Met Gala through the eyes of a Theme Party Stickler

photo by Melinda Caliendo

I'll start this post with two truths about me:
1. I'm a stickler for theme parties. If you are too cool to participate fully in the theme of the party, be it a costume or a menu item, you're too cool to attend. Period.
2. Despite being best known for the combination of sport sandals and basketball shorts, I am passionate about fashion. Ever since I watched my Grandma sew dress up clothes for me and my playmates I have loved the challenge of not only expressing oneself through clothing, but making that clothing (or jewelry or hair accessory) to my own specifications.

These two truths lead me to my point: If you do not follow the theme of the Met Costume Institute gala, donate the $15,000 it costs to attend and stay home. I would give my left foot for the ability to attend the ball, but apparently some who are lucky enough to go decide that they are above dressing for the occasion.

A New Venture

Sometimes when you work with someone for a long period of time, you develop a unique understanding of each other's perspectives, passions and strengths. Working with Jared Kaltwasser at the Home News Tribune/Courier News and NJBIZ was a great blessing to me for many reasons, and when we realized that we would both be relocating to Europe within a few months of each other, the opportunity to continue writing and bouncing ideas off of each other opened up.

Jared, right, with me and our friend/colleague Josh at the 2011 NJBIZ Christmas luncheon.

This has led to a project that both Jared and I are very proud of, a new blog called 4th and Centimeters. 4th and Centimeters is intended to reflect our experiences as sports fans living in Europe, as well as an extension of years of hilarious, poignant, insightful e-mails that we've exchanged.

We will also be tweeting under the handle @4thandCM with smaller bites of sporting observations.

Please check out www.4thandCM.com when you have some free time, and send the word on to people who may enjoy our writing! Thanks for the support! 

Absorption and proficiency

One of the greatest gifts of this move to Belgium is that I have time to read for pleasure. Be it a book, magazine or news article, for the first time in years I truly have time to appreciate what others in my field are doing and try to learn as much as possible from them.

It took me two days to read Kevin Smith's book, "Tough Sh*t" which is part memoir, part advice, and part crude humor. And while I agree with Smith on many fronts -- including a sincere appreciation for the Great One -- what struck me most what his take on what happens when you're not forced to produce something new every day.