Travel to D.C. on Veteran’s Day

"No oppressed people will fight and endure as our fathers did without the promise of something better than a mere change of masters."
Abraham Lincoln, January, 1861

I lived just outside Washington D.C. for several years during the end of my husband’s Army career. Never did I tire of getting close to the nation’s capital to find the Washington Monument rising above the trees, or of walking different parts of the city (or the same) and being surrounded by such history.

It’s a humbling experience to study the monuments, especially the memorials to our armed forces. Regardless of the political arena present, past, or future, all Americans know (although maybe some knowledge isn’t as strong as it could be) that without our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and guardsmen we would no longer stand as a country.

Walk through Washington D.C., and you’ll be reminded of this over and over, in no small terms. You’ll also be reminded of the sacrifice that comes with freedom. From here, I’ll let photos we took through various trips into D.C. (and Arlington) tell the tale, along with a few favorite quotes. Mouse over the photos for the titles.

 

"Some people live an entire lifetime wondering if they've made a difference in the world.
Marines don't have that problem."
President Ronald Reagan

“We came American.
We shall remain American and go into battle with Old Glory over our heads.”
General John J. Pershing

“The man who will go where his colors will go, without asking, who will fight a phantom foe in a jungle and mountain range, without counting, and who will suffer and die in the midst of incredible hardship, without complaint, is still what he has always been, from Imperial Rome to sceptered Britain to Democratic America. He is the stuff of which legions are made.”
Lieutenant Colonel T.R. Fehrenbach, US Army

“Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as a heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors.”
Abraham Lincoln

“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”
Thomas Jefferson

“The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
General Douglas MacArthur

“Although a soldier by profession, I have never felt any sort of fondness for war, and I have never advocated it, except as a means of peace.”
General Ulysses S. Grant

“We are going to have peace
even if we have to fight for it.”
General Dwight D. Eisenhower

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of men better than himself."
                                                               John Stuart Mill

THANK YOU to all Veterans
past, present, and future.

Travel with Sarah Todd to Turkey!

Please welcome guest blogger Sarah Todd! Sarah lived in Turkey for a short time and as she and her husband love to travel, they grabbed the opportunity to visit some of the country’s beautiful places. I have followed her travel blogs for several years, as they are always well-written, informative, and intriguing.

Today, Sarah shares with us her visit to Cappadochia.
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First time visitors to Cappadochia in Turkey could easily be forgiven for believing they’ve landed on a distant planet in a galaxy light years from earth. The reason? The unique landscape and history of this area is unique in the world.

Situated in the region of Central Anatolia, Cappadochia (pronounced “kappa-dok-key-ah”) owes its unique landscape to volcanic activity dating back between three and nine million years ago. As the lava cooled layers of volcanic basalt rocks formed over the natural soil. Gradually the harder volcanic rock began to crack, and the much of the softer earth below the basalt was eroded. However, in many places smaller boulders of basalt rock remained, protecting the soil from erosion. This resulted in the formation of a pillar of softer soil topped by a cap of basalt rock. This feature is known as a “hoodoo”, or “fairy castle".


Before my visit to Cappadochia I researched some of the history of this fascinating region. It is believed around 36 different civilisations have lived in this region. When one considers that Egypt has been home to six civilisations this gives one an idea of the vast influences each of the people residing here have left on the region. Artefacts dating back to 3,500 BC have been excavated at Cappadochia, including kitchen containers, spindles, weights and even human bones. During its long history the so-called fairy castles have provided accommodation, and even today some of these wonderful natural structures still form part of modern day houses. In 1985 Cappadochia was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I visited Cappadochia in March 2008, together with my Brisbane-based nephew and his wife. At the time I was living in Izmir, Turkey’s third largest city. Izmir is on the country’s western coast, and the flight east to Cappadochia took about two hours. To describe my command of the Turkish language as “basic” is generous, so we arranged to view the area with a tour guide. We were met at the airport by Mehmet and his driver Ergan. The drive from the airport to our hotel took under one hour, and included a stunning view of Mount Erciyes (3,932 meters above sea level) - the tallest mountain in the region and Turkey’s fourth highest mountain.


