Follow My Bliss

Let's Rendezvous

2012-02-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Meet me where the sky touches the sea, wait for me where the world begins." -Sid Malone

Happy 28th Birthday Aria !!

2012-02-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2011

Hope you have a wonderful birthday today! I will miss being with you to celebrate your 28th year. Just think next year you and I will be the same age!

Here's your big virtual Birthday Party...lots of room for all the family and friends to celebrate YOU! Close your eyes and picture everyone at your birthday table.

then,

Blessed be the mind that dreamed the day
The blueprint of your life
Would begin to glow on earth,
Illuminating all the faces and voices
That would arrive to invite
Your soul to growth.

Blessed be those who have loved you
Into becoming who you were meant to be,
Blessed be those who have crossed your life
With dark gifts of hurt and loss
That have helped to school your mind
In the art of disappointment.

On this echoing-day of your birth,
May you open the gift of solitude
In order to receive your soul
Enter the generosity of silence
To hear your hidden heart;
Know the serenity of stillness
To enfolded anew
By the miracle of your being.

For Your Birthday by John Donohue

Happy 28th Birthday Aria!

May the year ahead hold many gifts of joy and happiness.

Big hugs to my girlie on her birthday!

I love you so!

Love, Mom

The Components of a Date

2012-02-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

"There are three possible parts to a date, of which at least two must be offered: entertainment, food, and affection.

It is customary to begin a series of dates with a great deal of entertainment,

a moderate amount of food,

and the merest suggestion of affection.

As the amount of affection increases, the entertainment can be reduced proportionately.

When the affection IS the entertainment,

we no longer call it dating.

Under no circumstances can the food be omitted."

— Judith Martin

Just As You Are

2012-02-07T00:01:00.001-08:00

Image via pininterest

"No, I mean I like you very much. Just as you are."

-Bridget Jones Diary

In Due Time

2012-02-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” -Rainer Maria Rilke

A Random Letter of Affection

2012-02-05T00:01:00.001-08:00

Finding the Wealth Around You

2012-02-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

"There are many things to see, unwrapped gifts and free surprises. The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside by a generous hand. But- and this is the point- who gets excited by a mere penny? If you follow one arrow, if you crouch motionless on a bank to watch a tremulous ripple thrill on the water and are rewarded by the sight of a muskrat paddling from its den, will you count that sight a chip of copper only, and go on your rueful way? It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted in pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. What you see is what you get."

Annie Dillard-Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

Slow Bowl 2012 Kick-Off Dinner

2012-02-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

Time for my Slowtravel friends to arrive for our annual "SlowBowl/Super Bowl" weekend. Kicked off the events with a dinner at Top Chef's own Fabio Viviani's restaurant in North Hollywood, "Firenze Osteria" last night.
http://firenzeosteria.com/firenzeOsteria.html

Me with my great slowtravel friend "Deborah" from St. Louis, Missouri

Slowtravel friends Marcia and David from Pasadena

Here' s Chris and Jen from Missouri

Firenze Osteria has a great list of inventive Martinis. This one was my choice, Rasberry Lemon Drop...mmmm

Here are two great chefs in their own right: Slowtraveler Jerry from Canada and Palma from Palm desert

It was so much fun to see old travel friends and to know we have the weekend to celebrate together. We will be going north to the Santa Barbara/Santa Maria area and joining about 50 more friends for a weekend of fun, food and wine adventures. Hitting the road soon. More blogposts on this weekend coming your way.

Brad and Palma from Palm Desert

Jen gave us all good news that Chris will be starting his new role as a Policeman to serve and protect the citizens of their town in Missouri. Congrats Chris. We're all so proud of you.

Kim and Chris arrived today from New Jersey. Kim is ready to hit the road for the drive up the coast. See ya'all in Los Alamos, California in the morning. Ciao everyone. Can't wait to see all the Slowtraveler's for this years "Slowbowl" festivities.

Self-Discovery

2012-02-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

“Part of the blessing and challenge of being human is

that we must discover our own true nature.”
— Mark Nepo

A Month of Love

2012-02-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

True love is so precious that it is said,

"If you find true love, make sure you learn to keep it."

In the spirit of this month that celebrates Valentine's day I will try to post some things about true love, unrequited love and things associated with the ways we love during the coming days.

Happy February everyone!

Happy 3rd Birthday Rex!

2012-02-01T00:01:00.006-08:00

A free slideshow by Smilebox

More About Those Ruffles

2012-01-31T00:01:00.000-08:00

“R R R Ruffles Have Ridges!”
I have always had a fondness for "Ruffles" and I'm not talkin' potato chips!

Blue Badgley Mischka to die for Ruffled shoes via http://www.kellyoshiroevents.com/blog/2012/01/17/shoesday-165/

"Tea-stained laces, Victorian accents, ruffles and textured fabrics like Swiss dot and crochet
reinforce this sense of vintage feminity." -Marla Shavin

I love ruffles, flounces, layers of organzas, netting and lace. It's a happy, flirty, feminine look which i've always liked.

Filling In The Spaces

2012-01-30T00:01:00.000-08:00

"There is no such thing as an empty space or an empty time."

John Cage

Choosing Wisely

2012-01-29T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Life is change.

Growth is optional.

Choose wisely."- Karen Kaiser

Time

2012-01-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Time stands still best in moments that look like ordinary life."

-Brian Andreas

My Daughter -"That Roving California Girl"

2012-01-27T00:01:00.001-08:00

Athena two days before Christmas 2011 surfing Byron Bay, Australia.

"It's always summer somewhere."
-Lily Pulitzer

Athena surfs "Trestles" in Southern California summers past.

You can take the girl out of California but you can't take California out of the girl.

