HUMANIZING THE JAGUAR

Hi All you music fans here is a NEW book I've written that is for all people but gives the music fan an added bonus of a game hidden within the text     for more info go to my website

http://humanizingthejaguar.com/  it has video, information about book lots of music info and petition to sign also trying to get support for an artist sponsored contest.

What's your favorite family tradition?

Reminds me of my mom & Christmas

Here’s one of our family traditions, cookies that my mom & I would make mainly for Christmas. It’s made with homemade dough and set in the frig at least overnight. BUT the filling we use is what makes this special. It’s called Prune Butter or Lekvar and when I was a child this “special” filling was only available at the import store. You can use other fillings such as nut, poppy seed, or even other jams, but do not use one that is too thin or it will ooze out while baking. Here’s how our cookies look when done.

　

Happy Baking, 

Monica　

Have you ever done something silly?? Here's one of mine.

Ever do something silly? I did back last year. Bristol TN/VA has concerts throughout the summer on State St in the Farmer’s market section. Country music is predominate in this area and the bands that perform twice a week are either country or bluegrass. Last year was a bit different with four tribute bands on the listings to perform. The first three were Aerosmith, Journey and the Eagles and they all drew a larger than usual crowd. Maybe people just wanted to hear something different. But this gave me an idea.





signs almost as big a me ha ha



AC DC was the last of the tribute bands to perform on Sept 8 and I had a book signing coming up on the 11^th. My friend Karen and I went to State St wearing signs of my up coming book signing. Security approached us and wanted to know what we were doing. Since it was only to promote the event they allowed us to pass out the flyers. My sign was the size of a poster board and it hung touching my calves making it difficult to walk. Karen should have been wearing that one because she’s close to six feet tall. People must have thought we were flakey but it was fun just the same. We only did that for about an hour, put our supplies back in the car and went back to enjoy the show. I hope they continue to have some rock bands there again this year. What do you think?   Did you go to any of the concerts? Have you ever done silly stuff like this without it being Halloween?

　

　HAPPY having some silly fun 

    Monica

Don't we all HATE waiting in lines!!!

How many people HATE waiting? It's been documented that we spend years waiting in lines. I especially get annoyed when I start my day early and tackle my do list of weekly chores, such as food shopping and breeze through the store only to be stuck in line because the computer went down. Now I’m a few people deep in the line, so do I ditch the groceries or wait it out and possibly be late for my doctor’s appointment causing them to reschedule me? Just when I thought I was doing good on time this sets me back. And I will still need to stop home and put the cold items away. This can be most frustrating. We are so dependant on computers that when they stop it sure does make life come to a stand still.

But some things are worth waiting for, such as special planned vacations, a holiday, milestones of family or oneself such as graduations, birthdays, weddings, a special show, a concert; lots of good stuff to look forward to. But all in all I think we all feel waiting in line is a waste of ones time.

Happy waiting in lines (just joking)
Monica

Here's to all Pet (animal) people part 2

Please turn off the lights

CATS

My feline babies started with my very first cat, an orange tabby that I got while I had Muffin. I wanted him to stand out so I named him Ozzy. Yes, after Ozzy Osbourne. I got him from a neighbor whose cat had kittens. He was a sweet cat and reminded me of a dog because he would come when called. I also had my sister’s cat Missy, who literally was a bitch, very antisocial. She stayed in my basement and only came around when she wanted. Then I decided I wanted another cat so I went to the shelter and this cute gray kitten caught my eye. I knew I found a new baby to bring home. I decided my cats were going to be named after musicians. Therefore, this cat was named Manson, but he mostly is called baby cat. Him and Ozzy became friends and would hang on the windowsill like bookends. By the time Missy finally started coming around she got sick and I had her put down. At this time I had the two dogs Lea & Tiny and the two cats Ozzy & Manson. Then there was a stray cat that kept coming around my back yard. I felt sorry for it so I’d put food and water out and this went on for a few months. I really thought it would get run over since I lived in a busy city back then. It didn’t take me long to bring him in the house. I joke and tell people I cat-napped him. And yes it turned out it was a male. Again I got to pick a cool name, this tan/orange color cat I call Geddy, after the singer for Rush, Geddy Lee. Not long after I got Geddy, my Ozzy got sick and I had to put him down. For a short while I had just the two dogs and two cats until the Pug came along.

So that’s my story of how I got all my babies….

Happy pets

Monica

Here's to all us Pet (animal) people

DOGS

　

My pets are my babies. My very first dog was a Chihuahua mix she was white with long hair and I named her Candy. When Candy was about twelve I got a second little Chihuahua mix that was mostly white with some black and I named her Muffin. The two never got that close because of the age difference. Both were good dogs but Muffin was extra sweet. Candy died at fourteen. I got another dog that was a Chihuahua but this time a full breed. I was adamant not to name her after food. Her name is Lea. Muffin and Lea knew each other but not for long. Muffin died at ten years olds almost on her birthday. Now Lea is my oldest, smallest, and cutest of the bunch. Since she is the only female; she is the most spoiled. My next two came into the family by chance. First came Tiny, a Chihuahua mix, who now weighs twenty-six pounds. His other half is a mystery. He was a neighbor’s dog years ago who was neglected and abused, and when they moved they no longer wanted him. They showed up on my doorstep on Thanksgiving day and asked me IF I wanted him. I felt bad for him and said yes. He’s really a good dog, just when I first got him he showed his teeth a lot, because of his history with people. Once he got used to me he was fine. Then came Frankie who started out as my niece‘s dog. She couldn’t keep him due to her apartment changing the lease and needed to find him a home. Auntie offered to adopt him. This one is a Pug named after the Pug in Men In Black. He's like a bull in a china shop; not graceful at all. He’s a handful most days but when he looks at me with those big brown bulgy eyes, I can’t stay mad at him very long.

