Kate Dyer-Seeley  

 It’s time for a trip to the library, your favorite bookstore, or both this weekend.  Next week, May 12-18th, is Reading Is Fun Week.  The event, founded by RIF in 1979, began as a way to encourage and promote children to read throughout summer vacation. 

My entire summer vacation revolved around reading when I was a child.  In my elementary school years my mom would take us to the library every Monday morning.  We’d check out books in stacks over our heads.  In the shade of our fir trees she read to us daily.  My preteen years were filled with vapid romance novels about bleach blond twins who battled over boyfriends.  Fortunately my taste evolved and I spent my teenage summers discovering The Great Gatsby and My Antonia.  I breezed through mysteries passed down by grandmother.  Some sweaty summer days I’d lather up with Banana Boat sunscreen, grab a jug of lemonade, and devour two or three books in a lawn chair outside.

Now is a great time to start a new reading tradition with your children.  You can visit RIF’s website for a day-by-day calendar filled with free and fun activities.

I’m off to D.C next week for the Alzheimer’s National Public Policy Forum (will blog and post photos when I return).  Luke’s staying with his grandma.  I’m packing all his essentials and an extra bag of books!            

Our computers spend hours each day idle.  Researchers at Stanford University have created a novel way to use these idle hours to help them better understand protein folding.  When proteins fold incorrectly the result can be devestating diseases, including Alzheimer’s.

You can help.  Download Folding at Home .  It’s free, easy to do, and now instead of an idle computer, your machine will be actively working to find a cure.  Plus, you’ll have the added benefit of telling your friends you’re part of a supercomputer.  Go ahead geek out!    

I recently discovered a new way to reduce my reading imprint: Eco-Libris.  A genius of an idea, at Eco-Libris they plant a tree for every book you read in a developing nation.  Since I live within ten minutes of Powell’s Books I feel less guilty about my book purchases since they eventually end up back on the shelves of Powell’s.  

I’m up for anything that helps make reading more sustainable.  I’ve researched some of the new technology out there, like the Kindle.  I’ve yet to purchase one, because one of my favorite thing about reading is the tangibility.  I love the smell of bookstores, bitter coffee and stale books.  I love book covers, and turning the corner down on pages that I must read again.  I’m sure I’ll find a way to evolve with technology.  In the meantime I’m planting some trees!         

 I must gush about the show we went to last night.  I’ve had a relatively healthy obsession with Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova’s music since seeing Once.  The Swell Season was in town at the Keller Auditorium last night, and they didn’t disappoint.  A sellout crowd and recent Oscar didn’t distract from their street music roots.  My girlfriend and I spent the evening trying to deduce from twenty rows back whether the two are still a couple.  Given their body language and the fact that they sang inches from each others lips into the mic, I say yes.

My favorite moment of the night was when Glen called an audience member down from the cheap seats to sing.  The band went for a walk along the waterfront before the show, and met Joseph, an aspiring singer.  Joseph made his way down to the stage, visibly shaking, and sang a rendition of “Brandy You’re a Fine Girl”.  I’m guessing it was a song he performed for his high-school talent show.  He wasn’t spectacular.  His voice cracked, he looked to band for guidance, and grinned sheepishly to the audience.  But he brought the house down.

Getting on that stage in front of thousands, with no preparation, rehearsal, or idea what to sing is the ultimate exposure–a risk others might be unwilling to take.  As his voice cracked and wobbled at the beginning of the song, the audience cheered louder, willing him on.  He found his rhythm, and the band swelled behind him.  When he finished we all jumped to our feet, not so much applauding an amazing performance, but applauding his willingness to fail.  

For me it’s a reminder to all artists how invaluable it is to put yourself out there, whether it’s your artwork hanging on a coffee shop wall, or reading your poetry aloud to a class of hungover students.  Thanks Joseph for taking the stage.  Thanks Glen for sharing it.       

We all know the real estate manta “location, location, location”.  My question is, is true for agents as well? 

So as I mentioned earlier, there are a number of agents reading my full manuscript at the moment.  Most are headquartered in New York, but a couple are not.  I personally don’t think location matters.  I’m more concerned about finding an agent who loves my story and wants to work with me to perfect it, and of course sell it. 

