February 28, 2005

Nor Easter

Well. The weathermen have predicted what is essentially a perfect storm. What are we going to do? What are we going to do?

Went to an Oscar party last night. . .party was good, Oscar's were boring. Chris Rock won't be coming back. It should always be Billy Crystal - not extremely funny but safe and predictable.

February 26, 2005

City Crab

Last night, Sandra and I had dinner at the most wonderful restaurant in New York City. . . City Crab. We met to discuss the thing that I don't want this blog to become about. Okay. Fine. I might as well say it. We met to discuss the wedding. We each ate something that was brutally delicious from their fantastic menu. Sandra had the crabcakes with a side of yummy roasted potatoes. I chose something from the Friday night specials - Monkfish served on a bed of the nicest paella ever. The chorizo popped with flavors, the shrimp was fresh, the clams didn't make me sick and the scallops were brilliant. For dessert we shared the coconut parfait with sauteed pineapples. The place is great. They serve seafood appetizers at the bar. It's also the locale of my first seriously romantic date with Jon in 2003.

Just so the legend of our relationship remains true, I will tell you that our actual first date took place at Republic, that great trendy noodle house inUnion Square. It was after this date that we both decided to keep on seeing each other.

Thank you so much for dinner Sandra. I had a wonderful time.

February 25, 2005

It Snowed

The Northeast received a God size helping of snow last night. I looked out the window and saw that today was going to be cold and damp.
===========================================
I'm tired this morning. I watched the Apprentice twice last night. Once at 8 and then later on tape with Jon. Last night's episode contained this bit of wisom from Donald Trump, no doubt learned in one of his classes at Wharton.

"Shut up and listen." He explained that this is the best way to learn things from people.

So now you're thinking that's profound, so simple and obvious a child could have figured that out. Yet the project manager from the STREET SMARTS team (those contestants that don't have college), didn't listen to anyone and led her team straight to a loss. She was also steeped deep in denial. Several people on her team, at her initial meeting told her that her idea was wrong, yet she didn't listen. Nor did she listen to the people for whom they were creating a graffiti ad in Harlem. Yet she claimed right until her taxi cab interview that no one told her she was on the wrong track and blamed her team for a failure that was obviously her own.

How did the BOOK SMARTS (those with college) team win? The project manager not only listened to the client and to his team, but surveyed people in the neighborhood to see what would be the most effective GRAFFITI advertisement for the product whose name I won't mention because it received enough publicity last night.** I have mixed feelings about this approach. While he applied a little common sense by getting ideas from other people, he didn't show much in the end of creativity.

But in the end it wasn't about creativity or artistry. In the end the task was about delivering the product in the most effective way to the requirements laid out by the client. In the end, it was another ridiculous episode.
---------------------------------------------------------
**Sheez Louise, D. Trump said the name of the product 9 times while explaining the task to the contestants during the beginning of the show.

February 24, 2005

The Gym

I weighed myself this morning and I gained weight. I shouldn't have stepped on that scale.

I decided I was going to start with some kind of high calorie burning aerobic activity to take off some initial weight before I started really working out with the weights because I know weight training builds mass and makes you heavier even though your toning up.

But I wanted to have an initial success, a quick weight loss, a month of extreme movement and sweating to get me started, to make me feel like working out is a worthwhile activity.

You know how upset I am. You've been here. After three weeks of working out, I expected to see at least a loss of 2 or 3 pounds. Nope. Not me. It doesn't work like that with me. Because every time I start an exercise and diet program my body has the opposite response. It puts weight on me.

Argh!!!!!

February 23, 2005

Paris Hilton annoys me but I still feel bad for her. Her private life was stolen and posted on the internet. All those people in her phone book, whose numbers were exposed to the public lost a little bit more of their privacy and probably hold Paris responsible - not all of them but some.
============================================
Stayed at work until 7 tonight. I'm going to have to go to the gym extraordinarily early tomorrow morning to make up for not going this evening.
============================================
Now I'm watching yet another rerun of Law & Order. This is the one where the actress who plays the mom on Six Feet Under, plays an amateur exorcist responsible for the murder of a young, teenage girl.
============================================
At 9, I will watch American Idol for a third night in a row.

