Happy Days: A New Musical

"Sunday, Monday, Happy Days…Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days…the whole gang is back! Richie, Fonzie, Ralph, Potsie and all your favorites from the smash-hit TV series are rockin’ and rollin’ all week long. The laughs never end in a celebration of poodle skirts, jukeboxes, motorcycles and malt shops. 1959 is cool again as the gang tries to save Arnold’s in a sock hoppin’, engines revvin’ new musical for the entire family. These days are yours and mine…"

Sunday night was my first trip back to the Academy of Music in many years - to see "Happy Days." The show was great fun - a real crowd pleaser.

This run is just about over. I think it moves on to Hershey PA next.
Check out the web site for more information and the tour schedule.
Happy Days Musical

The CalorieKing Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter 2009

The only time I watched Oprah in the last two weeks she was talking about the calorie restricted diet. Then I saw Valerie Bertinelli on the cover of People magazine and she was wearing a bikini - and she looked great. Somebody is trying to tell me something, its time to start a new diet.

I like the whole idea of calorie restriction because it's not all about losing weight. It's really about living longer. Do the two go together? I'm going to try and find out.

I started by going to the The Calorie Restriction Society website. They offer a wealth of information including what to do before getting started, risks, benefits and recipes.

I've already had my physical and lab tests so I figured out how many calories I need to eat per day (1754.45) and made a shopping list. My list was mostly fish, fruits, vegetables and egg whites. This is going to be tough so as an incentive to stick with it I'm going to write a series of articles for Ezine.

Another incentive is the little gem I'm now carrying around in my purse - The CalorieKing Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter 2009 by Allan Borushek.

It's small so it's super handy to have with you so you can make informed choices when shopping or dining out. It's colorful and has tips and cartoons as well as nutritional information and basics on diabetes and health. And its only $8.99.

Calorie King Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter 2009 on Amazon

Calorie Restriction Calculator

The Secret Keeper by Paul Harris - First Impressions

Even though the thirty degree weather pissed me off I was reluctant to leave the beach yesterday. It was the thought of all the books that arrived in my absence that finally convinced me.

I was tired after driving three hours but the sight of all those padded envelopes woke me up and I tore into them before I unpacked the car.

First out of the bag was THE SECRET KEEPER by Paul Harris.

From the book flap: Four years ago, British journalist Danny Kellerman was given the opportunity of a lifetime: covering the political crisis in Sierra Leone as a war correspondent. While in Freetown he begins a passionate love affair with a beautiful American woman named Maria Tirado, who helps run an orphanage for ex-child soldiers. But Danny can’t shake the feeling that Maria is hiding something from him, and as the crisis escalates, Danny has no choice but to leave; he boards a helicopter out of Freetown and never turns back….

Until four years later, when, with a new relationship and a new life in London, Danny receives a mysterious, urgent letter from Maria. She’s in trouble and needs Danny’s help. But the letter is dated three weeks earlier, and it’s already too late. Danny learns that Maria was murdered in a roadside robbery.

Haunted and heartbroken, Danny leaves London and returns to Freetown. Although there is now peace in Sierra Leone, corruption is rampant and every promising lead is a dead end. But with the help of old friends and contacts, Danny uncovers a string of secrets that sheds a shocking light on the woman he thought he knew—and reveals a hidden truth that could destroy those in power. Trapped in the heart of a dangerous nation where he can trust no one, Danny is forced to choose between his journalistic integrity and the devastating consequences of speaking the truth.

After reading the synopsis my first thought was - THE CONSTANT GARDENER - a movie starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, about a diplomat who searches for his wife's murderer in Kenya and uncovers a treacherous conspiracy. I love a good thriller so I couldn't resist reading a bit more of the Harris book.

So far so good. The prologue hooked me with a torture scene and I might have kept going through the night except the cats were hungry and they were already furious because I'd left them again. (It's their own fault, they don't travel well.) So I was forced to put the book down for the night.

I plan to write a detailed review for Ezine when I finish the book. Check back or sign up for my Ezine alerts on the sidebar.

For more information go to Amazon.com.
The Secret Keeper at Amazon

The Perfect Vacation Rental!

If you're looking for a relaxing getaway at the beach check out the
Marylander Condo - Unit 405.

The newly renovated building is only steps away from the beach and has a heated indoor pool, game room and sun deck. Across the street is Northside Park, the site of many events throughout the summer.


