Book Review: A FULL HOUSE – BUT EMPTY by Angus Munro

A FULL HOUSE – BUT EMPTY
Angus Munro
Memoir
iUniverse
249 pages

Filled with anecdotes, lessons learned, and an inspirational message for everyone who believes that hard work breeds success, this moving autobiography shares the remarkable story of Angus Munro.

Munro is just three when he suffers from appendicitis and spends several weeks in a Vancouver hospital as his family struggles to survive the Great Depression. After finally arriving home, Munro asks his sister, “Where is Mummy?” and is promptly told his mother doesn’t live there anymore. It is this traumatic event that changes the course of Munro’s life forever. His father is suddenly a single parent while simultaneously turning into Munro’s mentor and hero. He teaches Munro the motto, “Always do the right thing,” while raising his children in an environment that is at the very least hectic, and more often completely chaotic.

Through a potpourri of chronological and heartfelt tales, Munro reveals how he learned to view incidents in life in terms of responsibility, recognition, personal conduct, and consideration of others. Despite dropping out of school at a young age, Munro perseveres, eventually attaining professional success.

Munro’s memoir is a wonderful tribute to his father’s legacy and the greatest lesson of all – whatever you do, follow through.

Anyone who has ever had a parent leave them as a young child will be moved, deeply affected, and emotionally pulled into Angus Munro’s beautiful masterpiece, A Full House – But Empty. I know I was. From the very first page came tears. However, this isn’t a sad book; instead, it’s a book about a man who grew up in the Great Depression by a father whose wife was caught cheating and left the home without so much of a goodbye to little Angus (that’s the sad part), and also who beat the odds and turned out into a man with extraordinary integrity and morals. It is through the pages of his book that you lose yourself and you find yourself walking the same path and that’s what I believe the author wanted his readers to do.

At three-years-old, Angus was brought home from the hospital after having his appendix removed only to find out his mother had left his father to be with another man. The author says he was a shy child, but I didn’t see it. His journey from childhood to manhood only reaffirmed my belief that this was a very strong and extraordinary man and to relive his life through reading his book was such a pleasure, I would pick the book up and read it all over again.

His father played a major role at the beginning, then as Angus started spreading his wings, he became a minor role but I believe that it is because of his father, he turned out to become the man he is today. Angus recounts other members of his family throughout the book, and I believe his sister was the # 1 person in his life and became his rock.

What I really loved about this book was that it was was set in the Great Depression in the early beginnings of this book and it’s few authors alive today who can give a first-hand experience of what it was like back then and Angus does an excellent job of describing this.

Overall, I came away from the book satisfied, and am looking forward to the next Angus Munro memoir which is in the works. I would fully recommend this book to anyone who would like to slip back in time and relive a life when life was simpler; yet, so much harder than it is today.

Angus Munro’s writing style was what I loved the most about this book. As a past editor, I subconsciously look for typos and grammar errors and there were none to be found. Impeccably edited. I also loved the book because I found myself relating to a lot that was inside. I didn’t grow up in the Great Depression, but I remember my grandmother talking about it and it was a terrible, terrible time. And, I also had an absent mother some parts of my childhood (that’s the part where I cried). I also loved it because as he got older and moved to California, it brought back memories of living there with all the glitz the state had to offer. Angus’ book had a lot to offer me, but more than anything, it was an enjoyable read and not something I found myself forced to do. His words took me back in time and for that, I am deeply indebted to him. But aside from all that, what I loved the most about FULL HOUSE – BUT EMPTY is that I realized that Angus Munro is an extraordinary human being and at seventy-seven years old, this is a big accomplishment for a first-time author and for him to do this well in bringing me into the story and keeping me there and not wanting to let go, I say it says a lot about his future as an author.  This man is going to go far.

l wouldn’t call it hate, but what I would have loved to have seen was more about his life as a child; in fact, I would have loved the whole book set in the Great Depression as a child. With the economic times being as bad as they are and the country heading into a recession, wouldn’t it be neat to read about how those in the Great Depression survived so that maybe we can take pointers from them? But, if the whole book was only that, then a lot of the author’s message wouldn’t have come through and that’s a big part of why he wrote his book. But, I’m wondering…he has a new book in the works..maybe…maybe?

