Snake Eyes

Snake Eyes

Snake Eyes “Be sincere, be brief, be seated.” Franklin D. Roosevelt My dad and Dick Jappe were great friends. They met as newbie pharmaceutical reps in the mid-fifties when both went to work for the Stuart Company, the maker of Mylanta, Mylicon, and other...
Meeting Your Heroes

Meeting Your Heroes

Meeting Your Heroes “A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.” Roald Dahl We all have heroes. Sometimes, we are lucky enough to meet them and still admire them after the meeting. I met two of mine on the same day, when I was in high...
Winston

Winston

Winston “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” Winston Churchill I’ve always been a dog man. When I first got my own place, I thought it could be great to have a dog to play with and keep me company. On the other hand, wouldn’t it be unfair for the...
Can I Drive the Car?

Can I Drive the Car?

Can I Drive the Car? “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person. He believed in me.” Jim Valvano “Dad… can I drive the car?” Those are frightening words in any language. They grow up too fast. When my twin daughters were...
Artful Negotiation

Artful Negotiation

Artful Negotiation “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter — ’tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning.” Mark Twain “Can you do any better?” The first time I heard...
Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost “What hath night to do with sleep?” John Milton Back when I used to golf more regularly, I would occasionally go on a trip with a group for two or three days at a nice course nearby. Several years ago, we went up to Santa Barbara and stayed...