Happy Labor Day

   Be safe, be happy on this gorgeous day.

Remembering the reason for Labor Day. It's more than beach, BBQ, and a day off from work http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm 

I had forgotten it was Labor Day, that's what happens when you have no real no plans for the day. When I remembered I thought, "Oh cool", I will stay comfortable in my bath robe today. Well that lasted until 10a this morning. I find it difficult to be a pajama/bath robe girl. I feel better now that I have real clothes on. I found a couple of invites in my e-mail this morning. :-(  I guess I should have opened my e-mail yesterday afternoon. My fault because everyone assumes that I will see the message since I spend so much online.

August Doldrums and Mind-clutter

    Doldrums. Is that spelled right? This is has felt like a very long month to me. I am not knocking it because once September arrives, daylight saving time really goes out the door.

I have been making teeny-tiny changes here and there all across the board. Who ever said that you will be stress-free when you retire? Maybe no one. While I don't have the same 9 to 5 stress, I have allowed myself to become so busy that I have no real breathing space. What's that Mr. Bloggie? Do I hear you screaming in the background, "What about the AC getaways?"--well they don't count because long ago Jewels explained how  important  getting away for long weekends. I started following her advice years ago and so happy that I did. Nevermind Bloggie, you do not need to know who Jewels is. :-) 

I think stress is not the word I am looking for, it is cluttered. That's it. My life has become cluttered. However, I am on the correcting that even as I type. Of course, it will become cluttered again, because that's who I am.

Remembering Elvis

     August is "Elvis time" because it is the anniversary of his death. I don't think I have ever watched the past tributes, etcs. However, this morning I watched Diane Sawyer interview Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie and found it to be very moving. She looks just like him, I wonder if she knows how much. I found it a difficult to look at her and her sad eyes as she talked about her memories of her dad.

Lisa Marie, said even as a child she knew something was wrong with her daddy, that he was not happy, that she sometimes had to catch him before he stumbled, that she said to him, "Don't die." Oh my, these revelations are almost too personal for an outsider. At one point during the interview, she answered a question, but asked if they move on to another question. Very sad--it is her eyes and mouth that get to you. There is even a saved note, "4 things that I wish", written in her childish hand. The fourth wish is "I wish my mommy and my daddy don't die." Sawyer will continue the interview tomorrow.

Good Morning America's focus remains on Elvis, right now there is a gospel choir paying tribute to Elvis by singing one of his favorite songs. It makes me wonder, when did Elvis Presley become ELVIS? Perhaps he was always ELVIS and I simply did not pay attention.  

Telemarketing Run Amok/Amuck

However you spell it, it means the same--unruly behavior.

There is a reason telemarketers have a bad name, even the legitimate ones. They can be annoying and sooo persistent. I can't believe that they believe that if I annoy the person enough he or she will donate, buy my product, etc.

I get a telephone call from 973-821-4911 just about everyday, sometimes twice a day. When I am working on my laptop, the call does not go through because I use a telemarking block. However, it does show that the call is coming from South Orange, and of course no message can be left because the person does not identify him/herself. When that happens the caller is disconnected (I think)

As always I check telephone numbers before I refuse to pick up the telephone. When the calls started coming in without an ID I checked it online and found that others had been receiving these calls. They seem to be from a teleservice company, Meyers Associates or something like that.  Every once in a while I check the number online again. This time I saw that some folks are getting calls from 201-373-8371. I am sure that it was not funny to the woman who answered their call, but I did laugh out loud.

"201-373-8371 calls all day but no ones there. Finally today they were on the line and when I told them to stop calling. They asked me what size my breast were."

Since I sell a product I should probably be making a few cold calls myself, but there is no way I can do that. First it is not my nature, and second I would not want to lumped in this group.

Saved Messages Gone Bye Bye

  I have just started writing an article about clearing (or cleaning) out your biz mail. As I was typing my laptop froze. There was no way to get going again, so I turned it off, of course, I lost the few lines I had typed. That's not so bad because I was not that far along. Much to my regret I lost all of my CallWave voice mails. I am sick about that. Some I really needed and some I saved for fun.  I am going to try to get help from their customer care folks, but my gut feeling is that there will be no recovery. I have lost my old voicemails. Oh deep sigh!

A Smuggled Monkey and Neglected Seafood Moment

      I just read a story about seafood from China that the FDA was supposed to hold at U.S. ports and apparently did not do so, and another one about a monkey that was smuggled into the U.S aboard not one, but two planes under a guys hat. :-(

 

NEW YORK - A man smuggled a monkey onto an airplane Tuesday, stashing the furry fist-size primate under his hat until passengers spotted it perched on his ponytail, an airline official said.

The monkey escapade began in Lima, Peru, late Monday, when the man boarded a flight to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said Spirit Airlines spokeswoman Alison Russell. After landing Tuesday morning, the man waited several hours before catching a connecting flight to LaGuardia Airport.

During the flight, people around the man noticed that the marmoset, which normally lives in forests and eats fruit and insects, had emerged from underneath his hat, Russell said. "Other passengers asked the man if he knew he had a monkey on him," she said...."  

So why did the monkey under hat story catch my eye? This summer I had to enter the Federal building in Newark and was requested to lift my open-weave straw hat from my head even though I was being escorted into the building by a U.S. federal agent.  I was not happy with this directive because it was a bad hair day for me, but of course, raised my hat as told. I was then allowed to enter the building. I wonder why they would not require the same at airports?  

