J. H. Authors

One Woman. Three Names. Many Books.

Fabulous Project

Week #4–The Pie Project

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During week #4 there were a couple of options for my Fabulous Project. I saw GOOD PEOPLE at the Huntington Theatre Company–a wonderful show. Had a couple of meals with friends. But the winner? I started my Pie Project.

Over Labor Day weekend my nieces spent an overnight. The next morning we baked scones. Since they are almost ten, baking is more active and less passive than it used to be. We talk about measurements, and the importance of cutting butter into dough correctly, and the value of the pastry cutter to do just that. I talked about my grandmother, and how she passed down recipes. I showed them one of them, a well worn recipe card with a yellowed recipe from “Confidential Chat”, annotated by Grandma. She always “fixed” recipes. “Add more cocoa”, “use half butter, half Crisco”, “may need more milk, but be careful”, “increase cooking time”, “decrease temperature for the last half hour” and on and on.

While we were mixing, I talked about Grandma’s pies. My father loved her pies (she was his mother-in-law, so this was an earned love), especially her apple pie. I can replicate it–or come very close. My father asks that I make the Christmas pies, which I do.

“Is is a secret recipe?”

“No, not a secret. I’ll show you some time.”

“When?”

And so the Pie Project was born. We decided that during this school year we would get together and make a different pie every month. And since we visited my parents over the weekend, and the girls had gone apple picking the prior weekend, we decided to start with Grandma’s specialty. Apple pie.

Baking a pie is a great opportunity for conversation. We talked about math. We talked about chopping v. slicing v. mincing. We talked about Grandma. And we talked about spice. And in between we caught up on school, friends, fourth grade fashion, and curly v. straight hair. And I told them the secret. 2t of cinnamon and 1/2 t nutmeg. Overspice the apples.

The pie was great. But baking the pie? Fabulous.

Week #3–Billy

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This week there were a few contenders for fabulous. I saw a couple of shows, went to an event for RAGTIME (which is going to be at the Strand later this month). But my fabulous event of the week was going to see Billy. That’s Billy Drummond. Not the musician. My hairdresser.

I have been going to Billy since my freshman year of college. That makes it 32 years. Thirty. Two. YEARS. It scares me to even type that. We’ve known each other during a lot of life. Good, and bad. I’ve strayed a couple of times, trying to save some money, or go closer to work. But I’ve always gone back. Billy gives a truly great haircut.

About five years ago I decided to stop dyeing my hair. Now, Billy taught me how to dye my hair way back in the day. Working in the arts, having him dye it wasn’t in the budget. He has talked me through different colors. Applauded the burgundy. Cautioned the red (which turned pink at the roots). Talked me through the difference between ash and golden colors. Gave me tips on mixing.

I wear my hair very short, since it doesn’t grown down but rather grows out. (He also talked me through trying to grow it long a couple of times, and even one attempt at straightening it. It lasted two days.) When your hair is very short, your roots show quickly. And I was getting sick of touching it up. I also wanted to know what I looked like with white or gray hair. My father’s mother, whom I never knew, had stunning white hair and blue eyes. I have the blue eyes, and decided to test the hair.

Billy wasn’t thrilled with the idea. I didn’t tell him at first. I just dyed it lighter a couple of times. And then I let my hair go for a bit, and decided to get it cut REALLY short during the summer, to try and avoid the awkward growing out stage. And then keep it really short until the ends were clear. When we discussed it, he just shook his head. “You’ll look older than you are.” “Is this a good idea while you are still single?” “It is going to wash you out.” “White hair can yellow.”

Eventually he came around. And now admits that he was wrong. Of course, he helps me by giving me a fun, funky, spiky cut. When you have gray hair, you need to keep up with the cut.

But I was well past my expiration date on the fun, funky cut. Even though Billy’s cuts last a long time, my hair is so short that when it gets too long I look like a cross between Carl Perkins and George Washington. And I have to use a ton of product so it doesn’t take over. Saturday morning (the last day of week #3) I woke up, and called Dellaria. Did he have an opening. He did, at 1:30.

And so I went over to Kenmore, and visited Billy for the umpteenth time. We caught up on each other’s lives. And he cut, and thinned, and razored my hair into a new and fabulous shape.  And I remembered, as I always do, the miracle that is a Billy cut.  I felt lighter, younger, and prettier.  I had a weekend with work events, and I was more than ready for it.

So Billy wins my fabulous event this week. I won’t nominate him every time I visit him, but he would win.

Week #2 Celebrating Success

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Week #2 had a few contenders for my Fabulous Project. I went to a stunning production of a new play, Marie Antoinette at the ART, and a revival of one of my favorites, Crimes of the Heart at Gloucester Stage. And I spent some time with friends afterwards, which definitely makes them contenders.

But I also went to Brookline Booksmith on Wednesday and the Concord Bookshop on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the book releases of two friends. Both of them are mentioned in this picture.

Hank Phillippi Ryan is an Emmy-winning reporter who has created a second career for herself as a mystery novelist. She is very good at it. She has a three book series about report Charlie McNally. But this week she released The Other Woman, the first in a new series. It is getting wonderful reviews.

Hank is also one of my Sisters in Crime. We are both on the board of the New England chapter, and she is the president elect of the national chapter.

Ilie Ruby and I took two Grub Street classes together years ago. One was wonderful. The other, not so much. I was just starting to take myself seriously as a writer, and Ilie was a great cheerleader, especially during the not so much class. She does not write mysteries. She is a literary writer, with magic realism tones. We lost contact, but found each other again (via Facebook) when her first book, The Language of Trees, came out. And on Sunday I went to her reading at the Concord Bookshop to celebrate the release of The Salt God’s Daughter.

Though I am a Kindle user, I bought both of these wonderful writers’ books. And had them sign them. There is nothing better than celebrating the success of a friend. Or two. Definitely fabulous.

 

Week One #1 Codzilla with Friends

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In 2010 I checked off a bucket list item. I went to Egypt. It had been a dream of mine, and the trip did not disappoint. Making it even more special, I traveled with a group from Harvard, lead by the fabulous Sue Weaver Schopft. Sue is a professor and bon vivant who regularly ties spring break trips with a class. So, in addition to the trip itself, we had an Egyptian guide who traveled with us and gave us lectures.

As if the trip itself wasn’t enough, I made new friends. Angela, Deb, Meghan, Rhonda, and I keep in touch, and try to see each other every so often. They are all on my “theater date” list–since I go to so many shows, I have a group of friends I invite to go with me. On occasion we have group dinners or outings, but more often someone sends out an email asking “who wants to” and one of two of us say “me!”

When Deb asked who wanted to go on Codzilla, I said yes. I had no idea what Codzilla was, but I learned. And it became the fabulous item of the week. A high speed boat with loud music, doing a passing “tour” of the harbor, and then doing donuts around and around. I spent my actual birthday at Canobie Lake Park (another fabulous day), and I do love rides. And this was a ride. Happily, we all had rain ponchos (which worked well enough for me, though Megan got soaked. And we wore seatbelts.

Afterwards, we walked over to the North End and had dinner. It was really, really lovely. I don’t even remember the name of the restaurant. Honestly, in the North End it doesn’t much matter. But it was a wonderful way to end the week. And a great way to start the Fabulous Project.