Website Relaunch

For my 4 faithful readers out there...I wanted to announce my brother Vinnie's website relaunch.

Vinnie Costa


Give him a piece of your mind like I have, on the relaunch!

GL Vin!
I hope this gets you noticed!

Just a scary thought

On Friday October 3rd, My oldest daughter will be 20.

What?

I have a 20 year old daughter?

My mother and father have a 20 year old granddaughter.

My brother has a 20 year old niece.

I have a 20 year old daughter, on Friday.

Does this look like a mother of a 20 year old daughter?



Well, it is!

The Jewelry Party

If it weren't for the rain I never would have been able to go to my dear friend Anna's Jewelry Party that she hosted for her friend Angela (www.Angelascrystaldesigns.com).

I had a lot going on this Saturday, the Flea Market at Jefferson School, Soccer with Brook and the Jewelry Party all scheduled for the same times and day.
All, except the party, was canceled due to rain and rescheduled for next Saturday, October 4th...did I just say October? Where has the year gone? That's another blog all together.

I decide to go to the party after all my other plans were canceled.

I looked.
Angela has some truly magnificent pieces that she designs and crafts herself and is so talented, fresh and creative, please visit her site to see what I am talking about.

There was a raffle and I won!
I won the most beautiful earrings that I did not take a photo of, but should have. They were black crystal drop earrings and were just gorgeous. I cannot believe I won. I am not always that lucky.

I chatted.
As we chatted, we all had noticed we had one thing in common, we were all voting Republican and had a lengthy discussion as to why.
Then the subjects changed from dentists to questioning the dentist and then questioning doctors to STD's. Yeah, it was intense!
We are now calling ourselves The "Westchester View".

What a trip! Here we all are:



I ate.
Anna stopped at Costco to pick up some lunch items, turkey wraps, pasta salad, Caesar salad and the best red grapes I have ever had! She also picked up mini cinnabuns, all purchased at Costco.
The food was delicious, delightful and delectable! I need to cater my next party from Costco! I even got some of the wraps to go, Anna is the bestest!

I need to thank.
Many thanks to our gracious hostess Anna for a great spread (Costco baby) and a great time!
Thanks to Angela for taking the photo.
Thanks to all the ladies pictured above for the great conversation, for making my dreary, rainy day a fun filled afternoon and an all around good time.
.

Photo Phriday

You do know its a revolution...

Dragonflies:

And so it begins

During this economic crisis, a job right now would be really nice.

I went to City Hall today to apply for a TA position in the NR school system.

I got a packet to fill out and I need a lot more than I thought. This is what I need just to apply:

Proof of degree In the mail to me today.
Drivers License Copied.
Social Security Card or Passport Copied.
Two (2) Confidential References I need to get these to the right people
Fingerprint Clearance (if not previously done with the NYS Dept. of Education) I had been fingerprinted the same day I took the test 8/23/08 but need the results.
Certification I just got.

Whew, I have a lot to do now.
I am hoping once approved I will be put on the substitute list and that will get my foot in the door.
Baby steps.

Credit where credit is due

While browsing through other people's blogs I came across one that I can relate to and the author is quite funny. I enjoy reading her blogs and came across one of her latest about copy writing.
Her beef was someone copied her blog...out and out stole her layout and name!
That's just not right.
This is what an excerpt of what she had posted:

I have a copyright through Creative Commons. It is very easy to get, not to mention FREE. You just enter your information and pick which one applies to you, then they give you a button to put on your site. This will protect your rights up to a point. In a perfect world, it should be all the protection you'd need.*

Just so she knows from me, I am not stealing, just informing others of this wonderful site.

I add many pictures to my blogs and I want some kind of protection. This is perfect for me and I added the button to my blog. You can see it at the bottom of my page. So don't be stealing my pics...unless you ask me first!



*Thank you to "Clever Girl Goes Blog" (http://clevergirlgoesblog.blogspot.com/) for this pertinent information! Read her, she's a rip!

So much news, so little time...

For all of you who follow my blog you already know that I passed my Teacher Assistant Certification Test...Go me.

To follow up, I sent a few well placed emails to the right people and got a whole lot of information on how to get started with getting into the public school system.
There really isn't that much to do, but it is still a "process".

