The bouncing balls and the Symphony

The New World Symphony in Miami built a spectacular new theater. They groomed a large lawn, that was once a city parking lot, with freshly planted green sod intermingled with walking paths and palm trees. Once a month they open the grounds to the public. While the symphony is playing inside, we can enjoy the concert on the great lawn. People come in droves bringing, chairs, blankets and food and wine.

The new site cost maybe a billion.

I met my two girl friends, Susan and Gail, on the lawn choosing our spot, plopping ourselves down chatting and eating. As the music was about to begin we noticed a German Sheppard and his owner lying next to us. There was nothing strange about this until we began to relax. AND So did the dog!

When the dog turned over and spread his legs relaxing on the grass, he exposed a pair of the most humongous balls that one could ever imagine. If that was not enough the dog breathed heavily and each time he took a breath his balls shook. We three ladies were fixated on his every breath watching his balls bounce and shake. The concert held little interest to us and the sound of its music was overcome by our nervous giggling. We were enthralled. We got a break when this very special well endowed dog turned over covering himself and giving us the opportunity of watching the concert. But he was a restless dog so before we knew it, he rolled back again on its side breathing heavily and exposing more of his bouncing shaking balls.

As a grand finish the air suddenly changed; Yup, he passed heavy deadly wind! In a whirlwind second, the owner picked up his gifted dog and disappeared into the crowd forever.

The moral of the story: Artists who have studied all of their lives to play instruments, conductors who studied all over the world, architects who dreamed up the new hall and landscape design spending billions of dollars to bring it all together, did not stand the chance of getting the attention of these three ladies.

What a ball!

Carol Sue Gershman



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Oleta Adams - Embracable You

Once a Mom always a Mom

My daughter 50 years old plus, who lives in Switzerland, went for a routine colonoscopy. I have had two myself and know it is an easy procedure. However, at the end of the day I called my daughter to see how it went. SHE DID NOT ANSWER THE PHONE. I figured she was still asleep. With the time change, I knew when I woke up there would be an e mail from her. BUT THERE WASN'T!

I called her apartment again this next morning. NO ANSWER.. Panic was slowly setting in! Something happened for sure! Her husband doesn't want to call that something went wrong! I called her cell phone. NO ANSWER.. OMG, any minute my son will be at my front door breaking the bad news...I could do nothing but wait.

About half hour later as I was painfully looking for my son-in-laws cell phone number, my phone rang.

"Hi Mom, did you just call?" "Oh yes, I did, I said as casually with as much composure as possible; ' was just wondering how things went." "Oh fine mom, I am now at the top of the mountain skiing; it is gorgeous up here, and we are having so much fun and my colon is perfect." Sorry I didn't call.

As I revived myself I rushed her off of the phone and lied down on my bed to recover.
WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY COMMENT..

Carol Sue Gershman

Please go out get a face lift if your time has come!

If you are of the age and of the means to have a face lift pleeeeze do not wait a moment longer, go out and get one!

Not only will a face lift make you look and feel like you again, it will rejuvenate you in ways you never dreamed.

For me, there was never a question. At 40, eyes, at 50 face lift at 55 laser, at 65 a face lift again. Why? Not because I am an ego maniac but because I believe in looking as good as I possibly can and nature never went along with my way of thinking.

Why am I talking about this now?

Well I have a childhood friend who at 74 never had any cosmetic work. How did you look next to her contemporaries? I will tell you how; old and hanging.

She talked about getting her face done for many years but fear would set in. I do not quite know what her particular fears were but there were enough of them to keep her from checking herself in!

Well, at 74 she finally decided to heck with it; I'm doing it!

I saw her last night at her 75th birthday party and I was astounded. She looked beautiful She looked refreshed, she looked kinder, she walked faster, she moved faster, she dressed better. She is a reborn sagger. How wonderful.

Of course because she never had any work done before, it had a greater effect. I always believed in little by little.

A face lift is a wonderful thing physically and mentally with only one precaution. DO YOUR HOMEWORK; GET A REALLY GOOD DOCTOR WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING. This is not the time to clip coupons. This is your face and soon to be your uplifting happy face.

Carol Sue Gershman

when you are lying in bed sick; you think nothing is going on

Actually that is not true.
I returned from Ca. with the worst flu cold so have spent the week in bed. There was no other place for me to go this week.
I was bored, sleepy, achy and all the rest.
Guess what? Today I am beginning to feel better; my head is clearing, my energy is getting higher by the minute, I am writing lists on what comes next, I hired a maid to clean and air out my joint, tomorrow I will go on errands, next day beauty parlor.
YES, YES, silly as it might sound I am coming to life and.... Life is awaiting me again waiting for me to participate.
I must admit something about my trip to California. I visited my adorable grand kids and family. But you see there I was Grandma and that is all there is to it!
Here I am a hot sexy woman with untold energy.
How is your week going?
Love,
CArol Sue

How is your Valentines Day?

