An Old(er), Poor, Gay Man

SMARTER? FEARFUL? TRUSTING? STUPID? ALL THE ABOVE?

2012-01-26T20:16:00.000-05:00

PHOTOGRAPHED IN APARTMENT JANUARY 2012

Though it is not usually my frame of mind I am very down on myself for something I did yesterday. I am mad at myself for going against my instincts and yet, at the same time, I am questioning what I did because it involved trusting another person. I have always trusted people, including strangers, until they showed they weren't trustworthy. I know it is not a smart thing to do but over my 76 years I have had more positive results doing that than negative and I have very seldom regretted trusting another human being.

I am not going to go into the details--they aren't important--but I find myself questioning myself as to my decision(s). Lately I have been asking myself am I getting smarter or more fearful as I get older. Most of my life I have been impulsive/compulsive never thinking twice before I did something, jumping in with both feet and going for it. Now I don't. I find myself looking at deciding to do something from all angles, whether it is 'right' or 'wrong', worth the risk or not, would I be willing to pay the consequences and what can the consequences can be. I have never been afraid to go somewhere and/or do something by myself or experiment with something new. A, maybe, far out example, would be parachuting out of a plane, something I have never done and 20 years ago would never have thought twice about doing it while today a 'fear' might enter the picture. I am not talking about a fear of failure, though I certainly wouldn't want to fail jumping out of a plane but a fear of what could happen.

Now this I know a lot of you will laugh at but ever since I saw "War Horse" I have wanted to ride a horse. Folks I was raised in New York City, the Bronx, so what did I know about horses as a kid?? Okay, back in the Ice Age, no pun intended, when I was a kid the ice man would come around delivering ice with his horse and wagon or I might see some horses in the movies but I never had a reason and/or a need to ride, let alone be near, a horse. Though at a point I got involved with 'the rich set' it wasn't 'the polo horse set'. Now as a grown (old) man I ask myself whether I dare try to ride a horse as a fall or accident could bring severe consequences. Yet as I think of that and have these ugly pictures in my head and laugh at myself for being so childish--or am I? Am I being smart? Fearful? Dumb? I don't know.

Getting back to the trust issue--I hate to be questioning whether I should trust people or not because I truly believe that there is good in everyone, (look at the circumstances Anne Frank was under when she came to that conclusion) especially if they are treated right, with respect, offers of help and friendship. I did all that and it came back in my face with deceit, disrespect and certainly not right. Materially, lack of any other word, the loss can be replaced but the questioning it put it in my mind has upset me, made me feel 'down', stopped me from interacting with other people today and that is a 'power' I don't want to give to anyone.

I refuse to see myself as stupid for trusting other people but I do see myself as stupid for not going with my instincts which have always been good. The bottom line? Whatever/however I feel tomorrow I know I will spend all this evening getting back to being the positive, happy, caring, loving human being I am.

Mmmmm--now if someone would get me some horse riding instructions for my birthday--will have to put that on the list--I just might do it!!!

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"What was once thought

can never be unthought."

Friedrich Durrenmatt 1921--1990 Swiss Writer

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February 29th is special...

It's the reason that a season comes at the same time every year.

If you're born on Leap Day... Welcome Home!

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CELEBRATING LEAP YEAR BIRTHDAYS--PART 4

2012-01-25T20:53:00.001-05:00

It was 1988 and I was celebrating my thirteenth Leap Year birthday. I was thinking of having a bar mitzvah but I wasn't ready to go through the Hebrew lessons again so instead I had a party at The Golden Spike restaurant which had a fantastic buffet including a really tasty carrot cake--and is no longer in business.

I have a whole album of pictures from that evening. In addition I do have my diary notes and a copy of my master charge credit card receipt and The Golden Spike receipt for 25 people @ $15.50 per person-- remember this was 24 years ago!--plus 5 carafes of wine--and a $100 tip so with tax the check came to $500.25! (Amazing the stuff I have in my diaries LOL)

I, also have a list of the people who came, and looking over the list, I am sad at how many have died since then, the few that have 'disappeared', four whose names/pictures I don't recognize while a couple have moved away.

Four years later for my 14th Leap Year birthday I decided to try something different. I held an open house from 1 PM to 9 PM in my two bedroom apartment just off Sunrise Boulevard.

Of course you know there would be a few cakes but I also served 'only junk food' like pizza, popcorn, candy, cookies, chips, soda, etc. but no booze--hey, it's a teenagers party!!! (By the way, do you notice the round table? It is the same one I have today!)

A huge surprise that day was Mark Covington flew in from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and stayed for 3 days. We even got to have lunch with, and he met, Richard Stahl. Sadly, Mark would 'disappear' in a couple of years--for some reason I feel he died .

James made me a "A Chorus Line top hat--that a few years later my birds shredded! I did send/give out about 100 invitations and I have the list but I couldn't tell you who came and went over the 8 hours and by then I haven't had a drink in 11 years so I won't use that as an excuse!

As always looking over the list--a reoccurring theme as you get old-- I am sad at seeing who have died and/or 'disappeared', meaning I have no idea what has happened to the latter, over the period of 20 years it wasn't as bad as previously.

I now had 4 years until my 15th birthday and 8 years until I was 'sweet sixteen'-- had/have to think ahead!

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Just 34 days to our next birthday!

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DO IT NOW BEFORE YOU HAVE REGRETS

2012-01-24T20:28:00.001-05:00

PHOTOGRAPHED JANUARY 5, 2012

Sue worked as an accountant at the 1 Fifth Avenue restaurant in Greenwich Village right off the Park. We had been friends even since she walked into in Weight Watchers class on East 72nd street. From the first day she talked about waiting for retirement so she could get her Social Security and using the money she saved open a small antique shop on Third Avenue. The day she got her first check she called me--I was living in Memphis by then--and told me she had found just the right place and had signed the papers to lease the shop. The next day she started to move the antiques she had been accumulating from trips to estate sales and going antiquating in the New England States. Four days later her daughter called me and told me Sue had died.

Here, at Gateway, where I live, there are 260 people over 62 years of age, mostly in their late 70s to early 80s and most have regrets of not doing what they wanted to do and now can't do it either to lack of money or health.

Just a few examples--not using real names--there is Mona. She and her husband Bill had dreamed for years that when the kids grew up and left home they would buy a motor home and travel all over the United States making a point to visiting all the National Park. By the time Bill was 60 he had 4 heart by-passes, 2 strokes and early signs of Alzheimer's. His illness ate most of their money and now Mona, instead of seeing National Parks is watching her husband 'fade' away.

If I wanted to I could spend hours listening to people who had dreams, goals, desires but never reached them: Norman who wanted to sky dive, Lisa who wanted to go on cruises, John and Linda who wanted to open an animal shelter, Billy who was going to write the 'Great American Novel' but never had/made the time.

I am a guy who has very few regrets in life and whether it was on impulse or compulsive I did things without thinking of the consequences, without ever thinking, "I Shouldn't", "I can't afford it" and 'saving for a rainy day' never entered my mind. In the 1970s when I was in my 30s and was making money hand over fist I didn't think of 'investing' money in condos on Miami Beach that I could get dirt cheap or playing the stock market investing in the future and, instead, I spent what I was making. I would take off July 15 to August 15 on vacation going to South America or Tahiti or Australia, New Zealand, Vancouver, Hawaii or buying a new white Caddy convertible and spend a month travelling all over the southwest one summer, the southeast the next and the following the northwest and, finally, the northeast.

In 1976 I became enamoured of the Broadway musical "A Chorus Line" and became a 'groupie' of the show going to New York for long weekends and seeing 3-4 performances of it and then when it went on tour I would go Atlanta, Dallas, St. Louis, Miami, etc., spending Thursday to Sunday in first rate hotels in between seeing the show and eating in first class restaurants.

I paid for doing what I wanted by having to declare bankruptcy twice which in turn made my car insurance so high I couldn't afford a car and today don't have one and have to depend on others for transportation. I didn't put money aside for my 'old age' and rely on others for my some of my basics in life such as food and shelter but in my 30s I didn't think of how I would be living in my 70s and, let me tell you, I don't regret it for one minute. I don't live with "I could have", "I should have", "I would have". I don't sit on The Point thinking of what I could have done but, instead, thinking of what I have done, the places I've seen, the people I have met, the great life I have lived.

Day after day I read blogs of people who 'one day' want to do this or that always giving excuses as to why they can't/won't do it now and I really want to shout "DO IT!" because in the future you may not have the health, all your faculties, the energy--be selfish and don't worry about the future as it will take care of itself and forget the 'kid's inheritance' and spend it on yourself because, trust me, I see it all the time, your kids won't be there for you as they will be too busy leading their lives!

I expect many of you to say "Yes, but----,"--go ahead and don't see your dreams come true, live your old age with regrets and see where all your sacrifices get you!

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"Every revolution

was once a thought

in one man's mind."

Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882 American Essayist, Poet, Philosopher

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February 29th is special...

It's the reason that a season comes at the same time every year.

If you're born on Leap Day... Welcome Home!

Just 35 days to our next birthday!

CELEBRATING LEAP YEAR BIRTHDAYS--PART 3

2012-01-23T20:40:00.000-05:00

WHITE BIRD OF PARADISE

There is something about waiting 3, what seems very long, years to celebrate a birthday but I have always done that and looked forward to my Leap Year celebration. Sometimes the party was elaborate, like the one I spoke of in the last blog, while other times they were modest and most depended on my financial condition.

(The Sandpiper is now closed.)

I had moved back to Florida in 1979 and within a short time met Michael and Gino. I lived around the corner from a restaurant and bar called the Sandpiper which had a unique bar--it was U-shaped and the complete top, all the way around, was an aquarium! The more you drank the more fish there seemed to be swimming under your glass. It was on Davie Boulevard just west of 1-95 where the latter has now expanded to cover that land.

On Feb. 29, 1980, my 11th (44th) birthday--I invited about a dozen people I had met, since I moved down, to dinner and an open bar at The Sandpiper. Strangely enough I can't find any pictures from that evening though I know I have some. A blast was had by all, plus a few picked up between the restaurant part and going to the bar, for 7 hours--dinner, drinks and lots of fun. Wally who was in the chorus of the original "Oklahoma" on Broadway and Michael who was a professional ice skater who toured with the Sonia Henjie show entertained at the piano bar while Carmine sang the whole score from "a Chorus Line' for me.

One thing I must add is that though I have a birthday only once every 4 years when it does come around I celebrate for a week! As an example in 1984 I had friends like Buddy, more about him in a minute, come in from New York City and John Connolly from St. Louis and I showed them the town.

(At Bobby Rubino's which is now closed)

On Feb. 28, 1984--as part of my 12th (48th) birthday--my friend Michael threw a surprise party for me which I planned--I gave him the list of people to invite (Tacky? Who cared!)--on his pool barbecue patio in a beautiful home, while on the actual Leap Year Day I took all the people I worked with at Wag's, my visitors and a couple of other guests to Bobby Rubino's for a baby back rib dinner. After the dinner Albyn, my oldest friend and mentor, who lost his lover of over 50 years, John, Buddy and I hit 7 bars, at different locations all over town, of which only one remains in business today--and by this time I had not been drinking for 3 years.

Notes from my diary regarding Michael's party---"Plenty of food--too much--as expected some people who said they were coming didn't (people were rude back in 1984, too LOL)--Bill did come---Bob took a load of pictures--Bill gave me a 'La Cage" poster, from our New York trip, that he had framed and that I still have, though a bit faded--had a lot of flower arrangements and Michael had decorated his patio with balloons that fell into the pool almost as soon as the party started--there were 4 different cakes, lots of sweets and booze!"

(That's Bill in the second picture down, Michael in the middle in the top picture on the right and Buddy on the right in the lower picture .)

(Can never have too much cake!)

(Top picture from left to right: Emir, Michael, Bill middle pictures from left to right Robert, Buddy, Ray, Michael and the bottom picture ?, me and Buddy.)

I had met Buddy the year before through Bob Kingsbury when we were in New York. Buddy was there as part of the celebration of "A Chorus Line" becoming the longest running show on Broadway as he had played Zach, the director, in a few productions. Buddy gave Bob and me his house seats for the performance and it is the most exciting time I have ever spent in the theatre! Michael Bennett had completely resatged the show with companies from all over the world plus the original company.

Before John returned to St. Louis and Buddy flew off to St. Thomas we went to dinner at La Vielle Maison, which has closed, in Boca Raton--those were the days when I still had money! LOL

As I am typing and posting these series I am being flooded with a lot of memories of joy but also of sadness. Buddy, John and Michael died of AIDS while Ray, Kingsbury and Vinnie died from heart attacks. Emir 'disappeared' and I haven't seen any of the Wag's crowd for many years but unlike many people I do have memories in 'my old age of 19'.

(Bill, Chuck, Tommy and I went to the first Saturday matinee of the original production in 1983 and the revival will be here in June.)

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It's the reason that a season comes at the same time every year.

If you're born on Leap Day... Welcome Home!

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THOSE BORN ON FEBRUARY 29

2012-01-22T19:50:00.000-05:00

Born on February 29th

Name	Occupation	Birth	Death	Known for
Joss Ackland	Actor	29-Feb-1928		White Mischief
Karl Ernst von Baer	Biologist	29-Feb-1792	28-Nov-1876	De Ovi Mammalium
Morarji Desai	Head of State	29-Feb-1896	10-Apr-1995	Prime Minister of India, 1977-79
Jimmy Dorsey	Musician	29-Feb-1904	12-Jun-1957	Popular bandleader and swing musician
Dennis Farina	Actor	29-Feb-1944		Ray Barboni in Get Shorty
Ken Foree	Actor	29-Feb-1948		Dawn of the Dead
Arthur Franz	Actor	29-Feb-1920	17-Jun-2006	The Sniper
Herman Hollerith	Inventor	29-Feb-1860	17-Nov-1929	Invented the punchcard
Ann Lee	Religion	29-Feb-1736	8-Sep-1784	Mother Ann, Founder of the Shakers
Pepper Martin	Baseball	29-Feb-1904	5-Mar-1965	St. Louis Cardinals
James Mitchell	Actor	29-Feb-1920	22-Jan-2010	All My Children
Michèle Morgan	Actor	29-Feb-1920		La Symphonie pastorale
Pope Paul III	Religion	29-Feb-1468	10-Nov-1549	Roman Catholic Pope, 1534-49
Costa M. Pleicones	Judge	29-Feb-1944		Justice, South Carolina Supreme Court
Richard Ramirez	Criminal	29-Feb-1960		Serial killer, on death row in California
Henri Richard	Hockey	29-Feb-1936		Montreal Canadiens, Hall of Famer
Tony Robbins	Author	29-Feb-1960		Toothy motivational speaker
Alex Rocco	Actor	29-Feb-1936		Moe Greene in The Godfather
Gioacchino Rossini	Composer	29-Feb-1792	13-Nov-1868	William Tell Overture
Ja Rule	Rapper	29-Feb-1976		Holla Holla
Antonio Sabato, Jr.	Actor	29-Feb-1972		Mindstorm
Leonard Shoen	Business	29-Feb-1916	4-Oct-1999	Founder of U-Haul
Dinah Shore	Singer	29-Feb-1916	24-Feb-1994	See the U-S-A in a Chev-ro-let
Bart Stupak	Politician	29-Feb-1952		Congressman from Michigan, 1993-2011
Eugene Volokh	Blogger	29-Feb-1968		Volokh Conspiracy
William A. Wellman	Film Director	29-Feb-1896	9-Dec-1975	The High and the Mighty
Saul Williams	Rapper	29-Feb-1972		Slam
Aileen Wuornos	Criminal	29-Feb-1956	9-Oct-2002	Notorious serial killer

And, of course, yours truly---waiter, writer, lover, blogger , friend , ex-smoker, ex-alcoholic, retiree, reviewer of theatre, movies, restaurants, animal lover and just getting started!!!

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February 29th is special...

It's the reason that a season comes at the same time every year.

If you're born on Leap Day... Welcome Home

Just 37 days to our next birthday!

