It is pretty easy in today's world to be pretty down. The economy sucks, the weather is generally turning to cold and here in Atlanta it has been downright dreary! The days get longer, work piles up, the kids are either ignoring you or being obnoxious and at times it feels very lonely. Through all of this it is often easy to overlook all the good; all the reasons to smile, lift up you head, breathe in some fresh air and get some positive perspective. It can't happen all the time, and I know there will be dark days ahead but my focus on this season of thanks, into the holidays and then onto a new decade (can you believe that? Already!!!) I am going to continue to try and see the glass is more than half full and allow change happen but not allow it to control me.
So what am I thankful for this year? here is my 'short' list, from the extremely important to the silly and sublime (Why not, it's my list!):
Family - from the girls, to my parents, siblings and extended family who have been so supportive through a very turbulent year.
Work - funny, most people are not very thankful of work and their peers but maybe in a tough economy that will change. In the past couple of weeks I have returned to the 'space' and industry I love and am passionate about. I embark on a whole new challenge that began on the 9th but really takes of on the 30th when I 'relocate' my work life to New York City. While I certainly have mixed emotions about the process, I am sticking to the positives here - New York City --- I really believe that if I can make it there I can make it anywhere. So much to experience and do. The company I work for (www.definition6.com) is dynamic and fun. The technology and thought leadership is on the front line of changing how we continue to communicate as brands and companies with our clients, vendors and partners. I could not be more excited about the world of opportunities that are laid at my feet.
The Gators - yep, I know it...a lot of you will be like "WTF? his University? the sports?, really Gil!!!" and I say YES! really! Whether we are winning or losing, and for a long time now it has been winning, I really do feel pride and joy and a connection to my present as well as my past through the Florida Gators. Partly its the sports but more it is the personal connection, that stirring inside, whether I am at the game or sitting by myself on the couch. For 3+ hours each Saturday this Fall I have found the ability to get away from the issues of everyday life and enjoy kids coming together for one common goal. Seeing them overcome adversity and lofty expectations has motivated me at a very core level.
My body - I am thankful that it is still in tact! I am lighter (though the last 6 weeks have been bad) than I have been in a long time. I am enjoying running, spinning/biking and working out again. Two weeks ago I walked about 13 miles in Manhattan in 2 days and it felt great! After two major knee reconstructions, countless broken bones and sprains over the years this is a pretty nice feat for me :-)
Last on this short list, but never least, are you, my friends - I don't need to name you by name for you to know how you have touched my life, not just this year but every year. You have pushed me to go farther, be stronger, be better and enjoy more than ever before. Whether it is 60 minutes next to me on a spin bike, across from me at lunch during the week, sharing emails and texts throughout the day, letting me in your home and hearts during trips, it is YOU my friends that make my life more full than the average person deserves to have. Time, distance and circumstance have never been obstacles for me when it comes to my friends. I love you all and the time we have been able to spend together. The life lessons you have taught me I share with the girls and a piece of each of you is carried in my heart.
YOU are my inner strength, my peace after a long day. I close my eyes and see my future and embrace all of life's possibilities.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Devices Devices everywhere and no one to talk to!
I have been thinking about the devices and technologies we use more and more these days. I keep meaning to write about the topic but my mind wanders in so many directions when it comes to the subject.
Yesterday I was sitting at a light and a minivan pulled up next to me and I realized it was time to talk about it. What did I see next to me? I saw what is probably today's typical middle to upper middle class family going about their daily life and it made me sad. Picture this, Dad driving (well waiting at the light) whips out his Blackberry and starts typing; Mom in the passenger seat already on her phone, alternating between texting and talking on it. Two kids in the back seat with headsets on, clearly engrossed in a DVD on the entertainment unit. Now, I realize TWO things; one, those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones and we all know I love my iPhone and all the gadgets and I have played this scene out myself and two, I may be 'thin slicing' and this might not be a normal occurrence at all. However, the more I look around the more I see it, and I am just as guilty! Whether it is hustling through the airport with headphones on or 12 people in a meeting sitting around with laptops open, communication has forever been altered by technology and while it is great at times, at other times it SUCKS.
I have ranted before about email and its inability to convey feelings properly so I won't go there, but what bothers me more is we have literally stopped TALKING to each other. Whether it is out of convenience, fear, lack of time or combinations of those and others, we as a society no longer talk. We 'chat', we Facebook, we tweet, we text, we email, we Skype, we IM, we do it all except look each other in the eyes and have a DIALOGUE, a conversation, a meaningful interchange where I share how I feel, how something has impacted me, how much I care about you or a topic and then you share back. You process what was said, get the words, the emotions and the gestures and you in kind respond. I love that!!!! I love looking in your eyes and reading your expression. I love how my words and passion can move a room.
I for one never want to lose that and in fact am going to consciously bring it back. How am I going to do that? Resolution #1, when it is not work hours and I am with another human being I will 'detach' myself from my iPhone. Will I still have it? You bet but it won't sit on the table between us waiting to ring. I won't constantly be hitting refresh on my email to make sure I have gotten the latest right then and there. I think that's a great start. I am still looking forward to using technology to facilitate the important things but I will no longer let it be a crutch to honest to goodness dialogue, or so I hope!!!
Text me next week to see how I am doing :-)
Yesterday I was sitting at a light and a minivan pulled up next to me and I realized it was time to talk about it. What did I see next to me? I saw what is probably today's typical middle to upper middle class family going about their daily life and it made me sad. Picture this, Dad driving (well waiting at the light) whips out his Blackberry and starts typing; Mom in the passenger seat already on her phone, alternating between texting and talking on it. Two kids in the back seat with headsets on, clearly engrossed in a DVD on the entertainment unit. Now, I realize TWO things; one, those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones and we all know I love my iPhone and all the gadgets and I have played this scene out myself and two, I may be 'thin slicing' and this might not be a normal occurrence at all. However, the more I look around the more I see it, and I am just as guilty! Whether it is hustling through the airport with headphones on or 12 people in a meeting sitting around with laptops open, communication has forever been altered by technology and while it is great at times, at other times it SUCKS.
I have ranted before about email and its inability to convey feelings properly so I won't go there, but what bothers me more is we have literally stopped TALKING to each other. Whether it is out of convenience, fear, lack of time or combinations of those and others, we as a society no longer talk. We 'chat', we Facebook, we tweet, we text, we email, we Skype, we IM, we do it all except look each other in the eyes and have a DIALOGUE, a conversation, a meaningful interchange where I share how I feel, how something has impacted me, how much I care about you or a topic and then you share back. You process what was said, get the words, the emotions and the gestures and you in kind respond. I love that!!!! I love looking in your eyes and reading your expression. I love how my words and passion can move a room.
I for one never want to lose that and in fact am going to consciously bring it back. How am I going to do that? Resolution #1, when it is not work hours and I am with another human being I will 'detach' myself from my iPhone. Will I still have it? You bet but it won't sit on the table between us waiting to ring. I won't constantly be hitting refresh on my email to make sure I have gotten the latest right then and there. I think that's a great start. I am still looking forward to using technology to facilitate the important things but I will no longer let it be a crutch to honest to goodness dialogue, or so I hope!!!
Text me next week to see how I am doing :-)
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Biting off more than I can chew?
I think I may have done it this time, I really do.
I have been taking spin classes at the gym for about 4 months now and I have really gotten into it. As I have done it more and more I have had a friend in my ear telling me I need to start doing triathlons. His logic, you can already run the distance (10K) and you can figure out the swim. As far as the bike goes, I figure that riding in the gym has to be like running on the treadmill.
So, in preparation, I decided to sign up for a fundraising bike ride. It makes total sense, get a great ride in the fall, raise money for a great cause (Camp Twin Lakes) and also get comfortable on a bike. Today I got my bike (3 weeks before the event) and I also received my first rude awakening. Riding a high end 10 speed is not like it was when I was in High School and it certainly isn't anything like the nice relaxing rides at the beach with the girls. My first few 'laps' around the parking lot were shaky at best and then I put on my cycling shoes and 'clipped' in. The over under on parking lot falls was two! Fortunately I was able to smoothly clip in and take off and I was able to navigate stopping and unclipping without falling down. This only means I will probably eat it at least three times the first time I hit the road on a training ride. The fear of falling, while huge and potentially embarrassing is not my biggest fear. My biggest fear is the 47 miles I will be riding!! Ummm - what was I thinking? Even at 15 mph I will be in the saddle a little more than three hours --- YIKES!!! If I were not on a plane first thing tomorrow morning I would be finding a nice, flat, long and car less place to ride and hopefully get some of my fears out and I have LEGITIMATE fears. The last time I was on a 10 speed I went head over heels when a branch got caught in a spoke and my left hand got crushed between the bike's 'forks' and its frame. That was over 20 years ago!!! If you know me, then you know my memory and recall, so its very easy for that image to come to the forefront. As I ride in the weeks to come I hope that image gets replaced by the smile on my face and the sheer joy of accomplishing a goal and raising money for a great cause.
To learn more about the camp, go to www.camptwinlakes.org and if you care to make a donation you can go to
http://camptwinlakes.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=312622&lis=1&kntae312622=B6A8E44A31EE4D06B2F08B5FD53C9948.
If you click the Donation button and then search for me, Gil Wolchock, I will get 'credit' for the donation.
I have been taking spin classes at the gym for about 4 months now and I have really gotten into it. As I have done it more and more I have had a friend in my ear telling me I need to start doing triathlons. His logic, you can already run the distance (10K) and you can figure out the swim. As far as the bike goes, I figure that riding in the gym has to be like running on the treadmill.
So, in preparation, I decided to sign up for a fundraising bike ride. It makes total sense, get a great ride in the fall, raise money for a great cause (Camp Twin Lakes) and also get comfortable on a bike. Today I got my bike (3 weeks before the event) and I also received my first rude awakening. Riding a high end 10 speed is not like it was when I was in High School and it certainly isn't anything like the nice relaxing rides at the beach with the girls. My first few 'laps' around the parking lot were shaky at best and then I put on my cycling shoes and 'clipped' in. The over under on parking lot falls was two! Fortunately I was able to smoothly clip in and take off and I was able to navigate stopping and unclipping without falling down. This only means I will probably eat it at least three times the first time I hit the road on a training ride. The fear of falling, while huge and potentially embarrassing is not my biggest fear. My biggest fear is the 47 miles I will be riding!! Ummm - what was I thinking? Even at 15 mph I will be in the saddle a little more than three hours --- YIKES!!! If I were not on a plane first thing tomorrow morning I would be finding a nice, flat, long and car less place to ride and hopefully get some of my fears out and I have LEGITIMATE fears. The last time I was on a 10 speed I went head over heels when a branch got caught in a spoke and my left hand got crushed between the bike's 'forks' and its frame. That was over 20 years ago!!! If you know me, then you know my memory and recall, so its very easy for that image to come to the forefront. As I ride in the weeks to come I hope that image gets replaced by the smile on my face and the sheer joy of accomplishing a goal and raising money for a great cause.
To learn more about the camp, go to www.camptwinlakes.org and if you care to make a donation you can go to
http://camptwinlakes.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=312622&lis=1&kntae312622=B6A8E44A31EE4D06B2F08B5FD53C9948.
If you click the Donation button and then search for me, Gil Wolchock, I will get 'credit' for the donation.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Blogging at 35,000 feet --- because I can
It's not my first time using the new Wi-Fi service in the air but I am still pretty enamored with it; aAll except the cost aspect, but I imagine that too will come down over time.
It seems like a 'no brainer' to be online in the clouds when the world of computing is all about the 'cloud' these days.
My favorite part - except for the lack of ability to 'text' my life can go on as usual up here. I am on Facebook, working on an expense report and getting ready to write my weekly article for the FFL Guru (I know you are reading here but do you watch me at www.thefflguru.com as well) all from the comfort of 2A somewhere between San Antonio, TX and Atlanta, GA.
As much as I get frustrated by technology it really is an incredible time we are living in and how much we take it for granted. Just now, it struck me that I forgot to TiVO a show tonight. Do you know what I did? I logged into my Direct TV account here, up in the sky, typed in a few key strokes and voila! when I get home The Biggest Loser will be waiting for me (please no jokes...).
I finished reading the new Dan Brown book, The Lost Symbol, last week and it was fairly entertaining but one part that struck me is the concept is 'Man as the CREATOR' as opposed to 'Man being created'. When I think about technology and advances in Science that really is true. We as a species are the only living things that 'create' beyond some basic type structures. For the most part this is good, however, sometimes we create for the bad (even if its not intended that way). No deep philosophical discussion about it now, just an interesting thought.
Those are my thoughts for now, going to turn back to the 'Sports Gil' and go 'create' an article.
Talk to you next on 'terra firma'
It seems like a 'no brainer' to be online in the clouds when the world of computing is all about the 'cloud' these days.
My favorite part - except for the lack of ability to 'text' my life can go on as usual up here. I am on Facebook, working on an expense report and getting ready to write my weekly article for the FFL Guru (I know you are reading here but do you watch me at www.thefflguru.com as well) all from the comfort of 2A somewhere between San Antonio, TX and Atlanta, GA.
As much as I get frustrated by technology it really is an incredible time we are living in and how much we take it for granted. Just now, it struck me that I forgot to TiVO a show tonight. Do you know what I did? I logged into my Direct TV account here, up in the sky, typed in a few key strokes and voila! when I get home The Biggest Loser will be waiting for me (please no jokes...).
I finished reading the new Dan Brown book, The Lost Symbol, last week and it was fairly entertaining but one part that struck me is the concept is 'Man as the CREATOR' as opposed to 'Man being created'. When I think about technology and advances in Science that really is true. We as a species are the only living things that 'create' beyond some basic type structures. For the most part this is good, however, sometimes we create for the bad (even if its not intended that way). No deep philosophical discussion about it now, just an interesting thought.
Those are my thoughts for now, going to turn back to the 'Sports Gil' and go 'create' an article.
Talk to you next on 'terra firma'
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Fantasy
Google the word - you get 246,000,000 hits in .15 seconds. Wow, either my MAC is screaming or a lot of people like things with the word 'fantasy' in them. Interestingly enough the first hit I got was for the Wikipedia definition of fantasy. I checked it out. Guess what? It ONLY referred to 'fantasy' in terms of magic and that genre. This really surprised me. From there I went to Webster's online and get the OFFICIAL definition. Low and behold there is more!
Main Entry: 1fan·ta·sy
Variant(s): also phan·ta·sy \ˈfan-tə-sē, -zē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural fan·ta·sies
Etymology: Middle English fantasie — more at fancy
Date: 14th century
1 obsolete : hallucination
2 : fancy; especially : the free play of creative imagination
3 : a creation of the imaginative faculty whether expressed or merely conceived: as a : a fanciful design or invention b : a chimerical or fantastic notion c : fantasia 1 d : imaginative fiction featuring especially strange settings and grotesque characters —called also fantasy fiction
4 : caprice
5 : the power or process of creating especially unrealistic or improbable mental images in response to psychological need; also : a mental image or a series of mental images (as a daydream) so created
6 : a coin usually not intended for circulation as currency and often issued by a dubious authority (as a government-in-exile)
For the purposes of this post I am definitions 3 and 5, though I am intrigued by #6. As I read the definitions, in particular #5 I get the feeling that the word 'fantasy' is a negative term, or at the least one that has very little reality attached to it. Again, I was surprised.
Lately, when I think about fantasy it is usually in relation to NFL Football and my side pursuit of Fantasy Football. What I love about Fantasy Football is that it allows the 'average man' to be in control of a sports 'franchise'. As a guy and a sports lover this is one of our fundamental desires. Many of us grow up playing the games we love and dream about playing at higher and higher levels. Eventually reality comes crashing down on us. Conversely, as we watch sports and follow our favorite teams we know in our hearts we could do a better job in managing the franchise. Of course, economically, the likelihood of us actually owning a Major sports franchise is far less likely than actually playing for one, so once again our dreams get crushed. In steps Fantasy Sports which may be created in a 'fictional world' clearly exists in REALITY. We use real players and real games. We just manipulate that reality to our own rules.
Personally, this pursuit of my own sports fantasy is leading me further into a pursuit of a dream. Ever since I was a young kid I fell in love with sports. Not only did I love playing sports but I also loved talking about sports. Some of my earliest memories are of debating the Philadelphia sports teams of my youth. I had always thought I would make a pretty good Sports Broadcaster long before I knew what that was. Remember, I was a kid growing up before ESPN. Besides the local games on TV, my view of a Sports Broadcaster was the guy in the tie on the nightly news who got 3-4 minutes to give scores and local updates. As many of you know, this dormant dream has become more and more real over the last 3 years. Three years ago I was part of creating a concept for a Fantasy Football show that would be online and be no longer than 15 minutes long. At the time, even the big guys of Sports Broadcasting were not creating video content specifically for the web and we saw a niche in this growing market. Today, Fantasy Sports is a 3-4 BILLION DOLLAR Industry. We are now in our third year of The Fantasy Football Guru (www.thefflguru.com). With each season we have grown and become more comfortable with our content. We have also grown our audience and distribution channel. We now stand on the precipice of the 'tipping point' I believe. We now are integrated into Atlanta's #1 Sports Radio Station, 790 the Zone, www.790thezone.com. Our production team, The Raw Report (www.rawreport.com) are top notch and they are taking us into new markets as well. More recently, we have signed a deal with Yahoo! Our content is now available as a WIDGET on new Internet Ready TV's as well as a mobile app. What started with about 100 viewers is now available to 3.5 MILLION households. Where we go next I do not know, but what I do know is that something that started as pure FANTASY has become part of my REALITY. I am not just passionate about sports or my fantasy team, I am passionate about the process and the business. I see and feel opportunity around every corner.
So there is one story where fantasy is not the improbable that the definition seems to imply. The more I think about it, the more I hate that definition. Why is a fantasy nearly unattainable? Last week I witnessed TWO things I thought were improbable , nearly impossible but they happened. They happened because of hard work, determination and passion. The first is just a video I saw on YouTube. It like many videos on that site is of a 15 year old scoring a touchdown in their High School football game. What was improbable is that the kid has Downs Syndrome! I watched and I cried. I cried for joy and I cried for the human spirit, but mostly I cried as the Uncle of a 9 year old who has Downs. The second story I heard was that of a Make a Wish child. One of my friends has a grown child who was a Make a Wish recipient and now the family gives back through their own Foundation. Last week my friend put together a very personal, last minute Make a Wish for a local child. Within 4 hours of the 'Wish' being fulfilled the young child passed away. I once again found myself crying. At first I wept for the loss of a young child and then for the sadness my friend felt. Within a few minutes though my tears turned to joyful ones. What I realized was that in this child's final hours they were able to smile and feel special. For the briefest of moments there was no illness, no tubes, no fear, just love and happiness. For however short the life was, it went out the right way, with a full heart. Neither of these stories have anything to do with my fantasies or fantasy sports yet they are once again examples of turning a fantasy into reality.
