I often ask my niece and nephew about their dreams. I don't know why. They're just little kids  (4 and 2 years old, respectively). Most of the time, Kat (the older one) tells me she can't remember her dreams. (The little one, James, who is relatively new to the business of conversation, just blows raspberries and laughs.)

But last summer, Kat had a nightmare. And I've been thinking about it ever since.

She said she dreamt of a "little alien guy in a shell" with "one eye and a little horn" (to demonstrate, she curled a finger up by her forehead). She said the dream was scary because the alien was a "bad guy."

Katherine's been having bad (or at least unsettling) dreams for her entire life, I think. When she was just a couple of months old, she'd often cry out from her crib, and whimper in her sleep. I always wondered about this. What could such a little baby be dreaming about that might make her so upset? A shortage of breast milk? An especially dirty diaper?

I've always suffered from nightmares. I generally have a couple a week. I can't really remember a time when I didn't have them, so it's not so bad any more. I'm used to it. Sometimes, I even enjoy it. But Kat is still a little girl. And I worry about her. I don't like the idea of her having bad dreams.

So, with her birthday coming up, and the dream still in my mind months later, I wrote Katherine a little story. My friend Patty did some drawings to go with it.

I scanned the whole thing into my computer and am having it printed as a book for a present.

Neat, right?

It's not a great tale or anything. I use far too many commas, as is my wont. The rhymes are forced and sometimes awkward. But Katherine is only 4. I have a feeling she's going to like it.

Having a niece and nephew is great, by the way. None of the work of parenthood, and all of the fun. Basically the best thing ever. I know that makes me sound baby crazy, and maybe I am (a little), but seriously. Cuteness abounds.

If you want to check out the book, I've included a preview below, or visit the self-publishing site I used to lay it out and have it bound: Blurb.

I have nothing to blog about! I've been spending recent days doing weird and boring stuff like cleaning under the refridgerator. Doesn't make for very interesting anecdotes.

Instead of a proper blog, here's something I like to call "the tickle cam." Enjoy.

Hey! Tomorrow is valentine's day! I don't tend to celebrate this strange "holiday" but take a look at these vintage cards from the generally amusing folks over at Funny or Die. They've been all over the place lately, but I'm not feeling very creative, so forgive me for sharing them one more time.

I'm very amusing. Everyone thinks so.

Christmas eve and aaaaaaaaalllllllll's well!

Remember, no one can stop you from taking shots in the powder room, if you feel so inclined. Do what's right for you.

Have a good one, blah-og friends. I send you love, peace and Santa Claus. 

Oh, hai! It's Thanksgiving!

I hope that the carcass was juicy, the loaf of soy interesting, and all other sundries delicious. Here's hoping you enjoy(ed) the holiday, not matter what you ate, wherever you are.

The picture doesn't mean anything. I just thought it was funny.

Hey friends.

It's not my regular day to blog, but I felt like it and decided to go for it, despite the schedule.

Look at me. I'm a rule breakin' rebel lady.

Anyway.

On Monday, I wrote about being a child kleptomaniac. (That's an exaggeration, but I did write about my childhood thefts.) And thinking about that got me thinking about something else: the book I always WANTED to steal from the school library, but never did: A Woggle of Witches by Adrienne Adams.

I was crazy about this book. Really crazy. I borrowed it from the school library (and then from the public library, to maximize my enjoyment) every October for approximately 10 years. And in high school, I wanted to continue the tradition, but was too paranoid/embarrassed about being seen with it at the checkout counter.

Stupid teenage brain.

I just loved this book. Loved it beyond all reason. (I mean, it's basically a picture book. On the surface, there's nothing especially special about it.) But then... there are the illustrations. Gorgeous, painterly and sort of home-spun at the same time.

And the prose! The story opens with the following:

"In a dark, dense forest the witches live,
sleeping safely in the branches of tall trees..."

I mean, come on. That's good stuff, right there.

Originally published in 1971, I think A Woggle of Witches was reissued in the mid 1980s. It's out of print now, of course, but if you have a kid (and even if you don't) I highly recommend you try to get your hands on a used copy for your personal library.

I can't think of a single children's book that better captures the creepy wonderfulness that is Halloween.

I almost wish I'd stolen it when I had the chance.

(Just kidding. I'll just find a used copy online.)

Happy haunting, y'all. I just love this time of year.

Just got home from work to find five early-release copies of Nate's book in the mail.

He's modest as all-get-out, but I am quite possibly more excited than I've ever been in my entire life. Ever.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can't see me, but I am doing a very vigorous dance around my living room at the moment. And it's very difficult to blog and dance at the same time, so I'm gonna have to cut this off so we can go out to celebrate.

Woo WOO! Nathan Kalman-Lamb... you are the best. XO.

Just returned from another fun-filled birthday weekend away. Thought I'd sum it up in photographs.

There was beach.

There was beer.

There was night swimming.

There was sun bathing.

There were sandpipers.

There were camp fires.

And there was cheese.

It was good.

Being in my 30s is also good. It feels satisfying. Like things are looking up. Don't you feel like things are looking up?

Lots of love to everyone who sent along kind birthday wishes (and massive nose thumbing at my family, who didn't bother to call OR email, which is, if not unheard of, then not particularly shocking either).

But nonetheless, things are looking up.

Don't worry, angst-lovers. We'll be back to our regularly scheduled whining next week. Promise.