Saturday, July 17, 2010

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 44

#44 – “If you want to enhance your blond hair, just squeeze a little lemon juice on several strands and sit out in the sun for 20 minutes.”

When I was a teenager, this one of one hundred things my mother taught me a million times flew in the face of some of my most deeply held beliefs. First, I didn’t want to “enhance,” my blond hair, I wanted to “Kim Novak” it to Nordic white, or at least to a Sandra Dee champagne blond! Second, I didn’t know how to sit out in the sun for just 20 minutes! I wasn’t a sun worshipper. I was the Dali Lama of daylight. I was a swimmer and a twirler, two things you couldn’t do indoors – at least not in my little West Texas hometown, so I was out in the sun, a lot. And as a result, my hair was that glorious blond that only the sun, and the most expensive colorist in the world can produce.

During the summers I didn’t spend 15 minutes a day inside. Having had a fairly unsupervised childhood, I would walk the 2-3 miles to the community pool arriving about an hour before it opened, pacing and baking until the lifeguard begrudgingly opened the gate. My friends would come and go during the day, escorted by their conscientious parents. Then at 9 pm, after about 30 “Get out now!” warnings from the lifeguard, I’d drag myself out, and stumble home, exhausted. I did it every day in the summer, except Mondays, when they cleaned the pool, the most dismal day of the week for me. Click on Read More Below...

Friday, July 16, 2010

Gals Guzzle

Melissa, Mary, Kelly and Sally
Holy cats but the gals had fun last night at Jeffry’s. Martinis, champagne, wine, steak tartare, oysters, frites, fresh-made mozzarella! The evening was described as luxurious, not just the setting (which was by the way, and hopping, and everything half-priced for happy hour), but because we felt indulgent. We laughed, we gossiped, we laughed! Melissa Garnett and her husband own the Uvalde Leader News and the Pearsall newspaper. Melissa is very active in the Humane Society Uvalde, and I met her (round-about) through Paula Disbrowe (whose cookbook, Real Cajun, written with Donald Link, just won the 2010 James Beard Cookbook Award for American Cooking!). What a fun, funny gal Melissa is! Lucky me for meeting her. Mary Wilbur and her husband Bob are very involved as CEO and Marketing Director for Salient Systems, a manufacturer of Video Surveillance Management, Digital Video Recording and Network Video Recording systems. Mary is also very involved in philanthropy in Austin. She and I bonded about 10 years ago when we worked on a gala together. Mary is smart and good through and through. Kelly Jackson is a writer, yoga instructor and partner with her sister Sally as the duo, “Midlife Gals,” a fabulous comedy team, contributors to More Magazine, and much more. Check out their blog at http://www.themidlifegals.com.  Sally Jackson, in addition to being a partner with Kelly in “Midlife Gals,” is an accomplished actor, and a casting director, having cast principal actors for directors such as Stephen Spielberg, Robert Redford, Sidney Lumet, Kevin Costner, Roger Vadim and John Milius. Trust me gals. One of these days you’re going to see Sal and Kelly walk across the stage to accept an Academy Award or an Emmy, or both, and you’re going to say, “Aren’t those the gals that SueAnn told us about?” Unfortunately Linda Benjamin didn’t make it, but I’m sure she’s got some outrageous excuse and since I love her, I will forgive her.

California Dreaming - Day 1

You know you’re menopausal when you pick your vacation destinations based on the daytime highs on the weather map. Aha! My next career, a la Jeff Foxworthy,  “You know you're menopausal when...” But I digress.

Today is the first day of the rest of my vacation, and yes, you’ll have to suffer through relentless emails begging you to read my travel journal. I think I may have the Tom Cruise “Look at me!” syndrome. That’s just sad. But I digress.

