Paul's Corner

What a surprise to get this news so late into the season. I feel sad and mad at what happened but do not wish that you rush into a new plan all at once--old structures must be torn down to build anew and when you do it will be solid at the foundations. I notice you never wish others a bad outcome--you have a great heart, your spirit, your whole being is far more immense and this is but a rip in the ocean.

A clip of the show was posted in the site and there was a lot of meanness and put downs from the other judges, most of the time uncalled for and humiliating to the dancers, all done to pander to the audience. Which is not you and I respect you for remaining true to yourself.

Which frees you for what the universe has to offer--I am thinking immense possibilities here. When the old ways of doing break down it is the time in your life that you are the most creative and ready to transform this disappointment to something yet undefined--I trust you will again surprise us. I warn the PCs all the time to prepare to be astonished...

Good for you, Paul, that "Mercuio's Menu" has garnered so much attention and that you will continue to build on that!

Its format was so interesting, with your visits to interesting places in the pursuit of different foods and menu ideas.

I watched the American DWTS just once. I found the panel so obnoxious, so full of themselves; and I wondered what background did they really have in dancing to be able to judge others?

Yes, it was painful to watch, so I didn't after that first time.(I also found the dance routines
to be alike, so flashy and the costumes so obnoxious, it was hard to distinguish a rhumba ("the dance of love")from a cha cha!)

Good luck and much love as you move on!

Shalom,

Grandma Mil

I must say that I gasped when I read this latest post. It is a shame that "Reality TV" and so many other internet sites pander to meanness.

I'm behind you, Paul. I support you in your stand to affirm rather than tear down. Blessings on you.

Channel 7 have made a dumb decision, not just because they cut one judge from a highly successful and popular team - a proven ratings winning formula but because they cut very obviously the 'wrong' judge if a head had to go! You are too nice to say that but the viewers know it and are saying it today loudly online, myself included. Not only that but they cut a judge who they should have been cross promoting for the sake of the network if nothing else given your Mercurio's Menu show also on 7. Cutting the judge with the most personality, warmth and viewer appeal will mess with the dynamic of the group and will impact the show which is as much about the judges as it is about the dancers.

Hard to fathom some of the great minds in television!

For you though Paul, know absolutely that one track ending means you get to go down another and the universe always provides something better so get ready for great things opening up for you.

Hear Hear Lena! I couldn't have said it better.

Paul you are meant for bigger and better things now. Go get'm!!

It's their loss, and also a loss for the viewers of the channel. Dumb decision for sure.

If we had you on the U.S. version, we'd treat you with much much love!

Although I have to agree with Millie's statements about the attire and glim glam of the U.S. show, I am one of it's biggest fans. I find it the most perfect form of entertainment for when I am not in the mood for drama, dumb sitcoms, and CSI's taking place on like 3 channels at a time.

Good luck in all your future endeavors Paul!

There has been an uproar over the decision by the Channel 7 top guys to remove Paul from the judges lineup for Dancing With The Stars--the blogs are busy with audiences upset at the decision.

I would like to make an appeal to the PCs to direct your comments to the decision makers and not just share it on the blogs for we have to make our voices reach the ears of the ones who are responsible for making these decisions. We are not helpless in this world--SO WRITE TO THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR and direct your protests to the decision maker. His name and e mail is as follows. Make your voice be heard and take a stand.

Commercial Director Chris O’Mara info@freehandtv.com.au

12 years as the Program Director at the Seven Network in Australia has given Chris an intimate understanding of audiences, demographics and the science of television programming and scheduling. For the last five of those years Chris also had the role of Network Head of Production. During that time Chris also served as an alternate director of the Seven Network board and Director of Pacific Magazines.

Chris has strong relationships with distributors and broadcasters all over the world and leads the development of formats and programming solutions as well as the talent management services that Freehand offers.

So Grandma Mil, Melody, Julie, Sarah, Rosie, Evelyn, Alicia, Marian, and MaryS, use your PCness and make your voices heard. It would be very important to have a voice in this. Thanks.

Thanks Lena for the lead. I just sent my email and respectful protest to Chris O'Mara. Pls let us know if you have a better contact. Thanks.

I will send a protest off also, Liz, where in the world do you get all this information and special links????

