I started eating soy yogurt in order to satisfy my morning protein requirement. The first brand I tried, Silk Cultured Soy, didn't taste great but it was good enough to fill the void. Recently, I purchased Stonybrook Farms O Soy Yogurt and it is fantastic. It is creamy and smooth and delicious. I LOVE it. I would eat salad for breakfast if I could but salad isn't really that good until about lunch time.
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Thank you to Vidiot for pointing out that I misspelled Emile Griffith explaining why I had trouble finding a good site to link to.
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For those of you who don't know, this week is Passover - the week when Jewish people commemorate our exodus from Egypt thanks to the postive machinations of Moses, his brother Aaron and of course God. One of my favorite stories is the one which explains why there were so many Jewish people in Egypt in the first place. You know it too. It's the one about Joseph who read the dreams of the Pharaoh and by doing so saved Egypt from starvation and helped to build the nation of Israel. Remember, he brought his family and other Jewish people into Egypt because of a big drought. Well, you know the story or don't you? If you don't. . .it's a good one.
April 26, 2005
April 25, 2005
Google Me This Batman
When is a regret at its strongest?
When the stock you wanted to buy but couldn't because you didn't have the money ends up being the more valuable than the best stocks out there. Google's stocks which opened at $85/share are now worth $275 to $290 each. And I knew, just knew like so many others that that stock was going to sky rocket and it did. I don't know anything about the market but I knew about Google. Argh!!
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Wow. There was an unexpected meteor shower last night and I missed it!! Apparently, it resulted in a flurry of phonecalls to local authorities according to that AP news story I linked to. I wish I had seen it. I was indoors watching two hours of The Contender on NBC and then playing Scrabble with my betrothed.
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You can add The Contender to my list of favorite TV shows. The formula is typical of Mark Burnett reality shows which probably explains why I am addictively hooked to this program. I don't know why I was never interested in boxing before. Thanks to this program, my interest is growing and I'm learning more about it. Recently, USA Network ran a documentary on Emil Griffiths, the boxer who killed another boxer in the ring so many years ago. That was compelling. All boxing matches should contain a little back story. The back story is what drives my obsession with the NBC program.
If you don't know the story of Emile Griffiths, you should look it up. I would do it for you but I'm having some trouble finding an effective search term. His name in Google doesn't seem to bring me where I want to be fast enough.
When the stock you wanted to buy but couldn't because you didn't have the money ends up being the more valuable than the best stocks out there. Google's stocks which opened at $85/share are now worth $275 to $290 each. And I knew, just knew like so many others that that stock was going to sky rocket and it did. I don't know anything about the market but I knew about Google. Argh!!
========================================
Wow. There was an unexpected meteor shower last night and I missed it!! Apparently, it resulted in a flurry of phonecalls to local authorities according to that AP news story I linked to. I wish I had seen it. I was indoors watching two hours of The Contender on NBC and then playing Scrabble with my betrothed.
========================================
You can add The Contender to my list of favorite TV shows. The formula is typical of Mark Burnett reality shows which probably explains why I am addictively hooked to this program. I don't know why I was never interested in boxing before. Thanks to this program, my interest is growing and I'm learning more about it. Recently, USA Network ran a documentary on Emil Griffiths, the boxer who killed another boxer in the ring so many years ago. That was compelling. All boxing matches should contain a little back story. The back story is what drives my obsession with the NBC program.
If you don't know the story of Emile Griffiths, you should look it up. I would do it for you but I'm having some trouble finding an effective search term. His name in Google doesn't seem to bring me where I want to be fast enough.
April 22, 2005
Work It Out
Great workout this morning. It still hurt but I am getting stronger. Before if something hurt, I had to stop, I just could not push myself through the pain. Things are different now. Shoulder workouts in particular are very painful but I managed to do three complete sets of everything the trainer through at me today and I'm getting smaller. You can see it. I look like I'm shrinking. This is good. This is very good.
The diet is going well, as well. I had a handful of cashew nuts as one of my snacks yesterday. It gave me more energy than my morning coffee. I was surprised. When I told my trainer he said that he didn't find that surprising at all because increased energy is a result of better nutrition. Wow. This kid really knows his stuff. He's smart. I'm glad to be working with him and no, he doesn't read this blog.