Our first stop was the Katpaktuka Cave Hotel in Goreme, one of the small towns in the Cappadochia area. The exclusive hotel comprises eight rooms, all built around actual fairy chimney rooms. Windows and doors fitted to each room have been designed and fitted without causing damage to the actual fairy chimney. Each room is furnished and decorated with items from the nomadic and Ottoman eras. The hotel is positioned to take full advantage of sunrise, which when viewed over this unique landscape is stunning. On the left is the view from my bedroom window, while the picture on the right is of the passage outside my room.





Our first stop was a place that is almost a national park just outside Goreme. Here the fairy chimneys are in excellent condition, and there are plenty of marvellous photographic opportunities. Interspersed with the windows and doorways are many much tinier holes, providing homes to pigeons – the ancient people used their guano for fertiliser and as an adhesive. Houses in ancient times were very different to the places we call home today – families lived in several rooms, with ablutions and cooking carried out in larger single rooms shared by a number of other families. Communal kitchens with blackened walls and ceilings from centuries of cooking featured tables formed from the same natural soil making up the fairy chimney structures, clearly visible in the picture below.


Stairs have been carved into the natural rock for access to rooms at different levels in the fairy chimneys, so they look almost like an ancient high-rise block of apartments. Mehmet told us the rain and wind is slowly eroding the Cappadochia fairy castles, so that one day in the distant future they will disintegrate into dust below their basalt caps. He showed us how easily the sand can be wiped off the structures simply by brushing his hand over their surface. It made me feel quite humble to realise how fortunate I am to have seen this unique place while it still exists, as well as proving why the fairy chimneys are so well protected.

It had rained the night before we arrived; so much of Cappadochia was still damp. This brought out the reds and greens of the iron and copper mineral spores in the soil, making the entire area look even more surreal.


Our drive back to Goreme took us past some wonderful scenery. We visited Cappadochia in March, which is winter in Turkey, so the leafless trees and dry grass added to the sense of visiting an alien world. Although the vegetation was sparse and dormant, this simply enhanced the natural beauty of the terrain.

After a traditional Turkish lunch of kite (minced lamb), salads and bread, washed down with a strong cup of Turkish coffee we visited a traditional Turkish carpet factory. Prized all over the world, handmade Turkish carpets feature designs unique to each region in the country. The dyes used to colour the wool supplied by local farmers are all sourced from natural products. Generations of mothers and grandmothers have passed the craft to their daughters, who spend many long hours in front of looms using intricate knots to create the carpets. Watching these women at work one can understand why a handmade Turkish carpet is so expensive.

The factory also produces silk carpets, using thread obtained from their own silkworms. These carpets are the most beautiful I have ever seen; the combination of the fine silk threads with rich jewel colours bring the carpet to life. One silk rug featured The Tree of Life, a very important part of Turkish mythology. The glorious tree shimmered in gold and emerald green, surrounded by innumerable animals, birds and plants. Combined with sapphire blue waters and ruby red roses the depth and vibrancy of the colours brought the entire carpet to life. The price tag of US$11,000 was not really surprising considering the carpet took over 2 years to produce! After our tour of the factory we were given a short lesson on working on a Turkish “Kulim” (a woven rug with no pile) on a loom. It wasn’t as easy as it looks!


The following morning we visited some of the eleven Christian Churches dating back to the 9^th century. The Churches are located in an area known as the Goreme open-air museum. Each church has been built inside the fairy chimneys, and has been decorated with brightly coloured paintings featuring stories from the Bible. There is a Church of St John the Baptist, the Sandals Church (so named for the footprints painted under its Ascension painting) and the Snake Church, which owes its name to a fresco of St George and St Theodore slaying the snake.

