Travel Destinations from the NY times

Recently I was perusing through the Sunday New York Times.  I usually read that paper in a certain order just like I read the Washington Post.  As usual I read the book section first.  I really have to tell you, the book section to the Times is so awesome compared to the Post but I really only have time to read one paper so I stick with my home town one.  Then I go to the travel section.  That is when I found this gem.  I haven’t been on a great vacation for so long so this article was even more fun to read.  It gives me hope that maybe this year I will go to a fun destination spot. Enjoy the places they highlight by clicking the link below.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/01/10/travel/2014-places-to-go.html?action=click&contentCollection=Sunday%20Review&module=MostEmailed&version=Full&region=Marginalia&src=me&pgtype=article

Clean Your House in Ten Minutes?

 

I am sure all of you out there have received a call from a friend(s) saying they are in the neighborhood and would love to stop by and visit.  If you are like me you are excited to see them but worried because your house is not as tidy as you would like it to be. After all it’s been a long day (week) and you have been coming home after working a ten hour day barely able to microwave something to eat.

Fear not.  I found this article on how to clean your house in ten minutes.  I think clean is about too ambitious but making it look tolerable is good to right? I am all for the shortcuts in life.  So happy reading.

http://glo.msn.com/living/how-to-clean-your-house-in-10-minutes-9864.gallery#!stackState=0__%2Fliving%2Fhow-to-clean-your-house-in-10-minutes-9864.gallery%3FphotoId%3D187649

The Circle

This book was downright scary.  Being a tech person made it even scarier.  It is about a tech firm and honestly it was hard to figure out what the company actually did because ultimately they were into everything.  They collected data about everything.  if you think the stuff Edward Snowden was talking about was scary that was nothing compared to the invasion of personal privacy this company accomplished.  

After graduating college Mae found herself back in her hometown in a dead end, boring job.  Her roommate from college calls her with an opportunity Mae could not turn down a position with the biggest internet company.  When Mae shows up she is given the tour of the campus she is to work on.  It is beautiful and has every possible thing a person let alone an employee would ever want.  And employees are "encouraged" to take advantage of everything on campus.  They say that it is not mandatory to take advantage of the parties, events and facilities but every employee is tracked and the company knows were they are on campus at all times.  All contacts and favorites are uploaded into their databases so those people are monitored as well.  Does any of this sound remotely familiar.  I can think of a company or two.

I will not tell you anymore.  You will have to read the book.  

Comfort foods YUM

At my recent book club meeting part of dinner was this most wonderful macaroni and cheese dish.  For those of you who have read my blog you know how much I love mac and cheese.  It is one of the ultimate comfort foods with a capital C.  This mac and cheese did not disappoint.  I thank my friend for making it, awesome!

My second favorite comfort food is grilled cheese.  Growing up I was allergic to just about everything but bread and cheese. When I was young, my Mom use to make it for me.  As I grew older she passed on the skill to me and I made it myself.  I am happy to say, I have passed on that skill to my daughter.  My theory is if you can make grilled cheese you will not starve. Most people love grilled cheese with Campbell’s Tomato soup but not me.  I liked my grilled cheese straight up.

 Growing up in New York it seemed like it snowed a lot in the winter. In fact, this winter seems to me to be more like a New York winter than any I can remember.  If schools were closed or it happen to snow on a weekend all the kids in the neighborhood would be outside building snow forts or snow people and having snowball fights.  We would dress up in many layers of clothes and be out there for hours. It was a wonder we didn’t turn into popsicles it was so cold. Such great memories!  There were a lot of kids on my block so there was always a lot going on.

 Just when I thought I couldn’t stand it anymore my Mom would call us in and there on the table waiting for us was this hot gooey grilled cheese sandwich.  As Rachel Ray would say when describing a food dish, Yum Oh.  I love her for putting that phrase on the map. Anyway there would be tomato soup also but thank god for me, I was allergic to tomato soup and was spared from eating it.  Sometimes she would make Campbell’s chicken noodle soup Mmh Mmh good.

Sometimes lunch was even more fun because my Mom made grilled cheese for my brother and I plus some of our friends from the neighborhood. In those days kids just kind of went from house to house.  Play dates were not invented yet.  Usually you would show up at a person’s home, their Mom would say call and let your Mom know where you are and it was a done deal. We set up our own “play date”.  I loved winter, still do.

