Fall back...spring ahead. That's how I remember which way the clocks turn. It seems downright silly.

We (North America) end DST on November 1st, tonight. Mexico ended theirs last Sunday the 25th. What's that about? Do they want to be first at something?

Tunisia, Western Australia and Samoa cancelled theirs. I guess they got tired of changing clocks. I'm with them. There's always one clock I ... More >>

Do you have a lucky number? Not for the Lotto, just a lucky number. 1 to 10, 1 to 100. 1 to 1000. Whatever.

Now it can be told that mine is 3. Why 3? Well it helps that it's The Babe's number (early in his years with the Yankees they did not wear numbers, but when they started it was logical, since he batted third, that he would be assigned 3 and, of course, clean up hitter Lou Gehrig got 4... More >>

Flo and I were in Winston-Salem, North Carolina last weekend to visit Jon Kuhn, a glass artist. (I will leave out Jon's fame and accomplishments and the reason for our visit -- perhaps the subject of future blogs.) We met Jon in the Berkshires last June and he invited us to see his studio. Suffice it to say that it was an invitation that was not to be declined.
When we first met J... More >>

A friend of mine was commenting (on Facebook) that he couldn’t understand how he used to like loud music, that it was driving him nuts. I responded that I’m sure he could very well understand how he liked loud music and that there had to be times when he played some Led Zeppelin or AC/DC or similar group very loudly. I know that I spent many days in my room in junior high and high school pla... More >>

Look at someone.

Their eyes,
their hair,
their smile.

Their clothes,
bags,
shoes.

Beautiful.

But are they really?

Look into someone.

Their mind,
heart,
and soul.

Find their purpose,
their meaning,
the reason they smile so
brightly.

Find their encouragement,
determination,
motivation that keeps them so
strong.

Are they mature?
Unique?
Humble? Honest?

... More >>

Is anyone aware of legislation that is currently sitting in House and Senate Committees that would benefit 9/11 first responders and other community members who are currently suffering from severe health problems?

A guy I know was on the 84th floor of Tower 2 - the second to be hit, the first to go down - on September 11, 2001. He was a “finance” guy, life was good. He had a new baby, a... More >>

The cold weather has taken its foothold. The sun is no longer up by 6:30 a.m. Being used to riding my bike in the warm months early in the morning before I leave for work, which I now there is not enough time to do, I have become exercise challenged.

Walking back and forth to the water cooler doesn't seem to be a very good substitute, though now living in a house after 28 years in an apartme... More >>

My best friend's brother died two weeks ago. I had known him for about 30 years. I knew he was an emergency medicine doctor and worked with the FDNY. At both nights of the wake, I heard stories about how he saved people's live, helped people get through paramedic school and achieved a level of status and respect that is unusual for a 58 year old man.

I watched as people waited a very long time... More >>

No doubt, everyone is thinking, if not talking, about whether to get flu shots. Plural, because, as we know, there are two. One for supposedly run of the mill seasonal flu and another for the "epidemic" H1N1 ("Swine Flu").

I have taken the my seasonal flu shot and now ponder whether I should take the other (if I can gain access to it).

Supposedly, being a Baby Boomer+, I am not in danger. ... More >>

There are many rocks in my life. No symbolism or allegory. Simply rocks.
I have a habit of picking up rocks -- mostly from beaches, and other places that I have visited over the years.
There are many rocks from Martha's Vineyard. Some from Aruba. Some from Long Island -- both the South and North shores. They have blended over the years, and, except for a few that stand out, I can't vo... More >>

Whether television is the looking glass into our culture, or it’s the evil poison used to destroy our minds, either way one thing is clear. The lines between reality and pseudo-reality are becoming more and more blurred. We are all reveling in our crucifixion of the Heene parents and their CPS-taunting balloon hoax. While I would never defend such actions, are we justified in denying any guil... More >>

My son plays baseball in two leagues, one in the fall and one in the spring. With no reflection on the coaches and hard work put into the team, (my husband is one of the coaches), each spring season has traditionally been a replay of The Bad News Bears. One year, I am not sure they won even a single game.

This fall, however, the team is doing stupendously well. (Lest you conclude that my husb... More >>

As we speak and write and think, Halloween is descending upon us, with its spooky grandeur, assorted candies, apples, witches and ghosts.

My earliest memory of attending a Halloween party was at my friend Lori’s house in 6th grade. Her parents were so cool. They set up a “bobbing for apples” cauldron (literally, it was in one of those huge black witch’s pots filled with a couple of ... More >>

When asked about your dreams, a person can offer two answers. One is about the future. The other is about the night. How different they are. One set of dreams can inspire, and the other can haunt.

"I am one of those who like to stay late at the cafe," the older waiter said. "With all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night."
- A Clean, Well-Lighted... More >>

10 years ago Aaron Boone won the ALCS for the Yankees (exciting game)
Today the ALCS just started (with the Yankees winning, yea). I could rant about how TV and the NFL have changed the scheduling of the playoffs which has pushed baseball into winter. However I started to think about how much has changed in the past 10 years. For instance:

10 years ago everyone was wondering if their computers... More >>

Last weekend I was in my characteristic "Up is Down and Down is Up" mood as I pondered the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to our embattled 9 month old president.

