July 2001
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deb@lightpatch.com
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Festivals for Travelers, Sites of the Month, Special Feature, Quotes, Opinions, Rants, Praises. |
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July 2001
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deb@lightpatch.com
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Festivals for Travelers, Sites of the Month, Special Feature, Quotes, Opinions, Rants, Praises. |
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The Artsy Site Of The Month: Streetstudio: Enos and Ghukfvin Know anyone who wants to back their book now?
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Handy Site Of The Month: PC Tools and Utilities Free utilities software for DOS, Windows and Linux/UNIX operating systems.
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Web Page Design Site Of The Month: Favicon Make your own icon to go with bookmarks to your site.
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Seasonal Site Of The Month: Join The Signers A special celebration of the 225th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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Just Fun Site Of The Month: Decimal Birthday Celebrate every 1000 days of your life!
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Downright Serious Site Of The Month: Taming the TV Deb's Note: Talking to your kids about what's on TV is not a bad idea. But beware. It's no subsitute for practicing what you preach. They still pay attention to what you watch and what you do. And a handful of them will still grow up wanting to be actors. And writers. :-)
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Historical Site Of The Month: Top 1000 Oldies of the Millenium Have fun comparing your own memory and taste. I would have put Mama Cass Elliot's "Dream A Little Dream Of Me" much nearer the top of my own list of favorites.
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Much more than a card shop. Click on the logo to see for yourself!
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Think you know it all? Prove it at Frenzi.com. And if you don't know something you can get some answers there. |
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For July Travelers |
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July 1-4, 2001
Elysian 4th of July Independence Celebration
Main Street (and other venues),
Eylsian, Minnesota |
Talent show, car show, cribbage tournament, pancake breakfast,
arm-wrestling competition, flea market, raffle, parade, turtle
races, fireworks.
More information: Call 507-267-4327 or 800-507-7787.
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July 1-8, 2001
Panorama of Progress
Downtown,
Lakeville, Minnesota. |
Archery tournament, car show, fishing tournament, barbecue, bingo,
1 mile run, 4 mile run, pancake breakfast, soccer tournament, ping
pong ball drop, parade, cruise night, picnics, pet show, dances,
July 4 fireworks.
More: Call 952-985-9558.
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July 2-7, 2001
Blackberry Festival
Courthouse Square,
Carlisle, Kentucky. |
Carnival rides, parade, music, food, street dance, fireworks.
Details: Call 606-289-2384.
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July 3, 2001
Waterfront Independence Day Festival
Waterfront Park,
Louisville, Kentucky. |
Children's art activities, food and beer garden, fireworks display,
entertainment by Louisville Orchestra and Chaka Kahn. Please, no
coolers, cans or bottles, and please leave Fido home.
More information: Call 502-574-3768.
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July 3-4, 2001
Funfest
Central Park,
(corner Pilot Knob & Yankee Doodle),
Eagan, Minnesota. |
Carnival midway, adult spelling bee, street dance, food,
turtle races, bingo.
More information: Call 651-452-9872.
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July 4, 2001
Home Town 4th of July Celebration
Round Lake Park,
Eden Prairie, Minnesota |
Join a crowd of about 15,000 for the kiddie parade, 4k fun run/walk,
mini triathlon, pony rides, games, entertainment, fireworks over
the lake.
More: Call 952-949-8433.
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July 4, 2001
Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration
Minnesota Square Park,
St. Peter, Minnesota. |
Kid's activities, music, food, drum corps competition, parade,
picnic, fireworks.
Further Details: Call 800-473-3404.
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July 4-7, 2001
Green River Catfish Festival
City Park,
Morgantown, Kentucky. |
Fishing contest, carnival rides, rock-climbing wall, demolition
derby, children's games, road races, canoe race, car show,
quilt show, karaoke contest, square-dancing, arts and crafts,
music, fireworks.
Additional information: Call 270-526-6827.
