Favorite Things That I Love (in commemoration of Valentines Day)

A kiss

Early-autumn nights: crisp, clear, romantic, and full of hope and energy

Disembarking on a trip

The culmination of watching a theatre show

Receiving an award

Relaxing in a great chair

Watching a really, really good movie

An excellent bottle of wine

Having dinner with a friend

Trying a new restaurant

Putting effort into making something succeed

Window-shopping/browsing

Playing badminton

Martinis with the plumpest olives

Manhattans with two real (not from a jar) marinated cherries

Handmade products

Reaching the middle of a good book

Classical music in the morning

Writing a letter

Watching fireflies appear

Gazing at the stars while lying in a hammock

Taking a stroll during twilight

Going for a bike ride in the morning before everyone else wakes up

Autumn colors in the trees

Candlelight

Fresh snowfalls

Sipping thick hot cocoa

Christmas

Things to pass down through generations

Doing volunteer service

Watching someone open a gift

Receiving an unexpected gift

Taking pictures

A cool pillow at bedtime

Champagne enjoyed in front of a crackling fire

Champagne enjoyed anytime

Aromas of fresh flowers

Depositing money in the bank

Returning to favorite places and experiencing similar contentment

Going back to places that don’t change to see how much I’ve changed

Organizing an event

Discovering history

Opening the window for a cool breeze during Spring

Randomly encountering someone I know

Showing a visitor “around town”

A fine espresso

Being outside on a sunny day

Earning a friendship

Reading the comics in the newspaper

Catching the twinkle in someone’s eyes

Watching a mystery movie during a stormy night

Going for a hike

Giving teamwork the opportunity to allow for success

Chorus renditions

Getting a dormant flower to bloom

Seeing a shooting star or meteor shower

Cooking an omelet for two

Offering the omelet the night before

Making a wise investment

Cheering for friends

People-watching

Offering assistance to someone in need

Meeting new clients

Seeing the sights of a foreign country

The smell of juniper

Staying at a ski lodge

Watching a grandparent partake in their grandchild’s wedding

Seeing new publications from my favorite authors and writers

Repairing something

Inventing a new procedure to streamline how things are done

Museum exhibits

Making connections amidst unexpected circumstances

Finding a hard-to-find ingredient in a store.

Making a road trip and seeing where it takes me

Enjoying all four seasons

Parmigiano Reggiano—eaten by itself

The decisions of picking out a Christmas tree

Finding someone standing beneath mistletoe

Warm apple pie

Sweetbreads

Watching birds eat from a bird feeder

Helping a colleague get recognized for good service

Guessing the answers before the contestants do

Tying up loose ends before the end of the day

Satisfying a client who had prior consternation

Tackling a new project that others had seen as too daunting

Achieving the purchase of oven-fresh Brioche early in morning

Wisely buying things that withstand the whims of trends

Walking through a park

Cashmere socks

Watching someone achieve a birthday that they might not have made

Improvising while reading bedtime stories to children

Building a Snowman

Hosting a soirée 

Being with someone I care about

Hugging someone and letting them be the first to let go

Being a gentleman
Every moment with Lewis!!!  I love him the most!

I Self-Published the Fourth Novel in my series!

https://books.apple.com/us/book/covert-agenda/id1494637230

     I extend my gratitude to the City of Amsterdam, which surpassed my anticipations of hospitality.  The Dutch are like no other race; you simply have to love them.  The people whom I encountered were charmingly full of life: tram operators, airport employees, docents, bartenders, chefs, retail associates, bicyclists, policemen, sanitation workers, and baristas.  Many of them had international backgrounds.  The Dutch citizenry excels at being courteously efficient.  They also take time to enjoy the “fruits of their labors”.  Some cities have a picturesque district, but every part of Amsterdam is beautifully well-maintained.  The city is easy to navigate—especially by bike—and its public transportation is superbly helpful and fuel-conscious.  Its infrastructure is amazing… surpassing larger cities that have more resources.  I am enthralled with Amsterdam’s historic preservation juxtaposed with modernity.  It is testament to the city’s ability to withstand peer pressure for over-development.  Clearly, Dutch culture holds a civility that is extraordinary.  

