Rochelle Cashdan

Keeping the cast dry is rule number one, but others are to get lots of rest, exercise the shoulder and fingers, and know you'll need to regain strength and flexibility.

So far swine flu has not come to my adopted city of Guanajuatom Mexico, but despite widespread conmpliance with strict public health measures, we can only hope.

A discussion of on Updike's poems, stories, and several novels where what he wrote about affected my life.

At the end of January, 2009 the International Monetary Fund reported the world economic conditions are worsening more than predicted. Americans tend to focus on what is happening in the US. This article is about three other developed countries

A blockbuster exhibit showing three centuries of Imperial opulence. From a royal sleigh to tools used by Peter the Great to documentary footage, this exhibit brings a visitor close to Russia without crossing the ocean.

Reading doesn't have to be only a solitary activity. You can deepen friendships through joining a book group or now by listing books you read on a website and inviting friends to do the same.

John Updike's story "At the A&P," written more than fifty years ago, is often required reading but can be the beginning of a lifetime habit. This article suggests a few other titles for the Updike fan to follow up.

Two of the five restaurants I mentioned in an earlier article are closed or closing, but you''ll find more choices than ever in Guanajuato, Mexico at about 40 pesos for a complete meal.

While there used to be concern about the calorie content of avocados (more about that in a minute), U.S. government nutritionists now consider the cholesterol-lowering benefits of the avocado to balance or outweigh the calorie count.

The 114+ page FISA bill contains provisions that would enable routine surveillance of mail between anyone in the US and a foreign country.but overseas AMericans would have fewer rights than citizens at home.

China is imprisoning dissident writers and other citizens, despite its promises in negotiating for the 2008 Olympics. Non-governmental organizations are publicizing the crackdown.

Some children get lunch for free at school, others pay, but all may find fewer healthy choices on the menu as costs rise.

Hemingway's stories still speak to us nearly 50 years after his death. Read about how he shaped his stories and how his life (including what probably was bipolar disorder) shaped him.

Treat your body well and still eat the way Mexicans do. Choose fruits and veggies like peas and bananas that come in their own wrappers or wash, then peel or cook what you eat.

Adults keep coming back to folk music, children love it. Why does it fascinate? The music, the lyrics, the themes, at times its association with historic events like the Civil Rights movement.

A savvy writer needs to knows the time cost and payoff of submitting work to Constant Content, Suite 101 and Associated Content. Here are some points to consider.

When an American wins the Nobel Peace Prize, it's good news to set along the bad.

Few people knew of the needle in the haystack, Netbank's imminent collapse. With hindsight, it was easier to see the bank's downward path. Websites both conceal and reveal.

Netbank's $2.1 billion assets now belong to Ingbank, with the FDIC insuring depositors' accounts up to $100,000. For overseas Americans, the Patriot Act put up obstacles to diversifying into new bank accounts when they might have otherwise.

If you're not a couch potato and can speak some Spanish, make your next Mexican vacation away from the beach. Savor the local life, learn, lean back and see what happens.

Grace Paley, whose Collected Stories made her a finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, wrote about women's everyday lives when the topic was unfashionable. She combined her writing with family, work and political action against war.

Good medical care for most conditions is available in Mexico if you know where to look but it is not hassle free. Consider your own needs, style and language skill and ask as many people as possible how they manage their health care in Mexico.

Even in Mexico, shop around as prices vary among pharmacies. Specialized meds may not be available in a small city. Mailing meds across the border is illegal.

Watching Helen Mirren's "The Queen," brought one American audience member in contact with important decades in her own life.

Mexico keeps changing, beyond the stereotypes held by many Americans. To look beyond the obvious, take a vacation in the hills, watch people at work in the cities, eat when the Mexicans eat or at least go to a market. If you know Spanish, read the paper.

NOWC's selection of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the newest in a long line of Seven Wonders lists, may not be objective but is likely to influence tourist choices anyway.

Barcelona, Guanajuato, and Bath are attracting more foreign tourists than ever. Some observers, like Anatxu Zabalbeascoa of the Spanish newspaper El Pais, suggest that these cities in becoming popular destinations may be losing their charm.

Which ever course is your favorite, you can eat healthily and well at a handful of restaurants in Guanajuato, Mexico. Whether Northwest style American or French vegetarian, all specialize in fresh local ingredients, feature a lunch menus and seating for as long as you like.

