We just completed a trip to Detroit for SLiM, my nephew. Allow me to share the ongoing saga of the drivers in my house.
We had decided that Ace could really benefit from some serious highway time. However, she is only really allowed to drive in New York State as she only ha her permit. So we decided to let her drive the first leg of the trip, which was towards Scranton to visit Stretch.
As we were proceeding along on route 84, I remarked to Lovey that this was the highway that both Stretch first and then Bug both went really fast ( click on them to see those posts). Ace then says hopefully
"ooh, can I try that too??"
If that wasn't enough, we found a great way to stay up while driving back late at night after about ten hours of driving.
Let the 16 year old drive.
NOBODY slept during that portion of the trip.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Mullah Mayor Moron, Mull Moving the Mosque
The blatant hubris, arrogance and hypocrisy our dear Mayor is really getting to me. All I will say about this issue is that this Mayor has dictated to us where we can(not) smoke, what we are allowed to eat (no salt, no transfats), that stores have to tell us what is in the food we are sil allowed to have, and where we can (no longer) drive.
But he has the audacity to say that he doesn't have the right or power to tell a group not to put a mosque on the still open wound of ground zero.
But he has the audacity to say that he doesn't have the right or power to tell a group not to put a mosque on the still open wound of ground zero.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Flex your Mosquels
In the debate about the proposed mosque at the heart of ground zero I can't but notice that just about every report or interview or speech in favor of the mosque has a muslim component to it. Somewhere in the background there is always a muslim name or middle eastern organization hiding behind American names.
Not so with those opposed to the mosque.
One would think that with 1.5 billion muslims in the world (and many of them in the United States) that at least one muslim name would support the idea that the mosque be moved to a less offensive location. Apparently that isn't happening.
Everyone agrees that they have a perfect right to put a mosque wherever the local zoning allows a house of worship. Common sense, however, dictates that others' sensitivities should be taken into consideration when exercising one's rights in a fashion that pokes everyone else in the eye. The universally held muslim position is that 9/11 had nothing to do with Islam a claim akin to saying that the crusades had nothing to do with Christianity.
At the very least, if muslims can't agree that the mosque should be moved, they should have the good sense to get out of the limelight and disengage themselves from the debate. To instead try to justify the new community center by characterizing it as a means of reconciling Islam with the rest of the civilized world, as a bridge to peace, as a road to the recognition of our common humanity, is just so much self-serving sophistry.
Either they are fools, or they are coldblooded realpolitikers, attempting to brazenly challenge, intimidate and subdue the opposition.
Not so with those opposed to the mosque.
One would think that with 1.5 billion muslims in the world (and many of them in the United States) that at least one muslim name would support the idea that the mosque be moved to a less offensive location. Apparently that isn't happening.
Everyone agrees that they have a perfect right to put a mosque wherever the local zoning allows a house of worship. Common sense, however, dictates that others' sensitivities should be taken into consideration when exercising one's rights in a fashion that pokes everyone else in the eye. The universally held muslim position is that 9/11 had nothing to do with Islam a claim akin to saying that the crusades had nothing to do with Christianity.
At the very least, if muslims can't agree that the mosque should be moved, they should have the good sense to get out of the limelight and disengage themselves from the debate. To instead try to justify the new community center by characterizing it as a means of reconciling Islam with the rest of the civilized world, as a bridge to peace, as a road to the recognition of our common humanity, is just so much self-serving sophistry.
Either they are fools, or they are coldblooded realpolitikers, attempting to brazenly challenge, intimidate and subdue the opposition.
Monday, August 16, 2010
It Must be my Cologne
i ws in the city the other day with Lovey. We went into an establishment to check on the timing of something, and then left, as we were too early.
As we left, I noticed that they had some revolving doors. The one we exited from had very wide partitions, and there was more than enough room for two people to walk through it side by side.
As we went through this door, I commented to Lovey that it is strange, but there is a revolving door that one must go through to get into my office building where I work. For some reason, on more that a few occasions, the people was with when entering or exiting the building felt compelled to join me in the much smaller partitions, which makes for a difficult if not uncomfortable litte trip through the door.
We then returned to that same establishment a little while later, but we went approached a normal sized revolving door. As I prepared to enter the partition alone, a woman on her cell phone stepped in to the partition with me!
Weird.
As we left, I noticed that they had some revolving doors. The one we exited from had very wide partitions, and there was more than enough room for two people to walk through it side by side.
As we went through this door, I commented to Lovey that it is strange, but there is a revolving door that one must go through to get into my office building where I work. For some reason, on more that a few occasions, the people was with when entering or exiting the building felt compelled to join me in the much smaller partitions, which makes for a difficult if not uncomfortable litte trip through the door.
We then returned to that same establishment a little while later, but we went approached a normal sized revolving door. As I prepared to enter the partition alone, a woman on her cell phone stepped in to the partition with me!
Weird.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
17 Pounds
I am indebted to one of my two lovely daughters-in-law for the idea for the following story.
This past weekend we were five adults, one child and one baby.
