Rant #2,222: A Tonic For the Troops

Yes, I am finally back, returning to the Ranting and Raving Blog after several days of vacation, and one day to observe the holiest of the Jewish holy days, Yom Kippur.

Happy New Year to my Jewish friends, and yes, the vacation that my family and I just concluded was a tonic for the troops, so to speak.

I needed this vacation perhaps more than any vacation I have ever needed. I was completely burnt out from work, and everything revolving around work, and this short break recharged my batteries, I hope.

One thing that I am certain of is that my family and I had a great time.

If you remember, Hurricane Florence was wreaking havoc with our cruise, but happily, it did not effect it as much as it could have (and that is not minimizing the devastation that it had on the Carolinas and other areas, which was great).

Anyway, we sailed, we did finally get to Bermuda, and we had a great time while there.

This was my family's second time in Bermuda, but really the first time that we were able to get the lay of the land, so to speak.

When we went there the first time, a couple of years ago, there was an impending storm coming directly there--I don't remember exactly what storm it was--and we were only able to stay there for an hour or two, before we had to board our ship again and sail away from the rough waters that came from this storm.

This time, it was overcast, and then sunny, so on our excursion--which was a tour of Bermuda from top to bottom--we got to see the main island, learn a bit about its history, and work in a little shopping in between.

The main island of Bermuda, which includes its capital, Hamilton, is absolutely beautiful. The residents keep up their homes in a very nice, colorful way, the beaches have white sand and real blue water, and the entire island is sort of the Caribbean without being squarely in the Caribbean, getting its influences as much from the U.S. as from England.

It is definitely a nice place to visit, and we would love to go back. Maybe sometime in the future.

As for the cruise itself, we had a great time.

Whether it was swimming, playing ping pong, shopping or viewing a recent movie at the onboard IMAX theater--we saw "Predator," which was a raucous a film as I have seen in a long time, but kind of kept my interest in a "one eye in, one eye out" sort of way--we kept busy, and the sea air was good for the soul.

At dinner, we sat with some very nice people, professional water skiers who traveled the globe performing in the water. Very interesting indeed.

Anyway, If I have said it once, I will say it again: if you have never taken a cruise vacation, you should try it at least once. It is truly the ultimate vacation, where you can do a lot or do just a little, or anything in between.

We would love to cruise again sometime in the future, and maybe we will.

But now we are back to reality. The cruise is just a recent memory, and we have to go back to the rigors of work today--my son has already been back to work, but myself and my wife are going back today.

It isn't easy going back to work under normal circumstances after a week away, but for me, I am wondering what more can happen that can knock my world off its axis.

Since I got home, my cell phone finally died--it was on its deathbed for the past few months, and finally croaked while we were on the cruise--so I had to get a new one, which I did the other day.

Then yesterday, my car battery died, and I had to get a new one put in.

Are these further omens into what is going on at my place of work?

Remember, right before we left for the cruise, a colleague of mine succumbed, making him the second coworker to pass onto the great beyond during the past few months--not including a former coworker, who died in a auto accident not far from where my family and I were lucky enough to survive our own auto accident four years ago.

I look at these "deaths"--the real ones and the loss of what amount to devices--as omens, rightly or wrongly, and I wonder, what can be next?

And I will wonder that as I walk into work today for the first time in more than a week.

But at least right now, the glow of the vacation remains, and maybe that glow can protect me, at least right away, for whatever else hits the fan in the coming days.

At least I will always have this vacation to remember, to cherish, to look back on in glee.

We had such a wonderful time. I just want it to continue.

But I know that it simply can't.

Classic Rant #874 (January 2, 2013): Back To Bascs

OK, how was your New Year?

Mine was OK.

For the first time in ages, we actually went out, went to my brother in law's house for the celebration.

My wife and I were tired as heck, it is a total 80-plus mile drive back and forth, and by the time the ball dropped, I was pooped, but it went OK.

I didn't eat too much or drink too much--and I don't mean liquor, which I don't drink, I mean soft drinks--and that was the way to keep awake.

Being out, I broke my long-standing tradition of watching the ball drop and then turning right to "The Honeymooners" marathon locally on Channel 11, but when we got home, I did watch an episode and then went to sleep.

On January 1, I decided since I was off, that would be a good day to get my computer in the running order and look that I was used to.

I set about doing that, but little did I know that it would take a whole day and then some--and I am still not done.

Many, if not all, of my files were backed up onto an exterior hard drive, and transferring them over to my desktop became an almost Herculean job.

I started doing this at about 11 a.m., and I was not done with it until the wee hours of this morning.

Exactly when, I don't know, because I let the thing go while I was asleep.

So I have all my files like I had them before, but there are a lot of other things I still have to do--and figure out.

