The other night, we were having dinner with friends at a restaurant and there was a call on Joanne's phone. Normally, because we were out for dinner, she would have let it go to voice mail. However, this time, for whatever the reason, she answered and handed me the phone saying it was our friend Paul.   I took the phone and wise cracked "Why are you calling Joanne?"   His answer ruined my night.  He said because you left your phone when you left my friends. 

It’s nice to receive reinforcing confirmation.I was speaking to a colleague who works for a multinational not for profit headquartered in London.

...come in many forms.  I would like to offer a new opportunity to our wonderful Gothamites.   A new Long Island Dinner Group is set to kick off on April 29th! Come one come all, ride the circuit. Join old friends, make new friends and explore all that is the best about Gotham. Help Shawn Bernabeu.  Carly Hariton and I, along with Nancy Schess and others as we kick off this new venture in opportunity!   Davenport Press in Mineola, just steps from the LIRR train station.   

I have to admit, the cold has me thinking about traveling.  In truth, I don’t really mind the cold weather as long as it is in moderation.  Extended stretches are not my favorite thing.  

For the past two years, I have been struggling with hearing loss. I knew I had some hearing loss but I was too vain to admit it. I developed the habit of just smiling and nodding when I was unable to hear what someone said. Generally, I was too embarrassed to ask someone to repeat themselves.   Finally, when I had to repeatedly ask a judge to repeat herself, I knew it was time to act. So, I took a hearing test, and I am in the process of getting hearing aids.  

While bitter cold weather might predominate many current discussions, some other kind of polar entity captures much of my attention of late.  A polar bear, of the sports variety, namely the one my team needs to re-sign, but cannot figure out how to achieve what needs to be done.  Yes, I want the Mets to re-sign Pete Alonso: indeed, I am not the owner or the team president, but always maintain as a strategic tactician, I judge talent rather well and better than mo

I read this quote the other day: “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor Frankl.   It sparked some reflection, especially since life often presents challenges we can’t control. One powerful approach I’ve read that helps me is to reframe these challenges as opportunities to adapt and learn. While it’s not always easy, it does shift the focus from frustration to progress.  

Recently, a friend, a recovering alcoholic, told me she had a "high bottom", a term I was unfamiliar with. Too proud to ask, I later looked it up and learned that "high bottom" connotes an alcoholic who recognizes the problematic nature of their drinking early on and decides to pursue recovery before hitting a more severe low.   Well, it was news to me and it got me to thinking.