A Year Outside The Python

Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading

2012-02-29T15:34:00.002-08:00

How could a reader ever seem to run out of books to read? I think that would be an almost impossible feat with all the books that have been written and stored on the shelves of libraries. Whenever I have exhausted a favorite author and her/his books, other authors and books open up to me, either by word of mouth, or reviews, or just by my stumbling upon the books at a bookstore or library.My one

Dance Moms

2012-02-26T08:22:00.004-08:00

Three words that can describe the television series, Dance Moms, are appalling, entertaining, and mouth dropping. I’m not sure what it is about Dance Moms? When the first scene of the series opens, there are shots of the view of downtown Pittsburgh. But in reality, the Abby Lee Dance Studio is located in Penn Hills, a suburb of Pittsburgh.The premise of the show is about the dance studio, the

Random Thoughts

2012-02-23T11:53:00.001-08:00

1. There are no ethics in Journalism.2. Why would anyone want to run for office when their life is an open book, fresh for news scalpels?3. I love this winter because it was so mild.4. There are so many good series on television.5. What is it that makes Jane Austen’s books turn me into a Zombie with a brain full of mush?6. Can’t believe that I sat and watched all six season’s of Dexter,

Pop Tarts

2012-02-21T07:39:00.000-08:00

What is it about Pop Tarts? And I don’t mean the swinging, raunchy girlie Madonna-Wannabee entertainers either. I’m referring to Kellogg’s Pop Tarts, the toaster pastry in a box. Is it the aroma of them heating in that pastry? Or is it the delicious, sweet taste? Or is it all the different flavors and toppings that are available? Or is it just that convenient breakfast treat or on-the- go treat

Who Knew?

2012-02-16T05:49:00.000-08:00

I stayed with my two granddaughters, for a week, while their parents were on a cruise. The three of us did some fun things (which I will blog about at another time). But in between the errands, like, basketball games, school and work schedules, we staked out our spots on the couches and love seats. We watched television, where one show really stood out in my mind, Say Yes to the Wedding Dress,

I Was on Vacation

2012-02-13T14:13:00.000-08:00

While my one son and his wife went on a Caribbean Cruise, I spent eight nights with my two granddaughters. I pretty much decided to view this as a vacation, since I would be staying with them at their house.While on the cruise, my son and daughter-in-law ate some great meals. My granddaughters and I ate a few good meals as well, like Chinese, a steak dinner, pizza, and for a bit of healthy -

A Day Out With My Grandson

2012-02-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

Finally, I got around to doing something special with my oldest grandson. I made a date to take him out. I picked up Matthew, and we headed for Barnes and Noble. One thing that Matthew and I share, besides family and the same last name, is that we are both writers. Matthew is 10-years-old, and he has been writing and illustrating his own books, even before he could read or write. He has quite a

Another Birthday

2012-01-31T17:00:00.000-08:00

For me, birthdays were so much more fun when I was younger. I remember when I was a kid and how much I really anticipated my birthday? The excitement, almost made me wet my pants in the anticipation of that big day. My birthday signified my special day and I felt that everyone should focus on me and plan a great celebration. Maybe my birthday should have been a ticker tape parade with fireworks,

Continuing Work in the Kitchen

2012-01-29T07:45:00.000-08:00

I arrived in the catering kitchen a short time before my daughter. I looked over the list that she had dictated to me…make two garden salads in big bowls. Use greens from bottom shelf. Make cucumber salad. Dressing is labeled.I start off by cleaning the food trap in the dishwasher. Rinse it, replace it, fill dishwasher with hot water. Washing my hands, I pull out the two salad bowls off the shelf

Barnes and Noble

2012-01-23T06:45:00.000-08:00

I still miss Borders. I miss sitting in the café and working on my writing, leafing through a magazine or book. It has been closed for quite awhile. Today, I find myself at the Cranberry’s Barnes and Noble bookstore. I am sitting in the café writing and looking out the window at the light snow that has been falling. I feel comfortable and content. I especially feel at home sitting amongst the

A Wii for Me

2012-01-15T08:20:00.000-08:00

When my son moved out, he took his Wii and Xbox with him. I decided I wanted my own Wii system and games, so that when the grandchildren came over they would have something to play with at my house.I went to Target and bought the Wii System, which came with the Wheel Consol, Remote, Nunchuck, Wii Wheel and Mario Kart game. I bought a 2nd remote and Nunchuk for a second player to join in, along

1 Boob, 2 Boobs, 3 Boobs, and more...

2012-01-10T15:04:00.000-08:00

For Christmas I received a few gift cards to Macy’s Department Store, and decided maybe I would use the cards for a new purse, or shoes, or make up or some cool jewelry. I should have chosen one of those four items. But I didn’t. I wish I had, but instead, I decided to invest in some new bras that fit, and found myself at the lingerie counter in Macy’s.Since I hadn’t been measured for a bra

