C Tann-Starr's Outside Blog

The little pookies and I were busy watching these dark clouds rolling in on our holiday weekend while Dad did all of the driving. At one point we started wondering if a funnel was coming down because of the peculiar cloud formations. I could not resist pulling out my Nikon and managed to get a pretty dramatic shot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (I-278) while traveling on the parkway (with a lot of help from the hubby). Taking pictures at high speed is always interesting because you never know what you're going to get. When you are on a 133.5 mile trek into PA and have a thing for eye candy (and are anything like me) you will try for the shot. Mike thought it would be a tough one to get but was willing to do some fancy driving so I could take a crack at eliminating cars from my view finder. I'm glad we did go for it. The first four were a bust, but the fifth one certainly made my day. :-) 

All of that took place while we were on our way en-route to another AR adventure. This trip the little minions were off to visit Susan Mangigian, a wonderful friend with an excellent blog that I happen to love reading, who is also the founder of the Active Rain Group Realtors & Friends Who Read.

The road trip was fun and we only got lost once... unless, of course, you also want to count the fact that we actually drove past her home a couple of times, prompting Susan to come out into the rain and get us after watching us circling around trying to read mail boxes (LOL). We were too busy being distracted by lots of eye candy while commenting on neighborhood homes, which basically translates into not paying a lick of attention because we were in awe of our surroundings. It's moments like this that make me truly love Active Rain because if not for AR we never would have met, become friends, then had a field day mingling our families together.

I want you guys to know that a very lovely family lives in this beautiful home and I am so happy we've converted our on-line friendship into a brick and mortar relationship. Noah dived into the toys and movies, kicking his shoes off and getting real comfy. Stephen rolled in the wet grass and later stripped down to his underwear and circled the pool on the hunt for a leaf or two to toss into the water and follow paths with patterns. We stuffed ourselves with Italian food (BTW, she's a very good cook) and had a great time laughing about life in general while the weather continued to be fickle. The cool thing is none of us cared whether it rained or not. We were outside just as much as inside and made good use of every single pause in the drizzle. Her Mom is a lot of fun and kept Michael and I cracking up and I can see where Susan inherited some of her humor from. Hanging with the two of them was priceless and her hubby is absolutely adorable. Max is a fabulous kid and I am soooo gonna have to learn how to play Halo or he's going to wipe me out on our next visit. We promised to play video games together, which is another favorite past time in my household, so it is very cool to be introduced to something new to play.

We did have a couple of moments that made me go hmm... Noah surprised me about being nervous around the puppy. Considering the fact that he gets lots of face time with our neighbors' pit bulls and rottweilers, you'd think an adorable puppy wouldn't have him climbing into Mike's lap going, "nooooo," but he did. I'm gonna have to get him out around smaller dogs more often. Stephen, in true minion fashion, wasn't phased a bit, chased the dog around the yard and at one point had the nerve to tip the dog into the pool (sigh). I have really got to work on that boy's social skills...

Susan selected and planted a wonderful flower garden which screens the pool and really gives one something wonderful to look at from so many vantage points within their home and off the deck. There's color everywhere and my whole family fell in love with the place and its occupants. After great debate, we stayed in PA for another day at a lovely hotel near the Mangigians so we could check out the QVC Studio, King of Prussia Mall, Lancaster, Valley Forge National Park and Longwood Gardens.  (So much to blog about, so little time...)

Here is some eye candy from the Mangigian backyard. Enjoy!

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080821_granite.htm

I was completely fascinated with the title and just had to share this with you. I happen to love granite counter-tops and after Elizabeth's 15 day remodel series on her blog, I have to say that quartz counter-tops has found a new fan. 

Did you know that "passengers get 3 millirem of cosmic radiation" on a flight from New York to Los Angeles?

I actually learned something new today and believe you will learn a lot more too. Make sure you also check out the links embedded in Boderick's article, for Mr. Perkins writes a wonderful piece regarding some misconceptions people have about the levels of uranium in natural stone (emphasis on granite) and the amount of radon it may produce in a home. To quote one excellent point, "The EPA calls radon "The Health Hazard with a Simple Solution" and suggests anyone with concerns take the sensible approach and contact their nearest state or regional Indoor air-quality agency for help with radon testing and remediation."

