In Camelot

I am still on my weeklong trip, but wanted to tempt you with a photo - this was my morning bike ride, which extended halfway around Martha's Vineyard and into Chappaquiddick - roughly 35 miles in all. I've downloaded about 50 photos already, including a smart-assed one for Jennie, but those will have to wait. I have more chowder and beer to down.

One Piece...Two Piece...Three Piece...Four?

Urban Dictionary defines the "Canadian Tuxedo" as follows: an outfit consisting of a denim jacket and jeans. You see them all the time in the Midwest....all.the.time. You cannot watch a season of "Roseanne" without spotting a few. In Canada, the Canadian Tuxedo is most often coupled with a Dave Coulier hockey haircut. Britney Spears and one-time boyfriend, Justin Timberlake wore matching Canadian Tuxedos to a Grammy Awards celebration one year.

I recently became familiar with the concept of the two piece versus the three piece. Quite honestly, the C.T. (short for Canadian Tuxedo and used often in my emails to my friend Michelle regarding our co-workers) should only be recognized when all the jeans match. I've been told, however, that outside of Canada, it is nearly impossible and therefore any combination of jean should be accepted. It is also difficult to find the three piece.

Here is my friend Ted, purposefully donning a three piece at Broadripple Brew Pub for the group's entertainment. It should be noted that Ted's wife Jessica, is a really good sport and is also in favor of the three piece.

In fact, his outfit has inspired us all to go out and purchase the neccessary items so that during our trip to Milwaukee for the Joanna Newsom concert, we can all wear one. If only his hat had been jean...it would have been a record-breaking four piece.

Hey Jealousy

If there's one season I miss from my old job, it's Fall. The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back at Starbucks, people do less of what they did in the Summer (which for many is nada)...and Hot Diggity Dog Day (HDDD) is right around the corner. Most of my readers do not need any further explanation. But for those who do: HDDD is the time of year when employees are celebrated, nay feted, at a roast (or boil/steam) of sorts. You can enjoy an all beef weiner (vegetarians are screwed with chips and an apple), learn the art of salsa dancing, enjoy the (sometimes vulgar) tunes of Dj Sunny Moon, and learn more than you ever wanted to know about your fellow co-workers.

Alas, we do not have anything like HDDD at my new job. My company is sending us all to Reno to a "mining-themed" get-to-know-one-another event - which sounds cool and probably will be...but damnit...it's no Hot Diggity Dog Day.

*This post is inspired by my visit to my old workplace today and by seeing the above poster (it has evolved, hasn't it?) in the elevator -which I had to ride down and up twice to get some alone time to pull out my camera. Most of you have already had the pleasure of seeing this poster - but this one is for Jennie and Rhonda. "Memories...light the corners of my mind...distant hot dog smelling memories...of the way...we were..."

Corporate Crosswords

One of these photos illustrates how I single-handedly ruined a corporate event crossword the night before our office launch. Who knew dry erase markers don't always come off? And futhermore, why put the temptation out in front of me? Good thing my company has enough cash to bring extras - several of the Cali event planning team did get a good laugh at my expense and one even made a sticky so that everyone would know who screwed it up.

For September and October I'll be in Reno, NV, Maine, Chicago, and Ohio and Milwaukee, WI to see a Joanna Newsom concert with some friends. I am tired already.

And finally....and possibly most importantly: Team Mathur-Thayer finished the Eagle Creek Sprint Triathlon in 1:35 minutes! Photos will come later as none of us wanted to ruin our cameras so Jennie purchased an el-cheapo one that will have to be developed. It rained, wait, poured, nearly the entire time and humidity was awful. I was proud of us all, though. I can't wait for our next one...right Jennie and Anu?