"The West coast has the sunshine

And the girls all get so tanned

I dig a French bikini on Hawaii island

I'm lost by a palm tree in the sand

I been all around this great big world

And I've seen all kinds of girls

Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back in the states

Back to the cutest girls in the world

I wish they all could be California

I wish they all could be California girls."

The Beach Boys

Las Vegas Getaway January 2012

2012-01-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

This week Mike had a business trip just outside of Las Vegas. I was able to tag along with him and though he stayed in a hotel nearer to his job I was able to stay with Mike's brother and his wife who live in a lovely hillside community on the outskirts of the city.

Here's Mike's younger brother Tony with Mike.

During the day I have lots of opportunities to have fun with my sister in law Linda (she's in the middle next to her friend Debbie in the pink sweater).

Monday January 23rd was the Chinese New Year celebration. Lots of venues had special celebrations planned. The Bellagio Hotel was our first stop. Their lobby is always filled with

luxurious visual treats.

I love this glass blown rainbow of blossoms on the ceiling of the Bellagio lobby.

This beautiful glittering horse was at the entrance of the atrium which is always filled with flowers and a themed seasonal display.

"Gung Hay Fat Choy!" means Happy New Year in Chinese. This year according to the chinese calendar it is the year of the Dragon.

Red lanterns hang from the atrium ceiling. The festivities are in full swing throughout the city.

At the nearby Venetian Hotel a Chinese parade is about to begin...

The ceilings are rich with paintings that take your breath away.

The parade begins with a burst of firecrackers outside the hotel and then a long dance of the dragon begins as he winds his way through the corridor of the hotel and then through the casino.

Colorful decorations surround us and everyone is taking pictures.

Fun to stroll by the canals in the hotel and to listen to the gondoliere sing. We are able to window shop, people watch and eat great gelato.

Look who I found behind this golden centerpiece...

A wonderful accordianist who seranaded all of us.

In the evening when the work day is over Tony arrives home and a nice surprise for us is that Mike arrives too. We can all spend some hours together and catch up on how our days have gone.

Mmmm lots of good food to enjoy.

Eggplant caprese

a yummy pizza margherita

Once we're home it's time for dessert!

Yay for chocolate cake!

One day I saw a series of these little cars on the road. They were all different colors and looked so cute. Linda told me tourists can rent the cars and drive up to Red Rock Canyon an area in the hills near Las Vegas.

I think that looks like a lot of fun.

Except for one day of drizzle we have had beautiful sunrises like this one when we awaken. What a nice little trip this has been. Wonderful to celebrate a new year with our family in Las Vegas.

A Cup of Kindness Coming Up

2012-01-25T00:01:00.001-08:00

"Kind words are such a blessing, if one but knew the pleasure they bring."-John McLeod

Just Being

2012-01-24T00:01:00.001-08:00

"I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun."

Missed Opportunities

2012-01-23T00:01:00.001-08:00

"Don't be afraid of missing opportunities. Behind every failure is an opportunity somebody wishes they had missed." -Lily Tomlin

Here Is The Key

2012-01-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

"To know you have enough is to be rich"

Lao-Tzu

Uh Ohhhh!

2012-01-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time.

I think I’ve forgotten this before." -Steven Wright

And then, and then, and then...

2012-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Flowers lead to books,

which lead to thinking,

and not thinking,

and then more flowers,

and music,

music.

Then many more flowers,

and many more books."

---Maira Kalman

Feeling Out of Sorts?

2012-01-19T00:01:00.001-08:00

Just remember this:

*Light a candle, make a wish...feel better.

Stressed spelled backwards is DESSERTS!

An Inheritance

2012-01-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

Love by Claire Wise

“.... believe in a love that is being stored up for you like an inheritance, and have faith that in this love there is a strength and a blessing so large that you can travel as far as you wish without having to step outside it.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

Want To Feel Like A Kid In a Candy Store?

2012-01-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

Then get yourself to b.a. Sweetie ,the largest candy store in the U.S.A. ! *
That's exactly what we did during our winter vacation in Cleveland, Ohio.

It was a cold and snowy day when we set out for b.a. Sweetie. The vision of sugarplums, lollipops were dancing in our heads. Not even the giant snowflakes falling outside could hinder our quest for our candy adventure.

Entering the candy warehouse is pretty amazing. They have every candy you can imagine.

You can buy it by the pound, or by the bag or individually.

You will see some very funny packaging...

and some collectible candies as well.

We gathered some of our old favorites.

Charms remind me of when I was a kid.

I even found a Mountain Bar which I had not seen in a long time.

Lots of the favorites throughout the aisles...

and some I had never heard of.

But I do know "Sugar Babies" Love the packaging on those with the great graphics.

Anybody remember "Pop Rocks" from the 70's?

Here's a little stash of penny candies!

If you are in the Cleveland area and want to feel like a kid in a candy store, try b.a. Sweetie for a sweet adventure!

b. a. SWEETIE CANDY COMPANY INC.7480 Brookpark Road Cleveland, Ohio 44129

The largest candy store in the U.S.A.

Their website says this about the history of the store:

"b. a. Sweetie is open to the public and started back in 1950 as Bag-A-Sweet Candy located on Brookpark Road in Parma, Ohio. Started by Albert Tokar and his brother-in-law Frank Stasny, Bag-A-Sweet was primarily a re-bagger of bulk candy which was sold to local grocery, convenient, and drug stores. The bagged candy which sold for 19¢ to 59¢ each were delivered to the stores by a network of 8 independent distributors. ..Sweeties Candies is open to the public! For almost 60 years we have been serving the candy needs for retail stores, churches, schools, Municipalities, hotels, restaurants, and individuals. We carry the absolute largest variety of candy available anywhere and stock levels that are incredible. Our average inventory level is in excess of 300,000 pounds valued at over $1,000,000.00. No other candy retailer can make that claim! So if your needs are for 1,000 pounds of tootsie rolls for a parade or a half a pound for your belly we have it and we have it now! "

An Important Room in the House

2012-01-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

Been looking at a lot of kitchens lately and collecting pictures of the ones that really appeal.
Trying to find something I will love over time. Here are some looks I like.

