tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52649639656058434772024-02-02T06:04:03.592-05:00So...How Did You Meet Anyway?Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-46287476149185964782024-01-25T22:23:00.000-05:002024-01-25T22:23:07.943-05:00Jon Stewart and Tracey McShane<h2>
Jon Stewart and Tracey McShane </h2>
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In order to maintain a balanced point of view in today's volatile political climate, I relied on two major news sources; the thoughtful :) conservative pieces presented by Steven Colbert, and the more comfortable (to me) liberal point of view presented by Jon Stewart in <i>The Daily Show.</i><br />
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Despite the fact that Jon Stewart readily recognizes his show is meant to be satire and comedy, <i>The Daily Show</i> has received 16 Emmy awards, and has been nominated for various news and journalism awards. His intelligence and wit, along with his passion for truth<i> </i>results in "fake news" which often is presented with more authenticity than the "news" found on major networks.<br />
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Jon Stewart was born Jonathan Stewart Leibowitz. He was raised in New York City, mostly by a mother, who any fan of <i>The Daily Show</i> knows, is revered by Stewart for her commitment to teaching and education.<br />
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After Graduating from The College of William and Mary in Virginia, Stewart moved to New York City to try his hand in the comedy club circuit.During this time he began using Jon Stewart as his stage name.<br />
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In 1999 Comedy central launched <i>The Daily Show</i>, and the rest is news history.<br />
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In 2000 Jon Stewart married Tracey McShane, his girlfriend of four years. The two met on a blind date arranged by a friend of Stewarts who had been a production assistant on a former Stewart film.<br />
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I love the way Jon Stewart proposed!<br />
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Working with Will Shortz, the crossword editor at the New York Times, Stewart created a personalized crossword puzzle that, clue by clue, popped the question.<br />
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Jon and Tracey live in New York City with their son, daughter, cat, and two dogs.<br />
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When Jon Stewart announced this week that he would be leaving <i>The Daily Show</i>, one of the explanations that he offered was that he wanted a chance to actually have dinner with his family "on a school night". He had heard from many people that his family was a lovely one.<br />
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I will miss Jon Stewart's nightly "news" as much as I've been missing the Colbert Report, but I wish him, Tracey, and their lovely family all the best in the future.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Stewart</span>Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-38915257101074063312022-09-30T16:57:00.000-04:002022-09-30T16:57:30.894-04:00Roger Federer and Mirka Vavrinec<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Transitions can be difficult, and it seems as though Roger Federer is going through one now.</span><br />
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To everyone's surprise he's had a rough Grand Slam season, exiting in the semi-finals in the Australian Open in January, the quarter-finals in the French Open in early June, and the 2nd round at Wimbledon to a player ranked 116th.<br />
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Despite everyone's hope for a Federer miracle, he lost in straight sets to Tommy Robrado of Spain at the U.S. Open just days ago.<br />
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"I've definitely got to go back to work and come back stronger," Federer stated in a post match interview.<br />
"Get rid of this loss now as quick as I can, forget about it, because that's not how I want to play from here on, I want to play better. I know I can."<br />
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Always in his corner giving him support, love, and advice is his devoted family.<br />
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Federer was born in Binnington, Switzerland, a small area near Basel. He credits his amazing tennis skills to the variety of sports he played growing up: badminton, cricket, and basketball.<br />
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He is an avid cricket fan, and knows that he is interested "whenever a ball is involved."<br />
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Apparently that interest extends into his personal life. In 2000, while competing for Switzerland in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he met and fell in love with fellow Swiss teammate, Mirka Vavrinec.<br />
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After suffering from a foot injury in 2002, Mirka retired from tennis and took on the role of Federer's personal relations manager.<br />
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The two were married in a small ceremony near Basel on April 11,2009, and on July 23rd 2009 Mirka gave birth to identical twins, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva.<br />
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Big Win for Federer!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Federer</span>Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-66674651528535383032022-09-30T16:55:00.000-04:002022-09-30T16:55:03.646-04:00Photo Okayed - Matchmaking with a Happily Ever After Ending<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One day a proposal came to my father from the prospective suitable boy's maternal uncle. Our family was known to them. After the initial proposal, the uncle and the prospective boy's father came to discuss the proposal with my father one evening. Maa made necessary preparations to receive the important guests. <br />
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During the meeting the suitability of the boy was discussed which included his education, which was pretty impressive, his profession and family. The uncle then asked baba about me. Both seemed to be satisfied and agreed to progress. Photographs were exchanged. The boy's photo was shown to me and my opinion was sought. I saw the face of a reasonably personable young man and decided he would do. I guess the young man also thought the same, for it was rumored his telegram to his parents read 'Photo Okayed'. <br />
<a name='more'></a>My older brother also made a little reconnaissance trip to Hyderabad, where Suvesh was working at the time to 'see the boy' and to make his acquaintance before the proposal was finalized. Suvesh obviously came across fairly normal, as the negotiations progressed quickly thereafter, and It was quite a simple straight forward affair without any discordant note. There was an air of excitement in the house. The auspicious date was fixed for the first ceremony, call aashirbaad, meaning blessings from both the sides.</div>
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Ours was a very traditional arranged marriage with each other’s consent. Arranged marriages usually conjure a picture of a practical, well planned affair, devoid of any romantic aspect. In my experience, ours was far from it. One constantly thinks of the distant person. The element of surprise and anticipation of falling in love is incredibly romantic.</div>
Finally the wedding day arrived. In the morning my Baba performed a very beautiful ceremony to ask our ancestors for their blessings. <br />
