Northern Exposure -- It Humbles Me

I feel like a bit of a wimp.

A week or two ago, Rick and I were watching old "Northern Exposure" episodes I'd taped when the series was replayed on A&E. (That's back when A&E stood for "Arts and Entertainment," not "Awful and Excruciating.")

Anyway, in some of the episodes, they were in the midst of winter. Hard, Alaskan winter.

When I think back on that, I feel like a bit of a wimp! Not that I won't moan and groan a bit at the snow, the ice, the bad plowing in my neighborhood, rutty roads, higher heating bills and wind chill.

But I'll try to do it less.

I will leave you with the most recent visitor to Gypsy Rose's Bird Bath Bar and Grill -- a crasher, who tends to bully the others away and will stop at nothing to get a bit of seed.

Winter could be worse. We could be hanging by our toenails on a screen window, going for someone else's food in the cold.

Yes, it could be worse.

Write On Wednesday -- By Sunday!

Write on Wednesday's Becca is on a break, but she gave us these writing questions to ponder while she's gone!

Well, it's Saturday night and I'll give you a break from my recent posts (mainly, I need to load photos and it's faster to do those at the office after work). If you want to read about my homecoming, though (another great day flying the friendly skies), you'll find it at Chopsticks and String.

What’s your favourite genre of writing?

To write, essay. To read, mystery.

How often do you get writer’s block?

Not often.

How do you fix it?

A good walk or break will help. Sometimes just writing something, anything, will get me rolling and it's easier to get back to business.

Do you type or write by hand?

Both. Depends on where I am.

Do you save everything you write?

Not so much anymore. I used to. and I save the good stuff. Or the important stuff (even if it's not all that good). But not everything.

Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you abandoned it?

Sure do!

Do you have a constructive critic?

Yes.

Did you ever write a novel?

No.

What genre would you love to write but haven’t?

Mystery.

What’s one genre you have never written, and probably never will?

Sci-Fi.

How many writing projects are you working on right now?

One. Poetry.

Do you write for a living? Do you want to?

Yes. Public relations writing. Do I want to? Yup.

Have you ever written something for a magazine or newspaper?

Yes.

Have you ever won an award for your writing?

Yes, but it was in high school!

What are your five favourite words?

Joy. Peripatetic. Exhilarating. Undulating. Effervescent.

Do you ever write based on your dreams?

I don't think so.

Do you favour happy endings, sad endings, or cliff-hangers?

Happy.

Have you ever written based on an artwork you’ve seen?

Yes.

Elmo and Me!

Today, a great day -- a celebration of "Sesame Street" (turning 40 this season!)

Everyone loves Elmo! And so do I.

At today's NETA session, we heard all about the 40th season of "Sesame," a new version of "The Electric Company," and other projects by Sesame Workshop.

And, we got to pose with Elmo. The Real Elmo. Not the costume suit one can rent for events at a station.

In my fantasies, I know if The Marmelade Gypsy could talk, he would sound like Elmo. He doesn't have a big enough vocabulary to be grammatically correct, but he is sweet, charming and winning!

The sessions I was moderating were very successful -- a booming attendance and the first and at the evening extra, a smaller but good attendance.

We all learned a lot. I learned to Twitter. If you tweet, look for MarmeladeGypsy!

The Tampa Theatre

I’m in Tampa for the NETA meeting. Warm Tampa, a far cry from very cold Michigan.

If you want to know exactly how I got here (from the delayed flights to the evangelist cab driver), stop by Chopsticks and String, where I tell the whole story (moments of which are amusing. Now. Not at the time.).

Although I missed our sessions today, the opening reception was at the historic Tampa Theatre. To give you an idea on how big a deal this theatre is, before I learned I was coming here, my theatre historian friend Suzanne said, “If they let you out of the hotel, you have to go to the Tampa Theatre.”

When I found out I was going, she sent me this. (Suzanne is writing a book with theatre historian-guru David Naylor on classic theatres.)

“The theatre is unadulterated John Eberson (big-deal theatre designing dude in the 20s), complete with the requisite parrot in the lobby.

He described the inspirations for his style to the Tampa Tribune on the theatre’s opening day in 1926:

“My idea for the atmospheric theater was born in Florida. I saw the value of putting nature to work and so have borrowed the color and design that are found in the flowers and the trees. The inhabitants of Spain and southern Italy live under the sun and enjoy the happiness nature affords them. So, I decided their architecture probably would provide the firm foundation for a theater.”

