Oh Well

 Get ready for the madness Sunday anywhere near MetLife Stadium. Argentina will be looking to win back to back  World Cups against Spain, who beat France in the semi finals, who by the way were favored to win it all. Tant pis!

Don't get in a tizzy, it means 'oh well'.

To tell you how difficult this back to back is, it has only happened two other times. Italy, 1934, 1938 and Brazil in 1958, 1962. Some pretty rarefied air!

These Argentina fans are all over. I was in Hoboken after the game Wednesday afternoon and the fans, all dressed in their traditional light blue and white jerseys were parading around First Ave by the bars. Cars were honking horns in celebration. Me, I was trying to pay the meter by my Park Mobile app. I needed to concentrate. Look, I once paid the app, but chose the wrong license plate and wound up getting a $50 ticket on top of my parking fee. You know how I feel about that.

"Tant pis".

What I don't understand about the traffic they keep talking about, is that no one is allowed to drive to the stadium. The only way to access the arena is by mass transit. So what, are people just going to drive there to say they were detoured away from what? A highway.

Argentina, by the way, beat England, who I was pulling for because we met a guy on our trip to Greece last year who sought of looked like Harry Kane. Well, at least I thought he did. And, are you ready for this, his name was Tom Jones. Yeah, pretty cool, right? And he sang karaoke! You got it, "My, my, my Delilah". Him and his wife were great people.

Sounds like a pretty silly reason right? Because I'm finding out how hard it is to bet against Lionel Messi and his teammates.

Since we are talking about England, on July 10th, I'm a little upset my bald head wasn't invited to London to be part of Pit Bulls latex bald head get together to beat the Guiness World Record of, how stupid is this, the latex plastic bald head challenge'. Anyway, they got the record.

Now, if I did go, I would have to take my authorized sized carryon luggage. Yep, finally, these ridiculous bags that people try to pass as a carryon will now be stopped by TSA screeners, because the new machines that do 3D images can only fit a bag measured 22x14x9. About freaking time.

Get ready New Jersey. Sunday, all eyes will be on us. If you are lucky enough to be attending the game, don't hesitate to call your local limousine service. Most of us though, me, will be in search of a watch party.

One more thing. Since the World Cup started about a month ago, I've been struggling with the announcers and all the new phrases I've had learn for this Football lover, not a Futbol fanatic.

Give me Tony Romo and his, "this is the biggest play of the game".

Be safe

John A Sutich

Just Another Story Blog

What is a Bennie

 USMNT, USA soccer team, didn't look too good Monday in our loss to Belgium. That hurt. Before you know it though, it will 2030 and we will ready for the next World Cup somewhere over there in another part of the world.

Something new I heard last week which I never remember hearing, but I am getting older, is "Bridge and Tunnel". This is a New York City slang term to describe suburbanites from the outer boroughs and NJ who make their way into NYC for work and the nightlife. Now, if I take the ferry, what I am now?

Apparently though, this phrase started in the 1970's and it is basically stereotyping people from outside the city as not being 'chic'. But, who cares how goofy I look on the dance floor of Studio 54, as long as I'm dropping my Benjamin's at the clubs.

Which brings me to another slang that I am working hard to erase. Bennie! Not Benny Hill! (the English comedian) For many years we had a home down the Jersey Shore, first in Toms River, then in Point Pleasant Beach which we presently occupy.

Well, a Bennie, if I'm spelling it correctly, are people whose primary homes are in the Northern NJ and NYC area, that come to the shore between May, the unofficial start of summer, to Labor Day weekend. Bennies come down here, crowd the beaches, restaurants, bars and roadways and make life difficult for the locals. My lord, how outrageous! 

Now, I'm sure this is not business owner making these, "oh great the Bennies are here" sarcastic smirk, because I Googled what these horrible people spend in a given summer and it is estimated to be $9.17 billion in Monmouth and Ocean Counties alone. Lose the attitude people.

For me and Doris, we are spending more time in PPB in hopes of losing that Bennie stigma and complain about people who park in front of my house. But, I will tell you this. PPB, gives overnight parking passes, so what most people do, myself included, is either late at night or early AM, the locals park in the spots by our homes, slap that placard in the window and gobble up all the parking spots, which force them Bennies to pay $40 to park in a pay lot. Hey, we need .17 to be 18.

One more thought about NYC. Mayor Mandami created a map, "NYC Immigrant Enclaves" as part of guide for tourism for the people coming in for the World Cup. Pretty cool to see all the different areas and I guess if your looking for your favorite food, just pop out the map and it saves a lot of time not having to ask people in the hotel lobby.

