Risks and Rewards

Ironically I thought of writing a blog on this subject many weeks ago - I remember I was at my parents' house. However, this week at training, the subject was brought up anew.

So a bunch of us accountants are sitting in class and having a "get to know you" exercise in which we state what we would do if money and skill were not objects. And frankly I was amazed at the responses! They varied so wonderfully! And yet, it was kind of sad. Essentially all of us had these great ideas for what we'd do, but we were accountants. I mean, people associate accountant with boring, but we had golfers and crab boat fishers and clothing line designers and all kinds of things! These are people with dreams and creativity and hobbies.

My first impression was - "Man, we are all so greedy!" And can you blame me? It's hard to hear thirty people essentially say, "This is what I'd do if I didn't have to put food on the table." And there were some jobs that I think they Could have managed as a hobby or part-time job. I mean, if that's your dream - go for it!

My second thought was that the second part of the question was key, too. I mean, being a professional golfer pays well, so you'd never have to worry about that - but you do have to be good at it.

I've been thinking about what we get sensitive about, and why. For instance beauty, intelligence, and money are all really sensitive topics. And I see the reasons for that - you can't to a whole lot (not that you can't try...) to improve how you look or how smart you are. I mean, you can buy new clothes and change your hair style - even have surgery - but it's a lot of genetics. And you can go to college and get 4 Phd's...but will that improve your ability to process or learn if you didn't have the ability before? Or will you even make it that far?

Essentially, those are things we all want but can't change.
And money's almost as hard to change. I mean, in America the theory is that anyone can change their status. But in reality, you have to be given opportunity (or make it), and you have to have a goal and plan to get that way.

So I'm thinking of things we want to do - if money and skill aren't objects - and I think of the typical jobs that everyone says, "How did you get that job?" Acting...freelance anything...I would love to be a travel writer or book reviewer....being a pop star...things that can make you rich, you pick your hours, you get to do what you love....it's different for everyone, but the criteria are often similar.

And so are the barriers.

I had thought about the guy who made "Supersize Me." That was a huge risk - taking a month out of his life, eating just McDonald's food, and making a video about it? What if it didn't pay off?

So that's really the point! He took a risk, and he got rewarded. Now he has the fame, credibility, and budget to make documentaries over whatever it is that interests him! I, on the other hand, would be too afraid to try to make it big with a video camera and computer - unless I was doing it after work and not instead of.

It seems all the "awesome" jobs have that to some degree. Many wanna-be actors wait tables for years before they get "discovered." Writers live paycheck to paycheck until they get their first big novel and name credibility. And golfers? Well...you can only practice so much before raw talent has to kick in.

We could all live our dreams if we wanted to - we just have to be willing to take the risk. Economics tells us that you can't beat the market - believe it or not, the only way to strike it rich (invest a dollar and get a million overnight) is to risk a lot as well (risk losing that million and going bankrupt). There's no way around it. So there's no guarantee that we'll make it as actresses or golfers or writers - but if that's what we really want to do, then we can! And should! There's always a way...

But at the end of the day, we value security more. Men and women, accountants and non-accountants alike. We invest in low-risk, higher return careers, and I only hope at the end of the day we're just as happy as if we had been doing....that other thing...

DisneyQuest

So after my bad luck with trying to Star Rate the Philadelphia attractions, I'm worried my review won't be so good here, either. However, I was privileged (okay, I paid money to go to) in being able to go to DisneyQuest last night - Disney's All-Indoor Amusement Park!

So I will now attempt to discuss it as so:

Price: $40. I stayed for about 3 1/2 hours, although I could have stayed much longer if I had wanted to revisit some rides or play some video games. Therefore, I believe this attraction could cost between $5 and $12 an hour. These prices are in line with many attractions like mini-golf and movies. They are also in line with the Disneyworld Parks themselves - $75 for one day works to somewhere less than $10 if you stay the whole day. Also, because the park is indoors, I think you have less chance of tiring out, getting hot, and needing a break. You are more efficient, and less likely to buy expensive drinks.

Theme Park of the Future: I was very impressed with the concept behind DisneyQuest. In a way, it is like Dave & Busters or ESPN Zone, where you play video games. In fact, some of the video games were the exact same ones as I have seen in both of those venues. However, with the entry price, the video games were all free - so there was no fear about wasting time or a token on a video game you didn't like, or that you lost, etc. In fact, most of the park was designed with this competitive spirit - even games you stood in line for, like virtual reality lightsaber fighting, gave you scores and rankings. Yet there were no prizes, so no one can really get too upset about their scores. Other rides made me feel that this could very well turn into the theme park of the future - besides the virtual reality games. We designed roller coasters and then were put into roller coaster simulators to ride the ride. I went on a jungle cruise in a blow-up boat that used sensors to feel the movements of our paddles. So we could determine where on the ride we traveled to. I don't know how these rides compare to other Disney rides in environmental safety or cost to the company. However, it's a great idea for pioneering the amusement park of the future - there may be a time where all parks are indoors, or even brought to the comfort of your own home.

