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Monday, November 30, 2009
Another manic Monday
Into another work week. I am going to have to face another big slate of stuff to do in addition to suffering the fallout from the many mistakes I am sure to have made last week because I was stressed out.
You know what I hate? When I write a story in the paper about someone and the person emails me afterward and all it says in the subject line is:
All I can think is that I screwed up!
This person is not writing because he or she wants to be like Leonard Pennario and tell me, "This is so charming." This person wants to kvetch!
You know what, if I write about you, and you email me, here is what your subject line should say:
Better still:
And after that when I open the email there had better be no surprises.
Better still do not email me at all, you know?
I will have a heart attack no matter what!
Well, one thing is good about this week and that is what happened yesterday has stuck with me. That is the miracle of St. Anthony finding my checks.
It is not just the checks although it is good to have them back, I will tell you that. It is the thought of this 12th century Doctor of the Church tapping me on the shoulder and telling me, "Hey, Mary, I'm here."
That makes me feel good!
There is this prayer they say at church after the Rosary that has a line I love. The person leading the prayer says, "May the Divine Assistance remain with us always."
And then you say: "And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen."
You are supposed to say that anyway. I am afraid I sometimes drop the ball. That is because I am too dazzled by that line about the Divine Assistance. That is a concept I love!
I could use a little Divine Assistance as I head into this work week, I will tell you that right now.
And yesterday made me think that I have it.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The miracle morning
I have been having the wildest day. The most supernatural day.
In case you have not gathered this by the way the Web log has been going lately, my life has been terribly chaotic. Just as an example there is this record I have been trying to find. Nothing important, nothing by Leonard Pennario, nothing I need for work or anything. Just this Mozart record that I bought when I was a teenager that I have been thinking about.
This record somehow came to symbolize everything that is wrong-headed about my life. I actually brought it up a few days ago in my morning prayers. I was complaining about how I needed to get my act together. "I mean, there's this record," I said. "There's no use even looking for it. It could be anywhere. That is how big of a mess my life is. Everything is like that. Everything."
But this story is not about this record. I am just trying to illustrate how nutty things are. The story is mostly about my checkbook.
Well, it is actually about my checks. I was out of checks and I knew I had some more checks somewhere but for the life of me I could not find them.
And I know, I could order new checks, but just the idea of going through that trouble made me want to go lie down. Plus I knew those stupid pads of checks were around somewhere. I knew it!
But I could not find them. Once I got all excited when I found a box of checks inside this old yellow cabinet I have but zut alors, they were for an old account. I actually burst into tears and Howard, who witnessed the whole pathetic incident, had to josh me out of it.
So. That was a couple of weeks ago. Today I was getting ready to go to church and I thought of those checks, as I do every Sunday. I think of them because I have been behind in my church contributions because they have been missing.
My church is St. Anthony. And our priest, Padre Secondo, always tells us to pray to St. Anthony when things are missing.
Usually I would not pray unless it was something really big. But now I thought, why not. We are never told only to ask St. Anthony to find big things. These checks might not be big but they have become a big irritation.
Howard was still asleep and I was by myself so I explained the situation out loud to St. Anthony. I said, "One reason I need these checks is because I am behind in my church contributions. My church is St. Anthony of Padua. That is you." Ha, ha! But I figured that would not hurt.
Then I went back upstairs. And I had a funny feeling to look in that yellow cabinet. This is ridiculous, I thought. The only thing in that drawer was that box of old checks. But I opened it anyway.
And the drawer was not empty. There was an envelope I had not noticed. I opened it.
And in the envelope were my checks!
I had been looking for a box. They were in an envelope and that was why I had not seen them.
It all happened so fast. I just sat there dazed. I mean, I had that prickly feeling you get when you KNOW that there is something out there and you have connected with it. Here I had called on this man who had been dead 700 years and I saw beyond a doubt that he had heard me.
Then something else happened.
I went downstairs and I should have been leaving for church but I was too dreamy and dazed. I drifted over to the record player and began putting away a few records that were out. There was this Ahmad Jamal ...
... record without a jacket and I started leafing through a pile of records looking for it.
And guess what I found?
That Mozart record I had been wondering about!
It was as if St. Anthony said, "Oh, and by the way, there's your record."
Son of a sea cook, that was strange. And after all that I went to church and I did not even tell anyone! My Facebook friend John Callahan showed up again and I got laughing with him after Mass about stuff and I did not think to bring it up.
But now I am thinking about it. I even told Howard about it. Howard is not Catholic but he was impressed because he was there for the situation with the yellow cabinet. I told him if he loses anything to remember that St. Anthony is there.
Howard is so cool. He said, "Now that I know I have an in, I will."
That is St. Anthony up above. It is his famous Sermon to the Fishes. St. Anthony was preaching and all the fish swam up and stuck their heads out of the water and listened to him.
It sounds like one wild story!
But I will tell you one thing, I believe it.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Goodwill hunting
That picture makes it look as if the Buffalo River is on fire! It is the sunset from the day before Thanksgiving. I took it from my office window.
That weird object you see in the sky is the fluorescent light reflected in the window!
Not long ago I read that Buffalo gets wonderful sunsets because of the Great Lakes. There is something about the clouds and the weather patterns. And that day proved it. All day it was drab and miserable. Then suddenly came this wonderful sunset.
That is the way I remember it anyway. So much has happened since then what with being up at 4:30 a.m. and cooking my Thanksgiving dinner. Now all that is behind me. Te deum laudamus!
One thing funny this year was that I had almost no leftovers. That turkey went.
All of it!
My last act upon retiring was to crack up the turkey carcass and put it into two crock pots and cover the bones with water and set it on Low. Listen to me, talking about cracking up the turkey carcass. I sound like Sarah Palin talking about her father teaching her to hunt. Rugged language!
So now I have all this turkey broth.
Although the table still looks like this.
I could have cleared the table today but no, I went to Goodwill with my mother. I bought this Arthur Fiedler box set. Three records! Just because one of the tracks was Leonard Pennario playing the Litolff Scherzo. That link gives you the version only by Philippe Entremont but although he is wimpy next to Pennario it is better than nothing.
Best of all the box set had a picture page which, Howard asked, does it show Fiedler on the roof? No it does not! But it does show Fiedler with a small select few greats of the musical world. One was the singer Robert Merrill and another was Duke Ellington. And I loved the picture at the top of the page. Arthur Fiedler with Leonard Pennario!
It was a picture of Pennario I did not have!
I will have to work at scanning it into the Web log.
Clearing the Thanksgiving table will just have to wait.
Friday, November 27, 2009
In the night kitchen
Thanksgiving is over and for me the day began at 4:30 a.m. I was restless and I could not sleep! I was in the middle of this terribly busy week at work, which is due to continue shortly, may I add. And I had this huge Thanksgiving dinner to do.
Anyway I got up at 4:30 and then I went downstairs to the kitchen and began making Concord Grape Pie. It is so funny, that time of day! No boom cars which is rare in our neighborhood. Well, there were one or two. And me just standing there peeling my grapes. These are Concord grapes. Note to out-of-towners: Buffalo is in, ahem, wine country. And these Concord grapes are an ancient variety with seeds and dark blue skins. To make Concord grape pie you have to peel them one by one. Which is not that difficult. You just hold them over a bowl, squeeze, put insides in one bowl, skins in the other.
It was ridiculous to make the grape pie because it was so labor intensive and I had so much else to do. And I did not have to make the grape pie. But that was what made it fun. It is like a skater doing a Double Axle. You not only do Thanksgiving dinner but you throw in this rare and labor-intensive Concord Grape Pie.
I do not make pies that often and whenever I do, I am amazed at how happy it makes me. Making the crust is a challenge and I have to cheat and patch things, and when it comes to the top crust I do a lattice. That way you do not have to get a neat circle. All you need are a few strips.
So the world is quiet and there I am in my pajamas, doing this lattice crust.
La la la la la la la.
I would step back from time to time and evaluate it, then adjust it, fuss with it. I patched up the perimeter. It is lucky that Martha Stewart has come along and made it chic for things to look homemade. Because this pie sure looked homemade, I will tell you that right now.
Finally it was time for the artist to lift her brush. And into the oven it went. Oh, here was another thing: I had misjudged the grape amount so I had enough for two pies. I could not see making another crust so I topped the second with a streusel topping.
Above is a picture of my handiwork in the oven!
Here is a closeup of my streusel grape pie which Howard took with him when he went down to work at Big Blue.
The pies woke me up and it was as if I had gotten a full night's sleep. I was all happy and awake. I put on my I-Pod Shuffle and listened to Leonard Pennario. Then I listened to this Catholic Answers podcast I get. They had a guy on there in Donegal, Ireland, who used to be addicted to pornography and had kicked the habit and was taking questions. These podcasts, you would not believe them.
One caller began his call with the usual, "How are you doing?"
And the guy in Donegal says cheerily in his musical accent: "I'm fine! I'm here in my pajamas, talking about porn."
Ha, ha! I laughed out loud at that.
While I was listening to Catholic Answers I stood there in my pajamas and chopped all the Brussels sprouts off the stalk...
... and cleaned all the junk off the back table ...
... and then it was time to go to Mass.
Why do you go to Mass on Thanksgiving? Howard asks me that every year. You do not have to go to Mass on Thanksgiving. It is not a Holy Day of Obligation. But I go because going to Mass on Thanksgiving is like a skater doing a Triple Axle.
Not only do you make your labor-intensive pie and pull off your dinner but you make it to Mass!
St. Anthony's is by Niagara Square and when I got downtown you could see the runners from the Turkey Trot all circling the square. That was exciting! It is fun to see this ancient race playing itself out. Note to out-of-towners: Our Turkey Trot is the second oldest race in the country. Only the Boston Marathon is older.
