An(other) Amazing Update to the Rat Pack Speakeasy

Originally placed in 2007 as “Henry’s Rat Pack Lounge” at Ray’s on the River (please note: I am hoping to acquire the commemorative plaque Ray placed for Henry), these prints are a snapshot of the ‘glory’ of the Rat Pack, placed above the bar:

Now, they are at home in The Rat Pack Speakeasy:

Many, many, many thanks to Ray, Mike, D, Will, Austin and the teams who helped make this possible. I appreciate you all, and there are cocktails awaiting your arrival. Give me a bell!

I Wanted to Get ‘Ahead’

I wanted to get ‘ahead’ of an upcoming scalp treatment:

In about two weeks, I’m going to look a lot like this guy:

I’ll keep my camera off for a wee bit.

The Conversation Wall

I got tired of virtual backgrounds .. I had a green screen for a while, but given my hair is thin and stiff on top, it appeared I had a green ‘halo’ (undeserved, to be sure). I finally gave up and built a Conversation Wall:

I use this to start and extend conversations. I change out the physical items, depending on my audience, for a delightfully interactive effect.

Let’s have a Teams call!

When did you realize you were mortal?

For me, and up until this point, well never.

Had a humbling experience with the Arizona Desert yesterday; a walkabout (of which I’ve written of several) resulted in too much heat and too little hydration for me after only three miles.

Granted, I had a big bottle of water and it was a short hike .. but temperatures over 100 and just the right combination of hills .. well, I deserved what I got.

The riot (and the blessing): it hit me after I returned to the hotel (rule of thumb with me: when half the water is gone, replenish or turn back). I climbed four flights of stairs and everything went white.

A few minutes rest, then I walked to the ice machine to fill my hat. Twenty minutes and the rest of my water, I found my way poolside for water and more rest.

So: despite the bike rides and hikes .. I need to keep an eye on myself.

Great lesson learned .. and the opportunity to make better plans going forward.

Sweet 16 for My Cassie

Quite a day for my Cassie: her 16th birthday is today.

“Sweet 16” (as it’s commonly called here in The States) is a significant milestone. It’s considered a coming of age (although not quite the age of majority, which is 18) .. it’s when you can get a driver’s license, an adult job and earn the right to health-related privacy laws.

At 16 you can donate blood in many states (with parental consent) and obtain an ten-year United States passport. It’s the age you can drop out of school (please don’t!) and get married (with parental consent .. please don’t!)

Sixteen is the legal drinking age in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Portugal. It is also the legal age for a person to purchase tobacco products in Belgium, Switzerland and Italy.

For many turning 16 you throw a party of select friends and the family. The honored guest selects the guests, the venue and the activities .. for Cassie it was her school chums, at home and all electronic .. all the time.

Happy Birthday, my Cassie.

Be the Hero of your Own Story

It’s time.

In fact, no matter what time it is .. from wherever you may be starting, it’s time for you to be the hero of your own story.

How will you position yourself? Will you be The Anti-Hero who becomes a reformed nemesis, Mister Goody-Two-Shoes, or something else?

Whatever it is, take the right step .. which is the next step .. or the step after that. Write your own path, write your own tale, do something that’s different .. or the same. Find a way, or find the truth. Make a mistake, and make it right. Get dirty, or tidy up. Make a friend of someone new, or resolve an old conflict, just because.

All this said: do the right thing, for the right reason. Pay it backwards and forwards and in-between. Find a way to protect, enhance, communicate, mentor, or grow yourself.

Do something. Do something impactful. Do something right. Do something now.

Write your own story, with yourself as the hero.

It’s Time.