Sharing Circle

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…)

I thought I’d pass on my personal top 100 horror movies. Although I am sure you will find many that you already know and would expect to see I guarantee that you will find some that you have missed out on!

100. IT (1990, Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace)
99. The Beyond (1981, Directed by Lucio Fulci)
98. Cloverfield
97. Don’t Look Now (1973, Directed by Nocolas Roeg)
96. Night of the Creeps (1986, Written and Directed by Fred Dekker)
95. Dead Ringers (1988, Directed by David Cronenberg)
94. Return of the Living Dead (1985, Written & Directed by Dan O’Bannon)
93. Scream (1996, Directed by Wes Craven)
92. Final Destination (2000, Directed by James Wong)
91. Re-Animator (1985, Directed by Stuart Gordon) (more…)

Just thought I’d share this quickly, as some of you might gather a little amusement out of it. Apparently an architect in Austria has decided to paint his entire house–and everything in it, right down to the potted plants– a lovely shade of blue.

He wanted to see what it would be like to live with just one color, apparently. Obviously I can’t put up the photo, or I would, but you can see for yourself here. Apparently his neighbors are not amused. I can’t understand why.

Would you paint your whole home a single color? If so, what color would you choose?

And do you believe the guy when he says he did this just to see what it was like to live with one color?

“Take your life in your own hands and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.”

-Erica Jong

Need I say more? Erica Jong is a very interesting writer if you’ve never read any of her stuff. I’d recommend “How to Save Your Own Life,” for those of you who don’t know her. Be forewarned: the book is for grownups and would probably be rated R. If you can’t deal with mature things and mature language, don’t read it. Just read her quotes. She’s a thinker, and offers some interesting perspective. Anyway, here’s a link for those of you who may not know her stuff.  How to Save Your Own Life . Enjoy!

One of the things I think could be really interesting on this blog if it happens is if/when people felt like sharing some of the specifics of what a typical day in their lives was like. I’m one of those American-born people who has not yet had the opportunity to travel outside the USA…so I am hungry, in particular, to hear more from non-Americans about what a typical day might be like (or week, or whatever you’d like to share.)

But really I’m feeling  a bit interested in anyone’s life who wants to share! (So I’m a bit voyeuristic. Sue me.)

And I wonder if any of my imaginings about people in other countries have any truth to them… (more…)

I was just thinking about the few television shows I’ve seen from outside the United States (they are mostly all either Japanese game shows or British television shows.) It made me curious about what shows people watch the most and enjoy, whether they are from the USA or from other countries. What do you watch?

I’ve put a list of some of my favorite shows up and I’d love to hear what other people, particularly non-US people, watch most often. Or do you watch at all? (more…)

Seeing the recipe for eggs and beans, which I had never thought of, made me want to post another seriously yummy recipe here.

I had dinner guests the other night and to make them something they never had before, I made some Indian food. They ooohed and wowed like I’d been working all day on the food, but they didn’t know the secret. It’s actually very simple to make. Follow me to the next page and I’ll let you know how it was done.
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YUM!

I wanted to quickly share a meal that a lot of people may not have ever had, (particularly most Americans) which my British friends and family taught me about.

Sometimes, particularly in restaurants, this is served with sausage and tomato. It’s inexpensive and surprisingly good, filling, and with plenty of protein. See ingredients and the simple how-to on the flip. (more…)

I feel kind of odd about passing along this information, but my role as I see it is to just report and people can make of it what they will.

I have a great deal of respect for military people world-wide; my father was in the National Guard, and my sister and brother-in-law were Marines.  I just stumbled into this relatively new organization made up of retired and currently serving American Military personnel. Called “The Oath Keepers” (which though it might conjure up visions of the promise-keepers who swear to stay virginal until marriage) it seems their role could conceivably be FAR more important to the American people than the latter.  Personally I think these men and women (after a relatively quick examination) have their minds and hearts in the right place.  See why on the flip.

Their point of view seems pretty sane to me, but perhaps it runs counter to the conventional wisdom of those serving, I don’t know. Without further ado, here are the principles that this organization’s leadership are asking American military (past and present) people to swear to do (or not do.) (more…)