iPhone Mania

  Will you be getting a new iPhone? Sure, I’d love to have one. Here’s how Joel Stein described “iPhone envy” in the Los Angeles Times:

“I was convinced that everyone in the restaurant had an iPhone, and they were using it to play some kind of new Brazilian dance hall mash-up they heard about in iPhone texts from their new supermodel friends, all the while sliding caviar into their mouths off the perfectly smooth iPhones whose glowing screens bathed their faces in soft light like a Caravaggio painting. . .”

Hehe… sounds like a Dennis Miller rant, doesn’t it?

But I think I’ll hold off. They’re still too expensive. And let’s face it: I get very few phone calls anyway. 

On My Nightstand

  So, my girlfriend Yvonne suggested I read Ain’t She Sweet? by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. To be honest, I hadn’t read anything by this uber-successful author since I picked up one of her romances about football. I’m just not interested in football. But I told Yvonne I would give this one a try.

Am I ever glad I did! Now I see why this author is so popular.  

The book is about a girl who was anything but sweet in high school. She was a totally spoiled rich bitch, and the flashbacks are fun. You wonder what awful thing she did to each character, and when you find out–they were pretty horrendous! Now she must return home to her small town and face the music. The characterizations and details are marvelous.

As an aside, I just happened to sit beside Susan Elizabeth Phillips at an RWA conference once. I had never met her before, but she chatted with me as if I were her best friend. She’s a genuine, refreshingly nice person.

I have another connection with Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Her agent is Steve Axelrod. I’ve seen him at many RWA conferences, and I would kill to have him as my agent. I once dreamed that he was chasing me through the halls of the conference hotel–he not only wanted to represent me, he also wanted to make love to me!  *giggle*  

So I’m thoroughly enjoying this 2005 best-selling book. Pick it up if you can. And thanks, Yvonne!

13 Summer Solstice Facts

 

Today (June 21st) is the Summer Solstice!

This has always intrigued me because:

  1.  During college, I backpacked all over Europe one summer. On the night of June 21st, I was camping with friends in a tent at Stonehenge, England. They were having a huge Summer Solstice Concert, much like our Woodstock. “Peace and love, baby.” I remember dancing at midnight to the live music of Melanie. Remember her?

  2. A solstice means that the earth’s axis tilts the most toward the sun. This has been known since ancient times as the mid-point of summer. (Some say it’s when summer begins.)

  3.  The name comes from the Latin “sol” (sun) and “sistit” (stands still) because for several days before and after the solstice, the sun appears to stand still in the sky.

  4.  The celebration of Midsummer’s Eve was from ancient times linked to the summer solstice. People believed that mid-summer plants had miraculous healing powers and they therefore picked them on this night. Bonfires were lit to protect against evil spirits which were believed to roam freely when the sun was turning southwards again. 

  5.  Shakespeare wrote a play about it, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in which faeries, lovers, and a donkey figure prominently. Puck uses the magical juice from a flower to make the victim fall in love with the first living thing he sees when he awakens.

  6. Midsummer is one of the great holidays in Scandinavian countries, since long before the introduction of Christianity. A midsummer pole decorated with leaves and flowers is erected and children dance around it. 

  7. In Cornwall, England, it’s celebrated as “Goluan.” Dr. William Borlase wrote about it in 1754: “In the Cornish tongue, ‘Goluan’ signifies both light and rejoicing, for faeries prefer to carry lighted torches. This is certainly the remains of the Druid superstition.”

 8. There is a Winter Solstice, too, which is observed on December 25th, since establishment of the Julian Calendar in 45 B.C. Banned by the Catholic Church in its infancy as a pagan practice stemming out of the Sol Invictus celebrations, Christmas was revitalized as an authentic Christian festival after having already taken over much of the folklore and traditions of the Jul festivals. Jul is still regarded as its name in much of Europe. Yule and Christmas are considered interchangeable in English Christendom.

  9. My maiden name was the good old English name of “Payne,” which is said to have derived from the word “pagan.” I am not a pagan, but I am a Celt, and I’ve always had a special affinity and fascination for the history of pre-Christian pagan things.

  10. Midsummer has also been called “St. John’s Feast,” in honor of the birthday of John the Baptist.

  11. Wiccans celebrate Midsummer as one of their eight holidays. The witches believe it is the turning point when summer reaches its height.

  12. In one of my favorite books, Hardy’s Return of the Native, the heath folk of England light bonfires and do dances around maypoles. It’s very reminiscent of Midsummer Night. 

   13. Just hours ago, the news reported that “20,000 modern-day druids, pagans, and party-goers are–right now–converging on Stonehenge to welcome the 2007 Summer Solstice. The site has become a magnet for men and women seeking a spiritual experience–or just to have a good time.”

 Party on, all you revelers!

 

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Paul Sings

  It’s wonderful to see someone succeed against all odds. It gives hope to the rest of us! This got me teary-eyed.

You’ve got to play this recording of one of my favorite songs, “Nessun Dorma.” Paul is a somewhat dumpy mobile phone salesman who struggles with self-confidence. 

