Top 10 Places to see in NYC (before you die)

Anyone who has been reading my blog knows that there is one book I come back to again and again, 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. & Canada Before You Die. Well, when it comes to NYC, I think the author/editor really fell short. So I decided to give her list a boost with a list of my own. (Fellow New Yorkers: I'd LOVE to hear what you think! What's your top 10 list?)

So here it is... My addition to 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. & Canada Before You Die....



Barb's Top Ten Places To Visit in NYC (before you die)

1)Ride Staten Island Ferry (DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN - Battery Park) - Take the Staten Island Ferry (Free) from Downtown Manhattan to Staten Island. Sit on the top right side of the boat to get the best pictures of the Statue of Liberty. At the back of the boat, you'll also get a nice view of the Manhattan Skyline.














In the summer evenings, you might be able to catch a fun game of baseball with the Staten Island Yankees. You can enjoy a nice cold beer, relax at the game and take in the view of the Manhattan Skyline for about $12-25 a ticket.

Looking for a place to eat in Staten Island? Walk out of the St.George ferry terminal and take a left onto Richmond Terrace/Bay Street. Walk about .4 miles to Cargo Cafe (120 Bay Street, on Staten Island (718) 876-0539). Its a friendly place with a casual vibe, and great menu. A piece of trivia for you: The bar scene from the movie School of Rock was filmed at the Cargo Cafe.

If you have a little extra time and want to try one of the City's BEST Pizza Places, I would suggest you take a cab (about $10) or get on the S44 bus to Walker St./Port Richmond Ave ($2 and approx. 30 minutes by bus) to Denino's Pizza Tavern (524 Port Richmond Ave., Staten Island, NY 10302 (718) 442-9401) and get a "MOR" pizza (meatball, onion and ricotta). It is well worth the trip. While in the neighborhood, walk across the street to Ralph's Ices (501 Port Richmond Ave. Staten Island, NY 10302 (718) 273-3675) for dessert. You can't miss the place. The line is usually going around the block...its that good.

Getting back to Manhattan is no problem. The Staten Island Ferry runs 24 hours every 30 mins to 1 hour depending on what time of day you travel. Did I mention the ferry is FREE???



2) Visit U.S. Custom House/American Indian Museum ( Bottom of Broadway, One Bowling Green New York, NY 10004 Phone: 212-514-3700). This location is on my list for a few reasons. One, it is a beautiful building and two, admission is free. In its heyday, the Custom House was a bustling place of activity as brokers and customs agents worked together to build our nation's wealth. Today it is the home of Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian as well as The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, and smaller agencies.

My favorite part of this building are the 4 statues outside by Daniel Chester French, representing the continents of Asia, America, Europe and Africa. The main figure in each statue is a seated young woman, whose features are typical of a given national group, race, or an amalgam of the continent. For more information about these beautiful statues, visit the Custom House Website. When you look up along the top of the building, you'll see The Twelve Statues of Seafaring Nations, by Cass Gilbert. For more on the 12 statues, check out this page.

After you leave the Customs House, take a short walk up Broadway and take a picture with The 7,000 pound bronze bull. This is my father's favorite photo op. He will take anyone and everyone he knows there to make sure they get their picture with "the Bull." You'd think he sculpted it himself (he didn't). This huge bull was a creation of SoHo sculptor Arturo DeModica. It was first appeared in front of the New York Stock Exchange in December 1989 and was quickly impounded by the NYPD. The New York City Parks Department later gave the bull an official home on Broadway, 2 blocks below Wall Street. Make my father happy...take your picture here.



















3) Seek out Adrianne's Pizza Bar On Stone Street This place is a little hard to find in the maze of streets of Downtown Manhattan, but if you are going to go to any place in NYC for Pizza, you have to try this place. Adrianne's (54 Stone St New York, NY 10004 - (212) 248-3838) is right by Wall Street, near the world famous Delmonico's Steak House. I'll admit for a pizza place, it is a little pricey, but really its worth it.


I love taking people to Adrianne's and suggest it almost every time someone wants to meet up for dinner. My favorite time to go there is during the warmer months, when all the Stone Street restaurants set up tables in the street and you can enjoy great food out in the open air. I highly recommend the Antipasti (which has grilled vegetables, beans, meats and cheese) and then the Old Fashioned Pizza (my favorite is topped with Eggplant, but any topping on this pizza tastes heavenly) .

A little piece of trivia: Stone Street claims to be one of the first paved streets in Manhattan. If you can find this place, it is well worth the visit. You'll feel like you have stepped in a different time.

4) Take a good look at the Woolworth Building - Head up Broadway, stop to pay your respects at Ground Zero (soon to be the Freedom Towers or 1 World Trade Plaza) and then continue to the Woolworth Building, (233 Broadway New York, NY 10007), one of my favorite places to in Manhattan.