Click here to read about my first experience in Amsterdam:

https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2019/08/our-trip-to-netherlands-part-1-of.html


This novel is available on Apple iBooks.  Below, is the story's Foreword.

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     The names!  I love the names that Ken chooses for his characters because they are so fitting.  With a nicely-sized cast, it made everyone vividly memorable—even the momentary characters.  As with names, words were used thoughtfully and with sharp precision.  Ken displayed a linguistic voracity, and I increased my vocabulary by discovering some winners!  As a polished chronicler of history, his lovingly-crafted plot is chockfull of details.  His research into local folklore was amazing.  I found myself learning about history, clothes, food, technology, and languages, while also laughing at the funny scenarios.  I admired the blending of cultures.  Just like in his last novel, Sanctuary, Ken conjured chapters that dovetailed smoothly, so all of the action transpired within a short span of time.  The story was so well-made.  It evenly represented life’s randomness against a person’s fated journeys.   

     Flipping the “pages” of this digital book brought the Dutch landscape alive in crystalline ways.  I imagined myself strolling Amsterdam’s cobblestones, while hearing its carillon bells.  I envisioned its postwar atmosphere.  Ken told me that the tales of heroism—which are sprinkled throughout the storyline—are actual deeds accomplished by various Dutch citizens during the war.  They were uplifting and meaningfully placed… not indulgent.  I got a sense of how the population picked itself up from a disaster and began a path towards a successful future.  Other highlights of Ken’s narrative were the inclusion of time-appropriate catchphrases and songs, which lent authenticity.  I played the music online in the background because it was clearly meticulously chosen to inspire moods.  The same sparks occurred with Ken’s lively usage of expressions.  Such elements reminded me that people are always interesting—even if they lived in an era of black-and-white photographs.  

     This is Ken’s fourth novel in the series, and the lovable members of Gerard Pierce’s household experience all strata of Dutch society.  Having escaped anti-gay New York and settled in gay-friendly Copenhagen, they are seemingly at peace with the world.  That is, until one of Pierce’s antagonists lobs a final volley from beyond the grave.  Unfortunately for Pierce, it “lands in his lap” during his trip to the Netherlands.  While there, Pierce learns about the “trigger” behind the death of someone from his past.  

     As his romantic partner, Siu Kwan Jai remains as plucky as ever—advancing many of the steamy scenes with more passion than vulgarity.  Perforating his own classiness, their trusty butler gets some surprises, too… which seems like Remington’s underlying theme through all the books.  Speaking of Pierce’s employees, Ken gave a reminder of the larger group, as he brought Clive, Margaret Feterman, and Chef Louis Lo on the journey.  Each of them beautified the story.  It took me a while to get accustomed to reading “Mrs. Feterman”, each time, but then I realized how it gave the character the desired reverence.  Now, I always imagine her like that. 

     When Chef Lo and Jai got together, their Meditation lessons were truly inspiring.  Thought-provoking advice was woven into the dialogue organically and didn’t distract.  My heart swelled as I realized that an American author like Ken illustrated an interracial household.  Looking at his other works, I admire his focus on Asian culture… something that is missing in American media.  Pierce and Jai’s mixed-race romance is another highlight—not to mention that it is homosexual.  Readers are reminded of the struggles that such individuals endured… just so they could be themselves in 1947.  It harkens to why they connected under one rooftop, in the first place.  

     I am sure that you will also enjoy Covert Agenda.   During its composition, loving hands were at work, making sure that every facet felt credible.  As you enter the characters’ colorful world, you will savor the magic that springs from each momentous page.

-Adelle

Here is the link to iTunes iBooks:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/covert-agenda/id1494637230


*Here is the link to my previous book: 

https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2020/02/i-self-published-third-novel-in-my.html

I Self-Published the Third Novel in my series!

