I get so tired of people trying to join the Romance Noire Book Club (a online Yahoo book club for AA and multicultural romance novels) without the right credentials. Being a publisher who serves multicultural authors is not the same as "AA and Multi...". Oh whine, hiss. Then they get angry with me when I don't allow their messages to be posted. I started this group in 2000 because there was no place for authors of this genre of romance novel to meet and talk. Sadly, I have stopped thinking that folks will read the criteria for joining RNBC. However, I cannot have *my* authors bombarded or harassed in their safe haven!!! We have 200 romance authors, writers, wannabes inthe group and I am determined to keep their community safe and secure. No SPAM, no outsiders, no odd postings! Thanks for listening Mr. Bloggie (whine).
Ohh. I see that I used a lot of underlinesand exclamation marks. To me, that has always signified a slightly wacko person. How wacko depends on the amount of ***, underlining and exclamation points!!!! Big smile-Okey, I am feeling much better now.
p.s. I could not find a picture of an angry woman--apparently we women keep cool at all times.
I had an odd dream last night or very early this morning. It was one of those dreams that are hard to come out of. Very strange. Fortunately, I learned not to fall asleep while watching like shows like The Twilight Zone. I can't begin to tell you the horrors that came from them. TTZ came on after the Honeymooners. Oh boy!!. :-( These days, apparently watching the news has the same affect. 
Oh where, oh where, is the Mary Tyler Moore show? I think that was the name of it. Right now my television is on and, as always, I have been pretty much ignoring it--just using it as 'white sound', because I work better that way. I am not sure what station it is, but someone is talking about eating deer testicles--definitely time for a channel change! See. This is why you gotta watch Big Red Dog or Arthur cartoons; or cooking shows. You don't have to pay attention and they don't gross you out. 
2005 has been a challenging year for so many. I wish all of my friends the best in this coming year. I continue to pray for those with personal and family problems concerning health and home. 
Late last night I was doing a search on psychology testing and ended up at the "Psychology Magazine" site. Guesss what; they had online tests there :-) I ended up taking a couple and didn't hate the results. Although when I completed the standard I.Q. test, along with the number results was a statement that "your score was slightly above average; however you received 50% on the ????? test. I was really curious about that 50% score. I suspect it was off those "apple is to orange as cigarette is to..." the thing is, if you want a deeper explanation, you must pay to see it. What a bummer! Here is the URL for the tests--there are many. 
A friend asked me to post my movie review URL here because she says it is easier to find here. O.K. here it is. 
While away I picked up The Press Newspaper. This A. C. paper had a lot of stuff about Philly but I did find a few things of interest on November 25:
I see that I have received a follow-up service survey e-mail from AOL, so figured before responding to them, I should test my laptop by making a journal entry this morning. You know, those of us who use our computers daily are really held hostage by these Internet marvels. Those few days I had to use the library computers really made me appreciate the luxury of having my own to use any time of day or night. I have been getting telephone calls from a media rating company, I do not pick up the phone because they have never left a message. I was not sure if the company is real or bogus, but was able to check it out online late last night. They are real--I still will not pick up the telephone, but at least I know that they are who they say they are ;-) 
The person in this pix is not supposed to be me. I have never roasted a turkey. 
Why the big smile! I was so lost while working with a laptop that was not running on full. I could type but not always save. I absolutely could not save to this journal--some of my friends wanted to know what happened. It was just a matter of not having time to stop. Instead I used the library's computers. Some of them are at least 10 years old, so I was not able to do everything I needed to. I would prepare copy in beautiful cursive and the printer would give me standard block print (whine)
I was not ill, I seldom am, but I had been a bit out of it. That did not stop me from doing what I had to do or had planned. It was my theater day so I went to NY to see Absurb Person Singular as planned. The play was at the Biltmore theater. I had forgotten how much I love sitting in the lounge area before curtain. I usually read or talk to strangers while I have a glass of wine. I had just taken cold medication, so could not have a drink :-( I was a little embarrassed because I kept making those cat-type tiny sneezes. The woman sitting next to me remarked that I appeared to be "under the weather." I wondered where the phrase "under the weather" came from, so of course, when I arrived home went to the Internet. I found several sites and explanations, I like this explanation best, cuz it has some color ;-) 
Sooo happy the elections are over! The television campaign ads get more personal and uglier. Very tacky. You know of course, what one candidate says about the other is never really forgotten. I don't think that it forgiven either. Not sure what Corzine did to his wife but she had the best payback ever! So how many "vote for my candidate" telephone calls did you all receive?. Grrrr!