I was surfing the web and found these recipes for grilled cheese.  You can find the link below.  As much as I like variation on the theme of Grilled Cheese, there is still nothing better than just having two ingredients on your sandwich, bread and cheese.   Still it is good to have some variety in your life.  Enjoy!

http://www.delish.com/recipes/cooking-recipes/grilled-cheese-tomato-soup-recipes#slide-1

Sunday Notes on Monday

Man did we get clobbered by a snow storm this Tuesday here in the Mid Atlantic.  First they called for a few inches but changed their minds many times and it turned out to be many inches.  Luckily my office closed early and I was able to slide home.  The bad news was driving home in the snow.  The good news was a couple of extra hours to watch the snow through my family room window while reading my book.  Of course what else would I do with a couple of extra hours.

If you have been reading my blog by now you know that every Sunday I play this little game with myself. On Sunday the first section that I read of the Washington Post is the Outlook section, it contains the book section. I go to the last page and read the Washington Bestseller list. This week the bestseller list focused on paperbacks but it alternates between paperbacks and hardcover. You can check my scoring system on the May 6th post. 

 Glad to say that I reached my goal this week.   I was beginning to think I might never reach it again.  But I have read four out of the ten.  One of the books that showed up was Life After Life by Kate Atkinson which was about a woman who seemed to "come back" after dying to re-live her life with slightly different outcomes. It was a very good read, check out my post from July 10, 2013.  Just FYI it is number one  on the New York Times bestseller list as well. Another book that appeared this week was a Week in Winter by Maeve Binchey set in Ireland.  The  author died last year  so  this is her last  book. You can check out my post on June 18, 2013.  I am just finishing the book entitled The Circle which I will talk about in my post on Wednesday.  Not sure what I will pick up but when I decide you will here from me.

On a very sad note, I am so overwhelmed by what happened at Columbia Mall on Saturday.  My family and I are there often and I know that many of my friends shop there as well.  All the violence these days, so senseless.  So to the families who lost a loved one my thoughts and prayers are with you.  Have a great week.  Stay warm.  Stay safe.

Where'd You Go Bernadette

I am sitting here trying to write my post and I am wondering how to best describe this book and do it justice. This book is filled with frenetic energy. The main character is different to say the least.  She is or was an architect but she was also an artist and incorporated her art into what she designed.  She built a “green” house with materials all obtained within a twenty mile radius many repurposed.  You know that DIY show where the person takes pipes designed for under your sink and uses them to build shelves, that was Bernadette. She also had difficulty making connections with people until she met Elgin. He was brilliant techie whose company was bought out byt Microsoft.  They were happy for awhile. 

When they were living in California an event happened that sent Bernadette into a tailspin.  I can’t tell you what happened it would ruin everything for you.  They moved to Seattle into to a former Girls school that was falling apart.  Supposedly it was her next project, she was to transform it into their home.  But she became pregnant and miscarried several times.  The last pregnancy produced a baby girl who survived but barely.  When Bea survived she threw herself into raising the child.  Of course she was not your run of the mill Mom and did not get along with the other Moms at the private school her daughter attended. And this caused major problems.  Her husband worked ALL The Time and is unaware of what was going on.  In a way what happened to there marriage was a very sad part of the book.  He was a techie geek, she was an artist.  The way they did things were very different and cracks started showing up in the foundation.

Zany things happen in the book, much brought on by Bernadette because of her quirkiness and how she reacts to situations.  I know this sounds crazy but I found myself routing for her even though some of the things she did were way way out there.

I have to admit that it took me awhile to warm up to this book but I think the writing is amazing.  I really felt like I knew these characters or maybe I want to know these characters.  It Might add some fun to my life.

 If you are looking for a serious book forget this one.  If you are looking for something fun and pretty crazy with some underlying sadness then this book is perfect for you.  I certainly understand why it showed up on the Washington Post paperback bestseller list two weeks ago. And by the way it was number 12 on the New York Times Bestseller list this week.  Hope you enjoy it.

An Intriging Kind of cafe

I love to sit in a café.  I find it the perfect place to people watch and if I get tired of that it is a great place to zone out with a good book. You feel less isolated reading there because you are usually surrounded by people.  I took a Japanese Management Class at the University of Maryland.  The professor taught the entire class with classical music playing in the background.  Why?  Because he said that studies showed that the brain was more active and was better able to focus with the music on in the background.  So in addition to taking a most interesting class, I learned the art of selectively tuning out background noise.  Now I can sit and focus on my work even if there are other things going on around me.  This is most helpful at work since I share an office with three other people and people are constantly walking in and out.  I can sooo block them out. 

I am sure that many of you have heard of Panera's.  There is one near my house and I really enjoy sitting there with a cup of coffee and a bagel reading my book.  But from morning through lunch time it is usaually pretty crowded and I feel guilty sitting at a table while others are looking for one and I am really not contributing to the cafe's bottom line.  I am sure this happens at many cafes.

