On September 15 (my birthday), on my way home from work, I stopped by Joanne Fabrics.  I bought two buckets of sidewalk chalk.

I talked my roommate Randy into joining me on the sidewalk in front of the house.  Here are the results.

36 is such a curvy number.

I thought about chalking the entire block.

Did I mention I was wearing my birthday suit?

Last Monday The New York Times published an article entitled, “Online, ‘a Reason to Keep Going,’” which highlights MyWay Village, the start-up company I’m working for.

The article is about senior citizens using the Internet to connect with others, which often improves their well being.

As a side note, The Times publishes a great blog about and for the elderly called The New Old Age.

I’m now working part-time for MyWay Village, a start-up company that bills itself as the Facebook for seniors.  MyWay Village’s mission is essentially this: help seniors use the Web to connect to their friends and family members, and to the world.

As a MyWay Village ambassador, I’ll teach seniors (mostly through one-on-one sessions) how to use the MyWay Village website and other websites.  I’m looking forward to it (though I have a funny feeling I’m about to hear a lot of stories about joint replacement surgeries).

Recently the local NBC news affiliate did a brief story about MyWay Village.  Check out the video below.

As you may know, I’m looking for a job.  I’ve sent out a ton of resumes and haven’t gotten much response.  It’s hard out there for a pimp.

I’m starting to get desperate creative.  With more gusto than ever, I’m trying to figure out what to do in order to stand out from the crowd.  How do I get potential employers to notice me and respond?!?

Recently Redbox, which is based here in the Chicago area, posted a job opening for an “interactive marketing associate.”  I was excited because not only was I qualified for the job, but I love Redbox (what’s not to love about $1 movie rentals?) and use their service regularly.  A perfect fit!

So my roommate Randy and I drove to the nearest Redbox … to do a photo shoot.  We had a blast.

I planned to use the photos to get noticed by the hiring manager at Redbox.  Brilliant.

Unfortunately later that afternoon I discovered that Redbox wasn’t hiring for that position anymore.  Crap.

Well, why waste the photos (which were beautifully directed and shot by Randy).  So, below, enjoy a brief slideshow.

The Roadster has landed!  And now it’s starting to sink in that I traded this …

for this …

Today I’m driving from Santa Fe to Denver, where I’ll hang with some close friends for the night. Santa Fe is an incredibly unique city — and it’s very, very brown (which I’m fond of). A city ordinance says that every building has to be brown. That’s my kind of city! Building or home owners get to choose from twenty or so shades of brown; I think that’s generous.

Last night I stayed at the Santa Fe International Hostel (in photo at left), which is by far the best and biggest hostel I’ve stayed in. For $27, I got my own room and wireless Net access and a wonderful cheese danish breakfast. And I enjoyed some conversation with some sweet, sweet people, fellow guests.

If all goes well, I’ll be in Chicago by Monday evening. So far my 1987 Toyota Corolla — packed with all my earthly possessions — is doing great!

I’m in Raleigh, NC, this week to visit friends and attend my good buddy Jerry’s wedding. (At left, see azaleas in full bloom outside Jerry’s house.) Yesterday my friend (and fellow gardener) Carolyn emailed me a photo of my garden and wrote the following: “in case you were missing your babies.” I am! So, like a proud parent, I’ve gotta show you a photo of my one-month old babies. See if you can pick out the lettuce, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, flowers, chard, peppers and carrots. Awwwww … aren’t they cute?!

Thanks to the wisdom of marvelous Mel Bartholomew, author of All New Square Foot Gardening, and Marge, who’s the Queen of Gardening and also happens to be my friend Carolyn’s mom, I built, designed and planted my first garden. No shit. Well, yea, with some shit, some chicken shit — it was part of the compost that we used to create the soil. It’s a bit disturbing (no, very disturbing) to think that my strawberries are going to be nourished by chicken shit. Oh life, I don’t know what to make of it most of the time.

Check out photos of my soil mixing evening and photos of my historic planting day.

I spent a few days at my sister Amy’s house in Minnesota with my dad, mom, sister, brother-in-law (Chris), nephew (Christopher) and niece (Sophia).  We built forts with bed sheets, pillows and chairs; went on secret missions with Spider Man; and played ice hockey.  Sounds like a real “Guys” Christmas, huh?  Don’t be fooled:  Sophy joined us for all of it — and she’s the one who instigated most of the wrestling on the bed.

Check out my photos of Christmas morning.  It was a treat to experience Christmas morning through the exuberance of Christopher and Sophy.  At one point I thought they might explode!