tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132008832012-01-21T05:39:47.838-05:00Official blog of Olgy Gary, a Cuban-American educator, author, wife & mother. Add your comments to my musings on writing, Cuba, weight loss & more!Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.comBlogger951100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-23004537979774794562011-04-21T10:48:00.001-04:002011-04-21T10:54:35.905-04:00

Alrighty, I'll admit it, I'm totally biased as a mom regarding my daughter's writing abilities. But, that doesn't take away that, as an editor, I'm just as impressed with both her writing and her research acumen. She has a way of making complex subjects fun and engaging to read. Here's her latest blog entry. :-) Fitness: Freak or Flake?: The Implications of Caffeine Consumption on Stress and

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-77610783126443868022011-03-06T14:59:00.001-05:002011-04-21T11:06:53.499-04:00

Fitness is a word that our First Lady, Michelle Obama, embodies. In this blog entry, Fitness: Freak or Flake?: In defense of my First Lady (Subtitled: The only fat hypocrit here is YOU, Rush Limbaugh),Christine Gary debunks Rush's attacks on Mrs. Obama. One by one she addresses the various statements he's made regarding our First Lady's fitness. Ms. Gary does this with facts, listing one after

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-13483155527569642692010-07-14T15:25:00.020-04:002010-07-14T17:31:52.865-04:00

I've been reading up on how to drive more traffic to your website and/or blog. One obvious first step is to submit your site or blog's URL to Google. Makes sense, right? I mean if Google's search engine hasn't indexed you yet, then let's give Google a heads-up that we exist! If that's the way you'd like to go then Google itself tells you how to do it through their post Share your place on the net

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-29905411282437395632010-06-28T11:37:00.014-04:002010-06-28T12:44:25.057-04:00

Late night show hosts deserve every penny they get. They make us laugh at the most horrendous goings ons... and sometimes, laugh is all you can do. On his 6/25/10 blog at About.com, Daniel Kurtzman has compiled a great list of this past week's best late-night jokes. Some of my favorites are: McChrystal's clearly been hitting that sweet Afghani heroin. Because you would have to be higher than

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-91259778472325222492010-05-23T14:44:00.043-04:002010-07-31T11:29:52.811-04:00

I realize not all is well within the Christian faith. It's composed of humans, after all, and humans are not perfect. In our zeal to be perfect, we oftentimes stray into the absurd. But for the moment, while watching this video, I celebrate what is right within my faith. I cried with joy as I watched it. The music, lyrics, and people personify for me the hope Christianity offers the world. It

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-11518777008687261662010-04-26T09:41:00.003-04:002010-06-28T12:37:58.975-04:00

I just finished reading and re-reading my friend Claudia Putnam's blog post, In Honor of Jake. She writes about the loss of a child, her little boy, who died just three days after being born. Claudia's writing is touching and beautiful and meaningful and insightful all rolled up into one. It's sad but not morbid. Putnam walked a fine line in touching my heart and left it actually hope-filled and

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-46817791340628642502010-04-02T08:55:00.016-04:002010-06-28T12:38:19.881-04:00

So here's a question for you: What family traditions do you have related to Easter? To the advent of Spring? Whether or not you celebrate religious traditions during this time of year, tell us what is special about the coming of Easter/Spring-time for you. For me? Well, my memories have to do with white shoes, flowery dresses AND hats! That's what we did in Cuba growing up. Mama would make sure

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-13238335104710061132010-03-10T19:25:00.000-05:002010-06-28T12:38:34.544-04:00

On March 7, 2010, my daughter ran the Antarctica Marathon!!! She's running a marathon in each of the 7 continents while fundraising for the educational nonprofit I presently manage, ChildrenComeFirst.com. Those who donate to this cause will receive a tax deductible receipt from CCF and will be part of Christine's 7-continent runs as she'll put donors' names on the shirt she'll wear while running

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-83240411940538596492010-02-14T15:07:00.001-05:002010-06-28T12:38:57.990-04:00

•♥•♥•♥•♥(¯''·.¸(♥)¸.·''¯) HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY (¯''·.¸(♥)¸.·''¯) ♥•♥•♥•♥•♥• •♥•♥•♥•♥(¯''·.¸(♥)¸.·''¯) HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY (¯''·.¸(♥)¸.·''¯) ♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-83660842244907523342010-01-26T15:32:00.036-05:002010-02-02T12:02:02.526-05:00

Mission focus is something both Navy Seals and Olympic athletes have. It's also something each of us can use to achieve our goals. Chris Jansing, of MSNBC, showed a video clip today titled, "Navy Seals: The Science of Mental Toughness," as part of the NBC special series, "Silent Warrios: An exclusive view at the lives and the training of Navy Seals." The documentary stood out to me because it

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-3192942672404061212010-01-22T14:09:00.036-05:002010-02-10T15:16:14.014-05:00

In the past few years I've almost stopped making New Year goals and resolutions. Not because I don't have things I'd like to accomplish, but rather because I rely on my never-ending "to do" list to keep me focused. This strategy has served me well, up to a point. The thing with "to do" lists is that they often are made up of things that scream so loud for my attention that whether they're on

