Getting ready for the presentation

Well, Frank wasn’t really joking. When I finished up the report on my part of the project, he asked me to present the final presentation of our project to the board of directors. I’ll be honest – at first I said I didn’t want to. It was one thing to give the presentation to the department directors – I see many of them every day. Some of them come out with us for Friday beer. The board of directors is a different thing altogether. Frank says that it’s fine, because the project has produced good results and has the support of the primary department directors – particularly James Conlon. Mr. Lundgren liked the idea – so there’s a bit of pressure to do this. I suppose it will be a good experience, but I’m not thrilled with the idea that I have to represent the whole team. It makes me uncomfortable to think that I’ll be giving the information, but Frank will be answering many of the questions. It’s a little strange. Anyway – carpe diem? I have accepted. It is a great compliment, and a useful experience. I’ve started to think about what to do next, and after this I may have time to think about it!

On a lighter note I had a great Valentines day. I got a mysterious card yesterday in the office with nothing but a time and place written on it. Having some idea who it could be, I went down to the waterfront at the time indicated on the card (freezing cold weather, it’s been about – 10° to – 12° during the day for the last week or so, but that’s normal) and found Janine with a barbeque! She’s nuts! It was tonnes of fun though, although it’s hard to recongise everyone with their big coats on! Anyway – we barbequed hot-dogs by Lake Mendota on February 14th – with everything frozen. I’ll never forget it! Janine is fantastic! – Nuts – but fantastic! It’s a good thing I’m used to the cold in the high Appennines!!! We used to do that with friends in “high school” in the winter, near Monte Cucco. (don’t tell the Corpo Forestale!) Anyway – what a great evening. I suppose I accepted to do the presentation because I was in such a good mood! Today should be hard, as I went to bed quite late, but I feel great! It must be the theraputic effect of the cold weather!

Today’s expression is “scared sh*tless” – it means to be really scared! (for the presentation – hot-dogs anyone?)

Super bowled

Ok – I did it, and I admit, I might do it again – as soon as this headache goes away. Saturday evening I went out to a place called Brats on State Street. I thought that I had not spent enough time out, and then out on my own here – so Brats it was. I’ve walked by the place quite a few times. They specialise in bratwurst of all things. It was the beginning of a short and fiery marriage to pork products. Here’s a story to tell.
I’m innocent right? A foreigner in this strange and formidable land. I walked into the place to have something to eat, a couple of beers and enjoy the environment of a US sports bar. It was part of my job – right? To integrate? To discover as much as I can about these people and their customs.
Two things happened – the first was the food. I’ve had a particular taste for North American pub food since my first trip to Canada as a kid. This means nachos and chicken wings and lots of heavy, greasy things – and really good hamburgers. Like the Dire Straits song – heavy fuel. Well, this was pork sausage heaven. I had two types – the cajun brat and another dish of two different coloured bratwursts in sandwich form covered in blue cheese – something like gorgonzola but not as creamy. That was the first heart attack – washed down with more than a couple of beers.
The second heart attack was running into a colleague from work – well on my way through bratwurst number two! We had never spent much time talking at work, as she works in marketing and I don’t get out much. I was a bit embarrassed, because I was already in pork-and-beer delirium, but she-who-will-not-be-named (I read Harry Potter in English) sat down with me and we “hung out” till closing. What a great time (did I mention this girl is gorgeous – If you’re reading – you know it!). What a fantastic time! She had been to Italy last summer – a university graduation gift from her parents. She did go to Perugia, so saw some of Umbria. Anyway – one beer (Asylum Gold Digger) after another and “gabbing” (endless conversation) all night.
The third heart attack was after closing. Keeping in the mood, the staff at Brats reminded us that Sunday was the Superbowl and that they were showing it and also served breakfast. So – we walked, and walked, and walked and walked, and never stopped talking, and froze and then got coffee and were back at Brats at 11 am for “breakfast”. It sounds stupid, but to be presumptuous or forward would have been stupid too! Anyway – that much pork required some extreme solutions.
So – the Superbowl. A lot of fun to be there, even if I felt like the inside of my boots. The Americans really love this stuff – like somebody I know and football! It was a great atmosphere. I lost 10 “bucks” (dollars) betting on the New England Patriots – and if Eli Manning hadn’t made that last touch down play in the final minute, I would have won! Thank’s Eli Manning! I had never heard of him before, and I was ten bucks richer! It was a fantastic play though. I don’t understand how it works, but let’s say instead of trying to run around each other, like in our football, they try to run through each other – so its a cross between sumo and football. Anyway – loads of fun. – fun, did I say? Yes – fun, involving more beer and even more pork products! And endless vague sports directed conversation – ok – our colleague in marketing is a football fan – but that’s ok – right? Anyway – we went our separate ways for the evil recovery part – home by the Sunday evening. Happily destroyed, wishing I still felt like the inside of my boots.
Really the cold weather is fantastic, because as long as you don’t fall asleep in it, it helps your body deal with the stupid things your brain makes it do. I probably could have felt worse.
I exchanged “professional greetings” with my week-end companion in pork, football and delirium, and we both got a few sideways looks from the others at the coffee machine (I could barely stand up this morning). She didn’t look much better (sorry – if you’re reading this). Anyway – it’s head on the desk lunch today and tonnes of water and coffee. Can anybody say ASPIRIN!!!!!

The expression of the day is “touchdown”!!!! This is the act of scoring in an American football game – I’ll make jokes later. Back to work. I’m really happy.