The Village News


Thoughts, Ramblings and other Absuridites
 by Angela Giannotti

Angela GiannottiWelcome to an erstwhile column. And to all those who are too old to blog and too young to not express your feelings, this is a place where you too can expound. I wrote a column for the Moriches Bay Tide for several years and for Dan’s Papers for one. But that was in the early 90’s. I loved having a column and began to hone it to a nice, neat 400 words or so. But it has been awhile and I beg for compassion.

I am a retired English teacher, former Brookhaven Youth Orchestra Director and a constant yarn jockey. But, here comes the disclaimer, I’m not one of “those English teachers” who sniff and toss their heads at poor grammar and really bad spelling. I taught junior high English which has more to do with hormones than homophones. I often make mistakes. Oh, I have a few pet peeves but I do not write like Faulkner. Think Erma Bombeck. If you find a glaring error, typo or offensive philosophy, send an email to Bellport.com. I will, in turn, give you extra credit on your next book report as I did with my 8th graders, lo those many years ago.

However, you will not find a sentence in this column containing the following phrases:

I could care less…..If you could care less then why don’t you? I couldn’t care less is correct.

Enthuse …. is not a verb. I’m so enthused is incorrect. You can be enthusiastic but you can’t enthuse anything, including a watermelon with vodka.

Less/fewer ….John has fewer quarters than Mary, therefore he has less money. TV sports announcers are the worst when they compare stats. For all those who are still reading, I’ll go into apostrophes next time.

With all that said, I’m thrilled to be writing a column again. And I hope, once in a while, you’ll enjoy it too. Thank you.

Angela Giannotti


Bittersweet Thoughts

Bittersweet Thoughts

The Red Barn is no more. That is a very sad statement for anyone who frequented the Brookhaven landmark that graced Beaver Dam Road for over a hundred years. The barn, among other things, was the home of the Pumpkin Patch Players, a theatre group of neighbor kids who studied, rehearsed and performed plays, music and improvisations.

My son Gregg was one of those kids and so were so many of his friends and neighbors – Katie, Andrew, Eric, Natalie, Matt, April, Justin... I remember this group well - all born in the early 80’s. Debbie Mayo, their mentor, would gather them together and gently fashion a marvelous experience for actor and audience alike. Debbie is an actor and professor at the Stony Brook University Drama department and lives across the street from the barn. The Pumpkin Patch Players were all but perfect.

The barn’s stage was fashioned from wood and curtains that seemed to be from earlier times. The surroundings were more 50’s than 90’s. Seeing a performance was like being in a Disney movie, only better, much better. Everyone who sat on the boxes and makeshift chairs knew how special it was and how lucky our kids were to be part of magical Brookhaven Hamlet lore. And, like lots of joys in Brookhaven Hamlet, the experience was thanks to Betty Puleston. It was her barn after all. Betty had the kids perform every year at her birthday party at her house, a short walk from the barn. She would rock with laughter and her smiles would soften all the lines on her face. Betty loved the magic.

The first pictures of the South Country String Band were taken in front of the Red Barn. The band was an erstwhile group of musicians that included John DiNaro, Rich Fuller, me, my husband Rich and our son Gregg*. Gregg was about 12. We later performed there for a HOG fundraiser and joined our neighbors as the Hamlet Organic Garden was planted in the fields behind the wooden structure.

I’ve marveled for the 39 years I’ve lived in the Hamlet that a place like the barn existed. Not just the structure but all that it housed including Looms for weavers and pottery equipment. There were also priceless Puleston family mementoes. But the barn is no more. We really must remember how lucky we were to have had it. It was out of another time but we were able to partake of those simple times because it existed. Instead of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland it was our kids who put on a show. The same kids who are drama teachers, musicians, composers, sports talk radio hosts**and fine adults. It was one of the purest joys of those summers. Thanks Betty. Thanks Debbie. Thanks kids. Their memories and ours are now what’s left of the Red Barn.

* Shameless Plug : These musicians and many others still can be heard at the Acoustic Jam on alternate Fridays at the Community Center in Bellport.

