SeniorWomenWeb's Contributors Write: Why We Build: Staying in Our Place, a blog about building a new house Roberta McReynolds, I Painted Myself Into A Corner: I planned to paint a dancer in simple muted colors. I was aiming for something in the style of Monet (my sincerest apologies to Claude, by the way). I was in a high-powered creativity mode, covered with acrylic paint from fingertips to elbows Jo Freeman, Outside and Inside The Big Tent: Republicans who want back in are moderates, formerly known as liberal Republicans or Rockefeller Republicans, tracing their roots to Teddy Roosevelt's progressives and viewing themselves as "the real majority" in the Republican party Jo Freeman, Marching to the RNC; The message of many obscured by the sporadic violence of few: None of the press reports mentioned the main march message, proclaimed in the lead banner, "US OUT OF IRAQ ...  Money for human needs not for War" Jo Freeman, First Impressions of the Republican Convention; Protests and Parties: Things are being done a little differently at the first Republican convention to be held in the Twin Cities since 1892.  The differences are small, but just enough to blur the picture Jo Freeman, Sarah Palin: A Risky Move and A Gift to the Women's Movement: McCains's choice for VP indicates he thinks he can shave off a piece of the population still unhappy with how Hillary was treated.  It was a bold choice.  A brilliant choice.  A risky choice Jo Freeman, The End of the Dream? Thoughts on the Finale of the Democratic Convention: There is another dream that was part of the New Frontier of the 1960s that is threatened with foreclosure. That is the dream of every American to speak, write and think freely, and to conduct their lives without government surveillance Jo Freeman in Denver — This didn't feel like closure of an historic primary campaign.  It felt like retreat: A sad ending to an historic campaign? A look behind the scenes at the Democratic Convention Jo Freeman for SeniorWomen.com at the Democratic Convention: What Do (Democratic) Women Want? Hillary....   and Obama: Diversity is more than delegate deep. Women's events are still aimed at mobilizing women on behalf of Democratic candidates, but they also encourage women to run for office and celebrate those who did Jo Freeman, Diversity In Play in the Caucuses: Much of the Democratic Convention activity takes place in caucus meetings.  The convention proceedings are just a show for the media in which delegates are the backdrop Julia Sneden, Learning Differently: We do not bind the feet of our babies so that all will fit into one, universal shoe size. Why do we try to wrestle their minds into one educational box? They are divergent learners, and our world is full of them Jo Freeman for SeniorWomen.com at the Democratic Convention, Recreate 68? —  A Protesters' Pipe Dream: There will be protests of varying kinds by different groups all week.  But judging from the numbers (or lack thereof) I saw on Sunday, the police won't need the "overflow" detention center they created "just in case Rose Mula, Paranoia, Paul Newman, and Other Pet Peeves: On my 'Unloveables' list are people who feel impelled to forward to me every single email others send to them regardless of my level of interest in the subject matter Jo Freeman's book review of 500 years of Chicana women’s history: Women are now fighting not only in the streets and on their jobs, but through the political system. You will enjoy reading how Chicanas went from protesters to politicians — in only 500 years Ferida Wolff, Friendship: In Memory of Harriet May Savitz: We had been together for family births and deaths, for achievements and disappointments, for joys and distresses. Our friendship was too deep, too dear, to slip away unrecognized at the end CultureWatch Reviews by Joan L. Cannon: Pulitzer winner The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao is horrifying and often funny, gripping, sad and cathartic in the Aristotelian sense. Alice Hoffman's The Third Angel is literate, out-of-the-ordinary fiction. Robert Parker's Sea Change is a suspenseful story that carries one or two moral messages Sharon Kapnick, Food Friendly Wines, Part Six, Pinot Noir: While Burgundian Pinot Noirs have been revered for centuries, all Pinot Noir wines have been gaining popularity in the US since 2004, when the movie Sideways demonized Merlot and glorified Pinot Noir Doris O' Brien, The Girth of a Nation: Prohibition's failure proved that drinking didn't stop simply because the law, in effect, hid the bottle.  The same can be said of any attempt to ban fast foods or the selective use of trans-fat. We learn good nutrition by example, not by condemnation Joan Cannon, Surviving Outlook Express: Can you believe seven days, averaging six hours per day, to establish correct settings on Microsoft's Outlook Express? John Malone, Broca's Aphasia: Why was Rosie the dog scratching at the closed bedroom door? Or, rather, why was the white, furry thing with the licking tongue and anxious, pawing feet trying to get into our dark bedroom? Because I did not really think of the word 'dog' Julia Sneden, No Sweat: As I sprawled limply on a reclining porch chair, I watched the birds fluttering around our bird feeders. “I wonder how birds stay cool,” I muttered. Men perspire, ladies glow, but birds do the gular flutter Rose Mula, Who is Simon and What Did He Say? Today’s kids would find our primitive pastimes not only boring but even pathetically ludicrous. We played unsophisticated games like Simon Says, Red Rover, King of the Hill, and Mother, May I? Formally asking Mother’s permission to do anything these days is rare John Malone, A Retirement Odyssey: "The area is rife with magnetic leylines and vortices and contains the oldest mountains on the planet, including Mt. Mitchell, the highest east of the Mississippi, and Shining Rock, a peak of solid quartz crystal. We sensed the wonderful energy of the mountains as we searched the area for our spot to retire Sharon Kapnick, Food Friendly Wines, Part Five: Beaujolais — These fruity, juicy, soft, smooth, light-to-medium body wines pair well with, well, almost everything Ferida Wolff, Sister Perceptions: Was it time to see each other through new eyes? It wouldn’t be easy. Our assessments were entrenched over decades of automatic thinking. We had to get out of the past and let go of our childhoods Nicola Slade, Writing About the Past: I did know that my protagonist was going to be called Charlotte in a slightly shame-faced homage to Miss Yonge, as well as in memory of our legendary family dog, Lottie Sharon Kapnick, Food Friendly Wines, Part Four, Rosés: Some rosés are simple, eminently quaffable wines, others sophisticated gems. They’re all refreshing and meant to be drunk young, within a year or two of the vintage Sharon Kapnick, Croft Pink Port — Perfect for the Patio or the Porch: A light ruby that combines white port technology and red port grapes Roberta McReynolds, If The Cup Fits, Wear It: Shopping for bras is on my ‘Ten Most Dreadful Activities I Will Avoid as Long as Possible’ list. Every two or three years the issue of new bras creeps up to the top of ‘Things I Can’t Ignore Anymore’ list and I literally have to do the math Joan Cannon, Latter Day Lady Godiva: I’m curious about how many of our readers are bloggers and read blogs. There’s something about personal blogs that both intrigues and troubles me CultureWatch: Ladies of Liberty by Cokie Roberts has quality gossip. Even at its meanest, it's well-articulated and pertinent. Patricia Cornwell's prose in The Front moves fast and furiously, like the noire novels of the ‘30’s. The First 30 Days and Just Who Will You Be? represent books review-worthy in the self-help categoryericans of any political stripe Julia Sneden, Going Forth for the Fourth: Carl Schurz, a US Senator and Interior Secretary gave us the famous remark: “My country, right or wrong: if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.” That seems to me to be a sentiment that can be shared by Am Sharon Kapnick, Food Friendly Wines, Part Three: Riesling — Many wine lovers consider Riesling to be the most important white wine grape. It used to receive the respect it deserved Joan L. Cannon, Relativity: I try to take comfort in the thought that maybe we can’t climb a mountain if we aspire to that, but we can write about it, paint pictures of it, teach someone else how to do it … and if it doesn’t occur to us to simply sit back and be old, perhaps we won’t be quite so fast Margaret Cullison, My Mother's Cookbook Quick Bakes: Cayenne Cheese Wafers, Coffee Cake, Meemock’s Nut Bread and Hannah’s Raisin Bread — For home chefs who have complicated schedules, quick bakes that don’t require rising and kneading time lend a flair to what might seem like an ordinary social occasion Ferida Wolff, Getting Goopy: I know this emotional irritability is part of the menopausal profile but it doesn’t make it pleasant. It requires too much energy. And yet … Jo Freeman, This is an historic election. Let's celebrate it: It illustrates what is good about America, at a time when many find it hard to see the good.  