Nordstrom Rack is Coming to Brooklyn

The owner of 55o Filton Stree advertised that he wanted a  department store in his building. In the Spring of 2014, Nordstrom Rack will open in Downtown Brooklyn.

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Glimpses of Success

In the last post, I showed Lee’s work on putting sealant on the deck. After the sealant, we had to go to Home Depot to buy a cover (to cover the white deck).  I call it a cover because I don’t want to say:  fake grass. I hate fake grass – not because it is fake but because it is made of plastic and I don’t care for plastic. Home Depot had several choices and I picked the most expensive not because it was the most expensive but because it was the only fake grass that wasn’t deep dark green. The one I picked is the same colors as our grapevine and the leaves of other plants on the deck. The employee at Home Depot warns us that it is expensive and that we could pick another one that is a terrible shade of green. We tell her that we want this one because it has an eight year warranty. 

No one had brought this type of fake grass all year and the Home Depot employee had to unwrap the carpet roll. While we are waiting, I looked around and a young woman walking toward me started to smile. I recognized her immediately even though she graduated 10 years ago. She looked the same, but more grown up. (I will refer to her as she repeatedly as I don’t want to use her name on my blog). She was one of the students I worried about the most in all my years teaching. She didn’t have an easy childhood and the years that followed her graduation weren’t easy on her either. She had to grow up fast. She was a good student and I always enjoyed talking to her. I hadn’t been in contact with her in many years.

She hugged me and I asked her how she was. She was all grown up and was anxious to tell me about her life. She was doing well  and I felt so proud. She was at Home Depot purchasing items for her first apartment by herself. She started to tel me about a past mistake of sharing an apartment and I stopped her and reminded her she wouldn’t be in Home Depot shopping for her own place if she didn’t first move out with friends. She smiled and told me about her plans for the future.  And this teacher was so grateful to have a glimpse of her life and success. (Written at 3:07 am and not edited – sorry I am too tired).

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Sign of Love – Maybe

Our deck needed sealer. I mentioned it to Lee on Saturday. Today, I came home to this: 

^Yep I love him.   (Sorry for the cell phone pic). 

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Anthony Weiner – Reality TV is More Suited for Your Lifestyle

Anthony Weiner loves Anthony Weiner. He is lewd and a liar. When pictures and tweets came out the first time, he denied he did it and said that the pictures weren’t of him.  Weiner left office and we were told he went to therapy. People were glad he left office because that type of behavior isn’t acceptable. Several months ago, Weiner returned to the news because he joined the mayoral race. He wants us to believe that he can be trusted with the keys to the city. Now there is evidence of  new messages and pictures that were taken AFTER the birth of his child.  

Anthony Weiner doesn’t care about the one thing that most good men care about – his wife. He has embarrassed Huma Abedin and is just dragging her through more of his mess.  I think he enjoys the attention and doesn’t care whether it’s positive or negative. It’s obvious that he likes to be publically shamed or else he wouldn’t have done the exact same thing again. A huge mistake happens once AFtER THAT, it’s not an accident. Weiner doesn’t act like he wants to be with Huma because if he did, he wouldn’t seek all this attention from other woman and then continue to embarrass her.  She shouldn’t have had to go to press conference. This woman could have had a political career of her own before her husband started this mayoral run.

The part that annoys me is that we shouldn’t have to keep hearing about this reality television type lifestyle where a married man is sneaking around sending pictures and text to strangers on the internet. Parents shouldn’t have to discuss why someone running for mayor of NYC  doesn’t know how to behave and is being a creeper, instead of an honorable man. The discussion everyone should be having is who is the best candidate and who stands for the needs of the people.

As for Weiner being mayor, that won’t happen. Why? Because most people will vote for a strong, trustworthy candidate over an immature, silly and dishonest one.

In the beginning when the news first broke about Weiner, I felt sorry for his wife, Huma because I believed she was a victim of her husband’s stupidity. When I saw Huma on my television today, I didn’t feel sorry for her at all. Although it may be okay with her that her husband is lewd online and disrespectful to her, it’s not okay with me. One day she will learn that people who are in love with you don’t embarrass you repeatedly.

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Praying for Parking

If you ever rode in a car with me, you know I always pray for parking and I always find it right when the prayer is done. We saw this sign in Manhattan advertising a parking lot and we laughed so much.

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Teacher Giveaways

1) Teachers – Hooty has a great Make It Monday so go here and see it and  enter the $25 Mastercard Giveaway! 

2) Teachers – Also check out Alison’s Rockin Behavior Beads here

3) Teachers – Check out Stephanie’s from the PolkaDot Palace beautiful classroom set and it’s editable!

4) Last but not least Skippers Jungle Out there huge 25th Birthday giveaway!

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Introductions and Games

Many companies have team building day, especially when a lot of new employees are hired. Usually these events have introduction games.  We had to say our name and a dream or goal we have. I just wanted to get it over with so I made it up. I said, “Hi I’m Marlene and it’s my dream one day to own a bengal or Russian blue cat.”  I didn’t think anyone really paid attention during these intros because I don’t. Everyone was mentioning computer programs that they were tinkering with but I didn’t feel like repeating other people’s answers. Now I am getting texts from these people with pictures and videos of my “future cats.” LOL

If you know me IRL, you know I tolerate cats because I am allergic to them. I’m really a dog person. 