Economically things are bleak, not just locally but globally. We seem to be divided more by politics and race more and more every day. Turn on any of the 'news' channels and you will find pundits trying to push their REALITY on us and stifle our creative energies to turn our fantasies into reality. This week, as a Jew, I am celebrating a New Year as well as paying respect to the year gone by and asking G-d and my family and friends to forgive me for the wrongs that I have done this year. I hope that I will not just be forgiven but also continue to be given the freedom to dream and fight for turning fantasy into reality. We might not always hit the mark but you can't ever get there if you don't try. It's very cliche but the journey of a 1,000 miles begins with the first step.
Here are my first steps in this New Year:
- lose the last 17 pounds to get me to 200 lbs. (I started at 247 in July of 2008 after knee reconstruction)
- complete an Olympic length Triathlon with my friends the 'Tri-Nuts'
- continue to grow my career and current company
- let The FFL Guru take me where it may
- re-engage with the Non Profits that I serve
- continue to be an engaged and active father to two of the most beautiful and precious young ladies I know
- be a better friend, sibling, son and partner to those that need me
- smile everyday and stop to be thankful for all that I am blessed with
- spend more time with YOU, my 'audience' if you will. Those of you that post, send me private emails or just spend time on my page are an inspiration.
Sorry for the long and rambling post, it's late and its been a while since I have blogged :)
Main Entry: 1fan·ta·sy
Variant(s): also phan·ta·sy \ˈfan-tə-sē, -zē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural fan·ta·sies
Etymology: Middle English fantasie — more at fancy
Date: 14th century
1 obsolete : hallucination
2 : fancy; especially : the free play of creative imagination
3 : a creation of the imaginative faculty whether expressed or merely conceived: as a : a fanciful design or invention b : a chimerical or fantastic notion c : fantasia 1 d : imaginative fiction featuring especially strange settings and grotesque characters —called also fantasy fiction
4 : caprice
5 : the power or process of creating especially unrealistic or improbable mental images in response to psychological need
6 : a coin usually not intended for circulation as currency and often issued by a dubious authority (as a government-in-exile)
For the purposes of this post I am definitions 3 and 5, though I am intrigued by #6. As I read the definitions, in particular #5 I get the feeling that the word 'fantasy' is a negative term, or at the least one that has very little reality attached to it. Again, I was surprised.
Lately, when I think about fantasy it is usually in relation to NFL Football and my side pursuit of Fantasy Football. What I love about Fantasy Football is that it allows the 'average man' to be in control of a sports 'franchise'. As a guy and a sports lover this is one of our fundamental desires. Many of us grow up playing the games we love and dream about playing at higher and higher levels. Eventually reality comes crashing down on us. Conversely, as we watch sports and follow our favorite teams we know in our hearts we could do a better job in managing the franchise. Of course, economically, the likelihood of us actually owning a Major sports franchise is far less likely than actually playing for one, so once again our dreams get crushed. In steps Fantasy Sports which may be created in a 'fictional world' clearly exists in REALITY. We use real players and real games. We just manipulate that reality to our own rules.
Personally, this pursuit of my own sports fantasy is leading me further into a pursuit of a dream. Ever since I was a young kid I fell in love with sports. Not only did I love playing sports but I also loved talking about sports. Some of my earliest memories are of debating the Philadelphia sports teams of my youth. I had always thought I would make a pretty good Sports Broadcaster long before I knew what that was. Remember, I was a kid growing up before ESPN. Besides the local games on TV, my view of a Sports Broadcaster was the guy in the tie on the nightly news who got 3-4 minutes to give scores and local updates. As many of you know, this dormant dream has become more and more real over the last 3 years. Three years ago I was part of creating a concept for a Fantasy Football show that would be online and be no longer than 15 minutes long. At the time, even the big guys of Sports Broadcasting were not creating video content specifically for the web and we saw a niche in this growing market. Today, Fantasy Sports is a 3-4 BILLION DOLLAR Industry. We are now in our third year of The Fantasy Football Guru (www.thefflguru.com). With each season we have grown and become more comfortable with our content. We have also grown our audience and distribution channel. We now stand on the precipice of the 'tipping point' I believe. We now are integrated into Atlanta's #1 Sports Radio Station, 790 the Zone, www.790thezone.com. Our production team, The Raw Report (www.rawreport.com) are top notch and they are taking us into new markets as well. More recently, we have signed a deal with Yahoo! Our content is now available as a WIDGET on new Internet Ready TV's as well as a mobile app. What started with about 100 viewers is now available to 3.5 MILLION households. Where we go next I do not know, but what I do know is that something that started as pure FANTASY has become part of my REALITY. I am not just passionate about sports or my fantasy team, I am passionate about the process and the business. I see and feel opportunity around every corner.
So there is one story where fantasy is not the improbable that the definition seems to imply. The more I think about it, the more I hate that definition. Why is a fantasy nearly unattainable? Last week I witnessed TWO things I thought were improbable , nearly impossible but they happened. They happened because of hard work, determination and passion. The first is just a video I saw on YouTube. It like many videos on that site is of a 15 year old scoring a touchdown in their High School football game. What was improbable is that the kid has Downs Syndrome! I watched and I cried. I cried for joy and I cried for the human spirit, but mostly I cried as the Uncle of a 9 year old who has Downs. The second story I heard was that of a Make a Wish child. One of my friends has a grown child who was a Make a Wish recipient and now the family gives back through their own Foundation. Last week my friend put together a very personal, last minute Make a Wish for a local child. Within 4 hours of the 'Wish' being fulfilled the young child passed away. I once again found myself crying. At first I wept for the loss of a young child and then for the sadness my friend felt. Within a few minutes though my tears turned to joyful ones. What I realized was that in this child's final hours they were able to smile and feel special. For the briefest of moments there was no illness, no tubes, no fear, just love and happiness. For however short the life was, it went out the right way, with a full heart. Neither of these stories have anything to do with my fantasies or fantasy sports yet they are once again examples of turning a fantasy into reality.
Economically things are bleak, not just locally but globally. We seem to be divided more by politics and race more and more every day. Turn on any of the 'news' channels and you will find pundits trying to push their REALITY on us and stifle our creative energies to turn our fantasies into reality. This week, as a Jew, I am celebrating a New Year as well as paying respect to the year gone by and asking G-d and my family and friends to forgive me for the wrongs that I have done this year. I hope that I will not just be forgiven but also continue to be given the freedom to dream and fight for turning fantasy into reality. We might not always hit the mark but you can't ever get there if you don't try. It's very cliche but the journey of a 1,000 miles begins with the first step.
Here are my first steps in this New Year:
- lose the last 17 pounds to get me to 200 lbs. (I started at 247 in July of 2008 after knee reconstruction)
- complete an Olympic length Triathlon with my friends the 'Tri-Nuts'
- continue to grow my career and current company
- let The FFL Guru take me where it may
- re-engage with the Non Profits that I serve
- continue to be an engaged and active father to two of the most beautiful and precious young ladies I know
- be a better friend, sibling, son and partner to those that need me
- smile everyday and stop to be thankful for all that I am blessed with
- spend more time with YOU, my 'audience' if you will. Those of you that post, send me private emails or just spend time on my page are an inspiration.
Sorry for the long and rambling post, it's late and its been a while since I have blogged :)
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The FFL Guru is OFFICIALLY back
Yes -- i have been waiting and holding this exciting news, but as football season kicks off so does another season the The FFL Guru. This year our role with our Radio Partner, 790 The Zone (www.790thezone.com) has expanded and our website will now be housed there as well (www.790thezone.com/fflguru). Additionally, we welcome a new Production Partner, The Raw Report (www.rawreport.com). Our first production was on Tuesday of this week and should be live on the site by Friday (9/4) morning! We are very excited about the new elements the gang brings to the FFL Guru!!!
Also, Jordan and I are finalizing contracts with Yahoo! that will air our show on their new Internet TV Property called Yahoo! Connected (http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/).
Lastly, we will be blogging on our site at least twice a week, so if you are into Fantasy Football make sure you are checking out the site, www.790thezone.com/ffluguru often. As a sample, here is my first blog that went up the other day:
Draft Preparation and Cheat Sheets
Posted 9/2/2009 4:00:00 PM
Go ahead and call this my Fantasy Football Manifesto, my Jerry Maguire moment. if you will.
From this moment forth, I will not purchase another Fantasy Football Magazine!
What purpose do they serve other than taking up space in my bathroom, where two months from now I will peruse them and laugh about their inaccuracies and dart board projections. Look, I understand, Fantasy Sports is a BILLION DOLLAR industry and that magazines were an essential element in the early growth of Fantasy Sports. And from a pure entertainment and basic information standpoint, the content in those magazines is ok. But the thing that kills me in them is the ‘Cheat Sheet’ they all insist on providing. Actually, let me retract that previous statement, what really PISSES ME OFF are the Cheat Sheets, which pretend as if they are supposed to help you in any league regardless of the league’s scoring system.
The fact is magazine Cheat Sheets don’t help you because they can’t help you. How could anything written in May, i.e. pre-Memorial Day, possibly help you pick players at the end of August or beginning of September? Today’s NFL is a fluid, ever changing league where a team or player may be highly thought of in May, but considered a bum in August. Those Cheat Sheets are worse than putting up Christmas lights in July or wearing white in October!
So, why the rant? Clearly I’m not shilling my own online site that sells information. And I’m not a tree hugger frustrated with the number of trees being cut down for these magazines. No, I’m ranting because I’m just another frustrated Owner with three drafts in five days with three different scoring systems and three completely different sets of rules.
It is impossible for a magazine or any static mechanisms completely help you prepare you for YOUR draft. If you rely on nothing but projections, cheat sheets and someone else’s rankings you are doomed to fail.
Remember back in College and High School? How did we get by when studying was too difficult or reading took time away from a party? We bought Cliff Notes and other study aids that assisted you in bypassing the actual learning involved in studying. In fact, with minimal effort, many a drunken and lazy Undergrad was able to make it through.
But did the Cliff Notes’ users excel? Were they top of the class? Of course not.. Doing the minimum might be fine for college. Heck, it might be fine at your job. But in Fantasy Football if you do the minimum, i.e. printing out cheats sheets and rankings, you can expect the same average result in every league you play in-- a 5th-7th place finish, notable for it lack of glory and embarrassment.
Sound like fun in the FFL world? Not to me. I’d rather go for it, on my own, with some knowledge in hand and my own system and notes relied on. Sink or swim, it will have been my choices and I won’t spend the offseason blaming some stupid magazine or online site for my playoff-less finish
Ok, so what’s important in crafting your own personalized pre-draft strategy ? (FWIW – make sure you utilize available websites for updated player information and comparisons of players based on your particular league’s scoring system and number of teams)
1. Draft order – duh, right? Well, in one of my leagues we don’t use a snake system. We actually draft randomly through the entire draft in an order that was picked ONE week prior to the draft. Mock if you want, and many do, but it is fun and unique and eventually things even themselves out over the years and it is actually pretty rewarding finishing ‘in the money’ when saddled with a poor draft position. The point here is where you pick is not the only important thing. Where you pick relative to those around you is just as important in analyzing your draft order, which leads me to strategy #2.
2. Know thy Competition – the longer you play with the same people the easier it will be for you to pick up their tendencies and behaviors. In poker we call this a ‘tell’. In Fantasy Football you should be aware if an owner likes to draft QB’s early or another owner has to have a player from a certain NFL team. Be sure to gather as much of this subtle information as you can. It will help you determine where to grab certain players and when to pass on certain players that you can be believe you’ll be able to get later in the draft.
3. Have a Flexible Plan – in general I know I want to come out of Round 3 with a stud RB and 2 top flight WR’s or flip flop that. What I can’t predict is who they may be OR what ‘reach’ another Owner may make that could throw my strategy out of whack. For instance, my plan is to wait on drafting a QB (like many others do). But if there is a top-tier QB (think round 1 or round 2 quality) available when it’s my turn to select in round 3, then I need to be mentally prepared to shift gears. Don’t get stuck on certain positions in the top rounds just because of the 27 mock drafts you created. Odds are they are all wrong!
4. Let the ‘run’ on a position happen without your involvement -- Drafts are moving, living organisms. Invariably human nature takes over and panic steps in. Often it happens around Tight Ends (no jokes please). There are very few high quality TE’s (again, I am open for humor or a nice picture of Jessica Alba), so when one goes it often starts a run on the remaining TEs in the top tier. But if all of the players you consider to be top tier in a position are gone, then pass on participating in the draft run, especially in the early rounds when there is still a ton of value on the board. On the flip side, if you pay attention to knowing your competition and being flexible (as discussed above), then you very well could create one of these runs and take advantage of some undervalued talent in the very next round.
I hope these four ideas are helpful as you prepare this week. Good luck in your drafts and I would love to hear your thoughts, feel free to send them (or Jessica Alba photos) to gwolchock@gmail.com.
Don’t forget to catch us on the air every Friday Morning and Sunday before kickoff on 790 on the AM dial in Atlanta or streamed live on www.790thezone.com.
Gilly Gator
Also, Jordan and I are finalizing contracts with Yahoo! that will air our show on their new Internet TV Property called Yahoo! Connected (http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/).
Lastly, we will be blogging on our site at least twice a week, so if you are into Fantasy Football make sure you are checking out the site, www.790thezone.com/ffluguru often. As a sample, here is my first blog that went up the other day:
Draft Preparation and Cheat Sheets
Posted 9/2/2009 4:00:00 PM
Go ahead and call this my Fantasy Football Manifesto, my Jerry Maguire moment. if you will.
From this moment forth, I will not purchase another Fantasy Football Magazine!
What purpose do they serve other than taking up space in my bathroom, where two months from now I will peruse them and laugh about their inaccuracies and dart board projections. Look, I understand, Fantasy Sports is a BILLION DOLLAR industry and that magazines were an essential element in the early growth of Fantasy Sports. And from a pure entertainment and basic information standpoint, the content in those magazines is ok. But the thing that kills me in them is the ‘Cheat Sheet’ they all insist on providing. Actually, let me retract that previous statement, what really PISSES ME OFF are the Cheat Sheets, which pretend as if they are supposed to help you in any league regardless of the league’s scoring system.
The fact is magazine Cheat Sheets don’t help you because they can’t help you. How could anything written in May, i.e. pre-Memorial Day, possibly help you pick players at the end of August or beginning of September? Today’s NFL is a fluid, ever changing league where a team or player may be highly thought of in May, but considered a bum in August. Those Cheat Sheets are worse than putting up Christmas lights in July or wearing white in October!
So, why the rant? Clearly I’m not shilling my own online site that sells information. And I’m not a tree hugger frustrated with the number of trees being cut down for these magazines. No, I’m ranting because I’m just another frustrated Owner with three drafts in five days with three different scoring systems and three completely different sets of rules.
It is impossible for a magazine or any static mechanisms completely help you prepare you for YOUR draft. If you rely on nothing but projections, cheat sheets and someone else’s rankings you are doomed to fail.
Remember back in College and High School? How did we get by when studying was too difficult or reading took time away from a party? We bought Cliff Notes and other study aids that assisted you in bypassing the actual learning involved in studying. In fact, with minimal effort, many a drunken and lazy Undergrad was able to make it through.
But did the Cliff Notes’ users excel? Were they top of the class? Of course not.. Doing the minimum might be fine for college. Heck, it might be fine at your job. But in Fantasy Football if you do the minimum, i.e. printing out cheats sheets and rankings, you can expect the same average result in every league you play in-- a 5th-7th place finish, notable for it lack of glory and embarrassment.
Sound like fun in the FFL world? Not to me. I’d rather go for it, on my own, with some knowledge in hand and my own system and notes relied on. Sink or swim, it will have been my choices and I won’t spend the offseason blaming some stupid magazine or online site for my playoff-less finish
Ok, so what’s important in crafting your own personalized pre-draft strategy ? (FWIW – make sure you utilize available websites for updated player information and comparisons of players based on your particular league’s scoring system and number of teams)
1. Draft order – duh, right? Well, in one of my leagues we don’t use a snake system. We actually draft randomly through the entire draft in an order that was picked ONE week prior to the draft. Mock if you want, and many do, but it is fun and unique and eventually things even themselves out over the years and it is actually pretty rewarding finishing ‘in the money’ when saddled with a poor draft position. The point here is where you pick is not the only important thing. Where you pick relative to those around you is just as important in analyzing your draft order, which leads me to strategy #2.
2. Know thy Competition – the longer you play with the same people the easier it will be for you to pick up their tendencies and behaviors. In poker we call this a ‘tell’. In Fantasy Football you should be aware if an owner likes to draft QB’s early or another owner has to have a player from a certain NFL team. Be sure to gather as much of this subtle information as you can. It will help you determine where to grab certain players and when to pass on certain players that you can be believe you’ll be able to get later in the draft.
3. Have a Flexible Plan – in general I know I want to come out of Round 3 with a stud RB and 2 top flight WR’s or flip flop that. What I can’t predict is who they may be OR what ‘reach’ another Owner may make that could throw my strategy out of whack. For instance, my plan is to wait on drafting a QB (like many others do). But if there is a top-tier QB (think round 1 or round 2 quality) available when it’s my turn to select in round 3, then I need to be mentally prepared to shift gears. Don’t get stuck on certain positions in the top rounds just because of the 27 mock drafts you created. Odds are they are all wrong!
4. Let the ‘run’ on a position happen without your involvement -- Drafts are moving, living organisms. Invariably human nature takes over and panic steps in. Often it happens around Tight Ends (no jokes please). There are very few high quality TE’s (again, I am open for humor or a nice picture of Jessica Alba), so when one goes it often starts a run on the remaining TEs in the top tier. But if all of the players you consider to be top tier in a position are gone, then pass on participating in the draft run, especially in the early rounds when there is still a ton of value on the board. On the flip side, if you pay attention to knowing your competition and being flexible (as discussed above), then you very well could create one of these runs and take advantage of some undervalued talent in the very next round.
I hope these four ideas are helpful as you prepare this week. Good luck in your drafts and I would love to hear your thoughts, feel free to send them (or Jessica Alba photos) to gwolchock@gmail.com.
