Dear GOP: Stay out of my uterus!

.....if I still had a uterus. Just as I can't take the GOP seriously when they whine about government spending after their last tenure squandered a surplus by spiraling into debt for wars and tax cuts for the wealthy, it is equally hard for me to take them seriously when they praise smaller government while, at the same time, they are all up in our private lives. Get this into your thick skulls: abortion is a medical procedure. The GOP has no right nor any invitation to comment on women's decisions about their medical care.

Barefoot Contessa on 30 Rock

                            photo from bsideblog

When I find something I enjoy I like to share it here. Tina Fey's character, Liz Lemon, on 30 Rock revealed her love for Ina Garten on last night's episode. Hey, don't we all! For a bonus, we get Matt Damon too. As Ina says, how bad can that be?

Watch here.

SNL: New Season

Taxes: Punishment or Patriotism?

I watched Ben Stein's commentary last week on CBS Sunday Morning about his belief that paying taxes was a punishment. The arrogance of Mr. Stein left me empty and sad.

This week on the same program, Linda McGibney, a Supervising Producer and Writer for the show "Stargate Universe" on the SyFy Channel, responded. I wanted to post it here in its entirety because her response left me feeling proud. It is how I feel about paying taxes....only I don't make a large salary.

BEN STEIN: "Maybe when the economy recovers, raising my taxes makes sense, but for now, it's just punishment, and I can't figure out what for."


All I have to say is, Ben Stein is wrong.


I am an American. I am in the highest tax bracket. I also work in entertainment - which is what Mr. Stein does as well.


I am fine with the tax increase. I think it patriotic that I am taxed in this way. I want to help my country.


I believe the fact that I can have a job this year, and hopefully every year to come, is a privilege.


Mr. Stein, there are Americans who qualify for this tax increase under the proposed plan who don't feel "punished" by it. We feel it is our duty in hard times to help the rest of America.


And I am not talking about charity; this isn't charity. We both give to charity, of our own choosing. Mr. Stein probably gives more than me.


This is about being a grown-up and accepting the fact that we made money during the bogus up-tick in the economy. We prospered. So did others in our ranks. A LOT.
Can I say A LOT one more time?


Now, it's time to help the rest of America.


I don't care how many dogs and cats you adopt, how many people you give a paycheck to, or how many dollars you make.


If Ben Stein believes this tax increase is a punishment, then he is out of touch with the average person.


I suppose he thinks he's beyond sharing his good fortune with the rest of the Americans who are suffering financially. Or he just doesn't care about them.


Being an American is understanding you are lucky to be so. And you and I, Mr. Stein, are extremely lucky to be paid for a subjective asset: Our talent.


I have always understood that the "haves" were greedy. This is the first time I've heard one of them express it out loud so openly.


I am a "have." I am willing to pay this tax increase. I'm not going to whine about it. I won't feel punished. I will understand it's the cost of doing business.


It is worth sacrificing because our country needs some of us to sacrifice . . . the some of us who can.


And, Mr. Stein, we are not suffering.

It occurred to me that we collectively praise the patriotism of soldiers and their families who give what we say we consider the ultimate price for our country. I suppose we can do that with ease because it is someone else making that sacrifice. Yet, when we have an opportunity to make a sacrifice for our country, we scream, "Hell, no! We won't pay." Apparently, money is the ultimate sacrifice.

Fan of Katy Perry

A daughter of two evangelical pastors and shielded from the world is now a pop star and engaged to Russell Brand (source). IMHO, any parent who doesn't allow their children to listen to The Beatles doesn't trust their faith very much. (Personally, I would consider it a form of child abuse but I realize that is taking it a little too far.)

You kick ass, Katy! Anyone who survives not one but TWO evangelical pastor parents is okay in my book.

Signed,
A preacher's kid (Southern Baptist, but back before they went nuts)

Hold Churches Accountable

Churches and the organizations that hide behind religion (i.e., YMCA) should pay their fair share of taxes. If they don't want to pay taxes then they should stay out of politics.

Written by Kevin Dolak at ABC News:

Nearly 100 pastors across the country planned to take part in Pulpit Freedom Sunday, an in-your-face challenge Sunday to what the government says can and cannot be said in church.


This Sunday, 100 U.S. pastors, including seven from Tennessee, will stand before their congregations and break the law, on purpose.


