Morning Dog

Anniversary Present

For our 18th anniversary, Matt got me this super swell limited edition Adam Juresko giclee print for one of my favorite films! This rocks!

Now It's 18!

And now for something a little different: Tomorrow is the 18th anniversary of when Matt and I met and started dating. We often get asked how we met, so Matt did this little drawing. Happy 18th, HBSP!

Portrait of a Lazy Cat

A Lick of Paint, Indeed

Let me start out by saying I have no affiliation with Walgreens -- your neighborhood drug store -- other than shopping there on occasion.

Today we dropped in to the store near our house and what we found was a remodeled interior that blew my mind. We were only there for a few minutes but I kept saying "Wow! Look at what they've done!" The store went from stodgy old and dank to sparkling new and very 21st century. We didn't have our camera with us so I didn't get pictures, but I did find a photograph online that shows some of the changes. They have these gorgeous blue walls with white lettering, white walls with blue lettering, beige wood panels around the pharmacy, and these totally wicked hanging light fixtures. Wow! I was very impressed. (And Matt will tell you I'm not often or easily impressed.)

I couldn't find any details online about how many or which stores are being remodeled; but I certainly hope the store near you gets a facelift as great as this one!

Killer Fish

Beware the giant killer fish at the Japanese Friendship Garden in downtown Phoenix. I barely escaped with my life! (You can just call me "Lefty" now...)

Paperback Book Giveaway!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Sarah & Gerald

by Christopher Geoffrey McPherson

Giveaway ends November 30, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

What Would Sarah Wear?

One of the things I enjoyed most about writing my novel "Sarah & Gerald" was the research into 1920s fashions. I already knew a lot about those fashions having written about them several times for various newspapers; however, it's a different story when writing about real(ish) people who wore real clothes decades before I was even born.

Early on, my research took me to Los Angeles and the 2012 exhibition of costumes from Academy Award-nominated films (including the 1920s-set "The Artist"). I wrote about that exhibition here.

Matt and I recently took in a marvelous fashion exhibition called "Modern Spirit: Fashion of the 1920s" at the Phoenix Art Museum. It features more than 40 ensembles and accessories by more than a dozen iconic fashion designers including Gabrielle Chanel (pictured, top), Jean Patou (center) and Madeleine Vionnet (bottom). While it was neat seeing the fashions up close, it was even neater knowing that these are the very outfits that would have been worn by my characters. On several occasions I pointed out something to Matt and said "I describe a dress just like this for Sarah in one scene." It was an eerie occurrence of life imitating art.

The Phoenix Art Museum has a very long tradition of interest in fashion, with a collection that was founded in 1966. It comprises more than 5,000 objects of American and European clothing and accessories dating from the late 17th century to the present. I strongly urge you to check out this exceptional exhibition if you live in the Phoenix Metro area, or plan on being in town before the exhibition closes in February 2013. You can find out more about the exhibition at the Museum's website.  

All photographs by Ken Howie. Copyright and courtesy of The Phoenix Art Museum.

Books I'm Reading

Am reading this.

Just finished reading this.

And now...

Giraffe feeding time at the Wildlife World Zoo.