*One of my favorite all time kitchens from "Something's Gotta Give".

"The kitchen is the most important room in the house;

not only is it the stomach,

but the heart and the spirit as well." - Julia Child, quoted by her friend James Beard

Journeys of a Passionate Traveler

2012-01-15T00:01:00.002-08:00

“When you travel you become invisible if you want.

I do want. I like to be the observer. What makes these people who they are? Could I feel at home here? No one expects you to have the stack of papers back by Tuesday or to check messages or to fertilize the geraniums or to sit full of dread in the waiting room at the protologist’s office. When travelling you have the delectable possibility of not understanding a word of what is said to you. Language becomes simply a musical background for watching bicycles zoom along a canal calling for nothing from you. Even better if you speak the language you catch nuances and make more contact with people. Travel releases spontaneity. You become a godlike creature full of choice free to visit the stately pleasure domes make love in the morning sketch a bell tower read a history of Byzantium, stare for one hour at the face of Leonardo da Vinci’s Madonna dei fusi. You open as in childhood and – for a time – receive this world. There’s the visceral aspect too – the huntress who is free. Free to go. Free to return home bringing memories to lay on the hearth.” - Frances Mayes, A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveler

Overcoming Some Challenges

2012-01-15T00:01:00.001-08:00

Putting Yourself Out There

2012-01-14T00:01:00.001-08:00

Christmas Eve Dinner in Ohio 2011

2012-01-13T00:45:00.000-08:00

We were fortunate to spend two weeks during the Christmas holidays with my husbands family in Ohio. Christmas Eve is the night Italian families traditionally enjoy a dinner feast commonly referred to as "Seven Fishes".*

My husband Mike and I arrived in Cleveland on the 23rd of December. His brother Rocky had done most of the shopping for the big fish dinner on Christmas eve. Together the two brothers have been planning the menu for a long time. They will be busy preparing all the dishes.

On the 24th our daughter Aria and her boyfriend Daniele arrived from Wisconsin. Now we were happily all together.

Here's Rocky and his wife Mary and their daughter Amanda

Mike's wonderful mom Lucy (85 yrs. young)

Mike's dad Nate is 89 yrs. young and can still entertain us with his sharp wit.

I love my 13 yr. old niece Amanda. She waiting "under the Mistletoe" headband for Justin Beiber!

Lots of time sit around and talk with everyone.

In the evening things are busy. The table is set for the big feast...

Mike is busy in the kitchen,

All the fish are breaded and ready for frying.

The dough is being mixed for the traditional "Fry bread".

Once the bread dough is fried sugar is sprinkled on top. Mmmm eat em while their hot.

Yummy.

The two brothers are fast at work.

Everyone has their favorites. The shrimp cocktail is a must for Grandma Lucy.

So many things cooking all at once.

A thumbs up from Rocky means we're ready to eat!

The baccala looks so tempting.

Lots of crab and lobster..

Buon Appetito tutti!

Baccala (cod), calamari, lobster, crab, smelt, oyster,shrimp and fried bread. Gotta love this tradition!

Time to relax and enjoy the family. The true gift for us is spending this holiday together!

*This is what wikipedia says about the "Seven Fish Christmas Eve Dinner":
It is believed to have originated in Southern Italy and is not a known tradition in many parts of Italy. Today, it is a feast that typically consists of seven different seafood dishes. This celebration commemorates the wait, theVigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus.
The meal may include seven, eight, or even nine specific fishes that are considered traditional. The most famous dish Southern Italians are known for is baccala (salted cod fish). The custom of celebrating with a simple fish such as baccalà is attributed to the greatly impoverished regions of Southern Italy. Fried smelts, calamari, and other types of seafood have been incorporated into the Christmas Eve dinner over the years."

See here for last years 7 fish dinner:

http://followbarbsbliss.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-eve-traditions.html

It's a Dog's Life

2012-01-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

" He was born in Bercy on the outskirts of Paris and trained in France, and while he knows a little Poodle-English, he responds quickly only to commands in French. Otherwise he has to translate, and that slows him down."
-John Steinbeck about Charley, his poodle

Some Kind of Pink

2012-01-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Pink is much more than a variation of red. Pink combines the energies of white and red; white represents the potential for fullness, red helps achieve that potential. While it does not hold its own space on the standard color wheel or in the Prang watercolor set, it is recognized as having great power and influence, in both the Feng Shui and the Chakra traditions. "

-unknown

Being Remembered

2012-01-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

The lovely Grace Kelly

"Elegance doesn't mean being noticed,

it means being remembered." -Gorgio Armani

Each Minute Is A Miracle

2012-01-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

“The only way to live is to accept each minute as an unrepeatable miracle, which is exactly what it is:

a miracle and unrepeatable.”
—Margaret Storm Jameson

Benefits

2012-01-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

"When the heart is at ease,
the body is healthy." -Chinese Proverb

The Silent Pull

2012-01-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love..."Rumi

Little Emotions

2012-01-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Let's not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives..." Vincent Van Gogh

Pop Quiz

2012-01-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

Today Is My Birthday So

2012-01-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

I think today for sure I'm going to put on some "Bling"

then I'm going to spend a while dreaming of this next year and all the wonderful things
to come...Dreaming is a good thing to do especially on your birthday!

I know it's going to be a happy day because I will spend the whole day with my family.

