Orlando Site - Wonderworks

This building is upside down, or at least it was designed to look that way. It's pretty cool. I was in Orlando and my hotel was near this building. While there, I had dinner at Maggiano's with my friend Letha and her daughter Amanda, both of whom you can see in these photos.

Pretty cool building, n'est-ce pas?

Sweet Charity Event

Last week I attended Sweet Charity, a wonderful charity dedicated to getting new books in the hands of poor children. (See the website.) Emceed by Leon Harris of local ABC7/WJLA-TV News and by our local news station WTOP's "Man About Town" Bob Madigan, the event had dozens of local chefs giving away delicious samples of their food, especially desserts and most especially chocolate. There was a silent auction for a great many prizes and a live auction for contributions. Every one dollar contributed equaled one brand new book for a child.

The coolest part of the evening was a fashion show where models wore outfits that were especially designed to contain chocolate! The top model was Kate Michael, Miss DC 2006. Isn't she gorgeous wearing a 25 pound cake on her head? As you can see, she has a really big heart (groan!). That's me standing next to her in the second photo. We're getting married next month (haha).

Check out the home movies I made there of the models strutting their stuff. I guarantee you've never seen a fashion show like this one! To see the videos, you'll need to click the link below to go to my Flickr site.

Click here to see more photos and all the videos of the event can be seen by clicking here.

A Night Out for Delicious Italian Food With Dear Friends

We had a lovely dinner recently at Il Fornaio (of which I've written before) with our friends, here seen.

From left to right, we have Katie, Rose (hiding somewhat), Larisa, my wife and me, and Tara.

Am I a lucky guy or what?

Photos Taken at JUST the Right Angle

These fantastic photos were sent to me in an email. If anyone knows where they came from, I'd like to give the photographers proper credit! They are a lot of fun to view!

Frustrating Tech Support Help

Here is the transcript of an online "help" session that was anything but helpful. I just finished it and couldn't believe I had to explain to the rep terms that she should have known. I had to look up information on the sprint.com site and show her where she was wrong! I finally gave up.

04/09/2008 09:11:35PM
System: "Please hold and the next available agent will be with you shortly."

04/09/2008 09:13:12PM
Session Started with Agent (Tiganie)

04/09/2008 09:13:14PM
Agent (Tiganie): "Thank you for contacting Sprint. My name is Tiganie, how may I assist you today?"

04/09/2008 09:13:32PM
Joe Ganci: "Hi, I'm trying to get Internet Sharing to work on my PPC-6800"

04/09/2008 09:13:52PM
Joe Ganci: "It doesn't seem to like my username and password on my phone"

04/09/2008 09:14:05PM
Joe Ganci: "whenever i try, it doesn't connect"

04/09/2008 09:14:07PM
Agent (Tiganie): "One moment while I look that information up for you."

04/09/2008 09:14:21PM
Joe Ganci: "i want to be able to use my phone as a modem for my laptop when i travel"

04/09/2008 09:15:16PM
Agent (Tiganie): "What type of phone do you have."

04/09/2008 09:15:22PM
Joe Ganci: "PPC 6800"

04/09/2008 09:16:59PM
Joe Ganci: "It is a PocketPC, Model No. TITA100"

04/09/2008 09:17:08PM
Agent (Tiganie): "Thank you."

04/09/2008 09:17:56PM
Agent (Tiganie): "When you say Internet sharing, do you want to be able to share Internet on the phone?"

04/09/2008 09:18:06PM
Agent (Tiganie): "I apologize between phones?*"

04/09/2008 09:18:07PM
Joe Ganci: "i want to be able to use my phone as a modem for my laptop when i travel"

04/09/2008 09:18:12PM
Joe Ganci: "no"

04/09/2008 09:18:23PM
Joe Ganci: "i want to be able to use my phone as a modem for my laptop when i travel through the USB cable"

04/09/2008 09:18:45PM
Joe Ganci: "it is an option on the phone"

04/09/2008 09:18:48PM
Joe Ganci: "it's called Internet Sharing"

04/09/2008 09:19:41PM
Agent (Tiganie): "Thank you. I am viewing that information now."

