As you read this you will be thinking more and more about tomorrow, Turkey Day, Thanksgiving. I enjoy any holiday, but what makes this special for me is that it is my anniversary of commitiment to my lovely bride, Sheilagh Weymouth. 31 years together. Newcomers compared to Fred the K, but almost half my life. Whatever you do, whomever you're with, …
I’ve written about my mother in law before but after a recent visit, I had to write again. She is ninety-six and clear as a bell. So, count backwards with me. She was born in 1922. Think about the history that she lived through and remembers in glorious detail. During our time together last week, she was in a story telling mood. That’ …
As a first year associate at a large firm, I was involved in a case wherein one of the partners of the firm made a mistake. With a lot of work from myself and the partner involved, and a gracious concession from our adversary, the mistake was rectified. I took away a life long lesson from that experience; I never begrudge another attorney for makin …
I intended a blog about a show my daughter (Marisa Jean) attended in L.A. Friday eve and a show by the same artist that Fridays with Fred blogger Fred Klein and I attended last month in Roslyn. However, a review by Fred’s “muse,” Bob Lefsetz emailed last night inspired today’s commentary about both concerts by Poco founder Richie Furay who is in th …
It was about two days ago that I was sitting at home staring at the TV but had not turned it on. This dark, blank lifeless flat object seemed to be bekoning to me. Turning it on would mean bringing life, color, sound and images into the room. I resisted the temptation. It's funny how many times I inadvertantly picked up the remote as if it was a …
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 …
