JACK KEROUAC - LOWELL, MASS. EXHIBIT

While in Lowell, Mass. we visited the exhibit "On The Road: Jack Kerouac's Original Scroll Manuscript" in the Boott Gallery at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum. Never heard of him? He is one of the group of writers who started what we now refer to as the "Beat Generation", "beat poetry", etc. His most famous work is "On The Road." CLICK ON THIS PICTURE TO ENLARGE IT.

Kerouac was born in Lowell in 1922 and died in 1969 and is buried in Lowell. There is a monument erected in Lowell in his honor.
The highlight of this exhibit is THE SCROLL. This is the 119 ft. long roll of semi translucent paper that Kerouac pasted together out of separate 12 foot long strips of paper which he measured and cut to fit into his typewriter's platen so he could type continuously without changing paper. This "scroll" is the first draft of his definitive "Beat Generation" novel and is the working published draft of "On The Road." He wrote this book in 21 days. Read it. It is a true experience in many ways.
The photo showing a long table is what contains the scroll. It is single spaced, without paragraphs and is amazing.
This photo shows the bulletin board where people can type messages to Jack on an old manual typewriter. There's my grandson Cooper typing his own message. He had never used a regular typewriter before. (Boy, those were the days.) Many of the messages posted were from young people who seemed truly affected by Kerouac's book and were traveling - on the road - also.

SOME PHOTOS OF MY TRIP

Lots of photos today. Photo #1 - My crepe myrtle has finally bloomed. The next shot of something blooming is part of the beautiful landscaping our local MacDonalds does. I don't know what it is. Anybody know?

While I was in Massachusetts we drove over to Lowell to the Boott Cotton Mills Museum. Lowell was a major mill town at one time. There is a huge building (as shown - one of several) that houses a working mill to demonstrate the process. This photo is looking up a winding staircase (my grandson Cooper took this picture!).

BON VOYAGE, SUZANNE AND ANDREW

I have returned from a lovely four days in Andover, Mass., visiting my daughter and son-in-law and two grandsons. As I have probably said before, I am becoming the "Frequent Flyer Grammy." Ken stays home to care for the four legged members of our family. We spent a day at my oldest grandson's swim meet. He did very well in his races. One day we went to Lowell to visit an exhibition and a museum.

We also have had some big excitement in our family. My sister's daughter Suzanne (one of my only two nieces) and her husband Andrew have taken on a two year teaching assignment in the Northern Mariana Islands. If you are like me, you are saying, "Where is that??"


The Northern Mariana Islands are located in the North Pacific Ocean and they are a Commonwealth of the United States. Suzanne and Andrew are on the island of Rota which is about 8 miles long. I look forward to checking in on them via their blog Operation Rota.

There was a big family Bon Voyage Party for them a few weeks ago. Here is a picture of the delicious cake.

Good luck, Suzanne and Andrew. What a wonderful adventure!

AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS

I will be leaving on Monday for some time in Massachusetts with my daughter and grandsons. I will be back Thursday night. I'll take some pictures to share with you. In the meantime, here is one of my hydrangea -- one of the few blooming things in my yard.

Violette, Le Chat

Good Morning. I thought I would begin this beautiful day with offering a picture of our little "old lady" cat. I may have shared a picture of her before, but here is one I just took. Violette is a chubby thing (has been ever since she was a kitten), sweet and loving, but like many female cats, likes her own space and her own time. (Well, I guess she is sort of like me!)

We found Violette when she was several months old living on the streets as one of the numerous feral cats in Rehoboth Beach. She was as wild as a squirrel and I would tempt her with tuna cat food. She would allow me to come closer and closer to her until finally I was able to touch her and hold her. I brought her into the house and she went NUTS... racing from room to room, jumping off windows and doors...she was a prisoner. Eventually she settled down and into her new home. At that time we had our old Taj cat who allowed her to share his home and they became fast friends.

Violette is approximately 14 (maybe 13) years old and in people years that is 98. She seems healthy and happy, but all my cats live to be old and I am ever watchful of the indications of her aging.

Dear, dear old cat...we love you.

FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE ART LEAGUE

For the "artsy" crowd around here there is the Rehoboth Art League which has local artists represented, art shows, galleries, art classes --- many wonderful things. I even took a poetry class there one winter. Since this is a vacation destination, the summer months bring many more people than off-season. Friday night was a gallery opening to showcase several popular local artists.

