Second weekend in December, we took the Amtrak train down to Florida for the holidays in coach style. It was the auto train and the first time we tried it. I must say it was a very pleasant experience as compared to driving all the way down. We relaxed in the comfortable seats, and were able to read, nap, and walk around with no problem at all.
The staff were pleasant, the meal in the dining car was plentiful and aesthetically appealing (chicken, rice, vegetable plus cheesecake and coffee). The restrooms were easily accessible and everyone around us was quiet (except for an older man up ahead who snored through the night!).
The only glitch to this trip was in the middle of the night, when the train stopped suddenly somewhere in South Carolina. I woke up, smelling rubber burning and looked out the window into the pitch black night. I immediately sensed something was not right when we saw the red flashing of police cars. I asked one of the staff what had happened and they said that someone's car was on the track and the train tried stopping in time. It was a very sobering moment for all of us, for we heard that there were other people in the car with this person and they tried to get him out, but he stayed in it. He did it on purpose. I prayed very hard for that person's soul. One can not and should not solve life's problems, which tend to be temporary, with permanent solutions like death. It just doesn't work that way. It is a very selfish solution - for each person has many loved ones in their circle, and when they choose to leave, just think about the anguish, guilt, and terrible sadness that they leave behind. How inconsiderate and foolish!
God gave us a brain, to solve and cope with life's problems. It took several days for me to get over that dreadful, negative feeling this event evoked in me.
Once in Florida, I sensed a refreshing feeling. We drove to the Tampa Bay area to visit family under cloudy weather but the next day it was fair. I immediately noticed how nice the weather was after that. It tended to be in the 70s, sunny and breezy. Also, the days were longer than up north. Instead of the sun setting around 5 pm, it was setting closer to 6:00 pm! So longer days and more sunshine were very much appreciated.
We visited the Greek church in Tarpon Springs the day before Christmas. St. Nicholas is nestled in the heart of Tarpon Springs and is quite a beautiful and spiritual experience being inside this church. I felt protected and very much at peace while the liturgy took place. The incense in the air, the chanter droning in the background, and the steady movements of the priest's robed body lulled me into a meditative state of being. In front of us stood a little old lady in the pew. She looked pious and wore a little scarf. Suddenly I heard the ringing of a cell phone and to my surprise, she reached down into her purse, gave an exclamation, and turned it off. Even little, old Greek ladies have cell phones these days! I smiled at the scene.
Our Christmas was enjoyable as we spent it with family and friends. Remember, it is the spirit of Christ's birth that sustains our faith and not how many gifts we give or receive. The greatest gift of all is Christ himself.
May you have a blessed and safe New Year 2012! Chronia Polla kai Eutichismenos o Kainourios Chronos!!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Berkeley Springs Book Festival
Morgan Arts Council in Berkeley Springs, WV is hosting its first annual Book Festival on November 26, 2011 at the Ice House (10am-4pm).
I plan to be there to booksign my four books. Also, I will probably read a couple of my poems during the open mic session (3-4pm).
Here is more information about the book festival:
http://www.berkeleysprings.com/bookfest.html
I plan to be there to booksign my four books. Also, I will probably read a couple of my poems during the open mic session (3-4pm).
Here is more information about the book festival:
http://www.berkeleysprings.com/bookfest.html
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Excerpt from The Lion and the Nurse
THE LION AND THE NURSE
by Patty Apostolides
CHAPTER 1
April 1979
Truth exists, yet often times we don’t see it. Elusive, like a deer in hiding, it waits, revealing itself only when the beholder stands still, ready to accept it unconditionally. Such a moment of truth exposed itself on this spring afternoon to Cassiani, but was she ready for it?
Cassiani stepped out on to the sunlit balcony carrying a bucket of dirty soap water in one hand and a wet mop in the other. Her mind was miles away at the University Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, where she worked the past five months as a registered nurse. Today she would have been taking blood pressure readings at seven o’clock in the morning or popping thermometers into patients’ mouths. Or she would have been reading charts and administering medications. Instead, she was here on the Greek Island of Kos, mopping Mrs. Lukas’ upstairs apartment.
A week ago, when she and her sister received the telephone call from the doctor at Kos Hospital telling them that her mother experienced a heart attack, it had come as a shock. Athena couldn’t come because she was pregnant with her second child, so it was decided that Cassiani would come. Cassiani rushed to get here, dropping everything she was doing with no other thought but to nurse her mother. When she arrived three days ago, little did she know that today she’d be cleaning and mopping Mrs. Lukas’ house.
Cassiani lifted the bucket and poured the soapy water over the side of the balcony, watching the water disappear down the slope of the lime-green hill below. Further observation revealed flecks of color among the hill; clusters of white cyclamen, bunches of daisies, and bright red poppies that swayed with each caress of the wind. She took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh mountain air.
“This would be a good place to rest,” she said aloud. Two wooden chairs and a small square table sat on the balcony. She sank into one chair, plopping her slender legs up on the other chair, enjoying the sun-drenched panoramic view of Kos Island below. She could see far on this clear day; the whitewashed houses scattered here and there, the sandy beach of Tigaki with its salt lake, and in the horizon, the small island of Pserimos.
Her gaze settled to her left, beyond the row of Cypress trees that marked the property’s boundary, on the winding road leading to the house. She remembered the walk she had with her mother years ago down that very same road. It was dusty and half the width; suited more for pedestrians and donkeys than for cars. This morning her mother said, “You’ll find the road paved now, so don’t miss the way. It was done two years ago when Mrs. Lukas bought a new Mercedes.”
Cassiani glimpsed the dark shade of a lonely automobile driving up the road, but lost track of it just as quickly; probably her imagination at work. Mrs. Lukas was napping downstairs and wasn’t expecting anyone. She yawned, rubbing her eyes, enjoying the feel of the warm sun on her face. Her eyes fluttered shut as she fell into a light sleep.
Thud.
Cassiani jumped up from her chair, knocking it over, her heart beating wildly. She anxiously peered through the balcony’s glass door into the darkness of the apartment. Could it be that Mrs. Lukas had walked up the stairs looking for her and had slipped on the newly mopped floor? Then she caught sight of the man. His movements were slow and cautious, as if he had sensed another presence…her presence. “A burglar,” she whispered. She quickly made the sign of the cross. “Dear Lord, have mercy on me.”
He was lean and dressed in dark clothes, and was heading purposefully towards her.
* * *
“What are you doing here?” Leo demanded. Just as he was about to reach the balcony he slipped on the wet floor and landed on his back.
At that very same moment Cassiani sprinted past him, then slid on the wet floor, her arms flailing about her until she regained her momentum. In her haste to leave, she blindly ran into the luggage lined up at the door. She lost her balance and grabbed the doorframe managing to keep from falling. She shakily pulled the two large suitcases upright. Were these the cause of the sound she heard from the balcony? She glanced at the nametag. “Dr. Leonidas Regas,” she whispered. Why did the name sound familiar? Her eyes flew open. “Oh, no!”
The burglar was none other than the much-awaited nephew of Soula Lukas. How could it be? He was supposed to arrive tomorrow. Ashamed at her behavior, Cassiani turned around and stared at the fallen man. She inched her way towards him, careful not to slip on the wet floor. Although his eyes were shut, to her relief she could make out the faint movement of his chest rising and falling rhythmically. Yes, he was alive…and undeniably handsome. His tanned face was lean, with a strong chin and a prominent, straight nose. She bent down, ready to check his head for bumps when his eyes fluttered open, staring upwards to gaze at the ceiling.
She caught her breath when his eyes settled on her. Magnificently large in size, their golden hazel color, speckled with emerald and saffron, glowed like a cat’s eyes…no…more like a lion’s eyes…as if there was a fire brewing inside them. It was unnerving, the intent way he studied her.
“Ouch,” he said, touching the back of his head. Apparently satisfied with the result, he raised himself in a sitting position. He studied her once more.
She could feel the warm rush of his breath against her face. Suddenly aware of how physically close he was to her, Cassiani moved back, trembling. A minute ago she was nursing a vulnerable, weak patient. As soon as he spoke, as soon as he was a man again and not a patient, society’s norms, her Christian principles, and her parents’ sound upbringing joined forces, sending warning signals up her spine. You’re alone in this apartment with a man.
“Don’t worry, I won’t bite.” His teasing voice was low and husky. She smiled. He smiled back. “What were you doing here?”
“I, I…was.” she said, very conscious of his stare. For some odd reason, she couldn’t speak. Instead, she stood up and pointed towards the balcony where she had left the bucket and mop. She made the motion of mopping.
In one swift movement he was up on his feet, his agile body moving cautiously to the balcony. “You were mopping the apartment,” he finished her sentence. “That explains the wet floor.”
Cassiani was about to introduce herself when she heard a faint call coming from downstairs. She turned her head to hear better. “It’s Mrs. Lukas. She is calling.” She ran towards the door, knocking the luggage over.
“Wait!” Leo shouted.
Cassiani flew down the steps. This time there was no turning back. She sprinted through the large kitchen with the peppermint tea scent, across the narrow hallway with its paintings, and into the bedroom. She found Soula Lukas sitting upright in her bed, propped up by several large pillows. The pink satin robe covering her thin frame, meant for a much younger woman, captured the eye first before settling on her olive-skinned, wrinkled face. Her fluffy white hair circled her head like a misplaced halo.
Maybe it was the way her brown eyes, clouded and unfocused, looked up at Cassiani, or the dazed look on her face, as if she had just seen a ghost; whatever it was, something had caused her to call out.
Cassiani leaned over and touched her shoulder. “Mrs. Lukas, is everything all right?” she asked, feeling breathless. “I heard you calling.”
“What? Oh, yes,” Soula muttered. Her hand fluttered over her eyes. “I had a dream…yes…a dream. That Leo was here.”
“Actually, Leo did—” Cassiani began, then stopped when she saw Leo.
In a few strides Leo reached his aunt’s bed. “Aunt Soula!” he said. He bent down and kissed his aunt tenderly on the forehead then eased his body on the edge of the bed
Soula’s voice trembled with joy. She gripped his hand as if she were testing the reality of his presence. “So you weren’t really a dream after all! I thought I saw you in a dream…that you had come.”
Captivated by this new development into Mrs. Lukas’ world, Cassiani watched with surprise, witnessing the caring look on Leo’s face and the gentle way he touched his aunt’s arm. There was sensitivity in that gesture, one that conveyed a soul that had experienced love and knew how to show it and this spoke louder than words to Cassiani’s fine-tuned heart. She was mesmerized.
The tender way in which Mrs. Lukas gazed back into her nephew’s eyes revealed no coldness or hardness that Cassiani had glimpsed in the past, but a startling show of affection…resembling the love of a mother towards her child.
“I stopped by earlier, but you were asleep.”
“Ahh, so that was what happened!” Soula said, touching Leo’s face fondly. “Weren’t you supposed to come tomorrow?” She scrunched her face, thinking. “What is today…Thursday or Friday?”
Leo playfully patted her on the hand. “We had arranged for me to come today, Thursday.”
“Oh, my,” Soula replied, appearing apologetic. “For some reason I thought it was tomorrow. You know…I’m becoming rather forgetful.”
Cassiani quietly removed herself, not wanting to interfere with the reunion. As a nurse, she had learned not to pry into people’s affairs. She paused at the door and looked at them. “I must be going,” she said.
Leo stood up. “I’m sorry if I frightened you. I wasn’t expecting to find anyone upstairs in the apartment.”
I wasn’t expecting anyone either. “That’s all right. I’m the one that should be apologizing,” Cassiani replied.
“What happened?” Soula asked Leo, her eyes narrowing.
“I slipped on the floor she had mopped and – ”
“Did you hurt yourself?” Soula interjected, looking concerned.
“I’m fine,” Leo chuckled, gingerly touching the back of his head. “Not even a small bump for a souvenir.”
“I have to go now,” Cassiani said, feeling awkward under Mrs. Lukas’ scrutiny. “My mother hasn’t been feeling well. I need to be with her.”
“Ah, yes. Say hello to her for me,” Soula said, her face softening. “Oh…and don’t forget to take the payment for cleaning the upstairs apartment. The money is on the kitchen table.” She signaled towards the kitchen.
Cassiani blushed at the patronizing manner in which Mrs. Lukas had just spoken. I helped because I wanted to, not because of any payment. Instead of replying, she fled from the room.
* * *
Leo watched with amusement at Cassiani’s flustered exit. His mind had been preoccupied all day with business deals and his aunt’s health. Cassiani’s brief entrance into his life had been a refreshingly beautiful diversion. I wonder whether I’ll see her again. I wonder where she lives. “Who is she?”
“She’s the daughter of my hired companion, Vera Meletis. Vera had a heart attack recently. I needed help, so she sent her in her place.” Soula motioned to Leo. “Come, take my arm so I can get up.”
