Satellite Sisters Best Beach Bag Books 2009

Just in time for the long weekend, our annual list of great summer reads is up at www.satellitesisters.com. To see the whole list of Best Beach Bag Books, click here. Thanks to Sarah and to all of you who contributed to the list this year.

And, if you are looking for listening material as well as reading material, our classic podcasts this week feature interviews with authors from prior years: Curtis Sittenfeld, Carolyn See, Kate White and more. Click here to access the podcasts.

Don't see a favorite book or author on the list? Add your recommendations below.

Happy Reading!

Red, White, and Blueberry Muffins

Lian here and I'm thinking of you, Sisterspotters. It's that time of year again! Time for the annual posting of my mother's Unbelievable Blueberry Muffins. Many of you have incorporated these beauties into your Fourth of July menu. My mother says thanks.

I just bought a big box of blueberries to make mine for our pre-fireworks gathering on Saturday. I'll be trying out some salmon on the grill and my friend Danielle is making some side salads. Yum, I love when somebody else brings the salads. It makes the meal so exciting!

MY MOTHER’S UNBELIEVABLE BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

3 ½ c. sifted all-purpose flour
2 T. baking powder
¾ c. sugar
Pinch of salt
5 eggs, slightly beaten
½ c. milk
5 oz. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
4 or 5 cups blueberries (My mother always uses fresh, but you can use frozen if you live in Moscow or someplace where fresh blueberries are unavailable.)
Additional sugar for topping

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients together. Stir in eggs, milk and butter; do not overmix. Carefully stir in berries. Grease the top of a large muffin tin (yup, the top for overflow). Insert paper baking cups and spoon batter to the top of the paper cups. Sprinkle generously with sugar. Reduce oven heat to 400 degrees (that’s right, you haven’t even put the muffins in yet!). Place muffin tins on middle shelf of oven. Bake about 25 minutes until the muffins are golden brown. Remove from muffin tins and cool. Yield: 15 to 16 large muffins.

Enjoy! What else are you serving this year?Don't forget to submit your favorite recipe to our Satellite Sisters/Oregon Chai Recipe contest! You could be a winner!

Lian

Sheila: What would Lian Do?

After all the processing of all the dramatic news of the weekend, a girl's still got to eat. Today, I treated myself to the Farmer's Salad at Urth Cafe in Santa Monica. Fresh organic spinach, fennel, radish, aged Parmesan, cherry tomatoes and homemade bread and vinaigrette...refreshing and satisfying on a summer's day. I sat outside in the garden which is lovely and quiet and looked forward to eating my meal.
Then the family arrived. A young man and woman and a child (looking no bigger than 1, but later finding out she was 18 months) sat down for lunch. Now, in case you get the wrong idea, I love babies and children. This particular family unit had a bohemian look but I did not expect the total Woodstock nation to be recreated in one sitting by three individuals. As I sat fascinated and later horrified by the following behaviors, all I kept thinking was: What would Lian do?
1.) The child had no shoes. She freely walked around the lovely garden area without shoes. No biggie, just kind of stupid.
2.) The child had NO DIAPER! Nothing underneath her dress!! Biggie! More than stupid! Gross!
3.) The child dumped all the packets of sweetener on the ground from all the tables and mama did nothing. Made me mad but I could not take my eyes away from what would happen next.
4.) The father left mid-lunch and never came back. He's no fool.
5.) The child was arranging chairs to climb up onto, sans pants, and practice falling into the fountain which is what she would of done if I had not let out a, "Huh!!"
6.) Then, just in case her point was not clear enough about rules of basic human propriety in a public space, mama pulled own her dress (completely!) and without a coverlet, breast feed her child.
That's it. I'm done. My lunch is over sooner than I thought and I left shaking my head and wondering, is it just me, or does this happen to other satellite sisters as well?
What would you have done Lian besides the obvious which would be to move your table?

