Do you remember the Letter People?

The topic came up at work on Friday (yes, in the context of food, and yes, it is pretty sweet to work at a place where my random and strange thoughts are occasionally helpful) and NO ONE knew what I was talking about and EVERYONE thought I was crazy.

So, if you remember the Letter People, would you let me know? It will help to know that I'm not alone (even if it does turn out to be a show only people in Mentor watched)

And, if you want a stroll down memory lane, just check out some of the clips on YouTube

UPDATE - Getting Published

The first issue of Puffin Circus, the lit mag that picked up one of my essays, is now on sale.

Despite what the subscription page says, it's $0.99 for a downloadable copy and $5.99 for a bound copy.

If you've got the $0.99, please support the magazine that supported me!

Gergen-eriffic!

Loyal readers of this blog know that I have a slightly strange crush on (one of) CNN's Senior Political Correspondent, David Gergen. He is the voice of reason in the mad mad world of politics and cable news commentary.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to see him in person AND hear him speak

He was speaking as part of The Cambridge Center for Adult Education's "Wicked Smart" series at the First Universal Church in Harvard Square. Matt joined me (I think he wanted to make sure I didn't try to run off with Mr. Gergen) for the 1.5 hour interview session. He spoke about a broad range of subjects - the economy, foreign policy, the Obama administration. But the topic that was most surprising and endeared him even more was his passion for education.

He became absolutely animated (if you've seen him on AC 360, you know what a change that is) when talking about the need to invest heavily in K-12 education, of its importance to every aspect of the nation, and its necessity to achieving our short and long term goals.

He's so wise. And that's why I have a strange crush on him and why I was so happy to finally see him in person

(BTW, he was on AC 360 later that night wearing the same tie. I got irrationally excited about that. )

End of an Era

You may have noticed that blog posts have slowed a bit. That's because last Monday, I finally got staffed. I'm working on an 8 week case and actually spent Tuesday in Chicago leading a 3 hour meeting (yes, that's a 3 hour meeting with the client exactly 7 days after we started the project).

Hours aren't much crazier than usual but it is cutting down on my blogging time. Sad, especially since these is so much to blog about! But I'll try to catch up this weekend so stay tuned :)

Happy Patriots' Day!

Welcome to the world of the quintessentially Boston

Today is Patriots' Day, perhaps the most exciting day in the year to be in Boston. The Red Sox game starts at 11:00 so you can start drinking before Noon without feeling like an alcoholic and the Boston Marathon is broadcast on the local networks so you don't have to feel like a lazy drunken slob and stand on the marathon route to cheer on the runners. Many people have the day off and those that don't wish they did. And, this year it's not raining AND it's above freezing. So all in all, a very good day.

So why doesn't the rest of the country celebrate Patriots' Day too? Good question. It could be because they're not as patriotic as us Bostonians (although I think some people in the Red States may take offense to that assertion). Or because Bostonians will take up arms (again) and revolt against the powers that be (again) if you take away a holiday focused on drinking AND baseball. But I'll let you decide. Here's the history of Patriots' Day (thank you Wikipedia):

Patriots' Day (sometimes incorrectly spelled Patriot's Day or Patriots Day) is a civic
holiday commemorating the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. It is observed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and state of Maine (once part of Massachusetts), and is a public school observance day in Wisconsin. Observances and re-enactments of these first battles of the American Revolution occur annually at Lexington Green in Lexington,
Massachusetts, (around 6am) and The Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts (around 9am). In the morning, a mounted reenactor with State Police escort retraces Paul Revere's ride, calling out warnings the whole way.

I also think there's a nice symmetry to the fact that Tax Day is occasionally postponed to accommodate Patriots' Day. Good to know that the idea of "no taxation without representation" is alive and well (although this time the lack of representation would be due to, again, the lawmakers and taxpayers likely being drunk and/or at a Red Sox game).

Sweet Victory

Before the baseball season started, I told Matt that if the Indians won only one game all year that I would be happy as long as that one game was the Yankees home opener. Nothing could possibly be more awesome than handing the Yankees a loss in their first game in their brand spanking new ballpark.

And the Tribe did just that. After spending the first week looking like they'd be lucky to win one game (any game) all season, they went to the Bronx and beat the Yankees 10-2 on Thursday night. Then, as if that were not awesome enough, they had a 14-run second inning yesterday to beat the Yanks 22-4 (interesting stat, the Yankees' 4 worst losses in history are all to Cleveland).

As a native Clevelander, I say: Go Tribe!

As someone who's lived in Boston, I have to say: Yankees suck!

Matt Jarman's Day Off

You need to expect the unexpected when working at a start-up. Add this to Matt's already manic work ethic and it leads to very very long hours and few weekends off (which works well, since, depending on the case that can often be my schedule too).

But Friday, Matt took the day off (well, half a day, but that's HUGE progress)!

I went to his office at Noon (figured that my physical presence would help minimize the chances that "something came up") and we did 30 minutes of cardio at the gym in his office. Then it was off to lunch, a couples massage at our favorite spa, shopping, and dinner downtown.

It was a wonderful and relaxing day and I am SO proud of Matt for finally taking a day off!