Does anyone proofread these days???

I can understand people's typos in text messages and emails. We are all in such a rush to get our thoughts across, that spell checking is on the back-burner. But when you are submitting your work, it needs to be checked, double-checked, triple-checked, then all of that, all over again, by someone else, someone like a proofreader. For those seeking a definition, proofreading is the reading of a galley proof or an electronic copy of a publication to detect and correct production errors of text or art (thank you, Wikipedia).

I am so unbelievable sick to the back teeth of incessant misspellings in books. Not only is it sloppy and careless, it is incredibly distracting. In Along the Way, Emilio Estevez wrote his father's full name incorrectly ("Ramon Antonio Gerard Estevez."). He switched the order of Martin Sheen's middle names. There were two other mistakes, such as a period in the middle of a sentence ("The script followed eight students over the course of their four high school years, with the. working title Hot Lunch.") and a typographical error ("What later became known between us at the Paris Sidewalk Incident was..."). It may seem nit-picky, but shouldn't someone who read the final draft have caught these mistakes? Maybe not Martin's names, but the others, at least. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but those incidental mistakes are actually monumental to the reader, once they are found. It's worse when it's a novel. A grammatical error in a novel is a mood killer. I'll be into a story, following behind the characters, watching every move they make, eavesdropping on their conversations when all of a sudden a word that should be "abroad" is printed as "aboard". That small error made me pause in my reading. It made me think, "Oh, wait. It's supposed to be abroad, okay, where was I..." I lose my place in the scene that was unfolding in my mind and I have to rewind a bit to catch up with the characters. I almost want to contact the publishing house and request a partial refund. I mean, I take full ownership when I buy a book that it is a risk. I may have shelled out up to twenty-five bucks for something I may loathe, but that's the risk. However, upon purchasing said book, I fully expect it to be properly bound and covered and printed and spelled correctly. Every word. Every punctuation on every single page. Holler if ya hear me.

(ps - I am lucky that my mother used to be a proofreader and will text me when she sees errors on this blog, so I can go back and make the corrections!) 

St. Mary's Little Free Pantry

After seeing A Quiet Place, Ashlee and I found ourselves on Louella Ave (in Wayne, PA) where I noticed a charming blue cabinet that read St. Mary's Little Free Pantry. I immediately made a mental note that the next time I was in the area I would drop off some goods to add to the pantry. The church is St. Mary's Episcopal Church and it is the quintessential suburban, Main-Street-America kind of church.

I met up with brother Wayne at MOM's and after lunch and lots of chit chat, we shopped for items to add to the cabinet. (I need some good karma.) Together we drove over and BOOM! - a free parking spot a mere eight feet away from the Free Pantry appeared before us. It was meant to be. 

(here's what we added - plus two bags of rice that were tucked behind the mac and cheese.)

Next time I think I'll drop off some more boxed stuff and a couple baby things. Maybe some diapers. Anyways, it was really fun to donate a couple things (I gave one of the Annie's, two little rice bags, the Lentil Veggie soup, Three Bears oatmeal, and Crofter's jam. Wayne gave the other Annie's, Amy's soup, and the yummy peanut butter.) and I hope that whoever grabs them enjoys what we picked!

John Wick

A few years back I was at Bishop and Pax's on a Sunday evening and Bish was channel surfing. We came across John Wick. "Yes!" he exclaimed with boy-ish delight, "Have you seen this?" I hadn't but certainly didn't object. It was about 15-20 minutes into the film so Bishop and I stayed up way past bedtime to watch it. Tonight I finally got a chance to see it in its entirety and it was one of the best revenge films I've ever seen. Keanu Reeves was sensational.

DAM Shoes

Spotted at the Delaware Art Museum a few months back with Anne. I do so love to sneakily snap photos of strangers footwear when out and about at random museums. Does this make me a bit peculiar? Good! As that has always been my plan.

Melissa and the Fellas!

My co-worker, Melissa, lives in Portland (Oregon, not Maine) and went to the Wizard World Comic Con a couple weeks back and was lucky enough to meet the wonderful Henry Winkler as well as Jason Momoa, both of whom she said were super-dooper nice. Jason is so tall that he towers over Melissa and makes her look like a wee lil' dumpling.

Star Trek Mel

An hour into my shift today my friend (and boss) Melanie, sent me a Lync message that said "look at your phone". I checked my cell and saw that she randomly sent me this hilarious pic of her looking very vulcan-like. Ya gotta love a typical pretty girl who is not afraid to look ridiculous. She's like Lucille Ball.

