"I'll kill you!"..."You don't really mean you'll kill me... do you?"

Nata and I rented 12 Angry Men - the old version with Henry Fonda - over the weekend. I had to watch it for one of my classes at IU, and if you haven't seen it yet you're really missing out. the whole movie is absolute genius, start to climax. For those of you who've never heard of it, the movie is about a jury of 12 men (this was in the 1950s) who're deliberating a murder case where a young man has been accused of murdering his father. With a unanimous verdict needed, 11 vote guilty, 1 (Fonda) innocent, and the whole movie is about their arguements over the next 90 minutes (with the exception of the very beginning and the very end the whole thing is real-time). The story, the characters, the twists, the ending - fuckin' brilliant.

That's all I'm going to tell you, just watch it. I've seen a lot of movies I'd classify as awesome, but 12 Angry Men is in a completely different league (and sounds better than Anchorman or Dodgeball do when you geek out over them). Join Blockbuster if you have to.

Argh, my bones and organs!

Had my complimentary personal trainer session at my gym yesterday - fucking hell. Suprised I could move this morning. Was very good though, just a question if I can get up again tomorrow morning to hit the gym before work. And if I can fully move my arms. Y'know, the usual stuff.

Hooray Willpower!

Natalie and I joined a gym on Wednesday evening, something I've been meaning to do since I arrived (but have had way too many things going on since I got here). The run of good will power continued today as I passed on Chipotle; the next test comes tomorrow at 7am when my alarm will go off. Now that I'm paying for it (rather than paying per visit like I did back in Manchester), who knows? I might actually get my ass out of bed.

I just got off the phone with a stupendously condescending woman from Chase, who 1) have yet to send me my credit card, 2) charge $2 per check once the initial book of 10 or so runs out, and 3) appear to have 4 staff members at the branch near the office. So, yeah. Chase rule.

I also discovered the Music Quiz game on my iPod today - fun!

Fingers crossed - less than a month before I visit IU. Can't believe its been nearly a year since I was last there (during the US election), which means that its been a year since I last saw all my friends from there (many of whom are now entering their senior year). Enjoy it while it lasts, you'll miss it when you're gone, believe me!

Everything happens for a reason?

I spilt my breakfast in my room this morning...

But the bowl didn't break...

There was Special K and milk EVERYWHERE...

But I need to wash my sheets and towels, and this means that it'll HAVE to happen tonight so I can't put it off...

I missed the express train by like 2 seconds...

But there was one right behind it that didn't have a shit-ton of people in it, and roomy train + AC + iPod + book = Happy Chris

So despite waking myself up by dousing myself in milk, today might turn out alright!

Tired, Unshaven, Sunburnt, Happy

So SSC turned out to be a pretty awesome conference all around. It seemed like the delegates left in good spirits and glad that they attended, which is the best you can hope for going into these kinds of events, especially those like this SSC where so much vitally important stuff was going on. Aside from an incident of nuclear-level frustration on my part during the last day it was a challenging and enjoyable experience, and even that incident was, in hindsight, part of this development and something that has left me better informed and ready for future stuff. It also gave me the chance to get to know a few people on the staff better. You know who you are, and your time and words were and are still greatly appreciated.

A few of us went camping after the conference finally winded down, which was good for a little relaxation (as well as Hapa sushi - thanks Jill!). Arrived back in NY last night, slept, spent most of today trying to organize the mountain of files on my desktop (and in my binder). The weekend will be one for relaxing, as well as maybe indulging in a new toy to get me through those subway rides to work...

It's pretty to weird to think that SSC is over, as since I got the news that I would be joining the team its been the first big thing I would be working on. This also meant that the week of transition I got from Dana was centred around the conference as it was the most pressing issue to be delt with, but now that it's over I guess its time to start thinking ahead to RoKS, LC retreats, LTM and WSC (the location of which should be announced soon... don't make any plans for New Year's Eve!)

Currently Listening To: Aha Shake Heartbreak by Kings of Leon

"If you heard a Muffled Explosion earlier on, it was the Agenda..."

Last day of SSC, can't believe its gone so quickly. The conference has at times been a whole lot of fun, a real learning experience and incredibly frustrating, but it looks like everyone is getting what they need from the sessions that are being run, and after the revelation of Dave's CO3 Cell Diagram people seem to feel more in control of what's going on with the new systems.

Working with the agenda has actually been pretty fun. I like the way that its like a puzzle that needs to be completed (ok, you can change the size of the pieces if needbe, but still). Its a really good feeling to look at the day mapped out and know that just about everything got fitted in (or not...)

Pretty much everything that I had been working on prior to the conference got cut - understandably and out of necessity - but it still sucks to not see something turn out the way you hoped. It might all be used in the future, so if it saves someone some time in a few months then it'll be worth it.

Other than that, the week has gone by amazingly quickly. Can't believe I've been here for a whole week so far, but its definately been worth it. The OC, chair, staff and delegates have all been great, as have the hotel all week. The last two conferences I've attended - here in Denver and LDS in the UK, where I ran for the UK MC - have pushed me further than the previous 18 combined, and I can't help but think of what the future challenges will be. Before that, however, is the trip to Denver, getting back to New York and getting started on that mountain of flipcharts...

SSC 2005!

Conference time! Woot!

Things going well so far, no major crap-ups or hotel meltdowns so far. Cool to see the Leadership Team start to arrive before the meeting begins this evening (which, fingers crossed, will still happen in the middle of this huge fuck-off thunderstorm). On the downside I'm alread tired after my 22 hour day yesterday, but the sheer excitement of session designs and icebreakers will perk me right up. Aawwww yeah.

Qoutable qoutes so far:

Jill: Screw the organization!
ChrisW: Now there's a challenge...

Me: 30 minutes? Sweet Jesus, I'm not a machine!

Sarah: He likes to use his right hand, but I like to use my left.

Sarah: This is terrible!
Missy: It could be worse...

Me: You can just lie back and feel it get harder...
(talking about the fancy beds, honest...)

More to come...

The eternal question...

Blast from the Past party costume for SSC:

Flava Flav or Tron?