vacation relaxation

I'm still in relaxation mode and don't have time to share everything from the best vacation ever, but here is a teaser of what will come. We went deep sea fishing on the last day of red snapper season. Yes, we caught all those snappers and yes, they tasted delicious! Pretty sure we have enough fillets to feed a small army. Just ask Cory for some snapper nuggets. YUM-O!

(Left to right) Captain Jodie, Mike aka "Cornbread," me, Joe, Cory

support the mom-and-pop shops

As most of you all know I am a large supporter of independent businesses everywhere and will always have a special place in my heart for independent pharmacies. After seven years of living outside of Arkansas, finding a good pharmacy isn't as easy as picking up the phone and saying, "Can I speak to my dad?" Although I still get any medicine and odds and ends mailed from Rhea Drug, if I need Tylenol or shampoo, etc. (and I don't have a Target convenient), I go to my local pharmacy on the Upper West Side, Goodrich Pharmacy.

Sadly, after forty years, Frank Cammarata is forced to close the doors to his pharmacy. Below is the note he put in his door earlier in June.

Transcribed below:

It is with a saddened heart and deepest regrets that I have to inform all of you (my loyal and faithful customers) that as of the end of June I am retiring. After 40 years of serving the wonderful people of this neighborhood, I am forced to close the doors of my pharmacy, a place I called a "second home," due to low insurance reimbursement rates and high cost of expenses. I want to thank all of you, my devoted patrons, for giving me the opportunity to serve your needs. I not only consider you my customers, but now I call you my friends. Goodrich Pharmacy will always have a special place in my heart and I extend a helping hand to any that may need assistance until that regretful day that I finally retire my white lab coat. To my loyal customers, I extend my best wishes, good health, and appreciation for all the memories we have shared. I want to inform you that your prescriptions are in good hands and will be transferred to Duane Reade located at 2025 Broadway between 69th and 70th street: phone number (212) 579-9955. If you have any questions at all do not hesitate to call me (phone number).

Thank you. Sincerely, 

Your Pharmacist, 

Frank Cammarata 

Photos courtesy of West Side Rag and DNAinfo.com

sunday funday

As a typical Sunday begins, I hit the GreenFlea and the Farmers Market behind the Museum of Natural History. But yesterday I found these gorgeous New York grown peaches. They are so sweet and so delicious! I also purchased a bag full of green beans and cooked them for hours when I got home. Not as good as Mimi's but pretty close. (I did call and get her "recipe" which includes... a little of this and a little of that and a lot of xyz). Wasn't hard but the waiting was excruciating.

Later that evening, I stopped by a friends apartment to pick up a piece of art that we had collaborated on and put in an art show last weekend. While I was there I noticed one painting that he had done that was still for sale and I haven't taken my mind off of it since I saw it two weeks ago. So in a small large act of impulse, I bought it. YES, I bought it. Where I was going to find room for it, I had no idea as it is HUGE. But once I got home with not one, but two new large pieces of art, I strategized ways for them to be hung, and where. Definitely not it's final resting place, but here is the painting I bought. 

What do you think? I'm in love

Also, here is the painting we collaborated on, which me/my dad won in the raffle. The entire show made over $2,600 for Ovarian Cancer Research. I think I'm going to paint more glass to add more drama to the overall piece. And I just don't think it is 100% finished yet.