tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34917991936724970272012-02-16T03:40:26.855-05:00a writer's outletLoren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.comBlogger5851100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-6884160151272602282012-02-10T21:31:00.001-05:002012-02-10T21:32:35.064-05:00

I started writing for the Southampton Press, Western Edition, this Thursday... Check out this weekly here: http://www.27east.com/ My first day started with stumbling on a raging house fire after lunch. You might say it was a "Baptism by fire."

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-45987822846443511732012-02-04T10:07:00.005-05:002012-02-04T12:04:14.954-05:00

 My youngest child seems to have been born cool. He was an average size baby at 7lbs, 4 oz., appearing with a tuft of reddish-blond hair that made him resemble an old statesman. Everyone had an opinion about who he looked like. My paternal grandmother took one glance and declared him a Fraser. In the nursery, he lay serene and alert among a colony of screaming newborns. The nurses styled his

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-67600421135677696602012-02-04T08:26:00.005-05:002012-02-04T21:31:36.508-05:00

"Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) today expressed deep disappointment in response to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation’s decision to stop funding breast cancer prevention, screenings, and education at Planned Parenthood health centers.  Anti-women’s health groups repeatedly have targeted and boycotted the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation for partnering with Planned

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-46214798587016322652012-01-24T22:26:00.011-05:002012-01-24T23:08:05.230-05:00

I admit that when it came time to pick a confirmation name I didn't really understand the significance of choosing a saint role-model for life. It's rare to find a Catholic teenager who grasps the importance of confirmation as a sacrament. I picked the name of one of my paternal great grandmothers- Frances-otherwise known as Nana- and I remember how scared I was (at 16 years-old) standing on

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-20481767889467826352012-01-13T19:01:00.002-05:002012-01-13T19:06:12.591-05:00

 I love meatballs and pasta   Eating a dish of spaghetti and meatballs is one of life's simple pleasures. This is probably my favorite dinner and there is absolutely nothing fancy about it. My grandmother gave me the meatball recipe. Add a salad and loaf of bread and I'm so happy. This is the first dish I'm teaching my kids to cook. I think they need to know how to make meatballs and cook

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-48713193171262194602012-01-11T20:52:00.005-05:002012-01-11T21:54:40.936-05:00

 I wrote a story about Brooke and her classmates last year for Islip Bulletin. She is a student where I graduated high school who single-handedly started a movement to end bullying and spread compassion. What an amazing girl, maybe even a modern-day saint. Watch her video - Here is my article from February 24, 2011: IB 02-24-11 5 (function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script");

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-53243779151278137742012-01-10T21:55:00.000-05:002012-01-10T21:55:48.030-05:00

If you like old houses look here- http://historichouses.wordpress.com/

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-60343865400055251972012-01-09T17:15:00.015-05:002012-01-09T22:10:42.516-05:00

This past summer I felt like a rock climber who suddenly lost her footing. Up until that point, I was overwhelmed by what life was throwing at me, feeling more and more hurt by a sense of abandonment from a God I usually had a knack for seeing everywhere. One personal crisis after another piled up until the pressure was unbelievable. In the wake of it all, I began having trouble getting myself 

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-34989305245095030302012-01-05T20:29:00.006-05:002012-01-05T21:03:20.109-05:00

The week I was born Elton John's version of John Lennon's Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was still number 1 on the Pop Charts. I found this version of Elton John performing on the Sonny and Cher Show. It reminded me of when I was about 3 years-old and I lived in an apartment in Bayport with my parents. I used to stay up and watch the Sonny and Cher Show with my mother when my dad worked late.

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-38976531621816367062012-01-02T19:30:00.005-05:002012-01-02T19:45:28.570-05:00

 The Mayflower is a collection of poetry and prose that was compiled and edited by Elizabeth Oakes Smith in 1848. I was lucky enough to get a copy of the original book, and being an antique book lover, I was pretty excited about that. There is nothing like reading a book that's over 150 years old in your sweats with your cat on your lap. That's my idea of relaxing. Norman Whiskers has

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-67914628348813290132012-01-01T09:27:00.001-05:002012-01-01T17:30:24.009-05:00

Prep time is 30 minutes/Bake time is 45 minutes. I think this recipe comes from Rachel Ray magazine, but I've had it so long I'm not sure. I made this dish for my husband's nephew Taylor. He was in town for the holidays from North Carolina. Taylor is a very inspirational guy; he has battled a heart condition his whole life and is in the best shape ever since becoming a vegan. We're so proud of

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-35644485429000023582012-01-01T01:13:00.004-05:002012-01-01T01:13:01.958-05:00

My idea of porn is an image of my husband being handy and I'm making a calendar for myself. January- I almost passed out from excitement when I came home from work to find him fixing the laundry room wall. Click on the label "porn calendar" below to see other months.

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-52328901153623244942011-12-31T19:07:00.000-05:002011-12-31T19:07:01.455-05:00

After making about 30 I got tired and so my brother took over the cooking and I sat there eating them and watching. We used corn oil tonight, which seems to be a healthier choice that does not change the taste. Happy New Year!

