I was waiting to board my flight to Chicago last night when I heard a fellow passenger utter the familiar phrase:
I bleed blue.
I immediately knew a UK Wildcats fan was at the gate, so I walked over and inserted myself into the conversation. What were the chances?
And can you guess how long it took before we were discussing the UK/Duke game of 1992?
Posted in History, Humor, Life, Sports, Travel
Tagged airplanes, airport gate, basketball, basketball fan, Chicago, conversation, Duke, eavesdropping, Humor, I bleed blue, Kentucky, passenger, predictable, Sports, Travel, University of Kentucky, Wildcats
“We’re visiting from Arizona.”
“Our town is about an hour outside of Tucson.”
“We took the ferry to the Statute of Liberty, and now we have to meet our daughter up at 96th and Broadway, so we’re taking the train up there. Hopefully we are on the right train — is this the right train?”
“We’ve found our way around the city pretty well so far…at least, I think we have.”
None of these comments are that remarkable…typical tourist conversation on the subway.
What is remarkable was this lady’s projection. I was all the way at the other end of the subway car, and it was like she was standing right in front of me.
The person she was talking to? Never caught a syllable.
One thing’s for sure — she will ever get lost in the city. Her family will be able to hear her coming and going.
Posted in communication, Family, Humor, New York City, tourism, transportation
Tagged Arizona, communication, conversation, daughter, family, ferry, Humor, i can hear you, megaphone, New York City, Statute of Liberty, subway, tourists, transportation, Tucson, vocal projection
When I got on the subway this morning, I overhead a woman introduce herself to a man standing close by. Apparently they has begun chatting on the platform.
She had already met her quota: speak to at least one stranger every day.
She probably didn’t know she was supposed to. But studies show that if you do, both you and the stranger will feel better.
Shhhhhhhiiiiiitttttt….we Southerners have known that all along.
Posted in communication, Friends, Health, Humor, Life, New York City, Relationships, transportation, Travel
Tagged communication, conversation, friends, Health, Humor, life, New York City, Relationships, stranger, subway, transportation, Travel
When you go to the lady doctor for your yearly poke-and-prod, some tests aren’t so yearly anymore.
Depending on your age and family history, your physician may recommend a Pap smear, for example, every two years… or a mammogram only after age 40.
(My family history is so checkered, I get to do these type of tests every year, but I’ve heard rumors.)
The other thing you have to do every time you walk in a doctor’s office is a weight check. This I feel should change.
The nurse usually takes my weight, after consulting my chart. Unless I appear to have ballooned to an obese level, I don’t feel this is a necessary measure. It’s not the way I want to start the conversation, either…
Unless the nurse takes his/her weight, too. Then we have something to discuss.
Posted in Family, Health, Humor
Tagged conversation, doctor, doctor's office, family, family history, gynocologist, Health, Humor, mammogram, medical chart, medical exam, medical tests, nurse, obese, pap smear, weight, weighty subject, yearly physical
I depend on my cellphone.
Most people do these days.
It’s never more apparent than when you misplace it or break it for even a single day.
It’s like losing a limb.
And I am ever so grateful to have my cellphone in hand when I’m walking down the sidewalk and see a couple of petition people lying in wait.
Like today.
I’m sure the two young ladies had something important to discuss with me — they always do, right? — but I just wanted to be on my way. And my cellphone allowed me to do just that.
As soon as the petition people were in view, I put the cellphone to my ear and begin having a fascinating conversation.
With no one.
The petition people don’t bother folks on the phone.
Give it a try yourself sometime.
Posted in Humor, Life, Technology, Walking
Tagged automobiles, cellphone, conversation, Humor, life, losing a limb, petition, sidewalk, technology, telephone, walking
It’s hard to believe it’s been over three years since I first saw The Trip starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon.
I saw it in the theater then. Today was a chance encounter on HBO.
And I watched it again.
I still laughed at the two comedians’ competitive conversations and celebrity impressions. But this time I found myself trying out a few of the characterizations — with very limited success.
Why can’t I do impressions better? And why are they so darn good?
Obviously they have invested far more than 90 minutes towards this endeavor, but I wonder if I would be able to achieve any success with a lifetime of practice.
Do the Brits just have an edge?
I say yes. (This stance saves me a lot of time and effort.)