Atmospheric theatres tend to bring the outdoors in – and in the Tampa, you can see it through the starlit deep blue sky and the facades that look like an old Italian or Spanish building, with cherubs and statues.

The statues are everywhere --
Even in the water fountains (I hate that I framed this photo so badly!)

Even I look better in this environment!

The tile is fabulous, as you can see on the stairs.
A fabulous proscenium arch.

Stained glass elements are in the balcony.

As you look to the stage (oh, a fabulous organ and jazz band), you take it all in. And it is breathtaking.

And don't forget to look up!

It was a wonderful way to end a frantic day. As I said, you can find out more about that on Chopsticks and String.

I Am the Empress

Anno had this fun "Which Tarot are You" quiz at her blog. I had to play along. I couldn't seem to upload the graphic they provided (a very cool cat Tarot deck), but here's one from Liz Greene's Mythic Tarot, which is one of my favorite decks.

The description said...

You are The Empress (which was kind of cool!)

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents, beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

(Yee ha!)

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love.

Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

(Interestingly enough, astrologically, my rising sign is Virgo, and Demeter rules that sign. I just found this sort of interesting!)

What Tarot Card are You?

Take the Test to Find Out.

DTV and YOU (and me, too.)

Frazzle Dazzle.

(I didn't make this cute pin, but I've been wearing it a lot -- it represents how I feel about digital television!)

I have been more than a bit frantic this week. As I mentioned in an earlier post, WKAR turns off its analog signal next week, and we’re getting calls and e-mails about reception problems almost faster than we can handle them. All this and other deadlines (like a magazine with press deadlines and preparing for a conference next week) is making me a little frazzled!

Wednesday, we did a live digital call-in show, which I’m co-hosted with my buddy Matt Ottinger of QuizBusters, our local game show. Matt’s fun and it was a great time!


We interviewed engineers who explained what was happening and included demos on setting up converter boxes, VCRs with the box, and scanning.

My biggest concern was deciding which clothes will would help me look best (meaning thinner). And getting the make-up right.

We'll be putting it on our YouTube site soon. There’s lots of good information relevant for people anywhere dealing with the digital transition. I’ll let you know when it goes up.

Meanwhile, it was the start of zoo-time. The phones were ringing off the hook for well over an hour. I don't know how many questions were answered, but we split up the call-backs and I had 35.

That doesn't count the more-than-35 calls that came to my voice mail and tons of e-mails, all about digital, receptions, and coupons.

Speaking of which, the program funding coupons ran out of money. Waiting list only. There is talk of moving the digital date, but we're still planning on turning off our signal next week -- work to do to get us ready for a frequency switch, plus saving viewer dollars on electricity.

So, no digital television set or converter box (or cable or satellite), no TV.

People are mad. Like we haven't been talking about this -- A LOT -- for the past six or more months? (FCC required all stations to air announcements at great frequency; if you watch telly, you can't miss it, and if you don't, you don't care!)

If you will need a converter box or know someone who does – bad news. The national government program providing discount coupons has run out of money and are only taking names on a waiting list. It’s important for anyone who ordered coupons before but didn’t use them to pass them on to someone who needs them. Pass the word.

I know to lots of people, all this buzz seems more like Y2K. But I’m answering emails and phone calls everyday, along with doing presentations. People are having problems all over. So, if you know how to hook up a cable or turn a telly around so that someone unable to do so can get the box hooked up, please help!

Right now my mind is overflowing with things I want to write, create, knit and do. (Not to mention getting down Christmas.) So, I may just have very brief or photo posts for a day or two. I’ll be back!

My Friend is Dean Martin!

Not the REAL Dino -- alas, he's not hanging out with anyone anymore. Maybe with that Rat Pack in the sky!

But my friend, Eric Richardson (ace actor and married to my college friend Patty!), plays him in an act! Here's the video!(I haven't figured out how to put that YouTube thing in my blog!) It's about three minutes!

Lest you think I've not been creative at all lately, here are two purses sent as Christmas gifts.

This one went to my friend Bonnie in Colorado. You can't see the button well, but it's a cat button. She's a cat-woman, too!

The hot pink is for my friend in Lin in Ohio. I love the bright colors on this one. Little bits of brights within.

The button was purchased at an art fair.

Enjoy the weekend. We have snow in Michigan. Lots of it and more to come!

Write on Wednesday: Fresh Start

Becca's Write on Wednesday is back! If you're not familiar with this site, stop by. Our muse, Ms. Becca, offers not only a wonderful post on the topic of the day, but gives her followers a starting point so we can share our thoughts on the topic.

