Congratulations to Alberto, Carlos, Ryan, Brian, Misra, Alejandra, Danielle, Richard, and many other friends and supporters!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
THE HOUSE OF SPOOF--An Artists' Collective in the Bronx
Congratulations to Alberto, Carlos, Ryan, Brian, Misra, Alejandra, Danielle, Richard, and many other friends and supporters!
Monday, August 15, 2011
GIVE BLOOD...IT WAS MEANT TO CIRCULATE!
I have a thing about donating blood...it makes me feel very powerful, like a secret Superman who works anonymously to save the lives of strangers! I've been donating blood since I turned 18, and since 1980 in addition to donating whole blood, I've been giving platelets--tiny disc-shaped bits in the blood that are necessary for clotting.
Who needs platelets? Mostly, it's cancer patients whose disease or medication has lowered their own production of platelets.
What happens if you don't have enough? You start bleeding easily--from the nose, from your mouth, even internally. But platelets are team players--and they work together to stop the bleeding whenever it starts.
You can only give whole blood once every two months, because that's how long it takes for the red cells in your blood to regenerate to full power. But platelets are constantly replacing themselves, and in the past I've given as often as twice in a week.
I'm mentioning this because yesterday I gave platelets at the New York Blood Center on East 67th St. It took about 2 hours because the Center only sticks you in one arm. (At Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, they use both arms and it takes about 1 1/4 hours. This was easier because you can change the TV channel or scratch your nose if you need to.
If you're in good health and you're over 17, please consider giving blood ASAP. There are patients who can't wait--people who need your blood to live another day. Be your own Superhero!
Who needs platelets? Mostly, it's cancer patients whose disease or medication has lowered their own production of platelets.
What happens if you don't have enough? You start bleeding easily--from the nose, from your mouth, even internally. But platelets are team players--and they work together to stop the bleeding whenever it starts.
You can only give whole blood once every two months, because that's how long it takes for the red cells in your blood to regenerate to full power. But platelets are constantly replacing themselves, and in the past I've given as often as twice in a week.
I'm mentioning this because yesterday I gave platelets at the New York Blood Center on East 67th St. It took about 2 hours because the Center only sticks you in one arm. (At Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, they use both arms and it takes about 1 1/4 hours. This was easier because you can change the TV channel or scratch your nose if you need to.
If you're in good health and you're over 17, please consider giving blood ASAP. There are patients who can't wait--people who need your blood to live another day. Be your own Superhero!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Writing Military-Themed Books for Children...How Did THAT Happen?
Last night, I submitted the draft manuscript of my children's book on MILITARY SUBMARINES to my editor at Capstone, along with a proposed outline for my book on MILITARY FIGHTER PLANES. These will be my 8th and 9th books for young people, and my 6th and 7th books on military vehicles. How did that happen, considering I have never served in the military and have no particular expertise in this area?
The answer is, research, and writing what you want to know, not just what you know. I know a lot, but there is so much I don't know. So when my editor came to me after I'd finished my first books, on Magnets and Electricity, and asked me to write for her series on Military Vehicles for K-1 age kids, I said, "Sure!" I got to choose among the first six subjects, and I picked Military Robots, Military Ships, and Military Amphibious Vehicles.
I already had a strong interest in robots, after working with the East Harlem Tutorial Program's robotics team for the past 5 years. I started out interested mostly in the technology but quickly discovered how great it is for soldiers to use robots for dangerous jobs. Since I want every soldier and sailor, every Marine and pilot, to come home safely, I liked the idea of developing unmanned vehicles from tanks to planes to help the armed forces protect this country.
I picked ships because I love the water, and I am lucky enough to live in New York City, where the Navy and Marines celebrate Fleet Week every year. So I thought, I would enjoy learning and writing about all the different Navy ships.