Living in New York City for a while is different from being a weekend tourist. Besides the well-known attractions of Manhattan, you'll need time for everyday tasks will that will end up giving depth to your experience of The Big Apple.

Tony Cohan, writer of On Mexican Time, this time describes his travels to off-the-beaten track Mexican places and familiar ones like Oaxaca and the historic center of Mexico City. A hip yet fact-filled account with sensory detail that holds the reader.

International PEN, a worldwide organization for published writers, honors literary quality and works actively to better the lives of writers who are political prisonersor in exile. Next year's PEN Congress will be in Dakar, Senegal.

Get to know the Columbia River upriver where wheat is shipped, past the great heartland of Indian tribes, near Portland, or at to the river mouth near Astoria. You'lll find blockbuster views, museums and good coffee along the, freeways and byways.

Especially if you're a solo traveler, forget your shyness while you travel. You'll get the information you need, make at least temporary acquaintances and learn beyond the guidebook.

Nearly everything is close in Lisbon wherever you stay in hte small European capitals. Besides, Lisbon offers beauty, economy and good public transportation when you want to go farther afield..

You're an indepedent solo travel waning to keep your daily life simple.
Carry on your suitcase, take washable clothes, and bring back mainly memories.

Dramatic ability hides in most of us and so does the love of a story brought
to life. A playreading group can be an addictive activity for its members, who only need a table to sit around, copies of the script, and someone who brings it all together.

Poetry keeps happening. Iin the United States where April is National Poetry Month. Poet Charles Bernstein thinks the celebration of poetry would be better served by an International Anti-Poetry Month. Read on for his reasoning.

The round of the year in our city is predictable. Whether you sample or keep coming back at a favorite season, the streets and lanes, the hillsides of colorfully painted houses, the fruit &vegetable vendors, music and more music await you.

War may be God's way of teaching geography, but many Americans pay little attention to the rest of the world. Geography and other social studies classes don't seem to make much of a dent, as confirmed by a recent study.

Mexican home cooking features more fruit and vegetables than you might imagine. On your trip, look for the tasty fat carrots, tiny avocados, huitlacoche (what's that?) and vegetables like verdolaga and huazontle and don't forget guanabana ice cream....

Collelges like Stanfor, Wellesley, Dartmouth and Vassar encourage their allums to organize minireunions, local events that keep former classmates in touch with each other especially before major reunion events.

Women in some 70 countires (Algeria to Zambia) belong to 5W, a non-profit worldwide women's friendship organization supporting solo travel. Members make contacts abroad, get and give information, and can provide homestays or be guests.

Whether your Mexico City hotel in the historic center is budget or upscale, you can walk to a generous handful of museums. Think of a pyramids, paintings, and more. If you wonder about safety, check the suggestions at the end.

If you know survival Spanish and have a spirit of adventure, you can go beyond the guidebook during your Mexican vacation. By soaking up information wherever you find it, your own preferences will lead you to the Mexico beyond the gringo trail.

Women looking for a committed relationship should know that wishing may not make the relationship come true. Acknowledging a partner's unwillingness for commitment is the first step in letting go. This short book points the way.

William Polk first went to Iraq fifty years ago. He speaks and reads Arabic, has gone back to Iraq since, taught at major US universities, and served on the policy planning staff of the US State Department. What's more, he writes clearly.

RC Gorman and Fritz Scholder, Native American artists who died in 2005, brought lustre to the North American art scene. Rick Bartow keeps drawing from his roots. Use the web to see images of their work and know what they say about the creative life.

Eating can be a highlight of your Mexican vacation. Avocados and peanuts roasted in the shell can even add to your health. Sharing a rich dish like enchiladas is an option. Guanajuato offers a half dozen restaurants where you can eat wisely but well.

If your luxury vacation to a Mexican beach includes all meals, you can sample a wide range of food and still maintain a healthy eating style. Tips on what to avoid, but more importantly, what to consider, from avocados to a few bites of tamarind pie.

Professional interpreters work rapidly with concepts. Mexican interpreter Odin Barron explains his choice of profession, preparation, and opportunities. In the US, interpreters work mainly for courts and hospitals.

Avoid temptation but still eat the Mexican way in Guanajuato. Tips on healthy foods like corn tortillas and avocados, eating less but adventurously, and healthy Guanajuato restaurants.

Rosa Parks stayed in her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus at just the right time. Her act led to the changing of our national laws. Many other African-Americans had the same attitudes although they didn't become famous.