An Influential Book

Since I am an avid reader, I could name many books that have influenced me in some way. For this post, however, I will discuss only one. It's Mediterranean Women Stay Slim, Too: Eating to Be Sexy, Fit, and Fabulous! Yes, the title is long, but the book is fairly short and a quick read.

The author is chef and restaurant owner Melissa Kelly. She is from an Italian American family and relates many family stories as well as her experiences as a chef. I have been re-reading this book because it has so many great tips and recipes.

One point she makes is about the social aspect of eating in her family as well as in the Mediterranean culture. When we make meals a social "event" as well as nourishment, the meal is more satisfying and we tend to eat less. I have noticed that is true with me. Even on Thanksgiving, when I cooked for a dozen people and there were so many dishes, I did not eat too much. There was so much energy in the room, so much to talk about and share, I actually ate less. When I eat alone or eat with my husband in front of the TV, I tend to eat more and usually enjoy the meal less.

Melissa makes the point to eat at the table, to turn off the TV or other distractions, focus on the food and the companionship. When I do that, I do have a more enjoyable meal. It's easy to eat on the run, eat in front of the TV or PC or even with my phone in hand.

This book is not a diet book; it's a book about enjoying life, fresh food, family, and friends. It's inspirational. I am going to try to live more like the Mediterranean culture, right here in my Midwestern town.

If you want to see more about this book, go to Amazon. Right now the book is bargain priced and well worth every penny!

Favorite TV Spies & Agents

When thinking about fictional spies and cops, many might name James Bond first. Not me. I love TV spies and agents.  They are handsome, brave, romantic, and adventurous. Who are my favorites?

1. Chuck Bartowski from Chuck. Chuck was played by Zachary Levi. This show just ended its 5-year run. A computer geek turned spy who is both sexy and nerdy. The show was so fun--a real mix of action, comedy, and drama.

2. Lee Stetson (Scarecrow) from Scarecrow and Mrs.King. Stetson was played by Bruce Boxleitner. This ran from 1983-87 (yes, it's dating me), and it also had Kate Jackson. The show took place when Russia was the USSR and there were more communist countries. Scarecrow was a great spy and a ladies' man until Jackson's character (Mrs. King) tamed him.

3. Michael Weston from Burn Notice. Weston is played by Jeffrey Donovan. This USA Network show has great action, a real spy hero who still has a heart and a conscience. We even get lessons in how to blow up buildings w/o getting caught! The Miami setting is great too.

4. Agent Fritz Howard from The Closer. He may not get start billing with his TV wife Brenda Lee Johnson Kyra Sedgwick), but Jon Tenney is one handsome and sexy agent. He loves Brenda and tolerates her putting him second to her job. And he loves cats!

5. Derek Morgan from Criminal Minds. Played by Shemar Moore, Morgan is tough yet caring. It's great how protective he is of Garcia. He is an agent I would want on my side.

I am From...

I am from the marble top dining room table


From I.D. cards and moving vans

I am from multiple homes, an Air Force nomad

I am from the Sweet Gum tree

Whose tall stature shaded me

I am from clarinet and student yearbook

From McCollum and Elam

I am from strict, generous

And social

I am from the golden rule

I am from Bessie and Betty

From stodge and butterscotch pie

From being scalped by an Indian

And serving in World War II

My doggy bank

I am from those moments and more

Top 5 Apps for my Phone

In January, I changed my cell phone from a Blackberry to the Samsung Epic 4g (an Android phone). I am a long-time Sprint customer and did not want to switch carriers, so I researched the available phones. I like the keyboard on my Epic, but what I was looking for most was a bigger screen and lots of free apps. I got both. All of these apps listed are free.

So far, I have downloaded a dozen or more apps in addition to the ones that came already loaded. What are my favorites?

1. Facebook--it's easy to "check in" with my friends and family, see what's going on and post updates if needed.

2. Words with Friends--a Scrabble-like games that can be played with someone else who has the app on their Android or iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. My younger son asked me to play the game with him. Now I am addicted. I have at least 6 people I am playing a game with. It's fun because you can play at your own leisure, then the turn passes to the other person.

