If Done Right

B lost tooth number 3.

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:58:00 +0000

Taken at Sheldon Household

"Jimmy", my margarita machine is out and in service. Welcome Summer here at last. I feel like I should say "Da hoo doray".

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 21:09:00 +0000

Taken at Sheldon Household

Let's go Yankees!

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:55:00 +0000

Taken at Yankee Stadium

Untitled

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:46:00 +0000

Emma's Science Museum Presentation

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:56:00 +0000

See the full gallery on Posterous

Emma did a great job with her Science Museum presentation today with Lucille Ball. So cute.

Blue Spring Manatee Preserve

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 20:52:00 +0000

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Very cool. Over 253 manatees. On the photos, zoom in and you can see tons of fish and some huge manatees.

My Bachelor 2011 (Brad 2.0) Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:12:00 +0000

You can ask my wife, Elia, I am very good at predicting the outcome of The Bachelor. Not perfect, just pretty good. After two full episodes, I am ready to make my call. Here we go:

[Picture from abc.com]

1. Winner - Food Writer, former gymnast - Britt, 25

She is cute, interesting, but a little shy. I know the bed scene it looked like they kissed forever on the bed, but that was editing together multiple takes. Nonetheless, she is my call. This is a very high-risk call as she could EASILY go out next show. If so, bump all my picks up.

2. Ricky-Bobby's former fiancee - Emily, 24 (she could easily win also) - Adorable, charming, single-mom, great back-story, also incredibly hot. He is taken with her. My guess is her little girl, Ricky (natch), will be the star of the show when they go to her "home" visit. She could possibly lock it in next week with her "big reveal".

3. Crazy Philly Dentist with the over-the-top boob job - Ashley H., 26 - Great, two good looking people with SERIOUS daddy issues. She might drop a spot, but I think her education and fun quotient will keep her around a long time.

4. Birthday girl and the least nice person from Utah ever - Michelle, 30 (today, "It's my birthday, did you hear?") - Easy to dislike, single-mom, but super hot and extremely adept at getting Brad's attention. Not a chance she will win. Definitely being overdone in editing as the "bad girl". Will get eliminated for causing crazy drama about other girls with her man. Predicted line - "I don't fight for men, men fight for me!"

5. Super-cute, but totally naive NYC nanny from the mid-west - Ashley S., 26 - Too nice for this competition. Will get her heart stomped. Brad might cry when he lets her go.

6. Adorable Boston bartender - Stacey, 26 - Not sure what to thing of her, but a) I like her and b) the editing suggests she sticks around. In the end, I don't think she brings enough dimension to stay interesting.

7. Psychotic vampire chick that the producers will insist stay around long enough -Madison, 25 - Clearly here to appeal to the Twilight generation, she must have a great agent who sold that story line/appeal to the producers. Her presence on the show weakens the argument that Brad is serious each week. Also - if she is a model, she must be a plus size model. Just sayin'.

It's hard to predict exact spot, so take my guesses as +/- 1 slot.

Other thoughts:

Am I crazy or is that artist chick, Jackie, 27, completely a intentional attempt to draw on the appeal of Rachel Berry from Glee? (not working)
Lisa M is the easiest elimination from the next episode ever. I can't even remember a segment with her and Brad alone in the editing = death nell.
Sarah P will likely get her shot next week and may not get the rose on the date, sending her home immediately.
I really like the mortician dame, Shawntel, 25, but she isn't hot enough, is too shy and frankly is too nice for this show. Best line from Brad on her - "You could make anyone look good" Heh.
Taking a look at the multiple name-pairs, one stands out - Ashley (#2 in 1985), Sarah (#5 in 1985) and Chantal/Shawtel (Nowhere in the top 250). Not sure what it says, but it says something.
Last time, Brad ended up with two brunettes, yet idiotically, I am predicting two blondes this time. This could bite me in the butt.
Did anyone else notice that there were no black or asian women in the original 30? I wonder why not. They have been conscientious about that in the past. Historically, they have all been summarily dismissed in the first couple episodes, which might have been embarrassing to the producers so they skipped it this time.

Think I have it way off? Have you own prediction? Let me hear about it in your comments.

The Sequel Map

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:55:00 +0000

via neatorama.com

Proof that sequels pretty much always suck. Only exceptions - Toy Story and Godfather.

Christie rips into Chatham school board, superintendent | dailyrecord.com | Daily Record

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:47:00 +0000

-->
From the DailyRecord.com Capitol Quickies blog:
Perhaps the best quote of the day during Gov. Chris Christie’s press conference came when he riffed on one of his favorite tops — high superintendent salaries and the school boards who award them.
“These school boards need to start representing the taxpayers and stop being agents for school superintendents,” Christie said.
Related
READ the Capitol Quickies blog
WATCH video of Christie criticizing the Chatham school board

