songbird's crazy world

Donna Summer has been described as "the Queen of Disco".   She dominated the charts with songs like "Love to Love You Baby",  "I Feel Love", "MacArthur Park", "Heaven Knows", "Hot Stuff", "Bad Girls", "Dim All the Lights", "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (duet with Barbra Streisand), and "On the Radio". So for our last disco hit of the month, I thought it would be appropriate to play this song:

Neighborhood decorations are going up. Every year we look forward to two houses, side by side.  One has a Christmas spirit.  The other has a wicked sense of humor.  Showing you would be better than trying to explain the joke. So here goes:

Successfully avoided Black Friday shopping. I ordered a few things on line because of decent discounts, but nothing amazing. Drew hit a few stores Thursday night, got a few deals. He needed a few things for Marvin. He saw Marvin yesterday, and now he has to go shopping again. I'm glad someone is paying attention to what Marvin needs. I read that the outlet center where Becca used to work had unbelievable traffic jams. Drivers were complaining it took hours to leave the shopping center, even after the police brought in extra officers to help direct traffic. So glad Becca doesn't work there anymore. Speaking of Becca, she hasn't said anything to me, but you don't have to be a detective to figure out she broke up with the boyfriend. He seemed nice enough, but I didn't think they were particularly well matched. Jen is planning to spend Christmas Day at her boyfriend's house. I like her boyfriend, I think they make a nice couple. He took her to a Jets game fo...

Recovering from a food coma ... and a hit of family drama ...

We have quite a feast planned. It's going to be a bit weird, though. The first holiday without my father. Found myself thinking about him today, first while watching the parade on tv (he loved the Rockettes), and later, while I was picking up an order at the bakery and saw a cake I knew my father would love. Still, the rest of us will gather around the table and overindulge. And be happy together. Enjoy your Thanksgiving, everyone.. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The phone rang around 8 PM. It was the Cantor. He needed a 10th for minyan. With more than one shiva house, and the holiday approaching, it's hard to get a quorum. But I was not the only one reciting Kaddish last night. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

So the other night we headed over to the Tilles Center to see a national touring company of The Producers.   I'd seen the original Mel Brooks movie from 1967, with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder.  But, can you believe it,  I'd never seen the Broadway musical or the movie musical with Nathan Lane and Mathew Broderick.  Touring companies offer a somewhat scaled-down experience, but nevertheless, it's live theater, can't complain. I'm hoping  a touring company of Spamalot will show up sooner or later, I wanted to see that show but never got around to it. Next month we will be seeing the Roundabout's revival of Noises Off .  I saw the 2001 Broadway revivial , with Patti LuPone, Peter Gallagher,  and  Faith Prince. Wonderful farce, I loved the play-within-a-play.    And yes, Peter Gallagher really did touch my knee -- we were sitting in the front row, and Gallagher literally climbed over us to get onto the stage. I hope the current produc...

A strong, independent woman telling a former lover to take a hike.  That's the theme of Gloria Gaynor's anthem, "I Will Survive".  The song helped me through some difficult times.  It was also my sister's signature song whenever she did karaoke.  

I was really looking forward to this movie. But now that I've seen it, I can say that while the movie was ok, it did not live up to expectations. It pretty much followed the book, lots of action as Katniss and her team invade the Capital. But the interpersonal relationships aren't as noticeable. President Coin's manipulation of Katniss, and her plan to become Snow's successor instead of a democratically elected leader are more obvious than in the book, while Gale's complicity in events that Katniss finds repugnant is downplayed. Overall I enjoyed the movie, but in hindsight they would have done better if they didn't break this novel into two movies. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

My grocery haul today included sugar, brown sugar, canned pumpkin, unsweetened chocolate, chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. Can't imagine why. I also bought popcorn, jelly beans and Melba toast. Apparently we must emulate Peppermint Patty. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Well, I guess I'm not the only one obsessed with "dry skin season".  Yesterday I saw an article on the Daily News' website:  How To Protect The Skin During Cold Winter Months.   Basic rules:  (1) Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize; (2) Reduce length and temperature of showers; (3) Sunscreen isn't just for summer: (4) Protect yourself with petrolatum-based products; (5) Use moisturizing soaps and gentle cleansers instead of exfoliating washes; (6) Do It Yourself  humidifiers are your friend.  Common sense, really. Good news!  A recent study says coffee is linked to a lower risk of dying form heart disease, stroke, diabetes, neurological diseases and suicide.  Now I can argue that my coffee habit is part of my health regimen! It's blockbuster movie season again.  Two weeks ago Drew and I saw Spectre . Drew is a huge James Bond fan, but the only Bond films I've seen are Skyfall and Moonraker . I really enjoyed the film, but I'm sure I...

