The Metropolitan Diary of the New York Times continues to offer humorous real-life stories and experiences of natives and visitors to New York Citythat often show the human side of New Yorkers.  When I read most of them, I can’t help but laugh, sometimes very loudly and sometimes, depending on my surroundings, attracting a little too much attention.  Others just make me feel good about being a New Yorker.  A recent edition includes a proposal warning in Rockefeller Center, a subway marriage proposal, and some cellphone confusion.  So, try it for therapy, stress relief, or to assure yourself that there still is a good side to people – just don’t laugh or cry too loudly:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/02/nyregion/a-subway-marriage-proposal-and-other-nytimescom-reader-tales.html?_r=1&ref=metropolitandiary. 

Feel free to leave a comment, and please come back often – I write and post every day!  And if you like what I have to say and how I say it, you’ll probably enjoy my novels as well.  They’re listed below, and you can read more about them on my improved website, designed and built by my son Don, http://www.randolphmase.com.  On my site, you’ll also find excerpts of my books that you can read – please check it out!  

And to view updated blogs in real-time, go to http://alphainventions.com or http://kadency.com – they’re both great sites!

RandolphMase, Fiction Writer

http://www.randolphmase.com

http://twitter.com/randolphmase 

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death in The Cloisters (under construction)

Nathan Hale

       Thirty miles north ofTimes Square, onHookMountainabove the western bank of theHudson River, is theRocklandLakeState Park.  It offers a huge swimming pool, picnic area, bicycle rentals, tennis courts, a lake for fishing, and even two 18-hole golf courses.  But this weekend, it offers something really unique, the Knickerbocker Ice Festival.  Open today and tomorrow until 5, it offers some very unique activities and entertainment, including:

• Ice Scupting Competition
• KIDZ Ice Park and Fun House
• Knick’s Canteen and Cold Rock Café
• Craft vendors and artists
• History walking tour
• Dancing and entertainment.

       The weather is supposed to be very pleasant, and it’s only a short trip from Manhattan!

Feel free to leave a comment, and please come back often – I write and post every day!  And if you like what I have to say and how I say it, you’ll probably enjoy my novels as well.  They’re listed below, and you can read more about them on my improved website, designed and built by my son Don, http://www.randolphmase.com.  On my site, you’ll also find excerpts of my books that you can read – please check it out!  

And to view updated blogs in real-time, go to http://alphainventions.com or http://kadency.com – they’re both great sites! 

RandolphMase, Fiction Writer

http://www.randolphmase.com

http://twitter.com/randolphmase 

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death in The Cloisters (under construction)

Nathan Hale

       Here are more movie quotes from the poster I received for Christmas – see if you can identify the movie and character for each of the quotes below.  If you really want to test yourself, identify the actor who played each character and the year the movie was released!  Good luck; I’ll post the answers in a few days! 

• “There’s no place like home!”
• “I wish I knew how to quit you.”
• “I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe.  Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.  I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.  All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.  Time to die.”
• “Look, Daddy.  Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.”
• “A liger…it’s pretty much my favorite animal.  It’s like a lion and a tiger mixed, bred for its skills and magic.”
• “Here’s Johnny!”
• “I’ll have what she’s having.”
• “You come here and shoot at my family?  I’m gonna teach you a real lesson now mother***er.  Put your f***in’ mouth on the curb.”
• “E.T. phone home.”
• “We came.  We saw.  We kicked its ass.”  

       Search your memory, and I’ll post the answers in a few days… 

Feel free to leave a comment, and please come back often – I write and post every day!  And if you like what I have to say and how I say it, you’ll probably enjoy my novels as well.  They’re listed below, and you can read more about them on my improved website, designed and built by my son Don, http://www.randolphmase.com.  On my site, you’ll also find excerpts of my books that you can read – please check it out!  

And to view updated blogs in real-time, go to http://alphainventions.com or http://kadency.com – they’re both great sites! 

RandolphMase, Fiction Writer

http://www.randolphmase.com

http://twitter.com/randolphmase 

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death in The Cloisters (under construction)

Nathan Hale

       Because I teach presentation skills to people, I do focus on the words – or nonwords, that is – that people use in conversation.  And I’ve heard all sorts of nonwords used.  Recently I saw the results of a Marist College poll of the most annoying conversational word or phrase – which are really nonwords – to about 1,000 US residents: 

1. Whatever – 38%
2. Like – 20%
3. You know – 19%
4. Just sayin – 11%
5. Seriously – 7%

       Is there a word or phrase that really gets to you?  If so, please share it in a comment…

Feel free to leave a comment, and please come back often – I write and post every day!  And if you like what I have to say and how I say it, you’ll probably enjoy my novels as well.  They’re listed below, and you can read more about them on my improved website, designed and built by my son Don, http://www.randolphmase.com.  On my site, you’ll also find excerpts of my books that you can read – please check it out!  