From Bally's to LA Fitness

2012-01-06T05:24:00.000-08:00

During most of my life, I have been pretty active riding bikes, roller skating, using a skateboard, playing volleyball, softball, basketball, and tennis. After I married, I enrolled in exercise classes, along with running up and down stairs doing the laundry for 11 people, picking up babies and carrying them and chasing after 9 kids.I belonged to the Y for years, and finally, when everyone grew

Working a Wedding

2012-01-02T15:01:00.000-08:00

Recently, I came into my daughter’s catering kitchen to help with some last minute food preparations for the wedding she was catering in the evening. I usually help to do the cutting and prep work, while my daughter and her helper, Julia, helps her with the cooking. Sure, I can make salad dressings and different types of salads, dips, along with cutting up veggies, cheeses and fruits and arrange

Blank Writing Books

2011-12-27T06:59:00.000-08:00

Buying a white covered 8x11-1/2 blank book shouldn’t be that hard. But for me it became my quest of sorts.Before a few of the stores closed in the area where I live, there was a school supply store called Holcombs. Since they carried every imaginable school supply, the store became one that I frequented a lot.That was the store where I found small and large hard covered books. They were white

The Missing Christmas Stockings

2011-12-22T09:15:00.000-08:00

While cleaning out my closets I actually uncovered the ten Christmas stocking that I thought got thrown away a few years ago. The first four, I bought from a quaint shop in some small town in Missouri. The stockings were hand made, and quilted in colors of red and green. The three that I bought for my boys had lollipops on one, a train on the other and a figure of an Amish looking boy. The other

Continuing Work in the Kitchen

2011-12-17T07:22:00.000-08:00

I arrived in the catering kitchen a little before my daughter. I looked over the list that she had dictated to me…make two garden salads in big bowls. Use greens from bottom shelf. Make cucumber salad. Dressing is labeled.I start off by cleaning the food trap in the dishwasher. Rinse it, replace it, fill dishwasher with hot water. Washing my hands, I pull out the two salad bowls off the shelf. I

I Love Pressure Washing

2011-12-13T04:37:00.000-08:00

I live alone now I have to either hire people to help me out, or if it is my kids who are helping me – I usually throw in a dinner to pay them back. Since this will be the first year that one of my kids do not live here or no one has moved back in, I am totally on my own.My friends and family knows that I hate asking for help. Then I feel guilty about asking for help because my kids have their

Paper Clips

2011-12-11T05:28:00.000-08:00

Love them or lose them. I, in face love them and covet paper clips. If you would look inside of my writing bag, or on my desk, or in some of my drawers, you would find quite a few packs of them.I hate the small ones. I hate the boring metal ones. I don’t like the metal ones because they get old and rusty if they are the cheap ones. I prefer the jumbo sized paper clips. I love the metallic neon

Lessons Learned

2011-12-07T03:58:00.000-08:00

After going through all the events surrounding my stolen purse, trying to order new cards, check, keys, and wait for days to receive all of them, now I am able to breathe a little bit easier. Someone asked me if anything good came from this incident. I thought about it and this was what I came up with…1. I learned how to use my key pad, so if I ever lock my keys in the car (and believe me I have

Luxurious Comforter

2011-12-04T17:09:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I was at the mall with my youngest daughter. We were at the bedding department at Macy’s because my daughter was looking for a new comforter set for her bedroom.While walking around and looking at the different displays, my eyes zeroed in on a striking red cover. Actually, my daughter and I saw it at the same time, and we both walked over to it at the same time.It was a luxurious

Stolen Purse

2011-11-30T16:33:00.000-08:00

Last year, my computer was hacked and I had to contact Equifax, cancel credit cards and get a new checking account and change my email address and password. It took time and it was a real pain.This year, the day before Thanksgiving, while helping my daughter prepare the turkey dinners for an abused shelter for women, one of the abused women not only picked up her free dinner for four but stole my

Holy Cannoli!

2011-11-23T12:08:00.000-08:00

Think of the times that you have gone to an Italian restaurant, looked over a menu, spotted a Cannoli and looked at the price, and thought, “Holy Cannoli! That’s one expensive dessert!”Well, let me tell you how much time that goes into making the Cannoli and you will appreciate it and the amount that it costs. I took a class on Cannoli making with my daughter, Kate, at my local Community College.

