Lisa Birnbach and Norm Eisen
Norm Eisen, a man of many talents is my guest this week. You’ve seen him on tv quite a bit – He is a senior fellow at Brookings. He was our Ambassador to the Czech Republic. Norm, the “Ethics Czar” for the Obama administration was counsel to the Democrats on the Judiciary for Trump’s first impeachment, he is a CNN commentator, and co-founder of the bi-partisan Voter Protection Program. I needed to talk to him now, because this second impeachment’s results bummed me out. Norm is an optimist, and he did cheer me up. (And the lawsuits against Trump are starting to be filed.)
As I write this I’ve been trying to put myself in the shoes of Texans and other Americans who are dealing with the dramatic snowfall and have no heat or power. For us in the Northeast, snow – the kind we have – is either fun or a nuisance. It can strangle us -- I’ve lived through at least two snowpocalypses that shut life down for days – but we had heat and electricity. So I haven’t been in your boots, exactly. Being cold is worse than being hot in my opinion. I’m sending warm hugs and hoping you get power, shoveled out, and lots of hot soup. Here it is cold – in the 20s – but the sun is shining (or “blazing”, as my father used to say), and I am a sucker for the sun -- its warmth and its promise. It improves everything and of course melts the snow and ice.
“This world clean fails me; still I yearn.” Melville’s quote is apt again.
I’m watching the grey creep into my hairline and feeling that I’m stuck in amber. Where did the time go and what am I doing? To tell you the truth, the last 137 weeks have been purposeful and doing this podcast has been truly fun and at times exhilarating. When people say they’ve enjoyed it, tried something that was recommended, or felt they learned something they never knew about a well-known guest, I feel good; it validates all the work and time that believe it or not go into the podcast. However, after 137 weeks I’m thinking that with Joseph Biden in the White House we can begin to wind down. The podcast is not an income provider, and I want to move on. It may be a book or another podcast. Watch this space. But, stay with me for now. We have several great guests coming up and the end is near, not here.
NOTE: If you are reading this, this is my written Blog. To LISTEN, please SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio – or wherever you get your Podcasts. To WATCH it on YOUTUBE where you’ll see the full unedited interview - Click HERE. And if you’d like to rate it as well, PLEASE DO! It helps get my podcast noticed.
But first, my five things that make life better.
1. My Uniqlo Heat-Tech pants. Do you know Uniqlo the giant Japanese retailer? They have patented something called “Heat Tech” which is a way to keep you warm in your clothes. They put it in long underwear, socks, tights, jackets, and now a pair of dressy looking wool looking trousers (can’t wear jeans every day.). They hang beautifully and they don’t feel like the material has been treated in any way. They are toasty. And when worn with long johns, they are epic.
2. My PupProtector™ Waterproof Throw Blanket from paw.com. After we noticed that Sheila was picking at the upholstery on our couch I did a frantic online search for something that would protect my furniture from the little nibbler. I found this. And I couldn’t be happier. (Now she can also visit us on top of the bed. Don’t tell.) Paw.com makes a lot of fake fur pet products.
3. The Brisket Sandwich at Orwasher’s Bakery. It comes with a pickle on a sourdough bagel. Toast it or not; it’s perfect either way. $9.00. (Orwasher’s is a heritage bread bakery in NYC. They are not really known yet for their sandwiches.)
4. A page on Facebook (which I’ve officially um abandoned), called “I Grew Up in Old Manhattan” that indulges in some serious nostalgia. When I was growing up in the 60s, the majority of married couples moved to the suburbs, and those families who stayed here knew one another or knew a friend of yours. This page is a kind of a digital scrapbook and serves as reminiscence porn for me. I do not, strangely, know the woman who started it and yet we probably were at the same places at the same time.
5. The Covid Industrial Complex. I keep forgetting how many people are engaged in trying to get everyone vaccinated and protected. It’s the scientists, the factory workers, the people who ship the stuff ice cold, the nurses, the administrators, doctors, people who check your credentials when you arrive at the vaccination site. I just got my first dose and everyone working there was scrupulous, clear, helpful, and cheerful. I had no long wait or discomfort. I appreciate everyone involved.
NORM EISEN’S 5 THINGS
1. My wife and daughter—they keep me from getting too full of myself which I sometimes might have a slight tendency towards
2. 7-11 robot barista, best $2.29 x-large latte in town. I write about this in the case for the American people
3. Rock Creek Park hiking paths, it’s like having a national Park in my backyard
4. TheRealReal.com, “whadda deal!” I just cycled through a generation of shirts and I found beautiful very lightly used ones here for between $20 and $30.
5. KN 95 mask
7-11 robot barista, best $2.29 x-large latte in town. I write about this in the case for the American people
MORE ABOUT NORM EISEN
A Case for the American People: The United States v. Donald J. Trump
By Norm Eisen
Twitter: @NormEisen
Twitter: @Protect_Voters
Facebook: @VoterProtectionProgram
The 5 Things That Make Life Better podcast is recorded and produced at The Field in NYC. My team is Shpresa Oruci, Michael Porte, Sam Haft and Boco Haft.The Field in NYC.