All posts by johncohn

Wednesday night – RIP Bruno Pileggi

Yesterday I received word that our friends Larry. Leah and Hannah’s   Italian greyhound Bruno passed away 1 day short of his 16th birthday. This dog had really had an amazingly long and happy life. Somehow.. that never makes saying goodbye any easier. I remmebr this dog used to bark his head off whenever I came in to their house in Pittsburgh..   it used to be a running joke that he’d only bark at me..

I spoke with Larry. leah and Hannah yesterday.. they’re all hurting. We talked about societies expectations about how we’re supposed to deal with loss.. and the differences we’re supposed to feel between pets and people.. I think love is love

Here’s the note that Leah sent out yesterday.. I was really touched by her request at the end that we all hug our furry friends in Bruno’s honor. I hope she doesn’t mind me passing that along:

Dear friends and family,
 
Just one day short of his 16th birthday, our loyal companion Bruno passed away with the help of the vet who has taken care of him for most of his life. Officially registered as Bruno Pileggi with the American Kennel Association, he was the fourth member of our family for as long as any of us can remember.
 
In memory of Bruno, pass along a hug to one of your own warm, fuzzy friends.
 
Larry, Leah and Hannah

Goodbye Bruno.. you will be missed …

nite all.. nite sam
-me

Tueasday night – time with friends

Back in Vermont again after a quick trip down to NY. It was a really good trip in terms of seeing friends.. Starting with staying with Max on the boat.. (here he is seeing me off just before 6AM)

Then seeing Bruce and Jim in POK. as well as many other work freinds from across the northeast.. Thane Chandu and Patty ast night

Then Ruchir this monring.. as well as a ton of other work friends who were in for the same meeting I was down to attend.

…

I also ran into my friend Jim who’s working on using lasers to help treat burn victims.. (here he is with pig skin samples.)

I love seeing all these friends.. Still I feel like I’m not ale to give them each enough attention. Somehow I always feel like I’m running off to the next thing before I can complete a conversation with the last friend. I gotta find a way to stay in one place long enough to finish a conversation.. and make sure I hear folks stories..

One fun is it to be a ‘people person’ if you cant hang out with people ?

I thin I need to rethink this a bit

nite all, nite sam
-me

Monday night – constraints

I’m writing from my friend C’s guest room in his very nice.. energy neutral house  in NY.
I’m staying here in order to save travel money for my company.. At first blush.. this might seem like a strange thing. here I am traveling for work.. but having to make my own travel accommodations…  but actually.. this is a real windfall. I had a wonderful time tonight catching up with my friend and his wife.. That would not have been possible had I stayed in a hotel. More and more I see the blessings that are hidden in constraints. If you get everything you think you need.. eg. travel money, equipment money.. free time. etc.. perhaps they become less important and precious to you.. I welcome the chance to improvise.. to mix personal 1:1 time with business travel..

am I nuts ?

nite folks..nite all
-me

Sunday night – nice sized party

As promised.. here are some pictures from last nights party. I’m writing from the ‘bowhouse’ suite on Max’s boat.. and the internet is a little wonky.. so I’ll have to be  a little brief..

We spent most of yesterday setting up for the Halloween party. We’d decided to have the party a week early which contributed to this being the smallest Halloween party we’ve had

in some time. probably about 150 people..  maybe  200 people at peak..

that turned  out to be much more manageable than the 350 or so we had

last year.  This year we got a chance to talk to many more folks.. which

was really nice/

The day began with pumpkin carving. .

Then it was time for costum making.. Gabe went as ‘lil wayne’.. Max’s GF Jack (who’s awesome) did ‘Lil Gab’es ink’.. true to the designs Lil Wayne’ has.


Just before the party . Diane and I took a quick pass to check out that all was ready.

Then.. prompt;y at 7//a zillion folks showed up. .I was ‘double rainbow (OMG, OMG !). I’d worked out a very cool led rainbow thing.. only to destroy it twice.. I opted for a simpler EL wire light up design.. more subtle.. but adequate.  Diane was a very cure busy bee.. and she buzzed around all night keeping things moving..

Max and Jack were Lobsta’s

Kristin and Katy were The candy bar twins..

Andrea showed up with her new baby !

Rj ?!

Here’s betsy.. you know.. if I label everyone.. it’ll take me all night.. here are a ton of friends in funny costumes !

Sam was on everyone’s mind.. as always.. we miss you my son..

Around 11:30/ jeff had just opened a bottle of homemade and very yummy dandeine wine when we heard a crash..

Very long story., but.. a kid had evidently stolen a car somewhere in the next town. and had driven it at high speed around our corner.. he’d ‘d ended up hitting one of the cars parked at our party/ he got out and abandoned the car. in the middle of the road. . and ran…

We called the policewho came and eventually managed to get the cars towed.. we’re not sure they ever found the guy

Anyway.. the whole thing put a pretty quick end to the party just before midnight..  A funny end to a really nice evening.. no one was hurt.. never a dull moment.. eh ?
..

We all went inside and started cleaning up we’d had quite a nice haul for the food shelf // many folks brought a donation..

Well.. that was the party.. really nice..  
now.. time for me to sleep. more tomorrow..

nite everyone.. nite sam.. we sure felt you at the party !
-me