Friday on the PGA Tour

Thanks to everyone for joining me for a drink Wednesday evening, especially after a long 2 days of meeting!  It was great to see your smiling (but weary) faces and spend a few moments checking in. 

Seeing you guys was very important to me because of accountability.  I do not take for granted the fact that this time away is at everyone's expense - some more than others - but all of you are effected by me leave.  I greatly appreciate your willingness (well...did you have a choice?)...your support during this period.  Seeing all of you reminded me that I owe it to all of us to make good use of this time and come back adding value!

So...I did it!  I finally got myself to a PGA Tourney, if only for one day!  And know what...I might like it even more than NASCAR!  I took the Metro-North train up to Rye NY, then a Shuttle to the Westchester Country Club.  I arrived at the club around 10:00am and left at 3:15pm - and was sitting back in my dining room by 5:30pm!

The most exciting part of the day - KJ Choi (seen on the right below), who is the first Korean to play on the PGA Tour, hit an eagle (2 shots under) on the 7th hole.  He was 98 yards away and hit an easy chip that bounced once and went right into the hole!  It was awesome!

I saw all of my favorite players except for Corey Pavin (also, Tiger skipped this tourney), walked a whole lot, got some sun and had a very restful, fun...it-was-an-all-I-imagined-it-would-be kind of time!

I'm heading to Cape Cod in the morning.  I have all my books packed up - almost done with this week's book:  Last of the Mohicans.  I have a great 1,000 piece puzzle to work (a scene from Arizona) and 3 more books packed.  I love the Cape!  Walks during lowtide, floating in the Ocean, hangin' on the beach, reading, cooking, evening walks on the beach...I know I don't deserve a vacation, but I'm actually looking forward to it like a vacation!  Don't know if it makes sense...but life is usually different on vacation :)

I will try and get the next newsletter out, provided I can get on line (you know me...it's already drafted and just needs a final edit and typing!)  If I can't get on-line...

Have a great week - a big congat to Cindy M.!  Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

 

Friday on the PGA Tour

Thanks to everyone for joining me for a drink Wednesday evening, especially after a long 2 days of meeting!  It was great to see your smiling (but weary) faces and spend a few moments checking in. 

Seeing you guys was very important to me because of accountability.  I do not take for granted the fact that this time away is at everyone's expense - some more than others - but all of you are effected by me leave.  I greatly appreciate your willingness (well...did you have a choice?)...your support during this period.  Seeing all of you reminded me that I owe it to all of us to make good use of this time and come back adding value!

So...I did it!  I finally got myself to a PGA Tourney, if only for one day!  And know what...I might like it even more than NASCAR!  I took the Metro-North train up to Rye NY, then a Shuttle to the Westchester Country Club.  I arrived at the club around 10:00am and left at 3:15pm - and was sitting back in my dining room by 5:30pm!

The most exciting part of the day - KJ Choi (seen on the right below), who is the first Korean to play on the PGA Tour, hit an eagle (2 shots under) on the 7th hole.  He was 98 yards away and hit an easy chip that bounced once and went right into the hole!  It was awesome!

I saw all of my favorite players except for Corey Pavin (also, Tiger skipped this tourney), walked a whole lot, got some sun and had a very restful, fun...it-was-an-all-I-imagined-it-would-be kind of time!

I'm heading to Cape Cod in the morning.  I have all my books packed up - almost done with this week's book:  Last of the Mohicans.  I have a great 1,000 piece puzzle to work (a scene from Arizona) and 3 more books packed.  I love the Cape!  Walks during lowtide, floating in the Ocean, hangin' on the beach, reading, cooking, evening walks on the beach...I know I don't deserve a vacation, but I'm actually looking forward to it like a vacation!  Don't know if it makes sense...but life is usually different on vacation :)

I will try and get the next newsletter out, provided I can get on line (you know me...it's already drafted and just needs a final edit and typing!)  If I can't get on-line...