Although the colours remain fresh and in excellent condition, some of the frescos have been damaged. The Muslim faith forbids the depiction of prophets and religious characters, so many of the faces have been cruelly mutilated – their eyes have been scratched off or the faces completely erased. Each church is unique, with its own story and history, and most of them have benches and tables that were used by the congregation.


We spent our afternoon at a pottery in Avalos. The Kizilirmak (“red”) River flowing through the town is the source of the red clay used to make the pottery for which this town is famed. Some of the techniques used by the modern day potters working here date back to the Hittites, who lived in Cappadochia around 2,000 BC. Before visiting the store selling the pottery we watched the potters at work. On their insistence we each donned huge protective trousers and took our turn behind the potter’s wheel. It was messy and great fun.

In the shop I bought a traditional Turkish plate and a clock, both featuring the Tree of Life. Again, my eye was caught by an enormous Ali Baba pot. The hand painted pot was over one metre tall, and decorated with jewelled tulips and other flowers. We were assured that the $40,000 price tag included shipping to anywhere in the world...


Our final day in Cappadochia was spent in the ancient city of Derinkuyu, one of 36 underground cities in Cappadochia. Reaching eight stories below the earth’s surface, up to 10,000 inhabitants and their animals could survive for up to six months in the city without moving above ground. Rooms for storing grain and other food products were cool enough to ensure the contents remained fresh and edible, while water was supplied by wells below the lowest level of the city. Ventilation was and is excellent – although we were only permitted to explore the first three levels of Derinkuyu the air was fresh, never damp nor stale.

The city was accessible through a secret entrance, and proved a very good defence against marauding tribes, who could also be dealt with should the city be discovered. Special round millstone doors were rolled across the entrances and wedged shut. These doors could only be opened from inside the city, and the keyhole in the centre of the stone was large enough to thrust a spear through to caution anyone trying to gain access to the underground residences. Although the passages to the rooms were fairly narrow they are very well lit, and the electric cords and cabling do not detract from the city. We saw a giant circular stone covered in small indentations – this was the equivalent of an ancient spice rack used in the kitchens.



In the evening we watched the Whirling Dervishes perform their centuries-old “dhikr”, a dance honouring man’s spiritual evolution through God. The most famous part of the dance is “twirling” or pirouetting continuously for periods lasting up to half an hour. The dervishes twirl on the right foot, dressed in white gowns to symbolise death, a black coat commemorating the grave and a brown hat to represent the tombstone. We were not allowed to take photographs, but we were introduced to one of the Dervishes after the show ended. He told us the male dancers undergo up to a year of training before they may perform in public, and that twirling for such long period of time is almost cathartic!

We returned to Izmir the following day, our minds filled with the incredible culture and history of Cappadochia. Although our tour covered the most important aspects of all Cappadochia has to offer, I personally would have like to spend a few more days exploring this incredible region. Cappadochia is truly representative of mankind’s history, and the merging of both Christian and Muslim cultures is fascinating.


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Sarah! Thank you for this beautiful and fascinating view of Cappadochia, Turkey!   You can find more of Sarah's work in her Writing.com portfolio.   
   

Technorati Tags: travel,Cappodochia,Turkey,writing,photo journalism,Sarah Todd,authors

Musician Interview: Adam's Attic [Repost]

 [Originally posted on my original Elucidations.us site, March 2008, then on my Elucidations blog on Nov 7, 2011]

Music Interview: Adam’s Attic

Originally from New Orleans, Adam’s Attic is making waves in their new home base of Los Angeles. In November 2006, they ranked 28th out of the top 100 power pop bands on Myspace.com. Not only have they performed shows at the Hard Rock Café and the Roxy, they sold out the House of Blues as the headlining act. With several band members having strong military roots, they have also been part of Armed Forces Entertainment, which took them across the ocean to the Mediterranean and Greenland, and have played at many functions honoring the military.

