Bruce
I'm a host and producer for WNPR, and creator of The Real Life Survival Guide.
… WRITING A NEW MANUAL FOR MODERN LIVING …
Episode 41: 99 Percent Junk DNA
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For the 41st meeting of our (extremely) informal “editorial board”, we gathered, in the company of four *amazing* women, at Carmine’s Tuscan Grill in New Haven. (Duo and I providing the “junk DNA”.)
Over delicious (and healthful!) appetizers, we talked about embarrassing moments, guilty pleasures – and choosing activities for summer vacations – with Deborah Pan, Kathy Barkin, and Anne Garland and Binnie Klein.
Duo, Deborah, Bruce, Kathy, Anne and Binnie
Deborah grew up in suburban New Jersey and received her education at Harvard University and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She came to Connecticut for her general surgery and plastic surgery training at Yale-New Haven Hospital and since 2003, has practiced in New Haven, CT.
She currently is the owner and CEO of Esana Plastic Surgery Center & MedSpa, which has won multiple recognitions for their work in the aesthetic industry. Her practice encompasses cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, with a focus on breast cancer reconstruction. She has also participated in several overseas medical missions helping children with facial deformities.
Kathy Barkin teaches pre-k at John C. Daniels Magnet School of International Communications. She loves teaching her three and four year olds! She is completing her MS in elementary education, and will recieve cerification in pre-k and special education as well.
As of last year Kathy was singing in a band named “Sizzle “, and hopes to regroup and begin “gigging” again. She resides in Woodbridge with her husband and son, and loves to work out, hike, read, play piano and dine out with friends.
Anne (pronounced Annie) Garland , is an author, speaker, and Founder of “The Idea Circle for Women “, which “produces enriching, entertaining experiences that provide extraordinary women an opportunity to grow together in meaningful ways”.
She has became known in the northeast for her not -to–be-missed, educational, fun and inspirational events.
Binnie Klein is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in New Haven, CT. She grew up in Newark, New Jersey, where her father was a traveling candy salesman and her mother smoked Kents, but claimed she didn’t inhale. As a moody teenager, Binnie almost made it to Woodstock (got 2 miles from the festival site and turned around). She also hosts a weekly music and interview show on WPKN-FM. But she’s restless, so being a therapist and DJ-ing are not enough.
She went off and wrote a memoir, “Blows to the Head: How Boxing Changed My Mind” (SUNY Press, 2010). She’s working on a collection of essays about our collective fascination with all things small. (And yes, that’s her real first name.)
Guest Editor’s Blog: April Fools
For Episode 40 of the Real Life Survival Guide, the stage was set for the discussion to enter rare and undiscovered places. Would the exotic spices permeating the air at Sitar in New Haven lead our intrepid conversationalists into exploring the themes of truth and virtue found in the epic tale, “The Ramayana”? Would the alluring eastern cuisine help unleash ancient wisdom long thought lost? In a word; yes, and they also talked a lot about meatballs.
First up was a brief discussion on the merits of America’s most barbaric and hysterical holiday, April Fool’s Day. Joanne Kahan told her slightly censored tale of pubescent cruelty and Erica Horne revealed that she once tormented her amnesiac Mother-in-law and now fears the flames of perdition. Duo wanted to ensure years of therapy by “gas lighting” Kim Garely-Erb’s toddlers with snake inspired potty training pranks and David Bailin believed April Fools’ should be cancelled. Or, was he only fooling?
Leaving the world of sadism, the group touched upon college admissions. Wait! Sadism, they still need you at table two. Duo lamented the extreme focus some parents place on their kids getting into the “right” school, while Bruce wondered why the parents of many baby boomers seemed disinterested in their children’s education.
When I asked my WWII veteran Dad about my college choice he said– “Choice?” “My only choice was to kill or have my head become the centerpiece on Tojo’s dinner table!”
“OK Dad, maybe I’ll just mow lawns.”
“Lawns?” “During the depression we ate lawns!”
Moving on to politics, Joanne explained how she once posted pictures of rare and beautiful taxidermies on Facebook to the dismay of some of her friends. She soon found out that PETA does not endorse eating a stuffed pita off of a stuffed leopard.
The Leopard
From stuffed animals the discussion moved to cooked animals. Bruce wanted to know what you can cook a lot of and then freeze for future use. Erica innocently said, “I cook a ton of meatballs.” At that point, the conversation degenerated, and is now enshrined in the Chef Boyardee hall of fame.
Batting cleanup was the big question, “How do you make an honest assessment of the kind of person you want to be?” Kim said, “Don’t join Facebook.” Erica said, “Don’t irritate people. David said, “Just do it.” Joanne said, “To thine own self be true.” Duo supported the intrinsic goodness within us all and Star Fleet offered the Prime Directive. All sage advice for sure, but I believe the answer to all of life’s queries lies within the oft spoke mantra of my adrenalin addled, skydiving friend, Scott Martin, who as he flings himself into oblivion simply says, “Drive fast, take chances.” Now that’s what I call Self- actualization. TO THE EXTREME!
Freezing Food
Podcast: Download
In Episode 40, I noted the fact that the question “what’s for dinner” is the bane of my existence.
As a result, I wondered what people like to freeze for future use. For Erika Horne, it’s meatballs – which, as you’ll hear if you click the media player above, touched off a conversation that took us to places no meatball has been before.
And now it’s your turn;
What’s your favorite thing to make a lot of and freeze?
Please let us know in the comments…
Politics and Friendship
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We got into a discussion about politics and friendship in Episode 40, based on this article; “2 In 5 Facebook Users Are Surprised By Friends’ Politics”.
