Daddy's Roses

1776 by David McCullough

2011-09-12T07:59:00.000-04:00

1776 by David McCullough
My rating: 5 stars

It had been at least 50 years since I studied anythiing relating to the Revolutionary War, so I began reading 1776 (upon recommendation by by brother)wondering if I even had the background to understand it. I found it a highly-readable narrative of the events of that year in American history. It was replete with quotes from the diaries and letters of the famous and relatively-unknown men who fought that fight for our freedom. I was interested to read of battle strategies and found the personal glimpses of historical figures fascinating. Particularly interesting to me were the letters giving the on-the-scene evaluations of completed battles. Time and history have given new perspective to many of these. Time does alter perception - and it is possible to be too close to a situation to accurately evaluate it. Overall, this is an excellent book.

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In Memory of Robert Joseph Foti

2011-09-10T06:25:00.001-04:00

I wrote this tribute to a valient 9/11 hero on the 5th anniversary of his death. I reprinted in on the 6th anniversary and am reprinting it again on this 10th anniversary. God bless the memory of this wonderful fireman and his colleagues who gave their all that day!

9-11 Tribute - Robert Joseph Foti

On the fifth anniversary of the terrible events of September 11, 2001, bloggers around the world paid tribute to those who died in those terrorists attacks. I had the honor of paying tribute to NY firefighter, Robert Joseph Foti.

Here is a reprint of that tribute to one of our brave public servants who lost his life serving the public that day.

In Memory of Robert Joseph Foti
New York City Fire Fighter:

As we approach the 5th anniversary of the coordinated terrorist attacks on the United States in which so many lives were lost, it is right and proper that we remind ourselves and the world of what we all lost on that day. Robert J. Foti, brave New York City Fireman, was one of those great losses.

Robert Joseph Foti, son of Rosemarie and Joseph Foti, husband of Mary Grace, and father of 12-year-old Alycia, 11-year old Robert, and 4-year-old James, was 42 years old and supporting his family as a New York City firefighter. He had worked on Ladder 7 in Manhattan for 13 years.

The morning of September 11, 2001 began like most others as this hard-working, much-loved son, husband, father, and friend, was getting ready to go home after working an overnight shift. He called his wife at 8:40 to tell her he would be getting off work at 9:00. This was the last time anyone heard from Bobby, as he was called by family and friends. He died while saving others in the burning towers of the World Trade Center.

In the memorial held on October 6, 2001, family and friends mourned his loss with no remains to bury and no burial site to visit.

On September 10, 2002, the New York Times ran an article about him in which they told of a snapshot they referred to as “The Santa Claus Picture” which was displayed in the firehouse. Mary Grace, Bobby’s wife, had seen him and their son, James, in the bathtub with soapsuds beards like Santas. Bobby was chewing a cigar and had his arms around James. He protested laughingly at her intent to take a picture, but the result of her determination made a great photo.

On March 22, 2003, this story emerged: Bobby and Mary Grace honeymooned in Jamaica in June 2001. Both were stunned at the poverty they saw there. Bobby was killed only 4 months later, but a group called Food for the Poor raised money in the names of those rescue workers who perished in the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001. With the funds raised they built many 12 by 12 wooden homes for impoverished families in Jamaica. They built one home for each of the rescuers who died in the World Trade Center, a total of 403 houses! Mary Grace Foti said she cried when she received the photo of the home built to honor Bobby. The photo showed the smiling recipient family standing proudly in front of their new home.

On March 23, 2003, Newsday magazine writer, Nick Iyer, wrote: “Robert Joseph Foti and his wife, Mary Grace, were driving home to Albertson from Old Westbury Gardens in August when they spotted an elderly woman in an old jalopy, stranded with a flat tire. Foti got out of his car and pried off the flat and replaced it with the spare. After he finished, the woman called him an angel and offered him $10 for his services. Foti refused, but the woman insisted. He took the money, but snuck it into her purse when she wasn't looking, his wife recalled recently. ‘That was just the type of guy he was. He was always helping people.’"

Iyer also told this story (paraphrased by me to shorten the story): After seeing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade last year with his family, Foti drove to his mother-in-law’s home, mashed the potatoes, carved the turkey and cleaned up after dinner. "He was always there," Mrs. Tastor said.

This notice was printed in the On Friday, October 15, 2004, at 1000 hours: There will be a street renaming ceremony honoring the memory of Robert J. Foti, who made the supreme sacrifice on September 11, 2001. The ceremony will take place at the corner of Grand Street and the FDR Drive, Manhattan. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend as a mark of respect to the deceased. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform.

Following are some quotes from memorials written by family, friends and acquaintances:

From Mary Grace Foti, wife:

He was always stopping to help someone or doing the dishes. He would go on all the field trips with the mothers. It was his nature to help others, which explains why he became a fireman. He was very adventurous and outgoing. He liked to take risks. The more time that has passed, the harder it gets, the longer it has been since I've heard his voice. Things that were clear aren't so clear anymore. They say it has to get harder before it gets better. I guess that's where I am right now.

I lost track of the source of the following quote in a computer crash in 2007:

"Rose Foti (Bobby’s mother) and I met for only a few minutes, but we had both lost a loved one in the attacks. When we got off the shuttle ride we were sharing, she gave me a shirt to give to my friend’s widow. The shirt was imprinted: 'Before he was an Angel, Hero, Fireman, he was my son!'"

Maryellen Teaman, friend:

Bob was a hero long before September 11. About four years ago when I was picking up my daughter from the Epiphany School on East 22nd Street, I saw a truck that was on fire, rolling down Second Avenue. It was veering toward 22nd Street. Bob was at the school picking up his kids. He saw the truck; he ran to it, opened the door, looking for the driver, who had gotten out of the truck blocks away, when it first caught on fire. Bob turned the ignition of,f the truck stopped, and a tragedy was averted. There were many kids due to come out of school at that time. The truck could have crashed into parked cars on the block. He did not give a thought to his own safety. I was in awe of his response. I called his house that night to thank him for being a hero.

Jeff, Violaine, Jeff Jr., and Joey Acevedo:
Bobby, we will miss you, I never thanked you for the time you helped Joey when he got hurt in 5th grade at the Yankee Game, I thought about it all the time and never took the minute to say thanks. We will miss your umpire days in PSLL and those awful calls you made (smile). You are a great guy and were very brave, you will be missed so will your sense of humor.

Mike Nunez:

Those who have never met Bobby have missed out on a very unique person. Bobby
was a very decent man who loved his family and adored his children. I grew up on Grand St. with Bobby. Bobby was one of the funniest people I knew. Bobby was
always there to lend a helping hand. I’m proud to tell my children that I once knew a Hero Firefighter named Bobby Foti.

Joseph Guzzo:

Bobby looked to enjoy his life and to spread happiness whenever he could. He was
sharing and giving to friends and strangers alike. He played with his children, and gave them many memories which are sure to carry them through the rest of
their lives. As a firefighter, Bobby was no stranger to helping people in trouble. I remember days when he and his good friend Jimmy helped pull struggling swimmers out of a riptide that threatened to pull them out to sea. Everyone knew Bobby. He was always talking to people. Never shy, he would turn to a new face just as likely as to an old friend. If there was a sudden burst of laughter, Bobby was probably nearby instigating it. One of my best memories of Bobby was an episode of him and his brother Joe clowning around. I can’t clearly recall how it started, but I suspect Bobby was nudging his brother without respite. Joe jumped up and started to chase his big brother across the beach. In a wild lunge, Joe grabbed for Bobby, but only succeeded in grasping the leg of his bathing suit. Well, picture Bobby being dragged to a halt by the bottom edge of his suit. Gravity and Joe’s weight dragged the suit down a lot faster than it did to the rest of Bobby. Everyone on the beach got to see more of Bobby than they expected. Afterward, Bobby sheepishly returned to the group. He was a little bit red-faced, and still laughing about the whole thing. That was Bobby! He always made the most out of whatever life tossed his way. Events have conspired to take Bobby from our presence, but nothing can take the memories of his life among us. No act of man can eradicate the fact that he lives on in his three children.When one looks at their faces, it is easy to see that Bobby lives on in each of them.

Peggy Cunneen:

The void in our lives seems so much greater because of who Bob was. You always knew when Bob was in a room. He was blessed with such great looks and his charismatic personality. After the first day of school last year, he was the only one who knew everyone's name. At the end of the first week his firehouse was building us new bookcases. Anything that needed to be done that year Bob took care of it.

Finally, read this tribute - a poem written for Bobby Foti by Ellen Brennemen:

Don't think of him as gone away-- his journey's just begun
Life holds so many facets --this earth is only one.

Just think of him as resting from the sorrows and the tears
In a place of warmth and comfort where there are nodays and years.

Think how he must be wishing that we could know today

How nothing but our sadness can really pass away.

And think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched...

For nothing loved is ever lost-- and he was loved so much.

Refer to this website for more information about the 2996 project and for links to other blogging tributes.

Night and Day by Robert B. Parker

2011-07-15T08:47:00.000-04:00

Night and Day by Robert B. Parker

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I always enjoy Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone novels. As an analyst by nature, I enjoy trying to figure out what makes Chief Stone tick. I stop reading from time to time to dissect with my inner consultant the contrasts so evident in Stone's personality. Is it believable that he can be so genuinely loving and caring in some ways while being so callous and remote in others? Can a person who understands his addiction stay addicted in such a controlled manner? I grieved when Robert B. Parker died last year because his police procedurals are so entertaining and his continuing characters seem like old friends to me. I was glad to discover that this novel and one more, Split Image, were written in his last months. So I have one more RBP novel left to read, and I understand that it is another Jesse Stone story.

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Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen

2011-07-14T08:50:00.000-04:00

Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am catching up on best sellers from the last few years. I finished this one a couple of hours ago. I always enjoy Anna Quindlen's novels - she makes the reader think. I enjoy her use of language. I few examples: "I don't even have a dog. I tell people I'm allergic so they won't think less of me. Instead I have a cat, the pet that ranks just above a throw pillow in terms of required responsibility." "I love it," I said, which like most simple declarative sentences was an oversimplification merged with a lie and overlaid by the mists of blessed memory..." "I felt prosperous, as though I had so much, so much, as though I had been flat water and now I was carbonated..."

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Quotes from Lisa Unger's Die for You

2011-07-05T09:09:00.003-04:00

I just read Lisa Unger's Die for You. There were several quotes I enjoyed thinking about.

(1) "I didn't want to know anything about Marc's lover...didn't want any fodder for my imagination to spin. Without it, I could just cast her as a bit player, someone who glided across the stage barely noticed. Any detail might have started me weaving her into something bigger, more important than I wanted her to be.

(2) When asked why she forgave her husband's affair: "Because I love him..."
"And love forgives." The detective sounded sarcastic, bitter.
"Love accepts, moves forward. Maybe forgiveness comes in time."

(3)"(He) thought that American women had been sold a concept that failed them miserably. Spend every free moment of your time fretting about your body, the media urged, exercise, buy diet books, primp, preen, pluck, wax, and a man will find you attractive and love you forever. Don't ever for one second worry about being loving or lovable, about kindness or finding fulfillment on some spirtual level. Just try to take up as little space as possible, be as small as possible, or you will be reviled and ridiculed by every industry posed to make a dime off of you -- the fitness and publishing industries, even the medical industry. They'll steal your money and your self-esteem. You'll give it all and still be unhappy. In spite of all the evidence to the contrary, they bought these ideas, believed wholeheartedly, built lives and lifestyles around them."

(4) (He) thought it required a special kind of ego-sickness to take a life, a core belief that your needs, your survival took precedence over all others. Unless it was a question of self-defense or to protect another, be believed you had to be at least a borderline sociopath to kill another person. Even if someone is overcome with rage, it takes amazing arrogance to kill."

(5)"I was fearless once...I remember being so sure of myself, of my opinions, passions, and goals...Everyone with a different opinion was simply wrong...But as I grew older, that passionate certainty faded. I beame more reserved, more reticent. My righteousness was less assured. I avoided the kind of heated politicl debates that I once enjoyed. Existential, religious, moral arguments made me uncomfortable. There were so many opionions, so many convinced of their own righeousness. A slow dawning that the world was impossibly complicated, that differences were too often irreconcilable, made me less inclined to do battle."

(6)Her sister commented on her mellowed approach to life. She replied, "I can't afford my own temper tantrums anymore. You owe them (your children) something you know. These kids, you bring them into the world. They didn't ask for it, you did it, for all you own reasons, good or bad. The least you can do is not be a bitch all the time, someone who's always in a rage, or complaining, or depressive."

(7) "Why didn't she see that it was about betrayal? infidelity? That it was about secrets and lies, an erosion of trust? Why didn't she know that those things cannot be fixed? You can't restore torn fabric to its original state. You can patch it, you can sew it -- but there will always be a seam, a place you can touch with your finger, a place that's weaker, prone to tearing again."

Further Adventures of Wilma and Eli

2011-03-17T21:10:00.004-04:00

Wilma's 9-year-old son is a delightful child. He is a creative thinker and analyst. And, like his grandmother (me), he loves to use new vocabulary. Tonight he confided to his mother that he felt "conflicted." When she asked him why, he replied, "Wipeout and Harry Potter are on TV at the very same time tonight!"

Earlier today, as they were reading together, the subject of pigs came up. He commented to his mom, "You know, I've touched a real pig before." Of course, she asked what the pig felt like when he touched it. He replied, "It was soft -- like this chair. No, that's not it. It was soft UNDERNEATH but a little fuzzy on the top -- like your legs!!"

Wednesday he confided to his sisters that his favorite day of the week is Wednesday. They were curious, so he continued, "It's sausage and biscuit day for school breakfast - AND it is my day to sit in the front seat in the car (they take turns riding shotgun.) - And it is the night that the best TV shows come on."

One day last week, Eli told Wilma that they were studying family histories in Social Studies. He asked, "I need to know what my "hair tidge" is." At her raised eyebrows, he continued, "You know, are we German or something?" The word "heritage" will pop in more conversations soon!

As the family drove home from a long basketball practice recently, Eli yawned. Then he said, "Good Morning, Judge! Oh, wait a minute. What's a 'good morning judge'? Is it a hiccup? a burp? A yawn or what?"

I love that child!

No Ordinary Joes by Larry Colton

2011-03-05T14:56:00.004-05:00

No Ordinary Joes: The Extraordinary True Story of Four Submariners in War and Love and Life by Larry Colton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This highly-interesting non-fiction book is an enlightening look into the individual battles fought during World War II. The story was presented in a bow-tie formation. The author introduced each of the sailors individually, giving his entire background story - childhood, interests, family relationships, early adolescent experiences, and first assignments in the navy. This introduction took about 13 chapters. After the characters were well-developed, the story narrowed to the events that brought the sailors together.

The narrow knot of the bowtie showed us how the men knew each other as crew members of the same submarine. Of course this is the part of the story that caused the story to be written. The experiences these young men (ages 17-23 at the time) endured as prisoners of war, were horrifying. I hung on every word as the author showed their physical and emotional degradation and their incredible strength as they lent support and comfort to each other.

After the central events of the war were told, the author widened the story again in the other side of the bowtie. He followed each man's life after they were freed when the war ended. This enlightening follow-up story showed the reader some of the long-term positive as well as negative results of such harrowing experiences as these men suffered in early adulthood. It was interesting to me to see the changes in the individual personalities as the men aged; however, it was also clearly shown that many of their early characteristics were intensified rather than changed by the experience. The men were shown as 80-year-old grandfathers at the end of the book.

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Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson

2011-03-03T07:05:00.003-05:00

3 of 5 stars
As a retired Middle School Language Arts teacher, I occasionally read adolescent literature to suggest appropriate and desirable books to those who ask. I chose this book because of its authorship although the blurb was not appealing to me. Clearly the Maximum Ride books would be better understood and enjoyed if read in correct sequence. Since this is the only one of the series I read, I found myself having to deduce previous events in order to understand the current ones experienced by the characters in this book. I think that many adolescents would enjoy the science fiction nature of the book; I, on the other hand, enjoyed more the elements of realistic fiction that were mixed in. The lessons to be learned from the relationships between the characters -- their positive and negative interactions - the exhibited behaviors and consequences - their methods of reconciliation - all these experiences are good life lessons and provide good reasons for adolescents to read this series of books.

Sex-sensitive Southern Sister Seethes at “Snowman”

2011-01-16T10:06:00.002-05:00

Since the big blizzard of 1993 near Atlanta, Georgia, we Southerners have had our usual ½ inch snow once every couple of years and our obligatory ice storm with similar frequency. North Georgia is not a snowy clime.

We had occasion, shortly after that highly-newsworthy blizzard, to have dinner with several couples of our acquaintance, and the conversation turned to events surrounding the big snow. In the course of the discussion, someone mentioned seeing many snowmen constructed in the median of a very busy section of Interstate 75. The discussion around the table did not then turn to the issue of traffic shutdown engendered by the huge snowstorm. No, indeed. One of our table companions was an outspoken and rather over-sensitive feminist who could not let the conversation leave without challenging the wording.

“SnowFRIENDS,” she corrected the speaker. Then she launched into a rather long-winded dissertation about the implied gender-exclusiveness of the term. One had the impression that the speaker, by calling the snow sculpture a “snowman”, had denigrated females in general and implied that only males were worthy to be designated as the esteemed creature commonly referred to by that term. Certainly, her lecture suggested, females were qualified to become snowcreatures (and presumably receive equal pay for doing so.) In fact, her attitude implied, a female snowcreature would doubtless already be president of Snowland but for the obvious bias against her in our society. At the very least it was insensitive for one to imply that snow creations must be male in gender. Society as a whole must avoid gender-defining references – make use of alternate personal pronouns indiscriminately, use general terms for persons regardless of the awkwardness of the wording – carefully delineate choice with either/or statements, etc.

Eventually the conversation moved on to other topics and we continued to have a pleasant dinner party. However, in the intervening 16 years, our family has had a lot of fun arising from that enlightening dinner conversation. Although our opportunities have been severely limited due to our residence in the Sunny South, every mention of playing in the snow has resulted in numerous other possible designations for the product thereof. We have constructed (or more likely just pointed out in a Northern friend’s photos) a “snow- creature, snow-bird, snow-dog, snow-queen, snow-midget (common in the land of ½ inch snows), snow-alien, snow-giant, snow-family, snow-siblings, or snow-?.” Often we would snigger behind our hands and point out a poorly-constructed snow creation and comment, “With snow-friends like that who needs snow-enemies?” or “Look, it can’t be a snow-friend because Emerson said that ‘the only way to have a snowfriend is to BE a snowfriend’ and I don’t want to get that cold!” Someone else would pipe up, “Hayes said that ‘snowfriends are the sunshine of life’ and that snow sculpture can’t be sunshine, she/he’d melt him/herself!”

But a funny thing happened in the intervening 16 years since the dinner party and our next big snow – which occurred just this week. “Snow-friend” has become the most logical and comfortable way to refer to our snow creations. In the Christmas 2010 one-day snowfall, our grandchildren constructed Bob, their snow-friend. They gave him their constant attention. His needs were foremost in their minds. They held him together with their own hands when he seemed ready to fall apart. They made endless trips in and out of the house to find just the right parts to complete his features and ensemble. They filched broccoli florets for buttons and presented them to him without expectation of repayment. One gladly and joyfully took the ponytail holder from her hair and contributed it to Bob to make his smile. They would stand away and look at him, consumed with discovering what it was he needed to be complete, yet they asked him for nothing in return. One removed her own scarf and contributed it to keep Bob’s neck warm while another added his own warm hat for Bob’s bald head. When they were satisfied that they had met all his needs, they proudly called the entire family into the yard to meet their friend. Bob was a “snowman.” He was also a “snowfriend.”

Rainwater by Sandra Brown

2011-01-06T01:10:00.002-05:00

Rainwater by Sandra Brown

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This novel was VERY different from typical Sandra Brown books. I always find her books interesting, but they are often pretty predicable and formulaic. This unusually captivating book was set in 1934 and dealt with a number of social issues (racism, economic depression, and autism for example) In spite of the historical setting and the serious issues that the characters face within its pages, this novel is essentially a love story - portraying a slowly-developing love between a mature man and woman. I always enjoy a love story that emphasizes the sacrificial, and almost sacred, nature of real love. Rainwater meets that criteria.

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To Cut a Long Story Short by Jeffrey Archer

2011-01-06T01:05:00.001-05:00

To Cut a Long Story Short by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have read numerous Jeffrey Archer novels through the years; but this book of short stories bore little resemblance to those mysteries. The fourteen short stories contained in the book varied in length from 2 pages to more than 30 pages. Topics also varied, of course, ranging from confidence games, romantic mysteries, to even some with supernatural characters. Many seemed to take on the flavor of old-fashioned fables with insights into human nature in general. Although I enjoyed some stories more than others, I only abandoned one in the entire book from lack of interest. Archer brought his usual narrative skills to the composition of these stories, and he developed interesting and memorable characters. He led those characters through many interesting plot twists for our reading enjoyment.

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The Agonies of Love - 4th Grade Style

2011-01-03T08:07:00.004-05:00

Wilma observed her 9-year-old son interacting with his good friend, Lizzy, at the Middle School basketball game. While their sisters played ball, Lizzy and Eli shared popcorn, laughed together, and shot goals during halftime. They always seemed to have so much fun during ballgames and at their sisters' practices. After the game, Wilma teased Eli, "You should dump Zahra and ask Lizzie out." Eli and Zahra had been "going together" for several months. Eli solemnly answered his mother, "Mom, I'm just not good at dumping girls. (sigh) I just have to wait til they dump ME."

In this true story, the names have been changed to protect this writer from the wrath of grandchildren.

Interesting Quotes from The Moonflower Vine

2011-01-02T22:28:00.005-05:00

From The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton:

"And even though....(several characters)...mean well and feel strong bonds with the other members of their family, their choices invariably strain those bonds." Can't we all identify with these family members?

