the house. She spent most of the night outside the door, sticking her paws underneath and hissing when they were inevitably pounced on. She kept doing it, though, so she can't have been too upset!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcYtgSf3PEr9MMzGZ8fnIwlkKk1ARdPuxZ_-RwlRFP-b4iVZZWNyBXTBoCwVj8QMZpVfO6QNpYdiJzeoXik5i4yUqJgcuMisVoPDcMIJVULjJOSxEw4A2xBtaQZmBhslXg1DNnbKjyjtnyCwjm3-Wt2MDraA9UHtPdYiXwA0Fi22pQ-IHnKmCSbh5Pg/s1440/Kittens5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcYtgSf3PEr9MMzGZ8fnIwlkKk1ARdPuxZ_-RwlRFP-b4iVZZWNyBXTBoCwVj8QMZpVfO6QNpYdiJzeoXik5i4yUqJgcuMisVoPDcMIJVULjJOSxEw4A2xBtaQZmBhslXg1DNnbKjyjtnyCwjm3-Wt2MDraA9UHtPdYiXwA0Fi22pQ-IHnKmCSbh5Pg/s320/Kittens5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The next night, we tried introductions. One by one, we carried the kittens out to where Tully was perched on the living room chair. They thoroughly sniffed each other, and Tully didn't seem angry in the least, just maybe a bit miffed. The kittens were released from the library the next day (I think) and allowed to roam mostly freely through the house. We closed a few doors to limit the amount of places they could wriggle into and hide. <p></p><p>Tully watched them carefully. If they got too close to her tail, she hissed a warning. She is very sensitive about her tail even with non-felines. Raistlin took the hint and learned to approach Tully with respect. Leota...not so much. Madame Leota is not really what I would call a learner. (To be honest, neither is Tully, which is why cactuses are no longer allowed in our house.) Leota mad-rushes around, throwing herself straight at EVERYTHING and everyone. Tully continues to not put up with her shenanigans, but she will now allow Leota to curl up next to her as long as she keeps her paws and claws away from the tail.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4Kq07f9JTqHFcPXza3N8qs2TxOD5lCoYQWSqnapwxJkt7DffXUgbOP87GsU19Zpas99eT96pPIxScDL8NmaRTAkB6jFSwDbLNmn8HeYnemlQkRaT1kOhJimfThkHKZ2RA9bl-RbwgRqecxUkiT6Fk1VEHyXFSwZ_oWathLUTPLiEdLoXzFnoaTlxRg/s1440/Kittens2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4Kq07f9JTqHFcPXza3N8qs2TxOD5lCoYQWSqnapwxJkt7DffXUgbOP87GsU19Zpas99eT96pPIxScDL8NmaRTAkB6jFSwDbLNmn8HeYnemlQkRaT1kOhJimfThkHKZ2RA9bl-RbwgRqecxUkiT6Fk1VEHyXFSwZ_oWathLUTPLiEdLoXzFnoaTlxRg/s320/Kittens2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Happily, Greg and I were on staycation for most of the kittens' early days at the house, so we could observe their adjustments. When the kittens get the zoomies, sometimes Tully joins in. She will chase them, adjusting her speed so they "outrun" her, or she will get the kittens to chase her, always staying just out of their reach. They also play what I call King of the Castle. Tully gets in the living room chair or at the end of the chaise, and the kittens gather on the floor below her. The kittens jump up and go bap-bap-bap at Tully, and Tully goes bap-bap-bap down at them with no claws, no hissing, no growling. This often turns into zoomies. And when Tully gets tired out, she will find a place to curl up for a nap where she won't be bothered. Sometimes they all curl up together on the couch. </p><p>The biggest problem we are having is that no one seems to understand that they have their own food and should not be eating out of each other's bowls. The kittens keep eating Tully's food, and Tully keeps eating the kitten food. And they are all very sneaky about it! Smug even. Smh...</p><p>I am sure I will post more about kitten shenanigans in the future. And there are already pictures appearing on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/crystakcoburn/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CrystaKCoburn/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/crystakcoburn" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. </p><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teal Background with a coffee cup with a heart on it that says Buy Me a Coffee." border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/w200-h50/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-47536557061910653332022-07-28T00:01:00.002-04:002022-07-28T00:01:00.175-04:00On Playwrighting<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZkjudnJU_RpuOL5L_R-kYmKyC1yWaS2e__fS0CZARwZ7Q6Ku-Jyx7-44oDhlPpUNSpmO_n04htt4ph4TMrJVrg2YlRPX7bB6JISBH7M8ibheA_mV4dFm-WFRoKO4pazGlDYKEBKHB_b3NNhj1_EgIUEdm39zoiqflYaVckkWoKgpjbgxyayycFHtMA/s2048/BugPit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Says Bug Pit Presents Letting Go a one act play by Crysta K Coburn, directed by Mo Hoeffel, August 5 and 7 at Riverside Arts Center." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZkjudnJU_RpuOL5L_R-kYmKyC1yWaS2e__fS0CZARwZ7Q6Ku-Jyx7-44oDhlPpUNSpmO_n04htt4ph4TMrJVrg2YlRPX7bB6JISBH7M8ibheA_mV4dFm-WFRoKO4pazGlDYKEBKHB_b3NNhj1_EgIUEdm39zoiqflYaVckkWoKgpjbgxyayycFHtMA/w320-h320/BugPit.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><b><br /></b></i><p></p><p><i><b>DON'T FORGET!</b></i></p><p><i>Bug Pit Collaborative Arts Summer Fest is this August 4-7 at the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Come check out some amazing local talent as well as my ten minute play, <b>Letting Go</b>, on the 5th and 7th! Greg will also have a play performed on those same days, <b>Scav</b>. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div>When I was in college, I dated a writer who was interested in script writing, but Western Michigan University only offered fiction and poetry. And although I was a regular usher at Miller Auditorium (so I could see performances for free) and went to several middle and high school drama performances, I never considered writing plays beyond what was required for my tenth grade creative writing class. I got a C because the "subject matter" was not appropriate. The "subject matter" being that the main characters were a gay couple. (Insert mega eyeroll.)</div><p>Now I find myself married to a rather prolific playwright (no relation to the aforementioned datemate). I usually prefer short fiction when I get an idea for a story, or the occasional book, but sometimes, lately, I have gotten ideas for a story that doesn't necessarily <i>have </i>to be visually told, but they seemed to want to be. Also, I find it difficult to turn down a writing challenge. (<i>Letting Go </i>was written for Neighborhood Theatre Group's <i>Inspired By…</i> A Virtual 10-minute Play Festival in October 2020.) </p><p>So I did write a one act, and I would like to submit it sometime to see if anyone wants to workshop it, but it still needs some work. I had to put it down for a while because I wanted to look at it with fresh eyes for another rewrite. I also want to finally get more work done on my romance novels that I've been writing on and off for the past few years. I really like those characters, and they've been living in my head for a long time now. </p><p>Will I write more plays? I don't know. Maybe if another interesting challenge comes my way. As a member of the Neighborhood Theatre Group, I have a terrific place to take any plays I come up with. I am working on an audio-story, which is kind of like a play in that there are characters, and there is a script, but also very much its own medium. My husband has been developing a serial fictional podcast that I have sort of been helping out on as well. </p><p>Keep an eye out here for announcements of new projects!</p><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teal Background with a coffee cup with a heart on it that says Buy Me a Coffee." border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/w200-h50/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-30303187547243018062022-07-14T12:38:00.003-04:002022-07-14T12:38:45.637-04:00Upcoming Events: Authortube Writing Conference and Bug Pit Collaborative Arts Summer Fest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Steampunk and the Other 'Punk' Subgenres with authors' headshots." border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ETD3-0j0AlM/YtAsQCypjLI/AAAAAAAAJY4/MvLm1ZT14rIlfMXMQE5lFZIq1jaVYJVugCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/1657809982898257-0.png" width="400" />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My husband Greg and I were invited by a fellow steampunk author <a href="https://www.amazon.com/A.-F.-Stewart/e/B00653FUOW%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share" target="_blank">A. F. Stewart</a> to speak on a panel for <a href="https://www.authortubewritingconference.com/" target="_blank">Authortube Writing Conference</a> (July 15-17). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Steampunk and the Other 'Punk' Subgenres</b>: An author panel on the nature of the "punk" genres. What is the difference between steampunk, clockpunk, dieselpunk, cyberpunk, etc. with tips and tricks for writing these genres.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So tune in and watch us on <a href="https://youtu.be/UH3irkps_t0" target="_blank">YouTube (link here)</a>! I always have a great time talking with other authors and learning their unique techniques in our craft.</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/AVvXsEiPQy5HxMHa0GqW8I7Lqsx-dkv-bJEbZzXGSX1pyXq_NOBA7AWbT7SGg7o4yExyKeEJ-eaxt7pd4My0TMQ2WhVWWnW51UFnwwbcyS6Q_XT_ftQ281wzInUkTesBQgWxliFTKHsi-AZTvkHWQNQHm0VC9A1p8Xl56oEHHyY2LNiB--RL44_1DlL-Dd63Uw/s2048/BugPit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Says Bug Pit Presents Letting Go a one act play by Crysta K Coburn, directed by Mo Hoeffel, August 5 and 7 at Riverside Arts Center." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQy5HxMHa0GqW8I7Lqsx-dkv-bJEbZzXGSX1pyXq_NOBA7AWbT7SGg7o4yExyKeEJ-eaxt7pd4My0TMQ2WhVWWnW51UFnwwbcyS6Q_XT_ftQ281wzInUkTesBQgWxliFTKHsi-AZTvkHWQNQHm0VC9A1p8Xl56oEHHyY2LNiB--RL44_1DlL-Dd63Uw/w400-h400/BugPit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bug Pit Collaborative Arts Summer Fest is this August 4-7 at the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Come check out some amazing local talent as well as my ten minute play, <i>Letting Go, </i>on the 5th and 7th! Greg will also have a play performed on those same days, <i>Scav. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Letting Go </i>was previously performed in Neighborhood Theatre Group's <i>Inspired By… </i>A Virtual 10-minute Play Festival in October 2020. The cast did a <i>great </i>job considering the medium, especially Mike, who needed to go back and forth interacting in two very different manners with his costars. I am really excited to see this performed on stage. I worry that people didn't really understand what was going on in the boxes of Zoom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teal Background with a coffee cup with a heart on it that says Buy Me a Coffee." border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/w200-h50/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-84960638953611817322022-06-23T16:37:00.002-04:002022-06-23T16:37:33.667-04:00I Can Write Again! Also FrankenFest Lansing <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="The schedule for FrankenFest. Haunted Mitten presents at 1pm." border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZDOvtlV81iU/YrTIzCldkII/AAAAAAAAJLA/Ubhl5NMTES8BjIrChHp6jPTo0B6-BdQ5wCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/1656015050409573-0.png" width="400" />