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-68827561691035850942010-01-15T15:20:00.019-05:002010-01-15T16:43:33.356-05:00

I've been tracking, on and off, the development of the Espresso Book Machine and am totally fascinated by it. Back in 2006 we posted an article about it to the CCF website and today we found a press release from the Xerox Corporation announcing that Xerox technology is to fuel the Espresso Book Machine. Even more promising for what has been termed "the ATM for books," is the fact that Xerox's

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-11845023214055443702010-01-11T15:16:00.002-05:002010-01-14T12:03:05.885-05:00

April 29, 2010 is my self-imposed deadline to finish the middle grade novel I'm writing. I keep a copy of the manuscript in my Kindle and love to browse through the various chapters before I go to bed at night. The memories are crisp, clear, and the years separating me from when the events in the story took place vanish as I relive them in the stillness of the night. Now that I'm settled into

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-78267206245163461422010-01-06T20:23:00.033-05:002010-01-22T17:51:14.469-05:00

Just when I thought the Kindle world couldn't get any better, it did! Amazon.com now offers Kindle for PC, with the Mac version on its way. This means that every single book or document I've ever downloaded to my Kindle I can now download and read on my PC, my laptop, or my notebook. Honestly, it's just awesome to be able to do this. If I don't have my Kindle with me I still can keep reading

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-46662597271017146492010-01-05T17:03:00.001-05:002010-01-22T17:50:05.545-05:00

Very cool news: Book Magazine Kirkus Reviews Lives to Write Another Day http://bit.ly/4GDQ4F

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-73801754659302926692010-01-05T15:44:00.003-05:002010-01-05T16:02:32.745-05:00

ChildrenComeFirst.com has posted a great review of this middle grade novel. They write that, "We received a review copy of Laini Taylor's Silksinger earlier this year from its publisher, along with the first book in the series, Blackbringer. The paperback edition of Blackbringer came out in May of 2009. The hardcover edition of Silksinger came out in September. Both titles are part of the

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-60781393037079946162010-01-01T01:39:00.009-05:002010-01-22T17:52:20.563-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Click to view the card from our home to yours. http://ping.fm/EibKp

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-43803124197151454542009-12-11T11:03:00.025-05:002009-12-11T12:26:16.810-05:00

75-year old Paddy Jones and her 35 year old partner, Nico, a local dance school instructor, performed and went on to win Spain's national talent competition Tu Si Que Vales (You're really worth it). Tu Si Que Vales is the Spanish equivalent of Britain's Got Talent. To the amazement of the judges, the dance routine Paddy and Nico performed was salsa acrobatica. This is not just a salsa routine,

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-77941929937265998182009-12-02T09:48:00.005-05:002009-12-04T12:31:59.156-05:00

Whitney Houston's "I didn't know my own strength," is inspiring to me. The song comes from her 7th studio album, "I Look to you." The complete lyrics to Whitney's song are posted at the Music Videos and Lyrics - Music Lovers Group site. Here are just some of the lines that touched me the most, though I found the entire song a testament to the power of the human spirit. Lost touch with my

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-76769937393778954572009-11-09T16:21:00.015-05:002010-01-22T17:18:25.763-05:00

It's a pleasure finding a straight-to-the-point and easy-to-follow article on writing flash fiction. It's an even greater pleasure when its author graciously allows CCF to post it to its site: 6 Steps to Writing Flash Fiction. In a simple and straight-to-the-point manner, Paul Alan Fahey walks us through the steps involved in writing flash fiction. Fahey talks about the greats in literature

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-550453704468264562009-10-26T12:30:00.011-04:002009-10-26T23:08:53.795-04:00

I couldn't keep from tapping my feet and clapping along as I watched these girls "do their stuff." Exhilirating to watch them perform. Reminded me of my daughter when she competed in the National Cheerleading Competition in Dallas, TX. :-) They are The Firecrackers! On their website we read they're, "a performance jump rope team made up of talented 4th-8th graders from the Kings Local School

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-69671493319263740682009-10-25T17:47:00.037-04:002009-10-25T21:48:14.377-04:00

I happened upon this video clip where First Lady Michelle Obama talks about health care reform from the point of view of women, mothers, and families. I connected with her words because that's the way I've been filtering the news on the subject. Every time I listen to a news report on the status of health care reform I always think of my children, my husband, myself, my sisters, i.e., my family.