The pastors, along with the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based nonprofit Alliance Defense Fund, are reacting to a law stating that churches are not allowed to support politicians from the pulpit, according to the ADF.


The growing trend is a challenge to the IRS from the churches, and may jeopardize their all-important tax-exempt status. But some pastors and church leaders said they are willing to defy the law to defending their right to freedom of speech.


Federal tax law, established in 1954, prohibits churches and tax exempt entities from endorsing or opposing political candidates.

Democrats, Republicans or Independents. I don't care who they claim to support. It is against the law and they should be held accountable. If they want their right to freedom of speech then they can do their patriotic duty and pay for it.

Weekend Cat Blogging #277

I've posted numerous times about the benefits of telecommuting. Two of my favorite reasons are Jules and Vincent. If they catch me with the camera they are less willing cooperate so I depend on my iPhone for quick shots. Their very presence calms me during my work day.

This week's Weekend Cat Blogging is hosted by Othello at Paulchens FoodBlog?!.

Angry Rich People: Part 2

Addendum:
Did you happen to notice the brothers tied at number 5 on the Forbes list (see post below)? The Koch brothers are funding the so-called "grassroots" Tea Party. They provide the money while the Tea Party provides the angst and leg work. Billionaries also continue to fund Karl Rove's American Crossroads group.

Signed,
One of the working poor or as the GOP calls us, "losers".

Angry Rich People and the People Who Love Them

Do you know any of the people listed below? Do you know anyone in the income bracket of the people listed? Neither do I and neither do ANY of the people I know. I applaud them for their innovation and hard work. I don't necessarily applaud those who just happened to be born into the family (I'm talking to you Walton kids).

On Wednesday, Forbes Magazine released their richest people in America list. Why do I even care? Because the rich keep getting richer while the rest of our country gets poorer; while the rest of the country is desperately trying to crawl out of the worst recession since The Great Depression, the divide between rich and poor widens further.

According to the report (pdf) "Building a Better America -- One Wealth Quintile At A Time" by Dan Ariely of Duke University and Michael I. Norton of Harvard Business School and reported in The Huffington Post...

.......that across ideological, economic and gender groups, Americans thought the richest 20 percent of our society controlled about 59 percent of the wealth, while the real number is closer to 84 percent.

For those of you who look in the mirror and (falsely) see yourself in this group, rejoice in the fact that the GOP fights for you. They will shout, "no!" to extending unemployment benefits; "no!" to the security of health care benefits; "no!" to a decent wage (I'm talking to you again, Waltons); "no!" to eliminating a contract's fine print; and, "no!" to anyone who tries to provide assistance to anyone outside of the highest income brackets.

Are you and/or your spouse having to work to keep your health insurance? Do you have numerous health problems so that you can't afford to purchase decent health coverage or do you risk them dropping you if you have the audacity to use the policy despite that you are regularly paying the premiums? Yes and yes? Ooohhhh...."but I don't want the government telling me I have to have insurance". Insurance companies can trick us into believing we have to have cancer policies for the chance we may or may not get cancer some day or earthquake insurance if, by chance, there is ever an unlikely earthquake in our vicinity, and on and on and on. But the government? Noooo. That's shh..shh..shh..socialism.  Socialism?! Let's say together: Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security.

I get it. Buying insurance would be your choice, not the government's choice. Would it be your choice if the insurance company raises your premiums; if they drop you without notice; if they refuse to pay for a treatment that could save your life; and, if they make record profits while so many people do not even have medical insurance? It certainly is not mine.

Let's see....when did I feel this hopeless and fearful for people outside of the wealthiest in the U.S.? Oh yes, the Reagan years. When did the culture wars rear its head and prey on the people's anxieties and fears? Oh yes, the Reagan years. And, the culture wars are back now. That is never, ever a good sign. They are like cockroaches who appear out of the darkest night if you aren't vigilant.

It appears Billionaires for Bush can make a comeback now. Happy days are here again.

For those of you who believe you can run with the big dogs or who falsely believe you are even middle-class because you buy things or, in some cases, you are white and you think middle-class automatically comes with that skin color, let me be the first to tell you that you are not. And, you are going to sink all of us.

Other reading on the subject:

The Wail of the 1% 

Angry Rich People

The Janitor's Daughter

As someone who once lost a job and struggled with the weight of credit card debt and the shame of being unable to pay one's bills; as someone who has since watched the never-ending cycle of debt strangle and impoverish others; and, as someone who has come to realize the role that creditors and their contracts play, I have followed with great interest how this would be addressed by the administration, if at all.

