Finally over--now for Happy Holidays

I finished grades on Friday. When I clicked "save" on the last set of grades, I did breathe a sigh of relief. The semester had some high points and some challenges. It's a little bittersweet. I got to know many great students and read some wonderful writing. I will miss seeing you all in my classes next semester.



A few "lucky" students will be in my Lit 215 class. Thanks Laura and Jessica for signing up. It's a fun class. There's still a few slots left if anyone else wants to join.



I loved John's "how to survive a zombie attack" movie. When I watched it on youtube, I appreciated all the work he put into it. Thanks, John.



Overall, the blogs were funny and inspirational, through them I got to know most of you better than I did my classes that did not do blogs. I hope the New Year brings peace, happiness, good health, and energy to face spring semester.



I will miss seeing Mere walk in to class late because she went to the wrong classroom, again. It's okay. I have done it too. So many of you came to class with smiles and good attitudes. Good luck to all who are transferring to other schools and continuing your education (including Angela C., Mere, and Tiffany).



I am wishing Megan W. an easy labor and healthy baby girl. Send pics! Brandi--good luck planning your wedding. I am sure it will be wonderful.

Thanks to who all participated so well in our class discussions and WebCT discussions. You all added so much to the class (and kept me from talking too much).


I hope to see many of you around campus in January. Happy Happy Holidays to each of you, however you celebrate.

Think about those less fortunate

I often say "thanks" for what I have been blessed with. Today especially I am glad for heat in my home (even though I am currently in a very chilly office) and food in my fridge and pantry.

Many of us I know struggle to get to class, provide for our families and continue our education. I read an article today that may make some of our day-to-day challenges a little less difficult. In the Washington Post on Tuesday, Dec. 8, was the article "For homeless students, each day is a test." Here is the link (I hope it still works): http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/07/AR2009120702414.html

I can't imagine working on a college degree while living in a homeless shelter. Wow!

Let's count our blessings and even be grateful for the job with demanding hours, the difficult boss, the temperamental car, the house or apartment with small problems.

Thanks to all of you who have struggled with illness, transportation issues, crazy work schedules, personal/family problems, and computer/Internet issues. We are nearly done with this semester. Let's hope for a saner, safer, healthier, quieter New Year and spring semester.

Memphis Weekend

An enjoyable, yet tiring weekend is coming to an end. Friday afternoon, my friend Kelly picked me up at 3:45 p.m. and we left for Memphis. Our husbands and two other couples were already there. We stopped in St. Genevieve for dinner at Olive Garden, which was relaxing (and a decidedly wonderful change from the quick fast food pit stop on a road trip). Following dinner we treated ourselves to Starbucks hot chocolate.

We arrived in Memphis at 10 p.m. and our husbands helped us unload our stuff from the car. We stayed at the Comfort Inn Downtown. Our room had a view of the river and the Pyramid.

Saturday morning came early with a 5 a.m. wake-up call. We rolled out of bed and put on layers of clothes in preparation for the race. Steve (my husband), Daryl (Kelly's husband), Nan, and Ruben (my brother-in-law) were running the 1/2 marathon; Nan's husband Doug was doing the full marathon; Kelly, Sandy (my sister-in-law), and I were doing the 5K. The temp at 5:30 was only 24 degrees.

After a small breakfast at the hotel, we walked the 6 blocks to the start for the 5K, which began at 7:15 a.m. The other events started at 8 a.m. We walked to try to stay warm (although my toes were numb the whole time) and only jogged at the beginning (had to look cool) and the end. For someone who doesn't compete and train much, I did fine: 55 min. 28 seconds. I even got a medal and a T-shirt (which I gave to my husband; it was much too big on me).

We then darted through a throng of marathoners to cross the street to get to Starbucks (my reward for a job done). Then we went back to the finish area (at the baseball stadium) to watch everyone else finish. It was still cold and we had to move around to stay somewhat warm. Once Doug finished (nearly 4 hours), we finally headed back to hotel for hot showers.