So off to California I go where ocean breezes whisk away the mosquitoes, my hot flashes and any semblance of a hair do. Here’s the agenda. First, to Van Horn to have dinner with my youngest, Colt. Then to New Mexico to pick up my BFF, Deb. Then we’ll put on our Depends so we don’t even have to get out to pee as we drive through scorching hot Arizona. Then do a “Thelma and Louise” and drive straight into the Pacific (actually to the Hotel Coronado - ocean front room – yes, I’m blowing my wad)! 

My personal goal for this trip is to only eat where I can throw a fork into the ocean from my table. Actually we don’t have an itinerary per se, but the "turn-around" destination is San Francisco, by way of highway 101.
·      I want to have dinner and stare at the beautiful ocean and people at Georges at the Cove, and eat Crème Brule at La Valencia, in La Jolla.  
·      I want to go to Mr. Sushi on Cannery Row in Monterrey, where your sushi floats to you on the tummy of a little plastic otter, (there’s a little river-mote surrounding the bar).
·      I want to eat garlic ice cream at the Gilroy Garlic Festival.
·      I want to spend the night and get a massage at Ventana in Big Sur. Except that probably won’t happen since I already blew my wad in San Diego. It’ll probably be at the Motel 6, no massage, in Santa Cruz.
·      I want to drive down Lombard Street, freeze my arse off on the ferry to Sausalito, and hurt myself on Dim Sum at Yank Sing in San Francisco.

Ciao Baby!

SueAnn

Monday, July 5, 2010

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 43

#43  “Don't flush the toilet every time you pee, that waste water; just pour a little Pine Sol in the bowl to keep the odor down.
 This "drawing' of "Saint Inez, Patron Saint of Incontinence," that I did as a joke one time, seemed appropriate for this blog post.

As gross as this one of one hundred things my mom taught me a million times sounds, I have to admit that it is really pretty practical. Bathroom behavior is not something I am really comfortable writing about, but then it’s a little hard to write about mom’s #43 without discussing pee pee, potties and tp (we will not, however be discussing poop).

So about pee pee and Pine Sol, and by the way, this is not an endorsement of Pine Sol, it just so happens that was the “disinfectant” of choice in our household. And honestly, I’m not sure it’s not the same thing as that “blue lagoon” of liquid that never seems to quite cover what needs to be covered in the bottom of a porta-potty (gag reflex engaged). 

Part of why #43 makes a lot of sense to me is because I’m a waterholic, which naturally also means I’m a pottyaholic. Yep, I’m in there about every 30-minutes between 5:00 am and 9:00 pm. A low-flow toilet uses 1.6 gallons of water per flush. That means I’m using 25.6 gallons of good, fresh, drinkable water a day, just to slosh my pee pee away. That’s pretty horrible – 25 gallons of water! Yikes. I suspect there are entire villages in Africa that survive on less than that every day. Click on Read More Below...




The Profiler: My Life Hunting Serial Killers and Psychopaths By Pat Brown

When I do a book review I always check to see what other people have to say about the book and how it’s rated on various book review pages. These don’t influence my review, because there’s really no getting around how you feel about a book. But it is interesting to me how books affect other people as well.

The Profiler: My Life Hunting Serial Killers and Psychopaths by Pat Brown was one of those books that people loved or hated, and even the ones who loved it hated some things, and vice versa. The ratings were all very high or very low, nothing in between.  I believe I know why. 

First, most of you would probably take a wide detour around this book unless you’re fascinated by what makes serial killers and psychopaths tick. I’m not sure why, but I can’t get enough of the who’s, why’s and how’s. So the readers of this book have expectations created through experience (not killing but rather lots of reading about it). Pat Brown didn’t let us down on the juicy details. Her descriptions of the suspected killers, their motives and methodologies were really quite satisfying (that sounds a little sick, right?) Click on Read More Below...

My Latisse - Not So Clinical Trial - FINAL Results


Yep, it works. Enough said. I’m tired of writing about it and you certainly must be tired of reading about it. Plus looking at photos of my face that close up is simply too depressing. As Bette Davis said, “Old age ain’t no place for sissies.”
Week #5                                         Week #4

Sunday, June 27, 2010

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 42



#42 “When you get a run in your hose don't throw them away, you can stop the run with clear nail polish.”

