Main character and narrator Molly: “I’d felt the strong attraction that existed between us, but I had no idea what Garrett wanted in his life... Somehow, when I wasn’t looking, I’d begun to care too much about Garret. This was the last thing I wanted. He was too uncertain a quantity. But when did love ever ask permission?"
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Book Quotables: I'd begun to care too much...
Main character and narrator Molly: “I’d felt the strong attraction that existed between us, but I had no idea what Garrett wanted in his life... Somehow, when I wasn’t looking, I’d begun to care too much about Garret. This was the last thing I wanted. He was too uncertain a quantity. But when did love ever ask permission?"
Friday, February 10, 2012
Queretaro, Mexico - April 23, 2012, Part 2 - alone in the evening
April 23, 2009 – the evening in Queretaro, Mexico
That night Nancy encourages me to go into town alone. She says that, like her, I have had a lot of travel experience. She knows I won’t be afraid to go out alone, and because my Spanish is so good (something I am quickly doubting) she is sure I will get along just fine.
I now realize why my Dominican story starts here…Nancy told me I could do it, had confidence in me being able to travel safely and confidently in a Spanish speaking country, long before I knew I would even go to the DR, especially alone.
I attend a poetry reading at the Galeria Libertad, and new art gallery – mid conversion, with an upstairs room for events. The reading is packed, and though they run out of folding chairs and many are standing in the back, a man gives up his seat for me – right in the middle of a row.
Poet Antonio Deltoro reads from his book “El Quieto” for a short time, and then a university professor and two students read really long academic papers evaluating him. If I understood a small portion of the poetry (at least the genre leaves room for personal interpretation) I am completely lost during the horrendous academic readings – I sit for an hour and a half trapped. My Spanish education, starting in 7th grade going through four years of college plus working as a bilingual counselor in schools for 8 years having ZERO value – with this master’s level literary criticism Spanish coming toward me at break neck speed.
Afterward, I peruse restaurants around Plaza de las Armas. At Ristorante 1810 two men look over my shoulder at the menu, so I walk away to let them see better. At the exact same time the waitress asks “Mesa por 3?” One man asks, “Aren’t you going to eat, did we cut in front of you?” I say, “I thought you’d prefer a table for two”. Misinterpreting what I am saying, the two attractive men look at each other, then suddenly step away from each other, insisting they are just friends. I laugh as they tell the waitress, ‘Yes, a table for three, please.’ So I eat with them.
Because my mind is mush after the poetry reading, it is a good thing that when my Spanish falters, they understand English perfectly. Yet they refuse to translate one item on the menu – Escamoles. And although they do say in Spanish exactly what it is “huevos de hormigas” I can’t remember what hormigas are. They say it is the Mexican version of caviar. I explain I don’t eat fish or fish eggs. They laugh and say, “Let us order.” They order everything – every appetizer, a plate of this, a few of those. Most things I enjoy greatly, but after a bite of their ‘caviar,’ which is not horrible, but certainly not good, I suddenly remember hormigas are ants!
Blogger: Heather J. Kirk
I've found you a few links for good deals for travel
Maximum Savings, Low Fares - Find Cheap Air Tickets on This Site & Save Big on Travel.
T001-42-04 - Passport Cover - Slim Passport Cover With Vinyl Interior Sleeve To Protect Your Passport.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
To Do in Arizona on February 25th (and feel like you are in the DR at the same time)
Choice #1 - The Seventh Annual Dominican Festival in Scottsdale, Arizona
4 pm – 2 am Ocean 7, 1420 N. Scottsdale Rd. (at McDowell Rd. – Papago Plaza)
$15 in advance http://www.facebook.com/FestivalDominicanoArizona#!/FestivalDominicanoArizona
Choice #2 - A fundraiser for after school, youth prevention programs - if you know me you know I not only beleive in this kind of thing, but I did it!
This Phoenix event includes a speaker, dinner and dancing, a high end event.
