To the lady with the stained dress, I used Whink Rust Remover to remove stains on a linen lamp shade and they came off.
This after trying with numerous products without success.
Be careful using this.
1
Postcard from the Pacific Northwest with a mail-related factoid: this week our Department of Elections asked Washington State voters not to lick the envelopes on our mail-in ballots, to avoid spreading germs. Add that to the zillion things that would otherwise never cross one's mind!
2
This column never fails to delight me. Thank you to everyone who contributes to it.
7
Dear Diary ,
I’m a huge fan of NYT , especially the Opinion Column and modern love section. I just discovered this “Dear Diary” section and I love it ! All the entries are very nice!
Thanks to the contributors for sharing their anecdotal moments .
And going through the comments section is equivalent to having a heartfelt conversation with the enthusiastic readers , so much fun !
10
I love, love, love this section of the NYT! I live in Indiana, (farewell Mayor Pete!) and have only visited New York once (February, cold and raining) but the stories shared by readers hit home regardless. The mailbox story is a well-crafted tale, with its ending so neatly tucked into the beginning it creates palpable pleasure. The smoker's story comes off as a cautionary tale of eavesdropping, where one misinterpreted what one wasn't intended to see in the first place and gained nothing more than a pun, but the final story's final image, of a disappointed but determined woman vacuuming in her stained party dress? That is a bite of someone else's dessert.
3
In the neighborhoods I frequent there are no mailboxes anymore. As a security measure they have been transformed into letter boxes. If you're lucky, the reconfigured boxes will take letters up to maybe one inch thick; others won't even do that. So, if like this lady in the first report, you can't drop in a rubberbanded group of letters or small packets. You have to go the postoffice with limited hours and long lines to leave off even prestamped mail.
4
Excellent entries this week; I particularly liked the McSorley’s story.
2
Keren Golan--Thank you for your "Evita" anecdote. It made me laugh out loud!
I can hear Elaine Paige.........
9
@VB
I once worked at a library that had a balcony overlooking a field. I would guess that about 60% of the people who stepped out on that balcony started to sing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina". They just couldn't help it.
PS. The other 40% waved to nonexistent crowds
8
Karen Aberle (rust-stained dress): Did you grow up in Lancaster, PA?
10
Well, they're replacing mailboxes with ones that don't require doors, with a small slit to put your letter through. They're a little strange at first but you soon will get used to it.
As for the people leaving nutrition-less, stomach-blocking white-flour concoctions for squirrels, pigeons, seagulls, and rats, I wish they'd stop.
43
@Imagine :
not really.....
see: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/14/campaign-against-feeding-ducks-bread-starving-birds-warns-queens/
11
@Imagine Don't they dig it out of the trash, anyway??
3
@Imagine
It would make more sense for people to understand how bad white bread has become, at least in the USA.
My suggestion, buy a wheat grinder, buy organic wheat berries and make your own bread. You can feed the animals ( and yourself). all day long with no guilty thoughts.
2
Love the mailbox story and the subtleties of human communication (and kindness). And it's funny about checking for that the mail dropped and was not stuck—I guess I am not the only one! Thank you for this column!
21
@Barb Isnt is just basic manners to hold a door if someone has their hands full, even a mailbox? I dont see why that merits special mention.
2
@Fairview I was struck that the woman didn’t bother to say thank you.
3
@Fairview Kindness merits mention, particularly to strangers. All the more so in this instance, when it went without the slightest appreciation.
5
The scene with the roommate belting out Don't Cry for Me Argentina - - and the full throated response from the neighbor - belongs in another musical! In the Heights, the sequel?
It also reminded me of sweet days long ago when a boyfriend would serenade me in the second floor apt. in a 3 family house, shared with a friend. It was on a tiny dead-end street, with almost all Italian families, conservative, and, I was sure, disapproving of the two young women who entertained male friends at home. One where windows were all wide open in the summertime. Then when he was gone, people would stop and ask me where that young man was, that one with the wonderful voice...
28
I have a few bird feeders in my yard, and I also toss cubes of whole wheat bread out there for the crows, doves, towhees, squirrels, and anyone else who is interested. The highly discerning chickadees toss rejected sunflower seeds off the feeders, and the squirrels bury a lot of them. They forget where they've stashed most of them, so I end up with sunflowers all over the place in the summertime. A couple of days after reading the story about the crackers, I was watching my "outdoors pets" out the window, and saw a squirrel bury a chunk of bread. Not counting on any return from that deposit.
