As I brushed the snow off the car the other morning, I thought of family and friends who have left New York for warmer parts. I am fond of kidding my Mother -- who spends the winter in Florida -- that the happiness of New Yorkers in Florida is inversely related to the weather: the poorer the weather in New York, the happier they are. (As any mot …
I have a date stamp on my desk in the office. The old- fashioned kind. You change the date, month and year with plastic wheels. Changing the date is part of my morning ritual. I’ve had such a stamp on my desk for many years. I use it to stamp mail. I don't use it as much now as I used to. Yesterday morning I checked to make sure that the stamp h …
Let's congratulate Gotham's Networkers of the Year -- Liz Saldana and Larry Sprung and this year’s recipient of the Red Bandana Award -- Cindy Somma. When someone asks me what the Red Bandana Award is about, I respond that it is our Gotham family's way of recognizing the best fulfillment of our mantra -- “It is better to give than receive...” I …
I can't remember the last time we were in a Buy Buy Baby store. But we found ourselves in one last weekend. Shopping for a status symbol. They only had one starter Scooter to choose from. A take off on the Flexible Flyer sled of old. We passed on the scooter -- for now at least. We were in search of status. So many choices. Some more versatile t …
A friend of mine was riding his bicycle, albeit in the “wrong” direction, in a bike lane in the City a few weeks ago. He was stopped by a policeman for riding the wrong way and was asked for identification. Unfortunately, my friend didn't have any identification on him or in his bike pack. One thing led to another -- although I have no reason t …
Well, they seem to be working. The cameras in school zones that generate tickets for exceeding the school zone speed limit. There is one such zone on a road that I travel very frequently. After the initial onslaught of tickets, and the publicity about the cameras, motorists being caught unaware and early flaws resulting in many, many unwarrante …
It's been a long time coming, but, to echo Ella Fitzgerald, “Bye, Bye, Blackberry”. Until recently, I’ve been in denial of the imminent demise of my Blackberry. In the face of those around me -- mostly former Blackberry users -- who scoffed at the device in my hands, I held on (literally) to my trusted Blackberry 9000. But loyalty and the ease o …
I was on line in the bagel store and noticed the fixtures in the ceiling. Video cameras in the bagel store. I wondered why. I hadn't heard of any robberies. Was the owner keeping an eye on the employees? Cameras tracking (and ticketing) red lights and speed in school zones. A good idea for safety, although I am skeptical of the motivation, espec …
Yesterday was my birthday and it was a Happy One! I was apprehensive about my birthday falling during Blog Happiness Week because I knew that it would have to find its way into my blog. This was one of the big ones -- when the government, movie theaters, and NYC MTA start to look at you differently. My sister -- many years my junior -- captured …
Unfortunately, for me, there is no comic relief. I am looking for it, but can’t find it. I remember them -- Whoopi, Billy and Robin --at Shea Stadium in their Comic Relief T Shirts, putting a smile on every face in the place. But the memory, or a You Tube video, won't bring a smile to my face. Not now, not yet, maybe someday. The old clips onl …
I am following up on Erik's blog of yesterday which brought into question the amount paid to Judge Judy -- the highest paid TV personality -- and Vik's comment that it was “Free market”. (OK, Vik said “Free market, baby!”). Leaving TV personalities aside, in the world where I spend a great deal of my time -- the highly-regulated world of health …
I may have to stop second-guessing my GPS. I recently was instructed by my GPS to take what seemed to me to be a roundabout way to get on a nearby highway. Ignoring the GPS suggestion, I took my more-direct route and was shocked into humble reality when I saw that my “more-direct” route was snarled in stop and go traffic. As I wound my way thro …
The Gay Head Lighthouse in Aquinnah on the westernmost tip of Martha’s Vineyard is being moved inland. The historic lighthouse, which has stood on its present spot since 1856, is in danger of falling into the sea as the cliffs to its north and west are eroding. By the experts' estimate, the move will keep the Lighthouse safe from the eroding cl …
I had never experienced this before and hope to never experience it again. We were driving upstate before the holiday weekend and were caught in a hailstorm. Suddenly, dark clouds, a sudden ever-increasing rain and then - pings. Small at first, then larger - bangs, thuds. Nowhere to pull off the highway. No underpass. Finally a small clearing on th …
I may be a News Junkie and, if so, I'd like to consider going on a twelve-step program. I was raised listening to WCBS radio – "all news all the time" – while in the car. I now listen to NPR on both commutes to and from the office – generally when the news is on. My home feels like the periodicals room at the New York Public Library. I get news …
