FORTE MUSIC

Wille has spent the past three months working on a musical composition titled "Everest". We encouraged him to share it with Mr. Jensen at Royal Oak High School and he did. Mr. Jensen gave Willie many good suggestions and the piece is finally finished.

Last week Willie got some thrilling news. The high school Wind Ensemble is going to record "Everest". If that wasn't enough, the middle school honors band (of which Willie is a member)
is going to play the song at their final concert on June 9.

Willie is so serious about music. He hopes to attend Michigan State one day and be a music major. I made him a website today. Check it out at http://fortemusic-mi.com/.

MARK SLY'S SECRETS

My rock star story is simple. I met Jack White. I thought he was cool. I wanted to be cool too. I signed up for guitar lessons. I started a band. I printed some t-shirts. I made some gig posters. Launched a website. The rest, as they say, is history.

I never intended to be a great guitarist. I only wanted to be a rock star, so I focused on the aspects of being in a band that made me happy and didn’t worry if I hit a bad note once in a while (or for that matter most of the time!)

Since the early days of the Mydols, I have gone from being nothing more than a “trained monkey” on the guitar to knowing several chords and occasionally I don’t even have to look at my fingers when I play! Quite an accomplishment for someone who first learned how to play at age 42.

Well this past week I got a DVD to review that I wish I would have got 7 years ago. It’s Mark Sly’s Secrets. It’s the best DVD on how to play guitar that I’ve ever seen. I watched it with my son, Dylan, who is just learning to play and my husband who doesn’t play at all and everyone LOVED it. Mark really makes playing guitar and fun and as easy as possible. He cuts right to the chase, and reveals the secrets of playing other guitar teachers won’t tell you.

I recently caught up with Mark over the phone. He truly has a great story—inspirational. Mark was on the 48th floor of the World Trade Center on 9/11. (While trying to break into New York’s music scene, he worked as a temp at a bank.) As the building was being evacuated, he got as far down as the 30th floor when he made a pact with God and himself.

The stairway was so crowded and chaotic, he began to give up hope that he would ever make it out alive. He got off and he called his loved ones and as he said his goodbyes, he decided if by some miracle he made it out alive he would dedicate his life to his true passion, music. The next thing he knew, he heard a voice shouting “There’s a stairway over here!” Less crowded than the first one he tried, Mark made it out to safety. He left New York and his banking job and moved back to back to his hometown of Warwick, NY, where Mark started teaching guitar full time.

Mark’s philosophy is simple. Don’t learn to play—PLAY to learn. He taught his students to play the songs they loved—bypassing music theory and such—knowing that if his students got really excited about the music they would want to learn that stuff down the line anyway. And you know what? They did. The more they played to have fun the more fun it was to learn all the theory BS!

If you or your kids are at all interested in playing guitar, I would encourage you to pick up this DVD. I can guarantee you’ll be playing and having fun in no time at all. You can learn more about Mark and his DVD by visiting http://www.slymarkmusic.com/

After an all day (and night) whirlwind trip to Arizona, I am back on the road again. This time I’m in a van driving to Nashville. My nephew graduates from high school tomorrow. Go Danny!

While we’re in town, we’re going to check out Vanderbilt University as Dylan has some interest in attending the Nashville university. (Al Gore went there!) It’d be nice for Dylan—to go away to school but to have the comfort of knowing he had lots of family in the area. My sister Kim works within walking distance of the university and Dylan loves hanging out with his cousins. We’ll see. He still has a couple of years yet to choose a college.

I was in Tempe, AZ all day on Thursday. I had the pleasure of being a guest on The Author Show. Host Linda Thompson and producer Danielle Hampson could not have been more professional. I really enjoyed being part of the show and was lucky enough to spend some time with these two nice ladies when we finished taping. What a wealth of knowledge and advice they have. I thoroughly enjoyed talking to them . I felt it was worth the long trip there and back. I can’t wait to see the finished product. Stay posted. In the mean time check out some of the other interviews they have done at http://www.theauthorsshow.com/

CATTAILS

I have a dear dear friend who has cancer. Her name is Barb McGrew and she is one of the most wonderful people I have ever met. Even though I know she is not feeling well, I have never seen her without her hair done, lovely clothing, jewelry and a big lipsticked smile. Barb really lives like everyday is significant. She makes every visitor in her life feel important.

