Quote de jour
~Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book.



It's too hot to anything outside except loll about and read. In my case, in the secret garden after indulging in pancakes with maple syrup- fried bananas and freshly harvested berries. I'm happily flipping through some mags, wearing next to nothing, when a chill goes through me, thanks to three little words in Vogue: Fall Fashion Preview. The thought of wooly sweaters, gloves and boots gives me hives. I am happy leopard prints are all the rage BUT I might have to move to some tropical paradise if I want to continue living like an Tahitian from A Gauguin painting.


I love vampires but sorry, I don't get the werewolf thing about Taylor Lautner. Not my type but do love the men's wear. It's good to see a return to more formal dress, a distinct Mad Men influence which I love. Isn't it time to move away from sloppy jeans and t-shirts?

It creeped me out seeing a young Liz Taylor on the cover but it didn't stop me from ordering the new book about her and Richard Burton.

Like millions of others, I love Oprah but after reading Kitty Kelley's bio, I realized they're are two Oprahs; Oprah the brand and Oprah the private woman few really know. I don't fault her for what some may call shameful behavior. Early teen promiscuity, prostitution, crack cocaine, giving birth at age 15. Like all powerful icons, she did what she had to do to survive and thrive. Her early years of abuse gave her the drive to go beyond victimhood and succeed. It's fascinating how someone in the same predicament might have stayed shackled  and arrived a very different outcome. What makes one person wither and another thrive? What drives us?



That's the premise behind yet another brilliant book from Daniel Pink titled Drive. Like most writers he has a blog but his actually is more  personal and informative than the usual self-promotion  www.danpink.com  On July 2nd I blogged about his book A Whole New Mind which inspired to do a photo quote based on a quote from that book. He emailed me to let me know how much he loved it and thought I'd like Drive which of course I had to get. He understands the importance of social networking and the value of readers. Hey, not every best selling writer has time to email fans but good will goes a long way. I've just started reading Drive and will update my review next week. My only complaint. Dan, you're a handsome guy, get a new headshot! It reminds of the arrow going through Steve Martin's head.



I'm well travelled but I'll never think of travel the same way after reading The Lunatic Express by Carl Hoffman. A package tour this is not. When comfortable first world citizens travel they want adventure or at least clean linen, but the people Mr. Hoffman traveled with aren't getting from point A to point B to rack up mileage points. A shocking amount of people travel in this dangerous, bare bones manner and I wanted to take a shower after reading his solo global odyssey. If you like high octane armchair travel, this one's for you.