Yak Talk

Newsweek's Downward Spiral Continues

2012-01-16T19:56:00.002-05:00

There was a time when I used to enjoy reading Newsweek. Then came the rise of 24-hour news channels and internet news sites, all providing stunning visuals and breaking news in real time. Weekly news magazines like Newsweek quickly became outdated dinosaurs The only way for Newsweek to compete and try to stay relevant was to offer in-depth, thoughtful analysis. But, with the rise of political blogs, they lost even more ground.

Now, the folks at Newsweek are just plain desperate.

Their latest cover poses the question: "Why Are Obama's Critics So Dumb?" Since when did elitist name-calling become a substitute for well-researched journalism? The editors at Newsweek are not even trying to pretend that they're a legitimate source of news anymore. I can't decide if it's more sad than pathetic.

This cover story is just the latest in a long line of questionable choices made by the Newsweek editorial board. They've taken heat in the past year for their gleefully unflattering covers of Tea Party favorites Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin, but those weren't the worst of it.

For me, the most egregious "jump the shark" moment for Newsweek came when they photoshopped a 14-years-dead-and-gone Princess Diana, digitally aged to appear 50 years old and walking alongside her son's soon-to-be wife, Kate Middleton. A new low that even the sleaziest tabloids have not attempted. Disgusting.

It was a blatant ploy to exploit the late Princess Diana's enduring popularity as a taken-too-soon icon. Almost a decade and a half after her death, Newsweek still couldn't resist going to the well one more time, disregarding the unseemly fact that it was the media's unhealthy obsession with capturing Diana's image that led to her tragic death.

TV review: I Cloned My Pet

2012-01-12T21:02:00.000-05:00

I watched this show last night with my daughter.

Dear lord.

I love my pets, I truly do, but these folks were so, so, so far over the top in their obsessions with their dogs. One man said, "When Wolfie died, everything that was special about me went with her."

Is this guy serious? EVERYTHING that made him special--all of his unique qualities and attributes and talents--evaporated when his dog died. Really?

One woman described her dog as her "soulmate." Another woman featured on the show said her deceased dog Trouble "was the love of my life."

Pets offer unconditional love, and yes, they hold a very special place in our hearts. But if you think a canine is the one being on Earth who is meant for you as a mate, above all others...you need to get yourself some counseling.

Bad Baby Names: Shame on you, Beyonce & Jay-Z

2012-01-08T22:32:00.000-05:00

A baby is a miracle that takes 9 months to grow and a lifetime to nurture....and then you go and name her "Blue"???
There oughta be a law against that. Truly.

What is this crazy sickness that comes over people--especially celebrities--when they have a baby? The quest to find a name that is "different" and "unique" and "unlike anything else out there"....it says far more about the prospective parents than it does the child..

It tells me that the parents are feeling the pressure to have their child carry on the family tradition and become a standout in life. It's as if they don't trust their child enough to achieve any sort of notable achievements on their on--the child isn't given an opportunity to "make a name for themself" because Mom and Dad have already done it for them. And that's sad.

I think celebrities get so caught up in the fact that their child is growing up with the pressure of having a famous parent (or two), they believe it's better to start out with a name that SO outlandish and different, the child can't help but be set apart from everyone else.

Wow. Do they have that little faith in their new bundle of joy?

Is it so difficult to imagine that if their child were named Michael or Jennifer, it could have any less spectacular a future than, say, a little Romeo or Apple?

Congratulations on your new daughter, Beyonce' and Jay-Z. I hope she has a wonderful and happy life, despite the unfortunate name you've chosen to saddle her with.

AS SEEN ON TV: Review of Eggies

2012-01-03T23:10:00.004-05:00

I love buying "As Seen On TV" products and trying them out at home. Sometimes, I'm pleasantly surprised at how well the product delivers on its promises.

This was not one of those times.

I love Deviled Eggs and egg salad, and my kids like hard-boiled eggs as a snack. Lately, I've been buying the Eggland's Best Hard-Boiled Eggs, which come already cooked to perfection and ready to eat. Still, wouldn't it be great to achieve that kind of perfection at a fraction of the cost, along with the satisfaction of making them myself?

Enter "Eggies", plastic containers that are supposed to allow you to make hard-boiled eggs without the shells, so you can skip the messy peeling process altogether. No more cracked shells, no more burnt fingers! Sounds too good to be true!!

Yeah. Hold that thought.

Here's the "official" photo of the product, and what the finished product is supposed to look like:

Oh, how delectable these egg appetizers look! So perfect, and with no peeling!

I bought the Eggies system for only $9.99 at the Bed, Bath & Beyond store. I had a coupon for 20% off, so the actual cost was closer to $8. What a bargain, right?

Wrong.

I followed the directions exactly. In the commercial, they make it look super-simple, just crack the raw eggs into the eggie containers and drop them into boiling water. Nope--first you need to grease the inside of each and every Eggie with oil nonstick cooking spray, which is a time-consuming task. There were TWO sets of written instruction specifically warning you not to skip this step. Unfortunately, you can't just spray the cooking oil into the Eggies. According to the directions, "you must coat the insides of top and bottom pieces with cooking oil before each use. If using cooking spray, spray a paper towel and wipe the inside of each piece, do not spray directly into the Eggies."

The Eggie is actually comprised of four separate pieces: a Lid, Collar, Bottom Half and Top Half. After you've carefully greased the top and bottom pieces, you put them together and secure them with the collar. Then you crack the egg into the Eggie, screw the lid on, and place it into a pan of warm water. The instructions say, "Ensure that they are floating." They were.
Then you bring the water to a boil and cook them according to the chart enclosed (varies based on size of egg and level of doneness you want. It's 15 min for a large hard-boiled egg).

I did all of that. And here are the mutant Eggies that emerged.

Poor little Eggies. They emerged as "half eggs", looking more like Coneheads from the old Saturday Night Live skit than the perfect ovals shown on the box. Some were difficult to remove from the Eggie container (the instructions say to use a utensil to loosen the egg around the edges if they are not releasing). They were all rubbery, oddly-shaped, and inconsistent in terms of doneness.

FINAL RECOMMENDATION: Save your money! Eggies aren't worth the "bargain" price. Either take the time to hard-boil and peel your eggs the old-fashioned way, or splurge on the pre-cooked, already-peeled version from Eggland's Best. They retail for around $3 for a bag of six eggs.

I'm Not Really A Waitress

2012-01-02T23:16:00.001-05:00

I treated myself to a pedicure today, and went with one of my all-time favorite shades: I'm Not Really A Waitress by OPI. It's the company's biggest selling polish, and for good reason: it's the perfect shade of red with a nice shimmer to it. Even my husband noticed. Not too shabby!

It's back to school tomorrow for my high schooler and middle schooler, after a long Christmas break. They're less than thrilled, as you might imagine, but I'm looking forward to getting back into our usual routine.

The Suffering of Sahar Gul

2012-01-02T10:11:00.001-05:00

I just read a news report about a 15-year-old girl from Afghanistan that was held captive and brutally, systematically tortured for 6 months by her in-laws. Sahar Gul has finally been freed, and is being sent to India for treatment. Her husband is in hiding, but her mother-in-law and sister-in-law have been arrested. I'm sure, as women, they will be severely punished. Call me a cynic, but I doubt they'll be searching too hard for her husband. He will probably just end up re-marrying some other poor girl and getting away with his crimes.

It sickens me that this kind of abuse commonly exists in parts of the world. The Taliban may no longer be in control of the government in Afghanistan, but the mindset and lack of respect for women remains. Why hasn't the UN community worked harder to effect change?

The girl was rescued after her uncle reported the torture to local police. I'm glad he finally stepped in to help, but I wonder, what took him so long? Are women so devalued in that society that a person would hesitate to put a stop to this level of abuse? Six months is an eternity for someone enduring this kind of agony on a daily basis.

Officials noted that this case was an extreme, one of the worst they've seen. The fact that any level of abuse is deemed acceptable by a society is disturbing. According to news reports, the government rarely follows up on the abuse cases that are reported to them. I'm grateful that this young girl has finally escaped from the hell she was in, but I can't help but think about the thousands of other Afghan women who are still suffering.

Cooking up some fun - 1/1/12

2012-01-01T20:36:00.005-05:00

Like most New Year's Days past, today was a peaceful, quiet day spent at home with Rich and the kids.

If I had to describe what I did today, I'd say it was periods of intense productivity interrupted by periods of total laziness. Washed a bunch of dishes, then sat and surfed the 'net. Cleaned out and rinsed all of the old jars of sauce and expired stuff from the fridge, then took a nap. You get the idea.

I did some cooking, too, which included teaching my daughter Amy how to make one of her favorite meals, Pasta Fagioli. We made it from scratch, which first entailed a quick lesson on the differences between tomato puree, crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste. I use all three when I make sauce, because they're made with different kinds of tomatoes, which offers layered flavors that enhance the finished product. I also schooled her on the finer points of "why we take the time to rinse the cannellini beans." (Beans, beans, they're good for your heart; beans, beans...) The pasta fagioli turned out great, and gave her sense of accomplishment knowing that she can make it herself now.

I also made a lobster bisque soup, using the shrimp stock I'd made last week when I was cooking the shrimp cocktail for Christmas Eve. The fish monger made a mistake and, instead of pre-cleaned shrimp, he gave me the ones with the peels still on. Instead of getting annoyed at all the extra work, I decided to save the shells and boil them up in the cooking water once the shrimp were done and cooling, which yielded about 6 cups of stock. I used Paula Deen's Creamy Shrimp Bisque recipe, but made a few small alterations. I didn't have any leftover shrimp, so I used chopped lobster tail, and I used lowfat half and half because that's what we had in the fridge. It seemed a little thin, so I mixed a few tablespoons of flour with cold water and added that to thicken it up. I also threw in a few sprinkles of paprika and dollop of tomato paste to get a nice, deep pink color. It was delicious!

And now, I'm relaxing with the kids and watching "Star Trek IV: A New Hope." I love this movie--saw it in the theater more than a dozen times back in 1977--and can't help but watch it whenever I come across it while channel surfing. I'm not surprised that the basic principles of "The Force" have given rise to an entire religion (The Church of the Jedi). I didn't recognize it when I first saw the movie 34 years ago--probably too busy gazing at Han Solo--but with time, I've come to appreciate the universal appeal of the movie's more spiritual aspects. The concept of one divine force that connects all of us, one that can be used for good or evil...that's a basic principle that you'll find in every religion.

In case you haven't noticed, I've decided to experiment with using this blog as something of a journal. It goes along with that whole "2012 to-do" list item about wanting to write more. I'm not deluded or conceited enough to believe that the goings-on of my everyday life will be of interest to anyone but me, but this blog seems as good a place as any to jot them down.

Looking ahead in 2012

2012-01-01T19:36:00.001-05:00

I've never been a fan of New Year's Resolutions. While it's admirable--and probably advisable--to periodically take stock of one's life and consider those things you'd like to change, I think people put way too much pressure on themselves come January 1st. They start the year full of hope and promise and excitement, and within a week or so when their resolve has left them, they end up disappointed in themselves, and feeling worse than they did before.

Using New Year's Resolutions as a vehicle for total transformation doesn't tend to pan out, in my experience. However, I do think there's value in mapping out goals for the coming year: a "to do" list always seems more manageable, especially when you have an entire year to accomplish it.

Here's my list of things I'm looking forward to this year. Some of them will be a challenge to achieve, others are already planned out and--barring any unforseen glitches--will surely happen, and others may not come to fruition at all.

I'm ready to embark on the journey that will be 2012, and grateful for each new day that I'm given an opportunity to experience life, regardless of the outcome.

Goals for 2012 -- in no particular order

Work less
Write more
Find a vacation house in Florida
Travel to Alaska for the first time
Declutter
Organize photos & computer files
Meditate
Nurture the spiritual
Don't sweat the small stuff--particularly career-related angst
Brush up on my Spanish skills
Try 3 foods I've never had before
Count to 10 before reacting
End each day with a prayer of thanks

New Year's Eve 2011

2011-12-31T21:29:00.002-05:00

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves.

The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

American Airlines ticket scam email

2011-12-30T20:12:00.002-05:00

I just received an email from "American Airlines" (account.id75684@aa.com), titled "Your Order#7672627"   It has a zip file attached, and the email encourages me to open it.

No, I did not order any plane tickets, and No, I'm not clicking on that file, thanks very much.

A quick search on Google revealed that this is a common scam--the destination and flight number are different, but the overall gist of the email is the same. The file contains a phishing virus that will trash my computer if I open it.