Story from Associated Press: Seafood from China wasn't screened http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070808/ap_on_he_me/seafood_safety_failures

 

Man smuggles monkey into NYC airport

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070808/ap_on_fe_st/odd_monkey_on_a_plane  

Early Morning Rambling

     So I am on the elevator heading downstairs to get rid of my garbage bag, when a young man gets on and presses the up button. He asks if I will tell "an old guy" standing near a truck that he [young man] is going to get the key to the truck. I say yes, and after making one mistake, see the person I am supposed to give the message--I pass on the message. I know he hears me because he shakes his head in a yes motion. Then he asks me if I own the truck parked next to his. I say no and repeat the message. The old guy says if this is my truck I need to move it because he has a doctor's appointment. Once more I say that it is not my truck and that the guy is returning with a key. The guy continues grumbling, I say have a good day and walk away. While waiting for the elevator to come back upstairs I was hoping to see the kid again to let him know he owes me. :-(

I saw in the Washington Post that the Judge who sued a cleaning establishment because they lost his pants, may loose his appointment as an administrative law judge. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/02/AR2007080200775.html?hpid=topnews I can't say that I am sorry to hear this. I would love ask this man, in the words of Dr. Phil, "What were you thinking?" Perhaps the pants were part of his lucky suit, and he felt the lawsuit was worth the trouble because good things happen when he wears this particular suit.

I am looking out of my open window and it feels a bit humid and dampish. I think we are supposed to get some very high heat and rain today. I dislike heat but am really hopeful that the rain will not come as it did the other night. I love rain, but the thunder and lightening that came with the downpour was scary enough for me to turn off my laptop which is about 2 feet away from the window. In all of the years that I have lived in this apartment, it is the first time that I did not enjoy the great view towards New York. The lightening lit up the sky, the thunder boomed and from my window the rain looked large cellophane sheets flapping in the wind.  I was not afraid but I do have a healthy respect for lightening. Years ago I had just stepped off the bus and opened my umbrella when I felt a small shock from the umbrella handle. I didn't shout or cry out but I did close the umbrella and hurry home. Since that time I have made it my business to buy umbrellas with wooden handles. It's a little thing, but it makes me feel more secure.

Ugly News on Television

    Last night the news stories were so gruesome. Thinking back I don't remember when so much of the news was about murder. These days torture is involved, no more a shooting, etc., that's bad enough. But now the victim is tortured first. I keep thinking, we (Americans) don't do this, but apparently we do. The 10 o'clock news was so miserable that I turned from it and found a station that was showing a re-run, a comedy about the late 70's and 80's. I wonder if life has changed so drastically in the last 30 years or so? I finally turned television and listened to KISS FM instead (smiling). Hearing Stevie Wonder sing his beautiful song "Ribbons in the Sky" put me in a much better mood. 

This morning I looked at one of my writing sites e-mail and found this nice note from a reader:

Hello Good day!

Thank you very much and more power to you!!!!!
God Bless you and your family.... 

It put a smile on my face. A good way to start my day.

   

August Already? Philip Roth

      I am stunned to find that August 1 is just a day away. Wow! As always,  I awoke early this morning, I was surprised to find that it was still dark at 5:00a., I guess that means before we know it, it will become dark at 5:30p. I much prefer DST. I think I read that the powers that be, may be thinking of DST 365 days a year. That would not change nature's cycle, but we would no longer have to "Spring back, Fall ahead".

A couple of weeks ago I read Philip Roth's "The Human Stain". Since Roth generally writes about subjects close to his heart, I do wonder about the protagonist in THS. Of course, I have my own personal thoughts about this character.  I went online to check out Roth information, I did not look for a personal Philip Roth web site, because I knew that he would not have one. I did find this site which is some kind of Philip Roth society  http://orgs.tamu-commerce.edu/rothsoc/ . I discovered Roth when I took "Letting Go" from the Newark library, later I read Goodbye Columbus. These novels were my introduction to the city of Newark. I had heard of the streets, but did not yet know where they were--many are now gone.

The Human Stain's, Coleman Silk lives in East Orange with his family. Silk, a black man, separates from his family when he decides to pass for white to have a better life. Years later, when he visits his mother again in East Orange, she calls him a prisoner. She says, "you are as white as snow and yet you think like a slave." I felt sad and somehow troubled by this. I finally finished watching the film, it took me days to get through it, am not sure why. It is not a movie that I would watch again. There are times when something or a subject is simply too much.  After reading the novel I did pull out my picture of Roth and the members of NJPAC Women's Board. He is standing in the middle of us, I have on my power red jacket. I am looking at the photo again and just noticed that the Newark Museum Price's are in the photo also.  

A Head Hurting Week

      It was an odd week for me. You know times when you just know that something bad will happen, it's a feeling you can't shake. That's how all of last week was.  For some reason the past was everywhere I turned. One thing led to another, and another, and still another. And "BAM!" there it was, headache and heartache in one fell swoop. Last night or this morning I had a disturbing and unsettling dream, it was almost 7a when I finally opened my eyes. I felt so drained; am hoping that was the end of my venture into the past.  

I bought myself a small corner of crumb cake from the supermarket bakery yesterday. I ate a bit last night and thought that I would have the rest this morning, but have already lost the taste for it. I am just not a pastry for breakfast person. Think I'll have a slice of bagel and a veggie burger instead. Everytime I eat a veggie or soy product I think of the young woman who introduced me to them many years ago. I hope Margie is healthy and well, I wonder if she is still working at the UMD.   

Have a Safe and Healthy Independence Day

     If you are like me, you are staying home and watching fireworks on television.  This URL was given to me a couple of years ago. I drag it out on July 4. http://www.fireworkspop.com/liberty.htm

My First Weeks of Summer

       Yep. Summer is here, big time. Yesterday the sun was out in full force. Yikes. Today, we can expect more of the same, except there is a thunder storm expected. I welcome it if it means cooler weather. But it does change my plans of going to sit outside and read later. I love thunder storms but feel about them, the way I always felt about my parents, I loved them dearly, had loads of respect and just a bit of fear of them. For me there was nothing worse when I was a kid than to have someone say, "I am going to tell your mother on you."