04/09/2008 09:19:42PM
Joe Ganci: "it means when i don't have another way of connecting Internet on my laptop, I can do it by hooking up my phone to the laptop through the USB cable and then have it act as a wireless modem"

04/09/2008 09:21:22PM
Agent (Tiganie): "In order to do that you will have to have that on your plan which is $39.99."

04/09/2008 09:21:38PM
Joe Ganci: "i already pay for that"

04/09/2008 09:22:13PM
Agent (Tiganie): "I am looking that up for you now."

04/09/2008 09:25:39PM
Agent (Tiganie): "After viewing your account it does not show that you have that plan on your account."

04/09/2008 09:25:53PM
Joe Ganci: "where do you see that please?"

04/09/2008 09:26:23PM
Joe Ganci: "i already had that working on my PPC 6700, the model before this. it broke and they gave me a PPC 6800 free instead. now I have to pay for it when I didn't before??"

04/09/2008 09:26:25PM
Agent (Tiganie): "I am not on line. I am in our system that shows what exactly is on your account."

04/09/2008 09:26:33PM
Joe Ganci: "then please tell me"

04/09/2008 09:26:49PM
Joe Ganci: "what is in my account"

04/09/2008 09:27:05PM
Joe Ganci: "i am looking at my account on line right now"

04/09/2008 09:28:16PM
Agent (Tiganie): "You do have the sprint vision pack. But in order to access phone as a modem you will need that plan. Unfortunately, you cannot have the phone as a modem plan and the power vision pack at the same time."

04/09/2008 09:28:36PM
Joe Ganci: "that doesn't make sense. why not?"

04/09/2008 09:29:46PM
Agent (Tiganie): "Because for phone as a modem and power vision it has Internet coverage. Your Internet will have to be covered from 1 source. That is either from phone as a modem plan or the power vision plan."

04/09/2008 09:30:27PM
Joe Ganci: "i had powervision on my last phone too and i could use it that way too. perhaps i am misunderstanding what Internet Sharing means? On my PPC-6700 it was called something else"

04/09/2008 09:30:56PM
Joe Ganci: "i have not changed plans"

04/09/2008 09:31:27PM
Joe Ganci: "i am looking at the powervision manual on line right now"

04/09/2008 09:31:33PM
Joe Ganci: "as part of its features, it says"

04/09/2008 09:32:04PM
Agent (Tiganie): "What is the Internet browser you are using?"

04/09/2008 09:32:13PM
Joe Ganci: "Phone as Modem (page 9)
Your Sprint Power Vision Smart Device can be a high-speed Internet connection for your laptop computer anywhere on the Sprint Power Vision Network. Simply connect your device using a USB cable."

04/09/2008 09:32:51PM
Joe Ganci: "Using the phone as a modem is PART of the powervision plan. so you are incorrect, i'm afraid"

04/09/2008 09:33:09PM
Joe Ganci: "it doesn't matter what browser I'm using because I'm unable to make an Internet connection with the phone"

04/09/2008 09:33:19PM
Joe Ganci: "as i stated at the beginning, it doesn't like my user name and password"

04/09/2008 09:33:26PM
Joe Ganci: "i don't know what to use there"

04/09/2008 09:33:30PM
Joe Ganci: "i thought it was the one I set up on line"

04/09/2008 09:33:33PM
Joe Ganci: "but it doesn't seem to work"

04/09/2008 09:34:08PM
Joe Ganci: "on the phone, i can access the Internet directly but i am unable to use it as a modem for my laptop"

04/09/2008 09:34:34PM
Agent (Tiganie): "Did you plug the USB cable in?"

04/09/2008 09:34:41PM
Joe Ganci: "of course"

04/09/2008 09:35:34PM
Agent (Tiganie): "What is the message you are receiving?"

