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Showing posts from December, 2017

New Year's Eve playlist

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Ever notice how many New Year's Eve songs are nostalgic and melancholy? Seems to suit my mood today. Let's start with Barry Manilow: A little Harry Connick Jr.: Not specifically a New Year's Eve song, but one that fits the mood: A classic Scottish tune, sung here by a Scotsman, Rod Stewart: And let's close it out with ABBA: Happy new year.  May the coming year bring us health and happiness.

Jones Beach holiday lights

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Special holiday light show at Jones Beach. It's meant to be viewed from your car, you see the display on either side of the road. Christmas trees Foreign locations Snowmen Even planets Dragons Beach scenes There's a concession stand, of course. Outside you'll find fire pits, and you can buy ingredients for s'mores. Inside is "Santa's Warming area" where I bought hot chocolate. One of the neatest effects was the tunnel of lights, found at several spots on the route.

Bryant Park, NYC #skywatchfriday

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#skywatchfriday

Christmas Eve

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Went out to dinner Christmas Eve, and afterwards we rode around looking at decorations. This first house was sad.   You can't really tell, but the item next to the word "ditto" is a sad face. I first saw the ditto house a few years ago, wrote about it Here Last year they even made the local news. This year they're sad, the house next door was not decorated. But other houses were: And don't forget Hanukkah. Wow, they even coordinate to music:

Another this and that

Loved, loved, loved The Last Jedi .  Must be seen in IMAX 3D to get the full effect.  So sad to see Carrie Fisher’s last performance, though.  I can’t wait for the next movie, I wonder what they’ll do about Leia. Right now I’m watching Duchess, she’s sitting on the dresser and looking out the window. She is an indoor cat, but she loves the backyard show, all the squirrels and birds.  She’s outraged that another cat came into her yard, outraged to realize she’s not the only cat in the world, and even more outraged that the other cat slipped under the fence and went to play in another yard before she was done watching him. It’s Christmas Eve, and I managed a quick trip to the supermarket without getting trampled.  Guess I got my Christmas miracle. Yeah, I know that was a bit sarcastic, but have you ever seen a Long Island supermarket just before a holiday?  Talk about crazy! My Christmas plans?  Japanese food tonight, a movie tomorrow morning, kosher deli for dinner tomorrow, and then we

NYC Giant Menorah #skywatchfriday

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#skywatchfriday

Crying today

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I am a Jew.  I am a Zionist.  and today I am fearful, I am crying.  Because today the United States abdicated its role as leader of the free world.  Today it lost the standing to be chief negotiator for peace in the Middle East. Because today that corrupt politician, who holds his majority in the Knesset by a single seat, got what he wanted, but at a cost that is too high to bear.  I cannot wait for the day the Israelis vote Bibi Netanyahu out of office. Today the United Nations voted to condemn the United States' plan to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.  Despite Trump's threats to withhld foreign aid, the UN General Assembly voted 128-9, with 35 nations abstaining.  Humiliating, to say the least. And look whose support we lost:  Voting in favor:  the United Kingdom.  France.  Germany.  Belgium.  Denmark.  Italy. China.  Russia. Abstaining:   Canada. Australia. Argentina.  Croatia.  Columbia.  Mexico. Voting against: United States, Israel, and a ha

Wednesday HodgePodge

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Joyce  has another round of HodgePodge today: 1. Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season? Actually, nothing unexpected, but I have seen some wonderful things this holiday season.I always like the Chanukah party we have at my synagogue, and the outpouring of love I see as we collect toys for the hcildren of indigent families.    2. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering? Will you/have you gathered in your favorite way this month? The stereotype fits -- on Christmas morning a group of us will go to the movies.  Later we will have dinner, at a Chinese restaurant or a kosher deli.    3. Time has named 'The Silence Breakers' (women who came forward with stories of harassment)   'person of the year' for 2017 . Would you agree? If not, who do you think deserves the title? Totally agree.  It's time to change the culture of this society.  While I fear we will have an overcorrection, eventually we will find the

the more things change....

