"Christmas Music"..not carols

Over the years many a composer has made a bundle off of royalties for their seasonal music surrounding the Christmas season.  Many of us remember "Here Comes Santa Claus", written by Gene Autry and Oakley Haldman or "I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", sung by a thirteen year old Jimmy Boyd back in 1952, as staples of our childhood Christmas musical canon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76K5UU0ihow

In our parents' day, during and after the Second World War, many held memories of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" recorded in 1943 by Bing Crosby.  The song, written and composed by the lyricists Kim Gannon, Buck Ram and composer Walter Kent, is told from the point of view of a soldier away from home and thinking of those at home.  Bing later had another hit with "White Christmas" which was written by Irving Berlin in 1940.  It was featured in two films: "Holiday Inn" and later in the Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney musical of the same name,"White Christmas". My favorite rendition is from "Holiday Inn" which starred Bing along with Margorie Reynolds and Fred Astaire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHu6rlK953g

Over the years I have collected my own canon of favorite secular and not so secular Christmas music...not carols...those may be addressed in another posting later this week.  Here is my list and some sort of explanation:

1. "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney...this is just so much fun to listen to and to watch on You tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9BZDpni56Y

2. "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey.  It makes me smile. And she looks happy doing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY

3. "Santa Baby", and not the Madonna version, got to go for the classic here: Earth Kitt's rendition is just the BEST...she made two versions..the early one is the better one.  No one could do this like Eartha. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFMyF9fDKzE

4. "Last Christmas" by George Michael and WHAM!  Got to love the scenery and that 80"s hair!!!! What where we thinking?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI

5. "The Rebel Jesus" by Jackson Brown is a contemporary piece that should be included in every Advent program...at least I think so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEC7d5jbAbo

6. "Happy Christmas: War is Over" by John Lennon...'nuf said...what have we learned?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xw4suq_happy-xmas-happy-christmas-war-is-over-john-lennon-original-video-clip-1970_music
For those of us whose families put the "fun" is dysfunctional here is:

7. "St Stephen's Day Murders" by Elvis Costello and The Chieftains...got to love the cynicism of the Irish...hey..I am half Irish, so I can comment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8fPvODASoI

And this has to be the weirdest combination I have seen: Bing and David:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXjbI3kRus

Christmas Eve 2013

Well, I am still not really ready for Christmas.  The presents for the kinder and grand-kinder are bought and wrapped. The obligatory gifts for colleagues, acquaintances, siblings, relatives and dear friends have been purchased, decorated and, for the most part, delivered. But I have not gotten around to setting out the manger or decorating the, albeit, little table top Christmas tree. 

My friend, Susan, has a great collection of nativity sets or crèches that she has collected over the years.  She often displays them and once was a news item on the NJ Public TV station as she showed them at her parish hall.  Susan is an Episcopal priest and her parishioners were treated to crèches and cookies getting to admire her very eclectic collection.

The little tree is ready to be embellished with decorations. At least I have not succumbed to the ceramic tree that once adorned my mother-in-law's home in Florida, actually I really like that one, but don't recall if I have it or if my sister-in-law in Georgia has it. A friend of mine recently referred to one of that ilk as the "senior citizens' tree", because she claimed she only saw them in the homes of those 65 and older...well, guess what, we are both fast approaching that milestone ourselves and we just may be in the market for one of those trees really soon.

I did invest in several battery operated candles and tea lights which I have used to decorate the open étagère that overlooks the harbor.  They are sitting in or behind or next to various glass figures (most notably swans) that twinkle and glow in the dark of evening. I have not put up the silver star I purchased last year at IKEA, but I still have time...right?

But whatever happens here this afternoon, I will be happily on the altar at Christ Church for the four o'clock pm Children's service at which our fabulous Children's Choir will be singing, and then later at the solemn high mass at ten o'clock PM with some great Christmas music and carols.

Christmas isn't really about presents and decorations.  It is really about love come down; and that is the most important thing.

Christmas Traditions 2

 

Blue Christmas Tree

Growing up in New York City in mid-twentieth  century there were certain holiday rules and rituals that we all seemed to follow. Everyone, except my Aunt Irene, had a live tree.   Aunt Irene and Uncle Bill who, in the early years of their marriage, lived in an apartment house down the street from my parents' building, were the first "hip" couple in our extended family to actually have an artificial tree. And in true post-modern 1950's fashion, their's was a silver aluminum tree with blue lights and blue ornaments.  I thought it was wonderful, but I think my Grandmother was taken aback by it. 

There was good reason for the introduction of artificial trees.  As a child I remember that during each Christmas season there would be news stories about house fires caused by neglected trees.  The new artificial trees were not so great in the early years.  They were rather roughly fashioned wire and their "needles" were more like bottle washers than the real supine needles of a traditional Douglas fir.

My family always had a real tree; even when I married, the tradition continued. I had always wanted to get an artificial one, especially the year I was still vacuuming up needles as I prepared for Easter, but I usually lost the annual family "vote"...it usually  wound up as a tie.  One daughter and I would vote "yes"; the son and the husband voted "no",  and the final child was always "neutral"...no majority, no change. Only last year did I buy a small artificial tree for my condo.  This past Tuesday my grandson picked it up and proclaimed it, "Tree!".

During the recent Christmas Markets cruise I was surprised that all of the trees onboard were real.  In all of the markets we visited and along the streets of  cities and towns like Cologne, Mainz, Speyer and Munich, all of the trees lining the streets were real trees.



And in some households the old tradition of using candles on the tree for illumination still exists.  I think this must give it a lovely glow, but I would be very leery of doing this today.  In the department store in Munich they still sell clip-on candle holders and variously colored Christmas candles for the tree.  I was told that the candle laden-holders are attached to the branches the day before you want to light the tree.  They are then allowed to "settle" overnight due to the weight of the filled holders.  The tree is then lit on Christmas Eve while everyone is in the room, and then , once everyone is leaving...all candles are snuffed out.  I am happy to report that the relative we visited in Munich has electric lights on her tree.