It demonstrates that we can overcome historic prejudices, change deeply buried values and attitudes, look beyond the surface to see the substance Julia Sneden, Foundations: Can we not wait for the teachable moment? When we cram our children full of facts and ignore spontaneity, or when we try to provide answers before questions are asked, we do so at the expense of wonder Jo Freeman takes you inside the most anticipated political meeting of the year: Count Every Vote or Play by the Rules? That was the question at the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting Sharon Kapnick, Food Friendly Wines, Part 2; Sauvignon Blanc: While it’s easy to like Sauvignon Blanc, it’s a difficult wine to get to know well. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on it, you’ll happen upon a version that tastes quite different Rose Mula, Who's That Old Fogey Who Claims to Be Me? Even though she has managed to crease my face like an accordion, in my head I'm still seventeen, and I look like Catherine Zeta-Jones. But when I tell her that, she laughs hysterically and tells me I'm delusional CultureWatch: In After Dark, Haruki Murakami’s virtuosity draws you in even as it puzzles and dazzles. Jhumpa Lahiri's writing in Unaccustomed Earth has a resonance that is rare in so young an author: every layer of it is full of rich intention. The Alzheimer's Action Plan is rich in medical and practical advice; run, don't walk to your bookstore for a copy Roberta McReynolds, Last of the Cat Tribe: Mike knew there wasn’t any point in discussing whether the kitten was staying or not. I offered Mike the naming rights. His inspiration was from the exploits of the last survivor of a Native American Nation known as the Yahi Sharon Kapnick, Food-Friendly Wines; Part One: Sparkling Wines — Sparkling wines offer a great way to make every day special. And no wine is a better all-purpose match for food Jo Freeman reviews The Age of Impeachment: American Constitutional Culture since 1960. Calls for impeachment have become so common that we forget how recently it has entered the political arsenal. Once viewed as a blunderbuss, it is now used as a bludgeon Jane Shortall, A Personal Memory of Nuala O'Faolain: “I thought there would be me and the world, but the world turned its back on me,” she said. “The world said to me, ‘That’s enough of you now, and what’s more, we’re not going to give you any little treats at the end’ ” Julia Sneden, M's Day: When band aids and a kiss no longer suffice to help your child deal with life, we all reach for whatever once soothed — a hug, a song, a pot of halvah quickly stirred up, a swift joke or a shared family memory. It’s the best we can do, and sometimes it’s soothing, or at least the beginnings of a healing force Doris O'Brien, It's Becoming a Habit: As grateful as we are for modern science, all the contradictory claims can prove downright confusing.  It's enough to drive one to drink — or at least to nibble nervously on a heartwarming bar of chocolate CultureWatch: Jo Freeman reviews Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq. Putting death and injury aside, these are success stories of a dozen women who overcame numerous challenges and how the 'grunts' learned to respect the female soldiers as soldiers Rose Mula, Do You Believe That Outfit?!: At least our clothing today is more democratic. We all have the right to look slutty and cheap, regardless of our social standing. And, of course, the fewer clothes we wear, the easier our laundry. (Wouldn’t you have hated to be Elizabeth I’s personal maid?) CultureWatch — In The Thing About Life is That One Day You'll Be Dead the author's relationship to his father is full of love and laughter, but he reveals old wolf/young wolf competition; The Blue Star is more than evocative of the early days of World War II. It rings true in every way; The Life of the Skies links our desire to watch birds as from a time when apprehending the natural world was a matter of life and death A Jo Freeman book review of Democracy Restored: A History of the Georgia State Capitol — It is "a conscious effort in historical memory making" which blends stories about politics and protest into a narrative about architecture and construction Doris O'Brien, Democrats Coming to a Head: Al Gore will appear at the convention hall clutching his Hollywood Oscar and choking back tears of joy. Any reluctance he may have had at bumping Hillary and Barack will disappear with the roar of the crowd and the sea of "Gore for President:" signs Roberta McReynolds, Exploring Railtown 1897 From Every Angle: I went through training to become a docent. The women wore fashions reflecting the 1897 timeline: long skirts, flowery broad-brimmed hats, parasols and reticules. That wasn’t my calling, however Julia Sneden's supermarket trip in her new car becomes an adventure, Rules of the Road: I parked neatly, but I had to haul out the manual to figure out how to turn off the motor — excuse me, both motors (electric & gasoline). Gone are the days of turning a key in the ignition Rose Mula, A Moving Experience: My movers were as inept as I, stacking boxes haphazardly everywhere. Though my new condo has two bathrooms, the paths to both were blocked with cartons. Crying was not an option. I had no idea where my tissues were packed Jo Freeman, Priming the Progressives: Getting unmarried female Democratic voters to the polls in November could turn some red states blue. In states whose exit polls asked marital status, unmarried women voted at much greater rates in Super Tuesday Democratic primaries CultureWatch: An Irish Country Village recalls Patrick Taylor’s firm grip on how to spin a wild Irish tale, full of very real (although often eccentric) folk, and the lively times in the life of the village of Ballybucklebo. Firefly Lane displays some good writing but its soap opera ways turns off our reviewer. Where Did I Leave My Glasses; The What, When, and Why of Normal Memory Loss demonstrates easy style and humor, along with the author's impressive research making this new book a must-have for anyone concerned about lapses of memo Doris O'Brien, The Check is in the Mall: Some economic gurus suggest we boost the economy by spending our rebates only on American-made goods!  Have these "experts"  looked at the labels in their closets lately?   Or at the appliances in their kitchens?  Or the electronic goodies they find indispensable?  HTG Investment Advisors, Organizing Your Financial Records: What are my reasons for keeping records? Tax preparation and protection in the event of an audit probably come to mind immediately. But being able to access or recreate your information in the case of disaster should also be a consideration Julia Sneden, Drugged: The drug companies represent an incredibly powerful industry. It gives huge amounts of money to members of Congress, ensuring that our representatives won’t be eager to regulate its excesses. We need a hero (think Teddy Roosevelt and his “trust-busters”) to set things right Roberta McReynolds, Pieces of Eight: The sound of ceramic shattering on the linoleum echoed throughout the kitchen. Empty cardboard in one hand and a cup (now one of seven) in the other, I stood in the center of a ring of fractured pottery that had been a useful item just a moment earlier. I wonder if astronomers will find the rings of Saturn are actually debris from aliens lacking dexterity? Revisit Long Term Care Insurance by reading Betty Soldz's article: You can get free unbiased assistance in understanding LTC insurance policies by contacting your State Health Insurance Assistance Program Julia Sneden, Musings on the Grand Life: Multigenerational contact provides a depth or resonance to any child’s development... It’s not all sweetness and light, of course. There are bound to be what my grandmother called starchy times Joan James Rapp, Part Two of Yin and Yang on the Yangtze; A Senior Adventure in the “People’s Republic of Steps:” China is a beautiful, fascinating country, a contradiction of ancient wonders and modern technology. Just because you missed seeing it in your salad days does not mean