Tag: #pierogies

#Charlotte Hornets, microeconomy, Political, Sports, Thought Leadership

A Beautiful Jacket in 42L makes the microeconomy roll on- 23-28 Hornets with Knueppel, Diabate looking sharp too

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on A Beautiful Jacket in 42L makes the microeconomy roll on- 23-28 Hornets with Knueppel, Diabate looking sharp too

In-store customers have $$$ to spend, most know what they’d like, appreciate knowledgeable service. Being trusted- like wife noting my head shake about undershirts and Bugachi stretch long sleeves as gospel- and guys are trying on stuff a lot easier than ever, thankfully.

Thinking I was working well and smart because I *knew* calling it ‘the prettiest jacket’ and her Oh! its your size, put it on! was pre-ice storm meeting of stylish minds as personal affirmation. That beats my online-only lifestyle change pre-2026, from screen and keyboard to frequent positive interaction like retail sales niche I’m now enjoying.

January in retail isn’t usually higher sales volume times, but as closing shift, having zero competition for customers most of last 1.5 hrs., and my willing and able help across a solid spectrum of opinions and facts-stories about product, has been rewarded. Not at level Bryce Young and Panthers will need to come up with beyond 5th year option we’ll see soon, but prom and nuptials (March-Sept.) season is coming soon to Suits.

You could make a case for Hornets run of good-er hoops as similar season of promise. Big fan shout for Sexton’s offense, exactly as hired to do, eye it and fly it guy (5-5 vs. Spurs), haven’t heard that he’s a liability on other end of the floor either. Fingers are always-justifiably crossed about LaMelo, and goodness, that other #1 pick Liam McNeeley seems to be chewing on G-League pretty well https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/rookie/2026/01/31/hornets-liam-mcneeley-windy-city-g-league/88445078007/ After Diabate’s 18 pt.-19 rebound outing, is his decision to play in Charlotte- instead of opting to work with French Olympic team- made him as successful addition as Coach Lee could imagine, sooner?

Hornets top last *years* W total, 7 in a row

Grant Williams is back and contributing toughness on front line, McNeeley and the savvy, productive shooter Kon Kneuppel has quickly become on top-rated NBA (116.4) offensive team is an excellent focus point for current success. Don’t sweat the expectations after an 11-5 January, Miller is stroking it and Diabate is still a super-mobile pleasant surprise!

19-63 last year? Doesn’t count for anything now, right?

Several new guys from ‘Core 4’ 2025 draft are doing *fine,* including Kalkbrenner as rim protector, time as in-the-hole center on D allows Diabate to chase/become up-pace. I think Sion James still has some torque to showcase on defense as well, and keeping people off Kalkbrenner’s back is 2nd job of strong ‘tweeners like James.

The Hornets finishing rate on breakouts is much improved, having to defend Kneuppel on perimeter opens lanes, Melo is extra lethal with routes to the hole. KKs passing/presence is a stat sheet stuffer.

The Hornets finishing rate on breakouts is much improved, having to defend Kneuppel on perimeter opens lanes. Melo is extra lethal with routes to the hole, KKs passing/presence is a stat sheet stuffer. 2/2/26 So its been 25 years since such a streak? The glory years are coming back? I always refer to ’96-’97 team where GM Bob Bass brought in new *everything,* and Dave Cowens went 54-28.

Enjoy the hoops, pay attention to Minnesota

This sports writer is enthused about the progress of other sports team from Charlotte, the Carolina Panthers having lost the odor of seven waaay below average years of football quickly with an 8-9 campaign good enough for NFC South title and #4 seed v. Rams. The 34-31 loss was a fitting, semi-heroic way to end their playoffs. Yes it took the other guys maximum best, down to a gritty Rams finale, which won’t affect the legend of ‘Big Game Bryce’ continuing.

That loss left ideal space for the long-favorite son Hornets to reclaim regional and NBA props, and I bet 12-yr. old kids on good driveway with glass backboard around the corner start declaring ‘KK, bombs away!’ I was always a Jerry West guy.

I haven’t gotten out to shoot (or ride either, damn! its cold), but have plenty of possibilities when it warms up just a little bit. Right now, all props go to people in Minnesota, Inspirational stuff! I’m originally from upstate NY, I know Artic vortex cold. Four days here, I left dribble faucets, but the washing machine…

Today, Wed. is 6.5 hr. shift, I expect to get a couple shots at Valentines Day suits, which is always my goal (fyi- Literally hit a buzzer-beater, they turned out lights at 8:07, I turned to guy with jacket on hanger, he said I’m ready, bang zoom, $895 hits my personal standard). I’m bringing a yellow pad with me though, during long nothings possible as closer, I can nail down some thoughts for Intro to ‘DGUYBPDJ: Don’t Give up your Bill-paying Day Job,’ my projected $2.99 online publication about decision making, possibly from a less-grand POV than Mr. Gates.

Community Clearly Counts Here Too

Closing also means I won’t get to participate in our annual Mens Club (St. Gabriel’s) Pierogi Dinner on this 1st Friday. Along with Christmas trees and Fish Fry’s, its a social staple of our overall mission. We regularly feed 6-700 for our events- the usual analogy for pierogis is potato-based ravioli with cheese stuffing, and along with kielbasa, sauerkraut, sour cream, we have musical groups as entertainment. My schmoozing with tablefuls of happy people historically indicates our clients love the community level events.