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-30235267447639699282009-09-10T11:40:00.000-04:002009-10-25T22:16:08.205-04:00

Sometimes we just have to choose to enjoy life, don't we? In the midst of whatever it is you're going through, go ahead and dance, sing, embrace life with a hope-filled expectation that life will embrace you back. :-)

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-3302892407289966022009-09-09T10:00:00.088-04:002010-01-22T17:21:51.118-05:00

On September 8, 2009, President Barack Obama gave a speech directly to America's students. He spoke from Wakefield High School, Arlington, VA, as students tuned in from all across America, from kindergarten to 12th grade. I was moved as I listened to the speech, not by the inspiring stories nor the encouraging words but, rather, by the freedom his words embodied. He called students to set their

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-6310799174173107012009-08-17T11:08:00.029-04:002009-10-25T19:13:21.050-04:00

On August 16, 2009, Fareed Zakaria showcased Cuba's toilet paper crisis during his "What in the world?" segment on his Fareed Zakaria GPS Sunday program. Before I left Cuba I well remember when toilet paper stopped being the soft paper we were used to and became something closer to that of a paper bag consistency. Not pleasant to use. Now, years later, we hear that even low quality toilet paper

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-9387881766824744782009-08-09T10:42:00.014-04:002010-09-01T20:43:03.859-04:00

A book I consider to be a "must read" for young and old alike is coming out as a movie this December. The book is The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, and the trailer promises us a movie that will be a good depiction of this Young Adult title. http://ping.fm/2w1HT In The Lovely Bones, Sebold gives us a story of a young girl's life, terminated much too early, at the age of 14, at the hands of a

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-87966771952008361622009-08-07T10:29:00.034-04:002009-10-25T19:25:37.989-04:00

In order to have our voices heard, there is a difference between energizing citizens to get involved and inciting mobs to riot. Obama and his team did the former during this past presidential campaign. GOP members, to their shame, are doing the latter at health care reform town hall meetings. Even worse, they're relishing their actions. Shame on GOP members for cheering and applauding

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-20111708214344156192009-08-04T16:51:00.016-04:002009-10-25T15:56:29.559-04:00

Today is President Obama's birthday. Our 44th president turns 48 today. I find myself singing "Happy Birthday, Prez Obama" and silently wishing him many more birthdays to come. At the same time I have to wonder about the folks Eugene Robinson talks about in his article on The Washington Post, "The Berserk 'Birthers'." The article is about people who still believe that President Obama was not born

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-17943186051147823692009-06-27T19:46:00.003-04:002009-06-27T19:56:43.321-04:00

It's not just a few people but thousands upon thousands who are protesting the results of the Iranian elections. And now with Michael Jackson's death, Iran has dropped off of the news cycle...and here in the USA it seems as if all the news is talking about is Michael Jackson. So it's fitting to put one of his songs to showcase the plight of the Iranian people.

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-36893745636431660402009-04-19T14:40:00.054-04:002009-10-25T21:19:03.265-04:00

If you're a writer, and do not already subscribe to Writer's Digest magazine, then articles such as the Stephen King & Jerry Jenkins interview in the May/June 2009 issue might just convince you to do so. I received the magazine and was surprised to see the photos on the cover. It never would have occurred to me to put Jenkins anywhere near King. Not only are their writing styles different, the

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-69449850934048246992009-03-26T00:35:00.001-04:002009-10-25T19:34:04.526-04:00

Immediately after I sent a note to the books4children listserve asking for advice on whether buying a Kindle from amazon.com was a good idea, a post from author Peggy Tibbetts came back singing the praises of this little gadget. In her blog, Kindle Spirits, Tibbetts addresses many of the questions I had about the Kindle. She also provides links to further information and suggests the two "must

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-70309565310767150802009-01-05T13:50:00.031-05:002009-10-25T19:40:24.235-04:00

If you haven't seen SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE already, you must, you just MUST go see it while it's still playing in your area. It's one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. I can't get it off my mind. It is awesome! It touches your heart on so many levels. Tender and chaotic, realistic and romantic, fast paced, yet with an exquisite sense of timing. It's only playing in selected theaters,

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-54034739394687464752008-12-30T13:24:00.038-05:002010-01-22T17:27:34.626-05:00

Re: News of Fabricated Holocaust Memoir Sparks Anger, Sadness How does the saying go? Oh yeah! "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." And good intentions is what Herman Rosenblat and his wife had when they told a tall tale to those in the publishing world. The AP article quotes Rosenblat as saying, "I wanted to bring happiness to people...I brought hope to a lot of people. My

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-73447804996103243482008-12-25T22:43:00.012-05:002009-10-25T19:41:42.350-04:00

On myspace page tonight I received a comment in the form of a youtube video. The video is of the recording of El Inmortal (The Immortal) by Manny Montes. It's a rap in honor of the one whose birthday we celebrate today. Regardless of whether December 25th is Jesus' actual birthday or not, it's the date that's been set aside to celebrate it. Here are the lyrics to the song, in Spanish, and the

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-12554539698832757092008-12-22T01:12:00.007-05:002009-10-25T19:42:33.690-04:00

Is anyone as tired as I am of seeing commercials making fun of men in order to sell a product? The latest culprit in this trend is the priceless.com one where a guy gifts his girl with a box of tissues, a paper bag, and a trampoline. Then he opens the drapes and she sees the two matching cars. She faints and lands on the small trampoline he'd placed behind her, bounces right back up, hugs her

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-22621873498612827092008-12-15T17:57:00.003-05:002009-10-25T20:07:34.129-04:00

