Valentine's Day is around the corner...start getting your cards, flowers, and chocolates orders in :-)   I thought it was initially started by Hallmark or a flower company but actually there are several stories how this began. According to the most famous, Saint Valentine was executed for secretly marrying couples to spare husbands from war, defying the Roman Emperor Claudius II's ban on marriages for young men.  

Last Friday we saw our friend, Erin McKenna, a Long Island girl transplanted to Key West, perform at iconic Williams Hall.    It was the first Williams Hall theatrical production, "Bombshell", a 5 act, one woman show starring Erin and directed by her friend Jeremy (The Cat) Zoma . During the arc of the show, Erin transforms herself from a competitive high school talent show contestant, to a bride and then to a dowdy 77 Year old widow who busies herself as a reader for the disabled.  

We were at an upscale Japanese restaurant in South Beach. Very good food. Pricey.The choice of sake started with a sake at $60 for a carafe of about 300 ml. We ordered it.We loved the sake.

Detroit Lions - I am from Detroit so they were my first team and I'm still a fan.  Detroit is a good place to be from – it never felt like home thought despite being my place of birth and locus for 3 decades. I dreamed about living in New York City.   

It seemed like a fun idea, and it was.   Saturday night we went to see an 80’s cover band.  Two full hours of rocking to a playlist that took us back to a very different time – even back to the 70s.

My favorite Muppet, Elmo, broke the internet this week. Elmo asked a simple question on X (formerly known as Twitter). Elmo posted:   Elmo is just checking in. How is everyone doing?  

While I promote my work around the concept of making a difference - mostly in the realm of public policy, and often speak about the joy it often (always) brings this commentator, I gave some thought how it allows me to meet new and interesting people and forge relationships.  Most recently it involves two groups meeting weekly with a flurry of calls, text and emails in between.

This hasn’t happened in 3 years…my nuclear family is getting together. To facilitate this, flights must be arranged and coordinated, hotel rooms booked, and activities planned.  Lest I forget, COVID tests and an abundance of caution taken prior to the weekend.   To have everyone in one room  is worth the work. I’ll have to make sure my phone is charged so I can take tons of pictures.