Spider Brains: A Love Story (Book One)
Page 18
In fact, I have to go in just a minute 'cause he's coming over in two hours to take me to the prom. I know. Gag. But, he asked me and how could I refuse? Really.
Anyway, I still have to brush my teeth and put those yellow spongy dorky curlers in my hair. Mom's going to help me with my makeup. As she said she doesn't want me "to look like a prostitute." I swear. She's getting so bold these days. Like a woman unleashed.
Mom got me a way-cool dress too. Not too hot. Not too cold... it's just right!
Click here for a look at it on PromGirl.net. It's so amazing I want to scream!
She let me get contacts too. Now, I don't look like the geekmeister from Alcatraz. I wish I had a pic of how I look now but we're going to get them taken at the prom. I'll have them in a week or so. Sorry.
Anywho. My new look seems to have had quite an affect on Matt. He stares now, deeply into my eyes and touches my hair. I know. It's gross but it's also sort of cool, isn't it? I'm sort of getting used to it.
But, the especially cool news is this, the editor of the school paper, Tanya? Remember her from way back at the beginning? Well, Tanya invited me to work on the paper with her two months ago because she is graduating and "I need a qualified replacement." That's what she said! I'm totally stoked because now my dreams of having a career that involves all things WORD is coming true. It's pretty normal that the junior editor-elect, that would be me, will work with the English teacher in charge of the paper--that's Mr. Rally. He's way cool. And, then that junior editor-elect will continue as a full-blown editor their senior year at which time, upon my eventual graduation, I will relay my trident and my throne to some new deserving soon-to-be junior.
Totally, totally Azin'!
Me? Now? Well, I'm still a normal high school-er by day. And. At night? The dreams have calmed down. Got to think that's 'cause of the docs adjusting my meds once more. They think they have it right, now. They think. Gah.
Orville is healthy wealthy and wise! She eats all the bugs I give her. It seems too that she might've even grown a byte (get it?) since her Raid episode.
I can't believe it but she actually said to Mr. Haggert--in her defense for screaming those horrid things about me--that she "didn't mean to," that "something overtook her mind and made her crazy"... she said "it was caused by her menopause."
At which point Haggert said to her, "Would you like some time off so that you can..." And, this made my mother choke back a humongo laugh right in front of Morlson, "get over it?"
Morlson only replied that she'd get on some new HRTs, you know hormone replacement therapy, mom explained to me later. But, for an entire week mom walked around the house giggling. I mean, like all of the sudden she'd break out into this inane little giggle that seemed to start way deep in her chest and then pop out like champagne bubbling out of its bottle. It was, so, kind of cute.
Sure. I miss my spider ways. I mean, I miss my adventures on top of the Good Ship Kitty Cat--the one, the only, the best pussy on the planet--DELILAH!
But, you know like anyone else, stress is a gut-cruncher. And, some nights, when the days have proven harder than normal, you know, like when I have a deadline to finish up a school project that I'm only just now getting started on, or, when I just took a stinkin' test that I probably got a big ol' fat zero on...
Well...
...On evenings like those...
...I still feel the spider within me...
... just dying to crawl out.
THEEND
A SUSIE SPEIDER AFTERTHOUGHT...
Oh. Wait. So, like, if you ever want to ask me anything about spiders or editing or anything like that? Well, you can just friend me on Facebook. Click here for that link.
Or, you can email me at susie@thespiderhouse.com.
Cool Factoid:
Peasants in the southern Carpathian Mountains used to cut up tubes built by Atypus (or the purse spider) and cover wounds with the inner lining. It reportedly facilitated healing, and even connected with the skin. This is believed to be due to antiseptic properties of spider silk.[18]
Some fishermen in the Indo-Pacific ocean use the web of Nephila (golden silk orb weaver spiders) to catch small fish.[18]
The silk of Nephila clavipes (golden orb-web spider... like Orville!) has recently been used to help in mammalian neuronal regeneration.[19]
At one time, it was common to use spider silk as a thread for crosshairs in optical instruments such as telescopes, microscopes,[20] and telescopic rifle sights.[21]
Due to the difficulties in extracting and processing substantial amounts of spider silk, there is currently only one known piece of cloth made of spider silk, an 11-by-4-foot (3.4 by 1.2 m) textile with a golden tint made in Madagascar in 2009. 82 people worked for four years to collect over one million golden orb spiders and extract silk from them.[22]
Pretty cool, huh?
Bye!
If you enjoyed SPIDER BRAINS: A Love Story by Susan Wingate, please check out all of her other nine novels, short stories and titles by clicking here!
Or, by going to: http://astore.amazon.com/theoffwebo03e-20
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SUSAN WINGATE, #1 Amazon Bestseller for DROWNING! DROWNING also won the 2011 Forward National Literature Award for Drama.
Susan is best known for her award-winningBobby’s Diner Series. BOBBY’S DINER reached bestseller status nabbing the #5 spot on Fictionwise.com in 2008. A vibrant public speaker, Susan often presents inspirational and motivational talks about the craft of writing, marketing, and how to survive in this extremely volatile Publishing industry.
“If the doctor told me I had only six minutes to live… I’d type a little faster.” — Isaac Asimov.
SUSAN has written ten novels, two short story collections, a few plays, one screenplay and tons of poems. Her latest 2011 novel DROWNING (contemporary women’s fiction), won 1st place in the 2011 Forward National Literature Award and also won a finalist award for the category of Women’s Fiction/Chick Lit in the 2011 International Book Awards. A vibrant public speaker, Susan offers inspiring, motivational talks about the craft of writing, publishing and marketing, and how to survive this extremely volatile (e-)Publishing industry. She presents these lectures for private groups and at writing conferences, libraries and bookstores around the country.
Susan's Favorite Quote: “If the doctor told me I had only six minutes to live… I’d type a little faster.” — Isaac Asimov.
Born in Phoenix, Arizona to James & Amie Ajamie (a writer and an artist, respectively), Susan tried to fly, at age five, off the roof of their family house using only newspaper, wire hangers and scotch tape. She’s been dreaming of flying ever since. Oh, by the way, she never jumped. Her mother ran out in the nick of time to stop her from take-off. Instead, she stuck to dance lessons with solid ground beneath her feet.
In high school, Susan became involved in acting when she joined the drama club. And, at seventeen, she went on a 2-month acting tour with an acting troupe called The Robinhood Players. At nineteen, she taught aerobics, waitressed and bartended. Susan graduated from AZ State University in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
What?
I know.
Anyway, three years later, she moved from Phoenix to an island off the Washington State coast to concentrate on her writing. However, to support herself, she opened up a bed & breakfast and for three years ran it but closed doors soon after September 11, 2001. (There’s a story behind that as well!)
And, still, her focus remained on writing.
It was after she got noticed by award-winning, international bestselling author, Michael Collins that she began to think she could actually make it in the publishing industry as an author. For two years Collins mentored Susan. It was upon completion of her first novel that they happily parted ways in their tutelage.
And, that’s where she is today–still writing daily and getting published.
Oh, she also draws and paints abstracts using oil as her favored medium.
Location? Not too far from Seattle on a little spit of an island with her husband, Bob, Robert & Rocky (their dogs), 14 cats, 14 birds, a fistful of raccoons, a small herd of deer, two sneaky foxes, an unkindness of ravens, a murder of crows and a covey of quail!
…and, this is a photo of their cozy home.
See all of Susan Wingate's books at the following online retailers:
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