Coffee Break? Language Please!

So, I found this wonderful website.  Ever wanted to learn a language, but don't really have time?  Have an iPod???  I DO!!!!  Even if you don't, you can do all this online as well.

So what language do you want to learn?  Spanish?  French?  Italian?  German??  Well, I just found this podcast / website, and it's wonderful.  I'm using it with my Spanish class, and it's called Coffee Break Spanish.  Otherwise, the website is called Radio Lingua, and you can choose your language and then scroll down to access the "Free Audio Files".  They're great.  You can listen to them right there on the website, or download them to the computer.  You can also find it on iTunes.  Search "Coffee Break Spanish" in the iTunes store and subscribe for free to the podcast.  That way, you can download them to your iPod and listen to them as you go.

They're great.  It's not perfect, and you might find you have some questions here and there, but they have different extras you can pay for to supplement the audio files, but, for the most part, they're great.  And they really focus on "survival" in the country.  They jump right in with how to start talking and how to make basic conversation and ask for things.  It's great.  The two running the Spanish program are from Glasgow, Scotland, so if you're not familiar with the accent it might take the first few to grow accustomed to the accent, but it's a great resource to either catch up on what you know, take a "crash course" before traveling somewhere, or just see what the language is like.

Happy listening.  Grab a friend.  Practice together.  !BUENA SUERTE!

A Mother's Touch

Three years ago I lost my mother to breast cancer.  You can say "sorry" and it's appreciated, but sometimes it's just one of those situations where you don't know what to say and you and the other person both know nothing you say can change the way things are.  Ultimately it is what it is.  Losing a parent at any age is difficult.  Loss is loss.  You can't change it, and coping is a process.  Some days are easier than others, some days even feel normal enough to make you think you've moved on and are finally "fine", and some days…well…some days (or even just moments for that matter) can be just as empty and confusing as those very first few months.  


Understandably, not everyone has a wonderful relationship with his parent(s), so this can't be considered a blanket statement, but I think, for the most part, there's something about a mother that everyone appreciates.  She's the one you want around when you're sick, watching movies with you, making chicken noodle soup or crackers for you, doing her best to make you comfortable until you feel better. Even in college there were times I wished my mom were around when I was sick simply because it was comforting (and, who am I kidding, I would have loved to have been able to lay on the couch instead of having to get up to make my own chicken noodle soup).


Other times, moms just somehow seem to know exactly what to do or say.  They calm you down when you're stressed and overwhelmed, thinking the world will come crashing down around you because nothing could ever be worse than what you're going through at that very moment.  She's the one who tells you everything will be alright when your heart gets broken or your emotions get all jammed and out-of-whack, or the one who celebrates ecstatically with you when you get the job or the grade or finally cross the finish line you trained and worked so hard to get to.  She's your biggest supporter, your strongest ally, and your greatest source of comfort and wisdom.


And when it's gone, it can't be replaced.  Sure, you can fine surrogates - different people at different times to help fill different voids or help you through different struggles and over different obstacles, but it's always just a little…well…different.  And, ultimately, there are times when you just wish she could be around simply because you need her.  And those times, because of those specific set of needs at that particular juncture in your life, are the hardest.  

Ciga-wrongs

Ok, bear with me.  I'm venting.


I'm sorry, but today I was beyond appalled when I pulled into the gas station.  What idiot smokes a cigarette AT the gas station?  I mean, hello!  GAS IS FLAMMABLE!  


Dumb. Ass.


And, then, to make matters worse, not only was one person being an idiot but both of the people next to me were smoking.  One woman sat in her car chatting to her friend, blowing her smoke and tapping her cigarette out the window.  The other was smoking her cigarette while washing off her car.  I literally was halfway through filling my gas tank when I started praying to whatever gas-gods exist, asking that I got out of the gas station without being blown up.  I even, and maybe not oh-so-nonchalantly, glanced around me to attempt to calculate how fast and far I could run if I saw a flame start making its way to one of their cars.  I decided anywhere between 4 and 40 feet, depending on the location of the flame and its increasing rate of speed.  Damn it! If only I'd paid more attention in math and physics during the "How to escape and save your life without getting blown up" lesson.  Stupid reality.


So, please, don't smoke while your filling up your tank, while your waiting to fill up your tank, or anywhere within 100 feet of other people filling up their tanks.  In fact, when you see a gas station, put out the cigarette.  


....actually, come to think of it ...Dear Apple, can I get an app for that?

Getting "Goofy"

Fact numero uno:  I love to laugh.  Fact numero dos:  I love movies, including animated cartoons.  Fact numero tres:  I'm a huge Disney dork.   That's okay.  I fully embrace my dorkiness.  But I do.  I love Disney and I love Disney movies.  Can't help it.  Grew up on them.  They make my soul happy, kind of like Pixar movies and their pre-movie animated shorts make me happy.  Same concept.

Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised when, completely out of the blue, I had a song from The Goofy Movie stuck in my head.  The song?  "Eye to Eye".  It's the last song of the movie, where Goofy and his son sing it onstage with the big music star.  Goofy exchanges crazy dance moves with the singer and everyone's famous, and it's great.  Story over.  However, upon bringing up this tidbit of info with people over the weekend, I discovered everyone I was with equally loved that movie.  We started going over one-liners (aka "it's the leaning tower of cheese-ah") and songs, and we decided we absolutely had to find that movie.  This is when antiquated VHS technology becomes even more annoying.  We found the movie, but couldn't play it!  Boo.  Stupid movies.  Luckily, we found it for sale on eBay (yay), and also discovered that, although not available streaming via Netflix, you can insert The Goofy Movie into your movie cue on Netflix.  Cool!  

In the meantime, for those of you that remember the movie, love the movie (secretly or openly.  I promise I won't tell), here is a You Tube Video of the 2 best songs from the movie.  Enjoy.  Sing along.  Dance to them in your room while belting them out at the top of your lungs.  Be a kid again.  It's okay, your secret's safe with me, and your computer.  Promise.  Just don't pull any muscles.  You might feel twelve again, but make sure you check in with your muscles and joints first.  Have fun!!

Have No Fear, Google is Here

It's amazing where you can find some very helpful information, or from whom you will find such information.  Yesterday I had coffee with my aunt and right as we were about to part ways she pulled out a card.  It looked like a business card, but I could see the GOOGLE logo at the bottom.  Since she doesn't work for Google, I was surprised why should be be carrying a Google business card. 

The answer?  Apparently our lovely friends at Google have created a new feature.  (because, clearly, they aren't already taking over the world).  The feature?  The new "4-1-1".  That's right.  They have created a new version of "Information" for all you needing immediate information and only having access to your phone.

How does it work?  Well, you send Google a text with the question you want answered, and they send you back the answer.  That simple.  For example, if you text "Weather 60610" or "Weather Elk Grove, IL" to GOOGLE (466453), it will send you back the weather for that location.  If you text "Lawry's Chicago" it will text you back the number for the restauarant.  Etc.  Etc.  You get the point.  Pretty cool right?  And, it's almost instantaneous, so no more waiting for the automated woman to ask you "city or state", "business or personal" when trying to find a number. 

The number for google?  466-453.  Save the number in your phone.  466453.  Make Google your newest contact.  Stay in touch.  Use that friendship whenever you need.  Tell your friends.  Remember, though, text costs still apply.  I do not believe this is free.  But, it is a really cool new feature.  Have fun.  Tell Google I say hi.

Adult Swim My Funny Bone

Age can be deceiving.  My age might say twenty-something, but some days I feel like I have the mentality of a teenager.  I find the stupidest and weirdest things funny.  Granted, I also feel like if you can't find things in life funny, then, well, life will be way too painfully serious.  My goal is to laugh at least once a day, although if my daily quota were only one, then I'd have some serious re-goaling to do.  Usually, I laugh plenty.


Weekends help.  Friends help.  Friends showing me funny videos on the weekends = double help.  This is why God invented Adult Swim - for all us "old folk" who still secretly love cartoons and stupid things just as much as we did when we were seven.  Whilst sifting through mountains of videos I have giddily narrowed it down to two:  The Giraffe in Quicksand and The Gummy Bear, which is also available in slow motion.  Warning:  F-word present....but then again, why wouldn't it be?  Adult humor.  Duh.  Still.  Very Funny.  (I now feel like TBS.  Dear TBS, I would like a job.  I can say "Very Funny" on your commercials. Thanks.)


Enjoy. Laugh out loud.  Watch them again . . . and again . . . and ...uhem... I mean, um, right.  Watch them.  Share with friends.  Make someone else's weekend.  :-)

9/11

September 11, 2001.  I was sixteen and a junior in high school.  I still remember exactly where I was when I heard the news - in first period computer graphics class.  It was around 8:45-ish because I was heading to my next period, US History (ironically enough).  He turned on the TV and let us watch the event, although the high school initially "poo poo"d the idea thinking it was just breaking news, not something worthy of stopping class.  The instant the 2nd tower was hit, though, things quickly changed. Everyone's TV was on.  That's all people wanted to watch.  That's all they talked about.  Kids were on the phones with their parents trying to find out if everyone they knew and loved was safe.  People were starting to find out that the ones they knew weren't all coming home that night.  

In all, parts of that day will remain as vivid as if they had happened only five minutes ago.