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-63480272056096739322011-12-28T14:11:00.000-05:002011-12-28T14:11:24.638-05:00

New Year's Eve pizzas are a family tradition from my Italian maternal grandfather. I've been making them for my family for the past 12 years. I usually make about 60 of these using about 10 lbs of pizza dough for friends and family. This year I split it up into two smaller batches. I made one tonight and I'll make the second over the weekend. Click here for last year's post. Here is the year

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-24731224561999184032011-12-15T21:18:00.014-05:002012-01-09T11:24:17.102-05:00

I just found out that the end of the world is December 21, 2012. A USA TODAY article states that scientists deciphered the doom message from a stone sticky note left behind by the long-extinct ancient Mayans. The good news is that it doesn’t look like national or local officials are too upset about it. I guess Armageddon is not expected to be as catastrophic as Tropical Storm Irene. In fact,

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-47240026074991985952011-12-14T20:10:00.000-05:002011-12-14T20:10:07.830-05:00

My brother's band recently at JD's Place in Farmingdale, NY.

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-88299039241201002832011-12-14T18:13:00.005-05:002011-12-14T18:42:08.539-05:00

I never go shopping on Black Friday because I refuse to join a frantic mob of any kind, especially in the name of Christmas. This year, rather than participate in retail madness, I decided to visit the grounds of a condemned asylum- which was much more peaceful in an unsettling sort of way. The Kings County Asylum, located on St. Johnland Road in Kings Park, New York, has a very interesting

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-45811757868201574272011-12-11T14:24:00.002-05:002011-12-11T14:29:20.737-05:00

My idea of porn is an image of my husband being handy and I'm making a calendar for myself. Here are the December pics- Omg, I love when he climbs on the roof.

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-31776220638069307622011-12-09T16:17:00.005-05:002011-12-14T19:01:38.972-05:00

Imagine you blow your nose and someone puts a plastic face on the tissue and sells it as a toy. The next thing you know, your 6 year-old daughter wants one for Christmas. This year, the “elves” (toy manufacturers located somewhere in China) are laughing their Kachooz off at American parents. What’s a Kachooz, you ask? That’s the name of a new species of dysfunctional pencil toppers, described

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-34017916951085600032011-12-07T18:46:00.005-05:002011-12-07T19:34:44.813-05:00

Lasagna is comfort food, as far as I'm concerned. A good version has homemade sauce, fresh, real mozzarella in water- not refrigerated- and fresh ricotta. I'm spoiled enough to be able to get that stuff from Del Fiore's Italian Pork Store down the road.  Sometimes I actually make homemade sauce. I like to add a vegetable to the layers of pasta. Tonight it was sliced mushrooms and diced broccoli.

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-38315703309654313742011-12-01T21:53:00.002-05:002011-12-02T16:05:07.516-05:00

Civil War Women has biographical information for Elizabeth Oakes Smith and several other interesting people. Check it out.

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-57910198435779608712011-11-27T19:47:00.001-05:002011-11-27T19:57:09.879-05:00

This recipe comes from Rachel Ray's magazine. It serves 6 and is soooo good. Pour the whole thing into a bread bowl and you have a beautiful appetizer to serve or bring over a friend's house.  add ingredients to skillet  Finally, a reason to use the broiler  Ingredients:  a bag of fresh spinach, chopped. 2 tbs. butter 2 cloves of garlic, mincedhalf of a small onion, finely chopped

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-55430072204763842572011-11-24T11:28:00.002-05:002011-11-24T13:28:14.017-05:00

If you have five hours and a spring pan, this cheese cake is totally worth the effort. Ingredients: four packages of cream cheese 1lb of sour cream 1 1/2 cup of sugar 5 eggs 1tbsp vanilla extract 2 tbsps cornstarch Directions: Take the cream cheese and eggs out of the refrigerator and let them sit on the counter for three hours. (Let them soften, but not so much that they grow legs and

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-47748226174262350792011-11-24T11:11:00.000-05:002011-11-24T11:11:16.712-05:00

How come my strawberry mice don't look like the picture in the book?! Strawberry Mice and Pilgrim Hats Let the blog record show what I go through in my attempt to be a fun mommy. I admit, my version of Strawberry Mice and Pilgrim Hats is not as visually appealing as the picture in the cookbook, but people don't care when the food involves strawberries, marshmallows and chocolate. I'm prepared

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-31425860947560784502011-11-23T23:52:00.006-05:002011-12-07T19:09:41.516-05:00

I sat riveted to The Muppet Show show dressed in my red feety pajamas 32 years ago in a yellowish-orange upholstered rocking chair situated in the corner of my parent's red-carpeted living room. It was the last year of the 1970's and everything about it was colorful to a four year-old. Jimmy Carter was President, but more importantly, he was the horrible man who sometimes interrupted the

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-49194294835307465092011-11-23T22:28:00.001-05:002011-11-23T22:30:04.529-05:00

Sourdough Stuffing With Roasted Chestnuts and ApplesPart 2: Making the Stuffing Sourdough Stuffing With Roasted Chestnuts and Apples I started making this recipe last week by roasting the chestnuts and freezing them, since that took about an hour. Here is the rest of the recipe for the stuffing which comes from The New Thanksgiving Table by Diane Morgan. I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving Day

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-75780306699206518612011-11-19T19:03:00.004-05:002011-11-19T19:16:18.242-05:00