04/09/2008 09:35:44PM
Joe Ganci: "one moment please; i will try again"

04/09/2008 09:37:06PM
Joe Ganci: "Error Code: 67"

04/09/2008 09:37:11PM
Joe Ganci: "Registration Failure"

04/09/2008 09:37:25PM
Agent (Tiganie): "What browser are you using?"

04/09/2008 09:37:31PM
Joe Ganci: "Your PCS Vision username and/or password might be incorrect"

04/09/2008 09:37:58PM
Joe Ganci: "i don't understand why you are asking me about my browser. i am trying on my phone to connect through Internet Sharing"

04/09/2008 09:38:07PM
Joe Ganci: "i don't get the opportunity to try my browser"

04/09/2008 09:38:50PM
Agent (Tiganie): "The reason why I am asking is because some Internet browsers do not work well with Sprint.com"

04/09/2008 09:39:17PM
Joe Ganci: "I'm sorry; you don't understand. i give up. I'll try finding help from someone else. goodbye"

04/09/2008 09:39:23PM
Session Ended

BBC Funny April Fool's Joke

This is what the BBS did this year for April Fool's Day. It's hilarious. Watch it!!!

Italian Meetup

These were made with my phone camera because I forgot my real camera, so they're a bit blurry and rough. We welcomed Raju and his wife Annalisa and son Tomas to our meetup!

Click here for more photos from this meetup.

More of my sister's carved stone art

My sister carves art into stone. These are some of her latest works. She and mom live in Italy, where her works are highly prized. She's been interviewed on TV, been written up in magazines and newspapers, and is constantly being asked to exhibit her art around Europe, including in castles.

The first stone has Spanish written on it and was donated to a charity in Peru.

The others are practical but beautiful pencil and knife holders.

More Coffee Art from Artist Diana

Remember my entry on coffee art in Italy? My new friend Diana there made a smiley face in the coffee.

See that entry here.

My sister just sent me new artwork from Diana. That's her in the last pic. You can see her even better in my November entry.

Pretty cool, huh? Diana rules!

Spring has Sprung

The cherry trees downtown in D.C. are not the only ones blossoming. Take a look at what's happening around our very own house! Most of the trees we planted in the first couple of years after we moved in 11 years ago, and now they have grown tall and proud.

More photos? Click here.

Old Post Office Pavilion

In downtown D.C., there is the Old Post Office building, which today houses offices and a shopping mall, including an eatery. In all my years here, I had never stepped foot inside. In fact, from the outside, it's hard to see that it's anything but an office building and when you go inside, you actually have to go through security...you know, put all your metal objects through the X-ray machine and walk through the metal detector.

Click here for more photos.

Dinner at Tabaq Restaurant

We had dinner Saturday evening after the cherry blossoms with our friends, most of whom are from Russia, including Garry, Irene and Arthur, Anna and Sasha, and Ofeliya. Tabaq restaurant is very good and we had a great time together. Nicer people you'd have a hard time finding!

Click here for more photos.

Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossoms

Saturday was the peak of the cherry tree blossoms in Washington, D.C. and the day of the Cherry Blossoms Festival. We didn't have a chance to take part in all the festivities but of course we had to see the main attraction, the cherry tree blossoms themselves. There are 3,000 of them in and around the Tidal Basin and other nearby areas and they really are a site to see.

We went with Ofeliya and were met there by Irene, Garry and Arthur. We had a very nice time. The blossoms only last a few days, after which you have to wait another year, so make plans to go next year if you haven't seen them yet!

Click here for more photos.

Pet Expo

Ivana and I went to the pet expo at the Dulles Expo Center yesterday. People were allowed to bring their dogs into the center and there were a lot of them (people and dogs!). We didn't bring ours was because we were en route to DC to see the cherry blossoms and have dinner with friends.