GRAN GALA DOMINICANA
http://www.bellaqdancestudio.com/
On February 25, 2012 Bella Q Dance Studio will be hosting a Dominican Gala Dinner in celebration of the Dominican Republic Independence Day, which is celebrated on February 27th of each year. The event will include great entertainment, culture, colorful costumes, traditional music and Dominican cuisine. We are extending invitations to many Dominican born baseball players and Alumni from various Mayor League Baseball teams, to honor them as we celebrate their culture.
Among our guests is National Police Sports Director, Colonel Jacobo Mateo Moquete from the Dominican Republic, who is an active member of the Latin American Police Officer’s Association. Additionally, Vice Consul of the Dominican Republic, Ms. Arelis Reynoso, a proponent for encouraging philanthropic endeavors within the community, and proud mother of the Atlanta Hawks NBA star, Al Horford will also be attending. A special invitation has also been sent out to the Consul of Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. We are extending our invitation to all diverse leaders in Arizona to support this event, and together make a difference in our community.
Our guest speaker Roberto Ramirez is a former professional baseball player within various teams such as: the Giants, Seattle, Oakland, Baltimore, and is currently a successful teacher in California. One of our goals during this event is to strengthen the cultural diversity in Arizona by increasing awareness of the success Latinos and all immigrants bring to the United States. Please join as we celebrate culture, ethnicity, and diversity in Arizona.
Date: Saturday February 25, 2012
Location: The Cedars Banquet Hall, 1702 E. Northern Ave. Phoenix, AZ. 85020
Time: 6:00 pm to 12:00 am
Performances: From Puerto Rico, Mexico, Panama, Spain, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Tahiti and Bella Q Kids.
For more information contact:
Denise Ceballos Viner, Bella Q Dance Studio
10171 N. 19th Ave. Suite #7, Phoenix, AZ 85021
(602) 350-0268
http://www.bellaqdancestudio.com/
Monday, February 6, 2012
Never heard of John Carter before the Super Bowl? You have now!
And why had I read it? As some of you who read my blog know – I listen to books on-line. But before I found the Greater Phoenix Digital Library http://phoenix.lib.overdrive.com/26FD75C1-B31F-4378-980F-30657F7D0006/10/288/en/Default.htm I used to listen to http://www.librivox.org/. All of those books are in the Public Domain, meaning that the copyright has run out, the book usually being over 100 years old.
Public domain also means they only have to pay a script writer – not the author AND a scriptwriter. This is how I also had read the book The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – which was a horrible short story and I almost refused to see it, even though my brother and sister in law were visiting and had first right to choose as guests. The movie was so much better and I’m glad I saw it. I’m including the link here if you are curious, partly because it’s part of a collection of short stories that includes other better stories and partly because the author is F. Scott Fitzgerald.
http://librivox.org/selected-short-stories-by-f-scott-fitzgerald/
To Do in Arizona - Planning Ahead for March 2012 – The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby produced by the Arizona Theater Company
Herberger Theater in Phoenix, Arizona
March 22 – April 8, 2012
Considered by many to be the Great American Novel, at once titillating, fascinating and shocking in its portrayal of The Jazz Age that was soon to disappear from the American landscape.
In its first authorized adaptation since 1926, Simon Levy brings the humor, irony, pathos and loveliness of F. Scott Fitzgerald's American classic to the stage. Navigate the languid atmosphere of wealth and privilege with Nick Carraway as he observes the glittering elaborate parties of his neighbor, the infamous and illusive Jay Gatsby.
For ticket information click here.
When you attend a play at Herberger, you can also purchase an Arizona Center parking pass on-line – for only $3.00. Then you pick up the parking pass prior to curtain. You will have a short walk, but It’s a fantastic deal as downtown Phoenix parking garages can be anywhere form $8 - $12.
From the ticket buying page click on the “$3 Parking Available”
Source - Herberger Theater, Chosen by Heather J. Kirk
Carnival has already begun in the Dominican Republic - history and photos
In February, Independence and Carnival are celebrated in the Dominican Republic - in honor of which I'll be adding some of my own photos throughout the month.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Weight Loss at it's easiest - DR and Drops
Here's the deal. At about age 42 I started gaining weight crazy-fast. A few pounds a month for months at a time. I had been blessed until then, keeping pretty close to my college weight. But suddenly everything changed, and nothing I did could stop the horrible momentum.