13
@Julie
I once had flocks of Mourning Doves, but last year only one pair. A lot fewer Chickadees, Juncos, Nuthatches, Crows, Blue Jays, and even Starlings. I added two extra suet feeders this year, and will hang more seed and nectar feeders this year. Even nectar feeders for the yellow jackets. This is worse than Rachel Carson saw.
11
@mary
Keep it up, Mary! I haven't seen a shortage of any species in my yard so far, but am so grateful to hear you're actively supporting our birdies and other critters!
1
Old school mailbox?
As a near 70 year old from the Bronx there are only 2 types of mailboxes (I mean the type where you deposit mail, not the green hump backed ones—do they still exist?)
I suppose the writer means the free standing ones, typically found on street corners, if you could find one at all these days—digress again.
Does anyone remember the small cast iron ones that sat on a pole. Creaky and small slot opening.
Now that’s old school.
Anyone? I don’t go to NYC anymore. None here in DC.
15
@Richard B I do remember the pole-mounted boxes, but it has been a long-time since I have seen one. The oliver green boxes are still common in my neighborhood where mail carriers still deliver mail on foot. They are relay boxes for the carriers to deposit mail while attending their different routes, so they do not have to carry so much mail at one time.
3
I came across the Metropolitan Diary quite by accident while scanning my digital subscription. The tone and content immediately put me in mind of the "Calcutta Notebook" published in the Statesman newspaper of which I was a reader and infrequent contributor during the early 1970s.
Unfortunately "Calcutta Notebook" column appears to have ended during the early 2000's!
8
To Karen,
Stitch small glass beads in a "spray" over the area. It will look intentional.
51
@Mara
Brilliant!
24
Most definitely a riveting read about some woman mailing a letter. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time almost expecting to read about some super sleuth opening the letter with a kettle of steam and subsequently uncovering the plot of all plots. The surprise ending was what really did it. She mailed the letter and walked away. OMG! OMG! She actually mailed a letter and walked away!
If ever there was more suspense I certainly don't recall it!
10
@Martino Hi. I think you missed the point of the story. Read about opening the mailbox to make sure the letter went and was not stuck. Both his doing that for himself - and how she waited in silence until he did (and how he picked up on that non-verbally). I think it was a terrific story. One of my most favorite ever. Best to you. And PS maybe a little less sarcasm might be in order for even the reason of his kindness helping a stranger.
50
@Martino
Agree that today's batch of stories lacked punch as well as punch lines. Miss the old Diary, when the stories were more pointed, less wistful.
1
@Martino Metropolitan Diary is clearly not for you, then.
15
My WWII era Dad had a few hard and fast rules such as, never put ketchup on a steak, never accept a restaurant table near the kitchen, always use table manners suitable for dinner with the queen, and so forth. One inexplicable rule he was adamant about was this: after putting a letter into the hopper door, you must NEVER tip the door to check on it! Why!? Did he think it implied a lack of confidence? Poor breeding? (Now I'm giggling.) I have no idea, but to this day I don't, and I find myself lovingly amused by the way we humans tend to make up personal rules out of thin air.
46
When we look at certain names of commentators, artist Agnes Lee and writers of this Diary, what do we understand ? We simply get to understand the fascinating story of America, the land of immigrants.
Entire world is reflected in America through its people, various cultures, cuisines, languages, dialects and food. I am always amazed at its wonderful diversity.
About 40 million Spanish speaking people are said to reside there out of 135 million population since Spanish is spoken in many countries.
We lived in Flushing, NY for 4 years and in Jersey City, NJ for 6 months during 2008 to May 2012. It was said at that time, more than 200 languages and dialects were spoken in Queens alone.
In Flushing where we lived, we were surrounded by people of Korean and Chinese origin. There is a famous Hindu temple hardly a mile from our then residence. Entire area was surrounded by people of Indian origin.
People of Indian origin were quite at home in New York since everything Indian was available. People of Indian and Pakistan origin were quite friendly forgetting the arch rivalry between the two countries.
One can get to see everything in America right from Chinese culture to the Indian to Pakistani to the German, African, French, Italian, Korean, Sri Lankan, English, Russian, Irish, Caribbean and whatnot.
I can go on and on but for the time being stop here.