The diet is going well, as well. I had a handful of cashew nuts as one of my snacks yesterday. It gave me more energy than my morning coffee. I was surprised. When I told my trainer he said that he didn't find that surprising at all because increased energy is a result of better nutrition. Wow. This kid really knows his stuff. He's smart. I'm glad to be working with him and no, he doesn't read this blog.
April 21, 2005
I'd Buy That For a Dollar
|
You Will Die at Age 76 |
|
76 You're pretty average when it comes to how you live... And how you'll die as well. |
But Of Course
|
Your Inner European is French! |
Smart and sophisticated. You have the best of everything - at least, *you* think so. |
April 20, 2005
One Week Ago Tonight
This is a picture from the last sunset we watched in St. Thomas, last Wednesday night.
New Pope
A new Pope was elected.
=======================================
Astoria is still as dirty and noisy as ever. MTA is improving our subway line which means inconvenience piled on top of inconvenience. Not only have they closed part of the street where they are working on the elevated train, causing people to walk out of their way to get past the intersection to the other side of the main street, but the noise created from the machines they are using to clean and paint the metal framework is relentessly deafening. They have been moving down the line for some months now so it's no surprise to anyone that the MTA is doing this work. We can take comfort in the fact that they will be moving along shortly although noone knows when. They are making everything that has rusted into an irreversible stage of ugliness, green and pretty.
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I started looking for a DJ for our wedding. This is an interesting research project and one that is going to require a lot of time. I put out some feelers last night. It seems they all need to meet with you to show you their video or DVD. I'm sure it's because they know that in sales, it's harder to reject someone you've met face to face than someone you speak to over the phone. Argh. Why do I have to know so much about how people yet not understand how to use that information?
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Tired. Working out. Results are showing which motivates to work harder. Every day a different part of me hurts but I'm beginning to enjoy it. Let me rephrase that. I'm beginning to really enjoy resistance training but continue to hate cardio. The cardio doesn't get easier or more enjoyable. It just always seems to suck. One trainer told me that the goal is to make it suck less but it will always suck on some level.
=======================================
Astoria is still as dirty and noisy as ever. MTA is improving our subway line which means inconvenience piled on top of inconvenience. Not only have they closed part of the street where they are working on the elevated train, causing people to walk out of their way to get past the intersection to the other side of the main street, but the noise created from the machines they are using to clean and paint the metal framework is relentessly deafening. They have been moving down the line for some months now so it's no surprise to anyone that the MTA is doing this work. We can take comfort in the fact that they will be moving along shortly although noone knows when. They are making everything that has rusted into an irreversible stage of ugliness, green and pretty.
========================================
I started looking for a DJ for our wedding. This is an interesting research project and one that is going to require a lot of time. I put out some feelers last night. It seems they all need to meet with you to show you their video or DVD. I'm sure it's because they know that in sales, it's harder to reject someone you've met face to face than someone you speak to over the phone. Argh. Why do I have to know so much about how people yet not understand how to use that information?
---------------------------------------------------------
Tired. Working out. Results are showing which motivates to work harder. Every day a different part of me hurts but I'm beginning to enjoy it. Let me rephrase that. I'm beginning to really enjoy resistance training but continue to hate cardio. The cardio doesn't get easier or more enjoyable. It just always seems to suck. One trainer told me that the goal is to make it suck less but it will always suck on some level.
April 17, 2005
Blooming Central Park
So we went to Central Park today. We were trying to meet up with someone and finally caught up with them 3 blocks away from the Park in a restaurant. It was beautiful out today so naturally the crowds were really thick. We walked by the Central Park Zoo and made our way over to Sheep Meadow where thousands of people were congregated in a sun worshipping scrum. We watched the show off roller bladers, walked by Bethesda Fountain, strolled over to the Alice in Wonderland sculpture (kids were crawling all over that one, they were) and then we sat down on a bench and worked on our crossword puzzle until the hour arrived for our appointed meeting with our lunch dates.
I liked when we were sitting and working on the puzzle because we were simultaneously watching people as they passed us by. We saw an English Bulldog in a cage on a Radio Flyer wagon; we saw a little girl in a pretty green flowered dress riding her tricycle; we saw a weird woman pushing her dog in the equivalent of a stroller but for dogs; we saw a beautiful tri-colored Corgy with a smooth coat; we saw a beautiful little girl in a pink dress and pink socks throw the mother of all temper tantrums; we saw lots of stuff and things of interest.
