The ABC Life Blog

Justice is not a town I visited nor a restaurant. It’s a recent documentary. Hot Coffee is a rivoting film that raises the question: is justice being served? It opens your eyes to the injustices and madness that surrounds our civil lawsuits by addressing the issues of frivolous lawsuits, pain and suffering caps and mandatory arbitration. Remember the incident where a woman was awarded $2.9 for spilling a cup of McDonald’s hot coffee on herself while in her car? Remember how you thought, what a joke? If you spill coffee while driving, you need to re-examine your common sense not sue the place where you bought the coffee? I do. And now I’m horrified at how wrong I was. There are several other cases that make you gasp. While Hot Coffee got my blood boiling, it also made me realize that I should no longer take anything at face value. Ironically, that goes for what’s presented in this movie as well. Question everything and then make your own conclusions.

The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry was a pleasant surprise. Not only did I discover a new author I admire but I learned more about Asperger’s syndrome. (A dear, childhood friend of mine has a daughter with Asperger’s, so getting to know this character helped me gain more understanding of her world)  Each chapter opens with a recipe, that when cooked by Ginny, brings back the ghost of the recipe’s original creator. Another novel about finding yourself and putting your life in balance (in this case after tragedy) but with a delightful new character and voice.

Since it is July 31, this is probably the final post for J. Wasn’t a particularly abundant month, but I tried new things and learned a lot. Now if I had just made some jambalaya…

With a two-week assignment that runs through the end of the month, I am quickly going to run out of time to do J things. So, with that frame of mind, we went last night to Joe’s Italian Bistro (2 points). Very pleasant neighborhood restaurant that had completely escaped my radar until now. Great value: lots of food, lots of flavor, not lots of money. Then we did an instant Netflix and watched All Good Things, a 2010 mystery film directed by Andrew Jarecki (2 points). Well-acted and interesting film, but quite creepy. Generated good discussion but unfortunately it remained in my head while I slept, resulting in a restless night.

Had a few more I entries to post before I jump into J.

2 points for Indie towns
Took a day’s road trip to Ben Wheeler and Edom, two small towns that predominately promote art and music. I figure that makes them indie towns. Ben Wheeler has an interesting story behind it. Three years ago, the de facto mayor Brooks Gremmels and his wife began buying up property in the heart of town. Once they acquired 40 acres, they naturally wanted to ensure the revitalization of the town – so they created a foundation that renovates historic structures and then rents them to artisans for $1 per month. Now there are nine art studios or galleries (The Flying Fish Gallery was my fave) and a few interesting places to eat, with The Forge Bistro leading the pack. Their pulled pork and green chili panini was mouth-watering delicious. I plan to recreate that little beauty soon. But it’s the music that is the big draw. If you’re in the neighborhood on Thursday through Saturday nights, you’re in luck. In Edom, the music starts as early as Tuesday at The Shed.

1 point for Philip Roth’s Indignation. This is dark comedy at Roth’s best. A strange book but, to my surprise, I truly enjoyed it and was laughing out loud several times. Since it deals with destruction, intolerance and tragedy, I have to wonder at myself, but certain passages were hysterical.

1 point for Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini. This is a clear example of how the ABC Life pushes me to try new things. Since this book deals with how our decision to buy something is influenced by one of six different marketing/sales maneuvers (reciprocation, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority and scarcity), this is a subject that would catch my attention. It’s not, however, something that would necessarily push other books off my list to make room for me to read this one. But I did and am grateful for what I learned. Between the ABC Life and my book clubs, I have a whole new appreciation for the power and charm of non-fiction.

Unfortunately, I did not experiment with Icebox Pies but I did have a few Iceberg Salads. So, it’s time to move on to July and, naturally, a 4th of July BBQ.

Just by the nature of the letter, this month is all about I (or me, if being grammatically correct). So I’ve INDULGED myself and went to a class on INTUITION (2 points). It was an “intuition lab,” more than a class. Using an INFORMAL setting, the INSTRUCTOR (someone please stop me) talked about how you can develop your INNER voice and trust your INSTINCTS. I truly enjoyed it and have been working on listening a little closer to my inner “whisper.”

I was curious about the INCHWORM (2 points). I know it seems obvious, but I wanted to find out if this little guy measures an inch…or just moves an inch at a time. Well, short of getting up close and personal with one, I went on the internet and discovered that the answer is “yes” to both. I also found out that they are not really worms. They are caterpillars. I personally share one characteristic with inchworms – we have voracious appetites (at least that’s how it feels to me now that I’m dieting). However, while an inchworm spends its entire life feeding, I at least get to blog and jog (yeah right) occasionally.

