Passover, Steven Speilberg,Elton John's stage manager

Passover came and went, at least the first night of it... Now My family never was very religous....except my fathers mother, Granma IDA...who was a very simple woman, a RUssian Peasant from MINSK, who never really learned to speak English,,,and only communicated with her grandchildren with the language of love...COOKING. She would make the best gifilte fish..a homade delicasy that takes an awful amount of time an patience.....She made a big TZIMIS, a dig with sweet potaotes, prunes, honey and other things.....(today that word, translated into ENGLISh means to make a big Fuss or Deal over something" She would make the best chicken soup and matzo balls... the best chopped liver, Fresh baked Challah bread... and with those foods, (brisket too) she communicated with me and my sister... Our smiles made her happy, knowing she made us happy.
Last night My sister also communitedcated with delicious chicken soup,chopped liver and deviled eggs, all kinds of veggies: baked and seet potaotes, brisket with stewed potaotes, asparagus,peas and carrots, a healthy salad, Matzoe kugel...which is a stuffing like dish, made from broken pieces of matzo, onions, eggs, spices, etc and then baked....and there was more.....there was far too much food, plenty of wine, plenty of imported matozs,,,,,,and of course big hunks of gifilte fish...and horseradish. By the time dessert came along.....everyone was filled..to the point of loosening the belts and groaning and moaning..
But it didnt stop there. OK, we are not KOsher...so when they brought out the fresh beaten whipped cream, sliced stawberries..to put of the KOSHER Sponge cake and HOney cake..no one complained....they just attacked the sweets......and then came the fresh other fruits...and candies...and nuts, and raisns........

I was invited by wonderful customers of mine, qho are very relgious and kind people to attend the Second Night Seder... But she said she woudl call me as to what time to come. The call never came. and I didnt go, although, I had never been to a real Seder in a religous household and I was looking forward to it...not as a religous experience, but as a cultural one. I did spent last PURIM (a year ago) with them and had a wonderful time...and experience the joy that they did, although, my belief system, is much different that theirs, I holeheartedly agree with the concept of family and tradition...which does hold society together.
Our family that is left, do the same thing,but on a different scale. Its family and tradition, minus the heavy religous belief.......AMEN!

I attened a birthday party last week and met a wonderfu young teacher from BROWN University in Rhode Island. She was talking about her students...when she started mentioning that Steven SPeilbergs daughter is in her class...and that she is not a spoil brat..of a famous parent, but very kind and sweet...and unafected....and that she is more into POETRY, than into glamour and stardom....this is WHen my friend BAraba mentioned that I am a poet....I briefly talked about what I write about...and now, this teacher is going to give her...one of my books. MY ulterior motive...if she likes the first book I will send my other three. and if the stars, might be in the right position, i can get her to read my novel which my dream is to have a movie made....and her DADDY would certainly be the right guy to do it....

A customer came in today and reinspected a round oak table that he had seen here before....I should him a few others...but explained that this was the best one, and ony a bit more than the others....No high pressure, not my style. Well, I asked him how he gets off to browse on A TUESDAY.....he said he words with a band.....OH, any one I ever heard of??? He laughed, paused...and said, I usually dont mention the band,,,,yes you have heard of it.,"he said. "ELTON JOHN"!!!!
WOW....really?, I retorted.. He is my hero. He has done more for AIDS, the GAy Community, and people in general than most others who are famous....HE IS YOUR HERO?????yes. He smiled and said, "I never would have thought it!!!"""""My GAydar must be broken."
I gave him one of my books, after reading him a few poems...and got a WOW from him too. I said, show the book to him and if he took one of my poerms and made msuic out of it..and the world would enjoy it, I wouldnt care...Its not about money...but sharing......he siad he is off to MEXICO CIty for the weekend..for a concert......and just got back from DUBAI...which is a magical place....(but I dont think JEWS go there.....
Tonight the boys and I worked somemore on my apartment adn the MAHWAH store...trying to empty it out.... there is a lot of moving and cleaning....its amazing how much stuff accumulates over 25 years.....found a letter from an old lover of 35 years ago.....when I had mention I was thinking about moving to SAN FRANCISCO then......and how the phrase"you have to make your own happiness"....was reread and was stinging me....like a bunch of bees.....but had I moved there...I wouldt have met all the wonderful people I know associated with, so as they say in HEBREW, is was "bershert", meant to be that I stayed here and built a business. So many of the people in California died of AIDS and other diseases...I am still here and kicking, and complainging, and kvetching, and laughing and smiling.....and enjoying life.

