As I write this, I am on vacation; albeit “turning the corner” on this vacation. As much behind as lies ahead. 13.1 miles into the marathon. It occurs to me that there is always a “turning the corner”. In everything we do, there’s a point at which we’re half-way through. Midway. Something behind us and something ahead. Sometimes turning the corn …
It seemed that everyone was doing it, so we gave it a try. Netflix that is. First “Breaking Bad”, then “House of Cards.” As late comers, we're still catching up with the old seasons. I can get as addicted as the next person. I was completely in to “24” and Monday nights were off-base for anything except watching the show. We were in Seattle for …
I was so relieved when Nancy blogged last week about enough snow for this season. I figured that, with the well-respected Power of Gotham, we would be free of the white stuff for the rest of the winter. I won't lose faith in the Power of Gotham. I must accept the fact that there are forces at work with the weather that even Gotham's might can't …
Recently, I've seen an increasing number of articles about minimizing one's life. Just yesterday there was a piece online about a man who, as director of operations for a telecom company in Ohio, was asked to submit a plan to close stores and terminate 41 employees. He submitted the plan, with his name of the top of the list. He left his job and st …
We were in Florida last weekend visiting my Mom in Delray. Every morning we took a walk along the beach and enjoyed the 50 degree temperature difference from home. (I understand how the happiness of New Yorkers in Florida is tied to the difference in the weather.) While walking I couldn't help but think of the dog walking blogs --- Fred's and D …
I often wonder about the "personalities" of machines and other inanimate objects. We have a Keurig coffee maker at home. A few weeks after we bought it, it started acting funny. By "funny" I mean that it never gave you the amount of coffee that you asked for. Regardless of the button you pushed -- for a small, medium, or large cup of coffee, i …
I don't know whether he told them to do it or whether he knew. The answer to the popular question of the last few days -- "Do you think he knew?” -- largely depends on what you thought of him in the first place. What's ironic is that, by most accounts, he's been doing a pretty good job. And don't hold the fact that he has political ambitions ag …
It has become an all-too-frequent scene. I notice across the restaurant a couple enjoying a nice quiet dinner. Then I see the smart phones, either on the table or in the hands of one (or both) of the diners. “What could possibly be so important?” I wonder. And then the lyrics of Stephen Stills flow melodically through my mind. “...and if you ca …
What would you do if you had nothing to do ? I pondered the thought earlier today - New Year's Day - after friends with whom we were to spend the day had to change their plans because of a family emergency. I had been thinking about “unstructured” time as something to aspire to in the new year. Although not something that would be attract …
Rocking chairs belong in baby nurseries. I hadn't given this much thought until last weekend when we were baby-sitting for our grandson Jackson and he needed to take a nap. It wouldn't have happened without the rocking chair in his room. As I sat holding Jackson and rocked, I was soothed with memories of rocking my children in the rocking chai …
Unless it touches us directly, we are generally immune to crime. It is something that happens "out there" and “to someone else”. From that perspective, we follow the news and accept crime as part of the landscape. But every once in a while, a crime -- even “out there”-- touches us and gives us pause. Such was the recent car-jacking and murder …
We were in Miami last weekend for Art Miami and got to visit the new Perez Art Museum which opened last Wednesday. If you're in Miami, don't miss the Museum. And try to get there while the "Ai Weiwei- According to What?" exhibit is on. At a time when we contemplate the life of Nelson Mandela, the art of this Chinese dissident/artist is especial …
“It's better to give than receive, but what goes around comes around.” The Gotham mantra kept going through my mind as I watched us bestow the Red Bandana and the Networkers of the Year Awards, and make the grants to four charities from the Gotham Foundation on Tuesday evening at the Holiday Party. I remember when, years and years ago, we …
Since I blog on Thursdays, I have the pleasure of using this space once a year to wish the entire Gotham family a very Happy Thanksgiving. May you enjoy the day and share thanks with those near and dear to your heart. And may you find much to be thankful for in all that surrounds you. Happy Thanksgiving.
I was first asked to give a DNA sample several years ago. The request came from a cousin who had learned that a graduate student was doing research and compiling a database of Jews of Eastern European heritage. The purpose, or one of the purposes, was to possibly connect distant relatives whose parents and grandparents had been killed and/or displa …
