Recently we bought a new mattress. The process was a complex one during which we were tested and we tested many mattress options. Price aside (inflation is real), it was a complicated trial and error process. Eventually we decided on a thick pillow top mattress with new (full) box springs. Then it happened, our new bed was delivered and assembl …
Herb always knew when we were away for the weekend or a vacation. If we forgot to tell him in advance, he would call as soon as he realized the car was gone.“Hey kids. You away again? When will you be back? And, do you want me to put in the papers?”“And, I love that bread you brought back last time.”Herb was the perfect neighbor.Living side by side …
There is always something special about getting a new car, be it leased or more so, in my opinion, when getting one that is purchased for the long haul. My wife’s 2017 Subaru Forester XT (turbo and very sporty for an SUV) was a special purchase for us when we traded in our last family minivan as we downsized a bit. Back then, we cross shopped many …
Recently, I was privy to the following dilemma. A local mom complained that she sends birthday cards gifts to her grown children, their spouses and her grandchildren every year but over the last number of years there has been no sign of any reciprocation. What should she do was the question of the moment? The universal opinion was to keep send …
Recently, I was privy to the following dilemma. A local mom complained that she sends birthday cards gifts to her grown children, their spouses and her grandchildren every year but over the last number of years there has been no sign of any reciprocation. What should she do was the question of the moment? The universal opinion was to keep send …
I recently was a witness as to how deeply embedded the paternal instinct truly is. I was in Costa Rica with my family at an animal reserve. Most of my family went off exploring while I volunteered to stay back in the shade with my nine-month-old granddaughter, Taylor. While alone in the shade, Taylor and I remained near an enclosure in which monk …
I concluded last week's commentary noting a need for $4,000 to activate a matching donation to support the special People4Peace research project. As I write this only $50 needs to come in to make the match happen. Friday's blogger worked very hard to induce support; I view last week's efforts commendable and thank the generosity of the donors to N …
I had an unusual teaching experience this past week. Instead of the entire class on the screen, the format was a Zoom webinar. So I taught for two hours seeing only myself without images of the students or even hearing their voices. What I did was open the chat window and encourage the students to ask questions, comment, and respond when I aske …
Have you ever been asked by a friend to make a donation to their cause? Do you dignify the request with a response? If you comply, what motivates you to do so? Also, what equation goes into the amount of the donation? Lastly, do you remember the amount? I'm not sure if there has been a scholarly study on this subject or that the answers to my above …
Shortly after meeting someone for the first time, the question is asked:“What do you do?”Invariably - at least in my experience- the question evokes a response about what someone does for a living, or, perhaps, did for a living.Is that changing?Do others, a different generation or otherwise, respond differently?How would it feel to answer the quest …
Running has been part of my personal narrative for decades. Years ago it was 30 minutes on the “dreadmill” enduring boredom to build strength and endurance. When I moved to NYC, running became a way to get outside in nature, challenging myself to run all year irrespective of the weather. Never boring - always a source of satisfaction. I now g …
I am ready – and if I’m lucky, maybe I will have a little time to read a book. I’m afraid I have to admit I don’t remember the last time I had enough free time to read a whole book. I love to read, but these days tend to read articles, short pieces, magazines, that sort of thing. I am itching now for a good book. And so, its survey time! W …
I may be a little late with this blog but I have been thinking about this topic for a while. On February 12, 2024, one day in advance of a possible major snowstorm, Mayor Adams announced that New York City schools would be virtual the next day. Clearly, he was reacting to the predictions of an oncoming snowstorm. The storm came and, according t …
Something unexpected intruded on “my” Friday. I expected to focus on getting the last few items submitted to access a federal grant toward the new building renovation project for SNAP senior center, monitoring that day’s hearing on what I call the congestion pricing tax, visiting TD Bank to deposit donations to Northeast Queens Jewish Community Cou …
It's nice to walk into a restaurant and have a rapport with the staff. La Parma on Roslyn Rd, is such a place. A solid southern Italian restaurant where Jerard, the owners son, works and Rollie is the operations guy. It's our go-to spot after the Sparks program, where the ambiance, the genuine connections, and the authentic southern Italian cu …
