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Okay…so I went to the doctor today to ask all those kaboodles of thyroid questions I had. Here’s what I found out.

1. Take your thyroid pill at night. You can avoid just about every possible ridiculous thyroid medicine interaction if you take it at night. Mind, you should stop eating about 2 hours before you take it. And mind, there aren’t really any interactions.

2. You should NOT go on a low fiber diet. New research says high fiber is good…for about everything. So, unless you have other reasons to avoid fiber, don’t do this for your thyroid.

3. Similarly, there is no negative interaction between Birth Control Pills and thyroid meds.

4. Calcium, magnesium, etc, etc, etc: Keep taking them.

5. Drink your milk. Eat your cereal. Stay healthy.

6. You can have soy. No, really.

7. Probably I need to look elsewhere for the weight gain I’ve recently experienced. Doctor says eat less. Oookay. Maybe I need measured iron rations or something.

Anyway, that’s the report. I know some of you fellow thyroid groupies out there were curious.

One night, in a hotel room in Vietnam after a long day of digging dirt and making concrete, I cracked open Will Alexander’s Goblin Secrets. When I finished, I said, “Man, does this guy know his folklore!” Will and I met up at Convergence, and I heard him read an excerpt of Ghoulish Song (I’m getting there!) and I thought, “Man, does this guy know his folklore again!!!!”

So, Will was kind enough to answer some questions about folklore in his writing. And here they are!

***

Tamago: So, how’d you get to know so much about folklore anyway?

Will: This is probably my mother’s fault. She’s a gifted reader of bedtime stories—she does all the voices—and most of those early, formative stories were folk and fairy tales of one kind or another. I built on that foundation by reading more of the stuff whenever I could.

Even when I wasn’t seeking out such material deliberately, I notice, looking back, that most of my favorite books and authors draw from folkloric source material. There’s Tolkien, obviously. Jane Yolen is known as America’s Hans Christian Anderson. Ursula K. Le Guin often writes from an anthropological perspective. Peter S. Beagle’s The Last Unicorn is a metafictional fairy tale, even more so than The Princess Bride, and it includes inside jokes on the study of ballads. Lloyd Alexander and Susan Cooper both make magnificent use of Welsh and English lore. These are the authors that helped shape my young brain, the ones I sought out to help me decide what sort of person I wanted to become.

Later I studied folklore, theater, and theatrical lore at Oberlin College. That helped, too.

Tamago: Folklore can be a little spooky, and yet you are using it in children’s books. Why do you think your younger readers can handle it?

Will: I find that kids can handle this particular kind of unsettling story far better than adults. As adults we fool ourselves into thinking that we understand the world, how it works, and what we can reasonably expect as we move through it. Kids know better. They are more practiced at coping with things that they don’t understand, and at intuiting rules no one has yet articulated. They have to be.

Kids also need unsettling stories as vaccinations against unsettling events. They’ll be defenseless otherwise. We have a responsibility to tell them unsettling stories. (Tamago: My favorite quote in this article!)

I’m with Sherman Alexie on this. Here’s a quote from his WSJ editorial on the #YAsaves controversy (which similarly wondered whether young readers are too steeped in dark material): “I write books for teenagers because I vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing everyday and epic dangers. I don’t write to protect them. It’s far too late for that. I write to give them weapons… that will help them fight their monsters.”

Patrick Ness said much the same thing: “If you read what teenagers write, it’s much, much darker than anything a young adult author would publish… I don’t think that’s a bad thing. That’s the age you’re reckoning with stuff. And I think that if you’re a YA writer who isn’t engaging with that on some level then you’re leaving them to fend for themselves.”

I’m not a YA writer. My audience is younger. But the principle is the same. Middle Grade readers haven’t hit puberty yet, but they can see it coming. They need to gather resources for the transformations ahead. Stories help.

