Winter Wonderland

It’s snowing in Kansas City! On Tuesday we had temperatures in the high 60s. Wednesday morning those temps started to drop (17 degrees overnight). By yesterday afternoon we had a full-blown ice storm swirling around outside. Well, the ice crap stopped last night, streets were cleared by this morning and the drive into work was pretty normal and uneventful. Now comes the fluffy stuff! Depending on the part of the city, the weather “professionals” are predicting from 4” to 10”. I think I will stay inside tonight and think warm thoughts – that is after I actually get home!

Photo from my office door - Downtown Kansas City, River Market

Hmmm

Dear Slim-Fast: Please define 'Sensible'

In a Nutshell

Here are highlights from roughly my last week – in Reader’s Digest format:

· Kansas City to New York City
· Evil Dead – The Musical (sat next to Hurley from Lost)
· People watching in Times Square (highly recommended)
· AICPA meeting (speakers, lunch, networking)
· Filled prescription for sinuses at Duane Reade
· A Chorus Line with Sally and Leisa
· Hugh-ass open-faced roast beef sandwich at Junior’s
· Breakfast at Grand Central Station with Kayte (killer waffles)
· AICPA meeting continues
· At end of day, go to hotel to nap – wake up 8.5 hours later (oops)
· Took out contacts and went back to bed for the night
· Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes!
· Street Meat
· Window shopping along 5th Avenue
· Pumpkin Pie Concrete at the Shake Shack (man, they are good!)
· Passed on the 3-hour wait for the Chocolate Expo
· West Elm shopping
· Passed on the now shorter 2.25-hour wait for the Chocolate Expo
· Dinner at Lunetta in Brooklyn with Sean and Wendy
· People watching on 1 a.m. subway train from Brooklyn to Manhattan (you have no idea)
· Cashmere purchases at Bloomingdale’s (warm and fuzzy on so many levels)
· Relaxing rainy walk through Manhattan
· Fall foliage in Central Park (words cannot describe)
· Skaters in the Park
· The Shops at Columbus Circle
· Stroll through Hell’s Kitchen (rain slowed to a drizzle)
· ‘New York’ hoodie purchase
· Shuttle to Newark Airport
· Flight cancelled due to weather
· Starbuck’s
· Marriott Newark (with over 5,000 feet of meeting space for your next event!)
· Re-routed to Minneapolis
· Village People sighting at Minneapolis Airport – Sort of (actually just a construction worker, a service man, airport security and some guy in a cowboy hat…play along)
· Mini-sooo-ta to Kansas City
· Back at work today and sorting through e-mails and such

Well then, there you have it. I always enjoy the time in New York…both work and personal. There is really no place quite like it anywhere else.

Happy Anniversary!

Wow, it’s hard to believe I have been blabbing about things for a year now. While I might not have always been consistent with the frequency of my posts, I have been good about maintaining them and keeping at it. I promise my readers (both of you) that I will make every effort to post more frequently in the next 365.

In the meantime, here is a picture of Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. Feel free to discuss the symbolism found throughout the piece, as well as your initial reaction to the tart in the arms of the blowhard - painting left. I want to see some good discourse in the comments!

Ciao!

NEAR...far

I find it interesting that with all of the ways that today’s technology allows for shrinking the world and bringing people closer together that we are growing more distant. Time was we would pick up the phone and talk with family and friends. We would stop by the house of loved ones and chat about current issues, make plans for Saturday night or just shoot the shit. If we had to contact a company, we would call them and talk person to person. We had personal interaction.

The technological advancements of the last few years are amazing. We can e-mail, text message, podcast, blog, Skype and video conference, to list but a few. I am the first to say that I love these options and embrace and encourage them. Where I feel we as a society fall short is we have come to depend on them as our main form of interaction rather than a way to compliment interaction. We e-mail rather than write a tactile thank you letter or note. We text rather than call. We press key after key rather than talk with customer service. We share the photos of last weekend’s party on MySpace rather than have some friends over to hang out and look at pictures. We create our avatar and battle evil in front of a PC rather than gather with friends for a night of good wine and Monopoly.

