Brrrrrrr

This is what I saw when I walked out my apartment this morning. For those of you around the world who use the metric system, it was a mind-numbing, teeth-chattering -4 degrees celsius. And it's not even officially winter yet!

On the upside, I guess that means we're in for a 'white Christmas'.

Oh dear, sorry, I thought you said, 'Seasonal Ingredients".

My bad! Either way, it's almost that time of year again when people get uncomfortable wishing others Merry Christmas because it's become very Politically Incorrect to say this. Don't go around wishing everyone Happy Chanukkah or Ramadan Kareem either. Instead, we wish each other Season's Greetings. Or Seasonal Ingredients.

It rained. The whole day.

From the minute I woke up this afternoon, the rain has fallen. Sometimes torrential storms, other times little dribbles. But it made the sky grey. 


So I spent the day indoors doing constructive things like mixing stuff in my fridge to make interesting sandwiches, a load of laundry, and watching netflix on my laptop while propped up on a pillow on my bed.


Awesome!


But seriously, enough already. It better be dry and sunny tomorrow. 

I was in Cleveland, OH last week

Okay so it's not San Francisco, or San Diego, but Cleveland has its own charms. For one, look at all that water!

Anyway, I was in Cleveland last week on a job interview. It was my first visit to the city, and actually to the State of Ohio as a whole.

I had better grow to like it, it may become my new home.

Crikey! But it's only the beginning of November.

A week ago I walked into a Rite Aid pharmacy in Shadyside and these were already up. The label at the top of the card stand reads, "Christmas". When we've only just had Halloween. Christmas? Already?

Lyrics?

Music has definitely changed. I noticed that while listening to a song on the radio. I found my foot tapping, but couldn't make heads or tails of what they hell they were singing about.


Take these, for example:


Somewhere, my love, there will be songs to sing
Although the snow covers the hopes of Spring
Somewhere a hill blossoms in green and gold
And there are dreams, all that your heart can hold
Someday we'll meet again, my love
Someday whenever the Spring breaks through
You'll come to me out of the long-ago
Warm as the wind, soft as the kiss of snow
Till then, my sweet, think of me now and then
Godspeed, my love, till you are mine again


vs.


I throw my hands up in the air sometimes
Saying A-YO
Gotta let go
Baby, let's go


I came to dance, dance, dance, dance
I hit the floor
'Cause that's my plans, plans, plans, plans
I'm wearing all my favorite 
Brands, brands, brands, brands
Give me space for both my hands, hands, hands, hands
You, you
Cause it to go on and on and on
And it goes on and on and on


Yes, it most certainly does! Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky, cranky cranky, cranky.

I'm back in school

If i had a trust fund, and a shiny key ring with a three-pronged star insignia, if I vacationed in the Hamptons at the family beach house every year, and if I popped my collar, if my first name sounded like a surname, and if it was predetermined that I would go on to the Ivy League, then maybe, just maybe, I would have gone to a college prep school like this:

But I wasn't. And I didn't. 


But I did okay for a skinny white boy from a middle class neighborhood on a coastal city that gets so humid it could make a camel's foot sweat, all the way down in Africa. I went to a good all-boys school where I had to wear a tie and blazer (in summer); where we were caned with a bamboo stick for not doing Physics homework; where we stood for a teacher when he or she walked into the classroom - and then addressed them as, "Ma'am" or "Sir".


But I digress. I've landed a plum internship with an academy, no less, where I work in the alumni affairs and development office. Yup, I raise money for the 126-year old school.


And don't get me wrong, the school is beautiful, the grounds are breathtaking, the facilities world-class. And the internship is going well.

My friend

I have a friend, WRM, who lives in the most beautiful city in the world. WRM lives a very glamorous life down in this beautiful city. And who wouldn't when this is your daily backdrop:

The other day, WRM sent me mms messages from this beautiful city. She told me about bendy trees that bend with the southeaster winds, and "they are elephant trunks so they're bendy", so there!

 Then my friend who lives a very glamorous life trotted off to Signal Hill, an observation point in this beautiful city, and listened in on a conversation some Americans were having about Robben Island. America has Alcatraz, South Africa has Robben Island.

"You know, Carol Anne, when we left our beach cottage on Hilton Head Island back in South Carolina, I thought we were going to see lions, and elephants. You know, Africa?!"


"Oh Carlyle, I'm sure we will when we head up to that Kruger Park place tomorrow. But right now, look at that pretty island. I think someone famous stayed there."


