Stephan
Random tidbits:
A sitar is a 19-string instrument that originates from medieval North India. It is an acoustic instrument that is made from a large gourd (pumpkin). It is four feet long – with a hollow neck and movable frets. It first came to popularity, in the West, with the Beatles and a musician named Ravi Shankar. Sitar has popped up in popular music from time to time. I teach the instrument, but not many people stick with it. It’s harder than a guitar and hurts your fingers.
Noah
Random tidbits:
In 2013 I had the opportunity to qualify for the CrossFit games - it's like the Superbowl of our sport - 'the world championships.' I wasn't really expecting to be able to do so just yet. But in the middle of the competition I found myself sitting in first place. I was going to earn that qualifying spot and I had one bad workout, with the dead lift, and it took me out of contention. After being able to taste the lead for a little while and then have that taken away made me work really, really hard to not experience that feeling again.
Matthew
Random tidbits:
With watches, the level of restoration that you do to a watch really affects the value. Certain things can make it not even collectible anymore - like if you repaint the face or over-polish the case. In vintage cars, it's different. People bring them down to the bare minimum and then repaint them with a beautiful paint job. I'm more of a survivor type. I like one that's been used and not repainted and it could be messed up a little bit, I don't care.
Jason
Random tidbits:
I like to barbecue and a lot of good friends have taught me their secrets. I may get into a lot of trouble for sharing this but Ryan Rothenberg and Adam Hellman taught me about cooking ribs. The trick is to slow cook them in the oven before you do anything else. Cook them at 200 degrees or less for many hours – maybe even overnight. I can’t share exactly what their secret rub is, but it may or may not include sugar. ;)
Ruth
Random tidbits:
Well, some people will say, 'Oh, you don't look more than 96.' It's the passion that you acquire over the years and maintaining sociability. Keep in touch with all kinds of people, they don't have to be the same social level, or interest level. Keep knowing the same number or more, and don't block them out as you get older.
Tora
Random tidbits:
My husband and I went and visited the recycling and sorting plant here - which doesn't actually recycle but ships our recycling to Vietnam and poorer countries. That was really a disturbing and eye-opening experience. We just throw things out and don't think about where it goes. We're creating a toxic mess. I think we need to be more aware of what we buy and not just live in a linear way from producing things to throwing them out. We have to think - 'what is the final resting place for this? '
Nina
Random tidbits:
My grandfather, Jerry Greenberg, passed during the summer of 2020. He was a photographer for National Geographic and many other magazines. He helped establish Pennekamp park as a Marine sanctuary and was a totally inspiring character. He started his own publishing company, teaching people to use his underwater housings for cameras that he manufactured himself. There were no suitable underwater cameras for him at the time. He was diving until he was 94 years old, lived down in the Keys, and really loved interacting with people interested in the water. His wife, my grandmother, was the artist and she did true to life drawings of fish, marine invertebrates, and birds all over the world. She used the drawings to make plastic identification cards so that you can bring them under water. It has been a hard summer losing my grandfather, but I think that he would be very happy if he knew that people were continuing to enjoy the places that he enjoyed himself. And, he taught my daughters really to enjoy and be adventurous in the water.
Luis and Natalia
Random tidbits:
The mother’s circle is a free monthly event in partnership with Miami Childhood Nature Project. They are a non-profit that advocates children spending more time in nature. We started the circle for mothers in the community and its has grown into a monthly event. It was born out of Hurricane Irma. Some of the moms felt like they wanted to get together and talk about everything that happened during the storm. We continued to do it, and it has become something beautiful. It’s a place for moms to get together and decompress. The main event at the circle is a meditation. I’ll teach some breathing techniques and visualizations and mantras – different things for people to take home and use when they need to check out from being moms. This month’s event will be held at the Magnolia Birth House on Saturday at 7pm.
Galia
Random tidbits:
I'm so grateful for this opportunity. I love what you're doing. I love reading your newsletter and really learning about cool people. You did one where I actually called the person and followed up with them for some business connection. I went to a meeting because of your newsletter! I love that you care about the community enough to take your time to talk to me, to talk to all these people and to publish a newsletter to communicate, to bring the community together. How do you scale it and how can I be helpful to help you do that? I know so many people I can connect you with.
Levi
Random tidbits:
We are lucky to have farms in Belize that my dad, Marc, started when I was 12 years old. I started spearfishing with our local friends in Belize and I fell in love with it. My favorite thing about it is you learn something new every single time you go, whether you're fishing or diving or just spending a day out on the water. It's a great way to gain perspective. Miami gets tiny from where you are on the water. My favorite place to go diving is south out of Homestead and into the upper Keys.