We went to Grill 83 for lunch (had a bowl of spicy seafood gumbo--yummy). Then I took a well-deserved nap. That evening we had dinner at Majestic Grill (on Main St.), an old theater converted to a restaurant but still had the big screen where they show movies). Excellent food all around--ribs, pasta, burgers), and I had a glass of Spanish wine that was smooth and delicious. Following dinner, we walked around downtown and headed to Beale Street. We found a place to listen to live Blues music and have dessert (blueberry cheesecake for us).

After breakfast this morning, we headed back home. A good weekend--cold and tiring but worth it to spend time with family and friends. I know this next weekend will be busy with grading papers and some Christmas decorating.

I love Memphis, but I need to visit in the late spring or summer. I still haven't been to Mud Island.

Thanksgiving Break

Why is it called "break"? I didn't get much of a break this past week. I ended up doing more laundry and cooking than I usually do because of the boys being home and Thanksgiving. I had to read/grade many papers, and we did a little Christmas prep.

However, we did try to put a little fun/leisure into our week. Wednesday was my birthday (35 again, can you believe it!!). We went out to dinner and my husband and kids got me a necklace and earrings. Very generous and beautiful. Thursday evening we watched the G.I. Joe movie--actually a little better than I expected. And today, Sunday, I went to Trader Joe's with my friend Kelly and her daughter Kim. I hadn't been in about a month. It was great to stock up.

I have enjoyed reading everyone's Thanksgiving blogs as well as the other blogs too. I sympathize with the stress and craziness most of us are going through. Work hard, prioritize, eat well, get plenty of rest...we'll make through finals.

I am very thankful for my family, my health, my job (and my husband's job), our house, our friends. I need to keep a positive attitude and not let the little things get me down. And tomorrow (Nov. 30) is our 24th anniversary. My husband is my best friend, and I am so blessed to be married to him.

Chuck is Returning in January!

One of my favorite TV shows, "Chuck," was slated to return for a 3rd season in March. But great news--Jan. 10 will be the 2-hour season premiere. This show mixes comedy, action, a little drama, and a little romance all into one well-written, well-acted hour.

If you haven't seen it yet, check out episodes on NBC.com. It's a great escape from the stresses of everyday life.

To Dad--Happy Birthday

Tuesday, Nov. 17, would have been my dad's 73rd birthday. However, he passed away in January 2003. I just wanted to take a moment to remember him.

We didn't always see eye to eye

But I knew he loved me and was there for me.

He was a stern disciplinarian, but I knew right from wrong.

He lived for his grand kids, giving of himself generously for them.

a military man, a Republican, a proud American

He loved to play golf, watch CNN, and go fishing.

Family and friends meant more to him than money and things.

He preferred simple home cooking to fancy food.

Biscuits and gravy for breakfast, steak and potatoes for dinner.

He drank regular black coffee, none of those flavored or espresso drinks.

Fried chicken and breaded pork tenderloin sandwich were also favorites.

He showed me so many places in the world

and my home changed multiple times.

But I appreciate all the opportunities he gave me--

He made sure I went to college (there wasn't much of an option).

There I met the man I married--and Dad welcomed him into our family.

Thanks, Dad, for all you did for me. I miss you.

Veterans Day

Veterans Day--not the usual holiday. We didn't do anything special. I didn't even leave the house. This holiday is not one we celebrate with gifts or going to a parade or making a cake. We should, however. My husband is a veteran, 20-year career in the Air Force. My father also spent 20 years in the Air Force, so I am familiar with the military mission and lifestyle. I appreciate all those who have served and are serving in the armed forces. Seriously. It's a tough career choice.

My husband did get to work at home today with the holiday. He works on the base as a defense contractor--still serving the military in some way. I spent time grading assignments and completing online courses. Yes, I still have to take learn--my education is never complete. I have a little more to do finish the 3rd in a series of courses.

As this day winds down, I think of all those who aren't home with their families, enjoying a quiet dinner and relaxing in front of the TV. Stay safe and thank you.

Soup, Soup, and more Soup

What's your favorite soup? Do you make it yourself? If not, who makes it?


With the cooler weather, I have been on a soup craze. Every weekend, I make another pot of soup. Sometimes it's a creamy soup, a chowder, a chili, or even a chunky soup that's closer to stew. I have a few favorites, but I also am trying new recipes.


