If winter was more exciting, I'd do something besides blog

I have to recommend John Irving's "The Fourth Hand". It is hilarious. Irving is probably my favorite contemporary writer; someone who actually develops characters and plots without having to kill, rape, or go outside the lines of reality to entertain. Alas, my novel is not this smart, but I am currently developing an idea for a second story and I'm inspired by Irving's creative style and wit.

Speaking of my novel...

The editing process is coming along and I have written to ten literary agencies in an attempt to find representation. I should hear back from some of them within two weeks and others within two months. In the meantime I'm trying to make the story as perfect as possible before an editor hacks it apart for me. Thank you to Phil Lucero, my brother Brian, and Danielle Dolan for reading and offering feedback! To keep my anxiety at bay, all I can think to do is start writing something else.

Allison is incredible at her job. She is complimented often on her ability to work well will the mentally ill and is trying to keep notes on how she deals with different illnesses to help her in graduate school.

I am also awaiting an acceptance (or rejection) letter from MU's creative writing program. If I'm accepted I'll start classes this summer. If I'm not? There's a great job at a local veterinarian's office disposing of euthanized puppies. That sounds promising.

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.

Singletrackers

Hola! I want to invite everyone to visit my good friend Phil's blog at www.singletrackers.blogspot.com. He is doing some great things for the youth of New Mexico and needs your support. Check out his blog and if you can help out I'm sure he, and the kids he's helping, would greatly appreciate it. Good luck Phil! We're going to try to scrounge up a few bucks for ya. Much love.

Where is the Sun?

It's only December and I'm already loathing another four months until the sun reappears. It's not something I talk about a lot--because I don't want it to be the defining characteristic of my personality--but I take medication for an illness called Cyclothemia (a variation of bi-polar disease where emotional ups and downs occur over shorter spans of time. People with bi-polar generally have swings that last days or weeks. Mine are slightly less dramatic than someone with bi-polar and fluctuate above and below a normal emotional range on a daily basis). As you may or may not know, many psychological illnesses come in groups, which makes psychology more of an art than a science when it comes to figuring out what is wrong with you. Part of what's "wrong" with me is that I need the sun. I can excercise and eat properly and minimize my alchohol intake all I want, but when the sun disappears for days or weeks at a time things get pretty dismal in Jeffy-land (a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there). That being said, I know there are plenty of others out there that suffer from depression or bi-polar or some other variation of being a weirdo that have a tough time during the winter months. If you're one of those people and need some help I'm opening this blog post for folks to comment on their experience with what ever ails you upstairs and how you deal with it. My best advice is to learn about what you're eating and be more disiplined with your diet, lay off the depressants or use in moderation, and get outside or to a gym (both if you can) as often as possible. Good luck this winter! Happy holidays!

Updates

It's been about a month since the wedding now and I thought I'd give an update on how things are going. First off, thank you to everyone who made it to our wedding and to others who sent their support from afar. We could not have asked for a more beautiful wedding. It was absolutely everything we wanted it to be. Secondly: jobs.

Allison is working for a mental health outpatient facility here in Columbia, MO. She has clients who are suffering from severe mental illnesses whom she has to stay in touch with for whatever they need from her. She drives them to doctor's appointments, makes sure they are taking their medication, takes them to get groceries, etc. She's really enjoying it thus far and thinks it is going to be a great experience towards getting a graduate degree in counseling (which will probably begin in the fall of '07).

I am currently writing six days a week (taking saturdays off to hang with the wifey) and have written just over a third of the novel I'm working on (120 pages). I get up early when Allison goes to work and write until 1 or 2pm. In the afternoons I play Betty Home Maker. That's right, I'm comfortable with it. Make your jokes, point your fingers and then STICK IT, cause I'm a damn good house wife! I do all the tedious little chores like laundry and cleaning and cooking dinner, getting groceries, etcetera, etcetera (and then I drive the kids off to soccer practice in my SUV made for hauling dead bodies off Mt. McKinley before relaxing at the country club for lunch with my boyfriends...On HER credit card! OH! So naughty. Seriously though, I do fold clothes and that shit sucks. It's no laughing matter.).

And that's it from MO town. Will somebody please leave a comment besides these goddamn internet sales people (That's right, I'm talking to you Mr. "I really love what you've done with your blog and even though it's completely inappropriate I'm going to advertise on the comment section under your wedding pictures! Find a new job. One where you don't have to be a souless sniveling scum bag.).

Wedding Photos

Allison and Jeff Hardesty 

Wedding Photos 

Programs