(And watch everybody’s facial expressions! Hehe)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA

Mahoney Melodramas

  Nebraska Romance Writers–what a great group! Tonight, some of us went to the Melodramas at Mahoney State Park.

First, we ate supper at the Lodge Buffet. 

  Then it was off to the theatre.

In Wings of Fire!, Crash McCarthy, dashing ace stunt pilot, (Yay! applause!) met lovely female wing walker, Wendy Wingnut, (aaahhh) at the annual fly-in at Scribner and love was in bloom. Crash had a famous barnstorming airplane act while Wendy was part of a rival wing-walking act with her partner, daffy Poppy Rivetts. But his jealous rival, Delbert D. Dorkmeister, (boooo! throwing popcorn) with the aid of his partner Ursula Undercarriage, planned to sabotage their planes so he could win the grand prize at the fly-in. Poppy discovered their evil plot but was kidnapped by Dorkmeister and Ursula. Could she escape their evil clutches in time to warn the others and save the day? 

What do you think?

The scenery was beautiful at the park, including the views of the Platte River. Laughter, quality time, and a good old fashioned sing-a-long, away from meetings, was a good way to strengthen our friendships. What an enjoyable evening! 

13 Wardrobe Basics

I will probably never be on anybody’s “Best Dressed” list. In fact, much of the time it doesn’t matter what I wear because I’m home alone, planted in front of the computer. But here are 13 items I think every woman should have in her wardrobe. When I have these hanging in my closet, I feel confident that I’m ready for anything. Are these your basics, too? 

  1.  A “LITTLE BLACK DRESS”: This was Coco Chanel’s idea. It will take you anywhere, day or evening, to almost any occasion. If you ever want to dress up, this is an elegant no-brainer!

  2. TAUPE HEELS. All the books say that these are the shoes to have. They  go with anything, and they make your legs look impossibly long.

  3. A FLUFFY ROBE. Got to be able to wrap up and get cuddly after a bath on a cold night.

  4. A soft knit WARM-UP SUIT. This is for days when you don’t have to budge from the house. You’ll be warm all day without looking too schleppy if you have to dash for the grocery store. It’s also good for exercising, should you ever get the urge.

  5. A NEUTRAL-COLORED PANT SUIT & BLOUSE. Someday you’ll have to go on a job interview, a meeting, an appointment, or actually go to work! You can’t go wrong in this for looking professional.

  6. A GOOD-QUALITY PURSE: It should be large enough to hold essentials, but not so large that it looks like a suitcase. Pockets are good. Real leather will last.

  7. PEARL EARRINGS. They are classic, flatter your skin, and work with any outfit.

  8. FLIP-FLOPS. A comfortable and fun must-have for summer. My high school students actually wear them year-round.

  9. WELL-FITTING JEANS. The basis for any wardrobe.

  10. A BLACK LEATHER JACKET. This can be your all-around coat. It keeps you warm, it will last, and it even looks sexy!

  11. A FRILLY NIGHTIE. Some nights are just made for romance. Or you might be on vacation! This adds to the fun.

  12. A GOOD SWEATER. This works with the jeans or the pant suit. Keeps you warm and cuddly. Never goes out of style.

  13. A COLLECTION OF T-SHIRTS. They come in all sizes, prices, fabrics, and colors. A woman can never have too many of these.

Have I left anything out? Is there a must-have item you would never be without?

I’ll leave you with this piece of wardrobe advice from Cynthia Heimel– “High-heeled, thin-strapped sandals have been known to drive some men to frenzies, but they’re often men who want to tie you up, so be careful.”  *grin*

 

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Book in a Week

  Today is the start of “BOOK IN A WEEK,” a project that Nebraska Romance Writers does every quarter. We all just type and type, posting our results to the loop each evening. There are no rules, no angst, just a lot of writing.

Many groups do BIAW projects. It all began with April Kihlstrom, who writes: 

“I believe that BIAW is a gift we give ourselves. It’s a gift of one week to write as much as we can, as fast as we can without worrying about “rules” and “can” and “can’t.” It’s about letting ourselves experiment and take chances. For one week, we shove that dreaded inner critic in a closet and padlock the door! For one week, we tell ourselves and everyone around us that writing IS a priority in our lives–that we ARE writers. We give ourselves the chance to discover–or perhaps remember!–the joy that writing can bring. It’s wonderful if one ends up with an entire first draft–as I do–but equally wonderful to step back afterwards and realize how much we’ve learned about ourselves as writers.”

 Here’s a link to April’s info on BIAW:

http://www.sff.net/people/april.kihlstrom/BIAW.htm

Happy writing! 

13 Marvelous Meals

13 Marvelous Meals

I can die happy, knowing that I’ve savored some truly wonderful meals in my life. They were memorable because of the food, the places, the occasions, and the company. Here are some meals I’ll always fondly remember:

1.   On vacation in Denver as a child, we ate many times at a restaurant called The Blue Parrot. The name delighted me. I would always begin with an appetizer–scoops of ORANGE SHERBET IN GRAPE JUICE, served in a parfait glass. RAINBOW TROUT followed, and we always laughed because the trouts were “as big as we were.”

