ABSILVER's World

Who Rescued Whom? I sit here in Fort Lauderdale on the beginning of a New Year 2015.  I am typically asleep by the time the ball drops, so this year would have been the same, except for a four legged family member who has changed my life and happens to get spooked by fireworks. 2015 doesn't start with a bang, as truthfully that bang was in July.  A Full moon celebration, where I asked the universe for a puppy, and my life changed.  Where a puppy didn't arrive for me, but for what turned into us, and as the beginning of a New Year beckons my life is changing. The lesson is clear, be careful what you ask the universe for and make sure to keep your doors, windows, mind and most importantly your heart open for what life can bring.  Remember, with your eyes open as you look to help others, rescue a dog, the person getting the love and final rescue may just be you. Here is wishing all of you a happy, healthy and love filled New Year!

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

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

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? 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

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

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