The Art League is on the grounds of a beautiful, old estate that was donated to the League many years ago. I thought I would show you some pictures I took Friday night. Oh yes -- when they have these openings they also have lots of free hors d'oeuvres -- feed the stomach and the soul.

SURPRISE! AN AWARD FOR ME!

Lynne has graciously passed on two awards to me that she has just received. She greatly deserved them and I am so honored that she considered my blog worthy also.

The Creative Blogger Award is for those who bring unique and creative elements to their blogs. For those who incorporate art, music, creative writing, photo's, and other beautiful visual effects into their website. For those who put a unique spin on things and come up with new ideas. This award is for the artsy, the funky, the inventor, and even the rebel. This award is for those creative individuals who stand out from the crowd.

The Thoughtful Blogger Award is for those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others' feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous. Also for all of those bloggers who spend so much of their time helping other bloggers design, improve, and fix their sites. This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others.

So now it's my turn to pass them on. I want to give it to everyone whose blog I read, but I can choose only 5.

Some of you may have already received these awards, but if so, you deserve them double! Thank you for all the interesting and creative posts.

1. kookiejar at A Fraternity Of Dreamers

2. Rhoda at Southern Hospitality

3. kris at Gardens By The Lake

4. Lidy at Tales From A Little French Garden

5 Morning Glory at Seeds From My Garden

P.S. For some reason the linking to your blogs isn't working -- can't figure it out. Still working on it.

"THREE TO GET DEADLY"

I just finished Janet Evanovich's "Three To Get Deadly." I am waiting for the library to let me know when the first book in the series of Stephanie Plum's "bond enforcer" adventures comes in. I want to try to read these books in sequence. It probably doesn't matter, but I would rather do that.

I sat up late the other night to finish the book and found myself laughing out loud till tears ran down my face. One of my favorite quotes from the book, because I so identify with it:

"I woke up feeling guilty about the junk food binge, so for penance I cleaned the hamster cage, rearranged the jars in the refrigerator and scrubbed the toilet. I looked for ironing, but there was none. When something needs to be ironed I put it in the ironing basket. If a year goes by and the item is still in the basket I throw the item away. This is a good system since eventually I end up only with clothes that don't need ironing."

THURSDAY'S EXPERIENCE

On Thursday I stopped at the library to return some books and heard some rhythmic drumming coming from upstairs. I went up to see what was happening and am I glad I did. Have you ever heard the theory that the human race evolved from one African woman? Well, that drumming hit me deep inside. The "Sankofa African Dance & Drum" ensemble was giving a performance of authentic tribal dances from different parts of Africa. There were about ten girls (youngest was about 6), one young man and four older boys on sets of drums. The group was there to perform and to also instruct the children in the audience about the dances and later to give them a chance to dance. A lot of young mothers were there with their little ones; there were some mentally challenged children with their counselors and they just loved the pounding rhythm. And, of course, the retirees who are always learning.

What a beautiful experience. I am including two photos, but unfortunately the dancers were moving so fast that I couldn't get a good shot.

I am about the whitest white woman around in a primarily white community, but I was so touched by the beauty, dignity, music and talent that I wanted to grab a colored skirt and beads, and jump out there and dance with these beautiful children.

An African American Festival is coming to this area in August and I am definitely going to go just to repeat the experience of this music and history. These children are not only born of an American history of slavery, but of African royalty. See this, listen to this, and you will understand if you don't already.

I WANT A HAMSTER

I have just finished Janet Evanovich's Two For The Dough and enjoyed it immensely. One problem. Now I want my very own Rex the Hamster!

If you haven't read this series, you have no idea what I am talking about. This series is based on Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter extraordinaire, residing in Trenton, NJ. Rex is her hamster and, at least in this book, the man in her life. I will spend tonight curled up in my chair, starting the next book in Stephanie Plum's adventures, Three To Get Deadly.

A HOT DAY HERE IN PARADISE

You know you are close to the beach when the seagulls are perched at McDonalds!

Ninety-five degrees here today and only half of our house is air conditioned. Don't marry a builder if you want him to ever finish your house. That's another story for another day.

I stopped by my favorite garden and farm market for some tomatoes and corn. The corn is local I think, but the tomatoes are from Virginia. That with some homemade crab cakes for dinner -- yum.