A slight problem though. If you're looking for some Italian food, you better hope your cab driver knows where Little Italy is, because it is not on the map. Wow, are the creators of the map not into some spaghetti and meatballs with plenty of garlic. 

Hey, I'm sure the "B&T" and "Bennies" know where Mullberry Street is. Also, the San Gennaro Feast, which will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary will be starting on September 17th. Get them hot zepp's ready!

Be safe.

John A Sutich

Just Another Story Blog

A Red Card?

 "Take me home, country road, take me home".

Go USMNT. On Wednesday night, America's soccer team, moved on to the round of 16 to face Belgium, after beating Bosina and Herzegovina 2 to 0. It wasn't easy after one of the stars got a red flag, which was very questionable, and was ejected from the game. The US had to play the final 31 minutes plus 10 minutes of stoppage time with only 10 players against 11.

So, to see them celebrating in the stadium singing John Denvers' song along with the fans was fabulous. On to Seattle to take on the Belgium's on Monday.

Okay, other big news today is the "Wedding". Is this all a smoke screen from Taylor and Travis about a wedding at Madison Square Garden? I can't really tell, because I spilled coffee on the watermark on my invitation and the best I can make out, is it will be in Middle Village, Queens.

With all the festivities going on with Fourth of July, why in the world would they decide this is the ideal time for a wedding in NYC. Last night, Thursday, though was I guess the rehearsal party where only about a 100 people were partying in tents outside the Garden. Now, thats the party if you're a somebody!

Well, it's here, for all us other people not invited to the 'wedding'. America is celebrating 250 years. Big celebrations for the holiday, but basically the whole year there is stuff to do to enjoy the moment.

Think about this for a second, I remember when Fourth of July, 1976 was the party. Crap, that was how long ago! I do remember it though. That is the year I first started dating my beautiful bride.

In 1976, I lived in North Bergen but hung out in Gutenberg right down the block from the Galaxy Towers. There was a huge party in the towers and I happened to run into some people who gave me a pass to get into the building. In I went, only to be tossed out on my ass before I got on the elevators! What gave it away, the t shirt and flip flops?

Now, 2026, I live in a building in West New York, just past the Galaxy Towers. Deciding if I want to be in the building or with friends at the Jersey Shore, the decision was made when we were given notice that Port Imperial Blvd would be shut down from 10 AM on the Fourth. No exceptions! No, "but I live here". Closed to all. Even the workers in the building need to find a way to get to work. The only way to go out is to do like our forefather's did. Walk.

The good news about the lock down, is I wouldn't be tempted try and sneak out and head to Nathan's Hot Dog in Coney Island to take on 17 time champ Joey Chestnut in the famous Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest. I didn't think he would be there tomorrow, because he is presently in Indiana on a 180 day probation because of a misdemeanor felony charge. Some judge though, signed off on him making the trip to compete in the contest. Just when I thought I had a chance.

How you doing with all this heat? I enjoy it myself. After all, we complain all winter about the cold, then when the heat is here, what do we do. "Oh, I love Spring".

With this thinking in mind, I was in Lowes Wednesday, you know, 100 degrees. I  was checking out at the garden center cashier, which is outdoors. An older woman was at the register and she wasn't the most pleasant worker at Lowes. I figured it was the heat that was making her act a little curt. Anyway, I innocently asked if she will get a chance to move indoors and work in the air conditioned building.

Well, was that a mistake. She informed me that she enjoys the heat and why complain because we wait all year for the heat. Sound familiar? I hope I'm not wrapped as tight as she was?

Enjoy the weekend and don't to cheer like heck on Monday for our Team.

Be safe.

John A Sutich

Just Another Story Blog

Just a Capfull

 I was scrolling on Facebook the other day and I came across one of those made up scenarios involving a husband and wife and a boat. The guy is standing at the back of the boat waiting for the wife to pass him the five gallon jug with the gasoline. Meanwhile she is waving him off and telling him to wait a second, while all along she is emptying the container into the lake. She then fills it up with water from bottles, gives it to the husband, who then puts it in the engine. Stupid. Then he waves his arms in amazement  when he realizes it's not gasoline.

Now, if she poured that fuel into the lake it would be a mess. How do I know that you may ask?

