The Book is Finished!

It is 3:24 PM on January 27, 2006 and I have just written the last line to my first novel.

Next week will begin the editing process and long road to finding a publisher. I'll keep updates posted. For now, we drink.

"Those who do not read books have no advantage over those who cannot read at all."

Hannibal Missouri 

"Be wary of any endeavor that involves buying new clothes."

Samuel Clemens's (Mark Twain) childhood home.  

"Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge."

The white fence from the story "Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (read sign).  

"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with."

Becky Thatcher's childhood home across the street from Tom Sawyer.  

"Honesty is the best policy - when there is money in it."

Hannibal Missouri-Mark Twain's birthplace.  

Conscious Investing

Hey Friends! Allison and I were recently looking over options for retirement investing given to us by the company she works for. We have always prided ourselves on trying to live in such a way that does not support social or environmental desecration, however when it comes to making choices about investing this is a slippery slope. There is a webpage http://www.care2.com/financial/ that rates companies and mutual funds based on standards related to the environment, animal rights, human rights, etc. ALL of the mutual funds offered by her company fail in one or several of these areas; it was more a matter of how the fund is split up and how much money is going to companies we don't care to support. My question is, has anyone out there found a way to invest in companies that aren't sweatshop-using, animal- torturing, land-paving assholes? I know these companies are out there. I've seen Sierra Club investing and a few other Green investment brokerages, but I don't know if these are viable options or just wishful thinking. If anyone uses one of these investment brokerages or knows someone who does, will you let us know how they like it? We would greatly appreciate it. I'm trying not to lose all faith in America, but it's truly getting harder the more I learn. We're supporting some souless bastards and my question is, do people not realize it, or do people not care?
Naively Yours,
Pissed at My Country's Ethics

Happy Holidays

The Hardesty's First Christmas 

Brian, John (sister Kara's boyfriend) and Jennifer (Brother Daniel's girlfriend)  

Susan (my new mother-in-law) opening her gift 

My parents, Aunt Sue and Alissa 

Hardesty Christmas Madness! 

New Books

I've been looking for a good fictional novel for several months now. I don't mean a ho-hum, that's nice, way to make another couple million Mr. Grisham kind of book; I want the goods. So if anyone out there knows of a book that will really blow my hair back, I want to hear about it. Keep in mind that I'm a student of literature, so I'm picky. That means no Nicholas Sparks, Nora Roberts or any other shitty pop-culture romantic soccer-mom writers. I like classics, but I'd prefer something more contemporary; perhaps someone obscure that I've never heard of, but that has some real talent. I'm looking for interesting characters and a plot that would make Jack Kerouac look like a couch potato. How about a good fictional adventure story? Anyone out there have one of those for me? Lay that business down in the comment section. Much obliged.