He then drew a bead on the Chatham Board of Education, which recently approved a new contract for its superintendent that exceeds the salary cap Christie is seeking to impose in 2011. Saying the board’s enthusiasm for its superintendent goes beyond what baseball super-agent Scott Boras would do to sell one of his clients, the governor tore into the board.
“I look at the school board in Chatham. You know, they make Scott Boras blush with their advocacy for this Jim O’Neill character,” Christie said. “You would think the guy invented the book from the way they talk about him.”
Bah-dum-bum…
“So let’s get real here, OK,” the governor continued. “It’s time for (school boards) to start representing the people who vote for them and who pay the bills and stop looking for ways to circumvent the superintendent pay cap.”
Christie said he had directed Department of Education acting commissioner Rochelle Hendricks to keep a close eye on any new contracts and challenge them when necessary.
Asked tonight about the governor's comments, Steve Barna, the president of the board, wondered how Christie can look at a high achieving district like the Chathams and "hurl darts" at the board. Barna said he would love to have Christie, who lives a short distance away in Mendham Township, visit the district and see how well it is doing.
Jonathan Chatinover, a board member who spoke to the governor at a recent town hall meeting in Parsippany, said the board is representing the taxpayers, He noted that voters in the district overwhelmingly backed the school district;'s budget last spring and that they have been consistently doing so for 20 years.

via dailyrecord.com

Dear Governor Christie, I love you but please get off this issue. You are wrong.

Drunk Man Kills Shark By Jumping On Head

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:56:00 +0000

via Geekologie...

Dragan Stevic (who you can probably already tell is a badass because his name's pronounced f***in' DRAGON), a wasted Serbian tourist (is there any other way to vacation?!) at Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh managed to take down a shark that had already killed one person and injured four others in the seaside tourist town by landing on it after drunkenly throwing himself off a high-dive. OMG -- PLEASE tell me you teach classes in heroism!

"Dragan climbed on the jumping board, told me to hold his beer and simply ran to jump. There was no time for me to react or to try to stop him, he just went for it"..."Dragan jumped high and plunged down to the sea, but didn't make as much splash as we thought he would"...

The reason could be because Dragan Stevic ended up jumping straight on the shark which was lurking near the beach, probably looking for its next victim. Dragan had nailed it right in the head, killing it instantly. The Egyptian police found the shark washed out on the beach that morning (pictured above).

At the moment, the fearless hero is in a hospital recovering from alcohol poisoning. After Dragan gets well, he will get a chance to have some more drinks as the resort had awarded the Serb tourist with a free vacation for his heroic deed.

This is the perfect hero story.

Reading on my front-porch rocker on this gorgeous day is suburbtastic.

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 17:57:00 +0000

Posted via email from John Sheldon's posterous

It's a tough life

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:49:00 +0000

See the full gallery on posterous

Our trip to Aruba. We love it here.

Posted via email from John Sheldon's posterous

Winestein | Design | Home

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:03:00 +0000

via likecool.com

This is a pretty cool little wine glass. Might help prevent my spilling.

Posted via email from John Sheldon's posterous

Sleeping In on Weekends Might Help You Catch Up From the Week [Sleep]

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:01:00 +0000

I always knew this was the case. How could it not be? My strategy has now been justified. Now, if I can just get my kids to actually let me sleep in...

via lifehacker.com

Sleeping In on Weekends Might Help You Catch Up From the Week

If you've got the chance to sleep in on a weekend morning, take it. Scientists suggests in a new study that grabbing an extra hour or two in one night can help restore your performance after a week of less-than-awesome slumber.

Photo by B Rosen.

In the journal Sleep, a recent study was analyzed in which 159 adults, at an average age of 30, were given two 10-hour nights, then most were given just four hours of sleep across five consecutive nights. After that, the amount of sleep allowed was randomized. Those who received the most sleep after that pretty awful-sounding week fared the best:

Dr David Dinges, chief of the Division of Sleep and Chronobiology at the University of Pennsylvania, who led the study, said: "The additional hour or two of sleep in the morning after a period of chronic partial sleep loss has genuine benefits for continued recovery of behavioural alertness.

"The bottom line is that adequate recovery is important for coping with the effects of chronic sleep restriction on the brain."

Does this go directly against what your friends, and other studies, have suggested? Kind of. Doesn't it feel great to wake up at an unproductive hour on a weekend? Yes.Your mileage, then, will vary.

Posted via email from John Sheldon's posterous

2010 Cornell graduation

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sun, 30 May 2010 13:43:00 +0000

The empty stadium. Will be full of hopeful grads in no time.

Posted via web from John Sheldon's posterous

Untitled

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 14 May 2010 17:46:00 +0000

The new data collection/visualization project Projectr at @bbhnewyork. Tracking what makes the agency work ... caffeine.

Posted via web from jsheldonus's posterous

Visit to DC.

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:06:00 +0000

See and download the full gallery on posterous

In the gardens behind the Smithsonian.

Posted via web from jsheldonus's posterous

Visit to Cornell

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:51:00 +0000

The girls at the Andrew D White library

Posted via web from jsheldonus's posterous

Our newest family member

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:12:00 +0000

Evan the fish. I think the girls are a little excited.

Posted via web from jsheldonus's posterous

Second Annual Sheldon Soup Party preparations have begun

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:28:00 +0000

The tent for overflow.