I remember with horror the many times when I was a kid and saw the tops of my mom’s stocking and garters (not to be confused with a garter belt) creeping down below the hem of her skirt, the folds of stockings slumped around her ankles, and yes …. the telltale swabs of nail polish marking the end of a run. Mom being the frugal and low-paid teacher she was, would often use whatever color of nail polish she had, as many times as needed, so occasionally her legs looked like she’d been in a paintball fight. I swore as a kid that I’d never lets my hose sag or dab them with nail polish.  

First there were the girdles that held up my stockings, which was ridiculous since I was 18 and had as Melanie Griffith said in the movie “Working Girl,” a mind for business and a body for sin,” (not that I knew it at the time, however.) Then, much to my relief (ha ha) they invented pantyhose. Little did I know what a horrible piece of undies those would prove to be, and I won’t waste time decrying the horrors of pantyhose because if you’re a woman you know, and if you’re a man, you wouldn’t understand (except perhaps the challenges of getting them off a woman during the heat of passion [in a car, added by my husband]). Click on Read More Below ...

WANTED – Very Smart Gals (and Guys) to Build Clean Water Wells and Schools in Tanzania

When I got an email from Very Smart Gal, Dr. Donna Gunn, asking me if I would like to go to Tanzania to build three clean water wells and schools, my first thought was “SueAnn, you are an idiot. When will you ever learn.”

Why?  Because when I went over to Donna’s house some months ago to talk to her about writing grants, I saw a George Bush sticker on a car parked in her driveway and though, “Good grief, a Republican.” How quickly we jump to judge people. Just because I was mad at President Bush, I judged Donna. Then I met her, and liked her immediately.

Then last week when she sent the following email to me, I really wanted to jump on board her cause: Click on Read More Below

My Latisse - Not So Clinical Trial - Week Four Results


Week #4 – Still growing (I think?), although I nearly had a panic attack when I thought my precious 3-year-old granddaughter had nabbed my minuscule bottle of Latisse. She recently got hold of my Cover Girl Outlast Lipstain. Needless to say, it was just short of tragic as I caught her before she painted my purse, the table and herself!

Week #3

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Jeff Lofton Jazz Happy Hour at Ruth’s Chris

We heard the best jazz Thursday night at Ruth's Chris in Austin. Jeff Lofton, which included that night, Chris Jones on bass and Butch Miles, drums. Other than the fab music, the best part was it was happy hour, not 11 pm! Jeff sounds a lot like Miles Davis, but different in a very nice sort of way. He plays that brand of jazz that makes you want to close your eyes and drift, soulful, relaxing and stirring, very, very cool! Check him out this Sunday at Jazz Brunch at Waterloo Ice House 38th St. 11am - 1pm, then 3-6 pm at T. C.'s Lounge 1413 Webberville Rd, the "coolest bar you've never been to...",  and each Thursday at Ruth's Chris.  Click here to hear some of Jeff's sa-weet music.

It was also wonderful that Butch Miles happened to be playing with Jeff that night. Butch is married to my friend Linda Benjamin, and is quite famous, having played with such luminaries as Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dave Brubeck, Mel Torme, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Itzak Pearlman and others. Click here to hear Butch swing it.

Seeing old friend Bill Andrews, owner of Ruth's Chris (they served me one hell of $5 martini, and their steaks are unsurpassed), and Turk Pipkin, writer, film maker, actor and creator of The Nobility Project, also made the evening extra special. Not to mention that everyone hung out at our table between sets.

I particularly loved meeting and visiting with Jeff Lofton's wife and Publicist, Dean Lofton (photo to left - a Very Smart Gal!) I think I need to hire her to be my publicists! Click here to check out her website.

Take a listen to Jeff. Go see him live. Buy his album "Jazz To The People." Sometimes we just have to be reminded of why Austin is sooooo special!!

