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Showing posts from 2014

Mark Made Me Do It...

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I sit here this morning in Fort Lauderdale.  As someone who loves to post pictures of lovely sunrises, sunsets, and the warmth of my home today is not that day.  I woke up to 58 degree weather, cloudy and rainy and a high that won't push over 70.  Which compared to five feet of snow in upstate NY doesn't sound so tragic, but I do feel bad for those who this may be there only week here and they want a beach day. This ends up being an interesting moment in my life.  I have been trying with all of my mental and emotional might to fight the obvious moment coming to me next week.  No, it isn't Thanksgiving and seeing if I can dry out a turkey.  Yes, I do think the pumpkin pie recipe in the NY Times with Butternut Squash instead of Pumpkin is something I want to attempt, but his is not about that either. It turns out next Tuesday, I turn 50 years old.  If I turn the clock and look backwards on my family it is quite fair to say this is the mid-point of my life

The high price of Living with Closets

I spent the morning writing a blog post about closets, and in great Microsoft fashion, notepad crashed while I tried to save it… or so it appears.  So, I am going to try this again because it is important to me, and I hope in some odd fashion you may find it so as well. I am speaking of closets, by definition, is when a person decides to put certain parts of their humanity and their personal life hidden from the world at large or possibly everyone else.  This can come about for many reasons.   Maybe an interracial family in the 60’s who can pass for one race or another and don’t want to be stigmatized or have their children bullied or harassed as they grow up.   It could be religious reasons, Christians in the early age of the Romans not wanting to fight lions just because of their faith.  Or, Jews in the time of the Inquisition having to publicly declare their Christianity to live while worshiping as Jews behind closed curtains and hidden from society. There can be pract

Saturday is National Coming Out Day: What are you coming out as?

Labels, how do you see yourself? Saturday is national coming out day .  If you are straight, you probably haven't thought about coming out!  Most people, unknowingly, are assumed to be straight, and thus, the need to "come out" is perhaps a little strange.  There are in today's world some interesting nuances here.  Children of gay parents may at times feel odd about coming out straight, but I assume in most gay families, the assumption until heard otherwise is their children are, for lack of a better term, straight. I have been out to my family for over 20 years and out in most work and friendships for at least that long, so the idea of coming out is behind me.  I am not sure if people can tell when I am on a plane, train, or walking on the beach, but here I am out and proud, as they say. What does this have to do with labels?  It seems that we all have a unique desire to label ourselves so people can accurately put us in a category of familiarity.  It happens i

Where will I be this Yom Kippur?

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Where will I be this Yom Kippur? For so long in my life, Yom Kippur and Kol Nidre, helped define how my year would be.  There are so many memories to share. For those of you who do not know, Yom Kippur is a holiday called the "Day of Atonement", and actually is ten days after Rosh Hashanah.  That period of time is a time of celebration of the new year, but is also a time of repentance and prayer for a healthy and prosperous new year.  G-d is passing judgment on all humans and deciding their fate for the coming year. As a kid, Rosh Hashanah was the fun holiday.  The shofar was blown in Synagogue.  The meals from my Mom, Granny and Aunts were wonderful and everyone was celebratory.  The synagogue and ark coverings were changed to all white, and there was a feeling of what a New Year should be.  But lurking in the liturgy and prayer, were these repentant theme of confession, repenting, and praying to be inscribed in the book of life and to have a happy and prosperous y

Glen asked for it...

