tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13426235552205836142024-03-12T00:51:48.424-04:00LibbysBookBlogLibbysBookBlogLibbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-79907645173357863362020-03-25T08:02:00.001-04:002020-03-25T08:02:37.130-04:00Anyone Here? And, notes on using books as a reward during Work From Home Lockdown...I have not posted since 2013 when my grandbaby came to live with me. <br />
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He's eight now.<br />
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Are any of my old blog buddies still around?<br />
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I am trying to stay off social media as much as I can, although I am drawn to it because I want to stay informed. But, I am starting to get depressed by all the death.<br />
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I have plenty of urban planning reports to write, and I need to work on the bills and the house and the grandson's home-schooling.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAsE6myNFPxavjB1eh93IVBgzAYVT64I5Etgye4q2nRnmR7wHVKXK92Q5RYMA7IizF4I716-2oDyx3cqmGFOdgIjiMZm6LNvi89vUSvW4rMe4HOjjPaX3wW5vPxdOatJBxqSJRHqxmSIe/s1600/strawberry+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAsE6myNFPxavjB1eh93IVBgzAYVT64I5Etgye4q2nRnmR7wHVKXK92Q5RYMA7IizF4I716-2oDyx3cqmGFOdgIjiMZm6LNvi89vUSvW4rMe4HOjjPaX3wW5vPxdOatJBxqSJRHqxmSIe/s320/strawberry+girl.jpg" width="241" height="320" data-original-width="301" data-original-height="400" /></a><br />
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Starting today I get 1 point worth $1 for every 1 work task or 10 house tasks that I do. I can spend it on books. I am looking for comfort books at this point. Cozies. I am going to re-read some of my childhood books, and collect them for the grandkids - I am up to 5 1/2 grandkids, by the way.<br />
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Did you read any Lois Lenski when you were a kid? (Not to be confused with Lois Lowry.) My favorites were Strawberry Girl and Judy's Journey - but, there are a ton of them.<br />
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If you're still out there, comment below please and I will visit your blog! Do you have any other Cozy book ideas? <br />
Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-790808306492572582013-03-15T12:43:00.003-04:002013-03-16T01:40:11.731-04:00Anton<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiknxZmtVl0i0tuJ92SJ19hA8mCZK7-dobpHguk-ln2ds6E7j240kA6JLUJbKPZDYDyq1_rQLUf-NsSPb-m-0IDaPjrFXJW-49GLNpPZrwW5Z0iv8h6hwUeEKOPuL70V2w3TnuHreNikTl/s1600/jeux-de-miroir-bordeaux-1_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiknxZmtVl0i0tuJ92SJ19hA8mCZK7-dobpHguk-ln2ds6E7j240kA6JLUJbKPZDYDyq1_rQLUf-NsSPb-m-0IDaPjrFXJW-49GLNpPZrwW5Z0iv8h6hwUeEKOPuL70V2w3TnuHreNikTl/s320/jeux-de-miroir-bordeaux-1_l.jpg" /></a><br />
The steam rose on the square after the summer rain, and like ghosts, the people of the village drifted back. The sun blazed. Barefoot, Anton ran over the pavers jumping in warm puddles.<br />
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Photo Source: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bzyla/1331648993/">Berenger ZYLA</a>/<a href="http://foter.com/Water/">Foter.com</a>/<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a><br />
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I prepared this post so as to participate in this weekend's Trifextra over at <a href="http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/03/trifextra-week-fifty-nine.html">TrfectaWritingChallenge.com</a>. <br />
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Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-65091587679511839402013-02-16T13:14:00.001-05:002013-02-16T13:21:59.089-05:00Trifextra - Welcome to My World<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBRUNeiSS9C6Q3fjm4rFGBq0-XjI2-UAHoZ_GQ5HPvHEoyj-OrGIVxYuS5EYz12BAWhCsPUCs92w04W67SOyBcCOrtw8xo0cWHSI6HLYhGgaTgNBZjHN8YXF78wgEXDDSC5uEAvjQgLBx/s1600/captain.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBRUNeiSS9C6Q3fjm4rFGBq0-XjI2-UAHoZ_GQ5HPvHEoyj-OrGIVxYuS5EYz12BAWhCsPUCs92w04W67SOyBcCOrtw8xo0cWHSI6HLYhGgaTgNBZjHN8YXF78wgEXDDSC5uEAvjQgLBx/s320/captain.jpg" /></a>It's difficult for me to participate in Trifextra because I am adrift in a sea of half-done traffic studies. Dirty laundry clogs my engines, and dishes have piled up to create little reefs.<br />
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I have written this so as to participate in the weekend writing contest over at <a href="http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/02/trifextra-week-fifty-five.html">TrifectaWritingChallenge.com.</a><br />
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This weekend, we are to write 33 words of hyperbole!<br />
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Picture source: www.encore-editions.comLibbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-19037613017756988292013-02-14T11:41:00.003-05:002013-02-14T11:41:58.971-05:00Trifect Entry - Amy's StoryAmy tried not to dwell on the fact that she was adopted. Of course, she knew. She had always known. For one thing, she was Asian - an almond-eyed exotic orchid in the middle of a family of blond American daisies.<br />
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Also, there were the snippets of memory. The little flashes, like scenes from old movies, would usually come when she was lying in bed trying to go to sleep. Amy had been adopted as a three year old. She was twelve now, but she had these vague memories. A smiling Chinese woman - her mother? Mountains. A fall into a cold lake.<br />
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Amy tried to suppress the memories. They made her feel lost and lonely, and then guilty, as though she were betraying her family here in America.<br />
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So, Amy always did her best not to think about China, until the day that she got the note, and the dragon came crashing through the door.<br />
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I have prepared this post so as to participate in the <a href="http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/02/trifecta-week-sixty-four.html">TrifectaWritingChallenge</a>. click over and take a look! Anyone can participate, and it is a lot of fun and a bit of a writing work out!<br />
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This is paraphrased selection from a screenplay I am working on...Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-65739781119282807072013-02-09T13:26:00.002-05:002013-02-09T13:29:36.439-05:00Trifextra: Nabokov Quote<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcEFa6VQRiiCD-DqJ4hrx_Ar74YpS_4X2aa0q0hAJ1Cw8_VgeDG2yYFdDmgrB74o6b8IfGKFmuiKC8Dpd65y1ZaQBSCtkzCBdgZrbugkKVl5-gq1I3NRwMjdscmF_hnvAOnBve8K2fih9/s1600/catbike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcEFa6VQRiiCD-DqJ4hrx_Ar74YpS_4X2aa0q0hAJ1Cw8_VgeDG2yYFdDmgrB74o6b8IfGKFmuiKC8Dpd65y1ZaQBSCtkzCBdgZrbugkKVl5-gq1I3NRwMjdscmF_hnvAOnBve8K2fih9/s320/catbike.jpg" /></a></div><br />
...the eye encountered all sorts of stratagems, such as pale-blue and pink underwear cakewalking on a clothesline, or a lady’s bicycle and a striped cat oddly sharing a rudimentary balcony of cast iron...<br />
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Speak, Memory, Vladimir Nabokov<br />
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I have copied this Nabokov quote so as to participate in the <a href="http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/02/trifextra-week-fifty-four.html">Trifextra Weekend Challenge. </a>This weekend, we are to find a quote of exactly 33 words...<br />
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I like this by Nabokov from the end of 'Speak, Memory.' It is serendipitious and fanciful...<br />
Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-38514844824351541732013-02-06T12:56:00.000-05:002013-02-06T12:56:37.030-05:00Trifecta Writing Challenge 63: What Richard Did"Don't think about it," James told himself as he rode to London. The weather, itself, seemed to share in his misery. Darkness was falling on a grey day. It was drizzling steadily, and a sharp, cold wind compelled Sir James Tyrell to pull his collar up around his neck.<br />