Rosie the Riveter

2011-11-19T05:23:00.000-08:00

I have decided to become the second Rosie the Riveter. Am I referring to Rosie the Riveter from the war years? Yep, that’s the one. She became an iconoclast for that generation and the other generations to follow. One just has to see a photo of this woman with her red bandana with polka dots, and her right arm up and her hand rolled into a fist and her left hand exposing her biceps to know that

The Killing of Lincoln

2011-11-14T18:57:00.000-08:00

I read The Killing of Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. I loved the book and couldn’t put it down. While reading the book and even after I read it, all I could think was that this is the way history books should be written. This book makes history come alive in an interesting way. If kids would read history books written like this one, they would learn to love history.This is a history

Published on Kindle

2011-11-10T11:53:00.000-08:00

Last Christmas I received a Kindle as a present. I was so excited that I blogged about it. I have always been an avid reader. My father instilled the love of books and reading in me. Growing up, I lived in the city and walked everywhere. The neighborhood library was a few blocks from my house and across the street from my grade school. Every week, I found myself at the library, reading and taking

Goodbye Borders

2011-11-07T14:13:00.000-08:00

It seems like Borders has been closed forever. It seems as if it never even existed, except for the faded name on the building. When I drive by the empty store and parking lot, I am overwhelmed by a deep sense of loss. Borders had been my “home away from home.”Sometimes, I spent three to four days at the store. Sometimes after my morning exercise I would go to Borders for a few hours to write.

An Engagement Moment

2011-11-03T09:21:00.001-07:00

A few days ago, my youngest daughter, Becca, called me up to talk. She had taken four days off for a vacation and was in West Virginia when she called. Three sentence into our conversation, she paused and then said, “Mom, I got engaged.”I was so happy for my baby. She had wanted to get married for a long time and she wants to have babies. I could tell she was as happy as I was at that moment.Then

Jury Duty

2011-11-01T05:55:00.000-07:00

I was up early. My anxiety level was up as well. I was wishing that I just had the day to myself. I could do that but then if I don’t report to jury duty, I could also be arrested. That probably would make for an interesting blog. I got to the court house ten minutes before I was due and spent the next 20 minutes trying to find the right floor and the right room. I rode on an elevator to a dead

St. Paul's Shrine

2011-10-28T05:08:00.000-07:00

I finally accomplished something that I have wanted to do for a very long time. I attended Sunday mass at St. Paul’s Shrine, located on Euclid and East 40th Street in Cleveland, Ohio.A few years ago, I read a book about St. Paul’s Shrine called, Stalking the Divine by Kristin Ohlson. This is a treasure of a book that I have read a number of times. I have given this book as gifts to a few of my

Homecoming Milestone

2011-10-25T10:34:00.000-07:00

My oldest granddaughter, Hannah, just attended her junior high homecoming dance. So, I decided that I wanted to go to her house and watch the preparations for this milestone moment. A milestone moment for a grandmother who can’t believe that my granddaughter is old enough to be in junior high school, and even old enough to go to her fist homecoming dance. Maybe being a grandmother, I have learned

Chef

2011-10-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

I never met Bourdain or Emerilor Mario or Ramsay or White.I have worked with a Chefand she is like those chefs withqualities of fouled temperament, bullying, maniacal tactics. A chef knows what they want. Their kitchen is their realm, theirdomain. They own it. To bein a kitchen with a chef is toserve them. Do your work quickly,quietly, precisely and correctly.Stay out of their way, do your

It Gets Hot in the Kitchen

2011-10-21T05:09:00.000-07:00

Every time I take off over more then one or two days and return to work with my daughter in her catering kitchen, my cooking brain cells seems to have forgotten to accompany me. I guess they are still in their days off mode. When I go into the kitchen and seem to forget everything. The first job for today is to cut up 20 pounds of potatoes and put them in two buckets of water.My next job is to

Defending the Caveman

2011-10-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

Recently I attended a one man comic play, Defending the Caveman at the Cabaret. To say the least, it was very funny. I along with a friend, and the audience of men and women, laughed myself silly during the whole play.I have to admit that the play was like reading the book; Men are from Mars, Women from Venus by John Gary. And yes, for anyone who hasn’t realized it yet – men and women are

Nothing is Easy

2011-10-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

Every time I am asked to babysit, I usually say yes. But there are times when I have other plans and I say no. The other day my one son asked me if I would pick his son up from football practice. Since I had nothing planned, and knew exactly where the field was, I said, “Yes.”I wanted to get to the field early and then it started to pour. I figured they would still have football practice, so I

Electronics and Me

2011-10-11T07:05:00.000-07:00

Let’s face it; I’m a child of the 60s. I love music, flowers and love. I grew up with a radio, record player (later hi fi stereo), a black and white television with the official rabbit ears. Rabbit ears that operated so much better with aluminum foil wrapped around each tip. While my kids were growing up, they moved from a black and white television set (because we were the honest-to-God last

Cell Phones - a Necessary Evil

2011-10-07T04:40:00.000-07:00

I really do know how important cell phones are, even if I don’t use mine. I have one and half of the time I leave it at home. Usually I use it for when I am driving out of state…other than that, I can live without it. But cell phones seem to be every where. I actually think there is an epidemic where the phone seems to have grown out of most people ears. That is my explanation. Cell phones are

Farmers Market at Shaker Square

2011-10-04T06:33:00.000-07:00

I love going to the outdoor Farmer’s Market at Shaker Square, in Cleveland, Ohio, regardless of the time of the year. There is nothing better then walking around outdoors and viewing the fresh, fruits and vegetables. I wasn’t disappointed seeing the brightly green colored zucchini, yellow squash, green beans, peppers, onions, edamame, different types and varieties of tomatoes and mushrooms. Since

Oh My Aching Thumb!