So there I am at Mass and I am all happy and excited and Thanksgiving-ish. And after Mass we sang the Te Deum!
That is that ancient prayer that begins "Te deum laudamus..." Our priest, who has the glorious name of Father Secondo Casarotto, said it goes back to the third century A.D. The used to sing it at military victories in the Middle Ages. It is a song of praise and thanks and a lot of it comes from ancient Hebrew psalms. Yesterday at church they handed out sheets of paper with the old medieval score. The ancient kind of score, with square notes and four staves. And we sang our Te Deum.
It was great to hear Father Secondo leading us in the chant because he had surgery about six weeks ago and was kind of weak and we were worried about him. Now he was back and strong and on his feet and singing the Te Deum. That was something to be thankful for and it added an extra dimension to the chant.
Not to be corny but we all have so much to be thankful for! So it is great to know the Te Deum is out there for when you need it.
Here is a video of it I found with translations and everything. It is timeless and beautiful and haunting.
What a situation! I have filled up all this space and I am out of town and in the chronicle of my Thanksgiving Day it is not even noon! Well, all in all, the day went well. However I had a lot of help from my brothers and sisters. I needed it because a few things fell in on me because of my grape pie and my Te Deum. Those things come at a price!
Also I have to be honest.
I am dead today!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
What we never think to thank for
What with Thanksgiving coming up everyone is talking about things he is thankful for. I thank God for slow news days.
Today is a dandy!
They caught that pickpocket who has been taking money out of people's purses when they are at church. She was hiding in a trailer in the Southtowns.
Governor Paterson's cuts go nowhere.
To shop or not to shop the day after Thanksgiving?
A bank robber suspect was caught red-handed.
Showers are likely, particularly after 3 p.m.
There is even a story about our sleepy grizzled old-as-Lou-Rawls motorcycle gangs, the Kingsmen and the Chosen Few.
That is a slow news day!
Sometimes I think I do not normally appreciate them enough, these days when I try to get done what work I can, take phone calls, see what Tom Bauerle and Sandy Beach are talking about on the radio, stop by the Pearl Street after work, cook dinner, see my mom, remember this and that about Leonard Pennario.
How about that picture of Pennario up above? I just found it on the Internet. I never saw it before.
Look at his hands. As I wrote on my, ahem, Music Critic blog, I used to love his hands.
And listen to that link, that beautiful Chopin waltz. I love the person who comments on the video. "Very deep and sweet."
How eloquent that is! And how true.
Where was I?
You go through all these slow news days like this and don't think about them much and then suddenly something disastrous happens. Planes plow into our buildings, someone you care about dies, an oik gets elected president, whatever. Or think about this, you might catch a cold. Even that can be ruinous.
So on Thanksgiving I give thanks for days like this.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Un-game
Behind the eight ball, terribly, terribly.
House untidied.
Body, un-exercised.
Thanksgiving, unprepared for.
Correspondence unanswered.
Lost checkbook un-found.
Computer unhinged.
Rosary unprayed.
Stories at work unwritten.
First draft of Leonard Pennario book unfinished.
Day ahead unimaginable.
But ...
...Me, undeterred!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Everyone is off this week except for me. Not only am I not off, I am not anywhere near off.
I am one busy bee this week!
By the end of this week I am going to feel like this.
Ha, ha! You know me, that is my Thanksgiving song. It is funny because it actually is a hymn of thanksgiving. Not to us, Lord, but to Your Name be the glory. I always play it when Thanksgiving dinner is over and I will do that this year, that is for sure. As long as I survive it that is.
Every Monday I find myself actively resenting that the weekend is over. I mean I take it personally. I grow nostalgic thinking back. That picture above, that is a dog that I hugged on Saturday! You cannot tell from the picture but he was huge. When we were getting out of the car we glimpsed his rear from behind the house and my mother said, "That looks like a cow."
The dog was at the estate sale...
... where I bought my black telephone. Unfortunately the dog was not for sale.
This week is an especially tall order because Thursday is Thanksgiving.
We have special challenges for Thanksgiving this year the chief challenges being my little nephews George Andrew and George Henry. We have to use their middle names to tell them apart.
George Henry is 6 and does not know fear. Remember, last Christmas I went with him on the infamous Sled Ride Into the Unknown. Wow, what a sloppily written Web log post that was! You could tell I was out of it.
George Andrew is 2 and has just discovered that crayons can write on walls. So there go the crayons for this year. For years I have relied on crayons to keep the kids busy. Well, they do not work that well anyhow.
I was sitting there the other day thinking, I hope the French doors survive! They have survived generations of various families who have lived in this house. But with George Andrew you never know.
Also what about the Czechoslovakian china? My mother has handed over to me this beautiful set of Czechoslovakian china with delicate red, blue and gold to be used at the Thanksgiving table. I am looking at it thinking, um, Mom, are you sure?
My sister Margie is coming in from New Jersey. My sister Katie called making plans for Friday. "You're off, aren't you?" she said.
Zut alors, these people from another planet!
That Non Nobis Domine, that is me going through my week! Carrying my book on Leonard Pennario on my shoulders while holding down my full-time job.
Well, the book is going well anyhow!
I think I will have the first draft done by the time my braces come off which is Dec. 30. There is a rightness to that because the reason I have the braces goes back to when I was in California with Leonard. Then early in 2010 I can do what I have done for the past two years and blow all my vacation early in the year. That will give me four weeks which should give me enough time to revise my first draft and do my second draft.
After that is when publishers will come calling.
Well, first there is Thanksgiving to get through. I say for Thanksgiving the same thing I say for the book.
I can do it!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Bruce at the bar
Last night Howard and I were down at E.B. Green's having drinks with Bruce Springsteen. No kidding, he was there at the bar, listening to Jackie Jocko.
Howard saw him first and he whispered to me, "Is Bruce Springsteen in town?"
"He's giving a concert tomorrow night," I whispered. Bruce is in town tonight, giving a concert.
"Then that's him at the bar," Howard said.
Howard's middle name is Bruce and that is why he is good at spotting other Bruces.
Springsteen was sitting in a seat where you would sit if you did not want to be seen. That is the seat at the end of the bar behind the wall near the door. The Hyatt is used to celebrities so it would make sense that no one would call your attention to him. Dave Matthews was there one night. We all left him at his table undisturbed. Last week it was Metallica. When we had Leonard Pennario in there people did not leave him alone but then he is from Buffalo so everyone saw him as public property.
How did I get onto talking about Pennario? I was talking about Bruce Springsteen.
The only reason there is a chance it might not have been he is that the Springsteen we saw at the bar lastnight seemed less beat up than the one you see in pictures. He did not look like this.
He looked more like this.
But maybe he can adjust his looks depending on the situation. If he does not wish to be recognized perhaps he can clean himself up so he blends in. As the poet Ogden Nash wrote:
If there is nothing on the settee
It is the chameleon that you see.
Now that we are bar buddies with Bruce Springsteen here he is singing "Shenandoah."
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Princess Phone
Howard and I have now converted completely over to dial telephones. Above is a picture of my desk now that I have replaced my annoying Big Lots phone with that sleek black classic. It is a Western Electric!
Click on the picture and you can take a closer look!
The people who owned that black telephone before clearly respected its classic nature. Because those stickers they used to hand out, with the emergency fire and police numbers, they stuck it on the bottom of the 'phone, not on the cradle where you would usually put it.
Imagine, your house catches fire, you are scrambling in the smoke going, "Where did I put that sticker?"
And someone says, "Oh, you have to turn the telephone over."
This was a well-loved and well-respected telephone! I paid $5 for it. The 'phone was originally marked $10 but I got it half price from this wonderful Polish family in Cheektowaga.
I also bought a record player from them, and a Dinah Washington record. There was also a statue of the Blessed Mother and I would have bought that too except I heard someone else inquiring about it. And the woman from the family smiled and said, "Mary is going with us."
Isn't that sweet to hear?
We proceeded to another sale where I bought another 'phone. This one cost me only $1.50. I put it in the kitchen to replace the 1964 'phone I bought a few months ago.
This long-cord telephone is from the 1970s but I like the long cord because I can work in the kitchen while I gab. I am going to use it today to call Leonard Pennario's friend Doris! Whenever Doris and I talk we talk for a long time and I can talk to her while I make my Thanksgiving pie crusts.
The 1964 'phone will be going into the bedroom. Three 'phone jacks, three dial 'phones. That is what God intended!
It is great having exclusively dial 'phones. Number one I no longer have to listen to that ear-splitting ring my old Big Lots 'phone used to have. I get that robust, musical Western Electric ring.
Secondly on the old 'phones it is easier to hear than on my cheapie Big Lots 'phone, which I bought when I was in San Diego with Pennario. On the Big Lots 'phone the volume was really low and I could hardly hear people talking to me. If Howard walked in and stepped on the squeaky floorboard it would drown the person out. This is a problem if you are interviewing someone, which I often am. I make all my Leonard Pennario calls on this line. It will be nice to be able to hear these people.
And this is one more thing. Just now I was downstairs and the new long-cord 'phone rang. And it was the robot from CVS calling to tell me this scrip I had ordered was in.
The first thing the robot did was to boss: "If this is the right number, press 1."
And I just stood there! I could not press 1 if I tried!
No more bossy robots for me!
And after a moment of silence the robot just went on, accommodating me and my dial phone. I liked that.
From now on the world will have to work around me.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Old as Lou Rawls
The reason I was in the kitchen was I was looking through my Cooking Light magazine. There is a cranberry sauce I am thinking of making for Thanksgiving. Not that anyone in my family will eat it. The only kind of cranberry sauce they eat is the canned jellied kind.
Just the way I can put out all the Beaujolais and Riesling I want and fine, everyone in my family will still just drink beer.
Well, I will eat the homemade cranberry sauce and that is enough for me. So I am thinking of making it.
But this recipe, it kills me!
It calls for three-quarters of a cup of fresh orange juice. "From three oranges," it says.
