Marjorie's Musings

A Unique Find

2010-02-17T11:30:00.012-05:00

Good afternoon my lovely friends! What a beautiful, sunny day to help melt the many inches of snow we have endured this winter. Given that I have been cooped up indoors for the past few weeks due to the uncooperative weather, I really have no excuse for not writing sooner. My apologies.

Our holidays were gorgeous. Were yours? I very much hope so.

Alfred and I visited our beloved relatives in New England. We first embarked on a trip to the land of Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys where we spent one of the most quaint Christmases I can remember. Several generations gathered over several days to celebrate. We consumed too much food and imbibed too many libations and, dare I say, had almost too much fun.

We then headed south to Boston and visited with the doyenne of my family - my sprightly yet fragile grandmother. She prefers the crisp ocean air of Massachusetts and has chosen to spend her later years there, enjoying her dreams of New York. Alas, she is definitively aged, but in her own most indomitable way.

I am writing today because I wanted to share a wonderful story about one of our recent Dunn & Overwith clients. A delightful young man who had ventured west inquired about our securing a unique necklace that he desired. The necklace, shown to the left above, is only sold in the United States at a store in Manhattan called Topman.

Our client described the necklace to us and was even resourceful enough to provide the assigned Topman item number. We went to the Topman store, which is on Broadway south of Houston Street, and asked one of the exceedingly modern-styled sales associates for assistance in finding the necklace. Voila! We matched the item number we had from our client to that of the necklace and were on our way. A Dunn & Overwith package arrived in California at our client's home a few days later with his necklace. He was overjoyed and so pleased that he was able to purchase this item despite living almost three thousand miles away from the nearest Topman store.

Just another example of how Dunn & Overwith can be of assistance.

Unit my next post, I remain steadfastly yours,

Marjorie Overwith

Dreaming of the Hamptons...

2009-11-13T12:34:00.005-05:00

Is this wind whistling through my windows thanks to someone or something named Ida? Her ferocity is almost too much to bear! A wonderful opportunity, though, to stay indoors and catch up with my dear friends.

I know I have been quite remiss in my posts, but Alfred and I enjoyed a very busy end of summer. We embarked on an adventure to a certain long island to the east of Manhattan. After we made our way past the more industrial sections of this area, we came upon the busy farming and fishing community of East Hampton. We fell in love with the lush greenery framed by the whitecapped surf. I do not understand why Mother and Father chose not to holiday here. Oh well...

Our trek became more like a scouting expedition, however, when one of our clients requested that we locate a house for her in which to rejuvenate for the months of August and September. We found a lovely place for her, complete with a gorgeous pool resembling an oasis that magically appears in the desert. A sultan-like setting, if you will.

We ensured her cupboards were stocked and her linens fresh. We had our attorney friend review and negotiate the lease for this temporary shangri-la and even arranged for our client's transport from the city to the country.

Our client was thrilled. She enjoyed her stay and was reluctant to return to Manhattan at the end of September. Could one blame her, though? Especially on a day like today, who could not dream of summer days that seem so far away.

Until my next post, I remain steadfastly yours,

Marjorie Overwith

A Little Poetry

2009-09-01T11:28:00.006-04:00

Oh, how I adore autumn! Now, I do not want to get myself too excited about the imminence of my favorite season, but there is just a hint of crispness in the air today that teases me about what will soon be.

You know how I do enjoy composing these little missives. Well, we were pleased to assist one of our clients who too appreciates the fine art of writing.

Our client's mother, Marie Wrieden Scharg, passed away several years ago. From all accounts Marie (pictured to the left) was quite the lady - a deeply spiritual and well-read woman, she loved travel, fun, food and new experiences and tried to live with a positive attitude. In her later years, she was known in her town as "The Grand Dame of Spring Lake".

In addition to her many other talents, Marie was a prolific poet. She left reams of her carefully crafted words to her daughter who wanted to share her mother's inspirations with others. Our client turned to Dunn & Overwith to assist her with the editing and production of a book of her mother's poems.

First, we worked with the client on deciding which of Marie's verses should be included in the book. We then transcribed Marie's work from the carbon paper on which she had originally typed her poems into a workable electronic copy. Our client engaged the services of a friend, an artist, to provide some illustrations for the book. Finally, we found a self-publishing operation that gave us specific instructions on how to format and upload the text and pictures on to their system. After a couple of rounds of proofs from the publisher and comments from Dunn & Overwith - voila! - a beautiful soft-cover book of Marie's poetry for our client to give to family and friends. A fitting tribute, really, that I am sure would have just tickled Marie.

In closing, I would like to share with you one of Marie's poems, appropriately entitled "Autumn":

Before autumn bids adieu
All nature’s robed in varied hue.
The pumpkin fields in orange clad,
Corn sheaves tied in proud array.
Leaves - yellow, bronze and deepest red,
Know it’s time for winter’s bed.
Fear not, dear friend, another spring,
And the entire world again will sing.

