songbird's crazy world

Part restaurant, part catering hall, part biergarten, Plattduetsche Park does it all.  We were mostly interested in the food, so we chose to eat in the main dining room  -   a small but very bright and airy room behind the bar.  I loved the Hummels in the bay window.  Waitresses in dirndls.  Easy enough to get seating here on a Saturday night in summer, when most patrons were more interested in the outdoor activities.  The breadbasket appeared on our table with amazing speed -- large rolls, both hearty wheat and pumpernickel. We started our meal with the Little Bavarians  -  mini pretzel rolls filled with slices of bratwurst, bacon and Swiss cheese, served with two types of mustard.  I could easily have made a meal out of these sliders.  I ordered the wiener schnitzel, a breaded and fried veal cutlet.  A very generous portion of veal, crispy on the outside, tender veal inside, not at all greasy.  It was ser...

So today is the annual BBQ.  I'm looking forward to seeing all the friends.  Our little group is shrinking -- people move away, couples split up, people die... I just want to hug everyone close, cherish this time. The family I talked about, the couple who lost their daughter...I found out what happened.  She was severely disabled, spent her entire adult life in a nursing home.  She wasn't expected to live nearly as long as she did.  Still heartbreaking, though.  Haven't seen much of my own kids lately.   Jen's been spending a lot of time with her boyfriend, they tend to hang at his house.    Becca, of course, has her own apartment, and even when she's home, she spends a lot of time with David-who-is-not-her-boyfriend (but we all know better).  I'm glad they've got busy lives.  But I miss them. Drew is counting the days until retirement, looking forward to the several celebrations that honor the retirees.  T...

So a few days ago I went to a party on the Nautical Mile in Freeport.  And found myself driving on Guy Lombardo Avenue. Yes, that Guy Lombardo.  Famed Big Band leader, generations of Americans celebrated New Year's Eve with him and his Royal Canadians.  Even if you've never heard any of his other music, you've certainly heard his version of "Aud Lange Syne". Lombardo moved to Freeport in the 1950's, and lived there until his death in 1977.  At one time he even owned a local restaurant.  When Robert Moses built the Jones Beach Theater, he had Lombardo in mind.  The venue opened in 1952, and each summer through 1978 there would be a musical:  Showboat , South Pacific , Sound of Music . The stage sits in Zach's Bay, with seating on the beach, and in the early days  the stage was separated from the seating by a moat.  Lombardo and his orchestra would board a yacht and sail across the channel from Freeport to Zach's Bay, and during intermiss...

It's Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the summer season, The weather finally turned warm and sunny this week, just in time for the holiday. We kick off the season with Drew's barbecue on Sunday.  It's a tradition. We've been to a couple of baseball games already, we've got a few more scheduled. No real vacation this summer, we've got a big vacation planned for October.  Maybe a few day trips? But one thing I know we won't be doing:  concerts at Jones Beach Theater. We love the venue, but there isn't anyone playing there this year who we'd like to see. Well, Jimmy Buffett is coming back in August, but after  last year's disaster , I just can't deal with the craziness.  Radio Margaritaville, here I come.

There's a significant rabbit population in Drew's neighborhood.     I spotted this little guy on Drew's lawn: But the ones I saw the other day were much harder to find. Do you see them? How about now?

Look who has taken up residence at my office:

My synagogue sends all sorts of notices via email:  the schedule of services, meetings such as Men's Club and Sisterhood, fundraising requests.... And whenever one of our members has a death in their family, we all get notified. Usually, if it's not a family I know, I read the notice and move on. Not this time. I didn't know the family, but the name sounded familiar. The notice said that a young woman had died, that she was survived by her parents and two of her siblings, and was predeceased by another sibling. Took me a few minutes, and a bit of Googling, but then I remembered. Her brother had died in a car crash at age 27, on Mother's Day in 2004.  The story had been mentioned in a newspaper article profiling our synagogue. I don't know what killed the young woman -- accident?  disease?  It doesn't matter.  Parents aren't supposed to bury their children. They've been coming to morning services to say Kaddish for their daughter. I c...

