365 Blog Challenge: Post #15
As previously noted, I brilliantly left my cell phone on the Go Fish slot machine at the Borgata in Atlantic City. I am lucky that there are still good people in the world who were willing to get the phone back to me. However, I chose to save $20 by not having my phone overnight-UPSed to me and therefore, I continue without my phone (crackberry) for day #2. It's a little ridiculous really how much my life revolves around this phone. I wake up, I check my phone. I get bored, I check my phone. I'm walking from the subway, I check my phone. Snore. It's been nice to have this little vacation. The only thing I really miss is, well, my phone. But not all of the connectedness that goes with it (e.g. email, facebook, internet access). I really would just like to have the ability to call my husband today while he's at work, or my sister to see if her baby is enjoying peas as much as green beans (Green Bean Machine!). But alas, email is all I have while at home, and when I'm out, I'm back in the stone age (when did cell phones become popular? the late 90s?) I'm left to fend for myself with nothing but my debit card and my book in my bag. I guess I'll just think of this weekend as a purification. I'm cleansing myself from Blackberry toxins and will be fresh and new when I get it back Monday. (No promises after that.)
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
#14 Authors That I Know and Love #1
365 Blog Challenge: #14
Ok, so I use the word "know" loosely in the title of this post, but basically, authors whose work I love, who are interesting, who I have had some form of interaction with. "Authors That I Know and Love" has such a better ring to it.
The first author I'd like to give props to is Dave Cullen, author of the non-fiction book, Columbine, which is an excellent, well-researched, humane look of the school shooting and of the shooters at Columbine High School. Mr. Cullen made my day a few weeks ago when he commented on my 50-Book-Challenge post, thanking me for the kind (and true) words about his book. As many of you know, this blog is not exactly PerezHilton.com. Readership is not in the millions, more like the tens, daily. So how exciting was it that an author that I wrote about took the time to not only read my blog, but comment on it? So that scored him points in my book. Not only did Mr. Cullen read my blog and comment, he also responded to an email I sent him, personally thanking him for taking the time to pay attention to this little old thing.
Since then, I have occasionally been checking out Dave Cullen's blog, and was very interested to see some of his thoughts on the recent Arizona shooting. Having done such extensive work researching the mind set behind Eric Harris and Dylan Kebold, the Columbine shooters, it's fascinating to learn Dave's take on this event. He even made an appearance on MSNBC's Dave Ratigan Show, discussing the mindset of a killer at such events. View the video here:
For his excellent book- Columbine, his friendly attitude, and his interesting insights on the recent tragedy in Arizona, I salute Dave Cullen! Keep up the good work!
Ok, so I use the word "know" loosely in the title of this post, but basically, authors whose work I love, who are interesting, who I have had some form of interaction with. "Authors That I Know and Love" has such a better ring to it.
The first author I'd like to give props to is Dave Cullen, author of the non-fiction book, Columbine, which is an excellent, well-researched, humane look of the school shooting and of the shooters at Columbine High School. Mr. Cullen made my day a few weeks ago when he commented on my 50-Book-Challenge post, thanking me for the kind (and true) words about his book. As many of you know, this blog is not exactly PerezHilton.com. Readership is not in the millions, more like the tens, daily. So how exciting was it that an author that I wrote about took the time to not only read my blog, but comment on it? So that scored him points in my book. Not only did Mr. Cullen read my blog and comment, he also responded to an email I sent him, personally thanking him for taking the time to pay attention to this little old thing.
Since then, I have occasionally been checking out Dave Cullen's blog, and was very interested to see some of his thoughts on the recent Arizona shooting. Having done such extensive work researching the mind set behind Eric Harris and Dylan Kebold, the Columbine shooters, it's fascinating to learn Dave's take on this event. He even made an appearance on MSNBC's Dave Ratigan Show, discussing the mindset of a killer at such events. View the video here:
For his excellent book- Columbine, his friendly attitude, and his interesting insights on the recent tragedy in Arizona, I salute Dave Cullen! Keep up the good work!
#13 Atlantic City baby!
