Twenty years. A thousand-plus Monday nights.  Yes, we started this blog thing in August 2006 and we have reached a milestone anniversary.At some point even in the early years, Monday nights brought that same flicker of panic – what am I going to write about this week?? You may assume it gets easier with experience. Sometimes that is true but honestly, some weeks it just doesn't. The blank page doesn't care how long you've been doing this — it just sits there, waiting for you to fill it up.

When everyone was at the golf outing, I was in court on a continuing trial. In my opening statement I asked the judge a seemingly rhetorical question, “Why are we here?” While not said out loud, but implied in that question, was that this should have been an easy case to settle. There were no minor children involved, the income earner spouse was a W-2 wage earner and all the parties’ assets been identified and quantified. 

As many in Gotham know including from a blog posted midweek, Gotham’s 2026 Bob Formica Golfing Outing sponsored by Brainlink International took place last Monday (August 10) at Cold Spring Country Club in Huntington.  Festivities started with a 9:30 a.m. Breakfast/Bunch buffet and after golf concluded with  4:30 p.m. cocktail party and 6:00 p.m. dinner which included an auction of a table at Rao’s support The Gotham Foundation. 

It feels like almost everything today makes people choose a side.A news story. A company. A famous person. A political point of view. Even a simple talk with friends can turn into an argument about who is right.People are often rewarded for being loud and confident. Anger spreads quickly, especially on social media. Listening to someone with a different opinion can seem weak, and changing your mind can feel like losing.Because of this, people talk more but understand each other less.

I admit it, I am addicted to and inextricably connected to my iPhone. It is evidenced by it regularly reporting my over 12 hours of screen time.  I consider my phone a "Window into the World" and the main source of current events (and conspiracy theories).Yes, I frequent X and question the source. Yes, I post on Facebook and receive "Awards" for my content, eg, I post obscure photos of celebrities and award pictures of "Bingos" for correct answers.  Truth be told, I'm still amazed by the frantic competition for the "Bingo" picture.  

Summertime. A time for vacations. Perhaps a vacation away from home. And that brings us to packing.For some, it’s simply throw a few things into a suitcase and they’re off. For others, packing is not-so-simple.I think I’m somewhere in the middle. My list — carried over from prior trips — is a big help.Undoubtably, two things are inevitable: I’ll forget something and I will have packed too much. 

Monday Aug 10 was the best of the year for the Gotham Family. The golf outing is always a great day. 23 years ago Norm sold is soul to the devil to garantee good weather and it was a great trade! Cold Spring CC is a great venue, The golf is top notch, the happy hour and the food (Shrimp and Lobster) are always a hit. The dinner was a great way to finish off the evening. If you have never been to this event then its a must attend for next year. If you do not play golf you can come just for the Happy Hour and Dinner. Its real world example of how the Gotham Family is a great community.

Rona started this conversation yesterday with a hint – a group of friends out for dinner.  The critical omitted fact was that the group was all connected to Gotham.  Everyone came to our network family in different ways at different times. But this group of friends would not have existed without the Gotham experience. And, there was not only friendship at this table – there was also business.  Because we know that it is better to do business with friends and this group personifies that mantra.