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-expats/id1480312966

     This novel is available on Apple iBooks.  I extend gratitude to my far-flung friends in other countries, who regale and inspire me with their livelihoods, life/work balance, and ways of life.  Shirlyn and Chalmer enlivened me with their tales of transplanted beginnings.  Dragan highlighted Europe’s spiciness.  William illustrated its interwoven cultures, while Zoran and Shone demonstrated its hospitality.  Valeriy exhibited just how beautiful Danish life is.  Chef Orlando provided lovingly-made food and enlightening truths.  I am grateful to the impressive capital city of Copenhagen for surprising experiences: tastes, sights, friendliness, and tangible history.  Below, is the story's Foreword.

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     This edition to the series made a “big jump” for the main characters.  It transformed their world, which I think was an upgrade.  It “drove the point home” that we should never be afraid of change—and to be early-adaptors for seeking better experiences.  While reading this, I learned a lot about Copenhagen: historic, progressive, well-engineered, cohesive, and multi-national.  Ken’s storyline gave all-encompassing viewpoints of Copenhageners’ daily lives.  It was also refreshing to know that somewhere in history, being gay was more socially-acceptable.  Pierce, Jai and their crew clearly chose an excellent post-war place to live!  

     As in each of Ken’s novels, the era-accurate details marveled me: slang, gadgets, and ways of dressing.  Whenever I resumed reading, my modern world fell away, and I was immersed in the characters’ realm… with a touch a magic.  Throughout the plotlines and verbiage, remnants of the era’s recently-ended war were colorful.  I loved the songs that Ken mentioned; I listened to them online and enjoyed how lively they are.  I was thrilled when some characters finally had a taste of “relationships”… but I won’t spoil the surprise(s).  As a talented writer, Ken smoothly rotated some characters out—with enough scenes to keep them vivid—and introduced memorable new ones, for many pages of enjoyment.  Chef Lo continued to inspire, Remington had me rooting hard, and Pierce, Jai, Clive, and Mrs. Feterman routinely made me laugh out loud.  One of the subplots brought a previously-mysterious character out of the shadows.  In addition, I finally learned how the main characters came into Pierce’s life.  It was also fascinating to see how a prototype car was blended into the narrative.  Considering how American automakers are now, I wish that brand had survived.  

     Apart from immense amusement, I gleaned knowledge about Life.  Too many authors leave inspirational points or “morals of the story” to be guessed.  Ken comes right out and states them plainly.  The characters’ meditative lessons were valuable to me, and I actually began using them!  I must admit that I liked how Jai remained a cosmopolitan Asian who retained Eastern wisdom.  I suppose that is because wisdom is timeless.  

     Ken’s ability to shift from the comical to the suspenseful was fun to read.  I also admired his techniques that positioned so much of the plot within the span of one week.  The interplay between people was masterful.  Thanks to the author’s love of language and wordplay, I still recall some of their puns and exclamations!  This is truly a gem worth re-reading.  As you flip the pages of Ken’s newest creation, you will join a sanguine camaraderie that refreshes you.  Enjoy!

- The third Dr. Lee


Here is the link to iTunes iBooks:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-expats/id1480312966

*Here is a link to my previous book: 

https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2020/02/self-published-my-second-novel.html

I Self-Published my Second Book - another adventure novel!

https://books.apple.com/us/book/sanctuary/id1457905402


     I wish to heartily acknowledge my friend, Gordon Fan, who advised me on the cover art.  A Taiwanese artist currently in his nation's Military Police, Gordon graduated from the NYU Tisch School of Art.  He studied Renaissance techniques in Florence, Italy, as well as Chinese calligraphy in the Taipei National Palace Museum.  He was the perfect artist to evoke the scenes in my novel.  I also wish to thank “Aunt” Shari Grenier in Canada (a published author and descendant of Diane de Poitiers), for proofing my plot continuity.  Gratitude goes to my dignified English friend, Alastair Macaulay (the New York Times chief dance critic), who thinks highly of authorship and heartened me to keep writing as a daily priority, regardless of a hectic schedule.  "Write that book!  Don't get discouraged.  It doesn't matter what others say.  Write it because you want to."  