Have a great week - a big congat to Cindy M.!  Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

 

Weekend Activities

What did I do this weekend?  Walked around Greenwood Cemetery for 2.5 hours!  It's 900 acres of amazing history, where you can find the likes of the Steinways, the Tiffany family, Currier and Ives, FAO Schwartz, Henry Ward Beecher...the list goes on!

The volunteer working the gate pointed us to this gravesite.  The gentleman buried here was an Egyptologist, so they built his gravesite in the shape of a pyramid!

And then there is Lenny...Leonard Bernstein, buried here with his wife and sister on the highest point in Brooklyn (and an amazing view of the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan!)

What did you do this weekend?

Weekend Activities

What did I do this weekend?  Walked around Greenwood Cemetery for 2.5 hours!  It's 900 acres of amazing history, where you can find the likes of the Steinways, the Tiffany family, Currier and Ives, FAO Schwartz, Henry Ward Beecher...the list goes on!

The volunteer working the gate pointed us to this gravesite.  The gentleman buried here was an Egyptologist, so they built his gravesite in the shape of a pyramid!

And then there is Lenny...Leonard Bernstein, buried here with his wife and sister on the highest point in Brooklyn (and an amazing view of the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan!)

What did you do this weekend?

Moose's Foster Care

From Sue Sandler, August 15, 2007:

By the way, Moose (no, not Moose, but Moose) has started biting her toenails.  She fell over from the waist suddenly and began digesting her digits.  Moose (the other Moose) is sitting there cool and collected… oblivious to his sister’s issues.  Just like a man!  I may get some of that foul tasting stuff for nail biters or maybe Saturday I’ll take her for a pedicure.  Also, she’s a little hot in her Christmas sweater.  Maybe I’ll take her to Anthropologie and get her a little sundress.  As for Moose (the other Moose), I want to take him to a Bar Mitzvah, but he’s gonna have to lose the Santa hat. Will he lose his cultural identity??????  Besides, how do you get a yarmulke over a pair of antlers pray tell?  Ah! The dilemmas of foster parenting.  I’m just trying to take one day at a time.

Sandy's Response, August 19, 2007

After careful consultation with Rabbi Moose, of the Northwoods Synagogue here in New York, it was determined that (1) yes - moose can wear yarmulke and tallit (prayershawl), (2) the experience of going to either a Bar or Bat Mitzvah will only enhance Moose's life experience and (3) Moose should be granted the opportunity to find his own faith.

Sylvia's Response to Sue's Concerns, August 14, 2007

As the responsible party who placed one or more moose with you, I think I have legitimate standing in an appropriate court of law to contest their foster placement.  I must be assured that the “best interests” of the moose (or is it “mousse”) are being properly protected.

Moose's Foster Care

From Sue Sandler, August 15, 2007:

By the way, Moose (no, not Moose, but Moose) has started biting her toenails.  She fell over from the waist suddenly and began digesting her digits.  Moose (the other Moose) is sitting there cool and collected… oblivious to his sister’s issues.  Just like a man!  I may get some of that foul tasting stuff for nail biters or maybe Saturday I’ll take her for a pedicure.  Also, she’s a little hot in her Christmas sweater.  Maybe I’ll take her to Anthropologie and get her a little sundress.  As for Moose (the other Moose), I want to take him to a Bar Mitzvah, but he’s gonna have to lose the Santa hat. Will he lose his cultural identity??????  Besides, how do you get a yarmulke over a pair of antlers pray tell?  Ah! The dilemmas of foster parenting.  I’m just trying to take one day at a time.

Sandy's Response, August 19, 2007

After careful consultation with Rabbi Moose, of the Northwoods Synagogue here in New York, it was determined that (1) yes - moose can wear yarmulke and tallit (prayershawl), (2) the experience of going to either a Bar or Bat Mitzvah will only enhance Moose's life experience and (3) Moose should be granted the opportunity to find his own faith.