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 41

#41 – “When you run out of something, put the empty box or bottle in your car to remind yourself to buy that item the next time you’re at the store.” 
(Photo is of me and my beautiful daughter, just being silly)

When I see the TV shows about hoarders, I have flashbacks on this one of one hundred things my mom taught me a million times. Mom wasn’t technically a hoarder; she was more like a slob. (Sorry mom). Granted, she though nothing should be thrown away, but it wasn’t so out of control that I couldn’t tidy up the place before friends came over. Yep, I did. I cleaned house before my friends came over because I was embarrassed for them to see how disorderly mom kept it. You know what though, some of the coolest women I’ve ever know didn’t/don't give a hoot about cleaning house, so I don’t consider that a fault, just a characteristic.

So back to the empty boxes and bottles in our car. Honestly, having an empty gallon bottle of Clorox bleach, and Nilla Wafers and Arm & Hammer baking soda boxes rolling around in your front seat floorboard just felt so wrong to me. I can’t tell you how many times I cleaned my mom’s car out so I could take my friends “riding around,” which is pretty much all we did once we learned to drive. Click on Read More below...

My Latisse - Not So Clinical Trial - Week Three Results


Week #3 - Well my Latisse lash-growing experiment seems to be going well. I am most excited that the lashes on my right eye seem to be catching up with the lashes on my left eye. I have a theory about that, which may sound a little wacky to you, but I think it has merit.

Week #2 - I think it’s a right brain/left brain thing. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this “theory” clinically referred to as Lateralization of brain function, in a nutshell (non-clinical, basically worthless opinion), the right side controls creativity, and the left logic.

Here’s a gross rationalization for you. If you’re an anal, Republican, control freak, the left side of your brain is probably dominant. If you’re a hippy-dippy, new age, bohemian painter, you’re right brained. I also think that’s why some people have very symmetrical faces (supposedly the most beautiful people in the world), and some appear to be two-different people depending upon which side of their face you’re looking at.

Anywho, I think my way too logical control freakiness left brain has been stunting the growth of my eyelashes. However, this past week I took a couple of days off from work and relaxed and gave my right brain a little play-time, and my anal left brain a rest, I think that made the lashes on my right eye grow faster.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

My Latisse - Not So Clinical Trial - Week Two Results



WEEK ONE - Baseline - Pitiful



WEEK TWO – OMG! I think this stuff works!

OK. I need a little perspective and a third-party opinion here. Are my lashes really longer, thicker and darker, or is it just my need to believe that the $114 I spent on a bottle of stuff half the size of a wine cork isn’t just vanity run amuck?

I’m starting to feel a little like Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard. "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."

I’ll mention again that I spent a good 30 minutes “re-touching” this updated results photo (something I seem to do a lot lately), but I didn’t touch the lashes, just the depressing sea of wrinkles, pores the size of salad plates, and brows in tragic need of maintenance.

So what do you think? Is it working or not?

The Time of My Life By Patrick Swayze And Lisa Niemi


Patrick Swayze never blew my skirt up the way Brad Pitt used to (note the past-tense here), but I always thought he was good-looking and a good actor. So, when I saw that he had a posthumous autobiography out, I paused before deciding to read it, and I’m glad I did. Not glad that I paused, but rather, glad that I read it. It being, The Time of My Life, by Swayze and his wife of 34 years, Lisa Niemi.  How do you do a posthumous autobiography? You write it then die of pancreatic cancer two weeks before it’s published.

There were several things in this book that compelled me to slog through the predictable “we went here, we did that,” theme of life-stories. Click on Read More Below...

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 40


#40 - "Moderation in all things.
(This really, really old photo is of my great grandmother
Vina Belle McLaughlin, and great uncle, Alva McLaughlin, taken around 1900 in Spring Creek, TX)

When I was a kid and mom would say this one of one hundred things she taught me a million times, I thought she meant don’t do things, which in my “exploring the world of wonder” mentality just seemed wrong, and to conflict with the adventuresome mother I knew. But by the time I got old enough to experience the downside of “lack of moderation,” I realized what she was really saying was It’s not what you do that gets you into trouble. It is how much.” Even arsenic in the right proportion can save a life. Click on Read More Below...