This adventure story is available on Apple iBooks.  It is the next segment in the sequel from Two Chameleons.  

Below, is the book's Foreword.  

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     Ken is an impressive novelist, and this is his second creation.  It delighted me.  Once again, everything was put together so well!  The creative values were high, and the storyline was crisp and sharp, which was completely in line with its cosmopolitan vibe.  Readers got beautiful descriptions of places, events, and characters’ emotions.  Words were meaningfully placed, with a clever avidity for language.  I loved the referrals to music of that era; it created a soundtrack in the background and lent a touch of sophistication.  If you’re having a hard time with life’s struggles and want to feel a sense of solidarity, then you’ll cherish Sanctuary.

     We journey with an interracial duo, Gerard Pierce and Siu Kwan Jai, who invited two curious strangers to their elite home.  It was a place that readers only got hints of, in Ken’s previous story, Two Chameleons.  With an immensely fun and sizable cast of characters, the magnitude of the estate’s work came alive.  From key characters to minor ones, Ken applied a deft touch of realism… and superb names!  His all-inclusive style ensured that every vignette and detail was a contributing component woven into the plot.  It was realistic and polished—everyday yet elegant.  As a writer, Ken took pains to show each person’s context and backstory.  I enjoyed the mixture of ancient cultures, which were consistently eloquent and illuminating.  The logic contained therein regularly gave me “food for thought”, and I found myself taking a lesson or two.

     I always like Pierce: a nightclub owner, lawyer, and homosexual rights advocate.  His lovable retinue baffled and badgered him as their leader.  His brand of shrewd wisdom is unique, but makes sense.  His kindness is tinged with a hard-hitting kind of grit.  Pierce is tough when someone is being too weak, but when he judges that help is needed, he consistently goes above and beyond!  He took my breath away, as he came running through the street—after the car chase—looking fierce yet valiant at the same time!

     Jai came off as extra flirty, in the first chapter, but always had suave, charming, and extremely appealing élan.  There were several times that I literally swooned because of his love for Pierce.  On the flipside, I genuinely valued his astute observations and sharp logic.  Both men are worldly-wise and stand on their principles.  Choosing the harder road—in order to helpfully teach others—was a learning process for them, too.  

     Newcomer, Kirk Russell, picked himself up from the lowest loneliness and started a hard road towards a better tomorrow.  His wholistic experience at the Pierce Estate was thought-provoking.  Considering that it was the 1940s, he took an arduous journey, and I quickly got “on board” rooting for him.  When he went through particularly rough moments, my heart ached for him, and when he experienced victories—big and small—I felt like a proud godparent.  It was nice watching the unspoken trust and love form between him and his soulmate.  

     The estate’s mostly-gay occupants comprise an unofficial academy made up of natives, immigrants, and transplants.  By enrolling, they chose to challenge themselves, in order to learn… which is admirable.  Torsten is a “star pupil” from overseas, where his homeland was in a state of flux and uncertainty.  Not only does he want to do well for himself, he wants to assure Pierce and Jai that they are not wasting their time on him.  The staff members share gratitude, empathy, and appreciation.  In many ways, they stand poised against social norms; therefore, their home is a sanctuary.  Naturally, their chemistry creates “connections”.  Avoiding vulgarity, Ken was quite exciting with sensual desires and “encounters”.  

     It was fun to read about the core coterie again.  What a good boss Louis Lo turned out to be!  A talented chef and teacher.  I loved the camaraderie between him and his men.  Ken’s continuation of food-related expressions in the chef’s bi-lingual dialogue was amusing.  As always, Trevor Remington had “presence of mind” and “strength of heart”.  He’s a cool dude, and I can see why subordinates have a crush on him.  He managed the household and its “love triangles” with cunning.  In contrast, Clive maintained his Midwest humor and steadfast loyalty to his “chief”. His innocence, naïveté, and caring nature quickly came to the fore.  In this novel, secrets are revealed about how Pierce met Angelo, as well as how Jai created his first encounter with Pierce.  I admired how—for the second time in a row—the bellboy never speaks!

