My favorite Matchmaker and inspiration for this column returns to television on Tuesday, October 19th with a new season filmed in my home away from home, New York City! When I think of love in The Big Apple, I think of a timeless bit of advice given to me by one of my aunts, ‘be with someone who likes you!
She imparted those words of wisdom while I was dating Charlie, my best catch to date. Charlie had a wonderful family, he was a stockbroker, brought home roses at least twice a week and planned surprise getaways to tropical islands. Most importantly, he really, REALLY liked me!
Since I met Patti Stanger at the Mohegan Sun Casino on Valentine’s Weekend, I’ve hit the ground running with words of advice given to me by Patti, an objective observer. It’s proven to be beneficial and improve my overall quality of life!
Along the way, I’ve had to step back, reassess and set new benchmarks. This is crucial in order to pay forward any mission, in this case, to reach a healthy weight. I’ve lost 15 pounds in three weeks, and got my metabolic age down to 60 years old! Yes – excess weight has real, medical side effects! Scary!
As the role of food in our lives changes, it’s like peeling away layers of the proverbial onion. There is lightness on the scale, but also an emotional reveal, as new behavior toward food eclipses the old.
I had a moment the other day, where it dawned on me, that part of my weight gain can be attributed to liking or loving someone who didn’t “like” me. The person, by default, only picked out the negative in me, and on one’s best day, it’s tough not to own some of that, even if it’s only subconsciously. This is where unhealthy ideas about food, for me, seemed to originate. Thus, “be with someone who likes you,” maybe even a little more than you like them and let your attributes take the stage for change!
Like G.I. Joe always said, “Knowing is half the battle.” Now that I know, I can change! It’s actually quite exciting! Who knew that Patti’s litany of things I needed to fix to ready myself for true love would reveal so much!
Author Douglas Clegg believes writing “begins with an impulse to make something from the raw material of imagination.”
This was an exciting and rewarding summer for the Preston Public Library. It hosted three local writers – Amanda Marrone, Douglas Clegg, and Allan G. Johnson – as part of the 2010 CT Authors Trail. When he spoke at Preston in July, Doug discussed his books, answered questions about writing, and asked the audience questions about its writing and reading experiences.
In a recent interview, Doug Clegg said the reissued Neverland – first published in 1991 – is “a southern gothic set on the fictional Gull Island, Georgia, in the 1960s. Two families come together at their summer ancestral house with the grandmother-matriarch.” Before long family secrets and conflicts force two cousins to journey into the woods, where they find an old shack and turn it into their clubhouse. “They name it Neverland,” he continued, “because it’s where they’ve been told never to go.”
Of course, there’s a reason why it’s “a forbidden place. If I tell more, there’d be no reason to open the book … Neverland has a supernatural edge that grows into brooding horror.” It’s worth noting that Doug spent a lot of his youth on an island off the coast of Georgia, similar to the one he writes about in Neverland.
The author of over twenty-five books, Doug said he writes “for the same reason I breathe: It’s part of my nature and my life and keeps me alive. Writing has saved me again and again – since I was seven or eight years old. It carried me through rough as well as good years.” And it’s always challenging. He continued: “If the novel I’m working on now isn’t tougher for me to write than the one before, I’m doing it wrong.”
As a youngster, Doug rarely talked about his writing and later, when in college, only few people knew he wanted to be a writer: “By the time I sent off my first novel – I was in my 20′s – I wasn’t sure if I’d be a professional writer or not.” But Doug’s huge talent couldn’t be ignored. Recognizing his powerful imagination, a major publisher accepted his first book and since then “I’ve been making a living writing for more than twenty years.”
A New York Times best-selling author, what Doug finds most interesting about writing is how “it begins with an impulse to make something from the raw material of imagination.” More, he hopes readers take away from his books “a story. If I’m lucky, it’ll be a great story. Maybe some scares. I spend my adult life creating stories with the goal of engaging the reader until the last page.”
When Doug isn’t writing, he travels, canoes, bikes “and hangs out with friends or at home.” He’s also an animal rescue advocate. The pets he has are “all rescues” and he encourages people looking for pets “to first go to animal rescue groups, such as the CT Humane Society and its local pounds and animal shelters. The best animals I’ve ever known have come from these places – and the people who run them deserve support.”
(l-r) Maria Tavarozzi, John Alfiero, Audrey Kaiser and Carol Lyon
by Don Church and Tony Schillaci,
Critics On The Aisle™
Five wildly talented singers, musicians and comedians – who call their group DOWNTOWN”- will be wowing audiences at the Newport Grand Casino through November 26.
