Blog parties, McLinkys, and URL codes, oh my!

See this little button on the right?  It means I'm experimenting.  No, nothing kinky and nothing crazy.  I'm participating in a "blog party" through 5 Minutes for Mom.  At first I was concerned.  I'm not a typical mom.  I have an acerbic tongue, kooky sense of humor, and might not appeal to most mainstreamy moms, but then I found other moms like me on the site listed under "Not So Family Friendly".  Awesome.  That's me.

My blog is, for anyone McLinky-ing from the blog party, devoted to the books I am reading.  I like to write essays and creative non-fiction and to prepare for my next adventure - my MFA in writing, beginning this summer on a 10-day residency in, I kid not, Buenos Aires, I am reading a bunch of creative nonfiction and sharing my impressions.

I have two kids, Fiona is six and Toby is three.  They wear me out, but as the mom in Ian Falconer's Olivia tells her daughter, I love them anyway.

I'm always open to suggestions for books to read, so feel free to share titles.  Right now, I'm beginning to read assigned titles for my graduate program, so they will be a bit Argentinian in flavor, beginning with Bruce Chatwin's In Patagonia.

This is my third English degree, so clearly I'm insane (and desperately want to publish!).

Prizes of interest to me are all gift cards:

1.  USC 3 – A $50.00 Target Gift Card.
Provided by: Peggy Gorman
Follow here: velvet1116 or Visit Our Fan Page: Peggy Gorman

2.  US112 – $50 Amazon Gift card
Provided by: Robyn ~ Our Homeschool Home
Follow here: RobynOHSH or Visit Our Fan Page: Robyn Our Homeschool Home

 3.  USC 8 – $55 E-Gift Card for Amazon.com Gift code will be emailed to the winner and can be used for purchases from Amazon.com.
Provided by: Kelly’s Lucky You
Follow here: Kelly’s Lucky You or Visit Our Fan Page: Kelly’s Lucky You