Leo held on to his aunt as she arose out of bed. “I didn’t see her car outside. Does she need a ride—”
“Don’t go thinking too much about her,” Soula interjected.
“What makes you think that?” Leo asked, shrugging his shoulders.
“Oh, an old woman’s intuition,” was his aunt’s tart reply.
* * *
Available on www.Amazon.com
by Patty Apostolides
CHAPTER 1
April 1979
Truth exists, yet often times we don’t see it. Elusive, like a deer in hiding, it waits, revealing itself only when the beholder stands still, ready to accept it unconditionally. Such a moment of truth exposed itself on this spring afternoon to Cassiani, but was she ready for it?
Cassiani stepped out on to the sunlit balcony carrying a bucket of dirty soap water in one hand and a wet mop in the other. Her mind was miles away at the University Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, where she worked the past five months as a registered nurse. Today she would have been taking blood pressure readings at seven o’clock in the morning or popping thermometers into patients’ mouths. Or she would have been reading charts and administering medications. Instead, she was here on the Greek Island of Kos, mopping Mrs. Lukas’ upstairs apartment.
A week ago, when she and her sister received the telephone call from the doctor at Kos Hospital telling them that her mother experienced a heart attack, it had come as a shock. Athena couldn’t come because she was pregnant with her second child, so it was decided that Cassiani would come. Cassiani rushed to get here, dropping everything she was doing with no other thought but to nurse her mother. When she arrived three days ago, little did she know that today she’d be cleaning and mopping Mrs. Lukas’ house.
Cassiani lifted the bucket and poured the soapy water over the side of the balcony, watching the water disappear down the slope of the lime-green hill below. Further observation revealed flecks of color among the hill; clusters of white cyclamen, bunches of daisies, and bright red poppies that swayed with each caress of the wind. She took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh mountain air.
“This would be a good place to rest,” she said aloud. Two wooden chairs and a small square table sat on the balcony. She sank into one chair, plopping her slender legs up on the other chair, enjoying the sun-drenched panoramic view of Kos Island below. She could see far on this clear day; the whitewashed houses scattered here and there, the sandy beach of Tigaki with its salt lake, and in the horizon, the small island of Pserimos.
Her gaze settled to her left, beyond the row of Cypress trees that marked the property’s boundary, on the winding road leading to the house. She remembered the walk she had with her mother years ago down that very same road. It was dusty and half the width; suited more for pedestrians and donkeys than for cars. This morning her mother said, “You’ll find the road paved now, so don’t miss the way. It was done two years ago when Mrs. Lukas bought a new Mercedes.”
Cassiani glimpsed the dark shade of a lonely automobile driving up the road, but lost track of it just as quickly; probably her imagination at work. Mrs. Lukas was napping downstairs and wasn’t expecting anyone. She yawned, rubbing her eyes, enjoying the feel of the warm sun on her face. Her eyes fluttered shut as she fell into a light sleep.
Thud.
Cassiani jumped up from her chair, knocking it over, her heart beating wildly. She anxiously peered through the balcony’s glass door into the darkness of the apartment. Could it be that Mrs. Lukas had walked up the stairs looking for her and had slipped on the newly mopped floor? Then she caught sight of the man. His movements were slow and cautious, as if he had sensed another presence…her presence. “A burglar,” she whispered. She quickly made the sign of the cross. “Dear Lord, have mercy on me.”
He was lean and dressed in dark clothes, and was heading purposefully towards her.
* * *
“What are you doing here?” Leo demanded. Just as he was about to reach the balcony he slipped on the wet floor and landed on his back.
At that very same moment Cassiani sprinted past him, then slid on the wet floor, her arms flailing about her until she regained her momentum. In her haste to leave, she blindly ran into the luggage lined up at the door. She lost her balance and grabbed the doorframe managing to keep from falling. She shakily pulled the two large suitcases upright. Were these the cause of the sound she heard from the balcony? She glanced at the nametag. “Dr. Leonidas Regas,” she whispered. Why did the name sound familiar? Her eyes flew open. “Oh, no!”
The burglar was none other than the much-awaited nephew of Soula Lukas. How could it be? He was supposed to arrive tomorrow. Ashamed at her behavior, Cassiani turned around and stared at the fallen man. She inched her way towards him, careful not to slip on the wet floor. Although his eyes were shut, to her relief she could make out the faint movement of his chest rising and falling rhythmically. Yes, he was alive…and undeniably handsome. His tanned face was lean, with a strong chin and a prominent, straight nose. She bent down, ready to check his head for bumps when his eyes fluttered open, staring upwards to gaze at the ceiling.
She caught her breath when his eyes settled on her. Magnificently large in size, their golden hazel color, speckled with emerald and saffron, glowed like a cat’s eyes…no…more like a lion’s eyes…as if there was a fire brewing inside them. It was unnerving, the intent way he studied her.
“Ouch,” he said, touching the back of his head. Apparently satisfied with the result, he raised himself in a sitting position. He studied her once more.
She could feel the warm rush of his breath against her face. Suddenly aware of how physically close he was to her, Cassiani moved back, trembling. A minute ago she was nursing a vulnerable, weak patient. As soon as he spoke, as soon as he was a man again and not a patient, society’s norms, her Christian principles, and her parents’ sound upbringing joined forces, sending warning signals up her spine. You’re alone in this apartment with a man.
“Don’t worry, I won’t bite.” His teasing voice was low and husky. She smiled. He smiled back. “What were you doing here?”
“I, I…was.” she said, very conscious of his stare. For some odd reason, she couldn’t speak. Instead, she stood up and pointed towards the balcony where she had left the bucket and mop. She made the motion of mopping.
In one swift movement he was up on his feet, his agile body moving cautiously to the balcony. “You were mopping the apartment,” he finished her sentence. “That explains the wet floor.”
Cassiani was about to introduce herself when she heard a faint call coming from downstairs. She turned her head to hear better. “It’s Mrs. Lukas. She is calling.” She ran towards the door, knocking the luggage over.
“Wait!” Leo shouted.
Cassiani flew down the steps. This time there was no turning back. She sprinted through the large kitchen with the peppermint tea scent, across the narrow hallway with its paintings, and into the bedroom. She found Soula Lukas sitting upright in her bed, propped up by several large pillows. The pink satin robe covering her thin frame, meant for a much younger woman, captured the eye first before settling on her olive-skinned, wrinkled face. Her fluffy white hair circled her head like a misplaced halo.
Maybe it was the way her brown eyes, clouded and unfocused, looked up at Cassiani, or the dazed look on her face, as if she had just seen a ghost; whatever it was, something had caused her to call out.
Cassiani leaned over and touched her shoulder. “Mrs. Lukas, is everything all right?” she asked, feeling breathless. “I heard you calling.”
“What? Oh, yes,” Soula muttered. Her hand fluttered over her eyes. “I had a dream…yes…a dream. That Leo was here.”
“Actually, Leo did—” Cassiani began, then stopped when she saw Leo.
In a few strides Leo reached his aunt’s bed. “Aunt Soula!” he said. He bent down and kissed his aunt tenderly on the forehead then eased his body on the edge of the bed
Soula’s voice trembled with joy. She gripped his hand as if she were testing the reality of his presence. “So you weren’t really a dream after all! I thought I saw you in a dream…that you had come.”
Captivated by this new development into Mrs. Lukas’ world, Cassiani watched with surprise, witnessing the caring look on Leo’s face and the gentle way he touched his aunt’s arm. There was sensitivity in that gesture, one that conveyed a soul that had experienced love and knew how to show it and this spoke louder than words to Cassiani’s fine-tuned heart. She was mesmerized.
The tender way in which Mrs. Lukas gazed back into her nephew’s eyes revealed no coldness or hardness that Cassiani had glimpsed in the past, but a startling show of affection…resembling the love of a mother towards her child.
“I stopped by earlier, but you were asleep.”
“Ahh, so that was what happened!” Soula said, touching Leo’s face fondly. “Weren’t you supposed to come tomorrow?” She scrunched her face, thinking. “What is today…Thursday or Friday?”
Leo playfully patted her on the hand. “We had arranged for me to come today, Thursday.”
“Oh, my,” Soula replied, appearing apologetic. “For some reason I thought it was tomorrow. You know…I’m becoming rather forgetful.”
Cassiani quietly removed herself, not wanting to interfere with the reunion. As a nurse, she had learned not to pry into people’s affairs. She paused at the door and looked at them. “I must be going,” she said.
Leo stood up. “I’m sorry if I frightened you. I wasn’t expecting to find anyone upstairs in the apartment.”
I wasn’t expecting anyone either. “That’s all right. I’m the one that should be apologizing,” Cassiani replied.
“What happened?” Soula asked Leo, her eyes narrowing.
“I slipped on the floor she had mopped and – ”
“Did you hurt yourself?” Soula interjected, looking concerned.
“I’m fine,” Leo chuckled, gingerly touching the back of his head. “Not even a small bump for a souvenir.”
“I have to go now,” Cassiani said, feeling awkward under Mrs. Lukas’ scrutiny. “My mother hasn’t been feeling well. I need to be with her.”
“Ah, yes. Say hello to her for me,” Soula said, her face softening. “Oh…and don’t forget to take the payment for cleaning the upstairs apartment. The money is on the kitchen table.” She signaled towards the kitchen.
Cassiani blushed at the patronizing manner in which Mrs. Lukas had just spoken. I helped because I wanted to, not because of any payment. Instead of replying, she fled from the room.
* * *
Leo watched with amusement at Cassiani’s flustered exit. His mind had been preoccupied all day with business deals and his aunt’s health. Cassiani’s brief entrance into his life had been a refreshingly beautiful diversion. I wonder whether I’ll see her again. I wonder where she lives. “Who is she?”
“She’s the daughter of my hired companion, Vera Meletis. Vera had a heart attack recently. I needed help, so she sent her in her place.” Soula motioned to Leo. “Come, take my arm so I can get up.”
Leo held on to his aunt as she arose out of bed. “I didn’t see her car outside. Does she need a ride—”
“Don’t go thinking too much about her,” Soula interjected.
“What makes you think that?” Leo asked, shrugging his shoulders.
“Oh, an old woman’s intuition,” was his aunt’s tart reply.
* * *
Available on www.Amazon.com
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Goodness of Heart
Today is Sunday, and we read the Bible. I particularly like reading the Proverbs section, and of course, passages from the New Testament. Sometimes we bring in other reading that is spiritual.
Today, we read a portion from a book by St. Therese of Lisiuex, France. She had written an autobiography before she passed away in her twenties. It showed her simple, pure thinking and how she prayed for all the souls so they wouldn't go to purgatory. She was very inspiring.
If we could all see the goodness in each other and forgive one another, knowing that we all are God's children, wouldn't this be a better, safer place to live?
Today, we read a portion from a book by St. Therese of Lisiuex, France. She had written an autobiography before she passed away in her twenties. It showed her simple, pure thinking and how she prayed for all the souls so they wouldn't go to purgatory. She was very inspiring.
If we could all see the goodness in each other and forgive one another, knowing that we all are God's children, wouldn't this be a better, safer place to live?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Tips for Novice Authors
Tips for Novice Authors
If you are reading this article then you probably have asked yourself at some point in your life, "Do I have what it takes to become an author?"
I believe that successful authors, those who actually write and finish that novel, or book of poetry, or even that book of short stories, and see it all the way to publication, have certain characteristics.
Characteristics of Authors
1. They like to sit for hours in front of a computer screen (or with pen and paper), typing (writing) away.
2. They think about their book, even when they're not writing.
3. They are motivated to finish their book.
4. They are motivated to proofread, edit and revise their finished book until it is the best it can be.
5. They are motivated to publish their book.
6. Once they publish the first book, they are already working on the next one.
If you answered yes to anyone of the above, then you have a good chance of attaining your dreams of becoming an author. Don't listen to those people who say it's a competitive market out there. Don't listen to those people who say they've written five books and haven't had one published yet. And don't listen to those people who send you back your manuscripts! Listen to yourself. Listen to that inner voice, the one that is whispering now. But wait until you get started. Once your book is written and published, that inner voice will be roaring! And the whole world will hear about it.
I know, I know. I tend to be the optimist. But we have so many pessimists in the book business, we sure need some more optimists around!
For you, the novice writer who would like to start writing that first book, the best way to begin is to start writing. Yes, just sit down and do it. Stop the other activities, the television, the reading, the shopping, the chatting on the telephone, and find the time to devote at least one hour a day to writing.
What's one hour a day in the scheme of things? It comes and goes like this, poof! What do you have to show after an hour of television? A lazy yawn? If that same hour were spent on writing, then there would be a product in your hands, something that will be shared, hopefully, one day with others.