Everything will look especially colorful and happy like this picture:

And in my birthday dream I will sit at a table like this and eat cake and drink champagne and be surrounded by everyone I love.
(Actually the table that I sit at won't look like this but eating cake and drinking champagne and being surrounded by everyone I love is a safe bet...lucky me.)

I will spend some time thinking about how blessed I have been throughout my life and I will say a prayer of thanks to God for all the wonderful gifts that money cannot buy that I've received throughout my life. Life is truly a gift and birthdays are a time to celebrate and to reflect on one's fortunate circumstances. I will do that all day today.

"Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wind of time." *

*and I've collected alot of feathers in my day!

A Necessary Season

2012-01-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

Firenze snow storm Dec. 17 2010

"If we had no winter,
the Spring would not be so pleasant."-Anne Bradstreet

Hungry For Pancakes

2012-01-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

"We will open the book.

Its pages are blank.

We are going to put words on them ourselves.

The book is called Opportunity

and its first chapter is New Year's Day." -Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Wishing everyone a bright and beautiful new year!

New Year's Eve

2011-12-31T00:01:00.015-08:00

Bidding Farewell to 2011 and Welcoming 2012!

Happy New Year all!

At Year's End

2011-12-30T00:01:00.000-08:00

"One granite ridge
A tree, would be enough
Or even a rock, a small creek,
A bark shred in a pool.
Hill beyond hill,

folded and twisted

Tough trees crammed
In thin stone fractures
A huge moon on it all,

is too much.

The mind wanders.
A million Summers,
night air still and the rocks
Warm.

Sky over endless mountains.
All the junk that goes with being human
Drops away,

hard rock wavers
Even the heavy present seems to fail
This bubble of a heart.

Words and books
Like a small creek off a high ledge
Gone in the dry air.

A clear, attentive mind
Has no meaning but that
Which sees is truly seen.

No one loves rock, yet we are here.
Night chills.
A flick

In the moonlight
Slips into Juniper shadow:
Back there unseen
Cold proud eyes
Of Cougar or Coyote

Watch me rise and go."
-Gary Snyder

Random Acts of Kindness

2011-12-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

This beautiful post was something that I read on a blog called, "Brunch at Saks"
(website here:
http://brunchatsaks.blogspot.com/2010/12/pay-it-forward.html )

I think it is timely now, in looking towards a new year to think about how each of us can pay it forward. I'll try to incorporate some of these ideas into my new years resolutions.

The idea of paying it forward never ceases to amaze me. Whether you spend $5 on someone else, or you simply smile to lift the spirit of others- committing a random act of kindness is truly a way to serve from the depth of your heart. I've always appreciated the smallest of actions from others and try to pass on that feeling of gratitude to someone else when possible. Last night I started a list of small, quiet things my family and I can do for others that could possibly change the direction of their day. Since it is time for resolutions to be made, mine is to act upon this list as much as possible in the upcoming year.

My 'Pay It Forward' List:
Hand write a note to a friend or relative and put in the mail.
Bring a meal to a neighbor or friend when they are sick.
Spend an hour playing games with the residents of your local convalescent hospital.
Pay for the person behind you in a fast food line.
Mow your neighbor's lawn or pull weeds out of their planters.
Bring a pile of old magazines to a doctors office or hospital for their waiting room.
Take unwanted clothing items to a shelter or goodwill.
Tape the exact change for a soda or snack to a vending machine.
Leave a couple pieces of candy on a coworkers desk with a note.
Pay for the person behind you at a toll booth.
Call a family member or friend on the day of a test or other important event and tell them you're thinking of them. (No text messages, IM's, Facebook comments, etc! An actual call so they can hear your voice)
Offer to babysit for friends or family so they can enjoy a night out.
Draw colorful pictures and bring them to a local hospital for patients' windows.
Leave behind your finished magazine or book on a plane or bus.
Make an extra sandwich and snack bag for a homeless person.
Start off by telling a customer service agent "I know this problem is not your fault." We so often blame them, which is unfair and must be very stressful.
Return a shopping cart to the front of the store.
Write a note with an encouraging thought to someone special and put it in their lunch bag or coat pocket for them to find.
And finally, when all else fails, simply open the door for someone behind you and leave them with a smile.

Today Is My 3rd BLOGAVERSARY!

2011-12-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

On December 28, 2008 I started this blog. At the time I really didn't know what I would write about. For three years now I have posted something daily.

I have really enjoyed this adventure and I thank my daughter Aria for helping me to set up this blog. It's really become a part of my life, sort of like writing in a journal...a daily exercise.

So today I will say "Happy Blogaversary" to me!

AND I would also like to say "Thank You" to all the people who stop by and spend some time here. Looking forward to many more Blogaversaries in the future. Cheers!

Can You Imagine?

2011-12-27T00:01:00.000-08:00

Now Is The Time

2011-12-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Our appointment with life
is in the present moment"
-Thich Nhat Hanh

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

"A merry Christmas to everybody!

A happy New Year to all the world!"

- Charles Dickens (A Christmas Carol)

Christmas Eve Traditions

2011-12-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

A tradition that I have come to love is our Christmas eve " Fish" dinner*. This is a traditional southern italian feast in which many different dishes are created with fish. Every year the menu varies a bit in our household with my husband planning and executing the meal. It takes a lot of planning and preparation and shopping at specialty stores to get just the right ingredients and best selection of fish.

Christmas 2010 Barb, Aria, Mike, Daniele

My husband, Mike usually creates a menu based on the fish each family member has requested that year. In the past we have had an assortment which included: shrimp, oysters (raw, deep fried, in a stew), calamari (deep fried, stuffed), steamed crab, lobster, baccala which is a salted cod and a variety of other seafoods in sauces, fried, and stuffed, cocktailed...you name it. It's all wonderful. Here are a few photos from past years.

Fried shrimp and a stuffed calamari ...

Two kinds of crabs.