That is why I found this article so intriguing.  There is a cafe that does not charge you for the food you buy but rather by the amount of time you spend there.  The coffee and nibblies are there for your enjoyment.  The cost is about .05 a minute and allows you to sit there guilt free becuase in fact you are paying for every minute you are there.  So let's do the math shall we; 60 minutes times .05 turns out that is $3.00.  I am not great at math but I think the answer is $3.00 and to me that is money well spent.  It will be interesting to know if this business model succeeds.  Also not mentioned in the article was how good the coffee is. That is somewhat important or maybe not if you are just looking to get out and find a nice place to read or work or hang.

Follow the link below to read about it.

http://www.delish.com/food/recalls-reviews/ziferblat-london-cafe-charge-by-minute

Wine: Can the Glass Make a Difference

I found this article in the Washington Post.  It never really occurred to me that the glass I drink the wine out of can have an effect on the wine.  Perhaps it does. I can definitely see that there is some validity in drinking white wines from one type of glass and your reds from another.  I can also agree that if you are drinking a finer wine you might want a finer glass but that is as far as my experience takes me.  I will just have to experience the different glasses with my wine club and see what everyone thinks.  Read the article it is very interesting. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/wine-can-the-glass-make-a-difference/2014/01/06/16882a32-7235-11e3-9389-09ef9944065e_story.html

Big Girl Panties

This book is a romance. An attractive but out of shape woman gets onto a plane.  She had a first class ticket but ends up in coach.  When Holly sees that her seat is next to this gorgeous, totally fit male she starts dreading the flight.  Logan, the gorgeous totally fit man looks up to see Holly ready to sit next him.  He too had planned to be sitting in first class but by some stroke of bad luck ended up in coach and is now dreading being overcrowded by this woman.

Here is just a tiny bit background info on the two characters.  I don't think it will ruin the read for you.  She has just spent the last year or so using food to comfort her during her husband's illness and he is a fitness trainer to big name athletes and stars.  Does anone see where this is going.  For some reason they start talking and he ends up becoming her trainer.  I will let you read the book to find out the rest.  Remember my mantra there are no coincidences.  That certainly pertains to this book.  It is a fun read. 

Lentils who knew

I wish I could say I am a vegetarian.  I probably would feel and look better but I am not a vegetarian.  When I first got married my husband and I were almost vegetarians meaning we mostly eliminated animal proteins from our diet but we did occasionally eat them especially when we went out.

I guess one of the biggest reasons I am not a vegetarian is because I really don’t know how to cook so that our meals taste good.  Sure I can do steamed veggies like everyone else but I am not so great making entrée type dishes. But one of the things that I promised myself was that I wanted to feel better this year so when I saw this article about Lentils in the Washington Post I was ecstatic.  In addition to the article there was a recipe for lentil quinoa Bolognese that I couldn’t resist. 

I know some of my foodie friends are very mindful of preparing healthy dinners for their families so I have included the link for the article and the Bolognese recipe below.  Enjoy.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/lentils-beyond-soups-and-stews-have-you-ever-had-them-like-this/2014/01/06/2c2d401a-7484-11e3-9389-09ef9944065e_story.html


 Lentil Quinoa Bolognese Recipe 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/recipes/lentil-quinoa-bolognese-sauce/13835/

Sunday Notes On Monday

Wow what a week.  It was crazy busy but at least the weather warmed up to a toasty 32 or so degrees.  I can’t complain I like cold weather and I love to watch it snow except when I am driving.  For me you can always layer up or down in the winter.  There is pretty much nothing you can do when it’s hot.  You can only layer down so much when you are out in public.

So if you have been reading my blog by now you know that every Sunday I play this little game with myself. On Sunday the first section that I read of the Washington Post is the Outlook section, it contains the book section. I go to the last page and read the Washington Bestseller list. This week the bestseller list focused on hard covers but it alternates between paperbacks and hardcover. You can check my scoring system on the May 6th post.

Once again I did not reach my goal.  There is one book that is number one on the list this week that I have added to my list The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.  Many of you might be familiar with this author since she has written several other books including The Secret Life of Bees which I loved and the Mermaid Chair.

If you are looking for a fun read I just finished Big Girl Panties so look for my post on the book  this Wednesday.  If you want something that is not too deep, a romance novel and fun this is your book. 

In case you missed my posts from this past week check out The First Phone Call From Heaven and The Cake Mix Doctor.  I really recommend the Cake Mix Doctor for those of you who don't really bake a lot because the author takes your basic cake mix and adds some great ingredients for a way more interesting outcome.  I love it.  I havealready started to experiment on friends and they are still my friends so it must be ok.

On my upcoming reading choices I have The Circle and The Last Patriot.  The Last Patriot is not new but I have read other books by the author and have liked them.  It is a fast paced thriller.  Again good for enjoyment and relaxation.  Till next week.  Happy reading.

