March 2022 Newsletter

Life in Mexico

We missed National Kahlua Day on February 28!

Bummer.

We first came to the Manzanillo area several decades ago on a two-week winter getaway in Barra de Navidad. We stayed in a family-run hotel overlooking the bay.

Every evening we would toast the sunset with Kahlúa and milk on ice; we drank every last drop of fresh milk in town and the hotel had to buy a cow.

Here’s to Mexico’s best liqueur! I’m going to write to Congress and have them adopt it as the national drink.

TV Series Review

Inventing Anna

Streaming on Netflix

This mini-TV series, created by Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy), has all the ingredients for a prime-time soap opera; sex, money, jet-set lifestyles and a world-class scam artist.

The true-life tale is based upon Anna Delvey (played by Julia Garner), a scheming young woman who sells herself as the heir to a Russian oligarch. She fools the social and financial elite of New York into giving her entry to their rarified circles, scamming grand dames and bankers alike.

When her plans begin to unravel, journalist Vivian Kent (played by Anna Chlumsky), sets out on her trail, following the breadcrumbs left by her social media trail to hunt down her past life and accomplices. Her relentless detective work finally uncovers the truth.

Thanks to Rhimes’ talents, the story takes on a vitality fueled by not only Garner’s brilliant portrayal of the protagonist, but by the rich broth of supporting characters. I highly recommend Inventing Anna!

My historical novel now available on Amazon!

“A real page turner!”

Amazon 5-star review

The year is 1944. Paris has been under German occupation for four years. The French Resistance knows that an Allied invasion is imminent.

Veronique Grenelle is growing up in an impoverished inner-city neighborhood, scrambling to feed herself and her family.

The Resistance recruits the vivacious young woman to befriend Lieutenant Gunther von Clause, an aide-de-camp to the German Army’s Military Governor. She gradually gains his trust and affection.

James Gallagher, a lieutenant in the US Army’s Military Intelligence unit, frequently parachutes behind enemy lines to deliver funds and instructions to the Resistance. He meets and befriends Veronique, who falls madly in love with the dashing American officer.

D-Day approaches, and Veronique finds herself in a bind; should she pursue her heart or her duty? In the end, her decision will not only determine the fate of Paris, it will reverberate down through her family for generations to come.

Recipe: Ginger Beef

This is a family favorite that is easy to make from common household ingredients yet tastes spicy and exotic!

Ingredients

1 lb of rig eye beef, cut into ½ inch strips

1 cup of mushrooms, quartered

1 Tsp of minced garlic

1 Tsp of minced ginger

1 tsp of black pepper.

¼ cup of soy sauce

¼ cup of brown sugar

¼ cup of brandy or Marsala wine

1 Tsp of oil (sesame or canola).

Chopped green onions

Cooked rice.

Directions

Mix the beef, mushrooms and marinade ingredients in a bowl, cover and refrigerate for one hour.

Fry the mixture in a pan over medium heat for two minutes.

Serve on rice with green onion garnish.

Enjoy!

Documentary Review

The Andy Warhol Diaries

Streaming on Netflix

While Andy Warhol was known for his reticence for talking about himself, he began dictating a private diary in 1968 after an assassination attempt. The tomes were published after his death in 1987, and form the core of this fascinating documentary series.

Born in Pittsburgh in 1929, he moved to New York City at the age of 20 and began a career in fashion illustration. He soon branched out, producing a series of popular silk screen images that caught the public’s imagination, including the Campbell’s soup can, Marilyn and Elvis.

Critics were savage towards his work, but his controversial lifestyle and high-profile at Studio 54 made him an international art icon; pop art has endured and become mainstream, commanding some of the highest prices in the modern market.

The documentary relies heavily on the people who knew him, including family members as well as celebrities like actor Rob Lowe and singer Blondie. It is a fascinating (and sometimes gritty) peek behind the carefully-crafted public façade, revealing a talented man haunted by doubts, sexual secrecy and a yearning for acceptance. I highly recommend The Andy Warhol Diaries!