that you can’t have a memorable journey now Ferida Wolff, Supermarket to the Rescue: Nowhere else are there so many options for cooling an overheated body. I discovered this over the course of many meltdowns while shopping. I’ll let you in on some survival tricks I have learned that can help you get through a supermarket flash Rose Mula, Whatever Happened to ...? One thing I don’t miss from the old days is luggage that you needed a forklift to haul up off the floor. How come we sent men to the moon before someone came up with the brilliant, but simple, idea of wheels for suitcases? Elizabeth Bernier, The Women in My Family: There is a great sense of gentleness in the lives of these women, a gentleness rooted in strength. They valued education; providing and encouraging it for their daughters. Education was seen as good in itself, not as a steppingstone to a career necessarily, but as a kind of disaster insurance CultureWatch — People of the Book: Our reviewer didn’t get out of her chair for a very long time, and when she did, she made the move with regret; Beginner's Greek is a comedy of manners; it’s a cynic’s delight; it’s a social satire; it’s a paean to love at first sight. And If a high-class, feel-good tale is your cup of tea, you will love World Without End Margaret Cullison's My Mother's Cookbook, Old-Fashioned Recipes: Rice and Lima Bean Casseroles, Buddy’s Baked Beans, Aunt Rickie’s New Year’s Cakes — Despite the variety of esoteric flavors that might cross our palates in trendy restaurants or the tasty but calorie-laden fast food we consume, nothing quite beats the simple flavors of these slow-cooked, time-tested meals Jo Freeman reviews books by two women of the Sixties — America's Child: a woman's journey through the radical sixties and Flying Close to the Sun: My Life and Times as a Weatherman. Comparing their journeys illustrates some of the complexity of that tumultuous decade and the one that followed Roberta McReynolds, Belly Dance Dropout, Part Two: I double-bumped at home while vacuuming the carpet in the days that followed. I practiced undulating belly rolls as I brushed my teeth. My hips moved in figure-8 patterns as my hands seductively folded clean underwear Julia Sneden, Sighsmology: I have found myself noticing and cataloguing sighs ... My own repertoire is fairly impressive, but the inventiveness and expressiveness of the sighs of others put mine to shame Ferida Wolff, The Birthday Candle Conundrum: Birthday cakes have become problematic. At least the candles have. Now, with so many decades under my belt, to light individual candles would require easy access to a fire extinguisher Joan James Rapp takes us on the road again, this time to China: Yin and Yang on the Yangtze; A Senior Adventure in the “People’s Republic of Steps,” Part One Rose Mula, Don't Mess With Mother Nature: Mother Nature can morph into a sneaky, evil, conniving witch in an instant. Get sucked into the goody-goody myth perpetuated by her public relations staff and let your guard down for just a moment, and she’ll turn on you mercilessly Jo Freeman reviews Bella Abzug by Suzanne Braun Levine and Mary Thom: This is a tantalizing book. It tells some good stories, but makes you want more. Consider it a tasty appetizer to the serious biography of Bella Abzug that awaits its author CultureWatch: Signed, Mata Hari by Yannick Murphy is a complex, brilliant, fascinating book; John Lithgow's Poets’ Corner would make a fine gift for any teenager or poetry-loving adult; Best Choices from the People's Pharmacy by Joe and Terry Graedon is a collection of common sense and effective self-care remedies covering hundreds of common medical conditions Liz Flaherty, A Voice Like Starlight: In less than three minutes, with words that only covered a few pages, the songwriter and the performing artist had combined forces to share a story it would take me an entire book to tell Diane Girard, Christmas Tree Memories: There was no tree like that first aluminum one. In some ways, that metal bottlebrush object was like my mother, steadfast and always bright with hope Jane Shortall, Ring Them Bells: A Novel in a Month: I felt my heroine was a shallow, silly person, over concerned about her mother's attitude to her life, for someone well into her forties? The following [writing] days were no better, and another note said 'Wine Fair Toulouse, excellent day, spent lots of money. Only 5,000 words behind now' Patricia Beurteaux tries out another view of The Season: I am not a fan of December. 'Holiday' movies exploit us mercilessly. My heartstrings do not need further pulling.  At my age, they, like the rest of me, have had enough of that sort of thing  Sharon Kapnick, How Sweet It Is: Dessert wines for all budgets — There’s something sure to please every palate and every pocketbook, something appropriate to end a special meal or suit a special friend Rose Mula, Aiding and Abetting: The bad guys are aware of our vulnerabilities, but maybe they haven’t considered one or two possibilities. Do we have to provide a detailed “To Do” list? I wouldn’t be surprised to find books titled Terrorism for Dummies and Burglary Made Easy featured on Amazon Roberta McReynolds, Belly Dance Dropout, Part One: I tried to move my ribcage left and right as I immobilized my neck and shoulders. My hips refused to obey, sliding in the opposite direction instead of remaining still. I received the dubious honor of being the first student to be singled out and assigned to sit in a chair facing backwards Jo Freeman reviews Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker: A social and family history, full of fascinating stories about a fascinating woman, whose acid tongue became more vitriolic when her fifth cousin became President Gina Nádas, Volunteering: A Two-Way Street for Seniors. The definition of retirement for today’s older American advocates activity and involvement rather than rest. The number of volunteers that give over 100 hours a year is highest amongst seniors 65 years and older. Just ask volunteer Emily Clack Ferida Wolff, Making Peace With My Name: I had a nickname but that was just as problematic. My family called me Feri. Kids and grownups alike made fun of it. I became Ferry Boat and Ferris Wheel. It sometimes got perverted to Furry, which set off enough free associating to keep a shrink employed for a lifetime CultureWatch: John Donne is an eminently readable book for the layman, especially for those of us who have read and loved John Donne’s poetry or sermons; Loving Frank is a remarkable piece of research, a novel, if you will, built on truth, and in the hands of a first-rate writer; The Italian Lover is about an American book conservator/restorer, who discovers a unique copy of Renaissance erotic drawings, Pietro Aretino’s I Modi. Margaret Cullison's Recipes from Relatives: Buddy’s Oatmeal Cookies, Nadine’s Buttermilk Waffles and Date Pudding, Marcia’s Marshmallow Frosting — A bride moving into a home where her mother-in-law still lives can create a situation ripe for combat but perhaps that mother-in-law remembered when she married her deceased sister’s husband with a household that included her new husband, teenage stepson and two orphaned nephews Jo Freeman reviews Where Women Run: Gender and Party in the American States — Even in states where party leaders are most receptive to running women, male party leaders look for candidates among the people and groups that they know best, and those are more likely to be men Liz Flaherty, Thirty Again? No, Thanks! If I were 30 again, I’d have to give up the last 27 years. Those times of being broke and tired and occasionally heartbroken. Of smiling into the boyfriend’s eyes and feeling the warm silk of my children’s hair. If I were 30 again, I wouldn’t know how much fun it is to be 57 Canadian writer Patricia Beurteaux observes that the world is governed by 8-year-old boys, with no offense intended to 8-year-old boys: Boy Politician Rose Mula asks "Why do I keep buying things I probably won’t eat? Because they’re good for me, and I know I should eat them. Instead, however, I usually pop a big greasy hamburger on the grill; but I do put ketchup on it, and eat chips with it — don’t they count as two veggies?" The Attack of the Vengeful Veggies Rima Magee asks Name the Baby ... What? Unlike many girls with unusual names, I had no trouble with it in school. In fact, I stayed out of trouble because I was identified too easily. In high school, my creative writing English teacher insisted that my name looked nice in print. (I kind of like it that way, too) Roberta McReynolds, I've Heard Aquariums are Soothing: "Have you