Mooncake For Moondog

Tonight my housemates are taking me out to dinner just because I am such a swell guy. Well not really, they are taking me out because I will be leaving soon, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not a swell guy as well - because I am. I even got to choose the place and I decided on a little gem in SOHO called Mooncake Foods. It is a Pan-Asian fusion restaurant that has gotten great reviews and the prices are exceptional to boot - most of the entrees are around $8. Also, do you know who’s birthday it is today? No…it is not any of my TWO birthdays – but Vincent Van Gogh’s. I saw a little something Google did to honor him and I thought it was very cool.

That is such a cowinky dink…that’s my own jibberish talk for coincidence, since I saw his Starry Night painting the other day at MOMA.

Well, I am off to be wined and dined. Or in this case soda-ed and dined, but it should be a great evening nonetheless because I am the guest of honor. And isn't it always great when you get to be the guest of honor?

Hmm...what will it be...the Sliced Steak with Cilantro & Ginger, Pork Chops with White Wine & Soy, or maybe even the Miso-Glazed Salmon...hmm decisions - decisions.

New Tradition

I hope everyone had a great Easter holiday. Mine was ehhhh - kind of uneventful. On Friday night I visited the MOMA and got to see Van Gogh's Starry Night again - which is still very cool to see. Then on Saturday morning I accidently deleted the email with the confirmation and name of the theater for Hamlet2 - so that plan was nixed. In the evening, I went to a friend's birthday dinner and we ended up going to a karoke bar and sung til 4:00 am. But the biggest adventure was the hunt for the Easter treat of hot cross buns on Sunday. Now growing up down south, I really never heard of these until last year. Hot cross buns orginated in England and have been an Easter tradition for centeries. They seem to be really big here in the east coast and midwest. Last year was my first time ever eating one in the cafeteria at work. Basically they are sweet buns made with dried fruit and topped with icing in the sign of the cross. They even have a little rhyme for them -

Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns!
One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns!
If ye have no daughters, Give them to your sons.
One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns!

After having one last year - I figured I have to keep this new traditon of mine alive. All the bakeries had sold out of them by the time I went a'huntin for dem buns and it took four shops before I could finally get my hands on one. I guess that is what I get for waking up so late. It isn't something I would crave to eat year round, but having it once a year isn't too bad. Truth be told - they aren't even really that good just - average. But you can't mess with tradition even if it is only 2 years old.

Bonus Post

Greetings to all 2 of my readers out there. A lot of DVD's have secret hidden bonus materials on the disc if you know how to get to them. They are called appropriately "Easter Eggs" - and to access it you have to go thru a series of button on the remote to get to them. Originally, I wasn't planning to post anything today but because I appreciate you guys soooo much and in the Easter spirit - I thought I would surprise you.

When I woke up this morning, I was feeling a little weirded out about the job discussions I had yesterday. Now I know I am getting waaaaaaay ahead of myself here and that the UK plans might not even pan out - but it felt a little strange moving and working over there this morning. Even though I've done quite a few things in NYC and have been here for about 1 1/2 years - I feel as though I just really got here and still have so much to do in New York. Some how bobinnyc just has a nicer ring to it. But as I said, that opportunity may not even become reality - so no more talk of that subject until it happens.

As for today - I think I will head to St. Patrick's cathedral and "hang out" for a bit - since it is Good Friday and I did get the day off I suppose. Then afterwards I am thinking about visiting the Museum of Modern Art again. Reading The Da Vinci Code has really made me want to visit a museum for some reason - I guess since a lot of the plot takes place in The Louvre might have something to do with it. The museum is also screening an interesting movie called Duck Season. It is a comedy exported from Mexico and seems like a very funny movie so I guess I will try to check it out since I will be already at the MOMA. And the best thing about it is - MOMA is FREE on Friday nights. Yeah!!!!!

For Saturday - I just went on Craigslist looking for anything useful and found an offer for a free play in The West Village. It is called Hamlet 2 and is a zany retelling of the famous Shakespeare play. The description says "THINK SCARY MOVIE MEETS HAMLET". Sounds interesting and I'm a little scared already - of it being bad. But I figure if it stinks and I hate it - at least it was free.

East-er Treat

Earlier today I talked with an acquaintence in the UK about some possible job opportunities. An old senior manager of mine joined a company over there a few years ago and has slowly recruited about a dozen or so of the people I used to work with to join him in the UK. Convienantly, two other managers that I reported to is also over there whom I always had a good working relationship with. So my contact said that there was some interest in several departments and that they may have a spot for me over there too. So overall it was a very pleasant converasation and I may be flying over there soon to talk about some possibilities. Well, it seems that the job ball is more than just wobbling now, it may have begun to start on a semi-roll. Hopefully pretty soon it may not need to roll but maybe just float east across the pond. So how does bobinlondon sound?