New Grand Nephew,..........

On this Great Adventure called "Life", yesterday marks another milestone..the Birth of my Newphew Adam and Neice Jennifers baby boy, Colin Alexander Brief. Colin, was a whopping 8pound plus baby....and was blessed with a fabulous and classy name. And to night, Passover, when they ask, WHY is this night different than any other night?" the answer will be that we have a new member of the family. And I will pick up the glass of delicious Kosher sweet wine and toast....To Colin, To Life...LI Chiam.... AMen.

Business over the weekend was ok....but i a good economy..it would be at least 4 times the amount we took in..Years ago, in MAHWAH, which has finally closed its doors after 26 years....another milestone, bittersweet, we used to do as much or more, when antiques sold for more and were more popular....and the store was 9 times smaller!!! and the profits were higher!!
I mentioned that the closing is bitter sweet. The fact that we dont have to spend 5000 a month, in a building that almost ook in nothing at all.....for many reasons..The large store, took precedent over the small one and people came here...and themerchandise there was either too high end or low end...for the area..So the stress of running it, the stress of closing it and the mental torture of someone taking it over and making money on my past expenses and experience bothers me.....yet.....Its better this was.
The memories are incredible. The cast of characters that passed thru those doors, would make any reality show seem tame. I will not list them now, but will wirte an essay on it at another time... Some of the people are still with us, and others have entered Antique Heaven......and are now making GOD GIGGLE.

Warrant for My Arrest, & other depressing nonsense,Closing Store

Glen went to the Doctor in Livingston.....a policement stopped him, and both were surprised to find out that he didnt have his insurance cad with him(the VAn was insured,but he didnt have a current card) and he didnt have the car registered. Luckily, the cop was a decent fellow and didnt tow the van, but issued two tickets!! And a court appearance was necessary. I dont know why, all i had to do was to pay the fines...but OH NO, they have to break peoples balls..so the courts can make more money..AND THE OWENR OF THE BUSINESS HASS TO APPEAR.
jOPHN SAID HE WOULD GO TO THE COURT cLERK AND TRY TO TAKE CARE OF IT..gLEN TOLD ME THAT THE COURT WAS TODAY. WELL...JOhn too off yesterday...had the tickets....and was incommunicado. To make a long story longer...the court was YESTERDAY AND A WARRANT FOR MY ARREST WAS ISSUED.
JOHN CALLED AND WENT DOWN TO POST THE BALL OF 500. THEY WOULDNT TAKE A CREDIT CARD OR CHECK..HE WENT TO THE BANK TO GET CASH... took a while, but when he returned, they wouldnt take cash unles he had a photo ID? I cannot understnad that one at all. we wanted to give them the cash they wanted!!!!! I am sure he very politely questioned the person, who then called for a Supervisor...who then, realizing that here was a person, who missed the court, (for illnes?????) and the very next day called..and immediately wanted to correct the situation.....well, they then said BAIL wasnt needed!!! But I still have to go to COurt next WEDNESDAY. SHIT!!!
I must admit, I almost got a kick out of calling up everyone and telling them there is a warrant out for my arrest....I should have found out what they serve in jail..maybe the food and accomoations in LIVINGSTON might be better than here./????and for free?
Two of the guys went up to MAHWAH and continued packing things..as we want to be out of there so he can rent the building as of APRIL 1st. I think almost everything of value, that we arent going to send to auction is out...and by tomorrow...hopefully that will be done. They we will pack, and bring things to an auction...and another Episode in the Life and Times of Grannys Attic will be a MEMORY..and we have photos to look back on. Of the good times and the bad times..The People we knew, the auctions we had....the employees, the indescressions....the fun and horrors. I think back now that one of the most schocking things that happened, is when I was talking to my freind BABUSHKA BOB ALBRRECT, another dealer...and serious "character", a Chinese BABY braoke loose from her mothers grip, and ran out into the road, and was struck by an oncoming car, who couldnt see the little girl. The impact sound, reverberated in my head for weeks. I woke up in the middle of the night, hearing the thud in my dream.
When interviewed by both police and TV Newsmen, I told them there was a green lite...because I was facing it when the girl ran out...and I knew for that split second, the car wouldnt stop and the girl would die. Two seconds of horro, that seemed like an hour. Because of my interview, I started getting death threats by phone....because they wanted to blame the driver.
The accident claimed two lives. The Cute little girl, and the Driver. He had just recovered from heart surgery, and had a heart attack, a few weeks after the accident.So there was no trial, and two families were in mourning. I didnt sleep for two months. Richy, ran down the street with a blanket I gave him and covered the girl..and I am sure, he had nightmares for months too. BOB, died about two years later of LUKEMIA at age 32. His sotry is another story, but not for tonight....He was one of the most colorful of all characters...
So for the past few days, stress had been building up.. And since I do not take tranquelizers, i have started slipping from my diet....and today...I ate almost an entire pizza at KINCHLEYS.....I dont know if it wasnt as good as usual, or I am looing my sense of taste...

