I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. Let's bring back some constants starting with my Sunday morning ritual at Larchmont Village. Give me my iced caffeine drink, give me my fresh & local veggies from the Farmer's Market. Give me the pining for the cute puppies and kittens up for adoption that I can't have (just yet). Give me...an interview for my blog!
As I was exiting Peet's and scoping out the puppy parade I happened to glance at a woman sitting on one of the benches just outside the coffee shop. She, too, is armed with an iced drink. After a few sips through my straw for "liquid courage" (or at least an attempt at some pep) I approach said woman.
Said woman is Christie and said woman is reading the non-fiction work, "The Widow of Clicquot: The Story of a Champage Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It". I'd heard and seen this book around but never really thought to pick up a copy until now. You've got 27-year old widow, Barbe-Nicole, who assumed control of the family's wine business during the Napoloenic Wars.
Female leader in a male-donimated world and time? YES!
Interesting history behind the Veuve Clicquot empire? YES!
Strong female figures and drinking - awesome combo, non?
Christie wasn't planning on reading this book either. She just happened to see it in a bookstore so she gave it a shot. "I'm enjoying it. Definitely getting better the deeper I dive into it." From the looks of her book I thought she had gotten it from a used book store. "No, I actually bought it new. It just looks like this because I've been lugging it around in my bag so the pages and cover are a bit bent and 'worn'."
She likes to mix things up in the reading department, switching between both fiction and non-fiction. "I like to come out to Larchmont on Sunday mornings and read. It's my Sunday ritual."
If Christie were to write a book of her own it would be a book about traveling. She travels often for business and pleasure, and loves to travel in general. She shares with me that one of her most memorable trips was to India. She also enjoyed her visit to San Miguel in Mexico. It was closer than trekking out to India but still a relaxing escape.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sparkling Widow
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Just Give In
In between catching the latest bug (reason for being bedridden forever) I got to see my usual suspects over at the Roger Room. I had just gotten over the flu and was well enough to have a drink amongst friends. Doorman extraordinaire, Jason, was cooly leaning against the brick wall next to his motorcycle. I leaned in for a hug and noticed he was clutching a book in one hand - The Magician's Way by William Whitecloud. Jason had been mentioning that he had been catching up on his reading lately so it was nice to see him reading that night.
Jason was lost for words when I asked what the book was about. "There are just so many things going on. I am just finally trying to understand one of the concepts." But after digging deep in his thoughts and informing me of the book's many layers he tells me that it's about an important life lesson of "just letting go and giving in. Mainly just giving into nature and your surroundings. Trust in it and everything will fall into place. This is also when you find your strength."
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!! Beetlejuice!!!
The crowd at last night's Cinespia screening of Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" was insane! It wasn't even 6pm yet and the space in line on the grass was already taken up. In between nibbling on crackers topped with herbed goat cheese, sipping beer/wine, and arranging tiles on the Scrabble board I took a few minutes to speak with Jenni. She was sitting on the other side of the caution tape. I noticed she was reading Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food". It's a non-fiction work "about how the Western diet is slowly killing us."
Jenni's brother handed her this book to read as she was leaving to come to the cemetery. She needed something to read while waiting in line and her brother thought she would enjoy it. Jenni's only a few pages in and so far, so good.
Her brother actually started reading it but never got around to finishing it. He had to put it down because it made him question everything and consider all the processed foods around us. 
Jenni normally reads fiction. One of her favorite reads is The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. "It just has a really great story. Plus, I really love Russian literature."
The last book she read was David Sedaris' Naked. "Not my favorite of his stuff. I prefer Holidays on Ice." This sparked a bit of conversation with the folks in my group upon hearing this. Everyone started to go over their own favorite Sedaris books and began to delve into works by Augusten Burroughs. 
We moved on to discuss our various reading habits. Jenni considers herself a fairly quick reader if she isn't distracted. "I can also read many books at one time. Sometimes I read 10 at a time! My bed is full of books." The saying is oh so true - "Readers never go to bed alone."
Jenni was super excited to "Beetlejuice". This was actually only her second time at a Cinespia screening! The last one she attended was "North by Northwest" a few weeks ago. "I meant to wear stripes tonight but I totally forgot. Now I kind of wish I did." Funny because I meant to wear my stripes, too!
