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 …
We Manhattanites have it good in so many ways. One way is almost wherever we go on vacation it's cheaper, this is particularly true in the U.S. I'm down in Key West this week, not staying at the famed Klein cottage this time, too big for our needs. We do always stay in "old town" and the closeness of the cottages doesn't bother me at all. I'm used …
I like lunch. It is an important part of my day. In fact, I have spent many a lunch with many of you. Missing lunch makes me cranky. The high school schedules came out today. In the buzz of activity that always accompanies the new schedules, I noticed a disturbing pattern. What happened to lunch? Where did it go? When did it become acceptab …
Along with most of our home, we lost four cars during Hurricane Sandy. Although it did not feel like it at the time, looking back it was actually a funny sight. Each car seemed to become almost haunted as they each began to flood. The electrical systems went haywire, the lights began flashing on and off, the windshield wipers went on as did the …
I have to say, I never liked my name. Of all the possible choices in 1954, why Donald? The most famous Donalds are a cartoon character and....another cartoon character. I did a little research on this. Apparently, the name, of Scottish and Gaelic origin, peaked in popularity in the 1920s hitting number 10 on the most popular list. By the mid to …
So I came home last night to find out that a truck rolling through our neighborhood snapped our connection to the internet. OMG! Now we have no TV, Phone or Internet services. After getting over the shock I called FIOS to report the issue and after some wrangling they will fix it today. It was quite peaceful being "off the grid." At least for a c …
Joanne and I were talking about the many uses of the word Get and we came up with a list:Get readyGet setGet onGet it onGet crackingGet paid Get downGet up Get byGet closeGet drunkGet stonedGet enoughGet fixedGet goingGet homeGet inGet outGet cleanGet moreGet numbGet overGet pickedGet quietGet realGet softGet tightGet underGet wellGet yoursGet over …
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 …
Just recently, a woman I greatly admire - successful in business, family & spiritually-posted this quote on Facebook: "The woman who does not require validation from anyone is the most feared person on the planet." - Mohadesa Najumi Heavy stuff, but its Weds, so we can handle it. I am happy to say that as I get older, I care less and less what …
You may catch me giggling out loud on the Long Island Railroad. I am in the middle of Billy Crystal’s most recent book, “Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys?” Billy Crystal makes me laugh out loud. I think it is partly because he talks about his own experiences, and being from a Jewish family an …
I am a wine drinker. I rarely--if ever-- order mixed drinks. When I go out for dinner I either order a glass of Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc. I only deviate from these two choices when I see a sparkling wine on the menu. Every so often when I see a sparkling wine served by the glass, I’ll change my usual habit and go for that. During dinner …
I came across a post the other day that listed mantras for someone going through a hard time or high anxiety. Some seemed helpful. Most, like "This Too Shall Pass" has a their theme "hang in there, things will get better". True. And mantras are good, as we know. Here is my mantra: "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh". It is an Allan Sherman's song from …
Another strange but true tale of people going to any lengths to charge their phones. In central New Jersey Police say a man sneaked into a home and hid under a bed in a spare room for three days before the homeowner realized what had happened. Spotswood police say Jason Hubbard was charged with theft of services because he was charging his four …
Did you know that Truman Capote Summered next door to the small town Alabama home of (Nell) Harper Lee?Did you know that Harper Lee served as Capote's research assistant while he was writing In Cold Blood?Did you know that there has always been an unsubstantiated rumor and suspicion that Capote wrote or rewrote To Kill a Mockingbird?All these quest …
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 …