One of the first fall soups I made was Chunky Chicken and Chorizo Chili. It's got ground chicken, cooked (smoked) chorizo, peppers, onions, beans, tomatoes, and a bottle of beer. I don't even like to drink beer, but it adds a great flavor to the chili.

A favorite soup is Stuffed Pepper Stoup (named by Rachael Ray--thicker than a soup, thinner than a stew). I use 3 peppers of various colors (bell peppers, not spicy ones). Instead of rice (that you might use in stuffed peppers), the recipe calls for orzo, rice-shaped pasta. And there is ground beef, a large can of crushed tomatoes. Top each bowl with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.


Another soup I made I wrote about in an earlier blog--harvest creamy corn choup. It was fantastic. I will make that again soon. And I also shared about making Caldo Verde, the Portuguese soup. That was an experience because I had to use 2 pots. Most of it then fit into the crock pot to keep warm, but there was enough for a crowd plus leftovers.

This past Friday I made Creamy Chicken and Dumpling Soup. What's great is the chicken pieces are put in near the end, so they cook gently in the broth (and don't get tough). And the dumplings are potato gnocchi (not the frozen kind; look for packaged), so I did not have to make them myself. My husband loved this soup. It was so quick and easy to make and very tasty.

I can't wait to make more soup, but I'll be out of town this weekend. I guess Monday night I will have to get my "soup fix." Which one to make? I'll think about it and let you know.

By the way, I am not a Soup Nazi. Have another bowl. Here's some bread. There's plenty of soup for you!

When will allergy season be over?

I have dealt with a stuffy nose for more than a month now. It is aggravating. I don't have what I consider bad allergies, but this fall whatever is in the air is bothersome. At first, I took 12-hour decongestant at night, so I could sleep. However, after a couple nights, even that did not work well. I kept waking up unable to breathe clearly, which meant I couldn't sleep.

A friend of mine recommended Breathe Right Nasal Strips. She said they really helped with stuffiness. So, I went to Target and bought a package. I did look silly wearing the strip, but who would see me except my husband? Immediately after putting the strip on my nose, I could tell a big difference. That night I slept so much better. And I could breathe, really breathe, all night!

Now I am hooked. For the last 2 weeks I have used these strips and have gotten good sleep, restful sleep. Anyone with a little stuffiness, try them. I have bought only the name brand. My friend said the generic brand did not stick as well. I don't know if I want to go a night without them. We'll see how long the stuffiness lingers.

Beautiful Azores

One place I have lived before I would like to go back to is Terceira Island, Azores. The island is one of 9 in a chain about 900 miles west of Portugal. The climate is mild--it rarely gets above 80 degrees and rarely drops below 50 degrees. There is some humidity, but the ocean breezes and mild climate made it comfortable most of the time. Terceira is about 10 miles by 20 miles, a rocky, volcanic island with beautiful flowers, lots of cows, and miles of ocean.

On the left is a picture taken from our front yard. The ocean was about 100 yards away. Rainbows were a common sight after rain. Can you see why I miss this place?

We lived there for 2 years (2000-2002) when my husband was stationed at Lajes Field, a Portuguese air base that had an American presence too. We lived in base housing, which was a small 3-bedroom unit of a quadplex. That was the only down side to living there. The house could have been a little bigger.

Some of our favorite activities were finding new cafes and restaurants, exploring the island, golfing (beautiful course, inexpensive to play), and enjoying the view from our front porch.

What brought back some of these memories is I made Steve a birthday dinner Sat. night. The theme was Portuguese food, and we had some friends over. I made Caldo Verde (green soup), Alcatra (pot roast cooked in wine and seasonings), and bought Portuguese rolls (from the commissary) as well as Vinho Verde (green grape wine from Portugal) at Trader Joe's. Everything tasted good and we had a super time with our friends. After dinner, before the traditional cake and ice cream, I made Portuguese style coffee drinks. My favorite is the Galao, steamed and foamed milk with a shot of espresso poured over. The coffee and milk form layers that are pretty. It is topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Holidays & Birthdays & finals

We have passed the mid-point of October and the mid-point of the semester. We are quickly picking up steam toward December. In my family, this is the start of the holiday/birthday/final projects season.

