Tag: TheSideTrek

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Tales of Two Cities

In New York City, a homeless family’s life is chronicled in the Times. In Boston, an outcast Chechen family’s psychological unraveling is told in the Globe. Award-winning level of journalism. Better than any books I’ve read this year.

NY Times‘ series focuses on an 11-year old girl in Andrea Elliott’s exposé, “Invisible Child. Girl in the Shadows. Dasani’s Homeless Life”.  Named for the bottled water because it represented wealth, Dasani treads above the depths of an urban shelter. With many siblings and incompetent parents, Dasani at her young age keeps them all from drowning completely. She is miraculously smart and talented. It serves her well but also works against her as she feels responsible to keep her family afloat. Hard to predict whether her wits will be enough to escape the obstacles of their needs and her environment.

Boston Globe’s “The Fall of the House of Tsarnaev”, tells two stories of two brothers. I dubbed them at the time, Brothers KaramazOff, April 24, 2013. Boston Marathon bombers. A spiral of bad luck, degenerate genes, and failed dreams with a pinch of radical religion turn anger into terrorist violence.

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DecEmbers

Mandela center stage. Recall writing policy at Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco 1980’s. Consulted with Laura Tyson at UC Berkeley to apply Sullivan Principles to multi-national clients. California was a leader in anti-apartheid sanctions. Seems forever ago.

Flipping over to live Sound of Music on NBC last night. Morbid curiosity. Stilted acting, cheesy sets, bad singing. If it wasn’t an SNL skit, it should be.

Sightings… Joan Rivers in white ermine at Twelfth Night on Broadway…mAdBen rave reviews for Mark Rylance as Olivia…CandyPants at Yankee Candle in Deerfield…what?…JeanJean dipping roast beef sandwich at Farm Table in Bernardston…holiday oddities. Bon Sinter Klaas weekend.

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AmaZone

L Tryptophan lingering. It’s December? People are already putting up trees. Lights lining houses. Wreaths on doors. Hanukkah is over. Christmas shopping? Everyone is abuzz about Bezos’ drone delivery idea. NYTimes‘ Dowd says it’s faster to go to the store. I disagree. But, that’s always been me. A woman loathe to shop. Maybe it comes from years of working in Dad’s retail.

Here’s the thing. Called local bookstore for a particular title. Woman said computer down, call back. Did. Didn’t have it, could get it in 4 days. Amazon 2 days, cheaper. Same with clothes. Go to Brooks Brothers et al.  Lousy selection of inventory. Out of your size. Go online. Get your size, color, style. Hits your door in a week. Don’t like it? Free shipping back. No surly sales people, mall rats.

Bye bye bricks and mortar. Who needs headaches and overhead?

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Gotham – Thon

Quite the race. 2 hours 15 minutes. Northampton to West Side Highway. Parking space near the theater. Homemade hash at Gossip on 9th Ave. Climbed to second row mezz for Book of Mormon. Laughed so hard we cried. Genius concept, religulously hilarious, clever, sweet. Off to East Side. Parking space a block from Giraffe. Spots on the street best birthday present Dr.Husband could get.

Gotham B&G, 3 strikes. Out. 23 of 25 years it was best restaurant in Manhattan. Last couple. Not. But, we had fun and the crowd loved us. Staying downtown Sunday crossed back to West End. Space next to Betsey’s place. Walked to Arte Café near Columbus. Friendly, lively brunch. Not a runner in sight. We won! 

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Fall Classics

Crisp afternoon football. Detroit’s Matthew Stafford the QB to watch at 25. Longmeadow High School alum, Dolphins’ Joe Philbin had a bad day as Pats dominated the second half. Again. London fans didn’t get much of a show, with a SanFran blowout over the hapless Jags. This year there will be a Limping Bowl. Everyone is hurt. Size, speed. A sport more punishing than ever.

Redskins should keep their name. Just change the others. Seattle Yellowskins. Baltimore Blackskins. Cleveland Brownskins. New England Whiteskins. No? So I rest my case. Another cold evening for Baseball Classic. World Series number 4 in St. Louis. Officials do seem to decide games for Boston teams lately.

NYTimes endorses DeBlasio for Mayor. Quel surprise. Mr. Bill should read Frank Bruni’s lament about Rome. Cautionary tale.

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mAd Dad Trek

Fun Columbus Day Weekend SideTrek photo competition. mAdBen vs. Dr.Dad. DSC_0008DSC_0053DSC_0011
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Meandering along the backroads of Western Massachusetts through Whately, Conway, Shelburne. Stopping when a vision struck either photographer. We all won. More on  TravelTreks. DSC_0029

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Folie – Age

Government still shut down. Reason Cruzified. Sebelius should be. Whatta mess.

Nevermind. Dad mAd family photo contest fun. Results to come. Muted rusted tones this year. Lots of leaves on the ground. Nuts have been banned in Amherst. Gonna be an empty town. Sightings… GemQueen at The Mark with Bruce Willis and young honey, not Barbara Walters… Brasserie Ruhlmann Hoda Kotb…A-Man with Janis Joplin on his bday…PithyV stalking gourds at Fairway Market in Stamford…Joey3 wearing Hernandez jersey in Foxboro. Uh oh. Quelle folie.

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Loonacy

Legislative lunacy lingers on. Obama admin opened the door to the asylum by not having a clue what to say or do about its wacky healthcare law. Fund-raising websites working flawlessly, as exchange sites crash and burn. Nutty.

photo-23Good looney. Colby J. Herchel, UConn undergrad has written and staged an original musical to be performed there on October 19. Claire de Loon’s chaotic relationships are set in the tranquil backdrop of the Adirondacks. It’s a modern take on Chekhov’s The Seagull. SisterCindy inspired her nephew by hosting him over the years at Little Moose Lake.

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Gen Next

Matt&Sarah lovingly tied the knot at StoneMill in New York’s Botanical Gardens. Mazel much. Lavish affair with delectable fare on a balmy October evening overlooking the creek. Sweet. 88ish GrandmaB was seen dancing to Twist and Shout as four generations joined the fun. Made it back to Hotel Giraffe in time to catch some of Miley’s SNL debut. Twerking aside, she’s good. After Flatiron brunch, AuntieN took GenY to Book of Mormon. Rave reviews from all.

Meanwhile 81-year old GrandmaC was giving a speech at the Rock&Roll Club. Rocking chairs and rolling devices. Shake it up Grannies! Kids take note.