So OK, we usually see these blockbusters the weekend the open.  But this time around, we wanted IMAX/3D/reserved seating, and weren't able to come up with a theater that met all those criteria at a time that we could go to the movies.  So we settled for 3D and reserved seating -- gotta love those comfy reclining chairs! So this is billed as a "Captain America" movie, but it's really an "Avengers" movie, with all of the major characters except  Thor and the Hulk.  The focus, though, is on Steve Rogers/Captain America, his relationship with Bucky/the Winter Soldier, Agent Carter, etc.   Politics and other circumstances has put Captain America at odds with Tony Stark/Ironman, and the rest of the Avengers line up behind one or the other.  Stark recruits Spider Man (yes, another reboot) and Rogers recruits Antman -- interesting crossovers.  The movie is short on plot and very long on action/battle scenes.  There is humor along the way -- ...

So on Sunday morning we decided we wanted to go out to breakfast.  And we found ourselves at Denny's. We'd been to this location about a year ago, and were totally unimpressed.  This being a chain restaurant, the food is exactly as you would expect.  The problem we had last year was the level of service.  And judging by the reviews, we were not the only ones to feel service was unacceptable. Apparently the management has taken the criticisms to heart.  We sere seated promptly, greeted by our server, and received our order quickly.  Our server checked on us several times  to make sure we were satisfied. What I like about Denny's is the interesting options for breakfast -- decadent skillets, pancakes, French toast, fit fare, whatever you want.   The option to "build your own slam" gives you flexibility to choose healthier options.  I built my own slam -- scrambled eggs, a buttermilk biscuit, bacon and seasonal fruit.  ...

So yesterday, I got on the scale, noted my weight, and logged it in my Fitbit app. I've linked my Fitbit account to my account at My Fitness Pal, so the data syncs between the two. So when I opened My Fitness Pal later that morning, I was greeted with  "songbird has lost 60 pounds so far". 60 pounds.  A milestone.  I still have a lot to go. But where am I going? Well, let's start with the short term goal, that's a lot easier. Drew and I are planning a Caribbean cruise in October.  It will be our first vacation that isn't tied to the school calendar, it's in celebration of his retirement.  (Or rather, semi retirement.  He plans to work as a substitute teacher, which means he works when he wants, and can take off time at his discretion.) So the short term goal is to lose weight before the cruise.  I've set a goal of 15 pounds.  Very doable, I think.  I haven't decided how I will handle food  -- will I track my calories ...

So this morning at services, the Rabbi looked at me and said "[songbird] will carry the Torah." And then, as an aside, he said "Don't worry, it's the small one." The Torah, the Five Books of Moses, the holiest writings in Judaism.  Physically, the Torah is a scroll, a series of parchments sewn together, with a wooden shaft at either end of the scroll.  When not in use, the scroll is covered with a mantle and adorned with a silver crown.  Most Torah scrolls weigh about 20-25 pounds.  (You can find a full description of the Torah and its accessories on the Chabad website). The Torah is read on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  There is an elaborate ritual for reading the Torah, which includes parading the scroll through the sanctuary.    Members of the congregation show reverence for the Torah by touching it with their prayer shawls or prayer books, then kissing the shawl or book. It is an honor to be asked to carry the Torah.  But ...

Bernie Sanders needs to stop feeding his young supporters a line that he can still win the nomination.  Hillary won more states than he did, she won more open primaries than he did, she has 3 million more votes than he does, she has more pledged delegates, and the super delegates (who are mostly supporting her)  have no reason to reverse the will of the voters and choose Sanders. She needs 92 delegates to clinch the nomination.  She'll get those delegates on June 7, even if she loses every primary that day.  And it's not likely that she'll lose in New Jersey and California,  the two biggest states voting that day. He needs to take leadership here and quell any future violent outbursts like the one that rocked the Nevada convention, or this summer in Philly we could see a repeat of Chicago 1968. The whole purpose of this run for the nomination was to gain political clout, to be able to influence the direction of the Democratic Party. If he pushes too hard...

"All politics is local."  -- Tip O'Neill We tend to think of politics in broad, national terms.  Especially in a presidential election year, our focus is on the big picture -- the White House and Congress. We tend to forget the huge impact local political issues can have on our lives.  This morning, on my way to work, I took the time to do my civic duty.  I stopped at the high school and voted in the school board election. No, I no longer have children in the public school system.  But I support public school education, and I want to see my local school district thrive.

