I normally do not do this...but it is so true!

I got this email from a dear friend and had to share it through blog....
so here we go:

Italian Kids vs. American Kids


American kids: 

Move out when they're 18 with the full support of their parents.

Italian kids: 

Move out when they're 28, having saved enough money for a house,
and are two weeks away from getting married...
unless there's room in the basement for the newlyweds.

American Kids:

When their Mom visits them, she brings a Bundt cake, and you sip coffee and chat.

Italian kids: 

When their Mom visits them, she brings 3 days worth of food, begins to tidy up,dust, do
the laundry, and rearrange the furniture.


American kids: 

Their dads always call before they come over to visit them,
and it's usually only on special occasions.

Italian kids:

Are not at all fazed when their dads show up, unannounced,
on a Saturday morning at 8:00,
and starts pruning the fruit trees. If there are no fruit trees,
he'll plant some.


American kids: 

Always pay retail, and look in the Yellow Pages when they need to
have something done.


Italian Kids: 

Call their dad or uncle, and ask for another dad's or uncle's
phone number to get it done...cash deal. Know what I mean?


American kids: 

Will come over for cake and coffee, and get only cake and coffee. No more.


Italian kids: 

Will come over for cake and coffee, and get antipasto, wine, a pasta dish,
a choice of two meats, salad, bread, a cannoli, fruit, espresso,
and a few after dinner drinks.

American kids:

Will greet you with 'Hello' or 'Hi'..


Italian kids:

Will give  you a big hug, a kiss on your cheek, and a pat on your back.


American kids: 

Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.


Italian kids:

Call your parents Mom and Dad.


American kids: 

Have never seen you cry.


Italian kids:

Cry with you.!


American kids:

Borrow your stuff for a few days and then return it.


Italian kids:

Keep your stuff so long, they forget it's yours.


American kids:

Will eat at your dinner table and leave.


Italian kids: 

Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, and just being together.


American kids: 

Know few things about you.


Italian kids:

Could write a book with direct quotes from you.


American kids:

Eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on soft mushy white bread.


Italian kids: 

Eat Genoa Salami and Provolone sandwiches on crusty Italian bread.


American kids: 

Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.


Italian kids: 

Will kick the whole crowds' ass that left you behind.


American kids:

Are for a while.

   
Italian kids:

Are for life.


American kids: 

Enjoy Rod Stewart, and NSync.


Italian kids:


Enjoy Tony Bennett, and Sinatra.


American kids: 

Think that being Italian is cool.


Italian kids:

Know that being Italian is cool.


American kids: 

Will ignore this...


Italian kids:

Will copy and paste this and blog about it themselves
(just like I did)!

After burn out

It has been one hell of a holiday season and it still isn't over for us.
Another family get together is scheduled for this afternoon and I am really looking forward to it. We will be visiting our Cousins and Great Aunt to spread yet more cheer their way.
The past week hasn't been busier than in Christmas past, I've noticed.
The stores were packed, but not overly. The general public had some spirit of the season, but not overly.
I have way too much to put away (yeah, still), but I have a good excuse, I shopped on Friday and worked from 8am-10:30pm yesterday.
It will get done...eventually.
I guess what I am trying to say is that I am totally burnt out!
The baking, the shopping, the smiling can really put a toll on an already cheery person!

I care to elaborate...

I thought I was going to have to pull over while driving home from my parents house.
Brook and Donna were chatting and Brook asked Donna if she knew where Jesus came from and Donna asked her, where?
Brook says, and I quote, "My friend Vinny told me that Jesus came from regular ham".




All proud like.

I thought I would bust my gut laughing as hard as I did!
Donna insisted that he came from "Bethlehem" not "Ham" and she didn't want to believe otherwise.

Snowy Photo Phriday!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!





I love my snow lady! She is a bit perky for an old snow lady, but she worked out!
What did you see?

I Should Jar It All!

Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I make the most awesome soup, gravy and chili this side o' the Mississippi!

I am not Jewish, but my Chicken/Turkey soup is to die for!
I do not know if I should divulge in my ancient secrets, but I will tell you that is is 95% FAT FREE!

