Friends, every so often the well goes dry. Or rather, the well still has water in it, but another client is thirsty. Or it’s time for vacation. Or something. Anyway, that’s me, today — all three. I have a big project that must go into rubber-burning mode, we’re leaving town for a few days, and honestly, I feel a bit empty of things to say, other than the usual repetition, old stories and snark.
So it’s off to NYC with the fam, and I’m leaving the laptop behind. E-mail might be a possibility, but don’t count on it. If you need to reach me, call me on my cell. If I know you, you already have the number.
We’re not leaving until tomorrow, so I’ll be e-mailable until late tonight.
People have been asking all week: What’s your agenda? Good lord, it’s New York — you don’t need one. You just walk out of the subway and let the wind fill your sails. But seeing as how we’ll have a kid in tow, I expect the agenda will have at least some of the stuff only tourists do — Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, “Hairspray.” I also hope to have a drink with young Zach; now that he’s a tycoon, he can pick up the check. Kate is hoping we catch the Cash Cab. Alan will amble along with us, thinking his thoughts, as is his habit. I’m just hoping we avoid al Qaeda’s Summer o’ Terror Tour. Also, Northwest Airlines’ Summer o’ Five-Hour Runway Delays.
So that’s it. Back Tuesday.
brian stouder said on July 18, 2007 at 8:30 am
What’s your agenda? …… you don’t need one.
All vacation agendas should be more or less that way! And if you all DO catch the cash cab, remember to make it look like your struggling to get the answers!
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Connie said on July 18, 2007 at 8:45 am
We are off tomorrow for 10 days at the family cottage near Glen Arbor, Sleeping Bear Dunes. My favorite kind of vacation: sun, beach, jet skis, hiking, winery visits, etc. People always say, but why would you think that is a vacation? Don’t you have to cook? Well, yes, but you know what? I never have to get dressed up and go to a restaurant. (Which I would do cheerfully if I were in NYC, another great place to visit.)
Plus it is my favorite place in the whole world. It restoreth my soul.
While in NYC, do make a meal stop at the Stage Door Deli for the most amazing sandwich of your life. Or breakfast at the Carnegie Deli where I once had the most amazing corned beef hash.
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Dorothy said on July 18, 2007 at 8:59 am
Must be getaway week for lots of us NN.C folk – I’m leaving on Friday for a week in Ohio, house hunting. Spending the weekend at the Sheraton in Columbus, going to the blues/barbecue festival there on Saturday. I’m praying the Real Estate Gods look favorably on my vacant house and an offer is forth coming. Have fun in NYC!
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MichaelG said on July 18, 2007 at 9:30 am
I flew to Norfolk, VA and back a couple of weeks ago on Southwest with no problems. Don’t forget to pack a lunch and bring a book. I’ve also been doing my regular two or three trips a month within CA without grief. Maybe it’s not quite as bad as some people say. Or maybe I just have really low standards.
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jcburns said on July 18, 2007 at 9:56 am
And we’re counting the days before we once again behold the excitement and wonder that is…Michigan!
Enjoy your NYCfest, Nance.
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Joe Kobiela said on July 18, 2007 at 10:27 am
Please don’t believe the propaganda the major airlines are spewing out about how the corprate jets and those little propeller planes are causing all the delays this summer. The real truth is the airlines could not manage their way out of a wet paper bag. They have cut there workforce so low that, if there is a weather problem in the start of the month, they don’t have enough pilots at the end of the month to fly their planes. Airline pilots are restricted in the number of hours they can fly, and most airlines only allow for 80-85hr a month. The time starts when you push back from the gate and end when you open the door, so if you sit for a hour on the runway that is one hour out of the 80 a pilot can fly. By the end of the month these guys are out of hours so there is no one to fly. The airlines like to blame us charter and corprate guys because they are losing there cash cow walk up $5000.00 from Fort Wayne to Atlanta fares to us. No sir we don’t make you take off your shoes and belt, and yes you can bring on mouthwash and shaving cream, and we will leave when YOU tell us, and can do it for half what Delta will charge you, and you can take 3 more employees for the same price!!!
