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 …
I'm just wondering who does their own laundry? I do. I've tried giving it to the guys downstairs, but they put it away wet or use strange smelling softeners or fold thing so oddly, I'd just rather do it myself. I have to use the laundry in the basement of my coop. Its a luxury in Manhattan to have your own washer-dryer. Statistically, only 20% of a …
I have always been a student of people. I enjoy hearing their stories. I think it helps to broaden my own perspectives. Last night I had occasion to talk to a man from Nepal. He had come here 20 years ago as a student and made a life. He married, raised children, and has owned several businesses along the way. But he hasn’t seen his Nepalese fa …
Last week I was playing on my laptop and planned a cruise around Greece for my husband and I. Nothing was booked; nor did I even sign into any website. But, in my mind, I found the ideal cruise for us. I then looked at possible shore excursions using a few different websites. When I turned off my computer, I had saved nothing from any of my …
When we came home last night we turned on the TV and watched a movie I haven't seen since it was in the theatres twenty-four years ago. Thelma and Louise. A classic. It got me thinking about my favorite movies over the years. Here is part of my list: Breaking Away, which I mimic by giving myself an Italian bicycle riding name. Power of One. W …
