Category: Uncategorized

book review, Uncategorized, women, women's stories

UNEARTHING VENUS: My Search for the Woman Within BY Cate Montana

Arlene

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I would have chosen a different path if I had this book to read when I was a teen. Montana’s journey through life reads so amazing that I sat up all night to finish it. Her sincerity, brutal honesty, and deeply touching moments jumped off the page and into my heart. It took tremendous courage for her to just pick up and do, trusting in the universe to support her when she wasn’t sure of it herself. Montana’s life reads like a feminine Indiana Jones, yet it is true. Reading of her stamina that got her through the tough parts, followed by the tenderness of cat Grace sitting on her lap at the computer brought home the complexity of a woman; this woman and so many of the women out there, including me. This is the best memoir I’ve read in twenty years!

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WOMEN’S OPEN FORUM Saturday, July 18, 2015

Arlene

WOMEN’S OPEN FORUM
You are invited to an intriguing afternoon ~
spent with interesting women
Mission statement: To inspire women of all ages to discover their full potential.
3rd Saturday of each month 1:00 to 3:30PM
The Gathering Place” on Lake Gaston
115 Magnolia Ct. Wildwood Point, Littleton NC 27850
July 18 special meeting this month: Open discussion on:
“Even though your past has a big influence on your decisions, it doesn’t own you, nor are you bound by it.”DSCF3880
Coming. . . .Aug 15, 2015 TBA
~ Inquiries: Ellie Newbauer: ellienewbauer@gmail.com
*$10.00 Fee                       Come, Join Us!

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WOMAN’S OPEN FORUM

Arlene

JULY DISCUSSION
WOMEN’S OPEN FORUM
You are invited to an intriguing afternoon ~
spent with interesting women
Mission statement: To inspire women of all ages to discover their full potential.
3rd Saturday of each month 1:00 to 3:30PM
The Gathering Place” on Lake Gaston
115 Magnolia Ct. Wildwood Point, Littleton NC 27850
July 18 special meeting this month: Open discussion on:
“Even though your past has a big influence on your decisions, it doesn’t own you, nor are you bound by it.”
Coming. . . .Aug 15, 2015 TBA
~ Inquiries: Ellie Newbauer: ellienewbauer@gmail.com
*$10.00 Donation Come, Join Us!

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SAVE THE DATE!

Arlene

DSCF3541     Book reading/signing with Meriwether Shipley, author of Cassandra and the PI G. I. on Friday, 24 April 2015 from 7-8 pm at the Warren FoodWorks, 108 S. Main St. Warrenton, NC 252-257-1239.
Ms Shipley will be reading excerpts from her book, answering questions, and signing your book or you may purchase one at $8.95 on site.
Ms Shipley has worn many hats in her long career. She (and Cassandra) both majored in Interior Design at the American University. She has been a Model for such companies as Walmart, Wrangler, and Home Depot, being featured in an ad for Eli Lilly that ran for five years. She is most comfortable behind the scenes where she has been a producer and director for stage and film for a quarter of a century. She and her husband, Jack Peachum wrote, produced, and directed an independent film titled Vignette. They have co-authored works for both stage and screen. Ms Shipley has been a feature writer and columnist for two newspapers.
She is a regular attendant at First Friday Poetry Nights at the Warren FoodWorks
This is her first novel; Volume I in a series to follow.

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WOMEN’S OPEN FORUM THANK YOU

Arlene

DSCF3451Ellen, your presentation last Saturday at the Women’s Open Forum was touching, tender, informative, and amazing! Thank you so much for your story and your courage. I felt the closeness of a friend with you before you spoke. Now I feel even closer to you, knowing some of your journey from the only one who could tell it. Thank you so much. Continued success with your business, Custom Creations by Ellen and your life. PS; your creations are fabulous!

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REFLECTION & RESOLUTION

Arlene
JOURNALS & LIZZIE
JOURNALS & LIZZIE

The holiday season is too busy, too many celebration dates too close together, to reflect on the past year. Carving my own time period, I like to reflect in the quiet of the after-holidays.
I do make resolutions, doable ones:
This year, 2015, I will learn my way around my blog including the terminology.
I will be more regular in my postings. Too often a new post is stuck in the middle or the bottom of my to do list. Not in 2015.
I will explore the site and expand it. (as soon as I learn how)

I will read my 2014 journals (all from Brush Dance) from beginning to end. This is a good exercise for writers. It’s amazing how some of the noted little moments can get lost in the period of one year. I will also look for the changes in me that have taken place and shows up in the journals. And lastly, I will hopefully pick up some bits I was going to write about, but were glazed over and put aside. I’ll address them this year.

Lizzie (my cat & companion) agrees with me, as long as she is left to curl up and rest with no need to make resolutions.

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WOMEN’S OPEN FORUM- A Gathering where women help other women awaken to their own inner possibilities.

Arlene

DSCF3131On occasion an event is offered where women of any age or economic situation can benefit. The Women’s Open Forum is one of those occasions. In September, Charlene Ellington was the first speaker about her journey on becoming a Certified Reiki Master, Medical Intuitive; stating “I believe in women helping women empower themselves.”

In October, Maggie Chalifoux, Multimedia Artist, opened her heart to tell us about her life as an artist, and how she reached the level of success she has achieved, reminding us that “I believe every person has the spark of creativity just waiting to be kindled.”

On November 15, I delight in being scheduled to address the subject on how I became the writer I am, and knowing, “Any woman with a desire can become the writer she dreams to be.” Many intuitive and synchronistic moments happened throughout my life. I want to share them with other women to encourage them to pursue their talent, whatever it is. Please spread the word; come join us if you can.

You are invited to an intriguing afternoon – spent with interesting women.

The Gathering Place on Lizard Creek,   115 Magnolia Court, Wildwood Pointe, Littleton, NC

Fee $5.00  Inquiries: Ellie Newbauer: ellienewbauer@gmail.com

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Celebrating a Birthday

Arlene

DSCF3382DSCF3391Remember the days when it was embarrassing to buy anything from Bangladesh? Well, yesterday while in Richmond, Virginia celebrating another year happily tagged onto my birth date, I purchased a ‘messenger’ style cloth bag at Ten Thousand Villages. I am very proud of it! It is exactly what I want in a purse to carry what I need (since clothes designers refuse to give us women pockets in our skirts & slacks, etc.)  I was informed on the little tag that came with it, that I am now providing many women with the opportunity to improve their lives. I’m all for that!

It was delightful to getaway for a day in lovely Richmond, learning my way around while poking in here and there and finding the area called Carytown. Charming! It put me a bit in mind of the New Hope, Pennsylvania of my youth. It was truly an artist’s colony before big money chased the artists away.
Can Can Brasserie was my choice for lunch; again, a wonderful choice. The young waiter, Daniel, took good care of me, taking a few minutes to actually talk to me even though by being a single diner, his tip would be small; especially since I wasn’t drinking wine with my meal. I compensated by ‘gifting’ him a sizeable tip. I considered it a birthday gift, thinking it is time I gave gifts on my birthday rather than receiving them.

Can Can struck me as very French, not American French, but fashioned on the real thing. The Lobster Crepe and Arugula Salad (with shaved fennel) were perfect, as was the interior of the brasserie. The authenticity carried into the ladies’ room where a chain hung down from the water closet. Cool!