Today was Emma's first day of school this week. How can you not like two snow days in a row, a snowman in front of nearly every house, and a long walk in soft, white silence?
2. International Publication
Three of my flashes have been translated into Arabic. I love the idea of reaching a completely different world of readers. Many thanks to Saleh Razzouk for making this possible!
3. Groovy Customer Service
Emma and Kate each got a super sized Groovy Girl for Christmas. They adore them. They dress them in their own clothes. They make sure the dolls are tucked in at night right next to themselves.
Sunday night, Emma came to me in tears and showed me that the seam on the back of her doll's neck had split open several inches. I knew I'd never be able to fix it without turning her into some kind of Groovy Frankenstein, and even then the seam would probably never hold. So I sent an email to Manhattan Toy, hoping they might be able to repair the doll. The following morning I received an email saying that a brand-new replacement doll was being shipped out that day!
I can't say enough good things about this company, their toys, and the way they treat their customers. If you haven't already, check out their wonderful dolls, baby toys, and other great items.
4. Free Lit Mags
Zyzzyva is one of my all-time favorite lit mags. Maybe it's the magazine's West Coast sensibility or editor Howard Junker's enthusiasm and sense of humor. Or it might simply be the consistently high quality of writing and artwork. In any case, I was excited to discover recently that Zyzzyva now has a blog. I was even more thrilled to find that Mr. Junker is offering free copies of the Winter Issue for the asking (I let my subscription lapse so I could spread my meager funds around to different magazines this year). If you like a good read, check them both out.
5. Fourth Birthdays
Kate turned four today. Her day was sheer joy, from beginning to end. Cake, toys, and a thousand smiles. What more can anyone want?