Not going to fall for it, and I hope no one else does, either, which is why I'm posting the info here.

It's been said before, but it bears repeating: Don't click on ANY files unless you are certain about the sender. If you're unsure, take a few extra moments to do a quick internet search using portions of the email and the word "scam".   The Snopes website (www.Snopes.com) is also a great resource for these types of things. Here's their page confirming this email as a scam: http://www.snopes.com/fraud/phishing/aa.asp

The same goes for those email forwards from well-meaning friends and family (you know who you are--STOP sending me that stuff!) who insist on disseminating spam filled with dire warnings meant to breed panic (such as the "hypodermic needle hidden under the movie theater seat" or the "man hiding in the back seat of your car at the gas station").   They're usually completely false, and even when there's a grain of truth to it, the email has distorted the information to make it utterly useless. Again, before you hit "forward"--don't! And if you still feel you must "just in case", then at least take a second to head over to Snopes and see if there's any truth to it.

Here's the text of the scammer email I received:

Hello

FLIGHT NUMBER AB581
ELECTRONIC 133861167
DATE & TIME / JANUARY 28, 2012, 10:33 AM
ARRIVING / Fresno
TOTAL PRICE / 214.23 USD

Please find your ticket attached.
To use your ticket you should print it.

Thank you
American Airlines.

The Ways of Truth and Love

2011-12-28T23:09:00.000-05:00

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always."

--Mahatma Gandhi

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-26T14:54:00.000-05:00

It was another wonderful Christmas again this year. I hosted a traditional La Festa dei Setti Pesci (The Feast of Seven Fishes) on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Dinner the next day. There's nothing better than spending time with family, enjoying each other's company, and being grateful for all of the blessings that have come our way over the past year.

Dressing up our dog in holiday finery was just the icing on the cake.

Merry Christmas!

Sage advice from an 11-year-old

2011-12-08T00:05:00.000-05:00

I was out running errands tonight in the pouring rain with my youngest daughter. At one point, I explained why I was taking a slightly different route than usual: road conditions were slick and visibility was low, so I took a path that consisted of mostly right turns. It wasn't the most direct path, but it was the safest, especially during rush hour.

She said it reminded her of one of her favorite expressions:
"If nothing is going right...go left!"

We talked about how that was good advice, whether you took it literally or as a metaphor for something deeper. If you're on a road where you can't make a right turn, you just have to go a little past it, make a left, and double back to get there.

The metaphoric application is far more interesting, of course: if Life isn't going in the direction that you'd planned, you need to adapt and take a totally different path. Switch things up, do the unexpected, and see where it leads.

Wise words, indeed.

Fire in the Dryer!

2011-12-03T21:51:00.003-05:00

Had some unexpected excitement this past Thursday: the lint in my clothes dryer caught fire.

I was VERY lucky. I was home, standing right next to the dryer when it ignited, and I had a fire extinguisher close by. I was able to put the flames out before the smoke got bad, and knew how to pop open the front of the dryer to access the part that was burning. I had the flames extinguished within about a minute, and the fire did not spread through the ducting to the walls.

I have long been aware of the dangers of lint build-up in a dryer, and learned how to remove the front panel to vacuum the dryer out periodically, which I do. Nevertheless, lint can build up quickly, especially if you're doing lots of towels and bedding and tablecloths (which, during holiday time, when you prep to have lots of family stay over, tends to happen). That's what happened to me.

Many dryers have an automatic shut-off fuse that trips and shuts off the dryer when it starts to overheat. My dryer was about 15 years old, but the fuse didn't help in this case because the lint started burning as soon as the ignitor started the dryer cycle. I think the lint was clogged right next to the ignitor, so when I hit the switch, it sparked and caught.

I put the clothes in, pressed the start button, and within seconds, smelled something burning. I shut the dryer, unplugged it, and then looked down in front of the panel and immediately saw the unmistakable red/orange glow of a flame. Since it was unplugged, I knew it wasn't a pilot light, and smoke was starting to waft out and fill the room.

I opened the door to the garage to get some air and help vent the smoke out, then ran for the phone to call 911 and grab the kitchen fire extinguisher. I secured the dog, opened the back door and front door of the house wide so that the Fire Department could come in, all while dialing the phone. There was a plumber heading to my neighbor's house who parked his truck in front of my house, so I told him I had a Fire Emergency, and to please move his truck because the Fire Department was on the way.

I grabbed a butter knife to try and pry the panel off the dryer so that I could spray the extinguisher, but I couldn't get the right side off (which was the side where the flame was). I realized that opening the panel would probably send more smoke billowing towards my face, so decided to try spraying the extinguisher right into the gap between the panel and the rest of the machine.

Meanwhile, the 911 dispatcher told me to just leave it alone and get out of the house. I said I would, hung up, and decided to give the extinguisher a quick try before complying because the flame was still contained. It took me a few seconds to pull the red clip and figure out that I needed to push down on the top before pulling the trigger, but once I did, I sprayed the dryer with the fire extinguisher and white powder went everywhere. I didn't see any flame after that, so I popped the panel off (easier now that I was calmer) and sprayed it all again.

At that point, I got my dog and put him into the car, which was still parked in the garage. I realized that I'd better get the car out of there in case the fire had already spread to the walls. I parked it in my other neighbor's driveway and--against the dispatcher's instructions--went back into the house to grab my cell phone.

I should note at this point that I was fairly certain the fire was out, but yes, it was probably not the smartest thing to do, and I don't advise others to follow my example.
At that point, a policeman arrived, and I heard the worker tell him, "She just ran back into the house." Thanks, dude. Way to get me in trouble with the cop.

I knew the officer and asked him to come in and help me check to make sure the basement was clear, because I have two cats down there that I needed to get out. He came in, and I asked him to feel the wall behind the dryer, which I couldn't quite reach, and it was cold--a good sign. Then he said he wanted to check the vent where it comes out of the house to see if there was smoke. We went around to the back of my house, where the vent emerges under my deck (yes, a very stupid and inaccessible spot for it--but that's where the builder put it) and all seemed okay. Then we opened the door to the basement and didn't smell anything burning, so that was a good sign, too.

At that point, two more police cars, the Fire Inspector and a fire truck arrived. I took one of the firefighters down to the basement, secured the cats so that I could make a break for it in case things turned dangerous, while he checked the ceiling (where the ducting fed out of the house) with a heat meter. All was well.

The firefighters took readings with the heat meter all around the dryer, as well as the walls and ceilings in the rooms above and below. They shut the gas to the dryer and took it out of the house for me.

I feel very fortunate to have been able to douse the fire so quickly. The inspector said it was a good thing I had a fire extinguisher in the house--most people don't. It costs around $25, and is well worth the piece of mind. They're a "one-time use" thing, though, so I made sure I replaced mine right away.

If you've taken the time to read through this entire post, I hope you'll do me one more favor: promise me you will NEVER run your clothes dryer, or any other household appliance (such as a dishwasher or washing machine) when you're not home and able to check on it. I have spoken to friends about what happened, and so many of them confessed that they leave their washer and/or dryer running while they're sleeping, or while they're out running errands, or even when they have kids (teenagers or pre-teens) home alone in the house. Not a good idea.

I know, it can be a real time saver to have a load of dishes getting cleaned while you sleep or run errands, but refraining from doing so can be a life saver.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has some great safety tips on their website: Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires. If you have a minute, check it out. And please, stay safe!

Hate is a strong word

2011-11-30T16:43:00.002-05:00

There's a new television show premiering tonight, the title of which is "I Hate My Teenage Daughter."

Um...really?

I have three daughters, two of whom are teenagers. I've also been a teenage girl: granted, that was many moons ago, but I still remember what it was like. The teenage years are a difficult time for parents and their kids. There's the old joke that once you have teenagers, you finally understand why some animals eat their young. I get it--the hormones and mood swings and the constant battles as they struggle to assert their independence can be exhausting and emotionally draining.

But, c'mon. HATE?

There are times when my teenagers frustrate me, but even when they are fraying at my very last nerve, I still love them more than anything in this world. And, I make sure they know it, even as they're storming up to their rooms thinking I'm mean and unfair and way too strict.

I know, some will say, "Oh, where's the harm? It's just the title of a TV show. It's no big deal." I disagree.

Being a teenager is incredibly difficult. You're at a stage of your life where you're just starting to discover who you really are and what you want out of life. You're leaving behind old friendships and fostering new ones. You're learning to take responsibility for your actions, and accepting the consequences that go along with the decisions you make. You're growing, and maturing, and there's a lot that is expected of you.

The teenage years are a scary time, when the only thing you need more than wings to fly with is a soft place to land. A parent's most important role is to be that soft place, no matter what.
What bothers me most is that putting out a show with a title like that implies that it's okay to hate your kids. It's not. Sure, you can hate the angst and the drama and the stress that comes along with having a teenager, but you always, always, ALWAYS love your child. And you need to let them know that.

Especially when they're teenagers.

Giving thanks

2011-11-29T23:50:00.000-05:00

Last week was Thanksgiving, which has become a very bittersweet time for me. It's a time to reflect on all of the blessings in your life, and a time to appreciate the people and things and moments for which you are grateful.
This year, Thanksgiving fell on November 24th, the 5th anniversary of the day my father died. It's a sad time of year for me, and yet, I can't help but smile when I think of him. He was a wonderful, caring, loving man, and I was extremely lucky to have him in my life for as long as I did. I still feel the pain of his loss every single day, but I feel his presence with me every single day, too. That brings me some measure of comfort.

But still. I miss him.

There is a void in my life since his death that I haven't been able to fill. I don't know that I'm supposed to, really. It's like an immovable obstacle that suddenly appears in your path, one that you cannot change no matter how hard you try, so you eventually learn to just work around it and go about your business. It becomes part of the fabric of your everyday life. You don't like it, but you get used to it.

Today, I spoke with an acquaintance who shared some terrible news with me: her 22-year-old niece died in a car accident a week and a half ago, and a few days later, her beloved dog of 16 years also died. All of this happened within days of Thanksgiving.

As a mother myself, it's nearly impossible to see anything positive or helpful spring forth from a tragedy like this. No parent should ever have to cope with the unspeakable burden of burying their own child. But, I did find myself taking comfort in the fact that the dog died within a few days of the girl's death...as if the dog sensed her owner's grief, and decided it was her time to go so that she could watch over the niece as she transitioned to the other side.

I know, it sounds hokey and spiritual and "out there," but I do believe that there is a life after this one. That who we are, our spirit, our essence, lives on. I know, with certainty, that my father lives on. And that one day, I will see him again.

Until then, I will have to be content with the small, fleeting glimpses that keep hope alive in this world. The wonderful-but-all-too-rare visions of him, dreams of seeing him and talking with him and seeking his counsel. The unmistakable feeling that he is present, here with me now, as I type this, and at some future point in time, as you read this, watching over us both.

Demotivators

2011-11-21T22:24:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite websites: http://www.despair.com

They sell "demotivational" posters like this one:

If you have a sarcastic/ironic sense of humor, you'll love this site. If not...nevermind!

Natalie Wood's Death: Finally Some Answers?

2011-11-17T22:19:00.000-05:00

Thirty years ago, on November 29, 1981, Natalie Wood drowned while on a boating trip with her husband, Robert Wagner, and her movie co-star, Christopher Walken. I remember hearing about the murder, and feeling awful because she'd always talked about how fearful she was of the water. Drowning was one of her worst nightmares, and it's terrible that she had to die that way. There were rumors that she was drunk and fell overboard, but nothing was ever proven.

The circumstances surrounding her death always seem so hazy, with lots of unanswered questions as to exactly how it happened. Now, the Los Angeles sheriff's office says they have new information that has led them to re-open the investigation.

In 2009, Robert Wagner wrote about the events of that evening, and for me, they raised more questions than answers. He talked about how they argued that night, and how much their entire party had been drinking. You can read his version of events HERE at the UK Daily Mail's website.

I hope this case is finally solved soon.

A Plastic Dragon!

2011-11-17T08:08:00.001-05:00

This is very cool.

I love when art projects involve using ordinary, everyday items and transforming them to create something extraordinary. Here, an artist creates a dragon sculpture using only plastic cups, spoons, and forks.

You can read the original post about it here: BuzzFeed.com

Embrace Your Braces!

2011-11-16T20:33:00.000-05:00

On Monday, my youngest daughter got her braces. She was a real trooper throughout the process, even though her teeth were very sore the next day.