Excuse me, I am not going to squeeze three oranges into this cranberry sauce. There are some occasions when it is perfectly justifiable to use ready-made orange juice and this is certainly one of them, you know?
Unbelievable, these cooking magazines. On the one hand they are always telling you to use canned broth and -- this is the best -- refrigerated potato slices. Which, has anyone ever actually bought those?
On the other hand oh, we are not supposed to buy ready-made orange juice, oh no no no.
So I am standing there in the kitchen thinking about that. Then I looked up.
And I saw the world's oldest fly, on the Venetian blinds!
No kidding, this fly is so old that he could not even turn its head and look at me, much less move.
I decided to let him live.
He is just so old!
Every once in a while you run into something like that, a thing that has lived long past its season.
Old as Lou Rawls! That is a line my brother George heard once in a rap number and we never forgot it. It was one line that jumped out at him.
I see Lou Rawls ...
... died in 2006. He was born in 1933 which makes him nine years younger than Leonard Pennario. Somehow it seems Lou Rawls was older, though. You never hear a rapper say, "Old as Leonard Pennario!"
Well, do you?
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Cafeteria Catholics
Look at that picture. That is me! Lastnight Howard and I went to our friend Steve Cichon's book signing talk at St. Mark's up the street. Howard took that picture of me while we were waiting for Steve to step up to the podium.
Here is a picture of Steve giving his talk.
It was fun to observe an author in action because soon I am going to be one myself. I am finishing up the first draft of my book I will have you know. And after that I am going to have to get used to the idea of going around talking about Leonard Pennario.
Steve's book is on the History of Parkside. That is the part of Buffalo where we live. It is a historic area and one thing Steve told us about was how 300 soldiers from the War of 1812 are buried right here in Delaware Park.
That is another picture of Steve Cichon to the left. He is manic!
Last night was memorable for several reasons. For one thing Howard and I had not realized it was a retirement group playing host to Steve's talk. Ha, ha! Here is a picture Howard took of the program.
Also because this was a retirement group Howard got a dose of old-guard Catholicism. There was lots of talk about how Steve Cichon is the lector at the 9:30 a.m. Mass and no talk at all about how he is an announcer on WBEN-AM. Furthermore a shout went up when Father came in. Father was immediately asked to say a prayer. I could not catch all of it but it ended in that classic Catholic: "And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen."
For another thing as I sat in the cafeteria of St. Mark's School I could not help thinking about my cousin Howard who was thrown out of that school years ago.
Just last summer I finally got around to asking him, "Howard, what did you do to get thrown out of St. Mark's?" And you know what, he told me but I forgot. Whatever he did, it cannot have been that bad, or I would have remembered.
One other thing about the above picture. Get a good look at my braces. Because they are going to be coming off soon!
I just went to the ortho yesterday.
He took a look inside my mouth and started singing and dancing! I am not making this up. He was dancing and singing and he said that on my next appointment the metal bands in the back of my mouth are coming out and I will be fitted for my retainer.
That will happen on Beethoven's birthday. Which did not surprise me because Beethoven is always with me through thick and thin.
And then on Dec. 30 the braces are coming off!
Just in time for New Year's!
I am a happy gal.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
From the mailbox
These days Howard is preoccupied with his International Harvester Scout. That is his Scout pictured above last winter. Howard put a snowplow on it even though at first the man at the snowplow place could not find it in his conscience to do such a thing, so pristine and beautiful is that Scout.
Howard has been obsessed with making the Scout snowplow into a convertible model because local weather guy, Don Paul, explained that El Nino was going to provide our Buffalo winter - warmer weather but with the same amount of snow. Ironically, yesterday his "new" convertible was carrying a load of newly purchased gas heaters and fireplaces.
What about Scout Willis?
That is Scout Willis on the left. She is the daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis. Her sister Tallulah Belle is on the right and appears to be living up to the promise of her name. My mother would never have let me leave the house wearing that, I will tell you that right now.
Movie star kids get so trashy so early!
They cannot wait to put it out there!
It is funny how Scout Willis looks like her father.
Tallulah Belle seems to be taking after her mom.
How did I get onto all this? I cannot waste all day talking about Howard's International Harvester Scout. I have work to do.
I am way behind in my Leonard Pennario correspondence. That is what I will do this morning. Late lastnight I was cleaning out my email and it is terrible, people write in these little stories and I am so interested in them but then I have to go to work and they just fly right out of my head. Brain like a sieve! That is what I have these days.
The best letter came from a man with the best name. It is Gabriel Guy Reid Rivers-Rivet!
Howard said what is the greatest is that Mr. Rivers-Rivet managed to make his email look as if it was written on an old typewriter. I tried cutting and pasting it and it worked! Here it is:
That is the sweetest note! Darn, I am realizing I cannot make the lines of type reproduce as they really are in the email. In the actual email the left-hand margin is not even. You will have to use your imagination.
There is something about Pennario that touched people's souls. I am seeing that over and over.
And now, to my writing desk.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
The morning that got away
Today I had an "I Love Lucy" morning. That is why I could not check in!
It started when the phone rang at about 8 a.m. I was working on my book, I was up and everything, and I answered it, because often it is my friend Gary or my brother George. But it was not! It was this tree cutter.
He was cutting a neighbor's trees and he wanted to cut ours too, something like that. At first I told him he had to talk to Howard but later after I had had my coffee and a shower I relented and called him back and apologized and said go ahead, have his way with our trees, we did not care.
Howard takes forever getting up. It is as if he is on California time and I am on Eastern Standard Time. That is how far our schedules are apart.
At 9 a.m. the doorbell rings. And I figure it is the tree cutter.
But zut alors! I was wearing just this bathrobe and my hair is wet and I did not want to answer the door like that. I went flying upstairs and Howard was just getting up.
He said: "Go answer the door and tell the guy he can cut our trees."
Darn, I was hoping he would do it! I go flying downstairs, tying the bathrobe more securely around me. This is Leonard Pennario's bathrobe, the bathrobe I am always talking about. I tied it tighter and then I answered the door.
And it was not the tree-cutter.
It was my friend Diane!
She was back from the dead!
My friend Diane had throat cancer and went to the Mayo Clinic and she was there for months and almost died. Now here she was on my doorstep. I could not believe it. "Diane!" I yelled. We hugged each other and then she came in and I got her a cup of coffee.
And this is funny: Normally I would not have answered the door but I thought it was the tree cutter!
So Diane and I talk even though now I am getting worried I have to get in to work because I have a heck of a week this week, I will tell you that. I have a ton of stuff to do! It is almost hopeless. Of course Dianne sees things differently. She says once you get sick that is all that matters.
"Your job, everything, is crap," she said.
I am thinking, it might be crap to you but unfortunately it is not to me, at least not in the short term, it isn't. And it is not to my editors either! I mean I cannot exactly call the office and say, "Excuse me but I have realized my job is crap, and I will not be in until noon."
Right when I was pondering this the doorbell rang again. And it was still not the tree-cutting guy!
It was Larry Solomon!
Standing there on the step with his vacuum cleaner. And Diane, you could tell she loved it. What in the world is this, her face said.
I ushered Larry inside and the first thing he did was somehow break MY vacuum cleaner which was inside the house. He managed to break it and then he started winding duct tape around it.
Now here it is something like 10 and I am still standing there wearing nothing but Pennario's bathrobe. "Why is your hair wet?" Diane asked me.
"Because I just got out of the shower and I washed my hair."
Because, uh, it is a weekday morning!
These people with life-changing experiences, don't they kill you?
By the time I was able to get out the door and go to work the tree-cutter had still not gotten there, can you believe that? Howard was downstairs by that time. I left him sitting on the couch, eating oatmeal, with Diane. Both of them were talking eagerly about health issues.
Ergo, no Web log this morning.
Ergo, Web log now.
Great therapy, this!
What a crazy day I have had.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Extreme Monday
This morning I am imagining being in the Extreme Makeover house on Massachusetts Avenue. Note to out-of-towners: The TV show Extreme Makeover was here in Buffalo over the past week and it has been a huge happening.
They did over a house on our Lower West Side not far from where Leonard Pennario used to live. That is how I think of it anyway! Pennario's family lived on Jersey Street and this is a house on Massachusetts Avenue.
This Jamaican single mom with four kids and I do not think any job lived in that house and they knocked the house down and put up a new house for her.
It bugs me that they knocked down the house because reporters made a big deal out of that this woman had done a lot to fix it up. She had installed windows, fixed a hole in the floor, all this stuff.
Now, all gone!
All that work for nothing!
Zut alors!
But that is how I think. The world thinks that newer is better. So here she is in this new house and that is what I am thinking about today.
For me it is just another Monday and an especially stressful one at that because I have a ton of stuff due. It is like the other day, on the treadmill...
... except, alas, without my friend Leroy next to me to tell me funny stories about people falling into graves.
But for this family, they are waking up in this new house with all this new furniture and Rich Products filling up their fridge every week for a year plus scholarships for all of them at Canisius College.
So what do they do today? Do they go back to work?
At what point does this new house start growing old?
Howard and I were also wondering what about the taxes. You would think the house would be assessed for more than these people have money to pay taxes on. And then what? Perhaps someone will set up a fund to pay the taxes. That is what I am imagining.
Anyway. It is certainly the first day of the rest of their lives. It will be an interesting story over the next few years to see what happens to these people, starting on this Monday morning.
You know what they say. Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach him to fish, you might get rid of him for a whole weekend.
Hahahahaha!! That is a joke that comes from Mary Kate O'Connell.
Oh, wait. What I meant to say was: Teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime. Give a man a fish, he will flounder.
Flounder, get it?