 Minestrone is a traditional Italian soup that can be prepared in a variety of ways. The title comes from minestra, the Italian word for soup, and basically means "one big soup." This recipe is adapted from one listed on the Food Network website. It is vegetarian, utilizing the fresh vegetable stock I made a few days ago. What I like most about this recipe is that it can be made in the

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-84128226789358562082011-11-16T20:24:00.007-05:002011-11-19T19:20:53.020-05:00

Part 1: Roasting the Chestnuts This Sourdough Stuffing With Roasted Chestnuts and Apples recipe is literally taking me a week to make, so it better be good. It comes from The New Thanksgiving Table by Diane Morgan. This week I'll show you how to prepare the chestnuts for the stuffing in this post, and next week I'll write out the rest of the recipe in a post labeled Part 2. I have to admit

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-11067051313871706772011-11-12T09:57:00.002-05:002011-11-19T19:07:23.839-05:00

I have an interest in soup. I consider it one of those healing foods, like herbal tea- another one of my favorites. The thing about soup and tea for that matter, is that it always improves me whether I'm already feeling well or not. Canned soups are just not as good as homemade. They have more salt, and those that are low-sodium taste like cardboard. They don't provide the nutrients that fresh

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-28179694067198829172011-11-10T21:00:00.016-05:002011-12-01T21:24:33.152-05:00

"Yesterday was the most dreaded day of the year for journalists- Election Day and, as a member of the media, I worked until 3 a.m.," I offered, getting blank stares from my three children, who were standing by the front door, backpacks in hand and coats on backwards, wondering why mommy was such a dingbat this morning.  I wasn't complaining; election night is fun and dramatic, actually. I was

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-49719267228452927212011-11-03T20:11:00.003-04:002011-11-04T16:34:30.619-04:00

This is an excerpt from an older post I wrote about why I make a point to vote. Don't forget to vote next week. Here I am with Grandma LaCapria in the late 1970's. Our country was built by immigrants who wished for a better life and valued American citizenship. For one young woman who left Naples, Italy on a ship to New York in 1920, a better future became a reality. Her widowed mother had

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-54703489130465988962011-10-29T20:01:00.006-04:002011-11-03T19:30:32.360-04:00

If you follow this blog then you know that my property borders a two hundred year-old cemetery, so I can get excellent pictures without trespassing and I photograph the cemetery every year on Halloween night for fun. However, instead of pictures this year, I decided to do a little ghost hunting with my video camera. I have to say I had some pretty interesting experiences out there and I think I'm

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-53437509118777023412011-10-26T10:34:00.009-04:002011-10-28T09:42:47.588-04:00

So it turns out there's a reason why the doctor says to avoid eating hot dogs while you're pregnant. This is one of my all-time favorite Halloween posts: On Halloween, first and foremost, the job of a parent is to check the safety level of the trick or treat candy. After all, some of the nice neighbors might be psychos; one never can be too sure. Today we will eye their sweet gifts with

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-57405747401395482832011-10-23T19:40:00.008-04:002011-11-03T13:01:08.993-04:00

Today was my first theatrical re-enactment of EOS thanks to Marjorie Roe of the Greater Patchogue Historical Society, Sister Grace Rowland of Clare Rose Playhouse and SJC, and the Patchogue Arts Council. In the first half I read a letter to Sarah Whitman. Marjorie and I combined real EOS diary entries from the early 1860's to create this letter. The second half is a fictitious lecture. To

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-32299684191766629652011-10-21T17:56:00.004-04:002011-10-21T18:26:03.184-04:00

Read Seba Smith's The Life and Writings of Major Jack Downing here. Here is a list of his works available in the public domain. Though he died in 1868, Smith made news in Maine just last week. See here too. He even has a Facebook page with biographical information.

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-1671804134951265702011-10-20T07:22:00.003-04:002011-11-10T16:20:28.333-05:00

This is an older post that I reworked for a point of view submission in the weekly I write for. When I first wrote it I know some of the blog readers thought I was a bit of a monster, so I'll preface the post this time with the fact that my writing is mostly all in good fun. I have to admit that this story is one of my all time favorites that makes me laugh, and I think this rewrite is even

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-84019969401035855852011-10-09T20:33:00.001-04:002011-10-09T20:36:16.354-04:00

Dear Governor Christie, I am deeply disappointed that you chose not to run for President. I was anticipating possibly eight years of laughs from Photoshopping articles and political cartoons about you, superimposing my husband's picture. It's time to stop being a party pooper and reconsider so I can keep up with the national average of laughs per day, which, by the way, is currently at 17.

