Adriana is getting ready to have a baby...

There was more more than enough fun to go around in the boardroom as we finished a staff lunch dedicated as a baby shower for Adriana (for those of you that don't know, Adriana has been my long time assistant in New York) and her little girl to be. Three kinds of chicken (spicy, spicier and spiciest) were served with all sorts of great side dishes. Then the games. I actually won the guess how big her belly is contest. This is played by each of the guests unrolling a length of tissue paper that they believe represented the entire girth of Adriana and child. My eye for measurements was still best in the house. But, watching them sample baby food and have to identify the ingredients was the best laugh of the party. Some of their faces made you wonder why any baby would eat that stuff.

Finally, Victor broke out his guitar and played a song dedicated to the way Adriana does things, doing it "My Way", while Jill tempted her with over decorated cupcakes with tops of butter cream large enough to land a 747. Watch and enjoy.

Breaking the fast is a wonderful thing...

Marci and my grandson Dylan made a banana loaf with chocolate chips and a made from scratch apple pie. They were both delicious. Typical bagels, cream cheese, nova scotia lox, whitefish, kippered salmon, egg salad, herring in cream sauce, orange juice, coffee, onions and tomatoes rounded out the end of Yom Kippur. It was great.

The Second Presidential Debate...

Normally, the volume on the TV at Elaine's Eastside Bar and Eatery is never turned on. The typical program being watched is the New York Yankees, Knicks, Mets, Rangers, and tonight, with no sound, Cruz Azul vs Marathon from Mexico City, a CONCACAF Champions League game in the fourth week of group play. As the second half was about to get underway, all of a sudden, the sound went on loud and John McCain and Barack Obama were center stage and their booming voices were from Tennessee in their second nationally televised debate.



While I had planned to watch the debate the morning after, having taped it in the office, the show became compelling viewing for our table, which had originally included Elaine, with (from left to right) Dr. Ruth Westheimer, with her newest sex education book on the table Teens & Sex Today, Me, Mary Lynn, Suzanne McFarlane, a 33 year associate of Dr. Henry Kissinger, and my Deputy at CONCACAF, Italo Zanzi, a former candidate for the U.S. Congress.

A complete blowout...

Following the day of kids' visits and other parties and the Madonna concert, Mary Lynn and her kids are finally able to celebrate her birthday with the traditional blowing out the candle which leaves her all smiles.

Madonna...

For those of you who were wondering, yes... I was seated in the third row (or maybe it was inside the bass drum given the amount of vibrations my body tolerated). The show was great. The lights and sounds are beyond belief and the dancing fantastic.

FIFA in the Bahamas with the Dolphins...

FIFA in the Bahamas...