Don’t forget to catch us on the air every Friday Morning and Sunday before kickoff on 790 on the AM dial in Atlanta or streamed live on www.790thezone.com.
Gilly Gator
Monday, August 17, 2009
All things Tiger and Vick
First let me apologize to those of you that are not totally enamored with my sports posts, I realize this is three in a row and I owe you something more insightful soon :).
Tiger, Tiger, Tiger I am so glad you lost. Unlike the scores of people who were saying that yesterday and this morning for a myriad of ignorant and socially incorrect reasons I was glad to see that you were HUMAN! As you may know, I am a HUGE Tiger fan and of course I want him to win and make history, but yesterday there was something poetic in watching him be human and at the same time watching a relative unknown step up and perform under pressure. Today I have read about Tiger choking and even that his career is over. Journalism today has become so full of hyperbole and nonsense. It is what it is. Tiger is human, he suffers from the same frailties as us, how refreshing. Why go off the deep end and suggest his career is over? Phil Mickleson blows leads and tournaments on a regular basis, I have never heard word one that his career was over let along on the decline. I look forward to the day Tiger wins his 19th Major along with his 87th overall tournament (I think that's the record) but yesterday was a refreshing departure from the script.
Speaking of departing from the script, you have the Michael Vick 60 Minutes interview last night. I want so badly to still hate Mike. What he did was deplorable and the extent of the lying makes it even worse, but watching last night I believed him. I know I very well be naive and as one of my closest friends asked me, "Would you feel the same way if he wasn't going to play for your team?". I can't answer that question because he is. Someone also wanted me to compare it to Terrell Owens leaving Philly for Dallas and the fact that I despise T.O. to this day. I thought about the difference. I have no idea who either of these guys are as people though they have given us more than glimpses. What I can say is I think someone can learn from errors in judgement and poor societal moral choices. I don't think someone can change their internal make up and how they view others as human beings. Mike Vick committed atrocious acts, no doubt, but if is no longer doing those things and recognizes he can't isn't it over once he paid his penalty? Owens on the other hand continues in his selfish ways from city to city. He holds himself accountable to no one. Me personally, I'd rather go to battle with Mike, who has shown he can be a teammate, than T.O. who doesn't know what that word means.
America is a place built on second chances. I hope Vick not only gets his second chance but that he fulfills the promise of what a second chance means. If he does he might change the way we look at athletes. If he doesn't then he goes into the pile with the rest of the liars.
Tiger, Tiger, Tiger I am so glad you lost. Unlike the scores of people who were saying that yesterday and this morning for a myriad of ignorant and socially incorrect reasons I was glad to see that you were HUMAN! As you may know, I am a HUGE Tiger fan and of course I want him to win and make history, but yesterday there was something poetic in watching him be human and at the same time watching a relative unknown step up and perform under pressure. Today I have read about Tiger choking and even that his career is over. Journalism today has become so full of hyperbole and nonsense. It is what it is. Tiger is human, he suffers from the same frailties as us, how refreshing. Why go off the deep end and suggest his career is over? Phil Mickleson blows leads and tournaments on a regular basis, I have never heard word one that his career was over let along on the decline. I look forward to the day Tiger wins his 19th Major along with his 87th overall tournament (I think that's the record) but yesterday was a refreshing departure from the script.
Speaking of departing from the script, you have the Michael Vick 60 Minutes interview last night. I want so badly to still hate Mike. What he did was deplorable and the extent of the lying makes it even worse, but watching last night I believed him. I know I very well be naive and as one of my closest friends asked me, "Would you feel the same way if he wasn't going to play for your team?". I can't answer that question because he is. Someone also wanted me to compare it to Terrell Owens leaving Philly for Dallas and the fact that I despise T.O. to this day. I thought about the difference. I have no idea who either of these guys are as people though they have given us more than glimpses. What I can say is I think someone can learn from errors in judgement and poor societal moral choices. I don't think someone can change their internal make up and how they view others as human beings. Mike Vick committed atrocious acts, no doubt, but if is no longer doing those things and recognizes he can't isn't it over once he paid his penalty? Owens on the other hand continues in his selfish ways from city to city. He holds himself accountable to no one. Me personally, I'd rather go to battle with Mike, who has shown he can be a teammate, than T.O. who doesn't know what that word means.
America is a place built on second chances. I hope Vick not only gets his second chance but that he fulfills the promise of what a second chance means. If he does he might change the way we look at athletes. If he doesn't then he goes into the pile with the rest of the liars.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
How much reality do you want to see?
Watching a public figures life played out in front of you on TV, in print and on the Internet has become an American pastime all to its own. For me it is uncomfortable and strange, but like a huge wreck on the highway it is nearly impossible to not look over and draw your own conclusions.
Last night I got that same feeling when hearing the initial story of Rick Pitino, the Head Basketball Coach at the University of Louisville. I also had a similar feeling after the pictures of Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers Outfielder, but for his plight I feel much more empathy.
The Pitino story, if you haven't heard, is just breaking and details are VERY vague, which helps allowing your mind to wander. What we do know. Pitino had consensual sex with a woman, not his wife, in 2003. At some point the woman began to attempt to extort money from Pitino and now she is on trial and Pitino is a witness. Other interesting tidbits; Pitino gave the woman $3,000 for an abortion. Does that mean Pitino knew he was the father of an unborn child after ONE encounter? Did he feel sorry for her and feel like this would 'sweep the issue under the rug' regardless of who the father is? The last really interesting thing I noticed is the woman's last name, now that she is married --- Sypher. What's in a name? Oh, 6 months after this incident happened she MARRIED one of the coaches on Pitino's STAFF!!!! Hello? Isn't that a little bizarre? So, she has an affair with the head coach, gets pregnant by 'someone', begins extortion on said coach and then DATES AND MARRIES one of his employees and friends...There has got to be a lot more here and no one is really talking. So when no one talks, people will make shit up. That's what is running around in my head --- inventing all of the really juicy stuff that 'could' have happened. I'm not going to type them here, I'll let you use your own imagination, but needless to say, if someone needed a payday, it would make for a great hour on Jerry Springer.
The Hamilton story is much sadder. Again, for the less sports baptized amongst you. Hamilton was a major stud coming out of High School and a #1 pick. In a long and sordid start to his career he got messed up with alcohol and drugs, including all of the 'hard stuff'. Through years of dedication and faith he has turned his life around. Not only has he rejoined the Majors and become an icon, but he has a beautiful young family. Apparently, in January he slipped and drank. Thanks to camera phones and his celebrity status, his fall off the wagon was captured and has now become public more than 6 months later. Unlike Pitino above though, Hamilton didn't wait for the 'smoking gun' to become public to deal with things. The day after the incident Hamilton opened up to his wife, his sponsor and his employer. He held nothing back so that when the 'story' eventually broke it was a non-story. It is what it is, Hamilton will live his life battling his disease and his demons. There are no guarantees he won't slip again, but it does seem that he has learned the most important lesson and that is when you make a mistake, own up to it, ask for forgiveness and realize that only through your positive actions can you truly be forgiven.
Two public stories, handled two different ways makes me think of a line from my favorite Robert Frost poem - "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference".
Last night I got that same feeling when hearing the initial story of Rick Pitino, the Head Basketball Coach at the University of Louisville. I also had a similar feeling after the pictures of Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers Outfielder, but for his plight I feel much more empathy.
The Pitino story, if you haven't heard, is just breaking and details are VERY vague, which helps allowing your mind to wander. What we do know. Pitino had consensual sex with a woman, not his wife, in 2003. At some point the woman began to attempt to extort money from Pitino and now she is on trial and Pitino is a witness. Other interesting tidbits; Pitino gave the woman $3,000 for an abortion. Does that mean Pitino knew he was the father of an unborn child after ONE encounter? Did he feel sorry for her and feel like this would 'sweep the issue under the rug' regardless of who the father is? The last really interesting thing I noticed is the woman's last name, now that she is married --- Sypher. What's in a name? Oh, 6 months after this incident happened she MARRIED one of the coaches on Pitino's STAFF!!!! Hello? Isn't that a little bizarre? So, she has an affair with the head coach, gets pregnant by 'someone', begins extortion on said coach and then DATES AND MARRIES one of his employees and friends...There has got to be a lot more here and no one is really talking. So when no one talks, people will make shit up. That's what is running around in my head --- inventing all of the really juicy stuff that 'could' have happened. I'm not going to type them here, I'll let you use your own imagination, but needless to say, if someone needed a payday, it would make for a great hour on Jerry Springer.
The Hamilton story is much sadder. Again, for the less sports baptized amongst you. Hamilton was a major stud coming out of High School and a #1 pick. In a long and sordid start to his career he got messed up with alcohol and drugs, including all of the 'hard stuff'. Through years of dedication and faith he has turned his life around. Not only has he rejoined the Majors and become an icon, but he has a beautiful young family. Apparently, in January he slipped and drank. Thanks to camera phones and his celebrity status, his fall off the wagon was captured and has now become public more than 6 months later. Unlike Pitino above though, Hamilton didn't wait for the 'smoking gun' to become public to deal with things. The day after the incident Hamilton opened up to his wife, his sponsor and his employer. He held nothing back so that when the 'story' eventually broke it was a non-story. It is what it is, Hamilton will live his life battling his disease and his demons. There are no guarantees he won't slip again, but it does seem that he has learned the most important lesson and that is when you make a mistake, own up to it, ask for forgiveness and realize that only through your positive actions can you truly be forgiven.
Two public stories, handled two different ways makes me think of a line from my favorite Robert Frost poem - "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference".
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Case to make Michael Vick an EAGLE
Yep, I typed it. I can't believe I did it, but I figured if it should happen I wanted to have it in writing so I can say 'I told you so' to the world.
If you are a long time reader, and why would you be since it's been so long since I posted, you will know I am no Mike Vick fan. I find, not just the act that he committed, but the lies he perpetuated and the image he has portrayed as reprehensible. However, I am not looking at this as Mike Vick the man alone, I am looking at it objectively. Where could he fit in as a player and a system.
So, I am looking at my beloved Eagles and thinking why not?
First, as an Owner of a Football Team, my first concern might be community outcry. Philly is NOT Seattle or San Francisco. Sure PETA will protest and there will be rumblings but Philly is at its heart a blue collar town that embraces the underdog (no pun intended); real or not (see Rocky and the fact that he has a statue...). Second, this team is considered a front runner in the NFC and I am not exactly sure why. I love McNabb, but can Westbrook stay healthy, actually is he even healthy to begin with and who are we throwing the ball to again? Third, Vick can be utilized in the West Coast Offense that Andy Reid subscribes to. In fact, where McNabb has lost a step, Vick could be used as a playmaker. Fourth, Mcnabb. One, he is NOT getting any younger and with Kolb getting hurt yesterday, do we have a back up? Also, McNabb has been through the wars and can relate to Mike on just about every level.
The more I think about it, the more I like it, for the FOOTBALL TEAM. Would I run out to buy a Vick jersey? No. I would also explain to my children what he did, how I feel about it and what second, and sometimes third chances are all about.
Who in fact couldn't use a chance to 'rehabilitate' his/her image with a fresh start? Sometimes I wish I could!!!
If you are a long time reader, and why would you be since it's been so long since I posted, you will know I am no Mike Vick fan. I find, not just the act that he committed, but the lies he perpetuated and the image he has portrayed as reprehensible. However, I am not looking at this as Mike Vick the man alone, I am looking at it objectively. Where could he fit in as a player and a system.
So, I am looking at my beloved Eagles and thinking why not?
First, as an Owner of a Football Team, my first concern might be community outcry. Philly is NOT Seattle or San Francisco. Sure PETA will protest and there will be rumblings but Philly is at its heart a blue collar town that embraces the underdog (no pun intended); real or not (see Rocky and the fact that he has a statue...). Second, this team is considered a front runner in the NFC and I am not exactly sure why. I love McNabb, but can Westbrook stay healthy, actually is he even healthy to begin with and who are we throwing the ball to again? Third, Vick can be utilized in the West Coast Offense that Andy Reid subscribes to. In fact, where McNabb has lost a step, Vick could be used as a playmaker. Fourth, Mcnabb. One, he is NOT getting any younger and with Kolb getting hurt yesterday, do we have a back up? Also, McNabb has been through the wars and can relate to Mike on just about every level.
The more I think about it, the more I like it, for the FOOTBALL TEAM. Would I run out to buy a Vick jersey? No. I would also explain to my children what he did, how I feel about it and what second, and sometimes third chances are all about.
Who in fact couldn't use a chance to 'rehabilitate' his/her image with a fresh start? Sometimes I wish I could!!!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
So I suck at getting back to posts...
though I promise I will, I really do promise, but this is related, it really is.
Last night, while trying NOT to sleep, because why would I sleep when the next morning I am taking a 5:45 SPIN class and then have to hustle home to make the girls' lunches, wake them up, make their breakfast, get myself showered, etc...I mean really why even sleep.
So I am watching Jon Stewart, a re-run no less, but at least it wasn't Sports Center as alas Brad Lidge blew another save and I didn't want to see the lowlights, and Jon mentions one of the GREATEST 80's gadgets of ALL TIME that I can't believe I forgot...
The CASIO CALCULATOR WATCH! Who amongst us did not have this gem and act like we were getting away with some amazing tool in the 7th grade? Looking back, was multiplication and division really that difficult to do by hand?
Anyway, just thought I'd share, plus it reminds me I haven't finished the last post...or one from a little further back...when did I become King Procrastinator????
Last night, while trying NOT to sleep, because why would I sleep when the next morning I am taking a 5:45 SPIN class and then have to hustle home to make the girls' lunches, wake them up, make their breakfast, get myself showered, etc...I mean really why even sleep.
So I am watching Jon Stewart, a re-run no less, but at least it wasn't Sports Center as alas Brad Lidge blew another save and I didn't want to see the lowlights, and Jon mentions one of the GREATEST 80's gadgets of ALL TIME that I can't believe I forgot...
The CASIO CALCULATOR WATCH! Who amongst us did not have this gem and act like we were getting away with some amazing tool in the 7th grade? Looking back, was multiplication and division really that difficult to do by hand?
Anyway, just thought I'd share, plus it reminds me I haven't finished the last post...or one from a little further back...when did I become King Procrastinator????
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Happy Birthday to the Walkman!
Can you believe it? This most amazing gadget, well at least to those of us that were pre-teens and teens back then, came out 30 years ago!!
So it got me thinking, while I type on my laptop with its wireless connection and my MAC laptop is next to me 'ripping' custom ringtones as my iPhones recharges off the USB connection about all the gadgets we had back then and how 'most awesome' they were in the words of either Bill or Ted and now how they pale in comparison.
I don't have time right now, but tonight after I take the girls to see the Phils' and Braves and before I get on a plane for 5 days of much needed relaxation and self examination I am going to explore the gadgets that made up my youth and maybe even look at their counterparts today.
I know I won't get them all so if you want to add to my list feel free:
The aforementioned SONY Walkman
8 tracks
two turntables and vinyl
real cable boxes and their long cords connected to the TV
the original 'mobile phone'
How about wall mounted phones and the curly cords that always got knotted and twisted and you had to let them dangle to unknot?
The VCR and Betamax
Word Processors
The Apple IIe or Commodore 64
Nintendo, Intellivision or Atari gaming systems
So it got me thinking, while I type on my laptop with its wireless connection and my MAC laptop is next to me 'ripping' custom ringtones as my iPhones recharges off the USB connection about all the gadgets we had back then and how 'most awesome' they were in the words of either Bill or Ted and now how they pale in comparison.
I don't have time right now, but tonight after I take the girls to see the Phils' and Braves and before I get on a plane for 5 days of much needed relaxation and self examination I am going to explore the gadgets that made up my youth and maybe even look at their counterparts today.
I know I won't get them all so if you want to add to my list feel free:
The aforementioned SONY Walkman
8 tracks
two turntables and vinyl
real cable boxes and their long cords connected to the TV
the original 'mobile phone'
How about wall mounted phones and the curly cords that always got knotted and twisted and you had to let them dangle to unknot?
The VCR and Betamax
Word Processors
The Apple IIe or Commodore 64
Nintendo, Intellivision or Atari gaming systems
Friday, June 26, 2009
Processing the loss of Michael Jackson
Quite frankly I am a little surprised by the outpouring of emotion that has been the last 15 or so hours.
Sure, the music of Michael Jackson spans generations and so many people have been touched by his 'gift' from early childhood through many great solo albums and performances well into adulthood. But let's be realistic on the 'musical front', Jackson has not produced a 'relevant' album let alone a single in at least a decade if not closer to two. For me, 'Remember the Time' might be the last thing I recall of Jackson, at least musically that is.
Sticking to his 'pop' legacy, he was truly groundbreaking AND in the right place at the right time. I was talking to a friend last night, who was not yet alive yet when Jackson released Thriller (yikes I think was the quote)! The album and what Jackson did with it visually truly changed the way we think and WATCH music today. I remember rushing home, in my Freshman year in High School, with a group of friends so we could be in front of the TV set for the World Premiere of the Thriller Movie. If I am correct, it ran close to 15 minutes and MTV played it at least 3 times in a row. We sat there mesmerized. Music Television had been out for a couple of years now but Thriller changed it all. There are so many tremendous songs in the Jackson library and it would do me disservice to start naming favorites but there are ones that I can still listen to today and even put them into context of things I can relate to now.
So, I just spent a paragraph and a half glorifying the musical genius of Michael Jackson. You would think I was mourning in the streets or at least on my Facebook status but I am not. But before I get into that, I'd like to explore a thought I had in the middle of the night...
Jackson was Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and even Miley Cyrus well before we even thought of things like that. Jackson and his family grew up in an age without mass media coverage, no cameras in the face, no TMZ snapping shots of them coming out of seedy hotel rooms. Let's be honest, we've seen enough evidence to realize the Jackson kids did not grow up in an ideal household and given the stereotypes of the early 70's lets just assume there was a little bit of recreational drug use and promiscuity around them...Can you inagine the FIELD DAY that all the tabloids and daily trash TV shows would be having if they were around then? Is the transformation that Michael has gone through any less horrific than Lohan? Ummm, she's got drug problems, apparently steals shit and who knows how many sexual partners but is she a pedophile? Have we seen her dangling babies from windows, etc...
So that leads me to my final thought. How can we GLORIFY a man, as gifted as he was, for only one side of his life? If OJ dies tomorrow there will be no candle lighting vigils on the campus of USC or in Buffalo where he is lauded for his football talents. At the end of the day, Jackson was a recluse and a creep at a minimum and a pedophile/child rapist at the worst who preyed on innocent and often sick children for his own satisfaction. Forget the mutilation he did to his own body in modifications and changes, he was NOT a good guy.
