Hanging with Rich

My 5 Coolest Happenings of 2016..... Another year has come and gone. 2016 was a stunning year, both nationally and locally. Championships, Conventions, and Elections, But how many of the items actually impacted me directly? There are national headlines every day that we have a conversation about. But what did I actually  participate in that I really enjoyed? Looking back, I didn't get a chance to go on any big trips this year like others. But that doesn't mean I didn't have fun. There were some things I'll never forget. So here is a list of some of the things I really enjoyed in 2016. 5. The Revitalization of the Flat s: This isn't one event, but an area that I enjoyed many times in 2016. Back in the 80's the Cleveland Flats were a collection of sketchy bars along the The Flats are a happening place again. Cuyahoga River. They were popular for a while. But they were dirty, unsafe, and closed after a period. Recently, they have been rebuilt and are n...

Old Christmas Photographs.....   I love to look at old pictures. They are a time capsule of a memory. An instant look at a moment in time. A time long ago in a place far away. Old Christmas pictures are especially great to look at. When you look at them you can instantly remember details or an incident that you may not have even thought of for years and years. But they can be sad too. Unfortunately many of the people in the oldest pictures have people and relatives that are no longer with us. Not the 3 Wise Men - just my kids a long time ago. But in a Christmas picture most everybody is happy. The decorations are everywhere. People used to dress up. The memories seem to be flooding back as I write this. I think today people take millions of pictures everyday,  Everybody carries a cameraphone in their pocket. People share them on social media, but they're never printed up. Back in the day, people used actual cameras - with something called film. You would take a pictu...

Hanging With The Cleveland Orchestra..... This weekend was a treat for me as far as watching excellence. On Saturday night I got to watch the Cleveland Cavaliers and Lebron James perform like few players can. He scored 44 points, dominated the game, and scored whenever it was needed. He is one of the greatest in the history of his sport. It is a treat to watch him perform live. But how did Lebron get so good? Because of talent, practice, and dedication. Severance Hall - Home of the Cleveland Orchestra. On Sunday I was privileged to watch and listen to the world renowned Cleveland Orchestra perform a holiday concert. The music was familiar, but the sound was stunning. I had never before seen the Cleveland Orchestra perform at Severance Hall. The music felt like a wave. Gentle at times, powerful at others. But this group of world class musicians performed as one for an amazing result. But how did this group of musicians get so good? Like Lebron, because of talent, practice, and d...

5 Coolest Christmas Gifts of 2016..... I used to hate shopping for Christmas gifts. The shopping malls that time of year are usually ground zero for misery. Traffic is bad. You spend a helluva lot of time just trying to park. The stores are packed, and if you find something to buy, you get to stand in a long line. But much of that changed for me a few years ago. I do most of my shopping online. You can find most anything online. Shop, do research, even read what other shoppers thought about the product. Amazon is my favorite store. I recently watched a video of the inside of a Amazon fulfillment center. There were robots whizzing around and lots of automation. They say your product is ready for shipping only a matter of minutes after you make the click on your computer. But the biggest question remains of what gift to buy. Nice clothes are a OK gift, but boring. Gift cards are practical, but not much thought goes into it. Personally, I like gag gifts too. What's better than...