I was trying to do the right thing and clean up my photo's in Photobucket (Photobucket.com, a great place to turn your photos into HTML for blogging and such) and now I have lost all of my photos in my previous blogs! When you click on where the photo should be it is saying the photo no longer exists!
Well, my friends, they exist, only in a different album.
So if there is a pic you want to see, just message me and I will put it back up here for your viewing pleasure!
I know in an earlier blog I was going to start a book review called "Donna's Picks" but what do I call it when she didn't actually pick the book for me to read?
I did a little thesaurus searching and decided on "Savant Spot" (roughly translated from Donna's blog "Bookworm Corner".)
I couldn't rightfully steal her title so I jazzed mine up by saying the same thing just worded differently!
Today's review is on Christopher Moore's most recent novel "Fool", his take on Shakspeare's tragedy "King Lear".
Featuring a very clear WARNING:
"This is a bawdy tale. Herein you will find gratuitous shagging, murder, spanking, maiming, treason, and heretofore unexplored heights of vulgarity and profanity, as well as nontraditional grammar, split infinitives, and the odd wank . . . If that's the sort of thing you think you might enjoy, then you have happened upon the perfect story!" (*on the book jacket).
I couldn't have said it better myself, and quite frankly, this is a hard book to describe without giving it all away.
I am a huge Christopher Moore fan so I may be a little biased. Putting aside the vulgar language and explicit material, Chris's writing is so incredibly entertaining and amusing that I completely forgive him.
If you know the story of King Lear, then you know the story of "Fool", only in Chris's novel, its through a Fool's eyes.
It was a bit hard for me at first to get the English humor (the mannerisms and wording) but I quickly got it with his help throughout the pages with his definitions of certain English and not so English terms. It was a quick read and hysterical as usual coming from Chris (as I so fondly call him now, considering I have read ALL of his novels, I thank you).
I loved the characters and most of all "Pocket", the fool himself, for actually teaching us not to judge others by their titles because one's standing can change with the drop of a hat (or a codpiece).
The only way to truly understand is to just read "Fool". So go out and get a copy right away!!
Preparing for a member only art show is time consuming as well as frustrating. Deciding what is going in or not going in. I ask for opinions and usually get more indecision at this point. But this time around (yeah, like I do this all the time, it is actually my 2nd public showing) was easy, breazy, cover girl! Here is what I chose to go in this show:
"Crock"
"Park Bench"
"Spring has Sprung"
These have been framed, wired for hanging and windexed cleaned, tagged and bagged for show.
I am so enjoying my new version of Photoshop Cs2. I never thought I would be able to catch up with this ever so changing craft, computer generated art! I was just playing with a photo and came up with some fun effects. I may submit these for the next New Rochelle Art Association's Members only Show this April 4th. at the New Rochelle Public Library.
This is my creativity in action:
I also played with a photo of myself, my self portrait so to speak.
I am joining the Texting Party of 2009, yeah, you heard me, the Texting Party, like the Republican or Democratic Parties, respectivley. My daughter went WAY over her current texting plan this month, that she pays extra for, when I decided that this is craziness and it is time for an upgrade.
So I call up our carrier and get the family unlimited texting bundle to add to our existing family plan, already at a great price for 2 phones!
The next day...
I get a text from my carrier and my daughter (who forwarded said message thinking I wouldn't have gotten that message) informing me of the upgrade and to start enjoying the unlimited benefits. In other words, stop talking and start texting!
So to verify, my Donna calls me to ask if we are good to go (regarding the unlimitedness) and I say, "Text Away!" Her reply, (text reply) "Woot".
Thank goodness I am in the loop! Now all I need is a better phone with a Qwerty Keyboard. I am looking at the Samsung Gravity
Isn't it purdy?
I have an upgrade coming up in April and will start shopping around for good prices, I may even ask my carrier for a special "buy one, get one" deal. For now though, I am happy with my current Pink Tattooed Razr and will be happy with that a little longer.