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Only one servant rode with him, the loyal Tom. It would have been better to have no witnesses, but he needed one other man for what he was about to do. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNumL6dnMtSond8Bs7TQTOy_CIBADbh3nwq57kn0EwA-EI6gcG5bdbcklEXErvefHhxsUlrZguzPRFXqZaLMprXpP6jDIvkhNCuPjXFZ1ckO9EfiAAE3Qc76NRIm_xMd57lohG63hm7pW/s1600/princes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="255" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNumL6dnMtSond8Bs7TQTOy_CIBADbh3nwq57kn0EwA-EI6gcG5bdbcklEXErvefHhxsUlrZguzPRFXqZaLMprXpP6jDIvkhNCuPjXFZ1ckO9EfiAAE3Qc76NRIm_xMd57lohG63hm7pW/s320/princes.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The horses plodded on, but neither man spoke as they drew closer to London. There was nothing to discuss. Sir James' path had been set for him when he threw in his lot with Richard III in his bid for the throne.<br />
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Everyone knew that sooner or later something would have to be done about the Princes in the Tower. The claim of Richard III would always be questioned as long as the princes were alive.<br />
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Sir James had been dreading the day that Richard would summon him about the princes. He knew that as Richard's oldest and most loyal ally, that that day would come, and when it did he was almost grateful for the opportunity to finally do it and end the anxious waiting.<br />
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He had not told Tom exactly what they were about to do. He had merely said that the king had ordered them to go to the Tower to see the princes. But, the look of shock, followed by a look of grim resignation that registered on Tom's face let Sir James know that Tom understood their mission.<br />
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Far too soon, the lights of London appeared in the distance. Woodenly, James began to instruct Tom. They would use the princes' pillows.<br />
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This is my entry for this week's Trifecta at http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/02/trifecta-week-sixty-three.html<br />
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What do you think? Please comment! Also, please consider joining in! It's fun; good writing practice; and you meet cool people!<br />
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(Picture Source: Wiki)<br />
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Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-74293712872499755112013-02-01T17:32:00.000-05:002013-02-01T17:35:14.005-05:00Trifextra Week 53: Set 'em Up, And Knock 'em Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxR2qyOxbyHEiIc_yG5i9K-4jRwOpUOLF8PCY2zjA0xB9-vnxtFeM708NyxT0M7MUyHU2rv6RBKCIC7Ml1BUGW8MMa0cg7ef8nt3Ubz3WqBxHoCB08IaoLZRXByKqDGPGKP_BA-cA6HqXU/s1600/Machiavelli_Principe_Cover_Page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxR2qyOxbyHEiIc_yG5i9K-4jRwOpUOLF8PCY2zjA0xB9-vnxtFeM708NyxT0M7MUyHU2rv6RBKCIC7Ml1BUGW8MMa0cg7ef8nt3Ubz3WqBxHoCB08IaoLZRXByKqDGPGKP_BA-cA6HqXU/s320/Machiavelli_Principe_Cover_Page.jpg" /></a></div><br />
"You help her get the job knowing his weakness for hot girls. He harrasses her; gets fired... You waltz in and take his job."<br />
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"You act like I orchestrated it all..."<br />
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"Didn't you?"<br />
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This is my entry for this weekend's Trifextra at <a href="http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/02/trifextra-week-fifty-three.html">TrifectaWritingChallenge.com.</a><br />
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This weekend's contest is to write exactly 33 words of dialogue. What do you think? Please comment! Also, please consider joining in! It's fun; good writing practice; and you meet cool people!<br />
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(Picture Source: Wiki)Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-89551745955082704902012-11-14T07:54:00.000-05:002012-11-14T08:02:31.575-05:00Wondrous Words Wednesday - I'm Back(!)Sorry that I have been missing in action from blogging. My Wondrous Words today will explain where I have been.<br />
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<i>This blog post was written so as to participate in <a href="http://bermudaonion.net/2012/11/14/wondrous-words-wednesday-196/">Wondrous Words Wednesday a meme hosted by BermudaOnion.net.</i></a><br />
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So, as of a few months ago, I am raising a grandchild. Say 'Hi' to Donovan! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32B1swzC5u8Tf-FzHMsjKprsyQPj8-Ag8628TYImxR6ilacbYePt9hVQ3wHRyBi8FXwRDbtrGX0bNKwcPmoc4qJonvcNqvE4PGGTjyPAPnD9T3cqo79Xvisqyjs1ILj9drSV3bl8GbKD0/s1600/IMG_0095%255B1%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32B1swzC5u8Tf-FzHMsjKprsyQPj8-Ag8628TYImxR6ilacbYePt9hVQ3wHRyBi8FXwRDbtrGX0bNKwcPmoc4qJonvcNqvE4PGGTjyPAPnD9T3cqo79Xvisqyjs1ILj9drSV3bl8GbKD0/s320/IMG_0095%255B1%255D" /></a></div><br />
See the faint verticle ridge in the middle of his forehead? That is called a "Metopic Ridge." It is caused by the bony plates of the skull closing up too quickly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5boE7UugY782fLrAWndmn_7_FcbQK96sxZfI3RoXwBVGoHf6cPvrTNuc_dJM4Athnx3Qc4zURlcdIamlhq_CK-5Eb2EbVbdjfW5AYocoGx8YnLjdt40zqej-2rZspqxRgcRa92ytpC_Sd/s1600/IMG_0135%255B1%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5boE7UugY782fLrAWndmn_7_FcbQK96sxZfI3RoXwBVGoHf6cPvrTNuc_dJM4Athnx3Qc4zURlcdIamlhq_CK-5Eb2EbVbdjfW5AYocoGx8YnLjdt40zqej-2rZspqxRgcRa92ytpC_Sd/s320/IMG_0135%255B1%255D" /></a></div><br />
Sometimes a metopic ridge is a problem and sometimes it is not. It can lead to the brain not having enough room to grow. One thing the doctor looks for is to see whether the brain is triangular from the top. Look at this photo... This condition is called "Trigonocephaly."<br />
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What today's words mean is that the baby will need an operation. But, we are just taking this one day at a time, and I think everything will turn out fine.<br />
Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-27710968593409836822012-11-10T07:53:00.001-05:002012-11-10T07:56:00.994-05:00Formula for Winning the Trifecta Writing Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsjah_FTGLakvGMMP1lnTPxn-eG8HTciT7ybs5LnaCRmkonrZsTMP83cAwEu4TVTViuqon57Ob18TuXrM70RA6LRS7iJFK7sBGdneoMpBf4QoAdIa1LgslXKt7lbTymKQsWLNQam67RcX/s1600/chalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="183" width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsjah_FTGLakvGMMP1lnTPxn-eG8HTciT7ybs5LnaCRmkonrZsTMP83cAwEu4TVTViuqon57Ob18TuXrM70RA6LRS7iJFK7sBGdneoMpBf4QoAdIa1LgslXKt7lbTymKQsWLNQam67RcX/s320/chalk.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Below is my 33 word submission to the <a href="http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2012/11/trifextra-week-forty-one.html">Trifextra Writing Challenge</a>!<br />
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This weekend we were to use exactly 33 words to describe a formula! What do you think?<br />
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The Ability of the Writer (AW) multiplied by Time/Carefulness (TC), less the AW x TC of the other contestants, all times the unknown "x" (judges' opinions) equals the probability of winning Trifecta!<br />
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Photo source: http://www.niemanlab.orgLibbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-86256759126786559682012-09-14T12:06:00.001-04:002012-09-14T12:08:11.670-04:00Trifecta Writing Challenge and the Rule of Three<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIX-5-Xz3JyQi2uqa3NfxIcNNGLHjIkZTCEIF8gjS28m7Roft_Naia2LR4oWs2T46M__CXE5p37MJdGxUZEUFpDhY2uFClB_jVSlcBqnHcbxSyGM31iEYPJuxoS0-BZX5RSiptks3seJXy/s1600/Turducken_easter06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIX-5-Xz3JyQi2uqa3NfxIcNNGLHjIkZTCEIF8gjS28m7Roft_Naia2LR4oWs2T46M__CXE5p37MJdGxUZEUFpDhY2uFClB_jVSlcBqnHcbxSyGM31iEYPJuxoS0-BZX5RSiptks3seJXy/s320/Turducken_easter06.jpg" /></a></div>"What's turducken?" asked Alex.<br />
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I told him it was a chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a turkey.<br />
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"Hmmm," he mused. "There would still be room for a mouse inside the chicken."<br />
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This is my weekend entry for the <a href="http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2012/09/trifextra-week-thirty-three.html">TrifectaWritingChallenge</a>. Check it out - it's a lot of fun. This weekend we had to do a 33-word piece using the Rule of Three. (Turducken photo source: Wiki).<br />