27
@Sivaram Pochiraju : Please read population of America as 330 million. I wrongly typed 135 million. I stand corrected.
10
Another Round reminds me of the 1962 John Cheever short story Reunion about a son’s description of his lunch reunion with his divorced father while changing trains at Grand Central. The old man proceeds to insult waiters at four different restaurants where they get kicked out in the course of the hour meeting. He shouts at one, clapping his hands, “Can we have a little service here!...Chop-chop”. Boarding his train, the son tells us that was the last time he saw his father. A seminal New York story writer Cheever was if there were any.
19
Thanks so much, Keren Golan, for the wonderful memory. You've made me laugh out loud here at my desk on a dreary, rainy Wednesday morning. What a lovely anecdote to share with us. And Evita really is a classic, so thanks for reminding me of it (and Madonna's excellent rendition).
16
Thanks to internet we have become a global family. That’s the only reason I could connect with you for the past 11 years even though Metropolitan Diary journey is little bit short for me.
Do I really deserve this much love and affection shown towards me ? Am I daydreaming ?
Thanks a million @Remy, @Barbara Sheridan, @Kathleen Price, @M.K. Ward, @Alyce, @RLiss, @ Sara D, @Maria Balestrieri, @Honeybee, @JM and @Kan
@Honeybee : You needn’t become penniless so that I can reach you. Your email through gmail is sufficient for me to host you if you can stand vegetarian food. I assure you that I will not only reply promptly but will be more than pleased to show you a number of sightseeing places in Hyderabad at my cost. Since you know my full name, it’s not all difficult to mail me.
@Remy and @Honeybee : I am moved to tears by your lovely comments.
My heartfelt thanks to all of you once again.
26
Re: gauze dress Depending on where the stain is, you could also potentially cut out the offending stain and piece in a new piece of gauze.
8
@Katrin,
You reminded this reader of 'Bringing Up Baby', where Katherine Hepburn, a long-time resident of Turtle Bay, loses a catastrophic panel to her ballroom dress, after ripping her escort's coat-tails, leading to a romantic wardrobe malfunction.
8
Metropolitan Diary is a pleasant antidote to political news. Always a fun and subtle peek in to the better nature of our fellow humans.
33
Thank you all near and far for the weekly reminder that there is a gentle and loving side to humanity.
Everywhere, from here to Hyderabad.
38
Metropolitan Stories makes NYC seem like a small town, and I don't mean that in a generous way, but in a rather Lake Woebegon Way. You all seem so snug in your little condos with your extensive insulated pasts. Yeah, call me snarky, I don't mind.
7
@Anthony
If the Metropolitan Diary had buttons we could click on, as Facebook does, I would have immediately clicked on the WOW emoji one…or perhaps the ANGRY emoji one.
24
@Anthony
So you read the Diaries why?
11
@Anthony Another unwelcome comment arrives unbidden. Away with you then, Anthony.
1
Always charming. I wonder what kind of bird came for the crackers. Possibly a nest of birds had lived on the limb that went missing and this lady wanted to be sure they were fed. Thoughtful or wacky whatever it is, still charming.
i
15
This was in the 1980s. I had ordered a sandwich at deli in the Wall Street area. When the sandwich arrived it had been cut diagonally in two, so it seemed. When I tried to lift one half I could not.The sandwich cutter had played a joke on me. The cutter had sliced the top slice diagonally but the bottom sliced had been cut in the middle parallel to the sides. NY brand of humor.
22
@Indian Diner
That was an insider trading stock tip. Sounds like the sandwich cutter had you mixed up with someone else.
19
@Indian Diner Meant for a secret agent. You were given the wrong sandwich. You were lucky to survive.
I see a script idea here.
2
I love these short stories in NYC, they are a delight in a busy world where you think that no one cares anymore. We are human, yes, even in an insulate busy NYC, people care.
27
Re: Rust-colored stains, I recently had success removing scorch marks from linen by soaking a clean cloth with hydrogen peroxide and ironing it on top of the stain. As the chemist suggested, try a test patch first to make sure the fabric doesn’t change color.
And once, when trying to re-dye a beloved (but not colorfast silk garment,) I learned that it was made with polyester thread, so it was a waste.
11
@Judy -- I've had great luck w/ peroxide for blood, rust, and red wine stains. Saturate the area and leave it alone for a while. If necessary, blot and reapply. So far, none of the wool rugs, cotton shirts, or polyester automobile seats I've treated have faded or otherwise changed color, although the stains disappeared completely.