Spending time in the nursing home with Marvin the other night was difficult.  No, Marvin isn't difficult, but the atmosphere...over the last few years I've spent entirely too much time in hospitals and nursing home/rehab facilities, dealing with the needs of the octogenarians in my life.  And when I go to the synagogue to say Kaddish for my father, I find myself in the company of people my own age, people  I know because their children are the same age as my daughters.  We shared our children's Hebrew school days.  And now we share saying Kaddish for our recently deceased parents.  I dread seeing the emails from my synagogue these days -- I am afraid there will be yet another announcement of a death.  It's depressing.

I haven't mentioned Marvin recently.  He's been doing well in the nursing home, Drew visits him every so often to make sure he's OK. Last night Drew, his uncle Les, Aunt Pi and I went to visit Marvin.  The nursing home hosted its annual Thanksgiving dinner for residents and their families.  While the nursing home will issue day passes to families who want to bring their loved one home for a holiday celebration, the truth of the matter is that many of the residents will be spending Thanksgiving Day at the facility.  This dinner is an opportunity for families to do some celebrating with their loved ones.  The facility tries to make it festive.   There was live music in the lobby before dinner, and the musicians followed us into the dining room.  Real linen tablecloths on the tables, though everything else was disposable.  The food was ... institutional ...but included turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, etc.  And there was real wine ava...

As the weather gets colder and the days  shorter, I find I have less time and opportunity to walk though a park.  The other day it occurred to me that I hadn't been to Eisenhower Park since the middle of the summer.  It's a very different mood this time of year.  The tennis courts are gated and locked, the picnic tables in storage somewhere, the playgrounds nearly empty, the ball fields deserted.  I started my walk by the lake. Interesting patterns in the clouds, and sunlight on the water. And just a few minutes later, the skies are almost clear. Yeah, I do like to see birds. This is near the Rose Garden, don't know why I didn't see it before. There are still a few roses, even in November. But you can see the fall foliage is past peak.

To follow up on the theme .... When we were in the city Saturday night, I couldn't help but  how the Christmas decorations are already starting to appear, almost two weeks before Thanksgiving.    Look at Little Italy and Chinatown: Penn Station was decorated as well.  Macy's has its 34th Street windows done (the usual "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus") and is halfway to completing its Herald Square windows -- based on "A Charlie Brown Christmas".    Santa is already entertaining the children at Roosevelt Field Mall. (Big controversy over there, the public didn't like the modern, innovative setting for Santa, so the mall had to re-do the area with a more traditional theme.)  I went into Starbucks (land of the controversial red cup -- as if a coffee cup makes or breaks your holiday mood) because I wanted some of their instant coffee for my mother.  Couldn't find it on the shelves, they removed it to make room for the in...

Disco has elements of punk, soul, pop and salsa.  Originally popular with African-American, Latino and Italian-American audiences, it expanded into the mainstream.  Rod Stewart, primarily known as a rock star, recorded a number of disco hits in the late 70's.  In this video, Rod looks like he's having a lot of fun...

I was never much of a Monty Python fan, but Drew is a devotee.  So when he heard John Cleese would be appearing at NYU, he simply had to buy tickets. This appearance wasn't a "performance" per se.  It was set up as an interview of sorts, giving Cleese the opportunity to tell jokes and funny stories. Afterwards those of us with VIP tickets went to a meet-and-greet for a photo opportunity.  And we also received autographed copies of his book. It was an entertaining evening of irreverent and politically incorrect humor.  He told a joke about two Jewish men, Abraham and Solomon, who have heard that a local church will pay anyone $1,000 of they convert.  Solomon decides he wants the money.  So he goes into the church. Later he tells Abraham that he did, indeed, convert.  So Abraham asks him "Did you get the money? " Solomon replies, "That's all you people ever think of, isn't it?" Cleese refrained from his usual French jokes because o...