That joke was Howard's.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Rubberband Woman
We had our company party last night! It was our Guild party. Above is a picture of me arriving at the Guild party. I had the photographer cut off my head so you would not see the braces on my teeth.
The good news is, I did not end up with a lampshade on my head. The bad news is, I was one of the last people to leave. Then this morning I go to church on no sleep. I open my mouth to sing the Asperges, I have lost my voice!
I am afraid that too many people asked me the magic question: "How is your book on Leonard Pennario coming along?"
With these rubber bands in my mouth it takes a lot of effort to talk. But where there is a will there is a way and so when people asked me about Pennario, I talked.
And today I paid the price. Well, there was no one around today to talk to anyway. It was just me and the book.
I have three days until my next ortho appointment when I will find out what is going on with these rubber bands. They are a trip! I have had them for a month.
When I am out at restaurants I have to run to the ladies' room and take them off before I eat and run back and put them back on afterwards. It is not a terribly unpleasant task. But it sometimes takes me forever because they flip off and go flying all over the place.
Inevitably someone walks in while I am struggling with them. I have a stock line for such occasions.
"Please ignore me and my orthodontia." That is what I say.
It usually goes over big with my visitor telling me about the time that she had braces or her kid who has braces.
I have started to notice people and their teeth.
The Kennedys.
Burt Bacharach.
And you cannot say his name without also saying the name of Hal David.
My ortho has said my braces will probably be off by Christmas. I cannot wait!
I will look like a TV-head.
I will eat with my new teeth like never before.
I will have to have a party!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
And you cannot say his name...
It is the Saturday estate sale report! My mom and I went first to one in Amherst, on a street called, well, Amherston. Finding it was a big hassle and then when we got there it was a bigger hassle. However!
I got a pair of green hand towels and a four-record box set, "Burt Bacharach and Hal David: A Celebration."
I am going to give that to my brother George because of a joke we had. Once I interviewed Dionne Warwick and I said something about Burt Bacharach and Miss Warwick interrupted me smoothly and she said:
"And you cannot say his name without also saying the name of Hal David."
I could not get over that!
So with George and me it is always Burt Bacharach and Hal David, pictured above. We never mention Burt Bacharach's name without also saying the name of Hal David.
True story: I got a text message from George after his first child was born and he wrote, "Coming home from the hospital today and you cannot say his name without also saying the name of Hal David."
Ha, ha! I still have that message on my cell phone. I saved it! On the rare occasion that I am blue, I look at it.
I have a picture of Leonard Pennario with Burt Bacharach at the races but some things will have to wait for the book. Pennario and I used to gab about Burt Bacharach and Angie Dickinson and these conversations will be invaluable to future musicologists.
Here is a nifty picture of Burt Bacharach and Angie Dickinson from Life magazine.
Where was I? Estate sales. We went to another off of Englewood. And here I bought two more hand towels, this time in pink. I do like my color pink as they learned over at Beth Tzedek.
Also I bought a missal because I like to have a few extras for my Facebook friends who sometimes join me at Mass. This one is a beauty. It is copyright 1941-1958!
I also picked up three scapulars. Those are old-time Catholic accessories people used to wear around their shoulders under their clothes and they have promises associated with them. I like picking up things like this at sales so I know they will not get thrown out or treated with disrespect. One of the scapulars is still packed into its little plastic envelope. It says in Gothic script: "Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire."
That is quite a promise!
I guess maybe I should wear this thing!
The estate sale people gave that to me free. One guy was going to charge me but this woman working with him said, "Charging for scapulars is bad karma." A fascinating mix of religions in that sentence!
Now that I think about it I do not think any sane person would charge for something saying in Gothic script, "Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire."
You would be afraid you would wind up being the one suffering eternal fire!
So. All in all I would say today I had a pretty good haul. Burt Bacharach, and you cannot say his name without also saying the name of Hal David. Plus two sets of hand towels. Plus eternal salvation thrown into the bargain at no charge.
Life is good to me!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Pretty in pink
It is so late! And yet it is as if this day never happened.
I went out into the world in this beautiful pink sweater I got at the sale at Beth Tzedek. I love that word. I want to keep saying it. Tzedek.
I wonder who used to own this sweater. Howard said it looks expensive.
This morning I was going to a Philharmonic concert. It was one of the orchestra's Coffee Concerts. Which are this weird invention. You go to the Phil at 10:30 a.m. It is fun but it feels illicit. I am used to going to the Philharmonic at night so when I go in the morning it feels weird and the rest of the day I feel as if I have a hangover.
As soon as I got inside Kleinhans I started forgetting it was morning and thinking it was night. There are no windows. It is like the casino! I mean, I was looking around for the bar. And I kept saying things like, "How's the crowd tonight?"
The ushers kept telling me, "Uh, Mary, it's morning."
And I would say, "Oh, right."
That is a weird feeling! It is like having your day turned upside down!
When the concert was over I had to go to the office and before I knew it, it was dark. I had to work late because I had screwed up certain deadlines.
When I was finally done working I went to the Hyatt with Howard and my friend Michelle to catch Jackie Jocko's last half an hour. That is Jocko in the middle of this picture.
Here is something surreal. Jocko told us that Metallica had been in to see him.
Metallica was just playing in Buffalo. Anyway, Jocko said that this guy from Metallica said, 'Holy #$*#$*, that guy can play piano."
We all laughed about that. Then Michelle said: "What happened after that?"
"Nothing!" Jocko said. "I didn't talk to him."
Hahahahahah! For some reason after my upside-down day that struck me as awfully funny.
Michelle is great. She is a real journalist and peppers people with questions. As opposed to me. I just want to sit there and laugh. That is how I wound up writing about Leonard Pennario. The night I met him I just sat there and laughed. I do not think I asked him one single question! Guys love that, I am telling you. They love when you act like a ditz. Which, luckily that comes naturally to me.
"What did the guys in Metallica look like?" Michelle asked Jocko.
"Oh, Michelle," Jocko said, as if he were trying to break it to her gently. "They do not look like you and me. They are not normal people."
"What was their hair like?" Michelle would not give up.
"Terrible!" Jocko exclaimed.
He looked dismissively away and launched into "Lemon Twist."
At the top of this post is a picture of Metallica who thought Jocko was a hell of a piano player and who do not look like you or me.
It seemed like years later when I finally got home, still in my pink Beth Tzedek sweater.
I had put it on a lifetime ago!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Meeting of mystery
Yesterday we had a meeting at work and I agreed to a story which, I have no idea what it was! I was so out of it yesterday. The night before had been one of those nights when I just could not sleep. Then I got up at 6 anyway because morning is my Leonard Pennario time and I do not like to give that up.
So I got up and worked on my book for two and a half hours and after that I was kind of floating through my day. La la la la la la la.
Days without sleep are better if you look on the bright side, I learned that in my two years as an insomniac. There are things it is fun to do on no sleep. One of them is go through Delta Sonic. You sit there and watch all the soap and rags slapping against the car and it just moves you along and it looks like this.
Once I had to go give a speech before a group of piano teachers on no sleep. At 9 a.m. That was an adventure! I wonder what I said! All I remember is I was so out of it that I did not even use any notes. Notes would have been useless under the circumstances.
It is amazing, operating on no sleep! The experiences you have!
Back to that meeting. We were all sitting there and suddenly I became conscious of everyone looking at me.
"Mary would do a great job on that story," someone said.
Someone else said, "Yes, that would be perfect for Mary. She would make it good."
And I love flattery! I think that was what brought me out of my fog, that someone was flattering me. And I opened my eyes wide for the first time yesterday and I heard myself saying, "OK, I'll do it. That sounds like fun!"
Uh ... what sounds like fun? This morning I am awake and suddenly I am wondering.
After a day on no sleep you have to go back once you have slept and assess all the damage. One thing was the Web log post I wrote lastnight. Hahahahahahaa! Parts of it made no sense!
The other thing is that story.
The story of mystery!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
I am a camera
I have been revisiting some of the wonderful photographs I have taken. I am skilled. I am gifted!
The picture above cracks me up. You would think it was in Europe. But no, it is just downtown Buffalo. It is our old City Hall.
Only in Buffalo would a building like that not be big enough to be our City Hall.
It could not contain our bureaucracy!
So we built a new City Hall and now the old one is our County Hall. That is how I understand it anyway.
Here is a picture I took in my Blue Period.
Also in my Blue Period, a record I bought the other day.
The sun setting today outside my office window.
Fog outside my front sun room.
A photo I took one day walking along the waterfront listening to Leonard Pennario and hoping that a big freighter would sail into view.
Nope, no ship. No luck.
Still life with estate sale.
It is amazing how the time flashes past. Digital cameras make this worse. You take more pictures than ever before and then you go through them and you think, oh, I remember that day. That was so long ago! How did it get to be so long ago?
Here is a picture I took of a sunrise across from my house. Last winter. Was that a year ago?
Sunrise, sunset.
Quickly fly the days!
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How to Install UKTV Again on Kodi
UKTV Again, aka UKTV NOW, is back working once again and the speed of the streams and the top quality make it by far the most stable and best working addon for free IPTV! Install UKTV Again on KODI easily with the following tutorial from the Metal kettles Addon Repository: http://kodi.metalkettle.co
How to Install UKTV Again on Kodi 17 Krypton
- Go to SYSTEM and select from the submenu FILE MANAGER
- Double click on ADD SOURCE
- Enter http://kodi.metalkettle.co/ and click DONE
- Select NONE and enter MetalKettle, click on DONE and then OK
- Go to HOME once again and select SYSTEM
- Select INSTALL FROM ZIP FILE
- Select the red icon label MetalKettle
- Donwload the repository.metalkettle-x.x.x.zip
- As soon as the repository has been refreshed select INSTALL FROM REPOSITORY
- Select MetalKettles Addon Repository
- Select VIDEO ADDONS
- Select UKTV Again and hit on INSTALL
- Boom Shakalaka! you have successfully installed the add-on!