calculated how much this all cost per ten-cent goldfish we have in there?" I mused ... Okay, so we haven’t quite reached that anticipated level of relaxation yet, but I’m sure we will soon. Maybe after we spackle the sheet-rock and paint the living room Julia Sneden, Fall Folly: Fall in western North Carolina is usually long and beautiful, with vivid blue skies, colorful leaves, and crisp, cool nights. This year the trees are so stressed from the drought that they began dropping their leaves in late July ... The tulip poplars, usually a bright yellow, are shedding dun-colored leaves that resemble tanned leather Jean Harris takes us on an adventure with her family and friends, relates the history of a gift of a famous suitcase and San Francisco in the '50s: Travels With JFK's Suitcase and Other Relationships CultureWatch: By George is an engaging and sometimes confusing little novel. That’s not surprising, inasmuch as it is told in the voice of a ventriloquist’s dummy named George. If you love romances where everyone talks at length (o, endlessly) about feelings, The Choice is the book for you. Also, Books About Health and Retirement Concerns Ferida Wolff, Mirror Image: I can focus on a flabby tummy and worry about my shape or see that I am in good health and be glad, depending on how I interpret what the mirror shows. I can find wrinkles and groan about it or discover new character reflected in my face. I can see sixty and still feel thirty Rose Mula, Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo: I went shopping for a book to unravel the mysteries of digital camera. I eventually narrowed my search to Digital Photography for Dummies or The Idiot's Guide to Digital Photography. I panicked. I couldn’t decide if I’m a dummy or an idiot. So I didn’t buy either book Doris O'Brien, Rooting for Our Roots: Family cads become charismatic figures; ordinary people eking out a living are viewed as unsung heroes who braved adversity; a suffocating shop transport in steerage class morphs into a grand ocean voyage of discovery to the New World Nicola Slade, Go Hug an Ancient Tree: I was surprised to learn that there are trees in Britain whose age is measured not in hundreds, but in thousands of years. These incredible relics of the past aren’t usually oak trees though, not at that age. We’re talking about yews Julia Sneden, L-Word-O-V-E-R: Falling in love with the dictionary takes time, but once it occurs, it’s a lifelong affair. Along with a fierce love for words goes an addiction to them as play things, as in rhymes, alliteration, crossword puzzles, acrostics, and even pursuing a word’s etymology Margaret Cullison renews an interest in art near Oregon's Sisters Mountains, Wading Into My First Watercolor Workshop. "The workshop gave me insight into how I want to focus future efforts, and I have already chosen another teacher at a different location to study with next year" CultureWatch: A Thousand Splendid Suns speaks deeply to the universal human spirit and the values of patience and loyalty and hope and honesty in the face of overwhelming odds. The Rest of Her Life is an event-driven novel about a family’s reaction to tragedy. Getting Rid of Matthew is a fun read that manages also to be quite touching Ferida Wolff, Beach Combing: Another weekend was spent not buying that beach house I always say I want. One day, sometime when the greater world isn’t so insistent, perhaps we will settle into a sandy place of our own. Until then, our definition of beach combing will have to be broadened to exploring more than the coast at our fingertips Sightings, Gertrude Bell - A new biography of the Oriental Secretary to the High Commissioner in Baghdad and her own account, Syria: The Desert and the Sown, online Roberta McReynolds, Downloading a Headache: I slipped the ear-buds in and selected gentle music from a favored genre. I had made friends with my iPod and conquered iTunes within twelve days. My eyes closed in pure contentment. It lasted about a minute before my cat spotted the fascinating wires sticking out of my ears Rose Mula, The Stormy Road to Publication: Forty years ago, when I sold my first piece to a magazine that has since died (not my fault!), I was thrilled. My struggle was over. It would be a snap from then on, I was certain. I was wrong Julia Sneden, Auto Mated: "I’m a child of the automotive age,” my mother said. “As long as the wheels are going around, I feel wonderful.” So I drove her somewhere different each day, around town, into the countryside, up a mountain, to the mall, along the highway, on the twisty back roads. Like the old Reo, the vibration of the motor and the hum of the wheels did their magic Ferida Wolff, The Last Box: How many boxes had I bought over how many years? Tampons accompanied me wherever I went. They were a staple of life. I would sooner have given up food than be without my tampons. Now I have no use for them Pat Beurteaux, Thinking About Orbiting: So astronauts like to get plastered before take-off, eh? A lot of people wouldn't fly any other way. Don't those shocked and horrified NASA officials ever fly commercial? Sharon Kapnick, Hot Diggity, Dog Diggity: What Wine to Drink with Hot Dogs — Yes, Hot Dogs! They say what grows together goes together. In Alsace that would be the delicious sausages and wonderful wines the Alsatians produce. The best-known Alsatian dish is choucroute garnie, sauerkraut with sausage and other meats Jo Freeman reviews Red and Blue Nation? Characteristics and Causes of America's Polarized Politics: This is a readable book, full of useful information and provocative ideas. If you like to talk politics, you'll find plenty here with which to make people listen Julia Sneden, I Think, Therefore Iamb: Last week, I found myself preparing Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116 (“Let me not to the marriage of true minds/Admit impediment ...”) for a reading at my niece’s wedding. In our language, you can hardly have a conversation without falling into the rhythm of iambic pentameter HTG Investment Advisors: Is your house a good investment as well as a home? Utilizing home equity for retirement income can be problematic. A number of factors have to be considered Margaret Cullison continues series of recipes from her mother's midwestern cookbook. This time it includes her aunts' contributions: Louise’s Chewy Brownies; Virginia’s Chili, Orange Bread and Cheese Cake CultureWatch: The Blood of Flowers is set in 17th century Persia, a complex and fascinating tale written in the voice of a young woman from a small village; Still Summer is not the story to read before embarking on a cruise in anything smaller than a liner; Barefoot, a take on the interactions of siblings, as well as the anguish of a mother facing her mortality; The Empty Nest, a series of meditations on the fact that being a good parent demands the strength to let go of the job; A Run on Hose show us the universal through the use of details and characters that resemble the woman down the street Rose Mula, The Curse of the Purse: The clutch is out and the mini-suitcase is de rigueur… bags so huge and heavy, even when empty, they should be on wheels. The irony is that despite the bags’ multiple compartments designed to keep things organized, you can never remember where you put what Roberta McReynolds, Exercising my Heritage: I take after my parents when it comes to physical talent. Is that really such a negative thing? I actually excel at my father’s indoor ‘sport’ of catalog browsing. If it ever becomes a sanctioned Olympic event, I’m certain be a serious contender for a medal after so many years in training Jo Freeman reviews Leon Aron's Russia's Revolution: Essays, 1989-2006 — He remains hopeful that "the vertical of power" that Putin espouses will not prevail ... and says that "having defended their right to be treated as free and thinking people, the Russians never surrendered it to a new tyranny" and never will Ferida Wolff, Buddleia Isn’t Just for Butterflies: Instead of landing on the flower, it hovered, its wings quivering like a hummingbird. When we looked closer, we saw that it had antennae and a tongue that reached out and sucked up the nectar. What was this creature? Sharon Kapnick, Beyond Beer: The Best Wines to Accompany Chinese Food: Food and wine should complement, rather than overpower, each other. As wine importer Rudi Wiest likes to say, "Whatever’s on the plate is already dead. You don’t have to kill it again.” You don’t want a wine that will overwhelm a dish; you want one that will stand up to it Jo Freeman, Democratic Candidates Court Progressives: Six of the declared candidates for the Democratic nomination for President came courting at the annual Take Back America Conference; each had his or her own unique appeal Pat Beurteaux, The Big LXV: It doesn’t help that, here in Ontario, one receives a congratulatory message from the Minister of Health. What is it really saying? `Congratulations. You made it despite our best efforts to kill you.’ Or `Best of luck. You’re going to need it’? Elizabeth Bernier, A Family Tradition and The First Time (a story that recalls Jean Shepherd's A Christmas Story): I spent most of those summer days in the water. My mother called me her little fish. We would throw a sulfur rock in the water and have contests to see who could retrieve it the fastest. It would glow under water so it was easy to find, even for me Culture Watch, Three for the Beach: Our reviewer confesses she read straight through North River, caught up in Pete Hamill’s lovely writing and the yarn he has spun. For a read that will make you laugh at the same time you’re shaking your head in recognition, JoeAnn Hart's Addled is it. If you’re looking for a lively mystery involving a grandmother who still has all her faculties including her sex drive, Relative Danger by June Shaw is for you Julia Sneden, A Spoonful of History: I was always taught that it’s people, not things, that matter in this life. But sometimes things can connect us to people we never knew, simply through the stories that connect one generation to another Doris O'Brien, Harvesting Nostalgia: We had signed on as part of the weekend display — not personally as relics, but as owners of an early, out-of-production motor home manufactured in the '60s and '70s, and still regarded as a revolutionary ancestor to the popular RV Rose Mula, The Travel Bug Will Bite You If You Don't Watch Out: When you’re on vacation, do you really want to hear that your son flunked his finals ... your daughter is thinking of moving in with that loser she’s been dating … the nursing home is threatening to expel your grandfather because he was streaking through the halls again? Jo Freeman's review of Belva Lockwood: The Woman Who Would Be President — Best known for running for President in 1884 and 1888, Lockwood .... was constantly pushing the boundaries of the possible. The book provides an enjoyable and enlightening narration of US history and women's history as well as the history of a life Sharon Kapnick reviews The Oxford Companion to American Food & Drink which starts with A&W root beer stands and ends with zombie, the dynamite rum cocktail. In between, it serves up everything you wanted to know about a subject as well as everything you didn’t know you wanted to know Julia Sneden, The Wedding Dress: My great grandmother Abby dyed her wedding dress black, and proceeded to wear it for the rest of her life. When fashions changed, she remade it to suit the mode, from hoop to bustle to whatever the current style commanded. Despite bearing nine children, she remained tall and slender and able to fit into the dress CultureWatch: Afternoons With Emily: The characters, for the most part, ring true, and whether or not you’re interested in a new interpretation of Emily Dickinson, this book is fun to read. If anyone can keep the reader glued to page after grim page, Cormac McCarthy does in The Road. In the Naming of the Dead, female characters also have depth and dimension, something the male writers of thrillers often overlook Jane Shortall, On the Road Again: The 2007 French holidays have been booked. The phone calls, e-mails and even two snail mails find us here in our tiny hamlet, in the foothills of the Pyrénées, informing us that various chums, family members and in one case, people we have never heard of, will be travelling from Ireland to France this year and all are looking forward to meeting up with us Roberta McReynolds, Soap Opera: Determination won over my apprehension over handling alkalies. If my grandmother could make soap for her family a hundred years ago, then I could do it, too. Besides, I had decided to draw the line at rendering my own fat from butchered animals as she had done, so how hard could the saponification process be? Ferida Wolff, Backyard Observations: Today I found a groundhog vigorously enjoying the fennel in my herb garden when I went out to chase a stray cat that had a mischievous swish in its tail on its way to the bird feeders. Both the groundhog and cat reluctantly left at my approach. They went in opposite directions, each with a backward glare that indicated I had interrupted their perfectly legitimate activities Julia Sneden, Leaps and Bounds: Our oldest grandchild is about to graduate from high school. There’s no point in maundering on about “Where did the time go?” She didn’t come into our family until she was seven, so we knew the years would be short until she left her family’s nest, but short doesn’t mean they haven’t been precious to us Rose Mula, Congratulations! You're a Winner! Oh, oh. I noticed one small hitch after all. I would not be able to shop on the entire World Wide Web, only on the "Rewards" address specified in the certificate. Oh, well. I was sure the site would be brimming with enough goodies to make me happy Elizabeth Bernier, Sexual Assault: The Church Connection — Do we hear anything in our churches recognizing that violent behavior may not only be individually willed but also socially constructed? Margaret Cullison, Robes, My Mother and Me: One of the last robes my mother gave me came as a complete surprise. White chenille backed by a rose-patterned fabric ... both comfortable and long lasting. I doubt I’ll ever want to part with that fading reminder of our shared history of robes Doris O'Brien, A Handle on My Generation: We were not big on public displays of affection — or disaffection.  Few marched in protest rallies.  Or experimented with drugs.  Or practiced Free Love. Or wandered off  to the fringes of society to find ourselves. Those were cultural rites of passage made affordable later CultureWatch — Jo Freeman reviews Women in Congress 1917–2006: Elegantly designed and modestly priced for a book this big, it's also a suitable graduation present for an ambitious young woman. Getting it might give her a few ideas about what she can aspire to Nicola Slade, Temporal Dislocation: A vivid imagination is essential for a writer but sometimes it can be more of a curse than a blessing. I suspect it’s much more a woman’s thing, a kind of atavism perhaps? Or is it simply because women tend to be the storytellers and the family experiences pass down through the distaff side? Julia Sneden, A Lesson for Today: We can hope that if Mr. Imus is able to get another job, he’ll be more careful with his words, and will pause and say sternly to himself: “Imus’nt.” Elizabeth Bernier, The No-Name Storm: Surviving Disaster — By making public this very private account of my experience of life-threatening trauma, I hope to deepen our understanding of one another and increase our support for one another when sudden, uncontrollable violence impacts any of our lives Sightings: Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities and Other Things. We noticed that the slogan of the Naturally Occurring Standards Group was: Because Life is Naturally Occurring. We like that Rose Mula, The Secret in the Freezer (and Other Scandals): Last night I jolted awake, panicked that I might suffer a sudden heart attack before daylight. A distressing concern any time, of course — but especially last night. Why? Because of what relatives or friends might find in my freezer after I was taken away Liz Flaherty, The Unkindness of Gravity and the Kindness of Surprise: I got what those of us in the romance industry refer to as The Call, and I found out the third Call is every bit as thrilling as the first one CultureWatch: The Foundation by Joel Fleishman: Anyone interested in the world of foundations and the dispersal of private wealth for common good will find this book enlightening and often surprising. Step on a Crack by James Patterson doesn’t just ramp up your adrenaline; it also tries to rip out your heartstrings. And Consider This: Identity by Design, tradition, change and celebration in native women's dresses now on view at the Museum of the American Indian Alix Kates Shulman, Thoughts at Seventy: I laugh at myself to remember that when I was forty and met my closest friend, then fifty-three, I marveled that a woman of her age and generation could feel exactly as I did about so many things. (She also knew a lot I didn’t) Roberta McReynolds, The Third Resolution: If we must have a date for resolutions, the first day of spring is clearly