Last night hubby and I Tivo’d this seasons first episode of Monk, and didn’t get around to watching it until tonight while eating dinner. Monk gets a new therapist in the show because the old one, Dr. Kroger, played by Stanley Kamel, has had a heart attack. AS we watched, wondered if the actor died in “real life”, but got absorbed in the show and forgot about it, until at the end, they showed Kamel’s picture, and stated that the show was “In Memory of Stanley Kamel”. So I googled the name, and found that Kamel had indeed died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 65 on April 8th of this year.
He was born and raised right here in NJ in South River, a “New Year’s baby”, born on January 1, 1943. He attended the Rutgers Prep. School., and like many on the east cast, especially near New York, started his acting career off Broadway. Though he is best known for his role as Dr. Kroger in USA Network’s “Monk”, staring the multi-phobic Adrian Monk played by actor Tony Shalhoub, he has appeared in numerous television programs, getting his start in the popular Soap Opera, “Days of Our Lives”.
Last year toward the end of the season, my husband mentioned a few times that Kamel didn’t look as healthy as he usually did, but whatever the case, he will be missed.
I must be living on another planet if it took a news report about the performers smoking as part of the show being an issue at the Chicago showing of “Jersey Boys” to get me to post about one of my favorite groups “back when”. I admit that even though New York City is not all that far from our home, we don’t venture into the City that much. Hubby and I spent a lot of time there in our early years of marriage, especially around Christmas, and took the Staten Island Ferry in and back with the children when they were young…an inexpensive boat ride. But now that they are grown, we’ve kicked back and settled into a relatively rural lifestyle here in the Highland region of NJ.
Anyway, back to “Jersey Boys”, a great production that has been, and is, touring the Country, telling the history of Frankie Valli and “The Four Seasons”. According to a Cleveland article, Frankie Valli stated that there are few options for someone growing up in NJ, you can “leave town, join the mob, or become stars”. Of course I don’t feel that way about my home State, but that’s because of where I grew up. Frankie was born in Newark, a NJ City, so life was quite different for him…he probably saw and experienced things I can only imagine. Well I’m glad they chose to be stars, because they were among my absolute favorite groups in the ’60′s, I can’t think of a song they’ve done that I didn’t like.
Here’s a clip from Dave Letterman Show, Paul S. sharing his passion for the show when it was on Broadway, and then a performance by the cast from 2006 doing a medley of some of the most popular hits by the group:
And the post wouldn’t be complete without a video from the real deal, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” performed in 1967…enjoy!
I wanted so much to mention George Carlin on my New Jersey Baby Boomer blog that I went out of my way trying to find connections to NJ. First, I found that he was born in New York, the closest connection there is the constant reminder from my Colorado relatives that when they think of NJ, it’s just an extension of NY to them. I don’t usually take to kindly to that, but if it brings George Carlin closer, then okay.
Next I was reminded that he was in the 2004 movie “Jersey Girl” where he plays a father to the character played by Ben Afflick, and he lives in…you guess it… NEW JERSEY, how exciting, a connection at last, thus connecting George Carlin to my humble home State.
Although George Carlin is best known for going over the line as far as using words that I avoid, I’d like to focus in on his better side….I’m back here on July 9th, editing this post. It was too focused on the negative, my dislike for his being popular for his use of bad language. I am just going to edit that all out right now, and say that I did listen to, and laugh at George Carlin on a number of occasions…there were some great “clean” skits that he did that really made you think. George Carlin is often quoted as stating the following, but according to Snopes, he never did, and was upset at even being associated with it. But I like it, and am leaving it in the post, no matter who said it.
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers,
wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Remember, to say, “I love you” to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and and embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Every year, one county to the west of us, the New Jersey State Fair takes place. It’s also known as the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show. This brings out for all to see the “Country” part of our State, highlighting the farming industry that still exists in many parts of the Garden State. This includes our agriculture, (what better corn is there than Jersey Corn, and Jersey tomatoes are great as well) and farm animals. There are 4H Club exhibits with farm animals, horse shows, concerts, carnivals, lots of vendors, and so much more. It’s a great thing to do with your family. This has been going on annually for years, I remember taking my own children.
I’d suggest you take a look at the calendar of events (starts August 1st) as it develops over the coming weeks, there’s already a lot posted, and plan your day around the events you want to see. During times when there are no events, there are plenty of vendors, and if you and your children like rides, there’s the carnival. It’s a busy place, so chose your times to visit to suit your likes and dislikes. You can find out more by visiting the official website for the New Jersey State Fair.
Comment if you’ve ever been to the fair and let us know what your favorite attraction was.
Years ago my husband and I spent time in a Sunday School class taught by a man named Earle Davis, who always loved to talk about his years working with Les Paul, another famous New Jersey Celebrity.
It was at his home in Mahwah, NJ, about 1/2 hour from where we live now, that Les did some of his pioneering work on the solid-body electric guitar…which means he had a significant role in the rock ‘n roll industry, can you imagine rock ‘n roll without an electric guitar or two or three? I believe Les Paul guitars were later made by Gibson. It was always fun to hear Earle’s stories, and until I did my homework on Les Paul, I didn’t fully appreciate the significance.
Our friend, Earle, traveled with Les and his wife, Mary Ford, as their sound technician. If you click this link, you’ll be taken to a “Stars and Stripes” photo of the day that has a picture of our old friend, Earle, with Les Paul, his wife Mary and his son…I’d like to bring the picture over here, but want to respect copyright guidelines…it’s a great shot.
I believe Les is close to 90 and still making beautiful music, correct me if I’m wrong?
(I found the guitar pictured on eBay, on sale here in New Jersey. I don’t know the seller and have nothing to gain sharing the link to the post, but here it is just in case you’re looking for a vintage Les Paul guitar.)
Abbott & Costello were a comedy team that I LOVED as a child, and it was only later in life, not that long ago actually, that I found out both were born here in New Jersey. Bud was born William Alexander Abbott in 1827 in Asbury Park, NJ, where we spent days at the shore when I was a kid. Lou Costello was born Louis Francis Cristillo in 1906 in the same County that I live in now, Passaic County in Paterson NJ, about a 30+ minute drive from our rural part of the County.
It was in the mid-1930′s when they began their act on the stage, then went on to radio, and finally to Television where I remember seeing them, and the movies. Their humor was clean and funny! The “Abbott and Costello Show” began it’s TV run in 1952, a year after I was born. I would have been about 7 years old when Lou Costello passed away in 1959. There’s a lot that can be said about this great duo, including all they did to help keep morale up during WWII, and almost everyone has heard of their skit “Who’s On First”, in fact, I have it for you below, enjoy!
Years ago my husband and I spent time in a Sunday School class taught by a man named Earle Davis, who always loved to talk about his years working with Les Paul, another famous New Jersey Celebrity.
