Dear ND Boyz: Hope you all had a terrific 4th of July - I'm assuming many of you are on vacation, extended holiday, etc...as things have been kinda quiet from y'all. I thought I'd share a little story with you... Last week, my wonderful boss presented me with the opportunity to join him in NYC for a 3-day tradeshow (or in my case, a boondoggle). I decided I couldn't pass up a chance to shop my little heart out, but more importantly, I couldn't miss out on the chance to meet one of the key players in this legendary group of ND alumi - face-to-face! Albert. This guy is a true piece of work! When he found out Mark and I would be in the Big Apple, he was so excited to "show us a good time". Although I did not get to see ALL sides of his brilliant personality, (we were only there for 3 days) - he was in high spirits as he tried to wine & dine me, Mark and Jocelyn (she works for Mark). It was unbelievable! Of course, I had to do some work - so I'm writing this trip report on "Albert & the Big Apple". On Tuesday afternoon, I was able to pull Mark away from his duties at the tradeshow we were attending. After too many cell phone calls to confirm some kind of agenda on how & when to hook up with Mr. Albert, we finally decided to meet him at his office at Penn Station and go somewhere to get a bite to eat for lunch. One thing I learned almost immediately: Al would make a terrible golf caddie - he has absolutely no clue on how to judge distance. Especially "walking distance". Remember, I'm a true surburbanite, walking around the block is plenty of exercise for me - after that I drive. This guy tell me & my not-so-in-shape boss that his office was just a 'couple of blocks' walk from the Jacob Javits Convention Center. It was a freakin' 20 block hike! And it was HOT & humid, so thank God I had enough sense to grab a cab, so my poor boss wouldn't have a heart attack walking to Al's building! We finally got there - yet we couldn't find his office or his name in the building directory! We deduced he was just hiding out in a broom closet, talking to us from his cell phone, hoping we wouldn't catch on. Thankx to all of your wonderful descriptions of him, I knew it was Al the moment he stepped off the elevator. And judging by the way he looks, this guy obviously lives on the golf course - you should SEE the tan! He took us to a fantastic Italian place for lunch (Salute's) and the fun began. After two hours of drinking, which included a bottle of wine, too much food, (thank God the Lobster & Crab cocktails were only available during the dinner hour) and so much conversation that I now feel like I attended ND right along with ALL of you - we finally headed back to the hotel to meet up with Jocelyn, and do a little sight seeing/shopping before the evening's festivities at the Supper Club began. I will say, Al is very impressive when my boss is the one picking up the tab! We shopped at FAO Schwarz (for all my kidlets) went up & down Madison, 5th Avenue, etc. I had a blast. Stopped in at Holland & Holland so Mark could drool over the guns and such. Al kept trying to point out sight seeing spots/tourist traps, but I wasn't having any part of it. I think he was a bit put off that he couldn't impress me with his knowledge of the city. (been there, done that) After the shopping excursion, we stopped for a cocktail, and then headed back to the hotel for a "quick" change. Al obviously learned to judge time like he learned to judge distance. We went to his Athletic Club so he could change. A Big Burly doorman eyed us suspiciously, as Al (known at the NY Athletic Club as MR. Danza) asked if we could wait in the lobby for him. Mark tried to use his cell phone, and was quickly reprimanded by the Big Burly doorman. FINALLY Mr. Albert appeared. All primped and dressed for a night on the town, but somehow he managed to nick himself. He just couldn't go out with blood on his blinding white, freshly pressed polo, so he ran back in to change . This time, Mark, Jocelyn & I waited on the street corner 'cause it would only take him a 'minute'. We were melting! After he showed up in another new shirt, there was no way we were going to tell him he had blood on the front of his pants, too! He flagged down a cab for us, and we headed back to our hotel, The W. There, they proceeded to raid Mark's mini-bar, and after that, we got another cab to the Supper Club. Now to give you a little background on the Supper Club. It's this really cool place we reserved to have a "thank you" cocktail & hors d'oeurves party for Retailers, and other business partnerships/associates. This is where I had to do some 'real' work, so Al & Mark disappeared for a while. By the time I caught up with him, he was talking & smoozing with so many people, you'd think he was the host of this party, and not Mark! Two of our guests were very special. Jocelyn introduced them to Al, who was very polite. After the introduction, Jocelyn asked Al, so what do you think of Bart & Nadia? He just looked at her a bit puzzled. He had just met Nadia Comenci & Bart Connor! He didn't have a clue who they were! So now he so busy gushing over the Olympians, he forgot all about me. See attached picture. Mark had hired Lennie Pickett & the Saturday Night Live Band (and they were great, by the way) and Al danced & partied with Nadia, and any other cutie he could get a drink for (it was an open bar). Then the drinking turned to cosmos. Evidently a cosmo is a little triple sec, lotsa vodka, and a splash of cranberry to give it a pretty pink tint. [Now, keep in mind, Jocelyn is from Canada, attractive, and could out drink most of you - at least that's what I'm told.] Well, she probably won't be doing that again for a while. Keep in mind, neither Jocelyn or I had time to eat anything. But the drinks just kept coming! (compliments of Al, and Mark's budget center!) By the time we left the Supper Club, we were all pretty smashed. He used his special talent of flagging yet another cab in under 1 minute, and took us to a place called Le Bar Bat. It was interesting. Very dark, with a very loud band, and a very drunken Canadian. Things got very wild here. Now I know why I don't want my kids out & about, drinking up a storm! A couple of younger guys tried picking us up, and they kept encouraging Jocelyn to ditch her "boss & his friend". Chivalry is not dead. And they didn't have to punch anybody out, either. The dancing got to be a bit much for me, but Al hung right in there to the bitter end! He & Jocelyn were burning down the joint! At about 1:30 am, I had finally had enough, so Albert was kind enough to grab another cab and I took Jocelyn home with me. He & Mark said their goodbyes, made false promises to keep in touch, etc, as Al knew Mark had to catch a 7:15am plane Wednesday morning. But it doesn't end there! Joc was nursing a bit of a hangover, and with Mark gone, I didn't have much to do, so we shopped and wandered around town for a while. Around 3 pm, my cell phone rings, and lo & behold - it's Mr. Danza wondering why we hadn't call him yet! He was hoping we could have lunch together or something like that! So we met him over at an outside bar behind the library at the park. We started in again, but not long after, he made it perfectly clear that he HAD to go home that night. Something about not pushing his luck, knowing when to stop, etc. [Florence must be wise to his tricks.] So we headed over to Dock's for lobster, and he stayed just long enough for another cocktail. Then he was gone. What a whirlwind! Mark told him the night of the party - whatever favors he may have owed him from their college days, were paid in full and then some! So now, we're waiting for Al to make the trek to Rochester, so we in turn can wine & dine him, on his nickel, and then disappear into the night! So -- are there any tradeshows coming up in Kansas?! ************************************************ ALBERT: From the bottom of all our hearts - thankx for the memories. We truly had a fantastic time with you in the Big Apple. Love, h-