When I got home from work, I found that someone had shopped for the weekend meals and I discovered grapes (red and green), cherries strawberries and blueberries lurking on the counters. They had come from a store that I generally disdain, mainly because of this very issue - the size of the units they are sold in. I did a quick calculation, adding up all the various items and discovered to my horror that we had a full 17 pounds of assorted fruits and berries that had to be eaten in a few days because there wasn't enough room in the refrigerator to contain all that bulk.
Whipping out my trusty calculator, I determined that every man woman and child would have to consume 2.429 pounds each in order to prevent any spoilage. It seems to me that a normal person doesn't eat much more than about 1 lb of food at a meal. So the entire inventory of fruit and berries would pretty much take up all the eating power among us and there wouldn't be room for eating anything else if we were to consume the produce before it rotted.
When I pointed this out to the chief multi-tasking householder here, aside from a pained look, I got an excuse about the red and green grapes being a mistake because she had asked someone to buy green grapes and red cherries and this got misinterpreted to green and red grapes and cherries.
OK, so 13 lbs.
What I hadn't seen at first were the THREE melons (they come in a net bag) each one weighing at least 4 lbs each. When were we going to eat all this?
As of now (Tuesday evening) the cherries are gone. There are more than 4 lbs of mixed grapes left acting as a force to keep the refrigerator door from closing properly. There are also about a pint of blueberries left (they don't take up too much room in the fridge). I noticed that about a pint of strawberries had become moldy yesterday and presumably were disposed of in a discreet manner, and one melon was pressed upon one of my hapless children who happened to visit at the height of the food disposal crisis.
What of the other melons you may ask? One of them is disintegrating on a kitchen counter, the other one rolling around in the fridge door already beginning to develop soft spots.
We are planning to have even more people for this weekend. I hope our multi-tasker didn't ask the produce truck to stop in our driveway before going on to Costco.
This past weekend we were five adults, one child and one baby.
When I got home from work, I found that someone had shopped for the weekend meals and I discovered grapes (red and green), cherries strawberries and blueberries lurking on the counters. They had come from a store that I generally disdain, mainly because of this very issue - the size of the units they are sold in. I did a quick calculation, adding up all the various items and discovered to my horror that we had a full 17 pounds of assorted fruits and berries that had to be eaten in a few days because there wasn't enough room in the refrigerator to contain all that bulk.
Whipping out my trusty calculator, I determined that every man woman and child would have to consume 2.429 pounds each in order to prevent any spoilage. It seems to me that a normal person doesn't eat much more than about 1 lb of food at a meal. So the entire inventory of fruit and berries would pretty much take up all the eating power among us and there wouldn't be room for eating anything else if we were to consume the produce before it rotted.
When I pointed this out to the chief multi-tasking householder here, aside from a pained look, I got an excuse about the red and green grapes being a mistake because she had asked someone to buy green grapes and red cherries and this got misinterpreted to green and red grapes and cherries.
OK, so 13 lbs.
What I hadn't seen at first were the THREE melons (they come in a net bag) each one weighing at least 4 lbs each. When were we going to eat all this?
As of now (Tuesday evening) the cherries are gone. There are more than 4 lbs of mixed grapes left acting as a force to keep the refrigerator door from closing properly. There are also about a pint of blueberries left (they don't take up too much room in the fridge). I noticed that about a pint of strawberries had become moldy yesterday and presumably were disposed of in a discreet manner, and one melon was pressed upon one of my hapless children who happened to visit at the height of the food disposal crisis.
What of the other melons you may ask? One of them is disintegrating on a kitchen counter, the other one rolling around in the fridge door already beginning to develop soft spots.
We are planning to have even more people for this weekend. I hope our multi-tasker didn't ask the produce truck to stop in our driveway before going on to Costco.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
rain
I just spent a weekend in sunny Florida. Not my first choice for a summer vacation but a wedding put on by dear friends occasioned this rather unusual travel destination. It was hot! Not even so much hot as the combination of temperatures in the 90's and humidity in the 80's. The weather was predicted to be stormy and rainy (so much for the convertible) and indeed as we approached Ft. Lauderdale airport the pilot got on the horn and told us that the airport was closed to incoming traffic because of a thunder storm right over the airport. I already had visions of being diverted to Palm Beach or something like that. Being a veteran of diversions (see previous blog) I took it in stride, but, luckily, after flying a pattern for a half hour about 30 miles away from the airport, we landed safely and none the worse for wear.
The highlight of the trip was early Saturday morning. 6:20AM, a time when all sabbath observers ought to be in bed.
"Let's go for a walk on the boardwalk."
Not having anything better to do and being up anyway, I agreed. We passed from the hotel lobby's refrigerated air into the hot, steamy and oppressive half light of the Florida dawn. It was drizzling a few drops which felt good as we climbed onto the boardwalk. A large, dark storm cloud blanketed the sky to our south obscuring the light from an already risen sun. Almost deserted, the boardwalk did have its share of denizens even at this early hour in the rain. People coming in from a night at the beach, runners trying to finish their laps before the storm. We turned south, where the lush foliage on both sides formed a sort of tunnel over our heads, and into a cooler, refreshing breeze blowing a cooling rain into our faces.
