Pete Hautman did a YA novel called Sweet Blood that played with that idea, but from a diabetic perspective. It was really good.

I can't think of a reason why you'd need to buy a dress for a funeral if you already have one--is it a thing?

I've never done it. Even when I didn't really have anything appropriate to wear, I did the best I could with what I had.

Amy, that sounds like an interesting read.

ION Underwater Sink Holes Swallows Tress in Louisiana.

I am at a workshop (pray for me) and the moderator using the whiteboard wrote a word:

"b i t...."

and I'm like "omg, this workshop is going to involve bitches."

it was a bit.ly address.

So this is apparently old news but it's the first time I've seen it, and it's just as wonderful as it sounds:

Peter Dinklage and Lena Headly hula-hoop in a Canadian gay bar.

So glad everything went well, Teppy!

I usually have something in my closet appropriate for a funeral. The exception was Rob's. I had appropriate clothing, but I wanted to be able to wear it again. I haven't worn the dress I bought for his funeral since that day. It's now four sizes too big, but even if I could, I wouldn't. Too many memories. Too much baggage. Too much everything.

The workshop is not a waste of time as I feared. But the current presenter is saying something controversial:

in dance and art and other creative endeavors, research may not be as important.

Uh...half the faculty in the room started objecting strongly to this statement. Good grief.

even if I could, I wouldn't. Too many memories. Too much baggage. Too much everything.

I completely get that.

in dance and art and other creative endeavors, research may not be as important

I'm not sure what he means. Like ... researching an area or a time period for a particular novel? Or simply knowing the history of your medium?

Amy,

it was a woman and I am not sure what she meant either. She subsequently talked about examples you gave (if you are writing a novel set in x, research that), but I feel even that is too narrow a definition of research.

I'm reminded by the lead singer of Smash Mouth who claimed he didn't listen to other pop music and just "created' the songs. But if you listen to their songs, they are reminiscent of 1960s & 1970s music. Part of creativity, it seems to me, is learning what has been done before - no matter your field or discipline.

Well, art and music aren't "real" disciplines, so obviously the rules are lax. Also, artists shouldn't expect to get paid or valued as highly as any other professions.