Back to School

A few weeks ago I signed up for an informational session of the MBA program at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis.  Today, my Outlook notified me at noon I had the 5:30 appointment.

Work is rocking right now and didn't even feel like I lifted my head above my keyboard for more than a sporadic 20 minutes throughout the day, so I didn't surprise myself when I looked at clock after emerging from one of the conference rooms and it was 5:45.

After walking ten blocks, going into the wrong building, finally finding the correct room only to find a Sharpie note stuck to the outside - "Info meeting in 127 moved to 332" - I figured it was a miracle I made it to the meeting at all.

I caught about 20 minutes of discussion from, what I'm assuming, was one of the MBA administration people.  My timing was impeccable, as the PowerPoint seagueway was "Preparing for Your Time Commitment."

More questions were left than answers as I walked out with the customary ugly folder and information packet.  I proceeded toward an exit, with my thoughts on the impending bus ride.  I immediately knew I had taken an incorrect stairwell, because as the door closed behind me I heard a heavy click.  I spent the next five minutes figuring out which door wouldn't set off the fire alarm.

Wrong building.  Late for class.  Locked in stairwell.  And a bus ride.

Sounds like I'm signing up to be a freshman again.

 

 

Nine Days Until Festaroon

Nine days until The Bike Bar touches down in Portland for the adventure trip of the season.

Planning our two-wheeled pony retreat, we kicked around the idea of having it coincide with one of the major beer festivals. Due to scheduling, we picked a weekend and figured we would postulate our own beer tour if something did not arise.

Friends. Something is a-rose-ing.

What's better than riding bicycles and drinking beer?

Bicycles and organized beer drinking.

The Oregon Brewers Guild is hosting its 2009 Barleywine Festaroon at the Lucky Labrador Beer Hall, in Northwest Portland.

A 36 beer list will attempt to make jovial friends with the members of The Bike Bar.  We, in turn, will welcome them with a smile and extend a gentlemanly handshake.

...and then call each beer a cowardly cheat, challenging it to a leg-wrestling match.

I've got my money on Andrew pulling favorites.

He has cankles.

Living with a Woman

1. Little shampoo bottles

2. Tucked in sheets

3. Pet cats

4. Tea candles

5. Everything is plural

The John (Like Me, But Vile)

Toilet seats should have handles.

Don't you think?

That is a functional piece of design that is missing from those fixtures.

Random thought of the day.

Happy Soul Day

Save the Date

I'm lobbying to have this be our "Save the Date."



I'm thinking self-mailer? Regardless, Aly has to make the logo bigger.

Copy:

John text bubble: Are we really doing this?

Aly text bubble: Oh, we're doing this.

aughst twnght negthsd (August 22nd)

Attended my semi-annual dental visit today.

Why does the dentist always ask you questions while they have metals tools jammed in your mouth?

"Oh, you're getting married?  How's the planning coming along?"

"mugh, aehg ahi ahgh."

"That sounds nice.  When is the big day?"

"aughst twnght negthsd"

"How exciting, I'm so happy for you two.  Well.  You have one cavity.  See you back here in two weeks."

Ratios

You can approach the math however you would like, but the end solution in a good relationship always ends up with decision making ratio of 60/40.

I say “always,” but I guess I really mean “aggregate average.”

One exception, I’ve come to discover over the past month, is when the topic is wedding planning. In this case it skews more 70/30. Or even 80/20.

Ehh…**shutter** 80/20…

Wedding planning, among many other descriptors, has been a treat. Truthfully, Aly and my wedding objectives are strategically in the same direction:

1. Great Environment
2. Family-like Interaction
3. Much Fun/Dancing/Shenanigans

Tactically, on how those are executed, not so much.

Whereas I would like to hire a bona-fide Cuban to hand roll cigars and enhance the “Great Environment” bucket, Aly believes that “Designer Wedding Dress” is the most important line item under that category.

Aly’s creativity really shines when she works to support this point, by the way.

Or say, I would like to do the champagne toast with Guinness while Aly would prefer to enhance the family-esque interaction with mounds of olive oil and fresh baked bread.

This is not to say that one direction is better than the other. It’s just funny how two different approaches get melded into a day about both. And, at the same time, creates the tactical minutiae that leads to the type of discussions which make planning a wedding such a pain in the ass.

The additional factor is the budget. While a very clearly defined financial space enhances your creativity with the execution, it sometimes comes at the expense of other ideas.

I’m crossing my fingers that the most creative (and affordable) ideas win out on the day. Knowing the two of us, I think they will.

And as for the decision making ratio, I would imagine (and hope) the ratio dips back to 60/40. And, the great irony about the 60/40 relationship? It’s that both parties think they are on the 40 end of the spectrum.

So, if you are both giving 40, where does the other 20 go?

A: Otis.

Solid, Liquid, Gas

The route 4 bus running north and south on Bryant Avenue passes a park at 31st Street. As I passed the park this morning, from a fogged window, I witnessed the following:

In 20 degree weather, at 8:00 in the morning with the sun not quite up, a guy dressed head to toe in Carhartt stood in the middle of park.

Mr. Minnesota stood by a truck. The truck was connected to a hose. The hose was being held tight in his hand as it blasted glacier-cold water over a field that was already covered in frostbitten ice.

Appearently, with all of the above freezing temperature we've had the last few days, the snow hasn't been growing as well as anticipated.

Just another Minnesota nuance you have to appreciate.

Bike Portland

Life is better on a bike.

Everything is booked.

I, along with four of my closest bike nerds, am flying out to Portland, Oregon, for three days of two-wheeled pony rides.

We are picking up our bike of choice at a local bike shop and embarking on epic rides to Mount Hood, Tabor and Helen, respectively.

Things that I'm excited about, by the numbers:

28 microbreweries

15 trail recommendations from local bike shop owners

7 speciality bike shops

5 cyclocross bikes

3 mountains

1 "?European Style?" hotel room

The pieces are coming together nicely.