February 25, 2014

Still thinking about Liam Neeson's 60 Minutes interview and the 60 Minutes Overtime: Living with Grief. It was an uplifting, touching set of interviews.

He said he hasn't even done anything with Natasha Richardson's clothes. A reminder to me, donate the stuff I have in storage. I was supposed to donate it last year, just have to take a day off and do it.

February 24, 2014

A powerful piece on 60 Minutes last night on Liam Neeson. His thoughts on the death of his wife Natasha Richardson made me well up in tears. 60 Minutes Overtime had some additional insights: Living with Grief.

“Dealing with grief, dealing with loss-- there is power in hearing how other people have dealt with it and power in hearing how other people have faced it and live with it.” Anderson Cooper.

In the broadcast, Liam Neeson talked about the restorative effect of keeping busy:

Liam Neeson: I'm not good with-- without work. I just don't-- I wallow too much. You know? And I just didn't want to-- especially for my boys, to be-- seem to be wallowing in sadness or depression or--

Anderson Cooper: Having a schedule. Having some place to go. Having--

Liam Neeson: Having a schedule. Yeah. Yeah.

Anderson Cooper: That helps?

Liam Neeson: That helps a great deal.

February 23, 2014

Tinsley Ellis "Catalunya"



"Happy" Pharrell Williams.

February 22, 2014

Happy Birthday George ! I still marvel at the history that wasn't taught : Washington's Owning over 300 slaves.



Flowers in the sun. Beautiful day. Went to P.E. and D.D. Seafood for squid and scallops. Will add shrimp for a red sauce seafood linguini.



Never saw this before. Tyson Chandler prevents ball from going through the cylinder with his own head after a dunk. Offensive interference and a metaphor for the Knicks season of doom.

February 21, 2014

Went to Frankie and Johnnie's Steak house last night. Excellent steak but wasn't happy with the potatoes. Will go back, great deal for Restaurant Week.



Will have to go to a bar for lunch. USA v. Canada at 12:00 pm.



Next week is my favorite, Smith and Wollensky.

Smith & Wollensky
Restaurant Week
Winter 2014
(Lunch Only)
Lunch Menu
Apps

Mixed Greens Salad
Caesar Salad
Split Pea Soup
Soup du Jour
Fried Calamari

Mains
Filet Mignon (10oz.)
Surf ‘n Turf: Filet Mignon w/5 oz. Lobster Tail ($10 supplement)
Roast Beef Hash
Chicken Cobb Salad
Grilled Salmon
Colossal Lump Crab Cakes
14oz. Dry-Aged Sirloin ($10 supplement)

Desserts
Cheesecake
Bourbon Pecan Pie
Chocolate Mousse Cake
Coconut Layer Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

Febrary 18, 2014

In reading Lawrence in Arabia it helps to look at a map. I now realize Aqaba is at the tip of the red sea.



Where the Hejaz railway route was shows why Aqaba was important.



Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary of the Swimsuit Issue comes out this week. I still love that outraged parents can elect not to have this issue delivered.

February 17, 2014

Happy President's Day ! I'm happy with a day off. Think I will do Hill Country's Pitmaster. I enrolled my Amex card and will get a $5 credit. $20 for a BBQ Feast ! Lone Star beer on the side included.



The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park announced this season's plays : MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING with Lily Rabe as Beatrice and Hamish Linklater as Benedick, KING LEAR with John Lithgow.



Hill Country Pitmaster with two sides and a Lone Star. Good stuff. Went to Hill Country Chicken up the block for sandwiches for dinner.

February 16, 2014

Picked up some fresh TJ from Migliorelli Farm yesterday. Bloody Mary time today. Long weekend and NBA All-Star game with Winter Olympics as a side dish. Can't believe I watched Curling last night.

February 15, 2014

T.J. Oshie with ice-cold nerves scored four goals in the OT shootout : "I was glad it ended when it did. I was running out of moves."



I can't resist sales so when I saw a book I was going to buy with a 15% coupon, it happened to be in the buy two books get one free section.



This was the one I was looking for and it was also autographed by the author.



Looked good and I have read him before.

February 13, 2014

My friend was on the hunt for Greek Grilled Octopus.



Taverna Kyclades in Astoria came to mind.



Tight quarters but great food. Everyone there ordered the Grilled Octopus.

February 12, 2014

Happy Birthday Abe !



My friend wanted this CD. I bought it from Amazon, copied it to I-Tunes and will hand it over today. A win-win situation. Unusual album. A tribute to Al Jolson. The liner notes to the original album were written by Jackie Wilson (the only liner notes ever written by him), a excerpt:

"In no way is this album an attempt to imitate Jolson’s style, nor is it an attempt to duplicate his incomparable way with a song. This is simply my humble tribute to the one man I admire most in this business. With the sincere hope that my contribution will in some way help keep the heritage of Al Jolson alive through the great songs he left behind."

February 11, 2014

Ok, the Restaurant Week list is up. Smith and Wollensky is back but for lunch only. Only Queens place is Water's Edge. Blue Smoke's menu looks good, will have to go there.




Hill Country's Pitmaster looks too good to pass up, a Lone Star Beer included.

February 9, 2014

Nothing much to watch, so Olympics is on most of the time. The Russian figure skater Julia Lipnitskaia was incredible.



Today's Knick / Thunder game is the key to the rest of their season.

February 2, 2014

Monica Miller/WCBS 880

Staten Island Chuck and Punxsutawney Phil both predict six more weeks of winter. The Mayor dropped Chuck or Chuck slipped out of his grip. Maybe he should have used a fork.



A big discussion lately about WWI made this purchase easy.

February 1, 2014

Poster is out, now the wait for this year's participants.



ESPN sent me this for my birthday.



Chase gave me a wish every time I used the ATM. How about putting $5 in my account ?



Rest of Birthday Week ended with a work luncheon with a Chinese New Year, Year of the Horse cuisine. Say, Year of the Horse, does that mean the Broncos are a lock ?



Last night was Time Machine movie night. Started off with Hot Tub Time Machine. Hear a re-make is coming but without John Cusack.



I always liked this version. Alan Young's Scottish accent was pretty good, now I find out his real name was Angus.