After writing up this year's NYC christmas adventure, I realized how we do the same thing year after year anfter year.... want the full floavor of NYC at christmas?  read my posts from previous years. NYC Christmas 2016 NYC Christmas 2015 part 1 NYC Christmas 2015 part 2 NYC Christmas 2014 NYC Christmas 2013 NYC Christmas 2012 NYC christmas 2010 NYC Christmas 2009

NYC Christmas 2017 Part 3

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So after Barney's we walked back to 5th Avenue.  And there, right in front of the Plaza Hotel, we saw the giant Menorah.  Yes, it's still Chanukah, but the Menorah wasn't lit.  On Saturday night they don't light the Menorah until 5:30, long after we were gone. And then, there's the giant snowflake that hangs in front of Tiffany's. Bergdorf Goodman is across the street from the Plaza.  Their windows were a salute to New York cultural institutions, like the Philharmonic, the Historical Society, the Botanical Gardens, the Museum of the Moving Images.... We headed down 5th, past Trump Tower (no, I didn't take a picture of the protesters) towards Rockefeller Center. 5th Avenue is very crowded between 49th and 51st, with Rockefeller Center on one side of the street, and Saks and the cathedral on the other side.  And if you're there after dark. pedestrian traffic comes to a complete standstill every time the Saks light show begins.  Yes,

NYC Christmas 2017 Part 2

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So Drew wanted to see the windows at Bloomingdale's.  Bloomie's is at 59th and Lexington, and in previous years we skipped this store because it's a bit out of the way.   But this year...we walked down 42nd, past Grand Central, and headed up Lexington. And when we reached 55th Street, we found something interesting. Central Synagogue .   It's one of the oldest synagogues in America, founded by Sephardic Jews in the 19th Century.  Drew is of Sephardic heritage, but he didn't know this synagogue was there.  I'd forgotten this little gem. The windows at Bloomie's are all about P.T. Barnum, specifically how Barnum is portrayed in the new movie, "The Greatest Showman".  Drew has a real interest in Barnum and circuses, and cannot wait for the new movie.  So I was very glad we made the effort to see these windows. There's even a fun house mirror: Next up was Barney's. on 60th and Madison. These windows are d

NYC Christmas 2017 Part 1

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So  once again it was time for the annual trek into the City for the Christmas decorations. It began, as it always does, on the Long Island Railroad.  Interesting view across the aisle: Yes, the guy was really in the spirit of the holiday, wasn't he? The LIRR brings you into Penn Station, at 7th Avenue and 33rd Street.  From there we usually walk to whatever sites we plan to see. Our first stop, of course, is Macy's.  Billed at "the World's Biggest Department Store", Macy's takes up an entire city block, from 7th Avenue to Herald's Square between 34th Street and 35th Street.  Macy's always does two sets of holiday windows.  The 34th Street windows feature scenes from "Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus", an animated TV special that Macy's sponsored a few years back.  They used to do scenes from the original "Miracle on 34th Street", and I'd like to see them bring those windows back. The Herald Square windows

#skywatchfriday — the first snowfall of the winter

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Yes, I know, winter doesn’t technically begin until the solstice next week.  So let’s call it the first snowfall of the season.  It was Saturday, and we stayed cozy and warm inside. What was the lyric?  Oh, yes.  “It was late in December, the sky turned to snow.  All around the day was going down slow.” #skywatchfriday

The bitter and the sweet

So yesterday was the first day of Chanukah, the holiday having begun the previous evening.  (Jewish holidays always begin at sundown.  “It was evening and it was morning, the first day.”  Genesis 1:3) And, as is my habit, I read my email, Facebook, etc., before I got dressed for work. And there it was, on Facebook.  A post from my friend N.  Her father had died during the night. It was not unexpected, N’s father was 98, and had been living in a nursing home for years. Still, you’re never ready for that loss, no matter how old your father was, or how old you are, when it happens. But to observe your father’s yartzeit — the anniversary of his death — on the first night of Chanukah ... Last night was the big Chanukah party at synagogue.the party starts in the parking lot, with an outdoor candle lighting, with the Rabbi saying prayers, and the Cantor playing his guitar and singing Chanukah songs.  Our local fire department sends one of its trucks (our fire commissioner is a memb