February 22, 2005

Back To Work

Today was a great day. I worked on a mailing the entire morning. I never thought I'd be thankful to be working on another mailing but I am. It's easy work that occupies a large amount of time. When one is doing a mailing, often one is not responsible for anything else. So for about 6 hours today, my sole responsiblity was the folding, stuffing, sealing and stamping of one of our clients' newsletters.

Later in the day, I got organize previous press releases with the help of a plastic see thru sleeves and a loose leaf binder. I also edited a press release for another client and updated a letter for my boss.

I was also simultaneously entertaining the four year old daughter of my co-worker. The four year old is off from school this week and her babysitter has a broken leg, so I'll be seeing a lot of her this week. She just couldn't be any cuter. I asked her to draw me a picture of an elephant. She didn't work on it until the end of the day. When she did finally get around to it she drew me on the back of a big elephant in and her on the back of a little elephant. When I have a chance I'll scan it and post it. It's the most amazing picture I've ever seen a young child draw. Usually four year olds draw those potato people with sticks and arms for legs. This picture had proportion, smiley faces, and enough information to let you know what she wanted to convey - two happy people riding on the backs of two happy elephants. I was flattered.

She didn't say a word to me the whole day but was following me around everywhere. What a day.

Now I'm pooped. Mailings are tiring. Maybe next time I'll sit down. But that wouldn't work because it's faster to do the mailing when you're standing - something about being able to twist a the waist.

But I go on. . . you probably don't give a sh*t about the proper technique for putting together a mailing but if you ever need any advice, you know where to reach me.

February 21, 2005

Winter is Back

Winter is back in force. Today was cold and damp and overcast.
================================
Thanks to the holiday, I got to enjoy another Monday off with Jon.
================================
I don't want this to become a wedding blog, so it won't become one. We started putting together some lose ideas for our wedding and it's hard. After about an hour of discussion, which I know isn't that much, we decided on a place where we can hold both the ceremony and the reception. We have a copy of The Knot's wedding planning book. That's somewhat helpful. Discussions with people who have had weddings is turning out to be the best help.
================================
After discussing the wedding, I watched American Idol - men only. 12 men performed for the TV audience - 6 will be voted to stay. Tomorrow night 12 women will perform. The winners will be announced on Wednesday night. Guess what I'm doing the next two nights.

Happy Birsday Mista Pwez ee dent

To which great man do we owe this day off? I don't know - some dead guy, some former President. Does it really matter? It's a Monday OFF!!!! I worked out like mad this weekend. GO ME!!! I also had fun this weekend. GO ME!!!!!

Part of the fun was taking pictures. GO ME!!!!
Did you know that one of the most patriotic New York neighborhoods in the city is Astoria, Queens? In this part of the world, where over 120 different languages are spoken and one can find more cultural diversity than any where else in America, patriotic symbols can be found everywhere;

in the names of the stores,


on the front doors of businesses,


hanging from building entrances,


and even on the shelves of the 99 cent stores that seem to dominate the area.

February 20, 2005

Corn Pops

Sunday.
Coffee.
Corn Pops
Wedding planning.
Corn Pops.
Gym?
Cleaning.
Dinner.
Carnivale.
Sleeping.

February 17, 2005

New Job

Whose bright idea was it to start a new job on Thursday?

Oh yeah. Mine.

Things went well. But I realized starting a new job on a Thursday means I won't be able to get any momentum going this week - the momentum to prove myself.

That psychological MONDAY edge wasn't with me today. I hope I still managed to make a good impression as this executive's assistant. I finished my tasks quickly and efficiently. Sometimes that's not such a good thing. Sometimes, people assign you work to keep you busy. If you finish it too quickly, it can annoy them. Also, nobody likes a brown noser.

I don't think that was the case today but just in case, tomorrow I'll take my time and make sure I perform my tasks to the best of my ability.

A positive attitude goes a long way. Never underestimate the power of smiling. Because if your boss finds that you aren't doing a good job, at least he/she can say that you're a pleasure to work with.

