The cost of living high...

Superbowl.

I have no thoughts on the superbowl, really. At least other than the fact that I really, really like the Audi R8.

But I did have a thought this morning that if the superbowl were political, right now the Patriots would be issuing a press release that everything is according to plan, and that they are still in the running.

The year ahead.

This year is going to be different. Not that last year was bad - on the contrary. And not that the one before that was bad. There was one a few years back that was bad, but then, that is why I am where I am now, so how bad was it really???

Anyway, this year is one of oportunity for me. Which is to say that I am working on new directions to take the business, maybe even a new business.

I am going to work on keeping this blog. And another, largely business blog. It is a challenge having your hands in many things and keeping up with many other things, and exploring some new things on top of that - but I know how annoying it is never seeing anything new posted - and I am going to work on that. No more apologies for the 8 weeks since the last post. It simply won't hit 8 weeks this year.

So there it is. I am back from our nearly 6 weeks of holiday travel. I am looking at the business and considering some new opportunities, and I am going to post updates to this blog.

I'm Dwight Knowlton and I approved this message.

U23D? YES!

Plenty to do.

I've had so much to blog about lately that I haven't had any time to blog it. If this is any indication, I'm doubting that I'll be much better over the holidays.

November has been a great month. It started with my good friend Jason being out to the valley for a week for a neurosurgeons conference. We hit all (well, maybe not all - but we gave it a valiant attempt) the great restaurants. Did a little shopping, and probably more than anything else raced Forza 2. Your career is still waiting to be completed, Jason. One night we actually took a REAL drive out the B-Line, and saw some of our scenery. It really is a gorgeous drive, and there is not much better than an 80 degree November with the top down in the mountains here.

The biggest thing in November though, is our anniversary. For our 1st anniversary, we went back to L'Auberge de Sedona where we honeymooned, and spent a couple days again. The drive up is almost as much of a treat as the actual getaway - well, that might be pushing it, but it's a wonderful drive.

I had a bouquet of peonies waiting for Tracy, and the staff recognized our return with a card and bottle of champagne.

We enjoyed cocktail hour at the lodge, dined at L'Auberge restaurant, and had lots of fire in the fireplace (one of our simple favorites there).

Sensationalizationism

I have HAD it with the media. Those who know me, know that there is a fair amount of critique available on this topic. The headlines (Paris, Brittany, Lindsay, rehab, sex tape, prison) are NOT headline news. They should be in the National Enquirer if they see print at all, and what should be headlines (Russia arming themselves and declaring the U.S. an enemy) might see page 7 if it sees print at all...

But with all of that, this one is just beyond rediculous.

"STUDENT PLANNING A MASSIVE COLUMBINE STYLE ATTACK". This the catchphrase as FOX news pans footage of more than a dozen guns, as well as knives and swords laid out on a table. Had I not already seen this covered I would have thought it scary. It looks scary. That is why they were able to cleverly craft the sensationalizing phrase "Shocking Cache of Weapons". The truth is though, that having already seen this (on Anderson "Do I look good" Cooper), I knew that "These are all BB guns with the exception of one" - which FOX news failed to mention EVEN ONCE!

So they say that the teen was hoarding the weapons and planning a Columbine style massacre, and I’m just wondering how that would go when one is shooting 300 FPS (feet per second) "Airsoft" guns … 'cause that's what these are. To put this in perspective, the ASSAULT RIFLE (read: BB gun) that my dad bought for me when I was a teen shot at about 600 FPS, and a couple friends and I used to have BB gun fights in our woods. It hurt like heck, but only broke the skin a couple times.

These (Airsoft guns) are MADE TO BE SHOT AT PEOPLE WITHOUT HARMING THEM (hence the PLASTIC pellets), but are made to LOOK like real weapons (with the exception of that cute orange tip that comes on the end of the barrel). Airsoft is a sport that started in Japan, and has caught on here. It is so popular (and safe) that when I typed "Airsoft" in on ebay, I got 850 results. Yes. You can buy these toys on ebay. Even though they look like guns.

It wouldn't have been as sensational to have a dozen "Nerf" guns lying on that table - but he would be just as likely to commit a MASSACRE with them.

So I’m just saying...If it were me...and he were massacring me with a plastic pellet – I would probably walk up and slap his cute little 14 year old face.

What I'd really like to see would be the headline if he HAD "done it" (which if you don't get my point by now - wasn't going to happen - let's deal with a real threat, shall we). I suggest something along this line: "14 Year Old Boy Mildly Annoys Classmates by Stinging Them in the Tummy with Little Yellow Plastic Pellets".

Sinatra Was Here.

For someone who loves Sinatra (the music more than the man), I had a real treat two nights ago. We are wrapping up a week of seeing (and dining) all that we can here in New York City, and two nights ago spent some time in an old favorite of Franks, Patsy's Italian Restaurant.

While it could have something to do with the fact that Patsy's had one of the only 10 liquor licenses in the city at the time, Sinatra liked the place so much that he had his own entrance, and his own table at the back.

They haven't changed the decor since that 50's and 60's prime time era, and it takes you back. For a retro-phile such as myself, that is a lot of fun. I haven't seen that many mirrored walls in...well, ever. I had a Jack and Coke for the man, in his old favorite spot just to say, "Cheers, Frank".