Saturday, June 5, 2010

My Latisse - Not So Clinical Trial

WEEK ONE - Baseline - Pitiful
Having the Wade Family short-eyelash curse, I decided to give Latisse a try. For those of you living in a cave, Latisse is that perscription stuff you swab on your eyelashes to theoretically make them grow. Whoever thought that Brooke Shield's (Latisse spokesperson) needed more eyelashes is just goofy. Now if they'd grown Whoopi Goldberg some eyebrows, that would have been more convincing.

Anywho, I decided to get some Latisse and do my own not-so-clinical trial. A word of caution here. Don't ever take a photo this close up without having a drink first. It was scary. I had to photo-shop the hell out of it.

So, I'm going to occasionally document the growing, or not, of my eyelashes. If I can grow lashes with this stuff, I'm going to buy it by the bottle and pour it on the "thinning hair" spots on my head! Stay posted for my reoccurring posts!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

SPOKEN FROM THE HEART BY LAURA BUSH

Until I read former First Lady Laura Bush’s book, Spoken From the Heart (current #1 best seller, non-fiction), I would have never thought, nor wanted to admit frankly, that she and I share a bond. We’re both West Texas gals. I’d also like to believe that we have that West Texas gal quality of a simple façade, obscuring a solid core of wisdom, presence, and quiet fortitude, honed on the trials of isolation and survival, passed down by our pioneer mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers. Perhaps I flatter us both, but I’ve seen it in others, and although it seems odd to say (considering that I’ve been pissed off at her husband for eight years), I saw it in Laura Bush.

I’m glad I listened to her read her book, rather than reading it myself, because her voice (sound and style) made me feel like I was sitting on the porch at the 3rd generation ranch home of my friend Linda Sue, drinking iced tea, reflecting on life. As I listened to the book, several other things jumped out at me: Click on Read More Below...

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 39

#39 - "Mercurochrome and Vaseline will cure anything.”
(Photo is of my dad and my brother – probably taken around 1942.)

Mom tended to take a rather vague but seemingly effective approach to treating us kids’ illnesses, pains or ”owies.” Her treatments usually consisted of ignoring us or giving us half a baby aspirin (regardless of our age). But she had two other home-remedies in her vast medical repertoire - Mercurochrome and Vaseline, or as mom said a million times, petroleum jelly.

In a world with daily medicine recalls, one has to wonder just how in the hell we survived childhood without modern medicine – or perhaps we survived for the lack of it! When I  researched Mercurochrome, I was a bit horrified! Wiki says that in 1998 the FDA virtually halted its distribution in the United States over fears of mercury poisoning. Yikes! It’s a wonder I didn’t grow a third eye! No wonder I have kinky hair, my nose is too big, and Tom Smith didn't fall in love with me when I was in the 9th grade. It’s all Mercurochrome’s fault.  Click on Read More Below...

THIS AND THAT




Très chic and very smart gal, Keely Murphy is looking for catering, events, convention services contracts and/or work. If you have any good ideas, or need a good gal, give Keely a jingle. Check her out by clicking on Arrangements Catering & Events above. 



S’more Soirée - November 6-7, 2010


Gal-friend Fayruz Benyousef clued me in on this fun girlfriend getaway to benefit Girl Scouts of Central Texas.  Any event that includes the word “Soirée” sounds Ab Fab to me! If you register with a girlfriend by 6/30, you get a great discounted deal!  Fayruz will be teaching a belly dance class! Must go for that!

Check it out, tell your friends, get a group together for some great fun. Fayruz said they had a BLAST last year with Sara Hickman - great views, great food, awesome pamper treatments – even shopping! Gal-howdy! Click on S’more Soirée above for more info.
 