South County (RI) residents John Alfiero, Audrey Kaiser, Carol Lyon, and Maria Tavarozzi sing, dance and rock the audience with perfectly timed one-liners, sight gags in an evening of Broadway and pop songs by the great American musical composers.
They are backed-up by talented and personable CCRI graduate Mike Gingras on guitar. In fact, in addition to Mike, every member of the ensemble plays: Audrey on piano, keyboard, arranger and conductor; Carol on drums, Maria on drums and flute and John on percussion- and he snaps his fingers as effectively as Frank Sinatra, too.
This all-singing, all dancing- all bawdy, 18+ comedy;features musical tributes to the 30’s, 40’s and all the decades leading up to the current hit shows “Rent” and “Wicked. They are fully staged production numbers that rival Hollywood and Broadway musicals.
When THE RESIDENT caught the show at a recent Sunday matinee, we were bowled over by the versatility of “Downtown.” Not only are they adept at brilliant four-part harmony as highlighted in “All The Things You Are” and “Fascinating Rhythm,” but their medleys from musical classics like “42nd Street,” “The Wizard of OZ,” “South Pacific,” and “Stop The World, I Want To Get Off” are flawlessly performed. And there are sing-along opportunities with oldies like Carol’s “I’m Just Wild About Harry” in which the audience is drawn into the fun…you gotta love audience participation! Even if you don’t, you’ll surely love what sounds like a cast of thousands.
In fact, this show is all about interaction and playing with the people sitting and sipping at the tables in the Newport Grand’s showroom. The “Downtown” performers get hands clapping and feet tapping with their instrumental version of “12th Street Rag” and are over-the-top in Maria and Carol’s hilarious slap-stick burlesque number “Take It All Off.”
Each singer shines onstage in both ensemble and solo performances: John’s dreamy mellow tribute to the Mills Brothers; Carol, Audrey and Maria as the Andrews Sisters; and the entire company doing “Brand New Day” and “Seasons Of Love.” John and Carol sing beautifully during their “What Kind Of Fool Am I?” “Who Can I Turn To?” duet, and Maria’s lovely voice blends beautifully with Carols’ in “Bali Hai.” Throughout, Audrey sings and plays with gusto, and Mike never misses a musical cue.
Each performance is innovative and a bit different, so it can be appreciated again and again. On the afternoon that THE RESIDENT took in the show there was a table of Westerly residents who had seen the show three times since its opening on September 30th!
Much of the fun comes from Carol Lyon’s bawdy but-nice humor- it never really ‘crosses the line,’ but the sly innuendo and delivery as in her “Italian Sex Manual” definitely has the 240 capacity-room in stitches!
Although a portion of ticket sales benefit the Child and Family Services of Newport County, this is not a show for children or family….unless the family is all grown up and ready for a wonderfully musical and wacky time delivered with professional panache and style. This is a wild ride not to be missed by lovers of Broadway and nostalgia!
For schedule, tickets and directions go to www.newportgrand.com or call 401.608.6777.
Angela wears a Cynthia Rowley top with rock-n-roll stud detail from Marshalls. The emerald-tone beaded necklace and matching earrings with Swarovski crystals are one of Kristy’s creations from the “Arc General Store and Bakery, Groton. For the lusious curls in her hair, she used Chi products from TJ Maxx.
by Angela Olsen
Ready or not, Fall is in full swing, and I decided to use the change in season to mark a personal time for renewal, a fresh start, if you will, and a return to the chapter Mirror Mirror from Millionaire Matchmaker, Patti Stanger’s book: “Become Your Own Matchmaker.” Patti hammered me for my lack of style and weight at Singles Boot Camp at the Mohegan Sun Casino on Valentine’s Weekend.
I’ve come a long way since then, but even on the journey up, it’s easy to become complacent or stagnant “in a groove,” while life happens. For example, eating only once a day this Summer, fearful of gaining back lost pounds, actually hindered my weight loss efforts. My friend, Jessica, pointed out eating once a day is the “Sumo Wrestler Diet.” While sporting a red t-shirt to run errands, my friend, Julia, asked me if it was my favorite shirt since I wore it all the time! Oops!
That plateau was busted-through, last week, losing eight-pounds, and I’m on track to do the same this week! Now, to lose ‘my favorite shirt’ and scour the fashion scene and renew my style!