2.   Captain Morgan took me and my daughter to The Trellis, THE nicest, most glamorous restaurant in Williamsburg, Virginia. I wore my “little black dress,” and we dined on COSMOPOLITANS, steak, wine, and desserts. He must have spent a fortune on us. Afterward, the three of us walked up the street and drank “shots” on the steps of one of the stately old buildings on the College of William and Mary campus.

3.   At a romance writer’s conference, a group of us ate at The Prairie Restaurant in downtown Chicago. It was decorated very Frank Lloyd Wright-ish, and I had BUFFALO. Later at the same conference, we had PRIME RIB in a mirrored ballroom at the Awards Banquet. One of my girlfriends poured sour cream all over her food, only to find out it was horseradish! She was so mad, she flounced from the table in a huff. Ha!

4.   In college, I dated a man named Sam Rachid. He was from Egypt, and his specialty was COW’S TONGUE. First he would cook it in a pressure cooker (he’s the only person I’ve ever known to use this particular appliance). Then he would slice it into nice flat ovals and arrange them in a 9×13″ pan, cover them with a brown sauce, and bake them. Served over flavored rice, they were so tender and flavorful, you forgot you were eating tongue! The man is long gone–wish I’d thought to write down the recipe.

5.   My girlfriend, Mary, and I regularly eat lunch at Carlos O’Kelly’s for nice long heart-to-hearts. We start by inhaling chips and salsa with margaritas. I always order a #2 Combination–taco, enchilada, burrito, rice, and beans. We love our MEXICAN FOOD, and we’ve been known to alternately laugh and cry over it.

6.   I make a mean Thanksgiving TURKEY AND STUFFING with all the trimmings. The first time I made it for Dh was before we were married, and he invited all his relatives over to our apartment. I got everything on the table. He took one look at it and was so impressed that he swept me back to the bedroom where he slavered kisses and hugs all over me. Then we calmly returned to the group and sat down to eat. Was that one of the reasons he married me?

7.   When I visit my sister in Winnipeg, Canada, her husband is something of a gourmet cook. They were missionaries in Malaysia, so one of his specialties is CURRY. I beg for it every time I go up there. I remember gathering on their patio with the whole family (14 of us!), filling up on raita, rice, and the whole bit. Once, he made CHICKEN MARSALA. We passed around the fragrant wine sauce in a little pitcher and kept pouring it over our chicken again and again.

8.   I’ve been to Epcot at Walt Disney World many times, and I have a ritual–I go through the worlds and somehow always end up in Norway at lunchtime. They make the best SCANDINAVIAN OPEN-FACED SANDWICHES. I especially like the beef and cucumber ones, eaten outside while watching the birds. By the time I get to France in the afternoon, it’s time for a snack of the most exquisite CHOCOLATE-FILLED CROISSANTS from the French bakery. Funny how that happens every time!

9.   I remember eating lunch at Chowning’s Tavern in Williamsburg, Virginia, with my friends and fellow tour guides. We were all in costume, having BRUNSWICK STEW, a historic colonial dish. Comfort food, par excellence. My best girlfriend, Carolyn, shared her BUBBLE AND SQUEAK with me–a fried potato dish with gravy. Delicious and heart-warming.

10.   As a child on another vacation, we had LOBSTER and KEY LIME PIE in Florida. I’ll never forget the sweet lobster dipped in melted butter, and the sweet/tart taste of the lime. It was all so fresh, with the smell of the sea, and the seagulls wheeling overhead. Ahhh…

11.   I was in heaven just being at Blenheim Palace near Oxford, England, one of my favorite places in the world. At the cafe, I had to sit down and ponder that I was really actually there, enjoying TEA and SUMMER PUDDING filled with berries.

12.   Living in Nebraska, you gotta love corn-fed beef.  The best PRIME RIB in Lincoln is served at Misty’s Restaurant–it’s almost an institution here. The beef is so tender and juicy, you can cut it with a fork, dip it in aus ju, and close your eyes.

13.   My mother made many memorable meals, and some not so memorable. But her best dessert was RHUBARB CUSTARD PIE, which she made every spring. The creamy sweet egg custard sets off the tangy rhubarb. I still make it every spring, using her recipe. 

Ahh, what lovely memories. Food, places, loved ones. Please excuse me now–after all this, I have to go find a snack.

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May Progress

   “School’s out for the summah. . . “  Remember that song? Yay, yay. No more substitute teaching for awhile, so I have three full months to make progress on some of my other projects. 

Despite my being sick most of the month, May was fairly good. I lost another two pounds, for a total loss of 8.2 lbs. Slow, but sure, progress.

I added Copywriting to my duties on job, and that is turning out to be a joy.

No new writing submissions in May, but a start on a rewrite. I’m getting ready for next week when our writing group will be doing “Book in a Week.” More about that later, but it’s guaranteed to rev up one’s motivation and focus.  

We had a particularly wet spring here in Nebraska, so it’s been officially declared that “the drought is over.” I love wet springs. I can just hear the trees growing.

So things continue, I love my friends and family, and life is good.