It's been a month since I replaced my dining room chandelier. Seventeen years later I still wonder how I picked that rococo brass monstrosity with carved faces. But now, it's gone; replaced by a beautiful, understated, modern crystal one. Or so I think. Hubby apparently has a different view.
He has not yet noticed. Despite four weeks of the shimmering illumination of work papers that clutter the dining table (don't get me started on that), despite the credit card bill that included the not-insubstantial purchase, hubby has said nothing. No "wow." No "where did that come from." No "why'd you waste that money." Nothing.
However, he recently lamented the placement of a storage pod on a lawn a couple of blocks away. It has been there at least a year. I guess he has 11 more months on the light.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Message to My Sons . . .
(and to a few prominent men). I realize I may be stating the obvious, but given recent news events, it apparently needs to be said:
First, you will get caught. Second, if you don't want it on the front page of the NY Times, don't do it, say it, email it, post it or tweet it.
I've been preaching some version of this to my children practically since birth. You can't expect much privacy, especially now that the world has gone digital. Even if you're just the average Joe/Jane, your nose-picking on the train may be filmed, your drunken stupor posted for your boss to see and that red light you accidentally ran, well, you'll probably still be ticketed.
Your emails and photos can be forwarded to anyone and everyone. Posts and tweets never really go away. Virtually everything is findable by google search. Even before or without technology, anyone who saw you do it or heard you say it, can talk about it to anyone and everyone. Expect your actions to be a front page headline.
And if you're a public figure, oh say, hypothetically, a Congressman from NY with a funny name thinking of running for NYC Mayor, you should know better. It's one thing to be a kid whose teenage sexts end up on his virtual resume, or whose petty crimes on tape lands him in jail. But a grown man, an elected official, a leader, etc. Where is the judgment? And common sense?
When the Governator's son with the family housekeeper became public knowledge, the most intriguing part of the story was "how did Arnold keep the secret so long?" Surely, he didn't want the world, let alone his wife, to know, and it ended up on the front pages anyway. And although he succeeded for awhile, the primary principle that you will be caught, still prevailed.
And how can I not mention my favorite goat, John Edwards, now charged with a crime related to covering up his campaign-time affair with his baby-mama and now fiancee, while his wife lay dying. I believe he thought he'd escape detection for a completely different, though more loathsome reason: he expected to be widowed sooner than he was. I suspect his plan was to marry Rielle and raise the child together and Elizabeth's long-survival crimped his style. That he proposed to Hunter shortly after the funeral seemed the nail in the coffin.
So my sons, live honorably, embrace discretion, learn from mistakes and know that the world is watching. Don't be stupid. And always remember, you will be caught.
First, you will get caught. Second, if you don't want it on the front page of the NY Times, don't do it, say it, email it, post it or tweet it.
I've been preaching some version of this to my children practically since birth. You can't expect much privacy, especially now that the world has gone digital. Even if you're just the average Joe/Jane, your nose-picking on the train may be filmed, your drunken stupor posted for your boss to see and that red light you accidentally ran, well, you'll probably still be ticketed.
Your emails and photos can be forwarded to anyone and everyone. Posts and tweets never really go away. Virtually everything is findable by google search. Even before or without technology, anyone who saw you do it or heard you say it, can talk about it to anyone and everyone. Expect your actions to be a front page headline.
And if you're a public figure, oh say, hypothetically, a Congressman from NY with a funny name thinking of running for NYC Mayor, you should know better. It's one thing to be a kid whose teenage sexts end up on his virtual resume, or whose petty crimes on tape lands him in jail. But a grown man, an elected official, a leader, etc. Where is the judgment? And common sense?
When the Governator's son with the family housekeeper became public knowledge, the most intriguing part of the story was "how did Arnold keep the secret so long?" Surely, he didn't want the world, let alone his wife, to know, and it ended up on the front pages anyway. And although he succeeded for awhile, the primary principle that you will be caught, still prevailed.
And how can I not mention my favorite goat, John Edwards, now charged with a crime related to covering up his campaign-time affair with his baby-mama and now fiancee, while his wife lay dying. I believe he thought he'd escape detection for a completely different, though more loathsome reason: he expected to be widowed sooner than he was. I suspect his plan was to marry Rielle and raise the child together and Elizabeth's long-survival crimped his style. That he proposed to Hunter shortly after the funeral seemed the nail in the coffin.
So my sons, live honorably, embrace discretion, learn from mistakes and know that the world is watching. Don't be stupid. And always remember, you will be caught.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)