An Irreverent Curiosity Out in Paperback

So, there I was in my local bookstore tonight, and what did I see on the travel shelf? David Farley's fabulous book, An Irreverent Curiosity, is out in paperback!

What? You don't know about An Irreverent Curiosity? Well, the incomparable Mr. Farley stopped by last year when his book debuted to do an interview, and I reviewed his book as well. Trust me, it was a book worth buying in hardback, and now it is a steal in paperback!

Here's a snippet of my review:
I grew up in Texas and was raised in a Protestant church. On my first trip to Rome, I found one thing most shocking: the prevalence of relics. Growing up in a Southern Methodist church, I had never thought that perhaps the heads of John the Baptist or St. Valentine might be hanging around – or that they might have spiritual significance. But I quickly learned. 
Author David Farley has a leg up on me in the relics department. He was raised in the Catholic church, so at least the concept of relics and their adoration was not so foreign for him. And in his new book, An Irreverent Curiosity (Gotham Books, 2009), Farley takes his readers in search of “the church’s strangest relic in Italy’s oddest town.” Namely, Farley is off on a hunt for the Holy Foreskin – as in the foreskin of Jesus.


And check out my interview with David Farley including his recommendations for how to get into the Vatican Library and what to do if you, too, decide to visit Calcata in search of the Holy Foreskin.

Congratulations, David!

Photo Friday: Fireworks

I am working hard to improve my all-around photography skills, and I spent some time last week reading about how to take good photos of fireworks.  Then, on Sunday night, we headed off to the river to take some photos.  Here are a few...



Want to learn more about taking photos of fireworks? Read on...
Link Love: Fireworks
Check out other fun photography posts at DeliciousBaby.com's Photo Friday!

    Jet Lag Week: What's Your Best Jet Lag Story?

    It’s Jet Lag Week!  Jet Lag can really leave you feeling fuzzy-headed and can lead to some interesting stories. 

    On my second trip to Japan, I flew from San Francisco to Tokyo on a non-stop flight.  I hadn’t slept well the night before leaving, and I don’t sleep on planes, so when I arrived at Narita Airport, I was shredded.  I was staying at a hotel in Tokyo that only accepted cash payment, so once I collected my bags, I headed for the ATM. 

    I put my card in, put in my PIN, and selected an amount.  “Insufficient funds,” the ATM said.  This happens sometimes when traveling.  And I didn’t freak out.  I just tried again.  “Insufficient funds.” 

    “Perhaps it is just this bank,” I thought, and headed out to find another ATM.  That one, too, said I didn’t have enough money in my bank account.  Now, I knew this wasn’t true.  I had checked before I left.  And, in my groggy state, I started to panic.  I found yet another ATM machine, but had the same result.



    I started to cry.  I had visions of sleeping on the bench at the airport waiting for wired money to arrive or making my way to a park to curl up under a tree when airport security kicked me out... I would soon be the new face of Japanese homelessness, a traveler alone with no money and no place to go for three whole weeks or until the airline would honor my return ticket. 

    Meanwhile, a queue of Japanese businessmen formed behind me as I wept over the ATM machine.  Finally, one of them tapped me on the shoulder and indicated that I should move to the side.  Weeping, I crawled over to a pay phone and dialed my husband. 

    “Sweetie, there’s something wrong with our bank account,” I sobbed.  He could hardly understand me.  But he got up (it was the middle of the night for him) and checked our account balance online. 

    “We are fine,” he said.  “How much money are you trying to get?”

    Now, I must interject here.  At the time, the exchange rate was approximately $1 per ¥100. 

    “I need $300 of Yen,” I said. 

    “Well, that’s ¥30,000,” my husband said.  “Are you sure you are using the right number of zeros?” 

    “¥30,000?” I said, sniffling.  “¥30,000? Are you sure it isn’t 3 million Yen?”

    “Well, only if you are trying to buy a car!” my poor, sainted husband gasped.

    Yes, in my sleep-deprived, jet-lagged brain, I had done the math and was very, very wrong.  I hung up, walked back to the ATM, and withdrew exactly the right number of Yen without incident.  I found my hotel.  Slept like a baby.  And woke up having regained my ability to do simple mathematical arithmetic. 

    So, what’s your best jet lag story?