Electrolux buying GE appliances:  I think this is a good thing.  GE Appliances look and generally run well.. but frankly my Electrolux based dishwasher (Kenmore branded) has to be by far the best dishwasher I have owned.  It is small, but cleans like twice its size. Show Tunes: I love Broadway.  I love Broadway Musicals, and most of them on film.  But, going to a bar to watch them and drink is not on my top ten list of things to do.  (Just sharing Mark).  Doesn't make sense but it is what it is. Joan Rivers :  I am tired of what being written is about her career.  I don't think she was more crude than the male comics, just her comedy was well female oriented.  She said what she felt, made us look at ourselves honestly.  Not only that, she was a humanitarian and good to her family, and charities she cared about.   Barbra Streisand:  Her production team must be the best social media marketers of all time.  This new album / CD is all over the social sphere and can only ima

Joan Rivers Passing

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It makes no sense.  I sit here on a Thursday afternoon working, and planning for two workshops that are on the horizon.  All good...  but now I am sad. I sat through hearing about Robin Williams passing, and feeling bad for a man tortured enough to want to take his own life.  Thinking how genius is not a cure all or maybe can be contrary to sanity and mental health. Then Lauren Bacall died.  I read her first autobiography and was marveled by her, but she was a young 89 and passed away so here I sat and stayed quiet. Now today, it is Joan Rivers.  She went and did a concert the evening before last Thursday, and left them laughing.  Wakes up the next morning, goes in for what one would think was a simple procedure on her throat and a week later now she has passed away.  When you saw interviews of her she would say this is how she would want to go, and going out on top she did.  Man, could there be a point in her career where she was more successful or exposed to the public

"If you're going through hell, keep going." Winston Churchill

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I know...  people get depressed.  Some people have a chemical imbalance or challenges in their soul that they can't shake.  But here I sit in the middle of my condo wondering about Robin Williams, as many of you do.  I have a blog here, and I write, and yet I feel somewhat at a loss for words but.. I will try. I have been depressed at times, as I assume we all are.   I have walked across an occassional bridge concerned about falling into the highway and wondering how long before I would be missed.  But, my reaction has always been to walk closer to the curb and keep walking.  As Windston Churchill said, "If you're going through hell, keep going."  Don't stop, for lack of a kinder term, living! Why could such a brilliant man not speed up?  what will be his challenges that were so ornerous to his mind that moving on to be with his friend Christopher Reeves was the right choice.  Think about the comparison, one man who was kept alive by the desire to live and by

OK.. All Armadillos have their underbelly..

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I feel like an Armadillo at times.  Hard shell, gets around well, and sometimes even a little cute.  If I have a moment, of exposed anxiety, I remember there is a shell around me and I just keep trudging forward.  The faster I move, walk or execute an idea the less likely that thin skinned underbelly will show and I will get hurt.  So, I sit here this morning feeling like an Armadillo on his back, legs and feet scrambling trying to get back on his feet to have that shell protect him once again. It doesn't happen to me often.   Miss Daisy Bell spent the night here, and she was amazing.  The weather yesterday was pretty horrible but she managed to keep her wits about her. (OK she did what dogs do, she slept all day).   She didn't run out in the rain too much, and actually seemed to find a way to walk under the umbrella with me.  So, we had an OK day sitting at home in the rain.  She seems to be eating well.  Slowly gaining more strength, and actually showing a little spunk

Spinning Wheels

I feel like a hamster. One who sees a wheel, and jumps on board. Can't stop running. Calls it exercise but really, just can't stop going. Maybe it isn't a hamster. It is a Bunny. Like the Eveready brand. Keeps going, and going and going. Possibly, a mouse. One trying to learn that maze. To get to some water, or possibly a nibble of kibble. But, wondering why I am in the maze in the first place. Or, just a rat. One that is in a race. Looking for the cheese, but somebody moved it. Looking for some nourishment. Nourishment, not for the stomach. Nourishment for the mind. To nourish one's soul. Maybe open one's heart. Need to be human. Realize the luxury of choice. I can open doors to cages. Doors to be opened are opportunities. I will choose the wheels to run, the mazes to navigate, the minds to nourish along with my own.

Some likes and loves to ponder on a Saturday..