   

Why are Dogs our Best friend????

I know that I certainly agree with the statemnet that dogs are our best friends.  That is why I am sharing this link with you that tries to give some kind of scientific validity on why dogs are best friends. Not that I care what scientists say. Here is my take.  They love you.  They keep you company.  They don't talk back like your teens do.  (Although they can get mouthy).  They lookout for you.  And did I mention that they love you?  Enjoy

http://msnvideo.msn.com/?channelindex=4&from=en-us_msnhp#/video/64582fd4-dd83-4e02-8832-6e50fd94499e

The First Phone Call From Heaven

This is not my first Mitch Albom book. I have read several of his other books including Five People you Will Meet in Heaven and Tuesdays with Morrie.  I liked those as well as this new one. 

The book takes place in a small town on Lake Michigan.  It is your typical small town with the usual businesses and a mayor who is also the bank manager.  Nothing really happens there until one day several people started receiving phone calls from loved ones.  There is nothing really unusal about this except that these calls were from the after life, from heaven.  The calls went to specific people who due to the death of their loved one was having difficulties moving on.  So the calls were welcomed.  Why wouldn't they be. 

The book follows the people who have received the calls and how it impacts them.  It also follows the impact the calls have on the entire town. There is one person who has recently lost his wife and is having a very difficult time getting on with his life.  He does not receive a call and is outraged that this is going on.  Not really becuase he has not received a call but because he does not believe the calls are real.  Someone is creating this hoax and he is going to get to the bottom of it.  He does and he doesn't.

There are a lot of books on the market right now about heaven.  I read and talked about the book Heaven is for Real which by the way has been made into a movie and will be released soon.  After reading this books it certainly makes me wonder about the concept.  All I hope is that after life there is a peaceful place for our spirit to go.

 

Will the Dishwasher Become Extinct?

 
I don't mind doing dishes.  I like dipping my hands into warm sudsey water.  I feel a certain satisfaction as I wash a plate and see how shiny and clean it becomes.  But I am so in the minority.  My family hates washing dishes.  They hate putting dishes in the dishwasher.  They would rather pile them in the sink.  I can't stand dishes in a sink.

I just read an article and it now it seems plates are being created that will not need to be washed.  I am sure there are a lot of people jumping up and down for joy.  Think of the reduced water bills and how much can be saved on dish detergent.  And will yet another appliance become extinct.  Who knows but it is an interesting article.
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/2014/01/this-self-cleaning-plate-may-mean-youll-never-have-to-do-the-dishes/

Oh My aching Head. Could it be a Hangover?

 Hangover ouch.  No one needs to define the word especially if you have had one. If I was Roseanna Roseannadanna I would be saying something this: Last night was ladies' night and me and my gal pals drank a lot.  We drank beer, wine, a little gin and a whole a lot of vodka.  Now I have a headache. I feel fuzzy, I am nasueous, my stomach hurts, I am thirsty and I am sweating.  I feel like I am gonna die.  And I would say to her, no Roseanna you're not dying you're just hungover.  Been there done that.  Not a pleasant feeling. 

So when I saw this article trying to explain why we get hangovers I thought it would be something fun and interesting to share with you.  So follow the link below to read all about it.


http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/12/your-complete-guide-to-the-science-of-hangovers/

The Cake Mix Doctor

I come from a long line of women who cannot bake.  It is some kind of mutation in our genes.  You know the baking gene. I remember when I was growing up my Mom decided to bake a cake for a dinner party she was having. She bought a cake mix. My Mother would NEVER attempt to back a cake from scratch.  I mean she knew deep down that sifting flour was not in the cards for her but she figured she could handle a cake mix.  Of all the cake mixes on the shelf she picks a Boston Crème cake.  That meant that not only did she have to make the cake but she had to prepare the filling and the chocolate glaze as well.  Remember that mutation in the genes?  The cake was a disaster.  In fact, it did not even resemble a cake.  My Dad was quickly dispatched to the bakery to pick up an emergency dessert while my Mom finished preparing the dinner.  My Mom is a great cook so the main course was not a problem.

My Grandmother has the same gene but she overcame the affliction just a little.  She made an excellent chocolate chip biscotti maker.  She made it all the time and she was really good at it.  To my knowledge that is the only thing she ever baked.  But just like my Mom, she was a great cook.