Realizing that we were walking towards the storm, we turned around. The sun was visible only as a light smudge against thin clouds and as we turned we could see patches of blue sky; definitely the direction we wanted to walk in. Only, the storm caught up with us. When it storms in this part of the world it's apt to be violent but ephemeral. Luckily for us, this boardwalk is built with shelters every 1000 feet or so and we dashed into a nearby one as the rain came down in sheets.
We weren't the only ones. A few of the night denizens were already there, biding their time and making small talk with us and others. Some of them moved off, others came. One in particular was a woman with a blow-up mattress who grunted at our greeting, clearly unhappy that she had to come in from the beach. She even tried to monopolize a bench for her mattress. We couldn't get word one out of her, just wordless sounds of anger and discouragement.
It finally let up and we continued our leisurely walk. We left the boardwalk into the half light, behind a woman and two men who had come off the beach. We felt exhilarated.
I repeated the walk the next morning, but couldn't duplicate the experience.
The highlight of the trip was early Saturday morning. 6:20AM, a time when all sabbath observers ought to be in bed.
"Let's go for a walk on the boardwalk."
Not having anything better to do and being up anyway, I agreed. We passed from the hotel lobby's refrigerated air into the hot, steamy and oppressive half light of the Florida dawn. It was drizzling a few drops which felt good as we climbed onto the boardwalk. A large, dark storm cloud blanketed the sky to our south obscuring the light from an already risen sun. Almost deserted, the boardwalk did have its share of denizens even at this early hour in the rain. People coming in from a night at the beach, runners trying to finish their laps before the storm. We turned south, where the lush foliage on both sides formed a sort of tunnel over our heads, and into a cooler, refreshing breeze blowing a cooling rain into our faces.
Realizing that we were walking towards the storm, we turned around. The sun was visible only as a light smudge against thin clouds and as we turned we could see patches of blue sky; definitely the direction we wanted to walk in. Only, the storm caught up with us. When it storms in this part of the world it's apt to be violent but ephemeral. Luckily for us, this boardwalk is built with shelters every 1000 feet or so and we dashed into a nearby one as the rain came down in sheets.
We weren't the only ones. A few of the night denizens were already there, biding their time and making small talk with us and others. Some of them moved off, others came. One in particular was a woman with a blow-up mattress who grunted at our greeting, clearly unhappy that she had to come in from the beach. She even tried to monopolize a bench for her mattress. We couldn't get word one out of her, just wordless sounds of anger and discouragement.
It finally let up and we continued our leisurely walk. We left the boardwalk into the half light, behind a woman and two men who had come off the beach. We felt exhilarated.
I repeated the walk the next morning, but couldn't duplicate the experience.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Take That Rachel Carson
I feel a breeze blowing, ever so slightly, signaling a change in the weather. Only a whisper so far, a zephyr fraught with possibilities.
Lately, I've noticed that the people who run things in this country have become a bit soured on the nation's 50 year environmental kick. And it's not only limited to the United States. For all the lip service given to the philosophy, only hardened left wingers misguided do gooders journalists and the school children who are still the victims of the push to indoctrinate them into the Carsonian religion really believe that environmentalism is the greatest good and capitalism is the greatest evil.
Take for instance the court's decision to strike down Obama's offshore drilling moratorium. Such a decision would have been unthinkable 20 years ago, when all the leaders of our institutions were still under the spell of this evil dogma and those who weren't were too intimidated to put in a good word for economic development and modern comforts.
Admittedly, environmentalism did some good. It eliminated some very serious health and safety hazards and some very dangerous and destructive pollution of our rivers lakes and forests. Like every other all encompassing program, it gained a life of its own and when the problems were fixed, new problems were invented to keep those charged with protecting us, in business.
Some responsible business leaders and even the miniscule number of responsible politicians have turned their backs on mindless greenness. They are beginning to make objections to the world's governments' blanket bans of this or that process or substance, whose risks are so much less than the benefits.
China's torpedoing of the Copenhagen treaty, India's refusal to ban the safe use of white asbestos are just two of the cases in point. Daily, I have come across little stories poking their heads up through the soil of indiscriminate green boosterism. The public today is more worried about jobs and the economy than in climate change.
I think we've turned the corner.
Lately, I've noticed that the people who run things in this country have become a bit soured on the nation's 50 year environmental kick. And it's not only limited to the United States. For all the lip service given to the philosophy, only hardened left wingers misguided do gooders journalists and the school children who are still the victims of the push to indoctrinate them into the Carsonian religion really believe that environmentalism is the greatest good and capitalism is the greatest evil.
Take for instance the court's decision to strike down Obama's offshore drilling moratorium. Such a decision would have been unthinkable 20 years ago, when all the leaders of our institutions were still under the spell of this evil dogma and those who weren't were too intimidated to put in a good word for economic development and modern comforts.
Admittedly, environmentalism did some good. It eliminated some very serious health and safety hazards and some very dangerous and destructive pollution of our rivers lakes and forests. Like every other all encompassing program, it gained a life of its own and when the problems were fixed, new problems were invented to keep those charged with protecting us, in business.