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</div><br /></div>In case you missed it, my wrist and hand were badly burned in the car accident a few weeks ago that totaled my poor Honda Fit. She was such a good car! And in amazing condition given her age. But this was her fourth and final accident. She did her job. She kept me safe.<div><br /></div><div>I have a new car, a Ford hybrid, that I'm mostly enjoying. She has big tires to fill! (Metaphorically speaking.) She is also, literally, bigger than the Fit, and that is taking some getting used to. Her name is Cherry, not only because she's red, but because there is a character in one of my favorite books named Sherri, but everyone calls her Cherry because of her red hair. (If you can, name the book in the comments.)</div><div><br /></div><div>So far, I've only driven her to work. BUT! This Saturday, Kay Gray and I are presenting <i>Haunted Mitten Podcast: The Families of the Turner-Dodge House, and the Skeletons in The Closet</i> at <a href="https://www.frankenfest.com/" target="_blank">FrankenFest</a> Lansing. And I've volunteered Cherry to be our mode of conveyance (because hybrid). </div><div><br /></div><div>THIS IS WHY I LOVE HISTORY SO MUCH; THIS RIGHT HERE. </div><div><br /></div><div>I fell down an amazing rabbit hole while researching for this presentation. The scandal! The intrigue! The hauntings! I found it all. I hope at least one person in the audience geeks out like I did. I need to do something else with this information. Maybe collaborate on a play or something.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've also decided that not only are we going to be working on two Haunted Mitten books (I have them both already outlined), but we're going to make children's books. I still need to work out the details, but it sounds like so much fun! I have some ideas.</div><div><br /></div><div>So come join us this Saturday at the beautiful Turner-Dodge House in Lansing! We will also again be at FrankenFest Detroit at Historic Fort Wayne this September. Also appearing at the Fort Wayne shindig will be Ypsilanti's own <a href="http://www.ntgypsi.org/">Neighborhood Theatre Group</a> with a preview of the return of Black Cat Cabaret! (WHOOOOO!) </div><div><br /></div><div>Those are all of my updates for now. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, or help reimburse me for Cherry's purchase, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teal Background with a coffee cup with a heart on it that says Buy Me a Coffee." border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/w200-h50/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-78562431020003419862022-06-09T13:05:00.000-04:002022-06-09T13:05:15.298-04:00How My Week Has Been, a Visual<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn">Buy me a coffee</a>?</div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-20664100738103990712022-05-26T15:01:00.003-04:002022-05-26T15:01:19.744-04:00Long Covid<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-frvL_tQjIfYMNk61wkn962MWWHOEuq0VFPUKWWJtuYZGjawo801iklAyg0alqNYcOagdvb9eNwhU-vO5llrpCZ6xHRB6mS_7fHQJgdNWB1MKz4Q0Vk9A9tQ34oDsVdCqHBiwS7XMPdO8LGXjgwunYoYU0PlbMBbhC8RQDmzhoNNZe2JOryYiscwPAA/s1280/fairy-tale-1180921_1280.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A drawing of a person with their head resting on their folded arms. A fish is drawn in the background." border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1280" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-frvL_tQjIfYMNk61wkn962MWWHOEuq0VFPUKWWJtuYZGjawo801iklAyg0alqNYcOagdvb9eNwhU-vO5llrpCZ6xHRB6mS_7fHQJgdNWB1MKz4Q0Vk9A9tQ34oDsVdCqHBiwS7XMPdO8LGXjgwunYoYU0PlbMBbhC8RQDmzhoNNZe2JOryYiscwPAA/w400-h255/fairy-tale-1180921_1280.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #191b26; margin: initial; padding: initial;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/cdd20-1193381/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1180921" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; margin: initial; outline: none; padding: initial;">愚木混株 Cdd20</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1180921" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; margin: initial; outline: none; padding: initial;">Pixabay</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191b26;"> </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />My doctor hesitated to diagnose me with Long Covid, but she also said that is probably what is going on. I am perpetually exhausted and trying to fall asleep. She sent me to a website about <a href="https://www.pascguide.com/self-care/pacing/" target="_blank">pacing</a>, which has kind of helped, I guess. Basically, I have an extremely limited amount of energy I can devote to every day, and I have to carefully plan my week ahead in order to avoid crashing. <p></p><p>I can only work for about 3 or 4 hours before my body gives out, and my mind goes blank. Those hours have to be split between my library job, my writing jobs, housework, and socializing. My mid-days are often spent napping so I can squeeze in a little more activity later in the day. Most of my library shifts have been 3 hours long (coincidentally), but they tend to stretch to 5 hours on the weekends, and it's at the end of the week that I have the least energy. </p><p>My bout of Covid wasn't horrific (thanks to the vaccine), but: "<a href="https://www.popsci.com/science/breakthrough-infections-long-covid/" target="_blank">A massive new study confirms vaccinated people are still at risk of long COVID</a>." How wonderful. I can only imagine how badly my body would have struggled if I hadn't been vaccinated. I have had to take multiple breaks to sit and rest my eyes while typing this blog post. </p><p>I think that means I should wrap this up and try to nap before I try to get to work. Stay healthy, everyone!</p><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teal Background with a coffee cup with a heart on it that says Buy Me a Coffee." border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/w200-h50/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-37780637846463207712022-05-15T16:57:00.001-04:002022-05-15T16:57:08.299-04:00Sickness Sucks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5jY-_w7xgsA916-vv0nnU_YGS73qA_ky3Mv6GIqpVEx2yMtXHC8uuZnzPGo0VP6WPRyMfbbyJchw2BaAbVolJ1KGihVf0wAnzMlO2CJDAEnJuNnr9y00UD4mfGn8CDneZ6FIqrNEc54vqws4i0Dw5ihNYUunWQGDcxPUXl9N27qYJuP5Lb5fqa6Puw/s853/donations-keeps-me-going-4793176_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A red sorry we're closed sign in a shop window." border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="853" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5jY-_w7xgsA916-vv0nnU_YGS73qA_ky3Mv6GIqpVEx2yMtXHC8uuZnzPGo0VP6WPRyMfbbyJchw2BaAbVolJ1KGihVf0wAnzMlO2CJDAEnJuNnr9y00UD4mfGn8CDneZ6FIqrNEc54vqws4i0Dw5ihNYUunWQGDcxPUXl9N27qYJuP5Lb5fqa6Puw/w400-h400/donations-keeps-me-going-4793176_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Due to being incredibly ill on Thursday, I could not blog. Check back circa April 26th for a new update.</p>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-71529519597238588202022-04-28T22:23:00.000-04:002022-04-28T22:23:13.320-04:00My Experience With Having Covid<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIqAVILMIdLNuKGW6CrzczGrW25oDW09KXybKaWH1V5N3b-YSQR2HBv1k4rHIEhOqhwvsFtVqY5R6yehME3mjmcX6Q7gR3dMNSPwYxTHCZpO_Zk22Z6yYt2H8sXcCfhbGtc0Sgf892chj4T6Onq5RWnNYlsBr9JvXLKj2C6L4io48TL3GewsU3DBYdQ/s1280/Covid-Coronavirus.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Earth in a Covid virus shape floating in space." border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="1280" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIqAVILMIdLNuKGW6CrzczGrW25oDW09KXybKaWH1V5N3b-YSQR2HBv1k4rHIEhOqhwvsFtVqY5R6yehME3mjmcX6Q7gR3dMNSPwYxTHCZpO_Zk22Z6yYt2H8sXcCfhbGtc0Sgf892chj4T6Onq5RWnNYlsBr9JvXLKj2C6L4io48TL3GewsU3DBYdQ/w400-h268/Covid-Coronavirus.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face=""Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #191b26; margin: initial; padding: initial;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/miroslavachrienova-6238194/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4948866" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; margin: initial; outline: none; padding: initial;">Miroslava Chrienova</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4948866" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; margin: initial; outline: none; padding: initial;">Pixabay</a></span><span face=""Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #191b26;"> </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I am lucky to have been able to stave off Covid for this long. I have been vaccinated and boosted, and I already take medications that keep me breathing. Since I didn't go to the hospital or even see a doctor, I guess that means my case was mild. But it is the sickest I think I have ever been. And I have been sick <i>a lot </i>in my life, including multiple outbreaks of mono. I even had pneumonia once. Covid topped them all.</p><p>The worst day was in the middle of the illness, which lasted over a week, when I was sneezing constantly, my throat was on fire, and I could barely talk or move. I did not seem to have a fever, though. Amazingly, my husband Greg didn't catch it, so he was able to take care of me and get whatever I needed. My wonderful friends checked in to make sure I was ok and also offered assistance. </p><p>Technically, I'm recovered now, but I am still easily tired (even more than usual), and I have little energy. I have only been able to work at my hourly job for 3 hours at a time. I can do writing for about 2 hours, then I need to nap for a few hours, then I can write again for another 2 hours, and I am done for the day. I can reliably do one task per day. That's it. So I choose carefully. Even a shower tires me out. </p><p>I anticipate a lot of short blog entries for a while yet. I may have some announcements in the semi-near future. It depends on how things go. Kay and I are working on some projects for <a href="https://www.hauntedmitten.com/" target="_blank">Haunted Mitten</a> that have us really excited. I will for sure be posting about those here as the happen. </p><p>Until next time... Stay safe, and if you haven't yet, get vaccinated! </p><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teal Background with a coffee cup with a heart on it that says Buy Me a Coffee." border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/w200-h50/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-24023822578478277632022-04-14T00:01:00.001-04:002022-04-14T00:01:00.162-04:00Otherworld in Columbus, Ohio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="A picture of me from the bust up posing in front of an infinity mirror. There are countless string lights of many colors all around as well. I am wearing a hoodie and a polka dot mask." border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yRiiKhuwuB0/Ylb5V1MbxAI/AAAAAAAAIgw/OGTvLQtSu_Q_AiVuGlwWk5XY5V0BI-flACNcBGAsYHQ/w399-h400/1649867092623586-0.png" width="399" />
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</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">On our way back from <a href="https://lifefroma2.blogspot.com/2022/03/steampunk-symposium-2022.html">Steampunk Symposium 2022</a> in Cincinnati, Ohio, my husband Greg and I had to check out <a href="https://otherworldohio.com/">Otherworld</a> in Columbus, "a 32,000 square foot immersive art installation in Columbus. Explore over 40 scenes filled with large-scale art and mixed reality playgrounds." Greg compared it to <a href="https://meowwolf.com/">Meow Wolf</a>, which neither of us has yet been to.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Otherworld was completely worth the detour! It's a trippy and occasionally disorienting experience that I highly recommend. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Some kind of imaginary creature with horns, claws, and wearing a plaid cape." border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QBZ9HpKZeXg/Ylb6_1B55uI/AAAAAAAAIhA/tszW9FTgVxMYDbivM0uQb4eQT85L7jEUQCNcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/1649867516610281-0.png" width="300" />
