‘The Darkness Within’ is the new young adult thriller by Crystal Oliver. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In book news this week, there is a new young adult thriller out by Crystal Oliver. “The Darkness Within” is a thrilling tale of a young girl’s journey of self-discovery and supernatural powers. Will Emma be able to master her abilities and defeat the Darkness, or will she become its next victim? Get your copy today of this action-packed young adult thriller. It is on sale for the next few days for $2.99 at the Kindle Store. It is also available on Books2Read. (Crystal Oliver, 2023)
“The Darkness Within” – Sixteen-year-old Emma wakes up to a nightmare: blood in the living room, her mother missing, and a darkness lurking in the mist outside. As people are dying, Emma discovers that the government has created a terrifying creature that not only escaped from their facility but is on a killing spree. To make matters worse, the creature seems to have a strange connection to the girl. As Emma struggles to come to terms with her new reality, she must also master her growing psychic powers that seem to have come out of nowhere. With the help of Eric, a government soldier with his own special abilities, Emma learns to control her powers and take on the Darkness.
As the creature closes in on Emma, she realizes that it’s not just a mindless killer. It has a purpose, and Emma might be the only one who can stop it. As the final battle approaches, Emma must confront her fears and use all of her powers to save her town and herself.
Smirnoff ICE Preparadas. Photo: Chris Perez, used with permission.
Cinco de Mayo is this Friday, and if you are looking for cocktail ideas for your get together, here are two of them. (Giant Noise, 2023)
Cantina Margarita:
Austin-based CANTEEN Spirits launched a Mexican-inspired, margarita-style hard seltzer in February 2023. It is currently available throughout Texas with national distribution coming soon. Dubbed the Cantina Margarita, the new seltzer is available in three flavors — original (margarita), strawberry, and mango. Each 12-oz can contains only 110 calories, 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram net carbs and is brewed at 6% alc/vol, higher than most big brand hard seltzers. Unlike their previous lines, the Cantina Margarita is made with alcohol produced from cane sugar, a departure from the company’s spirit-based model.
“After carefully examining the current RTD market, we saw the popularity of hard seltzers declining, with one exception: Mexican-inspired cocktails like margaritas and agua frescas are still growing, and doing so at a rapid pace. Expanding from spirit based RTDs into the hard seltzer realm was a natural evolution for CANTEEN.” said CANTEEN’s co-founder and CEO, Brandon Cason.
CANTEEN Spirits’ new Cantina Margarita-Style Hard Seltzer. Photo: CANTEEN Spirits, used with permission.
Smirnoff ICE Preparada:
The Smirnoff ICE Preparada is over-the-top, bright, and colorful, just like Cinco de Mayo. It showcases an array of ingredients and flavors and is endlessly customizable. Made from a refreshing combo of Smirnoff ICE, fresh chopped fruit, chamoy, chili salt, and spicy/sour Mexican candies, the drink was first popularized at drive-thru daiquiri shops in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.
Preparadas skyrocketed in popularity at San Antonio’s iconic Fiesta celebrations in 2011 and have been a staple of the city-wide party ever since. They are now regularly enjoyed at bars, restaurants and festivals throughout Texas in the spring and summer months. Here is a recipe to make one of your own at home:
Ingredients
1 (one) 11.2 oz bottle of Smirnoff ICE (Original, Spicy Tamarind or Green Apple flavor)
1 oz chamoy
chili salt (for rim)
1/2 cup diced pineapple
1/2 cup diced strawberries
sour gummies, and Mexican candies
1 package dried chili mango
1 bamboo skewer
Instructions
Rim your favorite glass with chamoy and chili salt
Fill glass with ice
Add in diced pineapple and strawberry
Fill glass with your favorite flavor of Smirnoff ICE
Mike Tod’s new self titled LP is out now. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Canadian ethnomusicologist and musician Mike Tod might just be the most identifiable bridge carrying our musical past into current day and beyond. With conviction and candor, he sings well-worn traditional songs, researches their roots, and shares them in a fashion that feels authentically of another time, while still firmly planted in the present. He forges old-time songs into historical epics, conjuring visions of western portraits and weathered landscapes, immersing listeners in traditional songs recorded with modern clarity and true grit. As an ethnomusicologist, Tod’s The Folk podcast series on the lesser-known histories of folk and old-time music in Canada was called “an unlikely hit” by the Calgary Herald. Mike Tod reminds us that the past, present, and future are inexorably linked in song. (IV-PR, 2023)
On April 13, Tod released his debut full-length studio album; a self-titled affair that finds its instrumentation honoring the history of old-time music while its expansive, cinematic arrangements focus Tod’s grand vision through a modern lens.
