"Casanova" Screening

The importance of context can sometimes go unappreciated, until you find yourself rushing to put something into context to avoid embarrassment. I found myself in this situation on the Tuesday after Canadian thanksgiving, at the Canadian Club dinner.

I was telling the story of how, once I'd arrived back from Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, I walked into the apartment to find John about to sit down to a salmon dinner. He'd made enough for the both of us, so I sat down to join him in front of the TV, and grabbed a bottle of chardonnay out of the fridge. John also had a scented candle burning.

As we were eating & watching PBS, "Masterpiece Theatre" came on, showing a new BBC production of "Casanova"--which is positively classic--so we tuned in. Now the floor lamp in my living room is touch activated, so in passing by at one point, one of us turned it off inadvertently.

So we found ourselves sitting by candle-light, sipping chardonnay on the couch together and watching "Casanova". Tough one to explain, and when you start from the end without context around a table of 8 people, you generally don't get the chance to provide the context after the fact.

That night, we decided we needed to share the movie with our critics. We got on the PBS website and rush ordered the DVD for our "Casanova" screening. Just to play up on the misunderstanding and embellish it further, the program for the night was:

- Champagne & creme brulee
- Candle-lit screening of The Work
- Cosmopolitan's and conversation afterwards (and during)

John and I decorated the place with roses, candy hearts and candles. It was hilarious. In fact, guests could be heard laughing in the hallway on their way to our apartment when they saw the petals and single rose on our door. Classic.

The Approach

The Hosts enjoy a solitary sip of Champagne before the festivities commence
Another bottle of good times uncorked
The crowd is growing, and having a great time doing it
Candle light compliments the flicker of the film
The cosmo creation-station...
The last cosmo of the night awaits for me to finish cleaning up

Rugby Club - Old Boys Weekend

The HBS RFC has a rich Alumni tradition. Each year Rugby alumni get together for a winter tournament in the Carribean, and often a summer match in elsewhere in the world. Another tradition is the Old Boys Weekend each October, whereby 40-50 alumni come to Boston from around the world (though mainly the U.S. and Western Europe) for a cocktail party, a match versus the current HBS team, a post-match BBQ on the field, and evening festivities at a local bar.

Truely a great community of people and I feel lucky to be a part of it. A lot of these guys graduated in the 1970's as well, so they have some pretty interesting stories in general, and about their careers specifically. An influential group.

I took full advantage of the weekend, starting with the catered cocktail party in one of the players houses in Brookline (basically the Forsest Hill of Boston), had a great match on Saturday, and went all out at the BBQ (or "Cookout" as it's called here) finishing up with a late night at the bar. As Match Coordinator Great times, some pictures follow.

Recent grads. Not what springs to mind when you think of "Old Boys", and they certainly dampened our spirits on the pitch (though we won in the end).

Cocktail Party at home of Bob Mast and Linda Carlisle
More Old Boys at the cocktail party
Humility lives on well into your 50's, mending gear for the match later in the day
Here I am reacting to my opponent's approach to the try zone. I go in for the tackle to prevent a try...
...and while it may not make a pretty picture, the point is he went down and turned over posession. (You're welcome).
Three pillars of the Old Boys Club: Chuck, Jerry, and Mike Rush (President of Old Boys).

Aside: Chuck is 69 years old, graduated in 1968. I was chatting with him late Sunday afternoon after our league game and said "Now, should I have another beer with you guys or go home and finally get some homework done?" His reply: "What year are you in, first or second?"

"Second" I reply. He then responds: "Then let me pour you a tall one...I know a lot has changed since 1968, but I know that hasn't." And he's right. Great.

The HBS RFC Diversity Initiative hasn't produced fantastic results.

Fellow Torontonian awaits the pass

Both teams in for the post-match photo.

Sleep

Of all my talents, sleeping is perhaps the one at which I’m most adept.