I just read an unsettling memoir titled, If I Am Missing or Dead, by Janine Latus. The sub-title is A Sister's Story of Love, Murder and Liberation. Two sisters find themselves in abusive relationships time and time and again. One sister is finally murdered by her lover. Ugly stuff, but could not put it down. I kept saying to myself, I don't get it, "he hits you, you leave." I know that is simplistic thinking but it is hard for me to imagine that I would remain in such a relationship--on the other hand I know of others who have stayed and found some sort of peace. Sadly, I can hold a grudge.

I woke up in the middle of the night sometime last week. Of course, I had left the television on :-( Pollyanna was just coming on Masterpiece Theater. I had seen the movie a long time ago, but never the classic. It was wonderful. The scenery often took your breath away--sometimes it looked like a painting. I am such a sucker for this kind of thing. Pollyanna's dad, now deceased has taught Polly to be forever, almost annoyingly optimistic. When something bad happens to her, she says, "I am glad because..." For instance if Polly's house burned to the ground she would have said something like, "I am glad that the fire happened now instead of after we had painted it." It was a bit much for her Aunt, who under protest, had taken Polly in, but soon she, like everyone else was caught up in Pollyanna's unique way of looking at life. The film opens in dark somber colors, as it progresses the colors become brighter and vibrant. One really sweet scene is after Polly has been struck with a crippling illness; a woman comes to ask about Polly, she is wearing all black, except for a narrow royal blue ribbon tied around her neck. She tells the Aunt to please let Polly know that she has started wearing brighter colors. Oh come on, Mr. Bloggie, you know that's sweet.

Last week Jazz in the Garden at the Newark Museum was wonderful. I love sitting there listening to music, reading my book and people watching. The food is not bad but a bit pricey. I heard a man say "I hope this hamburger is worth $7." I bring my own sandwich and a bottle of water. Last week I did buy those kettle chips, not sure of name. I sit under the big tree because I don't like sitting in the sun. I always, always wear my hat cuz; I won't sit under a tree without it, too afraid of bird poo. Not sure where this comes from, but something must have happened at some point. There is talk of thunderstorms tomorrow, so maybe the jazz will be inside of the Museum. I hope they are still selling Tee shirts; I would love to buy one.

Newark Renewal's?  http://www.localtalknews.com/detail.aspx?id=11

 

Ann Coulter

    I dislike political commentator, Ann Coulter. I find myself surprised by this because generally I do not care about news commentators one way or the other.  I had never paid attention Coulter until I saw and heard her speak on television at the Conservative Political Action Conference. I guess a portion was televised and I caught it live, while I was away in early March of this year.  I was stunned by what she said, or in this case did not say, but alluted to. This is from CNN, "I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, but it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I'm - so, kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards, so I think I'll just conclude here and take your questions," http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/04/coulter.edwards/index.html

Coulter is now defending herself by saying that she did not call John Edwards a faggot. I agree that she did not, but it's all about the twist of words, isn’t?  

Food for Thought - Life Lessons

    This was posted in one of my groups, I liked it so much I wanted to share with my friends.

food for thought

Five lessons to make you think about the way we treat people.


1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of j oke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:3 0 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 60's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached ..

It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Import ant Lesson - Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitres s brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant la id down his burden and tr ied to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

No more Violence Against Women Forum

    I must say that I am offended by the need for forum such as this. But I guess the fact that there will an open dialogue is a positive move forward.

06.25.07 Tishman Auditorium at The New School 66 West 12th Street NYC TimesTalks No More Violence Against the World's Women Millions of girls and women around the globe continue to endure deadly oppression and human rights violations. Every day, they are threatened, beaten, raped, mutilated, enslaved, trafficked and killed with impunity. Hear New York Times foreign correspondent Celia Dugger; Times Op-Ed columnist Bob Herbert; international women's rights spokesperson Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the author of "Infidel"; LaShawn Jefferson, executive director of the women's rights division of Human Rights Watch; and Rachel Mayanja, U.N. special adviser on gender issues and the advancement of women, discuss how such crimes against women's human rights can - and must - end. Buy Tickets

Nothing Like Old Friends

     I just returned from the shore Monday. A long-time friend went with me. There was just the two of us, we had such a wonderful time, it was hard to believe that we had not  this done before. We were 18 and 19 years old or so when we first met. That's a long time ago. If you remember S. Klein's in Newark, you know what I am talking about.

We did nothing but enjoy the sun and the ocean. Oh, and talk, talk, talk. Not excessive chatter, no gossip, no whining, just good girlfriend talk--thank you. We probably learned more about one another than we had ever known. And *still* the bond is there, laughing.    

I had been lamenting to myself about this friend thing and found that reaching back can be an excellent idea. 

My Weight Gain, Someone Else's Fault

      O. K. I am shaking my head on this one. It seems that obesity is on the rise in the US and it is not the overweight person's fault or in the case of a child, the parents fault. It turns out to be the fault of the cereal maker or the fast food places the sell the products, blah, blah, blah.

MMMmm, I wonder if anyone has thought that it may be prudent to refuse the 'extra' that is offered to you for only a few cents more. Or if you accept it, take it home and make another meal rather than eat it on the spot.

The Kellogg's cereal folks are giving their cereals an overhaul and removing some sugar. While it is true that some of the cereals taste like a too sweet dessert, some of the blame has to sit with those who refuse to eat what is considered  proper portions. I know that I am guilty of this. The only thing that saves me is that I don't care for already sweetened cereal. I like corn flakes and Kix (yum!) and I can guarantee that I eat more than the suggested portion every time I have cereal.  Just recently I have started using a smaller bowl and pouring 1% percent milk instead of whole milk. I won't talk about how long it took me to get to this point with the milk. 

When it comes to food many of us have a "more is better" attitude, particularly when it comes to fast food, where even a small drink is fairly large. And why would anyone need a hamburger with more than one patty? or a 1/4 of pound of meat on bread? Come on guys--the weight blame is on us.     

