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 […]
Who’s Who Squatting in our Edgartown House
The heat is on, and our cafe AC is pathetic. Sweltering as these machines hum full blast, something’s gotta give. So we’re going shopping tonight. We’ve found some great new prospects for the cafe position, and soon we’ll be at full strength once I return from Martha’s Vineyard. Next week […]
Fat Matt Finally Walks the Plank
“Fat Matt Amorello was a complete boob to the bitter end,” writes Howie Carr in today’s Boston Herald website about the embattled head of the Mass Turnpike’s Big Dig. “Two weeks ago today, he had a deal on the table that would have paid him through the end of the […]
The ‘Unstealable Cars’ that Are Being Stolen
Last night I had trouble sleeping after taking a well deserved nap in the afternoon. There I was, 2 am, tossing and turning while Cindy slept like a dead person. So I got up and read the latest copy of Wired, which as usual provided fascinating material. Apparently there are […]
Saveurs’ Fact Checker Checks In about Pancakes
Today is another busy day at the cafe, with the weather heating up and the people streaming in for smoothies, ice coffee and to use the computers. I was in a meeting with a web designer from Greenfield named Maria when I got a call from Saveur Magazine. It was […]
In Moscow, the Showers are Cold This Time of Year
Back in the cafe today, I sent Alan home early about 2:30. No sense watching him sit around waiting for customers when I can do it myself. I got a chance to read the Recorder, and found a story from the Baltimore Sun. This story made me glad I don’t […]
Sharing Pools, Joy and Sick Kids
Today we had a big send-off brunch for the wedding party at Cindy’s Holyoke ranch. The bagels, coffee and hard boiled eggs from the cafe were all a hit, and we watched part of the wedding all over again on video. I slept, like I often do on Sundays, and […]