What designers sent down the runways for the Fall 2010 collections was thrilling! I spent the past few days studying their collections around the clock for you! Two of the largest themes are military-inspired garments, which is evident in the new cargo leggings and the closures on several coats. Also exhilarating is “lady-chic” a return to feminine pieces, like glamorous hats, to ‘top off’ a look!
Jewel-tones are huge. The deep plums and khaki colors Chanel presented in the new makeup palette mirror the richly colored autumn leaves! Animal prints are making a ferocious resurgence. In fact, leopard is now considered a neutral! Modern lace was everywhere on the Gucci runways. It’s a refreshing departure from the cheap-looking 1980’s rock-video lace and revamped so that it doesn’t look like drapery.
Oscar de La Renta recently showed emerald toned jewelry on his models; reminding me of the “Emerald City.” Thrift stores are an awesome place to find beaded accessories. You can ‘have a leg up,’ with legwarmers – the Prada runway boasts knit versions with rosette details. Oversized, cozy, chunky sweaters were part of Chanel’s collection. Donna Karan, true to form, had chic blacks, flattering women of all shapes and sizes.
Armed with this information, I grew excited to go shopping for my own interpretation of these runway looks! There are many videos on YouTube. My favorite is by a girl named Marlena, who is a makeup artist. Search “makeup geek” and you will master every hot technique imaginable. She even helped me with organizing, for example, using a desktop pen-holder for all of my makeup brushes! Although many of the makeup she uses is expensive, she lists comparable affordable brands. I ordered an 88-color palette and am loving it!
Most local shops are carrying designer-inspired Fall looks, and transition pieces which will work through Winter. The prices are tangible. The key is to make each idea unique, reflective of whom you are, and enjoy the ride!
Angela Olsen says, “Infected eggs will be treated, pasteurized and sold-either as powdered eggs, in pasta, or other processed foods. Eek!”
by Angela Olsen
As we bid goodbye to Summer this issue, and chat with Residents on the Street about their favorite Fall recipes, I sit in disbelief that this column is at its 15th installment and Autumn is upon us! Oddly enough, when the opportunity to write arose, I wasn’t looking for anything! Didn’t some wise person say that it’s when you’re not looking that things fall into our laps? “Non-negotiables” were the hot topic last issue, Patti Stanger, whom I met at the Mohegan Sun Casino at Singles Boot camp; broke off her engagement to her fiancé due to conflicting “non-negotiables.”
This matter spawned a tremendous amount of consideration within me. My own sister told me to never have children. Of course, that was immediately following an incident on the beach, where someone’s child approached my blanket screaming at the top of her lungs. I made the most menacing face possible and told her to scram! I was trying to decompress! I will also abandon my cart in the grocery store and leave the shopping for another day if there are crying babies everywhere.
I’ll let you in on a little secret… I love children! The day my little niece Haley was born was the most joyous event to date! I look forward to spending time with her above everything! Kids seem to like me too, we have an unspoken chemistry. I suppose, then, having pondered this, that, as I work through the steps of “Become Your Own Matchmaker,” and continue the quest for true love, that the option of having children must be open. Having children, is a non-negotiable for me. That is, if my 32-year old eggs are any good!
Speaking of eggs, I couldn’t help but notice that half a billion eggs were recently recalled and that thousands of Americans are now sick with salmonella! I have plans to break this weight-loss plateau once and for all, and it involves the incredible, edible egg. As I discussed this matter with a friend, he told me that the tainted eggs will be recalled, pasteurized and sold! I can’t be the only person who is freaked out by this… So scary!
I’m excited about Fall fashion and need to pay my weight-loss forward so that I can wear these sexy options, and do not need this crisis right now!
I phoned my pal “Doc” Burrows of the Groton Family Farm, and asked for his take on this crisis. I asked how something like this outbreak happens, and he told me, “When you have birds in close quarters, the risk of disease is much higher. Having said that, I don’t believe that it’s industry wide, it’s a couple of ‘bad actors,’ who have already received several citations and are not complying with FDA regulations. To have birds, you cannot allow people into your coops. They can spread disease such as bronchitis or salmonella.”
I then asked Doc the question, to which I probably did not want to know the answer, and he confirmed that, yes, the infected eggs will be treated, pasteurized and sold-either as powdered eggs, in pasta, or other processed foods. Eek!
My eggs will be coming from happy, healthy birds, from local farmers, as Doc told me that “when you create in volume, you cannot control the environment, and going to smaller production, there is more control. Know your farmer…know your food!” How do you feel about pasteurization of infected eggs?
