Riddle Me This...

It's the NY Giants, but they practice & play in NJ.

They practice & play in NJ, but are called the NY Giants.

NY should pony up for a Giants Stadium.

NJ should pony up for their own team.

That being said....

                                                           (Photo courtesy of New England Patriots)
                         
                        GO PATRIOTS!!!!
That is all. Enjoy the Bowl.

Char

Romantically Yours

Are we past the Age of Romance? I'm a sucker for a good romance, real or imagined. I like it in my Sc-Fi novels, in horror movies, in stories passed down from relatives. The romance between my mother-in-law Gilda and her Tomasso is the basis for a short story I wrote, and maybe a novel someday. Set against World War II, there is first love, the conscription of young men, invasion by the Nazis, separation, and reunion.

                                                                              (Photo courtesy of Microsoft)

What's your most romantic story? Does someone you know have a romantic history? Doesn't have to be family. On Valentine's Day I'll share one of the most romantic true stories I know--and I'll pick a winner for the most romantic story you readers share. You'll win a $15 gift certificate; it can be for iTunes, B&N, whatever you wish. (Maybe for a little romantic gift for someone?)

So be brief, only a few sentences, just the gist, please. I will ask several people who they think had the most romantic story, so schmoozing up to me, while I enjoy it, won't get you extra points.

Winner will be announced Valentine's Day.  Hearts & kisses,

Char

One of My Favorite Things....

Is the Raritan Public Library. It's old world elegance, harkening back to a time when reading was looked upon by almost everyone as a precious gift.

The library is  lodged in the former General John Freylinghuysen House. Originally built by an early Dutch settler in the 1700's, it has been a tavern, public meeting hall, jail, home and finally the library. Several additions have been added and the Federal style architecture appeared around 1810. Peter Freylinghuysen bought the property in 1970 and shortly thereafter donated it to the Borough of Raritan. In 1971 the building was placed on the National and New Jersey Register of Historic Places

See the light of wisdom shining on it? Wait, it gets better....

Here's a reading room:

Handmade reproduction period furniture makes it all cozy and inspirational. Somehow I imagine the Founding Fathers arguing over the grammar in the Declaration of Independence with a pint of ale (although the house in this form wasn't built until the 1780's).

Here's the children's room:

Now what kid wouldn't want to pick out a book and read it in the carriage, or at the tables, or near the fireplace?

And for the serious readers, look at these glorious stacks, packed with tomes of delight:

Need a break from reading? Meander upstairs to John Basilone room where you can see artifacts, documents, and photos of the decorated hero, and a even a small scale model of the USS John Basilone Destroyer.

If that's not enough to tempt you, the front reading room (there are bookshelves in every room!) is a cozy place to curl up with a book.

Director MaryJane Paese is one of the many helpful, friendly and knowledgeable people. This library offers a newsletter of events, staff picks, program descriptions and other information. There are crafting, knitting, yoga, family film and 1-on-1 computer classes, in addition to many special programs for children like a Lego party, storytime, and crafts. MaryJane and staff are working on expanding their Teen and Pre-Teen programs; they even have a teen blog: http://rpl.blogspot.com which will list new acquisitions, book discussion groups and other events. I will be there in mid-late May talking about Sirenz and Sirenz Back In Fashion, and answering writing/publishing questions. (Natalie is may be there as well, dependent upon schedule constraints).

Interested? Visit them at 54 East Somerset Street, Raritan, NJ, or hop over via www.raritanlibrary.org

Char

No Death Threats For The Rat

Normally I'd be thinking what a nice coat collar Punxsuatawney Phil, the 'weather predicting groundhog' in Pennsylvania  would make for even suggesting that we're going to have six more weeks of winter.



(Photo by Gene J. Puskar, AP, from USA Today)

But with the winter we've been having (60 degrees yesterday! I'm rocking an open sunroof on the car!) I'm eyeing my shorts and seriously considering taking that offer to open the pool prior to April 15th and saving a few bucks.

If the winter is like this, Rock on, Phil, rock on.

(Image by Microsoft Office)

Char

Are You Freaking NUTS?!!!

To start my one-a-day blogging challenge, I'm going with the 'there are a lot of idiots' in the world theme. (I know, New Year's resolution to say something positive about EVERYTHING- that'll come at the end of the post.)

To that MBA in Marketing nitwit, and all the sycophantic lemmings who followed, approving this ad campaign:

Really? You couldn't come up with a better slogan than "Tastes Evil, But Isn't"? There is NO REASON ON EARTH THAT ANYONE SHOULD BE TEMPTED TO BUY THIS. Unless of course, you're a demon, devil, or zombie. Even vampires, trolls, werewolves and rabid dogs have better taste.

This proves to me two things:

1- Even with an MBA, there's no guarantee that you have a clue.
2-There are some really bad writers out there.

Now for the positive spin:
Neither my family nor I will ever have to eat this 'evil-tasting' stuff.

Hopefully you won't either!

Char

29 And Counting...

I'm taking the challenge--I'm going to blog everyday in February. It's a leap year so I will have 29, that's only 1 less than an average month, so no hassles!

I will try to be entertaining, provocative and interesting, but I make no promises. (There are going to be days when I just don't feel motivated, or are rushed, or am grumpy.)  Bear with me. Don't judge. Have fun. I'll even throw in some contests. So spread the word.


See ya on the first!

Char

Off The Grid

I'm going to go off the PC and SC grid here (Politically Correct and Spouse-ly Correct).

The hubby decided that when he switched jobs, he would shred all the paperwork- office memos and reports, benefit notifications, correspondence, etc., that he no longer needs.

Some may argue, yay, he's clearing up a mess. And put a smiley face, like this :)

Now ask:
Why didn't he do it once a month?
Once a year?
Once every 5 years?
Once a DECADE?

I kid you not. Bags and bags of papers (mixed in with family photos, funeral cards, pens, alligator clips, household bills, newspaper ads, business cards from people long gone to other jobs, gas, grocery, pharmacy, Home Depot, ALL KINDS of receipts, and so much more). It boggles the mind.

At least he's finally doing it, you say in that trying-to-remain-positive voice (and knowing it's only going to get worse).

Because he decides to do it on the rug in the TV room so he can watch the game. NOT in the basement (which has a big TV!) and which has a tile floor that can be easily swept.

Of course the shreds are ALL OVER the damn place. And he leaves it for me. I pick most of it up, because that much will clog the vacuum.

Which it does.

No matter what I do, I can't get it unclogged.  So I have to drag down the upstairs vacuum.

Which brings me to the stupid (WARNING: NON-PC Rant coming!) dumb-ass design- probably by a MALE engineer; the hose has a bend in it, so you can't see where the clog is, never mind get it out. So now the over-priced replacement hose ($170+ what a scam!!) is on it's way. How stupid and dumb-ass a lot of appliances are.

Like my dishwasher (Electronic panel right UNDERNEATH the steam vent? Really? Common sense 101- steam condenses to water, which drips- down into the electronics panel and shorts it out.) So I only have one setting on my dishwasher- the 2 HOUR one. Seriously Maytag, I have problems WITH ALL YOUR APPLIANCES. What kind of idiots do you hire?

In keeping with my New Year's resolution, I will find something positive to say: the appliances are shiny. And they're going to break down quick enough for me to get new ones, better ones, and I will be happy in my kitchen again!  Two out of the three waste bags are gone. The family room is clean again. :) See? Positive spin.

Back to the hubby. And the paper mess yet to come (bag three is the BIGGEST; a Hefty lawn-leaf bag). It may come down to this for him:

Or this for me:

The hard part will be trying to decide which has more appeal.