I first saw Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren on Bill Moyers Journal. She educated me on the current economic crisis and how it has affected the other 98 percent of us. I posted about her as one of my most trusted people in 2009.

With the announcement yesterday by President Obama of Professor Warren to launch the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, he has made a definitive step toward keeping his campaign promise to move away from special interests and lobbyists in an effort to protect middle-class families. As I understand it, Warren will not answer to Congress and will not be the first official director; however, she will have direct input into policies and programs to protect the financial interests of the middle-class.

In Summer 2007, Warren wrote the following in Democracy: A Journal of Ideas. It is well worth the read.

Unsafe at Any Rate
If it's good enough for microwaves, it's good enough for mortgages. Why we need a Financial Product Safety Commission.
by Elizabeth Warren

It is impossible to buy a toaster that has a one-in-five chance of bursting into flames and burning down your house. But it is possible to refinance an existing home with a mortgage that has the same one-in-five chance of putting the family out on the street–and the mortgage won’t even carry a disclosure of that fact to the homeowner. Similarly, it’s impossible to change the price on a toaster once it has been purchased. But long after the papers have been signed, it is possible to triple the price of the credit used to finance the purchase of that appliance, even if the customer meets all the credit terms, in full and on time. Why are consumers safe when they purchase tangible consumer products with cash, but when they sign up for routine financial products like mortgages and credit cards they are left at the mercy of their creditors?


The difference between the two markets is regulation. Although considered an epithet in Washington since Ronald Reagan swept into the White House, the "R-word" supports a booming market in tangible consumer goods. Nearly every product sold in America has passed basic safety regulations well in advance of reaching store shelves. Credit products, by comparison, are regulated by a tattered patchwork of federal and state laws that have failed to adapt to changing markets. Moreover, thanks to effective regulation, innovation in the market for physical products has led to more safety and cutting-edge features. By comparison, innovation in financial products has produced incomprehensible terms and sharp practices that have left families at the mercy of those who write the contracts. Continue reading....

Weekend Cat Blogging #276

I hope curiosity won't kill the cat but be kind to Jules. There are so many things to see, stalk and chase, even when one's feet never touch the ground.

Jules is this week's entry for Weekend Cat Blogging, hosted by Pam at Sidewalk Shoes.

This Weekend on the TV Box

We all have to decide how much sin we can live with.

~ Nucky Thompson

                                                                                AP Photo

For those of us who watched The Sopranos religiously, HBO is once again prepared to serve us our weekly dose of gangster crack on Sunday night with the long awaited series, Boardwalk Empire. The series is set in Atlantic City in 1920 at the dawn of Prohibition. Cast members include Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Dabney Coleman, Shea Whigham, Anthony Laciura, Stephen Graham, Aleksa Palladino, Michael Stuhlbarg, Vincent Piazza, Paz de la Huerta, Paul Sparks, Michael Kenneth Williams and Gretchen Mol. The series was created by Terence Winter ("The Sopranos"), who also serves as executive producer with Martin Scorsese (who directed the first episode), Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg and Tim Van Patten.

My favorite atheist libertarian - HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher season premiere, Friday night at 9 CST.




Saturday - Football, football, and more football!

Ten Reasons NOT to Burn a Koran

Original post of Mary at Work of the Poet, reprinted with her permission:

Here is a letter I received in email today:

Dear Mary,

Get your free bookmark opposing "Burn a Koran Day"—and spread the word!.

Show that you don't support bigotry and hate!

President Obama. General Petraeus. The Pope.

World leaders are speaking out against the "Burn a Koran" event scheduled for September 11th. It's hateful and dangerous.

Despite the outcry, Terry Jones and the Dove World Outreach Center are moving forward with their event. In fact, they posted five MORE reasons to burn a Koran on their blog just yesterday.

Human Rights First pushed back: We decided to build our own list—using responses from over 5,000 supporters like you!—of "10 Reasons NOT to burn a Koran." We posted the final list yesterday on our blog, Huffington Post, FireDogLake, and other media outlets. Thanks to those of you who contributed!

Here's the Top 10 list:

Ten Reasons NOT to Burn a Koran

1. Book burning! Do I really need to say why?

2. By not burning a Koran I'm not burning a bridge to communication.

3. Burning the Koran because of extremist Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorists makes no more sense than burning the Bible because of the Ku Klux Klan or Nazis.