The preparation after days of shopping takes place the morning of the feast. Pounds of fish need to be shelled, deveined, and cleaned. Mike is busy in the kitchen all day long.

Don't throw the shells out. You can boil them in water, the broth can be used for great sauces and stews.

Everyone helps out. There's alot of breading of scallops, oysters, shrimp etc.

After trays of seafood are breaded, Mike begins the big task of frying. Meanwhile pots are steaming crabs, butter is being melted for broiled scallops, lobster or shrimp and pots of mixed seafood sauces for pasta are simmering. Mmmm the dinner is almost ready.

Mike prepares the plates to serve.

This year we will be having our traditional "Feast of the Fishes" with Mike's italian family in Ohio. This night will be especially fun and meaningful as we will be feasting with his parents, his brother and his family and our daughter Aria and her boyfriend Daniele who happens to be from southern Italy. (Mike's mom who has cooked this meal throughout Mike's formative years will get to sit back and relax as Mike and his brother cook tonight). I'll have to share photos with you later.

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

*Feast Of The Seven Fishes
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an ancient Southern Italian Christmas Eve tradition and can actually feature anywhere from seven to 13 fishes. The feast sprang up as a response to the Roman Catholic Church's decree against eating meat and meat products on certain holy days. The whole season of advent leading up to Christmas was this type of fasting time. So, resourceful Italians turned this fast into feast of fish and seafood — traditionally cooked in oil.
But why the Feast of the SEVEN Fishes? That's not exactly clear: for the seven sacraments, seven virtues — there are all kinds of theories. But whatever the reason, the feast endured, and when Southern Italians began to immigrate to the U.S., the feast came along and became an Italian-American tradition as well.

Heading Home For The Holidays

2011-12-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays

'Cause no matter how far away you roam

If you want to be happy in a million ways

For the holidays you can't beat home, sweet home."

Today will be a busy one. As soon as we land we will grocery shop for all the things we need for the big "7 fish Christmas Eve" dinner tomorrow night. I know there will be a lot of preparation for tomorrow's big italian dinner. Yay we're home in Ohio!

-Allen and Stilmen

Christmas's Together and Apart

2011-12-22T00:01:00.001-08:00

I just received this Christmas card from my daughter Aria. The picture was taken in Italy this year. Fortunately for us, she and Daniele are back in the states studying at the University of Wisconsin and we will be able to spend the holidays together with them and with my husband's family in Ohio. Three generations of family together for Christmas will be such a happy time. Aria and Daniele, Verona Italy 2011

My other daughter Athena lives in Australia with her boyfriend Mat. It's summer on that side of the world and they will spend Xmas morning with family friends having a bbq and surfing.

We send Athena and Mat our warmest wishes for a very Merry Christmas and will miss their presence with us very much. Sending them big hugs and many wishes for a wonderful Christmas!

Soon we will be heading to Ohio. Wondering if we'll have a white Christmas this year...

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,

Just like the ones I used to know,

Where the tree tops glisten

And children listen

To hear sleigh bells in the snow."-- Irving Berlin

Our Annual Family Christmas Gathering 2011

2011-12-20T17:14:00.000-08:00

Our family Xmas get-together is called "Jingu Bells" after our grandparents family name. We always have a wonderful time when family gathers from far and near. Every year it seems it gets harder and harder for all of us to be together. Both my daughters are far away and could not make it to the party. For many other family members different circumstances prevented their presence. Here are some photos especially for those that could not be at our family party. We are wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas.

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Thanks, Anyway

2011-12-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

A Merry Christmas Recipe

2011-12-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

Blend equal parts of Faith and Hope
mixed well with Charity;

Stir in Good Will and Sweet Content

and Precious Memory.

Add Kindness, Helpfulness and Joy;

of Gratitude don't spare;

Then drop by drop Love's Essence sweet,

and Praises freely share.

And don't forget such spices rare

as Laughter, Smiles and Fun,

Taste often for the best results,

('Tis sweet to mince upon).

Now add a Thankful Heart and then,

the recipe's complete,

Your "Merry Christmas" all will like … so try the season's treat.

-Esther Lloyd Dauber ("Special Treat")

Getting Things Done

2011-12-18T00:01:00.002-08:00

"I love deadlines.

I like the whooshing sound they make

as they fly by." -Douglas Adams

No pressure here but there are only 6 more days til xmas!...Just sayin'

Enlightenment

2011-12-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

"To be surprised,

to wonder,

is to begin to understand." -Jose Ortega y Glasset

No Excuse Necessary

2011-12-16T00:01:00.001-08:00

Audrey Hepburn with Mel Ferrer "War and Peace"

"Who needs an excuse or even really a song to ask you to dance?"

-Tyler Knott

Wrap Yourselves in Christmas Cheer

2011-12-15T00:01:00.003-08:00

"Christmas--that magic blanket that wraps itself about us,
that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance.
It may weave a spell of nostalgia.
Christmas may be a day of feasting,
or of prayer,
but always it will be a day of remembrance--
a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved."- Augusta E. Rundell

Home

2011-12-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

"There's a home
whose rooms
I know by heart.
Where I tend the garden
and read my books.
Where dreams are dreamt
and memories made.
Where children grew up
and I grew old.

There's a home
where life is lived
A home where I belong."
-Author unknown

The Magic of Christmas Time

2011-12-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories
and love of kindred,
and we are better throughout the year for having,
in spirit,
become a child again at Christmas-time. "
~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Christmas Is Coming!

2011-12-12T00:01:00.001-08:00

"Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts.

No matter how we may dread the rush,

the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given-

when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children,

the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes."- Joan Winmill Brown

Christmas Thoughts

2011-12-11T00:01:00.002-08:00

"What is Christmas?

