What Deadline?

Not long ago, I had a conversation with a friend about deadlines. We’d both had corporate careers, mine in financial services and his in media, where deadlines were considered serious things. We’d also both subsequently had nonprofit experiences, where deadlines tended to be a bit fuzzier. I told him about a former colleague at a […]

A Wild Mind

Dorothy Parker, that famous doyenne of the literary Round Table and master of the pithy putdown, had a very challenging life. And personality. Reading a bio took some of the shine off her image, but she also had a brilliant way with words even when not being funny. This particular quote resonated strongly for me: […]

4 Paras & a Pic

Need a bit of uplifting? Perhaps some useful information about stress management, food, health, or how to focus?  Perhaps you’d like a brief diversion by way of travel memories? Or simply something colorful to cheer, soothe or distract you? My blog will do the trick. It’s ostensibly about art, and sometimes I do write about […]

Stubborn and Glad

A recent article in Barron’s cited research done by colleges in California and Italy on successful aging. Among the obvious bits of advice like eating well, exercising, and having strong social connections was an unexpected finding – be stubborn. Or, as I prefer to think of it, be resilient and determined. Scientists say genetics account […]

A Distracting Getaway

The tumultuous atmosphere around the U.S. election made me decide a getaway was needed to save my sanity, and the more distracting the better. Luckily, there are safe, easy places to travel where I can’t speak or read the language, saving me from constant “breaking news” that merely adds stress. Since romance languages are familiar […]

Serendipity Strikes

Several weeks ago, I received an email from an acquaintance. We had worked together a few years back. I was a consultant for the CT State Office of the Arts when she headed a local arts agency and requested my help on a project. Turns out she now works for the University of Connecticut in […]

Miss Traveling?

Until we can travel widely and safely again, many of us have had to be satisfied with memories of Europe, Asia and Latin America. My current exhibit, at The Space Gallery in charming Chester, CT, recognizes this and is, for now, a great substitute for the real thing. It runs through the end of the […]

Artist in Residence

On the bright side, I am no longer calling this shelter-in-place. The preferred term now is “artist-in-residence.” Of course, there are times when it would be nice to be in residence elsewhere, or to at least have the option. Plans for NYC and for Portugal were postponed, but with the vaccines we’re optimistic again. I’m […]

Board-less and Unbound

This year, for the first time in about 40 years, I am not serving on a nonprofit board. Or on five of them simultaneously. Did that the year I left my corporate job to start my consulting firm. And nearly bankrupted myself, as I gave away more time and advice than I sold. Lesson learned. […]

Slightly Unacceptable

Discussing Kentucky Derby parties we planned to attend, an old friend told me about her outfit and, in particular, the bling she intended to add to it. A very creative person, she anticipated the party might be on the traditional side, so her stated goal was to be slightly unacceptable. The phrase instantly grabbed me. […]