My bus stop is right in front of the Woolworth building and I can't help but look at all the details of this building every time I go there. This 57 story beauty cost $13.5 million to build in 1910 and was paid for by F.W. Woolworth in cash. It was designed and built to be the worlds largest building. It is truly amazing inside and out, from close up and far away. The lobby of the building is amazing. Its closed to visitors, but you can always go in for a second and pretend you are lost.






5) Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. People. I don't care how tired you are, how much your legs hurt. Pull it together and walk from the Woolworth Building through City Hall Park and over the Brooklyn Bridge. This is my FAVORITE PLACE in NYC. Its FREE to walk over, it has a most amazing history and it offers some fantastic views of New York.












I think the best views from the Brooklyn Bridge are really from Brooklyn coming to Manhattan. You can see The Statue of Liberty, South Street SeaPort, The Empire State Building, and the city skyline.

So if you are too lazy to walk both ways, then take the A/E Subway to High Street in Brooklyn (there's a subway entrance is on Church and Park Place in Manhattan). Get on towards the back of the train. Get off at the High Street (Brooklyn) Station. Cross through the Cadman Park, and follow signs to the Brooklyn Bridge. If you don't have time for this...MAKE IT. The walk takes about 30-40 minutes. You can do this walk practically year-round. I've done it over 100 times myself (no exaggeration...twice in a thunder and lighting storm) . The view is great day or night.

If you want to love this bridge as much as I do, you should read the book The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge


If you are hungry when you land in Brooklyn, I would suggest 4 places in DUMBO (Downtown Brooklyn...acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), you'll get to these locations by walking right past the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway, and down Washington Street to Front Street. On a nice sunny day, DUMBO is a cute little neighborhood to stop off, grab a bite to eat and plan the rest of your touring.

Make a right on Front Street for Grimaldi's, home Brooklyn's most famous Pizza. Continue down Front Street and make a right on Old Fulton Street. You'll see Grimaldi's (19 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn - (718) 858-4300) red and green awning, and most likely a long line, especially on days when the weather is nice. Even if you have to wait, give it a try. The pizza is made in a brick oven and has a very thin crust. A large pie is good for 2 people.

Or make a left at Front Street for Superfine (126 Front St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 243-9005), they have a great atmosphere, small menu selection but fresh, quality food at a decent price. My favorite there is the steak sandwich, but everything on the menu is fantastic. When you are done, walk straight towards the water to the park. You'll end up at a nice park where you can sit and enjoy the view.

If you want Brooklyn's (and arguably the world's) Best Chocolate, you have to stop at Jacques Torres Chocolate (66 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 718.875.9772) (take a left on Front Street, make a right at the Starbucks, and a left on Water Street) . The've got amazing Ice Cream Sandwiches in the summer featuring Jacques' chocolate chip cookies, and in the winter, the Hot Chocolate is too rich to describe. Go there and at least sample a chocolate.

If you rather some ice cream, then you should keep walking down Water street to Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, (1 Water St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 718-246-3963). In the summer, there will be a nice long line for this creamy delicious ice cream. Get a scoop and sit and enjoy it in the garden of the River Cafe (don't be fooled by the name, this place is way too expensive to eat there). Watch people take their wedding and engagment photos and enjoy the view of the Bridge and NYC skyline.

Go to any of these places above, and I promise you will get some of the most fantastic pictures of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, the East River and NYC Skyline.


6) Get a bird's eye view from the Empire State Building. I never get tired of bringing my tourist friends to the Empire State Building. It is a classic NYC Landmark. Built in 1931, this 102 story building is currently the tallest building in NYC. Every night they light the top with colors that represent a holiday or event. It is fun to see it lit up and to try to figure out what today's color means. As far as getting to the top, it only costs about $18 to go to the 86th floor. Sometimes the lines are long, but frankly, I really think if you are in NYC, you have to do it.



If you don't want to spend the cash getting to the top, I have one more suggestion for you. Go to La Quinta Hotel (17 West 32nd Street (between Broadway and 5th) New York, NY 10001) Take the elevator to the Sky Bar. Go there in the evening, have a drink and enjoy the view of this modern marvel from the La Qunita's rooftop bar.





7) Take spin in Times Square. First of all, if you are visiting NYC, you have to catch a show on Broadway. Make plans to go to one the TKTS booth and get a discount ticket for that evening or the next day matinee. The booths are open from 11am -6pm.

Before the show, grab a drink at the Marriott Marquis (1535 Broadway at 46th street New York, NY 10036). Take the elevator up the the View Restaurant. While you sit, the room rotates and you get a 360 degree view of Times Square and New Jersey Skyline. They have a dinner and dessert buffet, but I'd just go for the drink. You can get some good eats at my 2 favorite places Carmine's (Italian family style) - 200 W 44th St New York, NY 10036 - (212) 221-3800, or Virgils for Southern BBQ (152 W 44th St New York, NY 10036 - (212) 921-9494). I also can suggest Ruby Foo's for Asian Fusion (1626 Broadway, New York - (212) 489-5600).