The 5 member band, which includes songwriter Joe Henry on vocals, Derek Henry on bass, keys, and vocals, Scott Boaz on drums, Joe Blanchard on lead guitar and vocals, and Frank DeSalvo on rhythm guitar, is currently gearing up for a Pacific Tour this summer. I was fortunate enough to grab a few minutes of Joe's time recently.

LK: Where did you get your band name?
Joe Henry: A lot of the songs I write deal with relationships. It could be with a girl and a guy or with a father and son... Life is all about developing relationships. I came up with "Adam" because he was the first person to have a relationship with a girl, Eve, way back in the day. I was going through a bad breakup during this time of my life so "Attic" represented all of the stuff I was trying to clear out of my head.

LK: What is the best inspiration for your work?
Joe Henry: Anything that triggers an emotion. It could be a personal situation, a dream, a conversation, a special moment... It could even be a movie that grabs me. I am not good at writing material that is slick or clever. I can only write what I know or feel. My songs are definitely small personal pieces of me.

LK: What do you like best about touring?
Joe Henry: Seeing new places and meeting new people.

LK: What do you most dislike about touring? How do you prevent burnout?
Joe Henry: Leaving family and friends behind. It is awesome to have the experience of seeing new places but it is bitter sweet because the people that I really want to share those moments with are usually not with me while we are on the road.

LK: “Autumn” was written about the military stemming from your personal military history. Is there another song in particular that has special meaning you would like to share?
Joe Henry: I have a deep personal attachment to every single song I have written. Recently, I wrote a song called "My apology." It is the most personal song I have ever written. There is definitely a special meaning behind that one.

LK: If you could perform with any band or artist (living or dead), who would it be and why?
Joe Henry: I would love to perform with The Counting Crows. Adam Duritz has had a huge influence on my writing. I have seen that band a bunch of times live and they blow me away every time. His lyrics are genius!

LK: As an indie band, how do you feel about the state of indie vs. industry music today?
Joe Henry: I really don't get too caught up in that area of music. We are who we are and we just do what we do. It is hard enough to keep ourselves on track so we don't waste time worrying about issues that we have no control of.

LK: While writing songs, which comes first: music or lyrics, and why?
Joe Henry: I usually come up with some sort of basic chord progression and melody first. Then I come up with the lyrics. Once the basic structure of the song is down, I will bring it to the rest of the band so they can add their creative parts.

LK: If you had the chance, would you change your musical style to suit an "image" a recording label has created for you and your band? Or would you stick to your own style and image even if it meant losing a contract?
Joe Henry: We don't claim to know everything about music or writing. With that being said, we take critcism very well and we are open to improving ourselves. If that means we have to change a few things to become better we will. We will not change who we are as individuals to fit a mold that someone else has created for us. our music relfects who we are and we stand behind that.

LK: How do you feel about kids idolizing their favorite musicians? Do you feel singers/songwriters have a personal responsibility of any kind regarding young kids who may be listening?
Joe Henry: I don't think that people should idolize anyone...I do know that this happens with the entertainment industry and that is just part of the package. Ultimately parents have the responsibility to mold their kids into better people. I try my best to live my life as an example but we do fall short from time to time...everyone does.

LK: Have you had interesting run-ins with fans?
Joe Henry: Nothing over the top. We are always taken back when fans take the time to get to know us. We love that.

LK: What other jobs have you had?
Joe Henry: Sales, telemarketing, IT recruiter

LK: Do you have any tips for beginning singers/bands on how to find places to play, get record deals, etc.?

Joe Henry : Yes. You have to be willing to take criticism. Get a good manager that you trust and just get out there and start playing as much as you can. Most importantly, have fun!

LK: You mentioned you have big events on the horizon. Can you share with us? What is next for Adam’s Attic?
Joe Henry: We have a new record coming out soon that we are very excited about...We are also touring Singapore and Diego Garcia this summer. More exciting news will be released shortly.

LK: Have you ever considered writing a theme song for a novel?
Joe Henry: I actually wrote a song based on a Nicholas Sparks novel called "The Notebook." That song will be on our next record and it is called "Breathe."

