Today (Tuesday) I'm at the MAD group having lunch. Fred and Norm are there, chaired by David Mack and Susan Zinder, its my home group. I consider it an oasis. We had some great visitors, some brand new members, and the regular gang. We followed the usual format, everyone spoke a bit about themselves, what they do, and who they would like to be connected with. Then a little problem solving for those with questions, thoughts, ideas.  

  How do I know? It’s not because the weather is warm and the flowers are starting to bloom. It’s not because the smell of grass has taken over from the smell of snow. Yes, snow does have a smell. It’s surely not because our percentage of meals on the grill has escalated.  

  Somehow, I connected Fred’s blog last week with voyeurism. He had written about the history of special prosecutors and my comment was, “To be a fly on the wall in the special prosecutor's office. . .”  

Just over was three years ago, Gotham lost one of its good guys – Jack Friedman who had passed away earlier today just days short of his 56th birthday. Fittingly because Jack enjoyed live music – we attended several shows together, I drafted a post to Fredslist and the Gotham website wall about his passing and the funeral and Shiva arrangements while attending a jam in Hicksville where I had arranged for my brother Rob in from Portland to play. His funeral like this blog took place on a Sunday.

I, and other members of the book club I belong to, had a special treat last night. A delicious dinner at the Friars with the author of the book we read.   Marty Appel, author of 20 books, PR Director for the Yankees among other very notable achievements, was there to talk about his experiences with the Yankees and most importantly about his latest book, Casey Stengel. Wearing a World Series ring, he recounted many inside stories that we all loved to hear.  

President Clinton authorized the appointment of a special prosecutor in early 1994 concerning the Whitewater matter and in August 1994, the original special prosecutor was replaced by Kenneth Starr.

Last Sunday, we attended New York’s Annual Gathering of Remembrance, in observance of Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day. One of the speakers was a Holocaust survivor who, like my mother, speaks to school children about her life.

The Ouija board "told" me 50 years ago that I would die at the ripe age of 63. I've still got a few months until I'm 64, not going anywhere yet... Asma Jahangir died in February at the young age of 66. She is another powerful woman that I only heard of in death.