Then there is me.  Happily I can make a cake mix and I have been known to bake a cookie or two.  Of course I have made the obligatory cupcakes for birthday parties and Halloween.  While I love the convenience of the cake mix, the taste is just ok.  That is why I was so happy to see this book, The Cake Mix Doctor.  It really is an interesting read because it is not just recipes.  The author talks about the history of the cake mix, the actual ingredients in the cake mix, the reason why the cake mix is so forgiving (almost foolproof) and the science of baking cakes.  She also gives great tips on such things as greasing a pan, frosting a cake and storing the cake.  And then of course there are some really cool recipes with the cake mix as one of the main ingredients.  Some of the cakes have a few ingredients and some have many.  What the cakes don’t have on them is canned icing. Each cake has a special from scratch frosting/icing on it.  Yum.  So if you are looking for a book that helps you doctor up that cake mix in your pantry, I think I found the right book for you.

Miss Kitty Turns 40

It is hard to believe that Kitty is going to turn 40 this year.  I hadn’t realized that feline has been around for so many years.  And for all you guys out there G I Joe that hunky macho man doll turns 50.

For all you Baltimore Oriole fans the team has been in the area since 1954.  During these 60 years that have won three World Series Championships.

For all you John Steinbeck fans,  The Grapes of Wrath was published 75 years ago. Check out the link below to see other anniversaries being celebrated this year.

 

http://specials.msn.com/a-list/lifestyle/anniversaries-in-2014-ss?imageindex=11&cp-searchtext=Baltimore%20Orioles%2060th%20anniversary

 

 

 

Sunday Notes on Monday

Was it cold enough for you this week? I got into my car and the thermometer read 6 degrees.  Brrrrrrrrrrrr. However it did warm up to 16 and I did have my faithful puffer coat to keep me warm.  Truth be told I am more of a cold weather person anyway.  I don't mind layering up and I do like snow just not to drive in.

I was on a staycation this week which could not have come at a better time. I just needed some R and R.  I did read a couple of good books which I will share with you on my blog so stay tuned.

If you have been reading my blog by now you know that every Sunday I play this little game with myself. On Sunday the first section that I read of the Washington Post is the Outlook section, it contains the book section. I go to the last page and read the Washington Bestseller list. This week the bestseller list focused on paperbacks but it alternates between paperbacks and hardcover. You can check my scoring system on the May 6th post.  Sadly this week I did not reach my goal having only read two books on the list.

I found the bestseller list suprising this week. In the top four spots were romance novels none of which I have read and I am not really planning to add these particular ones onto my list.  I will be blogging about a fun book which can definietly be classified as a romance novel.  It had a fun story line, the characters had A LOT of chemistry between them and it had a happy ending.  Another Lifetime movie possibility. The name of the book, Big Girl Panties. So look for my post on that one.

One of the books I am finishing up and will post on is The First Phone Call from Heaven. I keep trying to wonder what my reaction would be if I received a phone call from a loved one who had died.  I think I would like to talk to my Grandmother.  The book is by Mitch Albom. I have read several of his books including Tuesdays with Morrie and Five People You Meet in Heaven.  I had enjoyed both these books and so when I saw this one I thought why not.

On Wednesday I will  be posting a book from my foodie sereis called The Cake Mix Doctor. I loved this book because the main ingredient in each of the recipes is a cake mix.  No suprise there. The good part is that you can take a boxed mix and turn it from dull to wonderous. The book is not just a book of recipes, the author talks about the history of the cake mix, why ist comes out right everytime (well almost everytime) and the science of the mix.  So it actually is a good read.  Just a warning to my book club and wine club, I will be testing some of the recipes out on you.  You are going to love it.

I did have a comment that someone who read my blog is reading the book Angela Merkel, The Authorized Biography, which I had talked about last week.  She just started the book and I hope she let's me know if it is worth reading.



     

Up, Up and away into the cloud

 One minute is was working just great and the next puff it was gone. Even though I had to restore the computer two other times, I loved that computer.  I grew very attached to that computer especially since it had A LOT of my stuff saved on that computer. Files, pictures and my music just to name a few. RIP computer.

Having experienced this tragic loss before, I had backed up most of my important files and pictures so I can recover them.  I also backed up some of my music but not all of it.  Lucky for me 90% of my music is in the Amazon cloud and I can download the music on my new computer or I can listen to the music on my kindle and oh yes I can listen on my new Galaxy S4.  Did I say download.  yes I have the option of downloading the music but I can also listen to all my tunes from the cloud.  All I need is the amazon cloud player app.  And if you are an apple lover you can listen from your itunes cloud. Sweet!

But there are a few out there who are not exactly clear about the cloud.  So if you want to read a little about it follow the link below to the article written in the Washington Post. It is beautiful in the cloud.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-the-cloud/2014/01/03/dd826052-7191-11e3-8b3f-b1666705ca3b_story.html

Seaside Christmas

I am a little late finishing this book. After all the holiday season is officially over.  But I read the book so I figured what the heck.  You can add it to your list of holiday themed books to read for next year or if you feel like spreading the holiday cheer a little longer read it now. 