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BTW, sorry I have been MIA for a bit. I inherited a new baby! He is adorable and a lot of work!Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-51670020821686468502012-09-14T10:55:00.001-04:002012-09-14T10:55:51.172-04:00Book Review: Hope for Today, Promises for Tomorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6cwQ17RnIarv8yv4zqLkTuE4VZvwwMgeC_hfOYeMVkTgbhAY9aRWyKNgXsuQSBW-bKysLfA2ef4GiPlnsYEfLGcqmuQVBU-a24Y8HaX8OHFWD307R5ccdzaSNHp2xQUlJWz4UW8Abp6L/s1600/hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="224" width="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6cwQ17RnIarv8yv4zqLkTuE4VZvwwMgeC_hfOYeMVkTgbhAY9aRWyKNgXsuQSBW-bKysLfA2ef4GiPlnsYEfLGcqmuQVBU-a24Y8HaX8OHFWD307R5ccdzaSNHp2xQUlJWz4UW8Abp6L/s320/hope.jpg" /></a></div>I was sent a free copy of "Hope for Today, Promises for Tomorrow," in exchange for an honest review. This is a book for people surviving miscarriage and infant loss. it is a faith-based book that can act almost as a workbook to get them through what I would think would be the worst time in their lives.<br />
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I think this book was really well done. It is written by a survivor and has ample quotes from other survivors. <br />
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It takes the reader through the stages of coming to terms with this horrible loss through faith. At the end of each section there are things for them to journal about. I have seen journaling used in other recovery situations, and I think it is a great tool.<br />
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To be honest, I would not have picked this book up on my own because I would not have THOUGHT that I could not relate. I have five kids and am raising a grandchild and have - very thankfully - not experienced this kind of loss. <br />
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But, guess what? This book still had a lot of meaning for me. In addition to letting me empathize with other women, it really made me appreciate what I have. At this stage in my life, I am getting up in the middle of the night to feed my infant grandson, and I am tired, and he spits up on me - a lot. Reading this book made me cherish and appreciate him and my own kids even more than I already was - spit up and all...<br />
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I am going to hang onto my copy of this book, and when I run across a woman who is going through the trauma of infant loss or miscarriage, I will be able to give it to her as a really useful gift. I would recommend this book for anyone who, sadly, finds themselves in this situation.<br />
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Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-1539233409896086932012-07-28T07:31:00.000-04:002012-07-28T07:31:43.958-04:00Weekend Cooking - How to Eat Weekends!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4Rd-bo1gTl1m8k0B9iqS3NSAoPWknGH3n26psp1xRPACSBNWdyFcaonhwIVJ8DL1xO9wgVZqp9y8IshNCX1NYGU8kNtEsnG3nkoJxJDw8gPpXDEBSUMiZm_SdhVLumMb8_JE1g4SfbSn/s1600/howtoeatweekends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="249" width="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4Rd-bo1gTl1m8k0B9iqS3NSAoPWknGH3n26psp1xRPACSBNWdyFcaonhwIVJ8DL1xO9wgVZqp9y8IshNCX1NYGU8kNtEsnG3nkoJxJDw8gPpXDEBSUMiZm_SdhVLumMb8_JE1g4SfbSn/s320/howtoeatweekends.jpg" /></a></div>I spotted "The Splendid Table's: How to Eat Weekends" on the 'new books shelf' at the library, and knew immediately is was just the thing for Weekend Cooking!<br />
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<i>This post was written as part of <a href="http://www.bethfishreads.com/">Weekend Cooking over at BethFishReads.com</a>. Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to head over to Beth Fish Reads, grab the button, and link up anytime over the weekend. (The button is on your right...)</i><br />
<br />
I am so glad that I picked up this book! It is so fun... I don't know quite how to describe it, but it is almost like a really good magazine full of little articles and sidebars and fun facts - and recipes too, of course. But, having said that, it is much more than a magazine because it is a sumptuous hardcover book with photos that Anthony Bourdain would call hard-core, Triple X food porn!<br />
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For example, there is a centerfold(!) type photo that spans two pages and shows the feast they call "A Home Style Vietnamese Sunday Lunch." There are a cucumber and melon salad; little dishes of this and that scattered around; and a platter of Vietnamese Green Mango Salad with Grilled Pork in the Center.<br />
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Another example feature is "An Italian Renaissance Supper." I reeeeaally want to make this! As with other cuisines featured in this lush book, the authors dive in and tell us how to outfit an Italian Pantry and Kitchen, and how to build a library of Italian cookbooks.<br />
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One of the recipes is for "Renaissance Lasagne!" There are sub-recipes (is that a word?) for Hand-Rolled Egg Pasta and Baroque Ragu. There is a sidebar about wine. And, there is a history lesson called, "The Islam Connection," about how that culture contributed to this recipe and how all this information came down to us through a diary kept of what was served "in the court of the Este dukes in Ferrara." AND, there is a separate "Building a Library" sidebar that goes with the history lesson.<br />
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The very first menu featured in the book is called, "A Mexican Comida." And, the very first recipe is, "Tomatillo Salsa with Fresh Cheese from El Cardenal." This is the recipe I made today.<br />
<br />
1 medium garlic clove<br />
4 sprigs fresh cilantro<br />
1/2 lb. fresh tomatillos<br />
1 tablespoon onion, coarsely chopped<br />
1/4 teaspoon sugar<br />
1/2 to 2 fresh serrano chiles<br />
salt<br />
8 ounces Queso Fresco (fresh Mexican cheese), feta, farmer, or firm goat cheese, cut into 1/2-inch x 2-inch sticks<br />
<br />
1. In a blender or food processor, pulse the garlic, cilantro, tomatillos, onion, sugar and chiles to a very fine mince, until well combined but not entirely liquid. The salsa should have a slightly thickened texture to stand up to the cheese. Add salt to taste.<br />
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2. Pour the salsa into a serving bowl. Tuck some of the cheese sticks into it and have the rest on a plate. Set out in the middle of the table and have everyone dip away.<br />
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I am sharing photos of the ingredients, but not the "after" photo because, while the salsa was excellent, the Queso Fresco (I got authentic cheese) was crumbly and did not hold together well enough to look pretty. I really plan to make this again and to use chips. <br />
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That minor criticism aside, this is such a fun book! I enjoyed reading it and looking at the pictures.Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-65257272658682529032012-07-27T15:01:00.001-04:002012-07-27T15:01:04.120-04:00Trifextra Challenge - A Great First Sentence!Once again, I am taking part in the challenge at <a href="http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2012/07/trifextra-week-twenty-six.html?showComment=1343415021227#c2448314684780273621">TrifectaWritingChallenge.com. </a>Here are the instructions for this weekend's game:<br />
<br />
What we want you to do this weekend is to give us a 33-word opening line to your book. That's it. Make us want to read the next 333 pages of your work. <br />
<i><br />
<br />
As Victoria poured over the list of countries that did not have extradition treaties with the U.S., she automatically wrote off those that were at war or otherwise unstable; but, the Maldives...interesting.</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh8OxAggaJXt9sQuQW4jF1avMJNAK52VW5Oar85z8sTHn2mWzx1JdE2lexN67RFlv1l6Q1cQaM0vVI46379lcdxlnGbXWklppYKXRJcS_bAzfDlAus6Ki2h2TzKPPLlS9KaEStzAG9ch7/s1600/maldives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="194" width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh8OxAggaJXt9sQuQW4jF1avMJNAK52VW5Oar85z8sTHn2mWzx1JdE2lexN67RFlv1l6Q1cQaM0vVI46379lcdxlnGbXWklppYKXRJcS_bAzfDlAus6Ki2h2TzKPPLlS9KaEStzAG9ch7/s400/maldives.jpg" /></a></div><br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-50752705411315646282012-07-26T13:56:00.003-04:002012-07-26T17:29:45.678-04:00Bath Salts! - Chapter 10This is Chapter 10 of my novel, "Bath Salts." I am entering this post in the challenge at <a href="http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2012/07/trifecta-week-thirty-five.html">TrifectaWritingChallenge.com</a> where we are to enter a tale of between 333 and 3,333 words.<br />