(Channel 7 was also approached by Tara for "My Biggest Fan" last year, but they didn't act on it; SBS did, now owns the rights, and the first Australian showing will be soon, on SBS, Friday night, November 7, 2008, 7:30 p.m.)

That's after the premiere here in Florida on September 26th, so I can proudly say, this will be the world premiere!

Shalom and love,

Grandma Mil

Thanks Grandma Mil; I saw it in Paul's note re Freehand Productions that manages the programs for Channel 7. He appears to be the big honcho--so it may help to direct our protests to him. The blogs in Australia are busy with shouts of protest but we should harness that energy and direct it to the decision makers. And it would be important if we all did it soon and all at once.

Insomnia helps--last 2 days--so I get all this info at 3 am in the morning which is early am in Florida. Looking forward to the premiere in FL 9/26th. Hope we get to see at least parts of the film by then, as Nov is a long ways away.

ACTION NEEDED

Again here is the contact and email

Chris O’Mara
Program Director
info@freehandtv.com.au

PEASE ACT ON THIS, WHETHER YOU ARE A REGULAR PC OR JUST VISIT ONCE IN A WHILE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING A STAND.

Chris O'Mara..... you've got mail.

I really get tired of the intelligence of the audiences being under estimated. I've voiced my opinion on the mistake.

I also sent my protest letter as well.

The Australian viewers are outraged:

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/comments/0,26700,24166721-10388,00.html

I posted a comment with the contact address but got edited out.

I received a pretty good response from Jill Macey of Freehand Productions. I was asked to forward my comments to the Seven Network Publicity Department, but I was not given their contact information. I have responded to Jill asking for this. Liz? ;)

Also my comment was published on the news.com.au website. Eeks. I wasn't expecting that. I shouldn't have given my full name. lol. Also, in reading my comments, they were a little harsh, but then, I didn't expect them to be published!

Here's what I sent to the Program Director at Freehand:

Hello Chris,

I write to you from Colorado, USA. Although I watch the U.S. version of DWTS, I have come to find out that you recently wrote Paul Mercurio off
of the upcoming season. What a mistake. If we had someone as knowledgeable, honest, and fair as Paul on our U.S. version, we would only feel that it would ADD to the quality of the program. Not all of the judges need to be strictly for entertainment value. (if you think that comedy and arguments are entertaining) Allot of dance fans watch the show for some seriousness also, and not just for sheer entertainment of a cheap nature. It does seem that the program directors of the world under estimate the intelligence of the audiences. You have once again proven this fact.

PLEASE make wiser choices in the future!

Here's the response I received:

Dear Marilyn,

Thank you for your email regarding Dancing With the Stars.

As a production company we do value our audience's views and opinions and use these as a guide. In this instance, the decision regarding the cast of
the program lies with the Seven Network, so all correspondence should be directed to their Publicity Department.

Kind regards,

Jill Macey

Freehand Productions

Level 6 431 Glebe Point Road | Glebe NSW 2037 Australia

PO Box 443 | Glebe NSW 2037 Australia

t +61 2 8514 5460 | f +61 2 9518 9455

http://www.freehandtv.com.au

Got a reply from Jill Macey as well--I retraced my steps and it is Freehand Productions that is producing the show starting 4/08 and Chris O'Mara is the Program Director--Seven Network is a big blank, as the CEO is in an induced coma from sepsis(sounds like a mystery from a soap opera)--it is the same guys that go through a revolving door. In this case the buck stops...Nowhere...He was still the best lead I got. Thanks MaryS, love your letter.

Well, I say bring Paul to the States and have him judge here. (yes! yes! yes!)

Grandma Mil is correct in saying that the U.S. judges can be full of themselves at times and the dancing can be sensational, meaning, let's do it for the sake of being in everyone's face.

Paul, it's bad enough not to ask you back, but they certainly could have given you more notice! Let's have respect.

I'm so glad the viewers are speaking out for Paul and that he's well liked and admired by them. I also hope that Freehand forwards any messages they receive on to Channel Seven. (Thanks Liz for your posts! Perfect letter MaryS--I couldn't have said it better myself!)

And Paul, I sure something better is around the corner with a production worth your talent and time! Sending you positive energy from Chicago!!