** Shameless Parental Pride - Gregg is now a sports talk radio host.

 


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"Some Ramblings, One Remembrance"

Rambling:

Because I have a new credit card, I thought I had to notify EZ Pass. Luckily I had just gotten a statement from them and I called. Think Bob Newhart.

Hi. I want to change the credit card on my EZ PASS account. I have my account number. My telephone number? OK. What do you mean, how could it be wrong, I’ve had that telephone number for 38 years? The area code? Oh. It used to be 516 but it’s been 631 for maybe 10 years now.

OK. The cars on the account? No, I don’t have that car anymore. Well, OK, I have the same brand and model but I drive a 2005 now not a 2001. No, I don’t remember the license number of the 2001. No, we have new plates on all the cars. The other two cars have not changed except for the license plates. Listen, don’t you need my mother’s maiden name? That hasn’t changed. It’s G R… Oh, you don’t have that. OK.

Well I’m not asking you for money, I’m giving you another card to take MY money. Can’t you just believe me? OK. Well, OK. Here are all the cars and their plate numbers. Well, only one has numbers; the other two have letters. No, I don’t own that car anymore….

Moral: Don’t call EZ Pass. Let EZ Pass call you when your credit card no longer works.

Rambling:

I love National Public Radio. I enjoy Car Talk, Whaddaknow?, A Prairie Home Companion, All Things Considered and Morning Edition, among others. I do my part at pledge time. But I have such a hard time dealing with the pledge drives. It’s like listening to commercial radio not WQXR but WALK. In an attempt to find out why WALK’s Walky Bear was at Brookhaven Hospital last week I tuned to WALK and heard 12 minutes of commercials. It was unbearable. That’s one of the best reasons to listen to National Public Radio.

However, there are the pledge drives. I am sensitive to such things, having been involved with non-profit organizations. I’m glad that I no longer have to worry about keeping an organization alive considering how terrible the economy is currently. But I’m still not a big fan of those begging sessions. I really feel for those people. So I thought that it would be great if there were a way to have the pledge drive end as soon as you make your pledge. Wouldn’t it be nice that once you call in your donation, regular programming would resume on your radio or television set. I think that pledges would increase.

We are all creatures of habit and if we enjoy programs on Public Radio or Television we don’t want anything to interrupt it. If we knew that Garrison Keillor would be able to finish one of his great tales of Lake Wobegon as soon as we make our donation, wouldn’t we head for the phone or computer? I’d much rather have that option than an umbrella or a coffee cup. Recently WSHU did a one day pledge drive because we, as listeners, complained of “concerto interruptus”? Unfortunately, the station did not make their goal so there will be another pledge day soon. However, if there were alternate (non-pledge) programming for those who made their donation, the money would be piling in.

Think about it. Somewhere in the world of cyberspace there must be someone, probably a 10 year old, who could figure out how to make this happen. Maybe that little girl who makes those slide shows for that Microsoft 7 ad, or one of those stock trading babies? Someone can do this. Someone please try, quickly before the Peter, Paul and Mary retrospective on Channel 13. I’ll be the first to pledge.

A Remembrance:

I recently wrote a column about groups. It showed how important the individual becomes to the whole. One of the groups was a Tuesday morning compilation of all sorts. Many of these individuals met nearly every day and had many no-holds-barred conversations. It was so stimulating that I could not help but think that it rivaled those at the Algonquin Hotel with the Marx Brothers and Benchley. By that reference if nothing else, you can tell that we are of a certain age. We may struggle with Tweeting but can still finish the New York Times crossword puzzle, in ink.

One of us has left us and we don’t like it one bit. Fletcher Bedell died on September 16th. He and his family have been part of Bellport FOREVER. It didn’t matter how long you knew Fletcher to appreciate his good humor, intellect and love of life. Even when he made you the recipient of his pranks, you loved him for it. Fletcher shared his struggles with cancer in a way that you never believed it would get the better of him. He was like John Wayne only with a better smile and a glint in his eye that rivaled no other. He would travel on his motorcycle down to Florida or cross country with Stella, bringing back tales of adventure. He loved history. Fletcher was descended from the Huguenots, we learned one morning which opened up another lively discussion. There are many of our little group and many in Bellport that have shared stories about Fletcher Bedell. May we always remember the laughter. Thanks Fletch.


