Blog Action Day

Because of difference in political beliefs or just plain ignorance, there's still people out there thinking that global warming is not happening. People clueless or maybe stupid enough to say that we are doing nothing to make earth a miserable place to live..... Today is the Blog Action Day and the topic to be covered is Global Warming. You could call it "Global Warming" or "Climate Change" I could care less about being "politically correct", but I won't stop trying to make conscience on how easy is to take action, make a difference and help protect our environment.

Plastic #5 Recycling Got You Feeling Blue? - Earth911.com

http://earth911.com/blog/2009/02/03/plas..

How to put it together…

Elements: color, shape, form, line, dimension, texture…
Principles: repetition, variety, balance, emphasis …
Results: Perfect Design… or Just lamp…

Details of Lamp at the Borgata Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, NJ

Let’s take some actions NOW… Make Everyday Earth Day

A few weeks ago I bumped into the pocket book “be green" by Monica Sheerhan. The book of course has to do with the Eco conscience that everyday grows stronger in each one of us. I went through it and at the end and as the author wittily mentions I made a pledge.

Start small and be committed to the pledge, me? promise myself never use plastic bags or plastic bottler ever again. It’s necessary to mention why plastic bags and bottlers are a huge bad impact to the environmental, is necessary to mention than although plastic bags consume 40% less energy to produce take 1,000 years to decompose. Plastic is made from petroleum and it lasts almost forever. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT EVERY PIECE OF PLASTIC EVER MADE IS STILL IN EXISTENCE ?? most surprising is that over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the U.S. each year and according to the National Geographic magazine, more than 500 billion plastic bags are consumed worldwide in a year.

Because these plastic bags are not properly disposed they become decorative accessories of parks, trees, streets, oceans, beeches, neighborhoods, and roadsides causing harm to the wildlife. Every year it is estimated that 100,000 marine life animals are killed because of the amount of plastic bags that contaminate the ocean. It’s crucial that all people try to reduce their use of plastics, especially plastics we use only once and throw away. Plastic bags are not biodegrade, instead they breakdown into smaller and smaller toxic bits that birds feed their babies. Every year, thousands of sea turtles, seabirds, and other animals are sickened, injured, or killed because of trash in the ocean.

Say NO to plastic bags and bring your F#$%^& reusable bags!!!

Don't know who you are but may God bless you with the perfect man,
a great job, a beautiful mansion, healthy twins and a closet full with Manolo Blahnik

Readers let’s take action or at least I will, open your eyes, listen to your planet, everyone can make a difference and help protect the ocean and their marine life. Here are some things that you and your families can do:

1. Use reusable bottles for water and other drinks. (By using just one reusable bottle, you will keep 167 single-use plastic bottles from entering the environment.

2. Bring cloth or reusable bags to the grocery store to carry your things. (For each reusable bag you use, it will save approximately 400 plastics from being used).

3. Reuse or recycle the plastic bags you already have. (For every thirteen plastic bags you don’t use, you will save enough petroleum to drive a car one mile).

4. Learn more and share ideas with others on how to reduce plastic use.

5. Don’t litter. Ever. (But you knew that already) REUSE!!

Facts and information from:

www.earth911.com
http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=home
www.sierraclub.org
www.Oprah.com

Two or maybe twenty for the price of one!! and the best cover up for lazy readers

Today I come across with Australian artist Victoria Reichelt. An amazing artist who has been awarded with multiple art prizes and who also put together two or my favorites things: art and books ... unfortunately this is not a real deal, they are not real books stock on shelves but photo realistic oil paintings! This collection belong to her project: “ Bibliomania: The Bookshelf” Either because you want to go green and save some trees or just because you find her work surprising visit her website www.victoriareichelt.com

Anecdote

People who know me are familiar with my fascination with Peruvian writer, politician, journalist, and essayist Mario Vargas Llosa. I’m so crazy about this man that my cousin actually thinks that by mentioning his name in my presence makes me “agreed” with anything or everything she has to say.

Mario Vargas LLosa

After loving Mario since I was 15 and after a lifetime of reading his literature finally I got the pleasure of meeting him at El Museo del Barrio. In this event Mario along with Isabella Rossellini were presenting “La Fiesta del Chivo” (The Feast of the Goat) a movie based on Mario’s latest and highly acclaimed book with the same name. I was so excited, so in love that technically I was walking on clouds, a friend of mine asked me “V you do realize the man is 72 years old right?” With the enthusiasm blocking my intelligence and actually not getting his point I just answered “so?”

Isabella Rossellini, Luis Llosa, Mario Vargas Llosa, and author Carmen Bullosa

I planned my outfit for days. What do you wear when you are going to meet the man of your dreams? I have to mention that there was not a single possibility I would meet him face to face, same way there was not a single possibility my senses would assimilate that fact. Everything had to be perfect my hair, makeup, my phthalo blue coat - J.Crew Fall 2007 Collection - because in an event where, for sure, 99.9% of the intellectuals would used dark colors, I had to make myself stand up.