The night before she had her braces put on, she hosted an "Embrace Your Braces" party. She invited over a few close friends and served all of the things that she won't be able to eat for the next 12 to 18 months: fruit chews, popcorn, gummi gushers, fruit roll-ups, etc.

Congratulations, Cathy...by this time next year, you'll have the nicest, most perfect teeth in the family!

Baby #20 for 45-year-old Michelle Duggar

2011-11-08T08:57:00.000-05:00

Duggar Family Announcement: Baby #20 on the way

Wow.

VOTE!

2011-11-08T06:34:00.000-05:00

It's Election Day 2011. Please take the time to get to your local polling place and vote.

I sincerely hope the protesters at Occupy Wall Street and similar demonstrations across the country will exercise their right to vote. Spending your days camped out in a public park, holding up a sign and shouting catchy phrases for the TV cameras about being the 99% or fighting corporate greed--that's your right as an American.

But all of the shouting and demands and shaking your fist at the sky don't have nearly the power that the simple act of casting your vote could have. Don't tell me there aren't any good choices out there--if you don't like the representative from your area, then run for office yourself. Get involved and make a real difference.

It's easy to stand up and criticize and point out the problems that face our country. How about you try being a part of the solution?

Vote.

The Hunger Games

2011-11-07T21:42:00.000-05:00

My middle daughter loved this book, and can't wait until the movie comes out because she's in love with one of the stars (Josh Hutcherson). I've heard great things about the book series, so I finally got around to picking it up.

I loved it. I finished it in a day, and blew through the sequel (Catching Fire) in half a day. I'm waiting to start the third and final volume in the series, Mockingjay, because I know once I start I won't be able to put it down.

The Hunger Games: a futuristic, fast-paced adventure story, with a bit of teen angst and romance thrown in for good measure. Highly recommended!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T19:22:00.000-04:00

Our last Halloween before she gets braces. Enjoy the sticky stuff while you can, Pirate Girl!

Why Bradford Pear Trees Are Not A Good Choice

2011-10-31T14:22:00.002-04:00

Fifteen years ago, the developer who built the houses on my street decided to plant two Bradford pear trees in each front yard. The effect was stunning, especially for those two weeks a year when they flowered with beautiful white blossoms.

About 3 years ago, a landscaper friend warned me that Bradford pears are notoriously weak trees, and that once they reached the 10-12 year mark, they start losing branches and breaking in the winter. Sure enough, that year, two neighbors lost trees to the snow and ice. The following year, my own Bradford pear bit the dust.

And this week, we had an unusual October snowstorm. The combination of heavy snow on the not-yet-fallen leaves proved too much, and every one of my neighbors saw their trees split and crumble. My block looks like a war zone right now.

Word to the wise: you're better off with a flowering dogwood or cherry blossom tree.

October Snow

2011-10-29T14:59:00.002-04:00

Early snowstorm here in the Northeast, and the trees and flowers in my neighborhood are NOT happy. We've lost power briefly a couple of times, so I'm posting this while I can. As I'm typing, I can hear loud "CRACK" sounds coming from outside...the trees on my street are dropping, one by one. My next door neighbor's tree came down across our driveway just a few seconds after my husband pulled his car into the garage. He and his car are fine...our mailbox wasn't quite as lucky.

My mailbox, or what's left of it. No bills for us, today!

This is the view looking up towards the top of my street.

Access is completely blocked by downed branches.

Food: Wild Boar Ragu with homemade Pappardelle Pasta

2011-10-23T19:45:00.000-04:00

I saw Anne Burrell make this last week on The Food Network and knew I had to try it. Finding the wild boar meat wasn't too difficult...one of my local grocery stores just got in shipment of wild boar roasts, so I lucked out. It took a long time to make--over 4 hours including prep time--but was absolutely delicious.

I had a little trouble with the pappardelle (can't seem to get the hang of it, it always ends up too thin), so I ended up making wide fettucine instead. It held the sauce well and I was happy with the end result. I forgot to take a picture of it while it was on the plate, so here it is in a not-so-fancy plastic storage container, ready to go into the fridge to save for a quick lunch during the week. I know it's hard to tell from this photo (which I took with my crappy cell phone) but the color of the ragu is a rich, deep brown with red undertones. The boar was good. You can definitely taste the difference from beef, but it's not exactly like pork, either. It picked up the flavor of the red wine and was very tender after cooking all day.

Here's a link to the recipe: Papparadelle with Wild Boar Ragu

Dog Day Afternoon

2011-10-23T16:36:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, we attended the annual DogFest event, hosted by a local animal rescue organization. Our dog, Scooter, had a great time meeting and greeting dozens of fellow canines who turned out with their owners to support this great festival.
We adopted Scooter from an animal rescue group three years ago this month. We don't know exactly what breed he is (the vet says he's part beagle, and others swear he's got Australian kelpie in him) but he has been a wonderful and much-loved addition to our family.

The Way of Grace

2011-10-15T20:35:00.000-04:00

If we need to change
and we do not do it on our own
oftentimes the world steps in
and does whatever it must
to make the change happen.
One way invites grace,
the other does not.
Choose the way of graceful change.
Do what needs to be done.
--Daniel Levin

From his book "Zen Life"

I bought Mr. Levin's book a few months ago. It's billed as an "Open-at-Random Book of Guidance. Lots of great stuff there. Check it out.

The Last Lecture, 6 years later

2011-09-18T22:29:00.001-04:00

Today marks six years since Randy Pausch took the stage at Carnegie Mellon University and delivered "The Last Lecture." He was an extraordinary man and served as an inspiration to millions of people, including me. I have a copy of the lecture in book form, but there's no substitute for seeing Pausch deliver the lecture himself:

Her Last Goodbye

2011-09-07T22:07:00.009-04:00

Watched the GOP debate on MSNBC. Am I the only sap who cried when they showed Reagan's funeral? I don't care what your political leanings are: watching Nancy Reagan press her cheek to Ronnie's coffin was heart wrenching. Makes me want to wrap my husband in bubble-wrap for the forseeable future.

Pokemon Center - NYC

2011-09-07T14:27:00.003-04:00

We took a day trip in to NYC with the girls today. We stopped at the Pokemon Center store in midtown (10 Rockefeller Plaza), which is filled with every type of Pokemon plush toy you can imagine.

Pikachu is still my favorite.

On the upper level of the store, you'll find all things Nintendo, including Super Mario Brothers.

Then we headed downstairs to the underground Concourse at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (a great place to shop and visit when you're in NYC on an inclement weather day) and had some hot chocolate at the Jacques Torres store.

Earthquake along the East Coast

2011-08-23T14:44:00.002-04:00

There was an earthquake at around 2pm today in Virginia, a 5.8 on the Richter scale. It was felt as far away as Massachusetts. Here in the NY/NJ area, friends reported seeing shaking computer screens, desk items falling over, etc.

I was in a store at the time. I thought my cell phone was vibrating in my back pocket. Took it out, checked it, put it away and kept on shopping. Then the fire alarm went off for about 30 seconds. I didn't smell smoke...clearly a false alarm. Hey, look, nachos are on sale!

This does not bode well for my survival reflexes in the event of the Apocalypse.

2011-08-22T12:23:00.020-04:00

"Think of the haters in your life as sandpaper: they'll scratch you up time and again, but in the end, you're polished and spotless, while they end up useless.

-Unknown

Forever 21? I don't think so.

2011-08-03T18:08:00.010-04:00

Nothing like a trip to the "Forever 21" store to realize I most certainly am not.

It made me think of this spot-on commercial spoof from "So Random" for "Your Daughter's Closet":

20 years and still going strong

2011-07-27T19:58:00.003-04:00

Happy Anniversary to my love, my best friend, my sweetheart.

20 years! Here's to many, many more.

Sunrise on Lake Winnipesaukee

2011-07-24T05:43:00.004-04:00

View from the Lake House

2011-07-23T17:19:00.000-04:00

We're on vacation at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire...my first time visiting the "Live Free or Die" State.
This is our view off the back deck. Absolutely beautiful!

Summer Fun: Pick Your Own

2011-07-17T13:56:00.023-04:00

Pick your own blueberries!

Peaches. Lots of 'em.

Today we went to a local farm to pick blueberries and peaches, and it was a great way to spend the day. The sun was shining and it was hot but we went early before it got too bad. The blueberries were at their peak, and we loaded up our baskets fairly quickly (and yes, there was some sampling along the way). Then we moved on to the peach orchard for pick-your-own peaches. Those weren't quite as ready, so it was more of a challenge to find (and reach) the ones that were ripe enough for picking.
Once we got home, we made blueberry pie and peach cobbler. We still have tons of fruit leftover (we picked wayyyyy too many peaches) so tomorrow, I'll be making preserves. LOTS of them.

Road Warrior

2011-07-12T13:08:00.002-04:00

This is it...the day I have dreaded for 17 years is finally here.

My daughter got her Driver's License.

High School Grad!

2011-06-04T16:15:00.001-04:00

I can't believe my firstborn is now a high school graduate. How is this possible? Where did the years go?? Wasn't she just in the other room fingerpainting? Yes, yes I'm sure she was.

And yet, today, she graduated high school, with honors and a couple of awards and even a few local scholarships. We're so incredibly proud of her. She worked hard to achieve this well-earned success, and I know there's more of that to come.

In just 2 short months, she'll be college-bound to a terrific university about two hours away. Just far enough to be independent, but close enough that I can drop everything and get there if she needs me. She'll be fine, I know she will.

Me? That remains to be seen.

Congratulations, Christina. I'm truly happy for you, baby. I know that you have a bright future ahead of you, and that you will love your years at college. In fact, you will probably look back on these years as some of the best ones of your life. It'll be great!

Just pay no attention to that sobbing mother behind the curtain.

Golfing in Ireland

2011-05-19T12:03:00.000-04:00

My husband went on a golf trip to Ireland this month with a group of friends, and THIS is where they stayed.

So. Jealous.

It reminds me of the houses in the movie Pride & Prejudice. I don't care if it's old and musty and drafty with ancient plumbing and no cable...I would live in a place like this in a heartbeat.

2011-05-02T09:14:00.003-04:00

Thinking about my daughter's teacher this morning, who lost her husband on 9/11 in the WTC attack. A death is never something to 'celebrate' but at least the man responsible for killing so many innocent people is no longer breathing the same air we do. Osama Bin Laden lived for 10 years afterwards, so I still don't feel like it's "justice", but at least it's something.

Much Ado About the Royal Wedding 2.0

2011-04-30T09:04:00.006-04:00

I can still remember back in 1981, setting my alarm clock to get up early and watch the wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. It was the event that catapulted all things Royal into the celebrity stratosphere, with non-stop coverage of every last detail. Key moments such as Diana's endearing flub of Charles' name during their vows and, of course, the kiss on the balcony, were replayed over and over on every channel.

We all know that the fairytale ended badly for Diana, and yet billions of people still tuned in for the Royal Wedding 2.0 with Prince William and Kate Middleton yesterday. There wasn't nearly the same build-up and excitement this time around, but the media coverage on the day of the wedding was, as expected, widespread and intense.

Almost thirty years older now and a bit more jaded than my 14-year-old self, I didn't go out of my way to watch the festivities this time. I did turn on the TV at some point yesterday morning, in time to see the newly-married couple leaving the church together. As they rode off in the carriage towards Buckingham Palace, a beaming Kate turned to William and said simply, "I'm so happy."

At which point, I smiled, shut the TV, and went about my day, saying a silent prayer for them both that their happiness endures. Although I didn't find myself caught up in the hoopla this time, I certainly didn't begrudge others who took enjoyment from watching the pomp and circumstance and taking part in the day vicariously through the media coverage.

To be sure, there were other important newsworthy events happening at the same time, but one thing I've learned about tragedy and bad news: they've got a lot more staying power than euphoria and good news. The devastation caused by tornadoes in the Southern U.S., the rioting in Syria, the dire economic situation across the globe...the wedding is over now, and all of these things are still with us waiting to be dealt with. Is it really so awful a transgression for the media to temporarily pull back from the horrors of hard news to bring us a bit of fluff and silliness from across the pond? I don't think so.

Of course, not everyone agreed, and I did witness some backlash from those who felt the media was shirking its responsibility by covering such lightweight fare. What I find disconcerting is the lengths to which some folks went to rail against the Royal Wedding. I had one friend who was so desperate to vent his anger over the media coverage, he created an entire page on a social networking site to express just how much he didn't care about the whole thing, complete with uploaded photos and videos and all sorts of angry comments. All day long.