My favorite quote: "A rebuttal from the Marble Institute of America says the story "follows the playbook used by two of the largest synthetic stone manufacturers who seek to increase their own sales by raising fears about natural stone." "

Please select the above link so you can enjoy reading the entire presentation for yourself. I found it to be an excellent and interesting read.

Out of a healthy respect for Homeland Security I stayed away from the airplanes (LOL). I loved my morning with my cousin Amanda Marie (who is on her way to a lovely vacation with her girlfriend and God-daughter.) While waiting for the others to arrive I actually went on an early morning turtle run in Midwood, Brooklyn, NY so stay tuned for an upcoming peek at some lovely, lovely homes. I shall have to start featuring Brooklyn more often. It appears that I have been spending more time in Kings County than Queens. I'm glad the ladies needed a lift because I couldn't resist bringing my Nikon to collect a little eye candy during our airport outing. After all we are talking JFK people. That place is beyond huge (over 5,000 acres) and I love airplanes. I think they are gorgeous and must admit I sort of regret not photographing them (but I will not jeopardize my Nikon). I've seen cameras get consfiscated. Maybe when I go back to pick her up I'll be brave and ask permission to photograph the planes (or not). Security is very tight nowadays, so I selected views that would not compromise anything.

Did you know that the airport was renamed in 1963 in memory of the late President John F. Kennedy? Prior to that it wall known as "Idlewild Airport," "New York International Airport," and "Major General Alexander E. Anderson Airport." Construction started in the early 1940's and they have been building and expanding upon it ever since.

Everything you could ever want to know about the John F. Kennedy Airport may be learned from The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Wikipedia.

According to Wikipedia, "John F. Kennedy International Airport (IATA: JFK, ICAO: KJFK, FAA LID: JFK) is an international airport located in Queens in southeastern New York City about 12 miles (19 km) from Lower Manhattan. It is the top international air passenger gateway to the United States and is also the leading freight gateway to the country by value of shipments. The airport is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages the two other major airports in the New York metropolitan area, Newark Liberty and LaGuardia. JFK airport is the base of operations for JetBlue Airways and is also a major international gateway hub for Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Over 80 airlines operate out of JFK."

You can read the entire Wiki article here.

This foodie paradise report is inspired by my girlfriend Deborah Burroughs, an Agent/Loan Officer in Vista, CA. We enjoy sharing a lot of information about our home towns and she has just added a wonderful addition to her Volcano Plug series which you can read here. Deborah, besides supplying some wonderful photographs to take you on a virtual tour of the area, talks about the history of Oceanside and mentions several foodie paradise spots of her own with gorgeous sea scape views. I figured I give her a little New York eye candy: an interior city scape view starting with a gorgeous, kid friendly place to eat with a lot of atmosphere.

Open from 11AM to 11PM every day, the Cocina Latina Bar ad Grill is located at 125-22 Queens Blvd, Kew Gardens NY 11415 (718) 577-9800. It is one of my favorite places to eat because the menu is outstanding and the prices very reasonable. (BTW, they do home delivery, people. Yay! Gourmet food on the run! How cool is that?) Cocina Latina is so close to home that leaving Briarwood to enter Kew Gardens is as simple as crossing to the other side of Queens Blvd. As a Work-at-home-Mom (WAHM), the fact that we don't have far to go when we are in the mood for some great food at a child friendly establishment is a huge plus in my book. I give it four thumbs up! (e.g. Carol, Michael, Stephen and Noah with big, cool aid grins!) The truth is, you may find me there more quickly there than you'd find me sitting in my REMAX People Realty office. It is a great place to meet with clients and a lovely, relaxing spot to work on my laptop.