Until my next post, I remain steadfastly yours,

Marjorie Overwith

2009-08-17T19:41:00.005-04:00

Hello, hello my good friends!

Just a quick note today to alert you to our revised website (which I am assured has absolutely nothing to do with the location of spiders).

Please be so kind as to visit Dunn & Overwith at http://www.dunnandoverwith.com/ and learn about all of the personal assistant services we offer.

Until my next post, I remain steadfastly yours,

Marjorie Overwith

A Day at the Salon

2009-08-05T15:32:00.016-04:00

The humidity has finally returned to New York City.

That is not to say that I missed this most dreadful meteorological condition. Indeed, I am desperate to travel to our Western frontier, where I am told a dry heat reigns, to avoid the stick of our summers. However, I will bear the unavoidable dampness that collects on my forehead and the unwilling curl of my otherwise straight hair for all the wonders that New York has to offer. And, in any event, I know the perfect gentleman to tend to all matters follicle.

Last year, we assisted this gentleman in putting the final touches on his magnificently charming salon in our West Village. He is a prince of a man, really. Equal parts impeccable yet approachable. One of our most able assistants helped him over several days to unpack and organize the tools of his trade, clean to the spotlessness he requires and generally make the few hours prior to his grand opening as free of worry as possible. A better right hand our fair stylist could not have found.

Our grateful client has not surprisingly achieved much success over the past year. Ladies, I recommend him to you highly. Just look at his stunning work above! Should you find yourself in need of a routine cut of your locks, a decadent polishing in anticipation of an evening ball or just a simple boost (of ego as well as hair), visit Ryan Nickulas of Ryan Darius Salon at 82 West 12th Street.

Tell him Marjorie sent you.

Until my next post, I remain steadfastly yours,

Marjorie Overwith

Grandmother's Hayride

2009-07-20T11:27:00.013-04:00

A very good day, my friends. The view from my window appears to indicate an afternoon like we have seen too often this summer in New York - depressed, colorless skies waiting to open up with angry clangs of thunder. No matter though, we must soldier on and at least keep the memory of sunshine warm inside of us!

My thoughts today harken back to this past fall when we at Dunn & Overwith were asked to secure a "hayride" to transport the grandmother of one of our clients from the house of worship at which she would be praying to her surprise Western-themed 80th birthday party. The event was to happen in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (I have always enjoyed my visits to Boston, that City on a Hill so recognizable by the dome of its State House building resplendent with the work of Paul Revere).

I must admit, I was a bit puzzled by this particular request. Of course I know that farms require hay to be moved from place to place within their fences and therefore have horses harnessed to an often rickety cart for such purpose. But why would one want to travel like so when lovely horse-drawn carriages are available? And in Massachusetts no less! Oh, what a sight for the Cabots and the Lodges to behold - the Oregon Trail brought to their backyards!

I was not the only one with questions regarding this task. We called on many local farmers who we understood had such vehicles at their disposal. However, they were loathe to rent their horses and haycarts in autumn as such "rides" are a staple of their enterprise during this time when children visit them to pick apples from their orchards and pumpkins from their patches. Further, as one would expect, only certain types of vehicles are allowed on the roads of Massachusetts. For those wishing to drive a horse-drawn cart, a special license is required. So in effect, some of these "hayrides" could not even venture off their paddocks.

Not to worry though. One of our very resourceful assistants located a company in Massachusetts that specializes in event transportation, albeit for wedding parties, that indeed had such a "hayride" available. We confirmed the date and time our client needed the transportation and where grandmother would be awaiting her chariot. The client then called the company with her payment information and all was set.

The event went beautifully and our client was very pleased with our efforts, which took three hours and cost $90.00, a price she was happy to pay to save her that much time and potential frustration. As you can see from the picture above, a good time was had by all.

Until my next post, I remain steadfastly yours,

Marjorie Overwith

Greetings!

2009-07-17T18:07:00.005-04:00

First, a thousand thank yous for suspending your disbelief with respect to the preposterousness of a centuries-old woman "blogging" her thoughts about the personal assistant experience in modern day New York City. I appreciate your indulgence.

I remain skeptical about this medium - a diary of fine parchment and a Waterman fountain pen, I would prefer. However, I have been informed that this, this "blogging" (which to me sounds like the industry my hearty cousins have so successfully undertaken in the Adirondacks) is a required component of doing business today. So, alas, I must relent...

I shall endeavor to keep you equally informed and amused as I detail the happenings of my company, Dunn & Overwith (http://www.dunnandoverwith.com/), that I began with my dearest friend, Alfred Dunn. (I am unsure how he escaped this experience, but I believe he simply may have been lucky enough to possess a name not quite as alliterative as mine). I do hope that you will follow my "musings" and that you will request the same of your friends and neighbors. If you utilize our services, you certainly will have the time to do so.

Until my next post, I remain steadfastly yours,

Marjorie Overwith