If you have read Sherryl Woods before than you may be familiar with some of the characters.  I happened to read one of her books before I read this one so I was vaguely familiar with them. It really doesn't matter it is a stand alone book and knowing the characters is not that important. 

The books main character Jenny is a songwriter.  Her bad boy main hunkey dunky was a singer.  Together they made beautiful music together both onstage and off,  That is until the papparazzi took a picture of him in a compromising situation and it wasn't with Jenny.  So much for that romance,

Jenny needing a break leaves Nashville for the peace of the Chesapeake Shores to spend the holiday with family.  Caleb follows. Will that holiday feeling solve problems?

Read the book to find out.

 

Dog Lovers of The World Enjoy

To all my fellow dog lovers I am including this link to a video that just made me laugh. Over the years I have enjoyed having a dog in my life.  They bring such joy because they just love you.  Each one that has been part of our family has had their own unique personality and we have loved them all.  Watch and enjoy.

http://msnvideo.msn.com/?channelindex=3&from=en-us_msnhp#/video/9b34af47-66e7-4ecb-9bf6-a5e9c35d1f29

Velveeta Shortage! I Hope Not

I was reading and found this rather disturbing problem.  Kraft is saying that there might be a shortage of Velveeta in the coming weeks.  Someone must have discovered that it is the most important ingredient in Macaroni and Cheese.  Just saying!  So if you are planning to make Macaroni and Cheese in the near future and you happen to see the Velveeta, GRAB IT WHILE YOU CAN!!!!!

Read the link below.

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/dont-double-dip-velveeta-warns-shortage-2D11874498?ocid=msnhp&pos=5

Tell the Wolves I'm Home

This is what my book club is read for this month, the first month of the New Year.  It takes place in the mid 1980's when Aids was not as well understood as it is now. June is a fourteen year old teeanager who is a loner.  Her best friend is her Uncle Finn who is her Mom's younger brother.  He is a painter and he is dying from Aids.  In fact he dies from Aids shortly into the novel.  There is a rift between June and her sister Greta which the reader learns is due to the jealousy that Greta feels becaues of this friendship with Finn, a friendship she was not part of. Finn has opened up a fantastic world for June but what June doesn't realize is she does not know Finn quite as well as she thought she did. For example, she new nothing of Finn's partner who reaches out to her after his death.

One of the last things the Uncle does is paints a portrait of June and Greta.  He calls it Tell the Wolves I Am Home.  I will let you draw your own conclusions as to why the author chose this title.  I think it was very appropriate.

The author briefly discusses the effect this disease and subsequent death of the character on each of the family members but focuses on June and Finn relationship as well as the one she develops with Toby Finn's partner.  It really is a well written book that I enjoyed.  I am glad I it was the first one I read 2014.

Wierd Inventions That made Millions

I saw this and it made me smile.  It made me smile because it reminded me how happy my dog Josh was when he was in the car riding with his face out the window.  Had I known that they had doggles, yes that is right doggles which are doggy goggles most likely I would have bought him a pair.  He would have looked incredibly cool in them I can tell you that.  They would have gone very well with the puffer jacket I bought for him to keep him warm and dry as we pranced through the snow.  How I love and miss that dog.

Also do you remember the furbie.  Of course we had one.  But unlike others that chattered about many things we could never get ours to do anything but snore. What a dud.  That furbie found a permanent place in our linen closet where the door was always closed and the sound was muffled by the towels.  I just didn’t have the heart to pull the battery out.  I am no monster.  I watched Toy Story.  I know toys have feelings.

Follow the link.  It is fun.

http://msnvideo.msn.com/?channelindex=8&from=en-us_msnhp#/video/2a7a6d1e-08bf-7d5b-0f2c-8ce356b03b9a

Sunday Notes on Monday

Well this is my first Sunday Notes on Monday post for the New Year and I am pumped. It just so happens I have a week of use or lose vacation and I am going nowhere but in front of my fire place with a good book or two.  Bliss and relaxation.  Ok I have a few projects in my house that need to be taken care of, but I will get to them, maybe.  So I will get out my reading list and see what looks good.  So many great books and only twenty four hours in my day.  I do plan to catch up on sleep so I guess I have twelve or so waking hours.  None the less I am up for the challenge.

So if you have been reading my blog by now you know that every Sunday I play this little game with myself. On Sunday the first section that I read of the Washington Post is the Outlook section, it contains the book section. I go to the last page and read the Washington Bestseller list. This week the bestseller list focused on hard covers but it alternates between paperbacks and hardcover. You can check my scoring system on the May 6th post.