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"My Absence Of Thought"

Last week my pocketbook was taken. It was hard to imagine it happening because I was at a funeral. However, I could not believe otherwise because my bag was not under the votive candles at the church where I put it. It was nowhere to be found.

The deacon even asked the bereaved at the cemetery if anyone had picked up a purse in the church by mistake. I was grateful he asked, but I also felt terrible. What a thing to ask the family gathering as they said their last goodbyes. The loss of my wallet was annoying but not horrible.

Unfortunately, my car keys were in the side pocket. Friends drove me home to get my spare keys and my husband drove me back to the church. The church secretary scoured the grounds as I drove around the village and checked bushes and trash cans. Nothing. It was gone.

While I was already planning my phone calls to credit card companies, my husband, in his quiet yet emphatic manner, explained how the loss of my keys was far worse than replacing the plastic. The car keys opened not only my car, but with a push of a button, the garage entrance to my house. My house, all its contents and the people in it, were now in real danger. I had even provided the getaway car. Recent tragedy in Bellport only served to emphasize this threat. We had to call the police and the officer was very sympathetic. It was hard to say that the bag was taken at a funeral mass. It was still so difficult to fathom. He explained that detectives would be calling because a felony was committed.

It was true that the harder the times, the greater the risks. We could no longer leave the Volvo in its usual place in the driveway. So we secured the car out of sight, changed the front door lock, and checked the locks on the downstairs windows. Even house alarms did not quell our fears.

We had no choice. We must replace all the locks in the car. I called Volvo, knowing full well that it wasn’t going to be cheap. It cost $400 to replace a transmitter key not too long ago. I thought I was ready for the hit, but when the service manager came back with a total of $1600 for the entire job, I groaned. Impossible ! No, labor alone is $700 because they have to dismantle the steering column. A constantly rattling steering wheel was in my future, I just knew it. But, there was no alternative. The dealership was able to get the parts in a day and we had an appointment for late Friday morning. Bravo to Volvo!

There was still much to do and I was so angry with myself. If only I were organized and had all the numbers at hand. Alas, I was not. Nevertheless, the minutia of driving to the Motor Vehicle Bureau without a license to get a replacement was better than I thought. There was no replacement fee, which frankly, surprised me. I did keep my old photo because it was one of the three in my life that I did not mind. (My column photo isn’t one of the remaining two, if you were wondering.) I was out in less than a half hour with a temporary license.

I then remembered that I would often carry a blank check, in case I couldn’t use the debit card. So I opened a new account and notified my direct deposit agencies. Then slowly, one by one, the automatic payments on my debit card came to mind - E Z Pass, gym memberships, Netflix. But, it’s almost useless to notify them until I have the new card. After 5 working days, I received a debit card, as promised. However, they also informed me that my new pin number would take an additional 3 to 5 days. I use my debit card constantly. I don’t use cash for anything over ten dollars. It’s a real handicap for a debit-holic like me. How can I food shop? What are the real banking hours anyway? How much do I really need in cash??? Luckily, I bank in Bellport and my friendly neighborhood banker helped me out. Bless her.

My huge checklist of necessary chores attached to losing a purse was getting smaller. The car locks would be changed by Friday afternoon, and we would soon feel safe again. All of the stuff I carry in my car found temporary homes and we were ready to head out to Riverhead. Then the phone rang. I had stopped hoping, too much time had passed. My purse was gone forever.

However!!!

My purse was found. It was taken by mistake not stolen. I had put it under the candles but not far enough away from the grandchildren’s many bags, bottles and toys. An adult, minding four very young children, gathered everything in sight and secured it in their out-of-town car. There was no reason to even think of the items until it was time to unpack. Late Thursday night an unfamiliar pocketbook was unearthed in New Jersey.

What a relief! What timing! In a matter of minutes we would have been off to spend $1,600 on new locks. Dare I say miracle? The bag was over-nighted to me. I didn’t have a blank check in it, after all. I did have club memberships, health insurance cards and important addresses in it that I had not yet missed. It was all there and I am so grateful. I still feel sorry for adding stress to anyone at the funeral. I’m grateful, I have learned a lesson and I’m going to pass it on.