Guest Blogger: Angus Munro, author of A FULL HOUSE – BUT EMPTY

As promised in an earlier post, Angus Munro, author of A Full House – But Empty, has agreed to stop by As the Pages Turn and tell us more about his wonderful book and his experiences growing up in the Great Depression. What I find ironic is it seems the same thing might be going on here soon, knock on wood. Maybe Angus can give us some insights with his experiences growing up in the Great Depression…incidentally if you want to check Angus out on the web, his website is www.angusrmunro.com. Buy his book. Make a tour coordinator happy. ;o) I will be giving the book a full review on Friday so stay tuned for that! Take it away, Angus!

Growing Up in the Great Depression ( by Angus Munro)

I recently completed my Memoirs titled, A Full House – But Empty. I must preface that the following experiences and observations are coming from me as a child of the Great Depression and not as a mature adult today – reliving those many years ago.

I was born in Vancouver, Canada during that difficult period. At age three, my parents separated and my father received full custody of my two sisters and me. My older sister was six and my youngest sister was still in infancy. Based on our family situation, the Provincial Government furnished my father, free home care assistance and we had two wonderful ladies taking care of our daily needs. They would alternate their schedule to accommodate other similar commitments. However, one or the other would come – each weekday and we loved them.

My father had been a farmer and untrained for city life in terms of a specific trade or vocation. He was classified as unskilled labor. When not working my father did qualify for financial assistance. However, ironically when not working, he was put to work! He would be assigned to work at a local park as a watchman caretaker and/or as a spare gardener. I recall my sister Laura and I would stop by a neighborhood park that he was assigned to work. He was always happy to see us. In hindsight, and looking at today’s required vigilant and cautious world, seemingly, a concern of safety was never a factor. Laura and I would travel freely all over the neighborhood without fear or concern.

I recall during this period, three or four miles away, there were vast fields of wild blueberries. In season, a neighbor would take several families in the back of his truck and we all went blueberry picking. En route we would all sing the latest Hit Parade songs. Also, neighbors and friends would stop by with fruits and vegetables from their home gardens and orchards just to help us all get by. Those gifts often included used toys and clothing, etc.

My father loved playing poker. Several neighbors and friends would stop by during the week in the evenings for poker games. No one had any money so they used The Eddy Match Company wooden matches that came well supplied in a box. At the end of the evening – at settlement time with each having or not having a stack of matches to count as winnings– I have no idea how it was resolved – as to who got what after the final count. I was simply too young to know. Whatever, they all kept coming week after week and always playing with those wooden matches.

When unemployed, my father was provided with a Relief credit allotment to obtain clothing for we three children. One could always tell which children were from poor families as they had the same monolithic dress code. Same style, same material, all from the same allotment. The girls had their basic standard and the boys theirs.

Churches and private charity organizations were very generous in assisting families in need. Particularly, during the Christmas season, these great gift givers tried so hard to provide girls and boys with the most suitable toys. They also furnished food hampers throughout the year to those seriously in need. I am certain that many of those givers and would-be-caretakers, probably were personally faced with limited incomes and resources too.

We united with another family when I was seven years old. Another single father with five children. He and my father were both from farming families and had shared similar marital problems. Fortunately, that father was working full-time for a roofing company and my father was just working sporadically. They were both faced with the same problems and concerns so unifying our families was a positive union. We rented a large frame house that had a vacant adjacent lot – which we usurped. We raised chickens and goats that were housed on our adjacent lot, and we had four prolific apple trees in our main yard. The remaining land on both lots was cultivated into kitchen gardens growing a variety of vegetables. Overlooking our home, there were vast grasslands on railroad property to sustain our goats. We lads did the hoeing, tended to our chickens and goats and made milk deliveries, etc. We had a regular little farm in the city that helped us tremendously during those Depression years.

