After many a lonely PM meeting, and motivated by the fact that I forgot to bring in a show and tell item, I decided to introduce the resident robot as the official PM Mascot. The video below highlights the relationship Robot has with each member, except for Snow - who was MIA until the meeting.

Needless to say, she and Robot are NOT on good terms.

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I spent a few working days in Washington, D.C. this week and discovered some peculiar facts about this great city:

1. There is no such thing as a straight road.
PRO: The merges and turns break up the monotony when driving and often provide some beautiful scenery
CON: Without a GPS navigator you're in trouble - a compass with get you no where but more lost
HINT: Drive until you hit a recognizable water feature (Potomac, Atlantic Ocean, Reflection Pond) and pull over. The cops will be on your car like donuts and you'll get directions to where you are going in no time.

2. Crosswalk indicators work backward from the rest of the world.
PRO: If you're walking and not paying attention to traffic you blend in with the crowd of confusion
CON: If you're driving you risk taking out a good dozen people if you try to move quickly at a green light
HINT: Get an out-of-state rental car and play the "lost traveler" card. This action is best complimented by a mess of papers or a big folding map and a look of panic.

3. Taxi drivers know the best tourist spots in town.
PRO: They will help you with your bags, show you classic landmarks and even accept credit cards
CON: They'll charge you $1 per bag for items YOU loaded into the truck without warning, the landmarks you will see are not en route to your destination, and you may have to reminded the driver to accept your plastic by highlighting the giant "We gladly accept all major credit cards" sticker on the window.
HINT: Carpool.

4. Union Station is incredible.
PRO: Up-scale mall shopping meets mega food court meets Amtrak. A new handbag, grilled veggie wrap and iced latte, and an $84 ticket will get you to the big apple in a few short, comfortable hours.
CON: The monstrosity of a structure requires a tour guide and a warning label, "May induce delayed travel reactions in women. Signs of affliction include lingering window-shopping and resistance to reaching the train platform in a timely manner."
HINT: Arrive extra early, leave some space in your carry-on bag and save the high-heels for the board room.
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Oh yes, prepare to rub your arms in humiliation and despair. "The Game" is back.
Yeah, you remember the one - where that annoying kid walks by and by some ancient form of trickery manages to draw your eye to the most deadly of hand signals: the inverse 'ok!' sign.

The general rule is to get somebody to look at your hand while you're doing the signal, below your waist.

Tips for Winning:

1) Try to look like you tripped, then put the signal by your knee (this one got me recently)
2) As you're tying your shoe, flash the signal at passersby.
3) Say "Owww... man... check this out..." as you place the signal by your leg.
4) Ask someone if they know sign language, then say, I know this sign (their eyes will follow your hand automatically.)
5) Don't overdo it; once or twice a day is best.

Watch out!
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The Cakeplow is now officially one year old! Come join the celebration over at the history page.