Story 133: Canadian Bacon

Before I went back to work at my high school job I went to upstate New York and Canada.  I had a pretty outstanding trip. Even if it was by myself.  A guy I work with said that traveling by yourself is the best way to travel.  Well, I agree and also disagree.

Why is it good? well, no one is there to tell you what to do or not to do.  You can eat what you want when you want.  You can go anywhere, meet new people, have cool experiences, and lets not forget time to think about life. It's also an opportunity to learn self-reliance, and problem solving. As well as a chance to learn another language.

The down? I really believe that life is best when it's shared with someone that we care about whether that is a friend or partner.  Sex aside, it's great to be able to say, "Wow, wasn't that a great meal?"
"Look at Niagara falls that's amazing." Instead of having strangers take your pictures.  You have someone to be with, and who also watches your back.

Summer 2018 was pretty uneventful I taught summer school sex. ed at my college job, went to the pool to walk in the lanes, and saw a lot of outdoor concerts at my town park.  The concerts were very good, but part of me kept thinking if I don't go away I'm going to have regrets.  I don't like living with regrets. Who does?

I came up with the idea to travel north because it was so freaking hot in New York, and Canada seemed a great option.  My brother was going to Florida which seemed crazy to me because of the heat, and I hoped the weather up north would be a bit cooler.  yes and no as it turned out.

My idea was to fly to Buffalo, rent a car and then drive through Canada and then fly out of Syracuse. Sounds good in theory but like life there are always hiccups along the way.

My flight to Buffalo from JFK airport was pretty uneventful, although when I was buying a portable charger, a woman in one of the kiosks ended up stealing a pair of headphones.  She pretended to put her card in the machine.  The clerk assumed the transaction went through but it didn't.

I told that clerk that either it was a mistake or she was a thief, but that life has karma and that what comes around goes around, and I would do the right thing even if she didn't.

I picked up my rental car from the airport, which in case you don't know is always more expensive, but a lot more convenient.  This was going to be a trip to remember.

I didn't drive directly to the hotel in Niagara Falls but instead headed directly to The Anchor Bar.  The supposedly originator of chicken wings. I sat at the bar, literally, and had a few wings.




Initially I was going to order mild, but the bartender steered me away from them and I ended up getting medium.  It's important to have a little spice in your life, literally and figuratively.

After lunch I headed directly to Niagara Falls. (New York side) I found it less busy than the Canadian side, although Canada really has the better view but way more crowded.

I went on the usual tourist sites Maid of the Mist (best from the front of the boat) wind cave, super wet under the waterfall,  next time I don't bring my cell phone or will wrap it in plastic.  

I really ate a lot on my trip its a good thing that I was walking between 10 and 15 thousands steps.  I had no one to share my meal with or give me any boundaries.  A good thing and also sometimes a bad thing.  Too much of anything even something pleasurable can add up.  In my case I think I gained like five or six pounds in two weeks, and I'm not sure if I ever lost it yet.  Like quicksand easy to get in, but hard to get out/lose.

I did have an enjoyable meal overlooking the falls.  Local fish and local beer.  A pretty good combination.  Afterwards, I walked around the park some more. In retrospect, I should have taken the tram or rented a bike.  It's a huge park.

My first night ended up staying in a hotel near the falls.  What I should have done is gotten a room with a view of the water.  Who knew?

My night in Buffalo started off innocently.  I went to a great outlet mall.  I bought a lot of clothes and a few gifts.  I only brought a small back pack at the beginning of my trip so I ended up getting a normal bag at TJ max and loaded up on new shirts.

As it turned out it was definitely not a night to remember.  For some reason Doubletree, part of Hilton, smoke detectors flash like every 30 seconds.

So, after one night I left and headed to Canada. I went to the border, and when I got there the officer asked me where I was staying.

At that point I didn't have an idea yet, but I was considering Niagara on the Lake in Canada.

I told the border agent, "I'm not sure."

He didn't particularly like that answer, but after several more questions reluctantly let me into Canada.  Lesson learned always have a hotel reservation and know where you are going when crossing borders.


I drove directly to Niagara falls.  It was a lot more crowded, but like I said before Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side is a much better view.   However, I didn't stay long and instead drove directly to Niagara on the Lake.  It was beautiful town.  I bought locally made honey and teas from a tea store (Gifts for my family)

I couldn't help seeing that everyone seemed to be with a loved one, or their family.  What's the alternative not going anyway?  traveling solo does have it's advantages in that I had a lot more flexibility and no boundaries.

I visited a pretty park on the lake and had dinner at restaurant that a famous writer had visited.  Dined on local fish, and drank to numb the moment.

After one night in Niagara I went to Toronto.

I probably spent too much on this trip.  All my summer money from the college job.