While acknowledging that is was a bit sketchy for him to have been nominated when he had logged less than 2 weeks in office, I am having trouble getting my head around the pundits from all wings opining that the award will be a mil... More >>

I thank my friend Freddy for sharing this wonderful story.

Freddy's father had an Audi and a few months ago he went to the dealer looking to buy an extended warranty for his prized car. The trouble was the car was a few years old and the extended warranty was a bit pricey. After a bit of negotiating, Freddy's father bought a new Audi instead of getting the extended warranty on his old one... More >>

Bank Of America wants to open a branch in your bedroom.

Robert Mueller, head of the FBI has been banned by his wife from using online banking, after nearly falling prey to an online scam.
See http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10370164-245.html

Business owners have lost $ 100,000 - $ 800,000 to fraudsters.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/10/avoid_windows_malware_bank_on.ht... More >>

Tonight, Klein Zelman will celebrate its 30th anniversary and this occasion gives me a chance to reflect about our firm.

Thirty years ago in October 1979, the now senior partners of the firm had a vision and embarked on a journey that was to eventually become Klein Zelman Rothermel LLP. I am not sure if they were thinking 30 years in advance but I know they had a definite idea about the kin... More >>

My soon-to-be 11-year-old was in a sweet mood this morning. We were talking about how he and I spent practically every minute of the first two years of his life together, all day, everyday, taking walks, visiting playgrounds, and playing on the floor with blocks, toys and books.

Upon reminiscing about this (he could barely remember, it was me doing all the reflecting) his raw thoughts and em... More >>

Yesterday morning by 7 a.m. we were in the car for the four hour ride up Route 17 to Syracuse, New York. We were going to visit the University, 'Cuse as they call it in these parts, for Eve's daughter Emily who is a high school senior.

Arriving well before Noon, even with stops, having nothing else to do after dropping Emily off with friends, and watching a sea of orange walking towards Lege... More >>

Does Mauer's foul ball (that really wasn't) in the 11th inning of last night's dramatic Yankee comeback win become the most talked about thing in Minnesota? I mean he got on base anyway. ....but what if....? That "hit" would have been a ground rule double and maybe, just maybe, he would have scored. But come on...they had the bases loaded with no out and didn't score. Looking at the replay it's a... More >>

Tuesday was the 138th straight day that I swam. The streak started on May 22nd and in the "right on" words of the "Nike" ad I told myself each morning to "Just Do It"! And I did and I'm proud of it.

The minimum distance was a daily morning (dawn) swim of .4013 of a mile (52 laps) and double the distance (.8026 of a mile, 104 laps) on each Saturday in my pool. The longest was an open water s... More >>

During the last week, two Holocaust survivors known to me passed away. Both were named Henry...or Hennek. One was an indirect relative on my side of the family and the other an indirect relative on Flo's side. I have no reason to believe that they knew each other. I knew them only casually. They were each pleasant and unassuming.
They were survivors and, although I never engaged in deep d... More >>

I've wanted her ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of her, I cried about her--I tried everything to have her. After having two wonderful sons---
I knew we would have her---somehow...someday.
Finally on August 28, 2002, our daughter Emily Rose was born. She was our miracle baby, the one who would pick out our nursing homes. So, she moved in with her two big brothers and we were all tickl... More >>

Well, not really a contest since that implies a prize. Instead, think of this blog as an opportunity to exercise your creativity.

My daughter is in 8th grade and has decided to run for one of 5 student cabinet positions in her middle school. It’s interesting. This year the school decided to eliminate the traditional officer positions in student council and instead have five equal cabinet ... More >>

I’ve heard that “showing up” is a large percentage of what it takes to succeed in life, no matter what your definition of success is. Be where you say you are going to be, at the time you say you’ll be there. There’s really no negotiation.

Probably in an effort to ensure that his students attended class, my college drama professor reminded us at the beginning of his 8:00 a.m. sessio... More >>

I am in Boston, home of my soon to be son-in-law, for a wedding shower for my daughter Hilary. Her wedding is fast approaching, and this is the second shower in two weeks. The first one was in New York last Sunday afternoon.

I don't know the origination of this custom, or why it is called a shower. Perhaps because the bride-to-be is showered with gifts? And why it is only for women, though ... More >>

As I write this, we are just about at a full moon. That may explain some strange feelings you may be having. Fred even wrote his blog on black mold.

Did you know back in eighteenth-century England, a murderer could plead “lunacy” if the crime was committed during the full moon and get a lighter sentence as a result.

In tropical rain forest countries in South America and Southeast Asia, ... More >>

Most mold is bad (some mushrooms are good). This I have learned. It is bad for good health. Especially respiratory health. In my case it causes an asthmatic reaction.

"Black Mold" is worst of all and our Paul Napolitano, Co-Chair of our new East End Group, is expert in mold remediation (I suppose it is good for him). Hopefully, he will shed light on this dark subject with a telling comment. ... More >>

It was 1968. I was a teenager and I was alone as I got off the plane in Tel Aviv. My parents, brother and sister were on a different flight. In those days there were no direct flights from New York to Tel Aviv and you stopped in Europe to refuel. My parents’ plane was scheduled to arrive before mine and we were to meet at the airport. But my plane landed about an hour earlier and I was waiting t... More >>