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The main part of the ceremony is the Yagna. My father sat on one side of the fire and the groom on the other side with both the priests. All the necessary paraphernalia was arranged around the place where the fire was to be lit. It is a very elaborate and quite complex ceremony. The priests chant Sanskrit mantras throughout different stages with both Baba and the groom repeating after them. After the initial stage I was brought in and I sat next to the man who was soon to become my husband. Suddenly the thought passed through my mind that this was the person I shall be closest to from now on. </div>
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. My hand was put on the grooms hand and covered with a cloth. Through giving offerings to the fire and chanting of mantra s my father gave me away to the man who would be his son-in-law. Then the aanchal of my sari was tied to the groom’s uttorio (silk shawl) and we walked seven steps together. Each step symbolised different aspects of life together. It also means if we could get through these 7 steps together then we could face life together, loving, caring and respecting each other and be for each other for whatever life presents us with. After that the sindur (vermillion) was put on the sinthi</div>
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(part of the hair) accompanied by relevant sanskrit verses. We became man and wife.</div>
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Finally came the time I was dreading. I left my beloved home, my parents, my brothers with tearful eyes. I saw both Maa and Baba happy, but so very sad. My father was a strong man. This was the first time I saw tears in his eyes. All said goodbye to me. I left my life as I knew it, everything familiar and dear and a part of me was left behind. I got into the car with my new husband and left for a new life.<br />
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http://family-charms.com/2011/06/26/ma-and-babas-wedding/</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1328515548" target="_blank"><wbr></wbr><wbr></wbr></a><br />
<a href="http://family-charms.com/2011/06/27/and-now-let%E2%80%99s-hear-from-baba/" target="_blank"><wbr></wbr></a><a href="http://family-charms.com/2011/06/27/and-now-let%E2%80%99s-hear-from-baba/" target="_blank"><wbr></wbr></a>Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-26874119326129715812019-11-18T22:14:00.000-05:002019-11-18T22:19:26.360-05:00Henry Ford The Great Believer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although Henry Ford and Clara Bryant grew up within eight miles of each other, they first met at a New Year's Eve Ball when Clara was 18. They spoke for only a few minutes, but Henry Ford would always recollect that he knew Clara was the girl for him right away. Henry Ford, who loved dancing, attended many more dances that season, but it was nearly a year before he saw Clara again. The young couple soon became engaged and were married on April 11,1888, the bride's twenty second birthday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Henry Ford often referred to his wife as his great believer. Clara always showed faith and confidence through all the years of hard work and challenges. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Her support was rewarded. After living in a total of ten rental homes, Henry's dream of success finally came true. They bought 2,000 acres along the Rouge River in Dearborn, and Fair Lane, the home where Clara and Henry would live the rest of their lives, was constructed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In Dearborn, Clara and Henry would entertain friends and family at Fair Lane. The Fords also continued to enjoy dancing; Henry saw to it that Fair Lane had a large dance floor and that it was regularly used.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">In a 1938 issue of The New York Times Magazine, Henry Ford was quoted as saying, "The greatest day of my life was the day I married Mrs. Ford." Apparently Henry Ford was a great believer,too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://corporate.ford.com/news-center/press-releases-detail/651-clara-ford">http://corporate.ford.com/news-center/press-releases-detail/651-clara-ford</a></span> </div>
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Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-8243661442836757292019-07-06T17:03:00.000-04:002019-07-06T17:03:20.693-04:00Sam Hunt and Hannah Lee Fowler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sam Hunt, most likely, met Hannah Lee Fowler when he was playing football at the University of Alabama.<br />
The couple dated for nearly a decade, and their many ups and downs are well known to Hunt's fans, as they are beautifully described in the lyrics of the songs making up <i>Montevallo,</i> his debut studio album.<br />
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Hunt's compositions describe falling in love, breaking up and experiencing the agony of nearly losing his long time love. When you listen to songs like "Leave the Night On" to "Make You Miss Me", you almost live the couples' initial whirlwind romance to tragic parting of ways. "Drinkin Too Much" is almost too painful to listen to. In it Sam Hunt displays brutal honesty as he blames himself completely for breaking apart any love the couple was managing to salvage together at that point.<br />
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The good news is Hunt's honesty devotion, total respect and absolute love finally won Hannah Lee over in the end.<br />
I'm sure it took persistence, change, a tough talk with her family, with whom she is very close, and an ability to show Hannah Lee that Sam Hunt was here to stay.<br />
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The couple was married in Hunt's hometown of Georgia in 2017. Hunt credits Fowler with making him the successful artist he is today. He shares his compositions with her, seeks her advice and feels that she has made him better able to connect to a female audience by the things she has taught him.<br />
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Go Hannah!<br />
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Oh, and she is also a nurse...out there helping humanity.<br />
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I love this couple and wish them all the best and also hope that they continue to have a very positive effect on the world of country music.Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-54797872315606105822019-07-03T21:57:00.000-04:002019-07-03T21:57:15.484-04:00George and Martha<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><b> </b></span></span><a href="http://presidentgeorgewashington.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/georgewashingtonproposetomarthajeanleongeromeferris.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://presidentgeorgewashington.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/georgewashingtonproposetomarthajeanleongeromeferris.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></a><a href="http://presidentgeorgewashington.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/georgewashingtonproposetomarthajeanleongeromeferris.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;">George Washington was about to emerge a hero from the French and
Indian War when he proposed to Martha Dandridge Custis.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;"> She was a young, beautiful, recently
widowed and very sought after prize in the affluent and powerful <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chesapeake</st1:place></st1:city> society.
