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Teresa
Cutler
BA - English/Anthropology
MA - Cultural Studies/Comparative Literature
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Newsletter
Archived from June 2007
Our Country...
I've been careful to this point not to state too radically my opinions on the way our country is acting in the world. I'll still hold my tonge to some extent except to note that our reputation has suffered almost irreparable damage, and it's getting worse by the day. Regardless of whether you believe we have done right or wrong in the world over the last six years, the facts are what they are: the majority of people around the world have lost all respect for the USA. Unfortunately it will take twice that number of years, at least, to repair the damage.
This frightens me.
Current Publications:
Check out my three latest travel/historical articles at Lifeinitaly.com, a great site run by Paolo Nascimbeni. My articles are here,
here and here.
Upcoming publications:
The series of essays I wrote about Italy last summer has been collected into a manuscript and submitted for publication. It will be out January, 2008, titled A Dream that Keeps Returning: Travels in the Italian Sun. Previews of the essays can be found here. The book will be available via Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, and by special order from me.
My young adult novel One Eyed Jack has found a new agent! She is hopeful that she can sell all three books in the series Adventures with Jack: They are, in order: One Eyed Jack, Texas Jack and Mountain Jack.
My screenplay BURN was optioned last year, is moving into new arenas... will keep you posted.
My travel book proposal is complete and is being sent to publishers.
Order your book today!
International Travel:
Last summer was a fabulous year for travel. I boarded a plane to Italy in early June and arrived in Rome 18 hours later, ready to dive into my favorite city in the world. I spent three and a half weeks walking the historical center, exploring new areas I had yet to see, finding new and wonderful restaurants, and eating gelato.
I attended an intensive Italian language course at Torre di Babele, a fabulous school I will go back to as soon as possible. I learned enough Italian in three weeks to actually be able to begin speaking to native Italians... although I suspect my rudimentary sentences and questions were a source of amusement for them. One man, in fact, really did laugh at me... though when an Italian man laughs at you while holding your hand in greeting and telling you your accent is charming, you can't get too upset.
In Siena I interviewed Dario Castagno, author of Too Much Tuscan Sun, and enjoyed a day with him exploring the Tuscan countryside. And while I was there, I stayed at the Relais Borgo Scopeto, a 4-star hotel more than worth the quite high price. The rooms were spacious, elegant and quiet, and the food was the best I've had in Italy.
During that same period of time I wrote a series of essays (they can be found here) that is now a book (see above), and wrote the first draft of a screenplay that has since been finished and is almost ready to go into production.
Then in early July, my boyfriend Robin arrived in Rome tired but happy to be there, and after dropping his bags at the Hotel Adriatic (much nicer than the website would lead you to expect), we spent the next few days exploring Rome.
Then we embarked on a whirlwind trip through Northern Italy (Siena, Florence, and Venice) and into Germany. We stayed three days in Munich, which we both loved, and we spent an entire day at the technological musuem exploring the history of humankind from rudimentary water wheels to state of the art computers.
We then then headed north to Bacharach, a beautiful tiny town on the banks of the Rhine. We took a castle tour along the Rhine River, visiting St. Goar's castle Rheinfels along the way.
Both north to Germany and south back to Italy we traveled by train, and I have to say, in Northern Italy the mountains were the most spectactular I've ever seen.
One last night in Rome. We visited the Trevi Fountain, and hopped on two different planes to come home. Arrived in Albuquerque less than 45 minutes apart, and went home. I had expected to sleep for a week after the grueling plane trip... I was wired and didn't get tired for days.
See our Trip:
Robin put together a PowerPoint presentation of our trip and it can be seen in either a PowerPoint or PDF file.
Domestic Travel:
A quiet month at home, then a fabulous four day trip to New York City. Robin and I stayed across the street from MOMA, visited the Guggenheim Museum, went to a play, Spamalot, danced until 5:00 AM at a nightclub, and walked through Central Park (where I almost convinced him to go to a rave with me). Of course we visited the MET where we saw many amazing works of art and Federico Castelluccio, (Furio from The Sopranos and an amazing artist himself). And of course we ate ourselves silly at various restaurants around the city.
Since then We've been to Phoenix a few times, Conchas Lake a number of times, and I traveled to Colorado in May of 2007 to meet my brand new god-daughter, Zaria. Her mother, Chelsie, is as close to my heart as a daughter and I'm proud to have them both in my life.
Summer travel plans for 2007?
The Pacific Northwest of the USA, some more trips to Phoenix and Conchas Lake, and then... France, Germany and Cancun, if all goes well.
I'd better check my passport expiration date....
Previous trips:
To read about my trip to Turkey and Italy in 2005, check out my previous newsletter, and these pages: carpets, essay, and pictures.
Earlier trips have taken me to England & Scotland (1998) with my friend Nancy, to China (1999), and Ireland (2000). The year 2000 was also my first trip to Italy, and when I fell in love with Rome.
Politics and School:
The decision is made. A PhD is in the works: Political Science and Archaeology - yes, some kind of combined degree. The focus will be the Middle East... and specifically (tentatively at this point) Terrorism Studies. Somewhere in there I will also touch on the ancient Roman empire, specifically its expansion to/inclusion of Constantinople.
In pursuit of this, I am studying for the GRE. As anyone who knows me knows, this exam has terrified me for years. Finally time to face my fears. Also I'm taking classes, reading all the books I can get my hands on, and reading news on the Internet from around the world.
I am in pre-production - heading into the funding stages - of a documentary involving all these interests. For more information on this specific project, email me. For a sneak peek at the subject, check out this article.
Projects:
I'm still working with Michael Hauge on screenplays, a number of them in the works. One is set in Turkey and is about kidnapping, journalism, archeaology, and expect to finish that this year. And I'll start work on another script set in an as-yet-unnamed war-torn city in the Middle East.
For a more complete list of my current projects, check out Page 14 Productions.
Teaching:
I'm teaching my Magazine Writing Classes occasionally in both three-hour seminars and six week classes.
My screenwriting workshops will be starting again soon. A schedule will be posted.
I will soon be teaching at the University of Phoenix - starting summer of 2007. Creative Writing, Film Studies, Mythology, Art History... whatever they let me talk about!
Friends:
My friends and loved ones are accomplishing amazing things. For links to their lives and work, check out friends.
Animals:
Sebastian (my half Corgi/half ?) is happy and healthy as ever. He's about 12 years old now and hopefully has quite a few years left. Emma, the half Corgi/half Aussie, I got after Sadie died, is doing wonderfully. She has a bit of an attitude so I won't be getting a third dog. We've tried it and she keeps on beating them up. Sebastian and Emma can be found here.
With a recent move (into my boyfriend's house) we acquired a new dog... or she acquired us. She's a very sweet Golden Retriever named Nikki. Emma keeps trying to beat her up but Nikki kind of just sits there... her hundred pounds is relatively immovable for Emma, who weighs less than half that.
Health & Fitness:
Robin and I joined a gym in August of 2006 and for a long time were working out regularly. That schedule suffered over the holidays and with the move of two households but we have joined a new gym as of March 2007, and with Robin's son Marshall have begun a new regimen.
Our summer exercise plans include hiking, biking, the gym, boating, and - for me - Middle Eastern belly dance.
Links:
I'd like to link to anyone who's interested - writer, editor, resource.
Please feel free to send me an Email me with your web address. Include a graphic if you'd like me to use that as your link.
And finally...
Please offer suggestions for this site or ideas for articles that may come up in your area. Give me an excuse to travel!
Until next time...
Ciao!
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