So, go ahead, shut the door to the rest of the world for one hour (or more) and make yourself comfortable in front of the computer screen (or pen and paper). Let's take the first step to becoming an author.
How To Begin
Foundation
Just like a construction company which builds a foundation to a home, you also need to prepare a foundation for your career in writing. Don't skip this step, it's important.
Your "foundation" will consist of basic writing skills. Remember those English courses you took in high school and college? If you don't remember anything from those courses, then it wouldn't be a bad idea if you found your old English textbooks, dusted them off a bit, and looked through their pages to refresh your memory.
If you haven't taken any courses in creative writing, you might consider signing up for one. Check with your local community college. They often offer weekend and evening classes, and sometimes even online classes. If you're on a budget, then visit the public library and sign out books relevant to writing.
In addition, it would be very useful to join a writing group (online or in your local area) that critiques your work and gives you the opportunity to critique also. The group provides wonderful support and an avenue to sharpen your skills as you gain experience in writing, as well as exposure to other people's writing. For example, Writing.com is a good example of an online resource that provides many opportunities to share your writing, and get your work rated and reviewed. If you want to join a critique or review group, it offers that also.
The second step to becoming an author, is to have the right tools.
Tools Needed
Besides a comfortable chair, plenty of lighting, and a quiet room, you will need a computer with a word processing program (e.g., Microsoft Word), a printer, and plenty of paper.
Why a computer? First of all, publishers typically will request a copy of your files sent to them on a floppy disk. More importantly, working with a word processing program will aid you in many ways towards becoming a published author. It will provide the opportunity to save your work as a Word file, without having to use up tons of paper (as with a typewriter). This greatly aids you in keeping your work organized. It also gives you the flexibility to edit and re-edit large sections of your work quickly by allowing you to utilize the copy and paste functions.
Other advantages of using a computer word processing program is that it provides spell check capabilities, and also helps you count the number of words per page. In addition, when you want to spice up your vocabulary (For example, if you like to use the word "walk" often, and are getting tired of that word), place your cursor on the word "walk", hit shift F7. It will give you a list of synonyms you can choose from - like stroll, amble, etc.).
The time saved by using a computer is very valuable. It gives you more time available to write! Of course, if you don't have the above materials, don't let that stop you from writing that book! Using a pen and paper is perfectly fine. Books were written with these two basic tools for centuries.
Let's assume you are using a computer and a Word processing software. First of all, before you begin writing, form a subdirectory that you can add all your chapters to. Maybe you know the title of your book already. Fine, then form a subdirectory using the name of the title. After you finish writing that first chapter (oh joy!), just save it as Chapter 1 under the subdirectory. If you are writing a book of poetry, then you might want to save each poem as a separate file.
When I write my chapters for my novel, I format them in double space mode, with a Times New Roman 11 font. All the margins are at least one inch. This way it will be ready for manuscript submission.
Try not to add your page numbers until the very last revision. Page numbers constantly change when you're revising, so wait until the end.
Finally, another reason for having a computer is for Internet access. As a writer, you will have opportunities to submit your fiction online, such as http://www.Writing.com, or even your articles online for e-zines, such as http://www.articlecity.com. Any chance you can get to write online, do it. As long as it doesn't take too much time away from your book. It's also a free way of promoting yourself before the book is even published.
So you need to balance your time in writing that book, honing your writing skills, submitting your work along the way for others to critique, and promoting yourself. Can you do it? Of course you can!
The third step to becoming an author is:
What to Write
If you are planning to write a novel, it would help to know what general category your book is going to be in. Will it be in the romance, mystery, or science fiction category? If you don't know, take some time and think about it. Read some books in those genres. Which books seem to attract you the most? It's highly likely that you'll be writing in the category that you like to read. My preference is romance because I read those types of books the most. Once you decide the category, then you are closer to writing that novel!
For poetry, you might start by writing a poem and submitting it to a poetry journal, or a poetry contest. Gain exposure for your poetry. Join a critique group so you can sharpen your poetry skills. A chapbook usually consists of about 25-35 poems. For a poetry book, you'll need at least 60 pages of poetry, if not more.
Types of Novelists
I have found over time, that there are two types of novelists. The first type is the writer who prefers drawing up a proposal or plan of what they will write about. The second type prefers to write whatever comes into their mind at that moment.
You decide which writer you will be.
Type 1 Novelist
They begin by describing the characters, their names, personalities, and sometimes their motives. Then they decide when and where the setting will take place. When will it take place? If it takes place before the 1900's, then it will be considered historical. Also, will the setting be in the country, in a city (which city?), in a house (whose house), on a cruise ship? That needs to be defined also.
Once those decisions are made, they write brief sketches of each chapter. It could be a page or two long. Once all this is done, then the real writing begins. If this method works for you, then feel free to use it. It may take some time, but you will become more confident about what you'll write once you go through this initial process.
Type 2 Novelist
What if you're the type of person who doesn't want to spend all that time writing proposals and character sketches? What if you're like me, who prefers to just write whatever comes into your head? Then do it! Sit down and start writing. Write anything.
As the story develops, something wonderful begins brewing in your mind. Something called creativity. I've caught myself hours after I finished writing a chapter, and I'll be preparing dinner, or walking somewhere, and a scene from my novel will begin to unfold. It's called creative problem solving. My mind is working to solve the problem that the writing presents it, even though I'm not actively writing. When I get those urges, I immediately stop what I'm doing and jot down my thoughts. It's helped me many times, particularly when everything clicks together.
How Long Will It Take?
It took me almost two years to write and find a publisher for my first novel, Lipsi's Daughter. For other people, it may take longer or shorter, depending on the amount of time they allow for writing and how many pages they are writing. I know of authors that took six, seven, up to twelve years to write their first book. I also know of a famous author who writes two novels a year!
So unless you begin writing that first page of your book, you'll never know how long it'll take you to write it. Go ahead, make that first step, and good luck!
This Article is available also on EzineArticles.com: http://EzineArticles.com/31617
If you are reading this article then you probably have asked yourself at some point in your life, "Do I have what it takes to become an author?"
I believe that successful authors, those who actually write and finish that novel, or book of poetry, or even that book of short stories, and see it all the way to publication, have certain characteristics.
Characteristics of Authors
1. They like to sit for hours in front of a computer screen (or with pen and paper), typing (writing) away.
2. They think about their book, even when they're not writing.
3. They are motivated to finish their book.
4. They are motivated to proofread, edit and revise their finished book until it is the best it can be.
5. They are motivated to publish their book.
6. Once they publish the first book, they are already working on the next one.
If you answered yes to anyone of the above, then you have a good chance of attaining your dreams of becoming an author. Don't listen to those people who say it's a competitive market out there. Don't listen to those people who say they've written five books and haven't had one published yet. And don't listen to those people who send you back your manuscripts! Listen to yourself. Listen to that inner voice, the one that is whispering now. But wait until you get started. Once your book is written and published, that inner voice will be roaring! And the whole world will hear about it.
I know, I know. I tend to be the optimist. But we have so many pessimists in the book business, we sure need some more optimists around!
For you, the novice writer who would like to start writing that first book, the best way to begin is to start writing. Yes, just sit down and do it. Stop the other activities, the television, the reading, the shopping, the chatting on the telephone, and find the time to devote at least one hour a day to writing.
What's one hour a day in the scheme of things? It comes and goes like this, poof! What do you have to show after an hour of television? A lazy yawn? If that same hour were spent on writing, then there would be a product in your hands, something that will be shared, hopefully, one day with others.
So, go ahead, shut the door to the rest of the world for one hour (or more) and make yourself comfortable in front of the computer screen (or pen and paper). Let's take the first step to becoming an author.
How To Begin
Foundation
Just like a construction company which builds a foundation to a home, you also need to prepare a foundation for your career in writing. Don't skip this step, it's important.
Your "foundation" will consist of basic writing skills. Remember those English courses you took in high school and college? If you don't remember anything from those courses, then it wouldn't be a bad idea if you found your old English textbooks, dusted them off a bit, and looked through their pages to refresh your memory.
If you haven't taken any courses in creative writing, you might consider signing up for one. Check with your local community college. They often offer weekend and evening classes, and sometimes even online classes. If you're on a budget, then visit the public library and sign out books relevant to writing.
In addition, it would be very useful to join a writing group (online or in your local area) that critiques your work and gives you the opportunity to critique also. The group provides wonderful support and an avenue to sharpen your skills as you gain experience in writing, as well as exposure to other people's writing. For example, Writing.com is a good example of an online resource that provides many opportunities to share your writing, and get your work rated and reviewed. If you want to join a critique or review group, it offers that also.
The second step to becoming an author, is to have the right tools.
Tools Needed
Besides a comfortable chair, plenty of lighting, and a quiet room, you will need a computer with a word processing program (e.g., Microsoft Word), a printer, and plenty of paper.
Why a computer? First of all, publishers typically will request a copy of your files sent to them on a floppy disk. More importantly, working with a word processing program will aid you in many ways towards becoming a published author. It will provide the opportunity to save your work as a Word file, without having to use up tons of paper (as with a typewriter). This greatly aids you in keeping your work organized. It also gives you the flexibility to edit and re-edit large sections of your work quickly by allowing you to utilize the copy and paste functions.
Other advantages of using a computer word processing program is that it provides spell check capabilities, and also helps you count the number of words per page. In addition, when you want to spice up your vocabulary (For example, if you like to use the word "walk" often, and are getting tired of that word), place your cursor on the word "walk", hit shift F7. It will give you a list of synonyms you can choose from - like stroll, amble, etc.).
The time saved by using a computer is very valuable. It gives you more time available to write! Of course, if you don't have the above materials, don't let that stop you from writing that book! Using a pen and paper is perfectly fine. Books were written with these two basic tools for centuries.
Let's assume you are using a computer and a Word processing software. First of all, before you begin writing, form a subdirectory that you can add all your chapters to. Maybe you know the title of your book already. Fine, then form a subdirectory using the name of the title. After you finish writing that first chapter (oh joy!), just save it as Chapter 1 under the subdirectory. If you are writing a book of poetry, then you might want to save each poem as a separate file.
When I write my chapters for my novel, I format them in double space mode, with a Times New Roman 11 font. All the margins are at least one inch. This way it will be ready for manuscript submission.
Try not to add your page numbers until the very last revision. Page numbers constantly change when you're revising, so wait until the end.
Finally, another reason for having a computer is for Internet access. As a writer, you will have opportunities to submit your fiction online, such as http://www.Writing.com, or even your articles online for e-zines, such as http://www.articlecity.com. Any chance you can get to write online, do it. As long as it doesn't take too much time away from your book. It's also a free way of promoting yourself before the book is even published.
So you need to balance your time in writing that book, honing your writing skills, submitting your work along the way for others to critique, and promoting yourself. Can you do it? Of course you can!
The third step to becoming an author is:
What to Write
If you are planning to write a novel, it would help to know what general category your book is going to be in. Will it be in the romance, mystery, or science fiction category? If you don't know, take some time and think about it. Read some books in those genres. Which books seem to attract you the most? It's highly likely that you'll be writing in the category that you like to read. My preference is romance because I read those types of books the most. Once you decide the category, then you are closer to writing that novel!
For poetry, you might start by writing a poem and submitting it to a poetry journal, or a poetry contest. Gain exposure for your poetry. Join a critique group so you can sharpen your poetry skills. A chapbook usually consists of about 25-35 poems. For a poetry book, you'll need at least 60 pages of poetry, if not more.
Types of Novelists
I have found over time, that there are two types of novelists. The first type is the writer who prefers drawing up a proposal or plan of what they will write about. The second type prefers to write whatever comes into their mind at that moment.
You decide which writer you will be.
Type 1 Novelist
They begin by describing the characters, their names, personalities, and sometimes their motives. Then they decide when and where the setting will take place. When will it take place? If it takes place before the 1900's, then it will be considered historical. Also, will the setting be in the country, in a city (which city?), in a house (whose house), on a cruise ship? That needs to be defined also.
Once those decisions are made, they write brief sketches of each chapter. It could be a page or two long. Once all this is done, then the real writing begins. If this method works for you, then feel free to use it. It may take some time, but you will become more confident about what you'll write once you go through this initial process.
Type 2 Novelist
What if you're the type of person who doesn't want to spend all that time writing proposals and character sketches? What if you're like me, who prefers to just write whatever comes into your head? Then do it! Sit down and start writing. Write anything.
As the story develops, something wonderful begins brewing in your mind. Something called creativity. I've caught myself hours after I finished writing a chapter, and I'll be preparing dinner, or walking somewhere, and a scene from my novel will begin to unfold. It's called creative problem solving. My mind is working to solve the problem that the writing presents it, even though I'm not actively writing. When I get those urges, I immediately stop what I'm doing and jot down my thoughts. It's helped me many times, particularly when everything clicks together.
