Fabulous books

I just finished reading the best novel, "Left Neglected" by Lisa Genova. It's about a mom who is on the fast track in an affluent Boston suburb. She leads a hectic, career driven life, but it's cut short when she is in an accident and suffers a brain injury, which erases the left side of her world. It was fascinating to me how I didn't like her in the beginning - I couldn't stand how she ignored her children, but in the end she finds happiness and peace for herself and her family. I had never heard of this type of brain injury and found it fascinating.

The one I am reading right now is "A Widow's Story" by Joyce Carol Oates. It's about life after her husband dies. Incredibly sad, but it's helping me understand what some of the widows go through in Laguna Woods.

Jodi Picoult's newest book, "Sing you Home" arrives on the shelves tomorrow. I plan to be first in line. It even comes with a CD. I won't be buying this one on my Kindle, which by the way I love, as I know Juli will want to read this one. Right now I only buy books on my Kindle that I know my daughter won't want to read. We're still all about sharing.

Back in the trenches

It's been a long time since I've posted anything on my blog, actually since September 2010. You see, I have returned to the Orange County Register. I'm now the editor of the Laguna Woods Globe. So I haven't had a lot of time to sit at my computer and write on my blog. I've been busy trying to improve the Globe and it has taken most of my time.

Publishing a newspaper for a community of 19,000 people where the median age is 79 has its challenges. It's tough keeping the readers happy, getting all their club news in each week and still maintaining the truth that we are a newspaper. Some were unhappy when we published their "secret" that part-time employees receive perks. Nothing wrong with that; I believe that the residents should know where some of their homeowners fees are being spent. In five years, $400,000 has been paid in perks.

I have learned some valuable lessons and secrets about aging: We must take care of our bodies, have enough money to be able to travel and take in concerts, etc., stay active, and stay connected to our families. Loneliness is a major problem with aging. If one is active, and I mean physically as well as mentally, one can refrain from being so cranky. The smallest things appear to set some aging people off. For example, one woman calls every week to complain about the paper and says the most horrible things to me. This week she didn't like the business story. "So what are you going to do? Write about every store that opens in Laguna Woods?" I said, "Yes."
She freaked for the next 10 minutes. One old guy threatened to "take me out." Thankfully security is just around the corner from my office. Many of the people are so kind and that's what keeps me smiling.

Although returning to full-time employment can be a drag, this job has had some fun times. Last week I was interviewed for their cable channel by two TV talk show hosts. The program is "Write Now." I was asked questions about my career and my work now at the Globe. Every other Thursday I also do the news with the TV anchor; I'm learning some great things about TV work.

My biggest news, however, hasn't been my return to work. The Royals are getting married on my birthday! On April 29 they will say their vows and throw a huge party at Buckingham Palace or one of their other castles. I'm still amazed that they didn't call me to see if I minded that they were taking the spotlight off my big day. As Andy said, "Mom, did they not know it was your birthday?"

I will be babysitting Keith that day so we will watch the wedding on TV. Then while Kate, William and the family have their post wedding dinner, I will celebrate with my family, probably with hot dogs, beans and cake on paper plates. But I can assure you, I will have just as much fun.

Many years ago I watched William's mother Princess Diana get married on TV and dreamed about how wonderful it would be to be a princess. Of course, we know how that fairy tale ended. Anyway I watched it while my two youngest ran around in diapers. This time I will watch it with my grandson who is in diapers. Where did those years go?

Write your memoirs

What could you write about the Jell-O of your past? Did your mom put canned fruit in it or cover it with cream cheese or whipping cream? Could you write a six-word memoir on this fruity tasting wiggly gelatin?

My fall memoir writing class begins Wednesday, Oct. 6 and runs through Wednesday, Nov. 10. It will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Lobo Elementary School (off Pico and Vista Montana), San Clemente. The cost is $99. This class is through the Capistrano Unified School District's Capistrano Adult School program. To register go online: http://www.asaonlinereg.com/capistrano/Classes.asp?txtAction=LoadSections&txtCourseGroupID=15&txtCourseCode=96726

Putting your past on paper can be a gift of healing for yourself and a gift to your loved ones. Take the journey and come celebrate your life.