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</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was an overall story, which you could follow or ignore, that told of how scientists experimenting with other dimensions resulted in the "world" you find yourself in. Not all rooms referenced the story, but some reference it directly and are built around out, such as a janitors closet and an office. One of the office's walls was open to a bizarre forest clearing, though, so you can see how the "real" world butts up against the "other" world.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">There were elements of both fantasy and science fiction. Some parts reminded me of a psychedelic Miyazaki movie. Others were reminiscent of the 1980s Twilight Zone reboot. (Yes, I'm that old.) One room was kind of like how I'd imagine Disney's Haunted Mansion on an acid trip. You <i>probably </i>don't want to be high while exploring Otherworld. But I can't stop you.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">This isn't to say Otherworld isn't child-friendly. The numerous children running around seemed to be having a great time! But there are definitely some things that I think would have given me nightmares as a child, and that's not easily done. Plus, they sell CBD refreshments at the food stand, which I think says something about the kind of place this is. Yes, I am well aware TCH and not CBD is the active element, but the statement still stands.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">There were people just sitting and hanging out in certain rooms carrying on conversations. There was one room in particular I totally would have just chilled in. The walls were mirrors, and there were old-timey sofas and chairs set up with a vitrola. I liked the groovy music being piped in. If there were a club like that near my house, I'd be a frequent patron.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="A selfie of me and Greg in the previously mentioned room with the infinity mirrors and crisscrossing glowing lines on the floor and ceiling. You can see the vitrola in the mirror." border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--KQeO2WT8Vg/YlcC8cPxEtI/AAAAAAAAIiw/5-NB4gflMCgH8GRbsGDFwGjQl0vKEFpJACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/1649869551110447-2.png" width="400" />
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</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not every room was connected in the way you'd expect. In one room that had arcade machines set up, you could crawl under the machine, through a tunnel, and end up "inside" the game. There were a lot of tunnels to crawl through, and I definitely wasn't wearing the right pants for that. If I go again, I'm wearing jeans. There were also a lot of infinity mirrors, which sometimes made me a bit dizzy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="A full-body pic of Greg posing in what appears to be a stasis pod." border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jJERxagExbU/YlcC72iiygI/AAAAAAAAIis/VjaRWDUj7lkpQh41bgkHAuIhL6Qwl-G0ACNcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/1649869548751524-3.png" width="300" />
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</span></div><br /></div><div>You can spend as much time as you'd like exploring all of the rooms. You definitely want to play with everything you see in case it turns out to be interactive, like the lights I found projected onto a floor that turned out to pop when I stepped on them. Greg had completely walked past them without noticing. As I mentioned before, there are lots of tunnels to uncover and crawl through, so be sure to check <i>everything </i>while you are there. </div><div><br /></div><div>One day, Greg and I very much want to visit Meow Wolf, another interactive art installation, one day. There are locations in Santa Fe, Las Vegas, and Denver. We have friends and family in two of those locations, so it's not out of the realm of possibility some time soon. One of my hobbies during the lock down was to make Pinterest boards of places I want to visit, and Santa Fe is one of those places too. </div><div><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teal Background with a coffee cup with a heart on it that says Buy Me a Coffee." border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/w200-h50/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0Columbus, OH, USA39.9611755 -82.99879419999999211.650941663821158 -118.15504419999999 68.271409336178849 -47.842544199999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-88183438350566900442022-03-31T19:06:00.001-04:002022-03-31T19:06:37.600-04:00Steampunk Symposium 2022<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><div><br /></div><div>Greetings, friends! I have safely returned from far-off Cincinnati where my husband Greg and I attended and presented at <a href="https://steampunksymposium.com/">Steampunk Symposium</a>. This was our first time at this convention, and it was a grand time indeed! Everyone was so friendly and jovial.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div><div>The best part of the weekend for me was being able to hang out with Rod (R.S.) Belcher, Leanna Renee Hieber, and Thom Truelove and talk about creative pursuits. There's nothing quite like being with other writers for me. Writing is something that often sets me apart from those around me, so spending time with people who understand, when I can be my whole self, is a real gift.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Leanna Renee Hieber, dressed in black and wearing a mask with ghosts on it, sits behind a presentation table next to Rod Belcher, who is wearing a black biker jacket. Leanna;s book A Sumonning Of Souls sits on the table in front of them." border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qi7zVIujjyU/YkYpUCwq6pI/AAAAAAAAIXk/MI91xA2-7Bc_Dou0FQEzn-ON8_IQ6cH-QCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/1648765262160135-1.png" width="400" />
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</div><br /></div><div>We attended two panels that first day: Diverse Perspectives on the American West and Ghosts, the Victorians and Us, which was presented by Leanna. I've seen this presentation before, but it's always interesting, and I always learn something new.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Friday night, Greg presented his panel on Cults, Communes, and Secret Societies. I ran the slides. We had a great turnout especially for a 10pm slot. I believe this is the second run of this presentation, with some fine tuning since last time. Greg's knowledge in these areas is always a hit at parties.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="A full body pic of a smiling steampunk St. Nicholas." border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zFTw4JheZy8/YkYpTUIVhOI/AAAAAAAAIXg/q8cndSnNreoyTTuIZEPTeZcgPJtPJHhtgCNcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/1648765259427775-2.png" width="300" />
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</div><br /></div><div>Because we had another late panel on Saturday (at 8pm), we spent time catching up with friends, shopping, attending a few other panels, and looking at all the cool outfits people wore around us. The steampunk St. Nicholas was among my favorites. I thought it was clever. </div><div><br /></div><div>A terrific panel was Gunslingers and Penslingers: Tenacious Women of the Wild West. That afternoon is also when Leanna interviewed Rod, who was the con's guest of honor. A little after that, Thom ran a Doctor Who panel that had people create their own Doctor personas to win prizes. Rod helped judge.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Greg talking to Leanna and Thom at their merch table." border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CmNR91L7sLs/YkYuWIGvcYI/AAAAAAAAIYE/CT3b8S0pppoPV__ToKpFb2qXsKFws7FOQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/1648766550605895-0.png" width="400" />
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</div><br /></div><div>Saturday's panel was a first for us: Cinema Guano Goes West. Greg and I traded off talking about Western movies and TV shows that are steampunk either in theme or element. We had a good audience for this one, and good conversation was generated. I would definitely consider doing this again with other themes at other cons. (The theme of the weekend was the Wild West.) We watch a lot of different films on the Cinema Guano podcast.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="A full body mirror selfie of me wearing a brown bowler with goggles on it, brown leather corset, and brown skirt trying to look Western." border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rb9o1G5FRJI/YkYq5S7ZsZI/AAAAAAAAIX4/yf5VXPs4ybgoTZNliW6W9TDs0kcChCAHACNcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/1648765668086226-0.png" width="300" />
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</div><br /></div><div>On Sunday, I couldn't believe the weekend was almost over! I was not ready to say goodbye to my friends. And even though Sunday was a shorter day than Saturday, it had the most panels that we wanted to see: The Bifurcation of Skirts: Manly Maidens in the Old West; Monster Hunting 102 ( all about cryptids); and then Leanna roped us into joining her and Rod on Feeding the Muse – How to Stay Inspired and Vibrant. That last panel could have gone on for twice as long easily. All for of us have different writing backgrounds and experiences, and people are always so curious about how to write.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div><div>I left the con with all kinds of wonderful ideas. I got some good writing and plotting tips from Rod and Leanna. Went over a project that Thom, Greg, and I had been working on until Covid sort of got in the way. Greg and I also brainstormed ideas for future panels for us and for Haunted Mitten, which I went over with Kay after I returned on Tuesday.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's right. The con was over, but our vacation was not. Greg and I had one more stop to make before returning to Michigan. But that is a tale for another day.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Two little stuffed toy hamsters dressed as a steampunk bride and groom." border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BN4YySNHcUk/YkYvYMAwM5I/AAAAAAAAIYM/K88VZQQVzM4-o79e5nFNiq5xWLo7pIdIQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/1648766814063958-0.png" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teal Background with a coffee cup with a heart on it that says Buy Me a Coffee." border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/w200-h50/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-26350740284903426642022-03-17T13:28:00.000-04:002022-03-17T13:28:54.530-04:00I (Mostly) Made Bath Bombs<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N34FW9E7fT4/YjIblNa_ObI/AAAAAAAAIGM/TrtAFVhJJUIqKJF4MBAeMtnXdQsSE6bDACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1647451025471906-0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The unopened package of the bath bomb kit with key ingredients on display.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>For Christmas this past year, my aunt-in-law got me a bath bomb making kit. (I had previously mentioned that they're easy to make yourself, but I had never tried.) I finally pulled out the box, blew off the dust, and gave it a try yesterday. With...mixed results.<div><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M0vtlaZAzK4/YjIf7InT4-I/AAAAAAAAIGw/ibOKXgC_GxUC5KUOgxl58OCErX6R36mowCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1647452132730510-0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The cats investigating the opened kit. It must have smelled very interesting.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div><div>The kit is comprised of: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>1 bag bath bomb base (powder)</li><li>1 bag baking soda</li><li>4 tiny bags of mica colorant (3 different pinks and 1 yellow) </li><li>2 tiny bottles of essential oils (1 lemon and 1 tangerine)</li><li>1 spherical mold in 2 pieces</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WjMbvWsamGo/YjIf5E3SsrI/AAAAAAAAIGs/VBvQMKBmkq4rinomerXzwpNzkD8H2iTSwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1647452130442799-1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Here we go. Measuring mix into the bowl.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div><div>So yeah, pretty simple. All I needed was a bowl to mix in, a measuring spoon to measure, and my own two hands. (This could probably also be done one handed if needed.)