"Yeah well back in America, we have Alcatraz and it's better developed. This is Africa!"


"Honey chops, did you pack your safari hat for that Kruger Park place?"


My friend, WRM, gets to see some interesting things down in Cape Town.

Meet my new best friend

Mom, Dad, meet my new best friend.


We spend hours together - almost every day! We never argue about what movies I want to watch and in fact he even makes suggestions. Sometimes, late at night, I'll be bored at home and all I have to do it pull him up on my laptop and we have a quick conversation. Then I kick back, relax and 'enjoy' the show.


This truly is a friendship made in heaven. He never steals my dates - or even complains when I go on dates without him. He never complains about my being out drinking until all hours of the morning and i never have to worry that it maybe be too late for him to come out and entertain me.


Bliss.

I wouldn't be caught dead...

Odd thing, fairs in parks. Fun pony rides, great food. And hayrides in a cemetery.

As a kid growing up in South Africa, we had the fun fair make its annual pilgrimage to my small village. My sister and I would look forward to it for weeks and when the big night arrived our eyes would light up like many of the rides. Lots of fun, lots of candy floss, sticky fingers and the anticipation of our final ride for the night: the LOOPING STAR.

But nowaday, here in Pittsburgh, apparenty kids can look forward to such fun things as a hayride in a cemetery!Somewhat macabre, no?

Why I've decided to hit the gym

Evidently, not everyone can be blessed with an Adonis-like body. Some of us have to work hard at it. Some of us just don't care.

Either way, I need to start getting into shape. String Bean is not an athletic body type!

I just hope I can lift the weights. If not, I guess I can always work my chicken legs.

The things we do for fun

This has been a crazy busy past two weeks. Working 14-hour days is taking its toll on my human carcass. So tonight I decided to throw caution to the wind - and my wallet soon followed suit - and headed to our local casino.

I may as well have just handed them money when I walked in, but that said it was a fun night out with friends.

Not just lemonade

Walking up my suburban street today I noticed a fine example of modern entrepreneurship. These two young angels had set up a lemonade stand. But not just ANY lemonade, mind you. No, these girls were selling ORGANIC lemonade!
You see stuff like this on TV, the quintessential American spirit of free enterprise, and now I've got to see it for myself.

But it's big for New York

This past weekend, I strained muscles and worked up a sweat moving to my new apartment.

The old one was nice but way too big for me and my meager ways, so I moved into a smaller one-bedroom place. But when I started moving my stuff in and it started occupying space, I realized just how small my new living quarters actually are!

My friend, WeMo, kindly pointed out that my new abode is big for New York, it's even considered big for Cape Town. The people in these two villages must be very tiny then.

Warmer than a bear's fart

No beaches in Pittsburgh but it sure is hot enough that I'd like to go to one and get all red and sore. Then peel. But I wouldn't get too red and sore if I wore a smart bowler hat like the man in this photo! I wonder if they do that in Durbs-by-the-Sea!

Prozac really IS your friend

So it's been about a month since my last posting and my sister is asking what has happened to me.

Prozac.

That's what has happened to me.

And don't let anyone tell you any different, Prozac is beautiful! You know how sometimes it's the little things that people do (or don't do) that can really piss you off? Or how one minute you're on top of the world, the next you're under it on all 4s? Well, Prozac came to the rescue. No more mood spikes. I'm calm. Sedentary. And I just don't give a shit. Sort of. Kinda.

Either way, I have a new friend, and his name is Prozac.

Oh, and it was my birthday last week. I turned 29. Again.

Oh dear! Now they're being served on restaurant menus.

Now I don't know about you, but where I'm from, this a naughty word. No, not "Crispy", and no, not "Beef". Look one line higher, there where it mentions Fish Cake Salad. See it?

This was a menu item at a little Asian place in Oakland I ate at the other night.

I know regular lime is a little bitter, but I'm at a loss as to what this lime tastes like. As a friend of mine in Africa's pointy tip would say, "Answers on the inside of a lime peel!"

Tonight's dinner

It's no secret. I don't really like to cook. Sometimes it takes more time to cook a meal than it does to actually eat it. And that's just silly.

So tonight's dinner will be quick and simple. No plates to wash, no pans to scour.

Tonight we shall dine on Mike & Ike. No, not two guys named Mike and Ike, but rather a fat-free candy (or "sweets" as they call them down in darkest Africa). They come in a box and the most effort you have to put into this dinner is ripping off the corner and working your elbow to pour the contents into your hungry pie hole.

