That’s Some Big Dog You Got There, Mister!

Giant George: Life with the World’s Biggest Dog by Dave Nasser with Lynne Barrettt-Lee is well…a shaggy dog story of sorts. Except George isn’t shaggy, it’s a real-life story, and he looks more like a pony than a dog. In fact, he’s probably larger than some of those miniature ponies you see.  Standing 42 inches tall at shoulder height (keep in mind that doesn’t include his long neck and huge head) and seven feet long – yes, you heard right – George, the Great Dane, is in the Guinness Book of World Records for tallest dog EVER.

When Dave Nasser and his wife Christie originally got George as a fluffy little puppy weighing 17 pounds, they just saw a sweet natured, happy dog. Little did they know that this runt of the litter would turn out to weigh 245 pounds. But as George grew, so did their love for this gentle giant. And despite his size, he turned out to be the perfect family pet.

If you’re thinking this is a Marley & Me knock-off, it’s not. It doesn’t even come close to tugging at the heart strings like Marley did. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a pretty good book; it just lacks that human element that Marley had in spades.  Instead, Dave Nasser focuses on George’s size and rise to fame, practically to the exclusion of everything else, including this little family. I mean, when a guy’s wife has just given birth, do you think he’d be more interested in his dog and his application to Guinness World Records, than his new baby daughter? You tell me. No wonder Christie was a touch miffed.

As George and his “parents” make friends with other dog owners at the doggie park, the idea starts to percolate that maybe George really is the biggest Great Dane around. Soon enough they form “Team George”, and the machine that is George takes on a life of its own. Nasser’s friends start a George facebook page, twitter and YouTube account and fan club, and before they know it, they have thousands of “friends” worldwide wanting to know more about Georgie.

And in case you’re wondering, George sleeps on his very own queen size bed, eats 110 pounds of dog food each month and has to bend over to drink out of the kitchen sink. And you know what they say: Big dog. Big poop. Don’t even ask. According to Nasser, he had to rig up a special snow shovel-like thing to scoop George’s poop. Now there’s one of the nastiest jobs on the planet!

But guess who really made George a star – Oprah! She arranged to announce his Guinness World Record on TV and actually flew Dave, Christie and George to Chicago to tape the show live. Now, George is on the morning talk show circuit and will probably have an audience with Barak Obama or the Queen soon!  Anyway, Giant George is a cute real-life story and if you like dogs, you’ll probably slobber all over this one. For other popular reading suggestions check out Richmond Public Library's Web site at www.yourlibrary.ca/goodbooks/.

Salsas of the World Unite!

Before Cinco de Mayo rolls around each year, I know it’s time to start looking for some new salsa recipes so that we can hold our annual dinner party, complete with a selection of new and improved authentic Mexican dishes. This year I had the good luck to find Salsas of the World by Mark Miller.

The first thing I learned is that salsa is not unique to Mexico. Who knew?  Apparently countries like Italy, Thailand, France, Peru and others also use salsa to perk up their cuisine. This opens up a whole new world in terms of easy accompaniments and side dishes. Not that I’ll be making them. But my better half sure was excited when I told him about it and brought this book home!

Being a real foodie, he browsed the book and then borrowed ingredients from a few of the recipes to come up with one AMAZING salsa dish. He based it on the Mango Habanero recipe in this book, which is actually from South America. While the book’s recipe calls for habanero chiles, mangos, sugar, lime juice, salt, rice vinegar and hot pickled habanero syrup (and sounds absolutely mouthwatering), Harvey knows that I can’t tolerate too much heat, so he made the required adjustments. His version included habaneros, mangoes, avocados, shallots, mint and lime juice. And it was out of this world! In fact, it might rank as one of his three best dishes.

I’ve already put in my request to have him make the Mountain Yam Shitake salsa, the Cherry Ancho Cocoa Nib salsa, the Koh Samui Lemongrass Mango salsa, the Laos Charred Eggplant, and the Watermelon Barbeque Salsa. That should keep him busy.

There were a few recipes I came across that threw me for bit of a loop, like the Bloody Maria, a Mexican concoction that’s meant to be eaten with raw oysters. It’s clearly a take-off on the drink of the same name, and includes Roma tomatoes, horseradish, chiles, cilantro, V8 juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, lime juice, lemon oil and tequila. 

Another one that sounded odd was the Avocado Bacon Jalapeno salsa. I mean who ever heard of salsa with bacon in it? After I got over the initial ick factor and took a good look at the ingredients, it didn’t sound half bad. It’s pretty easy to make and contains bacon (of course), jalapenos, avocados, green onion, tangerine juice, smoked salt, Tabasco and Dijon mustard.