Joanne told the story of posting a “provocative image” on FB, and you can find out what it was by clicking on the media player, above.
Now it’s your turn;
Are politics something you consider when choosing your friends?
Being True To Yourself
Podcast: Download
As we get closer to the magic “50th episode” which will air later this spring, I find myself drawn to questions that speak to the mission of the Guide, which is to help each other lead better lives.
One of the core conversations revolves around the issue of how we figure out who we want to be. Duo was eloquent on the subject, as always, in his closing thoughts at Sitar, and you can hear what he had to say by clicking on the media player, above.
And now it’s your turn;
How do you make an honest assessment of the kind of person you want to be?
Take The Barber Poll for Episode 40…
Loading ...Episode 40: College, Politics and The World’s Largest Meatball
Podcast: Download
Our friends at Sitar in New Haven were kind enough to keep their amazing buffet open a little later than usual on a recent Sunday afternoon, and the result was a rollicking editorial meeting for the RLSG!
We talked about April Fool’s Day (of course!), the changing nature of college admissions – and meatballs – with guest editors Joanne Kahan, Kim Garley-Erb, Erika Horne and David Bailin.
Duo, Joanne, Bruce, Kim, Erika and David
Joanne Kahan describes herself as a “sometimes bored suburban housewife, volunteer, and retired mother”. (Which, translated, means she’s an empty nester exploring new paths!)
Kim Garley-Erb is a “dreamer, doer, and entrepreneur from: kidHaven, schoolHaven, and now greenHaven“.
Erika Horne is a life-long Connecticut resident; she grew up in Guilford, but recently moved to Suffield. She is a Supervisor of a Client Service Department for a large medical laboratory, where she has been employed for over 25 years. She has been married for 15 years, and is a mother to one 12-year-old son, James.
David Bailin is a husband (to fellow guest editor Susannah) and father, and has been banned by Sitar for life. (I kid! David sampled reasonable portions – and left a generous tip…)
“Really?” aka, The Real Life Survival Guide Producer’s Blog
One of the perks of the Real Life Survival Guide is being able to taste all the delectable samples of food that are brought forth to us by our very generous host restaurants. Whether sampling the crab cakes at Carmen Anthony’s, the charcuterie at Bar Bouchée, or the spring rolls at Bentara, we are continually wowed by these scrumptious offerings.
I dearly wish you could taste (and share), every single bite with us—but for that, you simply HAVE to visit these fantastic places! Please do so. Make reservations, drop in for a cocktail, nightcap, coffee or nibble. In fact, many of our current, upcoming and future restaurant friends (we intend to visit them ALL), will be taking part in New Haven Restaurant Week on Sunday, April 15 – Friday, April 20th.
We’ve also frequented many other restaurants located in outlying neighborhoods– (Hel-lo, Shoreline, Westville, Milford, Hamden and environs….we love you all!) Each one of the culinary gems we’ve recorded at so far is definitely worth checking out. And when you do…make sure to mention that the RLSG crew sent you. We promise to update our restaurant/venue directory soon.
Oh, and did I mention that we will soon be recording at other stylish, unexpected, not-for-eating-only places? If not, then it will just have to wait. There is much more in store… (Hidden clue, so stay tuned.)
The amazing tapas at Manjares in Westville
Happy eating (and listening),
-CPG
Correcting People
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This being “the week of Gerry McGuire”, we pose another one of Gerry’s suggested topics: correcting people.
(Gerry wonders “…is it rude or is it really helping people?” You can listen to part of the conversation from Episode 39 by clicking on the media player.)
What do you think?
When is it okay to correct someone?
Gerry McGuire’s Breakdown: Episode 39 – Narcissism and the Pursuit of Happiness
Not to go all alpha male on everyone, but I recently made my fourth appearance on The Real Life Survival Guide. This obviously impressive milestone means I now exude the musk of radio dominance. With my place among the lions of broadcasting, Bruce and Duo secure, I will now give my expert take on episode 39.
At Carmen Anthony’s Steakhouse, we feted on chop salad and shrimp and had what a friend of mine calls, a BLT; a big-life-talk. We discussed the rudeness of correcting people, the DMV, Celebrities, the narcissism of self promotion and the big question; how to live a happy life.
It may not come as a surprise since my declaration of alpha status, that narcissism and rudeness were the topics I put forth. On the question of when it’s rude to correct someone we decided that rude is stating, “Excuse me, your cavernous plumbers butt is an appalling eyesore.” Not rude, “Hello, you have a hint of garnish on your tooth.” We also discussed why people worship celebrities and how Bruce wants to see Snooki on Downton Abbey. Duo entered a Kafkaesque nightmare at the DMV because he failed to declare quickly and unequivocally that, “I am Lord Dickinson and I demand satisfaction!” That’s how the DMV works right?
Laura Campbell asked the big question; “how can we live happy lives?” Duo mentioned religion as a possible source, Laura wondered if achievement leads to happiness, Jud offered a combination of Thorazine and charity work as a possible answer, but being shallow, I feel that deep happiness only comes from buying a really great app for my iphone.
Answers are hard to come by and we live in a confusing age. Socrates never had to ponder why the Kardashians are famous. Aristotle never worried if Plato was reading his Twitter feed. These are modern problems and we may not have found all the solutions, but I left Carmen Anthony’s with three empirical truths;
- The chop salad at Carmen Anthony’s is awesome.
- It is not rude to tell someone they have parsley in their teeth.
- I’ve been on the show four times. My territory is marked. Do not look me directly in the eye.
The Barber Poll
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