Make Art, Make Art: A Giveaway

Book CoverIn quiet acknowledgment of today and the massive and painful significance of it, I’m hosting a giveaway. Leave a comment, any comment – silly, happy, thoughtful, or wiseass (we love wiseass! Or, even better, wiseacre!) – and you’ll be entered to win one of the following prizes:

journalAn Eccolo leather journal from my favorite drool-worthy store, Ninth Moon.

Book Cover A DVD of Oscar winning film Once, whose co-creator Glen Hansard was the source of the “Make Art, Make Art,” quote in the title.

A DVD of Bitchery favorite Strictly Ballroom because dancing is HAWT, yo.

Why the prize fiesta? Because we are alive and creating, and for that I am blissfully thankful.

Comments are Closed

  1. Cory says:

    I have not had any coffee yet, so the only thing I can think is that I’m grateful to have woken up this morning.

  2. Linda Blowney says:

    I think that if the terrorists who planned and executed the 9/11 attacks had read more romance novels and had more lovely romantic thoughts imbedded in their heads, the tragedy would have never happened.

    So we should take some of the money from the Iraq war budget and drop Harlequins all over the Middle East.

  3. LiJuun says:

    Great idea, Linda!  Far better than dropping bombs!

  4. Daphne B. says:

    Over at Making Light, they have a similar thread going:

    http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/010557.html#010557

    There’s a couple of really romantic whirlwind courtship stories alluded to on that thread.  In general, Making Light is awesome.

  5. Kristin says:

    Yup…I’m alive and reading(everyone in my family too)!  Both bring me great joy and neither of which should be taken for granted!

    Nice idea for today! 🙂

    Would have liked to come up with something wiseass(definitely a fave), but the brain is just too damn fuzzy yet this morning! 😉

    Have a good one! 🙂

  6. SB Sarah says:

    Great. Now I have, “What is the average air speed velocity of an unladen Harlequin novel?” in my head. People are wondering why I’m snorting.

  7. Toddson says:

    A day without coffee is … well, I can’t really say.

  8. SB Sarah says:

    I can’t say either—I’m drinking mine now.

  9. Alex says:

    I’m inclined to spend today quietly, perhaps reading and listening to a selection of songs. I’ll put up part of the lyrics to something I’ll listen to a few times, while I’m thinking about my life.

    As the Days Go By—Talking Heads.

    And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack
    And you may find yourself in another part of the world
    And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
    And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful
    wife
    And you may ask yourself-Well…How did I get here?

    And you may ask yourself
    How do I work this?
    And you may ask yourself
    Where is that large automobile?
    And you may tell yourself
    This is not my beautiful house!
    And you may tell yourself
    This is not my beautiful wife!

    And you may ask yourself
    What is that beautiful house?
    And you may ask yourself
    Where does that highway go?
    And you may ask yourself
    Am I right?…Am I wrong?
    And you may tell yourself
    MY GOD!…WHAT HAVE I DONE?

    For the record, I was in my 9th grade biology class when I heard about the terrorist attack. Mr. Cochran got a call on his cell phone, and turned on the classroom TV. We watched it for the most of the class, and then the principal came over the intercom and said that class was to resume—for today.

  10. CT says:

    This may reflect quite poorly on me, but I think I missed the memo about “Patriot Day.”

    Today was the first I’ve heard of this title, and I just now realized that even all of my calendars show that today is, indeed, “Patriot Day.”

    It’s times like these I’m sure my parents dropped me on my head as a baby, thus creating a large hole in my brain for all USEFUL knowledge to leak out of. USELESS knowledge? Well, I think that gets stored on the side of the brain without the hole…

  11. KCfla says:

    One thing I think about on this day is I’m thankful for traffic!
    Why you say?

    Well, if my cousin ( and the closest thing to a big sister I have ever had) had not been stuck in traffic in Boston, she would have been on Flight 11.  We were all going balistic until she called from Logan to let us know she hadn’t made the flight!

    Small blessing- but I’ll take it!

  12. robinjn says:

    I’m not good at wiseass this early, but for me today has more than one meaning. Of course it marks a horrible event in our Nation’s history. Each year at this time I remember that year. I show dogs, and I remember going to an agility trial the very weekend after 9/11. We were solemn, we were tearful, we were resolute. But we all went. There were very few absences. Flights were grounded so instead of the judge that was supposed to come a local judge stepped in. As I’m sure many of you do, we took solace in carrying on and in communing with our pets, who are balms to our soul.