It was a nice day.
I liked when we were sitting and working on the puzzle because we were simultaneously watching people as they passed us by. We saw an English Bulldog in a cage on a Radio Flyer wagon; we saw a little girl in a pretty green flowered dress riding her tricycle; we saw a weird woman pushing her dog in the equivalent of a stroller but for dogs; we saw a beautiful tri-colored Corgy with a smooth coat; we saw a beautiful little girl in a pink dress and pink socks throw the mother of all temper tantrums; we saw lots of stuff and things of interest.
It was a nice day.
April 16, 2005
Saturday in the Blargh . . . . .
Today I went shopping with the brides maids for dresses. My mother got a recommendation from work for the Bridal Building at 1385 Broadway, specifically a store called H & S on the 11th floor. That place was a nightmare.
If you are getting married and looking for a dress for either yourself or your bridal party do not, I repeat DO NOT go to H & S bridal in the Bridal Building in New York City. We walked in to what was essentially a big closet stuffed with dirty, disgusting white dresses. The dressing room was a big room stuffed with twice as many filthy, discarded, ripped, dezippered dresses.
My friends really were good sports because that experience would have dampened even Polly Anna's uplifted and delusonal spirits and they came out of it with smiles on their faces ready for more. After my friend tried on her second zipperless dress, I had to get out of there. We took a short break to regroup and decided on the Bridal shop at Macy's. That experience was like night and day. Macy's was a miracle.
We decided on a designer, a color, a fabric and a length. Within those parameters the women standing up for me will choose a style that suits them. It is a good solution to the problem of people looking ridiculous in one dress chosen by a power happy bride. Hopefully, it's a good solution. We all agreed on a color that should look good on everyone and is AUTUMN appropriate.
All that's left is the entertainment, the photographer, the flowers, and all of the fun little details that make a wedding fun.
If you are getting married and looking for a dress for either yourself or your bridal party do not, I repeat DO NOT go to H & S bridal in the Bridal Building in New York City. We walked in to what was essentially a big closet stuffed with dirty, disgusting white dresses. The dressing room was a big room stuffed with twice as many filthy, discarded, ripped, dezippered dresses.
My friends really were good sports because that experience would have dampened even Polly Anna's uplifted and delusonal spirits and they came out of it with smiles on their faces ready for more. After my friend tried on her second zipperless dress, I had to get out of there. We took a short break to regroup and decided on the Bridal shop at Macy's. That experience was like night and day. Macy's was a miracle.
We decided on a designer, a color, a fabric and a length. Within those parameters the women standing up for me will choose a style that suits them. It is a good solution to the problem of people looking ridiculous in one dress chosen by a power happy bride. Hopefully, it's a good solution. We all agreed on a color that should look good on everyone and is AUTUMN appropriate.
All that's left is the entertainment, the photographer, the flowers, and all of the fun little details that make a wedding fun.
My Life in a Hammock
For two hours of our vacation I rested in a hammock that was suspended between two coconut trees. It was seriously relaxing.
April 14, 2005
Making Connections in San Juan
On the way to St. Thomas we had a short layover in San Juan, where we caught our connecting flight to the airport in St. Thomas. We were surprised when we looked at our tickets and saw that our flight was moved back three hours, but we were determined to make the best of it. We had a chance to walk around the airport, pick up a few San Juan specific souvenirs and gather ourselves for the rest of our journey. Finally, we got bored and decided to just wait by the gate for our flight.I started working on a crossword puzzle. It was while we were sitting there that I noticed a man dressed like a Guardian Angel. I thought it odd that an Angel was patrolling the San Juan airport so I looked closer and realized that this particular Guardian Angel looked remarkably similar to Curtis Sliwa but I couldn't be sure because he looked exactly the same as I remember him looking 20 or so years ago. So I asked Jon and he wasn't entirely convinced either but saw a resemblance. We were both unsure and kept going back and forth in our conviction that it was indeed him. Jon went over to him and started to talking. From the distance I could see that we were correct. They were a having a good discussion. Jon pointed to me and I waved and Curtis Sliwa waved back. Good enough for me.
