Seize a Daisy

The Fall Gold Rush

2008-10-10T00:05:00.000-04:00

Last fall our Friday fantasy travels took us to New England and the eastern coast to view the beautiful, multi-colored fall foliage, but let's head west for today's early October escape.

Unlike most other states, Colorado doesn’t have the full range of color associated with fall foliage. Instead the dominant color is the brilliant golden yellow of their famous aspens and, because of elevation changes, the peak color season usually begins in mid-September and runs through October. Aspen may be an old silver mining town, but in the autumn it shimmers with Colorado gold. You'll see groves of slender, white-barked aspen trees with their tear-shaped leaves luminescent in the bright sunshine. So tissue-thin that they flicker in the faintest breeze, these golden colors are also backed by 14,000-foot mountains to offer a unique fall gold rush. As would be expected, some areas -- particularly around Aspen -- may be crowded, however there are many remote areas in the region where the views can be enjoyed by those willing to drive further into the wilderness.

In fact here is an example of wilderness viewing:

Colorado Fall Leaves

And now a brief but spectacular overhead view:

Helicopter Fall Aspens

Finally there's the full impact of Colorado gold:

Colorado Autumn Color

Now how magnificent is that? Enjoy all the colors of your weekend, may they be as spectacular!

Monday: The Christmas Book and about Wednesday's Post

George Washington's Truth or Politics?

2008-10-08T00:05:00.000-04:00

Politics on Seize a Daisy...? Heaven forbid, there's more than enough of that! And, facing the fact that enough is enough already, do you ever wonder what our Founding Fathers would think of how today's political candidates (and their supporters) treat each other? Seriously when did the accusations begin?

Well it could be traced to the back page of the January 3, 1789, edition of the Philadelphia Weekly Gazette which read:

"We, the delaware boat veterans, take as our solemn duty before our Creator to make known the truth concerning the Presidential candidate..."

To read what this crew wanted the nation to know about George Washington, check out Swiftboating George Washington By David Martin, Smithsonian magazine, October 2008. It's almost certain to put a smile on your face and realize there truly is nothing new. ;) and *sigh*

Friday: The Fall Gold Rush

Allison Winn Scotch and Time of My Life

2008-10-06T00:05:00.002-04:00

On Thursday, June 5, 2008 the Ask Allison blog post read: Official Press Release for TOML Film Announcement!

TIME OF MY LIFE is the story of a thirty-something housewife who is at an emotional crossroad in her marriage and gets the chance to go back in time to squelch those tiny, lingering doubts that send women googling old friends and exes or wistfully pulling out pictures of days gone by.

"We are thrilled to be finally working again with Meryl and thankful she has brought us this incredible project," stated Harvey Weinstein, "Scotch's writing is both outright honest and at the same time comically engaging. She provides a strong female voice with characters that easily relate to the screen. Considering our strong track record with Meryl, we are very excited to begin moving this project forward. There is no finer film executive that can single out talent and maximize theatrical potential."

Meryl Poster added, "What struck me about this project is that it speaks to women who have reached a very specific and self-reflective moment in their lives. The material is both relatable and romantic with a fabulous starring role for an actress."

Yes that was four months ago but tomorrow, October 7th, -- when Allison Winn Scotch's (The Department of Lost and Found) second novel, Time of My Life, is released online and hits the shelves of your favorite bookstore, you'll finally be able to read and discover what Hollywood is so excited about.

As usual, it begins with the backstory -- generally the "what if" of the plot. However, in this case, Allison's "what if" became focused on "what ifs." Why? The author explains how the book's idea developed:

"I was chatting with one of my closest friends, who happened to be on vacation in a city where an ex-boyfriend currently lives. She and I were having one of those conversations that you can only have with your dearest confidantes, one in which she said, "'I’m here and I’m so weirded out. I mean, what if I run into him? And I can’t stop thinking about what would have happened if we hadn’t broken up.'" I concurred about the weirdness, having just visited a city of one of my ex-boyfriends, and we proceeded to talk about our various life decisions and how different -- for better or worse -- things could have been if these decisions had been tweaked. Then, eventually, we hung up, and I went for a run. As I circled the reservoir in Central Park, our words lingered in my head, and I was instantly struck with my character, Jillian. She came to me immediately, and I had a complete understanding of where she was in her life, why she was so discontent, and how she was haunted by her "'what ifs.'" (I've always been fascinated by this concept: how small changes can change the entire outcome of your life - if, say, I hadn't joined the gym at which I met my husband.) So I came home and wrote what are now the first 15 pages, sent them to my agent, and voila, a book was born. My vision of Jillian never wavered from that first moment because I understood her so completely. (I should note: I didn’t understand her because I share her sentiments, only that I could understand how she had gotten to where she'd gotten.) The rest of the book was up in the air -- I had a general idea of what I wanted to do but the details fell into place as I went. But my character’s backstory held steady, and for me, that is what made this book.

"Everyone says that you should "'write what you know,'" and to a certain extent, I believe that this is true. I've found, for me personally, that I need to find the seed within my characters that I relate to - something within them that resonates with my own life -- so that I can really get under their skin and minds. In Time of My Life, for example, I didn't have a difficult time of how off-kilter I would feel if I had long days and no stimulation other than a newborn, and certainly, I could relate to having "'what if’'" moments like Jillian. But -- in both obvious and non-obvious ways -- my life is really nothing like hers at all. So, in this sense, I'm close to my characters emotionally, but not circumstantially, and I think this is an important distinction."

One such distinct example is the estranged relationship between the protagonist and her mother. It's a major factor in the character's development as Allison states: "Jillian's mom's abandonment affected *everything* about how Jillian came to define herself, and certainly, it affected her discontentedness as a wife and a mother. In some ways, unconscious, definitely, because just as her mother was wired to want more in her life, so too was Jillian, but also consciously as well: Jillian often struggles with honest communication, and she’s really learned to temper both her needs and speaking up for those needs. I always traced that back to her mother leaving…as young children often do, Jillian placed the burden of the situation on herself, and maybe always wondered if she’d been a better daughter/less demanding/more loving/etc, maybe her mother wouldn’t have left."

And yet she's quick to laugh and affirm this bears no resemblance to her own mother-daughter bond:

"I realize that both of my characters have had issues with their mothers! I feel sooooo badly for my own mom because I’m sure that people suspect that it stems from something in my own life, but I actually have a great relationship with both of my parents, and can’t blame any damage or scars on them. (That’s all my own doing!) J No, in reality, I think when writers create these characters, we always try to uncover the "'why'" behind who they are. And often times in life, our families and yes, our parents, create so much of our foundation that it’s hard to shed it once we get older."

From that thoughtfulness -- and SO much more --, the novel flowed and here you can read About Time of My Life -- Synopsis:

"From the outside view, Jillian Westfield has a pitch-perfect life. Her cherubic 18-month old daughter, her wildly successful investment banker husband, a four-bedroom, five-bath, lemon-scented home with landscaping and neighbors to match. But that doesn’t stop her from mulling over the past, from pushing away the "'what ifs'" that haunt her when she allows them to seep into her consciousness. What if she hadn’t married Henry? What if she hadn’t abandoned her job at the first sign of pregnancy? What if she’d never broken up with Jackson ? What if she answered her mother’s letter? Because underneath the shiny veneer of her life, Jill waddles around in a faltering marriage, brewing resentment, and an air of discontentedness.

"But after an ethereal massage in which her therapist releases her blocked chi, she wakes up to discover that she’s been whisked seven years back, back to her old life, her old self, back to the moments in which she made decisions that charted her future course. And now that she’s back, she’s faced with the same roadblocks and obstacles, only this time, armed with hindsight, she can choose a different path and finally lay to rest all of her "'what ifs.'"

"Time of My Life is much more than a story about a real life desperate housewife. Instead, it speaks to so many of our tiny, lingering doubts, the same doubts that send us googling old friends and exes or wistfully pulling out pictures of days gone by. And through Jillian’s journey, in which she rediscovers the mother who abandoned her, reacquaints herself with the strengths she once deemed important, and may literally rewrite her future, we all get a chance to peek inside the windows of our own "'what ifs,'" and consider if the path we took was the one that has granted us the most happiness."