First Day - Again

Today is the first day of yet another new job.

I think this is the fourth job I'm starting since I started this blog.

I know I don't deserve because things are going so well but wish me luck anyway just because you understand.

February 16, 2005

Liza Minelli

It is unusually warm today. Spring has sprung early. I don't like when the seasons don't behave the way they are supposed to. Normally, February is the most miserable month of a New Yorker's year. Not this February. Today it's 50 degrees outside.
=======================================

Liza Minelli is performing live this week at the Westbury Music Fair.

Is anyone actually going to see her?
=======================================
I attended the LOVE SUCKS edition of Tuesday Night Trivia. Our team, Saffron Dreams, tied for first. One of the hosts made an example of me by announcing our engagement. The crowd barely reacted because most of them don't know us. Of course, the host was making an angry example of us because the LOVE SUCKS theme was for those who are angry at the Valentine's Day institution.

If it weren't for my amazing sense of humour I may have been embarrassed.
=======================================
I've got the Tony Danza show on - part of the soundtrack of my day. This morning's activity is sorting and doing laundry. I need something like the Tony Danza show to help me separate the whites from the colors. It keeps me going. Gets my energy up. Motivates me.

Not really. I'm lying becuase he's a nice guy with a lame show and I was trying to find something positive about this experience but there really isn't anything here. He's just not a great talk show host but at least he's working. He doesn't stop trying and there is something to that.
=======================================
There are people who don't like The Gates. They say it's because The Gates get in the way of all the nature in Central Park. Well, I say to them. . .it's just for another 12 days. Soon Central Park will be bereft of life - gray and miserable.

February 15, 2005

Happy

I have to change the name of this website because I don't feel like a misanthrope anymore. I'm engaged to the best guy in the world, I have plenty of friends, I just left a good job for another, I quit smoking and I'm working out regularly. My life is going well.
============================================
The elliptical machine makes working out at the gym more enjoyable than any other machine I have ever used. In 30 minutes I walked/jogged a little over two miles and burned over 300 calories. To say I was downhearted when I discovered my shin splints is an understatement. However, they were a blessing in disguise. I actually feel like I'm accomplishing something on the elliptical machine. On the treadmill, I was just walking, which is something I do all the time and find boring. The E.M. requires a certain amount of concentration and doesn't ever get boring.

Also, I'm finding that runner's high I used to get when I would ride my bicycle like a maniac on the boardwalk in Long Beach. It's downright relaxing is what it is.

February 14, 2005

The Gates

Jon and I spent a good part of this rainy Valentine's Day, braving the elements in Central Park. One of our friends saw these on Friday night and said he wasn't terribly impressed.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I was impressed. I think they are lovely and that The Gates is nice gift from the artists to New York City.

Happy Valentine's Day

Jon and I celebrated Valentine's Day on Sunday because we thought I would be working on Monday and wanted to get in a good night's worth of celebration. Here is a picture of us getting ready to go out.


After we got ready to go out, Jon handed me the Best Valentine I Would Ever Get.
Here is a picture of me reading it.


It was THE BEST VALENTINE I EVER GOT because he proposed to me. Here I am positively glowing with happiness. If you look closely, you can see my face is red from happy crying.


And finally after telling everyone and then going out for a nice dinner, here we are at home, at the end of the evening, engaged.

February 11, 2005

A New Favorite

Rainblo Bubblegum is my new favorite snack.

It was introduced to me by KF.

We chew gum all day long at work because it's fun!!

Friday

Hee hee. It's Friday again.

How wonderful and splendiforous. This weekend starts the Christo installation of thousands of yards of orange fabric tented all over Central Park.

Pictures will be take for those of you who won't be able to come into town to enjoy.

Enjoy writing in the passive voice, I do.

February 10, 2005

Thursday is Trumpday

The Apprentice
Two teams produced two ads for Donny Deutsch to promote some DOVE product or the other (that's two tie-ins, thank you very much.) Both teams made commercials that sucked so bad that both had to see The Donald in the Boardroom. Final tie-in of this and every episode is the huge YAHOO HOTJOBS banner on the taxis that pickup the ejected, dejected and rejected apprentices. Tonight was no different.