2011-10-01T06:50:00.000-07:00

While working at my daughter’s catering kitchen, I have always admired the professional way she handles a knife and chops and slices meats, fruits, and vegetables. She makes it look so easy. Of course I can slice and chop. Not as fast though. I would love to chop away quickly but I’m always afraid that I am going to look down and see one of my fingers lying in a pool of blood along with whatever

Upcoming Events at Erin's Fine Foods

2011-09-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

Coming soon:Cooking Classes for Adults and Children Limited Space Available!Singles Cooking Class Series $39/class or $150.00 for all 4Dates: October 6, 13, 20 & 27, 6:30-8:30pmDate Night Cooking Class 6:30-8:45October 21, November 4, December 2 Gourmet Cooking from the Pantry $39/class or $150.00 for all 4Dates: November 1, 8, 15, & 29, 6:30-8:30 Thanksgiving 101 Course November 10 9:30-

Weekend with my Granddaughter

2011-09-26T09:22:00.000-07:00

The weekend lightened my dark mood. I was going to pick up my oldest granddaughter from her job and then I would spend the weekend with her at her house. My son and his wife and youngest daughter went camping for the weekend.Friday night, we spent our time watching the cooking network – enjoying the Iron Chef show and the Cupcake show where three pasty chefs try to outdo each other and make it as

Madeleine Cookies and Murphy's Oil Soap

2011-09-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

The 20th Century French novelist, Marcel Proust dedicated a few pages of his book to the memory of a Madeleine cookie after dunking it into his tea. This Proustian experience did a lot for French literature and Proust became one of the most beloved writers of his day. As I pulled out a bucket and filled it with hot water and added Murphy’s Oil Soap, the pleasant sudsy smell evoked a Proustian

Working With My Daughter the Caterer

2011-09-17T12:09:00.000-07:00

For the past few years, I have been working with my daughter in her catering kitchen. I respect her for the hard work and long hours that she puts into her business. I used to work at a greenhouse and I also respected the people who worked there because the work was long and it was physical. When I first began to help my daughter, I helped to decorate her reception area and her tasting area. I

A Treasure in a Purse

2011-09-13T14:40:00.000-07:00

As I continue to clean out my closets, I pull out a basket filled with a number of items. I open one big plastic bag and find two things: a pair of brown slippers, which belonged to my father, and a purse. But it is the purse that makes a surprised “Oh,” escape from my mouth.I stare at my mother’s purse, which is well over 40 years old. It is probably the last purse she bought and owned. After

The Names by Billy Collins

2011-09-11T07:55:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I lay awake in the palm of the night.A soft rain stole in, unhelped by any breeze,And when I saw the silver glaze on the windows,I started with A, with Ackerman, as it happened,Then Baxter and Calabro,Davis and Eberling, names falling into placeAs droplets fell through the dark.Names printed on the ceiling of the night.Names slipping around a watery bend.Twenty-six willows on the banks

Fleece Blanket

2011-09-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I took one of my granddaughters out to buy her the rest of her birthday present. We went to Joann’s Fabrics and spent some time selecting fabric for her tied fleece blanket. She finally selected a solid purple fleece for one side of the blanket. The other fleece had a wild pattern of blues, pinks, purples, and other colors, along with skulls, a guitar, rocket and other figures.We

O'Reilly's Pub

2011-09-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

I am not much of a drinker – ask my friend or relatives. But while I was visiting my friend in Cleveland, I wanted to do something different. I kept saying – “Let’s do something different.” “What do you want to do?” “Let’s get a drink – but at a bar.” “You, you want a drink?” My friend was surprised. “Yes, I want a Mojito and I want to go to a bar,” I added. “Okay,” my friend said, staring

Fifteenth Grandchild

2011-08-30T16:47:00.000-07:00

My 15th grandchild is here. Another little girl who makes it 12 granddaughters and 3 grandsons. My oldest granddaughter is 14. My other grandchildren are in clusters, ranging from ages of 11, 10, 6, 5, 4, 3 to a newborn. To say the least, parties, birthdays and holidays are noisy ones, filled with food, kids and noise. Christmas Eve here is unbelievable. We fill up the Living Room with presents

Women of Courage

2011-08-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

In all of my readings, there are two women authors who stand out. Not just because of the books that they have written but more for their personal lives and their stories, their tragedies, triumphs, and survival. The women are Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Immaculee Ilibagiza. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somalia writer and politician, is the founder of women’s rights organization, the AHA Foundation. Hirsi is a

Moving On...My Own

2011-08-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

Writing has always been my salvo. It has been my salvation and my therapy. But in the last two weeks, it has eluded me. For the past four years my youngest son has been living with me, along with his two children, who spend half the week here. Now I have watched my son move to a new home with his new wife and his children. I felt happiness seeing my son find a wonderful woman and marrying her.

