Thanksgiving in New York 2008

Another Thanksgiving in New York - what a great time we all had!
Take a look at our proud Mom/Grandma/Great-Grandma with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren!

Carmellina (and Aunt Jeanna) enjoyed their meatballs made especially for them by Great-Grandma!

The turkey was delicious too!

Here is Joey posing with Ernie, his (and his father's) favorite Sesame Street character.

The Sinagra family is growing!

Who is Who??

Rosemary and Joe helping Papa put up the Christmas lights!

And we're off!! Let the shopping begin!!

Happy December

It's December at last and as our little hour glass continues to count down to the 25th, everyone's mind is focused on what they're buying me for Christmas. But as the marginally insane would have us remember, there's so more to December than buying me presents. Here's another list of questionable hoidays to celebrate:

December Monthly Observances:
Bingo's Birthday Month
Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month
National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month
Choose A Summer Camp Month
National Write A Business Plan Month
National Tie Month
Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Spiritual Literacy Month
Take a New Year's Resolution to Stop Smoking (TANYRSS)

December Weekly Observances:
National Aplastic Anemia Awareness Week: 1-7
Tolerance Week: 1-7
Recipe Greetings For The Holidays Week: 1-8
Operation Santa Paws Week: 1-22
National Handwashing Awareness Week (hand what?): 7-13
Clerc-Gallaudet Week: 7-15
Human Rights Week: 10-17
Gluten-free Baking Week: 14-20
Posadas: 16-24
It's About Time Week: 25-31

December Daily Observances:
Bifocals at the Monitor Liberation Day: 1
Special Kids Day: 3
Chase's Calendar of Events Birthday: 4
Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day: 4
National Dice Day: 4
Bathtub Party Day: 5
International Volunteer Day for Economic & Social Development: 5
Miners' Day: 6
National Pawnbrokers Day: 6
Skywarn Recognition Day: 6 (First Saturday in December)
International Civil Aviation Day: 7
National Cotton Candy Day: 7
Weary Willie Day: 9
International Mountain Day: 11
Poinsettia Day: 12
International Shareware Day: 13
Day Of The Horse: 13
Cat Herders Day: 15
Barbie and Barney Backlash Day: 16
National Chocolate-covered Anything Day: 16
Clean Air Day: 17
Wright Brothers Day: 17
International Migrants Day: 18
Day for South-South Cooperation: 19
Underdog Day: 19
International Human Solidarity Day: 20
Sacagawea Day: 20
Mudd Day: 20
Forefathers Day: 21
Humbug Day: 21
Phileas Fogg Win A Wager Day: 21
National Haiku Poetry Day: 21
World Peace Day/Winter Solstice: 21
Festivus (the holiday for the rest of us): 23
A'Phabet Day or No "L" Day : 25
National Candy Cane Day: 26
National Whiner's Day: 26
National Chocolate Day: 28 & 29
Tick Tock Day: 29
Falling Needles Family Fest Day: 30
Leap Second Time Adjustment Day: 31
Make Up Your Mind Day: 31
No Interruptions Day: 31

Oh yeah...I think there's some other holiday in there somewhere...Christmas, or something like that...I'm not sure.

Breaking the Mold

Okay faithful readers...today (November 24th) is Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day!

So this is your chance to tell the world (or at least the other half dozen people who actually read this blog) what unique and special talent you posses.

Don't be shy. Can you lick your nose? Can you burp the national anthem? Do you know the names of all of "Hogan's Heroes"? Can you draw a life like picture of Ernest Borgnine with ketchup and tissue paper? I don't care what it is, just as long as it's unique and as long as it's clean then go ahead and post it! I'll celebrate it with you by playing Amazing Grace on the harmonica with my nose.

Sugar and Spice

...and speaking of Jeanna, today (November 18th) is Married to a Scorpio Support Day!

