Madocrisy

Mad Grads. Make up your minds, seniors at Smith. One of few remaining all-female colleges. Do you want to see women succeed? Break the glass ceiling? Become leaders on the global stage? Christine Lagarde would have been the perfect speaker at your graduation because she has accomplished all you pretend to desire. You could have learned so much from hearing her perspective. Would you rather a man lead the IMF, banks, businesses? Plus, there’s that free speech thing. They don’t teach that at Smith? You have a great Economics Department. Its professors all disagree with your protests. Good for them!

5/15: I so agreed with Tim Egan’s column, “The Commencement Bigots”. My comment was a NYTimes pick. As an alum of Mount Holyoke, the first and still all-women’s college, I was all the more disappointed in Smith students’ protest of Christine Lagarde, the first woman managing director of the IMF, as this year’s speaker. Women’s Liberal Arts Colleges were founded on the principles of open-mindedness and respect for all opinions. In all walks of life. Not exclusively but most especially those of highly accomplished women.

Taking a few days to recover from MadMen7 episode this week. Bad Betty is back. She was a bit nicer mother when she was fat. Don’s continued connection to Megan is confounding. Ménage à trois notwithstanding. His career strategy seems feckless. And where is Weiner going with the nipple-slashing cray cray storyline? Is it that the Ad World will ultimately turn everyone truly Mad?

Over at Thrones, Tyrion’s soliloquy rises to Shakespearean superlative. Dinklage tour de force. And the rest of it. Talk about madness. Delicious.

Mom Weekend

Weekend in Manhattan. 5-star Broadway play. Lobster. Sun. Son. Especially son. Best Mother’s Day. Central Park. Blissful getaway.

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The Realistic Joneses. Fatalistically familiar. Giggled for hours after. Will Eno wrote a modern day Godot meets Gonzo. It spoke to my inner voices. That’s good. Well… Toni Collette & Tracy Letts epitomized long-married dynamics in crisis. Marisa Tomei stole the heart of the piece with her languished anguished random musings. Flawless comedic timing. Michael C. Hall’s non sequiturs held the most truth. An experienced cast enhanced a beautifully written play about life and free restaurant mints.

Photo by: Ben Levine

 

mAd Mama

DSC_0296Happy Mother’s Day! To all mama lions and tigers and backyard bears. Proud of mAdBen. My Young Lion. Yes. He Cannes Cannes. Bon weekend.

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Sterling & Silver

Adam Silver tarnished Don Sterling’s patina for life. A polished decision by the new Commissioner. NBA behaviors need further scrutiny on all levels.

MadMen7. Sterling Cooper Draper’s most businesslike and influential partner is none other than Joan. Shrewd and strategic. The guys are mired in emotion and game-playing. Peggy reacted unprofessionally as well. Don’s decision to accept demeaning conditions and slither back to Pryce’s old crypt is either pathetic or brilliant. Meanwhile, resentful mother Betty acts like a child and is cruel to her poor son Bobby. But, bad Betty is true to character.

Game of Thrones. Stark’s Valyrian steel passes from Jaime’s tainted grip to Brienne’s hand to avenge Ned’s death. Who is the boy king’s father? Khaleesi amasses more followers. Where are those dragons? White Walker baby…

 

Too Big Yet Failed

The Perfect Prey, The Fall of ABN AMRO, or What Went Wrong in the Banking Industry, by Jeroen Smit. I came across this book, written by a Dutch investigative journalist, by chance. After the recent tragic murder-suicide by former CEO Schmittmann was reported in the NY Post, I did some research as an ABN AMRO alum, and one of its former Managing Directors. I found the paperback and it read like a novel. Here is my Amazon review:

‘A stilted translation to English may be some of the reason for my 3 stars. But, the story was well told and compelling- the demise of a once prestigious global financial institution, ABN, which prided itself on being a member of each community it served in over 70 countries, rivaling only Citibank. When the corrupt AMRO merged with ABN, began le deluge. I became unwittingly embroiled in an unethical transaction with the saga’s central character, AMRO’s R. Groenink. A lot of the players are known to me from my tenure at the Bank in San Francisco and Boston in the 80’s and 90’s. Lex Kloosterman was my boss. After I retired, he went on to Fortis and was instrumental in the tale and ultimate sale. There is probably not a wide audience for this book. I would recommend it as an allegory- too big yet failed. A moral tragedy.’