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I am also hooking up with <a href="http://www.awriterweavesatale.com/sandras-writing-workshop-community/writing-workshop-submission-page/">Sandra's Writing Workshop.</a><br />
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CHAPTER 10 (BATH SALTS!)<br />
“How much further?” Randi called to Donovan. They were east of the interstate, driving through what seemed to be endless orange groves. They were on a two-lane country road; the lanes were narrow and the rig took up most of both lanes.<br />
“I’m not a hundred percent sure. I never visited this guy – we don’t hang out.” Donovan replied. “I knew who he was in high school. We were in a couple of classes together. He was a really weird guy. He was really low class and filthy, but you could tell that he was also really smart, but in a creepy way…” <br />
Matt interrupted. “Look. Y’all see that smoke up ahead?”<br />
“Yea, I wonder what that’s all about,” answered Donovan.<br />
As they drove on, a rising cloud of smoke became more and more visible. Suddenly, a battered light blue pickup truck came barreling toward them from the direction of the fire.<br />
“That may be your friend now,” Matt drawled.<br />
He stopped the big rig in the very center of the two-lane road so that the pick-up would not have room to go around on either side. There were deep ditches on both sides of the road, but Mike was not taking any chances of the truck going around him, opening his door, he stepped out onto the semi’s metal stair, and using the door as a shield he looked out the open window and raised his pistol.<br />
<br />
Donovan had taken the same stance on the other side of the truck. In front of them, the pickup skidded to a halt. Caroline could see the terrified and confused look of the driver, Billy Knowles, an unkempt, overweight man in his mid-twenties.<br />
Billy threw the truck into reverse and started to speed away from them backward. Matt and Donavan got into the rig, and started after him.<br />
Billy sped backwards and had almost made it to the scene of the fire when he crashed into a particularly deep stretch of ditch on the left side of the road.<br />
He was not hurt, but he was dazed. By the time he got out of the pickup and started to run, Matt and Donovan were out of the rig and after him. He ran into an orange grove and they were right behind him.<br />
“Oh my God, I can’t believe this!” Caroline cried. She and Randi were standing, crouched, in the cab between the two front seats watching the men disappear into the grove. “Should we go with them?”<br />
“I think we should stay,” Randi replied. “We don’t have guns. Bath Salts guy probably has one; I mean...he’s a drug dealer.”<br />
Randi sat down in the passenger’s seat and went on Twitter on her phone. <br />
“Holy crap!” she exclaimed to Caroline, “Venice is totally trending!”<br />
Caroline hit the Twitter icon on her own phone. #Venice was trending, and so were #Zombieapacolypse and #Cannibals.<br />
Meanwhile in the orange grove, Matt and Donovan were running after Billy. The trees in the grove were planted in rows, so they started up the same row. But, when they came to a gap where there was a tree missing, Donovan cut over to the next row, while still in pursuit.<br />
“Billy!” called Donovan.<br />
Billy glanced over his shoulder at Donovan. Without slowing down or raising his gun he yelled, “What do you want?!”<br />
<br />
“Answers!” Donovan yelled back.<br />
Billy stopped running and set the gun down near his own feet. Matt and Donavan ran up to him.<br />
He was still doubled over from having set the gun down. He was huffing and puffing with his hands on his knees. “Let me…catch my breath.”<br />
Matt and Donavan stood quietly for a moment. Then Donovan said, “Was it you? Did you put the Bath Salts in the water supply?”<br />
Billy was red-faced and still out of breath. He shook his head ‘No’.<br />
He stood up. <br />
“I remember you, Donovan,” he gasped. “Heard you was a Navy Seal now.”<br />
Donovan nodded.<br />
Billy continued. “No, I didn’t do it. It’s this dumbass named Arnold Hucknett. He told me was going to retire from the City and be a distributor. He said he was having packaging printed up and everything, real professional.”<br />
“I sold him ten huge buckets of the stuff…I didn’t know,” Billy wailed. He started to cry. <br />
Matt and Donavan looked at one another, embarrassed.<br />
“Where is he now, Billy?” Donovan demanded.<br />
“He…he works for the City at the Water Department,” snivelled Billy. “I guess that’s how he done it.”<br />
“I know he lives in the Venice Palms apartments, but I honestly don’t know the apartment number. I never been over there. He has a beat up white pickup with one of those fiberglass bed covers that have the door in back.”<br />
Billy continued. “Look…I didn’t know about the water supply. I would never have sold him the second batch. I heard about the water supply just about five minutes after he took off outta here with the second batch.”<br />
Donavan eyed him sharply. “What do you mean – second batch?”<br />
Billy started babbling again, “I had no idea…”<br />
“Look, cut to the chase, and quit making excuses. We want the short version,” Donovan commanded.<br />
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Billy seemed to pull himself together. “He had plastic buckets. They were empty fluoride buckets from the water department. I thought he was just recycling. Maybe I should have…”<br />
“The short version!” barked Donovan.<br />
“Ok, he had ten buckets. He took the two that I had ready last night, and I worked most of last night and got the other eight ready. He came and picked them up just a little while ago. After that is when I…I heard the news on the radio about the water supply. “ Billy hung his head and continued. “I put gas on everything and torched it. Then, I took off, and that’s when I ran into y’all.”<br />
Matt and Donovan looked at one another. Donovan turned back to Billy. “Where’s he going?” he demanded.<br />
“I don’t know!” Billy wailed.<br />
“Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in already?” Matt demanded.<br />
Billy nodded sadly. “He…Arnold…he was talking about Heidi. She lives in Miami. I think she dumped him. He’s all pissed at her.”<br />
“Billy, do you think he’s going to Miami?” Donavan said with surprising gentleness.<br />
Donovan nodded. “Yea, he was going on and on about getting even with Heidi when he left and after that when I heard what he did in Venice, and he had already left with eight more buckets, I was thinking that he would probably do Miami next.”<br />
“Oh my God…” Matt murmered.<br />
“Let’s go!” said Donovan turning to go back to the truck.<br />
Matt nodded and started after him. “What about Billy?” he called to Donovan.<br />
“His house and lab are burned and his truck’s in a ditch,” Donovan answered back over his shoulder. “I don’t think he is a threat to anyone anymore.”<br />
At that moment, they heard a gunshot behind them. Matt spun around, and Donovan dove for the ground while simultaneously looking back to see what was happening.<br />
They watched as Billy’s body collapsed among the orange trees. The hand holding the gun dropped to his side and then his whole body and what was left of his head slowly went down.<br />
Donovon rose to his feet and dusted himself off. “That’s probably for the best,” he said quietly. “Come on.”<br />
And the two ran back toward the rig.<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-4431755521032267692012-07-25T10:32:00.000-04:002012-07-25T10:32:54.673-04:00Wondrous Words Wednesday at Wolf Hall!I am reading "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel! So far it is SO GOOD! I had read that her book, "Bring Up the Bodies" is one of the best books of 2012 (so far), but that it was a good idea to read "Wolf Hall" first. These are books about Tudor England - always a subject I enjoy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6y6AKTHcKCukxNtQDN_YmHnNU9yii-xx8AfAMz35vMUpYQRS7MpRWLQhyphenhyphenQ7mfS1zZ-8bb1CbMEiRdG-oBF_2GthhJtOTEANku4WbVBxPCepUW95ScSOzavhvjFa-nd_x0SalDI-cki3zB/s1600/wolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="275" width="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6y6AKTHcKCukxNtQDN_YmHnNU9yii-xx8AfAMz35vMUpYQRS7MpRWLQhyphenhyphenQ7mfS1zZ-8bb1CbMEiRdG-oBF_2GthhJtOTEANku4WbVBxPCepUW95ScSOzavhvjFa-nd_x0SalDI-cki3zB/s320/wolf.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I am not too far into "Wolf Hall," but so far the only words that I have come across that puzzle me are "sweating sickness." Don't laugh! I know what sweating is and I know what sickness is! But...the two together? What does it mean? The book says that every few years the sweating sickness kills a lot of people in London and they die the same day they get it!<br />