Drawbacks - So there were two main drawbacks. The first was the ickyness of it. Amusement parks are pretty icky anyway - if you think too hard about it, you may get creeped out. People sitting in and touching everything you sit in and touch. The possibility of being in a car that had vomit in it not two trips before you. And it goes one. However, the ickyness here was a little worse because we had to wear virtual reality helmets - lice? - that had been disinfected but still felt gross...The other drawback was the time. I will admit, the lines for the attractions were all between 5 and 10 minutes, which is short for DisneyWorld. It felt longer, however, because the attendents many times could not be seen - they would take people down the hall to set them up. Also, when there were attendants, the rides seemed very people-heavy. Every person had to be personally set up in their ride, told what to do, etc. So getting onto an attraction was both time consuming, and resource consuming. The virtual reality was the worst because the attendant had so much to do! She had to clean off the helmets, pass out the helmets, explain the ride, and set people up in their rides and turn them on. All this, and she always had open spots, so the people in line were that much more likely to become a little antsy.

Overall, given DisneyWorld's standing ***** Rating, I would give DisneyQuest a ***3/4.

Tornado

So I'm sitting in our storage area / basement waiting for a tornado to hit.  The sirens kind of stopped, and we're in the cloudy/slightly rainy/windy phase.  The weather service told us that a tornado had touched down west of here, and it looks like the worst is at I-435, which is about two miles west, so it's only a matter of time before we either get hit or the warnings expire.

I got to meet our neighbors - a lady and her daughter.  Both very pleasant and talkative, even if the daughter is in that awkward stage between 3 and 11.  :) 

So we're sharing stories, and I really want to go outside and watch again, but Kristen suggested I blog.  

I've been thinking of what to blog about recently, and I've had some ideas, but when I get home, I'm not in the mood for blogging.  Obviously I got bored with the whole "Philadelphia" series (oh, not that Philly was boring - my interpretation of the attractions was boring, and I was not pleasing myself with the quality of my work).

This reminds me of another storm when I was a kid - I kept running upstairs, bringing toys down to save, and running back up again.  Of course, the next day I didn't want to carry them all back upstairs.  So I was materialistic as a kid...so sue me.  :)

Even now I find myself concerned about silly things - the house I just bought, my car, even though it's safe under a roof.  But I'm not too concerned because it looks like it will all go north.  

So, I suppose I should get back to socializing...or looking upstairs at the storm...either way, I'm sorry about the lack of quality posts lately - I have some good ideas for the future, but I'm on training next week, and we'll see...

Independence

The Constitution Center ****

So it's kind of sad, but I think of this as my favorite attraction in Philadelphia. There is an entrance fee, but I think it would have been worth it...especially if I had seen the entire thing. I had to leave to go see Independence Hall. The best part was a 17-minute long audio-visual dramatic presentation about the Constitution and American freedom. It was incredibly inspiring, and left me feeling warm and fuzzy about the country I live in. After the presentation I went to an interactive musuem that displayed various aspects of the Constitution and the three-sided government it created. The place was interesting as well as inspiring.

Independence Hall ***

So here's the problem with Independence Hall - in order to go on the tour, you must go to the Indepedence Mall Visitor Center across the street fairly early in the day. They give out free timed tickets to see Independence Hall. This is the only attraction in Philadelphia that is handled this way. The problem is - given all the hullabaloo, it's not that great. Don't get me wrong, I think the people who started the program knew what they were doing. Also, the Hall is inspiring, historic, and interesting. But given the hoops you have to jump through to get in - it's a bit of a let-down.

Congress Hall ***3/4

Located right next to Independence Hall, Congress Hall is where the country was run from 1790-1800 (roughly). I snuck into this hall and joined a 20-minute tour that showed us the House of Representatives and the Senate. I found this more interesting than Independence Hall and also enjoyed the ease at which I saw it. It loses significance compared to the place where our country was born, but it still played an important part in American history.

Franklinvile

Don't ask about the title today...

