Focused at Fifty

Winter can be dull. Winter can be boring. No one wants to do anything. Everyone suffers from SAD!!!! (Seasonal Affective Disorder for all of you non-psycho types.)  Well in the words of Cher in Moonstruck , "SNAP OUT OF IT!" Winter does not have to be any of the above! There is so much to do, you just gotta get off your lazy winterized ass and do it!  You need to bundle up and get out, or do something fun in the warmth of your own home. With a little creativity, you can enjoy yourself and for a short time, forget that Old Man Winter is knocking at your door! I used to plan drink nights out with friends when I lived in Philly. I would plan several in January and February just to get out of the house and forget about winter. They were so much fun. I had a steady group of about 10 or so friends come out once every 3-4 weeks for dinner and drinks at different hot spots in the city. It was the Ritz-Carlton crowd I worked with along with some other close friends of min...

I can't take credit for this, but wanted to post it. I love it and I am proud to be from New Jersey!!! IF YOU LIVE IN NEW JERSEY: If you live in or have ever lived in Jersey ...you'll appreciate this...if not, you may be surprised! New Jersey is a peninsula. Highlands, New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida . New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas. New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky . New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq mi.) than Havana , Cuba . New Jersey has the densest system of highways and railroads in the US . New Jersey has the highest cost of living. New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance. New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation. New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the "Diner Capital of the World." New Jersey is home to the original Mystery Pork Part...

Every year around this time I make a list of things to do to pass the time during the dreariness of winter. These projects include doing stuff around the home, special projects, fixing items, and reorganizing files, photos, and CDs. Starting with the last one mentioned, this always ends up on the list. It is also the least likely to be done. Hence, it continues being added onto the end of whatever list I am working on at the time. “Must Reorganize Files, Photos, and CDs”. I mean, really, it is the most boring thing to do, but if I finally do it, I know it gives me a sense of satisfaction. I think I try and do it some of it every 6 months. The files are the easiest, I toss articles I haven’t read or looked at again. I shred old bills. I combine files. I toss catalogs. It’s a productive event which is good to do while watching an old movie. CDs are the next easiest task. The hardest part is deciding whether to organize by artist or genre. I have them stored in old Coca-Cola and Pepsi c...

My sister and I were talking the other evening on the commute home. She was heading north from Wilmington, Delaware, as I was heading west from Allentown, PA. The nice thing about her new job is that we are able talk during our commutes, making the drives that much easier and faster. It's great and I have been enjoying it. Sheryl was telling me how (I am laughing as I am writing this) she was cleaning off her car the morning of the latest snowstorm and her perfectly coiffed hair ended up becoming a wet matte of hairspray and hair. She was preparing to meet that day the CEO of the company. Thankfully, the weather kept  him away from seeing the weather related hair disaster that befell my sister! Sorry Sheryl for laughing! I know I shouldn't laugh as I have only had buzz cuts since the mid 90's and have no idea about the issues women have with their hair ... but it was pretty damn funny. Sheryl continued complaining about her weather related hair disaster and we we...

Losing a pet is traumatic. It is one of the few times a hardened man will break down and cry. It is one of the very few times I cried along side my father. Still to this day, I remember back to the times when I have lost my dear furry friends with pain and sadness. It stays with you as does the similar pain of losing a family member. Maybe that's why many people now call our pets, "animal companions." With all due respect to those who do not have pets, it is hard for them to understand the connection that you develop over the years with your cat, dog, bird, or other animal friend. Today, my brother and his family lost their dog Bingo, who was 15 yrs old. They, as a family, are in extreme pain over this loss. Bingo had lived through the loss of his best friend, Bo, a Lhasa Apso, dealt with various cats, and moved from one home to another. He led a gallantly happy life and was the quintessential loyal dog friend. Adam, Teresa, and their kids, Angelica and Johnny, took suc...

The funny thing about mourning someone’s death is that it strikes you at the weirdest and most inopportune times. Some times are appropriate. I have trouble dealing with holidays and family birthdays. Of course, the death I am referring to is my mother’s, April 10, 2009. She was just a couple months shy of her 67th birthday. She died on Good Friday that year. So now every year, I will actually mourn her death on two days: April 10th and whatever day Good Friday occurs on. My mother always loved the spotlight, so now she gets two official days for me to mourn her (insert awkward reader laugh here). I mourn on those above dates as well as Mom’s birthday. I mourn on my brother’s, sister’s, and my birthday because my Mom should be here. I think about her on my Nana’s and Grandpop’s Yahrzeit (the Jewish anniversary of death). I wonder if they are together again celebrating their reunion in Heaven. I mourn Mother’s Day and each holiday that my mother is not with us. Thanksgiving is particu...

It’s been awhile since I have written my blog. There have been various reasons, but nothing that I feel or need to get into right now. So without further adieu, let me get started. I worked hard this weekend preparing the yard and deck for the coming winter. I forgot how much yard bric-a-brac that I had accumulated this year. My main goal was to get all of the shells, candles, flags, and lawn ornaments put away. My shell collection from childhood is pretty extensive. Most of it is tucked away in the attic, but I keep the large conchs and whelks out on the deck to remind me of my love for the sea and beach. Each one of these is carefully wrapped up at the end of the fall so that I may bring them out and enjoy them again the coming spring. I noticed this year they are really bleaching white from the years in the sun. Candles and lanterns were next. Carefully wrapping everything in newspaper or bubble wrap, I filled about 4 milk crates with all of my yard and deck "stuff." T...