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Well that’s me and sorry that my six word title had nothing to do with today’s (OK yesterday’s) Six Word Memoir theme which if you recall was about love and relationships (of all kinds).   So first let’s get to those clever gems sent in by some of my readers:

Rich is coming home. Thank goodness! – Susan Celtic Lady

She better be the last one! – Spinny Liberal

I loved. I lost. Leaving Vegas. – Weez

Listen to gut when wavering – Heide

Can’t wait till tomorrow. Maya Thursday! – Anonymous

Second marriage – my best friend forever. – Me

Since last Monday, a couple of other events have occurred;  First off, we had April15th, the dreaded Income Tax Due Day come and go with a blessed 3 day extension, Passover began and Spring showed itself for maybe 2 of the last 7 days.  Here are some Six Word Memoirs reflecting this past week.

Tax day, Ocean Grove, no line! – Heide

No more pancakes. Thank you Passover! – Lauren

Tennis, lunch, read, nap, dinner, bed –Heather

I do think themes are a good way to get you thinking about summing up an experience in just six words, no more, no less.  This week is a continuation of Passover and ends in Easter, not to mention some people are on Spring break.  Let’s try to come up with something along those lines.  AND remember there REALLY IS A SIX WORD PROJECT  online at Smith Magazine.  The editor and publisher ACTUALLY stopped by the blog one Monday and read what we have been doing and encouraged all of you to visit the site and post your own Six Word Memoir.  www.smithmag.net

See you all in the blogasphere.

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Passover Seder Plate

The Seder Plate

During Passover, it is custom and tradition in the Jewish culture  to invite friends to share a Passover Seder meal;  especially friends who are in need or alone and additionally inviting a goy, (shikse in my case) to join is a way to extend the hand of friendship.  Lucky for me I have good friends!  Susan and Jim invited me to join them tomorrow evening for a Passover meal, not a full-blown Seder but that’s ok with me.

Last year I posted a blog about the story of the Seder and a bit of an Italian Easter thrown in.  You might enjoy reading it:   https://pbenjay.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/why-is-this-night-different-from-all-other-nights/you will have to copy and paste this link.

Yiddish phrases every Goy should know especially if they happened to be invited to a Seder.  And this is a good post to read if you are going to attend:  https://pbenjay.wordpress.com/2010/09/04/ten-yiddish-words-every-goy-should-know-2/   Copy and paste.

You’ll know you are NOT at a Seder if during the evening meal, the conversation is peppered with some or all of these  Yiddish words:

kvetsh To complain, whine or fret.

mishegas:  Insanity or craziness

shlemiel: a clumsy or inept person-the kind of person who always spills his soup.

shlimazel:  someone with constant bad luck – the person the shlemiel spills his soup on.

shmendrick:  a jerk, or stupid person

tsuris:  serious troubles, not just minor annoyances

plotz:to explode in aggravation.

Have a Zeisen Pasach and for heaven’s sake, watch out for the 7 plagues.

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OK clearly this question is limited to those of us who are of either a certain age or are collectors.

Unfortunately I fall into both categories although admittedly an avid collector, records is not one of my collection addictions.  No, I leave that one up to Peter.  Yesterday was a sweet example of making a collection work for you;  Finley came over for a visit and since we know she is fascinated by all media we thought we would expose her to kiddie records from the 40’s and 50’s. We happen to have an extensive library of kiddie records because Peter’s father was a partner in Record Guild of America, a leading manufacturer of wonderful laminated and illustrated cardboard records for kids to play on their very own phonographs.   I had a really cute red and white record player like a little suitcase.  Anyway, we finally found an old one in good condition and couldn’t wait to introduce little Finny to this particular pleasure.  We thought she would be fascinated by the fact that there was sound but no moving pictures.  And she did love it!  After showing her how it worked, Peter let her put her own records on and move the needle arm and play the records.  NOW, I know I sound just like a proud grandmother, but really, she is only 2 yr. 8mo old and she quickly grasped the concept and knew to move the arm gently.  It was quite a treat for us and we hope she enjoyed it as well.

kiddie records, phonograph, child's record player, Snow White and Seven Dwarfs, Record Guild of America

The picture goes round 'n round!