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-77646231053135833422011-10-08T00:35:00.008-04:002011-10-23T18:35:09.187-04:00

Greetings from the 19th century.  I will be appearing in New York at the Patchogue Theatre Lobby Sunday, October 23, at 1 p.m. to tell modern people about my life in Patchogue Village during the horrible war. One of the residents has been so kind as to let me speak through her. As you know, I have been dead since 1893, but Ms. Christie bares a decent resemblance to my

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-44730522439281652502011-09-18T14:01:00.016-04:002011-09-20T23:15:14.573-04:00

The one risky thing about having children is that they can rip your heart out in an instant like no one else can. Luckily, most people don’t think of this when they decide they want to have kids.It was supposed to be JUST a stomach virus. After all, I thought I had one the previous weekend. His symptoms were the same as mine had been: nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain, except he had a 101.7

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-30492361688768817482011-09-11T22:09:00.007-04:002011-10-15T17:35:38.169-04:00

With the arrival of fall comes more dinner table conversations and many futile attempts at making homemade soup. My intentions and the initial cooking of the soup always start right, with the comfort-food aroma filling the house and the anticipation of eating something good brewing in the crockpot. The hard part, however, comes when it’s time to serve the three Christie kids liquid containing

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-73597328473808365552011-09-11T20:08:00.008-04:002011-09-16T14:28:22.802-04:00

On September 12, 2001 I was driving to work in a daze, having been up most of the night haunted and worried about my husband's cousin, and thousands of other lost people at the site of the fallen Twin Towers. On a bridge across the eastbound Long Island Expressway, somewhere near East Moriches, there was a banner made from a ripped white bed sheet. On it was written "Pray for Us" in black spray

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-36325622062004387042011-09-05T10:43:00.010-04:002011-09-05T21:55:57.311-04:00

During the storm, of course, I was not the least bit worried. After conducting some calculations, I set up the most inviting sleeping spot for Hell Hound against the wall near a large, wind-vulnerable tree. But, as usual, my plan to rid my world of that stink pot backfired. Here's what happened. In the wild weather Hell Hound freaked out, insisting that she must guard the children even if it

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-18946039299585811942011-08-27T12:06:00.005-04:002011-08-27T21:14:23.623-04:00

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-88507620323988407802011-08-27T08:56:00.013-04:002011-08-27T11:57:17.512-04:00

Officials are throwing out the words "historic" and "catastrophic" in regard to Hurricane Irene's path across Long Island, New York. Are they being too rash? I really hope so. Here's some interesting reading for while you are waiting on that line in Pathmark that extends back to the cottage cheese in the dairy aisle. We have to keep in perspective that this isn't the first bad weather ever

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-50093386701599181512011-08-26T19:52:00.019-04:002011-10-09T19:54:54.478-04:00

It seems like the more we know about tracking storms and the faster we can communicate with each other, the crazier we all get about the weather. All day long people have been scurrying around here on the South Shore of Long Island, seemingly frenzied over hurricane Irene. The stores are packed. People are scrambling for water and members of my family tell me you can no longer get a loaf of

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-205620236375515242011-08-18T21:18:00.012-04:002011-08-19T00:20:36.688-04:00

I would not consider myself a stalker, unless we are talking about gardening and a particular shrub/tree that I've been looking to purchase for the past three years. I've been wanting a gnarly tree for my back property- the kind of tree that looks as though it was transplanted from a story written by Edgar Allan Poe. I picked the contorted filbert (Corylus avellana), also known as "Harry

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-4202429349542579052011-07-30T14:18:00.021-04:002011-08-13T18:10:10.595-04:00

I think the last time I went to the Montauk Point Lighthouse on Long Island had to be sometime right after the movie Amistad was released in 1997. I remember the display in the museum, and the fascinating letters that documented the fate of the brave men who overpowered the slave ship and landed it off the coast there. A thousand ancient stories are tied to an old lighthouse. People call Montauk

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-74997451290130488812011-07-24T22:46:00.002-04:002011-07-24T22:47:47.380-04:00

Check out my dad's point of view in Boating Times Long Island. I'm so proud of you, dad!http://boatingtimesli.com/NY/?p=7271

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-87843431348141828172011-07-19T16:24:00.011-04:002011-07-22T20:53:26.453-04:00

Lunches in the newspaper morgue have (sort of) paid off handsomely. I think I found the only picture in public archives of the Elizabeth Oakes Smith and Seba Smith home, The Willows, but now I'm not sure now which building is the Smith home. I thought it was the large white house in the distance, but two fellow history buffs have told me that can't be the house. Now I think it may be that little

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-3360082877399901662011-07-15T19:45:00.019-04:002011-09-05T10:24:39.587-04:00

Start out with nothing to do and a day off on Long Island and you may find yourself where you don’t belong. For my husband and I, that means we spent the day on a "date" in the Hamptons. What better place to do what we love to do best in public when the kids aren't with us: look around at people nearby and imagine what they are saying to one another? I thought we were the only ones on Earth who

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-90458881957121734632011-07-13T07:22:00.027-04:002011-07-27T19:05:17.643-04:00

I’m beginning to consider myself the Crocodile Hunter of the local weekly newspapers. Last week I covered a pet parade where I got a chance to photograph two Basset Hounds dressed for a tea party and a snake who won a prize for the length of his tongue. I’d prefer a local opportunity to interview Derek Jeter, but I'll settle for a meeting with a chinchilla dressed like him any day rather than

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-48915192823838069172011-07-11T20:32:00.005-04:002011-07-21T20:20:13.240-04:00

Part I- The staircase is probably the only original piece of woodwork left in my house, which was built in 1901. If I throw a baseball cap on top of the base of the banister in an effort to get it back up into my son's bedroom, it looks like the head of a little boy in the dark. I've jumped out of my skin a few times catching a glimpse of it while heading down the steps for something in the

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-71931845701443086212011-07-07T15:58:00.002-04:002011-07-11T22:27:51.916-04:00