</div><div><br /></div><div>I made "2" bombs. You will soon see why I put that number in quotation marks.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kto3vZ3RApE/YjIf4tv7rdI/AAAAAAAAIGo/JHYrPx7xB9oS3PAPwh7y1-_0IVCpMSvQQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1647452128369761-2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Stirring the dry ingredients.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div><div>The first bomb seemed to work out well. I was able to pack the one side pretty tightly with a little left over for smooshing. Then I packed the second side, and it was only a little over halfway filled. Hmm.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GcOXyP9Z3sI/YjIf4LVZYRI/AAAAAAAAIGk/M-baqYuxw0sehCqTk-cHOMtGUpAIYaZEwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1647452126045527-3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Two bottles of essential oils, tangerine and lemon.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div><div>I hadn't decided yet if I wanted to attempt a second batch, so I just mixed approximations of a tiny batch; enough to fill the second mold so the two halves could be pressed together. And it worked!</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UANnfKw6Jec/YjIf3SK7T6I/AAAAAAAAIGg/tdcGOqAIyJ0B2htfcn48bIkQBWGqW8dEACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1647452123514102-4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Packing the mixture into the mold.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div><div>I set my timer for 1 minute, pressing tightly together the two full halves of the mold. I have it a little extra time just to be sure, and...it didn't work. I opened the mold, and had two tightly packed halves of a sphere. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DchdKBXazec/YjIf27ZCkqI/AAAAAAAAIGc/OfdNhrKANLQ4kqljAG-q2Lb3gRu7nmuMQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1647452121196940-5.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">All packed down.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div><div>I popped them out of the mold, and the one side stayed together perfectly while the other crumbled. So I pushed it back in the mold, packed it down tight, and tried again. A minute later, I had two halves of a sphere that stayed together, just not as a whole sphere.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UimP8zKvMls/YjIf2dStHZI/AAAAAAAAIGY/57urwxbQPVwxeCia8AQ_C8Vz4gnNJJazACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1647452118947744-6.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The two halves did not stick together at all, as shown.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div><div>Since I had everything out, I decided I would try again. And that is how I ended up with 4 half-spherical bath bombs. There must be something I'm missing in either mixing or pressing the two halves of the mold together. Maybe I'm just not strong enough. It's easy enough to just toss two pieces into a bath, though, so I'm not concerned.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sxs96BmpmSA/YjIf1jQTv6I/AAAAAAAAIGU/b8gT7SKGukIH94s8BEX4k_qI9HvFAgDuwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1647452116224591-7.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">My four bath bomb halves in their temporary plastic home.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div><div>I put them into an old Kraft cheese slices container, which I then placed in a bathroom drawer. I have not tried them in the bath yet. Judging by the way the mixture fizzed when I added the drops of water, though, I think they will perform as expected. I added about 20 drops of tangerine essential oil and could smell it as I was mixing, so I assume they will be fragrant. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lemon is not my favorite scent (I tend to associate it with cleaning solutions), but a mixture with tangerine might be nice, and I also have other essential oils around the house like lavender, bergamot, and jasmine that I'd like to try. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think I will have fun with this kit, and it really was very simple. The kit was a good way to try my hand at making my own bath bombs. Since I now have a mold, in the future, when I run out of the kit's ingredients, I may continue experimenting with other blends. Bath bombs make excellent presents!</div><div><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teal Background with a coffee cup with a heart on it that says Buy Me a Coffee." border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/w200-h50/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-7003854933307826122022-03-03T00:01:00.001-05:002022-03-03T00:01:00.186-05:002022 Appearances - Yes, I'm Presenting Again<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3mf6I0SnuK08iZQbvhiR4k9uD7cIo_Rw8LuiKPzXtO5r9ShDcJykzIWobKzvZwnxQw4Ry3MeS_g8P3nfOWRcA9NgLiRAf4n9TnZQI58wyhREQOHwXS10Ti16EE9G5sFWdquaOnbtl86I0G8MRnbDfF-lEgheMxGPbW39x4QTbalMmUhZeNsIXzjemWw=s1080" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3mf6I0SnuK08iZQbvhiR4k9uD7cIo_Rw8LuiKPzXtO5r9ShDcJykzIWobKzvZwnxQw4Ry3MeS_g8P3nfOWRcA9NgLiRAf4n9TnZQI58wyhREQOHwXS10Ti16EE9G5sFWdquaOnbtl86I0G8MRnbDfF-lEgheMxGPbW39x4QTbalMmUhZeNsIXzjemWw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">[Image description: The writer and her husband from roughly shoulders up. On the left, Greg is sporting a stylish moustache with the ends curled up, a short-trimmed beard, round blue-tinted sunglasses, a brown cap, white shirt, and brown vest. On the right, Crysta is wearing a black shirt with white polka dots, and a brimmed hat with a pair of goggles perched on top. Her earrings are tiny pewter books.]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>That's right! I have several appearances scheduled for 2022. This is subject to change, but most likely things will be added rather than removed. Some events we've applied to have not been finalized, and other events are likely to pop up as the year progresses.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0LX7AfdwJUoWqICSMdcdMjyKid-_9RG_ExINa-__8adKQzgvCK-YmEu14WGsLx9PJyuF7VhOff3Bjk4-Ie_cmYwJkSJcFfNiWOfB26eQJmnX_s_Z9HRgsP18Y4p2grdgPdQBIkt9uWvy7UUJBAQK3R0I2EVvttzMLfeAEki8SN4y6MoANQTPZxHcQgg=s350" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0LX7AfdwJUoWqICSMdcdMjyKid-_9RG_ExINa-__8adKQzgvCK-YmEu14WGsLx9PJyuF7VhOff3Bjk4-Ie_cmYwJkSJcFfNiWOfB26eQJmnX_s_Z9HRgsP18Y4p2grdgPdQBIkt9uWvy7UUJBAQK3R0I2EVvttzMLfeAEki8SN4y6MoANQTPZxHcQgg=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">[Image description: A gold colored gear with a sheriff's badge in the middle that says "sheriff." Around the outside of the gear it says, "Steampunk Symposium MMXX." A red star has been shakily drawn to connect the 5 points of the badge.]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><a href="https://steampunksymposium.com/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Steampunk Symposium</span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>March 25, 26, & 27; Cincinnati, OH</p><p>My husband Greg and I will be presenting <i>Cinema Guano Goes West</i>, a panel that showcases where steampunk has met the Wild West in film, TV, and animation. The works we've chosen to highlight span the globe! This is a new presentation for us, but I am excited.</p><p>Kay and I were initially scheduled (pre-pandemic) to do our first Haunted Mitten Roadtrip panel, but she and her husband have preferred to remain cautious and are opting out of this indoor convention. </p><p>I honestly am a little anxious about being indoors with so many people again because I am just not used to it anymore. But I think the Symposium organizers have been careful and cautious this whole time, and I am daily reading Covid updates, so I am willing to take this chance. And I want to see our friends <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3312940.R_S_Belcher" target="_blank">R.S. Belcher</a> and <a href="https://www.leannareneehieber.com/" target="_blank">Leanna Renee Hieber</a>. (I hope these are not famous last words.)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_DTn8FDMpA6peDyBtcYekeqHU60jrRUTNaiYgkiqfviZK6wMtopdUB3MCKd-Gsv5VKj2baYKLTMX6AWcB32QBfHJH4BrK-xjlFetfdOvKdLh1q1KLYG6sDvCiiKVQ8Aeg1BHhFgbypUmVaWxkey2g_7mFYm2StMSTy8L-Wq1UGC0tY4ge2SZwqTdWWw=s719" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="719" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_DTn8FDMpA6peDyBtcYekeqHU60jrRUTNaiYgkiqfviZK6wMtopdUB3MCKd-Gsv5VKj2baYKLTMX6AWcB32QBfHJH4BrK-xjlFetfdOvKdLh1q1KLYG6sDvCiiKVQ8Aeg1BHhFgbypUmVaWxkey2g_7mFYm2StMSTy8L-Wq1UGC0tY4ge2SZwqTdWWw=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">[Image description: Background is a spooky forest with the transparent outline of a person. In the middle is the circular Haunted Mitten logo comprised of both peninsulas and Lake Michigan in white surrounded by black. Reads: FrankenFest presents Haunted Mitten Podcast hosted by Crysta Coburn & Kay Gray Saturday June 25 Turner-Dodge House Lansing Saturday September 17 Historic Fort Wayne Detroit FrankenFest.Com]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><a href="https://www.frankenfest.com/lansing" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">FrankenFest Lansing</span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>June 25th; Turner-Dodge House, Lansing, MI</p><p>Kay and I will be doing our second Haunted Mitten live event at FrankenFest Lansing at which we will be discussing the famously haunted Turner-Dodge House itself. We did cover this in our Lansing episode, but there is so much history here that I cut out for time's sake, PLUS we'll be at the building so I can literally point out places where phenomena have been known to occur. How cool is that?? </p><p>Some of my readers may remember that Greg and I attended FrankenFest Lansing last year (<a href="http://lifefroma2.blogspot.com/2021/07/frankenfest-lansing-2021.html" target="_blank">FrankenFest Lansing 2021</a>), and it was that very blog post that got Haunted Mitten discovered by the organizers! The magic of the internet never ceases to amaze me.</p><p><b><a href="https://www.frankenfest.com/detroit" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">FrankenFest Detroit</span></a></b><br />September 17th; Historic Fort Wayne, Detroit, MI</p><p>So nice, we're doing it twice! Haunted Mitten's first live event was here last year (<a href="http://lifefroma2.blogspot.com/2021/09/frankenfest-detroit-2021.html" target="_blank">FrankenFest Detroit 2021</a>) all about the ghostly happenings at Historic Fort Wayne in Detroit. (We also had a table where we were selling our totally non-related steampunk books, and it was our most successful selling event to date.) </p><p>Kay and I need to finalize what we'll be shining a light on this time, so stay tuned for that announcement either here or on my social media accounts. </p><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teal Background with a coffee cup with a heart on it that says Buy Me a Coffee." border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/w200-h50/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-38083735200757025102022-02-17T16:50:00.000-05:002022-02-23T13:54:25.729-05:00Snow Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><div>Thanks to Ant Rozetsky @rozetsky for making this photo available freely on Unsplash 🎁 https://unsplash.com/photos/H9m6mfeeakU</div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-18097991790014519522022-02-03T14:49:00.000-05:002022-02-03T14:49:18.346-05:00An Original Cinquain About Snow<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div><div>Snow</div><div>Bright, white</div><div>Falling, blowing, gathering</div><div>A bleached and pillowy landscape</div><div>Drifts</div><div><br></div><div>🌨️</div><div><br></div><div>If you are wondering to yourself, "What is a cinquain?" I'll tell you. It's a kind of short poem of only five lines about a thing. It reminds me a little bit of the Japanese haiku in that you have limited space to express an idea or a feeling. There are multiple formats to use for a cinquain. Here is the one I used for <i>Snow.