8) Get your Chocolate Fix - I personally look forward to going to the Chocolate Show every November (beginning of the month). You pay about $30 and get to taste all the chocolate your heart desires. The location has been changing, but in 2008, it was at Pier 94 (711 12th Avenue and 55th Street). You want to get to this event early in the day, before it gets too crowded. My friends and I usually arrive at around 10am, tour around for about 2 hours and then go out for lunch. This year I learned about Chocolate Covered Bacon (need I say more???) from Roni-Sue located in the Essex Street Market (120 Essex St., New York, NY 10002) .

I also can highly recommend Max Brenner (A.K.A Chocolate by the Bald Man) located at 841 Broadway (between 13th and 14th Streets). You have to try his Chocolate Pizza and Chocolate Milk Shakes.

9) Ride NYC in the 5 Borough Bike Tour. I love to see NYC by bicycle. For the past 5 years, I have participated in the 5 Borough Bike Tour , which usually takes place the first Sunday in May. You start in Downtown Manhattan, ride through all the boroughs and end up in Staten Island. The roads are all closed to traffic and the route is mostly flat. Its 42 miles of adventure. This ride has become extremely popular, so you have to sign up early the fee starts at $40, and goes higher depending on when you register. There are so many people on this ride, it can get dangerous. You will experience bottle-necks if you are not in the front of the pack. Try to get there super early so you aren't stuck behind the slow pokes and less experienced riders. My friends and I also ride up the side streets ahead of everyone up until Central Park.

Another ride that I can suggest is MS Bike NY in October. This ride requires that you pay an entry fee and raise a minimum for the charity. I can tell you though that it is well organized and they take care of their riders. It is well worth the hassle of fundraising (and it is a good cause!) . The ride is 30 - 100 miles through NYC and NJ. If you do up to 75 miles, you get to ride through the Lincoln Tunnel into New Jersey and back over the George Washington Bridge, which is pretty exciting.

You can also try the New York Century Bike Tour in September. It ranges from 15 to 100 mile routes. The ride starts at $60 and goes up from there depending on when you register. I've done this a few times and my only complaint about this ride is that they don't close off all the routes to cars, and it sometimes feels a little less organized compared to the other rides above.


10) Get lost in Grand Central Station You just have to check out this historical landmark. Grand Central Station is beautiful from the outside and the inside. I like to walk in the middle and just look up. But there is lots to see here. Check out this walking tour. According to this website, free public tours are given on Wednesdays and Fridays at 12:30pm. The Wednesday tour meets at the Round Information Booth and is given by the Municipal Art Society (212) 935-3960. The Friday tours meets outside on 42nd Street in front of the Phillip Morris Building/Whitney Museum entrance across the street from Grand Central and is given by the Grand Central Partnership (212) 883-2420.




SO...my fellow New Yorkers...What do you think? Did I miss anything?


Note about 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. & Canada Before You Die: There are many variations of this book, one highlights action/adventure, another lists places to visit world-wide. Many people use these types of books to help them in compiling their Bucket List, the list of things they want to do before they die. I don't really see it as my Bucket List, but as a list of things I don't want to miss. I chose the US and Canada version of the Before you Die Books because I actually felt I might be able to do them all! Why give yourself an impossible challenge? As I go from state to state and up into Canada, I find it satisfying to check off the different places listed in this book, and as with the case with NYC, finding even more treasures along the way. I hope to continue to share my adventures and finds as I find them.

Want to create your own Bucket List or Don't Miss list? Here are some books to get you started:

Ladies and Gentlemen...Elvis has Left the Building.

Today I finished Careless Love by Peter Guralnick. Heartbreaking.

Elvis was really before my time, but I can tell you that he was a handsome young man oozing with charisma and sex appeal.

He was a complicated character. He had all the money you could imagine, but no one around him he could really trust. He hated the movies he made, they embarrassed him. But they made him money, so he did them anyway and his eccentric manager, The Colonel Tom Parker (the ultimate deal maker) kept signing him up for more.

Here is one of his early movies...where he actually looks like he was enjoying himself.




In his private life, Elvis was searching for answers and peace, but really only found solace with drugs. Nobody around him had the guts to tell him to stop. Elvis' career eventually moved from movies to concert performances, which brought him closer to the fans he loved. Here's a clip from his famous 1968 Comeback Special.




In the end, his addition to drugs made him bloated and sick and affected his performances. Here is one of his last concerts before his death at Graceland in August 1977.



As I read Elvis' story, I couldn't help of think of the stars of today, who find themselves in a similar hell: from Anna Nicole to Brittany Spears. I really feel for these celebs even more now, having read Elvis' story.

