Summer Olympics in Beijing, 2008

The summer Olympics in Beijing were incredible. The opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the events, were superb. I do not think there is a word that adequately describes the events we saw via television.

We wish they would replay the opening and closing ceremonies as they were outstanding and we would love to view them again.

I heard on a news report that the total, all inclusive cost of the Olympics in Beijing was 40 billion dollars.

The manpower was incredible as seen in the opening and closing ceremonies that reflected precision, timing, dedication, and as my mother mentioned, discipline. I heard that as many as one million volunteers may have been included in the proceedings of the summer games.

Three Days to Go to the Cleveland Browns Football Game

I have three days to go to the Cleveland Browns vs the Chicago Bears football game.

To get ready for the game I purchased an orange-colored Cleveland Brown's shirt, made of a very soft 100% cotton weave, and a pair of brown pants. Thus, I match the team colors of orange and brown.

I hope to look like a brown's fan!

Walking in a New Park

My nephew and I took a long walk in a new park, actually a golf course that has been converted to a large park. We saw an incredible number of birds and insects as we walked through the new park on a most beautiful August day.

My nephew noticed a hawk high in the sky and a Praying Mantis near the edge of our path. The Mantis blended in with the green and reddish grass and stood in the praying position completely still.

In addition to the reddish hawk, my nephew noticed many turkey vultures, heard the sounds of the Goldfinches in the pine forest and saw a young deer near the apple trees in the abandoned orchard.

Later we picked our own apples in a nearby orchard where I often pick my apples and grapes each year.

One can ask the owner of the orchard, almost any question about what he grows and sells.

This wonderful August day was also a birthday present for my nephew's mother, my sister,
who enjoyed the special moments with us and our 91 year young mother.

While my nephew and I took a quick walk, my sister and mother were swinging on a swing and
sitting in the shade under a tree after we all had lunch in the cafe of this wonderful park.

Eight Days until the Cleveland Browns vs the Chicago Bears

There is an interesting article today at Forbes.com entitled the Special Report: The Business of College Football.

Unfortunately we did not get our football tickets in The Ohio State University Alumni lottery this year but we will enjoy the upcoming Cleveland Browns football game.

Only eight days to go until the game on August 28!

11 Days to Go to the Game

It is now Sunday, and we have 11 days to go to the Cleveland Browns vs the Chicago Bears football game. I may try to bake a daugie bone today for my nephew and my husband who both are allergic to dairy and eggs.

If you would like to know more about me, check out my web site at
http://www.raskinfo.com

13 days to the Cleveland Browns football game

It is now day 13 on the way to the Cleveland Browns football game.

I am noticing more orange and brown around me both at home and around our area.

Our weather has been perfect and I hope it stays so until the game of the Cleveland Browns vs the Chicago Bears on August 28, 2008.

14 Days to go until the Cleveland Browns Game

We have 14 more days until the Cleveland Browns football game in Cleveland, Ohio. I am referring to the game of the Cleveland Browns vs the Chicago Bears on August 28.

I am thinking about baking cookies for our snacks before the game, cookies like the ones I saw years ago in the shape of bones for dogs.

Perhaps I can do brownies in the shape of bones for the "Dawg pond"? An alternative might be to bake bear claws, per the Chicago Bears?

Does anyone have a good, easy recipes to share for bear claws or "dawg" bones?

Count Down to the Cleveland Browns vs the Chicago Bears

We have counted down to 15 days until the game at the Cleveland Browns Stadium.

I have checked out where Club Seats are located and am pleased they do not appear to be too high or too low in the stadium.

I started reading what I am or am not permitted to bring to the stadium for the Cleveland Browns vs the Chicago Bears football game. I have not yet checked what to wear or the weather forecast.

Any suggestions are most welcome.

This is my first football game in the Cleveland Browns Stadium in 2008 and I have only 15 more days until the game, the countdown continues.

Cleveland Browns Football Game

I am starting the countdown for my first Cleveland Browns football game this year to be played in Cleveland on August 28, 2008. My husband received the tickets from his brother.

My countdown has started towards the evening game of the Cleveland Browns vs the Chicago Bears.

On the first day of my countdown, my husband wore his Cleveland Browns pants and my nephew happened to be wearing a Cleveland Browns tea shirt, when I dropped something off at my sister's house. On day one of my countdown, I have begun to notice that much of the wardrobe in our family is orange (my husband's favorite color) and brown. The array of orange and brown flows from his closet to our towels.

Our calico kitty has a Cleveland Browns' towel in her bed. Our calico kitty is a Browns fan and watches the team on T.V.

16 days to go to the Cleveland Browns vs the Chicago Bears in Cleveland, Ohio!

I hope to add something interesting to this blog both before and after the Browns Football game on Thursday, August 28.

My company's name is Rosa S. Raskin & Associates, LLC, and my web site is http://www.raskinfo.com Although I am available, 24/7, I plan to take the day, August 28, off to prepare for the game and wear something in the appropriate orange and brown colors to show my team spirit.

It will be a holiday from my work answering research questions but please "Keep Askin for Raskin".

Who is Eating My Squash Plants?

My 2008 garden is a mystery. I have never had any animal eat my squash plants but this year an animal is eating all of the leaves of my various kinds of squash. Some of the branches of my large tomato plants also to appear to have been eaten. My parsley, arugula, and cilantro have not been touched. My summer and winter squash plants are merely a few sticks in the ground. I always plant a summer squash and a winter squash, my most successful until this year was butternut squash.

No one is eating the cucumbers but their leaves are loaded with the "powdery wilt" as I call it. The plants are producing good little cucumbers the size of pickles but the leaves are totally white.

I planted Marigolds around my garden, that are doing terrific. My basil and rosemary are doing fine.

I have seen deer in our area and once in my yard, but my squash and tomato plants have never been disturbed.

It is a mystery as I have a small plastic fence around the garden. Could it be a large bunny standing on his hind legs to nibble squash plants as we have few of his favorites growing in our yard?

Luckily, the tomato plants are large and do have green tomatoes on them. I wonder if they will also disappear? My Marglobe, Hillbilly, and Mr. Stripey tomato, are heirlooms and all have green tomatoes on them. The hybrid, Sweet 100 cherry tomato, a favorite of my mother, is huge and is bearing many cherry tomatoes.

In any case, who is eating my squash plants?