It would appear a judge is fed up with incarcerating offenders who appear before him in court. A Michigan Judge Jeffrey Clothier is putting sponges in the hands of shoplifters, ordering them to wash cars in a Walmart parking lot when spring arrives. He hopes this unusual form of community service discourages people from stealing from Walmart. He …
Legend has it that cockfighting abounded in Key West and was a Hemingway favorite. Then it was outlawed in 1986 and the roosters were set free. Unfortunately, in 1998, Hurricane George spread the fowl all over our tiny, pristine Paradise and they have been multiplying ever since. You know why a rooster crows, don't you? Mitigation has failed misera …
I sometimes wonder what I would take if I could only take what I could pack in one suitcase. I’m not talking about packing for a vacation. I am imagining taking and not returning. Perhaps it is the turmoil and catastrophic events that pervade the news… but that’s my imagination.And as I wonder about the contents of that suitcase, I always find myse …
Fred’s last blog about his dog Charcoal got me thinking a lot about our pup, Luna. The bond that has developed between us in just three months, is amazing. We can sense each other’s needs and know when something is not right with either of us. One fascinating aspect of this is when it gets close to her mealtime. Luna has a particular bark, but real …
This past week brought big and happy news in our family. She said yes!! While on a cruise through Italy, my son got down on one knee right in the middle of Naples and asked the love of his life to become his life partner. He took the ring he had been carrying around for weeks out of his backpack, carefully opened the box and through her abject …
I was watching the movie Vengeance this week and, in the opening scenes, two male characters are discussing commitment. Their view on commitment was essentially, in this time of social media and instant gratification, why should they have to commit to anything? With endless options at their fingertips, why commit to personal relationships or long t …
A week ago this morning found Shelly and I at the Legislative Breakfast of the Queens Jewish Community Council (“QJCC”) at the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates. Shelly does not usually join me at these breakfasts but this year our daughter got installed as a director by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. I posted the proud parent moment to …
I do it a lot—maybe more than I should. Do you? Whether it’s analyzing my golf swing, reviewing client interactions, or reflecting on personal relationships, I often find myself looking back with gratitude. But often, I’m my own worst critic, replaying moments and wondering what I could have done better which keeps me up at night. Self-reflection …
Being a pet lover came late for me 11 years ago when a little black, female Schnoodle (Schnauzer/Poodle) entered my life. She is aptly named (by my wife Joanne) Charcoal and pictured. To be honest, it was not love at first sight, but, day by day, she grew on me until she stole my heart. To say I love her is an understatement! That brings us …
I’ve always felt that the happiness of people who live (or vacation or snowbird) in warmer climate, is inversely proportional to the weather in colder climates (from where many seek refuge).So, it was no surprise that we received a text on Sunday (while I was shoveling snow) from our friend who left New York on Saturday morning (before the snow) fo …
There are myriad ways to start the day – for some it’s coffee, tea or even soda for a jolt of caffeine. Others enjoy a cold shower or ice bath. I’ve tried the icy shower – no joy found in that first thing in the morning. How I begin my day sets the tone for the rest of it. A slow, unfocused morning usually leads to an unproductive day. So I w …
I know this may be an unpopular opinion, but I was looking forward to a big storm this past weekend. For me, it was timed perfectly – overnight on Saturday into Sunday morning. We had already planned to hunker down and made sure to finish all our errands on Saturday afternoon. After a quick dinner at a local restaurant, we were ready to watch a …
Every relationship comes with its quirks—those little habits that might drive our partner up the wall. At first, these habits might seem insignificant, but over time, they can test patience. Yet, those that love us, or those we love, see our quirks and choose to love us anyway. My husband is almost phobic about anyone or anything touching his eye …
In advance of this Friday, or for when you opt to observe the sentiments associated with that day, enjoy an updated a set of songs that reflect the sentiments of the day (and more). I present this most current iteration of Songs of Love, a set of 77 videos on YouTube or some 74 tunes on Apple Music. The back story to this playlist: In the summ …
About 20 years ago, my Dad had started working for me 3 days a week. Although he answered the phones and did some bookkeeping, he wouldn't take a penny for his labor. On a particularly rough day, he sat down in my office. He asked if I was okay and said he had some advice, which was an unusual thing for him to say. He rarely gave advice. He sai …