Um...oooookay, then.

It seems to me that those who truly don't care to hear about frivolous events like the Royal Wedding would be better served ignoring them completely. Creating a page to promote your feelings about an event you feel is being promoted too much...how does that make sense?

When I called him on it, he concluded that I did not have a proper appreciation for satire. Not true. I appreciate good satire, not bitter rantings that accomplish nothing other than spreading negativity. This type of reverse schadenfreude--reaping misery from other people's happiness--seems every bit as pointless to me as waking up at 4am to don a fancy hat and watch a couple you've never met (and probably never will) get married thousands of miles away. But at least the latter activity isn't aimed at making anyone else feel bad about the choices they make. Is it really so difficult to live and let live, even just for a day?

If you think there are other, more important things worth discussing--then do it. If you're upset about the civil unrest in the Middle East, or those who have lost their homes due to natural disasters, then use your energy to do what you can to help. Spread the word about relief efforts, tell your friends how they can send aid where it is needed, visit online news sites that are covering these truly important events so that they will register the page hits on those stories you think they ought to be covering, thereby encouraging them to do even more of it.

We are each entitled to our own opinions, and entitled to express those opinions how we see fit. I just think that if you have a point you want to make, then finding a positive, productive way to do it makes a heck of a lot more sense.

And to the new Duke & Duchess of Cambridge: Congratulations. I did not buy you a present, did not watch you exchange your vows, and did not make a champagne toast to your future. But I wish you well all the same.

Easter 2011

2011-04-24T11:52:00.004-04:00

Christmas Eve is my favorite holiday, but Easter is a close second. I love getting the girls dressed up for church (although, these days, they take care of most of the primping themselves), I love any excuse to eat chocolate, and I love passing on holiday traditions. Starting the day off with Mass, and then eating ourselves into oblivion...what could be better?

This year, I made a batch of rainbow cookies (aka seven layer cookies) with my eldest daughter, and some pignoli cookies. I'll also be making dandelion soup, a traditional Southern Italian dish that my grandmother used to make every year.

Wishing you a Blessed & Happy Easter!

Happy Birthday Joyce!

2011-04-04T21:06:00.002-04:00

Took a trip to visit my cousin Joyce in Virginia this weekend to celebrate a "milestone" birthday with her. In a nod to all of the Saturdays we spent at our grandparents' house in Brooklyn, I gave her a bottle of Absolut Brooklyn vodka (special edition by Spike Lee). I have no idea how the stuff tastes--not a big vodka fan--but it says it's flavored with apple and ginger. I also made some shot glasses for her to add to her collection.

I had a great time visiting with family and made some wonderful new friends, too. Thanks for the invite, Joyce, and Happy Birthday!

St. Joseph's Day traditions

2011-03-19T13:03:00.002-04:00

Today we celebrate The Feast of St. Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the human father of Jesus. For Italian Americans, especially those of Sicilian descent, we commemorate this day by giving thanks to St. Joseph for all of his intercessions and help throughout the year. It's a day when we gather together and set up an altar or table to St. Joseph, upon which we place items like food, fresh fruit, and delicious pastries. Fava beans are set out for good luck, and to remind us of how the fava was a staple crop that helped keep the people of Sicily from going hungry during a time of terrible drought. We also adorn the altar--which has 3 tiers or levels to represent the Holy Trinity--with candles, along with notes of gratitude or prayers to St. Joseph.

My local UNICO chapter gathers together each year for a St. Joseph's Day dinner, and my favorite dish is Pasta con Sarde. It's spaghetti with sardines and bread crumbs, and it is a traditional choice for St. Joseph's Day because the bread crumbs represent sawdust, which was an ever-present thing in the life of St. Joseph, who was a carpenter.

I know for most people, March is all about celebrating St. Patrick. While I do enjoy the "wearing o' the green", La Festa di San Giuseppe will always hold a special place in my heart.

Snapshots from Captiva Island, Florida

2011-02-25T14:39:00.001-05:00

Enjoyed another great family trip to Captiva this month. Here's a shot of one of the many gorgeous sunsets we enjoyed during our stay. Unlike last year's Winter Break when we had an unseasonably cold, rainy streak , the weather this year was sunny, warm, and absolutely perfect.

Captiva Island, off the coast of Ft. Myers in Florida, is one of our favorite places in the world. It has beautiful beaches, casual restaurants with excellent food, and a laid-back vibe that my family and I love. It's also well-known for its seashelling opportunities, although I confess, I have boxes of collected shells sitting in a closet here that we brought home to turn into craft projects that will probably never materialize. Ah well...

<--This is RC Otters, a casual eatery that has something for everyone on the menu. Our favorites are Gator bites (yes, as in alligator) and the Oyster Po'Boy sandwich. The burgers are great, too.

These are some examples of the food you'll find at Tween Waters Inn, a hotel that has a terrific restaurant with windows that offer spectacular views of the sunset. Also the ideal place to watch holiday fireworks. On the left was a roasted duck dish, and on the right is the famous Key Lime Pie.

Who needs 3 lbs of chocolate?

2011-02-14T16:27:00.000-05:00

No one. It's an obscene amount of sugar. Way too much.

But that doesn't mean I'm not eating this entire box.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Italian Heritage Day: Treasures from Home

2011-01-30T17:38:00.001-05:00

Today, the Italian American service group I belong to held it's annual "Heritage Day." It was a great event, with over 100 people in attendance. We had traditional Italian foods available for tasting, one of our members gave an Italian language lesson, and a professional opera singer sang some beautiful arias. I helped pull together a display of items and artifacts from Italy, modeled after the "Treasures from Home" display at the Ellis Island museum. Here are some photos of the items we had on display, including an old football (soccer) jersey, dolls, housewares, documents and more.

Christie's Town Hall

2011-01-13T16:37:00.012-05:00

Went to the first Town Hall of the year today, where Governor Christie took questions from the crowd and talked for about an hour about issues that concern residents of New Jersey. He discussed the Christie Reform Agenda and challenged everyone there to join him in making the changes necessary to put New Jersey back on track. He talked a lot about "shared sacrifice," and how all state workers are going to have to kick in more for their healthcare if we want the system to stay afloat. The Governor was in fine form today: funny, engaging, and as usual, very quick on his feet. He's got a tough job to do, but he certainly seems up to the task.

2011-01-11T15:51:00.001-05:00

Attended Governor Christie's State of the State address today. The overall message: we're still in a tough spot, budget-wise, but things are better than they were last year at this time. We've made some progress, but still have a long way to go. Reforms are necessary in order to keep the pension system afloat, and both parties are going to have to work together to get things accomplished this year. Here's hoping!

Dying Birds in Arkansas: A Theory

2011-01-04T18:59:00.003-05:00

Earlier this week, over 1000 blackbirds fell from the sky in Arkansas, dead on arrival. Conspiracy theories abound as to what may have caused this mass flash mob of death. Allow me to add my two cents' worth:

I think it was caused by a military weapon, one that uses sound waves to disrupt the molecular structure of a particular species. First, it was blackbirds. Then, hundreds of thousands of drum fish were found dead in the Chesapeake Bay. Today, it was reported that another 500 birds were found dead in Louisiana.

I'm not buying the "official" theory that a weather disturbance caused this. Perhaps that's plausible for the birds, who are airborne, but what about the fish in the water? And why only that one species of fish?

Several years ago, I did some research on the work of Royal Raymond Rife. He was heralded as "The Man Who Cured Cancer." His work in the 1930s was based on the fact that molecules can be disrupted when exposed to a particular frequency, as evidenced when an opera singer hits a High C and shatters a glass. The molecules in the glass are disrupted at that frequency, so the glass breaks.

Rife speculated: what if we can find the frequency that disrupts the molecules of cancer cells? If we target those cells with a sound wave at that exact frequency, it will obliterate the cancer cells while leaving the healthy, non-cancerous cells intact.

I won't debate the veracity of his research and experiments here, but the bottomline is that at some point Rife fell out of favor with the medical community (supposedly because they realized how much they stood to lose if the lucrative business of cancer treatment/drug therapy/hospitalization were eliminated) and his research was abandoned.

My theory: someone has expanded on Rife's initial research, and has built a large scale Rife Frequency Generator. They have used modern-day DNA technology to hone in and identify the genetic markers specific to certain species, such as red-winged blackbirds and drum fish, and they've also figured out the frequency at which their molecules would be disrupted. They've put all of it together to create the perfect weapon of mass destruction: silent and effective on a large scale.

I hope I'm wrong.

When the Yak met the Fox

2010-09-13T23:23:00.005-04:00

Last year, I met a true craftsman at the Rennaissance Faire in NY. His name was Steve Vlasich, and he and his wife Cindy are the owners of Clear Creations. Steve is a glass artist, crafting custom-made designs of all shapes and sizes. He had all types of birds and griffins and dragons for sale, all of them handmade and one-of-a-kind. He was so adept at manipulating the molten glass, which wasn't surprising once he told me that he'd been honing the skill since he was a young boy.

As I watched him work, I asked what his favorite thing was to make, and he said, "I love making stuff that I've never done before, but at this point, there's not a lot that fits into that category." It wasn't until later that I thought of something that would probably fit the bill: a Yak, which also happens to be the first three letters of my married surname.

My maiden name is derived from the word "Fox", so I've always had an affinity for foxes. I bought a small fox figurine when I went to Italy four years ago, but good luck trying to find anything with a Yak on it.

Fortunately, I took Steve's business card and emailed him my request. He accepted the challenge, and after sending him about a half a dozen pictures, he set to work. It was the first Yak he ever created, and he said that really enjoyed doing it. He also made me a Fox to go with it. I just picked them up today, and I couldn't be more pleased with how they turned out. Thanks, Steve & Cindy!

High-pitched noise in your Mazda CX-9?

2010-08-20T23:12:00.003-04:00

Last year, I purchased a Mazda CX-9, and have been very happy with the vehicle--with one notable exception. There were times when I started the car and immediately noticed a high-pitched sound going off periodically, almost like a dog whistle or hearing test beep. It was intermittent, really annoying, and I couldn't tell where it was coming from.

Finally one day, I figured it out. The car comes with Bluetooth capabilities. I realized that I only heard the sound when I didn't have my cell phone turned on, or when I had the bluetooth feature on the phone disabled. It seems the high-pitched sound is the car searching for a bluetooth connection. Once it finds one (e.g. if my cell phone IS on and has bluetooth engaged) then the sound goes away. If I don't have my phone with me or it's shut off, the sound persists.

One fix that I've found for stopping the sound without having keep the phone on is to turn on the radio and tune it to AUX mode. No more beep.

It never occurred to me to blog about this until today, when I was approached by another CX-9 owner who told me that he'd been back to his Mazda dealership six times trying to figure out this annoying problem. Whoops! If you're having a similar problem with your CX-9, give the "Aux" trick a try and let me know if it works for you.

Saving Baby Birds

2010-08-05T08:47:00.014-04:00

Recently, we noticed a cardinal nest in the pine tree right outside our family room window. Last week, the eggs hatched, and there were three teeny babies popping their heads up waiting for mom and dad to feed them. We positioned a ladder inside the house, right near the window, so that we could observe the birds without disturbing them. I made sure our bird feeders nearby were always full so the parents had plenty to eat, and we have a pond right underneath the tree where there is always fresh water available. They picked a great location, sheltered from the elements, and I had high hopes that babies would thrive.

Yesterday afternoon, my daughters called me at work, frantic. One of the baby birds was dead (all that was left on the ground was a wing—a stray cat must have made off with the rest) and another of the babies had jumped out of the nest and was floundering on the ground. I thought at first that it was pushed out, but no, my eldest said she saw the bird jump out of the nest on its own.

My daughters know enough about wildlife not to handle the bird, but they managed to put a deep plastic popcorn bucket next to the baby and it hopped inside. The bird had feathers covering most of its body, but was unable to fly yet. It was chirping away, eyes open and clear, and looked quite healthy. I figured I’d have to find some way to get this little guy back into the nest as soon as possible. But, as it turns out, I was wrong.

I came home and immediately called an Avian Refuge Center, and the woman who answered was very helpful and knowledgeable. She explained that one of the most common reasons a baby bird will bail out of the nest is because the nest is infested with mites. The mites bite the birds and can eventually kill them. The bites are painful, and that’s why the birds jump out. Otherwise, they end up anemic and die. I took a look in the bucket, and sure enough, I could see several tiny specks—the mites—crawling around near the bird.