I watched the Aussie version of DWTS on Youtube, and I liked Paul the most as a judge, not just because of the PC connection, but because he was/is different from the other judges. Granted, I like their humor and comments as well, but Paul had his own way of giving constructive criticism, which I thought often was more helpful to the dancers in terms of making improvements than a lot of the other feedback. But I also noticed, that Paul was given far less 'talk' time than the other judges and that annoyed me!!!

The show will clearly lack something from now on and in many ways it's a loss to the quality of the program, but I know this also means a loss of employment and income for you Paul, that must be really tough to deal with. But your graciousness that you again display in your post above about this, is inspiring and something I have always admired about you-respect of others! Yes, I've seen you vent and express anger here as well, but you do have a calmness and genuineness about you that respects others and their decisions, no matter how averse they are to your goals and what you deserve. Hats off to you, Paul. No one can take that from you!
Let's hope that Mercurio's Menu becomes an even bigger success than it already is!

Something relative to the comments made about Paul's critiques and other the judges, being in the dance circles here you can run into those who are brutal with their colleagues (and more so behind their backs) or respecting their colleagues with meaningful comments/critiques (and refrain from back thrashing).

There have been times that I've gone to see productions without friends so I can form my own opinion and not listen to the "catty" nature that ensues in our circles.

Paul, you obviously honor what counts most!

The best will come your way!

I'm so sorry to hear this, not least of all because of the sadness and uncertainty that Paul is facing. Unerringly, it has been my experience that when opportunities are taken away or fail to materialize, it is because there is a better opportunity waiting,that would not have been possible if the other one still existed. I have no doubt that a better opportunity is waiting for Paul. We should all look forward to whatever that is!

I think I've voiced enough, but if anyone is interested in going full monty, here ya go.

Marilyn,

Regarding viewer mail and the Seven Network, you have to send any
correspondence via post and mail it to:

Programming Department
The Seven Network
38 - 42 Pirrama Road
Pyrmont NSW 2009

Regards,
Jill.

My email was returned, saying I need to contact Channel 7, so I am posting it here until I get the right email address:

Dear Mr. O'Mara:

Your decision to remove Mr. Paul Mercurio from the 8th season of Dancing With The Stars I believe is an unfortunate one. Mr. Mercurio has provided balance and a genuine dancer's perspective as judge of this succesful show until now. Your decision to keep the other more controversial yet less substantial "personalities" reflects your low view of the audience--I would like you to reconsider your decision. Your resume states that you specialize in being in tune with your audience and this is one instance where you may need to remove the extraneous noise and listen to the viewers.

It may be hard to know the real audience in that there are layers and layers of researchers and vested interests before information gets to you at the top, but we at the grassroots are reaching out to you. I hope this message does not land on deaf ears.

Thank you very much. We wish you well in all your endeavors and also wish you well in your guidance of the Channel 7 production.

The correct e mail is as follows:

ChrisO'Mara@freehandtv.com.au

for those of your interested in writing him.

My note to Chris O'Mara and Freehand's response:

Dear Chris—

Please retain Paul Mercurio as a judge on Dancing with the Stars. There must be other ways to change your show without releasing Paul. Being an accomplished and well-respected dancer, choreographer, actor, and personality, his insight is invaluable.

Listen to your fans and reconsider this action.

Melody Vasquez

Response from Jill Macy at Freehand:

Dear Melody,

Thank you for your email regarding Dancing With the Stars.

As a production company we do value our audience’s views and opinions and
use these as a guide. In this instance, the decision regarding the cast of
the program lies with the Seven Network, so all correspondence should be
directed to their Publicity Department.

Kind regards,
Jill Macey

Of course, we may not want to "derail" anything from the universe coming to Paul by our actions, but at the same time, the overwhelming response to this certainly shows how well Paul is enjoyed and valued. Of course, PCs will make the stand, but more importantly, the actual Channel 7 viewers are making their stand, too!

I trust that the best outcome is already in the works as Paul implied that in the Nature post.

To have taken a stand, by writing in protest is consistent with "mastering the rip", knowing fully well that we can't control everything.

I may be wrong but it did not feel right to just let things be--in this sense I accept what is, but I also accept there is something I can do no matter how insignificant it may seem. Thanks.