Now here’s the good part;  Mommy showed up with little Francesca for a short visit and the first thing Finley said to her was, “see my DVD‘s”  – oh well…..

So back to the first album you ever bought.  The first album I ever purchased was “Only Love Can Break A Heart” by Gene Pitney. First of all, I thought the song was great and I also liked The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence – what can I tell you – I was a strange teenager I guess.  The reason it was probably my first album purchase was because by the time it came out, I had some of my own money to spend, whether it was from babysitting or my weekend work at The Cenacle (that’s a whole other blog).  I was a rabid Elvis Presley fan but when he was really at his height I only owned his 45 rpm records, probably my father bought them for me.

So I’m throwing out this question in hopes of getting some interesting replies from everyone.  It will be fun to see just what was the first album you bought?

Only Love Can Break A Heart, the man who shot Liberty Valence

Gene Pitney

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Love & Heartbreak Cover

LOVE & HEARTBREAK

And better yet what are you saying in six words, no more, no less?

Well I have only a couple of reader contributions to share with you this week:

So scared of making wrong decision – Heide

Disruptions to daily life are good – Heather

My tax return equals accountant’s fee! – me

Not very many responses this week so here’s a few from the book, Not Quite What I Was Planning-Six Word Memoirs by Writers FAMOUS & OBSCURE

Wanted world, got world plus lupus. – Liz Futrell

Yes to every date, met mate – Maria Dahvana Headley

The Hustle: turn champion into sucker. – Amarillo Slim

I was born some assembly required. – Eric Jordan

I drank too much last night. – Mary McIntyre

How about a theme for next week? As an inspiration to send in a Six Word Memoir or Story or whatever you want to call it…let’s do LOVE and relationships.  We’ve all had one or two or more…some won, some lost, some we should have never been in that game at all lol.  You can be ANONYMOUS if you choose!  As further inspiration I am posting an article that was in the NY Times last month and it is chock full of six word gems!!

What’s Your Six-Word Love Story?

By TARA PARKER-POPE

Can you sum up a relationship in six words?

The readers of the Web site Smith Magazine are doing just that, offering six-word memoirs to describe both love and loss. Some examples:

Love hurts. Choose vodka or valium.

You lost me at hello “ma’am.”

Life’s like chocolates. Picked, processed, pooped.

Hearts clubbed by diamonds in spades.

Passion, fireworks, good loving. He’s gay.

But our domestic partnership was notarized….

Your new wife is too friendly.

There’s nothing sex can not fix.

Finally found love, at age 41.

Note to self: avoid head cases.

He wasn’t worth the panic attacks.

Chocolate is the coward’s bad apology.

Pet-sitting for ex-husband describes amicable divorce.

Loved her madly — then went mad.

Warning, love: I blog my breakups.

What do you think? Do you have six words to share about love, marriage and relationships? Please post your own six-word memoir below. And be sure to check out the Smith Magazine Web site for more six-word memoirs on happiness, teenagers, food and other topics.

There you have it! Please put your abbreviated succinct head and put fingers to keyboard and send it in – PLEASE!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY CUZ!

Just had to wish one of my ever-faithful readers a very Happy Birthday today!

Karen anderson, happy birthday

Happy Birthday Karen !

And the best wishes for a great day and fabulous year!

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Binghamton, New York, memorial sign for Rod Se...

Rod Serling

SIX WORD MEMOIR MONDAY

This week the title of the book that I quote every week (except this week) in this Six Word Memoir blog post just seemed perfectly appropriate for me.  Nothing seems to be going not quite what I was planning; the income tax return, the trip home, the diet, this very day, the mortgage escrow payment, and before this day is done, I’m sure I can add a few more.  BUT…that’s not what this post is about.

