Yesterday I received an e-mail from my Wife's niece from Budapest. As always I was glad that she wrote and after I finished it I was really and pleasantly surprised.
She is a very nice young lady who visited here last year for about four and a half weeks two of which we spent in lovely St. Maarten.
This young lady is a gastro writer which means she writes about food generally and coffee specifically. While here in New York she visited countless small coffee houses and upon returning to Budapest wrote and made presentations about them.
She is good, well known and is in demand about her critiques.
It seems that one of the websites asked her to write about diners. Not dinners but diners. When she was here we visited a few but not enough to form some kind of a picture about them.
Knowing that I dabble in this blog she asked me if I would write something about this subject. Well, if it has anything to do with eating and New York count me in!
I naturally eagerly agreed and feel very honored that I was asked. I started to write yesterday and at this time I am almost done with my masterpiece. I write in English mainly because that's how I think and it is a lot easier for me to put things down.
I don't know how well I write but aside from that I like writing. Don't have much imagination so I can not write a book but have no problem with short stuff.
I can't make a living from it but it's hobby now. And it is a harmless hobby.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Monday
Last night and this morning there was news item about a 70+ year old man, who was some kind of a hedge fund manager found being shot to death in New York City.
This on its own would not make the news but where it happened did. It happened on Beekman Place which is a very ritzy Manhattan neighborhood by the United Nations.
This person who was murdered was no slouch. He lived in a six or eight room apartment and being a hedge fund manager I'm sure was well off. As it turned out his thirty year old son was the culprit and as I heard he was already arrested.
Reporters interviewed people in the area about this and that was what got me irked. One person was going on and on saying what a good neighborhood that was, that things like this do not happen in their area. I really got pissed at that uppity jerk.
Why, they can only kill in Bedford Stuyvesant? He made it sound like that in the other parts of town people can walk around with guns or knives in their hands and kill anybody they wish but on Beekman Place these things do not happen.
I got news for him. His s..t smells just the same as the ones in Bedford Stuy.
I hate these Manhattanites who think they are better than the rest of us peons who live in the burbs.
Something else.
Today the first time in several weeks I returned to the gym for a good morning workout. It wasn't very easy but I think I managed it and at the end of it it really felt good. The holidays are almost over and I must start my mea culpa to my body. We'll see how far this thing will go!
This on its own would not make the news but where it happened did. It happened on Beekman Place which is a very ritzy Manhattan neighborhood by the United Nations.
This person who was murdered was no slouch. He lived in a six or eight room apartment and being a hedge fund manager I'm sure was well off. As it turned out his thirty year old son was the culprit and as I heard he was already arrested.
Reporters interviewed people in the area about this and that was what got me irked. One person was going on and on saying what a good neighborhood that was, that things like this do not happen in their area. I really got pissed at that uppity jerk.
Why, they can only kill in Bedford Stuyvesant? He made it sound like that in the other parts of town people can walk around with guns or knives in their hands and kill anybody they wish but on Beekman Place these things do not happen.
I got news for him. His s..t smells just the same as the ones in Bedford Stuy.
I hate these Manhattanites who think they are better than the rest of us peons who live in the burbs.
Something else.
Today the first time in several weeks I returned to the gym for a good morning workout. It wasn't very easy but I think I managed it and at the end of it it really felt good. The holidays are almost over and I must start my mea culpa to my body. We'll see how far this thing will go!
Monday, January 5, 2015
Sunday
All day today it was Sunday. True to my "tradition" Sunday is a day of rest. Rest means there is nothing useful being done. And why change a good old proven system?
The day just rolled along and by the time I noticed it was time to write and kind of finishing the day.
Didn't go out all day, just stay in and since there was a pretty crappy day outside nothing in my body wanted to go out.
In the past couple of days the tire pressure light on my car's dashboard lights up. Since the middle of the week I had to twice put air in the right front tire. According to the book it needs 34psi pressure and when I check it it is down to about 24psi.
I visually can not see anything but that doesn't mean that there is no nail or something else in it. This thing ticks me off. It is a brand new car and I certainly don't need this. The car has been standing in the garage all day today and I am a little concerned of what will I find tomorrow morning when I plan to take it out.
Actually I do have an appointment for a week from Tuesday for my first service which will only be an oil change but I wanted to stick it out until that time.
Every gas station that I know charge money for the use of their air pump but there is one nice station close to me where the air is free as it should be. Now I am becoming a frequent visitor there.
One thing people do not want to see in a new car: red lights lighting up in the dashboard. All we want is a piece of mind. But this is New York and why shouldn't there be stuff in the streets that cause damage to automobiles?
The day just rolled along and by the time I noticed it was time to write and kind of finishing the day.
Didn't go out all day, just stay in and since there was a pretty crappy day outside nothing in my body wanted to go out.
In the past couple of days the tire pressure light on my car's dashboard lights up. Since the middle of the week I had to twice put air in the right front tire. According to the book it needs 34psi pressure and when I check it it is down to about 24psi.
