The Black Cow Lives On at Godino's!

         I don't know about you, but lately I"ve been mourning the loss of some of my very favorite cafes and restaurants in Greensboro.  This double dip recession has put out the lights in a slew of wonderful restaurants, bakeries, and coffeehouses.
        I'm still feeling the blues over the closing of Greensborough Coffee on State Street where I sipped on locally roasted coffee, enjoyed fresh baked goods, and bantered with the owners on a regular basis.  And I finally worked up my courage to sing and play my guitar at their open mike held every other week.  I was getting into quite a routine and after several performances I barely noticed my nerves.  It just doesn't feel right drinking my java and strumming my guitar in some other strange coffeehouse.
       The closing of Ganache was also a blow.  This was the perfect lunch spot whether dining alone or treating a friend or family member to that special meal and, of course, dessert.  Their expansive dessert cases brought me back to my childhood days living on Long Island where bakery after bakery on every other street corner was fiilled to the brim with  fresh cakes, breads, and cookies.  The Black Cow cake at Ganache was legendary in our circle.  Birthdays and celebrations were always marked by a visit to Ganache for coffee and cake or the purchase of a Black Cow to bring home with us.  I sure miss those delightfully perfect evenings on the rooftop deck now that this wonderful weather is with us.

The Real Housewives of New York City Are Really Rude Imposters

It's 11:40 PM.  Tom's asleep and I'm surfing the channels of my nonflat-screen TV.  I stumble across the "so-called"  Real Housewives of New York City on Bravo.  I lament about the old Bravo when it programmed British period pieces and independent films.

Those were the days.   

To borrow some phrasing from another era and former VP candidate Lloyd Bentsen:   I know New York housewives.  I am friends with New York housewives.  And you all are not the Real Housewives of New York City.

I've watched this show maybe once or twice and to be blunt the whole thing is sickening. These are a bunch of mean,  self-centered, and overindulged women who apparently don't get that we are in the midst of a Great Recession.  When I click them out of my life, I immediately jump up and down with joy about what a wonderful and meaningful life I lead.

Tuning in every now and then makes me downright grateful for what I have!

Glenn Beck, Please Don't Mess With Grandma Frances!

I have a nice little blog where I write about local and everyday little happenings.  I seldom write about politics.  I like to keep things light and positive and unfortunately politics is a nasty business.  My work days are also pretty heavy and filled with many sad stories of illness and joblessness. That doesn't mean I don't follow the local, state, and national scene.  Or let's just say I try to.  And being a social worker by trade demands that I keep up with policy at many levels. 

I actually consider myself an independent.  I have both liberal and conservative leanings.  There's no one party who can define who I am.  But I won't get into that here.

I have to confess that I've been addicted to FOX News for a long time. I have liked and respected Bill O'Reilly and felt over the years that he evolved into someone who gave time to both sides of an issue (although his association with Glenn Beck may force me to stop watching him altogether). I absolutely love Greta Van Susteren because she gets right on the case and is a fantastic investigator, interviewer, and reporter. Sean Hannity of FOX News will not be discussed here because he has nothing new to say and professes the same tired things over and over and over again.  He makes Forrest Gump look like a PhD.

Unfortunately, I believe I can no longer support FOX News with my viewing time.  And this is why: