Simple Pleasures

Before today I'd never been to one of the most famous BBQ places on Long Island (North Fork Bacon & Smokehouse). That's because it's far away and only open a few days a week. But today is one of those days and I was eager to ride my rocket-ship for a couple of hours. So history was made.

They have a sandwich called the "Heart Attack" so my choice was clear. The Heart Attack contains brisket, pulled pork, mac-n-cheese and French Fries on a bun. Cheese adds just the right amount of moisture to pull the various ingredients together. Yum!

Afterward I went next door for coffee and had a nice long conversation with the owner whose new Triumph Thruxton 900 was perched in front. Bikers establish easy rapport and can talk for hours.

Later I cruised to Wildwood State Park in Wading River where I hiked to the beach, ambled down to a flat boulder, climbed aboard and listened to rhapsodic waves lapping the shore while reading a biography of Rachel Carson whose 1962 book, "Silent Spring," founded our modern environmental concerns. Pics follow...

With A Little Help From My Friends

Last July I rode my motorcycle up to Toronto to see a good friend, Suzanne. During my visit we went clothes-shopping. Of course.

Suzanne then gave me one of the greatest gifts ever -- the courage to try on women's clothing in a store dressing-room. I'd never done that before. Suzanne's presence and support gave me the strength needed to cross this bridge. As you know, trying on clothes is very important because you can't tell how a garment is going to look until you put it on. In the past I was too scared to do this and often bought clothes only to later discover they don't fit right.

In one store, I took a dozen items into the dressing-room. I was shocked to see how many of them looked bad when I anticipated them to look good. One dress, however, a slinky, ruched black velvet beauty fit me perfectly. I had doubts about it before trying it on but was pleasantly surprised when I did.

Here is the dress. What do you think? I'm also wearing a mermaid necklace that was a sweet gift from a friend.

April Fool's Jokes

April 1st is Sunday. Are you ready?

Every year I design a new April Fool's joke. They're fun when the idea is clever, not cruel. Many admire my past efforts which you're invited to use for inspiration. Like this one (2017), this one (2016), this one (2015) and this one (2013).

Here are some other ideas:

1. Remove all your partner's clothes from two dresser-drawers and put them back in the wrong drawer. When he goes looking for his underwear, he'll find sweaters.

2. Replace a prominent framed photo with another image that your partner finds funny. This year I'm switching a picture of us with a photo of Pee-Wee Herman.

3. Hide an alarm clock and set it for a good time. Your partner will hear the noise, wander around the house and say, "What the hell is that?"

4. Tape a plastic bug on the inside of a lamp. (See picture.)

5. If you've done pranks in the past and your partner is expecting one (my situation), tape an innocent sign on your refrigerator door: "Happy April First!" Your partner will spend hours trying to figure out which food you switched/contaminated. Of course, you didn't touch any of them, which makes it a really easy prank.

Are you going to do a joke this year?

Huntington Rural Cemetery

I was passing by our local cemetery when harsh sunlight caught my eye. It back-lit gravestones and created an arresting visual. Can you spot a flag?

Touching The Past

I'm writing a letter to a 93-year old neighbor who, during my childhood, often invited me into her house after school for milk and cookies because my mom was still at work. Telling Mrs. Devine how much I appreciated her kindness makes me feel good.

Why don't you write a letter today? You'll enjoy it.

The Roaring Twenties

Despite the presence of lingering snow on the ground, I was enticed to venture out today by bright sunshine, warming temperature and a new exhibition at a local art museum. The subject of the show is the Roaring Twenties, a period similar to our own. I took my trusted racehorse (BMW S1000R), recently serviced and ready for some spirited action.

The Twenties began early -- on November 11, 1918, the day World War I ended. The decade was full of transition, chaos and unpredicted social change. Art and culture evolved rapidly; women got the vote. Countries like ours prospered immensely, without awareness that financial ruin was just around the corner (1929).

Also like our age, "everything seemed feasible through modern technology." Airplanes crossed oceans. Flying and automobiles became available to ordinary folk.

Below are some images from the era that appealed to me today.

The Twenties, a century ago, were obviously before I was born (1957). But I feel an affinity for that time. Surrealism, in particular, speaks to me. We will soon start a new Twenties (2020+) and I suspect it will be equally momentous. The drastic changes we're about to experience (e.g., robotic companions) may be understood by looking back at the last Twenties and drawing lessons from this time. At least I'm trying to do that.

What do you foresee in the next decade?

Spring

Despite a snowstorm we had yesterday it is actually Spring.

When I got home today, I saw these two guys in my backyard. The first one is eating a slice of bread I left out.

Are you seeing any signs of Spring?

Affluent Slugs

Someone just told me that snails are slugs who could afford a home. Now I'm feeling sorry for poor, homeless slugs.

Guilty As Charged

Shopping at Urban Outfitters on Sunday, I found the PERFECT coffee cup! It describes how I ride my motorcycles... and approach my life.

Bowling Outfit

Ever since I was a kid, I wanted a bowling pin. A real bowling pin. Never thought I'd get one but my local thrift-store had one on display so I bought it last week ($20). Sometimes you see odd items in vintage stores that can be turned into home-decorations. All it takes is a fun attitude.  :-)

To showcase the pin, I'm wearing a purple body-suit with embroidered flowers. I like body-suits even though many feel they're uncomfortable. I like their multi-directional clinginess. Completing the outfit are some stock items I have in pink-purple colors.

Opinions on the outfit? Thoughts about using a bowling pin as decoration?

NYC in March

I rode my BMW S1000R into New York City this morning. The temperature was cold and traffic was awful. But there are delights in the city to compensate for hardship.

I had a nice lunch (lobster bisque; lobster salad) and walked around Midtown. Found some cute sculptures.

Here are pics...

Serendipity

I bought this top and skirt separately, not realizing how well they go together. It was only while playing in my closet that I saw their affinity for each other. Together, they're going places!

Honestly, I don't even know how to name these colors. Blue and green is as close as I can get but they are iridescent so one's perception of their hue changes depending on light and viewing-angle.

Whatcha think?

Typewriters

Last Human To Use Two Spaces

At End Of Sentence Dies

This parody-obituary is funny but actually not true -- I use a typewriter and leave two spaces after a period.

Last week I saw a terrific documentary ("California Typewriter") about people who still use typewriters. Tom Hanks is in the movie; he has hundreds of typewriters in his collection.

Have you ever used a manual typewriter? Do you know how? At the end of a line, the machine makes a noise (DING!) and you move down to a new line by pulling the "carriage return" from left to right. The act is fun and becomes automatic once you get used to doing it. Like shifting gears on a motorcycle.

I currently own only one typewriter but plan on getting two more. They are great collectibles: not only do they represent history but they can be used today for writing letters, etc.

Style In Everything

Presentation matters. We don't just eat with our mouths, we also eat with our eyes. Presenting a meal with style enhances the culinary experience.

A few months ago I bought some pretty yellow dishes at West Elm. I didn't realize at the time how much they'd brighten my meals. The attractive color surrounds my food with sunlight. Best of all, the dishes were on sale and remarkably cheap.

Here's my snack for today. Caviar, on sour cream, on Carr's Table Water Crackers. I love the flavor of caviar but its saltiness needs to be cut with something smooth. Sour cream (or cream cheese) serves that purpose. And, for the base, nothing beats Carr's crackers. They're sturdy and make plain taste a virtue. They serve what you place on them without interfering with its flavor.

Do you put any effort into how you present your food?

Coffee In A Cone

Take a waffle-cone, dip it in Belgian dark chocolate and pour in hot latte. What do you have? Coffee In A Cone!

I heard about this delight in a newspaper article earlier this week. A chic coffeehouse just opened in Manhasset featuring several creative coffee drinks. I went there today to try this one. Yumm!

Have you ever sipped coffee out of a cone?

Living Well

In cold Winter, we hibernate indoors. Deprived of outdoor activities, my creative energy focuses on cooking. I've been making more -- and better -- meals. Which is nice 'cause you get to eat 'em.  :-)

I recently mentioned a seafood company in Alaska run by two women (Salmon Sisters). They sell wild fish. Last week I received a box of sablefish from them which I've been consuming with brio. Sablefish is very healthy, like salmon. I discovered it has a plain flavor which invites you to experiment with seasoning. I tried garlic salt, lemon, etc. This morning I ate some with a new hot sauce from New Zealand. Delightful!

The fish arrive in packets that are the perfect size for a meal. You keep 'em in your freezer until the day before you want to eat them, then move them into your frig for a day to thaw. Super handy.

Cooking the fillets couldn't be easier. Just pop 'em in an oven to bake for 10-12 minutes. Done!

A few minutes before they were finished, I glazed them with the hot sauce. It adds deep, rich flavor, not only of chili spice but also of butter. The sauce contains butter made from milk from cows living the high life on New Zealand grassy farms. You can taste the contentment in it.

A key to good cooking isn't complicated recipes, it's using good-quality ingredients. This dish is as simple as they come: it takes ten minutes to make, requires no prep or special skill and the result is fabulous. You're simply presenting superb ingredients in their natural glory.

That's the way I roll. Do you cook?