I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is almost upon us. And for the first time in several years, I am hosting.   While for most people on Thanksgiving the turkey is the “star” of the show, I am all about the side dishes. I love filling my plate with a taste of every side dish and just a smidgen of turkey. Given that I am hosting, my plan is to have an assortment of sides to appease me. :)    

Four blogs ago I focused on those who by action(s) or inaction(s) enable creeps to perpetrate terrible harm or worse on others.   Friday I received an email disturbing in content: it defended Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. I replied,

This one is for you, Mom!   As a daughter of immigrants who arrived in the U.S. in the early 1900’s, when your parents’ lives were threatened abroad in pogroms, you were raised with compassion and kindness, teaching you the importance of love and family. During the Depression, money was so tight but food was always on the table. You taught us about this unconditional love from your parents. And taught me to care and fight for the present day immigrant who came here to survive and have love and family.  

In these high stakes, politically charged, days of social media exposure I attempt to stir it up on Facebook and Twitter.  What amazes me is the degree of responsive heated, opinionated exchange generated on my feed. I try not to be too obvious in my leanings, but anyone with half a brain can discern my bent.

I attended a talk among glass artists who were discussing their approach to their craft. One artist mentioned that he never went to college and observed that he was not enamored of formal education. As he explained further, he clarified his observation that teachers only taught what they knew and that students are acknowledged for repeating what the teacher knows. The result, he urged, is that students are not taught to experiment and go beyond. From the artist’s perspective, this discourages new techniques — doing something that is heretofore never tried or unthinkable.

One of the greatest things about being a member of the Gotham Tribe is the opportunity you have for utilizing your skills to create events that everyone can enjoy. Things like the Golf Outing, the Battle of the Bands, Highline Tours, were all created out of members ideas and their collaboration. These celebrations have been wonderful times for all those who have been fortunate enough to attend.

  Jaclyn was gathering some family videos and photos for a project she is doing at school. In strolling down video memory lane, we stumbled across a snippet of Bill filming the kids dancing to Thriller. They were probably 10 and 6 years old at the time.

I am a big fan of “Shark Tank.”  I love seeing the different products and hearing the sharks’ reactions to them. But I think what I enjoy the most is hearing the advice the sharks give the entrepreneurs.  If you listen closely, sometimes it’s almost a master’s class in running a business.