Joe
Offically retired from Dana
and flying full time
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LA mary said on July 18, 2007 at 10:53 am
If you want to go fishing out on the east end of Long Island, let me know. I have family connections. Not the Stugots…
I have a brother with two charter boats. Catch yourself some striped bass.
http://www.sundowner.com
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LA mary said on July 18, 2007 at 10:53 am
Hey…that’s not the right link.
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LA mary said on July 18, 2007 at 10:54 am
http://www.sundownercharters.com
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Connie said on July 18, 2007 at 11:00 am
So JCBurns, where in Michigan are you headed? Anywhere near Traverse City next week? Lunch in Leland anybody? At the Bluebird Bar of course.
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MichaelG said on July 18, 2007 at 11:28 am
Joe, I’ve been going back and forth between Sacramento and Crescent City, CA. The return to SMF involves changing planes at SFO. The plane to SFO is a turn around (SFO-CEC-SFO) and is always one to three hours late. The airline, Skywest flying as United Express, always claims the delay is due to weather. SFO is not socked in at 3:00PM on a summer day nor is CEC. Last week it was CAVU to the moon in San Francisco. The deal is Skywest has way more flights than gates in the afternoon. It’s just that simple. Any landing in the city involves 10 to 20 minutes waiting on the ground at the terminal before moving to a gate. That’s after the gatehold in the departure city. I just plan for the extra time, tune out their bullshit excuses and go with the flow. I guess that’s what I mean by having low standards. I can’t see any value in my getting upset over this stuff.
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Danny said on July 18, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Man, you gotta love Southwest. No matter how far your flying, all you’re getting is peanuts.
Have a great vacation. Nancy! I think Mama Mia would appeal more than Hairspray, but YMMV.
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Danny said on July 18, 2007 at 2:03 pm
ah, type, change first your to you’re
Nance, a preview button is not needed so much as an edit button. Oh, And while I’m at it, I need a special edit button for me to correct others’ posts too. I’m helpful like that.
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Joe Kobiela said on July 18, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Michael G,
Thats why I say fly charter, If you figure your hourly rate X the number of hours you sit, you might be surprised how much you can save, plus not having all the hastle with the airlines, plus you can get a lot more work done in a King air than on a packed 737.
Joe
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MichaelG said on July 18, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Oh, I agree, Joe. A month or two ago I rode down to the desert in a CalTrans Bonanza. Point to point, free parking, no muss, no fuss. Beautiful views. Altogether a great trip.
A posting tip: Rite you stuff on MS Word or whatever. Then yu can revue it, spelchek it and soo forth befor pasting and posting.
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Danny said on July 18, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Eye don’t hav that kinda thyme.
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JGW said on July 18, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Think you mean the stage deli, the stage door deli is a knock off near the WTC site. It’s ok but not as good as the Carnegie or the Stage deli, which is near the theater district.
http://www.stagedeli.com/indexmain.cfm
I do suggest the WTC site, and seeing the memorials in the lil church, St. Pauls CHapel. Easy subway access, and the “temporary” new PATH station is impressive. Another clue, you can go into the Millenium Hilton across the street, ride to one of the top floors and get a quick and sprawling view of the complex.
I also like to do the Chinatown routine, pick a place with mostly Asians, and be daring. Always a great cultural experience, and theres a Japanese candy store on Mott Street past the catholic church which is mind blowing.
Have fun and avoid making:
http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/
Oh wait, real bagels are a must too…..
John Wallace – Displayed Jersey born and born in NYC, living in the cultural capital of Wells County, In.
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Bill B said on July 18, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Monday night outdoors movies, free, on the Bryant Park lawn, behind the main Library on Fifth. Monday night’s movie is, yes, The Sting. Bring a basket of food, get there early (the lawn opens at 5 and the race for a good spot is on…..the trick is to have a volunteer (Alan!) get the spot, and then hold the blanket down til the rest of the family shows up oh, about 15 minutes before sunset). And yes, my dear, it is truly an NYC audience. I remember seeing Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and the scene where a very young Paul Newman walks in to the bedroom with Liz Taylor and is wearing a wife beater….well, I think half the men in the audience let out a gasp…….enjoy…..
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LA mary said on July 18, 2007 at 4:50 pm
I dunno. Stage Deli is a little touristy.