Time flies. I'm finding it hard to believe it's the middle of November already. The holiday season is fast approaching. But then again ... I've been using an app called Timehop. Timehop is all about memories.  You give Timehop permission to search your social media accounts -- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.  Every day Timehop searches your accounts for posts made on that date one year ago, two years ago, etc. Not to be outdone, when Timehop started to be come popular,  Facebook launched a feature that allows you to see your Facebook memories. So this week I was reminded that on Veteran's Day last year I posted a photo of my father, in his uniform, posing with his mother the day he returned home from serving in the US Army.  I had to share that post again, I am so proud of my father's military service, and I am very much missing him. That two years ago, texting gloves were all the rage. That three years ago we were still dealing with the aftermath of Hur...

  From Dictionary.com: Tallith, or tallit, or tallis [ Ashkenazic Hebrew, English tah -lis; Sephardic Hebrew tah- leet ] / Ashkenazic Hebrew, English ˈtɑ lɪs; Sephardic Hebrew tɑˈlit/     noun , plural tallithim, tallitim, tallisim [ Ashkenazic Hebrew, English tah- lee -sim, - ley -, tah-l uh - sim ; Sephardic Hebrew tah-lee- teem ] / Ashkenazic Hebrew, English tɑˈli sɪm, -ˈleɪ-, ˌtɑ ləˈsɪm; Sephardic Hebrew tɑ liˈtim/ ( Show IPA ). Judaism. 1. a shawllike garment of wool, silk, or the like, with fringes, or zizith, at the four corners, worn around the shoulders by Orthodox and Conservative (sometimes also Reform) Jews, as during the morning service.     It's been worn by Jewish men for centuries, to honor the Biblical commandment to wear fringes on one's garment.  A man would don the tallit to say morning prayers, on weekdays as well as on the Sabbath.  It's powerful im...

I am blessed with an abundance of hair.  The woman who owns the salon calls my hair a "lion's mane".  I am thankful to have my "mane". My stylist does an excellent job hiding it...and please don't tell anyone....but there's a lot of gray in that mane. And in winter dry skin season, my hair can easily turn to straw. Another of my favorite products: I pour a small amount into my palm, rub my hands together, and work the oil through my hair. Or sometimes I'll put a little onto my hairbrush. The website offers these suggestions for use as well: Marvelous Oil can be used in any of 5 ways! Try a different use each day. 1. Pre-Shampoo Treatment: Apply to hair (wet or dry) before shampooing to help prime hair locks for gentle cleaning. 2. Boost Conditioning: Add 1 or 2 drops to your conditioner to help get rid of pesky knots and tangles. 3. Blow-Dry Protector: Apply to damp to help protect when blow drying. 4. Finish With Hi-Watt Shi...

It's been a good week. I re-joined Weight Watchers back in March, and I bought a Fitbit.  I've followed the plan, I've done the walking. It's paying off.  I've lost 36 pounds. People are starting to notice. I still have a long way to go.  It's scary.  I lost a lot of weight on Weight Watchers a few years ago, but gained it all back,  This time I'm determined to lose even more, and to keep it off.

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army     In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Taking a short break from our disco theme....going back to another favorite 70's genre, the singer-songwriter, the storyteller. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank on November 10, 1975.  I don't remember the incident.  But in 1976 Gordon Lightfoot wrote a ballad about the ship sinking.  Although he took some license with the facts (and corrected some of his lyrics later on), he pretty accurately described how the ship went down.  This time of year I obsess a little over that song.  So here it is:

For many of us, our first introduction to the disco sound came from records like "The Hustle". Primarily an instrumental, with occasional vocals exhorting us to "Do the Hustle", it sparked an international dance craze in 1975.  .  We learned how to do the  line dance at parties and school dances, and we thought we were so cool.

The problem with conventional body lotion is the mess.  You apply lotion, and then you have to wait until it is absorbed before you can get dressed.  Otherwise  the lotion gets all over your clothes.  This is what I've been using all summer: It sprays on and absorbs quickly. The instructions tell you to rub it in, but I didn't always have to do that.  A quick spray and I was all set. It leaves your skin lightly moisturized, soft and smooth. It's not a product I can use in winter dry skin season.  I prefer something a little heavier this time of year.  But heavier body lotion, as I said, is a tad bit inconvenient. That's why I like Olay's in-shower body lotion.. The hype: Replace your ordinary lotion with a revolutionary rinse-off body lotion! Ultra Moisture In-Shower Body Lotion works with the warmth and humidity of your shower to reveal soft, smooth skin after just one use. You use it in the shower. The idea is that your wet ...

