Quote of the Day-------Goodreads.com

This quote is by one of James' favorite "authors"

On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.
- Michel de Montaigne


Great Thought......

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads

No one says a novel has to be one thing. It can be anything it wants to be, a vaudeville show, the six o’clock news, the mumblings of wild men saddled by demons.
- Ishmael Reed


So, go out and pick up a novel and see where it takes you!

Happy reading.

Quote of the Day-------Goodreads.com

Sammy says that he really likes today's quote of the day.

My heart is warm with the friends I make, And better friends I'll not be knowing, Yet there isn't a train I wouldn't take, No matter where it's going.
- Edna St. Vincent Millay
The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet was born on this day in 1892.

Quote of the Day-------Goodreads.com

I do things like get in a taxi and say, "The library, and step on it.
- David Foster Wallace
The author of Infinite Jest was born on this day in 1962.


Well, considering the downpour outside, where else do you think people congregate on a rainy day?

Happy reading!

"Ten Letters, The Stories Americans Tell Their President" a book by Eli Saslow

Ten Letters, The Stories American Tell Their President, a book by Eli Saslow

As usual, I heard the author on NPR, probably the Diane Rehm show. Eli was very interesting, as I recall a couple of the letter writers were also heard (by way of taped interviews) on the show.

Eli has traced the history of letter writing to American Presidents all the way back to George Washington, believe it or not, there are so many interesting little known facts about letters to our Presidents. Spikes in the number of letters to our Presidents usually occur after some major historic event, ie. after President Roosevelt started doing his fire side chats, he mentioned he would enjoy hearing from "you", and the White House was swamped with letters, after JFK's assasination, after 9/11. Each event the number of letters just keeps sky-rocketing, there is a special building in Washington DC, locale is not public knowledge, and since the days of all the anthrax scares, the process of security has changed greatly.

Currently, President Obama receives approximately 20,000 letters and emails DAILY. Each piece of mail goes through the security system, then sorted according to subject matter, then staff members read 500 letters every day - YES every day - takes about 12 hours. There are several staff members who pull certain letters that might be of interest to the President, and the last staff member pulls 10 Letters every evening, these 10 Letters are then placed in a purple folder and delivered directly to President Obama, and he reads every letter before retiring for the night.......

One might believe that the letters chosen would only be from people who approve of the President, however, one would be wrong with that assumption. The letters are chosen for what they have to say to the President, regardless of their political beliefs. That is something that I found very interesting and made me regard President Obama even higher.

President Obama sometimes responds to the letter writer, sometimes not, however, once again, EACH and EVERY one of the TEN Letters is read. When the President does respond to a letter, it is not sent in any ordinary type of envelop, no, it is sent in a very special type of package. And, YES, President Obama, when he does respond, writes EACH and EVERY letter by hand.

I think that Chapter 5, "Stop and listen to the American People" was by far my favorite, a teacher from Plano, Texas, definitly NOT a supporter of President Obama, when a package was delivered to him in response to his letter, he thought it was a JOKE! He keeps his letter from the President in his classroom, and students are permitted to take the letter off the board and handle it! He still has it hanging there!

Well, I hope that I have whetted your appetite to the point that you will consider reading this very interesting book.

Happy Reading!

Quote of the Day Goodreads.com

Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness.
- George Sand



Seems to me that George's words should be considered by an awful lot of the "ME" generation, especially those who have so much and don't do "GOOD" things for their fellow man/woman.

Happy Weekend!

"Protektor" Czech film

"Protektor" Czech Film, winner of 9 Czech Lion awards (Czech Film Academy Awards)

This film is yet another view of what occured when the Nazis marched in and invaded yet one more country. Starts in 1938, set in Prague. Emil, radio reporter, is married to Hana, a beautiful actress who happens to be Jewish. When the Nazis first come to Prague, Emil vows to protect Hana from evil........

Naturally, Emil and his co-workers come under the scrutiny of the Nazis, for whatever reason the Nazis turn a blind eye to Hana for the time being, she is never one of those "rounded up" and taken behind the "wall". Emil is "promoted" when his co-worker voices his opposition to the new regime, Emil starts to waver in his fidelity and loyalty to Hana. Hana turns to the young projectionist at the local theatre who is in love with her. And then the assasination of the Third Reich Deputy Protector occurs. Bicycles play an important part of this part of the story......

James and I really enjoyed this movie, despite the "dark" theme. The photography was very interesting - black and white, muted color. There was some sex, some nudity, however, they did not occur together...... I don't recall any bad language, it was subtitled, which was very easy to follow.

Hope you will consider this film.

"Herb and Dorothy" a documentary

Herb and Dorothy Vogel, a most remarkable couple.

Herb is a retired postal worker, and Dorothy is a retired librarian. When they married, they decided to support new artists, and purchase pieces that they both liked. Since the 1960's, they have lived in a very small apartment in NYC, with each other and their many cats. On their "meagher" salaries, this couple acquired one of the largest minimalist art collection in the history of art collecting.

A recent documentary of this couple follows their years of collecting minimalist art, and the many artists, they helped bring to the forefront of this movement, and befriended over the years. One of the more interesting aspects of this film, is that so many of the artists were involved in the filming of the story, and give such wonderful insights to this amazing story.

Much to the delight of The National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., the Vogels GAVE their entire collection to the National Gallery.

This is a view of their overcrowded apartment that they still resided in when the documentary was being filmed.

When the National Gallery made arrangements to take the art from their apartment, the folks in charge figured they could get the collection into one "normal" U-Haul type moving van, little did they know.............

It took 5 regular size moving vans to take everything out of the apartment. The size and scope bewilders the mind.

It is amazing that with all that art work in their apartment, that their floor could support the weight of it all!

The Vogels have "permanent" visiting rights to view any part of the collection at any time at the National Gallery.

James and I enjoyed this one thoroughly! To the point that the next day, we attended a private showing in a gallery, locally, and purchased a piece of art. Oh dear, I hope we won't become the next "Herb and Dorothy"

Support your local artist!

Quote of the Day ----- Goodreads.com

Good Saturday morning to you!

Today's Goodreads.com quote of the day............


Literature is a textually transmitted disease, normally contracted in childhood.
- Jane Yolen
The author of The Devil's Arithmetic was born on this day in 1939.


Pick up a GOOD book and pass the "disease" along to someone else.

Happy reading.

Montrose, PA and Chris Snee

This is a photo of the public library in Montrose PA, town where my aunt lives.




This is a photo of Montrose PA high school. This is unique.

This is a photo of Chris Snee, "son" of Montrose Pa, right guard for the New York Giants, who won the 2012 Super Bowl, beat those Patriots (YES!!!!!)

Congratulations Chris, and New York Giants.

Quote of the Day ------- Goodreads

Think before you speak. Read before you think.
- Fran Lebowitz


What more can I say?

Happy Groundhog Day 2012

Happy Groundhog Day, six more weeks!

Please NO more snow on Camano