Certainly it's a tragic tale and one that the entertainment world and we as consumers should pay attention to. We, as a society, LOVE child stars. We go nuts for them, have pageants and contests to discover them and for what? Our own glory and riches?
To their parents, the Jacksons' were a way out, a means to an end. Look up and down the line of those kids and who amongst them have become well adjusted adults?
There has to be a place for children in 'show business' there always has, but at some point someone must educate the parents and make sure they keep their kids best interest at heart. Ok, I took a strange tangent there, but its related right?
To sum it up - I hope that you find peace Michael. I have and always will enjoy your musical gifts. I will explain to my children, as they have already asked why I think the person on the Thriller video is the same person in the Bad video, that sometimes people change and that pressure can be a very difficult thing to deal with, and also never to talk to strangers no matter how appealing that offer may be...
Sure, the music of Michael Jackson spans generations and so many people have been touched by his 'gift' from early childhood through many great solo albums and performances well into adulthood. But let's be realistic on the 'musical front', Jackson has not produced a 'relevant' album let alone a single in at least a decade if not closer to two. For me, 'Remember the Time' might be the last thing I recall of Jackson, at least musically that is.
Sticking to his 'pop' legacy, he was truly groundbreaking AND in the right place at the right time. I was talking to a friend last night, who was not yet alive yet when Jackson released Thriller (yikes I think was the quote)! The album and what Jackson did with it visually truly changed the way we think and WATCH music today. I remember rushing home, in my Freshman year in High School, with a group of friends so we could be in front of the TV set for the World Premiere of the Thriller Movie. If I am correct, it ran close to 15 minutes and MTV played it at least 3 times in a row. We sat there mesmerized. Music Television had been out for a couple of years now but Thriller changed it all. There are so many tremendous songs in the Jackson library and it would do me disservice to start naming favorites but there are ones that I can still listen to today and even put them into context of things I can relate to now.
So, I just spent a paragraph and a half glorifying the musical genius of Michael Jackson. You would think I was mourning in the streets or at least on my Facebook status but I am not. But before I get into that, I'd like to explore a thought I had in the middle of the night...
Jackson was Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and even Miley Cyrus well before we even thought of things like that. Jackson and his family grew up in an age without mass media coverage, no cameras in the face, no TMZ snapping shots of them coming out of seedy hotel rooms. Let's be honest, we've seen enough evidence to realize the Jackson kids did not grow up in an ideal household and given the stereotypes of the early 70's lets just assume there was a little bit of recreational drug use and promiscuity around them...Can you inagine the FIELD DAY that all the tabloids and daily trash TV shows would be having if they were around then? Is the transformation that Michael has gone through any less horrific than Lohan? Ummm, she's got drug problems, apparently steals shit and who knows how many sexual partners but is she a pedophile? Have we seen her dangling babies from windows, etc...
So that leads me to my final thought. How can we GLORIFY a man, as gifted as he was, for only one side of his life? If OJ dies tomorrow there will be no candle lighting vigils on the campus of USC or in Buffalo where he is lauded for his football talents. At the end of the day, Jackson was a recluse and a creep at a minimum and a pedophile/child rapist at the worst who preyed on innocent and often sick children for his own satisfaction. Forget the mutilation he did to his own body in modifications and changes, he was NOT a good guy.
Certainly it's a tragic tale and one that the entertainment world and we as consumers should pay attention to. We, as a society, LOVE child stars. We go nuts for them, have pageants and contests to discover them and for what? Our own glory and riches?
To their parents, the Jacksons' were a way out, a means to an end. Look up and down the line of those kids and who amongst them have become well adjusted adults?
There has to be a place for children in 'show business' there always has, but at some point someone must educate the parents and make sure they keep their kids best interest at heart. Ok, I took a strange tangent there, but its related right?
To sum it up - I hope that you find peace Michael. I have and always will enjoy your musical gifts. I will explain to my children, as they have already asked why I think the person on the Thriller video is the same person in the Bad video, that sometimes people change and that pressure can be a very difficult thing to deal with, and also never to talk to strangers no matter how appealing that offer may be...
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Age and time...
I know I have other issues to get to but this is what's been on my mind for at least the last few days.
First, the middle week of June is a difficult one for me. My father would have turned 66 on the 14th, instead it marks nearly 8 years since he passed away. Usually his birthday falls very close to Father's Day. This year it is separated by a full week, which I believe is the furthest apart it ever gets. Father's Day to me has always been a dichotomy and now that I have been a father for almost 9 years I guess it's a trichotomy if that is even a word. My earliest memories of Father's Day are of pain and loss, a father that left in the truest sense of the term. Today I know that you may not be in the same place as your children but you can always be PRESENT. The second Father's Day for me is one of gratitude and thanks for the man that chose to be by father. Now more than ever I feel that gratitude and look to carry on that legacy he has given me. The third, Gil as a Dad is more difficult. I think because of my original feelings on Father's Day and its proximity to my biological father's birth I would try to push it out of my head and say its not really a 'day for me'. I'm still not comfortable with it. I like days about 'other people'. I'm a pretty good giver and I like focusing on someone else's happiness and thus getting joy from seeing them smile at my thoughtfulness. As TIME marches forward I think I need to re-focus that lens and try to receive Father's Day differently, for me.
So where does all this tie in (notice the cute father's day pun of TIE)? Maybe it won't but by now you know that I just type and type.
Back to TIME, last week I was STUCK in the Dallas airport for 18+ hours with not much to do but sit in the Crown Room and contemplate life. Sure I watched a movie and even used the restroom, but basically it was the worst 'holding pattern' I could remember in a LONG time and it made me think about TIME and how much of it we waste in our life on petty shit. In fact time wasting has actually become a 'pasttime for people'. Don't believe me? GOOGLE 'time wasters' and all you get are hits for games and sites for you to actually WASTE TIME. Fuck - I want just the exact opposite (pardon my french). I don't want to waste any more time.
I am now 40. Do I feel 40? I have no idea. I know I don't feel like I thought 40 would feel. I still love to goof around, I like current music which makes the kids happy, despite two major knee reconstructions I run, play golf and am getting ready to play basketball again. When I was in my 20's I looked at 40 as old and sometimes I wonder do I come off that way to that same 'demo' now. The biggest thing about being 40 seems to be the realization that if life were a bell curve I am no longer on the 'climb'. Though it doesn't mean that I can't still reach higher heights!
How do the concepts of AGE and TIME collide?
Pretty simple. There are so many things I wish to do, experience and accomplish. What I have come to accept is that I don't have time for 'time suckers', 'time wasters' or 'haters'.
MY father died at 57. I can't imagine only having 17 years left on this planet, but if I do I want to make the best of it. I don't want to 'live each moment to its fullest', I want to 'LIVE IN EACH MOMENT'. I want to be able to look around and see it for what it is, enjoy the experience or even hate the experience but use that to make future experiences that much better.
AGE is truly but a number. I know 35 year olds that have given up and are resigned to a life less ordinary and I have friends in their mid 20's that have a lifetime ahead of them and they see all that life can offer them. My hope is to try and help rescue the 35 year old while being able to jump on the ride with the mid 20's and let them see, through experience, how many ways this life can be enjoyed.
Is 40 the new 30? Probably not, but 40 is me. Its active, fun and looking forward to the next 40 and not back on what the first 40 'should' have been.
Age and time...I hope they are both on my side and those around me get the chance to see that and while things might not be 'ideal' from a fairy tale perspective, they can be pretty spectacular in the moment and on in to the future if your mind and heart is open.
First, the middle week of June is a difficult one for me. My father would have turned 66 on the 14th, instead it marks nearly 8 years since he passed away. Usually his birthday falls very close to Father's Day. This year it is separated by a full week, which I believe is the furthest apart it ever gets. Father's Day to me has always been a dichotomy and now that I have been a father for almost 9 years I guess it's a trichotomy if that is even a word. My earliest memories of Father's Day are of pain and loss, a father that left in the truest sense of the term. Today I know that you may not be in the same place as your children but you can always be PRESENT. The second Father's Day for me is one of gratitude and thanks for the man that chose to be by father. Now more than ever I feel that gratitude and look to carry on that legacy he has given me. The third, Gil as a Dad is more difficult. I think because of my original feelings on Father's Day and its proximity to my biological father's birth I would try to push it out of my head and say its not really a 'day for me'. I'm still not comfortable with it. I like days about 'other people'. I'm a pretty good giver and I like focusing on someone else's happiness and thus getting joy from seeing them smile at my thoughtfulness. As TIME marches forward I think I need to re-focus that lens and try to receive Father's Day differently, for me.
So where does all this tie in (notice the cute father's day pun of TIE)? Maybe it won't but by now you know that I just type and type.
Back to TIME, last week I was STUCK in the Dallas airport for 18+ hours with not much to do but sit in the Crown Room and contemplate life. Sure I watched a movie and even used the restroom, but basically it was the worst 'holding pattern' I could remember in a LONG time and it made me think about TIME and how much of it we waste in our life on petty shit. In fact time wasting has actually become a 'pasttime for people'. Don't believe me? GOOGLE 'time wasters' and all you get are hits for games and sites for you to actually WASTE TIME. Fuck - I want just the exact opposite (pardon my french). I don't want to waste any more time.
I am now 40. Do I feel 40? I have no idea. I know I don't feel like I thought 40 would feel. I still love to goof around, I like current music which makes the kids happy, despite two major knee reconstructions I run, play golf and am getting ready to play basketball again. When I was in my 20's I looked at 40 as old and sometimes I wonder do I come off that way to that same 'demo' now. The biggest thing about being 40 seems to be the realization that if life were a bell curve I am no longer on the 'climb'. Though it doesn't mean that I can't still reach higher heights!
How do the concepts of AGE and TIME collide?
Pretty simple. There are so many things I wish to do, experience and accomplish. What I have come to accept is that I don't have time for 'time suckers', 'time wasters' or 'haters'.
MY father died at 57. I can't imagine only having 17 years left on this planet, but if I do I want to make the best of it. I don't want to 'live each moment to its fullest', I want to 'LIVE IN EACH MOMENT'. I want to be able to look around and see it for what it is, enjoy the experience or even hate the experience but use that to make future experiences that much better.
AGE is truly but a number. I know 35 year olds that have given up and are resigned to a life less ordinary and I have friends in their mid 20's that have a lifetime ahead of them and they see all that life can offer them. My hope is to try and help rescue the 35 year old while being able to jump on the ride with the mid 20's and let them see, through experience, how many ways this life can be enjoyed.
Is 40 the new 30? Probably not, but 40 is me. Its active, fun and looking forward to the next 40 and not back on what the first 40 'should' have been.
Age and time...I hope they are both on my side and those around me get the chance to see that and while things might not be 'ideal' from a fairy tale perspective, they can be pretty spectacular in the moment and on in to the future if your mind and heart is open.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Teaser...
Seriously, if I had the time, and I am working on clearing up some space, here are some topics that I would like to blog about...and I will I promise.
1. Homelessness - especially in Atlanta. I went to a breakfast for the Atlanta Children's Shelter that was very powerful and I started doing some research. I can't wait to share.
2. Iran and its continual development of nuclear capabilities and the ramifications on not just the Middle East (Israel) but also Europe. Also Iran's relationship with Venezuela and the impact that could have on the West - interesting and scary stuff.
3. Comedienne Lisa Lampinelli - I almost cringe about giving her 'face' time. I watched her HBO Special over the weekend, at 3:00 AM when I couldn't sleep, and I was outraged, disgusted and offended (not things that someone can usually do to me). Sitting here 2 days later my skin still crawls from her racist, anti-semetic and cruel sexual orientation jabs.
I have been traveling a TON for work and that continues through the middle of next week, but I have all these notes, I just need to put them together in coherent thoughts :)
1. Homelessness - especially in Atlanta. I went to a breakfast for the Atlanta Children's Shelter that was very powerful and I started doing some research. I can't wait to share.
2. Iran and its continual development of nuclear capabilities and the ramifications on not just the Middle East (Israel) but also Europe. Also Iran's relationship with Venezuela and the impact that could have on the West - interesting and scary stuff.
3. Comedienne Lisa Lampinelli - I almost cringe about giving her 'face' time. I watched her HBO Special over the weekend, at 3:00 AM when I couldn't sleep, and I was outraged, disgusted and offended (not things that someone can usually do to me). Sitting here 2 days later my skin still crawls from her racist, anti-semetic and cruel sexual orientation jabs.
I have been traveling a TON for work and that continues through the middle of next week, but I have all these notes, I just need to put them together in coherent thoughts :)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Patience...
Patience with the process is something I heard awhile ago and thought I subscribed to it, but I also realize I am basically an impatient person, which I don't think is a bad thing if reigned in. I am hungry and aggressive to reach my goals thanks to that impatience.
So today at lunch a Leadership Atlanta classmate and I were discussing her job situation and what she wants to 'really' be doing and I was impressed with how thought out and methodical she was. She knew what the present reality was and she knew what the future reality will be and she has the patience to see them through.
So here I sit, about to embark on 3 business trips between May 27th and June 11th that should be the start of the great things I envision, I just need to have the same focus and peace with the process to go along with the patience.
With that in mind I 'googled' - "patience quotes" and I think I got better than I bargained for...
“All human wisdom is summed up in two words - wait and hope” - Alexandre Dumas
"Follow your heart, but be quiet for a while first. Ask questions, then feel the answer. Learn to trust your heart.”
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions” -Rainer Maria Rilke
“Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.”
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” - Tolstoy
“Patience and fortitude conquer all things” - Emerson
and my favorite, from one of my favorite Philadelphian's ----
“He that can have Patience, can have what he will” - Benjamin Franklin
So today at lunch a Leadership Atlanta classmate and I were discussing her job situation and what she wants to 'really' be doing and I was impressed with how thought out and methodical she was. She knew what the present reality was and she knew what the future reality will be and she has the patience to see them through.
So here I sit, about to embark on 3 business trips between May 27th and June 11th that should be the start of the great things I envision, I just need to have the same focus and peace with the process to go along with the patience.
With that in mind I 'googled' - "patience quotes" and I think I got better than I bargained for...
“All human wisdom is summed up in two words - wait and hope” - Alexandre Dumas
"Follow your heart, but be quiet for a while first. Ask questions, then feel the answer. Learn to trust your heart.”
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions” -Rainer Maria Rilke
“Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.”
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” - Tolstoy
“Patience and fortitude conquer all things” - Emerson
and my favorite, from one of my favorite Philadelphian's ----
“He that can have Patience, can have what he will” - Benjamin Franklin
Monday, May 18, 2009
Travel Date - May 15-18, 2009
I do a bunch of travel. I actually enjoy it for the most part. I certainly miss my family while I am away but I do enjoy seeing different parts of the country and sometimes the world. I also like meeting people from different places and finding out where we are similar through our backgrounds and how we are different.
One thing that has always been a constant has been my mode of transportation - the airplane. This week I had the chance to experience a different means of transportation and I really enjoyed it and I enjoyed experience a part of the country I have never been in; enjoyed but ready to depart for more familiar turf.
I had to be in Providence for a Trade Show and the flights into Providence were a little pricey. If you are not familiar with the area (as I was not) I quickly found out Providence was about an hour from Boston and 3 from New York. Well, airfare into NYC was unbeatable so I took that option. My next choice was how to get to Rhode Island. Sure I could rent a car for like $300 or I could grab the TRAIN to Providence for around $100. I had NEVER been on a REAL train so it was a no brainer. I upgraded to 'Business Class' because that's how I roll (LOL) and I had no idea what to expect from coach.
The whole experience was new and exhilarating and began early with my first walk into PENN STATION. Clearly I was a fish out of water and had no idea what to do. I did have my itinerary and easily picked up my ticket from the kiosk, but unlike the airport there was no GATE # on my ticket. I was also about 2 hours early not knowing proper protocol. I asked an AMTRAK attendant what to do and he pointed to a waiting area and said "wait and they will tell you what track". OK. I still had a bunch of questions but figured he was not the guy to ask. I spent the next hour using my power of observation and realized that about 15 minutes before a train would leave they would put up its track # on a big board. I look at my ticket for Providence but don't see it on the board and slight panic sets it. I look to see it has a # and I look for that and realize that my trains ultimate destination must be Boston and there it is, 2164. As the 15 minute mark approaches and passes the Board still reads, ON TIME but no track # as a large gathering of people swell. As the moments pass the track # goes up and the mass of humanity the rushes past me is enormous and I allow myself to get swept up in it. What I am realizing is that the train to Boston gets crowded and there are NO assigned seats and I have no idea how these things are configured. I finally make my way down to the track, feeling very much like Harry Potter on his first trip to Hogwarts, and I am searching for the first BUSINESS CLASS CAR I can find. I found one, ducked in, and grabbed a seat.
The configuration was like a library table with two seats on either side. I grabbed one by the window as I was looking forward to watching the countryside roll by. Across from me was a guy with a laptop up and a book ready. I took down my backpack and pulled out a book and my iPod, opting to leave the laptop put away. Next a woman sat next to the guy across from me and finally a middle aged man filled in next to me with his laptop. Away we go and the conductor comes around and collects your ticker and I'm off for my 3 hour adventure, and I never really made it an adventure...
I never got up in fact! Too scared to look like and idiot searching for the SNACK Car I just sat there. I watched out the window as NYC faded away, I napped, I read and listened to T.I. and I ogled at the gorgeous scenes as we reached the coast and made our way up to Providence.
I did also observe, which I always do. Guy across from me, got up and bought 4 Heineken's for the trip; he was going on to Boston and he spent most of the time back and forth between the laptop to his book. The man next to me was the most interesting; I saw the PowerPoint he was working on. He clearly was in the financial industry and he was manipulating billions of dollars worth of data and I was pretty impressed. Then, for his break he toggles over to a shoot'em up virtual game on his DELL, I chuckle to myself at the 50 something 'gamer'. He gets more interesting as though as he gets up and reaches into his bag for what I think is a book. Turns out he has about 20 different issues of COMICS...yes I said comics. Now I am NOT passing judgement as I am sitting there reading TWILIGHT like a 13 year old TWEEN (please censure yourself here David...) but I am a bit surprised he would be so 'bold' as to read comics in public.
Looking back, I actually admire the guy. He is comfortable enough with who he is and likes what he likes and he could care less what some random stranger thinks of it on the train to Boston. Good for him, good lesson for me!