Well must admit mine is not what it used to be.
To begin with I am sick in bed with a cold.
I don't mind the relaxation but I do mind the lack of attention.
Let's start from here.
Who are my Valentines? My family, that's who!
My ex-husband usually sent me flowers but not this year. I sent him an e mail and he sent me back one that was nice. Let us say we will always be kind to one other.
My daughter sent me an e-card and I loved it; she has never done more than that in the past so a card was nice.
My middle son is beyond words... I emailed him TWO WEEKS AGO and asked him to be my valentine this year. He wrote back: "Absolutely" I will call you..... That was the last of him..... P. S. I had never asked him that question before, guess I won't ever again.
My younger son, a true romantic always sent flowers on V. Day but when I received them as a Mother's day gift as well, I said, "I would love a gift you picked out, no matter how small." Perhaps he confused V day with M Day thinking I don't like flowers period; so none for me.
He did call and send a great e card.
I sent 3 of my grand kids V day cards, one to each..... no response.
My very on occasion lover sent (not a word)
My daughter in law sent kisses,
My girlfriend sent kisses
Oh well, my cold is getting better. Like they say... nothing more important than health.
Love to all you Valentines
CArol Sue Gershman

Bus travel teaches us more than being alone in our cars.

Early this morning I went to New Jersey from New York City by bus.

While I was waiting at the Port of Authority for my late bus, I noticed an attractive woman talking on her cell. Her back was towards me but I admired how she was dressed in leather and fur. She was neatly put together on this early morning.

I on the other hand taking the same bus was dressed like a slob. Oh my clothes were clean, but my boots from the snow and wear and tear were shabby. My "Head" ski jacket from about 25 years old is still colorful but far from sexy; my warm hat and ear muffs messed up my hair but I did not much think about it, I was warm, until I saw her.

How could she look so attractive on this same morning taking the same bus? I studied what I was doing wrong. When she turned around she smiled and walked towards me. She was a pretty lady too. Funny enough, we did not stop talking from the moment we met making both our trips entertaining; I told her I liked how she was dressed and she thought lightly of it. We exchanged e mails hoping to be friends. Oh, and I think I will buy a new ski jacket and boots!

I went about my business in New Jersey and another lovely lady drove me back to the NYC bound bus instead of having to take a cab.

Oddly enough on that bus I met another lady. We struck up a conversation about weather and went on to other topics. I found it unusual to have two long conversations with two strangers in a three hour time limit. She and I will meet too.
Actually, I will try hard to bring the three of us together. Wouldn't that be nice?

Carol Sue Gershman

Decorating/ Decisions/ Dust/ Do's and Don'ts...

I absolutely love to decorate, but the decisions I have to make drive me insane.

We are talking kitchen. Sure I can call someone in and tell them to gut my 23 year old kitchen and pay them $25,000 to do it, but what fun is that?

It would be too perfect and I wouldn't have the opportunity to be creative or drive myself mad; like should I choose mirror as a back splash, yes,mirror, or tin tiles, gorgeous.... what ever happened to good ole Formica? Yes, I know it is still around but don't think a Formica man is going to run over and replace my Formica for a couple of hundred dollars. No now, it is a process, an architectural drawing, a layout; I want white, but he said, "There are so many whites." "Just bring me a shiny white and let it shine,I will worry about the rest." While you are doing my drawing put in a new sink and faucets. How I wish I had gone to a tech hi school and gotten some building skills.

I was going to treat myself to a new stove till I heard the prices. Never mind the price of the stove with self cleaning; but then there is delivery, installation, a new microwave, and then the charge to attach it to the stove and take away my perfectly good stove.

So I made myself a lot happier and richer by buying a new stove top, nice and white, new stove knobs, and now will put some mirror over the side to hide the old stuff; Funny enough, it actually works great; it self cleans and the microwave is already attached, and so is the stove.

Oh, the cabinets.. Have you heard the price for new doors for the EXISTING cabinets? How bout $11,000 plus.... paid out over a year, no interest. No not me, I will take one main front cabinet, make a hole and add glass. The rest will get new handles. P. S. Meant to say, I live in a NYC apt with a small kitchen.