I went to see The Women with four of my girlfriends thinking it'd be a total chic-flick. It was. It's also a great guy-flick, one that will give guys great insights on what women are all about. This movie is AWESOME!!! We laughed throughout the entire movie. It was soooooooo funny!!! They nailed it when it comes to portraying how women often feel about different topics. Eva Mendez says it best

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-22686083559914275612008-11-15T02:03:00.004-05:002008-11-15T02:08:16.409-05:00

Here's another good website full of Cuban recipes!!! My Cuban Trauma is the blog of Marilyn, a Cuban now living in California. Enjoy browsing through the recipes she’s posted here and even making some of them. Believe me... they're absolutely delicious! :-)Cuban Cooking - Comida Cubana: Marilyn even does the Cuban meatloaf the way my mama used to make it. With hard boiled eggs inside. :-)

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1618454761122841882008-11-06T00:20:00.042-05:002009-10-25T20:09:29.893-04:00

While watching the news on 5 November 2008, I saw folks in long lines in front of the newspaper office of The New York Times, all wanting to buy a copy of today's issue. It dawned on me that, yes, today's copy, showing Obama as the country's President-elect, would be a keepsake. The first African-American president to be elected in the United States was a historic event, regardless of whether one

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-30080460687731218552008-11-01T16:44:00.045-04:002010-01-22T17:47:57.160-05:00

When I came to the USA, oh so many years ago, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Now, years later, I still feel the same. America! The United States of America. My parents and their six daughters, me being the oldest of the six girls, were finally in the USA and we were safe. It took three years for Castro's communist government to give us permission to leave Cuba. We then lived almost a year

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-80174661289017932902008-10-27T00:23:00.059-04:002009-08-10T10:43:29.675-04:00

I'm not a political person. I've never attended a political rally. I've never volunteered for political candidates. I've never donated to any political campaign, not even when I fill out my taxes every year and am asked whether I want to donate a few dollars. Now a Senator from Illinois has changed all this.This morning I rolled out of bed at 5:30am, got dressed, and drove 73.5 miles to Civic

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-87526291613811249712008-10-19T16:59:00.003-04:002008-11-15T17:47:11.797-05:00

General Colin Powell is a man I would have voted for had he run for president of the USA. Today this man I respect, a Republican like myself, endorsed Senator Obama. Watch the 7 min video if you missed it when it aired today on "Meet the Press". This is huge, that a respected and high-power Republican, a man of honor, a retired General, is endorsing Senator Obama. He didn't just say he's

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-74546877322746730892008-09-13T17:44:00.035-04:002009-08-06T22:03:18.550-04:00

There's an inherent power in music to lift our soul out of the mire of daily living and unto a place where we can begin to see things more clear. That power is intensified when the lyrics, the words carried along by the rhythm, are words of life, of hope, of encouragement. This is what I found in Willy Chirino's new single, "Pa'lante." The beat carries you along and then the words empower you

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-67281396172046493812008-06-11T17:36:00.015-04:002009-08-06T20:58:51.088-04:00

I'm on a dedicated path to getting in shape, motivated by the fact that a friend of mine has lost 30 pounds in five months. I asked him what he'd done to get in shape and he told me one of the things was he purchased a pedometer that connects via a USB cable to his computer to he can track how much he walks every day.I've lost count of how many different pedometers I've bought over the years and

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-42127367580358759422008-06-10T13:55:00.016-04:002008-06-10T18:21:23.750-04:00

J.K. Rowling, author of the best-selling Harry Potter book series, delivered her Commencement Address, The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination, at the Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association.I've listened to it several times and downloaded it to my computer so I can listen to it often from now on. [Most of the transcript of the talk is included in the link]. I

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-36179921146138498262008-06-05T18:16:00.011-04:002008-06-10T18:22:16.503-04:00

I very much enjoy listening to the music of ORISHAS. This song, MUJER, has a nice beat and great lyrics. The words talk about what many women have gone through and put up with over the ages, from domestic violence to being ignored and not respected. The idea that women are considered still today in parts of the world second class citizens is talked about. It touches me to hear men sing this

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-71006767574148613802008-03-15T01:58:00.004-04:002008-06-09T00:34:42.385-04:00

My love affair with Jerry Scott & Jim Borgman's creation in their ZITS cartoons is never ending. I am in awe of how these gifted artists/writers have captured so much of what I think is the essence of teenage boys. I talked about this in another blog I entered a few years back, ZITS: Understanding Teenage Boys. Then tonight, while reviewing comments to my blog I found one from caminohueco that

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-5702436364029623922008-01-01T16:27:00.003-05:002008-11-06T22:56:11.498-05:00

In the Cuba: Island of my heart myspace group I moderate we've been talking, among other things, about internet access Cubans living in the island may or may not have.My sister sent me a link to a short YouTube video clip that talks about a blogger in Havana. The video clip also discusses the lack of internet access to Cubans.Yoani Sanchez is the blogger. The Wall Street Journal reporter

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-6712446976870820192007-12-10T17:50:00.000-05:002007-12-15T19:45:50.820-05:00

