My husband and I decided to take advantage of some of Southwest Airlines’ low fares, and we plan to fly to Long Island, NY next month. The boys are staying with Gramma. Neither of us has ever been to New York, and we’re trying to decide and plan what to do in a long weekend. I think no matter what I do I’ll feel as if I didn’t see enough, but that’s the breaks I guess. So…if any of you have any recommendations for Manhattan or the surrounding area, please let me know–I’d love to have some insider advice! I can’t wait!

Yesterday I sent a package to a soldier stationed in Iraq. I’d learned about AnySoldier.com on someone’s blog–can’t remember whose–and loved the idea. Basically it lets soldiers sign up and post what they need. Often it’s soldiers not getting care packages from anyone else. So I selected a soldier from Texas and asked my son’s 1st grade teacher if she would be interested in having the class send letters to him. She loved the idea (and my request just happened to coincide with the class studying careers, so it was perfect). I sent her a picture of the soldier from the AnySoldier.com website, and each child wrote a personalized letter. My favorite was the girl who asked, “How do you like Iraq?”, and how many of them signed “Your friend”. The teacher paperclipped them all together and even added a sheet of photos, identifying each student, so that the soldiers could see who had sent which letter. I added a couple of DVD’s, a citronella candle (which had been requested), and a package of trail mix. I don’t expect to hear back, but I included a notecard and envelope and my address just in case they’d like to write back to the kids. I think it’ll be a big hit.

A few months ago, I heard about a new idea for ‘independent’ writers. A former Random House sales manager Jerry D. Simmons has started a program to increase the sales of independently marketed books, and develop a community of indie writers around the world, giving them a place to market themselves and their books. I thought, why not give it a shot. Nothing Binding went ‘live’ today. And while it’s still pretty bare bones, I think it’s a good idea with a lot of potential. I’m listed here.

In other news, I bought a Bookmarked book at Target last week: A Family Fortune by Laurie Horowitz. It’s a modern take on Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Seriously, I can’t resist those books. Any mention of Jane Austen, and I’ve got to find out about it. So I was intrigued…plus, it was a Bookmarked book. So then I thought, I haven’t actually read Persuasion.
I know, I know, it’s horrible. I’m obsessed with Jane Austen but have only ever read Pride and Prejudice through to completion (a couple of times). So, I promptly checked Persuasion out from the library and plan on reading them together and comparing. Like a little literary criticism exercise. It’ll probably take me forever, and I’ll stall out on both of them, but I’m giving it the old college try.