What she advised me to do was the opposite of what I expected: she didn’t want me to put the bird back into the nest, and instead, she wanted me to get the remaining baby bird OUT of the nest as soon as possible. She explained that there are special medicated powders and sprays available that will kill the mites without harming the birds. She also said that I needed to create a new, clean nest for the birds, and that if I put it back in a spot close to where the original nest was, the parents would probably come back. She said that the mites wouldn’t harm me, and that they would wash off, unlike lice or ticks which burrow or cling. Ugh…fabulous.

So, with my daughters guarding the bird in the bucket and monitoring the one still in the tree, I went to local pet store and got the spray. I also picked up a deep basket made from natural material and some fiber nesting material (the woman from the avian center said to make sure the material is not water-absorbent, and to supplement it with organic materials like soft pine needles and grass).

By the time I got back, my husband was home from work and ready to begin Operation Cardinal Save.

We brought the ladder outside and Rich was able to reach the nest and bring the other baby to safety. The fact that he is smiling in this picture is a testament to his love for wildlife: taken only seconds after he’d gotten the nest down, he already had dozens of mites crawling up his arms.

Yes, they did wash off quickly, but neither one of us was expecting there to be quite so many. When I sprayed the first bird—he was quite a bit larger than the one still in the nest—hundreds of mites starting jumping off his feathers. I had to keep moving him onto a clean paper towel, and with every shift, hundreds more mites dropped off. Over and over again, we kept transferring the birds to a clean paper towel, only to have the obnoxious specks rain down every time the bird moved. I had a bowls of water nearby and needed to rinse myself off frequently because the mites were all over my hands every time I transferred the birds from one towel to the next. They didn’t bite me, but still….blech!

Eventually, the mites subsided, and it was time to relocate the birds. I prepped the new nest and spritzed some mite spray around it for good measure. My husband found a perfect spot for them in a tree right next to the original one, less than six feet away from where the first nest was, so that we can still observe them, and the parents can find them easily. The woman at the avian center said that the parents probably had some mites, too, so there was no way to fully eradicate them, but that the new nest would certainly bring them a great deal of relief. All they need is a few more days to get stronger so that they can leave the nest and start flying, and the mites won’t be a danger to them anymore.

It’s the morning after the big rescue, and so far, the two babies are still in the nest. They’re chirping and moving around, but don’t seem to be trying to escape just yet. In the picture below, you can see the new nest in the tree on the left. The tree on the right is where the old nest was located. I filled my bird feeders in the hopes that it will entice the parents to come back, but so far, I haven’t seen them. The woman at the avian center said that if I thought the littlest bird was anemic (the larger bird's mouth was a healthy deep pink inside, so we knew he was fine), I could feed it some crushed up berries with an eye dropper, so if I don’t see the parents by mid-day, that’s what I’ll do. It rained early this morning, so I know they had some water. Now, it’s just a matter of waiting and hoping that the parents will return.

****UPDATE**** Things looked promising earlier this morning: an adult cardinal pair did come to the bird feeders, and the babies were still chirping. We decided to wait just a bit longer to see if Mother Nature would cooperate and the parents would tend to the babies. Unfortunately, when I checked on the birds a bit later, I discovered that they did not pull through. It's a sad ending, and not the one I had hoped for, but at least we know that we did everything we could to give them the best possible shot at survival. If there's a "next time", we'll be well-prepared on what to do.

Push-ups and playthings

2010-07-16T16:14:00.005-04:00

Took my daughters shopping this afternoon and passed a sign at Victoria's Secret that made me pause:

FREE mini-dog plush with purchase of our new Push-Up bra!

It seems to me that if you're old enough to wear a push-up bra, you ought to have outgrown the "stuffed animal" phase. No?

Toddlers & Tiaras: Oh, the humanity

2010-07-14T22:07:00.003-04:00

Toddlers & Tiaras on TLC. Train wreck television at its finest.

Every show seems to follow the three-mom formula: you've got the fat unattractive mom who lives vicariously through her skinny (for now) little princess, the former pagent contestant mom who doesn't know any other way of life than glitz and flippers, and the control-freak mom who needs to win at all costs because that's the only thing in life that matters.

The girls get spray tanned, coiffed, and painted up with makeup before taking the stage to do a grinding dance routine that would make Beyonce feel self-conscious, then wait anxiously to find out if they've won a glittery crown and a title that makes no sense whatsoever (Mini-Grand Supreme, Ultimate Grand Supreme, Supreme Latte Mocha Frappucino...hard to keep them all straight).

The hardest part to watch is how these working-class families spend tens of thousands of dollars a month on entry fees, facials, false teeth, hair pieces, weaves, fake tans, and glitzy dresses. The dads usually seem like sweet, amiable folk who aren't quite sure how they got to this point but heck, they're just along for the ride. Gotta spend your money on somethin', I guess. Ack.

And yet, I watch.

Sweet 16

2010-07-09T18:27:00.002-04:00

Exactly 16 years ago today, I became a mom for the first time.

Sweet.

Happy Birthday, Christina!

Charity, done right

2010-07-08T16:52:00.005-04:00

In these difficult economic times, non-profit organizations are suffering a sharp decline in donations. Less disposable income means that most people are forced to cut back on their charitable giving, getting more selective about which organizations they can support.

If you find yourself needing to whittle down your list of donation recipients, there are some criteria to keep in mind that may help you decide.

* Where does the money go?
This is the #1 consideration for me when I donate. There are so many deserving charities out there, but not all organizations are run as smoothly and efficiently as they should be. The charity you choose should have a proven track record, up-to-date filings with the IRS, and the infrastructure in place to receive and distribute funds in an equitable way. For example, charities staffed by volunteers will have much lower operating costs as those with salaried employees, ensuring that the maximum amount of your donation goes where it's needed most: the those in need.

* How is the money managed and distributed?
Another priority is to look closely at how the money is dispensed, and by whom. A legitimate charity ought to have an infrastructure in place with checks and balances so that the funds they collect are distributed fairly and equitably. Look for an organization that holds public meetings, has a consistent slate of elected officers, and a Board of Trustees that votes on how money is awarded.

* Always get a receipt!
This would seem like a no-brainer, but make sure you ask the charity if you can obtain a receipt with a copy of their Federal Tax I.D. number (indicating their 501 c 3 status) for tax purposes. If they balk at the idea of giving you one--run!

CharityNavigator.org is a great website where you can do a search on a charity and see how it ranks in terms of efficiency. Check it out so that when you do give, you can give wisely.

A new challenge

2010-07-07T07:03:00.004-04:00

This above all: to thine own self be true.

One of my favorite quotes.

I've been taking some time off-line to pursue a new career path, and it has left me very little time for recreational writing. While the work I've been doing has been interesting and rewarding, there's been a component of self-expression missing that I am itching to return to.

I've discovered that even when your plate is full to overflowing, it's still possible for there to be a void. That empty spot is the one where my "writing just for the sake of it" used to be. The time has come to fill it again.

So, I've decided to challenge myself this year. I'm going to write something every day for the next 365 days. It won't be easy--I have a full-time job, kids to raise, and some trips coming up with no internet access--but I'm going to give it a shot and see it where it takes me. I have a friend who is doing a similar challenge with his photography, taking a "Photo a Day" and posting it on Facebook. Some days, the photos are just pleasant, some days, they're absolutely brilliant. I'm sure he finds it a grind sometimes, but there have been those moments when he captures something truly unique and unexpected. Those are the ones that keep you going.

Day 1. So far so good.

cartoon by John Jonick, The New Yorker

The Gores Separate. Oh. My.

2010-06-01T14:57:00.002-04:00

News outlets are reporting that former Vice President Al Gore and his wife Tipper are separating after 40 years of marriage. The official explanation is that they "grew apart."

While the part of me that adores all things Al is not exactly in mourning over this latest development, the rational part of me can't help but wonder: why now?

In my experience, long-time married couples tend to grow apart right around the 20 year mark, when their kids are teens and heading off to college, and they suddenly realize they don't have much to talk about anymore.

Forty years of marriage means going through so much together: births, deaths, health scares, family troubles, weddings, birthday milestones, successes, failures, children, grandchildren, etc.

I'm not exactly complaining that the object of my long-held adoration is suddenly making a new life for himself, but the timing seems really odd.

Yes, I want him to be happy, but if he takes up with some young thang like Kate Hudson or Megan Fox in the months to come, I'm selling my copy of An Inconvenient Truth on eBay.

Maximizing the Life of your Laptop Battery

2010-04-19T09:45:00.003-04:00

My laptop battery recently crapped out, after less than a year of usage. In doing some quick research, I discovered that this was my own fault, because I was using the battery in a way that actually shortened its life. (My bad!)

I ended up ordering one online, and the website where I purchased it from has a great Frequently Asked Questions section that is definitely worth sharing: Laptop Battery Depot: Frequent Asked Questions

For example, I didn't realize that using the laptop while it's plugged in is bad for the battery. They advise removing the battery if you're using an electric power source for any extended period of time. I thought I was doing the right thing by keeping it plugged in--giving the battery a rest--but it was actually doing the battery harm. Oops.

I also noticed the new battery wasn't charging to 100%, and the FAQs advised taking the battery out and then putting it back in, then charging it again. It worked!

I used to put my computer into sleep mode when I wasn't using it (by just folding the screen down and closing it), but didn't bother to completely Shut Down that often. That was another mistake that shortened the battery life.

I'm going to follow the guidelines from the Laptop Battery website and see if I can get more mileage out this new one. Fingers crossed!

Long time, no see

2010-04-08T19:18:00.002-04:00

yeah, I know. Poor blog...so neglected.

I may go back and add a few posts retroactively (back dating...is that cheating?) but I'll probably just end up starting anew from this point and moving forward.

Things have been busy, but a good kind of busy. Took on a new job in local government and love it. I've always had an interest in current affairs and this position keeps me right in the thick of things.

Of course, I still manage to find time for the silly stuff, like pop culture and social networks, but I miss the expressive outlet that is blogging. So hey...I'm back!

Wolf Moon - 1/20/2010

2010-01-30T13:10:00.001-05:00

FullMoon_0005
Originally uploaded by RichYak

My husband took this photo during last night's "wolf moon". Great shot!

The Dying of the Light

2010-01-24T22:00:00.004-05:00

I lost a friend today.

He was an artist, writer, photographer, curmudgeon, and advisor.

I knew he was terminally ill, but his passing still seemed sudden and unexpected. The worst part is knowing that his beautiful creativity, and the inspired way that he viewed the world, is gone. His breathtaking photos, like this one, touched me.

Rest in peace, Glenn Osborn.

View more of his work here: http://www.handsonwebsites.com/photomain.htm

Stand up for Victims' Rights!

2010-01-16T19:36:00.003-05:00

Friends, I haven't been blogging much lately, because my offline life has been quite busy--but a good kind of busy.

One of the things I'm involved in is furthering the cause of victims' rights in New Jersey. Last week, the legislature in NJ rushed through a set of bills that, if signed into law by outgoing Governor Jon Corzine, will have a devastating impact on victims and their families.

Please take a moment to read this online petition, and consider adding your name to this very worthwhile cause: PETITION FOR CORZINE TO REJECT BILLS A4201 and A4202

Thank you!

So long, 2009...Hello MMX

2009-12-31T16:21:00.002-05:00

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and safe New Year.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-25T12:47:00.002-05:00

After hosting another great Feast of the Seven Fishes last night, I awoke to the whispers of my three daughters, waiting patiently for their parents to get out of bed already so they could open their gifts from Santa.

After presents, we all sat down together in the kitchen and had pancakes (made from scratch because we had no mix left), orange juice served in champagne flutes, and fresh strawberries. It was a great way to start the day, and made me appreciate yet again that the true gifts in my life were right there, sitting around that table.

Merry Christmas!

Snow!

2009-12-19T11:12:00.002-05:00

Winter storm headed this way...the perfect day to get some presents wrapped. I'm also going to put on a big pot of chicken soup. Let it snow!

A new direction for NJ

2009-11-04T09:14:00.002-05:00

Today, residents of NJ elected a new governor. I don't agree with all of his positions on the issues, but I do think that Chris Christie is the right choice to put New Jersey back on track. We're so deeply in debt and overtaxed to the hilt. Time for a change!

Happy 1st Anniversary to my furry baby

2009-10-14T08:18:00.002-04:00

One year ago today, I signed on the dotted line and adopted our precious pup, Scooter. He has been a joy to our family ever since, so it's truly a day worth celebrating.

Happy Gotcha Day, Scooter-boy!

