The Sato Project aims to get homeless.....

The Sato Project aims to get  homeless dogs off the streets of Puerto Rico.  Caring individuals give their time to care for, protect, and save these helpless creatures through the Sato Project.  

Sadly enough, not all of these innocent loving animals survive the oftentimes cruel hardships they've had to endure. But through the generosity of loving and caring volunteers, we are able to get some of these dogs off the streets and into temporary shelters, where they are fed, spate, and cared for before being put on a plane to other shelters on the mainland and eventually placed into pet-loving homes.

We realize economic times are hard for a lot of people on the island right now, but we urge you to, 1) do not buy a dog or accept them as a gifts unless you're absolutely serious about providing for them, giving them love, and assuring their wellbeing.  Unlike humans, animals can't tell us when they are hurting.  2) If you cannot take care of your pet, bring it to a Sato Project halfway shelter.  The people who volunteer there, are dog lovers who are committed to caring for these unfortunate animals.  And, 3) have them spate.

The Sato Project is doing everything in their power to save as many dogs as possible.  Let's give these unselfish people a big hurrah.

For more information and to see how you can help, go to Google and search the Sato Project.  Or click on the website below.  These beautiful men-best-friends will love you for it.  

Let us not allow one more innocent dog to die.  By doing our part, together we can proudly say, "I saved a dog today."

http://www.thesatoproject.org

We know you're going to be very busy the next couple of days, but......

We know you're going to be very busy the next couple of days.  Yes, the Christmas Season has arrived  in full apogee.  With that said, you're either searching for that special gift for the favorite people on your list, scrubbing down the house, and/or trying to figure how to work last year's decorations into this year's new decor, among many, many other things.

But let's be honest, you still have to eat—fuel that engine called the tummy—and what better way to stay healthy for the holidays than by being well-fed.  No matter how busy you get, you mustn't skip a good meal.  We have found some of the most delicious, and paired them with some luscious wines to help you unwind from the busyness of the Season.

So here goes!

Baby, it's cold out there, so let's start with the good trusty chicken soup, or culinary seafood stew, and let's pair them with some honest-to-goodness white wines.  Whether the weather is snowy or not, chicken soup, or chicken pot-pie, the meal tastes best when accompanied by a robust and crisp white such as the number-one selling Chardonnay.  Oh, you can still drink whatever you have on hand, but Chardonnay is still one of our favorites.

Next up, Chili.  What could be better after running around all day, than a nice steaming hot bowl of Chili.  Uh, huh......  You heard right!  While you're watching the game, indulge and pair that baby with a nice red.  A fruity Merlot or spicy Shiraz is exactly what's called for here.  The dark fruit flavors and smooth tannins are tailored-made for spicy dishes.

Who wants meat?  Then let's bring out a Pot Roast or any other red meat for that matter.  A meaty pork- shoulder is always a good choice.  Pair these dishes with a dense strong wine like Malbec, or red from Spain.  These are always great choices.

Everyone loves Lasagna.  And it's easier than ever to make, now that the noodles come ready to layer and top.  So go ahead and cheat.  We use those noodles all the time and they've never let us down.  Pair that lasagna with a nice Cabernet Sauvignon or a Cabernet blend.  A Merlot also works because of its fruity base, which rolls so smootly on the palate.

So do yourself a favor and take time out to feed yourself.  Your tummy will thank you for it!

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: What is The Sato Project?

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: What is The Sato Project?: What is The Sato Project?  The Sato Project aims to get  homeless dogs off the streets of Puerto Rico.  Through the Project, caring individu...

A startling revelation...

A startling revelation.... there are over 10,000 saints in the world.   Obviously, I'm not talking about the New Orleans Saints.   Rather, I mean saintly people who have been proven worthy to be called as such, those who has been recognized for having an exceptional degree of holiness.

My monthly group met last night, on the heels of All Saints' Day.   Not surprisingly, the topic was saints, and what qualifies people to achieve such holy status.  More surprising, is the fact that saints are regular people like us who just happened to choose to love, to forgive, and give up life as we know it for nothing other than pure love of Christ and their fellow beings.

That's a pretty tall order.   And I can almost hear people reading this, saying, "That will never be me.  I could never be that person!"  But let's think about this for a second.

Let's go back to the 10,000 or so saints, since and before our Lord Jesus walked the earth.  Yes, there have been saintly beings who have indeed given up everything for Jesus.  But that does not mean that we regular sinners cannot become more saintly in our ways.   Why just by our being decent human beings and doing the right thing, can qualify us as saints.  Maybe not the kind that have worked miracles, or were martyred, but saintly in our ways, just the same.

It's pretty easy.  Love your brother as you would love yourself.  Walk in others' shoes, not just one day, but every day.  Commit to prayer even if it's just once a day.  Pray to God to give you the courage to be the good person you were made to be.

Last month, I touched on one of the most popular of the saints, Saint Terese of the Little Flower.  Terese did not do wondrous deeds, she did not wrought miracles.  She wasn't even a good writer.  But since a very young child, in spite of losing her mother at the tender age of four, Terese decided to love unconditionally, in a pure Godly way, just as Jesus would have us love one another.  What qualified Terese to be honored with such a saintly titled?  Her love of God, her love of her fellow beings, and her faith.    A perfect example of a regular person like you and me, with the exception that Terese chose to live a loving life, to love everyone she came in contact with.