Regardless of what part of the world we live in, we each can do our part to make it a little better. That's what a friend dear and near to my heart, who presently lives in Egypt, has done. Elena wrote telling me of the human needs she had discovered since moving there,"Having been in Egypt for only a short time has definitely had its share of adventure, adjustments and discoveries. One discovery

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-79150034625510136682007-12-08T18:47:00.000-05:002007-12-10T17:48:31.196-05:00

I'm patriotic...obnoxiously so. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that I came from a land ruled by a totalitarian and oppressive government. Living in the United States is, for me, both a privilege and a gift from God, and one I do not take for granted. I realize the USA is not perfect. I'm not blind to its weak spots, though I choose to dwell on what's good and honorable about this great

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-51159572254146038362007-12-07T15:49:00.000-05:002007-12-10T17:44:54.800-05:00

I've got work deadlines to meet and a house to pack for our move back east, so why am I spending time watching the Falalala Lifetime's holiday movies? Because they speak to my heart. They wake up all that is beautiful and empowering in me. They infuse me with the hope and vibrancy needed for me not just to survive whatever the day brings but to overcome it victoriously! I love everything about

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-78138634792733752422007-12-06T13:57:00.000-05:002007-12-10T17:44:11.680-05:00

I'm calling some very important people in the publishing business my friends these days. What? You don't believe me? How else would I know that Brian A. Klems, Online Managing Editor of Writer's Digest, is now the father of a precious baby girl? How would I know the moment a new title comes down the pike for Harper Perennial, including the title they sent as a review copy to CCF? How could I

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-20349078799093167742007-12-05T16:00:00.014-05:002008-06-22T17:56:49.285-04:00

After watching the award-winning film Bella I have mixed feelings about it. Am I glad I saw it? Yes. Would I recommend it to others? My answer would be a qualified yes. I like the movie but not the manner it is being presented, or rather misrepresented, by the media campaign surrounding it.I prefer storylines that tell us what it is we're signing up for. Disney's "Enchanted is a film just as

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-58487461984272432462007-12-04T19:01:00.000-05:002007-12-10T17:31:52.659-05:00

I do hate Spam. Not the (to me) delicious canned luncheon food product the Hormel Foods Corporation makes, but the seemingly unending number of electronic Spam, unwanted and unsolicited emails that inundate my Inbox. Add to that the junk mail the postman delivers daily and the telemarketing phone calls and I'm ready to become a hermit, throw away my computer (gasp!), crawl into a cave and shut

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-46464298137008742522007-12-02T23:43:00.000-05:002007-12-10T17:35:15.835-05:00

My uncle from Miami sent me this URL for a beautiful slide show on Cuba from National Geographic. It's called "Cuba: Naturally."I learned a few things I didn't know about Cuba...the fact that they think the island was a land-bridge zillions of years ago between North and South America? That would make sense looking at the photo they show you. I'm a Geologist and studied Plate Tectonics but had

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-73851117083184853162007-11-28T12:27:00.000-05:002007-12-10T17:34:32.899-05:00

Here's one of those anonymous writings we get sent by family and friends. This one made me laugh because I, like probably many other women, am guilty of using these words to mean just what they say they mean here. So go ahead and forward this to the men you know to warn them about future arguments they can avoid if they remember the terminology! And send it to your women friends to give them a

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-28758680545150461442007-11-27T16:29:00.000-05:002007-12-10T17:30:51.076-05:00

Have you ever had a Monte Cristo sandwich? Is there a healthier version of the traditional one? This IS one delicious sandwich, filled with ham, cheese, turkey, mustard...and deep fried french bread style. When served with raspberry jam on the side you just close your eyes and pure bliss envelops you as you eat it.I indulge in this maybe once a year and only when eating out as I've never tried

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-62106999602791709032007-11-26T12:56:00.000-05:002007-12-10T17:31:21.118-05:00

Lauri from Lauri's Reflections tagged me to name 7 Random Things about myself as a prompt for me to blog more often. LOL. In my defense...I've been blogging my heart out via comments posted online, not at blogger but rather in myspace where I've started a Cuban themed group, the Cuba: Island of my heart group.Ok then, here they are: 7 random things about myself:I'm a bookaholic. I'm originally

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-68831189384992465422007-11-22T10:31:00.014-05:002010-02-10T15:02:56.188-05:00

NOTE: ChildrenComeFirst does not produce Jacquie Lawson cards and is NOT associated with Jacquie Lawson. We're not responsible for the lack of service this company has shown us and the visitors we've sent their way. We've found their tech support is practically non-existent. We have written them and they have not answered us. We have received many complaints from ChildrenComeFirst visitors who

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-55489197035595343142007-10-10T23:13:00.002-04:002009-08-06T22:12:04.732-04:00

Luisa Yanez, of the MiamiHerald.com, wrote an article titled "Plan for post-Castro Cuba outlined." I read it and wonder how much of the plan could ever be implemented. I think it's a sad chapter in history that millions of Cubans were displaced by Fidel's totalitarian government taking over and destroying what was known as an island paradise. But what voice could the exiled community really have