I visually can not see anything but that doesn't mean that there is no nail or something else in it. This thing ticks me off. It is a brand new car and I certainly don't need this. The car has been standing in the garage all day today and I am a little concerned of what will I find tomorrow morning when I plan to take it out.
Actually I do have an appointment for a week from Tuesday for my first service which will only be an oil change but I wanted to stick it out until that time.
Every gas station that I know charge money for the use of their air pump but there is one nice station close to me where the air is free as it should be. Now I am becoming a frequent visitor there.
One thing people do not want to see in a new car: red lights lighting up in the dashboard. All we want is a piece of mind. But this is New York and why shouldn't there be stuff in the streets that cause damage to automobiles?
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Saturday
Today is January 3, 2015, midday and it is snowing. There is nothing peculiar about snow since it is winter and snow should be a natural thing.
The interesting thing about this that last year, January 3, 2014 it was also snowing. We woke up in the morning to a considerable white blanket because it started during the night and continued almost all day. Same day, same type of weather.
True to form the radio news programs are having verbal orgasms about the snow. Like if it were in June or July. They don't seem to grasp that it is winter and snow is a winter event.
I happen to love snow and cold. I am impatiently waiting when conditions are just right for me to go skiing. Yes, I still want to ski.
Last winter for reasons known I did not go at all. It was my choice and I do not regret it. But life goes on and this time I want to rekindle my love affair with the white stuff, the mountains and cold weather.
Naturally, since I am two years older since my last incursion into the snowy world I am a more cautious person but just getting dressed up, drive up into the mountains, put my skis on my feet and go up to the top of the hill and look down is exciting and I can hardly wait for it.
Getting down to the bottom of the hill in one piece is another challenge and it is not all excitement it is more on the scary side. But I'll try to manage it with grace and style befitting a senior citizen.
Anyway, right now I will be going to the window and watch the snow coming down.
The interesting thing about this that last year, January 3, 2014 it was also snowing. We woke up in the morning to a considerable white blanket because it started during the night and continued almost all day. Same day, same type of weather.
True to form the radio news programs are having verbal orgasms about the snow. Like if it were in June or July. They don't seem to grasp that it is winter and snow is a winter event.
I happen to love snow and cold. I am impatiently waiting when conditions are just right for me to go skiing. Yes, I still want to ski.
Last winter for reasons known I did not go at all. It was my choice and I do not regret it. But life goes on and this time I want to rekindle my love affair with the white stuff, the mountains and cold weather.
Naturally, since I am two years older since my last incursion into the snowy world I am a more cautious person but just getting dressed up, drive up into the mountains, put my skis on my feet and go up to the top of the hill and look down is exciting and I can hardly wait for it.
Getting down to the bottom of the hill in one piece is another challenge and it is not all excitement it is more on the scary side. But I'll try to manage it with grace and style befitting a senior citizen.
Anyway, right now I will be going to the window and watch the snow coming down.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Time Square
New Year's Eve we and a few other people were watching ABC TV broadcast from Times Square in New York. The main attraction was the dropping of the ball at midnight. But to me the main attraction was watching the people freezing their asses off while waiting for the big event.
It never ceases to amaze me how much people are willing to put up with for a small amount of entertainment and a slim chance for being on live television. People can complain for the smallest change in their everyday life is that change creates discomfort. But they are willing to stand in the cold for hours, pee in a coffee cup if needed for a chance to see the ball drop.
As far as I know some people were there as early as 8-9 in the morning. The rule was if anyone left their "corral" they were given a hard time upon their return for the sake of security. So, what did they do when nature called. Because in all those hours and cold temperatures nature definitely called I'm sure.
It was interesting to see that about twenty minutes after Midnight Times Square almost all empty. I guess people couldn't wait to get out of there. Then why bother to go?
We watched it on Television from the comforts of a nice warm home. And couldn't understand what was the magic of being there and freeze at the same time.
Maybe all those people -few millions of them- were lonely people who had no place to go and figured Times Square was as god as any place.
We had a lovely party. I was with my friends in their friend's house were there was an abundance of food and drinks. We didn't eat or drink ourselves silly but still managed to have good time.
We discovered that conversation is good entertainment, also. We were there until past one am and by the time I got home it was about 2:15 in the morning. But this was not important. The important thing was that this was the first time I was out at New Year's Eve in about ten years and I enjoyed myself immensely.
Maybe I'll celebrate Chinese New Year so I can have a party.
It never ceases to amaze me how much people are willing to put up with for a small amount of entertainment and a slim chance for being on live television. People can complain for the smallest change in their everyday life is that change creates discomfort. But they are willing to stand in the cold for hours, pee in a coffee cup if needed for a chance to see the ball drop.
As far as I know some people were there as early as 8-9 in the morning. The rule was if anyone left their "corral" they were given a hard time upon their return for the sake of security. So, what did they do when nature called. Because in all those hours and cold temperatures nature definitely called I'm sure.