Well, I am off tomorrow - so may all of you have a Happy Easter.

A Wet & Cold Dragged Out Humpday

Man, for the first time in a long time - I feel like this week is just dragging on. It is only Wednesday and I feel as if I have been working 5 days already. Although that might be an exageration - because it has been awhile since I have really worked a full five day week. It seems like I have been traveling, going on vacation or some other cirumstance that has prevented me from working a full week. Alas, that tradition will also hold true again this week my friends. It looks like I will get Good Friday off. So another 4 day work week again. Yes, I know it is a hard life but Yeah for me!!! If this keeps up, I don't know if I will be able to survive in the real business world. A person can sure get spoiled fast working these hours. Maybe I need to find a job in Europe instead?

On another subject matter, the weather is kinda crazy today. It is a mixture of snow, rain and sleet. It will be like this again tomorrow. Very different from the previous two days when we had perfect spring like weather in the 50's. We are expecting about 4 more inches of snow when it is all said and done. Just when I thought I could put my winter hats - which I don't wear because it gives me hat hair - away for the season. I guess I will just have to keep it in my bag for show for another week or two.

P.S. - The Da Vinci Code is amazing so far - I can hardly put it down. It is getting to the point where I am disappointed when I reach my subway stop and have to get off the train.

Spring Means Ice Cream and March Madness

You know spring is here with the arrival of the spring/summer time tradition of the Mr. Softee Ice Cream trucks. These ice cream trucks are parked on every street corner blaring their obnoxious and loud jingle every five minutes. However, they do have all delicious kinds of treats – but I don’t know if putting up with that constant blaring is worth it – well maybe.

Another spring tradition is the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament. Over the weekend, I went to catch an OSU game at a sports bar appropriately named XII. For those of you who don’t know – OSU is part of the Big 12 Conference so that name was quite fitting. Last week I received a post card from the alumni association saying that is where a group of alums were hanging out to watch the 2 games over the weekend, so I thought I would join them. There were about 21 people there and we will be meeting there again this Thursday night for the Sweet 16 round.

And as for my job interviews last Friday, one went well and one was kinda strange. The phone interview went well but it looks like it is a really small company, so we will see. The other interview was more like a discussion with UNICEF. The lady was a friend of my boss’s boss and I guess she just wanted to meet me before she forwarded my resume onward. She really didn’t have anything available, but I finally figured out the situation without having to ask “Just what the heck am I doing here?” So I guess I wouldn’t necessarily say the job search process ball is rolling yet, but I guess I could say it is beginning to wobble a bit. Now just where is that dang yummy ice cream truck at? - because I deserve a little treat.

Luck Of The Irish

I am back from CA and I am still kinda pooped. But being the dedicated employee that I am - I was at work today catching up on all the emails and messages I received when I was gone. On the flight back - I also started reading the much talked about book by Dan Brown - The Da Vinci Code. The first 5 chapters was quite interesting and even though it looks like a big book it seems like an easy read, so hopefully it won’t take me too long to finish it.

When I got into work today, there was a little surprise for me. My boss's boss left me a message saying he set up an interview for me for tomorrow already. It is with Unicef and it is with a contact of his contacts. I really don’t know what kind of position or what capacity I will be doing, but I guess I will find out during our talk. I was also told that we may also discuss other opportunities at different agencies that she is affiliated with. I am kinda excited and also kinda not ready. I don't even think I have any clean white shirts that have been dry cleaned and pressed. That also means that I will be going to see Holly tonight. Just when I was getting used to my hair and as it was beginning to grow out of its shaggy phase – oh well. I will let you know how it goes tomorrow. But wait...there’s more...I originally had a phone “discussion” with a company in the UK this morning but he never called and then emailed later saying he was out sick and we will have to reschedule. Too bad. But wait there’s even more...I just got off the phone with another company and I have a phone interview with them tomorrow afternoon as well. So I guess that makes up for the one that didn’t happen today. Thanks to the Irish - maybe this will turn out to be my lucky day. Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