September 11th was brought up yesterday at school.  I work with eighth graders.  They're thirteen.  That means they were four when this happened.  I don't remember much of anything from when I was four.  Yes, they have heard of 9-11.  Yes, they have seen a video or photo or montage or two of the events of the day, but it's not the same.  And how could it be?  When I was four the first Spanish commercial was launched on network TV, starting to change the advertisement community and the realization of the demographic shifts in America.  Students in Beijing take over Tiananmen Square in China.  The latter is was so monumental it is still talked about in textbooks and in classes. It was a big deal.  But I was four.  I don't remember.  I only know through reading and watching videos.  

It's different, the memory of something because you watched it happen and the honor given to something you're told to hold in reverence.  9-11, for millions and millions of people like me will be the former - something they remember, something that sits poorly in their stomach because they remember the horror and devastation attached to the event.  For others, it is something they will remember but only because they've been taught to remember it.  That doesn't make it wrong.  It just makes it different.  I imagine people who went through the bombing of Pearl Harbor felt much the same way.  Living in modern day history is an interesting and reflective idea if you allow yourself the time to acknowledge it, realize it, and reflect on it.  

Honor those things which deserve a moment of remembrance.  Maybe you didn't live through it.  Maybe you don't remember it, but people risked their lives and died that day so that you could be exactly where you are right now.  On your couch? Maybe.  Out with friends?  Maybe.  Remembering family? Sure.  Or maybe your even in NYC watching the memorial skyline.  Regardless, on 9-11, nine years later, you are still here.  Learning about it might not have as much of an impact as living through it, but at least people know.

Mangia at Medi

Originally known as Bice (Bee-chay), Medi is a wonderfully popular Italian restaurant just off Michigan Avenue in Chicago.  I had the pleasure of being asked there for dinner a little while ago, and I was thrilled.  I love Italian food (uhem, note the last name) and I love the really good, homecooked, lots of flavor but not necessarily all the fat, kind of Italian food.  Sure we can all go to The Olive Garden or Maggianos, but I love trying new restaurants, and I love when the new restaurants give old plates new spins.

Much like other upscale restaurants, the decor is stylish and welcoming, the wood a dark cherry and the lighting just dim enough to make you forget how much your eating while still allowing you to read the menu and see the person sitting across from you at the table.  The cool thing about this place, though, is it has a great (albeit Tiny!! make reservations) outdoor patio.  Our party took up the corner of the patio and had a beautiful view of the hundreds of people passing along Michigan avenue not more than two blocks away. 

The staff?  Extremely friendly.  The food?  To die for.  Unfortunately when we arrive (and started eating at 9pm) some of the specials were so good they were already sold out, so I had to opt for another fish dish as opposed to the tuna that had captivated my tastebuds initially.  I chose the salmon with asparagus and oh . . . my . . . god.  I literally took a bite and then had to stop myself from falling over in ecstacy.  I felt like the rat from Ratatouille when he tries that lightening-y cheese and mushroom combination.  Transported.  That's a good word for it.  Transported.  Aside from my dish, I had the chance to sample the Risotto di fruti di mare (seafood risotto) which I also equally recommend.  We even had the ricotta cheesecake as a dessert, and I would eat that over a Cheesecake Factory cheesecake any day (and I LOVE the Cheesecake Factory).

Anyways.  It will set you back a pretty penny, but if you have the opportunity to go, for a special occasion or because you just, well, deserve a treat darn it! I say go!  Take a friend and enjoy a nice, two hour, well-deserved, home cooked, perfect meal.  And maybe even indulge in some dessert.  Mangia Mangia!!

The University Where it's Always a "D+"

How many people would want to go or send their kid to a school whose advertisement is "D+"?  I don't know about you, but I might personally take that as a negative.  No one ever want to see D+ anywhere on his reportcards, because nothing about a D+ radiates achievement.

So my question is, who in this PR firm thought that the "Drake Advantage" campaign for Drake University should ever, in a million years, be represented by "D+".  That's almost as bad as something like Kit Kat coming out with the Krazy Kit Kat and calling it the "KKK."  Maybe my example is a little much, granted, but it's the same idea - failing to realize the negative connotation of an idea.  Maybe if it had been "Drake+" instead of "D+" that would be understandable.  You could even go so far as to say "D" with the "+" sign on the inside of the D, but to have them butted up together in a way resembling a failing grade is just downright poor proofing on the part of the PR firm.  I would be utterly embarrased, that's for sure.  I don't think it's worthy of being fired, granted, so I hope the designers still have their jobs!  I might just write myself a sticky-note reminder that says "BE OBJECTIVE" or "GET A 2ND OPINION!", laminate it, frame it, and stick it on my cube wall!

Remember, there's never anything wrong with getting feedback.  In fact, that's how all of us grow and become better at what we do.  However, their failure to catch their slip up definitely led to a nice afternoon laugh.  Way to go.  "D+"