Christmas Trees and Background Checks

By: Mary Fran Bontempo To hear an audio version of this post click the play arrow below. I will not be fluffing Christmas trees this year. A good friend of mine has, for several years now, been engaged as a tree fluffer for a number of department stores. She gets trees ready for store display by fluffing for a few days during the month of October, generally spending several pleasant hours doing something [...]

2018-10-30T09:46:04-04:00October 8th, 2013|0 Comments

The Scandal is Back–A Television Review

By: Mary Fran Bontempo It's absurd, it's overwrought, it's unbelievable, it's engrossing, it's exciting, it's addicting. It's Scandal, which began season three last night at 10 PM on ABC. I started watching the show last season at the behest of my daughter, Laura, who was hooked early on. For the uninitiated, Scandal stars the lovely Kerry Washington as a high-powered Washington, D.C. "fixer" with direct ties to the president. Washington's Olivia Pope is [...]

2018-10-30T09:46:06-04:00October 4th, 2013|0 Comments

A Real Love

by Chrysa Smith My Dearest Friend, …should I draw you the picture of my Heart, it would be what I hope you still would Love; tho it contained nothing new; the early possession you obtained there; and the absolute power you have ever maintained over it; leaves not the smallest space unoccupied. I look back to the early days of our acquaintance; and Friendship, as to the days of Love and Innocence; and [...]

2018-10-30T09:46:07-04:00October 3rd, 2013|0 Comments

A Different Take on a Tastykake

By: Mary Fran Bontempo To hear an audio version of this post, click the play arrow below.   To all Entenmann's workers and stockholders--my apologies. While I'm at it, let's add to the list Tastykakes as well as every soft pretzel manufacturer in the tri-state area, along with the guy who sells pretzels at the entrance to Woodhaven Road, before you get on I-95 in Philadelphia. My husband is watching his weight. Ordinarily, [...]

2018-10-30T09:46:08-04:00October 1st, 2013|0 Comments

The Blacklist and Hostages–A Television Review

By: Mary Fran Bontempo James Spader is one creepy dude. I've never been a great fan of the actor, mainly because he specializes in portraying off-the-wall, and sometimes downright menacing, characters. The fact that he makes me uncomfortable really just means that he does his job extremely well. Spader extends his creepy, menacing streak with his latest endeavor--The Blacklist, airing on NBC Mondays at 10 PM. The actors stars as Raymond "Red" Reddington, [...]

2018-10-30T09:46:11-04:00September 27th, 2013|0 Comments
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