Alligators, King Tut, coloring books and other things that are keeping me busy

I'm sure some of you have noticed that I haven't been updating as frequently lately. The last month got very, very busy.

There was the state fair, I wasn't a vendor, but did win tickets. The photo above is from a great educational exhibit about reptiles. As you can see, William and TATG had exactly opposite reactions to having a live alligator in their laps. TATG was tickled and amused. William was considerably more cautious and nervous.

The fair also had an exhibit of King Tut replicas. It was educational and interesting, and they both read every single placard in the exhibit that explained something. I took a whole bunch of photos, including one of a crook and flail for TG to turn into a cosplay item. My favorite is this one.

Big news? I recently signed a contract to do a mandala coloring book. The theme is paisley mandalas. It's a lot of fun drawing the mandalas.  I hope you all enjoy it when it comes out!

Other huge, wonderful news is that my husband is finally out of the hospitality industry. He's still doing the same job- running a housekeeping department, but for a company that he can really believe in. I don't know about other places, but executive level management in hotels can be a horrible, high stress, lots of hours job. His new job, he's working hard, but he's working a 40 hour week instead of 50-60 in the off season and up to 80 in tourist season. His boss seems to appreciate him, and he's liking the job quite a bit. I'm loving having him home more.

Also I have a couple product recommendations if you're looking for a good pomade or good suspenders. I'm not affiliated with these companies except for being a very happy customer-

First- pomade- My husband had a military cut for years after leaving the Army, but he grew out his hair for me. For him, long hair means still military short around the ears and neck, but the top is a couple inches long. It makes him nuts at work so he slicks it back with pomade. Except about 3 years ago the company that made the pomade he liked stopped making it. In those 3 years, we've used so many different products trying to find a good substitute.
Lockhart's Light Hold is perfect. It slicks his hair back and can be combed throughout the day to keep his straight, fine, thick hair in place. It smells great too, and it's non-drying and because it's a pomade, it doesn't flake. A little bit of Lockhart's Medium Hold works great on my hair for very sleek pony tails.

Suspenders- HoldUp Suspender Company- This has been a favorite of mine for years. My son needs suspenders and Michael prefers them to belts. They have the wide widths both of them of them prefer and in years of use, they have never had a problem with the suspenders coming undone. The clasps have a tiny pin in them to lock them into the pants. If you know someone who needs suspenders, but doesn't want to put buttons in their pants for a really good hold- this is the best option I've found. My son likes the "under ups" which are almost like an ace bandage, very soft and fairly stretchy. He can wear them under his Hawaiian shirts or tee shirts. Michael prefers the 2 inch wide ones. Both take the extra long ones because they are both so tall. They've been using the same sets regularly for years and it was only yesterday that I had to order more for them and a new clip for one set. Because they are so secure, I also ordered some clips to turn into sock garters for OTK socks for myself.

It's been busy, but it's been grand. TATG has made many jars of jelly and jam. I'm working on a scarf for William. It's pretty simple, basket weave crochet. I'll post the pattern when I'm done. At this point it's about 4 feet long and it needs to be at least 6 feet long. So it's almost there.

Happy busy day

Duct tape Anubis mask on TG

Today was a book signing with Rick Riordan. Since my family are fans, we had decided as soon as we heard about it that we were going. TG made herself a costume using cardboard boxes and some of her yarn and fabric stash. She decided she would be Anubis. Her mask and pectoral are completely her own design and execution.

While she didn't win the costume contest, she did get an honorable mention. 

You know, major writers very rarely come to Alaska. Our local best selling authors do book signings up here of course, but we rarely get NY Times best selling authors who aren't Alaskan. 1200 people had shown up at least. Probably more. The book store, which started handing out wristbands for a place in line at 9:00am had a line around the store when we go there about 10 minutes to 9. 

There were craft tables, and like with the Harry Potter book release parties, a sorting area. Only instead of finding out what your house was, you got to find out your God parent and special power. Eyes closed, pulling out slips from a basket.

The 4 of us all picked. William and TG both got Healing as their special gift. William had Ares chosen as his parent. He thought that was hilarious. TG picked Hestia, which triggered her doing the Xena-lookalike Hestia thing. (my family of geeks!). I got Divination and Aphrodite, Michael got Necromancy and Hephaestus. 

TG had fun strutting for the costume contest, and lots of people asked to take her photo. While some people came dressed as the Kanes, she was the only one who chose to be an Egyptian god. 

It was so crowded, but the store handled the fact it was so much busier than expected very well, and Mr. Riordan was wonderful and said he would go over the number of autographs he had originally agreed to. Since we were in the 3rd group of 100 people, we finally got out of there around 2. Mr. Riordan complimented TG's costume, and told her that he hoped she got lots of photographs of it. She'll probably be posting more information about how she made the mask on her Cut Out and Keep page. 

After that, we went to Free Comic Book Day at Bosco's Comics. John announced yesterday on the FB page that the store would allow 10 comics instead of the usual 5 to anyone who came in costume. My darling husband found his Green Lantern mask, which he wore with his GL shirt and ring. TG's costume of course counted, and she had a blast picking out her free comics.

After hours of standing in various lines and doing so much, we are all pretty wiped out now, but it was a lot of fun! 

I like Mr. Riordan's books because they are full of action from the start, the female characters are pretty strong and independent and he keeps very true to the original mythology while writing in an entertaining, contemporary way that engages modern juvenile readers. The current Olympian series is exploring the differences between Greek and Roman myth, and the Kane series is about Egyptian mythology. I'm a big fan of anything that can get youth reading the classics. It will help them to appreciate English poetry as well since so much classic poetry and plays references Greek, Roman and even at times, Egyptian mythology.