I add no fat or added salt, just pure, fresh ingredients. How does she do it, you ask?

Easy.

For the soup, the best way to make your stock is from the bones, whether it be chicken or turkey. Add, carrots, onions, turnips, parsley, dashes of salt and pepper, garlic (2-3 whole cloves cut in half) and about 6 cups of water.
Boil the sheet out of it for at least 2 hours.
Strain it into another large cooking pot and add fresh cut onion, carrots, chopped spinich, turkey or chicken (I prefer the white meat but a little dark wont kill ya), sweet potato cubed and continue cooking for another hour or two. I also add (when I have it) ground turkey meat balls (rolled right into the soup). To make them taste even better, a splash of beef broth really does the trick.
Low fat, easy and delectable!



My Gravy on the other hand has been perfected over the years and is always best with fresh herbs added. There is nothing like an Italian Gravy with fresh basil, oregano, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, garlic powder and plumb tomatoes! Canned tomatoes are ok to use but if you have any fresh from the garden, throw them into a blender or food processor and press puree and voila...instant tomato sauce.
It is so easy a child could make it. Just add it all to the pot and simmer for 3-4 hours. Add it to any kind of pasta (the Whole Grains are so much better than the Wheat in my opinion and it really is very flavorful and better for you).



I like simmering don't I?

For my Chili, I am not traditional in the least and I do have a secret ingredient...I may or may not tell.
OK I will, but not right now.
I have been trying to cut the fat in this household without cutting the flavors, so I use a 1/2 and 1/2 mix of ground beef and ground turkey for my chili. Seasoned correctly there is no difference and my finikey older daughter eats it! Now that is saying something!

I add fresh jalapenos, onion, garlic, bb q sauce, tomato sauce, diced tomatos, kidney beans, salt, pepper, garlic powder, cilantro, green chili's, bacon, chili powder (added to the meet when browning, cayanne pepper sauce, cayanne pepper and the secret ingredient...BEER! Yes, Beer. It gives it the best flavor. Any beer will do, but I use Bud Select or regular Budweiser. Flavorful, low fat and delicious!



There are my secrets for happy, healthy, hearty family dinners!

Mangia!

Photo Phriday

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
What did you see?

Christmas is swiftly approaching!

What?

Two weeks till Christmas?

I am not ready!




Three Days till Donna comes home.



Decorating, still not finished (waiting for Donna).

Shopping still not complete (waiting for Donna and Cash).



Cookies not baked (recipe's found but we cannot bake too soon).



What is a girl to do?

Get busy, that's what!
My list is made of what needs to be done and where to get it done so I am really in good shape. I really like to have it all done by now, but in this economy, it isn't as easy.
Everyone I speak to is feeling the pinch this year, so make the New Year's resolutions to lose 10 lbs by March because all my friends and family are getting "baked stocking stuffers" this year!

Just For Fun Correction!

I rarely make mistakes, I know you are thinking, Cristina? She is perfecto! But alas, I do make a mistake now and then.

My Brother (www.vinniecosta.com) found my error on my "Just for fun" post and the instructions clearly state NOT to use the same word twice and I did.

I meant to use "Crop" for the four letter word and I keyed in "Crap" instead and used "Crap" for my last answer...It was truly a typo and I totally missed it.

I apologize and assure you, it may just happen again (no, you are thinking, not her) but hopefully not for a very long time!

Reward/Club card addiction?

I was in the shower the other day, (I do shower every day), but it was the other day, I was thinking.
I have so many "Rewards", "Club" cards attached to my key chain.

It seems that ALL retailers all are following in CVS's footsteps (that was the first "rewards" card I received). Then came the A & P, Stop & Shop, Borders, Staples, Library Card, Best Buy, Duane Reed...the list goes on!

The retail industry is using these to track us I believe...track our spending and then rewarding us will free gum or $2.00 off our entire shopping order!

I had to detach my keys from the bundle of cards I have acquired over the years from various retailers that I frequent often, or just once in a blue moon because I had more of them than keys!.



These now live in my pocket book, in their own compartment!

Just an observation on my part, do you suffer from Reward/Club card addiction?

Just for fun

Copy and paste into your own blog but follow the directions!

