Just a quick, off the top of my head ramble for the afternoon.

I just got back from walking around downtown Moscow. It's hot and sunny, traffic as usual, but many more shops, cafes and offices. The other night, I walked outside to find myself an internet card at a kiosk and as I stood on the corner near Belorussky Vokzal waiting for the pedestrian light to turn green, I scanned my surroundings. I almost could not believe it, but it could have been any corner in NYC! Russia, or at least, Moscow has changed so drastically, it's almost unrecognizable.

Today, I came across two chains of coffee shops that have about 30 shops each all around the city. They didn't exist 4 1/2 years ago and now they have a logo, an image, an atmosphere. They could rival any Starbuck's or le Boulanger. One chain is apparently co-owned by former McDonald's employees.

I'm just scratching the surface of this city. Tomorrow, the present US Ambassador is having a fairwell breakfast at the American Chamber of Commerce. I hope to glean a few insights from his experiences here over the past several years.

My mind is racing with the potential opportunities and ideas I have for business here. I need to slow down and breath. Unfocused creative imagination is one thing, true grit and business building is another.