Tod recently shared the second track from his Mike Tod LP, “The Coo Coo.” “It’s one hell of an eerie, haunting song when you really pay attention to the lyrics,” says Tod of the song that has been recorded by everyone from Clarence Ashley—on the Anthology of American Folk Music—to (Tod’s personal favorite) Ramblin’ Jack Elliot. “There’s themes of addiction, potential homelessness, and obsession over an individual. Almost creepy, but for sure scary.” The driving and moody string band instrumentation aids in painting Tod’s version of “The Coo Coo” in a dark light. “I’d say our version shows that this song is more like a horror movie than anything else,” says Tod.
Accompanying the release of “The Coo Coo” is a beautifully animated music video from Molly Little. The sepia-tinged, high contrast animation follows the lyrics of this classic song closely, matching the mood and dynamics scene by scene. Folk Radio UK premiered the video, saying, “There’s a gorgeously dark underlying drone that’s accentuated by Tod’s well-worn tenor vocals while his talented band pull out all the stops on one of the best arrangements I’ve heard for this folk song…the whole arrangement works on every level, lending it a dark southern gothic feel. I’m looking forward to hearing more from Mike Tod.”
Cooking your meals at home is good for your health and your wallet. Photo: Alyson McPhee, used with permission.
There are so many reasons why cooking your meals at home is a good idea. While ordering takeout is easier, convenient, and often tastes great, it is not good for your health or your wallet. Because of this, more and more people are trying to get into cooking as a hobby and a way to feed themselves.
Unfortunately, cooking is not always easy, especially if you do not know where to start. This is where this article comes into the picture. With this advice, you can save money, improve your health, and learn how to make some delicious meals.
Saving Money
With the recent rise in the cost of living, everything is expensive. You might reason that takeout is not much more expensive than buying groceries, but this is just a sign that you are buying groceries wrong.
The first mistake people make is to neglect to write a list. This makes you more likely to forget something you need, so you end up having to go back to the grocery store, where you might pick up a bunch of other groceries. Write a list and plan what you will buy, ideally based on specific recipes.
Writing a list also prevents you from buying food you do not need. Shopping when you are hungry leads to buying junk food and other unneeded items, which can lead to waste. Pay attention to prices as you buy, specifically the price per weight, which will tell you what provides better value for money.
The Right Recipes
If you are not familiar with cooking, then recipes are your friend. Ideally, you want to start with simple, delicious, and quick recipes so that you can get started on your cooking journey. Consider the nutritional value of the meals you cook as well.
For example, try some delicious brown sugar pork chops. You’ll love how simple yet tasty they are. Because they are packed with flavor, you can pair them with some steamed or sauteed vegetables for a quick, healthy, and easy meal.
Once you build a collection of recipes that you have learned, you naturally get a grasp of the basics of cooking. You learn how to hold and use a knife properly, as well as the best way to brown meat and create a sauce. You also grow more confident in your skills, which allows you to experiment or try more complicated dishes.
Cooking Classes
One way that you can improve your skills and grow in confidence is to find some local cooking classes. These will teach you specific techniques and tips that will boost your cooking ability, and give you some great ideas for meals.
Cooking classes are also an excellent way to make new friends and connections. You can find classes geared towards your age group and your peers, or go for a mixed group. You never know who you might meet and what ideas you might pick up.
Learning how to cook is a good way to help yourself grow as a person and pick up some practical skills.
Dancing serves as a form of exercise and stress reliever. Photo: Michael Zittel, used with permission.
It is never too late to learn something new. In fact, it is encouraged at all ages to help keep the mind sharp and expand your skills. With so many different skills to know and learn, you will never be short of new hobbies or passions to indulge in or learning opportunities you can take up.
While some hobbies can be solely for fun, many can help you expand your skills and support and enhance your quality of life. Read on to find out more.
Cooking and Baking
Everyone needs to learn how to cook and taking up cooking or baking, or even both, as your new hobby can give essential skills you can use every day to support yourself. Whether you want to wow your friends by whipping up a three-course meal worthy of a place on MasterChef or you try this lemon slice recipe to practice for a spot on the Great British Bake Off, learning kitchen skills will serve you well. Whether you self-learn at home using recipe books, online tutorials or via food bloggers or by taking classes, you can find something that works for you positively.