How Long Will It Take?
It took me almost two years to write and find a publisher for my first novel, Lipsi's Daughter. For other people, it may take longer or shorter, depending on the amount of time they allow for writing and how many pages they are writing. I know of authors that took six, seven, up to twelve years to write their first book. I also know of a famous author who writes two novels a year!
So unless you begin writing that first page of your book, you'll never know how long it'll take you to write it. Go ahead, make that first step, and good luck!
This Article is available also on EzineArticles.com: http://EzineArticles.com/31617
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Plagiarizing is a key offense
A couple of months ago, my husband Anthony and I published an article on cancer in the prestigious Townsend Letter titled "The U.S. Cancer Program and Specific Types of Cancer, 1975-2007: A Failure, Part 1, Aug/Sep 2011 issue (www.townsendletter.com). More recently, Part 2 of the article was published in the October 2011 issue, and Part 3 will be published in the November 2011 issue.
The article is about the US Cancer Program (1975-2007) and assesses specific types of cancers. It is written in 3 parts. We are the first researchers to have assessed the program's success or failure in the prevention or treatment of cancer using very specific criteria.
Unfortunately, while doing a search on the topic, we recently came across an article that looked almost identical to our article, but was written by a "Dr. Robert O. Young" on his blog. He used exactly the same words as we did, particularly with the criteria used in assessing the program, word for word, but instead of giving us the credit for our work, he begins his article with "I have assessed the U.S. Cancer Program for prevention and treatment.."
I left a comment on his blog and have not heard anything from him. This is blatant plagiarism and the publisher of Townsend Letter has been notified.
The article is about the US Cancer Program (1975-2007) and assesses specific types of cancers. It is written in 3 parts. We are the first researchers to have assessed the program's success or failure in the prevention or treatment of cancer using very specific criteria.
Unfortunately, while doing a search on the topic, we recently came across an article that looked almost identical to our article, but was written by a "Dr. Robert O. Young" on his blog. He used exactly the same words as we did, particularly with the criteria used in assessing the program, word for word, but instead of giving us the credit for our work, he begins his article with "I have assessed the U.S. Cancer Program for prevention and treatment.."
I left a comment on his blog and have not heard anything from him. This is blatant plagiarism and the publisher of Townsend Letter has been notified.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Ending Aging
Hello again,
Yesterday we attended a talk hosted by the World Future Society at the Community College of Baltimore in Essex, MD given by Dr. Aubrey de Grey. He is a Cambridge graduate and the author of the 2007 book "Ending Aging." He was an hour late and he only spoke a half hour, but it was an interesting talk, never-the-less.
I learned about him after picking up his book a few months ago and
found what he wrote to be very interesting. He is the director of a foundation called SENS (www.sens.org).
Dr. Aubrey de Grey is optimistic that with the help of technology we will be able to live longer. Although he stressed in his talk that his focus is not only about longevity, but more importantly, about improving our health. For some reason, he doesn't believe that supplements, etc. add to our longevity, yet he does believe in preventative medicine.
In his talk, Dr. de Grey used the description of a car, which is a machine, and as it ages, is maintained and repaired and therefore can live well beyond its intended life span (in his example - 50 years). He believes that we can do the same thing to the human body - treat it like a machine. Each time we extend our lives, then that buys us time for newer technology to add more life.
Just the act of living causes oxidation in our bodies, so that is an inherent part of our lives. Damage to the body caused by oxidation accumulates over time, and instead of focusing our efforts on what causes this damage, we should repair the damage.
I asked the question: "There are assumptions in your theory, that the patient will get to the doctor on time, that the doctor is well trained in this new technology, and that the insurance companies will pay for these services." His answer was that his main focus is on the biological aspect and that these issues will come up and will need to be addressed at some point.
After the talk, I went up to him and mentioned to him about the incidence in cancer rising in the US and with environmental factors like radiation and pollution contributing to it, that it will be difficult to be healthy, but there was a long line of students behind me, so I didn't get a chance to talk at length on that dear subject.
Yesterday we attended a talk hosted by the World Future Society at the Community College of Baltimore in Essex, MD given by Dr. Aubrey de Grey. He is a Cambridge graduate and the author of the 2007 book "Ending Aging." He was an hour late and he only spoke a half hour, but it was an interesting talk, never-the-less.
I learned about him after picking up his book a few months ago and
found what he wrote to be very interesting. He is the director of a foundation called SENS (www.sens.org).
Dr. Aubrey de Grey is optimistic that with the help of technology we will be able to live longer. Although he stressed in his talk that his focus is not only about longevity, but more importantly, about improving our health. For some reason, he doesn't believe that supplements, etc. add to our longevity, yet he does believe in preventative medicine.
In his talk, Dr. de Grey used the description of a car, which is a machine, and as it ages, is maintained and repaired and therefore can live well beyond its intended life span (in his example - 50 years). He believes that we can do the same thing to the human body - treat it like a machine. Each time we extend our lives, then that buys us time for newer technology to add more life.
Just the act of living causes oxidation in our bodies, so that is an inherent part of our lives. Damage to the body caused by oxidation accumulates over time, and instead of focusing our efforts on what causes this damage, we should repair the damage.
I asked the question: "There are assumptions in your theory, that the patient will get to the doctor on time, that the doctor is well trained in this new technology, and that the insurance companies will pay for these services." His answer was that his main focus is on the biological aspect and that these issues will come up and will need to be addressed at some point.
After the talk, I went up to him and mentioned to him about the incidence in cancer rising in the US and with environmental factors like radiation and pollution contributing to it, that it will be difficult to be healthy, but there was a long line of students behind me, so I didn't get a chance to talk at length on that dear subject.
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Social Media
The change that is happening these last few years with regard to social media is astounding. More and more people are connecting socially through the internet with the techno gadgets they tout in their purses and pockets. Who would have ever thought of technology and humans meshing into such a global social network a few years back? Not me, but then I also wasn't too keen about cell phones, either.
Amazing to watch your fingers "do the talking" as you silently touch keyboards, putting your subconscious thoughts down, and bingo, getting a response from somewhere in the global cosmos from another human being. This is beginning to remind me of what happened to money. First, there was barter, then there was money, then there were plastic cards, then there were electronic accounts.
Increasingly complex and symbolic. How often do you touch money these days?
Socially, at first we humans talked with other humans, then there were telephones, then there was email, then there is Facebook and Twitter. Something is missing in all of this. This is a sketchy existence, an outline of life in order to be part of something bigger than us. What is wrong here? Plenty.
What is missing is the human connection; seeing and hearing people talk in a conversation, watching them express emotions, touching their hand, or giving them a smile or nod. What is missing here is the ability to carry on a conversation and learning the signals that people give when communicating. What is missing here are real people.
Another problem is that I don't know that the person I am writing to on twitter or facebook is real, do I, unless I know them personally. So we learn to accept another reality, just like we learned to accept other worlds while watching movies and videos. Even though we are living in this "real" world, when we watch movies, read a book, or communicate via internet, we are transcending ourselves and living in another reality at the same time that our bodies are rooted in a physical place.
Finally, I have noticed on an increasing basis, that more and more people are not writing proper English on the internet. At first, I dismissed it thinking that people would write on their tiny computers and it would be difficult to correct, but when I saw a Wikipedia article the other day written full of typos, I said enough is enough. The internet does not have quality control. People write and push a button, and voila it is public to the whole world. Something is wrong about that. Because once it goes on the internet, it stays in the databanks forever.
Think about it.
Amazing to watch your fingers "do the talking" as you silently touch keyboards, putting your subconscious thoughts down, and bingo, getting a response from somewhere in the global cosmos from another human being. This is beginning to remind me of what happened to money. First, there was barter, then there was money, then there were plastic cards, then there were electronic accounts.
Increasingly complex and symbolic. How often do you touch money these days?
Socially, at first we humans talked with other humans, then there were telephones, then there was email, then there is Facebook and Twitter. Something is missing in all of this. This is a sketchy existence, an outline of life in order to be part of something bigger than us. What is wrong here? Plenty.
What is missing is the human connection; seeing and hearing people talk in a conversation, watching them express emotions, touching their hand, or giving them a smile or nod. What is missing here is the ability to carry on a conversation and learning the signals that people give when communicating. What is missing here are real people.
Another problem is that I don't know that the person I am writing to on twitter or facebook is real, do I, unless I know them personally. So we learn to accept another reality, just like we learned to accept other worlds while watching movies and videos. Even though we are living in this "real" world, when we watch movies, read a book, or communicate via internet, we are transcending ourselves and living in another reality at the same time that our bodies are rooted in a physical place.
Finally, I have noticed on an increasing basis, that more and more people are not writing proper English on the internet. At first, I dismissed it thinking that people would write on their tiny computers and it would be difficult to correct, but when I saw a Wikipedia article the other day written full of typos, I said enough is enough. The internet does not have quality control. People write and push a button, and voila it is public to the whole world. Something is wrong about that. Because once it goes on the internet, it stays in the databanks forever.
Think about it.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Win a book - contest
I have decided to offer The Greek Maiden and the English Lord for free for a limited time.
Here is the link to win a free book. Just scroll down until you see the form:
The Greek Maiden and the English Lord Free Book Offer
The contest ends November 1, 2011. Good luck to all!
Here is the link to win a free book. Just scroll down until you see the form:
The Greek Maiden and the English Lord Free Book Offer
The contest ends November 1, 2011. Good luck to all!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Listening to Voskopoulos
Tonight I'm listening to Tolis Voskopoulos sing H Agapi Theli Fantasia. It is a beautiful song and I grew up watching his movies and listening to his songs. He has such a beautiful voice. He and Julio Inglesis. But right now, Tolis Voskopoulos has all my attention.
The song is about love - that it requires fantasy, and is forgiving. This song is set to the hasapiko rhythm, where a few people get in a line and do an intricate dance.
Here is the link to it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrlrLgFfSYc
I grew up in a suburb of Cleveland. My family was very involved in the Greek community - church, choir, Greek organizations, the works.
There were five girls in my family. When we would go to a Greek dance, we would form our own dance line and became very good dancers, learning all the different steps. There's the kalamatiano, which is the most basic dance and basically a walking dance, going right so many steps, then left, etc. Then the Roditiko, the Sousta, and my all time favorite Hasapiko. Dancing was a very significant part of my life, and when I minored in Music and Theatre, several of my classes were Modern Dance classes. But how things have changed since my twenties. Now I'm a lot older, a middle-aged mother, wife, and author. However, with a twinkle in my eye, I just got up and did a Hasapiko listening to my dear Tolis Voskopoulos sing. Opa!! May the spirit of Greece live forever in the hearts of everyone!
The song is about love - that it requires fantasy, and is forgiving. This song is set to the hasapiko rhythm, where a few people get in a line and do an intricate dance.
Here is the link to it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrlrLgFfSYc
I grew up in a suburb of Cleveland. My family was very involved in the Greek community - church, choir, Greek organizations, the works.
There were five girls in my family. When we would go to a Greek dance, we would form our own dance line and became very good dancers, learning all the different steps. There's the kalamatiano, which is the most basic dance and basically a walking dance, going right so many steps, then left, etc. Then the Roditiko, the Sousta, and my all time favorite Hasapiko. Dancing was a very significant part of my life, and when I minored in Music and Theatre, several of my classes were Modern Dance classes. But how things have changed since my twenties. Now I'm a lot older, a middle-aged mother, wife, and author. However, with a twinkle in my eye, I just got up and did a Hasapiko listening to my dear Tolis Voskopoulos sing. Opa!! May the spirit of Greece live forever in the hearts of everyone!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Book Trailer for the Greek Maiden and the English Lord
I have successfully pulled together a video book trailer for my latest novel The Greek Maiden and the English Lord. I used the Windows Movie Maker and added public domain images. The music I mostly composed. It was a lot of fun and I plan to make a book trailer each for my other books.
Book Trailer for The Greek Maiden and the English Lord
Book Trailer for The Greek Maiden and the English Lord
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Using Windows Movie Maker
I recently discovered Windows Movie Maker on my laptop computer. I was interested and hooked once I started playing around with it.
First, I had to upload images, but my children's book "King of Acornia" was in pdf format. So in order to switch each page to an image, I copied each one onto the Paint program. That program is found by hitting the Start button, then the All Programs button, then the Accessories button, and finally the Paint button.
Once in Paint, I was able to copy the pdf page there (highlight the page, then Ctrl C, then paste unto Paint page with Ctrl V) and then resize the pdf image and touch it up. Once satisfied, it was saved as an image file. I did this with all 26 pages of the book. Once they were saved in my Pictures directory, I then copied them into the Windows Movie Maker.