</i></div><div><br></div>Line 1: A noun<div>Line 2: Two adjectives</div><div>Line 3: Three -ing words</div><div>Line 4: A phrase</div><div>Line 5: Another word for the noun</div><div><br></div><div>There aren't too many synonyms for snow, so I went with something evocative; drifts as in snowdrifts. But also I wanted to convey how a landscape can change, or "drift," when covered with layers of something like snow.</div><div><br></div><div>It's been snowing here for two days, and the world outside my window has changed several times as the powder relentlessly piles up. </div><div><br></div><div>There something very cozy about being inside and looking out at the snow that I quite enjoy. Driving on snowy roads, not so much. So I'm happy to have the next week at home, whether I'm working from home or just drinking tea while reading a good book. </div><div><br></div><div>What do you think about snow? Let me know in the comments below. And if you enjoyed this poem, <a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn">please consider buying me a coffee</a>.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-45681765184798753412022-01-21T14:07:00.000-05:002022-01-21T14:07:01.836-05:0019th and Early 20th Century Ghost Stories<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXKprkR2d5gtRBXL-y8l9sIPzpapwjKGZyDCbujqCo9qRnzVDvFfn_52OsfFgKPNcbJo-GlaR0ulYhZyifAx3RZM1xDjhJ6BV4jsU2sdRCfQ-q7DQmtOulCsUKHjHSHZgQ0GsbBNhHAW2h_-YSJJCWJbTNDB5gbZlk61EhC3iwB7XBrMjxpRIRaRkWcg=s747" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="747" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXKprkR2d5gtRBXL-y8l9sIPzpapwjKGZyDCbujqCo9qRnzVDvFfn_52OsfFgKPNcbJo-GlaR0ulYhZyifAx3RZM1xDjhJ6BV4jsU2sdRCfQ-q7DQmtOulCsUKHjHSHZgQ0GsbBNhHAW2h_-YSJJCWJbTNDB5gbZlk61EhC3iwB7XBrMjxpRIRaRkWcg=w400-h321" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">John Downman, The Ghost of Clytemnestra Awakening the Furies (1781)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our forebears were mad about ghost stories. This is very likely universally true as we find ghost stories in multiple cultures across the globe dating back several millennia. And, it would seem, nowhere was this more apparent in the English tongue than the 19th and early 20th centuries. We are, of course, still telling ghost stories, many through film and television (the horror genre, for example), but many writers now are inspired by the works created then. Just think of how many modern things involve Cthulhu, a being created by H.P. Lovecraft in 1928.<p></p><p>I have an extreme fondness for ghost stories. I like reading them, and I like writing them. (See <i><a href="https://vocal.media/fiction/don-t-park-on-the-bridge-at-night" target="_blank">Don't Park on the Bridge at Night</a> </i>and <i><a href="https://vocal.media/fiction/le-griffon" target="_blank">Le Griffon</a></i>.) Because so many of these particular stories are over 100 years old (some <i>well </i>over), they are in the public domain and easy to find. You can even find people reading them for you on YouTube (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/BitesizedAudioClassics/playlists" target="_blank">Bitesized Audio Classics</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/DSBAudio/videos" target="_blank">DSB Audio</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/FrenchEdward06/playlists" target="_blank">edward french</a>), and there are podcasts to tune into as well (<a href="https://www.ghostpod.org/" target="_blank">The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast</a>, <a href="https://cthulhupodcast.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cthulhu</a>). I even read a few for <a href="http://patreon.com/hauntedmitten" target="_blank">Haunted Mitten's Patreon</a>, exclusive to members.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPvUVkyd_qLX-6bdc0gFqxRJDn03uvioPCFjXfb11AdZU0evw8jnSZhmP4aSD9N-oVPRN-lLUduWT5g0I57CvBthmWLu5RIon-5IEh9UFKUkqgf44zkr5a-IrFx3VcO5LwurXZmcPQbfP3cUjqFCbHAQ4eS3qcQfvGVZWFr6xR5NWDTgEFyB5wyblHNQ=s1010" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1010" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPvUVkyd_qLX-6bdc0gFqxRJDn03uvioPCFjXfb11AdZU0evw8jnSZhmP4aSD9N-oVPRN-lLUduWT5g0I57CvBthmWLu5RIon-5IEh9UFKUkqgf44zkr5a-IrFx3VcO5LwurXZmcPQbfP3cUjqFCbHAQ4eS3qcQfvGVZWFr6xR5NWDTgEFyB5wyblHNQ=w400-h316" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">J.E. Millais, Speak! Speak! (1895)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Why am I talking about ghost stories now, months after Halloween? Because it's winter. It's dark. It's quiet. It's cold. It's...spooky. </p><p>I recently finished reading an excellent collection on just haunted houses called<i> </i><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/55705/9780744022773" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">John Landis Presents the Library of Horror Haunted Houses: Classic Stories of Doors That Should Never Be Opened</a>. (Click the title to read about it at Bookshop.org; it's also available in <a href="https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780744029673-haunted-houses?bookstore=bookshoporg" target="_blank">audiobook format here</a>.) It's a rather long read, but how joyous to curl up with it in the evenings next to a crackling fire! There are stories by Bram Stoker, H. P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Henry James, Ambrose Bierce, M.R. James, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Lafcadio Hearn, Oscar Wilde, Saki... This book would be a fine addition to any library. </p><p>If you are at all interested in the history of the horror or gothic genres, I strongly suggest you check out <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/55705/9781683691389" target="_blank">Monster, She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered Horror and Speculative Fiction</a>. </i>(Click the title to read about it at Bookshop.org.) So many women contributed to the ghost story rage of the 19th century! We studied "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (published in 1892) when I was in high school, so you can't say their stories aren't still relevant in the modern age.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPb22OQVO32ytgDPZLXZzX_qsk-P1akioPt8mOZ4HE6Hjyk4yovYeQWfcgfZwFz-zYfe5IEFjSGIBxyNWxxdkFZpHPk4VpbsrOoi1mgyPI3ian8bTUyWNfY6iIGRokOR5Q3IJRHZt1LLMwcJ1oN0fjPJp5hqS17J_a63iWPv0GreV0_GB-TQg6l3drlg=s1280" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1280" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPb22OQVO32ytgDPZLXZzX_qsk-P1akioPt8mOZ4HE6Hjyk4yovYeQWfcgfZwFz-zYfe5IEFjSGIBxyNWxxdkFZpHPk4VpbsrOoi1mgyPI3ian8bTUyWNfY6iIGRokOR5Q3IJRHZt1LLMwcJ1oN0fjPJp5hqS17J_a63iWPv0GreV0_GB-TQg6l3drlg=w400-h196" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre (c. 1844)</span> </td></tr></tbody></table><p>If you want to save these stories up for Halloween, I understand. But remember what Shakespeare said: "A sad tale’s best for winter. I have one of sprites and goblins."</p><p>Stay warm, everyone.</p><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/s200/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-12504369868637568442022-01-06T21:37:00.000-05:002022-01-06T21:37:00.929-05:0015 Quotes About Writing That Inspire Me<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjht9vkwaRhDEqRQ6Uz4BgjMtJJQ_TMjsWI2YLevrlXTBvkyncXtHxzj9iLbCFrXY66Y2IjQMFXzzlh-UzWSYWVS8D8LykHqxR3gUlQ1FDrz3tQLLTEBvxbvO5ikYSpFSI6ggB-2LXy79Yg5TRiY0TqNMoVp4ozf1B6igmpGR1P_hOt8vO2IlJTHrlh1A=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="960" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjht9vkwaRhDEqRQ6Uz4BgjMtJJQ_TMjsWI2YLevrlXTBvkyncXtHxzj9iLbCFrXY66Y2IjQMFXzzlh-UzWSYWVS8D8LykHqxR3gUlQ1FDrz3tQLLTEBvxbvO5ikYSpFSI6ggB-2LXy79Yg5TRiY0TqNMoVp4ozf1B6igmpGR1P_hOt8vO2IlJTHrlh1A=w400-h141" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>Everyone needs a little inspiration now and again, especially when one is feeling a little discouraged that some more pressing projects take time away from the more fun ones. So here I share with you, in no particular order, some of my favorite quotes about writing that I find inspiring. I hope you enjoy them as I do.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtwaY_qSv3GbZqcSIvFyRwx0EzVMrpiOmgs0_4ABOxSOZ9gF3N4_SXhMNXPoJweEUMwBps2YQVRRnmKLhJZmBBpe9ygkMPO0KptYRZYRCOPiVO8WI2UUu1pk_FPgzJaLarmxRaMz5-Ml_KQiO57fGBuCfKQIAdpU6eYXtTQY_9XjiHdrIFp8azOc3aKQ=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtwaY_qSv3GbZqcSIvFyRwx0EzVMrpiOmgs0_4ABOxSOZ9gF3N4_SXhMNXPoJweEUMwBps2YQVRRnmKLhJZmBBpe9ygkMPO0KptYRZYRCOPiVO8WI2UUu1pk_FPgzJaLarmxRaMz5-Ml_KQiO57fGBuCfKQIAdpU6eYXtTQY_9XjiHdrIFp8azOc3aKQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">“Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window.”</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: right;">― William Faulkner</span></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: right;">“Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it.”</p><p style="text-align: right;">― Lloyd Alexander</p><p><br /></p><p>“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.”</p><p>― Ray Bradbury</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: right;">“Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”</p><p style="text-align: right;">― Anton Chekhov</p><p><br /></p><p></p>“The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”<p></p><p>― Stephen King </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZmseeRD4ZNgB9srrkuYxZuYxEdZh6Sx3LtEEzc0j3Chsdn1JYI3HBErDFR8cEppe-7QSYFBZODKQwzmIibQ0A-LrIlWs1RONZmov5Dlz7r_C8wFokb3M-_hr58pPjW4ukG5vDO8PbAQDM9d2A7wPPq6KWoHgNUF4-704LPGkQ05D4mVXFxBtostz2RA=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZmseeRD4ZNgB9srrkuYxZuYxEdZh6Sx3LtEEzc0j3Chsdn1JYI3HBErDFR8cEppe-7QSYFBZODKQwzmIibQ0A-LrIlWs1RONZmov5Dlz7r_C8wFokb3M-_hr58pPjW4ukG5vDO8PbAQDM9d2A7wPPq6KWoHgNUF4-704LPGkQ05D4mVXFxBtostz2RA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>“Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.”</p><p>― E.L. Doctorow</p><p> </p><p style="text-align: right;">“A writer is working when he’s staring out of the window.” </p><p style="text-align: right;">― Burton Rascoe</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">“The best time to plan a book is while you’re doing the dishes.” </p><p style="text-align: left;">― Agatha Christie</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: right;">“I try to write a certain amount each day, five days a week. A rule sometimes broken is better than no rule.” </p><p style="text-align: right;">― Herman Wouk</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">“If you write one story, it may be bad; if you write a hundred, you have the odds in your favor.”</p><p style="text-align: left;">― Edgar Rice Burroughs</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5ykswTs9zOl2semS_sHh4hBuD6KFYHhlwyUBksxi6m3RdXIy8yKNxw_-vuLfITTDKaDGROiPBxeq9ygNsUGlyDGcmmxq2mPT9cTv_90DxJQaak2XDg8Rxpn-lXk9KyB9MScWFu5aD5u-NdJ5AD9NuN5eRppXsPhbQw7PH9bs3ugr9ZA5W_VdxLtbDtg=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="960" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5ykswTs9zOl2semS_sHh4hBuD6KFYHhlwyUBksxi6m3RdXIy8yKNxw_-vuLfITTDKaDGROiPBxeq9ygNsUGlyDGcmmxq2mPT9cTv_90DxJQaak2XDg8Rxpn-lXk9KyB9MScWFu5aD5u-NdJ5AD9NuN5eRppXsPhbQw7PH9bs3ugr9ZA5W_VdxLtbDtg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">“I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see, and what it means. What I want and what I fear.” </p><p style="text-align: left;">― Joan Didion</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: right;">“I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and look at it, until it shines.” </p><p style="text-align: right;">― Emily Dickinson</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">“If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.” </p><p style="text-align: left;">― Margaret Atwood</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: right;">“No one else sees the world the way you do, so no one else can tell the stories that you have to tell.” </p><p style="text-align: right;">― Charles de Lint</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">“I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.” </p><p style="text-align: left;">― Shannon Hale</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3EXR2jHET5emN6uv-myTwnFPQtjN0EMKoXHRgaSphHmpMGaffxE5N6zA03NM1FPNzh98XSZ0K2BWkd5aTn68RvIsLx6KCX4xUZFs_7Q5vBhTkf80Hl8KMYMfYzxRJAbFxJGFf5rbXdJKGtEGPdoEpaFzGe6xqWSSVjVK9ZfH-nK_ZwpQTygasNrlEQg=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3EXR2jHET5emN6uv-myTwnFPQtjN0EMKoXHRgaSphHmpMGaffxE5N6zA03NM1FPNzh98XSZ0K2BWkd5aTn68RvIsLx6KCX4xUZFs_7Q5vBhTkf80Hl8KMYMfYzxRJAbFxJGFf5rbXdJKGtEGPdoEpaFzGe6xqWSSVjVK9ZfH-nK_ZwpQTygasNrlEQg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/s200/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-9265460253887959922021-12-23T00:01:00.002-05:002021-12-23T00:01:00.180-05:00Farewell, 2021. Greetings, 2022.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VS64WjTGPqA/YcJ5uVz5yYI/AAAAAAAAH-E/P0KLQP1NMq4W8vukVHQUcQYMrUjkIBT6ACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1640135095808306-0.png" width="400" />