Go directly to your pocketbooks (or wallets, for any man still reading this column). Take out all the cards, credit, debit or business and scan and copy them on both sides. Make sure that you can read all the numbers including the phone numbers necessary to notify the companies. Do the same with your license. Add this info to the names and account numbers of services such as EZ Pass, in order to expedite notifications. Do a general wallet cleaning, securing important phone numbers from old grocery lists.

And lastly – believe first that a mistake was made, before you believe a crime was committed. I like being an optimist, not naïve but optimistic. So long Buckaroos. Remember: Be prepared! The aggravation you save, may be your own.


"My Absence Of Thought" Comments...


7/8/2009, Ginny McNulty wrote...

Hey Angie- Your article reminded me of when you locked both your keys and son in the car! I loved reading your article, it was like we were sitting in the faculty room and you were telling us the story.


7/1/2009, John Hannon wrote...

Angela- What a wonderful surprise to have the opportunity to read your "Ramblings." I especially loved the one on grammar and use of words. Takes me back to my days proof reading IRS course materials as a project manager. Look forward to read your continued "Ramblings." Hi to Rich!

 


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"Group Thoughts"

I belong to several groups. Not one of them is organized to the point of having official anybodies. I tend to think that is one of the reasons the groups run so well. Often, when people are elected, they feel that they have power of some sort or other. On the other hand constituents often feel that they, by virtue of their vote, have some power over the person elected. There is nothing new there.

Two of my groups are fiber related. The biggest decision I must make is about which yarn or what fabric shall I use to create something. But so much more is decided while we knit or quilt. Three years ago two of us were dealing with breast cancer diagnoses and the distraction of cutting up beautiful pieces of fabric and sewing them back together to make quilts made the process easier. Crocheting while waiting for a radiation treatment is easier than being alone with your thoughts.

Each life of the twenty or so women that gather weekly have had to deal with something - illness, deaths, unemployment, concerns about a husband or children, and parents. Young women brought their children when they were off from school; another brought her 90 year old mother-in-law who put us all to shame with her skills and vitality. Creating something with other people was often more supportive than talking. If someone needs to talk there are enough people in the room to select a sympathetic ear. If not, stitching away at something is a welcomed distraction.

My friend Janet and I went to a quilting class given at the Henrietta Acampora Cottage in Blue Point. The class grew into a quilt group. I had been concerned that I did not have the skills to keep up with the avid quilters but that soon dissipated. Each member was generous with her time and talent and I soon felt comfortable enough to make horrendous mistakes and ask for help. This same generosity was true of a Friday afternoon group that meets at the Brookhaven Library. The added bonus to this group is anyone who wants to work on any project, or simply wants to try some handwork, is welcome on any Friday afternoon. Members knit, weave, crochet, quilt, do blackwork – which dates back to Catherine of Aragon and mentioned by Chaucer. In addition, members have made jewelry, dolls, teddy bears, dragons and other fanciful creatures. I even tried Igolochkoy or punch needle embroidery. The willingness to teach and learn makes it a most pleasurable afternoon. Here, as well, the ages of the women vary, a fact that does not matter one bit.

How does a group evolve? A person goes out for a morning cup of coffee. He or she meets others out for a bagel or danish. At first, pleasantries are exchanged and others join in. After a few weeks the conversations range from the esoteric to the banal but always entertaining. Years go by and a few people grow into an eclectic group of interesting men and women that discuss, laugh, provoke, tease and enlighten. I enjoy being part of them once a week.

With the technology of today any person can spend days and even weeks without seeing another person. How are social skills learned if you are constantly blogging, or twittering? How can you ascertain if a person is really “fine” without looking at them? Where are the nuances?

A common interest binds people together even if initially it was only a quest for a good cup of java. Classmates, fellow employees, musicians, retirees, widows, church members, wood carvers and pilots can meet to talk about the connection between them. Some experience, good or bad, connects them and they become aware of each other. The best time to kick yourself out the door is when you really feel like pulling the covers over your head. Human beings are social animals and really need more than a tweet to keep going. Maybe knowing this is a blessing of the old – Ah, finally a benefit to growing older!