A Door Closed

2011-08-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

There is an old expression that goes something like – “God never closes a door, unless He opens another.” I hope that it is true. With that saying, I have been searching for a writing group for the past six years. I had been in a small writing group when I had attended Chatham College,while I was working toward my Master’s Degree in Nonfiction Writing. Including myself, there were three other

EZ Pass

2011-08-12T05:42:00.000-07:00

I so love my EZ Pass! I love the power of holding up the pass in my hand pressed against my windshield, while driving without stopping. I love seeing the other cars lined up, with the toll card and money waiting in my rear view mirror. For years I drove back and forth from Pennsylvania to Ohio on the Turnpike. Diligently, I would get my toll ticket, look at the charge and get my money out. All I

One Long Year

2011-08-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

It has been a year since the death of my brother. A lot of things have happened during this year. One of my daughters got married, 11 months later, my son got married, another daughter got engaged and my 15th grandchild will arrive any day. I did go back to Chicago three times after my brother’s death. The first time was to go to his funeral. The second time, I visited my niece with my daughter

Alinea

2011-08-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

After reading the book - Life on the Line by Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas, I wanted to see their cookbook. I was at the bookstore, and saw it on one of the shelves. The book was really big and wrapped in cellophane and it was plenty expensive. After going home, I promptly looked up the book on Amazon.com. I looked through some of the pages and then I saw that I could buy it for half the price.

Grant Achatz - Life, on the Line

2011-07-28T13:50:00.000-07:00

Anyone interested in foods, restaurants and chefs will find Life, on the Line, written by Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas, a fascinating book. Achatz is the executive chef of the fine restaurant Alinea, a conceptually radical restaurant located in Oak Park, Illinois. He along with Kokonas are business partners and co founders of Alinea. The book follows the rise of Achatz as a chef, who worked

A Beach Wedding

2011-07-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

My son and his fiancée made all their own plans for a simple beach wedding in Avalon, New Jersey. It took place on the 21st Street Pavilion on the beach. On Wednesday, we picked up a small three tier wedding cake with white frosting and miniature purple lilacs on the top layer and along the sides. It was a work of art.Thursday morning, I drove a few blocks to Avalon’s Municipal Building to pick

Beach Vacation

2011-07-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

Up at 5:30 a.m. Three stops along the way. New way (or one part was new). One wrong turn would lead us into a ghetto area around Rutgers University, a $5.00 toll, and two more additional tolls for a total of $9.00. Some traffic but we made it to our destination, Avalon, New Jersey (The Shore) by 1:00…just in time for check in.The rental is not your typical beach house. But it is a beautiful one.

Michael the Machine

2011-07-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

My son is BIONIC! No, he’s not the Six Million Dollar Man but he is as close to a machine then any of my other children.Growing up, Michael was the mischievous one with the infectious grin. He was the one who at five years of age, during a weekday morning, had a hernia operation. In the afternoon, he rode his big wheel down the driveway, across the street and down the cul-de-sac.He broke his

What the Heck is my Cell Number?

2011-07-06T20:00:00.001-07:00

How hard is it to remove the four digit pin number to unblock your Equifax credit account? Obviously, it is extremely hard. It will take a 45 minute phone call, being forced to listen to a music soundtrack from hell, that makes you want to blow your brains out, and talking to four different people who ask you how to spell your name, even Mary!I went to the Verizon store to buy a cell phone with

Merry Baker

2011-07-06T18:56:00.000-07:00

My Sunday before the bridal shower found me in my kitchen as the “Merry Baker.” I opted to don my apron and my pastry chef’s hat, so to speak. I baked and I baked. It took a long time to get everything that I wanted to make for the shower. I wanted to do something special, not just order desserts and pastries from a bakery shop, which would have been quite easy.Well, to be honest, I did buy a

Black Squirrel - Unofficial Mascot for KSU

2011-07-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

Capistrano has its swallows, Hinckley has its buzzards, and Punxsutawney has its groundhog. Kent State University in Kent, Ohio has its black squirrels. This year, 2011, marks the 50th Anniversary of when the furry critters were first imported to the campus via Canada. Early September, the black squirrels are honored at the annual Black Squirrel Festival, organized by the Kent Student Center

A Sad Day For Pittsburgh

2011-06-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

It is a sad day for Pittsburghers. The Poplawski trial is over except for a sentence of death or life in prison. The jurors will decide that fate. Did it bring closure? I doubt very much that it brought closure to the families of the three police officers that Poplawski killed. The families would probably love nothing more then to see their loved ones walk through their front door this very

