It's been a cool, rainy day in New Jersey today.
This morning I had to go out fairly early and without breakfast. When it was time to go home, I felt like having a bagel or crumb bun for breakfast so I stopped at the local bakery. Even though it was still early in the day, there was practically nothing left. There was only one salt bagel and no crumb buns.
The owner said that she had to open at 6:30 AM today instead of 7:00 AM because there were people waiting outside in the rain and she felt sorry for them. We decided that because of the weather, everyone wanted some freshly baked buns and rolls.
When I was younger, my father would stop and buy rolls for Sunday morning breakfast. I can still remember dunking a buttered roll in the coffee. The contrast between the cold butter and the hot coffee was so good. It has become a comfort food and would have hit the spot on this cold, rainy day.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Tourists
Last week on my trip into NY for a lecture at the Met, while on the bus heading up Madison Ave, (I now know better than to walk from Port Authority to the Museum), I was eavesdropping on a conversation between four tourists also heading to the Museum.
They were busily pointing out all the exclusive shops and some of the other riders pointed out other sites of interest. They did not seem like your typical tourists (whatever that is), but I got the impression that it was the first trip for one of the couples. They mentioned a French restaurant on 60th St. that had no name or sign outside. They said the food was very good. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name and it will take some intensive detective work to find it. They said it was not expensive, but, cost is relative. They also spoke about attending someone's debutante ball.
It made the trip more enjoyable, and in spite of the New York traffic, the ride seemed quicker. I just love to eavesdrop, don't you?
They were busily pointing out all the exclusive shops and some of the other riders pointed out other sites of interest. They did not seem like your typical tourists (whatever that is), but I got the impression that it was the first trip for one of the couples. They mentioned a French restaurant on 60th St. that had no name or sign outside. They said the food was very good. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name and it will take some intensive detective work to find it. They said it was not expensive, but, cost is relative. They also spoke about attending someone's debutante ball.
It made the trip more enjoyable, and in spite of the New York traffic, the ride seemed quicker. I just love to eavesdrop, don't you?
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Thoughts on My Stolen Car
It has been five days since my car was stolen and it is sinking in, I may never have my car back. At first, I was accepting that this is part of life in this day and age. Now I'm getting angry. The only problem is that I don't know where that anger should be placed.
Why do people steal? Is it because they haven't been taught that it's wrong, or is it because they feel entitled to someone else's property? Or, do they just have total disregard for another person's property and feelings. If my car is not found, my insurance company will give me a small amount of money for the car. What the insurance company can't give me is the feeling of safety and security I had last Thursday morning. I have lost some self-confidence, I now double check to see if I have locked my rental car, I now double check my parking space. The biggest thing I have lost is the feeling of pleasure of going into the City. I now worry about leaving the car in a parking lot. Will I ever regain that feeling of security, I'm sure I will, but for now I can't look forward to any City trips in the near future.
About 30 years ago my husband's car was stolen. One of the hardest things I had to do that time was tell my two young sons that someone had taken our car. Until that time, in their eyes, everyone was good. About 10 years later, another car was stolen. Because this was during the '80's and the police has more pressing work, my son suggested that I check with the various impound lots in the City. I located the car in one of the lots and after completing much paperwork, we recovered the car.
I was reminded of this today when I answered my phone. It was the Police Officer from the Lakewood Police Department. He just wanted to keep my informed, no, they hadn't found my car, but they were still working on it. Being from New York, I found that kind of service very refreshing. He also told me that my Subaru is high on the list of stolen cars along with Hondas and Toyotas.
Why do people steal? Is it because they haven't been taught that it's wrong, or is it because they feel entitled to someone else's property? Or, do they just have total disregard for another person's property and feelings. If my car is not found, my insurance company will give me a small amount of money for the car. What the insurance company can't give me is the feeling of safety and security I had last Thursday morning. I have lost some self-confidence, I now double check to see if I have locked my rental car, I now double check my parking space. The biggest thing I have lost is the feeling of pleasure of going into the City. I now worry about leaving the car in a parking lot. Will I ever regain that feeling of security, I'm sure I will, but for now I can't look forward to any City trips in the near future.