My family consists of my husband, 2 boys, my mom, my sister, her husband and their 7 kids, then my mother-in-law, 2 sisters-in-law, 2 brothers-in-law, their spouses, and their kids (totalling 7 nephews and 5 nieces). Among all of us, there are 4 October birthdays, 4 November birthdays (plus our anniversary), and 2 December birthdays. Of course, we also celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (along w/ a couple Holy Days thrown in). Needless to say, it's busy and lots of cards and gifts are exchanged.

What is difficult is doing Christmas cards. Here it is, the busiest time of year for me (all that wonderful grading), so I often don't get cards sent out before Christmas. I've been known to do New Year's cards or the holiday season cards. I don't like being late with anything, but I do not want to start Christmas cards in August to get them done on time.

I wish we had a 14-week semester instead of a 16-week one. I could use the extra time to better prepare for the winter holidays. Thanksgiving is not too bad (except my birthday falls around that time too) because it is only one day and we don't do gifts, just food. This year I'll be cooking dinner, so we do not have to travel. I'm relieved at that but I miss being with family (even though they can drive me crazy). It's weird to cook a huge meal for only 4 people. Maybe there will be some friends who need a place to go.

That's my perspective on this whole time of year.

Food Glorious Food

The last few days I had plenty of school work to do. I made progress reading papers and doing some prep. However, as a reprieve from work and a reward for my efforts, I spent time in the kitchen. Everything I made was fairly easy but very yummy.

Friday afternoon my husband and I went to the commissary (on base grocery store) to stock up on a few essentials and buy items needed to cook over the weekend. Luckily, everything on the "must have" list were available. When we got home, we put the food away, then opened a bottle of wine and started dinner. I made Harvest Creamy Corn Choup (a Rachael Ray recipe--a choup is a cross between a chowder and a soup). With bacon and corn and cream, it warmed the bellies. I did substitute carrots for the zucchini. I thought they would hold up better. It turned out very well. I could have eaten half the pot, but I got too full. Here's the link to the recipe: http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=612

For Saturday I had planned a seafood dinner. Luckily, my younger son Eric decided to come home from college--we really needed his help eating the pan of Crab and Ricotta Cannelloni. Wow, was that rich and tasty. The recipe called for a pound of crab plus two kinds of cheese and made 12 stuffed (and I mean stuffed) pasta shells. Then a creamy white sauce was pored over them and more Parmesan was sprinkled on top. For an appetizer I made prosciutto wrapped scallops. They were good, but not as good as the main dish. These are recipes from Giada De Laurentis. Here are the links: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/crab-and-ricotta-cannelloni-recipe/index.html and http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/prosciutto-wrapped-scallops-recipe/index.html

Sunday Eric wanted pizza before he returned to Carbondale, so I used Pillsbury pizza dough (I can make it myself but didn't this time), and we topped it with Trader Joe's pizza sauce, lots of cheese (mozzarella and a a cheese blend) as well as pepperoni and spinach. It was cheesy and yummy too. Sorry, no real recipe, just roll the dough out (I put on a large cookie sheet--I like a thinner crust), then top as desired and bake around 12 min. on 425 degrees.

Monday (technically it was a holiday, so I'll include it) I decided to use the boneless chicken thighs from the freezer. I had watched Rachael Ray's 30 minute meals on Saturday morning, and she had made orange-balsamic glazed chicken. I had all the ingredients to make it, and it looked good, something different too. Wow--what flavor, a little tangy, a little sweet, and the sauce kept the chicken moist. The recipe is here: http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=2965
Along with chicken we made rice (with sauteed onions, cooked in chicken stock, not water) and oven-roasted grape tomatoes (from the garden) and zucchini. The dinner was balanced, nutritious and delicious as well as quick cooking.

Now it's back to the work-week routine. What's for dinner tonight? I don't know yet, but it has to be good. I can't eat take-out or drive thru much anymore. Freshly cooked is where it's at.

I need an 8-day week

Either my time management skills are way off or I am overcommitted. I can't seem to find that "happy place" very often where I am rested, relaxed and fully enjoying myself. Even on the weekends, I am doing schoolwork or housework in between trying to get some "down time." What I need is another day in the week.