Continue reading “Folklore Influence in the Novels of Will Alexander”

The day job has been stressful recently. No two ways about it. Last week was one of the toughest weeks we’ve had in a long time. The registration style of our students and the policy our college has to cancel classes are in great discord. We cope, but this fall will break all records of previous falls, and we would have more students if we had room for them. I understand that the college cannot be psychic about enrollment, but I also think that the college is unwise to adapt the one size fits all approach that we are adopting. I have spent a great deal of the last three weeks being querulous, mostly to my immediate superior, who generally runs interference with the college regarding administrative policies, but was towing the party line this time (for a variety of good reasons.) However, my job is to stand up for the students and teachers who serve us as best I can, as fairly as I can. Having the protection of a union enables me to be outspoken about these issues, which is a luxury my boss does not have. Not that I ever wanted to be dean of the English department, but I suspect I have now officially created a glass ceiling for myself. I am not a team player, nor am I a realistic budgeter. I would rather lose money and serve more students. Idealism at 48? Pretty much yes. I understand concerns about money. I feel, however, that with these numbers, we *can* support these students.

I just need to get them to come in earlier. A project, somehow, for next year.

***

It has been stressful, and my weight and my constant need to sleep show it. I am worried about the interaction between my new thyroid meds and the other meds I take, as well as what I eat, but Dr. Banks and I will sit down to converse about that on Wednesday. However, after dropping three pounds by virtue of eating sanely this weekend, I’m pretty sure my weight gain is *not* due to new meds. Stress tends to make me want to eat. I have been exercising religiously, so I don’t die of a heart attack, so perhaps that has kept matters from being even worse. This means my knee acts up more, but only in the limping stage, not the brace stage.

You might remember that I had thought about becoming just a teacher again a couple of years ago, after a botched attempt at getting a full-time administration position made out of the job I do. That…didn’t work out, and I have struck a compromise between my writing time and my teaching time. There are, however, these times of intense stress and trouble shooting, and I feel my life force being sucked out of my fingertips as I type and type and type…I know that there will be more take home work as a full time teacher, so you know, it’s a trade off. What I need is a solid meditative technique to wind myself down when the going gets tough. But often, during the year, after things have settled down, my job is pleasant, so I am only killing myself softly at the ends and beginnings of semesters.

Health concerns can always change plans. How is your blood pressure? Your digestive systems? These are things that I will be watching as I age and as this intense work continues.

So, now, gotta do some more stuff. Make some phone calls, check in with a class, teach some students some lab material. All in a day’s work. Plus the unexpected.

Next: an awesome interview with Will Alexander. You will see.

And now…it’s time to channel my inner Midwesterner.

Well, there’s this.

Heroes of Cosplay

Now, from a strictly academic, anthropological point of view, I find this very, very interesting. The SyFy channel gets to look at a geek subculture, and examine how those people interact with each other. There’s a competitive side to cosplay culture which SyFy emphasizes with all the vehemence of the average reality show. The people that have been chosen have been chosen for a variety of reasons, but I suspect one of the reasons is that they put themselves out there.

I know one of those cosplayers personally, and while we have always had pleasant interactions, she has a reputation for seizing opportunity. I believe you may well need to do that to, say, land a gig on a show like this one. There are lots of people who are the squeaky wheel, and they get the grease. I know writers who have followed editors around conventions, or ditched lesser friends to talk to famous authors, or former fan writers who glom onto successful writers to piggyback on their fame on their way to their own careers (Carolyn, that is so NOT why I enjoy hanging out with you!). And, maybe you’ve got to do do this if you want to get to other places. Maybe you’ve got to put yourself out there.

I have a friend, C. C is a beautiful woman whom I think of as the Greta Garbo of Cosplay. Her body is natural still (yes, some cosplayers do have body work done for a variety of reasons). She spends most of her con time in her room. She comes out with a bunch of guys who act as body guards because she is very shy. And when she is done with her costuming, she goes away. C comes to costuming for different reasons than the Heroes of Cosplay, clearly. She is in it because she likes costumes. She is there because she wants to wear pretty clothes. C even likes competing in contests. I’m sure C could tell you all the reasons she is in it, but the definite thing she is not in it for? To put herself out there.

Myself, I liked the attention for costumes well made, and I have made some hi tech, pretty ones. I was once the pinup girl of cosplay (me and H-Chan and Alicia-chan) before we knew what that was. Back before reality tv and so forth. No one even knows who I am today. I only have the pictures to prove that I was once a cosplay queen. I remember the first time the cosplayer I know showed up at a con wearing an average costume. That’s where we all start out, at the average level. We work to get better.

