Japan - May 09

We came back from Japan this morning from a very fast and very eventful and memorable trip. The main reason we went was to celebrate Mrs. Architecturefootballandfood's parents' 60th birthday. We went as a complete surprise to them, and only had informed a small handful of family members of our plans prior to coming. Incredibly, nobody spilled the beans and it all worked like a charm. I have never seen such purely surprised and happy faces as those displayed by the parents, and we were lucky enough to get it on three separate video cameras!
We also got to see and take photos of the M-House, our first built single-family house. It turned out incredibly nice, and it was so great to see a design of ours become reality, and even better to see how happy the clients were. Overall and wonderful trip. We are planning on heading back there for another short trip in September to go to our cousin's wedding party, so we are very excited for that.
I'll post some photos either here or to facebook as soon as I get them downloaded.

Sports and Fraternity

Not as in they greek system, but actual "fraternization," as in a quality of being like brothers or of a brotherhood.

This is a hilarious video clip as a follow up to the previous post. Why do we stupid sports fans feel obliged to become a member of whatever team we choose to support? How can we just automatically join the club without any application process? Is it really that easy? See the video - sound required.

Mitchell and Webb

Thanks to Cousin Ray for the link.

Sports and Happiness

Why do men(and some women) take so much enjoyment in sports? I must be in the upper 10% of this category, and when I think about it, I have no idea why. Does it make my life any better, really, if my team wins? (Or in my case, usually, worse when they lose) Do I learn any skills? Yes, I think so - teamwork, perserverance, etc. But I don't think this is why we love it so much. Is it the testosterone-driven version of soap operas?

Anyway, yesterday was a killer day. Newcastle actually won a huge match which will help us immensely in our bid for safety from relegation. The Blackhawks won game 6 to put them into the Semi-Finals. This is HUGE for the Hawks, being a very young team in a league that is still hoping to gain some popularity. The Cubs had the day off - so they did NOT lose!!

But why do I care about any of this? I'm still faced with the same moral, professional, economic issues that I was yesterday. In the long term, the Hawks going to the semis doesn't really stack up against the thousands of retirement dollars I've lost in the past couple years....

The Most Eventful Day

This past week, Mrs. Architecturefootballandfood's cousin's fiance was in Chicago checking out MBA programs that he'll be applying to for 2010. So he stayed at our place and we did enough different things to thoroughly tire me out. I've had some guests, and I've had some busy days, but nothing beat what happened yesterday for being just down right busy.
It started by the three of us heading down to Millenium park to show him everything it has to offer (I won't go into the park here) and we bumped into an old friend. Then we headed over to the Gleicher Center at the UofC school of business and bumped into ANOTHER old friend. Now I'm getting the feeling that I know pretty much every person in this city. Just one of those things. Then after lunch, we settle in to start watching one of our favorite sports events of the year - the Kentucky Derby. We head on over to Stretch Run, place our bets, and head back home in time to prepare some damn strong mint juleps. Well, as anybody who watched the race knows, a HUGE underdog won, and although none of us picked that horse, Mrs. Architecturefootballandfood was WISE enough to pick the Show horse - #2, Musket Man. So this was a point of excitement for us all, and we strolled back over to Stretch Run to collect our winnings. While in line, who do I see hanging out with a beer in hand, jeans and a button-up collared shirt untucked, looking loose as a goose after a good Sunday afternoon wholloping of the Florida Marlins, but LOU PINIELLA, head coach of my beloved Cubbies. So of course, I get a nice hand-shaking in and Lou gives me a "Good to see you" as if we've been homies since Junior High. What a feeling!
Up next was the Bulls game 7 against the Celtics at Hop Haus, rounding out what HAS to be the best first round playoff series in NBA history. A lot of beer and beef later, The Bulls ended up losing but a killer time was had. My friend Chas came and met us, and Chas, myself and Yoichi (our guest) headed over to Joe's to watch the end of the Hawks game and the Hatton Pacquiao fight. The Mrs. went home to a relaxing bath and a Woody Allen movie.
So by the time we went from Hop Haus to Joes, the Hawks came back from 2 goals down to take the lead, and we were able to see them finish off with a 5-3 away victory! This was just a warm up to the main event - the FIGHT. We snuggled into a tight table and immediately started talking some wicked Pac Man trash, because most of the guys we were sitting near were Hatton Supporters. Well, not even two rounds later, we were obviously the ones with big grins on our faces, as we were lucky enough to see one of the most dominating physical performances I have ever witnessed in my life, surrounded by good-humored company and, of course, more beer.
By the time we got home, I was exhausted, we were satisfied with the last day of Yoichi's trip, and I have to say it was one of the all-around most eventful days of my life. (In the "quantity" sort of way - not necessarily the "quality")
Just thought I'd share.