I have spent the last few weeks helping her put together a fantastic book of short stories about a cat she had for 19 years. The book is terrific. It's funny. It's clever. And it celebrates two amazing lives--Barb's and a cat named Ollie.

Soon the book will be on sale and all the proceeds will go to help Barb win her fight against cancer.

MORE ON THE CELIAC SHACK!!

Did you know that Mydols' drummer, Laura Spern, suffers from Celiac Disease? I'd never heard of it, and then I got asked to design a website called The Celiac Shack.

Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods but may also be found in everyday products such as medicines, vitamins, and lip balms.

I am learning so much about gluten-free living from people like Laura and Susan Jones, the owner of the Celiac Shack, but there is still a lot I don't know. I recently interviewed Susan about her new website.

Me: Why did you open The Celiac Shack?
Susan: I started The Celiac Shack after a year of reading and investigating Celiac disease and gluten intolerances. I have a few autoimmune disorders and so does my son, and I had heard that gluten could be an agitator of these disorders, so I began looking into the gluten free diet. It was then that I realized it is not an easy task to convert over to a gluten free diet. It's not as easy as just not buying bread. Gluten is in almost everything, and the items that do not naturally contain gluten, are often filled with gluten filled additives and preservatives. It seemed like such a daunting task to transition into a gluten free lifestyle, and I would often go to the grocery store with a list and a mission that I was only going to buy gluten free food, only to leave the grocery store with a shopping cart full of gluten food because I was discouraged and confused by the all the label reading and deciphering of manufacturing labels that made no sense.

I started to think that I was the only person having problems with this gluten free transition, but then soon realized that if I am having this many problems, I couldn't be the only one. I thought about what I wanted as a Mother, and the answer always came back to the following:

I want real information that is quick and reliable
I want real recipes that work and taste great for my kids
I want a place where I can go to quickly find what I'm looking for when I want it
I want to meet and communicate with other Moms and people that agree this transition doesn't have to be this difficult
I want In-the trenches tips, stories, and suggestions from real people that are doing exactly what I'm doing
I want a fun place where I can buy food at reasonable and fair prices
I want a food that has been taste tested by kids and guaranteed to be a success with my kids instead of purchasing products that taste awful and I end up throwing out


After figuring out what I wanted, I couldn't find it anywhere on the web or in my area. I decided to be the change I wished to see and The Celiac Shack was born. By creating this site to be what I want as a mother, I feel confidant that other mothers will want the same things and see that The Celiac Shack is a different gluten free website from the others. I am confidant that if moms of children with gluten intolerances become part of this community, it will be the support area, group of online confidants, and most valuable resource any of us could ask for.


Me: What are the benefits of a gluten free diet?
Susan: To give a brief explanation of what gluten and Celiac disease are, gluten is a mixture of the proteins found in wheat, rye and barley. A gluten-free diet avoids these grains. Gluten is also hiding in foods like licorice, cereals, popsicles, some malt, soy sauce, natural flavorings and many convenience foods. Gluten is the glue that holds things together, as in baked goods and pasta. Celiac disease is a genetic intolerance to gluten. It is an autoimmune response to gluten when the immune system attacks the cells of the body along with the gluten molecule. It can develop at any age. The result is damage to the small intestine and a variety of health problems. When celiac disease gets out of control, serious illnesses result. There’s no cure for celiac disease. Over time the intestines become damaged and other diseases take over. The solution is to avoid all foods that contain gluten.

Celiac disease is one of the most common genetic diseases known and its prevalence is growing. If a relative has celiac disease, the likelihood is high that others in the family have it. The symptoms of Celiac disease appear all through the body. Symptoms are fatigue, weakness, gas, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, acid reflux, vomiting, headaches, inability to concentrate, weight gain or weight loss, infertility, joint, bone or muscle pain, depression, respiratory problems, canker sores, lactose intolerance, eczema and psoriasis, rosacea, acne, lupus, osteoporosis, hair loss, bruising, low blood sugar, muscle cramping, nosebleeds, swelling and inflammation, night blindness, and a skin disorder called dermatitis herpetiformis.

A gluten-free diet can also improve autism, schizophrenia and other mood disorders, and attention-deficit disorder (ADD/AHDH). Celiac disease disguises itself with so many symptoms that it is often misdiagnosed. It can be mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, lupus, anemia, migraines, psychological problems, Crohn’s disease, cancer, viral infections, parasites, gallbladder disease, thyroid disease, cystic fibrosis, acid reflux, diverticulosis, diabetes, eczema and psoriasis of the skin. A long list of autoimmune diseases are also related to celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.

