Just finished this wonderful novel by David Benioff. Easy-to-read, suspenseful, violent, with multiple levels of angst, terror and love.
This is cleverly written by Benioff. He uses the Leningrad blockade and war stories of his grandfather (really?), accounts of the blockade obtained through research, and his own creative weaving of fact and fiction, character creation, and a dozen eggs to deliver a story I could not put down. His novel is a reflection of great storytelling and disciplined pacing. It was worth every page-turning moment!
Pull up your favorite reading chair and step into war-torn Pita this Summer. You'll enjoy the trip!
Andrea
Friday, June 22, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Shifting Sands
My husband and I spent a heavenly week on the coast in Cape Cod's National Seashore. We discovered this place by accident several years ago, and continue our annual return each Spring before school is out for summer.
We think that the ocean is timeless at times; but, the sands on Cape Cod are always changing, along with the shoreline. I remember coming to this beach in my late teens and early twenties when the dunes gradually led you to the shore. Due to the destructive winds and storms of the Atlantic, these gradual dune drops have been changed into stark 30 foot cliffs of fragile dune sand, and 50 feet of the shoreline has returned to the sea. But, there's still beauty in the light, the tides, the wildlife.
You can't leave without a smile.
Celebrate the changes, and rejoice in the here-and-now!
Andrea
We think that the ocean is timeless at times; but, the sands on Cape Cod are always changing, along with the shoreline. I remember coming to this beach in my late teens and early twenties when the dunes gradually led you to the shore. Due to the destructive winds and storms of the Atlantic, these gradual dune drops have been changed into stark 30 foot cliffs of fragile dune sand, and 50 feet of the shoreline has returned to the sea. But, there's still beauty in the light, the tides, the wildlife.
You can't leave without a smile.
Celebrate the changes, and rejoice in the here-and-now!
Andrea
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
A Little Piece of Heaven
I listened to a tremendous sermon in church on Sunday, given by an Irish Missionary living in Haiti. It was a moving, thoughtful, funny, introspective and gratifying reflection of life in one of the poorest nations on this planet. It was also a wake up call to me. He talked about the urgent need for everyone to find their 'little piece of Heaven' in the world. It can be a place, a person, a pet, a moment; but, no matter what it is, embrace it and continue to go back to it for strength and appreciation.
I have many pieces of Heaven in my life: a loving husband, dear friends, a warm family, sweet pets, and an overambitious house;-) But, I return to these staples in my life every day to share the joys, sorrows, gossip, stories, and love that keep me grounded in this very fast-paced, beautiful world we all call 'home'.
Look for your little pieces of Heaven in your life and let them know.
Love you all!
Andrea
I have many pieces of Heaven in my life: a loving husband, dear friends, a warm family, sweet pets, and an overambitious house;-) But, I return to these staples in my life every day to share the joys, sorrows, gossip, stories, and love that keep me grounded in this very fast-paced, beautiful world we all call 'home'.
Look for your little pieces of Heaven in your life and let them know.
Love you all!
Andrea
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy LYRICS
Sometimes we need to know that we are all a little crazy;-) Cee Lo Green got it right. Love this song!
Hope you like it as I do.
Andrea
Hope you like it as I do.
Andrea
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Reminders of the American Dream
I had the privilege of meeting a wonderful Indian man from Calcutta last night. I was at a stop light in DC. He was the cab driver. The long pause between 'red' and 'green' gave me the opportunity to ask where he was from in India, and this was the story he told me...
He and his wife - with their firstborn son - came to the United States from Calcutta in 1982. Calcutta was no longer the 'Paris of India' that it used to be back in the late 1800's. Like many great locations, it had descended into poverty and corruption over the years, so he found a path to bring himself and his family to another land of freedom and potentials for himself and his children - the United States. Once in the U.S., he found a position as Manager of a gas station, and worked happily there for years. He and his wife had another son. He worked and saved to make sure his children could receive a quality education. Today, one son is a Nuclear Medicine Specialist in the Medical industry, and the other is a government Accountant. This Indian gentleman has since left his job, but wanted to continue working and meeting people as a 'cabbie' in DC. He did not want to take money from his sons.
