His Honor

The city he loved says goodbye to Ed Koch today. 

Even when you didn't agree with him you couldn't help but love, respect, admire his enthusiasm and his passion for everything NY.

I loved his self-deprecating sense of humor ...

If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist

He once told Archbishop whatever his name was ...

I’m the Jew in the front pew

He was tough and incredibly confident ...

You punch me, I punch back. I do not believe it's good for one's self-respect to be a punching bag.

And he always knew who he was ...

It's not soaring, beautiful, handsome, like the George Washington or the Verrazano. It's rugged, it's hard working – and that's me.

On the 59th Street Bridge being renamed for him in 2011.

I'll never forget the PSA he did where he stood at the entrance to his bridge waving to motorists and shouting  Welcome to my bridge

Peaceful Journey Ed

You did great

I Was Worried About the Worrying

First of all, thanks to my friend Jay S from Bailey’s Buddy  for listening to me ramble from a bad cell connection in my running car and getting online so he could publish the previous post for me.

All through the week I had tried to find internet service or call someone with no luck. My cell appears to have been damaged when the power first surged and it doesn't hold a charge for long. And there weren't any resources around.

I was so worried about all of you worrying about me. And Hope.
I don't take our friendship lightly.

So
I have so many stories to tell but my internet and phone service is still dicey so I'm going to post a few pics I got from NJ.com and from the Keyport Boat Club. Pics of places I love that are forever changed.

 The Seaside Heights roller coaster.

 A beautiful home in Union Beach that I have driven past and admired many times.

 Flooded and burned homes in Breezy Point. I have spent many summer weekends there.

 This was a main road near me.

Hot Dog Bobs - I've posted pics from here of the giant inflated hot dog and Fourth of July decorations

 The Inn at the marina. I sat by that window and had brunch many times.

 The corner where the Keyport mosaic stood. The trailer office for the boat ramp was pushed all the way up the street by the force of the wind and water.

These last few shots are all of my beloved marina. The spot where I had early morn coffee with the "old guys", where I fed the birds and watched the sky and waves and boats.

I have learned a new term - "disaster tourism"
People drive about looking for devastation to point at and take photos of.
I have not ventured around much, after 3 hours on a gas line you don't feel like driving.
I leave my camera at home. I saw a woman screaming at a car full of people who had stopped to take photos of her home. She was crying and telling them "this is my home, this is my home".

I love youse guys

Send Some Happy

My son has been working the past few Saturdays and that doesn't sit well with Hope. She wants her morning cartoon time with him and eating Cheerios without Daddy just isn't the same.

One of the few benefits of all this endless instant technology is that it allows Daddy to stay in touch. Yesterday he sent these two photos to Mom's phone so Hope could see that he was busy working to help the most important of "people"

Hope was thrilled

In reality my son got caught up in some promo on the streets of NYC while trying to get lunch. He told me the hoots he was getting for posing with Elmo were worth it for Hope.

Hope's Saturday fun continued when she went to her cousin's bowling party.

I love how she celebrates
The photo immediately made its way to Daddy at work with the message "I made the bowling ball move!"

Send someone something happy today.

Media Whores Meet

Sarah Palin touched down in NYC last night as she continues her “international” bus tour of the East Coast. At first it was assumed she would stop to heckle David Letterman but those plans were scratched when the bus passed the Ed Sullivan Theater; Sarah assumed Dave doesn’t tape there anymore.

Not to be ignored Sarah headed for Trump Plaza and was thrilled with the coinky-dink of meeting Donald Trump there.

Just before greeting Palin Donald was overheard muttering that her limo was so much bigger than his. His assistant calmed him by explaining that it was a bus normally used by real people as a mode of transportation.

Known for shunning the paparazzi to protect her children Sarah shyly bowed her head as Donald explained that all the dark people around her were not necessarily his servants, some were just NYers who happened to walk by. Sarah commented on how amazing it was to her that so many of them looked like President Obama.

An intrepid reporter for ABC 7 was able to corner Trump long enough to get this response to the question of what is Palin’s IQ.

At dinner Donald ate pizza with a fork since his hands are already dirty enough while Sarah squealed with delight over the “One Nation-ness” of EyeTalians and Jews coming together to put cheese and sauce on matzoh and make it a meal.

While exchanging goodbyes Donald invited Sarah to join him at one of his failed casinos in Atlantic City. Sarah was surprised to learn that the lost city of Atlantic had been found and congratulated Donald on another job well done.

As what Jon Stewart calls the “Driving Miss Crazy” tour bus headed back to the open road Trump’s security people struggled to catch up. Apparently some of Sarah’s relatives had left the Trump penthouse with unauthorized souvenirs.

Stay tuned …

Crazy never runs out of gas.

It's Not A Miracle - It's New York

I could never be a public official. I'm watching NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg answer questions from the "press" and I find myself yelling at the "reporters" - asshat, douchebag, and - shut the fuck up.

I love Bloomberg's demeanor - he is calm and civil but there is a definite air of disdain for stupidity. "Reporters" are knocking each other over and shouting each other down to ask asinine questions that can NOT and should NOT have answers yet.

And Good Lord! Must people mention 9/11 every single freaking time there is anything even remotely resembling a major event. Cut it out! No wonder we're all nuts.

BUT ...

I just had to get that out. What I really want to say is I LOVE New York - and New Jersey too.

I watch a guy from NY Waterways - I want to call him Joe. He has a wonderful NY accent. He is a big burly guy wearing a giant puffy jacket and a knit cap on his head. The cap is cockeyed and his face is beet red from the cold. He thanks "da guys" who got ferries to the plane in a manner of moments. He is "duh-lighted" that everyone is OK. He is so no nonsense and so proud and so genuine - I want to reach into the TV and hug him. Good job Joe.

I watch video of firefighters making their way down NYC's West Side Highway. They have that firefighter look. Big square faces. Always appearing larger than life. Giant in all their gear. Carrying ladders and huge heavy bags of lifesaving equipment. They move as one. They ignore the cameras.

Commuters stand on street corners and stare. Cars get detoured and pedestrians weave in and out of traffic. I see a guy on roller blades carrying a pile of blankets towards the triage center.

I have always loved my home town. Even when she makes me crazy.

I love her most during hard times. NYC is like the hooker with a heart of gold from all those old movies. A bit of a train wreck who always does the right thing when it matters.

I have felt a (renewed) strong desire to protect my home town ever since the Republican National convention. Ever since that ignorant piece of trash from Alaska mocked it.

I'm certain that any town or city - big or small - has heart and capability.

BUT ...

Crash land a fucking plane in the middle of a river surrounded by buildings and bridges. Time it for just before rush hour in a place holding millions of people.

And have it all come out alright.

Bravo to all the civilians who rushed to the scene. Bravo to FDNY and NYPD and all the other emergency services.

And a huge standing ovation for the pilot - people who know what they're talking about are calling his controlled emergency landing "miraculous".

And he walked the length of the plane twice to make sure everyone was out.

I got these photos from CBS News and Huffington Post. They speak for themselves.