Hi, I am from Brazil and I am not enjoying the new changes! The Paul was the soul of the programme for us. If it turns out is no longer free. I hope that the directors think better! We want Paul Mercurio back, because we can not see them more by YOU TUBE!
Kisses

Hello Maria Horos, nice to hear from you. Would like to apologize to the PCs that I gave the contact info to--it looks like I led you all to a deadend--I have not managed to reach anyone involved in the show, except possibly their administrative asst who returned my email. It seems I cannot even control where my email goes so much for turning the tide of history. Anyone with a better contact, pls let me know.

To Sarah, how are you doing as we have not heard from you in a while. Liz

Liz--do not worry about the email/addresses--that's the name of the game these days.

Hopefully they are measuring the responses even if they only get caught at the admin level.

I have been absent for some time, and I come back to so much. I've read through the entries since my last visit and it seems there is so much that has happened.

Paul, I can only begin to imagine your frustration at not working regularly and needing to sell your home. Then to be let go from DWTS. As difficult as it must be right now, try to find that one tiny glimmer of hope and grasp to it tight.

Grandma Mil, I have a favor to ask. Could you please say a prayer for my friend Susie. I have just found out she has been diagnosed with cancer in her lungs, liver, breast and bones. Considering all I've been through recently, hearing this news has really hit me hard. Plus Susie's sister is a breast cancer survivor, so to see her suddenly being eaten by this disease is horrible.

Physically I am fine. Mentally I am doing my best to remain positive. My friend is here with me from NY and she's been doing a great job taking care of me. I'll check in again as soon as I can.

Dear Sarah,

Of course, Ellie will say a prayer for your friend
Susie at synagogue later this morning, and I'm sure all our PC friends will be offering theirs too.

Shalom and love,

Grandma Mil

Sarah--

Will light a candle at church tomorrow. My heart and a hug to you!

The evil creature cancer strikes again. Sarah, I am so sorrowful over your friends illness. It must have been growing for some time? I believe that it will be about 100 years before this disease is wiped out of our lives. The ways that we are forced to deal with it seem so barbaric and unsophisticated that I only have to believe that there will be progress, albeit so very slow. Why it will take so long, leaves me to believe that there is some degree of politics and bureaucracy slowing down the progress. Nonetheless, your friend is in my prayers also. I hope that she is getting good care and is surrounded by positive love and energy. My sister, who is also battling the disease feels the power of positive energy so strongly surrounding her. It can only help.

Take care of yourself and you will survive this sad time.

Millie and Ellie, I told my sister about your prayers for her and she was so very touched!! I know the energy brings strength to those who are prayed for!

Paul, how are you? Haven't heard from you since your announcement. I hope you are o.k. and feeling strong at this time of YET another challenge in your life. We love you!

Love you to you all.

The evil creature cancer strikes again. Sarah, I am so sorrowful over your friends illness. It must have been growing for some time? I believe that it will be about 100 years before this disease is wiped out of our lives. The ways that we are forced to deal with it seem so barbaric and unsophisticated that I only have to believe that there will be progress, albeit so very slow. Why it will take so long, leaves me to believe that there is some degree of politics and bureaucracy slowing down the progress. Nonetheless, your friend is in my prayers also. I hope that she is getting good care and is surrounded by positive love and energy. My sister, who is also battling the disease feels the power of positive energy so strongly surrounding her. It can only help.

Take care of yourself and you will survive this sad time.

Millie and Ellie, I told my sister about your prayers for her and she was so very touched!! I know the energy brings strength to those who are prayed for!

Paul, how are you? Haven't heard from you since your announcement. I hope you are o.k. and feeling strong at this time of YET another challenge in your life. We love you!

Love you to you all.

Gosh, it took about 10 minutes to get that posted. Sorry about the double post.

Sarah glad to hear you are well; Sarah and MaryS it must be hard to witness someone who is fighting disease. I have been with people as they fought illness and got better, and also with some when they were dying. It is hard to talk candidly to someone who is dying, but there are some people who are able to know they are dying and can prepare for it. It may be needed for someone to help them with the process of dying. I am still learning; the hardest things are often my own discomfort about the process and not anything from the person who is dying.

For those of you still wishing to express your discontent; here is a contact. You need to take out the stationary as they only take written mail.