And today is back to school and back to work day, so we all have to deal with that.

Me, I am going to be late for work today, because I have a doctor's appointment.

At least it isn't like last year, when I had an appointment with jury duty in Brooklyn, and which started my year off just dandy, if you know what I mean.

As we all get back to basics, I don't look back on the past year fondly, and as I said in my previous Rant, I am so glad to be rid of 2012.

It was a horrible year, to say the least, and honestly, I don't know if 2013 will be any better ...

But I am sure hoping it will be. I can't take another year like last, and I don't know if our country can take another year like 2012.

But as we do with any new year, we go in with our eyes wide open.

Every year starts off with promise, and then we face the realities of what we are dealing with.

This year it is higher taxes, less extra money to spend, maybe even a recession.

At least we won't be paying $6 for a gallon of milk.

But again, I hope this year is better than last.

It almost has to be better, because looking back, it can't be any worse.

Can it?

Rant #2,221: V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N

Finally, the day is nearly here.

Tomorrow, my family and I start our vacation.

We just have to get through today, and it will be here.

This has been an extremely difficult year for myself and my family, and finally, we will be able to relax and take it easy ...

We hope.

Hurricane Florence is spiraling toward a path of destruction in the Carolinas and Virginia, and will almost certain make its way up the rest of the East Coast, although it probably will not hit land past those three states.

However, it might alter our travel plans.

We are going on a cruise, and a cruise to Bermuda, one of the areas greatly impacted by this hurricane, which is expected to hit Category 5 intensity later in the week.

Its existence is already playing havoc with numerous cruises which are already out there. In fact, the cruise that my brothers-in-law are currently on--the one that my family and I were supposed to be on (another story for another time)--has already been forced to bypass Puerto Rico as one of its stops.

As for our cruise, I have checked, and everything is still on for us.

But then again, that is of yesterday. Florence is supposed to impact Bermuda today and tomorrow, and then move closer to the U.S. mainland, where it will unfortunately weave its path probably by Thursday at the latest.

We are leaving from New York, so we might just skirt whatever it is going to do here, where it is supposed to have its greatest impact on Friday and Saturday.

But if it greatly impacts Bermuda, who knows if we will ever get there?

Right now, we are slated to go to Bermuda, and that is all I know. According to the cruise line, everything is on, so we have to go with that.

Honestly, at this point, I don't care where we go as long as we go somewhere.

As I said, this has been an extremely tough year, and wherever we go will be a welcome respite for me, personally.

My wife and son also need a break from routine, and I know that we are going to enjoy this cruise.

All I can say is that I hope Florence isn't as bad as predicted, and that everyone who is in its path comes out of it OK.

And I hope our cruise can continue to its destination, and that Bermuda is relatively untouched.

I know that is probably a pipe dream, but it really and truly what I hope for.

So Bon Voyage to myself and my family, and I won't be at this perch for awhile, probably not posting a new Rant until September 20.

In that time span, it will also be Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

So to all my Jewish friends, I wish an easy fast and a great New Year.

To everyone else, I will speak to you soon, and hopefully have nothing but good things to say about our vacation.

I think it is going to be a memorable one.

Speak to you next week.

Classic Rant #873 (December 31, 2012): Happy New Year?

Today is the last day of the year, and I don't know about you, but I am happy to see 2012 go away.

This was not the greatest year for too many people, and it certainly wasn't for me.

I started off the year with a painful hemorrhoid, and ended it with a painful kick to my pocketbook.

You would think that I was into pain this year.

I had jury duty early this year, and almost got fired from my job for doing my civic duty.

In the summer, somehow I got a pinched nerve in my neck, and I am still suffering from that malady, and probably will until the day I die. It is better, much better in fact, but it isn't what it should be.

The, the final kicker was that my computer died, just flatlined, around Christmas.

I took it to a major retailer, they told me it couldn't be fixed, but charged me over $200 in the process to tell me it couldn't be fixed and to back up all my files, many of which I already have backed up.

But maybe there is hope on the horizon. I wasn't convinced, took the computer to a local guy, and VOILA!, I am typing this Rant on the previously dead computer.

Yes, I am looking for this year to end, and end quickly.

Just as a nation, we have weathered Hurricane Sandy, and we are still coming to terms with what happened in Connecticut.

We also lost lots of talent during the year, everyone from Dick Clark to Ray Bradbury to Don Grady to Davy Jones.

Can 2013 be better than 2012?

Well, some would argue that it isn't starting off very well.

We are ready to go over the fiscal cliff, and if we do, we will probably go into another recession, or worse, because everyone's taxes are going to shoot up.

Our paychecks won't be what they were in 2012, and thus, we won't spend money like we did in the prior year, a year where we generally didn't spend money anyway.

