A few weeks ago, a blogger buddy of mine sent me an email. It said, "I didn't know Bret Michaels from Poison was from Harrisburg." As if I would hold out on information like that!!! Bret technically isn't from Harrisburg, but if I said he was from Mechanicsburg, would you know where that was?!? So, I got to thinking, who else is from PA that is famous? So, a couple of friends and I got our three good brain cells together and came up with a list. So, don't say I never told you these famous folks were from PA:
Trent Reznor....Nine Inch Nails
(the band) Fuel
Pink
Christina Aguilara
Louisa May Alcott
Edgar Allen Poe
Daniel Boone
James Buchanan
Alexander Calder, modern sculptor
Rachel Carson (a person I think was way before her time regarding the environment!)
Mary Cassatt, Impressionist painter
Bill Cosby
Jimmy/Tommy Dorsey
W.C. Fields
Lee Iacocca, CEO Ford
Ed Kowalczyk (lead singer from the band Live)
Brett Michaels, Rikki Rocket (from Poison)
Dan Marino
Reggie Jackson
Jim Kelly
Margaret Mead
Arnold Palmer (who's wife taught Sunday school with my mom!)
B.F. Skinner
Gertrude Stein
Jimmy Stewart
Andrew Wyeth
Fred Rogers (as in "It's a beautful day in the neighborhood...")
Andy Warhol
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Reality Check, Please!
Who freaking cares that:
there's a war in Iraq
there's genocide in Darfur
Korea's got nuclear weapons and isn't afraid to use them
there's global warming
there's a presidential election next year
yesterday was Tony Blair's last day as PM of England
there's torrential rain in Texas
Liz Claiborne died
there's no cure for cancer, AIDS, and diabetes
Why don't we care? Because Paris Hilton is out of jail. Everyone breathe a sigh of relief. It was thoroughly amusing to be out last night where every television was tuned to CNN (which I thought was a reputable news station) and see Larry King (who I thought was a reputable news person) interviewing Paris Hilton, fresh from jail, while the real headlines of the day were passing by unnoticed beneath Paris's pretty little face. Geesh.
there's a war in Iraq
there's genocide in Darfur
Korea's got nuclear weapons and isn't afraid to use them
there's global warming
there's a presidential election next year
yesterday was Tony Blair's last day as PM of England
there's torrential rain in Texas
Liz Claiborne died
there's no cure for cancer, AIDS, and diabetes
Why don't we care? Because Paris Hilton is out of jail. Everyone breathe a sigh of relief. It was thoroughly amusing to be out last night where every television was tuned to CNN (which I thought was a reputable news station) and see Larry King (who I thought was a reputable news person) interviewing Paris Hilton, fresh from jail, while the real headlines of the day were passing by unnoticed beneath Paris's pretty little face. Geesh.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Cities of the Underworld
Has anyone else been watching this show in the History channel? This show takes a look at what's under the streets of the biggest cities in the world like London, Paris, Budapest, New York and Philadelphia. Did you know that there are underground bunkers and hospitals under the city of London that were used by Churchill. The only thing they forgot to build within this underworld was a bathroom which meant Churchill was peeing into a bucket while he was hidden away.There's also a secret subway stop under the Waldorf Astoria Hotel that was used by F.D.R. so that he wouldn't have to get out of his car and walk anywhere that the public would see that he was handicapped due to polio.
The Freemason Underground show was just on Monday and in watching it we discovered there is a fort in the Philadelphia area called Fort Mifflin that we never were aware of before. It's apparently near the airport and from the looks of it, it isn't open to the public. This particular show revealed the Masons that were our founding fathers designed buildings and even cities that mimicked the Masonic symbols.
It's on Monday's at 9:00 EST, and totally engrossing if you're into things that are secret, underground and off the beaten path!
Saturday, June 23, 2007
The Seed Has Been Planted
Since graduation, I've been looking for a job in my field. That would be museum or archival work, historic preservation, anything along those lines. Surprisingly there is plenty of work like this in my area since I'm not willing to relocate at this point. The down side, is that the jobs require either a Bachelors Degree with tons of experience or a Masters with a little less experience.
