Congratulations, Aaron McCargo, Jr., on winning “The Next Food Network Star”…I borrowed your picture from this site…please visit for more info. about Aaron.
This is my first season following the competition, and it won’t be my last, what great fun! I have to say that for much of the series, my husband and I thought Lisa Garza was going to win…she was my hubby’s favorite to win…hmm, wonder why, the cute squinty eyes? The charming personality? I don’t blame him:-) But tonight (okay, I’m a day late, we Tivo’d the show and watched it tonight) when each one was making their introductions, it struck me that she already had so much going for her, a husband who is an Executive Chef, a fashion business of her own, and more. Sorry Lisa, please know you did a GREAT job, and we loved you, but it’s just kind of neat that a humble guy from New Jersey won, so you go “Big Daddy”, we’re looking forward to seeing what you cook up for The Food Network next week, and by the way, Venison isn’t all that bad.
Adam, hey Adam Gertler, I don’t want to forget you, we loved the chicken/beer recipe, and the idea of using ideas shared from people by email, then using a webcam, GREAT idea! Really liked that too. Hope to see something like that on Food Network soon!
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.
It’s local primary day in my State today, and the political signs are everywhere. My husband is on the County Committee for the party we support in our local area, and has just called me to remind me to get out and vote. A privilege and honor that I often take for granted. I was browsing some articles written about our local area, and here’s one I found. I’m not posting it because I agree or disagree with it, just because it shares a bit about the politics of the State this baby boomer lives in.
Jon Corzine’s Compassionate Conservatism
By: Stuart Nachbar
Here in New Jersey, the Garden State, we have a governor who has just proposed to make $500 million in permanent spending cuts, refinance state debt, reduce municipal aid, eliminate two cabinet departments, and introduce tougher standards in math and science education.
These are proposals that you might expect from a Republican, but Jon Corzine is a fiscally conservative, moderate to liberal social issues Democrat. Corzine, a former chief executive of Goldman Sachs, one of the oldest white shoe Wall Street investment firms, governs New Jersey as if he doesn’t need the job. He’s taken his budget on the road to the voters; for the most part the media has shown that they have a tough time swallowing the bitter pill, but they are willing to listen. New Jersey does not have the best reputation for honest politics; two journalists just came out with a book calling Jersey the Sopranos State, but Corzine may be just the man to turn that image around.
There is a difference between Jon Corzine and the so called compassionate conservatives who try to sell tax and spending cuts, as well as standards, and hope things all work out before the next election.
The debate in New Jersey is not over what government should give up, but on what it should do well. Garden Staters north and south place a premium on environmental protection, toll roads and public transportation, given New Jersey is sandwiched between New York City and Philadelphia. We are also a state with over 570 municipal governments and over 600 school districts; local control is sacrament in education more than any other public service.
Corzine is not trying to force feed draconian cuts or impose values on others; he’s raised a debate to tell the legislature and the voters that the state can’t afford to be business as usual. His own proposals are a challenge to Democrats — who control the legislature and Republicans to put up or shut up and come up with a plan. There are services that every state government must perform for its citizens: law enforcement and public safety, judiciary, Medicaid disbursement, K 12 and higher education, maintain state highways, negotiating compacts with other states on transportation and environmental issues, being examples. Then there’s the rest of the budget.
For instance, on the surface, Corzine’s proposals to eliminate the departments of Agriculture and Personnel make more sense than other cuts. Agriculture is but one sector of our state’s economy; it makes no sense to give a cabinet level position to a single industry. We don’t have a secretary of technology or pharmacy. Agriculture is but one plank on an economic development platform in any state government. There’s no need for a state department of personnel when each and every state agency has their own human resource professionals who can align their work, jobs and wages to their agency’s mission. There’s no need for another set of bureaucratic hoops.
When this was proposed I had to wonder: why didn’t a previous governor think of it before? This makes perfect sense.
It’s the kind of creative thinking we need in our state.
(Originally published at Educated Quest blog and reprinted with permission of the author, Stuart Nachbar).
Author Resource:-> Contact Stuart Nachbar at http://www.EducatedQuest.com, a blog on education politics, policy and technology or read about his first book, The Sex Ed Chronicle, a novel on education and politics in 1980 New Jersey, at http://www.SexEdChronicles.com.
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.)
Congratulations, Aaron McCargo, Jr., on winning “The Next Food Network Star”…I borrowed your picture from this site…please visit for more info. about Aaron.
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.