Along the Way

I am loving this father-son memoir by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez. I kinda don't wanna reach the end...

Reversal of Fortune

I finally got around to watching this entire film (previously I had only seen about the last three-quarters at Donna's place one night years ago) and it was sensational. It's pretty much a perfect film with some stunning performances, especially Jeremy Irons. I mean, who doesn't adore this man?

The World's Cutest Pupper

Look at this baby!! This is Charlie, AKA The Chuck Wagon, AKA, Charlie Button Butt, AKA Cecilia's adorable boy-pup. His cuteness is on level with a cartoon character, because it's so hard to believe that he could have a grey spot cover only one eye and have shaggy (♥) grey pom-pom ears with a big ole grey spot in the middle of his back and another surrounding a silky white tail. I mean, come on! How is he real? So, since his little face makes me smile and laugh every time I look at him, that is why I share this pic with you. I've never met lil' Chuckity Chuck-Chuck, but one day I will and on that day, he shall be smothered with kissus. Not kisses - kissus. Spelled the cute cartoonie way. As it should be.

Duck Cabinet Near Kildare

The Mortified Guide

Oh good gracious!!! This show (on Netflix) had me laughing and smiling so much that my cheeks started to hurt. What a brilliant way to unite everyone by reading aloud from your teenage journal. It was so easy to identify with so many of the readers. Oh, it's just so good. Watch it.

(photo kidnapped from ca.newonnetflix.info)

Is this place for sale?

If this exists, if it is truly a real-life little cabin on a teeny tiny island then it is apparently located in Ryfylke in Norway. Personally, I think it's too perfect to be real.

(photo kidnapped from Espen Hatleskog's IG page: @pilotviking)

Star Hearts Lucas the Spider

Anne told me about this lil' cutie's mini videos and as soon as I saw him on YouTube I fell crazy in love with this furry fella. If they create a Lucas stuffed pal, I will SO get one! Captured was the first clip I saw and it cracked me up because I always catch my house spiders in cups and toss them outside, but not before I stare at them through the glass...

Late Night Snickety Snack

I loves me a healthy snack because it means guilt-free eating! Hummus (non-GMO, of course!) plus kale falafels (they sound terrible but are actually yummy!), organic stoplight bell peppers and cukes. Surprisingly filling and mega tasty.

Orange Door

How I Help

Our lovely planet seems in constant dire straits and the news has me feeling that we are all doomed. There's an attitude of "why bother" and "what's the point" out there, but I for one, try to rise above and do my part. Even if no good comes of it, I personally feel better that I'm trying to make a difference. My biggest, biggest waste is water. I take long hot baths every day and I'm not yet ready to switch to anything else. So I do more in other areas of my life to make up for this imperfection. That's all any of us can do - our best.

Ever since my eighth grade teacher, Mrs. Toy, got us kids into recycling I've continued those good habits that she instilled in us and put it to use every day. I can be kind of pushy and preachy about it (just ask Mum) but I'm gonna try to stop that. I'll just do my part and let others do their own thing. Having said that, since this is my blog, I'm gonna lay out what I do to help the environment and share some info with anyone that cares to read on.

The things that I do to help the globe and all of it's inhabitants are as follows:
- I'm a Vegan → check out this brief lil' article on how choosing this lifestyle benefits the planet.
- I drive a small car - Roark!
- I work from home, therefore cutting down on petrol use.
- One day I plan on having my very own Tiny House, complete with solar panels, fruit trees, and a lovely little garden. (oh and of course a pond for the ducks)
- I use the following:
• Stainless steel straws (or bamboo)

• Reusable containers (I like U-Konserve the bestest and I will carry these with me when I dine-out, because it saves from using those plastic take-away containers.)

• Cloth tote bags (31 has some sturdy totes, but I tend to buy a bag from every supermarket I use which includes: Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's, Tesco, Delhaize, and Wegman's.)

• Mesh produce bags (Thrive Market turned me on to ChicoBag's rePetes and I really like that they fit into a little bag of their own that I can put in the boot with my cloth grocery bags.)

• Stainless steel cup (for coffee or whatever when I'm on the go - I like Greens Steel Beast)

• Cloth napkins (I tend to buy the funky and clearance-priced ones from pier 1.)