Until...
I know you are all waiting for the easy fix...
Until I moved to the Dominican Republic. And though it worked, it was not planned, or an "easy" or inexpensive way to lose weight.
I and others have lots of theories as to why the pounds shed off me on three different occasions after arriving in the DR. But if I knew why for sure, I should have been able to repeat it in the US. Instead, every time I came home I packed those pounds right back on.
But I did find an easy way over a year after coming home, and I want to share it with you. For a bit more information about why I chose this brand, you can see another page on this site: http://hjkirkphotoart.blogspot.com/p/best-hcg-diet.html
Or you can go straight to the company through my link to The Official HCG Diet Plan.
Good luck and get healthy and thin! Heather J. Kirk
P.S. Let me know how it goes so I can share with and encourage others also.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
April 22 -23 (Part 1), 2009: First days in Queretaro, Mexico - Taxis can't find us
Nancy always lets me call for the taxi. The first time I didn’t mind, but became more nervous with every call. In spite of them getting used to my voice and saying they knew where to send the taxi, it always came to a different spot. We eventually started standing in the middle of the main road up the hill. Though I will leave out the house number, here is what I had to say. “La Loma Dorada, Retorno Loma de Queretaro Numero X, espero en la Esquina con Paseo Loma de Queretaro.” Yes, I say I’ll be waiting at the corner of two different streets with similar names. If that didn’t work I gave them a completely different house number and street address – which sometimes helped, sometimes didn’t. The first day we go into town and walked around the square – full of restaurants with outside tables, churches, museums, art galleries. Amazing architecture, parks, fountains, families playing, couples strolling, all the park benches full of people watching or talking or reading. I am immediately enamored.
Heather J. Kirk
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
To Do in AZ - Week of January 30 - February 5th, 2012
January 30th - February 5th, 2012 - Scottsdale, AZ
Waste Management Phoenix Open. Just in case you don't already know - it's the golf tournament formerly known as Thunderbirds. (I'm not fond of the name, but who am I to argue when a sponsor pays the big bucks for naming rights.) Lowest price tickets are $25. Might as well make it a day (if you can find the hours on their website... http://wmphoenixopen.com/tickets/general-admission/
February 3 - 5, 2012, Glendale, AZ
Glendale Chocolate Affaire - a delicious delight for the senses as the Glendale Chocolate Affaire creates a chocolate-lover’s dream! Chocolate purveyors from Arizona and around the nation gather in Glendale for this award-winning festival, which celebrates not only chocolate, but romance and the arts as well.
Location: Murphy Park, 7017 North 58th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85301
Feb. 3-5, is Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, 5 - 10 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, Noon - 5 p.m.
http://www.glendaleaz.com/events/chocolateaffaire.cfm
February 5, 21012 @ 1pm - Phoenix Art Museum:
The Gospel According to St. Matthew (Film)
Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini wrote and directed this documentary-style look at the life of Jesus Christ. Presenting Christ as a revolutionary figure, Pasolini, himself an atheist, created one of the most compelling and by many standards accurate depictions of the Christian savior's final years, one that is particularly interesting given the director's separation from the belief. Runtime: 137 min. Tickets to this film are $5, FREE for Museum members.
This film is being run in conjunction with Sacred Word and Image: Five World Religions on view January 4th - March 25th.
http://www.phxart.org/events/index.php
Events Chosen by Heather J. Kirk
Invitation to Queretaro
April 2009
Perhaps a visit to Queretaro, Mexico, in April of 2009 is a strange place to officially start “Calendar Memoirs,” a blog about my 8 months in the Dominican Republic in 2010. But I have put off starting for so long, perhaps I had to reach back to the true beginnings.
Cousin Nancy (my father’s cousin) was special to me for many reasons, but one was that, other than my brothers, I considered her the last living relative of my deceased father. They were very close as children on into adulthood. Nancy and I had many shared interests, and I hope calling myself an intellectual like her is not too presupposing. We both love art, learning, museums, and history within the cultural context.
