READING BETWEEN THE LINES

                Palm reading, tarot cards and astrology are a few of my favorite things to learn about. Foretelling the future from the hands and interpreting the stars place in the sky is something I have always been curious about. I have read my share of palms and  have had my palms read many times. Although I never lived my life by the words of a palm reader, things she would tell me would seem to come true more often than not. Originating in India, palm reading took on a mystical life of it's own. From India the art grew to China, Tibet, Egypt, Persia and then unto Europe. Greece then created it's own way to read palms based on Greek mythology which is considered Classical palmistry and is what is widely taught and practiced throughout the world today. I'm also a sucker for reading my horoscope. It's just interesting to see if it reads true to what's really going on in my life. I like to see if the 'stars are aligned'  in my favor or not. This is the most accurate horoscope I have found:  http://astrologyzone.com

Do you have a New Years Resolution or Life List?

        The New Year is quickly approaching and everyone has started to make their list of what they hope to accomplish in the year to come with their New Years Resolution. Some people hope to lose weight, make more money or learn a new skill. All these hopes I  can relate to, I just don't like to make goals within a years worth of time. I kind of like the idea of having more of a Life List and then whenever the times comes and your able to accomplish it you can check it off your list. It's a list without so much pressure.   
    Although I do find it amusing when people refer to the things they want to do in life as a Bucket List, making note of all the things they want to do before they kick the bucket. I prefer the term Life List myself. It's interesting to hear what people don't want to die without doing. A few things on my Life List are: 

Live in a foreign country
Speak another language fluently
Get at least one of my novels or kids books published
Spend a month in India doing Yoga
Buy land and build a tree house with a view of the ocean
Learn the homemade Ravioli recipe from the Grimaldi's
Be able to make money off the purses and things I sew and my writing
Visit Hungary, where my grandfather lived and meet relatives still living there
Visit Italy and Ireland with my husbands family
Take my entire family on vacation!

 That doesn't seem to much to ask does it?

A FRIEND NOT FORGOTTEN

               Four years ago today my dear friend Kellie Lartigue-Ndiaye died in a tragic and untimely car accident while traveling through Mali, Africa. Her love for mothering and educating the world in health related issues unfortunately took her life. Kellie was special that she cared for each person she met, no matter if they were rich or poor, black or white. She had a place for everyone in her heart. I had the blessing of traveling with Kellie to Senegal, West Africa and getting to know who she really was. Yes, she was a mother of 3 terrific boys and a wife of one. She was humorous and she was very very serious about her passion for universal  health. It's no surprise after graduating Rhodes college she joined the Peace Corps in Senegal.It was here her true passion for the international community developed. She quickly became fluent in French and the local Senegal language of Wolof and it was in Senegal she met her husband.
               During the Rwandan genocide Kellie then moved to Kigali, Rwanda where she managed the HIV counseling and medical center for couples. She organized the community outreach program as well as voluntary  HIV testing.She joined the CDC in 1997 and served 5 years of HIV/AIDS prevention specialist.In 2002 she began work in Mali, Africa as a public health figure in the community. During her tenure there, Mali witnessed an increase in HIV testing and counseling center more than 50% helping the prevention of the disease tremendously. When Kellie passed she was working with the CDC on a Global Aids Assistance project. There are not enough praises I could give to my dear friend for the kind work she did for the world with her genuine healing heart and this is just a brief description of what she had accomplished in her short life. I hope to spread her inspirational story and make others aware of what is possible and know there are people in the world often unknown to many making a difference in so many lives.

http://www.jefjelproject.org/

THERE IS ONE PLACE OVERSEAS I NEVER WANT TO VISIT...

JAIL! One of my favorite TV shows is 'Locked Up Abroad' on National Geographic. Each intense episode reenacts a persons story of how they got involved in illegal activity overseas and locked up abroad. They are usually hard up for money, get offered a free vacation and get talked into making a stupid decision that changes their lives forever.I get such anxiety watching the show, my hearts pounds and I will begin to sweat as the story unfolds as to what they're going through in their unfamiliar destination. As I watch it I can't help but scream at the TV,  "You really thought it would be a good idea to cross the Darien Gap by yourself?" or "Sure customs in Thailand won't detect that 50 pounds of  heroin your smuggling under your shirt, it doesn't look obvious at all!" I am addicted to this show and I have to know what happens to these people, how they overcome the situation they put themselves in and how they survive it under such harsh circumstances. Hopefully after watching this show more people will learn and not make the same mistakes because being locked up abroad is definitely no vacation.  
http://natgeotv.com/ca/banged-up-abroad/about

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME

          If you travel with a large family or even multiple families sometimes the best deal can be found renting a house. I have rented houses myself in the Outerbanks in North Carolina and Belize and think this is an affordable way to travel. Often the weekly rental prices may seem costly but if divided into 2 or more families it can be quite a deal. There are house rentals available throughout the world and offer a range of amenities for any budget. Many times you can even request a chef  for the house at an added charge. If you would like to check out some rental options visit:  http://www.beachhouse.com/.     