Quick. Easy. And Mum would be proud.

One. Two. Thr...MOTHER OF GOD!

A woman called the Make Me Beautiful Salon & Spa today and wanted to make an appointment. She sounded a little nervous when a guy answered the phone.

"Thank you for calling the Make Me Beautiful Salon & Spa. What may I do today to make you beautiful?"

"Oh, um, hi Spa guy, I need to make an appontment."

"Certainly. For a cut? A blow out? A mani & pedi? Maybe a brow tint?"

"Uh, mmm, no, I uh need a *hushed tones* bikini wax."

"Sorry, speak up please person who needs to be made beautiful. I cannot hear you."

"A bikini wax. For tomorrow morning. I have a, uh, meeting at 10am. Can I come in at 9am, under the disguise of dark?"

"Yes, that's fine. We will see you tomorrow at 9am upon which time you shall have the hair on either side of your panty line ripped from your flesh with hot wax and a strip of paper. Wonderful, see you then. And bring a stick a stick to bite on."

Not one, not two, but three

Sure, this economy may have a stick up its bum, but if one thing it's taught us, it's this: if you are a wekka, and you wekk very hard, you too can have three part-time jobs and make the money you made when you had one full-time job.

After sending out enough resumes and CVs with postage costs equialling the GDP of a small African country, I eventually got a few nibbles. Those nibbles turned into part-time jobs. So now I am gainfully employed on the weekends as a waiter, during the week days as a phone-answering, appointing-taking "concierge" at a spa, and in the evenings I work customer service support for a fund that helps folks who can't pay their utility bills.

I'm going to be a very busy wekka in the next few months.

Spring, she has sprung

And about bloody time too!

We have had a long, hard winter here in the 'Burgh. Snow piled up to a dwarf's shoulder. So now that the sun has emerged from its hibernation, the plants and stuff killed by the rigid cold have decided its time to come out. These beauties can be seen sprouting all over the city. Makes a nice change from all the dead grass.

And because the sun is finally out, I need to get away from my laptop and go outside to enjoy some of the rays. Until next time, soak it up.

Summer Vacation ideas

With the sudden re-emergence of that fiery ball in the sky, folks have started talking about summer vacation ideas. With so many options available, I can see where confusion could raise its ugly head. So I figured it would be a helpful if I shared a few vacation hot spot recommendations.

Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine (?)
This bustling metropolis has lots of sun, world-class beaches, and some of the most interesting scenery in the world. Kick back in a 2-star hotel, put on your head phones, sip on a Mai Tai, and watch the locals go about their daily business as you soak up the ambience of a travel destination that's sure to thrill. Be sure to take out several insurance policies before you leave home.

Jakarta, Indonesia

For those of you unfortunate enough not to live near a large river or an ocean, consider Indonesia. No-one speaks English and the tap water will land you in an emergency room, but the hotels are sturdy enough to withstand the force of a large body of water slamming against their walls. Despite the sweltering humidity, the beaches are often full, but occassionally have a tendency to empty very quickly, quite suddenly, leaving you with your very own spot, anywhere you like. The Indonesians are a very active people who enjoy running, so pack a pair of your favorite Nike running shoes, and a crate of bottled water. Be sure to visit your doctor for your Malaria shots before you leave, take a few power swimming refresher classes, and make sure your Last Will & Testament is up to date.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

For those intrepid travelers looking to shed those few extra winter pounds, consider Addis Ababa. With 2,638,500 people crammed in the country's capital, you're bound to run into a few locals. They're very friendly people ... and quite persistent. Take a leisurely stroll through one of the local markets and maybe pick up a $2 trinket or two. You'll be surprised at just how far a few dollars will go in Africa. So don your safari suit and your camo safari hat, because nothing screams, "I'm an American tourist", quite like looking like one. Be sure to pack several granola bars; they may be the only things you eat in Addis Ababa.

Tbilisi, Georgia

American citizens are forbidden from traveling the overland passing that spans between Russia and Georgia, but if you can get your hands on a forged foreign passport, this shouldn't be a problem. Georgia's rich history includes a bloody civil war which took place in the 80s and 90s and the Georgians are a passionate people - a group in northwest Georgia still refuses to recognize the country’s government. So despite the great deal of violence in the area, thrill seekers might want to consider visiting this region first. For wine lovers, Georgia might just be the ideal destination. With over 200 locally-grown wines, you could dim your hearing so as not to let the cries from people being beaten ruin your otherwise idyllic retreat.