Sometimes the Answer is Right In Front of You

     It's amazing, sometimes you know the answer but have not asked yourself the right question. But that's O.K. I have it now.  I am still getting used to the financial aspects of retirement--I am not complaining, just still getting used to living within the confines of a different budget. Time was, a bill came in and I just paid it without thought to my checking account. It has been a decent morning even though I was unable to reach a few of the people I needed to. It gave me time to ponder and watch Suze Orman. She annoys me, but I think she is a financially savvy woman. I can watch the same show repeated and learn something different each time.

I have another early morning biz thingie in New York this month. I have been careful not to lock myself in tight corners this month--well not too tight anyway. If I can get through this week, I am good to go with the remaining June weeks. Am going to a dance recital tonight. I am so proud of Dee. It will be lovely to see her work. We will celebrate later this evening.

Memorial Day Thoughts

      I am not sure why, but this Memorial Day weekend feels different from past MD's. I can't put my finger on what it is.

I made no plans to get away because I will be away in a couple of weeks. Later today, I will watch a couple of Cagney & Lacy episodes. I just received the CD's this week. Very excited. I watched two episodes and started on a third, when I thought, "My stars, I've been sitting here a long time." I had forgotten that the shows were an hour long. There are 4 discs with 6 shows on each one.

I just removed a mass card from my purse. My friend Sandy has died, she was so ill, she must have prayed for release. I will file her memory away with those of other friends and loved ones I have lost. It is a bit disconcerting--the list is growing. I should be writing but instead I am watching PBS cooking shows, they always take my mind away from troubling thoughts. Later I will make grilled zucchini as a side for my tuna salad. Yum?

While tossing paper this morning I came across a scrape of paper with Childcraft books written on it. It was a reminder to look them up online. I was happy to find information about these books, for the longest time I thought that my memory of them was wrong. My mom bought a set (24??) of these wonderful books when I was a preteen. The covers were bright orange and each volume was amazing. One of my favorites was full of art; I think I looked at the page with Van Gogh's "Starry Night" every day. There was also a picture of a piece of sculpture, a child with dog. I traced it time and again. I am thinking Rodin, but I don't really recall. We had no money so I am sure that my parents paid for the books 'on time' forever. I wish I had thought to tell them how much those books meant to me. I can't be sure how my brother's felt--I made them listen to me read every Aesop(sp?) Fable in one of the books. (smiling)

Gotta leave you Mr. Bloggie because hunky Ming Tsai is showing us how to make a spicy chicken dish. Think I'll make myself some Jello.

After The Rain

    I still can't believe how quickly the rains came. One minute it was sunny and gorgeous, two older women were sitting outside sunning themselves. The next minute the sky had turned so dark it was almost black; minutes after that the rain and wind arrived. If it had not been so strange, it would have been funny to watch the women scoot away quickly. By 3:30 my brightly lit apartment needed the lamps turned on. As much as I love rain, I felt lucky that I had stepped in the house when I did.

The same areas in New York and New Jersey seem to be catching the brunt of rain. This morning the newscaster mentioned Chappaqua(sp?) this morning and I thought, why is that name familiar to me. I don't think I have ever known anyone living there and it is never in the news. Then it hit me, Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn in the movie, The Desk Set. Tracy mentions the town while he and Hepburn having lunch on the roof of her office building. It's odd that I would think of that while looking at the downed trees. I am sure that others who love movies as much as I do will understand that this stuff just stays with you.

Morning Musings

  This morning while watching the news I heard that a man was killed outside of his 'nice' house. The apparent reason was robbery, he was targeted because the outside of his house "was nice and neat", so the young men thought the family had money. It turns out that the man killed worked three jobs to pay his mortgage.

Today first class stamps go up to 41 cents. The forever stamps are the same price. So what's the point of that?  I wonder if when you step to the window and ask for stamps, you will be asked, "Would you like forever stamps?" Probably not. It will be up to the consumer ask for the stamp.

This week end I saw a excellent play titled "The Sea". When the actor's first appeared, my first thought was, "oh jeeze, a Chekhov-type play?" I ended up loving it. This is what Wikipedia says:  The Sea is a play written by the English dramatist Edward Bond in 1973. It is a comedy set in a small village in rural East Anglia in the Edwardian period. The play draws on some of the themes of Shakespeare's The Tempest. The play is set in 1907 in an East Anglian seaside community and begins with a tempestuous storm. A well known and loved member of the community dies at sea, and the play explores the reactions of the villagers and the attempts by two young lovers to break away from the constraints of the hierarchical, and sometimes insane, society.The play was originally produced at the Royal Court Theatre in 1973. It explores the reactions of the villagers and the attempts by two young lovers to break away from the constraints of the hierarchical, and sometimes insane, society.  I know that sounds like misery but it was actually very interesting, the town drunk who lived on the outskirts of the village was also the wisest person in town. (laughing).

I had a pancake lunch before I saw the show-a real treat for me. After the show I stopped by Chez Josephine a few doors down, for a glass of wine. I sat outside and read (always have my book with me).  God bless NYC, they put tables and chairs anywhere, don't they? Jean Claude Baker owner or figure head of the restaurant walked outside and showed something to the couple near by, I thought it was a menu. Then he brought it to me, it turns out that he had just returned from Abyssinian Baptist Church where he had given a eugoloy for Adam Clayton Powell's first wife. The eulogy he showed to us was typed and had a letter from  Sen. Barack Obama attached. For some reason I found his sharing this very personal thing with strangers a bit sad. His reminds of Toddy from the movie "Victor/Victoria". Mama Josephine would be proud. Her son has flamboyance and a certain style. (smiling).  

Here is the, Isabel Washington Powell obit.  in a Martha's Vineyard newspaper. After reading Mrs. Powell's obituary, I thought, who better to give  her memorial eulogy than Josephine Baker's son.

 

Happy Mother's Day

To all moms whether birth mothers or extended family mothers .