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RIP Talia Joy Castellano

Thirteen year old YouTuber, Talia Joy Castellano passed away on July 16th. She was a bubbly makeup guru on Youtube. In February 2007 she was diagnosed with cancer and made videos because makeup was her wig.  Ironically, Talia had neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer which took my brother’s life also many years ago. In 2007, when they discovered the disease, Talia was at Stage 4 already.  Every year 650 infants and young children are diagnosed with it. 

I would stop by Talia’s YouTube page now and then and check in with her now and then. I was hoping that Sloan Kettering would have a cure the disease by now. Seeing her family’s updates on Facebook made me sad as the disease weakened Talia. 

I studied neuroblastoma extensively many years ago. In one study a doctor found that pesticides in the environment caused neuroblastoma. That always stayed in the back of my mind as my family spent time in the Hamptons at different times of the year. * In Talia’s last video on June 9, 2013, she said that she went to her family’s home in the Hamptons.  Growing up, I always believed the disease was genetic, but I guess through tests they found it could be acquired different ways. 

RIP Talia. *Prayers for her mother and sister.*

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Zimmerman Case – Coward Walks

We have been hearing about the Zimmerman case in the news for a long time now. The verdict was predictable weeks ago and didn’t surprise me in the least. I don’t think Trayvon’s parents were surprised either as they weren’t present when the jury’s verdict was read.

George Zimmerman isn’t a winner in this case. George Zimmerman will always be regarded as a coward who shot killed an unarmed teenager. Zimmerman is living in hiding because they fear for his safety.

Zimmerman was released and the gun he shot Trayvon Martin will be returned to him soon. The gun he used to take the life of a kid is going to be returned to a murderer.

Many people mentioned that the problem in the case was that Florida is a Stand your ground state, but Zimmerman was not using that defense. He was claiming self defense. If this was a ‘stand your ground case,’ Zimmerman would have had to testify.

The laws for giving and using guns need to be changed. Kids can’t be shot because of cowardly men. Gun ownership is a right in America, but idiots like Zimmerman can’t be given free reign to use them because they fear the world.

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July 4th 2013 Bay Ridge Brooklyn

 So go North to see Fireworks in Brooklyn:

• The East River Park in Williamsburg (90 Kent Avenue) – great view – we went here and the view is great! (Yes I live closer to the 69th pier, but I knew that by 7 or 7:30 that pier is filled so we went to the Kent Ave Pier.
• Louis Valentino, Jr. Park and Pier in Red Hook (Coffey St & Ferris St 11231)
• Transmitter Park in Greenpoint (Greenpoint Avenue and West Street – Brooklyn 11222 ) – our friends went here last year and had gorgeous pictures
• Grand Ferry Park in Williamsburg (a very small park on Grand St. and River St. 11211)

2) MCU Park will have fireworks in Brooklyn on July 4, 2013.  MCU Park is located at 1904 Surf Avenue. They Cyclones are away for a game in MD on July 4th, but the Park will have fireworks again this year. I heard this show was amazing last year!

Fireworks in Brooklyn 4th of July 2013

We got tickets to Hudson Terrace this year because our friend sent out reminders in May! See Here

3) Bay Ridge does have an all day July 4th Picnic at the Park on Shore Road and 82nd Street from 11Am to 9PM.   You can bring your own food (no grills) or you can purchase hotdogs and hamburgers there.  There are no fireworks at this picnic, but there is good music (see list below) and they have nice events for kids (rides, face painting and the parks sprinklers are on). The proceeds go to the 68th Street Youth Council.

Question from visitor: What about the Fort Hamilton Army base? What does the Army Base in Bay Ridge do for the Fourth of July?  Nothing this year. Two years ago on the Fourth of July they had a concert, but I think there was a lot of problems with traffic and overcrowding so they haven’t done it again. The Ft. Hamilton Army Base doesn’t have fireworks on the 4th.

Oh and course the Original Nathan’s in Coney Island has the hot dog eating contest every year.

So that’s a wrap on things to do in Bay Ridge for July 4th 2013!  Happy 4th of July!

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News about St. Anselm School

I was surprised to hear the news about St. Anselm School. Rumors were going around stating that the school was closing due to low enrollment. I’ve seen this happened to a half a dozen Catholic schools in Brooklyn over the years. St. Anselm School in Bay Ridge is not closing, but it is becoming an Academy.

In 2009, Our Lady of Angels was thinking about shutting down, but through an initiative known as Sharing the Vision, the school became Holy Angels Catholic Academy. Saint Anselm School will  be called St. Anselm Catholic Academy and will be run by a Board of Directors, not the parish.  People have described an Academy school being like a  charter school housed in a Catholic school building.

I think giving this type a school a chance is good for parents who want to have a choice in the type of school their child goes to. 

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Renting or Buying Bikes in Bay Ridge

Since it is summer, everyone is bike riding. Or maybe the installation of the new Citibikes made everyone want to start bicycle riding again.

In Bay Ridge, you can rent a bike from Rollin Green 33 Bay Ridge Ave  (between Colonial Rd & Ovington Ave) . They are open 10 am-7 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 8 pm on weekends.  Monthly bike rental fees – $49

Rollin Green is going to rent  skates soon too.

Other bike shops in Bay Ridge:

Bay Ridge Bicycle World is located on 89th Street and 3rd Avenue (Good reviews on Yelp)

Verrazano Bike Shop – 73rd and 5th Avenue (Also good Yelp Reviews)

 My bike is from my old neighborhood shop Mr. C’s Bike Shop 46th Street and 7th Avenue

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