Posted in Celebrities, Comedy, Entertainment, Humor, Movies, Television
Tagged Brits, celebrities, characterizaitons, comedian, comedy, competition, conversation, entertainment, HBO, Humor, impressions, movie theater, Movies, Rob Brydon, Steve Coogan, Television, The Trip movie
Admit it — most of us don’t read the manual that comes with our new smart phones cover-to-cover.
Maybe not at all.
So it’s not surprising that articles like “21 Things You Didn’t Know Your iPhone Could Do” literally amaze.
However, I would like to add a feature to that list that applies to any brand of mobile phone. It crosses platforms, versions, price points — you name it. And in New York City, it has proven extremely valuable on a daily basis.
Sidewalk Ambassador Avoidance
Got a mobile phone at your ear? Appear to be in a conversation? They leave you alone.
World peace. It’s what every beauty pageant contestant wants.
Posted in Advertising, Business, Humor, Life, Relationships, Shopping, Technology, Walking
Tagged 21 Things You Didn't Know Your iPhone Could Do, advertising, avoid, avoidance, beauty pageant, brand ambassador, Business, contestant, conversation, Humor, iPhone, life, manual, mobile phone, New York City, platform, price point, Relationships, shopping, sidewalk, smart phone, smart phone feature, solutions for a small planet, technology, version, walking, world peace
I was standing in a crowd of people today, unintentionally eavesdropping on the conversation of two people standing close by. I admit it.
I even told them.
One of the woman said she was going to walk to the train station in Philadelphia after our meeting ended. I was headed there, too, and I knew that walking that far was out of the question…especially with luggage, which we both had.
So I told her.
We ended up sharing a cab. We also ended up on the same train — she was headed to New York City as well.
It was her first train trip, first trip to Manhattan, first trip to the cafe car. She was joining friends here for the weekend. I usually travel alone on business, but watching her excitement at every step of the journey made what was a routine trip home for me a lot more fun.
Glad I was listening!
Posted in Business, Humor, Life, transportation, Travel
Tagged Amtrak, Business, business travel, cafe car, conversation, eavesdropping, Humor, lie, luggage, Manhattan, New York City, Philadelphia, taxi cab, train, train station, transportation, Travel
I learned a new word today…or, I should say, new to me:
HANGRY
As soon as I heard the word in conversation with a friend, I Googled it…and realized it was not just a word, but a phenomenon.
Hangry, simply stated, is that spirit-sucking irritability that results from being hungry. I experienced it today when I had too many errands to run and not enough time to eat.
While I am all-too familiar with the feeling, I had never had the perfect word to describe it.
Until now.
So I am no longer hangry; instead, I’m simply happy. ‘Cause the right word can do that for ya.
Posted in Blogs, Commentary, Entertainment, Food, Humor, Life, Writing
Tagged blogs, conversation, eating, food, Google, hangry, Humor, hunger, hungry, Internet, irritability, life, perfect word, words, wordvana, writing
Men of action
Since I had a late night celebrating New Year’s Eve — thank you, Skype — I decided to ease into 2015 reading on the couch.
Today’s tome?
No, Cary Elwes wasn’t here with me, darn the luck — but his memoir of the casting, preparation and filming of The Princess Bride reads like a candid conversation.
Elwes reminisces about every step and misstep (literally) in his journey as the sword-wielding Westley, true love of Buttercup and (SPOILER ALERT) secret identity of the Dread Pirate Roberts. Every word telegraphs his enduring love for the role and for the cast and crew, as do sidebars from co-stars Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal and director Rob Reiner.
But it is Elwes’ gratitude and humility some 25 years later that are most endearing. He has enjoyed a successful career in film, but acknowledges that he owes an enormous debt to…
The Man in Black.
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Posted in Books, Celebrities, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Movies
Tagged As You Wish book, Billy Crystal, books, Buttercup, Cary Elwes, casting, celebrities, co-star, commentary, conversation, director, Dread Pirate Roberts, endearing, entertainment, filmmaking, gratitude, humility, Humor, Mandy Patinkin, memoir, men of action, Movies, New Year's Eve, reading, Rob Reiner, Robin Wright, Skype, successful career, The Man in Black, The Princess Bride, tome, Wallace Shawn, Westley