subset: commoncrawl


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Every woman has access to high-quality preventive care and resources at Swedish Hospital's Mayora Rosenberg Women's Health Center. From night and weekend appointments to private, women-only patient areas, the center was designed to care for and empower women.
Swedish Medical Group provider profiles have patient ratings and comments to help you make informed decisions about the providers you choose.


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Retribution follows the story of Ling Zheng, a Chinese-Japanese professional mobster who works for the Leone family of Los Santos. After being betrayed by those who once trusted, Ling struggles to survive against the criminal underworld while seeking vengeance against those who wrong him.
Just a guy who loves making videos, making people laugh, and playing video games. Good day, everyone. My name is John and I'm currently the main director of GTA 5 machinimas on YouTube. I also do voice acting occasional and I am hoping to improve that so I will be submitting auditions as well. I'm a nice guy who's always looking to make friends and believe everyone deserves a chance with their goals in life. If you would like to follow me, here is my YouTube and my twitter.
(Yelling) "The Vagos knew we were coming, it was a trap to begin with! Had I not shot the guy, we would both be lying in a ditch right now!"
(Calm) "We all make choices in life, our actions have consequences. It is only a matter of time before we are given what we deserve."
(Intimidating) "The difference between you and I is that I know what I fight for. What do you fight for?"
(Calm) "Zheng, my boy. You're one of my best men, my top Hitman for that matter. Lately, you've made a couple of mistakes, but I'm willing to look past them this time. However, I can't afford anymore failures. If you mess up again, I will have no choice but to let you go. (voice deepens to represent seriousness) And you know what that means."
(Calm yet impatient) "This is Rohan Leone. I would like to open up an account. Ling Zheng. Contract open to all. One-million dollars."
(Angry) "I want him dead!!! Do you follow?! DEAD! DEAD! DE-E-E-A-A-AD!"
(Joking) "Zheng. I got a phone call today, Mr. Miyagi says he wants his moustache back. Ha!"
(Determined) "Dad, let me go after Zheng, I owe him for being such a pain in the back over the years."
(Agitated) "Get him! Shoot! Kill that short-eyed son of a gun!"
(Happy) "Zheng! It is good to see you, my boy. Please, sit. It has been far too long since we have last spoken. How are you? How is your mother?"
(Calm) "Rohan, you are my son and I love you, but I have to consider the rest of the family. How are you to be my successor when you can't even handle a single diamond deal? When was the last time you personally contributed to the family instead of sending the rest of the family to do your work."
(Calm yet serious) "Take Zheng here. Since the day we bought him in, Zheng has done nothing but prove himself. He's loyal, fearless and always willing to do what we ask. That is why I am considering him to be my successor."
(Concerned while yelling) "Mr. Leone is going to kill us for this! Might as well just shoot us in the head now."
(Threatening) "Listen here, numb nuts, I don't give a damn about your debt, just give us the money you owe or I'll take that cigarette, shove it down your throat and turn you into a (swear) chimney."
(Demanding) "Will you keep the car steady? You drive like a disabled moose!"
(Calmly) Da, you must be Zheng? Tony speaks very highly of you, a friend of his is a friend of mine. Now, what is it you desire from me?
(Strategic) Multiple hostiles in sight. You have a sniper on the roof, two guards by the front gate, another patrolling near the swimming pool and many more stationed around. Stealth is not an option, we will have to hit them hard and quick.
(Yelling) Leone is getting away! You must pursue him, I will hold the ground here! Go!
Additionally voices that will have very minor roles in the series, yet still play importance. This includes mobsters of the Leone family, assassins and civilians as well.
(Male mobster) Mr.
(Male or female assassin) That money's mine! One-million big ones!
(Male Russian mercenaries) Commander, we count eighteen hostiles guarding the outside target building, mostly armed with pistols and shotguns with a couple of snipers. They have four-seated cars parked outside as transport vehicles. Possible more hostiles inside. Orders? Shit!


