Monthly Archive

I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming that comes when you finish the life of the emotions and of personal relations; and suddenly find - at the age of fifty, say - that a whole new life has opened before you, filled with things you can think about, study, or read about…It is as if a fresh sap of ideas and thoughts was rising in you.
Agatha Christie (1890 - 1976), An Autobiography, 1977

We’re not lost. We’re locationally challenged.
John M. Ford

Yesterday I strolled across the park to one fish two fish, a seafood restaurant I’ve been eating at for twenty years.
It looked like rain so I left my camera behind. Big mistake. It had rained the night before and everything was brilliant green and in full bloom.
After a lunch and a long writing session I headed back across the park. By time I got to West Side I was determined to come right back with my camera.
It ended up being overcast all day with no rain. Today is a different story - we have one of those steady all day rain things going on.







My brother and I enjoyed this playground as children, as did my own daughter. She’ll be 25 this Thursday. “Mom” she said, “I’m looking at a quarter of a century here.” I’ll be 47 in December. I’m heading towards a half century on a skateboard with greased wheels.

shot in Central Park

3. Who is your most recent friend?
That’s a good question. I haven’t a clue.

4. What was the most recent TV show you watched?
A George Lopez rerun - the man is too funny.

5. What was the most recent music that you purchased?
I rarely buy music. The last thing I downloaded from I-Tunes was Madonna’s Shanti/Ashtangi.

6. What were the most recent clothes that you purchased?
Avenue had a 70% percent off sale. I bought a pink cotton sweater, boot cut jeans, white button down shirt, black hoodie & a very simple blue dress. I’ve worn the sweater which fits perfectly. The black hoodie is comfortable, but it’s just not for me.

7. Who most recently did you say “I love you” to?
My one and only daughter.

8. Who did you most recently text?
My friend J.

9. Who did you most recently kiss?
Hubby before he went off to work.

It’s two weeks since the last rain here in New York. Weatherman says we’ll have some over the weekend. We need it to wash away all the pollen & ragweed. I am too tired of having the sneezles.

Can’t wait for Sunday going to go to a museum or movie or something. Maybe all three - why not?
I’ll be solo which means I can go see an indy film or chick flick. And I must buy myself a snazzy new pair of Crocs for summer. Yay warm weather.

How are all of you?

It’s nearly 80 this after, and I have to tell it feels soooo good.
These old bones can’t take the cold weather anymore.
I’ve spent my morning and afternoon working on this project and that.
And of course, there were frequent breaks for e-mail and bloghopping.
Yesterday I watched Lars and the Real Girl. Talk about your unique plots. One day the very introverted Lars brings home the girl he met online. Here’s the thing she’s a life-size doll. On the advice of a physician every one goes along with the delusion. Every one is not only Lars’ family, but the entire population of his small community.
I’m not one for spoilers, so that’s all I’m saying here. You won’t regret renting it at your local DVD emporium.
You like the pic of the glasses. I took it Sunday when my friend J came to New York for the day.
We spent most of the 9 hours she was here walking.
The first part of our day was spent walking through Central Park.
I shot mating dance by the reservoir.
These two photos which I call Central Park Yogini also appear on my photoblog Photostroll.





We ended up on the Upper East Side, and boarded a subway for Astor Place.
That’s where I got the wild glasses you see at the beginning of this post.
We went strolled through St. Mark’s place, where we stopped for sushi.
Then it was on to Union Square to see what the artists had out for sale.
This the Beauty Bar. It’s an old time hair salon that some smart entrepreneur turned into a nightclub/bar. Cool, huh?



Next was the Lower East Side where we stopped for coffee and nibbles at the Cloister Cafe.
They have a lovely outdoor seating area with hookah bar.



After coffee we walked down to Houston Street, and headed for the glamour of SoHo.
We spotted this adorable fellow anxiously watching his human.



All this walking worked up our appetites. We decided on Italian - where else? Little Italy of course.
The freshly made focaccia bread they put on the table was so delicious you could make a meal out of it. I had Fettucine with Bolognese; J had the Alfredo.

Needless to even with all the calories we burned walking - we skipped dessert.

We walked back to Canal & Varick and caught the train to Times Square. J wanted to see the bright lights before she went home.
I actually posted these a couple of days ago, but what the heck here you go:







From there it was back uptown to the garage where we parked her car. The last thing you want to do in Manhattan is drive!
What a great day. There’s nothing I love more than showing people New York through my eyes.
My daughter’s birthday is coming up soon, and I’ll be heading out to Massachusetts to spend a day with her. She’s in the ‘burbs, but we will head into one of the nearby town for lunch and shopping.
It’s a rare thing for me to go out of the New York/New Jersey area.
And I will be taking a lot of pictures.
Stay tuned.

Mon tagged me.

1) Write your own 6 word memoir.

2) Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you like.

3) Link the person who tagged you in your blog, and the original poster if possible to track across the blogosphere.

4) Tag at least 5 blogs with links.

5) Leave a comment with an invitation to play!

Okay so here’s what I came up with it.

The artist within released through blogging.

– I didn’t tag anyone, but do share your six words if you like in comments.