Salt of the Earth Restaurant

2011-06-22T16:47:00.000-07:00

I love food. I actually live to eat. Sometimes I even dream about what I will be eating the next day. That is my passion, food and eating. Recently my two daughters and I went to dinner at Salt of the Earth. The head chef, 37 year old, Kevin Sousa was named chef of the year and is on the cover of June’s Pittsburgh magazine.After reading the article, I mentioned my interest and my daughter, who is

Lake Chautauqua

2011-06-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

Chautauqua, New York, is located about 2-1/2 hours from my house in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, down 79S to 90E to I-86. Last year, I spent a weekend with my oldest son, wife, and five children, 8, 4, 3, 2, and 1.My son’s Lake House is about 10 miles from the Chautauqua Institute. The house is within walking distance (about 8 houses) from Lake Chautauqua. There is a little park just before the

Divorce/Annulment

2011-06-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

It has been a few months since my class on annulments in the Catholic Church. I digested the information, which gave me an acute case of indigestion and anger and decided that would be my last class that I would ever attend on the subject of divorce and annulment.Divorce – annulment…what is the difference? Divorce is the civil dissolution of marriage. Annulment just nulls and voids a marriage and

A Taste of Chicago

2011-06-08T18:57:00.000-07:00

Recently, my son, granddaughter, and I drove to Chicago for the long Memorial weekend. Besides participating in a 5K Run and Walk, we took in some of the sights, and of course ate our way through Chicago.When we arrived in Chicago, we found the Field Museum, paid a pricey sum to park, and found out when we got into the Museum, it was only opened for another two hours. The Museum was fantastic!

I Ran - Sort of

2011-06-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

The Doc Aiello Run for Someone has come and gone. I along with six members of my family either ran or walked it. Our family combined with my niece and her husband, her aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, faculty members of Loyola Academy High School, students and graduates. At least 500 people had registered for the Run, which was named in honor of my brother, Jack.Mass was conducted in the field

The "Doc" Aiello Rambler Run for Someone

2011-05-23T06:19:00.000-07:00

In a few days I’ll be driving to Chicago with my son, Michael, and my granddaughter, Mika. We are going to Chicago to participate in The Loyola Academy Doc Aiello Run for Someone. Another son is driving up with his wife and two daughters to participate in the run as well.The 5K will take place on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 at 10 am At Loyola Academy High School in Glenview, Illinois. The race

Air in a Can

2011-05-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

Recently I had to have my computer worked on after a virus embedded itself and wrecked my programs. I was not happy about this to say the least since all my writing is stored on my computer. That would include three manuscripts that were not backed up on my flash drive. But they were saved and restored. I was without my computer for almost six agonizing days. Maybe I’m addicted? Maybe, and maybe

Virus Alert

2011-05-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

Last year my computer was hacked and I wrote about it. It was a pain and an inconvenient mess. I spent hours trying to get into my old email account and with the help of my daughter…we were successful in recovering it. My address book was hijacked and I lost all my email addresses. I opened a new email account. I spent hours on the phone changing my savings and checking account numbers, and

Cooperstown, New York

2011-05-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

Baseball has its own history. I have been to Cooperstown, New York, where the Baseball Hall of Fame is located. There is something magical about Cooperstown. It is a quaint, picturesque village with Victorian homes. It has the beautiful Otesaga Resort Hotel, and Lake Otsego. Walking along Main Street is like setting a child free in a candy store. But if you are a baseball lover, you will find

This ones for you, Mom, Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

Growing up, I favored my father, like most daughters do. I was the apple of his eye. I could do anything and my Dad thought that I was great…a great basketball player and funny writer. My mother…well, she was my mother. We were like the typical daughter and mom; we were oil and water, gasoline and matches. We fought, had disagreements, and through it all, I still favored my father. By the time I

Oglebay Resort

2011-05-01T16:09:00.000-07:00

I spent two days at Ogelbay Resort writing. Before I knew it my trip was over. But during that time, I sat in a comfortable chair looking outside. The window blinds were opened and there was a small porch off of the room, with a beautiful white apple blossom tree on the left, which filled up my vision. Beyond this view were the rolling hills of West Virginia, and trees were everywhere, sporting

Remembering My First Kiss

2011-04-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

When I was in first grade, I loved Brian Murphy. Just looking at him made my heart do a flip-flop. That was it, all I had to do was just look at him. That was enough.But my first real boyfriend was Stephen David. He had soft brown eyes and straight brown hair. He was cute. We liked each other. In 7th and 8th grade we always had boy and girl birthday parties. We would play slow dances on the

Easter Eggs

2011-04-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

This year, I boiled two dozen eggs, so that we could decorate them for Easter. Of course, one fell on the floor, with the yolk leaving a gooey mess, leaving 23 eggs to boil. By the time we got around to decorating them, there were 20 eggs. Someone ate three hard-boiled eggs.Whatever happened to the easy method of coloring eggs? I think that only happens in books, movies or commercials. My