All in all I really enjoyed the trip and I know someday I want to do the full 'train experience' across our beautiful country, in a REALLY COMFY train mind you and with someone to SHARE the experience, but for a first time experience I enjoyed it.
I am no longer a 40 year old virgin in the riding the train category - CHECK
One thing that has always been a constant has been my mode of transportation - the airplane. This week I had the chance to experience a different means of transportation and I really enjoyed it and I enjoyed experience a part of the country I have never been in; enjoyed but ready to depart for more familiar turf.
I had to be in Providence for a Trade Show and the flights into Providence were a little pricey. If you are not familiar with the area (as I was not) I quickly found out Providence was about an hour from Boston and 3 from New York. Well, airfare into NYC was unbeatable so I took that option. My next choice was how to get to Rhode Island. Sure I could rent a car for like $300 or I could grab the TRAIN to Providence for around $100. I had NEVER been on a REAL train so it was a no brainer. I upgraded to 'Business Class' because that's how I roll (LOL) and I had no idea what to expect from coach.
The whole experience was new and exhilarating and began early with my first walk into PENN STATION. Clearly I was a fish out of water and had no idea what to do. I did have my itinerary and easily picked up my ticket from the kiosk, but unlike the airport there was no GATE # on my ticket. I was also about 2 hours early not knowing proper protocol. I asked an AMTRAK attendant what to do and he pointed to a waiting area and said "wait and they will tell you what track". OK. I still had a bunch of questions but figured he was not the guy to ask. I spent the next hour using my power of observation and realized that about 15 minutes before a train would leave they would put up its track # on a big board. I look at my ticket for Providence but don't see it on the board and slight panic sets it. I look to see it has a # and I look for that and realize that my trains ultimate destination must be Boston and there it is, 2164. As the 15 minute mark approaches and passes the Board still reads, ON TIME but no track # as a large gathering of people swell. As the moments pass the track # goes up and the mass of humanity the rushes past me is enormous and I allow myself to get swept up in it. What I am realizing is that the train to Boston gets crowded and there are NO assigned seats and I have no idea how these things are configured. I finally make my way down to the track, feeling very much like Harry Potter on his first trip to Hogwarts, and I am searching for the first BUSINESS CLASS CAR I can find. I found one, ducked in, and grabbed a seat.
The configuration was like a library table with two seats on either side. I grabbed one by the window as I was looking forward to watching the countryside roll by. Across from me was a guy with a laptop up and a book ready. I took down my backpack and pulled out a book and my iPod, opting to leave the laptop put away. Next a woman sat next to the guy across from me and finally a middle aged man filled in next to me with his laptop. Away we go and the conductor comes around and collects your ticker and I'm off for my 3 hour adventure, and I never really made it an adventure...
I never got up in fact! Too scared to look like and idiot searching for the SNACK Car I just sat there. I watched out the window as NYC faded away, I napped, I read and listened to T.I. and I ogled at the gorgeous scenes as we reached the coast and made our way up to Providence.
I did also observe, which I always do. Guy across from me, got up and bought 4 Heineken's for the trip; he was going on to Boston and he spent most of the time back and forth between the laptop to his book. The man next to me was the most interesting; I saw the PowerPoint he was working on. He clearly was in the financial industry and he was manipulating billions of dollars worth of data and I was pretty impressed. Then, for his break he toggles over to a shoot'em up virtual game on his DELL, I chuckle to myself at the 50 something 'gamer'. He gets more interesting as though as he gets up and reaches into his bag for what I think is a book. Turns out he has about 20 different issues of COMICS...yes I said comics. Now I am NOT passing judgement as I am sitting there reading TWILIGHT like a 13 year old TWEEN (please censure yourself here David...) but I am a bit surprised he would be so 'bold' as to read comics in public.
Looking back, I actually admire the guy. He is comfortable enough with who he is and likes what he likes and he could care less what some random stranger thinks of it on the train to Boston. Good for him, good lesson for me!
All in all I really enjoyed the trip and I know someday I want to do the full 'train experience' across our beautiful country, in a REALLY COMFY train mind you and with someone to SHARE the experience, but for a first time experience I enjoyed it.
I am no longer a 40 year old virgin in the riding the train category - CHECK
Thursday, May 14, 2009
What's on your mind?
The ever so provocative question that appears when you open up Facebook. It's your opportunity to share with the world, at least YOUR Facebook world, what's on your mind.
I am fascinated with updates. Now mind you, fascinated does not mean in love with. Sometimes I think they are a ton of fun and I love catching up with what my friends are up to but sometimes they can be downright scary and uncomfortable (more on that later).
In my world there are several types of status updates that I like to display:
1. What's on my mind - exactly that! What I am thinking right then. For me these are usually about my girls or how I feel about something that has happened current event wise. Like this very minute, I fired up the laptop from 35,000 feet in the air to write this blog and remembered DELTA now has wireless in the air --- my status - Online in the AIR - SCHWEEETNESS!!!
2. Song lyrics - I love using song lyrics in my status. Usually it's a lyric that pops in my head while listening to a particular song while the MAC is on, but sometimes I'll have a meaningful lyric in my head that I want to get out.
3. The MESSAGE - ahhh - the ever 'cryptic' status update that befuddles the world because everyone wonders if it is for THEM, about THEM or meant for THEM. It's funny - I very rarely use this, unless it is a positive message that may be meant for just a few, but wouldn't worry the rest of my 'online clan'. But in certain cases I have done it and then regretted it.
This final type of update is where I worry about online communication in general and it is the same issue I have had with email forever now.
I think as a society we have become so comfortable using all the forms of 'text communication' that we forget how this comes across sometimes. Sure, you can put in all the fancy emoticons you want, add in exclamation marks and add ROFLMAO all you want but what you can NOT do is convey TRUE emotion via a device (except the phone). Why is that you may ask? Sure, you know how you 'feel' at that moment and are sure you are conveying that exactly so what's the problem? You are not the problem. I (in this case the euphemistic I) am the problem. You have no idea my mood or state of mind and there in lies the rub. Text does NOT convey true emotion. I will interpret the words on the screen based on my mood. I may color it with sarcasm, sadness or joy, you have no idea. This has long become a problem in the Corporate World and I wish more companies would address proper communication strategy. In the work world, email should only be used to convey INFORMATION not feelings or discuss opinions. Those should be saved for face to face conversations. But, people now 'hide' behind the veil of email and texting.
One of my newer friends has helped me see this very clearly. While in Washington we had a blast 'TWEETING' at a Conference we were at. We even texted each other during break out sessions that we were at separately. In that 2 day period it became the basis of how we 'communicated' except when we met for drinks with the rest of our group. When we got back to Atlanta it seemed like texting was the only way to communicate until I was reminded --- hey, pick up the phone and dial (not in those exact words) and I got the message!
Enjoy the various ways we can communicate but don't forget the BEST way, your voice. It displays exactly how you feel through your tone, intonation, pitch and even the silence.
So, I'll certainly keep using my FB status and all the other great tools out there, but I am making a more conscience effort to pick up the phone, both personally and professionally --- give it a try, as the OLD commercial says "Reach out and touch someone" ---- ROFLMAO!!!!! :-)~
I am fascinated with updates. Now mind you, fascinated does not mean in love with. Sometimes I think they are a ton of fun and I love catching up with what my friends are up to but sometimes they can be downright scary and uncomfortable (more on that later).
In my world there are several types of status updates that I like to display:
1. What's on my mind - exactly that! What I am thinking right then. For me these are usually about my girls or how I feel about something that has happened current event wise. Like this very minute, I fired up the laptop from 35,000 feet in the air to write this blog and remembered DELTA now has wireless in the air --- my status - Online in the AIR - SCHWEEETNESS!!!
2. Song lyrics - I love using song lyrics in my status. Usually it's a lyric that pops in my head while listening to a particular song while the MAC is on, but sometimes I'll have a meaningful lyric in my head that I want to get out.
3. The MESSAGE - ahhh - the ever 'cryptic' status update that befuddles the world because everyone wonders if it is for THEM, about THEM or meant for THEM. It's funny - I very rarely use this, unless it is a positive message that may be meant for just a few, but wouldn't worry the rest of my 'online clan'. But in certain cases I have done it and then regretted it.
This final type of update is where I worry about online communication in general and it is the same issue I have had with email forever now.
I think as a society we have become so comfortable using all the forms of 'text communication' that we forget how this comes across sometimes. Sure, you can put in all the fancy emoticons you want, add in exclamation marks and add ROFLMAO all you want but what you can NOT do is convey TRUE emotion via a device (except the phone). Why is that you may ask? Sure, you know how you 'feel' at that moment and are sure you are conveying that exactly so what's the problem? You are not the problem. I (in this case the euphemistic I) am the problem. You have no idea my mood or state of mind and there in lies the rub. Text does NOT convey true emotion. I will interpret the words on the screen based on my mood. I may color it with sarcasm, sadness or joy, you have no idea. This has long become a problem in the Corporate World and I wish more companies would address proper communication strategy. In the work world, email should only be used to convey INFORMATION not feelings or discuss opinions. Those should be saved for face to face conversations. But, people now 'hide' behind the veil of email and texting.
One of my newer friends has helped me see this very clearly. While in Washington we had a blast 'TWEETING' at a Conference we were at. We even texted each other during break out sessions that we were at separately. In that 2 day period it became the basis of how we 'communicated' except when we met for drinks with the rest of our group. When we got back to Atlanta it seemed like texting was the only way to communicate until I was reminded --- hey, pick up the phone and dial (not in those exact words) and I got the message!
Enjoy the various ways we can communicate but don't forget the BEST way, your voice. It displays exactly how you feel through your tone, intonation, pitch and even the silence.
So, I'll certainly keep using my FB status and all the other great tools out there, but I am making a more conscience effort to pick up the phone, both personally and professionally --- give it a try, as the OLD commercial says "Reach out and touch someone" ---- ROFLMAO!!!!! :-)~
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
I'll be back I promise!
I just lost my USER NAME and PASSWORD so I couldn't get in...
Just kidding!
Lots of pent up rants on the economy, the media, swine flu and of course sports...
Stay tuned, thanks for your patience - LOL
Just kidding!
Lots of pent up rants on the economy, the media, swine flu and of course sports...
Stay tuned, thanks for your patience - LOL
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Memories of a Legend - RIP Harry Kalas
I was greeted early yesterday afternoon by a text from my oldest childhood friend in Philadelphia - "Harry Kalas has colapsed and been rushed to the Hospital". Immediately I felt like I had taken a blow to the stomach. It is amazing to me how the death of someone you never met could be so impactful, but growing up listening and watching Harry I think all of Philadelphia feels like we knew him.
As a kid growing up my first love was baseball. We played it non stop, whether it was for the Huntingdon Valley All-Star travel team, wiffle ball in Rubin's back yard or in the winter down in the basement it is all we did. We did Strat-O-matic before Fantasy Sports even existed. We had Cub Scout trips to the Vet to see the Phils' and I don't think we missed many games on TV. Along with all of my great memories of the Phils' is not just the visuals, like the '80 World Series or Michael Jack Schmidt's (even as I type it I hear Kalas' slow dlrawl) 500th home run in April of 1987, there is the soundtrack of Kalas' voice that still plays in my head. For us, he had two signature 'catch phrases': "It's outta here" on home runs and "He struck him out" for strike outs. As an 11 year old that last phrase still brings tears to my eyes as I watched Tug McGraw strike out Willie Wilson to give the Phillies their first World Title since 1950. I sat that night at the foot of my parents bed and cried with joy. Seven years later I felt the same way as Schmidtty launched #500, back when hitting 500 home runs meant something.
I think there is something poetic in the way Harry left us yesterday. First, he did it where I can only imagine him forever, in the broadcast booth before a Phils' game. I know he will also be associated with NFL Films and some commercial work but for those of us from the Greater Delaware Valley he will always be the Voice of Philadelphia. It was the same way with Dave Zincoff, who is far less famous nationally but not if you were a Philly Sports fan in the 70's & 80's. All you need to do is pull up an introduction of "The Dr. Juuuuuulius Erving" to get those goose bumps.
There other piece of poetic justice is that Harry got to see the Phils' do it again by winning the World Series last year. Harry was always 'one of the guys', just listen to interviews with John Kruk or Mike Schmidt. He was the consumate throw back to sports journalists of the past right here today. The players loved him and he was always welcome around. I can only imagine the stories Harry has taken to his grave that today's journalists would have plastered on the Front Page just to see their own BYLINE!
When I got home from work yesterday I found the broadcast of the Phils' game on cable. I sat and watched with the volume on MUTE, the entire broadcast. I am sure there were amazing tributes to Harry by our hometown broadcasters as well as call ins from so many others. For me though, I embraced the silence that will now always be there when the Phils' play.
Your voice, talent and love for our team and city will be missed Harry!
As a kid growing up my first love was baseball. We played it non stop, whether it was for the Huntingdon Valley All-Star travel team, wiffle ball in Rubin's back yard or in the winter down in the basement it is all we did. We did Strat-O-matic before Fantasy Sports even existed. We had Cub Scout trips to the Vet to see the Phils' and I don't think we missed many games on TV. Along with all of my great memories of the Phils' is not just the visuals, like the '80 World Series or Michael Jack Schmidt's (even as I type it I hear Kalas' slow dlrawl) 500th home run in April of 1987, there is the soundtrack of Kalas' voice that still plays in my head. For us, he had two signature 'catch phrases': "It's outta here" on home runs and "He struck him out" for strike outs. As an 11 year old that last phrase still brings tears to my eyes as I watched Tug McGraw strike out Willie Wilson to give the Phillies their first World Title since 1950. I sat that night at the foot of my parents bed and cried with joy. Seven years later I felt the same way as Schmidtty launched #500, back when hitting 500 home runs meant something.
I think there is something poetic in the way Harry left us yesterday. First, he did it where I can only imagine him forever, in the broadcast booth before a Phils' game. I know he will also be associated with NFL Films and some commercial work but for those of us from the Greater Delaware Valley he will always be the Voice of Philadelphia. It was the same way with Dave Zincoff, who is far less famous nationally but not if you were a Philly Sports fan in the 70's & 80's. All you need to do is pull up an introduction of "The Dr. Juuuuuulius Erving" to get those goose bumps.
There other piece of poetic justice is that Harry got to see the Phils' do it again by winning the World Series last year. Harry was always 'one of the guys', just listen to interviews with John Kruk or Mike Schmidt. He was the consumate throw back to sports journalists of the past right here today. The players loved him and he was always welcome around. I can only imagine the stories Harry has taken to his grave that today's journalists would have plastered on the Front Page just to see their own BYLINE!
When I got home from work yesterday I found the broadcast of the Phils' game on cable. I sat and watched with the volume on MUTE, the entire broadcast. I am sure there were amazing tributes to Harry by our hometown broadcasters as well as call ins from so many others. For me though, I embraced the silence that will now always be there when the Phils' play.
Your voice, talent and love for our team and city will be missed Harry!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Home is where you belong
I have had the opportunity to once again spend a good amount of time on the road for work. It has brought back a lot of memories from years past when I was a true road warrior.
What I remember from those days still hold true today. When you are 'home' and love where you live it really shows; no matter what the rest of the country believes is true about your home town.
No where has this rang truer for me than Milwaukee, WI where I was two weeks ago.
My perception of Milwaukee before the trip? beer swilling, foul mouthed, overweight people with funny accents. I had no expectation for 'city life' or any type of 'culture' - pop or otherwise. Basically, in my mind I saw Laverne, Shirley, Lenny and Squiggy. Sure Happy Days took place there, but no other show represented Milwaukee more than Laverne & Shirley (at least in my mind). Then of course are the generalizations of beer, cheese and bratwursts that the media fixates on. Lastly on my mind was the scene in Wayne's World where Alice Cooper gives the history of Milly-wau-kay (as the Indians pronounced it). but I digress.
Of course there are some general truths in these sweeping generalization, hence the name, but what I found were great people that were bursting with civic pride. From the tour of the Company's Office to my round about drive to downtown for dinner I could 'feel' why so many of its citizens were passionate about Milwaukee. What I did not see in the stereotypes were all the positives; the city resides on the same beautiful lake as Chicago. In fact, she is only 2 hours from Chicago. For an 'urban' city she still has small town appeal and a great and easy airport. The people were just as friendly as any city I have visited down South as well. Sure, it has winter, but so does 75% of the country.
I also love the 'tag lines' city's develop! Mailwaukee's is 'A great city on a great lake' - what a great play on words! Growing up in Philly I was always proud to be from the 'City of Brotherly love' and even during the Garbage Strike as a kid I got a kick out of "Filthy-delphia'. I remember moving to Ft. Lauderdale and hearing - 'Venice of the West' and man it's true, we had a TON of canals! Dallas in my mind will ALWAYS be 'Big D' and Atlanta will always be 'The city too busy to hate', no matter what the Convention Bureau tells us :-)
What I also realized is that you can take the name, the location and all the other great things I found and substitute any hometown...including YOURS!
When you embrace a place and find a way to contribute meaningfully it will always have a place in your heart and you in theirs. I learned that in Atlanta and will carry it forward in my heart to destinations yet to be reached.
ILU VM
What I remember from those days still hold true today. When you are 'home' and love where you live it really shows; no matter what the rest of the country believes is true about your home town.
No where has this rang truer for me than Milwaukee, WI where I was two weeks ago.
My perception of Milwaukee before the trip? beer swilling, foul mouthed, overweight people with funny accents. I had no expectation for 'city life' or any type of 'culture' - pop or otherwise. Basically, in my mind I saw Laverne, Shirley, Lenny and Squiggy. Sure Happy Days took place there, but no other show represented Milwaukee more than Laverne & Shirley (at least in my mind). Then of course are the generalizations of beer, cheese and bratwursts that the media fixates on. Lastly on my mind was the scene in Wayne's World where Alice Cooper gives the history of Milly-wau-kay (as the Indians pronounced it). but I digress.
Of course there are some general truths in these sweeping generalization, hence the name, but what I found were great people that were bursting with civic pride. From the tour of the Company's Office to my round about drive to downtown for dinner I could 'feel' why so many of its citizens were passionate about Milwaukee. What I did not see in the stereotypes were all the positives; the city resides on the same beautiful lake as Chicago. In fact, she is only 2 hours from Chicago. For an 'urban' city she still has small town appeal and a great and easy airport. The people were just as friendly as any city I have visited down South as well. Sure, it has winter, but so does 75% of the country.