I just received the e-mail below from the Chicken Soup people. I wanted to share with you. I have bolded the subject. If you have a story or know of someone who may have a story please pass this on. 
I just received some sad news from a dear friend. She told me that her mom has died. She didn't say much just that--I knew it was bad news when I heard her terse message. "Van, I need you to call me right away." I had just missed the called by minutes. I am happy that I did, it gave me time to be able to accept whatever news it was with dignity instead of the dread and anxiety I was feeling, to help her keep her own dignity. I have found the each friend has her or his own self-measure line. It's so hard when your mom dies. You think you are all grown up, but that's the moment of truth. 
I know that a lot of people are aware that The Color Purple is coming to the Broadway stage. Information is here 
Boo! 
Last week I attended a lecture on Jackson Pollock, the artist, at the Newark Museum. The speaker was excellent and so enthusiastic about Pollock. While there, I also looked at the wonderful Power Dressing Men's Fashing and Prestige of Africa exhibit--it is very powerful. I also browsed in the gift shop. I was really tempted to buy an African print jacket I saw, but then wondered where and when I would wear this lovely piece of art? Thank goodness common sense pervailed.
My friend sent me an e-mail and included in a reminder that daylight saving time ends at midnight. Passing her reminder on to you all. Isn't it nice to be taken care of in those small ways that mean so much? :-) 
In the year 2059 world of J. D. Robb, author Nora Roberts' alter ego, there are such things as virtual travel where you can actually feel the wind in your face and the sand between your toes. NYC top cop Eve Dallas and her not quite respectable husband Roarke (one name only--that makes Eve Mrs. Roarke--but I digress) often take these virtual journeys for a little quick R&R after particularly busy days. The travel section of today's NY Times has a story by Mark Wallace that could be an extension of the Robb science fiction novels. Wallace reports "More than 10 million people around the world travel to such imaginary destinations regularly. They get there via software that lets them guide their onscreen representatives, known as "avatars," through places built entirely of pixels where they can interact with one another. Their destinations include virtual dance parties and nightclubs, auto races and yachting events, "Star Wars"-style cantinas, whimsical underwater jazz clubs and much more. In a world called Second Life, especially (where the virtual Hawaii described above can be found), so many people visit that profitable businesses have sprung up that earn their proprietors real money, not just virtual currency - in fact, a handful of people earn six-figure incomes there. There are discos, casinos and other sites that can be rented for private parties or even for the virtual weddings many people hold." 
I have been watching a particular stock for a while now and checking out its forum now and then. I never post, I just lurk hoping to learn somethng. This morning I saw this post, "It is amazing how it can go from almost nothing to something so big, from being a drag to being an object of desire."..."Yay, look at the stock soar!! Oh wait. Nevermind." 
Last week I looked in my mail box and found one of those advertisements they send to "Resident". It was an ad for laundromat(sp??) services. I usually just toss that kind of thing in the trash but for some reason it held my attention. I finally realized that it was the same company my ex-husband used to own. A few days after that I had lunch in a cute burger restaurant called Johnny Rockets or something like that. Anyway, the wait staff wore uniforms like those you see in old Coca-Cola ads. There are small juke boxes at every table and you can hear an oldie for just a nickel. As I was waiting for my sandwich I saw many "American Bandstand" goodies, including my ex's group--there it was The Monotones "Book of Love". Very weird coincidence don't you think? Did I play it? No. I just smiled and hummed a few notes. ;-)
My walking buddy had the right idea. She said that she was heading home to rest after the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. I stayed out a little longer because--well, because I was already out. Anyway, I got home around 2p or so, had a bite to eat and immediately fell asleep. When I awoke it was 8:30 and I thought "wow", this is great I slept through the whole night. Wrong. It was 8:30p.!! Apparently I was so tired that I feel into one of those really deep sleeps that happen once in a while. My back had been hurting for days before the walk so when I sat up after sleeping, I had all sorts of "owies". Today it is almost as good as new. I am sure that it was the exercise that did it, or maybe it's my blessing for doing the right thing.