4. Hatred breeds more hatred and that is not going to solve any of our problems.

5. That type of hate-filled religious intolerance has no place anywhere in the world, and is especially abhorrent in a country where religious freedom is one of the pillars of its foundation.

6. It's a sacred book to millions of people. We should respect all people's beliefs.

7. It will only inflame. I'd like people to understand each other.

8. I may not believe in the words of the Koran but I would never burn one out of respect for my fellow humans who do.

9. Support our troops!

10. We must learn to coexist. We cannot continue to live in fear and suspicion.

Show the fearmongers and the world that Americans don't stand for bigotry by ordering your free "Americans Don't Burn Books" bookmark right now. (You pay shipping and handling.)

Sincerely,

Sharon Kelly McBride
Communications Director

P.S. Want to support our work? Click here to make a donation. Every gift is tax deductible and supports our programs to stand up for religious tolerance and basic human dignity.

Human Rights First, 333 Seventh Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10001-5004

Addendum: Jones has since tried to (unsuccessfully) tie his event into the Park51 zoning issue in New York and has at the time of this post 'suspended' his plans.

President Obama addressed this when asked during his press conference on Friday. He reminded us that we have Muslims serving in our military and that they are our neighbors and our friends. In today's New York Times, Samuel G. Freedman wrote an interesting column in the On Religion section titled, Muslims and Islam were part of Twin Towers' Life.

It behooves us to take the time to learn more about the people with whom we share our lives, our country and our planet. And, if nothing else works, remember the words from another religious teacher: The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:31)

Friday Night in Birmingham

Fall in Birmingham isn't all about football after all. While Moose's husband was away playing golf, we set out to entertain ourselves. From the events we were most likely to enjoy included, but was not limited to:

1) Art show opening at Bare Hands Gallery
2) ArtWalk 2010
3) Animal House playing at the historic Alabama Theatre (where I originally saw it in 1978)
4) Eat Pray Love at Carmike Summit 16
5) And, of course, attitude adjusters, dinner, and conversation

We chose 1, 2 and 5. We viewed the interesting and whimsical paintings of Dan Bynum and Robin Melinda Nance at Bare Hands and braved the crowds to view various displays of eclectic art along Second Avenue North. But, the biggest surprise of the evening came when we chose to have dinner at longtime Birmingham landmark, John's City Diner.

Photo and description from their website:

By blending a bit of the old with the new, owner Shannon Gober has transformed the Downtown Birmingham landmark John's Restaurant into the new and improved John's City Diner. While the restaurant still maintains much of the charm from the past, the decor and menu have undergone a facelift to meet the needs of the increasingly food savvy Birmingham public. The menu at John's City Diner features a wide range of flavors from Southern comfort food to Asian-inspired dishes.

Although this transformation took place in 2004, I hadn't eaten at John's since 1997. Because it is so much a part of my history and Birmingham's, it was a delight to see how it had changed.

Food, service, atmosphere: Good
Best part:  They make a delicious Cosmopolitan!

Weekend Cat Blogging #275

This photo captures the personalities of Jules and Vincent quite well. Jules has a flair for the dramatic, while Vincent is cautious in his approach.

This week's Weekend Cat Blogging is hosted by LB and Breadchick at The Sour Dough.

We're A Football State

Gamechanger - opened on August 27th at Carmike Summit 16

If Gamechanger had been on the marquee, I wouldn't have noticed.

Nick Saban's name on the marquee? I noticed.

Good marketing!

The Silence is Deafening

As soon as the Tea Party followers and the GOP acknowledge publicly the Cost of War since 2001, I will take them more seriously when they claim to be concerned about government spending, balance budgets, and our children's future.  Otherwise, their silence on this particular subject suggests to me they are hiding behind this issue and it only causes me to roll my eyes and think 'racists'. Our outdated infrastructure, failing levees, crumbling bridges, loss of jobs, poor economy, and failing schools could have been repaired/enhanced or, even better, brought into the 21st century with the SURPLUS present at the end of the Clinton administration that was squandered during the last administration on perpetual war.

Not to mention....
No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare. ~James Madison

Fall Food Festivals - A Foodie's Delight

Food Event One
Mark your calendars for the first ever Birmingham Restaurant Week. From September 17 through September 25, we can eat and drink our way through 50 participating Birmingham restaurants with a few pubs thrown in for fun. Lunch specials and signature three-course meals will be available for prices of $10.10, $20.10, and $30.10. View participating restaurants and their offerings here.