FEB 29 THROUGH THE YEARS

2012-01-21T20:50:00.001-05:00

February 29, 1288 It becomes legal in Scotland for a woman to propose marriage to a man.
February 29, 1504 Christopher Columbus uses a lunar eclipse to frighten hostile Jamaican natives into providing his crew with food. (And I went to Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx 444 years later!)
February 29, 1504 Columbus uses a lunar eclipse to frighten hostile Jamaican Indians
February 29, 1528 "Patrick Hamilton, student of Parid, Louvain, St Andrews, Marburg, Abbot of Fearn, burned at St Andrew for heresy, the first Reformation martyr in Scotland"
February 29, 1692 "Sarah Good & Tituba, an Indian servant, accused of witchcraft, Salem"
February 29, 1696 English ex-premier Earl Danby accused of corruption (Some things stay the same!)
February 29, 1704 "Queen Anne's War: French forces and Native Americans attack and destroy Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 100 men, women, and children."
February 29, 1712 "February 29 is followed by February 30 in Sweden, in a move to abolish the Swedish calendar for a return to the Old style."
February 29, 1720 "Queen Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden abdicates in favour of her husband, who becomes King Frederick I."
February 29, 1784 Marquis de Sade transferred from Vincennes fortress to the Bastille
February 29, 1796 "Jay's Treaty proclaimed, settles some differences with England"
February 29, 1816 Dutch (King) Willem II marries Russian grand-duchess Anna Paulowna
February 29, 1848 Neufchatel declares independence of Switzerland
February 29, 1856 Hostilities in Russo-Turkish War cease
February 29, 1864 "American Civil War: Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid fails - Plans to free 15,000 Union soldiers being held near Richmond, Virginia are thwarted."
February 29, 1880 Gotthard railway tunnel between Switzerland & Italy opens
February 29, 1892 Britain & US sign treaty on seal hunting in Bering Sea
February 29, 1892 "St. Petersburg, Florida incorporated."
February 29, 1904 "Theodore Roosevelt, appoints 7 man committee to study Panama Canal"
February 29, 1908 Dutch scientists produce solid helium
February 29, 1916 "Child labor: In South Carolina, the minimum working age for factory, mill, and mine workers is raised from twelve to fourteen years old." (And 96 years later Newt wants kids to work for nothing.)
February 29, 1932 Failed coup attempt by fascist Lapua Movement in Finland
February 29, 1932 "TIME magazine features eccentric American politician William ""Alfalfa"" Murray on its cover after Murray stated his intention to run for President of the United States."
February 29, 1936 "Baby Snooks, played by Fanny Brice, debuts on the radio program The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air." (And 28 years later I go see Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl".)
February 29, 1936 FDR signs 2nd neutrality act
February 29, 1940 """Gone with the Wind,"" wins 8 Oscars"
February 29, 1940 Finland initiates Winter War peace negotiations
February 29, 1940 "For her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind, Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award."
February 29, 1940 "In a ceremony held in Berkeley, California, due to the war, physicist Ernest Lawrence receives his 1939 Nobel Prize in Physics from the Sweden's Consul General in San Francisco."
February 29, 1944 5 leaders of Indonesia Communist Party sentenced to death
February 29, 1944 "US troop land on Los Negros, Admirality Islands"
February 29, 1944 World War II: The Admiralty Islands are invaded in the American General Douglas MacArthur-led Operation Brewer.
February 29, 1948 "Stern-group bomb Cairo-Haifa train, 27 British soldiers died"
February 29, 1952 Dick Button wins his 5th consecutive world figure skating title
February 29, 1952 The island of Heligoland is restored to German authority.
February 29, 1956 Islamic Republic established in Pakistan
February 29, 1956 President Eisenhower announces he would seek a 2nd term (And Obama does same 56 years later????)
February 29, 1960 "An earthquake in Morocco kills over 3,000 people and nearly destroys Agadir in the southern part of the country."
February 29, 1960 "Earthquake kills 1/3 of Agadir Morocco population (12,000) in 15 seconds"
February 29, 1960 Hugh Hefner opens the first Playboy Club in Chicago.
February 29, 1960 "JFK makes ""missile gap"" the Presidential campaign issue"
February 29, 1964 "Frank Rugani sets badminton shuttlecock distance record, 24.3 meters"
February 29, 1964 "In Sydney, Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser sets a new world record in the 100-meter freestyle swimming competition (58.9 seconds)." (And 8 years later I go to Sidney!)
February 29, 1964 LBJ reveals US secretly developed the A-11 jet fighter
February 29, 1964 North Carolina high school basketball teams play to 56-54 score in 13 overtime
February 29, 1968 "Beatles' ""Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"" wins Grammy" (43 years later I see "Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles")
February 29, 1968 Dr. Jocelyn Bell Burnell announces the discovery of the first pulsar (a star that emits regular radio waves).
February 29, 1968 US end regular flights with nuclear bombs
February 29, 1972 "Hank Aaron becomes first baseball player to sign for $200,000 a year" (And 1972 is one of the best years in my life financially!)
February 29, 1972 "Jack Anderson discloses Dita Beard (ITT) memo indicating antitrust charges were dropped for $400,000 contribution to Republican Party" (Some things never change!)
February 29, 1972 "Vietnam War: Vietnamization - South Korea withdraws 11,000 of its 48,000 troops from Vietnam."
February 29, 1980 Gordie Howe becomes first NHL player to score 800 career goals
February 29, 1980 "Michael Bracey ends 59 hours 55 minutes trapped in an elevator, England"
February 29, 1980 "Yigal Allon, former Israeli foreign minister and supporter of Israeli independence, dies at age 61."
February 29, 1984 Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announces he is leaving office after serving over 15 years.
February 29, 1988 Mark Greatbatch scores 107 vs England on Test Cricket debut
February 29, 1988 Nazi document implicates Waldheim in WWII deportations
February 29, 1988 "NYC Mayor Koch calls Reagan a ""WIMP"" in the war on drugs"
February 29, 1988 South African archbishop Desmond Tutu is arrested along with 100 clergymen during a five-day anti-apartheid demonstration in Cape Town
February 29, 1992 Dawn Coe wins LPGA Women's Kemper Golf Open
February 29, 1992 The Professional Spring Football League begins
February 29, 1996 "A Peruvian Boeing 737 crashes in the Andes, killing all 123 people aboard."
February 29, 1996 "Daniel Green is convicted of murdering the father of basketball star Michael Jordan during a 1993 holdup, and is sentenced to life in prison."
February 29, 1996 Kenya defeat West Indies (all out 93) in Cricket World Cup
February 29, 1996 Novelist Joan Collins awarded US $1 million from Random House for breach of contract. (And she didn't give me any of it for my 15 Leap Year Birthday!)
February 29, 1996 "Soyuz TM-23, lands"
February 29, 2000 "Six year old Dedrick Owens shoots and kills Kayla Rolland, also six years old, at Theo J. Buell Elementary School in Mount Morris Township, Michigan. Rolland is currently the youngest victim of a school shooting


2000 Feb 29	Destiny's Child Release "Say My Name" Single in the US "Say My Name" is a song by American R&B group Destiny's Child. The song was the third single from the group's 1999 album The Writing's on the Wall, released through Columbia label in 2000...
2000 Feb 29	The Smashing Pumpkins release MACHINA/The Machines of God MACHINA/The Machines of God is The Smashing Pumpkins' fifth studio album, released on February 29, 2000. A concept album, it marked the return of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and was intended...
2004 Feb 29	76th Academy Awards The 76th Academy Awards ceremony honored the best films of 2003 and was broadcast from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California on ABC beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST/8:30 p.m. EST, February...(And I wasn't invited!!!)
2004 Feb 29	Jean-Bertrand Aristide is Ousted from Power in Coup d'État The 2004 Haiti rebellion was a coup d'etat that happened after conflicts that occurred for several weeks in Haiti during February 2004. It resulted in the premature end of President Jean-...
2008 Feb 29	Boston Celtics defeat Charlotte Bobcats, 108-100 While several players talked openly about the likely addition of veteran point guard Sam Cassell, Celtics coach Doc Rivers had a more immediate issue on his mind. "I'm not worried abou...
2008 Feb 29	FDA Approves Wyeth's Pristiq Desvenlafaxine is an antidepressant (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor type-SNRI) used in the treatment of depression. It works by restoring the balance of natural substances

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"JERSEY BOYS"--TOURING COMPANY

2012-01-19T19:07:00.000-05:00

For the second time within 10 months the touring company of "Jersey Boys" is in South Florida, playing to full houses, entertaining the baby boomers and their kids, only this time instead of 6 days like in Miami they are "Working Their Way Back To You" for 19 days of performances in Fort Lauderdale.

We follow the Four Seasons with each member of the group, taking all the credit, telling you how they were responsible for their huge success of the act and, by combining, all the stories the audience gets a look behind the scenes of four guys from Jersey, their beginning and end.

Halfway through the second act Frankie Valli (Joseph Leo Bwarie), steps center stage in the spotlight, starts to sing "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and by the time he finishes the last note stage life has merged with real life and each and every member of the audience sitting in the Broward Performing Arts Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has become a lifetime fan of the man. A short time later, at the finale, when he is joined by Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda), Tommie DeVito (John Gardiner) and Bob Gaudio (Preston Truman Boyd)), to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and sing, "Who Loves You?" the audience stands up and lets go with the applause, shaking, swaying and cheers they have wanted to let out all night.

The story is of a group of guys (or in the case of the Supremes and other female groups) from the 50s and 60s who come from the neighborhood, have 'overnight' success after paying their dues and then fall apart going their own way and one steps out into the spotlight having fame as a soloist. Tommy is the one who gets the group together, gambles, shorts the IRS, gets himself, and the rest of the group involved with the mob and though they never discuss it he breaks one of the three New Jersey 'rules', by hitting on Frankie's girlfriend. By the way the other two rules are; never lie to your mother and never tell your wife the truth.

Next, Gaudio who already had a hit, "(Who Wears) Short Shorts" takes over the narrative. He would write most of the Four Seasons hits like, "Sherry", "Big Girls Don't cry" and "Walk Like A Man" that propel the group to the top of the heap. The writing and playing of the music always comes first for Bob so that when Tommy is confronted with not paying one of their hotel bills and they wind up in jail over a weekend only to be approached by a loan shark, who wants the $150, 000 Tommy owes him, it's the beginning of the end.

Nick, the fourth Season, takes over the story bringing up that Tommy was always jealous of Valli's success and they were all tired of the constant touring and no home life which resulted in Frankie's getting a divorce. Nick saw himself as an after thought and was an alcoholic. When Tommy is 'forced' to leave the group it isn't long before Nick says he has enough and wants to go home. It is at this point that Valli takes over the story, the stage and the audience.

The cast members, except those playing the Four Seasons, all have multiple roles and fill them quite capably. Bob Crewe, the producer and who wrote songs with Bob Gaudio, is played by Jonathan Hadley, comes on strong with a gay persona which disappears as the show continues and another player of note is Joseph Siravo as a mob boss. Preston Truman Boyd is not quite believable as a boy from New Jersey but, as Bob Gaudio, comes off as the best actor of the Four Seasons, while John Gardiner, as Tommy, goes a little heavy with the Jersey accent now and then. Michael Lomenda stays in the background as Nick did with the group and Joseph Leo Bwarie, though not quite having the falsetto the real Frankie Valli has, comes through when/as needed. He seems to be a little more dour than he was 10 months ago. The four actor/singers come through as the Four Seasons singing group.

The choreography by Sergio Trujillo captures the moves of the original group while the director Des McAnuff guides the cast with a strong hand through the paces of the book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice while the conductor, John Samorian, gives them strong backing.

A note about the audience: I don't recall seeing so many audience members mouthing--silently in most cases--song lyrics as I did at this performance!

First act: 1 hour and 10 minutes Intermision: 22 minutes Second act: 1 hour Total: 2 hours and 32 minutes, about 12 minutes longer than last year's performance.

Strobe lights, gunfire, cigarette smoke, strong language

Balance of the Broward Performing Arts Center 2011-2012 schedule: Billy Elliot February 29-March 11, Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific April 10-22 and La Cage Aux Folles June 12-24

ALCOHOLIC, SMOKER, BLOGGER, BEING PASSIVE/AGGRESIVE

2012-01-17T20:38:00.000-05:00

January 5, 2012

Allen came back on Sunday so I no longer have a car and am once again a prisoner at/of Gateway but I would rather have my friend back, and here, than a car--though I will put the latter, with the insurance paid for a year, on my birthday wish list!!

On January 21, 1981 I had my last taste of alcohol--a lot led up to it, including blackouts, but something happened that evening/morning, 20-21 , that made me say, "No more." After 33 years of drinking, trying to act sophisticated, older, to be part of the 'in' crowd, going to bars to cruise--we didn't have the Internet for 'dating' back then in the Ice Age--getting into impossible situations, traveling to South America, spending thousands of dollars on parties and not remembering a thing, losing control, one too many 'incidents' I gave the booze up and have not had a taste of it since then. I won't order Coq Au Vin or any dish made with wine--yes, I know it 'evaporates' during cooking but I also know how I think. To a certain degree I still miss it--at a 'better' restaurant I still want to order that drink before dinner--Johnny Walker Black on the rocks unless you are paying then it will be aHaigand Haig Pinch!! LOL Instead I'll order a cup of coffee and I forget all about the alcohol.

Funny, or is it?, but I hate being around drinkers! They all sound so stupid and repeat everything 10 times, besides not being a drinker I am automatically the 'designated' driver! Though I stopped smoking on July 21, 2008 (something about that number 21 LOL) being around smokers doesn't bother me at all, including the smell of smoke and this from a 3 pack a day smoker!

It was 8, I think--I am sure one of my 'followers' will correct me if I am wrong--years ago I started blogging and you can blame that on Chuck because a few years before that he sent me his old computer to start getting into the modern world and now I am all over the place, posting blogs at 9 different sites, writing reviews for corinescorner, participating in sparkspeople.com, checking in every day, and commenting on, talkinbroadway, gay travelers network, etc.

More than once I have been accused of being passive/aggresive on blogs and just a brief explanation--what good does it do, what does it accomplish to directly face/challange a person on a blog? They aren't going to change, they will still lie, threaten, post private messages, put down gays and/or anyone who is different than they are or think different. Instead of saying "You are an idiot," I would rather say 'they are an idiot" and if the shoe fits wear it, if not that would end someone wanting to start, continue, a blog war which I don't think anyone comes here to get involved in. I do try (try means failure) to stay out of blogs dealing with religion and/or politics and in most cases I will not respond to anti-gay remarks, comments, blogs but I will, once in awhile, answer and let it go on when I would be better off ignoring ridiculous remarks.

I have had 5 'blog wars', all on one blogging web site, with individuals--2 are gone, one has mainly stopped blogging and one ignores me as I ignore them (there you go again Martin--being passive/aggressive LOL) but the 5th can't stay away from me--always reading me! :O)

I did want to get into trusting people and a fairly negative time I had recently but as it is this blog is already too long--I will be back!

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"The universe is transformation.

Our life is what our thoughts make it."

Marcus Aurelius 121-180 AD Roman Emperor and Philosopher

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February 29th is special...

It's the reason that a season comes at the same time every year.

If you're born on Leap Day... Welcome Home!

Just 42 days to our next birthday!

CELEBRATING LEAP YEAR BIRTHDAYS--PART 1

2012-01-16T19:53:00.000-05:00

I consider myself very lucky in the fact that I am a Leap Year Baby, having a birthday only once every 4 years, and I have always taken advantage of that fact. I don't celebrate the 'in-between' years but I have a blast, and memorable times, when Feb 29 falls in a year--by the way it is any year divisible by 4 and comes out in presidential election and winter Olympic years.

In 1940 when I celebrated my first Leap Year birthday I had my picture on the front page of the newspaper--I am in the center of the picture surrounded by 4 friends with our mothers in the background and a chocolate cake with candles in front of me. Above was the invitation to my 14th Leap Year birthday party.

Some other highlights:

Feb. 29, 1964 My 7th birthday--Barbra Streisand, (Hey, it's my birthday and I can name drop if I want!) who I 'met' in the 1960s at the Bon Soir nightclub on 8th street in Greenwich Village and, if I remember right, at the Blue Angel on 52nd street, is going to make her debut in "Funny Girl" at the Winter Garden Theatre--Pepe buys opening night tickets for original announced opening date at end of February--doesn't happen--show postponed a half a dozen times--we finally celebrate my birthday, her opening, a month later!

Feb. 29, 1976 My 10th (40th) birthday--I rented the Memphis Hilton Hotel Ballroom and 2 banquet rooms--invited 350 of my closest friends--had a jazz cocktail party to start then a sit down prime ribs and Caesar salad dinner with a band followed by a dessert, liqueur and dancing ending. Made the front page society section of the Memphis Commercial Appeal paper It cost me $11,000--remember these are 1976 dollars!--and I had money back then. :o)

Feb. 29, 1980--hired out The Sandpiper (a gay supper club in Fort Lauderdale) and a blast was had for all for 7 hours--dinner, drinks and other 'things'

Feb. 29, 1984--12th (48th) birthday--my friend Michael threw a surprise party for me--I gave him the list of people to invite (Tacky? Who cared!?)--on his pool barbecue patio

Feb. 29, 1988--an evening at the Golden Spike Restaurant on Federal opposite Kennedy's church--an upscale buffet eatery--many friends came from out of town.

