The Remake: As Time Goes By

Oh my gosh, this was as good as Bogart's last book!! The only thing I don't like is that he stopped writing detective novels after this. Such a shame because he's a gifted storyteller. 

Written on the Bathroom Wall

The Typewriter at Reads

Touring Scotland

Bella and Jacob had a fantastic time in Scotland and the photos that she shared with me are out-of-this-world. Just one stunning view after another. Here's a few of the most spectacular. 

Alien Day

Tonight The Colonial Theatre was showing the 45th anniversary director's cut of Ridley Scott's epic sci-fi classic, Alien. I was hoping that me and all three of my brothers could go, but Dave couldn't make it. I spent the entire morning and afternoon at Xavier's place, introducing him to Mr. Inbetween, season one. He, of course, loved it, and already plans to re-watch it with his lovely bride before moving on to the next season. After we wrapped on season one, we fought through major traffic on 476 and wound up taking winding little backroads through Media, Wayne, and Valley Forge until we finally reached Phoenixville by 5. Wayne met us at Root Down and after beer and pub grub, we hoofed it down to sit in a near packed house to see Alien. It was good, but I must admit, I like Aliens way better. Maybe they'll show that one soon and we can do today all over again!

March 2024 Books

The Days of Anna Madrigal ¹ by Armistead Maupin

** Mona of the Manor ¹ by Armistead Maupin - Expertly narrated by Mara Wilson and a wonderful read. It more than made up for how much I still detest The Days of Anna Madrigal. 

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane ¹ by Kate DiCamillo - I was out and about with Lucy on March 9th and she told me all about this great book they are reading in school. I found that Libby had it as an audiobook and we decided to give it a try. Well Jesus Tapdancing Christ, this was one of the most depressing stories EVER! Unbelievably sad. I can't understand how this is for children. I mean even the happy ending didn't make up for the hell that poor bunny had to go through. 

¹ - audiobook
² - abridged version
* - liked
♥ - loved
Any unmarked titles were, in my opinion, so-so.

March 2024 Donations

United24

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE FULL-SCALE INVASION, PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY HAS BEEN ASKED HUNDREDS OF TIMES: “WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP UKRAINE?”

THAT’S EXACTLY WHY WE LAUNCHED UNITED24, THE OFFICIAL FUNDRAISING PLATFORM OF UKRAINE

THE IDEA IS SIMPLE:

TO UNITE THE WORLD AROUND SUPPORTING UKRAINE; TO PROTECT, SAVE AND REBUILD

The platform allows one-click donations to Ukraine from anywhere. Why is this so important? Because Ukraine itself knows best what is needed and can deliver aid directly.

No one was ready for a full-scale war in the heart of Europe. Charitable foundations, no matter how well-organized, cannot meet the needs of a country as large as Ukraine. We can, however, do it together.

UNITED24 is designed for collaboration with charities, partners, donors, and public figures worldwide.

Our goal is to establish an efficient work process that brings Ukraine’s victory closer.

Please join me in the Low Budget Philanthropy movement and help out your community and beyond in the simplest way - donating any amount to whatever charity or organisation that you care about!

Islands of Australia

I bought this Martin Clunes docu-series on DVD back in April of 2017 but since it's available streaming on Hoopla for freesies, I decided to watch it all over again while at work. It's soooo good! Especially when he visited Tasmania, which looks absolutely stunning, and featured that adorable lil' critter, the Tasmanian Devil. Next up I plan to re-watch Islands of the Pacific. (But that one I'll hafta see on Acorn.)

Lordenshaws Iron Age Hill Fort

Helen must live in the prettiest and most scenic part of England. I love when she posts photos like these on her IG page. It allows me to imagine going there some day.

Misty walk to Lordenshaws Iron Age hill fort. Featuring Neolithic cup-and-ring markings. Also sheep.

Five Year Old Star

On my fifth birthday I got my beloved pink bicycle. Here I am, riding around the old neighbourhood in PA, wearing a cute dress with ugly shoes, a crooked smile, perfect skin, and a sweet face. This bike was my first taste of freedom and I wouldn't know that feeling again until I learned to drive and got my license some fourteen years later.

Rubenshuis Bust

In the Fall of 2018 I got the chance to visit Peter Paul Rubens home in Antwerp again. This time I didn't spend the whole time snappity-snapping photos, but rather just took it all in right there, in the moment. This one sculpture though was too good to pass by without capturing.

(8 September 2018)

Stalking Bella & Jacob

Last Friday night Bella and her husband left for Scotland out of JFK. I was so excited, and a tinge green with envy, as they were flying to Inverness, by way of Heathrow, and then driving to a sweet little Airbnb. I have woken up each day and looked up Bella's location in my Find a Friend app and it's been so fun seeing all the places they're going. I can't wait til they return and she can give me the full scoop on this massive adventure!

Friday - 12 April

Saturday - 13 April

Monday - 15 April

Tuesday - 16 April

Wednesday - 17 April

Thursday - April 18

Friday - 19 April

Rear Window with Kay

Rear Window has been one of my all-time favourite films since I was in grade school. I can watch it again and again and never get tired of it. The first time I saw it in the theatre was over a decade ago with Bishop at, if memory serves, the Bryn Mawr Film Institute. Next was with Zach at the Ambler Theatre in 2019. Last night I got to see it for the third time at the County Theater with Kay. I don't think she loved it nearly as much as I do, but she definitely liked all of Edith Head's costumes for Grace Kelly. Especially the first one. We spent the whole day together and as always, it was wonderful. I never, ever tire of her company and she is easily one of the raddest chicks on the planet. Can't wait to see what we do on our next outing!