Today she asks: How about you? What fresh new ideas do you have for your writing?

As the new year has started, I've been woefully neglect in establishing "resolutions," though I do have some goals I haven't quite written down. But one is to do more "writing for me."

I mentioned in an earlier post that Rick gave me a scanner for Christmas and I've been scanning photo after photo -- mostly family pictures, and those of some good friends. It's not surprising, then, that looking at these photos offers some thoughts for writing topics.

I showed you the little girl on the snowbank a couple of days ago -- here she is from a different view. Definitely a story there.

And what's going on here? Oh, I think there is mischief afoot. (This is my cousin David. Since my cousins call me "Deet," the photos of us together I call the "Deet and David" series.)

And this one... a boy and a car. Where was he going? And why?

And then there are the Patricia stories -- my dear friend who died several years ago, but whose influence on me was powerful and lasting. There are stories about or inspired by Patricia that need to be told.

There are more -- the tale of the Giant Gingerman, the Sisters (my mom and her siblings), The Snowflake Angel -- all of these need to be something more than a jumble of thoughts, even if they go nowhere further than a file in my computer.

And then there's Rick's annual poetry book -- always presented on Valentine's Day. And time is running out.

So, I think my ideas are getting in order -- a fresh start! Now if I can just put them in the queue with all the other things (like taking down Christmas, for example!)

What about you? Do you have a creative fresh start in view?

Back to the Workaday World

I am so not ready to pick up a normal lifestyle again. "Back to work" means "back to the rat race," with only a week till WKAR shuts off its analog signal and goes fully digital. (This happens to be the day I leave for a conference in Florida -- which may be really excellent or really awful timing!)

I was thoroughly enjoying the holidays... parties, brunch with a good friend, celebrating someone else's art, and yes, even cleaning a bit. (The operative term being "a bit").

I've blabbed on about parties and fun enough. But let's talk brunch with Jane of Jane of the Jungle. She attended Jane Rosemont's photographic seminar in Italy last September and I was able to see her photos, talk art and photography and enjoy brunch.

We split a quiche and I enjoyed hot chocolate, while Jane had a coffee.

Chappelure is a new bakery/coffee shop and it has pastries to die for. Excellent food and absolutely stunning baked goods.

Like this one -- it's art.

Or this one.

Or this.

How about this?

Hungry now?!

On Sunday, Rick, Greg and I went to see the opening of our friend, Michael M. Smith's art show.

I met Mike years ago as a photographer who did covers for my magazine. He, in turn, introduced me to his wife, Kate -- who has become the best art buddy (and fellow foodie) you could ever know!

Beautiful work. See more at his website!

And then of course I scanned pictures, since when one gets a scanner, scan one must! Here are a couple I liked...

Yes, another Christmas memory. Well, memory isn't quite the right word -- I don't really remember this photo being taken or even being this young! But I love the beautiful tree in the background and the faded nature of the photo.

And this -- how come I look so happy in the snow? I remember this day -- I was in second grade and we had a snow-day.

Someday I must make up a story about that photo -- I'm not sure what it will be; certainly not real-life, which was pretty boring. Play in the snow, come in, go out, come in... But I'll think of something!I do remember that white jacket, though. I loved that one!

So, tonight I will take down a few more decorations -- swap out the Christmas china, perhaps. Prep for a workshop I'm doing tomorrow. Having finished off the last of the potato fennel soup and pita chips I did this weekend, I am more ready to curl up with a holiday book than take down decorations... we'll see.

Marie Antoinette Award!

Shortly before Christmas,I received the above Marie Antoinette award from Linda at Linda Jo's Obsessions. I've been visiting her blog for some time now -- she's a wonderful paper artist and the photos of her work always inspire me!

So, it's an honor to receive this award from Linda. It is an award for being an Inspiration in our little creative world and blogging world (and she tagged me for inspiration in writing!) Thank you, Linda!

I promised I would pass this on early in the New Year and the time has come!

So..... here are the rules:

1. Please put the logo of the award (above) on your blog if you can make it work with your format (I added that last part because on some blogs, it might not work with the template!).
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award (Linda's on my blog roll!)
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs.
4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them.

Here are my inspirations that have not...to my knowledge...already gotten this award:

MamaK's Blog -- The fact that Bonnie is my cousin-in-law has nothing to do with this! Everytime I visit MamaK, she makes me laugh. And when she posts a recipe, you can bet it's a good one!

Qugrainne wrote the most inspiring and creative advent posts I've read, with gorgeous photos and slide shows. Mostly, she write about books!