About 30 years ago my husband's car was stolen. One of the hardest things I had to do that time was tell my two young sons that someone had taken our car. Until that time, in their eyes, everyone was good. About 10 years later, another car was stolen. Because this was during the '80's and the police has more pressing work, my son suggested that I check with the various impound lots in the City. I located the car in one of the lots and after completing much paperwork, we recovered the car.
I was reminded of this today when I answered my phone. It was the Police Officer from the Lakewood Police Department. He just wanted to keep my informed, no, they hadn't found my car, but they were still working on it. Being from New York, I found that kind of service very refreshing. He also told me that my Subaru is high on the list of stolen cars along with Hondas and Toyotas.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Families
I've just come back from a family wedding at the Jersey Shore. Because my husband was the youngest of seven children, I have nieces and nephews who are almost as old as I. They also now have children of marrying age.
This time it was my niece's son. It was a very interesting wedding. The couple did not want to do a traditional wedding. As a starter, the bride and her father came down the aisle to (I think) the theme of Masterpiece Theater. The bride's mother wore a plain black dress and the groom's mother had a rust colored dress. All the bride's attendants also wore dresses, not the frilly gowns of previous weddings. They did not have the traditional wedding cake, instead they served cupcakes. They didn't even have the traditional cutting of the cake, or in this case, cupcake. The dinner was a buffet.
It was great seeing all the family again. There are only three left of the original seven and only two of those were able to make it. The grandmother of the groom had been ill, but fortunately made it to the wedding, along with eight of her nine children. They are such a happy family. It was great catching up with everyone again. It's so rare that we all are able to get together that I had to be reintroduced to most of my nieces and nephews.
It's a shame that families only seem to be able to get together for weddings and funerals. Fortunately, this was a happy reunion. I think I'll plan a party for this summer and try to get everyone together again.
This time it was my niece's son. It was a very interesting wedding. The couple did not want to do a traditional wedding. As a starter, the bride and her father came down the aisle to (I think) the theme of Masterpiece Theater. The bride's mother wore a plain black dress and the groom's mother had a rust colored dress. All the bride's attendants also wore dresses, not the frilly gowns of previous weddings. They did not have the traditional wedding cake, instead they served cupcakes. They didn't even have the traditional cutting of the cake, or in this case, cupcake. The dinner was a buffet.
It was great seeing all the family again. There are only three left of the original seven and only two of those were able to make it. The grandmother of the groom had been ill, but fortunately made it to the wedding, along with eight of her nine children. They are such a happy family. It was great catching up with everyone again. It's so rare that we all are able to get together that I had to be reintroduced to most of my nieces and nephews.
It's a shame that families only seem to be able to get together for weddings and funerals. Fortunately, this was a happy reunion. I think I'll plan a party for this summer and try to get everyone together again.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Bus Adventures
Wednesday was my birthday and I celebrated (?) with a trip to Atlantic City.
I had a good time, even though I made my contribution to the economy of Atlantic City. My loss wasn't too bad because I played with some of the money I had won two weeks earlier.
It was not without its excitement though. While we were parked in our spot at the Hotel Casino and our driver was out of the bus, another bus that was being parked bumped our bus. Of course, all the old ladies on the buses immediately took down the name of the bus company, bus number and license plate.
When our driver returned, everyone told him about the "accident". Leave it to the old folks to make a big deal out of a slight bump.
Later on, when we were leaving, the same bus driver was trying to back out of the space. After three or four tries, she pulled into her slot and we passed. Of course, our driver wasn't taking any chances, he went through quickly at the same time blowing the horn to let her know we were there.
I had a good time, even though I made my contribution to the economy of Atlantic City. My loss wasn't too bad because I played with some of the money I had won two weeks earlier.
It was not without its excitement though. While we were parked in our spot at the Hotel Casino and our driver was out of the bus, another bus that was being parked bumped our bus. Of course, all the old ladies on the buses immediately took down the name of the bus company, bus number and license plate.
When our driver returned, everyone told him about the "accident". Leave it to the old folks to make a big deal out of a slight bump.
Later on, when we were leaving, the same bus driver was trying to back out of the space. After three or four tries, she pulled into her slot and we passed. Of course, our driver wasn't taking any chances, he went through quickly at the same time blowing the horn to let her know we were there.
He's Back!!!
