Slowly but surely, I will get my life back to normal. But wait, there's a ticker tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes in downtown Manhattan this Friday!
Thursday, November 05, 2009
We are the Champions!
Slowly but surely, I will get my life back to normal. But wait, there's a ticker tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes in downtown Manhattan this Friday!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Libretti and Biscotti (a very belated post)
Mark's new iPod was purchased after our first generation iPod just refused to cooperate on our last overseas trip. A few days before my birthday, Mark got one and christened it Biscotti because it was tall and skinny. The squarish one is mine and is an earlier generation iPod, Libretti. Their names came from a very memorable Law and Order episode "Nowehre Man" in the 90's.
Below is a sample of one of the first of many Biscotti videos starring...........who else?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Revenge of the Nerds
This is definitely one for the fashion blogs. Certain style statements do endure the test of time. On the left is circa 1967. On the right is 2009.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
I Found It!
Ref: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=519615&publicationSubCategoryId=79
"...The main character in Baldemor’s work is the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary garbed in a white robe with her head illumined by giant rays. Opposite the Virgin’s image on both sides of the panel are two stars sharing the light from the Virgin. Above are images of doves flying, bathed in the same illumination. Below is an illustration of a man and woman holding a young boy in the likeness of the Filipino family.
The figure of St. Therese of the Child Jesus occupies a prominent place in the right side, holding a picture and crucifix bedecked with flowers. Except for images of military tanks below the two stars, a quick glance at Baldemor’s work makes the 1986 bloodless revolution look a lot like a Catholic feast: people in colorful Filipino costumes carrying religious articles like the crucifix and the Child Jesus in the image of the Santo Nino..."
Refs:
Mural - http://worldofnancylublog.blogspot.com/2009/08/have-look-at-colorful-pinoy-art-on.html
Mural Description - http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/opinion/view/20081113-171956/People-Power-art-in-French-Basilica
Archetype of the Filipino family - http://www.dcmedina.com/gallerysolomon/collect.htm
Friday, October 02, 2009
[BIT] Back in Time: All Creatures Great and Small
October 4, 2008 - Mark and I attended the annual Blessing of the Animals in honor of St. Francis (my favorite saint) at our parish. Watching people who bring their pets to the church to be blessed is so heart warming. If you look closely at one of the pictures, you will see a small parakeet being blessed!
Monday, September 21, 2009
09-18-09: Deanna Starts her weekend with Sol Lewitt
Mark planned for me to kick-off my birthday celebration with a date with one of my favorite American artists, Sol Lewitt. I featured him in one of my earlier posts and now I will see him about 4 times a week on the 59th Street Station since this is my train stop to get to my gym which is only 4 blocks away.
I love what Transit Blogger writes: "Talk about a sure fire way to brighten your day or night!"
Don't forget to CLICK on the photo to see Lewitt's awesome installation.
09-19-09: Pieta at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, Soho
It has been a long time since I have been to Mass at the St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in Soho. While I initially came to church to view the Pieta, I was blessed to attend mass and the Blessed Sacrament adoration.
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, a private collector moved an exact casting of Michelangelo’s masterwork, The Pieta. The rare piece is one of only nine casts commissioned by the Vatican in 1932 by the Marinelli Foundry of Florence, Italy. It is an exact rendition of Michelangelo’s original marble sculpture on display in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
This Michelangelo Bronze Pieta is not a replica. As an original cast from the official plaster molds of Michelangelo’s sculpture, it captures every detail created by the artist’s hand. Unique to this display is the unprecedented access the viewer is afforded to study the work. While the original sculpture in the Vatican is protected behind glass, this piece may be viewed from every angle and without barriers. (ref: http://www.1888pressrelease.com/private-collector-loans-michelangelo-bronze-pieta-to-st-pat-pr-134990.html)
Don't forget to CLICK on the photo to see the beauty of the Pieta and the St. Patrick's Old Cathedral!
09-18-09: A Huddle at the Old Boy Club, Chinatown
It is customary for Mark and I to go to the Old Boy Club for some authentic Asian kaffe pausa. We love the old feel of the Old Boy Club and the charming old customers. Mark is having his favorite custard while I have the sticky rice.
09-18-09: Pre-Birthday Dinner, Meat Market in Chinatown
I may be treated like a princess for the weekend, but I still need to feed my habib! I decided to cook easy-to-cook, comfort food - Teriyaki Beef Ribs. Check out my cooking blog!
09-18-09: 2nd Year of Park(ing) Day NYC, Upper West Side
This is the second time Mark and I participated in Park(ing) Day. It always takes place around the time of my birthday! I am pleased a "civic holiday" takes place on my birthday!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
09-19-09: Happy Birthday Deanna!
I was thinking hard about why this year has been good to me. Am I near death? Am I close to achieving self-fulfillment on earth, even if I have not reduced my weight? On one my web-trawling moments, I realized that I have a triple auspicious date. The Chinese believe nine is a lucky number, which makes Triple 9's in my birthdate particularly auspicious - for good luck and long life. Lucky numbers are based on Chinese words that sound similar to other Chinese words. The numbers 6, 8, and 9 are believed to have auspicious meanings because their names sound similar to words that have positive meanings. The words the words “nine” and “long” are homophones.