Surpsingly I have met my goal having read the books holding the 8, 9 and 10th spot. Inferno, Takedown Twenty and The Longest Ride are the three. I have posts on my blog for all three in case you are interested.  The interesting thing about this week's book section is the write up on two books both non fiction that I have added to my must read list. 

The first one is Angela Merkel, The Authorized Biography.  I added this book to my list for two reasons.  The first is how in this period of time Germany's economy is realtively stable especially when you compare it to the economies of many of the other European countries.  Living in Germany for three years I could not help being impressed by the work ethic of the German people I lived amongst and worked with.  Everything ran on time.  If the Ubahn was suppose to be at a station at 12:51, you could set your watch as it approached the station.  If you dropped a letter into a mail box on Monday destined for another location in Germany, that letter would be there on Tuesday.  They lived within there means, paid with cash and stayed out of debt. I think it is this mentality that has kept the country so stable.  The second reason I have added this to my must reads, is because I always like to read about strong women and the differences they have made on society.

The second book is called The Heir Apparent which is about Edward VII the eldest son of Victoria and Albert.  Queen Victoria always interested me but the movie The Young Victoria certainly made her even more interesting even if Hollywood took certain liberties when making the movie.  Still the victorian era in England was a most fascinating time that spanned many years so I felt that this book was good to add to my list.

I am finishing up the book Tell The Wolves I'm Home about the relationship between a 14 year old teenager and her Uncle who is dying of aids.  Good book.  Watch for my Post this week.  I am shooting for Wednesday. Click on the books that I have mentioned below for more info.

   

Eliminate the Horse Drawn Carriage form Central Park, Are you Kidding Me?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t usually write about politics but Michael Bloomberg is leaving office after serving as the Mayor of New York City since winning his first election in 2001 and he is a very interesting guy politically speaking.  I mean he started out as a Democrat changed to a republican and ended up as an independent. Fascinating don't you think. 

New York City's new mayor is Bill De Blasio and surprisingly enough his name happened to show up in The Washington Post's New Year's day edition.  The story was about Montgomery County Maryland's Superintendent Joshua Starr and the fact that he might have been a candidate to fill that position in New York. I have included the link below for all of you who might be interested.

U.S. education officials lobbied against Starr for New York City schools post:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/education-officials-lobbied-against-starr-in-new-york-city/2013/12/31/c3017ed0-7249-11e3-8b3f-b1666705ca3b_story.html

One thing I can not agree with is De Blasio's campaign to eliminate the horse drawn carriages that are part of the landscape of the central park area.  I am going to state an opinion here and it is only my opinion.  I am furious that this tradition of taking a horse drawn carriage through Central Park has become someone's political agenda.  I grew up in New York those carriages are New York.  How many movies have we watched that include those horse drawn carriages?  How many tourists come and ride in them?  Are they a source of income for the city's coffers?  Do those horses look mistreated to you?  What will happen to those horses and their drivers if this new mayor gets his way.  And lastly why is it any of his business.  Isn't his job to look out for the city and the people in them.  I think he needs to concentrate on that. Surely there are many more pressing issues he can focus on besides a New York tradition.  I would greatly appreciate your comments on this issue especially all my fellow New Yorkers. So please weigh in.  Below is the link to about the carriages from the New York Times.

DeBlasio’s First Move: Carriage Horses

http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/31/deblasios-first-move-carriage-horses/

 

 

 

A Forty Course meal. Food Orgy, I think not

For many of my foodie friends this is a dream come true.  Not because of the amount of food or the many courses in the meal, but because of the food and the meaning of the meal. One thing that I have learned from many of my friends who really get into sampling dishes that titillate the taste buds is, it is not about quantity but quality.  Yes that is a cliché but really it happens to be true.  And one other thing that happens to be true is that they love to share their enjoyment with others.

A foodie friend of mine recently spent some time in Provence. One of the items on her itinerary was to spend a day with a local chef preparing their lunch.  As she described the experience, I thought to myself this is what experiencing other cultures is all about.  Going to their local markets, picking out local ingredients and coming back to the kitchen not just to prepare the food but to savor the moments spent learning techniques and getting insight into what makes a chef special because what I have learned is that no matter how good the ingredients if the person shows no passion while preparing the dish it is just a plate of food not a dining experience.   Lucky for us she shared one of the dishes she had learned to prepare and it was wonderful.  Wonderful does not even describe it I loved it so much and it was clear she loved making and sharing it with us. 

Anyway I was reading the Washington Post Food section and there was an article that totally caught my eye.  I have included the link below so that you can read it as well. There is this feast known as Panarda that consists of forty courses and lasts for hours.  When I heard that the meal had lasted nine hours I said YES!  No one wants to race through an experience like this rather one needs to savor and digest all the foods and all their flavors.

