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.