Some responsible business leaders and even the miniscule number of responsible politicians have turned their backs on mindless greenness. They are beginning to make objections to the world's governments' blanket bans of this or that process or substance, whose risks are so much less than the benefits.
China's torpedoing of the Copenhagen treaty, India's refusal to ban the safe use of white asbestos are just two of the cases in point. Daily, I have come across little stories poking their heads up through the soil of indiscriminate green boosterism. The public today is more worried about jobs and the economy than in climate change.
I think we've turned the corner.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Oh, Nothing
Got a call from Bug today. Here is the transcript of the beginning of the conversation.
Bug: Hello Dr. G, steri strips are one step under stitches, right?
Dr. G: Right. Why?
Bug: No reason, I was just wondering.
Ok, this is not something that one contemplates along with the deep dark mysteries of the universe. In fact, the thought of steri strips usually NEVER crosses a person's mind unless there is a specific injury involving their use.
Upon further questioning ( actually, badgering) it turns out that there was a small need for their use. I insisted on having a picture sent to me to ensure that the damage did not appear to need additional medical attention, and then I let it go.
I wonder if this is specific to certain people, or if our kids do it to us to make us nuts. i know that getting information from Bug can be beyond difficult. to quote someone, I don't know who though the quote is apt here
"He wouldn't tell you your coat was on fire unless you asked him a direct question"
and even then, it usually involves a lot more than one question.
Sheesh
Bug: Hello Dr. G, steri strips are one step under stitches, right?
Dr. G: Right. Why?
Bug: No reason, I was just wondering.
Ok, this is not something that one contemplates along with the deep dark mysteries of the universe. In fact, the thought of steri strips usually NEVER crosses a person's mind unless there is a specific injury involving their use.
Upon further questioning ( actually, badgering) it turns out that there was a small need for their use. I insisted on having a picture sent to me to ensure that the damage did not appear to need additional medical attention, and then I let it go.
I wonder if this is specific to certain people, or if our kids do it to us to make us nuts. i know that getting information from Bug can be beyond difficult. to quote someone, I don't know who though the quote is apt here
"He wouldn't tell you your coat was on fire unless you asked him a direct question"
and even then, it usually involves a lot more than one question.
Sheesh
Thursday, July 8, 2010
LOOK OUT!!!
One of the advantages of the summer at the Good Doctor's home is that the house is relatively empty, so the unlucky child who remains at home with the old folks gets lots of attention.
Good or bad.
The truth is, the child currently at home, my older daughter, is a pleasure to have around ( mostly). However, she is learning to drive, ( hence the name Ace, also for her academic achievements.) and this is scary. Without Boo around, who we don't like to terrorize by having her older sister practice, we have run out of excuses to not let her drive, and the usual standbys ( "its day" "its night" "its raining" "its sunny" ) are just not cutting it anymore. So off she goes, behind the wheel of a 3,000 pound weapon, blissfully enjoying her new found freedom while Lovey and I, whoever has the (mis)fortune to be with her, alternately cringing or crying out in sheer fear as trucks, buses and other assorted vehicles careen towards her.
You see, Ace believes that she has the right of way. Always.
Perhaps we should get her some lessons while we still have colored hair.
Good or bad.
The truth is, the child currently at home, my older daughter, is a pleasure to have around ( mostly). However, she is learning to drive, ( hence the name Ace, also for her academic achievements.) and this is scary. Without Boo around, who we don't like to terrorize by having her older sister practice, we have run out of excuses to not let her drive, and the usual standbys ( "its day" "its night" "its raining" "its sunny" ) are just not cutting it anymore. So off she goes, behind the wheel of a 3,000 pound weapon, blissfully enjoying her new found freedom while Lovey and I, whoever has the (mis)fortune to be with her, alternately cringing or crying out in sheer fear as trucks, buses and other assorted vehicles careen towards her.
You see, Ace believes that she has the right of way. Always.
Perhaps we should get her some lessons while we still have colored hair.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
More Tales from Brooklyn
Its all about timing, folks. however, this time, it works to your advantage. Allow me to explain. ( "what else can we do, Mr. cryptic?" you wonder...)
I got to my office around 12 today about ten minutes later half the lights went out. I shut my computer as a precaution against a power surge ( trust me, the surge protectors only work up to a certain point). So I really couldn't do much except perspire and watch the mercury climb inside as the air conditioning was out as well.
Around 1:30 the power went out completely, in order to address the issue that had caused the brownout. I walked down the 12 flights to the ground floor, with the intention of heading into the local town for some lunch, and then depending on the power situation, I would return or more likely go home, as I had no desire to climb 12 flights in 100 degree heat.
I met someone downstairs, and I was in his air conditioned car chatting for about five minutes when I got a call from the office that the power was back on! Since I was merely in the parking lot, I really had no excuse to not return to the office immediately, which I did with great alacrity ( in case the boss reads this).
Others who had left right after me, expecting the power outage to continue, did not feel compelled to return to work (shame, shame). However, all is not lost, as I was able to get back on to my computer and dash off this entry, so that all of you out there in the blogsphere can benefit from my return as well.