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I want to thank Joe for his time and his willingness to chat with us. Check out the Adam's Attic website and watch for shows in your area!

“Growing up with fathers in the military taught us about doing the right thing, discipline, and resilience to a life that is always changing. It also made us appreciate the personal sacrifices made by all military personnel.”
Adam's Attic

Travel with Shawn Kirsten Maravel to Italy!

I’d love to welcome today’s guest travel blogger, Shawn Kirsten Maravel. Shawn is an author and a military spouse whose latest book, The Wanderer, is centered on an Iraq veteran and his life when he returns home.

As most military spouses, Shawn has done plenty of traveling! Today she’s sharing with us a glimpse of several of Italy’s northern cities.

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Northern Italy is passed up so often for the more widely knows city of Rome and other southern cities. But Italian culture is widespread and its beauty isn’t limited to the tourist sights that we’re most familiar with.

During my husband’s year-long deployment to Iraq he was able to come home for two weeks for what they call “RNR”…it should really be called torture. BUT, considering how much of a tease it was and how painful it was to see him leave again it was a great opportunity for us to travel. We ended up driving down to Northern Italy from our Ansbach, Germany home and spending a little less than a week there.

Our first stop was Venice. I’m sure you’ve seen picture or heard stories about the city. Some good and some bad…well let me tell you this. Whatever you heard simply doesn’t compare. It was the MOST BEAUTIFUL city I’ve ever see. Coming from someone who has living in Europe, that’s saying a lot. The streets flow with beautiful blue water, the architecture is classic and has an old aged appeal. You feel as if you’ve been transported into another world and another time. It was impossible not to just relax and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of Italian culture.

Our next stop was Verona. It was a city I’d chosen to travel to on a whim. After seeing the movie Letters from Juliet I was intrigued by the fact that this was the true city of love. Where Romeo met Juliet. There are no words for how truly spectacular the city was. The water that cut through the city was the same beautiful blue as the Mediterranean water that ran through Venice, the building matched yet somehow each one stood out, and there was so much to see. Juliet’s balcony, churches, restaurants, street markets, and much more! The food was AMAZING! We walked around all day and still didn’t see everything!

Our next major stop was Cinque Terre. The city is on the north-western coast of Italy nestled in the cliffs that overlook the Mediterranean Sea. This city had me in a state of ecstasy. There is a trail that goes along the entire cliff line, connecting the different small towns. We walked for quite some time and still didn’t see all of it. I really didn’t want to leave, sadly our hotel was four hours away and we still had to stop by Pisa on our way home which was maybe 20-30 minutes from Cinque Terre.

Pisa was not the spectacle some make it out to be. Sad to say. We ended up getting there late due to closed off roads for a bike race and were disappointed by the tower’s actual size. It was much smaller than we’d imagined. We did however stop for gelato. It was a very romantic place to relax, talk, and enjoy our pistachio gelato, though the four hour drive back much substantially less fun.

All in all, Italy was a fabulous experience and I hope to do it again! Once you get a taste for travel it’s hard to deprive yourself!

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Shawn, thank you! We also got to visit Italy while stationed in Germany, but we missed Cinque Terre and Verona. I enjoyed hearing about them and seeing your gorgeous photos! 

Interested in The Wanderer or Shawn’s other books? Find her blog here, but before you go be sure to leave a comment to say you stopped by to visit Italy with her!
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Coming up: trips to Idaho/Montana, North Carolina, Maine, and more!

Be sure to follow my blog so you don’t miss my guests this month. I’ll add some of my own, as well.
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Technorati Tags: Shawn Kirsten Maravel,Italy,Verona,Venice,Pisa,Cinque Terre,travel,writing,authors,military

Nanoing Pittsburgh … and then some!