Do I think these forms of sharing and communications are bad? Not at all! I think they are all wonderful and feel that we should continue to make advances to take them to the next level. But I also feel like we need to focus on more physical interaction in society rather than virtual interaction. The planet is a big one and the technology should be a way to help us make it smaller – not more distant. What’s wrong with looking at digital pictures on a large LCD monitor surrounded by friends (and good wine)?

Tool Time

I went to the TOOL concert this last Friday. These guys put on a hell of a show. I have never been a crazed Tool fan, though I have been listening to them over them years. I had the opportunity to get a couple primo seats and decided why not. It is amazing the amount of sound this four-man band can produce. Tool has awesome layers of sound and sound sources. They produce a very unique blend of metal and electronica. The songs are very distinct and the musicians very tight and precise. What a great experience! Here is a picture snapped from my cell phone. Check out their Web site when you get a chance. Tool

The Station

I remember that in college a friend gave me a newspaper clipping. Over the years I have lost touch and have no idea where Andi Grassman is today. I still have that tattered, folded, yellowing piece of paper she gave me, though. I look at it often and it still reminds me of what is important.

The Station

Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision.

We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, of city skylines and village halls.

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour, we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving.

Once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come true, and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering – waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

“When we reach the station, that will be it!” we cry. “When I’m 18.” “When I buy a new 450SL Mercedes Benz!” “When I put the last kid through college.” “When I have paid off the mortgage!”

Sooner or later we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream.

It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.

So, stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less.

Life must be lived as we go along.

The station will come soon enough.

- Robert J. Hastings

Minnie Dutton 4.28.1910 - 8.8.2006

My great-aunt passed away this afternoon. She was 96+ and lived a very full and happy life. Up until November of 2005 she was the specimen of perfect health. Aside from dentures and some hearing and vision loss that are expected of someone that age, she was probably healthier in mind and body than many people much younger than her. Last fall she had a heart attack and started the downhill battle. All the time she was in good spirits. Having lived alone for several years up until that point, the hospitals, doctors and nurses were an adjustment for her. She was on their schedule, not hers. She never missed a beat though. She knew where she was, made friends with the medical staff and kept a positive attitude; just as she led her life.

A child of French immigrants, she never knew a stranger. She married Willard many years ago. That lasted for a while but they went their separate ways. Then along came Tom. They married and were together until his death. Let’s try Willard again. They were married a second time until his death. She lived in Riverside and Pasadena, California. She later moved up to Big Bear Lake in the California Mountains. She worked retail for years and loved meeting people from all walks of life. She returned to the Kansas City area several years ago.

Aunt Min had a passion for life. She worked hard and saved her money. However, she knew that you had to get out there and enjoy living. You couldn’t just sit inside and do nothing. While she still drove, she had a yellow ’66 Mustang with all of the whistles and bells. She vacationed at the beach and partied in Vegas during its golden years. Up until her passing she had an aversion to red wine as a result of a rowdy Vegas weekend in the 50s. She was never a heavy drinker but she loved her beer. Bud Light was her brew of choice, though Miller Lite would do in a pinch.

Never having any children of her own, she always took interest in family and friends. You were always greeted with a big smile and open heart. Her interest was genuine and she remembered everything and you. Meet her once; you have a friend for life! She had stuffed animals from numerous people who she touched over the years. She would name each animal and tie it back to a specific person or memory. As she fell ill, she donated her collection of animals to Children’s Mercy Hospital. She said that they held so many happy memories that she wanted to share them with the sick kids so they could be happy too.

After initial treatment for her heart attack she was not able to return to her home and normal life. She was moved to a skilled care facility for a period, then eventually an assisted living facility where she had a small apartment. Once again, she was the hit of the facility. Staff loved her and elderly men in powered wheelchairs hit on her. Even the in-house dog would run up to her for a petting when he saw her.

She worsened. She was moved to the cardiac facility of KU Medical Center until they felt they could do no more for her. Leaving her new friends at KU Med, she was moved to Kansas City Hospice. We all knew this would be her last home. She knew it too. The center was great. The care exceptional. And in keeping with her ways, she was the talk of the center. The staff took to her like she was family. Despite the bad times she was having more frequently, she kept a positive spirit. She shared stories with the nurses. She had a beer.