     Ken is an outstanding researcher.  Scattered throughout the story were trapdoors to great history.  Ken shone a light into those trapdoors and led the way for a beautiful journey.  In the background, I got a picture of postwar America—and certainly New York City—poised for downfall.  Unrelenting corruption promises to damage the bright future that so many soldiers and wartime workers aspired for.  It demonstrated the need for upstanding “global citizens” like Pierce’s crew.  The nationalities include Chinese, Danish, English, Brazilian, Indian, Native American, Hungarian, German, and Israeli.  The plot is full of interplaying ideas: religion, women’s rights, structure of governing, the exceptions of a privileged class, family loyalty, and realizing who your family really is.  If you want a meaty story with memorable moments, this is your book!  

- Lewis L.

Here is the link to find it on iTunes iBooks:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/sanctuary/id1457905402

*Here is the link to my first novel:

https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2017/10/i-published-my-first-book.html

Unending Food Cycle

     As the new year commenced, Lewis and I saw a historical documentary about America's corrupt food manufactures and suppliers.  Americans experience food recalls, chemical additives, contaminations, disease, unhealthy ingredients, toxicity, pesticides, misleading labeling, subliminal advertising, inaccurate ingredient lists, and ineffective government to enforce it.  Apparently, that is nothing new.  False claims were commonplace in America, from elixirs, post-Civil War carpetbaggers, to the Gold Rush.

     Putting harmful things in food started in the 1830s, so companies could dilute their products (like milk), or hide inferior quality/rotting meat.  America's capitalistic environment allowed it for 190 years, regardless of the illnesses or deaths that such greedy tactics caused.  

     Dr. Harvey Wiley was the forerunner whistleblower about Big Business harming American consumers--who paid for the crappy food and then paid doctors to get healthy again.  Their tax-paid politicians did everything to AVOID fixing the problem, otherwise corporate profits might be harmed.

     Meanwhile, European countries started making such additives and misrepresentation illegal in the 1860s.  That's why there are still many barriers in Europe against American foods.  

Improvements were denied, as conglomerates falsely claimed that changes would destroy their industry.  Then, an author named Upton Sinclair went undercover in a meatpacking facility and published a whistleblower book, The Jungle.  It also revealed the truth about unstopped slumlords, crappy apartment housing, how votes were coerced by bribed unions, police corruption, and politically-sanctioned corporate greed.

American soldiers reported getting rancid/rotten food, which was supposed to be fresh!  Army generals didn't care; they paid the food industry with tax-dollars and got kickbacks for the contracts.  After the public outcry and furor, a meager law was created in 1906, barely enforced.  The corporate lobbyists pressured the American president(s) to fire Dr. Wiley.  





The corrupt industry used both World Wars to exercise more pressure over the government to release controls, if it wanted food for its soldiers.  That was incredibly cruel, but America was built by robber-barons who only cared about their profits.

American companies grow larger and get richer, yet their disgusting practices fail to be stopped; they could easily afford to do a better job, but nobody makes them.  America is decades behind other civilized nations.  Another huge industry--pharmaceuticals--aids the food industry... instead of just being more organic.

Despite their resources, corporations allow their factories to breed disease, which proves how futile it is to have tax-paid health inspectors or a tax-paid FDA that allows nearly everything.  











Hence, the cartoon below!

We learned of the epidemic that trucking companies try to save money by turning off the refrigeration in their trucks.  That explained why so much fruit/veggie produce that we paid for was rotten so fast.

Despite enormous corporate profits (low wages/healthcare for workers) and modern technology, foods in America get recalled for a variety of outbreaks... regularly!

Why is the United States so bad that it need headlines like this?

To realize more, please follow this link to a previous post:

https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2018/12/your-health-well-being-are-unimportant.html