sadness, Mahwah store almost gone, great Curry&SOUP

We are working daily so that we will be out of the mAHWAH store by APRIL 1....its amazing how many things we are digging up that we thought were long gone...Packing and schlepping....and not enough room to put things from one store to another..what is left we will put in auction....in NY state.. Its sad....but I should have done this 7 years ago...and would have saved 350,000 dollars...and wouldnt have owed anyone anything...

OK...the following reciope is for a soup....then drain the veggies.....and see what happens. I can of dice tomaotes; half head of cabbage, two onions coursely chopped, 5 or 6 stalks of celery, half of a rutabaga or one large white and purble turnip, 8 cloves of garlic, cup of cilantro fresh (washed and chopped) two carrots,(optional)if using for a diet recipe..tablespoon of worchestshire sauce, hit of tobasco,(hold salt until the end)
Take a tablespoon of curry powder, teaspoon of cinnamon, and saute in a tablespoon of your favorite oil..for a minute or two.... then add to the veggies. Add water to cover everything.....and cook slowly until veggies are soft....Add more water..and adjust spices....and then add salt to taste.....
To use as a curry over rice (or no rice if on a diet) drain the veggies, put in a powl and add to each serving one to two tablespoons of sour cream. And you will have an incredible delicious veggie curry..... Or eat as a soup...with very few calories, you can eat this soup all day....

I just wrote a large blog..and AOL crapped out on me

And I am pissed. I lost the entire blog for today....I thought it had an automatic save......and for some reason, I wasnt abel to put on any photos either...so I am leaving now...so damn annoyed......Aol always sucked....it did get better...but still, i hate them.....They are on my list of Organizations to punish...almong with WAlmart, most of the Banks and Credit Card Compies, pHarmaceutical COmpanies and insurance companies..... We need an organization of Terminally Ill People to form a Elderly Terrorist Group who have nothing to loose....that is what my next Novel will be about..but a comedy of course.... Can you imagine a motley grew of octogenarian terrorist, planning all kinds of horrors, and have to stop to change their depends....for getting their teeth on the nite table, and suffer from all the foibles of getting old...and of course, there will be the memory problems. like having to synchronize their clocks to all do sometehing at the same time....but of course half forget what time it was/??? COuld be a very funny book, but with a moral!! I have to think of a name like "OUR future"DEPENDS" on You"

CLOSING MAHWAH STORE, & OTHER bs

NOW THAT THE LANDLORD KNOWS, WE ARE CLOSING THE MAHWAH STORE AFTER 26 YEARS....SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT 7 YEARS AGO AND I WOULD HAVE A LOT OF MONEY IN THE BANK..JUST WASTED IT...THERE, WE NEVER EVEN MADE THE RENT. PEOPLE COME HERE!!!! BECUASE ITS 10 TIMES THE SIZE...AND THE BUILDING IS RALLY A DUMP...THE LANDLORD DIDNT TAKE CARE OF IT AT ALL..AND HIS NEGLIGENCE HAS CAUSED ME LOTS OF MONEY.....AND HIS ATTITUDE IS NOT GOOD. HE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL, HE HAD THAT PLACE RENTED FOR 26 YEARS...AND ALL HE DID IN THOSE YEARS, WAS PAINT THE BUILIND ONCE AND PUT ON A NEW ROOF

SOMEONE EMAILED ME PHOTOS OF THINGS FOR SALE... HE THEN TOLDME SOME OF THE ITEMS WERE BROKEN. I EMAILED HIM EXPLAINING CONDITION IS VERY IMPORTANT.....AND BROKEN POTTERY(A COLLECTION) IS VERY MUCH DEVALUED WHEN BROKEN.. I GOT AN EMAIL BACK THAT I AM A SCAMMER AND A "FUCKING ASSHOLE", AND HE DIDNT LIKE MY SPELLING MISTAKES.!!!
I ASKED HIM WHAT HIS PROBLEM WAS, AND THAT HE LANGUAGE WAS"REALLY HIGH" CLASS, i DIDNT ANSWER HIM WITH CURSING...WHICH PROBABLY WILL GET HIM ANGRY.

