Words do matter, in my view.

By Penny Parker

Mark & I went to a Matt & Kim concert the other night. Fun music by a couple of young energetic entertainers! Yet, to quote Matt: "Kim has the mouth of a 60 year old sailor and the body of a 15 year old boy." I'm not concerned with the latter but I am with the former. 

I have been to quite a lot of concerts in my life and yet, no performer came close to using the foul language that came out of Kim's mouth. Truthfully though I would have just forgotten about it except for one thing. This was an all ages show. There were a couple of young boys standing near us. A dad had his little boy on his shoulders. There were quite a number of people who were under 18 and many between 18-21.

My opinion is that this behavior shows a complete lack of respect for your fans. I didn't pay money to listen to a rude performer who can't control herself. Or worse yet, who doesn't care to. She made mention at one point of how she wasn't going to swear again for the rest of the show, and then she proceeded to just do it more.

We brought up our sons to not use bad language. Not that we never curse, not that they never curse. It is just common courtesy to be respectful of when and where you do. It also just makes you sound common and ignorant if every other word from your mouth might make your grandmother's hair curl.

So that's my two cents. It's been bothering me for two days now and I had to get it off of my chest.

Happy Birthday Mom!

March 21, 1925 my mother was born in Newton MA. In Thompsonville to be exact. March 21, 2011, I wish her a very Happy 86th birthday! 

I found this photo recently in a box of my grandmother's photos. I had been through this box many times before but this photo was tucked away. It is my mom with her brother Frank. I don't know what year it was snapped but my they look like teenagers.

Weathered Sol

Weathered Sol is a blues band and our nephew Dave plays harmonica, guitar and keyboards.

As Mark said "If you like the blues, you will love Weathered Sol. If you don't like the blues, you will after you hear Weathered Sol!"

Check them out:

Weathered Sol - Live

Sugar Shack, Highlands

Saturday, April 02, 2011 10:00 PM

On The Deck, Atlantic Highlands

Thursday, April 21, 2011 9:00 PM

Sugar Shack, Highlands

Friday, May 06, 2011 10:00 PM

On The Deck, Atlantic Highlands

Thursday, May 19, 2011 9:00 PM

On The Deck, Atlantic Highlands

Thursday, June 16, 2011 9:00 PM

Windansea Tiki Bar, Highlands

Sunday, June 19, 2011 4:00 PM

On The Deck, Atlantic Highlands

Saturday, July 09, 2011 9:00 PM

Sugar Shack, Highlands

Thursday, July 14, 2011 10:00 PM

On The Deck, Atlantic Highlands

Thursday, August 18, 2011 9:00 PM

Sugar Shack, Highlands

Thursday, August 25, 2011 10:00 PM

Jane Eyre

I am very excited to see the new Jane Eyre movie tonight! Jane Eyre movie The Asbury Park Film Initiative is having a free preview showing and afterwards a little St. Patrick's Day celebrating should be in order! Asbury Park Film Initiative

I have loved the story of Jane Eyre for as long as I can remember, really. I had a toy that played records on top of a small TV, which played the slides to go along with the story. Mine didn't look quite like this one but you can get the idea. Show & Tell Toy

I had three records and slides; that I can remember anyway, Jane Eyre, the Count of Monte Cristo and one about herbivores and omnivores! :D I also love the Count of Monte Cristo, especially the version with Richard Chamberlain!  Both wonderful books, which I read when I was older. Count of Monte Cristo

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

LOVE concert program

LOVE

Program

excerpts from

Liebeslieder Waltzes (Op.52) – Johannes Brahms

8. Wenn so lind dein Auge mir

9. Am Donaustrande

10. O wie sanft die Quelle sich

11. Nein, es ist nichts auszukommen

12. Schlosser auf!

13. Voegelein durchrauscht die Luft

14. Sieh, wie ist die Welle klar

15. Nachtigall, sie singt so schoen

16. Ein dunkeler Schacht

Come Again, sweet love doth now invite – John Dowland

Il bianco e dolce cigno – Jacques Arcadelt

Arise My Love - Blake Henson

If Music Be the Food of Love – David Dickau

INTERMISSION

Erev Shel Shoshanim – Josef Hadar, arr. Jack Klebano

Red, Red Rose – James Mulholland

Shoshone Love Song – Roger Emerson

Five Hebrew Love Songs - Eric Whitacre

I. Temuná

II. Kalá kallá

III. Lárov

IV. Éyze shéleg!

V. Rakút

Love Walked In – George Gershwin, arr. Steve Zegree

The Way You Look Tonight – Jerome Kern, arr. Julie Knowles

The Lighthearted Lovers – Kirke Mechem

Love - a NJCS concert

Deal? For Real? A Steal? (your Heart♥)

Thanks to all of you who have supported NJ Chamber Singers as our concert guests and/or with your generous donations!

We would LOVE to invite you to our upcoming concerts in early April and offer you

2 for 1 ticket prices if you reserve with ME before March 21.

I have tickets in hand and must turn in your checks by March 28! So reply to me now!