Welcome to beautiful Bethpage Ballpark.  No, the ballpark is NOT located in Bethpage.  It's actually in Central Islip.  The county sold the naming rights to the Bethpage Federal Credit Union, hence the confusion. It's a 6,000 seat arena, home to the famed Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.  It's a small ballpark, almost all of the seats are field level.  The upper deck consists of a few luxury suites, and a sit down restaurant called "The Duck Club", behind home plate.  "club level" seating means the upper deck seats in front of the restaurant. Independent  leagues have become very popular, and why not?  For the cost of a movie you can see a baseball game, root for the home team, get some fresh air.   Making the pilgrimage to Flushing costs and arm and a leg, but driving over to Central Islip...Well, Drew and I have become Long Island Ducks fans. There are 8 teams in the Atlantic League, in two divi...

This was my view yesterday. I didn't go to a famous park or a tourist destination for my walk.  Instead I headed to a local park about 5 minutes from my home. The park has a golf course, a public pool, and the nature trail.  I think the last time I walked the trail was a good 16 years ago.  But having tackled the nature trail at Sagamore Hill a couple of weeks ago, I thought it would be fun to take another walk in the woods. The path is about 2 miles long, and skirts the park perimeter.  You're never more than a few steps away from parking lot or pavement.  I didn't complete the loop this time, I bailed out when I reached the grassy area between the pool parking lot and the golf course, and walked back to my car on the park's main road. But there are times, as you walk, where you feel like you're deep in the woods.  A quiet, contemplative walk.   I ran into other walkers a couple of times, but for the most part I was alone.  Brin...

So I try to get to morning services 2-3 times a week, to say Kaddish for my father.  Mourning, as I've said, is a year-long process, and I am observing (as best I can) the proper rituals for mourning. In the 7 months since my father passed (7 months, can you believe it?) I've observed numerous holidays and life cycle events. Today we celebrated Yom Ha'Atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day.  14 May 1948/5 Iyar 5708. The establishment of the State of Israel, the fulfillment of 2,000 years of hoping and dreaming.  Who else but the Jewish people have so successfully forged an identity by combining religious devotion, shared culture and nationalistic fervor?   A modern, secular state is the embodiment of a wish made two millennia ago, a dream incorporated into every prayer book, the hope of a persecuted minority. So, we display the Israeli flag in our synagogue.  Our prayer book contains a special prayer for the State of Israel.  And, in horo fo what...

No, not something large scale and dramatic. Just a small story. A lost dog story from my neighbor..  A relative came to visit from out of state, she brought her dog, and somehow the dog got out of the house.  They posted flyers throughout the neighborhood.  And they posted a copy of the flyer on Facebook. When you see something like that on Facebook, you share it so your local friends will see it, too. A few days later, another neighbor, a few blocks away, posted "Did anyone lose a dog?"  And describe a dog she'd seen running on her street. Same dog. Dog and owner have now been reunited.

The GOP has actually picked Donald Trump.  And the party is literally unraveling as a result. Bernie won West Virginia yesterday.  That was expected.  The numbers were a bit higher than I thought they'd be, but it's an open primary and I think that, since the  Republicans no longer had a race, they voted for Sanders. No big deal.  Hillary has 1,716 pledged delegates now and 523 super delegates.  That's 144 short of the nomination. Bernie has 1,430 pledged delegates and 39 super delegates.  She's ahead by 286 pledged delegates and 770 overall delegates.  It looks like Bernie is going to take his campaign through the primaries in June.  There aren't enough delegates at stake in the next few primaries to put Hillary over the top.  June 7th will be another "Super Tuesday".   Hillary is very likely to win in the two biggest states voting that day, California and New Jersey.  Even if she loses, though, delegates are awarde...

Local chain, newest location. It's similar to Chipotle, which is just down the street, or Moe's Grill.  You assemble your taco or burrito from a variety of prepared ingredients.  They also serve sandwiches, nachos, quesadillas, etc. My burrito was huge, so large that the server had difficulty folding it. Inside was a tasty combination of steak, rice, black beans, shredded cheese. Quesadillas had a decent amount of cheese.  Chips were crisp and light. I did not care for the crispy fish taco.  A fried fish fillet served in a taco shell, with your choice of lettuce or slaw, topped with tarter or chipotle or lime.  Would have been ok if the fish hadn't been sitting on the steam table for so long.  Not something I'm likely to order again. What makes this place a bit different is that it shares space with Yogurt & Such.  Yogurt & Such offers salads, wraps and (of course) frozen yogurt.  Salads are assembled to order in the same man...