And to view updated blogs in real-time, go to http://alphainventions.com or http://kadency.com – they’re both great sites! 

RandolphMase, Fiction Writer

http://www.randolphmase.com

http://twitter.com/randolphmase 

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death in The Cloisters (under construction)

Nathan Hale

       Have you ever seen those books in the travel section of a bookstore – the kind that claim you can enjoy Hawaii(or Europeor any other place) for $10 a day?  I’m not sure if that’s really possible today, but it is possible to enjoy a vacation without depleting your life savings.  I know of an e-book called Over 100 Secret Tips For Traveling On A Budget.

       If you have a Kindle, Nook, iPad, Galaxy Tab (which I recently got), or other mobile device, you may want to check it out.  Here are just some of the topics in the book: 

• 9 different sources of information that will help you plan a frugal vacation
• The secret to using early planning as your biggest money saver
• 7 packing tips of traveling insiders – you’d hate to learn these the hard way
• 8 tricks for getting the best deal out of your hotel.
• 12 secrets to getting the lowest air fare possible
• How to find the hidden treasures at your destination that won’t be filled with tourists
• How to bring your money securely and safely – so you don’t have to fear that you’ll lose your bankroll
• How to use your carry-on luggage the right way
• 3 things you’ll likely miss if you leave home without
• and much more!

       Check it out at http://mallpros.com/store/randolphmase/product/232!    You never know; you could be on your dream vacation in just a few months… 

Feel free to leave a comment, and please come back often – I write and post every day!  And if you like what I have to say and how I say it, you’ll probably enjoy my novels as well.  They’re listed below, and you can read more about them on my improved website, designed and built by my son Don, http://www.randolphmase.com.  On my site, you’ll also find excerpts of my books that you can read – please check it out!  

And to view updated blogs in real-time, go to http://alphainventions.com or http://kadency.com – they’re both great sites! 

RandolphMase, Fiction Writer

http://www.randolphmase.com

http://twitter.com/randolphmase 

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death in The Cloisters (under construction)

Nathan Hale

       Many of you are probably avid blog readers, and I know how difficult it is at times to locate a blog that will interest you.  A guy named Cheru Jackson created Alphainventions.com, then renamed it Refzip, then Plugalink, and now it’s back to Alphainventions.com, designed to provide real-time views of recently updated blogs, and direct traffic to those blogs.  It cycles through views of the blogs every 15 seconds or so, but you can pause it.  And you can also click on the blog’s name to visit it.  It’s a great timesaver, and a great way to keep up with updated blogs.  To those of you who have visited through a referral from Plugalink, welcome, and I hope you continue to visit! 

       Most of all, I extend my thanks to you, my readers, for continuing to return to my blog, for which I’ve recorded more than two and a half million views in the past three years, and I’ve had a single day with more than 20,000 views!  And thanks very much for coming back!

Feel free to leave a comment, and please come back often – I write and post every day!  And if you like what I have to say and how I say it, you’ll probably enjoy my novels as well.  They’re listed below, and you can read more about them on my improved website, designed and built by my son Don, http://www.randolphmase.com.  On my site, you’ll also find excerpts of my books that you can read – please check it out! 

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

http://www.randolphmase.com

http://twitter.com/randolphmase 

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death in The Cloisters (under construction)

Nathan Hale

       Okay, so here are the answers to the 10 movie quotes I posted on Friday (I’ve also included the actor and year): 

• “They may take away our lives, they will never take our freedom!” – William Wallace (Mel Gibson), Braveheart, 1995
• “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” – Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), Casablanca, 1942
• “May the force be with you” – Obi Wan Kenobe (Sir Alec Guinness), Star Wars, 1977
• “Now, this car could be system-matic.  It could be hydro-matic, ultra-matic.  Why, it could be greased lightning!” – Danny (John Travolta), Grease, 1978
• “Show me the money!” – Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise), Jerry Maguire, 1996 [Actually, I think Cuba Gooding Jr. as Rod Tidwell said it first.]
• “Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious” – Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews), Mary Poppins, 1964
• “…I’m funny how, I mean, funny like a clown?  I amuse you?  I make you laugh?” – Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci), Goodfellas, 1990
• “I appreciate this whole seduction thing you’ve got going on here, but let me give you a tip:  I’m a sure thing.” – Vivian (Julia Roberts), Pretty Woman, 1990
• “You make it with some of these chicks, they think you gotta dance with them.” – Tony (John Travolta), Saturday Night Fever, 1977
• “I see dead people.” – Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), The Sixth Sense, 1999 

       How did you do?  Stay tuned – more to come… 

Feel free to leave a comment, and please come back often – I write and post every day!  And if you like what I have to say and how I say it, you’ll probably enjoy my novels as well.  They’re listed below, and you can read more about them on my improved website, designed and built by my son Don, http://www.randolphmase.com.  On my site, you’ll also find excerpts of my books that you can read – please check it out!  