Much bloglove to all.

This he.



Spotted this she.



And well you know…

If you know what type of bird this is please let me know in comments. They are black with spots of iridescent purple and green on their beaks and wings.
I took these photos on Sunday at the Central Park Reservoir.

Perhaps it was just a matter of arriving too late this year - 9:45pm - Tax Day was just not happening.
The only folks who were there were the die hards who turn out every year to make political statements.
And of course the tiny little old lady with the huge crucifix round her neck handing out bible tracts.

The evening was saved by a new discovery. Hvae you been to Dave & Buster’s?

It’s a restaurant with a really cool arcade area.

It will make you a kid again.

Just finished preparing my taxes.

Can’t beat the rush of doing them at the last possible minute.

Tonight is my annual trek to the Main Post Office at 34th Street; there’s usually a lot of action there.

I’m packing my camera, so hopefully there will be some pics to post later tonight or tomorrow.

Speaking of pics here’s one I took in Pavonia New port, NJ last week.

The smaller building is actually a reflection.

As soon as hubby was off to church Operation Purge went in action.

In less than an hour I was hauling four filled bags out to the garbage room.

I threw in a load of wash, and ran back upstairs to work on the bathroom and kitchen areas.  In short time another bag was filled with miscellaneous microwaveware, and about a billion plastic containers.  Hubby likes to save takeout containers just in case.

Soon I had two more loads of laundry working, and had hauled out a narrow but tall metal shelf to the hallway.  A floor lamp followed it.

Can I tell you how productive I was feeling?

By time the laundry was done I had the bathroom sink and commode gleaming.  The only thing that remained was cleaning the tub, and then a long hot bath for me.

The bathtub was partilaly filled with water, because i had used it as giant sink to was some vases and things.  I pulled the plug, and went into the front room for a drink.  When I returned the water was still there.  Okay, so get the plunger and start going at it.  Nothing.  And of course, I had every cleaning item known to man on hand, but no drain opener.

I was pouring sweat and covered in dust, and no way was I going to the local hardware store looking like that.  I called downstairs and asked the maintenance man on duty if he had anything I could use.  He did, and came right up with a small bottle with about 99 warning on it.  It was an industrial type cleaner contasining sulphuric acid.  I donned my rubber gloves, bailed water like mad into the toilet, and then poured the stuff in.  There was a small poof and the smoke - I ran for my life.

After about fifteen minutes i peeked in, and the water level was the same.  I called down to maintenance, and he said he would be right up.  This apparently was quite a clog.

We leaned over the edge of my big old-fashioned tub together.  Yup nothing had changed.  Suddenly he reached under the faucet and pushed down the thingie.  Yes folks, the thingie I never bother to use and thus forgot about.  Out tub is about 60 years old no joke - it has claw feet - and I have a big old-fashioned stopper I use in lieu of the thingie.  I must have pushed it up while I was washing stuff.

Can I tell you how hard we laughed?

Can I tell you how dorkie I felt?

Thank goodness for maintenance men with good hearts and great senses of humor.

Have a wonderful day ‘k?

Some of you asked me what Whiskers does for her living.
She’s earns her carrots popping out of hats and things.
Her owner Harold is a magician.

An optimist is the human personification of spring.
Susan J. Bissonette

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
Anne Bradstreet (1612 - 1672)

To be amused by what you read–that is the great spring of happy quotations.
C. E. Montague, “A Writer’s Notes on His Trade”

A couple of weeks ago the owners of the building I live in announced a major renovation.

The renovation is going to include major work on our apartment.  This means I’ve got to get nearly 26 years of clutter sorted out.  Fortunately things were really begin till the end of the summer.  Time passes quickly though, so the process has already begun.

My husband is a major pack rat, and watching me throw out things is just too painful for him.

He works nights, so for the last week when he leaves I get busy.

My place looks like bag central.   They are everywhere, filled with books for the community center, clothes for the Salvation Army, and knick knacks for the church thrift shop.

Tomorrow hubby leaves for church at 8am; he shouldn’t be back until about 3pm.  I’ve already made a mental list of everything that’s going.

It’s an exhausting but strangely satisfying process.

Everyone have an amazing Saturday.

And if you’d like to visit my Saturday Photo Hunt - just go here - the theme was TWIST(ED).

I met Whiskers and her owner Harold on Thursday afternoon.
They had a show scheduled for the next day, so they were enjoying the weather and making plans.
And you know I just had to ask Whiskers to pose for a shot.
She was kind enough to oblige.
I had to take it quick though, because within minutes a crowd gathered to admire her.

My daughter will be 25 at the end of the month, so it’s been a while since I’ve been up for morning cartoons and kiddie shows.

As I remember our day would start with The Elephant Show on Nickelodeon. 

Then we would flip around to Tom & Jerry, Bugs Bunny & The Flintstones.

Like everyone else in the neighborhood we wondered Where in the World was Carmen San Diego?

And of course there were excursions to the video store for Winnie the Poof & Disney videos.

Wish I had a quarter for every time we sang about that endless blustery day.

For quite a while now I’ve seen little girls with all kinds of Dora the Explorer gear.