"To me...these visits (by relatives who visited yearly)...were like income tax, an annual inconvenience. There were always so many other ways we could have spent the time. But, old as we were, our parents were still the government. They levied the tribute, and we paid it."

"Suddenly it seemed to me that I looked back from a great distance...on all the days we had spent here together. What was I going to do when such days came no more? There could not be many; for we were a family growing old. And how would I learn to live without these people? I who needed them so little that I could stay away all year -- what would I do without them?" This one puts a catch in my throat.

"'Oh Tom -- I love you!' With a little cry she put her arms around him and married him in her heart."

"Jessica's face knotted like a fist, and a lump the size of a locomotive formed in her throat. ...sick with the knowledge that this was how it would be all the rest of her life. She couldn't stay, but she couldn't stay away, and she would come back time afer time, doomed forever to come and go and endure these ghastly partings...." Parting is such sweet sorrow.

"With a shudder he thought of all the ears and eyes and intrusive female voices waiting for him at the end of the street. He wished there were somewhere else he could go. But there stood the house, baited with supper, and he was trapped."

"Indeed it was the foolishness more than the sin that rankled. One can repent of a sin and have done with it; but the wages of foolishness is the eternal recalling of it."

"He watched the light empty out of the sky and darkness blot up Missouri."

"Maybe she would never go away. Maybe she'd just stand there till she took root and put out branches and a squirrel made a nest in her head."

"A leaf that had hung on the tree since April suddently let go and made its slow journey to earth, tilting this way and that in its new fatal freedom, but falling, steadily falling." The term "fatal freedom" gets the thought processes grinding away. Which of my freedoms will be be fatal for me?

"And time, that great gift that he had given so charily! He dropped his head in shame. the sins of omission...."

"Maybe that was the way it went, that all your life you heard the singing and never got any closer. There were things you'd wanted all your life, and after a while and all of a sudden, you weren't any closer than you ever were and there was not time left.....Where was the fine white house on the corner, where her mind had lived all these years?"

The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton

2011-01-02T22:23:00.001-05:00

The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those old books that has not received the recognition it probably deserves. Jetta Carleton never published another book after this one first published in 1962. That was about the same time that The Hobbit came out, I believe. Perhaps the hoopla accompanying that novel and its sequels accounts for the little attention given to other books published at the same time. I enjoyed this book about as much as anything I've read in several months. It is set in the early 20th century and following the lives of a couple and their four daughters. Each section of the book is from the viewpoint (though not in the voice) of a different character. This approach allows the reader to make judgements about characters based on the perceptions of the others; then when the character's viewpoint is given, a new understanding and perception is experienced. This is much like real life -- if we really knew the stories behind the actions of others, we would be much less judgmental.

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Interesting Quotes from Let It Snow

2011-01-01T23:01:00.000-05:00

Let It Snow - by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

"She had to get up and slice me a thick piece of cake before she could answer. And I do mean thick. Harry Potter volume seven thick I could have knocked out a burglar with that piece of cake. Once I tasted it though, it seemed just the right size."

"These houses had been plunked down with an alarming randomness -- unevenly spaced, on crooked lines, like whoever had designed the place had said, 'We'll just follow this cat, and wherever he sits down, we'll build something."

"Take Jeb, for instance... he is going to grow up to be the kind of man who spends his Saturdays teaching his little boy to ride a bike.... Charlie, on the other hand, will be off playing golf while his kids kill people on X-box"

Let It Snow by Green, Johnson, and Myracle

2010-12-31T02:51:00.001-05:00

Let It Snow by John Green

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a clever book! The three romances included here all share the same setting and plot. Each romance is written by a different author and features a different point-of-view character. The major characters of each story are minor characters in the others; some minor characters appear in all three stories while others are unique to only one story. When a huge Christmas Eve snowstorm causes a train to become stranded in a small town, passengers' lives intersect with those of locals at a Waffle House and a nearby Starbucks. The three authors have somewhat similar writing styles and do an excellent job of blending the three love stories.

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Reading Vocabulary

2010-12-27T18:15:00.002-05:00

I just finished reading a high-vocabulary novel (see previous post for a review). The vocabulary was interesting for the logophile.

Here are some examples of seldom-encountered words that I noticed:

nugatory ("...the nugatory movement of the windscreen wipers...")
excoriated ("...flesh was excoriated from hitting the rocks as he fell..."
supervened ("...the tragedy that had supervened in his life..."
putatively ("...putatively the partner..."
casuistry ("...was typical police casuistry..."
friable (".. was too friable to support his weight..."
fecundity ("...the silence lacked fecundity...")
inapposition ("...the level of inapposition..."
excrescent ("...like the excrescent evidence of...")
inchoate ("...the inchoate curve of ...")
vitric ("...in matters vitric...")
prefatory ("...prefatory remarks...")
sophistry ("...believing was sophistry at this point...")

How many of these could you define?

Careless in Red by Elizabeth George

2010-12-27T09:11:00.002-05:00

Careless in Red by Elizabeth George
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Overall a better-than-average read. This book's weaknesses, for me, were inborn in the fact that is modern British fiction. In my experience, modern British fiction is universally irritating in two ways: The TONE is flippant, irreverant, and haughty, which is a definite obstacle for me to overcome to enjoy the book. Also, the apparently pervasive class-consciousness of the British culture permeates the story and affects all the characters' relationships to a distracting degree. In addition to these two flaws, the book was too long. A good editor could have shaved at least 50-75 pages off this 721-page book without hurting the plot or character development. The result would have been a much-improved book.

HOWEVER, the strengths of the book overcame those flaws for me. The author wove at least 5 different storylines into a strong, cohesive, and fascinating overall plot. None of the intersections of the stories seemed forced. This book was a true "Whodunit" - this reader was considering several viable suspects up until the last 50 pages or so. The final revelation was not a surprise, but the clues leading to it were not obvious either. Another strength of the book was the character development. There were several strong characters in each thread of the storyline rope and presented at least 15 well-developed characters. Some writers have trouble developing so many characters meaningfully. Elizabeth George did a magnificent job of acquainting her readers with her characters. The final strenth of the book to this logophile was the vocabulary. I enjoy preciseness of language and seldom run across entirely unfamiliar words. In this book however, in addition to the British lingo, I discovered many very precise and formerly-unfamiliar terms for my future use. In addition to the new-to-me words, many vaguely-familiar, but dusty-from-disuse, words settled themselves comfortably into the narrative. I enjoyed visiting with them again after the long separation.

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The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

2010-12-03T10:45:00.003-05:00

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a refreshingly different book! I gave the book an extra star for that reason. The story itself was interesting and thought-provoking, as Picoult's books always are. She created a close and likable but flawed family dealing with the rape of the 14-year-old daughter. The issues of the unbreakable parent-child bond and the ever-developing nature of personality are presented. The reader is made to consider whether individuals and relationships can remain the same through life mistakes and trials. In addition, however, to the story itself, Picoult used several unusual literary elements to add an extra punch to this novel. She interrupted the main story periodically with segments from a graphic novel (supposedly written by the father in the story.) The two stories are interwoven and supplement each other. The final unusual twist was that Picoult mirrored a technique used by the fictional comic-book writer by hiding a message to her readers in the graphic designs throughout the book.

View all my reviews

Six Interesting Quotations from The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

2010-12-03T09:56:00.003-05:00

The mother in the novel tells her graduate class, "I like the word evil. Scramble it a little, and you get vile and live. Good, on the other hand, is just a command to go do." After class a student points out another possibility. He says, "Veil. It's another anagram for evil - the things we hide." (Chapter 1)

And this in chapter 3: the mother, holding her daughter after a family scare, thinks, "It was possible that a miracle was not something that happened to you, but rather something that didn't."

From Chapter 4: It wasn't what they had said to each other but what they hadn't: that forgiving and forgetting were fused together -- flip sides of the same coin -- and yet they couldn't both exist at the same time. Choosing one meant that you sacrificed seeing the other."

Later in Chapter 4: A week after Trixie fails at committing suicide, it "occurred to her that had things ended differently a week ago ,she might not be doing any of this. She'd been so focused on what she had wanted to get away from in this owrld she forgot to consider what she might miss."

Again in Chapter 4: Relationships always sounded so physically painful: You fell in love, you broke a heart, you lost your head. Was it any wonder that people came through the experience with battle scars? The problem with marriage -- or maybe its strength -- was that it spanned a distance, and you were never the same person you started out being.

In Chaper 6: In The Inferno, sins of passion and despair were't nearly as damning as sins of treachery. Sinners in the upper circles of hell were guilty of indulging their own appetites, but without malice toward themselves or others. Sinners in the middle levels of hell had committed acts of violence toward themselves or others. The deepest level of hell, though, was reserved for fraud -- what Dante felt was the worst sin of all. There was betrayal to family -- those who killed kin. There was betrayal to country -- the double agents and spies of the world. There was betrayal to benefactor - Judas, Brutus, Cassius, and Lucifer, all of whom had turned against their mentors. ..... Laura realized that there was a sin that Dante had left out, one thing that belonged in the very deepest pit of hell. If the worst sin of all was betraying others, then what about people who lied to themselves?

Birthright by Nora Roberts

2010-11-29T10:17:00.005-05:00

4 of 5 stars
Very suspenseful and, at the same time, a good romance story. I'm a sucker for reconciliation stories, and this was a good one. I love this quote from chapter 14: "...she wondered where she and Jake might have ended up if they'd tried a couple of other paths the first time around. If they's taken time to be friends, to talk about who they were instead of assuming they knew....What if instead of that last blowup where they'd accused each other of everything from stupidity to unfaithfulness, where they'd slapped the word divorce in each other's faces before he'd stormed off, they'd stuck it out?" View all my reviews on Goodreads.com

Quote from Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear

2010-08-10T07:09:00.002-04:00

I found this book only marginably interesting, but I found one passage worth sharing. I would like to edit for a little more exactness of expression and preciseness of meaning, and the message may be pretty standard fare for a mystic, but overall, the quote is worthwhile. The main character, Sleuth Maisie Dobbs is meeting with her spiritual mentor, and he says: "My Child, when a mountain appears on the journey, we try to go to the left, then to the right; we try to find the easy way to navigate our way back to the easier path. But the mountain is there to be crossed. It is on that pilgrimage, as we climb higher, that we are forced to shed the layers upon layers that we have carried for so long. Then we find our load lighter and we have come to know something of ourselves in the perilous climb. Do not seek to avoid the mountain, my child, for it has been placed there at a perfect time. It wil only become larger if you seek to delay or draw back from the ascent."

2010-06-27T19:37:00.002-04:00

I found this passage from Ed McBain’s novel, Romance, very interesting.

…. no such thing as a melting pot anymore…we (had been) supposed to take them all in, welcome them all with a warm embrace, hold them close and dear, cherish them as our precious own, forge from a thousand tribes a single strong and vital tribe. That had been the idea….but somewhere along the way the idea began to dissipate….the current hot idea was to keep sacred and separate the heritage of distant lands and foreign tongues. Not to contribute these treasures to the solitary tribe, not to share this wealth with the other members of this great tribe, but instead to protect this private hoard from all other hordes, to keep this fortune ever and always apart.

Where once “separate but equal” was a reviled notion, it was now viewed as something to which an entire people might actually aspire….Where once the noble idea of a “rainbow coalition” conjured an image of bands of different colors riding the sky together in a bonded arch that led to a shared pot of gold, the impoverished expression “gorgeous mosaic” now conjured a restricted vision of tiny chips of colors separated by boundaries, each unit secure in its own brilliance and beauty, none contributing to the grander concept of a unique and remarkable whole.

Where once people pounded on the doors of opportunity and shouted, “Forget we’re black, forget we’re Hispanic, forget we’re Asian,” these same people were now shouting, “Don’t forget we’re black, don’t forget we’re Hispanic, don’t forget we’re Asian!” Where once there was pride and honor and dignity and hope in being American, now… (many) chose to cling to an ethnic identity that seemed (in retrospect) to be unchanging, rather than to fall for the bull**** of one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all..

Jury Duty - Day 3 - PM

2010-06-09T22:07:00.004-04:00

After lunch we deliberated another two hours.

Count #1 - Terroristic Threats against Mrs. R. - the judge dismissed this count before giving the case to us.Count #2 - Terroristic Threats against Ms L. - Some jurors thought that since we had no proof that he threatened her verbally this count should be not guilty. We decided that her running from him and screaming indicated that she felt threatened. Verdict: Guilty

Count #3 - Aggravated Assault - the wording here said that "the defendent did, then and there, make an attack upon the victim with a deadly weapon, a knife, and with an implement capable of causing injury, to wit a shovel, and did cause serious bodily injury to the victim." One debate here centered on whether there was "serious" bodily injury. Some thought that paramedic's opinion that her nose was broken qualified. Since she would not seek medical attention, it was not clear whether her nose was actually broken. Another consideration was whether there was a "weapon." Since the knife was never proved to exist, we finally decided that we could not say he "made an attack upon the victim with a deadly weapon." We had been instructed that in order to say "guilty" on any count, we must believe that all the conditions of that count were true. Verdict: Not Guilty

Count #4 - Damage to Property - This was the easiest one. Since all windows except on in the vehicle were broken, it was clear to us that the defendent broke them. Verdict: Guilty

Count #5 - Simple Battery - The qualifier here was: did he headbutt her? This took more discussion that I expected. Verdict: Guilty

Count #6 - Criminal Trespass - This was very highly debated, and the final verdict was unenthusiastically agreed upon by two of the jurors. They believed that because the defendent DID finally leave the property, he was not guilty of criminal trespass. Some also believed that since the defendent had spent the night before in the home, he had reason to believe that he could continue to stay there after the owner told him to leave. We finally decided that because he had to be told several times to leave before he did so, and because he took time to break all the car windows before he left, he met the guidelines for guilt on this count. Verdict: Guilty

Count #7 - Battery - This count was the same as #5 except it included the element that the victim was a member of the same household as the defendent. They had lived together off and on for 15 years and had spent the previous evening together on this property. Verdict: Guilty

Once the verdicts were read, the jury was dismissed and left the courtroom before anyone else was dismissed. I was surprised how fast this part went; We were probably back in the courtroom 15 minutes after lunch. I was also disappointed not to know what sentence the defendent received. All in all, this was a fascinating experience. Fellow jurors were: Tracy, Keaton, Shane, Linda, Becky, Susan, Nancy, Joseph, Angie, Melissa, and Leigh Ann.

Jury Duty - Day 3 - AM

2010-06-09T20:06:00.006-04:00

Both attorneys presented their closing arguments as soon as court reconvened this morning. They were complete by 10:00 AM. The judge instructed the jury as to how to proceed in the jury room, and we were dismissed to begin deliberating.

We selected a foreperson (our late-comer, who practically campaigned for it), and after about an hour or so, we took a tentative vote on each of the 6 counts (one count of terroristic threats had been removed from consideration.) We were divided on almost every count. The count of aggravated assault was the most serious charge and the one we were most divided on, so we requested another hearing of the 911 tape and another viewing of the police video. We wanted to hear again what the victim said at the time of the incident.

We had to go back into the courtroom to view the video and listen to the audio CD. During the 911 call, we could hear the victim screaming in the background. The caller, Mrs. R., told the 911 operator that her "daughter's" boyfriend was after her with a knife. She said that the defendent just hit the victim with a shovel and asked for police and an ambulance. In the police video (remember it was very hard to hear with interference from both the police radio and the commercial radio often obscuring the comments by the participants. We were able to hear more this time as we concentrated harder.

When the police first found the defendent, they seemed most interested in the damage to the car. We heard the victim say that she "lived" at the residence and that the defendent picked up the shovel. She also said that she saw the knife on the ground. Mrs. R said that the defendent threatened to kill her.

The audio and video took almost an hour and finished at 12:00 Noon. We were dismissed for lunch with instructions not to talk about the case and to return to the jury room at 1:30. I visited the bathroom before I left the courthouse, so I was late and the lone juror walking out at that time. A few yards in front of me, the defendent and the victim walked hand-in-hand to their car in the same parking garage to go to lunch!

Jim picked me up in front of the courthouse (only a couple of blocks from his office,) and we went to Duffy's Deli and had great chicken salad sanwiches for lunch.

Jury Duty - Day 2 - PM

2010-06-08T19:52:00.001-04:00

When we returned from lunch at 1:45, we listened to the 911 call and then were asked to view all of the police cruiser video pertaining to the case. In the 911 call, we could clearly hear a female voice screaming (not words) in the background as Mrs. R. talked to the operator. Mrs. R told the 911 operator that her "daughter's ex is after her with a knife. Hurry! He just hit her in the face with a shovel. Send the police and an ambulance."

We then watched the 50 minute video taken by the police cruiser's camera as the officers apprehended the suspect and interviewed all the people involved. It was very tedious. The video only showed the view out the front windshield of the car - we watched dusk descend as we tried to hear what was being said. The put the suspect in the police car without problems, but when they got to the scene of the incident, they got him out to pat him down better and had to use the stun gun on him to get him back into the car. As the officers talked to the two ladies (?) involved, the police radio kept blaring loudly over the audio. There was also a commercial radio program confusing the audio.

We found out that the police did not interview the women until after they apprehended the defendant (about an hour later.) They came into the yard and ascertained that he was no longer on the premises so that the paramedics could enter and render aid, then they left to search for the perpetrator and weapon. The paramedics testified that Ms L's nose was swollen, bleeding profusely and probably broken and that her clothing was covered with blood when they entered the home. She accepted treatment on the scene but refused to be transported to the hospital. By the time the police arrived to interview her, she had changed clothes and had no visible blood according to the police record.

The prosecution rested about 3:30, and the defense began its case. Their only witness was the victim. She testified again - recanting everything that she had said on the police tape and denying everything that had been reported by the paramedics and her "mother." According to her testimony, she was equally to blame for the altercation and her relationship with the defendant was normal. When the prosecution cross-examined her, she became belligerent. She took every opportunity to tell how much she distrusts and dislikes the PO-lice. At one point she dumb-founded everybody with this exchange: Prosecutor asked, "Was the defendent upset or out of control?" She answered, "No he was very calm." The prosecutor followed up with, "But you said he was being a "B-hole." She responded, "Well you can be calm and also be a B-hole. You are acting calm!" Gasps and snickers were heard throughout the courtroom, and the judge looked down and "coughed" into his hand. The prosecutor continued as if she hadn't just called him an insulting name.

According to the witness, the defendent only came to discuss an overdue bill (other sources, including her own comments on the night of the incident said that the argument was about the impending new living arrangements.) According to her testimony now, when the defendant tried to go into the house he was only going to get a washcloth to wipe away the blood she got on herself when the shovel accidently hit her in the face. All the other evidence showed that he hit her with the shovel and then tried to get into the house to get the baby and take him back to their house.

The defense rested its case at about 4:00. The judge said that we would adjourn for the day and have closing arguments tomorrow beginning at 9 AM.

Jury Duty - Day 2 - AM

2010-06-08T17:36:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, June 8, 2010: Being so thoroughly ME, I arrived in the jury room of the courthouse 20 minutes early this morning. Even so, I was not the first juror there. Unfortunately, one of our number managed to be 40 minutes LATE and delayed the trial. He did not win a lot of friends today!

During our long morning wait, I discovered several connections with other jurors. One young man is a coach at one of our local high schools and had been a student of both our son and our daughter-in-law. Another juror had been a teacher in the school where our son is Assistant Principal. Another teaches with our daughter; another knows my sister; and another is related to another close acquaintance.

As soon as our tardy cohort arrived, the trial began. We filed into the jury box, were sworn in, and the prosecutor gave his opening statement. The defense attorney then took his turn. Both told us what they hope/expect that the evidence will prove. Our defendant faces 7 charges, including: terroristic threats; damage to property; aggravated assault; criminal trespass; domestic violence; and simple battery. After the Grand Jury indicted him, he pled "not guilty," and thus we were impaneled for a trial.

The prosecution's case took most of the day. The first witness was the lady (Mrs. R.) at whose house the alleged assault took place. She is the person who called 911 and the "virtual mother" of the victim of assault (Ms L.) She testified that the defendant and Ms L. have had an on-again-off-again relationship for almost 20 years, and they have a 10-month-old child together. There have been a number of occasions when the police have been called because of their conflicts. This witness testified that the assault victim was "staying" with her at the time of the incident because the couple was feuding. However, she testified that the defendant had also spent the night there the night before the incident.

According to Mrs. R.'s testimony: The defendant and Ms L. had a long, loud, and profane argument on the telephone that afternoon because she planned to move out of his house into an apartment with a friend. The defendant then came to the house, and the two became involved in a loud argument in the front yard. In the course of that argument, Ms L. screamed for help; and Mrs. R. came to her aid from the backyard. Ms L., her "daughter", was running away from the defendant, screaming in terror, and the defendant was chasing her with a knife. She acknowledged that she never actually saw a knife and that none was ever found but insisted that there was "something shiny" in his hand. She says that Ms L. picked up a shovel from the yard and struck the defendant in the shoulder to try to stop him. At that point, the defendant grabbed the shovel and used it to pull Ms L. to him for repeated "headbutts." Then he used the shovel to hit Ms L. in the face.

As she sat on the ground, bleeding from the nose, the defendant then approached the door of the house where Mrs. R stood calling 911. Ms L. screamed for Mrs. R. to block the door and not allow the defendant into the house to have access to the baby. When Mrs. R blocked the defendant's access to the house, he threatened her with bodily injury, ran into the yard again, grabbed the shovel, and attacked Ms. L's car. He broke every window in the car except the one on the driver's side door. Then he ran off into the woods behind the house.