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-37762204934172189742007-09-11T13:04:00.000-04:002007-09-11T14:07:24.094-04:00

What do you think of Publish America as a means to get a book published? So far I've not heard any positives, except those I read about on the PA website, but I'm open to views from both sides.Jenna Glatzer is an "author of 16 books and hundreds of magazine articles and greeting cards." She's written an analysis of some of the reasons she doesn't recommend Publish America in the forum section of

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1633308001504199722007-08-21T12:32:00.000-04:002007-08-21T14:35:50.091-04:00

Google the word "balseros" and you'll arrive at a list of links about The Cuban Rafter Phenomenon: A Unique Sea Exodus, "Between 1959 and 1994, in defiance of the law, more than 63,000 citizens left Cuba by sea in small groups and reached the United States alive. Thousands more washed up in the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands and other Caribbean shores. Over the years, they have been collectively

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-13016103481960924802007-08-16T11:54:00.003-04:002009-08-06T22:19:26.783-04:00

I moderate a Cuban-themed group in myspace, the Cuba: Island of my heart group. Today a group member posted a link to Claudia 4 Libertad's August 13th blog titled, "I Could Never be a Cuban," where the blogger describes what being Cuban is all about and why she could not measure up to it. She honors Cubans in her writing by detailing much of what they've gone through over these past almost 50

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-68093419426496382892007-06-03T22:11:00.000-04:002007-06-04T15:09:57.008-04:00

I watched the Lifetime original movie, "Write & Wrong" and loved it! It was funny yet thought-provoking, a wondrous representation of a writer's life and all it encompasses. There are great lines delivered by Byrdie Langdon (Kirstie Alley) throughout the movie such as when she's explaining to a young editor that older writers aren't dumb, "We don't get dumber as we get older." There are many such

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-15298249852171909462007-01-30T11:43:00.000-05:002007-11-24T16:58:07.712-05:00

I'd love to hear from site visitors as to why they blog. I gave a talk last year at our regional SCBWI conference and will be giving it again in April. I titled the talk, "Websites, Blogs, and Platform Building."When it comes to writers, I do feel that every published and yet-to-be-published writer should have a website and/or a blog. They are a means to an end: building your platform. It's your

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1169531773529030572007-01-23T00:49:00.000-05:002007-06-01T18:31:48.993-04:00

Christine Gary: 13:45:20i ran a half marathon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...HALF MARATHON!Christine Gary: 13:53:18and i was tired from the get go...like i started running and was thinking ooooh boy, this is gonna be a long run, i have no energy... haha... and it was cold Those were the words I found on my IM window when I came to work this morning. It was my daughter sharing with me the thrill of

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1167559747330569232006-12-31T05:06:00.000-05:002007-08-20T00:00:01.212-04:00

"Ugly is the new beautiful," the theme of ABC's TV show Ugly Betty, is picking up steam. "The fight for female self-esteem gets pretty ugly," reports Ann Oldenburg in an USA Today article about the BE UGLY '07 public service campaign that starts on-air tonight during "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve." In the article, Oldenburg accurately states that, "The campaign is the latest entry in a

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1167559358648931322006-12-28T14:59:00.000-05:002007-06-01T18:22:07.367-04:00

"Buying a book could soon be as easy as buying a pack of gum. After several years in development, the Espresso - a $50,000 vending machine with a conceivably infinite library - is nearly consumer-ready and will debut in ten to 25 libraries and bookstores in 2007. The New York Public Library is scheduled to receive its machine in February." [Emily Baltby, CNNMoney.com] "On Demand Books LLC. is

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1165288945817894362006-12-04T22:20:00.000-05:002007-11-24T16:50:05.535-05:00

What a phenomenal turning point this may prove to be! At last someone has dared proclaim to the world that anorexic-looking models arenot what the fashion industry ought to be parading on their various catwalks. In this case it was The Spanish Association of Fashion Designers who decided to ban models who have a BMI of less than 18. Click to read the September 13, 2006 BBC article.This is a topic

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1161578114778909292006-10-23T00:34:00.000-04:002007-06-01T18:22:41.804-04:00

My two passions in life are all things related to Cuba and all things related to writing. So tonight I worked for a couple of hours and generated a fully stocked online store with all things Cuban.I'm featuring special products related to Cuba on my Cuban eStore. Top among these is Andy Garcia's film, now available on DVD, "The Lost City." The soundtrack for the film is also available. I LOVED

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1159723882117061712006-10-01T13:17:00.000-04:002007-06-01T18:23:02.255-04:00

For all my writing friends, have you heard of the BIC HOK TAM mantra? It stands for "Butt In Chair, Hands On Keyboard, Typing Away Madly," and it's the theme song of the BIW, (book-in-a-week) group.BIW is a program you sign up for free and dedicate one week each month to writing away madly. The idea is to throw your internal editor out the door and write, write, write during that week. Some folks

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1159506650208175272006-09-29T01:09:00.000-04:002007-08-20T00:00:50.549-04:00

