Author Archives: Sans Souci

Part 69: Who’s Who?

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I have been putting off writing the latest addition to my mother-daughter series for several reasons: I have been really tired if not drained, I have been fighting those ocular migraines which have been coming in groups, like one episode a day isn’t enough, I have been busy running around, and at times I am just plain daunted. I have: taken my mother to apply for all kinds of changes at social security taken her to apply for a NYS photo ID gotten applications for all kinds of services spent hours on the phone with the social worker gotten her … Continue reading →

Nuts To You

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    A Heavenly Body?                  My neighbors’ tree seemed tall and spindly; it wrapped itself around a telephone pole. For the first time we noticed apple-sized green orbs hanging from it and could not figure out what the fruit might be.   I posted photos  (excuse the poor quality, I was unable to enlarge cell phone photos, but some can be clicked on to enlarge) and a bright friend on facebook nailed it: black walnut!   We collected a bunch more and cut them open only to find loads of maggots in some … Continue reading →

Friday Fluff: Some Interesting Stuff

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      Been busy, so while I try to catch up, here is a hodgepodge of stuff to keep you busy from my twitters – Click the links*   *Conforming Metronomes *Put the Phone Down! *Stephen Hawking’s Claim About Llife After Death *Are You an Old Soul? (I think I am ancient, for other reasons–creak, crack) For apple folks: *The Complete Evolution of Apple’s ios In One Gif *Printable, Foldable Shoes Could Solve World’s Footwear Shortage *Ron Shaich, Panera Bread CEO, Is Attempting To Live On $4.50 Per Day *Six Foods That Clear Brain Fog *What the Dying Want … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: Micro Living is More: Museum of the City of New York and Beyond

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I finally caught the exhibit I have been wanting to see.  Making Room is an eye-opening view of the way we live and what we need. Cutting-edge design innovations offer possible solutions to New York City’s housing challenges in the 21st century. There is a need to house the growing population of single and small family dwellers. Apartments are becoming scarcer and scarcer in the cities and housing has to be addressed. The exhibit features a 325 square foot “micro studio” with flexible furnishing. Mayor Bloomberg’s administration has addressed the issue with a competition and some of the winners are … Continue reading →

9/11 The Falling Man: The World Trade Center Blogs: Index to 6 part multimedia series (updated 9/13)

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*click the links *Lead-in: From Brooklyn to Lower Manhattan/A visual essay and a prelude a visit to the area triggers memories   *Part 1: Windows on the World Video: Building the World Trade Center Introduction George Willig, the wire walker Memory: dining at Windows On The World   *Part 2: Audio Walking Tour: A thousand pictures from the sounds “Featuring voice messages, interviews, eyewitness accounts, live music, audio artifacts–the elevators, revolving doors, the piano in Windows on the World…stories and sounds from the world Trade Center and it’s neighborhood.” Follow the map 102 facts   *Part 3: Poetry: Billy Collins/The … Continue reading →

Part 68: The Changing Of The Guard

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One went, one came. Another will come. The new guards will take turns. It’s different. What was, since the end of February, is now over. After Cynthia said “goodbye,” dressed in her fancy blouse, Capris and huge peep-toed heels, dragging her seventy-five+ pound bags after her, my mother shed a tear and sang  “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.”  The deal was done. Peaches from The Bronx had taken Cynthia’s place and would be living in.  Peaches looked childlike and was shivering in fear at the newness.  Sunday, she commuted on the Q44 bus from The Bronx at 9:00 a.m.  … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: ART: Reginald Marsh/Swing Time/Thirties New York

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The Battery   There is a spectacular exhibit of 1930’s art by Reginald Marsh (also, Raphael Soyer, Isabel Bishop). Swing Time, was at the New York Historical Society from June 21, 2013 to September 1, 2013. I was able to see the exhibit on its last day. Reginald Marsh (1898-1954) was an American artist who focused on the mundane, the daily, the profane, the exuberant. He saw the energy and captured it in his interpretation of light by use of color and brush stroke. Some of his work reminds me of the WPA style if there is such a thing. Common … Continue reading →

Part 67: Patterns

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  I bet you thought everything was just perfect. Things have quieted down; my mother’s behavior seems to have fallen into patterns that at times follow an obvious woof and warp and other times swirl into complicated paisleys.     There are days when everything seems clear and direct, going in the proper direction, staying in line. Tightly woven. Feeling as it should; days of exhaling breath with a grateful sigh of relief. I observe my mother being part of the new community, enjoying her meals, making friends, taking things in stride, displaying her sense of humor.   There are … Continue reading →

Missing You. The Loss of Linda Ronstadt’s Voice

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In my mind, Linda Ronstadt was always the Queen of rock. She was reigned in the seventies and as the years passed she recreated herself: she was the singer of Mexican canciones, light opera, torch songs, forties love songs, big band, cartoon voices. She sang solo, she sang with others, she sang blues, jazz, songs for and from all ages. She took every song and made it hers, made it better. I took it for granted that she’d always be around in some form. Life played a cruel trick on me; worst of all, the trick was on the songbird … Continue reading →