Julie: First Ladies' Desk

Spotted former First Lady Laura Bush coming out of Pottery Barn today. She seemed to be enjoying her shopping with a couple of friends and several Secret Service agents. First Ladies have been on my mind this week.

I've been thinking about Jenny Sanford, wife of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. For some time now she has been going through a tough patch in her marriage. And now, it is all very, very public. Her husband provided plenty of information about on his surreal disappearing act/ south-American extra-martial affair.

While adulterous politicians are not new, what Jenny Sanford did was new for First Ladies with philandering mates. In some ways, she has re-written the book about what is expected of First Ladies. So good for Jenny.


Good for Jenny that she did not show up at the Governor's press conference. I don't think I can take another grief-stricken wife forced to stand silently by her cheating husband. This won't be the last sex scandal but hopefully other First Ladies won't feel that they have to make some public showing of support for the fallen hero at personally painful and humiliating moment.

Good for Jenny for putting out her own press release where she emphasized that she would be focusing on her family at this time. It gave her a voice in the situation. It was dignified and justified.

And, Good for Jenny that she has the kind of friends, family and neighbors who are not talking to the press. Please no more details. I am glad that she has that support and loyalty of friends and family.

I don't know how it is going to turn out for the Sanford family. I do know that Jenny Sanford has helped a lot of other women this week who may be struggling with similar issues. She has showed us all how to stand for yourself and the things you believe in and seek the advice and comfort of your faith, family and friends.

Lian: Me and Michael Jackson in 1982

This is me in 1982. ( On the left; my friend Melanie on the right.) My dear friend Alyssa just unearthed this gem and sent it to me over the weekend. I screamed when I saw it. That was a smokin' ensemble . Clearly Molly Ringwald stole my look for Pretty in Pink. It's my Senior Year and we're hanging out in the Roger Ludlowe HS Cafeteria, Fairfield Ct . Please note Dunkin' Donuts' coffee and stiletto heels. Such a practical footwear choice. And where is that mini-bag?

And this is Michael in 1982. The best year of his life, as far as I am concerned. The music, the look, the dancing, the skintone.

He'll never know how close we were.

If the crazy news coverage of Michael Jackson's death has reinforced anything to me, it's that it is impossible to sit still to vintage Jackson music. And believe me, I didn't. I danced all through high school and college to Michael Jackson. From Off the Wall in 1979 ( freshman year, HS) to Thriller (Senior year, HS) to Bad ( Senior, year college). I can not even imagine those days without that soundtrack. Impossible.

But the disturbing behavior that colored his later years, and it did disturb me deeply no matter what any jury said, tore me up. I have had a hard time lately even listening to his songs on the radio. They are brilliant, but tainted. At least they were until yesterday. For me, his death frees his music again. Selfish? Maybe. But I am glad to have the soundtrack of my teenage years back.

Perhaps, he has been freed, too. MJ, I hope you find peace.

Mamasay ,mamasan, mamamusan.

Chaos Chronicles Podcast 121 with Sheila Dolan!

Yes, Sheila is back behind the mic for this week's Chaos Chronicles. And, she's naked. Well, at least she was for one of her classic Sheila Dolan stories. Oh, ook! She also brought products!

That and more on the show this week. For a full rundown and photos, click here. To listen to the show, click here.

Thanks for tuning in! Lian

Julie, I Hope This Dog Cheers You Up

Dear Julie,

I know yesterday's news about a certain Governor bummed you out. And, it is super hot in Dallas and nothing is worse than waiting for a baby to arrive when it is really hot. But I saw this photo of a star dog in the International Dog Show in Thailand, your former home country, and I thought it might cheer you up.

Any chance you brought home one of these get-ups for Zorro? I think Alice would like to dress him up .

