J is for Jail

Posted on by April 11, 2012

The ultimate jail of its time – Alcatraz.

I was surprised when I got on the boat that would take us into the San Francisco Bay to visit Alcatraz that it’s less than a mile from the mainland. It might as well have been miles from shore, because escape was practically impossible. In its 29-year history, only five escapees aren’t accounted for but they are presumed dead. Every other inmate who attempted it was either caught or died. So, the five who were never found – did they really escape?

I thoroughly enjoyed my day on The Rock. So many interesting little peeks into the lives of infamous criminals – cells with unfinished crochet projects, street signs on the corridors, the menu still on the wall of the dining area.

One little tidbit – Alcatraz was the only prison in the US at that time to offer hot water for prisoners’ showers. The reason – the frigid water of the San Francisco Bay would be a deterrent in an escape attempt because they wouldn’t be accustomed to cold.

One tip – if you visit Alcatraz, even if it’s not overly warm, wear sunscreen. I learned that lesson the hard way.

I is for Inventions

Posted on by July 21, 2012

No one will dispute the number of amazing inventions that took place in the 20th century – X-ray machines, electric appliances for the home, and computers, to name a few. But there are some inventions that were just plain … silly.

Silly Putty – a mistake while looking for rubber substitutes, it became a hugely popular toy.

Furby – for people who wanted a pet but not the responsibility. So why not just buy a stuffed animal?

Bedazzler – this gadget made millions, but really, how many jewels can one person wear on their clothes?

Snuggies – the concept is ridiculously simple. Put your long bathrobe on backwards, give it a new name and make millions.

And of course, no list would be complete without the Chia Pet – I still don’t quite understand the logic of this invention. To me, it’s right up there with pet rocks.

Do you have an idea for a new gadget or toy? Patent it. Who knows, you might be the next millionaire.

PS: I’m blogging today at Sweethearts of the West. Drop by and say hello. I’m giving away a PDF copy of one of my western historical romances to one lucky commenter.

H is for Hawick (or Hometown)

Posted on by April 9, 2012

It’s a town few people have ever heard of, but it has a long and bloody history. Settled in the 12th century, it waeis an area of conflict between the Scottish and the English for centuries. By the 16th century, the border between Scotland and England had turned into a battleground. Those who lived here – the Turnbulls, the Scottls, The Douglas’s, the Kerr’s, for example – were loyal only to those they could depend on. They turned to cattle rustling, theft and murder – either from the English or from their own neighbours. Blackmail and treachery were a way of life. They became known as Border Reivers.

Those days are gone, but each year in March, The Hawick Reivers Festival takes place, with re-enactments, parades, etc. Every June, the Common Riding takes place, a week of celebration with the custom of riding the boundaries, the celebration of the capture of the English flag in 1514. The horse in the square commemorates this victory.

Hawick has come a long, long way from its violent past. These days, Hawick is better known for its rugby team and its garment and cashmere industry. But if you do stop there on a tour of Scotland, you’ll never lose your travelling companions if you tell them to meet you “at the horse”.

G is for Grease

Posted on by April 7, 2012

Grease is the word …

It’s cheesy, it’s so sugary-sweet you get cavities from just watching it, and it has no educational value whatsoever. But it’s one of my favorite movies ever.

John Travolta, coming off his Saturday Night Fever fame, is the perfect Danny, the tough guy on the outside who’s so concerned about how he looks in front of his friends that he can’t admit he really cares about sweet, naive Sandy, played by Olivia Newton-John. They spend the entire movie dancing around each other – Danny trying to impress Sandy (and failing) with his athletic abilities and Sandy trying to morph herself from her girl-next-door appearance into a sexpot. Finally, they manage to “go together, like rama lama lama ke ding a de dinga a dong” and they get their happy ending.

The romance is cliché – good girl/bad boy, girl gets boy, girl loses boy, girl gets boy and happy every after, but even thirty-something years later, it’s still a fun movie to watch. The music is infectious, the characters are enjoyable to watch, and even though the portrayal of the 50’s isn’t accurate, it’s still fun to look back at a time when teenagers hung out in a malt shop, wore bobby-socks and a big Saturday night was a movie at the local drive-in.