a better choice. It’s part of a natural cycle for women to emerge from winter energized and ready to move mountains. Okay, if not mountains, then at least tackling the junk drawer and linen closet HTG Investment Advisors: Retirement Planning and Magical Thinking — Without a doubt, there is a “disconnect” between the reality of pre-retirees’ financial situations and their perception of what it takes to retire Elizabeth Bernier, Despair Follows Katrina: Unless the ongoing struggle to rebuild lives and homes stays in the public consciousness we, the public, assume life is getting back to normal for the survivors of one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States Jo Freeman, On the Fourth Anniversary of the Iraq Invasion Left and Right Agree: Get Out Now — It is rare for the Stalinist Workers World Party to be on the same side of an issue as the libertarian CATO Institute, or for the Revolutionary Communist Party to share the perspective of a retired General, former director of the NSA and senior scholar at the Hudson Institute, but the debacle in Iraq has brought them all to the same conclusion Ferida Wolff, Angel Baby: It isn’t the possessive mother-love that is tied in with reproduction and renewal. It isn’t a protective love where I have daily responsibility for his care. And it isn’t an ego love that is looking for validation from the third generation. I think it is an ethereal love, one I feel in every cell Harriet May Savitz, Proving Days: My proving days are over.  Approaching my mid-seventies, I arrived at this conclusion recently.   I do not have to prove myself any longer.  What a relief, I thought.  What a load off my shoulders  Julia Sneden, Noblesse Abused: Maybe it’s time to start a new crusade. If we can’t change those corporate windfalls, let’s start demanding golden parachutes for the common man Sharon Kapnick's World Wide Wine Web — There’s so much to be learned and so many interesting sites to explore: Humor, obscure bottles, prize-winners, top critics online and vacations. Pour yourself a glass of wine and read on! Jo Freeman, Sex, Race and Religion at the Conservative Political Action Conference: In between the political gabfest and jostling for supporters by Presi dential hopefuls were images and activities which provide some clues to the state of the culture wars Rose Mula, Slim Down? Fat Chance!: As portion sizes increase, my will power decreases. This is not good. I must exercise control — or at least exercise … period. And I would, except exercise really makes me hungry. In fact, just thinking about exercise makes me hungry Ruth Abramowitz, The Clothesline: The women on the clothesline continued to cement friendships and thanked God for bringing them to this country. The clothesline had become a lifeline Julia Sneden, Parents and Teachers: Both parties need to be sure they are seeing the same child. If they aren’t, they need to figure out why. Is the child over-stimulated by the presence of so many of his peers? Is she intimidated by them? What can be causing the difference between the child’s classroom behavior and home behavior? Nicola Slade, Gaze in Wonder: Stunning architecture always gives me pleasure whether it be Roman ruins, Egyptian temples, Georgian elegance in the city of Bath but when it comes to creative works of art I’m a very recent convert to sculpture CultureWatch: A Needle in the Right Hand of God is an analysis of the Bayeux Tapestry's creation, its importance, and its purpose. The Crimson Portrait is about a WWI group of doctors, scientists, nurses, and an artist who cared for soldiers with severe facial wounds, becoming developers of a new branch of medicine: plastic surgery. What is the What is a paean to the human spirit which can grow and thrive in the face of incredible deprivation Pamela Stone, Ann Richards in My Living Room: "Through the years, though, Texas women began to make changes. With their wit, beauty and dogged determination, they slowly shaped a Texas to be proud of. I am grateful to both Ann Richards and Molly Ivins. Their tough-talking gave women a voice. One that we’ll never forget" Roberta McReynolds, Something Fishy: I was habitually lectured by my exasperated mother with that time-worn sermon about ‘losing my head if it weren’t attached.’ Today, I share my life with an understanding man who is just as likely as I am to suffer from what he calls an attack of B.F.S. (But First Syndrome) Ferida Wolff and Harriet May Savitz wrote Stick Together as a donation to children, to give young people a tool to keep themselves safe from child predators. Read it here and perhaps it will inspire you to pass it around to others who will find it helpful Rose Mula, A Time To Be Born and A Time To Die: I’m painfully conscious of the fact that I have a more or less pre-ordained expiration date. But since it’s not stamped on my derriere or any other part of my anatomy, I don’t know what it is. I’d rather be surprised. But what about all those inanimate necessities we utilize daily? CultureWatch: Charles Frazier's Thirteen Moons is a fascinating look at nineteenth century mountain life, and an introduction to the place of the Cherokee therein. Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale begins with a paean to the published word, an almost sensual appreciation for literature. Tony Hillerman's Shape Shifter involves a case that has continued to haunt Lt. Joe Leaphorn since his retirement Margaret Cullison, Comfort Foods —Chicken Pie, Baking Powder Biscuits, Dumplings and Boiled Dinner: The task of preparing a hot and hearty meal every night for a family of six was more difficult for small town housewives in the 1940s. Fast food didn’t exist, and there weren’t many restaurants to go out to and even fewer good ones Nicola Slade, Literary Tourism: After reading the Greek poets Roman tourists went travelling, and Regency poetry lovers flocked to the haunts of Byron, Keats and Shelley. The Slade family holidays have tended to be aimed at a much more low-brow level. Much lower Sharon Kapnick, Shopping Guides for Italian and French Wines: A couple of shopping guides for Italian and French wines have recently been published. Although quite different, they’re both a great help in getting a handle on these very important regions Liz Flaherty, When I'm 56: We’ve just passed New Year’s, so spring will be coming up soon.  Days will be longer, grass green and new, and the sky even bluer than we remember it from last year.  Flowers and children will cover the landscape with bright colors and sweetness Angela Pressburger's New Year's DVD Reviews: Helen's War: Portrait of a Dissident; Helen Caldicott, icon for the anti-nuclear movement. North Korea: A Day in The Life, one of the best introductions to North Korea, the most secretive country in the world. The Story of the New York Cosmos, an utterly compelling story. The Road to Guantánamo, three British citizens set out for a wedding and wind up in military prison. Reds, a marvelous recreation of a 'great moment in history' Ferida Wolff, Club Sandwich Generation: when this newest member of the clan looks at me with adoring eyes or my mother-in-law thanks me for getting her groceries, it makes it easier for me to accept my place in the middle. I am not just a grandmother or a daughter, I am a vital part of the club sandwich generation Jean Harris takes us on a journey to a Buddhist retreat, Como Se Lama: Everyone takes this all so seriously.  A good lion's roar would help begin the day.  In such a benevolent setting, everyone is so serious.  The mood is somber, when there is every reason to be joyful Rose Mula, Happy New Year! I’m tempted to forget the self-improvement vows and make some resolutions that would be fun to keep. Like eat more chocolate…do less housework… spend more money….watch more frivolous TV shows…cut back on exercise…sleep ‘til noon… CultureWatch: It is Elizabeth Edwards's kindness and honesty and common sense that shine through every chapter of Saving Graces. In Imperium, Robert Harris has given us more than just the life of a great orator and politician; he has also given us the voice, mind and soul of his narrator. If you want a sweet escape and some fun re-living the decades from 1962 to the present, you’ll like Nicholas Delbanco's Spring and Fall. Hidden Kitchens is high in entertainment value, as well as being informative for those of us who enjoy kitchen talk and action Mary Kelsey Brown writes about their Christmas in 1938: We light our black tin candlestick again tonight and set it on the window sill. We go to sleep watching its flicker: “Then be ye glad, good people/ This night of all the year/ And light ye up your candles/ For His star it shineth clear” Sharon Kapnick, A Very Good Year: Here’s to 10 Books That Will Be A Welcome Addition to a Wine Lover’s Library: It was another very good year for wine books, with a newly revised edition of a classic reference book and a couple of excellent food-and-wine pairing guides standing out Nicola Slade, Writing for 'Normal' People: "Why on earth have you written a book about older women?" asked an acquaintance. "Why not write a book about normal people?" Pat Beurteaux, Stuff the Stocking: The Internet is a shopping coward’s best friend so I like that option.  