The festival coincides with what I call the dark days of winter.  I don't know about you all but every year I dread January and February.  It is cold, dark and the weather, not so good.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are over and everyone just hibernates so the thought of getting together with a group of people at communal tables and sharing a meal is such a great idea.  

Just for some background information on how this feast came about, this is from the article:

“The first documented Panarda, in 1657, took place in the town of Villavallelonga. According to legend, a young mother of a clan called Serafini left her infant in its crib while she went to the well for water. When she returned, the baby was clamped in the jaws of a wolf. She prayed to Saint Antonio Abate, protector of those who raise animals, and the wolf released the baby unharmed. The young woman vowed to hold a yearly feast in Saint Antonio’s honor. Every year since then, the Serafini family has had a hand in hosting Villavallelonga’s Panarda, which is held Jan. 17 to coincide with the saint’s feast day. “

 

Even if you don’t have a forty course meal, there is nothing better than sharing good food and maybe some wine with good friends.  Enjoy the article.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/la-panarda-philadelphia-restaurant-hosts-an-agel-old-feast-thats-a-marathon-not-a-race/2013/12/27/2664a19c-6bf5-11e3-a523-fe73f0ff6b8d_story.html?tid=hpModule_d39b60e8-8691-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394&hpid=z12

 

 

 

New Year's Resolution, Mine this year is just to feel better

This past year, 2013, was a very stressful year and ended with my dog the love of my family’s life and mine dying from cancer. A lot of my friends also experienced a year that was not stellar. That is why when I saw this  "31 days to a fitter healthier You I thought to myself this totally makes sense.  I have included the link below so that you all can take a look.  Two of the suggestions I liked were "Take a breathe and Move outside the gym"  The take a breathe really hit home.  Sometimes I find that when I am really stressed especially at work it is almost like I have stopped breathing.  So I started taking deep cleansing breathes and I definitely felt better.  Getting Up and walking around also helps. I must make it a priority to get away from my desk and just walk.

So My New Year's resolution is not to lose a million pounds which I really need todo but rather to take steps to feel better.  Perhaps as I find out what those steps are, I will share them with you.  

http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/31-days-to-a-fitter-healthier-you#11

Wine On Tuesday

It's been a long time since I have read a book for my foodie quest.  The one where I read the book because it mentions food or in some cases beverages.  Well this book qualifies as one for my foodie series.

This book is not a book for the wine connoisseur.  It really is written to get people who are intimidated by wine more comfortable.  In other words don’t be scared to try a bottle if it looks appealing.  What is the worst that can happen, you hate the wine?  So What!  For the last several years I have been a member of a wine group.  If you have read my blog you know all about my Wine Women of West Virginia.  The great thing about this group is that everyone is up for trying something new which means the sky is the limit. 

I have found this wine store that has several people on staff who are known as the “wine doctors” because they know all the essential elements of the vine.  I go there tell them which wine I like and ask them if they have something similar and they make suggestions.  Believe me I have found some really great wines that way.  They also have wine tastings on the weekend.  What better way to discover a new wine then to taste it first.

The other thing I like to do is go browsing in a wine store.  It is almost like going browsing in a library or book store.  You all know how book titles fascinate me, same goes with wine labels.  Sometimes I will go into a wine store and pick the wine just because I like the name and the label and of course it has to be the variety I like i.e. chardonnay or malbec etc. I have picked up dome duds but I have also found some good ones.

So if one of your New Year's resolutions is to became better acquainted with wines you might want to take a look at this book.  Even if you don't have a New Year's resolution about wine the book does give some good pointers for beginners.  The whole point is pick an affordable bottle and give it a try.  Use your senses to discover the flavors hidden in the glass and just enjoy.

Deadline

I like the author Sandra Brown.  I have read several of her novels and have enjoyed them all that is why when I saw this new one by her I figured I had to read it.  I was not disappointed.

 It had a little of everything starting with a reporter who has just come back from Afghanistan and is experiencing PTSD.  He is asked by his godfather an FBI guy to cover a trial that may have answers to one of his unsolved cases.   In comes a beautiful socialite with two children.  Her ex husband also suffered from PTSD which is part of the reason for the EX part. The ex is an interesting character due to his parental origin and the modest circumstances of his environment growing up.  Amelia marries him anyway and eventually her Dad comes around.  But the Dad commits suicide or so it seems but is it suicide? 

 Allegedly this ex was caught cheating with this man’s wife and the guy did not appreciate it. He allegedly killed them both, the ex and the cheating wife that is. Amelia must testify at the "murderer's" trial.  Things are not what they seem in this book.  There are a lot of questions that come up, some murders that need to be solved and a little romance to add some flavor to the story. 

I enjoyed the book.  It is a fun what's going on book.