Do you know what I mean?  Did it ever happen to you?  Did something suddenly come out of nowhere unexpectedly and happen so fast? It happened to me last week.  I was driving along the Grand Central Parkway, in lane and observing the speed limit, when two cars came upon me weaving through the traffic as if in a careless contest or race.  You’ve seen them and have to marvel at their elan and daring. And then it happened, a third car in front of me changed lanes suddenly without...

Many years ago, we went out to dinner at a nice restaurant with some friends. Our server came by  and asked if we had any questions about the menu. Our friend said, “I’ve heard that the portions here are very small.” “Last time I’m ever going out to dinner with her” I said under my breath. That scene was in my mind the other evening when we were speaking to the owner of a very nice restaurant that we frequent in the City. He was talking about the challenge of getting porti...

On August 14, 38 years ago, Lech Wałęsa led shipyard workers in Gdansk, Poland, in a successful strike to protest the dismissal of activist worker Anna Walentinowicz.     Part of a growing campaign to gain political freedom and improve economic conditions for Poland’s labor force, the 16,000 workers secured Miss Walentinowicz’s swift reinstatement and then elected her to the workers’ committee to negotiate with the Polish authorities and shipyard management.   Let’s all rem...

  The other day, I pulled into a parking lot by a local store. Another driver and I approached an open spot at exactly the same time from opposite directions.     How many of us have had that experience? The other driver looks angrily, honks, won’t move, etc. All because of a proprietary feeling over a parking spot.     On this particular day, however, we both looked at each other and laughed – and the other driver promptly waved at me, backed up and took another spot.   ...

  Do you find yourself, once in a while, daydreaming at your desk?   This week I was working on a long difficult document and I really needed a bit of an intellectual break. So, for a few minutes I took a mental break and planned my dream trip. For me, that trip would be to Paris. While I was in Paris for one day while on a cruise, I would love to spend more time there. For a few moments, at my desk, I thought about walking the Champs Elysee, eating in small French bistro...

We saw – and very much enjoyed – a musical last night at the New World Stages. Desperate Measures, very loosely (better to say barely) based on Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, proved a delightful musical. Recommend you see it. Every time I glanced to my right, I saw Shelly smiling. Female lead Lauren Molina seemed to channel Lucille Ball with her facial expressions. The plot might not play well in the era of #Me2 but you do not think about it. As a country-rock enthusiast,...

There's a new trend called “Snapchat dysmorphia,” where people are seeking out cosmetic surgery to look like the filtered and edited version of themselves shared on social media platforms like Snapchat.   If you're unfamiliar with Snapchat, you can easily make your face thinner, eyes bigger, nose smaller, etc. What's happening is that plastic surgeons are noticing that more and more patients are coming into their offices in hopes of appearing like a filtered version of themse...

One of my favorite pastimes or hobbies is to take pictures/record images and my new IPhone 10 has the best camera ever available to me. For instance, the other day I looked out the back door and observed vivid butterflies flitting through the flowers. I quickly grabbed my phone, ran out and clicked away. The best of those clicks is above.  To me, a very very beautiful Monarch Butterfly image.  I hope you find it as striking as I do!...

Our neighbors are fanatics about coupons — asking us to make sure that those hallowed sections of the newspapers are not sent to recycling without their review. I was somewhat skeptical about coupons until a few years ago when certain prescription medicines became over the counter and I noticed considerable savings being offered by certain drug manufacturers. Searching for and cutting those coupons became a weekly event. Last week, any lingering doubts about coupons were put...

Yesterday I had the glorious experience of spending the day in Atlantic City. There is a wonderful bunch of us who do this annually and it is a very special time to connect in a carefree atomosphere. The great thing about AC is that you can gamble in the shiny casino(s), or go to the beach to sun & swim, or go to the outlet shops and find a great deal on something you may or may not need, and eat some really good food. Originally we went to Carmine's but the last couple o...

  I love my iPad – but last month I had to replace my phone and now I am obsessed with my iPhone X.     My son is heading off to college and is emphatically switching from his Mac to a Dell laptop. He is insistent that the programs he will need will work better on a Dell.     He is also longing for a Microsoft Surface tablet. Consequently, a little technology conflict on his way to college.     Did I tell you how much I like my hotspot? [Although truth to be told our Go...

  Before the internet and cell phones there were two ways to wish someone a happy birthday. You either called them or mailed them a birthday card. With people you are close to, you probably would have done both. With cell phones and social media, our choices are much more expansive.     Currently, in addition to mailing cards and calling, one can text, post on Facebook or Instagram. And for those who are really social media savvy, you can send a Snap story (admittedly I h...

At Gotham meetings we’ll mention the “Power of Gotham.” How through Fredslist which I have moderated since last fall, we find help for our needs, some rather difficult, place friends and relatives and some of us in new gigs. Many of us look good to friends, relatives – and clients who benefit from the introductions to the professionals in our Gotham tribe. Through the relationships we develop, business results. And not to diminish the social, real and enduring friendship resu...

Just yesterday, Reynolds Wrap announcedthat it's seeking a "Chief Grilling Officer" to be paid $10,000 to travel and eat barbecue. I'm not kidding (see link at the end of this blog)   The company said the CGO would be sent to "some of the top barbecue cities in the country" to sample grilled meats and learn about grilling culture and barbecuing techniques.   The person would be required to "share tips, techniques and pictures of your travels on the Reynolds Kitchens website ...

When I was young I suffered from severe youthful irresponsibility which was best exemplified by being habitually late. It’s a fact that I was an hour late to my PSAT test. As a consequence, I really hated myself for this characteristic which forced me to flip into a person who hates to be late. One of our biggest disagreements in our long and bountiful marriage is that Joanne doesn’t need to be early and I have to be. One of the consequential manifestations of this trait is t...