Top Posts
Carly Bentley
May27
Virtues and Values
Posted By : Carly Bentley

Do you know the difference? Virtues are instilled. They are manifested by what molds and shapes us; usually character building opportunities produce virtues. Typically, virtues are taught by our parents, teachers, coaches, and the like. From the time we are wee boys and girls, these important people shape the virtues we become, from the inside

Nancy Schess
May25
Peas In A Pandemic
Posted By : Nancy Schess

  These are strange times. Grocery shopping now is always an adventure. (Yes, I am still going albeit with utmost caution and protection and only when absolutely necessary). Forget about going with a pre-determined list. Flexibility is the key. My supermarket is rationing items. Frozen vegetables, of all things, are restricted. Four to a s

Nancy Schess
May25
Peas In A Pandemic
Posted By : Nancy Schess

These are strange times. Grocery shopping now is always an adventure. (Yes, I am still going albeit with utmost caution and protection and only when absolutely necessary). Forget about going with a pre-determined list. Flexibility is the key. My supermarket is rationing items. Frozen vegetables, of all things, are restricted. Four to a shopp

Rona Gura
May25
Hamburgers v. Hot Dogs
Posted By : Rona Gura

  With Memorial day weekend upon us, hopefully everyone is outside enjoying much needed fresh air. And, when I think of Memorial Day, I think of bar-b-ques. A thought I do not believe the current situation will change. In fact,  I believe we need our bar-b-ques even more this year. So the natural question is, what is your preference? Are you a ham

Corey Bearak
May24
What plans
Posted By : Corey Bearak

This time of year, I usually look to gather lists of summer concerts, many free, to recommend. Not this year. Often, the discussions about music involve what great show got canceled, postponed or rescheduled. Not sure how many texts and emails I’ve exchanged with my friend Jason about changes involving shows planned at Jones Beach this year. We’ve

Mitch Tobol
May23
Covid Rage
Posted By : Mitch Tobol

Boy are we angry...having been out and about (don't worry, mask and gloves are on) I can tell you that people are angry. Apparently a lot of pent-up tension.   The drivers on the road are excessively agressive which is saying a lot around here. Retailers are getting screamed at in a plant store ?!? They are in a store which has beautiful flora and

Fred Klein
May22
Typhoid Mary
Posted By : Fred Klein

Her name was Mary Mallon and she was a rich man’s cook in the early 20th century.   Trouble was that she was an asymptomatic carrier of Typhoid Fever. She denied being “sick” all her life, but she was caught up in the conflict between public health and individual rights. She ended up living out her life in isolation.   Some of us may be asymptomati

Benjamin Geizhals
May21
The Visitor
Posted By : Benjamin Geizhals

The little notification beep on my phone tells me that there’s motion in my backyard. Sometimes it’s the Cardinal enjoying a snack. Weeks ago, when this was just beginning, we put a little birdseed on the deck to see what would happen. After a few days the cardinals appeared. A sweet couple - bright red with a black face and soft brownish-red. They

Carly Bentley
May20
Owning your Story
Posted By : Carly Bentley

“Take the trip, buy the shoes, eat the cake” We’ve all heard that line before and felt its familiar tug, reminding us that life is better when it’s lived, fully. Trading coffee with your family, for on-time arrival to the office, or skipping the walk after lunch, to meet a deadline are familiar, as well. Choices are made many times in a day, proba

Nancy Schess
May18
Silver Linings
Posted By : Nancy Schess

  As the spring semester of my son’s sophomore year in college comes to a close, I'm not going to lie -- he does miss being on campus.  But an interesting phenomenon has unfolded in my house. Eric is a chemical engineering major. He has a pretty rigorous course load and there is little room for courses outside of a science and math curriculum. But

Rona Gura
May18
What Does the Future Look Like?
Posted By : Rona Gura

Last week I sat in my new home office--otherwise known as my daughter’s old bedroom--looking at an 800 page deposition transcript that I had to read. Rather than sit in the office and read, I moved to my living room. I made myself a cup of coffee, put my feet up and began reading.   About an hour and a half in, I realized that even though I was sit

Corey Bearak
May17
The "transformation" continues
Posted By : Corey Bearak

Friday, I was finally able to set up outside. I even tweeted about it (See pic above left.). This morning I expect to get some final pieces in place for the deck. It requires a curbside pickup but I prefer not endure a weekday delivery and interference with my workdays/week upcoming It was great to take breakfast yesterday morning and actually rea

Mitch Tobol
May16
A Covid Life
Posted By : Mitch Tobol

After wiping off all my groceries, I'm not sure I like grapes that smell like baby wipes   Without looking online, I try to guess what's in the Amazon box that's delivered to my front porch seemingly every day   I wonder why I still have a land line. The only people that call want to sell me something.   I'm hoping landscapers learn there are elect

Fred Klein
May15
Kindness
Posted By : Fred Klein

While walking Charcoal the other day I came upon the pictured sign. As soon as I spied it my blogger juices began to flow and I quickly captured the pictured image. What a stark, yet elegant statement! Kindness is defined as follows: In these unprecedented difficult days we should all aspire to be kind or more kind as the case may be.  As we can

Benjamin Geizhals
May14
Grandparents in the Time of Pandemic
Posted By : Benjamin Geizhals

This blog is for both grandparents and their children. Being a Grandparent in this time of pandemic- with physical isolation and social distancing--is difficult. We also recognize that parenting young children in these times was tough on our children.A response has evolved.A while ago, I offered to “virtually babysit” my 3 year old grandson. Not th