According to astrology-online.com, a Scorpio:

LIKES
Truth
Hidden Causes
Being involved
Work That is Meaningful
Being Persuasive

DISLIKES
Being Given Only Surface data
Taken Advantage of
Demeaning Jobs
Shallow Relationships
Flattery and Flattering

Also, some possible health concerns for a Scorpio:
Scorpio governs the pelvis and reproductive and urinary systems and its subjects are said to be prone to ailments of the liver and kidneys, stones and gravel in the bladder or genitals, and other genital ills such as priapism. Abscesses, boils, carbuncles, fistulas, piles, ruptures and ulcers may also affect the Scorpions.

Sounds like fun! Those wacky scorpions.

Jeanna's Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEANNA!!!

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

LOVE, MOM AND DAD

Step One: Apply Pressure

Just thought I'd put my hourglass up there to get everyone panicking!

Happy November!

It's time, once again, to see what helpful and constructive holidays the human race has thought to create. Now that National Pickled Pepper month os over, here's what brewing on the Events Calendar for the Marginally Insane in November:

Aviation History Month

Family Stories Month

Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month

International Drum (Percussion) Month

Military Family Appreciation Month

National Georgia Pecan Month

National Home Care & Hospice Month

National Impotency Month

National Inspirational Role Models Month

National Life Writing Month

National Long-term Care Awareness Month

National Novel Writing Month

National Peanut Butter Lovers Month

National Pet Cancer Awareness Month

National Pomegranate Month

National Roasting Month

National Scholarship Month

Prematurity Awareness Month

Vegan Month

November Weekly Observances:
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week: 1-7

World Communication Week: 1-7

Intimate Apparel Market Week: 2-6

Pursuit of Happiness Week: 8-14

National Rad Tech Week: 8-14

Fraud Awareness Week 8-15

National Young Reader's Week: 9-15

World Kindness Week: 9-16

National Farm-City Week: 20-26

National Bible Week: 22-29

National Family Week: 22-28

National Game & Puzzle Week: 22-28

National Teens Don't Text and Drive Week: 22-28

Better Conversation Week: 23-29

Church/State Separation Week: 24-30

November Daily Observances:
National Authors' Day: 1

Zero Tasking Day: 1

Cookie Monster Day: 2

Plan Your Epitaph Day: 2

Cliché Day: 3

Sandwich Day: 3

National Chicken Lady Day: 4

Use Your Common Sense Day: 4

National Men Make Dinner Day: 5

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict: 6

Pumpkin Chunkin Days: 6-8

Fala Day: 7

International Tongue Twister Day: 7

National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day: 7

Abet and Aid Punsters Day: 8

Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day: 8

National Parents As Teachers Day: 8

Area Code Day: 10

Death/Duty Day: 11

Guinness World Record Day: 13

World Kindness Day: 13

Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day: 14

National American Teddy Bear Day: 14

I Love to Write Day: 15

National Bundt (Pan) Day: 15

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims: 15

Homemade Bread Day: 17

Married To A Scorpio Support Day: 18

Mickey Mouse Day: 18

Push-button Phone Day: 18

National Educational Support Professionals Day: 18

Great American Smokeout: 19

Have A Bad Day Day: 19

Cat Days: 20-22

Children's Day: 20

Name Your PC Day: 20

World Hello Day: 21

World Television Day: 21

Alascattalo Day (About Alaska & humor): 21

National Survivors of Suicide Day (Saturday before Thanksgiving): 21

Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day: 24

D.B. Cooper Day: 24

Shopping Reminder Day: 25

Tie One On Day: 25

Turkey-free Thanksgiving: 26

Black Friday: 27

Buy Nothing Day: 27

Flossing Day: 27

Maize Day: 27

Sinkie Day: 27 (Some call it "The Sink Day" when you eat over the sink all the Thanksgiving leftovers.)

Yawm Arafat: 27

You're Welcomegiving Day: 27

International Aura Awareness Day: 28

Electronic Greetings Day: 29

Computer Security Day: 30

Stay Home Because You're Well Day: 30

They Did It!

...We Have Lift-Off!

YouTube

Sometimes trying to find a funny video on YouTube is like trying to find clean water in a public swimming pool.
This one was sent in by my sister, Jeanna. I still can't watch it without cracking up!