 

Thanks to Kids Domain for clip art

 

Busy Times

      I pretty much boxed myself into meetings and commitments this past month. Not particularly smart on my end. Business important and busy is good, but not to excess :-(

Yesterday I was out waiting for the bus to New York by 6:20a in the morning for a 8:00a breakfast event that lasted less than 2 hours. I arrived 'almost' on time, the cabbie thought I said 16th street instead of 60th street, no need to say that caused unhappiness for both of us. Still it worked out fine, I was just a few minutes late and the cabbie and I worked out amicable fee. Heading back to Port Authority was a piece of cake because you can't possibly confuse that with Penn Station (smiling) The breakfast I attended was given by Working Mother magazine; WM honored three mothers in the categories of innovator, icon and inspiration. The WM folks really know how to conduct a breakfast event. They said 8a to 10a. and meant it, we were finished so quickly that I thought there was something wrong with my watch. The event was was held in a lovely room at the Harmonie club. I felt so good upon returning home that I bought a Napoleon to treat myself. Yum! Once I got home and started eating it, I remembered why I had not bought one of these desserts in years, they have to be the world's messiest sweet to eat.  

It's odd that I can make a 8:00 meeting out of state and can't get to a 10:00a meeting that is held literally across the street from me. I am back in NY tomorrow to see a show, but it starts at 2:00p so I have time to do a bit in the house and maybe go to supermarket if I get out early. Speaking of shows I saw Ailey at the PAC last Sunday. I had not attented a performance in a while, and had forgotten how much Ailey moves me. After all of these years, I still cry during Revelations. Amazing. 

Heading out this morning to mail a couple of Watkins catalogs to people I met at the flea market. I did not expect to do well, but was surpised that I did sell some greeting cards that I put together. I was surprised because I figured this particular spot would not bring in greeting card buyers. I must to remember to "never assume."      

And So it Grows

      Last night I happened to watch a repeat of program showing the trials and tribulations of the Rutgers womens basketball team on PBS. I think the program is a couple of years old.  The team has been fighting prejudice and misunderstanding for some time now. Apparently tatoos are problematic to some, headbands seem to be another problem.

To paraphrase Linda Ellerbee's nightly closing, "and so it goes." on her old television program, "and so it grows", seems so right to describe the continuing fall out from Imus' vulgar statement. The New York Times has printed an interesting opinion article in the Op-Ed Contributor section.  It was written by actor and playright Harvey Fierstein (whom I love). Mr. Fierstein mentions Imus and other big names recently in the bright light of bigotry, TV actor Isaiah Washington and consertive commentator Ann Coulter http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/04/coulter.edwards/index.html  are just two, as he talks about "Our Prejudices, Ourselves". Here is the link, I am not sure if eveyone will be able to upload it. It may require a subscription. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/13/opinion/13fierstein.html?em&ex=1176782400&en=93941dbe897b8cde&ei=5087%0A 

Fierstein ends by stating, " I urge you to look around, or better yet, listen around and become aware of the prejudice in everyday life. We are so surrounded by expressions of intolerance that I am in shock and awe that anyone noticed all these recent high-profile instances. Still, I’m gladdened because our no longer being deaf to them may signal their eventual eradication.

The real point is that you cannot harbor malice toward others and then cry foul when someone displays intolerance against you. Prejudice tolerated is intolerance encouraged. Rise up in righteousness when you witness the words and deeds of hate, but only if you are willing to rise up against them all, including your own. Otherwise suffer the slings and arrows of disrespect silently."

I don't think the case against prejudice can be said better than that.

It's a Good Day!

     As I was getting on the elevator, I heard someone approaching so I held it and waited for him. The young man who started talking the minute he stepped inside. He was afraid he was going to be late for 9:00 a.m. class, as I look at my watch I see that he was correct. He told me that he is taking his final exam today, also that he is moving from the building. I asked his major (finance and accounting), he has a 3.9 average. He believes in working one good job, not working two or three to make ends meet, that's not the way. He is moving out of state in July. He was so excited and for good reason--he has won a scholarship to Howard University. Way to go kid! 

I felt so proud of him and for him and told him so. As we neared Jose, the man who bags the garbage he told him also, that he was taking his finals. He left us to discuss his accomplishments and to say to each other how proud we were. I wish I knew his name, or the apartment he lives in--I would leave him a card. But that's O.K. It's a good day.    

Who Do You Think You Are

      I saw this in one of the forums I belong to.  I am not sure if "Who Do You Think You Are" is the correct title. I think it is sooo powerful.

What is the image you have of yourself? Who and what do you think you are? 

If your self-image is in conflict with your goals, the self-image will win out and the goals will fall by the wayside. Yet when your  image of yourself is in agreement with your goals, those goals will be achieved in ways that seem almost effortless.

Who you think you are has a tremendous impact on the person you actually become. And fortunately, you can choose precisely who you think you are.

Others will often try to tell you who you are, but you don't need to pay any attention to them. Instead, decide to see yourself as the person you would most truly like to be.

The way you choose to see yourself exerts a steady and substantial influence on all the other choices you make. And those choices add together to build the reality of your life.

Truly see yourself as the person who can live the life you most sincerely desire to live. Who you think you are is precisely who you will come to be.

-- Ralph Marston

After I read this, I felt that I had to know more about the person who wrote it. What I  found  through me for a loop. I expected to find someone totally different; older, more scholarly in looks, and not so immersed in day-to-day things. (smiling)  I guess this proof that the man knows what he's talking about. He knows who he is--what ever he does makes the whole. See Marston's web site and read his bio.  http://greatday.com/ralph/index.html 

Winter Doldrums in Spring and Other Stuff

      An unproductive week on my part. I did not loose a client, I simply did not gain one. Have been moseying around, instead of writing. I did my laundry and cleaned my fridge, unfortunately there is no food in it. (LOL) I am quite sure that I will be sorry on all levels, doing all of this feeling sorry and wasting time. I will really be sorry about not shopping for groceries today, I really hate doing that on Saturday.