President Obama wins big

2009-10-09T17:11:00.005-04:00

My husband made those. Nice job, Rich!

Seriously, though...the Nobel Peace Prize? For what??

I agree that President Obama has a lot of potential, but he only just took office a few months ago. He hasn't actually done anything yet.

The Nobel is supposed to recognize extraordinary achievement. Ousting George W. Bush & company was admirable...but prize-worthy? I don't think so.

Extending an olive branch to other nations around the world, trying to mend fractured relationships? That comes with the territory of the Office of President.

The entire award seems like a stunt by the Nobel Committee. Truly a head-scratcher.

Quickie Weddings

2009-09-28T19:06:00.004-04:00

This past weekend, reality star Khloe Kardashian married NBA star Lamar Odom after a "whirlwind" one month courtship. They've known each other for one month, but felt 100% ready to spend the rest of their lives together. Forever and ever.

Really? Well, okay then. Lots of luck to the happy couple. I'm sure the fact that she's got a new reality show that's struggling in the ratings and he's debuting a new clothing line have NOTHING to do with their desire to get married so quickly.

Of course, this type of quickie wedding is nothing new for celebrities. And, when the inevitable divorce happens, it will be a surprise to no one. It seems to me that marriage in Hollywood is seen as just another disposable item that one can grow tired of and discard, like a old car or a worn-out pair of shoes.

What makes me truly sad is that there are consenting adults in this country who have been together and devoted to each other for years, are deeply in love, and believe strongly in the sanctity of marriage. And yet, they cannot get married because they are in love with a person of the same sex. I don't understand the logic behind that.

Anyone who says that gay marriage undermines and detracts from the institution of marriage needs to get their priorities straight: why don't they speak up when heterosexuals make a mockery of matrimony by marrying and divorcing in record time?

I agree that there has been a breakdown in the strength of the "family unit" in the U.S. over the past few decades, but it's not because homosexuals are trying to alter the way people view marriage--heterosexuals have done a pretty good job screwing that up all on their own.

Invisible Canine Fence

2009-09-28T17:18:00.000-04:00

It has been almost a year since we got our dog. We have a large yard, but it's not enclosed, and we'd hoped to be able to train the dog to be off-leash without having to install fence. After 12 months of using a 40-foot tie-out line, not to mention a few harrowing off-leash training sessions gone awry, we finally decided to get the Invisible Canine Fence system.

My neighbors have this system for their yellow lab, and they swear by it. Now that we've installed one ourselves, I have to agree: it's the best money we've ever spent on our dog.

First, the company sends out representatives to mark off all of your utility wires (sprinklers, cable, telephone) so that they can steer clear of those. Then, they bury a wire within 2 feet of wherever you want the border to be. You can run it around the perimeter of your property, and also around places within that perimeter that you want off limits, like a koi pond or a flower bed or rabbit hutch area, etc. They put white flags up to mark where the buried wire is. (Eventually you remove those.)

This company (Canine Fence) primarily uses audible technology/training/praise to teach the dog the perimeter, which is why they are endorsed by so many veterinarian associations. Their competitor uses "graduated correction technology" which means electric zaps that increase in intensity as the dog gets closer to the perimeter. All that does is tests the dog's pain threshold.

With this system, whenever the dog gets within 18" to 24" of the buried wire, he starts to hear a series of beeps. After the 5th beep, if the rubber stoppers are off the metal prongs on the collar, he'll get a shock (they call it a "correction", I call it a "zap"). So, the dog gets a fair warning to back it up--zapping only happens if he ignores the beeping.

For the first 4 days, you're supposed to keep the stoppers on and walk the dog out in the yard on the leash. As soon as he gets close enough to hear the beeps, you give a slight tug on the leash, run like hell in the other direction, and praise the heck out of the dog when he runs away from the sound. Lots of kisses and pats and "Good boy!" praise. Do that over and over and over, all around the perimeter, for 10 minute sessions several times a day.

By Day 5, you take the stoppers off, and walk him on the leash again, but this time, don't tug him at all. Have a family member walk casually through the perimeter. The dog will try to follow. If he ignores the beeps...zap. Then, you spend 3 days teaching him to ignore a variety of other distractions: throw a ball through the fence, a favorite toy, etc. The dog has to learn to resist temptation and stop at the edge.

You're not supposed to encourage the dog to go through the fence in any way...no calling to him or teasing, etc. It was surprisingly effective right from the start with Scooter, but then, he is so eager to please.

After a few days of "distraction" tests, you can let the dog off the leash and supervise him outside. That lasts for two weeks. Then, you can have the dog out there on his own, and watch from inside the house to see how he does. After the 4 weeks is over, you start gradually removing the visual reminder flags, and that's it.

I did the training as stipulated, for the most part. After only 3 days of praise, my dog was ready for the "correction", and it only took one little zap for him to fully understand that beeps = stay away. After a couple of days' worth of distractions, he was perfect.

He's now able to run and jump and scramble all over the place, without being tethered to anything. He loves it!

Our fence cost us about $1000 for a 1/2 acre of coverage. It was well worth it, and my neighbor had a coupon for $200 off, so we saved quite a bit off the standard price. If you have less property, the fence costs even less.

Bach is Back!

2009-09-18T17:33:00.002-04:00

Amazon finally got around to shipping my copy of Richard Bach's latest book, "Hypnotizing Maria". I cannot wait to read it. Bach's "Illusions" is one of my favorite books of all time, and his Ferret Chronicles were a wonderful surprise.

He's so dang media-shy, though, so I was quite happy to find this new interview online:Interview with Richard Bach

Patrick Swayze

2009-09-14T21:47:00.003-04:00

Rest in Peace.

Back from vacation!

2009-08-29T15:29:00.004-04:00

Just got back from a great 5-day cruise to Canada aboard the Carnival Triumph. This was my second time doing this itinerary on Carnival (I went last year on the Victory) and we had a wonderful time.

I have tons of laundry to do and lots of work to catch up on, but I'm going to crank out a review of the trip tonight while it's all still fresh in my mind. At some point I'll get photos up, too, but for now, I'll stick with the highlights.

Overall, the trip was great, and I'm looking forward to writing up some helpful info for anyone else who is planning this trip in the near future. Time to put another load of clothes into the dryer and get cracking on that review!

Book review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2009-08-22T20:31:00.005-04:00

Just finished reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. This is now one of my favorite books of all time. It was so good, I couldn't put it down, but I hated for it to end, too.

The novel is told in a series of letters, a clever story-telling device that works beautifully. The plot centers around Juliet, a 32-year-old author who is successful in her career, but less so in her love life. Living in post-World-War II London, Juliet starts up a pen pal relationship with residents of St. Peter's Port in the Channel Islands. The character development in this novel is simply brilliant, and the authors weave in historical information about the war seamlessly. The book is funny, educational, heart-wrenching, joyful and a wonderful read. Add this one to your reading list, post haste!

Next up on my summer reading list: The Jane Austen Book Club.

Book review: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

2009-08-08T08:08:00.004-04:00

This is the first book of David Sedaris' that I've ever read, but it certainly won't be the last. His writing style is witty, engaging, clever, self-deprecating, and hilariously funny.

An excerpt:

For as long as I can remember, my father has saved. He saves money, he saves disfigured sticks that resemble disfigured celebrities, and, most of all, he saves food. Cherry tomatoes, sausage biscuits, the olives plucked from other people's martinis--he hides these things in strange places until they are rotten. And then he eats them.

I used to think of this as standard Greek behavior until I realized that ours was the only car in the church parking lot consistently swarmed by bees.

Sedaris relays stories from his childhood, his drug-addled young adulthood and his years spent living in Paris, skewering his own behavior with a dry humor and stark self-awareness that is rare and oddly endearing.

Another thing that made this book a great summer read is that it's a compilation of essays, so it was something I could pick up and put down without losing my way in the story. It's a fun read.

Tofu Shirataki: Pasta alternative for the carb conscious?

2009-08-03T12:32:00.004-04:00

I've been lowering my carb intake for the past few weeks, and have been having some great results. Low-carb diets work wonders for me, because I'm such a pasta addict. After just 3 weeks, my clothes are looser and the scale is showing a friendlier number...but lord, do I miss pasta!

So, imagine my happiness on discovering a "noodle substitute" this morning at the supermarket: Tofu Shirataki from House Foods. It's "Hungry Girl approved", only 20 calories for an 8oz package, 3g of carbs and 2g of fiber. They look just like fettucine (packed in water), have no cholesterol, no sugar, and are gluten-free. There was a Hungry Girl recipe on the back for Fettucine Alfredo--which I love--so I picked up a package ($1.99 at my grocery store) and decided to give it a shot.

My first red flag was when I read the recipe directions, and came across this: Drain and rinse Tofu Shirataki thoroughly. Parboil for 2-3 minutes (or microwave for 1 min.) to reduce the authentic aroma, then dry very well.

Um...oooookay. Now I'm scared.

Turns out, the "authentic aroma" wasn't that bad: it was a mildly fishy smell, similar to miso soup or the ice at the fish store. Once I rinsed the noodles, the aroma was gone.

I followed the directions and made the sauce (2 Tbsp. cream cheese, 2 tsp. Parmesan cheese, 1 tsp. sour cream, salt & pepper to taste--I used the full-fat versions because Atkins allows for that). From an appearance standpoint, the fettucine looked amazing--just like the real thing.

Then I tasted it.

The sauce was fine, but the texture...ugh. Rubbery, like thin strips of stubborn Jell-O that refuse to yield willingly on the first bite. By the second or third chew, the noodles broke down enough to get them down, but I'd be lying if I said they were even remotely tasty. They didn't taste like anything, really...I had hoped they'd at least pick up the flavor of the sauce, but no...the sauce just sort of sat on top, but never actually penetrated the gelatinous strings. To be fair, the package calls it a "Fettucine shaped noodle substitute" and, if you check out the House Foods website, they do not promise anywhere that the faux noodles are delicious. Because they're not.

Dang.

Try as I might, I couldn't get through the whole bowl. Yes, Tofu Shirataki is low-cal, low carb, and a healthier alternative than pasta.

But I'd rather be fat than eat that again.

Scammers

2009-08-02T21:32:00.003-04:00

I have an email address I never use anymore, but periodically, I log in to clear out all of spam and such. Once in a while, one of the more creative emails catches my eye.

Here's one that had me laughing...I love how you can clearly see that English is not their first language:

Re: Your Compensation
Good day to you.

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this mail
meets you in a perfect condition. I am using this opportunity to thank you for
your great effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into your account due to
one reason or the other best known to you. But I want to inform you that I have
successfully transferred the Cheque out of the company to someone else who was
capable of assisting me in this great venture .

Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you showed at the
course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you
with the sum of $800,000.00 (Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in
respect to your lottery winnings. I have authorized the finance house where i
deposited my money to issue you international certified bank draft cashable at
your bank.

My dear friend i will like you to contact the finance house for the collection
of this international certified bank draft. One of our representative has been
given your cheque to be delivered to you and as faith may have it he his an
AMERICAN who will help you monitor the delivery of your cheque to you simply
because of the ongoing scam all over the world. For clearity, you can ask him to
show to you his identity. Below is his contact details

COMPENSATION AND FINANCE HOUSE
FUND REMITTANCE OFFICER
CONTACT AGENT MR. DONALD HOLEMAN
EMAIL: don.holeman0206@hotmail.com
donhole2020@yahoo.co.jp

At the moment, I am very busy here because of the investment projects which
myself and my new partner are having at hand. To avoid any delay, please provide
the below informations to him.

Your Name...............
Your Address................
Phone Number.................
Present Country................
Nationality..................

Finally, remember that I have forwarded instruction to the finance house on your
behalf to send the bank draft to you as soon as you contact them without delay.

Please i will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the
bottom of my heart.

Best Regards,
Mr Brian Smith

And here's another one...this one is more insidious, though. It makes it sound like someone has done a wire transfer to my bank account.

NOTE: If you get this Wells Fargo phishing email, DON'T click the link. Instead, forward it to: reportphish@wellsfargo.com

Dear Customer,

VALORIE SCHMALTZ made an online funds transfer to your Wells Fargo account and asked us to notify you that it was completed successfully. The details of this transaction are shown below.

Transfer Date and Time: 07/21/09 at 01:45 AM
Transfer Amount: $980.00
Transfer Description:

To view this transaction and your current balance, please sign on at www.wellsfargo.com.

If you have any questions related to this message or the funds transfer, please contact VALORIE SCHMALTZ. Please do not reply to this message.

