In case you haven't seen this yet, someone tried to charge his cellphone on stage at a performance of “Hand to God” on Broadway. Details are unclear, but apparently a man in the audience jumped onto the stage to plug his cellphone into one of the electrical outlets on the set. The only problem was that the outlet was a prop in the scenery -- n …
A scene in a play that I saw last week really bothered me. In the scene, an elderly man was fired from his job in a garment district factory. Protesting his firing, the man told the young owner that he had worked for the owner’s father and uncle for 43 years. As the play moved on, I was distracted by my thoughts of loyalty. It took a few minute …
The first day of Summer. Thoughts of long weekends, vacations, beach and mountains. Whatever works for you to get away from the heat of the City, and other things. What to pack? Sandals, flip-flops, walking shoes, shorts, bathing suits, a few T-shirts, maybe a light sweater. Those choices are far less important than deciding on these: cellphone …
Flo's mom passed away last week. I liked Sue, and I think she liked me about as much as she liked anyone who wasn't directly related to her by blood. Sometimes it was hard to tell, because Sue suffered from Alzheimer's for most of the years that I knew her. Sue was a private person. Her family was IT -- the beginning and the end. If you were le …
Last Friday, as the Rangers faced the decisive game seven in their series with Tampa Bay, I read all the hype about the Rangers’ past successes in seventh games over the years -- they were unbeaten in the last seven decisive games. The hype upset me. Sports, as many things in life, are generally subject to the laws of averages. Over time, things ba …
The hostess at one of our favorite restaurants in the Berkshires led us to our “quiet” table in the back dining room. Only a few tables in the room that was usually reserved for private parties -- one table of six, a table of four, another two at one table, and us. I learned a long time ago to never talk about private matters in public and nev …
I recently received an email from an art gallery which, for some reason, keeps me on its email list. The email announced the birth of a second child to one of the gallery. The email was replete with pictures of the happy family and newborn baby. I was reminded of a friend who told me that he got his wife to go to baseball games by talking about …
I don't consider myself to be a fashion statement; although the other day an adversary told me that my tie reminded her of a Klimt painting as we digressed to a brief discussion of the movie Woman in Gold. Recently, with Flo’s encouragement and support, I have ventured into the frontier of expressive men’s socks. I have joined the ranks of many …
We've all been subjected to it. That stamp on the back of your hand that guarantees re-admission to an event. Once stamped, have you ever had the lingering question of what if the stamp fades? We were in Washington visiting Mea and went to a craft show. Paid our admission, entered and stamped. Later in the day, after leaving and re-entering once …
Last Sunday I attended the annual Holocaust Commemoration at Temple Emanu-El. As in recent years, for me the ceremony accentuates the fact that the number of survivors is decreasing every year. My Mother lights one of the thirty-six memorial candles and, unfortunately, there were not enough survivors to light them all. As I listened to the stories …
Cameras are ubiquitous and the pictures and videos taken by them are playing an ever-increasing part in our lives. I recently heard a legal analyst refer to videos as the new DNA of criminal prosecutions. Call me “old fashioned”, but I am not one who immediately thinks of taking out my cell phone and taking pictures, let alone a video. (Flo and I …
There was an eerie sense as I opened my eyes the other morning. Something wasn't right. As my eyes focused, I realized that none of the usual lights were on. No digital numbers on the clock radio, no telltale glows from the chargers plugged into the wall and no ambient light from the street. No power. I went to the window and confirmed the trou …
When it comes to social media, I am delayed. A few weeks ago, I would have said that I don't do social media. My change to “delayed” status reflects my recent experience with Kickstarter. I had heard of Kickstarter, but until our children, Alyssa and Jason, put their new project on Kickstarter, I had never visited the site...nor had much inclin …
As we settled into our seats at the theater, I opened the Playbill and read the insert asking that I shut off my cell phone. The request went beyond the usual reminder to “silence” the device. “PLEASE...turn off your cell phones...” the insert implored, followed by an explanation of how even silenced phones interfered with the theater’s sound syste …
So the question is whether the snow will melt before we are accustomed to the fact that it is now dark in the morning when we get up. I apologize to those who may live in parts where the snow was trucked out of sight long ago but some of us are left to endure the mounds of snow -- some natural and some the result of clearing and piling. (When will …