At  Point State Park, the Monongahela, the Allegheny, and the Ohio all come together to merge in the City of Bridges. Take Roberto Clemente Memorial Bridge north from the park and run into PNC Park, home of the Pirates, and Heinz Field, home of the Steelers. You can walk the bridge. It’s a gorgeous view and a short walk. On game day, it’s closed to vehicle traffic to allow for the flood of pedestrians.

Cross the Fort Pitt bridge heading south of the park, and you find South Side and the Monongahela incline that will transport you up to Mt. Washington for an incredible view of the city. Carson Street runs along the river and provides plenty of social activity, including Hard Rock Café and a plethora of any other kind of restaurant you might want.

Stay on dry land and walk east from the park and you find the beautiful cultural district: Heinz Hall, the Benedum Center, and Mellon Arena. Duquesne University is barely south of the arena.

All of this can be seen in one day’s walk.

Where are we? Pittsburgh, of course!

I love Pittsburgh, nearly as much as if I was born right here and grew up knowing how much it offered. Truthfully, I’ve been here four years and I’m over an hour’s drive from the city, but I’ve often wished I was closer to its doors to be able to slip in and out more easily.

Recently rated America’s most livable city, Pittsburgh is also at the top of the charitable giving list. I understand both. Within several miles, you can jump from the German district, to the Italian district, the Irish district, the Jewish quarter, and of course don’t miss the Strip district for local shopping.

Six eminent businessmen during Pittsburgh’s history have contributed to its beauty and cultural offerings, including Carnegie, Buhl, and Heinz. From their business proceeds, they donated millions to enhance the city and set a precedent that continues today. The city’s businesses and residents continue to invest in their beloved home and beyond.

What does this have to do with the fact that Nanowrimo starts today?

I decided sometime after midnight when I should have been sleeping that it had to be the setting for the beginning of my 2011 Nano novel. Up until then, I had only the basic idea of what I wanted to write and a couple of characters lightly gracing the so far still translucent plot. Finding the setting filled in where I’m headed. Pittsburgh. A city that could have crashed with the collapse of the steel market in America, but did not. It adapted. It thrived. I found my novel’s theme in the setting: Rebirth Through Determination.

Now to start writing.

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Throughout the month, several guest bloggers will come spend the day and tell us about one of their favorite travel spots. Please check back or follow my blog and enjoy armchair travel of more beautiful places described by writers, published and not, this November.

For those who are part of Nanorwrimo (http://www.nanowrimo.org), good luck on your quest! Let us know what your novel is about, if you’d like, and feel free to leave the link to your Nano page in the comments.

Happy Journeys!
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Bennington VT part 2

Along the River walk along the back side of downtown Bennington, there are markers depicting the town’s past. One of these was as a rail station used for logging, marketing, and travel.

The walk itself is short and quiet, with a lovely little seating area on one side. I couldn’t help think it would be a nice place to write on a beautiful Vermont day.


Head down a block from the river walk into the town center and you’ll come across these charming pedestrian zones. They were being repainted (yes, by hand) when we were there.


But on to the Bennington Battle Monument (as promised in the first post)!

The Battle of Bennington was an important factor of the Revolutionary War. The British army needed supplies and Bennington had plenty in their supply depot. With the help of the Green Mountain Boys, Brigadier General John Stark and his troops held them off, saved their supplies, and helped lead to the surrender of the British troops.

The monument stands where the supply depot stood back in 1777. A statue of John Stark embellished with his favorite quote – (“There they are boys! We beat them today or Molly Stark sleeps a widow tonight!”) stands on one side:


On the other is Colonel Seth Warner of the Green Mountain Boys:


And be sure to go up the elevator to the top (the fee is very small and the sights are well worth it):


That’s Massachusetts in the background! I couldn’t help being amused at the painted moose, either. Although I read much about the many moose spotting sites, we didn’t see any other than this guy:


After visiting the monument, it only made sense to stop by Old Bennington Cemetery to pay homage to the local boys resting there since the Revolutionary War, as well as the poet Robert Frost, who made his home in next door Shaftsbury but chose this mountainside view as his final resting place.