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The event ship "Sonnenkönigin" has already inspired thousands of visitors. The floating beauty is also often used for our trade fairs. The next time the "Sonnenkönigin" will set sail on 22 September as part of INTERBOOT. Tickets for the Captain's Dinner are available online.Read more
During the OutDoor Show in Friedrichshafen a small group of adventurers set out to experience the trend topic, Microadventure for themselves.Read more


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Damnation Books has released Michael DeMasi's Under The Darkening in a digital format.
Description: Two kinds of underworld collide and coalesce.
Lost and desperate Ennio finally hits rock bottom when salvation appears as a bag full of new designer drugs found in the aftermath of a botched deal. A straight-laced guy, he has trouble making contact with the criminal element, but when he does things quickly deteriorate as his very psyche decomposes from the things he is forced to do in order to survive.
Hot on his trail is Detective Anzalone; a not so honest cop who believes those missing drugs will lead to vengeance and closure for the death of his ex-lover, Marina, brutally murdered a year past while working under deep cover for the F.B.I.
Following them both is Viktor, a powerful and mysterious figure in the Russian underworld. He was the one responsible for Marina's death and is the one in need of Ennio's new bounty. Viktor is also a century old vampire bent on literal world domination. All three fail at their quest as a new being arises, a woman more powerful and ambitious than even she could have imagined.
Excerpt: "The one who is darkness," he whispered, almost sleeping. "The One."
Anzalone struggled to get up, still drugged by afterglow. He dressed and left the way he came, without a word or glance to the Black Witch, off into the peak of night into the world of death.
He drove half drunk with booze and sex to the morgue. The girl found on Blue Hill, Viktor took her. She was the logical starting point…a bleak beginning but the excitement made him sharp.
He arrived and the attendant took him to see the body. They entered the steel silent and sterile room, the stark lack of stimulation stripped Anzalone of any remaining emotion of the supernaturally erotic encounter with the Black Witch. He thought about that as he walked down the row of steel drawers, he thought about how he wanted her for so long and now that he attained her, he almost forgot about it. All those listless nights of hunger gone, he felt like he lost something, but at least he gained freedom from the curse of curiosity and wanting. Now the Black Witch was no longer one he needed or wanted, at least not in the way of love. He still mourned Marina and would destroy the universe to have her back, but that wasn't possible.
The body slid out on the drawer and the attendant uncovered her face. Anzalone uncovered the rest of her. In death this girl was still beautiful, cold perfection. Anzalone stared at the ragged gash in her neck and then read the report and saw the cause of death as blood loss. The toxicology report on what blood was left found a decent amount of alcohol, although well below harmful levels. There were no drugs or anything else out of the ordinary except a very high concentration of naturally occurring endorphins and opiates. Unusual for a girl being murdered to secrete these chemicals, unless, Anzalone thought, that is how the predator immobilizes its prey, with pleasure."
Check it out on the Kindle: Under The Darkening


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Freelancing or freelancer jobs are making quite a splash and generating a buzz in the market and many people are wondering aloud as to what is freelancing and there are others who are contemplating how to start freelancing. In this article I will discuss and provide answers to both questions. Basically freelancing or freelance job means writing articles on a variety of topics or resumes or press releases or grants or legal documents for an individual or for a firm or company and you have to write and submit these articles, fully finished, within the set deadline.
You are either bound by a formal contract or not, but you have to work on a project basis and once the first project gets over, you have to move on to the second project and on its completion to the third and so on. You might be either paid on a project basis or you can arrange for bimonthly payments or monthly payments as you wish.
Now to answer the question how to start freelancing. If you are dreaming of a freelance career and want to do a freelance job, you need to have sound command over the English language along with sound knowledge of grammar and spellings, you should have a flair for writing, little bit of imagination and creativity, willingness to learn new things and acquire new knowledge on a variety of topics everyday, you should be net savvy and willing to research over the internet and of course you must be ambitious to top it all.
Beside you also have to stay self motivated. If your passion is to write, then this is the ideal career for you. While staying on the topic, how to start freelancing, let me tell you freelance opportunities are galore in the whole wide world as well as in the cyber world and you can get hold of freelance job or freelancing jobs in content writing companies, in Blog writing Companies, in newspapers, magazines, greetings card writing companies, in the advertising world, in the world of bookkeeping, taxes, editing, copywriting, copyediting, publishing and preparing educational material or you can write query letters.
You can even sign up for freelancing companies who will ask you to coin catchy one liner slogans for tee shirts or products or cards or e cards. But for this you have to be really witty and creative.
There are plenty of freelancing companies and freelance job or freelancing jobs sites in the internet. There are also various article directories. You can sign up with one or two of them, but make sure you choose the most reputed and trusted ones. Drop in your CV and a few writing samples and if you qualify or meet their writing standard, you will be selected. Freelancing or a freelance job is a good way to earn some extra money and there are many freelancers who have switched over from their regular day jobs or cubicle jobs to a full time freelance job.


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Chinese Green Tea is ideally suitable as base for flavoured green teas. Due to it's famous, mild, fine and typical green tea character , the flavours are perfectly adapted and create a very balanced symbiosis with the base.
Even after the addition of rich flavours, the green tea taste still very balanced.
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Yerba Santa
$15.00 – $288.00
Yerba Santa, or "sacred herb," is a sticky-leaved evergreen. It promotes a healthy balance of mucous secretions of the upper respiratory system during times of seasonal stress.*
Ingredients: Fresh extracted Eriodctyon californicum herb, organic gluten free grain alcohol, water. Extracted fresh at a 1:2 ratio.
Process: Our single plant extracts are hand made in small batches. We source our organic plant material from local farmers and let it macerate in organic spirits for a full moon cycle to bring you the most potent medicine possible.
Suggested use: 10 to 60 drops up to 3 to 4 times daily.
Precautions: None known but caution during pregnancy.