Wednesday HodgePodge

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This week's questions from Joyce. 1. 'Hurry less, worry less' ...what's your strategy for making that happen this holiday season? How's it going so far? I'm very laid back about the holidays.  Maybe it's because, being Jewish, I never got caught up in the Christmas hype.  2. Do you have a list of to-dos that need accomplishing in order to prepare your home and/or property for the winter season? What are some of the jobs on your list? Are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you hire someone to accomplish these tasks? I got a new snow brush for my car.  Does that count?  3. According to dietitians surveyed , the most popular health foods for 2018 will be -turmeric, sprouted foods (bean sprouts, breads with sprouted grains, etc), veggies in place of grains, dairy free milk, and pulses (lentils, chickpeas, etc).  What's the first thought that ran through your head when you read this list? Of the foods listed which one might you add to your regular d

Another this and that

So...the suicide bombing that  wasn't...Idiot set off a pipe bomb in the subway yesterday, at the station below 8th Avenue and 42nd Street, near Port Authority.  Hurt himself and three other people, but everyone survived, thank G-d. But with subways bypassing Times Square and street closures....well, poor Becca had a difficult time getting to work that morning.   She lives on West 43rd and she works near Grand Central Station. I can sympathize, I commuted into NYC for many years.  I can remember the first World Trade Center bombing in February 1993.  I was working in Jersey city at the time, across the river from the Twin toers, and when the PATH trains stopped running ...I had to find a bus to Port Authority so I could get home to Drew and the girls.  It's a scary world, all right.  But I have to get myself out of my funk. Drew called this afternoon, and confirmed that we have tickets for two movie events next week.  The first is The MeshugaNutcracker,    To quote the

Sad news

You may remember that I wrote about my friend L, the one I visited in the hospital several times? Wonderful woman, so full of life, so full of love for her music, and her music students, even after her health issues began to dominate her days. Yesterday I learned that she is in hospice care. She’s 67 years old. I am devastated.

Memory

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So it snowed yesterday.  Just a few inches, not even enough to warrant using that brand new snow blower Drew bought, but enough of the white stuff to make us decide it was a good day to stay inside and watch DVD’s.  Drew has an extensive collection, including many movies I have never seen. And late in the evening, Drew told me he had something special to show me. It was the video of our wedding.  He had it transferred from videotape to a DVD. Drew and I have a weird history. We dated in college, broke up.  Dated again when I was in law school, broke up. The third time around, we got engaged, got married, had two children, and got a divorce.   And then, about eight years ago, we reconciled. I guess Drew was feeling nostalgic last summer.  During one of the barbecues in his back yard, he showed everyone our wedding album from 1987.   And I had to wonder who these two young, hopeful people were. But the emotional impact of the photos pales in comparison to the impact of that video.  I had

Moonlight feels right #skywatchfriday

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The full moon, the super moon. So bright you might think it was day. Until you see stars.  Faint, but there. #skywatchfriday

There are days...

So one of the most serious cases on my diary right now involves the death of a young woman and the alleged negligent acts that caused it. .  A wrongful death suit is an attempt to compensate the family for the loss of a loved one.  Not that money actually fills in the hole left behind by the loved one's death, but our legal system is set up to put a monetary value on the life that was wrongfully taken. So I am delving into this young woman's life, and ... well, she could easily be friends with my daughters -- same age, same interests, same hopes and dreams for the future.    This case is affecting me in ways that most of my cases do not.... Earlier this week a friend posted on Facebook.  Her son had been in a relatively minor accident, she posted a photo of him joking around with the nurses in the ER.   He doesn't drive, so he rides his bike back and forth to work.  He was lawfully biking across the crosswalk when a car made an illegal right on red turn and hit his front