I also needed to do a recording, so I went back to the Accessories button and clicked on the Sound Recorder. Here is where a microphone is necessary. Fortunately, I had one from a few years back when I was tinkering with some music. So I attached the microphone and hit the record button and recorded the music and voice. Make sure the sound is high enough or your might get a weak recording (Go to control panel, sounds, and check). Then save the recording when finished. This should be copied in the Movie Maker folder you are working on along with your images.
On the lower part of the page you will see Storybook. Then, some reels where you can copy and paste your images. Each image will last a few seconds on the screen so if you want it to last longer you need to copy 2-3 of the same image in sequence order. If you want to see how the music will fare, there is a timeline button near the storybook and make sure your music is stretched out long enough for your project. The effects and transitions buttons make the movie very professional looking. Play and save, and when you feel comfortable with the results, then hit the publish button. It should now be ready for uploading to the Youtube.
That's what I did, now I'm busy trying to design a book trailer for my book "The Greek Maiden and the English Lord." Oh what fun.
First, I had to upload images, but my children's book "King of Acornia" was in pdf format. So in order to switch each page to an image, I copied each one onto the Paint program. That program is found by hitting the Start button, then the All Programs button, then the Accessories button, and finally the Paint button.
Once in Paint, I was able to copy the pdf page there (highlight the page, then Ctrl C, then paste unto Paint page with Ctrl V) and then resize the pdf image and touch it up. Once satisfied, it was saved as an image file. I did this with all 26 pages of the book. Once they were saved in my Pictures directory, I then copied them into the Windows Movie Maker.
I also needed to do a recording, so I went back to the Accessories button and clicked on the Sound Recorder. Here is where a microphone is necessary. Fortunately, I had one from a few years back when I was tinkering with some music. So I attached the microphone and hit the record button and recorded the music and voice. Make sure the sound is high enough or your might get a weak recording (Go to control panel, sounds, and check). Then save the recording when finished. This should be copied in the Movie Maker folder you are working on along with your images.
On the lower part of the page you will see Storybook. Then, some reels where you can copy and paste your images. Each image will last a few seconds on the screen so if you want it to last longer you need to copy 2-3 of the same image in sequence order. If you want to see how the music will fare, there is a timeline button near the storybook and make sure your music is stretched out long enough for your project. The effects and transitions buttons make the movie very professional looking. Play and save, and when you feel comfortable with the results, then hit the publish button. It should now be ready for uploading to the Youtube.
That's what I did, now I'm busy trying to design a book trailer for my book "The Greek Maiden and the English Lord." Oh what fun.
The Life of a Rose Poem Set to Music
I have played the piano since a young age (mostly self-taught, and later took some classes), and it has progressed to the point where I can play music I make up spontaneously. Keep in mind, the music just pops into my head as I play so I don't know if I could repeat it again. I have tried in the past to write music (from a college course) and have captured some songs of mine. However, each time I play, the music just goes on and on, and it's difficult to capture on paper. Hence the interest in recording it. Each time I play it is different music.
I never recorded it live before so that I could share with others, but for the first time I've been able to record it on Youtube. The piano music is set to a poem titled "The Life of a Rose."
It is a relaxing 3 minute piece on Youtube:
The Life of a Rose
Enjoy!
I never recorded it live before so that I could share with others, but for the first time I've been able to record it on Youtube. The piano music is set to a poem titled "The Life of a Rose."
It is a relaxing 3 minute piece on Youtube:
The Life of a Rose
Enjoy!
September 14 Feast Day of the Holy Cross
Today is September 14, a day celebrated by Greeks all over the world as the Feast Day of the Holy Cross. In 326, St.Helen, the mother of the emperor Constantine, discovered the Holy Cross that was buried in Jerusalem. This was a great moment. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built on that same spot.
I have my own story intimately related to this day. When I was a young girl of about 8 or 9 years old, I had lost my gold cross while at school. Three days later, on September 14, as I was walking on the sidewalk of the school, a black girl came towards me, holding the cross and asking me "Did you lose this cross?"
I was so happy to see it, because it had been given to me by my godmother and had several delicate carvings that make it unique to other crosses. I thanked her and took it. I never saw her again.
When I returned home that day from school, I told my mother the story and she became very, very happy. She being a reverent Greek Orthodox christian said "This is the Day of the Holy Cross! It is a sign! You lost the cross three days ago and now it was given to you. You were meant to have this cross given to you."
So I do believe in miracles, especially on this day.
God bless,
Patty
I have my own story intimately related to this day. When I was a young girl of about 8 or 9 years old, I had lost my gold cross while at school. Three days later, on September 14, as I was walking on the sidewalk of the school, a black girl came towards me, holding the cross and asking me "Did you lose this cross?"
I was so happy to see it, because it had been given to me by my godmother and had several delicate carvings that make it unique to other crosses. I thanked her and took it. I never saw her again.
When I returned home that day from school, I told my mother the story and she became very, very happy. She being a reverent Greek Orthodox christian said "This is the Day of the Holy Cross! It is a sign! You lost the cross three days ago and now it was given to you. You were meant to have this cross given to you."
So I do believe in miracles, especially on this day.
God bless,
Patty
Monday, September 12, 2011
Hydroponic Lettuce
Just discovered the value of hydroponic lettuce. It lasts longer in the refrigerator than regular lettuce, which tends to freeze quickly. It seems that the hydroponic lettuce, which comes with its roots attached, also tastes quite fresh, even after a few days in the refrigerator.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Children's Book now on Youtube
About a year ago, I had written a children's book titled "King of Acornia" for a local writing contest. Our ten year old son enjoyed the pictures and the story immensely, but alas, it did not win.
Since then, the picture book has been languishing on the side, and recently I decided to resurrect it. I converted it from a pdf file into a movie, using some trial and error methods, I was able to upload it to Youtube.
Click here to watch King of Acornia
The story is about a squirrel who is a King of Acornia. The King of Acornia finds out through Harry the rabbit that the redhats are coming. They are developers that are cutting down the trees in the forest to develop the land. The king and his friends put their heads together to devise a plan to stop them. Will they win? Watch the video.
Since then, the picture book has been languishing on the side, and recently I decided to resurrect it. I converted it from a pdf file into a movie, using some trial and error methods, I was able to upload it to Youtube.
Click here to watch King of Acornia
The story is about a squirrel who is a King of Acornia. The King of Acornia finds out through Harry the rabbit that the redhats are coming. They are developers that are cutting down the trees in the forest to develop the land. The king and his friends put their heads together to devise a plan to stop them. Will they win? Watch the video.
Monday, September 05, 2011
Discernment's Path to Truth
Discernment's Path to Truth
To discern what is the truth or not
is a difficult task, particularly on the Internet.
Because something is written does not automatically make it true.
To discern requires research and problem solving.
To discern requires testing, as a scientists tests
His or her hypothesis, and obtains data,
And with precision, logs that data until
The truth is witnessed.
Discernment is the ability to see the lie and expose it
For what it is, a lie, even though it may be sugar-coated
With laughter and a promise or reward.
Discernment is missing from our society.
For if our society was a discerning one,
We would not have reached this miserable state of affairs
Financially, ethically, and politically
That our country appears to be approaching at a rapid rate.
Why can we not see the truth?
Financially, the US is bankrupt and spiraling downwards
Ethically, the morals taught to our children by the media
Does not appear to be challenged by the majority of the parents;
Politically, there are so many secrets upon secrets in our government, that any exposure will be questioned, and if
it is really the truth, where do we begin to let our radar discern it?
Truth lasts forever and has no wiggle room,
It is absolute and far-reaching when experienced,
Like a priori knowledge that never sways
The Truth is my friend, but an exacting friend.
To discern what is the truth or not
is a difficult task, particularly on the Internet.
Because something is written does not automatically make it true.
To discern requires research and problem solving.
To discern requires testing, as a scientists tests
His or her hypothesis, and obtains data,
And with precision, logs that data until
The truth is witnessed.
Discernment is the ability to see the lie and expose it
For what it is, a lie, even though it may be sugar-coated
With laughter and a promise or reward.
Discernment is missing from our society.
For if our society was a discerning one,
We would not have reached this miserable state of affairs
Financially, ethically, and politically
That our country appears to be approaching at a rapid rate.
Why can we not see the truth?
Financially, the US is bankrupt and spiraling downwards
Ethically, the morals taught to our children by the media
Does not appear to be challenged by the majority of the parents;
Politically, there are so many secrets upon secrets in our government, that any exposure will be questioned, and if
it is really the truth, where do we begin to let our radar discern it?
Truth lasts forever and has no wiggle room,
It is absolute and far-reaching when experienced,
Like a priori knowledge that never sways
The Truth is my friend, but an exacting friend.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Latest article on Cancer in Townsend Letter
It is my pleasure to announce that my husband Dr. Anthony Apostolides and I have just published our latest article on cancer in the journal Townsend Letter. The article is split in 3 parts, with Part 1 in the Aug/Sept 2011 cancer issue. It is also available online at
www.townsendletter.com
The article assesses 24 types of cancers during 1975-2007, with Part 1 looking at the first 10 cancers (in alphabetical order), and finds that in the majority of the cases, the cancer incidence and mortality rates are rising.
Please let others know about this important finding. Our US Cancer program is failing, and we need to do something about it.
Until next time.
Patty
www.townsendletter.com
The article assesses 24 types of cancers during 1975-2007, with Part 1 looking at the first 10 cancers (in alphabetical order), and finds that in the majority of the cases, the cancer incidence and mortality rates are rising.
Please let others know about this important finding. Our US Cancer program is failing, and we need to do something about it.
Until next time.
Patty
Saturday, August 27, 2011
New Greek Bookstore
I am pleased to announce that my books will be available online through Mr. Kostopoulos from The Greek Bookstore, an online bookstore that sells Greek books (written in Greek and in English)
Here is the link to that website:
http://www.thegreekbookstore.com/special-editions.html
Here is the link to that website:
http://www.thegreekbookstore.com/special-editions.html
Friday, July 29, 2011
Daughters of Penelope
A question came up the other day whether I was a member of the Daughters of Penelope. Yes, I am, and have been very proud to be a member for over 20 years now.
The Greek women's group (DOP) is an affiliate organization of AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association), and represents all the ideals and virtues that Penelope showed while waiting faithfully for the return of her husband Odysseus. Daughters of Penelope encompasses several chapters throughout the United States and has thousands of members, ranging from youth to women to great-grandmothers. They are also a philanthropic organization that has helped raise money for charity.
The younger version of this group is called Maids of Athena. They are also a very important and active group embodying all the virtues of Athena.
Below is their official website:
http://www.daughtersofpenelope.org
The Greek women's group (DOP) is an affiliate organization of AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association), and represents all the ideals and virtues that Penelope showed while waiting faithfully for the return of her husband Odysseus. Daughters of Penelope encompasses several chapters throughout the United States and has thousands of members, ranging from youth to women to great-grandmothers. They are also a philanthropic organization that has helped raise money for charity.
The younger version of this group is called Maids of Athena. They are also a very important and active group embodying all the virtues of Athena.
Below is their official website:
http://www.daughtersofpenelope.org
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
New Website
I recently had to upgrade my website www.pattyapostolides.com because it was having trouble uploading. I am just about finished with it and found it to be very easy to make.
In the past, I had to use HTML code to write all my webpages, but with the help of weebly.com site, I was able to connect my domain name (Netfirms) with their webpage making ability and voila! I have a completely made over website. I think this one is a much better one to navigate.
In the past, I had to use HTML code to write all my webpages, but with the help of weebly.com site, I was able to connect my domain name (Netfirms) with their webpage making ability and voila! I have a completely made over website. I think this one is a much better one to navigate.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Greek Poem - Hellas, My Hellas
Hellas, My Hellas
Hellas, Hellas, where have you gone?
Swept by the sea toward eternity?
From eternity you came and planted
Yourself squarely on the sea of life.
Do not leave now, oh no, my Hellas.
Born in Greece and married to a Greek,
I can't but help keep tabs on what is happening
To my beautiful country, Hellas.
Hellas, with its rich, ancient history that
Has been admired for so many years by all cultures,
For creating the Olympics, which continues even now.
Hellas, with its pristine beaches
Its thousands of beautiful, fresh islands,
With its hospitable people and friendly faces
With its donkeys, grape and olive orchards
There is more to you than the eye meets.
Remember it also for its Acropolis and Parthenon,
For its ancient artifacts and majestic statues
That have found their way to other countries.
Remember it for Socrates and his philosophy
For its mythology, its comedy and tragedy,
And the lessons learned from them -
Even its language infiltrates the sciences
Its political system copied for centuries.
How extensively you have been written about - Hellas,
And even Athena's replica is found in
The Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee -
A reminder of the neoclassical period
in the early 1900s.
