On The Fly

250! That’s a lot of birthdays. To celebrate this historic milestone, I need your help. For one day only, all kids—and adults—at our neighborhood parade can become an Official  On-the-Fly  Parade reporter. Listen to learn how you can participate.

I've been thinking about the "R-word" lately, not because I'm worried about boredom. I'm curious why retirement makes us nervous while a job—no matter how stressful—feels comforting.

This week, I want to explore a deeply relatable, universally feared workplace character: the "know-it-all" and how they unwillingly throw out ridiculous acronyms.

When I meet someone, instead of the usual greetings, I'll ask:  "What's the good word? "   How would you respond?

On Memorial Day, I took my first bike ride since the accident, seeking proof that my legs, lungs, and nerves still remembered the road. Here's what I found.

Future civilizations will remember May 22, 2026, as the day humanity reached its peak in suburban engineering. Today, my neighbor Steve and I finished the most overbuilt property divider in North County. The Fence!

You never say the E-word out loud. That word is a cosmic tripwire. It is the verbal equivalent of tempting fate while standing barefoot on a rake. Do you know the word?

Sometimes the best way to experience the world isn’t to search for it, but to sit still and let it come to you.

Honestly, I’ve been struggling with noise lately. Much is my own fault—overwhelmed by nonstop headlines. But some hits closer to home. How do you find it affects your outlook?

This past Saturday, April 25th, 2026, I was effortlessly and completely transported back in time at the 20th Annual Sinkankas Symposium on the GIA campus in Carlsbad. Join me!

The 24-hour news cycle is like a bad gym membership: you pay with stress, don’t get stronger, and canceling is harder than signing up. Many run  Outrage 2026,  which causes insomnia, lost perspective, and online arguing.

For over 80 years, gemology students have grappled with spectra, birefringence, and pleochroism. This sonnet will bring a smile and remind us that students of life and gemology rediscover nature's gifts daily.

Today, instead of cycling on the roadway, I've ventured down a creek-side trail with my old neighbor, Henry David Thoreau. The thick brush obscures the neighborhood, and his words resonate in the fresh air, finally tuning me into their frequency.

It was a beautiful day for our usual 30-mile Sunday ride to Escondido. The weather was moody with dark clouds threatening rain, but the streets were mostly empty. Traffic was light, and bike paths were eerily quiet, creating a false sense of peaceful sanctuary. Really?

Picture this: an email arrives. A colleague—perhaps a friend—needs a favor, a second opinion, or your time. You sigh, look at your screen, and type:  “I’d love to help, but I’m busy right now.”

This morning, a glowing light crept through the window as I sat in my reading chair. Outside, the nearly full Moon sank in the West under a clear sky, with the Big Dipper visible above. I had to step outside to see the Moon and reflect.

In our last chat, we discussed Chef Adamas, our sometimes delusional AI friend, who hallucinates blueberries into your Carbonara. We learned to manage his quirks by organizing our “digital pantry.” Today, we must look beyond the chef and consider the size of the kitchen we're building for him.

The Art of the AI Tall Tale. Let's chat with Adams, the Chef, about hidden recipes causing digital hallucinations. Sit back, pour coffee—and, for your sake, taste it first. We will talk about why your computer reimagines reality with the confidence of a five-star chef who has lost his mind.

AI has no ego. Do you? In Part One, we explored the Mental Spam Filter—an invisible barrier that restricts our understanding by filtering out new information. This was evident at the 2026 Annual Team Event, where many attendees focused on their phones instead of the important updates being presented.

Approaching AI or any new frontier with a  training  mentality is a mistake. It implies giving colleagues a complex tool to learn a few buttons and repeat tasks, which is rigid, uninspiring, and ineffective. This approach ignores the most powerful processor: the human mind.

A Return to the World of Seuss: Let’s revisit March 2, 2022. I was naive and asked an innocent question that still resonates in pediatric offices: Where did Dr. Seuss get his name?

This week, the Cenergy team visited Aliso Viejo and Anaheim for our annual 2026 team-building event. It’s time to step out of routines, recognize staff, and brainstorm. On Thursday afternoon, the company faced a key philosophical choice—like a "choose your own adventure" moment.

In this episode, why "Cool" is the Enemy of Growth. Last night, Lori and I joined our friends at  Sur La Table  in Carlsbad, CA, for "Date Night in Southern Italy." The menu included Steak Tagliata, Sautéed Shrimp with Fried Capers, and handmade Garganelli.

Golfers, unless you have the rotational speed of a centrifuge, that "Tour" ball is costing you 5 strokes a round. I’m turning 70 this year, and I finally learned that gravity doesn't care about brand loyalty. Here is my guide to the best low-compression balls for the rest of us. ⛳️

This episode is for anyone trying to find their footing in a new place—whether it’s a new city, a new job, or a new country. A tribute to my Mom.