Toronto was pretty cool. I went to a Blue Jays game, had some awesome meals especially "Canadian breakfast" which was a waffle with fruit on top and Canadian bacon. I also went to see Second City sketch comedy show.. not bad but I wish were on a date.

After Toronto I drove to Montreal.  I loved Montreal I just wish I knew some more French.

Story 132: Cornbeef and Conversation

How would you feel if you found out that someone you work with may actually be your relative?

A friend of mine from my high school job, Yael, who I wrote about in earlier posts called me a few months ago while I was shopping at Lowe's. 

"Eric, do you know a woman named Debbie Meisner?"

I paused for a moment and then answered, "That's my first cousin. How do you know her?"

She went on to explain that she had recently done genetic testing with one of the popular genetic testing sites like 23 and Me  and found that she and Debbie were closely matched."

"Wow," I replied.  "That may mean that we are related."

We both laughed despite the fact that I felt a bit stunned by the news.

After the conversation I also did the genetic testing although this time I didn't match with her.  

My cousin Debbie who lives in New Jersey is a big genealogy buff informed me though that Yael and I may be related on my mother's side.

On Friday I am meeting with Yael and Debbie at a Jewish deli in New Jersey to discuss the situation further.  I am looking forward to  the cornbeef, but especially the conversation, and maybe even news of how we may be related.  Either way when Yael and I are together there is always a story.  More to come.  Hopefully good news.

Part 2: Well I met with Yael and Debbie at Harold's Deli in Edison, New Jersey after driving through Manhattan Friday traffic, and after a few near misses at exits finally arrived.

I drove through Manhattan because I have this thing about bridges.  With my Jeep I always get a bit anxious that I might fall over the edge.  Probably paranoid but you never can be too safe.

When you first arrive at Harold's they have these huge cakes in the fridge that Jackie Mason would probably compare to a birthday cake for an entire extended family.  In a word huge.  Actually, most things in the restaurant were jumbo sized especially the people eating there.  The potato pancake reminded of a real pancake, but delicious, and lets not forget the deli.  Big portions.  Although to be honest I have a soft spot in my heart for Katz's deli in NYC.  The best deli ever I believe.  You can't argue with a 100 year old tradition.

Anyway, enough of the food.  After Yael, Debbie and I gorged ourselves on pickles and I was dissuaded from getting the borsht we started talking about family.

Debbie knows a lot about family trees and she informed us that she and Yael are probably third cousins and Yael, and I may be fifth cousins.  What we could't agree on what was the common link.  Who do we have in common?  If we are able to find that out then we can have some sort of closure/understanding.

We had a nice talk, and Debbie caught me up to speed about her mother's health status, her family, and I gave them copies of my latest book which they both appreciated.

We both gave Debbie a big hug, and agreed to get together again the next time she was in New York.  Probably a time to visit grave sites and try to see if we can ascertain the connection between the families.

Life Lesson 132: Yael and I drove away from our meal with Debbie filled with good deli, good feelings, and bright prospects for future connections literally and figuratively. We discussed our lunch in detail, and as we munched away on rugelach and a large chocolate chip cookie we realized that life is good and should always be appreciated, and that time with close friends and family makes everything taste even sweeter.

Story 130 Living la Vida boca part 3

Well I have made it to my 130th story...some I have deleted because  I thought they were not my best, but this one is one for the books.

It's been two years since I was in Florida to visit my mother...I always had some excuses, but this year I made the choice to do something nice for my my mother and for myself. I would like to say that I spent a lot of time in South Beach checking out the women, but the truth is that when you go on vacation with your mother and sister, and spend time staying at at senior retirement communities like century village, that is often just a pipe dream, and just getting to any beach is a miracle.

The trip did teach me many things though. Where to start? I learned that it's preferable to travel during the week.  I went Sunday to Friday.  New York To Ft. Lauderdale, but in retrospect I think Tuesday through Tuesday might have been better.  Less people at the airport to contend with.  I've also heard that buying a ticket on a Tuesday may give you better airplane rates.

Sitting in the exit row was a good choice considering how much space I had, but I wonder how I would do in the event of an emergency.  Perhaps more room would be just as good without the work. Also, I think next time I might fly to West Palm airport instead of Fort Lauderdale International because even though their are less flights the airport is smaller and possibly easier to navigate.

My sister made a good choice too.  She took a morning flight.  I think that is a great idea, because if your flight is delayed you still won't be getting to your destination too late at night.  It's probably also safer to fly during the day I think.

I had to drink my water bottle when I got on the customs line, but I was surprised to learn that if your water bottle is frozen you can bring it in.  I wondered if it was half frozen would that still count.

Jet Blue is a good airline, but I still think that their TV availability is mainly just to show us advertisements.  I think for the future I will try to bring an Ipad or laptop so I don't have to watch their ads.