I also love the 'tag lines' city's develop! Mailwaukee's is 'A great city on a great lake' - what a great play on words! Growing up in Philly I was always proud to be from the 'City of Brotherly love' and even during the Garbage Strike as a kid I got a kick out of "Filthy-delphia'. I remember moving to Ft. Lauderdale and hearing - 'Venice of the West' and man it's true, we had a TON of canals! Dallas in my mind will ALWAYS be 'Big D' and Atlanta will always be 'The city too busy to hate', no matter what the Convention Bureau tells us :-)
What I also realized is that you can take the name, the location and all the other great things I found and substitute any hometown...including YOURS!
When you embrace a place and find a way to contribute meaningfully it will always have a place in your heart and you in theirs. I learned that in Atlanta and will carry it forward in my heart to destinations yet to be reached.
ILU VM
Thursday, April 2, 2009
The Sex Talk
I don't remember getting 'the talk', honestly, I am racking my brain and it's just not up there. I do remember coming home from the first date where I was allowed to drive and the conversation with Art that ensued (and I won't share that with the public - LOL) and I remember the first time I was allowed to have a girl stay over in my room (still shocks me that happened) but I don't remember being between the ages of 8 and 13 and getting the 'talk'. Sure there was the OFFICIAL Health Class in school and the UNOFFICIAL Health Class in the bathrooms, playgrounds and friends rooms of my youth but not the BIG ONE.
Over the weekend my 8 and 1/2 year old daughter got the 'Big One' but I look back and realize that it is merely a progression on Big One's, but it was a BIG ONE nonetheless. For better or worse (and I am reserving judgement at this point) I missed it. I certainly got the 'blow by blow' details (read into that as you like - ROFLMAO) and it seems like Cydney 'got it' and handled it very maturely but there were at least TWO 'gotchas' for me coming out of it.
You may be wondering...is 8 too early here Gil? I was wondering the same thing. However, she was beginning to ask --- things like "What do you eat to become pregnant?" and they see an awful lot more on TV then we did. Most importantly, you have NO IDEA what other kids are putting into your kids' head. I know that at least two or three of her friends have concepts of boyfriends and kissing so we thought it was best to 'cut it off at the pass'. Additionally I felt much better after sitting down with friends over the weekend who just had the same conversation with their eight year old as well, albeit they are in the fast paced world of South Florida and we are here in the 'sticks' in Atlanta :-)
Fortunately the conversation was not off the cuff and Ilene armed herself with a book and research. From what I understand 'we' stayed with the basics and got through it quite admirably. Cydney understands (at least she tells us so) that this was a PRIVATE conversation and that she is to not share it with friends or her YOUNGER SISTER. In fact, I think she took it so privately that she isn't sharing it with me yet!
So, for the funny stuff, as you know if I am not going to get weepy then I will get funny:
In one illustration it shows a man and a woman together in bed, in an embrace. Very PG in detail, lots of good blanket coverage. Cydney takes in the picture and asks her mother, "Does the man always have to be on top?". Funny, I don't think I heard what the answer was...
Second, Ilene reinforced the concept of this is a mature thing and you will be waiting a LONG time but we want you to understand...so she tells Cydney that "You should wait until you are married before having sex" to which Cydney replied, "Mommy, you said SHOULD, so that means I CAN, but you wouldn't be happy right?".
OH F*CKING MY AM I IN TROUBLE!
Someone please pass a big bottle of Jack and a loaded weapon - LOL
On a side note, Cydney was also fascinated with the menstrual cycle and thinks it's "COOL".
I still don't know if she was ready, or more importantly if we were ready but I am pretty sure she will remember these talks long into the future, as opposed to her 'Old Man'
ILU VM
Over the weekend my 8 and 1/2 year old daughter got the 'Big One' but I look back and realize that it is merely a progression on Big One's, but it was a BIG ONE nonetheless. For better or worse (and I am reserving judgement at this point) I missed it. I certainly got the 'blow by blow' details (read into that as you like - ROFLMAO) and it seems like Cydney 'got it' and handled it very maturely but there were at least TWO 'gotchas' for me coming out of it.
You may be wondering...is 8 too early here Gil? I was wondering the same thing. However, she was beginning to ask --- things like "What do you eat to become pregnant?" and they see an awful lot more on TV then we did. Most importantly, you have NO IDEA what other kids are putting into your kids' head. I know that at least two or three of her friends have concepts of boyfriends and kissing so we thought it was best to 'cut it off at the pass'. Additionally I felt much better after sitting down with friends over the weekend who just had the same conversation with their eight year old as well, albeit they are in the fast paced world of South Florida and we are here in the 'sticks' in Atlanta :-)
Fortunately the conversation was not off the cuff and Ilene armed herself with a book and research. From what I understand 'we' stayed with the basics and got through it quite admirably. Cydney understands (at least she tells us so) that this was a PRIVATE conversation and that she is to not share it with friends or her YOUNGER SISTER. In fact, I think she took it so privately that she isn't sharing it with me yet!
So, for the funny stuff, as you know if I am not going to get weepy then I will get funny:
In one illustration it shows a man and a woman together in bed, in an embrace. Very PG in detail, lots of good blanket coverage. Cydney takes in the picture and asks her mother, "Does the man always have to be on top?". Funny, I don't think I heard what the answer was...
Second, Ilene reinforced the concept of this is a mature thing and you will be waiting a LONG time but we want you to understand...so she tells Cydney that "You should wait until you are married before having sex" to which Cydney replied, "Mommy, you said SHOULD, so that means I CAN, but you wouldn't be happy right?".
OH F*CKING MY AM I IN TROUBLE!
Someone please pass a big bottle of Jack and a loaded weapon - LOL
On a side note, Cydney was also fascinated with the menstrual cycle and thinks it's "COOL".
I still don't know if she was ready, or more importantly if we were ready but I am pretty sure she will remember these talks long into the future, as opposed to her 'Old Man'
ILU VM
Friday, March 6, 2009
Simple preparation - one of my biggest pet peeves
I don't remember the exact quote but it is something like, "Success is 90% preparation and 10% execution". If there is no such quote then I want credit - LOL
Anyway -- this is post is NOT about big preparation stuff like a daily itinerary for your two week vacation or getting your taxes done by March 1st or anything grandiose like that, in fact, for that stuff I am a spontaneous go with the flow guy (especially when it comes to tax prep!).
What I am talking about is the little stuff that REALLY gets under my skin. The biggest of them all might very well be the TOLL BOOTH!
Let's see, whether it's on the highway, the airport, or a parking garage you KNOW IT IS THERE! I can not stand pulling up behind someone who is completely unprepared. Seriously, at least have your ticket handy. Yesterday I was at a seminar and was stuck in parking garage for nearly 20 minutes. As I was THREE cars away I noticed the person at the cashier was 'fishing' for their ticket. Ok, if the lot was empty and you just cruised on up this makes sense, not for me, I would be ready with ticket and money in hand, but I'm ok with it. But really, you just sat there for 20 minutes, couldn't you have done the whole purse search while you were waiting (this just happened to be a woman, I am not judging or making a generalization I assure you). So, Car A gets done and I am now just one away. I pull up and realize that the driver of Car B is about to begin the same 'dance' as HE pulls up to the window. Are we serious? Is time that useless to everyone? This dude though takes the cake...not only can't he find his ticket for at least 90 seconds he has NO cash! Ummmm...ok, lots of people stopped carrying cash, but again, didn't he KNOW this when he pulled up and couldn't he have had his credit card ready? Unbelievable.
My other FAVORITE toll booth past time is the 'one coin at a time dropper'. You know the person, they pull up to the EXACT CHANGE toll booth and feed in ONE coin at a time. I have decided this happens for one of two reasons:
1. They are 2 minutes from death (elderly) and they don't realize you can throw a shit ton of coins in and the machine will actually count them OR
2. and this is the BAD one --- you are looking for a 'free ride' so you toss small coin in after small coin in hoping that somehow either you will 'game' the machine or the random person in front of you actually tossed in too much money.
In either scenario I have been able to do some 'profiling' to try and avoid these people in front of me (and yes I have a TOLL TAG, but it doesn't work anywhere I travel to for work). Scenario ONE you actually can avoid with some preparation. Avoid being behind cars where you can only see knuckles on the steering wheel in front of you and MAYBE a shock of grey hair. You can also get a good read from the vehicle...does it have one of those thingies on the antennae like a tennis ball?
Scenario TWO is tougher because you often can't spot them until they are actually at the booth, however, if this happens be prepared to take 10 DEEP BREATHS --- the window does NOT roll down and they have to open the car door to 'toss coins' in. Statistically accurate within a +/- of 5%, 80% of these people are 'coin feeders' and you will be waiting.
These are just two examples of small amounts of wasted time. Each might only be 5-10seconds but that adds up, plus you have no idea if that 5-10 seconds could have saved your life down the line or cost you an opportunity to meet someone special.
Think about, next time your in line at the grocery store, have your credit card ready, half the check written or whatever else you can do to facilitate a quick and efficient exit and let the next guy get moving --- he may be more impatient than me, but I doubt it :-)
ILU VM
Anyway -- this is post is NOT about big preparation stuff like a daily itinerary for your two week vacation or getting your taxes done by March 1st or anything grandiose like that, in fact, for that stuff I am a spontaneous go with the flow guy (especially when it comes to tax prep!).
What I am talking about is the little stuff that REALLY gets under my skin. The biggest of them all might very well be the TOLL BOOTH!
Let's see, whether it's on the highway, the airport, or a parking garage you KNOW IT IS THERE! I can not stand pulling up behind someone who is completely unprepared. Seriously, at least have your ticket handy. Yesterday I was at a seminar and was stuck in parking garage for nearly 20 minutes. As I was THREE cars away I noticed the person at the cashier was 'fishing' for their ticket. Ok, if the lot was empty and you just cruised on up this makes sense, not for me, I would be ready with ticket and money in hand, but I'm ok with it. But really, you just sat there for 20 minutes, couldn't you have done the whole purse search while you were waiting (this just happened to be a woman, I am not judging or making a generalization I assure you). So, Car A gets done and I am now just one away. I pull up and realize that the driver of Car B is about to begin the same 'dance' as HE pulls up to the window. Are we serious? Is time that useless to everyone? This dude though takes the cake...not only can't he find his ticket for at least 90 seconds he has NO cash! Ummmm...ok, lots of people stopped carrying cash, but again, didn't he KNOW this when he pulled up and couldn't he have had his credit card ready? Unbelievable.
My other FAVORITE toll booth past time is the 'one coin at a time dropper'. You know the person, they pull up to the EXACT CHANGE toll booth and feed in ONE coin at a time. I have decided this happens for one of two reasons:
1. They are 2 minutes from death (elderly) and they don't realize you can throw a shit ton of coins in and the machine will actually count them OR
2. and this is the BAD one --- you are looking for a 'free ride' so you toss small coin in after small coin in hoping that somehow either you will 'game' the machine or the random person in front of you actually tossed in too much money.
In either scenario I have been able to do some 'profiling' to try and avoid these people in front of me (and yes I have a TOLL TAG, but it doesn't work anywhere I travel to for work). Scenario ONE you actually can avoid with some preparation. Avoid being behind cars where you can only see knuckles on the steering wheel in front of you and MAYBE a shock of grey hair. You can also get a good read from the vehicle...does it have one of those thingies on the antennae like a tennis ball?
Scenario TWO is tougher because you often can't spot them until they are actually at the booth, however, if this happens be prepared to take 10 DEEP BREATHS --- the window does NOT roll down and they have to open the car door to 'toss coins' in. Statistically accurate within a +/- of 5%, 80% of these people are 'coin feeders' and you will be waiting.
These are just two examples of small amounts of wasted time. Each might only be 5-10seconds but that adds up, plus you have no idea if that 5-10 seconds could have saved your life down the line or cost you an opportunity to meet someone special.
Think about, next time your in line at the grocery store, have your credit card ready, half the check written or whatever else you can do to facilitate a quick and efficient exit and let the next guy get moving --- he may be more impatient than me, but I doubt it :-)
ILU VM
Monday, March 2, 2009
Assignment #3 was a 'retread' but a goodie
Last I left you, I was going to use 'Ear hair' as my topic. Didn't do it. Tried putting pen to paper and out came nothing. I really wanted a 'rant' and I wanted to show off my 'individuality' and quite frankly the last week has been one of the worst ones I can remember from a desire to do anything but bury my head and heart in the sand, except for the basics.
So, I went back and realized my 'Starbucks" post was pretty good, let me just turn that in.
And that is what I did...copied here are the Instructors remarks and then below that I am pasting in the post again for those that might have never read it...
ILU VM
Intrsuctor's Note
Gil,
We’ve reached the midway point, and our “individuality” exercise. I was happy to see you really get into this one.
Firstly, and most prominently, I must comment on how honest this piece was—you really set everything out, directly, for the reader. I felt a real connection between author and reader with this short exercise. You are both hilarious and honest. I think that you’ve prepared the groundwork, perhaps, for a longer nonfiction piece exploring this topic. You bring so much entertainment to the subject, and that is a good thing. Did I mention you’re hilarious?
Secondly, I wanted to comment on the “you” in this piece. There is a lot of “Gil,” and your personality really came through in full force. I want to see you bring some of this humor and honesty to every piece. Your writing has been strong thus far, but I think that bringing some more “you” into your writing will be of benefit (honestly, it is for most of us). Keep that energy and passion, no matter what you’re writing. You’ve managed to write about something honest—keep that strength!
Again, great work, Gil. Keep it up. I am really enjoying reading your work.
Best,
Danny
Starbuck's Blog
Coffee – I really don’t drink coffee. I think I’m supposed to drink coffee. As a kid, all the adults drank coffee; to me it was a sign of maturity. I went to college and everyone was drinking coffee – hey you’re on your own, you’re not really a grown up but we can act like grown up, let’s drink coffee. Not me, but I was sure that when I finally grew up I would one day drink coffee.
Inherently though I’m lazy, at least as far as coffee goes. Here’s the deal. Coffee is a pain in the ass to make. You have to put the filter in, put the coffee in, dump in the right amount of water and then wait, then you pour it out and have to add in milk and a sweetener, and to top it all off you have to clean up. What the fuck, that’s a lot of work just to get pumped up for your day, so in my inherent laziness and ingenuity I pop a Diet Coke as I walk out the door and voila I have caffeine…this isn’t rocket science kids.
So I’ve lived my adult life that way. Sure, I’ll drink coffee, but it’s at a business meeting, a client breakfast or after dinner with dessert, you know, basic adult stuff…but the key here is I do not work to get the coffee, so why not drink it.
This is all good until I encountered Starbucks. Now, Starbucks has been around a long time and I have avoided it like the plague. The few times I have ventured or been forced in it has been VERY uncomfortable. I had NO idea what to do and there was no one willing to help. The Starbucks aliens that work there are very friendly to their ‘kind’ but you introduce a human being to the counter that can’t say “Venti, decaf, quad something, something with a this or that” and they think you just landed. So, on the few times I had to go I just say “medium coffee” and I could feel the entire line and staff just laughing their asses off.
All of this changed in the winter of 2007. We were visiting my brother-in-law’s family in South Florida and I need to run out to the store for some wine, wine by the way I do thank you very much, and my sister-in-law says she’s dying for Starbucks can I get her something. "Sure, no problem they are right next door to each other, WRITE DOWN what you want… no way am I approaching that counter without written directions". So I walk in and wait my turn, rehearsing my lines…”Grande nonfat 2 Splenda latte, Grande nonfat 2 Splenda latte”. It’s my turn and I nail it, like I’ve been doing it all my life. I’m freaking Michael Jordan hitting an 18 ft. jumper to win the NBA Championship; I’m Tiger Woods…never mind.
I strut out of the Starbucks, head held high, with Melissa’s grande nonfat 2 Splenda latte and I feel I need to take a sip…uh oh…I like it, I mean really like it. Here I am now two years later and 3 or 4 days a week going to Starbucks and ordering a grande nonfat 2 Splenda latte. I even giggle when some yahoo can’t figure out what to order. I’ve become the alien, assimilated into the borg….the kicker…I have NO CLUE WHAT THE FUCK I AM DRINKING…to this day, and I’m not asking.
So, I went back and realized my 'Starbucks" post was pretty good, let me just turn that in.
And that is what I did...copied here are the Instructors remarks and then below that I am pasting in the post again for those that might have never read it...
ILU VM
Intrsuctor's Note
Gil,
We’ve reached the midway point, and our “individuality” exercise. I was happy to see you really get into this one.
Firstly, and most prominently, I must comment on how honest this piece was—you really set everything out, directly, for the reader. I felt a real connection between author and reader with this short exercise. You are both hilarious and honest. I think that you’ve prepared the groundwork, perhaps, for a longer nonfiction piece exploring this topic. You bring so much entertainment to the subject, and that is a good thing. Did I mention you’re hilarious?
Secondly, I wanted to comment on the “you” in this piece. There is a lot of “Gil,” and your personality really came through in full force. I want to see you bring some of this humor and honesty to every piece. Your writing has been strong thus far, but I think that bringing some more “you” into your writing will be of benefit (honestly, it is for most of us). Keep that energy and passion, no matter what you’re writing. You’ve managed to write about something honest—keep that strength!
Again, great work, Gil. Keep it up. I am really enjoying reading your work.
Best,
Danny
Starbuck's Blog
Coffee – I really don’t drink coffee. I think I’m supposed to drink coffee. As a kid, all the adults drank coffee; to me it was a sign of maturity. I went to college and everyone was drinking coffee – hey you’re on your own, you’re not really a grown up but we can act like grown up, let’s drink coffee. Not me, but I was sure that when I finally grew up I would one day drink coffee.
Inherently though I’m lazy, at least as far as coffee goes. Here’s the deal. Coffee is a pain in the ass to make. You have to put the filter in, put the coffee in, dump in the right amount of water and then wait, then you pour it out and have to add in milk and a sweetener, and to top it all off you have to clean up. What the fuck, that’s a lot of work just to get pumped up for your day, so in my inherent laziness and ingenuity I pop a Diet Coke as I walk out the door and voila I have caffeine…this isn’t rocket science kids.
So I’ve lived my adult life that way. Sure, I’ll drink coffee, but it’s at a business meeting, a client breakfast or after dinner with dessert, you know, basic adult stuff…but the key here is I do not work to get the coffee, so why not drink it.
This is all good until I encountered Starbucks. Now, Starbucks has been around a long time and I have avoided it like the plague. The few times I have ventured or been forced in it has been VERY uncomfortable. I had NO idea what to do and there was no one willing to help. The Starbucks aliens that work there are very friendly to their ‘kind’ but you introduce a human being to the counter that can’t say “Venti, decaf, quad something, something with a this or that” and they think you just landed. So, on the few times I had to go I just say “medium coffee” and I could feel the entire line and staff just laughing their asses off.
