Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sailing into the Sunset
Thank you Ms. Cell Phone, Cigarette Smoking, Daydreaming, IPod Changing, Sandwich eating, Insuranceless driver that puts my life in danger seventeen times a day and before I even have my first cup of coffee.
Don't you wish you there were bumper stickers that long. Is that were true these folks would be reading them while doing all those other things.
Take is a day of celebration. A celebration of the life of two pioneers who without them we would not have the quality of life we have today: Ellie Greenwich and Stanley Kaplan.
In a moment of reflection we need to remember the Brooklyn born singer/songwriter who donned us with the classic "Chapel of Love" and "Be My Baby" and Mr Kaplan who prepared millions of aspiring youth to better prepare for the SAT and ACT pre-college examinations.
As you enter a hall of Kaplan College Prep Studies and later play Chapel of Love as you gleem into the eyes of your beautiful spouse remember the lives of the two people that helped makes your life full of happiness and success.
To Ellie and Stanley...Cheers
Don't you wish you there were bumper stickers that long. Is that were true these folks would be reading them while doing all those other things.
Take is a day of celebration. A celebration of the life of two pioneers who without them we would not have the quality of life we have today: Ellie Greenwich and Stanley Kaplan.
In a moment of reflection we need to remember the Brooklyn born singer/songwriter who donned us with the classic "Chapel of Love" and "Be My Baby" and Mr Kaplan who prepared millions of aspiring youth to better prepare for the SAT and ACT pre-college examinations.
As you enter a hall of Kaplan College Prep Studies and later play Chapel of Love as you gleem into the eyes of your beautiful spouse remember the lives of the two people that helped makes your life full of happiness and success.
To Ellie and Stanley...Cheers
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Dream of Masters...Oops we passed it
On a beautiful Sunday a road trip was to be had..minus the perpetual cloud over Colombia, SC that never seems to go away..Thus the choice of the word "perpetual".
Amazing, I got off topic without actually completing one sentence.
The mission: August, GA the home of the Masters. The most illustrious golf course in the world. The idea of step foot on the 9th green and calling my father the express a feeling of completeness was shattered at the Welcome Center.
No one gets past the gate, not even close or so we were told. Now my anticipation of the greatness of this course has build to monumental status.
Here it is, thoughts racing in my head of a five mile countryside drive to this secluded private area with only the clouds and the greatest of all green patches of land in the distance.
Much to my dismay after passing a Taco Bell, Waffle House, Hess, 1.99 Discount movie theater, 17 chinese restaurants and an IHOP I hear "We passed it" from Amy.
We passed what?
The Masters?
The What?
The Masters?
There is no way the entrance to the Greatest Golf Course in the World is 500 feet from an IHOP.
It was.
We parked, we walked, we stood, we got beeped out.
Were we there?
Oh yes, yes, yes.
Were we in awe?
Oh no oh no oh no
Enjoy the Masters from your 60 inch plasma and order in Chinese.
Same as being there.
Amazing, I got off topic without actually completing one sentence.
The mission: August, GA the home of the Masters. The most illustrious golf course in the world. The idea of step foot on the 9th green and calling my father the express a feeling of completeness was shattered at the Welcome Center.
No one gets past the gate, not even close or so we were told. Now my anticipation of the greatness of this course has build to monumental status.
Here it is, thoughts racing in my head of a five mile countryside drive to this secluded private area with only the clouds and the greatest of all green patches of land in the distance.
Much to my dismay after passing a Taco Bell, Waffle House, Hess, 1.99 Discount movie theater, 17 chinese restaurants and an IHOP I hear "We passed it" from Amy.
We passed what?
The Masters?
The What?
The Masters?
There is no way the entrance to the Greatest Golf Course in the World is 500 feet from an IHOP.
It was.
We parked, we walked, we stood, we got beeped out.
Were we there?
Oh yes, yes, yes.
Were we in awe?
Oh no oh no oh no
Enjoy the Masters from your 60 inch plasma and order in Chinese.
Same as being there.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
No Day But Today!
I just had a very spiritual and euphoric experience letting the waves hit my feet as the warm of the water brushed up against me. The sun set to the west putting a shade of grey and blue across the partly cloudy sky. Children still faces the waves fearlessly as cargo went out to sea.
It was tranquility, peace and home.
A moment desperately needed as the employed face one of the biggest challenges of their lives; doing the work of twice as many with only half as much staff.
Work is harder but we love it because we are one of the 87.5 % that are still working.
When we look back at this recession it is easy to see the losers...but who wins?
Think about this for a moment. If you have an answer do tell.
It was tranquility, peace and home.
A moment desperately needed as the employed face one of the biggest challenges of their lives; doing the work of twice as many with only half as much staff.
Work is harder but we love it because we are one of the 87.5 % that are still working.
When we look back at this recession it is easy to see the losers...but who wins?
Think about this for a moment. If you have an answer do tell.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Anywhere, USA
As I sit on the new front steps of the house that bore me many years ago I listen to the sounds of the birds chirping, the trees setting a see of green all around and the sound of neighbors congregating around three police cars including a K-9 unit. In a town with one violent crime in my lifetime this is a bit of a rare site but it still reflects the smell and sound of small town America as the neighbors come from all directions sharing hugs and stories as the police circle the blocks searching for the culprits that broke into the house just a few hours earlier.