But now you have been forgotten, my country.
My lovely, sun drenched, country -
As foreigners focus on your debt and
Your mismanaged finances;
Corruption has always existed
But why the focus there - now?
Do not die away, but remain strong,
Fight for what you believe in -
Truth, beauty, strength, democracy, freedom
And let the spirit of Greece live on.
Hellas, my Hellas.
Patrida mou, Patrida mou.
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
Hellas, Hellas, where have you gone?
Swept by the sea toward eternity?
From eternity you came and planted
Yourself squarely on the sea of life.
Do not leave now, oh no, my Hellas.
Born in Greece and married to a Greek,
I can't but help keep tabs on what is happening
To my beautiful country, Hellas.
Hellas, with its rich, ancient history that
Has been admired for so many years by all cultures,
For creating the Olympics, which continues even now.
Hellas, with its pristine beaches
Its thousands of beautiful, fresh islands,
With its hospitable people and friendly faces
With its donkeys, grape and olive orchards
There is more to you than the eye meets.
Remember it also for its Acropolis and Parthenon,
For its ancient artifacts and majestic statues
That have found their way to other countries.
Remember it for Socrates and his philosophy
For its mythology, its comedy and tragedy,
And the lessons learned from them -
Even its language infiltrates the sciences
Its political system copied for centuries.
How extensively you have been written about - Hellas,
And even Athena's replica is found in
The Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee -
A reminder of the neoclassical period
in the early 1900s.
But now you have been forgotten, my country.
My lovely, sun drenched, country -
As foreigners focus on your debt and
Your mismanaged finances;
Corruption has always existed
But why the focus there - now?
Do not die away, but remain strong,
Fight for what you believe in -
Truth, beauty, strength, democracy, freedom
And let the spirit of Greece live on.
Hellas, my Hellas.
Patrida mou, Patrida mou.
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
See the Beauty
No matter how hard it seems to find beauty in our every day life these days, there's always room for the good feelings.
See the Beauty
Of each day and night
Unfold like silky petals of a cherry blossom
Or twinkle like a starlit speckled black canvass
Opposite attractions everywhere you turn.
Spring into positive action and
Persist, for the love of life
Feeling that will push you forward
Like a "jack-in-the-box"
To seek higher ideals.
Search the goodness, wholeness of life -
Reveal the bright colors, red and orange,
Organic yellow, sweet and sour,
Sparkling and vivid, like champagne
And share them with your loved ones.
Thus, we can ensure that life will last forever
As we remember it, even for this moment
Of timeless beauty -
All lit up and priceless for you to enjoy
Even now.
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
See the Beauty
Of each day and night
Unfold like silky petals of a cherry blossom
Or twinkle like a starlit speckled black canvass
Opposite attractions everywhere you turn.
Spring into positive action and
Persist, for the love of life
Feeling that will push you forward
Like a "jack-in-the-box"
To seek higher ideals.
Search the goodness, wholeness of life -
Reveal the bright colors, red and orange,
Organic yellow, sweet and sour,
Sparkling and vivid, like champagne
And share them with your loved ones.
Thus, we can ensure that life will last forever
As we remember it, even for this moment
Of timeless beauty -
All lit up and priceless for you to enjoy
Even now.
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Nuclear Nightmare
I feel like I'm living in a Nuclear Nightmare and that one day I'll wake up and everything will be back to normal. But that's not going to happen.
Not only are we being bombarded by radiation coming from Japan through plumes and rain, we now have an incident in Nebraska, where a nuclear power plant in Fort Calhoun just about a week ago, had a fire that caused the cooling to the spent fuel rods to shut down. It was downplayed by the industry, but we know better. Please see this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHZdub3n0mI
We see this happening over and over again by the nuclear industry. This coverup has got to stop. Being an intuitive person, my sense of balance has been skewed recently and I fear that something terrible is about to happen, and the catalyst will be the solar storm - earthquake - possible emp - causing shutdown of nuclear power plants - radiation nightmare because these nuclear plants will not be cooled and the radiation will be dispersed into the atmosphere.
More later.,,
Due to the history of the nuclear industry being continuously secret about "incidents" that occur in nuclear power plants (according to an interview on youtube by former GE nuclear engineer Jack Shannon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf1ur9aBiS8
, and the Three GE engineers that came out to talk about this in 1976 ) I am skeptical about our future.
Not only are we being bombarded by radiation coming from Japan through plumes and rain, we now have an incident in Nebraska, where a nuclear power plant in Fort Calhoun just about a week ago, had a fire that caused the cooling to the spent fuel rods to shut down. It was downplayed by the industry, but we know better. Please see this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHZdub3n0mI
We see this happening over and over again by the nuclear industry. This coverup has got to stop. Being an intuitive person, my sense of balance has been skewed recently and I fear that something terrible is about to happen, and the catalyst will be the solar storm - earthquake - possible emp - causing shutdown of nuclear power plants - radiation nightmare because these nuclear plants will not be cooled and the radiation will be dispersed into the atmosphere.
More later.,,
Due to the history of the nuclear industry being continuously secret about "incidents" that occur in nuclear power plants (according to an interview on youtube by former GE nuclear engineer Jack Shannon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf1ur9aBiS8
, and the Three GE engineers that came out to talk about this in 1976 ) I am skeptical about our future.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Green Expo in Frederick, MD
Today we attended the Green Expo Fair in Frederick, MD. It was hosted by Congressman Roscoe Bartlett and was an exciting event. Over 125 booths were set up and after the Congressman spoke, several speakers also gave fantastic talks on energy efficiency, building green, etc. We walked around in the Eventplex of the fairgrounds and talked to several of the exhibitors. We learned about energy efficient blinds, and robotic GPS guided carriers. We also got to learn more about geothermal heating, which was a fascinating concept, although somewhat expensive for the regular homeowner. There was even an exhibitor showing CPR and gives courses on emergency preparedness. We learned how landscaping can help make a home more energy efficient, and the different types of insulation used in homes.
I wish there were more people attending this fantastic event. Potomac Edison was also there, giving away bags filled with fluorescent light bulbs. A home energy audit is the beginning of making an energy efficient home. Energy efficiency means not only helping to make a greener environment, but it also means saving money in the long run by paying less on utility bills, and ultimately not requiring the use of oil from international sources.
I also had the privilege of speaking with Congressman Bartlett afterwards, and we talked a bit about nuclear energy. I specifically told him about my concern about the spent fuel rods that were piling up sitting next to the nuclear power plants. I also told him that we need to do something about them. I mentioned Ray Kurzweil's claim that in 16 years we would be using 100% solar because of the exponential growth in technology. As I was relaying my concerns about nuclear, a reporter from Frederick Post was jotting down notes and afterwards asked to put my name in his article. I was delighted. I hope more people voice their concerns about nuclear. It's a shame to let such a great nation go under, like Japan, because of negligent long-term planning for safety.
Until next time!
I wish there were more people attending this fantastic event. Potomac Edison was also there, giving away bags filled with fluorescent light bulbs. A home energy audit is the beginning of making an energy efficient home. Energy efficiency means not only helping to make a greener environment, but it also means saving money in the long run by paying less on utility bills, and ultimately not requiring the use of oil from international sources.
I also had the privilege of speaking with Congressman Bartlett afterwards, and we talked a bit about nuclear energy. I specifically told him about my concern about the spent fuel rods that were piling up sitting next to the nuclear power plants. I also told him that we need to do something about them. I mentioned Ray Kurzweil's claim that in 16 years we would be using 100% solar because of the exponential growth in technology. As I was relaying my concerns about nuclear, a reporter from Frederick Post was jotting down notes and afterwards asked to put my name in his article. I was delighted. I hope more people voice their concerns about nuclear. It's a shame to let such a great nation go under, like Japan, because of negligent long-term planning for safety.
Until next time!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Latest News
Just wanted to update you on my latest news. I have decided to remove myself from Facebook given the extraordinary amount of work that is piling up and the little time left for social networking. If you feel it necessary to contact me, please email me and I will try and respond as soon as I can.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may give to anyone interested in learning about my books. My website and this blog will have sufficient information on the status of my writing.
Have a safe summer!
I apologize for any inconvenience this may give to anyone interested in learning about my books. My website and this blog will have sufficient information on the status of my writing.
Have a safe summer!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Kelp Update
Well, I received a phone call from Mr. Earhart from Maine Coast the other day. He appeared to be a very nice gentleman and we had a nice chat. He told me that the kelp granules I bought were from Iceland and that they will check into their supplier. I also had him listen over the phone to the "ticks" coming from my geiger counter as it hovered over the bag of kelp. The ticking increased significantly from the background ticking a moment before. I sent the bags back to the company and they will take them to the university to have them tested further for radiation.
Maine Coast will keep me posted on what happens with the kelp.
Talk to you next time...and don't forget to smell the beautiful, white lilies, and the lilacs that are in bloom. Beautiful time of the year, it is. So enjoy it!
Maine Coast will keep me posted on what happens with the kelp.
Talk to you next time...and don't forget to smell the beautiful, white lilies, and the lilacs that are in bloom. Beautiful time of the year, it is. So enjoy it!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Kelp May Be Radioactive
We recently ordered kelp from Maine Coast. It comes in 1 pound bags as kelp granules. We've been buying it for years now, but decided to order larger quantities because of the shortage and increased interest in kelp due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Iodine is found in kelp and is used by the thyroid and competes with the radioactive Iodine I-131.
We periodically test our food supply with our geiger counter, and today, when we got our new shipment of kelp, we tested it. The geiger counter shot up from 30 cpm to over 180 cpm! We were dismayed. I called the company but they are closed for inventory. We have decided to return the product. We wonder where they got the kelp from.
Please stay healthy and keep your immune systems robust. Also, stay inside when it rains. We've noticed the radiation levels go up whenever it rains.
We periodically test our food supply with our geiger counter, and today, when we got our new shipment of kelp, we tested it. The geiger counter shot up from 30 cpm to over 180 cpm! We were dismayed. I called the company but they are closed for inventory. We have decided to return the product. We wonder where they got the kelp from.
Please stay healthy and keep your immune systems robust. Also, stay inside when it rains. We've noticed the radiation levels go up whenever it rains.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
My Favorite Time of the Year
Occasionally, I post a poem that I wrote for my poetry group on this blog. Since Spring is in full bloom, I wrote a poem about it and would like to share it with you below. Enjoy!
My Favorite Time of the Year
Through eyes of velvety blossoms,
Those budding shades of soft pinks and creamy whites,
I watch spring unfold,
Dripping color like a Monet painting,
Honey rich for the taking,
And over there, I turn to listen to the
Cheerful chirps from those bold red robins,
Thrusting their chests out to the world
As they dance with flair among the
Yellow capped daffodils, bringing more color
For my enjoyment.
All coming together, like clockwork, streaming forward,
Beautiful and bold, a testimony to what really
Counts in life.
No matter what the news sprouts forth,
No matter what chemicals are spewed into the air,
No matter the diseases and the sadness.
I do not care -
At least not now, not this moment in time.
I take a deep breath, as the wind caresses my hair.
I embrace Spring, for what it represents,
Because Spring is here, life can continue,
And nothing and no one is going to stop it!
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
My Favorite Time of the Year
Through eyes of velvety blossoms,
Those budding shades of soft pinks and creamy whites,
I watch spring unfold,
Dripping color like a Monet painting,
Honey rich for the taking,
And over there, I turn to listen to the
Cheerful chirps from those bold red robins,
Thrusting their chests out to the world
As they dance with flair among the
Yellow capped daffodils, bringing more color
For my enjoyment.
All coming together, like clockwork, streaming forward,
Beautiful and bold, a testimony to what really
Counts in life.
No matter what the news sprouts forth,
No matter what chemicals are spewed into the air,
No matter the diseases and the sadness.
I do not care -
At least not now, not this moment in time.
I take a deep breath, as the wind caresses my hair.
I embrace Spring, for what it represents,
Because Spring is here, life can continue,
And nothing and no one is going to stop it!
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
St. Hypatios Name Day Today
Today is St. Hypatios' (the Wonderworker) Name Day.
Since my Greek name is Hypatia, it is considered my name day. I also wish all the Hypatia's Happy Name Day today!
Below is a link to the Greek Archdiocese' description of this saint:
http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints/478
Since my Greek name is Hypatia, it is considered my name day. I also wish all the Hypatia's Happy Name Day today!
Below is a link to the Greek Archdiocese' description of this saint:
http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints/478
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
News about THE GREEK MAIDEN AND THE ENGLISH LORD
I received a nice phone call from Chris Copely today from the local newspaper the Herald-Mail. He wanted to let me know that they will be doing an article about me and my book THE GREEK MAIDEN AND THE ENGLISH LORD this coming Sunday, April 3, 2011. I'm looking forward to reading it!
