Would You Like Lemon With That...

I'm all for folks reading the paper and educating themselves to the goings-on of our world. But sometimes it is possible to know too much. With no regard to my thoughts regarding Too Much Information, today's New York Times article shed a little too much light on the personal hygiene habits, or lack thereof, being adopted by some Americans.

Please Tell Me I'm Not Alone...

 

Halloween never fails to regale us with fun and surprises. Some costumes I have seen really take the cake in the creativity department. I wish I could say this photo represents my costume this year. Sadly, it has become so comfortable it's more of an every-day kinda outfit.

It's Just Crazy Enough To Be True...

Have you ever gotten that look? You know, the one where someone stares trying to determine if you're a complete lunatic or a total genius? I get that quite a bit, although I am sure they lean more towards the lunatic theory...

J. Alfred Prufrock Has No Love Song...

"If I thought my answer were given

to anyone who would ever return to the world,

this flame would stand still without moving any further.

But since never from this abyss

has anyone ever returned alive, if what I hear is true

without fear of infamy I answer you."

~ Dante's Inferno, quoted by T.S. Eliot

to open The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

Just let us go then, you and I 
As evening spreads against the sky 
Creeping through half-deserted streets 
Knowing where evening ladies meet.
       Do I dare? Do I dare?

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

All Hallow's Eve

the dead come back for us,

wind violently heralding their

graveyard resurrection.

The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste...

Admittedly, I am not a horror film freak. At least, not today's horror films. Truly, I think the concept of leaving the best of the story to one's imagination is long gone.

Low Maintenance In A High Maintenance World...

"When Harry Met Sally" is one of my all-time favorite movies. I saw this movie in the theater a hundred years ago when I was set up on a blind date with a friend's brother. Date = horrible. Movie = wonderful. At least he had good taste in movies...

No, Really...You Can Have Him...We Don't Mind...

America has many things to thank Italy for. For example, pasta is something I could never live without. I know, I know...before I am inundated with e-mails about China being the true inventor of pasta (rice noodles) you have to give it up to Italians for being the ones to drown it in tomato sauce. Delizioso!

Let Me Die In Paris...

Let me journey to the top
of the web and plunge
through the darkness
to the ground below, blending
our bodies and souls
everlasting.

I Could While Away The Hours...

It seems like everyone I know says, "There aren't enough hours in the day." We have so many demands on our attention and the culture we live in wants us to be as much as we can for as many as we can. But let me tell you, there is an amazing world out there...and I am finally getting a taste of it.

Sanctuary...

Your eyes are glazed over.
In desperate need of a bath

You reek of last night's take out.

But you give me sanctuary.

The Night And The Day Are Both Alike....

Lest everyone believe I've begun dressing in black from head to two, shaved my head, and scribbled one inch black rings around my eyes, please rest assured I have not lost my mind.

Monster...

The monster

lay sleeping

over forty

years waking

every now

and again

just to

speak.

The Cycle...

I'm sorry I hurt you
Again
And the pain starts to burn
Again
As your heart slowly dies
Again.

Maureen Dowd Could Be My Best Friend...

As a writer, there are some authors I can really relate to. I am a fan of Shakespeare and anything by Edgar Allan Poe. Collete, Simone de Beauvoir, and Jane Austin will always have a special place in my heart (they were pioneers.) Along the more recent fronts, Debra Ollivier (writing about all things French) and Mireille Guiliano (ditto) can count me among those contributing to their retirement funds when their most recent publications hit the shelves. David Sedaris is a kindred spirit who shares a passion for the snark. But one person in particular writes from a perspective that I admire so much I practically stalk her in anticipation of the next publication...Maureen Dowd.

Ophelia’s Reply, circa 2010

Get me to a nunnery?
You have completely lost your mind.
Believe it or not you weren’t so great,
I've no need to be confined.

Illusions...

She glides into the room
  Cradling the wine glass
Within her cool hand
   Swirling the liquid gold.

You...

You...

I Could Be A Poet...

If you have never seen the movie Slam Nation, I strongly encourage you to do so. Once you get past the bad eighties haircuts and the hideous clothes we actually adorned ourselves in, it really is a passionate and powerful movie.

In this movie, poet Taylor Mali shares his creation "I Could Be A Poet". This got me thinking of you.

Too Sad To Be Funny...