Sure: I have some other hobbies, but sleeping is the one past-time which I appreciate most of the MBA experience. I’ve always viewed it as a sort of currency...to be hoarded with lethargic sleep-in’s during periods of inactivity, and spent with reckless abandon when special events like out-of-town visitors and weddings coincide on the same weekend.

That was the situation I found myself in this past weekend, and while I wouldn’t change a single detail from the weekend itself (it really was legendary), I had to ponder the health effects of basically not sleeping for two days straight, whilst sustaining ones-self on the sugars and carbohydrate content of mixed drinks.

I’ll admit it doesn’t sound that healthy. But spiritually it was unambiguously the right answer. For example: Wayne and Gina's wedding was sensational. Morning came too early, but I somehow managed to make it to the bus station for a hazy ride to K-W to visit with the family Sunday afternoon. I really enjoyed this brief sojourn when I able to play Uncle to my nephew and niece Callum and Wren, whom I don't see often enough.

Just when I thought the weekend was through, I arrived back at Tim’s place at 11:10pm to find that he and 5 of our friends were in the midst of a Thanksgiving dinner of their own. And while sleep would have been the most practical option at the time, I was able to trade sweet rest and rejuvenation for some more visiting with friends. Spending the currency of sleep when it was most appropriate.

And now that I’m back in Boston, I will sleep. I’ll sleep without guilt or remorse. I’ll sleep until 10:00am for the next two days, in order to arrive at finance at 10:05am, because that is the luxury or the second year of the MBA. I’ll also easily find the time to take naps as required. Prioritizing time with friends and family is the hallmark of the second year.

So here’s to sleep, and the two-year MBA. Good night.

Extend-a-Weekend

HBS is a nice place in that they provide several unexplained long weekends. They have a way of sneaking up on you too, so when I discovered last week that we had Friday and Monday off, I promptly booked my Aeroplan ticket to Toronto for Wednesday afternoon (only one class Thursday, so I skipped it) and had an excellent extended trip hope.

Arrived Wednesday night at Tim & Mark's palace, and practically had the run of the place, with Tim in Europe and Mark as busy as Mark usually is.

Jeff came over Wednesday night with some lamb, beef bones (for braising) and veggies, so we made a great meal and drank (several) bottles of Tim's wine. Good. (For the record Tim, if you're reading this, I replaced them. Except the Home Brew, that was bloody aweful and I can't imagine who's basement-bathtub concoction could suitably replace that bottle of mule's piss.)

Thursday night I caught up with Sheila at "Sharkey's" in Bloor West Village. A nice chat with someone I don't see that often.

Friday was Korean BBQ in K-town with Alex & Yun (with a showing of honeymoon photos), then drinks back at Tim's, where Ralf and Shakila made an exhausted appearance.

Saturday was the most interesting. I managed to play some football in the west end with the old Deloitte team (and was recruited for two more games next weekend when I'm home for Thanksgiving) and Wayne & Gina's friend Josie hosted a costume party (photos below) with the theme of "Pimp's & Ho's".


Crime-Tastic.
I didn't bring any costume home with me, but was delighted that after 60 minutes on Yonge street shopping for accessories, and a little time in the closets of Alex & Tim, managed to pull together a pretty great outfit. By far the highlight was my (somewhat expensive, real-human-hair) moustache, which fooled basically everyone. Can't wait to use it again. (By contrast, practically nobody even noticed my gold-painted teeth, though I thought they looked pretty good.)




Two pimps livin-large.

Sunday was relaxing...a sleep in (Nihat and I hosted an afterparty at Tim's with about 10 people...all new to the group, save Josie & the PM, in attendance, but it went until 5:00a.m.) followed by a 12km run. To purge.

Met up with Raif for drinks on Queen street, then had Jeff over again for dinner & a screening of "Office Space", before turning in for a longer sleep. Cleaned up Tim's place and hit the airport, where I arrived in Boston without my luggage. (It apparently missed it's flight, but managed to catch the next one).
After-party people.