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I read several articles and found out that nobody really knows WHAT it was. Here is an excerpt from Discover magazine, June 1, 1997:<br />
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"Medical historians have never known what caused the sweating sickness. That the disease was neither plague nor typhus was clear from contemporary accounts. Its victims bore neither the boils typical of plague nor the rash of typhus. Now physicians Vanya Gant and Guy Thwaites, both of St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, think they may have identified the killer. Sudor Anglicus, they say, may have been an early version of a disease that has made headlines in recent years: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which erupted in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest in the summer of 1993."<br />
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I have written this post so as to participate in <a href="http://bermudaonion.net/2012/07/25/wondrous-words-wednesday-180/">Wondrous Words Wednesday at BermudaOnion.net.</a>Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-31910246950063138792012-07-16T08:44:00.000-04:002012-07-16T08:48:20.853-04:00Review: "The Katyn Order" by Douglas W. Jacobson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KgCKJPCV7_c_uME_eOnXSC4rwgha9c8TnhQ2sj7UlpY39F3d-DIpP-cwzeNsKn4kqSzIrtyNVljjAha40-smjr0KMpUf8j6XmPv1QjMiqiY2WmNjU_5e6a8TZMhWMMPPYj0K2e9Snubq/s1600/katyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KgCKJPCV7_c_uME_eOnXSC4rwgha9c8TnhQ2sj7UlpY39F3d-DIpP-cwzeNsKn4kqSzIrtyNVljjAha40-smjr0KMpUf8j6XmPv1QjMiqiY2WmNjU_5e6a8TZMhWMMPPYj0K2e9Snubq/s320/katyn.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We all know from high school that as Nazi Germany was losing the Second World War, the Russians pressed in from the east, and the Americans, English, and French pressed in from the west. They all met in Berlin...the Battle of Berlin ensued...Hitler offed himself...game over.<br />
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But, within that sweeping saga, there were, or course, a myriad of sub-plots, that we may not have learned about. "The Katyn Order" is one such story.<br />
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Before I say anything else though, I have to tell you that this is not a history lesson (even though you will naturally pick up a lot of information along the way). I think that it can best be described as a thriller and a romance.<br />
<br />
It is the story of a male and a female operative in the covert Polish army. They are trying to expel the Nazis from Warsaw toward the end of the war. Basically, they are wedged between two enemies - Germany and Russia.<br />
<br />
Under desperate circumstances, a romance develops. It seems to me that these wartime romances are often very powerful because of the dramatic backdrop of the times...the adrenalin. <br />
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The two end up on a mission together - to find and retrieve the Katyn Order - an order by Stalin at the beginning of the war that called for the murder of 20,000 Poles. So, it really is an action-packed thriller, as the two race around Poland searching for the order and battling first Germans and then Russians!<br />
<br />
I REALLY liked this book! I received it for free in the mail in exchange from an honest book review on my blog, and I have to say that it one of the most well-written of this type of book that I have gotten.<br />
<br />
The transitions from one character's story and another are very smooth...actually the whole book is very smooth. It flows well with no choppiness. The characters are believable and complex. I came to really care about 'the good guys.'<br />
<br />
I feel as though the cities of Warsaw and Krakow were characters in the book. Warsaw was leveled by the Germans because the people did not surrender, where Krakow's buildings mostly survived. I did some checking and have found that, happily, a lot of Warsaw has been re-built in its original style.<br />
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I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in thrillers, romances, or WWII-era history!Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-90488408324817291952012-07-14T08:05:00.001-04:002012-07-27T21:24:33.807-04:00Mysterious Weekend CookingI have missed the last couple Weekend Cookings. Been busy with work and - truth be told - I have also been goofing around on Twitter quite a bit! I was telling my dad - it's like going to TwitterTwitter Land and hanging out on the Island of Lost Boys and Girls...you can get sucked in and time passes...<br />
<br />
But, I did discover<a href="http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/"> www.mysterloverskitchen.com!</a> Somebody Tweeted about it! It is a lot of fun; a lot of mystery writers blogging and sharing recipes. Try to check it out if you get a minute!<br />
<br />
<i>This post was written as part of <a href="http://www.bethfishreads.com/">Weekend Cooking over at BethFishReads.com</a>. Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to head over to Beth Fish Reads, grab the button, and link up anytime over the weekend. (The button is on your right...)</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ6xNQW6FuMqPtVxmcDv2g1IXbT15GCgVXJ8Nq5RQnmbSBBSa7VYA6l-pRN2idZl2QW54etjiAvr1g6J10wPeVmMsJBI6cZy5iEizowi-cGeW0HKrPJxH8ivo3a1IJVWNniz4nX-GYVGw/s1600/MLK+header+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="156" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ6xNQW6FuMqPtVxmcDv2g1IXbT15GCgVXJ8Nq5RQnmbSBBSa7VYA6l-pRN2idZl2QW54etjiAvr1g6J10wPeVmMsJBI6cZy5iEizowi-cGeW0HKrPJxH8ivo3a1IJVWNniz4nX-GYVGw/s320/MLK+header+12.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I made a recipe from the site! <br />
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<a href="http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2012/04/lucy-burdettes-broccoli-rabe-and.html">Lucy Burdette's Broccoli Rabe and Sausage Pasta</a><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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1 bunch broccoli rabe, washed and chopped into one-inch pieces (discard tough ends and any yellow leaves( - (Libby's note - I left mine long because I thought it would look better!)<br />
1 package Aidell's Italian chicken sausage (4 links) or other to your taste<br />
2 cloves garlic, chopped<br />
1/2 cup chicken broth<br />
1/2 box sturdy pasta such as ziti or rotelli<br />
Parmesan cheese, freshly grated<br />
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Slice the sausage into rounds and fry it in olive oil (1-2 Tbsp) until brown and crispy. Remove to a bowl. Saute the garlic in the same pan for 45 seconds, then add the chopped broccoli rabe and the chicken broth. Steam until bright green but still a little crunchy. Add the sausage back in and heat. Hot pepper flakes could be added here if you like a little more zip.<br />
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Serve over pasta with lots and lots of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste.<br />
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Below is a picture of the finished product. Everyone liked it except one of the kids who was horrified by the liberal use of broccoli!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBhiikqDOPny2_ppZGdDeu-q6hVg69LcVPQcvEfxs2m2YMusQb5Xjoyjae1J3sBcmPwWH7GwN-iyD31A0kXiWZ1mCmBfiGMKcpmZ88QF9I_ocNO62iA7K9I1PypC7isVCA6ToNRe6T-OJ/s1600/IMG_1907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBhiikqDOPny2_ppZGdDeu-q6hVg69LcVPQcvEfxs2m2YMusQb5Xjoyjae1J3sBcmPwWH7GwN-iyD31A0kXiWZ1mCmBfiGMKcpmZ88QF9I_ocNO62iA7K9I1PypC7isVCA6ToNRe6T-OJ/s320/IMG_1907.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-58180084748145873972012-07-11T08:37:00.000-04:002012-07-11T08:37:55.095-04:00Wondrous Words Wednesday - "The Lantern"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EdNeLzfdV35RdbCtsSyOFHsZr3Uw2ePKyPfATrCMNFhxsGKq0r7RY9a83aFUKOLCsBt_EXgwmFhqWlRK0qNU8Y5i1_X1iaZj-vFEZDEMuuKczOlMN-Sksm0he39SUpDhaEpSq0gR_N2C/s1600/lantern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="279" width="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EdNeLzfdV35RdbCtsSyOFHsZr3Uw2ePKyPfATrCMNFhxsGKq0r7RY9a83aFUKOLCsBt_EXgwmFhqWlRK0qNU8Y5i1_X1iaZj-vFEZDEMuuKczOlMN-Sksm0he39SUpDhaEpSq0gR_N2C/s320/lantern.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I just finished reading "The Lantern" by Deborah Lawrenson. GREAT book, by the way. It is set in a to-die-for hamlet in Provence. A full review is coming, but for now, the words.<br />
