I just got back from a couple of days skiing upstate. There is a lot to pack when you go skiing. Ski gear takes up a lot of room and it is easy to forget something.

But I learned this trip that there is something new and essential to pack for any trip of more than two days. And that is a beard trimmer. No, I do not have a beard. But I do have a beard trimmer.

The bad news is this: When... More >>

As the New Year is only two days away I'm walking around with a short sleeve shirt enjoying the benefits of global warming and pondering the meaning of life thinking about what 2007 will bring?

Here are some predictions:
Smaller iPods - about the size of a pin head
Beautiful sunrises/sunsets - pollution works wonders
A new ailment, Wii wrist, excessive use of the numchuck
Gotham will break ... More >>

First, I extend you New Year's greetings and the hope for peace, happiness and prosperity in '07 and ever onward. Secondly, we should all resolve to be the best that we can be unfettered by convention (or depression). We should find quality time to be with our loved ones and leave nothing unsaid. We should enjoy music, art, athletics, literature, free time, human (tribal) conduct, food, drink, cre... More >>

Although I am not big on New Year’s Resolutions, every new year I acknowledge my desire to reduce the amount of clutter in my life. At a recent joint meeting of Formica I and the Women’s Group, I learned, as we went around and shared New Year’s Resolutions, that I am not alone in my wish to reduce the mess that seems to always surround me.
I can’t tell you how relieved I was to read, in ... More >>

Anyone who has spent time in an elementary school lately might notice that children no longer have the same need to learn how to print or to write in what my teachers called cursive. I clearly remember my own year of third grade (maybe it was fourth) when our classwork wasn't acceptable unless the penmanship was perfect. A waste of time by today's standards when we live with computers that can ... More >>

I have no train thoughts today because I am not on the train. I am home spending the week with my family as I typically do at this time. I wonder, how many of you are also home this week?

I can literally count on one hand the number of friends who go to work this week – and if you count just my working mother friends, that number drops even further.

Did you ever wonder (in the words of A... More >>

Merry Christmas to all -- and to all, a Good Night!!... More >>

This time of year most people think about gifts and vacations and time off of work. I can't stop thinking about the fact that by 4:30 it is pitch black outside. I sit in my office and each day through late December track how the sun sets earlier and earlier and the sky gets darker and darker and the days grow shorter and shorter. In my head I measure the long shadows at noon, and in mid day I ... More >>

It tears at you, eats away at your soul, it boils, it constricts. It also drives, motivates, causes adrenaline to flow, allows you to deal with old issues and somtimes provides a new perspective. It should be expressed without hurting.

It's a part of life. A statement, a declaration of territory a dominant force. It destroys people, countries and boundaries. Great achievements have been reached... More >>

Many of you have heard me repeat Bono's comment when asked why in his opinion U2 has remained mainstream and relevant after 25 years. He responded "Because we treat our fans like a Tribe". This resonated for me and I have been saying that Gotham's family is akin to a tribe. In this connection,I have special holiday greetings for the members of Gotham's "Tribal Counsel": Co Founder Nancy Schess, Ad... More >>

A few days ago, I saw the movie "Babel". I highly recommend it. I understand that it received mixed reviews and may not be in theaters for too long. It isn't the most enjoyable movie you'll ever see. As a matter of fact, I found it very uncomfortable to sit through. But it was one of the most thought-provoking movies I've seen in a long time.

It is a visual expose on communication, cul... More >>

I am the first to admit that I am, and have always been, a fan of the nap. It always confounded me that my kids would fight the concept when I wanted to jump in and nap right along with them.

In the business environment, there has been much talk recently about the benefits of “power napping”. Yesterday’s newspaper had a section about the power nap and entire books have been written on t... More >>

T’was the Week before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Ha!
Seven days left to prepare; to shop, wrap and cook,
When all you want to do is sit down with a good book.
Holiday shoppers all frenzied and shrieking,
Sweating and stressing over gifts they are seeking.
Wee-hour wrapping of ties, shirts and toys,
For all on your list, those goo... More >>

I have been wanting to write something political. But the Gotham Blogfuhrer has made clear to me that it is not allowed. This makes no sense. My blog is my own personal opinion, which I am allowed to have, and does not reflect the views of Gotham at large, though it is pretty much what everyone on the Upper West Side thinks.

So I had to scrap that idea for a topic. But I thought ... More >>

I have fallen prey to the ever popular economic/marketing theory of supply and demand. My son requested a Wii for his birthday/hanukah present - the new Nintendo system that just came out. It's a bit expensive but he's a good kid, honor student, excellent athlete…so why not.