*The Federal Government is threatening Indiana's elderly and low-income with a $4.2 billion cut in Medicaid because Indiana cut funding to abortion providers.Planned Parenthood, a billion dollar organization, says they need taxpayer money to serve women on Medicaid, but every Medicaid patient already has a primary care physician.Planned Parenthood serves less than 1% of Medicaid patients (both

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-70068719295687364442011-06-28T19:03:00.010-04:002011-07-24T22:36:06.326-04:00

After fifteen years of wear I had to retire my coveted light purple, velvety bathing suit. It was a two piece that used to be so comfortable. The bottom was shaped like a tiny pair of shorts, so I never felt too exposed and it was probably the most flattering suit I’ve ever owned. I wasn’t ready to part with it, but the straps on top were starting to fray and the elastic on the bottom piece

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-5362420309273618492011-06-28T18:01:00.008-04:002011-06-28T19:03:15.910-04:00

Spiritual strength is absolutely necessary in order to navigate through this world successfully. Crossing the Goal: Playbook on Our Father by Danny Abramiwicz, Peter Herbeck, Curtis Martin, and Brian Patrick is a spiritual study manual based on a weekly program for men that airs on EWTN and radio. It conveys the idea that the health and well being of men depends on their being spiritually fit.

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-28537875173974142122011-06-22T20:59:00.020-04:002011-07-24T22:40:16.142-04:00

In light of all the graduations this month and the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, I think Katy Perry's lyrics to her song "Firework" would make the greatest valedictorian speech. Be true to yourself and be brave - what an awesome message.I think I want to be a firework when I grow up- not a sparkler, but more of a crazy skyrocket that shoots into the air on its own propulsion. If I can’t be a

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-47396156393509747612011-06-12T08:50:00.004-04:002011-06-12T08:54:10.338-04:00

Hi Visitors. Check out this new website about Long Island history by a fellow local history buff friend of mine. He gleans most of the information from old local newspapers. -LorenLong Island Stories

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-68186302301078842912011-06-09T23:23:00.005-04:002011-06-12T08:42:12.319-04:00

The roses are blooming all over my property this month. We've had some hot weather and one of the first things I do in the afternoon is walk around the backyard pruning and watering. Mr. Norman Whiskers is very protective and always keeps a close eye on me from the nearest window while I'm outdoors.I have peonies that are over 20 years old and huge. The flowers are so gorgeous. There are maroon,

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-61310451841984700942011-06-08T10:48:00.009-04:002011-06-08T18:27:20.990-04:00

One of the first things I did when I started working at the local weekly newspapers was look for the archives, or what some people in the office call "the morgue." The first time I heard the expression I took it literally."There's a morgue in this building?" I asked my editor, surprised. Then I figured she meant some kind of closet with outdated appliances, after all, one time I asked for a

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-70343608812064969802011-06-06T22:53:00.001-04:002011-06-13T11:32:44.323-04:00

You know you need a break when you catch yourself secretly cursing at a purple octopus stuffed toy whose disappearance has caused a major life crisis for your youngest child. Such was the case this week for me. Recognizing my stress level and trying to be romantic, my school administrator husband who is always super busy in June attempted to kill two birds with one stone by taking me out to

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-59345134386440382002011-05-16T00:16:00.010-04:002011-05-16T01:17:15.789-04:00

Last year I made a little shade garden cave for myself. Right now the Wisteria is in full bloom, creating a very welcoming doorway. Wisteria is one of those bossy plants that will try to take over your whole yard and strangle your trees if you don't keep it in check. In my little cave I like to sit on the lounge chair under a ratty old blanket and burn branches in the fire pit. Whether I am

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-47644569357222805552011-05-14T15:48:00.027-04:002011-07-27T23:03:16.621-04:00

Yesterday while I was eating my Nacho Grande from Taco Bell and finishing my articles for the local weekly newspaper, my debit card had somehow cloned itself and was in the hands of a bad, unknown shopper in Manhattan who was having a blast at my expense. Fast forward to that evening, when I was standing in the pasta aisle at the grocery store buying dinner and answering a cell phone call at the

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-68290888040972747022011-04-29T20:27:00.006-04:002011-05-16T00:11:53.206-04:00

Hi Readers,I haven't posted here for a while for a couple of reasons. I started blogging in 2008in an effort to get into the habit of writing each day. Blogging led to good things, and a shift in career that I feel very good about, but life is really hectic lately. Since last summer I have been writing for local weekly newspapers and as a result, I am spending so much energy on that each day that

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-28922479327619820512011-03-12T10:03:00.035-05:002011-11-15T21:06:37.173-05:00

One of the things that I find so interesting about EOS is that she saved just about every clipping of writing she ever published in scrapbooks. (I do this too.) There are also stories of her burning pages of writing. Perhaps she didn’t want me reading those papers 200 + years later. I can understand that. In the margins of the scrapbook, she scribbled notes and sometimes the paper she used was

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-4060407126969505142011-02-27T12:15:00.010-05:002011-02-27T12:41:51.809-05:00

There will be a party in my garden at approximately 7:21 p.m. on Sunday, March 20th. That moment will mark the arrival of spring 2012 on the east coast of the United States, and to celebrate, I'll be planting a cold hardy Camellia and raking out my beds. Oh, it may not sound that wild, but I promise it will be fun (for me, anyway). I can't wait to get out in the dirt. This week you can start to