No matter how crummy I am feeling, there is always something or someone who brings sunshine into my day. Yesterday morning, while laundering some things for Spring, never mind that it has disappeared for now, it will return, I like my clothing freshly washed for the new season. We use a cash card for our washing machines. The fix-it guy was fiddling around with the card machine and I said good morning and asked if it was broken, he said no, that someone had put a "Duane Reade" card in the machine. Huh? Why? You do not get money from this machine, not even change. We chatted about the weirdness of folks and before he left, he gave two cards to me "with a little money" on them. One has $4.50 and one has $5.00. What a nice thing to do. Nothing beats the kindness of others.  I am thinking that maybe I made his day by talking to him, instead of acting like he was invisible. (smiling). 

Well, Imus is history. I won't miss him because I did not listen to him. I think firing this man, is like putting a tiny band aid on a huge gaping sore. He did say something stupid. He was very foolish to think that he could say on the air (or anywhere), what he hears black people say everyday, and not be called on it. Still, I do not believe that he was or is the problem, just someone who thought he could get away with anything because he had done so for so long. I know that he has said disrespectful things in the past because I have friends who listened him religiously. My personal feelings about him have not changed, just vindicated.  Now that he is gone, I think it is time for us to clean our own houses. My mother was right when she told us as children and has continued to be right since that long time ago, "Never call people out their name."   I hope that this is a positive step torwards 'everyone' understanding that it is never o.k. to call a woman a whore, no matter how you spell it, no matter how you say it; even when it rhymes. 

I bought a ticket to see Ailey at the PAC in May. Last night I watched a repeat of an Ailey program and again was so moved the watching an old clip of Judith Jamison dancing, "Cry". I can remember the first time I saw her. I had fallen asleep on the living room floor while watching television. I was awakened by music and saw the commercial for Ailey's coming performances. Jamison was dancing and I was mesmerized, I found my pencil and the only thing I could remember was "Alvin Ailey", but I found the information and bought two tickets that same week.  

Hair Dye for What!!??

    Oh my! What next? I am just reading some of my e-mails. There is a discussion in one of my biz groups concerning marketing a new product. Lead catch phrase is, "Is your Betty ready? This is a hair dye for 'down there'.  http://www.bettybeauty.com/ 

From Bling-Bling & Big Cars to Working Mother 2007

     Whew--talk about paths divided. I will be attending Working Mother magazine's 2007 Working Mother of the Year Breakfast on May 10  in New York. Now this sounds more like it. I was also invited by Essence magazine to attend what sounds like a big show um-what-you-got affair in New York at Roseland. I always give these invites careful attention because I am concerned that if I say no I may be removed from "THE LIST". But there was no way I could say yes to the the Essence invite. At first I thought about saying yes to invite and passing it on, then figured it is not worth the trouble. Motown recording artists LLOYD and MYA, industry tastemakers and a car with enough personality, performance and power to forever rock your ride, at Roseland in New York. Wow! Sadly I do no know know who Lloyd and Mya are.  It does sound like a good time though, just not for me.  

The Working Mother breakfast sounds more up my alley. What's that you say Mr. Bloggie? Van you are not a mother. You are wrong, Mr. B. I have no tummy-born children, but I am a mom, several times over.  I have to tell you that I am yawning already; breakfast is at 8a.m. I don't mind waking up or getting up at dawn. I always eat in the wee hours,  but traveling at a early hour??    

Musings, Mutterings and Mind Think

     It was a great send off for my former office manager and good  friend. Ms. Neet did a wonderful of pulling this event together. I wish them nothing the but the best as each one continues their journey on new paths. 

While reading my e-mails I came across this quote, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." Jack London (1876 - 1916).  Jack London, isn't he the one who wrote Call of the Wild? Can't recall. The quote is interesting, I don't ever remember going after inspiration, usually it sort of shakes me awake. I have learned to get up and write it down. I have a lot of blank memos saved, with nothing more than a subject. Sometimes I act on the inspiration or idea and sometimes I wonder what I was thinking (laughing), not because it's dumb idea, but because I decide it's too much work :0(

What a good weekend! The rain did not bother me, it never does. Oh yes, I saw forsythia the other day and was delighted. For me, that is the real sign that Spring has arrived. It's supposed to be rainy most of the week--soon green buds will be peeking and peaking.  I guess it true that April showers bring May flowers.  

The authors in my yahoo writers/fan group are prolific and phenomenal women. They continue to write and excel. Simon and Schuster author of the month, New York Times best seller list. Talk about keeping good company!  http://journals.aol.com/vryanes/RNBC-journal/ 

In Celebration of Spring

     I love Spring. A few more days of this kind of weather and we will be seeing forsythia peeking out at us. Spring brings out extremes in me big time. I become pensive, brooding and a bit lonely. Not sure why, but it has always happened, even when surrounded by friends and family.  I do a lot of soul-searching and tend to look out of the window and daydream instead of work. I put off things that need to be done. At least I have stopped telling myself that I will move my desk away from the window. It is here to stay, this is where it needs to be.  In celebration of Spring, I think I will go to the museum this Sunday, take a sandwich and drink and sit in the garden. It will be a bit chilly so I won't have to talk to people. Yep. I like that idea. Maybe I will buy some bologna, a devil dog (do they still make them?) and a banana to take.  

It is my brother's birthday, I bought the card last week but it is still on my desk. I will call him today and still mail the card. I don't recall if I mentioned that I bought a book titled, Brothers Are Special, while I was browsing  in Border's a week or two ago.  One of the quotes come from Bessie Delaney of Having Our Say.  Ms. Delaney said, "It never made a bit of difference to me that Hubert became an assistant United States attorney, a judge and all that. he was still my little brother." I understand that sentiment so well.

My Visit to The Renault Winery

        Well, I opened the jam I bought at the Renault Winery in Egg Harbor, NJ  last week. Very nice. It has jalepeno peppers in it, oh yum. While everyone else was looking around for wine to buy, I was looking for food. Not sure what that says about me, but this is darn good jam.