I’m not sure what the pennies are for. If anyone does, please comment below. [For more info, see the Frost Friends  site.]

If you’re looking for relaxation, recreation, or need to cool off, be sure to visit Lake Paran for a swim. I came to make sure my facts are straight before I use them in the further story of Ryan and his friends. 


All in all, we had an incredible visit, although very short, and have every intention of returning to explore more of Bennington and the area.

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Technorati Tags: Bennington,Vermont,travel,Robert Frost grave,war monument,Off The Moon

And The Next Day…

One of my favorite novels is Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. It’s a gritty story full of flawed characters who continue on their journeys despite mistakes and struggles. Through it all, they are in it together. They don’t always like each others’ choices, but they accept it as part of who they are and realize their friends do the same for them. At least today that’s what I’m pulling from the story.

I can’t do an “I was here doing this on 9/11” post this year. And this is a day after post because I couldn’t do it yesterday. Yesterday I maintained internet silence, in tribute.

Ten years.

The other night my husband and I went to see one of our favorite bands play and they did a tribute song for those who were lost in the attack. Most of the audience didn’t pay much attention. Yesterday when we stopped at the mall briefly to visit Borders on its last day (*sigh*), I saw employees in Steelers shirts – it’s the start of Steeler, ahem football, season after all. What I didn’t see is any thought to the fact that it was the 10th anniversary of 9/11. I did see a ‘stupid politician’ shirt. *sigh* Yesterday was not the day to wear that.

Very sad. I cringe when I hear people say we need to let it go and move on. Are they serious? Move on, yes. Let it go? No.

I also cringe when I hear people bash our president at the time of the attacks for saying we should “keep shopping” as though he was brushing off the event. No, he was saying we should move on and not let them win. He absolutely didn’t mean let it go.

Much of me today is swamped with the thought that, like the Holocaust, people will before long start claiming 9/11 never happened. Very sad. I’m an optimist. I focus on the positives. I cling to the remembrance of the whole US and our allies supporting each other and ourselves, standing up for who we are and the right to be who we are, flying flags everywhere, sending donations, going to New York and the Pentagon and Shanksville and volunteering time to help with search and cleanup. I do focus on that, and on the fact that yes, we are still here despite the terrorist wishes, we are still functioning as a nation.

However, I will not let it go. I will not let it stop hurting as it did that day and every day after. I will not forget the sight in the photo above that I took as we drove past the Pentagon a few days later, or the face of the wife who lost her husband there as I stood within arms distance of her, or the fear of all of those who felt within harms way of another attack if it was to come.

I will not forget the hate that brought on the vicious attack. I will not forget that many, many of the group that planned this still wish our demise. As it is football season, the following is highly appropriate for both events: The best offense is a good defense.

It is the next day. The sun is bright and warm. We move on with our lives, as we should. Let us hope we can reclaim the feelings of the next day, of togetherness, of determination, of the fighting spirit that made America what it is.

Let’s continue to look forward to our future as well as honoring and remembering our past and how we got where we are. That cannot be forgotten, or we will be lost.

God Bless America and keep it safe and intact.

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Since I was an art therapy student, I have to include this link to drawings done by children after 9/11. Really look at them.

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Technorati Tags: 9/11

Summer ‘11 Travels: Bennington VT

Summer 2011 has been packed full of travel! We love to see new places and experience new things, and this year, we indulged. During September, I’ll be highlighting some of it, although not in order.

I’m starting with a place I’ve wanted to visit for at least 3 years, ever since I decided to set Off The Moon partly in Bennington, VT. Why? It worked for the story, it’s in the northeast (which I love), and it gave me a good excuse to want to explore a new state. I’ve been to most. Now I can add Vermont to that list.