I went back to my crossword puzzle. Jon hadn't come back yet so I looked up to see what he was doing. He was walking back and following him was Curtis Sliwa who came over to say hello and kindly posed for a picture. I had a chance to fawn over him a little bit and tell him I was a fan and he spoke with us and another couple nearby for a few minutes. It was a great moment.
Turns out, Curtis Sliwa was headed to St. Croix to graduate a class of new Guardian Angels. He told us that there was a growing crime problem on that island and sure enough. Three days later, there was an article in the St. Thomas paper about the ceremony. There really is a bad crime problem there.
It was a great experience and a good way to kill half an hour.
April 11, 2005
Greetings from St. Thomas
St. Thomas is very pretty. We have been taking pictures. So don't worry. You'll see some fun in the sun when we get back on Thursday.
Friday night, while we were waiting for our connecting flight, we spotted Curtis Sliwa in his Guardian Angels jacket and beret. He was connecting to St. Croix to graduate a group of fledgling Angels. Apparently they have a bad crack problem on the island. He was kind enough to pose for a photo which I will post shortly. He was very easy to spot.
Our first full day, Saturday, was spent entirely at Secret Harbour Beach Resort. If you look closely at the picture, you can see our room. It's all the way to the right, in the last building on the top floor. Our balcony overlooks that turquoise water and much tropical flora and fauna. All those dark spots in that beautiful water are coral reefs which Jon and I have both explored and will explore again tomorrow. WE LOVE SNORKELING.
On Sunday we took a boat to the island of St. John where we went to Cinnamon Bay, the most beautiful beach on Earth. Cinnamon Bay is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs which we again explored through the miracle of snorkeling. It's also completely undeveloped so when you're about 30 feet off the coast and you look back, all you see is beach and a 1,000 acres of green and lush tropical vegetation. You might be thinking to yourself, wow and you'd be right. It's pretty wow inspiring and so is my sunburn. I was wearing SPF 50 and still the Caribbean sun made its way to my skin which is why . . ..
Today we are in Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the Virgin Islands. Everything here is tax and duty free. We don't have to pay any taxes so everything is tax free and cheaper. We are here doing something foreign and unfamiliar to me. . .shopping for fun. It takes some adjustment but I am finding, like snorkeling, if I just relax and remember to breathe, it's actually quite enjoyable. We're sitting in a delightful cafe called Beans, Bytes and Websites, where we are hiding a little bit from the heat. It won't be all shopping. There is a bit of history here that we want to check out. For instance, the St. Thomas Synagogue is the second oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere and it is walking distance from where we are sitting. We are also enjoying the beautiful architecture, beautiful weather, beautiful views and beautiful everything.
Tomorrow, our last day here, we plan to spend at the resort. We are considering kayaking but I would like to do a little more snorkeling, maybe going out a little further this time, now that I've built up some confidence.
See you soon.
Friday night, while we were waiting for our connecting flight, we spotted Curtis Sliwa in his Guardian Angels jacket and beret. He was connecting to St. Croix to graduate a group of fledgling Angels. Apparently they have a bad crack problem on the island. He was kind enough to pose for a photo which I will post shortly. He was very easy to spot.
Our first full day, Saturday, was spent entirely at Secret Harbour Beach Resort. If you look closely at the picture, you can see our room. It's all the way to the right, in the last building on the top floor. Our balcony overlooks that turquoise water and much tropical flora and fauna. All those dark spots in that beautiful water are coral reefs which Jon and I have both explored and will explore again tomorrow. WE LOVE SNORKELING.
On Sunday we took a boat to the island of St. John where we went to Cinnamon Bay, the most beautiful beach on Earth. Cinnamon Bay is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs which we again explored through the miracle of snorkeling. It's also completely undeveloped so when you're about 30 feet off the coast and you look back, all you see is beach and a 1,000 acres of green and lush tropical vegetation. You might be thinking to yourself, wow and you'd be right. It's pretty wow inspiring and so is my sunburn. I was wearing SPF 50 and still the Caribbean sun made its way to my skin which is why . . ..
