Lists, Part the I'm Too Lazy to Check

OLYMPICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahem. Had to get that out of the way first. I am so thrilled for the Olympics. I was going to make my list this week all links to articles on the Olympics, but a few other things caught my eye as well, so it ended being just as eclectic a mix as usual.

To start off, though, here's a guide to some Olympians to keep an eye on, via the lovely people at Forever YA

Speaking of people to watch, have you heard about the woman who is eight months pregnant and competing? At eight months, all I was doing was waddling and moaning. Impressive, madam!

This is cool. That's all.

I was a flagbearer for part of the Olympic Torch relay in 2002. It was the most amazing experience - I can just imagine the thrill in London for this final stretch.

Speaking of cool ... I want a garden shed just so I can paint it like this one. Except I want a K-9 in front of it instead of a Dalek.

Pixar, storytelling, and Legos. What's not to love?

This publishing road map from YA Highway is AWESOME.

Part of me wants to be snarky about JK Rowling's planned tree houses for her kids and say "why not build a public playground this awesome?" but really, she's earned it, and I know when I was a kid, I would have adored a playhouse like this, so all in all, I think it's great.

This post from Shannon Hale's tumblr made me want to weep. Especially the last line. No kid should be made to feel like an outcast based on the books he OR she reads.

This also made me weep (for real), but for an entirely different reason. Joanna writes with such beauty and truth, and her words and photographs always pierce my heart. She's also one of my very dearest friends.

And finally, to end on a high (or possibly low) note, I give you three of USA's future Olympians. Our country rests in excellent hands, my friends: