Growing up, my parents spoke Yiddish to one another when they did not want my brother, sister, or I to know what they were discussing. My parents didn’t know, however, that I slowly began to understand Yiddish and, ultimately, could understand what they were saying to one another. I would, secretly, then tell my brother and sister what was being …
I look forward to May and June every year. Not only because those months signal the beginning of summer but there is always so many wonderful events going on during those months; graduations, weddings, bridal showers etc. For us, this May brings us two happy events, my youngest daughter, Sydney’s, college graduation and oldest, Danielle’s, graduati …
Recently I sat in the middle seat on a cross county flight, between my husband who had the aisle seat and a stranger who had the widow seat. Several times during the flight the channel on the television I was watching unexpectedly changed. After the second time, I realized the channel changed because the stranger next to me had put his arm on the a …
I am unsure whether what I am about to write is currently politically correct but I was very saddened to read about the closing of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. I have very vivid happy memories of going to the circus with my parents and then with my own children. As a child I loved the clowns. But one of my most enduring memories …
I happened to turn onto a rerun of “Cheers” the other evening. It caused me to think about whether I have a place where “everybody knows your name.” And I realized that my husband and I do. We have a favorite small restaurant that we often go to where they know us by name, have excellent and bountiful Italian food, and will often make sure they h …
On Friday morning I started, what will be, a long custody trial. As most lawyers will tell you, trial work can be emotionally and physically exhausting as well as mentally challenging. You really have to be “on” 100% of the time throughout the entire proceeding. Custody trials, by their nature, can be emotionally draining not only on the litigants …
I always thought of myself as a good patient. I rarely, if ever, take a sick day from work. In fact, I do not recall the last time I did. I push myself to get whatever I need to get finished, no matter how I feel. Sunday, I woke up with an apparent stomach virus. I stayed in my room most of the day in my pajamas, alternating between complaining, …
Tonight is the first Passover Seder. My husband and I, every year, host both seders for our families. This year we are hosting fifteen people the first night and twenty-seven the second night. Given our experience with cooking for Passover, we definitely have our routines down. Essentially, our routine is to save all of our cooking for the weeken …
Professionally, I had a difficult week last week; juggling several court appearances, late nights at the office, and a few emotionally charged cases. To say that I was pre-occupied with work last week would be an understatement. On Saturday morning I ran a few errands in a local shopping center. When I had finished my errands I walked in the TJ …
Another Gotham member and I had a long discussion this week about a former colleague. Several years ago, our former colleague had made a series of bad and, arguably, exceedingly unethical business decisions. As a result, she lost her job and paid a civil fine. To my knowledge, that was the extent of her “punishment.” I remember, at the time, being …
On Friday, I had the occasion to take the Long Island Rail Road into Manhattan for a court appearance. Sometimes, while on the train, I enjoy just sitting in my seat, looking out the windows, and just watching the world go by. You never know what you might see. On Friday, the view was particularly beautiful. The ice-which had been so difficult t …
Fred’s blog from a few weeks ago persuaded me to reread a favorite book of mine, “Stranger in a Strange Land.” I believe I first read it in college and the themes have stuck with me all these years. In rereading it this week I was struck by how relevant the themes still are today, fifty-five years after it was written. Grok me? Similarly, right …
In reading People Magazine this week, I was amused to read about an unusual food combination enjoyed by a celebrity. He loves to mix peanut butter into his scrambled eggs. My first reaction was, ”yuck.” But then I recalled an unusual food combination I enjoyed while in high school and decided I shouldn’t judge another’s food mash-up. Senior yea …
The first placed I lived on my own was Brooklyn Heights. Since the law firm where I was working was also in the Heights many of us who worked together also lived close to one another. When those of us who lived in the Heights wanted a special place to go to dinner our “go-to” restaurant was Henry’s End. It was a small cozy restaurant with a won …
In the spirit of the open discussion that Mitch began last week, I share the following thoughts. Most people who know me know that I enjoy pop culture as a diversion from the day to day. I read People magazine weekly, I watch the Real Housewives while on the treadmill, and thanks to a certain Gothamite who shall remain nameless I read a certain …
It's Monday, Monday. Let me know what you think about. . .