Another interesting tradition in Germany is the importance of the Advent Calendar.  Here in the states an Advent Calendar is usually given by churches to the young children in the congregation.  Most have little tabs that you open up every morning of Advent.  It may have a prayer, Bible verse or picture inside.  If you are among the lucky, your Advent Calendar has a piece of candy behind each door.                                                                                             



In Germany the calendar often holds a small gift for each day. It is more than a cardboard concoction and often consists of intricately hung numbered bags into which a small toy , fruits, nuts or candies are placed.  Toy companies like "Lego", "Barbie" or "Playmobile" sell "Advent Calendar" fillers for parents too busy to  compile these serial gifts for each child.  It is certainly good marketing, because you can provided the accessories for the major Christmas toy as part of the Advent preparation.

But my favorite old world tradition caught me unaware.  One thing we used to do back in the "day" was to go to Rockefeller Center in Manhattan to see the tree.  While we were there, we would buy some roasted chestnuts from local street vendors. My Mom would also make chestnut stuffing for our holiday turkeys, which I loved to eat the next day as turkey and stuffing sandwiches.

But, there are no American chestnuts anymore.  The local chestnut trees in New York and New Jersey were killed by a blight many years ago.  So imagine my delight at being assailed by the smell of "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" in the various Christmas markets along the river.  I finally succumbed and bought some in Strasbourg and in Nurnberg.  Their fulsome and rich nutty taste brought me back, and there I was: watching the skaters at Rockefeller Center and waiting on line to see the Rockettes dance their way across the Christmas Spectacular...Ahh, the power of smell and memory!

Christmas Traditions Pt 1

Amsterdam from my hotel
 

I must admit, I  have not paid much attention to the "Happy Holidays" v." Merry Christmas" debate that seems to be the new hot topic on Fox News, nor to the "War on Christmas" as it has been purported by Sarah Palin and reported by Jon Stewart.  But I must tell you, if you have become a "humbug" around this time of year and want to return to the feelings around Christmas you had as a child, then go on a Christmas Market trip through Germany and Central Europe.  The two most popular river cruises this time of year sail along the Danube and Rhine Rivers stopping at various Weihnachtsmarkten, or Christmas markets, along the way. This year I sailed with a group of five other relatives and friends along the Rhine to enjoy the markets along it shores.

MS Concerto

My travelling companions and I met up in Amsterdam a few days before the cruise to get un-jet-lagged and to take in some of the local sights. Amsterdam, much like my hometown of New York City, is a rather cosmopolitan, secular city, and, as such, it's Christmas Market, along the commercial strip, is mainly food stands a with a smattering of local craftsmen's stalls.  We were here for St Nicholas' Day, which is a big deal in the Netherlands.  The good bishop arrives to bring special treats to good children. He is also immortalized in consumable chocolate facsimiles wrapped in foil with his jolly and comforting façade on the outside.

The one disturbing thing I noted was the presence of "Schwartze Piet", his dark-skinned assistant, who accompanies the "bish" checking on the "good" vs "bad" behavior of the local kinder. 

St Nicholas and Piets
 

As an American, I found this more than offensive, but was told it was their tradition of 300 years or more. I did point out that in the U.S. we did abolish slavery over a hundred years after over 200 years of involuntary servitude. But I was assured by  many locals that Piet's countenance was the result of his living in chimneys...I did not buy that one.  So I "googled" him only to find out that Piet was originally a Moor (read African Muslim) who was taken under the wing of the good bishop and converted to Christianity. My first encounter with this tradition was when a tug boat pulled up next to the ship and St. Nick and his "crew" threw candy onto the deck of the ship.  I am still amazed that this tradition continues, but I understand some recent immigrants from Surinam are putting the screws to St. Nick encouraging him to get rid of his objectionable assistant. I wish them luck on that one.  They are going to need it.


Because of when we left, we were out of the States on Thanksgiving, a thing my well-adjusted middle child was constantly reminding me of before I left. She and her siblings would attend the annual feast hosted by my cousin Fred and his wife, Kathy, a high school friend of mine.  They were well fed and entertained.  On the ship we had a festive Thanksgiving dinner as we sailed out of Arnhem in the Netherlands.  The next day we arrived at our first official Chriskindelsmarket in Cologne. This is the place where the first cologne was invented, and you can still buy the original scent here.  At the time of its invention, the folks around town did not bathe but three times a year, and there was definitely a need for the body-odor hiding elixir.  The cathedral here was the largest and tallest for over
100 years and is quite grand and cavernous. 

The markets were fun and we had our very first Gluhwein here.  It is basically hot mulled and spiced wine...red wine usually.  Similar to glogg with out the added distilled spitrits, although you could order it with rum or schnapps if  wished. 

Thus began my collection of "gluhwein cups" which will make a fine serving set for some traditional Swanson family glogg. That is one tradition I think I will continue. 

The next day saw us in Koblenz enjoying the town in the morning and its market.  The afternoon we sailed the Rhine looking at castles and the mythic Lorelei Rock upon which a beautiful maiden lured mariners to their deaths against her rocky coast.

Anyway, enough for now...I have things to do today....to be continued...

Theater 101: How NOT to behave.

Last night I attended a performance of Handel's "Messiah" at NY's Carnegie Hall.  A dear friend was in the production offered by the Cecilia Society of New York. It was a wonderful performance of a holiday classic, but it came at a cost. 



Handel and his "Messiah"

And that cost was the completely out of line behavior of a group of teenagers who had probably never attended a live performance before.

Now, as an educator, I firmly believe that we need to expose all children to the joy of live performances, and since I spent the sum total  of my career in New York City, I have taken my share of students to both on and off Broadway productions, and even to Stratford, CT for an unforgettable journey to see Hamlet on its stage...that is a whole other story.

I would  always preface my trip with a series of lessons on what we would see; how they would be expected to dress, and what my expectations for what their behavior would be.  Going on any class trip was always a reward for good behavior, and I have been known to call a parent to ask that they pick up a child whose behavior is not up to snuff.

Carnegie Hall interior

Any student at any socio-economic level can learn what the expectations for behavior are, and learn before hand what is and is not acceptable "theater" protocol.  But the adults in charge must be willing to address this issue PRIOR to the trip.