My very best “H” is for HOSTING our daughter’s wedding (2 points) this past weekend. Held at Vine HILL HOUSE (another 2 points), the setting was gorgeous –  a vineyard estate in the Russian River Valley wine region of Sonoma County, California. We overlooked hundreds of acres of vineyards and organic apple orchards and enjoyed sweeping mountain views. But nothing, in a proud mother’s opinion, compared to the view I now carry in my heart of my daughter looking absolutely beautiful and glowing the entire afternoon and evening. The best thing, however, is the couple’s true happiness. Kate and Ben epitomize what my great-aunt Jo once said: “It’s not enough to marry someone you can live with. Marry someone you can’t live without.”

Earlier last week I gained 2 points for trying the HIBACHI ROCKS restaurant. Suffice it to say it didn’t.

2 points. Discovered The Happiness Project blog by Grethen Rubin. http://www.happiness-project.com. Gretchen is a highly creative seeker of happiness and her blog shares her many discoveries of truth and happiness. Gretchen’s Twelve Personal Commandments are inspiring and definitely needling at me to reflect on what my 12 would be. I relate to hers and could easily adopt all 12 but is that cheating? Surely I can still think for myself. All I need is time, which I am now realizing I will meet up with again in August.

Barbara read about an interesting “store” called Fringe in McKinney. Open only once a month, it contains little treasures that apparently several women find, rescue and restore, if needed. So off we went and lucky Barbara scored a couple of eye-catching additions for her abode. Across the street was the House of Hargrove  (2 points), an unexpected thrill since it fit into the H month and was totally unplanned. It was actually an outdoor “junk” market. Found a charming metal, three-foot Knight destined for the garden. And as my friend Pat says, “every girl deserves a knight in shining armor.” Mine’s a bit weather beaten, but perfect anyway. Kurt put a peanut in its mouth this morning and when we went out for our walk, it was gone. Was it a blue bird or a squirrel? The knight will never tell.

I’ve hopped into the H month and tackled two things right off the bat.

2 points for Houston. Spent a week working at a conference and got to see a bit of Houston. Okay, just saw the restaurants of Houston, including another 2 points for dining at Houston’s. BBQ ribs, yum. Their cobbler, not so great. But, really, is there ever a bad cobbler?

Tried a new author, Sara Hoffman. Her much touted book, So Much Pretty, deals with a difficult and gripping subject of violence in small town America. Could not get into this book. You need a totally clear mind to tackle this one and that left me way out in the cold. Will find something lighter for my next read.

Shall I grieve for G? It’s been a month that has been totally overshadowed by one main activity: GHOSTWRITING. It’s taken up my entire month (you need a certain flair to write nine chapters on “style” and that doesn’t always come easy) and, although quite the experience, has sadly gobbled up all my time. Days gallopped by and I didn’t get to visit a new gallery, play a new game or strum a guitar. Goodness gracious! Goodbye G.

And since it fits, good-bye to Genevieve. No, I’ll say instead, GOOD LUCK to GENEVIEVE.

I’ve fallen behind in reporting my abc life but not in living it. A flurry of FREELANCE work has kept me busy but I’ve still been having fun with F.

2 points for a Vintage FASHION Show earlier in the month. Not every day you get to see the styles from the 1860s in living color. Interesting to see what some of the great literary heroines were wearing back in the day.

2 points for a visit to FOSSIL RIM Wildlife Center, where we drove along a 9-mile road through 1,400 acres of hills, pastures and forests. Endangered species walked up to our cars and said hello. Or stared, as in the case of the awesome Aoudads – wild African sheep who looked into my eyes so intently that I now  count them to fall asleep; their reach-into-your-soul intensity actually puts me out. Scary horizontal pupils surrounded by brilliant yellow irises…haunting. But the giraffes, zebras, bison, cheetahs and rhinos were just as memorable. A great trip!

2 points for the addition of a new FAMILY. Spent a weekend in California with my daughter’s soon-to-be husband’s family. Got to know them better and shared in their bridal shower festivities for Kate. Wonderful people; so gratifying to know she’s got a lovely additional family to complement her life.  A special bonus for the weekend: a fabulous serenade of Beatles songs from my son Matt and his guitar.

Well, it’s the end of the month. Farewell to F. It’s been FUN.