I got to my office around 12 today about ten minutes later half the lights went out. I shut my computer as a precaution against a power surge ( trust me, the surge protectors only work up to a certain point). So I really couldn't do much except perspire and watch the mercury climb inside as the air conditioning was out as well.
Around 1:30 the power went out completely, in order to address the issue that had caused the brownout. I walked down the 12 flights to the ground floor, with the intention of heading into the local town for some lunch, and then depending on the power situation, I would return or more likely go home, as I had no desire to climb 12 flights in 100 degree heat.
I met someone downstairs, and I was in his air conditioned car chatting for about five minutes when I got a call from the office that the power was back on! Since I was merely in the parking lot, I really had no excuse to not return to the office immediately, which I did with great alacrity ( in case the boss reads this).
Others who had left right after me, expecting the power outage to continue, did not feel compelled to return to work (shame, shame). However, all is not lost, as I was able to get back on to my computer and dash off this entry, so that all of you out there in the blogsphere can benefit from my return as well.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
It's Not WHAT You Know, It's WHO You Sit Next To
Two kids off to camp yesterday and one still in school leaves the house relatively empty. (my apologies to Ace, the new driver in training).
To mark this momentous occasion, Lovey and I decided to do the counter intuitive thing, and go out.
We decided that we didn't want to spend any money, so we went to a place where we had a gift certificate. We checked the menu, and decide to stay. They have a lovely dining room, but outside seating as well. As the weather was perfect for siting outside, we chose to sit there.
After they bring us the bread and water, eventually they take our order. I wash. So does Lovey. We nibble the bread, we nibble more bread, we finish the bread. We wait. We watch other diners come and sit. We start a conversation with a friendly couple on the next table. We wait. We see other diners get drinks, condiments, bread, water, some meals. We wait.
You would think that a hard nosed litigator might actually get up and say something, however, the night was lovely, we had no place to go, the remaining child at home was babysitting, and most importantly, I am a wimp when it comes to asserting myself for myself.
We mentioned to the couple next to us that we seemed to be waiting for a while. Then the waiter started coming out and giving us funny looks. Then the manager. Finally, the manager comes over to us and the couple next to us and apologizes profusely that there was a glitch in the computer and the outside orders were not getting through to the kitchen. I was willing to go with this. However, are fellow diners felt that something should be done, so they suggested that at least there should be complimentary wine. The manager agreed, but as I didn't need to drink, we opted for dessert instead. When it came time for dessert, our neighbors again reminded the waiter that it should be complimentary. Which it was, and delicious.
We asked the couple what they do. Turns out they are both lawyers.
To mark this momentous occasion, Lovey and I decided to do the counter intuitive thing, and go out.
We decided that we didn't want to spend any money, so we went to a place where we had a gift certificate. We checked the menu, and decide to stay. They have a lovely dining room, but outside seating as well. As the weather was perfect for siting outside, we chose to sit there.
After they bring us the bread and water, eventually they take our order. I wash. So does Lovey. We nibble the bread, we nibble more bread, we finish the bread. We wait. We watch other diners come and sit. We start a conversation with a friendly couple on the next table. We wait. We see other diners get drinks, condiments, bread, water, some meals. We wait.
You would think that a hard nosed litigator might actually get up and say something, however, the night was lovely, we had no place to go, the remaining child at home was babysitting, and most importantly, I am a wimp when it comes to asserting myself for myself.
We mentioned to the couple next to us that we seemed to be waiting for a while. Then the waiter started coming out and giving us funny looks. Then the manager. Finally, the manager comes over to us and the couple next to us and apologizes profusely that there was a glitch in the computer and the outside orders were not getting through to the kitchen. I was willing to go with this. However, are fellow diners felt that something should be done, so they suggested that at least there should be complimentary wine. The manager agreed, but as I didn't need to drink, we opted for dessert instead. When it came time for dessert, our neighbors again reminded the waiter that it should be complimentary. Which it was, and delicious.
We asked the couple what they do. Turns out they are both lawyers.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
5,000. Wow
We are about to hit a milestone here at the good Doctor, 5,000 hits since we started the counter ( some time after the actual blog). I would have to go back and check when we hit 4,000, but that would involve research on my part.
I see that we are only about 3,500 behind the blog that was the inspiration for this one, so keep checking here for more interesting tidbits on life.
The only thing I don't get is 5,000 hits, maybe one comment per post. Speak up, folks!
I see that we are only about 3,500 behind the blog that was the inspiration for this one, so keep checking here for more interesting tidbits on life.
The only thing I don't get is 5,000 hits, maybe one comment per post. Speak up, folks!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
My Mother
On the sixth anniversary of my mother's death, I contemplate her life and my relationship to it. Unfortunately, while she was alive, I couldn't really appreciate her situation or her history. Mine was always a rocky relationship with her. Although she would go into paroxysms of laughter at one thing or another, I always thought of her as not having a sense of humor, certainly not one akin to mine. Irony and satire did nothing for her and she actually resented it when presented with them.