It is tenderness for the past,

courage for the present,

hope for the future.

It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal,

and that every path may lead to peace."-Agnes M. Pharo

Las Vegas Winter Get-Away

2011-12-10T09:45:00.000-08:00

Had a brief but fun 3 day getaway to Las Vegas. Great weather and fun visiting Mike's brother and our sister-in-law. Here's a peek at our time there.

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Christmas Dreams

2011-12-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

Happy, happy Christmas,

that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days;

that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth;

that can transport the sailor and the traveller,

thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!" -Charles Dickens

Dissolved into Greatness

2011-12-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

"That is happiness;

to be dissolved into something complete

and great." Willa Cather

Your Situation

2011-12-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Appreciate how rare and full of potential your situation is in this world, then take joy in it, and use it to your best advantage." - Dalai Lama

Blessings of the Year

2011-12-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

The particular mind of the ocean
Filling the coastline's longing
With such brief harvest
Of elegant, vanishing waves
Is like the mind of time
Opening us shapes of days.
As this year draws to its end,
We give thanks for the gifts it brought
And how they became inlaid within
Where neither time nor tide can touch them.
The days when the veil lifted
And the soul could see delight;
When a quiver caressed the heart
In the sheer exuberance of being here.
Surprises that came awake
In forgotten corners of old fields
Where expectation seemed to have quenched.
The slow, brooding times
When all was awkward
And the wave in the mind
Pierced every sore with salt.
The darkened days that stopped
The confidence of the dawn.
Days when beloved faces shone brighter
With light from beyond themselves;
And from the granite of some secret sorrow
A stream of buried tears loosened.
We bless this year for all we learned,
For all we loved and lost
And for the quiet way it brought us
Nearer to our invisible destination.

John O'Donohue from: To Bless the Space Between Us

Hallelujah Chorus -Quinhagak, Alaska

2011-12-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

May the spirit of this blessed season fill your hearts with joy!
Happy Holidays to all!

Inspiring Turn of Events

2011-12-04T00:01:00.001-08:00

Julio Diaz

This is a true story recorded by Julio Diaz in New York city just days after he was mugged in the subway.

March 28, 2008

Julio Diaz has a daily routine. Every night, the 31-year-old social worker ends his hour-long subway commute to the Bronx one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner.
But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn.
He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife.
"He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go,'" Diaz says.
As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."
The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"
Diaz replied: "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me ... hey, you're more than welcome.
"You know, I just felt maybe he really needs help," Diaz says.
Diaz says he and the teen went into the diner and sat in a booth.
"The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi," Diaz says. "The kid was like, 'You know everybody here. Do you own this place?'"
"No, I just eat here a lot," Diaz says he told the teen. "He says, 'But you're even nice to the dishwasher.'"
Diaz replied, "Well, haven't you been taught you should be nice to everybody?"
"Yea, but I didn't think people actually behaved that way," the teen said.
Diaz asked him what he wanted out of life. "He just had almost a sad face," Diaz says.
The teen couldn't answer Diaz — or he didn't want to.
When the bill arrived, Diaz told the teen, "Look, I guess you're going to have to pay for this bill 'cause you have my money and I can't pay for this. So if you give me my wallet back, I'll gladly treat you."
The teen "didn't even think about it" and returned the wallet, Diaz says. "I gave him $20 ... I figure maybe it'll help him. I don't know."
Diaz says he asked for something in return — the teen's knife — "and he gave it to me."
Afterward, when Diaz told his mother what happened, she said, "You're the type of kid that if someone asked you for the time, you gave them your watch."
"I figure, you know, if you treat people right, you can only hope that they treat you right. It's as simple as it gets in this complicated world."

Produced for Morning Edition by Michael Garofalo.

from NPR at this site:

http://www.npr.org/2008/03/28/89164759/a-victim-treats-his-mugger-right

Winter is Here

2011-12-03T00:01:00.002-08:00

"winter dreams
in cozy comforters
warm a soul" - Myrtle Thomas

We Are All Searching

2011-12-02T00:01:00.002-08:00

“All our young lives we search for someone to love. Someone who makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope... all the while wondering if somewhere, somehow, there's someone perfect... who might be searching for us.”

-- The Wonder Years

It's December!

2011-12-01T00:01:00.001-08:00

Only 24 days til Christmas!

Honestly though I hope you are not put into a mad frenzy this holiday season. I hope that you can enjoy all the wonderful things that come with the season: family, friends, good cheer and the feeling of love for one another.

"Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect." - Oren Arnold, authoI

Wishing everyone a merry month ahead!

The Lure of Travel

2011-11-30T00:01:00.002-08:00

"Everything I pick up seems to lure me away. Everything I do in my daily life begins to feel like striking wet matches. The need to travel is a mysterious force. A desire to "go" runs through me equally with an intense desire to "stay" at home.

An equal and opposite thermodynamic principle. When I travel, I think of home and what it means. At home I'm dreaming of catching trains at night in the gray light of Old Europe, or pushing open shutters to see Florence awaken.

The balance slightly tips it the direction to the airport." -Frances Mayes

Something More

2011-11-29T00:01:00.000-08:00

"These pages, too, are nothing other than talking leaves—

their insights stirred by the winds,

their vitality reliant on periodic sunlight

and on cool dark water seeping up

from within the ground.

Step into their shade.

Listen close.

Something other than the human mind

is at play here."-David Abram, Becoming Animal

I'm a Chocolate Lover

2011-11-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

"All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!"

Lucy Van Pelt (in Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz)

I'm Just Following The Signs

2011-11-27T00:01:00.000-08:00

The Benefit of Solitude

2011-11-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Waterlilies" Monet

“But your solitude will be a support and a home for you,

even in the midst of very unfamiliar circumstances,

and from it you will find all your paths.” Rainer Maria Rilke

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-25T09:27:00.000-08:00

Customize your own free scrapbooking design

Unrecoverable

2011-11-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

Ponder well on this point: the pleasant hours of our life are all connected by a more or less tangible link, with some memory of the table.-- Charles Pierre Monselet, French author (1825-1888).