So! Philadelphia sites:

Franklin Institute ***1/2

The Franklin Institute is a hands-on type musuem, designed around science and learning and catering more to kids than adults. Having been to similar musuems in Chicago (the Field Musuem **1/2, Adler Planetarium ****, and the Musuem of Science and Industry ***), I was able to get a feel for where Franklin ranked. Like the other three musuems, this is supposedly a bit pricy - we came less than an hour before closing and got in for free - but has ever changing exhibits. One such exhibit, the Silence Dogood Letters, (which may or may not have actually been there) were featured in the smash hit - National Treasure.

The Liberty Bell ****

Like many historic landmarks in Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell is free of charge to enter. We also came to this exhibit around closing, and according to Ian, there's usually a huge line. Because we missed the line, I also didn't have to read all the information about the bell posted for in-line entertainment. Therefore, I wasn't exactly psyched or awed by the bell - not having been indoctrinated with its importance beforehand. But, like so many things in life, the meaning solidified in my head over the next couple of days. I recommend this - it's free, and even with the line, you get the chance to learn history.

10th Street Presbyterian Church ***3/4

So it's not a tourist attraction, per se, but the Scherlings had gone to a few churches (including the famous Christ Church) and chose this one to be their home for eight months. I've been wildly about Presbyterians for a few reasons: 1) I don't know what makes them specifically different than other denominations - I don't know what they believe, and 2) I've been reading Catholic propoganda, and it seems a disproportionate amount of converts to Catholicism are former Presbyterians. Several points on this church - it's traditional and high, meaning they follow a form of liturgy, and they sang hymns. The music was played by an organ and brass band, although Ian says that sometimes there are strings and piano, it just depends. The song selections didn't thrill me - in fact, one song had the wrong lyrics, causing me to become disoriented and inattentive. I did like three main things:

1. The invocation: This was the longest prayer I have ever heard. Usually long prayers distract me, and I stop paying attention. They also make me think of the pharisees Jesus spoke about in the Bible. But this prayer was different - sure, I drifted after a few minutes, but when it continued still longer, my attention drew back to it. The pastor was intent, not on using big words for his own glory, but of getting out everything that was on his heart. I don't know if this is usual practice with him, but I felt comforted - this was an honest prayer, a serious prayer, and something he wanted to share with the rest of us.

2. The sermon: Although I took notes, I don't think the sermon specifically "spoke" to me or thrilled me. But the Scherlings told me how this pastor was exegetical - in that he chose a book of the Bible or a passage of scripture and pulled his thoughts from that. So we were learning out of I Kings, and I was thrilled that he could pull out so many applicable points out of what I usually think of an abstract, or at least historic, text.

3. Communion: On the way to church, I learned that the Scherlings had only experienced communion once since they had moved to Philadelphia, and I was honored that I got to experience it as well. It appears, like many large churches, they do it quarterly, or tri-annually. They passed out the bread and wine, but we waited to partake of it until everyone had some. Then, in a liturgical fashion, the pastor said, "Christ's body - broken for us." This manner spoke to me - helped me contemplate on communion and remember what it was for. It was "higher" than UCC - where I've been going the past few years, and yet not even as liturgical as the church I grew up in (we kneel and say a specific prayer). Best of all, the pastor read from the Bible - that's it. Straight out the words of the Bible.

The Italian Market ****

What can I say? This wasn't on my list of things to see, but down I went with the Scherlings on Sunday after church. First they found a little Italian shop and went to buy supplies for ravioli for dinner. It was the kind of shop where fresh bread was sitting out, where chesse came in huge wheels, and where you point at something and they prepare it and wrap it for you. They bought mozzarella nuts - sticks of mozzarella cheese tied into knots and then soaked in a garlicy sauce. Mine had a hair in it...but as soon as that was out of sight, I was able to eat it with minimal gagging. Seriously - it was quite delicious! We walked up and down the streets - there was a little festival going on in a little church courtyard. There were street vendors of fresh fruit (prices comparable to grocery stores), fish, and souveniers. Between the loveliness of the day, the reasonable prices, and the uniqueness of the experience, I consider this market well-worth a visit to.

Philly Cheesesteak

Okay, so now for my analysis of the food I ate while in Philly. There was some home-cooking, courtesy of the Scherlings. But I am proud to say I never ate at a big "chain" restauarant.
*****
My first night in Philly, my friends escorted me to a local pizza place. Even after coaching from Anna, I cannot remember the name. We ordered a "Philly Cheesesteak Pizza." It was fabulous. The bread tasted like authentic Italian bread, not so much like pizza. The flavors were strong but not overpowering, and the selections on the menu were broad. Likewise our waiter, whom the Scherlings said they had met before, was very outgoing and personable. I should not be upset to try this place again - perhaps trying a more traditional pizza selection.


