Thursday, May 18, 2017
My Little Anecdote of the Day
Today a client asked me how a certain process was going that we'd set up. I typed "easy flow from my end" and thought "this sounds as if I have diarrhea" so I deleted and wrote it another way.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Watching Bernie Madoff
Last night and tonight I watched a repeat of the Richard Dreyfuss (playing Bernie) and Blythe Danner (playing his wife) two-part show. I am somewhat obsessed with this story as it really hits home about the security I feel about my nest egg. So hard to imagine its being gone.
At the time Madoff was exposed, I read a piece in Huffington Post from a woman who had lost all her money and she reminded me so much of myself, right down to having worked in the magazine publishing business. What struck me is that some highers up at Conde Nast "got her into" Bernie's funds because they liked her and thought they were doing her this big favor. She was so pleased that she had the same investment person as Si Newhouse, etc.
Well, that struck home because years ago, in my 20s, I needed a tax accountant for the first time and I was introduced to an accounting firm which specialized in working with people in publishing and advertising and I felt so good that I was using the same accountant as the bigwigs at the company I was working.
I remember at the time also calling my investment firm and asking straight out "how do I know you're not like Bernie Madoff?" and the company had this presentation ready, including the fact that there is insurance for the first $500,000 and after that the company bought "private insurance" for the rest. It's really not much of a reassuring thing... I remember thinking well, now what? Ask them to send me the insurance papers so I can see for myself? And those papers could easily be forged. I didn't really seriously believe that this firm was like Bernie, but then I'd think well, neither did the people scammed by him.
Two Sundays ago, I saw a woman on Oprah's Sunday show who had lost all her money with Madoff and she called her best friend who told her "Nothing of value has been lost." Hint: Don't say that to me. I get it that I would still be alive and kicking and even this woman said she said to her friend, "This is not the time to be spiritual" -- too early.
And now of course she thinks it was a great thing that happened to her, and I thought "Yeah, if you have a best-selling book and are on Oprah and have recouped most of your money." But most people weren't that lucky. And yes, I believe luck plays a big part there.
At the time Madoff was exposed, I read a piece in Huffington Post from a woman who had lost all her money and she reminded me so much of myself, right down to having worked in the magazine publishing business. What struck me is that some highers up at Conde Nast "got her into" Bernie's funds because they liked her and thought they were doing her this big favor. She was so pleased that she had the same investment person as Si Newhouse, etc.
Well, that struck home because years ago, in my 20s, I needed a tax accountant for the first time and I was introduced to an accounting firm which specialized in working with people in publishing and advertising and I felt so good that I was using the same accountant as the bigwigs at the company I was working.
I remember at the time also calling my investment firm and asking straight out "how do I know you're not like Bernie Madoff?" and the company had this presentation ready, including the fact that there is insurance for the first $500,000 and after that the company bought "private insurance" for the rest. It's really not much of a reassuring thing... I remember thinking well, now what? Ask them to send me the insurance papers so I can see for myself? And those papers could easily be forged. I didn't really seriously believe that this firm was like Bernie, but then I'd think well, neither did the people scammed by him.
Two Sundays ago, I saw a woman on Oprah's Sunday show who had lost all her money with Madoff and she called her best friend who told her "Nothing of value has been lost." Hint: Don't say that to me. I get it that I would still be alive and kicking and even this woman said she said to her friend, "This is not the time to be spiritual" -- too early.
And now of course she thinks it was a great thing that happened to her, and I thought "Yeah, if you have a best-selling book and are on Oprah and have recouped most of your money." But most people weren't that lucky. And yes, I believe luck plays a big part there.
Sunday, May 14, 2017
Spring in DC
Mary says:
These are in my neighbor's yard. It's a gorgeous but cool day, and the sun made everything open up and shine. I think the second picture is foxglove but Fran is going to fact check me.
These are in my neighbor's yard. It's a gorgeous but cool day, and the sun made everything open up and shine. I think the second picture is foxglove but Fran is going to fact check me.
Catching up
So I haven't been posting much for no particular reason. I think I'm caught in a "nothing much happening" time and there really isn't. Spring really hasn't come; still wearing winter type clothes and haven't done anything with my garden.
However this coming week it's supposed to get warm. I contacted a gardener via Craigslist and he actually responded so he'll be coming to check things out and do the work.
Yesterday Nancy came over for lunch and she stopped at Tal Bagels. We each had smoked turkey and swiss (with mayo!) -- hers on a sesame bagel and mine on an everything bagel and we both commented that there is nothing like a great sandwich. The bagels were super fresh, the meat was shaved thin and good cheese... can't beat it. And of course we talked non-stop and later I was thinking that one of the qualities all my friends have is good conversationalists and I don't appreciate that really until I'm with someone with no opinions, no insights and no gift of the gab.
Let's see... what else? My 50th high school reunion (YIKES!) is held next month and one of the projects I'm involved in is classmates writing essays about their grandparents. Such interesting stories from very wealthy grandparents and constantly-cooking Italian grandma to the storybook perfect grandparents to the alcoholic dysfunctional nasty grandmother. I am formatting the stories and doing very light copyediting. I really enjoy reading all of them, and enjoyed writing my own.
So I'll try to be more faithful in posting... we'll see.
However this coming week it's supposed to get warm. I contacted a gardener via Craigslist and he actually responded so he'll be coming to check things out and do the work.
Yesterday Nancy came over for lunch and she stopped at Tal Bagels. We each had smoked turkey and swiss (with mayo!) -- hers on a sesame bagel and mine on an everything bagel and we both commented that there is nothing like a great sandwich. The bagels were super fresh, the meat was shaved thin and good cheese... can't beat it. And of course we talked non-stop and later I was thinking that one of the qualities all my friends have is good conversationalists and I don't appreciate that really until I'm with someone with no opinions, no insights and no gift of the gab.
Let's see... what else? My 50th high school reunion (YIKES!) is held next month and one of the projects I'm involved in is classmates writing essays about their grandparents. Such interesting stories from very wealthy grandparents and constantly-cooking Italian grandma to the storybook perfect grandparents to the alcoholic dysfunctional nasty grandmother. I am formatting the stories and doing very light copyediting. I really enjoy reading all of them, and enjoyed writing my own.
So I'll try to be more faithful in posting... we'll see.
Three Little Kittensq
These are Mary's great-nieces who had "Hello Kitty" faces painted at a fundraising event.
Friday, May 5, 2017
Friday, April 28, 2017
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