Poco ma buono

Posted on December 23, 2014 by minanaos

Thin linguine with a light garlic-wine sauce and two rock lobster tails.
Simple, little but very good.
Enjoyed with two people who mean the world to me creating a memorable birthday event.
Gratitude and blessings!

Dream

Posted on August 18, 2014 by minanaos

Sometimes, all you need is a little bit of light to see the depths of the limitless skies.

I Promise….

Posted on June 23, 2014 by minanaos

never to play with such wild abandon in the mud ever again!

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A Moment’s Rest

Posted on June 15, 2014 by minanaos

affords even the seemingly most insignificant among us respite and relaxation.

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Specials of the Day

Posted on June 5, 2014 by minanaos

of a quaint trattoria in Trastevere, Rome.

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ever-green

Posted on November 25, 2013 by minanaos

i’ve decided. two hollies in front of the house. years of doubt and desperation bring solitude and resignation at “that which is”. i love holly- it means being always “new”, steadfast deeply green, even in the coldest of winters. their … Continue reading →

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november prayer.

Posted on November 14, 2013 by minanaos

For mercy on those unaware who persist and continue the Crucifixion in their words and acts of violence against others,

For the many who, despite hostilities, hatred, hardship and homelessness, seek a better life for their families, themselves in a land of often empty promises,

For the repose of souls murdered, beaten, abused, scorned and mocked,

And for the strength Your Spirit can give, we who seek peace and justice pray for perseverance, for enlightenment to say the right words, do the right things and be a testament to Your principles of Goodness and Love in a world which often refuses to see and hear Your Truth. Amen.

(in commemoration of the death of our loved ones, and in particular for the murder of Marcelo Lucero in Patchogue, LI- november 2008)

Patchogue hate crime victim Marcelo Lucero remembered (newsday.com)
5 years after hate crime conviction following Ecuadorian’s death, more tolerance in NY town (nbclatino.com)
Prayer for Justice (gralefrit.wordpress.com)
Latino Relationships With Police Improve On Long Island Five Years After Awful Hate Crime (huffingtonpost.com)

speak to me of rainbows

Posted on November 11, 2013 by minanaos

Sometimes the days speak in ways hidden to most, but clear to us. Thursday, I stayed after the workshop was over, speaking with the Science Department Chair about problems and making life better for our communities locally and at-large. … Continue reading →

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Hunger 101

Posted on November 10, 2013 by minanaos

“It was rainin’ hard in ‘Frisco, I needed one more fare to make my night. A lady up ahead waved to flag me down. She got in at at the light.” (Taxi, Harry Chapin)

Many of us from the 60s generation recall the few opening lyrics and can’t help but sing with a certain nostalgia that echoes a time of hope, promise as well as an irretrievable feeling unique to those times. Now, we find ourselves in situations of the same social urgency with fewer common resources, but oh-so-much-more knowledge! On Long Island, Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Food Bank not only embodies the legacy of Harry Chapin, but maintains an exceptional array of outreach programming serving the greater LI public. Thursday, November 7th, Christine Brown from LI Cares came to our school to engage students in an interactive workshop called “Hunger 101.” Students learned the realities of hunger in local communities and were encouraged to “only imagine” how that situation might be “magnified” into various regions of the island, the state, the region, the country and the world. It was an exercise few students and all-too few adults truly realize. Ms Brown continued with a video detailing the programs that have developed from the dream of alleviating hunger so many years ago: food delivery for the elderly, for veterans, an after-school cafe’ for kids with mentoring and nutritious food, as well as supplying food for countless pantries and soup kitchens on Long Island. Students learned how they would deal with certain issues in their lives through role-playing with budgetary constraints, unexpected contrived problems and the choices they would be forced to make when these problems occurred in their families. The results revealed brought a new-found understanding, just a touch more empathy about the world around us and hopefully a commitment on the part of others to understand that we are ultimately here for a purpose – to be engaged, be a part of goodness and to take little steps in creating a better world.

“Through the too many miles, and the too little smiles, I still remember you.” (Taxi, Harry Chapin)