On the heels of Spain banning underweight models from the runway, it thrilled my heart to watch tonight's episode of Ugly Betty. The pilot episode aired tonight on abc and I loved it! It promises to be a show that'll root for the underdog... in this case that would be a talented, engaging, professional young woman who doesn't fit the glamour image being sold by Hollywood these days "the" way to

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1159202803978833332006-09-25T12:45:00.000-04:002007-06-01T18:34:48.174-04:00

"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." ~Edward Everett Hale"We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once." ~Calvin CoolidgeDo you ever feel paralyzed by work and personal deadlines facing you? What helps you out of those funky moods? Inspirational quotes seem to do the

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1152415154855045232006-07-08T23:08:00.000-04:002007-06-01T18:34:48.175-04:00

Corporate Lesson 1.A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower when the doorbell rings. The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next door neighbor. Before she says a word, Bob says, "I will give you $800 to drop that towel." After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1147912862153172552006-05-17T20:28:00.000-04:002007-11-24T16:56:39.132-05:00

Steven Rothberg, President and Founder of CollegeRecruiter.com, was interviewed Saturday evening on the NBC Nightly News. The story was about how employers are increasingly using sites such as Facebook for background checking of potential employees. NBC Nightly News reports that "Facebook was meant as a place to share personal information but now it could affect students' future." Rothberg's

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1144786413837603302006-04-11T15:31:00.000-04:002007-06-01T18:34:48.175-04:00

Today's paper carried an Associated Press story about a man in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, who received a $218 trillion phone bill from Telekom Malaysia. Talk about sticker shock! Does the old adage of "ask and you shall receive" still works, especially when it comes to paying your bills. Do you get sticker shock when you see the figure in the "amount due" box? Did you ever wish there was something

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1142046733723287932006-03-10T22:03:00.000-05:002007-11-24T16:51:07.429-05:00

Just finished watching Pink's new video Stupid Girls. It's awesome! What a powerful message she's sending thru this tongue-in-cheek parody of what our society and culture is trying to do to our girls! I loved watching it and listening to the words and hope millions of girls will watch it and memorize such lines in the song as, "What happened to the dreams of a girl president, She's dancing in the

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1138937126887192192006-02-02T22:21:00.000-05:002007-06-01T18:34:48.176-04:00

I've watched the flash movie several times now. First I laughed. Then I giggled. Then I thought about it and wondered how soon before this is actually the way things go for us.

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1134427144591885242005-12-12T17:39:00.000-05:002007-06-01T18:34:48.177-04:00

Whether or not the following poem was written by a US Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan I can't tell for sure. I can, however, echo the sentiments expressed in the poem and wish one and all a Merry Christmas... and send a special thank you to our armed forces personnel. I owe them so much, personally... as a naturalized US citizen I know how precious it is to live in the USA... how precious the

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1132674469328198332005-11-22T10:47:00.000-05:002007-12-08T20:11:00.606-05:00

My daughter and I both love myths and legends. We'll be in the UK end of December/beg of January (her Christmas break from university studies). I'd love to be able to visit the most magical places England/Scotland have to offer but with all my work, writing, etc it's hard for me to plan my itinerary (Dec 27th thru Jan 8th). I was wondering if anyone reading this blog, who's visited the UK, would

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1132088543790189722005-11-15T16:02:00.000-05:002007-06-01T18:27:09.780-04:00

At the RMC-SCBWI 2005 Fall Conference one of the speakers was Cheryl Klein, Editor at Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic. Klein's talk on The Rules of Engagement: How to Get (and Keep!) A Reader Involved in Your Novel is a rare opportunity to understand, from an editor's point of view, what it is that makes a manuscript work and what keeps it from working.Klein graciously allowed

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1130176117791748502005-10-24T13:48:00.000-04:002007-06-01T18:27:30.128-04:00

Alright, I've asked all my friends to stop sending me those cute email attachments that seem to navigate through cyberspace with a life of their own. For once I'm glad this one friend ignored my request. You got to laugh at people's creativity. I did this morning when looking at this image. Enjoy!

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1129651214855327942005-10-18T11:56:00.004-04:002010-06-05T10:19:04.315-04:00

I love the cartoon strip ZITS. When I first discovered it years ago, I realized my son was absolutely normal. It helped me understand boys more than any other self-help book I'd read on the subject. Since then, every mom I talk to about ZITS is convinced that Jerry Scott & Jim Borgman are basing the character of Jeremy on their son. I know different. Scott & Borgman are basing Jeremy's character

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1127691049472477222005-09-25T19:30:00.000-04:002007-06-01T18:25:54.611-04:00

I just finished watching the movie, SPEAK, based on author Laurie Halse Anderson's book by the same title. In the story, a young girl has just graduated from junior high, next year she'll be in high school, so she's quite young. She goes to what appears to be an end of school year party. The party is wild and fun and full kids and there's dancing, partying, alcohol. And this really cute guy takes

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1126906897328308862005-09-16T17:41:00.000-04:002007-06-01T18:24:39.243-04:00

I'd love to compile a list of books that became best sellers but started out as self-published titles. Were "The Christmas Box" and "Time Stops For No Mouse" originally self-published titles? What's the story behind those two? I'd love to hear what others know about these and other such books.