As Scripture tells us over and over again, love is everything.  The following verses speak of such love:

     If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am nothing...

     Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous....

     Love never ends....

     Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in her/him....

This type of love is what qualified regular folk like you and me, to become saints.  Realizing this is no easy task, let us draw closer to God and let us follow the example of Jesus and the saints.   We might just surprise ourselves.  With God's help, we might just come as close to being a saint, as God allows.

Ever hear of writer's block?

As I sit at my work place (today, that would be at the dining room table) and stare at my half-filled champagne glass that reads "In Your Eyes"(only?!),  Really?  (We won't go into that here!),  I think of my writer's block.  This has been without a doubt, the longest in my twelve-somewhat years of writing.  I remember when I would be up until 2-2:30 in the morning writing, always with my trusted glass of shiraz close by.

So much has changed since I started writing seriously.  For one, I don't remember social-media being the time-sucking media it's turned out to be.  Yes, Facebook was taking off, but not to the extent where people actually spend every waking hour on the venue.  Seriously, I don't know how some people get any work done these days.  I don't know how corporations get any work done!  If Facebook doesn't get your attention, then Twitter, Instagram or any other, will.

It is no wonder then that I have a serious case of writer's block.  I can't even seem to get back to the matter of publishing my last book, Destination Nowhere.  No pun intended, that title seems to describe to the "t" my writing efforts these days and where I seem to be headed.   Haha!  [so as not to cry?!].

I refuse to say goodbye.

I refuse to say goodbye.....

I refuse to say goodbye to those laid back, sunny, lazy days of summer.  True that we still have three weeks before the official end of summer, but you can't help but see the signs - kids have left for college or are back in school, shorter days (it gets dark by 7:30, now instead of 9:00), the cool breeze in the air, etc. etc.  But I have made a commitment to see this 'high' through Christmas, if possible.

Yes, there is Halloween and Thanksgiving before we reach Christmas, but the weather is sure to turn before then.  However, not if I can help it.  I can be oblivious to certain things when I make my mind.

Today, a good friend from Hoboken High, Nitza posted a cute cartoon of Snoopy and his birdie friend Woodstock.  It read,  The Start of the "Ber" Months.  In my mind it translated, to the "Brrrrrr" months.   And so, when I shared that picture, that's exactly what I posted.  But seriously, the 'Ber' months can be beautiful!  In terms of weather September and October can be two of the most breathtaking months of the year.  After all, my darling Cristina was born in the beginning of October.  I remember the day vividly when I came home from the hospital with my beautiful newborn - it was an absolute 'garrrrgeous' day, as was my baby girl; as my since-deceased good friend Betty would always say.  Between Vic and Juls, our home, both inside and out was spotless and ready and waiting, for our new addition to the family. The leaves where starting to turn into those beautiful colors we see in the fall; there was a cool breeze in the air; and the sun was shining like no other day.

On the far side, I also recall Tuesday September 11, 2001 which started out as one of the most beautiful days ever.  And sadly enough we all know the devastating outcome of that fateful day.

Along those lines, my beloved husband, lover, and best friend, Victor left my world on October 18 of the following year.  Victor was, quite possibly, the best thing that ever happened to me.  I was blessed to meet him in 1977 (we had just lost Elvis) and formalize our relationship four years after.  The best years of my life were spend with Victor, but sadly enough he left our world a mere months before our 25th wedding anniversary.  

I had always dreaded the turning back of the hour in the fall, but after Victor's passing, it no longer bothered me - nothing is more dreadful than losing the love of your life.  So the changing of the hour no longer had a negative effect on me.  I could take on the worst the world had to give, now that I had lost the love of my life!

So bring on the "Ber" months.  I will be waiting with open arms!  And even when they turn into "Burrr" months, I still won't be bothered because in my heart, I am and always will be an eternal summer person.

My darling Cristina at the age of four in the Poconos

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Victor and I (on the left) with his brother and wife in the Poconos

Beautiful fall scene - Poconos

Night falls in the fall in River Edge

Will you follow me on Twitter?

Why is it so hard to get followers on Twitter?

It seems to me that unless you are Angelina Jolie or Kim K, it seems impossible to get followers on Twitter.  Why is that? I ask myself.

I, for one, don't know of many friends on the venue.  And, the ones that are on Twitter, probably don't even know how to use it.  So that could be one reason.

I'm also, no celebrity - another very big possibility!!!  No duh!

I've never been one to ask anyone for anything, so asking for followers will never happen.  A couple of years back, I heard Billy Bush, the host on Extra, practically beg for followers.  Maybe it was in joking, but he sounded pretty.  That will never be me.  Not that I'm a top TV show host, nor ever will be?!

You'd think that since I've published two novels, I would have some followers.   After all, I follow almost every literary agent I could find on Twitter.  Which leads me to my next observation.  Today I got notification of a new follower, to which I reacted with "What??!!"  And which begs the question, "Why would Modern Family want to follow me, when my own family doesn't."

Something has to be up with that!  Tomorrow I will definitely look into the authenticity of that notification. But for tonight, please let me savor my newfound follower.

I might just be on to something.  Hey, you never know.  Why, I may just pass The Biebs!  Hee hee!