</a></div><div><br /></div><div>It didn't feel real that in less than 10 days, it will be 2022. We all had such great hopes for the 20s. Instead we got Covid. It just doesn't make sense to plan anymore.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because the last couple of years seem like they don't "count," my mind reels when I remember that I will turn 40 next fall. That's a pretty big milestone! And it means I'll soon be as far from the turn of the century as I was when I was born. (I'm a Libra. I'm drawn to balance.)</div><div><br /></div><div>When I think about making plans and goals for next year, the feeling of "what's the point?" immediately settles in. I'd like to expand on Haunted Mitten because we've had such luck in 2021, and a lot of what we've done has been easily accomplished online. I want to do more conventions, expos, markets, etc. But with the Covid numbers higher than ever, I won't count on it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Crazy Wisdom Community Journal will be expanding, but I don't know in what directions yet. In addition to my usual two columns, an idea I had for a feature was approved, which is great! But I am too worn out to think about that right now, so I keep putting them off. January, though, I will have to get to work on those.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've taken up an abandoned novel once again, so fingers crossed I can make some headway with that.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've got. This really has been a disheartening year. Heck, two years! But I keep plugging along. That's all any of us can do, I think.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLUiS1xTB1I/YZ7FNV0nxLI/AAAAAAAAH7U/XkYSxM5JaZEEgZQ9eOYjezOIDFKUUTJewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1706/page-break-clipart-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="1706" height="56" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLUiS1xTB1I/YZ7FNV0nxLI/AAAAAAAAH7U/XkYSxM5JaZEEgZQ9eOYjezOIDFKUUTJewCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/page-break-clipart-9.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</p><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/s200/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-11306864939763779072021-12-09T18:21:00.000-05:002021-12-09T18:21:24.329-05:00Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7zIaPzBcnoQ/YbI29NlNQOI/AAAAAAAAH88/inmJtivvzrsVI-4I7BT0LR2fxA00HaaVwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Holiday-Nights-Greenfield-Village-Christmas-Santa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7zIaPzBcnoQ/YbI29NlNQOI/AAAAAAAAH88/inmJtivvzrsVI-4I7BT0LR2fxA00HaaVwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/Holiday-Nights-Greenfield-Village-Christmas-Santa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Ever since I moved to Southeast Michigan a decade ago, I have wanted to attend <a href="https://www.thehenryford.org/current-events/calendar/holiday-nights-in-greenfield-village" target="_blank">Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village</a>. And this December, I finally did!<p></p><p>Greenfield Village is totally my jam at any time of the year. I<i> love</i> being able to walk amongst history. But things are stepped up a notch during the special holiday seasons. (There is also <a href="https://www.thehenryford.org/current-events/calendar/halloween-in-greenfield-village/" target="_blank">Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village</a>, which I really hope to attend next year. Tickets sold out before I snag some this year.)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tIuXx5AzMBI/YbKJPU6wm_I/AAAAAAAAH9M/FBtVaeAdRG89VX0O9qEVvkGligrDgzCFwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Holiday-Nights-Greenfield-Village-Christmas-Glass-Blowing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tIuXx5AzMBI/YbKJPU6wm_I/AAAAAAAAH9M/FBtVaeAdRG89VX0O9qEVvkGligrDgzCFwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/Holiday-Nights-Greenfield-Village-Christmas-Glass-Blowing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Everywhere you looked, the Village was filled with festive cheer. And bonfires to huddle near and warm up. My husband Greg called them hobo fires, but not all of them were in metal cans. There were choirs, carolers, a fife and drum corps, organ music, and more. We saw a magic lantern show, model trains decorated for Christmas, and live glassblowing. We rode historic Model Ts, a century old carousel, and in a wagon pulled by two horses. And, of course, we saw Santa Claus!<p></p><p>There were all kinds of treats available, such as hot cocoa (I got it with peppermint!), roasted chestnuts, cotton candy, frozen custard...and full meals if you made reservations! (Well, it a reservation would have helped at least.) I have only had roasted chestnuts a couple of times in my life (<a href="https://www.zingermansdeli.com/" target="_blank">Zingerman's Deli</a> in Ann Arbor often has them this time of year). So I regret a teensy bit not picking some up while we were at the Village. I will have to try to get some elsewhere. If you have not eaten roasted chestnuts, I highly recommend giving them a try. They're warm, and soft, and nutty. Yum, yum!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E1fVefsmz9o/YbKNbvBqcXI/AAAAAAAAH9U/Z_nfbfajS2A8IcV3N2dUQQi0uOY1ajQdwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Holiday-Nights-Greenfield-Village-Christmas-Fireworks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E1fVefsmz9o/YbKNbvBqcXI/AAAAAAAAH9U/Z_nfbfajS2A8IcV3N2dUQQi0uOY1ajQdwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/Holiday-Nights-Greenfield-Village-Christmas-Fireworks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />It was a cold night, so I was grateful for the many bonfires. But we made it to the end and were rewarded with a fireworks show. Which we watched while gathered around a bonfire. There were a lot of indoor events that we didn't see. It was easier to stay away from strangers by staying outside. I intend on going again next year, so hopefully it will be safer to be around people and I can check out all of those things too.<p></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLUiS1xTB1I/YZ7FNV0nxLI/AAAAAAAAH7U/XkYSxM5JaZEEgZQ9eOYjezOIDFKUUTJewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1706/page-break-clipart-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="1706" height="56" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLUiS1xTB1I/YZ7FNV0nxLI/AAAAAAAAH7U/XkYSxM5JaZEEgZQ9eOYjezOIDFKUUTJewCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/page-break-clipart-9.png" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</p><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/s200/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-22643091700234397862021-11-25T00:01:00.001-05:002021-11-25T00:01:00.168-05:00Things I'm Thankful for in 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MNQS32J3e8k/YZ7GQsE2pVI/AAAAAAAAH7c/WuFYF1PJNkUASlhC5cUxKgbZM6dhaBVQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/pro-church-media-p2OQW69vXP4-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="2048" height="249" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MNQS32J3e8k/YZ7GQsE2pVI/AAAAAAAAH7c/WuFYF1PJNkUASlhC5cUxKgbZM6dhaBVQwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h249/pro-church-media-p2OQW69vXP4-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Well. Here we are again. It's Thanksgiving. My husband and I will actually be gathering with a few relatives this year, though I kind of enjoyed our wacky Zoom Thanksgiving gathering last year. It feel strange, but I do have a lot of things to be thankful for this year. I think it's probably extra important to remember the good things in a year like 2021 (and 2020), so here is my list.<p></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wqYK8RFWG7Y/YZ7DyHCLAII/AAAAAAAAH68/NB4j9AYj3XgKHfxYvsFvg2rQCan7sxteACLcBGAsYHQ/s737/Haunted-Mitten-Podcast-Sticker.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="737" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wqYK8RFWG7Y/YZ7DyHCLAII/AAAAAAAAH68/NB4j9AYj3XgKHfxYvsFvg2rQCan7sxteACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Haunted-Mitten-Podcast-Sticker.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br />1) Haunted Mitten is taking off!</b><p></p><p>Not only did Kay and I manage to wrap up season two of <a href="https://www.hauntedmitten.com/" target="_blank">Haunted Mitten</a>, and launch season three, we did not one but <i>two </i>live presentations! (You can listen to them on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/hauntedmitten" target="_blank">Haunted Mitten's Patreon</a> for just $1.) We have also been guests on multiple podcasts. We've received multiple emails from listeners from all over Michigan, and we even have our first sponsor. And we have a merch store! <a href="https://www.hauntedmitten.store/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to check out our modest selections. (We hope to add more designs soon.) The T-shirts are super comfortable.</p><p>I just can't believe how much has happened and how quickly. We've made connections in the Michigan paranormal community with plans to participate in future events, investigations, and more interviews. </p><p><b>2) More stories in more anthologies!</b></p><p><i>Fairy Tales Punk'd 2: Creature Feature </i>is currently on Kickstarter (<a href="https://bit.ly/FairyTalesPunkd2" target="_blank">click here!</a>). It will include my short story "The Physician" as well as a story by my husband. </p><p><i>Harvey Duckman Presents... Volume 8: A Collection of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Steampunk and Horror Short Stories</i> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DMWBTHT/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_Q718Q38KTZHMPJSJPG87" target="_blank">click here to check it out</a>) came out this past August, and it contains my story "Smoke."</p><p>I also have a couple of short stories up on Vocal Media. My personal favorites are "<a href="https://vocal.media/fiction/don-t-park-on-the-bridge-at-night" target="_blank">Don't Park on the Bridge at Night</a>" and "<a href="https://vocal.media/fiction/le-griffon" target="_blank">Le Griffon</a>" (click on the titles to read), but there are many more if you <a href="https://vocal.media/authors/crysta-coburn" target="_blank">click here to check out my profile</a>. </p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uStLfkdrpmg/YZ7EYDOyPCI/AAAAAAAAH7E/uHycZE4yK9sWelPrxkL9us5JKhgokDrwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/FTP2%2BThe%2BPhysician.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uStLfkdrpmg/YZ7EYDOyPCI/AAAAAAAAH7E/uHycZE4yK9sWelPrxkL9us5JKhgokDrwgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/FTP2%2BThe%2BPhysician.png" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br />3) A supportive place of employment!