@Sivaram, I was so dismayed to see that mean-spirited comment (you know the one I mean). The NY Times’s Metropolitan Diary is a place we — all of us, from anywhere in the world — can post vignettes that give us a moment to enjoy our shared humanity. I’m a lifelong New Yorker (that’s stating a fact, just as your mention of Hyderabad is adding a factual detail, not “promoting”). Sivaram Pochiraju from Hyderabad, India, I consider you part of the extended family of Metropolitan Diary; I think if a week went by without a comment from you I’d start to worry...
76
Our universal urges to check the letter dropped, to celebrate our family with a round for the house [paid in advance because it's NYC], to finish the uplifting song, to be mystified by our habits and quirks to spy, and our regret to have ruined a favorite garment. These tiny moments recognized across the world.
61
Ms. Agnes Lee, charming illustrations as always.
34
Re: Rust-colored stain
If you can wear this stained dress in the colder months, you can wear a nice scarf that would cover up the stain.
8
@Cold climates - I live in Seattle. Everything around me has a rust-colored stain.
26
@tom harrison
Aw, you know it'll be all overtaken by the explosion of green any minute now!
3
@Cold climates
Organic acid based cleaners like citric acid will take out rust stains.
others are methansulfonic acid, phosphoric acid, lactic acid, etc. These are found in products for cleaning lime and bathrooms (CLR, Lime-away, etc.) As always, test on an inconspicuous area first, and you probably should dilute them. Gloves and goggles!
3
Tie dye the dress. Then wear it outside when you feel brave.
18
@Linda I was thinking along those lines myself, but adding more rust colored stain patches so it became a design element instead of a stain. Or, she could turn the stain into a design or flower by adding more colors or embroidery to it.
1
@Linda Tie-dye it.
1
For the dress, try Wink rust remover.
17
@Ravenna
And...IF you do use it Karen, please let us "all" know if it worked or not!
31
@Ravenna Whink is really nasty stuff - it's hydrofluoric acid. If you try it make a trial run on an inconspicuous area of the dress. Be very careful not to get any of it on you. It can cause a horrendous burn. Be sure to have something containing calcium like a liquid antacid or a slurry of crushed TUMS around just in case you do get any on you - pour some of that on the skin that the Whink hit. The calcium will react with the hydrofluoric acid to neutralize it and make calcium fluoride which is insoluble and will keep it from doing further damage. To be on the safe side for you and the dress I would try the EDTA suggestion published earlier first. (Yes, I'm a chemist).
29
@Ravenna
I was just going to write in the very same thing!
Whink Rust Remover works on rust stains no matter where they are! My white jeans, a white top, the sink, on metal. The stuff is amazing. I always buy it in threes so I'll always have it on hand.
5
They bring a smile to my face - sometimes.
9
Why not add more rust coloured stains to the dress in an abstract impressionist manner? It’s how you hide a tree in a forest.
28
McSorley's did not allow women to enter until 1970:
https://gothamist.com/food/remembering-how-mcsorleys-banned-women-until-1970
11
@George Jochnowitz, that was largely true in Ireland up until the 1970s, too, so maybe that was the reason. Some pubs in Ireland would admit a woman if accompanied by a man, but many would not let women in at all.
Even in 1980, I remember being chastised, in Ireland, for ordering a pint of Guinness instead of a half pint. Ladies did not drink pints.
29
@Passion for Peaches : A friend and I went into a little shop on Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands, on an inexplicably warm and sunny January afternoon in the mid-‘90s. They had Guinness in bottles only, and each of us bought one. My friend was handed a full pint glass to drink his, while I received the customary half-pint one reserved for women. We were quietly amused.
18
@George Jochnowitz , I remember going into bars before Prohibition was enacted. There never were any women at the bar. Even the bartenders used to be male. Now not only women sit at the bar, often just them, but most bartenders seem to be women. I think the owners trust women bartenders more than men. That will change as women descend fully to our level of degeneracy.
17
I love these mini-stories so much. Please don't ever stop posting Metropolitan Diary!
77
I'm still not sure why I can never remember to avoid wearing sandals outside in winter time. There's a mental block there. Unlike Mr. Lee though, I always remember to wear a nice pair of socks. Socks and sandals. I'm that fashionable on a Sunday morning. That's how much I care.