Unit 405 has:

2 Double beds in the bedroom
1 Queen sleeper sofa in the living room
Fully equipped Kitchen - no oven
Washer/Dryer
Towels and Sheets are provided
TV/DVD

Watchmen

It's 1985, Richard Nixon is president and the US and Russia are at the brink of war. Oh and costumed superheroes are walking around the streets. I'm watching the Watchmen - and loving it. It's not for everyone but if you like graphic novels, dark sci-fi and anti-heroes check it out.

The movie sticks pretty close to the book and it's not a comic story for kids. There's a lot going on and most of it is about depravity and despair in society.

The stand-out character is Jeffrey Dean Morgan who showed his range of acting skills playing the sociopathic Comedian. Jackie Earle Haley did a great job as Rorschach in his mask of shifting ink blots. For me the big disappointment was Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan, although he made nice eye candy in the nude scenes.

The movie is two and a half hours long. Yes the film is dark and gritty. It's violent and there's nudity. It's also visually stunning and thought-provoking.

Follow Me On Twitter

Now there's a new Twitter button to go with my updates. Look at the bottom of my sidebar.

Isn't it cool? Want one for your blog, website, whatever?
Check out twitter buttons - your source for free buttons.

Cachalot by Alan Dean Foster

I'm back at the beach gearing up for a contentious condo meeting on Saturday. Evidently I'm not open-minded because I don't want to vote for another huge assessment. We just spent thousands on the building and in this economical climate it seems fool hardy to me to do it again.

Anyway I won't think about it until Saturday. Right now I'm looking out at the ocean and just being glad that I'm here. All that water makes me think of a book I just finished - Cachalot by Alan Dean Foster.

Foster is a prolific writer of sci-fi and fantasy. He's well known for his Pip and Flinx adventures and many novels with strong ecological elements.

CACHALOT is a waterworld. I thought the title might be a play on Camelot but according to Wikipedia the Sperm Whale has also been known as the common cachalot.

Sea dwelling mammals were hunted to near extinction and when other worlds were discovered they were transplanted to an ocean planet. Humans live on floating cities and suddenly these cities start disappearing. A marine biologist and her daughter arrive to investigate.

Foster did a credible job crafting his waterworld and added enough conflict, romance and twists to keep things interesting. It's a great beach read!

Find it on Amazon.

Cachalot: a novel

Fight Multiple Sclerosis

Having multiple sclerosis means that you may not be able to walk when you wake up. Or that you may suddenly have impaired vision. Or that your memory will fail you for no apparent reason. The symptoms of MS are different, and devastating, for everyone - the only certainty is that it will affect yet another person every hour of every day.

Register now for Walk MS 2009

Make creating a world free of MS one of your new year's resolutions. Then double your impact by inviting a friend or relative to walk with you.

There are many reasons to join the movement at the largest Walk MS site each year, in Philadelphia. With the scenic route down Martin Luther King Dr. and beautiful views of Kelly Drive, Boathouse Row and the Schuylkill, this site boasts a family friendly, historical location with great food and festivities. Plus, it includes the options of a 5K or 10K run.

Sunday, May 3 - Registration starts at 9 a.m.Walk starts at 10 a.m.(Rain or Shine)There is a $25 minimum donation for all participants 12 years of age and older.

If you can't register for the MS Walk please help our family fight MS with a donation to the "J-Walkers." National MS Society - The J-Walkers

CHOSEN BY A HORSE by Susan Richards

It was Monday. I looked out the window. All I saw was snow. At some point I knew I'd have to go out into the sixteen degree cold and shovel but I kept putting it off. I shut the blinds and picked up a book.

It was CHOSEN BY A HORSE by Susan Richards. I'm not a horse person; I live in the city and have two cats. But I read the review on Book Club Classics and it sounded like something I'd enjoy. I entered a drawing and won the book. I started reading and darn if I didn't stop until I got to the last page.

It's an inspirational story about the impact of an abused horse on a woman trying to come to terms with her own traumatic past.

Susan Richards already owned three horses and worked a full time job when she agreed to take one of the forty abused horses rescued by the SPCA. She picked Current Squeeze because she liked the name but they couldn't get her into the trailer so she went home with Lay Me Down and her foal. Despite having a terrible life and being lame, Lay Me Down was a gentle animal with a loving nature who helped Susan re-evaluate her outlook on life.

Richards writes in a delightful easy to read style. If you know nothing about horses - like me - it doesn't matter. She weaves information into her story in an entertaining way and she writes honestly and humorously of her own faults.

It was a great read but I had no idea it would take me on such an emotional rollercoaster ride. Keep a box of Kleenex handy.