The flight down was uneventful, but when I landed at the airport there was a long line to get to Enterprise rent a car.  So, after waiting a while I got a cab to take me there.  What I should have done was negotiated because he charged me twenty dollars to basically go a short distance.  On the positive side I didn't have to wait in a crowded bus.

Enterprise was pretty efficient but in retrospect I should have gotten my car in Boca Raton, because the rates are much more expensive at the airport.  I had asked for a Camry but they ended up giving me a sports car.  Which turned out better.  I should have asked for a white car though, because it was pretty hot in Florida.

I am getting used to the sports car.  It drives very well. I think I need it, because Florida has a reputation for terrible drivers especially Miami.  In the TV show Dexter the main character always talks about how crazy Miami drivers are.  I didn't get down to Miami this time, but I can attest that there are lot of fast drivers, and many times I almost got hit.  It didn't help that 95 is under construction the road is uneven and challenging.

I chose an evening flight to Ft. Lauderdale from New York.  Bad idea.  I had never flown by myself to that airport let alone rented a car there.  To make matters worse the attendant at Enterprise rent a car didn't really explain all the features of the car.  I have a ten year old car without the latest gadgetry so the learning curve was slow.  

I also didn't know how to adjust mirrors or lights, and made the mistake of syncing my GPS to the nav system.  Basically I was driving at night without a GPS for the first time without mirrors or lights. Welcome to Florida driving.  Eventually though I figured things out, and disconnected my GPS from the car's.  I got to Boca Raton around 8:00 or so.  Luckily things are pretty quiet over there, and I arrived without incident. 

The trip was pretty good overall.  I got to experience a few 80+ weather days, went to a few beaches, spent time with my family, and enjoyed some nice meals including: Andrew Weil's newest one which was healthy and great, and outdoor dinner at Meisner Park with my friend and cousin Yael, and her husband Sam.

Earlier in the day I was at Century Village a retirement community where my mother lives, and picked up tickets for a broadway-time Phantom of the Opera musical concert in the clubhouse.  I also bought my friend guest passes so they could come to the event.  I didn't realize how crazy the rules are at retirement communities like Century Village.  When I say crazy I mean ridiculous rules.   They are paranoid about everything and everyone.

After dinner at Meisner and a brief tour of Yael's new condo, we went directly back to my mom's development and to the club house.  We wanted to get there early because they have a rule (one of many) that if you are there later than 15 minutes they won't let you in at all, and I thought things were tough at the Met.

When my sister and I arrived (mom was already inside) Yael and Sam were deeply upset.

"What happened?" I asked.

"They wouldn't let me in because I was wearing shorts." He replied.

I couldn't believe it.  I wasn't surprised, but I still could not believe it, because at the box office there was no sign about shorts. It turned out there was a notification on the pillar when you walk into the complex, but if you pass it you will miss it.

I said, "Lets go upstairs and see what happens."

No sooner did we start to walk upstairs, but the women at the box office, who was how do I say it zaftig aka (very plump) runs up the other stairs to catch like a very angry hippo. Hippos are one of the most dangerous animals in the wild, and in Florida too.

"You can't come in with shorts!" she roared.

I was standing next to my sister and my friends, and tried to explain that "There was no sign at the ticket booth."

She replied that there was one at the entrance and on the ticket.  I looked at the ticket and it was basically in point two type and cut off.  I pointed it out to the women but she and the African American security guard weren't having it at all.

Next I looked at my friends.  They almost seemed to be laughing at my consternation.

"What about a shirt?" Sam asked,  "Can I go in without a shirt but with pants?" and with that he began to lift up his shirt.

I was shocked and the women were aghast.

Then he continued.  "How about no pants at all?" and with that began unbuttoning his shorts.

"Sam," I said. "I don't want you to get arrested." and with that he laughed and he and Yael left the clubhouse never to return.  I turned and went into the theater at approximately 8:10 as it was when I entered "late" one of the ushers glared at my sister and I, unaware of what happened outside.

We watched a performance of Phantom of the Opera which my mother throughly enjoyed, but inside I was still seething.

Next day after I called Yael to apologize for the incident she just laughed and said, "Cuz, it's always a story with us." and quite frankly I had to agree.

The next day just when I thought things were over my mother turned to me over lunch and said, "Just wanted to let you know I bought three tickets for another show for tonight if you want to go." I looked at my sister and replied, "Thank you, but once is enough."

Life Lesson 130: It's often been said that, "When in Rome do as the Romans do," but when it comes to Floridians, especially in senior developments like Century Village, I think the better expression is "Dress as the Romans do," but I bet even if togas were in style today it would still never be long enough, even if their teeth are.