Anno is another writer and she's also a foodie! So when you visit Anno's Place, you might find talk of food, life, a poem or reading. Or who knows what!

Oh (as in Oh Books, Oh Paper, Oh Life!) brings a wonderful sense of humor, beautiful writing and lots of fabulous inspiration to me!

So does Becca as in Becca's Byline and Write on Wednesday. In fact, WOW is a wonderful spot for finding people who talk about writing (and don't just talk, but do!). So many of the writers I have linked to from this spot have become true favorites.

When it comes to photography, one of the most fascinating journeys has been Beth's of Doors Are Everywhere, Open Them. It's been inspiring to follow Beth's journey as she has discovered all the options in digital photography.

Winter Ramblings is my friend Judy's blog. She's a tireless, passionate advocate for those with special needs (particularly children). Her blog offers lots of excellent and thoughtful information, stories, updates that inspire. (And her photography is pretty terrific, too!)

These are far from the only blogs that inspire me, so for more, I encourage you to click on my blog links at the right. But do stop by and visit these wonderful women!

Getting on Track -- and Book Reports

This past holiday season, I went to some pretty fun gatherings -- a brunch with our wine tasting group; a fabulous New Year's Eve dinner at my pal Kate's; lovely dessert on Boxing Day with my friend Judy.

I made Qugrainne's marvelous sugar cookies and wonderful nuts by Anno (not on her blog, but oh, to die for!). Mama K's Jingle Balls. Ginger cookies, white chocolate bark with cranberries, pecans and apricots; stained glass cookies; Kate's maple nuts; chex mix... that doesn't count regular meals -- including two fabulous restaurant meals and multiple holiday dinners!

(To be fair and a little less hard on myself, most of it, I did give away.)

It's time to get to work.

Right now, that involves going to the gym and doing the eliptical and probably picking up the weights again.

And doing crunches on the air ball.

While trying not to further injure what my docs think could be a torn rotator cuff. (MRI to come).

Wish me well.

Meanwhile, Laura of Maude and Mozart, had a fabulous post about books she'd read last year -- her top 10. Off-blog we were talking about books and she said I should list some of my favorites from last year, too.

So, here they are!

In the non-fiction category:

The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown was fascinating. I thought I'd read what was to be written on Diana, and one never knows how much of bios like this are sour grapes or vendettas. It doesn't matter. Brown is a wonderful writer and outstanding researcher who dug up new info and put it together with the old in a fascinating, page-turning way. Lots of pages, but they flew by.

The Sisters, the story of the Mitford Sisters, also had lots of pages and was equally fascinating. It's hard to imagine how six sisters could all develop these amazing and remarkable lives -- often controversial, always fascinating. Nancy Mitford told her family story in novels like "Love In a Cold Climate." Mary S. Lovell straightens out the fact from the fiction in a well documented saga that follows Nancy, her Fascist sisters Pamela (Mosley) and Unity, Jessica -- the muckracking author and noted Communist; Deborah (Duchess of Devonshire) and Pamela, who chose a country life.

I'm partial to Blink for a couple of reasons. First of all, Malcolm Gladwell's fascinating book about snap decisions and trusting your gut was illuminating, intriguing and well written. It gives one something to think about. The other reason is more personal -- Kevin the college kid gave it to me for Christmas last year -- it was his first "grown-up" gift, carefully chosen for me. You've gotta love a book like that!

Fiction:

An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear is the most current of the paperback Maisie Dobbs mysteries. Maisie was a nurse in World War I, shell shocked, with a finacee who was so badly damaged, he simply cannot communicate. She's also a psychologist as well as a private investigator, so her cases are solved by more than just finding clues. In this one, what becomes a simple investigation becomes far more complicated when murder enters the scene. Winspear captures the years between the war accurately and her plots are intricate. If you like mysteries, the series is wonderful (and I recommend starting at the beginning). They are history novels as well as detective stories.

Crazy Aunt Purl is Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair by Laurie Perry was the funniest read. And no, you don't have to knit to like it, but if you do, you'll like it more (including the patterns included). What makes this book a hoot is her saga of single life after divorce, wildly self-depricating humor and ultimate triumph.

The fiction book that made me most think was the least likely prospect to appear on this list. On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts is a pretty lightweight novel, but it's fun. The premise: a group of "women who do too much" go on strike for the holidays, forcing their husbands (who take the holiday preparations for granted) to do it instead, often with predictable but still very funny results. Of course things go haywire, but they all find a new, different kind of holiday. (And the 12 recipes in the back look pretty good, though I haven't tried them yet.)