Little people do not normally sit at the bar, but Stephen has a thing for the ladies employed here and he likes to pick out his mint candy on his own. Everything constructed at C.L. is hand crafted by my neighbor and good friend Thomas Valdez. He's a partner in a wonderful design firm that does excellent work and the C.L. is slated to be showcased on cable television sometime in September. The wood, stone and plaster work is truly amazing. There are so many lovely details one should really stop by to enjoy this type of eye candy up close and personal while soaking in a fine dining experience. You will not be disappointed by the menu, for there are so many excellent meals to choose from. The "Empanadas de Pollo/Carne" and the "Costillitas de Cerdo" (slow roasted baby back ribs in a pineapple guava glazed served with slaw) are a must have! The "Chuttasco a la Brasa" (grilled skirt steak with three chimichurri sauces, served with yuca cheese fries, tomato red onion cilantro salad) is a very tasty foodie paradise meal, indeed. My hubby is a "Filet Mignon" man, and Cocina Latina does this dish proud, for it is served with garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed with mushrooms and brandy sauce. Mmm...

The leather bench is also a custom job that runs along the wall from one end to the other of C.L. It is very comfortable and I always make it a point to sit against the wall when I am enjoying my meal. Stephen's favorite dish is the rice and black beans. Mine is anything on the menu (except Calamari and only because I just don't eat that. It's a personal pref, not a negative to anyone else and certainly not to Cocina Latina).

The Blur Minion was on a lunch date with his two favorite women and all wiggly grins when hugged by my girlfriend Susana. He loves salsa music and spent most of the meal dancing in his high chair. Susana had  the "Salmon al Horno, Encrostado en Yuca" which was divine! I'm talking roasted salmon with yuca and plaintains crusted grilled pineapple sauce - yummy! I went for my favorite which is "Chicken Quesadilla" with mozzarella, cheese, beans, sour cream, guacamole and cilantro sauce. Of course, Stephen got a taste of both of our meals while  enjoying his side order of rice and black beans. If you are ever in Kew Gardens or Briarwood, the Cocina Latina Bar and Grill is a must see and do for your foodie paradise pleasure. Just cross Queens Blvd onto the opposite side from the Court House and Maple Grove Park. You can't miss it.

Here's a little eye candy of Thomas Valdez's work. Enjoy!

Susana and I have a ritual with Stephen. We like to take him out for two hours a day and run the streets teaching him about socially acceptable behavior. Sometimes Noah tags along, but often it's just us. She and Stella were supposed to spend the evening with Paddy and I, but something important came up. Maybe next time... You guys would really love her, she is smart and very funny. She is also working very hard on her second Master's degree. I love picking her brain and sharing foodie paradise spots (especially while having girl talk). I also love to hear her speak Russian. Oh my word, what a voice... but I digress. We're planning a few more road trips to take the boys on and have some delicious eye candy planned for the next two days.

The moment we drove down that long driveway and parked next to a vintage car belonging to the Pizappi family, Noah couldn't wait to burst out of my little Hyundai and make a bee line for the pasture gate and well. He was in yard Heaven. We are talking 11 wonderful acres, people! Pizappiville is a gorgeous home surrounded by manicured eye candy! The icing on the cake? A friendly family filled with generosity and love. My kids clicked right into the program with big, stupid cool aid grins. They could not get enough of exploring everything in sight. Very cool!

It would take me two years to photograph her place. Everywhere you look, there's eye candy! Absolutely gorgeous! I am in painter's and photographer's heaven! So mush to see, so little time... (LOL)

My kids were totally into exploring and climbing the fence lines. Noah kept trying to open the various gates.

You have no idea how bad I want to paint this place... I could easily produce fifty paintings without blinking.

This was better than having a turtle run and I absolutely love my turtle runs! I am looking forward to capturing more eye candy on our next visit. Michael may be along for the ride. Won't that be interesting...

My boys didn't know which way to run, so they ran everywhere! Noah was rolling in the grass while Stephen was giggling, wiggling, dancing and prancing. I actually enjoyed watching them both rushing to and fro in a frenzy. BTW, hands down, the miniature barn gazebo was my favorite yard spot. B-B-Q eye candy, people! Notice the grill? It's functional and lovely. Later, we enjoyed our dinner there under the stars and a harvest moon...