On the UPSIDE, I received several replies to my desperate plea for some reader response to the eternal question; One Life, Six Words, What’s Yours?  So happy that you responded with your own Six Word Memoirs and here they are:

Waiting for Rod Serling to appear – Weez

So much chaos in the world – Gail

From nothing comes nothing-Exercise works! – Heide

Grandgremlins are wonderful, in small doses – Heather

IRS return done. No extension needed – Me

Unfortunately I don’t have access to the book, Not Quite What I Was Planning today,  so I can’t post any of those wonderful gems from writers both famous and obscure; which brings me full circle to my own not quite what I was planning day.



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Who knew? Well certainly not I or even me! Charles Osgood knew or least his researchers and fact checkers ascertained for him that this neat little popular game of the 50’s (and still today) was originally conceived as a way to keep children happily playing indoors where they would not be exposed to the dreaded disease of polio!  I heard this on Sunday Morning today.

Over the years the board graphics have changed, the playing pieces evolved, not necessarily for the better in my opinion, but then again I am a great fan of vintage graphics.

Here is a photo of a very early Candy Land game board.  Isn’t it great?  Revisiting my old favorites of the Molasses Swamp, the Ice Cream Float and the Peppermint Stick Forest brings back a flood of nostalgic memories;  playing this simple game for HOURS with my girl friends.

1949

Lollipop woods, gum drop mountain, molasses swamp, candy cane forest

Original Candy Land Game Board

1985

Candy Land Game Board 1985

Theme Version

Dora the Explorer in Candy Land

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Bushido – The Way of the Warrior or The Seven Virtues of the Samurai.  Bushido is a code of conduct, a way of life (and death) based on seven virtues.  Below is an explanation of this Samurai Code from the website, Oriental Outlook:

The Way of the Samurai

“During the 9th and 12th centuries in Japan the warrior class were known as samurai, also called bushi (knights/warriors – bushi hence bushido).
They emerged from the provinces of Japan to become the ruling class until their decline and later total abolition in 1876 during the Meiji Era.

These warriors were men who lived by Bushido; it was their way of life. The samurai’s loyalty to the emperor and his overlord or daimyo were unsurpassed. They were trustworthy and honest. They lived frugal lives with no interest in riches and material things, but rather in honor and pride. They were men of true valor. Samurai had no fear of death. They would enter any battle no matter the odds. To die in battle would only bring honor to one’s family and one’s lord.”

Bushido, although an ancient code of conduct is still alive and well in Japan.  The Warrior’s Code is deeply imbued in this centuries-old culture.  And nowhere is it more evident than at the Fukushima nuclear site.

The Seven Virtues are:

RECTITUDE : Doing the right thing, making the right decision, not because it’s easy but because it is morally and ethically correct.

COURAGE: The ability to do things which one finds frightening.  “Courage is not the absence of fear.  It is acting in spite of it”…Mark Twain.

BENEVOLENCE: Charity, mercy.  The Japanese symbol for this word can also be translated to mean selflessness and love for humanity.

RESPECT: We treat others with dignity and respect the rules of our family, school and nation.

HONESTY: Truth, faith, and fidelity.

HONOR: Having or earning the respect of others.  It is the status of being worthy of honor, not to be confused with the act of doing honorable things.

LOYALTY: Faithful, true, devoted and obedient.  Many centuries ago, the Samurai were loyal to the emperor and his overlord.  Post-war Japan brought a new loyalty;  loyalty to the corporation replaced the emperor or overlord and as one can see today, this virtue is held in high regard.

Today I read a deeply disturbing article online on the MSNBC website.   It was about TEPCO offering large sums of money to workers who will work in the plant while containment is underway and are looking for “jumpers”.  Definition of a “jumper” is a worker who will bring one end of a pump into the reactor, dump it in the water and run  out. And there was also a story about the fatalistic attitude prevalent with the 50-man shifts of workers trying to control the impending and continuing crisis at the Fukushima nuclear site.  Please copy and paste the url below to access this story.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42371032/ns/world_news-asia-pacific/from/toolbar

Report: Fukushima nuke workers expect to die

And now you know why these 300 workers are known as the Atomic Samurai.