Kerry Stokes
Chairman
Seven Network

David J. Leckie
CEO
Seven Network

Seven Network Limited
38-42 Pirrama Road
Pyrmont NSW 2009
Ph: (02) 8777 7777

For correspondence use:
PO Box 777 Pyrmont NSW 2009
AUSTRALIA

The CEO has been ill from complications of an infection. I hope he has gotten better from 4/08 and that my source is not updated about his status.

Re comment about dying: I am only speaking from my experience. I am not saying this about your loved ones in particular; just that people including me have thought about dying and it is often hardest to talk about this with the ones you love. in some cases it may be the best to talk to their doctor or some other health professional as they can be frank and spare their family the pain of talking about death. Would stop now as I end up having to come back and retract etc.

Grandma Mil and Melody, thank you both. Mary, Susie doesn't know for sure how long she has had cancer. They can only believe that it's metastasized due to the number of organs being affected.

I have dealt with cancer within my family as well. My mother is a breast cancer survivor, and her mother died of lung cancer. Plus, my father's youngest brother had throat cancer that was taken care of with radiation therapy; only to have cancer come into his spine (non-metastasized) that went into his brain and killed him. So I am no stranger to the disease.

I'm in Gettysburg with my friend until Tuesday. Then I'm heading to Brooklyn to drop her at home. I'll probably be home either Thursday or Friday. Now if I can only get some decent sleep. ;o)

Grand Mil: Hard!!! How hard do you think it has been for me????!!!!Frangipani de la Squeegee Mop!!! How's that for practicing my lines for when Tara Morice gets here. I hope your preparations are in place--excited about your premiere.

For the letter writers in dogged pursuit of those who made the unjust switch: DO WRITE YOUR LETTERS.

Paul, your audience in Australia loves you dearly. I have never seen so many people blog about a show--most people would not even care to vote on election day. Your viewers are mad and have made this known.

Thanks for your feedback from the prior post--I have advanced from salami as my cause and have been far more outspoken in other areas including work, etc. Blessings to you. You are a good man!!!

Bravo,Liz,

"...wash the coffee cups, Fran, how's your skin
Fran, Hard?....you've got your Pan Pacifics to win, and I'm back in beginners where I belong.."

Tara had tears in her eyes during that scene with
Paul, the same tears I saw the night when we said goodbye..I wiped one off with my thumb after she whispered to ME, "now, don't cry, Millie"....the cameras were rolling...she started to get into the car and I told her "now, don't bump your head.." (I understand that line got a laugh from the first screening audience in June.)

I spoke to Tara this morning while it was storming outside. Florida is in the midst of a tropical storm; cloudy, lots of rain, on and off,
and I told her that her visit will be during the hurricane season (June-November).

We decided that she will send the DVD of MBF to me soon via mail; I will not open it, but put it into a safe place that I will remember, and give it to her for the opening! That's just in case she
is delayed by the weather, perish the thought, but at least we are covered.

Hope that Channel 7 comes to its senses. Sometimes
it could be one person making a terrible decision;
hope that people power will prevail!

Shalom and love,

Grandma Mil

. . . so glad to have found your blog . . . wish you were the judge for the american dwts . . . we could use your eye and your sparkly wisdom . . .

it truly is that there is no wrong, only right and then maybe spending a bit of time understanding the why-is-this-right? wonderful things are coming your way. how could they not??? :)

(ps - please oh please get an rss feed for your blog so that your readers can get your regular updates through our blog readers aka google reader, etc. :)

Hi All!

I just got back from my trip to DC and added some pictures to my weblog...

http://www.xanga.com/JAC297

Hope Tara won't be delayed by any Hurricanes.

Sarah I wish Susie well I'm sorry to hear about all thats going on.

Liz for this PC fan you have proven much dedication to the cause of putting Paul back on DWTS. If you lived closer I'd take you out for a Mojito but since its not the case I hope that you can relax your feet on the couch and make yourself one and reward yourself for your hard work.

all the best to everyone,

Julie

ps. I hope Paul that the best thing is yet to come, I'm sure it will.

Grandma Mil, are you riding out the storm okay?

Julie, what INCREDIBLE pics!! I think the cow at Mount Vernon and the Jefferson Memorial with reflection were my two favs. Thanks for puting them all up.

Julie--these are beautiful! You have great perspective!

Grandma Mil--hoping Fay DOES NOT make your day! :) And definitely hoping that nothing comes in to prevent Tara from flying in for the premiere!