This book was written in 1999, but I am so glad it fell into my hands today. I was able to give it another dimension with videos from YouTube. Its a tragic story well told by author Guralnick. Today, I give it 4 of 5 stars.



What's next on my list...? Honestly, I don't know I have quite a few books waiting for my attention. I'll let you know in my next post.

The Reader...good book...glad I didn't go see the movie.

Well, I just got back from a great vacation from Tennessee. I went to visit an old BookSpan (from back when it was Doubleday Book & Music Club) friend, Sheila. I traveled with another friend, and former BookSpan (aka Doubleday Direct) employee, Erika. (All this is irrelevant to my book review, just giving context.)

Anyway, after Madame Bovary, my reading material had dried up, so first thing after getting a sandwich at the airport, I stopped in the bookstore to pick up a good read.

I was drawn to Wally Lamb's book, THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED, but thought it was a bit too long for a vacation book (I DO plan to read it at some point).




So, I turned to the paperback bestsellers and there was THE READER by Bernhard Schlink. Two seconds later I was at the counter, making my purchase. Erika said to me, "Don't you just want to see the movie?" and I forgot my exact answer, but I pretty much said, "no."

I finished 80% of the book on the plane. Its a story of a young boy growing up in Europe in the 40's, who encounters this woman and they develop a strange relationship and he falls in love and they become each other's world, until one day she disappears. Years later, they are reunited under the strange circumstances...and the story unfolds from there.




Lots of sex, lots of reading...and that's about it. I am not quite sure how THE READER works as a movie, though I hear it got good reviews, but I think I am pretty happy with just reading the book. I left it in Tennessee with a rating of 3 of 5 stars.



"How was Tennessee," you ask??? Great. I had the best time ever. From the Peabody Hotel, watching the ducks march up a red carpet into a fountain, to Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches at Graceland, hanging out at Sun Studios, to Fried Chicken at Gus's to a day trip to Nashville, a side trip to Walmart, and the Rock and Roll Hall of fame....it was FANTASTIC. I had lots of laughs with Sheila and Erika. And best of all, now I can check a few more items off my 1001 places to Visit Before You Die to-do list.





And...most important of all, I picked up my latest read...CARELESS LOVE: The unmaking of Elvis Presley.



I found this treasure in Sun Studios. Erika, Sheila and I stopped here right after Graceland. Its the studio where Elvis made his first recording and the home of many other singing greats. We liked the place so much, that after a fantastic tour, we hung out in the gift shop for another 30 minutes or so, and had coffee and ice cream shakes.



I had been searching for an Elvis biography in the shops at Graceland, but couldn't find anything good... While I was waiting for my shake to be made, I found this book and bought it on the spot.




I've been reading this book since I got home from Tennessee last week. The book references many of Elvis's songs and movies, and the best part of technology today is that at a click of a button, I can experience it all. Not only can I see how much weight Elvis gained from movie to movie, but I can hear how beautiful he sang a particular song the author mentioned. The book really comes to life with this extra media support from YouTube. It just takes me a little longer than if I tried to read the book straight through.

Here is my favorite clip of all...I only wish I could see the outtakes...


Dog's Life. - Watch the best video clips here

Now...on to the Classics

I'm EMBARRASSED to say that I never read Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. Oh...its been on my reading lists in school, but I always chose another book, because I just thought it was a book about baseball.

Clearly, I was wrong. And it is a shame. I would have loved reading this book in high school. Holden Caulfield, is a rich, smart ass teenager, just kicked out of his prep school headed home to NYC. He delays going to his parents house, because he doesn't want to tell them he got kicked out again...this book is the story of what happend during this time. The book was written in 1951, but it totally could have taken place today. LOVED IT 4 of 5 stars.



I tried to read Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. I can't get into it...but I definately will try again.



So...I am picking up Madame Bovary. So far I am enjoying it. I will probably take the bus next week, so I can get in more reading time.




OHHHHHH Book Angel....Could use a few more books to feed the habit....

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini

Do you see how my reading pace picks up with a WONDERFUL book? I just finished A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS. I read it on the bus and had to push myself to walk over the bridge instead of stealing a few more minutes riding on the train so I could get some extra reading in.



Today I decided that Khaled Hosseni is the new Maeve Binchy (remember her?). His books are filled with characters, plot twists and turns, romance and sorrow and ironic endings.