I don't know what kind of 30 second commercial Donald Trump and Donny Deutsch expected either team to produce. Neither really had the experience and they certainly didn't have the time.

These tests don't always accurately measure the abilities of the teams and their members. They are unfairly difficult.

The tie-ins are excessive but indeed a lesson in advertising and product placement.

Will I watch again next week? Absolutely. I'm hooked. Mark Burnett is a genius. Is he looking for an apprentice? I want to be a contestant on THAT SHOW.

Reelin' in the Days

Here is stuff about some things you should know:

Tuesday night I played Tuesday NightTrivia. My friend and a co-worker K.F. was a welcome addition to the team which consisted of T.A.B., Vidiot and B., and Erik and of course me. We named our team LOSE LIKE AN EAGLE, to honor the losing Super Bowl team and we did. Caren, who did a great job of hosting, pointed out that we "lost like an EAGLE" because we came in second. I keep telling myself there is no shame in coming in second, we still finished in the money, but I don't know if I can stand for that next week.

Last night I went to the gym directly from work. I am determined to lose weight and tone up and feel better. I set out to do exactly what I did on Monday. I just wanted to walk briskly on the treadmill for 35 minutes or so. But 5 minutes into last night's treadmill routine, my shins were aching. After 15 minutes, I had to stop. I was so mad and frustrated. How am I going to do the high impact aerobic exercise necessary to lose weight if my body won't cooperate. I angrily submitted to my weakness and peddled furiously on one of those gym bikes. I focused all of that frustration and anger into the peddles. By the time I was done, I was crimson red and sweating hard. People were looking at me with alarm as they often do when I exercise. My face always turns deep red. If you've never seen that happen to someone before, it could be pretty upsetting. But my heart rate was fine. My target rate is 167 and last night it didn't go above 148.

I felt better when it was all done. The frustration left through the opening I provided - my peddling feet - and the steaming hot bath I took later finished the job. I slept really well last night.

It's true. Exercise does make you feel better.

February 09, 2005

Baby Blog

Baby Quentin has his own website. What can I say? This is just too precious.


The Simp Life

Does anyone else find these two offensive?


The Godfather - Excerpt

Stuck in the tunnel for no apparent reason on the 7 train, I pulled out The Godfather and started reading. I only made it through the first few pages but I'm already intrigued.

Here, Mario Puzo introduces his readers to Sonny Corleone.
His face was that of a gross Cupid, the features even but the bow-shaped lips, thickly sensual, the dimpled cleft chin in some curious way obscene. He was built as powerfully as a bull and it was common knowledge that he was so generously endowed by nature that his martyred wife feared the marriage bed as unbelievers once feared the rack. It was whispered that when as a youth he had visited houses of ill fame, even the most hardened and fearless putain, after an awed inspection of his massive organ, demanded double price.

Wednesday's Cry For Help

Hump day. (sniff) Why doesn't anybody like me? I mean, what did I ever do do hurt anybody. I wish I were more like Friday. Everybody likes Friday. He's soooooooo popular. Monday I was eating my breakfast in the days of the week cafeteria and all the other days of the week were sitting with Friday except for Monday because he was hiding somewhere. I tried to squeeze in between Tuesday and Thursday but they wouldn't let me. They just looked down at their trays pretending not to notice me. (sniff)

I don't understand. I'm part of the Day family. Maybe it's because my name is longer than anyone else's. But that doesn't make any sense because Saturday won't pay any attention to me either. As a matter of fact, both Saturday and Sunday eat in a separate cafeteria with waitress service while we lower days of the week have to go up to the buffet and make our own plates (sniff)

It's not fair. I want to be like everyone else and I want everyone else to like me. People don't like to wake up on Wednesday. I hear them groaning on their way to work. They think I'm stupid and boring. There isn't even anything good on TV Wednesday nights, except for Law and Order but nobody wants to stay up that late because Wednesday is SO HARD. It's the MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. They want to get sleep on Wednesday night so they can watch ER on THURSDAY NIGHT. They don't mind staying up late for that.