The second witness was Ms. L, the victim, who was a hostile witness. She claimed that they were both yelling and cursing at each other and that the argument was about unpaid bills. She expressed extreme dislike for law enforcement and denied having said almost everything that the police records and the EMT records report her saying. She testified that the defendant did not "headbutt" her and that the shovel hit her in the face by accident when they were struggling for control of the implement. She also testified that she gave the defendant permission to destroy her car and that there was no blood on her clothes (contradicted by the EMTs and the first witness.) She testified that the relationship between her and the defendant is "normal" and that they don't argue any more than anyone else does. She said that the car windows were not broken when the defendant ran off into the woods and that she had no idea HOW or WHEN they were broken.

Both EMTs and one of the arresting officers testified. A neighbor, who came to see what the commotion was about and was on the scene, also testified.

We broke for lunch at 12:00 - 1:45. Seven of us jurors had lunch together at Shroeder's - YUM. We were good little boys and girls and talked about everything from high school to grandchildren -- everything, that is, except the testimony we had heard in the morning.

Jury Duty Day 1

2010-06-07T18:18:00.000-04:00

What an interesting three days in court this week! I will write all three days up and set them to post on Wednesday -- after the trial is over since we are not allowed to talk about it until then.

Monday, June 7, 2010: After arriving at the courthouse and gaining security clearance, I sat in the gathering room with about 100 others for about an hour until they finally called 30 of us into a courtroom. Each of us were asked to stand, tell our names, general area of the county in which we live, our occupations, our spouses' names and their occupations.

Both the prosecutor and the defense attorney asked us questions to find out whether we knew any of the principals in the case and whether we had any particular prejudice in regard to family violence or spousal abuse. Other questions seemed to be designed to find out if we had any prejudice against police officers. Among the questions the defense attorney asked: "Have any of you been victims of family violence or any other crime such as assault, robbery or murder?" He realized what he had asked immediately, and the court had a little laugh before continuing.

Finally, the two attorneys and the judge convened in a sidebar and chose 12 of us to serve when the trial starts tomorrow. Ten women and three men were chosen. I have no idea how they chose which members of the jury pool would serve. This entire process took from 8:30 AM to Noon. We were dismissed with instructions to appear tomorrow morning at 9:00 A.M. Since today is Jim's and my 47th wedding anniversary, we managed to meet and have lunch together after I was dismissed.

Jury Duty -- and Wedding Anniversaries

2010-06-07T09:38:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow I will have a new experience -- something that not a frequent occurance at my age. I have been called for Jury duty several times in the past, but I have never actually served. Today I spent the morning at the courthouse waiting first in the crowded assembly room and then in the courtroom with a jury pool of about 40 citizens. Twelve of us were selected to serve in a criminal trial in the superior court. The judge says that the trial will likely last just one day. The waiting was an interesting experience. I had several long and unlikely conversations with several people by whom I sat.

Jim and I did manage to have lunch together today -- our 47th anniversary.

Climbing Life's Stairway

2010-05-29T07:22:00.002-04:00

My students' last assignment of the year - finished just Wednesday - was to present a short motivational poem or speech to the class. I demonstrated the desired speaking skills by presenting Langston Hushes's "Mother to Son" followed by a related valedictory message stolen from my Brother's blog. http://aloneonalimb.blogspot.com/2007/03/ptsw-crystal-stair.html. The students made great choices for their presentations: During the last week of school we heard MLK's "I Have a Dream," "Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death," Rudyard Kipling's "If," and Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." We heard Steve Jobs's graduation address to Stanford in 2004 - "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish" and Susan B. Anthony's "Woman's Right to the Suffrage."

We heard parts of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, Churchill's "Blood, Sweat, Toil and Tears" address, Douglas McArthur's Acceptance Speech for the Thayer Award at West Point - "Duty. Honor. Country," and Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture." We also heard more recent poetry and lesser-known speeches. One that I found particularly thought-provoking was a speech entitled "Life by Default; Life be Design?" by Usiere Uko. A few students wrote their own poetry and presented it - mostly on the topics of friendship and ecological responsibility.

I found it inspiring at the end of another school year, as we mark accomplishment and milestones in life, to hear some wisdom from the ages. I hope the students started their summer vacation period with something worthwhile to think about.

Addendum:
Other selections, you might like to find and read (or re-read):
"The Butterfly" by Nikos Kazantzakis
"Six Simple Strategies for Achieving Misery" by Sol Herzig
"I Wish You Enough" by Bob Parks
"Take Care of Your Friends" by Baxter Black, the Cowboy Poet

Rome, Italy to Rome, Georgia November 18, 2009

2009-11-18T23:12:00.008-05:00

Just imagine! We journeyed from Rome to Rome in a day! Waking in Rome, Italy, we went to bed in Rome, GA 20+ hours later.

We docked in Rome (Civitevecchia) at 4 AM Wednesday after departing from Naples at 6 PM the night before.

I am glad that we've been to Rome twice before and have seen the Vatican, The Sistene Chapel, the Colloseum and other attractions there, because today allowed for not even a glimpse of the city of Rome.

This time, our flight left Rome at 9:45, so we were among the first passengers of the Grand Princess to disembark so that we could get from the seaport to the airport and catch our flight out at 9:45.

Let me tell you a story:

The loud 4:30 AM (that's 10:30 PM the previous night to those at home in Rome, GA) wake-up call jangled both Jim and Joan out of the few minutes of sleep they'd enjoyed all night. Up and at 'em, Kiddos! They showered and threw on the clothes they had kept out for today when most of the luggage had been set out the night before. After a hurried breakfast in Horizon Court Buffet, they quickly crammed the rest of their belongings into the carryon luggage, checked to be sure the paperwork was in order, and went downstairs to the Explorers Lounge to await the call for disembarkation. Promptly at 6:00, they and about 100 or so of their best friends were the first to disembark. They filled up two shuttle busses and started the l-o-n-g trip that would find them finally back in Rome, GA 20 hours later.

The bus trip from the harbor to the Leonardo DaVinci airport in Rome took about 50 minutes. Check in at the airport was painless and quick, and the pair found themselves seated at Gate 4 well before boarding time. The 12 hour flight involved sitting in the cramped airplane seats for about 13 hours, since the boarding began an hour before the flight was to leave. Again the airline, in its infinite wisdom, had decided that people who know each other should not fly in adjacent seats. But resourceful passengers prevailed against the system, and Jim changed seats with another passenger so he could serve as Joan's pillow for part of the trip. Our protagonists watch the lights of Rome, Italy recede in the distance.

Squirming in cramped airline seats, the passengers steadily rode back in time. When they landed in Atlanta an hour earlier than scheduled, their watches registered only 5 hours of travel after west-bound lift-off from Rome, Italy. Their seats and legs, however, knew the truth. Eleven hours of actual flight and more than 12 hours of inactivity on the plane was clearly written on the faces (and other body parts) of everyone in sight. The elaborate entertainment system (individual choices of games, movies, music, and TV shows available at the touch of a finger) built into the headrests for each passenger promised distraction but failed to live up to the promise. This failure was acknowledged by the airlines in the form of a voucher for future travel discounts distributed to each passenger as she/he departed the plane.
The Atlanta Airport experience was also an ordeal. Two hours after touchdown in Atlanta (yes, you read that right) - TWO hours later, our two zombi-like heros exited the airport!! After going through customs, passengers had to claim luggage at the international terminal, recheck it to be claimed again later in the domestic terminal. The security to get into the domestic terminal from the international one was the same as it is for a flight: shoes and coat off, laptop and C-Pap machine out of cases in into a bin, 3-ounce plastic containers in a quart-size bag, stand in a long line, walk through the arch, and reclaim belongings. Then the tramride to baggage claim and ground transportation! Yea! our heros conquer the airport just in time to reclaim thier car and join the Atlanta work traffic streaming out of the city!! Finally the lights of Rome, Georgia, appear to welcome our travelers; the car goes on autopilot and finally delivers them into their very own garage.

Thus ends the story of "The Long Day from Rome to Rome." The story was relayed to you in the third person because I didn't wish to relive the experience. It was the single most tiring plane trip I have ever endured. The first night at home offered little rest as both Jim's and my muscles loudly protested the abuse of the long period of enforced inactivity -- frequent and severe leg, toe, shin, hip, and calf cramps kept us getting up and down all night. This trip gave us a number of good experiences. We saw a lot of God's great creation and man's use of it through history, spent some quality time together, and unloaded a "passel" of money. But, after standing on 3 continents and 5 countries and sailing on 4 seas in 13 days, we are grateful to be home in Rome, GeeAy again!!!!

Naples and the Isle of Capri, Italy November 17, 2009

2009-11-17T15:07:00.003-05:00

We arrived in the port of Naples at 7 AM after sailing from Santorini at 6 PM last night.

Since we visited Pompeii and Herculaneum when we were in Naples before, we decided to go to the Isle of Capri this time. The shore excursion to Capri was to last all day, so we were up early and off on the tour before 8 AM. We left the dock at Naples on a hydrofoil boat, which took about 45 minutes to get to Capri. We have had really enjoyable and educational tours so far, but this tour was very disappointing. For one thing, it was much too long. There just isn't much to see here, really. Our guide was totally caught up in the "glamour" of the island (famous people who have been there, the exclusisve merchandise in the shops, etc.) We ate lunch in a restaurant with a view of Mount Vesuvius, which she never mentioned until asked! Her sole purpose seemed to be to get us from shop to shop and get us to spend money there. One fellow malcontent traveller commented as we stood outside yet another shop, "I didn't pay $150 to stand on the sidewalk in front of shops!" We did finally get back to the ship however -- just in time to sail. We had to get packed up and get our luggage set outside the stateroom, which I just finished doing.

Here is the information I gathered on Naples and the Isle of Capri before we left Rome, GA. I have included pics of the clock tower which identifies the square and of me standing there.

The average temperature in November is 47-62. Pickpockets are a concern on the Isle of Capri, which is always crowded with tourists.

Pizza was invented in Naples in 1830

Sant'Elmo is the name of both a hill and a beautiful fortress in Naples, which is located near the Certosa di San Martino. Together, the structures overlook Naples and they are the most visible landmarks in the city. The name "Sant'Elmo" is from an old 10th-century church.

The Villa Comunale is the most prominent and visible park in Naples and southern Italy. It was built in the 1780s by King Ferdinand IV (later known as Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies) on land reclaimed along the coast between the main body of the city and the small port of Mergellina. The park was originally a "Royal Garden", reserved for members of the royal family, but open to the public on special holidays such as the Festival of Piedigrotta

San Gregorio Armeno, heart of the historic city, is traditionally home to Naples' artists, artisans and Medieval guilds. Contains San Gennaro Cathedral with its Gothic crypts and Baroque masterpieces, was largely rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in the 15th century. It boasts Perugino's painting of the Assumption, Gothic crypts including the tomb of Pope Innocence IV, masterpieces of Baroque painting and the truly extraordinary Treasury of San Gennaro Museum The Cathedral's Treasury Museum is a repository of art, manuscripts and precious liturgical objects donated to the cathedral over the course of nine centuries by Popes, kings, nobles and notables.

The Isle of Capri:

Piazzetta square - Capri's main square is in the center of town and is a good place to shop or enjoy a drink.

Garden terraces, and historic churches and villas - visible all over town

Anacapri is another small village near the town of Capri. You can take a chair lift to the top of one of the highest peaks on the island and enjoy a breathtaking view of the Bay of Naples.

Villa San Michele - contains a collection of antiquities and a beautiful garden.

Gardens of Augustus - The gardens were founded by Augustus Cesar himself. They are filled with many species of plants and from here you will have fabulous views.

Faraglioni, a picturesque rock outcropping.

Marina Grande - a touristy old port lined with colorful fishermen's houses.

Monte Solaro

Hill of San Michele

Villa San Michele - The beautiful villa of Axel Munte, Swedish physician and author, features an interesting collection of antiquities while the garden offers a magnificent panorama of the Bay of Naples.

Santorini, Greece November 15, 2009

2009-11-15T12:15:00.003-05:00

We arrived in Santorini, Greece at 7 AM after sailing from Rhodes, Greece, at 5 PM yesterday.
I was up and out on our balcony as we approached harbor. The cliffs here are amazing with brilliant layers of color ranging from magenta to golden hues and all values of browns. When our ship anchored (we couldn't dock here, but are anchored in the harbor and will go ashore in tenders), our balcony looks directly out onto the shore Santorini. We can see Fira (the largest city and the capital) at the top of the cliff. Our ship in anchored in the caldera left by the huge volcanic eruption of many years ago, and the Aegean Sea is on the other side of the cliffs. We should see that in our shore excursion later on. From our balcony we can see the walking path connecting the town of Fira at the top of the cliff and the fishing village at the shoreline. Beside it is the cable car which can be used instead of the long and tiring walk or donkey ride along the zig-zag path. The pictures show the multicolored cliffs, the winding path up the cliff-face, and the cable car line.

We attended a 9 AM protestant worship service led by a very dry Catholic priest. Only about 35 or so passengers attended (a little over 1/100 of the passengers). It lasted about 45 minutes and was, let's see..... what shall I say? .....well, it was nothing to write home about; but at least it was some time to be alone, quiet, and to meditate on our God for a short time, so it was good! I missed our good pastor and his inspiring messages however.

Update: It is now evening and I am just up from a short nap. Our shore excursion this afternoon was very interesting. Our group took a tender from the ship and were taken to a different harbor where we boarded a bus to see the island. Santorini is a small island, one of three that form a caldera. The bus made hairpin turn after hairpin turn as we pleated our way to the top of the cliff that we had seen from the ship. This is a beautiful, but steep and rocky, island. All the buildings are white with blue trim, as is the case on every island we have seen in this area. The amazing multi-colored cliffs I mentioned early are under constant study by geologists of all kinds, according to our guide, Ilena. We visited the now-defunct monastery at the top of the mountain, a black-sand beach; we traveled a road from which we could look left and see the caldera and the ship and the look right and see the Aegean Sea. Gorgeous scenery.
The weather today was a dream. The sun shone and the temperature ranged from a slightly chilly early morning to a perfect short-sleeve afternoon.

Tomorrow is an at-sea day, then our last port will be Tuesday: Naples and the Isle of Capri. We bought tickets for an excursion to spend the day on Capri since we saw Pompeii and Herculaeum the last time we were here.

Here is information I gathered about Santorini before we began this trip.
The climate in Santorini is typical of the Mediterranean climate. The warm and dry season lasts from April until October, and the cold and rainy season lasts from November until the end of March. Long periods of consecutive rainy days are not common in Santorini, even during the winter, and the sky does not remain cloudy for more than a few days in a row. The average temperature in November 57-62 .

History:
About 3600 years ago, the center of the island was blown away in a colossal volcanic eruption, leaving behind a circular depression in the sea floor (four miles wide) and the crescent-shaped sliver of rock known as Santorini. Santorini is composed of three islands forming a visible rim of the caldera. The best place to view the Caldera is the walking path between Fira and Oia.

Santorini is known because it is a volcanic island with a volcano that sleeps and wakes from time to time to rock Thira (as it is also called) and then sleep again. The huge eruption which occurred years ago was probably the biggest in recorded history and it changed the island morphology a great deal. The results of this catastrophe are still evident nowadays. The beaches of Santorini have black sand, and special kinds of wines are produced because of the soil’s particularity. Santorini is the southernmost island of the Cyclades. Two great civilizations have left their mark on Santorini: one belongs to prehistoric times and is apparent in what has been coming to light in the excavations at Akrotiri. The other is a Greek civilization represented by the ancient city located on Mesa Vouno.

What to See and Do:

Fira - Accessible only by foot, Santorini's largest town is a village of whitewashed houses clinging to steep volcanic cliffs. Accessible only by foot, Fira's narrow cobblestone lanes lead uphill past shops, homes and cafés to a cable car, which tourists can ride to the top of the caldera.
Panagia Episkopi Church - Dating from the 11th century, it is the oldest remaining Byzantine church on the island. It has withstood raids by pirates, earthquakes, volcano eruptions and a fire in 1915. It is believed that the Virgin Mary protected the holy icons from the fire. Unfortunately 26 of these priceless icons were stolen from the church in 1982 and have never been recovered. There is a stone staircase of 600 steps that leads down to the harbor of Fira, and to a tour boat that will take you across the caldera to the Nea Kammeni island, or "the volcano", as people call it.
Oia Village - The small village perches atop the caldera's rim at Santorini's northern terminus. There are narrow, cobblestone lanes, brilliantly whitewashed buildings, shops, cafés and domed churches. There are several local wineries. Santorini's rich volcanic soil combined with the rare assyrtiko variety of grape grown here produce a wine unique to this island.Oia or Ia is the most photographed village in Greece. Life is quieter here than in Fira. The main reason why tourists visit Oia is the spellbinding sunset view for which hordes of people gather in the afternoon and wait for hours till the sun sets to take photographs.
Kamari - Today the ancient port of Thera is a large fishing village famed for its dramatic black-sand beach, unique in the Greek islands. Kamari attracts more families because of its long black-sand beach, a characteristic of the island.
PREHISTORIC THERA: AKROTIRI - The ancient city at Akrotiri is not merely the most important archaeological site on the island, it is also, thanks to its excellent state of preservation and the wealth of findings it has yielded, the most important prehistoric settlement found anywhere in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was saved from the volcanic eruption mostly because it was covered in volcanic ashes. Akrotiri could be called the prehistoric Pompeii of the Aegean.

Rhodes, Greece November 14, 2009

2009-11-14T17:44:00.001-05:00

We docked in Rhodes (Rodos) Greek islands, at 8 AM after leaving Ephesus yesterday at 5 PM.

There is not much to write about our experience here. We took a few pics from the ship and as we walked around Rhodes Town. We did not take a shore excursion, but we enjoyed walking to town and around the narrow streets and visiting the little shops there.

We spent the afternoon sitting on various decks and enjoying the views. Each of us (sometimes together, sometimes not) read, dozed, walked, ate and drank, and relaxed as we felt like it.

Tonight I went down to the main deck, sat in the Explorers Lounge and listened to a group called "Amante" perform popular music while passengers danced. I enjoyed watching the dancers and listening to the music. Later there was a karaoke hour in the same lounge, so I stayed for that as well. The singers, with the exception of one or two, were just as good as the professionals. Actually, I'd say this karoke hour was among the best of the entertainment we've had on this cruise.

Following is the information I gathered before we embarked on this trip:

Average Temp in November 57-67F Rhodes is one of the best known Greek islands. It has been thoroughly "touristized" but still retains some "Greekness." Many locals are involved with tourism, but there are also a lot of farmers on the island. They grow grapes and keep goats. There is also a large military base on the island.

Rhodes History:
According to mythology, the sun-god Helios fell in love with the nymph Rhodes, and when he shone his light on her, she transformed into the island. The name means "rose" and the island has been known since antiquity as a flowery place. The ancient Greeks used to call Rhodes "the Island of Sun" because of its patron god, and other names that the island has had are Ofioussa ("Snake island"), Asteria ("Star island"), Makaria ("Beauty") and Ataviros (its highest mountain).

The first inhabitants were probably the Minonans, Cretans, followed by Dorians at the end of the 2nd Millennium BC. The first inhabitants probably called the island Telchinia. Rhodes was soon to become one of the most powerful islands with its strong military and commercial fleet. Initially, the island was forced to fight the Greeks along the Persian side during the Persian Wars in the 5th century BC, but managed to break free and became a member of the Athenian League. The island kept flourishing and had an important school for scientists and philosophers.
During the Classic period the Colossus of Rhodes was built. It was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and we only know of its existence through ancient literature and coins. It was a statue of the sun-god Helios, about 35 meters high, standing with one foot on each side of the harbour of Lindos. After an earthquake it fell apart, but when the people on Rhodes wanted to rebuild it, an oracle told them not to. So it lay in the harbour for hundreds of years until the Turks took it.

The Romans conquered Greece in the 2nd century BC. This, and the following Byzantine era, was to be a period of decline. Pirates, as well as Saracens and Arabs, kept attacking, and the Venetians occupied the island in the 11th century, followed by crusaders and Genovans, and finally the Turks in the 16th century. The most famous period was when the Knights of the Order of St. John ruled here, since there are still several buildings from this time. Rhodes is even referred to as the "Island of the Knights" sometimes. They came in 1309 and stayed until the Turks invaded in 1522. In 1912 Rhodes was given to Italy, and liberated in 1948.

What to See in Rhodes:

The capital, Rodos - a very beautiful town, containing (1)the harbour of Mandraki - Two famous bronze deer stand where the colossus of Rhodes once was (2) the castle of the Grand Master, (3) the road of the Knights - It was built upon an ancient street that dates to 408 BC. it leads to the (4)Palace of the Grand Masters, begun in the early 14th century, the palace was destroyed in 1856 and rebuilt in 1939. I contains ancient mosaics from the island of Kos and a monumental marble staircase (5) Castle of the Knights.

The white town Lindos is well worth visiting. The acropolis here was only surpassed by the acropolis of Athens, and you can still see its ruins.

The healing baths of Kallithea are on the Eastern side of the island.

Kamiros - On the West side of the island there are several picturesque villages. If you like ancient history the "Pompey of Greece" is definitely a place to go.

The monastery of Filerimos is also a place worth a visit.

The Valley of Butterflies (Petaludes) is full of butterflies

Anthony Quinn Bay - This is where The Guns of Navarone was filmed.

Rhodes's Acropolis - The Acropolis of Lindos - From here you can to see one of the centers of the ancient Greek civilization including the remains of the 4th-century B.C. Doric Temple of Athena Lindia and the fortifications of the Knights of St. John. Below the Acropolis, you will see the clustered, old whitewashed houses and narrow streets of Lindos, a popular haunt of artists and writers. Monte Smith - A British admiral lent his name to Rhodes Town's old Acropolis. You will be able to view in its entire splendor the unforgettable sight of the town of Rhodes and the protective walls that still surround it.St. Paul's Bay - The beautiful, tranquil bay on the reverse side of Lindos where St. Paul is believed to have sought shelter during a storm.

