I very distinctly remember where I was on 9/11. I was on my way into the city merrily sleeping through my everyday ordinary commute on what was not an ordinary day. From the moment I arrived at Penn Station, I knew something had gone terribly wrong. But it took me some time to piece it together. People were talking but there was no real information. I remember taking the bus across town (the subway had been shut down). I was anxious for information and so I didn't finish the ...

The March 1st deadline is quickly coming. It’s the day that single use plastic bags are banned in New York State. With certain exceptions, you will no longer take your groceries home in those plastic bags. As I thought about it, I decided to check on my inventory of reusable bags. I first checked the glove compartment in my car and found four bags neatly rolled and ready for use. There are more at home. Are you ready for March 1st? ...

Our Wilmington Trust office is located in Villanova, PA and we’re moving our offices to Radnor Financial, in Radnor, PA TODAY! It’s an exciting time for our firm because we are consolidating our human capital into one beautiful building. Our Chief Economist and our Chief Investment Strategist will be within an ear shot of my desk, so I’ll be part of real time information. Good for me and good for clients. One of the fun parts of moving is purging of accumulated rubbish. S...

Typically, those words in the supermarket are the precursor to a complaint. I heard this conversation transpiring behind me as I multi tasked on a long line. But then I was surprised – and yes, I was eavesdropping.   When the manager approached, my fellow shopper explained her “ask”. She explained that the woman behind her was there shopping to stock the group home at which she worked with food for the week. I looked over. Overflowing does not come close to describing how pa...

  Sometimes it just happens. You’re in the car in a lousy mood. And the right song comes on that just lifts you right out of your mood.       That happened to me recently. I was in a really bad mood while driving. Collective Souk’s  "All that You Know" started playing on the radio  through my itunes. Within seconds, I had raised the volume and I was singing along, very loudly. But, most importantly, my mood totally turned around. Rather than a scowl, I got out of my car with...

Baseball games – the Spring training variety – returned this weekend. Towards the end of next month we welcome Opening Day.  My twitter feed often includes activities involving Mets players.v Daily I receive various MLB updates about my team and others.  This included ranking of players by position and even a ranking for Fantasy baseball – 800 players in all. Some I agreed with; others I found curious. Often a lack of depth killed my team when injuries “erupted”. Friday’s blo...

I'm in Chicago this morning getting ready to travel back to NY. If you haven't been here you're missing out on one of the great cities in America.   It's big but spread out over a wide area along Lake Michigan. And there's a river running through it.   After a great dinner at a place called the Kitchen, I walked along the river back to my hotel. It was cold but picturesque with gleaming office buildings and fascinating architecture. The Riverwalk was opened a few years ago a...

We saw Willie Nelson, an American icon, Monday night on a warm breezy night in an open southern field.  It was truly a vintage Americana experience with people sitting on blankets and lawn chairs along with us surrounded by friends in the cheap seats.  There was sweet marijuana in the air and cold beer in my hand.  It really doesn’t get any better than that.   Willie is a soon to be 87 year old self made Texas original and his two sons Lukas (the more talented)  and Micah are...

We are all affected by politics. But this strikes closer to home than most….. I am enrolled in Global Entry - the travel program that allows easier movement through customs and security entry when you return to the U.S. Recently, New Yorkers have been rendered ineligible for the program. Without debating the reasons, they have nothing to do with me. My Global Entry expires in August. I was anticipating beginning the renewal process when the ban on New Yorkers was ...

Our Wilmington Trust office is located in Villanova, PA and we’re moving our offices to Radnor Financial, in Radnor, PA TODAY! It’s an exciting time for our firm because we are consolidating our human capital into one beautiful building. Our Chief Economist and our Chief Investment Strategist will be within an ear shot of my desk, so I’ll be part of real time information. Good for me and good for clients. One of the fun parts of moving is purging of accumulated rubbish. Star...

  This was our very intellectual conversation over dinner Saturday night. When it comes to soup – do you eat or drink? My line in the sand has always been tied to the utensil used. If you use a spoon, I say you are eating soup. If the soup is in a mug or a cup, then it is drinking. Help please. Do you agree with me?  Or do you have some other distinction?...

  I recently read that January 21 is officially Break Your Resolution Day. That being, the day by which most people have broken their New Year’s Resolutions. So, now we are over one month past that date.       I made two resolutions this year, to control my cursing and to put my phone away when I get home from work. I recently admitted in a blog that within two days of two days of New Year’s Eve, I broke my first resolution. I was back to cursing within two hours of return...

President’s weekend honors our first and 16th Presidents. Why not honor them by extolling public and community service? Many we know toil in government gigs at all levels. Next time your see them or speak to them (or email or message them), just thank them. Many of them and many of you also perform some community service. Describe something better than doing giving back in that way. It makes a difference. It makes the community better. It makes life better. It makes the world...

Grand Central Terminal was totally cleared out for a romantic date.   The married couple, Macy and Spencer Wise, in the image won a contest to have an early Valentine's dinner from a Michelin-rated restaurant at the empty Terminal with live music.   Quite an experience don't you think? It was sponsored by the MTA and they even received a SWAG bag afterwards.   I'm wondering what this guy is going to do next year......

Some say that Valentines Day is a Hallmark Card day and, sad to say, to some extent it has been commercialized.   Nonetheless, it can and should be a special day on which to express love, devotion and affection to your special person.   St. Valentines Day is an annual festival celebrating romantic love, friendship and affection. And that’s just what I plan to do with Joanne, my life love and friend with whom I share those feelings!   I hope you all make this a special shari...