All of this changed in the winter of 2007. We were visiting my brother-in-law’s family in South Florida and I need to run out to the store for some wine, wine by the way I do thank you very much, and my sister-in-law says she’s dying for Starbucks can I get her something. "Sure, no problem they are right next door to each other, WRITE DOWN what you want… no way am I approaching that counter without written directions". So I walk in and wait my turn, rehearsing my lines…”Grande nonfat 2 Splenda latte, Grande nonfat 2 Splenda latte”. It’s my turn and I nail it, like I’ve been doing it all my life. I’m freaking Michael Jordan hitting an 18 ft. jumper to win the NBA Championship; I’m Tiger Woods…never mind.
I strut out of the Starbucks, head held high, with Melissa’s grande nonfat 2 Splenda latte and I feel I need to take a sip…uh oh…I like it, I mean really like it. Here I am now two years later and 3 or 4 days a week going to Starbucks and ordering a grande nonfat 2 Splenda latte. I even giggle when some yahoo can’t figure out what to order. I’ve become the alien, assimilated into the borg….the kicker…I have NO CLUE WHAT THE FUCK I AM DRINKING…to this day, and I’m not asking.
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Man who changed my life
Tomorrow we celebrate Pop-Pop's 67th birthday, to me he is Dad.
I have TWO father's but only ONE Dad. I no longer have the big misgivings about how my childhood turned out, in fact, I am grateful. I have had the gift of a father that loved me to the best of his ability and I have had a Dad to guide me through the difficult and akward years: he has been a mentor, a teacher and most importantly a friend, that listens first and gives freely.
Art is a quiet man, but it doesn't take much for you to understand where he is coming from --- it just takes a look and maybe a grunt.
My greatest memory growing up in the Slomsky house:
When we still lived in Philly and my parents were dating at the time, Art took me to the 'shore' to set up for his summer job. It was April and we were in Aunt Sybil and Uncle Denny's Dark Green van. Art took me, just me, to help set up the T-shirt store he had on Million Dollar Pier. It was FREEZING and the van was also our 'hotel room'. I remember that first night, we went to see HAIR at a movie theater and then we went for coffee at the Pink Flamingo. He knew almost everyone, especially theses ladies that were dressed really funny (later I would learn they were the famous AC Hookers, but I digress). I don't remember too much else from the trip except we ate lots of cheesesteaks and worked on the Pier.
I remember that Summer and the gypsy kids, spending time with Todd & Tara, who would become my brother & sister and running all over the pier, playing skee ball, messing with the Gorilla Woman's kids and generally staying out of trouble.
Soon after we moved to Florida and the t-shirt shop was no more, and the Pier was torn down and turned into a mall, but that summer stayed with us for YEARS as we had the worst wardrobe of iron-on t-shirts for a very long time. It still kills me that my parents let Tara run around with "IBTC"(and I hope you know what that means)t-shirt on at the age of like 10!
There are so many other great memories of my childhood thanks to Art.
You did what no man 'has to do'. You raised someone else's kids as your own, you worked 3 jobs to make ends meet, you kicked our butts to work around the house and most importantly you taught me what it means to be a man and a REAL FATHER.
I love you and am thankful that you CHOSE to be DAD and never settled for anything less.
Happy Birthday!
I have TWO father's but only ONE Dad. I no longer have the big misgivings about how my childhood turned out, in fact, I am grateful. I have had the gift of a father that loved me to the best of his ability and I have had a Dad to guide me through the difficult and akward years: he has been a mentor, a teacher and most importantly a friend, that listens first and gives freely.
Art is a quiet man, but it doesn't take much for you to understand where he is coming from --- it just takes a look and maybe a grunt.
My greatest memory growing up in the Slomsky house:
When we still lived in Philly and my parents were dating at the time, Art took me to the 'shore' to set up for his summer job. It was April and we were in Aunt Sybil and Uncle Denny's Dark Green van. Art took me, just me, to help set up the T-shirt store he had on Million Dollar Pier. It was FREEZING and the van was also our 'hotel room'. I remember that first night, we went to see HAIR at a movie theater and then we went for coffee at the Pink Flamingo. He knew almost everyone, especially theses ladies that were dressed really funny (later I would learn they were the famous AC Hookers, but I digress). I don't remember too much else from the trip except we ate lots of cheesesteaks and worked on the Pier.
I remember that Summer and the gypsy kids, spending time with Todd & Tara, who would become my brother & sister and running all over the pier, playing skee ball, messing with the Gorilla Woman's kids and generally staying out of trouble.
Soon after we moved to Florida and the t-shirt shop was no more, and the Pier was torn down and turned into a mall, but that summer stayed with us for YEARS as we had the worst wardrobe of iron-on t-shirts for a very long time. It still kills me that my parents let Tara run around with "IBTC"(and I hope you know what that means)t-shirt on at the age of like 10!
There are so many other great memories of my childhood thanks to Art.
You did what no man 'has to do'. You raised someone else's kids as your own, you worked 3 jobs to make ends meet, you kicked our butts to work around the house and most importantly you taught me what it means to be a man and a REAL FATHER.
I love you and am thankful that you CHOSE to be DAD and never settled for anything less.
Happy Birthday!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Lunch with the President of Chick-Fil-A, Dan Cathy
One of the best parts of being part of Leadership Atlanta, www.leadershipatlanta.org, is the access to amazingly successful Business Leaders in very personal settings. The Organization set up these "few on one" meetings with about 15 of Atlanta's Finest. I signed up for two, today's with Mr. Cathy and then I am meeting with the new CEO of Home Depot in late March. I chose these two for very specific reasons. Mr. Cathy because the Chick-Fil-A(CFA) story is truly legendary in Atlanta and I had heard him speak to a large group and he was very charismatic. I chose the Home Depot meeting because I have always specialized in turning organizations around and this is truly a company that needs to be doing that.
So we arrive at CFA's Campus which is South of the city by the airport and it is a gorgeous drive from the gatehouse to the main building. I park and meet my fellow classmates in the sprawling lobby. In the lobby is a collection of Dan's (yes we had to call him Dan, not Mr. Cathy) father's antique car and motorcycle collection. It was breath taking to walk through Model T's to Rolls Royce's and a few magnificent Harley's. From there we were taken down to the 'cafeteria' which was more like the Buffet at Bellagio! Of course, along with fish, pasta, salad bar and dessert there was also Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich's for the taking. The best part --- it is ABSOLUTELY FREE for ALL...not just employees, but contractors, guests, vendors...even the maintenance guys that come in to fix things do so around lunch time so they can enjoy. We took our lunches to a conference room for our meeting with Dan.
First thing you should know, if you don't know Chick-Fil-A, is that Dan and his family are very religious. This is something I had heard and was anxious to see how I would deal with it. Sometimes, as a Jew, my radar goes up about being proselytized too so I was a little worried about being uncomfortable. To tell you the truth, Dan's story is very spiritual and certainly one of Christianity and the service of Christ, yet he told it in a fashion that did NOT make me uncomfortable at all!
So, what Dan wanted to talk to us about was Leadership and Service; two of my favorite topics and with me moving into a leadership role in a new company I was looking forward to a 'refresher course'.
Dan likes to use metaphors and examples and we received each one of his metaphors as actual gifts to keep! Here were Dan's Five Gifts:
1. A SMALL jar of Jiff Creamy Peanut Butter - Dan explained how he LOVES PB (I'm with him)! He had us unscrew the top and look at the freshness seal. He asked us what we though of as we peel of that freshness seal and we all agreed it was the fresh aroma of new PB. Dan said this was metaphor #1 - STAY FRESH! He also said he only buys the small jars so he can have that experience more often --- how cool? So with this he gave us a couple of nuggets about staying fresh
- Always be learning
- Always be thinking
- When a student is ready, a teacher will appear (how cool)
- Be BOLD and AGGRESSIVE with people you want to spend time with (hmmmm)
2. A silver baton (like the ones used in track & field) - the metaphor --- Success is built on SUCCESSION. What a powerful message and what a way to deliver it. It is one thing to be successful, it's a completely other thing to help make someone else successful and carry on a legacy in a smooth transition.
3. A railroad spike, with 'Stay on Track' engraved on it --- this is fairly obvious but it is the yin to the Peanut Butter's Yang. It's one thing to be bold and always fresh; it's an entirely different thing to stay grounded and focused on what you do best.
4. A starch white towel with a monogram on the bottom that says "Great Leaders SERVE" on the bottom. Dan explained by showing how the WHITE towel can be a sign of service when draped correctly over the left arm versus tucked in your back pocket with a Spray Bottle dangling from it.
- Great leaders have an attitude of service
- Be humble, gracious, generous and genuine
5. A shoeshine Brush -- Dan actually got down on the floor and buffed one of our shoes. Again tying the lesson of service Dan told the story of how at the Last Supper Jesus actually washed the feet of his disciples. What struck me was not the story per se but Dan's genuineness as he worked on Pat's boots. The care he took with her pants cuffs and the hug he gave her when it was over. I actually was moved watching him.
I also picked up a few great lines:
- We were designed to lead challenging lives; full of love, health and generosity. If you aren't getting this you need to find it to be fulfilled.
- God Built is for service
- The handshake of the host directly affects the taste of the roast ---now that is BANADICULOUS!
All in all it was a great 2 hours on a day that I needed inspiration greatly
As always --- ILU VM
So we arrive at CFA's Campus which is South of the city by the airport and it is a gorgeous drive from the gatehouse to the main building. I park and meet my fellow classmates in the sprawling lobby. In the lobby is a collection of Dan's (yes we had to call him Dan, not Mr. Cathy) father's antique car and motorcycle collection. It was breath taking to walk through Model T's to Rolls Royce's and a few magnificent Harley's. From there we were taken down to the 'cafeteria' which was more like the Buffet at Bellagio! Of course, along with fish, pasta, salad bar and dessert there was also Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich's for the taking. The best part --- it is ABSOLUTELY FREE for ALL...not just employees, but contractors, guests, vendors...even the maintenance guys that come in to fix things do so around lunch time so they can enjoy. We took our lunches to a conference room for our meeting with Dan.
First thing you should know, if you don't know Chick-Fil-A, is that Dan and his family are very religious. This is something I had heard and was anxious to see how I would deal with it. Sometimes, as a Jew, my radar goes up about being proselytized too so I was a little worried about being uncomfortable. To tell you the truth, Dan's story is very spiritual and certainly one of Christianity and the service of Christ, yet he told it in a fashion that did NOT make me uncomfortable at all!
So, what Dan wanted to talk to us about was Leadership and Service; two of my favorite topics and with me moving into a leadership role in a new company I was looking forward to a 'refresher course'.
Dan likes to use metaphors and examples and we received each one of his metaphors as actual gifts to keep! Here were Dan's Five Gifts:
1. A SMALL jar of Jiff Creamy Peanut Butter - Dan explained how he LOVES PB (I'm with him)! He had us unscrew the top and look at the freshness seal. He asked us what we though of as we peel of that freshness seal and we all agreed it was the fresh aroma of new PB. Dan said this was metaphor #1 - STAY FRESH! He also said he only buys the small jars so he can have that experience more often --- how cool? So with this he gave us a couple of nuggets about staying fresh
- Always be learning
- Always be thinking
- When a student is ready, a teacher will appear (how cool)
- Be BOLD and AGGRESSIVE with people you want to spend time with (hmmmm)
2. A silver baton (like the ones used in track & field) - the metaphor --- Success is built on SUCCESSION. What a powerful message and what a way to deliver it. It is one thing to be successful, it's a completely other thing to help make someone else successful and carry on a legacy in a smooth transition.
3. A railroad spike, with 'Stay on Track' engraved on it --- this is fairly obvious but it is the yin to the Peanut Butter's Yang. It's one thing to be bold and always fresh; it's an entirely different thing to stay grounded and focused on what you do best.
4. A starch white towel with a monogram on the bottom that says "Great Leaders SERVE" on the bottom. Dan explained by showing how the WHITE towel can be a sign of service when draped correctly over the left arm versus tucked in your back pocket with a Spray Bottle dangling from it.
- Great leaders have an attitude of service
- Be humble, gracious, generous and genuine
5. A shoeshine Brush -- Dan actually got down on the floor and buffed one of our shoes. Again tying the lesson of service Dan told the story of how at the Last Supper Jesus actually washed the feet of his disciples. What struck me was not the story per se but Dan's genuineness as he worked on Pat's boots. The care he took with her pants cuffs and the hug he gave her when it was over. I actually was moved watching him.
I also picked up a few great lines:
- We were designed to lead challenging lives; full of love, health and generosity. If you aren't getting this you need to find it to be fulfilled.
- God Built is for service
- The handshake of the host directly affects the taste of the roast ---now that is BANADICULOUS!
All in all it was a great 2 hours on a day that I needed inspiration greatly
As always --- ILU VM
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Diet Coke
"Hi my name is Gil W. and I am compulsive Diet Coke drinker."
"Hi Gil"
My last drink of Diet Coke was February 15th at 6:00 PM. This morning I had a 'slip up' so I guess the last one was now Tuesday, February 24th. In actuality I only had about 1/2 a can but a slip is a slip right? A heroin addict can't shoot up half way? The guy who pounds a half a bottle of Cab a night to take the edge off doesn't get by with just one glass. So, I broke my ban on Diet Coke but I am resolute on the goal.
People have asked this last week why give it up? Can't you cut back? What's wrong with it anyway?
First of all, I don't think there is ANYTHING wrong with it, I just didn't like the amount I was drinking and looking back on how my body felt this past week without it, I have realized I didn't like how it made me feel. I have no scientific proof and I don't get into all the 'Internet theories' but I can share this with you: after the 24 hour withdrawal headache subsided (and no i have never done hard drugs to know what true withdrawal is) I have NEVER felt 'healthier'. Healthier in that I am not having energy dips and spikes throughout the day. Healthier in that I banged out 5 miles on Saturday and came back Monday and did another 5 and it was faster than Saturday. Healthier in that I 'feel' lighter even if the scale only shows .8 lbs. I also seem to have lost a craving or two. My biggest craving, a stress one, is Burger King Cheeseburgers, and yes I specifically mean BK ones. I could pound 3 of them in less than 5 minutes and still not feel sated. Right now, in a situation that is begging for a BK run...I am ok...not ok with the overall picture but ok in that I don't need the cheeseburgers. Is this related to the DC's I don't know.
The second part --- cutting back. Yes, I think I could just 'cut back' and have 1 to 2 a day and feel fine and be completely justified...but why? Am I drinking it for the taste...really? After drinking nothing but WATER for 8 days I realized, this morning after drinking the half a can, that the taste ain't all that great and in fact WATER tastes good, especially freezing cold, like I am drinking right now. So, for me, for now I don't need to cut back. Am I pretending that I will never drink a DC again? Absolutely not! For now, I am trying hard to not be dependent on it.
So, in the fashion that started this post off ---
God, grant me the serenity to accpet the things I can not change,
the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
ILU - VM
"Hi Gil"
My last drink of Diet Coke was February 15th at 6:00 PM. This morning I had a 'slip up' so I guess the last one was now Tuesday, February 24th. In actuality I only had about 1/2 a can but a slip is a slip right? A heroin addict can't shoot up half way? The guy who pounds a half a bottle of Cab a night to take the edge off doesn't get by with just one glass. So, I broke my ban on Diet Coke but I am resolute on the goal.
People have asked this last week why give it up? Can't you cut back? What's wrong with it anyway?
First of all, I don't think there is ANYTHING wrong with it, I just didn't like the amount I was drinking and looking back on how my body felt this past week without it, I have realized I didn't like how it made me feel. I have no scientific proof and I don't get into all the 'Internet theories' but I can share this with you: after the 24 hour withdrawal headache subsided (and no i have never done hard drugs to know what true withdrawal is) I have NEVER felt 'healthier'. Healthier in that I am not having energy dips and spikes throughout the day. Healthier in that I banged out 5 miles on Saturday and came back Monday and did another 5 and it was faster than Saturday. Healthier in that I 'feel' lighter even if the scale only shows .8 lbs. I also seem to have lost a craving or two. My biggest craving, a stress one, is Burger King Cheeseburgers, and yes I specifically mean BK ones. I could pound 3 of them in less than 5 minutes and still not feel sated. Right now, in a situation that is begging for a BK run...I am ok...not ok with the overall picture but ok in that I don't need the cheeseburgers. Is this related to the DC's I don't know.
The second part --- cutting back. Yes, I think I could just 'cut back' and have 1 to 2 a day and feel fine and be completely justified...but why? Am I drinking it for the taste...really? After drinking nothing but WATER for 8 days I realized, this morning after drinking the half a can, that the taste ain't all that great and in fact WATER tastes good, especially freezing cold, like I am drinking right now. So, for me, for now I don't need to cut back. Am I pretending that I will never drink a DC again? Absolutely not! For now, I am trying hard to not be dependent on it.
So, in the fashion that started this post off ---
God, grant me the serenity to accpet the things I can not change,
the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
ILU - VM
Friday, February 20, 2009
Assignment #3 topic
got some really good input and was reminded how good it feels when someone knows you even better than you know yourself at certain times.
I have narrowed it down to two choices; ONIONS and 'Ear hair - and other true signs of aging'.
As I look back at the assignment and the other things I have written about; this is really a chance for me to change courses and rely on my lighter and funnier (notice I said funnier and not funny) voice. For that reason I am going with EAR HAIR, not that there's anything wrong with it - LOL.
Hopefully I will have some time tonight to free write and I know I'll have plenty of time Sunday morning while I sit at a Panera I found here in Atlanta that actually has ORANGE SCONES - it's a bit of a hike but worth every minute!
I have narrowed it down to two choices; ONIONS and 'Ear hair - and other true signs of aging'.
As I look back at the assignment and the other things I have written about; this is really a chance for me to change courses and rely on my lighter and funnier (notice I said funnier and not funny) voice. For that reason I am going with EAR HAIR, not that there's anything wrong with it - LOL.
Hopefully I will have some time tonight to free write and I know I'll have plenty of time Sunday morning while I sit at a Panera I found here in Atlanta that actually has ORANGE SCONES - it's a bit of a hike but worth every minute!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Week #3 Writing Assignment
So up until now I have posted the assignment and then my creative piece off of that.