Just in case you wonder what is unacceptable behavior, let me list the ones I saw last evening that did not cut the mustard:

• Surfing the internet on your I-pad or I-phone is not a good idea.  This is especially true if you do not turn off the sound.
• Receiving incoming calls is another bad idea, especially if the one calling you is the one sitting behind you.
• Talking loudly to be heard over the singers and cracking your gum in rhythm to the music may have seemed like a good idea, but it really isn't.
• Pointing to the ceiling and loudly counting the number of light bulbs may keep you temporarily busy, but it is distracting to others.
• Stretching out your legs in the aisle whilst snuggling into a fetal sleeping position and napping through the first section does not endear you to the others trying to listen over your gentle snoring.
• Covering your head with your coat and playing "peek-a-boo" with your neighbor might have been cute when you were two, but at  fifteen it gets old...fast.

I do, however, commend the adults who accompanied this motley crew.  Although one could easily observe their evident unease with the behaviors of their young charges; the adults quickly seized the moment and led the group up the stairs and out the doors as soon as the intermission lights went on, thus giving the rest of us the ability to enjoy the remainder of the concert in peace. 

 I only hope the group will be tactfully debriefed on Monday regarding their behavior and perhaps the educators can make this behavioral debacle a true learning experience.  I wish them luck.

Cruising Up the River....

Sunday morning,  December 1, 2013, finds me sitting on the Rhine River on the MS Concerto sailing up the river on my way to Basel, Switzerland.  This has been a trip three years in the making.  In the summer of 2010 I was part of a group of three couples who travelled to Germany to go to the Passion Play in Obergamerau.  After seeing the play four of us sailed on the Danube from Nurenburg to Budapest, and we fell in love with river cruising.  We then and there decided that we would all be together to sail on a Christmas Market cruise as soon as the last teacher in the group retired.  This finally happened this year, and in early January we began our preparation for this trip.

Amsterdam from the water

The cast of characters has changed.  I am now single again after the death of my spouse, and we picked up another traveller who also was left suddenly single with the death of his wife. The good thing for us is that he is a retired German teacher who spent many years teaching English to German children, and is able to assist in bargaining at the markets.

We arrived last Monday morning in Amsterdam and spend time there visiting various museums like the VanGogh and the Dutch Resistance Museum, and of course, taking a canal cruise.  We got to see lots and lots...actually hundreds, of bicycles and riders wheeling their way around town.They seem to do  much better than NYC cyclists, mainly because they ALL understand and FOLLOW the rules of the road for cyclists.




Remembrance Monument Njmegen


 

On Wednesday we boarded the ship and on Thursday morning arrived in Njmegen where we went to the National Resistance Museum  that told the story of the Dutch and their liberation by the Canadians and Americans during the end time of World War II. This museum has volunteer guides whose families had connections to the war and told personal recollections of events during that time.

 

Cologne Cathedral

Friday we were in Cologne, the place that held the largest Cathedral  for over a hundred years.  It is an impressive structure, to say the least. We had our first gluhwein here and hoped to have more as we sail up the river to Switzerland.

 







Musical Theater

Mary Martin and the Sound of Music

My parents owned the original Broadway cast albums of "My Fair Lady", "Camelot", "Wildcat", "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", "Carousel", and the ever popular, at least among their children, "The Sound of Music" ( Yes, the hills were alive at Chez Redden, ask my brother, Jack ) among others.  They loved to go to the "hottest musical" on their anniversary and, as we grew older, and could afford it, we would buy them tickets so they could see the original casts whenever possible. Understand that good orchestra seats sold for about $20 at that time, not like today when a full price orchestra seat to a mediocre musical costs in excess of $100.

I was bitten by the Broadway Musical bug rather early.  I inherited it from my parents. Jack and Flo Redden bought a stereo in the 1960's and their collection of albums were heavy on Montevani, Mitch Miller, Glen Miller and Broadway Musicals, and not necessarily in that order.


And I have seen some great musical theater in my day: the original production of "42nd Street" with Jerry Orbach; "Hello Dolly" three times with Betty Grable, Pearl Baily and the wonderful Carol Channing; " Ragtime" with Audra Mac Donald and Brian Stokes Mitchel; "Showboat" with Elaine Stritch; "La Cage aux Folles"; "Shenandoah"; "The Producers"; "Wicked"; "Kiss Me Kate", and "Company".

But I have seen my lot of losers: "The Civil War", "Jekyll and Hyde", "The Scarlet Pimpernel", "Pricilla, Queen of the Desert"; they just did not make the grade.  But the all time worst musical was the one I saw on Thursday: "Spiderman, Turn off the Dark". 

Spiderman on Broadway

This disaster has been running for three...count 'em..THREE years!  It has survived on tour groups, discounted tickets, and the USO which sells severely discounted tickets to service men and women on leave.  (Shame on them)

 

Where do I begin? The aerial stunts were amazing!  The rest was horrible. Bono wrote the music and some lyrics, and it sounds like his work.  Just work he dialed in...nothing great.  One nice song: "If the World Should End".

But the scene that included Nazi-esque,  hot-pant wearing, goose-stepping, break dancers was the worst thing I have seen on Broadway.  I was really glad to go home. 

So folks...do not go.

Mentally Packing



On Sunday I  will be flying to Amsterdam to meet up with some friends and relatives on a journey down the Rhine to visit the Christmas Markets along that river in German, France and Switzerland. That means this week I have been mentally packing and unpacking my luggage.  A process that consumes me the two weeks before I go anywhere...on business for a few days in Baltimore, on a relaxing ocean cruise sailing to Bermuda from New York, planning two weeks in England and a trans-Atlantic float back to America, river cruising through Central Europe...all of these quests come with their own packing challenges and concerns.

I do like my ocean cruising, but there are two types of ocean

Heidelberg Christmas Market

 cruising I do, and packing for each is different.

Cruising to view new sites, such as to Alaska, or the Western Mediterranean or the Panama Canal means one needs to  expect to do a fair amount of in-port travel.  Taking the White Pass-Yukon train in Skagway, visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, climbing Dunne's Falls in Jamaica: these are all wonderful
experiences that  you need to get off the ship and experience for yourself, and, by the way, the gelato in Pisa is exceptional.  You need to keep in mind the time of year you are travelling and the weather.  I did not say "climate".  I know that Seattle and Vancouver share a marine climate, but I need to watch the daily weather reports to see the trends for the upcoming time when I will be there. I like "Weather Underground", and I begin checking it daily two weeks prior to my departure.