Feb. 29, 1992--I had open house at my place from noon to midnight--a surprise guest.

Feb. 29, 1996--15th (60th) birthday--A "Death By Dessert" party at the ZanZbar Restaurant on Los Olas--desserts of animals from around the world made out of chocolate.

Feb. 29th, 2000--In the afternoon--The Cheesecake Factory, at the Sawgrass mall, where we were served all 48 varieties of cheesecake they offered--in the evening--The Ark, in Hollywood, where we partaked of the Captain's Table (which included lobster, stone crabs, prime ribs plus 15 other main courses and innumerable appetizers, side dishes and desserts--all you could eat of all the items)--very mixed crowd including 6 people who flew in from around the States.

Feb. 29, 2004--17th (68th) birthday--it was held at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Hotel and Marina--I had 25 guests--started at 11:30 AM--featured an elegant, elaborate brunch buffet--that evening, with my friends Gino and Chuck, the latter who came in from Memphis, we went to the Bette Midler "Kiss My Brass" show (I had invited her to the brunch but she didn't come :o(

Feb. 29, 2008--18th (72nd) birthday--held at Sweet Tomatoes--Chuck and Terry came in from Memphis--a week of eating out, going to the movies, sightseeing, theatre

Feb. 29, 2012--Just a few weeks away until my 19th (76) birthday--some plans have been set and a few more will be coming into play--and, oh yes, I will be doing that tacky birthday gift list I have done for the past 12 birthdays!

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February 29th is special...

It's the reason that a season comes at the same time every year.

If you're born on Leap Day... Welcome Home!

Just 44 days to our next birthday!

www.leapyearday.com

"A JOYFUL NOISE"--A MOVIE REVIEW

2012-01-15T10:14:00.001-05:00

"A Joyful Noise" is better than you will expect it to be but not quite as good as it can be. There are 1-2 plots too many and certainly one song too much but Dolly and Queen deliver, though both are not as sassy as can be.

The picture 'introduces' Jeremy Jordan who has already gotten rave reviews for two theatre performances, the first being "Newsies" which is coming to Broadway and "Bonnie and Clyde", which has come and gone from Broadway, with Jeremy getting star making notices. His has a good voice, holds his own as an actor and will become a heart throb. His love interest, Keke Palmer, matches him note for note and, in some cases, goes higher.

A standout in the movie is Dexter Darden, playing Latifah's son, who has Asperger's syndrome and a dynamite smile. Jesse L. Martin, in a subplot, is effective as his and Palmer's father. Kris Kristofferson has what amounts to a cameo as Dolly's husband and even gets to sing, well croak out, a couple of song lines with her.

All right, let's get to why you would probaby go to the movie and that are the two stars,Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton.

They both get to act sassy and their 'cat fight' isn't funny enough to have laughs or bad enough to be camp. When given the right lines, by screen writer Todd Graff, who also directed, both can deliver when the insults fly at each other but there aren't enough of them. Latifah has a couple of emotional scenes that she puts over with aplomb. (Full disclosure: I fell in love with Queen Latifah in the 1990s when I waited on her and her family at the Crabhouse Restaurant in Plantation, Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale. She was a delight to wait on and who ever did the tipping did okay! LOL)

Like many I find Dolly Parton a talented song writer and singer along with being funny and who she is but, at 66, Dolly has had one surgical procedure too much! She is looking like Joan River's twin and her face is so stiff her script lines, even about the 'improvements', aren't funny whether coming from her or Latifah. Dolly, if you can, go back to looking like yourself!

The remarks I heard most often when leaving the movie were, "That was a lot better than I expected." It was mainly a senior citizen audience but, with word of mouth, should do more business with the younger crowd.

There is a lot of music which, if done in a theatre, would have had the aduience clapping along as most is gospel, even with "The Man In The Mirror" given the church choir treatment.

"A Joyful Noise" is just that, an entertaining film that won't win any awards but will be 'a lot better than expected.'

CLOSED UNTIL TOMORROW

2012-01-13T14:47:00.000-05:00

It being Friday that means movie day and though I haven't decided which movie yet it might be

I love Dolly and Queen, always enjoy a musical and/or something light or "Contraband" as Wahlberg is easy on the eyes and a good actor or "The Iron Lady" even though I am not a (shhhh---don't tell anyone!) big fan of Streep--you can always tell she is 'acting'--but she will probably be up for another Oscar--you'll know when I write the review.

After the movie it is time for a late lunch and it might be at ROKBURGER Restaurant and one of their $18 burgers!!!

The reason for this is that by then it will be time for us to go the Broward Performing Arts Center to attend the press showing of the

It's a hard life but someone has to do it and, nice guy that I am, I sacrifice myself for all of you--see you tomorrow!

JUST CALL ME "LEAPLING" OR "LEAPER"

2012-01-12T20:52:00.000-05:00

For anyone who doesn't know yet--where have you been???--I will be celebrating my 19th Leap Year Day birthday next month on February 29--for those who are bad at math you could also say I will be 76!!! Starting next week I will be doing a 8-9 part series about how I have celebrated my birthdays previously. I DO NOT celebrate the in-between years. It does surprise me how many people know very little about the day and year, how it came about, the reasons, what it means, traditions, etc. so I decided to round up some information from the Internet. A lot of this information comes from the leapyearday.com web site. Oh yes, don't worry--before the series ends and giving you plenty of time I will post my birthday wish list --oh, come on, that surprises you?!?!? Obviously you don't know me!!

From leapyearday.com

February 29th is special...

It's the reason that a season comes at the same time every year.

If you're born on Leap Day... Welcome Home!

Just 48 days to our next birthday!

From wikipedia.com

A person born on February 29 may be called a "leapling " or a "leaper ". In common years they usually celebrate their birthdays on February 28 or March 1. In some situations, March 1 is used as the birthday in a non-leap year since it is the day following February 28.

Technically, a leapling will have fewer birthday anniversaries than their age in years. This phenomenon is exploited when a person claims to be only a quarter of their actual age, by counting their leap-year birthday anniversaries only. In Gilbert and Sullivan 's 1879 comic opera The Pirates of Penzance , Frederic the pirate apprentice discovers that he is bound to serve the pirates until his 21st birthday rather than until his 21st year.

For legal purposes, legal birthdays depend on how local laws count time intervals.

These events are or were held every four years during leap years

UEFA European Football Championship
Summer Olympic Games except 1900
Republic of China presidential election, 1996 in Taiwan and subsequent elections
United States presidential election
Winter Olympic Games through 1992

A leap year (or intercalary or bissextile year) is a year containing one extra day (or, in the case of lunisolar calendars , a month) in order to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year . Because seasons and astronomical events do not repeat in a whole number of days, a calendar that had the same number of days in each year would, over time, drift with respect to the event it was supposed to track. By occasionally inserting (or intercalating ) an additional day or month into the year, the drift can be corrected. A year that is not a leap year is called a common year . ( I DO FEEL SORRY FOR YOU COMMON PEOPLE!)

For example, in the Gregorian calendar (a common solar calendar), February in a leap year has 29 days instead of the usual 28, so the year lasts 366 days instead of the usual 365.

Folk traditions

On the British isles, it is a tradition that women may propose marriage only on leap years. While it has been claimed that the tradition was initiated by Saint Patrick or Brigid of Kildare in 5th century Ireland , this is dubious, as the tradition has not been attested before the 19th century. Supposedly, a 1288 law by Queen Margaret of Scotland (then age five and living in Norway), required that fines be levied if a marriage proposal was refused by the man; compensation ranged from akiss to £1 to a silk gown, in order to soften the blow. Because men felt that put them at too great a risk, the tradition was in some places tightened to restricting female proposals to the modern leap day, February 29, or to the medieval (bissextile) leap day, February 24.

According to Felten: "A play from the turn of the 17th century, 'The Maydes Metamorphosis,' has it that 'this is leape year/women wear breeches.' A few hundred years later, breeches wouldn't do at all: Women looking to take advantage of their opportunity to pitch woo were expected to wear a scarlet petticoat—fair warning, if you will."

In Finland , the tradition is that if a man refuses a woman's proposal on leap day, he should buy her the fabrics for a skirt.

The following is from infoplease.com

What are your chances of being born on leap day?

About 1 in 1500.

The rules for determining a leap year

Most years that can be divided evenly by 4 are leap years.

Exception: Century years are NOT leap years UNLESS they can be evenly divided by 400.

There are 89 variations of this 'month poem'--for the other 88 go to leapyearday.com

Thirty days hath September
April, June and November
All the rest have thirty-one
Save February, and it alone,
Has twenty-eight we do confine
Till Leap year gives it twenty nine

AM I TOO NEGATIVE? TOO ARGUMENTIVE? TOO????

2012-01-11T20:29:00.001-05:00

(THE POINT JANUARY 8, 2012)

I left a rant comment on someones blog yesterday--I felt what they said was a personal slap against me though in no way was I mentioned/referred to. I have found people rant/attack me, and many others, because I am gay and/or not a christian (that is a small c because they certainly aren't LOL) and/or, possibly a democrat. I can understand where they are coming from and, as a rule, won't read, let alone comment on their blog but I did both in the past few days.

In 1972 I went through therapy and the first thing I learned was to get negative people out of my life and that helped tremendously in my getting ahead in life. In the past 6-8 years blogging I have been in 2 'war blogs'--what a waste of time that was!!!--and once in awhile have been negative to bloggers who proclaim their was is the only way whether it be defaming someone because their political beliefs are different or because they weren't Muslim, Christian, Republican or like them.

I have noticed that I have very little patience lately and lash out at people who attack me and/or others. I am gay but that doesn't mean I expect the whole world or someone who isn't to be gay. Now I may think heterosexuality is 'wrong' but I am not attacking you if you are one and I see no reason why anyone is attacked for their homosexuality. Okay you don't believe in it, you think it is a choice, you think it is responsible for your divorce, your religion is against it but why go out of your way to post a blog that just might turn the corner for a teenager who already has been put down by those who know him and is now being put down by someone who doesn't?

Nowhere will you see that I have stated I am a Democrat--I may have said I was a 'bleeding heart liberal' but is spite of what some people think it is not the same thing. In any case I have read rude, crude posts about how disgusting the POTUS and/or his wife is or posts on how only certain people, who believe like they do, are the only 'true' Americans and then will comment on my post saying how nice I am, etc. To me that is being two faced--you can't call me names on one page and then 'sweet' talk me on another.

Sorry you are your politics so don't tell me you can like me in spite of mine--you won't, you don't.

There is one blogger who knows she knows everything about religion along with related subjects and knows everything about the constitution--that she knows what the men who put it together were thinking--there is another blogger who posted a blog stating it as truth, based on one report, without researching the subject or putting it in perspective. Then there is the infamous C & P blogger who never follows through and will never disagree with their 'false' g-ds (politicians.) There are bloggers who TELL me I choose being gay but they never state when they made the decision to be nongay. There are the ones who insult every single parent by saying that the only way to bring up a child is with a mother and father when MANY reports show that single parents can and do a great job as do same sex parents.

I stay away from them as much as I can but every once in awhile they post something that is so outrageous, so stupid, so unbelievable that I get caught up in it and respond. By doing that I get sucked in by negative people and start acting negative myself.

Since my near death experience during the holidays I find myself with very little tolerance, patience or understanding for those who attack others and their beliefs whether religious, political, sexual or even to do with weight. A thin person telling a fat person what to do is infuriating because they have no idea the mental process the fat person is dealing with and/or going through just as the young person has not dealt with life long enough to make black and white statements against old people.

Except, in fun, I try not to be negative with people--yes, I am sarcastic and that is hard to indicate in a post or a comment--and I like fun people.

There was/is a blogger who I told everyone to read--they were funny, informative--we got along great and then, for whatever reason--his religion?--he attacked me for being gay. There was another blogger who was doing something monumental and I kept encouraging them, wishing them 'break a leg', many positive comments about what they were embarking on--never a single acknowledgement from that person--I bet they wonder why I have ignored them for so long now.

I have to get back to the 24/7 positive person I was/really am/and can still be which means avoiding reading certain bloggers, deleting any comments they leave on my blogs and getting into the trap of negativity.

I am not a very forgiving person as I feel if you have betrayed me once you will betray me a second time and betrayals take in many forms--it may sound corny, that "Love means never having to say you're sorry' but one should not say/write and/or do something they will feel they have to apologize for--spontaneity is great but rudeness isn't--the person who helps someone commit a crime is as guilty as the one who commits it!

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CRUISE STILL HAS 'IT'---A MOVIE REVIEW

2012-01-10T20:50:00.001-05:00

Nearing 50 Tom Cruise may have lost his 'boyish charm' but he still has that smile and a mature charm that gets to the audience. In "Mission: Impossible--Ghost Protocol" after being hit by 3-4 cars, jumping over a dozen, falling 5-10 flights of a garage, getting into numerous, almost unaccountable fights, both hitting and getting hit let alone running here, there and everywhere not to forget scaling the outside of the tallest building in the world, with his hair messed up a little, Cruise puts on a tux, walks into a party and is a STAR! His body is in great shape and I hope he doesn't go overboard into Stallone territory!

"MI-4" is definitely an action film with more than just an emphasis on everyday action. This is hard core stuff and the director, Brad Bird, who previously directed animated films, brings that sense of fun and, yes, animation, here. The screenplay, written by Josh Applelbaum and Andre Nemec, brings laughter into a lot of the lines and action scenes.

Aiding and abetting Cruise are a fine group of supporting players from Paula Patton and Simon Pegg as his partners, with Michael Nyqvist as the main villain but the stand out is Jeremy Renner, who aside from his Oscar nominated and break out role in "The Hurt Locker", shows he is ready to step into Cruise's shoes as an actor and idol though the latter might not be quite ready to quit either role.

"Mission: Impossible--Ghost Protocol" is a mindless, enjoyable, lean back and relax action film.

I say 'mindless' because I never could follow what causes all the happenings and it doesn't seem to make a difference. I did enjoy this film but I can only take 2-3 of these a year!!

MOTHER NATURE NEVER STOPS AMAZING ME!!!

2012-01-09T20:15:00.000-05:00

Mother Nature never fails to amaze me which is why I always carry my camera with me--sorry, folks, no cell phones for me!!!

That's a full moon on top--not a light bulb!

Even in a parking lot She can make the world shine at sunset.

Having Allen's car has given me the chance to get over to the park where they keep the police horses--I got so involved with them that I forgot to take pictures of the beautiful old cars they had near the War Memorial for the weekend show! How many can you count???

And this being Florida there is nothing like seeing an iguana crawling around!

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LAST RESTAURANTS OF 2011

2012-01-08T20:04:00.000-05:00

February 29th is special...

It's the reason that a season comes at the same time every year.

If you're born on Leap Day... Welcome Home!

Just 51 days to our next birthday!

LEAPYEARDAY.COM

ME IN THE QUARTERDECK ALLEN IN APPLEBEE'S

APPLEBEE'S

MOE'S SOUTHWESTERN GRILL

SOME QUARTERDECK DECEMBER SPECIALS

THE ALE HOUSE

AND NOW ON TO THE RESTAURANTS OF 2012

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"The world is a looking glass,

and gives back to everyman

the reflections of his own face."

William Makepeace Thackery 1811-1863 British Writer

CITY HALL RESTAURANT--A REVIEW

2012-01-07T19:37:00.000-05:00

The positives: the ambiance and Santiago, the server, along with all the busboys.

The negatives: the booths are way too long--hard to explain but sit at a table if you go there.

The food: Over-priced and not memorable.

We started with the Duck Confit Pizza with wild mushrooms which was tasty, hot and more than enough for 2. The house bread was tasteless and really shouldn't have been served with the pizza plus the biscuit I got with my main course.

Allen ordered the NY Strip which came with mash potatoes and Santiago substituted brussel sprouts for the spinach per Allen's request. He was not thrilled with the potatoes or the sauce on the steak.

Where did start with my dish? We were going to the theatre so I really didn't want to order the City Hall Timpano--a heavy assorted pasta, sausage, meatball and cheese dish--which i really did want LOL--I asked for a couple of suggestions and should have had the pork chops buy instead went for the fried chicken with mashed potatoes, corn and bacon, honey, gravy and a biscuit--glad I didn't want something too heavy! Everything was crowded on to the plate making it almost impossible to get to the poatoes. Luckily the chicken was finger food but there was no side dish (only service mistake made--the bread and butter dishes were taken away when we finished the pizza) for the bones. I had to take the gravy, honey and corn monkey dishes off the main plate and put on table. Some of the chicken was bloody while the breast piece was over-cooked and dry.