The next David McCullough?

I’m wondering if my son Andrew, the Chief Deputy Clerk of the Board of Supervisors for San Diego County, has traded in his long title for that of a documentary narrator. If you click on http://www.youtube.com/countysandiego#p/a/u/0/YM5CVR6yxo4
you can watch Andrew explaining the art work in the federal building. I have seen the art and it’s beautiful, representing San Diego families at work and play. Always a proud mama – good work Andrew.

Eat, Pray, Love opens tomorrow

Tomorrow the long awaited movie, “Eat, Pray, Love,” opens with Julia Roberts. I can’t wait; I loved, loved the book. I plan to wear a skirt from India and some bangles to the theater. Above is a photo of the author Elizabeth Gilbert and I at a book signing at UCLA a couple of years ago. She was so kind and a great conversationalist. Check out her web site; she sells beautiful items from around the world. Someday I would like to visit her showroom. If you see the movie, e-mail me your thoughts.

More photos

Here are some more photos from our day of celebrating the removal of the state's ban on same-sex marriage. Note the cute kid holding the cool sign, never got his name. You can also hear what the mayor said on the Youtube video.

Whole lotta shakin' goin' on

Just to let you out of towners know we survived the 5.3 earthquake yesterday. Alan was cooking dinner and I had just arrived home from work. I was thankful that the 'quake didn't spill my wine. I felt another, smaller one, in the middle of the night,but it could have been Alan just turning over.

Back on track

When I set out to write a blog a few months ago, my intention was to post different content every other day. But as you see I missed the entire month of June. Where did it go? I know I've been busy writing, teaching, working at the newspaper, babysitting, working in my garden and visiting with my oldest daughter, but that's not entirely all that has kept me from writing. I've been reading fiction.

Just finished two great books: The Weight of Shadows by Alison Strobel and The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (If you don’t run out and get a dog after reading this, then you’re cold, cold, cold.). I also have devoured two nonfictions: Bedwetter by Sarah Silverman, Love Always, Petra by Petra Nemcova, Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert and other entries in Interstices: An Anthology of stories, memoirs, essays and poems, of which my story is also included, “Knitting Us Together,” a story on finding Marilyn. These are only the books I can remember reading; I have probably read a few more in between.

At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14, I will be the 5-10 minute “sharer” at the Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley in San Juan Capistrano. My topic will be on how affirmative prayer is in the details. In other words, be careful what you pray and ask for - it always comes true. I’m anxious to try the skills my mentor Rev. Geoff Layng has been teaching me.

Today Alan and I had lunch in South San Clemente at an outdoor café. Talk about feeling blessed. While we munched away, six dolphins frolicked right in front of us catching those huge waves that are gracing the shoreline this weekend. “Our” dolphins jumped out of the water over and over and rode the waves like the best of surfers. Beautiful! A reminder as to why we live here in paradise.

Three decades plus six

And on my wedding day, my Dad said it would never last. Oh yeah! Well, OK, so Alan and I had only known each other for six weeks! But we proved to Dad that we could make it last - wish he was still around to know that we are still married! On May 25, Alan and I celebrated 36 years of wedded bliss. So what did we do? We visited a winery and got drunk, well I did - Alan said he didn't. I'm not sure about that, because he was really happy buying those nice bottles of wine. For our birthday gifts, Andrew and Mike gave us a private wine tasting at the Leonesse Cellars in Temecula. The tasting included speciality cheeses and chocolates served with seven excellent wines with a really cute guy who presented the wines. To know more about the winery go to:

http://www.leonessecellars.com/

Read this!

I am currently reading a wonderful book, a novel - who knew? It's called "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett. So that I don't have to reinvent the wheel here is what Publishers Weekly writes: "...set during the civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you. The budding social activist begins to collect the stories of the black women on whom the country club sets relies and mistrusts enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who's raised 17 children, and Aibileen's best friend Minny, who's found herself unemployed more than a few times after mouthing off to her white employers. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams." Fabulous read!