White Pass Yukon Train, Alaska

"Relaxing" cruises on the other hand, call for a different kind of planning.  You will still need to check on the weather, but if the reason for the cruise is rest and not sightseeing, a more laid back approach is called for.  Think about taking an on-board "spa day" if you don't intend to jump off the ship at Port Canaveral with the rest of your shipmates, and arrange for that massage or book some time at the quiet indoor pool.  The prices drop and it is certainly more quiet on board. Also, a repositioning cruise is often a good buy and longer sea time makes for  more relaxed landing.
But be warned, these cruises fill up fast.



MS Concerto

The trip I am "prep packing" for is a combination land and water trip, so packing will be tricky. Two full days in Amsterdam, and then eleven on the ship and another four in Munich/Nuremburg. The weather will be in the high 30's and 40's  with some precipitation.  So, I am taking a longish winter jacket,  gloves, two scarves and a warm hat...and a rain hat;  I dislike umbrellas.  I will have my Uggs, walking shoes and a pair of decent looking black flats; two sweaters, five pair of slacks...one "dressy" pair, and only one dress.  I hate to over-pack.  I am hoping  for a laundry in Munich.

That Disappearing Generational Layer

So, this morning I attended  the funeral service for someone I have know for about 25 years.  He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church on Staten Island, and was a loyal volunteer for their feeding ministries.  He was  also a veteran of the US Navy having served during World War II.  Artie was a year younger than my Uncle Bill who died in 2011; he also served in the Navy as a very young man during the same war.

The Mardasson Monument @Bastogne

My Father would have been 96 this past month.  He also served his county during the war in the Army.  A few years ago I was able to visit Belgium where my Father spent the winter of 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. I went to Bastogne to see the Monument there dedicated to those who fought in that battle.

My Father was wounded badly in that encounter.  He barely survived and spent the rest of his life with shrapnel in his leg and in the back of his skull.  He had a hearing loss in one ear and later in life the shrapnel in his head which over time had become covered in scar tissue, caused other neurological problems.  In addition, he showed symptoms of what we now call "post traumatic stress syndrome".  After watching any movie or  TV show that depicted the war like "Combat", a popular 1960's show, he would have horrific nightmares. I don't think any of these men ever really spoke about their experiences.

Additionally there were the women, strong women who lived through the Great Depression, World War II, The Korean War, the Cold War and the Vietnam War.  They saw their brothers and sweethearts go off to one war, some returning and others never seen again, and later watched with baited breath as they then sent their sons off to fight a  war in an Asian nation so very far away. My mother was one of these women, as were my aunts and the mothers of my friends growing up in Brooklyn.

I remember one woman in particular.  She was a widow supporting her three children as a school teacher.  Her eldest son had been in ROTC in college and was sent of for a tour of duty in Vietnam.  I remember his fiancé was a pert and pretty blond, and they are a "Ken and Barbie" couple.  But their future was not to be as he was killed in that war.  I attended his funeral, but I don't remember exactly why.  It was very sad to realize that his fiancé would be a widow before she was a bride, but his mother was doubly bereft: no spouse to share her grief and still needing to carry on and support her remaining children.

These folk were of a strong stock.  They lived everyday lives and loved extraordinarily and unconditionally.  And they are quickly leaving this earthly veil. That generational layer that separated us from the past is fast disappearing, and soon we will be in their places. Those of us who are their sons and daughters have huge shoes to fill, and a huge responsibility to honor their memories.  Let us hope we are up to the task.

Feeding Ministry

Trinity Lutheran in Staten Isand

For over twenty-five years I have been involved with feeding the hungry on Staten Island. Back in the day Bob and I and at least two of the three kids would volunteer at the Soup Kitchen located at Trinity Lutheran in Stapleton on Saturday mornings.  The kids went to school there and I worked there for  five years in the late 80's.  I would get my church's groups to cook twice a year on a rotating basis: Men's Club, Episcopal Church Women,  Choir, Youth Group, Evening Guild...each group took their turn and prepared a hot meal in winter and cold salad meal in warmer months for no more than 40 people each week.  I remember that the Episcopal Church Women did a lovingly prepared chicken and pasta salad with halved walnuts and halved grapes enveloped in a mayo/half and half dressing.  It was absolutely decadent.  The first time it was served one of our regulars, an older gentleman, stopped by the kitchen to thank them. "You even cut the grapes!", he said in amazement, "Nobody ever did that for me before."


Bob at the Soup Kitchen Easter 2009

This service time became our family time.  The kids brought friends with them.  We made long lasting relationships with the "regulars" at the Soup Kitchen, both the guests and the other volunteers. When groups did not cook, the "regulars", volunteers themselves, would make pea soup and tuna fish sandwiches with canned fruit or yogurt cups for dessert.  We'd give out apples or oranges when we were able to get them, and solicited holiday food and gifts like socks and hats for Christmas from local supermarkets and congregations to make that time festive. But over the years things have changed.

Prep group
 

Our menu has become more sophisticated, and we now routinely serve full complete meals  with artesianal breads, green salads, hot entrees and interesting desserts each week.  I can't remember the last time we served soup and tuna fish sandwiches.

In the current economic climate in New York City we are seeing an increase in the number of meals we serve each week. On an average Saturday we can serve up to 120 people for lunch.  The people are angrier, and many have never been to a Soup Kitchen before.  We see more mothers and young children, seniors, and full families eating there week after week.

And our volunteer stream has changed.  Many folks like to show up for the holidays...this makes me kind of nuts, but I have gotten over it and am now willing to have them come and make a pitch for them to come on an "off week"...in  reality, there are no "off weeks"...hunger happens all year round.

I am also now working with non-profit organizations or HR departments of corporations who have formal programs to send volunteers for "team building" events. I have learned to be appreciative of the help, but resent that I am expected to provide them with quantifiable experiences and then fill out evaluation sheets.  I just tell the leaders that I don't fill out sheets and direct them to someone who has more patience. 

I don't do this work to "feel good", nor do I do it to "give back"...two phrases that make me want to run screaming from the room.  I do it because we are called to do this work.  I believe it was Jesus who said, "Feed my sheep."...that is my reason.