My husband and I have talked about taking a bike trip for some time. Now that our youngest is 18 and my husband had leave time built up, we grabbed the chance. We set up 5 days of leisurely travel on the Harley, packed light (there’s only so much you can fit on a Harley, even with two saddlebags), left enough food for the kids and dogs, and took off … under iffy skies. Luckily, it held out well. Other than finding, on our first long bike trip, that taking back roads adds more than twice the time interstates take, we made our way through the west edge of scenic PA along Route 6 through the Alleghenies to the west edge of scenic VT by evening of the second day (600+ miles).


Mountains!

We’re used to rolling hills, and we love them. But VT has Mountains! I couldn’t stop staring out at them and taking far too many photos in the hopes some would turn out well (while riding on the back of a bike with sun glare on the view screen and dark sunglasses on, it’s hard to tell what you’re getting.)  In this one, you can see the tip of the Bennington Battle Monument.


We talked about staying at Four Chimneys if they had space available, but since we wanted to be off the bike for the night and walk around town, we opted to drive into the middle of Downtown Bennington. We found a quaint Motor Lodge right beside this gorgeous Episcopal church. (How can you not sleep well with this at your side?)  As it turns out, the lodge is run by one of the Chamber of Commerce members (maybe he said president? we were tired by then and my memory is faulty) who directed us to some nice choices for a nice meal.

 
We chose Carmody’s, an Irish restaurant and pub, established around the year 2000, although it was there under different names long before that. It turned out to be a wonderful choice! Have you ever had Irish Nachos? Incredible, and I’d take the fried potatoes topped with corned beef and cheese over regular nachos any day. And then there was the meatloaf with Guinness sauce. Mmm.. I think hubby will agree to visit Bennington again just to enjoy that luscious Irish gravy again! They’re also super friendly. (I only got the left edge of Carmody’s in the photo – thought I had a better one.. sigh. But if you check the white sign on the green building, that’s the Bennington Banner.)


Here’s what we saw as we walked from the motel up the street into the main part of town. It’s a beautiful and well-cared-for town that shows its pride in being a large part of the battle for American Independence, as well as a wonderful tourist stop.


This is Evan’s Country Store. Fans of Rehearsal will understand why I had to grab a photo of this little shop that has souvenirs of Bennington. Across the road is Doug’s, a sports bar we didn’t visit this time. Apparently, there is also a Ryan’s Café on Main Street, also a bar, which we didn’t see, but we sure would have stopped in if we had! (Yes, only those who have read Off The Moon will get the reference.) We did stop for a drink at Madison Brewing Company, a microbrewery where families stop for a meal, as well.


We also stopped at the library the next morning. Unfortunately, because of budget cuts, its hours are currently limited and it didn’t open until 1 pm. With our schedule limits, we had to bypass it this time.


The Bennington Bookshop was open, though! I stopped and grabbed a few postcards and browsed their fairly large local author rack. With limited space on the bike, I figured I’d better be good and only browse. I did leave bookmarks for Off The Moon. Thank you to the manager for allowing it, and if any of their customers happen to find this post, they can order it for you. 

 
Simply walking along town is a nice relaxing treat. Along with being clean and pretty and having hand-painted brick-like crosswalks, the street is lined with both these advertising cultural banners (can you tell this one features a guitarist?) and the Bennington Flag. We asked why they had “76” flags out when we visited the Monument and were proudly told that the Bennington Flag commemorates the town’s part in the victory of American Independence and can be used in place of the Stars & Stripes.

More on the monument in the continued entry to come…

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Cover Contest/Blog Hop

Moondrops & Thistles is out already. That is, the full version is out (and getting nice reviews!). I’m still working on the shorter & spicier version (and got an A+ rating on my first actual “love scene” from a fellow author who does tasteful, romantic love scenes). Of course, a different version requires a different cover. So when I happened upon this blog cover contest today, I couldn’t help use it as a chance to push myself to revamp the cover for the new edition. This is what I have. I used sketches of the characters I created for the trailer and put them in place of the Canna lily. It may not be the final version (might depend on comments), but thoughts are welcome!

And go vote here (for what you like best!):
A Writer's Journey: Book Design Contest

Technorati Tags: books,authors,covers,design,contest