Over the last weekend Aunt Min had two strokes and began to slow even more. It was laborious for her to speak, if she even could at all. She was so very weak. This afternoon two nurses came in for a routine check. She was resting in her bed while they ran her vitals. One turned to adjust the window blinds and when she turned back to the bed, Aunt Min was finally at rest. She left us just as she lived her life – peacefully.

We will miss you.

Minnie Dutton - Taken on her 96th birthday, April 2006

A Touching Story

A man was on holiday in Kenya. While he was walking through the bush, he came across an elephant standing with one leg raised in the air.

The elephant seemed distressed so the man approached it very carefully.

He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot. There was a large thorn deeply embedded in the bottom of the foot.

As carefully and as gently as he could he removed the thorn and the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man and with a rather stern look on its face, stared at him.

For a good ten minutes the man stood frozen -- thinking of nothing else but being trampled.

Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned and walked away.

For years after, the man remembered the elephant and the events of that day.

One day the man was walking through the zoo with his son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to where they are standing at the rail. It stared at him and the man couldn't help wondering if this was the same elephant.

After a while it trumpeted loudly; then it continued to stare at him.

The man summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder.

Suddenly the elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of the man's legs and swung him wildly back and forth along the railing, killing him.

Probably wasn't the same elephant.

Ah, Technology!

I recently purchased a new photo viewer for all of the various digital pictures I take. The Epson P-2000 lets me load pictures of my choosing to a small, hand-held device about the size of two iPods. I can share them with my friends, hook it up to a TV for group viewing, and even view video taken on my camera. As an added bonus, I can convert DVDs to a compatible format and use the device to watch movies on the road when I travel. The four inch screen is crystal clear…probably the best I have seen in this type of device. The unit also accepts SD and Compact Flash cards for direct download, as well as USB connectivity to a PC. The only downside I have found is the way it renames files and the filing structure. They are not deal breakers, but takes a bit of adjustment. I can definitely see benefits and uses for the device. Besides that, it’s really cool!

Update 7.31.06: I returned the unit yesterday. After about 25 minutes of use it gets hot and produces file errors. A nice idea...hopefully they will get it right in the future.

Catching Up...In No Particualr Order

It has definitely been some time since I have posted. I will try to get you all caught up in 23 paragraphs, or less. I am currently sitting near gate 115B in Newark Airport. Not that I typically do my best writing in airports, it’s just where I happen to be at the moment. I have been in New York over the last five days for another combo-trip with business and pleasure. Business was only so-so. I attended an accounting partner compensation forum. It still floors me the mindset of firm partners. “How do you in other firms compensate your non-performing partners?” Why would you compensate them? “Because they are partners of the firm.” Would you compensate a non-performing administrative assistant? “Absolutely not.” What’s the difference? “But they are partners.” So what? Here’s your sign.

I did get to see my good friend Sally while in New York. She drove into the city from New Jersey on Wednesday night and we saw Sweeney Todd. Man, what a dark, twisted show. Loved it! The next evening I flew solo and caught The Light in the Piazza. It was quite different from razors and cannibalism from the previous night, and very beautifully done. It rained quite a bit during the five days. Temperatures were also fairly high with a nice slice of humidity on top. I feel so dirty…and not in the fun kind of way.

I have been fighting an ear and sinus infection over the last couple of weeks. Gotta love a few good doses of antibiotics. Of course, sinus/ear problems always make air travel fun. Starbuck’s always seems to help though. A chai, or two, a day breaks up congestion. Ancient Chinese secret.

I had great sushi for lunch today. I met up with an AAM member and we had a good lunch talking about the New York Chapter and discussing some strategic plans for it. Tracey is from Long Island and a really ambitious, hard-working person. I am looking forward to working more closely with her in regards to the chapter. Plus, she picked a hell of a great sushi spot!

Sunday was New York Pride March. The theme this year was Life + Love: HIV/AIDS. The parade lasted about five and a half hours and brought out more than 500,000 spectators. It was interesting to see the parade participants and viewers. From the stereotypical queen to the elderly gay war veterans, there was something for everyone. The overall theme was very positive and festive. There was a moment of silence at 2 p.m. in memory of all of those who lost their fight to HIV/AIDS.