Mt. Philerimos and the Church of Our Lady - This plateau rising 1,000-feet above the sea offers superb views of the surrounding valleys, Mt. Philerimos is crowned by the Church of Our Lady, which was built on the ancient Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Athena and over early Christian catacombs. The unique barrel-vaulted Chapel of St. George dates from the 15th century.

Marine Gate - The most beautiful and picturesque of the Gates that lead into the Old Town. Its unique feature is the two semicircular towers, which guard the gate.

Mandraki Harbor - Believed to be the place where the Colossus of Rhodes stood straddling the ancient harbor; one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today on each side there, atop two columns statues of a male and female deer.

Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey November 13, 2009

2009-11-13T17:40:00.002-05:00

We arrived in Kusadasi, Turkey (Ephesus) at 8 AM after leaving Mykonos Island, Greece, at 6 PM last night. I sat on the balcony in the morning chill and watched as our captain docked the ship. We are docked directly beside a smaller Princess ship, the Royal Princess. So the view off our stateroom balcony is the sign and the logo of that ship.

Jim was sleeping in, so I went up to the buffet and ate a bowl of cereal; then I went up to decks 15 and 16 and took some pics from both sides and from the back of the ship. From those decks one can look down onto the top decks and pools of the Royal Princess.

We got off the ship and walked into Kusadasi and looked around. We didn't buy much - a few bookmarks and a change purse. The shop-owners are very aggressive here, and you have to be absolutely rude to keep from being dragged into each shop. The big items are leather goods, woven items such as towels, wraps, etc., jewelry and carpets - none of which are items on my wish list.

We came back to the ship to rest up a little and get a bite to eat before our tour of Ephesus.

Our tour was excellent! Our guide, Volca, was knowledgable and entertaining. He kept up a good pace but always waited until the group was together to begin talking. He seemed much more aware of his group than some guides do - talking louder if he could tell it was needed, pausing if someone was late getting to the group, ad-libbing when it was needed.

Among some of the most interesting things we saw were: the theatre in which St. Paul preached, as recorded in Acts 17; the prison in which he was held for his protection when citizens objected to his preaching there; the house where he lived and where he took Mary, the mother of Jesus, to live with him after Jesus commended her into his care.

We saw all the things that we had hoped to see and learned a few extra facts. For example, I didn't know that Ephesus was the 4th largest city of the ancient world. Nor did I know that Antony and Cleopatra honeymooned there and that the citizens poured red wine in their pathway to signal welcome -- and that the custom of rolling out a red carpet to welcome valued visitors came from that custom. I learned that archeologists estimate population of excavated cities by studying the largest coliseum or theatre in the city. They find out how many patrons could be seated there and multiply that number by 10 to estimate the city's population. The Ephesians built a bath at each entrance to the city in order to control the spread of disease. It reminded me of the proliferation of containers of hand sanitizer in all public buildings in recent months. The toilet area of the baths prompted amusing speculation. Observing rows of fifteen or twenty "seats", one has to wonder if there was any division between them at any time or if they were gender specified at all. It certainly makes one wonder about the expression "cheek to cheek."

We saw a demonstration for turkish carpet weaving and got a lesson in what increases or decreases the value and durability of carpets.

Back on the ship, we watched the Royal Princess pull out of port; then we cleaned up and ate dinner in one of the formal dining rooms. We went to see the new comedian, but we left early. The word "bomb" figures in a description of him. He was NOT "the bomb", but he definitely BOMBED! I can't remember his name right now. He was British and talked so fast and with such a strong accent that we could barely understand him. What we DID understand was not funny. In this day and age, I guess we should be thankful that our trip includes only this figurative kind of bomb.

Here is some information I gathered before we started this trip.

Ephesus which was established as a port, used to be an important commercial centre. It played a great role in ancient times because of its strategic location. Ephesus is located in a very fertile valleyand was once the trade center of the ancient world and the center of early Christianity. Today Ephesus is an important tourism center in Turkey. The ancient city of Ephesus is located in Selcuk, a small town 30 km away from Kusadasi.

Our major interest in Ephesus is, of course, its religious significance as it relates to our Christian faith and the Bible. The last book in the New Testament contains the revelation of St. John. The main subject of the Revelation is the end of the world. It tells the stories about the messages sent by Christ to "the Seven Churches" of Asia Minor as the Apocalypse approaches. The Seven Churches are located in the western part of Anatolia.

The Seven Churches of Apocalypse. The word church in Seven Churches is not used to define a building but a community of Christians. During the time, when Christianity was newly spread, it was under threat from Jews and pagans; therefore Christians were forced to worship in the mountains, graveyards and catacombs. When the King Domitian ordered Christians tortured and killed, the Book of Revelations was written. These "Seven Churches of the Apocalypse" were the cities that witnessed the formation of the first Christian communities as it was stated in the Bible and canonical letters. The Seven Churches are listed below in their order of importance:

Izmir (Smyrna) Revelation 2:8-11 - Smyrna (Izmir) dates back to the 3rd Millennium B.C. However most of the ruins only date back to 178 A.D. because of an earthquake which destroyed many buildings. During the persecution of Christians in Smyrna in 156, the famous bishop of Christian Church Polycorp and eleven other Christians were burned at the stake. St John spoke out to the Christians of Smyrna in his book 60 years before the persecutions in Smyrna.

Efes (Ephesus) Revelation 1:11, 2:1-7, Acts 18:19-28, 19:1-41 - Ephesus is the second pilgrimage center for Christians and was also home to the Virgin Mary and St John.
Eskihisar (Laodicea) Revelation 3:12-22, C0lossians 2:1, 4:13-16 - Laodicea was probably founded by King Antiochus II who named the city after his wife Laodice. Before the Christian era in the city, there were wealthy Jewish people living in the region. However most of the inhabitants worshipped Zeus.
Alasehir (Philadelphia) Revelation 3:7-13 - was founded in 159 BC. The church building, named after St. John, is a rectangular building of six pillars.

Sart (Sardis) Revelation 3:1-6 - Sardis is located on the motorway between Ankara and Izmir which was the capital of the famous kingdom Lydia. In his book St John wrote to the Christians of Sardis.

Akhisar (Thyatira) Revelation 2:18-29, Acts 16:14 - After the re-foundation of Thyatira (Akhisar) by Seleucus Nicator, one of the generals of Alexandre the Great, in the 3rd century B.C. it became a commercial city. It had many trade guilds which had members in certain unions like tailors, woolworkers, tanners, potter, bakers etc.. However these guilds were related to the pagan religions in Thyatira. The city was located 80 km away from Smyrna. What can be seen belonging to ancient times are only the Temple of Apollo, an ancient church and a colonnaded road.

Bergama (Pergamum) Revelation 2:12-17 - Pergamum was a small Ionian city which was first mentioned in connection with Lysimachos, one of the generals of Alexander the Great. In the book of Revelation St John spoke out to the Christian citizens of Pergamum

The number seven has an importance in many cultures and religions like seven heavens, the seven days of the week, the story of the Seven Sleepers, the combination of squares and triangles in the Pyramids and the seven branched candlestick.

Here are some things to see:

Ruins of the Basilica of St. John - The 6th century Basilica of St. John - Built by the Emperor Justinian over the tomb of St. John the Apostle,

final resting place of the Virgin Mary - The Vatican has recognized this small house in the Solmissos Mountains as the final resting place of the Virgin Mary

the Great Theater - theater had seating for 24,000, which was the site where it is believed St. Paul preached to the Ephesians, and is used today for a local spring festival.

Terrace Houses - Located in a newly excavated area across from Hadrian's Temple, Ephesus Terrace Houses were home to the city's elite. The wealthy and important people of Ephesus used these houses which are finely decorated with mosaics and frescoes giving a true impression of the ancient lifestyle. These houses are the finest examples of Roman domestic life in the world.

Magnesia Gate - Enter here and walk a marble path past the Odeon Theater, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan, and the Great Theatre.

Sirince - a small mountain village that is also listed as a World Heritage Site. It is known for its Byzantine church colorful market. The Ephesus Museum displays collection of Hellenistic and Roman statues, carved reliefs and artifacts discovered in the ruins of Ephesus.

The temple of Artemis is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. It was built in the areas of Ephesus on a flat area which has over the centuries turned into a swamp. Today one can only see the ruins of the foundations of this marvelous construction of the Hellenistic Age, entirely made of marble and full of sculptured columns, capitals, and shafts. The new Artemis was rebuilt in the 2nd century BC. Located on top of the previous one, it was huge: 127 columns of each 17,5 meters high. Unfortunately this one was also destroyed by fire, reconstructed and again demolished by earthquakes, rebuilt and at last looted by Goths.

The statue of many-breasted Artemis was the symbol of the temple but also of abundance, hunting and wild life. The genuine statue of Artemis, removed during the fire, is today exhibited in the Selcuk Museum. Many copies of this statue found during the latest excavations date from the Roman period.

Mykonos Island, Greece - November 12, 2009

2009-11-12T17:58:00.005-05:00

When I woke up at 3 AM, we were already docked on Mykonos, Greek Isle. Our stateroom was overlooking the dock for a change. I like to be on this side - to watch the ship pull in and set sail again. I also enjoy being able to see something besides ocean, which is what one usually sees from the other side. I couldn't go back to sleep, so I got up about 6:00 and sat on the balcony, read, made some pics, etc. Jim slept in big time today, so I was very limited in what I could do. About 8 AM I got cleaned up, watched people leave the ship to go into Mykonos town, saw tour busses depart and shuttle busses go into and come back from the town. It was pretty chilly on the balcony, so I came in about 10 and went up to Deck 14 to read. I couldn't find a place to suit me, so I finally went into one of the seating areas on the main deck and sat awhile.

After Jim got up, we rode the shuttle into Mykonos town. (Many of these islands have towns with the same name as the entire island, so they distinguish between them by adding the word "town" to distinguish the town from the island. Mykonos town is very picturesque. All the buildings are white with blue doors. The main downtown area is pedestrian- and scooter-accessible only. The shops were TINY with apartments above all of them. I was amused at Natalia's Palace (a space literally smaller than my closet at home). Please note that the name is Natalia's PALACE - not PLACE. Her store was perhaps smaller than a typical 50s-era linen closet! Notice the merchandise hanging on the inside of the door. Customers could not go inside; her wares were displayed outside, while she sat in the doorway. If a customer stopped, she would move out and motion for the potential buyer to take her place in the doorway and look at the merchandise displayed just inside the doorway. I took a pic of Natalia's Palace for our Natalie, whom I often call "Natalia." Many other shops were not much larger.

We had about an hour of panic when i thought I had had my pocket picked. We raced back to the ship and called to cancel our credit card, emotionally kissed goodbye to about $100 bucks worth of US money and Euros. Taaaaaa Daaaaaaa! The climax of that story? I found the cards in a pocket that both of us overlooked when we checked my purse over and over again to be sure they were really missing! I will try to rewrite this in more detail later, but I am running out of the very expensive internet time!

Afternoon: movie, nap, read...........

Evening: Had dinner in one of the formal dining rooms. No good shows were scheduled, so Jim watched a movie and I read and came here to the internet cafe.

Here is some information I gathered on Mykonos before we left Atlanta:

Average Temp in November: 58-64F

Mykonos is world famous for its beaches with golden white sand lapped by the blue Aegean.

Mykonos (Greek: Μύκονος) or Myconos is a Greek island and a top international tourist destination. The island is part of the Cyclades, lying between Tinos, Siros, Paros and Naxos. The island is composed primarily of granite. It has little natural fresh water and relies on the desalination of sea water in order to meet its needs. There are 9,320 inhabitants (2001) most of whom live in the largest town, Mykonos, also known as Chora (i.e. the Town in Greek, a common denomination in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town), which lies on the west coast.

History
Archaeological finds indicate that the Ionians settled on Mykonos in the early part of the 11th century BC. More recent discoveries have uncovered remnants in Ftelia beach from the Neolithic Kares tribe dating back to as far as 3000 BC.

Things to See/Do:

Panagia Tourliani Monastery - Originally built by monks in 1542 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it has marvelous distinct island architecture. It has a wonderfully carved marble fountain in the courtyard and a superb carved wooden screen in the church made especially in Florence.
The windmills and Little Venice -
The Island of Delos - This nearby island (which can be seen from Mykonos) is a huge archaeological site revered in ancient times as the birthplace of the twin Gods, Apollo and Artemis.

Athens (Piraeus), Greece November 11, 2009

2009-11-11T23:01:00.006-05:00

We arrived in Athens (Piraeus), Greece at 6 AM. I would have thought we'd be here early since we had the 8 hours we were scheduled to be in Olympia. Since we have visited Athens before and seen most of the important sites, we decided to do little today. Jim slept late then went to see if we could get a last-minute reservation on the bus tour of Athens that left at 1:00. We got on it, although it is a mystery HOW! We never gave our stateroom number or our names, but the tickets appeared under our door about 15 minutes after we asked about it. It was a good tour. We saw all the usual sites -- just from the bus or from a distance. Instead of walking up the Acropolis, exploring the Parthenon, and walking around the Olympic Stadium like we did last time, we just saw them, stopped and photographed them from a distance. We also went into Zeus's temple, which we didn't see at all last time.

The tour was eventful in another way. We were in very heavy traffic because some streets had been closed by a political demonstration. Then we were involved in a minor accident. The bus driver suddenly slammed on the brakes, and we heard a thud. Of course the driver and guide had to get out for awhile and work out details. We were delayed a much shorter time than I would have expected, though. They told us that a small car hit a scooter (both of which are omnipresent cutting in and out of traffic) and through the scooter into the side of the bus. Apparently no one was hurt. At the end of the tour we had a "snack" in a very fance, 5-star hotel downtown The Hotel Grande Bretagne. It was elegant with revolving doors, gorgeous chandeliers, carved desks, etc.

Our guide was very fluent in English, but still she had several predictable mispronunciations. Southern was pronounced as "South en"; the "t" in castle was pronounced; all dates were preceded with the article "the."

Jim washed clothes tonight. Okay, I helped a little, folding and putting away; but he is the one who sat in the laundromat for ages.

The weather was gorgeous today -- such a nice change.

The evening's entertainment was not too great. Comedian Rikki Jay (a man, although the names looks like a woman's) was one of the frantic, run-all-over-the-stage types who talks so fast your ears can't keep up.

Late night pizza!! Gotta stop that!!

Here is information I gathered before we left Atlanta.

Average temperature in November: 53-64F

Athens is called "the birth place of modern civilization." Philosophy, politics, mathematics, the natural sciences, art - almost all of life as we know it - was invented or defined in Ancient Greece. From astronomy and the search for order in the heavens to democracy and the quest for order on earth, the people of this great city created the foundations upon which all our civilization has since rested. (That is a quote - debatable I am sure, but interesting nevertheless.)

Katakolon (Olympia), Greece November 10, 2009

2009-11-10T22:38:00.006-05:00

We had very heavy storms all night after leaving Corfu. The captain came on the speaker early in the AM to announce that the stop in Katakolon(Olympia, Greece was being cancelled because of the storms; we were behind schedule; further storms were forecast; and we would have to press on to make it to Athens in time. So we had an extra day at sea today. The director made several morning announcements about changes and additions to the schedule and kept waking us us. They put out a new version of the daily newsletter to add in some activities.

I went to a water-color class, but was tired and in an irritable mood and left it early without learning much. The teacher kept getting sidetracked with one or two students and leaving the rest of the class to muddle through. The folks sitting with me got involving in a political discussion, and those who know me well know that that will get me out of a room about as fast as anything. Jim went to a movie while I went to the class.

The evening entertainment was the very funny comedy pianist, Jon Courtenay, again!. He wasn't quite as funny tonight as he was Sunday, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching and listening to him play the piano. He had composed a very funny song about "An Extra Day at Sea" that had the audience eating out of his hand.

Here is information I gathered about Katakolon (Olympia) before we left Atlanta:

Katakolon is a seaside town in western Ilia in the municipality of Pyrgos. The town center is within a gulf overlooking the Ionian Sea. Katakolon is situated on a peninsula. The Lighthouse of Katakolon was first opened in 1865, and the town has a population of 612 inhabitants.

Katakolon is THE gateway to Olympia, where the ancient Greeks flocked every four years for more than a millennium to celebrate the games. Here you can see the ruins of the Sanctuary, with its athletic quadrangles, stadium, temples and treasuries as well as the modern Archaeological Museum, a treasure house of Archaic, Classical and Roman sculptures, including the famous Niki Winged Victory.

Interesting Facts about the Ancient Olympic Games:

Tradition holds that the first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC, but they might actually have started way before then. The games were a peace treaty between Sparta and Elis, and it was soon decided that all Greek states could take part in them as long as they respected the sacred truce that must be held during the games. This period of peace was for a month at first, but because so many states took part and people from all over came to watch, it was extended to three months, always during summer. Because the sacred truce gave the kings and leaders from all over Greece a chance to meet unarmed, Olympia became an important place for political discussions and trade. It also enhanced the feeling of unity amongst the Greeks, along with the language and religion. Olympia has cultivated ideals since ancient times. It was never just the games, but also the honour, the peace, the struggle and the body - all in one.

Famous people, such and Plato and Aristotle, came here to watch the games. In the 6th century BC, Thales of Miletus died of a heat stroke here. Gelon and Hieron of Syracusae competed in the games, and so did Alcibiades, Alexander the Great and Nero.

Slaves and women, especially married ones, were strictly forbidden to watch the games, and if a woman was caught as a spectator, she was immediately thrown off Mt. Typaeon. Women could compete though, and besides that, the Heraia ,foot races for young maids in the area, were also held here. Barbarians were allowed to watch, but not to compete. A competitor had to be a free, unpunished Greek, and he had to have trained for the games in his home for ten months, and for one month in Olympia.

The winners did not receive any money, but were greatly honored. The prize was an olive wreath from Zeus's holy tree, and the winner was allowed to raise a victory statue. In his hometown he would usually be given free meals for the rest of his life, and it is said that a town with a champion would tear down its wall since they no longer needed one with such an athlete as a citizen.

If an athlete was caught cheating, perhaps through bribing or poisoning, he was forced to finance a statue of Zeus where his and his family's name would be put along with a description of what he had done. Then the statue was put near the entrance of the stadium, so that the athletes would see them before the games.

From the year 472 the games were held during five days instead of the original one. On the first day the competitors would register, take a sacred oath that they had trained for ten months and that they would respect the rules. On this day there was a competition between the heralds. On the second day the horse races and Pentathlon were held. On the third the track races took place. On the fourth there was wrestling, boxing and Pancrateon. On the fifth day the prizes were handed out, with celebrations following.

During the Classical period the great temple of Zeus was built. Inside the temple stood the statue of the god, made by Phidias . We only know about this statue through coins and descriptions, and it was supposedly 13,5 meters (37,5 feet) high. It pictured a sitting Zeus with the goddess Nike in his right hand and a scepter in his left. The statue was made of gold and ivory, and was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It disappeared towards the end of the 4th century AD.

In the 4th century BC the whole stadium was moved to the East and slopes were made on the sides for the spectators. Alexander the Great competed during the games. He didn't win, but proved to be a good loser.

The Romans conquered Greece in the 2nd century BC and they took many of the treasures of Olympia with them. Sulla even tried to relocate the games to Rome, but failed. Even so, the Olympic Games lost their importance and were just held for show. During Augustus'S reign Olympias status was enhanced again.

Nero came to Greece in AD 67 and took part in the horse races. Although he fell off his chariot, he had himself declared winner and then took many statues with him. Herodes Atticus built a nympheum here, and its fountain provided the area with drinking water.

Because Germanic tribes ravaged Athens and the Peloponnese, many buildings were torn down in the 3rd century, and the materials were used to build fortifications in Olympia. They never actually came here, but in the 4th century the games were banned by emperor Theodosius. The whole sanctuary was shut down in 426. One of the main reasons was the the Olympic Games were now considered pagan by the Christian emperor, and the competitors' nakedness highly immoral.

In the 6th century earthquakes destroyed the buildings in Olympia, and it was filled with mud from the flooded rivers Kladeos and Alfeos. Landslides from Mt. Kronion finally covered the whole area up.The sanctuary was discovered in 1776, and in 1829 French archaeologists started excavating the site. The first modern Olympic Games were held in Berlin in 1936. The irony of it all is that the ancient games would stop the wars, but the modern ones have been stopped by wars on a few occasions.

Corfu, Greece November 9, 2009

2009-11-09T18:42:00.000-05:00

We arrived in Corfu at 8 AM after sailing from Dubrovnik, Croatia at 6 PM yesterday. We transitioned from the Adriatic Sea, past the coastline of Albania and into the Ionian Sea to the Greek Island of Corfu.

Our tour "Corfu on Your Own" left early. We walked around the very picturesque pedestrian-only city of Corfu Town from 10AM to 1PM. We enjoyed seeing many of the recommended sites, including The Regency Palace, St. Spyridan Church, and the Explanade. We spent much of the time looking for a light jacket for Jim since he lost his yesterday. The weather today was unpleasant. Heavily clouded all day, it poured rain and became windy from time to time and was very chilly. The sun came out once for about half an hour, and I was amazed how much warmer it got for awhile.

We sailed at 6:30. After dinner, Jim and I went to a magician show. I can't remember his name right now. It was good (as magicians go -- not my favorite.) It was certainly not in the league with the superb comic pianist we saw last night.

Here is information I gathered about Corfu before we left Atlanta:

Corfu weather in November: The weather is unpredictable. It may be sunny, but there are plenty of rainy and windy days too.

Corfu History: The earliest mention of Corfu in history was in Homer's Odyssey when Odysseus's last stop was Corfu, or island of the Faiacs, where he was washed ashore after his ship had sunk. Later, in the 8th century BC the island was colonized by the Corinthians. The Venetians ruled the island from 1386 to 1797, then it fell into French hands; then for a few years it was occupied by Russian-Turkish forces. In 1815 the British were the regents of Corfu and they stayed for almost 50 years. The Italians occupied the island for much of the 1920s through the 1940s. Corfu was bombarded by the Germans and the Allies during World War II. The island became part of Greece in 1864 after being ruled by other nations as well: French, Russian and British.