And to view updated blogs in real-time, go to http://alphainventions.com or http://kadency.com – they’re both great sites! 

RandolphMase, Fiction Writer

http://www.randolphmase.com

http://twitter.com/randolphmase 

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death in The Cloisters (under construction)

Nathan Hale

       The Metropolitan Diary of the New York Times continues to offer humorous real-life stories and experiences of natives and visitors to New York Citythat often show the human side of New Yorkers.  When I read most of them, I can’t help but laugh, sometimes very loudly and sometimes, depending on my surroundings, attracting a little too much attention.  Others just make me feel good about being a New Yorker.  A recent edition includes Christmas tree humor, a case of mistaken Santa Claus identity, and recovering a lost cellphone.  So, try it for therapy, stress relief, or to assure yourself that there still is a good side to people – just don’t laugh or cry too loudly:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/26/nyregion/slimming-down-and-other-nytimescom-reader-tales.html?_r=1&ref=metropolitandiary. 

Feel free to leave a comment, and please come back often – I write and post every day!  And if you like what I have to say and how I say it, you’ll probably enjoy my novels as well.  They’re listed below, and you can read more about them on my improved website, designed and built by my son Don, http://www.randolphmase.com.  On my site, you’ll also find excerpts of my books that you can read – please check it out!  

And to view updated blogs in real-time, go to http://alphainventions.com or http://kadency.com – they’re both great sites! 

RandolphMase, Fiction Writer

http://www.randolphmase.com

http://twitter.com/randolphmase 

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death in The Cloisters (under construction)

Nathan Hale

       It seems that there’s a month, week, or day to celebrate or commemorate most things on the face of this planet, doesn’t it?  Months such as Oatmeal Month, weeks such as Cuckoo Dancing Week, and days such as Drinking Straw Day.  But I missed one; I read that National Thesaurus Day was three days ago on January 18!   

       It’s been proclaimed to mark the birthday of Peter Mark Roget, who published the oft-used Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases, also known as Roget’s Thesaurus, in 1852.  In case you’re not familiar with the Thesaurus, it lists synonyms, or alternative words, for words.  There are online versions available today; the original book contained about 15,000 words.   

       But I can’t believe I missed it.  It wasn’t intentional; maybe I’m just…uh…forgetful.  What’s another word for that?

Feel free to leave a comment, and please come back often – I write and post every day!  And if you like what I have to say and how I say it, you’ll probably enjoy my novels as well.  They’re listed below, and you can read more about them on my improved website, designed and built by my son Don, http://www.randolphmase.com.  On my site, you’ll also find excerpts of my books that you can read – please check it out! 

And to view updated blogs in real-time, go to http://alphainventions.com or http://kadency.com – they’re both great sites! 

RandolphMase, Fiction Writer

http://www.randolphmase.com

http://twitter.com/randolphmase

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death in The Cloisters (under construction)

Nathan Hale

       I’m a fan of movies, and of movie quotes.  As a result, one of the gifts I received at Christmas was a poster of 101 famous movie quotes.  I’ll let you try your skill over several posts – see if you can identify the movie and character for each of the quotes below.  If you really want to test yourself, identify the actor who played each character and the year the movie was released!  Good luck; I’ll post the answers in a few days! 

• “They may take away our lives, they will never take our freedom!”
• “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.”
• “May the force be with you.”
• “Now, this car could be system-matic.  It could be hydro-matic, ultra-matic.  Why, it could be greased lightning!”
• “Show me the money!”
• “Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious.”
• “…I’m funny how, I mean, funny like a clown?  I amuse you?  I make you laugh?”
• “I appreciate this whole seduction thing you’ve got going on here, but let me give you a tip:  I’m a sure thing.”
• “You make it with some of these chicks, they think you gotta dance with them.”
• “I see dead people.”  

       Search your memory, and I’ll post the answers in a few days…

Feel free to leave a comment, and please come back often – I write and post every day!  And if you like what I have to say and how I say it, you’ll probably enjoy my novels as well.  They’re listed below, and you can read more about them on my improved website, designed and built by my son Don, http://www.randolphmase.com.  On my site, you’ll also find excerpts of my books that you can read – please check it out!  

And to view updated blogs in real-time, go to http://alphainventions.com or http://kadency.com – they’re both great sites! 

RandolphMase, Fiction Writer

http://www.randolphmase.com

http://twitter.com/randolphmase 

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death in The Cloisters (under construction)

Nathan Hale