The Hot Iron

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Déjà vu All Over Again

It was a great time to grow up in the 1980’s in New England.  Let alone the music and outfits, but having your favorite basketball team winning the NBA championship 3 times, on top of their other 13 titles, it was good to be a Boston Celtics fan.  From the Big 3 – Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale – to the supporting cast including M.L. Carr’s twirling towel, the C’s were a powerhouse and it seemed it would last forever.

A major part of the Celtics run in those days was their rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers.  Much of it had to do with each team’s key stars, Larry Bird for the Celtics and Earvin “Magic” Johnson for the Lakers, extending to their college championship game in 1978, where Bird’s Indiana State lost to Johnson’s Michigan State.  Though the rivalry was intense, you could see and feel the respect those players had for each other.

After the 1986 NBA title banner was hoisted to the rafters of the Boston Garden, the men in green went through 2 lean decades, plagued with the deaths of Len Bias and Reggie Miller Lewis and coaches who couldn’t put it together.  As a former season ticket holder, I still have the letter from former coach M.L. Carr apologizing for the performance of the team in his last season as coach.  But after a change of ownership and what was believed to be controversial personnel changes by general manager – and former player – Danny Ainge, the Celtics are back in the NBA finals, and back against the Lakers.

Go Celtics!  I’ll be cheering along with the throngs of Boston fans here in the Windy City.  Though it’s a different Big 3 in Pierce, Garnett and Allen, we are confident and hopeful against a once-again formidable opponent.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

My Take-Aways From The Book Be Our Guest

Several years ago on a business trip to Amsterdam, I was offered a book by the hotel I was staying at.  The book was about the hotel and area where I was staying, and I gladly accepted it and it sat on my bookshelf until now.  So why would I keep such a book?  Now I know.

The book is titled “Be Our Guest! All about Jan Toebaxman, Holland and the Dutch.” The hotel I stayed in was called the Golden Tulip Jan Tabak – Golden Tulip is a hotel chain and Jan Tabak is a version of the name Jan Toebaxman, or Joe Tobaccoman in English.  It tells the story about the original hotel built near the site back in the 1600’s, as well as the story of the innkeeper and the region where it is outside of Amsterdam.

Did I have any takeaways from this 47-page book?  Of course!  My greatest takeaway is that there are stories to be told.  From stories of individuals to families to businesses and cities, there are surely many stories never documented in some form, and thus lost over the generations.  It is not until years later this is usually found, and the recreation of the stories from other stories takes some great effort.  Telling a story, no matter how small, adds to the conversation of life and society.

Another takeaway is you can sell through telling your story.  If I had more time on that trip this book pointed out small towns and sights to see in those towns.  The book itself had little mention about the present-day hotel itself, but in selling on the area, it would be top of mind to stay at this hotel if I wanted to visit this area again.

A final takeaway is receiving this book was unexpected.  The only other hotel I have been in that had a book or story of any kind was a Marriott hotel, where I found a copy of the Marriott family and hotel chain story.  This was years ago, and I don’t even know if they distribute the books in hotel rooms anymore.  Usually the “reading materials” in a hotel room are sales pitches or the Gideons Bible, and some hotels don’t offer the latter anymore.  This book was a pleasant surprise, even though it took a while for me to read it.

As I pass along a book after I read it, I will send this book to the first person who posts a comment stating they would like it.  Don’t leave your address, as I will email you outside of the blog for it.  And there’s no obligation to visit The Netherlands either, though I highly recommend it.  The hotel is still there, but is now NH Jan Tabak.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Wordless Wednesday - Giant Wrapper Art at Looptopia 2008 in Chicago

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Wordless Wednesday - Combo Recycling and Trash Can at Millennium Park, Chicago

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Joffrey’s Coffee Tasting

Not too long ago I heard Joffrey’s Coffee was offering samples for bloggers to try.  As someone who is powered by coffee, I couldn’t resist to take them up on their offer.

Shortly after signing up on their Web site I received a sample pouch of Jamaican Me Crazy, a flavored coffee.  For the sake of full disclosure, the darker and more robust the coffee is the better it is for me.  A couple of my favorite coffees are Trader Joe’s Bay Blend and whatever is roasting when I am at Costco – seriously!  I brewed the pouch of pre-ground coffee in my Cuisinart Grind and Brew with the thermal carafe.

My verdict – I liked it.  Though a flavored coffee, it did not taste like there was syrup poured into regular coffee, as some flavored coffees taste to me.  It was a mild blend, but had a good flavor.  Plus there was no noticeable difference in my performance that day!

On Joffrey’s Web site they offer a huge variety of coffees, and I will eventually get through the extensive list.  I like to keep milder coffees on hand for visitors, and I will look into their bolder and darker coffees as well.

Saturday, May 03, 2008

My Take-Away From The Book the Girl From Farris’s

To keep well-rounded, I try to read both business books and anything else.  One book on my list was The Girl From Farris’s by Edgar Rice Burroughs.  Set in Chicago in the early part of the last century, it is the story of a young woman who tries to go on the straight and narrow after a career as a prostitute, and the people who try to help and hinder her.  My original intent on reading it was due to the references to Chicago’s Loop.  And like anything about life, I found takeaways from the book.

My greatest takeaway is that you must follow your dreams, no matter how hard they are.  The heroin of the book, Maggie (who’s real name is June), makes the decision to go on the straight and narrow, get a job and make a life for herself.  She is lured back to her old ways and as well encounters people who try to help her but are more furthering their own causes.  But Maggie persists, moving forward but not forgetting where she came from.

Another takeaway was that it’s a small world.  Maggie repeatedly encounters people from her past throughout the story, under varying circumstances.  And this was in the day of the manual typewriter!  Keeping this is mind will help you in dealing with people you may never want to encounter again the next time you see them.

The Girl From Farris’s is short and enjoyable story, packed with plot twist throughout.  If you’re looking for a book for a cross-country flight, allow me to recommend this one.

Friday, May 02, 2008

Looptopia Is Tonight In Chicago

Looptopia is in a matter of hours!  Chicago’s overnight cultural festival is tonight, despite the rain.

This is the second year where indoor and outdoor cultural events will be going on, from comedy and improv to performance art.  The details are available on the official Looptopia Web site and this Looptopia guide on the Chicago Tribune’s Web site.

This year the event organizers will be distributing wristbands for those who plan to be out all night.  I am assuming this is for crowd control, namely as last year there was nearly double the anticipated crowd.  Hopefully the rain won’t keep people away or dampen the spirits of those performing outdoors.

Look for photos and videos soon from the event on my personal fan site, Looptopia Memories.

I attended a similar event in Amsterdam a few years back called Museumnacht or Museum Night.  There was also a mix of indoor and outdoor events scattered throughout the city, and free canal boat rides tied it all together.  Well, when the boats actually arrived, but I digress.  And if my memory is correct, that night was a little cool and damp as well.  I am looking forward to it being a successful event, and I hope it continues and grows.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Wordless Wednesday - Airplane at 727 Group Office in Skanderborg, Denmark

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Wordless Wednesday - A Great Corner At The Point Brewery, Stevens Point, WI

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Wordless Wednesday - Marshall Field’s Clock Not In Sync Now That Macy’s Owns It