New York is downright eerie right about now. Streets are downright empty but the air is filled with the sounds of sirens, echoing off our concrete canyons. In my upper Manhattan neighborhood people are out and walking but keeping respectful distances and most wearing mouth coverings of some kind. Grocery stores limit the number of … Continue reading More reflections on New York in Lockdown
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Happy Spring 2020
The Spring Equinox happened last night at ten till midnight. That means that this morning, Friday, March 20, 2020, is the first sunrise of the spring (in the Northern Hemisphere) as this post is published. We need a new season and we need to get outside even as we shelter in place. Keep your social … Continue reading Happy Spring 2020
Manhattan wildlife
Our fair island is not well known for for four legged furry creatures unless you consider the countless dogs people own and the occasional Pizza Rat ™. But our neighborhood (Hudson Heights) is high atop a ridge and surrounded on three sides by forest (or for what passes as forest in New York City). So … Continue reading Manhattan wildlife
The Great New York Subway Seating Debate
If you regularly ride the New York City Subway this is a very important topic. As I depend on the A Train, this is essential. Since the following was posted on Twitter on New Year's Eve day ... ...I have seen lots of discussion but I am mystified. The only acceptable answer is #1. It … Continue reading The Great New York Subway Seating Debate
Happy New Year – the Decade question
Happy New Year and welcome to 2020. You may have heard some arguing whether it is the start of a new decade or it is not. Here is the simple answer. TECHNICALLY it is not. The system of our year numbering, though imposed retroactively, in a flawed manner and adjusted several times, there was no … Continue reading Happy New Year – the Decade question
I want my symbols back
Sometimes it is easiest to use a shortcut hand symbol to react to something. The good old thumbs down or thumbs up sign is reputed to go all the way back to the Roman Empire in gladiator contests. Thus it is recognized universally. After Trump used it reflexively during his campaign it became inextricably tied … Continue reading I want my symbols back
National Pharmacy Technician Day
The third Tuesday of October is National Pharmacy Technician Day. Not only am I dealing with lots of pharmacy stuff during my recuperation, I have a pharmacy connection in my history. There was a Thinnes Pharmacy in the Westwood neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio from 1922 to 1977. My grandfather John L. Thinnes purchased a business … Continue reading National Pharmacy Technician Day
Footnotes #14 – home again
In the continuing saga of my recovery I've been released from rehab and am recovering at home. There is still lots of healing to go as my right leg is still non-weight-bearing. While a small New York apartment is less kind to a person in my condition than a rehab center, the pleasure of being … Continue reading Footnotes #14 – home again
National Train Your Brain Day + Footnotes #13
Today is National Train Your Brain Day when you are challenged to test yourself with puzzles and riddles. What does that have to do with my long recent health travails? Simple. After nearly dying from severe septic shock and going through three operations in eight days I emerged physically exhausted. As I awoke, slightly dazed … Continue reading National Train Your Brain Day + Footnotes #13
Rare Political Commentary
This blog is focused on theatrical experiences, personal notes, food adventures and celebrations of National Days. I seldom lapse into political commentary, but will make a brief exception today. President Trump and various members of his administration are currently embroiled in an impeachment fight that I have followed closely. I'm not predicting what the outcome … Continue reading Rare Political Commentary
National Punctuation Day
With today's fragmented and truncated communication methods, it is important to remember that punctuation still plays an important role in understanding meaning in the English language. Add a comma, save a life... As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
Happy Autumn
Today, September 23, 2019 at 7:50 AM, exactly as this post was published, the season turned to autumn. The seasons change, time passes, we continue whirling through space on this amazing planet of ours. Treasure it, treasure your time here, treasure tomorrow. We are blessed to experience any small part of it. May God bless … Continue reading Happy Autumn