</b><p></p><p>All throughout the pandemic, the library's guiding principle was what was best for us, the employees. How could we serve the public during such a trying time while keeping all of us as safe as possible at the same time? They managed (quite cleverly), and I never worried about my position there. I also felt reassured by our monthly meetings and being kept up to date on what was happening in our county. It's easy to feel overwhelmed watching and reading the news. </p><p><b>4) Loving friends and family!</b></p><p>I really am lucky to have such great friends and a family who supports my endeavors. I am keenly aware that not everyone has that, especially people in the queer community. For the most part, we've all been healthy this year, and I hope that this continues into the next.</p><div style="text-align: left;">And my fluffy babies, Memphis and Tully are scamps, but remain fiercely loyal and devoted.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLUiS1xTB1I/YZ7FNV0nxLI/AAAAAAAAH7U/XkYSxM5JaZEEgZQ9eOYjezOIDFKUUTJewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1706/page-break-clipart-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="1706" height="56" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLUiS1xTB1I/YZ7FNV0nxLI/AAAAAAAAH7U/XkYSxM5JaZEEgZQ9eOYjezOIDFKUUTJewCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/page-break-clipart-9.png" width="320" /></a></div>Rather than wish you a happy Thanksgiving, I will instead say that I hope today is exactly what you need it to be.<p></p><div>If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/s200/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-56384211628250026262021-11-11T13:30:00.000-05:002021-11-11T13:30:00.789-05:00Gift Ideas for Book Lovers<p>Everyone keeps telling us to buy early this year because of supply shortages. That includes the book industry! (<i><a href="https://qz.com/2059755/book-publishers-warn-of-supply-chain-delays-for-2021-holidays/?fbclid=IwAR3u7db9KuWdHI7ffBDu_O66omjVLq9x0iD7D1bBBcNeEm1IXQ7MC_eh8p4" target="_blank">New books will be hard to come by for the rest of the year</a></i>) So if you are shopping early for the booklovers in your life, I have brought together some fun seasonal titles and things <i>other</i> than books that they might still enjoy. (None of these are affiliate links. I am not that fancy.)</p><div style="text-align: left;">I am linking to the books on <a href="http://Bookshop.org">Bookshop.org</a>, but if you prefer audiobooks, I highly suggest shopping at <a href="http://Libro.fm">Libro.fm</a> and support your local independent bookstore.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><blockquote><i>See also...<a href="http://lifefroma2.blogspot.com/2017/12/gifts-for-book-lovers.html">Gifts for Book Lovers</a></i></blockquote><p> </p><p><b>BOOKS ABOUT BOOKSTORES AND LIBRARIES</b></p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/bookstores-a-celebration-of-independent-booksellers/9783791385815" target="_blank"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6H_BcdXTwFg/YY1RsWSkkFI/AAAAAAAAH34/3rDvC7oGu4MY7RHZUs_-YExJjfsF7NnowCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/9783791385815.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="428" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6H_BcdXTwFg/YY1RsWSkkFI/AAAAAAAAH34/3rDvC7oGu4MY7RHZUs_-YExJjfsF7NnowCLcBGAsYHQ/w171-h200/9783791385815.jpg" width="171" /></a></div><br /><i><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/bookstores-a-celebration-of-independent-booksellers/9783791385815" target="_blank">Bookstores: A Celebration Of Independent Booksellers</a></i>: Explore the magic of independent bookstores in this beautiful photographic journey across the world.<p></p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/the-bookseller-of-florence-the-story-of-the-manuscripts-that-illuminated-the-renaissance-9780802159830/9780802159830" target="_blank"><i></i></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PKNS3ynZIkE/YY1S2WBgh0I/AAAAAAAAH4A/yQ4M7eXPW_Y302qQm7T7iWiP36pv95NjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/9780802159830.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PKNS3ynZIkE/YY1S2WBgh0I/AAAAAAAAH4A/yQ4M7eXPW_Y302qQm7T7iWiP36pv95NjQCLcBGAsYHQ/w133-h200/9780802159830.jpg" width="133" /></a></i></div><i><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/the-bookseller-of-florence-the-story-of-the-manuscripts-that-illuminated-the-renaissance-9780802159830/9780802159830" target="_blank">The Bookseller of Florence: The Story of the Manuscripts That Illuminated the Renaissance</a></i>: At a time when all books were made by hand, over four decades Vespasiano produced and sold many hundreds of volumes from his bookshop, which also became a gathering spot for debate and discussion.<p></p><p><i><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/my-bookstore-writers-celebrate-their-favorite-places-to-browse-read-and-shop/9780316395076" target="_blank"></a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ml2FRQqPz-Y/YY1TAO-zK7I/AAAAAAAAH4E/FU5hAIySjJocYCNLNpTHLWT56VF0LcznACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/9780316395076.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ml2FRQqPz-Y/YY1TAO-zK7I/AAAAAAAAH4E/FU5hAIySjJocYCNLNpTHLWT56VF0LcznACLcBGAsYHQ/w134-h200/9780316395076.jpg" width="134" /></a></i></div><i><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/my-bookstore-writers-celebrate-their-favorite-places-to-browse-read-and-shop/9780316395076" target="_blank">My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop</a></i>: In this enthusiastic, heartfelt, and sometimes humorous ode to bookshops and booksellers, 84 known authors pay tribute to the brick-and-mortar stores they love and often call their second homes.<p></p><p><i><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/bookshops-a-reader-s-history/9781771962650" target="_blank"></a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulK-Hqa2AUQ/YY1TeNtv1gI/AAAAAAAAH4Q/E1z402Jvf1glBtVMo45lSwbDgC5hAC98QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/9781771962650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="255" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulK-Hqa2AUQ/YY1TeNtv1gI/AAAAAAAAH4Q/E1z402Jvf1glBtVMo45lSwbDgC5hAC98QCLcBGAsYHQ/w127-h200/9781771962650.jpg" width="127" /></a></i></div><i><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/bookshops-a-reader-s-history/9781771962650" target="_blank">Bookshops: A Reader's History</a></i>: In this thought-provoking, vivid, and entertaining essay, Carrion meditates on the importance of the bookshop as a cultural and intellectual space. <p></p><p><i><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/a-bookshop-in-berlin-the-rediscovered-memoir-of-one-woman-s-harrowing-escape-from-the-nazis/9781501199851" target="_blank"></a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e1dRhhlP7Wg/YY1UBR63fFI/AAAAAAAAH4Y/JIipJY9XtzoTdSepiCmfS4VkyMaicavCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/9781501199851.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e1dRhhlP7Wg/YY1UBR63fFI/AAAAAAAAH4Y/JIipJY9XtzoTdSepiCmfS4VkyMaicavCgCLcBGAsYHQ/w131-h200/9781501199851.jpg" width="131" /></a></i></div><i><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/a-bookshop-in-berlin-the-rediscovered-memoir-of-one-woman-s-harrowing-escape-from-the-nazis/9781501199851" target="_blank">A Bookshop in Berlin: The Rediscovered Memoir of One Woman's Harrowing Escape from the Nazis</a></i>: Published quietly in 1945, then rediscovered nearly sixty years later in an attic, <i>A Bookshop in Berlin</i> is a remarkable story of survival and resilience, of human cruelty and human spirit.<p></p><p><i><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/the-library-book-9781508266471/9781476740195" target="_blank"></a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Le1eqFveq0w/YY1U5VD6nAI/AAAAAAAAH4g/37P_kndKC4UzEEYEr2gVGm6K606SUtuNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/9781476740195.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="269" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Le1eqFveq0w/YY1U5VD6nAI/AAAAAAAAH4g/37P_kndKC4UzEEYEr2gVGm6K606SUtuNQCLcBGAsYHQ/w134-h200/9781476740195.jpg" width="134" /></a></i></div><i><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/the-library-book-9781508266471/9781476740195" target="_blank">The Library Book</a></i>: On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who had been cleared out of the building realized this was not the usual fire alarm. As one fireman recounted, "Once that first stack got going, it was 'Goodbye, Charlie.'"<p></p><p><i><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/the-bad-ass-librarians-of-timbuktu-and-their-race-to-save-the-world-s-most-precious-manuscripts/9781476777412" target="_blank"></a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6mL1q4ON1_s/YY1VlWVVLXI/AAAAAAAAH4o/c5ujIV1TGaUg7VclR4Ph5slVifVPTC-SwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/9781476777412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6mL1q4ON1_s/YY1VlWVVLXI/AAAAAAAAH4o/c5ujIV1TGaUg7VclR4Ph5slVifVPTC-SwCLcBGAsYHQ/w131-h200/9781476777412.jpg" width="131" /></a></i></div><i><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/the-bad-ass-librarians-of-timbuktu-and-their-race-to-save-the-world-s-most-precious-manuscripts/9781476777412" target="_blank">The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu and Their Race to Save the World's Most Precious Manuscripts</a></i>: To save ancient Arabic texts from Al Qaeda, a band of librarians pulls off a brazen heist worthy of Ocean's Eleven in this "fast-paced narrative that is...part intellectual history, part geopolitical tract, and part out-and-out thriller" (The Washington Post) from the author of <i>The Falcon Thief</i>.<p></p><p><i><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/bibliotech-why-libraries-matter-more-than-ever-in-the-age-of-google/9780465042999" target="_blank"></a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e88nzsHlEC4/YY1WfiZCBQI/AAAAAAAAH4w/XfViEpa58pQMtt9vlcmSuiSyIJBJLKRUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/9780465042999.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e88nzsHlEC4/YY1WfiZCBQI/AAAAAAAAH4w/XfViEpa58pQMtt9vlcmSuiSyIJBJLKRUwCLcBGAsYHQ/w131-h200/9780465042999.jpg" width="131" /></a></i></div><i><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/bibliotech-why-libraries-matter-more-than-ever-in-the-age-of-google/9780465042999" target="_blank">Bibliotech: Why Libraries Matter More Than Ever in the Age of Google</a></i>: Libraries today are more important than ever. More than just book repositories, libraries can become bulwarks against some of the most crucial challenges of our age: unequal access to education, jobs, and information.<p></p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/i-work-at-a-public-library-a-collection-of-crazy-stories-from-the-stacks/9781440576249" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-92eC7Hv3RZQ/YY1XhHV_ALI/AAAAAAAAH5A/x1DQKujWySkqvAc12JGvBWqF56WYLKfVgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/9781440576249.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="293" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-92eC7Hv3RZQ/YY1XhHV_ALI/AAAAAAAAH5A/x1DQKujWySkqvAc12JGvBWqF56WYLKfVgCLcBGAsYHQ/w146-h200/9781440576249.jpg" width="146" /></a></div><br /><i><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/i-work-at-a-public-library-a-collection-of-crazy-stories-from-the-stacks/9781440576249" target="_blank">I Work at a Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks</a></i>: From a patron's missing wetsuit to the scent of crab cakes wafting through the stacks, <i>I Work at a Public Library</i> showcases the oddities that have come across Gina Sheridan's circulation desk. <p></p><p><i><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/the-personal-librarian/9780593101537" target="_blank"></a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ja39dtlfbsc/YY1XFDWy7WI/AAAAAAAAH44/KzzzdaX2BS8QJIRbQtB0XnrCKDvL-XogwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/9780593101537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ja39dtlfbsc/YY1XFDWy7WI/AAAAAAAAH44/KzzzdaX2BS8QJIRbQtB0XnrCKDvL-XogwCLcBGAsYHQ/w133-h200/9780593101537.jpg" width="133" /></a></i></div><i><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/the-personal-librarian/9780593101537" target="_blank">The Personal Librarian</a></i>: A remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan's personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, from <i>New York Times</i> bestselling authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.