Anniversary Party

Thanks to everybody who came to my celebratory brown bag lunch on Thursday. I thought it was a lot of fun, and I hope you have a new appreciation for classic Mary Tyler Moore and/or the totally delightful 30 Rock. Episodes of both shows can be found at www.hulu.com and also my living room, anytime. I will try to have episodes handy for future brownbag lunches on rainy days this summer. And more cake is forthcoming.

Andrew Hudson pointed out how strangely American it is to throw a party where attendees sit and watch TV instead of talking to each other*. And while I think that party was not particularly American so much as just odd, it’s true that I didn’t get a chance to really talk about the reason for the party. I’ve been here for two years now, and my life hasn’t always been awesome, I haven’t always loved Outlook calendars, the bar selection around here is severely wanting, and my morale at times has been low. Something that has never wavered is the respect and affection I feel for all of you; the people at HRF can’t be beat. We hear it a lot at people’s farewell celebrations, but I’d like to tell you it now – in all honesty – without getting teary and embarassing. Thank you for being so dedicated and inspiring, and for not being humorless jerks.

*I guess he missed Kenneth the page’s speech on 30 Rock about television: More than jazz or musical theatre or morbid obesity, television is the true American art form! Think of all the shared experiences television has provided for us; from the moon landing to the Golden Girls finale; from Walter Cronkite denouncing Vietnam to Oprah putting that trash bag of fat in the wagon! From the glory and the pageantry of the Summer Olympics to the less-fun Winter Olympics. So please, don't tell me I don't have a dream, sir. I am living my dream.

Two Year Anniversary

March madness isn’t over until winners (and losers) have been honored with prizes. It’s coming, folks. Kelly, Kurt, Nathalie and Alex will be rewarded for their skillful, fortuitous, and downright silly picks, respectively. Soon!

Quote from my grandparents, Poppop and Bubba, in reply to the letter I wrote them on my birthday, describing how strange it is to be 26, when I swear, just a second ago, I was 17. “You are so right in what you say about getting older – inside we feel just the same. I always say that if they didn’t have mirrors, we wouldn’t know we were old (except aches, pains, and slowing down.)”

I hope many of you here in NYC will join me on Thursday (the 24th) for what is essentially a brown-bag lunch in honor of my two year anniversary at HRF. (Visiting washingtonians are welcome too, though beware of travelling with Kevin, since he seems to have only bad travelling luck.) I will be showing episodes of the tv shows that are most about me: The Mary Tyler Moore Show (even though I am probably more of a Rhoda, Mary is pretty dorky when you think about it) and 30 Rock. Cake will be served. I think we could all use a little celebration.

March Madness

Andrew Thomas has spent the week ensconced in first place, looking down happily at the rest of us from his perch on high. My hat’s off to you, sir. If your bracket-picking abilities are any indication (and, aren’t they??), the refugees under your protection are in good hands.

But don’t blow your winnings on general tso’s chicken, beers and coca-cola, or striped polo shirts just yet.

Plenty can shift around this weekend. Because of the crazy points system (that I blame for my own demise a couple weeks ago), the games this Saturday are worth 16 points each, and Monday’s championship game is worth 32 points. Anything can happen!

• Will Kelly’s gamble on Memphis prove fruitful?
• Will other Andrew or Jordan (re)claim the top spot with a UCLA win?
• Will Kurt’s misplaced loyalty to the Kevin Lanigan-approved Jayhawks turn the standings upside-down?

Stay tuned. And remember, Andrew, living in Brooklyn is the real prize. Welcome!