Cross Town

photo-54Obamas kept following us around on Friday. As we delivered Strahl Brisket mid-town, Barack was giving a talk on the next block. Checked into our Hotel Giraffe, while Michelle and PrezO were dining down the street at Maialino. After our pre-theater supper at Bobby Van’s Grille, we took in Of Mice and Men. Around the corner, yup. First couple catching Denzel in Raisin in the Sun. Thought those crowds, sirens and security were just for us.

Of Mice and Men. Broadway debuts of both starsJames Franco as George Milton was perfectly subdued and resigned as keeper and friend. Chris O’Dowd stole the show as Lennie Small. A fine balance of sweet emotion and slow-wit. Steinbeck’s poetic words were delivered with flawless cadence. Sets and direction brilliant. Although obviously a hopeless plot, for me this play shone a little glimmer of humanity. If only we treated people as well as we do animals in the end. Tours de force. Still in previews, I predict rave reviews on Wednesday.

James Franco made a cameo visit to his KimYe bromance partner Seth Rogen on SNL last night. Cross-stalking is lots of fun!

Vernal EquinoT

Spring. Schming. Forty degrees. Snow. Wind. Crocuses can’t conquer obstinate snowbanks. Parkas. Gloves. Another Nor’Easter next week. Doorknobs. Scarves. Too soon? Poor Mick. Theo James. James Franco everywhere. Vogue.

After 12 days, Malaysian Plane Still Missing is not Breaking News. Freeze media anchors’ assets and send them to Siberia. Crimea still Putin on the Ritz. Harvard beats fifth seed Cincy. St. Joe’s almost stuns UConn. College ball is the best. Wisconsin still in. Bon weekend.

Monday Verde

St. Patty’s Day. Go Green. ZooMass in the bracket race. Nothing new in the world. Malaysian plane is still missing. Crimea is still part of Russia. Don’t care about South African murder case. Eschewing stale TV, retreated to reading.

Finally finished The Deptford Trilogy. Last novel, my favorite, World of Wonders, is a tragic intricate tale told by kidnapped boy turned magician. It takes us from the depths of Deptford, Ontario to London, Paris, the mountains of Switzerland. The most colorful book of the three, life in carnivals and theaters explores human frailties that manifest in good and evil. Full review on TrekBooks. Good writing stands the test of time. Thanks for the journey, PithyV.

Park Folie

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Saturday in the Park. PopUp Piano Man. Warm sun.
Pure Joy. Outdoor tables ready and waiting.

Shake Shack opens.
Crowds soon gather.
Can Spring be far behind?

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MadisonPark Onze it. Quatorzecourse tasting adventure.
Pricey. Priceless.

Grilled lobster lunch with friends at ABC Kitchen.
Specially good.

Roasted octopus, striped bass downtown at Colicchio and Sons.
Delectable.

Memories of a Mad March Birthday Weekend. Indelible.
Folie en food.

CryMeA

River? Russia needs the port. It’s a done deal. Putin doesn’t care what anyone says or does. He ain’t leaving Crimea. Ukraine can kiss it goodbye. Kerry gets to put on a lot of air miles. That’s about it. In other news…

Trump’s new Doral is getting a soaking as Tiger and Phil have a lackluster start. June Squibb was great as Hannah’s grandmother on Girls. Maggie’s family looks to play a pivotal role in the finale of True Detective. There is no reason to continue to watch American Idol. Worst contestants ever.

Dr.Husband thanks all who donated to Baystate Children’s Hospital. Hoping for warmer weather in the Big A. Bon weekend.