Allen had a diet coke and I had coffee.

The check for both of us plus a 20% tip came to $85

Oh yes, a pet peeve--no manager, host or owner ever came to the table.

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"Let there be space in

your togetherness."

Kahil Gibran 1883-1931 Lebanese Poet

"THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN"--A MOVIE REVIEW

2012-01-06T21:14:00.000-05:00

"The Adventures of Tintin" are a series of classic comic books created by the Belgian artist Georges Remi , who wrote under the pen name of Herge. The series is one of the most popular European comics of the 20th century while "War Horse" is a children's fiction novel by Michael Morpurgo. It was first published in Great Britain and has been, very successfully, adapted to the stage in England and the United States.

The movie version of Tintin was released in Europe and has already made over $250 million. Both film versions were released in the United States for Christmas with Tintin taking in $46,000 in first two weeks while the War Horse tally was $45,000.

Aside from the above both films were directed by Steven Spielberg and they are as different as night and day. War Horse is an exciting, beautifully photographed, full of breath taking scenes, and first rate acting, while everything that could be wrong in a film is wrong in Tintin.

"The Adventures of Tintin" are a takeoff of Spielberg's own "Raiders of the Lost Ark" but done in the manner of "The Polar Express" and like that film the actors are wooden, lifeless. Tintin's dog, Snowy, looks and acts like he is on a toy shelf ready to be bought. Though the voice of Daniel Craig is used for the villain, Sakharine, he looks like Mr. Spielberg, which is nothing against him. Jamie Bell, playing Tintin, comes across as a puppet trying to act like a human. There is no warmth, emotion from any of the actors and even the animals, plus Snowy, there is a Parisian cat and a pit-bull, who didn't even come close to what Joey the horse conveys in War Horse.

Lawrence Kasdan, the writer of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" should certainly get co-credit for this screenplay written by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish. I don't know if the books by Herge resemble this film at all but I did expect Harrison Ford to appear any minute.

As in most 3D films there is an extra charge to 'rent' the glasses, like you can refuse them, but all of Spielberg's modern movie techniques just don't work and would have probably done better as a straight animated film.

With the exception of a 10-15 minute desert mirage sequence there really is nothing worth seeing and, yet, because of the success overseas I am sure there will be a sequel.

"WAR HORSE"---MOVIE REVIEW

2012-01-05T20:29:00.000-05:00

I don't remember the last time I held my breath in a movie and though I saw the "War Horse" movie this afternoon I don't remember how long the sequence of Joey escaping/running lasted but it is burned in my mind. Another scene that is still with me, and you have to see the movie to tell me whether I am right or wrong, is the last 10-15 minutes of which the colors, the images, are straight out of "Gone With The Wind"!

Steven Spielberg is the ultimate filmmaker who tells a story, written by Lee Hall and Richard Curtiss, that holds the audience from beginning to end along with manipulating that audience. He has made a film for people that hate war and love animals. I don't know how many different horses played Joey but they are all beautiful, muscular and towering animals. With Spielberg directing the story based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, along with the photography of Janusz Kaminski, not to negate the soaring score by John Williams, "War Horse" is a definite winner.

The large cast consists of old timers, new comers, names you know, faces you recognize, all doing what is asked of them and that is to tell an old fashioned story in a straight forward way. For whatever reason, watching Emily Watson I was reminded of Jean Simmons, both being fine impressive actresses.

The only negative is that, like most Spielberg's movie, this one is a little too long--2 hours and 30 minutes--which could have easily been shortened with a few of the opening atmosphere scenes plus a few of the war shots.

This is the third movie in one week I have seen that featured animals, almost as co-stars, from Solomon the lion in "We Bought a Zoo", Uggie in "The Artist" and now Joey in "War Horse", all very commanding in their scenes. Due to the fact that this is a war movie there is violence that is intense and might horrify a young child seeing it--especially a field of dead horses--but that same child, like me, will fall in love with Joey and Topthorn, another horse.

The bottom line is that if you aren't touched by this film get to a cardiologist as you may have lost your heart!

"THE ARTIST"---A MOVIE REVIEW

2012-01-04T21:13:00.000-05:00

Jean Dujardin, as film star George Valentin, is Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., John Gilbert, Rudolph Valentino and every silent film swashbuckler and leading man in one. He is also, as Jean Dujardin, a star of today. His co-star, Berenice Bejo, playing Peppy Miller, not only lives up to her movie name but she combines Ginger Rogers, Debbie Reynolds and Judy Garland doing a song and dance with Dujardin which in theatres, showing silent movies, 90 years ago would have had the audiences breaking the silence.

"The Artist" shows every aspect of the silent films that entranced the audiences oh so many years ago. With these two magnetic stars it is hard to see them being outclassed but they are---by a musical score and a dog! The musical score controls the feelings of the audience cuing them to laugh, hold their breath and be in sync with everyone and everything on the screen

There is not a scene,and he is in many of them, that Uggie the dog doesn't steal from whomever appears on the screen with him and he has strong competiton from John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller, Beth Grant and Ed Lauter to mention a few. There is no doubt if there was an Oscar for best performance by an animal Uggie would win in a walk. He makes you laugh, shows his love for his owner and saves the latter's life, plays dead for effect and is missed when not on screen.

The screenplay, by Michel Hazanavicius, who also directed the film, is based on the old chestnut of a story "A Star Is Born" with the older male star on his way down and the ingunene on her way up falling in love. As the Director Hazanavicius takes us into a world that very few of us know of, except maybe an occasional silent film shown on TCM, he shows us how silents entertained audiences world wide. He uses sound, except for the score, very sparingly and effectively.

The only mistakes the director makes is not ending the film 2 minutes before he did and not giving Uggie the closing shot!

THIS IS FORT LAUDERDALE SOUTH FLORIDA---ARGH!!!

2012-01-03T20:28:00.000-05:00

NO FLIP-FLOPS--NO SHORTS--NO SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT

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"the mind is an iceberg--it floats

with only one-seventh of its bulk

above water."

Sigmund Freud 1856-1939 Austrian Founder of Psychoanalysis

"CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE"--A REVIEW

2012-01-02T20:22:00.000-05:00

This was my first experience with cirque anything and here I am still dazzled with the lighting by Kate Johnston, the never ending costume changes by Lenora Taylor and Santiago, the 25 foot tall Christmas tree not to forget the floor to ceiling inflated drummer boys and a constant parade of candy canes, penguins, elves, snowmen, angels, snowballs plus not leaving out Santa, Mrs. Claus, holiday bells, ornaments and the never ending movements on the stage.

The most dazzling of all are the acts on stage which include people from the United States, China, Russia, Spain, Ethiopia, to mention just a few countries, doing things you know they can't be doing and yet you see them doing it with each act a show stopper!

There is a human candelabra who keeps on stacking glasses and candles higher and higher on his head while walking up and down a ladder without a misstep or dropping a single item. There are the women bicyclists who do things on bikes that they weren't meant for--the women or the bikes. There is a jump rope act where a group of guys jump rope in all sorts of positions from all sorts of positions including standing on the top of each other shoulders. There is a young girl gets so twisted within herself that you know she will never unbend and yet there she is taking her bows only to be upstaged by the young guy being flipped over and around, so many times you lose count, by his partner.

From acrobats to jugglers to the speed changers who go from one outfit to another before you even finish blinking your eyes and the guys with 8, not 6, pack stomachs and the gals hanging by their toes on bars far about the stage floor you wish you knew who was doing what but it wouldn't/doesn't help as in another minute there will be someone else, or 4 more, coming along to make you forget who you just saw.

The word that best describes this show from sets, designs, lighting, costumes and, most of all, the performers, is 'dazzling'. The theme of the show is Christmas but it can be shown all year round, everywhere, anywhere.

"MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET"--TOURING COMPANY REVIEW

2012-01-01T20:08:00.001-05:00

Shortly before Christmas in 1956 in Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis Presley (Cody Slaughter), Johnny Cash (Derek Keeling), Carl Perkins (Lee Ferris) and Jerry Lee Lewis (Martin Kaye) are joined by Jay Perkins (Chuck Zayas), Carl's brother, drummer Fluke (Billy Shaffer) and Dyanne (Kelly Lamont), Elvis's girlfriend are in the Sun studios owned by Sam Phillips (Christopher Ryan Grant) who recognized and nurtured the talent of the first three and was about to make a star of the fourth.

What Sam didn't know was that he would be responsible for an historic, one time only, jam session by the 4 with Cash, Presley and Perkins all about to leave his recording studio for better, more lucrative contracts from Columbia and RCA Victor.

The audience listens in on 23 songs sung, danced and played by the cast, doing 'the Devil's music' along with spirituals, songs that made them famous and some songs they probably never sung as most of these were not done at that session.

The drama is provided by Carl Perkins having written "Blue Suede Shoes" and his feeling that Elvis stole his moment when the latter sung it on the Ed Sullivan show. There is also the relationship between Sam and the boys with his being unaware that they won't be going along with his plans.

All the actors are musicians who play their own instruments and sing their songs in the manner of the guys they are portraying without trying to mimic them. All stand out in their individual numbers and harmonize in the quartet numbers but it is Martin Kaye, as Lewis, in the persona of the original, who brings the humor, sometimes laugh out loud moments to the show.

Grant brings across his affection for the boys while Lamont, the only female in the cast, does a good job on "Fever" but it is the quartet singing "Hound Dog", "I Walk The Line", "My Babe", "Down By The Riverside" and the other classics that get the audience moving, especially the 'concert' at the end when they put on those sequined dinner jackets and get a "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" going on, that gets everyone out of their seats.

The book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrex provides the lead-ins to the songs while the direction by Eric Schaeffer, based on the original by Floyd Mutrx, is fluid and gives each of the cast their moments to shine.

Running time: 1 hour and 45 minutes without an intermission Strobe lights and theatre smoke/fog Tour Dates for January: Tampa, East Lansing, Grand Rapids and Detroit in Michigan.

Coming to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami: Twyla Tharp's Come Fly Away March 20-25, 2012 and Disney's The Lion King May 15- June10, 2012

THE LAST OF 2011--NOW THE COUNTDOWN TO 02/29/2012

2011-12-31T20:52:00.001-05:00

For the last day of the year I bought myself a couple of plants with the first being

Salvia and I will not be responible for what I say and/or do in 2012 as it is;

psychoactive plant which can induce dissociative effects according to wikipedia!

Then I got the innocent Viola which is related to both pansies and violets

And I re-potted, with fresh soil, my Christmas Cactus so it will bloom next year

Last, but not least, the vine on the walkway is going crazy!!

Before the New Year starts it is time to post some 2011 pictures

BROWARD PERFORMONG ARTS CENTER NIGHT OF CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE

GIFTS & CARDS, ETC.

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AND THEN THERE IS:

"WE BOUGHT A ZOO"--FEEL GOOD MOVIE OF THE YEAR

2011-12-30T20:53:00.001-05:00

It is the last picture of my 2011 movie going year and it is a gem, without sex or the 'f' word anywhere in sight , a solid performance by Matt Damon with a supporting cast that can tenderly bring tears to your eyes and tigers, lions, monkeys, parrots, flamingos, bears, zebras, porcupines, kangaroos, even snakes, that can bring a smile to your face.

With just a few minor missteps "We Bought A Zoo" is a movie for everyone. It is rated PG but I can only think that is because 2 deaths, though neither are seen, are part of the story. The screenplay written by Aline Brosh McKenna and the director of the film, Cameron Crowe, is based on a true story by journalist Benjamin Mee, played by Matt Damon, touches the heartstrings and, except for quick fisticuffs , no violence.

Matt Damon is a solid performer who is the equal of Tom Hanks in being a modern 'Everyman' and delivers a strong performance here as a father, grieving husband and a new zoo owner. His brother, Duncan, played by Thomas Haden Church, is believable as the older sibling while Colin Ford shines as Damon's 14 year old moody teenager son Dylan. Scarlett Johansson, as the zookeeper, gets into a natural romance with the new zoo owner Benjamin that comes about slowly. Cast members like Angus Macfadyn, as the zoo inspector, and the zoo crew played by John Michael Higgins, Patrick Fugit, Stephanie Szostak and Peter Riegert all bring authenticity to their roles.

I found Elle Fanning as Dylan's love interest just a bit too 'smiley' and Maggie Elizabeth Jones as the 7 year old Rosie a little too precocious for me but I am sure most of the audience was/will be charmed by her.

One of the missteps, which is shared by many movies now, is the running time. At over 2 hours there are at least 4-5 scenes that could have been shortened or just eliminated but don't let that stop you from seeing this gem that won't win any awards but that will certainly win your heart.

HAS MY GREEN THUMB TURNED BROWN?

2011-12-29T20:12:00.002-05:00

This was my Christmas Cactus in 2010 and 2009--always bloomed just in time.

This year nothing--nada--nil--not a bloom!!! I probably should have repotted it into a larger pot and added fresh soil--oh well there is always next year!!!

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Not all is lost--here it is December and for some reason my Heliconia has decided to bloom and it looks like 2 of them.

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Also my vine outside on the walk after months of nothing came up with a bloom yesterday--looks like it will open tomorrow into a full pink bloom.

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I added three twigs to the hibiscus pot but, so far, none have 'taken' though the original has a new bud--I never get tired of flowers.

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Last, but not least, the twig I stuck in a pot about 6 months ago, is now blooming with yellow flowers every day--it just keeps giving

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Every evening around sunset the birds--all kinds--come and roost on the wires until the sun disappears and our wild parrots are back!

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"Well, what is a relationship? It's about two people having

tremendous weaknesses and vulnerabilities, like we all do,

and one person being able to strengthen the other in their areas

of vulnerability. And vice versa. You need each other.

You complete each other, passion and romance aside."

Jane Fonda 1937 American Actor

AND WHAT DO YOU DO ON FRIDAYS????

2011-12-28T16:32:00.001-05:00

(Got Allen off to the airport at 5:30 AM--came home and went to sleep--saw Doc at 1:30 PM then came home and went to sleep and am now getting ready to pick up Norman and off for a bite to eat and then "Cirque Dreams Holidaze"--see review at www.corinescorner.com this weekend or here next week--My life is so hard--how do I keep up with this pace?!?!?! LOL)

Allen usually swings by and picks me up around 1 PM--then it is off to the movies--

Gateway Theatre

or the AMC in Coral Ridge or The Riverfront downtown

Then it is a late lunch--usually at the Quarterdeck or Outback

and then, for a treat, Cold Stone Creamery right around the corner

Do you have anything better to do?!?!?!?

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"A man's feeling of good-will towards others

is the strongest magnet for drawing good-will

towards himself."

Lord Chesterfield 1694-1773 English Statesman

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE!!!

2011-12-27T14:11:00.000-05:00

(This is just a quickie--Allen and I are going to see the opening of the "Million Dollar Quartet" in Miami this evening and then I will drive him to the airport at 5 AM---yes I will be up at 5 AM--anything for a car!!!-- and will have his car for 3 weeks. You'll be able to read my review at www.corinescorner.com this weekend and then here next week. Tomorrow night Norman and I will be seeing "Cirque Dreams Holidaze"--same thing regarding reviews--almost cancelled going to the show tonight--the classiest, best TV program is on this evening--watch it for me and let me know all about it--"34th Annual Kennedy Center Honors" at 9 PM (EST) on CBS--they are saluting Meryl Streep, Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma and Sonny Rollins--DON'T MISS IT!!!!)

A COUPLE OF CHRISTMAS SCENES FROM AROUND GATEWAY

CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

IN FRONT OF THE ADRIENNE ARSHT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

I ADDED A FEW MORE HIBISCUS TWIGS TO THE POT

'GOODIES' FROM MY NEIGHBORS AND A FRIEND

WELCOME TO MY WORLD

THE UPSIDE DOWN CHRISTMAS TREE HANGING FROM THE CEILING

THE BIRDS IS COMING

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"ONE MAN

WHO HAS A MIND AND KNOWS IT

CAN ALWAYS BEAT TEN MEN

WHO HAVEN'T AND DON'T."

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW 1856-1950 IRISH DRAMATIST, ESSAYIST AND CRITIC

ON FRIDAY DEC. 23 & SATURDAY DEC. 24 I ESCAPED DEATH---AGAIN!