This week I am struggling a bit and I am not sure why. Here's the assignment:
Make a list of five things you hate. These can be grand things, such as world leaders who lie, or these can be relatively minor things, such as carpet. Try to include one or two “hates” that no one else is likely to think of. Feel free to be petty or politically incorrect.
Pick the “hate” on your list that you find most interesting. The most eccentric choice might be best.
Then write a short piece presenting your “hate”—what it is, why you hate it. Write this very much as you would talk to someone you know. If you end up with some “telling,” that’s okay for this kind of thing. And if you find yourself launching into a rant, that’s fine, too.
But try not to go over 500 words.
You'd think this would be easier for me since I can go on a rant and exude some great hate, but maybe I've become more of a lover in my old age - LOL!
Tonight I plan on opening a bottle of something and putting pen to paper but if anyone has some good outrageous 'hates' you'd like me to explore --- FIRE AWAY!
This week I am struggling a bit and I am not sure why. Here's the assignment:
Make a list of five things you hate. These can be grand things, such as world leaders who lie, or these can be relatively minor things, such as carpet. Try to include one or two “hates” that no one else is likely to think of. Feel free to be petty or politically incorrect.
Pick the “hate” on your list that you find most interesting. The most eccentric choice might be best.
Then write a short piece presenting your “hate”—what it is, why you hate it. Write this very much as you would talk to someone you know. If you end up with some “telling,” that’s okay for this kind of thing. And if you find yourself launching into a rant, that’s fine, too.
But try not to go over 500 words.
You'd think this would be easier for me since I can go on a rant and exude some great hate, but maybe I've become more of a lover in my old age - LOL!
Tonight I plan on opening a bottle of something and putting pen to paper but if anyone has some good outrageous 'hates' you'd like me to explore --- FIRE AWAY!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Random thoughts from the middle of the week...
-- Things really do happen for a reason! I am back in my 'old' chair at my 'new' desk and realize that the world does work if you let it.
-- Three days plus of ZERO Diet Coke's and I am alive - who'd have thunk it!
-- The other day I was reminded of something VERY IMPORTANT -- I am a DREAMER. At first I took this as a negative but I have realized in the last day or two that I am a dreamer and I am proud of it. We would still be stuck in the Middle Ages if it weren't for dreamers, from the Wright Brothers to Walt Disney it is the dreamers that make REALITY. In doing research I came across this quote by Brian Tracy, whom I have gotten to work with in Sales Seminars in the past, "All successful people, men and women, are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day towards that distant vision, goal or purpose". Sums it up nicely I think.
-- Dealing with LICE sucks!!!! Thank God someone started an in home service as this past weekend could have been a lot worse!
-- A-Rod can't tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
-- Being around really creative people sparks creativty.
-- I'd like to spend an hour with P!NK talking about her music and how she writes.
-- Three days plus of ZERO Diet Coke's and I am alive - who'd have thunk it!
-- The other day I was reminded of something VERY IMPORTANT -- I am a DREAMER. At first I took this as a negative but I have realized in the last day or two that I am a dreamer and I am proud of it. We would still be stuck in the Middle Ages if it weren't for dreamers, from the Wright Brothers to Walt Disney it is the dreamers that make REALITY. In doing research I came across this quote by Brian Tracy, whom I have gotten to work with in Sales Seminars in the past, "All successful people, men and women, are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day towards that distant vision, goal or purpose". Sums it up nicely I think.
-- Dealing with LICE sucks!!!! Thank God someone started an in home service as this past weekend could have been a lot worse!
-- A-Rod can't tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
-- Being around really creative people sparks creativty.
-- I'd like to spend an hour with P!NK talking about her music and how she writes.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
I'm being haunted
no, this is not a creative writing piece ---- YET!
Literally, every night for the past 10 days or so I keep waking up from the same dream/nightmare. In actuality the dream changes somewhat but the basic premise is the same:
I am driving in my car with my father, mind you he is dead and the dream is in 'present time' hence why I know he is still dead. I don't remember the specifics of the conversations, just little threads, but EVERY time we are having a phone call with someone (this is the only part that changes) on my BLUETOOTH. On occasions the conversations have been 'funny' enough to make me laugh in my sleep and other times they have been downright scary to where I wake up in a cold sweat.
I have no idea what it means or how to make it stop -- or even if I want it to because maybe he is 'here' trying to help me work 'things' out --- I have no idea, but I do think it is odd that he hasn't asked me how my car can talk to me like KNIGHT RIDER yet since all this 'technology' should be new to him.
Oh well --- it is making for some good 'free writing' in my notebook.
Literally, every night for the past 10 days or so I keep waking up from the same dream/nightmare. In actuality the dream changes somewhat but the basic premise is the same:
I am driving in my car with my father, mind you he is dead and the dream is in 'present time' hence why I know he is still dead. I don't remember the specifics of the conversations, just little threads, but EVERY time we are having a phone call with someone (this is the only part that changes) on my BLUETOOTH. On occasions the conversations have been 'funny' enough to make me laugh in my sleep and other times they have been downright scary to where I wake up in a cold sweat.
I have no idea what it means or how to make it stop -- or even if I want it to because maybe he is 'here' trying to help me work 'things' out --- I have no idea, but I do think it is odd that he hasn't asked me how my car can talk to me like KNIGHT RIDER yet since all this 'technology' should be new to him.
Oh well --- it is making for some good 'free writing' in my notebook.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Creative Writing Assignment #2
Here is the assignment and my first pass. As I told my 'editor' and friend I might rewrite this one with several different stories but this was my first pass:
Loretta and Mick were driving down a lonely highway one winter night. The car hit something, making a loud noise. Loretta and Mick bickered about whether he was driving drunk or not, then they got out to see what was hit. They peered into the darkness, seeing nothing.
Rewrite this episode, showing what happens. You should stick to these events and stick to the start and end point, but you may add in anything you like. Turn this into a scene that unfolds moment by moment. It will probably include some dialogue. Also strive to include descriptions that are specific and sensory.
Loretta and Mick are driving down a lonely highway one winter night. Like most nights in this part of the world darkness is total. With only Mick’s headlights to guide them and the wind and snow blowing around them, Mick’s cherry red ‘vette (his REAL love) feels more like a coffin with each passing moment. They weave down the center line crossing through imaginary gates like a downhill skier.
The night has gone all wrong for Loretta. She was hopeful that tonight they could start over, find the common ground that their relationship once had. By 11:00 Loretta knew that Mick was drinking too much. Loretta knew all the signs, she watched a parent slip into the cocoon of alcohol as a child. She still loved Mick, but now, 10 years later she was tired, exhausted actually, and the love she feels has turned into anger, self pity and guilt over how she has let her life get this way.
Loretta asks Mick to slow down, she even offers to drive. Mick scoffs, “as if I would let you drive my baby”. Loretta steams inside but knows better than to carry on any further at this point, in her mind she keeps repeating “just get me home safely so I can kiss MY babies and hopes the pain and lonely feeling dissipates, if even for a little while”.
Mick could feel the tension in the air as well. He knows all of the issues and his role in how the way things are turning out. He knows he is out of control with the drinking, he loathes how he feels but nothing else dulls the pain. He has tried focusing on his job and then getting back in shape and even went out of his way to spend extra time with the boys but even in those moments of pleasure there was always the haunting in the back of his mind.
Mick knows all the buttons to push on Loretta yet can’t stop himself, like the driving the car comment --- he knows he shouldn’t be driving; he trusts Loretta yet the crazy shit just comes out. His mind starts to drift, he too knows they love each other but wonders how did they get here and is there too much damage done.
Mick shakes his head to clear his mind so that he can focus on the road. Fifteen miles from home and he knows the weather is getting worse as they near the coast and his head is now pounding and feverish. He rounds a big curve and his eyes begin to close. Quietly, hoping Loretta doesn’t notice, Mick slaps his left cheek to keep himself awake, as his left hand returns to the wheel the car slides across the pavement and they hear the sickening sound of metal crunching the front end of the sports car.
Mick pulls over and the two share a glance that is filled with fear and concern. They open their doors and peer into the darkness and see nothing.
Loretta and Mick were driving down a lonely highway one winter night. The car hit something, making a loud noise. Loretta and Mick bickered about whether he was driving drunk or not, then they got out to see what was hit. They peered into the darkness, seeing nothing.
Rewrite this episode, showing what happens. You should stick to these events and stick to the start and end point, but you may add in anything you like. Turn this into a scene that unfolds moment by moment. It will probably include some dialogue. Also strive to include descriptions that are specific and sensory.
Loretta and Mick are driving down a lonely highway one winter night. Like most nights in this part of the world darkness is total. With only Mick’s headlights to guide them and the wind and snow blowing around them, Mick’s cherry red ‘vette (his REAL love) feels more like a coffin with each passing moment. They weave down the center line crossing through imaginary gates like a downhill skier.
The night has gone all wrong for Loretta. She was hopeful that tonight they could start over, find the common ground that their relationship once had. By 11:00 Loretta knew that Mick was drinking too much. Loretta knew all the signs, she watched a parent slip into the cocoon of alcohol as a child. She still loved Mick, but now, 10 years later she was tired, exhausted actually, and the love she feels has turned into anger, self pity and guilt over how she has let her life get this way.
Loretta asks Mick to slow down, she even offers to drive. Mick scoffs, “as if I would let you drive my baby”. Loretta steams inside but knows better than to carry on any further at this point, in her mind she keeps repeating “just get me home safely so I can kiss MY babies and hopes the pain and lonely feeling dissipates, if even for a little while”.
Mick could feel the tension in the air as well. He knows all of the issues and his role in how the way things are turning out. He knows he is out of control with the drinking, he loathes how he feels but nothing else dulls the pain. He has tried focusing on his job and then getting back in shape and even went out of his way to spend extra time with the boys but even in those moments of pleasure there was always the haunting in the back of his mind.
Mick knows all the buttons to push on Loretta yet can’t stop himself, like the driving the car comment --- he knows he shouldn’t be driving; he trusts Loretta yet the crazy shit just comes out. His mind starts to drift, he too knows they love each other but wonders how did they get here and is there too much damage done.
Mick shakes his head to clear his mind so that he can focus on the road. Fifteen miles from home and he knows the weather is getting worse as they near the coast and his head is now pounding and feverish. He rounds a big curve and his eyes begin to close. Quietly, hoping Loretta doesn’t notice, Mick slaps his left cheek to keep himself awake, as his left hand returns to the wheel the car slides across the pavement and they hear the sickening sound of metal crunching the front end of the sports car.
Mick pulls over and the two share a glance that is filled with fear and concern. They open their doors and peer into the darkness and see nothing.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Is this how it happened?
At 13 he already knew he was special. He was long, lean and had the eye hand coordination of a skilled field marksman. At a very young age people started showering him with gifts; taking him to dinners, opening doors for him (both real and virtual) and making sure his every need was taken care of as he was going to be the family 'breadwinner'.
Through High School it became easier; no homework, girls all around him and always the invites to the best parties, but despite all of this he remained a hard worker, diligent in practice, knowing that this was just a stepping stone to the prize. He always knew the prize; not only to be the best but more importantly to be able to provide for his family, as extended as it was.
In college he saw the lesser players looking for the edge; the difference between being a baggage handler at MIA and getting 8 years of service in the 'bigs' was 15 to 20 points on your slugging percentage and maybe 5 more 'big bombs' a year. These were meaningless to him, he WAS the star, but he filed it in the back of his mind.
Time came to leave school early and make it in his chosen profession. He was a smash hit and starred early on. The money early on was nice, but his 'field' was about to explode with free agency and astronomical contracts. He was going to be THE ONE and for the first time he felt the pressure. Was he really good enough? Could his talent alone make him worthy of being #1? By now he'd seen it all, the injections, the swapped urine, the lying and back dealing. He never wanted anything to do with it but there was that gnawing in the back of his mind...a still, silent voice whispering to him from ages ago, "you have to provide for them", "they are counting on you".
In a moment of weakness, the man-child of 23 made his first mistake. The needle looked cold, the trickle that came from the tip was menacing; was he really here? did he really need it? He had $252 MILLION reasons to believe so. Just one cycle he thought. The boss isn't even testing for it, everyone has turned a blind eye just wanting to see the 'ball fly out of the park'. Let's get good and healthy for this new city and then it can be over.
Of course it is never over. One time leads to 3 years or maybe more, who knows...does it really matter?
Is he the boy with the passion or the man who made the mistake? Is his the only guilty conscience here? Why is he and this generation of ball players being called out? How about the more blatant abuse of amphetamines sitting in locker rooms like M&M's? How about the 70's and 80's with the rampant use of cocaine? Not too mention the abusive use of liquor and tobacco products?
Who are we to judge? If given a chance to turn your $75,000-$150,000 salary into $750,000 what would YOU do?
Through High School it became easier; no homework, girls all around him and always the invites to the best parties, but despite all of this he remained a hard worker, diligent in practice, knowing that this was just a stepping stone to the prize. He always knew the prize; not only to be the best but more importantly to be able to provide for his family, as extended as it was.
In college he saw the lesser players looking for the edge; the difference between being a baggage handler at MIA and getting 8 years of service in the 'bigs' was 15 to 20 points on your slugging percentage and maybe 5 more 'big bombs' a year. These were meaningless to him, he WAS the star, but he filed it in the back of his mind.
Time came to leave school early and make it in his chosen profession. He was a smash hit and starred early on. The money early on was nice, but his 'field' was about to explode with free agency and astronomical contracts. He was going to be THE ONE and for the first time he felt the pressure. Was he really good enough? Could his talent alone make him worthy of being #1? By now he'd seen it all, the injections, the swapped urine, the lying and back dealing. He never wanted anything to do with it but there was that gnawing in the back of his mind...a still, silent voice whispering to him from ages ago, "you have to provide for them", "they are counting on you".
In a moment of weakness, the man-child of 23 made his first mistake. The needle looked cold, the trickle that came from the tip was menacing; was he really here? did he really need it? He had $252 MILLION reasons to believe so. Just one cycle he thought. The boss isn't even testing for it, everyone has turned a blind eye just wanting to see the 'ball fly out of the park'. Let's get good and healthy for this new city and then it can be over.
Of course it is never over. One time leads to 3 years or maybe more, who knows...does it really matter?
Is he the boy with the passion or the man who made the mistake? Is his the only guilty conscience here? Why is he and this generation of ball players being called out? How about the more blatant abuse of amphetamines sitting in locker rooms like M&M's? How about the 70's and 80's with the rampant use of cocaine? Not too mention the abusive use of liquor and tobacco products?
Who are we to judge? If given a chance to turn your $75,000-$150,000 salary into $750,000 what would YOU do?
Monday, February 9, 2009
The GRAMMY's and feedback on my first assignment
First the writing assignment --- he like it, he really liked it (The Instructor that is!). I received really positive feedback and some terrific constructive criticism. I can't wait for the next assignment and also to keep working on this piece as maybe there is a BIGGER story in here trying to 'get out'.
On to the GRAMMY's. I think this is by far the best award show out there for one reason --- they really don't waste time on the AWARDS; they have turned it into a massive concert with great artists and then they mix them up and throw them together. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn't but the energy is amazing.
My favorites from the night --- the biggest highlight for me was Sugarland performing their song STAY and then joining Adele to sing CHASING PAVEMENT. Personally both songs 'speak to me' and Sugarland has long been one of my 2 or 3 favorite country groups, well they are a DUO. If you don't know them, the lead singer did the duet with Jon Bon Jovi on "who says you can't go home again" or something like that --- her name is Jennifer Nettles. As for the Adele song, I just LOVE her voice and when you listen to her it is nothing like her physical presence. The song is also very inspirational to me right now. I also really liked Al Green with Justin Timberlake, Boys II Men and Keith Urban. Speaking of JT, I officially have a MAN CRUSH on the guy. Forget the 'boy band' stuff, this guy is SERIOUSLY talented and articulate. His duet with TI was the other highlight for me.
Almost forgot COLDPLAY - they are genius, love them and LOVED the shout out to The Beatles with the colorful jackets, a la Sergeant Peppers, while watching I was wondering what Gayle, Vicki and Dina were thinking....hmmmm....
As for the bad (at least for me) --- two performances I was looking forward to disappointed me. The first was Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. I actually let Cydney stay up with me just to watch this one and it missed; even Cyd looked at me and said 'ewwwwww'. The second was Katy Perry. I really like Katy and I saw the Katie Couric interview with her and it made me like her more but last night she was off (both in key and performance). I think the 'I Kissed a Girl' song is CUTE and maybe she HAD to do it, but she has MUCH BETTER stuff and I think she could have just gone out there and performed instead of doing a 'show' where clearly the physical antics hurt her performance.
That's my recap, thought it would fit in well after my last post on music.
Next writing assignment gets posted tonight at MIDNIGHT - I am psyched!
On to the GRAMMY's. I think this is by far the best award show out there for one reason --- they really don't waste time on the AWARDS; they have turned it into a massive concert with great artists and then they mix them up and throw them together. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn't but the energy is amazing.
My favorites from the night --- the biggest highlight for me was Sugarland performing their song STAY and then joining Adele to sing CHASING PAVEMENT. Personally both songs 'speak to me' and Sugarland has long been one of my 2 or 3 favorite country groups, well they are a DUO. If you don't know them, the lead singer did the duet with Jon Bon Jovi on "who says you can't go home again" or something like that --- her name is Jennifer Nettles. As for the Adele song, I just LOVE her voice and when you listen to her it is nothing like her physical presence. The song is also very inspirational to me right now. I also really liked Al Green with Justin Timberlake, Boys II Men and Keith Urban. Speaking of JT, I officially have a MAN CRUSH on the guy. Forget the 'boy band' stuff, this guy is SERIOUSLY talented and articulate. His duet with TI was the other highlight for me.
Almost forgot COLDPLAY - they are genius, love them and LOVED the shout out to The Beatles with the colorful jackets, a la Sergeant Peppers, while watching I was wondering what Gayle, Vicki and Dina were thinking....hmmmm....
As for the bad (at least for me) --- two performances I was looking forward to disappointed me. The first was Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. I actually let Cydney stay up with me just to watch this one and it missed; even Cyd looked at me and said 'ewwwwww'. The second was Katy Perry. I really like Katy and I saw the Katie Couric interview with her and it made me like her more but last night she was off (both in key and performance). I think the 'I Kissed a Girl' song is CUTE and maybe she HAD to do it, but she has MUCH BETTER stuff and I think she could have just gone out there and performed instead of doing a 'show' where clearly the physical antics hurt her performance.
That's my recap, thought it would fit in well after my last post on music.
Next writing assignment gets posted tonight at MIDNIGHT - I am psyched!
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