Nancy and her second husband Hank lived in various countries teaching English as a Second Language, and as an older adult Nancy started taking Spanish classes. Nancy decided to house-sit for a month in Queretaro, Mexico, and asked me to join her for the week following Hank’s return to their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I think there was something comforting in having me with her, as one of my degrees is in Spanish.
Heather J. Kirk
Monday, January 23, 2012
Calendar Memoirs - The Blog I Won't Regret
January 21, 2012: I "read" a new book every few days – the quotations around the word 'read' are because I actually listen to downloaded audiobooks while I check my e-mail, surf the web, work on photos. It helps pass the time and keep me going when I would otherwise get bored, tired (unfortunately too often) or want to quit.
(Yes, that's a picture of a digital bookworm - I sure wish it was cuter.) If you live in the Phoenix area and have a library card from your own city, you can check out digital audio books and download the WMA software here. If you live elsewhere, find out if your city has a Digital Library by googling.
The power of story is my motivator. How fitting then that a few lines from last night’s book are what make me start writing Calendar Memoirs – the blog I’ve been putting off for 6 months, maybe more.
Ask For It: How Women's can Use the Power of Negotiation by Linda Babcock, WMA Audio Book (Or buy Ask for It in paperback - Their first paperback book that led to this one is Women Don’t Ask)
Part Two, Phase 1, Chapter 2 (00:00): “What will you regret? Researchers have found that people experience two different kinds of regret. Regret about things they've done and regret about the things they didn't do. … When asked to identify the biggest regret in their life, people are 2 to 3 more times likely to describe something they didn't do instead of something they did.
So try approaching the question of what will make you happy from a different angle altogether. What will you regret not doing? … Is there's something you always planned to do but never got around to? How sorry will you feel if you never make it happen?“
This quote summarizes the number one reason why I am thankful that I stopped everything and moved to the Dominican Republic on January 19th of 2010. I felt so strongly that I was supposed to go, and even though I can’t tell you exactly what I was supposed to do there, or what I accomplished, I can tell you I will never have to wonder “What if…?”
I also know that many of my life lessons from that time have come months or even a year later. And like many of you, I learn a lot about myself by writing. I created a list called “What I learned about life while in the Dominican Republic” that I’ll share with you in this blog – perhaps a little at time. Those who have seen it feel what I learned has opened their own eyes about their own lives, wherever they are – because oddly, the lessons have nothing to do with the location.
Share with me as I flit from year to year and place to place in Calendar Memoirs. Insight and philosophy based on day to day habits and adventures - what I see and what I learn, hopefully helping you to see your own lives and relationships in new and amazing ways, and of course what I’ve done (a bit of a travel guide – in Dominican Republic, Mexico, Arizona, Chicago, California, even your own town). We’ll take walks, go to art galleries, the theater, see movies, read books, take nature hikes and take photos, visit friends and family and eavesdrop on my life.
Heather J. Kirk, Photographer, Author, Graphic Designer."We..." an e-book at: photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books Find her art at: Artist Websites and HeatherJKirk.com
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Year's Blessing
May this new year bring peace, hope, joy, goodness, and all the blessings God has in store! Heather
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Kindle Poetry book as a great Christmas book
Kindle book "We...a spirit seeking harmony for a world that's out of sync" by Heather J. Kirk.
Makes a great Christmas gift.
http://www.amazon.com/We-spirits-seeking-harmony-ebook/dp/B005783Y44/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1
Heather J. Kirk, Photographer, Author, Graphic Designer
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Kindle's Lending Library
Heather's book available in Kindle's Lending Library! use your Kindle and search the lending library: "Heather Kirk We"
"We...a spirit seeking harmony for a world that's out of sync" by Heather J. Kirk.
Heather J. Kirk, Photographer, Author, Graphic Designer
"We..." book free promotions December 20, 2011 only
Free promotion day for Kindle book "We...a spirit seeking harmony for a world that's out of sync" by Heather J. Kirk. Makes a great Christmas gift. Can, of course, be purchased on other days.
http://www.amazon.com/We-spirits-seeking-harmony-ebook/dp/B005783Y44/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1
Heather J. Kirk, Photographer, Author, Graphic Designer