The great thing about this book is that it gives you the spice level on a scale from 1 to 10 for each recipe, so that if you’re a heat-weeny like me, you can tweak the ingredients to your liking. Filled with great photos and easy directions, Salsas of the World will help you create those fabulous side dishes that your guests will be talking about for years. For other popular reading suggestions check out Richmond Public Library's Web site at www.yourlibrary.ca/goodbooks/ or their downloadable eBooks site at  www.yourlibrary.ca/ebooks.

Handmade Weddings for the Do-it-Yourselfer

If you’ve ever planned a wedding from A to Z you know how expensive and stressful it can be. One way of preserving the integrity of your budget and having a little fun at the same time is to make things yourself. The homey touch can add whimsy and playfulness while allowing you to spend your money on things that are more important, like a fabulous dress or an exotic honeymoon. All you need is a creative streak, some equipment and a bunch of friends who will help you DIY.  Handmade Weddings: More than 50 Crafts to Style and Personalize Your Big Day by Eunice Moyle, Sabrina Moyle and Shana Faust is full of cool ideas for the do-it-yourselfer.

What’s neat about this book is that it not only shows you exactly how the finished product will look, but it also indicates the level of difficulty, the time it should take, whether it’s a group or individual project, when to start, and how much it will cost. Of course all those things are relative, but it’s good to start out with an idea of what you’re getting into. The authors also give you a checklist of items that are DIYable – things like invitations, favors, programs, place cards, buffet signs and loads more.

Rather than organizing the book by type of project, they organize it by style and motif. For instance there are chapters called “Girly Romantic”, “Modern Classic”, “Found”, “Organic Minimal”, “Retro Homespun”, and “Happy Graphic”. Under each chapter there are different DIY projects, including kitschy things like teacup centerpieces, heart-shaped programs with wooden fan handles, a peg-board seating chart using clothespins, and vintage key save-the-date cards. Lest you think there are only off-beat ideas here, let me assure you that there are some very classy DIY projects too; things like calligraphy place cards, handmade invitations, and a layered cockage ring pillow. Don’t feel bad if you don’t know what “cockade” is – I had to look it up too. And fyi, it means: “An ornament, such as a rosette or knot of ribbon, usually worn on the hat”.

Bottom line is that the authors have gathered together some really clever, whimsical ideas to make your wedding day reflect your personality. Some of the projects are easier than others, requiring only a glue gun and some fabric. Others, however require a broader skill set and some fancy-shmancy equipment like a Mega Pleater (don’t ask), a cutting mat, a button-making machine, and a Rotary cutter (again, don’t ask). But don’t let that scare you. There are enough easy projects to satisfy even the clumsiest, most inept DIY bride-to-be.

So if you want to save some money and have a blast exploring your inner artist then you’ll definitely want to check out this book. And believe me, your guests will appreciate the personal touch you put into your wedding. For other popular reading suggestions check out Richmond Public Library's Web site at www.yourlibrary.ca/goodbooks/.

Red Means Run

When farmer Virgil Cain realizes that the local cops have set their sights on him as the alleged perpetrator of a brutal murder, he does what any sane man would do – he goes about trying to find the real killer. In Red Means Run by Brad Smith, we’re treated to a main character who’s bright, funny, sensitive and not about to take the fall for a crime he didn’t commit.

When criminal lawyer Mickey Dupree is found dead in the bunker on the 7^th hole at the fancy Burr Oak Golf and Country Club, with the shaft of a golf club shoved through his heart, the cops think they know just who did it. And all because Virgil Cane made an off-hand comment in a bar that “somebody ought to blow Mickey’s head off.”  Virgil seems like the obvious suspect in what looks like a revenge murder, since Mickey was the one to get Virgil’s wife’s killer acquitted. But Mickey had a truckload of enemies, so it’s really open season on Dupree.  When the cops catch up with Virgil and throw him in jail, he manages to escape. Not long after that, Alan Comstock, the man accused of murdering Virgil’s wife, turns up dead and guess who who’s on the hook for that murder too?

So if my math’s correct, Virgil now has two murder charges and an escaped custody charge hanging over his head. But he knows he’s innocent, so he goes on the lam, and manages to stay one step ahead of the police. Enter beautiful, sexy detective Claire Marchand, who, despite her overzealous and dimwitted partner Joe Brady, is giving Virgil the benefit of the doubt. After examining the evidence, she’s not convinced that Virgil is their guy. So the question of the day is this: Has someone set up Virgil Cain to look like the killer?

Red Means Run is a meandering yet thoroughly entertaining thriller that’s got loads of heart and soul. If you’re like me, you’ll be rooting for Virgil right from the get-go. I have to admit, this is my first Brad Smith novel, but it sure as heck won’t be my last. It has all the elements of a good story – great characters, action, romance and a smart plot. Don’t miss it!  For other popular reading suggestions check out Richmond Public Library's Web site at www.yourlibrary.ca/goodbooks/.