It's Jen's birthday.  She's 25 today. A quarter of a century.  Wow.  Seems like yesterday. The day we brought her home from the hospital, I cried.  I was emotionally overwhelmed, so scared, wondering what I'd gotten myself into and how was I going to fare as a mother. But eventually I got the hang of it.  25 years later, I am amazed at the beautiful, smart, compassionate, graceful young woman she has become.  I cannot imagine my life without her.  Happy birthday, Jen.  I love you.

Taco Bell is not very high on my list of favorite fast food restaurants, I prefer Chipotle or Salsarita's if I want fast food Mexican style.  But Taco Bell's crunchy tacos...well, I was introduced to tacos in my college cafeteria (one of the few meals they prepared well),   every now and then I get a craving, and the crunchy tacos at Taco Bell remind me of the ones I ate in college. I did not have a good experience at this location.  I made the mistake of parking my car and walking into the restaurant to order my food, when I should have stayed in my car and done the drive-through.  There were a handful of customers inside the restaurant, and each of us had the same unpleasant experience -- a 20 minute wait from the time we ordered or meals until the time our food was brought to the counter.  Meanwhile, drive-through customers  received their food within 2 minutes of placing their orders -- when you're waiting at the counter for your food, you h...

Cold weather = increased need for moisturizer One of my chief complaints:  lip balm isn't as effective as it should be when my lips are dry and chapped. But here's my new favorite product: You apply it like lipstick, gently rub it in, remove with a wet cotton ball, then finish with your favorite lip balm.  Leaves my lips smooth and soft, much better than just the balm alone.

I was able to make a trip out there last week.  It's so different in the autumn, when there aren't huge crowds. The day was fairly warm, but the water was very choppy.  When I was at the beach for the breast cancer walk a few weeks ago, I parked my car at Field 4, near Central Mall, and I noticed that there were interesting mosaics in the pavement.  So on my most recent trip, I had to see the mosaics again. I also noticed a 9/11 memorial. For some reason, the seagulls and the pigeons caught my attention. Down by Field 6, there were a lot of birds on the roof of the bathhouse. After I'd photographed the birds, I turned to take a few pictures of the high surf. Something must have startled the birds.

Halloween has come and gone, and I can't help but wonder how the month of October disappeared. Yes< I know ...those two weeks were surreal... I've been fairly consistent about going to synagogue to say Kaddish.  The morning prayer service lasts about 30 minutes, the leader usually speed reads through most of the Hebrew and I can' t really follow along.  It gives me a chance to clear my mind, though.  A few moments to pause and reflect, to prepare myself for the day ahead. It keeps me centered, focused, grounded. The World Series is over, and the Mets went down in flames.  Sigh.  At least they put on a good show at Citi Field -- Tony Bennett, Demi Lovato and (of course) Billy Joel.  Celebrities in the stands included Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, John Leguizamo, Dennis Miller, Matt Dillon.  They may have won the baseball games, but we won the star power. It's candy season at my office.  It started with a few Mounds and Almond Joys in ...

Last month my musical posts were right off a "classic rock" playlist.  This month I'd like to explore the other side of 70's music:  disco.  A lot of people didn't like disco.  Some radio stations even sponsored "Disco Sucks" campaigns, where listeners were encouraged to destroy vinyl records containing the latest disco hits.  Obviously I wasn't part of that crowd. Nor was  I t one of those disco types who spent every weekend dancing in a club.  But I liked the beat, I liked the sound, I liked to dance.  I have fond memories of The Rafters, a dance club I'd visit occasionally while in college. The big movie of 1977 was Saturday Night Fever .  Starring John Travolta and featuring a score composed by the Bee Gees, it explored the disco phenomenon.    The music from the movie dominated the Billboard charts. The movie poster featured Travolta, all black shirt and white suit, in an iconic dance floor pose.  ...

So -- NaBloPoMo . I've been participating in this challenge for awhile now. The objective is to write a blog post every single day of the month.   I joined the challenge in February and have participated every single month since then.  I didn't succeed in October -- I managed to write over 31 posts, but I missed a few days of blogging.   Overall I've enjoyed the discipline of having to produce something every day. November is the big month for NaBloPoMo, the month with the most participants, the month where they give out actual prizes to some bloggers who  meet the challenge. There's no theme this month.  I've free to choose my own theme, my own topics.  There's so much to talk about.  Blockbuster movies. Broadway shows.  Baseball.  1970's nostalgia. Music.  Novels.  Current affairs. Restaurant reviews.  New products I've tried.  Day trips and vacations. Holidays. My...