My father also had a key to a very secured orchard in South Vancouver. During the fruit-picking season, we lads along with my father would go to that orchard and pick apples, cherries, plums and pears. When leaving the orchard, we would have loaded containers and gunny sacks full of fruit and we would all stand at the back of the streetcar with my father. All being contained in that small area with our sacks and containers made if difficult for other passengers to board or exit the streetcar. It was really embarrassing; however, both the conductor and other passengers were generously kind to us. People were so thoughtful and giving during those difficult times.

My father would visit weekly the fish canneries at the docks and receive free salmon that was always so fresh and delicious. We had a wonderful bread man who would come daily with our order. Apart from his regular bread delivery service he had a small business on the side. He would purchase food supplies at reduced prices and offer them to his bread customers. On one occasion, we purchased a huge box of slightly damaged ice cream cones. We couldn’t afford the ice cream, so creatively we crunched up the cones and poured our goat’s milk over them. For a few weeks, this was our featured evening dessert. I can only say this, “ I unequivocally have never ever eaten the cone of an ice cream since. And ditto to drinking goat’s milk.”

In terms of entertainment, as children we were allotted six cents every Saturday to attend the local matinee theater. It cost five cents for the movie and one cent covered the cost of receiving three small pieces of candy. Cecil, a lad in the other family and I always went to the movies together. If no funds were available – I resourcefully took care of the situation. If our lilacs were in bloom or our apples when in season, I would take a bouquet or a bag to a neighbor stating that my father wanted us to share with them. Gratefully, they would give me a dime or so and off we went to the movies. On off –season, if the problem existed, we would surreptitiously raid clothes hangers from home and sell them to the local cleaners for a penny each. These nefarious stunts by the way, where done all on the Q. T. Our only concern was the end result – off to the movies – our favorite pastime.

A closing thought:

When I look back reminiscently – those four years – half being the tail end of the Great Depression were to me the happiest years in my life. Conversely, my father thought that particular period was the worst and dullest in his life. We parted as our rented house was sold. The other family purchased a fixer-upper and we rented an apartment. Apparently, with the exception of myself, all members of both families were ebulliently looking forward to our new locations. Our very close ties among both families remained – but I was so devastated facing our departure. To each his own; however, with great persistence, I still carry those wonderful memories of so long ago, but still, so very fresh in my thoughts.

15 Days Left to Win Copy of Hal W. Lanse’s Book READ WELL THINK WELL

Fifteen days before we pick TEN WINNERS OF Hal W. Lanse’s new book, READ WELL, THINK WELL!

Hal W. Lanse, Ph.D., is a premiere teacher trainer in New York City, specializing in middle-grade and young-adult literacy. He is the winner of the 1997 Frank W. Dilley Award, Walden University’s annual prize for outstanding doctoral dissertation. Dr. Lanse, a consultant with the UFT Teacher Center, trains teachers in current literacy research and shows them how to turn the research into daily classroom practice. He has also taught many parent workshops for the United Federation of Teachers. Lanse lives with his son, Kenny, in New York,NY.

You can visit his website at www.readwellthinkwell.com.

Click here for details on how you can win a copy of READ WELL, THINK WELL to help you teach a child to read better!

Remembering 911 with Guest Blogger Amir Makin

Today marks the 7th anniversary of the day that scarred and changed the lives of Americans forever. On September 11, 2001, suicide bombers flew planes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, killing thousands in the name of religious beliefs.

Six months later, a group of friends and I visited the site where the Twin Towers once stood. Smoke was still coming out of the piles of rubble. Buildings beside the Twin Towers that still stood were severely damaged. But, it wasn’t until I was walking around the site myself did I feel the incredible sense of sadness and death. And what was really strange about it was that you didn’t feel it until you came directly on the site. It was like this line was drawn and once you crossed over it, the ghosts of the once alive were still there, their spirits crying out yet no one could hear them.

But this blog post today isn’t about my experiences. I asked Amir Makin, author of A Worthy Muslim: Quranic Tools Needed to Overcome Oppression and Imperialism in Order to Institute Justice to give his us his thoughts and he has agreed to do so.