SCATTERGORIES…it’s harder than it looks!

Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things… nothing made up!

You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question. And you can not use the same word twice.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME:
Cristina

BOY NAME:
Christopher

4 LETTER WORD:
Crap

GIRL NAME:
Cheryl

OCCUPATION:
Certified Accountant

A COLOR:
Coral

Something you wear:
Crown

BEVERAGE:
Cola

FOOD:
Corn

SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM:
Comb

A PLACE :
Canada

REASON FOR BEING LATE:
Cramps

SOMETHING YOU SHOUT:

CRAAAAPPPPP

Photo Phriday

This was actually seen last Friday so it counts!



What did you see?

I already said it in private...

So I must say it publically...




Thanks Uncle Vinnie for taking us to one of the most spectacular shows on earth!





Not only did we see the Christmas show at Radio City we were privileged to witness the union of a couple in Grand Central Terminal!

After the show, My brother and I parted ways and Brook and I were homeward bound.
I wanted to take her through the main concourse because they are running a kaleidoscope light show all this week (maybe till Christmas, I am not 100%) and thought she would love it while we wait for our train.

We noticed a crowd of onlookers and figured, lets see whats going on.
Low and behold, its a wedding!





What a fabulous idea! Why didn't I think of it?
Totally FREE! All they needed was an officiant. The venue was brilliant!

They looked so happy and it was really a beautiful wedding.

What a great kindergarten hookie day!

A scanner is a beautiful thing

This Facebook is a wonderful thing. I have found people here that I haven't seen in over 30 years!
I have seen pictures of all of my old friends now and when we knew each other then and it has been like walking back in time!
I feel 16 again...and this is what I looked like in 1983...



With my good buddy Maria at my side, as always in High School. This was at her Halloween Party! What memories!
I need to dig now through all my old photos and get to the scanning.

**Special thanks to Vin for getting me here and for finding these photos! I cannot wait to see more!

"Propaganda" Photo Phriday

Donna had to do some homework on the Arches scattered across the country and we just so happen to have one here in NYC's Washington Square Park (which is actually closed for renovation) that honors George Washington as our first president.
Propaganda? Why yes, for the promoting of our first president and that USA is the greatest!
That's just fine with me.

I love being quoted

I go to read my brother's blog (www.vinniecosta.com) today to find this post:

I just called my sister wanting to take my young niece, Brook, to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular; I called to find out when she would be off from school - not Thanksgiving weekend - so I wouldn’t be interfering with her learning - she, my sister, said, “She’s in kindergarten. I’ll just take her out of school…what is she going to miss?”

Now, in my opinion that makes my sister not a good mother, but a GREAT mother!

The story behind the quote:

The other day my brother calls me up and tells me he wants to take Brook to see the Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular. I say, great.
"I guess you will have to come too" he says (wow, don't I feel special) and my response is of course, "I am not putting my baby on the train by herself, and since I am there already..."
He asks me when her next day off is and I check the school calendar.
Day after Thanksgiving? Black Friday? Uh, no.
"December 3rd or 10th is a half day, how would that be?"
He has to check and call me back.
I wait for all of 10 minutes and the phone rings.
Neither of those days are good for him,
OK.
"Why don't you tell me when it is good for you, we can go any morning or afternoon except a Tuesday or Friday" I say, and then I say (the famous quote) “She’s in kindergarten. I’ll just take her out of school…what is she going to miss?”

So he got the tickets for December 1st at 2pm.

Its a Monday, she will be just missing gym, that by the way, she has 3 times a week. She really isn't missing much at all and I don't feel too bad about it.
I guess I am a great mother!

Photo Phriday

Sunset outside of my terrace.
What did you see?

Memories...Prom Night

It has been a long time since I've dated but one really stands out in my mind from days gone by.
Believe it or not, it was prom night and I was dressed in my frilliest pink taffeta polka dot gown, thinking about it now, I looked like an Ace of Cakes "Throwing up Pink".
The year was 1984.
My date arrives in his supped up limo, his Ford Escort. I asked him where the limo was? He told me that he waited too long to get one and there were none available for this night.

Strike 1.