A New Language
Many people learn languages in schools, but not as many carry on these skills as adults. New languages can help you massively when travelling around the world or when conversing with people who have a different native language than you. The most common spoken language in the world is English, followed by Mandarin Chinese, Hindi and Spanish, but there are over 6,5000 spoken languages in the world for you to try to learn if you so wish.
Sewing and Knitting
Sewing and knitting are skills that were once commonplace in schools across the world but, in recent years, have been removed from the curriculum. However, lately, these skills seem to be having somewhat of a revival, with more and more of the younger generations taking up knitting and sewing for pleasure. These skills can help you be more creative and give you valuable skills to help you repair items at home and even create your own clothing.
Dancing
Dancing is an excellent form of exercise and can be an important stress reliever and mood enhancer. Suppose you struggle to get the motivation to move or do much exercise, or you simply like to express yourself through music. In that case, taking music classes to teach yourself different dance styles at home can help you learn how to express yourself better and stay fit, healthy, and more enjoyable if the gym does not interest you. Dancing means paying attention to how you hold your body, the beat of the music and how to stay in time with a beat. Being more agile and fluid in your movements can help you avoid accidents and injuries and set you up for a physically healthy body that can cope with your daily activities.
Whatever hobby you take up, ensure you do it for the right reasons. While some can give you invaluable skills you can implement in your life, you need to enjoy what you must do to get maximum pleasure and benefits from it, or it will not be worthwhile.
Gift ideas for moms at Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk include a Mindful Moms Retreat and more. Photo: Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, used with permission.
Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so if you are looking for gift ideas, consider Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk.
A spa day is one of the most rewarding Mother’s Day gifts, and this year Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk is offering moms everything from luxurious spa treatments to specialty cocktails at the rooftop bar and lounge to provide them with all of the celebrations that they deserve. (Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, 2023)
Over Mother’s Day weekend from May 12-14, guests can enjoy the following Mother’s Day programming:
Mindful Moms Retreat: For the month of May, moms can enjoy a mindful mimosa to kick off their spa day and choose from two restorative treatments, including a 50-minute Brighten & Renew Facial, a 50-minute Sleek & Slim Body treatment, and a 50-minute pedi or 50-minute “mommy” mani. Guests can enjoy the sauna and steam room before their treatment and afterwards cheers to self-care with a complimentary glass of champagne while unwinding in the spa’s relaxation area. $275.00 (discounts cannot be applied).
Ario Launch Party: Kick off the summer at the hotel’s Cenote Pool Deck on May 13 from 2p.m. – 4p.m., where the Thompson Spawill debut its summer hydration product line.
Mother’s Day Brunch: On Sunday, May 14, families can gather at Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk’s signature restaurant, Landrace, helmed by James Beard Award finalist Steve McHugh, for a special family-style Mother’s Day brunch featuring a seafood display, brisket carving station, lemon prickly pear cupcakes, banana cream parfaits, mimosas, and more.
Bad Moms Event: On May 12, moms can gather with their girlfriends for the “Bad Moms event” at the hotel’s enchanting rooftop bar and lounge, The Moon’s Daughters, for a well-deserved night out perched over the city with specialty cocktails and live DJ performance at 8p.m.
Photo: Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, used with permission.
Susannah Marren’s new novel ‘Maribelle’s Shadow’ will be released June 27, 2023. Photo: Amazon
Susan Shapiro Barash is an American author of thirteen nonfiction women’s issue books including “Tripping the Prom Queen,” “Toxic Friends,” and ‘You’re Grounded Forever, but First Let’s Go Shopping.” She writes fiction under her pen name Susannah Marren. Her novels are “Between the Tides,” “A Palm Beach Wife,” and “A Palm Beach Scandal.” Susan’s books focus on the gender divide, how women are positioned in our society and their innermost feelings about themselves as daughters, mothers, sisters, friends, wives, mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, rivals, colleagues, and lovers. Her new book, to be released June 27, “Maribelle’s Shadow,” is a compelling tale of deception and family loyalty, written by the nationally renowned observer of women’s relationships. It is available for pre-order on Amazon. (Meryl Moss Media, 2023)
“Maribelle’s Shadow” – The only thing that spreads faster than gossip in Palm Beach is news of a mysterious death. As the editorial director of Palm Beach Confidential, Maribelle Barrows knows what lurks beneath the glittering facade of the moneyed elite on Florida’s most glamourous coast. Or does she? When her adored and impressive husband, Samuel, dies suddenly, the secrets and lies between Maribelle and her sisters rise to the surface. Compounding the anguish, the authenticity of their socially ambitious mother and their lavish lifestyle of mansions, privilege and couture clothes is thrown into doubt. As their carefully constructed image unravels, each sister realizes she must fend for herself. While the pathway out is steep, it is worth any risk. Until the winner takes all.
