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 …
Earlier this week, Fred shared an entry in his diary with me. It's from June 17, 1980 and reads as follows: “drove Benj to his parents' home in New Hyde Park and his dad is a pleasant eccentric little immigrant man with an accent who said I didn't look "Klein" (small) and offered me a half finished beer. His face showed concern when Benj told hi …
There’s a detached garage at Flo’s mother’s house in Queens -- the house that Flo grew up in, my father-in-law lived in until his death five years ago, and her mother still lives in. The garage is used for storage and in all of the years that I took things in and out of that garage, the garage door was never locked -- until two weeks ago when I …
Red light cameras are showing up everywhere. The cameras that are at intersections which are coordinated with the traffic lights to photograph the license plates that go through red lights or commit other violations (like rolling through a right turn on red). Recent reports are that, after a few years since being introduced, revenues from the r …
We are privileged to have Jefferson Crowther, his wife Allison, and their family, in our Gotham family. Although there were 34 (mostly-unrelated) people around the table at yesterday’s meeting of Formica and Open House, for me it was a family meal in which one of the family members shared something special -- something very special. As Jefferso …
I won’t drink and drive, so why would I risk reaching for a smart phone to check for emails or text messages? The point was driven home last Thursday at the Gotham Long Island meeting by Mike Jakob. Mike, an insurance agent, talked about the problem and a new program that his agency is undertaking to educate the public about the hazards of smartpho …
It was in the personal section of yesterday's Wall Street Journal -- carrying two cell phones. For me, it started rather innocently. When Flo upgraded to a newer iPhone, her iPhone became available. I have always had a Blackberry (perhaps the subject of a another blog) which had increasingly become more of an office number. Our grandson had just …
I reached across the desk for the stapler, carefully positioned the papers, and squeezed. Nothing. The stapler was empty. So I reached into the drawer and took out the plastic box of staples. I was amazed that there were only five strips left. I checked the drawer. No strips had fallen out. There are 5,000 staples to a box. 210 staples to a …
I like to vacation in familiar places. We have a time share in Aruba and, at last count, have been back seven times (plus a few times before we got the time share). Our son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Alyssa have been with us seven times -- and their son, our grandson, Jackson, was with us for the first time (but certainly not last) two week …