It was interesting to see that about twenty minutes after Midnight Times Square almost all empty. I guess people couldn't wait to get out of there. Then why bother to go?
We watched it on Television from the comforts of a nice warm home. And couldn't understand what was the magic of being there and freeze at the same time.
Maybe all those people -few millions of them- were lonely people who had no place to go and figured Times Square was as god as any place.
We had a lovely party. I was with my friends in their friend's house were there was an abundance of food and drinks. We didn't eat or drink ourselves silly but still managed to have good time.
We discovered that conversation is good entertainment, also. We were there until past one am and by the time I got home it was about 2:15 in the morning. But this was not important. The important thing was that this was the first time I was out at New Year's Eve in about ten years and I enjoyed myself immensely.
Maybe I'll celebrate Chinese New Year so I can have a party.
Friday, January 2, 2015
English
This past Tuesday I was in Manhattan as I already described in a previous writing. I used the subway for my mode of transportation which I think is the best way to get around the City. I am not in love with the system but as far getting somewhere the subway is the best mode of transportation.
So there I am sitting in an almost empty subway car and kind of enjoying the trip when a Hispanic mother and her teenage son get on the train. She had an Apple smart phone in her hand and dressed pretty fairly. Mother and son were conversing in Spanish.
She suddenly turned to me and asked if I spoke Spanish. I said no but the lady sitting next to me sais she did. Long Spanish conversation ensued and finally she got off at the next stop.
What happened was the she wanted to the Grand Central Station in Manhattan. Unfortunately she was travelling in the opposite direction and getting further and further away from her destination. It seemed she had no idea how to get to where she wanted to go and neither did her son. Getting off the train and changing travel direction was the remedy and I hope she eventually found Grand Central Station.
Why did I write this?
Because this person was not a tourist, she didn't look like somebody who just got in this country or city. So how come a person as young as she was can not speak the language of the country she is staying in?
People live in New York for decades never learn English because they live in their on enclaves, work with their own nationalities or just don't want to learn the language.
I feel absolutely no sympathy for these people whenever they get in the bind. I would never dream of settling in let's say Finland and not learn Finn so why other people get away with it?
It is just plain wrong. I came from another country, didn't know any English went to night school and made every effort to learn the language.
Learning English is an equal opportunity possibility.
So there I am sitting in an almost empty subway car and kind of enjoying the trip when a Hispanic mother and her teenage son get on the train. She had an Apple smart phone in her hand and dressed pretty fairly. Mother and son were conversing in Spanish.
She suddenly turned to me and asked if I spoke Spanish. I said no but the lady sitting next to me sais she did. Long Spanish conversation ensued and finally she got off at the next stop.
What happened was the she wanted to the Grand Central Station in Manhattan. Unfortunately she was travelling in the opposite direction and getting further and further away from her destination. It seemed she had no idea how to get to where she wanted to go and neither did her son. Getting off the train and changing travel direction was the remedy and I hope she eventually found Grand Central Station.
Why did I write this?
Because this person was not a tourist, she didn't look like somebody who just got in this country or city. So how come a person as young as she was can not speak the language of the country she is staying in?
People live in New York for decades never learn English because they live in their on enclaves, work with their own nationalities or just don't want to learn the language.
I feel absolutely no sympathy for these people whenever they get in the bind. I would never dream of settling in let's say Finland and not learn Finn so why other people get away with it?
It is just plain wrong. I came from another country, didn't know any English went to night school and made every effort to learn the language.
Learning English is an equal opportunity possibility.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
New Year
Today is the last day of 2014. By the time is published it is next year but I am still sitting in the "Old Year".
Man, this year went fast.
For me it was one of the worst year of my life. It was not the worst but one of the worst. My life took a dramatic change because of the loss of my Wife early this year.
It is over ten months ago that She passed away. Her memory didn't dim at all. She is in my heart and in my soul. At this time I am trying to put my life on the right track meaning I am trying to get back to a normal existence. It is not easy but I am doing my best.
As far as I am concerned this year there was no greater event than the loss of my loved one. I had no health scare, I had no financial scare and that's just about it. What else can a man at my age ask for?
I will not go on and on because I have a New Year's Eve party to go to.
In short, I wish everybody who read this a Very Happy and Healthy and UNEVENTFUL New Year in 2015.
Man, this year went fast.
For me it was one of the worst year of my life. It was not the worst but one of the worst. My life took a dramatic change because of the loss of my Wife early this year.
It is over ten months ago that She passed away. Her memory didn't dim at all. She is in my heart and in my soul. At this time I am trying to put my life on the right track meaning I am trying to get back to a normal existence. It is not easy but I am doing my best.
As far as I am concerned this year there was no greater event than the loss of my loved one. I had no health scare, I had no financial scare and that's just about it. What else can a man at my age ask for?
I will not go on and on because I have a New Year's Eve party to go to.
In short, I wish everybody who read this a Very Happy and Healthy and UNEVENTFUL New Year in 2015.
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