I selected the exposure settings then asked Paddy's daughters to each take a picture with me and their mom with my Nikon (after all, I did promise Kathy P). Trying to round up the minions to participate was not easy. They were too busy playing. By photo number two I was rewarded with a love smack (in the eye) from Stephen the Destroyer, who wanted to get down.

Needless to say, I put him down...

Minion Alert: Did you notice the little wiggly butt sticking out of the chair? Stephen couldn't resist trying to reach a window. Did I mention Stephen was a climber (among other things)? Thank God the pool was locked off, although Noah did roam over there to investigate gaining access at least twice during our visit.

Stephen decided he always needed to be where the girls are. It eventually lead to his discovery of the frog pond. Before we could blink, dude was down in it. Froggy didn't blink or move, just chilled with Step in the water (LOL). We still have no idea if he fell or dived in! Knowing Stephen, I'm leaning towards the latter. ;-)

While Stephen was in the front "soaking" himself, Noah was in the back crawling through the grass with his miniature animals playing "The Lion King." It's his favorite movie, and he spent most of the night obsessing about it while we enjoyed B-B-Q, moonlight, each other and some great conversations. BTW, the Pizappi family is very adept at bestowing really warm bear hugs and making their guests feel right at home! We shared a very beautiful evening, indeed... looking forward to many more with Sister P and other members of my Club Chaos family. Hmm... a new angle on a tour of homes? Oops, The Gail Rule is still in effect!  ;-)

Derek Overbey of Roost.com was kind enough to make this post available for a re-blog. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Check out the embedded links. Regards, C.

Sondra Meyer was kind enough to make this post available for a re-blog. Make sure you check out the embedded links. Regards, C.

I love to read and am very fond of the Brooklyn Public Library. This building is etched with with some of the most remarkable quotes ever spoken. My favorite is pictured above: "The Spirit and The Senses so easily grow dead to the impressions of the beautiful and perfect that one ought every day to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words."  

I think that's why I love Susan Mangigian and her new group, Realtors and Friends That Read. I peek in there all the time but very rarely comment. I'm too busy trying to read all of these books they keep talking about, not to mention chase the little minions around between carting them off to therapy, play dates, the office and open houses (LOL). If you haven't joined this group, you may want to seriously consider it. I am on vacation and have a lot of time on my hands, so they are going to be hearing a lot from me, very soon in fact (starting with this post, actually).

Another reason why I love the Brooklyn Public Library is that I met my very first Empath here. Do you know what an Empath is? If you are a Star Trek fan, Troy would be your perfect example (LOL). If not, here is the artistic view in a nutshell: Empaths have expanded sensitivities, they project and sense emotions and tend to be able to read and understand people (e.g. get in tune or resonate with others).

Quirky artists like me don't find the concept flaky like some pragmatic people do. I would be a miserable artist if I couldn't pursue the intangible, or learn to go beyond a normal person's cultivated habits and traits pertaining to their ability to hide authentic soul expressions in order to connect with them and produce a portrait. A lot of people never really say what they mean might be a simplistic translation for some of you (LOL). People show you what they only want you to know, would be another stab at it as well. As an artist, I have to get beyond what they show me and see what I see until I begin to know what I know about each individual. Only then can I create something in between the reality and the intangible for a person to see what it is that I am seeing. The process is always fascinating. You never know what is going to be revealed until you stumble across it.  

Did you guess yet? Today's reading assignment has to do with voluntary v involuntary empathic musings.  I hope I find enough material on the subject between the various versions of the Bible, Tenach, and a few psychological readings... I may have to come back or pick another library tomorrow. (In case I do photograph another library, please tell Gail I have been behaving - playing, recreational reading and not wowrking. Gail is now the boss of me during vacation and I do not want to be arrested by the Carol Vacation Police for doing turtle runs. The Gail Rule is still in effect! LOL)

While I work on my Empath R-T-R book list/review, here is a little eye candy of the Brooklyn Public Library where I will be camped out today banging away on my laptop and reading some very interesting and spooky material... Enjoy!