THE GUMBO LIMBO, the house I rented in Belize      

    Another unique travel option that is growing in popularity is a Home Exchange Program. It works rather easy but you do need to be a bit trusting, although keep in mind the person you are exchanging with is in the same situation as you. Lets say you pick a house you want to rent in Barcelona Spain, the owner in Spain would come and stay at your house at the same time. You exchange cars, houses and anything else you agree on. Some people have even exchanged an RV or Yacht for a house. There was a movie made about this concept called, The Holiday. It stars Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet and the two of them trade their beautiful Los Angeles pad (Cameron Diaz) for a modest English Cottage (Kate Winslet).  I think this is a great way to get to know another culture or lifestyle without breaking the bank.  http://www.homeexchange.com  
                                                                                                              My house rental in the Outerbanks 

 

PRACTICAL MAGIC

     I have been blessed with luck when it comes to running into famous people. One of my most memorable being when I was living on Whidbey Island in Washington State. I lived in the seaside town of Coupeville. The quaint, quiet village I lived in suddenly became alive with Hollywood gossip when word got out that a movie was going to begin filming there. The movie was Practical Magic, starring Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing and  Dianne Weist. A movie about witches, spells, truth and evil. It was based on the novel, Practical Magic written by Alice Hoffman. Griffin Dunne, from The American Werewolf in London was the director of the movie.
            They were looking for all ages to audition as extras at the local high school in town and I went in hopes to make a few extra bucks if I got picked. The audition consisted of me and about 100 others taking our turns walking out in front of a few studio people, standing there for a minute smiling and then walking back out. I went home and forgot about it after a couple days as the excitement wore off.  Then about a week later I got a phone call from the casting director asking if I would be a stand-in for Sandra Bullock (Sally Owens)! More than excited, I accepted and got my first glimpse into the Hollywood hype! I took a couple weeks off  from my job as a Travel Agent and worked as Sandra's stand-in. The waterfront buildings of Coupeville became the movie set as it transformed from it's laid back beach tones to pure white store front facades. I often spent hours waiting and watching the crew prepare the scene, rework it and remark it over and over on set.I was there to basically go over the movements she would be doing so the cameras could get set up correctly so she wouldn't waste her time doing it. By the time Sandra came out everything was in place and it was a fairly quick shoot for her.
         I made small talk with her when we were stuck in the room together for a long period of time. Just talking about my niece and general island life. She joked around a bit but really never offered to much to say.

                                                    
           Aiden Quinn and Mark Feuerstein were also in the movie and extremely kind people.Mark and I had a mutual love for reggae music and he was a great pool partner. Everyone would meet after the long day in the local Captain's Alley. It was a dim lit bar set on stilts over the water with windows all around looking out over Penn Cove. Everyone would just hang out, talk, have a few drinks, play pool and  unwind from the day. Sandra never came out to the bar (that I saw) and never said much to me while working and that was ok by me. There were rumors of Matthew Mcconaughy and Tom Cruise being on set too since they were dating Nichole and Sandra at the time but I never saw them. I was having a blast just taking in the whole experience and meeting so many new people. After a week or so the crew loaded their equipment on a ferry and moved up north to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands. They were to film scenes of the exterior of the main house and the dramatic outdoor scenes of the coast. They invited me with them as Sandras stand-in and I spent the next week continuing the time of my life in one of the most beautiful places on earth.While on San Juan I also met Nichole Kidman, who was a sweetheart and the 'not so bad on the eyes' Goran Visnjic.There were a number of outdoor night scenes being filmed and it was cold! Everyone was bundled up under the tents and heaters between scenes trying to keep warm. The last day I worked they filmed one of the final scenes  where all the witches fly off the roof of the house, ready to move on with their lives just being themselves. I felt a parallel connection at that point in my life.The time working on the movie was magical in it's own way and helped me realize the practical in my life.

   

THE FAB

              I love FABric.I always find it interesting to see which types of fabrics are found throughout the world. I also like to sew all kinds of fun stuff (my little birdies above) so it's been habit for me to collect the local fabrics as I travel. Fabric itself can tell a colorful story, the way it's made, the color, how it's worn, along with a history of where it's from. A bold pattern can create a personality all on it's own.