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-60629360681337842922011-02-13T17:52:00.021-05:002011-02-16T01:56:40.696-05:00

"Surprise me," he said, in reference to a St. Valentine’s Day weekend date. So I did.“I booked dinner and dancing for tonight,” I said, as my husband entered the kitchen with Saturday morning newspapers and fresh bagels. He stopped in his tracks, asking,“Oh really? Where?”I pointed to my laptop, where I had the restaurant website bookmarked.“Oh no, you didn’t,” he said, staring at the screen.“The

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-42227762591772242702011-02-09T14:14:00.010-05:002011-02-09T14:58:15.424-05:00

“If there is any responsibility in the cycle of life it must be that one generation owes to the next that strength by which it can come to face ultimate concerns in its own way.”Erik Erikson Princess came home with a Kindergarten class list today and sat down at the table ready to make Valentine’s Day cards. Two hours passed and she had 19 cards done.“But there are 20 kids on this list,” I said,

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-5622179124526336362011-02-08T17:28:00.031-05:002011-07-27T22:53:23.728-04:00

My two boys have the flu and today I had to do my reporting for the local papers from home. Working from home is so much harder than being in the office. Try writing four articles with sick little boys running around. While I was making them lunch they ransacked my desk, took my collection of business cards out of my bag and used them in a game they called "snowing." I thought the flu supposedly

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-29334296020575633562011-02-06T13:28:00.007-05:002011-03-13T17:11:08.438-04:00

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, and Marjorie Roe from the Greater Patchogue Historical Society has asked me to research Elizabeth Oakes Smith's activities during that time, and tie in that information to what was happening in Patchogue then.Look for a post next weekend on the subject of Elizabeth Oakes Smith and the Civil War period, here on Dude, Where Am I?. I might be

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-91721631182567906392011-02-04T21:50:00.028-05:002011-02-05T16:44:35.718-05:00

Valentine’s Day is coming up and you know what that means: take down the Christmas lights before the neighbors taunt you. It's also time to give the husband some romantic holiday hints because women and men come from different planets, as we all know.I begin my cryptic prodding by circling the date on my planner calendar in red marker and leaving the book open on the kitchen counter under his

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-37372110179658011312011-01-27T16:33:00.017-05:002011-02-22T17:41:26.376-05:00

For those of you coming in on this topic for the first time, Elizabeth Oakes Smith (1806-1893), was a poet and the first woman to make a living as a lecturer on women's rights. She lived in New York and is buried in Patchogue alongside her husband, Seba Smith, an early newspaper editor and political humorist. This picture shows her in her later years and is scanned from Mary Alice Wyman's book,

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-42037265873619851902011-01-25T20:01:00.010-05:002011-07-24T22:42:37.984-04:00

I’ve never been a morning person. Sometimes, when I first wake up and I’m dressing the kids and getting them breakfast, I think I’m still sleeping. Take this morning, for example. While I was putting the orange juice away in the cupboard and the box of Cheerios in the refrigerator, my seven year-old was reading me questions from the Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? game he found inside his

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-11259373236110624102011-01-24T20:40:00.012-05:002011-11-07T08:02:03.889-05:00

What is it about a guy who can fix things that is so attractive? Paint a room and you’re the coolest in my book. Change a lock and you fascinate me. Get on a ladder and you are so darn cute. Fix a leak and I’m smitten. Unclog a drain and I’m in love. Such was the case today as a river ran through my laundry room. Don’t ask me how it happened. I think this grumpy old house is mad at us for some

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-8271927567581848202011-01-21T20:43:00.007-05:002011-01-21T21:24:17.146-05:00

Want to see how much your significant other loves you? Try making some Pork That Looks Nasty but Try It You'll Like It I Swear and test his/her trust.I picked this recipe up in Chicago in a book titled Farm Table to Family Table: Recipes from America's Pork Producers. Although it gives my kids nightmares about Big Bird and they close their eyes, cringing as they eat, eventually they realize that

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-69921485170784334562011-01-16T21:02:00.013-05:002011-01-17T08:33:21.782-05:00

I was busy doing the dishes when I overheard my husband talking on the phone. “Oh, Baby. Can you believe it? Oh, Baby! Catch you later,” he said, laughing. I did not feel threatened by the conversation, after all, I knew this “mistress” very well. It was his best friend from high school and they have a poignant history together as long-suffering Jet fans that I don’t interfere with.Next, he was

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-76297454494207394642011-01-16T15:29:00.017-05:002011-01-16T21:41:31.510-05:00

“I wanna big fat snowstorm,” I said. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. When I awoke, my bedroom window screen was caked in white. I thought we had 2 feet until I looked closer and realized that the wind was driving snow against the screen.Meanwhile, my 110 year-old house decided to offer me an ultimatum regarding a cesspool issue we had been avoiding since we moved in 10 years ago

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-34432809136193427152011-01-12T13:03:00.022-05:002011-01-15T17:56:17.969-05:00

If it snowed I promised I’d make Hershey's Secret Kisses Cookies this morning. So, I got up early and baked them. By early I mean 9 a.m., which is practically the middle of the night for a snow day. I changed the recipe a bit from the bag directions because I didn’t have all the ingredients. Usually, that doesn’t work, but today it did.I had to wash my hands six times while preparing the dough to