Well, when I owned a boat, we had it docked in Haverstraw Marina in Rockland County, NY. I just happened to be in the marina on quiet weekday and no people were around. I was doing some maintenance and adding some fluids. I had a small cap of power steering fluid and without realizing what I was doing, for some crazy reason, I flicked it over the side of the boat and into the river, well actually in the marina, but we were on the Hudson River. 

I'm talking a very small capful. Mere drops! I thought we had a second coming of the Exxon Valdez. Holy crap. I sprayed it with the hose hoping to dilute it, but this dumb move just made it worse. I'm looking around to see if anyone is watching this Haverstraw environmental disaster as it started spreading all around the dock area and beyond my little section. 

What do I do? I know. I loaded all my stuff onto the boat, untied my boat, started it up and went for a ride on the Hudson like I was never there. This ain't good. Off I went,  out for about a half hour. But I got to go back sometime. Boy, I hope it's gone.

Not sure what happened, maybe the fish gobbled up the fluids, who knows. But it was gone, at least from my dock spot where my marina home was. I parked the boat, packed up all my stuff and got into my car and headed home like nothing happened.

So, five gallon jug of fuel and no mess. Really, I've been there.  At least when you make those fake videos, try to make them a little more realistic. My spill, probably wasn't as bad as I thought and it must of dispersed itself. After all, the marina is filled with 100's of gasoline powered boats.

Something else about the Internet. Reviews. Do you read them? I breeze through some, but the main thing is you have to pay attention to, is how many people wrote them reviews. Like, if there is a 4.9 rating, is that from one person two years ago or twenty people in the past month. 

Last August I applied for a home warranty with a company called SHW. The reviews were 9.9, but I didn't follow my own advice. I just saw 9.9 and went with them. Then in January, we called them because we were having issues with our clothes dryer, which is an LG and not even two years old at the time. Second issue, first it was still under LG warranty. Poof, that was gone.

The mechanic comes out and says it is a electronic control board. He called the company and they denied the claim saying I didn't have the right program. I didn't get the electronics warranty, just the motor. Why in the world would I do that.

Anyway, fast forward to last week. I filed a claim on the web site for my refrigerator. Leaking water from underneath when I hit ice dispenser I wrote An hour later I get an email denying my claim. They don't cover dispensers!

Two requests two denials. I better read the reviews better.

US Men's Soccer Team took a meaningless loss last night to Turkey, but boy, to lose in the last 10 seconds really has to hurt. Go Team onto the next round.

John A Sutich

Just Another Story Blog

"No Stinking License"

 Back in 2008, and a few years before, Perfect Limo needed to find chauffeurs with a CDL license, which made hiring chauffeurs a little more challenging then in the earlier years. Oh, you could drive a regular sedan or SUV with a normal DL, but if you wanted to drive the larger vehicles, limousines, vans and buses you needed to pass the Commercial Drivers License test. It was no longer the "can you walk, talk and chew gum at the same time" era like in the 80's. This was a good thing though.

Now, I bring this up, because in order to fly a plane, you know, those big things with wings that go up to 35,000 feet in the air and have a few hundred people on them, you need to have a Airline Transport Pilots License or ATPL as it is referred to.

Turns out, Air Canada had a pilot who was employed for 17 years flying those planes that I'm sure are a lot more sophisticated than the 'Kitty Hawk" that Orville and Wilbur took off in 1903. Also, they were probably thinking, "license, we don't need no stinking license".

Best part, Capt. Oops, who flew over 900 flights in that time span, retired in 2025. (Upon further review, he was actually released) He was probably sitting in his backyard enjoying a nice cold beer and wondering how many more minutes until he has to move the sprinkler. When in come the authorities and arrest him.

Apparently, he must of been a good pilot and he did have a pilots license, but in Canada, you need this ATPL certification. So, the problem as I see it, he was just living in the wrong country!

We had a part time employee a few years back, like in the 80's once again, who at her place of business they hired a guy. On his application he stated that he worked in Ohio for 17 years straight. Steady employment, that's good. Then after a few weeks, somehow, they discovered that those 17 years he was a painter alright, but at the Ohio State Penitentiary. Hey, it was steady employment!

I guess background checks isn't such a bad idea after all.

What about those Knicks and thier historical comeback! When the game got done, I was happy, did a little fist pump and said "go Knicks, baby". Then went to bed. But, for thousands of fans who were in NYC Wednesday night after the victory, they thought it would be better to celebrate the victory by doing dumb things like, damaging vehicles, fighting with police and even throwing an egg at a Spurs player, Victor Wenbanyama.

