(Listen to this post, here.) We just returned from a one-week vacation in The Azores, a nine-island Portuguese archipelago known for its centuries-old buildings, volcanic topography, breathtaking vistas, and the fact that nobody can seem to agree on whether it’s called “The Azores” or just “Azores.”   As is our habit, my wife Linda and I eschew (SAT word!) tours and guided trips. Instead, we prefer to plan things ourselves and make our way solo. Granted, this approach is not for everyone. Invariably, when you do it yourself, there are challenges and hiccups […] Click to read more…

(Listen to this post, here.) I’ve had a string of bad luck these past couple of weeks… Last Friday, someone backed into my car in my office parking lot, causing some real damage. A couple of days later, I went to pick up a drug prescription at CVS and was erroneously told I had no insurance coverage. Yesterday, I was notified by PayPal that my credit card may have been compromised. And this morning, while reaching for my toothbrush, I knocked a glass into the bathroom sink, causing it to literally explode. […] Click to read more…

(Listen to this post, here.) Did you see the eclipse last week? We drove to Burlington, Vermont to stay with my wife’s brother for a couple of days to watch it. It was spectacular; without question the second most fun I’ve ever had in three-and-a-half minutes. Afterwards, it occurred to me that an eclipse is kind of the exact opposite of life as an independent professional.  Reason #1. An Eclipse is an All-Encompassing Event I knew it would be big. But as the day drew closer, I was still surprised by how […] Click to read more…

(Listen to this post, here.) This is the fourth time my wife, Linda, and I have decamped to beautiful Costa Rica for a month, give or take. It’s a terrific way to reduce the length of a New England winter (like baseball games and pregnancy, it’s fun at first but soon becomes a grind) and parachute into a different country and culture for a little while. When it comes to traveling, we lean away from the beaten path. Not to say we have not done the standard Costa Rican tourist […] Click to read more…