38
@Andy
Wearing socks with slides is in for my teenage son and his friends.
1
@M
I like thin black socks with sandals because I find leather straps abrasive on bare feet. It is also sort of retro Latin Caribbean as well as a fashion look. But not for the winter though.
@Andy I love to wear my Keen sandals in the winter. They have their signature protective ‘front bumper’ cover for the toes. Pairs well with good quality wool socks on a cold but not wet winter day-night.
1
In all three of Krzysztof Kieslowski's Tricoleur films, there's a scene where a tiny old person (usually a woman) teeters very slowly up to a mailbox and then stretches her arm up to put a letter in the box. They're French postal boxes, so the slot is high up. We watch the struggle for quite a time, but ultimately she gets the letter into the slot. In Red, I think it's a recycling container, and Irene Jacob runs up to help her. In the other two movies, there's no relationship to the plot that I can discern. It just seems to be a repeated motif.
44
@Del Those were wonderful movies. I haven’t thought of them in years. Now I’m itching to see them again to check out the mail box scene!
2
To address the stained dress problem: stain the rest of the dress. If you can recreate the original problem, you can end up with a uniform rust color.
11
@Ann of Regrets Or possibly tie-dye the dress and include areas to match the stain?
4
The story about the musical-loving neighbor reminded me of that wonderful 60 Minutes episode I once saw about an Italian apartment house exclusively populated by retired opera singers. I believe it is called Casa Verdi and is located in Milan.
60
@Martha Goff
And the best part about that episode was how every resident loved being there, but could not understand what the untalented people were doing them.
22
@Kathleen R.
Best laugh of the column. Once I figured out the typo—there, not them.
9
I love these!
But Karen's roommate shouldn't have slammed the door. Great story.
33
@Marilynn Bachorik
Maybe it was a slapstick sort of slamming if the door, aka Friends or Big Bang Theory...?
2
@Marilynn Bachorik The story said the slamming was accidental. I think it was probably due to air pressure because of windows being open in the apartments. I hope the "slammer" opened the door and apologized.
10
A treasure trove this week.
What a delight the MM is. It is a highlight of my week.
38
I'm sorry, it may be the constant barrage of "stay tuned for the next geopolitical / environmental trainwreck" story that I'm struggling with BUT this column (?) made my day. Great stories. inspired writing, humour. Thank you NYT.
72
@mike The world should be limited to serendipitous news only, at least one day per week. Not everything must be seen or known or examined or critiqued or in competition with everything else. Just stop and wait......and wait until something completely unexpected comes along. It generally happens when one is out walking in some element of nature. Like the walking stick that lands on your arm.
7
@Lynn Russell Thanks, Lynn. I live near the ocean and try to take it in every day. We all need some down time or..... maybe we need it to be our normal time again. Brings to mind the opening line of the Beach Boys song: "Wouldn't it be nice...." Smiles.
7
Funny thing about those mail slots with the hopper doors: everyone takes a peek to see whether their mail has been properly swallowed. You are OCD only if you check the thing twice. Once is perfectly normal. A second check is allowed for the doubtful. Three times means you’re a bit obsessive. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
134
That's perfectly fine. But she could have said thank you.
31
@Passion for Peaches
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Ok name the movie that phrase is from. Hint: Peter Coyote comes tiptoeing in early morning with his shoes in hand. Wife appears and where have you been. He sez I came home late and slept in the yard swing so I wouldn't wake anyone. She counters We had that old swing torn down weeks ago. He sez Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
23
@Passion for Peaches
Rather than bother looking I just flap the door a few times.
11
Wear it while you vacuum?
That there’s some fighting words!
45
How do you "accidentally" shut a door in someone's face?
8
@RLiss
Some doors are possessed. I managed to give myself a black eye opening one that was stuck, and met a couple of people who at least said they had done the same.
20
@RLiss In NYC a lot of apartment doors are set up to close on their own if not held open.
17
@Eric
My mother visiting from out of state had a story to tell about being caught in her underwear in the hallway after the NYC door to my apartment closed on its own when she rushed out to grab my pet ferret.
41
1. Interesting details Agnes Lee put in the illustration for "Another Round". It has the full name of the place and the year it was established.
2. What's Algerian gauze? Surprisingly, Google isn't much help...
8
@yl Gauze is a loosely woven fabric. I guess this dress was made in Algeria.