Chances are good that George and Martha had known each other through mutual
friends. They became engaged sometime in early summer 1758 and were married on
January 6,1759.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;">There is always strong speculation that George
Washington was passionately in love with Sally Fairfax, the wife of his best
friend George William. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;">It seems, however, that all parties "moved on"
and the Washingtons and the Williams remained the closest of friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;">When
George proposed to Martha he was undoubtedly enamored by her independence and
diminutive beauty (she was a full 13 inches shorter than he), but there is no
doubt that Washington was taking care of his future and marrying someone with
more wealth and power than he possessed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;">The marriage ended up to be a
wonderful one. Martha had two young children by her previous marriage, and
George Washington raised them as if they were his own. He was heartbroken over
the loss of 17 year old, Patsy and had tried all attempts to save her from her
illness. When his step son, Jack, now a young father himself, died from typhus,</span><st1:state style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;"> raised his
children and assumed responsibility for their futures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;">Martha proved to be the perfect match for this
straight forward, yet ambitious, man. She hated being away from home and
hearth, but dutifully traveled to <st1:place w:st="on">Valley Forge</st1:place>
each year during the war campaign to bolster the morale of both the troops and
her husband. I think the most telling aspect of their marriage is George's
instruction to Martha that she destroy all correspondence between them in the
event of his death. Clearly he poured out his heart and soul out to her and,
being the very discreet man that he was, did not think that history should
intrude on this private love.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;">During this president's weekend we will see
the familiar image of an old George Washington on everything from dollars to
car sale signs. Martha has been forever enshrined as the old woman wearing the
bonnet. Let's, though, remember them for who they really were; he, a 27 year
old handsome soldier just home from the battle front , and she a 27 year old,
diminutive Southern Belle, mother of two, who wore purple silk shoes with
spangled buttons on her wedding day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;"> Love comes suddenly to some and gradually
to others; the test is in the time. The Custis-Washingtons were happily married
for 40 years.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-60352713346102904892019-07-03T21:56:00.000-04:002020-01-15T10:42:07.344-05:00Kerry Washington and Nnamdi Asomugha<br />
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After watching Kerry Washington's interview with Jon Stewart, I became a big fan.<br />
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I was very impressed with this actress' poise,style, sense of humor, and sense of self.<br />
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Kerry Washington does not seem to be filled with the self importance which often accompanies her level of success, and she has a delightful perspective concerning the intensity of her character, Olivia Pope and her hit show <i>Scandal</i>.<br />
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Washington grew up in a middle class family in Brooklyn, NY. Her dad was a realtor and her mom an educator. Kerry earned a BA from George Washington University and went on to establish an acting career on stage and in film.<br />
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Kerry Washington is married to pro football player Nnamdi Asomugha. The two met when he and a buddy went to see Washington in the Broadway production of <i>Race</i>. Over conversation, she informed Nnamdi that she did not date athletes, and he informed Kerry that he did not date actresses.<br />
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Apparently something changed their minds. The two were married and had a baby girl on April 21st last year.<br />
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Kerry Washington is known for being a strong self advocate and for protecting the privacy of her family. She is forth coming, though, when discussing a severe eating disorder she suffered from while attending GW. This openness and willingness to provide support is one more reason to admire, respect, and really like this very talented woman.<br />
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Congratulations on the successes and happiness which have come your way!<br />
<br />Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-52135867401736414092018-06-19T11:20:00.000-04:002020-01-15T10:50:55.573-05:00Seth Meyers and Alexi Ashe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It seems that Seth Meyers and his wife, Alexi Ashe are quite familiar with special occasions taking dramatic turns.<br />
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Seth and Alexi met, as many couples do, at the wedding of a friend. It was love at first sight and the couple married in October 2013. Unfortunately, Alexi had a rushed trip to the ER when she suffered food poisoning at the rehearsal dinner. As she lay passed out on the gurney, a nurse walked by and commented: "You're not getting married today." That's all Alexi needed! She sat up, recovered and said, "I'm getting married today!"<br />
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The birth of their son, Ashe, gave occasion for another dramatic family event.<br />
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During his 2016 opening monologue, Seth Meyers did a lovely job of sharing the Easter Sunday rush to the hospital as Ashe decided to arrive two weeks early. Seth credited Uber driver, Tariq for his calm compassion and capability in the face of a stressful situation. Of course, Seth then went on to praise his wife for enduring intense labor in the back seat of the car and holding it together until they arrived to meet their "bunny-eared" baby delivery team.<br />
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Two years later, Seth announced the birth of his second son, Axel, on April 10th 2018.<br />
Referring back to the Easter "Uber Story" he began his opening monologue by saying,<br />
"Well...move over that story."<br />
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This time Alexi did not even make it down in the elevator before the baby made his speedy entrance. Once again, Seth praised his wife for staying collected while surrounded by the NYC fire department as the cord was cut, and she snuggled her new little guy.<br />
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Who knows what the next Ashe-Meyer drama will be? Let's hope that whatever the start, the endings continue to be joyous.<br />
<br />Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-18551882509790517232018-03-10T23:46:00.000-05:002018-03-10T23:46:58.583-05:00Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King, Jr.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">On a hot day in August in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. led almost 300,000 people in the March on Washington. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">King addressed this huge crowd standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">When Mahalia Jackson called out, urging Dr. King to 'tell us about the dream', he set aside his prepared text and delivered one of the greatest speeches in history.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">This April will mark the 50th anniversary of the murder of Dr. King. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We strive, particularly through these dark times, to honor and esteem Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his enormous contribution to world peace, justice, and humanity, and we still thrill at the words "I Have a Dream".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> We also know of the great work of Coretta Scott King as an author, activist and civil rights leader. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">But when trying to find out how M.L. and Coretta met, there was not much information. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">History has focused on the couple's working partnership rather than on a boy meeting a girl and finding a lifelong friend and soul mate. In the Fall of 1951 Martin Luther King, Jr. had arrived in Boston to continue his studies at Boston University. He called an old friend from Atlanta, Mary Powell, and asked the age old question; could she fix him up with a friend? King, however, was not chasing girls, he was looking for a wife. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Mary had met a young woman while studying at the New England Conservatory of Music who she thought might be just the right choice for her friend. Coretta Scott has been described as a poised, attractive, independent thinking woman. She could also be described as brilliant and talented. Coretta grew up in Marion,Alabama the daughter of hard working parents who, though uneducated themselves, were determined that their children receive good educations. Coretta was awarded a full scholarship at Antioch College and went on to continue her study in music at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">When she met M.L. she was unimpressed with his 5'7" stature, but she soon became impressed with his mind and heart. M.L. told her, "You have everything I have ever wanted in a wife. There are only four things, and you have them all...character,intelligence, personality, and beauty." Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King, Jr. were married on June 18, 1953 on the lawn at her mother's house. The ceremony was performed by the Martin Luther King, Sr. Coretta completed her studies and graduated from the New England Conservatory with a degree in voice and violin. She and her husband moved to Montgomery, Alabama in September 1954.The rest is history!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Papers of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Volumes 2-3; Martin Luther King, Jr.,Clayborne Carson,Peter Holloran,Ralph Luker,Penny A. Russell</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://books.google.com/books</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">www.wikipedia.com/Coretta Scott King</span><br />
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<br />Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-27295043138775821142018-01-25T13:13:00.000-05:002018-01-26T09:11:16.521-05:00Le Baiser de l'Hotel de Ville<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://iconicphotos.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/doisneau_kiss.jpg?w=700&h=555" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://iconicphotos.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/doisneau_kiss.jpg?w=700&h=555" height="315" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Robert Doisneau</span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My heart always lies in Paris...especially this weekend.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pour Paris avec amour...</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">One Valentine's Day, my very romantic husband gave me a framed copy of Robert Doisneau's Le Baiser. It has always hung over my writing desk offering inspiration and invitation to travel and romance. Dreams do come true, and we have been to Paris many times, each time discovering romance in another part of the beautiful city, all looking like the background of the wonderful Doisneau photographs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Robert Doisneau is one of France's best known photographers,and is known for his street photography and the many images of everyday French life. He is quoted as saying,"The marvels of daily life are so exciting; no movie director can arrange the unexpected that you find in the street." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The famous kiss in fornt of l'Hotel de Ville has the spark of spontaneity in its action. The lovers in the<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b> </b></span></span></span>photo,were Françoise Delbart,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"> </sup>20, and Jacques Carteaud, 23, both aspiring actors. In 2005 Françoise Bornet (née Delbart) remembered that</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <i>"He told us we were charming, and asked if we could kiss again for the camera. We didn't mind. We were used to kissing. We were doing it all the time then, it was delicious. Monsieur Doisneau was adorable, very low key, very relaxed."</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Although</span> the relationship between Delbart and Carteaud only lasted for nine months, the The Kiss is one of the most celebrated photographs of modern times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Robert Doisneau had his own romantic meeting. When a lovely French girl, named Pierette, came cycling through the village where he was on holiday, the two fell in love and were married. Unlike the lovers in Le Basiere de l'Hotel de Ville, Robert and Pierette Doisneau were married and remained together until death parted them in 1993. </span><br />
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<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="fr" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="hps">Vive</span> <span class="hps">le baiser et</span> <span class="hps">la romance</span><span class="">!</span></span><br />
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<span class="short_text" lang="fr" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class=""><a href="https://www.artsy.net/artist/robert-doisneau">Robert Doisneau</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="fr"><span class="">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Doisneau </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BBC_8-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Doisneau#cite_note-BBC-8"></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BlueArt_10-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Doisneau#cite_note-BlueArt-10"></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-posed_9-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Doisneau#cite_note-posed-9"></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BBC_8-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Doisneau#cite_note-BBC-8"></a></sup></span>Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-16028140216733902402017-10-22T21:46:00.000-04:002018-03-11T00:09:27.534-05:00Go Pats!<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tom Brady and Gisele B</b></span><b>ün<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">d</span>chen</b><br />
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I am not a big football fan, but I am a big Tom Brady fan. This guy is an amazing talent, a strong leader both on and off the field, an athlete who is a real team player, and a dedicated husband and father.<br />
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I've never been to a Patriots game, but I had the privilege of seeing Tom Brady up close one night when my husband and I were walking back from dinner in Harvard Square. We were walking by the football stadium when we saw this amazing pass. It ended up to be the Special Olympics football night with Tom Brady and a host of other players. And...there was Brady, making another winning pass to help out his team.<br />
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We hung around till the end of the game, and were walking away when my husband spotted Brady's Audi 8 parked and ready to go. There was Tom walking toward the car and stopping to sign all autographs requested by any kid near by before being whisked away.<br />
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Another time the Brady Mobile was noticed was after an early morning Boston accident. The damage to both cars was minor, and, fortunately no one was hurt, but the press was all over the fact that Brady was passing through the city at a pre-dawn hour.Suspicion grew as Brady professed to be on his way to a practice down at Foxboro. Would a super star like Tom really be up so early to go to work, or was he on his way home from a late night? An annoyed Coach Belichick assured the cynical press that, yes indeed, Tom Brady was up that early to attend a mandatory practice.<br />
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Tom Brady and Giselle Bündchen met on a beach in Rio de Janiero. He, of course, was "tossing" around the football and she "of course" was quite taken.<br />
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By all accounts Tom and his wife Giselle are a happy couple.They live in