I would spend that day doing all the fun activities I don't get to do. I would read (for fun) for at least an hour straight, maybe two. I would watch a couple shows I have on my DVR, and I would relax--not go anywhere except Starbucks or Barnes and Noble. (I know, I live on the edge!)

I would not do any grading or prep for classes. I wouldn't check WebCT or my work e-mail. I might look at Facebook, but not much more (there's too much work I end up doing on the computer).

Then I would make time for a short nap--30-45 min. is all I need. And my husband and I would prepare dinner (I do enjoy cooking if I am not rushed) and have a glass of wine with it. Then we could settle in for a relaxing evening (again no computer work).

It's nice to dream. But now I must return to reality.

The Nearly Empty Nest

Our two boys have been off at their colleges for over a month now. At first the house was just so quiet. No running up and down the stair. No constant opening the pantry and refrigerator doors, calling out "There's nothing to eat." No TV blaring when we were trying to sleep. No coming in late after work or out with friends.

Last year, our older son Andrew was away at SIUE and Eric was attending SWIC, living at home. We would see Andrew occasionally between breaks; he was only a half hour away. Now with Eric at Carbondale, we see them infrequently. If one comes home for a weekend or part of a weekend, the other may not.

Even though I miss seeing them day to day, I am glad they are becoming more independent and pursuing their education. Some of the positives with fewer people in the house: our food seems to last longer. I don't worry about meal components disappearing before I can use them. I buy very little junk food (or what the boys would call "essentials"). And we can cook whatever WE want for dinner, not worrying the picky eater won't like it or the other is not "in the mood" for chicken or fish. We can eat when it's convenient for us, not trying to work around class and work schedules for 4 people.

Their rooms are clean now. After they moved into their residence halls (don't call them dorms!), I gave their bedrooms and bathroom a heavy cleaning. When they come home "to visit," their beds are made and floors freshly vacuumed. It's nice not to have to close their doors to avoid looking at the mess they liked to live in.

Another perk is laundry. I have less to wash, dry and fold. When they come home, if they bring laundry, they do it themselves (or at least most of it--it's tough not to mother them a little). I enjoy seeing them; it's special to share time with them and catch up on their daily lives. I am so glad they are growing up--but when they leave the house for good (which they will), it will be strange. But we'll then be able to downsize and live wherever we want--no need to worry about school districts and family-friendly neighborhoods.

Every once in awhile we still here the pitter patter of feet on the stairs or in the hallway, but they belong to our feline boys, not the human ones. At least we still have them around to feed and spoil.

Quote Response

"You write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can't, but also knowing that literature is indispensable to the world. . . . The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even a millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you can change it." -- James Baldwin (24)

This quote makes sense to me. When we write, we write for a reason. Maybe we "have" to (it's assigned or a grade or a task at work). Maybe we want to share our day with friends on Facebook or in an email or text. Maybe we are inspired to write a song or a poem. With most writing, someone will read it, think about it, be affected by it. Will that change the reader? Will it change the writer?

In some small way, it usually does. It could be a temporary change (wow, nice wording. Cool. Interesting.) It could influence someone to visit the place you wrote about or avoid a restaurant with bad service.

I like that I could affect someone, my writing could change someone, even for the brief moment he or she is reading my work. It matters. My time and energy were not wasted. I have thoughts, feelings, and experiences others care to read about.

My writing does not have to be "literature" meant to be read for the next 50-100 or more years by academics. It will not be made into a movie or book. Those are not my expectations. And that's okay. Considering the number of poorly written books and scripts, I would not want my blogging especially to be turned into something like that.

What have you read lately that has changed you in some way?

Ready for Fall TV

Summer was busy with work and activities and favorite TV. I like that cable has new programming in the summer. I am not a TV addict, but I have a few favorite shows as well as trying out a new show or two.

My favorite summer shows were The Closer, Burn Notice, The Next Food Network Star, Warehouse 13, and Mental. We usually DVR some of the shows and watch at our convenience. That is one of the greatest inventions, isn't it? Warehouse 13 is a SyFy show, with a mix of comedy and drama, a little mystery. I thought it would be more like X-Files, but it's not really. I like the history element and the solve the problem nature of the show. They are still showing new episodes, so look for it (Tuesday nights).