The winery was smaller than I expected. But it has been a long time since I visited one, maybe they are all small.  It is probably a much better visit in late spring or summer when the grapes are still on the vine. Nevertheless, it was still very pleasant. Although I really hated the cafe where we had lunch--I asked for a roll for my soup and was given a hot dog roll. Of, course I returned it tout de suite and asked for one of the small rolls shown in the glass case. The clerk explained that they were for "show" only. Hello!!  I then asked for and recieved nice buttery crackers. A hot dog roll??? I do wonder if folks really accept that.

 If I return in the summer, I will pack a nice lunch and sit outside and watch the ducks while I eat.

Ignoring my Deadline and Sutter Wine

      I am staying inside today because I am on a deadline for writing my movie review. I reviewed an old Bogey and Bacall goodie, The Big Sleep.

So anyway, I know that I should be proofing, etc. but instead am thinking of making a huge romaine lettuce salad with some over-priced grape tomatoes I bought by mistake. MMmm, I wonder if romaine lettuce originated in Romania? Will have to check it out. I only buy "Andy Boy" brand these days because they are hugie supporters of the Breast Canter Research Foundation. As usual I am digressing :-)  So I have decided that it is not too early for wine. I have Sutter Home, white zinfadel, my prefered inexpensive wine. I have been drinking the same wine since ?????, I am not telling, but it has been a very long time. I recall a few years back, that a friend said that he had discovered a really good wine; it was Sutter Home. I mentioned that  earlier I thought that Sutter Home was the house brand name of Home Liquours. I think he thought that I was putting him down, when in fact I was simply making a statement of truth. It was not until I went online at the the Sutter Home site and found that these people had been around since 1800's http://www.sutterhome.com/.

I found this wine because a friend had spent some time with family in California and returned home talking about Perrier and Sutter Home Zinfadel, both were very in at that long ago time. However, I think the best wine I have ever tasted was one that my ex-husband and I discovered, while scrounging around in Greenwich Village (I don't have to  tell you how long ago that was either) It was a rose colored South African wine and wonderful. It's so odd, sometimes I think I have the name, then it disappears from my mind. One day I will remember the name and buy it, if the vinyard is still producing.

Speaking of wines--Whine, I don't feel like doing any required reading. Maybe I will order some Chinese food instead of having salad and read a bit instead. Oh, deep sigh!!!

   

I Taking Care of Our Pets

      Here is a shout out concering bad pet food. We have to take care of our kitty cats and doggies cuz they take care of us. If you are not aware of this, take a look.  It was sent from the BellaOnline site owner.

"I know many if not most of us here own cats and dogs, so I wanted to alert
you to a *huge* pet food recall. It turns out both brands of wet food I
feed my own cats are involved. The food has already resulted in deaths and
kidney failure. You can read more on CNN -
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/17/petfood.recall.ap/index.html
If you own pets, or know someone who does, make sure you read more about
this recall!  We're under a foot of snow here in Massachusetts, but we're driving out
tomorrow morning to the pet store to get fresh, untainted food.

Happy St. Patty's Day

     Happy St. Patricks Day!

May your neighbors respect you,
Troubles neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.

Pink Ladies Blog

    I am checking my morning e-mails and see that one of our authors has asked members at RNBC to take a look at the blog group she belongs to. I did and fell in love with Pink Ladies Blog http://pinkladiesblog.com It is girly and womanly at the same time. It is also sharp and witty.

Oh What a Day

      It wasn't so much a day of negative things as it was a day of  "what?" and "why?"  I finally understand what someone means when she says (never heard a man say it) "getting on my last nerve" or "plucking my nerves." Oh what a day this was. My shoulders are knotted up little bunches of grapes. I come home and the water is off. Deep sigh!

O.K. I am taking a deep breath and counting to 10-- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Mmm, no better. 

I think this "What a day" streak started last night when I returned home from a networking meeting. I seldom eat candy, I am not good, I just don't care that much for it. There were Hershey kisses in a bowl last night and I ate three, I guess that wet my appetite for more. So anyway I get home and drink juice, cuz no candy in the house. While I am looking through the goodie bag we all received I spot what looks to be a sweet. It has a gold wrapper, has "The Gold Bar" on the lable ,\and it is from a wellness consultant. I figure as long as it is sweet like a candy bar it will suit me just fine. I had a lard time opening the candy wrapper but finally tore the paper and peaked inside--lo and behold there was a yellow bar of soap.      

Don't Ask Me Why I Like This

  O.K. I am not sure where I saw this, or why I like it so much, but it made me laugh.

"I don't have A.D.D., it's that...

 

Hey, look a squirrel."

 

Passages

     I just read an e-mail that Garden State Woman magazine http://www.gswoman.com/ is holding its annual financial event. In the old days I received a telephone call from the owners' husband asking if I planned to attend, etc. Now those telephone calls are no longer necessary. Attendance is huge. GSW magazine used to be a pulp freebie, it is now a slick magazine with a yearly subscription. The same thing has happened with PathFinders Travel,  http://www.pathfinderstravel.com/a magazine geared to people of color for vacation and business travel. Although, never free, it too has grown tremendously and a really beautiful magazine. I doubt that I could get through to the owners as easily I once did when I called. (LOL) Seeing this kind of thing further convinces me that 'you can make it happen.' No disrespect to Stedman, Oprahs honey, with a book of the same name. A great positive read, by the way. I don't think either have been in business more than ten years. Way to go people!!!

Speaking of passages. I just noticed that Romance Noire Book Club http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancenoirebookclub/ has reached a membership of 255. I remember being thrilled when we reached the 200 mark. RNBC has turned into a romance writer/author haven and I am delighted that the authors are here and think of the group as professional and safe. I have noticed that readers no longer post--I wish they did. I suspect, they just don't feel comfortable addressing a particular author or think they cannot 'talk' to the authors. That is so far from the truth--authors love that. Maybe I will post a short something?? and send to the RNBC community get readers back in the loop. Still thinking about a gatekeeper and moderator to work with me. This is one of the reasons I have to drag my laptop around with me.