After being told, more than once, "We don't have them and I don't know when we are getting them in.", it appears I have... More >>

Do you ever suffer from depression? I know I do. I call it my "demons". They come upon me whenever they want to. It could be at an otherwise happy or triumphant moment that they choose to haunt me. I tell people that I suffer from undoctored neuroses (I have never seen a shrink or taken medication), but that it provides me with my "edge" (creative or otherwise). They look at me as if I am ... More >>

I’m flying back from a long weekend visit to Paris. Flo and I have been to Paris several times over the last ten years and have always stayed at the same small hotel in a neighborhood on the left bank near the Sorbonne.
Every time we visit we discover new things in our little neighborhood. This year it was a small bakery where we enjoyed a breakfast of juice, chocolate croissant and coffee for... More >>

Today’s train thought goes like this. As I get older, I get more and more competitive. I am not sure what has prompted this progression. Though there are those that might opine it is Fred’s influence, I am not sure that is it.

I have been talking a lot about the blog at recent meetings and asking Tuesday watchers to make sure to chime in.

So, to all my Tuesday friends, did you miss me... More >>

Sittin’ in Sippin’, an internet café in downtown Key West, contemplating blog topics. Should I write about the idea of inspiration, the benefits of writing “long hand”, or just follow up Fred with menu management redux? Instead, I choose the close relative to menu management – decision making.

I think I am an intuitive decision maker, but I’m not sure. After all, I am a Libra, n... More >>

Over the weekend my son played his first two hockey games of the season. One was on Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. His team played against the “Winter Club” at Huntington Country Club. The outdoor ice rink was located on the grounds of a beautiful golf course and was situated down a small hill surrounded by peaceful rolling greens.

Their heated concession area was cozy and warm with a fir... More >>

Today was a shopping day. Actually more like a shopping weekend. Not for the holidays; it was birthday shopping for my mother and step father.

This is very anxiety producing and I have a hard time trying to figure out what to get them. Over the years I have gone though sweaters and scarves and gloves and gadgets and facials and robes and golf stuff. One year that was big birthday for both o... More >>

Two weeks ago a brand new client (love those) asked me to attend his annual employee get together in St. Thomas in January (I love them even more). I said, "Let me get this straight, you want me to go someplace warm, with sun and fun in the middle of winter?"

No brainer, right? Once I looked at the date I realized that I had planned to take my daughter back to college during that same time. Mm... More >>

I don't know about you, but when I get to a restaurant I know what I like and I want it as soon as possible. Alas, it is not to be as my wife (Joanne) of 40 years suffers from a malady I have discovered and named "Menu Management Deficiency" (MMD). An ailment which has plagued me as well, albeit secondarily, for as long as I know her. What follows is an amalgam of my case study of MMD. It starts w... More >>

Several weeks ago, I blogged about "the 24 hour standard"-- my shorthand for the old standard for the appropriate amount of time to return business telephone calls (I believe that every family has its own expectations for returning calls -- most of which are misunderstood and a persistent cause of strife). I observed that the old expectation -- that a call would be returned within 24 hours -- has... More >>

Captain Anthony Marsloe would be 96 this June, and as he is hospitalized, nearing the end of his life, I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate his great generosity, unique achievements and old-world courtliness.

In true Horatio Alger fashion, Captain Marsloe rose from rags to riches, anonymity to renown, and a life of isolation to one surrounded by friends and well-wishers. Anthony ... More >>

In school recently, my 5th grader was asked to opine about the following Ethiopian Proverb: “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.” She had many interesting thoughts about the power of a group. For me, my thoughts went to Gotham.

It is not a new thought that there is power in numbers. Just look at group buying programs or even your “Entertainment” Book. As a labor lawyer, i... More >>

The National Hockey League season is in full swing. The first sure sign is my husband’s hard work every morning checking his “teams” and deciding whether to “pick up” or “drop” a player from the rotisserie hockey teams that he “coaches.” Sound like something for dinner? Well, it’s not. He really is the coach of his own virtual teams, complete with real players that he draft... More >>

This morning I cannot put together one single coherent thought for a blog. That is the downfall of having to do this on Sunday mornings.
So here are two random thoughts.

1. Even though I may miss a Gotham meeting, I still have paid my dues. The way I see it, I should be allowed to pick up my lunch to go. Fred, you owe me about a dozen lunches. And don't forget the tartufo.

2. My son Jo... More >>

I am not perfect. I try very hard to always peform my best, live up to my word and be authentic. I guess it's human nature to make mistakes. In networking mistakes can be detrimental.

I'm angry at myself because I neglected to call someone when I said I would. I subsequently contacted that person, apoligized but have not received a return call or response. I understand. In this fast paced envir... More >>

This past Tuesday was Gotham Day in Gotham (some would argue that every day is Gotham Day in Gotham) as we held our annual "Summit Conference" (sounds pretentious) attended by our "Tribal Council" (Nancy, Ben, Mitch, Deb and me) along with the Chairs and Group Coordinators of most of our 28 groups (Boston and Connecticut visited Gotham).
At the Summit we discussed t... More >>