2011-12-26T21:37:00.000-05:00

I have been taking coumadin--blood thinner---for 12 years since I had congestive heart failure and was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation New Year's weekend 1999-2000. In June 2009 I started to do the Philips blood level tests at home instead of going into the doctor's office a few times a month and I didn't have any problems with it. The readings are suppose to be between 2-3 but around 4 weeks they were 1.2, 1.4, 1.6 and 1.2 My doctor increased the dosage but it didn't seem to help. On December15 he almost doubled the amount--instead of taking 5mg per day I was taking 10mg 4 times a week and 12.5mg 3 times. I do my testing on Thursdays and when I took it December 22 it was still 1.4 I thought I would call the doc and tell him that I wanted to come in and take a test there but I was told he was on vacation until the following Tuesday so I decided I would wait until then. An hour or two later I noticed that parts of my body--tongue, thumb--were getting filled with blood. A couple of hours I noticed my computer chair was wet and to my surprise it was blood. My recliner, dining room chair and bed had blood on them. Making a long story short I called the doctor's office and wrote a few people an e-mail about my bleeding and ALL insisted I call 911 but I know better (HA!) and said if I was still bleeding in the morning I would call 911. Making the story even shorter--blood was gushing out of my rectum and I was spitting out blood. 911 here I come and by 7:40 AM I was in the ER.

in the ER on the left--my private room on the right

I was not allowed food or water as they had to put plasma in my blood stream. Remember my level is suppose to be between 2-3 and it was 1.2 the day before? Well it was 10+ in the hospital. The bottom line is that I didn't have anything to eat or drink for 40 hours, got plied with plasma and eventually it came down to 2.5.

The ER doctor said I was not to take coumadin again and that I should see my doctor and talk to him about the alternatives. Very strange, for me, but I didn't sleep at all the whole time I was in the hospital. I didn't know whether to go to sleep or eat when Allen arrived to take me home. I bought a couple of subs at Subways and went home, fell into bed and got up an hour later.

The next day being Christmas I went to our little get together on the breezeway. It being Monday and a legal holiday there was no way I could have gotten ahold of my doctor so I plan to call the office tomorrow, tell them to get copies of my hospital file and go see my doctor on Wednesday and see where we go from there.

I did e-mail Philip's and Hemosense, the manufacturer and distributor of the testing machine. To my surprise I did get a response a couple of hours later from the Hemosense company with a young lady asking me dozens of questions---I think trying to find something to blame the false readings on--didn't work. I am not a suing person but I might in this case.

This is the letter I sent:

body

I need to talk to someone--I was in the hospital December 23 & 24 with coumadin poisoning--heavy rectal bleeding--due to wrong readings of machine for past month and my doctor basing dosages on those reports--on Dec.22 the machine said 1.6--by the time I went to hospital at 7 AM (because of bleeding) Dec.23 the level was at 10+---I was humiliated by having had to wear a diaper--couldn't eat/drink for 40 hours--had blood all over my bed, clothes, etc. I have pictures (sadly after I washed a lot of the blood off the clothes) that will verify all the above.
No where in any of the material does it say anything about the company, at any time, checking machine or for machine to be returned for checking to verify working right--nor have I ever heard from woman, who came over to teach me how to use machine when I first got it, again.
Please have someone contact me!!!

Okay I dislike very long blogs and this is way too long at this point--I do suggest anyone taking coumadin read the following two sites:

http://www.newswithviews.com/Richards/byron183.htm

and

http://www.topix.com/forum/drug/coumadin/TVK886FB3K28MPRG5

I was closer to death than I knew and I must admit that if it wasn't for the pressure from my friends (and the threat from Chuck in Memphis that he would call 911 and send them to me! ) I may not be writing this blog! I will keep you up to date on what's happening and what my doctor says BUT don't panic if I don't post for a couple of days--see below!!!

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Tomorrow (Tuesday) Allen and I will be going to Miami to the opening of the road tour of "Million Dollar Quartet" and then Wednesday at 5:30 AM I will be taking him to the airport as he is going to visit his daughter and her twin sons--his grandchildren!! SHHHHHHH---I will have his car for 19 days!!! Then, after seeing the doctor Wednesday afternoon Norman and I are going to the opening of "Cirque Dreams Holidaze" so I may not be posting again until Thursday or Friday and not because I am dead!!! :O)

CHEATING DEATH WITH A CHRISTMAS DAY CELEBRATION

2011-12-25T20:33:00.000-05:00

Considering that I was in the hospital for 31 hours, from Friday, December 23, 7 AM until December 24, 2 PM Saturday, with nothing to eat or drink for 40 hours, with cumadin poisoning that could have, almost did, kill me, I was gratful to be at the following celebration. I will elaborate on the former in a blog tomorrow along with my bad lungs, C.O.P.D. arterial fibrillation, P.E.D., etc., and other things I could moan and groan about and ask for sympathy for from my 'friends' but don't! LOL Coumadin is a lethal drug but I have had to take it for 12 years but now must stop and so I guess I could start crying wolf each time I cough but I guess I won't! Aren't you glad YOU are MY friend and not someone else's?

Now on to the Christmas Day at Gateway celebration!

Most evenings at sunset we have a 'meeting of the mindless' on the breezeway at Gateway. John, an original member and possible chairman of the board, and hos twin, Jim, an honorary (?) member decided that for Christmas Day they would buy some pizzas for the group and we would get together around 3:30 PM. Jim would pick up the pizzas from Big Louie's--he was a little late LOL. Poochie (that's her name!!!) volunteered to bring the drinks, mainly wine, which she did. We had a big problem the night before--a main water pipe busted and Fort Lauderdale didn't have water and when we did get it we had to boil it before using it so though she had the bottle in water and ice we couldn't use any of it. She did have a bottle of non-alcoholic wine---really grape juice.

I bought the table settings---all in red--my favorite color and apropos for the holiday--red tablecloth (I should have gotten two), cups, plates, napkins and forks, spoons and knives. I, also, provided cherry candy canes and white chocolate covered mints. Someday I will have to get John to write his story about how the original candy canes came about.

The guys got 4 large pizzas as we thought if anyone came by we would offer them a slice or two plus we all had asked people to stop by. As it was, except for our new security guard, no one else stopped by. (Would you like to guess who took all the extra slices home? RIGHT!) Along with John, Jim, Poochie and myself there was Irene, Roosevelt, a new resident, Dot and Larry.

A good time was had by all and here are a few of the pictures:

BEFORE AFTER

FROM LEFT: JOHN, ROOSEVELT, LARRY, DOT AND POOCHIE

FROM RIGHT: JIM, JOHN, IRENE, ROOSEVELT, LARRY, DOT,POOCHIE

It was a beautiful Christmas Day--around 80 degrees, sunny, a slight breeze--good pizzas but, more important, good people!

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"A man is what he thinks about

all day long."

Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882 American Essayist, Poet and Philosopher

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Going to see Wednesday

Going to see Tuesday

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-25T13:47:00.001-05:00

HOLIDAY INN FORT LAUDERDALE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH NOVEMBER 1988

23 YEARS LATER---QUARTERDECK RESTAURANT--DECEMBER 2011

HOPE SANTA WAS AS GOOD TO YOU AS HE WAS TO ME--BUT THEN I HAVE BEEN A GOOD BOY!

A JEW LOOKS AT CHRISTMAS--PART 3

2011-12-24T16:50:00.001-05:00

To me the Nativity scene, Santa Claus, the Rockettes, St. Patrick's cathedral, Carols, Jingle Bells, snow, cold weather, horse and carriage rides in Central Park, the skating rinks in Rockefeller Center and Central Park, decorated store windows, hot chestnuts, etc., just to name a few things--ALL make up Christmas.

It's 79 degrees outside but I can walk into a South Florida mall and see a Christmas tree, a kid sitting on Santa's lap, watch another kid throw a fake snowball, hear "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" on the loudspeaker and it is Christmas for me!!!

Now my Christmas may not acknowledge Christ or any religious aspect that a Christian may but I feel as warm, as moved, surrounded by cheers of "Merry Christmas" or seeing pins on women's clothes of lit up Santa Clauses as anyone can. I look around and I think of "Peace on earth, good will to men" whether it is looking as a Christmas wreath or a Hanuka bush.

I was 16 and saw myself as a sophisticated man of the world with my cashmere leather trimmed, falling just below the knee, overcoat, leather gloves, brown fur earmuffs and a cashmere scarf thrown around my neck in cavalier fashion about to take my first horse and carriage ride through Central Park with someone I had just met in the Oak Room of the Plaza hotel. I can tell you every inch of that ride and the beauty of being in the park in the middle of Manhattan surrounded by towering buildings sparkling like many colored jewels on a dark, snowy night three days before Christmas but I couldn't tell you a thing about the person I was with.

I started this series off by saying I probably will never experience another Christmas season in New York but my memories of such magical times in my life will be with me forever. Whether I hear a choir singing carols or "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" or "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" heard on the speakers in a mall or see and/or smell holly, mistletoe, a pine tree or a nativity scene or a menorah or Santa Claus or watching "It's a Wonderful Life" an unforgettable time will come rushing to me.

It is never too early for

"Peace on earth and good will towards men"

I hope that each of you who have never experienced the magic, the wonder, the awe, the excitement, the meaning of the holiday, get at least one chance to have Christmas in New York City.

A JEW LOOKS AT CHRISTMAS--PART 2

2011-12-22T22:42:00.000-05:00

The last time I was in New York City was in September 1985 and the last time I lived in New York City was 1969. I don't see myself ever going back but there are certain times, certain memories I have of life in the city that will never go away and they all revolve around Christmas time, the week before, the day of and the week after. No where in any city of the world is there the combination of magic in New York City especially if there are snow flurries or, maybe, an inch of snow blanketing the city and turning the lights into diamonds in the evening.

I still feel the cold nipping at my ears, my nose being red and my being on my butt more than on my feet, not to mention my mittens NOT keeping my hands warm but the wonder of ice skating in the Rockefeller Center, in the middle of Manhattan, under the glow and warmth of one of the tallest decorated Christmas (not holiday!!) trees standing in the shadow of one of New York's most impressive buildings not to forget on the opposite side rows and rows of uncountable poinsettia plants. You are surrounded by people looking down at you from atop the perimeter of the rink plus all the people eating and drinking inside the restaurant that the rink is in the middle of and which you can't wait to get a table, have a hot chocolate and look at the skaters falling on their butts and/or those gracefully doing spin after spin and all enjoying themselves as much as you did.

There is the afternoon you wait on line with thousands of other people to get into the cavernous and awe inspiring Radio City Music Hall where you not only saw a movie like Doris Day in "I'll See You In My Dreams" but an even more awe inspiring stage show where there is the Christmas pageant featuring live camels, the Wise Men, a live reenactment of the Nativity that doesn't fail to affect people of all religions or none at all. That is then followed by the amazing Rockettes who go from being wooden play soldiers to rocking to Jingle Bells and, of course, a visit from Santa Claus.

There is so much to do so what do you do next? Maybe buy a bag of roasted chestnuts and walk along Fifth Avenue looking in the store windows all decorated with to die for fashions and jewels? Oh, I know, I remember, walk down to Herald Square (I was able to walk in those days) where Macy's and Bloomingdale's try to outdo each other with season decorations and you relive "The Miracle on 34th Street" or wait, wouldn't it be better to walk along Lexington and Madison avenues where you can buy flowers from outside stalls and look at the Christmas trees for sale while the cold goes through you and you stop for another hot chocolate? Hey we can go to the New Hampshire bar on 57th Street and watch a 'Northeasterner' recreated behind the bar and stop by Carnegie Hall and see what/who is playing.

It's early evening and it is still light enough to walk in Central Park where the snow covers the din of the city and makes everything feel pure, soft and, yes, Christmas like. It's magic time in a city that at times can be cruel, unfeeling and devoid of magic but for two weeks in late December it is as if Tinkerbell cast her spell and fairy dust over the city and its people. It is two weeks that EVERYONE should experience at least once in their lifetime and I was lucky to experience it many times as I reached adult hood.

Don't even get me started about experiencing falling in love for the first time during Christmas in New York---oh, get me started--let's talk about going to the Plaza for a drink, having dinner in the middle of Central Park, taking a carriage ride--let's talk about it in Part 3.

A JEW LOOKS AT CHRISTMAS--PART 1

2011-12-21T15:01:00.000-05:00

ME IN 1988

I very seldom repeat past posts but I get so tired at this time of the year regarding "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays", "Happy Hanukkah" and "Happy Kwanzaa"--I personally don't care what you say as long as this time of the year means something to you for whatever reason. This is a 3 part series that I wrote for a paper years ago--hope you enjoy reading it again or reading it for the first time!

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I LOVE Christmas and have since the days stores didn't decorate for the holiday until Thanksgiving weekend when Santa appeared magically all over town and the Salvation Army went out in force and didn't take credit cards and the men stood by their big, black kettles ringing bells. It was back in the days when there were Christmas, not holiday, trees and people gleefully yelled "Merry Christmas", not "Happy Holidays".

I remember 63 years ago sneaking out to my front yard where we had a tall, huge fir tree and decorating it with balls and silver strips and my mother lamenting, & quote; "What will the neighbors think?" and I didn't care. We lived on Bogart Avenue, between Lydig and Pelham Parkway, the dividing line between the Sharks and the Jets--for those who don't get the reference it separated the Jews from the Italians and our block was made up of both.

I didn't think of it as a religious holiday but as a time for peace towards all men. Way back then--in the ice age--you didn't hear songs like "Jingle Bells" until Thanksgiving weekend, certainly not in October as a theme song for a cruise line. The celebration of the Christmas feeling started when you heard Nat King Cole sing, "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..." from The Christmas Song or Judy Garland's sweet, sad voice sang "Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas" and, of course, wherever you went you heard Der Bingle (Bing Crosby) sing "White Christmas".

Christmas wasn't a religious time for a Jewish boy in New York but a time of cold weather, snow flurries, people running here to there with a smile on their face and everyone carrying wrapped packages with bows and ribbons. Of course I had an unfair advantage over my Italian friends because I, also, got to celebrate Hanukkah where children were given geldt (money) and went to the houses (apartments) of their grandparents who had immigrated from Russia and England and were surrounded by very large families and ate and ate and ate, because that is what Jews did on holidays, though I was to learn so did Greeks, Italians, Filipinos, Germans, etc.

Again, it wasn't the religion of the holiday that attracted me to attend Christmas midnight mass at St. Patrick's cathedral but the pageantry, the voices of the choir ringing out and the sound of the Latin language, again this was many years ago, echoing through the cathedral. I must confess--hey, it's a Catholic church--that years later, in the 60s, Ronnie, Joe and I use to go for 'camp' reasons--to see Cardinal Spellman all dressed up in his finery, his red robes looking like a gown and, we thought, in all probability, hiding his red, ruby slippers.

None of this is meant, or said, in disrespect of the Christmas holiday and its true meaning but looking at an aspect of it that was open to all children who had imagination and loved to see their world almost become magical for 4 weeks--not like now where by the time the holiday comes around you are ready to scream if you hear one more Christmas song because you have been hearing them since August when you started getting the catalogs and the stores were decorated with wreaths and holly even before Halloween.

NEXT, PART 2, A MAGICAL TIME/PLACE NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN AND SHOULD BE EXPERIENCED BY EVERYONE AT LEAST ONCE--A MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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"With our thoughts we make the world."

Buddha 563-483 BC Indian Religious Teacher

"YOUNG ADULT"--A MOVIE REVIEW

2011-12-20T20:44:00.000-05:00

In 2003 Charlize Theron gave one of the most harrowing performances of all time in the movie "Monster" for which she won the Oscar. It has been awhile since she had a role where she could show her dramatic chops and she does that in "Young Adult".

The title could refer to the fact that Mavis is a ghost writer of young adult novels or that she is a 37 year old, divorced, alcoholic who thinks she is still the prom queen. She was one of the mean girls in high school and now she is just a mean adult who comes back to her hometown to get her prom king back even if he is happily married and just became a father.

Charlize Theron, as Mavis, doesn't want or need the love/attention of her parents, friends, old schoolmates because she has her dog, her booze and just knows she will get her old boyfriend, Buddy, played by Patrick Wilson, back as soon as he sees her.

Mavis is not a nice person nor does she try to be and Theron doesn't shy away from the audience not liking her even to the point when it is explained, to a certain point, why she might be the way she is that she won't get the sympathy she is crying for.

Mavis reaches out to Matt, played by Patton Oswalt, who plays the star's best gay friend but he isn't gay even though he was beaten up by school jocks, and crippled for life, who thought he was. Matt joins Mavis on binges and he sees her as the girl he worshipped from afar in school and now seems to be her equal and might stand a chance.

Jason Reitman, the director, and Diablo Cody, the writer, make two mistakes, one that we know is coming and the other that can be interrupted in different ways which just stops the movie from being what it should/could have been.