Finally, I picked Amphibious Vehicles because I liked the idea of ships and boats that could also operate on land. I discovered that they are even cooler than I originally thought they might be. This is primarily because of the Amphibious Transport Dock. I had the pleasure of spending most of a day this spring with the crew of the USS New York, a ship close to the hearts of all New Yorkers because its hull contains more than seven tons of steel from the World Trade Center. Aboard the New York, I was able to see first hand how the Docking Well inside the ship held smaller boats that could take Marines and sailors ashore, from the ocean to the beach. I especially liked the LCAC--Landing Craft Air cushioned--a hovercraft that carried equipment and crew ashore.
This summer, I'm working on books for older kids about Military Vehicles--the Blazers program, which appeals to 3rd through 9th graders who are reading below grade level but still like exciting books. I tackled Military Robots again, and also covered Military Warships before working on Subs and Fighter Planes.
Writing the submarine book made me really want to go up to New London, Connecticut to the Nautilus Museum. When I was a teen, I read a thrilling book called WE WERE THERE ON THE NAUTILUS. It was about two young Navy men who were lucky enough to go on the North Pole mission of the Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine. Ever since then, I've been fascinated by submarines and wondered what it would be like to live on one for weeks at a time.
Stay tuned for more updates about these books and more!
The answer is, research, and writing what you want to know, not just what you know. I know a lot, but there is so much I don't know. So when my editor came to me after I'd finished my first books, on Magnets and Electricity, and asked me to write for her series on Military Vehicles for K-1 age kids, I said, "Sure!" I got to choose among the first six subjects, and I picked Military Robots, Military Ships, and Military Amphibious Vehicles.
I already had a strong interest in robots, after working with the East Harlem Tutorial Program's robotics team for the past 5 years. I started out interested mostly in the technology but quickly discovered how great it is for soldiers to use robots for dangerous jobs. Since I want every soldier and sailor, every Marine and pilot, to come home safely, I liked the idea of developing unmanned vehicles from tanks to planes to help the armed forces protect this country.
I picked ships because I love the water, and I am lucky enough to live in New York City, where the Navy and Marines celebrate Fleet Week every year. So I thought, I would enjoy learning and writing about all the different Navy ships.
Finally, I picked Amphibious Vehicles because I liked the idea of ships and boats that could also operate on land. I discovered that they are even cooler than I originally thought they might be. This is primarily because of the Amphibious Transport Dock. I had the pleasure of spending most of a day this spring with the crew of the USS New York, a ship close to the hearts of all New Yorkers because its hull contains more than seven tons of steel from the World Trade Center. Aboard the New York, I was able to see first hand how the Docking Well inside the ship held smaller boats that could take Marines and sailors ashore, from the ocean to the beach. I especially liked the LCAC--Landing Craft Air cushioned--a hovercraft that carried equipment and crew ashore.
This summer, I'm working on books for older kids about Military Vehicles--the Blazers program, which appeals to 3rd through 9th graders who are reading below grade level but still like exciting books. I tackled Military Robots again, and also covered Military Warships before working on Subs and Fighter Planes.
Writing the submarine book made me really want to go up to New London, Connecticut to the Nautilus Museum. When I was a teen, I read a thrilling book called WE WERE THERE ON THE NAUTILUS. It was about two young Navy men who were lucky enough to go on the North Pole mission of the Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine. Ever since then, I've been fascinated by submarines and wondered what it would be like to live on one for weeks at a time.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Celebrating the City on a 4-Borough Day!!!
I'm a big fan of the Unlimited Metrocard, especially on days like this past Sunday (I'm playing catch up tonight, posting the last few days...)
My friend Vernon and I decided to visit some new neighborhoods for us, and so we set off...taking the 6 train up to Parkchester, with our goal Whitestone, Queens. (It's supposedly the best way to get there...so Manhattan to the Bronx...first leg of our day!
Then we hopped on the Q 44 LTD, which took us over the Whitestone Bridge and into the town itself. We walked around the area, which appears to be home to a large Greek population--we saw a beautiful Green Orthodox Church, a Russian Orthodox church with the onion tops, and lots of Greek restaurants and stores. (We found ourselves quoting from My Big Fat Greek Wedding...).