    And I have a reason to smile about this date because my Min Pin’s birthday is today. Okay, it’s only a dog. But he’s funny, he’s sweet and he makes me laugh every single day. And what could be better than that as an antidote to those who hate us for what we are?

    So here’s to Zipper, Ch Regatta It’s About Time, NA, NAJ!

    http://www.totalminpin.net/images/zipper/UKC_headonjump.jpg

  13. Sarabeth says:

    We create, we live, we breathe.

  14. SB Sarah says:

    I get the “NA” is probably something to do with agility, but NAJ? What’s that?

    And dog biscuits from me- from my wonder pooch, Logan, who isn’t agile by a long shot but is equally awesome.

  15. Marsha says:

    There were lots of extra hugs and kisses at our house this morning, with suitably irritated and non-comprehending kids indulging their parents their sudden, odd fit of sentimentality.

    Sigh.  There is no amount of hugs and kisses that will erase the feeling I had looking at my nearly-toddler son just as it dawned on me what I had seen on the television.

  16. vera says:

    Hi,

    A couple of laws from Mr. Murphy. Yes, I’m having That kind of day…

    A dandelion from a lover means more than an orchid from a friend.
    Love is a matter of chemistry; sex is a matter of physics.
    And finally… Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors—and miss

  17. joykenn says:

    Unfortunately 9/11 is one of those events that doesn’t lend itself so much to wisecracks.  Like the Pearl Harbor attack it is one of those events that, when they happen to you, becomes a defining moment.  You’ll always remember where you were, what you were doing, what you were thinking and worrying about on that morning.  Watching the towers on TV, worrying about relatives, trying to phone people in NY, listening to rumors, guessing/worrying who could have done this—all of us have these memories caught like a fly in amber in our memories.  I’m too sad to wisecrack today.

  18. robinjn says:

    I get the “NA” is probably something to do with agility, but NAJ? What’s that?

    Both agility. Actually he’s NA, NAJ, RSN, JSN, U-AG1. All various agility titles. NAJ in this case is Novice Agility Jumpers. That’s an AKC title, the rest of the alphabet soup are other organization titles. And he’s just getting started! He debuts in Open (middle level) this weekend. Today he’s 3.

    And dog biscuits from me- from my wonder pooch, Logan, who isn’t agile by a long shot but is equally awesome.

    Yeah, it’s easier to not be so sad and depressed about today when I’m watching the Min Pin bounce off the Doberman’s head. I think it’s good to be able to giggle, even on 9/11.

  19. KTG says:

    I remember.

  20. Alex says:

    Well…I’m not much on silliness after seeing my crazy great-aunt wake me up out of a near-sleep-in at 8:15 in the morning, but…

    Here’s a selection of musical YouTube videos for you. One is silly, one is ‘wow’, and one is Johnny Cash.




    (The lyrics start about 50 seconds into the song. Just hang tight and watch it through.)





  21. Robin Bayne says:

    Glad to be alive as well!

  22. Observing a moment of silence…

  23. Jill Shalvis says:

    Nice way to face the day, that’s for sure.  Great idea, wish I’d thought of it.

  24. BethanyA says:

    A fine prize for today—Once.  I just saw the movie for the first time on Monday.  The music haunted me and gave me the shivers.  I think I’ll spend the day listening to the soundtrack.

    But speaking of music, I thought I’d share a remarkable story about where I was and what I was doing that morning.  I had just begun my senior year of high school and during Period 2 choir we rehearsed “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” over and over.  No one knew anything—my director knew nothing—she just said it seemed like a good time to perfect it.

  25. LizC says:

    Hell, I’ll comment to get a chance at one of those prizes. Though probably not the journal as it would be lost on me. I’m terrible at keeping paper journals. My bedroom at my dad’s is a graveyard of journals I bought because they were pretty and then wrote in maybe 5 times before discarding.

  26. Zulma says:

    Hi there! I’m still on my first cuppa joe so i have nothing clever to say. it’s gray here this morning, which i love because it’s quite rare, and everything is still quiet.

    my coffee is cafe du monde coffee and chicory. mmm.