Today we are in Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the Virgin Islands. Everything here is tax and duty free. We don't have to pay any taxes so everything is tax free and cheaper. We are here doing something foreign and unfamiliar to me. . .shopping for fun. It takes some adjustment but I am finding, like snorkeling, if I just relax and remember to breathe, it's actually quite enjoyable. We're sitting in a delightful cafe called Beans, Bytes and Websites, where we are hiding a little bit from the heat. It won't be all shopping. There is a bit of history here that we want to check out. For instance, the St. Thomas Synagogue is the second oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere and it is walking distance from where we are sitting. We are also enjoying the beautiful architecture, beautiful weather, beautiful views and beautiful everything.
Tomorrow, our last day here, we plan to spend at the resort. We are considering kayaking but I would like to do a little more snorkeling, maybe going out a little further this time, now that I've built up some confidence.
See you soon.
April 07, 2005
Honey Luna plus other stuff and things
Honeyluna.com
There is a website where couples can register for their honeymoons called HoneyLuna - their tagline is "the premier online honeymoon registry service since 1995". This is a great site and a great idea. The way it works is people buy shares of different aspects of the honeymoon the way someone would buy a place setting from your registry at Fortunoffs. They break down each aspect of the trip - flight 44 shares; hotel 30 shares; massage 10 shares; dinner at Petrossia 700 shares - and people contribute buy purchase the shares. Do you get it? If you don't, that's okay . . . you can go to their amazingly cool website Honeyluna.com
I have questions about this concept. As amazing as I think it is, is this something we should do? Are we crossing some kind of etiquette line by asking people to pay for our honeymoon? And if we do register here, does that mean we can't register any where else? I mean much stuff can we conceivably register for?
What do you think?
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For Whom the Bell Tolls
March and April have been a good season for death. These two were added to the April death toll as of yesterday's news - Saul Bellow and Prince Rainier. I think I may have read a book by Bellow about Hungary during the HOLOCAUST. It may have been someone else. How embarrassing. I've read so many books, I don't remember who wrote what. However the book about Hungary was riveting either way and very sad. So much fiction and non-fiction have arisen out of people's true WWII stories. I believe no other world event has had more influence on the world.
My condolences go out to the families of Saul Bellow and Prince Rainier. I'm so sorry for your respective losses.
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Getaway Romance
Thursday is my Friday. We will be taking a short vacation in a tropical paradise. If there is a computer with internet access, you can be rest assured that I will be providing updates during our trip. If you don't hear from me again, it means we decided to hideaway from the rest of the world and spend the rest of our lives in a perfect bliss and harmony.
There is a website where couples can register for their honeymoons called HoneyLuna - their tagline is "the premier online honeymoon registry service since 1995". This is a great site and a great idea. The way it works is people buy shares of different aspects of the honeymoon the way someone would buy a place setting from your registry at Fortunoffs. They break down each aspect of the trip - flight 44 shares; hotel 30 shares; massage 10 shares; dinner at Petrossia 700 shares - and people contribute buy purchase the shares. Do you get it? If you don't, that's okay . . . you can go to their amazingly cool website Honeyluna.com
I have questions about this concept. As amazing as I think it is, is this something we should do? Are we crossing some kind of etiquette line by asking people to pay for our honeymoon? And if we do register here, does that mean we can't register any where else? I mean much stuff can we conceivably register for?
What do you think?
=========================================
For Whom the Bell Tolls
March and April have been a good season for death. These two were added to the April death toll as of yesterday's news - Saul Bellow and Prince Rainier. I think I may have read a book by Bellow about Hungary during the HOLOCAUST. It may have been someone else. How embarrassing. I've read so many books, I don't remember who wrote what. However the book about Hungary was riveting either way and very sad. So much fiction and non-fiction have arisen out of people's true WWII stories. I believe no other world event has had more influence on the world.
My condolences go out to the families of Saul Bellow and Prince Rainier. I'm so sorry for your respective losses.
=========================================
Getaway Romance
Thursday is my Friday. We will be taking a short vacation in a tropical paradise. If there is a computer with internet access, you can be rest assured that I will be providing updates during our trip. If you don't hear from me again, it means we decided to hideaway from the rest of the world and spend the rest of our lives in a perfect bliss and harmony.
April 06, 2005
Old Navy
Good ole Old Navy. Last night young Sarah and I went to Old Navy. I bought a couple of pairs of shorts and a T-shirt. Downstairs, at the 18th Street Old Navy, we discovered someone left Magic unattended in the Old Navy truck - or Magic took the truck out while his owner was sleeping. All joking aside, when Sarah went over to pet plastic Magic I just had to take a picture. Isnt' she cute, America? Old Navy works for me when it comes to clothing for below my waist, but they are no help to me when it comes to shirts - no help at all. That's truly a shame because we're going on a tropical get away and I need to find some shirts.
