Archive for the ‘JCH’ Category
Happy Birthday, Joel Chandler Harris!
Today would have been Joel Chandler Harris‘ 163rd birthday if he had defied everything* we know about the human body.
Instead, he passed away at the age of 63 in 1908.
I wish I could show you a picture of the sweet (literally) birthday cake we had for him at Victorian Christmas – complete with “163″ birthday candles – but our camera choked once again.
Regardless, join me in wishing Mr. Harris a happy birthday! I’ll be eating leftover cake in his honor all day.
*Tortoises seem to have no such restraints.
Categories: Birthdays, JCH, Joel Chandler Harris, Really? |
100th Anniversary of Joel Chandler Harris’ Death
Some of you may have noticed that this year is the 100th anniversary of Joel Chandler Harris’ death.
Others of you may be wondering who Joel Chandler Harris is. And that’s okay! You’re new here, and we understand.
Either way, here’s our new Joel Chandler Harris commemorative logo:
Any thoughts?
Note: this is not to be confused with our other logo, which is oddly absent from our website, but all over our brochures, stationary, etc:
One of our goals this year is to increase our membership base to 500 different households. We figure that people like round numbers and neat pictures so much that we could find 500 of them who are interested in being a part of the Wren’s Nest.
Since people also like quirky things, we’ll be temporarily amending our membership options too.
See here, where we have all sorts of membership tiers you can join at?
Well this year, we’re not going to have anything to do with it! Instead, we’ll have just two levels–
$100 Joel Chandler Harris Commemorative Membership
and
An entirely different amount of your choosing, should you not be content to give $100. Hey, it’s your world.
The $100 level will come with one children’s book and an audio CD of our storytellers (plus, of course, free admission to the Nest). If you don’t have kids or grandkids, great! You can give them to someone who does, and not have to worry about their next birthday present.
Does this sound cool to you? Would you–theoretically–give one hundred big ones to support the Wren’s Nest? If not, what would entice you to become a member? Seriously, we’re way open to ideas.
Finally, I should mention a few of our sponsors here, since all the time people ask me who designs all our stuff.
For the website, 100 year logo, and day-to-day awesomeness, our friends at Lampe-Farley do our bidding.
For our logo and our brochure, the good people at Huey + Partners graciously volunteered their time and talent.
Categories: Big Money No Whammies, Fundraising, JCH, Marketing Tricks, Nonprofit Management, Ridiculous Demands |
Ghost Hunt 2007, part 5
Full disclosure: I’m afraid to come into the Wren’s Nest alone at 10:00am on a sunny day.
That, friends, is because I am the weenie to end all weenies. I am the weeniest weenie that ever weenied. Thus the fact that I am at the Wren’s Nest at 11:36pm on a ghost hunt is not only a testament to my commitment to this house, but also my own stupidity. I shall not sleep for days.
Luckily, I am not alone in my stupidity. Other than Lain, who is pretty okay, this ghost hunt – oh wait, have I not mentioned we’re conducting a Friday the 13th ghost hunt? – also involves other friends of the Wren’s Nest, who stand at varying levels of bravery/stupidity.
At the moment, the good folks of Ghost Hounds are going from room to room with a psychic (I think?) who is telling us things about the rooms that we already know, but that she doesn’t. Gack!
11:48pm: oh god oh god. The doorbell just rang. Who the deuce was that?!
11:49pm: Ghost hounds say it was someone living. I have no proof. In the meantime, they’re asking if anyone is pregnant. Lain, do you have something to share with us?
11:52pm: I’m not sure how I feel about this ghost business. But I do know how I feel about this frightened business.
By the way, there is a live webcast and you, dear reader, can find it here:
[EDIT: The webcast has been archived here. Just scroll down a little.
It's long and sometimes static-y, but why wouldn't you want to see Lain discussing ghosts with a psychic and Patrick Burns, star of the television show Haunting Evidence?
(Patrick Burns -- big time ghost huntin' celebrity)
Also present is Reese Christian, currently writing a book about ghosts in Georgia.]
11:59: The conversation here is filled with statements like “that was the chair!” and “oh no, that was a person!” I mean, really. How often do you need to clarify that.