Thousands of pictures later, we get in the car and drive to the prom. My hair almost didn't make it because the window on the passenger side was broken open about 3 inches. I asked if he had thought about this when taking his car instead of going in my Mustang. He didn't want to drive my car, well, I don't let anyone drive my car, and he didn't want to be seen with a girl driving him to the prom but I digress.

Strike 2

We arrive at prom embarrassed that I wasn't exiting a Limo with all my friends but exiting a Ford Freakin' Escort!

Again, I digress.

As you may know, the first thing you do when you walk into the venue is get accosted by a Prom Photographer to make a lasting memory of this eventful time in every teens life.
Well, this was not the case for us. My date/boyfriend had to use the little boys room and left me standing there my myself!
I was mortified when it was our turn and it was only me standing there like a schlub!
In retrospect, I am glad not to have a professional visual memory, of which is still on display on one of my parents shelves, of that cheap jerk.
We get to our table and it was wonderful! All my friends were there to support me and dance and eat and talk the night away with stories of where we were going in NYC to hang out at afterwords.
Back then it was all the rage to go to Dangerfield's (does that place even exist anymore?). One of my friends asked us whose limo we were taking and I said anyone's but ours!
It was potty time and all the girls from the table got up and left all the boys to wonder if they were going to get lucky, at this rate mine was not (never did either).
I lifted up my massive dress only to see blood all over the inside of it!
WHATHA...(insert explicit here).
I found the source of the blood on my what I thought was a perfectly shaved leg. I found the gash across my shin and the pantyhose I was wearing stuck to it but it still got all over the dress even though it had stopped bleeding by then. I had no idea that I even cut myself!
I called for reinforcements, my BFF (who by the way, is still my BFF). We cleaned it as best we could and about 1/2 hour later emerged from the bathroom only to see my date/boyfriend waiting my the door asking me what took so long? I told him what happened and he said that he requested our song to be played to dance to and I missed it!
OMG, how sweet was that?
Alas, I missed it and there was nothing I could do about it now, but it was the thought that counts right.
Strike taken away from him, but still Strike 2 because of the bloody leg/dress.
The rest of the prom was a blur, I wound up dancing with my BFF the entire time and date/boyfriend sat at the table talking football or baseball, some kind of sport anywho.
We decide to go in my BFF's limo to NYC and had a fabulous time.
My BFF asked why my date/boyfriend had his hand behind his back the entire time. I didn't realize he had had his hand at his back the entire time and wondered about that myself, afterwords.
I get home at an ungodly hour and date/boyfriend wants to know if I would like to go to his place. I gracefully say No Way Jose, see ya at work.
I exit his Escort and off to bed I went, my own bed, by myself thank you.

A week or so later, this was the days before the digital camera, I get the photos back and notice again that my date/boyfriend did indeed have his hand behind his back.
What was that all about I thought. I showed them to my friends and one of them told me why he had his hand behind his back.
He was carrying a GUN! A gun? To prom? Why?
My friend told me it was because we were going into NYC and he wanted to be prepared!
How stupid can you be?
Even in the 80's NYC was a fun safe place to be, as it is today.
I love NYC!
I went to Art school in NYC after High School and I now work in NYC.
OMG...Super Strike 3!
We broke up.

Photo(shop) Phriday

A work in progress...what did you see?

Weimar Hole

After a long week of sickness, it was nice to get back out again.
Back to work and back to the theatre.
I had the pleasure of doing both yesterday.

I woke up early to catch the 8:37am train to NYC to go to work.

While walking up 45th street I came upon the Madison Avenue street fair going on to my surprise, there is always something happening on Sunday.
Same shit, different day. The same folks show up all the time with the fake Prada's and matching wallets, the junk jewelry and the oh so famous I (heart) NY Tee's.
The food vendors though, all smelled delish...too bad it was only 9:15am!

I kept walking to my first destination...D & D (there is no better way to start the day..."America runs on Dunkin" and so does Cristina).
Then off to work.
Nothing exciting to report, work was work.

