Shhhhh... Secret side trip...

So while I've been posting about our recent trip to Paris... we snuck out of town for a long weekend in Puerto Rico. Overnight flight out late Thursday night with a Friday morning arrival. I've still got lots to say about Paris, so I'll keep this brief and full of photos. We flew in over Old San Juan. This was out third trip to Puerto Rico and the first time we would be staying in the heart of Old San Juan. On the far left of the picture above is El Morro an old fort that dates back to when Spain first settled here.

We stayed at the El Convento Hotel. The building was once a convent, now they have more than three bars.

The view from our room.

We ate.

La Bombonera

We shopped.

We saw the beach.

We saw Jesus.

We walked around the city... A LOT.

That pink building in the back with a large green door and a small green door is the Fire Station.
We also learned that because of all the wind and ocean water that blows through town, that most buildings get painted every year. Which may explain why people make some really bold choices with color. Why not? It's only for a year.



Staying at the El Convento gave us beach and pool privileges at their sister hotel, La Concha.

We enjoyed the water.
We enjoyed the sun.
We did not enjoy the rain.

We got out of town and did a one day driving circle from Old San Juan down the west coast across the south and back up to San Juan.

Since we were in San Juan Puerto Rico in a former convent (was this the San Tanco?), I couldn't help but make references to "The Flying Nun" and wondered where Sister Bertrille was. Luckily we found Carlos Ramirez on the beach. He said he hadn't seen her for years.

On our southern coast tour we drove through Ponce. Though once as grand as Old San Juan, Ponce seems to have fallen on tougher times, but is working on maintaining its amazing architecture and history.

We drove back to our hotel, and on Tuesday we flew home.

In 6 days, my email received over 200 messages. That is after the spam filter took away all those "satisfy your woman every time" emails, and after I deleted many emails via my phone while gone. Over 200 emails that I actually wanted and now have to go through...

Paris Hilton - My New BFF

Paris Hilton's My New BFF has Genre: Reality-TV; Director: Peter Ney; Writers:Scott Alan Thomas (concept) (2008) and
Jed Elinoff (concept).

Comment for Paris Hilton's My New BFF film
just when I thought TV could not sink lower
I'm not a Paris Hilton fan and never have been so take this review with that bias in hand. This show is the dumbest, most scripted and unrealistic "reality" show around. I cannot imagine real human women auditioned for this show.

I hope for society's sake that these contestants are paid actresses because if these women really want to be Paris Hilton's bff, I fear for the future of humanity. Perhaps I'm being extreme, but my God this show is stupid. Paris is an uneducated over plasticized bimbo who behaves even dumber than she likely is.

(Paris Hilton) She's such a terrible role model and I am sad the networks give her air time and even her own show. Don't watch this EVER, not even if there is a gun to your head. Death is a preferable alternative to sitting through even one episode of this garbage.

(It's Time to) Come Out of the Closet!

We writers are an odd breed. We're possessed. We've got mild or wild weird writing habits some might refer to as neurotic (can you say, OCD?). Some of us worship at the alter of preferred pens, best-loved blankets, and particular pillows. Others prefer doors open (me) or closed (Stephen King), a brilliant view of nature vs. no outside light at all, or even facing a certain direction. I once heard of some sad sap in England who felt the need to run around the block three times, kneel down and kiss the ground, and then sing "Ave Maria" at the top of his lungs before he could finally settle in and put pen to paper. We crazy writers not only act as if, but firmly believe, the world will stop spinning if we stray from our "normal" writing routines.

One of my weird but wonderful writerly habits is the Daily 1,000. This sounds like something Jon Stewart made up, but, alas, it was 'lil 'ole me. What is the Daily 1,000 you ask? That's simple. It's writing at least 1,000 words per day on my WIP. I highly recommend it. Sometimes, I replace my Daily 1,000 with time served editing a "finished work" (talk about an oxymoron!), although I try to get in my Daily 1,000 anyway.

I keep a running total and goal word count for my current WIP on a "special" page in my "special" notebook. (That's not neurotic, is it?) Right now I'm about halfway through a cozy mystery (goal word count: 85K), and loving every word of it. If I stay on track,, i.e. keep up with my Daily 1,000, I should be done by mid-June. And, then I get to edit, edit again, edit a hundred more times, and then query. Of course, the Brooklyn DNA coursing through my veins doesn't allow for silly things like "patience," so I'll more than likely jump the gun on querying sooner than recommended by the FDA or CIA or other "professional" organizations claiming to know about such things.

Unless, that is, I've already got me an agent... (Several fab agents are currently reviewing my work - please keep fingers, toes and all other viable parts crossed.)

So, folks, it's time to make like Doogie Howser and come out of the closet! What are some of your Peculiar Practices? Resolute Routines? Devilish Drills? What are your mild or wild weird writing habits?

CM

Carolina Mestrovic

1. Karen Paola - Asi Es El Amor (Ft. Carolina Mestrovic) (3:23)
2. Carolina Mestrovic - Quiero Saber (2:37)
3. Carolina Mestrovic - Vivo En Rebeldia (3:08)

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How to take the BEST vacation photo ever!

This is how my mind works:

Look over there in the distance!
That looks preeeeeeeeettttttyyyyyyyy.....
Stop the car so I can take a picture.
It is pretty, let's go closer.
Get out of the car so I can get you in the picture.
Wait right there, I need another one.
Hold on, I'm just lining it up...