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This post has been prepared so as to participate in<a href="http://bermudaonion.net/2012/07/11/wondrous-words-wednesday-178/"> Wondrous Words Wednesday a fun meme over at BermudaOnion.net </a>where we discuss new-to-us words that we have encountered in our reading that week.<br />
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Here are words that I looked up (on Dictionary.com) from the book, "The Lantern":<br />
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SUSURRATION - susurration \soo-suh-RAY-shun\ , noun: A whispering sound; a soft murmur. . . .the soft susurration of the wind through a stand of whistling thorn.<br />
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ALEMBIC - a·lem·bic [uh-lem-bik] noun 1.a vessel with a beaked cap or head, formerly used in distilling. (Note: This makes sense because they are harvesting lavender and making an essence with it.)Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-54092190979605190792012-07-08T21:27:00.001-04:002012-07-08T21:27:15.460-04:00Review: Flesh by Khanh Ha<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6j6iDY7Ds5ozHtz0nyyWlMXuEmGKheQdNoDobkRk9UbMwd94AK2uH5eLAmqGFpvkBM0YFn_dbx_F56gd9Gg-8Z3x9d0AViNmDS-IdSpn-w5WeUOvJ-Fjff_SGG1S4avWGcoX42cZINjh/s1600/flesh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="191" width="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6j6iDY7Ds5ozHtz0nyyWlMXuEmGKheQdNoDobkRk9UbMwd94AK2uH5eLAmqGFpvkBM0YFn_dbx_F56gd9Gg-8Z3x9d0AViNmDS-IdSpn-w5WeUOvJ-Fjff_SGG1S4avWGcoX42cZINjh/s320/flesh.jpg" /></a><br />
I was excited to read "Flesh," by Khanh Ha because I am a huge fan of historical fiction, and this particular book was set in Vietnam - a first for me! I adore Vietnamese food and can see the French influences in the cuisine. But, to be honest with you, I have always been a bit murky about what was happening in that part of the world before the U.S. involvement. <br />
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I was looking for this book to fill in some of the blanks for me - and it did not disappoint in that regard. "Flesh" brings Vietnam - at around the turn of the last century - to life. Life was hard, and this book does not spare us. The book opens with a scene where our protagonist, Tai, is standing with his mother and baby brother at an execution. It is to be the execution of his father. Ha's powers of description are good, and we are brought into the scene and witness this act.<br />
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The execution is in the first pages of the book for a reason. The book starts there because the execution is the catalyst for nearly everything that happens in the rest of the book. <br />
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I am getting into spoiler territory at this point, but the execution generates the need for an acceptable burial spot. The Annamese - people of An Nam (<a href="http://libbysbookblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/wondrous-words-wednesday-southeast.html">See another post </a>I did about this book, and specifically geo-political boundaries. It is pretty interesting, and includes a map of the old place names.) - believed that certain conditions had to exist at a burial location in order to facilitate a good after-life for the deceased.<br />
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This need sets Tai's quest into motion. Tai also has a mission to find the man who betrayed his father. This is not discussed much early in the book, although there is some foreshadowing in a few conversations.<br />
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The quests play themselves out, and there are plot twists...one in particular that I think you will find interesting.<br />
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So, the big question - did I like the book? I liked it. I think that the characters were very believable. I enjoyed the descriptions of a very different time and place. I think my only criticism would be a certain choppiness where we would start off in a new direction or on a tangent and I would be confused for a minute until I re-gained my bearings.<br />
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But, overall, I would recommend this book. Part of what I (and many of you, I suspect) love about reading is being whisked off to an exotic place for an adventure. And 'Flesh' fills the bill!<br />
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<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-46200257115132053342012-07-07T17:03:00.001-04:002012-07-07T17:05:19.967-04:00Trifextra Writing Challenge - Its the End of the World As We Know It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWWz-YG1FUdaBuCwk9GWic3qEbPhMOafceeng7WGBBqc9xL5jqEbX36-7SFkrDHoZqjdgLaaByZl3Wk3aP9Ct-4oTWuML992Xh6huVUEC4RjGZBe3w5am_mNG8_cEAW4j7RQiMIFfjPKH/s1600/rem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="206" width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWWz-YG1FUdaBuCwk9GWic3qEbPhMOafceeng7WGBBqc9xL5jqEbX36-7SFkrDHoZqjdgLaaByZl3Wk3aP9Ct-4oTWuML992Xh6huVUEC4RjGZBe3w5am_mNG8_cEAW4j7RQiMIFfjPKH/s320/rem.jpg" /></a></div>The Higg's Boson was never supposed to be isolated. It was never supposed to exist apart from matter. <br />
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That's just not the way the world works. Not the way things were set up.<br />
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So, once isolated, the Higg's Boson pulled another boson from a nearby atom. And, then each of those bosons liberated another. And, on it went. A chain reaction, if you will. <br />
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It is still happening. Right now, as I write this.<br />
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The atoms from which the bosons are being pulled are fragmenting. They are also no longer anchored in space - nor in time.<br />
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This is still happening at only the atomic level. But, since it is speeding up at an exponential level, the tear in the space/time continuum should be visible to the naked eye some time tomorrow. <br />
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After that, it will grow at a tremendous rate, turning everything in its path into sub-atomic particles. <br />
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The world will end in three days.<br />
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I have prepared this post for the<a href="http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2012/07/trifextra-week-twenty-three.html"> TrifectaWritingChallenge.com. </a> This weekend our prompt was "The world will end in three days." See? Its just fiction. (That's what they told me to tell you, since there is no use panicking.)Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-49685887646266002212012-07-07T16:23:00.001-04:002012-07-07T16:23:57.088-04:00A Favorite...I am participating in <a href="http://www.awriterweavesatale.com/2012/06/29/sandras-writing-workshop-hop-3/">Sandra's Writing Workshop Blog Hop.</a> This time, we are to write a description of a favorite thing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhszN4exrHp48U4Au-z9UMu9w4urCnbvcK8UyhCwDScEJEtieVDHvpvAR-Pv5Chjm0fb6CAThCy3DwUkg8mIG5xk4bgy9dheY5w2vHtfis1ZN0ZGCSRVg7Ji-iC84dCvLHdre1wktB0AiF/s1600/mychina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="110" width="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhszN4exrHp48U4Au-z9UMu9w4urCnbvcK8UyhCwDScEJEtieVDHvpvAR-Pv5Chjm0fb6CAThCy3DwUkg8mIG5xk4bgy9dheY5w2vHtfis1ZN0ZGCSRVg7Ji-iC84dCvLHdre1wktB0AiF/s320/mychina.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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One of my favorite things is a book. Of course, I love a lot of books, but for the most part, it is the stories that I am enamored with and not the books, themselves.<br />
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This book is different. It is called "My China," and it is by Kylie Kwong. The book, itself, is a gorgeous creation. It is a big, red hardback tome. <br />
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When you open the book, the ink smells like newly minted money. The paper is heavy and smooth. There are dazzling color pictures on every other page.<br />
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The book is a travel and cooking compendium, so there are shots of the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army, as well as mouth-watering photos of authentic Chinese dishes.<br />