Hmm…it’s Saturday. Drive-in movies have gone the way of poodle skirts and duck-tailed hair, but I do have my Grease DVD. Now where’s the popcorn?

F is for Fabergé

Posted on by July 21, 2012

Carrying on my egg theme (which I didn’t realize I was doing until I decided on this topic for today’s post), I got to thinking about Easter eggs, and about the most famous eggs of all – Fabergé eggs.

In 1885, Russian Tsar Alexander III wanted to give his wife, the Empress Maria Fedorovna, an Easter egg similar to one she had been entranced by as a child. The egg, known as the Hen Egg, belonged to her aunt. The egg opened to reveal a surprise, which opened again to reveal another.

The empress loved Alexander’s gift, and he commissioned Fabergé to design a new Imperial Egg each year. Fabergé was given complete freedom in his designs, the only requirement being that they each contained a surprise.

The designs became more and more extravagant, adorned with valuable gems and precious metals. From 1885 until 1917, every Easter, a new egg was designed. These eggs, now worth millions of dollars, are scattered around the world, owned by private collectors and museums.

So, I’ve told the Easter bunny not to bother bringing me a chocolate Easter egg. A Fabergé egg will do nicely 

E is for Eggs

Posted on by July 21, 2012

I was looking for something easy to make for breakfast last week. I usually eat cereal, but I was in the mood for eggs but I didn’t want plain old bacon and eggs. I found this recipe for individual ham and egg muffins. It calls for basic ingredients everyone has on hand, but you can easily personalize it to suit your own family. And, these are just cute when they’re done. And cute makes everything taste better, right?

Mini-ham and egg muffins (makes 6)

6 eggs
6 slices deli ham
6 cherry tomatoes (diced grape tomatoes or chopped whole tomatoes work, too)
½ tsp olive oil (or Pam cooking spray)
1 tsp (approximately) finely chopped chives or green onion
1 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated (I also use grated cheddar)

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Lightly oil or spray 6 muffin cups.
3. Line each up with a slice of ham.
4. Fill each hollow with an egg, top with tomato and sprinkle with chives, cheese, sale and pepper to taste.
5. Bake 18 minutes or until egg is set to desired firmness.
6. Remove from oven. Cool 5 minutes.

Variations:
Add herbs and spices to taste.
For a softer yolk, cook for a shorter time.
For an omelet consistency, beat the eggs before filling the muffin cups.
Add mushrooms, green peppers, crumbled bacon to the egg mixture or sprinkle on top before cooking.

D is for Dallas

Posted on by April 4, 2012

No, I’m not talking about the city, but the TV show. Back in the late 70’s, when Dallas first aired, it was originally slated as a five-part mini-series. But then, viewers fell in love with the dysfunctonal and power-hungry Ewing family. It became a phenomenon, the first real soap opera to be aired in prime time.

Millions of viewers (including me) tuned in to see what dastardly deed JR had up his sleeve each week, how Sue Ellen was dealing with her drinking problem, how Bobby and Pam would work out their rocky romance. And when JR got shot in the first real season-ending cliff-hanger, the catch phrase “Who shot JR?” made headlines around the world.

The producers were smart. In the last scene of the series, the camera is inside JR’s bedroom at South Fork. JR is holding a gun. Cut to outside. We hear a shot. It was the ultimate cliff-hanger. Did he or didn’t he commit suicide?

Apparently not. Because Dallas is back! Or will be this summer on TNT. No doubt JR will be up to his old tricks and Bobby will still be … Bobby. But this reincarnation of the show will focus mainly on John Ross (JR’s son) and Christopher (Bobby and Pam’s son). The producers are trying to attract the younger generation while at the same time bringing back those who were fans of the original show. Yes, that would be me.

Other prime-time soaps followed – Knots Landing, Dynasty, etc. I watched them all for a while, but Dallas was still my favorite. I, for one, cannot wait for the premier! What about you? Were you a fan?