The Mentalizer

Last night I went to see The Mentalizer. I will admit – it was very entertaining and he had me ooohing and aaahing throughout the show like a little 7 year old. But the adult 27’ish or there abouts in me, was quite skeptical afterwards. He did a variety of tricks -which were all amazing. Some of my favorites were where he got a credit card from an audience member and proceeded to spin it in mid air over his palm and around his body. It was like a spinning ufo flying around the room. In another trick, he asked a spectator to randomly pick up a few pieces of a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle from a box. She then began to eliminate the pieces until there was only one left. He then lifted a veil over an easel they were standing next to. It was a completed identical jigsaw puzzle with only one piece missing. She then attempted to fit her piece – which she randomly picked from another box previous to the unveiling and wouldn’t you know it – she ended picking up the missing piece of the puzzle. Another trick was one in which I actually got to participate in. He tossed a deck of cards into the crowd – which I just happened to jump 10 feet up off the chair to catch. He asked me to look at a card in the deck with taking it out of the deck and to toss the deck further back into the crowd. The person who caught it behind me picked a card and also tossed it further back into the crowd. This happened twice more for a total of four participants. He then asked me and the other 3 to concentrate on our card while he attempted to read our minds. And lo and behold – wouldn’t you know – he guessed what each of us had randomly selected from the deck. I had picked a 3 of clubs from the deck. So I can definitely say that the audience was not rigged. As I said, I was definitely impressed but not sold on his supernatural abilities. I just really don’t believe in that ESP – Psychic stuff. Because the cynic and skeptic in me always say if these guys could see into the future or see things no one else can see than they would all be lottery millionaires. But nonetheless he was a great performer and entertainer especially for the price of – free.

Well, my friends – I am headed off to CA tomorrow. So there may be no more updates for a week. But you never know – I may just surprise you with an on location blog post – so I guess you will just have to check back everyday to see if there is one.

Look Into My Eyes...Your Hair Is Getting Longer

Well, I am finally back at work this week after working from home the last 3 weeks. I am technically done with my job here and looking for full time employment in the real world once again. But of course, tomorrow is my last day this week because I am heading off to sunny California for a little vacation. Just in time too - because there is blizzard going on outside right now.

But anywho, alot of my peers at work were surprise to see me and my unruly hair after a few weeks. This is probably the longest I have ever had it. I have vowed not to get it cut until I get my first interview. Kind of like a Samson - me against the world thing. Well okay, maybe only against the corporate world. I do have to admit, it is at the stage where it does kinda look funky and shaggy, but give it another few weeks and the frizziness will have passed and it may look endearing in a cool hipster kinda way. If the Lord has any mercy for you guys...he will give an interview soon!!! But then again I hear he can have a wicked sense of humor sometimes...and let me tell you the hair is getting very weird. I think even Holly might not want to get near my hair right now. So beware, you have been warned - don't get all freaked out if you happen to see me anytime soon.

Also, I got free tickets for a show today from the best free site of all - Craig's List. The show is sold out and the tickets cost about $50 bucks - so yeah for me. It is for the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway supernatural experience: The Mentalizer Show. The performer is a mind reader who, according to the site...is world renown for his unique entertainment, providing an altogether new definition of fun and spirituality. He has exceptional powers of mind control, thought transmittal, telekinesis and elements of hypnosis. Sounds kinda hokie but fun in a free kind of way. So if it is any good, maybe I will let you know .... In your dreams tonight...Ha Ha Ha....sorry I couldn't resist.

Regular = Milk & Sugar

First, let me apologize to whoever is left still reading this blog - if there is anyone left. I know it has been awhile since my last update. I had some new peers come to NYC for 3 weeks of training and have been herding them around, so I haven’t had time to write anything.

So...I go to get a regular cup of coffee this morning not at my local corner bakery but a little breakfast joint right next to where I live. I said to the lady, "I would like one small coffee please." She said in a thick Italian accent – you wanna one regoo-lar coffee. I said yes – one regular cup of joe. I then see her put a couple of scoops of sugar, milk and then coffee into the cup. I said- Whoa...I don't wanna no sugar and no milk. She said – but you said regular coffee. And I said yes I did say regular. She then shoots me this dirty look and says – "here regular means sugar and milk". I then said "Lady, today is not the day to start with me – I am not in the mood. Don’t be giving me that look - I don’t care what your regular means, my regular means black." Well, okay no...that was not what I really said – although that was what I wanted to say. But instead, because I am a nice person and not that I was really afraid of her jumping over the counter and beating me senseless, I ended up saying ooops..."I’m sorry – I should have said black coffee instead." But this was her lucky day – because I was feeling ahem....calm this morning – lucky her because I do really think I could have taken her down – all 90 lbs and 4’ 9" of her. So if you are ever in New York ordering coffee – just remember regular doesn’t mean regular.