Catchin Up

Folks. It's been over three weeks since I've posted on the beloved AFF blog. Since I've posted, the Blackhawks have gotten to the second round of the NHL playoffs, the Bulls have performed MORE than adequately against the reigning champion Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs, the Cubs have failed to impress anybody at the beginning of the season, and Newcastle United continues to prove how much of a bother the Premier League must be to all of their players. But really - why SHOULD they play hard? They're millionaires!! (?!)
Since I've posted, the SWINE FLU pandemic has swept the fears of the world, and today, the first Chicago cases were suspected, immediately shutting down a school. The first death was reported in the United States, or anywhere outside of Mexico.
Since I last posted, Mrs. Architecturefootballandfood's cousin's fiance from Japan has come in and has been staying with us for a few days while he is checking out business schools in the Midwest. We took him to Carnivale the first night he was here - STILL probably the most fun restaurant in my fair city. NO ONE who walks in can walk out without a smile on their face - it just isn't possible.
Since I've posted, I have failed to qualify for yet another design competition, but we have posted our entry on the PlexDesign Blog. It's a nice little project that we thoroughly enjoyed creating. We are still in the process of making documents, so more will come.
Since I've posted, my favorite Senator of the moment, Mr. Arlen Specter, switched from being a Republican to a Democrat. I personally think this means virtually nothing, except for the (now ubiquitous comment) fillibuster-proof majority the Dems now hold. I don't think this will alter the way Mr. Specter votes at all - which is exactly the way it should be. Republican and Democrat should only be a label - not a responsibility for certain voting patterns.
Since I've posted, I have unfortunately experienced the death of a family member very close to me. This obviously caused an incredible amount of heartache, stress, and reflection. It reminded me of something I recently read by Manuel De Landa in A Thousand Years of Non-Linear History, when he discusses the natural flows of the Earth. We humans are only results of these energy flows which have been going on for billions of years. We are a temporary manifestation of these flows of energy which comes from the Earth. We are little bits of matter, cells and energy, which are temporarily released from the Earth itself, to return back to the Earth after a short time. It's the cycle of life, it happens constantly, every day, and we must prepare ourselves for this. Beyond the physiological side of death, it made me reflect on life as well. On family. On the importance of sharing moments with those who are close to you, and creating families to spend time together, and to carry on traditions, honor and memories. The importance of living life on both ends of the spectrum - the up side and the down side. Realizing that life is at its most honest and effective at those very few moments during our time when its too devastating or its too uplifting to filter your emotions. Few moments allow you to get to realize this first hand, so when they come along, I've learned that its important to let them affect you.

Yet Another New Blog

That's right.
As I'm sure you're both already aware, I've got a new blog for everybody to look at, and I'll try not to let my attention to the new guy lure me away from ol' faithful here, Architecture, Football and FOOD.

www.plexdesign.wordpress.com

(We'll see if blogger will allow links to a Wordpress site)

This is the blog for Mrs. Architecturefootballandfood and my design firm, PLEX DESIGN. I'll be keeping the content on that fairly straightlaced and professional, while this guy will continue to be the garbage pail for my thoughts.