Here’s a little background on Amir:

Amir Makin found Al Islam on an unexpected yet fruitful journey to Africa. Having always been intrigued with issues of the oppressed masses, he quickly learned how this way of life directed all to defend and protect the indigent from tyranny while preserving the dignity of the dispossessed. Since that time, he has instilled in himself and advanced the type of analysis that leads to positive change throughout society. He is the author of A Worthy Muslim: Quranic Tools Needed to Overcome Oppression and Imperialism in Order to Institute Justice and you can visit him on the net at www.unworthymuslim.com.

Amir has agreed to share his thoughts and I’d like to share them with you:

On today’s anniversary of September 11, 2001 we must reflect not only on that fateful day, but also its immediate aftermath which culminated in the marketing and selling of fear. Non Muslims were taught that every Muslim was a bloodthirsty savage with no regard for anything or anyone. As a result some Muslims who had done everything possible to assimilate with the American ethos had become enemies of the state. The litmus test of American patriotism was redefined by the amount of anger one could mount against any proclaiming themselves Muslim. Many had been given the impression that Islam was to blame. Others stated something else. Whether one believes in a different theory that some would classify as conspiratorial or not is an argument which will continue ad nauseum, but I do believe that when evaluating how a tragedy like this can occur on American soil and how best to commemorate this day it is often useful to look at the stated principles that helped form this nation.

“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” When one reads the words of this hallowed Declaration of Independence, one cannot escape a euphoric feeling not only for the power conveyed in these words, but the affirmation of man’s inherent freedom which was bestowed upon him by his Creator. This original formula for society would probably be anyone’s ideal country.

“That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, – that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government . . . But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. . .” After reading such marvelous eloquence, one may ask, from what standard would these men derive their “future security”? Since they have made it clear these rights come from the Creator, why not investigate what the Creator has said concerning this?

“Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded”. Qur’an 16:90

. . . whoever kills a soul unless for a soul (legal retribution for murder) or for corruption (done) in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely . . . Qur’an 5:32

After reading the Declaration of Independence with the Scripture, one could appreciate the beauty of the stated intentions in the formation of this country. No one including myself would ever oppose either. But how could it be that a country called Great Britain which in 2008 is a great friend to America could have once been an indicted and convicted criminal to that same nation during its formation? But, as the Declaration answers, “the history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.” What these men opposed was not the land of their fathers, not its resources, and definitely not its citizens. No, these Americans opposed the corruption of an evil tyrant who had “plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns and destroyed the lives of our people . . . in every stage of the oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” They didn’t oppose the position of king but instead opposed this particular king because he became an oppressor while occupying a seat of power to exercise injustice.

These acts of oppression made the founding fathers of America understand that a connection with the system of justice established by their Creator was necessary to distinguish what was just from what was unjust in order for them to stand against the one responsible for their oppression. Since they found themselves in a state of oppression by one who was only interested in serving himself, they stated the need to affirm their connection with the Creator’s command for justice and liberty for all. Al Islam wants the same.

Practicing Muslims don’t hate Americans. Practicing Jews don’t hate Americans. Practicing Christians don’t hate Americans. Instead what is opposed by each is the same type of oppressive behavior originally opposed by the founding fathers of America. There is no Quranic verse that advocates the absence of justice. There is nothing in this Declaration that advocates the absence of justice. Some of the principles of America expressed in several government documents, though not all of the practices of its authors, are more harmonious to Al Islam than many are aware of.

“O you who believe! Stand up firmly for justice, as witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or your parents or your relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not (personal) inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort (your testimony) or refuse (to give it) then indeed Allah is ever with what you do well acquainted.” Qur’an 4:135

According to the Declaration of Independence, before this land became the superpower it is today, this was how the founding fathers defined patriotism. In a climate where fear is marketed, this definition must hold fast to prevent what is unjust from becoming an acceptable norm. Since all the writers of the Declaration agreed that the standards of always adhering to justice through dedicated worship is epitomized by prophets commissioned by the Creator from Adam to Noah to Jesus to Muhammad (peace be upon all of them), so to must those who say these men are their paragons of human excellence meet these same standards. For any Muslim, Jew, Christian or other to fall short of this is to show a true lack of patriotism.