09-19-09: Grovaloo at the Joyce Theater
Mark took me to this no-intermission, 90-minute performance of free-style dancing at the Joyce Theater, my first time. Defying the laws of gravity, this award-winning troupe of dancers continually defies it with their many spectacular moves. More importantly, the show gave these kids from the streets a chance to express themselves through poetry and dance. There are 6 stories, but the most touching belongs to BoogieMan (Steven Stanton) who had been shot right before the first incarnation of this show launched back in 2003. His spinal injury left Stanton in critical condition with expectations of paralysis; yet every evening Stanton dances on the stage with energy and grace and retells his rehabilitation with poignancy. Call that inspirational!
I am not a fan of free-style, hip-hop or rap. But this show, made me aware, on my birthday, to keep an open mind about things.
Afterward, Mark took me to Cola's, a small Italian restaurant nearby for dinner. Tutta bene! Si grazie, mi amore Mark!
09-20-09-Opening of the Gifts!
The day after my birthday, we opened my birthday gift. And of course, the event is not complete if Mark doesn't open a gift of his own, birthday or no birthday. Happy Birthday!
CLICK on the photo to see what Mark and I got as pressies!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Close Encounter with a Swiss Cow, the Video
To see the video on YouTube, click HERE.
We also have additional videos you might be interested in, in case you are mildly depressed, have insomnia or just plain bored. Enter "springsdxb" in the Search bar of YouTube. And yes, the humor is free of charge. ENJOY!
Friday, September 11, 2009
We Remember - September 11, 2001
A mourner kneels at a reflecting pool in the pit five years later, Sept. 11, 2006.
(Ref: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/toplists)
Sunday, September 06, 2009
September 5, 2009 - Holenstein to Eigergletscher Hike
The day started very cloudy with a low cloud ceiling of 100 feet from the Grindelwald valley floor. We decided to stay below the cloud line and started the hike at Holenstein and from there follow the "Fruit Trail" to a small town called Brandegg. From the point,we would decide if we would hike at a higher elevation if the weather improved and it did! After lunch, we went up to the Eigergletscher, the point where glaciers coming from the Eiger would come from and fall down to the valley. The path started at level ground with cows dotting the horizon but towards the end, the descent became steep and the path very narrow, only a foot wide without any markings. We figured this as a cow path more than a hiking path. Once Mark had to come down on his butt to get down safely. We arrived in Kleine Scheidegg bound for Grindelwald on the second to the last train of the day.
For more pictures, click HERE!
Friday, September 04, 2009
September 04, 2009 - Grosse Scheidegg to First Hike
Our first hike was the toughest. Climbing from 3,385 feet to 7,100 feet under a very cloudy and sometimes rainy day. The cloud cover came up from the Grindelwald valley below to cover us with a near "white out" with reduced visibility of 40 feet. Combined with the thin Alpine air, our hike was extended for another 45 minutes but still overall we did it in good time.
For more pictures, click HERE
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
BIT: The Grotto, Port Campbell National Park AU - February 08
Before you get any ideas of me looking beatific and praying, don't hold your breath. I am referring to the Grotto in the Port Campbell National Park along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. Australia is known for its all-encompassing coastline and the Great Ocean Road offers some of the most majestic views of these serene environments. The photo without me is by David Wall, a popular landscape photographer. More to follow. My pictures of course!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Pride and Joy
My kitchen (aka laboratory) of course, designed by the hubby and my vintage Romoli poster. Everyday when I look at the poster, I feel the urge to travel.
March 2004: I Love these Breads!
From a panaderia in Quiapo near the old Ma Mon Luk.
They don't make them like these anymore!
In the Eye of the Storm: Mark makes it to the New York Post!
Last Tuesday night, there was a localized (about 10 city blocks) but powerful storm that passed through our street. I know you won't believe it but everyone in our neighborhood felt it was more of a tornado than a thunderstorm.
While we were watching Law and Order: SVU in 811, the temperature suddenly dropped, it got quiet and lightning started. We all thought it was the strong rains we were expecting but we got more. The hail, not rain, fell form the heavens. Our building was being pelted by ping pong ball size rain drops. Then the strong winds came roaring, twisting the midsection of the old oak trees in the area and then uprooting them.
I ran downstairs to 708 to close the windows. The rain and winds were so strong I could not open the door to my apartment. Fearing that the pressure could wither blow the windows into my apartment or I get blown out of the apartment, I decided to wait a few seconds. When I had the strength to enter the apartment, I saw the window side of my bed really, really wet. I closed all the windows with a struggle and cleaned up. Then after 5 minutes not a moment more, the rain stopped.
Mark, in the meantime, was very curious as to what happened outside. By the time he came back past midnight, he had a few dramatic photos which were featured in the New York Post. His alias is Mr. Mark. Below are the links to the headline this morning with a picture of my neighborhood, and 2 links to Mark's photos (he had a total of 4 photos submitted. The Post chose all of them).
I am so proud of Mark but afraid of the thunderstorm. Everyone in the neighborhood believed it was an F1 tornado. We were all sad to see 30+ of our oak trees, some of them over 100 years old, just uprooted and dead. But the good thing is, there were no human or animal injuries. Here are the links and the attached pictures:
For New York Post's story, click here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)