A few days before leaving for our annual visit to Martha’s Vineyard last week, I received a voice message from Steve and Kim. We've been visiting the Vineyard for many years. We stay at the Outermost Inn in Aquinnah and are there at the same time every year. So are Steve and Kim. We were looking forward to seeing them again this year and I was …
Yesterday morning I found myself in front of a little outdoor garden sitting area -- four benches in a small circle by the beach overlooking Vineyard Sound. Bricks, many with names and acknowledgements line the floor and the area is enclosed by beach plums. In the center there's a boulder engraved with depictions of a lighthouse, a male and fem …
There are a few bagel stores in our neighborhood. Two within walking distance, although you'd pass one on the way to the second. Several others are a short drive. I am not sure whether any of them are significantly “better” than any other; however the loyal fans of any one of them swear that others don't compare to theirs. And there are differ …
There's a local frozen yogurt place in our neighborhood. We built up a lot of loyalty points enjoying their yogurt until one day, about a year ago,when they stopped serving “Original Tart”. The owner explained that my favorite flavor was not a big seller. I was in disbelief because, for me, it was the only flavor that tasted remotely like yogur …
I've heard the expression that "getting there is half the fun". Although I anticipated writing this blog from Asheville, North Carolina, I never thought that I'd be writing about getting --or almost not -- getting here. We booked our trip some time ago. Fly to Charlotte and a scenic two-hour drive to Asheville. The Forces had other ideas. Got to …
While listening to the radio the other day, I heard the results of a study stating that it takes an average of 23 minutes to regain one’s focus if one is interrupted with an instant message while working. The study seemed to concentrate on instant messaging, but I suppose that the concept would apply to any e-interruption, although the length of re …
A recent email exchange makes me wonder about auto-correct. Commenting upon a Gothamite attending a meeting, the email stated that “We always actuate her participation.” Upon receiving the email, my intuitive ’auto correct misspell decipher’ recognized the unintended word immediately. The sender also recognized the error and emailed that “Somehow t …
I was walking up the aisle from my front row seat at intermission of “Shows for Days” at the Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center; “Ben, your shirt is open.” (Actually, I was wearing a T shirt under an open shirt.) I looked around and when I focused on Gothamite Richard Fromewick seated several rows up the aisle, I replied that I was thankful that …
In case you haven't seen this yet, someone tried to charge his cellphone on stage at a performance of “Hand to God” on Broadway. Details are unclear, but apparently a man in the audience jumped onto the stage to plug his cellphone into one of the electrical outlets on the set. The only problem was that the outlet was a prop in the scenery -- n …
A scene in a play that I saw last week really bothered me. In the scene, an elderly man was fired from his job in a garment district factory. Protesting his firing, the man told the young owner that he had worked for the owner’s father and uncle for 43 years. As the play moved on, I was distracted by my thoughts of loyalty. It took a few minute …
The first day of Summer. Thoughts of long weekends, vacations, beach and mountains. Whatever works for you to get away from the heat of the City, and other things. What to pack? Sandals, flip-flops, walking shoes, shorts, bathing suits, a few T-shirts, maybe a light sweater. Those choices are far less important than deciding on these: cellphone …
Flo's mom passed away last week. I liked Sue, and I think she liked me about as much as she liked anyone who wasn't directly related to her by blood. Sometimes it was hard to tell, because Sue suffered from Alzheimer's for most of the years that I knew her. Sue was a private person. Her family was IT -- the beginning and the end. If you were le …
Let's talk about eating and dining. First, I must admit that I am one who eats to live rather than one who lives to eat. That being said, I appreciate a fine meal although perhaps not with the same gusto that I witness in others. Back to eating and dining. For me, dining is when there is nothing else to do but enjoy the food and the company. I …
Last Friday, as the Rangers faced the decisive game seven in their series with Tampa Bay, I read all the hype about the Rangers’ past successes in seventh games over the years -- they were unbeaten in the last seven decisive games. The hype upset me. Sports, as many things in life, are generally subject to the laws of averages. Over time, things ba …
The hostess at one of our favorite restaurants in the Berkshires led us to our “quiet” table in the back dining room. Only a few tables in the room that was usually reserved for private parties -- one table of six, a table of four, another two at one table, and us. I learned a long time ago to never talk about private matters in public and nev …
