Archive for June, 2009

Walker Hound News!

Sunday, June 28th, 2009

We have our priorities straight here at Fiction Daily.

So while the world watches the hopeful protesters in Iran, mourns the loss of two pop icons in Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, the Fiction Daily world is abuzz with news of a different kind.

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After the loss of our beloved Annie Karenina Walker Hound, I took it upon myself to scour Petfinder.com last week while the husb was away … to search for a dog here in our community.

I went to PetsMart in his absence and, well, silly me! What was I thinking? That I would leave without wanting another dog?

After milling around for some time, I remembered seeing this Walker Hound, Sport. I asked if he was still available, and the young volunteer said, Yes, as a matter of fact, he was still available. And he’s a big couch potato.

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Come to find out, Sport was saved by the same wonderful animal cruelty officer who rescued our Annie. And Sport was at her home! I went to see him, and he was something of a train wreck of a dog. The volunteer foster mom said, “No one will ever adopt this dog.”

Well, those were fighting words, and over the next few days, I found myself thinking about that poor old guy more and more.

Yesterday, Greg and I went to see him. I was hedging, unsure, and Greg said, let’s take him home.

And we did!

So today, we’ve bathed a nearly 100-pound Walker Hound, taken a couple of walks, and had a few stern reprimands about not “treeing” the cats.

He seems to be fitting in very well. What’s best of all, he’s house trained!!

We wondered what to name him, and this morning, Greg comes out with “Mayberry.”

And so it is.

Mayberry.

May … Berry … RFD!!!

PLEASE PARDON THE IRREGULAR ENTRIES WHILE I AM CAMPAIGNING FOR GREENVILLE N.C. CITY COUNCIL. FD RETURNS IN NOVEMBER.

Posted in Events, Life in general | 6 Comments »

Mid-June News

Monday, June 15th, 2009

A brief hello from Fiction Dailyland, where I am putting together a large article, working on a Web site and managing to get by in these uncertain economic times.

The article I worked on for many months, describing the earliest discovered European settlement in the Southeast (spoiler alert: it was Spanish!) has appeared in Archaeology Magazine. My hat is tipped to the fine editor I worked with, whose drive for a better article pushed me to a new level. My husband took the photos during our site visit last year.

You can find part of the article here, and the full article in the July/August issue of the magazine.

Meanwhile my campaign for Greenville City Council is chugging along. Met with my treasurer yesterday and she has taken the ball and is running with it. That’s one of the most important volunteer needs for a campaign, so it is a gift to have her on board.

Filing opens July 6 at 8 a.m. and Yours Truly will be there. Bright and early.

Meanwhile, in really really big news, I bought a new bird feeder from Wild Birds Unlimited. It’s awesome! Made from 37 recycled milk jugs, it has a lifetime warranty. It’s quite sturdy and the birds love it. If they can ever get away from the squirrels, that is. Yep, one squirrel just parked himself on the feeder last week until he emptied out all the seed. That must have been a half pound or more. (Must buy a baffle.)

The feeder was an investment, as it cost more than your average feeder. I purchased it during a moment of clarity when I reminded myself that
– I wanted to support local businesses, and Wild Birds Unlimited is a locally-owned franchise. Thanks Debbie!
– I needed more than “lip service” about recycling. Buying recycled items is as important as tossing plastic in the bin
– I believe in “Made in the USA.” The feeder components are all U.S. made, though I’m not sure where the feeder was assembled.

Meanwhile, I hear Mr. Blue singing a lot lately, so I imagine he must be ready to raise more babies with his wife. I’ll keep you posted. Happy week from all of us here at Fiction Daily!

Posted in Campaign '09, Events, Life in general, On writing | No Comments »

Campaign Update

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

A bit tired today after many appointments yesterday, and a Town Hall meeting with two councilmembers and their voters last night. Even though it was not my district, I know that a council representative must understand the entire city’s needs. There is one pie, one city and making decisions has to take all things into consideration.

This morning appointments, and a big feature project that I’ve been too scattered to focus on.

I wanted to post an update about His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who is in the Scandinavian countries.

Posted in Campaign '09, Events | 2 Comments »

News: Happy, Sad

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

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Big news in Fiction Dailyland today.

Since fall 2007, Fiction Daily has been a great love of mine and I’m sure that won’t change in the long term.

In the short term, however, a change ahead will probably curb my posts, though they certainly won’t end.

Yes, dearly beloved, Yours Truly is launching a campaign for the office of city council for the great City of Greenville, N.C.

Last week, I announced to the Daily Reflector, our newspaper, and reporter Kathryn Kennedy did a nice article that genuinely captured the early character of my campaign.

So while my great love is writing … books … and things literary, I am entering a new area, where I hope to learn all I can, put my principles to use, and serve the public and the community. It’s a proud moment to take part in that big, abstract, lumbering animal, democracy.

Election Day 2009 is Nov. 3 … so between now and then, expect erratic posts. It’s likely that my new campaign Web site will be located at www.marionblackburn.com. I may start a campaign blog … I will open a Facebook page (Elect Marion Blackburn for Greenville N.C. City Council) and yes, I will be Twittering.

Meanwhile … at night when the meetings have ended … and I’m wrapped up for the day … expect to find me with a big fat novel.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, I’m reading Perry Mason novels by Erle Stanley Gardner. They are incredible, real mind candy that’s also nutritious. Excellent writing.

AND THIS SOMBER NEWS: Our beloved Walker hound, Annie, passed away on Sunday night after a sudden, serious illness.

We were holding her sweet head in our hands when she passed, sparing us the decision to have her put to sleep. She was a marvelous dog to the end.

Posted in Life in general | 2 Comments »