3. Word Feud--similar to Words with Friends. My husband's Android phone can't get Words with Friends, so we play this game.

4. Poynt--a super app for finding restaurants, movies, gas stations, etc. Easy to use, and when out of town, invaluable. Info provided includes phone numbers, addresses, and can map it for you. If the restaurant takes reservations, you can do that from the app.

5. Kindle app--I own a Kindle (e-reader from Amazon), so I have the app on my phone and on  my PC. I can read any of the books in my collection right from my phone, picking up where I left off. I love how the app syncs with the Kindle itself.

What are your favorite apps? Let me know. I am always searching for great apps!

Meaningful Quote

"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 for 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 might affect someone, that 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 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?

I am from

I am from Judith and Charles, Betty and Eric, Ethel and John.

From air force bases around the world, small towns and large cities. From visits to family in rural Kentucky to a small town in upstate New York.

From Grissom A.F.B. and Peru, IN; Izmir, Turkey; Washington, D.C.; Shaw A.F.B., S.C.; Upland, IN; Ball State University; Chesterton, Lafayette, Indianapolis, IN; Tinker A.FB., OK; North Pole, AK; Eielson A.F.B., AK; San Antonio, TX; Sumter, S.C.; Lajes AB, Terceira, Azores; O'Fallon, IL.

I am from comfort food eaters: fried chicken, meatloaf, spaghetti, chili, cube steak, canned beans or corn. From ice cream and popcorn eaters.
I am from the nomadic life of a military child, from changing schools and making new friends. I am from a military dad and mom who was a nurse.

I am from non-church going but God-believing parents, attending whatever church I wanted to. From Baptist to Penecostal to Mennonite to Catholic.

I am from bowling leagues to Girl Scouts to marching band and youth group.

I am from a purple bike w/ banana seat, Volkswagens and Chevettes.

I am from Saturday morning cartoons and weekend movies--Jaws and Star Wars.

From Republican and conservative, from pro-military.
From Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon to Bronte sisters and Diane Mott Davidson.

From Donny Osmond to Shaun Cassidy. From Barry Manilow to Michael Jackson. From Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson to Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, and Brad Paisley.

Spring Break 2010: top 6

Although I had work to catch up on during my break, I made a little time for fun. Here are my Top 6 activities/events from break.

1. August:Osage County at the Fox Theatre. What an awesome play. It lasted nearly 3 1/2 hours (with 2 intermissions), but what an experience. It was powerful, funny, and had a couple recognizable actors.

2. Up in the Air on DVD. My husband and I watch this movie last Friday night. Very well done, fun to see St. Louis places. I like quirky, unpredictable movies. Great blend of comedy and drama.

3. Eating lunch at a new restaurant. My friend Kelly and I went to a new Vietnamese/Chinese place in Brentwood (behind Best Buy off Hanley). The name was Mei "something" (my mind has lost it....). Great food. It was so fresh and tasty. The egg roll was delicious as was the noodle bowl and hot green tea. I will definitely go back.

4. Food, Inc. on DVD. I have been wanting to see this documentary since it came out last fall. After watching Fast Food Nation and Super Size Me, I thought I knew a lot about our food supply and production practices. However, parts of this movie were VERY difficult to watch. If you have read anything by Michael Pollan, you will want to see this (he is in it). I have a new outlook on the meat I eat.

5. Sleeping in. A couple days I got to sleep past 7 a.m. That may not seem late to you, but I am usually up no later than 6 a.m. on weekdays. It was a treat to wake up w/o an alarm, drink my cafe mocha leisurely while doing the Sudoku and reading the comics.

6. Walking and working out. I finally got back to the YMCA after months away. I also walked around the neighborhood, even one day walking in the rain. I am determined to make exercise a regular activity once again (it's so easy to get out of the routine). I feel more energetic and can focus better when I have taken time to walk, cross train and lift a few weights.

I hope all of you had a good break, even if you just had a break from the routine of school. I feel a little more caught up and ready to tackle classes again.

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?