You can see more photos here:

Click here for more photos

Our Guinea Pigs

Once again, another episode of Guinea Pig theater. That's Nibbler on the left, Quibbler on the right i the first photo. They love romaine lettuce, carrots and celery. They also like hay and other stuff. The cage they're in was made by me after I went to Home Depot and bought a large thick plastic bin and other supplies.

They now have grown pretty big. That blue igloo that they like to sleep in was at one time too heavy for them to lift but now they can easily. They also trust us now and will sit for an hour on my shoulder while I work at my desk. Quibbler now will actually touch his nose to my face a lot, as if he's hunting for buried treasure, but it feels as if he's being affectionate. Who knows? You can see a lot more photos (I know you're dying to see more, haha):

Click here to see more.

Coffee or Cocaine?

My wife says that I drink too much Starbucks coffee, that it costs too much money and that, despite the fact that I always get the no-sugar, lite coffee Frappuccino's, it doesn't help me lose weight. I said, "Maybe I should do cocaine instead then!" She said, "Well, at least it would help you lose weight!"

I've never done cocaine. For those of you who have, I have some questions.

1. Is it true that it helps you lose weight?
2. Is it addictive?
3. Isn't it true that it's illegal or something?

For the time being, I'll stick with coffee. Let me know, though.

What's Good About New York City?

The food! For breakfast, my cousin provided us with bagels and because it was close to St. Joseph's Day (and my name is Joe, as is true of many men in my extended NYC family), sfinges and zeppolis. Yum yum yum!

Oh, one other thing...yum!!

Saved....From Nuclear Radiation!

Found on the school I attended as a child...a very large cross and a fallout shelter. They have both your body and soul covered!

How to Give Up Caffeine

This is from Scott Adams' book called Stick to Drawing Comics, Monkey Brain! He's the guy who does the Dilbert comics:

If you want to give up caffeine, here's what you do. Sit in a chair for a while and stare into space. Then keep doing that forever because life has no meaning.

Somehow that makes sense to me.

Detroit Airport is Cool

Michigan is one of the seven states that I have not yet visited outside the airport. I need to get there and do it right, but for now, I have seen the airport and liked it. It's well laid-out, not too big, and it has this cool tram you see here that is open on the terminal side so you can see it easily, perched up high just like those choo-choo trains that are often seen up high in supermarkets or toy stores. Kind of cool. Can you see where I stopped? Oh, some of you know me well. Yes, look at the green sign.

Stuck in Rochester, Aftermath

This is a picture from inside the airplane, facing the terminal. So as you can see, I made it out. Minnesotans know how to get planes flying in the winter, otherwise they would be able to fly only 3 months out of the year (haha). The plane I was on got in late by half-hour. Just before the plane arrived, they plowed the runways. Because it was snowing, they really couldn't let too long a time pass between plowing and landing otherwise the roads would be slick again. They also had to turn the plane around quick so as soon as people were off, they got us on, de-iced the wings, and got us out of there!

However, I only had a 50 minute layover in Detroit and our plane did get in almost a half-hour late. Of course, I was seated in the back of the plane, so I was a bit worried, though I've learned to take all things in stride, especially while traveling. So when I got off the plane, I checked the monitors. My flight home was leaving on time and the gate was all the way at the end of another terminal! I ran like a banshee (do banshees run? don't know) and got to my gate about 10 minutes before departure. Once there, I found that my flight was...not yet there and was going to leave about 45 minutes late. Aahhh....well, at least I got my exercise. Still, it would have been nice if the monitors had shown the flight was leaving late instead of saying it was on time so that my psyche could have been more at peace with the universe.

Stuck in Rochester, Part 2

The runways are being cleared! The runways are being cleared!

Stuck in Rochester?

We'll see. I'm ready to leave Rochester, Minnesota, changing planes in Detroit, to get home. This is a picture of the runways from where I sit. Uhm...will we make it out of here without too long a delay? We are already told we're delayed 15 minutes and I only have a 50-minute layover in Detroit!

Update: Oh-oh, we're up to a 30-minute delay in leaving. Patience, Joe, patience, you'll get home somehow.