Beset by 7 rambunctious children that she had a hard time controlling, she retreated into a humorless insistence on order (very much like myself). We considered her old-fashioned and unwilling to bend with the times.
Of course, in retrospect, we have all become our parents and journeyed the continuum of growth they traveled before us. The generation gap wasn't invented or discovered in the 60's. It's as old as creation.
Until she died, it was difficult to see her as a person, growing from childhood into young adulthood, maturing into comfortable peaceful middle age and finally descending to the end of life with all its anxieties and fears.
After she died, I went through boxes of photographs which depicted her in many of the stages of her life and only then did I realize there was a real person there. An orphan child afraid of dogs and hating the goat she had to milk, living just along the poverty line with her mother and adored brother and retarded sister. Then later with the man she married, happy in the new security of marriage, but once again plunged into anxieties caused this time by persecution and a world war and then the tragedy of her brother's murder and the untimely death of her mother.
I see pictures of her, at a time when she was younger than all my children are now, finally in the new world though not worry free, happily holding a little baby (me) on a Hudson river boat outing or enjoying a summer afternoon sitting on the grass with myself and my older brother, a picture of youth and expectation. Things got well for her after she arrived here. My father did well and we lacked for nothing material. A summer home, vacations in Florida and out west, and then later a home in Israel. I don't think she was ever completely comfortable socially, always in my father's shadow, except for the time she spent in Israel.
I am still surprised when, on the occasion of the anniversary of her death, people approach me and tell me stories of how they were impressed by my mother, how she helped them and was kind to them and did things for them.
It has taken me almost seventy years to finally appreciate her.
Beset by 7 rambunctious children that she had a hard time controlling, she retreated into a humorless insistence on order (very much like myself). We considered her old-fashioned and unwilling to bend with the times.
Of course, in retrospect, we have all become our parents and journeyed the continuum of growth they traveled before us. The generation gap wasn't invented or discovered in the 60's. It's as old as creation.
Until she died, it was difficult to see her as a person, growing from childhood into young adulthood, maturing into comfortable peaceful middle age and finally descending to the end of life with all its anxieties and fears.
After she died, I went through boxes of photographs which depicted her in many of the stages of her life and only then did I realize there was a real person there. An orphan child afraid of dogs and hating the goat she had to milk, living just along the poverty line with her mother and adored brother and retarded sister. Then later with the man she married, happy in the new security of marriage, but once again plunged into anxieties caused this time by persecution and a world war and then the tragedy of her brother's murder and the untimely death of her mother.
I see pictures of her, at a time when she was younger than all my children are now, finally in the new world though not worry free, happily holding a little baby (me) on a Hudson river boat outing or enjoying a summer afternoon sitting on the grass with myself and my older brother, a picture of youth and expectation. Things got well for her after she arrived here. My father did well and we lacked for nothing material. A summer home, vacations in Florida and out west, and then later a home in Israel. I don't think she was ever completely comfortable socially, always in my father's shadow, except for the time she spent in Israel.
I am still surprised when, on the occasion of the anniversary of her death, people approach me and tell me stories of how they were impressed by my mother, how she helped them and was kind to them and did things for them.
It has taken me almost seventy years to finally appreciate her.
Friday, June 25, 2010
More on Mayor Moron
Once again, recently I was attempting to travel down the West Side Highway. There were delays getting off the George Washington Bridge. This is a merge where two two lane roads converge into a three lane road, with the middle lanes merging.
So i see on the little zebra stripes that separate the merge a car stopped with a motorcycle cop writing the guy a ticket. The stripes are not really big enough for the car, and this is what is causing the delay.
Traffic is still heavy into the lower 100's. Sure enough, at least this time on the cut out off the road, I see another motorcycle cop writing up two cars.
Traffic gets a little better, then snarls up again coming into 79th Street. once again, ANOTHER motorcycle cop. But this idiot has someone pulled over half blocking and entrance lane from 79th Street and the actual highway.
So it turns out that there is a cell phone ticket blitz going on. However, I can't believe that it is the policy of the NYPD, and of course, by extension, our moronic Mayor, to have the cops stop people in the middle of highways, and cause massive rush hour traffic jams just to raise a few dollars. The Mayor should ensure that this doesn't happen, and prevent people from getting to work on time. Once they are late, they have to call in, don't they? Then they get pulled over also. A vicious cycle of entrapment, if you ask me.
The truth is, this one is more on the typical display of arrogance of the cops, who just don't give a hoot about anything other than their narrow minded view.
I think it was put best by Bug. "Cops are the bullies from High School"
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Whats Shaking?
An interesting thing happened today. I work in a twelve story commercial building in Brooklyn. In the area where I am, it is by far the tallest building. I was sitting at my desk, holding my head in my hands as I read something, when I felt myself getting woozy. It was really more of a slight side to side motion, so I thought it must be because of the way I was sitting. However, upon changing position, the swaying continued.
I thought maybe I was dancing, but I looked down and my feet weren't moving.