Lots of benefits will be cut, and people in Washington don't seem to feel the urgency to get this matter done as the general public does.

So, will 2013 be better than 2012?

I don't know, but one really bad sign is that it is a year ending in a 13.

I am not a superstitious person, but if things get worse in 2013, I might just become one.

Try to have a Happy New Year, and I will be back on Wednesday. I still have lots of work to make my computer comfortable to me after it was DOA the other day, so I will be mighty busy tomorrow.

I hope the New Year brings everyone the solace that they need to make 2013 a super year.

I really do.

Rant #2,220: New Year's Day

Today is the first full day of Rosh Hashanah, which signifies the beginning of the most solemn period on the Jewish calendar, and which culminates with Yom Kippur next week.

Rosh Hashanah, which actually began at sundown yesterday and ends at sundown tomorrow, is a holiday that to me, highlights renewal, peace and hopefulness that the new year, 5779 on the Jewish calendar, will be a good one, and that we will do good during this new year.

How ironic that this year, Rosh Hashanah falls on the anniversary of 9-11, one of the great tragedies of modern times, when so many innocent people lost their lives for the misdeeds of a few.

With this coincidence in hand, we can look to better ourselves, and to remember all of those who were permanently harmed and perished due to this horrible act of cowardice.

Let's look back at the holiday by going back to Rant #91, dated September 18, 2009. Here it is in edited form:

"Tonight is the start of the holiest period during the year for Jews around the world. Rosh Hashanah commences this period, starting at sundown. This holiday continues for the next two days, and is followed by Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

Although I am not a religious Jew by any stretch of the imagination, I do participate in these holidays. They are holidays that ask Jews to examine their strengths, and weaknesses, during the past year and to reflect on how they can improve themselves during the upcoming year. They are holidays of both introspection and group prayer. During Yom Kippur, observant Jews fast, to show their forgiveness to God, and also to show their strength.

It is with this understanding of what the holiday means that I have always had this conundrum with how the rest of the world should look at these holidays. Should the “outside” world recognize this holy time of year or simply ignore it?

Living in New York, where there are a large amount of Jews, has made these holidays pretty well known by the non-Jewish population. In fact, schools are generally closed during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

I once found out years ago that the reason New York City schools close on these holidays is that since such a large portion of their teachers are Jewish, it was not prudent to open when three-quarters of the teachers would be out.

This year, there are the usual myriad controversies revolving around whether certain events should be held on these holidays or not.

Professional sports leagues will go about their business during these holidays. When my son was in Little League, the league would, every year, schedule games on the first two nights of Passover. Although Passover is not one of the holiest occasions on the Jewish calendar, it is a holiday which revolves around the family, and the traditional seder, and garners wide participation even among non-observant Jews.

The league, of course, never had a game on Easter Sunday.

My workplace does not give me off for the Jewish holidays, even though the owner, who is since deceased, was Jewish himself. I have to take the day(s) off as personal days.

Is this right? Shouldn’t everyone be given days off to celebrate their most holiest of holidays, whether it be Yom Kippur or Good Friday?

However, should business stop because a major religious holiday is being celebrated?

I don’t have an answer, and it is something that has puzzled me for years. These are religious holidays, and thus, they are more personal than say July 4 or Labor Day are.

The bottom line is this: do we suspend our usual day's activities because a major religion has one of its holiest days to celebrate?"

Years after I wrote this, I still have that question. We have been all inclusive now as a society, recognizing holidays that we didn't even know existed just a few years ago.

I think with the Jewish holidays, one must truly decided for himself how he will celebrate and honor these holidays, and to what extent.

I am working on Rosh Hashanah, almost out of necessity since we are a man down since the death of my colleague last week.

I don't think God will write me off for the new year because I am doing this ... I certainly hope not.

To my fellow Jews, have a wonderful new year.

Speak to you again tomorrow.

Classic Rant #872 (December 28, 2012): The Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance has seemingly been around forever.

It certainly has been around for my entire life. I can remember reciting it in school every morning, putting my hand on my heart and saying it with the rest of my class.

It has been around forever, but Congress only officially recognized it on this date in 1945.

The Pledge has taken a beating during the past 40-odd years.

Where once it was recited with glee, since the Vietnam War era, many people look down on it as something that doesn't mean anything, something that is archaic.

I remember as a high schooler in the early to mid 1970s, in homeroom, when we were supposed to all stand and recite the pledge, about half the kids in the class not only wouldn't stand, but talked when others were reciting the pledge.

I always thought this was wrong. It demonstrated that these kids had no respect for the flag and our country, during a time when a lot of people equated patriotism with either supporting the war or being against it.

Also during this time, atheists and agnostics fought against the Pledge, because of the use of "God" in its verse.

"God" was added to the Pledge during the Eisenhower years in the 1950s, and it has spurred controversy since.

