So Mercury might be in retrogade, and he may be playing havoc with my computers, but when I'm honest, I need to admit he AIN'T all that.

Those of you following my blogs on either myspace page: myspace.com/alekanakis or myspace.com/greekrule have noticed that I've ventured out with posts I'm confident in. In spite of swearing off email until Nov. 2nd, I couldn't stay away.

So, I'll include my count down to the release of Greek Rule on this blog as well.

Here is a simple recipe to get your week going in a tasty and healthy direction.

Thanks,

Aleka

Posted on myspace 10/28/07

I am currently awaiting 'Alexander's Greek Cuisine' to pop on over and share some trade secrets with us.

Check back for the 'main dish'.

In the mean time here is the simple and delicious Greek Salad Alexandros (in the Greek Rule) prepared:

2 garden fresh tomatoes - cut into sixths

1 cuccumber- halved and sliced

1/2 green pepper

Sliced red onion to taste

*Be sure to salt the tomatoes first so that they can release their juices.

*Once the salad is assembled in a shallow bowl, add a 1/2 inch slice or chunks of feta cheese (Greek-Ipeirou feta is infamous for its taste and quality).

*Pour a generous amount of exta-virgin olive oil over the salad and sprinkle with dried oregano.

*I like to let the salad sit at room temperature for a short while--again, think juice.

*Grab a loaf of crunchy fresh bread and dig in. Once the tomatoes and cuccumbers are gone, don't forget to dunk the bread and collect the feta remnants from the plate.

****The freshest ingredients available make for the best salad!

When there is so much going on and you’re happy with it, well happy with almost all of it, it is so difficult to single out anything. That is where I am at this time in my life. Should I complain? I don’t think so; I’d give anything to be an identical situation over and over.

However, I feel the need to focus on one thing today and share it with you. It is October, the month dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness. Breast Cancer touches all of our lives, and honestly, we are the best line of defense at this moment.  I must scream out at the top of my voice: Get those mammograms and do the self-exams on a regular basis!

Saturday, October 20^th, 2008 was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Miami. My friend, Andrea M, hosted a ‘sleep-in’ for the cure brunch for a group of ladies on the same day.  Grandmothers, mothers, and daughters gathered at Andrea’s home and offered their allegiance to the worthy cause and their support to fellow women.

Andrea’s mother, Diane, inspired her to organize this event and request friends join and help her reach a goal of $500.00 in a donation to the race.   Diane has been diagnosed with advance breast cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy in the greatest battle of her life.  The good news is:  the new drug they have recently started with seems to be agreeing with her. Diane looked great on Saturday and said she was grateful for the lack of side effects at the moment. Prayers of health coming your way, Diane.

Friends and family connected for support, some having had a scare of their own, others knowing someone affected by breast cancer, but all in search for a cure. Great strides are being made each day, but so much more is needed. United, we are a force to be reckoned with. So stand by your sisters and show your support.

Munching on delectable scones and mouth watering quiches, I bonded with women- some old friends, some I was meeting for the first time. We drank, ate, and chatted about everything and anything. Stories about our childhoods and careers filled the air, plans and desires for the future were shared, and  Dani, a new friend and representative from Hanes, fit us all for the proper bra. Can you imagine out of a dozen women, only one wore the correct size and style? Needless to say, the next day at church we were all wearing our new bras, and our much perkier boobs were proudly displayed.

Announcing that her initial goal was more than doubled, Andrea glowed with the accomplishment. There were three generations of women in the room and the energy was so positive, engulfing my spirit and helping it soar high that I found it difficult to leave.

We each left with a gift bag of goodies collected from Hanes, Bali & Macy’s distributed in the support of breast cancer awareness. I have two extras to offer any guest contributors to this blog on the subject of Breast Cancer or Breast Cancer Awareness   to people sharing their stories on the page I will establish on my website, AlekaNakis.com. Being that this information is too important to limit to a single month’s exposure, I will maintain the page as long as readers keep coming to it.  If it will help one woman raise her arms and fight, it will have met its purpose.

So visit the page and send your comments and pictures to Aleka@AlekaNakis.com .

Remember, united we are a force to be reckoned with!

PS

Saturday night, I received an email from Andrea:

Aleka,

Here is the link again. So far the total raised is $1247. Thanks for everything!

Follow this LINK to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Komen Foundation - Miami / Ft. Lauderdale Affiliate

******************************************************************************
Some email systems do not support the use of links and therefore this link may not appear to work. If so, copy and paste the following into your browser:
http://www.mftlkomengeneral.kintera.org/andriana?faf=1&e=1312095982
******************************************************************************

Today, Tuesday, I received a call. The total is now over $1400!

Way to go!

In the midst of preparing tonight’s blog about my trip to the New Jersey Romance Writers’ conference, my phone rang. It was my editor from Resplendence Publishing, and she asked for me to check my messages.

Well, the next few words spoke directly to my heart. Here is what they wrote:

RP Supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A portion of the proceeds for EYES OF THE DEAD by Aleka Nakis will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in support of finding the cure for breast cancer.

The story EYES OF THE DEAD is about a young female researcher who braves the many dangers of the Mayan jungle in her quest to find a cure for breast cancer.

Having such a relevant title due for release during Breast Cancer Awareness Month struck us as the perfect opportunity to support a worthy cause. 

Please follow this link to purchase your copy of EYES OF THE DEAD by Aleka Nakis today...

http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8_view_item.html?m8:item=978-0-9795721-2-8

I’m thrilled! I’m at a loss for words. (And those people who know me, you know that doesn’t happen often.)

I started and finished my first manuscript for a friend who battled and conquered breast cancer. She’s a self-proclaimed Romance Queen/Junkie and reading my story put an added smile on her face during those tough months. She is also the reason I went for my first mammogram and will be returning to the clinic for a new one this month.

Friends, this is a winnable war if we confront and attack. Prevention and early detection are our greatest weapons. So please, don’t waste a minute and schedule that mammogram, learn how to and do your monthly self exams, and raise your arms and fight.

I’m so proud of my twelve year old daughter, too. Last week she cut her hair for Locks of Love. I know that my baby’s hair will help a child who is in a fight for his/her life and lift his/her spirits.

I’m so happy to be surrounded by such caring women.  It puts a smile on my face and in my heart.

Resplendence Publishing has chosen the Eyes of the Dead with Tiffany, a breast cancer researcher, as a tool to raise funds for the cure.  And, for your information, Kate’s book, The Greek Rule, will also be released by Resplendence.

How lucky am I?

Very!

Wear your pink proudly, and support the race for the cure. Here are two links for you:

http://cms.komen.org/komen/index.htm 

www.locksoflove.org

Thank you,

Aleka