56 people were arrested. How is getting arrested a celebratory thing? I must live a very boring life.

One more thing. This Sunday is the Montvale Chamber of Commerce June 14th, which is 14 years of this wonderful event. Come out and see us the VIP Tent between 10 AM and 5 PM.

Be safe.

John A Sutich

Just Another Story Blog

Not That Old, Baby

 Yesterday, Doris and I went to NYC to see The Great Gatsby, to the 2 PM matinee. We always think we're old for going to the afternoon show, but I'm not too sure about that. It's about eating.! How's that you may ask? Let me explain. 730 PM show, you are eating at maybe 5 to 530. Way too early. But, the 2 show gets you done at 430 in time to get home for a 7 PM dinner time . All good.

We had pretty decent seats and we were one seat off the aisle. I'm thinking to myself, this is great, I'll be able to slide one seat over and sit in that vacant seat and stretch my legs.

After getting familiar with our seating, we went to use the facilities. In the old days it also was to buy my Twizzlers, which the theaters don't have anymore. Why did the Twizzlers get dumped? When we came back, we were surprised to see a woman sitting in that vacant seat. After some small talk, turns out she was a school teacher from Charleston, SC, who taught theater to grammar school kids. She was in the city to visit some friends and see some shows. I'm still upset she took my aisle seat.

Anyway, she mentioned to us that Madonna, you know, Madonna!, was going to be doing a free show in Times Square at 530 PM. Why not, the Gatsby got done at 430 PM, so all we have to do was kill an hour. So, we made our way to Times Square and mixed ourselves into a pretty decent spot, although, we had no clue where Madonna's stage was going to be. It was getting crowded, like uncomfortable, with pot smell amongst the crowd. 

530 became 630 and still no Madonna, when all of a sudden one of those big billboards that light up the streets of Broadway opened up and a stage appeared in the wall. The crowd went crazy. Although, from where we were standing it was hard to make out anything that was going on. The saving grace it was all captured on the massive video screen to the side. She looked good for 67, but she made sure to make those up and down dance routines were done with a lot more caution then she would of done 20 or 30 years ago. 

Yes, can you imagine she started in the early 1980's and here we are mixed amongst this crowd of young people celebrating Gay Pride month who were all singing along to her songs, like 'I Love New York' and 'Get Together' which were out in 2005. I had no clue she was this popular in 2026, because the only Madonna song I ever sung along to was 'La Isla Bonita' which was released in 1987. Talk about withstanding the test of time!

In the early years of Perfect Limo we did have the pleasure of working with a Los Angeles based limousine company that had connections to all the stars of the 80's, both screen and stage and when they would arrive in New York we would transport them around town. It was fun. Just like being in that crowd watching Madonna, even if was only for 15 minutes.

Be safe.

John A Sutich

Just Another Story Blog

Stuck With No One to Talk To

 A little while back, I wrote about a Waymo vehicle that drove away with a customers luggage at a California airport.

Could you imagine one morning, enjoying your morning coffee and getting ready to head off to work. You get into your car and as you prepare to back out of the driveway, your vehicles' senses start bleeping away. What the heck? 

You get out of the car to see what is going on, only to find out you can't get out of your own driveway because there a whole bunch of white computerized vehicles circling and moving aimlessly around with no sense of direction as to where they are headed?

I saw this report a couple weeks ago about Waymo cars being stuck on a side street in an Atlanta suburb. There were enough to clog the street. When I Googled this to find out more, this was not the only issue they have had over the few years in existence.

Maybe that chauffeur who yaps a little too much, really isn't that bad after all? Look, I'm not picking on our guys, but the majority of them like to talk.

Thinking about chauffeurs who talk too much has always been a challenge as to which customers not to send them too. Because, not all of you like to have a conversation while you are making your way to wherever! You might be doing work in the vehicle or making a phone call. When, all of a sudden, you ask innocently, "how are you today?".

Was that a mistake, because now the chauffeur who may be working on his fourth cup of coffee before 7 AM, thinks this is his opportunity to let you know how his day is going!

Sometimes it works the other way. We may get a phone call from a customer who wondered why the chauffeur didn't talk at all to them. "Did I say something wrong?"

Look, I know  myself, it's hard for me to be on an elevator for thirty seconds without striking up a conversation, let alone a two hour ride in a car to JFK crawling along the Van Wyck Expressway!

"How are you, today?"

John A Sutich

Just Another Story Blog