What to See :

The citadel in the harbour was made by the Venetians.

The Regency palace in the town was built by the British

Pretty villages and deserted beaches - Sidari, Aharavi, Dasia, Ypsos, the channel of love, the fishing villages Benitses, Moraitika - From Kassiopi you can see Albania if the weather is clear enough.

Spianada - the most popular square in the town

The palace Achilleon - where the empress Sissy lived

St. Spyridon - with the tallest bell tower of the island.

The palace of Ag Michael and Georgiou

The church of Vlahernas

Pontikonisi - an area which not only is beautiful, but also has a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary from the 13th century. This is probably the most photographed spot in Corfu.

Paleocastritsa - on a cliff just by the most popular beach, there is a 13th century monastery, which holds the huge bones of a whale.

Dubrovnik, Croatia November 8, 2009

2009-11-08T22:43:00.006-05:00

We arrived in Dubrovnik at 9 AM after sailing from Venice at 1 PM yesterday. The weather was much better today. We are further South; perhaps that accounts for the warmer temperatures. It was cloudy all day, but it never actually rained.

My headache continued today, slightly diminished. We enjoyed sitting on our balcony and watching the approach into Dubrovnik. Our tour left soon after we docked. The Walk around the City Walls was very strenuous but invigorating. I wish I had counted the stairs we climbed and descended -- there must have been at least several hundred. I believe the guide said that the circumference of the old walls is about 2 miles -- certainly not level. the views were spectacular! Our first guide became sick at the end of the walk, so we had another guide for the tour of the maritime museum and the walk through the old city. When we were given free time, I walked back into the city and went into some shops and looked around, but didn't find anything to buy. Jim waited near the busstop and people-watched. I will post some pics when we get home. Old City Dubrovnik is a fascinating city -- it is entirely pedestrian, with narrow little lanes lined with tiny shops. Featured here was intricate needlework - tablecloths, etc. Apparent everywhere was damage from the war in the 1990s - "the aggression of the Yugoslavs" as the memorial signs expressed it.

Jim had left his jacket on the bus (he asked the driver, and the driver said it would be okay; however we think the driver did not really understand him)-- the jacket and long-sleeve shirt were not there when we got back. A couple from Chile that we have met was worse off however, they lost a camera by accidentally leaving it on the bus. They spent most of the time in Dubrovnik trying to track it down.

There is a comedy musician show tonight after dinner was really good. His name is Jon Courtenay, and he was terrific! His piano style was excellent and he was hilarious as well. If you have an opportunity to see/hear him perform, jumpt at the chance.

Here is information I gathered about Dubrovnic, Croatia, before we left home:

The city is in the extreme south of Croatia, is located between the Adriatic Sea and the Dinaric Alps, and is known as the Pearl of the Adriatic. It has a population of over 120,000.

DUBROVNIK is a beautifully preserved medieval fortified city. First settled by Roman refugees in the early seventh century and given the name Ragusa. By the mid-fourteenth century, having shaken off the yoke of first the Byzantines and then the Venetians, it had become a successful and self-contained city state and continued to prosper until 1667, when an earthquake devastated the city. Though the city-state survived, it fell into decline and, in 1808, was formally dissolved by Napoleon.

An eight-month siege by Yugoslav forces in the early 1990s caused much destruction, but the city swiftly recovered. Dubrovnik was heavily bombed by the Montenegrin Navy during the Croatian War of Independence from 1991 to 1995. Almost all of the damage has been covered over, but if you look closely around the pedestrian-only old town you can still see the damage from mortars in the cobblestone streets and bullet marks in the stone houses.

Some things to see in Dubrovnik:

Old City Walls - The Old City of Dubrovnik and its medieval walls have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The walls were completed in the 13th century and encircle the old city with a circumference of more than a mile and a half.
Pile Gate, at the beginning of the Placa Thoroughfare (Stradun) (Old town),The most convenient starting place for your stroll through the City is Pile.

Placa Stradun, (Old town),. The Stradun (Placa) is the central street of the city of Dubrovnik and is the place where the old city comes to life. The uniform Baroque architecture of the houses in Placa, with shops on the street level and their 'knee-like' entrances, got its present-day form in the restoration of the City taking place after the disastrous earthquake in 1667, when a large number of luxurious Gothic and Renaissance palaces had been destroyed. The architectural design of Placa reveals effective solutions and the business sense of the Dubrovnik Republic in those difficult times.
Fort Lovrijenac - The monumental fort rises above 37 meters high rock. The main purpose of its construction was defense, and the main idea was to protect the freedom of Dubrovnik. In order to prevent possible mutiny by the commander of the fortress, the walls facing the city are only 60 cm thick compared to those exposed to enemy fire which were 12m thick!. Above the entrance to the fortress is an inscription that says "Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro" which translates to "Freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world".
Dominican Monastery - This is an exceptionally valuable historic complex, which, besides its religious purpose, also represents the important artistic treasury of ancient Dubrovnik.
Nature Park - Take a ferry to the Island of Lokrum, which houses a monastery, a fort with great views of Dubrovnik, botanical gardens, and a naturist beach. This small island is reachable in 10 minutes boat-time from the old city port. It offers unparalleled serenity, beauty and peace.
Maritime Museum - Displays focus on the maritime heritage of the Dubrovnik Republic in the 16th century extending to the present day Croatia.
Roland's Column - A slender stone flag staff of the legendary knight. Also known as Orlando's Column
Bell Tower - On top of the tower are the famous 'Zelenci' (The Green Ones), bronze statues which strike the gigantic bell every hour
Sponza Palace - Gothic Renaissance palace, one of the few buildings that has maintained its form from before the catastrophic 1667 earthquake
Rector's Palace, Formerly the palace of the Major Council, now houses a museum dedicated to the city's history.
War Photo Limited - An exhibition center of war and conflict photography. Exhibits change during the season. Stunning images by world renowned photo journalists.
Church of St. Ignatius
Big Onofrio´s Fountain

Venice, Italy November 6-7, 2009

2009-11-06T22:32:00.001-05:00

We are in Venice Italy today, November 6, 2009. We arrived, after an all-night, uneventful (thank goodness!) flight from Atlanta via JFK in New York, at 9:45 yesterday morning. Our ship will sail at 1:00 PM today.

It was VERY cold and rainy in Venice when we arrived yesterday morning. We arrived one hour and 15 minutes early, which seemed to throw the cruise line personnel into a dither. This ship has been in drydock for a year and this is one of the first cruises of its new tenure, so perhaps that is the explanation. We had to sit in the check-in building (c-o-l-d) and wait for them to allow us to board the ship. The people from the last cruise were still just leaving the luggage-collection area when our busload from the airport arrived to check in.

It was completely dark at 5PM last night. I developed a headache on the flight and was in significant and debilitating pain by the time we arrived on the ship. Because of the headache, jet lag, and the weather, we did not do anything all day.

We had signed up for a shore excursion for Saturday; but in our confusion born of exhaustion, we misread the departure time and overslept and missed the tour. Needless to say, it was upsetting to just throw that money away! We took a water taxi into Venice and had a great couple of hours on our own. We walked into St. Mark's Square and saw many of the attractions that our tour was supposed to cover.

We were scheduled to sail at 1:00 PM, so they scheduled the emergency drill for 12:00 -- just as we were returning to the ship from Venice. After we sailed, I went back to bed (headache still pounding in spite of much too much tylenol) and Jim went to a movie. It was formal night on the ship, and we did not feel like dressing up, so we just stayed in.

Here is information about Venice that I found before we left Atlanta.

Average Temperature during the month of Nov: 39-52

Based on my internet-site reading, the following are the Top Ten Things to See in Venice.

Canal Grand (The Grand Canal) - Grand views, galleries, museums, and beautiful Venetian Gothic style palaces -- these are just a few of the sights visitors will see while floating down the Grand Canal in a vaporetto (Venice waterbus). Another way to explore the Grand Canal is by Gondola or motorboat. The Grand Canal begins at Piazetta San Marco and ends at the rail station.
Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica) – Finished in 1094, houses a number of otherworldly relics from all over the world and the icon of the Madonna of Nicopeia. Other points of interest include: the atrium, the baptistery, Pala d'Oro, and the Marciano Museum and the Loggia dei Cavalli
Venetian home of Peggy Guggenheim, one of the most outstanding art collections in the world. Visitors to the home can browse through works by Jackson Pollock, Max Ernst, Picasso, Chagill, Delvaux, Salvador Dali, Duchamp, and Mondrian.
Chiesa di San Giacomo di Rialto - Possibly built around 421, also called San Giacometo, is considered the oldest church in Venice. Highlights include the great clock, the Gothic Portico (one of the last remaining examples in the city), and the interior design.
Palazzo Pisani - stands at one of the most beautiful points along the Grand Canal. The architecture is significant, due in part, to the palace’s façade, which features two levels of Gothic mulliones windows. Inside, Baroque decoration can be found throughout by the best Venetian artists of the XVIIIth Century. Other points of interest include the grand staircase, antique furnishings, and the palace's art collections.
Torre dell'Orologio (The Clock Tower) - Also known as St. Mark’s Clock Tower or the Moors Clock Tower, The Clock displays the current phase of the moon, the dominant sign of the zodiac, and of course, the time of day. The Clock Tower is 500 years old and it is one of Venice’s top tourist attractions.
Museo Storico Navale (Naval History Museum) – Some of the most interesting items are on display at Museo Storico Navale such as a lavish gondola that belonged to Peggy Guggenheim and several historic barges. The Museum has three floors featuring everything from Second World War torpedoes and artillery pieces to decorative 17th and 18th century gondola prows.
San Rocco – features canvases by Tintoretto. Works can be found throughout the entire space – in the upper and lower halls, a grand hallway, and in a separate room which includes Tintoretto’s Crucifixion. Campo San Rosso.
St. Mark’s Square – the heart of Venice. Many of the city’s main attractions are located nearby, including St. Marks Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower), and Piazetta San Marco.
San Zaccaria – a Gothic church that also houses a number of works of art. One of the major works that can be found here is Giovanni Bellini’s Madonna Enthroned. Works by Tintoretto, Anthony Van Dyck, Bassano, Il Vecchio, and Titian can also be found here as well as the frescoes of Andrea al Castagno. Campo San Zaccaria, Castello.

History of Venice:

Founded fifteen hundred years ago on a cluster of mudflats in the centre of the lagoon, Venice rose to become Europe's main trading post between the West and the East, and at its height controlled an empire that spread north to the Dolomites and over the sea as far as Cyprus. As its wealth increased and its population grew, the fabric of the city grew ever more dense. Very few parts of the hundred or so islets that compose the historic centre are not built up, and very few of its closely knit streets bear no sign of the city's long lineage. Even in the most insignificant alleyway you might find fragments of a medieval building embedded in the wall of a house like fossil remains lodged in a cliff face.

In the heyday of the Venetian Republic, some 200,000 people lived in Venice, not far short of three times its present population. Merchants from Germany, Greece, Turkey and a host of other countries maintained warehouses here; transactions in the banks and bazaars of the Rialto dictated the value of commodities all over the continent; in the dockyards of the Arsenale the workforce was so vast that a warship could be built and fitted out in a single day; and the Piazza San Marco was perpetually thronged with people here to set up business deals or report to the Republic's government. Nowadays it's no longer a living metropolis but rather the embodiment of a fabulous past, dependent for its survival largely on the people who come to marvel at its relics.

Rest for the Weary - November 5, 2009

2009-11-05T16:08:00.003-05:00

Jim and I are retired. Well, in the sense that neither of us holds fulltime jobs now, we are retired. Jim does not hold full responsibility for a congregation of Christian believers; nor does he have to plan a sermon every week, or be the end of the line for "the buck" when something goes wrong. I do not have to make regular lesson plans, deal with middle-school students, or talk to their parents on a regular basis. That means that we have nothing to do, right? Wrong!

For the last two or three years we have staggered "from pillar to post" under the burden of several unusual concerns. We have balanced them on our shoulders, shifted the burden onto our hips, formed a sling between us to allocate the weight of the package evenly. We have tried denying that the large package exists; we have even disguised it as furniture in an effort to forget it. We have tried balancing it, juggling it, shelving it, and propping it; but, in the time-honored tradition of burdens everywhere, ours remained firmly on our own shoulders.

About a month ago one of the boulders in our heavy bundle began to disintegrate; so, in our enthusiasm, we began to plan a "get away" to celebrate the lightening of the load. This week we will put down our now almost-empty, light-as-a-feather, package and forget about it for twelve days. Today we leave Rome, GA to to fly to Venice, Italy and spend 12 days on a cruise ship. We will cruise on the Medierranean, Ionian, Aegean, and Adriatic Seas and visit ports in Italy, Croatia, Turkey and Greece before disembarking in Rome, Italy and taking a flight back to GA. We are anticipating 12 days of reading, writing, sleeping, touring, and vegging. We look forward to being fed, entertained, guided, taught, and pampered.

So -----We're off to flee the blizzard -- uh -- tree the lizard ---- uh ---- be the gizzard -- uh -- oh yes -- We're off the see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Ahhhhs.

In Memory of Caitlin on her 18th Birthday - The Impact of a Stillborn Baby

2009-11-04T14:25:00.000-05:00

As Christmas approached in 1991, we were excitedly anticipating the birth of our first grandchild. An early sonogram showed the baby to be active, healthy and female. We watched our daughter-in-law's slim body expand with Caitlin's growth, and we saw our son eagerly anticipating the beginning of his tenure as a dad.

The last weekend in October, we met our son and daughter-in-law in Cartersville, GA (halfway between their home in Rome and ours in Decatur) for dinner. La Donna was experiencing back pain, but had consulted the doctor and been assured her that all was well with the baby. However all was NOT well. The next week, on November 5, our son called us in tears saying that they were at the hospital. The doctors said that Caitlin must be delivered at once. They were not able to hear a heartbeat. Steve was terrified that he was going to lose his entire family, since La Donna's blood pressure was very high. Her life, as well as Caitlin's, was in jeopardy.

We arrived at the hospital about an hour and a half later not knowing what had happened in the interval (this was before the the day of constant contact with ubiquitous cell phones). As we entered the room, our son came toward us holding a tiny pink bundle in his arms, and tears were streaming down his cheeks. Our precious, much-loved Caitlin had been delivered stillborn. Her tiny hands, each featuring 5 perfect fingers, were curled as if reaching to clutch a parent's finger. Her delicately shaped lips formed a little O. She was perfect; beautiful. Her maternal grandparents, and Jim and I, each took a turn holding Caitlin, welcoming her, mourning her loss, and telling her goodbye. We circled our precious baby with love as we thanked God for the blessing of her short life. Soon the hospital personnel came and took her away. Such a short visit with our grandbaby!

Caitlin lived her entire life in her mother's uterus. We were not to see her learn to walk, go to school, or reach life's other expected milestones. In spite of the brevity of her life, Caitlin was well-loved. Her memory is dear to each member of our family. Her younger siblings know about her and talk about her. Her younger cousins mention her from time to time. We like to imagine what she would be like if she were with us today and how her daily presence among us would have changed the dynamics of family relationships.

Today I am trying to imagine our Caitlin celebrating her 18th birthday. It is hard to believe that 18 years have passed since the day I held her -- so briefly -- in my arms.

Susanna Wesley - Raising Responsible Kids

2009-10-30T21:56:00.003-04:00

I've always admired Susanna Wesley, the mother of John and Charles Wesley and 14 other children. She purportedly devoted one uninterrupted hour each week to each of her children. This week I read another article about her mothering style. Here are the 16 rules for her household (edited by my obsessive-compulsive need to organize and categorize.)

Rules for Children:

Do not eat between meals
Be in bed by 8 PM
Take any medicine without complaining
Be still during family worship
Preserve property rights, even in the smallest matters
Strictly observe all promises

Parental Policies:

Teach children to fear the rod
Require no daughter to work before she can read
Commend any attempt to please, even if poorly performed
Comment upon and reward good behavior
Never punish a child twice for a single offense
Never allow a sinful act to go unpunished
Punish no fault which is first confessed and repented of
Give a child nothing that he cries for and only that when asked for politely
Teach a child to pray as soon as he can speak
Subdue self-will in a child

Silence - Mother Teresa

2009-08-27T09:44:00.001-04:00

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls. --Mother Teresa

Prayer - The Lessons of St. Francis

2009-08-26T20:11:00.001-04:00

Marriage doesn't require that partners know everything about each other, but it DOES require that the partners achieve some level of interpersonal intimacy. The same goes for other relationships. I don't have to know everything about you to be your friend, but I DO have to take the time to know you and be known by you. Our relationship with God is the same way. We don't have to be theologians and know all ABOUT God to be a Christian, but we DO have to know Him. And the way to know him is to listen to Him and to talk to Him (prayer.)

The disciples asked Jesus, "Teach us to pray." The emphasis is not HOW to pray, but to actually pray.

In this chapter, the authors draw a comparison between one's relationship with God and a romance between human beings. First there is an attraction; then each makes deliberate attempts to learn more about the other and spend time together; as feelings and thoughts are shared the inner selves are revealed and intimacy develops.

True prayer is not like so many of our prayers (asking God to help us do some task or get some benefit); instead real prayers are searching, acknowledging, listening. Prayer is not a shopping list of goodies we want; it is straining to hear that still small voice, seeking to understand what God wants of us. We should pray with the listening attentiveness we show to someone we deeply love and want to please.

Suggestions for prayer:

Make the time and find a place.
Follow the examples of others who have learned the discipline of prayer
Thank God.
Pray without ceasing.
Continue learning about God's nature.
Practice the disciplines of prayer. It is a relationship and requires work to develop just like in a marriage or any other relationship.
Pray with others
Use aids to prayer - rosaries, stations of the cross, Christian art and music.
Just do it.

Peace - The Lessons of St. Francis

2009-08-26T07:56:00.001-04:00

St. Francis is best known for his prayer of peace. Here's a link to my first post in which I quoted it: http://daddysroses.blogspot.com/2009/08/simplicity-lessons-of-st-francis-by.html

Two other very good quotes by great thinkers of the past:

"If you love peace, then hate injustice, hate tyranny, hate greed -- but hate these things inside yourself; not in another" --Gandhi

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." -- Jesus

"First keep peace within yourself; then you can also bring peace to others. -- Thomas Kempis

Suggestions to help you live Peace:

Consciously practice goodness, purity, and non-resistance - not reacting with anger when you are attacked or criticized. Francis said, "When we hear or see people speaking or doing evil or blaspheming God, we must say and do good, praising God..."
Be ready to respond in a conciliatory way when you find yourself in the middle of an argument or conflict
As God to give you peace when you are in a tense situation. Breath slowly, making each breath a prayer, meditate on the grace and love of God.

Service - The Lessons of St. Francis

2009-08-25T19:38:00.001-04:00

The last 3 chapters of the book The Lessons of St. Francis, by John Michael Talbot with Steve Rabey, covers the topics:

Service
Peace
Prayer

My summaries of these topics will be much shorter than previous ones have been.

St. Francis considered service to others both a call of God AND a social responsibility. He is known for saying, "Preach always. If necessary, use words." Jesus told his disciples, "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave."

Talbot and Rabey point out that "our eternal fate is determined by the milliions of mundane daily decision we make through the course of our lives. If we've lived in sync with God's will and served our brothers and sisters in need, we will inherit heaven.....but that doesn't mean that those who serve others have to wait until after death to enjoy any benefits of their service. Instead, every time we help someone, we receive help from God."

Some suggestions:

Ask God for guidance.
Give to organizations that provide critically needed assistance to society's needy
Clear out things you don't use at home and give them to someone who needs them. Don't give your worthless junk; pass on things that other could use
Help serve in a local soup kitchen
Leave your "comfort zone" to serve those in need.
Do your best for your bosses at work.
Listen and talk to others about THEIR lives instead of yours.

Chocolate Quick Fix

2009-08-25T07:27:00.003-04:00

I found this recipe in some magazine recently, tried it, and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. It makes one large serving of gooey chocolate cake.

In a coffee mug (or small microwave-safe bowl)

mix 2 Tablespoons each of:

All Purpose flour
cocoa powder
milk (I used skim, since that is what I had)
vegetable oil
chocolate chips

Add and mix thoroughly:

3 Tablespoons of sugar or Splenda
1 beaten egg
splash of vanilla extract

Microwave on high for 2 minutes.

Tip out onto plate to serve, if desired -- or eat out of the mug.

Note: It rises far above the top of the cup as it cooks and sinks as soon as the microwave goes off.

Creation - The Lessons of St. Francis by John Michael Talbot

2009-08-16T03:12:00.003-04:00

The life of St. Francis was filled with rapturous celebrations of the joys of God’s creation and constant efforts to protect all creatures from suffering harm. I personally don’t believe that we need to preach to animals or shout with joy when we see a rainbow, but I do believe that we need to appreciate and protect the creations of God. The person who genuinely seeks to be like God will enjoy, protect and preserve nature. Our children need to be taught from earliest childhood to minimize waste and dispose of excess properly. They should be taught and shown how to value and protect the resources of land and water. The beauty of creation is one of God’s special gifts to humankind; it is only right that we show our appreciation by respecting and caring for the gift.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge: “Earth, with her thousand voices, praises God.”

William Blake: “To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour.”

Dorothy Gurney: “The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God’s heart in a garden Than anywhere else on Earth.”

William of Saint-Thierry: “A man who has lost his sense of wonder is a man dead.”

Suggested activities to cultivate appreciation for God’s creation:

Grow a garden and/or feed the birds.
Don’t waste paper.
Don’t waste water.
Walk in the park or drive through a forest with the windows down while mediating on what you see and the Creator who makes it possible. Listen. Smell. Appreciate.
Try to consume less – and encourage your family members to do the same. For me this involves buying less bottled water, recycling what can be recycled, using energy efficient appliances and lighting.
Make a commitment to “Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do, or do without.”