Here is Your Mantra

2011-11-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

From the novel: The Help

The Truth About Being All Bundled Up

2011-11-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

The Debutante

2011-11-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Some Harvard gymnasts had been doing stunts," said Sophomore Eaton Brooks of the University of North Carolina, nervously fingering his smartly striped tie. "The gentleman from Harvard who was on the other gentleman's shoulders was swinging the chandelier back and forth. I was up on the mantelpiece, watching people crawl on the rafters. One of the other boys up there swung to the floor on the chandelier, and about ten minutes later I guess I wanted to be a gymnast, too." That was when the chandelier collapsed and dumped Tarzan Brooks on the floor.
Eaton Brooks on the $6,000 worth of damage to the Southampton house after Fernanda Wannamaker's debutante ball
Time Magazine, Friday, April 24, 1964

Cost Of Living 1964:Average Income per year $6,000.00 Average Cost of a new car $3,500.00PHILISTINES AT THE HEDGEROW:Passion and Property in the HamptonsBy Steven Gaines"One of the most notorious incidents to ever take place in the Hamptons was the coming-out party of an heiress, Fernanda Wannamaker Wetherill. The party took place at her father’s thirty-five acre estate. Her father rented the Ocean Castle estate for the night, so it could be used as a dormitory for his more than eight hundred guests. This party would have put any contemporary rave to shame. It lasted all night and, when the youngsters decided to go to bed, they ended up dancing on the tables at Ocean Castle. Eventually, because they were all so drunk, they completely trashed the place, throwing stones through its windows, ripping down curtains, and smashing priceless furniture."

debutante (noun)
1. a young woman of upper class background who is presented to society, usually at a formal ball
2. a girl or young woman regarded as being upper-class, wealthy, and of a frivolous or snobbish social set

A Bridal Shower

2011-11-20T11:22:00.000-08:00

It was a welcome sight to see the sun shining on the ocean as I made my way to a bridal shower by the beach. My long time friend Annette's son, Jeremy is marrying a lovely young woman by the name of Alison. Yesterday her shower was hosted by Annette's good friend Donna and Annette's sister Sue. Here's a little slide show of the happy occasion. Can't wait for the wedding in December.

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Don't Waste Your Time

2011-11-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Our time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." Steve Jobs

Autumn Observations

2011-11-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn."- Elizabeth Lawrence

A Good Day

2011-11-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Only Robinson Crusoe had everything done by Friday." Author Unknown

Not Just An Ordinary Monday Part 2

2011-11-17T00:01:00.001-08:00

So in continuation of Mondays long, convoluted journey we ended part 1 at Cha Cha Chilis.

Having filled our tummys we

watched a few more videos of the K-Pop girl and boy band videos.

Then we headed over to my brothers house where he introduced me to

this cute guy- Scott McGillivray...

well let me clarify. My brother introduced me to Scott's HGTV hit cable t.v. show called,"Income Property". We spent some time watching a few episodes and then I had to hit the road

In continuing my Monday adventure I was now heading for Pasadena.

I parked the car in the parking lot here on Green street

It's just across the street from the Green Street hotel.

Made a quickie stop at Burke Williams spa for product perusal and then

was on my way with my Christmas list in hand for some shopping on Colorado Blvd.

First stop CRATE and BARREL

Oh I got lucky, they were having a pre-Thanksgiving sale!

Well I managed to check off several things on my list and happily

killed some time here .

Then it was soon time to meet my friends Mary and Dave in the late afternoon.

Had a nice, relaxed couple of hours at their home before the 6:00 scheduled authors talk at

Dave and I dropped Mary off at the Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute's restaurant called, "Technique" where top trainee chefs prepare multi course meals. Reservations are hard to come by but more on that later.

So Dave and I are now at Vroman's about to hear notable children's book author: Oliver Jeffers talk about his books.

From Wikipedia

Oliver Jeffers Born 1977

Port Hedland, Australia
Field
Art,

Website
www.oliverjeffers.com
Oliver Jeffers is an artist, illustrator and writer from Belfast Northern Ireland and now lives and works in Brooklyn. He graduated from the University of Ulster in 2001.

He read us his latest book, "Stuck".

He drew pictures for the audience and talked about how he got started as an author and talked of the writing process and he answered many questions from the crowd of adults and children.

I love this book called "Lost and Found".

Then we all had a chance to meet Oliver and have him sign our book purchases. I was happy to tell him how much I enjoy his stories and his illustrations. We are lucky that he can share his artistic talents and sweet stories through his books.

Vroman's Bookstore has been in Pasadena since 1894. It has a lovely selection of books and

stationary items as well as assorted gift items. If you're in the area drop by. It's a nice store.

Now back to the story of Mary's dinner at Le Cordon Bleu's restaurant Technique. Reservations are hard to come by...it takes a long, long time. So tonight is the night for Mary and two of her friends. They are on the fancy side of the restaurant but Mary called Dave and myself while we were at Vromans to say that on the other side of the restaurant the staff also prepares food for the informal cafe side of Technique.

We headed there after the talk at Vromans for our dinner.

This was kinda funny. We were just separated fromn the fancy side where Mary was sitting by a opaque glass partition. I could peek over and say hi, which both Dave and I did.

The apprentice chefs produced a nice pizza for us and I also bought two delicious little macaroons dipped in chocolate for our dessert.

Then I peeked over the partition to see what Mary was eating.

Oooh this was her dessert!!