365 Blog Challenge: Post #13
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| "Good Luck" in Hebrew...didn't do us so much good.... |
The Borgata is the casino we chose, and Scott reports it was much less tacky than Caesars, the last casino he went to in Atlantic City. But I was more impressed with the clientele and the staff when disaster struck. (Ok, not so much disaster. But it felt like a disaster to me!) After we left the Borgata, around 2am, and got an hour or so away, I reached into my purse to see if I'd missed any very important emails, texts or calls. (And by very important, I mean any emails, texts or calls because I am a addicted to my "crackberry".) I couldn't locate my phone in my purse or in my jacket so I called my phone from Miriam's blackberry. Strangely, some man with an accent answered it. I was flabbergasted. I asked where he was and if he worked at the casino and he seemed to have a hard time understanding me (drunk? non-English speaking? not sure) but was able to communicate that I left my phone on a slot machine (Gold Fish by chance? That was a good one.) Not able to understand me well, he kindly passed the phone to a sober woman who graciously took the phone to the front desk of the casino. We got home at four, and after getting a few hours of sleep, I woke up to call the Borgata and spoke to three different people (information, security, lost and found), all very kind, and they happened to have my phone! (Yes, that is my blackberry with the red rubber bumper and the picture of the beautiful baby on it (i.e. Dani.) The Borgata is shipping my phone to me UPS and I should receive it by Monday. Now that's luck!!
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| Me and Miriam, gambling it up. |
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| I'm blowing up this picture to show you the ridiculousness of it. On the ATMs at the Borgata were these signs offering help if you think you have a gambling problem. I think by the time you're at the ATM in the casino, it's probably a bit too late....though it's a nice thought (and maybe required by law?) |
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| Scott, Me and Miriam with the winter wonderland fountain behind us. |
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| Miriam with her winnings and "Good Luck" in English. At least someone came out on top! |
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
#12 The Lost Child- A Mother's Story
365 Blog Challenge: Post #12
I recently finished reading The Lost Child- A Mother's Story, a memoir by Julie Myerson. Myerson is an excellent writer. She's written multiple novels and a couple other non-fiction books. However, I wish I'd read one of those instead of this one. The Lost Child is an interwoven story of a child artist, Mary Yelloly, from the 1800s and the authors son, "our boy" as he is referred to in the book. Mary dies of tuberculosis in 1839, just as her life was getting started. The boy, the eldest of Myerson's three children, has just discovered a life of drugs in which he has begun to spiral downward. He wreaks havoc at home, he is moody, uncooperative, and unreasonable. He is destroying the family he grew up with, and eventually, the author and her husband are forced to kick him out.
What bothered me about this book is that I just couldn't find a reason to care about Mary. The author doesn't describe what prompted her interest in her (I had to read in a review that they are from the same area of England), nor why I should give a hoot about Mary in the first. The Mary sections of the book give more information about Myerson's search for the girl than the girl herself. I learned more about the Yelloly family than about Mary's life. The book could have sufficiently revolved around Myerson's trouble at home. Mary's story takes away from the catharsis of the book. I found myself disappointed when another section about the girl was presented.
Despite my dislike for the Mary sections, there is actually one beautiful last scene in the book about Mary, in which Myerson fantasizes about meeting her. This scene, and the memoiresque portions of the book are truly where we see Myerson's gift as a writer. Maybe the lack of information about Mary is supposed to parallel the lack of information Myerson's son is sharing with his family. Maybe searching for the truth about Mary is supposed to match the search for truth in her own family life or the search for her son's motives and the depth of his problems.
Whatever Mrs. Myerson's motives, I agree with her son's perception when she presents him with the manuscript to this story. He actually is fairly gracious in allowing her to divulge information about his life and his mishaps. However, he reports he didn't much care for the parts about Mary. "To be absolutely honest...I wasn't all that interested in the stuff about the Mary Yelloly person....but maybe you have to be pushing fifty and female."
Agreed. The Lost Child was lost on me.
I recently finished reading The Lost Child- A Mother's Story, a memoir by Julie Myerson. Myerson is an excellent writer. She's written multiple novels and a couple other non-fiction books. However, I wish I'd read one of those instead of this one. The Lost Child is an interwoven story of a child artist, Mary Yelloly, from the 1800s and the authors son, "our boy" as he is referred to in the book. Mary dies of tuberculosis in 1839, just as her life was getting started. The boy, the eldest of Myerson's three children, has just discovered a life of drugs in which he has begun to spiral downward. He wreaks havoc at home, he is moody, uncooperative, and unreasonable. He is destroying the family he grew up with, and eventually, the author and her husband are forced to kick him out. What bothered me about this book is that I just couldn't find a reason to care about Mary. The author doesn't describe what prompted her interest in her (I had to read in a review that they are from the same area of England), nor why I should give a hoot about Mary in the first. The Mary sections of the book give more information about Myerson's search for the girl than the girl herself. I learned more about the Yelloly family than about Mary's life. The book could have sufficiently revolved around Myerson's trouble at home. Mary's story takes away from the catharsis of the book. I found myself disappointed when another section about the girl was presented.
