Bookmark

In the early 90's I bought a book by Clive Barker called Imajica. I originally bought it when it came out in paperback. It was a large volume and on the back cover there was a detachable bookmark. The next printing of the book divided it into two volumes. I was glad that I had the original. Unfortunately, I gave it up in a garage sale like so many other books I have enjoyed in the past. The chances of my re-reading a book is slim but there is that chance. I always regretted selling that book.

When I read a book, especially a paperback, I never open it completely. I do not want to break the spine so that it looks almost new when I finish reading it. This is so that the book has a longer life and also so that if I do go back to read it it will not be falling apart. It drives me crazy when I see a book lying open on a table, print down with the spine breaking down the middle. Or watch someone open a book and stretch it wide open before starting to read it. I have read second hand books that have literally fallen apart while I was reading.

I was in a used book store and I saw the same printing of Imajica as I had let go at the garage sale. I grabbed it right away and paid the four dollar purchase price. Originally it sold for $8.99 and I probably let it go for 50 cents. Talk about bad business on my part. I did not care though, I finally had the book back.

When I got it home, I looked it over carefully. It was in great shape, just as I like to take care of a book. I started to think that this might be the very book that I had sold at the garage sale, it was just too perfect. My suspisions were supported when I found the bookmark in the back of the book, exactly where I had left it! That is too much of a coincidence so I have to say that it is my original book. You know how the saying goes; it came back so it's mine.

Music

What do you listen to?

Regular radio is so boring and unoriginal. They are always playing something that you don't really want to listen to. They have annoying commercials to try to sell you things that you don't want. It is nothing more than background noise and is worth exactly what you pay into it for.

The other music format to listen to is CD's or MP3 players. That is a little better than radio in many ways but you still only get out of it what you put into it. Also, changing CD's is a pain.

I would like to introduce you to an online site which has ten different stations for your listening pleasure. Something for everyone's taste. I came upon the site by accident one day and now it is just about all I listen to on my computer. I like that most of what I hear on Soma is new to me. The themes for the different stations make it enjoyable for listening as well.

My favorite is Secret Agent Radio. I turn it on and I am brought into a different world.....
a smokey bar where I am about to meet a contact. They have information which I need about a top secret file. The retrieval of the file is imperative to my mission's success. If I fail, the leader of my organization is in grave danger. There have been whisperings of an assasination attempt and the file holds the key to stop the attack......
Bond ordered a double vodka martini. He drank it half down. He felt wonderful. Suddenly the last four days, and particularly last night, were washed off the calendar......*

Whatever I imagine when I listen to Soma, it is something different that is not available in many other places. It is a valuable mood setter for me, especially when I am writing. If nothing else you will be exposed to something a little different than what you are used to listening to. Variety helps the imagination to expand which is something that we could all use considering the time we spend in front of the biggest imagination sucker ever invented (TV).

To visit Somafm.com, just click on the link at the top of this post. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do.

* from FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

Summer End

With only a couple of weeks until school starts again, I have to wonder where it went so quickly. Time seems to fly when you are having fun. Busy is more the word I think that fits into that phrase. Time seems to fly when you are busy. I look at my planner and I don't have a thing written down in it, so was I really that busy? Yes as a matter of fact I was -- I have never been a big planner user. Work is the main thing which takes up the most time it seems. Next comes sleeping, writing, reading and eating. Football practices, shopping, cleaning the house, cooking, tending to the animals. This list keeps getting bigger. You get the idea though. Everyone else is in the same boat I know. We are all busy all the time.

Remember when everything was closed on Sunday? Everyone went to church and visited friends or went for a Sunday drive. No one was in a hurry. No one worked. The only place where you could buy something was at a little corner store. That was how they stayed in business. Now with everything open almost 24/7, there are no little corner stores because everyone just heads to the big ones or the Mall. Whoever is not shopping is probably working so that everything can keep running. Everything was closed on holidays as well. Thanksgiving was a family day. Now you'll be lucky if half of your family is not working.

This is kind of depressing; sorry. I didn't think this article was going to go this way but now that it has, here is something to think about: We make everything happen in our society! That is a fact. How many of us are disgusted that grocery stores are open on Christmas day or that every year, more and more businesses are open 365 days. Now, how many of us who are feeling that way and feeling bad for the people who have to work in those places, how many of us have acually shopped or grabbed a coffee? I would think probably a lot more than would want to admit. If no one shopped on those days, it wouldn't be practical to be open--but we do so they are. This creates a vicious circle. We remain busy so we become busier. How far will our society go?

Dinner

My eleven year old daughter Laura got a new book of easy cooking recipies for kids. The other night she cooked dinner for us. She is a wonderful little cook.

When I got home from work she asked me if we could go to the store. She had a shopping list written out for the dinner that she had planned. When we got to the store, she pushed the buggy around, picking everything to buy. It was very sweet.

After arriving home, she got busy preparing everything for dinner. The main dish was marinated chicken, onion and red pepper on skewers, grilled in the oven. She also made bbq chicken wings, corn on the cob and a greek salad. What a wonderful treat. I was there to help with a few things which she instructed me on and to supervise if she had any questions. She did all the real work though.

Laura has a real passion for cooking and she is good at it too. Any morning that we do not have to work, she is always asking to make us breakfast. She can make eggs and toast, hot cereal, french toast, pancakes - just about anything one would want for breakfast.

All of this cooking comes from a café which she started in our house when she was very little. It is called "Martha Bear Café" and is her secondary income on top of her allowance. Her café originally consisted of candy she would buy at the store with her allowance and then sell back to her Mom, Dad and brothers at a profit. Quite a little business owner. It eventually grew into things she made because she could make more money and charge more - especially if she could use her parents kitchen and food!

She has full plans on owning her own shop - or chain of shops - when she grows up. With all her practical experience I know she will do it without a problem.