I was chatting with a published writer over the weekend, who claimed she wouldn’t even query anyone outside of New York.  This prompted a long debate.  Her point being that access to publishing houses is critical.  That agents outside of the area aren’t able to foster relationships with editors.  My point being that we live in a digital age.  Maybe historically that was true, but not today.     

I’m solid in my position.  Chime in if you have some other compelling reason I should be swayed.  

Here’s where the compulsive planner in me comes out.  Memory Walk 2008 is Sunday, September 28th.  Save the date now!  I’ll be speaking at the event, as well as walking in my mom’s honor.  September 28th will be the two-year anniversary of her death and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate her memory.   

You can visit our team page here, to sign-up for the walk and donate.  Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and that number is rapidly on the rise.  Proceeds from Memory Walk go to care, education, and research. 

Last year Team Dyer raised over $7,000.  This year lets blow that number away.  Spread the word now.  Shameless plugs to co-workers and friends are perfectly acceptable for such a good cause.  The Alzheimer’s Association houses lists of corporations that match employee giving, click here to find out if yours is one of them. 

Five months to go–the countdown begins today.     

Okay so since I’m not yet published, my thoughts on this subject are somewhat hypothetical, but come on J.K. suing your biggest fan–it just doesn’t make sense.  For anyone who isn’t a Potter-head you can can get up to speed on the lawsuit here or here.  I totally understand suing a fan who drives by your house at 2:00AM, or knows where you buy your underwear.  But suing a fan who has helped promote your work in this new-fangled medium called the Internet seems unwise. 

J.K. Rowling’s lawsuit could potentially set precedent for future contract rights online.  Again, admittedly I’m not versed in copyright law so maybe my opinion on this subject will change after I’m published.  But, J.K. Rowling is hardly a struggling author.  Mr. Vander Ark, the librarian, who’s spent the last decade organizing all things Potter, doesn’t appear to be someone hoping to make a quick buck (making $6,500 in ad revenue from his website).  Bigger than the money, is that he’s a true fan, giving up Star Trek for Harry!  Why bother is my question?  Why not collaborate or find new and innovative ways to use the Internet for promotion?  I say. “J.K. let the Muggle go!”

Here’s a link to an article about new research in Alzheimer’s disease.  This study is unique in it’s focus on the structure of the brain, versus plaques.  My mom participated in a number of research studies at OHSU, where this particular study took place.  I often wonder if her brain was one of those included. 

 I never envisioned being part of a two-dog family, and yet here I am fully immersed in puppy-hood.  I blame the boys.  I caved, succumbed to their relentless pressure, and of course our new edition’s soulful eyes didn’t help.  So here’s the story, we have a wonderful dog, Sophie, who is going on nine but still acts like puppy.  We adopted her long before we entertained thoughts of Luke.  The problem is that she’s never fully embraced Luke.  Don’t get me wrong, she barks louder now when the mailman is at the door, and she let’s Luke climb all over her body.  But at her core she is Gordy’s dog. 

Luke wants, “a pup to snuggle with” and we’ve tried everything short of smearing his sheets with peanut butter to get Sophie to sleep with him.  The solution?  His own dog.  Meet Dot–a Bernese Mountain Dog and Airedale Terrier mix.  Last night she slept on his head for the entire night. 

I had the privilege of attending a special screening of the documentary, Hear and Now, last night.  For any of my Portland cronies, it’s playing for the next two weeks at the Hollywood theater.  For everyone else it premiers on HBO on May 8th.  The film won the Sundance audience award, and is a brilliant and deeply moving memoir which follows a deaf couple as they get cochlear implants in their mid-sixties.  

 

I first learned sign language in high school, interpreted through my college years, and my first job after graduation was working in a deaf mainstream program.  The debate over cochlear implants has remained strong over the years.  The film is an unbiased look at the emotional roller coaster Paul and Sally Taylor embark on.  It’s also an honest, and sometimes gut-wrenching view into the experience of living in silence.  I’m thrilled I had the opportunity to see the film and meet the filmmakers last night.  Regardless of your stance on cochlear implants, it’s a must see!