A visit to the New York Botanical Garden

Two of my favorite things to do are walking on the beach, looking for shells, and strolling through gardens, photographing flowers.

This weekend I indulged in the latter -- taking the spouse with me to visit the New York Botanical Garden (one of my favorite gardens, and places) to check out what was blooming, as well as view the new Frida Kahlo exhibit, which we both recommend.

(Just don't go on a weekend, if you can help it. We waited on line for an hour to see the dozen or so Frida Kahlo paintings and drawings on exhibit, which we were allowed maybe 10 minutes to view.)

While we enjoyed looking at Kahlo's paintings, which heavily feature nature, viewing real live nature, specifically flowers, was the main reason we went to the New York Botanical Garden. And walking the grounds, you really got the sense that spring was finally here -- a feeling I wanted to capture with my camera.

And I think these three photos, of irises and poppies, really give you the sense of spring emerging from the bleak winter landscape.

Irises I

Poppies

Irises II

UPDATED: Decided to throw in a shot of the glorious Alliums, which look like something out of Dr. Seuss.

You can view more of my flower photos here.

If you give a hamster a piña colada

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know I am a big fan of Hello Denizen's Tiny Hamster videos. And their latest Tiny Hamster video, titled "Tiny Hamster's Tiny Tiki Party," which has a Hawaiian theme, does not disappoint.



And speaking of getting one's Hawaiian on, my Hawaii-inspired cool casual clothing company, Prepster Pineapple, is offering free shipping to anywhere in the U.S. through the month of May (a $6 value) when you use the code PP-SHIPFREE-MAY at checkout.

Cheers and aloha!

[Wish someone would make me a piña colada...]

You don't have to be a rocket scientist unless you work at NASA*

Often when I am reading the news or watching talk shows, I wonder if everyone (okay, nearly everyone) has completely lost their minds, or their ability to use some basic common sense.

To explain what I'm talking about, I have provided 11 examples (in no particular order) of simple things that everyone should know, or should be obvious, but too often aren't. (Feel free to add your own examples in the Comments.)

You don't have to be a scientist to read a thermometer, or observe that the weather has become more erratic and extreme.

You don't have to be an economist or an accountant to balance your checkbook. You just have to know how to add and subtract.

Being able to see Russia from your window doesn't make you an expert on foreign policy, just like being able to see the moon from your window doesn't make you an astronaut.

You don't have to be a brain surgeon, unless you want to operate on people's brains. Nor do you have to be a rocket scientist, unless you want to work for NASA or SpaceX*.

If you feel you have no time to do anything, because you've volunteered for too many activities, volunteer less.

If you eat too much, you will gain weight. If you want to lose weight, eat less. Stop with the crazy diets.

Happiness doesn't come in a pill**, or a bottle.

You can't be too rich, but you can be too thin.

If you don't want to get sick, or want to get sick less often, wash your hands before you eat -- as well as before and after meal preparation and after you've used a toilet.

If you don't want others to get sick, cough or sneeze into your elbow or bicep, not into your hand. That's how you spread germs.

Don't text while driving. Nothing, and no one, is that important.

*And even at NASA, and SpaceX, not everyone is a rocket scientist.
** Or maybe I was given the wrong prescription.

The difference between Mets fans & Yankees fans

The spouse and I are off to see the New York Mets play the Washington Nationals (aka the Nats) today at Citi Field. I bought the tickets a couple weeks ago, when the Mets were on what became an 11-game winning streak. (Though I probably would have purchased tickets anyway.)

What a difference a week makes.

At 16-9, the Mets are still well over .500, and are still in first place in the National League East. (For now.) And Matt Harvey, their pitching ace, has started the season an impressive 5 and 0 (though he doesn't look nearly as dominant as he did two years ago). So the Mets should at least win one out of five games. But that feeling of elation among Mets fans as the Mets entered Yankee Stadium last weekend has pretty much evaporated.

[I am as likely, and as often, to grumble "Do not f*ck this up, Mets!" as I am to scream "Let's go Mets!" And I have also begun thanking Jesus when the infield or a base runner doesn't make an error and/or a Met scores, which amuses the spouse to no end.*]

Sure, sure, there are plenty of Mets fans who still think this could be the year. But I would hazard that the majority of Mets fans, while hoping that the team will make it to the playoffs this year, are pretty much waiting for the team to implode, as they have done every year for nearly 10 years now.

And therein lies the difference between Mets fans and Yankees fans (and Mets fans and Nats fans and St. Louis Cardinals fans and San Francisco Giants fans).

Yankees (and Cardinals and Giants and Nats) fans expect their team to win, and are surprised and disappointed when it loses. Mets fans expect their team to lose, and are surprised and elated when it wins. 

Which is why when my daughter asked me this morning, "Are you excited about going to see the Mets?" I replied, "At least it's supposed to be a nice day. Ask me when I get home." 

UPDATED: Maybe the Mets should change their slogan from "Ya gotta believe" to "Hope for the best, expect the worst." As feared, the Mets lost to the Nats (again), 1-0, making several errors and squandering several opportunities. Sigh.

*Because we're Jewish. But then again, so was Jesus.

And I wonder why I don't get flowers

Because no good deed goes unpunished. (Or unquestioned.)

The Spouse: [Walks into my office & presents me with a beautiful bouquet of roses and spring flowers.]

Me: Did someone send me flowers?

The Spouse: Me, I did.

Me: Aw, sweetheart, they're lovely! Thank you! [Gives the spouse a big hug and kiss. Then pauses.] Wait, what did you do?
 
The spouse: Nothing.
 
Me: [Eyes him suspiciously.] What are you not telling me?
 
The Spouse: [Now giggling nervously] Nothing! I love you and just wanted to surprise you with flowers.
 
Me: O-ka-ay... [Gives him another hug and kiss... and a side eye.] Thank you?!
 
The Spouse: You're welcome.

And I wonder why I don't get flowers more often (or at all).

(Actually, it's because our two cats eat them and knock over/smash the vases.)