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I grew up in a Futbol Family. With parents from Argentina/Italy it's kinda hard not to love it. But, having lived most all my life in the States, the closest thing to having experienced the rowdiness and team pride that most Futbol fans around the world experience on a regular basis would be my adoration and chanting for the NY Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

Feliz Natal e Boas Festas!!!!

I should be packing right now. Goodness knows that I have plenty to do before the family Christmas festivities. Still, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was silently calling to me from atop the large stack of "Must Read" books on my nightstand. End of semesters are notoriously hard on everyone - instructors possibly even moreso than the students, if you're willing to believe it. But with all the papers read, and the grades nicely saved into the system, I just don't want to do more work. Plus, the Northeast is supposed to be hit with a humungo snow storm, and snowy winter nights are synonymous to cozzying up with a good book.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's only fitting that I should spend a little thought on our country's forebearers, the birth of our nation, why we gorge ourselves on turkey and pumpkin pie, etc., etc. . . And so you can imagine my complete delight when, while at the library to pick up a DVD for my students, I stumbled upon Tony Horwitz's newest book  and New York Times Bestseller, A Voyage Long and Strange: On the Trail of Vikings, Conquistadors, Lost Colonists, and Other Adventures in Early America.

Today's blog has been inspired by the sinus-infected-strained-neck-food-poisoned week I have just survived. Oh yeah, it was a whopper. (Thank goodness for a gracious husband, parents who live within driving distance, and PRx pills). All of this was bad enough to endure, but the stress of deadlines looming made the recovery process a little harder than it ought to have been.

Hope everybody has been having a nice weekend.

Today is Labor Day and so it is only fitting that my mind turn to ideas on how my hard work and efforts can bring in more money.  I am not trying to be a greedy capitalist here. Quite on the contrary - I feel like poor little Oliver Twist, pleeding for more porridge.

I have been giving this blog post about four days' worth of thought. In that thought process, the (paraphrased) words of a respected member in my fiction critique group kept coming to mind: "Keep it concise. You don't need the extra." So on that note, I will.

I know that this site isn't a political one, but I can't help it if every once in a while politics and my love of writing and free speech coincide with one another.

I am still a little too livid, a little too disappointed, and a little too annoyed at our President right now to go into a rational, logical dissection of what his proposed Health Care Reform Bill - which for some reason unbeknown to me and the majority of America, is a matter of such pressing urgency that the Congress must pass it by the August 1st deadline - that I will just say one thing.

I probably would never have picked up this Jodi Picoult tear-jerker on my own if it weren't for a planned girl's-night-out to the movies in a couple of weekends. To ensure everyone has a fun time, and that we all stick to the date we have carved out of our hectic schedules, I borrowed my friend Robbin's copy. (A strict personal policy is to never watch a movie that has been based on a book unless having read it first.) She handed it to me with glowing recommendations: "You are going to cry the whole time - especially at the end. The one-liners are great. The book is fantastic!"

So, this one is really short and sweet. Practically microscopic, but with HUGE news:

Hmmmm. . .where did I hear that before. . .? It's like a line that keeps running over an over in my head like a song. . .

What is with Hollywood's newest obsession of peddling out a memoir of every celebutant, hopeful megastar, and fauxlebrity?

Spring has arrived to New England, and it is a time of year that gets me twittery and a-glow. Looking at the budding trees, clear blue skies, and blossoming flowers makes me grateful for the simple beauties and treasures in my life: my family, friends, a home, food on the table, etc . . .

No, this post has nothing to do with those other soup books full of heart-warming stories and smile inducing quips. When I say "soup," I mean hot, liquidy meal. And when I say "soul," I mean my actual physical person, as well as that of my husband's. I suppose, if we are going to be honest - which I always try my best to be so with you all - I am not talking about soup at all, but rather chowder. The perennial New England favorite, with a slight twist.

On behalf of all editors, writing contest judges, and English teachers everywhere, I write this post.

Forgive me for the title. I was originally going to write "What's New" but then the chorus of an old Tom Jones song annoyingly wheedled into my head. And don't even ask me how I know that song - probably from a movie soundtrack or something like that.

Whenver I think of an agent, a very clear image comes to mind: Ari Gold from Entourage. Tencacious? Yes. Plays hardball? Yes. Somewhat abusive to his long-suffering assistant and wife? Sadly, yup on that, too. In short, as a character, Ari Gold embodies the absurdity of the Hollywood Machine.

Hiding Hand is not your normal, run-of-the-mill Sci-Fi novel. The second installment of the Nova Sapiens trilogy, the story's mix of love, messianic messaging, and redemption along with the scientific question of "Have humans evolved to their fullest genetic potential?" takes the reader for an emotional, intellectual, and almost metaphysical theme park ride.Published by Twilight Times Books, I was able to catch up with the authors - father/daughter team, Denning and Leanne (Lee) Powell.

I am so not a DABA girl. Oh? You mean you've never heard of a DABA girl? Like, you are so totally living under a rock. Dating A Banker Anonymous. Duh!

Today was an uber girly day. As a reward for several weeks of hard workouts, my friend R and I decided that the best reward would be to make another friend happy. So, we kidnapped S, and along with another friend J, we all went to get new "looks" at MAC cosmetics. Then, we got pictures professionally done. And no. I know what you are thinking and it wasn't Glamor Shots. Today just goes to show that most women will always love to play dress-up and make-believe, if given the opportunity.

This one is going to be short, people. A little bit of writer's block, a snow storm, and some tropical music are my inspirations for the evening.

Okay, first things first. I have only read the first book, and will continue to read the other two. So, I may end up loving the story once all is said and done. Also, I don't hate it. I find it pretty entertaining. I just don't see what makes this book so amazing. Would I recommend it to a friend? Yeah, for the most part, it's pretty fun. Would I categorize it as a favorite read? Absolutely not.

Well, it's been a long time in coming, but I finally have a website. (Thanks in large part to my husband and his generous friends at Rocketship). Yay!! :D