2
@yl Agnes Lee is simply copying what the sign says over the bar: its name and the date it opened.
3
@yl
I thought it was a sort of Victorian era fabric, which would probably have been woven from silk back then. I hope she finds a way to recycle the dress; a fiber artist, costume maker, or anyone with a serious appreciation of textiles would love to have the dress for "parts".
2
I've been reading the NYT for only a short time and stumbled across the Metropolitan Dairy today. What a great collection of vignettes to start my week with.
54
@Skinner Olsen And milk is very nourishing...
8
“Evita” resonated. Warm night, windows up but also 10 musically inclined people, a piano, a guitar and wine at 2:00AM. Knock on the door but not the police. A neighbor, in her bathrobe with a wine glass and a bottle of wine. “Sounded great. Can I join you?”
153
Good entries!!
14
I love these short stories and passages. Metropolitan Diary always gives me something to snuggle up to on monday morning. In some ways it fulfills all of the dreams I've ever had of what living in New York would be like.
58
@Stevi,
Ditto, and we're on the same page! I once tried to snuggle up to the resident cat on a Monday morning instead of The Metropolitan Diary, and there was no hope left for the shredded dress that was to dye for.
Cheers to Mr. Wiessner for a good laugh, and hoping he will offer us some more festive rounds!
9
@Sivaram Pochiraju I look forward to your interesting comments!
23
@Imagine, I love reading Mr Pochiraju’s comments. It is always interesting to hear what he has to say about Hyderabad. He shares an interest in our country as well.
I love his comments along with Freddie’s, Allen’s and other regulars. They make me smile and give me hope each week.
54
Kathleen Price,
Hear, hear!
12
My dad, born in Williamsburg and an eventual Buffalonian who traveled monthly to the garment district for work, retired in Florida and sold menswear at a flea market there. He bought nearly-unsellable stock from his old business buddies and sold the stuff cheap. He once was stuck with a wretched pair of pants, size 50, I think, that he marked down to half a dollar, trying to unload them. A lady comes by to law through the piles on his market table and, frowning, says, “What am I going to do with THESE?” Dad says, I don’t care, lady, at that price you can wash your car with them.”
Don’t wash your car with the beautiful dress, soak that stain (someone here suggested a particular chemical; I’ve had success with dissolved dishwashing detergent!)
20
@Anglican
I think the chemical is oxalic acid. You can buy Wink which removes rust stains from fabric.
7
@Ravenna It's actually Whink, and I believe it's hydrofluoric acid that makes the rust -- if in fact it's rust -- disappear in seconds. Be sure to rinse the fabric well. Oxalic acid is what's in Bar Keeper's Friend.
5
I love starting my day off with a laugh. Reading Metropolitan Diary is like taking a trip back to my home town. My favorite part of the Times!
40
Ah, Patti LuPone! I saw her with Mandy Patinkin in “Evita” all those years ago. The play was just ok, but those two magnificent creatures, in their prime, voices souring with NO microphones attached to their heads - what an experience! Unforgettable Broadway stars. I feel so fortunate to have seen them together.
73
@Kathryn - but if you're at her show, don't even hold the phone, let alone answer it! When she was starring in a play at Lincoln Center Theater, where the audience was really close, a lady was texting during the scene and Ms. LuPone walked over and matter-of-factly grabbed the phone out of the texter's hands.
"I'll Get You Kicked Out of Here" - imagining as a world-weary stage superstar goes from defiant to defeated about cell phones during the show :)
http://music-and-comedy.blogspot.com/2019/09/ill-get-you-kicked-out-of-here-now-ive.html
(Of course, the stage manager returned it to the owner after the play.)
31
@Kathryn Yes, Patti LuPone! I'm a huge fan. I saw her one-woman (she did have a pianist) show at SMU in Dallas years ago. It was a fabulous night and my friend and I were on the second row. She's extremely funny and tells great personal stories between her great sets of songs about her life when she was just starting out and about people she worked with. She looked terrific too.
17
@Freddie Now I love Ms. LuPone even more!
29
Rust colored stain, paint on the sleeve, torn cuff, pocket ink splotch ... all and more are archived moments of memories past, and of the people there and shared. A 30 year old shirt with these and more gets an occasional slovenly Saturday sojourn to town...and sometimes a vacuum of our rug.