That always includes the admirable quality of our product, its a packed cafeteria waiting in line, everyone sitting down with good food and company, cookie and ice cream for dessert, knowing we (SGMC) helped create an aware and highly social environment.

#1 is that $$$ raised stays in community is our best practices, though we’ve made allowances- for Houston when it flooded years ago, and we donated time and resources appreciably when western NC was devastated two years ago- people who drove there, provided food. This is what we do for each other, our neighbors.

Having participated in two No Kings! marches in Charlotte, that was in prime outdoor attendance time of year. As a Yankee-no-longer, 31 year resident here after those many upstate NY winters, we still kid about Others being sissies below 45 or oh no! *possible* snow. When I hear, ‘There’s nothing worse than being so hot!’ I always respond, ‘You’ve never really been REALLLLY cold, have you?’ You can only layer so much, and -22, MASSIVE amounts of people! taps a gut level sincere admiration for showing the way to America and yeah, the World writ large.

As 8th grade paper boy, I had 34 customers across 4 blocks, wore 3-layers on legs, down jacket and minimum of 3 layers inside. Sack on side, -60 wind chill, I swore if I got home with nothing falling off, I’d NEVER say ‘It’s too hot.’ Years later, after move to Tampa in mid-June, 95 and humid, my Aunt Jo empathized, ‘You must be dyin’ darlin,’ and I said, ‘Yep, its pretty warm.’ Man up, Deal’s a deal.

I’ve also hung on a lift for a way long time because some idjit lost his skies at bottom or whatever too.

That is max-max chilled- lucky not smart to have a bowl to split (just sayin’). Memories of heading due west into snow at a REAL steady 16-20mph+ blast, after it turns out class didn’t meet and you gotta get back and fed at off-campus apartment, that’s struggling with cold Reality.

Minnesota is having ice parties! Oooo-rah! or that loon noise, eh? Still a #BoomerwithAttitude.

Business, Community based pr, Thought Leadership

Our Pierogi Dinner was about collaboration, but food related events won’t return soon

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on Our Pierogi Dinner was about collaboration, but food related events won’t return soon
There is plenty of collaboration in successful community events, its even easier with Zoom and Trello.

My community group has historically done large eating-oriented events that brought out 600-800 paying customers, often (over) filling the school cafeteria. Our fish fries have been legendary forever, Oyster Roasts an October tour de force our members and others loved.

The original pierogi event came from one member (Stephen Fogg), who suggested it as a substitute for a not well-attended spaghetti night in late January. Noting that, “Every Catholic church in Cleveland has pierogi dinners every Friday in Lent,” was math many former Yankees in our club could imagine. He served about 50 of us those buttery, cheese and potato filled Polish delicacies, what most describe as like ravioles. For many, it was comfort food from childhood.

It’s truly a Collaborative Process

We decided to do a test run the week before the dinner, and besides cooking the kielbasa and slivered onions that would make workers familiar with production tasks and timing, we made 1200 kolacky cookies. It took about 2 1/2 hrs. dedicated effort, turning balls of dough into, smaller, thin squares, dab a blob of jelly in the middle and fold cookies.

Those cookies were THE inspired hit. Only two at a time rationing, unforgettable. We were short of *everything,* bought out the nearby Harris Teeter on supplies, including turkey kielbasa, more onions, and sour cream.

https://cdtalententerprises.com/2019/11/06/pierogis-as-content-collaboration-success-model/ I’ve used this as ‘thought leadership’ several times. From first presentation of pierogi possibility to counting the dollars that went with massive group pride in the successful operation, it was four months total. The speed of ‘best practices’ collaboration between remote workers involved in any project today hits a ‘reach out and touch’ standard with Zoom.

When our marketing, essentially just church bulletins as far as Rock Hill, produced wild response, people coming down the stairs at 5:01, we started ringing the register at all levels. Customer satisfaction? Highest rating every time.

Like the Oyster Roast (October) and what had been a 34-year tradition of selling Christmas trees starting after Thanksgiving, we’re not doing pierogies this year, and didn’t last year, because really good crowds are not how we break COVID-19’s grip on being together.

Fogg & minions= collaboration

Job Two Counts Big

That means, at the most basic level of collaboration, masking up as an act together for a common goal. Call it best practices overall, IMHO, Pandemic is Job One.

Job Two is putting some economic levers back into full play, and WFH (work from home), the ability of not-in-the-same-place talents to be immediately and easily incorporated into a creative flow, has proven that connectivity and productivity can maintain high standards.

Naysayers might point to ‘job encroachment syndrome’ or something similar, because widely diffused sources don’t always slot easily with time on task vs. ‘dark hours.’ For every ‘The Intern,’ where a go-go executive learns the human cost of constantly being ON regarding business, you’ll find dozens who have found a rhythm they can live with.

Perhaps not including those who swapped drive time with at home schooling concerns, or might have to consider paycheck alterations – If we’re ALL tele-commuting, sending contributions to a central point, able to SEE the results in real time, should there be a location differential?

There isn’t a room full of Mad Men-style creatives down the hall any more. Whole operations are dedicated to the proposition of lots of people doing pieces, with a use ’em and lose ’em financial philosophy.