The Peyton Heart

Kayla spotted this bucket at the Starbucks in Doylestown and we loved the thought that went into creating these little hearts so as to spread a message of peace. 

Up All Night - Marina

A few of Marina's favorites! 

Things to eat: Tacos - Rice - Pupusas - Seafood

Songs: Here to Stay - Can't Hold Us Down - Anytime - You Found Me

Places to go: The beach - Carribbean (sic) - Home

Movies: Hope Floats - Fools Rush In - Corrinna Corrinna (sic)

TV Shows: CSI: Las Vegas - The Office

Outfit: hmmm... Plain tees & jeans w/flip flops OR Umpire (sic) waisted dresses

Boys: nice ones, smart ones, fun ones, loving ones, single ones, family oriented ones, friendly ones, ones who think outside the box

My most loveable qualities: I'm affectionate & generous with compliments, I'm honest.

Here's what I want to be when I grow up:  teacher, a happy & nice person

Here's why I love sleepovers so much: It's total girl time & you can just be...☺

BONUS: I am a *Pisces* and I teach 9th/10th grade Spanish.

Whoever Saves One Life, Saves the World Entire.

Since today is Father Damien Day, I'm reposting this as a reminder of this great man.

Years ago I was watching a tribute to The Tonight Show with Jack Paar. There was one segment in particular that I never forgot. He discussed the time he and his wife, Miriam, went to Hawaii and came upon the island of Molokai. He went on to discuss the history of the island and a man named Father Damien de Veuster. His story stayed with me through the years and has fermented in my mind these past few days. I will unfold the tale for you now.

In 1866 a colony was established to hold and incarcerate victims of leprosy [now known as Hansen's disease] to keep them isolated from the rest of society. Leprosy, as you may well know, is a terribly disfiguring disease which afflicts the extremities; the hands, feet, nose, ears. It was not until 1873 that Father Damien went to Molokai to bring a sense of order to the more than 700 people abandoned there. Due to seven years of complete and utter despair, the colony was overrun with crime and immorality. People had been shipped to the island and left to fend for themselves, without food or shelter. Father Damien brought with him hope and spiritual comfort for those who had all but forgotten the existence of such things. He helped to build homes, bring food and water, as well as order, peace, and guidance to people who so desperately needed it. Life on the island was rarely pretty and Father Damien was there to dress open wounds, build coffins and dig graves. He was a priest, a doctor, and a friend to every person in the colony.
Jack Paar talked of how Father Damien would begin each sermon to the people of Molokai by addressing them as "My Dear Brethren." In 1885, the forty-five year old priest would instead say, "My Fellow Lepers, I am one of you now." After sixteen years of devoted servitude to the afflicted people of Molokai, Father Damien would die among them on April 15th, 1889. He is the spiritual patron of lepers, outcasts, and HIV/AIDS patients. At the start, he was just a thirty-three year old Catholic priest from Belgium and I doubt that he could have imagined the impact that this undertaking would have on the lives of so many. Not only those he dealt with on a daily basis, but those who would keep his work alive. People like Mother Marianne Cope, who joined Father Damien in 1888 and continued her work with the people of Molokai until her own death in 1918 at age eighty. Many years later, Mahatma Gandhi claimed that Father Damien was an inspiration to him and his work. It should also be noted that Gandhi in turn went on to inspire the great Martin Luther King. Father Damien was officially canonized by the Catholic Church on October 11th, 2009.

(originally published on coneyislandbaby may 3rd, 2006 by me! lisa star. it is as originally written; all but for the final sentence.)

Abe and Jax

Movie Families I'd Happily Join

The Buellers

The Griswolds

Addams Family

The Bankses (Father of the Bride)

The Hoovers (Little Miss Sunshine)

The Finches( Father of the Bride)

Corleones

The Beales & the Kennedys (Grey Gardens)

The Buckmans (Parenthood)

The Sussmans

Portokalos Family (My Big Fat Greek Wedding)

the Larsons (Home for the Holidays)

the Walshs 

O'Reilly's (Return to Me)

Mrs. Smalls & Bill (The Sandlot)

Bryan Mills (Taken)

the Incredibles

the family from E.T. 

the Weasley's (Harry Potter series)

the Parkers of "A Christmas Story"

Mercer Almond Cookies

Here's another recipe that I found at The Mercer Museum; this time for almond cookies!

180 g (12 tbsp) flour

100 g (6.7 tbsp) almond flour

65 g (4.3 tbsp) powdered sugar

130 g (8.7 tbsp) of butter

1 egg

7 g (1.18 tsp) vanilla extract

100 g (6.7 tbsp) chocolate chips

Movie Recommendations from Uncle Al

The text that started it all, back in January 2022 - The Last Right:

13 May 2022 - Pixie

16 July 2022 - Lamb plus The Drop

25 October 2022 - The House of the Dragon plus The Exorcist and The Grand Seduction

10 January 2023 - District 9

Saturday - April 1st 2023 - The Last of Us

Monday April 10th 2023 - The Banshees of Inisherin

The 1917 Texts plus How I Live Now from July 2023

7 August 2023 - The Lobster

October 6th, 2023 - The Drop and Carrington

December 2023 - Reality plus the bonus of The Cardigans plus cookie compliments!