• Bring my own silverware (Fishs Eddy has fab singles you can buy to make your own mis-matched set) or Ikea plastic ware (it should be noted that I even bring these when going to Lena's Water Ice because these tough and reusable babies make each spoonful nearly orgasmic - the design is smooth as opposed to the course lines that run on the underside of most disposable plastic spoons.)

• Kleen Kanteen water bottles

• Water filter in lieu of disposable bottles (Brita is my fave - also, I like their water bottles for when I travel and need filtered water on the go.)

• Fluorescent light bulbs that can be recycled at Lowe's (and rechargeable batteries, too! Apparently from phones, drills, and computers.)

In my constant quest to reduce my wastefulness I Googled "used pen recycling" to see if there was something I could do aside from adding them to my rubbish bin and then to the landfill. I came upon a few sites but saw GreenPhilly and booyah! I discovered that The Pen Guy is an artist that takes used pens and incorporates them into his art. I'm gonna be sending a lil' pen care package very soon to:

The Pen Guy
P.O.Box 994
Forestville, CA 95436

Also, if you would like more tips on recycling odds and ends, MOM's Organic Market recycles so much and has quickly become one of my favourite places for some Naked Lunch and healthy grub. Visit their page on recycling and see all the stuff they help to recycle and details about the processes. I mainly drop off plastic bags, chip bags and the like, used-up Brita water filters, old beat-up shoes, batteries, and "candy bar" wrappers (mine are usually those Fig Bars wrappers, though). They compost as well, so I'll be setting aside juice pulp that I can't use, as well as the guts of my bell peppers and apple cores in a bag in my freezer then dropping it off at MOM's, rather than toss it in the garbage. (Although I wonder if my food garbage mixed in with my regular trash helps to break down things...)

Lastly, for now anyways, I want to mention Earth911. It's a fantastic site that tells you where to take certain items (nail polish!! I had no idea I could recycle my old bottles!) in your neighbourhood for recycling.

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve

This afternoon Anne and I went to Bowman's in New Hope. It was featured in A Guide to the Great Gardens of the Philadelphia Region and seemed promising. Two things you should know about me - I do NOT like standing in the sun and I do NOT like tours. I find them tedious and boring (except for Wayne from The Winchester Mystery House) and I always have. But.....I wanted to be a good friend and so off we went. The place was jam packed, but we found parking not far from the Visitor Center. The staff was super friendly and there was just a great atmosphere of excitement coming from them as well as the patrons. We took an hour long tour in the blazing 80°F/26°C heat under a sky with zero clouds and a very angry sun. But I ain't no dummy. I brought my umbrella and used it as a parasol. No sunburn for this betch. Even though our guide, Emily, was exceedingly nice and really informative, there were no fucking flowers. Why didn't Anne mention that we should go in May when things are in bloom?!?! Oy vey. However, I did score a free sticker from Amy Goldstein (a fellow sticker enthusiast, I was to find) and picked up a Vanilla Basil soy candle and some soap in the lil' gift shop. There was pretty much nothing exciting to photograph, but I did get a couple shots that were so-so.

Key Lime Martini

This was dessert in a glass. Kim loves a fun flavoured martini when we hit the nÓg, and last night she tried their latest (& just in time for warmer weather!) in the form of Key Lime. It was so good that her eyes bulged nearly out of their sockets at her first sip and she then proceeded to end the conversation we were having and force the glass into my hand, ordering me to try it. Lord, it was absolutely heavenly - a touch of graham-crackery goodness with loads of sweet foam and just the right amount of lime. She ordered three and I stole the last swig from each one of them. Even talking over the empty glasses at the end of the night you could smell them. Like the world's most delightfully fresh aroma, dancing its way into our nostrils. (Sexy, no?) I'm not much of a drinker, but next go around, I may need to get one all my own.

ps - I found this recipe over on Mix That Drink and I think I really need to try this at home....

Key Lime Martini Recipe:

2 ounces vanilla vodka
½ ounce key lime juice or liqueur (or Rose's lime will do in a pinch)
2 tablespoons Coco Lopez cream of coconut.
1 ounce pineapple juice.
1 ounce heavy whipping cream
Graham cracker crumbs

Andy Goldsworthy

One of my favourite artists is Andy Goldsworthy and I was so over-the-moon thrilled to visit the National Gallery in Edinburgh and see some of his work up close. 

Cali Snapshot

While scrolling through my not-so-great photos from the 2014 trip to California I came across this photo and I kinda like it.