Can you see where this is going? I'm thinking a Master's Degree is in my future. I'm not willing to settle for a job that I could do prior to getting my B.A. That would be silly. So, I've started looking around for a school with a curriculum I'd be interested in. Luckily, there are many colleges in my area, one in particular that would get me the degree I need and want. Here's where there will be an ironic twist of fate. For as many of you know, during college football season, I'm a huge Notre Dame fan. Looks like I may become alumni of Penn State should I decide to pursue my Master's Degree. No laughing!
Can you see where this is going? I'm thinking a Master's Degree is in my future. I'm not willing to settle for a job that I could do prior to getting my B.A. That would be silly. So, I've started looking around for a school with a curriculum I'd be interested in. Luckily, there are many colleges in my area, one in particular that would get me the degree I need and want. Here's where there will be an ironic twist of fate. For as many of you know, during college football season, I'm a huge Notre Dame fan. Looks like I may become alumni of Penn State should I decide to pursue my Master's Degree. No laughing!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Vamos a Nuevo York
If you haven't figured out by now, I'm taking a Spanish class this semester, so I'm trying to practice as much as possible. Anyway, took a trip to NYC yesterday. It was a gorgeous sunny day, not too hot (at first) and not as wet as it would be later in the afternoon.
We stopped by to see the progress at Ground Zero which looks quite similar to what it looked like when I was there in December 2001. A nearby very old church served as a place where the rescue workers could sleep and get fed after 9/11. It has now become a museum. It also has a really cool cemetery.
The extensive damage done to things other than buildings on 9/11 can be seen on the sculpture that stood outside the World Trade Center buildings for years. They have moved this sculpture to Battery Park where you catch the ferry to Ellis and Liberty Islands. There is an eternal flame burning there as well.
We also went to Ellis Island for the first time which includes a trip to Liberty Island. I've been to the Statue of Liberty before but that was pre 9/11. Post 9/11 trips to Liberty Island and Ellis Island are somewhat similar to boarding a jet. Metal detectors, take off your shoes, etc. as well as an hour wait just to get on the boat.
Ellis Island is very interesting and to have been part of the restoration of the building and its contents must have been a fantastic experience for those involved. You certainly can get a feel for the suffering this immigrants went through to get to America, the tight cramped quarters on the ships, waiting in line for hours or days and losing their belongings, their names and family members must have been quite a comprimise for freedom. There are passports, photographs, luggage, clothing musical instruments and other personal belongings to look at as you walk around the building. You can even trace your own family roots if they came through Ellis Island.
Graffiti was a way for the immigrants to pass the time and leave messages maybe for other family members. There are a couple of columns in the building that have been preserved with the original graffiti on them.
The views from the boat to and from the islands are beyond compare.
We stopped by to see the progress at Ground Zero which looks quite similar to what it looked like when I was there in December 2001. A nearby very old church served as a place where the rescue workers could sleep and get fed after 9/11. It has now become a museum. It also has a really cool cemetery.
The extensive damage done to things other than buildings on 9/11 can be seen on the sculpture that stood outside the World Trade Center buildings for years. They have moved this sculpture to Battery Park where you catch the ferry to Ellis and Liberty Islands. There is an eternal flame burning there as well.
We also went to Ellis Island for the first time which includes a trip to Liberty Island. I've been to the Statue of Liberty before but that was pre 9/11. Post 9/11 trips to Liberty Island and Ellis Island are somewhat similar to boarding a jet. Metal detectors, take off your shoes, etc. as well as an hour wait just to get on the boat.
Ellis Island is very interesting and to have been part of the restoration of the building and its contents must have been a fantastic experience for those involved. You certainly can get a feel for the suffering this immigrants went through to get to America, the tight cramped quarters on the ships, waiting in line for hours or days and losing their belongings, their names and family members must have been quite a comprimise for freedom. There are passports, photographs, luggage, clothing musical instruments and other personal belongings to look at as you walk around the building. You can even trace your own family roots if they came through Ellis Island.
Graffiti was a way for the immigrants to pass the time and leave messages maybe for other family members. There are a couple of columns in the building that have been preserved with the original graffiti on them.