  27. Ri L. says:

    I was just home visiting my parents for Labor Day weekend, and while I was there, my mother recalled seven years after the fact that one thing that struck her on September 11 were the looks on my and my brother’s faces when we were picked up from our respective high schools.  Suddenly I had a whole new perspective on how my mother saw us and thought about us. 

    Even the oddest moment or smallest offhand comment can remind you how much someone loves you, and how much you love them as well.

  28. Silver James says:

    I was a first responder at the Oklahoma City Bombing. I lost good friends from FDNY when the towers came down. I know exactly what I was doing on both days when I got the news. Gotta love PTSD. But on a lighter note, two thoughts:

    One wanders through life as if wandering through a field in the dark of night, wearing a blindfold and very heavy shoes, with a poisonous toad waiting patiently beneath a clump of weeds, knowing full well that eventually you will step on him. ~Lemony Snicket

    and

    Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars. ~Henry Van Dyke

    I leave it to each of you to glean what wisdom you can from those thoughts. As for me, I’m spending the day writing romance. At lest I can give a HEA to the characters in my head.

  29. Laurabelle says:

    Great prizes! And I’m just happy to be here. And don’t get me wrong, I’m patriotic, and I’m all for the observation. I think it’s very important to remember what happened and the people who were affected. I kind of prefer to contemplate things privately. For some reason I just chafed a little when my son’s preschool wanted all the kids to wear red, white and blue today. Not sure why – because I didn’t think they’d understand it, maybe? Okay, enough grumpiness. Still happy to be here…

  30. TracyS says:

    My grandma says she remembers where she was and what she was doing when she heard about Pearl Harbor.  My mom says she remembers where she was and what she was doing when she heard about JFK’s assassination.  I remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard about 9/11.  I hope and pray that my son’s generation does not have a day that they will always remember.  I know that is wishful thinking, but. . . . .I do it anyway.

  31. Makes me grateful for family. My sister worked across from the Towers and for thirty minutes—we were freaking out. Called and called..and it turns out she and decided to call in sick and was in the shower with no idea of what was happening.

    She also kicks ass at buying scratch-off tickets

  32. Estelle Chauvelin says:

    Now I wish I wasn’t at work so I could watch Johnny Cash.  Note to self: come back later!

  33. robinjn says:

    My grandma says she remembers where she was and what she was doing when she heard about Pearl Harbor.  My mom says she remembers where she was and what she was doing when she heard about JFK’s assassination.  I remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard about 9/11.  I hope and pray that my son’s generation does not have a day that they will always remember.  I know that is wishful thinking, but. . . . .I do it anyway.

    I’m old enough to have 4 big rememberances. I remember the Challenger disaster. I remember Oklahoma City. I remember 9/11. And I also remember man walking on the moon for the first time. Fortunately it’s not always a tragedy that spurs our strongest memories.

  34. BeckyA says:

    So we should take some of the money from the Iraq war budget and drop Harlequins all over the Middle East.

    As co-owner of a new and used bookstore I pledge some of our backstock old harlequins to the cause.

    “What is the average air speed velocity of an unladen Harlequin novel?”

    Is it a scary 70’s cover Harlequin Romance or a scary 80’s cover Harlequin Superromance?

  35. Lyvvie says:

    Vera said…

    Hi, A couple of laws from Mr. Murphy. Yes, I’m having That kind of day…

    A dandelion from a lover means more than an orchid from a friend.

    My lover ever dares give me a dandelion as a sign of love he’s going to get a basket of wet laundry in return. The friend gets taken out for dinner.

  36. Jennifer says:

    Thank you for reminding me!!

  37. Jo says:

    I’m having the best cheater-homemade cookies today.  Make a package of Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix as directed and add a package of white chocolate chips.  My tastebuds are happy and my daughter thinks I’m all that because I made her cookies.

  38. Lyvvie says:

    darnnit. I messed up my tags.

  39. Nora Roberts says:

    ~we love wiseass! Or, even better, wiseacre~

    My ass is not an acre!

  40. Susan Adrian says:

    I don’t have much witty or wiseacre yet today, but I too am awfully glad to be alive and creating.

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