This weeks true and funny story comes from Corpus Christi, Texas. Just the other day, in a bank that was being remodeled, an ATM repariman was there to replace a lock inside the machine. He left his phone in his truck while he went inside the bank and inside the ATM machine.   Unfortunately he locked himself inside the machine and couldn't call for help, because his phone was in his truck. All the while people are stopping by to use the machine. He tried to get their attention and started to slip notes through the ATM slot (see photo).  

We all know the benefits of a reverse commute, well a creative variation is heading into the city from Long Island and away from the beaches and Hamptons in Summertime. It is a little known fact that the city is "dead" in the long hot Summer-especially on Holiday weekends when residents escape to beat the heat.  Consequently, Joanne and I enjoyed 2 World Class museums over the 5 day July 4th weekend.  We visited the Guggenheim and Whitney.  There were no lines or crowds, just inspiring Art.  It was so enjoyable and enriching.

It wasn't exactly a scene from The Birds, but it was bad. We had a sense, but the full impact was not felt for days. We decided to go down to the beach one evening to try out the restaurant at TOBAY that is under new management. The write-up in the press made it seem worthwhile. So, after  a walk on the Boardwalk at Jones Beach, we drove east along Ocean Parkway to TOBAY.

I was reminded this week of all I have to be grateful for, don't worry I'm not going to list it all here. I saw a video of the Sanders family. Christina and Christopher met as teenagers, fell in love, got married and had five kids. Could be a perfect end of story, except Christina wanted to adopt another child. So they go through all the rigamaroll you need to, so you are eligible to adopt. The phone rings, its an emergency! Can they take in FOUR boys?

  My children observe that I post on Facebook about three topics -- each of them and how much I dislike the LIRR.

I read an interesting article in the New York Times recently. It appears that the adult son and daughter of real estate mogul Philip Milstein-whose wealth Forbes estimated at $3.1 billion in 2015- believe in life after death. They reside in The Dakota in New York City and, given the history of the building, appear to believe that ghosts reside therein.  

Last Tuesday, July 4th, I agreed to go totally "off the grid." No phone or computer at all...not even to check to see if there was an emergency. And I only told 4 people I was doing this.   It wasn't that hard but I must admit that I kept reaching for my phone in my back pocket quite a bit. At one point I even felt my butt buzz as if I was getting a call.   Unfortunately when I returned to my electronics the next morning, there were several people who were very worried. One was about ready to call the local hospital to see if I was there.