Dublin Street Graffit

Judah

I first watched Judah's Netflix special back on November 3rd of last year and I'm still thinking about just how freakin' funny this man is. He's dreamy in the coolest kind of way and he's smart. Really smart. It's a deadly combo and he's just so wonderful to watch. I've been bananas over him since 2008 and I'm so happy to see that he is still out there working that Judah Friedlander magic.

DUCKIES!!!

Spring is definitely here and so are the baby ducklings at my complex!!

Spooky Double Feature

Spent most of today with m'gal Ashlee. We hit MOM's for lunch and snacks for the movie and Ashlee unloaded all the bullshit that she's been going through lately. Then we headed to the Anthony Wayne Theatre to see A Quiet Place. Believe the hype, people, because it was superb from start to finish.

(photo kidnapped from screenrant)

(photo kidnapped from denofgeek)

At 9pm-ish I went to Bishop and Pax's to see Happy Death Day, a sort of 1980s slasher film-meets-Groundhog Day. It was really fun! It was the ideal late-Saturday-evening-by-the-fire kinda flick (sidebar: can you believe it's April and stil 41 degrees out?). The best part of the night was the little moment Pax and I had when Bishop overreacted to something then left the room for a bit; Pax looked at me and whispered "he's such a drama queen..." Ha! Pax is always calm and patient and it was just super funny for him to vent a little to me. I love those two fellas a whole bunch.

(photo kidnapped from empirecinemas)

(photo kidnapped from variety)

Now Playing

The Specials - A Message to You Rudy
Remy Shand - The Way I Feel
Joe Dassin - Et si tu n'existais pas
Scott Walker - The Big Hurt
Grizzly Bear - Fine for Now
Brian Setzer Orchestra - Town Without Pity
David Sanborn/Hilary James - Since I Fell for You
Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
Father John Misty - When You're Smiling and Astride Me
Bad Manners - My Girl Lollipop (live)
Fever Ray - If I Had a Heart
Elvis Costello - Watching the Detectives
M83 - Midnight City
Sam Cooke - Bring It On Home to Me
Kenny Loggins - This Is It
The Skyliners - Since I Don't Have You
Depeche Mode - But Not Tonight
Nelson Pigford & DeEtta Little - You Take My Heart Away
Fleetwood Mac - Bleed to Love Her

(Just a random little playlist on my iPod that I forgot all about until big brother Dave had a new battery installed in it and also replaced the screen, making it as good as it was back in 2007!)

On Bowie

I bought this in July of 2016 and am only just now cracking it open. Like all of Rob Sheffield's books, it's engrossing and moving and truly a wonderful read. I'm loving every word on every page.

(post script - I really liked the introduction of this book, which was when I wrote the above post, but it soon went downhill and I gave up on it completely at page 44. The book started to feel very rushed. I originally received the book in the mail and thought it felt like a cheap textbook and that the cover was super cheesy. The fact of the matter is the book was rushed. It reads like the first draft of a book that no one bothered to re-read to check for errors, spruce up, re-word or re-work anything. This book needed editing and several re-writes. There were so many things that were incorrect. David Bowie DID NOT have two different colour eyes. I know this because the man himself said it in a documentary I saw and it stuck with me. He did suffer an eye injury when he was younger and his one eye was permanently dilated which gives the illusion of two different coloured eyes. The truth is that the dilated one still had a thin blue rim.

I did not like that the author acted as though his own interpretations of Bowie's lyrics were what Bowie actually intended and thought when he wrote them. I detested that Sheffield over-used lyrics as sentences in between his own thoughts, and annoyingly did not italicise them so the book began to read like an article in a magazine with random poetry interspersed. It was sloppy. The absolute worst thing was when he misquoted lyrics. That's just bad. I mean, was he typing this book alone in an isolated cabin in the middle of nowhere with no access to the internet or music? Google the freakin' lyrics and get it right, dude. Even if you think you know the song inside and out, DOUBLE CHECK.

Lastly, to compare David Bowie's illustrious career, which spanned over fifty years, to effing Kanye West is an absolute insult. I am appalled that I even had to mention that person in the same sentence as an artist with the genius and humility and decency of David Bowie. There is no comparing the two. Ever. This book was an immense disappointment, except for the fact that it led me to locate the interview Bowie gave on The Dinah Shore Show in 1976. On Bowie stunk out loud and kind of, sadly, has put me off of reading any more of Sheffield's work. That Beatles book has been removed from my Amazon cart because I just don't trust his writing anymore.)

Looking Down Over the Rooftops

The view that I never ever tire of seeing.