Now this is an old, concrete building that really shouldn't be doing the rumba on its own. I didn't hear whooshing wind or a plane, so it couldn't be that. Really pretty nerve wracking, as I am pretty high up. I immediately longed for my old office, ground floor, one story.
Everyone here, after dithering about, decided to check and see if anyone else reported tremors of some kind. Turns out this big earthquake in Canada is being felt down the Eastern seaboard (or at least in Brooklyn.)
Typical damn Canadians. And I can't even blame Bloomberg for this one.
I thought maybe I was dancing, but I looked down and my feet weren't moving.
Now this is an old, concrete building that really shouldn't be doing the rumba on its own. I didn't hear whooshing wind or a plane, so it couldn't be that. Really pretty nerve wracking, as I am pretty high up. I immediately longed for my old office, ground floor, one story.
Everyone here, after dithering about, decided to check and see if anyone else reported tremors of some kind. Turns out this big earthquake in Canada is being felt down the Eastern seaboard (or at least in Brooklyn.)
Typical damn Canadians. And I can't even blame Bloomberg for this one.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Gotcha, Speed Demon 2 ( maybe)
OK, Now this is getting ridiculous. If anyone is actually still reading this blog, or has done so this past week, you would know that I finally tracked down the Speed Demon. Or so I thought.
The excuse for the 94 speed was that he had closed the windows and was driving downhill and didn't hear the wind noise to indicate how fast he was going. Whatever. Still too fast in my opinion.
However, yesterday I got a tip to look at the max speed on the GPS again. So like an idiot, I did. Wanna guess the number? 100!! This is getting ridiculous.
I will protect the innocent here, but I will tell you it wasn't me, Lovely or Stretch. The excuse for this one was the need to pass a truck so as not to get stuck behind it on a one lane road. My answer to this was if you had to hit 100 to pass, then the truck was going plenty fast on its own.
I have decided, no more. The young drivers are herewith punished.
They can no longer use the GPS. I just don't want to know.
The excuse for the 94 speed was that he had closed the windows and was driving downhill and didn't hear the wind noise to indicate how fast he was going. Whatever. Still too fast in my opinion.
However, yesterday I got a tip to look at the max speed on the GPS again. So like an idiot, I did. Wanna guess the number? 100!! This is getting ridiculous.
I will protect the innocent here, but I will tell you it wasn't me, Lovely or Stretch. The excuse for this one was the need to pass a truck so as not to get stuck behind it on a one lane road. My answer to this was if you had to hit 100 to pass, then the truck was going plenty fast on its own.
I have decided, no more. The young drivers are herewith punished.
They can no longer use the GPS. I just don't want to know.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Mayor Moron, Get Your House in Order
I'm not sure is this is under the direct purview of the esteemed Mayor of New York, but it certainly should be if it isn't.
I was driving down the West Side Highway at 9:25 AM on my way to an appointment in the city at 10:00 AM. Traffic was very slow southbound past 125th Street, where it usually opens up. So I figured there was an accident, or that idiot performance artist with the fruit on his head was out again.
No, this was even better, there was a construction truck in the left lane, and they were MOWING THE GRASS in the median! During RUSH HOUR. Does the mayor and his various departments absolutely not give a darn about the drivers, workers and residents of the City?? I wonder.
The fruit guy should be arrested every time he is out as well, since he also snarls up the traffic, but at least he doesn't work for the city. Why can't they schedule the mowing for, say 11 AM to 3 PM, when it would cause the lease damage to traffic and people's ability to get to work and make money to pay the taxes which pay for the mowing?
I reiterate my previous position, eventually we will be down to one resident, hizzoner hisself.
I was driving down the West Side Highway at 9:25 AM on my way to an appointment in the city at 10:00 AM. Traffic was very slow southbound past 125th Street, where it usually opens up. So I figured there was an accident, or that idiot performance artist with the fruit on his head was out again.
No, this was even better, there was a construction truck in the left lane, and they were MOWING THE GRASS in the median! During RUSH HOUR. Does the mayor and his various departments absolutely not give a darn about the drivers, workers and residents of the City?? I wonder.
The fruit guy should be arrested every time he is out as well, since he also snarls up the traffic, but at least he doesn't work for the city. Why can't they schedule the mowing for, say 11 AM to 3 PM, when it would cause the lease damage to traffic and people's ability to get to work and make money to pay the taxes which pay for the mowing?
I reiterate my previous position, eventually we will be down to one resident, hizzoner hisself.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Gotcha, Speed Demon!
Previously, I posted about the interesting feature on my GPS that allows me to see the top speed attained while the unit is in use. Since then, I have left the unit plugged in while sitting inside the console box. I did this out of sheer laziness, since it was easier to do that than to unplug it and take it inside. I did not do it to spy on the various other drivers of my vehicle to see who thinks he or she is speed racer.
Well, this weekend I went down to Lakewood with Bug. Although we know the way, travelling on a summer Friday down the Garden State Parkway always has its adventures, so I like to have the ability to detour if necessary. As we hit a particularly slow stretch of the highway, we punched up the GPS. I was driving, so Bug was working the machine. I asked him, out of curiosity, what the top speed was now reading. It had been 87 on this particular unit ( not 110, that was the OTHER unit I have). He tells me it is now reading 94!!!!!