Sylvia's Response to Sue's Concerns, August 14, 2007

As the responsible party who placed one or more moose with you, I think I have legitimate standing in an appropriate court of law to contest their foster placement.  I must be assured that the “best interests” of the moose (or is it “mousse”) are being properly protected.

Sandy's Days

 

Yes...it's a picture of turtles sitting on a log.  No...it's not quite a metaphor for what my days are currently like...but only if they were!  I seem to be having a tough time at the ends of the week, starting with Thursday.  I hit a bit of a slump and start to really miss the pace of BBBS.  Crazy, huh?  I get really moody and short tempered (such a joy to be around!), lack focus and am slightly agitated.  Not at all very turtle-like (I think...). 

I've been disciplining myself in several ways, because part of what this is all about is trying to hit the 'reset' button on my life.  So, every day:

*  I eat healthier and drink lots of water (Sylvia is feeling very proud right now :)  No McDonalds or fast food for 14 days now, no candy for 8 days, no soda for 10 days, I made eggplant packets for dinner Tuesday nite (eggplant with tomato and mozzarella), am cutting carbs severely and working on the good vegies (ick!)

*  I go for a one hour, fast paced walk in Prospect Park (http://www.prospectpark.org/), and have found a good route with lots of hills in it!

* I am sticking to my 3 no-tv days and even found myself not watching yesterday - on a tv day!  Who got put up for eviction from the Big Brother household! Somebody tell me!

* I'm reading at least 3 hours a day (currently finishing Stephen King's Lisey's Story; next in line is Kevin Baker's Strivers Row - if you love historical fiction, this guy is great!  It's his 3rd - Dreamland is about the Jewish experience in Coney Island and the Lower East Side tenements and Paradise Alley is about Irish immigrants and NYC's Civil War draft riots).  Julie - I have your book list on hand, too!

*  I am re-engaging with one person a week that I have lost touch with or, sadly, let go of in the last few years.  I need to mend those relationships or let them go forever.

*  Per Macks, advice, I'm trying for spontaneity and risk:  I'm going to the PGA tour next Friday (they're playing up in Westchester) and I've signed up to take a 12 week course in comedy writing -can you imagine!

*  And everyday I think about work.  Why I'm stuck; what I want to do, not do: how I want it to be; how I want to just follow my destiny: how could BBBS be anyone's destiny?; what about the kids and child therapy?; why hasn't someone created a 'bliss' finder?; is this all just self-indulgent babble....

And, yes, to Sue...I'm looking into some testing, although Diane and I both agree that career testing is probably a bit too limiting.  This is more ego dystonic than a vocational albatross...it's about giving my left-side of the brain space to dance.  How do I do that in our BBBS environment.  Cindy Mesko would say, "humor!"  Sue Sandler would say "play!" And therein, I believe, lies the answer. 

 

Sandy's Days

 

Yes...it's a picture of turtles sitting on a log.  No...it's not quite a metaphor for what my days are currently like...but only if they were!  I seem to be having a tough time at the ends of the week, starting with Thursday.  I hit a bit of a slump and start to really miss the pace of BBBS.  Crazy, huh?  I get really moody and short tempered (such a joy to be around!), lack focus and am slightly agitated.  Not at all very turtle-like (I think...). 

I've been disciplining myself in several ways, because part of what this is all about is trying to hit the 'reset' button on my life.  So, every day:

*  I eat healthier and drink lots of water (Sylvia is feeling very proud right now :)  No McDonalds or fast food for 14 days now, no candy for 8 days, no soda for 10 days, I made eggplant packets for dinner Tuesday nite (eggplant with tomato and mozzarella), am cutting carbs severely and working on the good vegies (ick!)

*  I go for a one hour, fast paced walk in Prospect Park (http://www.prospectpark.org/), and have found a good route with lots of hills in it!