Be Encouraged

   Author Lynn Emery is a member of my Romance Noire Book Club at Yahoo! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancenoirebookclub/  She has a new Blog "Be Encouraged" http://www.BeEncouraged.wordpress.com Take a look I think you will enjoy it.

You know I cannot believe that the RNBC group is almost 7 years old.  I am hoping to find someone to help me monitor the posts. In the old days people did not join just to post spam. Folks are very clever they join under one name and once in they change their handle and show their true purpose for being in the group. And then we have the problem of serious porn hidden under the cloak of erotic writing.  It can be very tiring, trying to keep your group free of junk.  But I do love the interaction and reading the posts of the true writers who join to chat with authors and others who are serious about the genre. 

Something's Clicking in My Head

 I think some positive things are going on in my head. I have to stop and write them down.

I did not find the CD I wanted, but I did find the one I obviously needed to hear.  It is a bootleg copy of Donnie McClurkin's CD by the same name.  This is one of the few Christian CD's I have.

I bought this when I was still working full time. I was headed to the supermarket and heard the most amazing music coming from a 'mom and pop' truck parked near the market. I went back to my office and listened to it--awesome. The next day, I returned to buy one for VSK. Sometime after that, she told me that she listened to the CD everyday while driving to work. I wonder if it is o.k. to say McClurkin can sing his hinnie (don't know how to spell that) off.  I am listening to "We Fall Down".  Oh my!!  

The Internet is My Friend

     I don't have television on cuz I am working and need something soothing. I checked my tapes but realized I could not think of what I originally had in mind (don't ask what that means, I guess it means I just forgot what I was looking for). I went ahead and popped in The Nutcracker Suite CD, while it is very nice, it is not exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I could remember is that one of the cuts is from the old "Call for Philip Morris Theme", so that is what I typed in my search. Don't you know I found the information I needed? I just love the internet. Now how did I know about Philip Morris? Well, I remembered the music from??, I have never been sure, I know that I was quite young because that's where mind's eye takes me. Obviously, it made an impact. I learned the proper name of the piece in school, in music appreciation (grinning). This is one of my very favorite, maybe my favorite, classical music. Here is the info I found.  

Theme 1: "On The Trail" from "The Grand Canyon Suite"
     Composer: Ferde Grofé Jr. (ASCAP)

     1978 Publisher: Robbins Music Corp. (ASCAP)
     1997 Publisher: EMI/Robbins Catalog, Inc. (ASCAP)

     Copyright Date: 1933, in book "Who Wrote That Song?"

     Original 78 recordings by Paul Whiteman, and Sy Oliver (1948),
          [according to book "Who Wrote That Song?" by Dick Jacobs]

     New Recordings: numerous semi-classical 78s, LPs, and CDs

NOTE: The Philip Morris Tobacco company used "On The Trail" as a signature piece behind their commercial advertising on radio & TV, along with a midget bellhop (Johnny) who intoned: "Call for Phillip Morrr--rray--is". So the choice of this piece for their dramatic anthology series is a tie-in to the advertising.

You know, I suspect that the word "midget" is now politically incorrect. I have heard the term "little people", personally I would prefer being called midget. Hat's off to the invention of the Internet. 

Had The Best Birthday

     I had a wonderful birthday. Just recently an ill friend told that she felt so loved because she had so many visitors that day. I was feeling the same thing on my birthday. Then I came home to find the most wonderful birthday card from a dear old friend. We have known each other more years than I care to remember.

When I got to the hotel I was met with lots of smiles; the desk folks knew it was my birthday. I was even allowed in my room a little after 1p :-) and  check in time is 4p, now I usually get to go up a little early, but that's a bit much. But, as I told a friend, I do not look gift horses in the mouth. I did not ask why, I just said thank you and headed upstairs. When I opened the door the first thing I saw a large bouquet of flowers with a balloon tied to it. Just lovely. I went downstairs to get a soda and saw that the bar (hhmm hhmm, I mean restaurant) was open and figured a pina colada is much better than a Pepsi. A friend was already there, we talked a couple of hours before I went back upstairs to dress for dinner. It was a good day. Actually, my whole week was nice. My pals understand that I celebrate my BD for a week, I count my birthday as my personal new year. I really think more people should do that.

Sorry :-(

Ohhhh...I have been yelled at for not posting in my journal. Sorry--sometimes pesky ole life stuff gets in my way and does not want to cooperate with me.

 

 

 

My March Horoscope

      I am not sure that I like the sound of, "Like it or not, change is coming this month." (Groan) 

Astro-Forecast: March Horoscope - AOL Horoscopes :

No More Excuses :-(

    Well, I picked up the second arm of my Watkins campaign paperwork today. I no longer have any excuses not to get moving on this. I am already late with the Spring mailing--old catalogs have old prices. Eeek!  I have some really great recipe specialty paper, but can't think of what recipe to give. Whine--whining?? You bet! I am thinking maybe my 7-Up cake recipe, but for some reason, this is not flying.  This has to get out by the second week in March. http://www.watkinsonline.com/ryanes

Oh, procrastination is such a terrible thing.

Sharing Pleasant News

I am sharing photos of the Jazz and Auction that took place at the East Orange Library recently. http://www.soti.com/htm/cityonthemove/index.html  Don't recall if I have done that already. If I have it does not hurt to do it again. (smiling).

When opening my e-mails this morning I found one from a former editor at Bellaonline. She is requesting use of one of my recipes for her new cookbook. Of course I will say yes. If this comes to fruition, it will be so cool.

I picked up my Watkins brochures yesterday--they are so nice, I feel like doing the Snoopy dance. Also, I received a telephone call that the catalogs I sent out did have postage, what a relief; I'm wiping my brow.