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-45729043323894394562011-01-05T09:34:00.004-05:002011-01-17T23:02:37.268-05:00

Dear Visitors,Click here to read my post today at Mamazina's blog about my mom. Mamazina Magazine is just one of the creative projects of a larger organization called Mamapalooza Inc. that is "dedicated to serving, promoting, celebrating, encouraging, inspiring, and awakening ALL mothers through Media, Commerce, Connection, and Performing Fine Arts," according to its website. Our publisher, Joy

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-62243428309870274602011-01-01T13:01:00.014-05:002011-01-01T13:59:32.740-05:00

Hello. I am the Princess of Christie House and last night I was the great photographer of a New Year's tradition in this family- New Year's Eve pizzas! At school, Mrs. Rocco said that each year Salmon have to swim back the their birthplace to lay eggs. They risk their lives to do this. Similarly, Daddy has to stop at 7-Eleven for coffee every day, even if he is wearing plaid shorts in a blizzard

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-806447856892786222010-12-28T18:49:00.013-05:002010-12-28T19:31:24.185-05:00

Where's my house?Good news! Eventually, I found the door and the next day I dug my way out to the mailbox.This morning, I sent a group of explorers out to find my garden and they reported that it is still missing. I think it's time to dig up the ground hog. I'm not going to make any threats this year. I just want to talk.

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-77135526918205710052010-12-17T21:38:00.011-05:002010-12-17T22:18:08.816-05:00

My youngest, a preschooler, has been telling tall tales lately. On our walk back to the car after school, I ask him what he learned today."Nu-ting," he says."You didn’t learn anything at all?" I repeat in that I-know-you-are-lying tone that mothers and prosecuting lawyers have. He smiles as though he is remembering something funny, then says, "Well. Yes! 'B' is for booty. Miss Nina taught us the

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-62387363434314205342010-12-14T17:13:00.009-05:002011-01-09T11:23:05.672-05:00

I Hope God is Laughing: confessions of an imperfect parent is a memoir that I pulled out of this blog. The project took me three years. My good friend Frank suffered through several edits with me and taught me that "cannot" has never been, nor can it ever be two words, ever, even if it looks like those two middle letters want a divorce. I blush to say that I should have known that.The chapters

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-6559955331912627662010-12-11T10:34:00.007-05:002010-12-11T10:52:30.616-05:00

Princess and I go for tea at the Carriage House, a little restaurant on the grounds of the Physick Estate in Cape May, New Jersey. This is a tradition I started on our vacations there when she was three. On this particular visit, I realize how fast my little girl is growing up.“There’s this boy in my class named Brett who liked my dress on Friday,” she says, biting into a slice of raisin bread.“

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-38604560093247898072010-12-04T10:33:00.013-05:002010-12-27T12:37:41.028-05:00

Every year Santa’s elves sit in the boardroom at the North Pole and brainstorm a design for his Ugliest Doll Contest. Winning elves get a joy ride in Santa’s sleigh and half-days on Christmas Eve. Ironically, somehow, every Christmas this very toy becomes the most desired by little girls everywhere. This year, it’s Lalaloopsy, a rag-doll who supposedly came to life after little Suzy left her on

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-87545369794883586782010-10-16T19:34:00.008-04:002010-12-06T22:52:28.831-05:00

Hello!Welcome to my personal blog, where I write for fun. Below are my planned posts for Autumn 2010. This is a running list, so expect it to grow throughout the season. Thanks for reading my work.Happy Fall!-LorenHere's a new motherhood story:Sometimes, Kids Make Good Life Coachesand another post about motherhood at MaMaZinA Magazine:We Interrupt This Program For a Test of Mom's Other

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-56734398292995659332010-10-02T23:53:00.010-04:002010-12-16T12:43:21.268-05:00

Thank you for visiting my blog today. This past June, I started posting twice a month regularly at MaMaZinA and more randomly here. My Summer MaMaZinA posts are linked below. You can access more of my writing by subscribing to The Motherhood Muse E-zine and MaMaZinA magazine.Click on the titles to read the latest posts at MamaZina:Garden Diary Entry Raising Aidan-steinAt First I Thought Labor Was

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-85486478403212464212010-10-01T22:54:00.003-04:002010-10-19T18:00:19.804-04:00

In Already There: Letting God Find You author Fr. Mark Mossa suggests that sometimes the very thing we spend life searching for is right in our own backyards all along. This theme does not only apply to the movie The Wizard of Oz and several 80’s pop songs about falling in love with your best friend, it also relates to man’s quest to find the point of his existence. For some people, the search to

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-11076432995462574422010-10-01T20:32:00.007-04:002010-10-24T23:03:51.367-04:00

"Second grade is just like college, except you ride on a school bus and you have to go to bed at 8 o'clock," Big Brother announces to his siblings, who listen attentively to his wise thoughts while sitting Indian style on his beloved blankee- a tattered old quilt spread out on the den floor."Second grade is very serious," he continues. Princess raises her hand."Big Brother," she interrupts,"Will

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-80258742939116920442010-09-21T20:50:00.006-04:002010-09-21T21:47:44.118-04:00