A NEW FRIEND

I have discovered a new literary friend that I know many of you are totally familiar with. JANET EVANOVICH. I was at the library the other day and picked up her second and third novels (they didn't have her first one at this library -- I'll order it). So right now I am reading "Two For the Dough." I think I am totally going to love Janet's writing.

The other book I have just started is "Piaf" written in 1969 by Edith Piaf's sister, Simone Berteault. It's a big fat book with some photos and seems very interesting if you are a fan of France's "little sparrow." I think this will be a book that I will have to renew a few times

before I finish it.

I wasn't going to read more than one book at a time, but here I go again.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL!!!

I hope you all had a great day and maybe even caught some fireworks. There were plenty of fireworks last night in Lewes and tonight in Rehoboth Beach, but we were too lazy to deal with the crowds. As I am writing this, the Philadelphia celebration is on the television and I can hear some neighbors setting off their own noise makers. Beau is, of course, barking.

We attended an impromptu cookout at the Lewes marina today which turned out to be fun. I guess it wasn't impromptu for those who knew about it, but my husband was working on his boat and we just stumbled on the party when I stopped by to visit him. There was a boat parade in which a lot of small boats were decorated for the holiday and I think they were judged. Here is a picture of one, if you can see it. If you click on it you can see it enlarged. I had forgotten my camera and my cell phone so I used husband's cell phone camera. This isn't the best of the boats, but it is all I could get.

Bon Soir, everyone!!!

HOME TO BIG STONE GAP by Adriana Trigiani

I just finished this book -- I had been reading it while I read Gregg Olsen's "Starvation Heights." Home To Big Stone Gap is one of several novels all based on the character of Ave Maria MacChesney's life with her family and friends in Big Stone Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. While the publisher touts this book as the author's "most powerful story yet", I can't say that I would agree, although I have not read the others. To give this author proper credit I think I will get one of her other works and see how this compares. Apparently, her books have been on the New York Times Bestseller list.

I just could not identify, empathize or sympathize with, or even especially like Ave Maria. Again, this may be because I had not read other novels leading up to this one. There were ends left hanging that annoyed me. Try this book, though. It was not unenjoyable reading and I did not give up on it.

STARVATION HEIGHTS by Gregg Olsen

I have finally finished this book which seemed to take awhile, but not because I didn't find it totally engrossing. I have been attempting to read a few books at once and I don't think I will do that again. I found this true crime story to be totally intriguing, interesting and at times, overwhelming in its horror. Lynne sent me this book and you can read her excellent review on one of her recent blog posts. The author also left a comment!

The story takes place in early 1900's in Olalla, Washington (where the author lives) and centers around Linda Burfield Hazzard, known as the "fasting doctor." She was not a medical doctor, but portrayed herself as such. She believed that strict fasting was the secret to good health and to healing most illnesses. Two sisters, Dora and Claire Williamson, became interested in this therapy and likewise, suffered the consequences.

After I finished this book I went online to find out any other additional information about this notorious story. Read this book!!! Fascinating!!!

Beau's Point of View

My little brown Poodle is neurotic, a constant barker, disobedient and oh, so funny. Stop me if I repeat myself, but Beau is totally crazy about two things: the tv remote control and windshield wipers. We cannot go anywhere if there is a chance of rain. He has to sit on my lap when I drive and if I turn on the wipers, he almost climbs onto the dashboard to attack the wipers. It is so awful.

The remote control is unexplainable and clearly psychotic. Somehow he associates us eating with the remote control. Since we generally sit in the family room and eat while the tv is on, as soon as we head there with a plate in hand he begins to run in circles and bark hysterically at the remote. He even starts this routine before we even leave the kitchen. What is the association, Beau? Remote = Food. I don't get it.

The other night I was walking him through our neighborhood and he met another dog and Beau slipped out of his collar and off he went. He will never come when he is called so being loose can be disastrous. Five neighbors combing yards and woods for him and finally someone trapped him near a trash can (of course) and I carried him all the way home with his tail between his legs.

Tonight a kind neighbor loaned me one of those electric collars. She said that it only took a few wearings and her dog behaved. I have heard the same thing from other people. I will probably give it a try. Sorry, Beau, but it may be for your own good. I know a lot of this is because he is just a hyper, alpha, head of the pack dog. And I know I have been responsible for not training him properly.

Here a few pictures of my love bug, which is what I call him because I truly do love him even with all his faults. After all, he feels the same way about me. Oops, gotta go -- Beau's calling.

