On the second day of our 1985 Summer vacation we were sitting at breakfast in Hampstead when I overheard 3 Birmingham lads sitting at the next table talking about extra tickets and I cast my line and came away with 2 (face value) tickets to that day’s Live Aid Concert. In retrospect, it was our destiny. I knew there would be a concert, but had mad …
At first, I thought it was a weird request. We were at an art show and a gallery owner we know, apologized and asked me to retrieve his phone that was charging in his booth which was about fifty feet away. He was pushing a stroller with the young child of his assistant who was attending the booth and explained that if he went back to the booth, th …
As Fred the K says, strange days... One thing I am fascinated by is the concept of a sole survivor. Are they racked with guilt or do they thrive on their good fortune? Recently, I heard a story from a Doctor whose sister died on 9/11/01. She worked for Compaq and was having a big power breakfast at Windows on the World. She and her team had go …
Perhaps it’s the end of an era. One of my local regular lunch haunts had a big sign in the window last week. “Effective 11/11, we will no longer accept cash.” I must admit that I usually use a credit card to buy lunch. But I wondered what it would mean if I just wanted to stop in for a cup of coffee. Credit card too? What if someone c …
Anyone who knows me knows I love to travel. One of my favorite aspects about travelling is learning about a different culture. I love eating where the “locals” eat, going into their supermarkets, and pharmacies all to see beyond what tourists normally see. I especially love being able to bring home a piece of another lifestyle. Usually, it’s their …
Since I took on this Sunday blog for Gotham Networking, this represents the first time I get to draft something on Veteran’s Day. It always falls on November 11. As we know from the news, today marks a century – 100 years – passed since the Armistice that officially brought an end to the First World War. Four years ago I participated in a ceremony …
I almost never donate money at meetings. I give charity privately. However, as a show of my deep thanks to the patronage I’d received for 10/10 Optics from the disbanding LGBT group, I put my $20 and business card in the pass around envelope for the Gotham SEASON OF GIVING. And, then I forgot about it. A few months later I was having a very diff …
I must admit that until this past weekend I was unfamiliar with Uber (Lyft too). We went to Ann Arbor to visit our grandson Jackson and to see the Michigan-Penn State game in The Big House and were advised not to rent a car on such a hectic weekend due to parking problems. Joanne had the Uber app on her phone and was therefore in charge of hooking …
We were going to be in Chicago and if we had any extra time we were overdue for a visit to the Art Institute. In anticipation, we took two membership cards from museums that are participants in a nationwide museum reciprocity program. When we arrived at the ticket desk, the young man checked the cards and advised that the Art Institute did not hon …
I am writing this blog on Tuesday afternoon, there is anecdotal reporting that the turnout is larger, which is a wonderful thing. The more who vote, the more we truly are governed "by the people, for the people." So I have no idea what we will be waking up to. A Blue Wave? A Red Flood? A Purple stream? Whatever happens, We Are One and we'd best get …
I know that my blog topic is a repeat. Corey very eloquently blogged about the importance of voting on Sunday. But it's Tuesday and as you are all reading this, a critical election is happening all around us. How could I blog about any topic other than the importance of exercising our collective right to vote? Whether we all agree or …
Mitch’s blog this week really resonated with me. He wrote about how it’s no longer the American way to be considerate of others. My own observations have taken his comments one step further, we do not even acknowledge one another anymore. My children have often remarked that I talk to everyone. And I do. I’ll strike up conversations with bank tel …
Approaching Election Day, I look forward to simply advocating Americans take their right to vote seriously; that they exercise on or before Election Day. 365 days ago I blogged that Voting Matters. Matters even more this year. Interestingly the ballots Shelly and I cast may matter more on three City Charter referenda than on candidates (I fully ex …
I was observing my own actions this week as well as the people around me how considerate, or inconsiderate, we all are. My unscientific study yielded some interesting results. I've noticed people not holding the door open, push to go first at the supermarket and speeding up so the driver, who has their blinker on, can't move into their lane. It s …
I am a loyal disciple of Juice Plus which I use every day and believe bolsters my immune system. If that wasn’t enough there are also little inserts in my delivery which I read and are quite fruitful and interesting. The following caught my eye: New research shows that allowing yourself to be bored is key to creativity. While out for a drive, a wal …