Pat's ****
Apparently there are two places in Philadelphia to go to get the famous cheesesteak, and they are both across the street from each other. Pat's is one of them. Ian and Anna took me here after wandering through an Italian outdoor market in the same area. I liked the manner of ordering - somewhat intimidating signs are posted to walk people through the process. The line was long but fast moving. People were expected to walk right up and say, "Cheesesteak without, provolone." The "with" "without" implies whether the customer wants onions or not. We ate standing outside, lined up along the building. As far as the cheesesteak itself went, it was superb. The bread was very good, complementing the steak and cheese. I would have liked to try the competitor across the street, but Pat's was a wonderful experience.

City Tavern ****1/2
Hands down, City Tavern was my favorite experience in Philadelphia - both as a food establishment or tourist attraction. I was seated on the back deck with a view to the gardens behind the building. Waiters and waitresses walked back and forth dressed in colonial outfits, and the tarp of a small pavillion wavers in the wind. All the dishes offered are authentic colonial dishes, and I select Martha Washington's Turkey Pot Pie. While waiting for my meal, they brought me authentic colonial breads - an assortment of three types. Overall, the food was not the best I've had, but taking in the price, quantity, and atmosphere, I would recommend City Tavern to anyone who goes to Philadelphia.

Caribou Cafe **1/2
We went to this Cafe our last night. I suppose I'm a little biased in general - I'm not really a French food-type person. I had trouble navigating the French menu, but ordered duck. It's kind of hard to go wrong with duck, but something about the sauce didn't quite please me. There was a beer-type flavor about it. We ordered desserts, and split those: apple torte, butterscotch bread pudding, and a chocolate crepe. Hands down, the bread pudding was the favorite dish. I don't usually care for butterscotch, but this had a buttery, vanilla type flavor. The atmosphere was probably the best part of the cafe - we were seated slightly inside the restauarant with an open view of the sidewalk cafe. It was a nice night, and the naturally dimming light aided the ambiance.

Philadelphia, PA

This weekend I had the opportunity to visit two states I had never been to, as well as a couple I had not seen for five months. After a luxurious night aboard the something something boat in Chicago, IL, I flew to Philadelphia, PA. The city of brotherly love. And, it seemed to me, the people in Philly really do love you - they are some of the most amiable people I have ever met.

It is my intention now to post about this trip in many parts - how ever many it takes. I'd like to give my general ideas on the city, the food, and the "attractions."

For my part, the biggest attraction came "AS IS" or in the form of Anna and Ian Scherling - good friends from college and church who were so kind as to keep me in their house for all but a five-hour night (the last). And, though it may sound sad to others, I believe that the greatest part of this trip was the bonding and fellowship I had with both of them over the course of four-ish days.

But there's more - Philadelphia is a lovely city. As we flew over, I noticed that the roads were splayed out in interesting patterns. Not the grids of the midwest. Everything was new and shiny - and yet there was also quite a bit of old and abandoned. I suppose the whole city is like that. There's Olde Town, where all the historic sites are, mixed with some of the newest, shiniest, most sparklingest skyscrapers I've ever seen.

Ian, a landscape architect, took great pleasure in pointing out that "this square" or "that alcove" had been designed by the firm he was interning with. True enough, the city is full of little parks and alcoves. There are cemetaries in Olde Town, and there are statues of modern art everywhere (most famously "LOVE Park").

There are also a lot of homeless people - which is a kind of "well duh" in a big city, but I did observe them for two reason - one is that there really did seem to be more of them even than in Chicago. I would like to (and I will update you if I do) find the statistics on per capita homeless in Philly...it felt high, and I would be saddened if it was "not high." Because that would mean situations are worse elsewhere. My dad said some cities are better at "hiding" it, and this may be the case. Or the lovely weather meant that less chose to stay in shelters. The other thing I noticed, though, was that less seemed to be the rambling, staring-into-the-distance, slightly spooky "crazies" that I had encountered in Chicago. I would not be afraid to look most of them in the eye, or to approach one to give a donation - as my two companions both did quite freely.

I felt very peaceful in Philadelphia - I always knew I would love the city, although the Dr. Pepper disappointed (not in and of itself disappointing, but because I had expected some magical concoction, much like the elixer experienced four years ago when my sister and I had passed through on our way to Spain) - but then again, it is easy to be in love with any place when the weather's so lovely and there's green everywhere.

Somewhere in the last three paragraphs I lost my train of thought, and so I appologize for that loss - it is now gone for good. However, I am going to draw to a close with my intention to post over the next few days a sort of "critic's" view of the city - rating eating establishments and attractions in a way that, I hope, displays a little less of my own opinion and more of a combination of opinion plus facts that other travellers might observe. I shall also include photographs. I hope this does not weary any potential readers.