Movie Critics Are Not News

Dear NPR,

In the past week, I've heard two stories from you about the recent layoffs of movie critics from a number of papers (here and here). I realize that you think this is news and requires multiple segments of coverage, but it's not. It's navel gazing. You and the entire news industry needs to get over yourself. The tide is turning and while it freaks you out a lot, it doesn't bother me. Because I've found something better. It's called the Internet.

I've never (ever! ever!) cared what a movie critic in the paper has said. And as harsh as this sounds, I don't care that 28 of them have been laid off recently. I care about them as people and I feel horrible that they suddenly can't pay their bills. But I don't care about their jobs. It's basic business. It's the law of supply and demand. If there's no demand for your services, then you're out of business.

So as scary as this is to you and the entire news industry, remember this is how the world works. You have to keep providing valuable services that people demand. When you stop doing it, you're toast. While that's truth and interesting to those of us in business, it's not news. So please find something better to report on.

I promise that if you give me one more segment about movie critics losing their jobs, I swear I will never (ever!) give you another dollar. Which is a shame becuase normally I think you use my money well and provide a very, very valuable service.

Yours truly.
Erica

Sick

I'm sick. It sucks. I must have caught a stomach flu. Yesterday morning before work, my stomach was in all sorts of knots. After breakfast I felt a bit better. Later in the afternoon I started getting a backache. It progressed to chills and I decided to head home. When I finally got home, I was freezing despite it being 77 degrees inside and I was under three blankets. I immediately fell asleep for a couple hours. Last night I just laid around and took it slow. Today I'm not much better. I've got a lot of stomach cramping but the body aches aren't as bad as yesterday. I sure hope this passes quickly and I get back to normal. Health is so much better than sickness and something I definitely take forgranted.

Mustache for Charity

Chris decided to join Fund-a-stache and grow a mustache for the month of May. He's raising money for my favorite charity, AASK - Aid for the Adoption of Special Kids. It's fun and a great way to help kids in Arizona!

The only catch is that the money raising event lasts the entire month of May. And we're getting married on May 30th. In order to excuse Chris for shaving the mustache early, he's set the goal of raising $500 before the wedding. If he doesn't get $500 he keeps the mustache. It's a little nerve wracking to think I might have a 70's 'stache in my wedding pictures, but I'm confident my friends and family will start feeling more and more generous the bigger his mustache gets!

So keep an eye on Chris at his blog or at Fund-a-stache!

Talking in the Elevator

The new job is going well. I really like the clients and the work I get to do with them. I enjoy working in downtown and riding the bus to work a couple days a week. However, this is something I'm unsure of.

It's the elevator. My office in on the 10th floor of the building so I ride the elevator. It's not a big deal except that sometimes people in the elevator want to talk. I am NOT one of these people. I'm uncomfortable sharing such a small space with total strangers. Plus, I'm bad at small talk and it's always small talk.

I wish I could take the stairs just to avoid these awkward conversations, but the stairs are for emergencies only and are locked. I guess I'd better find the elevator-talking mindset so I can come up with appropriate responses. I think elevator meditation is in my future.

Daniel Davis Books for Auction

Daniel Davis is an illustrator and author at Steam Crow in Phoenix. He recently donated a set of his books to the Kids Need to Read foundation, and they're being auctioning off on eBay ($$ for kid's books).

Kids Need to Read
Ebay Auction

Marrow Donor Found

I almost cried from happiness this morning when I got email from Abby telling me that Erica found a marrow donor! Remember when I asked you to register, especially if you're multi-racial? This is great news!

Abby's email:

"Hi everyone,

Since I wrote to you a while back requesting that you get on the registry for my friend Erica (you remember her, from this song and this blog), I wanted to send you an update. Erica was given another chance at life from my new hero, her bone marrow donor. The donor is a 5/6 match, so not a perfect match (are you on the registry yet?), but the transplant seems to have gone smoothly so far.

Today is Day Zero for her. There have been some rough days lately due to really strong chemo and some nasty radiation, but overall, she has held up with her usual strength, grace, and sense of humor. Please keep her, and her donor, in your thoughts in the coming weeks, as we wait anxiously to learn whether her body will accept the marrow, and as she begins the long road to health.

Feel free to leave well-wishes for her on her blog. She loves to read them, and she keeps the comments as a sort of journal of the experience. And if you have any ideas for yummy-tasting low-microbial recipes, I'm all ears. We're at a loss for how to make her highly-restricted diet appetizing.

What a beautiful day!
Abby

P.S. Obviously, many people with blood diseases aren't as lucky as Erica. Please register if you haven't."

Wedding Ring Prototype

Chris and I designed our wedding rings. Cody, my friend and awesome metalsmith, drew up the digital design. While the ring hasn't been made yet, I am excited enough to want to share! I think this is gorgeous and can't wait to see it completed.

The idea behind the ring is our two lives are like the two different colored lines. The lines intersect to show how our lives have intersected.

The colors in the design might not accurately reflect the color of the ring. I've picked out turquoise and orange powder coatings and Cody will begin testing them out in the coming weeks. Chris's ring will be slightly wider than mine and will be turquoise and brown.

Getting this much control and direction of the process is so awesome. We're really lucky to know Cody!