Bujumbura, Burundi

Burundi is an exciting place to visit. This tiny land-locked African country is one of the ten poorest countries in the world and has the lowest per capita GDP of any nation in the world. This means your dollar will go far here. Burundi has been dealing with an ongoing civil war since 1993, with fighting between government forces and rebel factions being a common occurrence. So be sure to bring your camera for some pretty unique vacation snap shots to share with your friends when and if you return home. Groups of criminals regularly engage in car-jackings and muggings and mortar attacks are a regular part of life in the country, despite a cease-fire agreement among six of the rebel groups. So if you're looking to add a little excitement and spice to your summer vacation, Bujumbura might just be the place for you.

Darfur/Khartoum, Sudan

Sudan, a hot hell hole in Northeast Africa, is simply brimming with a variety of exotic diseases. So if you should get ill while traveling through this paradise, you will have a choice of any of the three hospitals for the country's six million citizens. Some of the diseases found in Sudan are so rare that they are not found anywhere else in the world. Others are more common, yet equally as deadly. Ebola and Malaria are common in Sudan so be sure to have your shots before you leave home. Equally exciting is the Guinea Worm that grow inside your body and then digs its way back out when it becomes an adult. Looking for a little excitement? Travel west to the Darfur region. There has been a little unrest there lately, but the photo opportunities are truly out of this world.

Bogotá, Columbia
If you're a lover of coffee (or cocaine), Columbia might be the ideal vacation destination for you. And thrill seekers and statiticians alike might like Columbia. This idyllic retreat has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world and reports 2,300 kidnappings of tourists each year. Drug cartel assassinations are a regular occurrence. If the pace of New York City is too much for you, consider this: on the average day, the country sees 8 highway robberies, 2 bank robberies, 87 murders, and 204 muggings or assaults. This vacation will be non-stop action from the day your plane is shot down until the day the U.N. tries to airlift you out. But at least you'd have been able to try a genuine Columbian blend, not that crap they serve at Starbucks.

Kabul, Afghanistan
If you've always wanted to witness firsthand a bloody coup, make Afghanistan your #1 choice for a summer vacation spot. According to the State Department, the number of vehicular bombings continue to grow and several areas of the country are actually banned for many members of the U.S. Embassy. This frees up much of the country for you to travel to unchartered spots without hordes of tourists ruining your photos. Be sure to pack your hiking boots though. Those mountains can be quite treacherous and you may even run into a news celebrity when you camp overnight in one of the many mountain caves.

Baghdad, Iraq
Want non-stop action? This popular destination spot is not for the faint of heart. And if you're an American tourist, take note. The rest of the world doesn't like you, especially in Iraq. So given the fact that U.S. citizens are particularly despised in the region, it is an even more dangerous place for Americans to visit. But don't let that deter you. Every day, civilians are killed from suicide bombings, so beware of locals who may seem over-friendly and come up to you and try hug you. Other than these minor setbacks, a front seat visit to Baghdad would allow you to experience change as it is happening. Just don't walk past parked cars.

So there you have it. Three exotic, off-the-beaten-track destinations to consider for your summer vacation this year. Dust off your passport, go for your shots, and renew your health insurance. The world is waiting. Bon Voyage!

Pain in my Lumbar Curve

This is a spine. Not everyone has one. Mine has been giving me a little trouble, down there where it says Lumbar Curve. Do you see it on the pic I found online?

So today I straightened my spine, pulled myself out of my chair and made my way to the Back Cracker. These Back Crackers are people who have spent a few years in Back Cracking college and then twist you and contort you into strange, ofetn uncomfortable positions. They almost relish that loud THWACK sound when they twist you into a human pretzel and your spine tries to shout out, "STOP", but it gets muffled and comes out at "THWACK".

Lower back is not fun. It makes me feel like an old man when I complain that my back is killing me. So instead of complaining, I decided to do something about it. Now I have to go back once a week and pay $50 per visit to have my spine scream out muffled cries of help.

But at least the pain will go away.

Sleep?

In my last post, I spoke about my need for sleep, and yet in this post I talk about my insomnia. What gives?

