I've always loved the opening number of Paint Your Wagon. "Where am I going? I don't know...When will I get there? I ain't certain...All I know is I am on my way." Doesn't that just say it all? We're all careening about, like bumper cars, not a straight line in our progress to be seen, but in this song, those dopey miners seem to feel pretty positive about it. "I'm on my way." Confidence, in the face of Confusion. It'll work out. I'll still get to "the gold". Clint, Jean, and Lee...this is their hopeful (bathed) look. Maybe that's why I love Julian Marsh in 42nd Street..."you're going ou ..read more

So how was it for YOU?  In my neck of the woods: Clouds, mosquitos, not half the people invasion that was predicted...and then dark, followed by darker dark. I had no idea how DARK it was going to get, until the street lights popped on and the bugs came out (and one goose seemed horribly confused, by the sound of it), but now I understand why those pagan dudes cowered, freaked out, and/or sacrificed to the gods. Impressive event. So even with typical upstate weather, I say Huzzahs to the Cosmo and...Encore!    Meanwhile, our SPRING PLEDGE DRIVE rolls on. Last Sunday I had hel ..read more

What's that turtle quote? I typed that exact question into a Google Search box and I got Solomon talking about "the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." My daughter makes fun of me when I do that, phrase a search in terms of a question. (Back in the day, I "Asked Jeeves". I'm still asking!) Like when is the #42 bus coming to a stop near me? Why isn't my nail polish dry yet? How do you sync your Libby with your phone with your car with...the #42 bus? Stuff like that. But you know, it often works. :)   Anyway, the VOICE of the TURTLE is HEARD, says Solomon! Or maybe that's ..read more

As I type this, we are in the last week of March, and "extra, extra, read all about it, Gypsy newsboys!", we made it. We made it through the 91 days of Upstate Gulag. To be fair, it wasn't a horrid Gulag experience this year. I can't remember 1 white-knuckled drive home in the dark, or more than 2-3 shoveling events. Just cold. Just unfashionable parka days. Just the THEORY of Winter is what I hate.     I know a 60 year old woman who marvels at every snowfall, be it December White Christmas-y flakes or an Ides of March nor'easter. 60 going on 8, you mean, cuz that's 3rd grader stuf ..read more

So having owned a new(to me) car, for 2 days now, I think I understand about 1/20 of it. Bells. Whistles. Screens. Automatic everything. At least I know how to basically drive it. And honk the horn. Having "owned" a 2nd tattoo, for 5 days now, I think I've got enough to last the rest of my life. This one was tough. Digging into collar bones? They're like speed bumps with teeth. This time I thought another big eagle claw was in order (my therapist is concerned as to what that means), wrapping from my neck to the chest. All good in theory. Drugs schmugs. And rather silly, I guess. I had to wait ..read more

Lion? Lamb? Llamas? Orangutans? March promises to throw many animals at us now that it's finally here. Last week's wind was like a train passing by (and through) my little cobblestone and I was sure I'd lose a tree or a roof (or at least some grout) at some point. And it wasn't even March yet. It was March Prep, thanks to his sister, February! Oy.     I DID manage to bike all of 4 times last month though...so it was one for the records. Yes, training (the good kind) has sort of, almost, maybe begun. And if the wind gods allow, March may allow 4 more. Who knows? This is just the ..read more

Well, I've beamed back from Broadway via Amtrak (which was shockingly on time) where I cafe-ed, shopped, dined, and Sondheim-ed! It was standing room only at the Hudson Theatre at the Wednesday night performance of Merrily We Roll Along...and they've finally FIXED that damn show. Jonathan Groff was excellent in the lead role, the pace and plot "management" were spot on, and I couldn't find much to complain about. Daniel Radcliffe, described as "humble" by the NY Times playing the role of Charlie Kringas, was a little under-played. I thought he could have made the character bigger (not Broadwa ..read more

Taking a week off to "beam to Broadway"...so apologies, but there will be no LIVE edition of 2 On The Aisle this Sunday. On tap will be a "Best-Of Broadway At It's Best...because I've got tickets to Merrily We Roll Along, that Sondheim used-to-be-a-flop-but-now-it's-a-smash-revival-hit! Hopefully I won't see a cast of understudies (though I'm sure they are fabulous as well), but it's supposed to star Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathon Groff, and Lindsay Mendez. Fingers crossed. I loved the original recording (no, I did NOT see the original production, tho I should have), and have high expectations.&nb ..read more

Okay, we've all heard the recent Phil (the infamous groundhog) Phorcast...and if we can believe his pronouncement, Spring will be arriving in about 14.5 hours. Otherwise, I'm suing that prognosticator of pronosticators. Getting us all hyped up for an early Spring and then not delivering? That would be absolutely unfair and heartbreaking, Phil.   Luckily, we have some hearts and flowers to distract us. It's Cupid's turn now, and he may have more oomph (and definitely more weapons) than a rodent with suspicious meteorology in his "quiver".  So let's celebrate LOVE. And we're going to ..read more

1/3 down (well, almost), 2/3 to go (well, almost).  Not talking about the fruitcake "aging" in the fridge. Not talking about that 7am Boot Camp class when I'm counting the minutes to finish. I'm talking about the 90 (wait, 91...it's Leap Year) Day Countdown, from January 1 to April 1, the Not-For-Me Season of the Year. The Gulag. The Edgar Allen Poe Dank Tarn Moment. Gray, slushy, mushy, depressing (unless you're a well adjusted poet, Zen Master, or Stoic), hardly fashionable thing called Winter.   Maybe all I need is a frilly umbrella? Nah.   So I keep a tally, a count, a ..read more