In a nutshell, the benefits of a gluten free diet are endless to a person with a gluten intolerance/allergy. It can mean the difference of having chronic illness vs. living a "normal" life.

Me: Are gluten free products more expensive?
Susan: Unfortunately, gluten free products are slightly more expensive than "mainstream" food, and the reason is there are simply not as many manufacturers of gluten free food. One good thing is that living gluten free also means eating whole and natural products that aren't overly processed, so many items you can buy without extra costs. I fully understand the need to purchase safe food for your family without breaking your wallet, and it is one of my missions for The Celiac Shack to bring people gluten free food at a fair and reasonable price. We are dedicated to selling our products at the best price possible and we're open to suggestions from our customers as to product recommendations and we will do our best to provide those products.

Me: Do they taste the same as products with wheat?
Susan: Yes, the products that The Celiac Shack carries do taste the same as their "Normal" counterparts. We have every product taste tested by our kids, "The Jones Gang", and I can guarantee that everything we promote and sell taste as good, if not better than the gluten version. I've made several recipes, dinners, and treats that my children haven't known were gluten free, and that in my opinion is the best guarantee I can provide to my customers.


Me: Got a favorite recipe you'd like to share?
Susan: I have many recipes that I would rate as excellent, and I will be sharing all of them on our blog, http://theceliacshackstore.blogspot.com/ and newsletter, "The Pipeline", http://theceliacshack.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=66a0413ff876784cdfc2905cf&id=ff99ef7769. I believe in creating recipes that are quick, easy, and taste great. I look for the following things when looking for and creating recipes for my family:

Is it quick and easy to make?
Am I likely to have the ingredients in my kitchen?
Am I able to substitute ingredients if necessary?
Does it taste great so my kids will eat it?
Would I make this for my most special guest?

If I can say yes to all of these questions, then I will post the recipe to my site and promote it. I am accepting new recipes for the site, and we're offering free products to those people that submit a recipe that we pick as the Winner of our Monthly Recipe Challenges. It's fun, exciting and at the same time, shares great recipes among other people that share similar issues and problems. It's a win-win for everyone involved.

THE CELIAC SHACK

Since February I have been staying busy designing websites for various businesses. One of them is The Celiac Shack. It's a store with gluten-free products and it opens TODAY!! YAY!

I received this email from store owner Susan Jones. (I am so happy for her!)

It is with pleasure I announce that today you are now able to hit the web and surf into http://www.theceliacshack.net/. At the “Shack” you can experience a hip new approach to the very serious issue of Celiac Disease. We are providing items that not only are gluten free, but “Jones Gang” tested for great taste. The gang is a crack quality control group comprised of my four picky children whom all are under the age of 10. You will also have an opportunity to be a part of our online community through newsletters, blogs and informational links. It will be a place to share stories, swap recipes and to become more informed about products and illnesses that are
associated with gluten.

I am launching this site with a special emphasis on mom’s and their children. As a mom of a child with symptoms of gluten intolerance, I know that choices are limited in the grocery store and information scattered. I am not trying to recreate the wheel, just grease it so that it runs smoothly for people just like you. If you or someone you know may have questions or gluten-free needs, stop by The Celiac Shack for a stress free island atmosphere. Hope to hear from many of you soon. Enjoy and thank you!

Today the Mydols did a video shoot with the REAL Monkee Mobile. OMG! It was so cool. It's really big and it's in perfect condition. And it's LOUD!

DORITO DISASTER

I was at K-mart today. Not really paying attention and I accidentally knocked over an entire Dorito display with my shopping cart. I mean an entire TOWER. There were chips everywhere. I was so embarassed, but I can laugh about it now.

SAVE THE DATE

It's a garden party with the Mydols at the Whitney.

Join us for a Family Hootenanny on July 12 from 3-5 PM.

CELLO-BELLA

Here's my latest website for Alison Donahue. Alison is in Cello-Bella! She has the sweetest voice I have ever heard.

Please check out Cello-Bella at www.cello-bella.com.

MAMAPAZOOZA!

Thanks to everyone who came out for MamapaZOOza this year--especially the bands: The Mydols, Girls Night Out and CelloBella!

If you missed it, check out the video!

MomZ Rock!