The Right Way to Eat a Raw Oyster | Vanity Fair

I love oysters and could eat them everyday. I tried the little meaty morsels of heaven for the first time with my sisterat Shaw's Crab House in Chicago. We were terrified, but determined, to taste the slimy, raw critters . Once we forced ourselves, at the same time, to try little slivers we'd sliced off, our frowns blossomed into smiles of joy. We couldn't get enough to them after that and have enjoyed them every since.

Here's a great article by Jessica Flint on...
The Right Way to Eat a Raw Oyster | Vanity Fair

Comic Con 2014 July 26

I had a blast at Comic Con this year. I met so many cool people. The costumes were great.

For once, I decided to plan ahead for next year and book my hotel now. ALL OF THE DOWNTOWN HOTELS ARE SOLD OUT FOR COMIC CON 2015. I think the Grand Hyatt Manchester had rooms for $700+++ per night. I guess next year I'll be on the bus and trolley again. But hey, it's a year away. Anything and everything can change in a year.

Here are some highlights:

Samurai of the Rose... 

Scarecrow passing through

La Rose hanging with Young Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia

Take no prisoners!

Doctor Octopus

To be Silver and Surfin. Oooo Wee!

Maleficent

Joker's security holding things down

Kill em Sheriff

La Rose & Super Fro 

Comic Con 2014 July 26th

Another exciting day where our innermost dreams and fantasies are realized! I had a ton of fun, meeting other interesting artists, dreamers, and those who appreciated us. So many photographers! I think I could do the Red Carpet.

I enjoyed one celebrity sighting, at least one of the folks around me told me he was a celeb, an actor from XMen, but I don't know who. In any case, he wasn't very interested in being photographed; he allowed a few and then announced he was with his wife and had to go. Focused on being with family and attending an event at the Hardrock; his dismissal of the fans was a little disappointing, but understandable.

Here are some of the highlights of my day. If you want to see the full album, please visit my page on Picasa.

I hoped to see one my pals from Oz. The Rose and her Scarecrow. Or Dorothy. Dorothy Jones a Jazz Age Trip Through Oz.
http://amazon.com/author/claudiaross

The Rose and Jules of Pulp Fiction.

I think he has everything under control

Hanging with the Joker and his Jester

No Mssrs Storm Troopers, I haven't been dropping petals

Dangit! Pulled over again.

Ariel and La Rose at Dick's Last Resort in the Gas Lamp. I had a great time there. The Catfish is excellent, although they only gave three pieces. But good Stella on tap. I'm going back!

La Rose and Storm. She was fabulous!!!

Captain America, reflecting upon what must be done for the Nation.

I loved her costume!

La Rose and the Tin Buccaneers!

Superman showing Wonder Woman what's up. :-)

Today is my last hurrah at Comic Con until 2015. I need tips on how to winter my roses over the barren unfabulous days until next July. Back to Kansas, the land of ornery spreadsheets and calendars.

ComicCon 2014 Thursday July 24th

I love this time of the year. Most people have Halloween; I have Comic Con. Although I haven't scored passes for two years, it's still good to just go and hang out. Here are some highlights from my first day.

The Rose leaving her garden for ComicCon!!!

Thriller!!!

ComicCon 2014 Gaslamp looking towards the Convention Center

The Rose and a Knight

Ghost Busters! You should have seen the interior, tons of Techie stuff! They've upgraded since back in the day.

Trolley Ride Home

Comic Con 2014

Yay it's almost here!!! I'm still working on my costume. Gee whiz, I'm pooped before the conference even starts. I'll be sure to post the photos.

While at ComicCon, I will be promoting my new book, La Rose, Book III Le Baton Chronicles, to be released on Kindle as of August 31, 2014.

In Book III, Julian Charles Chamberie's supernatural journey continues when he visits La Rose Plantation in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana with his Great-Grandmother Lela Chevalier Roberts, where he confronts the demons and heartbreak of his incarnation as Augustus Chevalier, eternally tormenting his soul.

See you at Comic Con. Be sure to say hello to the Lady with roses in her hair. 