I hate everyone just as everyone hates me (sniff), but I sure wish someone would buy Wednesday a cup of coffee some time. Just so I don't have to sit here alone and think about how much everyone hates me.

Oh shit. Today is Wednesday. I'm running late. That's why the other days weren't talking to me. Because I'm supposed to be working.

Gotta' run!!!!!

February 08, 2005

Pretty as a Picture

My friend Caren found a tree with balloon blossoms and posted a picture of it on her website and then she linked to our friend Dawn for linking to her balloon blossoms picture so I'm copying Dawn.

Tuesdays with Jon

Jon stopped by my office for lunch and brought with him a copy of The Godfather. We watched The Godfather yesterday with the commentary by F.F. Coppola. The commentary is by him and only him - interesting. We watched it on the recommendation of The Wounded Liberal. I'm sure of Orsen Welles could have added a commentary track to Citizen Kane, it would have sounded much like Coppola's The Godfather commentary. Do I need to say any more than that? If so, I will try to explain. If not, then you know what I mean.

I plan on reading the book on the train this week. I'll let you know how it is when I'm done.

Tuesday Lament

Monday was neatly tucked away because I called in sick to work yesterday. I called in sick because I was having trouble walking due to my sore legs. Yesterday, Monday was kept at bay. To help my legs I went to the gym and did more exercise and you know what? It helped. It helped a lot. My legs feel much better today - only residual soreness.

Tuesday feels like Monday. I'm tired. I'm dragging. I can't wait for the day to be over. I just want to go home and work out. I look forward to it and I am thinking of ways to leave early, although that wouldn't really be fair to my 5:30 appointment.

Tuesday night means American Idol again. It's my favorite sporting event to watch on television. Even moreso than the Super Bowl, if you can believe it. Okay, maybe that's not so hard to believe but American Idol is competitive. It is also violent but in a different way - more emotionally violet. Simon Cowell leaves crying heaps of young talented people in his wake. Simon can take down a 6 foot 2 hunky guy with one bite of his critical venom.

And I can't wait to see it tonight.

February 07, 2005

Superbowl Sunday

I've been holding Monday off all day. He wanted to write a rebuttal to Friday's harsh critique but I thought it would kill the fun mood we were all in today. So instead, I tied Monday up and locked him in the closet.
======================================
Superbowl Sunday.
Jon and I went to T.A.B.'s house for a superbowl party but due to strict restrictions outlined on his website I did not make any visual record of the evening. I can tell you that people were excited about the game. Why wouldn't they be. The game was great, suspenseful up until the last 2 minutes. T.A.B. has a 60 inch television and he was not afraid to use it. He also gave us a great spread. Chips, dips, pizza, cold cuts. . .it was awsome. I'm hungry just thinking about.

I did take pictures before and after tho.

Here I am standing in front of a large bobble head of a famous baseball player although I couldn't tell you which one. This store is full of sports fan paraphernelia and enormous bobble heads.


Here is a shot I took waiting for Sarah outside of Port Authority. It is the new 42nd Street. Some might say it's a sad statement about how New York is changing. Others, like me, might say it's nice to be able to walk down 42nd street without someone reciting you a list of drugs, a to z, every three minutes.

Here are pictures of the busride home. Pictured are Sarah, The Wounded Liberal, My Urban Kvetch, Wes, and Phil. Also pictured are Barry and Rachel who's blogs are forthcoming.