I told him he must be a wonderful father, and he thanked me for the kind praise. "You know", he said, "my boys are still worried that I work too much." As I thought of something to say, he held up a piece of paper with his start time jotted down, and he continued, "They restricted me to 3 hours a night."
Then, turning back to me with a wink, he added, "I'm glad they still think I'm a wonderful father, too."
Take time at stop lights to share a story and a wink. It will leave both of you smiling.
:-)
Andrea
He and his wife - with their firstborn son - came to the United States from Calcutta in 1982. Calcutta was no longer the 'Paris of India' that it used to be back in the late 1800's. Like many great locations, it had descended into poverty and corruption over the years, so he found a path to bring himself and his family to another land of freedom and potentials for himself and his children - the United States. Once in the U.S., he found a position as Manager of a gas station, and worked happily there for years. He and his wife had another son. He worked and saved to make sure his children could receive a quality education. Today, one son is a Nuclear Medicine Specialist in the Medical industry, and the other is a government Accountant. This Indian gentleman has since left his job, but wanted to continue working and meeting people as a 'cabbie' in DC. He did not want to take money from his sons.
I told him he must be a wonderful father, and he thanked me for the kind praise. "You know", he said, "my boys are still worried that I work too much." As I thought of something to say, he held up a piece of paper with his start time jotted down, and he continued, "They restricted me to 3 hours a night."
Then, turning back to me with a wink, he added, "I'm glad they still think I'm a wonderful father, too."
Take time at stop lights to share a story and a wink. It will leave both of you smiling.
:-)
Andrea
Pacifism versus Activism in Relationships
I think everyone encounters these personal traits in their relationships at some point in life. I have. It prompted me to do some research on how great men and women have talked about them. I like the messages found in these two quotes:
Pacifism
"Bullets cannot be recalled. They cannot be uninvented. But they can be taken out of the gun."
Martin Amis (b. 1949), British author. Einstein's Monsters, Introduction (1987).
Activism
“It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.”
Mahatma Ghandi
Teach your children well. We all have this responsibility. Take action actively or passively. Doing nothing is a cop-out.
Andrea
Pacifism
"Bullets cannot be recalled. They cannot be uninvented. But they can be taken out of the gun."
Martin Amis (b. 1949), British author. Einstein's Monsters, Introduction (1987).
Activism
“It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.”
Mahatma Ghandi
Teach your children well. We all have this responsibility. Take action actively or passively. Doing nothing is a cop-out.
Andrea
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Finding Your Best Self
I was watching one of the voice talent shows this week, and was amazed by the voice talent, and the humility and gratefulness that each singer presented to the audience. Many of these individuals had been on their own search for a long time. They were true to their schedules, held fast to their own disciplines, and created beautiful music through their passion and belief in themselves. They didn't give up, and the Universe responded.
Many of us never get the chance to test our own limits, and to challenge ourselves, and look to God, or the Universe, or your own Greater Power for support and follow-through. We all live busy lives and need to meet the financial and life needs of our families. But, what if we could take the time to find that inner self - that Beethoven or Mozart, that Degas or Warhol, that Gibran or Pirsig, you? What would we find?
Think about your best self today. Who is she? Who is he? Take them out and play. You may be surprised at the powers and talent within you!
Andrea
Many of us never get the chance to test our own limits, and to challenge ourselves, and look to God, or the Universe, or your own Greater Power for support and follow-through. We all live busy lives and need to meet the financial and life needs of our families. But, what if we could take the time to find that inner self - that Beethoven or Mozart, that Degas or Warhol, that Gibran or Pirsig, you? What would we find?
Think about your best self today. Who is she? Who is he? Take them out and play. You may be surprised at the powers and talent within you!
Andrea
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