Louise Julig

Math Gets a Good Rap with Creative Teacher: "The Rappin' Mathematician" in Carlsbad Magazine

 I love my job. I get to talk with fascinating, creative people, learn what makes them tick, and then spread the word to the rest of the world. I recently had the opportunity to interview Alex Kajitani, otherwise known as The Rappin' Mathematician, for Carlsbad Magazine. Kajitani has a unique way of teaching algebra to middle school kids, and has branched out into recording his own raps that teach mathematic principals for his company MathRaps. Learn how it all got started by picking up the March/April issue of Carlsbad Magazine, or go to page 12 of the online version of the March/April issue. 

P.S. This issue also contains the debut of my first print ad for my freelance commercial writing business, on page 47. What do you think of it?

A Conversation With Senior Tracker Ann Hunt, in AAA Westways

Did you know that there are people who track wildlife in San Diego County? When I found out about the San Diego Tracking Team, I knew I wanted to interview a tracker. I thought tracking was something you only saw in Wild West movies, but it turns out that ordinary people like you and me can be trained to track wildlife from different signs. The San Diego Tracking team does this in many of the urban/rural boundaries in the county and the data are used for planning purposes and to keep tabs on the vitality of the wildlife in the area. I had the pleasure of interviewing Senior Tracker Ann Hunt for the January/February issue of AAA Westways. See the online version of the article, or 

Download "A Conversation With Ann Hunt, Senior Tracker, San Diego Tracking Team" (PDF, 264 K)

"Turning Play into Professions" —Lego Model Builders

I had a blast interviewing two of the newest Model Builders at Legoland California, Brian Heins and Mandy Jouan, for San Diego Family Magazine. Heins and Jouan were among five finalists who secured a coveted Model Builder job out of a field of 18 who competed for a position with the park this past June. Find out how these two San Diegans turned play into their profession. 

Click here to view "Turning Play Into Professions" in the online version of the November 2009 San Diego Family Magazine

Correction: I learned after this piece was published that the correct way to refer to these toys is "LEGO toys" or "LEGO bricks," and not "Legos," as LEGO is the company brand name, similar to the way one should not say "Kleenex" for "tissues." I apologize for the error.

Happy Birthday Anne Lamott

One of my favorite writers ever, Anne Lamott, is having a birthday today. I am celebrating by remembering The day I met Anne Lamott, in a post on my personal blog, Thoughts Happen.

"Armando and the Blue Tarp School" Author Edith Fine Pays it Forward

Today is International Children's Book Day, as I learned from a discussion thread on the Informed Ideas for Writers Group on LinkedIn (have I mentioned how much I love LinkedIn?) So it's an ideal time to tout a favorite local children's author and her latest book, Armando and the Blue Tarp School. Edith Fine, along with co-author Judith Josephson, tells the true story of a school that started out on a blue tarp on the ground in the neighborhood next to the city dump in Tijuana. We experience the story through the eyes of a fictionalized boy named Armando, but the character of "Senor David," is the real David Lynch, who traveled to Tijuana in 1980, intending to spend a month helping the families of the colonia, and instead ended up staying for over 25 years. A portion of the proceeds from Armando and the Blue Tarp School go to Lynch's nonprofit organization, Responsibility, Inc. The accolades for the book have been steadily growing, including a Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year nod,  Picture Book Winner at the 2008 San Diego Book Awards and there is even a children's musical in the works based on Armando. The latest buzz is that Armando is a California Young Reader Medal Nominee, with awards to be given in May of 2010. Edith Fine is a tireless promoter of children's literacy and a generous contributor to the San Diego and North County community, as well as an all-around fun person to know. I had the pleasure of meeting her last year when I was Author Day coordinator at my daughter's school where she presented two very well-received assemblies. California teachers and librarians, please consider participating in the California Young Reader Medal voting with your students and introduce them to this wonderful author and story. 

"Locals only" column in Encinitas Magazine

I am very pleased to be publishing my first piece in Encinitas Magazine in the Winter 2009 issue. I had the opportunity to interview local artist and organizational consultant Jack Lampl for the "Locals Only" column, subtitled "Neptune's Portal Creator Lives on the Edge." Mr. Lampl invited me to his home to discuss his work, philosophy and art, which I am happy to share with my neighbors and friends. Encinitas is full of fascinating people, and I love talking with and writing about the people I find here.

Click here to download "Download LocalsOnlyJackLampl" (PDF, 1.5M) from the Winter '09 issue. 

Happy Birthday A.A. Milne!

Today is the birthday of A.A. Milne, most well known as the author of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. If your only exposure to Winnie the Pooh is through the Disney franchise of books, movies and cartoons, you should run, not walk, to your nearest bookstore and pick up Winnie the Pooh and The House At Pooh Corner. The original stories are treasures of delicate characterization in the heartfelt yet nonsentimental tales of the childhood adventures of Christopher Robin and his menagerie of friends. I also celebrated Milne's birthday with an entry in the Thoughts Happen blog. 

Happy Birthday Frank Deford

Frank Deford is one of my favorite writers that I almost never read. But I listen. I discovered Deford's sports commentary Wednesday mornings on NPR probably 15 years ago during my morning commute. I'm not a huge sports fan, and was even less so then, but Deford's commentaries had a way of bringing me in, regardless of whether I knew anything about the topic. I started paying attention. I looked forward to hearing his gravelly voiced, passionate, three-minute delivery of whatever he had on his mind. No matter that I didn't know a Hoosier from a hole in the wall, Deford in five hundred words or less would paint a picture that gave me everything I needed to appreciate these little nuggets of sporting life. That is a sign of an amazing writer. To aspire to the wit, brevity and passion Deford brings to his writing is a noble goal indeed. Happy Birthday, Frank.

The rein-tarnation of k.d. lang

My husband and I got a chance to see k.d. lang at the Birch North Park Theatre last night. Wow. She opened the show with "Upstream," one of my favorite cuts from her wonderful latest album, Watershed, and kept the momentum going for a good hour and a half with her signature vocals that range from tender and nuanced to full-on belt. Nobody, but nobody, sings like k.d.. She mixed a good number of selections from Watershed in with earlier works from Hymns of the 49th Parallel, Ingenue, Drag, Shadowland, and even pulled out an "old-timey k.d. lang tune," as she called it, from Angel With a Lariat. The five-piece band was tight but not overpowering (although even an Army brass band couldn't overpower k.d.) with some fun soloing on guitar and jazz keys. With a relaxed attitude, she seemed to be having fun, throwing in a faux "ballet" routine to "Miss Chatelaine" and bantering with the audience. ("So how y'all feeling, post-election?" she asked at one point, to whoops and hollers.) Returning for two encores, she left the audience more than satisfied as she waved goodbye at the end of the night. I can now tick "Hearing k.d. lang perform Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujia'" off my bucket list, and if she'd managed to squeeze in "Pullin' Back the Reins," I could just check out right now.   

Taking Time for You

This piece appeared in the May issue of San Diego Family as part of their Mother's Day theme. In it I interview Karen Peltier-Rishmawi, North County businesswoman and founder of Natural Spa Living about moms' need to take time to rejuvenate themselves. The article also includes three great recipes for making spa products at home, including Relaxing Lavender Milk Bath, Revitalizing Rosemary Spritzer (both of which I can personally vouch for) and Invigorating Citrus Body Smoother. After writing this article I attended one of Karen's Natural Spa Living workshops and learned even more creative ways to create all-natural spa products at home. Check out her web site for more recipes and upcoming events.

Download "Taking Time for You" (PDF,560K) and take a step towards rejuvenation.