Theron is outstanding and Oswalt is her match in the acting department. The rest of the supporting cast doesn't really have a chance to stand out though Elizabeth Reaser as Wilson's wife, Jill Eikenberry and Richard Bekins as Mavis's parents are winning. Patrick Wilson doesn't really have much to do and too dumb to be believable. I can't wait until the phase of young actors thinking the unshaven look makes them look more masculine, or for whatever reason they have that look, is over.

It is always good to watch an excellent actress in a role that is worthy of her though the movie is not quite as first class.

GOOD GUYS FINISH FIRST!!!

2011-12-18T20:17:00.000-05:00

South Florida is known for all the scams pulled on the old folks here BUT little is said about the scam old people pull on the restaurants in the surrounding area. They wait until they are almost finished their meal and they start complaining--LOUDLY--about how bad everything was. They know managers/owners will rush over in most cases and pick up their checks--adding insult to injury, the old folks won't tip the servers! Let's just say that many restaurants share lists of people who have done this more than once!!

On the other hand there are people like me who won't complain about bad food but won't go back to that particular restaurant--we have far too many restaurants not to get a good meal every time! The Quarterdeck Restaurant has become a favorite of mine and Allen's and I wrote before about the December specials--a different one every day of their best dishes! I checked out their web site and I noticed that there was a mistake so I sent an e-mail to the 'contact us' address.

Frank, one of the owners, sent me a reply thanking me for pointing out the mistake and said I should bring in the e-mail for a free drink. I thanked him in return telling him that I don't drink and he answered that being the case I should get an appetizer and dessert!

In between the food shopping on Thursday Allen and I went there for a late lunch. After kidding John, a new waiter, about losing the flip of the coin with Timothy, a young old timer, he took our order and brought me coffee and Allen diet coke. I told Allen to order the appetizer and I would order the dessert. He picked the chicken fingers which were hot (temp wise), with a good breading and honey mustard sauce on the side and delicious.

The $7.99 that day was their jambalaya which Allen and I usually have on Fridays. It is one of their specialties and one of the best I have ever had. Since Allen doesn't like peppers I take his and he has the rice while I have the pasta.

For dessert I ordered the chocolate cake a la mode which comes with a heavy fudge chocolate layer cake with chocolate chips and the ice cream is vanilla bean. I almost forgot to take a picture it was so good!!

It really was a good meal from beginning to end and the check came to about $21. We left John a $9 tip--I think he was glad he lost the toss! LOL

Between the unexpected free appetizer, dessert at the Quarterdeck and the surprise brownies from ZestofMemphis (have you checked them out yet?) I think good guys finish first!

By the way we went back on the following Thursday and had the Chicken Francaise --I had the rice and Allen had broccoli--it was good!

We have 8 other specials to try but only 1 Thursday left plus Allen is going up north the last week of the year so we are going to have to go to the Quarterdeck a few more times this coming week!

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""Only in relationships can you know yourself,

not in abstraction,

and certainly not in isolation."

Jiddu Krishnamurti 1895-1986 Indian Theosophist

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Just 72 days to my next birthday!

leapyearday.com

BLOOMS IN MY HOUSE

2011-12-17T16:50:00.000-05:00

I love Mother Nature, flowers, plants and surround myself with as many as I can. Here are some of the plants---in bloom--in my apartment:

Both of these plants--one in the east window and the other in the south window were both started from a 2-3" stem I took off an established plant--between both I constantly have yellow blooms in my apartment--when they reach the ceiling I may have to plant them outside in one of the neighbor's gardens!

The hibiscus bloom is the second one on this stem--the previous one is the 4th picture from the bottom--I am now thinking of clipping a twig off a yellow hibiscus and putting it in the same pot!
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"The only gift is a

portion of thyself."

Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882 American Essayist, Poet and Philosopher

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Just 73 days to my next birthday!

check out leapyearday.com about us special people!!!

"SHAME"---A FILM REVIEW

2011-12-16T19:59:00.002-05:00

“Shame” will be remembered for a few things; 1) actor Michael Fassbender taking on a role as a sex addict exposing himself completely physically while showing very little outwardly except through his dead eyes, 2) the longest, slowest, most boring, excruciating version of “New York, New York” ever heard and 3) making sex on screen mind numbing and unexciting.

Fassbender, as Brandon, has a job in a high rise New York building with offices surrounded by glass and lives in a New York high rise with floor to ceiling windows. What his job is remain unknown but on the job, going to and coming home from and after work, his life revolves around sex watching porno, hooking up with prostitutes, Internet sex, masturbating. He is a sex machine as long as he doesn’t have to show emotion or commitment.

Brandon has a sister, Sissy, played by Carey Mulligan, who he avoids communicating with until she shows up at his apartment with nowhere to stay. Sissy is the opposite of her brother being passionate, needy, showing her emotions all over the place and in pain.

One suspects that brother and sister share a family background that would make clear their current states but it is never explained while the director, Steve McQueen, writers McQueen and Abi Morgan, and director of photography, Sean Bobbitt, are being too busy with long monotonous shots such as Fassbender jogging, sex scenes lasting too long, concentrating how a scene is shot and not what is happening with the characters.

While James Badge Dale, as Brandon’s married boss who goes to bed with Sissy, and Nicole Beharie as Brando’s co-worker along with Brandon’s various sex partners the film belongs to Carey Mulligan and Michael Fassbender with the latter giving a daring physical performance that is bringing him a lot of award attention.

The Glenn Gould Bach piano recordings are a cliché and the music by Harry Escott adds nothing to the film.

“Shame” is, deservedly, rated NC-17 for its full frontal and rear male and female nudity plus the sex scenes.

If/when you watch it on DVD do yourself a big favor and fast forward the “New York, New York” song sequence.

PROBLEM SOLVED

2011-12-15T17:10:00.001-05:00

Martin

Do you want to come to Million Dollar Quartet on Tuesday and see Cirque on Wednesday?

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And so I said, "YES!" Some people are lucky and I am one of them!!!!

AND

MY FACE, OLD CARS, RESTAURANTS & MORE

2011-12-14T20:05:00.001-05:00

On November 8 I fell flat on my face saying hello to the sidewalk. The face was pretty well beaten up and I had a few bruises on my body but luckily I didn't break anything. The picture on the left was taken November 10 and the one on the right (and below) were taken December 10. I was very surprised that I healed so quickly as taking warfarin--a blood thinner--healing usually takes a very long time.

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On another subject--food---after the movie on Friday we went to the Outback as they were having a 6 ounce sirloin special, with a choice of 2 sides, for $9.99 Now for most people a 6 ounce piece of meat is enough but for me it fills, maybe, one cavity, but between the beef, the potato, broccoli and 2 loaves of bread I must admit I was satisfied and we didn't even have dessert!!

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Next door, at another restaurant, for whatever reason, they had a row of old cars parked in front and as soon as I spotted the red convertible I knew I was going to buy it after I won the lottery this week!

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"Not what we give, but what we share,

For the gift without the giver is bare."

James Russell Lowell 1819-1891 American Poet and Diplomat

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Just 77 days to my next birthday!

www.leapyearday.com

CHOOSE ONE

2011-12-14T12:13:00.000-05:00

Both open on December 27 and I can only get to one--Cirque is in Fort Lauderdale where I live and Quartet in Miami--never have seen a version of the former and (dare I say it?) I am not a fan of the Quartet's music--there is a chance either or both may play in Fort Lauderdale next year--which would you choose?

"SHREK--THE MUSICAL"-- REVIEW OF TOURING COMPANY

2011-12-13T15:25:00.001-05:00

Whether it be a Beast ("Beauty and the Beast") or an Ogre ("Shrek --The Musical") we know they will meet a princess and the curtain will come down when they reach the "Happy Ever After" time in life. It is the musical journey they take to that end that a show is based on and there is enough to hold both an adults and a child's interest in "Shrek --The Musical." As in the original animated movie there are many references to pop culture to keep the older folks happy while their children and/or grandchildren are kept busy with all the fairy tale creatures from all the stories they have read.

Special kudos have to go to the original costume and set designer Tim Hatley along with James Krozner and Austin K. Sanderson who adapted his ideas for the tour. There are so many dazzling costumes and sets, constantly changing, that sometimes they take away from the players.

With a cast of 24, many doing multiple roles, and an orchestra of 9, all get a spot to shine in the production with books and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori .

Lucas Post as Shrek captures the humor and warmth of the character and sings his solos "Who I'd Be" and "When Words Fail" with power and feelings. Liz Shivener , as Princess Fiona, is a good foil for, and with, Shrek getting all the humor out of "I Think I Got You Beat", the wistfulness of "I Know It's Today" though the harmony with the two younger Fionas isn't as good as it should/could be. Opening the second act with "Morning Person" singing and tap dancing all out Shivener delivers the goods and you just know that the 7 and 8 year old girls in the audience are picturing themselves up there taking her place in the future.

Andre Jordan, as the donkey, does the best he can with a role that was written for Eddie Murphy in the film that doesn't allow Jordan for much leeway on stage but he works hard to make it his own. Merrit David Janes , as Lord Farquaad , has a difficult time with his role for several reasons because it is underwritten and after the first few 'short legs' and 'short' gags the audience members spend a lot of time wondering how the mechanics of those legs can be so tiny on a grown man work.

Pinocchio (Luke Yellin ), Peter Pan (Chase Todd), Ugly Duckling (Annie Fitch), the Fairy Godmother (Erin Sullivan) and all the other fairy tale creatures acquit themselves well and sell "Freak Flag" as an ensemble.

Note must be made of the 4 dragon handlers and KellyTeal Goyette who voices her.

"Shrek--The Musical" ends on a high note with the whole company doing a clap your hands, stand up and shout version of "I'm A Believer."

As a side note though it gives me special pleasure to see kids coming to the theatre after "The Addams Family", "Beauty and the Beast" and "Shrek --the Musical" I must admit I am ready for the grown up musical "Million Dollar Quartet" coming to Miami the end of this month!

Strobe lights--theatrical haze--fog

Act 1 an hour and 8 minutes Intermission 21 minutes Act 2 an hour and 40 minutes

Total time 2 hours and 33 minutes

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE CHRISTMAS AT GATEWAY

2011-12-12T15:58:00.000-05:00

But first the hibiscus--the bloom fell off (see left side of pot) and now there is a new bud--might have flowers for Christmas along with my Christmas cactus!!!

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Just some of the decorations my neighbors have put up:

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"The heart of the giver

makes the gift

dear and precious."

Martin Luther 1483-1546 German Protestant Reformer

MOTHER NATURE NEVER STOPS AMAZING ME!!!

2011-12-11T19:33:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago when I was walking home passing by a Hibiscus plant I snapped off a twig and when I got home I just stuck it in a pot. Last night I noticed a buds. This morning one of them opened.

Looks like it has taken root and I now have a Hibiscus plant growing in my apartment!

By the way to the right of the plant is a twig that took from a 'Cuban Yellow' plant that is as tall as the window and flowers every morning. On the left is 'something' that has just grown out of the soil I put in the pot--a weed? Mother Nature keeps me guessing!

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"The wise man does not lay up treasure.

The more he gives to others,

the more he has for his own."

Lao-Tze 600 BC Chinese Philosopher

WELCOME TO MY WORLD PART 2 ALLEN & FRIENDS & MEMPHIS ZEST

2011-12-10T21:16:00.000-05:00

We went to the Galleria Mall to buy some See Candy gifts for Charlotte and Charlie who give us the tickets to the opening of the touring shows just as a gesture of thanks. Arriving there Allen bumped into a couple of his friends!!

There has been no uproar about the religious 'exhibition' or Santa, which is just as it should be.

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I came home this afternoon to find a box outside my door and when I opened it there were brownies and bars from Lance and Chris from ZEST OF MEMPHIS!! Just some of the goodies enclosed were: cheesecake, cherry almond, chocolate rasp truffle, cashew, turtle, German chocolate plus cran-orange blondie!!

As the title of this blog says, "Welcome to my World"! You really should check out www.zestofmemphis.com for holiday gifts--Lance and Chris take care of everything--they bake them, pack them, ship them, enclose a card--all you have to do is pay them. Of course if you are smart you'll order some for yourself AND me! LOL Excuse me while I go taste one or 2, maybe 3, possibly 4, 5?

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It's beginning to look like Christmas--our walkway on the left and in front of the office on the right--I am going to have to talk a walk around tonight and take pictures of the neighbor's decorations.

My dining room table in the evening and during the day--come on over.

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"You give but little

when you give of your possessions.

It is when you give of yourself

that you truly give."

Kahlil Gibran 1883-1931 Lebanese Poet and Artist

"NEW YEAR'S EVE"--MOVIE REVIEW

2011-12-09T20:27:00.000-05:00

Going into this movie you know it will be fluff so you just seat back in your arena seating chair and watch the various actors pass by recognizing some by name and past performances, others by their looks and some not all all but feel you should know them.

There is Abigal Breslin, growing up, and Sarah Jessica Parker playing mother and daughter. You wonder how a make up artist can make the beautiful Michelle Pfeiffer look so plain and how did Gary Marshall, the director, let the hairdresser chop up Halle Berry's hair? Did Penny Marshall make the cameo because her brother was the director and did Matthew Broderick get paid minimum for doing his bit because he wife had, more or less, the leading role? Seeing Cherry Jones on film is always a delight but who played her son? (Should I have known it was Josh Duhamel?) Who is that kid playing opposite Michele? I've seen him before in movies---oh Zac Efron. There is Hector Elizondo--Marshall's good luck charm?--and Lea Michele from "Glee" who gets to sing 2 songs and Sofia Vergara, from "Modern Family" showing off her 'assets' which are commented on by Katherine Heigl who has a couple of 'assets' of her own! Along the way there is Hillary Swank, Robert DeNiro, Chris Bridges, Seth Meyers, Jessica Biel, who I never recognize, Til Schweiger and Ashton Kutcher. At the end I wish they would do like they did in the old days and show the actors with their names in individual shots so the audience could identify who is who as I am sure no one knows all of them.

One person really impressed me in this movie and that was Jon Bon Jovi. Okay, I admit it, I am not familiar with him or his music but he certainly made me sit up and take notice in this film with his singing voice, acting and looks.

While it may sound like damning with faint praise "New Year's Eve" was a lot better than I expected, hitting some sentimental, effective spots in the second half and Gary Marshall, along with screenplay writer Katherine Fugate, handles the 6-7 different stories, (I lost count along the way LOL), in linear fashion and easy to follow though none of the stories really get any depth in the hour and 55 minutes running time.

It was a pleasant way to spend an unexpected rainy afternoon.

LAST GAZETTE ARTICLE--CORRECTED POST

2011-12-09T10:07:00.000-05:00

1988

2011

ATTENTION: COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT
FROM EDITOR Martin D. Goodkin
I really don’t know who can handle this quandary I am in but having faith in the office staff I am sure someone will get this all straightened out.
It was my understanding that there were a total of 8 other people living in the remaining 5 apartments in building D and I am beginning to question that assessment. I do not hear anyone, no shouting, no televisions blasting, no slamming of doors except, maybe, by ghosts, and, this is even eerie, I really think someone cleans the stairs and hallways everyday and, yet, I don’t see anyone!
I did bump into someone the other day who said, “Hello neighbor,” but how do I know she is one? I never see anyone going into, or leaving, the front and rear entrances. There are, occasionally, motorized chairs parked out front but I don’t see anyone in them. I don’t ever smell cigarette smoke and when I go down to The Point around midnight I never see a light on in anyone’s apartment but mine! True I hear TOPS, around midnight, beep-beep as it backs up and I hear faint talking but it all fades out into the night.
I don’t believe in ghosts but is that what it could be when I, once in awhile, hear a door slam or is it the wind playing games with the top door leading out to the walkway?
Now I, vaguely, remember signing papers over the past 12 years stating that I can voice any complaints I have regarding living conditions and property at The Gateway apartments. Do you think it is fun or even fair, at my age, not to have anything to complain about, not even annoying neighbors?
I hope someone from the office will look into my complaints, first regarding whether other people are living in building D and then why aren’t they going out of their way to annoy me.
Something has to be done regarding this situation or I will have to start writing letters to Orlando!

P.S Don’t you wish you lived in my building?
************************************************************************

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"IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE

THAN TO RECEIVE"

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20:35

I gave each of my 5 neighbors a poinsettia plant for the holidays

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WELCOME TO MY LIFE!

2011-12-07T20:27:00.001-05:00

Allen and I had dinner at the Quarterdeck before going down to Miami to see "Shrek--The Musical" --the former is doing a $7.99 dinner special every night in December with their favorites like jambalaya, shrimp scampi, fish and chips, shrimp scampi, chicken Francois, etc., something different every night--guess where we will be doing a lot of eating this month?