Sarah--wishing sweet dreams and prayers for your friend.

Paul--please keep us posted!

Grandma Mil, I echo the others that I hope you are ok.

I haven't heard from my mom since arriving in Brooklyn - and she lives in the Clearwater, FL area. I'm a bit concerned. My friend Susie (the one for whom I've asked prayers) lives in the Tampa, FL area. I hate hurricane season.

I am up all by myself (not including the cat and fish), and while I was waiting for something to load on the computer I was reading through the DVD collection in my friends' apartment. Consider my amusement when I came across Exit to Eden. Of course it's only fitting Joey has it in the collection - it was in this very apartment the first time I watched it. LOL

Well it is late here in the US, and I should turn off the Olympics and get some sleep.

Grandma Mil, I hope you have the emergency kit and stove ready as you wait for Fay to weaken. Rain here after being in the 100s a day ago--getting confused with the weather here.

Thank you Julie for the mojito and your prior toast at Waxy's. I will get some fresh mint to make a mojito but I need a mortar and pestle to make a good one as I saw them make it. The best mojito I have tried was !surprise! in BC Canada--have tried to make it since but never made it as good as that one.

Your pictures look so professional--do you get them published? I like the Georgetown Christmas apt--it looks like how I imagine an east coast wtr house would look like. You capture the essence of a DC winter and the heat of a FL backyard in your pics. A toast to you Julie. Love your work!

Sarah, the weather forcasts at 6:00 am. (Thursday)
have tropical storm Fay smacking the north east side of Florida (Melbourne, Jacksonville) after leaving the parts of Tampa and Clearwater (west side) that you are concerned about, a couple of days ago.

It seemed those areas where Susie and your mother are got a lot of rain, like we did here in Broward
Country, but not the flood making rain that is up
north now; hope you hear good news soon.

Yes, Liz, I had a sterno stove put aside 2 years
ago, along with plenty of bottled water, batteries and flashlights and canned goods, but we had no hurricanes or anything last year, so now we have to come to the reality that this season we will not be so lucky.

Now I have to keep track of the expiration dates of some of the unused stuff! A corner of the dining room is my hurricane prepardness center, and it looks like something out of the local grocery store!

Yes, Julie's work is grand; when Tara comes we are planning to make time so Julie can document Tara's visit through her photography!

It's five weeks until Tara and Ondine arrive; Yes,
we're counting the weeks and then the days, with fingers crossed for no storms...

If you can, go to YouTube and in the search bar,
put in "Carmen", Carlos Saura (director). You should bring up lots of flemenco dances, but one in particular, a beautiful young woman and a guy dancing the "Habanara".

I think that gal resembles Tara in the scene from SB where Tara is dancing with Antonio Vargas on the back porch..of course, everything reminds me of Tara...5 weeks to go before the premiere!

Shalom and love,

Grandma

Grandma Mil, just reading about the governor's comments on the apparent flooding in Florida--more prayers your way! I'm glad you have supplies on hand.

Sarah, I hope your family continues to be all right.

The actress in "Carmen" is Laura del Sol and the man dancing with her is the late renowned Spanish dancer Antonio Gades. While Laura dances well, she is more of an actress that the Gades company worked hard with for that role.

This movie brings back memories of my first trip to Spain in 1983. The dance studio that Antonio visits with Paco de Lucia is the old "Amor de Dios" studio in Madrid, which was a really exciting place to attend classes. Every studio had something going on from the rapid stomping of feet, to castanets, to singing and guitarists, and even the classical dances. Everyone who's anyone in Spanish dance came through that studio one way or another. Sad to say it went the way of condo conversion . . . and the "new" Amor de Dios studio kept moving locations. It finally settled, but I heard it doesn't have that magic energy of the original.

Anyway, Grandma Mil discovered some great scenes on YouTube, and I certainly see where Laura del Sol has some resemblance to Tara (Fran) in that one scene.

Mary Melody and Liz thank you for your compliments. I put them on to share the adventures of my trip and it was a suprise to read such nice comments. Thank you.

Fay wasn't bad at all a wimpy storm I have to say. I have to admit it was a great excuse to have my husband home for those two days and I'm sure the kids in the area who were suppose to start school on Monday were jumping up and down when they found out that they would have a few more days of vacation.