Get bagels at H and H on the corner of 80th and Broadway, across the street from Zabars. Go over to Second Avenue and get some pumpernickel raisin bread at Orwashers, and check out Paprikas Weiss, an amazing spice store. Get stuff for a picnic at Fairway Market on Broaday…think it’s in the eighties. Eat Szechuan nearly anywhere. Breakfast at SaraBeth’s on Columbus or French Roast. See famous people eating breakfast at Brooklyn Diner at 57th or thereabouts.
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Dorothy said on July 18, 2007 at 7:03 pm
So Nancy is on her way to New York, and there’s a steam pipe explosion near Grand Central Station. Doesn’t that beat all??
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Jim said on July 18, 2007 at 7:46 pm
And the storm here today completely shut down this city. I was trying to get out of town and spent three hours and never even made it to the Throg’s Neck.
As for Broadway shows, I highly recommend Xanadu. Saw it last week and LOVED it!
Roxy’s Deli in Times Square has a great pastrami Reuben. And New York pizza is delicious and unique.
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basset said on July 18, 2007 at 10:32 pm
I have been many places in the USA but never to New York City, never had any desire to go anywhere near there.
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Kim said on July 19, 2007 at 12:01 am
Ah, being from Chicago you’re sort of bred to hate NYC. But I tell you, it really is the city so great they had to name it twice. Will be stopping there myself in August, on the way back from Acadia. Enjoy, Nance and all.
MichaelG, you probably should buy a case (or 10) of the Malbec, considering how much time you spend in planes … and not flying. Ugh.
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MichaelG said on July 19, 2007 at 7:39 am
I got the wine at Costco. Guess I need to go back, but did anyone ever get out of Costco for less than a hundred bucks?
Most of my travel is work related so I’m being paid. I’m also single with no dependents. Those factors go a long way toward making travel stress free.
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MichaelG said on July 19, 2007 at 8:04 am
Oh, and Kim, those gateholds in Crescent City are not with pax on the aircraft. Because the delays are self induced, Skywest has a pretty good handle on the timing. What you do is check in at the counter before you turn in your rental car. They’ll tell you what time you have to be back. This is Crescent City, CA here, not ORD. The terminal is like a couple of trailers with a single coke machine and there’s only one airline. The airplane is a thirty seat turboprop and typically there are no more than a dozen passengers. No Airbus A-380s there. The whole affair is out on a windswept beach. There’s a beautiful coastal look out a couple of miles away at Point St. George and you can bring the take out sandwich you thoughtfully purchased back in town to the look out and eat and read your book. Crescent City is basically just a little fishing village and logging town that was dying out along with those two industries until Pelican Bay State Prison was built there 15 years or so ago. Check it out at local.live.com.
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John said on July 19, 2007 at 11:34 am
Now that Nancy has left the building, do we get to mark up the comments with graffiti? And will our hostess’ alter-ego make an appearance?
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Danny said on July 19, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Well, we would probably need some help from JCBurns, because he would need to be able to remotely approve “new” posters.
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Kim said on July 19, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Now I remember why I know Crescent City: A college roommate lives across the dotted line in Brookings, OR. Quite gorgeous — a perfect place to torture folks who are locked up, or soothe those who are merely waiting on a takeoff.
On the rare occasion I get out of Costco having spent under $100 my elation is tempered by the knowledge that I’ll be heading back there the next day because I really need a gross of something.
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MarkH said on July 19, 2007 at 4:14 pm
mary, that made me dizzy. No wonder you are the queen of brushes with celebrity. You are (have been) everywhere…
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LA mary said on July 19, 2007 at 4:44 pm
I was a food wholesaler when I lived in NYC. I saw a lot of kitchens.
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basset said on July 19, 2007 at 8:59 pm
>>Ah, being from Chicago you’re sort of bred to hate NYC.
I was, I dunno, eighteen or nineteen before I ever saw Chicago… headed for a college radio convention at Loyola U, three of us in a Chevy Vega, we’d been riding through lights and city for awhile when I said something about how interesting it was to be in Chicago.
but we were still in Gary. I heard about that for quite awhile.
at that point in my life it used to scare hell out of me to drive in Indianapolis… the big city, y’know.
New York, though, I just don’t care about. the stuff New Yorkers pride themselves on… mainly being aggressive and obnoxious… I try to stay away from.
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MarkH said on July 19, 2007 at 10:08 pm
basset, college radio? Me, too, at Ohio State ’73-’75. I ran the station in the last year there. It used to be WOSR (not to be confused with the officially licensed WOSU), carrier current AM to the dorms, but it’s now called The Underground, cable FM and very free-from and progressive, I hear. Learned more about managing people there than anything else, the hard way, too. Great memories for me, though. A college radio convention would have been fun back then, too. That Vega reference ought to place you in the ’70s as well, but what school?
Let’s see, mary…food wholesaler, reporter, medical administrator, political analyst, celebrity spotter. And I thought I had a varied background. Like I may have posted some time back, you oughta write a book.
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brian stouder said on July 19, 2007 at 11:19 pm
I’d buy it
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brian stouder said on July 20, 2007 at 12:03 am
A friend of mine just got back from visiting the three cities that have served as the capital of the United States….and (amongst many other things) they viewed the Magna Carta in Philly. When they were in NYC, they saw many neat things, and were impressed by how friendly the subway cops and cabbies (etc) were…and how harried and elbow-to-elbow the streets were. He said he could understand why New Yorkers are presented as gruff and aggressive – you get trampled otherwise
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Dorothy said on July 20, 2007 at 8:56 am
I’ve been to NYC twice, and found it variously: stinky (in some places), wild, eye-opening, faster-paced than anywhere I’d ever been or ever will be, but also endlessly fascinating. I’d love to go back. Big cities don’t scare me in the least. I find them invigorating.
I have a quilting buddy in Brooklyn, but she’s ready to move to the Poconos since her husband retired. She’s just trying to sell her house.
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LA mary said on July 20, 2007 at 9:45 am
I was never a reporter, just a lackey for reporters.
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MarkH said on July 20, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Well, you coulda fooled me. A reporter’s sense comes through in your posts, mary.
Speaking of reporters, I see in today’s USA Today that a terrific movie has (finally) been released on dvd, “Ace in the Hole”, 1951, with Kirk Douglas as a reporter who milks a trapped miner’s plight for all it’s worth (selling papers, natch) in the New Mexico desert. Later renamed “The Big Carnival” it is a lethally cynical take on the news biz, with Kirk at his most Kirk Douglas.
Mike Clark calls it the “greatest newspaper drama since Citizen Kane”. Uummm…no, Mike. That would be “Deadline USA” (IMHO) released about the same time.
What self-respecting reporter wouldn’t want to work for crusading editor Humphrey Bogart? What relentless, sacrifice-everything-for-the-cause editor wouldn’t want to do battle for noble and wonderful publisher Ethel Barrymore? Bogie battles on three fronts: job-wise in a series of stories about a local crime czar, while battling to keep the struggling “Day” alive. This, because he’s fighting for Barrymore against her greedy daughters, who take Ethel to court in an effort to gut and sell the newspaper after their old man dies. Then there’s the finely woven sub-plot of Bogie fighting to save the marriage he’s sacrificed for his job.
Best scene: in the nearby bar whre the reporters gather to hold a wake when it’s clear the paper is on the way out. They trade toasts when the fifty-ish female crime reporter realizes all she’s sacrificed for her career (marriage, children, etc.), and breaks down.
Best line: “A reporter tells you the story; a journalist makes himself a part of it.” — Jim Backus. (Comments, anyone?)
This is not out on dvd, yet, but if you haven’t seen it, watch for it on Turner Classic Movies.
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MarkH said on July 20, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Hold it.
IMDB tells me I got that line wrong. It’s even better:
“A journalist makes himself the hero of the story; a reporter is only a witness.”
Equally good line: “About this wanting to be a reporter. Don’t ever change your mind. It may not be the oldest profession, but it’s the best.” — Bogart
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basset said on July 20, 2007 at 9:26 pm
MarkH, that would have been IU Bloomington from 1973-77 and one last semester to finish up in 80… carrier-current WIUS, cable FM WQAX (which has now morphed into community-radio WFHB, I have one of their bumper stickers on my pickup here in Nashville… I was just a few weeks short of being a charter member of WQAX, still have a T-shirt hanging in the closet)… and the Official University FM Station, WFIU, where only music majors could be announcers and only select broadcast majors got to do news packages.