Despite my dislike for the Mary sections, there is actually one beautiful last scene in the book about Mary, in which Myerson fantasizes about meeting her. This scene, and the memoiresque portions of the book are truly where we see Myerson's gift as a writer. Maybe the lack of information about Mary is supposed to parallel the lack of information Myerson's son is sharing with his family. Maybe searching for the truth about Mary is supposed to match the search for truth in her own family life or the search for her son's motives and the depth of his problems.
Whatever Mrs. Myerson's motives, I agree with her son's perception when she presents him with the manuscript to this story. He actually is fairly gracious in allowing her to divulge information about his life and his mishaps. However, he reports he didn't much care for the parts about Mary. "To be absolutely honest...I wasn't all that interested in the stuff about the Mary Yelloly person....but maybe you have to be pushing fifty and female."
Agreed. The Lost Child was lost on me.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
#11 Famous Friends and Family #3
365 Blog Challenge: Post #11
Today I'd like to dedicate my blog to our family friend, Erik Link who is a special teams coach for Auburn University's Tigers football team. As many of you know, Auburn won the BCS National Championship game last night, and therefore are national champions. It has been fun to watch Erik's in-laws, (basically my second parents) Jim and Judie Flaherty get worked up about this team, and they were lucky enough to be at the game last night.
Congrats to Erik and the Auburn Tigers on your win! (I personally believe Erik is the sole reason that they made it so far.) And way to go Jill, Erik's wife, for being so supportive of Erik's career which requires a lot of mobility! Proud to know ya!
Today I'd like to dedicate my blog to our family friend, Erik Link who is a special teams coach for Auburn University's Tigers football team. As many of you know, Auburn won the BCS National Championship game last night, and therefore are national champions. It has been fun to watch Erik's in-laws, (basically my second parents) Jim and Judie Flaherty get worked up about this team, and they were lucky enough to be at the game last night.
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| Erik and Jill Link (as stolen from their Christmas card) |
Monday, January 10, 2011
#10 I love my Toots-La-Roo
365 Blog Challenge: Post #10
I am dedicating today's post to my niece, Dani Baker (aka Toots), because she's is the cutest, most ridiculously wonderful baby in all the world and today, she turns 5 months old. She has brought more joy than I ever imagined possible to the lives of her parents, her grandparents and her Auntie Lo and Unkie Scott. Dani just started trying out cereal, and she can now roll from her back to her front, though going back the other way is more difficult. I am sad I don't know when I'll get to see Tooter next, but I hope it's in the near because she's gonna be zooming around on all fours pretty soon, and I want to hold her one more time while she'll let me!. Love you little lady!! Love,
Your Auntie Lo
I am dedicating today's post to my niece, Dani Baker (aka Toots), because she's is the cutest, most ridiculously wonderful baby in all the world and today, she turns 5 months old. She has brought more joy than I ever imagined possible to the lives of her parents, her grandparents and her Auntie Lo and Unkie Scott. Dani just started trying out cereal, and she can now roll from her back to her front, though going back the other way is more difficult. I am sad I don't know when I'll get to see Tooter next, but I hope it's in the near because she's gonna be zooming around on all fours pretty soon, and I want to hold her one more time while she'll let me!. Love you little lady!! Love,
Your Auntie Lo
#9 Two of my best girls
365 Blog Challenge: Post #9
2 of my best NY girls and I went out to dinner last night at Otto, Mario Batali's restaurant (Iron Chef!) near Washington Square Park, and we had things to celebrate. I met these girls in my nursing program and we have since gone different directions in our careers, but remain close. We were celebrating Karen's completion of Columbia's Family Nurse Practitioner program for one, and Karen will continue on into their Doctor of Nursing Practice program later this month. We are proud of her!
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| New FNP Karen & I Our other reason to celebrate? Our darling Julia is pregnant and due June 27th. We know Julia and her husband Dan have been wanting this for some time, so we're happy they're about to get their turn at parenthood. |
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| Pregnant Julia and FNP Karen! |
Here's to good things for my lovelies, Karen and Jules, in the year to come! Love you ladies!
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| Me, Julia and Karen, happy as clams :) |
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