POUND RIDGE PAST now @ Elm Street Books in New Canaan, Conn.

I'm delighted to tell you that Pound Ridge Past is now available at the coolest book store around, ELM STREET BOOKS in New Canaan.

Remember cozy neighborhood bookstores? Look no further.

@<|:-)

Books. Schmooze. Mark it. Make it.

Many thanks to Pound Ridge Library for inviting me to present my book, Pound Ridge Past: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk, at "Connecting with Your Community & Past" on Thursday, February 16, from 12-2.

If you are in this neck of the woods, come hear the skinny on personalities who dazzled the calm of the countryside from the 1920s to 70s. Lauren Bacall poolside? The "Wizard of Oz" himself?

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Don't even think about smiling

This begins our series of "Is It Me ... Or What?"

This weekend I went to the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center. What is it about people who pose in front of memorial monuments and smile to have their picture taken? Is there some kind of disconnect with the human condition here? It's like wishing someone a "Happy" Memorial Day or "Happy" Yom Kippur.

Three-thousand people died in the terrorist attacks in our country on September 11, 2001. The 9/11 Memorial is dedicated to commemorating each individual who died in the terror.

Smiling for a photo in front of the 9/11 Memorial. Not. Appropriate.

The New Year is getting old

So how's everyone doing with their New Year resolutions? I have already blown through just about all of mine. Ho hum. Tsk tsk. Whahh whah. Boo hoo. Fon fon. Ahemm ahemm. Oui, oui. C'est vrai.

And what is it with fancy cars that practically verbalize your tires need to be filled when the temperature is below freezing? This morning, I tried to conjure my science know-how and forgot how things shrink in this weather.

I did, however, remember that Seinfeld episode on "shrinkage." Then it all made sense.

New Year Resolution Resolved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

January 1 marks the end of month-long holiday debauchery. Weeks and weeks of socializing, drinking, partying, cooking, baking, shopping, wrapping, decorating, sending out holiday cards (they're still not finished. So if you're reading this and you haven't yet received your annual holiday greeting from the Brodnicks, here's a blanket wish to all: Merry, happy.)

Which brings me to my resolution for 2012. I am going to stop using exclamation points. Words alone should communicate the levity of a sentence. If your sentence needs a lift, try throwing in a capped word, but chuck the "!". For example:

"I will not be burdened by the thought of Sarah Palin running with Newt Gingrich!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"I will not be burdened by the thought of SARAH PALIN running with Newt Gingrich."

The second sentence sends the same message without the graphic redundance. When you think about it (and am I the only one who is? You can say it ...) exclamation points are extraneous. In actuality, they are so 2011. (We'll get into the discussion of italics later.)

Much more blah-blah, yadda yadda yadda to come, but for now, I close by wishing you a "Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Rather, "Happy New Year."