Time flew by and we finally made our way onto the cemetery grounds. At 9pm John, Cinespia's fearless leader, commanded us to say the B word three times. We all belted it out in unison, summoning the ghost with the most.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
A Piece of Peace Pie
Call me a proud sister! My sister's recipe for Fair Trade mud pie has made it into the 'Peace Never Tasted So Sweet: CODEPINK's Peace Pie Cookbook'!!
Virtual high-five to her. Seriously.
The stories and recipes were collected from women across the US and globally including a poet laureate, a retired Colonel, a witch, radical grandmothers, civil rights activists, a leader in the Muslim peace movement, creative bakers, change-makers, a Girl’s Club, local CODEPINK coordinators and more.
CODEPINK Women for Peace is a hearty mix of highly creative and passionate women working for peace—and not afraid to bake for it.
"I am obviously the witch", quoth Z.
Interested in a copy for your kitchen? Or as a sweet gift?
$7.00 Ebook/ $33 print / 93 pp / 978-0-557-45194-4
Printed & distributed by www.lulu.com
Ebook: http://bit.ly/peacesosweet
And....if you happen to be in the San Francisco area next week then you should stop by the launch party. Details below.
- Free and open to the public
- Pie tasting (sliding scale $5-10 donation asked for the tasting)
- Herbal iced tea
- Pies and hot beverages for purchase from Mission Pie
- Meet my sister, Zarah!
Tuesday June 15th. @ 6-8pm
Mission Pie
2901 Mission St. at 25th St. (near 24th St BART)
http://www.facebook.com/event.
Venezuela Speaks!
I just got home from IMIX Books in Eagle Rock where my friend, Carlos Martinez, was scheduled to speak. He's on his book launch tour and making the rounds! Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances (read: Lakers championship and L.A. Downtown Art Walk) this LA event will have to be rescheduled. But it was great to see him and I got to meet some really top notch folks. And to top it off I discovered IMIX Bookstore. It's a cute little shop on Eagle Rock Blvd. and carries some pretty amazing books (and jewelry, wallets, et. al.)
If you get a chance definitely check out http://venezuelaspeaks.com/
Read a phenomenal collection of interviews with activists from across Venezuela's social movements AND support a homie. I actually am not well versed in the Venezuelan social movement so, needless to say, I am quite intrigued and excited to dive in. Gonna learn me a thing or two.
I spoke to Carlos a few months ago whilst in San Francisco and he told me about his time getting this book together. Hear more about it in an upcoming interview with Mr. Martinez. Got questions for him? Send them over and I'll be sure to ask him.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Reading on the Road
A friend of mine was in town last week. It was his first time in Los Angeles and on his first night in town we got to go see Toro y Moi open up for Caribou at the El Rey theater! I was pretty excited for this because I've been hearing Toro y Moi playing on the Sirius station blasting through our office soundsystem. And coincidentally my friend is friends with Toro y Moi's road warrior. 'Tis a small world afterall (especially in music...)
After Toro y Moi's set we hung around the merch booth and chatted it up with the guys behind the counter (one of which was Jordan Blackmon a.k.a. the guy who helps round up my degrees of separation with Chaz of Toro y Moi).
While I was peeking over the counter on tippy-toe I see Adam (Caribou roadie) sitting in his chair, totally into his book. "How is this guy reading amongst all this chaos?", I ask myself.
I lean forward and wave my hand in front of him to get his attention then ask if I could come into the booth through the back and ask him about his book. He gladly agreed so I scampered on over.
Adam is reading a sci fi book called We by Yevgeny Zamyatin. He started it on this tour. "I like reading sci fi especially when I'm on the road with the band. It's the only genre of books I can actually pay attention to while a show is going on in the background."
When I took a look at the book cover it reminded me of the movie "Fantastic Planet". Go watch this movie if you haven't already! Preferably at night in the dark. Such a trip.
Adam admits that he hasn't been "reading" many books on tour, per se. "Do audio books count?"
He's actually been listening to a few audio books while driving the Caribou tour van to help pass the time. Right now he's listening to Stephen King's Life Under the Dome. "I'm not really a fan of Stephen King but I don't mind listening to his stuff with my earphones while I'm driving." And when he's not listening to audio books or reading sci fi paperbacks he occupies himself with his trusty laptop. Music, movies, and the internetz - it does the trick.
Shameless plugs! Try to catch one of their shows if you can. It's all good stuff. Forrealzies! Plus, Toro y Moi is touring in a grey Ford Focus. Gotta give 'em some props for putting some major mileage on that car. Seriously. I love it.
http://toroymoi.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/toroymoi
http://www.myspace.com/cariboumanitoba
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