OK, now I KNOW that I haven't been on a plane, and I also know that I haven't gone that fast. That leads me to the usual suspects. Well, Bug immediately denied going that fast any time recently, which makes sense, since he has not done any major highway driving lately. Lovely has not used the unit or my car, for that matter, in quite some time. Stretch recently took the unit to return to school. However, he was driving some ancient station wagon that needed to be returned to Pennsylvania. Therefore we were under the impression that he probably couldn't coax that kind of speed out of a car like that, especially one he claimed shook at around 60.
Well, we were wrong. Upon admission, it appears the old wagons certainly hit that kind of speed.
Let's see how fast he can go on a bicycle now.
Well, this weekend I went down to Lakewood with Bug. Although we know the way, travelling on a summer Friday down the Garden State Parkway always has its adventures, so I like to have the ability to detour if necessary. As we hit a particularly slow stretch of the highway, we punched up the GPS. I was driving, so Bug was working the machine. I asked him, out of curiosity, what the top speed was now reading. It had been 87 on this particular unit ( not 110, that was the OTHER unit I have). He tells me it is now reading 94!!!!!
OK, now I KNOW that I haven't been on a plane, and I also know that I haven't gone that fast. That leads me to the usual suspects. Well, Bug immediately denied going that fast any time recently, which makes sense, since he has not done any major highway driving lately. Lovely has not used the unit or my car, for that matter, in quite some time. Stretch recently took the unit to return to school. However, he was driving some ancient station wagon that needed to be returned to Pennsylvania. Therefore we were under the impression that he probably couldn't coax that kind of speed out of a car like that, especially one he claimed shook at around 60.
Well, we were wrong. Upon admission, it appears the old wagons certainly hit that kind of speed.
Let's see how fast he can go on a bicycle now.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Do I look fat with this?
I recently attended a celebration for a relative. At the coffee station there were some danishes and pastries set out. As I got my coffee, I picked up a small rugelach that both intrigued and called out to me.
First, some background. I had lost about forty pounds, but have since put about half of that back. ( I know, I know, some people want a refund!) So I am in the middle of where I was at both my heaviest and lightest.
As I pick up this pastry, I met a relative. He looked at my hand, then my midsection, and asked me if I was putting the weight back on.
So now I was wondering, if I had had a carrot in my hand, would he have asked me if I was losing weight again?
I think that the whole thing is really perception. I mean, I was wearing a jacket and tie, its not like I have this big gut just sticking out in its own time zone here. People tend to look at the circumstances to make a decision. It does make sense that if I am not at my thinnest, and I am eating cookies and cakes, that I am probably not in diet mode, even if I should be. But I could be at an optimum weight ( remember, round IS a shape, after all), just maintaining, or cheating a little bit ( it was a little rugelach, not a big donut or cookie).
As to the ultimate question whether it was worth it?
YUP
First, some background. I had lost about forty pounds, but have since put about half of that back. ( I know, I know, some people want a refund!) So I am in the middle of where I was at both my heaviest and lightest.
As I pick up this pastry, I met a relative. He looked at my hand, then my midsection, and asked me if I was putting the weight back on.
So now I was wondering, if I had had a carrot in my hand, would he have asked me if I was losing weight again?
I think that the whole thing is really perception. I mean, I was wearing a jacket and tie, its not like I have this big gut just sticking out in its own time zone here. People tend to look at the circumstances to make a decision. It does make sense that if I am not at my thinnest, and I am eating cookies and cakes, that I am probably not in diet mode, even if I should be. But I could be at an optimum weight ( remember, round IS a shape, after all), just maintaining, or cheating a little bit ( it was a little rugelach, not a big donut or cookie).
As to the ultimate question whether it was worth it?
YUP
Monday, June 7, 2010
I'M BAAACK!!!!!
i don't know why, or for how long, but for some reason, my computer is not blocked today! I noticed first that certain links were working, then, when i was researching someone, I was able to access sites that have previously been blocked.
So of course, the first thing i could think of doing when i realized that i could once gain get to the good doctor without going through gatekeepers and machinations ( not unlike managed health care), was to share the good news with you all, dear readers.
Now this leads to a new pressure to keep the wonderful bits flowing here. ("OK, wiseguy, your excuse is moot, we expect blogs, and we want to be entertained!") So I can always claim ( in advance) that this unblocking must be some kind of fluke. Therefore, if you don't see a post for say, a week, assume I am blocked once again.
Or just have nothing to say.
So of course, the first thing i could think of doing when i realized that i could once gain get to the good doctor without going through gatekeepers and machinations ( not unlike managed health care), was to share the good news with you all, dear readers.
Now this leads to a new pressure to keep the wonderful bits flowing here. ("OK, wiseguy, your excuse is moot, we expect blogs, and we want to be entertained!") So I can always claim ( in advance) that this unblocking must be some kind of fluke. Therefore, if you don't see a post for say, a week, assume I am blocked once again.
Or just have nothing to say.
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