Wednesday, September 10, 2008

News From Up North

Unless you live in Alaska or Canada or the North Pole (hi Alaskans, hi Canadians, hi Santa's Elves), Canada is definitely north.

My sister-in-law is now officially a grandmother. Baby Boy Chaz was born on Sept. 8. By a very nice coincidence, that's my brother's birthday, so Chaz and his stepgrandpa can share a birthday cake.

I would tell you Chaz's height and weight but his stepgrandpa didn't tell me.

The other big news from Canada is that Jeffrey Buttle has announced his retirement from Olympic eligible figure skating. Buttle, who is one of my favorites, is reigning world champion. He has several world medals and an Olympic bronze as well.

Not everybody has the chance to retire at the top of their game. More power to him, although I'll miss seeing him compete.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please don't retire at the top of your game.

Glen

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Hi Anonymous Glen (who is less anonymous than many of the other Anonymi around here)-

I don't think a freelance writer really can "retire." I mean, nobody can ever prevent me from writing a book if I come up with an idea that I love.

But the concept of not feeling any pressure to do so is very appealing. My career has been so up and down that stopping at an up, rather than working my merry way downward, is certainly something I'm considering.

Miriam said...

Welcome to baby Chaz.

I will miss Jeffrey Buttle's skating, too. With the exception of Elvis Stojko, I've really enjoyed watching the Canadian men skaters over the past few years. Personally, I'd have given the gold to Brian Orser over Brian Boitano.

And I'm hoping that you don't stop at book 75 too!

Miriam said...

I suppose that should really have been "enjoyed watching the Canadian male skaters" or "Canadian men's skating".

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Hi Reading Fool-

Just as long as you don't say, "I've enjoyed Canadian men," I think you're safe.

I've liked most of the top Canadian men/male skaters (including Stoyko) over the years, but I thought Sandhu was overrated.

And in the Battle Of The Brians, I preferred Boitano (but it was a great battle).

Anonymous said...

It will be fun to have a baby in the family that is not covered with fur - though I sincerely hope he purrs.

How will he refer to you, do you think?

I'm working on writing that long overdue internationally-selling best seller novel so I can buy a home in the remade Stepford, where everything is lovely and I am motivated to bake and put on a dress, by reading popular fiction with that Plum character. The books are very thin, width-wise. W.S.

Anonymous said...

I met Scott Hamill once at Target and he saigned a picture for my wife. I'm no giant myself, but he was really little.

Glen

Anonymous said...

Oops! I left off the 'ton' from Scott's name!

Glen

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Hi to Anonymous W.S. and equally Anonymous Glen-

Good luck with the international best seller, W.S. It's about time someone I knew wrote one (although I would rather it were I).

And I'm amused by the merging of Scott Hamilton and Dorothy Hamill. Scott would look so cute with Dorothy's haircut (actually he'd look like something out of Blades Of Glory).

Figure skaters tend to be short, although Evan Lysacek is six feet tall.

He'd look pretty silly with Dorothy Hamill's haircut also.

Anonymous said...

Well, I don't care how successful that author is, if that's what it takes to have an internationall-best-selling-novel, I'd rather grow squash. What horrid drivel. I mean, if it was fun drivel... W.S.