Boston with their son,Benjamin and their daughter, Vivian Lake.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/tom-brady-gisele-bunchen-love-story</span><br />
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<br />Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-49496879446542437482017-09-23T22:42:00.000-04:002017-09-23T22:42:02.734-04:00John and Annie Glenn<b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">John and Annie Glenn</span></b><br />
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John and Annie Glenn don’t really have a very exciting “how they met” story. John and Annie have known each other their entire lives. Growing up in Ohio, their parents were close friend, and often plunked their baby boy and girl together to share a playpen. The childhood friendship blossomed, and all through high school. everyone knew that any event would have John and Annie coming together. They shared a love of music, a love of each other, a deep bond, and an unbreakable trust.</div>
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As John’s fame catapulted his young bride into the public spotlight, Annie’s secret struggle, her disabling stutter,became even more of a burden . Never a problem with her best friend, John, Annie was rendered literally speechless when in any public setting. </div>
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After years of frustration and struggle, Annie finally found an intensive speech therapy program which worked. John Glenn wrote of his wife’s experience,</div>
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"I saw Annie's perseverance and strength through the years and it just made me admire her and love her even more...I don't know if I would have had the courage." <br />
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They’ve loved and supported each other through trying times and dangerous journeys. </div>
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As a Marine, John flew nearly 150 combat missions and later flew the famous <i>Friendship 7</i> mission on February 20, 1962. Before dangerous deployments, or the terrifying 4 hours:55 minutes:23 seconds of space travel, the Glenns practiced the same good-by ritual. Using the lyrics of an old song, John would say,</div>
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“I’m just going down to the store to get a pack of gum.”</div>
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Annie replying, </div>
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“Don’t be long.”</div>
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When John Glenn went up in the <i>Space Shuttle Discovery</i>, on October 29, 1998, he handed Annie a small pack of gum to hold until his safe return.</div>
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This week on April 6th, 92 year old Annie and 90 year old John will celebrate 68 years of marriage. Here’s to a wonderful life of love and adventure….God speed, John and Annie.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Glenn</span></div>
Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-24372948821356222152017-08-24T21:15:00.000-04:002017-08-24T21:17:36.731-04:00Love-All<i>The U.S. Tennis Open is on, and present will be tennis champion, John McEnroe. Known for his devastating serves and volleys which led to his 17 Grand Slam titles, McEnroe is also known for his on court tantrums and abusive language which led to his being known as something of an...well,you know ... anyway, McEnroe has left the bad boy image behind and has emerged a favorite commentator and participant of today's world of tennis. His most important match, with Patty Smyth ended in a Love-All score.</i><br />
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<i> </i>In 1993 Patty Smyth,former lead singer of The Scandals, was focusing on a single career both as a musician and a mom. She remembers meeting John McEnroe at a Christmas party in Los Angeles. "His three kids hung onto him like monkeys," she says of Mac, "His sweetness was surprising." McEnroe recalls that a mutual pal intended to set him up with Smyth that night but forgot to tell her. "I tried in my own pathetic way to ask Patty out," he says, "but she was going away the next day." Their first real date was nearly a year later, and she says, "I knew that night I was safe with him."<br />
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Many years and six kids later the couple have a very successful match...at least off the court.</div>
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He still needs work on one part of his game. "John is banned from playing tennis with us," says Smyth. "He tortures me. We all get too mad at him."</div>
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McEnroe says fatherhood keeps him mellow. "The good part of having six kids," he says, "is there's always one who wants to hug you and say, 'Daddy, I love you.'" In lieu of date nights, he and Smyth watch movies and play Scrabble with the kids. And while he's not big on flowers, she says, "He's affectionate and totally devoted." </div>
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McEnroe-Smyth final score Love-All</div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20271190,00.html</span></div>
Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-20076594562084650952017-06-28T12:04:00.000-04:002017-06-28T14:37:08.662-04:00Stephen Colbert and Evelyn McGee<h4>
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Watching Stephen Colbert and the nightly Colbert Report is
an evening routine I look forward to as one that both informs me on the daily
"truthiness" and makes me both contemplate political and world events
and laugh out loud at Colbert's "conservative" view point.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<o:p> </o:p>His onscreen persona as
Stephen <i>Colbere</i>...the savvy, intelligent, very conservative news
anchor allows him to brilliantly explore and parody both sides of the political
aisle.<br />
<br />
<br />
<o:p> </o:p>One of my favorite aspects of
the Colbert report is its over all gentle approach to this type of sarcasm.
Stephen Colbert never sprinkles expletives or edginess throughout his
stories simply for shock value.<br />
<o:p> </o:p>Stephen Colbert grew up in a
family of 11 children in <st1:city w:st="on">Charleston</st1:city>, South
Carolina.he began his acting career while studying at <st1:placename w:st="on">Hampden-Sydney</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype> in <st1:state w:st="on">Virginia</st1:state>,
and became a Theater Major after he transferred to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Northwestern</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<br />
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In his early career, he was hired to perform with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Second</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>'s
touring company, and there he met Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p>The three comedians at first didn't get along. Dinello
thought that Colbert was pretentious, and Colbert thought Dinello to be an
"illiterate thug". During the tour everything changed, and they all
became very close friends.</div>
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The three collaborated on a show called, <i>Strangers with Candy.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>While filming the show, Stephen
Colbert met his future wife, Evelyn McGee, who played several roles in the
filming of both the series and the resulting film.</div>
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The Colbert-McGee family is a happy one with three children: Madeline,
Peter, and John. When asked if his children watch <i>The Colbert Report</i>, Stephen
replied that he prefers that his children not watch the show. he recognizes
that kids do not really understand his style of sarcasm and irony, and that he
would never want them to perceive their dad as being insincere.<br />
<br /></div>
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All of this information about my favorite news guy only
supports my feeling that all of this time I was being entertained, informed,
and amused by a very intelligent, caring, and decent man.<br />
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Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-47173972187969008972017-04-11T21:30:00.000-04:002017-04-11T21:30:58.847-04:00A Real Bond Girl<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcThBh-8eg3rVJJ_yxeIC6C8bElZrs3lezee4hZCESDW0--b1toq5w" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcThBh-8eg3rVJJ_yxeIC6C8bElZrs3lezee4hZCESDW0--b1toq5w" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01671/wedding_1671037c.jpg"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a>When Alex Chapman saw Anna