This morning The New York Times is proclaiming, "Albany Governor Debate Verges on Farce". As a tax-paying New Yorker, I think I can safely say it really isn't funny.

If Only They Had A Video Camera...

Too many times to count, my husband and his brothers have regaled me with stories of their youth. It wasn't long until we all deduced that if they possessed a video camera, they could have been the original Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, and Ryan Dunn; more commonly known as Jackass.

All You Need Is Love...

Tonight was my turn to open Faith Formation for Grades 7, 8, and 9 with prayer and an activity. And let me tell you, these kids made my heart sing.

"I Speak Jive..."

Today became a sad day as I learned Barbara Billingsley passed away. For those not familiar, she was June Cleaver, Mom of the Beav.

Gee, And I'm Just Glad You're Alive....

I watched the Today show teary-eyed as the first Chilean miner was pulled from underground. He jumped from the bringing-people-up-from-underground-apparatus and danced all around the area, hugging folks and giving rocks to officials. It was absolutely priceless. Or so I thought...

You've Gotta Be Fa-La-La-La-La Kidding Me...

Last Sunday my son and I were in the local drug store and I could not believe my eyes.

I Didn't Come Here To Be Insulted...

I was waaaayy overdue for some exercise in my life and figured if I could get back into some type of routine I may have more energy and feel less achy. Also, my sister is signing me up for next year's Warrior Dash and I am not looking too warrior at the moment. In light of my short attention span, I chose to reacquaint myself to the Wii Fit with its many activities and pretty colors. Well, let me tell you...

Till Death Do Us Part ...

It was recently announced that David Arquette and Courtney Cox have ended their marriage. Additionally, Christina Aguilera has also ended her marriage. Regardless of who is involved, it generally makes me very sad to hear of another married couple breaking up and becoming a statistic.

Down, Down The Rabbit Hole...

I need to preface this by admitting I am a political neophyte. What I know of politics could fit into a thimble and is most likely derived from whatever I gleaned from "The Daily Show." That being said...

Inked...

I am the oldest of three children in my family. And out of the three of us, I was definitely the one who gave my parents a run for their money. This is why it stands to reason I was always pegged as the one who would be tattooed and in all likelihood living with a band of gypsies. But wait just a minute...

Everywhere A Sign...

I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't stand this time of year when the beautiful Fall colors of Upstate New York are marred by election signs.

Where Did We Come Up With This Stuff...

I love to people watch. It is amazing to see the way some folks interact with others, what some people find funny, what some people find touching, what some people find offensive. This got me thinking about how we possibly got to the point we are. For instance...

Perfect Is The Enemy Of Good...

I have someone very dear to me who always tells me not to let perfect be the enemy of good. That's his way of nicely telling me to stop being such a control freak. Truthfully, I am quite sure it grates on his nerves, he's just too nice to say so. Anyway, just exactly what does this mean, perfect being the enemy of good? Let's take a look...

I Don't Farmville, Either...

Okay, to all of my Facebook friends looking for your lost cows and boards and hammers and nails...I haven't had a chance to fold laundry in a week. I can't be worrying about virtual crops...

To My Daughter On Her 13th Birthday...

Today my oldest daughter turns 13. She is so excited to become a teenager she could burst and I am really happy for her. We make a big deal out of birthdays at our home. After all, it is the one day out of the year when it is all about you and we give thanks for the day God gifted each of us to the world.

So my dear daughter, on this day I wish for you...

I Hope We Aren't Paying For This...

This morning's news cast was seeming pretty rote until I actually heard it reported that the American Council on Pediatrics states parents need to push items back even further on the counter. It seems the Council did not realize how easy it is for children to reach items on the counter and they could get hurt pulling said items down. Oh, okay...um, what?

I Don't Think I'm That Strong...

Today is the Feast of St. Francis. For folks not familiar with him, Francis prayed to make him an instrument of peace. But it was the way he chose to live that astounds me.

They Always Shoot The Messenger...

It always stinks being the bearer of bad news. Somebody has to do it...I just wish I could get some slack when it has to be me.

Let Us Go In Peace...

Yes, I am Catholic. But there are times I could scream from the nonsense. This is not what Christ intended...it is man with all his humanity getting in and muddying the waters.

They Come In All Sizes...

It breaks my heart every time I learn of another young person who has sacrificed their time on earth due to a bully.