Posts Tagged With: Tom Lehrer

Day 4727: Strange

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, when I was driving home after a chiropractor appointment related to the strange noises I’ve been hearing in my head since August 2023 every time I talk, I saw this strange sign:

Apparently, there is room for the strange in my head and elsewhere.

This morning, I’ll be driving to see an acupuncturist who helped me get rid of a strange orange coating on my tongue years ago after many other practitioners kept asking me the same strange question, “Did you recently eat a bag of Cheetos?” I continue to have hope that somebody will help me get rid of these strange noises although I could always stop them just by shutting up.

Is it strange that I am now thinking about one of my favorite Tom Lehrer quotes?

I find it strange and wonderful that people have compared my songs to Tom Lehrer’s.

Do you see anything strange in my other images for today?

Here’s what I find when I look for “strange” on YouTube:

Thanks to all who are here for this strange post, including YOU!

Categories: Music, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, chicken Marsala, December 11 2025, Jon Ronson TED talk, Needham nature walk, Strange Answers to the Psychopath Test, strange medical problems, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Singing Therapist, Tom Lehrer, Twitter | 4 Comments

Day 4592: Sense of humor

Posted on July 29, 2025 by Ann Koplow

When the world seems senseless, I especially appreciate a sense of humor.

Yesterday morning, on my way into work, I listened to the late Tom Lehrer, who was an early influence on my sense of humor.

Do you see a sense of humor in my images for today?

I love my son’s sense of humor, which came through in his standup comedy and which shows up even when he’s presenting about Category Theory at a Quantum Physics and Logic conference in Bulgaria.

I’m very proud.

Thanks to all who have a sense of humor, including YOU!

Categories: life in the USA, personal growth | Tags: category theory, cats, different types of nourishment, Dragons Love to Read by Dawn Evans Scaltreto, July 29 2025, my wonderful son Aaron, Studios Without Walls, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Tom Lehrer, Twitter | 8 Comments

Day 4591: Music for Difficult Times

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Ann Koplow

During these difficult times, I’m working on my album of original songs and thinking about music that has gotten me through difficult times.

When I was a kid, the late Tom Lehrer’s music got me through difficult times.

As I’ve gotten older, Paul Simon, Todd Rundgren, Pat Metheny, and Jacob Collier have helped me get through difficult times.

Do you see music for difficult times in my images for today?

Here’s the Tom Lehrer album that helped me get me through difficult times when I was a little kid:

What’s been your music for difficult times?

Thanks to all who help me get through difficult times, including YOU!

Categories: Music, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: July 28 2025, Pat Metheny, Paul Simon, pets, That Was The Year That Was, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Singing Therapist, Todd Rundgren, Tom Lehrer, Twitter | 6 Comments

Day 3266: PLEASE NO ______

Posted on December 10, 2021 by Ann Koplow

Before the pandemic hit, I made this button for a patient (who was dealing with a judgmental family member) and for myself:

Yesterday, I asked this question on Twitter:

I was pleased to see that people had many responses, including

lies,
gun violence,
racism,
misogynists,
homophobes,
excuses,
hate,
judgment,
disrespect,
wars,
injustice,
stupidity,
bullies, and
beets.

Some people replied that their button would simply say “PLEASE NO.” I can definitely relate to that, especially when I’m feeling so overwhelmed I have trouble pleasing anyone.

It’s occurring to me, here and now, that the button could also read “PLEASE NO ONE MORE THAN YOURSELF.”

Please no applause until the end, as I share my other images for today.

Please no lager for me; I don’t drink alcohol.

Please no worries about my sharing more relevant theme songs for these times. Here’s “It’s the End of World as We Know It” by R.E.M. …

… and “I Got it From Agnes” by Tom Lehrer.

Please no need to leave a comment, but I’ll be pleased if you do.

Please no endings without gratitude for all, including YOU!

Categories: life during the pandemic, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: “I Got it from Agnes”, “It’s the End of the World as We Know It”, buttons, cats, National Days, R.E.M., setting limits, theme songs for our times, Tom Lehrer, Twitter | 20 Comments

Day 3057: Windows

Posted on May 15, 2021 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, while I was walking around my neighborhood gazing at windows of people’s homes, the wonderful tune “Windows” by the late, great Chick Corea appeared in my headphones.