FROM PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY (I couldn't explain it better).
The story covers three decades of anti-Soviet jihad, civil war and Taliban tyranny through the lives of two women. Mariam is the scorned illegitimate daughter of a wealthy businessman, forced at age 15 into marrying the 40-year-old Rasheed, who grows increasingly brutal as she fails to produce a child. Eighteen later, Rasheed takes another wife, 14-year-old Laila, a smart and spirited girl whose only other options, after her parents are killed by rocket fire, are prostitution or starvation. Against a backdrop of unending war, Mariam and Laila become allies in an asymmetrical battle with Rasheed, whose violent misogyny—"There was no cursing, no screaming, no pleading, no surprised yelps, only the systematic business of beating and being beaten"—is endorsed by custom and law. Hosseini gives a forceful but nuanced portrait of a patriarchal despotism where women are agonizingly dependent on fathers, husbands and especially sons, the bearing of male children being their sole path to social status. His tale is a powerful, harrowing depiction of Afghanistan, but also a lyrical evocation of the lives and enduring hopes of its resilient characters.


I loved this book cover to cover and was sad when the magic was over. Looking forward to Hosseini next writings! I give this book 4 out of 5.


Book Angel Strikes Again
Got another package from Book Angel featuring DANGEROUS ADMISSIONS by Jane O'Connor and WHAT THE DEAD KNOW by Laura Lippman. I'm busy rereading Dolly's Memoir, Rebel Teacher, but as soon as I am done, I will be work on these.

WATER LIKE A STONE...SINKS

Mom and I went to Salem, and I got some bedtime reading in and I FINALLY finished WATER LIKE A STONE by Deborah Crombie. I'm not going to lie...it was a chore.

The book was chock full of characters and plot- A cop couple on holiday with family on the England countryside, a dead baby found by a female contractor on the verge of divorce, 2 spoiled snobby pot smoking teens, a boat-living family formerly accused of Muchausen Syndrome By Proxy, and a burnt out legally separated social worker who has taken to living on boats too.... Deborah tried to tie them all in together and create a mystery, but it was a stretch and a yawn. I have to give this book 2 of 5 stars.



Mom and I also checked off two cities in the 1,001 Places to visit: SALEM and BOSTON. Salem was a nice little town. We did a trolley ride, visited the HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES (next on my purchase list) that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne, who also wrote the SCARLET LETTER. We also participated in a witch trial...it was very interesting (pictures to come). In Boston, we did a DUCK TOUR and had dinner in the North End. It was really very nice. Looking forward to checking off more locations. Really want to get to Niagara Falls.




Almost finished with KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini (this read only 3 days). FANTASTIC.

I GAVE YOU MY HEART... by Dixie Cash

I finally recovered from my Harry Potter hangover, and got started on my latest book from my Book Angel. I picked up I GAVE YOU MY HEART, BUT YOU SOLD IT ONLINE by Dixie Cash.

It was a fun read featuring two sexy cowboys, two sassy hairdressers turned private detectives, and a single mom with a daughter who desperately wants her mom to find love (so she secretly posts her mom on an online dating site). The book was full of funny stories like when the ladies get arrested by the small time cops for attending a sex toy party that was thrown by an 80 year old woman.

It was a fun read. Perfect for a beach read. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.




What are my favorite books of all time? Here's what come to mind.

DUKE DIET and the MS BIKE RIDE

So...its been a few weeks on the Duke Diet. I'm using the website, but I keep referring to the book to stay on track, so I feel it is important to mention it. Besides, how many times can I say that Harry Potter is pissing me off???

As you can see the weight lost is slow...but it is trending down. I've found some great recipes in the book, including a Blackberry Mustard Chicken and this week, I plan on trying the Maryland Crab Cakes.


WORKING TOWARDS THE BIG EVENT

In addition to my regular exercises routine, which includes weight and cardio as recommended by Duke, I have added my preparation for a 100 MS Mile Bike Ride for September 15 -16. I've done it before, but I haven't been this heavy. Shedding the extra lbs will definiately help. I know I have to work extra hard this year to finish the ride successfully. Hopefully, I'll be in a much healthier place next year.

Click here to view my page AND sponsor me!

HARRY POTTER - What an attitude!

I'm about 1/4 away through HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS and maybe it is because I am not rushing to read this before everyone else does, that I just want to put it down.

Harry's got such a chip on his shoulder. He's not the cute boy we met years ago. I guess I would be a snotty teen too if everyone around me has been killed...but I don't really like him.




Anyway...I'm pushing on. I see lots of people reading on the bus and trains and I kind of feel like I would be missing something if I didn't jump on the bandwagon.

Its the NYT Bestseller syndrome...I know.

Lost & Found by Jacqueline Sheehan...NOOOOooooo

Sorry...This book (in my opinion) was a dog.

You have Rocky, a new widow psychologist turned small island dog catcher, a neighbor who sees emotions in color, an anorexic teen living between her divorced parents, a sad quiet rescued labrador (named Lloyd) who has been injured by a handcrafted arrow, and... a mystery (sort of).

This just wasn't a book for me. Sheehan scratched the surface with the characters and Rocky was the least likeable of all. The plot was incredibly predictible and didn't really impress me.