Sincerely,
Wells Fargo Online Customer Service

Book review: Stern Men by Elizabeth Gilbert

2009-07-26T21:39:00.004-04:00

FINALLY...I just finished the first book in my stack of Summer Reading. It feels like this book took me forever to get through. I had high hopes for Stern Men, because I loved Gilbert's best-selling Eat,Pray,Love. I should have realized--that was a memoir, and this was a novel. Totally different genres, and even though they're by the same author, they were written in completely different styles.

I thought the book was only so-so. The pacing was agonizingly slow, and several of the plot points seemed haphazardly thrown in, almost as an afterthought. The worst of it, though, was how rapidly the book winds down. After 274 pages of angst and drawn-out story, Gilbert rushes through the ending of the book like she's got a plane to catch. The best part of the story--the part where Ruth Thomas finally learns how to assert herself and reach her full potential--is glossed over in an Epilogue. The last 12 pages of the book brought the story to a very happy conclusion, but it wasn't satisfying because it was done too abruptly. I would have rather read an entire novel based on what happens in the Epilogue. It made the experience of reading the rest of the novel seem all the more cumbersome--Stern Men was a big disappointment. Ah well. Can't win 'em all.

On to the next book in the stack: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. It's a book of humorous essays, and I'm looking forward to reading something that I can pick up and put down without having to stay too focused on one story arc.

Movie review: Living Proof

2009-07-24T20:53:00.003-04:00

Just a coincidence, but this is going to be my second post in a row related to Breast Cancer.

I just finished watching a wonderful movie, Living Proof. It originally aired on the Lifetime network in October, 2008 (coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness month).

The movie, starring Harry Connick Jr., is the true story of Dr. Dennis Slamon and his extraordinary efforts to develop and win approval for Herceptin, a revolutionary drug to treat breast cancer. Keep a box of tissues handy for this one...the movie was moving, inspiring, heart-wrenching, and ultimately, filled with hope for the future of breast cancer research. The filmmakers did a great job showing the frustrating bureaucracy that can impede medical research, and the poignant stories that abound as these brave women fight to become part of the clinical studies.

It also gave me a deeper appreciation for the contributions of Lilly Tartikoff, the wife of Brandon Tartikoff who convinced Ron Pearlman (CEO of Revlon) to donate millions of dollars to advance Slamon's research. Revlon's contribution was crucial in getting Herceptin developed, something I hadn't realized before. Makes me want to run out and buy some lipstick right now!

Rent this movie. If you've ever been touched by the scourge that is cancer, particularly breast cancer, parts of it may be difficult to watch, but it was absolutely worth viewing. I also have to applaud Bernadette Peters, Regina King, Swoosie Kurtz, Trudie Styler and Angie Harmon for stealing some key scenes in this movie. They all turned in raw, wonderful performances.

Dance Tribute for Breast Cancer

2009-07-23T12:34:00.003-04:00

I don't normally watch the show "So You Think You Can Dance," but I couldn't escape the buzz surrounding last night's episode. A friend told me about this dance that was choreographed as a tribute to women with breast cancer. The female dancer represents a woman suffering from the disease, and the male dancer represents the strength that helps her get through it. It's incredibly powerful stuff, and yes, I cried when I watched it.

40th Anniversary of Apollo 11

2009-07-20T07:03:00.001-04:00

Today marks 40 years since the day a man first walked on the Moon. My father was one of the Grumman engineers who helped design the Lunar Module. It's too bad my dad isn't here to celebrate this anniversary. I miss hearing his stories about the work he did. One of things I always thought was really cool when I was a kid was that my Dad's name is up there, on the Moon. He and all of the others who worked on the Space Program (he worked on both the Gemini and Apollo projects) signed their names to a scroll that was placed on the Moon when the astronauts landed.

I'm not sure whose idea that was, but I owe them a debt of gratitude. Now, whenever I look up at the Moon in the sky, I smile and think of my Dad.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

2009-07-11T20:49:00.023-04:00

Today, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and take the kids to see the Statue of Liberty. We purchased the tickets last night online (www.statuecruises.com), and set out to Liberty State Park in New Jersey to pick up the ferry. [Note: the NJ ferries do a loop from Liberty State Park to Ellis Island, then to Liberty Island, then back to NJ. The NY ferries start in Battery Park, stop at Liberty Island first, then Ellis Island, and back to NY. You can "island hop" and take any of the ferries back and forth, but once you disembark at one of the origination points, you can't get back on.]

Weather-wise, it was a perfect day. Our ticket reservations were for 11am, but we got there early at around 10am, so we made our way to the security checkpoint to wait for the ferry. For some reason, they found the contents of my handbag fascinating, and the extra time it took to get through security caused us to just miss the 10:30 ferry. Oh well. We were early anyway, so we enjoyed the view of the waterfront while we waited.

The next ferry arrived within 15 minutes, and departed at 11am. We got a seat on the open top deck and had great views. The right side is a bit better than the left, but it really doesn't matter where you sit because once the ferry starts moving, you can simply get up out of your seat and walk over to the rail for a photo-op. On one of the ferry rides, we stayed on the middle level of the ferry, and that worked out great. The kids and I sat on the benches until departure, and then we joined Rich out on the front of the ferry, which afforded us perfect views--it wasn't nearly as crowded as the top deck.

When you leave from the NJ side (Central Railroad of New Jersey terminal, near Liberty State Park) the first stop is Ellis Island. (There's a $7 charge for parking in the main lot at the CRR terminal. There's also 2-hour parking available there for free, but that's not a viable option if you're visiting attractions, because of the timing of the ferries.) Then, the ferry goes on to Liberty Island (where the Statue of Liberty is) and then returns to Port Liberty. We got off the ferry and were told there would another one leaving Ellis Island at Noon, then another at 12:40, and another every 40 minutes after that.

We got there in time to see the 25-minute film about Bela Lugosi's arrival through Ellis Island, but we decided to skip it because the last thing we wanted to do was sit and watch a movie. There were some ranger-guided tours available, but we much prefer to do a self-guided tour and go at our own pace. We took some pictures outside the main building, then went in and checked out the exhibits. There are free maps available at the information desk--no need to wait in line, just go up and grab one.

Some Ellis Island highlights: the Baggage Room display on the main level, with all of the old steamer trunks that people used to transport their possessions when they came through Ellis Island; the Peak Immigration Years exhibit with its information on exactly what kinds of conditions caused so many immigrants to leave their homeland seeking a better life (particularly jarring were the photos of the Russians who survived the pogroms); the Registry room (where my grandparents all came through and were processed when they arrived from Italy); the grandeur of the Dormitory room (stand in the center at either end and you'll hear an echo when you talk), and my favorite, the Treasures from Home exhibit, which featured precious possessions that the immigrants carried with them to their new country. We saw baby shoes, linens, handcrafted plates, musical instruments, and lots of prayer books from all different countries, including Italy, Yugoslavia, Poland, Russia, Germany and Ireland. It begs the question: if you were leaving home, perhaps never to return, what items would you absolutely have to take with you?

Helpful tip: use the restrooms located on the 3rd floor, next to the Bob Hope Library. They don't get as much use as the ones on the first floor, so they were clean and more private. There's also a water fountain right there where you can refill your water bottles.

It was getting close to Noon, but we decided to have lunch on Ellis Island instead of catching the next ferry, and that turned out to be a very wise move. The Cafe on Ellis Island had surprisingly good food--a wide variety of choices, and a kids' menu that had something for everyone. Rich had a Fisherman's platter (fried fish, shrimp & crab cakes with french fries and coleslaw) and I had a Lobster Roll (lobster salad with avocado on a brioche roll, with pickle and kettle chips). My older two girls had chicken fingers and fries, and the youngest had pizza, both choices off the kids' menu. Theirs came with drinks (Goodness Grapeness organic grape juice packs) and I shared a Diet Snapple iced tea with Rich. They also had sodas and water--a big selection of drinks. There was indoor seating adjacent to the cafe, outdoor seating on the upper level (lots of sun up there) and additional seating just down the steps along the waterfront that offered plenty of shade under the trees. That's where we ate, and it was perfect. The cafe on Liberty Island was more crowded, and all of the outdoor seating was full, so we made the right decision eating at Ellis Island.

We treated ourselves to some homemade fudge for dessert (available at the Cafe: buy 4 pieces, get 2 free. Cost: $15.80. Yes, pricey, but the pieces were large, lasted us a long time, and they were worth it. Lots of flavors available, too. We purchased: one plain chocolate, two peanut butter & chocolate, one caramel peanut fudge, one mint chocolate swirl, and one cookies & cream. All delicious!)

The gift shop at Ellis Island is the place to purchase your souvenirs. There's also a gift shop on Liberty Island, but it was awful: it was in a tent with no air conditioning, unbearably hot, and way too crowded. The Ellis Island gift shop was far more pleasant: air-conditioned, had all of the same stuff the Liberty Island shop had, AND it had some unique items relating to the immigrants who came through Ellis Island.

There were the usual gift shop offerings (magnets, ornaments, key chains, mini-Liberty statues, books, t-shirts) but there were also hand-crafted items that were imported from various countries, including Italy, Russia, Ireland and Poland.They also had keepsake pins from these and many other countries, including China, Denmark, Japan, etc. We bought some Christmas ornaments, a t-shirt, and some hand-painted Nesting Dolls made in Russia.

After some shopping, we took the 12:40pm ferry over to Liberty Island. Seeing the Statue of Liberty up close is really a thrill. We didn't purchase tickets to go inside this time, and I was glad, because it was really hot at this point, and the lines to go inside were very long. Instead, we ate some of the fudge while sitting in the shade at the base of the monument, then we walked along the waterfront taking pictures. You have great views of the Manhattan skyline across the water, and the sky was so clear, we were able to see the George Washington bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan bridge, and the Verrazano-Narrows bridge out in the distance. There were lots of sailboats on the water, and other ferries such as the Circle Line and the Staten Island ferry.

We popped into the gift shop and it was like an oven in there, and once I saw that it had the same stuff we'd already seen at Ellis Island, we walked out and headed straight for the ferry back to NJ. The line for the NY ferry was much longer, but once the ferries pull in and the passengers get off, the lines move pretty quickly.[Note: there's a limited selection of Statue of Liberty souvenirs available for purchase on the 2nd level of each ferry, and refreshments for sale such as hot pretzels, chips, and drinks.]

Back at the CRR terminal, we went inside and took a few photos of the old train station. There are also a bunch of brochures there for sights and attractions all across New Jersey, so I grabbed some for future reference. There was also a white teddy bear dressed as the Statue of Liberty that my 9-year-old was eyeing up throughout the day (it was for sale on the ferry, too, but the line for refreshments was long on the trip back) so before we left the CRR, I bought her one. We had a great time, and will definitely do more of these NJ day trips this summer.

Another side of Miley

2009-07-08T17:29:00.005-04:00

One of the most visited pages on my blog is the one where I vent about my unfortunate experience with Miley Cyrus' fan website, MileyWorld. Long story--one that I've since learned is all too common with fans around the world--but I had to duke it out with customer service to get a refund for some unauthorized charges after my daughter signed up. It was incredibly frustrating, but ultimately, I was successful.

Even so, the experience soured me on all things Miley. I'd written her off as yet another spoiled, over-exposed, self-centered child star who is destined to burn out at some point.

But now, I feel it's only fair to share a story with you that has made me see her in a better light.

A few months ago, one of the charitable organizations I work with held a fundraiser for a 6-year-old girl with a very aggressive form of cancer. Although she endured nearly a year of chemo and radiation, it became clear a few weeks ago that her battle could not be won. Her parents brought her home, and did everything they could to make her last days comfortable.

It so happens, this girl adores all things Hannah Montana, and is a huge Miley Cyrus fan. This past Monday, Miley Cyrus called the little girl as a surprise and spoke with her for several minutes. She was filming a movie and took some time out in between scenes to let the little girl know that she was thinking of her. They had a great conversation, and the girl was thrilled.

I got word early this morning that the little girl died today. I'm sure Miley knew the girl was gravely ill, but she had no idea when she called that in less than 48 hours, the girl would be gone. Miley managed to make one of this little girl's last days on Earth something really special. For that, I must give her credit. Well done, Miley.

The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything

2009-07-07T21:27:00.002-04:00

Fans of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams are familiar with "the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe & Everything".

It's 42.

My sister Maria happened to remind me of this today, my 42nd birthday.

I wasn't much phased by this year's milestone, until she mentioned that. Now, suddenly, I'm really looking forward to seeing what the next 12 months will bring.

