The Bay Bridge is a fucking disaster. You know what really gets me? The fact that Caltrans worked all hours of the night over Labor Day weekend to get the bridge up and running. Consultants, engineers were brought in from God knows where. Gave it the sign of approval and all was good. Well, you know what fuckers? All is not good. How many months later and the thing is still falling apart. Thank God no one died! All those cars that took a beating (however small)–I hope they get a huge payout. That Ryder truck driver. I hope he never has to work another day for the rest of his life. The poor guy got glass in his eyes! Again, THANK GOD NO ONE DIED! My mom personally knows the driver of one of the other cars that got struck. She’s a consultant working for my mom’s company and my mom said the woman is traumatized. I would be too if pieces of metal beam came raining onto my car. The Bay Bridge is closed indefinitely. GOOD! Am I only the one who cares about safety? It should be closed until the damn thing is completely rebuilt so another incident like this doesn’t happen again. Get it right, people. Get it fucking right.

I saw pictures of my friend Amy’s wedding and made a note in my wedding Excel spreadsheet to contact her. Everyone looked like they were having the time of their lives. I’m talking air guitar, huge smiles. It was happy insanity!

I emailed Amy today and asked her what the secret was. Any advice for me? Here’s what she had to say.

“we had a blast at our wedding and i think the contributing factors were: 1) we made sure it was fun, starting with an intimate ceremony where our families sang in a choire, Mark wearing Nikes sneakers w his groomsmen, to the songs we played, then reinforced at the reception with fun fans made with our faces, crazy dance in the beginning by us and the bridal party to set the tone of the wedding, open bar, photo booth which people LOVED, props for the photo booth which made their way onto the actual dance floor even, to the fact that many of our friends knew each other. and last but not least, our attitude that we wanted to make it fun and that we didn’t want a stiff wedding. i am sure yours will be fun because YOU ARE FUN.

“have fun with the wedding planning and don’t feel like there is a way you have to do certain things!! your family and friends will be so happy to be there for you and the more personalized you can make it (beyond just engravings of your names) the more fun everyone will have!!”

I wish I could post pictures of Amy’s wedding. I’m telling you, I wasn’t even there and I got giddy looking at the pictures. She did a splendid job and needs to consider moonlighting as a wedding planner.

On top of everything else going on in my life, I’ve finally decided to move forward with my own web site. It’s been in the back of my mind for a while now. With the year coming to a close, then tax filing, I figured this would give credence to the fact that I have my own business. Anyone want to pay for my writing? I told my graphic designer that I was hoping to have it up and running within a month, so stay tuned.

While we’re at it, take a look at my Google Profile.

A few months ago, I heard through the grapevine that someone who had assisted in getting me my current job had been unexpectedly laid off. When I discovered he was in a tough situation, I went balls-out to help him. I reached out to him. I sent him links to job resources I used. I put him in touch with people I knew. I put in a good word for him. Whenever I heard of a job opening, I immediately forwarded it to him. For several weeks, I was focused on making sure this guy found a job. He did find a job…very quickly after he was laid off.

I’m reading a book called Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini. This book is a national bestselling classic that I heard about when doing some business reading. It’s fascinating. I learned that one of the fundamental tenets of persuasion is reciprocity. When you receive a gift, you feel compelled to return the favor. The situation above is a personal example of how I felt compelled to aid someone who I believe assisted in getting me the job I have today. The book gives other examples like free food samples at grocery stores, the return labels you receive in the mail from non-profit organizations, the flower-giving Hare Krishnas. Why do people try to stay clear of “gift givers?” Because if we receive the gift—even if it’s unwanted, we feel compelled to donate money or return the favor.

In the past three days alone, four people have emailed me or sent me messages through Linked In or Facebook, asking me to help them get a job at my company. Two of these people, I DID NOT EVEN KNOW. Out of the blue, they contacted me, knowing where I work. I honestly could care less about these people. What have they done for me lately or ever?

So here’s my job tip for the day. It doesn’t even have to be for a job. But if you’re in a situation where you need someone’s help, you need a favor, reel through your neural memory bank and ask yourself who you have helped in the past. Turn to those people, not random people like me who you happen to search on Linked In. If the tenet stands, they’ll feel compelled to reciprocate. Karma, baby. Karma!

I’m sick, but trying to keep the full-blown influenza at bay. Dean likes to serenade me with pictures in his emails to me. So thought you would get a kick out of our meerkat love. Enjoy the pictures. I’m going to bed!

If you’re too dumb to figure it out, you’re too dumb to come to my wedding.