Exploring the neighborhood

 

Today I spent some time tooling about the neighborhood and trying some new stuff.  I had to get my car inspected.  It had actually expired in October, but since I never really look at the windshield of my car, I did not realize it needed to be inspected until the guy in the gas station in Bay Ridge pointed it out.

"Lady, you'd better get this taken care of, or you'll get a ticket." I knew he was right because in years past I had often gotten that ticket for an unregistered or uninspected vehicle. My late husband always took care of the registration/inspection cycle and of the need for an oil change.  Oh, I guess I should tell you that my new car did let me know I needed to have the oil changed, and I also got that done today.



Bay Street Auto

Anyway, this gave me  the chance to find a new mechanic and try out the lunch menu at Bay Street Luncheonette and purchase some pastry at Rispoli's Shop in Rosebank.

My first stop was the Bay  Street Auto Center where a nice young man helped me get my car inspected.  One usually has to make an appointment, but I mentioned that one of his customers, a church member, had recommend I bring my car to him, and he took me right away.  He also changed my oil and gave me a 10% discount because I promised to like him on Facebook., which I did.



1952Chevy

 He also has a collection of vintage cars for sale, and I spied a 1952 green four -door Chevy that was the model my father owned.  I got to open the doors and take a good look inside marveling at the copious leg room in the back seat.  I asked him about it, and he told me it was for sale at around $4,200.  But if I was really interested, he would do a deal....Hummm.




Inside the Bay Street Luncheonette

After paying my bill and taking another look at the Chevy, I was off to the Bay Street Luncheonette and Soda Shop. I had heard nothing but good things about this local spot.  It  serves breakfast all day and lunch.  Prices are reasonable and the food is very good.  The interior is an homage to the owner's teen years on Staten Island in the 70's, and she has her "I Love George" lunchbox on the shelf while she plays a constant loop of Beatle music.  She was talking with a group of high school friends who were in town for the Curtis High School Reunion later in the weekend, and was happily sharing  her yearbook photos.  The waitress was helpful and the service impeccable.

I rounded off my  afternoon  sojourn at Rispoli's Pastry Shop in Rosebank.  I bought a small, individual piece of carrot cake(surprise, surprise) and a small Neapolitan style pizza for dinner.  I have not tried either as of yet, so I can make no judgment call at is time.  Got home in time to watch General Hospital...life is good.

Election Day in NYC

Second Tuesday  in November, hum...must be election day in New York. 

Well, just not in New York, in most of the USA someone is running for public office today.  Many offices are closed and the students  not in school....teachers in NYC  are at work for a "professional development:" day..."PD", as it is sort of affectionately called, can be both a torture and a treat.  Since many of my former colleagues were talking about the new report cards, I will make a presumption that the "PD" of the day will be about out how to fill out and then to fill out report cards.  For elementary teachers this is not too bad since they have only 25-35 students to grade.  Intermediate and High School teachers often have  five classes of 35 students...do the math, lots of "bubbling in".  And then there are comments...2 or 3 required for each student.  Glad to be retired.

Anyway, I will vote today at the local public school.  At the last special election, a primary, we had to use the old lever flip machines that  were invented by Thomas Edison.  They are purely mechanical and tick off the votes as you flip the lever.   They were returned into service when the city felt it could not get the new scanning machines up and running since a possible run off loomed over their collective elective heads.  The run off did happen, but not for the mayoral race, but for the lesser  position of public advocate, the job that was vacated by the current mayoral candidate, Bill DiBlasio.



Bill DiBlasio and family campaigning.

Bill is an interesting candidate.  Raised by  his single mother, he eschewed the surname of his father and chose to use his maternal last name.  He worked for Mayor Dinkins, where he met and married his wife.  Later he did strategy for Hillary Clinton during her senatorial race.  He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two children...well, one is now away in college and the other attends  Brooklyn Tech, one of NYC's prestigious science high schools.  What makes Bill unique is that his wife is African American and he is adamantly against the current mayor's "stop and frisk" policies and is against the co-location of new schools within the buildings of current schools.



Joe Lhota in a jovial mood.

Bill's opponent is Joe Lhota, a local pol who headed the Transit Authority.  He is for charter schools, stop and frisk and is committed to continuing the policies of our current mayor, billionaire Michael Bloomberg. Joe has the support of many here on Staten Island which is considered the most Republican borough of NYC. He has also garnered the support of the Patrolman's Benevolent Society and other police organizations.  Several years ago he got himself embroiled in bridge toll hikes, a hot button issue on this island.  Staten Island is the only borough of NYC in which vehicular drivers: cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, must pay a toll to use  the bridges to get off island.  The one way, round trip toll to use the Verrazano Narrow's Bridge is $15 per car.  It is higher for tractor trailers.  As Staten Island residents we get a discount and pay ONLY $5.50 per trip, and car pools of three or more can pay less than that, but it is still an annoyance.  There are free East River crossings from Brooklyn and Queens, so this toll mess is like a howling banshee following Joe around.


There is also Prop 1, proposal to legalize casino gambling in New York State.  Our illustrious governor, Andrew Cuomo, has touted this as a way of brining needed jobs to the upstate and southern tier areas of the state, and for filling the coffers of local school districts, but many clergy are against it.  I will probably vote against it.

And Prop 5 is to allow mining in one of our state forests.  NYCO Minerals, a mining company, wants to expand its wollastonite mine in Lewis, NY to include roughly 200 acres of what is now forest preserve land.  They say this will help them sustain around 100 high paying jobs.  In exchange, the company is offering to purchase roughly 1500 acres of land, expanding the Jay  Mountain Wilderness.

I am certainly glad that I am able to vote and have some say in local governance.  Over the years I have backed my fair share of winners and losers, so I always feel that you need to vote in order to complain about the outcome, but in the end , election results are a reflection of the times we live in...sometimes you just have to shut up and get on with it.

Winter Victules...

With the recent nippy weather chilling both the air and my spirits, I have begun to revert to my "winter menu".  This is an alteration in my  eating habits that occurs in mid November both by choice and circumstance.