I had a message on my answering machine the other day (because I lead such a busy life already, I am never home anymore) from a woman named Reggie Turkington from the New Rochelle Art Association. I thought there must have been a problem with my membership and called her back right away. To my surprise, she asked if I would care to be Secretary for the Association. Imagine that, I would have never thought that! I gladly accepted without even asking about what it entailed and then thought, I really should ask about the position before I accept it...
I was told that Jesse Sanchez (the President) would call to explain it all to me. He called the next day and was thrilled that I had accepted and told me all about the position. Basically, we meet 4-5 times a year and I would be responsible for taking the minutes and notes about what we discuss for the newsletter and such. Just like what I did for the PTA last year at Barnard School. I accepted and am now the official Secretary for the New Rochelle Art Association!
(http://www.nraaonline.org/).
Thank goodness we are working with a web designer to update the website. The current site leaves a little to be desired, but the new designs are fresh and good looking.
Since becoming Secretary, I have gotten several emails with the new web design and have shared my thoughts about it. This is truly and honor.
The next show for members is April 4th-25th and I am feverishly working on a few pieces for this show. The Jury Selection for Prospective Members is April 11th-from 10am-11:30am. So if you are interested in becoming a member of The New Rochelle Art Association, come on down to the New Rochelle Public Library and bring it, and by bringing it I mean your ART!
I am sure this is not a real poster, but I do like the image with Jacob in it as well, considering this book was about his love story also...did I give anything away? I am sure I have not considering I blogged about it earlier in my review.
I get the biggest kick out of my brother Vinnie's (vinniecosta.com)"YouTube" videos. The first was Skeeter Falls, my mom's 62nd birthday almost two years ago:
Are you laughing you ass off or what? Brook was brilliant and my dad really sums it right up for you.
I then go to YouTube tonight to promote my wonderful brother (http://biggaycasting.com/people/vinpaw) and what do I find? This newest video, I think from my mom's 63rd birthday just last August:
You will notice the giggling in both videos (yeah, that annoying giggle is me).
I am one of my brother Vinnie's biggest fans (vinniecosta.com) and feels the need to promote him a bit.
He is, by far, the biggest unsung talent out there! I think I missed all but two of his numerous performances here in NYC in his lifetime. Here is a little taste of Vinnie:
I miss seeing him on TV (you may have also seen him on the Travel Channels: 5 Takes: Latin America) almost two years ago!
Unreal.
Now you can help him get back on cable TV, you heard me, YOU!
Click on this link (http://biggaycasting.com/people/vinpaw), click on "Vote", enter the "Captcha" and that's it! Vote everyday! He needs to get to the top 5 this round to go on to the next round! Please, show some of your love for him! Thanks so much my faithful readers!
When am I not at the Bronx Zoo, I ask? It was 67 lovely degrees out and was slightly overcast, the perfect Zoo day!
We saw: Sea lions...
And Tigers...
And Bears, oh my...
It was an honor also to have the peacocks "showing off" more than usual today, I think they were turned on, or maybe thinking that Spring has finally sprung and were looking for a little action. The amateur photographers of America were there and clicking away at these amazing birds in action, myself included. Just look at these feathers:
I took about 140 more photos but I haven't finished editing them yet. These were just the highlights for your viewing pleasure.
It was also pleasure having Anthony along today. He rarely has the time to come to the Zoo with us, so it was a lot of fun having him around to share in the awe and beauty of it all!
It was a great afternoon, with springtime weather and a membership card to the Zoo, who could ask for anything more?
It is 9:16 pm and I am finished. Finished for the night and finished with my projects.
With Easter coming up in about a month, I am preparing the house for my favorite guests and the family too. I decided the dining room accent wall needed a lift and the kitchen was in desperate need of a paint job as well.
It was also a great excuse to get rid of a lot of "clutter chatchkies". I had 3 boxes filled with kitchen items that had little to do with the kitchen at all! I collect and collect and they made their way into the kitchen somehow, and now they have all "disappeared", magically, down the chute!