‘Another Trip to Denny’s’ by Danny Wilson. Photo: Google
Continuing the journey into Danny Wilson’s poetry, here is volume 2 and a look into some of his other poetry books. Danny Wilsonis a poet originally from Greenville, NC and currently residing in Albuquerque, NM. After years of military service, he is now retired and focusing on his poetry. He has written over 100 poetry books in the last nine years with no intention of slowing down. (Danny Wilson, 2023)
Another Trip to Denny’s Moments in time test all notions of reality. Pieces of a dream paint a flawed picture. Total strangers become a part of communal consciousness. Tomorrow shows a faint glimpse of happiness.
Beyond Tomorrow Finding the strength to smile at disaster when it happens. Failure becoming another excuse to succeed. Looking into the future at what could be while making it happen. Unbridled passion challenging the imagination of all.
Once Upon a Time Moments in time encompassing the past while highlighting the present. Individual struggle binding souls together with a purpose. Sunday evening reflections create inward rumblings. A single voice creating the structure of a new dialog.
Romancing Yesterday Reflections on the trials and tribulations that we face. Thoughts coming from the heart and mind. A specific take on the human conditions that affect all humans.
Square Pegs Key moments in life define who we are meant to be. Obstacles on the path to renewal seek permanent answers. Sunsets leave battered souls intact. Existing one more day in a matrix.
Three Easy Pieces A few minutes of casual observation, reflection, and thought. Guaranteed to stir reflection, debate, and angst. Life becomes a living, breathing entity that is experienced for a moment.
‘A Fifth of Never’ is just one book in Danny Wilson’s vast collection of poetry books. Photo: Amazon
In honor of National Poetry Month:
Danny Wilsonis a poet originally from Greenville, NC and currently residing in Albuquerque, NM. After years of military service, he is now retired and focusing on his poetry. He has written over 100 poetry books in the last nine years with no intention of slowing down. So if you are searching for some new poetry to speak to your heart, check out these titles. (Danny Wilson, 2023)
These are some of his poetry books:
“A Fifth of Never” – Visiting human consciousness on a daily basis. Isolated moments painting a vivid picture of quirks, eccentricities, and ideas. Bringing together a somewhat messy analysis of the psyche. Leaving the reader with a painting that challenges thought. Perhaps adding to the dynamic of what it means to be human.
“Manic Monday” – Touching emotions, the thought process, and the soul. A journey in the realm of the possible that visits another place. Winding up at a destination that is cathartic as well as enlightening. Pushing the notion of free expression while embracing things that tie all human souls together. Each day provides a learning curve and adjustments that ultimately make tomorrow exciting, desired, and worthy of pursuing.
“Fading Forward” – Existing between complex worlds…..Seeing the beauty of fellow truth-seekers…Tired eyes reaching for a brass ring….Pet sounds fade to the twilight zone…
“Quiet Room Speaking” – Ears ringing 24/7…..I try to make sense of a senseless life anew….Hanging out with the folks at Denny’s….My inner psyche grows with the complexities of human dynamics….
“Tarheel Bluedevil” – Seeing the honor in my fellow man/woman. Striving to co-exist with grace. I play a game of chance now. My heart leads the way. Forever humble…
“Librarian Art” – Reality within the confines of Denny’s…..My muse taking poetics to another level….Mom/Pop illuminating the Matrix….Finding yesterday’s child….Always!
“Nellie Wilson Speaks” – The house of pain?….I find the illusion to be complex now….Ms Pharo pointing a sympathetic finger anew….Thoughts of [more]…..