What's in a name......a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

Ever wonder why I call myself "Violetlady"? Well, I guess it is pretty simple -- the violet is my favorite flower. It was also my mother's favorite. My grandmother wore violet cologne and had a perfume bottle with handpainted violets on it (which I still have).

I should have some sort of identity crisis. I was born as Meryl Kristina. Meryl because it was my mother's nickname (her real name was Mabel which my father and she disliked so he nicknamed her Meryl when he met her - just as bad I thought). It wasn't until Meryl Streep came along that I thought Meryl wasn't such a bad name. In elementary school there was this annoying kid who called me "Myrtle the Turtle. " I don't know why except maybe it was appropriate. I seldom do anything in a hurry. Anyway - back to my name. Kristina because Mom liked the name and told me there was a Queen Kristina of Norway (not that we are Norwegian!).

The problem was in school. The school rolls always listed me as Meryl, of course, my first name. I was shy and I would finally get the courage to pipe up with "Please call me Tina." This was in elementary school. As if "Myrtle the Turtle" wasn't bad enough. It wasn't until high school that the teachers got a little nasty. "Oh, "Meryl Call Me Tina" -- is that what you want to be called?" one would snidely say. I wanted to crawl under my desk. So I graduated anyway, more or less intact mentally.

My family and friends called me Tina until I decided (when I was in my 20's) that I preferred Kris or Kristina, but even then it was rather sporadic. Now whenever I call an old friend I have to remember which name they know me by.

Jeez, what a complicated life I live.

I am sitting here reading blogs and realizing how much I am enjoying getting to know people through the ethernet (is that what it is called?). Thank you Lynne for introducing me to this new and interesting hobby.

I took the day off from work today. It was beautiful here and I almost went to the beach. (sorry kookiejar, but we have beaches here.) Almost, but didn't. Took Beau for a walk with his best friend, a little Cairn Terrier named Picasso, and his mom. I will have to take a picture of the two of them -- they are so funny. They are so excited to see each other and then we all walk along and the dogs don't really pay a lot of attention to each other, except to raise their legs on the same bushes and mailboxes. It got hot today in the sun and the two little guys stopped us so they could lie down under a shade tree. So cute.

On another note: I bought a little food chopper (like a mini food processor) and I have really found it handy to chop onions, etc. Well, I used it to chop onions for my spaghetti sauce for dinner and when I went to clean it, the darn blade thing is now jammed in sideways against the side of the jar. I can't get it out to put it back in the way it should be!! Well, it just goes to show you, it's always something! (Remember when Roseanna-Anna-Danna said that on Saturday Night Live?)

That's my day today and now it's off to meet The Sandman.

Just Some Pictures Today Of Our 4-Legged Family Members

Beau when he was young after one of his first baths. He was very embarrassed.

Beau when he was just a little guy.

Here is Beau when he liked to grab "undergarments" and get me to chase him.

These are the three feline babies in my household: left to right, Violette, Pierre and Chloe. Aren't they cute?

Here is a picture of Beau about a year ago when he sported a very masculine moustache. Doesn't he look very snarly in this picture?

More tomorrow.

My Weekend

My husband told me a week ago that he had purchased tickets for a boat trip into the Delaware Bay for Friday. The event was based on an 83 year old gentlemen (nickname "Capt. Speed")whose wife had died very suddenly and he wanted to raise money for the American Cancer Society. There was a fundraiser planned and the big event was that he was going to parasail from Cape May, NJ to Lewes, DE (12 miles across the bay) and then a restaurant would have a big fundraiser for him. The picture with the little dot is the man parasailing.

Let me preface this by saying that I am not a boat person. Oh, boats are beautiful, the water is beautiful, but I do not want to be out of sight of land. The boat we were on was supposed to hold 50 people. Only 6 of us were on it. They had food and music and the boat was beautiful. The water was quite choppy and did a lot of rocking and rolling. However, we were the only ones to appreciate it. Which was actually a good thing. Our own private charter. Well, I spent the hours leading up to the trip trying not to freak out. Oh -- by the way, my husband is definitely a boat person. In fact, he and two partners are restoring a 62 ft. boat which I will inevitably be on for a trip down the inland waterway to Florida. (More on that later)

The moral of this story is: don't freak out over inconsequential things. You might just have some fun.