Kuschenko across a crowded dance floor in 2001, he immediately thought she
was" the most beautiful girl he had ever seen".<br />
<br />
<br />
The couple married
just five months later and, now we know, that Alex Chapman was Anna's ticket to
a dual Russian-British citizenship.<br />
<br />
<br />
During 2003-2004 Chapman became concerned
over his wife's new group of "secretive, well-connected Russian
friends."He was usually excluded from her outings and the marriage fell
apart, ending in divorce in 2006. An FBI sting led to the arrest of Anna
Kuschenka in 2010, and she became part of the biggest spy swap between the United States and Russia since 1986.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So... what happened to Alex Chapman? After cooperating fully with the
investigative authorities by telling them all he knew of his ex-wife's
suspicious activities, he engaged a well known media publicist and is on his
way to fame and fortune.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Chapman<b> </b></span>Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-40764309239028655962017-03-07T21:33:00.000-05:002017-03-07T21:33:39.054-05:00Carole Lombard and Clark Gable<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">On this April Fool's Day, famous internationally for well timed practical jokes, let's celebrate the love of Lombard and Clark, one of Hollywood's most beloved couples both on and off the silver screen, and one who kept their romance alive with humor and a passion for extravagant pranks.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2009/06/30/2009402543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2009/06/30/2009402543.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/hollywood/gable/hosl01_gable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It was 1936 and two legends from the silver screen, Carole Lombard and Clark Gable, met, fell in love, married, and became one of the most famous couples during the Golden Age of Hollywood. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Carole Lombard was a gorgeous, sexy, blond whose brilliance as a comic actress made her the highest paid star in Hollywood. Off screen she was much loved for her unpretentious personality and well known for her down to earth sense of humor and acerbic quips. Clark Gable was everybody's favorite leading man. handsome, charming, and always the romantic lead, he had a fan following unmatched by most.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The two originally met in 1932 during the filming of </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>No Man of Her Own</i>, but met again in 1936 at a ball organized by Lombard. </span>Gable proposed to Lombard in 1939 in a telephone booth at the very famous Brown Derby restaurant. Humor, intelligence, and a passion for jokes kept the original spark alive all through their marriage.<br />
<br />
After a fight one time, Gable awoke to a flock of doves in his hotel suite. A request for a kitten resulted in the arrival of a baby cougar brought back from a Gable safari.<br />
<br />
In 1941 returning home from a trip to boost morale for U.S. troops heading off to WWII, Carole Lombard was killed when her flight crashed shortly after take off in Las Vegas; she was only 33. Clark Gable was inconsolable and joined the U.S. Army Air Forces. he was later in attendance at the christening of the SS Carole Lombard.<br />
<br />
When he died in 1960, Clark Gable was buried alongside Carole Lombard in Glendale, California.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">www. wikipedia_carolelombard.com</span>Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-51308711104881763342017-02-03T19:54:00.000-05:002017-02-03T19:54:13.418-05:00Queen Victoria and Prince Albert<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Queen Victoria and Prince Albert</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/2/1/1296569250000/Queen-Victoria-and-Prince-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/2/1/1296569250000/Queen-Victoria-and-Prince-007.jpg" height="120" width="200" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b> <br />
<br />
When romantic meetings occur, usually one person has to take the initiative to ensure that the relationship progresses beyond the initial spark. Queen Victoria had no reservation in expressing her desire to marry Prince Albert of Saxe- Coburg in 1839. Victoria knew that he was "the one" after the Prince visited Windsor with his brother on October 10th. They could not make an appearance at dinner, due to the fact that their luggage had been lost in a stormy Channel crossing, but Albert appeared after dinner in more informal attire. Victoria found him extremely attractive and charming, and found her own heart "quite going".<br />
Albert was summoned to a private audience during which the queen proposed marriage. Albert joyfully accepted and the couple embraced "over and over again". Their engagement was filled with kindnesses and kisses and their marriage filled with love, support, and mutual respect and admiration.<br />
<br />
Weintraub,Stanley;Victoria. EP Dutton,NY 1987Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-7546528038422160052016-12-19T21:21:00.000-05:002018-03-10T23:48:21.864-05:00The Gift of the Magi<h3>
</h3>
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<span style="color: #211104;">We
are never told how Jim and Della meet in O.Henry's famous Christmas short
story,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>The Gift of the Magi,</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>but their deep love for each other is
demonstrated by the sacrifices they are willing to make to assure the happiness
of the other. The story tells us that...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff3db; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #211104;">.<i>.. there were two possessions of the James Dillingham
Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that
had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had
the queen of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sheba</st1:place></st1:country-region>
lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out
the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts.
Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the
basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see
him pluck at his beard from envy. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #211104;">It's the day before Christmas and there is no money to be
had in the Dillingham Young household to buy a gift for her beloved Jim. In
desperation Della decides to sacrifice her greatest possession to get enough
money to buy Jim a beautiful watch chain for his prized gold watch. She rushes
out and sells her long flowing hair before she has time to change her mind.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="color: #211104;"> Jim
comes home later that evening looking tired and pale.He stands speechless when
he sees Della's shorn head. She misunderstands and explains that it was to buy
him a gift. He embraces her and lets her know that he loves her no matter how
she apears, but...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #211104;">if you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had me
going a while at first." White fingers and nimble tore at the string and
paper. And then an ecstatic scream of joy; and then, alas! a quick feminine
change to hysterical tears and wails, necessitating the immediate employment of
all the comforting powers of the lord of the flat. For there lay The Combs--the
set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway
window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims--just the
shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair. They were expensive combs, she
knew, and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least
hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have
adorned the coveted adornments were gone. </span></i><span style="color: #211104;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #211104;">Della quickly recovers, though, and leaps up to give Jim
his wonderful present. She asks for his watch so they can both see how
beautiful the new chain will look on it. Instead of obeying, Jim just sits back
on the couch and smiles. Of course, he had sold his watch to buy Della the