Easter Hats

2011-04-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

My Mom was a hat person. I remember her wearing one on Sundays to mass and every other time that she dressed up and went out. She was a tiny woman, standing 4’11” in her stocking feet. But when she wore her stylish spike heels, she stood, 5’2” with her long brown hair piled on her head. What I remember vividly was the ritual that went along with buying my mother’s hat and my hat for Easter. I

My Big Family Italian Sunday Meal

2011-04-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

I am 100% Italian. My grandparents spoke Italian and so did my father. My mother learned her Italian from my father and his family. But my Dad didn't want his children raised Italian. We were Americans and that was that. Whenever we had to fill out school records - American was checked in the nationality box. Once I remember checking Italian and my father raised the roof. I never made that

Hines Ward and Dancing

2011-04-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

Okay - I'll admit that I have been watching Dancing With The Stars. I usually don't watch too much pop cultural television. But I did watch a few of the Dancing With The Stars shows, the previous years.I have to say, though, I have been watching every episode of this season's Dancing With The Stars. My favorite person that I want to win the whole competition is - Hines Ward. That will shock some

Fallen Heroes Memorial

2011-04-08T12:14:00.000-07:00

Outside St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Bloomfield, there is now a statue of St. Michael the Archangel, patron saint of police officers. The statue was dedicated on April 4, 2011. It was dedicated to the Pittsburgh's three "fallen heroes": Officer Eric Kelly, Officer Stephen Mayhle, and Officer Paul Sciullo. They were the three city of Pittsburgh police officers that were killed on April 4,

A Tribute to the Fallen Heroes of April 4, 2009

2011-04-04T06:07:00.000-07:00

If you believe that good exists, then you have to believe evil exists. On April 4, 2009, evil reared its ugly head in the form of a 22-year-old man, Richard Poplawski, when he killed three police officers and wounded two others. These were the first city of Pittsburgh police officers killed in 18 years. The day began early when the police officers said goodbye to their families. No one ever

O - H - I - O

2011-03-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I remember sitting in the Cleveland Browns football stadium, watching the football team lose another game. They were really, really awful. The one high point would be when the music began and the crowd broke out into "Hang on Sloopy, Sloopy hang on. Come on! Come On!" After a few lines of the song, the people would shout out...O - H - I - O! They would spell out the word OHIO,

Baseball Morsels

2011-03-27T12:56:00.000-07:00

The boys of summer are back at spring training camp. I have a few teams that I root for. Living in Pittsburgh I cheer for the Pirates even through I know they'll finish the season at .500. They have a revolving door for owners, coaches, and decent baseball players. I am amazed that they still have fans. But their stadium, PNC Park is one of the nicest baseball stadiums around the league.

Lincoln Lawyer

2011-03-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

I love to read. when I find an author that I really like, and become hooked on their books...I read every book by that author, non-stop. Years ago, while looking through the mystery section of the book store, I happened on the author, Michael Connelly. After I read his first book, The Black Echo, I devoured everyone that I could fine. Connelly has written 28 books.Now the movie, The Lincoln

More Pets

2011-03-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

After I got married, I knew the first thing that I wanted was a dog. Unfortunately, the man I was married to was allergic to dogs. Goodbye to a St. Bernard and any other dog. So, the next best thing was to get a cat, and we did. In my entire married life there would be nine kids and more cats then I can count, two hidden dogs, three turtles, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, goldfish, exotic fish,

Pets

2011-03-10T13:54:00.001-08:00

Growing up, I always wanted a dog. My dream was to own a St. Bernard. I loved that it was a big dog and it had longhair. I knew that living in Cleveland, Ohio, that if I got lost or stuck out in the snow, my dog would find me and save me. It would also have a keg around it's neck and that would have hot chocolate to warm me. My dog would guide me safely back to my house on 41st Street and Loraine

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2011-03-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

Saturday morning and my grandson gets up early, comes into my bedroom, jumps on my bed and plays his DSI. I am awake, reading a book along to some music coming from his DSI. The song is something like, "Just another story..." while he plays his skateboard game. My granddaughter, too, is awake and making a birthday card for a friend. I assume the birthday party will be a sleepover.I start to think

Even the Lone Ranger had Someone

2011-02-23T14:24:00.000-08:00

I was feeling kind of down. Maye it was my milestone birthday. This was going to be a tough one, but in five years, that birthday is going to be an even harder one.Or maybe it was the workshop that I signed up for, a 13-week course on divorce and separation, every Monday evening. Mondays are turning out to be self-reflective moments that leave me feeling loss and drained.Or maybe it is the dark