Yesterday, while driving my car to the parking lot from which it was stolen, I did hear some good news.
WOR radio in New York has come to its senses and did what WABC radio chose not to do. WOR has rehired John Gambling for the morning show. I know he has been greatly missed on New York radio.
I had stopped listening to WOR when John Gambling left, and again stopped listening to WABC when he left that station. Now I can listen to the radio again. I can hardly wait until Monday.
WOR radio in New York has come to its senses and did what WABC radio chose not to do. WOR has rehired John Gambling for the morning show. I know he has been greatly missed on New York radio.
I had stopped listening to WOR when John Gambling left, and again stopped listening to WABC when he left that station. Now I can listen to the radio again. I can hardly wait until Monday.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
A Good Day Gone Bad
Today was a beautiful day. I didn't have to wait too long for my bus into the City for my visit to the Met and my lecture. It was an uneventful ride.
The lecture was very interesting, a discussion of music in time of war. After the lecture, I took a walk around the museum. I wanted to visit the American Wing, but the entrance on the main floor was closed, so I had to go upstairs, walk around and then come down. Once I was downstairs, there was no way out except to go back upstairs, around and then down to the main hall. I did enjoy my wanderings.
When I left, I stopped at a few street vendors and admired their pictures and chatted with them. One of them, a woman, had lovely pictures of wildlife in Central Park. She had lived all her life in NYC, first in Beach Haven, Queens and now in Manhattan. I'll have to add a trip to Central Park, armed with my camera, to my list of things I want to do.
The ride home was also uneventful. I was engrossed in my new book, KILLER HEAT by Linda Fairstein. It is very good and I'm almost finished. I was surprised when we got to the terminal. I can't wait until I finish it.
Then, I went to the parking lot to collect my car. I walked up one aisle, down another, then back to the first. It was nowhere to be seen. I called the police to report it. A police officer came and he also looked all over the lot. I assured him that there were no payments due on the car and no outstanding traffic tickets and that no one else had a key, since both keys were in my pocketbook. The next step was to go to the station to fill out the report. Then I discovered that all my friends' telephone numbers were all at home. I guess the officer felt sorry for my so he drove me home. I wonder how long it will take to get around the community that someone came home in a Police Car.
Now all I have to do is wait until someone finds my car, or a month goes by so my insurance will settle and I have to buy a new car. This could not have come at a worse time, I'm supposed to leave tomorrow for a wedding at the Jersey Shore. I planned on a nice relaxing three day weekend away. But first, I have to rent a car and ask a friend to drive me to the rental agency. It's never dull.
The lecture was very interesting, a discussion of music in time of war. After the lecture, I took a walk around the museum. I wanted to visit the American Wing, but the entrance on the main floor was closed, so I had to go upstairs, walk around and then come down. Once I was downstairs, there was no way out except to go back upstairs, around and then down to the main hall. I did enjoy my wanderings.
When I left, I stopped at a few street vendors and admired their pictures and chatted with them. One of them, a woman, had lovely pictures of wildlife in Central Park. She had lived all her life in NYC, first in Beach Haven, Queens and now in Manhattan. I'll have to add a trip to Central Park, armed with my camera, to my list of things I want to do.
The ride home was also uneventful. I was engrossed in my new book, KILLER HEAT by Linda Fairstein. It is very good and I'm almost finished. I was surprised when we got to the terminal. I can't wait until I finish it.
Then, I went to the parking lot to collect my car. I walked up one aisle, down another, then back to the first. It was nowhere to be seen. I called the police to report it. A police officer came and he also looked all over the lot. I assured him that there were no payments due on the car and no outstanding traffic tickets and that no one else had a key, since both keys were in my pocketbook. The next step was to go to the station to fill out the report. Then I discovered that all my friends' telephone numbers were all at home. I guess the officer felt sorry for my so he drove me home. I wonder how long it will take to get around the community that someone came home in a Police Car.
Now all I have to do is wait until someone finds my car, or a month goes by so my insurance will settle and I have to buy a new car. This could not have come at a worse time, I'm supposed to leave tomorrow for a wedding at the Jersey Shore. I planned on a nice relaxing three day weekend away. But first, I have to rent a car and ask a friend to drive me to the rental agency. It's never dull.
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