Isabelle Allende......cool

I went to see Isabelle Allende speak at a bookstore a couple days ago. She is an author of books for those who may not know.

She first spoke about how she researched her last book in New Orleans. Then she read an exerpt of it. Then she took questions from people in the room.

Things I learned about her
She researches in English. She writes fiction in Spanish and a translater, translates to English for her.
She was a journalist before a novelist.
She waited until her third novel was published in several languages before quitting her day job. Her first agent told her anyone can write a first novel. That we all have one in us. That the second novel makes an author.

It was a really nice event. She is a good speaker. Polished.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shhhhhhhhhh. Be very quiet.

I say this because I am thinking about what to write in my blog.

Hmmmm

Okay. Got it.

I have a question for you.

(and yes, that is a poodle in a sweater in the photo above)

If you could spend a week anywhere on the planet except where you are right now, and money were no object and you could take anyone you wanted

where would you go and with who (or is it whom)?

2009

What can we say about the past year, today?

That it was short or long or boring or strong?

Did you find your bliss
or
on that did you miss?

Some days were sunny, some rainy, some snow.

More days are coming in 2010, you know.

Enjoy life. Love life. Live life.

Time flies ~~~~~~~ whoosh~~~~~~~~~~

I made lasagna

Oh yes.

It came out REALLY good.

It had the most luscious amounts of ricotta and mozarella.

My nine year old helped assemble it, layering the layers for me. He was so precise.

Nine year olds really like to create and creating a meal is the ultimate for them. Pride. Primal pride.


Other things I did today:

joined the West Coast Songwriters

inquired about a Take the Stage Workshop

painted a cabinet in my master bath

bought new towels and rug for same bath

spent quality time with all my kids. :heart :heart :heart

Made a blog entry (ta da!)

I am going to write you a lovely new poem

This poem is for you
The reader of the blog entry

This poem is for you, its true
I hope you believe it.....golly gee.

You are so kind to visit here
to read my posts
you are a dear.

This poem is real
This poem is right
I hope it brings you joy tonight.

Back from Manhattan

Here is a synopsis of my trip.

Plane ride....zoooooooom (watched HGTV most of the way to while away the time in the air).

Crazy taxi ride to hotel. Honk, swerve, honk, honk, honk.

Walked all over the town. Times Square, Broadway, Empire State Building, 30 Rock (next to hotel...this turned into home base), Central Park, 5th Avenue Stores (didn't buy much, mostly looked), Grand Central Terminal, the U.N.

My favorite skyscraper is the Chrysler Building. So beautifully crafted and the griffins are a great touch to the design.

I am sick of paninis (ate two and that was enough).

I didn't have to wear my Raybans while there. The buildings blocked the glare of the sun. They also blocked the wind. My dear old Dad told me they are the "cement canyons". So true.

Private car back to JFK (great, calm ride) and

ZOOOOOOOooooooom home. The air traffic and wind were on our side and the trip was not as long as anticipated here.

Yeah.

Paint

I painted my bedroom aviary nest by Freshaire and am prepping a bathroom to paint (color not completely decided yet....a shade of white per young Master B's instructions).