Next on my book list

My friend Jane D'Cunha recommends this book, "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett. Publisher's Weekly writes: "It's 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."

A hairy situation

There are just some things I don’t care to see, like others having sex.

Last night Alan and I went to the San Clemente pier to have dinner with friends. Getting out of the car in the pier parking lot, I glanced to the car parked next to ours. To my disbelief, a man and woman were engaged in sex in the front seat of the car, right there in broad daylight for anyone to see. Now, I can’t get the image out of my head of this guy’s ugly backside, covered in curly black hair, pumping away.

Traumatized, I told our friends while we were eating dinner. One of them, a very wise woman, said, laughing, “Yes, it’s always important if one is going to have sex in a parking lot, it should be in a van with covered windows.”

Thank you, thank you

What a fun week this has been! I am so grateful for all of your comments regarding the launch of my blog. I love that you have celebrated with me – what a blessing to have such wonderful, caring friends and relatives. Rev. Geoff Layng e-mailed a poem to me after reading my blog. He said I could share it with you. What a special gift; it makes me smile.

“Tis a wonderful blog I see.
A master of mind's liberty.
A love so glad and greatious,
It stimulates God's voracious.”

My latest column

Check out my latest column on creating my blog: http://www.ocregister.com/news/blog-242457-know-expert.html

Blogging

On my way to creating a web site, I got distracted and decided to start a blog. I wonder if I should throw a party for this launch. I could make some hats, serve white trash food and provide squirt guns for entertainment purposes – well, maybe not.

In my research on blogging, experts write that blogs should have a theme, similar to what I suggest when teaching my memoir writing classes. Memoir themes can center on several topics such as growing up in poverty, sibling rivalry, a spiritual journey to India or living in Pittsburgh – that last one could produce several volumes.

Just thinking about a theme for this blog gave me a headache and blocked me for the first time in my writing career. So I’ve decided to break all the rules. I’m going to blog on a variety of topics.

What I won’t be writing about: torrid love affairs of married politicians, celebrities and sports figures. I don’t care and it's boring. I also won’t be writing about the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station’s Unit 2 reactor - I don’t understand it. And one more thing, you won’t see photos of me relaxing in a bathtub surrounded by bubbles, wearing sunglasses and drinking a glass of wine like Jane Fonda has on her blog. It's cute, but really do we need to see that?

As we all know there are no coincidences in life. So from time to time I may write about my daily synchronicities.

My blog also might occasionally include some chatter on politics. Like my daughter, Juli, I too, am a flamin' liberal. Back in the day I was a bra burning feminist, still am, but now I need to wear Victoria’s Secret “Miraculous Push-Up” bra to keep the girls up.

My intent with this blog is to give you some ideas on things to go and do, books to read, quotes I've heard around town, links to my latest column, links to some humorous sites, theater and movie reviews and a weekly writing prompt for those who want to keep penning their memoirs. I'm sure as this blog develops, there will be more topics. But for now…

Between the Covers

From the time I learned to read, my mother says that I have had my nose in a book. As a kid I was always getting yelled at to “get outside and play – put that book down.” But now if I want to I can read all day. I also recently purchased an iPod – it’s a fun thing to do, to occasionally read an e-book. I just carry it in my purse or pocket and when Alan is driving or I’m standing in line somewhere, I just pull it out and read away.

Over the past couple of weeks I have read the following books and I highly recommend them:

Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick (fiction)
Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin (nonfiction)
True Compass: A Memoir by Edward Kennedy
The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan (memoir)
The Best of Friends: Martha and Me by Mariana Pasternak

Just released: Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamott

This Week's Hilarious Link

http://whywouldyouknitthat.blogspot.com

Upcoming Events

April 24-25: Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Admission is free, parking is $9. Located on the UCLA Campus. Two days of being with “people who create books and with those who love to read them.” More than 400 authors will be in attendance to talk about the art of writing and to sign their books. The festival also offers panel discussions. This is where I have met several: Larry King, Julie Andrews, Brooke Shields, Carolyn See, Mitch Albom, way too many to list. This year some top names: Stephen J. Cannell, Mary Higgins Clark, Antwone Fisher, Elizabeth George, Louis Gossett Jr., Bernadette Peters and that’s only to the P’s. For more information go to: http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/general-information/

April 10-24: Stop by the Salvation Army, near the DMV in San Clemente, 2727 Via Cascadita and see what two Saddleback College students have designed with items from the warehouse. They are competing with three other students for a first place win in eco-friendly designs. You can also bid on the items in the showroom as part of a two-week auction. I’ve got to check this out. The money will go to the Salvation Army’s Anaheim Adult Rehabilitation Center. Read the story: http://www.ocregister.com/news/judged-242961-design-turning.html

May 8-9: “A Woman of Independent Means,” starring Lissa Layng. Fremont Center Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena. 8 p.m. May 8 with brownies and champagne at intermission and 3 p.m. May 9 with a Mother’s Day Tea in the garden at 2 p.m. You won’t want to miss this one woman show. I will be there on May 8 with hubby and friends. To read about the play: http://www.fremontcentretheatre.com/main.html

This Week's Memoir Writing Prompt

Write about how you spent your allowance as a kid. Then write about what you like to spend money on now.

Quote of the Week

“Get down off the cross, honey. Somebody needs the wood.” Dolly Parton in the movie “Straight Talk”