 


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"Movies"

I like movies. I’m a movie junkie. When I was little, my Aunt Rose and I would go to the Radio City Music Hall about once a month, or every time there was a new movie. The Music Hall was a regular movie theatre that just happened to also have a stage show complete with Rockettes. I watched “To Kill a Mockingbird” from the front row at Radio City. It made Gregory Peck look even more spectacular. Sometimes my aunt and I would catch another show at the Criterion or even the Roxy. We saw “Anastasia” with Ingrid Bergman at the Roxy before they dismantled it.

Ever so often in those days, “Gone with the Wind” would be re-released to some theatre in the city. I saw it three times before I realized what Rhett had in mind when he carried Scarlett up those magnificent stairs. I was rather naïve in those days. We did not have movie ratings then other than those put out by the Catholic Church. I remember that “Baby Doll” was condemned. I don’t remember much else about that list.

When we weren’t going to movies, Aunt Rose and I would watch movies in her room. She had one of the first TV remotes. It was about the size of a bar of soap with a thumb-sized lever that “cachunked” when you hit it. It only changed channels and went in a clockwise direction. If you wanted channel 2 and you were watching channel 4 you had to go through all the other channels, but we had so few channels then. It took years before a movie that you saw in the movie houses made it to “The Million Dollar Movie” on Channel 9. Then, you were able to see it every night that week at 7:30 PM. I learned all the words of the songs and some of the dance routines from “Yankee Doodle Dandy” that way. George M. Cohan would have been proud.

Aunt Rose died in 1981. I can’t even imagine what she would have thought about movies today. I know she would lament the passing of the real ”Movie Stars” like Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, and Gregory Peck. I mourn them still.

I know that she would not approve of three-quarters of what is made today, but my Aunt Rose would have loved the accessibility of movies we enjoy now. Netflix would have been her favorite as it is mine. The first movie I ordered after I subscribed was “Marty” with Ernest Borgnine. “So whattaya wanna do, Ange?” is such a classic line especially if you are an “Ange.”

With Netflix, and all the movie channels, it’s easy to catch a good new movie or a favorite oldie. But, I especially love it when I find a sleeper, or a small market film that never made it to Suffolk. Those seem to be the most worthwhile. Now, with the new Netflix feature “Watch Instantly,” I can put a film into my instant “queue” and through the magic of a box called Roku, have it on my screen in seconds. Currently you need yet another box to use this feature but I found one for under $100 and I hooked it up myself. For those who don’t know me, that’s fairly astounding. My husband, Rich, usually gets those tasks, but he was happy to let me set it up. Unfortunately, not all movies are available instantly, but it is still worth it. Amazon.com is in the process of making all movies available to us instantly. However, we will be charged per movie unlike Netflix’s monthly plans.

Movies are a great diversion for me as is baseball, specifically Mets baseball. We all have our passions and hobbies and are fiercely devoted to them. That is a good thing. Our creativity needs as much exercise as our bodies. Try watching a great movie, listening to a ball game, and knitting something at the same time. It sure makes me happy.

P.S. I’ll occasionally pass on some movie titles that I found most enjoyable. Check out: “Tea with Mussolini”, “The Mighty”, “Simon Birch”, “Dress Code” also titled “Bruno”. “Dress Code” was made on Long Island complete with Gary Sinese as a Suffolk County cop. Let me know what you think.



"Movies" Comments...


6/3/2009, Nancy Benardello wrote...

Hey Angela, love your column. When we were kids, my sisters and I waited every year for the week of Yankee Doodle Dandy on Million Dollar Movie. We also learned much of the dialogue and every song and dance from that movie and frequently performed them! Thanks for bringing back that memory!


5/3/2009, Marilyn Supon wrote...

My all time favorite movie is Yankee Doodle Dandy. I, too, learned every line from watching Million Dollar Movie. I still can't walk down a long staircase without a little bounce in my step, as I am always reminded of Jimmy Cagney dancing down those stairs in the White House at the end of the movie.