Have a nice day,

Lian

Lian: Buenos Aires is "a Great City"

All politics aside-- really because I just came from the doctor's office where I read an hour's worth of Us Magazines and I can't focus on politics when so much is at stake for Jon and Kate!-- I laughed out loud when South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford tuned up in Argentina after he told his staff is he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Ha, Ha! That is the best! I am going to start using the "hiking the Appalachian Trail" line when I am really doing something fun and exotic, but want to get credit for doing something earnest and serious. As in, "I'd love to help humanity but I can't because I'm hiking the Appalachian Trail this weekend," then sneak off to the Korean Day Spa.

"Buenos Aires is a great city," Gov. Sanford said. So I hear. And I , too, would much rather tango in Argentina than hike the Appalachian Trail.

It reminds me of the time when my brother Dick told my mother he was going to "an arts festival at Tanglewood" and went to instead to a music festival at Woodstock. That was 40 years ago and Dick was 14 and not a Governor, but it's the same instinct.

It's the summer. Cut loose. Even if it means secret international travel. Don't we all want to ( air quotes) hike the Appalachian Trail at some point over the next couple of months? Let's go, Governor.

UPDATE at 1:33 PM PST: Okay, now he says he was having an affair. That's not right. Or funny. When I posted this, he was just a guy who went AWOL. The "tango" part was actual dancing, not a metaphor for, um, "dancing". I liked him better when he was just AWOL.

Julie: Notes from Nanaland

I remember my old-school, bow tie-wearing New Orleanian pediatrician explaining to me the impact of the birth of a sibling. He said, " ... just imagine if your husband came home some night with a second wife and announced that she was going to be living with you. How would you react?" I was thinking of Dr Fruthayler's words this week watching my son and daughter-in-law prepare Alice for the arrival of her sibling.

They started the preparation early in the pregnancy by consulting the Internet. ( Of course, they could have asked me but... whatever.) They bought a book about being a big sister. Alice is politely interested when the book is read to her but I am thinking she is not internalizing the full meaning of the story. She much prefers the fantasy of Curious George. Certainly, my son and daughter-in-law talk about the baby, Vera's growing stomach and the new baby equipment around the house but again, Alice seems very briefly interested in it all. We went to visit a friend's newborn and Alice was more interested in the trampoline in the backyard than the new baby on the couch.

The Internet also suggested getting Alice a baby doll so that Alice could take care of "her" baby when Mommy is taking care of the new baby. It seems like a good idea. I tried not to offer any suggestions until I am asked. This is not easy for me so I happen to mention that the new baby could get Alice a small gift. It is a nice way to soften the blow of a sibling.

I am sure Alice will be a wonderful big sister. I also remember Dr Fruthayler saying the greatest gift you can give a child is a sibling. But like a second wife, it may be an acquired taste.

Happy Father's Day, Satellite Misters!

Much Joy and Happiness to our Satellite Misters today. We hope you get the attention and thanks you deserve. That list includes are our own father, our Satellite Husbands, our Satellite Brothers, and our Satellite Brothers-in-Law, even our Satellite Nephew. Happy Father's Day!

And to all the uncles, coaches, teachers, big brothers, mentors who step in to fill a role in a child's life-- keep it up. They need you.

So, fire up your BBQ, sing a little louder at church, let Dad put his feet up today while you mow the lawn. Here's to you!

And to those of you who may have lost your fathers recently, our thoughts are with you.

Julie, Liz , sheila, Monica and Lian

Lian: Power Ambition Glory Feta Cheese

I received this link from a shocked, shocked Liz Dolan this morning at 8:00am. Yes, Forbes Magazine came to me for business advice, not Liz. Maybe that is a sign that the economy has reached the bottom and can only go up from here. Or that Capitalism is dead. Either one.

"Wow," Liz commented.

Wow, indeed. If Liz had listened to this week's Chaos Chronicles podcast, she would have learned the full story behind the Forbes article. Here's the short version: Out of the blue, I got a query from an Associate Editor at Forbes. Forbes wanted Classics majors to comment on the lesson they learned from the Ancients and how they have applied those lessons to their business lives in terms of Power, Ambition, and Glory. Also on the list of potential respondees was Sec. of Defense Robert Gates and several other serious military strategists.

