weekend notes

Hope all goes well. “Please don’t ask what I think,” sighed my buddy, atop his prodigious pile of paper. “Every single call I make is wrong.” Which of course is just as rare, and as valuable, as its inverse. “But tell me what you see,” he continued. And I explained it feels we’re entering the most exciting trading environment for years. Maybe a decade. “Why?” he asked, surprised. And truth is, I d

Hope all goes well. We breezed through Denver airport. Mara and I exchanging glances, in silent celebration, of how far we’ve come. You see, all four kids carried their backpacks. And walked on their own. They’re growing up. They’re real people. Curious creatures. Colorful personalities. And at security, a monochrome guard asked for my stack of tickets. Interrogating each of us in turn. And ended

Hope all goes well. “Happy V day baby,” I texted my Valentine, from Chicago O’Hare. Which ain’t exactly a pro move, in case you wondered. And to make matters worse, Mara read my note while packing our bags. You see, I’d left her on her own, back in Santa Barbara. To spend the Day of Love schlepping four kids and ski gear to the Rockies. Which is a scene that never found its way into Romeo and Juli

Hope all goes well. Ushered in the Year of the Snake at a local Chinese joint. You see, Mara and I make every effort to educate our kiddies. Open their eyes. To a bigger world. Plus our boys study Mandarin (Olivia studies French). And we got math tutors that’d make a Beijing Tiger mom turn green. Anyhow, we waited for chow mein, chatting politely, practicing good manners. And Jackson asks, “Dad, w

Hope all goes well. Santa Barbara film festival continues. And Daniel Day-Lewis arrived. To discuss Lincoln. For which he’ll win an unprecedented 3rd Oscar for Best Actor. Yet despite such towering talent, he rarely takes a role. So the soft-spoken artist explained, “There is a right a time for everything, for a film to be made, for a writer to write, a director to direct, and for me, there’s a ri

Hope all goes well. Ben Affleck arrived in Santa Barbara. For our famous film festival. And told great stories. Of his bumpy rise. The Bennifer years. That Pearl Harbor bomb. His retreat. Comeback. Directorial debut. And now today’s triumph – Argo. Anyhow, the audience asked how, from such a tough spot, he’d found the confidence to strike out on his own. Ben smiled, remembering the moment, “

Hope all goes well. Been a while. Missed you. Missed this. Anyhow, what’s my status? Happily married, sexy wife, four kids, a dog, hamster, fish and frog. Skiing more. Climbing. Riding too. Professionally? I’m single. Dating around. Perfect dimes. Some racy nines. A few eights with lots of personality. And one frisky fiver that I swear to god looked like a nine after eight vodka tonics – nev

Hope all goes well. You hear the rumor? Yeah, me too. Which makes sense. After all, I started it. So yes, we’re closing Grant Capital Partners. It was ultimately Geoff’s call. Wasn’t an easy one. But we discussed it. He made it. And I support it. Fully. He’s been a terrific partner, a great friend. That’s true for all my partners. Anyhow, we’ve prided ourselves

Hope all goes well. Turned 46 Thurs. No worries, that’s cool, you’ll get me next yr. Mara baked a cake, decorated like a big bulls-eye. With a single candle. Served it up, sporting her most mischievous smile. You see I haven’t exactly been hitting my targets this year. And ever since I returned from stalking deer in the Scottish Highlands, she’s taken every opportunity to remind me that the only t