But the best present I have decided is a gift from one of the international aid organizations.  We might not need a latrine or a goat or a dozen chickens, but somebody else does Jane Shortall, Madame Morere Returns: Salmon With Capers, Pear Croustade and a Make-up Brush on the Side — I planned the menu with great care. It was meticulously gone over; nothing could possibly go wrong. It’s all a question of organisation ... Angela Pressburger's November DVD Reviews: Christmas in the Clouds is about the manager of an up-scale but struggling tribal ski resort; In Machuca Chile's 1973 coup seen by two eleven-year-old boys; Milarepais a search for mastery of traditional magic in the name of revenge; Mongolian Ping Pong examines the moment when a young boy’s mind suddenly opens to a world beyond the one he knows; Billy Wilder Speaks: If you have an interest in film history, this is one you shouldn’t miss Roberta McReynolds, I've Found My Marbles: I'd start with an empty container, adding a marble for every significant event throughout the day. No rules; whatever I decide made that 24-hour period memorable, positive, worthwhile. At evening I can gaze on the colorful glass orbs reflecting in the lamplight, providing an awareness of how I’ve invested my time Ferida Wolff, Hey Baby: The truck driver, who must have been in his late thirties if that, leaned out of the open window and said, “Hey, Baby,” directly to me. Then he grinned and eased his truck into the traffic and disappeared. Time stopped dead in its radial-tired, all-wheel-drive tracks as I processed what had just happened Rima Magee, Fame: Some of us get to look back over a lot of years during which the circle of those who know us has shrunk. Who really remembers us? Film and TV stars, authors, sports stars, politicians, statesmen and women, even murderers, remain in the public memory. Rose Mula, The Book Tour — An Author's Dream (or Nightmare): It’s a vicious circle: you don’t get prime exhibit space and invitations to appear on Oprah unless you’re famous — and you can’t get famous without prime exhibit space and a nod from Oprah CultureWatch: Daniel Woodrell in Winter's Bone delves deeply into the brutality and the tenderness of people in a marginalized segment of our society. Deceit by James Siegel will inspire conspiracy theorists to be drawn to this book like flies to honey. The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos is a beautifully written and constructed crime novel. John Ehle's The Land Breakers, reissued in paperback offers a chance for new readers to discover this quiet, authoritative novelist Julia Sneden, Septendecimania: So it’s a combination of septendecimal, an adjective meaning seventy, and “mania,” meaning – well, you get my gist. I’ll stick with the words that Don Marquis wrote for Mehitabel the Cat, which went something like: “Toujours gai, that’s my motto. And there’s a dance or two in the old dame yet” Jo Freeman, Going Green is Good — And Also Profitable: Products for green homes, eco-fashion, renewable energy and even Green Kids all had representatives at the Green Festival talking them up, most too young to remember the counterculture of the Sixties, even though they were selling its products Patricia Beureaux, 'Look Into My Eyes' and Other New Security Measures: Do we let our fear of terrorism tear apart the foundations of our democracies — the rights we take for granted but that are not all that old or all that entrenched as we have seen by the ease with which they have been narrowed? Angela Pressburger's DVD Reviews: Mountain Patrol, a patrol's efforts to stop poaching of the rare Tibetan antelope; Water, "rounding out the human drama ... and unforgettably touching the heart"; Mahaleo, combining art and livelihood into social action; Sketches of Frank Gehry, the sketch metamorphoses into architectural existence; Scared Sacred, stories of survival, resilience and recovery; Unknown White Male, relationship between memory and experience; Mrs. Parker and The Vicious Circle, unsparingly honest portrait of alcoholism and ego; Pretty Poison, a pretty little perversion in cinema Jane Shortall, Meet Madame Morere: I had in my mind a vision; I knew exactly how I wanted the finished room to look. I could see masses of translucent, creamy white flowing fabric hanging from a black pole, its folds just touching the floor. And for daytime being hooked gracefully back to one side, with the folds creating that look, graceful, stylish; my very own little bit of Parisian chic Nicola Slade, Tap Dancing for The Unwary: When my fiftieth birthday loomed I started to think of all the things I hadn’t done and determined that some, at least, were do-able and that there was no time to lose Rose Mula, The Beautiful People: Unless I hit the lottery and can also indulge in multiple cosmetic surgeries, before long I’m going to be the only person in America who looks her age — which means I’ll look older than the few women still alive who are old enough to be my mother Pamela Stone, Attic Magic: It wasn’t easy having a bold, beautiful mother. Mothers are supposed to be warm and loving with laps like dumplings. Not mine. My mother was warm, but she was headstrong and demanding. She was a good listener, always giving sage advice. But she was not a doer. Unlike most mothers, she often sat in a chair and pointed. (That was her idea of doing) Margaret Cullison, My Mother's Cookbook; My Brothers' Favorites: [My brothers] taught me essential things like how to identify cars by their front grills and make sense of high school algebra. They often teased me, but that helped me learn resilience. They protected me as best they could, which made me feel secure CultureWatch: In I Feel Bad About My Neck, Nora Ephron, has let fly with her own trenchant thoughts on things like wrinkles and graying hair but alas, The Man Who Loved Jane Austin by Sally Smith O’Rourke is full of unfortunate examples of dreadful writing. Morels by Michael Kuo is a beautiful book of particular interest to mycologists and mushroom hunters. Jane Shortall reviews Wicked! by Jilly Cooper, a tremendously readable big book full of trials and triumphs as it also takes a close look at English society today Roberta McReynolds, How Blue Was My Birthday: Before you jump to any conclusions, I need to state that this has nothing to do with a mid-life crisis. Unless you count when I stand in front of the mirror too long trying to figure out, "Who is that plump woman with the graying hair?" I suppose, on second thought, it has everything to do with how old I feel Julia Sneden, The Silent Generation? Sez Who! It’s an appellation I have come to hate, implying as it does that we stood around in our Peter Pan collars and matching sweater sets, not noticing the injustices of the world, or, if we noticed them, looking the other way Jo Freeman, A Tribute to Coretta Scott King on the 86th anniversary of the addition to the US Constitution of the 19th Amendment: "If the soul of the nation is to be saved," she once said, "women must become its soul." Sommelier Sharon Kapnick advises Make Every Day Special: These Reasonably Priced European Sparkling Wines Are Great for Parties, Office “Pours,” Everyday Celebrations and Just Plain Old Every Day - Ferida Wolff, Tag Team Sisters: “What would I do without you?” my sister asks. Life without her is unimaginable for me. Occasionally we hear of sisters who don’t get along, who aren’t speaking, and we can’t believe it. It is like an unopened box; they are missing out on a true gift Angela Pressburger's Movies on DVD to Watch: Le Grand Voyage is a metaphorical trip from West to East; Eternity and A Day, an interior journey into the meaning of life; Intimate Stories told through the magical and mysterious landscape of Patagonia; Last Mogul is an absorbing story for anyone who wants to rub shoulders with fame; Kings of The Sky is a film about seeking balance; Aristide and The Endless Revolution intelligently examines Haiti’s 2004 coup d’état; Simon explores a shift from joyous