Category Archives: Life

Falling apart; Jared and I

To be honest, the only thing Jared – yes, I mean Ivanka’s Jared – and I have in common is real estate. Deals and buildings are falling apart around us.

Jared has had his well-publicised problems with 666 Fifth Avenue, or Continue reading →

The blessings of being ordinary

Good art inspires; it makes you see things differently. I just saw a Frida Kahlo exhibition, and was struck not only by her art, which was inspiring in itself, but by her life story too.

Frida Kahlo was bedridden with polio for nine months when she was six, and limped ever after. As if that was not enough, she barely survived a serious traffic accident in 1925, when she was only eighteen. She had thirty-five operations before she could leave the hospital. She was in pain from that day on. Continue reading →

My hour as a populist: Go strawberry

Decisions, decisions. My self-imposed hour as a populist begins. First I have to decide what I am going to oppose. A populist is expected to oppose something vehemently.

Preferably something that many others support. Said supporters are called “the elite”,  if they have made it to the decision-making level. For us populists “the elite” is a dirty word.  Continue reading →

Now trending: hate and self-interest

Hate and self-interest are trending. Internet and the social media have provided the nasties with the means to find each other and create outlets for their bigotry.

Since they are truly nasty, in a way that this old lady doesn’t care to be, they do not hesitate to use these tools aggressively and successfully. Continue reading →

I laugh, therefore I am

Today I am going to discuss the value of a good laugh. I will take a leaf out of those self-help books I have seen reviewed, but never bothered to read. I will focus on the positive.

You may have one or several someones in your life that make you laugh; not in a mean and  derogatory way, but in a way that makes your life seem lighter for a moment. Cherish the moment, and the person who gave it to you. Continue reading →

The alternativeFacts symbol

Donald Trump is just a few weeks into his presidency, and already he and his team have made history. Alternative facts are here to stay. No executive order was needed. The world learned by example. To commemorate this, I decided to create a symbol, the alternativeFacts symbol. Continue reading →

Flying, torture on wings

There was a time when flying was rare. When flying customers were treated as valued guests. When getting through the airport was a breeze.

Today it is all about going after our last dollar, euro, or whatever currency prevails. Making us so uncomfortable that we will pay anything to have some peace and quiet. Continue reading →