♥

LOVE

A New Jersey Chamber Singers Concert

Christ Episcopal Church, 415 Washington St., Toms River, NJ

Sat, April 2, 8PM

Christ Church, 380 Sycamore Ave., Shrewsbury, NJ

Sun, April 3, 4PM
United Methodist Church, 247 Broad St., Red Bank, NJ

Sat, April 9, 8PM

West Grove United Methodist Church, 102 Walnut St., Neptune, NJ

Sat, April 16, 8PM

The DOOR admission will be: Adults $20, Seniors $18, Students $5

Love has entranced the human mind since the beginning of time. Come hear the music inspired by the feelings of being infatuated and head-over-heels in love.

Our program will feature selections from Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes in addition to classic love songs and jazz standards.

We also have, in progress, a $ for $ matching grant fund raiser, 

which now stands at $3500. 

 Breaking news: the patron donors have agreed to DOUBLE their match – 

$2 for every $1 we can raise from now to April 1! 

Please place ticket orders with me. Checks payable to NJCS. 

Please designate "Tickets" or "Matching Grant" in memo. 

You may mail checks for ticket orders & donations to: 

New Jersey Chamber Singers, PO Box 8536, Red Bank, NJ 07701

Yours in song,

Cindy Allen

Cute video

Amber is the daughter of a friend. She writes her own songs, plays out and is making a CD. 

Check out her video!

Say You'll Be Mine

Irish Soda Bread & EVOO

I am not Irish (not a bit, except by marriage,) but I know that for St. Patrick's Day everyone is Irish! :D I always buy those little Irish Potato Candy's at this time of year; Sean is a fan. We went to the Belmar Parade last year and it was crazy out there! This year we may try Keyport's parade. I don't eat meat, but I will have to cook up that lovely aromatic Corned Beef and Cabbage for the day. I actually do like the vegetables!

And so the Irish Soda Bread. I don't like it when it is more like Irish Soda Cake. I like it Bready. But not dry. But I don't like butter and I know the way to eat it is toasted or untoasted but WITH BUTTER! But I don't like butter; but I repeat myself. SOOO...

The other day I thought, why not toast it and put Olive Oil on it? But not just any Olive Oil, Blood Orange Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Wow.

SO SCRUMPTIOUS!!! I am now addicted!

You may notice my capitals when typing out Olive Oil. It is that important to me. OLIVE OIL. EVOO! Flavored EVOO??? Supreme, enjoy!

GlamLatte giveaway!

Yay! Liquid Silver Giveaway!

Strawberry Love

Mark had a nifty idea. Post photos of my strawberry treasures and tell where they came from and what they mean to me.
Our younger son Sean made this little guy for me out of foam clay about 5-6 years ago! He sits on top of my computer monitor and watches over me. He means my son loves me, knows what I like and wants me to have things around to remind me of him. ♥

Ash Wednesday

Father said don't give up candy for Lent; eat all the candy you want during Lent. Instead, if you have been away from the church, then come back. Get to church on Sunday. God throws a big party at every Mass and he brings us all gifts. If we don't show up at the party, how can we receive our gifts?

Martedi Grasso!

One day I will be in Italy for Martedi Grasso!!!

Italy

http://www.prontohotel.com/blog/venice-carnival-festival-2011.html 

Carnevale is the traditional pre-Lenten celebration in Italy. Carnevale was Mardi Gras predecessor. The French borrowed this idea and made it popular. This is a time of merry-making, masquerade processions, masked balls, parades, pageants, jugglers, magicians, stilt walkers, elegant costumes and opulent masks, singing and dancing, fireworks, and outdoor feasts in the weeks prior to Ash Wednesday. The festivities of the last days of carnevale are the most intense as they culminate on Martedí Grasso (Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday). There are traditional foods and dolci (sweets) distinctively associated with carnevale, including fritelle, crespelle, sfingi, castagnole, cenci, nodi, chiacchere, bugie, galani, fritole, berlingaccio, sanguinaccio and tortelli, among others.

In Milan Mardi Gras is not the climax of Carnival, since the Carnival lasts four more days, ending on the Saturday after Ash Wednesday, because of the Ambrosian Rite. The last day of Carnival, therefore, is the "Sabato grasso" (Shrove or Fat Saturday).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardi_Gras 

I love movies.

I know, not that unusual, lots of people love movies. I read an interesting bit of info today though, about the first movies.The Lumiere Brothers had a public show in France in 1895. They astounded the audience with their new moving pictures. They were each only 50 seconds long and only one was fictional. The Sprinkler.

The first movies.

The two most interesting parts to me were the clothes and the father feeding the baby. In one short almost all of them men had the same straw hat on! And my idea of a father in 1895 was not of one feeding their baby. It was very sweet!

Tell me your thoughts!

You have to start somewhere...

I am giving in to the pressure and I started a blog. I protested because I am not a writer!!! So I am NOT going to write! But I did start my blog and here it is!
If you know me, you would realize it would HAVE to be called strawberries, if you don't know me, well, take my word for it.
First strawberry:
Things my husband, Mark, hereby known as Mark on this blog, says are too much work to eat:
Lobster and crab legs. Can you believe it???
Things Mark says he will never eat (and I believe him):
Calamari, scungilli, and many other wonderful squirmy delicious delicacies from the ocean!
See, I am not  a writer and I am not going to write anything!