None of Your Bee's Wax

Colony Collapse Disorder....apparently a whole lot of bees are dropping dead in the United States. If there aren't any bees to pollinate fruit and vegetable plants we are screwed. Much to the surprise of many New Yorkers, we cannot live on diet coke and survive.

Some possible reasons for bees dropping dead - genetic engineering of plants, pesticides, other weird stuff that sucks.

The United States seems to be going to hell in a handbasket.

And speaking of baseball

We all woke up at the horrific hour of 7 am today (on a Saturday - mama mia!) so that Brian and Ben could go to baseball practice by 8. Ben is playing in the Greenwich Village League this year so he can play with his friends from school. Until now he's always played in the East Village.

At Opening Day for Ben's team last week, I couldn't help noticing how few non- white kids were there. Maybe I'm not being fair - but it appeared that way.

Today after practice we headed back east and rode our bikes along the East River Park. It was a beautiful day today and the breeze off the East River felt good (if that's possible). The park is a long series of playing fields along the river with a broad walkway adjacent to the FDR Drive.

It was Opening Day for OLS (Our Lady of Sorrows Baseball League). There must have been over two hundred boys running around in their adorable little baseball uniforms.

The baseball fields are broken up by several small small soccer fields where guys of just about every nationality were going at it. How interesting it is to see soccer being played really well.

I love my neighborhood and wish it could stay this diverse - but it's not likely.

So where do we go from here?

My Weekend in a Nutshell

The Red Sox and playing the Yankees ALL weekend. My son and husband are already positioned in front of the television.

While I was making dinner, Ben declared "Mom - I'm eating in the living room because I'm not missing one minute of this game."

Eating in the living room is a big no-no in my book.

And yet I am powerless in this situation. No point fighting the inevitable.

Horrible

I am horrified by the news of the shooting spree down at Virginia Tech. 33 dead. Jesus Christ. How is it possible that it happened in two parts? In the morning then two hours later? I guess we'll learn more as it happens.

I can only imagine the nightmare the parents of those dead kids are living in right now. It's all too much.

I'm not letting Ben out of his room until he's thirty. If you're not safe in the Virginia countryside then where are you safe?

Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes

For reasons that I cannot explain, I am obsessed with the idea of making Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes. Just look at the picture! If that isn't proof of God - what is?

East Village Church Bells

It's the evening before Easter and church bells are ringing all over the East Village...at least those churches that have not yet been converted into apartments.

If you stand in the courtyard of my building facing north, you see the back of a Russian Orthodox church. Half of the wall is made up of ornate stained glass panels with a bell tower on top. During evening mass (which is rare), you can stand in my courtyard and look up at the brilliant stained glass brought to life by warm lights behind it.

Those bells are ringing right now.

Down the street, at Most Holy Redeemer Church I can hear their bells ringing. My parents were married there 55 years ago. Both churches keep their doors locked unless mass is being celebrated.

My son was baptised by my uncle, a Salesian priest, at Mary Help the Christians Church on 12th Street - just a few blocks away. The inside of that church is beautiful. Figures of saints are encased high above your head in a semi circle around the church that ends on either side of the alter. I've heard that church will be closing soon.

These celebrations are coming to an end in this neighborhood.

East Village Church Bells

It's the evening before Easter and church bells are ringing all over the East Village...at least those churches that have not yet been converted into apartments.

If you stand in the courtyard of my building facing north, you see the back of a Russian Orthodox church. Half of the wall is made up of ornate stained glass panels with a bell tower on top. During evening mass (which is rare), you can stand in my courtyard and look up at the brilliant stained glass brought to life by warm lights behind it.

Those bells are ringing right now.

Down the street, at Most Holy Redeemer Church I can hear their bells ringing. My parents were married there 55 years ago. Both churches keep their doors locked unless mass is being celebrated.

My son was baptised by my uncle, a Salesian priest, at Mary Help the Christians Church on 12th Street - just a few blocks away. The inside of that church is beautiful. Figures of saints are encased high above your head in a semi circle around the church that ends on either side of the alter. I've heard that church will be closing soon.

These celebrations are coming to an end in this neighborhood.

My 4 Year Old Nephew, Spider Man

Brian: Tommy, stand away from the TV. You don't want to get exposed to too much radiation.

Tommy: Don't worry Uncle Brian. I have radioactive blood.