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Some things to ponder: 1) I like to cook.  I am learning to expand and take more chances.  I love to cook for family and friends. 2) I like to mop.  It is a curse of laminate floors, but I can't help it.  I love a clean home. 3) I like good music which makes me smile.  I need lyrics, so it isn't just music.  I love to discover a new singer, or lyrics to match my mood. 4) I like to learn.  Reading, Researching and becoming wiser.  I love to be surprised by something new, even spiritual. 5) I like planned activities.  OK, this is partly false.  I find it hard to plan my personal life.  I love spontaneous moments of happiness. 6) I like wine.  I learned in California to respect the nuances of wine, not to the Napa standard, but to appreciate a unique red wine in particular.  I love a glass of wine on the beach with a good friend. 7) I like to travel.  I actually like traveling itself.  The adventure of going and getting there.  I love to stay home.  I love even m

I happened to like ______

I happened to like ______ So, a good friend wrote about the One World Trade Center in New York.  Mentioning the unique design, the symbol of America it represents, and I added his comments also reflect the resilience and personality of New York since 9/11.  I have written about 9/11 a few times and this is not that moment. It made me think of how lucky we are in the United States.  There are so many unique cities in this country that have a very unique culture and energy.   Made me wonder what it takes to be a unique even symbolically a city people should visit.  Shall we say a destination? There are global cities we all know, through movies, through press, and some lucky enough to visit.  We can think of London and its history, its waterways, culture, and royal palaces.   Or Paris, and its wide boulevards museums, and fine art and dining.  Hong Kong and its harbor and ability to be a global presence on small pieces of Land.  Or Tokyo, where the energy is non-stop and a un

Random Thoughts of Insanity

OK... I keep trying to write something and failing.  So, Glen, this is not without effort it is just my mind is not focusing on one thing and it makes it hard for me.  To write a blog post takes focus for me, and most importantly it takes that what is in my head is entertaining enough to want to write and share.   I have tried to write about heroes, and failed.  I tried to do some random humor and put myself to sleep.  There is much going on inside my mind just not enough to share into a coherent thought or post. So, let's see if through some random thoughts and observations, and if  I can turn this around into a blog post finally! Random Thoughts of Sanity (or not you decide): Vegan Food:  There seems to be a huge effort and market to make vegan food taste like their meat counterparts.  If to be vegan is to be healthier cause that is what your body needs, why does your body crave it to taste like meat? Fireworks:  The best fireworks experience of my life was Provincetown

On the way home from Milwaukee, I found a mystery of my life

On the way home from Milwaukee, I found a curiosity of my life. We all sit in our homes, and look out our windows.  Some of us have striking views of sunrises, sunsets, of going to sleep watching planes line up as they come in to land in paradise.  (OK that is me) Some of us sit on oceans, or views of mountains, or maybe the view of their neighbor’s window and listening to sirens in a busy city.   But, wherever or whatever we call this place home and if we are lucky it is a shelter from the cold, rain or heat.  If we are lucky our home is an oasis from the world of chaos around us. I keep thinking after this week of another way of looking at home.  It is also where we build barriers and walls to the outside and frankly build what can no otherwise be said are walls without windows to look out and observe.  Our homes become more of where we build our lives and choices high up on a pedestal.  It also allows us to look down around us, and if I dare say, look down on people around us wh

HELP! I want to Walk away from Facebook!

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Yes, I said it.  I don't think I can, but gosh darn it I really really want to. Here are my reasons to kick the habit: 1) The recent idea they want to listen into the microphone on my phone to see what I am doing while I am using their services is down right disgusting, and more than the big brother of anyone should do.  (I don't need anyone to know how often I listen to Barbra Streisand, watch a cheers episode, or frankly this diet gives me a little more flatulence than normal.). 2) They also are in beta to determine who around me is closest to me (geographically :) at any moment.  Sorry, I don't think that is interesting to me.  I turned off the Apple Find Friends, cause I don't want to be found that often and frankly I don't need or want to have to turn that off.  If you are visiting near me and want to see me this is easy call, text, email or even a billboard well placed will suffice.  If you are near me and want to not see me, you are going to be s