That's my usual response when when people ask me how I'm doing. It's a reflection of my perspective on life. Since my "incident" over 3 years ago, I don't sweat the small stuff so much anymore....the politics of relationships...the idiosyncrasies of my friends and family, etc.   A client asked me the other day if I was taking a vacation this summer which got me thinking about what paradise truly is...   I think it's a state of mind. It's where you are relaxed, happy and appre...

Last Sunday I embarked on a day long cook… Smoking a brisket. It’s a true commitment because smoking a brisket is at minimum 12 hours of cooking time. It all started the day before when I purchased a 9 pound brisket from my local butcher brought it home and put my special rub on it then place it into the fridge overnight.   Unfortunately I can’t tell you what’s in my special rub because then it wouldn’t be special :-)   In the morning, at the crack of dawn, I awoke and set ...

I was relieved and surprised when the 12 boys and their coach where found safe and sound in a cave in Thailand. However, the ensuing saga of getting them out became very serious when a former Thai Seal died from lack of oxygen on his way out.   I have a new perspective after finding this illustration of the cave, made with the help of a caving expert, which shows just how treacherous it is.     Thai officials have now ruled out any immediate attempts to evacuate them despit...

    I loved hearing those bells when I was growing up in New Hyde Park. One thing I could never figure out...when I asked for any one of 20 different types of those ice cold sweet desserts, the Good Humor man would stick his hand in that small door in the back and whip one out. Without looking he knew exactly where every single type of ice cream bar and sandwich was.   It was the coolest...I even started picking obscure ice creams bars to test his skill. He was perfect every...

I'm taking this time to honor my Mom. It's her 88th birthday and she deserves some recognition beyond the normal Mother's Day Hallmark holiday.   She's had quite a life. Married to my Dad for 54 years and worked for the Democratic party in Nassau County trying to effect change she felt passionate about plus getting two degrees, teaching and more impressively, putting up with me and my sister with all of our shenanigans.   So we are having all the family over to Sunrise in Gl...

The day before Father's Day and I'm reflecting on my Dad as I do from time to time. I miss him.   I often read blogs written by people remembering someone who has passed. It usually is something glowing about how perfect this person was or how wonderful they were.   The reality is life can get ugly, uncomformtable and quite frustrating but I know my Dad loved me without any conditions, even though I put him through many a sleepless night. The point is that even though he was ...

My morning routine hasn't varied for quite awhile and I noticed this morning that, sometimes, I go about it without thinking...like today :)     Wake up (which is a good thing) Check in with my phone (not a good thing) Roll out of bed...literally Stand up and say to myself "Another day in paradise!" Take care of some personal issues Go downstairs, grab some fruit and make myself a couple of eggs Crack my laptop and check email (and on Saturdays, write a blog:) Take a shower,...

It's been over 2 years since my life was saved by Dr. Grieco at Glen Cove hospital and I've been given the green light to exercise again. However, I'm only allowed to walk and use very light weights.   In my life, exercising meant working out to total exhaustion whether it was pounding heavy weights or playing sports. Not anymore and it's been difficult for me to adapt because I used exercise as a way of clearing my mind.   Now I push myself to make it around an 18 hole golf ...

Here's one to make you smile.  In Texas, an elementary student thanked the officers from the Fulsher Police Department for recently pulling his mom over. It was one of a bunch of letters they received during National Police Week, which honors police officers killed in the line of duty. This particular letter was from a young boy. Here's what it said...   "Dear Fulshear Police Officer, Thank you for pulling my mom over because she deserved it because she took my phone away a...

As you watched the spectacle of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get married this moring you may have missed this important story...Hasbro announced it has trademarked one of the most recognizable aspects of one of its most iconic products: the smell of Play-Doh. Yesterday the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially recognized the distinctive Play-Doh smell as a registered trademark of the brand, which first hit stores in 1956.   Hasbro released a statement describing the ...