I liked some of the attention I received, but like my friend C, I too did not do cosplay to be a star. That’s sort of like being famous for eating the most pies or something. I never thought celebrity was possible for such a geeky thing. And eventually, we learned that the reason people won awards at costume contests was because people had awards to give, no more, no less. The best didn’t always win. We won a lot, but not always. And we were often baffled at what won and what didn’t. Like every other hobby. Sounds familiar regarding publishing, yes?

So…drawing attention to yourself is a distinctly not Midwestern thing to do. “Might be all right fer some” is the phrase I hear in my mind. “Can’t stop you. It’s a free country.” But does this mean that those who position themselves for attention are doing something wrong? What chance do those of us who aren’t grabbing for attention possibly have? Let’s unpack that. I can’t judge people. I can only say what makes me comfortable. BUT my culture (Midwestern American) does make me uncomfortable around people who position themselves for attention. We think of that as manipulative. Other nastier terms come readily to mind. I disapprove, and I try hard not to judge, but I have years of cultural conditioning working against me.

Yet, while there is no magic bullet, sometimes the person that gets somewhere is the person that puts themselves out there. Not always, mind. I won a special teaching award in grad school. I remember talking to all my bosses who thought I should nominate myself. I told them I couldn’t do that. So, both of my supervisors nominated me for the award. They knew I was doing a good thing, and maybe they thought my modesty became me. I realize, though, that in today’s celebrity driven culture that may well be the exception.

To my way of thinking, I would feel strange doing what some others do readily. But then again, I need to be me, and do what makes me comfortable. This blog, or friendly professional behavior is about all I can manage. The rest will have to take care of itself.

As Jim Hines often puts it, don’t be that guy. Putting yourself out there seems like being that guy to me. Your mileage may vary.

I wrote the title for this post this morning at 8. After three hours of student interview tests and one conversation with a new teacher, I am returning to it. Yes, I know. You want my life.

***

School is nigh upon us! And thank heavens for that! I may be one of the few teachers out there whose life is substantially less busy once the classroom antics ramp up again. Right now it’s all about placing students and troubleshooting issues. There will be some of that next week, but less of it. Much less of it. Then I can settle down into teaching my classes and being a sympathetic listener, dabbling at some administrative projects, and writing a course in fire science English.

***

My planned writing time will come back. And how I will welcome it. The outline of my book is pretty complete for the first and last quarter of it, and I just want to sit down and hammer that out. Then yes, I will paste it together with an interesting middle, let it rest like a loaf of bread, and come back to it when it’s risen. I plan to have this book’s rough draft done by the end of the year. I do not plan to have this book done by the end of the year. I think it’s more like I will have this book done by about June of next year. Given what I know of my time and circumstances, that seems reasonable.

***

Of course, I thought I would make 200 pounds by the end of the year, and I think that may be out of reach now. I started on thyroid meds this summer, and I’ve gained about 8 pounds without changing my habits substantially. I will see the doctor next week, and see what he advises. I have questions about thyroid and diet anyway. The internet makes one uncertain of any information, you know. But at the time I wrote the 200 pound goal, I was only 10 pounds from it. So, circumstances.

Life is an interesting thing. As I age, I learn that flowing with life seems more wise than thrashing against it when I cannot change the flow of the river. In my youth, when I was taking 19 credits a semester in college to graduate in three years, I would have finished that book this year, by God, or starved myself to make a goal weight (500 calories a day! Woot!) Now? Phhhttt.

But look! My goals have revised, not disappeared, and that’s important too. My philosophy about books is I write until I think it’s ready. I guesstimate that until June is what it’s going to take, this time. And my goal for health is to continue to fight the fight, but figure out what’s getting in the way of doing that and acting upon it. Reaching goals is important, but I stopped living in the future a few years back. I can wait for my flying car. I want to enjoy the journey rather than rushing to goals. I think that’s anti-American, but there it is. Still, setting realistic goals and getting there, that’s a good thing.