12:45: The web chatters are not only asking questions, but making claims about happenings in the house. I’m going to need a briefer about paranormal perception. It works across the sea? Christine from Australia says so.
We’ve now gone into the attic (bad web reception), the hall, and the front parlor. In the hallway, a spirit was, ah, detected? like, 3 feet to my left. Was I brave? Heavens no.
1:06am: The great thing is, the Ghost Hounds are cracking jokes, making fun of each other, having a grand old time. Someone has made the comment “Fear the living, not the dead”. I’m not sure where that puts me, confidence-wise.
1:11: The ghost hunt is over? I have survived? The Ghost Hounds are now discussing ghost hunting celebrities? It’s all true.
Looks like Friday the 13th served us well, and Saturday the 14th had little to offer. Apparently, over 100 folks were tuned into the webcast, all jazzed and brave. Maybe that’s because they weren’t here. Though with that many fans, perhaps the Wren’s Nest will become the new hot spot for ghost -excuse me, spirit – enthusiasts from all over. We’re certainly not complaining.
Categories: Ghosts!, Hunting!, JCH, Mystery and Suspense |
Literacy is Delicious!
One of the greatest perks of what I like to think of as the Wren’s Nest Revival are all the neat literary connections that are being made and reaffirmed around town.
Connecting with the local literary community is loads of fun, and promoting education and literacy is like, a good cause or something. Joel Chandler Harris would have approved heartily!
It’s also a great way for Lain and I to get free food. So now, in chronological order, The Last Week and a Half in Literary (and Free Food) Pursuits:
1. The Duck and Herring Co. Radio Hour Beach Party (Habanero Key Lime Cheesecake)
(Ever wonder what a podcast looks like? Here’s Lain and Say, Sport in action.)
Not only did we hear short stories, sing songs about being broke at Atlantic Station, and officiate (well, Lain, anyways) a breath holding contest, but we sampled one of the highlights of the DHCo.’s Warm Weather Field Guide, the Habanero Key Lime Cheesecake. Let me tell you something, folks: you haven’t lived until you’ve felt your mouth actually taste confusion.
2. Roy Blount Jr. at the Margaret Mitchell House (Fruit and mini-sandwiches)
Roy Blount Jr. is a funny guy. If you have the chance to see him do, well, anything, I suggest it. After reading from his new book, Mr. Blount fielded questions from the audience, most of which focused on his move to the cold, cold North. In fact, the amount of interest in the differences between living in the North and South led Lain and I to believe that the next Wren’s Nest fundraiser could simply be us sitting somewhere and talking about where we’ve lived. Any takers?
3. Wordsmith’s Grand Opening Weekend Extravaganza (Pastries and Coffee from Pastries A Go Go)
Wordsmith’s is a brand-spanking-new bookstore in Decatur that is, to use to words of their articulate emcee, “awesomerest”. Great atmosphere, neat book selection, and a full table of delicious treats. What more could a (practically fainting with excitement) MAT ask for?
Categories: Atlanta, Events, JCH, Mercenary Amelia Trace |
Wikipedia: friend or foe?
Today I’ve decided to clean up / create the Wikipedia articles on Joel Chandler Harris and the Wren’s Nest.
It’s been a lot harder than it sounds.
In my favor: intimate knowledge of the subject matter, readily available resource material, and a Wikipedia username. The last of these, by the way, is remarkably easy to obtain.
The biggest problem with Wikipedia, however, is the high level of distraction handed to you on a silver platter. The links in any given article are helpful, often thorough, and 100% effective in leading me elsewhere. (more…)
John McCain: Keeping Me Busy
John McCain referenced the “Tar Baby” on the campaign trail a few days back. Uh oh is right.
My google alert for “Joel Chandler Harris” has gone nuts over the past few days with bloggers reporting and debating McCain’s use of and subsequent apology for the phrase “tar baby.”
During a news conference, a CNN reporter asked McCain if he feels that “tar baby” has racist overtones.