I am debating though on what to do with my baskets. I used to have them on the wall, but I am tired of dust collecting in them and having to clean them all the time. I need two, at least, for bread when the company comes or if we are having spaghetti, but which two to keep? Just one more thing to store away.
I am finished I am done!
I love the results but is my back killing me!
I prepared a slide show of the progress and the finished results, kinda like American Idol only the results are before the commercial break!
I know most doctors have a God Complex to begin with, but the latest article on "designer babies" is taking it a bit too far.
Now we could (for a hefty price tag I suppose) choose the gender, eye color, skin color and hair color of our next child. This is really going a bit too far if you ask me. Why is hoping for a healthy child, with 10 fingers and 10 toes so unheard of these days? Are we that vein a society, a master race in the making possibly?
In the immortal words of my 6 year old: "You get what you get and you don't get upset!"
I know, its like a train wreck, you know its bad but you need to keep looking. I needed to continue after "Twilight".
"Twilight" ended with a cliffhanger and I thought for sure I knew what was coming next, but was I wrong!
My Edward was hardly in the book at all and I got even more frustrated with Ms. Meyers renditions of what and how werewolves came about.
The story opens with Bella celebrating her birthday with the Cullens, a family of vampires. While Bella longs to be one, Edward refuses to change her as he believes it would rob her of her soul. Isn't that the point? How else can they be together, forever? So what does he do? Leave! Typical man, vampire or not. Bella is destroyed. She sinks into a deep depression and is only able to rise from it with the help of of Jacob Black, whom Bella terms a good friend.Jacob on the other hand is falling in love with her (ut oh). I was skipping a few pages here and there because, quite frankly, I was tired of Bella's whining about Edward leaving her. Can Bella pick um or what?
Just when you think Bella is back to normal, she decides to be a bit reckless because she misses Edward and the only way to feel close to him is to take risks to hear his beautiful voice of reason (at least that is what she thinks she is hearing) , so she jumps off a cliff (diving of course and alone, to impatient to wait for her darling of a dog, Jacob).
But the book takes a sharp turn when Edward reappears toward the latter quarter of the book. The ending suspense plot seemed rushed and tacked on. It was really as if there were two books, or two stories, included in New Moon and neither of them were quite finished. For all my disappointment, New Moon zips by and leaves me wanting more.
So I had to read "Eclipse".
Again, I didn't hate it, but alas was a bit disappointed again. Why am I doing this to myself? I started something and gosh darn it, I am finishing it!
The series that is. Eclipse carries on not long after New Moon left off. Bella’s high school graduation is approaching and she will soon be leaving Forks forever, supposedly to go to college - but in reality she is planning to join her boyfriend in his vampire existence and will therefore be unable to return home, due to being dead and possessed by a terrible blood lust for the first few years. We make it through graduation but then dangerous vampires from Seattle come to Forks and dealing with them dominates the rest of the story.
This is only one part of the story though. Eclipse is primarily a romantic saga, so Bella and Edward’s relationship is the primary focus of the novel. Or as I should say Bella, Edward and Jacob’s relationship - because there is a love triangle in the plot of this book. Jacob is in love with Bella, who is in love with Edward so this is going to make things awkward between them. Can you say Soap Opera? The book didn’t feel like it was over 600 pages long, I literally flew through the pages and before I knew it, I was starting ...
"Breaking Dawn" the fourth installment of the series.
I am still reading this and am not too happy with how slow going the book is. I mean, those crazy kids (Jacob and Bella admitting their love for each other, but Edward is HER true love). I am kind of feeling bad for Puppy Jacob. He seems to be getting the short end of the stick here and even after she marries Edward, Jacob is still an intricate part of her life/death...I am only in the 200's and this is as far as I can comment so far!
Enjoy the reading if you do decide to pick up the books.
They are not a Must Read but if you are feeling like some teen angst, love, and "monsters" this is the series for you!
More to come when I finish the book and series!
Keep an eye out for my new blog installments...Donna's List, a new blog I will be writing about what Donna recommends for me to read next.
Two years ago today, for all apparnt reasons, I quit smoking.