Carmellina Virna Sinagra

Just thought we'd give out oft overloked Carmellina a little moment in the spotlight. Here's 40 shots of her that Jess took for fun a couple days ago. Enjoy.

For those of you who noticed Grandpa was missing from yesterdays photos, here are some more pictures for you to enjoy!

Our visit started with Grandpa painting Jeanna's kitchen.

The next day he decided to try

the slides with the girls!

Look at his face in this one, he and Rosemary almost had a collision.
Can't wait to do this again next year!

Our Visit to Jeanna's

What a great time we had visiting Jeanna last weekend in Virginia!

Who knew our granddaughters were such "country girls".

And of course there is our grandson Joey, smiling all the time. Isn't he adorable?

We are so blessed with such a happy and healthy family. Enjoy the photos!

Love,

Grandma and Grandpa

Ughhh...

Last night Jess and I went on a date. We took the motorcycle to a Persian restaurant in Old City, Philadelphia. We had a very nice meal, and in an effort to pretend I was a cultured world traveler I chose an authentic Middle Eastern drink: Arvand Sparkling Yogurt Beverage...or Dou-gh.

I'm not sure I know what I was expecting, but I did not expect what I got.

Its ingredients were translated as: carbonated Canadian spring water, milk, live bacterial cultures, sea salt, and natural flavours - oh, and I got the "mint" flavored one.

I wish I could let all of you try a sip because I'll never be able to fully describe the flavor. It was like an unsweetened menthol milky baby formula spit-up mixed with unflavored seltzer water. I forced myself to chug down at least half of the bottle, hoping I would, in time, get used to the flavor, which never happened.

My question is: What are people thinking when they buy this stuff? The entire company can't possibly survive on accidental sales to hapless customers like myself. They obviously have a client base. Can you picture the commercial? A bunch of guys playing ball in the hot desert sun. They work up a serious Persian thirst so they crack open the cooler and grab a couple bottles of thick and creamy bubbling yogurt Arvand, available in Plain, Mint, and Tart flavor. Then - Persian thirsts quenched and stomachs filled with milk, sea-salt and live bacterial cultures - they get back out there in the heat and win the pennant! And then throw up.

I guess America has its own questionable beverages too. When we were growing up my friend Jack used to drink Celery Soda and I've seen cans on Clamato Juice in the super market. There was a science teacher in high school who used to make tea from aloe leaves for her sore throat that smelt exactly like fat-guy BO. When I was in college there used to be a juice in stores called "Orbit" that had little pieces of wax floating in it, apparently meant to look like planets or stars. It was like having a friend drink from your glass and leave floaters in it. Then of course there's Mountain Dew.

But I still think the Arvand I had last night takes the cake. I don't think I'm going to buy another bottle of that any time soon. I'll just stick to my sauerkraut juice, thank you.

Happy October!

October is here. The tenth month of our year named for the Greek god Dr. Octavius (aka. Dr. Octopus). October is, of course, most commonly associated with Halloween (from the Greek hallo meaning "trick" and ween meaning "raw egg in your hair"). But October is a month full of rich and diverse cultural celebrations. Here are just a few of the many wonderful holidays and events that perfectly sane and balanced people observe in the month of October:

This month is :
Adopt-A-Dog Month
Computer Learning Month
National Apple Jack Month
National Car Care Month
National Clock Month
National Cosmetology Month
National Dessert Month
National Pickled Pepper Month
National Popcorn Poppin' Month
National Pretzel Month
National Sarcastics Month (yeah, right)
National Seafood Month
National Kitchen and Bath Month
Vegetarian Awareness Month

Also in October:
Frugal Fun Day -- first Saturday in October
Name Your Car Day--October 2
Toot your own flute day - October 4
Bath Tub Party Day - October 5
Come and Take it Day--October 6
American Touch Tag Day--October 8
Bring your teddy bear to work day - October 10
It's My Party Day--October 11
Be Bald and Free Day--October 14
No Beard Day--October 18
Babbling Day--October 21
Sweetest Day of the Year--3rd Saturday in October
Mule Day--October 26
Hermit Day--October 29
Punk For a Day Day--October 25
Gone-ta-pott Day - October 28
Create a Great Funeral Day - October 30
Frankensteins Monster Day - October 30
Haunted Refrigerator Night - October 30
Mischief Night / Devil's Night - October 30
Internet Day, and Mother-in-Law Day 4th Sunday in October
World - Beat a Path to Your Door Week - 3rd week in October

So celebrate! Pop some pop corn! Adopt a dog! Shave your head! Just remember to take your meds and try not to get too creative on the 26th.

