Volunteer's Corner: Organizations Helping Animals

In this edition of Volunteer's Corner, we take a look at organizations that are dedicated to helping out animals, both domestic and wild, which are injured, abandoned, homeless or suffering in some way.

So take a look at these animal welfare organizations and if they seem like places you feel that you'd like to offer your time to, feel free to check out their websites listed, and if you don't live in the Long Island area, you can check out the national 1-800Volunteer Network to find similar organizations in your area.

Read more here.

Crossroads, Part 4: Justifying My Decision

Yesterday was Christmas. I had my family over for dinner, along with my good friend Blanche. This Christmas was one I'd like to soon forget, for many reasons. It's been really hard for me to get into the spirit this year and a Christmas Eve breakup just quashed any hopes of really enjoying it.

Although I'd been downhearted going into Christmas Day dinner, I'm glad that I went through with it. Having loved ones around me and keeping busy was the perfect remedy for taking my mind off of things, but not entirely. Through wallowing in the sorrow of my breakup, I'd momentarily forgotten about the other big issue in my life: the decision, but during our after-dinner conversation, the subject came up and I suddenly found myself justifying it all over again.

Read on here.

Crossroads, Part 3: First Step - The Short Sale Option

Today I took the first step in my newest journey. I called a real estate agent last week to come and take a look at my house and give me her expertise. I entered the meeting expecting bad news and ended up being presented with even grimmer choices than I had envisioned.

Read on here.

Crossroads, Part 2: The Decision

Not too long ago, I published a piece about coming to a new crossroads in my life. I've faced myself with making the decision on whether or not to give up my house on Long Island and move to New York City, something I've always wanted to do. I've always wanted to do, but never had the opportunity...until now. Having given myself until year's end to come to a decision, I can say now with certainty that I'm going to go for it.

Read on here.

My Top Ten Pop Songs for 2010

With 2010 coming to a close, now’s the time to reflect back on the best of the year. Lists of the best in movies, music, video games are already out there and we’ll be seeing more and more right up until year’s end. In keeping with the spirit of the season, I’d like to present my own top ten picks for best pop songs of the year 2010.

Check it out here.

Pantano's of Seaford

Pantano’s Kitchen, located at 3535 Merrick Road in Seaford, is a great little bistro serving up great food every day, all day long. With a plentiful menu of specialty pizzas, salads, paninis, wraps, entrees and so much more, Pantano’s is a great place for dining in or taking out.

Read more here.

Crossroads: Striving for a Change or Settling for Status Quo?

For the second time in my life, I’m at a crossroads. Some tell me I’m having a mid-life crisis, but I know myself better than that. All my life I’ve always strived to make it better than it is, never completely satisfied with my lot. It was ten years ago that I made a big change in my life, leaving an unfulfilling fifteen year career in banking to go back to school and become a teacher. I don’t regret a thing about that decision...

Read on here.

The Pine Grove Inn of East Patchogue

The historic Pine Grove Inn of Patchogue has been serving people in one way or another for about 100 years. The charming building is located in a beautiful setting alongside one of East Patchogue’s tributaries just south of South Country Road. The restaurant serves up good quality German cuisine at reasonable prices in a warm, cozy atmosphere.

Though I’ve lived in Patchogue for the past twelve years, I’ve never been to the Pine Grove Inn before, so when a friend suggested it I agreed to give it a try. I’m not a big fan of German food, though the only German cuisine I’d ever tried was sauerbraten, which I didn’t like. My friend assured me I’d find something on the menu to whet my appetite, and he was right.

Read the rest here.

Basking in the afterglow of a great trip

It's Sunday afternoon and my first day back after an 8-day trip touring three cities and four amusement parks. It was a great, but long and tiring trip. Stay tuned for lot's more on all of the things we did.

I've been meaning for a long, long time to actually work this blog into a real blog and intersperse it with what I've got out there and hopefully this'll be the beginning of that effort. There is so much I want to share, and it doesn't all fit into my writing, so this will be an ongoing experiment to see what happens.

My friends and I are heading out to the Sea Tea tonight, which is a boat cruise in NY Harbor, with music and dancing and great views. Our friend Eddy, who came on the trip, is leaving for Florida in the morning and we're gonna send him off with a bang. Stay tuned...

Gay Pride in NYC 2010

The term “Gay Pride” is pretty well-known these days. Ever since the first Gay Pride March on June 28, 1970, to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village, the notion of gay pride has blossomed and today such celebrations are now held in some of the furthest reaches of the globe. Sunday was the Gay Pride Parade in New York City, the place where it all started, and at the ripe old age of 45, I had the opportunity to experience this wonderful event for the very first time.

I stumbled upon the parade quite by accident...

Read more here.