Although I have (jokingly) commented that the book could have been titled "The Time Traveling Wife," there are other early readers who found it reminded them of films like "Peggy Sue Got Married" and "Back to the Future." Allison agrees to an extent while believing it has a "more modern take" by pointing out that:

"It explores themes that a lot of women I know have dealt with. It’s not just: What if I didn’t marry the right person? It’s about the many choices you make along the way, where you get swept up in life, and how they can snowball and lead you to where you are now.

"I think so many women have these what-if fantasies, but we don’t talk about them a lot. Somehow, they imply that our current life, our real life, is fl awed. That’s not it at all. I think you can look back on your past and reflect on it and use it to help you understand where you are now."

And where Allison is now? How about in the midst of high praise from literary trade journals to a variety of magazines, such as:

"An engaging, fast-moving, high-concept drama. Scotch keeps one dexterous step ahead of page-flipping readers eager to guess the outcome." - Publishers Weekly

"Scotch’s second book shows a writer coming into her own, a storyteller who doesn’t take the easy way out, and a woman with a fine understanding of human nature." - Booklist

"If you've ever wanted your own do-over, this read will keep you guessing 'til the end." - Library Journal

"After this hilarious read, you may just return to your own crazy-busy routine a little happier." - Redbook

"Perfect to read with friends. A book we love." -Cosmopolitan

"Book pick of the month. Insightful and honest, Winn Scotch keeps it light but delves into the dark doubts of the road not taken." - Family Circle

"A must-read. A fantastic, often funny novel." - Hallmark Magazine

For author reviews, please scroll down the Reviews page.

Then, to read an excerpt, here's: Time Of My Life - Chapter One.

It's true that Time of My Life may be initially thought of, chosen and read for its "what if" fantasy, yet the story is actually grounded in diverse and discomforting universal issues that are not limited to marrying the right man. Writing in a strong, confident and smart voice, Allison is in total control of Jillian's indecisiveness and this is what gives the book a well-earned reality check mark. Whatever time of life you may be in, this novel is a reminder that the past holds the lure of potential but the present is where all things are created possible for the future.

And that future includes Allison's dream for the movie. Consider the fact that she found out about the movie deal the day of the American Idol Finale. When David Cook was crowned and emotionally began singing "Time of My Life," Allison's tears fell, too, as she thought, "This has got to go in the closing credits of my movie!" Well, what if?

For now, though, there is the certainty that you'll be entertained, engaged and experience your personal "Aha's" by reading Time of My Life. Absolutely and positively without any ifs, ands, or buts...enjoy!

Wednesday: George Washington's Truth or Politics?

The Seychelles

2008-10-03T00:05:00.000-04:00

It's been quite a week -- dreary, wet and chilly, too -- so let's really escape this Friday and "get away from it all." We'll head to the Seychelles, located about a thousand miles off the eastern coast of Africa, smack dab in the middle of the Indian Ocean. This 115-island archipelago (or 155) covers over 150,000 square miles and runs the gamut from granite rock islands full of lush vegetation to coral atolls that barely rise out of the water.

Indeed, these islands may lack some of the cultural aspects of other tropical destinations, but their wealth of natural beauty and the relaxed atmosphere has always been the real lure. Also this is a place where much of the flora and fauna can be found only here on earth. Coral atolls abound and are home to giant lagoons chock full of marine wildlife with Aldabra -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site that claims over 150,0000 giant land tortoises -- being the largest atoll in the entire world. In fact Aldabra is considered one of the wonders of the world by prominent naturalists due to its coral reef ecosystems. Mahé, the capital city and where the vast majority of the country's 81,000 inhabitants live, is surrounded by these coral reefs, making its powdery white sandy beaches the perfect site for viewing marine life. The island of Praslin holds the Vallée de Mai, yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site. This tropical forest is the best place to check out the coco de mer, which is the famous palm that yields the world's biggest fruit. And it's this valley that was once thought to be the Garden of Eden. Then there's Desroches -- the main island in the Almirantes Group -- best known for the recreational pursuits of scuba diving, fishing and sailing. More off-the-beaten-track is the island of La Digue, complete with ox-carts dominating the streets and a feeling that you've taken a trip back in time.

Our favorite guide, Matt Lauer, spent Friday, May 2nd in the Seychelles and, like his tour of Buenos Aires, there are videos. First, however, TODAY Travel Editor Peter Greenberg offers The Seychelles: Your island paradise awaits. Learn a bit of the islands' history -- including both myth and legend --, when to go, how to get there and how to island hop once you do, along with actual travel tips on were to eat drink and stay as cheaply as possible. For in this paradise, seashells are not even close to being legal tender.

And then it's time to enjoy our destination by "Launching" Where is Lauer on Day 5?
May 2: TODAY’s Matt Lauer arrives at the fifth and final stop of his around-the-world adventure, “Where in the World is Matt Lauer?” Join him in the Republic of Seychelles.

Ah....next:

VIDEO
Beauty of the Seychelles
May 2: TODAY’s Matt Lauer talks with Republic of Seychelles' director of tourism Maurice Loustau-Lalanne about the beauty of the Island of Seychelles, a vacation destination likened to paradise.

Along with:

VIDEO
Lauer tours island nation

And we'll explore some more:

VIDEO
Hopping island to island

Anyone ready to become a beachcomber? The color of the water and silky sand are tempting enough, so sit back and relax for a while...it's all good!

Monday: Allison Winn Scotch and Time of My Life

A Virtual Change

2008-10-01T00:05:00.004-04:00

In this season of change, is there anything better than a kaleidoscope to exemplify the visual shifts in life...and to do so with beauty? Kris at Paradise Found discovered an online site where you can Make Your Own Kaleidoscope image and save it!

So starting off with cider and doughnuts:

The autumnal snack revolved into this:

Of course, it's totally addictive, fascinating and FUN. Enjoy! :)

Friday: The Seychelles

For Those Who Want to Write and Read

2008-09-29T00:05:00.001-04:00

"CaN YOU MAKE iT ON-scREEN?" and "BEaT the SLUSh" are a question and an optimistic phrase that will greet you at a new community website that invites unpublished as well as self-published authors to post at least 10,000 words of a fiction or non-fiction manuscript for visitors to read online
Authonomy, founded by HarperCollins, is now the place to show your face by showing off your work on the web.

To begin building your profile online, all you need is a few chapters of your work. Visitors -- be they other writers or readers -- can review and recommend books on site, and then place their five favorite submissions on a virtual bookshelf that can be viewed by others from their profile page. Authonomy keeps track of the number of recommendations a book receives and ranks writers accordingly. In addition to writers' rankings, readers are also ranked, based on how accurate they've been at spotting books that climb to the top of Authonomy's charts. And, once a month, the top five books are delivered to the desks of an editorial board made up of international HarperCollins commissioning editors.

Authonomy is free to use for both readers and writers, and it's HarperCollins hope that the wisdom of the crowds will help them discover potential blockbusters that individual editors or agents might otherwise miss, or cast aside for lack of time. Also the site could prove to be a terrific marketing tool once manuscripts are actually published, since authors won't have to build a fan base from scratch.

To learn the details, explore Authonomy, check out the FAQs and keep updated on the latest news from the authonomy blog. Who knows where this might lead you...Good Luck!

And Congratulations to Carleen Brice voted "Breakout Author of the Year" by the African American Literary Awards Show on Thursday night, September 25th, in New York City. Carleen was honored for her debut novel, Orange Mint and Honey presented in the Monday, March 10, 2008 post, A Meme of Orange Mint and Honey. If you haven't read this novel yet, by all means do...and enjoy!

Wednesday: A Virtual Change

The House That Ruth Built

2008-09-26T00:05:00.000-04:00

During our Friday fantasy getaways we've traveled around the world and viewed virtually hundreds of buildings, structures or natural formations that over time have become famous, legendary and popular for a variety of reasons. Last Sunday, September 21st one of those legendary structures turned off its lights, closed its gates and now waits to be demolished next year. It's Yankee Stadium which -- for more than eight decades -- has been home to what some consider the greatest teams in sports, the New York Yankees. Well perhaps it's not about the teams, per se, but their legendary players such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe Dimaggio, Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra.... All are a part of our history and/or culture and you don't have to be a baseball/sports fan to recognize them.

