Sharing Circle

Some friends of mine are going to be taking a trip to Orlando soon, and I’m casting about for some interesting/unusual things that they might want to check out. Yeah, everyone knows about Disneyland and Epcot and all that: I’m looking for things OFF the beaten path, so to speak.

So far, I’ve come across the “Mouse Surplus Review,” which is apparently a big warehose holding everything from excess mickey mouses to name tags from old Disney Characters. Reveiwers say it’s worth a look. It’s located at  1000 Detour Rd, Haines City, FL 33844-9350 (863) 422-0000. Their website is here.

Also, if you’re interested in fainting goats (and who isn’t, they’re surely one of the most interesting creatures god created!) the link to the “International Fainting Goat Association” is here.  Looks like there are a few breeders of these lovely animals in FL. (more…)

This recipe is from the 1950 Junior League Cookbook of Charleston, SC. I haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds like just the thing for hot summer days.  It looks easy, too – with only four ingredients!

Ingredients:

1 cup pineapple juice

3 tablespoons lemon juice

2/3 cups sugar

2 cups milk

Mix pineapple juice, lemon juice, and sugar. Chill, then add to milk. Freeze one hour, beat thoroughly, then freeze about 3 hours. Serves 4.  (Mrs. Louis T. Parker/Josephine Walker.)

If you try it, let me know what you think!

For those who perhaps are not familiar with him, I just wanted to do my bit to make sure that the whole world learns about the venerable English author, Terry Pratchett.  He’s one of the most prolific, talented, and astute observers of human behavior who is writing today. If you have anything approximating a sense of humor, you will find something to enjoy in his extensive catalog.

Initially made famous for his Discworld novels, which are set on a mythical yet suspiciously familiar disc-shaped world, Pratchett’s work has now in several instances been made into film. Some of you may have seen “Hogfather” which aired fairly recently on American cable television. 

 Unfortunately reading books has to a degree fallen out of fashion, and of course many people are so busy working three or four jobs to make ends meet, that collapsing in front of a television set is the best many of us can do after an eighteen hour day.  Like just about every other instance you can think of, Pratchett’s books have a richness of detail that cannot possibly be translated to a movie… but they’ve certainly given it the old college try and not come up wanting.  (The aforementioned Hogfather was incredibly nicely done….how can you miss, when you cast David Jason as Rincewind? But I digress.)

So, whether you read Pratchett’s books, or watch the available films, if you’ve never heard of him, by all means, step on out and treat yourself, and your family. I would think that any of Pratchett’s books would be suitable for children from about the age of twelve on up, but of course, your mileage may vary. Children younger than that will have some of the jokes sailing over their heads, but they still will enjoy the stories. He’s a master storyteller, and laugh-out-loud funny.

Pratchett writes for adults, however. Anyway, just trust me. If you don’t know Pratchett, I HIGHLY recommend his work, especially his books, especially the discworld novels. Pratchett is a galactic treasure. If we’re rating humorous, imaginative writers on a scale of one to ten, I’d say Pratchett is an eleven! Read him, and thank me later!

I just thought I’d share a few of my favorite quotes about love. Anybody else have some other good ones?

• “Love is everything it’s cracked up to be…It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for.”~Erica Jong
• “Since feeling is first who pays attention to the syntax of things will never wholly kiss you wholly to be a fool while spring is in the world..”.~ee cummings
• “There is no remedy for love but to love more.”~Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862) Journal, July 25, 1839 (more…)

I wanted to share a list of some of what I think are the coolest, most inspirational books ever, and I don’t think they are commonly read these days. (Correct me if I’m wrong!) I hope folks might find something new here, and if so, let me know! I love to read and to share good books.

1.) Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl is a book by a concentration camp survivor which will really make you think. It will definitely move you, and it may even change your life. It did mine.

2.) The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom is also a very inspirational book having to with the author’s experiences during WWII. Well worth reading.

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I just wanted to share some thoughts about Gilda Radner. She was best known for her comedy and her role of “Roseanne Roseannadanna” on Saturday Night Live. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1986, and kept an incredible state of mind about her illness–she never lost her sense of humor, apparently. She wrote a book called “It’s Always Something” which was published in about 1988.  It’s a funny, heartbreaking, and inspirational book that I would recommend to anyone–whether cancer has touched their immediate lives or not. Also, there are now apparently organizations worldwide of “Gilda’s Clubs,” where people living with cancer, and their friends and families, can meet to learn how to live with cancer. The center was named for a quip from Radner, who said, “Having cancer gave me membership in an elite club I’d rather not belong to.” (more…)