Growing up in suburban New Jersey usually felt mundane. Nothing exciting ever happened here. We couldn't wait to go to college and leave. In fact, I fantasized taking off in my high school graduation gown -- never to return.  Who knew then that we were growing up in greatness? Or rather, next to greatness. Or more likely, kind of near future greatness. Occasionally. Twice removed.  As a kid, I thought my chance at greatness by minor association was a miss.  Did I ever see Springsteen and the E Street Band at the Stone Pony before they were famous? No. But my grandfather was the CPA for …

Though most people hate them -- or say they hate them -- I love TV commercials. I always have. My mother tells stories of how as a little girl, I would hush everyone during the commercials and talk during the television shows.    Remember Bewitched?  My friends all wanted to be Samantha -- I wanted to look like Samantha and wear those groovy clothes, and yes -- cast spells -- but I knew that wasn't real. I really wanted to be Darrin. He got to work at McMahon and Tate, the mythical advertising agency portrayed on the show. The original Mad Men. He was a copywriter who wrote jingles and …

Apparently the apple doesn't fall far from the tree as Dr. Oz is now to apple juice, as Oprah is to beef. Dr. Mehmet Oz, is the much beloved Oprah protege with the high TV Q, and now, his own show. This week, in one fell swoop, he caused entire nursery schools to cry, prompted parched playgroups around the country, and made Mott's really mad when he announced that apple juice is toxic. A collective gasp from mothers everywhere, was actually audible.  On his syndicated show, and in interviews afterward, Oz claimed that apple juice contains high levels of arsenic that are unsafe -- higher …

Last year it started, the talk about the upcoming 10th anniversary of 9/11. Did we really need to be reminded that it had been 10 years? Could anyone forget that? Was the 10th marker, any different from the 2nd, 5th or 9th?    This seemed like something blown out of proportion by the media, to draw larger audiences for the numerous stories they would ­­-- and eventually did -- cover.  ­Was this all for ratings, readership, increased advertising revenue?    Still under construction, the controversial and renamed 1 World Trade Center, has leased only half of the available space. As yet, there …

Because of the earthquake and Hurricane Irene, there hasn’t been all of the customary hoopla that usually precedes the kids going back to school. Normally, the last week of August – yes, I know you’re supposed to start thinking about this in July, but I don’t, even though I always swear I will next year - is stressfully spent stocking up on school supplies and new clothes.  I try to convince my son that pink binders are cool, rather than acknowledge that there were plenty of other colors available at Staples in July.  I remind him that we have some perfectly good vintage binders at home from …

First came the earthquake.  We don't get earthquakes on the east coast. We are not prepared for them and in fact, had trouble identifying it when it happened.  And just out of curiosity, how come we don't name them?  I sat down on my bed to write something on my laptop. My kids came in and joined me. All of a sudden the bed started shaking. I admonished my son to stop doing whatever he was doing, to make the bed shake.  "I'm not doing anything."  "Sure you're not."  "Mom, I'm really not doing anything."   "Not funny. I'm trying to work. Get up."  Both kids got up and the bed continued to …

Reality television dominates the airwaves. Most people deny watching it, but the ratings tell another story.  I freely admit that I Keep Up With The Kardashians, migrate to the Millionaire Matchmaker, I'm taken with Tabatha's Salon Takeover, peruse Pawn Stars, and can name all the Real Housewives from any city. Go ahead, test me.  It is the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills who made the news this week. Tragically, Russell Armstrong, the estranged husband of RHOBH, Taylor Armstrong, committed suicide. He hanged himself at a friend's house where he had been staying after his split with Taylor…

We are in the middle of a nightmare, and try as we might, we can't wake up.  The weird part of this is that we are all having the same bad dream.  And it is s-c-a-r-y.  Rick Perry -- yes, the Texas governor who declared a 3-day prayer period for rain in drought stricken Texas and who also attended a prayer and fast rally -- has formally announced his candidacy for President. Perry claims that a Bush helped talk him into it. So it is probably safe to assume that it was neither George Bush senior nor George Bush junior, but rather a Bush of the burning variety as Texas is still badly parched.  …

Today, being over 30 – how much over? – irrelevant – means adjusting to a tell all world.  There is no longer anything remotely related to privacy. Those under 30 seem to more readily accept this, as it’s pretty much all they know.  I'm not sure how it started.  I just know that it wasn't like this, when I was young – I mean, younger. Even being coy about your age, doesn't matter anymore because anyone can look it up on line, in a matter of seconds.  And we do. I mean they do. I fondly remember one of my parents' friends, we all know at least one of these women. She was a grandmother who wore…

On Friday, the Today Show featured a segment, questioning, “Everybody Gets a Trophy?”  It’s something I have felt strongly about for a long time.  If you are a parent, and your kids have played on sports teams, enrolled in dance classes or attended camp, chances are good that they have amassed a large collection of trophies.  Trophies have an entirely different meaning today, than they did when I was a kid.  Trophies used to be awards given for excellence, to reward a job well done, for outstanding effort and/or ability. They were rare/coveted/worked hard for.  Through the years, my kids have…