I got back from Denver about a week ago. We hosted our annual AAM conference at the Hyatt at the Denver Convention Center. It is a beautiful, new hotel. Overall, the event went very well. We had a record attendance of nearly 475 accounting marketers and partners. Additionally, sponsorships and exhibitors were at an all-time high. I am not sure what to attribute the huge spike in this year’s numbers, though I hope it continues into next year. We will be in Savannah, Georgia for the next conference.

It’s now Wednesday. No, I haven’t been in the Newark Airport that long…just took a break and wrapping up now. Back at work, sorting through mail, boxes, crap on my desk, etc. Oh, and I am very hungry. I need to run to Best Buy for work in a few. I will probably grab something bad for me to eat while I am out.

I am going to St. Louis for part of this upcoming weekend. The national tour of The Phantom of the Opera is completing a run there. I am going to see a couple friends who are in the production. I haven’t seen them since San Francisco a few years ago. Man, time flies! I also hope to visit with Ted and Jennifer while I am in town.

Well, as promised, caught up in less than 23 paragraphs. I am sure I missed several items, but at least you can now sleep better knowing the little snippets that have happened over the last few weeks.

Journey To Darkness

What is it with me and electronics? Things were moving along just swimmingly with my home PC. I have had it for shy of three years, along with a 17” LCD monitor. Over the last few weeks I noticed a faint difference in the screen…almost a micro pulse or isolated flutter. It was hit and miss and started about the time I received my new glasses (see a prior post for that enlightening read). I chalked it up to the adjustment period for the bifocals. Well, apparently no. Last night I flipped on the monitor and found the lower ¾ of the screen very distorted and grainy. Let’s restart! That will fix everything. It always does! Um, no. The sign of insanity is repeating the same action and expecting different results. So, I restarted a couple more times. No. Crap. I hooked it up to my laptop to discover the same. Sigh. Crap. Now cursing under my breath I reconnected everything to the main PC and started the “User Support Journey To Hell” trek through the monitor Web site. Cursing now above breath level. As the search for a new monitor began, the display continued to get more difficult to view. I finally gave up and powered it off, only to witness a pretty nebula-like sparkle then darkness (insert funeral dirge here).

Please Help Me Understand

I am disgusted. Over the last couple of days I have been hearing and reading about the hunter who shot and killed a natural wonder. In recent years there have been stories of a unique bear roaming with polar bears in the Canadian arctic. Well, it was proven two weeks ago when a big-game trophy hunter brought him down. The bear was genetically proven to be a hybrid cross of a polar bear and grizzly bear – the only known one of its kind in the wild. By overcoming numerous odds of population demographics, breeding season overlap and territorial regions, two bears of different species found each other to create this offspring of biodiversity. The animal should have been cherished, studied, photographed and allowed to grow old as the one-of-a-kind it was. So instead, we allow this asshole to buy the right to hunt it for $45,000. The picture of the murdered bear surrounded by the smug looking hunting party sickens me. All I can picture is this magnificent animal mounted in some threatening position in the hunter’s den/study/billiards room. Surrounded by his other ethno- and ego-centristic buddies, he recounts the day he brought down the mighty beast, all the while sipping a Dewar’s on the rocks. I just don’t get it. I am not a vegetarian. I know hunting happens. I know much of it has a purpose for population control. I get all of that. What I don't understand is the rationale to wipe out the one and only in the name of sport. I am typically not a violent person, but I believe a good mauling is in order for this heathen of a man.

Boink Me Baby, One More Time

Well, I see that the child-spawning K-Fed and Britney Spears are expecting another baby. Brings a tear to my eye. I can’t think of a more deserving, loving and responsible set of parents for a child. You can’t blame Britney for the highchair drop. Oh no! It was obviously a poorly made piece of furniture. And good nannies are SO hard to come by these days. I just don’t know how Britney handles the stress of the paparazzi. Who could blame her for kicking in with the motherly instinct and high-tailing it out of the vicious dangers with her son on her lap? There just wasn’t enough time! My God, I must protect my child! It amazes me how quickly she turned from ‘Toxic’ vixen to bare foot and white trash bayou bimbo. I would like to think they will be producing a sibling for the current little boy. However, at the rate they are going with their finely-tuned parenting skills this new one might just end up being a replacement. Oops, I did it again!