The views from the boat to and from the islands are beyond compare.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
I Gotta Cut Loose, Footloose!
I saw this on Smoke and Mirrors and just couldn't resist since it's music related, and for me 80's music related. Here's how it goes:
These are the rules:1. Go to this website (scroll down and you’ll seen them separated by decades on the left in the sidebar)
2. Pick a year you were in high school
3. Get yourself nostalgic over the songs of that year
4. Pick 5 songs and write something about how these songs affected you
5. Pass it on to 5 more people
Cyndi Lauper-Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Aside from thinking Ms. Lauper was the coolest thing because of her partially shaved head and flaming red hair and thrift shop clothes, this was one of my favorites back in the day. I remember asking one of my friends to buy this for me for either my birthday or Christmas, which she did. After I opened it, she told me how embarassed she was to have to actually walk into a record store and purchase this kind of music from a person that looks like she does. Mmmk...get over yourself!! The album is called "She's So Unusual" shouldn't that be your first clue??
My parents were sort of taken aback from the looks of Cyndi Lauper too. But when they saw her on an interview and found out she has like a 3 octave range voice, and was classically trained, they were o.k. with things.
U2-Pride in the Name of Love
U2 was pretty new on the scene in 1984, still playing small clubs, etc. When the album Under a Blood Red Sky came out (yea, I know, this song is not even on UBRS, just hear me out) we played the heck out of that vinyl. These guys were gods to us. Our friends that were in bands all played their music and we sang our hearts out with them.
I remember buying The Unforgettable Fire on cassette (which does contain Pride) on my trip to Ireland back in 1990.
Prince-Purple Rain
Speaking of gods..my friends and I went to see this movie like a million times. Each of us was totally ga-ga over Prince. I remember one of my "guy" friends asking me what was so cute about him. I still can't put my finger on it, he just is. The down side is his waist is probably as big as my arm.
Every song on this album is a classic. We 'specially loved "Darling Nicky" because it was dirty.
Billy Idol-Rebel Yell.jpg)
Billy was/is an enigma. I had demo albums and mainstream albums of his. One album cover in particular was a huge picture of his head complete with spiky hair. I loved to freak out my elders with is. They thought for sure I was a satan worshipper.
I had a friend who was in a band that was nuts about Billy Idol. He was the first person I knew to go see him in a club in NYC. Billy actually sweated on him!!! Because of my friend he introduced me to the band Billy was in previous to his solo career, that was Generation X. They're on my iPod right this minute.
Stray Cats-Look At That Cadillac
Love, love, loved this band! I was a member in the fan club and actually got to see the band back in the 80's (not on a recent reunion tour.) I got to touch both Brian Setzer and Slim Jim Phantom too. I have washed my hand since then, just in case you're wondering. This was another band I had U.S. and import albums of. I remember the imports being such a big deal. Guess there is no such thing anymore since and mp3 is an mp3?!?!
Ah, that was fun! I miss the 80's. I'm gonna go put on my wayfarers, make my hair real big and listen to some music!
Friday, June 08, 2007
A Few of My Favorite Things
One sure way to get me out of a funk is to have me talk about food! Thanks to M over at Smoke and Mirrors who tagged me for this meme about food. And after reading his blog about all the fantastic places he lives close to including those places in Hyannis on the Cape....I'm so totally jealous!!! His daughter an I apparently have the same taste in food. She's a Moe's kinda girl and so am I! I love that place, but it's not on my list!
Here’s how it goes; I list 5 of my favorite area restaurants and I'll be nice and won't tag anyone, but if you want to, have at it!! This is one serious meme. The best local places to eat recommended by the local people that have actually eaten the food there. It just doesn’t get any better than that, does it?
El Rodeo This place has the best darned food in town. They're all over the central PA area, though I'm not a huge fan of chain restaurants, but this one certainly gets my vote. The food is inexpensive, and they have a huge selection including many vegetarian choices. The margarita's are pretty good, the wait staff are true blue Mexicano's and just about every month there is a mariachi band on site. When you first arrive, you get a big basket of homemade corn chips and a bowl of homemade salsa. I know it's homemade because it tastes different every time you eat there. Sometimes it'll set your mouth on fire! The guacamole is also homemade and there's nothing like the real thing. That grocery store variety is for the birds!
