Author Archives: JJD
Hard at work (it’s a good thing no one can see what I’m actually typing)
By some magical shift in the stars, all of the projects I’m working on have managed to go into a lull at the same time. The lull will end tomorrow, and I’m sure the rest of the week will be perfectly busy, but for now it’s a sunny Tuesday afternoon, I’m at work, and I’m BORED. So […]
Ambiguous Debussy
Last night Amy invited me to an evening of music and conversation. It was put on by Grinnell College (where Amy did her undergraduate studies) and the format was a mix between concert, lecture and salon (in the 18th Century French sense of a social gathering where smart people sit around and entertain each other by being […]
A lesson for salesmen
BLOOMINGDALES Salesman: [Ignoring me while rearranging stacks of shirts] Me: Hi, I want to buy a tuxedo. Looking for a slim fit in a 34″ jacket. Salesman: [Without even looking up from his shirts.] The smallest jacket I have is a 38″. Total sale: $0 NORDSTROM Me: I’m looking for a tux. Salesman: Trendy? […]
Butterflies
My decorating has gotten more adventurous and ecclectic over the years. I think it’s the cumulative influence of the myriad colors, textures and forms that I’ve encountered through international travel, in art museums and design magazines, and in the personal styles of friends and family. For example, butterflies. They’re my latest obsession. I’d never thought to decorate with them before — the idea of having […]
My job does have some perks
Remember that crazy deal I worked on in December and January that had me living out of a hotel (or, more accurately, a conference room) in New York for so many weeks? Well, the woman who led the business team for my client in that deal was honored tonight for her efforts to promote diversity […]
Spring break weekend
What do Cancun and DC have in common? Spring breakers. Cancun gets the party-wild college kids; DC gets the school groups. They arrive in giant charter buses and troop through the city in matching t-shirts while learning about Our Nation’s Capitol. Oh, to be a student with regular buit-in vacations! Normally spring just rolls right by me — […]
How did it go?
Hard to say. I mean, I was there and all, but I’m having a hard time forming an opinion on whether the interview went well or not. To be honest, I’m feeling kind of down about it. As I replay the questions, I can identify a couple where my responses were a little less than stellar, […]
Big Day
I got a full seven hours of sleep last night; a killer workout and a hearty breakfast this morning. I’m sporting a pink tie, a green watch and flawlessly polished shoes; there’s a fresh vial of eye drops in my bag. My head is full of questions and (hopefully!) brilliant responses. My train arrives at […]
Reconnect!
So I walk into the Verizon store to buy a new phone, and the guy looks me up and says, “I see you bought insurance — just call this number and they’ll send you a replacement phone overnight.” I love it when I’m a responsible adult and buy insurance. (Even if, when the crisis occurs, […]
Phone-less, again.
I am having the worst luck with iPhones. I’ve hade one for less than a year, and already I’ve lost two. The first time it fell out of my bag in a Crate & Barrel while I was shopping for shower curtains. This time it fell off my seat during a standing ovation at the Kennedy […]
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 