Michael Jackson: Icon or Pervert?

2009-07-06T16:55:00.003-04:00

There's quite a brouhaha in the news about the YouTube video posted by New York Congressman Peter King, in which he rails against the media for over-hyping the death of Michael Jackson. King says that with all of the men and women dying in Afghanistan and other conflicts, the media should not be spending quite so much time covering the death of a celebrity who--in King's opinion--is a "pervert" and a "pedophile." He downplays Michael Jackson's contribution to the musical industry ("He did some dancing") and implores people to focus on honoring those who, in his estimation, deserve to be honored: soldiers, teachers, doctors, etc.

I do agree that the media coverage has been excessive, and I fully support King's First Amendment right to freedom of speech on this issue. However, given King's anti-gay rights voting record and overall conservatism, I can't help but wonder about his definition of "pervert," and just how far that extends. Yes, there were plenty of accusations of child molestation against Michael Jackson, and a lawsuit that was settled out of court, but he was never convicted of the crime. To refer to him as a "pedophile" so publicly and so soon after his death, without any consideration for his grieving children or his family, is really bad form.

My own opinion? I loved Michael Jackson's music, but he gave me the creeps in his later years. His face was scary and mutiliated from plastic surgery, and his "eternally-young" baby-voice whisper was difficult to reconcile with his incessant crotch-grabbing when he performed. And King is right about one thing: I would absolutely not trust Michael Jackson along in a room with my own children.

Even so....the man is dead, and there are people who want to mourn his loss. It's not up to Pete King to tell people how they should grieve, or for whom. I know there are lots of people who agree with King 100% on this, and are glad that he spoke up. I do agree that the media coverage is over-the-top, but so is King's enthusiastic tear-down of Michael Jackson.

Transferring songs from iPod to iTunes

2009-07-06T09:30:00.003-04:00

It has been almost a week since the hard drive crashed on my Mac, and now I'm in the process of rebuilding my files and getting things adjusted on the new laptop. One of the things that is presenting a challenge is the fact that my iTunes library got wiped out on the old laptop, and Apple doesn't allow you to transfer all of your data from the iPod to the iTunes library. If you're not careful, the empty iTunes library on the new computer will overwrite your iPod and wipe everything out. Not good.

Fortunately, I have a newer iPod (an iTouch) so it didn't automatically sync when I plugged it into the new laptop. I was able to change the option in "Summary" to "Manually manage songs" so that, for the time being, I don't have to worry about losing the stuff on my iPod.

Apple makes it easy to transfer over your iTunes purchases, but because of the restricted format that iTunes used to use for songs, I purchased most of them through Amazon. It also doesn't allow you to transfer over any songs you've burned off of discs that you own. I understand that they're blocking this transfer from iPod to computer because they want to prevent piracy...otherwise, you could take a friend's iPod, hook it up to your computer, and download all of their stuff for free.

Of course, this doesn't help someone like me, who is just trying to do a data recovery due to a hard drive mishap.

Fortunately, there are several third-party programs available for purchase that can solve the problem. There's a list of them here on the Apple support website: Transferring Music from iPod to Computer. I'm going to scroll through them and see which one does what I need it to do, and then give it a try.

They certainly don't make things easy, do they?

UPDATE: I purchased the iPodRip software for $19.95, and it was money well spent. It didn't transfer over my photos and apps, but I had those backed up anyway. It transferred over all of my music, playlists, and movies. Best twenty bucks I ever spent!

Independence

2009-07-04T09:39:00.001-04:00

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

So said our nation's forefathers in the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.

A couple of days ago, my laptop's hard drive suddenly decided to declare its own independence, and crashed while I was in the middle of writing a blog post. Although I had done a partial backup of files back in mid-May, everything else I've done since then--including all of the freelance work I've done for a client I picked up at the end of May, recent photos, Flip videos, not to mention the latest revisions for my novel--gone.

I can try to have a professional data recovery company retrieve the files, but it would be costly--upwards of $500. I don't think it's worth it. I've always believed that "everything happens for a reason", and so when it comes to all of those files that are gone, I suppose it was meant to be so.

Things happen for a reason. We can't control these situations, but we can control how we react to them.

I choose to let go, and to move forward without looking back.

Berry Scones and Homemade Butter

2009-07-01T22:17:00.003-04:00

Last Saturday, we watched Tyler's Ultimate on the Food Network, and once again, chef Tyler Florence made our mouths water with his recipes. One of the things he made in this episode was Berry Scones with Orange Honey Butter, and they looked so good, I knew we had to try them.

The one thing he did during the episode that really intrigued me was when he made butter from scratch in the food processor. Wow--I didn't realize you could do that! All it takes is a quart of heavy cream, whipped until the cream separates into solids (butter) and liquid (buttermilk).

In the recipe, he also adds a pinch of salt, some orange zest and some honey to flavor the butter. We did make the recipe as written, and the scones and orange-honey butter turned out FANTASTIC.

However, the kids also wanted to see if they could make good ole salted butter, so we tried that afterwards. All it took was a quart of heavy cream and about 2 teaspoons of salt. At first, the cream turns into whipped cream, but you have to be patient and wait until it completely breaks down and separates. Tyler said it would take about 4 minutes, but my processor must be a lot less powerful than his, because it took closer to 9 minutes. Once everything separated, we took the butter solids out and drained it on some cheesecloth (the buttermilk in the salted version is icky so we dumped it).

Tomorrow morning, we'll have the scones with the orange-honey butter, and my picky 9-year-old will have a bagel with homemade salted butter. If you're looking for a fun, quick project in the kitchen with kids, making butter is a good one to try.

NOTE: More photos to come...as I was uploading additional photos for this blog post, my laptop's hard drive crashed and died. R.I.P. little MacBook.

Secondhand Lions: A Brief Movie Review

2009-07-01T07:40:00.004-04:00

Ever seen this one?

It's from 2003, and stars Haley Joel Osmet (only slightly more grown up than his "I see dead people" days), Kyra Sedgwick, Michael Caine, and Robert Duvall.

What a gem of a movie this is. It's rated PG and is one of those films that will definitely appeal to a wide audience.

The story is set in the 1960s, and is about a boy with a flighty single mom who just shows up at the Texas homestead of her eccentric old uncles and drops the kid off for the summer. The uncles have led a mysterious life, having disappeared from their community for over 40 years, before returning a few years prior to the start of the story. Rumors swirl that the grumpy men have millions of dollars--obtained through nefarious means, no doubt--stashed away somewhere, and before she leaves, the mother instructs the boy to figure out where the money is so that they can steal some.

Haley Joel Osmet does a great job as Walter, but it is the uncles that steal the movie. Right away, the boy discovers clues that Uncle Hub (Robert Duvall) has led an adventurous life, and as the uncles warm up to the idea of having a young boy in their midst, Uncle Garth (Michael Caine--yes, a Brit playing a Texan) secretly starts to tell young Walter the incredible story of where they were for those 40 years.

The stories are so fantastical, it's unclear whether or not they're even true, but in the course of the movie, the boy learns that there are some things a person needs to believe in, whether they're true or not.

I loved this movie.

CNN anchor drops the big scoop on Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T19:07:00.002-04:00

I cannot believe what I saw on CNN tonight. During their early coverage of Michael Jackson's sudden and untimely death, the CNN anchor had Brian Oxman, Jackson Family Attorney/Spokesman, on the phone, live from LA Medical Center.

During the interview, Oxman dropped a huge bombshell, claiming that Michael Jackson's death was a result of being overmedicated by the people surrounding him. He drew direct comparisons with Anna Nicole Smith's wrongful death, and said that the family would be looking for answers because they believed that the folks medicating Michael needed to be held responsible.

Incredibly, the anchor didn't ask him any probing follow-up questions, preferring to go instead to entertainment reporter AJ Hammer for his take on things.

WHAT?!?!

She missed an incredible journalistic opportunity, and if I were in charge at CNN, she'd be fired right now.

RIP Farrah Fawcett

2009-06-25T13:06:00.000-04:00

Happy Father's Day to Dads of every variety

2009-06-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

For all of you who are Dads to babies of the human and canine* variety, I wish you a very Happy Father's Day today.

I wish my Dad was still here, but since he's not, I'll be spending the day appreciating what a good father my girls have. It's difficult enough choosing a good husband, but the fact that I ended up finding a great Dad for my girls at the same time makes me feel truly blessed.

I also have a great appreciation for my friends who are single moms, and find themselves filling the role of Dad more often than they had ever planned to. This is their day, too.

Happy Father's Day, one and all!

*Yes, Dog Dads do deserve their due. There's really no such thing as a "Cat Dad" because cats rule their humans, not the other way around.

Protesters in Iran

2009-06-21T00:27:00.003-04:00

I'm waiting up into the wee hours because I have to pick up my daughter at 1:15am, and watching the coverage of the protests in Iran. My heart goes out to the people there, bravely speaking out against the tyranny of their rigged elections.

There is blood being spilled on the streets of Iran at this very moment, and the images being broadcast are chilling. Police officers--authority figures who should represent safety and well-being--are shooting innocent bystanders, beating people, knocking down doors and arresting the injured right in their hospital beds.

The violence is upsetting and difficult to watch, yet I am so proud of those who are engaging in this uprising, taking a stand and fighting for what is right. It's an incredible time in Iran's history, and I pray that this does not spill over into a global crisis.

Summer Reading

2009-06-19T16:46:00.014-04:00

My nightstand overfloweth!

Yes, I admit it, I'm a book hound. I can't help myself. Even when I have a pile of books waiting to be read, I still can't resist browsing every bookstore I pass.

The pile on the nightstand next to my bed has now reached the bottom of the lampshade that also resides there, which is the benchmark that tells me it's time to get cracking and start plowing through some of these.

Unless I get totally engrossed in a story--in which case, I finish the book in a day or two--I usually wind up toggling between two different books, depending on my mood. Here are the books I have piled up, in the order that I intend to read them:

Stern Men by Elizabeth Gilbert
This was the novel she wrote before Eat, Pray, Love (which I absolutely adored). The story takes place off the coast of Maine and centers around the long-standing feud between two groups of local lobstermen. The book's heroine, Ruth Thomas, sounds like the type of strong-willed female character that I enjoy reading about, so I have high hopes for this one.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
I've heard so much buzz about this book of humorous essays, but I confess, I've never read any of Sedaris' stuff. I like essay compilations because they're the type of books you can put down for a few days and then pick up again and not be totally lost.

A Year On Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball
This is a novel about three middle-aged women who are best friends, each looking to make a big change in their lives. They decide to buy a fixer-upper mansion in Georgia, and spend a year renovating the place together. I read a review of this book in People magazine and it made me want to go out and buy it. I started reading it a few weeks ago but had trouble getting into it, so I set it aside and plan to give it another chance.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
There's a blurb from Elizabeth Gilbert on the front recommending this novel, but that wasn't quite enough to get me to purchase it when I first saw it in the store. Then, my sister-in-law asked me if I'd read it and said that she enjoyed it very much, so she loaned me her copy. It takes place in 1946 on the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation, so I'm not sure how this one will be, but I'm willing to give it a whirl.

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
I'm a huge Jane Austen fan, and so is my eldest daughter, so we couldn't resist picking this one up. She's going to read it first and then it'll be my turn!

Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation by Cokie Roberts
The only non-fiction book in the bunch, which is unusual for me, because I love reading non-fiction. This one offers insight into the lives of exceptional women from our country's history, including Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, Sacagawea, Elizabeth Seton and Martha Washington. It reminds me of another book I read, First Mothers by Bonnie Angelo, which was a fascinating look at the lives and personalities of the mothers whose sons went on to become the President of the United States.

The Joels Split

2009-06-18T19:44:00.003-04:00

I read this morning that Billy Joel and his wife Katie Lee Joel are separating after 5 years of marriage.

Normally, when I hear about the break-up of a marriage, I always feel a sense of sadness--but not this time.

Billy Joel was 54 when he married a 23-year-old Katie...she was just five years older than Alexa Ray Joel, Billy's daughter.

A few years ago, I saw the Joels appear on Oprah (Katie was showing off her home and promoting her new cookbook), and seeing them together gave me the creeps. Katie is so young and so pretty, and the sight of her with someone 32 years her senior was, in a word, nauseating. To his credit, Billy did appear to be slightly embarrassed as he sat there with this gorgeous fetus by his side. He has been through quite a bit in his 60 years of life, and every bit of it shows on his face.

The end of a marriage is not something to be celebrated, but I can't help but be relieved in this case.