Compassion – The Lessons of St. Francis by John Michael Talbot

2009-08-15T21:36:00.002-04:00

Most people know that Jesus is quoted in the Bible as saying, “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you.” In real life, most of us find it incomprehensible that others can’t easily forgive us when we wrong them. We might sometimes publicly proclaim that they are “hypocrites” or (I can’t think of any more family-friendly terms that I can use here on this blog. I am thinking of a few that I read occasionally in my mysteries.) We might even convince ourselves, and try to convince others, that the situation isn’t really what it seems – we are really the ones being wronged here. It seems an excuse always offers itself for duty. Then when our turn comes to forgive someone else, we too often stiffen our backs, and with a strained facial expression and tight lips, say the words that indicate forgiveness while actually harboring a sense of “Who does he/she think he/she is? How dare he/she treat me that way?”

Frederick Buechner wrote that forgiveness is a way of saying, “You have done something unspeakable, and by all rights I should call it quits between us. Both my pride and my principles demand no less. However, although I make no guarantees that I will be able to forget what you’ve done and though we both may carry the scars for life, I refuse to let it stand between us. I still want you for my friend.”

St. Francis taught that when others fall, we are to bend down and pick them up. This certainly follows that last teaching of “community” in a logical progression. Too often those who consider themselves Christians react to others’ moral failings with righteous indignation and an attitude of moral superiority.

But compassion includes not only forgiveness but also generosity with those who have fewer material goods. One of the most revealing things about a person’s inner faith is the way she/he treats those who are downtrodden. The compassionate person is able to see the homeless and/or unbathed street person not as an eyesore or nuisance but as a human being deserving of kindness and care. Thomas Merton said, “Love does not give money, it gives itself. If it gives itself first and a lot of money too, that is all the better. But first it must sacrifice itself.” St. Paul said, “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

To improve your capacity for compassion and show your love for others, try these:

Whether you approve or disapprove of what another is saying, don’t critique it. Just try to understand the other person.
When in disagreement, don’t work hard to promote your agenda, try to comprehend the other person’s.
Practice listening to people’s complaints and grievances until the words go through your brain and to your heart. Listen until you feel what the other person feels.
Forgive someone who hurt you recently (a family member who slighted you? A telemarketer who calls repeatedly? Someone who took advantage of a position of authority and trust? A co-worker who took credit for your work or idea?)

Community – The Lessons of St. Francis by John Michael Talbot

2009-08-15T10:42:00.003-04:00

I have found it interesting, in the few months that I have been a Facebook aficionado, that almost every day someone of my acquaintance defines his/her status as “lonesome” or “bored” or “don’t know what to do” or “missing (fill in the name.)” In our day of large population and myriad methods of instant communication, we long for real connection with others.

Our American society in particular has encouraged individuality to the detriment of community. So why, in our age of extreme individualism, fractured communications, and divisive leaders, would one advocate for a more communal life? Well, exactly BECAUSE our current world IS so divided along political, religious, moral, social, and economic lines. As Dr. Phil would say, “How is that working for you?” In answer, it doesn’t seem to be working all that well, so perhaps we need a different approach.

In real community (where each loves the other as he/she loves self), we can more clearly see our own faults exposed for correction. We learn that we can work together with others to promote growth for all of us. We learn that the folks who pointed out a weakness or fault are the same folks who support when support is needed. This seems to me to be a function of the primary community of civilization, the nuclear family.

From my standpoint as a public school teacher, I see the breakdown of the sense of community in the family as a major factor in the development of our self-centered society. In the past, parents provided for children exactly those benefits mentioned in the last paragraph. Too many of today’s parents focus so completely on building a “good self-image” in their children that they fail in their responsibility to insist that children become aware of and work to correct faults and strengthen areas in which they are weak. Parents often spend so much energy providing “activities” for children, taking them to and from multitudinous social functions, that they lose opportunities for the communication that provides support for children. Those children try to find support in peers – peers who have little life-experience from which to draw and a deficit of real desire for the long-term success of the friend who is seeking support.

I will climb down from my soapbox now.

Solomon said: “Two are better than one . . . If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

John Donne said, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”

Christianity began as a communal movement. “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need … ”

What message did I get from this chapter on the importance of “community” in a fulfilled life? This lesson of St. Francis reminded me that the family is the primary community of civilization. In trying to evaluate my performance as a member of community, I believe that I perform mostly successfully in this community. My family knows that I focus on the good olf all rather than just furthering my own interests. Other communities that I am a part of include: our church, our children's and grandchildren’s schools, and our neighborhood. I do not perform as well in these communities.

Today it is a challenge to find ways to live out a commitment to God along with a love for others; so I invite you, Reader, to join me in this evaluation process.

Think of ways you can love and serve your family members and strengthen the bonds of love between you all.
Think about how you can reach out in love to the people next door, your coworkesr, and other people with whom you come in contact each day.
Explore ways you can become involved in working for the common good in your community and country.

Talbot ends this chapter of his book with this reference to an ancient monastic teaching that describes life as a boat, with our fallen world as a rough sea, community as a place of calm, and heaven as the safe harbor to which we ultimately sail.”

Chastity - The Lessons of St. Francis by John Michael Talbot

2009-08-14T09:28:00.002-04:00

This was one of the least enlightening chapters of this book; however there were a few new thoughts. In our society today, in regard to sex, we can hardly imagine any better outcome for our children’s future than serial monogamy or maybe just “safe sex.” The idea of chastity seems almost quaint.

First, let me state that “chastity” is NOT a synonym for celibacy. Chastity simply means embracing and living a lifestyle exhibiting a sexual ethic that combines a reverence for this wonderful creation of God’s, respect for our partner, and an awareness of the potential dangers of unrestricted and unrestrained sensuality. As the author of this book pointed out, “the right mushroom can taste great on a steak, while the wrong mushroom can kill you. Electricity can light up a room or give you a life-threatening shock. Likewise sex can be a source of joy or sorrow, pleasure or pain, deep intimacy or desperate loneliness, gentleness and vulnerability or violence and self-protection.”

Talbot cites a recent survey (not too recent since this book was published 12 years ago) that Americans fall into three categories in regard to their attitude towards sex: (1) traditional (emphasis on lifelong commitment, exclusivity, and mutual respect and well-being); (2) relational (part of a loving relationship but not necessarily exclusive, committed or confined to marriage); and (3) recreational (simply a means of deriving pleasure.)

Based on my reading, observation, and experience, I make these suggestions for Christian chastity in 2009:

Value your sexuality – not overvaluing it or undervaluing it.

Look to history for how sexuality has been expressed – principles set through the centuries might have more validity than propaganda put out by current advertisers and/or entertainers.

Set realistic and satisfying limits for yourself and live within them

Define with your partner mutually agreeable goals/limits to increase your level of trust and intimacy within your relationship.

Allow your sexuality to unite with your spirituality so that your love becomes more like divine love.

Creativity - The Lessons of St. Francis by John Michael Talbot

2009-08-12T11:50:00.000-04:00

I thought as I read this chapter that it should have followed the chapter on solitude, because I believe that creativity requires a certain amount of solitude. I have always told students that writing is a solitary activity. The same is probably true of other forms of creativity.

The chapter opened with a quote from St. Bonaventure, who said “Francis sought occasion to love God in everything. In everything beautiful, he saw Him who is beauty itself.” St. Francis composed poems and songs, staged dramas, painted and sculpted. Actually the creativity of the Franciscan movement helped the Renaissance, and various Franciscan groups have attracted many artists, including Dante, Michelangelo and Franz Liszt.

Creativity, of course, actually started with God in Genesis! The term “The Creator” is often used for God. And we are told that “God created man in his own image.” It follows, then, that the more like God we become, the more creative we also become.

Julia Cameron wrote The Artist’s Way, a book on human creativity published in 2005. She says that the secret of unleashing human creativity lies in “an experience of the mystical union” with God. She says that “Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.” She goes on to say that “Creativity is a little like opening the gate at the top of a field irrigation system. Once we remove the blocks, the flow moves in.” Again, I thought of my teaching career as I read this. I often told students that the key to removing writer’s block is to “put black on white” or to “move the pencil on the paper.” In other words, just start writing something, and the flow will begin. One must remove distractions (solitude, remember?) and focus on what you want to convey and just BEGIN expressing what you think and feel.

Singing in the shower is one example of spontaneous creativity. Your performance may not win a Grammy, but it is an example of creative joy. The need to express your thoughts and feelings in writing is also everyday creativity. Gardening, decorating your home, plating a meal attractively, pairing clothing items in a way that pleases YOUR eye, creating a serene mood by candlelight and soft music, picking up litter or polishing the pews in your place of worship – all of these and many more can be ways of expressing your creativity in appreciation to God. It is easy to be a “consumer creationist” – watching or listening to others perform on TV or the Ipod. One might have to work at being a creator.

Edith Schaffer said, “A Christian, above all people, should live artistically, aesthetically, and creatively. If we have been created in the image of an Artist, then we should look for expressions of artistry, and be sensitive to beauty, responsive to what has been created for our appreciation.”

Henry Ward Beecher said, “Men are like trees; each one must put forth the leaf that is created in him.”

And finally, in the book of Exodus in the Bible, Israel’s crafts people were told, “Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.” God gave specific instructions to create beauty in the Tabernacle. Obviously beauty and creativity are important to Him.

Look for ways to bring God’s beauty of color and creativity into your and your family's and friends’ lives.

Humility - The Lessons of St. Francis by John Michael Talbot

2009-08-12T09:20:00.000-04:00

In our day of “School Pride,” “Community Pride,” “Gay Pride,” “We’re Number One!” “Self-esteem,” “You’re not the boss of me!” and the like…… one wonders if we even know the word “humility.”

Here are some good quotes from the chapter on humility from John Michael Talbot’s book The Lessons of St. Francis.

St. Elizabeth Seton: The gate of Heaven is very low; only the humble can enter it.

St. Therese of Lisieux: The only way to make rapid progress along the path of divine love is to remain very little and put all our trust in Almighty God.

St. Francis of Assisi: It is not for us to be wise and calculating, in the world’s fashion; we should be guileless, lowly, and pure.

St. Paul: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

St. Augustine: If you should ask me what are the ways of God, I would tell you that the first is humility, the second is humility , and the third is still humility. Not that there are no other precepts to give, but if humility does not precede all that we do, our efforts are fruitless.

Venerable Charles de Foucauld: Father, I abandon myself into Your hands; do with me what You will. I am ready for all; I accept all.

Padre Pio: Satan fears and trembles before humble souls.

St. John Vianney: Pride makes us hate our equals because they are our equals; our inferiors for fear that they may equal us; our superiors because they are above us.

St. Issak of Syria: A humble man is never hurried, hasty or perturbed, but at all times remains calm. …. All his joy and gladness are in what is pleasing to the Lord.

How we treat others is the crucial test of our humility. Are we as glad for others’ successes as we are for our own? Can we share the joy of the joyful? Can we take as much pride in what God does through others as we take in what God does though us? Can we find ways to appreciate others’ giftedness and uniqueness, realizing that their special qualities are in no way criticism of us and the way we live? Talbot says, “One of the first things that St. Francis did when he began his life of faith was to kiss a leper! Who are the lepers in our lives, and how can we kiss them?”

Solitude - The Lessons of St. Francis by John Michael Talbot

2009-08-11T10:41:00.000-04:00

Talbot’s chapter on “solitude” as one of the lessons we can learn from the life of St. Francis almost seemed to be written in a foreign language. In today’s world, solitude (keeping in mind that solitude includes not only aloneness but also silence) is almost unimaginable. This chapter can almost be summarized by the analogy that Talbot uses to open the chapter. The paragraph below is the JT (Joan’s Translation) version of the introduction to the chapter.)

On a still day the surface of a pond reflects. It reflects the blueness of the sky, the billowy clouds, and the brilliance of the sun. When your eyes penetrate the surface and look into the calm, motionless water, you can see clear down to the bottom and see rocks and occasionally a fish or a frog. But when the water is disturbed by a rock, a dog, or a group of active children, the surface no longer reflects and the water under the surface is clouded with mud. Our lives are much like this. When our lives are calm and quiet, we can see clear down to the bottom and detect what is really deep inside; but when things are unsettled, everything is murky and impenetrable.
There are some thought-provoking quotes in this chapter:

Anne Morrow Lindbergh: We seem so frightened today of being alone that we never let it happen …We choke the space with continuous music, chatter, and companionship to which we do not even listen. It is simply there to fill the vacuum. When the noise stops there is no inner music to take its place.

St. John of the Cross: Contemplation is nothing else but a secret, peaceful and loving infusion of God, which, if admitted, will set the soul on fire with the Spirit of love.

Cornelius Plantinga, Jr: A loss of silence is as serious as a loss of memory and just as disorienting. Silence is, after all, the natural context from which we listen. Silence is also the natural context from which we speak.

This lengthy quote from Glenn Tinder is worth the time to read: If you have never, all alone, tried to define your major convictions, you cannot enter into truth-seeking conversation and are thus incapable of deep human relations. If you cannot be apart from others, you cannot engage in prayer and meditation and thus cannot enter into genuine relationship with God. If you recoil from solitude, it may even be said, you are politically disabled; you necessarily lack the spirt of independence needed to stand for what is right in the public realm.

St. Isaak of Syria: No one can approach God without withdrawing from the world.
John Michael Talbot: If you want your life to be built around things that are tuly important rather than things that are simply urgent, you have to take positive steps. And the only way to be absolutely certain that solitude happens is to schedule it.

Father Andrew: The soul that is growing in holiness is the least lonely when it is most alone.

Joy - The Lessons of St. Francis by John Michael Talbot

2009-08-11T08:32:00.003-04:00

Here are a few quotes from the chapter on “joy” as one of the lessons of St. Francis.

The universe is….a symphony of rhythm and harmony that expresses the pleasure of the Creator. Divine joy was and is the primal reason for its existence…. ---Sherwood Wirt

Happiness turns up more or less where you’d expect it to – a good marriage, a rewarding job, a pleasant vacation. Joy, on the other hand, is as notoriously unpredictable as the one who bequeaths it. ----Frederick Buechner

Receive poverty, want, sickness, and all miseries joyfully from the hand of God, and with equal joy receive consolation, refreshment, and all super-abundance. ----Macarius the Elder

St. Francis was probably the first person to initiate a reenactment of the birth of Christ. In 1223 he declared that the birth of the Savior should NOT be a day of fasting, but a day of celebration. Subsequently, the community was delighted to view, in a stable just out of town, a small baby, wrapped warmly lying in a manger, further warmed by the breath of the farm animals surrounding him. The joy that St. Francis found in the birth of Christ was shared by the entire community.

The author of The Lessons of St. Francis suggests three exercises to cultivate joy:

Embrace the immediate moment. Learn how to be alive in the here and now instead of constantly dreaming and scheming for something better or regretting the past

Open and close each day with thanksgiving to cultivate a thankful spirit

Be forgiving. This frees you from the illusion of both control and victimization.

Simplicity - The Lessons of St. Francis by John Michael Talbot

2009-08-10T10:21:00.003-04:00

St. Francis of Assisi is best known for the prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that I may no so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

There is much more to St. Francis than this prayer, however. I have been reading The Lessons of St. Francis by John Michael Talbot with Steve Rabey. I highly recommend the book as a “wake-up call” for modern Christians. Many of us are hungering for spirituality and longing for a simpler and more satisfying life. Many have become so dependent upon our possessions that our possessions now own us. As economic times have become hard, we lack the resources and the mindset to deal with a life in which gaining more possessions and taking care of those we have does not dominate our lives and time. Our “wanters” have grown so out of control they are stunting the growth of the fruit-bearing part of the tree of our lives. Those wild, overgrown branches need to be pruned. The first two chapters of this book deal with St. Francis’s emphasis on simplicity and focusing of spirituality instead of materialism.

A few quotes:

The love of money is the root of all evil. ___St. Paul

Like the branches of an unpruned tree, our attachment to possessions and wealth often chokes our lives, enslaves our souls, and hinders both human community and union with God. ___John Michael Talbot

Less is more. ____Robert Browning

Live simply so that others may simply live. _____Gandhi

Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires. ___Lao Tzu

There is so much more that can be said, but simplifying life (having fewer clothes, smaller homes, plainer food) is a good place to start focusing our lives on relationships instead of possessions. In the process, we will spend less and have more.

Daddy's Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark

2009-08-07T08:20:00.000-04:00

Daddy's Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I have never been a big Mary Higgins Clark fan. Her books are classified "thrillers" and are considered frightening, but I usually find her writing techniques somewhat obvious and formulaic rather than engaging. This book seemed to flow more naturally -- probably because it didn't attempt to keep the reader biting his/her nails, locking and barring doors, and hiding in closets. The result was an engaging mystery story. I stayed involved in the story throughout the entire book.

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Saving Grace by Lee Smith

2009-08-05T09:37:00.001-04:00

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good fiction. In talking about children's reading habits, I frequently hear that "it doesn't matter what they read as long as they read." I have always disagreed with that sentiment, because I believe it does matter - on many different levels -- what children and young adults read.

What we read eventually affects our value-systems, our vocabularies,our thought patterns, and even to some degree our approach to problem-solving. Observing a book character (a realistic human being) move through the complications of the story, meeting and solving his/her problems, helps young readers develop their own system for dealing with life issues.

As an educator, parent, grandparent, and citizen, I believe that this is the kind of reading that young people need to be reading. There is some language and situations inappropriate for young children. The book contains some religious cynicism that young children are probably not mature enough to sort through. However, from the standpoint of learning life-skills from literature, this book is a good one for teenagers and young adults. Realistic Fiction like this book show characters with whom readers can identify, deal with life events with which readers have some experience, and reveal outcomes of the character's decisions. Young readers then draw their own conculsions about the efficacy of different ways to approach life problems.

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Mary, Mary by Ed McBain

2009-08-01T13:16:00.001-04:00

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had forgotten how much I enjoy Ed McBain's dialog. It has been awhile since I read one of his mysteries. I also just discovered that he also writes under the name of Evan Hunter.
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The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard

2009-07-26T18:51:00.000-04:00

The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I usually enjoy reading about characters whose author makes me think, "Oh, yeah, I know what he/she means. I have felt the same way." I like to read about characters who think about their motives and examine their lives. Given those parameters, it is surprising that I enjoyed this book. I did like the book, but I was very puzzled by the main character's approach to motherhood. I was troubled to some degree by the author's shallow dealing with motivations and relationships. I think that what kept me reading was the fact that the book dealt with the issue of how identity is defined in lives. While I don't necessarily agree with conclusions Mitchard reached, I did enjoy the debate.

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Loitering with Intent by Stuart Woods

2009-07-07T20:19:00.000-04:00

My

reviewrating: 3 of 5 stars
Stuart Woods continues to have a very readable writing style. In each new book, however, the clever, flippant, catchy dialog has become even more clever, flippant, and catchy. His sex scenes have become cruder with each new book published as well. Neither of these developments are improvements.

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Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King

2009-07-03T08:29:00.003-04:00

The Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King

rating: 4 of 5 stars

The strength of this book is in the character development. There is negligible plot; and a number of dead-end avenues open up many possibilities but little resolution. Fifty pages into the book I started to skim-read in preparation for abandoning the book. However, a couple of the characters had begun to intrigue me, and I continued to read to see what would happen in their lives. By the end of the book, I had become so involved with the SSGs that I finished the reading and regretfully closed the book leaving these new friends behind.

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Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

2009-06-27T15:16:00.001-04:00

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

My review

rating: 1 of 5 stars
I tried hard to find this book interesting -- after all it WAS a bestseller! I trudged on for a couple of days, finally skip-read highlights every few pages, then gave up and put it in the bag to take back to the used book store. The style was just very tedius, too much detail, too much description, too much angst, too much.... Not enough action, not enough interesting characters, not enough story....

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Fathers Day 2009

2009-06-20T11:10:00.002-04:00

This Fathers Day I am especially thankful for:

1. My father. I do not take for granted the wonderful life-boost I received just because I was born of such a loving, responsible, respected and respectable, fun-loving, family-committed, Christian man.

2. My children's father. A mother loves her children and tries to bring them up to be resourceful, responsible, content and contributing members of society, but it is not easily a one-person job. The success of the effort is doubled and certainly made more enjoyable by the support of a firmly-committed partner. I have had such a partner.

3. My grandchildren's fathers. I am blessed with an outstanding son who learned his fathering skills at the feet of the masters, his father and grandfather. I am blessed with a son-in-law whose family-centered lifestyle was taught by loving Christian parents. These two outstanding young Christian fathers are passing along strong Christian values and raising 6 of our future world leaders.

4. The fathers of my nieces and nephews. Thank you Gil, Terry, Ron, Gregg, Chuck, and David! What a roll-call of virtues that list presents! These six men are at least half responsible for the outstanding generation of twenty-somethings (and some amazing thirty- and forty-somethings) in our family!

5. The fathers of my grandnieces and grandnephews. Gil Jr, Jack, Steven, and Josh - thanks to you another generation continues to develop. As your job continues, I hope, and pray, that you will find inspiration and guidance from the fathers who have gone before you - many of the greatest of whom are mentioned above! Those wonderful children you have sired deserve the very best efforts you can make to pass along life values that will help them be secure and successful.

6..... Lots of other fathers who have been the kind of men who can be admired and emulated. I think of .....several coaches who have showed children in our family the importance of practice and teamwork....several pastors and church youth directors who have helped guide young people to develop into moral citizens with unshakable principles....neighbors whose example have inspired children to be their best....cousins, fathers-of-friends, uncles.......

Our family has been blessed with more than its share of good, strong, Christian examples of masculinity!!