So Drew and I are still playing catch up with Game of Thrones .  While everyone else is watching season six, we're still on season three.  This weekend we finally saw "The Red Wedding", where Rob Stark and his wife and mother are killed in a bloodbath.  I knew what was coming, but still...Maybe we'll catch up in time to watch the last two seasons in real time, so no one will accidentally spoil it for us. Had our typical Mother's Day celebration yesterday.  My sisters cooked, and we had cake from Reinwlads and cookies from Dortoni's for dessert.  My daughters treated me to a manicure at their new favorite salon.  I tried a gel manicure for the first time.  What do you think of it?     The weather has been cold and rainy  for almost a week. I thought it was the beginning of April, not early May.  But that changed today, the sun is out, and I can't wait to hit the jogging path at lunchtime. I need to get the exercise, I...

So I was in a local store a few days ago, and I spotted it:  a video arcade machine, "Donkey Kong" displayed on its screen.  The machine described the game as a "classic". Yes, the video games from the 1980's are now "classics".  Arcades had been around for awhile, but in the 80's the video arcade took hold.  In addition to offering traditional games like pin ball, these new arcades offered up "Donkey Kong", "Asteroids", "Space Invaders", "Centipede", and several different versions of "Pacman".   Back then, home systems, like Atari, were very expensive, so the video arcade was the only option for most people. You'd bring quarters and kill time playing countless hours of your favorite games. The phenomenon was so widespread that they even wrote a song about it:  

Another chapter in the saga of "Songbird plays tourist in her own back yard".  Long Island is filled with historical sites.  Not just places of local interest, but sites of historical significance for the country, and the world. Located on a spit of land that separates Oyster Bay from Cold Spring Harbor, Sagamore Hill was the family home of our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt.  TR bought the property just outside the town of Oyster Bay in order to build a home for himself and his first wife, Alice, but she died before the house was built.  Eventually TR built a home for his  second wife and his children.  When TR became President, the house at Sagamore Hill became the summer White House.  The house and grounds are now under the auspices of the National Park Service, which is fitting, as TR was the father of our national parks system.    The house can be seen by guided tour only, and visitors should reserve their tickets in advan...

Yeah, we had a great time last night, as always. We have the routine down -- drive into Queens, drive through Flushing Meadow Park, park in the same lot on Roosevelt Avenue.  We cross the street to the stadium by walking upstairs to the station for the #7 train, then walking back down.  Then we're at Citi Field, and we walk passed the Shea Stadium Home Run Apple to get to our entrance gate. Last night, right after we passed the Apple, we met up with one of our favorite celebrities: You can't really see it, but the shirt I'm wearing is the souvenir from last summer's trip to Cooperstown -- it has the team logo on the front, and on the back is a list of every NY Mets player who made it to the Hall of Fame.  The hat was a promotional item from a game 5 years ago, it salutes the 1986 World Series team. Our tickets allowed us to use the Foxwoods Club, an indoor restaurant and bar.  This club has large picture windows, and you can see the NYC skyline and some o...

Today is the Indiana primary.  Today is Ted Cruz' last stand.  If Ted doesn't pull out a win today, he's done, and the GOP nominee will be [shudder] Donald Trump.  Frankly I don't know who is scarier, Cruz or Trump.  Today is yet another "Groundhog Day" experience for us Democrats.  You remember the movie, "Groundhog Day", where Bill Murray relives the same day over and over and over?  In April Hillary Clinton won decisive victories in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Connecticut.  She's now won in every part of the country, she succeeds with almost every demographic that makes up the Democratic Party.  Despite Bernie's ability to attract huge crowds to his rallies and to bring in small donations from large numbers of contributors, he has not been able to translate his popularity into large numbers of votes. 2,383 delegates are required to win the nomination.  There are  4,051  pledged delegates available throu...

So the baseball season is in full swing.  tonight Drew and I will make our first trip of the season to Citi Field.  Seats aren't great, but you can't complain when the tickets were free.  And we always have a good time at a Mets game.  And considering how hot the team is ...did you see that 12 run inning against the Giants Friday night? Drew and I lived in Queen for a few years, back when our children were babies.  The joke was that if we were watching a Mets game and it started to rain at Shea, we'd run to close our windows.  I used to put the kids in the double stroller and walk around the neighborhood, there was an overpass over the Van Wyck  where I could stand and look north and see that familiar bright blue and orange stadium. Alas,  though I tried to raise them right, my kids ....became Yankees fans.  Last weekend Jen organized a trip with her boyfriend Matt and a group of their friends, they went up to the Bronx to watch the Yanke...