<div><br /></div><div><blockquote><i>See also... <a href="https://vocal.media/geeks/perfect-gifts-for-book-lovers" target="_blank">Perfect Gifts for Book Lovers</a></i></blockquote><p> </p><p><b>BOOK-THEMED GIFTS</b></p><p><a href="https://outofprint.com/collections/pins-and-necklaces" target="_blank"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08ERNLrBzuE/YY1ZBWUfWtI/AAAAAAAAH5Q/qKxUbQQL2UoHmH2z0VIc0IAPJrYKRRNzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s501/PINS-1039_open-a-book-enamel-pin_01_1800x1800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="501" height="125" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08ERNLrBzuE/YY1ZBWUfWtI/AAAAAAAAH5Q/qKxUbQQL2UoHmH2z0VIc0IAPJrYKRRNzgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h125/PINS-1039_open-a-book-enamel-pin_01_1800x1800.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://outofprint.com/collections/pins-and-necklaces" target="_blank"><i>Book-Themed Pins and Necklaces for Readers from Out of Print</i></a>: I love this website because it has so many wonderful book-related things. In addition to these pins and necklaces, they sell T-shirts, socks, tote bags, scarves, and more!<p></p><p><a href="https://www.teeturtle.com/collections/reading-designs" target="_blank"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RimE6QXsHwk/YY1aQgz9z6I/AAAAAAAAH5Y/X1AxYWziiEMr8QjqXcPSdQJ9PRsQI6T0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/light-reading-t-shirt-teeturtle-full-1000x1000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RimE6QXsHwk/YY1aQgz9z6I/AAAAAAAAH5Y/X1AxYWziiEMr8QjqXcPSdQJ9PRsQI6T0ACLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/light-reading-t-shirt-teeturtle-full-1000x1000.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><i><a href="https://www.teeturtle.com/collections/reading-designs" target="_blank">TeeTurtle's Reading Designs</a></i>: This is another store I often shop for adorable book-themed items. They also have T-shirts, socks, and pins. <p></p><p><a href="https://storiarts.com/collections/gloves" target="_blank"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zvul7cf0p8k/YY1auPq7vKI/AAAAAAAAH5g/TAVYnEGdpj4kwSWch28Gw77ZvVfab813gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/SH_gloves_SE_01_1200x.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zvul7cf0p8k/YY1auPq7vKI/AAAAAAAAH5g/TAVYnEGdpj4kwSWch28Gw77ZvVfab813gCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/SH_gloves_SE_01_1200x.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><i><a href="https://storiarts.com/collections/gloves" target="_blank">Gloves from Storiarts</a></i>: What a great way to keep warm this winter! Storiarts also sells scarves, bags, shirts, headbands, blankets, towels, and more. They're offerings are always expanding.<p></p><p><a href="https://www.litographs.com/collections/scarves" target="_blank"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnMPSvXJ_Qc/YY1bzU8GbhI/AAAAAAAAH5o/YQpo_uIvnOwRktfhP1TP_VoQdEXzND_ggCLcBGAsYHQ/s743/littleprince_scarf_wtr_script_navyblue_zoom_square.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="743" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnMPSvXJ_Qc/YY1bzU8GbhI/AAAAAAAAH5o/YQpo_uIvnOwRktfhP1TP_VoQdEXzND_ggCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/littleprince_scarf_wtr_script_navyblue_zoom_square.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><i><a href="https://www.litographs.com/collections/scarves" target="_blank">Scarves from Litographs</a></i>: Another terrific way to keep warm! Litographs also offers blankets, shirts, shower curtains, totes, pillows, puzzles, and more.<p></p><p><a href="https://www.etsy.com/market/book_pillows" target="_blank"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zHYGVpeQmeM/YY1cRXiIFJI/AAAAAAAAH5w/VV30kx2BDMk_MBxyReMfa2RoTklvEPtwACLcBGAsYHQ/s340/il_340x270.2915864465_rlww.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="340" height="159" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zHYGVpeQmeM/YY1cRXiIFJI/AAAAAAAAH5w/VV30kx2BDMk_MBxyReMfa2RoTklvEPtwACLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h159/il_340x270.2915864465_rlww.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><i><a href="https://www.etsy.com/market/book_pillows" target="_blank">Pillows from Etsy</a></i>: Support an independent artist while sharing the joy of reading by shopping for unique book-themed items on Etsy.<p></p> </div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p5qB-RkgaH0/YY1ekFEefAI/AAAAAAAAH54/7gcwQtPIp0E6nW9RFHtnJATR-SJTLp0lQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Puss%2BDas%2BBoot%2Bquote%2Btwitter.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p5qB-RkgaH0/YY1ekFEefAI/AAAAAAAAH54/7gcwQtPIp0E6nW9RFHtnJATR-SJTLp0lQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/Puss%2BDas%2BBoot%2Bquote%2Btwitter.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/FairyTalesPunkd2 " target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Support <i>Fairy Tales Punk's volume 2 </i>on Kickstarter!</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/s200/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439673355144165697.post-1025933583571321732021-10-28T14:40:00.000-04:002021-10-28T14:40:11.071-04:00Bay City and the Ford-MacNichol Family Home in Wyandotte<p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N39XcBS9Y20/YXrtr9cAMHI/AAAAAAAAH28/w9JDtv0ZG4kQ29m0WlxxP-c5suOoVg3-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1635446189865627-0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N39XcBS9Y20/YXrtr9cAMHI/AAAAAAAAH28/w9JDtv0ZG4kQ29m0WlxxP-c5suOoVg3-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1635446189865627-0.png" width="400" /></a></p>For my birthday this year, friends and I took a trip up to Bay City, Michigan, which is, I have learned, full of ghosts. So much so, in fact, that the third season of <a href="http://www.hauntedmitten.com/" target="_blank">Haunted Mitten</a> that debuts on Halloween devotes its first two episodes to Bay City. Yes, that's right, it's our second two-parter! (The first was Marshall, Michigan, and it kicked off season two.) <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q03yJ6malGY/YXrs6C8ZXkI/AAAAAAAAH2g/tcWavkEg3rULxhGHvNf34kYena1wdoFBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211020_135351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q03yJ6malGY/YXrs6C8ZXkI/AAAAAAAAH2g/tcWavkEg3rULxhGHvNf34kYena1wdoFBgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/20211020_135351.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I will not spoil things here, but we were lucky to visit a yummy confectioner's shop, a seemingly endless antique store, a haunted library, and a <i>gorgeous </i>historical theater where we were generously also given a tour. The theater has amazing acoustics and is styled with a Mayan temple theme. It was very cool. You can hear all about them on Haunted Mitten after it debuts this upcoming weekend, and I will put some things in our <a href="http://patreon.com/hauntedmitten" target="_blank">Patreon</a> as well. I made a self-guided tour map for all of the places that we talk about.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yYETmzvaN0I/YXrtCeZA7_I/AAAAAAAAH2k/NJhzYG998EcQGDwxfxaTDYzBIzxaRz5CgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Bay-City-State-Theater.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yYETmzvaN0I/YXrtCeZA7_I/AAAAAAAAH2k/NJhzYG998EcQGDwxfxaTDYzBIzxaRz5CgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/Bay-City-State-Theater.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We ate dinner at the Old City Hall Restaurant, which has one hell of a history as well a diverse and delicious menu. I could not resist ordering the Fruity Pebbles crème brûlée, and it was an utter delight. 10/10 would order again. We also visited a Beatles-themed coffee shop, <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/beatles-and-beans-coffee-emporium-bay-city" target="_blank">Beatles and Beans</a>, where every square inch was covered in memorabilia. I would go there again, too. <p></p><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X8EZn7fxXoA/YXrtrWqtIBI/AAAAAAAAH24/abvFTXyG6Z4h0HzdlZctJhdhsfoNd5arQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1635446187579464-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X8EZn7fxXoA/YXrtrWqtIBI/AAAAAAAAH24/abvFTXyG6Z4h0HzdlZctJhdhsfoNd5arQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1635446187579464-1.png" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Last Friday night, my husband Greg and I paid a visit to the Victorian Halloween open house at the Ford-MacNichol Family Home in Wyandotte. The house was decorated in Victorian era splendor. In the front parlor, the funeral for a child was set up, complete with pint-sized coffin (lid closed). The dining room was set up for a Halloween party. And there were other displays as well. More of the house was put together this time than <a href="http://lifefroma2.blogspot.com/2014/10/happy-hauntings.html" target="_blank">the last time we visited</a>. </p><p></p><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o6cAgHaNPPY/YXrtqm9Mx_I/AAAAAAAAH20/DeZmUVhPb_EDW0z2_jIf4ZptMjOYl2lbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1635446185076445-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o6cAgHaNPPY/YXrtqm9Mx_I/AAAAAAAAH20/DeZmUVhPb_EDW0z2_jIf4ZptMjOYl2lbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1635446185076445-2.png" width="400" /></a></p>The attic display was all about the history of Wyandotte since white settlement. We learned that the name Wyandotte was chosen to honor the Wyandot/Wendat, who once peacefully lived in the area alongside French and English farmers. It seems to me that if they really wanted to honor the tribe, they would have allowed them to stay on the land, but what do I know? (Many of their descendants live across the river in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.)<p></p><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iCe1iXuTw5E/YXrtp7J23hI/AAAAAAAAH2w/ES92tsX_CYYA1VJdzVFfZfMeEYQlsTiYACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1635446182003440-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iCe1iXuTw5E/YXrtp7J23hI/AAAAAAAAH2w/ES92tsX_CYYA1VJdzVFfZfMeEYQlsTiYACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1635446182003440-3.png" width="400" /></a></p>It's a shame my Haunted Mitten cohost Kay wasn't with us because it didn't even occur to me to ask if the house was haunted. I guess we will have to query on another trip. I have heard that they also do a Victorian Christmas open house, which I think sounds totally delightful, and I hope this is true and that they have one this December. In the meantime...<p></p><p>Happy Halloween, everyone!</p><p style="text-align: center;">---</p><div>Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to help support future posts, please consider buying me a coffee! Just click the link below.</div><div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/crystakcoburn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="450" height="50" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9KZI-WSeRo/XDfEKaojMOI/AAAAAAAAFsU/-wXGcVy1dPEnz3aU09ndiDT7lxFHs_jDgCLcBGAs/s200/kofi4.png" width="200" /></a></span></p></div><div><br /></div>Crysta K. Coburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506266003657248207noreply@blogger.com0