Because 40 Just Wasn't Enough

I went in for my annual eye exam today. Well, annual might be a stretch…it’s been about two and a half years. Nonetheless, I decided to be the ‘healthy guy’ and go. My eyes are very healthy, no problems. Of course there is one small setback. Bifocals! My eye doctor was very pleasant through the whole process of eye charts, ocular pressure, shiny lights, etc. Then she drops the bifocal bomb. I just stared at her with the “Are you shitting me?” look on my face.

I know, I know. Bifocals are not the end of the world. Millions of people have them. But why me so soon after the Big 4–0? I am test driving a pair of bifocal contacts for the next week. They actually feel pretty good, although I tend to misjudge distance a bit. I was reaching for a pen at Wal-Mart earlier today and almost felt up the cashier. I am sure she enjoyed that part of her day…some wide-eyed, dilated freak grasping for her left tit!

While we were going through the whole process I threw caution to the wind and decided to get new frames to go with my newfound loss of vision. The frames are pretty stylish and trendy. Although I think I would enjoy them more not having the additional $200 bifocals added to the overall cost. Can’t wait to try them out on some unsuspecting front counter clerk when they are complete!

Let’s recap. Since turning 40 I have had a full physical (head to toe, inside and out), a visit to a liver specialist, and an eye exam with the bonus prize. Next week…hmmm…I think I will contact AARP and see what specials they might be offering.

I'm a Good Driver...K-Mart Sucks!

It’s after 4 p.m. on a Friday afternoon and my brain is full. If a photo was to be taken of me right now I would appear to be missing a very critical chromosome. It has been a very busy week, yet I feel much unaccomplished in it. I had a day trip to Dallas to meet with some clients. I had lunch and dinner with some longtime friends. I met with Vegas CVB over lunch. I pushed a lot of paper around my office. I got my ‘Inbox’ down to 23 items. I had a couple of conference calls. I can even see the top of my desk! For those of you who know me that is a major thing. All in all though, comfortable cranial capacity (C3) has been reached…borderline breached. Oh, look! Something shiny! (drool)

Axis of Evil

I was searching through some computer files and came across a piece of John Cleese brilliance from about three years ago. Enjoy!

Axis of Evil Wannabees
by John Cleese

Bitter after being snubbed for membership in the Axis of Evil, Libya, China and Syria today announced that they had formed the Axis of Just as Evil, which they said would be more evil than that stupid Iran-Iraq-North Korea axis President Bush warned of in his State of the Union address.

Current Axis of Evil members, however, immediately dismissed the new Axis as having, for starters, a really dumb name. "Right. They are just as evil. In their dreams!" declared North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. "Everybody knows we're the best evils…best at being evil. We're the best."

Diplomats from Syria denied they were jealous over being excluded, although they conceded they did ask if they could join the Axis of Evil. "They told us it was full," said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"An axis can't have more than three countries", explained Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "This is not my rule, it’s tradition. In World War II you had Germany, Italy and Japan in the evil Axis. So, you can only have three, and a secret handshake. Ours is wickedly cool."

International reaction to Bush's Axis of Evil declaration was swift, as within minutes, France surrendered. Elsewhere, peer-conscious nations rushed to gain triumvirate status in what has become a game of geopolitical chairs. Cuba, Sudan and Serbia announced that they had formed the Axis of Somewhat Evil, forcing Somalia to join with Uganda and Myanmar in the Axis of Occasionally Evil, while Bulgaria, Indonesia and Russia established the Axis of Not So Much Evil Really as Just Generally Disagreeable.

With the criteria suddenly expanded and all the desirable clubs filling up, Sierra Leone, El Salvador and Rwanda applied to be called the Axis of Countries That Aren't the Worst But Certainly Won't Be Asked to Host the Olympics.

Canada, Mexico and Australia formed the Axis of Nations That Are Actually Quite Nice, But Secretly Have Some Nasty Thoughts About America, while Scotland, New Zealand and Spain established the Axis of Countries That Want Sheep to Wear Lipstick. "That's not a threat, really, just something we like to do," said Scottish Executive First Minister Jack McConnell.