Gettin' Old

So today I was walking down 17th street heading to the bank when I passed by this guy in a blazer and tie. He stopped and said, "Mr. Sinagra?"

It was a student of mine from my first year teaching in Philly. He was a 14-year-old freshman boy when I met him, he's a professional architect with a firm now.

Oh crap do I feel old.

Bittersweet Birthday

Happy birthday to my hero, my inspiration and my childhood life-mentor:
Jim Henson

He would have been 72 today.

Happy Birthday Rosemary!

Rosemary is 6 years old today!
Happy birthday Rosie!

Six years ago today I looked at her and thought, "Now what?"

Six years later I'm still asking myself the same question.

Happy Fall!

New Season

New Look

Same Lame Jokes

Today is the first day of Autumn (I think). So we've changed our colors like so many leaves. Hope you like it.

Filler

Okay, I thought the Ed Begely Jr. thing was funny, but now I can't stad seeing his face everytime I go to the blog.
So here's another picture to look at to get him out of my face!

Busy, Busy, Busy

It's been a little while since I weighed in with a post. The school year has started again so the entries will be a little sporatic until I figure out which periods I can use to accomplish school work and which ones I can use to goof off.

The big news, of course, is that Rosemary started kindergarten this week!

(Next thing you know she'll be finishing grad school.)

Just for the record...the white sneakers are not part of her uniform. It was a gym day.

Joey's First Birthday

Happy first birthday Joseph!

Can you tell he really loved his birthday cake?
How about the photo of the three generations of "Joe"? What handsome guys they are.
Great-Grandma can't hug her great-grandchildren enough.
Aunt Jeanna even drove from Virginia to
celebrate her nephew's first birthday.
Carmellina, Rosemary and Thomas took a few
moments to "jam".
We love you all!
Love,
Grandma and Papa

Happy Birthday Joey!

Today's the day. Joey is officially one year old.

Summer Road Trip 2008

Okay, since Joey and Jessie are having a hard time posting some photos of our grandchildren, we thought we would give it a shot! We don't want to upstage you or anything, just thought we would give this blog another try.
Here are some pictures from our recent road trip during this summer. It was a great vacation!
Check out the "old folks" on Vero Beach!
Love,
Joanna and Joe
(aka Grandma and Grandpa)

This One's For The Grandma's

It has been brought to my attention by my esteemed colleague and editor (Jessie) that I have strayed from the original intent of this blog. As stated above, I'm supposed to have "as many pics of the kids as we can get." I can't remember the last time I put up a picture of the kids.

And so, without further ado, a years worth of pictures, I give you:

GRATUITOUS KIDDIE PICS!

New Poll

This one is especially designed for my sister, Jeanna...

How about this...

Alright, so maybe I'm being a little too difficult with this Objective/Subjective movie thing. So forget the whole "objectively best movie" requirement.

Why don't you just list your three favorite movies. It doesn't matter if it's The Godfather or Killer Clowns From Outer Space. Just tell us what movies you like and (and thins part is optional) why you like them.

Maybe this won't be so threatening.

The Likeable and the Good

I’m writing today about an issue that deeply touches my reading audience:
Movies.

At a number of different times in my life I have been asked what my favorite movie is. I usually respond with a 30 minute monologue about films and filmmakers; much to the dismay of the person who was really only asking to make small talk.

The most difficult thing when discussing movies (or any art form, for that matter) is to keep the objective separate from the subjective. You may ask, “What the heck does that mean?” Well, if you’d be patient I’ll tell you!

An objective comment is a fact; it is something that is true no matter what the individual may think. A subjective comment is an opinion; it is subject to the individual and changes from person to person.

