When my kids were younger, they used to have a saying….. “Dad can fix it….he can fix ANYTHING.” Between YouTube, Google and RepairHelp.com, I’ve saved lots of money, and kept several appliances running way longer than expected. I (unfortunately), some times fall into the trap of believing my own hype. Once, my wife called from […]
On today’s 9/11 milestone, it’s sobering to think about all the lives lost, sacrifices made, and heroic efforts in the wake of that tragedy. Even in scary times, however, some times, you can find a funny story (even if you would rather it happened to someone else). In 2001, I worked 2 blocks from the […]
It’s been about 5 years since the Disney movie “Frozen” came out…but it popped back up in the news because of some uninvited flag waving: (NOTE: No matter what political party, product or web site you’re promoting, nobody wants you to block their view of Olaf). While the flag incident was an interesting news blurb, I […]
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”, or so goes the old proverb. It’s true that all journeys have to start somewhere – and the toughest part is frequently taking….that first step. We all have ‘journeys’ that we undertake – graduating from school, becoming a parent, or starting a new job […]
This week, I attended the 2018 Toastmasters International annual convention in Chicago. Despite being a Toastmaster for five years, it was my first time going to the convention….and my first time competing in the International Speech Contest at the Semi-Final level. It was quite an experience, meeting Toastmasters from all over the globe – some were […]
Fifteen years ago, September 11, 2001. I was working around the corner from the White House, sitting in a facilities meeting, talking about disaster recovery. Someone stuck their head in the door and said a plane had hit the World Trade Center. Having flown in and out of Laguardia many times, I figured that someone […]
Another orbit around the sun….and 2015 is history. It’s been quite a year, with a lot of highs, a few lows, and a number of changes that I haven’t quite figured out yet. I’m grateful for the friends and family that continue to remind me that there is far more good in the world than […]
Have you ever finished a major project or completed a goal that should give a feel of accomplishment, only to feel a let-down? Has all that drive that you put into the goal now dissipated, and you find yourself adrift, waiting for the next inspiration? I know the feeling. I’ve frequently found myself in ‘post-goal’ syndrome, […]
This past weekend, I ran in the DC Ragnar Relay. What is a Ragnar Relay? It’s a 200-mile relay with up to 12 runners on a team. Each runner completes a leg from 3-8 miles of varying difficulty….and the run continues through the night for about 36 hours of non-stop craziness. Weather? Doesn’t matter. Fatigue? Get […]
One of my favorite movies to watch (and re-watch) is Star Trek: First Contact. The 1996 movie has all the best parts of Star Trek, with an engaging story, a seemingly unbeatable enemy, and some scenes that stick with me, nearly 20 years later. My favorite scene is where Picard (Patrick Stewart) is confronted by […]
