Explorer Robin Hanbury-Tenison rode along the Great Wall of China with his wife. In the course of their journey they saw a China and its people that few foreigners have ever seen.

A “gripping, colorful” history of China’s Great Wall that explores the conquests and cataclysms of the empire from 1000 BC to the present day (Publishers Weekly). Over two thousand years old, the Great Wall of China is a symbolic and physical dividing line between the civilized Chinese and the “barbarians” at their borders. Historian Julia Lovell looks behind the intimidating fortification and its mythology to uncover a complex history far more fragmented and less illustrious that its crowds of visitors imagine today. Lovell’s story winds through the lives of the millions of individuals who built and attacked it, and recounts how succeeding dynasties built sections of the wall as defenses against the invading Huns, Mongols, and Turks, and how the Ming dynasty, in its quest to create an empire, joined the regional ramparts to make what the Chinese call the “10,000 Li” or the “long wall.” An epic that reveals the true history of a nation, The Great Wall is “a supremely inviting entrée to the country” and essential reading for anyone who wants to understand China’s past, present, and future (Booklist).

At a time when most women my age are planning for retirement and maybe taking up hobbies that are a little less aggressive, I decided to go into law enforcement. Okay . . . . so doing what is expected of me is not my pattern of life. I enjoy adventures and the more impossible that they seem, the harder I will tackle them. Basically, it boiled down to the fact that years before, I had missed my window of opportunity to join the military. I had been a military brat and so joining the service would have been my wish but I had been a young mother and had to start work at a young age. I would never change the life I had with my four wonderful children. However now I was 42 years old and they were all grown up. I had just found out, through a turn of events, that there was no age limit for joining the police department. As long as one could keep up with the physical and academic requirements, then they were welcome to join. Additionally, I had felt that I was living on borrowed time since I was 15 years old when Id come as close to facing the vulnerability of being human as one can do without passing over to the non-living side. Soon after surviving, I had to face my own decision of moving on or finishing myself off. I made a choice and it was to live and to be happy. I wanted my days to count. I wanted to serve others who had gone through similar experiences. I wanted to lead a life with my head up. At the time that I applied for the academy, I was a special education teacher working with young adults who had aggressive and severe disabilities. I was running an after school Gay, Straight Alliance diversity club and was a mentor to many students. I had devoted all my life to children and youth. I had been a troubled child for a variety of reasons. I knew the pains that could come with childhoodmany pains to which children should never have to be exposed. I had always felt that I had to give back and try to be there for kids and others who could not speak up for themselves. Doing this was a priority to me. In addition to my full time teaching job with my school district, I was volunteering in a couple of capacities with the local Police department. I had first become a Victim Services Volunteer with them. Victim Services Volunteers are called at any time of day or night to go out and provide assistance to those who have been pa g e | 14 Me l i s a Me l victimized in some way. I never knew to what kind of call I would be going. It could be anything from a family member who had woken up to find their loved one had died during the night, a parent whose young adult child had overdosed on drugs, or a family whose home had burnt down. Regardless of the situation, the victim or victims needed support and resources. As a supplement to our 32 hour training, it was suggested that we do ride-alongs. I had never heard of a ride-along. A ride-along is literally when you ride along with an officer to get a taste of what it is like to be out on patrol. You have to sign a waiver indicating that you understand that there is a certain amount of danger involved but that you do not hold the police department responsible. For a mix of reasons, I was rather nervous about riding along in a police car with an officer. What made me most uncomfortable was the thought that I would have to sit in close proximity with a stranger. I did not even know if we could talk as I did not know if it was allowed. I feared it might distract the officers from their duties. Ever so much into training and wanting to learn all that I could about my new position, I scheduled a ride-along. I figured that just like with everything else in life, I would get the hang of it once I was there. I am very straightforward and like things to be clearly understood. I would have no problem simply asking the officer what was and was not ok. The officer with whom I was assigned to ride-along with was Officer Gabriel. I started out our ride-a

Travel through time on an exhilarating expedition to China’s most famous landmark! The Great Wall of China is one of the world’s most intriguing, well-known treasures. Spanning 2,700 years and over 13,000 miles long, embark on the fascinating tale of how the Great Wall was built and how it became one of the greatest man-made projects of all time. This thrilling children’s book about this fascinating structure will leave you with newfound knowledge and appreciation for this amazing world wonder. It includes: • Exquisitely detailed panoramic artworks that show how the Great Wall of China has changed from one era to the next — from the first defensive forts created in 656 BCE to the 13,000 mile-long monument still standing today • Cutaway views that reveal the interior of forts and buildings • Every illustration is surrounded by pull-out details for children to look at, drawing them into the picture and making the book fun and interactive • Lively, engaging narrative text and simple annotations that guide children on a journey through time This informative book educates young readers about how the Great Wall was built and showcases the people that help build it. The wall, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, started as a frontier defense against northern tribesmen and over the eras evolved to become the dynamic landmark that it is today. This educational history book also contains exceptional cutaway views revealing the interiors of important buildings, and pull-out details introducing fascinating facts and key characters. The time-traveling fox who appears in the artwork will have children inquisitively searching for the charming fox throughout the book. This makes for the perfect gift or collector’s item for children age 7 and up to learn about the Great Wall of China and its history. It is also perfect for parents looking for books on Chinese history to read with their children, and those planning on visiting the Great Wall of China who want to learn more about the landmark before or after their trip.

At My Itchy Travel Feet, The Baby Boomer’s Guide to Travel, writer Donna Hull and photographer Alan Hull travel the world recording their boomer travel experiences with words, photos, and videos so that you’ll know exactly what to expect. Their goal? To get boomers off the couch and out into the world. In this Blog to Book, they’ve chosen some of their favorite journeys to share with you. Take a road trip in Northern Italy, drive the California Big Sur coast, or explore Arches, Canyonlands, Glacier, and Grand Tetons National Parks. You’ll find a chapter on small ship luxury cruising and a travel tips section with advice on road trips, cruising, travel photography, and multi-generational travel. So, pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and start reading about active travel for boomers. It’s guaranteed to make your travel feet itchy!

When a fishing trip goes wrong, twelve year old Jake finds himself alone and lost in the Amazon rainforest. Flesh-eating piranhas, infected wounds and attacks from vicious jungle creatures are the least of his worries - how is he going to ESCAPE?