Food Event Two
As if that wasn't enough, the 38th Annual Birmingham Greek Food Festival will be held at the Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral. I have attended this on several occasions and, despite a few traffic issues, it is well worth your time.

Food Event Three
The weekend of October 8 through October 11, we will be treated with the 29th Annual Saint George Middle Eastern Food Festival at Saint George Melkite Catholic Church. Menu here.

Food Event Four
On Sunday, October 11, Birmingham Originals sponsors the Break 'n Bread wine and food event at Pepper Place Market. Food, wine, and beer selections from local restaurants will be available, along with live music.

Labor Day 2010

(source)

Enjoy the three-day weekend!

For those without employment on this Labor Day weekend:

In response to the ongoing unemployment crisis, the U.S. Department of Labor is commemorating Labor Day 2010 by launching a new website to help out-of-work Americans find new opportunities.

Entitled My Skills My Future, the website provides tools for potential workers to search for jobs by entering in their previous work experience. An instructional video featured on the My Skills My Future homepage explains how to use the database to search for employment opportunities and local job training seminars. (source)

Weekend Cat Blogging #274 Roundup

Update: Thanks to Jan at Jan's Funny Farm for alerting me that I had failed to post a link to Luna at Catsynth. Sorry, Luna! I have corrected this inadvertent slight.

WCB Roundup

Thank you to everyone who participated in this week's WCB. Jules, Vincent, and I enjoyed reading your posts, visiting all the kitties, and hosting over the Labor Day weekend. We encourage you to visit our participants' blogs and invite others to participate in the future.

And, away we go....

* Jan at Jan's Funny Farm treated us to a funny video of a boxing kitty. What a champ! While you are there, take time to read some of the wonderful stories.

* There's a party going on at Cats of Wildcat Woods! They are celebrating Ivy's 5th Gotcha Day. The party theme is NIP! We love our 'nip so stop by to read Ivy's wonderful story and enjoy a nip martini.

* Smokey over at Missy, KC, Faith,Sol, Smokey, BJ is having a great time playing with catnip-filled Mr. Squirrel. Jules and Vincent need that!

* Oh, the drama! The relationships between males and females can indeed cause big headaches, even in our feline world. What do they want?! Follow the story, Headaches, at My Cats and Funny Stories.    

* Representing black cats with Jules this weekend is Luna at Catsynth. Surprisingly, there is a heat wave in San Francisco. Luna is ready for a long, restful and cooler three-day weekend. (Note: Interesting camera work!)

* It looks like Samantha and Clementine may be 'camping out' in their bright red tent for Labor Day Weekend. We know Maverick is clowning for the camera with his friend. Check it out at Life From A Cat's Perspective.

* ~~Smudge, Smudge, Smudge of the jungle, friend to you and me. Watch out for that tree!~~ Smudge is indeed channeling his inner tiger at Sidewalk Shoes.

* It is official. Elvira Mistress of Pussydom has stolen her daddy's heart. Elvira and her daddy went for their first stroll, inspiring Nikita Cat to write a song. Check it out at Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat.

* Fridolin looks very happy in this great action shot of grooming at Rosa's Yummy Yums. Does anyone else believe the sun lives in Rosa's home? J&V would love to bathe in all that available sunlight.

* Speaking of J&V, I have apparently created a monster now that I have a deck. Here is Jules, banging on the glass door and the blinds. He literally stretches up and bangs his paws against the glass!

* Here is Jules after following me to the ladies room and begging me to open the sliding glass door. He doesn't necessarily want to go out, he just wants the option of going out. Do you think he gets that trait from me?:)

* Vincent is more polite about it all. He will wait to be invited to go out. Otherwise, he is happy to snooze comfortably (?) and let Jules play the heavy.





Next weekend's host: Breadchick and LB at The Sour Dough.

Weekend in New York: Part 3

After the Matisse exhibit, we caught a cab to Bryant Park. My friend, Jim, describes this park as "one of the most civilized places on the planet". Check out this video on Bryant Park.

The Reading Room - Books are provided for adults and children to read at their leisure.

Ping pong is making a comeback and there are ping pong tables available. One can play board games, take free yoga class, or lounge in one of the many Adirondack chairs.

Le Carrousel - For the young and younger at heart

View from the park, behind the New York Public Library. Amidst all these buildings and traffic and not far from Times Square, there is this beautiful urban oasis. It is a model that, I believe, all cities should aspire to achieve.

Despite the beautiful architecture of the Public Library that "housed all the great love stories", I briefly thought about SATC, Big, and Carrie. Hello, my name is Judi and I have lived vicariously through Carrie Bradshaw for a long time.

B.P. Cafe - What blogger can resist taking a photo of one's lunch? This is the Grecian Chicken Salad with a 14th Street* Huckleberry Vodka Pink Lemonade.  What? I was on vacation! Who knew how good pink lemonade could be?! *I remember it as 14th Street but maybe it was 44 North?

Jim ordered the Southern Fried Turkey Salad. We had a good laugh! It appeared the only thing "southern" about it was that it was fried. We fry our turkeys whole here in the south, don't we? And, we occasionally burned down a house or two while doing it.

It was from here that Jim forced me into a cab so I could make my flight even though I was saying, "I don't want to go, I don't want to go!" I remain in a New York State of Mind.

Weekend in New York: Part Two

Henri Matisse painting Bathers by a River, May 13, 1913. Photograph by Alvin Langdon Coburn. Courtesy of George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography and Film, Rochester (source)

Henri Matisse. Bathers by a River. 1909–10, 1913, 1916–17. Oil on canvas, 102 1/2 x 154 3/16" (260 x 392 cm). The Art Institute of Chicago, Charles H. and Mary F. S. Worcester Collection. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York (source)

We viewed the MoMA exhibit, Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913-1917.  I learned about the evolution of an artist. The evidence of Matisse becoming a better artist or, more objectively, exceeding what he had previously created was before us through the progression of his paintings, bronze sculptures, bronze reliefs, copper plates, and lithographs.

During the time of World War I and turned down as a soldier, Matisse experimented with his craft. He scraped, shaped, wiped, moved and, in some cases, teased to take his vision where he wanted it to go. He drew from the light and the shadows of his visit to Morocco. He experimented with lines and drew from his rival, Picasso. His paintings became more visually pleasing in the way he used these influences.

I'm no art critic, but I thought it was incredible.  I will say that knowing the historical references and background raised the level of my enjoyment.

For a more complete description of the exhibit, go to MoMA.

Weekend in New York: Part One

While my visit to NYC was primarily to visit my friend, Jim, and to attend the Matisse exhibit at MOMA, I was treated to a weekend in the life of a native New Yorker. It is easy to feel as if you've lived there all your life. Photos via my iPhone.

Half a block from my bud's apartment is Central Park. While I've been to NYC in the past, this was my first visit to Central Park and I got a grand tour. What an amazing place! We listened to the most beautiful live rendition of Amazing Grace.  Lunch was at The Boathouse.

The Boathouse - Central Park, NYC

Fountain in Central Park - If you haven't seen Angels in America either on stage or on HBO, you will have another chance. There is currently a revival of Tony Kushner's Angels in America in NYC. This fountain was featured in the HBO production.

The Arch at NYU

Yuck! In Washington Square, this man was feeding pigeons and allowing them to sit on him. We moved but not before a pigeon fouled one of us. (Note to parents who allowed their children to feed and hold the pigeons: This is NOT a carnival ride!)

Washington Square Festival - Chicken Satay

I couldn't help but think about food with all the wonderful aromas drifting from each vendor.

Washington Square Festival - Whole Grilled Corn

Washington Square Festival - Doesn't this watermelon look wonderful? It was fairly hot so it looked so refreshing. These were lined up to prepare smoothies. You can just pass the salt for me.

Close to the Brooklyn Bridge is the Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton Corner. I had to have a photo! We discovered a small park in this area filled with sculpture.

Other posts:

1) You can get anything you want at Sylvia's Restaurant

2) Park 51: Mark 12:31

One of the many wonderful things about New York is that you never know what delights you will find just around the corner. More to come...

Weekend Cat Blogging #274

Welcome to Weekend Cat Blogging! To participate, please leave a comment with a link to your post. Come back on Sunday evening to view this weekend's submissions.

It should be a great weekend - cooler weather, the first weekend of college football, and a three-day weekend for many of us. Jules and Vincent are celebrating and hope you will join us. They're hoping to hear from you.

Feel Good Friday