Posted via web from jsheldonus's posterous

Alexa's at a friend's 70s party

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:27:00 +0000

Posted via web from jsheldonus's posterous

Emma

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:54:00 +0000

Posted via web from jsheldonus's posterous

2009 Sheldon Holiday Letter

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:35:00 +0000

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas, Season’s Greetings, and Happy New Year!

As we did last year, we decided to go green rather than send out cards and photos to save paper, costs and time, while still providing you an update on the past year. We hope you enjoy it!

The way we would sum up 2009: busy, busy, busy. We went on quite a few trips, learned a lot at school, accomplished a lot at work, and found many opportunities to have fun together.

In March 2009, Elia, Kathi (our au pair from Berlin, Germany), and Emma visited Washington, DC. Unfortunately, Alexa and John had to stay home because Alexa wasn’t feeling well. While there, we visited several of the Smithsonian Museums, rode the Metro, saw the White House, stood in front of the US Capitol Building, visited the Lincoln Memorial, and enjoyed Ethiopian food in Georgetown (correction: Emma wants everyone to know that she found the Ethiopian food way too spicy). We must have clocked at least twenty miles of walking, maybe more. It was a lot of fun.

The photo to the right is Emma in front of the World War II Memorial.

In April of this year our entire family went on a trip to Myrtle Beach to enjoy some sun and sea. The weather was colder than we expected, so the sun and sea part was only able to happen a couple of times but we still managed to have fun. While we were there, we celebrated Alexa’s 5^th birthday.

Here’s a picture of John, Emma, and Alexa finishing up some ice cream cones at the Shops at Barefoot Landing in Myrtle Beach.

Later in April, we made a quick weekend trip to visit Philadelphia. Kathi, Emma, and Alexa all tasted their very first authentic Philadelphia cheesesteaks at Jim's. Emma and Kathi really enjoyed theirs. The weather was unseasonably warm and we enjoyed the sun and the flowers as we walked to see the Liberty Bell.

Here’s a picture of Emma and Alexa outside of the Liberty Bell Center:

We even had time to visit John’s alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania.

The girls posed for this picture with Ben.

We welcomed two new cousins to the family this year. On June 19^th, Madison Gail and Morgan Jean were born to John’s sister, Debi, and her husband Jeff. We visited them later that month and enjoyed meeting them, holding them, feeding them, and watching them sleep.

The summer was fun; filled with summer camps, visits to friends, Elia’s High School Reunion, and – of course – ice cream:

In July, our au pair, Kathi Opitz, who’d joined our family in July of last year returned to Berlin. It was sad to say goodbye but we know that we will all see each other again. She passed the first test needed to qualify to enter pilot’s training for Lufthansa, so we’re very excited to hear more news in the future.

We were happy to welcome our new au pair, Julia Englund Tunhaw, to our family in early July. She’s from Jönköping, Sweden and after her year with us will return there to study psychology. We are so blessed to have Julia in our family. She’s taught us a lot about Sweden and we have already shared some American traditions with her.

Here’s a picture of her with John, Elia, and Emma from when we visited Cape Cod this summer:

For Halloween. Emma decided to be Alice Cullen from Twilight (a vampire, for those of you unfamiliar with the book) and Alexa decided to be a sassy princess. The weather was rainy, but we still managed to get our usual 100+ trick-or-treaters.

John and Elia went for a very relaxing vacation in early November to Aruba. We enjoyed Slippery Monkeys and spent our days floating around the Lazy River and catching up with each other. Vacation bliss.

On the job front, John left Ogilvy in February for a new opportunity to help grow a new discipline in the New York office of London-based Bartle, Bogle & Hegarty (BBH) - a mid-sized agency where he has worked on fun stuff for Axe, LEGO and helping on new business with Westin (we won!) and Cadillac (which we better win in January).

Elia has been at UnitedHealth Group based out of their Basking Ridge, NJ office for a year and a half now and she’s happy to report that she enjoys her job. She’s Director of IT Project Management and runs a multi-year program for the enterprise information technology organization. Her program is responsible for helping reduce overall IT run rate costs and implementing changes that will better enable the organization to deliver effective, efficient technology solutions.

Emma, now eight, is a third grader at Milton Avenue School. She loves her class, her teacher (who is internet savvy like us), and spending time with her friends. She also enjoys tennis, swimming, soccer, basketball and Brownies. Emma’s message to everyone is: "I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”

Alexa, now 5½, started Kindergarten this year at Milton Avenue School. In addition to enjoying school, she also enjoys ballet, tap, swimming, soccer and craft projects. Alexa’s message to everyone is: "I hope Santa gives you all great presents. Remember to be good!".
In closing, we wish you and yours a fun-filled holiday season and a safe, happy, and healthy 2010!

We leave you with a clip of Emma and Alexa dancing to Jingle Bell Rock on the day we decorated our Christmas tree this year. Enjoy!

Love,

John, Elia, Emma, Alexa and Julia

Company Meeting and Party

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:59:00 +0000

Tequila shots at 10am.

Posted via web from jsheldonus's posterous

L's mom's 60th birthday party.

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:40:00 +0000

Posted via web from jsheldonus's posterous