(you can click on photo to see it larger)

Note how happy Lyle is the first time I take his photo, and how he is kind of over it (maybe he knows what I am doing?) in the last one.

Uncommon Photos of Jamie Lynn Spears

Enjoy here excellent photo gallery of Jamie Lynn Spears

Jamie Lynn Marie Spears (born April 4, 1991) is an American actress and singer, and the younger sister of pop star Britney Spears. She is best known for starring in the Nickelodeon television series Zoey 101.

Jamie Lynn Spears

Jamie Lynn Spears

Sexy Jamie Lynn Spears

Sweet Jamie Lynn Spears

Don't Hate Me Because I've.... Got a Pool?

Remember that old commercial that said, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful?" Well, I'll preface this post with a similar sentiment - it even rhymes! "Don't hate me because I've got a pool."

True confessions: My whole life I wanted a swimming pool. It was my "big dream." Three years ago, that dream came true.

Flash forward to the week of 4.24.09:
Who knew the temps would soar into the 90's outside of Philly in April? The well-paid weather reporters on ABC, NBC and CBS, that's who. When they announced an upcoming four-day hot-spell like "July in April," my wonderful, perfect husband had an idea. To prove his wonderful perfectness, he said, "let's open the pool early!" And I replied, "woo-hoo!" Sometimes my literary eloquence rivals the likes of Dickens, Hemingway and Willie S. combined.

So, Chuckie worked his (cute, tight) ass off for several days. He took the cover off the pool (the same cover we bought when we put the pool in three years ago, and now had three baseball-sized holes in it allowing a little froggy family to find a watery home), vacuumed, balanced the chemicals, and did all the work a proper 'pool boy' does to get the pool swim-ready.

Not only did my pool boy get the pool ready, he serenaded me as well. I swear, this is true, although it sounds suspiciously like a recurring dream I've had since I was a young girl...

And here, ladies and gentlemen, is the proof:
(Pool boy serenading me in the shade; me finishing "Good in Bed" by Jennifer Weiner (yes, Amy, finally!); my son, Ethan soaking in some rays; ; and our backyard looking towards our upstairs deck. Enjoy this early burst of summer!

(If you'd like to book your early reservations at Chez Schubert B&B, send me an e-mail!)

How champagne is made...

Methode Champenoise is the traditional method by which champagne is produced. After primary fermentation and bottling, a second alcoholic fermentation occurs in the bottle. This second fermentation is induced by adding yeast and/or sugar. A minimum of 1.5 years is required to completely develop all the flavor. For years where the harvest is exceptional, a millesimé is declared. This means that the champagne will be very good and has to mature for at least 3 years. During this time the champagne bottle is sealed with a crown cap similar to that used on beer bottles.

After aging, the bottle is manipulated, either manually or mechanically, in a process called remuage (riddling, in English), so that sediment settles in the neck of the bottle.

This is the old fashioned way to store the bottle to get the sediment into the neck. Each bottle is turned one eighth over time to until is has made a full circle.

This is the modern way of turning the bottles. Each cage is not resting on the ground. They are "floating" and being turned one eighth at a time, without the labor intensity of the old method.

After chilling the bottles, the neck is frozen, and the cap removed. The pressure in the bottle forces out the ice containing the sediment, and the bottle is quickly corked to maintain the carbon dioxide in solution. Some syrup is added to maintain the level within the bottle.

Dipping the neck in freezing brine to create a frozen plug of wine, containing the dead yeast cells, in the neck of the bottle. Pop the cap and the plug, complete with lees, flies out. This is known as dégorgment.

It helps to involve your family. This is a family generational photo from Lecomte Pére et Fils. We met the man on the right. He inherited the business from his father on the left and his son (the taller one) is currently in college but will return to take over the business one day. His younger son was in the warehouse working when we took our tour.
To get some perspective, we asked at the last champagne producer how much he produces in an average year. He told us he makes about 60,000 bottles of champagne. However, Vueve Cliquot produces 60,000,000 in an average year.

Hautvillers is up.

It all started with a dream... Well that's what the Hautvillers website says. Bishop St Nivard founded the Benedictine Abbey St. Peter of Hautvillers in 650 because god told him to follow a dove in a dream. The next day he got up and there was a dove. That dove led him to Hautvillers.
Dom Perignon arrived in Hautvillers in 1658 and is alleged to have discovered the Champagne method. It was in the village basilica that Dom Perignon performed his miracle and discovered how to make still wine sparkling by the méthode champenoise. He also introduced the use of cork stoppers (tied down to stop them from popping out as pressure built up in the bottles) and blended different wines from around the region to form a wine with a superior character than that produced by a single vineyard. The abbey is now owned by Möet et Chandon.

Roughly translated: Here lies Dom Perignon.

There are over 140 wrought iron signs in Hautvillers. Originally created for the uneducated to be able to what activity was going on in each building, they now take on a more story telling function. I wonder what my sign would look like...?


I think this sign says I can pass the drunk balance walking test after two bottles of champagne.

So disappointed to not find Dalmatians in the fire station sign.

What is funny is that we did not make the plan to go to Hautvillers. And yet at the last minute, Lyle turned the wheel sharply and up we went. We had no idea this was the final resting place of Dom Perignon. But I have a theory. I believe that Lyle has consumed so much Dom Perignon Champagne in his life that the elements of the earth called to him and ordered his body to home.