So here are some practical examples:

OBJECTIVE
The fire is warm.
SUBJECTIVE
I like a warm fire.

OBJECTIVE
The sky is blue.
SUBJECTIVE
The sky looks pretty.

OBJECTIVE
You smell like a baboon’s hindquarters.
SUBJECTIVE
You smell good.

As you can see subjective opinions do not always have to be grounded in truth, but objective facts usually answer to some law of science or nature. You may ask, “What the heck does that have to do with movies?” Man, do your questions get annoying.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone tells me they’ve just seen a new movie and when I ask them how it was, they tell me, “I liked it.” That tells me little or nothing about the movie. I liked it tells me about you but I wasn’t asking about you I was asking about the movie. When speaking about movies (and as a general practice) we need to be more selective in the language we choose. We need to differentiate between the good (objective) and likable (subjective). Obsoive:

OBJECTIVE
"The Sixth Sense" used excellent story telling techniques to disguise the true nature of its main character.
SUBJECTIVE
I liked "The Sixth Sense".

OBJECTIVE
"Cast Away" is a stirring tale about the nature of mankind and his capacity to persevere.
SUBJECTIVE
"Cast Away" is a boring movie.

OBJECTIVE
"Gone With The Wind" is an epic period piece set against the back drop of the American Civil War.
SUBJECTIVE
"Gone With The Wind" is an enjoyable film.

Once again you can see that subjective opinions are not always grounded in truth. But the objective facts can not be argued against…not unless the person wants to look like a fool. Personally I don’t like (subjective) "Dr. Zhivago" but I have to concede that it is (objective) a well made movie. On the other hand I happen to really like (subjective) "Ernest Goes to Camp" although I do have to admit that it is (objective) pretty dumb. Now you may ask, “What the heck does that have to do with me?” Alright, this is the last time I’m going answer you!

I want you, the readers, to tell me what you think are the top three best movies you’ve seen. Not necessarily you favorite (subjective) three, but what are the best made (objective) movies you can think of. Try to remember things like acting, special effects, story telling, direction, cinematography, costumes, score, timing and delivery, originality, and overall message. All or some of these things must work together to make a good movie. Make your list and post it as a comment to this blog and we’ll see what movies take the “Meatballs and Ravioli Oscar.”

Campfires, Birthday's, and Comedic Polkas

We'll be on the road for a couple days and I can't guarantee any Internet access while I'm gone.
But we're going to see Weird Al Yankovic in Scranton on Wednesday, Thursday is my birthday, Friday is the Eventide release (geek stuff) Saturday is Jess's birthday and we're going camping until we come home Sunday night. This will be a pretty crazy couple of days!
I'll fill you all in when we get back.

In the mean time, here's a pretty funny video you can enjoy:

New Poll

I don't know why, but it seems like I've got Star Wars on the brain. Here's a new poll in keeping with my (and my kids') newest interest.

Who Lives In A Pineapple Under The Sea?

No, it's not Ariel at a luau, it's SpongeBob Squarepants!

And today is his birthday! According to his driver's licence which can be seen in both "Sleepy Time" and "No Free Rides" he was born on July 14th, 1986. That means he's 22 today!

You'd think by now he'd start acting his age...

Da-da Da-da Da-da You Say It's Your Birthday

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite Beatles, Ringo Starr.

He's 68 today!

• Just a couple of random Ringo facts:
• Ringo's real name is Richard Starkey (but you all knew that one already)
• Ringo is the oldest and youngest member of the Beatles (first born, last to join)
• Ringo (like Paul) is a lefty.
• Ringo's son, Zak, received drum lessons from Keith Moon and was the drummer for the band Oasis (who sound exactly like the Beatles).
• Ringo used to play in a band called "Rory and The Hurricanes"
• Ringo's favorite color is red.
  
  

Snap! Crackle! Ka-Pow!

