A Day at the Circus wherein I carry Water for Elephants

I am late to the parade of people who have loved Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, so I'll skip to the movie. No, it's not a movie yet, but if/when they ask me, here are my casting recommendations: Ewan McGregor as Jacob Jankowski; Houstonian Alexis Bledel (Sisterhood of the The Traveling Pants) for Marlena; Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors, August Rush) as August (but maybe he needs to be older?); Danny DeVito as Uncle Al is the obvious choice, but actually, I could see Robert Duvall in that role, too.

I would like to be an extra, preferably cast as an circus aerialist in an awesome costume with feathers.

Reading through the book, I come across the photograph of "Baby Ruth" ... but wait, I have met her before! {Image from Water for Elephants courtesy of Ken Harck Archives.}

Dollmaker and pal Neva Waldt created Ravishing Ruth last year as part of TAODA's Storybook Exhibit. The dress is silk, { knowing Neva, she has panties to match } her curls are divine, and the hand-painted lampshade aka stool is clever beyond words. See more of Neva's work here. Actually, there just HAPPENS TO BE a fascinating article about Neva in the Fall 2008 issue of Art Doll Quarterly. Hey, wait a minute - and it HAPPENS TO BE written by - MOI! { But that's a post of a different color }

Saw an interview with Sara Gruen in Writer's Digest and I'm thrilled to read she wrote software manuals before giving fiction a go six years ago. You go girl!

Note to self: Story from my dad on the way to the airport last time I was home. A one-tent circus came to town, and he considered joining it. But first, he hid somewhere where he could see the performers as they walked into the tent to perform. He was very close to them, so close, in fact, that the smell of their body odor was overpowering. So close, he could see the dirt on the hemlines of the beautiful costumes. He didn't join that night...