Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 08-17-06

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To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

In 20 minutes I'm supposed to be interviewed by an author who's writing a book about happiness. The author's been reading at the book club for a couple of weeks and from reading my column, he seems to think I'm a happy person. Normally I would agree with him. But right now, this very minute, I'm still gnarling and snarling about a business bump in the road that happened yesterday. Part of me wants to continue feeling annoyed, but this author isn't dialing in all the way from Australia to hear a grumpy woman. He wants to experience the happy side of me and frankly that's what I'd like to experience this morning, too. But I'm not really sure how I'm going to find "happy" in twenty minutes.

My friend Linda always reminds me that happiness is a choice. The first time she made that comment to me, I told her I agreed. But secretly I dismissed it as one of those quaint little sayings that's nice to hear, but doesn't really work in the real world.

But ever since this author asked for an interview, I've been examining my own happiness and I'd have to say that I agree with Linda. She's right. Happiness is a choice and when I think about it, I do make that choice every day. Sometimes happiness isn't the route I choose, but most days I decide I'm going to work on being happy.

Work on being happy. It sounds like another entry on my "to-do" list and it is. Choosing to be happy, just like brushing my teeth, is something I have to attend to daily.

When I'm having trouble finding happiness, like I am this morning, I concentrate on happy memories. They're little things, like when I came home from the hospital after our son was born, my husband turned our living room into a temporary bedroom. He set up our bed and mattress in the living room, so I wouldn't have to climb the stairs. Or the birthday party my son and daughter-in-law gave me last year. My mother had passed away two weeks earlier and they wanted to make my birthday special. Hats, horns, streamers, a cake, presents and even a pinata was hanging from their high ceiling. We finally whacked it apart on the tenth swing.

The clock is ticking, it's almost time for the author to call and I'm happy to report...I'm feeling happy.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Terrific signed books that you won't want to miss from these wonderful authors: Shari Goldhagen, Family and Other Accidents; Stefan Bechtel, Roar of the Heavens; Linda Berdoll, Darcy & Elizabeth; Vonna Harper, Surrender; and Kristine & Joyce Atkinson, Journal. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* * *
*Read the Classics: GRAVITY'S RAINBOW, by Thomas Pynchon, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=21

Dear Reader Column 08-16-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

One of the neat things about writing my daily column is that when people read it, they're inspired to write a story back to me. I've been flooded with tongue stories and tongue recipes since Monday's Boiled Tongue Column.

From the Tongue Email Bag:

"Hi Suzanne. My mom grew up on a farm, where they ate 'everything but the squeal' as the saying goes. Of course we ate tongue, and brains, and liver.

My husband wouldn't touch tongue with a ten-foot pole, but I have prepared it when my brother comes to town. His wife wouldn't have it in her kitchen! Be adventurous! Try tongue"--Betty Burlingame

"Suzanne, I couldn't believe your column on boiled tongue! I laughed so hard! It was September 1966, and my girlfriends and I met up with some boys we knew from our high school classes. It was after the football game, and one of the guys invited us all over to his house for an impromptu pot luck supper. I was smitten by his blue eyes and we were eager to go. When we got there and raided the fridge, it seems the only thing he had to eat was sliced boiled tongue sandwiches. Well, they were beautiful blue eyes, so I had my first (and last) boiled tongue sandwich. Fast forward 40 years. We have just celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary. And, no, we did not serve tongue (romantic as it was 40 years ago)! I so enjoy reading with you!"--Nancy Paaby

"Hi Suzanne. I have to share my tongue story. I was in the Peace Corps in Mongolia and all the new volunteers were going on a trip to the country. (Hoo-ray!) Each of us received a sack lunch. I guess I was thinking PBJ or cheese sandwich, but I actually received a half loaf of bread, an egg and a pointy little sheep tongue! Needless to say, I had egg and bread that day."--Janet