__._,_.___

Looking for Love

2009-03-31T18:37:00.006-04:00

My reading during the past month seems to have revolved around a central theme. This was not planned. When I go to the used book store, I buy books that I know have been bestsellers or books by authors that I know to be good – or books that just look interesting. My last trip to the bookstore just happened to result in these selections – among others:

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, a bestseller in 2000
The Shack by Wm Paul Young, a bestseller in 2007
Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos, published in 2005
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards, a best seller in 2005
Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult, published in 1995
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, a Best seller in 04

All of these books have appealed to a large audience, in part I believe, because people identify so strongly with the human need for love and affirmation. Of course, the search for love is a common thread in all forms of literature; but it is an especially-strong thread running through each of these recently-read books.

The Secret Life of Bees was a very strange book that held my attention most of the time (but, in my opinion, would have been improved by shortening its length by half.) The effectively-drawn characters and storyline drew a poignant picture of children’s indisputable yearning for the guidance and love of a parent. The reader comes away feeling warmed by the knowledge that family is built by loving actions rather than just heredity and physical relationship. The role of “Mother” in a child’s life is shown to be vital to development, happiness, and productive adulthood. Regardless of the reader’s feelings about his/her own mother, that message revives childhood memories and thoughts about one’s own development into adulthood.

The Shack was also a very unusual book about love. In its unusual context, it clearly illustrated the universal human search for the love and acceptance of God. Readers relate to this author’s portrayal of a character who wants to know and enjoy the love of God even though that love has often been misrepresented to him through society and tradition. Knowing God and basking in his love comes from relationship. The reader comes to see that God’s love is not found in following religious traditions but in being in relationship with God throughout life.

Love Walked In – a simple love story in many ways – also gained its readership because of its multi-faceted approach to the portrayal of the ‘search for love’. While one of the viewpoint characters searches for and finds romantic and creative love, she also, at the same time, finds parental and familial love. As her life intertwines with that of the other viewpoint character, a child who feels deprived of nurturing, each finds fulfillment as she provides for the needs of the other. One of the big attractions of this book for readers is the message that true and unselfish friendship is usually the seed from which other forms of love grow.

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards was a best seller in 2005. Recovery from rejection, the long-term consequences of building a life on lies, and other issues related to feeling unloved and misunderstood in life’s significant relationships – readers identify with characters who are dealing with these issues.

Both of Jodi Picoult’s books that I have read this month deal with the search for love too. The plots of Picture Perfect and My Sister's Keeper revolve around controversial societal issues, but the theme of both is that every individual has an inborn need to be affirmed and loved for his/her individual personality. Characters who seemingly have every reason to be happy with their lives are willing to sacrifice their very way of life in order to ascertain for themselves that their “significant others” truly love them in spite of and because of their particular strengths and weaknesses. The need for affirmation and love is the driving force in their lives – as it is in the lives of the readers who have made these books bestsellers.

Happy People

2009-03-28T06:00:00.001-04:00

We all claim to want to be happy; but some folks seem to work hard at being unhappy. I recently read a book on the secrets of happy people. This particular hint made sense to me:

Don't accept television's picture of the world.

Aint it the truth!? Judging from what one sees on the screen, a viewer would come to the conclusion that everybody in the world is very wealthy. Society as a whole is now living in frustration because people believe that they are being denied the almost universal wealth that seems to be the domain of everybody else. Much of the unhappiness that we see around us is the result of people not being able to separate what they see on TV from what they know to be real. Happy people base expectations on reality, not on the fiction presented on TV. According to Social Indicators Research ("Separating People's Satisfaction with Life and Public Perceptions of the Quality of Life in the Environment" by Jeffres and Dobbs in 1995)

"Television changes our view of the world and can encourage us to develop highly unrealistic and often damaging conclusiions that serve to reduce our life satisfaction by up to 50%."

Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos

2009-03-27T10:28:00.000-04:00

I sincerely hope that Marisa de Los Santos is not a "one hit wonder" of an author. Love Walked In was her first novel, published in 2005. It is a heart-warming love story - about not only romantic love, but also about family love and the love between friends. It is almost a fairy tale. But what made the book appeal to me so strongly, in addition to the storyline, is the use of language. De Los Santos is a masterful user of the language.

Here are some examples:

"...but I took that word 'boyfriend', folded it right up and tucked it in my back pocket to think about another time."

"...remember awhile ago when I said...? Backspace. Delete."

"I made my way over to him, wading through the swamp of shame I'd created and into the murky depths of which I deserved to be sucked down and forever lost, and I took his hand and begged for forgiveness as I had never begged before."

The Shack by William Paul Young

2009-03-27T06:00:00.002-04:00

If you are a thinker....If you care about relationships.....If you are seeking happiness and fulfillment.....If you have questions about eternity, God, and spiritual matters.....If you were raised in the church.....if you consider yourself an agnostic.....If you struggle to know "how to live".....you will be glad you read The Shack by William Paul Young.

The Shack is a novel, but it is not like any other novel I have ever read. I started reading it after 9:00 last evening and barely put it down until I finished it and went to bed about 2:00 AM this morning. It is that absorbing.

I was 50 pages into the reading when I realized that I was being challenged to consider what it really means to know God. I was thinking about familiar spiritual concepts in new ways. All this thinking and analyzing was going on while I was also engrossed in the PLOT and the mystery of the storyline. At times I raced through pages to find out what would happen next, and at other times I had to slow down and reread paragraphs to allow myself to fully rethink a spiritual and/or relational concept.

So much of present-day literature is predicable, written-to-formula storyline; but Young has a unique plot, unique characters, and a command of the English language that enables him to present his story and his backstory clearly and interestingly. The result is a book that has the reader laughing one minute, gasping the next, and then stopping to ponder what he/she has just read.

I won't forget this book.

I Weigh the Options - Read? or Write?

2009-03-26T21:56:00.003-04:00

I have done a lot of reading since I stopped writing. It seems that I choose between the two activities.

My reading log for 2009 shows 51 books read so far this year. Of course that does not account for magazines, newsletters, Bible chapters, email, or news articles. It also does not include a new book that I read several times in pieces while editing for the author. This book, by my sister, Janice Crouse, will be out in a couple of months – it went to the publisher just last week. I am not sure what the final decision was in regard to the title of the book.

Anyway, I have recently read a lot of insignificant but entertaining novels by some of my long-time favorite writers: Mary Kay Andrews, Jeffrey Archer, David Baldacci, Mary Higgins Clark, Harlan Coben, Janet Evanovich, Jonathan Kellerman, Robert B. Parker, Beverley Lewis, and Stuart Woods.

In addition, I’ve discovered a couple of new favorites: I discovered why Jodi Picoult has had several best-sellers in recent years, and have been entertained by the light fiction of Elizabeth Noble. I lucked up on Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos. I sure would like to read more work by this very talented writer. And I just finished the most exciting book I have read in several years The Shack, which was a bestseller in 2007 for the author, William Paul Young.

Just Checking....

2009-03-09T08:12:00.001-04:00

Has anybody stumbled onto this site in the last 4 months? Just wondering!

February 8, 2009 - Cruise Summary

2009-02-08T21:28:00.000-05:00

Things to remember next time:

Book two cruises back-to-back to save flight costs.
Get stateroom at midship and on PORT side.
Bring binoculars
Bring baseball cap to wear instead of, or in addition to, sun hat. It's easier to pack on day trips and stays on head better in wind.
Get a notebook that fits in my bag better
Keep day's possible schedule in notebook
Hotels near Ruby Tuesday near airport in Atlanta: Sheraton, Courtyard, Fairfield, Hampton, Super 8.
Get directions to the airport hotel area without I-85 or I-285
To Walmart from Ruby Tuesday: R out of parking lot, L on Old National, 4-5 miles on R.
Get a sheet to use for cover - duvet is too heavy for cover
Get a ship robe to wear for warmth in stateroom

Steps averaged per day: 11,500

Spent: tips $200; tours $300; souvenirs and gifts $300

Fort Lauderdale, FL; Atlanta, GA; Rome, GA - February 8, 2009

2009-02-08T21:06:00.000-05:00

We were in the first group to disembark, so we left a wake-up call for 6:00 AM. Of course, we were awake before the call came. After breakfast, we perused the bill, checked to be sure we had everything from the room, took a few pics from the balcony, then went to the Explorer's Lounge to wait for disembarcation. Collected luggage, went through customs, too bus to airport, collected luggage again, checked in, cleared security (Jim's CPAP machine had to be scanned, as usual) and were waiting for plane by 9:30 AM.

Uneventful flight, thank God. Picked up car at motel, drove home.

Home at last 7:00 PM

Eleuthera, Bahamas - February 7, 2009

2009-02-07T23:28:00.003-05:00

The Emerald Priincess couldn't dock at shore here at Princess Cays. The ship dropped anchor away from shore and prepared to shuttle passengers ashore via tenders. We tendered ashore at 8:45 to meet our shore-excursion guide.

Facts I learned on our 4 1/2 hour tour of Eleuthera:

Eleuthera (uh LEW thruh) means "freedom"
towns are called "settlements"
Island shows a strong connection to its Christian beginnings
Island was settled for religious freedom
"'ail" mean to greet or to wave, which people do regardless of whether they know you or not.
"I come terecly" - I'll be right there.
"Don't yuck up my vexation!" - don't make me mad.
"right here between Oh Lord and Thank God!" - I'm fine, okay.
"mix up like poke salat" - confused
"look here now..." - conversation starter
"you don't have no broughtupsy" - you're rude
national flower is the Yellow Elder

Our driver is the uncle of Olympic 200m winner at Beijing. I made a picture of a large sign honoring the Olympian.

We saw damage from 1979 Hurricane David.

We visited a museum and Police station (didn't write down the name of the town) and took pics with the female police chief, Sergeant Brown. We also visited the "bottomless hole", fed fish there and tasted tamarind. We picked long pods of seeds from Ponciana trees to make music.

In Tarpon Bay we stopped at a beautiful old Anglican church then went out on the stinky fishing pier. We saw McMillan Castle (built only in 1970)

Our lunch stop was at 4-points Bar and Grill. We had a buffet of conch fritters, coconut-breaded wings, and mac and cheese with pina colada rolls for dessert and coconut-water drinks. There was a conch-salad-making demo. I called home and got to talk briefly while waiting for everyone to get to the bus.

We saw a demo of palm weaving and filled out an evaluation of the tour. We enjoyed the tour except it was too long and the DVD that played constantly in the bus was irritating. We got back to the beach just barely in time to tender back to the ship.

Evening was spent packing, napping, dinner in Cafe Carib, and last-night comedy show with both Jim McDonald and Jeff Peterson. We watched "Hancock" outside on Deck 15 and bought a T-shirt in the atrium.

All at Sea .... again

2009-02-06T23:50:00.001-05:00

Lots of ship motion from 4:00 Am onward. It doesn’t look rough out, not storming, but the water is rough. Water doesn’t look rough either.

Ø Breakfast at 9:50 was incredibly crowded – food was cold by the time we found a table.
Ø It is a little chilly outside today
Ø To library to donate books and magazines, to Wheelhouse for Trivia (room almost full with groups of 5 or 6) – I played alone and scored only 8 out of 20.
Ø To Crooners for Scattergories. I played with a British couple and a couple from Indiana. Bob and Nancy and Jim and Liz.
Ø To Internet Café; computers were v-e-r-y s-l-o-w today. I checked email, CaringBridge, info on Eleuthera
Ø Met Jim for lunch. He’s not feeling well.
Ø Listened to IPod and napped a little then went back up to 15 for tea and a cheese/roll snack
Ø Shower, cleanup. Jim to dinner; Joan back to internet café to use up the rest of my 250 minutes
Ø Comedian Jim McDonald again
Ø Pizza on deck 15
Ø Paperwork for end of cruise (immigration, evaluations, tips, etc.)

St, Thomas, USVI February 5, 2009

2009-02-05T23:50:00.000-05:00

Woke up at 7:00 and sat on balcony and watched us dock. This was the first time we’ve docked on our side of the ship. Another large ship is docked in front of us – can’t tell what it is from here. Took a couple of pictures. Looked through the pictures I have taken so far. I can’t match what I am seeing with either of the deck-diagrams in the shopping guide, so I can’t decipher the shopping guide and/or map of the port.

Sun came up while I sat on balcony; began to get hot very quickly.
Breakfast, then off the ship.
Shopped at pier briefly then left for shore excursion.

Shore Excursion to St. John
Took the ferry “Island Girl” – large, fast, and rough ride
Saw homes of Michael Jordan, Alan Alda, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, Chevy Chase, Madonna, others. Guide says the town stops when Madonna is in town.
Other islands passed: Little St. James, Great St. James, St. James

Took an island “taxi” for the land tour – a 20-passenger open bus. Sat in the back with a couple from Kentucky.
No airport on the island; ferry to St. Thomas every hour costs $6 each way.
There is an elementary school on the island, but other students take the ferry to St. Thomas every day.
No large shopping areas on the island – people shop on St. Thomas
The three islands have one governor
Only two hotels on St. John
The color of the water is amazing!

Island population = 6500 on 19 square miles

Most of the island is a national park

Two big beaches: Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay
Made 15 minute stop at Cinnamon Bay – like a national park setting, woods, pavillians, restrooms, lockers, etc. Wooded path to beach.
Stopped at ruins of an old sugar mill.
Can see Tortola from Maho Bay viewing site. Our driver is from there.
Stop at Bordeau Mtn – highest point on island – could see a cruise ship docked on Tortola

Finished listening to Dark Harbor by Stuart Woods
Rest, nap, TV, Ipod, Shower, dinner

Comedian Jim McDonald – missed most of it because I couldn’t see the screen (he used video for some of his comedy) from where I sat.
Checked email, walked around ship
Movie on deck – Get Smart

Roseau, Dominica February 4, 2009

2009-02-04T23:50:00.000-05:00

Awake at 6:25, docked at 7:15, breakfast

Loaded on bus for tour at 7:50 in Roseau (Row-Zoe)
Info about Dominica:
Ø 365 rivers
Ø Very poor
Ø Bad roads
Ø Mountainous

Along our route, some houses were so close to the road, residents could have reached out and touched the busses from their front doors.

Saw bananas, pineapples, oranges, grapefruit, and watermelon growing. Bananas often covered in blue bags (called condoms) to control the ripening process. Banana grow in “hands” and “fingers”.

At Jaco (Jacko) Falls, we took the long steep trek down 55 steps to the falls. The legend is that dipping in the water at the foot of the falls would take 10 years off your age. Only two of us got in – me only to my knees; the other lady up to waist.

At botanical gardens, we saw sausage trees, cannonball trees, parrots, owls, cricket field where many celebrities have visited (including Queen of Eng.)

We stopped at a mountaintop area called “President’s ???” and had a magnificent view of the ship and a cricket stadium. There were lots of the same type of tourist “shops.”

Back to the ship for lunch and a nap. Jim went to movie and I spent some time in the internet café.

Evening entertainer was Hernandez, hypnotist. He bombed badly! I got really ticked off with a waitress. It is fairly common for the waitstaff in the performance venues to ignore requests for soft drinks, since they don’t make as much money on those; but most servers are not as obvious as Oleana was. She didn’t bring coke ordered; kept ignoring us. I finally made an issue of finding out her name. Another lady saw my irritation and came over and told me that she had the same experience with this waitress and had made a complaint.

We went to the late-night outside movie on Deck 15 “Ghost Town”.

St, Georges, Granada February 3, 2009

2009-02-03T23:50:00.000-05:00

We were up at 7:45 and were still en route to Grenada. We went back to bed. I listened to a Stuart Woods novel then took a shower.

In the Line Dance class we had the instructor I don’t like – the white effeminate Miko. He goes through things much too fast and seems to think that the idea is to confuse the heck out of the participants.

He “taught” the Honky-tonk-honk – ran through the steps very quickly then proceeded to put on the music and play it faster and faster so nobody could keep up. Then Miko “taught” the Disco Inferno. He used the same procedure – barely introduce the basic steps then immediately race through it as fast as possible with the music.

In the ballroom dance class (with the good black instructor, Maraschal) He reviewed the Cha-Cha, the Salsa, and the Meringue (which I missed)

Jim and I sat on deck 15 and ate pizza as we docked. Next to us was a Celebrity ship as large as ours – the Celebrity Summit.

I found Grenada very unpleasant. The vendors absolutely swamped the passengers – literally grabbing your clothes to propel you to their vending areas. It reminded me of the vendors in Antigua. I don’t think I’ll want to return here. We could have left the dock area and walked into town easily, but it was a little scary to have such aggressive vendors; so we didn’t get out of the port area. It was very crowded and felt unsafe. It was also oppressively HOT!

The captain made an announcement (AFTER disembarkation began) that passengers wearing camouflage won’t be allowed to enter the country.

Grenada is part of a 3-island nation: Carriacu and Petite Martinique are the other two.
There was a large number of women dressed in professional clothing on the streets in town

We shopped and came back to ship separately. When I got back (very early), I sat on deck and drank a strawberry daiquiri (YUM). I went to buffet and snacked and enjoyed the view.

Came back to room, lay and listened to Dark Harbor and dozed for a couple of hours.

When sun went down at 6:00, it started getting dark and cooler very fast. I sat on balcony and wrote and enjoyed the scenery and breeze.

Showered, dressed and went to dinner in Michaelangelo dining room about 8:00, then sat in Club Fusion, listened to Voltz and watched dancers.

Kralendijk, Bonaire February 2, 2009

2009-02-02T23:50:00.000-05:00

We scheduled no shore excursions for Bonaire. This is the only one of the Netherland Antilles that we had not visited before. We had been to both Aruba and Curacao before.

We had a very noisy docking about 7:00 AM

Could see a large soccer field from the ship.

Joan to breakfast at 8:00 – really BAD grits. Sat on deck 15 portside and looked around at the town since little was visible from our balcony. There was no obvious shopping area visible from the ship.

I showed little enthusiasm yesterday for the camera Jim bought me, and he is understandably irritated with me for that. It just seems that every time I decide not to get into photos, we get a new camera and I am pushed back into it. Also it is such a pain to be constantly learning how to use new electronic “stuff” – computers, cameras, etc.

I am wearing a sundress today, so I cannot wear the pedometer. From the ship it looks like at least 6 or 7 blocks from the gangway to where it looks like most passengers are heading. It is extremely HOT here today – at least 90 degrees.

About 10:00 AM, we walked into Kralendijk. The whole town is within walking distance. . “Bon Bini” signs everywhere you look. We enjoyed looking around and walking through not only the port “craft mall” type shops, but the actual town shops. I couldn’t find any large bags or shirts like I was looking for; but I did go into a bookstore and bought some little notebooks for the kids.

We were back on the ship by 12:00.

I sat on Deck 7 and watched Bonaire recede and listed to Stone Barrington on my Nano; then I sat inside in the Explorer Lounge and watched an art auction. After that I walked into one of the midship lounges and listened to a pianist. I finally gave in and signed up for 250 minutes of internet time and spent about an hour checking email and reading Caringbridge updates on Lily.

After dinner, comedian Carey Long was the entertainer. He was very funny! He is from Atlanta. Then the later show was a repeat of the Jeff Peterson show; but we enjoyed it again the second time.

I realized in the middle of the show that my cruise card had come off its chain; so I left and went to the purser’s desk to see if it had been turned in. It had been, so I reclaimed it.

We saw Carey Long again. He was still funny; and we bought a DVD of the show. We went up to the Grill on Deck 15 for a nearly-midnight snack.

Orangestad, Aruba February 1, 2009

2009-02-01T23:50:00.000-05:00

We planned no shore excursions for Aruba because we knew the shipped docked right in town and there was plenty to see and do.

We awoke to the announcement that we were docking. Our stateroom, on the starboard side, faces out to sea at most ports, so we couldn’t watch the docking process from the balcony.

It had rained heavily earlier and the streets were very wet, big puddles were everywhere. While we were ashore, it was cloudy; but the skies cleared as the day progressed.

We went ashore at 8:30 and walked around town separately. I bought a few small items and Jim bought me a Sony digital camera and a memory card and a blackberry charger for himself.

All signs in Orangestad are in English only even though Aruba one of the three islands in the Netherland Antilles and the official language there is Dutch. We met in the upper level of Burger King after awhile. Jim went back to the ship while I piddled awhile longer before returning to the ship about 12:30. In the meantime, I bought a tropical outfit to wear for Island Night.

After lunch on the ship, Jim called home andI sat in a deck chair on Deck 7 and listened to part of a novel on my Nano.

In the evening, Jim watched the Super Bowl and I listened to more of my novel.

The evening’s entertainment was comedic magician Jeff Peterson. The clueless cruise director, Paul, kept messing up the entertainer’s name, saying “Stevenson” instead of “Peterson”. Nobody seemed to notice.

It's called r-e-l-a-x-a-t-i-o-n

2009-01-31T23:55:00.000-05:00

In the line dance class, we learned the Cha-Cha Line Dance – Cotton-Eyed Joe

In ballroom dance class, the dance of the day was the Salsa. It is 3 steps.

After lunch, nap and TV.

The evening entertainer was Billy Prudhomme, a comedy juggler. Not a great performance, but entertaining.

I'm "all at sea"

2009-01-30T23:50:00.001-05:00

We slept late then had breakfast in the Horizon Court.

I went to a morning ballroom dance class; the dance of the day was the Cha-cha.

After the dance class, I just wandered around the ship stopping when I heard or saw something that interested me. I watched a little bit of a towel-folding exhibition and some of a fruit/vegetable-carving demo. I sat in a couple of lounges and listened to music. I stopped by the library and picked up the day’s puzzles to do later. I sat on deck 15 beside a pool at the back of the ship and read and wrote for awhile.

I napped, showered, and changed for dinner.

Jim and I went up to the “movie under the stars”. They were showing Dark Knight. It was chilly in the night air and I couldn’t get into the movie, so I left early.

On the good ship.....