First, I called Dr. Pisani from Barnard School.
She directed me to the NR Board of Ed at City Hall to start.
I knew I needed to start here, but who to speak to was a mystery, until now.
I have a contact name and I am on a mission to start the "approval application process" this afternoon.
Before I can get on a Substitute/ T. Assistant list I need to do a few things first.
I was told to bring all the paperwork I had for the application, transcripts, test results, fingerprint report (I didn't get my college transcripts yet or a fingerprint report, although I did get fingerprinted the day of the test on 8/23/08).
I have a call out to the registrar's office at Pratt and am hoping they have mailed my transcripts that I requested over a month ago and paid for!
I hope they can wait for that documentation, if not, I will find out this afternoon.
Wish me luck!
________________________________________________________________________

If you all don't know I also got in to the 93rd Juried Art Exhibition at the Library!
I am so thrilled.



It is an honor to be recognized as an "Artist" and I am proud to shout it out to the whole world that I am!
I feel this is a stepping stone to bigger and better things and to take my hobby to the next level.
It really is exciting to be in the public's view from 9/20-10/18/08, so if you are in the area, pop into the NR Public Library and check it out in person.
There is a lot of local talent out here and I am proud to say I am part of that community.
__________________________________________________________________________

I must give thanks to all who made my 42nd birthday extraordinary!



To Anna and Cathy, for the coffee, breakfast and for coming to the library to see my work.







To Vin for the Wicked tickets and a great evening!





To my cousin Debbie, for the wonderful dinner at Hakata Grill in NYC, some of the best sushi I have ever had (Sarah, we must go here one day).

And for my cousin Debbie again for this....



My name in lights on BROADWAY! This was AWESOME! probably just as awesome as the show.

Thank you to, Donna, Brook, Anthony, Sarah, Steve, Gayle, Joe, Mom, Dad, Mom and Tom, and all the callers and well wishers on my birthday.
Thank you to all who commented me here on Facebook and on MySpace. I am truly blessed with the greatest of friends and family!

I couldn't have had a better time!
Thank you all!




My Wicked Birthday was wicked indeed!

I PASSED!

Not but 6 minutes ago the Unofficial results of my Teacher Assistant Certification test was posted and I ...

Drum roll please...

Test Date: 08/23/2008

CRISTINA M CERONE
NEW ROCHELLE, NY 10805

---

Test: Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills
Status: Pass	Total Score: 265	Minimum Passing Score: 220

---

Number of Questions in Multiple-Choice Subareas		Subarea Name		Subarea Information
21 to 30		Reading		247
21 to 30		Writing		265
21 to 30		Mathematics		265
11 to 20		Instructional Support		288

Is this the coolest or what? I must be truly blessed today!

What a relief this is.

I knew I passed, but I didn't want to count my chickens before... well you know the adage.
I also didn't want to tell everyone that I did pass until I actually knew so I didn't look like an idiot if I had failed.

I also think it is funny that I thought I did the best in Reading, only to see that I excelled in Instructional Support. Either way I am thrilled and excited to get my resume on Monster.com and to all the private pre-schools here in town.

I am a woman on a mission now and cannot wait to start my new career and take my "hobby" of photography to another level and know that I am that good!

On a lighter note

I went to enter my photos in the "93rd Annual Open Juried Art Exhibition" (www.nraaonline.org) at the Public Library this morning.
I got there and was all prepared, so I thought.
I submit my check to the cashier. Check.
I take out my framed photos. Check.
I filled out all the information required and was about to have that information stuck on the back of my art when the receptionist says, "Uh, these need to be wired". Oops.
I was in a panic.
Then she said that Art and Blueprint would have framing wire , just go there and pick up a kit and wire them up.
I wasn't as panicked anymore.
I get to Art and Blueprint and pick up what I need and ask if I can put them on here, he told me no so I paid my $1.50 and left for the library again.
I set myself up to wire the frames on an empty table and notice that I was not the only one who wasn't "wired". This made me feel much better, that I wasn't the only schlub that forgot to do this.
I start twisting the eye hook with no luck at first.
A nail had come with the picture hanging kit I purchased, if only I had a hammer.
I would hammer in the morning, I would hammer in the afternoon.
A nice old gentleman saw my dilemma and handed me this plastic "brass knuckles" looking contraption to use as a hammer and it really worked!
All I needed was a starter hole so the eye hook would go in easier. He was more than happy to help a damsel in distress.
He sees after this I have no problems at all and was impressed with the ease I got the pictures wired up. He was also impressed with the photos. He especially liked "Polar Reflection", so much so that he brought his friend over to check it out! Now I have 2 fans to add to my fan club.
I go back to the table to submit my photos, again.
Nervous, I ask, "that's it?"
"That's it, we will send you the self addressed stamped postcard with the decision of the jury, good luck!" says the receptionist.
As I am putting my photos on the judging table a woman (whom I thought was a judge) looked over the wire work I had done and said it looked good and that she was an old pro at wiring since she must have wired 10,000 pieces of art. She was an Art Teacher for 20 years.
As she took them from me she commented that the photos were beautiful. That made me feel real good, coming from a veteran Art Teacher!
I leave feeling confident and am hoping to make it to the next level.
There will be an awards reception on the 28th between 5-7pm and If accepted, I will be attending.
If accepted, a mailing will be going out.
If accepted I will shit my pants!
If denied, well, I will always strive to improve and to know that this was my first try at the gallery thing and there will always be others.
If denied, I will shit my pants!

