Blog

At work yesterday, I read the recent press release from the White House announcing the nomination of a new ambassador to Lithuania (on the same page as a change at one of my clients…so yes, it was work.) Anyhow, the official title of the position is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Lithuania.

OK, I admit that I had to look that up. Plenipotentiary refers to “a diplomatic agent invested with full power to transact business”. Makes sense, but hard to put on a business card!

Hmmm, maybe he slips it in at parties to get chicks 🙂

[For the record, blogger spellcheck (which still thinks ‘blogger’ should be ‘blocker’) had no problem with Plenipotentiary.]

I could easily have spread this entry over five updates, but out of kindness, I’m cramming all these juicy bits into one overstuffed uber-entry! Trust me…these are all worth wading through. Consider these titles to whet your appetite:

1. Streets of Philadelphia…
2. Dirty talk in the airport
3. I’m sure that I’m carrying the bird flu…
4. Elena #1 returns…
5. Benjamin Franklin kicks ass…

So first, we begin with my warm afternoon stroll through Independence National Park yesterday afternoon. My coworker Jen and I had a couple of hours to kill before our flight home, so we took a stroll in the 80-degree sunshine.

Truly a lovely day to see the the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and various other colonial buildings. Now, I do love that period of American history, but it does make you chuckle to visit buildings “OVER TWO HUNDRED YEARS OLD” so soon after visiting Rome and its 2000-year old structures. Oh, but I’m not here to pick.

Although, yes, I will.

So, Benjamin Franklin’s final home a couple of blocks from Independence Hall was torn down after his death. Now, you can “peer underground” at the bricks that were once his house. Nice try, but the Coliseum is still standing.

Oh, but here is the brick hole where Franklin’s bathwater and toilet used to drain.

So, from Independence Park, I took a short cab ride to the airport, where I grabbed a bite at the TGIFridays. It was there that I was reminded how good my job is and why I could never be a traveling salesman. Seated next to me were two middle-aged men and a young women who clearly worked in sales for the same company. One of the men (clearly with no brain-to-mouth filter) made two classic conversational observations:

“If I could do what a dog can do, I wouldn’t be married.” and “This store had some of the nastiest magazines. Stuff like ‘Hemaphrodites’ and ‘Women Over 40’.”

Let me remind you that he was talking with a female coworker, and that nobody at the table was under 40. Can you just imagine this guy trying to charm his way to closing a sale?

On to item #3…the bird flu. I would just like to state that for the entire flight home, the woman to my left and the two men across the aisle to my right were all sneezing. I’m doomed.

Jumping to Elena…Elena #1 to be precise. Yes, she wrote back. Jealousy perhaps? Anyhow, her storyline is advancing nicely, and for the first time we hear about sending money!! This is a good one:

My dear and love. Today I woke up with fine mood. Do you know why? Since that time when I got acquainted with you I thank destiny. I think that soon we shall together. The visa will be given to me for the period of 3 months. Do you you imagine? We can see 3 months each other and feel each other. It as in dream. Yesterday I and my girlfriend sat counted charges which will be for trip to you my honey. It approximately 1200 US dollars. I have available 330 dollars. Yesterday I could agree with the chief on work that he gave out to meholiday for 3 months then when I shall ask him. All goes well. It pleases me. … I am glad that I have an opportunity to devote the life to the fine person as you my dear. I love you and this finest feeling. I can not wait our meeting.

Signed: “Your beauty”.

Awesome.

And finally, I leave you with the best tourist trinket ever: the Benjamin Franklin action figure! It capped off a fine week.

First of all, let me say that my trip to Philadelphia has been wonderful so far. My very favorite colleagues. Amazing spring weather. Flowers in bloom. Wonderful food. And, our meeting is just two blocks from Independence Hall. In the scheme of business trips, this one is pretty nice.

But no pictures.

Anyhow, I do have an email from Elena #2. I don’t know if its the same person writing, but this Elena sent blonde pictures, and the other brunette. It was a long email, so here are the highlights:

Hello my the new friend. I am glad to receive your letter. I am very happy that now I write you this letter. I want to speak much more about me. Ok??? My name is Elena. This very much widespread name in Russia. I was born and now I live in Russia. My city a name Kirov City. I very much love children but I have not children and I was never married. You probably want to know why I was not married??? In Russia it is a lot of men and they use many alcoholic drinks and want only sex. And I want to find the man of my dream and to create happy family. It is very difficult in Russia. Also I have overlooked to speak you that I do not drink and I do not smoke, but I do not mind if people have this hobbits. … I hope that you will not ignore me and write to me and we shall learn each other better because I think from one letter we do not learn each other. I shall wait for yours the letter.

Yes friends, the billboards in Philadelphia are proclaiming the arrival of Elmo’s World.

THAT is the highlight of my trip to Philadelphia today. I’m assuming the rest of the trip will turn up some interesting stories or photos.

In the meantime…here is the carpet at Philadelphia’s airport! Take that. That’s how I felt about the airport this afternoon.

I mean frankly, there is nothing here to report yet. The flight was normal…no food makes me grumpy but its old news. My hotel room is normal…I’m like a kid that looks forward to Christmas only to get a sweater (a nice sweater…but just a sweater!).

The only item of note today was that I got an email at WORK from a mysterious Elena from Russia. MY Elena is now cheating on my alter ego…with me! How dare she. Here is what she wrote:

Hello!!! I am a 32 year old girl who loves life. I like to stay busy, always doing something. My favorite things ever include the sun, the water and the beach, art and music? I’m looking for someone who loves to have fun. Someone who can not only keep up with me, but who will challenge me. If you want to correspond with me and to learn more about me that write to me on my e-mail. Ok??? I shall wait for your letters. As soon as you will write to me that I shall send you my photos. Ok??? Your friend Elena.

Notice no accent in this one. Sigh. I fear she is gone.

Oh, and happy 100-year anniversary of the Great Quake. (For the record, Jeff and I own a home built on bedrock.)

Jeff and I had a fabulous Easter weekend…although somehow I gave him my cold. Let’s ignore that for now. I bought him tulips to make up 🙂

Easter dinner on Sunday was a scrumptuous mixture of tradition and pantry. Ham plus a yummy mushroom risotto (bought in Siena last May), paired with comfort foods green bean casserole and cornbread muffins. Oh, and Jeff’s favorite German chocolate cake…yum!!

The weekend was full of heavy downpours one minute, followed by blue cloudless skies. We even had some early morning hail Sunday morning. So, we ventured out on Sunday for a walk between showers. We went to a small park in Hunters Point. Heron’s Head Park is a sliver of land that juts out into the Bay as a breakwater. The park is tucked between a PG&E power plant and a Port of San Francisco warehouse.

This park is popular with birders. So here, for my folks, is today’s name-that-bird quiz!

Also, out and about on Sunday, I snapped this photo of the University of San Francisco’s St. Ignatius Church. The sun had popped out and was shining off the gold cross on this spire. That and I liked the wispy clouds.

On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, we awoke to rain showers. So, I decided to take a drive and see what some of my favorite photo spots looked like in the rain. I found a few new areas…and an odd blue camper. You don’t see THAT every day.