I give this book 1 of 5 stars. (sorry Book Angel).

Duke Diet - The Eggplant Parm is the BOMB (That's a good thing).

Week 2 of my Duke Diet adventure. Slow going, but I am not quitting. I've lost 5 lbs but I think it must be water weight. I won't be happy until I am out of the 200 range.

ANYWAY, tired of the frozen dinners, I started trying some of the recipes in the book and they are pretty good. I had Almond Crusted Salmon which I enjoyed.



Of course, I was excited to try the Eggplant Parm recipe, because Eggplant is by far my favorite vegetable. Last time I was on Weight Watchers, I think I had Eggplant every day. The Duke Diet recipe featured baked breaded eggplant, and 4oz of Mozzarella cheese. It was DELICIOUS. That's a good thing, because I have 3 more servings in the freezer.

FINDING INSPIRATION
I've been looking for inspiration wherever I can get it these days. My friend Cathi got me going to the gym 30 mins a day because Oprah said so. Duke also says so...so I think I am on the right track. So I am doing it. I haven't missed a day yet.


My friend Josie swears by THE SECRET by Rhonda Byrne. Another "Oprah says" recommendation. Its on my list to get it from the bookstore (unless my Book Angel can get it for me...Hint Hint...I know you are reading this ET!). Oprah is usually right.

MARLEY AND ME by John Grogan - Good memories

I just finished MARLEY AND ME last night. It was truly a wonderful story about this beautiful, crazy, wild Labrador and his adventures in the Grogan family. As you can tell from my last posting, this book brought me far down memory lane. My dog has been gone almost as long as he was alive, and I never missed him more after reading this book.

Half of me wants to go out and get a dog (thanks to Marley) and the other half enjoys the shed free, pooper-scooper free, care-free life that I have created for myself. And just in case I forgot the crazy puppy days where you never knew what you would come home to...Marley's story is a fantastic reminder. Anyway, I realize that I just don't have time for a dog right now. I wish I did, but I don't...Definately something I hope to have in the future.

So...MARLEY AND ME by John Grogan - 4 of 5 stars. Its a simple book, not sure how it would resonate with non-dog lovers. Probably worthy of 3 stars but gets extra credit for the trip down memory lane.

According to Entertainment news, Jennifer Aniston is to star opposite Owen Wilson in the big screen adaptation of John Grogan's bestselling book 'Marley & Me'.


Next book on the list...a novel that seems to be focused on a lovable pooch...LOST & FOUND by Jacqueline Sheehan

A break from the everyday

My reading has been slow since I joined NYSC last week. I'm still working through RUNAWAY ADAM by Peter Prince. Slow going...but I am enjoying it.

I am determined to shed the extra weight I put on in the last few years. I am taking advantage of the resources available to me at work and I am doing the Duke Diet, instead of Weight Watchers this time. For the most part they are both very similar, but I do the weighing in at home. The website, which is referred to many times in the book, features online food log, weight tracker, exercise routines and all sort of good stuff to help me stay on track. I was looking at the recipes in the book last night...there are a few I would like to try. I like having the book and website combo. I have references whether I am at the computer, or sitting watching TV. Overall, the change of pace is good for me. I don't seem to be falling into the old habits. Well, its only been a week.

I have 50 pounds to shed. We'll see how it goes.



On a side note:
I got the email the other day from a friend that wanted me to answer her questions and pass it on...for fun. I love my friend, but I hate these emails. I look to the question #38 that says who is the least likely to fill do this...I haven't been named, so I guess she hasn't noticed that I never filled it in all the times that she emailed me.

I am just going to come to this page going forward and just cut and paste it back to her next time:
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I can't remember (thankfully)
3. Do you like your handwriting? No, much better typing
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Bologna
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Nope
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? yes
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Me....no!
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Not anymore
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cheerios
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Mocha Chip or Chocolate with Peanut butter
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT A PERSON? Eyes
15. RED OR PINK? Pink
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Tummy
17. WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST? College
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? N/A
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black/Black
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Dumplings
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Air Conditioner
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? RED
23. FAVORITE SMELLS. Bacon
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Dolly
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Karen
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Baseball, Hot Dog eating contests
27. HAIR COLOR? Brown
28. EYE COLOR? Brown
29. Do you wear contacts? No
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Crab Cakes
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Both have their merits
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Can't remember
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Pink
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Italian Ices and Cannolis
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? N/A
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? N/A
39. What book are you reading now? Read my blog
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Dell
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T. V. LAST NIGHT? MTV reality shows
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Beach / Birds
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Rolling Stones
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Australia
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Quilting
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? New York
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Not sending to anyone.
48. WHAT TIME IS IT NOW? 10:15am. read the blog


I think I am getting grumpy in my old age...maybe I'm just hungry!

