Othello by William Shakespeare

by Carol2 Comments
David, Amber, my mom and I saw Othello performed at the O'Reilly Theater in Pittsburgh this past Saturday. I really enjoyed the performance, and the play. Watching the play live, being performed by quality actors, including  Jeremy Kushnier, who's Iago was creepy and conniving and just outstanding, is so entirely different from reading the words. Kushnier really was the star of the  show. Amber wanted to know why, if Iago is one of the best fictional villains, she's never heard of him. My response was, she's 15, there are probably many things she hasn't heard of. The play was performed on a small square stage with a minimalist setting that allowed me, at least, to concentrate on the story being presented. The play is definitely for adults - full of racism, sex and violence, but it's entertaining and easy to follow. I asked Amber if she understood it and she said that she had been a little worried beforehand but when she got into...
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The Dentist from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

by Carol3 Comments
I had to take Amber to the dentist one day last month and The Dentist from the Black Lagoon was sitting on the table in the waiting room. I picked it up and read it of course, because it's a book and it was sitting there. It's the tried and true Black Lagoon formula. The dentist is coming to school and of course Hubie imagines all sort of horrors, but it all turns out good in the end. All the dental words - caps, crowns, bridges, etc. - make for some amusing illustrations that are fun, colorful and busy. This is not one I would go out and buy, even if I did have a kid the appropriate age, but I would pick it up from the library, especially if I had a child who was leery about going to the dentist....
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Zelinda and the Monster

by Carol2 Comments
Today's tale, "Zelinda and the Monster," comes from Italy and was retold in Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane, published 1885. I was kind of surprised that I actually found a "Z" fairy tale. It's a variation of "Beauty and the Beast." Zelinda is the youngest daughter of a poor man. I like when fairy tale characters have actual names, rather than being referred to as the princess or the youngest. Zelinda is of course lovely and kind and her two older sisters were jealous of her, but of course she is her father's favorite. The father has to go to the market in a neighboring town and offers to bring back gifts for his daughters. He easily purchases a dress for one and a shawl for the other, but can't find the rose Zelinda requested. On the way home, the father passes a garden with a partially open gate. He quietly enters and sees a gorgeous rosebush, but there is...
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Yummy

by Carol9 Comments
I am not much of a baker. Cookies are usually about it and they come from those frozen tubs of cookie dough, which is why I was pretty proud of this cake I made for David's birthday. The cake is chocolate, the frosting peanut butter and then a chocolate glaze and candies on top. YUM! I followed the recipe at Blahnik Baker, but used a box mix for the cake. It tunred out quite delicious. I may have to actually make a cake again sometime. This is my Y post in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge....
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Readers’ Workouts – 4/28/15

by Carol2 Comments
So, here are my steps for the week. You may notice Monday is missing. I was feeling quite up to par yesterday and apparently didn't sync my fitbit after Sunday evening. I think I only made it about halfway to my goal yesterday though. The last time I looked at it I only had almost 3 dots. And apparently I forgot to put it back on after my shower this morning. I hate when that happens. And here's my current workout plan. I just finished week 14. Tuesday - 5 mile run on the treadmill. 20 minutes of arm machines. Wednesday - 30 minutes of weights at home Thursday - 60 minutes on the elliptical, but I had to break it into to times because of my schedule Friday - 3 mile run on the treadmill Sunday - 9 mile run on trails at Raccoon Creek Park. It was supposed to be 12, but those hills are really steep. I almost always listen to audiobooks while I'm walking and running....
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