The human body is indeed a strange and complex thing. I need to pop a pill to get me to sleep at night. A little white pill. The other day I decided to take a look at the lable on my little orange pill case:

Here are some of the official precautions from the drug company that makes it:


- do not take if you are allergic to anything in it
- a common side effect is drowsiness
- After taking this drug, you may get up out of bed while not being fully awake and do an activity that you do not know you are doing. The next morning, you may not remember that you did anything during the night. Reported activities include driving a car (“sleep-driving”), making and eating food, talking on the phone, having sex and sleep-walking


Well isn't that reassuring?

Mmmmmmm sleeeeeep

Whoever said waiting tables was glamorous was lying! Plain and simple.

I'm just coming off three consecutive double shifts and a Sunday brunch shift. My feet hate me. My legs aren't talking to me and my lower back is having a hissy fit. It may be having spasms but I don't yet.

So my sleep has been interupted and I fully intend on catching up on as many Zzzzzzzzzs as I possibly can - before heading into the office early tomorrow morning all blurry eyed and bushy tailed.

I was on TV!

Ok, so it was only for a split second, but still, I was on TV! Not "on" the TV like standing or sitting on it, but actually on it, like on the screen.

One of the local TV news stations came into the restaurant where I do a few shifts a week as a waiter. They zoomed around the dining room with their TV camera, took a few shots and had an interview with the owner. As it turns out, I was in one of the shots. I'm the guy dressed in black, standing off to the left, in the distance.

Go to http://www.wtae.com/ and you'll see me. I'd like to say it was my 15 minutes of fame but in reality is more like my 1.5 seconds of fame. It was all very cool and exciting.

Clickity clack

Every now and then I see a TV commercial which makes me say, "WOW". This is one of the commercials that stopped me in my tracks and I wanted to share it. A very different take on what are normally gruesome commercials with flying limbs.

Temper temper

 So I came across this article and felt compelled to share it.

"A student at NYU's Stern School of Business sent a complaint email to a hard-headed professor about his class's lateness policy. The professor emailed back, eviscerated the student David Mamet-style, and now it's gone viral. Welcome to internet immorality."

Personally, I believe this student felt self-entitled:

Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 7:15:11 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific

Subject: Brand Strategy Feedback

Prof. Galloway,

I would like to discuss a matter with you that bothered me. Yesterday evening I entered your 6pm Brand Strategy class approximately 1 hour late. As I entered the room, you quickly dismissed me, saying that I would need to leave and come back to the next class. After speaking with several students who are taking your class, they explained that you have a policy stating that students who arrive more than 15 minutes late will not be admitted to class.

As of yesterday evening, I was interested in three different Monday night classes that all occurred simultaneously. In order to decide which class to select, my plan for the evening was to sample all three and see which one I like most. Since I had never taken your class, I was unaware of your class policy. I was disappointed that you dismissed me from class considering (1) there is no way I could have been aware of your policy and (2) considering that it was the first day of evening classes and I arrived 1 hour late (not a few minutes), it was more probable that my tardiness was due to my desire to sample different classes rather than sheer complacency.

I have already registered for another class but I just wanted to be open and provide my opinion on the matter.

Regards,

xxxx

—

xxxx
MBA 2010 Candidate
NYU Stern School of Business
xxxx.nyu.edu
xxx-xxx-xxxx

The Reply:

—— Forwarded Message ——-

From: scott@stern.nyu.edu

To: "xxxx"

Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 9:34:02 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific

Subject: Re: Brand Strategy Feedback

xxxx:

Thanks for the feedback. I, too, would like to offer some feedback.

Just so I've got this straight...you started in one class, left 15-20 minutes into it (stood up, walked out mid-lecture), went to another class (walked in 20 minutes late), left that class (again, presumably, in the middle of the lecture), and then came to my class. At that point (walking in an hour late) I asked you to come to the next class which "bothered" you.

Correct?

You state that, having not taken my class, it would be impossible to know our policy of not allowing people to walk in an hour late. Most risk analysis offers that in the face of substantial uncertainty, you opt for the more conservative path or hedge your bet (e.g., do not show up an hour late until you know the professor has an explicit policy for tolerating disrespectful behavior, check with the TA before class, etc.). I hope the lottery winner that is your recently crowned Monday evening Professor is teaching Judgement and Decision Making or Critical Thinking.