This morning I sat down to channel surf, while the laundry was doing it’s thing.

And guess what?  Yup, Dora was on.

I joined her and her sidekick, an adorable monkey in shades of blue and lavender, as they searched for a lost toy dinosaur.

I was delighted to find that Dora is Hispanic.  We counted estrellas (stars) together and everything.

Maybe I’ll get my daughter a Dora the Explorer doll for her 25th.  LOL whatever will she think?

I was strolling through St. Marks last week, and shot this wall sign while I was there.



I’ve had the opportunity to speak to Yaffa, an absolutely amazing Israeli woman, on several occasions.

During the aftermath of 9/11 she sent free food non-stop down to the restaurant workers.

Her personal creed; “I don’t drink. I don’t do drugs. I pay my bills.”

I’ll be entertaining on Thursday, and we’ll be going to Yaffa’s place down on Harrison Street.
It’s actually two places in one - a restaurant and tea room.
Here’s a review 
Read this one too; it’s a collection of reviews from people who’ve been there.

I’m a fan of the food, decor and Yaffa.

Every once in a while I try out a new meme.  Today I found Manic Monday.

Is there any question you can’t look up the answer to on the internet?

I just asked the search engines why I didn’t get my laundry done this morning - no answer - lol.

Actually I often say the Internet is the biggest encyclopedia ever.  It’s also the cheapest and best public relations tool in the world.  Quite a few folks with minimal computer skills have gotten famous off an inexpensive or free website.

Invent a new word that you feel would improve the language and define it.

Blogdacity - blogging without apologies.  I made that word up a while ago, and bought the domain.  It’s one of the new blogs I have in the works. 

What is your favorite texture?

Velour - the expensive plush kind.  I have a wonderful wine colored top that just feel so good when I wear it.

And That’s My Answer

Would you define yourself as courageous?

Definitely.  Grandma said it was the Irish in me

Lovely brunch with one of my favorite Mom and daughter teams

Afternoon walkabout the city and dinner with my friend from across the river

Just finished reading all my email.

Off to work on today’s NaBloPoMo post.

Here’s a pic of a sign that I think is just too cute:

Cheers Chums!

Tonight I stopped in at one of my favorite neighborhood haunts for a raspberry spritzer and a nibble.
I didn’t want to take a table, so I sat at the bar and chatted with the barmaid.
Or should I say bartender? Or barperson?
You know all this having to watch every word you say makes me crazy sometimes.
It reminds me of when the term MS came out. Everywhere you went you heard; “that’s Ms. So and So to you thank you.”
Wonder if anyone still uses the term?
I still read Ms. Magazine from time to time, and it still has some great articles.
There I go rambling again.
Well the term Ms reminded me of the magazine, and the magazine reminds me of Gloria Steinem.
Gloria Steinem reminds me of Playboy because she was a bunny.
Playboy bunnies remind me of one of my favorite old TV shows The Odd Couple, because there was a whole show about Felix’s wife wanting to be a Playboy bunny. The Odd Couple reminds me of my grandmother, because she always said my room was as sloppy as Oscar’s.
And my grandmother reminds me of so many things that I could blog for hours.
Oh and by the way did you know Reddi Wip is spelled without an H?
I just noticed a can sitting on the bar.
As you can see from the pic I took with my camera phone there is no H.
What can I tell you - I notice things like this.
Okay so what does whip cream remind you of?

The artist is the confidant of nature, flowers carry on dialogues with him through the graceful bending of their stems and the harmoniously tinted nuances of their blossoms, Every flower has a cordial word which nature directs towards him.
Auguste Rodin

I was having dinner with my husband, and he began talking about things we had to do the next day - Thursday.

“Tomorrow’s Wednesday.”

“No it’s Thursday.”

“But today is Tuesday.”

“Nope, it’s Wednesday.”

Turns out he was right - grrrrrrrrrr.   I did manage to get my Wordless Wednesday up before midnight.

It felt so weird though, to have lost just about a whole Wednesday.

Reminded me of when I was in the 7th grade and went to school on a Saturday.

Speaking of time here’s a pic I took on Sunday:

One of the mysteries of New York is that you never see a baby pigeon. 
This quite full grown fellow was having a bit of a rest along on Second Avenue.

I got so curious about the baby pigeon thing, that I hit the search engines.  Someone has included this and other things you might be curious about in this book.



This stain glass sculture stands outside a modern Catholic Church.  It’s nice enough but I prefer the old-fashioned variety.



This the new header on my creative writing blog

Have a totally fabulous day.

Okay so yesterday I sent in my link for the April NaBloPoMo blogroll.  The theme is LETTERS, and there will one a day at my creative writing blog for the next 30 days.

Next I went to work on my profile for Script Frenzy.  The goal is to create a 100 page script(s) in 30 days.  I’ll be using Scripped; “the first free-flowing, web based script writing software you can use right in your browser.”

I’ve had three plays all worked out in my mind for at least two years now. Maybe the notes in my journals and images on my mind’s screen will be at least one script in 30 days. There is a forums section at the Script Frenzy site, and I’m hoping some folks in New York will want to meet up.

Sending my best bloggy wishes your way.