"Dear Suzanne, I had to chuckle when I read your column about boiled tongue. It brought back memories of visiting my aunt and uncle who lived on a dairy farm. Sometimes when we went to visit, there would be a bucket on the back porch with a very large tongue soaking in salt water. This meal to them was a real treat. I, on the other hand, would pray that we wouldn't stay for supper. And I never, ever asked which cow was missing from the herd. Thanks for the memories."
--Marilyn

"Suzanne, speaking of cow tongue...my wife read a joke to me from the 'Reader's Digest' magazine, but I will give you my version of it: A woman goes to a meat market and the butcher offers her a deal on cow tongue. To this she replies, 'I could never eat something that came out of the mouth of an animal!' The butcher dryly responds, 'May I suggest a dozen eggs!'"--Sean

"Your column today on boiled tongue gave me the giggles. In the 1950's my mother prepared beef tongue. My siblings and I tried every trick to avoid 'tongue night.' My father couldn't understand the commotion we were making, proclaiming the dish to be a delicacy. Once wrangled, though, we ate it and lived through the night! Is it any wonder that I have been a vegetarian since the 1970's? Thanks for the memories,"--Debra Blumberg

And finally, even my son and daughter-in-law emailed me about my tongue column:

"Mother, please keep in mind, if you even try to make tongue, we will never be over for dinner again."

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

If you missed Monday's boiled tongue column, go to:

http://dearreader.typepad.com/dear/2006/08/dear_reader_col_9.html

Warmest regards,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. WIN A FREE BOOK and a FAN! To find out how you can be a winner go to:
http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/fan.html

READ THE CLASSICS: Gravity's Rainbow, by Thomas Pynchon, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=21

Dear Reader Column 08-15-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I'm so proud of myself because no matter how busy my schedule is, every couple of weeks I stop and bake with a friend. Last Friday I made Poppy Seed Bread and my friend Linda, made Killer Cupcakes.

It was a wonderful morning and after Linda and I finished baking we sat outside on my back patio, drank some ice water and fanned ourselves with hand fans to keep cool. It's a little humid this time of year in Florida. If you'd like to try our recipes and win a book and a fan to keep yourself cool while you're baking, (they're adorable) go to:

http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/fan.html

Let me know if you try the Poppy Seed Bread or the Killer Cupcakes.

To see some of my other favorite recipes visit:

http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=897&site=1

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Congratulations to last week's winners of The Good Good Pig, by Sy Montgomery: Betty Jo Scurei, Sue Roit, Dinah Kretschmer, Sybil Reisch, Pat Golding, Yuka Liew, Kristin Moser, Jodi Wright, Emily Fell, Paige McHugh, Jeanette Milam, Mrs. E.L. Felder, Denise Kruse, Joe Dervin, Angela Grogan, Bob Ward, Iveta Moore, Elizabeth K. Stepp, Teri Beach, Ruth de Vargas, Deanna Mancuso, Lynna Rushton, Kim King, Kathye Beaugez and Luann Prosek.

READ THE CLASSICS: Gravity's Rainbow, by Thomas Pynchon, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=21

Dear Reader Column 08-14-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

The restaurant sign said, "Boiled Tongue Dinner $7.99 or Swiss Steak $6.99."

Every product and service has a target audience. I realize advertising copy is written to entice the customer, to make them want to buy a product or service. But did someone really think that advertising a boiled tongue dinner was going to make me want to dine at this restaurant?

Sure, can't wait. I'll call and make a reservation as soon as I get home.

"Reservation for two at 8 p.m. please, and by the way, would you save us two servings of that Boiled Tongue Dinner I saw advertised on your sign today? Does it come with a salad?"

Boiled tongue--it certainly isn't a date meal. And frankly, even though we've been married almost 30 years, I can't begin to imagine the look on my husband's face if we were all dressed up, sitting at a table in a fancy restaurant, the waiter places my plate in front of me, and there on top of a nest of risotto rests a big boiled tongue.

How does one season a boiled tongue dinner? Don't tongues already come with their own taste buds built right in? The right side is salty, the left side is sour, the front is sweet and the back is hot and spicy?