In addition, your logic effectively means you cannot be held accountable for any code of conduct before taking a class. For the record, we also have no stated policy against bursting into show tunes in the middle of class, urinating on desks or taking that revolutionary hair removal system for a spin. However, xxxx, there is a baseline level of decorum (i.e., manners) that we expect of grown men and women who the admissions department have deemed tomorrow's business leaders.

xxxx, let me be more serious for a moment. I do not know you, will not know you and have no real affinity or animosity for you. You are an anonymous student who is now regretting the send button on his laptop. It's with this context I hope you register pause...REAL pause xxxx and take to heart what I am about to tell you:

xxxx, get your shit together.

Getting a good job, working long hours, keeping your skills relevant, navigating the politics of an organization, finding a live/work balance...these are all really hard, xxxx. In contrast, respecting institutions, having manners, demonstrating a level of humility...these are all (relatively) easy. Get the easy stuff right xxxx. In and of themselves they will not make you successful. However, not possessing them will hold you back and you will not achieve your potential which, by virtue of you being admitted to Stern, you must have in spades. It's not too late xxxx.

Again, thanks for the feedback.

Professor Galloway

The Rulers have made contact

The rulers of The Kingdom of Work have looked down upon me and decided to maybe possibly have me do some stuff for them. Remember that interview I went on earlier this week? Well, the ruler of that Kingdom called today and wants me to go in tomorrow to chat about a freelance project.

I like this idea. It gives them a chance to check me out, and me a chance to see if I would like to join this Kingdom. And it means baskets of green stuff.

We like that green stuff. It helps keep the lights and heat on.

Um, sorry, what?

Advertising here in the U.S. is very different to what they do down in South Africa. In deepest, darkest Africa, they still create beautifully originally print ads, and masterfully-directed TV commercials, and radio commercials that make you giggle like a 9-year old girl. But here in the U.S., it's all gone digital. You can't have a media plan if it doesn't include some (or mostly) digital stuff.

And today I will be interviewing for a Web Copywriter position.

So my interview is for someone who can do fun digital stuff. They need to be able to have knowledge of IA, UX and the role of information architect. Know I'm by no means a pro, BUT I do know that UX is some fancy way of talking about "use experience" - it's got something to do with the design of a website and how easy (or difficult) it is for a guy like me to use. As for IA and the whole information architect thing, I'm clueless.

The other requirements are a passion for social media (does spending hours a day on Facebook count??), search engine marketing, and PR 2.0. Crikey. Are they actually looking for someone who can write copy? Or maybe Bill Gates himself?

Time to hop online and look up other equally confusing terms so I sound like I know what I'm talking about at my interview.

On the upside, they offer 100% health insurance, 100% dental, a nice pension plan, and if I get the job I'd get to work "in a cool office space" which overlooks a river.

That whole IA (I think that stands for information architect) and UX thing still confuses me. My good friend Wiki explains it as: "Information architecture (IA) is the art of expressing a model or concept of information used in activities that require explicit details of complex systems. Among these activities are library systems, Content Management Systems, web development, user interactions, database development, programming, technical writing, enterprise architecture, and critical system software design. Information architecture has somewhat different meanings in these different branches of IS or IT architecture. Most definitions have common qualities: a structural design of shared environments, methods of organizing and labeling websites, intranets, and online communities, and ways of bringing the principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape." Um, ok then.


Hell, I was a journalism major in college. What is all this stuff about? Will I get to write a nifty headline for a print ad?? THAT I can do.

Did you hear the one about ....

This year the Winter Olympics are being held in Canada because, well, Canada has lots of snow in the winter. Or so one would think. They Games started a little over a week ago but there was a big little problem. There wasn't enough snow in Vancouver. That's like saying there isn't enough sand in the Middle East, or enough lions in Africa!

So they had to haul some of the white stuff from the north of the province down to Vancouver for the Games.

Not enough snow in Canada. In the winter. Go figure.

I'm thinking about going to Architecture school. No, seriously, I am!

Way back when I was but a wee lad in high school, I decided I wanted to be an architect. I went to my art teacher and asked her, "Miss Hassan, if I want to be an architect, should I take Technical Drawing or Art?" Silly question to ask an Art teacher because we all know what her answer was. But she also added that technical drawing would be taught in Architecture school. Whereas art history included lots and lots of fun and interesting architectural studies. She was right.

But I never ended up going to Architecture school because I later learned that one has to be a mathematical and science-type genuis. I got the Art pat down, but the Maths and Physics part, not so much.

