The Merrill Dubrow Blog

A few weeks ago I was playing (or trying to play) a game with my kids. Not sure but it might have been Go Fish or Concentration. During the game we were joking around and laughing when all of a sudden a new TV show comes on (apparently one of their favorites) and so long to Dad and the card game. I tried to be rational with two boys under seven by saying "you have to finish something that you started". Clearly that didn’t work, and now they were mesmerized in a trancelike state as they were watching Ed, Edd n Eddy.

Recently I read a story about a Texas oilman who graduated college 71 years later! Good for him. I also read a story about a 59 year old guy who was kicked off his football team 37 years earlier and recently went back to school and finished out his last year of eligibility.

We have all:

• Started a book
   
• Started to get in better shape
   
• Started a project in the back yard
   
• Started to remodel the house
   
• Started to get back into religion
   
• Started to taking golf or tennis lessons

The real question is, "DID YOU FINISH?" Did you continue with what you started? It is easy to start something. In fact it is VERY easy to start something but very hard to finish it.

• What have you started that you would like to finish?
   
• Do you have a secret that helps you finish things that you start?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

As most people do, I love to get gifts — but different types of gifts. Not mainstream stuff. So there I am one day and walk by the cube of a co-worker and lo and behold he (thanks FS) hands me a gift that he thought I would enjoy. It was a book. But not just any type of book. It was different than most of the books I have, which tend to be business, motivational, or sports books. This book was very creative and its title was Not Quite What I Was Planning, Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure.

The book was fascinating and got my creative juices flowing. Here are a few from the book that I thought I would share:

• When talk matters, make it count
   
• Pay attention to me go away
   
• Ran east, ran west, ran late
   
• Open road, no map. Great Scenery
   
• Afraid of everything. Did it anyway

The book really gave me a chance to pause and think about trying to put some of my own together. Ok — let me start by saying I am not a pro at this but merely trying to make some sense of some thoughts on life stated in exactly six words. So here goes:

• Teachers are very important, thank you.
   
• Passion is so important to me
   
• Sports, competition. That says it all.
   
• Family, friends, work, play. All meaningful
   
• Boston to Dallas. Life in session

Now your turn. Close your eyes take a minute or two and think about six word phrases that mean something to you or describe some type of experience.

I hope you have fun with this — let me share a little secret…I had a BLAST!

I look forward to hearing from you and having you share your thoughts.

A few weeks ago I was reading the Sunday Dallas Morning News Parade section and they had a very interesting question. The article was about a new DNA test that can tell if you carry the genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. When the results come back you can’t do MUCH about it at all. There is NO treatment that currently exists to prevent or delay progression of the disease.

The question that I want to ask each of you is would you take the Alzheimer’s Test?

For me — I would and here are some of the reasons why.

1. I feel like information is like gold–the more you have the better off you are. What this really means to me is if I know I had some type of disease I could make sure I have things in a little better order for the future
    
2. If I knew it would give me an opportunity to spend time with the people that really matter
    
3. If I knew, it would give me a better opportunity to try and see places I always wanted to visit or do things I always wanted to do–like a bucket list!
    
4. I would want to know because I believe in the medical profession and just because they don’t have a cure now doesn’t mean they won’t have one in a few months.

For me I think you owe it to yourself, family and friends to always know what is going on health-wise so yes, I would take the test.

• What about you?
   
• If you say yes what are your reasons?
   
• If you say no what are you reasons?

I look forward to reading your comments.

I am tired of:

• The airlines changing their fee structure every week
   
• NBA players arguing every call
   
• Hearing about GREAT companies having layoffs
   
• Gas prices going up
   
• Athletes wanting to renegotiate their contracts
   
• Pain, suffering and illness, especially when it strikes family or friends.

~~~ Your turn. ~~~

What are you tired of?

I look forward hearing your thoughts.

So there I am at O’Hare Airport in Chicago–one of the busiest airports in the world. I had about thirty minutes before I was going to board so I decided to sit down for a little bit to rest my tired body. The seat I happened to get was right next to where the flights board. As I am waiting there, I notice the plane I am about to board is exiting and all the passengers start to come off. I see a few people exit and then a short delay and few people get off who are now in wheelchairs. A few more people get off and then again a few more people are deboarding in wheelchairs. This same process continues for a few more minutes before I hear one of the agents say to another we are short 4 wheelchairs since we had 18 people on the flight who needed extra assistance.

I thought wow…yes, that’s a lot of people but also that’s a lot of manpower and extra cost to American Airlines for needing to handle the situation. Since I never have needed a wheelchair for myself or anyone else, I was curious if it is free. After speaking with an agent at the airport and confirming this on the phone earlier today with American Airlines, it is FREE.

But for how long?

Clearly there is a cost to the airline for this service based on extra staff that they may need or extra wheelchairs that they need to purchase not to mention the space to store the wheelchairs.

With airlines dealing with rising fuel costs and trying to make a profit, will this service always be free? Airlines now are charging for food, window seats, and earphones, so why wouldn’t they eventually charge for wheelchairs?

• What do you think?
   
• Are there any other services that companies provide for free now that you think they might charge for down the road?

I look forward to your comments

P.S. I don’t believe airlines will charge for this service…or at least I hope they don’t, since I am getting older and will need one in a few years!

I have been getting a tremendous amount of emails with ideas and thoughts for blog topics. This idea actually came from an email with a number of funny comics (thanks SY). Let me qualify what I just said. I think they are funny and hope you do as well. Everyone loves to laugh and have a quick chuckle.

I think they are all funny and very clever. My two favorites are the stray bar and the men at work sign. If you could see my face I am still smiling. My favorite comic is the "men at work" sign. I have seen that sign hundreds of times and never thought about it saying people at work or team at work…so the caption under it WOMEN WORK ALL THE TIME–MEN HAVE TO PUT UP SIGNS WHEN THEY WORK is very funny!

• Which one is your favorite?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

As you know, I like creativity. In fact, I love people that:

• Are very creative.
   
• Look at things a little different.
   
• Can make something out of nothing.
   
• Can see things that others can’t.

Recently this was sent to me and every time I look at it I am blown away! I don’t have much information other than I know it was made in Japan.

With space a premium in Japan, I assume an artist came up with a dual function for art and furniture. To me this is so amazing and one of the most creative things I have ever seen.

• What do you think?
   
• Have you seen this before?
   
• Would you buy it?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Kids are great! I love all kids–especially my own. They are so funny, creative and enjoyable. They are always fun to be around. Last night I found myself saying the same thing over and over and I thought why not mention some of those phrases to you:

• Please get that out of your mouth!
   
• Please don’t sit on your brother!
   
• Please keep your gum (yes that’s a mistake giving kids gum) in your mouth!
   
• Please stop irritating your sister!
   
• There really is no need to climb on the furniture and make a castle!

Those are some of the things I tend to say over and over to my kids.

• What do/did you find yourself saying to your kids?
   
• Did you have any favorite phrases?

I look forward to hearing your comments.

I can still close my eyes and remember going with my mom to a gas station to raise money for charity. It was the late 70’s and she and a few friends were pumping gas and having the gas station donate so much money for every gallon pumped. Even though this was many, many years ago, I can still recall the price of gas which was less than $0.75 per gallon. Today the price of gas is over four times that! Probably at this point, words and phrases like ridiculous, crazy, out of control and "when will the prices stop going up?" are entering your mind. I do wish I could answer that question for you, but since I am not a politician, futurist or CEO of an oil company I have no clue!

As I type away and read this posting, the price of gas is getting very close to $4.00 per gallon–certainly a lot of money. I noticed a recent charge on our credit card that seemed out of whack. The charge was $101.35 at a Texaco station. When I stopped and thought about it, if you have an SUV and fill up a 20+ gallon tank and get a few snacks for the kids, guess what? Your charge will be over $100.00!

What are you doing about it?

• Are you not going out to eat as often?
   
• Are you going to different restaurants that are closer to your home?
   
• Have you changed your summer vacation plans?
   
• Have you changed your dry cleaner because it is 2 miles closer?
   
• Are you traveling a few miles to save $0.10 gallon on gas?

I am not doing much about it, but that will probably change real soon.

What about you?

Last night while I was changing TV stations, I came across a show highlighting the best hot dogs in the United States. I watched the show long enough to hear of a place in Chicago called Superdawg. Not only have I never been there but I have never heard of it. This place was particularly interesting to me because in July, I will be going to Chicago for a friend’s wedding (congratulations S.B.) and Superdawg is located there. I love a good hot dog! And get even more excited for a GREAT hot dog! I really love a good hot dog at the ballpark. It adds to my enjoyment.

During the show when they were highlighting Superdawg, they mentioned that when you get to the counter and try and order a hot dog they will quickly say they don’t serve hot dogs and basically kick you out of the line just like Billygoat Tavern in Chicago and the famous Soup Nazi place in NY that Seinfeld highlighted in one of their shows.  (Of course you have to say you want a Superdawg.)

Superdawg is located at 6363 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago IL 60646.

Have you been there?

I would love to build a list for people to visit while we are traveling the United States.

• Where is the best hot dog you have ever had?
   
• Where are the small little hidden gems that we never hear about that serve great hot dogs?

I look forward to your comments.