Paxtang Grill This place has been in business for over 40 years. It is small, unassuming with great crab cakes and drink specials every night. You can get a prime rib dinner for $12.99 or a NY Strip for next to nothing. They have a full "tini" menu for those martini snobs in the crowd. There's not a lot of atmosphere but the food is great. Nick is in the kitchen, girls, he's tall and lanky and kinda looks like a Greek God. It's all worth it!!
Sandwich Man This is the place I worked at over the summer last year and claimed it to having the best Reuben this side of NYC!!! You cannot beat the sandwiches here. Take for instance their "Visions of Utopia"...it's rye bread, lettuce, turkey, bacon, another layer of rye bread, tomato, roast beef, american cheese, onion, another layer of rye bread, corned beef, swiss cheese, and another layer of rye bread. Or, you could try the "Salad Split Sub" which is lettuce, chicken salad, american cheese, tomato, egg salad, provolone, tuna salad, onion, potato salad, and pickle wedges. DEAR GAWD!!!
The Warwick Hotel It is truly a hotel nestled between Harrisburg and Hershey in a little town called Hummelstown. The thing I like best, is that every salad you can get with eitherportobello mushrooms, steak, chicken or shrimp. There is their cajun salad, or the salad with apples or pears with glazed walnuts. YUM!!! You can get a dinner or sandwich whatever you want in a great homey atmosphere.
Ceoltas This is not your run of the mill Irish pub. Located in downtown Harrisburg, you can find fresh salads or fish and chips. There is often live Irish music on any day of the week, sometimes with local firefighters behind the bar serving drinks in KILTS! Hello LADIES!!!!! They have the best "black velvets" in town which for this place is a Guiness and cider layered in a pint glass. You meet the most interesting people here with authentic Irish bartenders serving you a pint! "'Bhí an-chraic againn."
And even though I'm not 'supposed to, I'm including a sixth....Neato Burrito. This place serves mission style burritos that could bust the gut on the most hearty of appetites. They have vegetarian and meat-aterian delights. Three different kinds of rice and salsas, if you cannot find somthing you like here, there's something wrong.
And o.k. just one more, because I cannot resist....Isaac's. Their broccoli and tortolini salads are to die for and they have a sandwich called the Tufted Tit Mouse...any questions???
Here’s how it goes; I list 5 of my favorite area restaurants and I'll be nice and won't tag anyone, but if you want to, have at it!! This is one serious meme. The best local places to eat recommended by the local people that have actually eaten the food there. It just doesn’t get any better than that, does it?
El Rodeo This place has the best darned food in town. They're all over the central PA area, though I'm not a huge fan of chain restaurants, but this one certainly gets my vote. The food is inexpensive, and they have a huge selection including many vegetarian choices. The margarita's are pretty good, the wait staff are true blue Mexicano's and just about every month there is a mariachi band on site. When you first arrive, you get a big basket of homemade corn chips and a bowl of homemade salsa. I know it's homemade because it tastes different every time you eat there. Sometimes it'll set your mouth on fire! The guacamole is also homemade and there's nothing like the real thing. That grocery store variety is for the birds!
Paxtang Grill This place has been in business for over 40 years. It is small, unassuming with great crab cakes and drink specials every night. You can get a prime rib dinner for $12.99 or a NY Strip for next to nothing. They have a full "tini" menu for those martini snobs in the crowd. There's not a lot of atmosphere but the food is great. Nick is in the kitchen, girls, he's tall and lanky and kinda looks like a Greek God. It's all worth it!!
Sandwich Man This is the place I worked at over the summer last year and claimed it to having the best Reuben this side of NYC!!! You cannot beat the sandwiches here. Take for instance their "Visions of Utopia"...it's rye bread, lettuce, turkey, bacon, another layer of rye bread, tomato, roast beef, american cheese, onion, another layer of rye bread, corned beef, swiss cheese, and another layer of rye bread. Or, you could try the "Salad Split Sub" which is lettuce, chicken salad, american cheese, tomato, egg salad, provolone, tuna salad, onion, potato salad, and pickle wedges. DEAR GAWD!!!