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1126639590658233942005-09-13T15:26:00.000-04:002007-06-01T18:36:19.592-04:00

I received a link to the I can't afford my gasoline MP3 animation by TOCCI. I shook my head in dismay as I watched the animation play and replay over and over. Dismay because I could personally vouch for what TOCCI was so amusingly depicting as going on at the gas pumps. Whether I ignore or embrace the political barbs TOCCI includes in his animation, the truth is that my husband had just come

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1124730005808451932005-08-22T13:00:00.000-04:002007-11-24T16:51:28.844-05:00

> I'm back doing Weight Watchers 100%My friend dropped me an email with the above line and I replied, "Me too!" ...well, I'm not on WW myself, but me too as in I'm committed to losing weight by following a sound exercise program and nutritionally balanced eating plan.More and more I'm convinced that each of us must find our own way of losing weight and getting in shape. Generalized answers work

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1124406872737087812005-08-18T19:14:00.000-04:002007-12-08T20:11:53.114-05:00

Looking for freelance work I came upon what I'd call "my dream job." This was a telecommute job where you do research for a gateway company and get paid for it. The pay seemed more than fair and, depending on your qualifications and speed at which you can complete projects, it promised to be a good part-time source of income.I applied online to the company and several days later received an email

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1119930787986074522005-06-27T23:53:00.000-04:002007-12-08T20:11:00.607-05:00

A friend just sent me the URL for MEET THE WORLD.Icaro Doria is a 25 year old Brazilian and the author of the flags campaign Meet the World that has been circulating the earth in chain letters via e-mails. "There are eight flags that portray very current topics like the division of opinions about the war in Iraq in the United States, the violence against women in Africa, the social inequality in

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1119885719791361932005-06-27T11:21:00.000-04:002007-12-08T20:12:13.349-05:00

Talking with a young woman today through Yahoo's Instant Messaging I was once more reminded of the sadness that can envelop a person just for being overweight. While chatting I googled "weight does not define me" and the title of the second listing that came up jumped at me, The Weight of Being Fat. I clicked on the URL, read Ashley Michael's article, and sent the URL to the young woman through

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1119135714598004332005-06-18T19:01:00.000-04:002007-12-08T20:08:56.889-05:00

Have you ever wondered about how the study of ethics would enhance whatever field of work or study you're presently involved in? I think this is a timely field and The Ethical Brain, a book reviewed by Stephan L. Chorover in The Lancet, is thought provoking. This book review starts out by talking about another book, "The Astonishing Hypothesis....."In The Astonishing Hypothesis: The Scientific

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1117749375299045582005-06-02T17:56:00.000-04:002007-12-08T20:08:56.890-05:00

I recently was asked the question, "Could you give us a definition of narrative non-fiction? How is it different from historical fiction?"I'm trying to nail this down because while attending this year's Pikes Peak Writers Conference I was told the middle grade novel I'm writing is narrative or creative nonfiction and not historical fiction as I'd thought all along. When I met with the Viking

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1117726059894435852005-06-02T11:27:00.000-04:002007-12-08T20:12:32.821-05:00

Are you all familiar with "thewrittenword"? TheWrittenWordEZine is a daily source of inspiration for writers, editors and publishers. Jade Walker sends these nuggets of inspiration to writers and it's free to subscribe... A recent quote applies to both published and yet-to-be-published writers: persistence is the key, it really is... I am encouraged on a regular basis by these quotes and wanted

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1117644629790952902005-06-01T12:50:00.000-04:002007-11-24T16:56:39.134-05:00

I'm looking to canvass telecommuting jobs that actually pay. One that comes up frequently is how people can get paid for taking online surveys. Signing up for this was a huge mistake! I've taken several surveys but have received no payment. What I have received is a deluge of spam mail offering me the chance to sign up for even more things.The site we signed up under looked credible and had the

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1117570521447096762005-05-31T16:15:00.000-04:002007-12-08T20:12:32.821-05:00

I'm compiling a list of "must reads" in narrative nonfiction. Looking for additional titles to those Edward Humes lists on his site. Edward Humes - Narrative Nonfiction:The Right Stuff, by Tom Wolfe Among School Children, by Tracy Kidder The Pine Barrens, by John McPhee Executioner's Song, by Norman MailerSalvador, by Joan Didion Dispatches, by Michael HerrHiroshima, by John Hersey In Cold Blood,

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13200883.post-1117337272269703022005-05-28T23:21:00.000-04:002007-12-08T20:12:54.077-05:00

COLORADO SPRINGS--On May 26th I read in our local paper that the FBI will be investigating Mesa Ridge High School's yearbooks. Why? Because under the photo of one student, under the common "The student most likely to..." section of yearbooks there is a "threatening" caption that reads, "the student most likely to assassinate President Bush." How could anyone think this is anything but a joke?

Olgy Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393573481180066486noreply@blogger.com0