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July 4-7, 2001
Gallipolis River Recreation Festival
Riverfront area,
Gallipolis, Ohio. |
Water-related events, fireworks, parades, music, talent show,
French art colony exhibits, kid's games and contests.
Details: Call 740-446-0596.
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July 4-8, 2001
African Caribbean International Festival of Life
Washington Park,
Chicago, Illinois. |
Music, ethnic foods, arts and crafts, events for children.
More: Call 312-427-0266.
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July 4-8, 2001
Spam Town USA Festival
various venues,
Austin, Minnesota. |
Sports tournaments, street dance, concerts, ice cream
social, parade, fireworks, Spam Jam (with additional
events featuring Spam).
Additional information: Call 507-437-3448.
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July 6-8, 2001
Tomato Festival
City Park,
Ripley, Tennessee. |
Talent show, sports events, tomato contests for shape and size
and taste, arts and crafts, food, entertainment.
Additional information: Call 901-635-9541.
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July 7-8, 2001
Threshing Days
Otter Creek Park,
Muldraugh, Kentucky. |
Antique tractors and engines displayed, classic car display, blacksmith
demonstrations, border collie demonstrations, crafts.
Additional information: Call 502-583-3361.
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July 7-8, 2001
Heritage Festival
Marymoor Park,
6046 West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE,
Redmond, Washington. |
Vintage baseball games played by 1860s rules, Civil
War encampment and historical demonstrations, canoeing,
historical crafts, music.
More: Call 206-296-4232 or 800-624-0785.
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July 7-8, 2001
Wickford Art Festival
On Route 1A,
Wickford, Rhode Island. |
Over 90,000 attend this event in the area where John Updike
once lived. Over 200 artists participate.
Additional information: Call 401-294-6840.
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July 7-8, 2001
Taste Of Buffalo
Main Street,
Buffalo, New York. |
Almost half a million people enjoy this event, with local
restaurants selling "taste-size" portions of
tasty dishes. There is also fun for children, and plenty
of great music.
Further Information: Call 716-831-9376.
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July 11-15, 2001
Kansas Wheat Festival
Sellers Park,
Wellington, Kansas. |
Contests, entertainment, dances, more.
Information: Call 316-326-7466.
Note: While you are in Wellington, go see the Wooly
Mammoth Skull at the Sumner County Courthouse on North Washington.
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July 12-14, 2001
Slugburger Festival
Courthouse area,
Corinth, Mississippi. |
Games, entertainment, food (including slugburgers, which
are made of beef and extenders, such as cornmeal or soy
protein, and then deep-fried).
Additional information: Call 662-287-1550.
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July 13-15, 2001
Polka Festival
Tennis Court,
Cedar, Michigan. |
Parade, polka bands food and beverages, souvenirs.
Further information: Call 231-256-9895.
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July 13-15, 2001
Irish American Heritage Festival
4626 N. Knox Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois. |
Irish music and dancing, gifts and imports, carnival
games, raffles, Irish food and drink. Admission is charged.
More: Call 773-282-7035.
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July 13-15, 2001
Sailfest
Waterfront Park and downtown,
New London, Connecticut. |
Viewing and sailing of tall ships (including The Amistad, which
is a replica of the 1839 ship), parade, food, 5k race,
car show and parade, police K-9 demonstrations.
Details: Call 860-444-1879.
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July 13-15, 2001
Catfish Festival
unknown venue,
Floodwood, Minnesota. |
Fishing contest, canoe rides, duck race, dance, events
for kids, horseshoes.
More Details: Call 218-476-2751.
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July 14-15, 2001
Wolfman Weekend
Clark's Trading Post,
Lincoln, New Hampshire. |
Gentlemen, start growing your beard for this one.
Pie eating contests, Dunk the Wolfman, Wolfman look-alike contest
(for both men and women), Wolfman growling contest (for both
men and women), games and prizes.
More information: Call 603-745-8913.
