My thoughts on the Military

I removed my post solely for my mother not because i broke any laws, or threatened anyone, lied, slanderized, changed or deleted comments, but I stand by my opinions and if you would like to speak to me please feel free to email me at carlycassara@yahoo.com

Vacuum Shopping

So, each weekend my mom and I usually end up going out and shopping for something, whether it be groceries or her latest obsession, vacuum cleaners. You'd be surprised at the number of different features vacuum cleaners actually have. For example: HEPA filters, retractable cords, suction adjustment, attachments, bag or bag less, guide lights, upright or canister, pet brushes, belted or non belted, lightweight,  lift off canisters.  After shopping for vacuums for weeks I began to wonder if I was buying a vacuum, or if I was testing out the latest features for a nasa space craft.  Perhaps the most interesting thing about vacuum shopping is the all the sales people that you encounter who take an emmense amount of pride in their knowledge of vacuum cleaners...or lack of.  According to my mom, Donna Cassara "The sales people are friendly and they were trying to please but they were obviously ignorant as to the workings of a vacuum,  and the discretion of a female shopper."  It was almost like buying a car.  The male car sales people try to sell you this car because its shiny, and they don't think a woman will even check to see whats under the hood.  The same goes for vacuums.  Who cares if this vacuum isn't strong enough to pick up pet hair? It's purple!  I think after the first ten minutes of being hassled and talked down to by the salesmen they realized that my mom and I probably knew more about vacuums...and cars, than they did. Although we ran into quite a few of these types of sales people not all of them were like that.  There's the type of salesman who will literally take a bucket of dirt and dump it on the ground just to vacuum it up with a great vacuum that works and just happens to be 600 dollars which is totally and completely unrealistic.  After going to six stores, we tested out about 6 dozen vacuums.  Eventually we found ourselves at Bed, Bath, and Beyond purchasing the Shark Navigator Pro Lift Away....and no it is NOT purple.


Shark Navigator Pro Lift Away

Christmas Music!!

To some Christmas may feel like its just around the corner and to others it's still just a few days after Halloween. For me...it's never too early for Christmas. I've spent the last five hours listening to the Hanson Holiday Pandora radio station and nothing beats starting your morning off by belting out All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carrey. Although actual radio stations have yet start playing Christmas music, this time three years ago the Philadelphia area was already well into the season. According to Philly.com 97.5 FM began playing Christmas music just days after Halloween. Philly.com

If you would like to decide when Philadelphia should start playing Christmas music, head over to B101's website and vote to decide when they break out their holiday tunes. As for me, whether they are playing Christmas music this early or not, my holiday season has already begun.

  Vote for when B101 should start playing Christmas music!!

Another mysterious Philadelphia Building "The Divine Lorraine"

After my post about the Beury building, I've been thinking of other landmarks that caught my eye when I first moved to Philadelphia back in August.  One building that drew my attention was the 'Divine Lorraine' building which is located on Broad and Fairmount.  According to www.phillyhistory.org the building was built in between 1892 and 1894, about 30 years before the Beury building.  In its earlier years the building was known as Lorraine Apartments and The Lorraine Hotel.    When driving by this building you can't help but notice its stunning, yet somewhat eery look.  This building was sold to Father Divine in 1948 who coined the building's current name 'The Divine Lorraine Hotel'. Although this building serves as a landmark of Philadelphia, it also serves as a landmark in the war on segregation. "[Father Divine's] hotel was the first of its class in Philadelphia to be fully racially integrated." according to www.phillyhistory.org , " Divine’s followers ran the hotel after his death until its sale in 2000. The Universal Peace Mission Movement still exists in the form of a network of independent churches, businesses, and religious orders. Its followers also run another hotel, the Divine Tracy in West Philadelphia. The Divine Lorraine received a historical marker from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in 1994 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 as a site significant in terms of both architectural and civil rights history. After its most recent purchase in 2006, future plans for the hotel included converting it into condominiums." I truly do hope that the prospective plans for the Divine Lorraine actually happen, I would love to live there and if they do eventually convert the building into condos I hope that they decide to keep that sketchy 'Divine Lorraine' sign that currently sits on its roof.  On another note, I've come across a rumor that there is a ground's keeper for the run down hotel who allows certain people to actually go inside the building.  If anyone is brave enough to contact this man and convince him to allow you inside, I would love to join you! It seems like a great photo-op!

Dia De Los Muertos aka Day of the Dead (sparkly skeletons!)

After Halloween, most of us skip straight to Thanksgiving.  However, while we are breaking out our thanksgiving table cloths, dish rags, and turkey shaped window clings, those in mexico are celebrating Dia De Los Muertos or in english Day of the Day.    This holiday is celebrated on November 1 and 2.  According to www.MexicanSugarSkull.com  "[those who celebrate] believe that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of all deceased children (angelitos) are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours. On November 2, the spirits of the adults come down to enjoy the festivities that are prepared for them."  Traditions of Dia De Los Muertos include family gatherings, food, decorations and perhaps the most well known symbol of the holiday, the Sugar Skull, according to www.mexicansugarskull.com,  "Sugar skulls represented a departed soul, had the name written on the forehead and was placed on the home ofrenda or gravestone to honor the return of a particular spirit. Sugar skull art reflects the folk art style of big happy smiles, colorful icing and sparkly tin and glittery adornments."  Although I have no spanish blood in my veins, I was always drawn to the sugar skull.  On a recent trip to Old Town San Diego, CA, I came across a little shop that specializes in the sugar skull.  Although, for the life of me I cannot remember the name of the shop, I remember the beauty of the glitter adorned skeleton figurines and the brightly painted skulls that filled it. Here are some photos I took at the shop.

Out of all the hundreds of skeleton figures and skulls I came across in this shop (and in other various places around the town) I chose to purchase two of the glittery skeleton figurines.  

The one in the pink dress I named Ezmerelda, I haven't come up with a name for the one in the black dress so if you have any ideas let me know! Remember, it must be sexy and spanish!  Anyway, these two beautiful Dia De Los Muertos skeletons watch over me and my roommates everyday (although I think my roommates are a little freaked out by them).  I'm just hoping that when I die, I still look as hot as these two do in their glittery dresses.

The Mysterious 'Boner Forever' Building

If you are new to Philadelphia, as I am, you may have passed a building with the words 'boner forever' clearly graffitied on the outside of the building and wondered what it was. On the opposite side the building reads 'forever boner'. After some quick research I've learned that this building is known as the Beury Building. It was a high rise bank built in 1926. According to photos posted on www.abandonedbutnotforgotten.com the inside of the building is completely falling apart. The building is located on the Broad/Germantown/Erie intersection so next time you're driving up or down Broad street, or walking (but not by yourself....ever) take a look at the Beury Building. Trust me, you won't miss its unique tattooing of this funny yet somewhat sexually explicit 'boner forever' message.



Ps. I apologize for the photo, I took it while driving to class but if you look closely you can see the words 'boner forever'.

Occupy Philadelphia

I've experienced Occupy Philly about three times this past week.  There wasn't much action while I was there besides that on friday a few protesters were smashing beer bottles although I'm not sure if it was to make a statement for the cause...or if it was the beer talking.  Anyway, if you're in Philadelphia you should definitely stop by even if it's just to tell your future children the story of how you took part in the Occupy Movement.  While you're there be sure to check out all the artwork and signs.


All photos by Carly Cassara