11/18/04 11:11 - ID#22984

Digital Camera

Now the I have 5 rolls of film to take into Nova for developing I've decided it's probably time to think about a digital camera. The phone cam's been fun, but it's just a tease- can't zoom, poor quality. I'm ready- where do I shop for a digital camera- any of you "tech"ies have some suggestions for me?

Permalink: Digital_Camera.html
Words: 59
Location: Buffalo, NY

11/18/04 12:12 - ID#22983

Christmas Cactus

Every November I wonder why the Christmas Cactus is named the way that it is--Thanksgiving Cactus would be more appropriate...at least for this growing zone.
It's a beautiful thing when the last autumn leaves have fallen, the trees are bare and brown, and buds begin to open on my Christmas Cactus. When it's in full bloom, it's a sight for sore eyes...everyone should have one.

Maybe that would brighten things up around here. Everyone seems to be so down in the dumps. The election results didn't help in that regard- but it is what it is- so EVERYONE...put a smile on your face, a Christmas Cactus in your bedroom and think positive. If that doesn't work, I guess you could just pine away and melt into a mud puddle under a tree just before a dog walks by to take a leak on you.

On another note- went to Allentown Hardware last night. I really like the atmosphere, very bohemian...and the Spanish music they were playing was good too, not to mention the wine, wine, wine.

Permalink: Christmas_Cactus.html
Words: 181
Location: Buffalo, NY

11/17/04 12:07 - ID#22982

silence

The house is so silent that my ears are ringing.....

[inlink]ajay,186[/inlink] Just a little reminder that Masiello ran uncontested in the last election. That's a sad state of affairs- but this time around looks like we may have a few decent candidates to choose from.

My son wrote a letter to George W. for his homework tonight- It goes like this:

Hi Mr President,

I'm writing to tell you that I want the war to end.
I'd like to have healthcare for everyone.
Please bring the troops back from Iraq and use the money to pay for healthcare for everyone.

Thank you for reading my letter carefully,

Yours truly,
My son

If only it were that easy!

Permalink: silence.html
Words: 119
Location: Buffalo, NY

11/16/04 08:32 - ID#22981

Daisy

Our new kitten is feeling quite at home. In fact, I think she really thinks I'm her mom. I woke up in the middle of the night last night to nurse the baby and I realized that Daisy is nursing on the blankets around me. No wonder she's always purring and curled up to me. She also thinks my husband is her dad- this morning, while she was checking out the water droplets running down the shower door, he opened it and tossed her in. Just like a dad.

Permalink: Daisy.html
Words: 91
Location: Buffalo, NY

11/15/04 10:32 - ID#22980

river otters

I never thought that I would spend so much time with river otters....but here I am spending many days running from window to window for hours at a time to play with the cute little buggers- harry and hermione. Who needs to go to the gym when your running with your 4 boys so much. I hope the county budget gets "fixed" - I sure will miss the animals and the books. I guess we'll just have to sit inside and watch TV all day with blinds closed......hmmmmm :(

p.s. finally got my web services to work on sprint, so i could change my userpic.

Permalink: river_otters.html
Words: 108
Location: Buffalo, NY

11/08/04 09:59 - ID#22979

Reading banned in Buffalo

I was checking my email yesterday and I got this really bazaar email from the BECPL (Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries). Looks like I was being notified that all of the libraries in Buffalo were closing???!!! :(

Is this for real???? My children are going to be very disappointed (and myself too). This is a very cherished destination- especially the Crane Library right in our neighborhood. We walk and ride our bikes there all the time- practically every week.

I'm going to write a letter to the "powers that be" tonight- here's a copy of the email that I was sent:

1. AFTER JANUARY 1, 2005: YOUR LIBRARY WILL CLOSE!

1. AFTER JANUARY 1, 2005: YOUR LIBRARY WILL CLOSE!
Are you aware that all 52 libraries across Erie County will close their
doors after January 1st under Erie County's proposed 2005 operating
budget? This budget cuts support to the Buffalo and Erie County Public
Library by more than $19 million -- an 80% reduction in the System's
operating funds.
Please communicate your need for library service to your County
Legislator, State Senator and State Assemblyperson. For public official
contact information and a sample letter, visit

.
Keep checking the Library's website, www.buffalolib.org, for updates and
information on future advocacy efforts. Your support is greatly
appreciated!
;)

Permalink: Reading_banned_in_Buffalo.html
Words: 215
Location: Buffalo, NY

11/08/04 04:47 - ID#22978

Chicken Soup

Matthew wanted my chicken soup recipe- and since it is the season for colds and coughs, I thought that everyone could benefit from my grandmother's best medecine: chicken soup. Here it is...