It was so calm and warm outside they slid the indoor windows open--was very pleasant and no one was smoking at the outside tables.

We drove down to Miami and got their in plenty of time. To read my review of "Shrek--The musical" check out www.corinescorner.com after Thursday or check back here next Tuesday.

The next show we see---December 27--will be "Million Dollar Quartet" which is about a recording meeting of Elvis, Jerry Lee, Carl and Cash--another fairy tale? LOL

Don't know if you can see it but my neighbor and I directed the railing outside our doors--on the left rail are lights--really look good at night.

Without my knowing she put a Santa on my door! I really have good neighbors-- I plan to post my last essay as an editor of the Gazette which is dedicated to them--I, also, plan to surprise them tomorrow, or Friday, by getting them each a poinsettia plant for the holidays.

It's beginning to look like Christmas--one of my neighbors apartments.

I was walking along and came across these 3 leaves on the same branch that caught my eye.

Welcome to my world.

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Lest we forget--70 years ago today

CLOSED--GOING TO THE OPENING OF

2011-12-06T12:53:00.001-05:00

TOURING COMPANY OF "SHREK--THE MUSICAL" IN MIAMI

ARE YOU GAY? NON-GAY? OR WHAT?

2011-12-05T20:35:00.000-05:00

(ACCORDING TO SOME PEOPLE THE ABOVE ALONE WOULD MARK ME GAY LOL)

I enjoy people with a weird(to me) sense of humor and, luckily, I found quite a few bloggers with just that--one of the most often asked questions I get from nongay people is, "How do you know you are gay?" This is something I posted a year or two ago that I thought might help you (or not) know the answer to that question.

I may not be gay because;
1. I like women
2. I don't want to be a woman.
3. I hate housework.
4. I am lousy at decorating.
5. Drag queens turn me off.
6. I don't care what the latest fashions are.
7. I can't lip sync
8. I don't work out 90 hours a week.
9. I'm happy with my body.
10. I'm not into 'size'.
11. I like big, heavy, fast cars.
12. Don't like ballet, classical music or opera.
13. I like jazz.
14. I don't hold my pinky out when I drink anything.
15. Don't like to hear "she", "Mary", "her" or other feminine terms applied to men.
16. I don't 'dish' my friends behind their backs.
17. I can be a couch potato.
18. I am neither thin, blonde or 'fem'.

On the other hand I may be gay because I like:

1.Streisand
2.Midler
3. Garland
4. Minelli
5.Show tunes
6 Theatre
7. "A Chorus Line"
8. Bette Davis
9. Joan Crawford
10. Jerry Herman,
11 Maya Angelou
12. Tennessee Williams
13. I Love men and having sex with them.
14. Don't like playing and/or watching football, baseball
15. Like watching ice skaters.
16. Into reading, theatre, movies.
17. Don't like guns, sci-fi, horror movies, hockey
18. I wear my heart on my sleeve

Of course there is the gray area:
I don't have a 'type'--short, tall, thin, fat, black, white, etc., as long as they are breathing!
I don't want kids or to adopt them.
I don't want to get married.

Oh, Heck, both gays and non-gays could pick from either category.

I AM GAY BECAUSE I LIKE TO, AND ONLY, HAVE SEX WITH MEN!

And that's the only difference between gay and non-gay men--we don't have an 'agenda', a 'life style' nor are we 'different' looking.

WE ARE EVERYWHERE AND NON-GAYS DON'T EVEN KNOW IT--WE ARE PART OF THEIR FAMILY, CO-WORKERS, ETC. AND IT IS TIME YOU LET THEM KNOW IT!

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"YOU FIND TRUE JOY AND HAPPINESS IN LIFE

WHEN YOU GIVE AND GIVE

AND GO ON GIVING."

EILEEN CADDY COFOUNDER OF THE FINDHORN FOUNDATION

ON THE WATER--THE PICTURES TELL IT ALL

2011-12-04T20:35:00.000-05:00

But that won't stop me from saying a few words! LOL I love water whether it be the ocean, rain, a river, in the shower or in a glass. I don't know if it is because my 'sign' is Pisces or not but water just 'does' something to and for me ! Since I moved to Gateway in 1999 The Point at the end of the property, jutting out in Karen's Bay, has given me unforgettable times of peace, at times had me gasping for breath and at other times just in awe of the world and life . Come and join me!

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"WHAT IS SUCCESS?

TO LAUGH OFTEN AND MUCH;

tO WIN THE RESPECT OF INTELLIGENT PEOPLE AND THE AFFECTION OF CHILDREN;

TO EARN THE APPRECIATION OF HONEST CRITICS AND ENDURE THE BETRAYAL OF FALSE FRIENDS;

TO APPRECIATE BEAUTY; TO FIND THE BEST IN OTHERS;

TO LEAVE THE WORLD A BIT BETTER, WHETHER BY A HEALTHY CHILD, A GARDEN PATCH

OR A REDEEMED SOCIAL CONDITION;

TO KNOW EVEN ONE LIFE BREATHED EASIER BECAUSE YOU HAVE LIVED;

THIS IS TO HAVE SUCCEEDED.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON 1803-1882 AMERICAN ESSAYIST, POET AND PHILOSOPHER

HOW MUCH DID MY 9 CENTS COST THE COMPANY?

2011-12-03T20:34:00.000-05:00

A couple of months ago I overpaid my credit card by 9 cents. I got my bill yesterday and I saw the credit had turned into a debit and my balance was zero. Curiosity more than anything else made me call the credit card company and ask what happened to MY 9 cents. (Hey, I'm sick and have time on my hands!) I know you will believe me when I tell you that I spent a minimum of 45 minutes on the phone first with 'account executives' and then 2 managers.

I was told that since I didn't call them and ask for the 9 cents they donated the money to charity after a certain period of time! Well I questioned them back and forth about that statement until I was turned over to the first 'manager' who told me that the previous manager was wrong, that they had sent me a check for the 9 cents! After finding out the date the check was sent and that I hadn't gotten it he turned me over---get this--the VP of phone accounts!!! It was decided that she would put a hold on the check that was sent and would send me another one and that I should give 2-3 weeks to arrive. When I asked why it couldn't just be put back on the account as a credit and I would use the card during the holidays I was met with silence!

Now I have no idea the salaries of the people involved---yes, I think they were all overseas--but 45 minutes on the phone, 3 employees, a hold on a check, issuing another check--ALL FOR 9 CENTS!!!--had to cost a lot of money!!! Sorry, folks, but somehow I have a feeling you'll be paying for that 9 cents!

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I LOVE THIS!!! They are putting new roofs on our buildings--one of the workmen left this 'peacock' (roofing materials) to keep us entertained!!!

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For those who laugh at me--hello Chuck--here is the new camera I got free and the first pictures I took with them--the camera (with my old camera)--my dining room table--me--Allen and our waiter at the ROK BURGER. How did I get it free, you ask? Easy! Every time I watch Wheel of Fortune I go to the site and enter the bonus puzzle answer and get 10 credits. Up until recently they gave more credits for Jeopardy but they eliminated that--and after you get enough credits all you do is pick your gift--it was that simple.

It is a lot thinner than it looks--fits into my pocket with no problem.

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Tuesday is the day we go see "Shrek--The Musical" tour company opeing in Miami!

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"A bit of fragrance

always clings to the hand

that gives you roses."

Chinese Proverb

MOTHER NATURE CAN ALWAYS CURE ME!!!

2011-12-02T20:35:00.001-05:00

All it takes are bright flowers/plants to put a smile on my face and make me feel better--while out yesterday I had Allen stop by Home Depot where I picked up a couple of plants plus I am always taking 'samples ' from bushes around Gateway. Tomorrow I will repot the new ones and 'feed' the older ones!

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"My formula for success?

Rise early, work late, strike oil."

J. Paul Getty 1892-1976 American Oil Magnate

I HATE GETTING SICK...PART 3

2011-12-01T20:42:00.001-05:00

I felt a little better yesterday , enough to eat some turkey and turkey soup. Allen was good enough to pick up the prescription my doctor called in, ciprofloxacin, in which the following is stated in the pharmacist's guidelines . "Cipro can cause side effects that may be serious or even cause death." Doesn't that make you want to take it?

I took the tablet at 11 PM and though it didn't kill me I certainly went into a deep sleep until 12:20 PM the next day! I woke up feeling better but have been extremely weak all day, in fact taking 'naps' twice during the day. I am inclined to stop taking the pills but I will try one more day and if my energy is zero again I will stop taking them. Ironically it seems the medicine also helps sore tendons and my foot is not hurting today! So do I want to be able to walk without pain but not have the energy to walk or do I want to have the energy, walk and the pain? What a conundrum!!!

The same thing happened last night with the cipro--it knocked me out and left me very weak today. I'm hesitating about taking it again but as it isn't causing pain I probably will.

Okay, it has been a week now that I have had this viviting 'bug'--enough is enough! The only plus is that I have lost 10 and 1/4 pounds but I know that will come back fast enough. I am still having turkey with turkey soup and have added saltines. I had absolutely no interest in shopping when Allen stopped by to take me on my Thursday food rounds. We didn't even have lunch out!! And going a step further we aren't going to the movies tomorrow--don't remember the last Friday I missed a movie.

That's it talking about being sick--even I am tired of hearing me moaning and groaning so unless something drastic happens no more blogs about the bug and me!

Thanks for caring and all the good wishes!

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"Our problem is that we make the mistake of comparing

ourselves with other people. You are not inferior or superior to

any human being...You do not determine your success by

comparing yourself to others, rather you determine your success

by comparing your accomplishments to your capabilities.

You are 'number one' when you do the best you can

with what you have."

Zig Siglar American Motivational Writer

I HATE GETTING SICK...PART 2

2011-11-30T20:45:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I started to feel pain in my right foot. It sort of 'travelled' from the sole to the top to the back of the heel and then the top again. I told the doctor about it and he sent me for an x-ray which came back negative. He then sent me to the podiatrist who couldn't find anything but said it might be tendinitis and gave me some exercises to do which didn't seem to help. On my own I alternated between hot and cold compresses but, again, nothing helped, so I just went on bearing it.

Then THE fall happened on November 8. Now 3 weeks later it all has healed a lot faster than I expected though I still have a few bruises on my body, a big one under my arm but nothing hurts.

On Thanksgiving Day, as we have the past few years, Allen and I went to the buffet at the casino and I knew something was wrong as I didn't feel like eating!! Oh I took some plates of food and had a few bites but, probably for the first time, the buffet made money off me! Allen took me home and I spent most of the night sleeping. On Friday, as usual, we went to the movie and I didn't feel too bad. I told Allen I had been constipated for a few days--another oddity for me--but when we went to Denny's for a bite I did eat the eggs and pumpkin pancakes.

It was when I got home that I, literally, exploded!!! I spent all of Friday, Saturday and Sunday either knocked out on the bed or sitting on the commode! Even worse I didn't eat a bit of food! Along with all that my right leg fell out from under me a couple of times and lucky enough I was able to grab onto something so I didn't fall.

On Monday I got to the doctor who first reamed me out for not coming to him after the fall. He also decided to send me to a neurologist regarding the foot. He said it was obvious that I had caught the 'bug' that was going around and told me to go home, rest and have a liquid diet including chicken soup--and he isn't Jewish!! In any case he gave me a prescription for ciprofloxacin for 7 days and told me if the diarrhea hasn't eased up in 2 days to call him. How about this on the druggist's notes: "Cipro can cause side effects that may be serious or even cause death." Doesn't that make you want to take it?

When I got up today--oh did I mention along with this they are putting a new roof on my building?? And that the lawn maintenance men come every Tuesday? -- though I didn't feel that much better I did feel a little hungry. I didn't have chicken but I did have a turkey I had cooked up for the weekend so I put that in a large boiler and made some turkey soup which I have been nibbling on all day.

People are kind and mean well but when I am sick leave me alone! Of course my not responding to phone calls only makes them more concerned and the knocks on the door start--with pots of chicken soup!!! I put a note on the door and a message on my answering machine that I was coming along fine and would get in touch with them soon.

Hopefully I will be back to my old self in a day or two but meanwhile I'll pamper myself, eat my turkey soup, cover myself up in my fleece bathrobe and watch some trash TV falling asleep every now and then!!!

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"I cannot give you the formula for success,

but I can give you the formula for failure

--which is try to please everybody."

Herbert Bayard Swope 1882-1958 American Newspaper Editor

I HATE GETTING SICK BECAUSE I'M A LOUSY PATIENT!

2011-11-29T20:58:00.001-05:00

When I am sick I want to be left alone--no calls to see how I am--no one stopping by--nothing! I just want to feel sorry for myself, curl up in bed and sleep! AND THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE Thanksgiving Day!

I remember very little illnesses when I was a child though I know I had my tonsils out. I know have stitches over my right eye from a swing incident. I don't remember being in a hospital until I woke up in one in Memphis after I had been to South America. It seems I had gotten an 'unknown virus'. To this day all I remember is standing on the balcony of the Camino Real in Acapulco wanting to jump off! How I changed my flights, got through customs in Dallas and 4 days woke up in the Baptist hospital in Memphis is all still a mystery to me.

In 1976 Johnny and I went to see "A Chorus Line" in New York and I recall getting real drunk, leaving him in the hotel, going to Kennedy airport, changing my airline ticket and arriving in Memphis in an ice storm, falling on steps leading from my carport to my townhouse and splitting my forehead over over my left eye. I went into my place, got blood all over and eventually walked next door to the Methodist East hospital.

The next incident was in the late 80s when I was driving and had an appendicitis attack and checked into the Plantation hospital in Fort Lauderdale.

My most vivid experince in a hospital was at Broward General in Fort Lauderdale over the 1999-2000 New Year's weekend which was very cold. I had been rushed there with congestive heart failure and while they were trying to save me I was complaining about losing my flip-flop! While in recovery I kept on telling the floor nurse I was going out to check if it was snowing, she and I both knowing I was going out to smoke a cigarette---and that is after experiencing congestive heart failure!

The last time I was in the hospital, and the last time I was sick, was July 21, 2008 when I went in for an Aorta Valve replacement operation. It was also the last day I smoked a cigarette!

I have never had any problems in the hospitals always getting first rate treatment and care with concerned staff. I don't look forward to being in a hospital but I am not afraid of them.

I truly felt like calling 911 a couple of times this past weekend after the third part of a'whammy' hit me on Thanksgiving. You know something is wrong when I don't want to eat!

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"Success is to be measured not so much

by the position one has reached in life,

as by the obstacles which one has overcome

while trying to succeed."

Booker T. Washington 1856-1915 American Teacher and Writer

TYING UP DANGLING THREADS LOL

2011-11-27T19:22:00.001-05:00

And people think we don't have Fall or Winter in South Florida!!! We did two weekends ago but we are back in the 80s now! It was breezy, cool over that weekend Temps had dropped into 50s that Friday night; there were rough beach conditions over that weekend with waves up to 10" And we have another cold wave coming this week.

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This is a lime tree but those are BIG oranges or lemons on top--we haven't figured out yet!!

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Florida drivers rank 4th worst--we use to be number 1!!! Here's the new ratings:

1 Louisiana 2 Missouri 3 Texas 4 Florida

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Just another out of order restaurant John! :O)

******************************************************************I I really hate being without a car but no way can I afford one--it's like being a prisoner and I am really dependent on Allan to get away now and then--he went to Key West a couple of weekends ago and I had to figure out how to get to the movie theatre--the fact that I can no longer walk to the one nearest me makes it difficult but I may use TOPS--a local county transportation service--will make for an expensive movie!

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I was sent to a new interesting web site but I just don't have the time to get involved with another one though I may get back to it.

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What is it with certain blog sites? There is one site where you really don't know who you are talking to--people are banned and come back under other names--others write 3 blogs and are welcomed as if they have been blogging for years and know things that they really couldn't know unless they have been here for awhile--it is almost as if they are ashamed of who they are BUT they eventually give themselves away--you have people that have major fights with 3-4 people within a month and don't see that THEY are the cause of all the problems--very strange web site.

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In this past weekend's USA Weekend there is an article on the upside of aging--like I haven't been telling you people this for the past 6-7 years--just one quote from the article; "For many elders, life past 70 is better than they imagined it to be." Amen to that folks!!! LOL

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By the way I shaved off my beard--did anyone notice? The picture on top is the 'old' me!!! LOL But now I'm growing it back again! Don't ask! LOL

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"If only we'd stop trying to be happy,

we could have a pretty good time."