combs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fff3db; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #211104;">When I was growing up, this story frustrated me to no
end. I wanted to know that everything, the hair the watch, was restored and
fixed in the end. Now, though, I appreciate the loveliness and uncertainty of
O.Henry's famous surprise ending.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #211104;">The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise
men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of
giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones,
possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I
have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in
a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of
their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that
of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive
gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the
magi. </span></i><span style="color: #211104;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #211104; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<![endif]-->Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-62680286739178126182016-10-22T19:11:00.000-04:002016-10-22T19:11:36.685-04:00F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Sayre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTDqQtRgqQsgVERAjlyhUk1Rq4caCaZRqs3cv2vtwIqmDKTlKPw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTDqQtRgqQsgVERAjlyhUk1Rq4caCaZRqs3cv2vtwIqmDKTlKPw" width="155" /></a></div>
F. Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was named after his famous, distant cousin, Francis Scott Key.<br />
<br />
As a young man, Fitzgerald attended Princeton University, where, ironically, his writing interfered with his coursework. He was placed on academic probation, eventually dropped out, and joined the U.S. Army.<br />
<br />
Now commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry, he was shipped off to Camp Sheridan outside of Montgomery, Alabama. Here he met and fell in love with "golden girl" Zelda Sayre.<br />
<br />
When Zelda called off the engagement, due to Fitzgerald's lack of fame and fortune, he returned to a previous autobiographical piece, <i>The Romantic Egotist. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
His revised novel, <i>This Side of Paradise,</i> was a triumphant success.<br />
<br />
F. Scott and Zelda were married and went on to live their now famous lives of heart ache and despair.<br />
<br />
Their only child, Scottie Fitzgerald, said about her parents,<br />
<br />
"People who live entirely by the fertility of their imaginations are fascinating, brilliant and often charming, but they should be sat next to at dinner parties, not lived with."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/</span></a>Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-35103510532624688902016-09-09T21:38:00.001-04:002017-10-22T21:47:47.696-04:00Luis Tiant and Maria NavarroBack in the 70's any Red Sox fan was familiar with the chant, "Looo-ee, Looo-ee"<br />
whenever Luis Tiant came on the field.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/10/27/sports/dogTIANT1/dogTIANT1-articleInline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/10/27/sports/dogTIANT1/dogTIANT1-articleInline.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Tiant was one of the early players coming out of the famous Cuban League. He was always a huge presence in any game and a huge hit with all the fans. His love of cigars earned him the nick-name "El Tiante".<br />
<br />
As a young player Tiant traveled from Cuba to pitch for the Tigers in the Mexico League.In 1960, on one of his days off, he accompanied friends to see a woman's softball game. As Maria Navarro came running in from center field, she saw a handsome young man in the stands blow her a kiss.<br />
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<br />
<br />
A few days later, Maria and Luis met more formally at a teammate's party. They talked, danced and began dating soon after.<br />
<br />
On October 1st of that year, Luis went back to Cuba The couple stayed in touch through letters and occasional phone calls. On May 25, 1961 Luis landed in Mexico City on one of the last flights allowed to leave Cuba.<br />
<br />
Luis and Maria were married. Maria remained in Mexico City to live and raise their children, while Luis played in the major leagues. In 1974, at the height of his Red Sox success, the family moved to an area just outside of Boston, and Maria could be found at Fenway Park whenever the Sox were in town.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Her love affair with her husband and with the Red Sox continues, as she enters her own 70's.<br />
She now watches the games in her living room in Ft. Meyers, Florida...but the same intensity is still there.<br />
<br />
She wears her Red Sox shirt,or her lucky hat, and joins thousands of other fans leaping up from their seats, pleading and praying as the World Series continues.<br />
<br />
As the NYT blog asks, is this series Redux for the Red Sox? <span style="font-size: x-small;">(October27,2013 1:22AM)</span><br />
<br />
<i>This, of course, is this Series. But the story was the same in 1975, between the Red Sox and the Reds.<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city> won Game 1, 6-0; the Reds won Game 2, 3-2, after rallying with
two runs in the ninth; and the Reds won Game 3 in the 10th inning moments after
the famous play in which Ed Armbrister, having bunted, bumped Carlton Fisk, who
then threw wildly to second base. Larry Barnett ruled (correctly, though we
didn’t know that until quite a while later) that interference should not be
called because the contact was inadvertent.<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<i>My guess is that the
similarities will end Sunday, since Luis Tiant can’t come out of retirement to
throw a complete-game victory on three days’ rest, as he did in Game 4 in 1975.
But so far, this is a little weird.</i><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
What about El Tiante? He is back at Fenway running his businesses and working for the Red Sox organization.<br />
<br />
And...we all hope that in the coming days LOOO_EE will be passing out some victory Tiant Cigars.<br />
<br />
Let's go Sox!<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/27/sports/baseball/born-in-mexico-living-in-florida-tiants-wife-is-a-fervent-boston-fan.html</span>Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-52228015481040183552016-08-01T13:12:00.000-04:002016-08-01T13:12:27.033-04:00Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson<br />
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I am a shameless Barack and Michelle Obama supporter and really admire the Obamas as a couple.<br />
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Michelle Robinson is an attorney and was, at the time of their meeting, working at the very prestigious firm of Sidley Austin in Chicago. In June 1989 she was assigned a summer associate to mentor,Barack Obama.<br />
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By all accounts, Barack had a pretty good opinion of himself, and I would bet that Michelle's first impression was one involving eye rolling and raised eyebrows, but...that Obama charm, personality, and smile eventually won her over.<br />
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Barack and Michelle attended many social functions together and, although she was impressed by his intelligence, sense of humor, and good looks, she always declined Obama's requests to date. Finally at the end of the summer she gave way to her feelings and their friendship evolved into a relationship. Michelle Robinson and Barack Obama became engaged in 1991. They were married on October 3, 1992.<br />
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So, here's to a couple who inspires me everyday and provides truly great role models for couples everywhere.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama</span>Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-11257118133688189782016-06-08T11:24:00.000-04:002016-06-08T11:24:02.887-04:00John Keats and Joseph Severn<br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Keats-Shelley_House.jpg/200px-Keats-Shelley_House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Keats-Shelley_House.jpg/200px-Keats-Shelley_House.jpg" height="200" width="160" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span>If you find yourself over on the Spanish Steps in Rome, take time to stop in at 26 Piazza de Spagna to view the rooms occupied by John Keats in his final months of life.<br />