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It is a beautiful object on its own, but I also love the fact that its pages tell of traveling through exotic China seeing the sights and preparing and eating interesting foods. I take the book down from time to time, and literally feel like an armchair traveler from the moment that I open it.<br />
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If you are interested, I did a <a href="http://libbysbookblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-china-feast-for-all-senses-by-kylie.html">book review on "My China"</a> several months ago.<br />
<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-43624282910950343092012-06-26T16:05:00.003-04:002012-06-26T16:05:51.500-04:00Guest Post by Author of "Moa"!!<img class="alignleft" src="http://www.novelpublicity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/black-ducky.png" alt="" width="44" height="71" />Please enjoy this guest post by Tricia Stewart Shiu, author of the paranormal YA novel with a literary bent <em>Moa</em>. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $600 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, 5 autographed copies of <em>Moa</em>, and 5 autographed copies of its sequel, <em>Statue of Ku</em>.<br />
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<div align="center"><h1>The Story Behind Moa<br />
by Tricia Stewart Shiu</h1></div>I've always loved Hawaii and was thrilled when my husband booked a visit for us to see his relatives in Honolulu, Hawaii in October of 2006. We packed light and brought our daughter, who was three-years-old at the time.<br />
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Our condo was close to parks and monuments that oozed history. We enjoyed wandering around and indulging in the local cuisine. I even tried poi and liked it!<br />
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The morning after we arrived, I rose early to push my daughter’s stroller through the quiet, cool morning air. It felt like such a gift to experience Honolulu before the rest of the island was up.<br />
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After a hearty island breakfast, we headed out for a morning at our favorite sandy reprieve, Kuhio Beach. The water was calm and protected by a breakwater. Our daughter enjoyed digging and splashing and my husband and I sat sit nearby without worrying about the strong current.<br />
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Afterward, we headed back to our condominium, ate a light lunch, and took a luxurious siesta. Although I'm not usually a mid-day napper, the fresh sea air and sun lulled me into a light sleep—the kind where I felt like I was awake, but I was actually deeply asleep.<br />
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I heard a voice say my name and a part of me awoke. I use the word “part” because I could definitely feel my body touching the soft material on the couch. And yet, another part was keenly aware of a young woman with dark hair standing over me. It felt real, but dream-like, so I decided to go with it and ask her her name.<br />
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She pronounced a long Hawaiian string of letters, which seemed to go on for minutes. After repeating the name three or four times, she told me to call her “Moa.” Through my exhausted, sleepy haze, I remember being skeptical. If this was, indeed, a dream, I would ask as many questions as possible. So I did.<br />
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<em>Why was she here? Where did she come from? How could I be sure she was who she claimed to be?</em><br />
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Instead of any answers, she flashed a mental picture of a woman and said that she was a long lost friend of my husband’s. She told me her name and explained that my husband’s family and she had lost touch 15 years before and had been orbiting around one another trying to reconnect.<br />
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I awoke from that nap, slightly groggy. That was an indication that I was definitely asleep. Perhaps it was just my creativity kicking into overdrive, I reasoned, and decided to go on with my day. We walked to a park with my daughter and began playing. Suddenly, there was a squeal and my husband and I turned to see the woman from my dream charging toward us with her arms stretched out wide. As she spoke, I tried to gather my wits. Here was the same woman from my dream, someone I’d only seen a mental picture of, and she was standing on the grass right in front of me.<br />
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She and my husband exchanged numbers and promised to keep in touch. For the next few hours, I tried to make sense of what happened. I had never had an experience like this before, but there was no denying that I saw a picture in a dream before I met someone and then they showed up in real life.<br />
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When I went to sleep that evening, Moa visited again. She answered the other questions I’d asked earlier that afternoon and wanted me to know that I was protected and should share my experience with the world. Since this was definitely my first metaphysical encounter, I had no idea how to form the correct words to share what had happened. <em>How on earth,</em> I asked Moa, <em>am I supposed to convey such undocumented, unsubstantiated, unusual information?</em><br />
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She said that our world exists on many levels which all play simultaneously. Her analogy was of a DVR. Several shows can be playing at the same time but are on different tuners. That, she said, is where she existed.<br />
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When I awoke, I began writing and continued to do so. The story evolved into “Moa,” then the sequel, “Statue of Ku.” My daughter, now seven, took the cover photo and illustrated, as well. The photo was taken a few years ago on the North Shore as we played on the beach. The artwork has been compiled over the last two years.<br />
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Since my visit with Moa, I began an extensive and sometimes circuitous search to explain my metaphysical experience. I took classes on mediumship, Huna, energy work and through my education, I learned to create healing essential oils and elixir sprays and incorporated that information in the book. Not only did my experience with Moa inspire me and guide me through four-and-a-half of the most challenging years of my life, I also believe that writing about those events and including information I received about that inspiration and guidance, brought my own deep physical, mental, emotional and spiritual transformation and healing. Writing, editing and publishing <em>Moa</em> has opened doors to a new way of understanding myself, those around me and the energy we share.<br />
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Whatever your belief or understanding of the metaphysical world, I believe that if one person is transformed through learning, then we are all transformed. I truly believe the Moa I met came through in this work and, just as I connected with her as I wrote, those who read the book will experience her as well.<br />
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<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-11839" title="moa" src="http://www.novelpublicity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/moa.png" alt="" width="235" height="572" />As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the<em> Moa </em>and<em> Statue of Ku </em>eBook editions have both been dropped to just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing either of these fantastic books at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. <em><strong>The prizes include $600 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of each book.</strong></em><br />
<br />
All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is <a href="http://www.novelpublicity.com/whirlwind-recruitment/moa/" target="_blank">RIGHT HERE</a>. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win!<br />
<br />
<strong>To win the prizes:</strong><br />
<ol start="1"> <li>Purchase your copies of <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005TBU83O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=novelpubli-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B005TBU83O" target="_blank">Moa</a> </em>and<em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0082COUC2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=novelpubli-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B0082COUC2" target="_blank"> Statue of Ku</a> </em>for just 99 cents</li>
