Farewell, ye Tiara!

Few are the times I wish I was rich. This time, is one of them. Alas, I've lose my R.L. Stine tiara to a series of fatter bids. It's a good cause, and I'm glad more money will be in the NYPL's coffers. But I wish I had enough to beat the beefy. Sigh. Some things just aren't meant to be, I guess. Bob -- if you're out there -- I've been your faithful fan for many, many years, and remain so, even if my keepsake will live on another soul's bookshelf.

Tiara Treasures

I know, I just posted, but I just found this great CAUSE so I had to post again.

Meg Cabot is fronting an online auction -- fun tiaras decorated by various authors and other celebrities -- to raise money in support of the New York Public Library. Each of about 30 people were asked to create their own crown from a common template, and they're fantastic. I love Mo Rocca's Sarah Palin tiara. But I bid on R.L. Stine's masterpiece, so nobody else bid on that one, okay? Kidding. Well, kind of kidding. I really want it. Bob Stine is one of the nicest guys on earth -- once told me I had a great voice -- and he's brave to make a "scary" crown. I WANT that beautiful thing SO BADLY.

Anyway, check it out and bid, bid, bid on all the other tieras right away. And let me know which tiera you like best, okay? I'm really curious.

PS Check out Mo's YouTube video about creating his Palin prize.

Lewis Black, front row/center

Last night, at the last minute, I decided to go and see humorist Lewis Black. He's one of my two favorite comic minds, tied with the late, great George Carlin. I didn't have a ticket. I decided to chance it at the box office. To my great surprise, the clerk handed me a front row ticket, square in the middle of the row. I was dumbfounded -- and thrilled. When I tried to pay for it, I swear this is true, he said, "No, it's on the house." WHAT?

It was a fantastic show. Lewis Black is brilliant, live or taped. And I had a great, great time. But for me, it was even bigger.

I live alone and my kids are grown, so I tend to deny myself things. I tend to do without. I tend to sit home rather than jumping into a crowd of strangers if it's not work related. In fact, I tend to work without play. Last night, I took a chance and broke that tendency. And the results were skyrocket spectacular. So maybe it'll be a little easier to take a chance the next time an opportunity presents itself. Maybe it'll feel less alien the time after that. Maybe there are adventures left for an old lady with a bad knee. It sure is fun to imagine.

Thanks, Lewis Black. You inspired me. I won't call it "hope" -- in your honor (still picturing that tattered little basket). But it was the perfect way to start the new year. Next time, maybe I'll get to shake your hand. Hey, after last night, anything is possible. : )

ReadKiddoRead, from James Patterson

Like Jon Scieszka (Guys Read) before him, James Patterson is concerned that kids aren't all jazzed about reading. So he's launched ReadKiddoRead -- a social network of professionals determined to spark the reading flame. It's already pretty robust. So check it out and join in the fun!

Here's my personal page.

Christmas Bigfoot fun!

When I was a kid, my parents really wanted me to be a girly-girl instead of a tomboy. So they bought me lots of dolls. And lots of dolls collected dust in the floor of my closet. My kids like me the way I am. : ) Witness this year's fantastic present -- my great big "Garden Yeti." I'd admired him on the Design Toscano website for years -- him and the terrific dragons and dinosaurs. So I was REALLY excited.

Thanks Kerry, Vanessa and Adrian. I LOVE my new "baby." I'll find the perfect place for him as soon as he's taller than the snow drifts.

X-mas for Rick

What do you give the illustrator that has everything? How about a realistic fake thing? Because we're researching a book about aliens and UFOs, I opted for an alien skull replica from Think Geek. I LOVE Think Geek. He loved the present. My cat posed with it just before I packed it up.

Man, I love being weird. : )

GHOST MEDICINE author Andrew Smith

My friend Andy Smith taught me to write. We were both on the high school newspaper and while Mrs. Shiffman taught us the bare bones of journalism and layout, he opened up the heart to me. Today on his blog, Andy wrote about me. It meant the world to me, so I thought I'd share a piece of it -- and a link -- with you here.

"I'd like to say how grateful I am to have a friend like Kelly Milner Halls, whom I've known since we were kids. Kelly was really the one who made me start writing again, after so many years of drifting around from situation to situation and place to place. "

Thanks, my oldest friend. Here's to a brilliant new year.