Ding Dong Is My Youth Gone?

41 and Counting

My most evil birthday card - inside it read: Ding Dong your Youth is gone.
So cruel Nancybe. . but remember, I will always be younger than you!

A year ago, I feasted and feted in France. For 41, Brent and Robin (two fellow French travelers) came east to pass the weekend with me. We ventured forth taking in historic Vanderbilt properties in Dutchess County, dining at Gigi's in Rhinebeck (a favorite of mine) and a bit of theatre, Boeing Boeing! It was a wonderful weekend not diminished by the fact I lost my voice for 3 days before my pals arrived. There is some nasty bug circulating. Also during the visit/birthday soiree, I introduced Bird (Robin's nickname) to the delight of a Red Velvet cupcake. Red Velvet cake was a southern delicacy Robin just did not understand, until now ("oh it's the frosting!"):

Taking on NYC and the MTA and Winning

Another highlight of recent months--A few months ago, I transferred from the E subway line at 51st and Lex onto my usual train, the #6. This is a very busy subway stop with lots of commuters coming in from Queens and travelers coming and going to JFK. It's often a tight squeeze on the platform as there is an elevator and two escalators. And to my shock, I saw that MTA in their infinite wisdom (NOT!) decided the platform also needed a magazine kiosk! And they started to build it, see the photo below:
I was astonished. Its a miracle not more people fall from the platform onto the subway tracks. I live in constant apprehension of it, particularly at this stop. There was less than 6 feet on each side of this kiosk for hundreds of passengers to squeeze by. Not to mention there is a damn Barnes and Noble upstairs, why a magazine kiosk here?! I wrote my City Council member about my concerns via email. A female staff member actually called me back! We exchanged a few emails, I sent them the photos and on Oct 2nd when I escorted Robin to the E line for her trip to JFK, the kiosk was gone! Victory! I won against the MTA, wow!