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July 14-22, 2001
Maine Potato Blossom Festival
unknown venue,
Fairfield, Maine. |
Concerts, mashed potato wrestling, queen's ball, softball
tournament, chess tournament, pet show, potato picking
contest, coloring contest, pancake breakfast, potato recipe
contest, human chess game.
Details: Call 207-472-3802.
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July 18-21, 2001
Crawford County Fair
Hood Park,
Cuba, Missouri. |
I have many memories of this fair in my first home town.
It's a typical rural fair, with rides and games, food,
animals, exhibits and more.
Additional information: Call 573-885-2531.
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July 18-22, 2001
Hemingway Days Festival
unknown venue,
Key West, Florida. |
Marlin tournament, Hemingway exhibitions and photographs,
Hemingway look-alike contest, short story competition,
Caribbean street fair, arm-wrestling, twilight party. Some
events have admission charge.
More: Call 305-294-1136.
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July 19-22, 2001
Peach Festival
various venues,
Clarksville, Arkansas. |
Peach baking and cooking contests, gospel music,
pageants, crafts, bass tournament and more.
Additional information: Call 501-754-9152.
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July 20-21, 2001
Green River Festival
Greenfield Community College,
Greenfield, Massachusetts. |
Ice Cream, food, crafts, hot-air ballon events, music by
artists such as Lonesome Brothers, Cottonwood, The Iguanas,
Josh Ritter and Amy Rigby..
Ticket Information: Call 413-773-5463.
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July 20-22, 2001
Diamond Jubilee Festival
venue,
Albuquerque, New Mexico. |
Parades, competitions, exhibits, entertainment and more,
all focusing on the celebrated Route 66.
Details: Call 505-222-4342.
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July 20-29, 2001
Paducah Summer Festival
Riverfront (and other venues),
Paducah, Kentucky. |
Arts and crafts, lawn mower races, sporting events, fireworks,
pet parade, concerts.
More: Call 800-723-8224.
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July 20-29, 2001
Cheyenne Frontier Days
various venues,
Cheyenne, Wyoming. |
Arts and crafts, rodeo, melodramas, pancake breakfasts,
air show, music from LeeAnn Womack, Brooks and Dunn, REO
Speedwagon and Toby Keith. Some events are ticketed.
More Information: Call 307-778-7222.
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July 21-22, 2001
Art In The Fair
unknown venue,
Bemidji, Minnesota. |
About 8000 attend this event, which includes a music festival,
food, children's activities, art fair.
Additional information: Call 218-444-7570.
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July 25-29, 2001
Corn Capital Days
Nester Park (and other venues),
Olivia, Minnesota. |
Street dance, carnival, Corn-O-Lympics, fire and rescue
truck pull, library used book sale, local merchant events,
ice cream social, fly-in breakfast (you may also walk in,
of course), grand parade, corn and bean feed, corn toss,
sports events, corn token hunt, entertainment.
More: Call 888-265-2676.
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July 26-28, 2001
Great Texas Mosquito Festival
Clute Park,
Clute, Texas. |
Mosquito calling contest, diaper derby, senior mosquito
swatter decorator contest, Mr. & Mrs. Mosquito Legs
Contest, barbecue, other foods, sporting events.
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Additional Details: Call 800-371-2971.
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July 27-29 , 2001
West Louisville Festival
Shawnee Park,
Louisville, Kentucky. |
Music, games, rides, exhibits.
More information: Call 502-772-2591.
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July 27-29, 2001
Hot Dog Festival
Main Street,
Frankfurt, Indiana. |
"My Dog Has Fleas" Flea Market, "Puppy Park"
for kids, Dog Days of Summer sidewalk sales, "Arfs and
Crafts", farmers market, sports events, pooch parade,
gospel music, lots of food.
More: Call 765-654-4081.