This all too brief recap is necessary so that no one is allowed to forget that terrorism did not initially arrive in America on September 11, 2001 and the heinous act which occurred this fateful day is no more repugnant due to the skin color or lack thereof of the perpetrators, conspirators and patsies. If we all are American citizens united in true patriotism, we should begin to acknowledge, address and admit every one’s pain who has ever found themselves the victims or survivors of terror on an equal unified basis. Truly standing for justice for everyone is the best way to commemorate each day of the year, not just one. Making the transition to doing that is the true challenge. A Worthy Muslim: Quranic Tools Needed to Overcome Oppression and Imperialism in Order to Institute Justice was written in part to address subjects such as this.

Amir Makin is the author of A Worthy Muslim: Quranic Tools Needed to Overcome Oppression and Imperialism in Order to Institute Justice. His blog is http://aworthymuslimovercomes.blogspot.com

What I Am Reading – A Full House – But Empty

I’m on page 48 of a wonderful memoir by Angus Munro called A Full House – But Empty. I can’t go on enough about how talented this author is. I am fully enjoying this book and wish it wouldn’t end.

This guy is 77-years-old and his memory is better than mine! I am so enjoying his stories of when he was young during the depression.

But what really astounds me is the character of the man which shows up in his book. If I were to ever write a memoir, his book would be a good teacher.

Let me give you an example. On page 48, he tells about living with an aunt for awhile until he is to join his sister in the Spring. He is young, I’m thinking maybe 14 (I’m forgetting) and has left home, much against his father’s wishes but I’m thinking he wanted to explore life a little.

So, he’s staying with different relatives, but this one particular aunt who he stayed with briefly, he just adored. Now, when I quote him from his book, keep in mind that this is the Depression years and even pennies were looked upon like gold.

He has been caring for the aunt’s children and the aunt said she wanted to pay him for the time he spent watching over them. Look, this is what he writes:

“…in those days, all farms had root cellars – either within the home of adjacent to it – where they stored their larder. It was a natural place for storing fruits and vegetables. I checked their root cellar, came back with a quart of preserved peaches, and laughingly said, ‘This is my fee.’ My aunt responded with laughter and it became a joke between the two of us, as that was my remuneration each time. By the time she returned home the quart jar was always empty. And all consumed by me, the skinny babysitter (Apart from a workplace, I would never ever charge anyone for babysitting or performing other chores. I always volunteered just to be helpful).”

Now, the guy probably didn’t have too many expenses back then, but food was a pretty good payment I presume since that was hard to come by. But, I’m thinking he was doing it as an act of kindness and this was all part of his character.

Wouldn’t it be neat if politicians thought this way?

Anyway, back to reading…signing out…

The Sunday Salon

Lesa, over at Lesa’s Book Critiques, offered us a glimpse of her Arizona home for her Sunday Salon post for today so I decided I’d do the same!

I don’t live in Arizona, quite the opposite actually. I live on an island. Not a tropical island, but a waterfront community whose lives are so vulnerable against Mother Nature as was the case the past two days with tropical storm Hanna.

It is also a resort and that’s why I love it so.

Last March, we moved into a 3-story condo complete with ocean sunsets every night and two huge decks (one screened, one not) to watch them. There’s a dock off our yard right across the street which has become my daughter’s and my sanctuary.

Oh, let me tell you what you can do there. First, you can walk the dogs down it until you come to the very end where you can sit on one of the benches to recoup before you make the long trek back. Max, the male Cocker, loves it and has, in fact, jumped overboard when we weren’t looking which isn’t fun because that means we have to jump in and save him. Skylar, the Sheltie, loves it also and is no problem, but Cassie, the female Cocker has convulsions every time we take her down there – just doesn’t like it at all and starts to shake until we have to turn around and bring her back. I think it has something to do with hating baths.