Interestingly enough one of the most memorable moments in the stadium's history came on July 4, 1939, "Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day." That was when Gehrig, forced to retire from baseball permanently by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, delivered his famous "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech. ALS became public knowledge because it now had a name and face that the country admired and cared about.

Another fact is that the Yankees shared this venue with the New York Giants of the NFL from 1956 to 1973. On December 28, 1958, Yankee Stadium hosted the NFL championship game, historically called "The Greatest Game Ever Played." When the Baltimore Colts tied the Giants, 17–17, on a field goal with seven seconds left, Baltimore's quarterback Johnny Unitas led the Colts to victory in overtime, 23–17. As the first televised NFL Championship Game -- pre-Super Bowl, that is -- the game's dramatic ending is often cited as the reason football became a United States' major sports' phenomenon.

However Yankee Stadium has hosted more than sporting events. It became more of a cathedral when Francis Cardinal Spellman (1957), Pope Paul VI (1965), Pope John Paul II (1969 as a cardinal, 1979 as pope), and Pope Benedict XVI (2008) all celebrated Mass at the ballpark. Then, on June 21, 1990, a rally was held at Yankee Stadium for Nelson Mandela upon his release from a South African prison heralding the end of apartheid. And it was on September 23, 2001 that Yankee Stadium hosted a memorial service for victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City.

Pop/rock stars also played there with the first concert being an ensemble R&B show on June 21, 1969, put together by the Isley Brothers; the first rock concert held at the stadium was on June 22, 1990, by Billy Joel.

Depending on whether you're a sports fan, where you live and who you actually -- if at all -- cheer for, it's probably been easy to "hate" the Yankees. Yet Yankee Stadium has invariably meant the "best" and once the new stadium opens, most of the old stadium will become parkland....going green. So, as a tribute to the baseball games we might have gone to as family outings in our childhood, those neighborhood ballgames we played, hotdogs and mustard, the National Anthem, seventh inning stretch and any other personal summer memory that includes the crack of the bat, let's visit and say Goodbye Yankee Stadium. Click on Full Screen and take in a panoramic view on the night of the last game. Enjoy, even if it was the home to those Damn Yankees! ;)

Monday: For Those Who Want to Write and Read

A Challenge: Think Common

2008-09-24T00:05:00.000-04:00

As writers, bloggers and readers it's the choice of words that create our world. Those descriptive words which show rather than tell, aim for the heart or cut to the bottom line. And, while trying to perfect an articulate and smart voice with -- at times -- thesaurus assistance, what about the simple words that link and hold our thoughts together?

Here's a quiz of the 100 Most Common English Words. How many of these most frequently used words can you think of in five minutes? Be aware, this could prove challenging. Enjoy! ;)

Friday: The House That Ruth Built

Presenting Debutante Gail Konop Baker and Cancer Is a Bitch: (Or, I'd Rather Be Having a Midlife Crisis)

2008-09-22T00:05:00.000-04:00

Although Gail Konop Baker is a graduate of Simon’s Rock Early College, the University of Toledo with honors, and did graduate work at Hunter College, CUNY, and Dartmouth College, the idea of taking time out to add Debutante to her personal resume probably never crossed her mind. In fact Gail rarely thought about taking time out for anything as she worked as an advertising executive, a stand-up comic, a waitress, a high school teacher, and a journalist. Yet she has been a Debutante for more than a year at The Debutante Ball....until today -- the official release date of her memoir, Cancer Is a Bitch: (Or, I'd Rather Be Having a Midlife Crisis).

Actually, upon reading Gail's story, you'll discover that both the title and subtitle apply to this writer whose work is either published or forthcoming in Literary Mama, Talking River Review, The Potomac, Mota, The Danforth Review, Madison Magazine, Yankee Pot Roast, Wisconsin Trails, Xanadu, Womansong, Pudding Magazine, Glass Review, and an anthology funded by the Ohio Arts Council. Her Literary Mama column made its debut in October of 2006 and to learn Deb Gail's backstory please read her final column, "Somewhere in the Meld". That's such a thorough yet concise account of Gail's journey, but there's more. So let's start at that point and move backward as well as forward.

First of all there is the irony of the novel Paris Smells Like Rotten Eggs (about a woman who finds a lump in her breast and wonders if she’s lived a meaningful life) that Deb Gail completed and sent off to her then agent only two weeks prior to an annual mammogram. In the January 7, 2008 post, The Year of the Sale (In Two Parts) by Deb Gail you'll learn what happened next as well as jump ahead in time to the selling of her memoir.

And then there is the Advance Praise that literally covers the entire back cover of Cancer Is a Bitch: (Or, I'd Rather Be Having a Midlife Crisis):

"In this heartfelt memoir, [Konop] Baker proves to be both humorous...and compassionate."—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"Don't let the "C" word scare you--CANCER IS A BITCH is smart, funny, hopeful, and as much about life, families and self-discovery as the cancer that prompts it. I loved this book: Read it!"—Sara Gruen, author of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS

"Gail Konop Baker is a knock-out writer who cracks me up one minute then brings me to tears the next. Her beautiful, funny, feisty, poignant memoir isn't just an inspiration for cancer patients and their families—but for all of us. There is so much wisdom between these pages, yet the story is told without an ounce of self pity or a trace of triteness. In the end, this tale is a testament to how precarious and priceless life is, and how each of us needs to live it to the fullest, starting right now."—Lolly Winston, author of GOOD GRIEF

"CANCER IS A BITCH smartly illustrates how breast cancer impacts our roles as wives, mothers, lovers, and friends. Baker's candid recollections are also filled with extraordinary hope and humor. Witty, wise and wonderfully written."—Elizabeth Squires, author of bOObs: A Guide to Your Girls

"Gail Konop Baker has achieved the near-impossible: She's given us real life— funny, sad, intimate, heartbreaking, and hopeful— on the page. To write that way is her gift, and it's a gift to readers too."—Jon Clinch, author of FINN

********Hmm, whether they're memoirs or novels about cancer do you always read: "Don't let it scare you?" TRUST that in this case it is so true because Deb Gail has far too many other things on her mind and in her life. Besides she's happy to describe what makes her book different:

"I think it was mostly about my voice that has been described as raw, intimate, brutally honest and funny. I think what's also fresh about my voice are the inherent contradictions. It's chatty but reflective, sassy but tender, funny but sad. I also think my method of telling the story defies genre. It's a health memoir more about midlife than anything that reads like a novel."

And from Gail's blog post, Cancer Is a Bitch, on Friday, September 5, 2008:

"interviews, events, reviews oh my...
After four intense days taking our daughter to college and one day home to wash clothes and then 7 hours up to Madeline Island in Lake Superior and three days of outdoor bliss... running, kayaking, biking, sitting around the campfire until 3 am every night, I returned to my life in fast motion.

"Two interviews yesterday. Next week a photo shoot for a Madison based glossy magazine and another interview. 11 confirmed events as of today!!! My first one a local fundraiser health and wellness fair at my yoga studio to benefit Dresses that Heal that funnels money to the Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation. After that it's off to San Francisco for three events in two days. Then off to NYC for a few readings. Then back to Madison for my official launch and reading... and then Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Book Festival and Oconomowoc and a keynote speech for the Breast Cancer Recovery Conference. Most of this is listed on my website in events and news. And more reviews.. Library Journal mentioned me twice this week!

"But all of this lead me to realize that I'm going to be talking about this book a lot and sometimes I'm still not sure how to answer the most basic question... What is this book about?

"I think most reviewers have been reading the book as a cancer memoir or a health book but I'm not a health professional and while of course it is about cancer it is also about much more. So I was discussing this with a writer friend of mine (who read a galley of the book) and she sent me this quote and I thought it nailed the answer to that question... so I'm sharing it with all of you.

"'It's not a health book, but it is; it's not a memoir, but it is; it's definitely not a novel, but it has the narrative power of one. It defies genre.'"