I will be at the Newark Museum this morning at 9:15a to walk with my friend and hundreds of 'Making Strides' people in the downtown Newark area. I went to sleep late last night and it was not particularly restful, I even dreamed that my longtime safe haven friend had come to visit me. Not sure if that is good bad, he has been ill a long time, but it did awaken me from a troubled sleep. Fortunately this does not happen often. Walking this morning with will do me a world of good.
Someone said something that triggered me to think of what I have learned through the years (and this week)
A definate 'thumbs up'. Some people may think of 'networking' as going into a "business card battlefield" but I enjoy it. A few months back, I met and talked to a lovely young woman named Kismet at a Give 'N Take networking event in Newark, NJ at the beautiful Savoy Grill. Kismet is a singer, I found out just how good she is this morning . The e-mail below was in my in box yesterday. Many thanks to singer Morley Kamen, who was kind enough to pass this on. I have put Morley's information at the bottom of this entry. ____________________________
So far, this has a been a month of talking to friends about change. Not sure if this is a coincidence or simply proves my theory about this time of year and our personal "winter of discontent" as the time changes back to gray mornings and early nights. 
As I type this I am looking at two angels, one I have had for years, one I just received from a work friend after her cherished auntie died. I feel so honored that she would take time to send this precious sentiment to me. I know that it won't come as a surprise to most of my friends that I do believe that there angels, spirits or forces that watch over us. Sometimes they come in the form of real people ;-) My senior client from the Friend Advocate Program who has become very dear to me was surely put in my path by my mom to show me continued mommy love and of course keep me on the right track. This week I changed my plans because I received back-to-back calls from my senior. The first simply said "Van--call me when you have a chance." So I figured I would call her after I had rested a bit before going to dinner. The next call and the next were less than ten minutes apart and I learned her real reason for calling. While she had remembered that I would be away, she forgot when I said that I would see her, her message was that she thought that I was sick, hurt or 'something' and no one would know to tell her, I should just her know that I was alright. Needless to say I called and assured her that I was fine and would see her shortly and that we would do her bills and talk. When I arrived she hugged me and kissed me, then immediately told me that I had gained weight and said to turn around so she could she my behind. :-( Wow! Shades of mommy. Although, it is true, I have gained weight.
Good Morning America is my favorite morning news show, but I do watch other shows as well. I just noticed last week that Jim Ryan, former anchorman for Channel 5's morning news is now a part of the Ch. 2 news team. I do remember when Ch. 5 had what I thought was a retirement party for him. I never really liked Ryan but I did like how well Lynn worked with Ryan and the others when they seemed to forget that they were there to present the news not their opinions. I was disappointed to find that she (Lynn) is now on the early evening news. So what do I care? The thing is now that I see Jim Ryan on another channel, I am wondering if he and Lynn were moved because Ch. 5 wanted younger and prettier faces for their A.M. show? Jim Ryan is still not one of my favorite news folk, but I am hopeful that he left Ch. 5 because he wanted to, not because someone had a problem with his age.
When I was in AC I saw the movie Dirty Dancing with Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze and Jerry Orbach. It was about the trial, tribulations and fun of vacationing in the Poconos. Orbach was Grey's monied doctor dad and Swayze was Johnny Castle, the poor kid working and dancing dirty in the Poconos. This movie brought back such memories. This was my friend Joannie's favorite movie. But why wouldn't it be, every weekend she used to go to Roseland in New York to dance. I loved Joannie, she taught me to appreciate country music and line dancing before I ever saw the electric slide. The vacation spot in the movie was like a half-dozen real resorts in the Poconos, PA. I don't recall ever going to one there, but my husband and I did go to a resort in the Peekskills, NY. Gosh, we were so young , so poor, so undisciplined, (is that a word?, is it spelled correctly?) I am sure that we used to spend one fourth of our meager vacation pay before we got home. Then we would try to find fun vacation things to do. One year I saw a small ad in Ebony Magazine, it was about one inch but it caught my eye because it said "Come Vacation at King's Lodge, Peekskill, NY" I did not know what Peekskill was but the price was right for us if we were real careful. I talked to Warren (husband) and he thought it was a good idea. It turned out to be one of the smartest things we ever did. We went there yearly for vacation for many years. I have probably talked about this before, but that does happen when you are writing your thoughts. I think I will check out the vacation section in the Star Ledger for Fall vacations in the Poconos and Peekskills and see what's there. My guess is there are probably a lot of singles stuff in those places now because it is self-contained fun. Eat at family style tables, fun, hokey entertainment and a dance band. In the old days only couples or families went, I don't think I ever saw anyone without a mate. I do have a friend to travel with, but I suspect that I will have a hard time persuading him to stay in one of these places. But this is just the time to see the changing leaves and, there are several winerys that have tours and wine tasting. Mmmm--this could work.