Both Burn Notice (USA network) and The Closer (TNT) have mini-seasons in the summer and winter. I think that's interesting to break the season up like that. It frees up time between the new episodes. Both are good shows. I've been a fan of Burn Notice since it first aired a couple years ago. Filmed in Miami area, it has lots of action, a little comedy, and great storylines.

This fall I am looking forward to a number of shows returning. The Big Bang Theory is a favorite. The only problem with Monday night is there is so much competition. I also like House (and last year Chuck was on at the same time--now Chuck will start in March). I watch How I Met Your Mother and Rules of Engagement too. Give me a funny sitcom at the end of a busy day and I am happy. Last spring we tried out Parks & Recreation and found it good. When I want a crime drama, I'll watch Criminal Minds, any of the CSI shows, and Numbers. I have a Wed. night class, so I will have to DVR Glee. I watched the special premiere after Idol in May. It was funny.

I don't watch a lot of TV during the day, but if I am home I'll watch Rachael Ray's talk show or 30-minute Meals or a few other Food Network or HGTV shows. I can multi-task when they are on. What you won't see me intentionally watching is much sports, depressing news shows, nature shows (where animals get eaten by other animals), or stupid movies (won't go into my criteria at this point).

TV--not the vast wasteland some profess, but there is good and bad, junk and quality. I try to pick and choose, so I can get my work done, do things outside the house, but still have quiet time in front of the TV. We all deserve that.

Fall Semester Has Started

The first day of classes is always exciting. The campus seems fresh, as if has awoken from a summer slumber. Teaching in the summer was fast-paced but the campus was sleepy. Now it is filled with fresh faces and energy.

The weather yesterday was perfect--not too warm, but sunny and breezy. It felt as if fall is just around the corner. My first class, Eng 101, was at 8 a..m. We had the usual couple students in the wrong place and a few arrived late. The main problem was repro did not make all the necessary copies of the syllabus. I needed 20 and only 10 were made. But we persevered.

My two Eng 102 classes met in the CAI rooms. For the first day, however, we did not have time to do anything on the computers. The classes had a writing assignment and needed to create a Blog and add the course for WebCT. I am impressed that already 3 students have sent me their Blog addresses and a few have submitted the writing assignment via e-mail. What a great start.

Tonight I have Eng 108--Modern Grammar. It's a great class, much more interesting than it sounds. Since it's a small class, we should be able to get a great deal accomplished. I am a self-professed grammar geek, but I try to show students grammar can be fun, and it's useful too.

Another full day of classes tomorrow, so I must finish prepping. It seems there's more to do than I have time for. Summer is officially over.

The Facebook Phenomenon

In July, I was encouraged by a few people to join Facebook. I had been twittering a couple months, but was not ready for the commitment to Facebook. I thought it would take a long time to set it up and make friends. What would I say?

One weekend, I needed a break from grading papers, so I called by older son Andrew downstairs to help me. He showed me the ropes, setting up my privacy settings and requesting a few friends, such as himself. It seemed easy. It was fun. There were many ways to "dress up" my wall and my profile, but I kept it simple at first. I didn't even post a picture of myself right away.

I suppose it's been about a month. I now have more than 30 friends (most are not even related to me). I have made contact w/ HS and college friends, even those I have not seen since HS graduation. It's exciting to re-connect. I am happy that these people remember me. I have not gone to a HS reunion since the first one. Getting older is tough at times, especially when we are far away from our families and schools. I can see through others' photos they are aging well (some still look so young!). Most of us have kids; some of our kids are in college or married now.

Now I know what the attraction is. It's easier than calling; it's even easier than e-mailing or texting. And I am out there, sharing with others my everyday activities and thoughts as well as special events and photos. I finally put a photo up so people know it's really me. The same old Denise.

I will be getting busier as the fall semester starts, but I am glad to have joined the millions on Facebook. I am a part of something exciting. Thanks to all of my friends. It's great to "talk" with you.

L. A. Review

Since early May, Eric and I had been planning our end-of-summer school trip to Los Angeles. We each decided a few places we wanted to see and things we wanted to do. Then, we had to decide on the dates and where to stay.