"So whether you've had cancer or a health scare or not... my hope is that by vicariously experiencing my up and down and up again journey it will inspire you to take a fresh look at your life and start being your most amazing self today and live the life you keep meaning to live. Now. That's what this health memoir that reads like a novel is REALLY about."

Here's another brilliant post/description of Cancer Is A Bitch, Gail Konop Baker's Memoir by Katie Schwartz (Emotionally Pantsed).

It really is about this author's voice. Just consider her quote/desire printed underneath her photo at About Gail. Being somewhat uncertain of why she wanted to be Audrey Hepburn, I asked Deb Gail to explain her wish and she replied: "It meant I wanted to be elegant and gracious and cool about what was happening. And I wasn't." Well thank goodness because it's the messiness of her reality that makes such perfect sense.

However, enough of this tempting teasing, Gail offers her own by sharing Chapter One in her September 8, 2008 post, excerpt from Cancer Is a Bitch (Or, I’d Rather Be having a Midlife Crisis) by Deb Gail.

Now, while this memoir is the story about Deb Gail, it's also about her husband, children, parents, siblings and friends. She's changed their names but obviously cannot totally disguise them and I wondered how they felt about being -- um -- exposed? ;) And the author said:

"I showed everything to my husband and daughters before it went out. As much as it seems I exposed them, I left a lot out, anything that might hurt them or make them feel self-conscious. So while the book wasn't about exposing others, I also couldn't tell the full story without including them. Writing memoir is a difficult dance for just this reason. But my husband and children are happy and proud for me. In fact just the other day my 12 year old son was holding my book in his hands and he said, "'Mom, you really turned this thing around. Didn't you?'"

Of course she did. Remember that puppy her son wanted before this journey began? Meet Roxy and Otis by Deb Gail.

Cancer Is a Bitch: (Or, I'd Rather Be Having a Midlife Crisis) is a cautionary, reflective and all about life tale that reminds us how much of a gift the present truly is. The writing is utterly superb as Gail's voice speaks to your heart about her life which -- for a time -- happens to include dealing with a health issue...yet it could be any other physical, emotional, deeply personal issue. So please don't shy away from this book. Instead embrace it, be enlightened by it and -- most of all -- enjoy it.

Also the release date of this memoir has been timed to coincide with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Lots of pink items will be dangled in front of you to support this worthy cause, yet what about purchasing Cancer Is a Bitch: (Or, I'd Rather Be Having a Midlife Crisis)? A portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Coalition and the Wisconsin Well Women Program and these proceeds won’t be limited to only October. Go ahead, seize a daisy as Gail has for, in addition to the puppies, she has moved on and is currently working on a new book proposal, “Anatomy of a Marriage” and, in her words, "It's all about... marriage." TRUST: You'll love this author's voice.

Wednesday: A Challenge: Think Common

Buenos Aires

2008-09-19T00:05:00.000-04:00

Ever since beginning these Friday getaways there's been a desire to steer the magic carpet southward to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina and the third largest city in Latin America. Why? Because many moons ago I spent six weeks in the "Paris of South America" and left with incredible memories of a city who many only associate with Evita. And, although the bullet holes may still be visible on the Casa Rosa's exterior, Buenos Aires offers so much more.

TODAY'S Matt Lauer presented the perfect visual and historical/cultural background of the city when he visited on April 28, 2008 in his annual "Where in the World" Tour and finally there was a great deal to share. Yet timing is everything and -- with this week's theme focused on dance -- what better time to explore this continental city well-known for the Tango?

Best of all, this tour is a one-site stop as travel editor Peter Greenberg gives insider tips for this Argentine city in Buenos Aires: Tango, wine, $10 steak and more. This article touches upon all the highlights by first noting:

"And if you have a sense of history, Argentina is perhaps the only South American country that gives you a European experience. It all starts in Buenos Aires, a sprawling city of 3 million people -- the third-largest city in Latin America.

"But the key to understanding -- and appreciating -- Buenos Aires is to know the barrios — the neighborhoods that buzz with culture, nightlife and green spaces. There are 47 barrios in Buenos Aires, and every time I go to the city, I head for at least three of them: the pedestrian Calle Florida in Palermo, the exclusive Recoleta and the bohemian San Telmo. And don’t miss a visit to Plaza de Mayo, the large, attractive open square that has been the site of many important historical events, including Eva Peron's (better known as Evita's) famous speech."

And then there are:

"Trips outside the city

"Head right out to the Pampas and the legendary estancias — the great family-owned ranches with the bigger-than-life gauchos (cowboys). There's also great horseback riding and steaks."

Ah the pampas...which, in recollection, was populated with corrugated tin or cardboard shacks that had a flimsy wire antennae stuck on every roof. Indelible sights as was the flat land stretching ahead on the road until melding with the horizon of a Tiffany box blue sky. And, though not a red meat lover, I will vouch that the steaks melt in your mouth.

But, as usual, this blog post is not about me and the following videos -- all on the right hand side of the website -- provide a terrific description of the facts, flavor and feel of an exciting city:

First "Launch" Hola! Where in the World is Lauer?
April 28: TODAY’s Matt Lauer arrives at the first stop of his around-the-world adventure, “Where in the World is Matt Lauer?” Join him as he says “hola” to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Then

Lauer’s quickie tour of Buenos Aires
April 28: TODAY’s Matt Lauer gives some quick facts about Buenos Aires, the fascinating capital city of Argentina.

Followed by

Buenos Aires: City of beauty
April 28: TODAY’s Matt Lauer talks with freelance journalist Angeles Mase about the beauty of Buenos Aires, which many compare to a European capital city for its architecture and sophistication.

Next a bit farther afield

Patagonia: Still unspoiled
April 28: As part of his “Where in the World” visit to Argentina, Matt Lauer discovers fly-fishing, sheepshearing and other activities in Patagonia, one of the last unspoiled places on Earth.

And finally

It takes two to tango
April 28: In Buenos Aires, Argentina, to kick off this year’s “Where in the World” tour, Matt Lauer gets an impromptu tango lesson from a professional dancer and views a colorful demonstration.

Indeed this is as realistic as a virtual trip can be and it is hoped you all enjoyed. Now, care to tango?! ;)

Monday: Presenting Debutante Gail Konop Baker and Cancer Is a Bitch: (Or, I'd Rather Be Having a Midlife Crisis)

About Your Personal Dance Steps

2008-09-17T00:05:00.000-04:00

All this talk about The Debutante Ball conjures up dance styles, rhythm and how you like to swing or sway, twist or flip. Therefore is it any wonder that a Blogthings quiz exists to describe what your favorite dance steps say about you? My answers were honest -- this was not a setup -- but the results revealed might have you musing *G*:

You Are Ballroom Dancing
You are sophisticated and classy. Definitely not the type to be seen dancing on a bar.
You are a bit old fashioned. You prefer dance to be subtly sexy, not in your face sexy.

You are sentimental and nostalgic. You appreciate the beauty of old things.
You are even tempered and cooperative. You work well with a partner.

The floor is all yours, What Dance Are You?

Friday: Buenos Aires

The Debutante Ball Class of '09

2008-09-15T00:05:00.001-04:00

Listen closely. Do you hear the orchestra playing its first few musical notes over at the grog, known as The Debutante Ball? Yes it's that time again as the Deb Class of '09 began their dancing a few weeks ago and, though all five of these multi-talented, about-to-become authors are scheduled to be formally presented here in due time, you can Meet the 2009 Debutantes! now. Kristina Riggle, Katie Alender, Eve Brown-Waite, Meredith Cole and Tiffany Baker offer something for everyone to either identify with and/or interest. For further proof, take a look at About This Season’s Books!.

Hmm, is your daily dance card (blog reader) too full for another post stop? Then why not choose to follow one Deb on her day as they (including their past two weeks of writing) appear in the following order :

Monday: Kristina (Real Life and Liars) Groucho Marx, Grilled Cheese and Me, by Deb Kristina, In which Deb Kristina finally sheds her inflatable arm swimmies.