* I am sticking to my 3 no-tv days and even found myself not watching yesterday - on a tv day!  Who got put up for eviction from the Big Brother household! Somebody tell me!

* I'm reading at least 3 hours a day (currently finishing Stephen King's Lisey's Story; next in line is Kevin Baker's Strivers Row - if you love historical fiction, this guy is great!  It's his 3rd - Dreamland is about the Jewish experience in Coney Island and the Lower East Side tenements and Paradise Alley is about Irish immigrants and NYC's Civil War draft riots).  Julie - I have your book list on hand, too!

*  I am re-engaging with one person a week that I have lost touch with or, sadly, let go of in the last few years.  I need to mend those relationships or let them go forever.

*  Per Macks, advice, I'm trying for spontaneity and risk:  I'm going to the PGA tour next Friday (they're playing up in Westchester) and I've signed up to take a 12 week course in comedy writing -can you imagine!

*  And everyday I think about work.  Why I'm stuck; what I want to do, not do: how I want it to be; how I want to just follow my destiny: how could BBBS be anyone's destiny?; what about the kids and child therapy?; why hasn't someone created a 'bliss' finder?; is this all just self-indulgent babble....

And, yes, to Sue...I'm looking into some testing, although Diane and I both agree that career testing is probably a bit too limiting.  This is more ego dystonic than a vocational albatross...it's about giving my left-side of the brain space to dance.  How do I do that in our BBBS environment.  Cindy Mesko would say, "humor!"  Sue Sandler would say "play!" And therein, I believe, lies the answer. 

 

Vocational Guidance

How fitting that I wake up at 1:00am Monday morning to find a Monty Python Retrospective on.  And just the perfect skit! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMOmB1q8W4Y ...it both explains my humor (I was raised on tea, Monty Python and Benny Hill) and is so appropriate for my "break" time!  You'll see why "feeding the sea lions" wasn't such a bad idea! Enjoy!

Tags: vocations

Vocational Guidance

How fitting that I wake up at 1:00am Monday morning to find a Monty Python Retrospective on.  And just the perfect skit! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMOmB1q8W4Y ...it both explains my humor (I was raised on tea, Monty Python and Benny Hill) and is so appropriate for my "break" time!  You'll see why "feeding the sea lions" wasn't such a bad idea! Enjoy!

Tags: vocations

Welcome Bloggers!

Howdy Ho!  It's coming together, slowly but surely!  I hope the newsletter and the blog provide you all with a bit of a "break," and not a major distraction.  Please remember that this is an open forum, with lots of access by lots of folks, so...keep it real, keep it honest, and keep it alive!

Books to Read for Work

From: Ruth Mallery <ruthmallery@yahoo.com>

I made up some funny book titles -

 

Many Slips of Loose Paper--an audited charts story, by U.R. Mi Sing, Wat?

 

Fun With Charts: The Places They Could be, The Places They Should Be, And The Places They Actually Are  By Wiily Findem and Betty Wont.

 

No Reservation Required: A Travelers Guide to negotiating the maze of booked interview rooms ( with expanded and updated booking improvements provided by Outlook Express)

 

Incoming!  A survival guide.  By Ben Dar and Dunn, I.T.

 

(you may want to peruse the prequel to that novel for historical background, called:

How to Open A Case, Step By Step, Without Losing Anything, Including Your Sanity)

 

 Working 9 to 9:  Time Management for Salaried Employees by Anita Dunn-Now

 

The Joy of Filing by Pink Paperton

 

and Required Reading:

 

A Proper Documentation Style Guide by Ty PaWay and

 Correcting Coding Errors by Ty Pesome-Orr

 

Accountability in the Cubicle byPa S. De Buck

 

Using Your Voice Mail for Time Management by Quick Lee Snipit

 

Care and Maintenance of Your Computer Files by Dee Lita Lot

 

Survivng A Federal Chart Audit   by Jimmy Cash , Airie Free and  R. U. Wacked