<li><a href="http://www.novelpublicity.com/whirlwind-recruitment/moa/" target="_blank">Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity</a></li>
<li>Visit today’s featured social media event</li>
</ol><strong>About Moa: </strong>Eighteen-year-old, Hillary, anticipates adventure as she embarks for trip to Honolulu, but gets more than she bargained for when Moa, an ancient Hawaiian spirit, pays her an unexpected visit. Get it on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005TBU83O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=novelpubli-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005TBU83O" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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<strong>About Statue of Ku</strong>: The second book in the Moa Book Series, "The Statue of Ku" follows Hillary and Moa as they jet to Egypt on the Prince’s private plane to reclaim Moa’s family heirloom, the inimitable statue of Ku. Get it on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0082COUC2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=novelpubli-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0082COUC2" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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<strong>About the author: </strong>Tricia Stewart Shiu combines her addiction to the written word with her avid interest in the healing arts and all things metaphysical in her novels <em>Moa</em> and <em>Statue of Ku</em> and looks forward to finding new ways to unite her two loves. Visit Tricia on her <a href="http://tstewartshiu.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/tstewartshiu" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MoaBook" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, or <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5260590.Tricia_Stewart_Shiu" target="_blank">GoodReads</a>.<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-30400650199986542072012-06-25T09:31:00.001-04:002012-06-25T09:31:34.157-04:00Review: Lucy Come Home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFSEPlurGKiQXTBiJV3imQ62NTx0twDTmo_rTn4bsQ_EweZ4a76HK4DgiArypPHyYxaxMHgj6om4L8UStjcwbB_Sap_u7_Z7jN70e6cTuBLahin4sD7n92qg6XiIcUYEqlhv2v8n6J_gJ/s1600/Lucy+Cover+pgs.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="245" width="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFSEPlurGKiQXTBiJV3imQ62NTx0twDTmo_rTn4bsQ_EweZ4a76HK4DgiArypPHyYxaxMHgj6om4L8UStjcwbB_Sap_u7_Z7jN70e6cTuBLahin4sD7n92qg6XiIcUYEqlhv2v8n6J_gJ/s320/Lucy+Cover+pgs.png" /></a><br />
"Lucy Come Home," by Dave and Neta Jackson is the story of a young girl - and an old woman. The young girl and the old woman are actually the same person, because chapters in the book alternate between telling the stories of first a young girl in Depression- and then WWII-era America, and then an old, homeless lady in modern day Chicago.<br />
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How did that young girl become the old, homeless woman? At the beginning of the book, Lucinda - who alternately goes by both 'Lucy' and 'Cindy' in the book - is the child of extremely poor migrant workers during the Depression. The family is poor, but they are actually somewhat happy because they really love one another and the mother does her best to care for the family, even providing the occasional treat.<br />
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There is a bad character on the periphery of the family, and there is foreshadowing that lets you know that something bad is going to happen to Lucinda. Actually, it bothered me that I could tell that Lucinda was headed for some kind of disaster, because she was such a likable character.<br />
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Disaster strikes and her new boyfriend, Bo, is there with her when it hits. Bo and Lucinda are forced to run. She is separated from her loving family, and eventually becomes Lucy the homeless woman on the streets of Chicago. <br />
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But, Lucy had a loving family. As migrant workers, however, they had no permanent address, and so would be hard to trace. Read this book to see what happens at the end!<br />
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My opinion of the story is that it had it had a really creative plot, full of interesting twists and turns. The characters - other than 'the bad guys' on the edge of the story - are very lovable people. Lucy is actually very honorable, faithfully holding onto something that belongs to someone else over about a 60 year period. I would recommend this book as an enjoyable, quick read about a lady of great and interesting character!<br />Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-59114991465265781212012-06-23T07:29:00.001-04:002012-06-23T07:29:41.964-04:00War and Peace - Condensed Version<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2hWN3553wuDpvH6F2P8h5I7wM6xytOI_0eNvXpUrjDmBbLUk60M21huLSvKYjPy6i8kIbKOYoM6Mp3RmNeeo3qRMVkJI51HznGcK6c-bq8w7aIj7CJLOBxk9-O83me4RX6BFws6cgOfg/s1600/aaawar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="277" width="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2hWN3553wuDpvH6F2P8h5I7wM6xytOI_0eNvXpUrjDmBbLUk60M21huLSvKYjPy6i8kIbKOYoM6Mp3RmNeeo3qRMVkJI51HznGcK6c-bq8w7aIj7CJLOBxk9-O83me4RX6BFws6cgOfg/s320/aaawar.jpg" /></a><br />
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We meet several Russian aristocratic families. Napoleon invades Russia. Much drama in these households ensues. Some members go to war. Napoleon's army dissolves in Moscow - he retreats. Russians celebrate! Various Russian aristocrats marry!<br />
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This post was prepared so as to participate in the <a href="http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2012/06/trifextra-week-twenty-two.html">TrifecaWritingChallenge.com</a> This weekend, we had to re-tell a favorite book in 33 words. Follow the link if you would like to give it a try :)Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342623555220583614.post-8668738153720921202012-06-20T10:16:00.000-04:002012-06-20T10:16:35.709-04:00Wondrous Words Wednesday...with Verlence!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSDiezzQCW3O2BqSWV4GnZtP26VoL_qEgSTbjIc3Tgl9zGLJEHo_GKasIsDhmH5qBwH-FZ9uhjc6XK7KgWxGubdYQxhK8S1HH3Az2U4SJA8KnahRTdt6aM8pxsiFZc3qeNvZM5OM2C-xC/s1600/springfever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="255" width="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSDiezzQCW3O2BqSWV4GnZtP26VoL_qEgSTbjIc3Tgl9zGLJEHo_GKasIsDhmH5qBwH-FZ9uhjc6XK7KgWxGubdYQxhK8S1HH3Az2U4SJA8KnahRTdt6aM8pxsiFZc3qeNvZM5OM2C-xC/s320/springfever.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://bermudaonion.net/2012/06/20/wondrous-words-wednesday-175/">Wondrous Words Wednesday is a great meme over at bermudaonion.net</a> where we share new (to us) words that we have found in our reading that week!<br />
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This week, I was reading several things simultaneously, one of them being "Spring Fever" by P.G. Wodehouse. In "Spring Fever," our protagonist has a Cockney butler who used to be a burglar before he found religion.<br />
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The unusual word that I found in "Spring Fever" is 'verlence.'<br />
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Here is the only problem with using this word for WWW - I already know it...and so do you! (It just took me a few minutes to catch it...) I guarantee that you know it!<br />
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Here is the context:<br />
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"You betcher there's going to be verlence. I'll give you two seconds to change your mind."<br />
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Did you guess it yet?<br />
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This is the butler speaking, and he has that accent....<br />
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Would it help if I told you that he was being threatened?<br />
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With violence?<br />
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Yep, verlence is just violence! I have had fun with this book! On the same page, the butler says, "It's been years since I bust a pete."<br />
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Apparently, this refers to safe-cracking!Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14864587350512328594noreply@blogger.com13