To many, this holiday is all about wearing red, white and blue T-shirts, purchased from Old Navy. I think they’re on sale now if you hurry. Each summer, before my kids would leave for sleep away camp, we would talk about July 4th. In patriotic, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin terms? Not so much/not at all. No, in terms of instructing them what to wear, and making sure they had enough red, white and blue face paint to share with their bunkmates.  Also, reminding them that their grandmother’s birthday came right afterward, and please, please, please do NOT forget to mail her …

Just the mere mention of it, brings fear to almost all of us. Alas, when your number is up, it's up, and unlike the deli counter, nobody wants to know that their number was called. Yes, it's what many try to spend a lifetime dodging -- Jury Duty.    First, you get notified that you are among the chosen people. Then, if you don't respond, you are sent a reminder postcard, instructing you to call the court.  I never got the original notice. I swear.  Did not. Would definitely have remembered that.  But one day, a few weeks ago, there I was minding my own business, while I was pulling out of my …

In 2011, if you know for sure who your daddy is, you're apparently ahead of the game.   This can be especially challenging if your mom hangs out with or near, politicians. Then, your suspicion must be confirmed through DNA tests, TMZ reporters and guessing who you look like. And not usually in that order.    TMZ has become so accurate of late, that the only thing I can think of is that maybe they own and operate those fun/shady hotels/motels where you can rent rooms by the hour. All they have to do is keep the security cameras rolling and it's like a spider web, catching prey and constantly …

I am a creature of habit. I take comfort in routines. I know that Tuesday and Friday, the garbage gets collected – which means we can only have shrimp on Monday or Thursday nights, I know that Sunday mornings are for the New York Times, Meet the Press and fresh bagels – which taste much better when someone else goes out and gets them.  I know that drinks are half off on Thursday nights at my favorite haunt – drink twice as much/save half the money – always a dilemma. When I'm stuck in traffic if I turn on 1010 WINS news radio, I will get a traffic report 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, and 51 past the …

Roll up for the Mystery Tour – this one’s got wheels supplied by Sarah PAC – Political Action Committee.  It started with Rolling Thunder – the motorcycle rally on the Mall in DC.  And like rolling thunder, Sarah Palin was not expected or invited, she just showed up on the back of a Harley.  She is being coy about her One Nation Tour, calling it a family vacation. Mighty fancy wheels for a one week vaca.  Yes, a tour bus shrink wrapped and emblazoned with your name on it, the name of the tour – who names a family vacation? – and your website address, complete with an enormous pictorial of the…

Dear Oprah, I know you’ll never remember, but I met you and it forever changed the way I thought of you.  It was at the Pierre Hotel in NYC.  It was my wedding anniversary and my husband and I were both working hard and we did not have children yet.  So spending a luxurious weekend – one night - did not seem inappropriate.  It was Christmastime and I felt like the city was dressed up and decorated for my anniversary.  Oh, to be young and the center of the universe. The hotel had graciously upgraded us to a suite when they heard it was our anniversary.  We were kids, and we were thrilled. When…

I know, you’re not supposed to believe everything you read/see/hear – except my column.  And I don’t. Usually/sometimes. But things in print seem credible to me.  I mean, why would they bother to print things or say them on TV if they weren’t true?  Additionally, the fact that someone is an elder, religious scholar, does give him an air of integrity, which is why I fell, hook line and sinker, for 89-year-old, Christian TV and radio show host, Harold Camping’s prediction that the world was going to end, yesterday. Of course, I never thought that the end of the world meant the end of my world…

It was a long winter. Then the spring flowers finally made their appearance – YAY!  Green, sunshine, happy, happy, happy.  All seemed right with the world.  Then it happened – to be fair, I knew it would.  Just wasn't prepared for the full impact.  The college kids came back.  My college kid came back.  And the world as I’d come to know it, stopped. Let me start by saying that I missed her terribly when she left in August.  I thought my heart would break – my baby/firstborn was far away and the family felt incomplete. I was really sad for a while and had to keep stopping myself from going …

This week was dominated by the death of Osama bin Laden.  The historic pronouncement of his final capture, captured us all. The resulting spontaneous and jubilant celebrations all over the country italicized just how deeply emotional this was for all Americans. Details emerged about this most intensely orchestrated mission, only to change as the days went on.  Viewing graphic images from bin Laden’s Pakistani compound was jarring on many levels.  Though none of this erases the aftermath of 9/11, nor the ongoing threats from Al Qaeda, hopefully it gives our nation some measure of comfort and …

Spring is in the air.  For many people around the world, May 1 is May Day, commemorating the beginning of spring. It is also an international Labor day. Labour Day for those of you still not over influence from the Royal Wedding – it's OK, I won't tell.  After weeks of watching British commentators and American commentators trying to be British, the accent and affectations, grow on you after a while. I am drinking coffee from my William and Kate  tea cup – OK, it’s a chipped Charles and Diana tea cup –  while I write this.  I’m in the recovery process.  Is it wrong to wear a flowered hat with…