After work I meet up with my brother at a little diner between 47th and 48th Streets and 8th Ave. before going to the 7:30 pm show at the Roy Arias Theatre Center Off Broadway Theatre (300 W 43rd Street, 5th Floor, shamless plug).
We had the traditional of traditional diner food...The burger deluxe! Yummy, Yummy. I haven't had one of those since the Thru-Way Diner closed (sad).
Good company, good conversation then off to the show.

The theater is small, but comfortable, in a NYC comfortable kind of way...tight but not so tight as my fat ass fit in the seat with no jaws of life needed to rescue me after the show.

EATfest 2008 consisted of 6 one act plays that were all brilliant in their own way.
I enjoyed all but two of them immensely.

The two I didn't like as much as the other four were "Hotline" which was about a teenage girl whose boyfriend breaks up with her and she wants to commit suicide and calls the suicide hotline only to get an asshole who knows nothing of how to talk down a potential suicide and then tries to pick her up, so to speak.

The second one I didn't like so much was called "Tranquil" a story of a gay brother (who is paralyzed from the waist down) and sister who is asked of said gay brother, to describe what sex feels like (since he will never feel it). I found this one a bit uncomfortable because I myself having a gay brother don't think it would be something that I could talk about or describe to him.
It had too many holes...ha ha, in it to work well (my opinion only).
Like the part when he thinks he would be a "bottom"...how could he know he was a bottom if he never even had or felt sex?

My second favorite, to "Weimar Hole" was, "We Appear to Have Company".
I loved it so much because of its simplicity.
An older couple sitting on a couch, husband reading financial times and wife flipping through a rag mag and a clown sitting on a chair in the background reading a book.
Already it sounds like something you would see at your parents house, clearly.
Said "wife" then turns round to see the clown, looks to the audience rather alarmed, but calm...turning to her husband and tells him of the clown in their living room. "Hubbie" in turn turns round and says, "ahh yes, so there is" and continues reading his paper.
The banter between hubbie and wife is brilliant (I do say "brilliant" a lot, don't I?) and its so nonchalant, like he is a stray cat on the porch that just got in the house or something...this is how the clown is treated. They continue talking about the clown and if he could be dangerous or what people might think if they just threw him out, when the phone rings and you find out that the husband is the Prime Minister and that the clown was his defense adviser who just pushed "THE button" to start WW III.
BTW, the clown makes no sound and does not speak at all.
Too Funny!

My absolute favorite though was "Weimar Hole" but not just because my brother is in it, but because it was the most entertaining and different.
It was funny, well written and there is nothing and I mean nothing that I haven't seen my brother perform in that wasn't absolutely brilliant!

This segment was about two performance artists that are just so bad, they are great. The audience cast members then have a "talk back" with the artists after their show only to find out that they "Weimar Hole" have become prisoners of said show and then...well, go see it for yourself! Comedic genius!



Vinnie Costa is a comedic genius and I just cannot see why he doesn't have his own sitcom yet! Come on NBC, CBS, Fox or even ABC...grab him up before Cable gets him!

By the way, the costume my brother is wearing for this roll was all found in his Halloween trunk (we are obsessed with saving costumes, you never know when you may need them again) Brilliant!

Photo (shop) Phriday

I love Photoshop! Thanks Donna for the refresher (as always).

What did you see?

The anatomy of a lie

Fabricator,
Fibber,
Prevaricator,
Storyteller,
Defamer,
Libeler (or libeller),
Slanderer;
Perjurer;
Distorter,
Falsifier;
Equivocator,
Gossip,
Gossiper,
Talebearer;
Charlatan,
Cheat,
Cheater,
Confidence man,
Counterfeiter,
Deceiver,
Defrauder,
Dissembler,
Dissimulator,
Double-dealer,
Fraud, hustler,
Pretender

Just to name a few other ways to describe a LIAR.

I despise liars. I always have. To be blatantly lied to about something and then finding out about it and confronting the lie to be told it was nothing and that I checked up on it? What is worse? The lie or that I checked on it? DUH.

Don't turn it around...you lied, you were caught in it and you feel it was no big deal?
Quit harping on it.
You are gonna hang on to it because I didn't do what I said I did?

That is not the point! You LIED TO ME!
LIED ABOUT IT, for what? So you wouldn't have to hear me? WTF

Regardless of how I voted...