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July 27-29, 2001
Kolacky Days
Memorial Park,
Montgomery, Minnesota. |
Heritage play, carnival, quilt display, arts display,
pageant, park dance, dinner (ticketed in advance), home-baked
kolacky contest, volleyball tournament, food,
pedal pull, kolacky-eating contest.
More: Call 507-364-5577.
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July 27-29, 2001
Gilroy Garlic Festival
Christmas Hill Park,
Gilroy, California. |
Gourmet Alley (where you can feast on garlic-enhanced
mushroom dishes, garlic bread, and pepper steak sandwiches),
entertainment (this year's line-up includes Sha-Boom,
Blue Truth, Silver Spur, and The Gents), arts and crafts,
souvenir (and other) vendors, children's area. There is a
general admission fee of about ten dollars for adults. And
though they try to downplay it, Gilroy gets H-O-T in the
summer, so layer clothing and bring a hat and sunscreen.
Additional information: Call 408-842-1625.
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July 27-29, 2001
Greek Festival
Coastal Highway at 40th Street,
Ocean City, Maryland. |
Greek entertainment and music, imports and gifts, arts and
crafts, childrens entertainment, door prizes, Greek food and
pastries. There is a small admission charge for those over
age 10.
Further Information: Call 410-524-0990.
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July 27-29, 2001
Slavic Fair & Festival
Russian School of Norwich University
Northfield, Vermont. |
Concerts, bazaar, Russian films and Russian food.
Ticket Information: Call 802-485-2165.
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July 28-29, 2001
Mt. Baker Blues Festival
Rivers Edge Christmas Tree Farm,
Deming, Washington. |
In its 6th year, this event has plenty of food and
drink on hand while blues artists entertain. There is
camping available for a fee. The festival is also a
ticketed event. Among those scheduled to perform at this writing
are Sista Monica, Incognito, Taylor James, Steel Blu', Curtis
Salgado and Junkyard Jane.
Ticket and Camping Information: Call 360-671-6817.
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It's always best to call ahead to verify festival information. Please tell them you saw the information in Deb's Monthly Review. |
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Looking for information on travel agents and other travel assistance?
Want to find the search engines that focus on travel needs?
Need to know what to do about extra insurance on a trip?
Are you trying to find out how to convert currency?
You can get information on all these plus sign-up for a bi-monthly magazine at Travigator II
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American Spice has old-fashioned candies!
Root Beer Barrels Click on the Great American Spice icon to order! |
Buy great spices at great prices
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I Can't Wait To See How This Story Turns Out
(Part One of Two)
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Sometimes people ask me what I do (or what I do "all day") and when I mention being a writer, certain individuals tilt their head slightly and give me a now-familiar look, one of a mixture of wonderment and envy. Then they say something like, "Oh, I've always thought it would be fun to write." I'm never quite sure how to respond in those moments. They have obviously romanticized the whole idea to a point where I think what they want to hear is that I'm some bohemian artist who sits around in hand-dyed silk clothes sipping champagne and discussing future book royalties with an editor in New York. Or maybe with a movie producer in Hollywood. I'm sure they'd be crushed to know that most New York editors have very little time or budget to entertain writers with champagne, and that movie producers rarely spend any time at all in the actual town of Hollywood these days. All that aside, how can I tell them that there are as many dull moments in a writer's life as there are in their own? How can I tell them that writing is lonely, painful, isolating, heart-wrenching, demeaning, dirty work, but is also an experience that shifts you into alternate realities and fits you with wings that lift you out of earth's dark canyons and let you peek into the fun God had during creation itself? It expands your consciousness like a dangerous drug, makes you laugh and cry, mumble and rant, and confirms your worst suspicions that you are the wackiest person on God's green earth. How can I tell them that you are going to create something almost as precious to you as a child and then an editor somewhere is going to take it and drag it through a course of fire and thorns, and strip it of part of its personality, and then hand it back to you with no apologies? Oh, and you might get a check along with it. How do I tell you all that, and then tell you writing is not just something you choose? It is also something that chooses you, like some mysterious stranger who lurks in your private world and becomes a maddening, irresistible lover you can't live with and can't live without? And yes, even after all that, it's fun. I found some great quotes on living the life of a writer, and I'll share those with you, in red, with my own comments following (in black). |