"Wow," I said." I am outmatched. "

So, I went for the funny.

Enjoy the article. I know I am enjoying the glare of the Bitter Busness Bureaus spotlight just this once.

Lian

Lian: As long as they only clone German Shepherds

I have not been on the "cloned animal" bandwagon. Can't put my finger on it; just seems like the world has enough sheep and poodles. Until I saw this story: The cloning of a dog, Trakr, that served his country and community and found the last living survivor of the World Trade Towers attack. Okay, now I see the point. Scientists should just concentrate on cloning heroic German Shepherd Rescue Dogs. That is a worthy medical pursuit

Of course, it begs the question: Would I clone Mia? The answer is no. While I love her, I don't think the world needs another German shepherd that acts like a tail-wagging, wiggly-butted, way- too- friendly Lab. Mia is unique. And she should stay that way!

Liz: Monica Makes Montana

A leading question among SisterSpotters this spring has been What's Up With Monica?

Good news! She's been spotted on the avenue. That's Montana Avenue, where you will find Sheila, me, our parents Edna + Jim and, of course, Drugtown!

Monica has taken up neuroscience as a profession lately. Apparently, learning how to repair a broken brain is very time-consuming.

But Monica did come visit the family in Santa Monica just a few weeks ago.

And more good news. She was here for the big Montana Ave Sidewalk Sale! Naturally, DRUGTOWN, not be be outdone by the fancy shops pushing antiques and high-priced designer togs, put on quite a display.

If you wonder why we spend so much time talking about Drugtown, I draw your attention to the fine wares that Monica examines here. Yes. From parasols to pigs, Drugtown has it all... except, uh, drugs.

If you paid full price for those pigs somewhere else, I'll bet you are regretting that now, huh?



I'll be spending the 4th of July in Bend, Oregon with Monica and other friends and family. If you are there, watch for Ferris in the annual downtown Pet Parade. I have not picked out his costume yet but Monica may be the one with the parasol.

Is this John Ramos at the Laker celebration?

Is this our fave Satellite Mister John Ramos, skipping work to celebrate his Los Angeles Lakers at the Coliseum today with 100,000 other fans?

I did do a double take when I saw this photo at the LA Times website. But I know John was working hard today, because was listening to the whole celebration on the radio as I drove out to Santa Monica to pick up my Dad for the Dodger's Game tonight. John's station, KLAC 570AM was doing some mighty-fine coverage of the event with a full staff on hand. It was a masterfully engineered program , so I am sure John was on the board.


Well, John, your Dopplerganger with tatts was at the celebration, so that's something! We miss you, John.

Julie: Weekend Dilemma Part 2

My only regret is that I did not Twitter SisterSpotters from La Guardia Airport ( for details see yesterday's Weekend Dilemma post). Thank you for all of your support and wisdom. So what did we do....?

After many, many phone calls to Dallas and Vermont and our travel agent, we decided to:

1. Continue on to Vermont. SisterSpotters were right. This was Molly's moment, we wanted to be their for her and a promise is a promise.

2. Some SisterSpotters suggested that we split up--my husband to Vermont and me back to Dallas. Believe me, we considered this, we debated this but ultimately we felt that if we were going to Vermont, both of us needed to show up.

3. While we decided to continue northward, we also wanted to get back to Dallas asap. We changed our tickets to come back late on Saturday. Changing our travel plans meant missing a graduation party and a convoluted route to Dallas but what is a few more hours in an airport when lifetime events are involved.

4. Yes, SisterSpotters are right--my son and his family could manage in Dallas but this was a big event for them. My daughter-in-law in particular was nervous about her new country, new doctors and a new medical system. My son had just started a new job and was anxious about taking time off. Keep in mind this little family arrived in the U.S. a little over a month ago. They needed our support as well.