 

Bushido, Samurai warrior, The Way of the Warrior, Samurai code of conduct, Atomic Samurai

A Samurai Warrior

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91/365 Happy April Fools Day!

Hi, I'm Joe, your blind date

Continuing along with my 52 reasons to celebrate this year (and why not, life is so short), this is one of those holidays you can choose to celebrate all day long.   I don’t think we will be having any special April Fool’s Day dinner although I do have a recipe for a desert called Raspberry Fool and if you want it, just let me know.  MMmmmm I suppose I could make Peter a martini and use vodka instead of gin, but he wouldn’t be fooled much past the first sip and then…well I guess I would have to drink that one.

When I was a kid, I know I loved this day to pull the classic April Fool’s pranks on my family.  You know, the salt in the sugar bowl or the sugar in the salt shaker.  You can try really loosening the cap on the pepper shaker and hope it comes off when someone tries to sprinkle some pepper on their food.   Or adding a tiny bit of food coloring to the milk so it looks like it turned sour – yuk!!

Of course there are some more adult tricks to play on others today and if you work in an office you might find these helpful; When your co-workers have gone out to lunch, switch the wires on two phones on adjacent desks.  The phone will ring and they won’t be able to answer it!  Or place post-it notes on every item on someone’s desk, labeling the item. Or fool the whole office by placing a sign on each exit door (hopefully there are two) saying Please Use Other Door.  And here’s a nasty one. Photo copy a paper clip several times and then load that paper back into the copier and when the next few people go to copy something they will go crazy trying to find the paper clip stuck in the copier.

And for those of you who just want to have fun anywhere all day try these classics;  Get a piece of cloth that you can tear easily drop  a dollar bill and then get out of sight but close by and wait for someone to bend over and pick it up. Then rip the cloth!   Or glue a quarter to the floor and watch as people try to retrieve it.

And there’s more classic pranks to play on members of your household;  You can put salt on their toothbrush or wrap a rubber band around the spray-nozzle in the kitchen sink and when someone turns it on they will get sprayed (make sure it is facing forward).   We all know about putting a paper cup full of water on top of a door that is slightly ajar but to make the prank not quite so nasty, try filling the cup with confetti instead.  An icky trick is to replace the hand lotion in the bottle with some mayonnaise – how about a ham sandwich?

Take some pages from yesterday’s or older newspaper and replace a couple of pages in today’s paper! Also not nice is to put a cotton ball or two in the toe of someone’s shoe and watch as they wonder how and when their feet grew.   Or you can put a note on a car in the parking lot saying “Sorry about the dent, call me so we can swap insurance information”  Use a fake name and number and watch from a distance while they frantically search for the dent.

And this last one is definitely in the nasty category;  add yellow food coloring to small amount of water and sprinkle on the toilet seat – this one is good for home and work, ha ha ha.  Or you can set the TV to an obnoxious channel, turn the volume way up high and turn off the TV and wait for the next person to turn it on and jump out of their shoes.

I’d like to credit for these many April Fool’s Day jokes and pranks but I can’t.  We live in the World Wide Web and it is chock full of these and hundreds more practical jokes.  You know you can find anything on the internet!!

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The back story to this photograph is that my lovely daughter Chiara got married in June ’08 and although they were living in Boston, Tom and she got married in New York City.  So they weren’t really here much before or after the wedding.  They came in to get the license and left the day after the wedding for a two week honeymoon and returned directly to Boston.

Soooo, Chiara had a New York license from before when she lived here and it was in her maiden name;  It hadn’t expired so she kept it.  Time passes, one child is born, Finley Ray.  More time passes and another child is born, Francesca and still the license had not expired.  Chiara was still in Boston all this time.

This January they moved back to New York City, so she has been here for 3 full months, (can you see where this is going?).   She just had her 34th birthday last week and Tom bought her birthday cake.  I think the message is pretty clear – When the hell are you going to change your name?

Kiki's birthday cake, Chiara is 34, Chiara Berti Clark

Did You Get My Message?

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