I am happy.

I voted McCain because I felt that he was the change in President we needed. He fought to protect this country and he is a proud American.
If he were a bit younger, and he had a better PR man, he may have won this election.




My feelings are that in 21 months, Barak Obama had the best PR that money could be raised! I am hopeful that the Change he so vehemently preached in that 21 months is for the better and will become a reality and not just some brain washing geared toward the youth of America.

For the health care promises

For the economy promises

For Americans

Time to become accountable, to be a part of this history in the making, that we can honestly tell our children that even they can become the President of the United States.

Had to share

I had to share this great photo of me and Brook that my dear friend Anna took of us on Halloween...

I love Halloween!

Fun Facts

 It takes your food seven seconds to get from your mouth to
  your stomach.


 One human hair can support 3 kg (6 lb).


 The average man's penis is three times the length of
 his thumb.


 Human thighbones are stronger than concrete.


 A woman's heart beats faster than a man's.


 There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.


 Women blink twice as often as men.


 The average person's skin weighs twice as much as the
 brain.


 Your body uses 300 muscles to balance itself when you are
 standing still.


 If saliva cannot dissolve something, you cannot taste it.

 Women reading this will be finished now.


 Men who read this are probably still busy checking their
 thumbs.


 

Photo Phriday, The Halloween Edition!

Brook and I were extra busy this Halloween.



It is truly one of my favorite holidays!



I love dressing up and hearing what all my neighbors say about me...no, not how crazy I am, but how much they look forward to seeing what I am doing this year.



This year we went out of the building and did a bit of Trick or Treating in the Beach Club district.
We had a fabulous time with Anna and Marc...AKA Hippy Chick and Super Mario.



We did a bunch of houses and the kids had a great time together!

We came home and started begging for more goodies at our dear friends the Michaels' and I got a great shot of Mickey, the Hot Dog Pumpkin along with a goof ball shot of me and Joe.





All in all, a smashing Halloween!

How was yours?

What...? It is just too early

On my way to work this morning I saw the most amazing thing.




There are 3 gentlemen putting lights on the trees along Fifth Avenue in NYC.
What?
"It isn't even Halloween" I yelled to them.
"Tell me about it." One of them replied.
I crossed over at 47th Street where the Christmas Diamonds were attached to the lights as well...already.
I begin humming, its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...everywhere we go.

I better get my lists organized!

Photo Phriday, I know, its Saturday!

I worked the Food Table and these were donated by one of the moms...Eyeballs?



Harley Quinn and Cat Woman...the preview.

The School's Halloween party was on Photo Phriday, but I was so pooped after the party I didn't get a chance to upload what we saw, so here we are.

What did you see?

It must be something that is going around

I have been sick now for about 3 days and my head feels like it is ready to explode!

I have a scratchy throat, stuffyness, head ache and post nasal drip that doesn't help the scratchy throat at all!

I will survive, I know this, but it is the first "cold" I have gotten since quitting smoking over a year and a half ago (19 months, 19 days ago, I won't go into minutes or seconds because as I said before...my head feels like it is about to explode).

I have kept myself busy all 3 days and think it started at the Mall.

Monday was Donna and Cheryl's last day here at home from October break and I talked them out of going to NYC and spend the day Mall shopping at the Galleria in White Plains.

I got my Halloween costume (my absolute favorite holiday) thank goodness, because I need it for tomorrow nights Halloween Party at Jefferson School and of course for next week for trick or treating.

I am going as Harley Quinn (The Jokers Girlfriend)



I didn't get the tight fitting body suit (my body doesn't fit into that), but found a great evil jester costume that was black and red and had the cool hat. I had to make a few adjustments to it, but it works well. Keep an eye out for me for Photo Phriday.

We shopped till we dropped and had to pick up Brook from school when I started to feel it...feel the scratch in my throat. I chalked it up to a busy weekend and not stop shopping. I said my goodnights early and passed out at 11 pm that night.

Tuesday, Brook's class went apple picking at Stuart Farm in Granite Springs, NY.