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Biotechnology MPhil, PhD
Biotechnology MPhil, PhD
MPhil - full time: minimum 12 months, part time: minimum 24 months
PhD - full time: minimum 36 months, part time: minimum 72 months
Research in biotechnology at Newcastle spans the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) and the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE). We invite proposals for MPhil and PhD projects in biotechnology across the fields of medical sciences, biological, agricultural and environmental sciences, and marine science and technology.
Your programme during COVID-19
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to COVID-19.
Further information
Our COVID-19 Study page gives more information about your Newcastle University 2020 study experience.
Terms and conditions and student complaints
The University has terms and conditions which create a positive environment for learning and academic achievement.
Given the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the commitments outlined are subject to the guidelines that may be in place at the time.
We offer MPhil and PhD supervision in the following research areas:
Medical sciences
In medical sciences our research focuses on translational medicine, from drug discovery and development to effective product commercialisation and process optimisation. Our key areas are:
- the development of drugs for the treatment of cancer and psychiatric disorders
- novel antibiotic innovation
- design and development of integrated electrochemical and bio-microelectromechanical (bio-MEMS) sensors for application to point-of-care diagnosis of disease processes and sensor technologies for real-time, high content intracellular analysis using polymer-based nanosensor systems
Biological, agricultural and environmental sciences
In biological, agricultural and environmental sciences our research focuses on:
- the search and discovery of commercially significant natural products
- the production of crops with novel traits
- the fundamental role played by micro-organisms in the turnover of pollutants and the production of high value novel compounds, including pharmaceuticals and pesticides.
Marine science and technology
Our work has led to pioneering advancements in developing novel antibiotics and omega-3 oils from plankton. We also explore the industrial applications of marine organisms such as the development of environmentally friendly antifouling coatings.
Research Degree Training and Skills Development
Depending on your specific area of research, our Medical Sciences Graduate School or Science, Agriculture and Engineering Graduate School will provide you with a comprehensive research training programme. This includes training in professional skills and research techniques, and support for personal development. They each have a thriving postgraduate research culture, with additional support for international students.
Quality and Ranking
We rank in the top 100 for Life Sciences and Medicine - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020
You will receive a tailored package of support from the University to ensure you maximise your research and future career. There are also opportunities to undertake your research at Newcastle within a Doctoral Training Centre, Centre for Doctoral Training or Doctoral Training Partnership.
Faculty of Medical Sciences Research Student Development Programme
Our Research Student Development Programme is a community made up of postgraduates from the Faculty of Medical Sciences.
It supports your research whilst developing your professional skills and confidence.
You will make an on-going assessment of your own development and training needs through personal development planning (PDP) in the ePortfolio system. Our organised external events and development programme have been mapped against the Vitae Researcher Development Framework to help you identify how best to meet your training and development needs.
Doctoral training centres and partnerships
Being part of a Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) or Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) means that you can benefit from the research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics. You'll also be studying alongside a cohort of other PhD students.
These centres are often interdisciplinary, combining expertise and training from multiple subject areas. You may also be able to collaborate with an industrial or commercial organisation.
Your PhD will be funded. Normally the fees are covered and you'll receive a tax-free stipend or living expenses. Additional funding is sometimes available to cover things such as conference attendance and research materials.
The centres/ partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area.
Leeds Liverpool Newcastle Sheffield MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training PartnershipLeeds Liverpool Newcastle Sheffield MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership
The aim of the Discovery Medicine North (DiMeN) partnership is to train the next generation of researchers to tackle the major health problems facing the population.
The partner institutions (Universities of Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield) are core members of the Northern Health Sciences Alliance. This alliance is confronting the stark North-South disparities in the rates of chronic disease, poor health and early death in a population of >15 million.
The Partnership offers MRC-funded PhD studentships in the following broad themes:
- genetic influences on health
- ageing and disease
- bioinformatics and personalised medicine
When funded studentships are available, these will be listed on the 'Fees & Funding' page of this programme.
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Molecular Sciences for Medicine (MoSMed)EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Molecular Sciences for Medicine (MoSMed)
MoSMed is an EPSRC-funded joint venture between Newcastle and Durham universities.
Its molecular and medical sciences research projects focus on unmet medical needs, such as:
- understanding of disease biology
- identification of new therapeutic targets
- new approaches to the discovery and development of novel therapies
The Centre delivers a comprehensive research and training programme. This focusses on science at the interface of:
- molecular and medical sciences
- business skills
- innovation and entrepreneurship
MoSMed has an extensive, regional, national and international network of partners. They bring industrial relevance to the CDT. Partners include:
- small, local biotech companies
- large pharmaceutical companies
- societal stakeholders
When funded studentships are available, these will be listed on the 'Fees & Funding' page of this programme.
Newcastle-Liverpool-Durham BBSRC Doctoral Training PartnershipNewcastle-Liverpool-Durham BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership
The Newcastle-Liverpool-Durham BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and offers:
- PhD researchers the opportunity to address scientific biosciences questions
- an exceptional programme of research training, emphasising the interdisciplinary nature of modern biology
- the latest technologies and facilities to deliver world-class results
Each year funded PhD studentships are offered across the Partnership on the following research themes:
- agriculture and food security
- industrial biotechnology and bioenergy
- bioscience for health
- world class underpinning bioscience
When funded studentships are available, these will be listed on the 'Fees & Funding' page of this programme.
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Power Electronics for Sustainable Electric Propulsion (PESEP)EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Power Electronics for Sustainable Electric Propulsion (PESEP)
PESEP is a collaboration between two of the UK's largest and most forward thinking research groups in electric propulsion:
- Electrical Power Group at Newcastle University
- Power Electronics, Machines and Control Research Group at the University of Nottingham
Both groups are supported by over 20 industrial partners and seven industrial networks.
We aim to train PhD students who will be capable of leading the transformation from fossil fuel propulsion to sustainable and environmentally friendly electric propulsion.
As a graduate of this CDT, your skills and knowledge will be invaluable to automotive and aerospace transport infrastructures.
The training programme includes:
- Fusion-training-units - a revolutionary new training method combining technical knowledge with professional skills
- Supervisor-on-Demand scheme - you will get support from your main academic and industrial supervisor and also from a pool of experts throughout training and research
- a large choice of taught modules and laboratories - subjects in engineering, science and business tailored to your needs
When funded studentships are available, these will be listed on the 'Fees & Funding' page of this programme.
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (ReNU)EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (ReNU)
ReNU is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (ESRC). It is a collaboration between Northumbria Newcastle and Durham universities.
The Centre will train science, technology, engineering and mathematics PhD students to innovate in small scale renewable and sustainable distributed energy.
As well as receiving expert guidance from renowned academics, you will receive enhanced training to develop your business and innovation skills. The four-year course includes:
- an in-built mini-MBA qualification
- intellectual property training
- two-week placement in China studying renewable energy at a leading academic institution
ReNU is backed by a strong portfolio of 36 partners including:
- 27 companies (both SMEs and multinationals)
- non-profit organisations
- key networks
- local government and
- prestigious academic institutes across the globe
When funded studentships are available, these will be listed on the 'Fees & Funding' page of this programme.
Fees & Funding
2020-2021 fees
If your studies last longer than one year your fee may be subject to an annual inflationary increase.
The fees displayed here are per year.
MPhil, PhD
Full time: £4,407 - £15,607
Part time: £2,203.50 - £7,803.50
Full time: £4,407 - £15,607
Part time: £2,203.50 - £7,803.50
Full time: £23,200 - £34,400
Find out more about our tuition fees, including how to pay them and available discounts.
EU students starting at Newcastle in 2020 will pay the UK (Home) tuition fee for the full duration of their course.
Fee ranges
Our fee range takes into account your research topic and resource requirements.
Your research topic is unique and as such will have unique resource requirements. Resources could include specialist equipment, such as laboratory/workshop access, or technical staff.
If your research involves accessing specialist resources then you're likely to pay a higher fee. You'll discuss the exact nature of your research project with your supervisor(s). You'll find out the fee in your offer letter.
Entry Requirements
A 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in a science or medicine related subject.
A 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent. Further research experience or a master's degree would be advantageous.
Find out the equivalent qualifications for your country.
Use the drop down above to find your country. If your country isn't listed please email: firstname.lastname@example.com for further information.
MPhil and PhD in Biotechnology (Medical Sciences)MPhil and PhD in Biotechnology (Medical Sciences)
To study these courses you need to meet the following English Language requirements:
IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in all other sub-skills).
Our typical English Language requirements are listed as IELTS scores but we also accept a wide range of English Language tests.
The equivalent academic qualifications that we accept are listed on our country pages.
MPhil and PhD in Biotechnology (Biological, Agricultural, Environmental Sciences and Marine Science and Technology)MPhil and PhD in Biotechnology (Biological, Agricultural, Environmental Sciences and Marine Science and Technology)
To study these courses you need to meet our Band 2 English Language requirements:
Direct Entry : IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills)
If you have lower English Language scores, you may be accepted onto one of the following Pre-sessional English Language courses.
- 6 week Pre-sessional entry: IELTS 6.0 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills)
- 10 week Pre-sessional entry: IELTS 5.5 overall (with a minimum of 5.0 in all sub-skills)
You can study our Pre-sessional English Language courses at INTO Newcastle University Centre.
Our typical English Language requirements are listed as IELTS scores but we also accept a wide range of English Language tests.
The equivalent academic qualifications that we accept are listed on our country pages.
How to Apply
You apply online, track your application and contact the admissions team via our applicant portal. Our step by step guide can help you on your way.
Research degrees in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
You should get in touch about our research degrees before you apply.
You can apply for funded and non-funded PhD opportunities in Natural and Environmental Sciences.
Research degrees in the Faculty of Medical Sciences
You do not need to identify a supervisor prior to submitting your application via the applicant portal.
As part of your application, please upload a short (non-binding) research proposal to indicate your broad area of interest (outline any proposed methods if applicable). This helps us assess both your suitability for a research degree and whether we can offer supervision.
If your application is successful and we can match you with a supervisor, you will normally be invited to attend a selection interview (either on campus, by video-conferencing or Skype).
Start dates
There are usually three possible start dates, although in some circumstances an alternative start date can be arranged:
- September
- January
- April
There is no application closing date for this course, but specific deadlines for funding may apply.
We suggest international students apply at least two months before the course starts. This is so that you have enough time to make the necessary arrangements.
If you live outside the UK/EU you must:
- pay a deposit of £1,500
- or submit an official letter of sponsorship
The deposit is payable after you receive an offer to study at Newcastle University. The deposit is non-refundable, but is deducted from your tuition fees when you register.
Medical Sciences Graduate School
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 7002
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Nikki Morton
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 4848
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences:
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Postgraduate Office
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6573
Email: email@example.com
Marine Science and Technology:
School of Engineering
Postgraduate Office
Telephone +44 (0) 191 208 6661
Email: email@example.com


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Antique Dishes
Collection by R Tafoya • Last updated 11 weeks ago
Need Some Inspiration? It's Spring Open House!
Decorating, Thrifting, Traveling...with a French Accent
Antiques & Collectibles . Art . Jewelry . Dolls . Fashion . Pottery . Glass: Fri, September 25th
Stroll down Ruby Lane's cobblestone streets to buy and sell quality Antique & Art, Doll, Vintage, and Jewelry items from the world's largest curated marketplace since 1998.
royal albert teacup
"nosegay" pattern.
Tea Time
Hello everyone, I really enjoyed Rhondi's third annual porch party yesterday and I still have more lovely porches to visit-it see...
Molly's Collectibles Interesting Items From by MollysCollectibles
Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.
The colors omg discovered by Perla on We Heart It
Image uploaded by Perla. Find images and videos about @coffee on We Heart It - the app to get lost in what you love.
Is It REALLY an Antique?
Is the tea set gathering dust in your cupboard valuable? Learn some tips and hints to discover if your set is worth something, or what to look for when you're scouring the antique and thrift stores for the once-in-a-lifetime find!
Explore haydeecristiana's photos on Flickr. haydeecristiana has uploaded 2585 photos to Flickr.
loveliegreenie shared by Gabrielle on We Heart It
Image discovered by Gabrielle. Find images and videos about beautiful, pretty and girly on We Heart It - the app to get lost in what you love.


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So I was seeing this guy I met on OKC for awhile. He was cute and sweet and had an adorable cat. Three weeks ago he stopped responding to my texts.
We're facebook friends so I sent him the following message:
So even after we talked about communication being important, you're going to pull the 'ignore her until she gets the hint'? The minimum threshold of respect after you've been having sex with someone is to at least say 'sorry I'm not interested anymore'. It's really not very difficult and I would have been totally fine with that.
This move always really pisses me off because then the guy acts like the woman is crazy for continuing to contact him. Hey jerkface, if you don't let us know the situation has changed we will fucking text you. I have no problem calling a guy out and telling him that that shit is unacceptable and disrespectful. They get away with this because we've been socialized to not 'be a crazy girl' and confront a guy who is being shitty. Fuck that. I super don't care if a guy who will spend the night and cuddle and then can't be bothered to talk to me anymore thinks I'm crazy or a bitch. Bonus fuckery points because he identifies as a feminist ally.
I just think it's a shitty thing to do to someone, because when you text someone over a couple of weeks and get no response, you feel stupid. Don't make people feel like that. It's fucking rude.


