Al Capone...
...public enemy #1
...one of the most notorious criminals of all time
...humanitarian?
Al Capone has been portrayed throughout history as a bad man, however, there's good in all people. Deirdre Marie Capone is the grand niece of this infamous man and has shared a different and detailed back story in,
Uncle Al Capone.From Al Capone's efforts to integrate baseball, to what really happened to him while he served time on Alcatraz,
Uncle Al Capone is a detailed and poignant look at Al's background. In this book Deirdre also shares memories of Uncle Al and what it was like growing with the stigma of the Capone name - it wasn't easy!
In addition, Deirdre also shares her grandmother's recipes for some of Al's favorite and traditional dishes.
Uncle Al Capone is an interesting and page-turning read. I enjoyed the details and true story of Capone from someone who was there and the never seen before pics from her own family album.
Check out
Uncle Al Capone at Deirdre's web site at;
http://www.unclealcapone.com/
A really cool babe I know was interviewed for the wonderful Class of 2K8 group blog. I learned so much from this chick's interview. You can too. See here: http://classof2k8.blogspot.com/ (At this rate, I'll be the charter member of the class of 3K8. Do you think I will finally figure out how to burn CDs by then?)
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Some times we know when we've said too much, when we've complained beyond the pale, when we've told all the world we're miserable over a little scratch or a last-second Blooming Pimple.
And then there are days like today. When every whine and kvetch and tantrum is utterly justified.
It's Easy Bake Oven hot in here. The central air conditioner is either out of the juice it needs to do its thing or it's just that much hotter outside at this late hour than it should be.
I just killed an ugly swarm of baby ants marching in and around the dog's food bowl. Eureka. Book me on the Home Shopping Network. I just found a new use for a can of Arrid Extra Dry. (If it can kill odors....) ;> (Forgive me, you humane and lovely people.) It was all I had available at the moment. They had to go. I am talking about 100 ants. They walk fast. Who knew? At least they went out with fresh-smelling underarms. We should all be so lucky.
But the worst part of this horrific day was when I encountered, face-to-face, a 18-20 year old attempting to break into my house via the bathroom skylight in the ceiling. He was one step away from jumping down to the floor and doing G-d knows what to me and the house-- and my daughter, who was home with me.
Oh My G-d. A nightmare. My worst. A violation of my home and sanctity. He was yanking open the skylight when I saw his face looking down at me. His body was crouched, like a wiry, malevolent spider in still life.
I never knew I could scream this loud. I cannot believe I was only Co-Captain of the Boosters cheering squad with the sailor's mouth I apparently acquired somewhere on the road. ;>
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" I screamed in the shrillest, most piercing pitch of A triple sharp sharp.
Note to the mature readers out there: (Do I have any?! Raise your keyboards. All together now.) There may have been a few expletives tucked into the above-referenced sentence but I'm taking artistic license to omit the Naughty Bits here in this edit-free re-telling of the saga. Trust me. Those words do not add to the story.
Face to face with a home invader! Face to face with something I hate more than mice. (Note to self: post the "I Hate" meme soon.)
He fled. I freaked. I spent the rest of the afternoon entertaining police officers and detectives and sniffing dogs in my home. I apologized for the mess. I offered them food. (Can't shut off the Betty Crocker Good Hostess spigot, even in the middle of a crime scene.)
My dog, Charlie, is the true hero. If not for his incessant, mad as hell dog barks, I would not have known to follow the sounds of banging and tools to the 2nd floor bathroom.
He deserves a medal for his heroics. I deserve peace and quiet.
Does anyone have any to spare?
Please?
A special thanks to children's author Audrey Vernick for watching over me, today and always.
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