Eric found the Ramada West Hollywood and thought it looked good. It was a very nice hotel, in a fine area of town. The room was great and close to both Starbucks and Trader Joe's, two of my favorite places. The only downside was it was not that close to many of the places we visited. I did not want to drive (I dislike driving in big cities, especially ones I am unfamiliar with). On Day 1, we wore ourselves out walking to Hollywood Blvd to see the sidewalk of stars. But the sights were worth it. My legs and feet would recover. That night we ate at Primo Bistro, next door to the hotel. Eric and I agreed the bruschetta was delicious.

Day 2 we took the Starline Grand Tour and Stars Homes Tour. We were picked up at the hotel by the shuttle and taken to the Starline Office, where we boarded a double-decker bus for a tour of the area. I had never seen L.A. except for the airport before, so this experience was well worth the time and money. Places we visited included the Kodak Theatre, Grauman's Chinese Theater, Hollywood Bowl, Farmer's Market, La Brea Tar Pits, Rodeo Drive, Chinatown, Melrose Drive. The highlight was when we switched to the roofless van for the driving tour of stars homes. We cruised up and down Mulholland Drive, seeing fabulous views of the city as well as gorgeous homes. After that, we picked up sushi and drinks at Trader Joe's for our in-room dinner.

Day 3 we toured Warner Brothers studios in the morning. What a great place. I got to see the set of one of my favorite shows, Chuck. We also visited the Friends Central Perk set, still preserved and open to the tour. The WB museum was interesting (smaller than I thought it would be). I enjoyed learning some of the "secrets" to making movies and TV shows. But I was hoping to see real actors and see filming. Unfortunately, Monday morning was not the most active time. We did see some people scouting for locations for the upcoming movie Priest.

After lunch at Koo Koo Roo Chicken Bistro (yummy salads), we went to the Family Feud taping. We spent nearly 3 hours there, learning how to be a good audience member (clap, clap, and clap loudly. "Awww" and clap). It was fun and educational. We watched 3 shows. John O' Hurley looks the same in person. Family Feud is taped in the same place as Judge Judy and Judge Joe Brown (we got a peek at their sets). Initially, we were going to see The Price is Right, but we decided we wanted to sleep in, not get up at 4 a.m. to stand in line for hours on end. Family Feud was one of the few shows taped during the time we were there. Eric and I really wanted to see a sitcom taped, but no such luck.

Tuesday, our last full day there, was low key in the morning. Eric slept in. I was up before 7 a.m. (never did adjust to the time zone) and went to Starbucks for my morning mocha. I sat in a comfy chair, reading Julie & Julia and watched people. Later that morning, we walked to the Beverly Center, a fabulous multi-storied mall. Both impressive and intimidating. Then we went to Robertson Ave. (a shopping/dining street) and found a wonderful little Italian cafe for lunch. Following that we walked some more, then went back to the hotel for a restful, cool afternoon. L.A. was definitely warmer than I thought it would be.

Our big finale was a Dodger's game that night. We took a taxi to the stadium (don't ask how much it cost). The trip took us through some very unusual parts of the city during rush hour (so, of course, the driver avoided the "parking lot" of the interstates). Eric got us great seats, field level, behind home plate. What a fabulous stadium, and I am not the biggest baseball fan. I did enjoy the game, Manny's home run, the guy who ran out on the field and was tackled by security, etc.

On Wed. morning, we took the Super Shuttle van to the airport (we also stopped many times to pick up other riders--again seeing lots of the city). I can tell you I am not a fan of LAX. It's crowded, crazy, and confusing. When we checked our bags, the airline "guy" gave Eric the wrong boarding pass. We had to get that fixed. I forgot I had a water bottle in my purse. Luckily, no big deal. It got pitched. Then a security alarm went off, locking the door to the concourse, so we had to wait in a warm hallway till that was fixed. At least the flight was uneventful. We got home safely.

There's more to share, but that's the highlights.

We want to go back and see more studios and show tapings. We want to stay in Burbank, not West Hollywood, so we are closer to the "action." But I still do NOT want to drive in L.A. If anyone wants to volunteer for that duty, we'll take you with us.

The End of Summer Classes

Finally, we are in the last week of our 8-week summer semester. It has gone quickly, but we have been busy. Trying to write and cover the equivalent of a 16-week semester is challenging for both the students and me, the instructor.