While I was listening to “Windows” and looking at windows yesterday, I was thinking about how I did not see any houses — with windows or without — in all my miles and miles of walking in Nashville earlier this week. And this gave me a window into my priorities: for some reason, I need to be around houses with windows. So even though my first Lyft driver in Nashville — who was probably talking to me through a plexiglass window — told me I would never, ever want to leave Nashville, I was actually ready to return on Thursday to the windows of my neighborhood near Boston.

If I do return to Nashville again, it will be to revisit fellow blogger extraordinaire, Chris Waldrop, seen here holding an Elliston Place Soda Shop milkshake in front of a background of windows:

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, what do Chris’s eyes tell you? They tell me he is an open, engaging, bright, caring, sharing, friendly, funny, and all-around fabulous human being.

Now I’d like to give you a window into our conversation on Wednesday: Chris told me he had some discomfort with compliments and I told him that the people who deserve compliments are often uncomfortable with them — which provides an interesting window into human nature.

I hope you like windows as much as I do, because all the photos I took yesterday have windows in them.

That sign on a nearby Post Office window gives you a window into the minds of New Englanders.

Here are some quotes about windows:

I hope you’ll be sharing your thoughts and feelings about this “Windows” post in the comments section, below.

This is my window of opportunity to express thanks to all who help me blog every day, including YOU!

Categories: life during the pandemic, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "Like Minds", Chick Corea, Chris Waldrop, Julie Andrews, Nashville, North Quincy Post Office, quotes about windows, spring 2021, the South Shore of Boston, Tom Lehrer | 13 Comments

Day 1665: Good Deeds

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Ann Koplow

Is it a good deed for me to share good quotes about good deeds?

Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue. — Buddha

The true nature of all wealth is temporary; those who have wealth must here and now do good deeds that will live for a long time. — Thiruvalluvar

To be doing good deeds is man’s most glorious task. — Sophocles

Let each man think of himself as an act of God, his mind a thought, his life a breath of God; And let each try, by great thoughts and good deeds, to show the most of heaven he hath in him. — Philip James Bailey

Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows continually through noble thought and memory. — Francois Rabelais

It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, but only one bad one to lose it. — Benjamin Franklin

Neither soldiers nor money can defend a king but only friends won by good deeds, merit, and honesty. — Sallust

A man must be willing to die for justice. Death is an inescapable reality and men die daily, but good deeds live forever. — Jesse Jackson

All I ever seek from good deeds is a measure of respect. — Walter Annenberg

Some people feel good about helping others and they do so often. They do not realize that their good deeds have a second agenda. They want to be appreciated. — Gary Zukav

Big words seldom accompany good deeds. — Charlotte Whitton

Be prepared, and be careful not to do your good deeds when there’s no one watching you. — Tom Lehrer

Thinking good deeds is not enough, doing good deeds is not enough, seeing others follow your good examples is enough. — Doug Horton

Seeing others follow my good examples of good deed quotes would be good enough for me.

Do you see any good deeds in my photos from yesterday?

It’s a good deed to share music you love, including this good number from the musical Wicked.

Good thanks to everyone whose good deeds helped with my daily deed of blogging and to you — of course! — for all your good deeds, here and now.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, quotes | Tags: "No Good Deed", Benjamin Franklin, Buddha, Jesse Jackson, Petco, quotes about Good Deeds, Shoshana Bean, Sophocles, Tom Lehrer, Wicked | 22 Comments

Day 1399: National ___ Day

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Ann Koplow

In my nation of the United States of America, EVERY day is National Something Day.

If today is National Skepticism Day where you are, check out this link.

Yesterday, I saw signs for two out of the three National _____ Days listed for October 29:

Today — which is National Candy Corn Day, National Speak Up for Service Day, and National Publicist Day — I am speaking up and publicizing all the other corny photos I took (in order) on National Cat Day, National Oatmeal Day, and National Hermit Day:

As you can see, we gave our cats some toys for National Cat Day, and they celebrated like they do on any other day.

In anticipation of some upcoming national events here (including Halloween and Election Day), here’s “National Brotherhood Week” written and performed in the 1960s by our national treasure, Tom Lehrer (who is still alive on this day):

Finally, what day would you like today to be? I’m speaking up — candidly, cornily, and publicly — and declaring today National Gratitude Day, as I express gratitude to all who helped me create this post and — of course! — to all my readers.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, staying healthy | Tags: National Brotherhood Week, National Candy Corn Day, National Cat Day, National Day website, National Speak Up for Service Day, PetSmart, Summer Shack, Tom Lehrer, U.S. election 2016 | 25 Comments