Tuesday: Katie (Bad Girls Don’t Die) My dog ate my pearls, by Deb Katie, Backward, turn backward, oh Time in thy flight….

Wednesday: Meredith Cole (Posed For Murder) White Gloves and Waltzing, by Deb Meredith, Riding the Bus by Deb Meredith.

Thursday: Tiffany (The Little Giant of Aberdeen County) Girl Thursday by Tiffany, School Daze.

Friday: Eve (First Comes Love, then Comes Malaria? How a Peace Corps Poster Boy Won My Heart and A Third World Adventure Changed My Life) Last One Out…or Eve in a Nutshell, Praise the School Bus and Do the Happy Dance!.

You've probably also noticed the presence of a sixth Debutante, Gail Konop Baker, who is actually a member of the Class of '08. Gail's memoir, Cancer Is a Bitch: (Or, I'd Rather Be Having a Midlife Crisis) is scheduled to be presented here next Monday when it will be released to coincide with October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month/Campaign. Do stay tuned for that, while taking a whirl around the ballroom floor. You're sure to enjoy!

[Note: With tremendous pride and joy, I offer The New York Times Review of TETHERED (scroll down) and a standing ovation to Amy!]

Wednesday: About Your Personal Dance Steps

Luxembourg

2008-09-12T00:05:00.000-04:00

Last week, as Luxembourg's Gilles Muller played defending and again ultimate champion Roger Federer (Switzerland) in the Men's Singles' Quarterfinals at the U.S. Tennis Open, the TV commentators were at a loss to even pinpoint Muller's home country. As a result they joked about it -- the country, that is -- and put forth a tongue-in-cheek comment that the capital was probably Luxembourg City. Well they amazingly were correct and that's where our Friday getaway takes us, just a bit off the beaten path.

As the only Grand Duchy in the world, Luxembourg is a small country landlocked by Belgium, France and Germany and has always been historically linked with these larger neighbors. Although under the control of many states and ruling houses throughout the past, it has remained a separate, if not autonomous, political unit since the 10th century. However, today, Luxembourg is a hereditary Grand Duchy with a unicameral parliamentary system and a member of a customs union -- organized in 1948 -- that has evolved into the European Union. And, despite its small size, the country's central location, political stability, and multilingual population have proved advantageous to it as a financial center -- courtesy of generous tax incentives. Thus banking, insurance, and the steel industry are the basis of its strong economy, although agriculture and wine production are also important. For Luxembourg is primarily made up of rolling hills and forests and it shares the Moselle valley with Germany where the local white wines are well known.

Now Luxembourg City -- the capital (population 78,000) and former fortress -- is a contrasting mix of the old and the new. The old part of the city runs along a deep valley beneath casemates and was given World Heritage status in 1995. While these casemates proved a ready defense in times of war, the more modern part of town is the headquarters of the European Court of Justice and of the European Investment Bank, and is one of the three seats of the European Parliament. Indeed one might claim that today the city protects the banks and its fourteen five-star restaurants -- the most in any country!

For a guide to the sights and attractions of the city, please read BACK IN TIME - HISTORY AND LANDMARKS that will provide you with a list of "must sees." Then there's a 360 degree panoramic Virtual City Tour of Luxembourg which includes: Bock Casemates; Grund river; National Museum of History of Luxembourg city; Palace of the Grand Dukes 01; Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat - courtyard; Wencelass Wall; Trois Tours - Rue du Pont and European Court of Justice.

After spending the summer with Matt Gross, the frugal traveler, and learning more from his warm exchanges with the people of the countries he visited, it's wished that Gilles Muller could be -- or should have been -- interviewed before his tennis match. Nevertheless we all now know where and why Luxembourg exists. It may be small but this Grand Duchy is financially influential and oh so charming, enjoy your visit.

Monday: The Debutante Ball Class of '09

Remembering Ellie

2008-09-10T00:05:00.000-04:00

Almost one year ago in the Thursday, September 27, 2007 post, "Three Women in Unique Careers," a link to the Smithsonian.com interview -- FOR HIRE: Perfume Nose -- featured Celiné Ellena, a third-generation fragrance expert. And, although creating a new perfume is a fascinating career and talent, the task is anything but easy.

So what were the odds that thirty-two year old Jessica Dunne, a former psychology major with a concentration in neuroscience at Haverford College, could successfully realize her dream of producing a perfume with "a soft ladylike scent that would remind her of her grandmother’s dressing table, laden with bottles of Joy, Shalimar, and Chanel No. 5?"

If you read the The New York Times article, An Underdog Pursues the Scent By Natasha Singer, Published: August 20, 2008, you'll learn that:

"In 2005, Dunne decided to research what it would take to make her own perfume. She sent an e-mail to Michel Roudnitska in Grasse, France, one of the select perfumers behind the spicy niche fragrance Frederic Malle. Roudnitska comes from a long family of perfumers; his father, Edmond Roudnitska, created Christian Dior's Eau Savage.

"Roudnitska, who said he receives at least one e-mail per week from someone who wants to collaborate with him, said he decided to work with Dunne because he sensed her passion."

Ah, sound familiar -- a la David Wroblewski's story? This young wife and mother had a dream, a passion and a loving backstory for The Inspiration of Ellie. And, according to the Times, "The result is a modernist rendition of old-school perfumes with a vintage ladylike properness to it. If Ellie were a Broadway musical, it could be called "'Thoroughly Modern Grannie.'"

With focused determination and precise attention to every detail, Ms. Dunne's creation debuted early last year at Henri Bendel's in New York primarily due to Claudia Lucas, the store's perfume buyer, who liked the scent, but "also had a hunch that her clients would respond to the brand story: an authentically sweet tale of a young woman who dreamed of creating a fragrance based on her olfactory memories of perfumes worn by her grandmother.

"Indeed, even among such rarefied fragrances, the advent of a one-woman do-it-yourself fragrance house that has already sold several hundred $180 bottles of perfume is an unlikely success story. Ms. Dunne’s trajectory from Villanova to the shelves of one of America’s most discerning perfume counters is a tale of pluck, luck, word of mouth and exquisite timing.

"Fortuitously for Ellie, it plays into two recent beauty trends: consumers looking for niche products their friends don’t have; and scent nostalgia, the fragrance equivalent of comfort food."

This June, Ms. Dunne's second scent, Ellie Nuit, was introduced at Bendel's and both fragrances now are available at Fred Segal in Los Angeles and London's Harrods. You might also like to visit the Ellie Perfume website.

Again today, this post is not necessarily a recommendation for Jessica Dunne's creation. However a caption under one of the article's photo reads: "SMELL OF SUCCESS: For Jessica Dunne, Ellie is a dream come true." Yes, dreams do!

Friday: Luxembourg

David Wroblewski's Story

2008-09-08T00:05:00.002-04:00

Although authors are regularly presented here at Seize a Daisy only the post, The Perfect Book for Boys Is "Dangerous", has featured male writers/brothers -- Conn and Hal Iggulden. Who knows why men have been scarce on this blog, but on Thursday morning, August 28th, a TODAY segment with debut novelist David Wroblewski captured my attention. Here was a computer software designer who believed he had a story to tell and simply decided to learn "how to" do it.

Ten (actually fifteen) years later the result of his work is The New York Times bestselling novel, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. And, while this is not necessarily a recommendation of the book, this is a strong recommendation to watch the three and a half minute Video interview of David Wroblewski. Just "Launch" the Video, listen to his story and realize that you, too, can do anything you dream as long as you have a plan.

To learn more about this debut novelist and the novel's backstory, read This Summer’s Dog Days Suit One Novelist Fine by Patricia Cohen, published on July 9, 2008 in The New York Times. There's also the opportunity to read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle First Chapter,A Handful of Leaves.

Enjoy and move forward with your dream...it's a new season!

Wednesday: Remembering Ellie

The Grand Tour Finale: Amsterdam and Edinburgh

2008-08-22T00:05:00.000-04:00

In the Friday, March 23, 2007 post, Amsterdam we took off on a spring fling to enjoy the flowers and culture of the Dutch city. That was well over a year ago and our virtual visit with panoramic views allowed for a grand tour. Now it's the frugal traveler's turn to show us the city as he winds down his three month Grand Tour.

