EFFORTING:

DEAR DERRICK, PLEASE GET WELL SOON:

... So, in case you have not yet heard Derrick Rose tore his right meniscus Friday Night in Portland - The Bulls had just started their famed and annual "Circus Trip" and...Well, for those of you that are uneducated this trip happens every year and the Bulls and Blackhawks have to vacate the United Center for a week or so while the Circus comes to town and all the Chicago Natives get a break from the early brutal Chicago Winter - Well those that buy tickets anyway.

AND.............

For those of you that are FURTHER uneducated I happen to be a STAUNCH Chicago Professional Sports Fan (...My Wifey would probably say 'Fanatic' - But...Hey, whatevs) - Anywho...Having grown up in New Mexico with NO Professional Sports for miles and having a Father born and raised on the South Side of Chicago - Evergreen Park STAND UP! - I really did not have much of a choice.

But I digress.

Derrick's injury is very upsetting to me.

Actually, Derrick's injury is very upsetting to a lot people.

You can read about it here:

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/10034512/derrick-rose-chicago-bulls-season-knee-surgery

But, if you simply Google "Meniscus" most of the hits will include Derrick's story...Yes he is Chicago's Native Son (...South Side born and raised BTW), yes he was once the youngest MVP in the history of the NBA and yes his career seems very much in doubt now after sustaining two separate and devastating, season-ending knee injuries in the last three years.

As a life long Bulls Fan this makes me sad.

Very sad actually.

So much so that I cried - Not really - But still, "I has sad" as the kids say.

... It got me thinking about the Glory Days of Chicago Bulls Hoops and an article I came across a few weeks back - Bleacher Report interviewed Michael Jordan and asked him what his favorite Jordan Brand Shoes of all time were (...or J's as the kids say).

"What does this have to do with Design, Benjamin?" - You might be asking yourself...Well, actually - More than you think.

In my opinion, there has not been a more perfectly balanced synergy (...yeah, I said 'Synergy' - Get over it...) between design, marketing, performance and pop-culture than the 'Jordan Brand' - So, in this article The GOAT lists his favorite J's of all time...And as I read this article I found myself lamenting about the "Classic Days" of Professional Basketball in Chicago - When the Bulls were unstoppable in style, performance and world-wide popularity; simply larger than life in every way...

Think today's Miami Heat on steroids - And it all centered around MJ...

... Michael Jeffrey Jordan was a transcendent athlete; he was insanely popular not only on the court but off it as well - Kids with Hoop Dreams worldwide simply wanted to "Be Like Mike" - Yes, myself included - And in the middle of it all was the Jumpman Logo...The most easily recognizable, iconic and classically simple image that sparked a revolution in sports marketing and made Jordan and Phil Knight (Nike's Founder an CEO) millions upon millions of dollars - Kids flocked to shoe stores every year to "Cop" the latest Jordan's - And the funny thing is, it was more about style than sports performance - It was the perfect marriage between athletic performance equipment and off-court style worthy of a runway...In fact most J's owned and collected by Sneakerheads have never seen the hardwood - They just sit collected in boxes neatly packed away in closets - Crazy when you really think about it.

Jordan was the catalyst for all of this - So much so that Nike has struggled to reach the sales it saw via the Jordan Brand with any of their current custom shoe designs (LeBrons, Kobes, Durant's etc...) - So, much so that Nike and Jordan re-release his shoes at different times throughout the year in both the original and unique colorways and Sneakerheads buy them AGAIN!!! - Yes, His Airness was at the center of the whole thing offering his unique blend of raw talent, polished skill set and overall charisma...He was a selling machine; any company's dream and the prefect balance of backboards and boardrooms...

So, here is the Bleacher Report Article:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1850568-mj-names-his-favorite-jordans-kicks-of-all-time#!

For the most part his list is no surprise - The Jordan 11's (...or 'Bread's' as the kids say) - Are probably the most famous and recognizable basketball shoes ever sold...They even make versions in Baseball and Football Cleats...But I was glad my all time favorites made the list - I just love the 12's - Also known as "Taxi's" or "Flue Games," etc...So simple and classy.

Here are some shots of the Jordan 12's:

MJ was a GOD.

Anyway.............

Here is to Derrick's #Re-Return.

#LeSigh,
B.

LEED® AP BD+C:

... Wow, I can honestly say I am glad this is over - Your Boy is now a LEED® Accedited Professional, BD+C (Building Design and Construction) - Check the Logo below; I can now use this and other official USGBC and LEED Logos on documents and "approved" Websites that bear the USGBC URL - Whatever that means - But hey, I passed...And I cannot tell you how good that feels.

http://www.usgbc.org/

http://www.usgbc.org/leed

... So, I have to say that this test was different than my Registration Exams - Not more or less difficult, not confusing and not misleading - Just...Well, different.

It was VERY specific in its content - AND - Honestly harder than I thought - If you are not good with memorization, percentages, numbers or conceptual situations you have to apply to real-world professional standards (e.g. ANSI, ISO, ASHRAE, EPAct, etc...) then you may have a difficult time - But seriously though, I believe in you - If you apply yourself you can do anything!!!

Of course, ultimately this post really does not matter at all because.....

I PASSED!

... And that; that right there - That feeling - It. Is. Awesome.

Happy tonight,
B.

NEW BACKGROUND - ENJOY!

... So, I was home sick today (seriously though, I have to say this cold has been with me almost 14 days and I am SO done with it) - I was able to help Sandra with her store and her new Blog - CLICK THE LINK ON THE POST BELOW - I got to sleep-in until about 11:00 am and yes, I got a little studying in...Hey, did I mention that my LEED BD+C Exam is one week from today?!?!?!?

BUT...

I also had a chance to update the Graphics of this Blog a bit; really just tweaking the Background Image - This is a photo I shot and edited myself...So, no more Credit in my "About Gadget" above...

Here is the latest and greatest Background Image - May your Thursday evening be filled with much happiness:

Syndication Sickness Out,
Hot Mama

THE 'MADE FOR MUNCHKINS' BLOG IS NOW LIVE:

... Check it out:

http://mformunchkins.blogspot.com/

Cheers,
B.

LEEROY JENKINS!

... Okay, so yesterday and today I have been at ICS 300 Training - AND - Yup, you guessed it; tomorrow too - What is ICS 300 Training you might ask? - Well, good question, ICS 300 is a form of Disaster Preparedness Training for City, County and State Employees - Long story short, it is a way Government Employees can talk to each other and the Public when an incident occurs - BUT - Our instructor today played this YouTube Video and I had to share because...

It. Is. HILARIOUS.

A Team with a plan is only as good as its "Leeroy Jenkins" - Cheers and enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkCNJRfSZBU

PEACE.
B.

MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE:

... Here is a black and white snap I took of my Wifey in Lake Tahoe shortly after we met - I really do not have much time to blog today so hopefully this will hold you guys over until after I kick this cold I picked-up and I [hopefully] pass my LEED Exam in a few weeks:

Not sure whee I picked this cold up from but I am pretty miserable...

T.T.F.N.

Hot Mama