I cannot tell you all how proud I am of myself and wishes that all her friends and family who still continue to pay for their poison (literally) will seriously think about quitting themselves.
I haven't felt better and feel as if I earned a few years back on my life. Let's face it, you only live once, why waste so much time of it smoking outside and missing out on the fun and conversations when you had to walk outside to have that smoke.
The average price of a carton of smokes in NY is now...$79.56. That is a lot of money gone up in smoke a week! Just think of what I am saving in a month...$238.68 (for 3 cartons of 10 packs a carton for 30 days a month). Yearly this is a savings of $2,864.16! Wow! Think about it!
This is the Article and you all get to see it first! Even before it is published.
I am sure there will be more changes made to it once it leaves me, but so is the life of a reporter.
Just the facts ma'am, just the facts.
This whole experience has been so wonderful, I am hoping that I can take it even further, maybe get my own column! I will have to put my brother on the payroll or at the very least take a reporting class of some sort.
Enjoy the final and I promise, it won't be the last time you see this article!
Children Teaching Children
By Cristina Cerone & Vinnie Costa
From Left to right: Vinny and Cindy Allard, Brook and Cristina Cerone, Kimberly and Bob Dawson, Marco and Mary Miceli, Lily and Donna Young, Zoe Pena and Aurora Perez
February 25, 2009: BarnardSchool’s Pre-K Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) program invited six of JeffersonElementary School’s finest. The six students, all taking part in the Italian CILA Kindergarten program, were on hand to be part of RIF’s second book distribution of the year. This year’s RIF theme is Reach for the Stars. In November of 2008, the Jefferson Italian CILA students were introduced to Dr. Simona Rodano, (an experienced edutainment artist singer, actress and songwriter has appeared on RAI Television and Theatre in Italy, Europe and the United States, for more information on Dr. Simona Rodano visit her website wwwfataitaliana.com/If you are interested to know something more about the word EDUTAINMENT:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edutainment), Taught the eager children, “Su Nel Cielo, Up in the Sky” her own original Italian song. Within a matter of minutes, the infectious song had solidly ” …planted itself in our heads and heart” and is what sparked the idea in organizer/RIF Alumna & CILA parent Cristina Cerone to get the two programs together especially since the theme of Barnard and CILA’s Italian’s song worked hand in hand. Cerone’s hope, one great big payoff: Awareness of the Italian CILA and how important it is to continue with it. Cerone spoke with Vicki Rashbaum, NYS RIF Ambassador 2008-09/Barnard Pre-K SocialWorker, about her ‘out-there’ idea and with Rashbaum’s blessing, the RIF’s parent volunteers got busy in the classrooms preparing! Within weeks the event had been organized; three of Barnard Pre-K classes were chosen to view and participate in the performance, Mrs. Block/Carew’s, Mrs. Coronious’ and Mrs. Ceja's classes were all involved with the singing and dancing. “It amazed me how quickly and easily it all came together.” Cerone later commented.
The event was a huge success. The children, when asked if they had fun, responded unanimously, “YES!”
Here’s what others in attendance had to say:
"This gives the kids another perspective, that there’s a big world out there after Pre-K. It’s wonderful to see the older kids as role models for the younger ones."- Vicki Rashbaum
"What a wonderful way to bring New Rochelle schools together to collaborate, programs like RIF and Italian CILA! This could be the start of something big."- Patricia Lambert, Principal, BarnardSchool "Children teaching children models good education and good partnerships, collaborations between schools foster positive learning experiences."- Kim Block, Barnard Pre-K teacher
Parents in attendance were doubly impressed, Donna Young, CILA parent, "New Rochelle is such a culturally diverse city, and it’s nice to see how our children are interacting with each other in a positive way.” Aurora Perez, CILA Grandmother, "I love this! A nice opportunity to expose this wonderful program to Barnard Schools Pre-K parents who may be looking for a program just like this.” This marriage of programs was an educational way of bringing children and culture together and it couldn't have been more fun. “I think it’s wonderful we can get two fabulous programs together, they can only benefit from each other." Mentioned Cathy Merigliano, Barnard Parent and RIF Volunteer and I think every one involved agreed with the Miceli Family sentiment, it was indeed, “A special day.”