What a Blessing: THE BIG BOOK OF WOMEN SAINTS by Sarah Gallick

Here's a book written by a friend of mine (and a former coworker from BookSpan), Sarah Gallick. The book published back in April. I've been meaning to write about it for some time, but it is not the type of book you read in one sitting. I like to keep it by the bedside and pick it up now and again for inspiration.

Sarah had been talking about this book for a few years and I couldn't wait for her to finish. The topic of saints always interested me simply based on the amount of work it takes for a person to be canonized. It is quite a process. I love reading stories about people who were not always perfect, but somehow were touched by god and make a lasting impact on humanity (usually, but not always through martyrdom).

Its quite a lovely book. There on 365 woman saints to read about. One for every day. Each page highlights a saint, provides the back story, and interesting factoid, as well as a quote for reflection. Its a easy way to find inspiration when you need it most. I've bought it for several friends as gifts. It would also be a great confirmation gift. I highly recommend (and I am not just saying that becuase Sarah is a friend of mine) I mean it. I give it 5 of 5 stars.




On a side note: I had dinner with Sarah and another friend of ours, Ellen Clark, at a FANTASTIC place in Downtown Manhattan on Stone Street called Adrienne's Pizza Bar. When I say fantastic, I mean fantastic. I am from Staten Island, it is very rare that I am impressed by pizza anywhere else. This pizza is TO DIE FOR. The street was adorable. Check out Citysearch for more info.

Suprise read - THE ROAD by Cormack McCarthy

I've pretty much worked through my collection of reads from the old job at BookSpan. This was one of the books that I put on my bookshelf, and forgot about. I read all the "good stuff." Then I got a little desperate. In one last search of the house, I found THE ROAD by Cormack McCarthy. I have absolutely no idea why I picked up this book to begin with--The cover is extremely boring (mine didn't have the Oprah logo), and I never heard of the author, although he has written 9 or so previous novels. With no other choice, this once overlooked book was now a treasure, that would entertain me for my next few bus rides. Why all the backstory? It sort of fits with the book.




THE ROAD is a story of survival. A man and his son traveling through a burnt out America with whatever they can carry in their backpacks and an old shopping cart. They travel through a blackend landscape and head south where it is warmer. Along the way, they find abandoned, ransacked homes, which they search for some left overs rotten food, drops of oil, dirty blankets to help them survive. Items long discarded were now treasures. People are willing to kill for them.

This book reminds me of my recent read SEEING by Jose Saramago. Not only because they are both stories that explore what happens when people must do what they have to do to survive, but also because of the unique style in which they were written.

I give this surprise read, THE ROAD by Cormack McCarthy, 4 out of 5 stars. I know I am in good company...Oprah liked it too.

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Back from Vacay...A LONG WAY GONE

I'm back from vacation and I have to tell you about A LONG WAY GONE by Ishmael Beah. This book is #4 this week on the NYT Bestseller list. It is a very enlightening *true* story of a young boy in Sierra Leone forced to become a solider as means of survival as his family and country is destroyed by Civil War.

Ishmael tells how he is tragically separated from his family at 12 years old, and forced to find his own way with his young friends. He tells how he is brainwashed and drugged to commit the cruel and brutal fighting and killing that is so clearly against his nature.

The story is simply written but gives wonderful first hand insight into the life and mind of a child soldier.

It is hard to believe he is only 25, and has experienced so much in his short life (and now living safely in the United States). It makes you realize what a sheltered life we live in the US, and the evil that lurks in our small, small world. I give it 5 of 5 stars.




If you liked the movie BLOOD DIAMOND starring Leonardo DiCaprio, you might want to give this book a read.



On the NYTs Bestseller list:
HARDCOVER FICTION
Top 5 at a Glance
1. A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS, by Khaled Hosseini
2. THE SECRET SERVANT, by Daniel Silva
3. THE QUICKIE, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
4. HIGH NOON, by Nora Roberts
5. THE TIN ROOF BLOWDOWN, by James Lee Burke


HARDCOVER NONFICTION
Top 5 at a Glance
1. LONE SURVIVOR, by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson
2. QUIET STRENGTH, by Tony Dungy with Nathan Whitaker
3. GOD IS NOT GREAT, by Christopher Hitchens
4. A LONG WAY GONE, by Ishmael Beah
5. LEGACY OF ASHES, by Tim Weiner

I'mmmmmm Back to blogging

I'm now free - For over a month- from BookSpan (they were taken over by BMG) and on to bigger and better things. The drama of that place could be a blog in itself. I'm just happy to get out while I could.

Anyway, I can no longer get free books, which means I can be a little pickier in my selection.

Here's some of the better books I have read.