Recently I have learned that I can in fact go to Architecture school. Sure, I will need to take a calculus and a physics course, but most of the program would focus on design and the whole GREEN thing that seems to be sweeping the planet.

I like this idea. I can scrape by with a pass in both calculus and physics. Especially if it means I might be able to go to Architecture school. Just think, it's a 3.5 year graduate course, I'm 35 now, so if I started next year I'd be almost 40 when I graduated.

Sure, that's kinda old but hell, Frank Lloyd Wright only started getting his best commissions when he was in his 60s (I think - my friend Wikipedia couldn't help me on this but I'm sure I remember the age from a tour I took of Fallingwater).

Happy Valentine's Day?

Being an inherently curious little monkey, I decided to explore the origins of this lovely little holiday. Only what I discovered was not so lovely. There are three stories floating around as to how Valentine's Day came to be.

While the history of Valentine's Day itself is often debated (and I'm guessing its origins are debated after people grow bored of debating other issues like, oh I don't know, global hunger and war), it clearly links back to a Catholic saint named St. Valentine. But they say that the problem is there were actually three St. Valentine's -- one a priest, one a bishop, and little is known about the third. All were martyrs. It's always about death and martyrdom, isn't it? Fortunately, back in 469 A.D., when there were no TVs or cell phones, Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 a day to honor St. Valentine, one of these three men.

The first story tells of a Roman emperor who banned soldiers from marrying in the third century, but St. Valentine took issue with this. Good for him, a Saint who believed in a worthy cause. He became an advocate for soldiers and was executed as a result of his outspokenness. Hardly a tale of love, but still romantic in some twisted way.

The second says St. Valentine was executed for his beliefs in Christianity and just before he died, he left a farewell note for a loved one and signed it "From Your Valentine." Now that's more like it. Not the the execution part but the love note part. Now I can almost see where the custom of sending out cards and love notes comes from.

And the third and final belief about the holiday itself is that Valentine's Day grew out of a Middle Ages tradition of celebrating Feb. 14 as the day "the birds began to pair." No death. No massacres. No executions. I think I like this one of all three the best.

So folks, there you have it. Pick your version of the story, and stick to it.

Crikey, and there's more on the way.

This past weekend we had the mother of all snow storms. Some say we had about 3 foot of snow. In less than 12 hours. Yes, it's pretty but it's also a pain in the butt! People's cars were totally covered and it took a while for the roads to be cleared.

And the fun part is we're expecting about eight more inches this evening. Woohoo!

Pittsburgh has come to a stand-still

Yup, the whole city has come to a stand-still. Last night we received 24 inches of snow. In one night. It just fell. BAM! Just like that. Cars are covered, sidewalks are unwalkable, it's chaos out there.

So this morning I trotted downstairs to my building's entrance because I had to carry my skinny carcass to work. And this is the scene that greeted me. I couldn't even get the door open. And those big blocks of white ... are snow-covered cars!

I went onto the Port Authotity website to see if I could hop on a bus to get to work. It seems even they aren't running. This was the message on their website:

Bus service remains shut down Saturday morning due to weather. Only one EBA is running on the East Busway between Swissvale and Penn Station - but not beyond the end of the busway into Downtown. UPDATED 12:30 PM AM, SATURDAY

Port Authority has shut down all T service until weather conditions improve. UPDATED 12:30 PM, SATURDAY


Customer Service phone lines are not available today due to weather-related issues. We apologize for any inconvenience.


The Mon Incline is out of service due to weather conditions. UPDATED 12:30 PM, SATURDAY.


Oh dear, what now?!

Oops!

Pulling up your fly too quickly after taking a tinkle is a painful "oops". Locking your keys in your car is a silly "oops". Screwing up an order at a restaurant is also an "oops". But putting someone else's name one on an employment cover letter is tantamount to calling out someone else's name in bed. Major oops!

And that's precisely the oops I made this week. I sent off another letter to a different architectural firm in Pittsburgh. I did my best to make a good impression. I used recycled silk paper, chose a good typeface, the whole shabang. But when you put the person's name, title and company address at the top left of the page and then type, "Dear wrong name," that's not good.

Luckily, the guy I sent it to had a sense of humor and emailed me a scanned version of my mistake and said maybe I'd like to take a look at this.

I quickly replied and told him that in my haste to make a good first impression, I had made a major oops. He replied to say we're all human and that if I was interested in doing some freelance for his firm, then we should talk.

Wow, talk about lucky. Lesson learned. Write it once. Check it twice.