As I re-enter the thinking season, the ritual in fall when teachers really feel the year starts anew, I will do what I can to control my destiny and make what I want happen. I hope that you reach your goals and dreams too.

I’ve talked some about my own anxiety and depression before here at Writer Tamago, and I feel very fortunate that I’ve been lucky enough to have these problems in a very minor way, and have them controlled with minor medication. I know many people who have these issues to varying degrees, but you know, there’s someone involved in my life who I’ve overlooked for a long time, who has been very uneasy to the point that she’s lost hair and has a personality that vacillates at the drop of a hat.

That someone is my cat Sekhmet. We’ve just recently started giving her kitty prozac. The difference is phenomenal in just one short month.

Continue reading “My Fur is Glossy, My Eyes are Bright”

It’s been a while since I talked about any Egyptian gods. Beyond the Ennead figures, Sekhmet and Hathor figure prominently in many Egyptian stories.

Sekhmet is a duality goddess, much like Parvati and Kali. In her nicer form, she is Hathor, loyal and wifely. In her angry form, she is Sekhmet, lioness, drinker of blood. (Yes. We have a cat named Sekhmet. She is our meek, mild, doesn’t use her claws cat. This is ironic.)

The most famous story of Sekhmet is one where she goes beserk and starts murdering the mortals of the world. She is given some beer and quieted down, to stop the whole sale slaughter.

Sometimes, she is portrayed as the daughter of Ra, sometimes as an outsider. Scholars tend to believe that she is an example of the Egyptian tend to absorb gods into a religion to unify the country.

Our state fair? Well, it’s a great state fair. 😀

The Iowa State Fair began yesterday and will continue through the 18th. It is the most successful outing we’ve had with Bryon’s mother. She is not a difficult woman at all, but our interests our for the most part divergent, so I know she’s tolerating our efforts at entertaining her, and we get bored with some of her more quiet pursuits. This is a nice compromise. All of us like the fabric arts building, for example.

One thing we learned last year, the first year we took her, is that there is a limit to an 88-year old woman’s endurance, so this year we are going to sit more and sight see less. Our first stop will be Old Pioneer Hall for the old time fiddle contest. That’s what she wants to see, and last year we didn’t get it because it’s early at 10 a.m.

SO we will be up tomorrow morning at 4:30, off to pick her up, and then off to the Old Pioneer Hall to get our seats. And I will have a couple of packages of Kleenex.

My grandfather Kenneth Schaff, who my younger brother is named after, was once offered a chance at a Nashville recording contract. Being from my family, he chose not to chance success, and he spent his life managing a gas station and drinking his liver away. But oh my goodness, the man could play the fiddle. He was state of Iowa champion in whatever his division was almost every year, and grand champion of the fair at least 5 times. The State Fair was where my grandparents were happiest, camping out in their ancient camper that attached to the back of their ancient pick up, listening to music, playing music with all their friends, and I loved to see members of my family happy, as that was not our usual state.

Granddad wanted his sons to play the fiddle, but none of them had his kind of talent. My dad was a drummer in a band Granddad had for a while, but the four brothers were a flop with any kind of stringed instrument, so the next generation was looked at. My family is a patriarchy, so grandson after grandson was ill suited. Meanwhile, I played the baritone and trombone in honor bands all over the state, another granddaughter grew up to be an excellent pianist and a music teacher, and two more were celebrated vocalists. We Schaff women were more like Granddad.

I tried starting the fiddle when I was sixteen, but by that time I played two instruments well, and wasn’t interested in the screechy sounds I was making, so I moved on…to a short flirtation with the piano.

Still, good bluegrass music touches my heart, and I always feel that the place my grandfather is most likely to be is Pioneer Hall at the State Fair. His house has been torn down, and why on earth would a man who likes to party hang out in a graveyard? No, his spirit is tapping its toe there every year, and I know that, so I bring the Kleenex, just in case.

Oh, fer Chrissakes!

WARNING: You can live any kind of life you want, and I will not judge you. We all make choices and they all have consequences. What I am describing are my thoughts on the matter of being a “real writer” as opposed to a “wooden writer.”

Under here, just in case, you know, rants are not your thing.

Continue reading “Day Job Writer Gets Punchy”