While wondering if the other nations of the world weren't perhaps making fun of him, a cautious Bush granted approval for most axes, although he rejected the establishment of the Axis of Countries Whose Names End in 'Guay', accusing one of its members of filing a false application. Officials from Paraguay, Uruguay and Chadguay denied the charges. Israel, meanwhile, insisted it didn't want to join any Axis, but privately world leaders said that's only because no one asked them.

Whacked Out Nut Job

From charming, naïve entrepreneur Joel, to couch-hopping heathen. Yep, Tom Cruise is officially a freak. I loved all of those old Tom Cruise films: Risky Business, Losin’ It, Taps, All the Right Moves, The Outsiders. He was an up-and-coming star. Over time his popularity grew and he was no longer just the star, but a mega-star. He was the box office ‘It guy’ – the guaranteed draw. Top Gun, Minority Report, War of the Worlds, The Firm, Mission Impossible, to name but a few. The list is long.

So where did the change happen? When did he go from loving husband and ‘normal’ movie star to couch-hopping super freak? His outburst regarding psychiatrics. His expertise regarding prescribed medicines versus vitamins. His confrontation with Brook Shields and Matt Lauer. We all have heard about his expression of love to Katie Holmes on Orpah’s couch.

Well, I read today he repeated it again – after an arm-wrestling challenge to Yahoo CEO Terry Semel. This time in a chair at a Yahoo speaker function. Boing, Boing Boing goes Tommy. Enter, stage right, Katie – all preggers and glowing. Tom then proceeds to rub her tummy in front of the huge crowd, hops about the chairs and plants a kiss on Katie. Huh? What just happened here? Now I am not one to judge one’s beliefs or pass judgment on a religion. However, much of this seemed to surface after Thomas proclaimed devotion to Scientology. Religion? Cult? How about a vitamin Mr. Cruise? Well color me alien and call me Creator! I’m just sayin’…

Technology and Curiosity

I am really enjoying this blogging thing so far. Granted, I still need to work on posting more frequently, but I do like what I have done and where it is heading. On that note, I am considering adding the love of my iPod to my blog and try PodCasting in the near future. I am not sure how much I would have to say, or if people would even listen, but I do love technology and this sort of seems like the next logical step. I am curious to see how the whole process works and what the outcome might be. Keep an eye out on the right side of my blog in the 'Links' section for access to Planet Granville PodCasts. Who knows, maybe people will actually tune in and start a cult-like following! Uh-huh.

Mint Juleps on the Veranda

I recently returned from a few days in the South. Savannah, Georgia to be exact. If you have not been to Savannah, I highly recommend a trip in your future. Wow, what a beautiful city! It is amazing the vast amount of history that one small city holds. From 1733 to the present, events and famous figures have called Savannah home.

Here are a few to get you started as you plan your trip:

• Founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe
• Forrest Gump filmed on location
• Setting for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
• Home to Johnny Mercer
• Cotton Gin invented by Eli Whitney
• Site of an Underground Railroad stop
• Saved from the fiery fate of Atlanta by General Sherman during Civil War
• Layout of 24 public squares (22 remain)
• Pirate’s House the pub/lodge of Captain Flint from Treasure Island
• Fifth busiest shipping port in the United States
• Second most haunted city in the United States
• Damn fine food!

The list could go on and on. I hope you enjoy the few photos here and, by all means, if you get a chance to visit Savannah do it!

I Wonder...

More than once I’ve awakened with tears running down my cheeks. I have had to think whether I was crying or whether it was involuntary, like drooling.

A Moment for the Monkey...

Naturally, big television executives know exactly what the end-viewer wants to watch more than we (the end-viewer) do. After only three episodes CBS has pulled Love Monkey from its programming lineup. I am typically not so passionate about a television show, but something about the Monkey just clicked within the first few minutes. It is well-written, well-acted, witty, intelligent and it makes you think. Wait, I might have just hit the nail on the head. The average viewer does not want to think when they watch TV (hell, most probably couldn’t think if they wanted to). Look at the garbage that is currently on the tube: Skating with the Has-Beens, Dancing with the Slightly-Famous, Survivor: Topeka, Spouse Swap, You Are a Troll and Need a Makeover, CSI, CSI, CSI, CSI. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the CSI shows but how many more reality/homicide/criminal investigation/hospital/lawyer shows do we really need? Love Monkey was a breath of fresh air change to the same old stuff. Not only did CBS pull it, they didn’t even give it a chance. They ran two episodes, promoted the hell out of the third, then delayed that a week for the State of the Union Address. To make matters worse, many stations in the East delayed broadcast to show an ACC basketball game. How does CBS really expect to find a following when they have not yet lead? CBS, you had a good thing going. You should have given it some nurture and time to grow like Northern Exposure, Seinfeld, Friends and Raymond. Ironically, CBS became the Goliath Records they portrayed in the show. You disappoint me and have lost a Tuesday night viewer. All hail the Monkey!