Heirloom tomatoes

Circumstance because some of the  wonderful seasonal stuff I have been enjoying throughout summer like fresh fruits and vegetables, are slowly disappearing from the shelves of stores and produce stands.  I will miss the fulsome taste of summer peaches, plums and apricots. I must bid adieu to seasonal gems  from New Jersey and Long Island, and especially to home-grown tomatoes. Yes, I know hot-house tomatoes are available all year long, but nothing compares to the lush flavor of a local heirloom tomato topped with a dash of salt and a sprinkle of olive oil.  And although  I can always get the frozen ones, the early spring peas and asparagus will be greatly missed.

Not that autumn does not bring its own bounty. I do love the "BAP" squashes: butternut, acorn and pumpkin. I like to roast or bake first two, and make a fine cream of pumpkin soup with the later.  If you intend to carve a pumpkin for Halloween;  keep the seeds, rinse them well and place them on a cookie sheet, season them with salt at the very lest, and either air-dry or slow dry in a 250 degree oven for an hour or so.  I use them to garish  soup and salad or to just eat out of hand.   The Mexicans call them pepitos. I must admit, I was never one for pumpkin pie...the ones I had as a child were store bought and often too sweet for my taste.  I recently had one made from scratch and I must say it was very good.


In the afternoons I drink either iced tea or water.  I never acquired a taste for colas...Pepsi or Coke.  I don't like the taste either one of them.  My late brother-in-law, John, could tell the difference immediately just by taking a sip or even a smell.  I believe he preferred Pepsi.  My late husband  liked Coke.  If I have to drink a carbonated beverage, that is not a sparkling wine, I prefer Ginger Ale.


My next dilemma is which hot winter beverage?  I ways have tea with breakfast and after dinner.  It is my "go to" hot beverage of choice. When met my future mother-in-law, the irascible Ingrid Viola Carlson-Swanson, she was shocked that I did NOT drink coffee.  Upon hearing that I drank tea she respond "Are you ill, dear?"  She actually called "dear" until I married her son; I presumed she found my name too difficult to remember. (okay...  will move on here)

  I recently heard  that the first flavored Starbucks coffee was their pumpkin latte, and it was invented in an employees kitchen. It was brought in to work for others to try, and the rest is barista history! But for me the mere thought of pumpkin mixed with a hot liquid of any sort intended to be drunk from a paper cup is alien, so I will pass on any hot pumpkin concoction in a disposable coffee cup with a lid...period.


I am thinking, though, that Hot Chocolate could be the solution to my winter hot beverage blues.  A few years ago ,while I was  Paris in February, I began to order that chocolately brew at the local cafes.  I discovered that hot chocolate does not have to be overly sweet.  It can also be a velvety smooth and satisfying adult brew. On a recent trip to Trader Joe's I picked up a package of their "Sipping Chocolate".  I will let you know how it goes.

Turn off the "yak"...

I have stopped watching the news.  I just can't bring myself to listen to the talking heads that yak and yak and yak about their own opinions.  I remember when I was younger and the NBC Nightly News was led by Huntley and Brinkley.  They brought a kind of elevation to the news.  As I recall, there were only one or two news programs on.  You watched David Brinkley and Chet Huntley on NBC or Walter Cronkite on CBS...I don't remember the ABC guys, at 6pm, and the local news came on at 11pm. Then, if you were not too tired, you watched the "Tonight Show".

Somewhere in the 70's the "news" began to get cutesy, bantering anchors and beautiful babes shared the anchor spots.  They seemed so chummy, and then began reporting on nonsensical stuff: hot dog eating contests, pet parades, toddler beauty contests...really??? News??? I think not.

Nowadays, the news is on all day long.  The first one on local TV is at about 6am...then again at 8am...then the "pseudo-news". You know, those news info programs that are merely advertisements for the latest pop culture event: latest movie, newest Gladwellian book, new TV series, or latest music video from a "hot" group.  They are more like cheerleaders for the media companies that own them, rather than provide any meaningful information for the masses.  And every cable network has tons of news channels: CNN, FOX, CNBC, Al-Jazeera, BBC...you can watch news all day long, but I would not advise that you do.  It will make your brains fall out your ears.

And while I am at it, there are three phrases I don't ever want to hear coming out of any anchor's mouth.  Those would be: "This is unacceptable", "I feel...", and "...zero tolerance." They are like the empty suits who are usually heard uttering these over-used platitudes.  I certainly know what is unacceptable; how about you do something about it?  I don't care what you feel, I care what is fact and true.  And if there was real 'zero tolerance", you wouldn't have to keep saying it...there would be real consequences for those who crossed the line.

I am also less and less tolerant of apologizing politicians or government bureaucrats.  Stop asking for  forgiveness and get on with it....fix it, stop it, or walk away from it.

Perhaps as I am getting older, I am getting cantankerous. I may be turning into a curmudgeon.  A new phase of life??? Hummm...

Autumn in New York...

...Why does it seem so inviting?...

Miller's Launch

This musical homage to autumn days in New York was written by Vladimir Dukelsky, a Russian immigrant who is better known by his "pen name", Vernon Duke.  Interestingly enough, he also wrote the music for "April in Paris". This tune is quite hypnotic and has been recorded over the years by Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.  Each of their performances brings an interesting interpretation to the intricate lyrics.  It is a lovely song, and there is no denying this is a magical time of year in the Northeast.

...Autumn in New York, it lifts you up when you’re run down...

The seasonal changes that occur in this part of North America bring spectacular natural beauty to this area.  Spring bursts forth with bright yellow daffodils and forsythia followed immediately by the pinks and blues of tulips, lilacs and hyacinths.  Summer is welcomed with the apple and cherry blossoms that soon fade when we languish in the lingering hot days of August  when wax begonias and marigolds withstand the scorching heat...and then comes fall...the most glorious season of all!


Mums

 

at St Paul

 ...Autumn in New York, you’ll need no castle in Spain...

You can begin to feel the change coming in late September, a time once referred to as Indian Summer...some warmish days and cooler nights, and then suddenly you look, and the trees begin to change color, and you are soon surrounded by brilliant golds and orange leaves and an occasional pop of crimson. The breezes pick up and you begin to add layers to your wardrobe.  At first, perhaps a sweater will do; then later on, a lightweight jacket with perhaps a hat, especially if you are travelling on the ferry as it plies its way across the harbor.  From that vantage point you can see the trees on the Brooklyn coast line and along the ridge that gives Bay Ridge its name. As you approach Manhattan, the trees in the Battery seem to be dancing in the autumnal breeze showing off their fall colors in all their majesty.

