I played really well in the crappy cities when I was looking to leave Atlanta. I actually accepted a job in Milwaukee (and later backed out...) and had offers in Cleveland, Corpus Christi and Detroit. The only one of those other offers I even entertained was the Detroit job. Michigan, as you probably know, is where I grew up. The Detroit job was actually a larger salary than what I took here in Norwalk and the cost of living is much less. I would have been doing very nicely, not that I'm hurting at all now thankyouverymuch. I had some concerns about the company, though, and major concerns about Detroit. I'm an urban boy. I could live in the heart of Detroit for a song. However, the quality of life there would literally be a fraction of what it is here. Here I can go to NYC on a whim like I did last night. I have a world of cultural opportunities a short train ride away. I even have some pretty groovy places in South Norwalk including some great restaurants that have migrated from Manhattan and a really good art film theater.

Sometimes, though, I question whether I should have gone for the money in Detroit. However, when I read things like this I know that I made the right call...

The Phoenix was chosen to host a press screening of "8 Mile" because Eminem and director Hanson were adamant that the film be screened in the city; the Phoenix is the only commercial theater showing first-run films within the Detroit city limits.

Oh, my!