So, that's my top three in each category -- here are a few I also enjoyed and would recommend.

Fiction:

A Careful Use of Compliments -- Alexander McCall Smith (next in the Isobel Dalhousie novels)

Friday Night Knitting Club -- Kate Jacobs. (Do you see a knitting theme here?) A lovely story of friendship, though I felt a little betrayed by how one of the characters was handled. 'Nuf said -- no spoiler here!

Non-Fiction:

I Shouldn't Even be Doing This -- Bob Newhart. Newhart's biography is a fun, good read. Many of his routines are printed in full.

What Would Barbra Do -- Emma Brockes. This is a wonderful treatise on musicals -- mostly movie musicals. Brockes is funny as she highlights favorites for different purposes -- musicals to introduce the non-musical fan to; musicals to get men into the genre; her love affair with certain shows. If you're a musical fan, this is a fun one. (She's English; I'm not sure if it's available here in the U.S.)

All of these books (except possibly Barbra) are available at local bookstores (and let me put in my plug for visiting your independent bookstore when possible) and online at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.

Grandma's Birthday -- and the Winner!

Today would be my Grandma's birthday -- and I'm not even sure which one. (Time to find the family bible or check the gravesite.)

I think lots of kids have special relationships with their grandparents. I know my dad's mom was a key force in my life.

She lived fairly close to us and that, as most local grandmas know, makes a handy and trusted childcare option! My mom was very big into volunteering, and when I couldn't go with her, I'd go to Grandpa and Grandma's.

Before my dad was born, they'd owned a bakery and that's something she never stopped doing. Shortly after dad was born, they left that life and moved to a farm on the outskirts of Lansing. Grandpa worked in the state motorpool and together they grew everything from peaches, tomatoes and berries to the best sweet corn I've ever had.

I'd watch Grandma can ("not too close -- that boiling water is hot!"), but mostly I remember helping her bake. Cookies, pies. I've never been a huge pie fan, but she was very good and every Friday when we went to their house for dinner and an evening of TV, we'd have pie for dessert, neatly cut into six slices.

I can't remember what they call those big cupboards that had flour sifters inside, cabinets and a shelf that moved out. Hoosier cabinets? But she had one (I loved that flour sifter!) And we'd make molasses, chocolate chip, and sugar cookies on a regular basis. Then she'd let me play with her jewelry, her Calgon powder in a tall tin, and with the crayon box.

In summers, we'd pick berries and vegetables, and then I'd get to help her cook. And sometimes she'd sit down to "watch her stories" and tat the beautiful pillowcases, handkerchiefs and doilies, some of which I still have.

Is there any doubt this smiling, laughing lady who never seemed to lose her temper and loved to cook had an influence on my life?

(An irony -- when I look at photos of Grandma, she looked like the one right above -- from the first photo of her holding me as a baby to her last. She died when I was 21 at 85, I think, which made her 64 or so when I was born. And she looked that way long before -- certainly during the '40s when photographed with my dad in his Army uniform. I just find it an interesting sign of our times that women who are 64 or younger don't look like Grandma did. They all look younger, act livelier... Is 75 the new 64? 80? Just wondering...)

My grandparents were humble people and its no doubt they survived the depression well because they knew how to work the land, use what they grew, and didn't waste money on terribly frivolous things. There is much I can learn from them in this new year, where recession is the word of the day and those of us who are lucky enough to have a job (and benefits) keep our fingers crossed that cutbacks won't affect us too terribly.

So, here's to Grandma on her birthday! She probably wouldn't understand blogs, but I think she'd be pleased to know I've connected with so many who love to cook, create, and carry family high in their heart -- all things she cared about a great deal.

And now, the winner of my blogaversary drawing -- a felted purse, modeled here by Mr. Gyps -- is:

Beth McW. of Doors are Everywhere! Beth, let me know where you are and I'll post your purse!

As I was cutting up the names of those who commented, there were so many, I decided to have a second prize -- a packet of notecards. I let Gypsy pick this one -- he's a paper eater (which is a liability in my kind of art) and when I dumped all the names onto the floor, he dove in and snatched one -- namely:

Joanne of Ad Libitum!

Congratulations to both of you -- and thanks to all who commented in the past month. By the way, I will be joining Lisa Oceandreamer's "One World, One Heart" blog drawing again this year. This is great fun and I encourage you all to get involved. I'll be posting about this later this week -- or link to Lisa's blog!