Sleepless with The Zagats and Joan Hamburg!

A rare sleepless night... it's 3:00 AM, I hear Tim and Nina Zagat being interviewed by Joan Hamburg... I adore them all - or I should say, I have great respect and some envy for them all! I grew up listening to WOR Radio, I knew the sequence of the Saturday morning shows... Bernie Meltzer "What's your problem", Ralph Snodsmith "Garden Hotline", Joan Hamburg - who could answer EVERY question on NYC, where to buy it, where to host any party, etc. And as my mother followed her mother with WOR and the famous Gamblings, I find myself tuning in (at times)... I'm NOT a fan of the over the top conservative and narrow minded John Gambling (3rd generation)... but I do like some of the regulars, also to include Joy Brown!

And the Zagats...who've made a multi million dollar empire beginning in 1979 rating restaurants, first in NYC, now all over the world! The Internet has expanded their empire with everyone capable of filling out a survey (myself included)...but everyone at some time or another, or perhaps on a regular basis has reviewed that famous vertical brown/red book on restaurant reviews... can you even imagine having the opportunity and being paid millions to eat out??? Good for them, good for all of them - it was a great interview, I have NO idea what channel it was on, but I was happy to be awake at 3:00 AM and catch a great show!

When you "live" with a smoker...

The exuberant cost is just "part" of it!!!

It's such a SORE and exhausted subject, you just can't imagine the conversations, arguments, etc. I love him, and he's quit at least 20 times in 25 years... I'm not convinced any time is "for good"... but I'll always give him the benefit of the doubt. Yes, we've done the patch, fake cigs, cold turkey... every method!!  Thankfully, he's agreed to NOT smoke in the house, but this past frigid winter he decided he "had" to smoke in the basement, his "man cave" - he's recently bought some "state-of-the-art" expensive filter... works "just ok"... I burn candles in the house, living with a smoker or not, something I love to do (burn candles) Oh, it's just so complicated... addiction is something you can't compare to anything... Honestly, our house does NOT smell like a smoker lives here... but it's far beyond that! 
Anyway... there is no winner in this situation...me the contact "nudge"... he...figuring out a way to "smoke" and not tick me off... And our son... ZERO tolerance for smoking... Get the picture???

Girl Scout Cookies!

Girl Scout Cookies (at $4.00/box) = thin mints!

Are they NOT the classic? I bought my 10th box today, how can I say "no" to my very dear friend's daughter? Both my husband and son love the peanut butter type... not me... Have you ever put the thin mint's in the freezer?? There was a time in my life that I sold them too, how I wish I knew or could find out how much they cost in 1965! Anyone know?  I'm sorry - but you are totally "heartless" if you say NO to a Girl Scout selling these classics!!! 

On Paddy's Day...and always ~

Thinking of my Dad, who passed away at 42. 

He was the proudest Irishman I knew! 

Have FUN ~ Mardi Gras!

Never been a fan of crazy "spring breaks"... Our son is graduating this May... this is his "last" traditional opportunity for "spring break"... so I caved (after much influence from my husband)... and he's leaving Sunday... for New Orleans - Mardi Gras - with 9 other rugby players!  Should I be worried?  I suggested some "hystorical" side trips...he looked at me like I was crazy... In all honesty, he's 22 and matured... and I'm really happy for him...he's worked very hard through college and deserves this...

Have fun!