The Christmas season will be here soon enough, and every year I struggle to keep the right perspective, to remember to focus on my faith in a world that bombards me with confusing messages. I tend to get caught up in the pettiness of gift giving and obligatory rituals, when the real present is that Christ died out of unconditional love for all of humanity, giving us eternal life. Christmas, to me

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-82362576312446736242010-08-24T21:55:00.006-04:002010-09-24T22:39:27.370-04:00

When Tina Turner asks “What’s love got to do, got to do with it?” in one of her 1980’s hit songs, she’s strictly speaking about romantic love. Fr. Stan Fortuna, however, in his book geared toward teenagers titled U Got 2 Love, says the emotion has to everything to do with the purpose of life, and he’s talking about all kinds of love.Using excerpts from speeches and the writings of Pope John Paul

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-8691207190487716582010-08-17T19:28:00.000-04:002010-10-17T19:32:54.324-04:00

Kendra swung open the door to Bella Luna Restaurant as little Robert, feeling the freedom of a stroller-less day, grabbed a handful of pansies from a decorative window box.“No, those are not for picking!” she said, pressing the roots of the flowers back into the dirt as best she could while glancing into the plate-glass window to see if anyone had caught her 2-year-old. The owner wore a white

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-4503908482801602342010-08-17T19:24:00.000-04:002010-10-17T19:26:05.523-04:00

I’m leading my platoon through high grass in choking heat, green and black paint mixing with the sweat on my face, wondering if the next step on foreign soil will be my last in this world. I hear shots and drop to the ground, putting my hand up to halt the line. So, this is the bright future of a grad student who majored in English literature and had a passion for the stage, I think as I spit in

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-59593684528786137742010-08-17T19:11:00.000-04:002010-10-17T19:17:04.743-04:00

The light hit the vase and shattered, dancing playfully on note paper, bouncing off of watches and creating new colored shapes on the fiberglass table at the front of the classroom. Some of it hit Molly’s forehead, and she could feel the strong heat of the sun in a shaft of glaring red. Professor Gunther was holding the object in front of the window to demonstrate its rare beauty.“Dozens of

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-23202601672167658092010-08-17T19:02:00.001-04:002010-10-17T19:44:20.542-04:00

The wind rattling the window panes made Kate dream she was on a commuter train that was coming to a screeching halt. She could feel her body being jolted, her last moment of sleep holding a thought of panic. She tumbled to the ceiling as the train capsized, and then Kate was suddenly in her bed. The phone was ringing on the night table beside her. She reached for it clumsily.“Hel … Hello?” she

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-53199351374730064632010-08-17T11:33:00.008-04:002011-07-27T19:04:38.218-04:00

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” - 1 Cor 10:4Don’t Expect Horns and a Red CapeIn this overly politically correct society, the mention of the devil will raise eyebrows. Most people, religious or not, agree that evil does exist, but they are wary of putting a name or shape to this negative force. However, evidence of the devil’s

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-58024492450216641852010-07-18T22:53:00.016-04:002010-12-06T22:53:31.545-05:00

“It is only when a woman has become utterly commonplace- mechanical and passive, that she loses the spirit of hope. Health, strength, beauty, all are the offspring of Hope.” -Elizabeth Oakes Smith (1-207)Since I read about Rolvin, the second of the two children of Elizabeth Oakes Smith and Seba Smith who died in childhood, I have been trying to discover what happened to him. At first I looked in

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-58671489339297917512010-07-18T15:22:00.006-04:002010-12-06T22:54:18.786-05:00

I’ve read accounts that place the sale of The Willows in the year 1870. At this time EOS is said to have moved in with her son Alvin in Blue Point, Long Island. However, I came across a fascinating article printed in the September 10, 1873 issue of The Brooklyn Eagle that chronicles a reporter’s interview of Madame Oakes Smith still in her home, The Willows, while the building is practically

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-82238835431997990622010-07-10T10:10:00.000-04:002010-07-26T14:55:28.910-04:00

Hello, odorless, non-edible device that mesmerizes humans. I am being forced to urge you to vote for me in Newsday's Cutest Canine Contest. My human mother has submitted an unapproved picture of me to the media for a chance to win $1,000. PETA, if you are reading this, please take action against my heartless owner. Imagine, using your family member, the one Mr. Hallmark has deemed "man's best

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-26122112635368934442010-07-07T19:35:00.009-04:002010-07-07T20:07:34.581-04:00

I have nests all over my property right now with baby birds in various stages of growth. Yesterday I found a baby Robin on the ground under the Cherry Tree. He barely had any feathers, and was obviously too small to fly away and take care of himself. It was clear that he had fallen out of the nest accidentally and that he was alright despite the fall.I scooped him up with my garden gloves, being

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3491799193672497027.post-53035527038491755852010-07-04T12:32:00.005-04:002011-07-21T20:13:01.627-04:00

I came across the 1904 Argus Business Directory recently online. This book threw off all of my other research on my house. Earlier I wrote that G. Lyman owned the house until the 1940's according to maps. Maybe he rented the property, because in 1904 a man named Emory Johnson is listed at the address. Apparently he was a grocer, and his shop was located at 63 Ocean Ave. Yesterday morning I took a

Loren Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917946376600583050noreply@blogger.com0