On second thought, perhaps tongue is actually the perfect entree, because every bite is a different taste sensation. Maybe tongue hasn't caught on as a favorite food simply because of poor marketing: Boiled Tongue Dinner $7.99. Nothing catchy about that slogan.

Instead, how about: Tongue for 2 with a bottle of wine! But I wonder, does tongue go with red or white wine? I don't know the answer today, but I'll keep researching the Boiled Tongue subject and let you know.

In the meantime, I'll order the Swiss Steak.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Terrific signed books that you won't want to miss from these wonderful authors: Shari Goldhagen, Family and Other Accidents; Stefan Bechtel, Roar of the Heavens; Linda Berdoll, Darcy & Elizabeth; Vonna Harper, Surrender; and Kristine & Joyce Atkinson, Journal. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: Gravity's Rainbow, by Thomas Pynchon, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=21

Dear Reader Column 08-11-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Thanks for sending me an email. It always makes my day. Wednesday's column about my husband getting locked in the bathroom at a party prompted hundreds of readers to write. Everyone seemed to love the column and they all wanted the recipe for Skunk Beans, too. If your email is in my mail bag below, be sure to email me your mailing address and I'll send you a free book. Thanks again for taking the time to write.

From my Email Bag:

"Suzanne, You're too funny! I love starting my morning reading 'Dear Reader'. You've made a daily reader out of me. Thanks!"--Chris Oleykowski

"Dear Suzanne, you bring a spot of joy and often times humor to me every day. Everyone has humorously embarrassing circumstances and it is nice to enjoy the humor of other peoples experiences."--Lynne O'Neill

"Hey Ms. Suzanne, thanks for the laugh. I want your hubby to be on my team if I ever play charades again :) You know, sometimes I am so busy with the days events that your email is the only reading I get to do that day. So thank you so much for always being there for me. Have a great day!"--Rhonda Catrett

"Suzanne, what are Skunk Beans? And can I please have the recipe?"--Cynthia Tuttle-Helton

"Sorry, but you can't just throw a name like Skunk Beans out there and not give us the recipe! Please? Love the column."--Ashley Keppel

"I enjoy your writing. What are skunk beans, and can you share the recipe?"--Faye Edmundson

"Suzanne--I'm sitting at work, sneaking a quick read for the chapter today and laughed out loud at your story about the party. Needless to say I was totally BUSTED and never made it to the actual chapter! Thanks for the laugh and a big 'Hello!' to your husband!"--O) C

If you missed Wednesday's column you'll find it here:
http://dearreader.typepad.com/dear/2006/08/dear_reader_col_6.html

If you'd like a copy of the Skunk Bean recipe, or any other of the recipes I've written about, go to:
http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=897&site=1

Have a delightful weekend and thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warmest wishes from Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Sample The Good Good Pig and then send me an email--make sure to include your thoughts about the book. I'll forward your comments to the author and then enter your name in a drawing to win a copy of The Good Good Pig. I have 25 books to give away to readers. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=805&site=10

Dear Reader Column 08-10-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

It's become a tradition. My husband and I go on vacation and when we return home, we buy something new for our house. Last year's "vacation souvenirs" were a flat screen TV and a fireplace insert. We'd spent two weeks in a fancy, high tech cabin, with--yes, you guessed it--a flat screen television perched high up on the fireplace mantel and a fire that was always burning as long as I had the switch on the wall turned to "on".

So as soon as we returned home, we duplicated those good vacation feelings and we now own a flat screen TV that sits on top of our fireplace mantel and the fireplace--well, even though we live in Florida, our fireplace is always turned on. The flame is produced by a 40 watt light bulb. Sounds a little wimpy I know, but you'd swear it was the real thing.

This year's vacation inspired us to buy a couch. We've been a sofa-less couple for quite a while now. Three years ago we sold our purple leather sofa and replaced it with his and her reclining chairs. Two chairs, no sofa--it didn't look strange, but it felt strange. We missed being able to sit together side-by-side. Watching television or a movie just isn't the same when you can't snuggle up.