I also received a nice email from the GreekCircle Magazine in Chicago. They were interested in including my new book in their book section.
These little perks is what makes me want to keep writing! I have decided that if this latest book that I wrote, which is a historical novel, does well, then I will probably write another historical novel for my next book. I will know for sure in the next few months.
I also received a nice email from the GreekCircle Magazine in Chicago. They were interested in including my new book in their book section.
These little perks is what makes me want to keep writing! I have decided that if this latest book that I wrote, which is a historical novel, does well, then I will probably write another historical novel for my next book. I will know for sure in the next few months.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Poem - Japanese Earthquake
The unprecedented earthquake and tsunami that recently took place
in Japan about a week ago left us breathless. We watched the news and our hearts cried out for mercy for the Japanese people that suffered during this difficult time. My poem is written from the angle of a person who witnessed the earthquake firsthand. This is just my imagination at work.
Japanese Earthquake
It does not matter,
Or does it,
I cannot tell, too tired to think,
When the core of the tsunami
Struck hard, so hard it hurts
To be buried in this cold bed
Of broken rubble, waiting for help
The ticking of the heartbeat
Strikes loud, so loud it hurts
To be alone, waiting, wondering
If anyone is alive, or were they
All washed away, like fish in the sea
Except for me
Why did you leave me, God, all alone
To suffer the humility of remembering
The past, which is forever gone
Oh, if only to turn back the time
To know that it was coming
So that I could
Be far away with loved ones
In a safe place
Warm and wonderful, cozy and comfortable
Too dangerous to dream, must keep
My wits about me, try and move out of here
It is getting cold and I am shivering
I try to move, but too heavy a load
Thought I heard someone
Tried to call out, but no one answered back.
Sleep is so inviting....
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
in Japan about a week ago left us breathless. We watched the news and our hearts cried out for mercy for the Japanese people that suffered during this difficult time. My poem is written from the angle of a person who witnessed the earthquake firsthand. This is just my imagination at work.
Japanese Earthquake
It does not matter,
Or does it,
I cannot tell, too tired to think,
When the core of the tsunami
Struck hard, so hard it hurts
To be buried in this cold bed
Of broken rubble, waiting for help
The ticking of the heartbeat
Strikes loud, so loud it hurts
To be alone, waiting, wondering
If anyone is alive, or were they
All washed away, like fish in the sea
Except for me
Why did you leave me, God, all alone
To suffer the humility of remembering
The past, which is forever gone
Oh, if only to turn back the time
To know that it was coming
So that I could
Be far away with loved ones
In a safe place
Warm and wonderful, cozy and comfortable
Too dangerous to dream, must keep
My wits about me, try and move out of here
It is getting cold and I am shivering
I try to move, but too heavy a load
Thought I heard someone
Tried to call out, but no one answered back.
Sleep is so inviting....
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Letter to the President stating we are against Nuclear Power
Given the recent developments in Japan and its nuclear reactor issues, I felt compelled to write today to our President about our views on Nuclear Power.
Here is the letter below:
"Dear President Obama,
We are very concerned about what happened in Japan regarding their nuclear power plants and the radiation being emitted.
I have worked in the radiobiology field for over a decade. I studied how radiation affected the cells in the laboratory. It was a devastating effect on the cells and although we cannot see, hear, or touch radiation, it can be very harmful.
My husband and I want to inform you, that as citizens of the United States, we do not want any nuclear power plants to exist in this country. It seems that nuclear power plants and earthquakes do not mix. We do not want to have another Katrina or 3 Mile Island on our hands - too big to handle.
Why not look for alternative energy sources that do not pose a risk to public health like nuclear power does? Given that our future is uncertain in relation to the impending solar maximum and its effect on our earth, including coronal mass ejections and earthquakes, it just does NOT make sense that nuclear energy is the way to go. It is too dangerous!
Please, Mr. President, say NO to nuclear power.
We personally have solar power on our house, and a lot of insulation for energy conservation. We support that type of alternative energy. If more people/industry used that kind of alternative energy, it would be a better and much safer future for all of us.
We don't want to go in the footsteps of Japan or France. The U.S. should go on its own alternative energy future (that does not include nuclear energy), and let the others
follow."
Here is the letter below:
"Dear President Obama,
We are very concerned about what happened in Japan regarding their nuclear power plants and the radiation being emitted.
I have worked in the radiobiology field for over a decade. I studied how radiation affected the cells in the laboratory. It was a devastating effect on the cells and although we cannot see, hear, or touch radiation, it can be very harmful.
My husband and I want to inform you, that as citizens of the United States, we do not want any nuclear power plants to exist in this country. It seems that nuclear power plants and earthquakes do not mix. We do not want to have another Katrina or 3 Mile Island on our hands - too big to handle.
Why not look for alternative energy sources that do not pose a risk to public health like nuclear power does? Given that our future is uncertain in relation to the impending solar maximum and its effect on our earth, including coronal mass ejections and earthquakes, it just does NOT make sense that nuclear energy is the way to go. It is too dangerous!
Please, Mr. President, say NO to nuclear power.
We personally have solar power on our house, and a lot of insulation for energy conservation. We support that type of alternative energy. If more people/industry used that kind of alternative energy, it would be a better and much safer future for all of us.
We don't want to go in the footsteps of Japan or France. The U.S. should go on its own alternative energy future (that does not include nuclear energy), and let the others
follow."
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Nuclear Power Plants and Earthquakes Don't Mix
Having much respect for earthquakes, given that Greece tends to be prone to them, I have signed up with the USGS to have them send earthquake alerts to my email box on a daily basis. Although Greece has not been in the earthquake radar recently, unfortunately, Japan has.
With much consternation and dismay, we have been watching the latest news on the earthquake(s) in the Honshu area of Japan. The 8.9 earthquake that blasted the area on early Friday, March 11, 2011 was preceded by several smaller earthquakes and followed by hundreds more (in the 5-6 richter regions). The devastation and loss is horrifying to witness, but even more so, is the long term potential of this terrible event.
What puzzles me greatly to the point of disbelief, is that a country like Japan, with its educated people and cosmopolitan cities, has built 55 nuclear plants in its country. Now what will happen, as the scene unfolds, when these recently affected nuclear power plants melt down and emit all kinds of radiation into the atmosphere? Another Chernobyl, some may ask? You have guessed right. According to the website www.beyondnuclear.org, the area around the Fukushima reactor site has witnessed around 190 people being treated for radiation poisoning. That is very serious. It is just a matter of time before this radiation seeps into the universe.
My humble advice? An earthquake prone country has no business building nuclear power plants. Because it is just a matter of time before an earthquake will come along and break them apart. It does not require a rocket scientist to figure this one out. It is so distressing to see authorities make these kind of rash decisions of building nuclear power plants without adding earthquakes into the formula.
I suggest that all countries that are prone to earthquakes, to be not allowed to have nuclear power plants built there. It is sad to see how "clean" energy can hurt so many people in such a short term and long term effect. Hiroshima's survivors felt the effect for a long time. It is too bad that Japan has not learned from its history and tried to make its country a safer place to live in.
Now, I understand that it is a matter of days before the radiation from the nuclear reactor in Japan reaches the United States. I will be checking the radiation on a daily basis in my area in Maryland.
With much consternation and dismay, we have been watching the latest news on the earthquake(s) in the Honshu area of Japan. The 8.9 earthquake that blasted the area on early Friday, March 11, 2011 was preceded by several smaller earthquakes and followed by hundreds more (in the 5-6 richter regions). The devastation and loss is horrifying to witness, but even more so, is the long term potential of this terrible event.
What puzzles me greatly to the point of disbelief, is that a country like Japan, with its educated people and cosmopolitan cities, has built 55 nuclear plants in its country. Now what will happen, as the scene unfolds, when these recently affected nuclear power plants melt down and emit all kinds of radiation into the atmosphere? Another Chernobyl, some may ask? You have guessed right. According to the website www.beyondnuclear.org, the area around the Fukushima reactor site has witnessed around 190 people being treated for radiation poisoning. That is very serious. It is just a matter of time before this radiation seeps into the universe.
My humble advice? An earthquake prone country has no business building nuclear power plants. Because it is just a matter of time before an earthquake will come along and break them apart. It does not require a rocket scientist to figure this one out. It is so distressing to see authorities make these kind of rash decisions of building nuclear power plants without adding earthquakes into the formula.
I suggest that all countries that are prone to earthquakes, to be not allowed to have nuclear power plants built there. It is sad to see how "clean" energy can hurt so many people in such a short term and long term effect. Hiroshima's survivors felt the effect for a long time. It is too bad that Japan has not learned from its history and tried to make its country a safer place to live in.
Now, I understand that it is a matter of days before the radiation from the nuclear reactor in Japan reaches the United States. I will be checking the radiation on a daily basis in my area in Maryland.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Sweet and Sour Musings
There are times in our lives where decisions need to be made, not because we chose them, but the universe/God decided to land them in our lap. There are small, daily decisions that we make, like what to wear or eat, then there are the Big, once in a lifetime decisions to make, like getting married or losing a house to flooding or a storm and where to go from there.
This poem focuses on the big decisions that we've had to make recently. It's always hoped for that they turn out sweet and rosy.
Sweet and Sour Musings
Flowing streams of thoughts,
Like taffy candy, search
My consciousness for clues
That solidify the decision
Until it is hardened.
Yet it is not brittle,
So that if I were to tap it,
It would not break into little
Tiny pieces, littering the landscape
Of my mind.
The excruciating moment comes,
Whether I like it or not,
To make a decision that
Will move forward until the
Unknown outcome sprouts forth,
Which, hopefully, would
Be a beautiful thing -
Like a luxuriant flower
Or, if not, sadly one
That turns into dry dust -
Scattering our life away with the wind.
Time will only tell
If what we chose will be right for us.
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
This poem focuses on the big decisions that we've had to make recently. It's always hoped for that they turn out sweet and rosy.
Sweet and Sour Musings
Flowing streams of thoughts,
Like taffy candy, search
My consciousness for clues
That solidify the decision
Until it is hardened.
Yet it is not brittle,
So that if I were to tap it,
It would not break into little
Tiny pieces, littering the landscape
Of my mind.
The excruciating moment comes,
Whether I like it or not,
To make a decision that
Will move forward until the
Unknown outcome sprouts forth,
Which, hopefully, would
Be a beautiful thing -
Like a luxuriant flower
Or, if not, sadly one
That turns into dry dust -
Scattering our life away with the wind.
Time will only tell
If what we chose will be right for us.
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Why Fiction is Important (and other thoughts)
Our lives are so much more complicated these days than our parents times, given the technology that we have at our fingertips - computers, iphones, GPS, DVDs, wifi, and so on. It can be downright stressful at times!
We live in an information age almost spiraling out of control. The Internet is brimming with information, and so are the news. With so much negative news coming at us (riots in Egypt, 2012 dire predictions, global economic issues, etc.) it seems that it is never ending. In addition, there are life issues that can be traumatic, depressing, or downright ugly, and coupled with the negative news it can be very stressful living in this current world.
I find during these times, that just switching gears for a few minutes or even an hour or two here or there to read fiction, is a great respite and escape from the world we live in.
My latest novel THE GREEK MAIDEN AND THE ENGLISH LORD was intended to be an entertaining escape from the modern world as well as a stressbuster. I am very content with happy endings in the novels I read and write. I stay away from reading novels that are too realistic and depressing. I get enough of that from reading the news.
Here is a short poem I wrote:
Dare to Dream
Dare to dream with hopes filled high -
To fly with eagles in the sky
Lured by promises of happy thoughts,
Dare to dream what life dares naught.
Focus on the positive, uplifting, loving, and good things in life, and they will come abundantly to you.
We live in an information age almost spiraling out of control. The Internet is brimming with information, and so are the news. With so much negative news coming at us (riots in Egypt, 2012 dire predictions, global economic issues, etc.) it seems that it is never ending. In addition, there are life issues that can be traumatic, depressing, or downright ugly, and coupled with the negative news it can be very stressful living in this current world.
I find during these times, that just switching gears for a few minutes or even an hour or two here or there to read fiction, is a great respite and escape from the world we live in.
My latest novel THE GREEK MAIDEN AND THE ENGLISH LORD was intended to be an entertaining escape from the modern world as well as a stressbuster. I am very content with happy endings in the novels I read and write. I stay away from reading novels that are too realistic and depressing. I get enough of that from reading the news.
Here is a short poem I wrote:
Dare to Dream
Dare to dream with hopes filled high -
To fly with eagles in the sky
Lured by promises of happy thoughts,
Dare to dream what life dares naught.
