Author Archives: Sans Souci

25. Part II: Dyre Avenue Days

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Click here for an introduction to the poem Dyre Avenue Days ©2002 by the author, all rights reserved Windows black with soot: Try to look through the paths etched by rain at a sky forever attempting to be blue, never passing gray, as you stand within the elevated 120 decibel train, ironically known as the subway, the number 5; the Dyre Avenue line. You are the voyeur of the balloon lettered spray painted buildings, of the subliminal flashes of factory workers all named by the Caribbean, tied together with threads colored Carmen, Marisol, Maria, Chica, as the train races, singing … Continue reading →

24. Part I: In A New York Minute: Underground Birthday

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    The way it used to look: Thoughts pull me back to my New York subway days. New York City is a public transportation town unless you live in the borough of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island or the Bronx, where there is more breathing room and a place to park. I lived in The Bronx for the 7 years I was married to my first husband; it was hishim.It was a long commute for me to get to Manhattan to get to college, and later to get to work. Buses, trains, transfers, pushing, crowds.This particular train line, the (fitting … Continue reading →

Part 10a On a Formerly Feral Feline Family and the C Word

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original post 4/7/07/Yahoo Last night at a Passover seder, I was greeted by a dog. It came bounding down the hallway of the apartment building, barking, bonking, raising one helluva reverberating racket. I had made its acquaintance last year, and most likely it didn’t remember me; barking, bonking and raising one helluva racket is what dogs do. All night long, I thought my hostess’s father was playing footsie with me, but it turned out to be the dog. The dog, kept time with its tail knocking against the table as we read the Haggadah. The cat, on the other hand, … Continue reading →

21. Back to the Future: Winky Dink:The First Video Game

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The best kids’ television was in the 1950’s, in my biased, humble opinion. Winky Dink and You premiered on Saturday, October 10, 1953, at 10 in the morning on CBS. Our parents rushed to the 5 & 10 to buy the famous Winky Dink Kit, for 50 cents, which contained a plastic screen that when placed over the television screen–glass, not plasma, created a guiding drawing board. We traced dutifully, getting Winky out of trouble, providing him with ropes and bridges. He wasn’t 007, but he was surely cute. As I mentioned somewhere previously about my childhood, I grew up … Continue reading →

20. In Labor with Lassie

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It feels like I have been running and spinning since May; a full 4 months since picking the prodigal son up from college with his truck load of boxes and dirty laundry, until this weekend when we returned him to school his last year with a truckload of boxes and soon to be dirty laundry.It’s Labor Day, a day of rest for the worker who resumes his or her life of stress tomorrow, behind a desk, in an office, at a hospital, in front of a computer or a classroom, washing floors in an airport, slinging hash at a diner, … Continue reading →

19. The Kavorka: either you have it or you don’t

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As an admirer of the Seinfeld series, I have watched each episode over and over again; I am never bored. Seinfeld’s genius lies in his ability to view human nature and reflect it, with all its silliness and inadequacies, through the use of a marvelous ensemble cast. Seinfeld manages to weave several mini-themes throughout each main theme, which can best be described as a game of trivial pursuit. But it fascinates us because we all can see ourselves playing out the same ridiculous situations, or perhaps we just like to laugh along—at ourselves. As I was eating dinner this evening, … Continue reading →

14. Charmed. I’m Sure

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originally posted 4/12/07 Bloggers and Bloggettes; This morning as I was brushing my teeth my day’s idea came to me. I write in many different forms. One is in silver. This is my story. One day in the early 1950’s, my parents took me on a subway ride to the Bronx (one of the 5 “boroughs of New York City: Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island, and Manhattan are the five boroughs and are largely residential.”) Part of the train ride is elevated and it is a kick for a young child to kneel backwards in her seat and look … Continue reading →

117. An Introduction to Polygraph Lounge (cousin Rob Schwimmer)

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Rob Schwimmer is a composer-pianist and thereminist who has performed and recorded throughout the world. His work has been described as “… a brilliant meld of musical discipline, sensuality, technical acumen, and freedom” —A combination that has made Rob’s debut solo piano album Beyond The Sky so highly anticipated. His personal vision of music reflects a unique and probing sensibility combined with his vast experience in many genres with great and fascinating artists. Rob is also one of the few theremin virtuosos in the world, performing as featured theremin soloist for many projects including the upcoming movie by R.W. Goodwin … Continue reading →

The Appletree

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The Golden Russet apple tree was more than seventy years old, the last standing tree of its ilk in the neighborhood which had once been an apple orchard. Its life span ended, it became weakened by insects and had to come down in the Summer of 2011. This little photo diary pays homage to its

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169: Cool News–Cousin Rob won an Academy Award!

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Good morning! I am about to start my day and will be back later to post the sign in page for Poetry Wednesday, but I wanted to share this first. I have spoken about our cousin Rob Schwimmer many times. Here is an email we just received. Mark and Rob, with Melissa, the Polygraph Lounge…the greatest laugh, ever. If you saw the Library of Congress tribute to Paul Simon on PBS, Mark was on stage all night backing up on guitar.   Rob is a music master of classical, jazz, and a composer. Hello, all– I’m just sending this brief … Continue reading →

Recipe: Pear Salad Dressing

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I tried this recently at a friend’s house and it was lovely. Ingredients: One small can of pear halves in light syrup, drained, reserve some syrup to use 1 tablespoon of Dijon Mustard 1-2 tablespoons of Pear Infused Vinegar or to taste olive oil salt and pepper. Directions: Blend ingredients This is a “by the eye, by the tongue” kind of recipe.

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Vintage Etruscan-style jewelry part 2

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Now you know the story of why I became impassioned with these charms, you know about my friend Irma. And now, I’ll tell you about my friend, Cynthia. I met her when I returned to work after I had my son. She was a teacher in one of the schools I was assigned to. As I greeted her, I saw that she had an “Irma Bracelet.” The universe threw us together. We’ve been close friends for over 20 years. And now some more of my objects d’art. Comments from Yahoo’s parallel universe Cheyanne Everything is beautiful. I especially liked every … Continue reading →

Vintage Etruscan-style Italian silver charms part 1

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Probably my favorite collection. It Started with a Bracelet dedicated to Irma S. Lewis, who taught me more than I’ll ever realize. See blog  Note: The jewelry discussed here is referred to as “Etruscan.”  In the Victorian period there was a classic revival of ancient styles.  This story is about the Etruscan-style jewelry produced in Italy in the 40’s possibly through the 60’s and may have been made by the Peruzzi company mentioned in the previous CreARTive Sunday blog. Years ago, when I lived in a co-op apartment building in Flushing, Queens, I had a neighbor who was old enough … Continue reading →

156. CreARTive Sunday: Vintage Charms and Charm Bracelets: Say “Cheese!” Watch The Birdie!

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* Kate, I think you’ll love this~ one of my favorite bracelets –and people! Dedicated to all photographers.         Smile, say, “cheese!”           Vintage Machanical Cameras *= mechanical (moving parts) **= see detailed photo Charms: “Around the dial,” clockwise~ *back opens for a picture; *black “leather body” opens, has picture frame inside; *side view of old camera, back opens for picture; looks like my dad’s Graflex *A**when the knob is pressed on top, the camera pops open; *movie camera, opens, “babe inside”; black-bodied camera with flashbulb; *B**camera opens, enamel bluebird inside—“Watch The Birdie” … Continue reading →