“Gay Like Me: A Father Writes to His Son” by Richie Jackson

This short book, by a successful Broadway, TV and film producer, is written like a long-form, multi-chaptered letter. The addressee is his 18-year old son. When his son came out to him as gay, the author was compelled to look back on his own experiences and struggles as a gay man, and hopefully pass on some advice and wisdom. The…

Countdown to Mission Rabies Tanzania 2021

Regular readers of my blog know that even though I retired from veterinary practice three years ago, I’ve remained active in the veterinary community. I still author the bimonthly “The Vet Is In” column for Catster magazine, and I still pop into Dr. Soboroff’s practice, New York Cat Hospital, every now and then to visit him and Dr. Sheheri and…

Quick Book Review: “Face It” by Debbie Harry

I was never a huge fan of Blondie, although I did buy their first album (on Private Stock records, before they were signed to the big label Chrysalis. Not worth much on eBay, though.) I’ve always thought Debbie Harry was cool and she’s certainly led an interesting enough life to make for a good memoir. This book leads you through…

Street Photography: iPhone 11 Pro vs. Ricoh GR III

Until recently I’ve relied on my iPhone 11 Pro exclusively for my photography. It’s been great for landscapes and architecture. The portrait mode is fantastic, providing varying, controllable levels of bokeh (that beautiful background blur). It shoots very good videos, as well. My main use of the iPhone, however, has been for ‘street photography’. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts,…

Photowalk: New York City

Quick Book Review: “Seduced by Mrs. Robinson: How The Graduate Became the Touchstone of a Generation” by Beverly Gray

The Graduate has held, for decades, a consistent, secure place in my list of top ten favorite movies, as well an iconic place in Hollywood history and in pop culture. This book (which I found, in pristine condition, sitting in a small pile of books next to a trashcan on a street corner on the upper west side), is an…

First time using the Ricoh GR III

After I purchased the Ricoh GR III it rained heavily for two days straight, preventing me from going out and taking my first photos. On the third day, it was beautiful and sunny, so I headed to Chinatown and the Lower East Side, two neighborhoods with a lot of character. My initial camera settings for that day were: Single frame…

Quick Book Review: “Cleanness” by Garth Greenwell

I read the author’s first book two years ago and was blown away. His new book did not disappoint. His first novel was set in Sofia, Bulgaria. This book, a collection of loosely interrelated stories, continues with the story of a gay American teacher who tries to navigate life in a foreign country. The stories in this collection details his…

"We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one." - Confucius

For a business owner who worked fanatically five or six days a week and who absolutely relished the weekend, I’m suddenly now a leisure commando, raiding cities across the globe and indulging in whatever leisure activities are on offer there. I no longer live for the weekend; life is one continuous weekend. Join me on these escapades as I try to make sense out of the world.