‘Fix Your Back Like An Architect’ by Marian Jodlowski. Photo: Amazon
Marian Jodlowski is a Master of Science in Architecture graduate from the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice. He also completed postgraduate studies at the Warsaw University of Technology. At age 55, he suffered from acute spinal disc disease, which temporarily prevented him from walking; after contracting this illness, Marian became interested in the mechanics of human movement. This interest resulted, among other things, from the fact that the treatment offered by the academic health service was ineffective in his case, and he considered spinal surgery a last resort. In this situation, he started looking for specialists offering alternative treatments. In his book “Fix Your Back Like An Architect: Gravity Therapy of the Spine and Motor Organs,” the author explains how he overcame acute spinal disease and returned to everyday life. He also shares how he strengthened his body so that even many years after the onset of the disease, he no longer feels discomfort. It is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback format. (Marian Jodlowski, 2023)
During his treatment, some of the specialists’ methods had some positive results, while others did not. None of them fully identified the causes of the disease or offered a comprehensive cure. Due to Marian’s profession and technical experience, he increasingly perceived the human body as a complicated spatial mechanical system affected by Earth’s gravity, similar to the static and mechanical engineering objects functioning on Earth. Such well-proportioned objects with logically juxtaposed structural elements operating by the laws of physics function very well and are less unreliable than those without such features. Recognizing the above relationships and many others related to conditions in the field of academic and alternative medicine allowed him to formulate many important indications regarding the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the spine and musculoskeletal system. Thanks to their use, the author not only managed to avoid spinal surgery, but many years after acute disc disease of the spine, he does not feel any related ailments. His well-being is much better than a dozen years ago.
“Fix Your Back Like An Architect: Gravity Therapy of the Spine and Motor Organs” – Most musculoskeletal dysfunctions arise from a chronic lack of gravitational tension in some muscles and over-tension in others. They usually result from habitual abuse of incorrect, often favorite body positions and because of using faulty movement patterns in everyday life. Such dysfunctions can begin gradually in childhood and become fixed for longer just as quickly. Therefore, in such cases, it is equally important to identify these problems according to the rules presented in the book and to proceed to their elimination immediately. In a healthy adult, musculoskeletal disorders usually develop much more slowly. However, if they are not eliminated in advance, they are constantly deepening, worsening a person’s well-being and even preventing them from functioning properly in everyday life.
As the leading cause of diseases of the spine and musculoskeletal system, the author presented chronic muscle tension disorders caused by the action of incorrect vectors of forces caused by gravity and ground resistance. In connection with the mechanism causing bone deformities, according to the Delpech-Wolff Law, which explains the causes of even severe skeletal deformities.
The author also indicates how the poor functioning of the muscular system during everyday activities affects the occurrence of diseases of the spine and musculoskeletal system.
Acute pain is the body’s alarm signal and should not always be eliminated too often with painkillers. However, comprehensive methods leading to the fastest possible healing of inflammation should be used. Progressive natural pain relief is a signal to undertake other forms of treatment, including active therapy involving moderate corrective exercises.
The author’s knowledge and experience presented in this book can save you from making many hasty decisions about how to treat your conditions, including risky back or joint surgery. In addition to the systemic knowledge about rebuilding the body, you will receive many practical tips to reduce your daily ailments and contribute to your recovery.
Without knowing the principles in this book, it is difficult to imagine keeping the body in good shape and avoiding the destructive influence of gravity on the body, which lasts for years. On the other hand, without using the crucial tips on exercise techniques contained in it, it is difficult to rebuild the body and effectively eliminate dysfunctions and deformities of the body caused by its incorrect use.
In the book, you will read, among other things:
How children with a weaker mitochondrial genome can avoid severe developmental defects such as scoliosis, general physical underdevelopment, and other musculoskeletal defects. How these children can match the level of physical development of other peers by consciously using the forces of gravity.
How the proper use of gravitational energy in an almost imperceptible way shapes the correct body posture in people with particular genetic predispositions. How effectively it affects the development of their muscular system, vitality, and health, and what should be done not only not to waste this potential but also to effectively use it for further strengthening of the body.
How adults can avoid conditions such as musculoskeletal pain, disc herniation, joint degradation, and general body weakness.
What are the causes of the loss of motor skills in seniors and the general decline in health with age. Moreover, what are the indications of how to stop these changes to maintain fitness and health until old age.
Why activities such as walking, running, sitting, bending the body, doing squats, and lifting weights should, in most cases, be done differently from what is generally recommended.
How to maintain high physical and intellectual fitness thanks to man’s conscious acquisition of energy in the biological and gravitational cycle.
How, through the action of gravity, in some body positions, there is a negative shaping of muscle tension, which causes the weakening of vitality and human health, and how can we prevent it.
Why many of the recommended ways to exercise in a variety of sports, including bodybuilding and weightlifting, often lead to health loss rather than health improvement.