18
You might be able to get the stain out with a long soak in a solution of EDTA in water. If it works it'll likely take a LONG time. You can buy the bulk powder disodium EDTA on line for about $20 for a pound, way more than you would need. EDTA is a nonspecific metal chelating agent. I've used it to get copper stains out of the bath tub, but it does work on iron also.
Hope this helps.
20
Re rust stains: I don’t know what Algerian gauze is, but if its amenable to dyeing, why not tie-dye it? You might get some interesting designs and revive your dress. Think google will tell you how to do it and also access the dyes. It isn’t difficult.
7
“This is New York pal,” the bartender said. “Let me see some money. We had Columbus’s cousin in here last week.”
This one cracked me up! I would like to know if Columbus's "cousin" paid up?
71
@Gary Valan Judging from the world weary bartender's response, I'm guessing Columbus's cousin sailed right out the door after his drink.
82
@Gary Valan
I imagine Columbus's cousin didn't get a drink until he showed some green. We're not rubes here, you know!
9
When the rust-strained dress is no longer wearable, you can still do what a friend of mine does: she uses patches to make a crazy quilt. I couldn't discard a lifetime of worn-out t-shirts with imprints of places I've been (with old friends, some now departed) and now I can wrap myself in those wonderful memories.
71
@Beef Eater
My grandmother made special dresses at end of life into baby patchwork quilts with a smaller matching ones for dolls. Framed on my wall now. I still remember her in the dresses every time I see the fabric squares.
12
A rust stain is nothing to worry over. Last Fall I was putting away summer stuff and finally gave up a much loved T-shirt to the shop rag box. I have pictures wearing it with long gone pets and new flower beds, etc. which would put it at a least 14 y.o. When I wore it the different color paint stains brought brought back memories. I wore it out in public plenty. Usually going to a lumberyard or nursery. I know someone was glad to see it head out to the shop. I haven't used it out there yet, although I have picked it up a time or two. I just put it back in the box.
31
@Kevin Phillips
which would put it at a least 14 y.o...
14 y.o. I'm just taking the tags off
9
Dear Karen Aberle,
Your dress with the rust-colored stain reminds me of a beloved shirt that I had years ago. It finally wore out: pilled collar, torn cuffs, stained, faded. I did not want to throw it away. My wife took a laundry marker and put a letter P on the inside of the collar. “P is for PAINT. Now you can wear it when you paint,” she said. It’s still hanging in the closet, and I still wear it for the occasional odd job.
So yes, Karen, do wear your stained dress when you vacuum.
Best wishes,
Dean
85
@Dean
When I paint I simply wear my shirt inside out....paint marks don't show when it's worn right side out and the shirt lives to paint another day.
17
@Ravenna great idea!
Scot Bobo’s entry “Postal Service” reminded me of one of my all-time favorite Metropolitan Diary stories. It appeared twenty-five years ago, was written by Cecily E. Harrison, and read as follows:
Dear Diary:
A friend was showing her 3-year-old daughter all about composing thank-you notes. After decorating the card with crayons, felt pens and plenty of stickers, her mother showed her how to seal, address and stamp it. They then walked to the corner to drop it into the big blue mailbox, but suddenly the youngster became confused. Gripping the card in her tiny hands, she looked up at the gaping hole at the top of the box, then down below, around the back, underneath, up and down the sides, looking alternately at the box, and back again.
Finally, she looked beseechingly at her mother and asked, “Are you sure Brendan’s mommy knows how to find this?”
247
@Allen: Thank you for way more than a chuckle - I’m cracking up as I write. That is such a great story. How kids think! Reminds me of my baby sister when she was about 3 years old. Having seen a commercial on TV advertising a Disney movie she quipped to our mother: “Mom, can we go to a theaternearyou?”
25
Reading these diary entries was a well spent minute on a Sunday morning.
53
As usual Metropolitan Diary this week’s first story “ Postal Service “ is about an act of kindness by Scot Bobo. In America, even small acts of kindness don’t go unappreciated unless some problem is bothering the person concerned. This is what I noticed when we were there. However such a thing generally happens in India as if such acts are taken for granted. May be it’s our behavioural problem.
It’s very interesting to read “ Out for a Smoke “ story. Surely anybody will be eager to know what exactly that lady was doing. Thanks Mark Lee for writing somewhat a suspense story. It’s a food for thought indeed.