Interview: Maya Angelou, Author Of 'Mom & Me & Mom' : NPR

Interview: Maya Angelou, Author Of 'Mom & Me & Mom' : NPR

Miss Maya Angelou

April 4, 1928 to May 28, 2014

Thank you.
Claudia Helena Ross

The Changing Face of Harlem

I met Shawn Batey at the San Diego Black Film Festival in January. She told me about her documentary, The Changing Face of Harlem. I wanted to see it, but had missed the showing. Fortunately for me, Ms Batey had a DVD with her available for purchase. Without hesitation, I purchased it. This was a FABULOUS decision.

The Changing Face of Harlem, a documentary directed by Shawn Batey, takes a thought provoking, comprehensive look at the redevelopment and gentrification of Harlem. Batey begins with a brief pictorial history of Harlem starting with its birth as a Native American settlement, through each of its incarnations to present times. Once a retreat for Manhattan’s Upper Crust in the 19^th Century, Harlem reinvented herself, next becoming the seat of African American culture and thought during the Harlem Renaissance of the  early 20^th century, later enduring the struggles and pains of the Great Depression, going on to survive an era of upheaval, political unrest, and neighborhood deconstruction from the 1960’s through the 1970’s. Now a community perched upon prime real estate steeped in history, culture, and architecture, many groups are taking a new look at this neighborhood. Ms. Batey presents an unbiased, discerning view of the different factions vying for a stake in this magical two mile area, which has fueled the world’s imagination for decades.

In this film, Batey encourages viewers to consider options on how to sustain the vested interests of native Harlem residents, while at the same time creating opportunity for real estate investors and their affluent clients, without disenfranchising or excluding either group. How does Harlem maintain its identity without losing itself to corporate America and gentrification? Is there room for all to coexist?  Batey leaves this question open for her audience to decide. She simply paints a global picture, incorporating the opinions of all those involved: the street vendor, the 50 year resident, the upper income investors looking for cheaper housing stock (with Victorian architectural accents), the politician, and the corporate investor.

The Changing Face of Harlem is an excellent film, providing insight to residents of historical neighborhoods, community activists, real estate developers, politicians, and corporate investors who desire to understand the dynamics and challenges involved with revitalizing, rehabilitating, developing and investing in cultural and historical neighborhoods like Harlem around the nation. Ms. Batey’s film should be viewed and considered by anyone planning to engage in any community redevelopment and revitalization plan.

To learn more about Shawn Batey and The Changing Face of Harlem, please visit her website: http://changingfaceofharlem.com/.

Happy Birthday Toni Morrison

Today, Ms Toni Morrison turned 83 years old. I just want to say...

"Happy Birthday Ms Morrison. You have been an inspiration to me, giving me the courage to sit down and write my novels. I hope you had a great day!"

First Blooms

Last Saturday I was sitting on the balcony with my friend and neighbor, Maggie Christie, reflecting on the state of our little garden oasis. "I want flowers for my balcony," Maggie confessed. So, we hopped in her car and headed over to Green Gardens located on Cass Street in San Diego. They offer such a great selection of perennials, annuals, shrubs, and succulents. Well, just anything and everything you could want. The staff was extremely helpful, available to answer any questions their customers may have.

I purchased a beautiful purple ranunculus and red anemone, bunking them together in the same pot.

Maggie purchased geraniums for her balcony, mingling the pink and white flowering plants together in a single pot for a fabulous effect. But I really loved the geranium with the multicolored leaves (left); I'm not sure if I've ever seen that one before!

I've been toying with the ideal of starting an herb garden in a contractor's garbage bag, so I picked up several packets of seeds. I had hoped to start them on Sunday, but didn't get to it.

Although up for a DIY project, I decided to take a look around the Internet to see if I could find better ideals. I want to go vertical off my banister, but I don't want to junk the place up. I found one ideal on that I thought was good; re-purposing shoe bags as vertical planters. I think this would work great for me.

You can learn more about ideas such as these on GreenUPGRADER.com. Another cool site I found was Windowfarms.com offer vertical indoor gardening solutions, sustainable year-round.