5. The only glitch was the rainy weather in the northeast resulting in a three hour delay in NYC and a lot of extra time on the Phili tarmac on the way back to Dallas. We arrived in Vermont in the middle of baccalaureate mass but with plenty of time for the awards ceremony, reception and after-the-ceremony-pizza party. And yes, Molly did have tears in her eyes thanking my husband and me for making the trip.

a couple of follow-up notes:

No, we are still on baby watch. I will post news as soon as I can. And both my son and his wife expressed a lot of relief when we walked back in the door in Dallas.

Next time...Twitter.

Lian: What Food would you take a Bath in?

Just asking. Because I saw this photo and thought, "I love the tomato and its many forms. But not the bath form."

I think I would enjoy a Ramen bath. Or a grapefruit juice bath.

What food would you take a bath in?

Once you've answered that, please weigh in on Julie's dilemma below!

Lian

Julie: Weekend Dilemma

Julie here with another What Would You Do ? situation.

My husband and I were scheduled to attend our goddaughter's high school graduation in Burlington, VT this past weekend. For two years, we had promised our goddaughter Molly that we would be at her graduation no matter what came up. It was a very important event to our goddauther and her mother, my husband's sister. Trust me, for a lot of reasons, this was a must-go situation.

At the same time, brewing on the home front in Dallas was our son and daughter-in-law and the upcoming birth of their second child. The due date was over two weeks away so we hoped to be able to go to the graduation and then be back "on duty" to babysit Alice while her parents went to the hospital. We had discussed this plan for weeks and all parties seemed comfortable with our plan. We had also lined up a neighbor in Dallas to be "plan B" in the unlikely event that our new grandchild decided to come early. Still filled with guilt and worry, I also checked with my Satellite Sisters and here's the range of responses:

1. Lian said not to worry about the night in the hospital. It was much more important to be there for the month after the baby was born. Go to the graduation.

2. Friend Candy thought it was too risky to go to Vermont. Do not go to the graduation.

3. Friend Kelly said to check with the doctor and then make the decision.


Oh great.. a split decision. So we started out for the trip to Vermont this past Friday and got as far as LaGuardia Airport in NYC. Called home to find out how the doctor's appointment went and heard that our daughter-in-law had started to dilate. The doctor said the baby could come over the weekend or in another two weeks. Very helpful information. Now, what do we do....continue on to Vermont or try to turn around and head back to Dallas? What would you do?

Let me know what you would do and then I will tell you what happened tomorrow.

Sheila: My Report Card

I recently completed a five month long-term substitute position in a fifth grade classroom in Los Angeles. The experience was wonderful because the kids were fantastic--smart, funny, caring and patient. I've spent the last ten days writing report cards for my class. They are due, with revisions on June 18. I am taking a moment (17 are done) to give myself a mini-report card. Please note there is room for improvement.

1. Math: Developing. Sheila has a strong desire to do well in math. What she is missing in basic computation, she makes up with a genuine feeling of pride and surprise when she gets an answer correct.

2. Oral Expression: Proficient. Sheila enjoys hearing herself speak and energetically volunteers to read aloud. Her love of storytelling keeps the children entertained.

3. Reading: Proficient. Sheila can read. Please remind her to wear her glasses.

4. Social Studies: Developing. Her map skills are below grade level but Sheila made a consistent effort to memorize the 7 (really?) continents.

5. Science: Developing with most Improved Award: Sheila had a lot of misconceptions about science. She now grasps basic concepts like mass and volume and wants to buy a science kit to play with over the summer. Good for Sheila!

Beyond this, I received many heartfelt thanks from the kids and parents on the last day of school. Knowing I was filling some big shoes of the teacher who was on maternity, I gave the assignment my all. I have always said teaching is about learning and most of all, in these five months, I learned that (besides being on the radio with my sisters), I am in my element when I'm with kids.