Keep on the lookout for the impending public release of YET ANOTHER blog from yours truly - this one will be all about the good tasties...FOOD. Coming soon to a webspace near you....and, I guess, everybody. (Everybody who is able to access the web, at least, which, in today's flattening world (Big ups to Thomas Friedman there), is becoming, in fact, everybody.) I've said too much.

Another Return to the Toon

Sound familiar?

Well dear readers, it's been at least 4 games, so Newcastle are eligible to replace their manager again. Honestly though, how long ago did this stop being funny?

Last night in a complete shock appointment, Newcastle United replaced their interim manager to the interim manager (sound like a hit British-turned-American television show to anyone else?) with another interim manager. This time, it's the legend, the golden boy, the chosen one, the great SIR ALAN SHEARER.

This appointment brings a couple completely disparate thoughts to my head. First off, sheer and utter joy. Alan Shearer is a hero of mine. This is a local boy, born in Gateshead to an sheet metal worker. Grew up loving Newcastle United with all his heart. As he got older and his feet became more and more golden, he somehow turned up at Blackburn. Obviously, he couldn't stay there for too long, and that was when the great Manchester United came calling. And as much money that they would throw at the great man, as many songs that they would sing for him, he rejected the Mancs for his true love, Newcastle United. He stayed there for ten great seasons and became an absolute legend to the Geordie faithful, and the club's all-time leading scorer. Now, mind you, he never won a single piece of silverware during this time, but from all he said and did during and after his career at Newcastle, he never once regretted his decision and is still the biggest living legend in the Northeast of England.

That same lack of silverware in a striped shirt might be the biggest reason he is chosing to return to his beloved club - this time possibly opting for a striped necktie. A squad led by Alan Shearer will be a worthy squad in the eyes of a Newcastle supporter, and we will all have true faith in the fact that, while he may not have a lick of individual Premiership experience, he will bring a passion and fire to the game that not even King Kev can match.

This brings me to my next point. The inexperience. While I DO believe this is a very timely and wise decision by Mr. Ashley, to bring in a man who can galvanize a team and bring an energy to the club at a time when a few quick points are so desperately needed to just get us out of the relegation quagmire, looking at the future beyond the next 8 games, things get a little murkier. As I mentioned, he's got no Premiership experience apart from being Glen Roeder's right-hand-man while picking up the horrible Souness pieces. He's taking charge of a club in absolute crisis, with an ownership that has proven to be indecisive, obtuse, and difficult. He's doing more of a favor to the club than the club is doing to him, this can be sure.

So during the next 8 matches, one of two things will happen. 1) The Chosen One won't be able to steer the ship away from the iceburg that we've all been able to see since October, and we will continue towards the Coca-Cola Championship. If this does happen, it might be an actual blessing for Mr. Shearer, as he will have less pressure (this is an arguable point, since we MUST be back up after only one season), have a younger squad willing to listen to him, and after the year be able to come back into the top flight with a squad who is his, and is working as a unit. Or 2) The Golden Boy will turn out to truly be golden, and we will escape relegation. Then over the close season, there will be many, many, many decisions to make. The first - what happens to Alan? The second, in conjunction - what happens to Joe Kinnear, Dennis Wise, and all of the above's relationship to Cashley and Lambias? The third - what happens to the overpaid and underperforming players? The fourth - what happens to our current, fantastic youth squad? The fifth - what happens with bringing in new players? And so on. These questions are dreadfully obvious and vague - I'd hate to be in Alan's role when the specifics come into questions - since, keep in mind, he and I technically have the same amount of top-flight managerial experience....

So for the night, may my voice be horse and may my pint glass be empty. Over and over again. But we all know what happened last time Mike Ashley made an emotional decision to win over the Newcastle United supporters - King Kev tempted us all to believe and we ended up swallowing the trojan horse whole. Let's not let the same thing happen again.

HOWAY THE LADS AND HOWAY SIR ALAN SHEARER!!!

Plex Website

For anybody interested, we've updated the PLEX website. We'll be adding a few more things in the coming days, so check back.