It's Valentine's Day...

*sigh*

Phil, the Rodent

Happy Groundhog’s Day! Since the first official day on February 2, 1887, locals and the eyes of the world have gathered in Punxsutawney, Pa. to watch a woodchuck stick his head out of a hole and determine if we need to switch our clothes from one closet to another. And to think so many go to college to learn these skills.

Punxsutawney Phil was the brainchild promotional creation of the owner of the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper to help promote the town and region in hopes to increase business. Phil, whose full name is “The Sear of Sears, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary,” is the official grand-poobah groundhog and has made appearances at the White House and on Oprah (I bet he didn’t jump and flail on her couch).

Well, it would appear that Phil popped from his hole this morning, saw his own shadow, was so startled by the series of events that he vacated his bowels and plunged back into his hovel. According to legend, we are now set for another six weeks of winter (it will probably take that long to get the mess off of his fur). Since his track record over the last 100+ years has only been about 40% accurate, I think I am going to pack up at least a few sweaters now!

Mmmm, BBQ!

Growing up in Kansas City and having a Southern Mom, I have been eating some sort BBQ since close to birth. I am pretty sure I was weaned on the zesty sauce! (You did know that you can mix the sauces, right?)

On my way to work this morning I saw a catering van that sparked a thought I have been pondering for years. Why is it that BBQ companies use cows and pigs on their logos and signs to promote their meat? They are typically illustrated dressed in a little chef’s hat and carting about a tray heaped full of succulent meats. They are very happy to serve you their product and want you eat it with finger-lickin’ fervor. Isn’t that endorsing cannibalism?

“Howdy! Try a hunk of Stella. She was a tough, old Mom, but she sure is tender now!”

“Baby back ribs? Not only that, but they were my baby brother, Reggie. Eat up! Mmmm!”

How would this concept translate to other marketing and advertising campaigns? A corpse as a spokesperson for a funeral home? Perhaps Jeffrey Dahmer representing Hamilton Beach kitchen appliances? Amelia Earhart for Garmin GPS? Oh, how about Natalie Wood for Ester Williams Swimming Pools? Some things just don’t seem to promote a positive picture of product endorsement.

Rather than slaughtered farm animals (which are damn tasty!), what about a fat and happy grinning family with BBQ sauce smeared from ear to ear? Seems a bit more realistic to me. Just a thought…oh, and hand me the hot sauce!

Come On, Disney!

It seems that Disney continues to crank out one DVD after another. Many are made strictly for DVD release and never see the dark of theater. Seriously, how many more celluloid masterpieces such as Lindsey Lohan: Fully Loaded and Mulan Does the Axis Powers can there be in the creative mind of the Mouse. I have been anxiously awaiting for years for Disney to dig down in their vaults to restore and release probably my all-time Disney favorite. It had its original theatrical release in 1963. An expanded version ran over three weekend nights on The Wonderful World of Disney in 1964. I was too young to see it in its first release, but I do have fond memories of going to see it with my dad when it was re-released in theaters in the early 70s. I remember popcorn and Milk Duds (eat them together…sounds gross, taste great) and a huge Coke. We were at the Ruskin Twin. The movie was preceded by Disney’s Painted Desert. Then the magic started! Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow. Wow, what a movie! Based on the old book, The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, the movie is set in 18th century England, near Kent. The main character, Dr. Syn, is a priest by day, the Scarecrow – a vigilante for the people, fighting the oppression of the King, by night. Disney has announced a restoration and release a few times, but has scrapped it each time. Then something like Tigger and Christopher: A Forbidden Longing hits the shelves. Come on, Disney! If you can release a beautifully restored masterpiece like Snow White, you can do this. Please!