Here in Fort Lauderdale when a bad storm has hit, and electricity is out for days and there's damage everywhere, as long as the generator at Waxy's is working everyone in my boating community regains a sense of sanity after a good Guiness or for myself, a Mojito.

Millie I'll give you a call soon!

Julie

Grandma Mil and Julie, I'm glad you both made it through Fay unscathed. I actually lived in Cocoa, FL for 3 years after high school and I saw how they were getting pounded.

I still haven't heard from my mom, but I know she tends to let me be when I'm traveling. I'll give her a call when I get back to VA.

Sadly my sleeping patterns are all screwed up, and I should have been in bed a good hour ago... but here I am still online. *sigh* I suppose I should turn off the computer and go to sleep.

Hello everyone,

Glad to hear the hurricane flew past our dear pc friends!
Sarah, I don't think I could keep up with you. Get some rest!
Julie and Liz, come out to Colorado for a mojito. I have spearmint growing in my flower garden and I have to harvest it like once a month during the summer! Last summer I had a garden party and we drank mojitos all day and the garden still had plenty left. You know you can't kill that stuff, even here where the soil freezes all winter.

Grandma, how will you be able to stand the excitement of having the MBF movie under your nose without viewing it! How cool. Like the anticipation of a kid in a candy store!

My sister is feeling pretty strong after her second 5 day treatment. She seems to now be on overdrive and I'm not sure what that's about other than like a born again christian syndrome. You know the act. A person who was headed for a huge fall, discovers something or someone who will save them and then goes overboard. She wants to be as strong and energetic as possible and she doesn't know how to pace herself. It's a little freaky. Scary and we know why but are supportive of whatever and wherever her healing motivation comes from, as long as she doesn't defeat her own purpose.

Love you all!

Haven't seen Paul post. I hope you are doing o.k. and are strong in your magnificence! Please let us know that you are in a good place emotionally.

Mary, I will just have to put "My Biggest Fan" somewhere out of sight, and make sure Ellie knows
where I hide it in case I can't remember...but then, WHO COULD FORGET???

I'm very glad that your sister seems to be doing better...Ellie says a special prayer every Saturday in synagogue for her and others on his list; maybe that is helping!

We have a bit of sunshine here in our area, but the forecast is intermittant sun and showers all week long. Sarah, hope you got word that your mother and Susie are okay.

Shalom and love,

Grandma

Lighting a candle on Sunday for Paul and our PCs.

So many special thoughts and happenings here! :)

I spoke to Mom earlier and they only got a small amount of rain from TS Fay. Susie checked in as well, and she said her area got no rain.

I'm back home in VA after the absolute drive from hell. I left my friend's apartment in Brooklyn around 12:15p. Three hours later I was *still* in NJ! It took over another hour to get out of NJ and I figured DE would be a piece of cake. (Heck, it's a teensy state.) I go over the Delaware Memorial Bridge, paid the toll, and BAM! Stopped dead in my tracks. *sigh* The drive should take me no more than 6 hours, and that is hitting traffic around the Baltimore/DC area and in Northern VA (NoVA). I arrived at my house around 8:45-9:00p. Of course now I've got a second wind and can't sleep. So I did a load of wash and put a movie in. I think I might be able to sleep soon, so I'm going to cut the computer off and read a bit.

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend. :o)

Millie and Ellie,

Thank you SO very much for praying for my sister. I fully believe that positive, unselfish thoughts that go out for other people are definitely heard. My sister is so moved and wants me to thank you from the bottom of her heart for your kindness. We appreciate it more than words can express. She's definitely in a battle, but she is living each and every minute to it's fullest. More than us average folks do! Today she was on a qwest to replace her old cuisinart with a new one so she could grate all her garden zucchini for the winter recipes. Can you believe that? She's all over the place!

Is it still storming in Florida?

What's Mr. Mercurio up to? I have yet another friend putting her home on the market, even though it's such a lame time to sell. People are having such problems keeping their homes. I struggle every month with it.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Talk about foolish things I have been inspired to do lately. I have written the 2 top guys at Seven to request them to change their decision for my own selfish benefit so Paul will be in this show that I have no hope of ever seeing on TV in the US. Which I hope I will see once I board a plane to Australia so I can watch DWTS on a Sunday in Australia some time this fall.