Focus on the positive, uplifting, loving, and good things in life, and they will come abundantly to you.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Poem on Cancer
Hello again,
The following poem was written recently. It's on a topic that is close to my heart. I spent many years doing cancer research in the laboratory. I also witnessed several close family members succumbing to the disease. This poem is a result of my feelings about it.
Patty
Cancer
How often must we hear
this word before we wake up
to the truth?
I read the statistics -
Millions of Americans have died from cancer
since 1975. How many more
before we do something about it?
Forever and ever we are
caught in its snare
as we watch
parent or sibling or friend
struggle against its
lethal clutches,
their very life choking from the chemicals -
the poisons they ingest to survive
one minute more only to die forever
lost to conventional treatment,
causing us
to mourn forever and ever
the loss of beautiful people,
gracious souls that somehow
never ripened to old age.
I struggled just like them, but knew
it was not my time for I wanted to live,
but didn't they also?
I told them to stay away from the chemicals,
and eat organic fruits and vegetables,
drink pure water, breathe clean air,
and take vitamins and supplements,
But instead they listened to their doctor
and no longer are around to listen to me.
Where did I go wrong?
Maybe I forgot to tell them to pray?
Why didn't they listen?
Where did medicine go wrong?
Why do they poison and radiate the body
Instead of helping to prevent it in the first place?
Maybe they forgot to listen to the patient's
soul?
Or maybe they don't have one themselves...
I listened to my husband, I read,
I ate organic foods and drank pure water...
I listened to my intuition
and I'm still around.
by Patty Apostolides, 2010
The following poem was written recently. It's on a topic that is close to my heart. I spent many years doing cancer research in the laboratory. I also witnessed several close family members succumbing to the disease. This poem is a result of my feelings about it.
Patty
Cancer
How often must we hear
this word before we wake up
to the truth?
I read the statistics -
Millions of Americans have died from cancer
since 1975. How many more
before we do something about it?
Forever and ever we are
caught in its snare
as we watch
parent or sibling or friend
struggle against its
lethal clutches,
their very life choking from the chemicals -
the poisons they ingest to survive
one minute more only to die forever
lost to conventional treatment,
causing us
to mourn forever and ever
the loss of beautiful people,
gracious souls that somehow
never ripened to old age.
I struggled just like them, but knew
it was not my time for I wanted to live,
but didn't they also?
I told them to stay away from the chemicals,
and eat organic fruits and vegetables,
drink pure water, breathe clean air,
and take vitamins and supplements,
But instead they listened to their doctor
and no longer are around to listen to me.
Where did I go wrong?
Maybe I forgot to tell them to pray?
Why didn't they listen?
Where did medicine go wrong?
Why do they poison and radiate the body
Instead of helping to prevent it in the first place?
Maybe they forgot to listen to the patient's
soul?
Or maybe they don't have one themselves...
I listened to my husband, I read,
I ate organic foods and drank pure water...
I listened to my intuition
and I'm still around.
by Patty Apostolides, 2010
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Winter Musings
Hello once again!
About a week ago, we celebrated my husband's and son's name day, St. Anthony, which occurs on January 17. The Greeks typically celebrate name days for the saints that they are named after. So many Greeks are named after saints, like John, George, Nicholas, Mary, Anthony, Peter, Paul, and so on. Since my name is Hypatia, which is not a saints name (but from an ancient female mathematician in Alexandria), the closest I come to celebrating my name day is March 31st, which is St. Hypatios day.
We are in the heart of old man winter, cold and blustering and white with snow! Received several inches of snow today. Everything was blanketed in majestic white. Since I'm a stay at home mom, had already done the shopping yesterday in preparation for the snow. Stayed home and enjoyed it. So of course our son had to go out sledding, and we joined him. First we made a hill and with his sled, went on top of it and flew down the hill.
Made a wonderful bean soup today from stockpiled cans of beans. I like to always have extra cans of something (beans, beans, and more beans - ha!) around, just in case, for an emergency. I periodically run through them and see if the expiration date is near. Today I found a few cans of kidney beans, and garbanza beans expiring this month, so I made the following soup, which was scrumptious! It's great when the weather is cold outside. I have the recipe below. Good for 9 servings. Enjoy!
Patty's Bean Soup
3 cans Kidney Beans
1 can Garbanzo Beans
2 large carrots, sliced
1 celery, sliced
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
1/5 cabbage, sliced
2 zuccini, sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
1 large can crushed tomato (sauce)
1 cup uncooked macaroni (or tiny shells)
virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
oregano
Add all the ingredients (except zuccini and pasta) to a large pot filled with 2/3 water. Let cook over medium heat for half hour to forty minutes (until carrots are somewhat tender). Add zucchini and pasta. Cook for 10 minutes. Turn off heat. Spoon into bowls and top with shredded cheese. Ummm...good!
If you try the recipe, let me know.
Take care and stay warm!
About a week ago, we celebrated my husband's and son's name day, St. Anthony, which occurs on January 17. The Greeks typically celebrate name days for the saints that they are named after. So many Greeks are named after saints, like John, George, Nicholas, Mary, Anthony, Peter, Paul, and so on. Since my name is Hypatia, which is not a saints name (but from an ancient female mathematician in Alexandria), the closest I come to celebrating my name day is March 31st, which is St. Hypatios day.
We are in the heart of old man winter, cold and blustering and white with snow! Received several inches of snow today. Everything was blanketed in majestic white. Since I'm a stay at home mom, had already done the shopping yesterday in preparation for the snow. Stayed home and enjoyed it. So of course our son had to go out sledding, and we joined him. First we made a hill and with his sled, went on top of it and flew down the hill.
Made a wonderful bean soup today from stockpiled cans of beans. I like to always have extra cans of something (beans, beans, and more beans - ha!) around, just in case, for an emergency. I periodically run through them and see if the expiration date is near. Today I found a few cans of kidney beans, and garbanza beans expiring this month, so I made the following soup, which was scrumptious! It's great when the weather is cold outside. I have the recipe below. Good for 9 servings. Enjoy!
Patty's Bean Soup
3 cans Kidney Beans
1 can Garbanzo Beans
2 large carrots, sliced
1 celery, sliced
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
1/5 cabbage, sliced
2 zuccini, sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
1 large can crushed tomato (sauce)
1 cup uncooked macaroni (or tiny shells)
virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
oregano
Add all the ingredients (except zuccini and pasta) to a large pot filled with 2/3 water. Let cook over medium heat for half hour to forty minutes (until carrots are somewhat tender). Add zucchini and pasta. Cook for 10 minutes. Turn off heat. Spoon into bowls and top with shredded cheese. Ummm...good!
If you try the recipe, let me know.
Take care and stay warm!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Radon trapped in air filters, dehumidifier
We purchased a Frigidaire dehumidifier from Lowe's in Hagerstown, MD a few months ago. We put it downstairs in our basement to remove the moisture from the basement. Periodically we test our basement for radon using our geiger counter. We hadn't done it in awhile so we tested it yesterday and the background radiation was 35 cpm which is ok.
The astonishing thing that happened is that our geiger counter gave a very high reading when we approached the Frigidaire dehumidifier. When I removed the filter that was encased in the dehumidifier, the filter itself read 515 cpm!!! We were flabbergasted. Apparently the filter was trapping radon in it and thus the high reading of alpha particles.
Given that, we turned off the dehumidifier and let it sit overnight. Today, twenty four hours later, the filter was back to normal and the reading was 35 cpm.
My worry is that the filter traps the radon particles in it and makes the dehumidifier a source of radiation. To the unwitting consumer who periodically removes the water bucket which is located near the filter, or spends time around the dehumidifier, it could be a source of radiation contamination.
I wrote to the company and recommended they check into this matter and try and reduce the amount of radon that gets trapped in the filter.
I will notify the Consumer Safety Product Agency on this matter.
UPDATE: I have added a HEPA filter to the basement which traps the radon. In addition, radon can be removed through a radon mitigation system. This would greatly lower the radon in the filter.
FURTHER UPDATE: As of 2022, I added a radon mitigation system in the basement. It was the wisest thing I did. They drilled a hole in the basement floor and attached a cylinder that went to the outdoors. It was attached to a pump which pulls the radon outside. I also added a little meter that checks the radon and it averages 2.4 which is a good number.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
The Greek Star
Recently I was contacted by the editor of the Greek Star newspaper (in Chicago) for a book review of The Greek Maiden and the English Lord. I was quite surprised and yet pleased at the same time. This is the first time a newspaper approached me, and this particular newspaper has been around for decades.
Writing a book is not easy, folks, and once it is finished (it took me 3 years), the work does not end there. We authors need to promote and market it, and get it out there to the public. These newspapers do us a great service in helping us get the word out there about our books, so I am quite happy about this recent situation. Dissemination is a very important part of writing a book. I know of authors that write their books and then do nothing in promoting them. No one knows about their books. I think that's a shame. All that effort gone to naught.
Another bit of good news is that Hagerstown Magazine will also do a writeup of my book and is expected to come out in the Feb/March 2011 edition. Looking forward to reading that. Let's see, where else can I get the news out?
Writing a book is not easy, folks, and once it is finished (it took me 3 years), the work does not end there. We authors need to promote and market it, and get it out there to the public. These newspapers do us a great service in helping us get the word out there about our books, so I am quite happy about this recent situation. Dissemination is a very important part of writing a book. I know of authors that write their books and then do nothing in promoting them. No one knows about their books. I think that's a shame. All that effort gone to naught.
Another bit of good news is that Hagerstown Magazine will also do a writeup of my book and is expected to come out in the Feb/March 2011 edition. Looking forward to reading that. Let's see, where else can I get the news out?
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year 2011! Chronia Polla in Greek!
Our family has a Greek tradition every New Years and that is the Vassilopita bread. The day before New Years, I spend hours preparing this bread. It is a rich, sweet bread that is almost a cake because it contains milk, butter, sugar, and eggs. The secret to it becoming light is to not overload it with sugar and eggs. Some recipes call for using more than one cup of sugar and 6-8 eggs. Don't do it! I did it one year and regretted it. My bread did not rise and was hard and lumpy and didn't even make it to the paximadi category (toasted for dunking in coffee). After the ingredients are added and mixed and let sit for at least 4-5 hours, the dough is punched down and then a small coin wrapped in aluminum is inserted into the dough. After another hour of rising, it is baked. The next day, we celebrate New Years by cutting the bread into slices, with each slice designated for each person of the house, and we also include a slice for Jesus. This year I was the lucky receipient of the coin, which tranlates into having good luck for the year. So I was very pleased with that!
My family likes to play games together. Often, we pull out the Scrabble game and play it, or we'll play Trivia Pursuit, and such. So we did some game playing on New Years, plus piano playing, and watching a good old movie. We had a very nice, enjoyable time. Our New Years meal was roasted lamb with roasted potatoe/red peppers/eggplant. I always like to make pumpkin pie around this time of year, so we had a slice with lavish whipped cream on top. Another holiday pastry is the finiki, or melomakarona. There are at least dozens of versions on the Greek recipe, but the one I chose was simple - orange juice, olive oil, sugar and flour. Inserted in it was a honey/walnut mixture. Then it was baked and dunked in a honey syrup. The finikia turned out large, but very yummy. My husband said for me to keep that recipe! It was so good.
Our family has a Greek tradition every New Years and that is the Vassilopita bread. The day before New Years, I spend hours preparing this bread. It is a rich, sweet bread that is almost a cake because it contains milk, butter, sugar, and eggs. The secret to it becoming light is to not overload it with sugar and eggs. Some recipes call for using more than one cup of sugar and 6-8 eggs. Don't do it! I did it one year and regretted it. My bread did not rise and was hard and lumpy and didn't even make it to the paximadi category (toasted for dunking in coffee). After the ingredients are added and mixed and let sit for at least 4-5 hours, the dough is punched down and then a small coin wrapped in aluminum is inserted into the dough. After another hour of rising, it is baked. The next day, we celebrate New Years by cutting the bread into slices, with each slice designated for each person of the house, and we also include a slice for Jesus. This year I was the lucky receipient of the coin, which tranlates into having good luck for the year. So I was very pleased with that!
My family likes to play games together. Often, we pull out the Scrabble game and play it, or we'll play Trivia Pursuit, and such. So we did some game playing on New Years, plus piano playing, and watching a good old movie. We had a very nice, enjoyable time. Our New Years meal was roasted lamb with roasted potatoe/red peppers/eggplant. I always like to make pumpkin pie around this time of year, so we had a slice with lavish whipped cream on top. Another holiday pastry is the finiki, or melomakarona. There are at least dozens of versions on the Greek recipe, but the one I chose was simple - orange juice, olive oil, sugar and flour. Inserted in it was a honey/walnut mixture. Then it was baked and dunked in a honey syrup. The finikia turned out large, but very yummy. My husband said for me to keep that recipe! It was so good.
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