Random Thoughts On a Rainy Friday

Jesus saves, but Gretzky rebounds and scores!

A 1000 mile journey usually begins with a cash advance.

Save the whales. Collect the whole set!

Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything. But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

Why do they sterilize needles for lethal injections?

Life is a journey, not a destination. It's also a board game.

Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?

Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. Teach me and I will learn.

Wheat balls. A vegetarian dish or scarecrow genitalia?

Friends and Family

I just flew back from New York on Monday morning...and boy were my arms tired. (Rim shot) Thanks! I am here all week. Tip your waitress and try the veal!

Seriously, what was overall a great trip ended like crap. I was up in New York for an AICPA event similar to the one I attended last November. It was a good meeting and once again resulted in some very good business leads.

Once the weekend hit, I slid into non-work mentality. My sister and her husband came up from Bermuda for the weekend to shop, see me and visit with mutual friends of ours. Friday night found us at O’Lunney’s on 45th just off of Times Square. Jackie and I arrived first and got a couple beers in us. We were also able to secure prime real estate at the corner of the bar. This was around 6:15 p.m. Sarene arrived a bit later and the food was ordered. God love greasy bar faire! We ended up merging our small social group with a couple Air Force guys in town for work. This was their first time in New York and last night in town. After a few more beers, we had new best friends! Alain-Daniel soon joined us and started playing catch-up with rounds of nasty-ass shots and more greasy substance. Roughly eight hours later we all decided to call it a night.

Saturday found us supporting the local New York economy along 5th Avenue and the Upper East Side. I found some killer post-Christmas deals at Bloomingdale’s! Did I need them? No. Did it stop me? No. That evening we joined Wendy, Shawn, Scott, Isabelle, Rajev and Jackie at Artisinal for fondue and wine. Good food, lousy service. Nonetheless, it was a great evening.

Champagne brunch? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Off to Café Luxembourg on the Upper West Side for some mimosas and eggs benedict on Sunday. We took brunch at a very leisurely and civilized pace. It was so great to hang out and visit with everyone over the course of the trip.

As Sunday came to a close it was time to head to the airport for my trip home (or so I thought). Once I got to Newark I was informed that my flight to Kansas City had been cancelled due to extreme weather conditions in Kansas City. The ONLY extreme condition in KC was the fact that it was 68 degrees and sunny in January! Personally, I think Continental had a small flight and decided to bail out of it to save money (they recently reported a net loss of $205 million dollars for 2005). I was rerouted to Cleveland, Ohio for the night (flight was one hour 45 minutes late due to over fueling the plane), put up in the Airport Sheraton (no airport attendant on duty to make arrangements. Found one after scouring the airport) and routed to KC the following morning (flight late due to unknown reasons). I finally arrived back in KC on Monday morning and headed into the office…ready for a nap!

Top: L - R: Jason, Chuck, Jackie, Sarene & Alain-Daniel
Bottom: L - R: Rajev, Alain-Daniel, Sarene, Jackie, Isabelle, Wendy, Sean & Scott

Back From the Dead (parts 1 and 2)

Happy New Year to everyone! It’s hard to believe yet another 365 are behind us. I have been playing it pretty low key lately. I was fighting a losing battle with a cold just prior to Christmas, and then went down for the count on Christmas day. Nothing quite like an upper respiratory infection over your last days of annual vacation to get you in the festive mood! The couch and bed and I bonded quite nicely over the last week. I finally dragged my sorry ass out of bed on Friday and tried to get some vacation time under my belt before having to go back to work. Still pretty wiped here, but feeling mucho better and walking as one of the living.

And speaking of living (how do you like that for a segue?)…If you recall a few posts back found my digital camera in a sad state with a broken LCD. I had all but written it off as a goner because of the high repair cost and had replaced the camera with a new one. Then curiosity and the fact that my warranty was already shot took hold. The next thing I knew I had located a parts company out of Mississippi that carried the needed screen. One purchase, about twelve screws, and caution to the wind later I had repaired the little bugger and had a perfectly functioning digital camera. Back to Circuit City went the newly-purchased one and life was grand for a mere $61.18. I think I will try to make a flat screen TV out of my CRT television next!