Rashbaum & the Jefferson CILA Italian Kindergarten children
*Special thanks to Vinnie Costa (www.vinniecosta.com) for his brilliant editing, to Donna Young, Dr. Simona Rodano and Julie Pena for all their input.
Children Teaching Children By Cristina Cerone & Vinnie Costa
From Left to right: Vinny & Cynthia Allard, Brook & Cristina Cerone, Kimberly & Bob Dawson, Marco & Mary Miceli, Lily & Donna Young , Zoe Pena& her Grandmother Aurora Perez.
February 25, 2009: Barnard School’s Pre-K Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) program was invaded by six of Jefferson Elementary School’s finest. The six students, all taking part in the Italian CILA Kindergarten program, were on hand to be part of RIF’s second book distribution of the year. This year’s RIF theme is Reach for the Stars.
In November of 2008, the Jefferson Italian CILA students were introduced to Dr. Simona Rodano, an experienced singer, actress and songwriter, she has appeared on RAI Television and Theatre in Italy, Europe and the United States (for more information on Dr. Simona Rodano visit her website wwwfataitaliana.com), who taught the eager children, “Su Nel Cielo, Up In The Sky” an original Italian song. Within a matter of minutes, the infectious song had solidly ” …planted itself in our heads and heart” and is what sparked the idea in organizer Cristina Cerone, to get the two programs together. Cerone’s hope, one great big payoff: Awareness of the Italian CILA and how important it is to continue with it. Cerone spoke with Vicki Rashbaum, NYS RIF Ambassador 2008-09/Barnard Pre-K SocialWorker, about her ‘out-there’ idea and with Rashbaum’s blessing, the RIF parent volunteers got busy in the classrooms preparing! Within weeks the event had been organized; three of Barnard Pre-K classes were chosen to view and participate in the performance, Mrs. Block/Carew’s, Mrs. Coronious’ and Mrs. Ceja's classes were all involved with the singing and dancing. “It amazed me how quickly and easily it all came together.” Cerone later commented. The event was a huge success. The children, when asked if they had fun, responded unanimously, “YES!”
Here’s what others in attendance had to say:
"This gives the kids another perspective, that there’s a big world out there after Pre-K. It’s wonderful to see the older kids as role models for the younger ones."- Vicki Rashbaum
"What a wonderful way to bring New Rochelle schools together to collaborate, programs like RIF and Italian CILA! This could be the start of something big."- Patricia Lambert, Principal, Barnard School
"Children teaching children models good education and good partnerships, collaborations between schools fosters positive learning experiences."- Kim Block, Barnard Pre-K teacher
Parents in attendance were doubly impressed, Donna Young, CILA parent,"New Rochelle is such a culturally diverse city, it’s nice to see how our children are interacting with each other in a positive way.” Aurora Perez, CILA Grandmother, "I love this! A nice opportunity to expose this wonderful program to Barnard Schools Pre-K parents who may be looking for a program just like this.” This marriage of programs was an educational way of bringing children and culture together and it couldn't have been more fun. “I think it’s wonderful we can get two fabulous programs together, they can only benefit from each other." Mentioned Cathy Merigliano, Barnard Parent and RIF Volunteer and I think every one involved agreed with the Miceli Family sentiment, it was indeed, “A special day.”
Rashbaum & the Jefferson CILA Italian Kindergarten children
*Special thanks to Vinnie Costa for his brilliant editing www.vinniecosta.com.
Clever Girl Writes Books
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A couple years ago, I effectively shut down Clever Girl Goes Blog.
There are lots of reasons for that, the main one being that if I’m not
writing something ...
Skipped Parts
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Skipped Parts by Tim Sandlin was by far a very interesting read.
Basic Plot:
This is the story of Sam, a 13 year old boy with no father and a very
dysfunct...