The Pursuit of Happyness - Chris Gardner

I picked this book on my way to China. I read it on the long plane ride home. I had seen Chris Gardner on Oprah and I was very interested in his story. I didn't get to see the movie, but I very much enjoyed the book and was inspired by Gardner's ability to make a better life for himself, even with the deck stacked against him. It was a testament that you don't have to be a slave to circumstance. And you can beat the system. LOVED IT 3 stars.


SHANTARAM by Gregory David Roberts

A friend of mine told me about this book while I was in China in January. It is a BIG BOOK. I think about 700 pages, but I loved it. It was written by an ex-con who escaped from jail in Australia, fled to India, worked his way through the underworld, and was finally caputured in Germany. He wrote this (Semi-Autobiographical) novel while he was in jail. Apparently, several times as some of his versions were destroyed. I couldn't put this book down. If I left it at the office, I would go back to get it. I brought it to bed with me. It felt like I wasn't making a dent until the last 100 pages. When I got there, I didn't want it to end. I usually drop my books at the salvation army. This one, I kept. 10 STARS. A MUST READ.




Seeing by Jose Saramago
This is a translation of a book written in Spanish. It deals with corruption in politics and what happens when 83% of its citizens cast blank ballots in a national election. It is a sequel to another book, called Blindness, which I haven't read, but I enjoyed it just the same. The story makes you think about what is happening here with the war in Iraq and how the government may have done to sway public opinion. I really makes you think. Highly recommended, but the writing style makes it a very slow read. 4 stars.



BookSpan

Warning: This book is POWERFUL

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom- I read this book a few years ago, but it touched me in a way I can barely understand today. It is a simple story. I started the book on the way home from work and just about finished it on my way back in the next day. By the time I got to my stop on 42nd street, I had about 5 pages left to go. I was a wreck. I had tears running down my face and I couldn't stop crying. I sat on one of the benches across from Radio City, and sat there and read to the end. It was 9:15 and I was late for work.

It wasn't the story itself, that was very simple. It was how the story made me think about my life and the people in it. Those who had been a part of my life for long periods of time, and those only for a fleeting moment. Was it my deceased Aunt that I took for granted, that I loved and hated at the same time? Was it my Granny who died when I was nine, someone who my mother loved so much that she cried when her parents told her that she could not take Granny out for a day in the park (because she was too sick)? Or Was it someone that I passed on the street who I never considered, was it someone I was mean to, without knowing I was being mean?

Anyway, I finally made it to work at BookSpan. I had to walk by my boss's office to get to mine. As I passed a few of my coworkers saw I was late, and I was upset. I closed my office door and collected myself. When I went into my boss's office a few minutes later, everyone in the room wanted to know if I was okay. I told them for the first time in my ten years reading books for this company, I cried. I had heard it happening to my colleagues, but never experienced it myself. I said: " You know this book...be careful, it is very powerful"


Three years later, The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom still touches me. I think about it often. This weekend when I volunteered in a nursing home serving Thanksgiving Lunch to seniors and their families. One woman asked me to help call her son who was picking her up, I got the front desk to make the call, hoping the number was a real number, it was, and she was so thankful. For me...Big deal, I made a phone call (to her it was a BIG DEAL).

Today I had dinner with a woman who was my HS English teacher, Dolly. She's was a character then, and hasn't changed in 15 years. I saw her at a recent poker event at my high school. A week later she calls me for dinner. I was shocked. We had a great time. She told me stories of her childhood and then read me chapters from a book she is writing. I felt so lucky. Big deal (to her and to me).

I think I gave my copy of the book away. I have to get another one. I think I want to read it again. THat's how powerful it is.

I read the latest by Mitch Albom, FOR ONE MORE DAY. I liked it, but not as impressed as this one. I give it a 2 out of 5. Albom did okay with this one.

A book you won't forget...

I picked up WATER FOR ELEPHANTS: A Novel by Sara Gruen at the airport on my way to Ft. Lauderdale. It was a good thing because it rained quite a bit, and I had lots of time to read.


This was a pleasant surprise. In this novel, Jacob Jankowski, now in an old folks home, reflects on the his time with Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. His memories are triggered by the arrival of the circus in the area. His remembers his Circus life during the depression--a hard life that he fell into when his parents were killed in a car accident and he was left with nothing to survive on but his incomplete vet training from Cornell. Dwarfs, danger, love and loss, and a smart elephant named ROSIE, all in one great book. If you like to watch the show Carnivale on HBO, you'll enjoy this look of life under the big top. I give this one 5 out of 5 stars. I'd like to check out her previous title RIDING LESSONS AND FLYING CHANGES if I get a chance.


PW SAYS:
"With its spotlight on elephants, Gruen's romantic page-turner hinges on the human-animal bonds that drove her debut and its sequel (Riding Lessons and Flying Changes)—but without the mass appeal that horses hold."

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS AND FLYING CHANGES are available on ZOoba.com for $9.95 each NO SHIPPING AND HANDLING!!!