I just wanted two things from Mario, actually three: I wanted to touch him, to kiss him and listening to his voice up and close. Those were my secret intentions, the reality: when you are face to face with a man who’s been on the Nobel Prize road since he was in his mother’s womb, last thing you want is to look or sound silly, therefore I had two smart questions plan, by the way I also had three books he should sign.

Mario Vargas LLosa

The day finally came, the presentation was a hit (as everything he does) and when the theater was almost empty and he came down the stage there I was. Did not think, did not plan, forgot about the two questions that were suppose to make me look smart. I run to him, took a non authorized picture and setting free all my hermetically sealed feelings told him“ I LOVE YOU MARIO!…. I ALWAYS HAVE!” … Never knew what surprised me the most; those words coming out of my mouth or what happened next; he coming toward me telling me “How cute” and giving me the warmest hug anyone ever gave me or at least that's how it felt. I embraced him, closed my eyes and deeply breath, holding that endless moment in the most secure place of my soul and body, I also thanked my lucky star, Jesus, Holy Mary, his mother, my mother and last but not least God for allowing the alignment of planets. We talk about my country Dominican Republic the time he spent there while filming “Pantaleon y las Visitadoras,” another movie based on one of his books, surprised me he is a regular in my country… I was in heaven, didn’t mind the disappointment of his voice, Mario’s voice is pitchy like a kid suffering the changes of puberty... kind of annoying if you don’t love him… my secret intentions were all full filled, except the kiss… I wanted to kiss him so bad… didn’t know how much this desire showed on my face until I was in the train, open one of the books he signed for me and read what he wrote.

"Para Virna con besos en las mejillas" MVLL
("To Virna with kisses on the cheeks"... MVLL)

It’s all about good food and special people…

For this post I didn’t do lot of researching, actually the idea came to me while having a pleasant meal at one of my favorite places. Today I’m presenting one of the number 1 restaurants in Jersey City, "Taqueria Downtown.”

Taqueria Downtown - 236 Grove Street Jersey City, NJ

On Saturdays late afternoon and after a crazy shopping day there is nothing more comfortable than stop by and have some steak tacos and rajas at Taqueria Downtown. This restaurant is cheerful, funky, with a great and relaxed atmosphere. A wall covered with 70's and 80's memorabilia, music from The Beatles, The Who, Vicente Fernandez, Jimi Hendrix, El Tri, Rolling Stone, Los Tigres del Norte among others set the mood for a perfect good time with friends - don’t know who Los Tigres de Norte or The Rolling Stone are? Who cares when you are eating the best authentic Mexican food in town.

I’m not just sharing a cool and affordable place to eat but the accomplish of my two good friends and owners of Taqueria Downtown: Andrea and Felipe, who religiously follow the ten commands (not Moses commands) on how to be loyal to authentic Mexican food. In this post I’m sharing the good news that Taqueria Downtown was presented on New Jersey Monthly Magazine as one of the most “adventurous spots” for brunch service. WHAT A HONOR!!

New Jersey Monthly - The New Brunch - 2009 February Issue
Andrea and Felipe - This is not their actual picture

Guys keep up the good work, steak tacos, chicken flautas and tamales... and more than anything, Andrea please keep “sacando mi flan debajo de la manga.”

All the weight on my boots….

One of my uncountable resolutions this year is to notice and appreciate things that usually I just walk through; noticing how easy is to find peace in the middle of Wall Street anarchy and how tourists, after all, are not that bad, actually they are fun to watch… "All the leaves are brown…and the sky is gray... I’ve been for a walk on a winter’s day"*

Overwhelmed by police cars, traffic jam, buildings blocking the sunlight and tourists I went for a short walk. I passed by the cemetery next to Trinity Church on Broadway and Wall Street and wondered if the corpse buried in there have found peace in the middle of that chaos, if they did why couldn’t I?

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Trinity Wall Street Church

It is amazing how the church, not been as tall as the rest of buildings, has their same magnificent and imposing presence. It was this thought that made me stop and get inside the church, and while listening to the chorus (they do sound like angels voices) and like hundreds of tourists visiting the church, I found serenity... “Stopped into a church… I passed along the way…Well, I got down on my knees”*

While waiting for the night to fall I got into conversations with some tourists. These were not like any others tourists (those who step on your toes, take their time walking, stop suddenly so your face bump into their backs, etc.) these were nice tourists: a couple posing for photos; cute and lovely, hugging each other, posing, smiling and… over of sudden the girl pushed the boy away, in an act that to me clearly read “now me without you“ and asked for a pic by herself… I smiled to the boyfriend who, with a big smile, celebrated her actions and step away…. aaaaaw! love is a beautiful thing .... I also meet three guys from Uruguay, talking to them and comparing New York and Latin America hospitality, weather and Christmas parties made me realize how much I wish to come back to my country Dominican Republic where I feel safe and warm. Guys thanks for the good conversation, you are such of charming and charismatic boys, take good care of yourselves and have a safe trip... "California dreaming… on such a winters day…"*

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Juan Manuel, Santi and Ricardo, three cute guys from Uruguay

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*Lyrics from California Dreaming - The Mamas and the Papas