Yum

In view of the damage recently done to Greensboro’s favorite ice cream and hot dog joint by a really bad driver (and the damage done to the English language by people who insist on calling it “Yum Yum’s” rather than “Yum Yum”), I think we’re due for another oldie from the Otherstream archives tonight.

For the record, Yum Yum Better Ice Cream was not established in 1906 by ice cream visionary Hieronimus T. Yum Yum, as some people in Greensboro apparently believe. It was established by a man named Aydelette, who decided not to name it after himself, thus eliminating the need for an apostrophe.

There. I needed to get that out of my system. Now I can start thinking about important things again. Like banana ice cream and hot dogs…

New York 2017

It was 64F when I arrived. The next morning it snowed and the temperature never again climbed above freezing.

Thanks tto the cold, this was very much a trip of specific destinations rather than my usual random wandering. I’d already planned to hit several museums, and I ended up doing most of my traveling on the subway rather than on foot. But it was lots of fun, and I did get some significant strolling in.

Highlights:

Seeing my friend Margo and exploring Brooklyn a bit.
The Transit Museum. Loved it. Seriously.
Riding the ten-week-old Second Avenue Subway.
A snow-covered Union Square.
Having, maybe for the first time, a hotel room with a view of something other than the airshaft or the back of the next building.
Food. Books. Etc.
My new favorite parking spot on Staten Island.

Random thoughts about New York, danger, middle age, and other things coming in another post. For now, here are pretty pictures:

Continue reading “New York 2017” →

S(n)o(w)…

It was 64F when I came in on the Staten Island Ferry an hour ago a little over 12 hours from now there may be one to 3 inches of snow on the ground. And then, a low of 18F tomorrow night. Go figure…

Benefits

Prerogative of being middle-aged and single with no dependents (human or otherwise): after discussing the idea for 30 seconds with a friend at dinner, I just decided to have a long weekend in New York in about three weeks. I will visit friends, buy books, and see this. I got a great deal on a room in a very nice hotel centrally located between two subway lines. From decision to execution took all of 30 minutes.

Another prerogative: I can change my mind just as easily as I made the decision in the first place, with no repercussions or arguments whatsoever.

La vie c’est bon!

Valentine’s Day fun

I think there’s nothing quite so romantic as a nice colonoscopy on Valentine’s Day. And I got the bargain rate because no one else wants to schedule one today. (Yes, that was an alternative fact.)

Random things to keep in mind:

Not eating for 36-plus hours sucks.
Jello is disgusting and should be avoided. Ditto anything lemon or lime favored. And lemon or lime Jello is the worst of all.
Italian ice is your friend.
So are flushable wipes and petroleum jelly. Trust me on this.

It’s been a sucky two days, but as someone who has already lived through one flavor of cancer, I’m all about prevention and/or early detection of any others.

I’m also incredibly hungry. Only four more hours till solid food!