On Sunday I will be throwing out the first pitch at the (Mets minor league team) Coney Island Cyclones game (against the Yankees Hudson Valley minor league team). This is a great honor (bestowed upon me by my Gotham City Networking colleagues, especially Rosalia Ruberto and Corey Bearak) and I am both most appreciative and bigly apprehensive...I am …
We have a 10 year old female Schnoodle (mixed breed Schnauzer/Poodle) appropriately named Charcoal by my wife Joanne. She is, by far, the best dog we have ever lived with. She is so smart that she communicates with her eyes, snorts, barks and tail. So smart that she can tell (dinner) time. She is loving, loyal, brave, vigilant, sweet, curious …
As I mature, I find that I have learned to restrain myself in the face of real or perceived provocation. While the blood is up, I tell myself "Don't let them get to you. Don't dignify it with a response." Oft times, silence is golden in the face and place of fury. Why say or do something that you may later be sorry for? Think before you act! …
I was recently asked for advice by someone who is transitioning from school to the work force. The following are my Top Ten Work Tactics which I shared with her: 1) Show up! Every day. No sick days. Be someone to rely upon. 2) Prepare, no, over prepare! Be ready for any contingency. 3) Work hard, real hard! They may be smarter, but they can be …
This past Tuesday night we had 2 Art Aficionado friends over for what I have dubbed as a Social Art Project. It took place in my Artist wife Joanne's Art studio and there was champagne, Dylan music and delicious Greek food, but mostly it was about creating Art. Our Art Project is called Exquisite Corpse (words in the first line of a similar writ …
We have started going back to the movies, but following our last, most recent, visit I'm not quite sure... We arrived in time for the scheduled start of our chosen flick, unaware that the next 15 minutes are devoted to Coming Attractions and other less biting commercials. I say "less biting" because the Coming Attractions took a shocking bite out …
As a young boy my father constantly told me "You can't get ahead laying in bed with the covers over your head!" Later, Woody Allen said "80 percent of success is showing up."I have led my whole life adhering to these precepts. I suggest that others follow this advice...
Recently, I organized a reunion of fellow contemporary graduates of my Syracuse University alma mater. It was held at the University's mid town New York City "Embassy", Lubin House, a beautiful, circa 1876, brown stone building. The inspiration for the reunion came from my granddaughter Maggie, a recent SU grad who works at Lubin House as Assista …
I was brought up to believe in the necessity for and value of insurance and over the years have paid far far more in premiums than the rare settlement payments I have received. This year the premiums have gone up still again and, despite efforts to understand the increases or "shop" my coverage, I am at a total loss. I have a friend who years …
As the Jamies sang in my youth: It's summertime summertime sum sum summertime It's Summertime! Listen to the song
If you know me at all you know I'm driven. You know, like in the dictionary definition: A person relentlessly compelled by the need to accomplish a goal; very hard working and ambitious. Equally characteristic, lately, I have matured into one who is driven by a coterie of "Wheelmen" and "Wheelwomen". So thank you Mitch, Norm, David, Brad, Jay, Be …
On Tuesday night Insurance Doctor Robert Intelisano presided over his 2nd Annual Gotham Pizza Crawl. Why Robert? Because, to my mind, there is no one we know who knows (and likes) Pizza more than him. Not only does he know where to go, but he knows the history, the recipes and stories that go with it. In fact, he even writes about it. He's been …
Take a deep breath and hold it 'til it hurts, race the clock, stay up late/get up early, steal a night on the town, watch the ball game into extra innings, turn the volume up to the max, read another chapter, have another drink, run an extra mile, bank another dollar, break a rule, spend without thrift, do another good deed, reach for another goal, …
Recently I remarked upon our precious freedoms and our unique Constitutional Bill of Rights. A friend responded by declaring that possibly our greatest Right is not set forth therein. In response to my inquiry as to what was missing he responded, "The Right to be Wrong".Brilliant!We are so often "wrong again" :)Someone else chimed in that "There …
Last week we were entering a local nursery when my car was rear ended by an old beat up pickup truck. Pow! It happened so fast!The air bags did not deploy and my neck snapped back and Joanne felt her spine readjust. After exchanging info and gathering ourselves, I called our doctor who recommended we go to the Emergency Room to be checked out a …
Fridays With Fred
A perfect way to send you into your weekend