2009-01-29T23:50:00.001-05:00

Of course we were awake before the wake-up call came at 5:30. Caught the 6:00 shuttle to the airport. Check-in and security was quick and easy, so we were sitting at the gate just waiting before 6:30.

We met a couple from NC who were going on the cruise too. Big Mistake to start talking to them. She was grumpy and negative; he was annoyingly talkative. This made the waiting very tedious. They cut at each other constantly; he kept “quizzing” us on every topic of conversation that came up.

When we got to Fort Lauderdale, we had to wait to claim our luggage and then wait for the Princess bus to get to the airport: but when ducks were all lined up, we got on the first bus leaving for the sea port. As platinum members of the Captain’s Club, we got to register early and were actually the very first couple to get registered once they were ready to start registration in what Jim calls “the warehouse.” We waited outside there for about 15 minutes before they were ready, but we were onboard the Emerald Princess and in our stateroom (B201) by 12:30.

Our first action was, of course, to visit the buffet on deck 15 for lunch. We met Danilo, or stateroom steward. He is about 5’ to 5”2”, boney and of middle eastern descent.

After lunch we informally toured the ship. Our stateroom is on Baja deck or Deck 11. Room 201 is the very last room forward on the starboard side on that deck -- a very long walk from the first set of elevators!

The Emerald Princess is larger than even the Grand Princess. It is only 2 years old. In redesigning the ship, they cut down the width of the walking decks and the size of the balconies to make room for more passenger staterooms. There were over 3300 passengers, and everything felt much more crowded than any other cruise we have taken. The EP also has more decks than the Grand or other ships we have cruised on. There are 4 decks above the full-length 15th. The 16th and above are mostly recreational decks. The basketball courts, golf course, running track, kid’s area, and the “night club” are up there.

We stopped by the library on 7 and picked up the quizzes of the day.

Dinner was a seafood fest in the Horizon Court (where we eat most of our meals on most cruises.)

The evening’s show was a comedy magician named Jeff Peterson. We saw his performance in the Princess Theatre (4 decks directly below our stateroom.)

We're off to see.....

2009-01-28T23:59:00.000-05:00

January 28 - Wednesday
We left home about 2:15. As usual we had trouble getting to the hotel (Country Inn and Suites South near the airport). After circling the airport a few times and calling the hotel, we did finally get there, however. We took a nap, went to Ruby Tuesdays for dinner, then went to a nearby Walmart to get an extension cord for Jim’s CPAP machine and some earrings for me. Amazing how one can plan to thoroughly for a trip and then forget such essentials! We read and watched TV for awhile before arranging for a wake-up call and going to bed.

Now that the elections are over, will sanity and civility make a comeback in the US?

2008-11-03T08:01:00.004-05:00

Six months ago, already out of patience with the derisive and divisive tone of the media (both the mainstream media and the "homestyle" media of the blogosphere) regarding the presidential election campaign, I determined that I would take a different approach to the s-l-o-w-l-y approaching election. These are the resolutions I wrote for myself at that time, along with my post-experiment observations (in green following each resolution).

I will learn all the FACTS I can about the candidates (especially the presidential and vice-presidential ones.) This was harder than it sounded on the surface. IMHO, The "news" media for the most part could more correctly be labeled the "opinion" media or the "celebrity worship" media. I quickly determined that any so-called news show featuring a celebrity, a network news commentator, or a "panel of experts" does not present NEWS. The only presenters of news are the local newscasters and carefully-selected internet sources. All of the CNN channels, Fox News, and MSNBC are opinion media -- seeking only to raise their revenue by spouting rude accusations and stirring up controversy. So long 24-hour news channels!
I will IGNORE the opinions of others, especially those shouted loudly and rudely with a back-ground beat of name-calling and disrespectful tones. This also turned out to be hard - and I admit to some backsliding here. I am, from early training, a courteous person - I find it hard to turn and walk away when someone is talking or to tell someone that I will not discuss what they're talking about. Of course this resolution lead to a moratorium on blog reading; most bloggers cannot resist (or don't want to resist) trying to push their opinions onto others. I confess to reading a few blogs which I know to be strongly opinionated, but I love the people who write them and don't want to miss any non-political post they might happen to write. If you are not adverse to reading political opinion, check out my brother, my sister, my other sister, and my niece.
I will pray every day, not only that the best selection be made, but that God will work in whichever of the candidates actually becomes our president. (After all, God gave us free will, and human beings do not always make the best decisions.) This one was easy. I did it every day.
I will make my decision about my vote based primarily upon the the CHARACTER and ACTUAL RECORD OF PAST POLITICAL AND PERSONAL ACTIONS AND STATEMENTS of the candidates. (The supposed "platform" means little - the president doesn't make decisions on his/her own - campaign ideologies are only statements of wishes.) Of course, separating fact and opinion is not always easy. It is surprising how hard it is to find actual records uncontaminated with someone's commentary about the meaning of the record.
I will vote at the very first opportunity. I did. Early in the day on the very first day that voting was allowed in Georgia, my mother and I made the rounds of the three courthouses in Rome, GA until we found the correct place to cast our ballots.

As I finish writing this post, it is the last day that candidates can campaign. Tomorrow is election day. My experiment is over. I can return to blogdom. I can return to conversations with those I love. I can watch TV again. All those who have offended each other during the last year can begin to mend fences. Life will go on. Neither Barack Obama nor John McCain is our savior. As my beloved Daddy always said and believed - God is still on the throne!

A Note to Our "Gimme" Society

2008-05-05T07:41:00.002-04:00

.... the three things we crave most in life -- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind -- are always attained by giving them to someone else.

-General Peyton C. March (1864-1955)

Forum on manhood misses the mark

2008-04-26T03:33:00.003-04:00

Columnist Jim Wooten recently wrote a commentary about a March conference held at Macon State College. The conference was ostensibly "a conversation about manhood" and was led by a group of black professionals such as doctors, teachers, lawyers, clergypersons, and politicians. Mr. Wooten's comments were based on a report in The Macon Telegraph written by reporter, Ashley Tusan Joyner, in which she details some of the topics discussed in the conference. Go to the link above for Mr. Wooten's full article; I found the comments below especially interesting.

But it is shocking to read that given the opportunity to have a conversation about manhood with young males, role models who are successful and accomplished in life chose to talk to them as potential criminals and as victims....

Not addressed, apparently, was manhood, as in fatherhood. Or manhood, as in taking responsibility... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in early March that at least one in four teenage girls nationally has a sexually transmitted disease. Among black teens ages 14-19, it’s nearly half.

Another study released last week offers findings that are...further evidence of the need to reorient the conversation. ... 25 percent of white children, 46 percent of Hispanics and 69 percent of blacks are born to unmarried women....When combined with divorce... almost a third of children live in single-parent homes...

Any number of studies have documented the harm to children and the social costs in higher rates of crime, drug abuse, poverty, mental and physical illnesses, educational failures, and other damaging consequences to children deprived of the life-guiding influence of both parents.

Now Benjamin Scafidi, an economist in the J. Whitney Bunting School of Business at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, presents valuable new research on the economic costs. “We estimate that family fragmentation costs U.S. taxpayers at least $112 billion each and every year, or more than $1 trillion each decade,”..... If public policies encouraging marriage reduced family fragmentation by just 1 percent, the savings to taxpayers would amount to $1.1 billion yearly, the study finds.

It seems clear that the conversation about what constitutes “manhood” needs to change, especially when the government, the media, opinion leaders and community role models gather young men to help them define it. Manliness is not creating and abandoning babies and the women who bear them.

Leah Ward Sears, chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, is one of the voices stepping up...

“Healthy marriage is not only the best place to raise children, it is the indispensable institution without which all other social reform efforts will fail,” she said. “Healthy and intact families are the cradle of thriving societies.” Preach that. Teach that. Counsel that.

The Job of Cooking #9 - Quick and Easy Meals

2008-04-24T22:28:00.001-04:00

Tips for when you just need to get a meal on the table...

(Click on the logo above for an explanation of this feature of Daddy's Roses.)

Remember that a nutritious meal need only have a small amount of protein along with some fruits and/or veggies. The protein can be a small amount of meat, or it can be a combination of dairy and grain such as a cheese sandwich, or it can be dried beans. A starch such as bread, potatoes, or rice can add filler if your family needs (or wants ) a heavier meal.

One quick and easy one-dish meal would be to add any leftover meat to bagged salad. If you don't have any left-over meat from the day before, open a can of chicken breast or tuna.

A grilled cheese sandwich served with tomato soup makes a complete meal.

A peanut butter sandwich with apple slices (or fresh grapes or celery sticks) on the side makes a complete meal.

A scrambled-egg sandwich served with fruit would be a quick choice.

Another quick and easy one-dish complete meal: Cut up a couple of chicken breasts (half-thawed meat is easiest to slice), cook the bite-size pieces in a skillet with a little olive oil and add whatever fresh or frozen veggies you have on hand, season as desired, and stir-fry until done. You could serve this "as is" or with rice or some other starchy vegetable.

Thursday Thirteen - My Edition 62 - Secrets to Long Life

2008-04-23T09:08:00.007-04:00

Thursday Thirteen

I know that the theme of Thursday Thirteen this week is supposed to be vacation places, but I have written several times about vacation spots, so I am reporting instead on an article I read recently about life habits of centenarians.

The May/June issue of The AARP magazine had a special report on four Blue Zones around the world where many people live to be over 100 years of age. The author of the article coined the term "Blue Zone" in an earlier article he wrote for National Geographic in 2005, "The Secrets of Long Life." The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica is one newly-researched zone. Here are 13 of the secrets of long life that Dan Buettner discovered in talking to the centenarians who live there.

1. Have a strong sense of purpose.

2. Drink hard water.

3. Keep a focus on family.

4. Eat a light dinner.

5. Maintain social networks.

6. Keep hard at work.

7. Get some sensible sun.

8. Embrace a common history.

In addition to this list of eight life-habits that the author specifically culled from his interviews and listed, I found evidence for several others that seem just as important.

9. Reach out to others. The author interviewed a lady named Panchita; in that interview he mentions that she has a habit of reaching out and touching the arm of the person to whom she is talking. This literal "reaching out" is just an outward sign of the inner tendency to "reach out" emotionally to connect with others.

10. Don't harbor worries and grudges. Panchita tells several stories that illustrate this life habit. She tells of her son's murder but finishes the tale with, "God does everything for a reason. I am a blessed woman today." When she finishes retelling the story of chasing away and beating a peeping tom when she was bathing in the river at age 70, she says, "I did a bad thing, ...but still God blesses me."

11. Eat natural and non-processed foods. Panchita's family grows most of their own foods, and her idea of a treat is a banana. Sugar and salt were hard to come by and seldom used.

12. Socialize and network intergenerationally. Each old person's story mentioned children who regularly visited with the centenarians; each mentioned younger adults who either helped or depended to some degree upon the older adult. The centenarian both contributed to and received contributions from persons of other generations.

13. Take care of your appearance. Panchita greeted the visitors wearing a festive dress, long colorful earrings, and had her hair pulled back and held with a rhinestone-studded comb. Her nails were neatly trimmed and she wore a silver band on her ring finger.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood - Whitetail Deer

2008-04-22T10:41:00.004-04:00

I just went for a morning walk around our neighborhood. By the time I had a light jacket (for the morning chill), a bottle of water (I'm never without one), my reading glasses (ya never know when you might need to actually SEE something closeup), my sunglasses, my cellphone (don't leave home without it!), my ipod (listening to a novel keeps me walking), and some tissues, I decided against also hanging the camera around my neck. Mistake!

As I walked my two mile track winding around nearby short lightly-traveled streets, I found myself in a stand-off with a group of 5 deer. They obviously wanted to go where I had just been. They stood back and warily watched me approach. I veered from my planned route at the intersection in order to give them a wide berth and not further concern them. As soon as I turned in the opposite direction, I could almost hear their sigh of relief and their leader turned and signaled them that it was now safe to continue on their way. They had bravely stood their ground and let me approach to within about 50 feet apparently aware that I could make a turn in the opposite direction when I got to the street. They ran behind a house and peered around the corner at me to be sure I was continuing to put distance between them and me. What an opportunity for a picture I missed.

Simpsonwood - A Retreat Center

2008-04-22T10:18:00.003-04:00

We just got home yesterday from a Sunday School Class retreat at Simpsonwood. This is a beautiful retreat facility located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River just North of the perimeter road (I-285) of Atlanta. The land was donated to the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church back in the 6o's. There was stipulation that the land not be sold but used as a retreat center. Many church members of the day objected to accepting the gift (which had already been refused by the Presbyterian Church I understand), but it was eventually accepted. For a number of years the land was mostly unused, but gradually the building began. First a church -- later an administration building with large kitchen and dining rooms, meeting rooms, a large lobby, and a beautiful rocking chair back porch. The grounds now house the administrative offices of the conference (the Bishop's office among others), 5 lodging facilities, numerous walking trails and other recreational features such as swimming pool, soccer field, tennis courts, etc.

The Fellowship class of our church asked my DH to be the spiritual leader of the retreat. We had a group of 36 attend and had a wonderful time. We had 3 "sessions" and a worship service, but the remainder of the time was ours to spend enjoying the beautiful surrounding and spending time with our Christian friends. Here is a pic or the atrium where we had our sessions, at the bottom of the page is the chapel where our worship service was held. We went for a nice long wooded walk along the river Sunday afternoon. The weather was perfect. The wildlife was enjoying the habitat as well - we saw 3 deer and numerous squirrels. The entire weekend provided a refreshing and renewing experience.

BTW, the retreat center accepts church groups from all denominations, family reunions, and other groups. One can also check in as in any motel or hotel and spend a night or two, with or without meals included. A homeschool organization was setting up to use one of the convention buildings for CRCT testing as we left Monday morning.

Sunday Seven 49th Edition

2008-04-18T10:25:00.004-04:00

I have seen several YouTube videos (and one from another source) this week that I found either entertaining, amazing, amusing, or simply interesting. I will try to link them here.

1. The Devil's Swimming Pool - atop Victoria Falls. Can you imagine jumping into this pool as the water all around you plunges over the falls into the gorge below?!

2. My brother's squirrel dance - The fun never stops with Terrell! Scroll to the bottom under the still pics.

3. Explanation of the procedure of late-term abortion. A representative from a group called Priests for Life demonstrates the procedure. I don't know how to classify this one - maybe you'd rather not see it.

4. Grammar Rock - I have always enjoyed the Schoolhouse Rock series.

5. Sand Art - Shalom!

6. Then there's always Barbeque Art! Whatever! To each his own, I guess.

7. And for finishers -- here's another amusing squirrel video.

I hope my links work - I have to learn how to imbed a video so one can just click on the screen.

Happy Weekend, Friends!

Thursday Thirteen - My Edition 61 - Unfinished Posts

2008-04-17T07:36:00.001-04:00

Thirteen Blogposts I have Started but Never Finished

I have sometimes described myself as a "compulsive finisher." That is an apt description most of the time - I find it difficult to leave a job half-done. I believe that this is a common attribute of perfectionists - we put off starting a job because we don't want to start what we won't have time or energy to complete. This morning I set out to finish up a couple of blog posts and rediscovered several embryonic pieces that I had forgotten about. Here are 13 of them:

1. Back in June of 2006 I started a post I titled "Teenagers: Work or School?" I never finished this one because I see both sides of that issue and never could draw satisfactory conclusions.

2. In January 2007, collected several interesting jokes, quotes, etc. about the use of prepositions and intended to incorporate them into a humorous post.

3. In March of 2007 I set out to write about the merits of poetry and some tips for writing it.

4. April last year was a big year for false starts in my writing. I drafted a post purportedly to teach the 8 parts of speech and their usage.

5. Also in April 2007 I wanted to pontificate on the background of the word "vocation" and what it means.

6. I had a flash of insight and inspiration on how a wide base of general knowlege is essential to reading success.

7-9. My brain flashes in April 2007 continued with just-begun posts on: How Doctors Think, Use of Time, and Setting Goals.

10. In May I intended to write a Mother's Day post, but you know what they say about good intentions...

11. In July I wanted to write a post about Bread. I gathered information about the etymology of the word, both in English and in Spanish as well as the Biblical analogy of Jesus as the Bread of Life.

12-13. Before our cruise in November, I prepared an individual post about each port of call on the cruise. I pasted in back-ground information on each port city and planned to add in personal information from our experience there. Oops! Never got around to finishing those 8 or 10 posts!

Parents of Our Future

2008-04-16T13:16:00.003-04:00

I saw this quotation for the first time today - a profound truth in memorable wording:

We should try to be the parents of our future rather than the offspring of our past.

-Miguel de Unamuno, writer and philosopher (1864-1936)

I would like the quote even better as an imperative:

Don't just be an offspring of your past. Be the parent of your future!

- Unamuno adapted by the author of Daddy's Roses

Disparate Housewives #5 - Cleaning the Frig

2008-04-16T10:04:00.004-04:00

( Click on the logo above for an explanation of this feature of Daddy's Roses.)

After years of growing unintentional "science projects" in the back of the frig, I finally hit upon a system to keep control of those leftovers and open containers. Every week, on the night before garbage pickup, when I empty all the small waste cans into a bag to take to the curb, I spend an additional 5 minutes and go through the refrigerator. I throw away any leftovers, expired foods, and containers that have been open too long, wipe the empty and visible surfaces in the refrigerator with a clorox wipe, close up the garbage bag and take it out. Doing this weekly cleanout is virtually effortless and keeps the refrigerator current and leaves shelves available for fresh food.

Sunday Seven - 48th Edition

2008-04-12T17:23:00.007-04:00

Seven Blessings, Enjoyments, Privileges, and Treasures I have enjoyed this past week:

1. I used this SS header this week because DH and I spent a great deal of time perusing possible cruises for this late Summer. We pored over the brochures, talked to our travel agent, and had several good possibilities. Today we came to the conclusion that all the possibilities are just out of reach financially right now. Disappointed? You bet! However, we had some enjoyable hours thinking about it, remembering cruises of the past, and anticipating future ventures. We also enjoyed catching up with news of our old hometown as we talked with our travel agent, who still lives there. So, Number 1 on my list this week is a sad face with a twinkle in its eye (or a happy face with a wistful expression in the eyes.)

2. Here is a pic of the itinerary of the cruise we were most interested in. We have never been to Alaska, or even to the west coast at all; so this a a tour we'd love to do.

3. On Monday, I got to spend time with my mother and all six of my siblings as we supported each other in our grief over the death of our cousin, Don Baird. Don was more a brother than a cousin; and I thank God for the blessing of his life. He was a loving relative and a positive contributor to our world. He will be greatly missed. You can read what has been written about Don recently here, and here, and here, and here, and here, and here.

4. Last Sunday was the 14th birthday of a very special young man in my life. He had a happy birthday. Here is a pic of him from several years ago - I think it shows his personality as he poses with his sisters. Of course he is no longer that little boy and is, instead, a tough and cool TEENAGER now!

5. My oldest younger brother, Terrell, has posted on his blog recently some absolutely breath-taking photos of the beauty of nature in our little corner of the world. He is a sensitive, nature-appreciating photographer and teacher whose commentary about his pictures lends another dimension to the already impressive photos. While you are there, scroll on down to see many other beautiful pictures in his recent posts.

6. Our daughter (a teacher) and her children were on Spring Break this past week and chose to spend part of the week with us! We had such a good time. The children discovered the joy of climbing trees as they enjoyed the out-of-doors here.

7. I have found time to read blogs and write a little this week.

The Biggest Little Word #2

2008-04-11T15:24:00.004-04:00

(Click on the logo above for an explanation of this feature of Daddy's Roses)

In the first edition of The Biggest Little Word, the question seemed to have a universal answer. THE BEACH!

The question was: If you could physically transport yourself to any place in the world at this moment, where would you go?

You can go back here to read my response.

Amanda added her response: "I'll be on the next private island over and we can stand there and wave at each other! Just behave -- because I'll be able to see you!"

Carol had this to say: "At THIS moment, I would transport myself to Mother's house so I wouldn't have to make the trip (by car or plane) tomorrow. But, in general, I would be on a private island -- but it wouldn't be visible from Joan's or Amanda's islands. And the sun would be shining, but it wouldn't be too hot - just warm enough to feel wonderful."

Okay then, Amanda, I am trying to behave! Pass me that sunscreen over here, will you? And, Hey! watch out! Carol is heading over this way with a cup of ice water in her hand and mischief in her eye! You might be "chillin'" before you know it!

Now, on to the new IF:

If you could suddenly possess an extraordinary talent in one of the arts, what would you like for it to be?

My response: "I would find fulfillment and satisfaction in being a great writer. My compositions would range from poetry and song to mystery novels. My songs would be recorded and sung around the world, and the protagonist in my series of novels would be discussed around dinner tables as widely as Sam Spade, Harry Potter, Stephanie Plum, Atticus Finch, or Tom Sawyer.

My advice on how to wring the most possible fulfillment from life would be published in a best-seller and would be discussed on Oprah and all the other big talk shows. Because of my facility with language and my lucid explications of them, great philosophies of the past would be more-widely understood than ever before, resulting in greater understanding and communication in society."

What extraordinary talent will you possess?

Disparate Housewives #4 - Uses for Vinegar

2008-04-06T10:14:00.010-04:00

( Click on the logo above for an explanation of this recurring feature on Daddy's Roses.)

Plain distilled (clear) vinegar has many, many uses in the home. I buy it in the large containers, since it is very inexpensive and has so many uses. It is a natural deodorizer and is good to use for illiminating odor in the dishwasher (run an empty cycle) or the garbage disposal. It neutralizes onion odor on hands. Distilled vinegar is inexpensive and environment-friendly.

Today's tip for the disparate housewife is: Use distilled vinegar as a natural fabric softener. This can be especially helpful for families who have sensitive skin. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. Vinegar has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively. (A plus when you have a family member whose skin detects every trace of detergent.)