What a lovely orchard and farm! Of course I attended this event (thanks Deb, for the day off, it was most appreciated) and it was a lovely cool, damp day, not so good for the scratchy throat that turned into stuffy head and nose dripping.
It drizzled a bit, but not really a rain per say, but we got a wee bit wet around the edges. I fell asleep on the bus ride home, how? With all the kids chatter it kind of lulled me to pass out cold!
I baked 2 apple pies and an apple crumb that evening before dinner, just to get it out of the way for Thursdays APPLE FEST, a fundraiser for the Kindergarten class. I donated the apple crisp and one pie (I had to keep one for us or Anthony would have been pee-ooed).
That night was a killer, it always feels worse at night for some reason.

Wednesday was Brook's dentist appointment at 8:30am. She had not one, but Three cavities filled! Three! I am, and have been so careful with this child's sugar intake but it just doesn't seem to matter because she had THREE cavities filled!
She really was a trooper for sure.
She held my hand the entire time and maybe squeezed it once, she didn't even flinch when she got the needle. He was able to fill the top two with no Novocaine, but the bottom tooth was a bit deeper and she needed the shot.
She was fine afterwords and said she wanted to go to school, so I called my Dad and told him he was on to pick her up from school and I was off to work.
I got in by 11:45am and left at 7:15pm.
By 5 pm my head was getting heavy but the work kept me non stop busy, I only sat down once because at one point I got so hot that I was sweating profusely! I thought for sure I was going to sweat this nastiness right out of me...but alas, it was worse when I got home.
I ate dinner at 9pm, an egg on a multigrain English muffin that was yummy and delicious and that's when the stuffiness was at its worst.
I passed out again by 11:40pm.

I got up stuffed and groggy, but on time at 7:06 am, got Brook's clothing out for her to get dressed, made breakfast, coffee, paid bills online, checked my mail, and off to school by 8:15am.
I went to D & D for more coffee and made a deposit at the bank and here I am, blogging, with the box of tissues right next to me.
I hope this goes away soon, I have a party to go to tomorrow night!
It must be something that is going around because everyone I talk to has some kind of ailment!
Feel better all, me included. I am taking a nap!

Options, and more options...

I have so many options now I am getting all confused again!

So many things I want to do and so many things I want to do for money (not in the way you are thinking people...this is a wholesome blog thank you very much).

I have been offered an opportunity to work with my photographer friend in December and I said YES!
It is a one time deal for now, but I am sure it can lead to way more.

I was offered a full time job starting in January working (9-5:30) in NYC with one of my cousins customers for bocu bucks (which, in this economy, is truly a plus).

I am still awaiting my fingerprints for my application for Teacher Assistant (which, since the summertime, have been really wanting to be involved with and figured this is what I want to be when I grow up) but the process is taking too long and the pay is really shitty ($50.00 a day for subbing to start).

At my age and in this economy what is a girl to do?

I have thought and thought and am thinking...go for the bucks.

The only sure way to home ownership in the next 5 years is to make the money, I am guaranteed (at least I hope I am) the money in NYC and the best part is that I have minimal child care needs.

My dad is semi retired and can pick her up from school Monday-Wednesday. I am sure one of the other moms (who aren't working) can pick her up and take her home with them (paid of course) for a couple of hours until I, or my man can pick her up for the other 2 days a week.

There is an obvious choice here, but I am so torn up.

Why is it when given options we tend to go for the most obvious, but at what expense?

Did I make the wrong decision to focus on getting into a school?

Will I be making a mistake by accepting a job in NYC full time and then having no teaching options at all?

The only good thing about the Photography gig is that its on the weekends and this gives me no problems whatsoever except for one...

The only problem I have is I need to upgrade my camera, how you say, invest in a new camera, a professional camera...

I am looking at this one:

EOS Rebel XS 1855IS Kit EOS Rebel XS 1855IS Kit Digital SLR Camera Item Code 2762B003 Suggested Retail Price $699.99† Price includes lens. For perfect photos, fast and simple, there's nothing better than Canon's new EOS Rebel XS. With powerful features including a 10.1megapixel CMOS Sensor, Canon's DIGIC III processor, fast shooting and more, it's a digital powerhouse.