And my husband and I were reminded of those fond memories when we were on this year's vacation. Our cabin had the perfect snuggling sofa, so of course we had to buy a sofa as soon as we got home.

I'm happy to report we're back to our snuggling routine and my husband has even reinstated my nightly foot rub. New furniture, nightly foot rubs, I really should take more vacations.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Exciting contests this week! Win your very own custom designed sterling silver Druid pendant, read free short stories, excerpts and of course signed free books from these wonderful authors: Joy Nash, The Grail King; Kathleen Givens, On A Highland Shore; Jay Lillie, Havana Passage; and HelenKay Dimon, Viva Las Bad Boys. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 08-09-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Some people are a natural and the desire is built-in. They walk right up to a stranger, say hello, introduce themselves and strike up a lengthy conversation.

And that's what John did. My husband was outside taking the trash to the curb, John walked by, the two of them (they'd never met before), talked for an hour and by the time my husband came back in the house, we'd been invited to a party--and I was supposed to bring my famous skunk beans.

First time party invite, first time opportunity to make an impression on new friends. I wore a great looking white summer skirt with a halter top and my husband--he got locked in the bathroom.

It wasn't the bathroom on the first floor, the one that other party guests were using, the bathroom that people could've heard him pounding on the door for help. No--my husband wandered upstairs to the second floor bathroom, pushed the door closed and as he was getting down to business, he noticed the bathroom door handle sitting on the top of the toilet tank. Strange place for a door knob, but not to worry, my husband thought he'd merely slide the handle in the bathroom door when it was time to leave, and he did just that, but the door didn't open.

"There's that moment," as my husband said later when he was telling the story at the party, "there's that moment when it hits you. I'm locked in the bathroom. It's pretty quiet up here, pretty noisy downstairs--there's a party going on, no one knows I'm up here, and I don't have my cell phone."

"HELP! HELP!"

But none of us heard him.

You'd think a wife would miss her husband, but I'd struck up a conversation with a man from South Africa, so I had no idea my husband was locked away in the loo.

Push, heave-ho, my husband tried to open the window--but our new friends' home was historical, the window was old and it wouldn't budge. But then he looked down and noticed three people walking by on the street below, and thankfully they looked up and spotted my husband swaying back and forth, in a game of bathroom charades. He was holding the door knob in one hand and turning his other hand back and forth with an imaginary key. Finally someone guessed the right answer and the three strangers knocked on the door and informed the host that someone appeared to be locked in their second floor bathroom.

Yes, some people like our new friend John, are a natural, they can walk right up to a stranger and strike up a conversation, but I think it takes more talent to get three strangers walking by on the street to play a game of charades.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Sample The Good Good Pig and then send me an email--make sure to include your thoughts about the book. I'll forward your comments to the author and then enter your name in a drawing to win a copy of The Good Good Pig. I have 25 books to give away to readers. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=805&site=10

Dear Reader Column 08-08-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I admit sometimes I behave like an old fuddy-duddy when a delivery person comes to my house. It's the kind of behavior that annoys me in other people, so I'm not sure why it happens. Maybe because I worry about the possibility of things going wrong. What if I see a scratch on my new chair when the packing material comes off? I'd have to call the furniture store--it would be a big hassle, maybe even a confrontation. What if the color looks different than it did in the store and I made a big mistake? I'm an uptight mess by the time the doorbell rings, so whatever new item is being delivered, I've killed the joy. And worst of all, the delivery person thinks I'm not friendly. But I really am.

So last Saturday afternoon when I was home waiting for my new couch, chair and ottoman to be delivered, I had a little talk with myself and I decided to change my usual "delivery behavior".

The first step to changing your behavior is acknowledging it: 'I, Suzanne, acknowledge that sometimes I behave like an old fuddy-duddy when a delivery person shows up at the door, and I'm not going to act that way today. I'm going to smile and be friendly.'

There, that was easy--I'm all better now. But the delivery person could show up today anytime from 12 p.m to 4 p.m. It could be a long wait. What if I have a relapse? Cookies. Nothing relaxes me more than baking, so I mixed up a batch of chocolate chip cookies and just as I was taking a tray out of the oven, the doorbell rang.

