So. Is it Hot Enough for You?

      I just had to say that. I don't remember temps ever reaching this high on a daily basis. Although, yesterday I did do a lot a moving around and found the weather quite pleasant. I suspect that will not be the case the rest of the week.   :-(

 

 

Morning Musings

    Mornin' Bloggie. Just having my morning coffee (a treat because I have cut back)  as I am jogging my memory.

It's been a long couple of weeks since I have been here. Not sure why it has taken so long to sit down and talk. Last night I kept waking up thinking about the young Jersey girl who was killed recently. Not sure why this has had such a profound affect on me. We often make such bad and wrong choices. I would put money that she did not tell her parents where she was really going when she and her friend headed out for the evening. Their car was towed because it was parked illegally, it may have been legal when they started--maybe meter time ran out. My guess is that she chose to walk rather than ride in that ambulance and have her parents contacted because she thought that she would 'get into trouble' with them. I am sure that this is staying with me because I am remembering a night when I stayed out. It was so long ago. What was I? 19, 20? I can't recall. Fortunately, I chose to go home the next day and take my licks. But there were none. Just gratitude that I was home. My parents had to endure gossip from neighbors because their 'goody-two-shoes' daughter had done the unthinkable. But the truth was I simply stayed out too late to get a bus home. I do recall being terrified as I caught the bus from Newark to Elizabeth. In the scheme of things it seems like such a short distance, but it never occurred to me to start walking home. Not sure what I was thinking when I walked through the door--I just remember being happy to be home. I started crying the minute I saw my mom and dad. 

I see that Mel Gibson is in "anti-semitic" trouble again. While watching the news this morning the site TMZ was mentioned as the commentator talked about the Gibson's DUI arrest. I checked it out and this is what I found.  http://www.tmz.com/2006/07/28/gibsons-anti-semitic-tirade-alleged-cover-up/  If all of this is true, and he said it while under the influence of alcohol, (alcohol does loosen the tongue) the man has issues. But he is not the only one. Are we more divided than ever before (deep sigh)

Last week I had so much to do that I was almost incapable of doing anything. This is not a good thing. I can't blame anyone except myself. Sometimes you do get what you ask for ;-) I have until August 9 to put things right. I will do that.  I did get a chance to get out for drinks with a friend. We went to a Mexican place close by, it has been years since I was there last. It was as I remembered it. After I returned home, I am thinking bar was on the opposite side of the resturant ??  I won't embarrasse(sp?) myself by asking the young wait staff I saw there if that is true.  I will just enjoy.

Gotta go Bloggie--they are talking about beautiful Tybee Island in Georgia. It was recommended that I take one day to see it and I regret that I did not listen to that advice while I was in Savanah.

A Wonderful Quote

        I recently found this quote and shared it with a dear friend. Now sharing it with my friends here as well. "I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine." - Oliver Goldsmith

I figure the quote must have been waiting for me to find it. I am hoping that the Oliver Goldsmith I found is the one who said the above. http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/wb/Article?id=ar228720&sc=-1 If not I think I will pretend that he did :) He appears to be a person I would have liked.

Cats in Sinks

      I came across this site and had to have it. http://www.catsinsinks.com/  Cat people will love it, Non-cat lover's maybe not so much. I remember a cat who used to do this. No, not mine. They did other things but never sat in the sink. My Sammy thought it was great fun to stop my records from spinning as they played. If I put the lid on the system, he just sat on the top of it. I guess he enjoyed a little Miles too.

Good Meeting Last Night Barbara Kukla Guest Speaker

       Author Barbara Kukla was a guest speaker at the Give 'n Take meeting I attended last night. She is sooo passionate about what she believes and truly loves. People like Barbara rank high with me. Below is information about her and her new book. Way to go :-) 

LOCAL AUTHOR NOMINATED FOR BOOK AWARD
By Fred Simpson

Barbara J. Kukla, a well known and respected author in the Essex County area, has been nominated by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities for its 2005 Book Award. This award is given for the best non-fiction work about New Jersey or by a New Jersey author. Ms. Kukla’s latest book is titled “Defying the Odds: Triumphant Black Women of Newark” , which has received the nomination. The book tells th stories of eight great achievers from New Jersey’s largest city and profiles accomplishments of more than two hundred others. The award presentation will be made at the council’s October luncheon. Barbara is also the author of “Swing City: Nightlife, 1925-1950.” Before her retirement, Barbara was the editor of the “Newark This Week “ section of the Star Ledger. She continues to support the arts in the community and participates in activities geared toward helping the younger generation. Local Talk salutes a local hero, Barbara J. Kukla. ( Barbara can be reached at bjkukla@aol.com)     

I Saw Devil Wears Prada :-)

   When I saw Prada, I was reminded of a boss who used to call me at home on my lunch hour (I lived close by) just about everyday to ask me to stop by a store and bring stuff to her , cookies, pantyhose, etc. I finally stopped answering my phone, I am sure that she knew I was home but what could she do I did not leave because of the annoying telephone "bring me things" calls--I finally left because she used to yell at her husband and it was very embarrasing.