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On Spetember 17,1820 Joseph Severn accompanied Keats to Rome in an attempt to find a cure for Keat's lingering illness. For Severn this trip was a sacrifice born of the love and admiration he felt for the young poet. Severn was leaving England as his own artistic career was beginning to flourish. His decision also marked the end of his relationship with his father. He writes about their farewell that (his father)"in his insane rage he struck me a blow which fell me to the ground."<br />
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Severn provided constant care to Keats as his health failed and he began to slip away. Often watching his beloved friend endure the horrific attempts of 19th Century medicine to cure tuberculosis, Severn was at a loss as to how to relieve the emotional and physical suffering barely endured by Keats.<br />
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Recognizing his friend's selfless devotion, Keats wonders aloud to Severn,<br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/J.Severn.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/J.Severn.2.jpg" height="200" width="144" /></a></div>
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""Severn I can see under your quiet look -- immense twisting and contending -- you don't know what you are reading -- you are induring [sic] for me more than I'd have you -- O! that my last hour was come --"<br />
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Severn's poignant sketch of Keats, finally sleeping peacefully just before the end, revelas a patient and enduring love for his subject.<br />
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Joseph Severn lived the remainder of his life in Rome. After a successful marriage, art career, and service as British Consul in Rome, along with fathering 7 children, Severn died at the age of 85. He is buried in Rome alongside his once loved friend and poet, John Keats.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Severn</span><br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Severn#cite_note-4"></a>Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-56949305993807337242016-03-16T10:37:00.000-04:002017-03-07T21:36:38.593-05:00Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis<div class="MsoNormal">
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The
romance between Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis remains one of the legendary
and tempestuous ones of modern times. Maria Callas, an American born Greek
soprano, was considered one of the most renowned opera singers of the twentieth
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Aristotle Onassis, an émigré from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Turkey</st1:country-region>, established himself over
time as one of the world’s wealthiest men. When the two superstars met in <st1:city w:st="on">Venice</st1:city> in 1957, both were
at the height of their power, fame, and attraction. The fact that Callas was
married at the time of their meeting, did nothing to dissuade Onassis from
pursuing what he wanted. He extended several invitations to Maria and her
husband to join him on his yacht, the Christina, and each time the invitation
was refused.<o:p></o:p></div>
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to being rebuffed, Onassis traveled to <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city> to
watch Callas perform at <st1:place w:st="on">Covent Garden</st1:place> in the
premiere of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Medea</i>. He
hosted an elaborate post-performance reception for her, decorating the room
with thousands of roses, and inviting such dignitaries and celebrities as
Winston Churchill, Gary Cooper, The Duchess of Kent, and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Callas
remained unimpressed and made only a brief appearance. A month later, however,
Maria and her husband accepted an invitation to an Onassis celebrity-packed
cruise. This time, the lady was charmed, and thus begun the ups and downs of
the world famous affair. </div>
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The cruise lasted several weeks, at the end of which
Callas left her husband. Onassis had won, again…but, perhaps, Maria had lost.
At the beginning of the affair Onassis flew all around the world just to be by
her side, even for minutes at a time. After awhile, however, the tables were
turned. Callas had temporarily set her career aside to be with Onassis, and
found herself following him around the world. </div>
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Whether the passion had
diminished, only the two lovers will ever know, but the Greek shipping tycoon
had set his sites on a higher prize, Jacqueline Kennedy. In October of 1968,
Callas learned, along with the rest of the world, that Jacqueline Kennedy had
become Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maria was
forty five and never seemed to fully recover from the betrayal. She grew
reclusive, and made a final tour of Europe, <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>,
and <st1:place w:st="on">Asia</st1:place> in 1973-1974, but her voice had begun
to fail her. Predictably enough, the Kennedy-Onassis match did not thrive, but
the Callas- Onassis romance never was fully rekindled. Aristotle Onassis died
in 1975, and Maria Callas died just two years later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://newyorksocialdiary.com/">New York Social Diary.com</a></span></span></div>
Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-84676159748388586642016-01-29T21:13:00.006-05:002016-01-29T21:13:58.868-05:00Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>The closest I came to watching the brilliant, yet disturbing film, "Black Swan" was surreptitiously glancing at my seatmate's movie screen on a transatlantic flight. Even with the cushion of visual distance and no sound, I watched the tortured Nina through fleeting sideways glances, unable to endure her emotional and physical despair. So, it was with great joy that I learned the true ending of the film;the happy union of Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied. For those of us who love a "happily ever after" ending...thanks!</i><br />
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The brilliant and beautiful Natalie Portman was swept off her feet by NYC Ballet principal dancer, Benjamin Millepied during the filming of <i>Black Swan</i>.<i> </i>Millepied trained Portman to execute her amazing Oscar winning role as Nina, the lead dancer in the company's rendition of <i>Swan Lake.</i><br />
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Millepied also played the role of Nina's dance partner, and found himself in awe of Portman and her performance. Natalie and Benjamin are engaged and had a son this past June. In her Oscar award acceptance speech, Portman thanked her fiancee' for giving her "the most important role of her life".<br />
Happy endings to all!<br />
<br />Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264963965605843477.post-54585381154281224252016-01-23T16:41:00.000-05:002016-01-23T16:42:12.187-05:00Will Smith and Jada Pinkett<h2>
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Will Smith met Jada Pinkett in 1990 when she tried out to play his sassy girlfriend Lisa on <i>The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air</i>.<br />
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Though she lost the part to actress Nia Long (due to her small stature), Pinkett brushed past the 6’2” Smith while leaving the set.<br />
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He stopped her and asked, “What’s up?” She responded coolly, “Yeah, how you doing?”<br />
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It wasn’t exactly a sparks-filled start, but the two soon discovered they had mutual friends and started hanging out and speaking in more than three-word sentences.<br />
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Pinkett supported Smith during his split from his first wife, and shortly thereafter, the pair realized they were meant to be. They wed in a lavish, very private ceremony in 1997 and have been together ever since.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">www.dailybeast.com </span>Susan Amestoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113079031551197319noreply@blogger.com