You're Hired

I've been thinking lately about my BHAG. It's a term I learned at our church in Philly. BHAG = big hairy audacious goal. My BHAG is to start/run my own magazine. Most of you probably already know the premise of it, but I'm not going to put it here because it amazingly hasn't been launched that I know of and I don't want some random person stealing my idea. But it's one of those things, I think about it all the time but it seems so unattainable. But why not? First I'll need a staff. And taking a cue from Duff on Ace of Cakes, I'm hiring my friends.

Me: Best boss ever
Meaghan: Graphic design/layout
Kari: Writer/Creative Strategy (keeping ideas flowing)
Nicole: PR
My sister: Photography

I'm still trying to figure out how to fit in a child psychologist and a history teacher...

We can start out online and eventually move to print and our Midtown Manhattan high-rise office. Who's on board?

Singing in the ... office?

Ohmygosh. As Scott and I were on our way out the office tonight, we saw a HUGE pile of T-shirts at the front for the new show, The Singing Office. Like, IN the office. On a desk. Very very interesting, and I'm very very curious what's going on.

You can see the commercial for the show here.

I'll keep you posted...

Almost live

Tonight, Scott and I hoofed it down to the Liberty Science Center with our pre-purchased tickets to see "U2:3D." And no that is not some Star Wars spinoff. It's a 3D film version of a U2 concert, compiled from a series of their "Vertigo" tour appearances in Latin America. It took my eyeballs a few minutes to adjust to the 3D-ness. Especially because the direct lights on the screen made me feel like my super-cool (insert sarcasm here) 3D glasses were dirty. But eventually we settled in for a good concert. The most amusing part of the film is that they left in some of the people who get in the way in the front, sit on each other's shoulders and keep their arms up the entire time. I felt like saying "Down in front!" But it was minimal and therefore amusing rather than annoying.

Now, a few years ago, Scott and I joined his best friend Mike and other friend Wooly (who was, in fact, kinda hairy back then) to see U2 in Philadelphia on their Vertigo tour. I was forewarned that seeing U2 live was an amazing experience. They were right. Even though we had seats behind the stage that night and didn't see a whole lot, you can really just feel the passion from Bono and his bandmates. Not to mention the throngs of people jumping up and down in time together and all singing along in one resounding song. (I couldn't help but think how awesome it would be to have a stadiumful of people that passionate about God.) But seeing U2 in person is a pretty amazing experience, even for somebody like me who wasn't too familiar with their music, although I had caught up a little since being married to Scott.

Anyway, back to U2:3D (that is really hard to type correctly). It's nearly the same experience. Bono is so passionate. They write all their own stuff, and so you just get the sense they really believe what they're performing. It's really kind of empowering and moving. And in the film, you not only hear the passion, you can see it in their faces. Human rights. Peace. Equality.

I can never be as dedicated a follower of U2 as millions of others out there; I got a late start. But I appreciate what they do and the heart they put into it. We may go see the film again. And you better believe we will see them live again when we get the chance. And I recommend you choose one or both of those and do it, too.

On a side note, we did something new today...we took the lightrail. We bought tickets like you should for public transportation. I'm not sure why though. We didn't use them when we got on, nobody stamped it, ripped it or punched it. And mine is still in my back pocket. Go figure.

Makeover

I kinda liked the dots but that template didn't play nice with the new addition. Well? Whaddya think?

Sugarpie, honeybunch

This past week, Scott and I celebrated our fourth anniversary. He took me back to Lupa where we went for my birthday because we both enjoyed it so much the first time. As is to be expected, it wasn't quite as amazing the second time, but it was still REALLY good.

Since we don't generally go to bed until well into the wee A.M. hours, I decided to edit my Facebook status when it became our anniversary to say something really "awww"-inspiring about how I love him now more than ever. But there was only one little problem...

It's not true.

Now before you have a heart attack, I do love him. I love him very much. But I always have. And I'm sure there is some part of loving him more that is true, just because of the nature of the intimacy of marriage and spending every day of the last four years together. But I couldn't honestly say something cutesy about loving him now more than the day we were married.

Maybe this makes me a terrible person. Maybe it just means I don't like cutesy phrases. I hope my marriage isn't doomed. But I asked him the same question, "Do you love me more now then when we got married?", and he feels the same way I do. So at least we're on even ground. We both love each other. A lot. Maybe we're just both so laid back, I haven't noticed loving him more. Maybe four years just isn't long enough to say those kinds of phrases. Maybe I should check back in 10 years.

But I'm curious. For those of you who are married. Do you love your other half more than you did when you got married?

(For the record: We're very happy together. We love each other very much. And we plan to spend the rest of our lives together. Obviously.)

The Snow Globe Effect

I was in college the first time I felt it. It's been on my mind ever since. I never felt it when I lived in in Delaware or Maryland. But I felt it in Philadelphia. And you better believe I feel it in New York.

I call it the Snow Globe Effect. It's sort of the opposite of being on the outside looking in. It's being on the inside with other people looking in. People see you, but you're just part of the scenery. As if someone was admiring a snow globe. In college, it was the high school seniors visiting the campus to see if they wanted to come there. In New York, every time a tour bus drives by me, I feel like the people aboard are looking into my snow globe. I'm just part of the New York scenery to them.

Now if I could just get it to snow in June.

Night on the town

It was Friday night and we needed something to do. Hmm? How about 5th Avenue and Times Square? Sure, why not.

A few pictures...

As you come out of the 5th Avenue station, Central Park

The Plaza Hotel, from the side

Just a view

Along 5th Avenue





I like how you can see the other building through the Apple store

Since the Apple store is open all night, we decided to go find some food. There isn't much around 5th Avenue except high-priced shopping, and we figured Times Square wasn't too far away so we started walking. On the way...

It's easy to tell where it is because the sky is all lit up

I really like this amazingly not-blurry shot

We have arrived!


On Times Square, EVERYTHING is lit up with neon lights

Our dinner destination

Neat guitar wall inside Hard Rock


When we headed outside after dinner, the lights were so bright as we approached the door, it looked like daylight outside. We hopped back on the train rather than re-walk the two stops we had walked to get to Times Square to go back to the Apple store.

This is the plaza outside the Apple store and in front of FAO Schwartz.


When we went back to the Apple store, there were men on the top cleaning it. I tried to take some photos but I didn't get any clear shots. It was kinda neat though. What is made of glass must be cleaned, I suppose. We headed back toward home around midnight and had a "fun" ride home stuck in a car with a bunch of drunk guys singing MMM-bop and trying to do flips INSIDE the train.

Ahh, New York.

You don't say...

Did you know the 5th Avenue Apple Store is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? I just found out.

Muahahahaha...

Big Bag Theory, Part II

I did it! I carried the bag today. And it wasn't so bad! Although the side did get hot while I was walking in the sun. And I'm sure I'll collect more things to put in it, but right now it falls over when I put it down. Nobody said anything about it, so I guess it looked fairly natural. Although I was very conscious of carrying it. That and I wore a skirt today, which if you know me is not something I do often. So I was very girly today. I was going to take a picture of me leaving for work today with it, but I was seriously running out the door to catch the train. But I lived through my first day with Big Red. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship together.

Oh, and THANKS to everyone who responded with your thoughts on Big Red! You guys convinced me to keep it, AND you set a new record for comments on my blog! NINE! Wheee!