Dirty Laundry

What A Geek Am I

Okay, well, it’s been a few days now and I am still not over the excitement of getting the first hardcover copy of my new book.  And so, in a truly dorky move, I’ve taken a picture of it and am posting it here.  Simply for posterity reasons, nothing more.  I am marking the time for myself with a photo. 

Posted by Don Calame on 3.6.09 at 08:56 am in Prattlings. (0) Comments

A Surprise At My Door

And so, if the NHL Trade Deadline was a disappointment (see my last post) the day on the whole has turned out better than I could have ever expected.  First, I found myself being featured on a fellow writer’s blog:  kc dyer

If you haven’t read kc’s books, do yourself a favor and get out there and buy one.  Not only is she one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met, one of the kindest souls you could encounter, but she’s a damn fine writer to boot.  Her new novel A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW arrives today in bookstores. 

And then, much to my surprise, a courier arrives at my door bearing gifts.  A hard cover copy of my new book SWIM THE FLY along with a cute T-shirt (a gift from my brilliant editor, Kaylan Adair).  As a writer, I ought to be able to explain to you the thrill of seeing that hard cover book for the first time.  But I’m not going to even try.  It’s much too exciting to be able to put into words.  Suffice it to say, I’m beyond thrilled and I’ve got a giant smile on my face as I write this (okay, so I tried and didn’t even come close to getting it right).

Sorry if I don’t go on too long.  I’ve spend far too much time today checking hockey trades and fondling my brand new novel.  It’s back to the writing trenches and the next book.

Posted by Don Calame on 3.4.09 at 01:43 pm in Prattlings. (0) Comments

NHL Trade Deadline

So, the NHL trade deadline has come and gone.  For those of you who couldn’t care less about hockey it will mean nothing to you.  To those of us who live and die by our team’s every move, it means everything.  Inevitably it’s a big letdown if your team does nothing and stands pat while you watch as all the other teams you despise get (seemingly) better by acquiring big name forwards and sought after defensemen. 

This year, I was hearing that the Vancouver Canucks (my hometown team) might be in the mix for Jay Bouwmeester, a young, big, puck moving defenseman.  Apparently, the deal was close but it didn’t work out.  I was disappointed (see above).  And so, another letdown for us Canucks fans at the deadline.  The good thing is, the team is playing well and in the thick of it all.  Still, that one piece would have been nice to add.

My other favorite team, The New York Islanders, still sucks.  They have sucked since the 1980s (with a tiny spurt of pretty-goodness in 1993).  I fear they will never be good again because they can’t seem to draft well or sign any players of significance.

Another team I like, The Pittsburgh Penguins, picked up Chris Kunitz a few days ago and Bill Guerin at the deadline.  I think they have improved their forward lines and these players should help Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and the team overall. 

How can you like so many teams, Don?  Isn’t that cheating?  Isn’t that being disloyal?  Maybe so.  I am actually a hockey fan who enjoys watching great players play.  We are lucky to be living in a time when there are a ton of great young players out there.  So I am a fan of the game.  I will root for teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning (who have Martin St. Louis, one of my favorite players) or the Penguins (because of Malkin and Crosby) or the Washington Capitals (because of players like Alexander Ovechkin).  If it came down to the Canucks and one of those other teams, I’d root for the home town.  But since it so very rarely does, I can spread my love around the league.

Anyway, I could go on about all the other deals that were made today (though there were not that many) but you can look those up on all the sports sites out there. 

For now, consider me: letdown by the trade deadline but hopeful for the home team.

Posted by Don Calame on 3.4.09 at 12:57 pm in Hockey. (0) Comments