Showtime..."I'm so happy to see you. Come on in, can't wait to see our new furniture. Do you like chocolate chip cookies? I'm baking. Can you smell the cookies? Are you a dunker?"

You know how sometimes someone can be a little too nice, and they cross over the "she's-a-nut" line? I did cross over, way over. But thankfully when you offer still warm homemade chocolate chip cookies to a delivery man (who in 98 degree weather has just hoisted your new sofa up on his back and walked right into the living room, "Where do you want me to put it, Ma'am?") he overlooks a little strangeness.

And he kept overlooking my strangeness when I carried a cold glass of milk out to his truck, two bottles of water, and more chocolate chip cookies piled high on a paper plate, lined with a fancy white paper doily. Then he gave me his card and offered to be my personal delivery person. I think this old fuddy-duddy is cured!

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Sample The Good Good Pig and then send me an email--make sure to include your thoughts about the book. I'll forward your comments to the author and then enter your name in a drawing to win a copy of The Good Good Pig. I have 25 books to give away to readers. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=805&site=10

Dear Reader Column 08-07-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

This week I have a special book for you to sample, The Good Good Pig, by Sy Montgomery.

I was looking for an easy, warmhearted read so I took this book with me on my recent vacation and I wasn't disappointed. Every morning I'd brew a cup of coffee and then sit on the deck and read a little bit more about Christopher Hogwood--the pig who won the hearts of residents in a rural New Hampshire community.

Sample the book and then send an email--make sure to include your thoughts about The Good Good Pig and if you plan on finishing the book. I'll forward your comments on to the author and then enter your name in a drawing to win a copy of The Good Good Pig. I have 25 books to give away to readers.

Sample the book, go to:

http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=805&site=10

Thanks for your feedback and for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warmest regards,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Exciting contests this week! Win your very own custom designed sterling silver Druid pendant, read free short stories, excerpts and of course signed free books from these wonderful authors: Joy Nash, The Grail King; Kathleen Givens, On A Highland Shore; Jay Lillie, Havana Passage; and HelenKay Dimon, Viva Las Bad Boys. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 08-04-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I'm surrounded. Behind me, on the other side of the window, huge scraps of my roof are falling into a big refuse container. Footsteps above me, four men are walking around on the roof and one of them must have a crow bar, because there's a constant scraping sound that's beginning to resemble fifty fingernails sliding down the front of a chalkboard.

I've had to strategically place buckets around the inside of my house for weeks now. It is true, when it rains, it pours. My roof sprung five leaks simultaneously at 3 a.m. in the morning, three weeks ago. So I was glad to see the roofing crew pull into my driveway yesterday, but today, the noise is getting frightening. If Chicken Little were here, I could vouch for him. He's right. Yes, the sky is falling and I think part of it just landed in my kitchen. What the heck was that? Every few minutes, I hop out of my chair to check. Even my cats are hiding under the bed.

Steam is puffing out of an orange machine in the driveway--and I don't think it's cooking ribs--five pickup trucks surrounding my house, ladders and cords hanging down everywhere, and bits of black tar flying through the air.

I should be thrilled about getting a new roof--no more 3 a.m. leaks. But in reality, getting a new roof is about as exciting as getting a new septic system. Thousands of dollars spent and nothing to show for it, at least nothing you can brag about and show off to your friends.

Unless, I have a roof party--now there's an idea. My historical home has a flat roof, so it would be perfect. I can see it now. Two ladders leading up to the party, tables covered with white linen, my good china, fresh flowers, the moon shining, and my satellite radio playing music in the background.

You're Invited...

New Roof! Let's Party!

Dress: Casual roof attire, climbing shoes suggested.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Send me an email, tell me what you think of this week's book and your name will be entered in a drawing for a free book. I have 25 various books to giveaway this week. I'll forward your comments on to the author. Thanks so much. I appreciate it.

READ THE CLASSICS: The Recognitions, by William Gaddis, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=20