It always hurts a little

When you are used to something and it suddenly stops, you miss it.
Like smoking, I miss it sometimes but I choose to stay smoke free because I know how hard it was to quit in the first place...Not really hard to quit, hard to maintain the quitting really.

I will no longer be working in NYC. My position has been downsized and replaced with priorities and compromise.

I totally understand, but it still hurts.

To feel as if you are of no use to someone.

To feel rejected.

Always the bigger person and understands when life throws you lemons.
Sometimes they are just too sour to make lemonade with.

This just leaves me open to explore other avenues, like I have been doing all summer, preparing for.
I did say I was available until further notice...so, we'll see.

It is the end of something I enjoyed and it will be missed.

My Beef with What the Schools Expect These Days

Beef #1: FUNDRAISERS

What ever happend to the $1.00 candy bar?
Did it get lost in the shuffle?
Is it not sophisticated enough for today's children fundraisers?

Brook (who is in Kindergarten) was sent home with a large white envelope filled with brochure after brochure of useless, and some useful items that were all super overpriced and an embarrassment to even show to your friends and family. Since the school discourages door to door sales who is left to sell to..friends and family, who also have kids, who also have fundraisers.

I certainly don't need any more wrapping paper. I stocked up on 12/26 and have about 3 dozen rolls to use up before I purchase from fundraising brochure
number 3 & 1/3rd, and all my candy dishes are full.

As an incentive there is a poster sized flier showing your child what he/she could win if they sell 200+ items.
There was a PlayStation 2, an i Pod Shuffle, a digital camera and so much more. I have to say it was enticing until we scanned through the "selling" brochure.
I do not think there was an item under $10.00.

So I ask my husband to look through the brochures and see if he can sell any of this stuff at work. He looks it over and notices a rather nice looking closet organizer, what man could resist that?
"Look honey, its only $14.95"
I say, "Yeah, I can get that in Stop & Shop for $5.99 if you really want it."

Face it, in this economy, good cause or not, I don't want to burden anyone with my kid's fundraiser-guilt-purchase.

So in a silent protest, I threw it away and justified that with joining the PTA and volunteering in the library once a week.

Beef #2: SCHOOL SNACK

I thought Pre-K was tough, but Kindergarten is unreal.

I feel really bad for the "food allergy" children, always having to worry about all the food that goes in their mouths and if they are safe to eat.
Alerting everyone of such allergies, a list of items were sent home and a few things on it were new for me, this is what it said:


YOUR CHILD'S CLASSROOM HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A PEANUT-FREE AND NUT-FREE CLASSROOM.
The allergy can be life-threatening.

OMG, this is some scary shit.

*Foods to Avoid Completely:
Peanuts
Peanut butter
Peanut oil
Peanut flour (there is such a thing?)
Arachis Oil (same a peanut oil) why the fancy name then?
Nut butters (peanut butter sandwich coookies)
Tree Nuts
Ground Nuts
Mixed nuts (uh, I thought all nuts were already classified)
Artificial nuts (what? if it isn't a real nut why is it on the list?)
Beer nuts (hello, they are 5-11 years old here)
Monkey nuts (I bet the monkey is relieved)
Nut pieces (see Ground Nuts)
Goobers candies (I preferred raisenettes growing up myself)
Nu-Nut flavored nuts (with what I am afraid to ask)
Mandelonas (Peanuts soaked in almond flavor) The poor mans almond?
All baked goods containing nuts (that is what...EVERYTHING)
Chocolate (don't tell the girls this)
Egg Rolls
Marzipan
Nougat
Sunflower Seeds
Enchilada sauce
Chili
African, Chinese, Indonesian, Mexican, Thai and Vietnamese Dishes (I am so upset that I cannot send her in with nachos, egg rolls and a tub o' marzipan)

Whew.

