Ok, this makes it a little more depressing (for Coloradoans anyway)

Last cartoon.

Donations Can Be Made on Behalf of All the Journalists Who Will Now Try Writing Spy Novels

This might be what we would read in the obituary of the Rocky Mountain News, whose last publication is today. Read about here, here, and here. Here's an "official" obit.

Apparently for this Greatest Depression thing to really gather some steam, a major Denver newspaper had to go down.

Is it sad? Sure. The Rocky was published for 150 years. The longest run business in Colorado. That's not exactly a weekend in the Hamptons (or Vail, the choice is yours). But what I think we're witnessing is another business model that has failed to keep up with the changing business environment and was just plain run by morons who probably don't know a damn thing about working capital or debt/equity ratios.

Hell, if banks and car companies don't have a chance, what kind of odds does a tabloid-format newspaper have?

Faxtacular!

Oh loyal readers...last time I posted I probably was still killing mice, walking everywhere and consumed by time in New York.

NOW, I now live in the South City Park neighborhood in Denver, Colorado, get to see the mountains every day, I haven't seen a single mouse since I left New York, and the sun shines all the time. Oh, and it snows too.

It's very strange to leave a place that is so fun and exciting like New York and expect nothing but disappoint in wherever you might be headed. What's equally strange is getting to the new place and realizing that you're only going to be disappointed if you let yourself be. Right, I know that sounds Tony Robbinsish but it's the truth.

My new neighborhood in Denver is a lot of fun and I have a great new non-corporate coffeeshop within walking distance of home on Colfax Ave. Plus, the bus system is really good here so I'll still have regular public transit stories...I'll get into more detail later but that's basically the gist.

I know this isn't really the most exciting post, but I felt really compelled to share the ginormous life change I've recently had. And it has been well over a month since I posted so hopefully you all didn't assume that I had closed up the blogshop.

Don't worry, I'll still be completely obsessed with New York City and what it's like to live there and all the chaos that I'll be missing but you'll likely get plenty of perspective on why Colorado is pretty fun and has plenty of its own chaos, including Aspen bombers. OH BOY!

Step in My Office...

Let me just first say that this posting has been a long-time coming. I've had lots of time to think about it so hopefully the wait has been worth it.

For me, getting laid off has been weird. Not weird in the sense of someone trying to open the obviously locked bathroom stall door while you're in the middle of an evacuation but weird in the sense of how happy I am as a result of this "reduction in force".

Which, for the record, is the stupidest buzz phrase for a massive nation-wide LAYOFF. You're not taking troops out of Iraq, KPMG, so let's just be honest...Just sayin.

Sorry about the disgression...Yes, I'm happy that I got laid off. Thrilled, in fact. Relieved too. Thinking about how hard I'm NOT going to be working during the months of January through April is a huge weight off my mind. I have many friends that are remaining in the trenches and I've got to say that it may not be the best year to still be there. The unfortunate reality of the sitch is that the amount of work has not changed and has probably increased. Meanwhile, the amount of the people working has most certainly decreased.

Now, you don't have to be a MIT graduate to figure out this equation: MORE WORK + LESS PEOPLE = MORE WORK PER PERSON. Oh and when MORE WORK PER PERSON goes up, your personal life GOES DOWN. BIG TIME. Does this clear up my serentity for you?

Regardless of my logic, there will be friends and colleagues that will think that I am still nuts and that's fine. I can't expect everyone to appreciate my perspective and that's not necessarily what this blog is about.

All I can say is, don't worry for me. DON'T. I'm asking this of you because not only am I happy, I'm feeling completely liberated. It's hard to explain. Perhaps it's the type of feeling that you have when you're so dissatisfied with a situation and then suddenly it is fixed far beyond your expectaions.

Not only that, I can't help but think that being a part of this large financial meltdown doesn't do something interesting for my life story...Granted, there are many people like me but they're not necessarily writing about it but certainly hope they are all enjoying themselves as much as I am.

Post-Election Debrief

Gosh - just like that it's all over.  I can honestly say that I'm glad, although I'm not sure what I'm going to read about on the Internet now.  There are lots of interesting things that came out of this election cycle:

1.  The "blue" state of New York is more partisan than the following "red" states: Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and several others.  New York went blue with 62% going for BO while the red states all went for JM with less than 60%.  Is that meaningful?  Maybe not, like I said, just interesting.  

2. Massachusetts voters approved to decriminalize marijuana which, in my opinion, is a vote for common sense.

3.  Arkansas voters approved to not allow unmarried adoption.  Language from MSN regarding Amendment 1: "Provides that a minor in Arkansas may not be adopted or placed in a foster home if the individual seeking to adopt or to serve as a foster parent is cohabiting with a sexual partner outside of a marriage which is valid under the constitution and laws of this state."  This, seems to be the complete opposite of common sense.

4. Minnesota is having a recount between Norm Coleman (R) and Al Franken (D).  Yes, that, Al Franken of SNL.  I read one of Franken's books a while back and he is pretty funny but I hardly would want him serving in Congress.  But it's the state of Lake Wobegon so whatevs.  

 

I spent the election in the East Village which was mucho fun.  I promise to post a few photos to give everyone an idea of what Election Night was like.  Anyway, I guess I'm going to work on finding something else to do with my time...

At Long Last...

Good morning, my fellow Americans.

I thought I would drop a quick note to remind everyone that if you are registered to vote, please do so.  Here's also a quick recap from NY Mag in case you need a reminder of how long and frequently hilarious this campaign was.  

Some examples: Fred Thompson asked supporters for applause, Joe Biden calling out Rudy Guliani for 9/11 usage, Dave Letterman complaining about a flakey John McCain, Sarah Palin's daughter's baby-daddy drama.  Isn't it a shame that it all ends today?

On an interesting side-note, I voted around 6:30 am today after waiting in line for approximately 30 minutes.  For the first time, I actually pulled a lever in order to cast my vote.  Apparently this isn't new for New Yorkers but I had never literally pulled the lever for anyone.  I figured those things had gone the way of the dodo bird moons ago.

Happy Election Day!

Have a Nice Trip?

So I am walking up the escalator today and my foot catches on one of the moving steps and my face starts plunging downwards.  My pulse quickens and I grab the rail to catch myself but at the same time my messenger bag swings off my back to my side and I attempt to swing it back behind me.

This obviously makes a huge scene on the escalator and there are several people right next to me that are shirking away in fear of getting knocked over by this tall blonde klutz (but so well dressed!).

I recover somehow without injury and continue up the steps as if nothing happened.  What else could I do?  I had to march on.  As I neared the top of the escalator, I started chuckling to myself.  Again, what else could I do?  That had to have looked hilarious to anyone nearby so I couldn't help at laugh at my lack of grace.

Living in New York guarantees many things, one of which is lots of walking.  This copious amount of walking inevitably leads to trips and sometimes falls.  This happens to every New Yorker and I for one have embraced my own clumsiness.

I've definitely found myself laughing more and more whenever I trip and my arms and legs go flailing and my face is filled with terror that I'm going to end up face down in the muck.

I think this basically demonstrates a couple of things: (1) At times I can easily laugh at myself; (2) looking like a fool is something to be embraced and can be healthy for you.  

So get out there people!  Fall all over yourself and loosen up some.  Don't take yourself so seriously.  See, doesn't that feel better?