I returned from AC mid afternoon Friday. I came in early because I had planned to attend a dress rehearsal at NJPAC--I love doing that. However, after seeing the tents, etc. that were being put up on the PAC grounds, I changed my mind because it looked like there would be a lot more going on than I was ready for.
With so much going on in in New Orleans I thought that I would share my thoughts concerning the 1997 movie Eve's Bayou in Going to the Movies with Vannie. The action in this movie takes place in Louisianna at a time when we gave no thought to hurricanes or the destruction of a State. I watched it and again and can't believe how good this movie is. Some of the scenery is just breathtaking, especially near the water. 
This has been an week of small inconveniences, mishaps and annoyances. The last being my breakfast this morning. I ate the remains of a 'Subway' sandwich I bought at the mall last night. I don't why I keep forgetting that I really do hate the bread they use, much too soft and doughy--I like bread that fights back when you chew it. Now that I think of it, all of my annoyances concern food. Last week I went to buy disks for my PC but stopped by Applebees for lunch. Ordered a shrimp dish, did not realize that I had to remove the tail shells myself, Eeewww! I never order shrimp with tails on. Dessert. They had no plain pound cake (my favorite sweet thing in the world) so I ordered the cheese cake because it did not look so bad, it had caramel drizzled over it, I could scrape that off. It turns out that again I did not read the menu correctly. There was a 1/4 inch layer of really sticky caramel layered on top of the very sweet cheese cake which was served with two large very sweet tortillas. When I am gonna learn to read the full description on the menu? 
Received the e-mail below from MyPoints.com concerning personal points donations to the American Red Cross. Donors were addressed personally. A nice touch. I must say that it was a very painless way to donate money that way. These points grow so quickly because you are just reading ads, it feels like a scam but it isn't. I use my points to receive Macy's gifts cards for myself. Have even given one away as a present ;-) 
It's 7am. I am reading my e-mails and smiling. The article below is from Womens Wall Street. Great site--good practical financial advice with a touch of woman humor ;-) Sharing the URL at bottom.
Friday, September 9, a friend and former coworker took oath as a Superior Court Judge of New Jersey. How wonderful is that? The Court House is being renovated so I had to ask how to get into the building. The woman who directed me, reminded me that I should not have 'a little knife' (her words) or anything with me because it would be confiscated. Sounds like it may have happened to her. Happy I long ago got rid of the little knife I used to have on my keychain before 9-11. There were so many people attending the swearing in that some of us (me) had to sit in an overflow room. I have to tell you when she put that robe on, I felt chills and goosebumps. I am so proud of her and to know her. I had to chance to see many of my friends and former coworkers later at the reception which was just beautiful. What can I say, the lady has style. 
will help me to take giant steps in moving forward. Yes, I do know that I will have to follow her advice to get results :-) I have already begun.
9-11-01 changed our lives. We Americans finally understood that we too are vulnerable. We have made changes I thought that I would never see. I can remember the event that made me 'get it'; to know that life in the U.S.A would be different from now on. I stopped to pick up a pastry from a shop at 744 Broad Street, Newark and I had to sign my name to walk through to the shop. It really spooked me. Now I go through the inconvenient side entrance. These days I make sure that I remove my cheap kiddy scissors from my purse when I am going to the theater. When you receive your tickets in the mail, you are advised that purses may be searched. And you are advised not to have a back pack, it will be searched. re: scissors, I use my scissors to open packages, etc when I pick up my biz mail. As a non-driver I like to get rid of any excess weight so I toss the packaging and just keep the contents. Twice I have forgotten to remove the scissors so just threw them in the trash and kept moving. Have you noticed that most trash bins are now lined with see through garbage bags? Easier to spot a filled sack, brief case or bomb. Very scary. 
I continue this quest of reading books about the South, written by southern women. Not quite sure when this started or where I am going with it, it seems more of a destination than a journey, but I will stay the course. I received 