           The Monday after Thanksgiving is always a challenge to get back into the swing of things. I was spoiled having my 4 day weekend and now it's back to reality. The weather held up over the weekend, it was 50' and sunny so no complaints there. I worked on a couple trips today. I like when people give me a challenge. They tell me they want to go somewhere, give me their dates and then they tell me what their budget is. It's my job to find all possible options for them to create the perfect getaway. Most people think of all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean or Mexico but there is another type of an all-inclusive offered. You can visit a Dude Ranch! What's included varies by each Ranch but many offer all meals and activities (horse back riding, fishing, archery etc). It's rustic setting in the middle of nature with few people around can be a unique getaway compared to the crowded beaches and long lines found at many of the bigger all inclusive resorts along the sunny coastlines. You can find accommodations ranging from very basic (camping) to luxurious family suites. This type of vacation is not for everyone but for those wanting an active, hands on experience with the land and the Ranch lifestyle it doesn't get much better. Check out the following link to see if a Dude Ranch might be an ideal vacation for you. http://www.duderanch.org/index.php

SPIRITS YOU CAN VISIT AT THE WORLDS MOST HAUNTED PLACES

THE MANSFIELD REFORMATORY, Ohio

I love to be spooked and the world has no shortage of ghost stories and tales from beyond. Whenever I travel I like to find out about any local legends or haunts that I can visit. It seems that seeking out departed spirits has its way of making us in the living feel more alive.

Winchester Mystery House located in San Jose California is one of the most bizarre haunted places I have ever heard about. The house is a creation of Sarah Winchester, the widow of the gun master William Winchester. After Williams death she is believed to have taken the word from a local psychic that told her she must build on her house continuously to confuse the evil spirits that also lived in the house. If she stopped building her life would also stop. Sarah became obsessed with the house, she began building doors that led to nowhere, windows into walls that didn't open and stairs that lead into the ceiling. After working on it for 38 years and until her death in 1937 this house was a true piece of work built essentially by madness. Much of the work done was believed to have been inspired by the guilt she felt for the people that died at the shot of the Winchester gun.http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/sarahwinchester.cfm

ROBERT THE DOLL: Key West, Florida
Robert is not the kind of doll you want to take home to your child. He is said to be a haunted spirit uncertain with misbehavior. A man named Eugene that lived in Key West was given Robert in 1904 from a Bahamian servant that was into voodoo and black magic and wasn't fond of the family. After inheriting the doll, Eugene began talking about Robert as if he were real and acting very strange around those that knew him. Those actions would carry on with him until his death in 1974. After his death new owners moved into the house under one condition. Robert was to remain in the house, in his room upstairs that overlooked the street. Passerby's began to say they would see Robert move from window to window in his room watching them from above. Today you can find him in the East Martello Museum in Key West. His antics haven't let up in the museum and he is known to disappear from the locked glass case he is held in only to reappear days later. The one thing I have learned  is to always ask him before taking his picture. I didn't ask him my first time I went to see him and my camera stopped working after attempting to take a picture of him.
www.robertthedoll.org

Check out the 10 most haunted places on Earth at: www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-seven-most-haunted-spots-earth

DREAMING ABOUT TREEHOUSES

Me at my favorite treehouse, the 'I and I' reggae bar in Caye Caulker Belize

                        People that say they have no regrets in life are full of shit. No matter what, there is always something that you could look back and say, I really would have done that differently. My recent regret stems from when I lived in Portland, Oregon for 5 years. There was a treehouse resort located in Cave Junction, OR. It's about 4 hours from Portland and unfortunately I never made it there to stay. It's called Out'n'About Treesort and is a brilliant creation of Michael Garnier who built 18 individual tree houses to rent on his property along with classes on building your own tree house, crafts and music. This place will make you feel like your a kid if your 5 or 50. You can zip line, hoarse back ride, hike, swim and learn a new skill in an environment that rivals nature in every way. I am a HUGE tree house advocate (if done responsibly) and my ultimate dream in life is to find my mountain top spot in the world, with a view of the ocean and build a tree house to retire. I am leaning toward Panama or Costa Rica but this place gives me some much needed inspiration her in the states.
http://www.treehouses.com/treehouse/treesort/home.html.

THANK YOU SALLY STRUTHERS

                                If it wasn't for Sally Struthers and her heartbreaking commercials that played during my Saturday morning TV shows growing up I may never have visited one of the most unique countries in Africa. Senegal in West Africa is an often overlooked destination that is filled with vibrant culture and a spiritual connection to the people that live there and it's absolutely breathtaking. My interest in this country began when I was 16 and I watched a Sally Struthers commercial about starving children in Africa. I sat on my couch eating a huge pile of pancakes with fresh blueberries barley able to finish it. The commercial came on and I sat with tears in my eyes. For the first time in my life I felt guilt. I felt guilty I had so much food right in front of me and the emaciated little girl on the TV had nothing. At that moment I grabbed the phone and called the Children Christian Fund to sponsor a little girl somewhere in need.