Some people claimed that the use of "God" went against their values, because they neither believed in God or religion, so they could not recite it, and some even tried to remove its recitation from our schools.

As a teacher in the early 1980s, I found that some people would not stand for the Pledge for religious reasons.

I had a girl in one of my classes who refused to stand when everyone else did. She told me she was a Jehovah's Witness, and she was not required to stand or recite the pledge. Her mother sent a note in to attest to this, so she sat--and talked through to anyone who would listen--while the Pledge was recited.

Through it all, the Pledge has somehow persevered.

Sure, there is a lot wrong with this country, and nobody says we are perfect.

But we are as close to perfect as any country is or can be.

We have freedoms here that most other countries can't even contemplate.

So, to say a couple of words to show our love for this country isn't such a big deal, is it?

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
What is the big deal about saying this?

I don't know.

People can say what they want, but for the liberties we enjoy, I don't see any reason to knock it, to deride it, to make fun of it.

The Pledge has proven its strength, and will live on way past our own lives.

It is that strong, and it represents a country which is the best in the world.

What's not to like?

Rant #2,219: Let's Do Something Cheap and Superficial

It seems that death is in the air, or at least in the air I breathe.

For instance, during the past four Friday Rants, I have written three times about people who died, including today's column.

And that doesn't even take into account what happened this past week, when a work colleague of mine passed away. His funeral is being held this weekend, by the way.

Anyhow, let's stare death in the face again, and you probably know who I am going to write about today.

Burt Reynolds, the ultimate "good old boy" actor who was perhaps America's top movie star in the 1970s and 1980s, died yesterday at age 82.

And as you can surmise, you aren't going to get the usual obituary here, because, well, you can get that anywhere.

Reynolds, who was actually born in Michigan, did not aspire to be a movie actor. He wanted to be an NFL player, and was actually quite a good high school player that colleges scouted him, but he never reached his goal, as an injury derailed his career.

He ended up in Hollywood, and he cut his teeth being a character actor on a number of TV shows, including "Flipper."

He married Judy Carne of later "Laugh-In" fame, and as her star grew, his kind of ran in motion, and the marriage did not last.

But as Hollywood was opening up in the late 1960s, Reynolds seemed the perfect person to lead the charge, or at least on television, moving up to starring roles on a few shows, including "Dan August."

He gravitated towards movies, and "Deliverance" was his breakthrough role, but he really didn't hit his stride until he cultivated his "good old boy" image in movies like "The Longest Yard" and the "Smokey and the Bandit" films.

He was also fodder for the pre-Internet gossip columns of time, linking him to everyone from Dinah Shore to Sally Field to Dolly Parton and to just about every actress who needed a jump start to their burgeoning careers.

Press releases and gossip fueled his rise as not only America's No. 1 box office attraction but also America's No. 1 male heartthrob, and he completed this turn with his nude centerfold in Cosmopolitan Magazine making him, and his mustache, universally famous.

He also knew that more people watched television than went to the movies, and his constant appearances on the small screen cemented his popularity. He was probably one of the first movie stars to constantly go back to TV, his breeding ground, for extra exposure, and he often used Johnny Carson and "The Tonight Show" as his vehicle.

One memorable appearance that I can remember happened in the mid 1970s, I do believe, when he and best buddy Dom Deluise supposedly burst unannounced onto the show one night, sporting cans of whipped cream.

They ended up spraying up the entire set with the whipped cream, but the ultimate moment was when Reynolds put the nozzle of the whip cream can down the front of his pants and sprayed himself, with his facial reaction one for the ages.

Yes, Reynolds could make fun of himself and fun of his image without any problem.

His movies became hit and miss affairs, with every "The End" punctuated with numerous misses, like "Lucky Lady" and "Rent-A-Cop," both co-starring Liza Minnelli. His "Cannonball Run" movies did keep his star shining for a brief time, too.

As his career faded, he continued to keep a high profile in the gossip columns, with his marriages--in particular to Loni Anderson--making major headlines.

After years of lesser films, he made a major comeback with "Boogie Nights"--where he received his first and only Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of a porn movie director--and also had a nice run in the TV show "Evening Shade"--where he won an Emmy Award--but that fame only lasted so long.

During this period, he was getting much negative press, with his personal life and financial well being often the focus of the gossip columns.

He continued to be a busy actor during the past 20 years or so, and was scheduled to appear in a new movie project directed by Quentin Tarrantino before he left us yesterday.

Burt Reynolds was a pre-Internet darling, but it seemed that what you saw on the screen was really what he was in real life. He could laugh at himself, not take himself seriously at all, and he had a smile that, framed with his signature mustache, engrained him in our culture.

He will be missed.

Speak to you again on Monday. Have a great weekend.