February 06, 2005

Saturday

Hosted by Photobucket.com
Saturday. I couldn't pull it together in Saturday. Falling back into old patterns, I had a lazy Saturday. It wasn't completely lazy, mind you. I did take some pictures of the neighborhood. (one of them above) I did meet with a trainer at 8am for the work up that I was entitled to for joining the gym. My trainer is 24 year old B, who is a ballerina from upstate.. She's 24 years old and can't weigh more than 100 pounds. She took my blood pressure to start - 120 over 78. She asked me what goals are and then she weighed me. That was shocking. I'm heavier now than ever, the heaviest I've ever been. That was pretty depressing. What was even more depressing was discovering my physical limitations with the simple exercises she gave me to do. It turns out that all of my muscles are "OUT OF BALANCE" which accounts for the odd aches pains I've been getting over the years. The simple exercises she gave me are meant to correct my balance. I like her fine and she really seems to know what she is talking about. She worked me out for about an hour. This morning, I had trouble getting out of bed. My body is sore in places I didn't know or forgot existed. I mean I've worked out before and I know how to work out or so I thought. She corrected the weigh I was doing a lot of different little exercises and I really feel the difference this morning. Basically, I'm going to have to do a lot of cardio and gradually work on increasing my target heart rate and I need to burn at least 300 - 400 calories in each cardio workout.

February 04, 2005

So, I accepted a new job. "What's that?", you may be asking in a shocked tone. "Didn't you just start a new job?" The answer to that is YES. I did. The job I just accepted is one I interviewed for back in November, the day after I lost my old job. As you may recall, I had scheduled the interview before getting fired. Anyway, I really liked the job and really wanted it. Then I went back for a second interview and thought the job was mine. At that point, it wasn't. So, I took off a couple of weeks, started the job I have now and took a third interview a few weeks after starting the new job. At the third interview I got the job and I'll start in a couple of weeks.
==========================================
I"m watching 20/20 - Caught on Tape. They are running the third segment which is about people's home sex videos. All I have to say about this controversial issue is this.

YUCK!

A Word From Friday

Hi. My name is Friday and without sounding too egotistical, I am the most popular day of the work week. My colleague Monday will make the argument that he is the most popular based on the number of people getting up and going places early in his day. But Monday doesn't take into consideration that people don't enjoy doing this. Monday also doesn't do anything to make people happy. Monday is unrelenting and stands alone as the one day when people groan upon hearing their alarm clocks summoning them to their respective responsibilities.

Friday, as in me, myself and I, is the day when most people get up with enthusiasm. They face me with the kind of attitude that says, "HEY. ONCE I GET THROUGH FRIDAY, I'LL BE DONE FOR THE WEEK." Monday can not say that it enjoys this luxury, because once people get through Monday they have the rest of my work week colleagues to face.

I can confidently say that I AM THE MOST POPULAR DAY OF THE WEEK - even more popular than Thursday, with it's Thursday night television line up and day before Friday status. People will never tire of me as they do when Thursday night starts showing reruns. Fridays are always FRIDAY. Friday, in most cases, will always be the last day of the work week.

Perhaps, I'm using the phrase "last day of the work week" too much but what can I say? It is the one and only reason why I am the most popular day of the work week.

So , IN YOUR FACE MONDAY.

UP YOURS TUESDAY.

SHOVE IT WEDNESDAY, aka Hump day. . .sheesh. Honestly, you call yourself a day?

SIT ON IT THURSDAY.

People of the world. Embrace Friday. I am your leader and as your leader I promise that I will always remain the last day of the work week.

February 03, 2005





You Are a Peacemaker Soul





You strive to please others and compromise anyway you can.
War or conflict bothers you, and you would do anything to keep the peace.
You are a good mediator and a true negotiator.
Sometimes you do too much, trying so hard to make people happy.

While you keep the peace, you tend to be secretly judgmental.
You lose respect for people who don't like to both give and take.
On the flip side, you've got a graet sense of humor and wit.
You're always dimplomatic and able to give good advice.

Souls you are most compatible with: Warrior Soul, Hunter Soul and Visionary Soul



Thursday

Eh.

February 02, 2005

Wednesday

it's almost 3pm on wednesday. middle of the day. . .middle of the week. i'm looking forward to the part of the day where i'm working out in the gym.

February 01, 2005

Tuesday

Today is today. That's all you need to know.

I'm tired and I'm not exactly sure why. Worked, worked out, came home, ate, slept from 9:30 to 6:30 and I'm still tired. I'm also coughing and congested which probably is not a good sign.

Oh well. The flu was bound to catch up with me sooner or later.