Do you remember the 1987 movie of John Updike's above entitled novel?A brief summary: Jack Nicholson is cast as the male lead with dynamic costars Cher, Michele Pfeiffer and Susan Sarandon cast as unknowing witches living together in a coven into which Jack wanders. I just love the send up and can't help casting myself and my three female partners …
"Please silence your cellphones." An often-repeated admonition that has become part of our everyday lives. Sometimes heeded, sometimes not. So, heeding the advice, and, more significantly, wanting to enjoy a romantic anniversary dinner, Flo and I silenced our phones and tucked them out of sight. About an hour later, when we were brought desser …
A story of change... A three-alarm fire ripped through an empty, landmarked synagogue on the Lower East Side Sunday night, according to the FDNY. Nearly 140 firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control for about five hours, from p.m. to shortly after midnight. The congregation's building, a Gothic Revival structure built in 1850 as the N …
I carry them with me. The oldest one is handwritten note from my grandfather. My grandparents gave me a watch for high school graduation and my grandfather wrote me a note on his special notepad telling me to think about him when I wore it. When Jaclyn was 8 years old, she visited my office. I left her sitting at my desk for a few minutes a …
Recently I sat in the middle seat on a cross county flight, between my husband who had the aisle seat and a stranger who had the widow seat. Several times during the flight the channel on the television I was watching unexpectedly changed. After the second time, I realized the channel changed because the stranger next to me had put his arm on the a …
Happy Mother’s Day to the all moms, especially the three most important ones in my life. After basketball yesterday, I gave thought to this blog and realized not only this one falls on Mother's Day but what I posted last year fell on the day (and as long as I get to blog on Sundays, I easily claim this and other cool topics). I searched back an …
Being the guy in the hospital bed, you gain a unique perspective. A little over two years ago, I was that guy. Recently, my brother-in-law was that guy. He had a heart attack, got a stent and is doing fine. We talked about "being in the bed" when I saw him last weekend. We both had the same reaction. When you're in the bed it's your reality. Yo …
As you may know, my son Alex has 2 bands: Tiajuana Caravan and, the off shoot, The Tall Boys. When Alex was in the crib we placed a toy guitar next to him and it took root. He now has more than 20 guitars and has become, to my taste, a very entertaining and talented performer fronting and writing songs for his bands. I know no greater thrill (kve …
When I go to a live concert I go to enjoy the music and the rapport with the artist. I prefer when the performer connects with the audience. We saw Barbra Streisand at Barclay's last week. A wonderful evening. She is a great performer and still has that great voice. And she certainly connected with the crowd in Brooklyn (where she grew up). B …
On this day in 1872, Victoria Woodhull became the FIRST woman to be nominated for the Presidency of the United States. In 1869, she and her sister Tennessee were the first women stockbrokers on Wall Street. In 1871, she was the first woman to address a Congressional committee. However, it was not all harmony among the suffragettes. Susan B. Anth …
It was a crowded morning on the LIRR. Once again, there were problems with the train and so as we proceeded through the stops, the cars quickly became standing room only. A woman boarded the train at Jamaica. She was likely my contemporary (no, I won’t tell you exactly here) but she was walking with a cane. She came up the aisle right alon …
I am unsure whether what I am about to write is currently politically correct but I was very saddened to read about the closing of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. I have very vivid happy memories of going to the circus with my parents and then with my own children. As a child I loved the clowns. But one of my most enduring memories …
Gotham City Networking, Inc.® certainly connects its members (and others) for business and other reasons. The social parts remains secondary but that often forges the bases for the important business relations. We also might “join forces” on civic and non profit boards. In other cases we might get involved in some of the causes advanced by ot …
Looks like our education system will need to step it up a notch in an effort to stem tide of tech-related cheating. A Guardian investigation revealed that these cases have risen 42%. As an example, a British law student was caught red-handed using a James Bond style gadget to cheat in a university exam. The woman was found with 24 pages of note …
At my apogee, I was a tall 5'9 3/4" and could even leap to touch the basketball rim. Well, I just took my annual physical and, presently, I just managed to stand 5'7" small. Clearly, I'm shrinking and I have learned the shrinkage has something to do with my posture, gravitational pull on my spinal discs and the deterioration of the intervening …