4/27/2009, Donna Gaspari wrote...

Loved both columns--the movie rambling and particularly the clutter column. Bravo. You brought both tears of laughter and reminiscence to my eyes and want to get a hard copy of that one in particular. My brother NEEDS to read it for many reasons. Thanks, Ange. Keep them coming.


4/26/2009, Toby Walker wrote...

Jason Robards in 'A Thousand Clowns' did it for me. Give me a flick where the dialog and acting take precedent over everything else and I'm a happy camper. Throw in some snack food and I'm in for the evening.

Real nice Angela.


4/22/2009, Kate Hines wrote...

Movies are great! I can recall seeing "The Sound Of Music" with my friend Arleen back when it only cost $0.50 with our High School G.O. card! We'd go in for the first show and stay at least three times!

Have enjoyed your columns. Keep up the good work!





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"Clutterer"

I’m a “clutterer”, or should I say I am one who clutters since clutterer sounds much better than it looks. I’m come from a long line of clut… messy people. My favorite cleaning lady defined clutter as messy not dirty. I take great solace in that.

My husband Rich and I lived on Bay Road in Brookhaven for 20 years. I had stacks of stuff. Things I could not bear to throw away. The main problem comes from not gleaning the wheat from the chaff, at least, occasionally. The house on Bay Road was eccentric, old, had a dirt basement and no closets or attic. Because of the layout we couldn’t even buy stuff hiding furniture. So I had “piles” everywhere.

When we moved to a much larger house on Prairie Lane, my friends and relatives started making predictions as to how long it would take for me to get those dreaded piles. It has been 13 years since those predictions and I beat them but things are piling up lately,.

I come from a long line of stuff keepers. I grew up in Corona, Queens in the house my father moved in as an infant in 1910, and died there in 1983. My father had carefully filled a four car garage so well, that it was a feat to drive his 1969 Ford Galaxy into its measured spot. This was the same garage that his father filled. My grandfather at least had a discerning eye when it came to kept treasures. Unfortunately, someone long before even my father was grown, tossed out all those glass items. After all, to them, Tiffany was only the name of a neighborhood factory. I think that story marked at least two generations.

I read a self-help book on clutter which, in short, expounds that is ALL clutterers have deep psychological reasons for holding on to stuff. I did clean out the basement after reading it. But for some reason the last chapter of this book was devoted to the importance of colon cleansing; so I lost my initiative.

Someone once told me that filing cabinets are really not useful if you don’t regularly reorganize them. Most holding boxes and, my personal favorite, totes of every shape and size, are filled with unnecessary items. Recently I went through a file cabinet drawer and found the physicians’ lists from at least two health insurances ago. I started gleaning and filling bags of recycled paper. It reminded me of cleaning out the house in Corona after my mother died. My brothers and I had to go through over 80 years and two generations of piles. I was on one of my paper recycling crusades and had been tearing out pages from an old spiral notebook when I found it. I started to cry.

On a page scrawled in my mother’s distinctive handwriting was a note to us. My brothers and I had been at each others’ throats over dealing with all you have to do when your parents die. But somehow in the middle of an old spiral notebook, our mother pleaded with us not to fight because it would have broken “Daddy’s” heart. She wrote that she was ready to join him and that we shouldn't feel too bad about her leaving.

How ?… when?… why?… who knows?…My brothers were as awestruck as I was, and as good “watch out for the bad omens” Italians, decided not to discuss it. Luckily I felt that notebook had too many clean pages to throw away.

Moral: Piles can be more than a pain in the ass.

Angela Giannotti



"Clutterer" Comments...


5/6/2009, Bianca Merante wrote...

Love the "clutter story" ....this is great stuff .. keep it coming!!


3/25/2009, Marilyn Supon wrote...

Way to go, Angela! You give voice all the retired English teachers out there. We needed the representation.


3/20/2009, Linda Davis wrote...

I loved Angela's column.  Would like to read more.


3/18/2009, Alice McLerran wrote...

I am much taken with this new voice now part of the website. I enjoyed the debut column, and look forward to more!



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