These are my canine babies I also have two felines but that is another story…

Happy pets

Monica

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Manson Concert

HEY MANSON Fans here's my neice and I at the House of Blues in AC New Jersey before the concert.  It was a treat getting to see Manson after so many years.  This was our third time seeing him and of course we went to all three shows together.  It's our special time!



Manson Concert 2012 in NJ



Manson Concert 2012 in NJ

Manson Concert 2012 in NJ

Heres's the song list

Cruel world

Dispasable teens

Love song

No reflection

Mobscence

Dope show

Slo motion

Rock is dead

Personal Jesus

Pistol whipped

Trourniquet

Hate athem

Sweet dreams

Antichrist

Beautiful people

So if anyone has been to a concert recently please share with us......  Music is truly one of life's pleasure's.

Happy listening

Monica

Favorite Foods

Everyone loves to eat different foods and talk about them as well. Going out to eat is always a crowd pleaser.  My parents used to make it a Saturday night ritual looking at that as their vacation since they didn’t take one.  And I’m following in the tradition, most weekends I go out with my friend Michelle. It seems the hardest part is deciding which place to pick.   Both of us are big on “cheese and tomato sauce” you could say we are partial to Italian cuisine the pizza, pasta, and parmesan dishes; all make great eating. Sometimes it’s Chinese take out, a burger or sandwiches. Here in the Tri-cities the place for a great pulled pork sandwich is “Hot Dog It”. The taste is excellent and the sandwich large and filling.  If you want a salad I would recommend Mad Greek’s grilled chicken salad with house dressing.  Once you have their’s you probably won’t order it anyplace else.

Why not share some of your favorite foods/food places with us?  Maybe you agree or you could give us some new places to visit.    Are these pictures making you hungry?

Happy eating out!!

Monica

Fun things to do in Bristol

I was recently asked, What is the most fun thing you have done in Bristol? To be honest I really had to think about that, There is all the usual stuff to do like go to the movies, dine out and go shopping. I don’t know if it was the most fun thing but right here in town on State St, back in October my friend and I went to a haunted walk through building the Theatre of Bristol. We had to wait to get in and they only allowed two to four people in at a time. We had to walk up a staircase and then walk into different rooms following our tour guide. The whole thing lasted about ten minutes which I felt was not worth the wait since we were outside at least a half hour and it was cold that night. 

If anyone was there please feel free to comment. If they have this again they should change how it’s set up.   Also if anyone has ideas on what is unique to the area please share it with us.

Happy sight-seeing
Monica

Disappearing Wonderword Game

Have you ever enjoyed a puzzle in the newspaper? 

I have and when I moved the newspaper from NJ here to Bristol VA, the paper didn’t print it. It’s called “Wonderword”.  This is a great search a word puzzle. For those of you who are not familiar, it has a different twist where the letters are to be individually circled and the remaining letters will spell out the answer.

I was so happy that, after a few months, I found it in the mall at one of the calendar stands as a “Page a day calendar” for the upcoming year.

I was able to find it this way for two years but this year I couldn’t find it anywhere---not at the specialty calendar stands, not even online.  I called the company and of course, it was discontinued. However, it’s on the Wonderword website, which only gives two puzzles a week.  Heck that’s better than nothing!

So has this ever happened with something you like?  I’m sure we all have experienced something like this with various products or services we’ve come to enjoy and BAM, one day it’s gone!  How many times have I been disappointed in TV shows I’ve started watching and then get cancelled?  

Happy gaming,
Monica

Scrabble and Friends

Do you have a favorite board game?

My favorite is Scrabble.  I tell people in jest all the time that I “have game, will travel.” This is a good way to make it light and hope someone gets the hint to play a game with me. It doesn’t matter what level they play at since most of it depends mainly on two factors; the tiles you pick and how well you place the tiles on the extra point squares.

I am not that great a speller yet I find the game fun and challenging. My friend Michelle & I get to play a game or two pretty often and I enjoy it even though the odds are against me winning  It’s about 80-20 me being the 20%. I say don’t let Scrabble intimidate you. Have fun playing a game and enjoying a friend’s company.

Music Fan Writes Rockin' Novel

Welcome to my Blog….

My name is Monica Daddio (yes daddy-o) and ever since I can remember, I have been an avid music fan. I was born and raised in New Jersey which is also the birthplace of Bon Jovi and other well-known rockers. I attended Catholic grammar schools and Trenton High.

I was only familiar with a handful of music artists: The Osmond Brothers and The Partridge Family and only a few rock acts like The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Beatles and David Bowie. My younger brother introduced me to rock music when I was in high school. I think Kiss would be my favorite band. They also had the most influence on my music taste. Then came the birth of MTV and I fell in love with rock music in all its aspects.

When I was seventeen I went to work as summer help for the Mercer County Superintendent of Elections office. This turned into my first and only full time job. I stayed there until I was able to retire and move with my father to the Bristol VA/TN area.

The first question everyone asks around here is “What brought you to Bristol?” My reasons are pretty simple. The weather is nicer, the houses are more affordable, the lifestyle is slower paced, and the people are very friendly. There is a landmark sign over State Street that reads “Bristol is a nice place to live.” And, I agree, it is.

I can’t remember when I first thought about writing a book. It is something I have wanted to do for years. My passion for rock music and rock musicians inspired my first novel, “Humanizing the Jaguar”. This story is about a young boy who faces life’s challenges as he strives to become the next rock star.

And for all you music fans, I added a very special game throughout the book. Test your music knowledge by spotting as many of the 150+ trivia clues hidden throughout the text. Let me know how many of the clues you can find in the comments section at the end of this blog. To all you rockers out there, join in the fun and see just how much trivia you really know.

Happy Reading,

Monica