We thought about lunch, and we decided to head for Flushing's Chinatown--but how could we get there? Vernon remembered reading something about a bus, and he was right. (Thank you, MTA Trip Planner and my trusty iPhone!) We took the Q15 right to Main Street Flushing, and after a quick and slightly disappointing stop at the New World Mall for chicken wings, we dined at Spicy and Tasty on a side street. The restaurant is highly recommended, but we felt it had been oversold. The dan-dan noodles were just okay, the Double Sauteed Pork was a bit fatty (although the sauteed scallions were scrumptious), the dumplings were ordinary, and the broccoli with spicy chili peppers was not very spicy and a little too al dente. No matter...we had dessert to look forward to...and a trip to another borough!
We took the 7 and connected with the G, which took us near enough to Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, to get ice cream at Blue Marble. Yum!
Then, home to Manhattan...alas, no time to hit Staten Island and make it a 5-borough adventure...I was volunteering that night on the Audubon eco-cruise...Maybe next time!
My friend Vernon and I decided to visit some new neighborhoods for us, and so we set off...taking the 6 train up to Parkchester, with our goal Whitestone, Queens. (It's supposedly the best way to get there...so Manhattan to the Bronx...first leg of our day!
Then we hopped on the Q 44 LTD, which took us over the Whitestone Bridge and into the town itself. We walked around the area, which appears to be home to a large Greek population--we saw a beautiful Green Orthodox Church, a Russian Orthodox church with the onion tops, and lots of Greek restaurants and stores. (We found ourselves quoting from My Big Fat Greek Wedding...).
We thought about lunch, and we decided to head for Flushing's Chinatown--but how could we get there? Vernon remembered reading something about a bus, and he was right. (Thank you, MTA Trip Planner and my trusty iPhone!) We took the Q15 right to Main Street Flushing, and after a quick and slightly disappointing stop at the New World Mall for chicken wings, we dined at Spicy and Tasty on a side street. The restaurant is highly recommended, but we felt it had been oversold. The dan-dan noodles were just okay, the Double Sauteed Pork was a bit fatty (although the sauteed scallions were scrumptious), the dumplings were ordinary, and the broccoli with spicy chili peppers was not very spicy and a little too al dente. No matter...we had dessert to look forward to...and a trip to another borough!
We took the 7 and connected with the G, which took us near enough to Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, to get ice cream at Blue Marble. Yum!
Then, home to Manhattan...alas, no time to hit Staten Island and make it a 5-borough adventure...I was volunteering that night on the Audubon eco-cruise...Maybe next time!
CITY OF WATER DAY 2011...a Celebration of New York Harbor!
This year's event began with a crowd of water lovers boarding the Circle Line boat Brooklyn at Pier 83, with Don Riepe of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and American Littoral Society providing commentary.
We motored down the West Side, enjoying great views of Ellis Island, the piers of the West Side of Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty (of course!), and finally under the Verrazano Bridge.
We didn't have much time to visit Swinburne Island but we got some good looks at Hoffman Island, which appeared to have dozens of great egrets perched in the island's trees!
We sailed back to Governor's Island and docked at Yankee Pier...
Lots of interesting groups at tables...my favorite was the National Lighthouse Museum, which is hoping to open in 2012 in Staten Island.
Best part of the day for me: I won a sailing trip with the Offshore Sailing Club in a 26 foot sailboat...and actually steered the boat in the middle of the harbor between the island and the Maritime Terminal...completely exciting and really beautiful! This is over by the Verrazano--I wasn't...but I was too excited to take a photo!
A fantastic celebration of the City of Water...can't wait til next year!
Monday, July 18, 2011
UPDATE: IT WAS A BRANT, NOT A GREBE...the tiny cranium and backbone
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
EAST RIVER FERRY--A FANTASTIC WAY TO SEE NEW YORK!
It's free for the first 2 weeks, until June 24, and it runs from 34th Street on the East River to Hunters Point/Long Island City, Greenpoint, North Williamsburg, South Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bridge/DUMBO, and Pier 11/Wall Street. I rode two full loops today under threatening skies but it only rained a bit toward the very end of the 2nd trip.
These are color photos, which is really interesting...
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