Well this Friday is the 4th of July again. A time when we come together as a nation and remember the day when, in 1812, Christopher Columbus and “Curious” George Washington joined forces and stormed the shores of Normandy to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons. Millions of Americans, in keeping with tradition, will celebrate the holiday the only way they know how…that’s right, by blowing their fingers off with illegal fireworks! Nothing says “liberty” to an American like exercising their right to injure themselves in potentially deadly behavior. How else could you explain helmet laws, seat belt laws, handgun laws, NASCAR, bungee jumping, and Wendy’s "Baconator" sandwich?

While there are pleanty of wacky fun-loving states where fireworks are perfectly legal, I grew up in New York, and if there’s one thing that New Yorkers are known for, it’s their prudent and cautious behavior. Years ago, New York lawmakers wisely decided that instead of having to deal with long lines and pesky regulations it would be much simpler to have their citizens simply drive to another state (Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina…take your pick) and purchase all manner of excessively hazardous fireworks to transport across state lines. Just another inspiring example of Americans in action; showing their true love of liberty by giving a big old F-U to the “man,” and helping their fellow countrymen by earning a 300% profit and implicating them in their own federal offenses.

But no one enjoys the holiday more than the young kids whose parents (or friends’ parents, or cousins or whoever) have exercised their freedom by purchasing randomly selected fireworks from the back of a rental van or a dark garage. These were the lucky kids, envied by all. Their social status the other 364 days of the year didn’t matter; when they had a pack of ladyfingers and a Bic they were everybody’s friend.

To my knowledge, my father rarely made these purchases. I did, however, have an older cousin who kept me very well stocked in my childhood. People say that kids today have no imagination. Well just give a boy of 12 and his friends a pack of bottle rockets and an M-80 and you’ll see all sorts of creative and original ways to have fun. My friend Brian and I used to save our bottle rockets for a game of war, launching them at one another from curtain rods. (This is the same guy I used to have staple-gun wars with as well.) At our family barbecues my cousins and I would blow up paper cups, soda cans, army men, G.I. Joes (those rubber band waists held a ladyfinger very nicely), small stuffed animals, large stuffed animals, badminton birdies and just about any toy that came out of a McDonald’s happy meal.

The most memorable times were, of course, the most frightening (and later hysterical): the time a ladyfinger went off in my Aunt Cira’s hand, the time my cousin Diana had to point out the cops had pulled up as I was trying blast out an anthill, the time my cousin Kevin’s mortar didn’t clear the power lines and detonated just above street level showering the neighbor hood in sparks. There was also the time my cousin Anthony tripped over the curb running from a sparkling fountain; the time I put the wrong end of a smoldering punk into my mouth; the time my friend Dan “the man” Luderman had to light an M-80 for us since everyone else was too scared, then go back and re-light the now shortened, semi-burnt fuse before diving to safety; the time three friends and I tried to light off a firework with a magnifying glass detonating it less than a foot from our faces; the time when, in college, I lit off a pack of gunshots on street in Philadelphia discovering, only after lighting it, that the door was locked I did not have my keys in my pajamas and my roommates, Luke and Matt, thought that my banging and knocking was an angry neighbor so they didn’t open the door and I had to look cool and casual as the neighbors really did come out to see what was going on and I had to act as surprised and in shocked as them as though I was not the guy who was responsible for the pile of blown apart paper on the street directly in front of my stoop…ah the memories.

The morning of July 5th, though, is like scene from a post-apocalyptic movie:

Dawn breaks in silence. A gentle breeze stirs the piles of burnt paper and
debris in the now empty streets. Somewhere in the distance a dog barks. Suddenly
there’s movement near the house; a young boy, then another. Scavengers. They
creep out in silence to pick over the night’s remains. Their little fingers
making a vital search for that treasure among treasures. Yes, there among the
burnt out and spent remains of last night's merriment is the precious desire of
their hearts: the one overlooked firework.

One they can shoot off with no parents around and no cops on the prowl. The one firework they’d be free to blow up wherever and however they choose once again expressing their freedom...and undoubtedly landing themselves in the ER with a burn wound and ringing ears. Badges of war and reminders that this is America, and this is exactly what our forefathers fought for. That and a shorter trade-route to India.

Happy 4th of July everybody.