Going Dutch in Amsterdam chronicles this adventure and seems to have Matt Gross sounding weary, wary or simply lonely because -- after all --it was his birthday:

"After almost three months on the road, I was craving an easy, low-key weekend of cozy conviviality. In Amsterdam, I wanted to walk along the canals, admire the well-kept Golden Age edifices, investigate some of the city’s smaller museums and reflect placidly on the adventures of the past 11 weeks before heading off for one final week of festivity in Edinburgh, Scotland. Late nights, parties, transformative experiences — not what I wanted. Frugal relaxation in one of the most pleasant cities in the world — that would be the ticket.

"But when I ventured outside, I felt like a country bumpkin on his first trip to the big city, gawking at everything from the tall, narrow buildings in the 17th-century style of Philips Vingboons in the 17th century to the tall, pretty girls riding bicycles and talking on cellphones (at the same time, of course). It had only been six weeks since I left Rome, but that short time in the provinces — a knife dangling from my belt, my thumb extended to catch a ride, my eyes and ears alert for double-dealing taxi drivers — had transformed me. In Amsterdam, I crossed bike lanes with caution and was wary of all who approached me. I was a yokel."

Of course the article offers much more, including the accompanying Video that explores the border town between Holland and Belgium with a most complicated boundary system. There's also a Slide Show showcasing the frugal traveler's highlights in Amsterdam before he heads off to his final destination of Edinburgh.

Described as one of Europe's fairest cities, the Athens of the North, and the gateway to central Scotland, Edinburgh -- built atop extinct volcanoes on an inlet from the North Sea -- is enveloped by rolling hills, lakes, and forests. Its Old Town and New Town sport elegant streets, cobbled alleys, lovely squares and hilltops that provide natural panoramic views of the fading summer evening light known as the "gloaming."

The city's past is populated with historic and literary icons: John Knox, Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Alexander Graham Bell, Sir Walter Scott, and even Prince Charlie. However Edinburgh has recently become famous for hosting the ever-growing Edinburgh International Festival, filled with a world-class list of cultural events. And it is at the Festival that Matt Gross chose to end his journey:

"But as I followed in the footsteps of the original, 18th-century Grand Tourists and made my way back to the British Isles, I knew I had one last opportunity to expand my cultural horizons, even as the sun was setting on my journey. I was going to Edinburgh for what’s referred to there simply as “the Festival.”"

With the rain, the crowds, the overwhelming selection of events and a down-to-the-last euro budget, discover how our Grand Tour traveler spent a Festive Finale in Edinburgh. Again there's a Slide Show and Video that offer great visual information/entertainment.

And so ends our summer travels across Europe. Yes, it was a different type of travel escape and hopefully you enjoyed it...I did. ;) Now it's time, however, for a real escape -- joining those who will celebrate the last weeks of a very busy summer -- by taking some time off. My intention is to relax, regroup and slightly reinvent this blog. How? Hmm, not sure exactly but maybe more spontaneous, less predictable and any or all suggestions from you are welcome. Please, just ask!

Savor the final weeks of the season, do pick up at least one of the terrific books presented here in the last five weeks, and I hope to see you back here sometime in September. Until then (altogether now)...Enjoy!

What's Your Sense?

2008-08-20T00:05:00.000-04:00

While almost all of us know which of our five senses is most dominant, is it possible that a Blogthings quiz could come up with the same assessment? And, if so, how does our predominant sense define us?

There was no surprise to my ultimate sense result, see for yourself. ;)

You are the Sense of Sight
You are a very observant, detail oriented person.
You are able to take in a lot of information at once.
You often see things that other people never notice.
You have a good eye for design and aesthetics.
You love to be surrounded by beauty - natural or not.
When you imagine how something should look, you see it clearly in your mind.

Now Which of the Five Senses Are You?

Friday: The Grand Tour Finale: Amsterdam and Edinburgh

Mia King and Sweet Life

2008-08-18T00:05:00.002-04:00

From the Book's Front Cover
"King writes with style and verve, making you laugh and cry."__Jessica Barksdale Inclan , author of The Matter of Grace
Most readers/fans of Mia King's debut novel, Good Things, already know that the author and her husband moved to Hawaii from California back in 2000, leaving behind corporate jobs for a simpler way of life. And, while Good Things focused on being forced to accept a more basic life, Sweet Life -- Mia's second novel to be released Tuesday, September 2nd -- actually begins with the hopeful promise of life in Paradise.

Yet is that possible?

Sweet Life Book Trailer

For the moment, though, all you really need to know is that Mia considers Sweet Life to be a book close to her heart. Indeed part of the reason is because its setting takes place on the Big Island of Hawaii where she lives, yet there are also the facts that the storyline examines a family in crisis, a couple whose marriage is obviously put to the test and a mother who is struggling to be a good parent while discovering what that really means to her.

Describing and defining her fiction in Recipe Research posted on Friday, August 1st at Tote Bags 'n' Blogs, Mia noted:

"My novels have a few things in common. My heroines are in their early 40’s, they all have a seemingly good life, and they all have their worlds turned upside down, usually by chapter three. As challenging as it might seem at first, it pushes them to discover who they really are and what matters most. I’m a big believer in relationships and HEA, so all my books have that in common, too, plus a dollop of humor. What else? Oh, right. My books all contain recipes."

And, of course, that's why Sweet Life is based upon "What if you got away from it all -- then it all got away from you?" Here's a Synopsis:

"When her husband gets a new job, Marissa Price, 40, leaves the island of Manhattan for the island of Hawaii. Paradise seems like the perfect place to find herself, save her marriage, and reconnect with her daughter. Marissa soon discovers that her new life is less about beaches and beautiful sunsets and more about cows and lava flows. Their new "home" is a fixer-upper at best, and her brilliant daughter suddenly wants to be homeschooled. But what needs fixing the most--her marriage--is the first thing to crumble when her husband announces he wants time apart to find himself. Pulled in opposite directions, Marissa is faced with the most important decision of her life--a choice that will define who she is, what she wants, and where her happiness lies."

Also more Early Praise:

"Sweet Life is the ultimate 'escape-and-find-yourself' novel--funny, poignant, and filled with home truths any woman can relate to. This book is as warm and delicious as the recipes ... a delightful indulgence!" NYT Bestselling Author Susan Wiggs

"Mia King is a winner when it comes to creating memorial characters readers will love."
USA Today Bestselling Author Jill Marie Landis

Knowing that Mia and her husband had made the seemingly same move to Hawaii, are you wondering if any of the novel is autobiographical? Not really, though this subject is addressed in FAQs with the author conceding:

"That's always the challenge when you write about where you live, and a few details overlap! Yes, we did make the move to Hawaii over 8 years ago, but we came without jobs and completely on a whim. I was 7 months pregnant at the time, so no young precocious children (yet!) to influence our decision. We came on vacation, felt the call to Hawaii (we'd been to every island several times except the Big Island; obviously we saved the best for last!), and made the move from San Francisco a couple of months later.

"What I did take from my own experience is the challenge of moving to a new place, and the unexpected friendships that form. I love the town of Waimea (Kamuela), so I used that as the setting for SWEET LIFE and added some colorful details as well. We do homeschool our kids, and sneaking that into my books keeps it interesting. That's one area where Marissa and I are alike—I wouldn't have believed you if you told me that I would one day homeschool my kids!

"Sometimes I can't believe it myself, to be honest. Before moving to Hawaii I knew only a handful of people who homeschooled, and never considered it as an option for me (sure, it was fine for them). To be completely honest, I was skeptical if not critical of homeschooling. I mean, come on! Homeschooling?!!

"What changed our mind was seeing so many successful homeschool families raise great kids. The kids were not only smart, but engaging in activities or subjects that played to their strengths. More importantly, we saw great family relationships between siblings, parents, and the kids themselves. Strong inner cores. It was inspiring and the next thing we knew, we were giving it a go.

"Now, after three years, I can say that we love it. Not all of the time, because (if this part wasn't self-evident), you are with your kids a lot more than if they were in school. A LOT. And yes, while it may drive you crazy to be with your kids all the time at first, it does get better, I promise."

