Month of May, 2008

Parents' Vacation Update

Mom and Dad are on vacation. With all the Internet cafes around the world, my sisters and I occasionally get updates. Today's update was awesome.

We're spending the afternoon in Salerno, walking around, seeing sights. The cruise is going great, but we only came in 3rd in the dance contest last night. Personally, I think they favored the Italians and we should have come in Second.

I can't wait to hear the full story about the dance contest!

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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

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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.

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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!

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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.

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