The floor. Do I tear up the old tiles and put new? or can I just put the new tiles on top of the old? These are the questions .
You see, all of this could have been taken care of easily if I just went with a designer, but then I would never be writing about this or having the fun of creating and practicing the art of saving money all in the same time or occupying my mind with decisions and samples or driving myself mad.

I will get a new panel for my dishwasher and new handles for my refrig.

I will paint the back wall Black, yes shiny black, or should it be orange and add mirror touches... Why not see myself as I cook; others have to look.

When I am through I will post a before and after; which reminds me better get the camera out right now.
Thanx for listening. You must have gone through the same.
Carol Sue

Broken bones/Does that mean I am getting old or just a klutz?

Broken bones/Does that mean I am getting old or just a klutz?

Oh how I love to fall and break my bones. Just kidding, but seems like it is my fate.

I have had 7 falls with 4 broken bones. I guess my first fall happened in my 50's. (years old) I slipped on a plastic bag in my apartment, landed on my hard wood floor on my shoulder. It was horrible. When the Dr. told me It would be at least three months till I healed, I did not know how I could possibly just stop my life. After all, "Every thing I do is so important." I learned otherwise! The only thing I learned that was important was to heal. The shoulder affected other bones so I had to use a cane, my body was crippled. When I thought I would never be normal again, suddenly I was me. Nature heals us, the body heals, we are all lucky. OK. that was number one.

#2 : I fell off of my bike and broke my wrist. Not so bad to fall off my bike, but did my wrist have to break? so there I was again in a sling, physical therapy etc,

#3 got even better. This time I slipped on a Clorox floor falling backwards and landing on my elbow. Yup, shattered and broken; I was on my way out the door going on a trip wanting to leave the apartment sparkling clean. OK, all I had to do this time was have two intense operations, go to therapy, be incapacitated and heal.

#4 This was a nice fall on the sidewalks of NYC falling again on my lucky left wrist; ambulance, doctors, settings, healing. Good bye to those who had no sympathy for poor me.

Those were the broken ones.

I once fell off of a train in Eastern Europe, I was grabbing my luggage as the door closed, so went with the luggage on to the platform landing on my back. Next thing I knew I was in an East German hospital Ward wheeled in as The lady from New York City.... so that makes five. I had sprained my back.

The 6th fall was in China at the Ritz Carlton after sipping their lovely tea. Upon exit I missed the 2 steps down and there I was flat on the floor being escorted out of the Ritz and into a limo back to my hostel. I had sprained my ankle.

For the life of me I cannot remember # 7 but I know there was one.

As soon as the last fragment healed, I was up and off with my life, never looking back. OK. lucky 7 has made me more cautious. I have slowed down a bit and look more where I am going; spending more time looking down than looking up especially on the side walks of NYC. A fall can happen any time and at any moment. It is awful; nothing teaches you more how life can change on a dime.

So what you think am I simply a Klutz? Maybe we should all have four legs.
Carol Sue Gershman.

Ladies Unite! A New Years eve treat for all.

I questioned what to do this New Years. A date? Had many on New Years. How bout a party? Ok, but what kind of a party, a party for two, No! A party with several couples, No! Friends stopping by, No.!

Well then, how about a Mah Jongg Party?

4 beautiful ladies came marching in all dressed in glitter. I wore my hot sequined dress and hat; we hugged and sipped champagne. For me it was an O'Douls. I decorated my studio apartment in red and gold and candlelit the room. The sofa was called my living room and there I introduced my friends to the Burning Bowl. "Write down what you do not want in your life from last year." I marched us into the bathroom sink and lit a match to all the 2010 negatives. Then we wrote our goals for the next 3 months. We each put them in a sealed envelope and on April 1, I will mail them out to see if we really lived up to our hopes and dreams.

We took 2 steps into the dining room, my card table set in the middle of the room, the centerpiece my mah jongg set all decorated in silver and red. I served a luscious green organic salad with garlic oil dressing. We each devoured our own Rock Cornish hen in orange sauce, cous cous with vegetables and string beans in garlic and oil. After all we were all ladies.

After dinner we threw the dishes in the sink, removed the cloth and set up the mah jongg set. Hard to concentrate going from spirituals, to gourmets and now gamblers. The chocolate chip thick cookies, the bombalini's filled with chocolate and the pumpkin cheese cake kept us delighted.

At 11:30 we tore off our glitter and changed into warm clothes, walked 2 blocks to Central Park's awesome fire works party.
There was snow on the ground, the trees over head, music was playing, the runners were getting ready for their 12:00 a.m. marathon, all of this with fabulous exciting fireworks bursting over head.

Happy New Year beautiful ladies. We could not have done it without each other.

Carol Sue Gershman