I waited for weeks for my packet of information about my new friend. I was thankful I had a steady job at the local video store so I could afford the $21 a month it cost to sponsor her. Then one day the letter I had been anxiously waiting for arrived! I was now the sponsor of a little 6 year old from Senegal, Africa named Ndeba Sene. There was a picture included of a straight faced serious girl with sad eyes. I ran inside, grabbed an atlas and located Senegal on the map. Located at the western most tip of West Africa it poked out from the continent like a curious birthmark. I then grabbed a pen and paper and wrote my first letter to Nedeba introducing myself. At the instant I signed my name on that letter I knew my life would never be the same.

For the next 7 years we corresponded back and forth and I would receive vaccination updates, drawings from her, family photos and progress reports throughout the year. Since she spoke the African language of Serer and French and I spoke English I always received the French written letter and then an English version that was translated by a Mr. Pierre Karma, a coordinator for the Children's Christian Fund. Then one day after 7 years from when this friendship started I got an opportunity of a lifetime to meet my dear friend Ndeba.

One of my best friends that lives in Atlanta, GA called me to tell me interesting news. Her brother was landscaping with a guy that was from Senegal and married to a US woman and living in Atlanta. He and his wife had developed a project to help struggling people in Senegal called the Jef-Jel Project. The duo were planning a trip there in a month to go work on the project and were looking for volunteers to join them on the venture. I had to pay for the airfare and pay modest fee for room and board . It just so happened the base of their project was located in the coastal town of Saly, just about 30 miles from where Ndeba and her family lived. I had my bags packed before I even received my vaccinations.
Before I knew it I was on a plane leaving the gray gloomy skies of the Pacific Northwest and seeing the dry, thirsty heat of Africa for the first time. I adjusted fairly well to my arrival and was amazed at the drastic difference in culture and landscape that surrounded me. Senegal is a primarily Muslim country and I loved all the Mosques and spiritual buildings poking up toward the sky from the dried earth as if they were trying to enter the sky. Although the buildings were covered in earth tones the accents of the vibrant pink Bougainvillea and various bright flowers that were found growing everywhere made it look like a water color painting.

After a few days upon my arrival I soon found myself riding on horse and cart with my new friend Kellie, looking for Ndeba's village. Luckily Kellie spoke French and Wolof fluently so I let her do the talking as we meandered our way through dusty covered villages. Finally after an hour so of bumping along the sand on the horse and cart we approached a compound of a dozen or so thatched huts and a cement school. Kellie asked in Wolof about the family name and suddenly I saw a familiar face appear from around the corner. Her deep, sad eyes looked up at me and I recognized them instantly from the pictures over the years. She would instantly look away if we made eye contact as if trying to figure out if I were real or a ghostly apparition. I jumped off the cart and ran toward her but trying not to scare her. I gave her a hug and told her, 'Enchante' meaning nice to meet you in French.



Within minutes everyone in the whole village got wind that Kellie and I were in town and came running out to greet us. I admit I felt like a celebrity with everyone making such a big deal about our appearance. Mr. Pierre Kama was also there to take me on a tour and introduce me to everyone. I recognized her brother and 2 sisters from the pictures. Ndeba held my hand while we walked around but she never looked at me in the eye or smiled, not once. I assumed she was overwhelmed by the whole situation. I then met her blind mother who gave me 5 chicken eggs as her appreciation for all I have done for her and her family. I had brought a care package for Ndeba and her family with some clothing and items I thought would be fun for them. Pierre then walks up to me with an armful of large envelopes and sets them on the ground.

There were 20 or so of the letters I had written Ndeba. There was also a wall size chalk board on the wall that showed all the sponsors in the area and what was received when. I was grateful all of my contributions actually made it to her.

We spent the whole day with Ndeba and her family and her serious stare never broke. I went inside the modest 8X8 thatched hut that she lived in with her mother and 4 siblings. There were 2 beds in it with a dirt floor. There were clothes hanging from the sides. I couldn't believe 6 people lived in this room. They walked me around the compound introducing me to the natural healing ingredients growing around the land and gave me an unforgettable understanding of their culture and lifestyle. The sun began to set in the distance turning the sky from a blood orange to a vibrant pink and Kellie and I decided that was our cue to see ourselves off. As we walked back to the horse and cart to leave everyone in the village walked out to see us off. I hugged each person, which took a good hour and took in their infectious smiles. I gave Ndbea a heartfelt hug and lifted her chin up. To my surprise she had tears running down her tense cheeks. I could see in her eyes she was sad I was leaving but I could tell she was glad that I came. I squeezed her hand and told her I would see her again' Ba Suba Se',  meaning see you next time. For the first time in 7 years I saw a smile on her youthful face and it was that moment I knew this journey was well worth the wait.