Monday, May 17, 2010

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 38

#38 - "You are not Ansel Adams, so always put people in your pictures.”
(Here's a photo that you could write a book from! Family members - 1950's)
When my first husband (of many) and I went on our 2-week honeymoon in 1966 to Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, we took lots of pictures of the many beautiful landscapes, but I only remember one, of me standing close to the edge of the grand canyon. It was the only photo we took that had a person in it. When I saw all those photos, none of which did the scenery anything close to justice, I flashed on what mom taught me a million times. “You’re not Ansel Adams SueAnn,” she’d say. “Put some people in the picture. Otherwise it just won’t be interesting.” Gaud, she was right again! Click on Read More below for the full story...

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

With a great husband, three loving children, five amazing grandchildren, great friends, and a plethora of books to read, I feel like I lead a charmed life (knock on wood). I am inspired to say this at the beginning of my review of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks because this is one of those books that fills your heart to bursting and makes you feel happy to be alive.

I’m not sure how a book about a poor black woman whose cancerous cell samples are taken without her consent shortly before she dies of cervical cancer in 1951, can inspire such happiness! Nor how I can feel so elated to read about how that woman's cells are eventually grown in massive vats, leading to a cure for polio, breakthroughs in gene mapping and a multi-billion dollar industry. But I will try to explain. Click on Read More below...

Monday, May 10, 2010

Happy Mother's Day!

I received this Mother's Day greeting from artist, neighbor and friend, Annie Taylor.

She should be illustrating children's books!

Isn't this lovely!

Thanks, Annie!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 37


#37 - "Practice your Miss America walk and graceful hands."
 My husband Crouse and I in Port Aransas – we were 40-something – and to think that this is the body I always hated, and would now kill to have!

Although lots of people joke about beauty pageants, when I was growing up they were paragons of beauty, grace and status for women. We never missed watching the Miss America Pageant, always cheering for Miss Texas of course. Mom was determined that one of us girls (four daughters) would be a beauty queen, so practicing the Miss America walk and graceful hands was imperative.  She taught me a million times to walk with my head up, shoulders back, a smile plastered on my face, making eye-contact at all times! Several friends have said, “Ah yes, the book on the head thing,” but it was much more than that, it was the Miss America Walk, designed to convey confidence, very subtle sexual promise, and a virginity in tact! Click on Read More Below...

Nicole Brown Simpson’s Sister at Mother's Day Luncheon Benefiting The San Antonio Battered Women and Children’s Shelter

(Denise Brown left)
After 15 years, Denise Brown, has decided to talk about her sister’s death. Although Denise has long been an advocate against family violence, she only recently opened up about Nicole Brown Simpson’s murder. Denise said that her family helplessly witnessed the psychological and verbal abuse and manipulation for years. They didn’t know about the physical abuse. But later found 12 years of physical abuse documented in Nicole’s diary. How often we stand by helplessly as loved ones struggle. How horrific when that struggle and helplessness turn into irrevocable tragedy.

Christy Overstee (daughter’s friend in San Antonio), wonderful friend Linda Benjamin (VP National Domestic Violence Hotline/TX Council on Family Violence) JoLene Noelke Moore (my daughter), and long-time friends, Debbie Tate from Austin and  Suzi Crane from San Antonio.


Despite the sad topic, my table really enjoyed the "Honoring Mother's 2010" luncheon in San Antonio, benefiting The Battered Women and Children's Shelter, and felt honored to support such a nice event and important cause. My gratitude to all of the people working in the trenches to help abused and battered women and children.
Pat Smothers – Founder and Chair of the Event, Honorary Board Member of Family Violence Prevention Services, and friend from the days when we were officers and very active in the National Women's Political Caucus and the Texas Women’s Political Caucus.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 36


#36 – “Don’t let children fill up on tea before supper.”
 Photo of mom receiving special recognition from the Texas Historical Commission in 2005.

