TODD AND JEDD HAFER and their book: BAD IDEA a novel (with coyotes) (NavPress TH1NK Books, August 22, 2006) Headline: Are we there yet? Griffin Smith is making his first interstate road trip, an adventurous rite of passage that will take him from his Midwestern home to his freshman year at college in Southern California. Yet this is no ordinary A to B trip, as Griffin will find his attitudes and ideas challenged by some surprising events and an unlikely band of travel companions: his best bud, who will test the limits of their friendship; his father, who will challenge his concept of manhood; his younger brother; and his father’s trophy girlfriend, who may just be too young in general. Soon this journey begins to take random detours, as he experiences a bittersweet reunion with his biological mother, confronts a terrible betrayal, and encounters one angry coyote. And as the states blur by, Griffin encounters life lessons that will show him the healing found in forgiveness and an unex...

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Our church youth group held its annual overnighter, this time with only the junior highers because the high schoolers were leaving early the following day for a rafting trip. (Even for high schoolers, a rafting trip after an overnighter (usually with no sleep) is probably not a good thing.) I hate to admit it, but I am just getting too old. I sat to play Poor Deprived Child with one group (David, the junior high group leader, had split them into two groups to pit them against each other Survivor -style, and to get them to bond with each other). Poor Deprived Child is actually quite fun. Everyone starts off with 10 or more markers or chips, then each one takes a turn. “I’m a poor deprived child because …” You try to list something you’ve never done or been that you think other people in the group would have done or been. If you say something you haven’t done—for example, “I’m a poor deprived child because I’ve never traveled to Japan.”—then everyone who has ...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 07.29.2007 Leave any prayer requests in the comments and I’ll be praying this week. You don’t have to be Christian to leave a prayer request. If you’d rather not advertise to everyone on the blogosphere, just leave an unspoken prayer request or e-mail me. If I forgot your prayer request, e-mail me. Not to be mean or anything, but if you don't e-mail me or comment to update your prayer request, I'm only going to pray ONE Sunday. I’m trying something new with my Sunday Prayer. I’m really bad about doing it on Sunday , so I’ll be updating it during the week. Dear Lord, I pray for complete healing for Doug and Tony. I pray for minimal side effects for Bruce from his chemo treatments, for a successful stem cell harvest, for no side effects or illnesses, and for continued peace, strength, and comfort for his family. Please continue to heal Cheryl. Please also give her wisdom and clear answers to her questions. Thank you for guiding her. Amen.

Captain's Log, Supplemental I’ve put up my pics only from ICRS here on my scrapbook blog . The pics are mostly the same, but there are a few new ones, including this: SUSPENSE WRITER STEPS OFF THE DEEP END AND TRIES TO KILL CHICK LIT AUTHOR AGAIN! Brandilyn Collins, who tried to kill Camy Tang once before on her blog , again attempts homicide at the 2007 ICRS convention during their joint booksigning. More pics from my booksigning here on my scrapbook blog .

Captain's Log, Supplemental My husband and I joined a local organic produce co-op, also called a CSA (community-supported agriculture program) that delivers a huge basket of fresh organic veggies every week. We’re loving it—the produce is so much better and cheaper than the supermarket. We don’t get to choose what vegetables we get, and I ended up with six leeks. I made clam chowder one night, but couldn’t figure out what to do with the other leeks (we weren’t partial to leek and potato soup, although I did half-heartedly suggest it). Then I hit on the idea to make Chinese scallion pancakes, but using the leeks instead of green onions. I’d never made scallion pancakes before, but my husband and I love them when we get them from Chinese restaurants. I found this recipe and decided to try it. They turned out REALLY GOOD! I made them thin and used a little less oil than the Chinese restaurants use (they pour it on), and while they weren’t quite as good, they were close. Captain Caff...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 07.22.2007 Leave any prayer requests in the comments and I’ll be praying this week. You don’t have to be Christian to leave a prayer request. If you’d rather not advertise to everyone on the blogosphere, just leave an unspoken prayer request or e-mail me. If I forgot your prayer request, e-mail me. Not to be mean or anything, but if you don't e-mail me or comment to update your prayer request, I'm only going to pray ONE Sunday. I’m trying something new with my Sunday Prayer. I’m really bad about doing it on Sunday , so I’ll be updating it during the week. Dear Lord, I pray for complete healing for Doug, Bruce, and Tony. I pray for justice for Case. Please heal Cheryl completely and very quickly. I pray her injury is not serious at all. Please ease her worry over it. Please heal Pammer’s legs, and I pray it’s not a clot. Please help her to feel better soon. Please provide buyers for Christa’s houses. You know what they need. I pray the sales go through qu...