Another thing you can do on the dock is catch crabs (which I don’t eat and which I don’t catch, but you can) and clams. Now let me tell you about the clams. They are either as small as you want or as large as you want and they’re all over the place underneath the mud a little bit. I don’t eat them either but my kids’ father likes to come over and load up.

It’s also a nice place to hook up the boat to which the kids love and it’s also a nice place to well just get away from it all.

I had my taste of what it was going to be like when this nice warm weather is over and I’m not going to like it one bit. When Hanna blew through here, the front decks were like wind tunnels so I have to hang out my back door to take a smoke break. Not the fun and not the same as sitting in my rocker watching the bikers or the boats ride by. The dogs all come out there with me and we have our “moment” before I have to run back in here and start working on tours.

And something else I’m going to miss are those bike rides. My son and I made a 14 mile round trip to the beach and back just after Pony Penning and that’s something else, man, Pony Penning week is the bomb here with all the tourists. They say you’re a real island native when you start hating the tourists, but it’s really neat watching the island come alive.

No, not looking forward to summer ending at all.

See you next Sunday!

Sarah Palin in favor of banned books

There are two things that concern me when I read a recent article in the LA Times concerning the Republican candidate for Vice-President, Sarah Palin. For the record, I have no beef with Ms. Palin, but when I read this article in the LA Times, I could get a sense of what would be in America’s future as far as books were concerned if she had anything to do with it.

According to the article, she walked into a library one day and told the librarian that certain books weren’t suitable for America’s reading palates because they had inappropriate language in them and went against religious morals.

And according to Time Magazine:

“Stein says that as mayor, Palin continued to inject religious beliefs into her policy at times. “She asked the library how she could go about banning books,” he says, because some voters thought they had inappropriate language in them. “The librarian was aghast.” That woman, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn’t be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving “full support” to the mayor.”

The two things that concern me is how much confidence can you put in a woman who is in favor of banning books because they are not within her standards and how is this going to influence the reading public of other faiths?

The librarian was aghast, as she should have been. If I were running a library and someone walked in and told me to take out certain books because they had language that didn’t conform to their lifestyle or was against their religious beliefs, I think I would have not become aghast, but laughed at them. For a woman to run for vice-president for a country based on freedom of speech, doesn’t this tell you a little something about her character? Wouldn’t you be afraid of her at this point?

Like I said, I have nothing personal against her. Until now. Support Banned Books Week beginning Sept. 27 which celebrates the freedom to read. Click here to find out more information or click here to find out what you can do in your community.

And go here to find out what Google is doing to help bring awareness to banned books.

Challenged books included Gone with the Wind, Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Tell it on the Mountain, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, A Clockwork Orange, Of Mice and Men and The Color Purple.

Exercise Your First Amendment Rights – Read a Banned Book!

My question is: Does the government or anyone have any right to tell us what we can read?  Leave your comments below!

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Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

My two (2) “teaser” sentences for today:

“With my fingertip, I traced a drop of perspiration snaking down her neck. Even with an open window and the cool plaster of the thick palace walls, the room was still hot.”

(from page 21 of The Lost Diary of Don Juan by Douglas Carlton Abrams)

This book is the absolute bomb. I’ll have a formal review for it shortly, but this is a terrific read so far. Hey, did you know they’re turning this book into a movie? Stay tuned for more news on that.

BTW, Douglas is on a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion and what better way to kick off his tour with a little taste of great things to come here! If you want to visit his tour stops, visit www.virtualbooktoursforauthors.wordpress.com. If you would like to find out more about Douglas, visit his website at www.lostdiaryofdonjuan.com.

Monday Musings

Happy Labor Day everyone! It is beautiful here on the island! The sun is bright, the sun is shining strong and I’m STUCK on the computer. I have tours going out tomorrow morning so I have to put the pedal to the metal. But my reward is a wonderful bike ride around the island later!

Let’s not forget the state of Louisiana in their battle to fend off Hurricane Gustav. At the moment, one of the levies broke so we’re waiting to hear the latest on that. One of my blog hosts lives out there and I’ve not heard a word from her so maybe she was one of those who evacuated.

Hope you have a safe and productive Labor Day weekend!