Brad ROCKS! There is a lot of useful information here, so I just couldn't resist the  re-blog. Make sure you check out the embedded links. Enjoy! Regards, C.

Stephen Isaiah and Noah Ezekiel Starr

It's official! I am on a three week vacation. The little minions are running wild at the Queens Zoo. In case you are unfamiliar with The Gail Rule, the object of the game is to not blog about anything except vacation. No turtle runs. No tour of homes. No real estate. Just vacation. I think I could get into this, except I have never done this before and I have to confess that my eyes are already crossed from laughing at the candid shots I am not allowed to show you. Hmm... (LMAO). Imagine getting up close and personal with my family... This should be very interesting, indeed. I never know what my guys are going to do until they decide to do it. We are going to be dragging you guys across the tri-state area and will be migrating somewhere upstate New York this week end. Lots of mini road trips planned for the little people.

The boys are climbers, so we always have to go by the waterfall where the seals are so they can climb the rocks, check out their water antics and enjoy Step's favorite patch of golden flowers. Hands down, if you gave them a choice, their favorite animal would be the black bear. :-)  

Here's a little eye candy of Stephen and Noah at the Queens Zoo. Enjoy!

Cheryl J has been involved in some very nice projects and was kind enough to blog about a lovely art show exhibiting this up-coming week end. It's a fundraiser and I recommend you select the link to CJ's blog to learn more about it. I believe you may really enjoy becoming familiar with Avenue 50 Studio. "The Black/Brown Dialogues are supported in part by the Ford Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and Southwest Airlines through a grant from the NALAC Fund for the Arts." Regards, C.

Julie Chapman of Chapman Realty is the Realtor of Choice for all of your Brunswick, Georgia needs. Feel free to call my friend at 912-280-0088 if you are looking for a beautiful home to relocate to. Don't forget to select the link and check out her profile and blog. Regards, C.

There is a plaque at the base of the Queens Museum that is dedicated to the memories of Detectives Joseph J. Lynch and Ferdinand A. Socha of the New York City Police Department's Bomb and Forgery Squad. They were both killed in the line of duty while examining a time bomb taken from the British Pavilion of the World's Fair in Flushing Meadow Park at approximately 4:45 P.M. on July 4th 1940.

This turtle run is dedicated to their memory and their families. Here is some eye candy from my run. Please keep these families in your prayers. They are in mine.

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080813_overcome.htm

Dirk Zeller, in a Realty Times article, talks about how being sleep deprived by his son affects his performance and I found myself thinking about what all of my friends had to say very recently on the subject. Stephen has not been sleeping through the night, which means that I have been blogging at very odd hours... among other things. :-)

To quote Mr. Zeller, "I ultimately made the decision that I was not going to be the victim of circumstances or the victim of my feelings. I was going to be the creator of the outcome. I set a standard for myself and then lived up to that standard with my behavior. The interesting part was that my feelings came around once I created a little momentum..."

Hmm... Thant sounds like it could be a very useful idea to embrace. If you haven't already, I highly recommend you read his article by selecting the link above.

So, I am sifting through two hundred and seven new photographs while siting here wondering if I am on the right path to creating a little "positive momentum" with all of the angst I've been wading through lately. I do know I am looking forward to going on an eye candy hunt with the little minions in tow this week. Play dates are always interesting. Food dates even better. Noah is enjoying the last day of summer school today before he is officially on vacation. Should be interesting to see what the little minion comes up with while on Nikon duty with his Mama.

I do know that telescope duty has been mad fun. We usually put it on the deck at Joe's house in Pawling and hunt for stars together. Sometimes, Noah even aims it through the back door to observe the wild life. He has a thing for the swans, and deer are always a treat. We won't even talk about how they are forever chasing the geese. Here's a little eye candy of that favorite activity in progress. More to follow as we wander through our three week vacation together... Who knows where we may turn up. Maybe even on your doorstep.

Enjoy your day. Regards, C.

Stephen Isaiah and Michael Starr. Photograph by Noah Ezekiel Starr (my six year old).