discovery to the terror of death; A Canterbury Tale is now considered a masterpiece; Sybil is one of the first medically identified cases of multiple personality disorder Rose Mula, The Buzz About Bees: In the fashion world, brown is the new black; on the health and beauty front, sixty is the new forty; and on the scholastic scene, a spelling bee is the new Big Game, and a champion speller now outshines the star quarterback or homecoming queen Pat Beurteaux, still on leave in Oz, sends us this dispatch from The Country of Sports and Mates, illustratrating the general way things work where sport is the basis for social interaction of all kinds and mateship on par with, if not more important than, family Culture Watch: The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards is emotionally engaging and thought-provoking in its exploration of the ramifications an initial falsehood can cause. What could be a better end-of-summer read than a romp with Fannie Flagg, author of Can't Wait To Get To Heaven, an upbeat, on-the-nose novel to make you laugh out loud. Judith Viorst, writing in I'm Too Young To Be Seventy And Other Delusions, supplies the kind of good laughter that finds you shaking your head in agreement. Liz Flaherty, A Room Shuffle: With our three-bedroom house empty of all but the two of us, my husband and I decided to do a room shuffle. I don’t need the printed recipes from three years ago I haven't made and he doesn’t need every piece of sheet music he’s ever acquired.  My kids are in their 30s; if they want the letter jackets and prom gowns in my closet, they can take them home with them Julia Sneden, Getting Past It: Making blanket statements by gender isn’t worth our time. A girl who is a math whiz; a boy who is a brilliant writer; a woman who chooses science as a career; a man who teaches Shakespeare with a passion: none fits the profile offered by statisticians and psychologists. Perhaps we should study those who deviate from the common expectations for their gender. Learners who have ignored the “norm” and have pursued individual interests probably have much to teach us Ferida Wolff, Listening to Eloise: This process of creation amazes me.  Oh, I understand how babies, human and otherwise, are made. It is the notion of birthing something that is so fascinating.  First, there is nothing, then this new something.  What is the magic that turns something that isn’t into something that is? Angela Pressburger's DVD Reviews of Movies That Matter: In Yi Yi, A One and a Two, the characters don’t feel forced into sudden decisions, romantic or otherwise. The Event is the best drama we’ve seen on assisted suicide. Ballets Russes, what happened to the world’s greatest ballet company after the death of Sergei Diaghilev. The Red Shoes is considered by many to be the greatest ballet movie ever. Why We Fight, about America’s seeming obsession with war. Protocols of Zion explores the deep roots of Jewish conspiracy theories. The Loved One is a delightfully warped social commentary on the 'American way of death'. Portrait of a Marriage examines the fascinating and honest account of a truly unconventional, but surprisingly happy and devoted marriage. Margaret Cullison, More Summer Fare: Cabbage, German Potato and Chicken Salads; Fried Chicken — A stone fireplace stood in our backyard, built in the 1930s by an itinerant who’d showed up at our kitchen door looking for work. Mom told me that these men would walk the six blocks from the railroad tracks, knocking on doors to ask for work in exchange for food. She helped them as much as she could, just as most people tried to do in that time of the Great Depression Roberta McReynolds reports on Seeing Spots Before My Eyes: One of my daily visits to the infested area was rewarded as the mystery army revealed its true nature. Adjusting bifocals on my nose, I looked closely at the unexpected metamorphosis taking place ... Rose Mula, What's In A Name: Singer Toni Braxton named her children Denim and Diezel. She could have chosen Burlap and Regular Unleaded. Chef Jamie Oliver must have been into the cooking sherry when he named his children Poppy Honey and Daisy Boo. I’m surprised that no one has yet named a child Google or Yahoo CultureWatch: Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, with its impeccable research and lively text, should be a mandatory read for anyone who loves history and a delightful surprise for those who do not. Walter Isaacson's Benjamin Franklin — An American Life has found its way into a place of honor on my long shelf of Frankliniana and should find its way into the hands of any American interested in our country’s beginnings, or for that matter into the hands of anyone interested in good historical writing. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen manages to be engaging, touching, scary, and just plain fun to read, all at once Pat Beurteaux from her Australian vacation perch celebrates Canada Day, the 139th Birthday as a Confederation: Patriotism Abroad — Canada has all the problems of most families. Generally speaking, we quite like each other.  It’s just that, at the moment, poor Canada is a bit like a mother with a group of fractious children Julia Sneden, The Right Words: Some people have the gift of saying the right thing, usually quietly and in very few words, at the perfect moment. But sometimes the right words can be forceful and surprising. Sometimes the right words come from people we scarcely know, which takes away not one iota of their power Angela Pressburger's June DVD Reviews: 100% Arabica, a light farce, pokes fun at some of the more burning issues in the world of Islam in a way that is probably no longer possible since 9/11. Evil explores how easy it is for systems of privilege to list towards tyranny. Baraka is a film could be an inspiration to governments as well as to individual people who want to transform impoverished violent neighbourhoods. Moro No Brasil grants the viewer unparalleled access to the diversity and musical richness of Brazilian music. If you’re a science fiction fan, don’t miss the lost gem, The Quiet Earth Mary McHugh's review of Rose Mula's new book, If These are Laugh Lines I'm Having Way Too Much Fun Jo Freeman, Protesting Hillary at Progressive Conference: Senator Clinton was the only source of controversy at the annual meeting; boos came only when she repeated her position that it is not "a smart strategy" to set a "date certain" for withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Repeatedly applauded during much of her speech emphasizing domestic issues, Hillary received a standing ovation at the end Ferida Wolff, Signs and Wonder: Babies help adults see the familiar with fresh eyes. They satisfy the desire for continuity. Each generation sharing and refining its genes and its knowledge. Each generation exploring and then creating new boundaries. Each generation’s love spilling over into the next Liz Flaherty, Listening to the Silence: There are just the two of us living at home now.  All the kids are married and have homes and lawnmowers and  telephone bills of their own.  They have children, cats and dogs, and cars they have to pay their own insurance on.  Sometimes our house sounds too quiet and feels too empty Julia Sneden, Afterwards: My husband and I recently sat down and had the talk about final plans. What might have been a maudlin moment turned out to be a laughter-filled reminiscence of other people’s disastrous or felicitous choices for funerals and the disposition of remains Margaret Cullison's Summer Cookies from My Mother's Cookbook: The chocolate chip cookie recipe came from a girl with whom my mother studied home economics in college. They remained good friends for their entire lives. I tagged along with Mom to meet Jean for lunch in Des Moines. Our parents were tolerant about letting us sit in on adult conversations, and I loved to quietly listen to Mom’s “girl talk” with her friends Rose Mula, ‘Til Death Do Us Part ... Or Not — Rose's friend, Dan, gives his wife a most unusual gift: Was it sexy lingerie from Victoria’s Secret? A mink coat he had promised for years? A four-carat flawless diamond from Tiffany’s? A round-the-world cruise on the Queen Mary 2? Actually, it was something much more earthy Roberta McReynolds, Romancing the Iris: One woman said she couldn’t see the stamen very well, so I said the solution was to pinch off the male part of the plant and remove it so she could see. My fingers quickly pinched off a stamen and I held it up like a trophy. I noticed the two men in the group blanched noticeably Jean Pond, Lunch With a Legend: It was a heady feeling