Today's Wild Card author is: Linda Leigh Hargrove and his/her book: The Making of Isaac Hunt Lift Every Voice (June 1, 2007) At his grandfather's deathbed, Isaac Hunt, a black man with blue eyes and skin so fair he looks white, learns his parents aren't really his parents. Armed with only his birth mother's name and the city where she last lived and reeling from betrayal, he goes in search of her and in search of the truth about his past. His odyssey takes him deep into the south, where the Klan still rules the small town of his birth, and where more than one person does not want Isaac to uncover the truth about who he his. Along the way, he must deal with issues of faith and forgiveness in this coming-of-age novel about race, identity, courage, and truth. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Linda Leigh Hargrove blends suspense, humor, and faith into compelling stories about race and class in America. Her writings include two novels: The Making of Isaac Hunt (June 2007) and Loving Cee...

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.26.2008 This summer, my allergies have been awful! I get really bad sinus headaches when my allergies act up and the barometric pressure changes, and this year it’s been awful. Something I haven’t been doing consistently is eating local honey. This is supposed to help stem allergies, and it makes sense—when I was living in Hawaii, my allergies were ten times worse than they are now. My dad would take me to an allergist every week, and he’d inject me with a little bit of allergens right underneath my skin on my arm. Eventually, my allergies got better. So eating a bit of allergens in the local honey should be the same, right? I found this local brand that looks promising: I hope it works. I’m not sure exactly what I’m allergic to, which flowers or trees or mold or what. Or maybe a combination of everything. Man, what if I’m allergic to Snickers?! That would be awful! Any tips or tricks you guys know of to help me out? Have any of you taken local honey for ...

Today's Wild Card author is: Mark Batterson and his/her book: Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God Multnomah Books (August 19, 2008) Does seeking to know God's will with certainty sometimes seem like, well, a wild goose chase? Author of the bestseller "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day," Batterson unmasks our misconceptions concerning discipleship and decision-making and urges us to dare to take risks. Topics include playing offense, surviving shipwrecks, pursuing passions, challenging giants, and more. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of Washington, DC’s National Community Church, widely recognized as one of America’s most innovative churches. NCC meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the city, as well as in a church-owned coffee house near Union Station. More than seventy percent of NCC’ers are single twentysomethings who live or work on Capitol Hill. Mark is the author of the best-selling In a Pit with a Lion o...

Captain's Log, Supplemental I don't normally post about Amazon promotions, but this is really cool. You can get $100 off the Kindle (making it $259) if you sign up for the Amazon Visa credit card online and then buy the Kindle with a promo code. From the Amazon info page: Here's how this works in three easy steps: Step 1: Apply online. Get a response in as little as 30 seconds. If you’re approved, we will instantly add the card to your Amazon.com account and you’ll get $30 back on your credit card statement after your purchase. Step 2: Add a Kindle to your cart and proceed to checkout. Step 3: During checkout, be sure to place your order using the Amazon.com Rewards Visa Card and enter this promo code: VISACARD. You will see the additional $70 savings at checkout. See details below. Camy here: I'm considering this offer myself because I've wanted a Kindle for so long! I already have an Amazon Visa card, so I wouldn't get the $30 back on my statement, but I thin...

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.25.2008 When Danica was here, we watched the BBC miniseries Pride and Prejudice ! It was great! I love watching this miniseries, but it’s always better watching it with friends. :) Especially friends who understand the Regency era and the storyline, and who love dishy British blokes. I can’t believe this was made 13 years ago. Colin Firth looks so young. Danica also recognized the actress who played Caroline Bingley from other movies, What a Girl Wants and Three Weddings and a Funeral . Now, a few weeks ago, Pride and Prejudice was showing on Masterpiece Classic, and I have a Tivo Season Pass to record it. Captain Caffeine wanted to watch something else and asked if he could stop recording. I told him, “Sure, I have the DVDs.” “You do?” “Yes.” “And you watch them over and over?” Huffy. “Yes.” “Why?” “Because it’s good!” Then, I challenged/pleaded/nagged Captain Caffeine to watch Pride and Prejudice with me. “Okay.” Jaw hits floor. “Really???” (In hinds...

Single Sashimi By Camy Tang Drake Yu. Why would Drake call her after … what, five years? Six? Venus heard in his voice that resonance that was almost a growl, that titanium-hard determination to get what he wanted. And he usually got what he wanted. The voice said: "I want you to work for me." Not this time… If it was a choice between Drake and McDonald's—she'd choose french fries. She'd never work for him again. It would take an act of God. Venus Chau is determined to start her own game development company and launch the next Super Mario-sized phenomenon. However, she needs an investor to back her idea. When Drake Yu, an old nemesis, approaches Venus with a contracting opportunity at his sister's startup, the offer to become Chief Operating Officer tempts Venus to think the unthinkable. Venus would rather throw away her PS3 than work for Drake again … except Grandma bribes Venus to do this favor for Drake's wealthy family with a coveted ...

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures...