Let's give a big toast
Natalie Macellaio and Jeff Ross are Engaged!

Let's all toast from Illinois to Texas - for Jeff got down on one knee and proposed marriage to Natalie, and she said "YES". Just looking at the pictures, you can see how happy they are. . . and we are happy for them. Who couldn't love Jeff as a son-in-law . . . as a "Signing Bonus", he took Natalie to the Apple store, and bought her a titanium Mac Book, router and printer. Now that is a son-in-law after my own technical heart! Jeff and Natalie live in Dallas, Texas and are planning a wedding in Chicago in the summer of 2010. Jeff is an avid lover of music, a DJ for Art Openings and weddings, and a senior sales executive of bicycle sales and cycling equipment, and will be completing his Audio Engineering Degree. (If you know of any audio engineering opportunities, especially in the Chicagoland area, Jeff . . and Tosca, would appreciate the introduction. ) Natalie is an adjunct professor at Brookhaven Community College in Dallas and also teaches metal smithing at the University of North Texas. Please check out her website to view her latest work . . . and web designed by Tosca Ragnini. www.natalie.macellaio.net.

We are in trouble

TOSCA wrote:

We are in trouble

We are in trouble.

 

The population of this country is 300 million.

 

160 million are retired.

 

That leaves 140 million to do the work.

 

There are 85 million in school.

 

Which leaves 55 million to do the work.

 

Of this there are 35 million employed by the federal government.

 

Leaving 15 million to do the work.

 

2.8 million are in the armed forces preoccupied with killing Osama Bin-Laden.

 

Which leaves 12.2 million to do the work.

 

Take from that total the 10.8 million people who work for state and city Governments.

 

And that leaves 1.4 million to do the work.

 

At any given time there are 188,000 people in hospitals.

 

Leaving 1,212,000 to do the work.

 

Now, there are 1,211,998 people in prisons.

 

That leaves just two people to do the work.

 

You and me.

 

And there you are,

 

Sitting on your butt,

 

At your computer, reading jokes.

 

Nice. Real nice.

 

One puzzle a year for me!
It's a mindless, brain-dead, hibernation thing to do. Don't we all have something that we want to do that is "nothing to do". What a great outlet, when there are so many inputs to our eyes and ears. Talk about sensory overload!

So I get very excited about allowing myself to "DO NOTHING - while making a puzzle. It is an interesting thing however, as soon as I complete the puzzle, I admire it, and within the shortest period of time, I put it back in the box. . . Mission Accomplished!

I thought about it, and I realized that it is the process that is all the fun, like shopping for something. When the deed is done . . . well, now what???

Well, now I have to go back to thinking about what I SHOULD be doing, and go back to listening and watching all that is around me and the world.

Boy, do I look forward to next January, when I can do another DO NOTHING puzzle again!

Lunch will be served . . .
as soon as the snow thaws.

Yes, you heard it right! I have a new male friend, and his name is the one I talk about all of the time. . . "Charlie Rose". Now, I can really see and hear him on my new extremely large TV. My most amazing children gave me a new TV for Christmas this year. I would like to share my email with you.

"The girls all baked Christmas cookies

While the boys sled down the hills.

I returned home and sprang open the door,

.. . . and what to my wondering eyes should appear,

but a 50" Panasonic television in the corner where

my old television should be.

These children of mine were busy at work

setting up this Christmas gift surprise,

while keeping a secret they all shared.

My heart swells thinking of the kindness

of my amazing and beautiful family.

My friends, allow me to share this with you,

. . . as you are my extended family."

Thank you for 'This Wonderful Life',

I love you all. "

njoy your holiday and have a wonderful new year, tosca

Ring, Ring, Ringing in the NEW YEAR! Congratulations for being around for 2009! Ahh, what will 2009 bring? I believe that this new year will be all about "right sizing". We know that we have gone 'over-board'. Okay, I guess that I really have gone over-board. But now it stops. I am simply staying home, and that is how I have time to type away. . .

I would like to share my word of the year. . . It is 'PRIME'!

Elliott Cook Carter, Jr. is 100 years old. He composed a symphony which James Levine conducted and Daniel Barenboim played the piano at Carnigie Hall this Dec, 2008 on Elliott's 100th birthday. He is an American composer from New York City. He studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris in the 1930s, and then returned to the United States. After a neoclassical phase, he went on to write atonal, rhythmically complex music. His compositions, which have been performed all over the world, include orchestral and chamber music as well as solo instrumental and vocal works.

On the Charlie Rose Show http://www.charlierose.com/, the four of them talked with and about Elliott Carter coming into his PRIME in his older age. Elliot said that some people come into their PRIME at an early age, like Mozart. I, tosca, think that I am going to come into my PRIME in my 60s. . . and perhaps this year.

So here's to being "in my PRIME", this year. What will you notice? Well, I will be better at everything I do. I will move faster, be more intent, be more broadly interested, be more empathetic. . . more in tune, in touch, more alert to everything going on in this world, and more closely connected with my friends and family(if they can stand it).

So this is Prime Time for you and me. Let's njoy. What is your word for the year? What is your new 'mantra'?