Ferry leaving Staten Island

And the sea and the sky are brilliantly contrasting hues of blues that frame the whole picture.

Just one thing left to say:

...It’s autumn in New York, its good to live it again...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-_wbY55PMA

You say "Day-TA" and I say "Dat-TA".

Have you noticed that the gathering of numerical information which is then fixated into an algorithm  is, in fact, becoming the be all and end all of knowledge in the twenty-first century?  The resulting "data" is then used to extrapolate future scenarios.  For example, in my final years of working for the New York City Department of Education, I worked for the Office of Teacher Development...which has since changed its name to the "Talent Office".  I listened to educational professionals describe the cycle of first year teachers.  This included a time of anticipation, expectation, realization of professional inadequacy, plummeting holiday depression,  rejuvenation and moving forward and plateauing at the end of the school year.  This cycle was documented by "data" collected by those folks who worked with new teachers.  Jeeze!  I could have told them that after spending almost 20 years in the classroom and working with all sorts of  teachers, old and new.  And no, Bill Gates did not have to pay me the big bucks to do the study; all he had to do was ask.

Later in my career, when I was working as a staff developer, I  attended a presentation by a worldwide publishing company who explained how they could extrapolate from the first few years of testing just which second graders would be college material by time they reached high school. Rather scary, don't you think?

But it is not just in the field of education that "Data-dancing" is an everyday occurrence.  At the end of many events I have attended, I have received "evaluation" sheets asking me to tell the presenters "How are they doing?"  In reality, the answers are culled onto some sort of "grid" and turned into valuable "data" for someone in the organization to interpret.

Ever notice how if you call an organization about an issue as common as changing a name or address on your bank account to returning a pair of sneakers that are too small, the person on the phone will ask, "Have I met your expectations for this call?" I never know how to answer that question.  What can I say?  You took my information...I followed your instructions...Goodbye.

Perhaps you have noticed that your computer seems to make assumptions about what you want or might be interested in.  I know that when I get bored, I sometimes look for dumb stuff online...stuff I really won't buy...Stuff like...oh...I don't know....Mallowmars....hum...maybe I would buy them.  Anyway, the internet and your browser will keep track of the sites you  visit and make "suggestions" based on the data it has collected about your preferences.

Our data driven society is annoying me to no end. I do not want to fill out an evaluation form for you or anyone else.  I reply to email follow-ups with a simple reply that reads," I don't do data. Now leave me alone."

I am NOT a young lady.

It happened twice so far this week; Monday and Tuesday. Some gavone (local parlance for unthinking idiot) referred to me as "young lady", such as in "This young lady will be giving her report".  These guys have no idea how condescending they sound to my over 60 year old ears.  I just want to slap them upside the head.

I grew up at a time when women finally were able to have meaningful careers of their own, yet many of us have had to put up with some ignorant ignoramus referring to us in the diminutive. ( Don't worry, most of these morons don't know what a "diminutive" is) which is really their way of putting us in our place.  My usual reply to the fool who refers to me as "a young lady" is, "I guess you really need your eyes check because I may act like a lady, but I am far from young.  I have earned my grey hair, and I have a brain."  This usually causes them to get on the defensive and explain that they meant is as a "compliment".  What planet do they come from?  I wonder why they think this is a compliment. It is beyond me that grown men are so clueless about how to address women of a certain age and competency.  Perhaps demeaning us makes them feel superior.  I am not here to give you an inflated view of yourself.

Once when I had to call my husband at work a co-worker answered and said to me, "Hold on sweetheart, I'll get him for you."  I replied that I did not know him, so I was certainly not his sweetheart and asked him to refrain from referring to me that way if I ever got him on the phone again.  He told my husband that I was certainly a "bitch" to which he replied," You called her 'sweetheart' didn't you?  Don't do that."  He understood.

So, gentlemen ( I am being polite here), be warned, referring to women of a certain age as "young ladies" only shows us how threatened we must make you feel.  Get over yourselves!

Moving on and moving in

Over a year ago I sold the "old homestead" and downsized from a ten and a half room house with full basement and attic into a five room condo overlooking NY Harbor.  I recently told a friend that when I was much younger, I watched all those cheesy Doris Day-Rock Hudson romantic comedies set in Post World War II New York City.  Doris always had a drop dead gorgeous Manhattan apartment with a drop dead view of , take your pick: The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Plaza, the East River, the Hudson River, or the Statue of Liberty.

Now, on an intellectual level, I understood that Doris who was working as a secretary or assistant to someone did not, in reality , make enough moola to rent even one third of that dream apartment, in my adolescent mind I thought, "One  fine day I am going to have a hot Manhattan apartment."

Well, it almost happened.  It is a Manhattan apartment on Staten Island.

After the death of my long time spouse, I realized that I just could not keep up with all the maintenance of a large house.  In particular the thought of falling leaves and falling snow gave me heart palpitations.  I was heating rooms I seldom used, and thinking about the leaky windows and long growing grass in both the front and back yards  kept me up at night.

I began my search for an appropriate apartment with the help of a great realtor, Rene, and my cadre of real estate companions, my daughter Tara, my friend Joan and her husband Bob, and my late-husband's cousin, Charles.  They came with me as I looked for a place I could call my own on the North Shore of Staten Island.  I had a few "must haves".  I wanted two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a parking spot, a washer drier preferably in the unit, and most importantly, a water view.

V-Z Narrows Bridge from the deck

Some apartment were just too small; others needed a tremendous amount of work.  One in particular, a former model apartment in a water front condo/coop complex had peeling greyish paint on the ceiling, a nightmarish kitchen, a bathroom dedicated to the family cat, and a wall of smoky mirror tiles that reflected a drop dead harbor view.  Unfortunately, I just felt, although it was a great price and interesting layout, it was too far gone for immediate occupancy, and I did not want to tackle a huge makeover.  So I passed on that one.

Others had great harbor views, but were very close to a rather dangerous housing complex, and allotted parking was not available until another owner moved out or died. It was also a coop with arcane rules and a laundry in the dark, dank basement.