Agree to Disagree

2011-02-18T07:19:00.000-08:00

I have a friend and we are as different as night and day. We share some similarities, like our love for our children and grandchildren, food, books, art, and running off for a writer's weekend. We like to eat but not the same things, we love to read but we like different books.Where I baby-sit often, my friend baby-sits daily and loves it. I drive. My friend doesn't. We try to find time to go off

Bless Me Father

2011-02-10T17:36:00.000-08:00

My niece finally responded to my email. I had tried to call her and didn't leave a message on her answering machine. I emailed and waited and to my surprise, I received a response. She assured me that she does read her emails but is lousy in responding. She sounded exactly like her father, my brother. I would email my brother, Jack, and never received a response from him. I knew that he read the

Kindle

2011-02-02T13:19:00.001-08:00

This modern technology is something else. My kids and grandkids are whizzes at it but I am - well, I am one of those dinosaurs, who didn't grow up with it. I can turn a light switch on and off, figure out my microwave, set my clock, work the washer, dryer dishwasher, and stove.Yet, I never knew that modern technology would make me look like a dinosaur. I can handle the basics. When the video was

65...OMG!

2011-01-28T04:31:00.000-08:00

Sixty-five...ugh. That sounds strange to my ears. But that is what I am today.Where did all that time go? I remember when I was young and thinking anyone older then 30 was ancient. I thought all my teachers were old and decrepit. It didn't help that they were religious nuns; their habits and veils covered everything, except for their faces and hands. Besides that I thought they looked old, they

Poodle Skirts

2011-01-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

I was reading one of my friend's Blogs and looking over some of the things that she had written about. One that struck me was about a polka dot dress. I liked her entry and thought about the dress. I never had a polka dot dress but I do remember when I was little that an aunt made me a poodle skirt. The skirt was full with a white poodle dog and a leash on the front. My aunt also made my cousin

Karma

2011-01-19T16:05:00.000-08:00

First it was the "Big Decision" announced in a one-hour circus like atmosphere on ESPN prime time. That would be how LeBron James announced that he wouldn't be playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers and would be taking his game and entourage to play with the Miami Heat in South Beach, FloridaThen it was the owner of the Cavs blasting LeBron about tanking in the playoffs, and leaving the team. Sure,

Goodbye Mangini and 2011

2011-01-12T16:10:00.000-08:00

The football season is mercifully over for the Cleveland Browns, as well as their long, suffering fans. The team finished the 2010 season with a record of 5 wins and 11 losses. Some time during the mid season, the team actually started to win. At one point, they won two games in a row. Like most fans, I thought this would be a turning point. It looked like everyone was on the same page of the

Grandchildren

2011-01-06T12:35:00.000-08:00

I spent last year trying to do a half a year of new adventures with a friend. I succeeded in doing that half the time. Then I wrote about regular old every day happenings with humor or some kind of insight. Or if something struck my emotions - I wrote about it with my own spin. I will continue to write about whatever is important to me.Last year was a long one - all 365 days of it, and I lived

Forgiveness

2010-12-30T14:38:00.000-08:00

During the stress of holidays, or maybe it is the memory of the past, or the absence of those who are no longer present with us today...I needed something to fill the emptiness. I searched for something to read to feed my heart and soul. I would pick up a book and after three or four pages, I would discard it, feeling empty.A few days before Christmas, while I was at the book store, I found a

My Father's Christmas

2010-12-23T11:48:00.000-08:00

My father’s favorite holiday was Christmas. It officially began in our house on December 6—St. Nicholas Day. Upon waking, my brother and I would find two socks hung on the stair rail overlooking our modest living room. The socks usually were Dad’s dress socks, well worn, sometimes with a hole in the toe or heel, and strung up haphazardly with twine. Inside each sock

How We Celebrate Christmas

2010-12-22T12:53:00.000-08:00

Christmas season can be stressful or fun. For me, it is both. It used to be my buying gifts for my nine kids, doing the shopping and wrapping, preparing the Christmas Eve meal and Christmas Day meal. With nine children and not living by our extended families, we never got invited to spend the holidays with anyone else. That is the downside of a very large family. Oh wait...I did have one friend

Family Cookie Exchange

2010-12-15T12:05:00.000-08:00

Something that I always wanted to have was a family cookie exchange. I wanted to bake cookies with my daughters, then daughters-in-law, and eventually my grandchildren. So when my middle daughter suggested a family cookie exchange, I was excited.This was the beginning of our families' annual cookie exchange. We sent out email invitations. Each person was to bake their own cookies and give one

Chuck E. Cheese

2010-12-03T13:09:00.000-08:00

Chuck E. Cheese - a name that would strike terror in my heart when I was a mother, and now as a grandmother. Every time my grandson would ask me to take him to Chuck E. Cheese, I would say, "No." I came up with every excuse that I could think of. Then one day, I actually said, "Yes," to my grandson, Tyler's delight.That was the day I packed up my writing bag and took Tyler to Chuck E. Cheese. We