Wednesday HodgePodge

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Joyce  always has interesting questions. 1. What title would you give this current chapter of your life? Chaos Reigns 2. December 6 is National Microwave Oven Day. Who knew? Besides popcorn and coffee reheats, what's the most common thing you microwave? Could you get along without a microwave? I'd go crazy without a microwave.  Popcorn, leftovers, frozen dinners, I love to heat things up in the microwave.  Very conveninet to have one at work at lunchtime. 3. If you could insert yourself into any Christmas carol and experience the lyrics in real life, which Christmas carol lyric would you choose and why? "Merry New York Christmas".  I love NYC at Christmastime, we always make a trip into Manhattan to see the tree at Rockefeller Center. 4. Describe the most beautiful drive you've ever taken. Many years ago, before the kids were born, Drew and I took a ride from Long Island to Sturbridge, Massachusetts.  It was October, and the fall folia

heartbreaking

This morning, as I was reading my email, Facebook, etc., I found a story on the local "Patch" that made me cry. A young man from my community had died.  I didn't know him, I don't know his family, but I am devastated nevertheless. His name was Daniel, he was 18 years old, had graduated from high school in June, and was attending a SUNY college upstate.  He apparently went to some sort of frat party Friday.  Early Saturday morning he was found unresponsive on the couch in an off-campus apartment, and it was later determined that he had alcohol and anti-anxiety medication in his system. They're holding the wake today. Heartbreaking.  Tragic. Devastating. No parent should have to bury a child.  But that's not the worst of it. This is the second time those poor parents have had to bury a son.  The young man who died on Saturday had a twin brother, Justin, who died when the boys were four years old.    It was a freak accident, one that was  actual

So ... Weight Watchers Freestyle, Day 1

Two years ago, when Weight Watchers rolled out Smart Points, I had a lot of criticisms.  The new program was too restrictive, it demonized sugar and carbs, it was unworkable. But Weight Watchers has modified Smart Points.  Now it’s called Freestyle.  And it sounded intriguing. And I’ve been struggling lately and need to shake things up. So I took the plunge. Breakfast this morning was a bowl of Special K and a container of Chobani nonfat raspberry yogurt.  And the points value was disconcerting. Reminded me of why I disliked Smart Points. But then at lunch .... a huge salad, with chickpeas and turkey, both considered “free” foods...very low in Points ... By the end of the day ... well, I’d used all of my daily points and a few of my weekly points ... But when I double tracked on My Fitness Pal, I realized that I was way below my calorie budget . I think that means I need to add more fruit, beans and chicken to my food plan.

Feeling my age

Ever hear of a pop up bar?  It’s a bar that exists just for a season.   My twenty something daughter had to explain that to me.  I think I’ll retire to my rocking chair now. Seriously...I didn’t really need an explanation from my daughter, but she posted on Instagram how much fun she had at a pop up bar, and it really didn’t sound like fun to me.  I must be getting old.   Last year a group of us went out on New Year’s Eve to a very loud, very noisy place.  This year we are planning a much quieter celebration. We had an unusually warm autumn, but winter is coming.  The weather is supposed to get cold later this week.  I find the cold bothers me more now than it used to.  Years ago I swore I’d never consider moving to Florida.  Now the idea has some appeal. I’m at an age where half the contacts in my phone have the same first name: doctor.  I am reminded of that at least twice a week, when I go to physical therapy for my knee. Sigh....

Celestial happenings

It’s a full moon tonight.  And it’s a super moon, meaning that the moon is at that part of its orbit that brings it to its closest point to the Earth.  Moonrise tonight should be spectacular. We get another full moon/ super moon January 1st. And that means a blue moon in January! Yes, a second full moon in January. Still a super moon.  And for those on the west coast, a total lunar eclipse as well. Those of us on the east coast will get a partial lunar eclipse at moon set ... just before dawn.  I’m wondering if it will be worth the effort to get up at that hour... Perhaps....

And some video

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And And my favorite 

Seen around the neighborhood

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It’s definitely the Christmas season. We love to drive around and see the lights. The decorations are really cool. I like this guy.