The problem is the $do re mi situation right now and how to pay for this bad boy. I cannot afford this beautiful camera right now, but, if I take the full time job in NYC in January I could afford this in 3-4 months time by just putting away a few hundred a month, or using what I make at various photo shoots on the weekends toward the cost of the camera. I am also looking to submit some of my photos for "clip art" that I am researching now.
I am sure that by early next year I will own this camera!

I am so ready to take my photography to the next level and really make some money out of a fun hobby by keeping it just that, my hobby...just a hobby with benefits!

So, in essence, if I forget about the Teaching Assistant and go for the money, it can finance the photography hobby and I can have it all.

I see now what I must do, but the sacrifice I am making about the Teaching is hurting me a bit.
I want to make a difference and I am so passionate about being involved with my daughters (both daughters) education, but I need to be realistic now and go green in so many more ways than recycling all my cans, bottles and papers.

What to do, what to do?

The answers are so clear but I still have reservations, why? I guess because nothing is set in stone just yet and just a few months ago I didn't even think I even had a job in NYC!

Now we wait and see how it all goes down, I am hopeful, but not as confident as I should feel right now. Until it is semi-set in stone, I will feel much better.

Bersaglieri Italian Marching Band

I was fortunate enough to be able to make it to the school just in time to see
The Bersaglieri Italian Marching Band who performed at Jefferson School this morning in the back playground.

A little background on the Bersaglieri:

on June 18, 1836, Alessandro Ferrero della Marmora (commonly known as "La Marmora") had succeded in founding the Bersaglieri Corps. His first proposal, made in 1831, for the creation of a special Corps of "light" infantry troopers to be organized in a certain number of snipers companies had been rejected but, finally, his "Proposition" of 1835 was approved by the King Carlo Alberto. La Marmora, then a Major of the Grenadier Guards Regiment, was given the opportunity to put in practice all the innovative ideas he had developed about the requirements of a modern army. The condition of the infantry of the time, common to almost all the armies, was a static one, as summarized by La Marmora himself : "the soldier does not know how to shoot, march or manoeuvre".

His idea was to create a Corps of "special troops" that was dynamic, flexible, fast and skilled. For these soldiers he had designed a "package" consisting of hard training, modern weaponry and adequate equipment.

The Bersaglieri had been personally selected by La Marmora, mainly from the youth of the Piedmontese countryside and the Alpine valleys. They were sturdy, willing to undergo rigorous physical exercise, never applied before; they were also intelligent, and so capable of taking initiative, as well as honest and therefore fully reliable.

These and other requisites were well symbolized by the dark uniform, with its unconventional rakish plumed hat and the stirring trumpet fanfare which accompanied their brisk double. The Bersagliere was born : a challenge to traditional precepts, a new soldier for a new Italy. A soldier who, after more than 160 years, is still considered to be the most genuine, dynamic and generous expression of the Italian people.

..in Italy

Carlo Alberto, almost spurred by the role assigned to him in the "Preeminence of the Italians" by Abbot Gioberti, became vehicle of popular hopes in 1848 when he granted a Constitution and turned the Milan upraising (the "Cinque Giornate") into a war against Austria for the national liberation.

This event marked the start of the period known as Risorgimento.

It was also the baptism of fire for the Bersaglieri Corps. On April 8, 1848, the 2nd Company, led by La Marmora, was preparing to cross the Mincio river over the partially destroyed Goito bridge. On the opposite bank the Tyrolean light infantry were holding their position under a heavy artillery fire coverage. La Marmora, although seriously wounded in the jaw, could see his Bersaglieri rush forward, cross the bridge and rout the enemy.

During the following years, the Italian Risorgimento was always supported by the Bersaglieri, whose Corps was progressively increased and reinforced : ten batallions in 1852, twenty-seven in 1860, thirty-six in 1861 and fifty in 1866.

They always were at the forefront of every campaign during the struggle for unity and national independence, which was concluded in 1870 with the conquest of Rome.

It was a wonderful event and the Bersaglieri were so much fun. The kids seemed to have enjoyed the performance today as well as the parents and staff. We couldn't have asked for better weather, warm, sunny and perfect for outdoor Italian musica!












Just wanted to share!