There is an interesting article in AOL's movie news stating Prada movie spotlights nasty boss phenom. I have placed URL in my brand new blog. http://movieswithvannie.blogspot.com/   Be sure to participate in the 'mean boss' poll once you get there.

I do have to work on the links--thanks to a friend, I know what I need to do, but like Scarlett, I will think about it tomorrow.  

A Busy Week Coming Up

I had a pleasant weekend and was glad to see that New Jersey is again open for business.

      I am looking at my calendar and wondering why I put so much into this week. I even have a 8a meeting one day  :-( no one's fault except my own. Getting ready for breakfast, can't believe that I have not have coffee or tea in a forever time. Now that I am thinking of it, maybe I will have a cup of tea this morning.  I am sure that I have done the "you must drink water" penance long enough.

Will be happy when kids go back to school so I can use the library in comfort. I guess I should not complain, I think it's wonderful that so many are there, even if some are just using the computer area. The children's book room looks so peaceful, I am tempted to go in and write, I wonder if I can pretend one of  the kids is my grandchild ;-)

Oh well, crossing my fingers that I can get to everything I have on my list today. 

Start of a Good Weekend

I awakened very early this morning, I know this is not real news :-) and turned television to check if there was further information our State issue. I turned to channel 13, hoping for news and instead was treated to "Quiltmaker's of Gee's Bend." What a moving and inspiring piece about black women in a small town who quilt and have become quite famous for it. They now travel all over the country. I did see Jane Fonda, not sure of her connection with the quilter's or the man put this together. But I do know that this is the kind of thing that she is interested.  The women used to sell these quilts for $5 to $12 ($12 was high-end)  One woman laughed and said that when she was told that she could get $1,500-2,000 she thought the guy was crazy, but figured that she would wait and see. There was one woman who is so obviously afraid to step outside of her circle, she does not participate in traveling. She says that her doctor told she can't be with stranger's and not to travel. She also talks about how terrible her husband was to her. You can hear the pain in her voice, you can see it in her face. We can't always choose our journey or destinations, can we? I heard a gospel song that I had not heard since I was a child. It is titled "Jesus is My Only Friend." I have always disliked that song so much. It sounds like a dirge--much too eerie and depressing for me. My mother was scandalized when I told her that I did not like the song and would not sing it. One of the women said something very interesting, she said "You sing, you forget." It put me in an odd weepy mood and once more I missed my dear friend Wanda. I would have called her first thing this morning and she would have said "This better be good, why are you calling me so early?" Don't worry, she got me too, but her time was late at night (LOL)  This is truly a must see. The quilts are beautiful. One woman made a quilt of all of her deceased husband's clothing so she could wrap it around her when she missed him and became lonely.

I should say up front that these women were "discovered" by a white art historian. I tell you that because I have been given grief because I was so enthusiastic about photographer Brian Lanker's amazing"IDream a World : Portraits of Black Women who Changed America." I went to DC alone to see it and it still moves me when I think of the large portraits, especially the one of Barbara Jordan sitting in her wheelchair. Potent stuff. So, no "Hey girl, what's up with you?" e-mails o.k? Cuz, you have to respect those who see, recognize and act.

Here is link to the site http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/quiltmakers/ 

I ordered the DVD from PBS this a.m. http://www.shoppbs.org/sm-pbs-the-quiltmakers-of-gees-bend-dvd--pi-1954063.html

 Mmm. Now how is this the start of a good weekend? It makes me feel good that these wonderful old women are being recognized for their art. Also today is a friend's birthday, we will have a nice brunch in a pretty place and enjoy.

Morning Musings - Bad Time for Jersey

      So what do you think? My guess is that Corzine will be a one-term governor.  I realize that I am in the minority when I say that I don't care about gambling in the casinos, but I have to tell you that I would not want to walk into a silent one, how spooky is that? The noise is part of the excitement, it lets you know that you are in AC. The daily rain must add another level of disappointment for vactioning visitor's to the Garden State. They can't even walk on the beach or enjoy the rides, etc.  

What a mess we have here in Jersey. It's not just about Atlantic City either, so many government arms are affected by this State shut down. Registered voter's are like women with long memories, they remember things you don't even remember saying. They surely won't forget this fiasco, even if the fault is not 100 percent on the Governor.  Hopefully, he will be forgiven when everyone returns to work. Concerning the 7% sales tax--just pay it.  

I am hopeful that things will be back in order by the weekend.

Luv Those Old Night Clubs

      I just found this amazing link. i started searching for information regarding Barbara Walters dad, Lou Walters (Latin Quarter) and found this delicous link to old nightclubs in New York  http://www.tipsontables.com/ . Never mind that I would not have been able to step foot in them, and it's not because I was too young (laughing), this kind of stuff just knocks me out. Not that I would have been interested in dressing up and heading to Luchow's to eat pigs knuckles.   Happily, I did get a taste of this life in the late 60's to early 80's--you had to love it. I saw and danced to "the Duke" at the Rainbow Room, he kissed me on the check for my birthday, signed an autograph and asked to me about my 'hovering' honey ;-)  I wonder where that autograph is??  

If any of my babies are reading this, I am ordering you to stop guessing how old I am, right this minute.