In addition to the inclusion of homeschooling, Sweet Life -- like Good Things -- offers some wonderful recipes in the back of the book that tie into the story. Mia feels fortunate to have had some of Hawaii's top chefs and foodies share their favorite recipes and also has included some of her own. In fact here's the writer’s delicious temptation: "Host a book club luau to talk about the book and I'll send some goodies your way!"

And there's still time to enter the Life is Sweet Hawaiian gift basket contest.

However for everyone seeking instant gratification, you can now read a pdf Excerpt of the novel and discover a few new recipes as well.

Sweet Life, whose book club rights sold to Bookspan as a featured alternate for Doubleday, Literary Guild and Book of the Month clubs, can be pre-ordered online and/or purchased at your favorite bookstore on Tuesday, September 2nd -- the day after Labor Day. And somehow that release date doesn't seem accidental. After all, what better way to extend the summer than by escaping to Hawaii within the pages of Mia King's promised one sweet life? Enjoy!

[Note: Cheers to Jess Riley who is thrilled that Driving Sideways has gone into its FOURTH printing and that Target has acknowledged the debut novel’s strong showing by moving it from the “Break-Out” section to the “New Release Bestseller” section! Here's the Seize a Daisy Monday, May 19, 2008 post Presenting Debutante Jess Riley and Driving Sideways for anyone who may have missed it. To be sure, this novel definitely has staying power in its "legs." Hop on her road trip now!]

Wednesday: What's Your Sense?

Gdansk, Poland and Harz, Mts. Germany

2008-08-15T00:05:00.001-04:00

This week our Friday's first stop along the frugal traveler's version of The Grand Tour is Gdansk, Poland -- a selection chosen by 56 percent of The New York Times readers over Copenhagen and Hamburg. What did they know about this city besides its historic shipyards, birthplace of the Solidarity movement, which brought down Polish Communism in the 1980s?

Well, as Matt Gross discovered, Gdansk has become a tourist haven as one of three Baltic Sea towns -- Sopot and Gdynia being the others -- that make up what is now known as the Polish Riviera. Rather surprising, yet the changes in historic Europe are part of what this contemporary Grand Tour has tried to convey. Still our frugal traveler describes what seems like the past:

"Gdansk is centered on the Main Town, a neighborhood of arched passageways, gilded ornamentation and stately brick buildings that testify to the city’s wealth in the 16th and 17th centuries."

Only to be followed by the reality of the present:

"Church bells ring out the hours, buskers embark on indie-folk careers in the cobblestone streets and children slurp ice cream cones and clutch helium balloons along the waterfront promenade."

Of course the bronze fountain statue of Neptune, designed/erected in 1549, has become a popular meeting place and it’s easy to hope that all such glories have survived centuries of change and turbulence.

"Except that they haven’t. The Main Town should not to be confused with the Old Town, which was leveled and rebuilt, Soviet style, after World War II. The history museum had numerous photos of what Gdansk looked like in 1945, after the Nazi invasion and years of Allied bombing: near-total ruin. Ninety percent of Gdansk’s Main Town was rubble, and it took decades of craftsmanship to achieve the historic-looking neighborhood visitors see today. How exactly that was achieved was left unclear by the museum, which had minimal English translations."

There is so much more to Gdansk than the Solidarity movement and its triumph over Communism. Matt Gross explains and writes about his explorations in Shipyards to Sheratons in Gdansk. In addition to the usual Video, you'll also find a Slide Show of this city that has literary been rebuilt in the last sixty years.

So much for the latest European hot spot, though, as our continental wanderer wants to be alone. The Harz Mountains -- consisting of 860 square miles of hills, forests, lakes and rivers -- is a national park located almost in the middle of Germany and appears to be the perfect place to get away from it all. Or, at least, Matt thinks as he heads to Thale. The town, at the edge of the Harz, is where the Bode River spills down from a "steep, green-swathed gorge that’s sometimes referred to as the Grand Canyon of Germany." And it's there in the stillness of twilight that Harz folklore legends -- including those about witches who fly to the 3,747-foot-tall peak of Brocken, the tallest mountain in northern Germany, and that a creature called the Brocken Spectre patrols the misty trails -- can come to life in one's imagination. Dodging Witches and Wild Boar in Germany proves a lovely respite, even if it's not completely solitary. The article sets the stage and the Video brings it to life. What a relaxing way to end the week and, best of all, the frugal traveler did the walking for us! ;)

Happy mid-August weekend to you.

Monday: Mia King and Sweet Life

The Art of Paper Folding Set to Music

2008-08-13T00:05:00.000-04:00

Remember the Tedtalks? Well, here's "Bruno Bowden & Rufus Cappadocia: Origami, blindfolded and to music" to delight and entertain you in less than 3 minutes.

Obviously adept and skillfully talented, these two men -- in their day jobs -- share what the see and hear in their heads.

"Bruno Bowden was part of the team at Keyhole, the company that built EarthViewer -- a groundbreaking (and addictive) piece of software that lets you fly smoothly over an image of the globe assembled from satellite photos, and then zoom in on your own house. When Google bought Keyhole, Bowden helped turn the software into the indispensable Google Earth. Recently, he's moved over to the Google Gadgets side, helping to build more gotta-have-it technology.

He is also an enthusiastic student of the new origami."

And:

"Rufus Cappadocia uses his cello to play the music he hears around the world, filtered through the music in his head. A dedicated musicologist, he has played and studied deeply in many genres, from Haitian voodoo music to Indian ghazal, from Celtic to Balkan. The rich, jazz-inflected sound he pulls from his instrument (which he started playing at age 3) is a passionate through-line in all his work.

Cappadocia writes, records, and plays live, both solo and in several groups -- including Bethany & Rufus (Bethany is Bethany Yarrow, the daughter of Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary) and the Vodou Jazz Ensemble."

Origami, blindfolded and to music

Care/dare to try?! ;)

Friday: The Grand Tour: Gdansk and Harz, Mts. Germany

Tish Cohen and Inside Out Girl

2008-08-11T00:05:00.005-04:00

From the Book's Front Cover:
"There is not one single wrong note in this story of crisis and courage. It drives home the truth we ignore to survive. Each of us is a secret, especially to ourselves."__Jacquelyn Mitchard, bestselling author of The Deep End of The Ocean and Cage of Stars

Tish Cohen, in her highly acclaimed debut novel Town House, gave voice and storyline to a charming agoraphobic who tried his best to fit into the real world while he lived within the confines of his own "safe" zone. Tomorrow, though, with the release of her second adult novel, Inside Out Girl, this author introduces us to a young girl with a learning disability who is already out in the world, even though she doesn't fit in.

Are these characters mere fictional rarities? Hardly! In fact, Tish is inspired by the eccentric personalities that make up most families and she's "particularly drawn to stories that highlight childhood and certain quirks that can color a person’s entire view of the world." And, while we may joke about an "odd" Uncle or a "goofy" cousin, how many times did we also wonder if there was an explanation for their actions?

Fascinated by the conditions and behavioral consequences of those children never quite socially accepted, Tish vividly recalls how her close friend -- a family therapist -- told her that the children with non-verbal learning disorders are among her favorite clients because of their loving dispositions, despite their naiveté, and utter inability to connect with other children.

The author elaborates:

"She loved that they talked too close, constantly knocked things over, said the wrong thing, and still got lost on the way to the restroom down the hall in an office they’d been coming to for five years. Often they can’t walk up the stairs and talk at the same time, their clothes are inside out and their lack of motor skills means they can’t brush their own teeth. If you tell them to jump in a lake, they probably will. Frustrating, to say the least.

"But they will hug you until you weep. They not only wear their hearts on their sleeves, but on a neon sign above their heads. They see nothing wrong with marching straight up to the meanest clique in middle grade or the bully everyone fears and wrapping themselves around them in a full-body hug. And they cannot for the life of them see why they’re rejected."

