I keep forgetting that in a couple weeks, I’ll be thirty years old.\
You’d think I’d remember something like that.
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The Thing I Keep Forgetting
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Favorites From Last Week
I wanted to get these down before they completely got away from me. Last week was tiring, but well worth it. Boston was frickin’ freezing, but I learned a lot, actually contributed this time, and met some great people. So, here are my favorites from last week:
- Favorite Meal: Meeting Frank Wilczak and Betsy Devine for dinner at Atasca. It was a fun evening, with good food, good conversation, and some good laughs. I’m sad that Betsy won’t be joining us for SXSW this year…
- Second Favorite Meal: Bella Vista with the CSS WG. It started snowing while we were inside this cute little place in the North End that only took cash or American Express. I sat between Markus and Tantek, and had dueling conversations, about business travel and how to semantically markup the menu. The grilled veal was amazing, and the strachiatella was homey and rich.
- Favorite Joke: We were doing introductions at a group meeting, went around the large table saying our names, and who we worked for. Then, we went around again so the minute taker could write down everyone’s first names. Then I suggested we go around one more time and give our initials. Ok, it was funny at the time. The runner up was, “It’s Bert, spelled C-S-S.”
- Favorite TV Show: Top Gear!! I watched the rest of the episodes I’d downloaded, and it’s the best car show ever. It’s funny, smart and a great way to get reviews of new cars without getting bored by the minutiae. My favorite bits are the challenges: car olympics, historic people carrier (minivan) racing championship, the Ferrari vs. British Airways and Public Transport race, the 1,500 pound Porsche challenge, etc. They’re all funny, and better yet – fun. These guys love cars like little boys love cars, and it’s fabulous.
- Favorite Moment: Coming home to shouts of “Daddy!”\
And I’m off again on Thursday… looking forward to more favorites.
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Downtown Boston At Night
It’s over… the plenary is over. I’ve eaten dinner, and all I have to do now is pack up, go to sleep and then get on a plane in the morning, then I’ll be home. At least until Thursday.
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Wicked Lava Lamp Jellyfish
Now, more jellyfish!! Did I tell you how much I liked the jellyfish exhibit? Did you know I’m still cold? I haven’t warmed up all day. I’m sitting here in sweatpants and a sweater and I’m still freezing. I’m about to go start a fire in the bathtub…
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The New England Aquarium
I went to the New England Aquarium this morning and had a good time dodging field trip kids of all ages, their harried chaperones, and wild strollers of death.\
The jellyfish exhibit was awesome, and gave me a chance to play with my new mini tripod (thanks, sweetie), and some long exposures.\
The only downer of this morning (yes, I’m at the W3C conference, but my group isn’t meeting again until tomorrow, and the group I was auditing wasn’t meeting until after lunch) was waiting for the Harbor Express boat for the trip back. I stood outside in freezing temperatures and wicked cold wind (see, catching on to this whole Boston thing) for forty-five minutes until I gave up and got a cab.\
Boston… it’s wicked cold. -
Oscars Impressions (Cuz Everyone Else Is Doing It)
I think the Academy should make a new rule: the music starts playing when the lawyers get thanked. Nothing good ever comes after the lawyers get thanked. Really. The same could be said about publicists. Nothing against either profession, but after an award winner’s gone through family, the director, co-stars, producer and studio it all starts to get sketchy and people stammer, trying to make sure they go through the litany of people who had some effect on their career. Send them flowers.\
And is it just me, or is Chris Rock the best host the Oscars have ever had? He’s not overly reverential and says a lot of the stuff we’re all thinking. And Jamie Foxx? He wanted this so bad. You could see it on his face while Charlise Theron was reading the names. His speech was so much better than the one at the Golden Globes. The bit about his grandmother was great.\
And wow, the show tonight is really moving. I skipped an hour to watch Carnivale (I mean, didn’t you?!), but it’s moving right along. We have what, two awards left?\
Thank You and Goodnight! -
Kickball, Baby
KICK! 2005 – I am so in. Who’s with me?
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Another Travel Tip I Should Have Known Already
Alarm clocks in hotel rooms, when they exist at all, are evil and unreliable. They don’t work like a normal alarm clock. See it for four PM, and it will go off at four AM, or not at all.\
So, my tip is – bring your own alarm clock. I wish I had… -
Out Of The Mouth Of Max
We were eating pizza tonight, and I was telling a story about my doctor. Max asked me why I went to the doctor, and I told him that my doctor was helping me lose weight. Max tilted his head to the side, pointed his little index finger up like a learned philosopher and said, matter of factly, “You know what they say, ‘Lose the fat for better sex.’”\
At moments like these, what do you do? Jen lost it in gales of giggles. Brian followed suit because Jen was laughing. I sat there, dumbfounded, and asked Max where he’d seen that. Of course, it’s from the cover of a grocery checkout magazine.\
It’s great having a kid who can read at a young age; but it creates its own unique challenges… and I need to lose some fat! Come on better sex!! -
Go Now, Today, Cuz It’s Cool!!!
Salon has gotten some of the Oscar-nominated shorts and can show them online today only!! Go, Now, Watch, Enjoy!!!! I just watched Gopher Broke and it’s awesome. Can’t wait to check out the other ones (while I’m not working, of course).