THIS WAS AN EXTREMEMLY BORING WEEK. NOT MANY CUSTOMERS..OR SALES...AND OTHER DEALERS..AND FREIND IN OTHER BUSINESSES...EVEN THE PIZZA MAN SAID THIS WEEK IS VERY SLOW. PEOPLE ARE POSSIBLY BAILING OUT WATER FROM THEIR BASEMENTS....SOME STILL DONT HAVE ELECTRIC FORM THE STORM....AND SOME ROADS ARE STILL CLOSED WITH HUGE TREES BLOCKING THEM.

dAVY cROCKETT DIED....FESS PARKER.....SOMEONE WROTE THAT HE WAS A GOOD ROLE MODEL AND YOU NEVER READ ANYTHING IN THE NEWS ABOUT HIM THAT WAS NEGATIVE...WELL IN THE 1950'S, THE MEDIA DIDNT HAVE THEIR PROCOLOGICAL CAMERAS UP EVERYONES BUTT, TRYING TO FIND SCANDELS TO WRITE ABOUT....AND HE WAS 85....I AM SURE FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS, WHE THE MEDIA BECAMSE SO INTRUSIVE, FESS WAS BUSY WITH HIS GRANDCHILDREN AND MOLESTING RACCONS AND BITING OFF THEIR TAILS TO MAKE DAVY CROCKETT OFFICAL COON SKIN CAPS...

Dont feel like blogging real late at night lately

spending a lot of time, emptying out my apartment and my mAHWAH store...for the final goodbye. for 7 years, i couldnt face closing it...partially , it was someting that I created and was quite successful.....and also to selfish, and too worried dthat anorther dealr would take it over....a location that I crated and spent a million dollars in advertising.... but... it has drained us....completely.
i had collected so uch personal stuff, that it has been two weeks of packing and removing..and i am not done yet......and that is only the apartment...then there is the store..which is about half empty,,,maybe a little more than half. we will have a two day sale. and then, send the rest to an auction....It is both depression, and will take finantial pressure off me to a point.....

Across the street from the MAHWAH store, in the A and P SHopping center, sits a very innocuous PIZZA Place. But....there food is as good as some very expensive places....their Cheese Ravioli, smothered in VOdka Ssuce with chunks of eggplant is gormet as you can get,........I had mini mussels in a very tangly and garlic medium hot sauce tonight....very fabulous. Some times he uses the giant green NEW ZEALAND MUSSELS...EQUALLY AS GOOD.... hE MAKES A MIXED SALAD....FOR TWO, WHICH IS ENOUGH FOR 4, FOR ABOUT 4,75 WITH A PERFECT OILIVEOIL DRESSING......YOU CAN BRING WINE OR BEER.. THE OWNER...pIZZAmASTER IS ONE HELL OF A NICE GUY...AN INSTANT FRIEND, WHO AIMS TO PLEASE.. GREAT PLACE, AND INEXPENSIVE, BUT THE FOOD IS AS GOOD AS THE PLACES WITH VERY HIGH PRICES......GO THERE......

mY HOUSE IN WAYNE IS ONLY ONE BLACK FROM THE DEVASTATION OF THE FLOODING FROM THE PASSAIC AND POMPTON RIVERS....ONE BLOCK AWAY, THERE ARE BOATS RESCUING PEOPLE....

I HAVENT BEEN STUDYING THE NEWS, SO I DO NOT HVE WILD STORYS TO TELL, OR ANALYSIS OF WHAT IS OGING ON...EXCEPT THE RUMOR THE RIGHT WING NAZI REPUBLICANS HAVE STARTED, THAT OBAMA IS GOING TO MAKE FISHING ILLEGAL.....GLEN BECK, RUSH , AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN SCREAMING WHAT OBAMA IS DOING...WHILE THERE IS NO TRUTH AT ALL..THESE ASSHOLES JUST MAKE UP STORIES...AND TIS ONE IS THE MOST REDICULOUS ONE YET.