Enroute to the Elite Eight - Extra Excitement

Wichita State vs. George Mason - Even though the game is being played in George Mason's backyard....I say Go Shockers!
U Conn vs. Washington - Seattle is one of my favorite cities, but I used to live in Ridgefield, CT...this is a toss-up. I will take Washington.
Boston College vs. Villanova - another toss-up. I want B.C. to win because of my friend Melissa, a B.C. Alumni, but I have an inkling Villanova will win this.
Florida vs. Georgetown....GO GATORS! I love Georgetown, (the actual neighborhood in D.C.), but I love the Gators even more.

What a great finish last night in the LSU - Duke game and TEXAS with that 3-pointer at the very end....that shot will look great in the highlight video played after the Championship game is over.

Off to find a fish fry for Lent.

Sweet 16 and never been dissed...

March Madness...I love this time of year!

Tonight is Duke vs. LSU. I love Duke, but after Katrina, I am pulling for LSU. Bradley vs. Memphis - who cares? Let's go with Bradley since they beat Kansas! W. VA vs. Texas - go Big 12 - - Hook 'em horns....wouldn't that be something if they won the Football Championship and the Basketball Championship in the same year, just 3 months apart! Gonzaga vs. UCLA - always Gonzaga.

Tomorrow night is all about Florida!!

Go Gators!!
Go Gators!!
Go Gators!!

Mixing HIV with ABCs - NY Post

I typically log on to the online edition of The New York Post every day. One of today's articles "Mixing HIV with ABCs" is worth sharing. There is a time and place for everything, but learning the words HIV, AIDS and cancer at the age of 5 is not what I have in mind for my daughter. It is a tough call. Unfortunately, the numbers speak louder than the words themselves. But sometimes I wonder, who is listening? The public schools certainly have an agenda, but so does each private and religious-based school. To be honest, we all have an agenda of some sort. Hopefully the NY public school system will rethink this proposed revision to the curriculum.

Becca, Feb. 2006 

Becca Loves Brooklyn 

If I was living in New York City again I would...

start my day with a H & H bagel (poppyseed, pumpernickle or plain), toasted with butter and a coffee regular. I would drop my Sweetie off at preschool and take off walking south down Broadway and smile at every single person I make eye contact with. I would have KTU playing in my ears and sing along if the spirit moved me.

And I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain
And I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain
It's years since you've been there and now you disappeared somewhere

I'd spend a couple hours at the International Center of Photography and then hop on the subway and take it downtown to catch the Staten Island ferry, where I would go for a R/T ride and journal or write some song lyrics. I would reflect on the skyline that will never look quite right - even 4-1/2 years later - I can't and won't get used to that huge void where the towers once stood.

I would hope for an overcast day, so that I could justify that little bag of warm mini-chocolate chip cookies I want to buy inside the ferry.

Once back in Manhattan I would hit Canal Street and see what bargains I can score before I need to pick up my darling daughter from dayschool. I can picture her face, full of enthusiasm when she shows me the art she created and that will soon hang proudly on our refridgerator in our cozy apartment. I can dream of a brownstone, but will be thankful for what we have.

We will make a little dinner of pan-seared chicken breasts and rice, with some mandarin oranges. She will take a bath and "swim" in the clawfoot tub. We will pick out jammies, read books and then say prayers before I tuck her in. I tell her "I love you" and she says "Thank you, Mama." I say "God bless you, Sweetie" and she says "Thank you." I kiss her on her sweet head and smile a smile that only God and I can see. Her eyes are already closed and she has a strong-hold on Pink Kitty. I shut the door and thank God for one more day of being her mom.

I am so honored to be her mother.

Let The Blogging Begin

Welcome to the very first BeccaLovesBrooklyn Blog. I feel worthy and considerably more hip now that I have my own blog. Life seems somehow more complete than it did 5 minutes ago. As a person who loves to write and has boxes of journals and spiral notebooks spilling over with thoughts and ruminations, I am thrilled at the possibilities that exist with this outlet for my thoughts in 2006.

So far it is looking like this will be another year in the midwest. I long for, yearn for, crave the insanity that is New York City. I miss The City. I miss everything about it. However, like I learned with a 2-week sublet a year ago, it is very challenging to live in the city with a baby as a single mom.

And that is just what I am. A single mom. A breeder. A 33-1/3% statistic of women in the U.S. who give birth - unmarried. I should have had an inkling when I got teary as Murphy Brown sang "Natural Woman" to her newborn in the finale of the controversial show so many years ago...that one day, that would be me. Even though becoming a mom before I was married was not on the 5-Year-Plan.

But it is what it is. And now 30 months post-partum I would not want anything to be different. I am more in love with my Sweetie than I ever dreamt possible. I can't wrap my brain around what I ever thought was important before she arrived.

Speaking of important: American Idol, Season 5. Chris D. (too talented), Kelly P. (too naive), Paris (too young), or Taylor H. (too unique?) - I say it will be one of those 4. However, Kat did a great job last night with her turn doing a song by Stevie Wonder.

The meatloaf is done and the garlic is roasted, so I guess "Soup's On" as they say....

more later....A LOT more.