For awhile there I was spending my mornings punching breaks on a Sarkes Tarzian switcher at WTIU, the Official University PBS Station… if “Vega” dates me, “film chain” should date me even further… going to class sporadically in the afternoons, running the board at WFIU in the early evenings, then pulling a wowww-maaan-here’s-the-new-one-from-Pink-Floyd “free form” progressive airshift on the carrier-current station late nights. them there was the days. takes awhile to get through college that way though.
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Marcia said on July 21, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Dorothy, how’d you like the Ribfest? We just got home from there. Mmmmm.
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brian stouder said on July 21, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Tammy Faye – RIP
The amazing thing about her is that Pam and I saw her on Larry King Live – what? – 3 days ago? She was emaciated – looked like a caricature of herself (odd as that may sound – since she started out as a caricature) – it really stopped us cold, and we watched for awhile. She wheezed a bit, but she was made up, and appeared to be normally clothed. She was lively, articulate, and full-voiced, only occasionally appearing to be under a bit of a strain. She said her weight was 65 pounds.
An hour ago, when I saw the bulletin about her death, the thing that took me aback was that she actually died Friday, and was cremated and interred today! So, she must have died within 48 hours of presenting an awfully good account of herself on national television.
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Dorothy said on July 22, 2007 at 7:25 pm
It was really good, Marcia. I posted a few pictures of us at the Ribfest at flickr.com Do you know my user name there? If not, it’s truvycrookit.
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LA mary said on July 23, 2007 at 10:14 am
Thanks, Mark. Someday I’ll write something other than pissy emails at work.
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joodyb said on July 23, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Mark and I must’ve seen Tammy Faye right at the same time you two did, Brian. same response. like a ghost already. it was bizarre. hard to believe she was on there and is now gone.
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Dorothy said on July 24, 2007 at 8:08 am
If the cancer didn’t do her in, maybe she od’d on mascara?
I know, I know, shame on me….
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brian stouder said on July 24, 2007 at 11:04 am
I think ol’ Tammy Faye would have been much better off as either a nun or a lesbian; men were no help at all in her life (both her husbands ended up in the Pen); in fact SHE was arguably the catalyst that lead to the almost unbelievable (not to say ‘miraculous’!) early success of the PTL teevee show/money machine
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Marcia said on July 24, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Most women would be better off as nuns or lesbians.
Dorothy, I can’t access your pictures. : (
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brian stouder said on July 24, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Marcia – I’d have argued with that joke 20 years ago, but genuine humor has to have truth in it….and as a male pig-dog I cannot help but laugh and agree with you!
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Dorothy said on July 24, 2007 at 1:48 pm
My bad, Marcia. I’m truvy57 there. Just click on this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/truvy57/
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John said on July 24, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Marcia, get you own flickr account (free works for me!) and then leave comments and notes for Dorothy! She loves them!
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Marcia said on July 24, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Wow, Dorothy, just a few. : ) We liked the King of Ribs best; don’t know if you tried his.
Find a house yet?
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LA mary said on July 24, 2007 at 3:40 pm
I’ve got a few photos in Flickr also, but I haven’t uploaded any in ages. Mine are under sinningpool.
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brian stouder said on July 24, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Mary – very nice pics… And your captions are pretty good, too!
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Dorothy said on July 24, 2007 at 8:17 pm
We have found 2-3 houses but ours hasn’t sold yet in South Carolina. We might make an offer with a contingency on it. I have a job interview at Kenyon College tomorrow, on the other hand! I’m very psyched. Cross your fingers for me, gang.
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brian stouder said on July 24, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Done! I have crossed my fingers, and my toes, and…other stuff, too!
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Neil the interloper said on November 8, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Wait a minute, WQAX?? I just found this thread by googling “WQAX.” I was there almost from the beginning, and hung on for 10 crazy years. Who are you people? Do I know you?
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