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The Reggie Bar
In 1976, while playing for the Baltimore Orioles, Reggie Jackson said, “If I played in New York, they’d name a candy bar after me.” Another time, while sitting at his locker, a reporter asked him what he was thinking about. “The magnitude of me,” he replied. Reggie was a bit of a hot dog. Well.… Continue reading
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The Good Book
Pretending that I’m interested… I was five years old in 1961 and not yet in school: this meant that wherever my mother went, I went as well. One winter’s day she decided a trip to the library was necessary, so off we went in our green, 1957 Chevy Bel Air to pick my Grandmother up… Continue reading
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Dragged Across Concrete
We interrupt our regularly scheduled stream of witty, fascinating stories and observations to bring you something a tad more serious. Please forgive the interruption, but I had quite a week in August… I decided to go for a run one Saturday mid-month to relax. One block in, I tripped and went down on the sidewalk.… Continue reading
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If You Had To Switch Lives With A Fictional Character For A Week, Who Would It Be?
Well THAT’S an easy one: Superman, of course. I would be young and good looking and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. I would fight crime and save people and help cats that are stuck in trees. I could fly and run really fast, have heat and telescopic vision (bye bye, glasses),… Continue reading
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What’s one thing that would instantly improve your city? Peace, Love and Understanding. Continue reading
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What’s your best tip for budget travel? Avoid tourist traps. They are a huge waste of time and money… Continue reading
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Who is your favorite cartoon character? “What’s up, Doc?” Continue reading
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Charity Run
My mother made me go to Hebrew school for five years only because many of my public school classmates went, and she thought it would help me to fit in. It did not. From third grade through sixth, twice a week, from 4pm to 6pm. Just what I needed after sitting in school all day:… Continue reading
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Grim
When I was a boy, I would always hear old people complain about how fast the years went by. How quickly the kids grew up. I couldn’t understand what they were yammering about. It seemed like forever just to get done with 2nd grade! Nowadays I often think about how fast the years went by.… Continue reading
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On The Road
Since becoming elderly, my wife and I have become world travelers. Recently, we ‘slow’ hopped (over seven weeks!) from Puerto Rico to New York to London, then Paris and back to New York. So many places! And all so diverse! In the London subway (‘underground’ or ‘tube”), you will find people begging for money just… Continue reading
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The Best Father’s Day Ever
Pitching Game Two In Style…. Okay! It’s Father’s Day once again and we at PhilYouIn have counted and recounted your votes and have finally arrived at our fourth annual Best Father’s Day blog winner! Enjoy! (The vote was close. Honorable mention to the unforgettable runner up, “Carpet,” about the time Mike gave me a carpeted… Continue reading
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Running Etiquette
Just Get Up!!! I have run many organized races in and around New York City over the past 20 years. Some might call me an experienced runner! With that experience comes knowledge, and an expert understanding of what is considered acceptable running etiquette. The ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ of running races, if you will. One must… Continue reading
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Every Day Is Mother’s Day
Like most people with Moms, I always tried to make a big splash on Mother’s Day. Mailed a card three days early, to make certain it would arrive on time. Went to visit, with flowers. Took Mom out for dinner. I felt if I slipped up in the slightest, I would be in for lots… Continue reading
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Meshuga
A dozen kids from the nearby high school had shoplifted from my store, and I was giving chase. It was 1984, and I was not a runner; I couldn’t even run from home plate to second base without getting a sharp pain in my side. After a seemingly endless one fifth of a mile, exhausted,… Continue reading
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Speedster
Charlie Finley was a very rich man. And a very eccentric one. As owner of the Oakland Athletics, he wanted to change the game of baseball. Make it more ‘fan friendly.’ He introduced bright, multi-colored uniforms to the game. For a mascot, he had a live mule that would patrol the outfield before home games… Continue reading
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To Bernard, My Brother, Whom I Slept (in the same room) With
When I was eight years old, my brother, Bernard, was 13. We lived in an apartment complex in Flatbush, and slept in the same room; a bed on either side of the south facing window, with a small table in between. On top of the table there was a lamp with a thin, black, cylindrical… Continue reading
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Senior Time!
Happy Birthday! To ME!!! I have waited so long, and it’s finally happened. Today is my birthday! I am finally 70 years old! I haven’t been this excited about a birthday since I became a teenager! I am officially an old man! SO exciting. So much to live for! And to look forward to! After… Continue reading
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Interborough Rapid Transit Company
I was 18 years old in August of 1974, sitting on the #3 train out of Flatbush Avenue one morning, on my way into New York City. It’s called the #2 train now. No one knows why. The car I was in was fairly crowded with well dressed passengers on their way to work. All… Continue reading
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The Spanish Lottery
Mothers tend to be older than their kids, but my Mom was closing in on 40 when I was born, so she was always a lot older than me. In the late 1990s, she was 80 years old; already an old lady. But that didn’t mean she was any less tough than she was when… Continue reading
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Deconstruction Project
In June of 2015, New York City began the demolition and replacement of several bridges along the Belt Parkway in south Brooklyn. It was a massive endeavor. The bridge over Mill Basin differed from the one over Paerdegat Basin in that it was a draw bridge, and quite longer. It was also in really poor… Continue reading
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My Favorite Hobby
What is your favorite hobby or pastime? What I like to do is fix up store shelves. I can’t help it. My kids ridicule me. Their kids ridicule me. My wife makes believe she doesn’t know me. But having retired after almost 50 years in retail, I cannot help it. I especially like it when… Continue reading
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Peculiar People
I have been jogging along a path located next to the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn for more than 20 years. By nature, I am a very friendly person, so I always enjoy greeting the people whom I pass along the way. “Good morning!” I always say, cheerfully. Sadly, some people choose to ignore me. When… Continue reading
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I Just Can’t Take It!
I was 30 years old when the Mets finally reached the World Series in 1986, and I knew someone with season seats. So he had something I needed real bad. Tickets. We had fallen out of touch, but in such a situation I would not allow that to stand in my way. I was a… Continue reading
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My Aunt Phyllis
My Aunt Phyllis was a real intellectual. Very highbrow. She had extremely high standards, as well as impeccable taste. All you had to do was ask her; she would have been happy to tell you. She would often exhibit a condescending attitude, which contributed to the unfortunate fact that by the time she was in… Continue reading
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The Best Father’s Day Ever
Pitching Game Two In Style…. Okay! It’s Father’s Day once again and we at PhilYouIn have counted and recounted your votes and have finally arrived at the third annual Best Father’s Day blog winner! Enjoy! (The vote was close. Honorable mention to the unforgettable runner up, “Carpet,” about the time Mike gave me a carpeted… Continue reading