Assigned were 3 out-of-class essays (multiple drafts, workshopped) and 3 in-class essays, one of which will be revised on the final day. Each revised essay was accompanied by submission/revision notes. In addition to the formal writing, students kept a journal of responses to readings, class activities, and prewriting for essays. The reading was not too heavy, I feel, but the writing was demanding.

I am looking forward to 3 weeks off before fall semester starts. Of course, I am not completely off--I still have my online classes, which are currently in week 8 of 11. But I am taking a well-deserved vacation for a few days.

Overall, I have been pleased with the writing and progress of my students. It's tough to be committed to classes during the summer. However, goals must be met, credits earned, and work completed.

Summer Reading

I had high hopes to read a few novels and finish the half-read non-fiction books once spring semester was done. However, summer classes and other adventures have limited my free time.

My current read is The United States of Arugula by David Kamp. So far, it's interesting, exploring the "great American food revolution."

Last week I finished In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. It was on my "to read" list for awhile and certainly opened my eyes to some of the problems with the food industry and farming trends. I like his approach to food and eating. It makes sense to me.

When I go on vacation next week, I'll be reading Julie & Julia on the plane. It should be entertaining. Reading, writing, cooking, and eating are my interests too. I must remember to bring snacks on the plane if I'm reading about food.

Once I finish Julie & Julia, I will finally get to Fatally Flaky by my favorite mystery writer, Diane Mott Davidson. Her protagonist is Goldy, a caterer who helps to solve murders.

I know what you are thinking. I read too much about food. It seems to be a theme lately. I'm interested in eating better and eating well, understanding how foods affect us and how the food industry has affected what and how we eat. Through all my reading and cooking, I have become a picky eater. I avoid fast food restaurants because the food does not appeal to me anyone and I know what's in it. I prefer freshly prepared food from fresh ingredients. Even chain restaurants like Applebee's and Olive Garden are not enticing.

I have an entire shelf of "food" books (not including my bookcase of cook books--that's another blog). It's a fascinating subject. Now if I can only get myself back to the YMCA on a regular basis.

Shopping & Eating Local

An unusual but wonderful summer day. Sunny and in the mid-70s, a great day for being outdoors. After hubby Steve did a 50 mile bike ride on the trails, we ventured out to St. Louis. We first went to the Farmers' Market at Tower Grove Park. We had been to Soulard Farmers' Market a few times, so we were interested in what this one would have.

The market had a variety of vendors, including meat (grass-fed beef, pork and lamb), chocolate, pasta, and coffee and tea vendors in addition to the expected fruit, veggie and plant vendors. We picked up some great veggies to grill tonight plus peaches. All looked yummy and fresh.

The park was impressive too. Walking paths, plenty of grass, dog-friendly. They also have a pavilion and wading pool w/ fountains. Plenty of kids were playing in the pool.

After enjoying the market and fresh air, we were hungry. We then took a short drive (maybe 1/2 mile from the park) to Local Harvest Cafe at 3137 Morgan Ford Road. The web site is http://www.localharvestcafe.com/ There was a nearly full restaurant and most outside tables were occupied too. A good sign. I had read about this place and liked that they used as much locally grown food as possible and prepared everything fresh.

We each ordered a "mix & match" lunch. Steve chose the Mediterranean salad and cucumber bisque while I decided on the Italian Stallion sandwich and the chilled borscht. We sampled each other's food and decided the two best items were the cucumber bisque (fresh, creamy, with a zippy garlic flavor) and the sandwich. The bread was fresh and soft and the combination of Cappicola, salami, roasted red peppers, and other veggies was delicious.

This place is definitely one to visit again. We want to try their dinner specials as well as their breakfast and espresso drinks.

If anyone has restaurant recommendations, please let me know. We love to try new places.

Getting Started

I tried blogging a couple years ago when I required my English 102 students to Blog for their journals. Truthfully, I did not make many posts, and since it was for students to view, all the posts related to class somehow.

So, here I start again. I envision my blog to be a mixture of commentary on memorable moments/events, my cooking adventures, books I'm reading, my travels, my work, and my family.

I hope someone reads a post now and then and finds some interesting bits or humor. Please come back.