A Gnashing of Teeth II

                                                                 THE HIGHBALL

There is something they put in a highball, that awakens the torpidest brain -
That kindles a spark in the eyeball, gliding, singing thru vein after vein.
There is something they put in a highball, which you'll notice one day if you watch -
And it may be the soda, but judged by the odor, I rather believe it's the SCOTCH.

tjs
Next - Pseudonyms (Mon.)                                                                                                 (Ogden Nash)

Debating Season

We are approaching the season for Presidential debates and decisions will be made on the turn of a phrase, perhaps a gaffe or maybe a memorable moment.  During the primary debates in the Spring, in all but one the audience was permitted to respond but there was one session where silence prevailed and the effect on the viewer was vastly different. In 1960 during Nixon vs Kennedy, if you listened on the radio you might have thought that Nixon had won but a TV viewer might have had the opposite opinion. There have been memorable moments - as when Bush 41 looked at his wristwatch or in 1988 when Lloyd Bentsen skewered poor Dan Quayle. So stay tuned - the first debate is Wednesday, October 3rd - I wouldn't miss it.
tjs
Next - A Gnashing of teeth II

United Nations

The U.N. is in town this week with some nations more united than others and except for the usual traffic gridlock that this event produces, Manhattan handles it all in their normally efficient manner. And there have been memorable moments in the past: Nikita Khrushchev pounding his shoe on the desk in protest, Fidel Castro with chickens in the hotel rooms and Muammar Gaddafi approaching Donald Trump for real estate to pitch his tent. Then there was Adlai Stephenson, during the Cuban missile crisis, telling the Russian envoy he would wait "til Hell freezes over" for a reply. This was riveting theater in real time. When you consider the personalities and egos involved in the mix - and the seriousness of the issues, we might expect some quotable moments this week. And the folks who run Gotham won't miss a beat.
tjs
Next - Debating Season

The Vesper Club

The Philadelphia Daily News did a nostalgic article last week on the relocation of the venerable Vesper Club from its century old location on Sydenham Street to a location around the corner - a move that upset many of the old time members. This comfortable watering hole was created as a result of the Pennsylvania "Blue Laws" which decreed that all bars and pubs could not dispense on Sunday. So, unless you were esconced in a hotel, if you had a need to slake your thirst, you would need membership in a "private" club such as this. However, gaining membership was not easy as there was always a waiting list as I discovered when I applied.  Coincidentally, it so happened that my aunt's family physician was booked to sail to Ireland on the U.S. Lines S.S. AMERICA - the flagship of my employer at the time. My boss interceded with the passenger department to have Doctor and spouse placed on the "commend list" which entitled them to certain perks during the voyage i.e. the Captain's cocktail party and added attention from the stewards and pursers. The aforementioned physician was a Vesper Club member of long standing and - yada yada yada (as Seinfeld would say) I soon had my sought after membership and entertained clients in comfort on many occasions. There would be a Sunday brunch before Eagles games with buses to take guests to and from the game and for "afters" which could last into the evening. My guests were always amused by the sliding eye panel on the formidable front door reminiscent of speakeasy days.  Local politicians broke bread  there, deals were made on the tablecloths and friendships forged for a lifetime. It was a great era.
tjs
Next - Debating Season

The Balcony Scene

When I was promoted from Philadelphia to New York in 1975  - though it was only ninety miles - it was a world away with a dose of culture shock. Back then there was no such thing as Human Resources so I was on my own to move and find housing. Through a friend's referral I found a one bedroom rental apartment in Westchester County in a high rise overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades. It was on the eighth (top) floor with a balcony and the sunsets were breathtaking. One day I received a phone call at work from the building manager. He said "When you come home tonight don't open your sliding glass doors to your balcony. A section of the roof border dislodged and took your balcony down with it." Very sobering words. Had it been a weekend it might have taken me down with it also. Returning home that night - sure enough - my balcony was gone with several flower pots and small furniture. Fortunately, no one was injured down below on the tarmac. There then ensued consultations with engineers, lawyers, insurance underwriters et al and the issue dragged on for weeks - I believe at reduced rental. As I was to be married in a few months I had to raise the awareness of these folks as I did not want to bring my bride back to this scenario. By and by they got repairs done and I had a new stronger balcony but now the issue was concrete dust. They offered artificial turf if I promised not to tell the neighbors. So in the nick of time I carried my bride across the threshold but it was hardly a balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet.
tjs
Next - The Vesper Club

A Gnashing of Teeth

                                                               THE MARTINI

There is something about a martini, an aura delightfully pleasant -
A yellow, a mellow martini - I wish that I had one at present -
There is something about a martini 'ere the dining and dancing begin -
But to tell you the truth - it is not the vermouth - I think that perhaps it's the gin.
tjs
PS - I think Dorothy Parker may have enjoyed this one - or two.
PPS - Tomorrow Sat. is first day of Autumn.
Next - The Balcony Scene (Mon.)

Currency Exchange

A friend of mine is traveling to Frankfurt, Germany for the Book Fair. It reminds me of a story going around some years ago when Germany was still on the Deutch Mark currency (pre Euro). A Japanese businessman made frequent trips to Frankfurt and each time when exchanging his Yen for DMarks, he received a lower exchange rate. Upon questioning it he was always told by the teller/cashier the reason was "FLUCTUATIONS". After several months of such explanation the visitor became visibly irritated and shouted out "FLUCT U GERMANS". But I don't think it damaged trade between the two nations.
tjs
Next - A Gnashing of Teeth