As I think about #36 of the one hundred things mom taught me a million times, two things come to mind immediately: Tea and Supper.   I don’t know about your family, but ours drank ice tea pretty much 24-7. It didn’t matter how hot or how cold it was outside, or what mom was serving, there would always be a big pitcher of tea and lots of ice, served in recycled Del Monte sliced peaches cans (the residual of mom’s peach cobblers). To this day my sister Dorothy and my youngest son, Colt drink their tea in recycled tin cans, learned at the knee of mom, or memaw as my kids called her. 

There’s nothing as refreshing on a hot summer day as ice tea served in a tin can. The tin imparts a very subtle and unique flavor, and you’ll never drink a colder tea. Try it! That is if you can find a real tin can. Most cans are now actually made from aluminum. I remember like yesterday mom showing me how to hammer down the sharp edges of the can where it was opened with an old time can opener. Remember those – just a 2-3-inch piece of steel blade with a windmill looking crank, and a bottle-opener on one end? I still have one in my camping gear – for nostalgia and convenience. Click on Read More Below...

Monday, May 3, 2010

GALS GRAZE

I asked my mom one time why all of her friends were so young and she said, “Because everyone my age is too old!” Well, obviously that is relative, and truth be told, when I asked mom that question, most of the people her age were actually dead. But I must admit that I also enjoy the energy and enthusiasm of younger gals. Case in point: my luncheon last Thursday with three young, Very Smart Gals, Beth Rowan, Randi Knight and Debbie Tate.

I met Beth Rowan around 1997, when she was the Events Coordinator at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Anyone who has done events knows that is the hardest work in the world, and she was one of the best I’ve ever seen. The Wildflower Center is a classy place, does classy events, and Beth was a classy events coordinator. Since then she’s become the mother of two little girls and an editor of curriculum for students with a speech disability, for international publisher, pro-ed. Beth is just one of the nicest gals around so I’ve tried really hard to keep her in my life.

I adore Randi Knight, and I’m not just saying that because she is a client. Randi is the Director of Development and Marketing at The Arc of the Capital Area, an accomplished artist, and the brainiac behind The Arc of the Arts, an artist studio and gallery for artists with a developmental disability. This program/place is amazing and has done so much for the self-esteem of a community of people often overlooked, undervalued, and sometimes even feared. Check out the Arc of the Arts Blog and you’ll see what I mean. Anyway, Randi is a super cool gal, and she and her husband own a home on Lake Tahoe for gauds sake! I am so jealous, but I love her anyway. 

Debbie Tate is one of my closest and dearest friends and someone that I truly respect and admire. She is super energetic, super smart and super fun. Debbie is also the Director of Development at the Center for Child Protection, coordinating, among many other things, fabulous fundraisers such as PlayBingo and Dancing With The Stars, all focused on raising money to keep children in Central Texas safe from abuse. You will not meet a more down-to-earth gal - and she’s a cowgirl to boot, helping her dad work cattle several times a month.
Yee Haw! Thanks, Beth, Randi and Debbie for your gal-acious friendships and for helping me stay young!

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok


I recently received an email from Riverhead Books asking if I would like a free “advance” copy of Jean Kwok’s debut novel, Girl in Translation. They probably already knew this was a pretty safe investment, and that I would like and recommend the book on this blog, and they were right.

It is a simple story about a complicated situation. Simple because it is a quick read told in the minimalist style of Cormac McCarthy, complicated in the covertly, thought-provoking style of Ian McEwan. I could say that Girl in Translation is a well-told story about a young Chinese girl and her mother coming to America, living in a horrible condemned, heatless building full of roaches and rats, toiling for 15+ hours a day for pennies, finding and losing love, and eventually achieving the American dream, but my take on this book goes deeper than that.

First, I was reminded of the enormous cultural crevasse between China and America - traditions, family protocols, manners and language, and the universality of other things - fear, ambition, loss and love. This was reflected not only in the very different behaviors but also in the verbal perspective. Click on Read More Below.