Homesteading in Downtown Springfield, MA
Today’s Springfield Republican included a story about a family that’s urban homesteading in the heart of Springfield, MA. Many people like me have thought about how nice it would be to simplify right down to growing one’s own food, and spending no money on cars, clothes or gadgets. That’s what […]
"Yes Chef! Yes Chef!" –Trying to Keep Him Happy
Last night was cooler so it was easier to sleep. Still, I stayed up way too late and part of the night was spent watching “Hell’s Kitchen”on Fox where the mean chef tortures his wannabe chefs while diners wait for entrees in the fancy dining room. This guy is so […]
If You Want Your Passport without a Chip–Act Now
Wired news reports today that passports are changing–big time–in the US. “After much ado, the United States has begun or will begin issuing passports with RFID chips in them. The passports now have some anti-skimming features, including Basic Access Control and some sort of internal tin-foil hat. But the chips […]
Passing the Baby Around
Mark Helprin’s 1983 novel, Winter’s Tale was voted the single best work of American fiction published in the last 25 years by readers of the NY Times Book Review. He sat down with Doublethink’s Kelly Jane Torrance, here is an excerpt about why he doesn’t like parties. At all. “What […]
Sex in a Gondola above France
ETurbo News usually sends puffy press releases about Dubai and some meeting in another Arab land. Today they send this little ditty about a chance encounter in a ski gondola above France. “Andy Sinclair reached his peak while dangling high above the Alps. The gondola podule things took four people […]
Who Goes There, Who Would Stone My Vessel!?
Last night we got dressed up and walked down the venerable, wood paneled Navigator, on the Edgartown Harbor. The hostess was from Russia, blond and very thin. She laughed since we had barged all the way in without a table. “I put you on the list,” she told us. Later […]
The Remains of the Sandcastle Contest on South Beach
Today the heat broke, and it is overcast and barely 80. A relief yet I enjoyed feeling that heat, thinking about February and the many times I shiver throughout the winter months in New England. We rode bikes down to South Beach, and were greeted by friendly lifeguards high up […]
How to Live Until You’re 104
Yesterday’s NY Times included a story by Janny Scott about Brooke Astor, 104, who has been in the news about a lawsuit filed alleging bad things against her 84-year-old producer son. The story mentions that there are 1253 women aged 100-104 living in NY, and just 104 who are between […]
Things You Read on Planes
What I learned from reading today’s Daily Telegraph, en route from Larnaca, Cyprus to London: In the Philippines, a large worm is devastating the centuries old system of terraces, upon which farmers grow their rice crops. Because of loss of forest habitat, a vociferous worm that grows up to six […]
She Finally Got Up her Nerve and Plunged In
The sultry afternoon lingered as we remained on vacation time…watches left on the bureau, looking only at that spot of white on my wrist. Walking through Edgartown, to the Reading Room, perched on its own causeway in the harbor, ‘no trespassing signs’ delineating the places where only Members are welcome. […]
The Man Israel Wants to Find Most
Sitting in the heated up house here on Cummings Way, reading the Wall St. Journal. The name Imad Mugniyah came up in a story about Hezbollah. He is the mastermind, schemer, bomber extraordinaire of Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Karby Laggett writes about this devious scary dude. “The man in charge of this […]
Finding our Own Little Beach at Katama Point
Yesterday in the stultifying heat, we made our way over to the outer harbor, to an oasis that the Land Bank has provided in and among huge waterside houses of the rich. A little path winds it’s way to the shoreline, and an osprey nest is located on the winding […]
Tony Sings at 80 and the World Loves Him
We’ve showered twice already today as the heat blazes down on us here on the island. Inside the house in the shade it’s not so bad, and we’ve got time to read the NY Times. A story today mentioned Tony Bennett’s 80th birthday tomorrow, and included these words about this […]
Watching a Cash Cow Earn its Keep in MV
Had to drive out for supplies today, so I entered the steamy car for a short drive to Morning Glory Farm, in Edgartown. The place must be a cash cow, as the parking lot is continually full of huge SUVs and the place is mobbed with soccer moms and rich […]
The World Stares into its Cellphone
Everyone here, it seems, is staring into a cellphone. Whether it’s burley contractor dude, pausing on a shovel, or high cheekboned Greenwich second-wife, in her white Yukon that barely fits on the little Edgartown streets, one and all they’re staring into that little one-inch screen. Contemplating a call, perhaps another […]
Scuttle or Move Your Fleet, Or We Will Sink It
Out on the porch at 8 am, and the sun is just starting to broil. We readjust our chairs to get out of the strong rays, and I am reading a letter to the editor of the Wall St. Journal about World War II. Letter writer Elliott Hinkes MD, from […]
The MV Island Home Rolls into the Sea
Oh oh oh, it is sooo nice to be on vacation on the very familiar island of Martha’s vineyard. Everything here is what I’m used to, this little cottage with all of the same age-old knick knacks, and the front porch where we lazily read and sit and watch the […]
Press Trip Tales
Travelwriters.com asked a question “What was your most embarassing moment on a press trip? Here is an answer from “Lush.” “Once upon on a time in a Novotel in Australia, I met the local tourism board PR before I checked into my hotel. “I’ve left you a special welcome package […]