Sometimes my eyes open in the predawn hour and I sample the silence and as I lay there I hear a chirp and then an answer and the silence is sweetly broken. Soon our dog Charcoal stirs as if on signal and the first cracks of dawn emerge and the sweet chirping increases.

Over the years, I’ve seen several iterations of the highway message warning people that driving and alcohol don’t make for a good combination. The messages range from the relatively mild “Don’t Drink and Drive” to those which suggest the penalties that may be inflicted for a violation. I wonder who composes the succinct words and decides the precise wording ?

  Since I am writing on Monday evening, I am reflecting on the phrase of our day -- “thank you for your sacrifice.” Today we remembered those who gave their lives for our country and served to protect us all. Today we express gratitude for acts of courage of so many over so many years that resulted in the loss of their lives.

With Memorial Day upon us both me, and my fellow bloggers, are all thinking about bar-b-que. So my queries on this Memorial Day are simple, hotdog or hamburger? And mustard or ketchup?   Personally, I am a hotdog person. Most often with ketchup (sacrilege?) but sometimes with mustard and sauerkraut. Happy Memorial Day Gotham!!

The week that passed includes a few challenges and this commentator still needs to handle some matters; this includes setting up my deck for seasonal enjoyment.  With help via Gotham the biggest concerns became much less stressful.  We took in a show at My Father's Place as the work week ended.  Shelly posted a pic on Instagram calling it "Corey's Place."  It was a band I followed nearly 50 years but never got to see them; guess stuff happens.

Although I never stop barbequeing (I'm an official year rounder), this weekend is traditionally the kick off for most. I have previously posted my BBQ duck recipe that I cook for Thanksgiving so I thought I would let you know how I smoke ribs.   Start with a good butcher and buy a couple of racks of baby back ribs. Costco and those big box stores don't sell a good quality rib IMHO.  

Every year we go to a Yankee/Met game and we still have a limited number of tickets available for the above  game at the Mets Citi Field.

Do you need a bathtub? The question was raised by an exhibit at a design show in which students from Pratt Institute, sponsored by American Standard (manufacturer of bathroom appliances), displayed futuristic alternatives to the bathtub. The exhibit presented statistics regarding the bathtub: People’s preferences for showers (90%) and the water-conservation benefits of showers - with a not surprising suggestion of shorter showers.