The Warwick Hotel It is truly a hotel nestled between Harrisburg and Hershey in a little town called Hummelstown. The thing I like best, is that every salad you can get with eitherportobello mushrooms, steak, chicken or shrimp. There is their cajun salad, or the salad with apples or pears with glazed walnuts. YUM!!! You can get a dinner or sandwich whatever you want in a great homey atmosphere.
Ceoltas This is not your run of the mill Irish pub. Located in downtown Harrisburg, you can find fresh salads or fish and chips. There is often live Irish music on any day of the week, sometimes with local firefighters behind the bar serving drinks in KILTS! Hello LADIES!!!!! They have the best "black velvets" in town which for this place is a Guiness and cider layered in a pint glass. You meet the most interesting people here with authentic Irish bartenders serving you a pint! "'Bhí an-chraic againn."
And even though I'm not 'supposed to, I'm including a sixth....Neato Burrito. This place serves mission style burritos that could bust the gut on the most hearty of appetites. They have vegetarian and meat-aterian delights. Three different kinds of rice and salsas, if you cannot find somthing you like here, there's something wrong.
And o.k. just one more, because I cannot resist....Isaac's. Their broccoli and tortolini salads are to die for and they have a sandwich called the Tufted Tit Mouse...any questions???
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Reading, Reading and more Reading
I have come to realize that I have no reading comprehension. I read, I think I understand but apparently I do not. I seriously think I have some form of ADD. But aside from that, I've been doing quite a bit of reading lately. One of the classes I'm taking is an American Literature class. In this class we are reading often short stories from the late 19th to 20th centuries. Through this I've discovered an author whose writing I love! Kate Chopin. You may know her work called The Awakening. This story set in Victorian times in the southern U.S. is about a woman and her self discoveries of independence from her husband and children, her discovery of unrequited love and her love of art. She has one final "awakening" which I will not disclose because it will ruin the ending. One of her other stories, called The Storm revolves around emotion and love with some illicit love affairs thrown in for good measure which is why many of her stories are "chick" stories but as with most artists and writers, her work was considered inappropriate for the time. She died soon after writing her last piece. Her descriptions and word choices were amazing, some almost brought tears to my eyes!
Currently, the class is reading The Adventures of Huck Finn. I've read parts of it before, but never got through the entire story and here I am again struggling to finish the book. I don't know what it is about that story that I cannot get through. Perhaps it's the dialect it is written in that is distracting to me. I know there's going to be a quiz on Tuesday so I better get to reading!
Finally, today is also my book club meeting. This month's book was one that I chose. I didn't even finish it because of all the other reading I've been doing. After the semester is over, I will pick it up again! The book is Suite Francaise. It is a story about several families who leave Paris during the German invasion in WWII. The author's personal story is almost as tragic as the book itself. Irene Nemirovsky left Russia for France during the war to escape the Nazi's. She was eventually captured in Europe and sent to a concentration camp where she died. Her writings were not discovered by her family until after her death. I love her style of writing, her story is a beautiful testament to a tragic time in the world. It is a fine piece of modern day literature.
Currently, the class is reading The Adventures of Huck Finn. I've read parts of it before, but never got through the entire story and here I am again struggling to finish the book. I don't know what it is about that story that I cannot get through. Perhaps it's the dialect it is written in that is distracting to me. I know there's going to be a quiz on Tuesday so I better get to reading!
Finally, today is also my book club meeting. This month's book was one that I chose. I didn't even finish it because of all the other reading I've been doing. After the semester is over, I will pick it up again! The book is Suite Francaise. It is a story about several families who leave Paris during the German invasion in WWII. The author's personal story is almost as tragic as the book itself. Irene Nemirovsky left Russia for France during the war to escape the Nazi's. She was eventually captured in Europe and sent to a concentration camp where she died. Her writings were not discovered by her family until after her death. I love her style of writing, her story is a beautiful testament to a tragic time in the world. It is a fine piece of modern day literature.
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