Today, Wed. July 15, is my 61st birthday. A decade older than Roger Maris when he left this mortal coil. I am thrilled to be alive and only half way through. 1954 -– First flight of the Boeing 367-80, prototype for both the Boeing 707 and C-135 series. A good day for new flyers. I share my day with other artistic and creative folk: Rembrandt, Cleme …
Since I am in love with my name, I will continue this weeks Name theme. I am the youngest of 4. The oldest, my sister, was named for my Mother and her mother, Sue Brent, we've always called her Brent. My brothers were named for my father, the older one - my ex-brother (but thats another story), John Albert - and the younger brother named for my gra …
I moved to New York City in 1975, subway fare was 35 cents, I thought a studio apartment in Greenwich Village for $180 a month was too much money and New Year's Eve in Times Square was a lot of fun. I've seen a lot of changes. A. Lot. Of. Changes. I still think New York City is the greatest city in the world, especially Manhattan (I'm warming up …
In 2011, on this day June 24, New York passes a law to allow same-sex marriage, becoming the largest state that allows gay and lesbian couples to marry. In 1953, on this day, Jacqueline Bouvier and Senator John F. Kennedy announced their engagement. In 1509, Henry VIII was crowned King of England. He certainly knew the advantages of a good marr …
Last Saturday, I saw a really good movie about Brian Wilson. His story is rather miraculous. Full of triumph, inspiration and humour. Most importantly, the power of one person to make a difference and I don't mean the extremely talented Mr. Wilson, though he is rather amazing. Great cast, acting, direction. And basically truth. No spoilers here. W …
Following in the clever Mitch Tobol's footsteps, I found this interesting news story. In Britain, he is known as a cantankerous ex-navy officer and for being the queen's husband, but in remote villages in the tropical Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu, Prince Philip is much more. Several hundred scattered residents on Tanna island pray to the Britis …
Thirty-five years ago, I had a friend, maybe just a regular acquaintance, who decided to change her name fom Linda to Caitlin. Some "spiritual adviser" had told the new name had better "whatever" for her. I thought it was the stupidest thing I had heard. Anyway, her name wasn't unappealing before but she changed it. Of course, I've had the good for …
As you read this, I'm having surgery on my nose to remove a spot of something I don't want growing on me. So to cheer me up, I am replaying my first blog to remind of the greatness of being a part of a bigger whole. Thanks, tribe. First, I must say, how grateful I am to be joining the bloggerettes here at Gotham. I am quite honored. Lucky me. So …
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward, and laterally. These attributes allow helicopters to be used in congested or isolated areas where fixed-wing aircraft and many forms of VTOL (vertical takeoff and l …
Just read today that Barack Obama gave Shell Oil the OK to drill for oil in the Arctic. The idea is, not much going on down there and vast reserves of oil and natural gas. How can this be a good thing? How can our government be so out of touch with the natural world? How can they not know the planet is connected? Shell has not shown itself to be re …
Have you been? I had the great good fortune to have to take a bunch of people there just this week. One of the things I find most inspiring about it is, unlike most museums, at Ellis Island you actually walk where the immigrants walked, you can sit on the benches they sat on, you can almost hear those mispronounced names shouted and the 21 differen …
She was walking to work and fell in a pothole. Corey, who do we go after for this? So now we're in the ER, waiting for X-ray results or maybe some pain meds. At least we're not in Nepal. Or Baltimore. Acts of injustice done between the setting and the rising sun in history lie like bones, each one. -W H Auden
According to earthday.org: Each year, Earth Day -- April 22 -- marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. The height of hippie and flower-child culture in the United States, 1970 brought the death of Jimi Hendrix, the last Beatles album, and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water …
If you've ever served on a board, a co-op board or an association board or a not-for-profit board you know it's not easy to get things done. Things just seem to go around in circles and never get anywhere. Well, there's one place where that's not true, one place where they hear you, listen to you and you can write your own ticket with other like-mi …
I read recently that Jeb Bush inadvertently checked the Hispanic box in his voter registration form in 2009. His response was, “My mistake! Don’t think I’ve fooled anyone." It reminded me of a the silly mistakes I make and how foolish it is to get angry about them. How many times have I frantically searched for my glasses only to find them on the t …