“I hope that it’s not viewed that way,” McCain said. “It was a situation where if I kept going on that I would then be overturning court decisions. I don’t think I should have used that word and it was wrong to do so.” [Link]
Awesome. Whatever the opinions on the issue, I couldn’t be happier that folks are blogging about this. I’ve compiled the three most telling recent posts (more…)
Categories: Brer Rabbit, JCH, Tar Baby |
Ghost Hunt 2007, Part II
That’s right folks. It’s Saturday night at the Nest. Ready the coffee and the girl scout cookies. It’s time to hunt up some ghosts.
For the uninitiated, we’ve done this twice before in the past couple of months. It’s terrifying. Read about our November and January hunts.
Tonight’s guests are the good people from Ghost Hounds. Stay tuned for live updates / me-shaking-in-my-boots throughout the evening.
8:40 pm – The Hounds are here, and we’ve all been introduced. I do not remember anyone’s name, unfortunately. It’s like my brain goes ———— right after someone says, “And our next Ghost Hound’s name is.”
Every time this gets me. Every time!
Our nameless warriors are taking some preliminary photos with the lights on before things get serious.
Current status–not too skeered yet, but expecting the worst.
9:14 pm – The Ghost Hounds are under my feet. (more…)
Categories: Brer Rabbit, Ghosts!, Historic Preservation, JCH |
What’s New
It doesn’t feel like it’s been eight days.
I know you’re curious, so here’s the new stuff at the Wren’s Nest:
1. New bookshelf constrution has started. For those of you who have seen our “bookstore,” it’s got the pawn shoppy feel that only a mother could love. Carpenter / Guy Who I Sat Next To In Latin Class Eli is currently making a new bookshelf for us that will save space, look nice, help sell more stuff, and be pretty unique. ETA: Mid-March.
2. New website construction has started. For those of you who have seen our “website,” it’s got a bland made-in-sixty-minutes feel that only I could …tolerate for a couple months. Expert Marketer / Decatur Lover Lauren is currently designing our new website that will look nice, help sell more stuff, be just unique enough, and let folks know that the Wren’s Nest is still around. ETA: Early April.
3. New brochure construction has started. For those of you who have seen our “brochure,” it’s got a pasted together feel that is only mostly factually true. All around good guys Ron and Scot have gotten started and only need a few good tag lines to seal the deal. ETA: before the new website, I hope.
That’s about it. We’re cooking with gas over here now that we can pay the bill. Speaking of bills, we only owe money to the bank now, so we’re in the clear with our 18 other creditors. $75,000 to go!
Categories: JCH |
Tar Baby Continued
Last week I directed your attention to an editorial in the Charlotte Observer that discussed the contemporary implications of the phrase “tar baby.” I also pointed out a very specific instance of my idiocy. Thank goodness that’s behind us.
Yesterday the Charlotte Observer published my response, more or less. A truncated cut-and-pasted version is available in the print edition of Sunday’s paper and online. Read it here.
Also online, however, is the full version of my response. Read the full version here.
Pretty cool. To tell you the truth I’m glad folks are arguing about this. And while it’s clear that mine is the most important, informed and eloquent opinion (trust me), it’s refreshing that many people are willing to write in to their local newspaper to weigh in.
Although there are some pretty harsh criticisms, things could be worse. How many people are writing about Lewis Latimer these days? Except for this blog, of course.
I believe at some point, the Charlotte Observer turns from “free” to “free when you sign up.” So for documentation purposes, I’ve included my entire response here…after the jump.
Just so nobody’s confused:
Link to original editorial.
Link to cut-and-paste response.
Link to full response.
Categories: Brer Rabbit, JCH, Tar Baby |
Ghost Hunt 2007
During every ghost hunt ever performed in the history of the Wren’s Nest, I have blogged live updates.
Tonight, friends, is no exception.
(That’s me in the glasses)
8:04 pm – The Gulf States Paranormal Society is here and they appear to be ready. These guys have some serious equipment too. There are cameras in every room hooked up to a computer in the kitchen. Man, I hope the ghosts don’t hack the firewall, bypass the mainframe, and–enough.
It feels a little like we’re in a heist movie and we’re the bad guys and we’re kicking some serious intelligence. It’s like Ronin meets Resident Evil meets Joel Chandler Harris meets me meets the Gulf States Paranormal Society.
Actually, it’s more like (more…)
Categories: Ghosts!, Historic Preservation, JCH |