Yes, Mr. Mercurio you inspire your fans to act in such insensible ways. The postmaster at my zip code gave me a puzzled look bec I was Fed Exing my all important letter to get there by Aug 22, which is also a day ahead down there, so they can only guarantee 3 day delivery bec the Australians are always ahead.

Which leads me do say, how are you doing? I am looking forward to Mercurio's Menu in that it speaks of places and it emphasizes knowing the place, its stories, the people and creating food from where it is grown and produced. Sounds like a great show that would address my anguish about eating food trucked from 5,000 miles and will make me try to eat local food where I am at. But yours is the Australian version with the farflung places and of course it would feature you--which would be the main reason I would see the show. I picked up on an upcoming book in one of the Aus blogs--so Paul will there be a book? A book that we PCs can get and read or is it a podcast? I know you are busy battling an all out war so it may take you a while to get to read this. So best wishes to you and your loved ones...always.

Paul, I'm probably years behind in realizing that beer is preserved with various forms of formaldehyde chemicals. Is this still a common practice? Is it only in imported beers, which would be a majority of them? I heard it's a practice still being used mostly in China? Do you know of any good formaldehyde free beers? I sure as heck don't want to raise my risk of brain cancer. I drink a beer or two almost every day. Well, that may be embellishing a bit, but during the summer I do drink beer more.

Please let me know.

Hello MaryS. Thank you for your spearmint garden. Julie and I will toast you a mojito.
The ff is Paul's essay on beer and I would imagine he would like to share it with you as you had asked him about great beers; I meant to post it again but cannot find it but was posted in the blog a while back.

Correction on the above: I meant nonsensical things, wrong word.

http://www.beerandbrewer.com/content/view/37/65

How fun! I don't know or should say, don't think these are sold in the U.S.?

My question is around the formaldehyde usage. That really doesn't sit well with me if I'm putting that into my body, in any amounts...unless it's going to preserve me! LOL

Hope everyone is finishing up a wonderful weekend. Mine just began today!

Yes they can be found esp the belgian ones but are pricey. The Hoegaarden is good with a clean taste. The beer expers say the Cooper's Beermaking kit is really good and Paul is in the video showing how to make your own. Sounds like fun; I like his story about becoming a man with tha armpit hair; I wish girls too had something like that to brag about--like a rite of passage--men kind of announce to the world "I am a man!!!" but growing up I did not see girls socialized to do that. But great story Paul.

RE MaryS Burning Question on whether there is formaldehyde in beer. Beer has ethanol not methanol and it is methanol that can transform from an alcohol to an aldehyde by transferring electrons. But ETOH can pickle the brain without any help from formaldehyde--so drink in moderation. Correct me on this but I got this from my Org Chem bk.

MaryS, I am now on a quest to find the answer and I will go to our local brewer to ask them. I have to know too. Liz.

MaryS, still on the quest; tomorrow would be a good day to visit the Bridgeport Brewery and ask the question. So far I have tried an IPA and Blue Heron from the brewery and I will try get there tomorrow to ask a live person. On with the quest. Maybe Cat can join me but she is really busy and I have not yet met her which is another quest of mine. Liz.

Mary S: I finally got to ask the master brewer if there is formaldehyde in beer:

1. Intentionally--from his experience from brewing since 1983, it is hearsay, some beers did have formaldehyde as a preservative (beers from South America). It would be illegal to use this as a preservative in beers made in the US and Europe. When asked if those beers from So. America whether they would list that as an ingredient: probably not.

2. As a byproduct of the fermantation process: he agrees that since the alcohol in beer is ethanol, not methanol , there would be no formaldehyde; 99.9% of the alchohol is ethanol. Methanol (one carbon alchol can transform to formaldehyle (methaldehyde = formaldehyde), but ethanol has 2 carbons so it would be a 2 carbon aldehyde. Alcohol can become an aldehyde as noted by trading electrons.

So is that reassuring to you? The brewer was so helpful. He said I can quote him. Matt R. is one of the master brewer at Bridgeport Brewery. They named a beer after our favorite city bird the Blue Heron.

I asked the lady whether I can ship beer via mail she said the post office does not allow it bec of the potential for CO2 formation and it may burst in transit. I want to send you our local beer and Paul too.