Welcome to the next stop on the Mamalamadingdong Blog Tour! Please come on in, I'm still wearing my pajamas, but, I hope you can overlook that. Long night last night, and all. When you get your mind out of the gutter, I'll let you know we were out late at a big football game (we won), it was a lot of fun and very exciting. Yes, it was a high school game, why do you ask? No, that's not "lame" this is the South. It's what we do. Um, where was I?

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Ayun (sounds like "ray gun") Halliday propositioned contacted me a while back and how do you resist someone whose other titles are Dirty Sugar Cookies, Job Hopper, No Touch Monkey: And Other Travel Lessons Learned Too Late, and, who freely uses the word "heiner" as in "I would feel like a 'heiner' if no one came to my book signing? Heh.

Mamalamadingdong is the UK release of the hit book known as "The Big Rumpus" here in the US of A, and, you simply must go out and get it right now, it's that good.

When she contacted me a long time ago, I thought, "Great, I have all the time in the world to figure out how to review a book without looking like a total heiner in front of the actual author come up with something wildly creative to promote this great book!" Only? She has no idea that I am the one who puts the "pro" in procrastination, and, that life kinda got in the way this summer, thus making me miss the glorious opportunity to promote her book while she did the actual work by responding to my imaginary hard-hitting pertinent interview questions.

Oh, well.

Mamalamadingdong AKA The Big Rumpus is Ayun's often hilarious and honest look at the early throes of parenthood in New York with her husband Greg, and their children, Milo and Inky. Though their urban lifestyle isn't one I've experienced, it almost made me want to move to the city and hang out with her because she is really cool, and, some elements of parenting transcend location. I mean, if you are in New York City or out in the country, there are times that we feel things we don't always want to admit:

I have to stop myself from shouting, "Because I'm the mother, that's why!" I don't feel like explaining razors are sharp, that permanent markers leave permanent stains and that although the anthology of underground comix may look like something for kids, it's really for adults, so please put it back where you got it. I don't feel like manufacturing a reasonable, patient tone of voice. I don't feel like going through the motions of carefully weighing her daredevil impuleses against common sense, historical precedence and the weather, even though I know this is exactly what will help her to become a healthy, secure individual. There are times, usually around four in the afternoon, when I just want to get from point A to point B as efficiently as possible, with no screaming, no detours and no discussion about equity.

And, dang it, I was all set to regale you with the hilarious part about the lice, and, Jenn beat me to it, go read it there, but, come back, OK?

OK, you're back, thanks. See? That was funny! Arthur! Heroin!

Anyway, as raucous and humorous as her outlook on the day to day life with children, Mamalamdingdong has poignant moments, too as she tells of her daughter's stay in the NICU and her love for her children.

So, the kids are back in school and you have all this spare time, right (*ducks from people throwing things at me*)? Now's the time to get your copy of Mamalamadingdong AKA The Big Rumpus, you can thank me later.

Also, as if being an established writier isn't enough, Ayun is the sole proprietor of the East Village Inky, a tiny, hand-lettered parenting 'zine. Go check that out, too, it's way cool.