Catch a glimpse of this view and relax

It’s the last week of the summer  and we are doing the usual :)   Have a great weekend!

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If you are guessing, here’s a hint.

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Open Letter to Phillipa Morrish and the Home Reporter

Dear Phillipa Morrish, 

You wrote an article for the local paper, The Home Reporter on how to teach our female teenagers how to pour tea. I’m not sure why this article would appear in my local news. Could I be the only woman in Bay Ridge who doesn’t want to take the time to teach my children how to PROPERLY pour tea?  I could understand if someone was having a child’s tea party and I wanted to know how the English poured tea, but I don’t think the subject warrants space in a local paper. 

Ms. Morrish, the feminist in me wants you to know that the article should read – ‘How to teach teenagers how to pour tea.’  The fact that you insist that a parents should teach a  daughter and not a son is ludicrous. If your article is to teach manners, then it should include both males and females.  I am all for teaching etiquette, but please be mindful that we are in the year 2013 and so many women pioneers have worked for our equality. Maybe in your home, you pour tea, but in my house everyone pours tea.  We are equal opportunity tea pourers in this house (yes I realize that the word pourers isn’t part of the English language yet).  Mrs. Morrish, I encourage you to have your husband learn the art of pouring tea because when he does, you will notice that tea tastes a lot better then when you pour it yourself!

And Home Reporter Editor, please  edit the articles so they are appropriate for the neighbor and 2013.

Queenie

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Happy 4th Anniversary to our…..errr….House!

On Sunday we had brunch in our backyard to celebrate our house’s fourth anniversary!  We’ve had brunch with family and friends every year for the house which is nice because it’s a low stress tradition.   I made Lee a quick album with before and after pictures to show how much the house had changed in four years. The room that changed the least was our kitchen because it was done right before we purchased the home. The rooms that changed the most were bedrooms and bathrooms.

Today was the house’s real anniversary. I can’t believe it is four years already. I asked Lee if he was glad we bought this house. He said it was our best purchase and he is glad to come home everyday.

I always think of the woman who owned the house before me.  We never met her because she passed and her family sold us the home. You see this home was my dream and at one point it must have been her dream home as well. Her family was so nice to us and left us their mother’s meticulous records on work that had been done on the home throughout the years. I always light a candle for her at our church around the anniversary.

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Jesus’s Umbrella

You read the title and you are probably thinking, “yup she’s going all JC freak on us.”   And you might be right, but I’m going to share this because there may be someone who needs to know we are not alone in our struggles.

Earlier in the week, some people in from my past came entered my life again. People often wonder ‘Why does the past come back to haunt you?’  It comes back because you had unfinished business with it. Sometimes this is beneficial for people because they can tie up lose ends or make amends to someone they hurt. For me, the past brings back memories of incidents that shouldn’t have happened and pain.  But my point here isn’t to share my heartbreak, but to share my umbrella. Jesus Christ.

Late Tuesday night, I realized I was beat by the storm of my past. After everyone was asleep, I went out back and lounged in the yard.  In the dark I sat and said outloud, Psalm 31: 9  Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.   And then I heard myself make a request that I have never made before. I said, “I need an umbrella to get through this storm Lord.” I feel asleep soon after that request. Strangely enough, I awoke to rain coming down on me. I ran inside and made a cup a coffee.  As I was watched the rain, I realized that I felt a lot different than I did the previous days. All that was said was no longer important because I had Jesus as my umbrella covering me from the storm.  I woke everyone up and as I made breakfast, I looked outside and saw the storm was over and a new day was here. I smiled and felt myself nodding because God can make a new day for anyone who needs it.

After the storm, I realized that God has sent me some amazing friends who sat with me in my sorrow and loved me.  * Blessed & Grateful*

Truth:

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Important to Know

This week didn’t start well, but it’s getting better.

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Tonight my mother said

She thought he was asleep.

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Teachers Love the Summer!

We have been so productive this summer. I have really enjoyed summer this year and of course I don’t want it to end.

But I really love teaching too. I saw my new class list and felt so happy to read their names and wonder what my new students will be like. After all these years of teaching, I’m thankful that I still feel such joy about buying school supplies, setting up my classroom and meeting my new students!

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18th Avenue Feast of St. Rosalia in Brooklyn 2013

Every year friends from Staten Island, Long Island and NJ ask me: When is the 18th Avenue Feast this year? For the past few years there has been a question whether there will be a feast. Yet the Feast is definately on for 2013 – it has not been cancelled. How do know? Councilman Vincent Gentile announced it on his Facebook page today. 

The feast will take place from August 22nd through September 1st from 5 pm to 11 pm

Streets: 18th Ave. between 68th St. and Bay Ridge Parkway 

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We’re Strong than the Storm

If you follow me on Twitter, I mentioned that I have been brainwashed. I keep hearing the song coming from the shows the kids are watching. I know all of the words to the song and last night I was signing it to Lee. Lee doesn’t know the song as we watch movies, rather than sitcoms with commercials. So Lee thought I was signing the song to him and he hugs me and says “Yes we are stronger than any storms, you and me.”

LOL. I had to write it down and decided to share it.

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Driving Signs

I was driving in Long Island this weekend and it’s no secret that I am a terrible driver. As I was pulling out of a parking lot, there was some confusion made by another driver so I waited for them to make their move.  As I began to slowly turn out of the parking lot, a driver who was waiting to turn in went crazy in his car. He was yelling at me, his arms were flailing and his face was bright red. I drove extra slow and smiled at him. He probably thought I was mocking his outburt, but I was really just enjoying the message. I said to my car full of people, “Guys this is the way my father sends me a reminder.”  My friends who knew my father understood how he loved to go crazy while he was driving. When I was a kid, his yelling scared me so much. I thought he didn’t like driving. When I got older, I came to realize that he liked letting his stress out on the road. So that man’s driving was a sign from my Father. 

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Vandalism in Bay Ridge – Hate Crime?

This morning we were shocked when we saw the red paint on the crucifix outside of Saint Anselm Church. 

The red paint took the appearance of paint on such a sacred image. We saw the police tape and knew something was really wrong. On the side of the church was a statue also covered in paint. 

There were several religious buildings that were targeted. Residents were sad and some were angry. People wanted to know why someone would do this. Some residents accused kids and some accused Muslims. Anyone with half a brain knows that a Muslim would not do this. Jesus is respected in Muslim literature and Muslims believe that He proceeded Muhammad.

SO WHY DID SOMEONE DO THIS TO ACT OF VANDALISM?  I can only think that Mental illness has something to do with it. When the person is caught, we will see that is the reason. (UPDATE: the vandal was caught. Apparently he said: “You got me I did it all,” (from story here). I can’t say I believe it, but apparently the store where he bought the spray paint said he purchased it. 

Tonight the press released the name of the suspect that the police arrested, 55 year old Chris Papadimitropoulos. Although the statues were shocking, they still stand and can be cleaned. I don’t know Chris Papi, but I feel terrible for him and his family. 

Ironically, his shirt says: Freedom

This photo was taken by: Steve Schnibbe

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