New York City and Mayor Michael Bloomberg

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    It is Michael Bloomberg’s final year as Mayor. We think. He managed to break the rules and the odds and stay beyond what we expected, stretched two terms into a rare three, and continued his one dollar a year token salary. (Bloomberg has been in office more than eleven years catching up to Mayors LaGuardia, Wagner, and Koch served twelve years.) Mayor Bloomberg was not the favorite of teachers; he ran, or tried to run the Department of Education as a business. It just doesn’t work. However, Mayor Bloomberg improved the quality of life in the city, in … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: The NYC Riviera

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  New York City is an island nation of sorts. We forget that so  much of the city is surrounded by water and now that its shoreline development and waterfront parks have been getting their due, ferries are popping up. It used to be that “the ferry” meant the Staten Island Ferry. Yes, there always was a ferry to Liberty Island, Ellis Island, Governor’s Island, but beyond that, people can now travel between boroughs, commute to work or just have some time out at sea. My day began at LIC Flea and Food where food is wonderful and the variety … Continue reading →

Part 66: The Ghost in the Canister

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I have been unpacking and repacking two large cartons of breakables in my mother’s new studio apartment. Treasures from my childhood have been making an appearance; they are the same but different; you know what I mean. The memories of vases, bowls, brick-a-brack are intact yet marred by time, the slight distortions making me wonder if my memories have aged or if the china cups and saucers in the cabinet that used to be on the wall behind glass have aged. The only thing I know for sure is that I have aged. In the late 1970’s on my first … Continue reading →

Part 65: Ninety-Five and Driving a BMW

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And so, when it was time to get acquainted with the physicians in the building, my mother questioned “why?” “Why do I have to see a doctor when I just saw a doctor in Florida and he said I passed all my tests?” “But you are here now and you need to choose a physician. There are three in the building on the main floor in a satellite office from a nearby hospital.” I made sense. She bought it. The aide made an appointment. My mother was immediately charmed by the doctor who happens to be the head of geriatrics … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: “H-M’Art”: Food and Packaging as Eye Candy

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H-MART is a Korean food chain that has put down roots in New York and New Jersey and is spreading into other states. It is a hit because it is clean, the food is fresh, the prices, especially the produce is competitive, there are plenty of samples, the workers are respectful and helpful and it is just plain interesting; it is a cheap trip to another country. Experience the flavors and colors of food shopping in Korea. This is one of H-MART’s latest store openings. I stuffed myself with Korean snack food so I can work on this post and … Continue reading →

To Your Health: Don’t Teas Me

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Now and then I will post an interesting or informative article. Here is a link about tea. We have come to know tea as being an ancient, healthy drink sometimes with medicinal properties. Sadly, there are properties that can be just the opposite: toxicities due to pesticides, additives and the material of the tea bag itself can be unhealthy,   Here’s an informative article for you tea drinkers.  Do You Know What’s Really In Your Tea?  

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NYC Photo Journal: An Afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

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There is always something to see at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.   Sometimes it is as interesting outside of the building as it is inside. There is always a crowd if people on the stairs, street food, and most likely music and entertainment. And it’s fun. To wit: check out the cool African American dude in the white outfit, playing Hebrew Bar Mitzvah tunes on his sax. Grab a felafel from the food truck and then do the Hora. Or bop along to the group singing the Temptations’ songs. Yep, don’t be self-conscious, it’s New York. Share my day. Click … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: Getting Hives: Just Call Me, “Honey.”

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So, I didn’t run away, I flew away and spent some time at a place I knew nothing about, a place ensconced in the neighborhood where my mother now lives, Flushing, Queens: The Voelker Orth Museum, is also a bird sanctuary and Victorian Garden. From the website: __________________________________________________________________________________________________ From Immigrant Home to Neighborhood Museum 10th Anniversary Exhibition August 24 – November 24, 2013 Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 1-4pm From Immigrant Home to Neighborhood Museum takes a look at the transformation of the property from the late 19th century through the restoration of the house and opening of the Voelker Orth … Continue reading →

Part 64: Catching Up … Mythically

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This afternoon I spoke to the elder attorney for about forty-five minutes; there were many updates to discuss. I needed information and guidance, I continue to be overwhelmed. “Sans Souci,” he said, just remember that what you have done so far is Herculean! Just getting your mother here! Everything else is easy, really, it’s the implementation that  sometimes isn’t…” Keep reminding me that I have the strength of a mythic Greek. It has been a week since I put the previous post together. Last week continued to be enveloped in the fog of never-ending details to track, to-do-lists, chores and … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

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This past weekend I declared REST. I had a headache that persisted on and off into Monday. Saturday I enjoyed sleeping for a couple of hours here and there. Sunday was relaxation and escape day and as you know, I never leave without you. My father was born in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn in the early nineteen-teens. His family was poor. His father was a tailor and if memory serves me correct, they lived behind the tailor shop. At one point there were nine children or births, six of them made it, my father was the oldest and lived … Continue reading →