Saturday, April 25, 2009

Can we get an Amen?

Had a talk with a young lady today about not getting responses or comments on her blog. She said her freinds. etc., have been informed of her blog. I assume their responses are positive. They will verbally inform her that they have read her posts or like what they read but none of them have responded with a comment on the blog itself. Why is that?

I have a similar problem. I have several people on my email lists from both of my blogs and I've only gotten a couple of comment/responses. I am indeed happy for those responses ( and to know that I have a couple of followers) but I get the same answers. "Oh yes, I read your last post. It was good" or "You really upset the apple cart this time" or whatever.

So the question is, how do we get folks who read to comment (hopefully positively even if they disagree)? I know that I like to comment on posts that speak to me in some way. I'm in several writing groups on Linkedin and I visit the groups regularly and try to comment on posts that I feel I can contribute to. Sometimes the comment is as simple as "good luck on your book" or my opinion on whatever the post was about.

Anyway, all bloggers would appreciate your comments to whatever posts speak to you. I would prefer comments on the comments link at the bottom of the post itself but a comment is a comment. So to those who regularly read my posts, I sincerely thank you. I am grateful for the opportunity to do what I enjoy which is to write. Look forward to hearing from you.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Law of the Garbage Truck

HOW TRUE THIS IS!!

Law of the Garbage Truck. One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets... The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it, ninety percent how you take it! Have a garbage-free day!

Another goodie sent by a friend.

D E S I D E R A T A

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.


Sent to me by a friend. Thought I would share it with you.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

De-Clutter

It's spring cleaning time! Time to get rid of stuff from last year (or the last ? years) that you didn't use, will never use, refuse to use again, etc. I'm reading the book, Throw Out Fifty Things by Gail Blanke which tells how to go through your entire living space and throw out, recycle, or sell "stuff". Also talks about clearing out old thoughts, mindsets, etc. that may also be weighing you down.

I just started reading it and already I've cleared out my jewelry boxes, recyling most of it. Going through the rest of my closet. It is truly liberating.

Have fun.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

More Memories

Got some more great memories.

The bakery I spoke of earlier was Cushmann's. It was located on 125 between 8th and St. Nicholas Avenues and it would run circles around Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme if it were still open. All of their items were delicious: glazed donuts, jelly donuts, brownies, etc but the apple turnovers were unmatched by anyone. They were huge and overflowing with apples. They went out of business because of competition from supermarket entries like Sara Lee cakes. (By the way, is Sara Lee still around?)

Todays list just proves that I was (still am) a party girl. These 2 places still exist but with the changes taking place in Harlem, I don't know how long they will be around. I'm talking about Showman's and Lenox Terrace. Never really hung out in either but they are a fixture uptown.

I did hang out in Doral's on 7th between 145th and 146th Streets with the guys from the 369th Armory. Wild bunch of guys. Drank each other under the table! By the way, they had great parties at the Armory. All you could eat and drink and loud music. What could be better?

Another food spot was Copeland's on 145th Street. Copeland's had been around for years. Sunday brunch, good soul food. Copeland's even tried a 2nd restaurant on 125th but it didn't last long and the both stores bowed to economics (or so I heard.) Rents too high, or their prices were too high, etc.

As I was writing this, I remembered a BBQ place that was around the corner from the original Copeland's, on Broadway and about 147th St. Can't think of the name but the ribs were wonderful. So much so that I got off the bus coming home from work one day, in an unexpected snow storm (had on heels so I had to walk slowly to keep from falling) to get a rib dinner!!! Now that is some good food. And I'm sure many of you remember Singleton's BBQ. I think there was more than one but I remember the one on Lenox Avenue across from Harlem Hospital.

Let's keep this going. If you remember Harlem from back in the day, put your comments on this post. (Just wish I had pictures of all these places. Never thought they would disappear.)

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Memory Lane

For my Harlemites, let's go down memory lane:

Remember Teddy's Shanty's hot dogs on 8th Avenue at 125th St? Every time I went there, they would charge me a different price for the same order: 2 hot dogs and a grape drink. Or the original Wells, Chicken and Waffles. Sherman's BBQ (when the food was good), Mister B's, The Flash Inn, Thomford's ice cream parlor (125th St, corner of St. Nicholas Ave.) And the best Chinese restaurant in NY as far as I'm concerned, Len Fong, which was on Broadway at 145th St. Food was delicious and Cantonese and you could get a nice buzz off the drinks while waiting for your food. Just found out that M & G's diner, corner 125th and Morningside Avenue, has closed!!! Oh the shame of it all. They had one of the best music collections on their juke box. The soul food was great and they were open 24 hours a day and you got to know the waitresses who called you by name. You could eat breakfast at 5pm or 3am. Oh and don't forget Wilson's up on Amsterdam Avenue.

What about some of the bars in Harlem? The Top Club, The Baby Grand (which I think is now a Radio Shack), The Oasis up on Broadway. The Paradise, which was on the corner of 110th Street and 8th Avenue and was a "bucket of blood" where even the bartender would tell you not to turn your back on your drink!!! The other paradise was Small's Paradise, of course. Had lots of fun in there. I used to hang at a bar called The Four Pheasants (weird name for a Harlem bar.) It was a 3 for 1 and they did not water down the drinks. Happened to know the guys running the the place. Sometimes I would have 9 to 12 shots lined up in front of me. Woo Hoo!!! Occasionally stopped in The Flame, 141st Street and Lenox Avenue, which I considered a neighborhood bar. Mostly older folks from the 'Hood, kind of the quiet.

What about the dance halls? I can only remember The Savoy, 149th St in the Boogie Down Bronx and The Carlton Terrace on 96th Street and Broadway. Think I went to all of the dance halls at one time or another because my uncle gave a dance once or twice a year.

Remember when you didn't have to go downtown to the movies? I think there were at least 4 theaters on 125th Street including a Loew's and RKO on 7th Avenue between 125th and 126th Streets. There was another Loew's on 116th Street, along with another RKO, I think.

What about the bakery on 125th Street between St. Nicholas and 8th Avenues? Don't remember the name but they had huge apple turnovers that were full of apples (would you believe) and wonderful glazed donuts. Speaking of glazed donuts, no one, not ever Krispy Kreme could compare to Georgie's Bakery which was down the block from Con Ed. Little tiny place and the line was down the block at holiday time! Had a small menu of pound cake, chocolate cake, coconut pie, sweet potatoe pie, brownies and the best glazed donuts in the world. A tray of freshly baked glazed donuts would be sold out by the time you got to the counter - and - you were already in the store. Across the street was Wimp's which had delicious cakes.

Can't end without mentioning Majester's Fish and Chips. (the original store on Lenox and 129th Street.) There was always a line of people, no matter what time of year it was. I never went to that place and walked right up to the counter. Best fish and chips in town and they were open late for the bar crowd.

Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane. Hit me back with some of the places you remember.