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Vehicles can be one of the biggest expenses and risks in a business but, help is on hand through TysonCooper. We have made it a little easier to understand the business side of financing vehicles.
Business Contract Hire
Business contract hire allows a company the use of a vehicle for business purposes in exchange for a monthly payment. This is a common way for businesses to obtain new vehicles. It avoids having to fully invest in owning the vehicle outright and seeing its value depreciate dramatically in a short period of time.
With many business vehicle lease agreements, you will need to put down an initial deposit to secure the agreement. This usually amounts to a total of three-monthly payments but can vary depending on the terms of your agreement.
The Benefits
- Removes most of the risk of operating company cars for businesses
- With a fixed monthly cost, you know your financial outgoings
- There is usually not an option for the company to purchase the vehicle at the end of the contract. It is usually returned to the leasing company. Although the driver may have an option to acquire the vehicle at market value.
- It is a VAT efficient way of operating a company car.
- The monthly rental includes; the cost of the car, vehicle registration fees, road tax, mileage and funding costs.
What does a deal look like?
The minimum initial rental on a business contract hire deal is can be anything from three monthly payments upfront to nine upfront payments. The deals are usually over two, three or four-year periods and are advertised as 3+23, 3+35 or 3+47.
Business contract hire rentals are subject to VAT and if there is no private use of the vehicle then 100% of the VAT can be claimed back. If there is private use, then 50% of the VAT can be claimed back.
Finance Lease
Finance lease is a method of financing vehicles, this means the vehicle remains the property of the finance company that hires it out and you pay for the hire of the vehicle.
The finance company charges a monthly payment as their reward for hiring the vehicle out to you. The finance company retains full ownership of the vehicle, but you get exclusive use of the vehicle (subject to meeting the terms of the lease).
A finance lease transfers substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the vehicle to the you. Using a finance lease means that the vehicle will appear on the lessee's balance sheet, with outstanding rentals represented as a liability.
At the end of the finance lease agreement the rentals write the vehicle down to zero or to a balloon payment (this is an estimated value of the vehicle at the end of the agreement).
Want to know more? Contact us on 01473 372020 or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com. Click here to see the latest business deals.


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We are happy to say that Supashock has been announced as a finalist in the Business SA Export Awards for 2019.
A big thank you to Business SA who have recognised Supashock as an industry leader in South Australia.
A full list of the 38 finalists for 2019 can be found on the Business SA website.
Finalist List Here: https://www.business-sa.com/Editorial-Content/Business-SA-Today/September-5-2019/Congratulations-to-the-2019-Export-Award-finalists


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Research shows that plasma metal ion analysis is only moderately effective at identifying patients with adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD) following metal-on-metal (MoM) hip arthroplasty.
Metal artifact reduction sequence-magnetic resonance imaging (MARS-MRI) screening detected ARMD in 40% of 209 patients with unilateral symptomatic MoM hip arthroplasties an average of 1.9 years after surgery.
Analysis showed that patients with MARS-MRI ARMD had significantly higher levels of both chromium (5.9 vs 4.3 µg/L) and cobalt (8.5 vs 3.5 µg/L) than those without the condition. There was a significant and positive correlation between levels of the two ions.
But compared with MARS-MRI results, a plasma cobalt or chromium level above 7 µg/L was just 65% specific and 57% sensitive for identifying ARMD, with positive and negative prediction values of 52% and 69%, respectively, report I Malek (Wales Deanery, Cardiff, UK) and co-authors
When the threshold for ARMD was reduced to a cobalt or chromium level of 3.5 µg/L or above, the sensitivity increased to 86% but specificity fell to just 27%. While a 2.0 µg/L threshold for either ion would give 90% sensitivity, specificity at this threshold would fall to 25% for cobalt and 14% for chromium.
"Plasma levels of cobalt and chromium cannot therefore be used as a sole screening test for the presence of ARMD and should be used in combination with symptoms, plain radiological findings and cross sectional imaging," the researchers write in the British edition of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
Recommending that clinicians have a low threshold for use of cross-sectional imaging in patients with MoM hip arthroplasty, even in the absence of high plasma ion levels, they conclude: "We welcome the updated [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency] guidance that recommends MARS-MRI or ultrasound in all symptomatic patients with a MoM arthroplasty."
Licensed from Medwire news with permission from Springer Healthcare Ltd. ©Springer Healthcare Ltd. All rights reserved. Neither of these parties endorse or recommend any commercial products, services, or equipment.
[from connie: Good advice. There is no one indicator of a MOM hip issue. Any good clinician will look at multiple factors. A high level of metals is certainly important but it is important in that it should precipitate an exploration of other factors that will inform the strategy. A number of fellow patients seem to rely on this as the primary indicator of the need for surgery. Make sure you look at the scans which should be based on an MARS MRI. (Not all MRIs are created equal for providing indicators for the need for revisions. ) I do disagree however with the FDA guidelines which require that patient be symptomatic of something. There are many patients who have no problem but do have underlying issues with the implant.]


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Summary of Metabolism Revolution
ebook ∣ Lose 14 Pounds in 14 Days and Keep It Off for Life By Haylie Pomroy
By Speedy Reads
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Summary of Metabolism RevolutionLose 14 Pounds in 14 Days and Keep It Off for Life By Haylie Pomroy
A huge number of people struggle as far as weight loss is concerned despite really wanting to accomplish it. The author's clients that have tried to lose weight in the past have suffered because of continual dieting, which has left a negative impact on their health, metabolism and motivation. Those who desire to lose weight need a revolution since dieting has drained their energy and they cannot do it anymore. The purpose of this book is to reform weight loss by accentuating that trying to lose weight can be an interesting, painless, speedy, tasty and productive procedure. In addition, while some may consider starvation to be essential for weight loss, it should actually be avoided. This book can assist people in shedding 14 pounds in 14 days by causing our metabolism to burn at a faster rate.
The nutrient-centric weight loss plan offered in this book leads to a reduction in stress hormones, stabilizes the blood levels, sugar and insulin, adds to the rate of metabolism, causes better fat burning, increases endurance, strength and energy, boosts self-confidence and leaves a positive effect on mood.


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1 out of 1 found the following review helpful
Pros: I broke 2 strings trying to move the bridge! I bought 2 replacements from the local dealer as I had a concert to play. They were RUBBISH, but the String Zone came to my rescue and by the following day I had my Jarger strings just in time! They transformed the sound of the bass and they settled down immediately. THANK YOU!
Cons: There is nothing I would want to complain about!


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Have you ever gone to a traditional car dealership and asked them about electric vehicles? Their eyes glaze over, and they spend the rest of the time filling your head with outdated misinformation.
That was our experience as well.
We created VERV, our MOXIE sister company, because it means a lot to us that we de-mystify the EV discussion. We want to spend more time educating potential customers on an EV that's right for you, rather than trying to "close the deal." At MOXIE our roots are firmly planted in the sale and installation of solar panel systems, which is where we perfected the concept of "Educate First."
Our mission at MOXIE is to provide the financial and environmental benefits of solar power for farms, homes and businesses. Our mission at VERV is to provide the financial and environmental benefits of electric vehicles for the average American. We are a group of sustainability geeks and whiz kids who "MOXIE Up" every day to take on the challenges of a renewable energy future.


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The monster first appeared in the movie Space Ameoba before been included in three Godzilla games and making a brief appearance in the Godzilla: Rulers of Earth comic.
Ganimes was originally intended to be included in Godzilla Final Wars as a monster controlled by the Xiliens, but was replaced by the giant lobster Ebirah.
Following the death of Gezora, the creature known as Yog sought out another host - this time choosing a stone crab. Upon entering the creature's body, Yog mutated it into a new daikaiju known as Ganimes. Under Yog's control, Ganimes attacked Sergio Island. However, the creature was destroyed by the humans luring the monster into a pit and destroying it by hitting it with explosives.
Yog survived, however, and escaped the body of the dead creature. Impressed by the first Ganimes and deciding it would need more then one monster this time, Yog created another Ganimes by taking over another stone crab and this time also taking over a rock turtle - which became the monster Kamoebas. The twin assault by the two monsters seemed to successful, until the humans uncovered a new weakness with the monsters - sonic waves.
Using this to their advantage, the humans released a swarm of bats - with the creature's cries causing Yog to lose control of both Kamoebas and Ganimes. No longer under mind control, Ganimes and Kamoebas turned on each other and began to battle each other. As the battle progressed to the island's volcano, the humans brought both monsters down by detonating explosives around the volcano - causing it to erupt and kill both monsters as well as Yog.
Space Ameoba - Movie
Kaiju-Oh Godzilla - Video Game
Godzilla Trading Battle - Video Game
Godzilla Generations - Video Game
Godzilla: Rulers of Earth - Comics