Noah took a pretty cool shot of his brother enjoying a few kisses from his Dad. I've been trying to teach him how to use my digital Nikon and I have to say it has been very interesting to see what he sees. It's a little blurred, but the thing I like the most about this shot is the fact that Stephen was fully aware the photograph was being taken. He had such a mischievous look of glee on his face as he cut his eyes back towards his brother as if to say, "Do you see this? Are you getting it? Cool. Daddy kissed ME. Nah nana nah nah! Go ahead -- bite me."

The little minions are always competing with each other (which is not always a good thing - LOL).

Makes life very interesting when Stephen the Destroyer (PDD-NOS) decides to go toe to toe with Noah the Noble (Autism). Needless to say, we, as parents, spent the rest of our day kissing and hugging little people. What a nice contest. Cool.  :-)

http://iplitigator.huschblackwell.com/

I like this site and thought it would be nice to share it with you. They write a lot of very interesting articles about blogging. The two that caught my attention are entitled "Owners, Borrowers & Thieves 2.0" and is written by Pete Salsich III (March 12, 2008) and "Fair Use In a Realm of New Use: User-Generated Videos," by Michael Kahn (Jan 9, 2008). I decided since they were so concise I would just point you in their direction so you could make up your own mind about them with no commentary from me other than the fact that I really like their blog. :-)

Today's turtle run showcases The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York. This is my favorite hiding place, where I can go to get away from it all, relax and enjoy some "me time with God." The Cathedral history is pretty cool, it was founded in 1834 after an incident that transpired in 1787. (You can read all about The Allen Legacy here.)

There are over one hundred programs and groups to choose from in the Allen directory and if you ever stopped by to take a peek you would discover that the future direction of the Cathedral is a very interesting dynamic and fluid. It is centered around empowering people, building communities and changing lives in positive ways. Like AR, if you don't see a group that needs to be there, you can simply contact them and start the group yourself. The members actually keep the membership very busy and if you have a talent you wish to bring to the community, you are always encouraged to do so. The Cathedral keeps their facilities available for members to use 7 days a week so once in a while I enjoy stopping by around lunch time to enjoy some peace and quiet. When I need to be alone with God, or hang out with some godly company, there is always an opportunity to do so at Allen. I really appreciate that and find when things are getting tough, going back to basics is always the key for me, so I pray a lot and try to start over if it is at all feasible. Things have been pretty tough lately, and I am struggling just like everyone else does with a lot of issues, so I decided today I would share what works for me. (e.g. God, turtle runs and ice cream... and I will be going for ice cream as soon as I post this post! LOL)

Allen Cathedral also habitually invites some of the most amazing speakers I have ever seen. Coupled with their sponsorship of fabulous retreats, shopping sprees, historical tours, missionary work and a spectrum of workshops, it's impossible not to want to come there and see what's going on. They go out of their way to make visitors feel welcome and at home. (e.g. I was a visitor once, invited by Audrey H. Lipford, Esq and after being exposed to such a rich environment I decided to stay.) They know how to make discovering a Biblical truth relevant and enjoyable. Just try one of their business workshops and see. You'll be surprised at what you will walk out with. The volunteerism of the congregation is inspiring and they really know how to mentor and network among the 20K+ members.

BTW, their Cathedral Bible Institute has an "Articulation Agreement" with the Nyack College of New York, and "is seeking accreditation with the New York State Education Department, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the Accrediting Commission International of Schools, Colleges and Theological Seminaries." Before I go, I do have one last little trivia question to ask of you:

Did you know that the organization is headed by a retired United States Congressman? How cool is that?

The Honorable Reverend Floyd H. Flake, D.Min., U.S. Congressman, Retired and The Reverend M. Elaine Flake, D.Min. are just awesome! They really take the time to get to know what's going on in the community and are quick to step in and lend a helping hand when ever they can. They also teach upon how biblical home ownership really is, so Realtors like me absolutely love being blessed by them.

I am praying and believing for a turn around in this current market. How about you? ;-)

Here is some eye candy from my turtle run. Enjoy!