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"Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out the window." -William Faulkner |
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By about the age of ten I was reading three and four books a day. (No, that is not a typo.) Our small-town librarian, in a desperate attempt to satisfy my appetite for words (and with my mother's permission), began to steer me toward the books written for grown-ups. I
had to delve into a dictionary a few times in order to get up to speed, but within a few weeks the bigger words were like friends. When I could not find anything to read, I wrote my own stories. I also wrote poems, essays and stories for school assignments, and was constantly asked by the Catholic teaching nuns if I had really written my own homework. I should have realized that it was some kind of compliment, but I was too infuriated at being falsely accused of nipping off with someone else's choice of words. I also spent many hours viewing movies and television shows, and I fell in love with dialogue as a story mover. It's still my favorite way to work through a scene in a story. I loathe pages and pages of long descriptions when I read, and so when I write, I keep the long scenic description to a minimum and let those characters tell the story with their walking and talking. At any rate, I think one of the reasons words sometimes flow well for me is because I have spent so much time reading and absorbing words that I have a picture in my mind of what a story must be and how the words must flow together in order to tell the tale, with each word being like a drop of water in a storm-driven, rushing stream. If separated, the drops would have no power, but together, they move and build up a force and speed that takes the human mind wherever it wants or needs to go, even filling the banks and flooding over, if one is lucky that day. I suppose, in a sense, I write what I want, or need, to read. |
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"Show me a congenital eavesdropper with the instincts of a Peeping Tom and I will show you the makings of a dramatist." -Kenneth Tynan |
| This is a little like learning to look at the world with what I call a "third eye", much the way a film director must see through both his actors' eyes and his audience's eyes at the same time. You must learn
to live your own life, but you also make mental notes to catalog experiences and intonations
and scenery and textures and sounds, and all are kept as moments to incorporate into your writing. No matter how awful something is, at some point during the pain you learn to remind yourself that you can use this experience later in your work.
You learn to live life and pan it for its gold all at the same time. (Note: This can frighten other people once they know you do it, because it can sound a bit calculating, and they may wonder if you are using their pain to "sell a story". Do
be discreet, unless you are with other writers. They will understand perfectly.)
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"The novel is an event in consciousness. Our aim isn't to copy actuality, but to modify and recreate our sense of it. The novelist is inviting the reader to watch a performance in his own brain." -George Buchanan |
| If you write fiction or screenplays, this will come as no surprise to you. You have a cast of characters auditioning before you every day of your life. They wait in the wings until it's time for them to come out and show you just who they are. You do have a certain amount of control over them, but if you want
to be a writer worth your salt, they will sometimes challenge you for control. Be ready. You might even find you like it. (and if this idea just scared you, don't write fiction, my friend.) |
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"Even the most productive writers are expert dawdlers." -Donald M. Murray |
| I once told a fellow writer that on some days the idea of writing made cleaning the refrigerator look inviting to me. Some days you will not be able to contain yourself when it comes to writing, and on other days you will find the most inane ways to avoid the whole
process. Sometimes I bite the bullet and try to confront
whatever is frightening me away from the words, and sometimes I go with the escapism and take a bit of time to regroup.
Each must find his or her own best path. |
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"Screenwriting is not an artform. It is a punishment from God." -Fran Lebowitz |
| I must confess I have just begun toying with screenplay writing, and so this concept has not yet hit me with full force. I have no doubt it will do so, because in writing a screenplay, you must convey the five senses using only sight and sound. And you must also think of things like budget constraints and
the logistics of someone actually capturing your words on film that will then be hacked into pieces by editors (mostly in a digital fashion nowaways) who have been told to keep the thing within the time frame and within the budget while maintaining the greatest sense of suspense.