My building The Pointe
 

Finally, after looking at 23 apartments, I settled on my present place. It has two full baths, one with a spa tub which I have never used.  There is a washer/dryer in apartment, which is very nice. There is indoor parking for one car per apartment.. a problem for some who have more than one  car, but not for me. It is a two bedroom unit, but I made the master bedroom into a family room/office since it opens out onto the roof deck that overlooks the Narrows.  The living room/ dining room combo has a sliding glass doors and a huge window that opens onto a balcony overlooking the harbor. 
The kitchen is compact, opens to the living area and its granite countertop stretches out to a breakfast bar with, as my granddaughter Erin calls them, the "grown up seats"...three high bar level chairs.

I think I made a good choice, plus no more falling leaves, and I am not responsible for removing fallen snow.

Balcony from the deck

Erin snacking on the "grown up seats"



Wild life

Often when I travel I notice the different kinds of wild life around me.  In Alaska I got to see some moose up close.  They are fascinating to look at.  They are huge and not at all handsome or pretty, yet they are compellingly honest when they finally turn and look at you. 

We were in Alaska in late August, and the salmon were running.  There were so many of them swarming that they appeared to be wiggling pathways that one could use to traverse the rushing streams and rivers in Fairbanks. Hawks and eagles flew overhead as we visited the beachfront forests with Tlingit totems dotting the landscape.

I have seen whale pods off of the beach at Cabo San Lucas in Mexico.   A familial group of cows and calves swimming off a secluded beach where we had driven on dune buggies gave  us a thrill as we stood on the sandy shore. 

Sitting in a small fishing boat off of Cancun where the Gulf met the Caribbean, we were suddenly surrounded by a huge group of dolphins swimming and diving under and over our boat.  We sat dumbfounded clinging to the sides in both awe and amazement.

And I have also had encounters with wild life here at home.  We have been invaded by those neighbors of ours from the North: Canada geese. They have found a nice home here in the metro area...plenty to eat and not as cold as their original hunting grounds.  I dare say, the current generation of local Canada geese have never been any closer to Toronto than Westchester.

Lately they have had newer competition in a ever growing population of turkeys...not pure wild turkeys, they have hooked up with some local domesticated turkeys and created their own kind of crazy hybrid.  The City of New York recently took a lot of flack from the local humane society when they rounded up a large number of them and sent them off to a local slaughter house.  I am not sure how they will be marketed for Thanksgiving consumption: "Big Apple Birds"??  Well, after the uproar, the Catskill Wildlife Preserve offered to house the remaining birds. So off went about seventy of them to the Hudson Valley. (Aside to my friends in that area: these birds have a serious attitude problem. Stay clear of them!)  There are still some stragglers around as I recently saw a tom and a hen on the grounds of Staten Island University Hospital.  I think the cycle of life will continue.

At a recent meeting in Richmondtown  in a house bordering the "landfill", I looked up to see three young bucks noshing on a few scraggily basil plants, the last of an attempt to grow a kitchen garden. It seems they are frequent visitors to this secluded spot that also contains a church and a graveyard.  It gives them a nice area to lunch on.

Even where I live down  the ferry, interesting wildlife show up from time to time.  I am, of course, surrounded by birds: pigeons, seagulls, sparrows and crows are constantly flying around looking for something to eat.  They often are seen pecking at the discarded remains of French fries and burger bun bits. Barn sparrows were seen swooping down onto the surface of Lyons pool in the early morning to sip the cool summer water.

But the most spectacular aviary visitor I had was a peregrine falcon who landed on my balcony railing three days after Hurricane Sandy.  I was on the phone with a friend looking out the balcony doors when he /she swooped down, sat on the railing, looked around, looked at me on the other side of the glass door, and took off to parts unknown.

This all goes to prove that there is interesting wildlife all around us, we just have to pay attention.

Pizza, please.

I admit it, I do love a good pizza. And I am lucky to live within the boundaries of one the best pizza towns in the world.  My own borough of Staten Island has some of the best pizza around.

I am partial to the classic pizza at "Nunzio's" on Hylan Blvd. in Grant City.  When I lived in that community I often ordered their pies "half mushroom, half sausage."  I ate the mushrooms, Bob ate the sausage.  Unfortunately, once I moved to St. George I could not get home delivery.  Last night I was at a meeting in Richmondtown, and I admit, I stopped at "Nunzio's" and got three slices of "regular" to take home and enjoy on my own. 

You can always tell a good pie by how it tastes at room temperature.  If it holds its flavor, it is a good pie.  "Nunzio's" uses  only fresh mozzarella, crushed tomatoes, basil off the bushes and has a classic Neapolitan crust: thin and crispy.

Many people on the North Shore of Staten Island will only eat a pie from "Denino's".  My own daughter and son-in-law prefer "Denino's"...its pretty good. You have to buy a whole pie.  They don't do slices, and they don't deliver.  This means their pies are super fresh; a boast to a good taste.  It is also a thin crust place.

Now that I am living closer to the ferry, I have tried both "Crispy Pizza" and "Pier 76".  The former is fine, the later is superior, in my humble opinion.

Manhattan and Brooklyn have good pizza joints. "V & T Pizza" in Morningside Heights does a good classic pie.  But if you want really great pie, head to "Grimaldi's" under the Brooklyn Bridge in DUMBO...and bring cash...they don't take credit  or debit cards.  There is usually a line, but it is worth it.

Chicago's deep dish pie is a treat if you ever go there.  I know Chicago is a good town for eating steaks, but  try to get to a local "Mom and Pop" pizza place to enjoy a good deep dish pie.  And New Yorkers, keep an open mind about this.  They can be wonderful.

I have had pizza in Europe.  I had a surprisingly good slice in France...in San Malo, Brittany to be exact.  A wood fired oven is a must for a good pie  This little café had one, and their chef knew how to use it.

I had a great piece of pizza in Herculaneum outside of Naples...no surprise there; Naples is the home of the pizza.  They had better do it well.

My recent trip to Rome was fraught with pizza disappointment, as the local place near our hotel served up a rather disappointing pie of less than stellar quality.  Fortunately, we had a superior pie in a little pizza place near the Spanish Steps.  Perhaps the fact that we finished off a half pitcher of the local red with it did not hurt.

So, don't be afraid to experiment with your pizza choices as you travel.  Just, please, don't go to a "Pizza Hut" or "Domino's"!