nyc

I think New York City is one of those places that can be strikingly different each time you visit it, and I have yet to disprove this theory wrong. NYC is beautiful and ugly; black, white and all kinds of shades of gray. I love it and I hate it. It's everything in the world all squashed and mashed together into a giant children's finger painting. This past weekend I found a new New York City.

Lesson learned on this visit: it's important to pack casual-wear on business trips. Otherwise you'll have to resort to the gift shop next to the hotel to supply your weekend-wear (see photo to the right). Playing the role of Tammy tourist, I got to visit: the Empire State building, see Avenue Q on Broadway, St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Brooklyn Bridge, SoHo, Chinatown, and (to appease my sister) Serendipity. Other highlights included the best meal of my life compliments of Mary and the Aqua Grill and Asian invasion night with Naerim.

But aside from the typical tourist attractions, you're bound to stumble upon a secret little nook. And the one we happened to find was Joe's Shanghai on Pell St. in Chinatown. It's noisy, confusing, has community-style seating and is cash only. Ask for the dumplings.

who invited the nerd?

Right now I'm currently shipped out in Valhalla, NY for work. If you're not familiar with this area of upstate New York, don't worry, you're not missing much. Think trees, winding roads, and truckers firmly set in the belief that sleeves are in fact optional.

I've been sent out here to interact more closely with our business clients and to represent my team back in Chicago. It's a task that's both flattering and over-whelming.

During this time I've tried to bring my A game - that's right, business pants with creases so sharp I just might take an eye out.

On Wednesday my business professional facade came tumbling down around me. During a system demonstration in front of about 10 clients, I single handedly managed to launch a client's cream and broccoli soup across the room (to seep into the carpeting), and disconnect everyone's Internet connection - Did I mention this all happened simultaneously?

Ummm... my bad?