I would never think of jumping off a cliff without a parachute, but the idea of tackling a screenplay sounds like my idea of fun. And I have a feeling the two activities are not that far apart in terms of madness. |
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"Finishing a book is just like you took a child out in the yard and shot it." -Truman Capote "One not only writes a book. One lives it. Upon completing it there are certain symptoms of death." -John Cheever |
| I've lived close to half a century now, and I learned something new about myself a few months ago from Canadian actor Roy Dupuis (who recently worked on the TV series La Femme Nikita). He was doing an interview after the series was finished, and was asked what the next step for him was. He told the interviewer
that first he would have to take some time and grieve for the show. When he said that, I suddenly realized why I have trouble finishing the writing of novel-length stories. It's because I fall in love with these characters, and I don't want to let go of them. Armed with new insight (thanks, Roy) I hope to handle this aspect of my own writing
a bit better in the future. |
| Come with me in August for the second part. If you think life doesn't come with a soundtrack, you've never been inside the mind of a writer. |
| Once upon a time there was a man with a gentle voice and quiet charm.
He made several movies and worked in a TV show playing a character who
rode a motorcycle from town to town, touching lives, and singing a little here and there.
Then some of us didn't see much of him for awhile. We wondered if he would ever come to sing for us again.
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Michael Parks is not only singing, but he recorded 17 songs for us to enjoy.
If you haven't closed your eyes and dared to dream for a long while, take heart. These are songs to dream by.
And you'll believe he sings just for you.
Take a trip to Listen Recordings |
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We're pleased to host the work of artisan
Joan Garnand
on our little patch of light on the web.
Joan's creations are finally finding their way
out of her Tennessee community and into the
hearts of admirers everywhere. Check out Joan's zucchini/squash casserole recipe. This busy lady also began her TV stint this past spring, and is sharing her cake decorating and candy-making skills on a local Chattanooga station. She is spending this spring doing face painting and hand-painted stationery at Tennessee festivals.
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Are you a fan of macaroni and cheese? This
Over-the-Rainbow Macaroni And Cheese recipe will make the stuff in the box look about as appetizing as the box. And one the other side
of eating, all those summer salads are great, but you may be adding lots of fat to your meal by dumping on the dressings. Here are some
Summer Salad Dressings. They mention women specifically, but guys should
take heed as well.
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If you like mototcycles, take a trip down memory lane at jhammer's Harley Davidson Museum.
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If your taste runs more toward vehicles that are powered by human movement, you might enjoy a look at Ultimate HPV Links, which has information on air, land and water vehicles, with plenty of links for you to satisfy your curiosity. |
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The face of film-making is changing. You don't have to have a monster budget and three eight-figure income "stars" to make a movie. We're looking over the horizon at the new territory of guerilla film-making, and people like Robert Rodriguez are working to prove it.
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Registration for Learn.com is quick and free! You can also write your own courses and if your course is chosen to be published for public viewing, you can earn too.
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Rubber stamp collectors! Did you send for yours yet?
Anne-Made Designs has a 258-page catalog.
(if you are new to stamping, I should tell you
This will get you a full catalog and supplements, |
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Why pay full price for new clothes?
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Send your $8.50 to: Anne-Made Designs Anne Olney PO Box 697-D Erwin TN 37650 You can tell Anne I sent you, but she'll give you prompt, professional service anyway--it's just her style.
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All graphics on this page (except the links to other sites,
the Home and the email graphics below) are original.
If you want to use any for your non-commercial page, please do.
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Deb's Monthly Review is copyrighted! Do be a dear and ask before you lift whole portions of the Special Review or something. Remember! Those of us who publish on the web are not saying our work is in the public domain. When in doubt about your use of someone's else's writings or graphics, ask! If you want to use graphics or text on a commercial page, contact me first, please, and we'll work something out.
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