The town is silent except for the muttering of the little adventure that brings town's like this together. Soon the kids will be laughing and playing in the street and parents will be walking their dogs and reflecting on their high school years and how they never managed to leave the town they have grown so comfortable with.
We cannot forget to embrace the importances of the free air, sense of community and safety that comes with this living. Will this town make the news or be the subject of a television show or movie. Nope. But what it is does is give me a temporary salvation from the turbulance of my life for a few weeks every few months.
This is my hometown; Anywhere, USA
The town is silent except for the muttering of the little adventure that brings town's like this together. Soon the kids will be laughing and playing in the street and parents will be walking their dogs and reflecting on their high school years and how they never managed to leave the town they have grown so comfortable with.
We cannot forget to embrace the importances of the free air, sense of community and safety that comes with this living. Will this town make the news or be the subject of a television show or movie. Nope. But what it is does is give me a temporary salvation from the turbulance of my life for a few weeks every few months.
This is my hometown; Anywhere, USA
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Hummus and Independance
Before I debrief my all American July Fourth Family weekend Wonder Years style I want to send a warm birthday wish to the original Yankee Doodle Leon, Howard celebrating the anniversary of his birth on July 4th with Strawberry Shortcake and whip cream.
Hiking up to the highest point in New Jersey which ironically enough is located at Highpoint State Park in Highpoint, New Jersey. No one ever accused New Jersey of being original. Following that with a 50's diner and a stop at a roadside farm for some flowers, it was a true boyhood dream to spend the day with Dad, ala John Mellencamp style.
Saturday was a true family bar-b-que for the ages. Of course I only say that because we don't typically do the family style anything. Howard, Lisa Jean, Dad and I enjoyed a true backyard roast except for David hiding in the room with Lady (the dog) disavowing knowledge that he actually has a family.
Shik kabab - Chicken, shrimp, zucchini and pepper style
Steak
Corn
Grilled Vegatables
Fresh Iced Tea
Salad
Yummmmmy and of course cherries and strawberry shortcaked
Follow that up with a Yankees win (Mets always lose) and you have a true Jersey Fourth of Jersey.
Suck it Kevin Arnold.
Hiking up to the highest point in New Jersey which ironically enough is located at Highpoint State Park in Highpoint, New Jersey. No one ever accused New Jersey of being original. Following that with a 50's diner and a stop at a roadside farm for some flowers, it was a true boyhood dream to spend the day with Dad, ala John Mellencamp style.
Saturday was a true family bar-b-que for the ages. Of course I only say that because we don't typically do the family style anything. Howard, Lisa Jean, Dad and I enjoyed a true backyard roast except for David hiding in the room with Lady (the dog) disavowing knowledge that he actually has a family.
Shik kabab - Chicken, shrimp, zucchini and pepper style
Steak
Corn
Grilled Vegatables
Fresh Iced Tea
Salad
Yummmmmy and of course cherries and strawberry shortcaked
Follow that up with a Yankees win (Mets always lose) and you have a true Jersey Fourth of Jersey.
Suck it Kevin Arnold.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
No Lawnmowing Before 8
As I am sitting on my twin engine model airplane reading my July 3 to July 10 the issue of Rolling Stone with the Jonas Brothers, I was intrigued by the article on how this new tour is Michael Jackson's last shot at financial redemption. Very intriguing given his current setback. I imagine there will be a shakeup in editing.
Halfway through the most disastrous flight effort on the east coast since the paper airplane disaster of '02, I was was bracing for my Buddy Holly demise and thinking of how the Obama Franken connection could be the next sign in the Twitter Conspiracy Theory of complete global demise.
Strange throughts for a near death mind meltdown.
It reminded me of all the recent passings and the connect the dot connections
Karl Malden and Michael Jackson - Both Born in Gary, Indiana
Billy Mays and Michael Jackson - Both 50
Ed McMahan and Farrah Fawcett - Both Blond Bombshells
Rick Astley, Danny Masterson and Jeff Goldblum - All Marketing Career Deaths
Then Afghanistan, Iran, Korea, Iraq, Indian Ocean Crashes, Financial recession, poor health care reform, no rain in Seattle in 30 days, and Adam Lambert being gay....
Why are we so focused on recently death and not the meltdown of society?? Or is that what they want us to do?
Who is they? The Van Pattans
Halfway through the most disastrous flight effort on the east coast since the paper airplane disaster of '02, I was was bracing for my Buddy Holly demise and thinking of how the Obama Franken connection could be the next sign in the Twitter Conspiracy Theory of complete global demise.
Strange throughts for a near death mind meltdown.
It reminded me of all the recent passings and the connect the dot connections
Karl Malden and Michael Jackson - Both Born in Gary, Indiana
Billy Mays and Michael Jackson - Both 50
Ed McMahan and Farrah Fawcett - Both Blond Bombshells
Rick Astley, Danny Masterson and Jeff Goldblum - All Marketing Career Deaths
Then Afghanistan, Iran, Korea, Iraq, Indian Ocean Crashes, Financial recession, poor health care reform, no rain in Seattle in 30 days, and Adam Lambert being gay....
Why are we so focused on recently death and not the meltdown of society?? Or is that what they want us to do?
Who is they? The Van Pattans
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