Edith Wharton 1862-1937 American Novelist

TO MAKE YOU ALMOST AS SWEET AS I AM!!!

2011-11-26T17:35:00.001-05:00

The last time Terry and Chuck were down here they brought a box of homemade brownies. I believe each had one and I gobbled the rest--I'm sure Terry remembers. The brownies were thick with chocolate, nuts and whatever else they filled them with and were heavy to lift BUT melted like butter in your mouth.

I checked out their web page www.zestofmemphis.com and if I could have I would have eaten the brownies, cakes and pies right off the monitor. As it was I slobbered so much over it I had to wipe it down.

I won't go into much of their web page as you will really have fun reading and seeing it. Here is how it starts:

"After years as a school counselor and a lifelong interest and passion for cooking, Lance Allred lived in Midtown Memphis where he found that there was no good source for fresh, home-style baked goods. Thinking that there must be others desiring a healthy yet quick meal in Midtown, he began looking for people who would come together for a casual meal, rather than patronizing a pricey restaurant or eating mediocre food in their own home. Over time, Lance Allred met Chris Haskins and began to formulate a plan to meet the demand for fresh, quality food and baked goods.Zest Special Events grew out of a desire to offer fresh-tasting food with a sense of home and genuineness. So much of what we eat today has been mass produced in large facilities, frozen, then shipped to various business/restaurants, andeventually to you. What we offer is the unmatched quality of food items made fresh in small batches, by human hands, just the way you want.

Lance and Chris are taking their love of food and friendship and sharing it with Memphis. Every recipe is made from scratch and every table and buffet designed to fit your individual needs. No part of our business, from the recipes to the presentation, will ever look alike.

We take pride in being able to fit our menu and set-ups to your individual needs.As the idea for this business grew out of Lance and Chris’s own dissatisfaction with available resources for fresh, homemade baked goods, Zest offers customers advantages that appealed first to them."

Go to their web page and hit on 'bakery' then 'brownies and bars'--at the bottom of the page are their very reasonable prices--remember the mail prices go up in January!! I haven't had a chance to get to the pies yet!!!

By the way just mention I sent you and then, maybe, Lance will send me on of his new white chocolate brownies--hey, it doesn't hurt to ask!!!

By the way I haven't had any trouble with his shipping packages for me and getting them delivered in time--I just suggest you get your order in early.

And did I mention I wouldn't get insulted if you sent me some for Kwanzaa, Hanukkah AND Christmas???? Oh did I mentiom that I will be 19 on February 29, 2012????

"THE DESCENDANTS"--A MOVIE REVIEW

2011-11-25T22:06:00.000-05:00

There is no doubt that George Clooney will get an Oscar nomination, and possibly win, for his performance in "The Descendants" where, not only is he in every frame of the film except for 2-3 strictly scenic views, he is at the top of his game. The only thing that is unfair about this is that the rest of the performances are just as good as his but he will be the center of the reviews as his role, status and acting demands.

Clooney is the father of 17 and 11 year old daughters who has mainly stayed in the background of their lives leaving the upbringing to his wife who is now in the hospital in a coma who will soon be taken off life support. He is involved with his business of being a lawyer plus the trustee of his ancestral family land and is now thrown into the role of main parent in addition to having to tell his family and friends of his wife's pending death. In anger, as both daughters are angry, his oldest tells him that their mother has been cheating on him. We watch him as he becomes overwhelmed and slowly but surely does the right thing, not only for himself but all involved.

The director, Alexander Payne, and his co-writers Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, make a couple of missteps one being with the character Sid who really is an unneeded accessory in the film except for one punchline involving exactly that, a punch. Sid is played by Nick Krause and he does very well in the role but wouldn't have been missed if the part was cut.

Matching Clooney on every level is Shailene Woodley playing the very angry older daughter though it is not explained why she is so angry and rebellious or why she would want Sid to be with her. Amara Miller as the younger daughter acts just like a younger daughter would. Matthew Lillard plays the man who Clooney's wife cheater with and Judy Greer his wife who has a very telling moment when she visits the woman her husband has been cheating with. In small but effective roles are Beau Bridges, representing the cousins, who could make a lot of money if Clooney agrees to sell the land, Robert Foster as the father in law who felt Matt (Clooney) was never good enough for his daughter and that daughter, Patricia Hastie, plays the wife/mother/daughter in a coma.

One mistake was having so much Hawaiian music on the soundtrack. Yes the film takes place in Hawaii but at times the music was intrusive if not annoying.

With all the above said I really can't point at anyone thing as to why this movie, which certainly should have, didn't move me. I was in the minority regarding this director's "Sideways" and I will be in the minority with this movie. It is a film to see for the ensemble acting, including that performance by Clooney, but it isn't a movie I would want to see again.

A line from the movie that stays with me is, "I want my children to have enough money to do something but not enough to do nothing."

THANKSGIVING TRADITION GOES AWRY!!

2011-11-24T21:38:00.000-05:00

Allen and I started a Thanksgiving tradition a few years ago by going to the buffet at the Isles Casino and he picked me up at 2 and we were on our way. There was an hour and a half wait so what do you do in a casino when you have time to waste? You gamble!! Well I hate to lose and after losing $20 I told Allen that was enough and let's see if we could get into the restaurant a little earlier. I spoke to the girl at the desk and she said that we could go on in so we did!

The food was good as was the service but I wasn't! I don't know what's wrong but something is wrong with me--can't pinpoint it--the body just isn't working right--it's bad enough that it seems every bone is aching when we went for the Thanksgiving buffet I---me. myself and I--not only didn't feel like eating I couldn't eat my usual 10 courses!!! It's so bad I am calling the doctor tomorrow and breaking my once a year rule--will make an appointment for Monday--I know he is going to want me to get all kinds of X-rays, Cat Scans, etc. I came home and immediately went to bed and slept for 2 hours! I feel better BUT not even hungry and that is a bad sign. I'll let you know what he says--or doesn't say!

I did fill my plates up with all sort of goodies but for one of the very few times in my life I didn't/couldn't eat!!! I didn't want to say anything to Allen though he did offer to take me home but he was enjoying himself so I sort of talked myself into feeling better at least until I got home!

Here are some of the things I was going to eat and though a took a few bites I was very disappointed in myself! LOL

When we left there was a line sneaking around the casino so our timing was pretty good! Now next year I will have to go back and make up for this year. I HATE NOT FEELING WELL!!!

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"The men I have seen succeed have always been

cheerful and helpful, who went about their business

with a smile on their faces, and took all the changes

and chances to this mortal life like a man."

Charles Kingsley 1819-1875 English Writer

A THANKSGIVING REMEMBERANCE--HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2011-11-23T20:30:00.000-05:00

We all have many things to be thankful for but every Thanksgiving (and many times over the year) I am most grateful for people who have added to my life and are no more with my physically--I know they are my Guardian Angels looking over my shoulder every day of the year--though YOU may not know them they are a part of my family and I would like to share them with you. During the 80s I lost many friends due to AIDS but now as I am old I am losing many of them to natural causes from growing old.

Until the end BJ fought to stay alive but it wasn't enough. I only knew her for a very short time over the years if I totaled them up but once you met her you never forgot her.

Then there was Robert who knew he would live for a very long time but it wasn't long enough. I've written about him over the years and he and James who were together for over 50 years. We were close friends for over 30 years.

I miss Layde. She was fun and a great supporter of mine not to mention donating many hours to editing my books and, many times, my thoughts. We met in Tennessee and a few years later she moved to Dallas with her sister Nina and Nina's partner Jean. She was always there for me with a joke or a shoulder to cry on.

Due to age many people here at Gateway have died. This past year we lost Emily and Barbara and last year we lost Carmen and Liz, both to cancer. Liz was an outgoing artist who volunteered every Saturday giving walking tours of the Bonnet House, an historical landmark in Fort Lauderdale. She did not suffer fools gladly and wasn't shy about telling them off.

I have never seen a family matriarch as loved by her family as Carmen was and each child, both daughters and sons, were more beautiful, more handsome than the other. They were polite, well mannered and respected all adults even as they were adults themselves. Her grandson, a strapping 6 feet, 200 pound 13 year old, loved her so much he couldn't but help show her every time he was near. She was caring, loving, positive and optimistic to all her family, friends and neighbors and had a wicked sense of humor.

They may just be names to you but along with many others they bring a smile and warmth to me whenever I think of them and I often do. I hope Ladye, BJ, Liz, Robert and Carmen get to say hello to:

Albyn (heart attack), Flo (cancer), Joe (stroke), Ginny (cancer), Ronnie (heart attack) Bob B. (heart attack), John C. (AIDS), Tom L. (AIDS), Ray B. (heart attack), Buddy (AIDS), Michael Mc (AIDS), Joe (heart attack) Bob/Dr K (heart attack), Vinnie (heart attack) Robert I. (phenomena)--just a few of my Guardian Angels!!!!

Here's also a piece of my heart for all those young people in their teens who have suffered and died from AIDS because their parents and adults don't care about 'kids' nor do they want the government to spend money on helping them. I miss, and remember, each one of you.

"DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST"--TOURING COMPANY REVIEW

2011-11-22T20:14:00.001-05:00

"Tale as old as time,

Song as old as Rhyme,

Beauty and the Beast"

are how the lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice tell the story of Beauty and the Beast. The theme of not judging a book by its cover, not judging people from how they look, has been told in every medium numerous times with its current version first a movie in 1991 and then brought to the Broadway stage in 1994. Now 20 years later the story of Belle and the Prince with a cast of 31, plus an orchestra of 13, moves the audience as always. This tour presented by NETworks productions started in February 2010 and now after a 6 week break have come to the Broward Performing Arts Center with redone costumes, re-painted, and in some cases new, sets.

The book by Linda Woolverton, with the music by Alan Menken and the lyrics by Ashman and Rice, captured every child, mainly girls and more children than I have ever seen at a musical, in the audience including a few adults. Is there a male who hasn't, at one time or another, felt like the Beast? Is there a female who didn't want to be Belle in a yellow ballgown waltzing in the arms of a man she loves? For a moment or more each member of the audience, young or old, were either the Beast or the Beauty.

The hardest working member of the cast has to be Andrew Kruep, playing the sidekick of Gaston, the local town Lothario. Known as Lefou he does more pratfalls than any other actor I have seen and gets many laughs along the way with looks and actions. Logan Denninghoff, playing Gaston, gets every narcissistic action required of the egotistical man and shows his villain side when needed.

Mrs. Potts, played by Julia Louise Hosack, puts across the title song with feelings and is an important part of the ensemble. Michael Haller, as Lumiere the candelabra, is hard to understand overdoing the French. Benjamin Lovell as the clock, Noah Jones as Chip, Chandon Jones playing Babette, Jen Bechter as Madame, Christopher Spencer as Belle's father along with Matt Kopec as Monsieur d'Arque are all adequate in their roles.

Emily Behny, as Belle, is on stage for most of the time and takes a while to warm up but when she does she is a strong actress, singer and dancer and really shines playing opposite the Beast. Dane Agostinis, as the Prince/Beast, has very little to do in the first act but with the rise of the second act curtain he takes the stage, and the show, over. Emily Behny and Dane Agostinis, in the second act, show why "Disney's Beauty and the Best" has been a hit.

The negatives are a slow, long first act and not very distinguished choreography. Everyone knows "Be My Guest" but it isn't sold to the audience as the rousing number it is.

Just an observation--this is certainly a family show and one children should be brought to, for among other things, to introduce to musical shows, but by 9:30 PM most of those under 5 (?) were fading away.

1st act 1 hour and 25 minute Intermission 20 minutes 2nd act 50 minutes total show 2 hours and 35 mintes

Strobe lights, smoke

Playing at the BPAC until the 27th and then goes to Springfield, Ill., Richmond, Ky., Portsmith, Ohio.

Coming to the Broward Performing Arts Center: Jersey Boys January 11-20, Billy Elliot February 29-March 11, South Pacific April 10-22, La Cage Aux Folles June 12-24

AT OUR DOCK AT GATEWAY--MAKE AN OFFER!!!

2011-11-21T20:32:00.000-05:00

YACHT FOR SALE--3 STATEROOMS --$350,000

CURRENTLY DOCKED AT GATEWAY

HURRY AND BUY IT BEFORE I BUY AFTER WINNING POWERBALL--I'LL NEED SOMETHING FOR THE HELP TO USE ON THEIR DAY OFF!

THE FOLLOWING ACCESSORY IS INCLUDED FOR WALK AND FANGIO--WITH THE APPROVAL OF THEIR WIVES!!!

A PICTURE OF CHOCOLATE IS WORTH A 1,000 SIGHS! PART 2

2011-11-20T20:50:00.001-05:00

They held a contest among chefs from a local culinary school with each 'sculpture' (ready Happy?) made out of, naturally, chocolate--they looked good!

Lance, the brownies aren't half as good as yours!!!

On the way out they have scales for anyone who wants to weigh them-self--I didn't see a person on them on the way out--I did see a few weighing themselves on the way in!!

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"All successful people have a goal.

No one can get anywhere unless

unless he klnows where he wants to go

and what he wants to do."

Norman Vincent Peale 1898-1993 American Minister

A PICTURE OF CHOCOLATE IS WORTH A 1,000 SIGHS!

2011-11-19T21:04:00.000-05:00

Allen and I went to The Festival Of Chocolate at the Palm Beach Convention Center. It was a disappointment for 2 reasons with the first being no free samples. Now don't get me wrong regarding that but I think it was a big mistake to overcharge for the products that were a dollar for a, seriously, thimble size cupcake while most items, all small, were $3-5. With the holidays around the corner they could/would have made more money by offering small tastes and letting people place orders for the holiday or at least get a card or pen or some reminder of their product. I think they were ounce and penny foolish.

Another mistake was not being allowed to pay directly for products. You had to first 'buy' coins and then buy the product. When a (small) piece of cake cost 5 coins and you only had 4 you had to go running around to find a coin seller. I am sure some vendors lost money.

In any case these were all private vendors, no Godiva or such, and I just wish Zest for Memphis was here but more about that after Thanksgiving. Here are just a few of the pictures I took!

A lot more chocolate and a lot more pictures tomorrow in Part 2

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"Singleness of purpose is one of

the chief essentials for success in life,

no matter what may be one's aims."

John D. Rockefeller, Jr 1874-1960 American Oil Millionaire

"J. EDGAR"--A MOVIE REVIEW

2011-11-18T21:19:00.000-05:00

Leonardo DiCaprio, with the aid of makeup, clothes, wigs and acting makes you forget Leonardo DiCaprio the actor as he is John Edgar Hoover. Now how many watching this film, say in their 40s, 50s and younger, will even know who John Edgar Hoover was, or what he did, is another story and separating lies from the truth will be hard enough for those who did know him and what he did.

This film, though directed by Clint Eastwood, belongs to DiCaprio and the screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black, who won an Oscar for writing "Milk", and here tackles a complex man and complex problems.

By his 20s Hoover was on his way to becoming the most powerful man in the United States by heading the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He initiated keeping finger printing files along with criminal science and with his keeping personal files of powerful people from Presidents, and their wives, to such things as wiretapping and blackmail though he would never call it that. For almost 50 years he bend stories so that he is the hero in the capture of Dillinger, and other criminals, along with making himself the defender of America against communism, criminals and all things against this country. His work story is told in a series of relating his memoirs to various young men.

What is not told in his memoirs is about his background, his being a mommy's boy in addition to a sex life or lack of one, which is never verified in the film one way or another. He lived with his mother in her house until she died who told him she would rather he kill himself than he be a 'daffodill'. I have never heard this expression---a pansy, yes--to describe a homosexual but then the film never states that he is a homosexual. He has a lifetime companion in a young man he hires, Clyde Tolson played by Armie Hammer, who becomes his right hand man. Was their relationship strictly platonic? At one point they both declare their love for each other but it seems to be a sexless love. At the beginning of the film Edgar proposes to Helen Gandy, played by Naomi Watts, and when she turns him down he offers her a job as his secretary which she accepts, keeping all his secrets and remaining single. He also talks about having sex with a Hollywood actress and yet he runs when Ginger Roger's mother asks him to dance. He is afraid of women except on a working level.

I am not a fan of Clint Eastwood as a director and, as in most of his films, this gets slow in spots and runs about 15-20 minutes too long. Both Judi Dench, who plays Hoover's mother, is excellent and will probably get an Oscar nomination as will Armie Hammer.

Oh yes, while the aging makeup works well for Dicaprio and Watts it is overdone for Hammer.

I don't think the older generations will buy the 'history' in the film nor do I think the younger generations will be interested in it but all will be interested in the 'love' story.