A new Amazon review, by Jean Marzollo. What Else But Home is one of my three favorite books that I read in 2009... All three of these books are fascinating, well written, and intensely about the real world we live in. While What Else But Home is non-fiction, it reads like fiction with compelling characters and a riveting story set in the East Village of New York City. If you care about inner city children, you will love, as I did, Michael Rosen's true story of himself-a businessman, his wife-a doctor, and their seven wonderful sons, two [adopted] and the others friends from the projects.

A sweet email I received this week about my book: "It's fantastic! I ordered 10 printed copies for Christmas presents." THANK YOU, kind person. No, that's not from my Mom. She'd give them as Hanukah gifts, anyways.

An email I received today from someone who listened to my New Dimensions interview with Michael and Justine Toms: "I just listend to your interview on New Dimension's, and I was so impressed with the story you were telling about the family you created and the adventure in social empowerment you are having.  Stories like yours can give us the insights for thinking out of the box and doing things a little different.  Thanks Much!"

Thank you for this email. It's beauty lies EXACTLY in not saying that we've done something good or kind, but in giving insights to think and act a bit differently, to overcome the oppressions of racial and class discrimination.

Michael & Justine Toms are extraordinary. You can listen to our interview by CLICKING HERE, then click on LISTEN NOW.

& what does this picture say to you?...

I didn't want to go. We went anyways. You walk into the museum, around the exhibits, are lifted up a walkway UNTIL, Mehalia Jackson in strengthening trails of "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," caresses your soul, you are inside looking out the window to the balcony where Martin Luther King, Junior was murdered. The door is right there. You need to tell Brother Martin to stay inside a moment. But you can't. There's a newspaper folded on one bed, the bedspread on the other pulled back a touch, a table and reading lamp between, the bathroom door open. Stay inside a moment... but you never can. When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near, When my life is almost gone, Hear my cry, hear my call, Hold my hand lest I fall, Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home....

This is Tom Franck, and in the background my friend Carter taking a photo...

Tom & Sandy Franck run Talbot Heirs, the small and wonderfully beautiful hotel across the street from the Peabody, in downtown Memphis. The rooms are fun, the hallway art alive, the Francks welcoming and smart.

&, the pigeon came deeper into the room. The pigeon is there, if you look closely...

This is him, standing on the workout bench...

JUDY, is this bird sick? ~ Michael