We had decided to replace more Post caps on the fence around my deck. Some of the original caps cracked and we liked the replacements our "painting (and more) contractor" installed. I found them on line at one of my go to hardware stores but for some reason the transaction was not going through; they insisted the issue was with my credit card; th …
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), a week ago, declared a drought watch, and New York City issued a citywide drought watch after a historic lack of precipitation. It's really dry which has caused multiple wildfires, including one that burned nearly 200 acres and led to an evacuation in Livingston, New Jersey. The l …
When I was first introduced to Major League Baseball almost all the spectators were male and they wore suits and hats (pictured). How times have changed! Now the crowd is diverse, yet their mode of dress nearly uniform. Everyone heralds their home team loyalty on their breast, back or head. We are living in the 21st Century age of lushly abundan …
I am in the waiting room of the doctor’s office on Election Day. An elderly man sits nearby and asks me “Who do you think will win?” “I don’t know.” “Well, take a guess.” Then a women who was with him interrupted and scolded him that he shouldn’t be asking such questions. “I can ask whatever I want. It’s a free country,” he …
We have so many things in life that are "High Speed". High speed internet, high speed Wi-Fi, High speed smart phones. In recent years we have really mereged onto the information super highway. And for the most part, everything has been running pretty smooth, everything is fast. We have become so used to clicking and having an immediate reaction to …
I know we all talked about Halloween last week but I needed to share this heartwarming story. Each year in my neighborhood, we have fewer and fewer “trick or treaters”. Maybe the neighborhood is aging, I’m not sure. This year a group of adorable youngsters dressed as goblins and ghouls came by to scare and leave with a treat. They each polite …
Shelly likes to ride her bike and this hobby involves visits to different parks in Queens (so far). One Sunday, it was Cunningham Park. For several times over the summer, we headed over to Little Bay Park across from Fort Totten from where she rode the Joe Michaels Mile nestled along Little Neck Bay and the Cross Island Parkway. Alley Pond Park has …
There was a time when I would check my horoscope everyday in the newspaper. Now that I get all of my news exclusively online, I no longer do so. Astrology has fascinated people for centuries, captivating believers and skeptics alike. While I find the insights entertaining, I won’t comment about its accuracy in predicting the future. But astrology …
Halloween is an interesting holiday. I bought a bunch of candy to give out and sat on the porch, and only three kids and two dogs came by. Yet two blocks away, there were hundreds. What gives? When my kids and I went trick or treating, we strolled down every block, filling their pillowcases until they couldn't carry them anymore. We were on a …
The Yankees, my boyhood favorite team, imploded Wednesday night and lost the World Series :(The loss caused me to suffer exquisite agony. Exquisite Agony is a turn of phrase I rarely use, but when I do I really feel it!It describes pain I experience in an extremely raw and gnawing way. I feel it down to my very core. It is a feeling which border …
It’s a small sheet of thin aged paper. The faded typed words are in Polish. The notation on the upper right is “Krakow, dnia 9.VII.1945”. The words acknowledge my grandmother’s ownership of property in Krakow, Poland.The paper was among papers that I found in my mother’s files when I was cleaning out her apartment. It was among papers that I kept — …
In life, we all have regrets...things we should have done / anticipated that we did not. We all have the ability to make the life of someone else brighter just by a kind word, just by reaching out when you know they are down. Never let an opportunity to show concern for others pass you by. You never know when one contact from anyone will make …
We did on Sunday. Early voting in New York has made it so much more convenient to get out and vote. This year in my town, they added more locations to make it even easier. We stuck to our standard early voting location and waited on line for a while. The line wasn’t really a surprise. We had planned for the wait but that gave us the chance to …
Last weekend, my son, Ryan, got married. This is my third child that has gotten married. So, one would think that I would be used to the impact of emotions you feel watching a child get married. But I wasn’t. Watching my son get married felt so surreal, like being in a television show, only I had a starring role as "the emotional tearful mom." Al …
Last year this time I blogged about a Halloween bash. Also last week it occurred to me review my Halloween playlist that I (finally) created last year. Turned out there was a song that belonged that I did not include then; so 40 tunes grew to 41. Since there are a few more days for those with children or grandchildren who might trick or treat, I sh …