Footnotes #12 – getting stronger every day
Just a quick update as I rehab after the recent encounter with sepsis and multiple operations to set it straight. I am getting stronger everyday and am working on a comeback. I have heard lots of stories at the hospital and where I am doing my rehab about others with sepsis and the truth is … Continue reading Footnotes #12 – getting stronger every day
National Lighthouse Day
Today is National Lighthouse Day and you can find a very cute little lighthouse very close to where I live in Upper Manhattan, not where you would think to find one. It is nestled under the George Washington Bridge and is rather famous. Below is a picture I snapped when I hiked down to see … Continue reading National Lighthouse Day
PAY ATTENTION! And use the “Dutch Reach”
There are many ways to die in the big city. Despite the additions of bike lanes and protective infrastructure a record 18 bicycle riders have died on New York City streets so far this year. All of these have come from bicycle/vehicle collisions which never come out well for the two wheel riders. In the … Continue reading PAY ATTENTION! And use the “Dutch Reach”
FootNotes #8 – What a difference a week makes…
For the first six weeks after I broke my ankle I was in either a cast or compression boot with instructions to not remove it and to not put weight on it under any circumstances. It was torturous and uncomfortable. If a foot could feel claustrophobia, mine certainly did. Plus I had difficulty in getting … Continue reading FootNotes #8 – What a difference a week makes…
National Cousins Day
Happy National Cousins Day and luckily, I have a few to celebrate. To mark the occasion, I am including my favorite family portrait of all time. It was the summer of 1967 (I think it was the Fourth of July). It was scanned by my cousin Gigi who is helping us preserve family memories. It … Continue reading National Cousins Day
National Hammock Day
It is perfect that National Hammock Day falls in the middle of the dog days of summer. Strung between two shade trees, there is nothing more relaxing than a (yawn) hammock. As you slowly rock back and forth and the sun gently dapples your eyes (yaaaawn) one gets so verrrrry rrrrrestful. Mmmmble. It's just perfect. … Continue reading National Hammock Day
EXPOSED! – Tootsie Roll Pops!
My Exposed! Series tackles a vexing subject each month and scientifically dismantles it. We've done Chapstick tubes and Pez Candy Dispensers so far. This month we tackle the age old question of "How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?" You know the genesis of this … Continue reading EXPOSED! – Tootsie Roll Pops!
Wishing you a very happy American Independence Day
National Selfie Day
I guess it was inevitable but since 2014 June 19 has been National Selfie Day. Don't look down your nose at this day, look up, it makes a better selfie. Think of it as a natural evolution to art's time honored self portraits, and much faster and more spreadable thanks to social media. Indeed, you … Continue reading National Selfie Day
FootNotes #2 – A terrific advantage with a broken ankle!
I am always an optimistic sort and just figured out the great advantage I have with my broken ankle. I only wear one sock at a time. Thus less wear, less laundry, less carbon footprint, better results for climate change. It does make it more difficult to track pairs after laundry, but hey, I'll take … Continue reading FootNotes #2 – A terrific advantage with a broken ankle!
Happy Father’s Day
A very happy Father's Day to you. I hope you have a great day with your dad. My father passed in 1993, far too early and long ago. Below is a picture of the two of us in my backyard when I lived in Florida. Happy Father's Day to all. As always you can find … Continue reading Happy Father’s Day
FootNotes #1 – My latest ride, unplanned and hopefully for not long
Not very sporty but very useful and very necessary. See, I broke my ankle riding my motorbike this week and this little trolley gets me around while keeping the ankle cast elevated and stable. And a nice little basket for carrying the mail! I take it seriously. Warning label says right on it - Not … Continue reading FootNotes #1 – My latest ride, unplanned and hopefully for not long
His own private screen at dinner
Quick note. I recently went to a restaurant where I noted there was a perfectly behaved and quiet child at a nearby table. Then I spied why. He had his own private cartoon show screen on a smart phone for his entire dinner. He was enthralled and paid only half attention to his Cheerios. I … Continue reading His own private screen at dinner
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