My recipe for a not just an ordinary Monday included: a cemetery, a weed-wacker, a korean taco, K-Pop girl bands, Pre-Thanksgiving sales, picture books of penguins, Oliver Jeffers, a culinary 6 degrees of separation and a coconut macaroon dipped in chocolate.

A fun and busy not very ordinary Monday for me.

Not Just An Ordinary Monday Part 1

2011-11-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

This week on Monday I left the house early to buy flowers. I had a date to meet my brother, Randy at the cemetery where our parents are buried. He was planning on tidying up the grave site , pulling overgrown weeds and placing flowers around the gravestone. I was happy he asked me to join him.

The sun was shining beautifully in the morning. It's a pretty spot here, peaceful and serene.

We have alot of family members buried here and I walked around to see everyone and say "hello". I didn't feel sad although I was filled with nostalgia. As you may know I am fortunate to come from a very large and close-knit family and I think often of the colorful characters who filled our lives with such love and laughter who are now gone.

Randy came prepared with a bucket, tools for trimming and even a weed whacker which made trimming some over grown weeds an easy job. The grounds are well kept up but we still got on our knees to polish the granite and to arrange some flowers at our parents site.

I love the inscriptions on this gravestone. For our mom it reads: "Loving Wife, Mother and Grandmother" , and for our dad: "Devoted Husband, Father and Grandfather. The line on the bottom reads: "Forever in our Hearts".

I'm glad we had this day to visit here. I think of my parents often and miss them alot, especially during the holidays.

Once our visit here was complete we were off to lunch.

I had been hearing alot about the food trucks around town serving all kinds of interesting ethnic foods. I had even investigated these things on the internet and youtube. I found a place I wanted to try which featured asian fusion dishes. The reviews on Yelp were intriguing and positive for a place called "Cha Cha Chili". *

People said their "Korean tacos" were the best. The reviews also mentioned that this was just a small hole-in-the wall place just a few miles outside of downtown Los Angeles and that parking might be difficult at the noon hour. Armed with the address we were on a mission.

Very soon we saw this sign and although the tiny parking lot was full we got a spot on the street close by. Lucky because I was hungry!

Here we are at Cha Cha Chili's!

I found the menu a little confusing but basically they have a combination Mexican--Korean fusion going on here. That means things like tacos, chimichangas (fried burritos), burritos with a twist. Things like "Kim Chee quesadillas" and stuffed crabmeat Jalapeno peppers deep fried etc. fill the menu. Even traditional things like "sliders" or "angus cheeseburgers" can be surprising because you choose the type of spicy ingredients, types of meat with funny names like Kalbi or bulgogi. Other choices are spicy pork,chicken or fish.

We ordered one beef short ribs and one bulgolgi beef taco. I thought these were really good with just the right amount of heat.

These are spicy pork sliders.

My brother ordered an angus beef cheeseburger teriyaki style.

There are stuffed crabmeat jalapeno poppers battered and deep fried. ....I know...but you only live once.

Inside the little place there are a few tables. We had a good view of the flat screen tv which features a constant stream of "K-Pop" music videos. I must live under a rock because I had never heard of the current musical phenomena called "K-Pop".

You may ask "What is K-Pop?" Well here is how one internet site addressed that question:

"K-pop or Korean pop music refers to not only types of music but to a musical movement that swept South Korea in the early 1990s and continues to dominate. Much of the music is similar to what you’d hear on American pop radio stations, though more often sung or rapped in Korean. In fact, early versions of Korean pop leant heavily on certain American forms, like R & B, hip hop, and a little bit of rock and techno. Boy and girl bands, sometimes called bubblegum pop are very well received, but so are the contributions of older artists."-http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-k-pop.htm

Well this is how the first half of my not so ordinary Monday went down. I'll tell you more tomorrow about the 2nd half of my unusual day.

*http://chachachili.com/

It Wasn't Me

2011-11-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

Fabulous

2011-11-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

Had a great day out with friends this past Saturday. We went to the Fashion Institute of Design Museum in downtown Los Angeles. They feature really wonderful changing exhibits on all aspects of fashion and costume design. The current show is called "Fabulous" and features museum gifts and purchases of Western fashions dating from 1800 to the present. If you are interested in fashion, history and beauty this collection will be well worth your while. The exhibit is extended through Dec. 23, 2011.
It's great fun. I highly recommend.

Here Are The Details:
What: "Fabulous!", An Exhibition of 200 years of Fashion History 1800-2010
Where: FIDM Museum & Galleries 919 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles CA 90015
When: September 13-December 23, 2011

Open Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm (closed Sunday, Monday) Cost: FREE!!!!!!

FIDMmuseum.org
PS Lots of fun shopping in the Museum store inside the gallery.

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Acts of Creation

2011-11-13T00:01:00.001-08:00

"Acts of creation are ordinarily reserved for gods and poets.

To plant a pine, one need only own a shovel."
-- Aldo Leopold

Some Days

2011-11-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

"I have a "carpe diem" mug and, truthfully, at six in the morning the words do not make me want to seize the day. They make me want to slap a dead poet." ~Joanne Sherman

The Tree of Life

2011-11-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Teach this triple truth to all:
a generous heart,
kind speech,
and a life of service and compassion
are the things which renew humanity."-Buddha

Nothing Sweeter

2011-11-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Nothing you ever understand will be sweeter,

or more binding,

than this deep affinity

between your eyes and the world." -Mary Oliver " Terns"

I See

2011-11-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

"The genius of seeing
that which is so evident
as to be unseeable."-anonymous

A Defining Moment

2011-11-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

"Accept no one's definition of life: define yourself."
-Harvey Feinstein

Excuse Me While I Change Into Something More Comfortable

2011-11-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

“What do I wear in bed?

Why, Chanel No. 5, of course.” -Marilyn Monroe