So Olivia Bean, the fictional Inside Out Girl, became one of approximately 15 million children, adolescents and adults with learning disabilities in the U.S. alone. A startlingly and sobering statistic, isn't it? Now, to be specific, Olivia has NLD -- often mistaken for Asperger’s Syndrome -- as Tish describes in her post, Why write a novel about NLD?:

"NLD is a particularly poignant condition. Often misdiagnosed as Asperger’s Syndrome (high-functioning autism) or Savant Syndrome (a developmental handicap accompanied by extraordinary mental abilities in one or more fields), children with NLD typically excel in early speech and vocabulary development, and display a remarkable memory for things that interest them. Like the Aspie child, Olivia Bean in INSIDE OUT GIRL is capable of discussing the elimination habits of the Norway rat long after you’ve thrown out the dinner you no longer have the desire to eat!

"Just like Aspie’s, kids with NLD tend to fall short with social, motor and visual-spatial skills. The subtlety of language eludes them. The subtlety of social innuendo eludes them. They tend to be the kids in 7th grade who show up wearing sweatpants pulled up to their armpits and the musty woolen liners of their winter boots—social suicide in middle grade. The other kids often pick on them and they can fall prey to relentless bullying.

"And here lies the poignancy of NLD. Aspies tend to exist within their own isolated social bubble, uninterested in connecting with other children. Not so with the NLDer. The child with NLD—so sweet and naïve—typically wants to be loved, wants to be accepted. Every snub in the playground wounds them to the core. Olivia Bean longs for her birthday party so she can invite everyone from her class. But her father knows no matter how many invitations his daughter doles out, not a single child will show up. The NLD child wants social acceptance more than anything, and more often than not will never achieve it.

"Just imagine your own child going through this."

On the other hand, what if this wasn't exactly your own child? And that brings us to the Synopsis:

"Rachel Berman is extra careful about everything. As the overprotective single mother of two, she is acutely aware of the statistical dangers lurking around every corner – which makes her snap decision to aid a stranded motorist wholly uncharacteristic. Leonard Bean is stuck on the shoulder with Olivia, his rodent-obsessed, relentlessly curious, learning disabled ten-year-old daughter. To the chagrin of Rachel’s children, who are loath to be linked to the most mocked girl in school, Rachel and Len begin dating. And it looks like they just might find their own unique version of happily ever after.

But the world refuses to be predictable. When Len receives terrible news, it profoundly alters Rachel’s relationship with a very wild, very special little girl and brings up a dark mystery from the past, giving Rachel a new appreciation for her own children’s unpredictable lives. Only Olivia, an unlikely hero in inside-out pajamas, can bring these mismatched souls together into the most unpredictable thing of all: a family."

Please visit Tish Cohen, where you can read the early Praise for what has been described -- along with other heartfelt raves -- as "a wise, witty gem," and "a life-affirming novel about the families we choose, those that are chosen for us..."

Also, at the website, you'll find the Backstory, "An Afternoon with Gillian," that offers the writer's upclose and personal experience with a NLD thirteen-year-old who literally caused a rewrite of Inside Out Girl. And then read the Excerpt, Chapter 2 of the novel.

Entertaining as well as informative and empathetic Inside Out Girl will be a Target "Breakout Book" from mid-August to mid-October, bringing the attention and voice to those who Tish thinks of as: "People who, because of their conditions, might feel alienated, as if real life is happening at a different speed, at a different frequency. I like to think of them as the Eleanor Rigbys of the world." And, for those "lonely people" -- as well as most importantly those who love them --, the author has started a new blog for adults/ parents dealing with psychological, learning, and developmental disorders in themselves or their children. Stop by Waits at the Window to join in the discussion. One current post examines the difference between Asperger's Syndrome and Non-Verbal Learning Disorder.

A busy woman, isn't she? Yet here's Tish Cohen: On the Fly -- A brief video interview with the author by her publicist, Laura Fetterley, as she talks about the inspiration behind Rachel, the protagonist from her novel and the differences between writing children and adult books.

Whether or not your life has been personally affected by any of these psychological, learning, and developmental conditions doesn't matter. We all are different in some way, perhaps even hiding our secret most of the time. In fact, the author believes that this story will touch many because:

"I’m not sure anyone really feels certain of their social acceptance at all times. Most of us have a nagging suspicion that we’re faking it -- in our successes, our careers, our roles as parents or leaders -- and might be "'found out'" at any minute."

However Tish Cohen's Olivia Bean can't fake it and is as genuine as possible. How brave, refreshing and enjoyable does that sound? Inside Out Girl becomes available tomorrow, be sure to take her home!

Wednesday: The Art of Paper Folding Set to Music

The Grand Tour: Bucharest and Vilnius, Lithuania

2008-08-08T00:05:00.000-04:00

It’s another summer Friday and time to catch up with Matt Gross -- our favorite frugal traveler -- as he rides the rails for 18 hours from Istanbul to Bucharest, Romania. Bucharest, known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, is filled with historical charm that includes the streets of the Old City Centre, the great architecture of the Royal Palace and the lush green of Cismigiu Park. However, in The Grand Tour tradition, it's they city's buzzing cultural scene -- 37 museums, 22 theatres, concert halls, opera house, 18 art galleries, jazz clubs and hip nightclubs -- that has lured our frugal wanderer.

In 1989 when Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu was overthrown and executed, life changed for Romania. However it takes some years of practice to acknowledge and know what to do with freedom and not until about three years ago did Bucharest undergo a subtle revolution that transformed the capital and the residents' daily life. As Matt describes in Spying on Bucharest’s Cool Underground:

"Here’s what happened: All around the capital, with no formal organization whatsoever, bar and restaurant owners grabbed their chairs and tables, carried them outside and … put them down gently, creating terraces and sidewalk cafes. No longer would patrons be confined to electric-lighted interiors! Now they could eat stuffed cabbage rolls and polenta in the fresh air, shaded from the sun by umbrellas advertising Ciuc beer!"

No longer was public life restricted and people -- now able to go out to meet friends (or strangers) in bars and cafes -- did so. And, when people gather, they talk, exchange ideas and come up with interesting developments such as: new museums, clever art projects, even a film scene garnering international acclaim. This is what the frugal traveler notes in his article, accompanying Video and Slide Show -- all of which are filled with hope.

Next we're off to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, where Matt Gross explores the city's Old Town, and -- more importantly -- takes a personal journey back in time to discover his family's real name and heritage. Many descendants of Eastern Europeans who immigrated to the United States at the turn of the last century can relate to the need to stop here, even though the 18th century Grand Tourists would have avoided it. However, the frugal traveler explains in Tracing Family Roots in Vilnius that:

"Those wealthy Englishmen were preoccupied with the Greco-Roman world — the basis of their civilization — but these days we have to acknowledge a wider range of influences, whether they’re African, Asian or, in my case, Eastern European Jewish.

And from the late 14th century up to World War II, Lithuania was the intellectual heart of the Eastern European Jewish world. Mostly free from the pogroms that afflicted them in neighboring lands, the Jewish community thrived, and Vilnius became a spiritual center, with 100 synagogues, almost 100,000 Jewish residents and, in the 18th century, a leader so wise and respected he is simply referred to as the Vilna Gaon — the Teacher of Vilnius."

Fascinating and certainly memorable, this city's past and present is vividly detailed in the article and Video. For as Matt Gross garners information and perspective on his roots, he may well cause us to reflect on our own past as well. Whatever you do, though, enjoy your weekend!

Monday: Tish Cohen and Inside Out Girl

Let the Games Begin

2008-08-06T00:05:00.001-04:00

This Friday, 08.08.08, the 2008 Beijing Olympics begin and as an alternative to NBC's promos this BBC Sport department's animated video campaign to promote its coverage is charming. Artists Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn from the band Gorillaz produced the cool animation and music.

Their spot is based on the traditional Chinese folklore, 'Journey to the West,' by following Monkey on his adventures to the Beijing National Stadium Bird’s Nest, where he lights the Olympic flame. During his journey Monkey meets numerous obstacles and foes alike, but with the help of a cute pig and other friends, he defeats them and arrives safely to accomplish his mission.

Hmm, Monkey might well deserve a Gold Medal! ;)

Friday: The Grand Tour: Bucharest and Vilnius, Lithuania