Chicken Soup

1 soup chicken
water
salt (about 1 tsp for every 3 cups)
4 - 5 large carrots
4 - 5 large ribs of celery or 1 celeriac root
1 large onion
lemon for garnish
serve with rice, noodles or potatoes (I usually serve with rice)

In a large stockpot, cover soup chicken with about 1" water and salt. Boil until tender. If you use a frozen chicken it should take about 1-1/2 hours. Make sure to remove giblet bag when it starts to thaw.
Remove chicken. Strain fat until clear. Add carrots, celery and onion to broth. Cook until tender about 5 - 8 minutes. Pull chicken off the bones and chop into bite-size pieces. Add to broth.

Serve with rice and a nice chunk of lemon. My husband always adds romano cheese to his.(I usually don't)

Save leftovers in freezer- you'll be glad to have some on those cold winter days.

Permalink: Chicken_Soup.html
Words: 177
Location: Buffalo, NY

11/06/04 01:37 - ID#22977

i've been bamboozled

Sometimes it's kinda fun to be bamboozled. Well this was certainly fun. I have the best husband and friends in the world- they organized and collaberated to completely shock me on my 40th birthday night- and that's pretty hard to do.

Have you ever been blindfolded in a car for 30 minutes, with absolutely no idea where you are going? You oughtta try it sometime. It's amazing how you're other senses really kick in.... the first image that I have of the surprise party is the wonderful smell when I crossed over the threshhold and into the house. the second was the sound of 50 people yelling SURPRISE and the third, of course was the sea of smiling faces.

What a wonderful night - thank you all for making it so special.

Permalink: i_ve_been_bamboozled.html
Words: 130
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/22/04 12:28 - ID#22976

city living

I had to make a trek out to the burbs to pick up something at the builders supply. I 'm talking about the remote area of maple and transit- holy traffic. I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed my two youngest boys were sound asleep- I had half a mind to pull off to the side of the road and take a nap while I waited for traffic to clear- I think that I would have been waiting until midnight. I haven't been to those parts in quite some time and was shocked to see how the landscape (or lack thereof) has changed. There's a thriving metropolis of stripmalls, one after the next. I noticed that there seems to be a gym and fitness center in every plaza- surrounded by an abundance of fast food drive-thru joints. Hmm- get in car, wait in traffic, get to drive thru, wait in line for fast greasy food, wait in traffic again, park in gym parking lot, enter gym, walk on treadmill for 20min.

I'm really glad that I live in the city where there's no traffic and you can actually walk to an abundance of good food restaurants. When I finally hit the "S" curves and took in the beautiful fall foliage at Forest Lawn and Delaware Park I breathed a sigh of relief- ahh the sweet city.

Permalink: city_living.html
Words: 228
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/21/04 01:51 - ID#22975

kids eyes at the zoo

[the wonderful thing about having kids ( or being around kids-) is seeing life through their simple innocent eyes. i had several wonderful hours with my 2.5 yr old at the zoo today. he gave equal time to the elephants, fish, gorillas, tigers, mountain goats...... in fact i think he just thinks that we're hangin' out with the animals. the whole glass between the animals and us is a fuzzy notion in his head. he always loves to watch the gorilla kids play, but today when the seven year old gorilla girl looked him in the eye and tapped the glass- he shrieked-"he's gonna get me" and then "he can't tap on glass" {just like the sign says-what's good for the goose is good for the gander} he's equally fascinated with the elephants and the "big poo", the woman with the wheelbarrow, the snowy owl and the man cutting lettuce in the "zoo kitchen". the nice thing about going this time of year is that the merry go round and the train provide no distraction- they're closed. and if you go at the right time-no one else is there.]

(e:matthew) love the elephant...textures are great- it has a lot of dimension. you should show it to the young expert soon

Permalink: kids_eyes_at_the_zoo.html
Words: 211
Location: Buffalo, NY

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