Winter in places like New York is more than severe. Can we imagine standing outside during winter in Chicago, IL or for that matter Milwaukee, WI. That’s what exactly happened to us one winter day when we waited for the bus not more than ten minutes but those ten minutes looked like ten hours in hell. I don’t think I will forget till I bid goodbye once for all. What a hell !
I have also faced same problem as that faced by Karen Aberle as mentioned in the story “ Rust - Coloured Stain” thanks to dry cleaners in India.
As mentioned by @ Thea from North Carolina there surely must be different methods of removing stains not known to the dry cleaning people and others like me.
48
@Sivaram Pochiraju
"...one winter day when we waited for the bus not more than ten minutes but those ten minutes looked like ten hours in hell...."
Norwegian proverb: there is no bad weather, just bad clothing choices...Learn the possibilities of where you are, and prepare appropriately.
30
Re: I Never Left You
I wish the you had immediately opened the door after your roommate slammed it!
Who knows what beautiful music might have ensued. Don't keep your distance!
96
@Alix - perfect example of a time where she shouldn't ignore the boy next door!
And why would anyone want to? That place sounds like fun.
43
@Freddie
You quoted from one of my favorite musicals (and not just because St. Louis is my home).
Edward Wiessner‘s story, Another Round, had me guffawing out loud. Just the right blend of New York cynicism and affectionate nostalgia.
97
@Allison It was! Good story. I got the impression he was trying to buy a round for everyone in the bar to celebrate his grandfather and the bartender thought he was asking for a free round for his group. I wish I knew what happened after the bartender said that ...
17
Re: Out for a Smoke
When I read about the woman leaving saltine crackers in the tree, I was reminded that Boo Radley, in "To Kill a Mockingbird," used to leave small items in a tree for Scout and her brother and friend. I need to read that book again.
117
I stick honey-roasted peanuts in the recesses of our maple trees for the nuthatches during the winter. They wait patiently, but not quietly, in the afternoon. I'm not sure they would settle for saltines, I think I've spoiled them.
114
I am surprised to find a story without title. This story about singing roommate is written sweetly by Keren Golan. I feel it’s a kind of question and answer unexpected and spontaneous that too by way of singing. This story has made me to recollect quite a few memories.
In India it’s a regular practice in any family or friends get together to have some kind of singing competition called Anthyakshari or Anthakshari. Anthya means end and Akshar means alphabet in Sanskrit and Hindi. So to say singing competition starts by using last alphabet or letter sung by the initiator.
This singing game is played between two groups. One of the members of the first group sings a line or two from a popular song. The singer from the other group should take a cue from the last letter from the song sung by the other singer and start singing a new song. That’s how the chain of singing takes place. Whichever group fails to sing the song loses the game.
This wonderful game is an excellent brain exercise Further it provides entertainment and happiness to everyone including the audience. This game can be played in any language.
Two months back we happened to attend my wife’s youngest sister’s daughter’s wedding in Nalgonda, which is about 65 miles from Hyderabad. Both the parties are related. A number of relatives and friends sang all types of songs including classical as if they are professionals. Highlight being the singing by the parents of the bridegroom that too melodiously.
116
@Imagine No need to snipe here. I believe Mr. Pochiraju is assuming, perhaps wrongly, that you are interested in knowing how far this wedding was from his home.
44
@By the sea and @imagine : Thanks for your replies. I have practically no interest in promoting any place even if it’s Hyderabad. I have mentioned about this particular wedding mainly because the story pertains to singing.
I attended many weddings in my life but never saw parents of the bridegroom singing except on this occasion. As such I mentioned it. That’s all.
96
I've been enjoying your comments every week, and I especially liked this one because I love to sing! Now I'm wondering if I can get people I know to try this game. It sounds like a lot of fun to me.
I was thinking you mentioned the distance from Hyderabad because people were likely to know the name of that location, but might not have heard of the other location. So that would give people some idea where it was.
I enjoy sitting here in NY city and thinking of you writing your comments in India. A way for me to travel the world in imagination, if not in reality!
55
To Karen with the stained dress: No, no, no, don't give up! Google "how to get water stains out of clothing" --- there seem to be a lot of things you can try. You might have to try several methods.
If all efforts all fail, you might consider adding *more* water stains to create a beautiful pattern of shapes and variations in color.
75
Such a delightful bunch of enigmatic stories! Thank you Metropolitan diary. Loved them all. So very New York!
96