COMMON GROUND

I like to think of myself as something of a risk taker. For example, at the age of 56, I decided that a small convertible was not dangerous enough, so I bought an Italian scooter and went out in traffic on 2 wheels for the first time.

But compared to Alain Robert, I feel like a very modest bookkeeper. Alain is the man who climbs buildings - on the outside, that is. Straight up the facade. Without ropes, pitons or other mechanical tools. Just his hands.

In 1999, when he climbed the Sears Tower in Chicago, he said that just near the top, he experienced an unexpected amount of condensation from the air conditioners and almost fell - and for a split second, he experienced fear - for a split second.

In the article I just read, Alain spoke of how politicians are driving society in such a way that everything has to do with money and safety - leaving little room for fun anymore. I can relate to that. He also spoke of how his exploits inspire people by helping them look at things differently. For example, as he was climbing the NY Times building in New York, he felt that maybe for a few moments, he was helping New Yorkers see the building as something other than a target, something to be trapped in. I like that. What he was talking about is art, and it is one of the reasons why I am attracted to art also.

I am so far from this man in terms of the kind of risk situation I put myself in but now I have found a few things that we have in common. And perhaps at some gut level, during my own climbing adventures - in trees and cliffs and on rocks, I feel a relative, if not proportionate commonality with him.

This is a good way to think about things, isn't it - to find what is it that we share and have in common with others - even if there is an exponential factor of difference. I don't know that I was able to think this way when I was working and the other dogs were trying to eat my dog at work. Hell, I just wanted to bury them before they buried me. But now I can think this way, and it's a positive, life affirming thing.

The kind of positive thing that we should all be doing.

And if you have a little time to spend on low purpose research, you might try this yourself - to see what you can find in common with someone else. Perhaps someone you admire, or someone you just happened to read about. Like Alain Robert. Or Leonardo DiCaprio.

Leo and I have at least 5 things in common. (besides our good looks):

1. Stanley Kubrick's movie, The Shining" is in our lists of the top 5 greatest movies
2. We believe you have to take full responsibility for your own character
3. We both learned early in life that creativity is hugely important
4. We are both Scorpios
5. We both have a thing for Kate Winslet

I always liked Leonardo, but now there is an added dimension. It's all about common ground

MAKE YOUR OWN MAPLE SYRUP

Here's something I would not be doing if I was flying off every Monday to a consulting assignment.... making MAPLE SYRUP. And let me tell you how satisfying it is, especially with blueberry pancakes, or glazed on roast pork or grilled salmon.

The 2009 syrup season just ended - total production this year was just over 1 liter of light amber, home grown maple syrup, which was boiled down from 33.68 liters of sap that I collected between February 18 and March 8. Maybe I could have boiled it down a little more for a thicker viscosity, but as it is, it is so sweet and good. Absolutely amazing. All this from 3 silver maple trees growing in my yard - one of which was not pulling its weight.

The season starts when the nights are still below freezing but afternoons warm up enough to get the tree to start making sugar and flowing its sap. Season ends just before the buds open - which varies according to the weather. When that happens, the tree produces other chemicals which make for a pretty nasty, plastic taste in the syrup.

I make my own taps out of plastic tubes and as you can see in the picture, I collect the sap in plastic milk jugs. If you want more information about the process, the science or where to buy taps, there are a lot of good web sites out there.

Boiling takes a while because there is only a small amount of sugar in the sap (less than 2%) and the house steams up and smells all caramelly, but to me, these are good side effects of the process.

One last word - a credit to my son in law, Aric, for suggesting to me that the silver maples also produce a sugary sap. Prior to that, I thought you needed a sugar maple. So, a big thanks to him and we'll do it again next year.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR TIME ?

Many have asked me this question - and I have tried to answer it. But from the feedback I get (or lack of responses, and blank faces), I know I don't do it well. Because, I do not have a good one sentence comeback - like "I fish" or "I golf", or any other neat package that a person can picture themselves in. And when I start to speak of all the things I do, I lose people. But before losing them, I find that they latch on to the first thing I say and reflect back on it, usually with a negative comment.

But let me tell you, not working is where it's at ! For one thing, when you don't work, you don't commute. Think about that benefit to your nerves, cardio and endocrine systems - not to mention the cost of commuting and the harm to the environment.

I'll address some of the specifics later, but let's keep it at a high level here. For me, retirement is more about enjoying life, staying young, having fresh experiences, investigating information and opportunities, trying to become wiser - and smarter, staying challenged, creating better relationships, growing as a person. If you know what a Renaissance man is - someone who has a wide scope of interests and skills - then you can begin to understand my approach to life. Not working allows me to spend my free time being one and learning to become a better one.

L'EAU DE VIE - Life With Aqua

Lovely company. Always enjoyed dealing with them... much like I enjoy my migraines.

Sometime over the weekend, something with my water service changed. I noticed that the water pressure increased. It wasn't so much the more subtle, yet observable jolt of the pipes when the toilet was flushed, or the initial burst of pressurized water when a faucet was first turned on. These I could live with. It was the "singing" of the pipes that began and now seems to continue throughout the day (unless I leave the water running).

But "singing" makes it sound so innocuous. It is not. It is more like a sound effect from a grade B horror movie - made by a girl who has been cemented behind a wall and is now verging toward insanity. Somewhere between a cry and the pathetic moan. She has resigned herself to her torture. Why won't she just die?

SO, for the fun of it, I thought I'd call AQUA "customer service".

Bridget answered. I asked Bridget if anything took place recently in AQUA's supply and transmission system that might have increased the incoming water pressure to my house. It took her about 4 seconds to say "no.". How much research do you think she did to determine that answer ? I continued anyway, and here's AQUA's bottom line:

1. They did nothing.
2. The pressure in my area IS "high".
3. AQUA does not consider this to be their problem.
4. If I want to do something, I can contract a plumber to install a pressure relief valve (like the one I have, that - by the way - wears out and needs to be replaced every 2-3 years).

You really have to hand it to the folks at AQUA to be able to get away with this brand of customer service.

(Side note - love their automated call response system also - which prevents me from saying "customer service" until they have determined I speak English and have presented 6 other options - mostly having to do with paying my bill.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

86 today.

Not that the years count anymore.

I hope things improve after death (for you and for reality, in general) and I hope you are at peace and in a place of eternal fascination. Keep an eye on us and feel free to deliver another World Series ring next year.