My beef isn't with the food allergies, that cannot be helped, it is with the snack list and what we as parents are expected to bring in for snack.
Their are 21 children in the class (which translates as 2 dozen of everything) whom we have to provide snack for, in an alphabetical rotation, for a week.
Yeah, a week's worth of snacks for 2 dozen!

This = a WTF?

Why can't each parent be responsible for their child's snack? I understand the whole concept of a "community classroom" but with all the food allergies why would you even trust that every parent would even read the list and bring in some Ritz Peanut Butter Bits in error?

My week is the week of October 20th.
I have no choice but to comply, but its still worth bitching about.

Thankfully, the Costco bucket O'Goldfish and pretzles are approved snacks as well as fresh fruit!

*The source of the above information compiled from the following sources, www.foodallergy.org and www.aaaai.org

Editied For Size

This is the lady Bug shot.





And this is my Polar Reflection.

Photo Phriday

Soccer Mom

The Juried Art Show

Saturday is the day of the New Rochelle Juried Art Show selection. If selected, my photos will be on display and for sale at the NR Public Library.

I am nervous.

I have never "showed" my work to anyone other than my friends and family and to the online community that follow my blog (presently I have just 1 and only follower...hint hint...follow me!) and it is a little nerve racking.

I think what I fear most is rejection. I don't think they will be rejected, but there is still a chance that they will not be accepted.
The Jury consists of 5 judges and they will be making the final decision that very day 9/20/08.

I am confident that I picked the right photos to show and they are double matted and framed in a "studio" black frame. If selected, the show will be from
9/25/08-10/18/08 which is very exciting.
The more time up, the more admirers I receive, just that much more exposure.

I will be sure to let you all know how it went...good news or bad.

I also find out about the Teacher Assistant Certification on the 22nd (unofficial online score anyway). That is even more exciting. Then I can get the ball rolling with interviewing and putting in applications to the local schools.

The anticipation is killing me people...wish me luck and say a little prayer for me.

These are the photos I chose to show (mind you, they are in their "raw form"):

Polar Reflection



Little Lady Bugs



Did I make the right choices? Please, let me know.

My Very First "Blogger" Post

Hello all you cats and kittens, if you are here for hot steamy sexual related topics...

This is not the place.

X-Stina's X-Ploits are about a married housewife, with children, her friends and family (who I don't need "permission" to use their names or likenesses in any funny story or X-Ploits we get into...yet).

I am a fun loving person who loves to share my X-Ploits with my photography.

I am an aspiring nature photographer and just love to take pictures of everything just so I can play with them using Photoshop. If anyone has a copy of the new Photoshop CS3 that they would like to "share" that would be really great!

On to the blog.

I was surprised today with a call from my brother (www.vinniecosta.com) responding to a "news feed" of mine when I asked him what to name my blog if I decided to start using "Facebook Blogger". I have a blog at MySpace and he wants to be able to read my blog, but also wants to delete MySpace all together. If he does that, he cannot comment on my blog...(aww poor thing, that's what E-Mail is for...duh...lol). He says, "Come back to Facebook, it is so much cleaner and better than MySpace, MySpace is dead, this is the place to be (and) then I can delete Myspace and read your blog here. I came up with a name..."X-Tina's X-Ploits" isnt that cool! You will get so many hits from people thinking its a sex site!" I just laughed and loved the idea and had to get this going here.

So, minutes later, I digress and fall for the "Blogger" scenario, and here we are.

I did change the name a bit to X-Stina's X-Ploits (my dad calls me Stina and so do a few of my special friends) and I never really was called "Tina", so X-Stina it became.
My brother and I chatted for a little bit more and he had to run (he is working).

About 10 minutes later he calls me back and says, "Your birthay, 7pm we are going to see "Wicked"!"



I screamed...
I screamed some more...
OMG, Donna is going to be so mad at us...too bad, it's my birthday!
So on Tuesday, September 23rd, on that, my 42nd Birthday, I will be seeing "Wicked" with my very best friend...my Brother.



No, not him...




Here he is!

Thanks Vin!!! I am so excited!

The surprises just keep on coming!