April 05, 2005
A Bit of Ranting
I was suckin' in the Oxygen pretty hard when I got off of the elliptical machine this morning. So imagine how "happy" I was when I got to the locker room and Miss Thing #75 was planted in front of the mirror in bra and panties (yuck)with a curling iron in one hand and lifetime supply of hairspray in the other, which she had evidently sprayed into every corner of the locker room.
I could taste her hair care products while trying to recover and slow down my breathing and get my heart to stop pounding through my chest.
That's not right. I left because that was only a pitstop. I just wanted to put away my CD and headset. I wanted to work on a couple of machines while my heart was still pumping pretty fast and I did. For the next fifteen minutes or so I did a little of this and a little of that and it felt great.
When I went back to the locker room, this chick was still there and she was still in her stupid bra. How long does it take to put on a freakin' shirt?
I complained to the manager. On the way out, I asked if the CLUB could ban the use of haircare products in the locker room particularly hairspray because it is toxic.
He said he would speak to his district manager. Then he said some other understanding, placating, calm-the-customer down type things and wished me a kind day.
I must sound a like a nut job to these people.
I could taste her hair care products while trying to recover and slow down my breathing and get my heart to stop pounding through my chest.
That's not right. I left because that was only a pitstop. I just wanted to put away my CD and headset. I wanted to work on a couple of machines while my heart was still pumping pretty fast and I did. For the next fifteen minutes or so I did a little of this and a little of that and it felt great.
When I went back to the locker room, this chick was still there and she was still in her stupid bra. How long does it take to put on a freakin' shirt?
I complained to the manager. On the way out, I asked if the CLUB could ban the use of haircare products in the locker room particularly hairspray because it is toxic.
He said he would speak to his district manager. Then he said some other understanding, placating, calm-the-customer down type things and wished me a kind day.
I must sound a like a nut job to these people.
April 03, 2005
I Am Registered!!
Well. Yesterday was quite the fine day for ducks, wasn't it?
The rains and winds were phenomenal. Yet I still went into the city, in spite of the weather to meet two of my bridesmaids at Crate & Barrel. Thank you so much ladies for the braving the weather. Once we were inside it was fine. I'm not going to bore you with the details of our registry. If you really are curious, you can go to the website.
What was more interesting was the surreal feeling of walking around with a scanner and picking items that I think people should give us as gifts for our wedding. Nobody talks about that. How weird it is. You actually have to feel good enough about yourself to go around picking things that you are assuming people want to buy you because you assume they are happy for you and want to help celebrate.
It was strange. I've never been the kind of girl to fantasize about a wedding and everything that goes with it, so to actually be doing it is . . .I don't how to explain it.
I've been thinking about how I can explain the disconnected feeling inside me... not like in a crazy way. It's more like I have two selves. One self is very cynical and thinks weddings are utilitairian in that they are nothing more than an opportunity for the families of the brides and grooms to get together. The other self is actually, genuinely, out of her mind excited that I get to do all this stuff that married women before me have been doing for 100 years. The cynical self doesn't believe for one second that people really give a shit about me and my life or care about my happiness. The other thinks that everyone is great and deserves one opportunity like this where they can be celebrated and told how special they are.
I know there is some weird feminine psychology going on here too but I'm still thinking about to phrase it.
Do you get me?
The rains and winds were phenomenal. Yet I still went into the city, in spite of the weather to meet two of my bridesmaids at Crate & Barrel. Thank you so much ladies for the braving the weather. Once we were inside it was fine. I'm not going to bore you with the details of our registry. If you really are curious, you can go to the website.
What was more interesting was the surreal feeling of walking around with a scanner and picking items that I think people should give us as gifts for our wedding. Nobody talks about that. How weird it is. You actually have to feel good enough about yourself to go around picking things that you are assuming people want to buy you because you assume they are happy for you and want to help celebrate.
It was strange. I've never been the kind of girl to fantasize about a wedding and everything that goes with it, so to actually be doing it is . . .I don't how to explain it.
I've been thinking about how I can explain the disconnected feeling inside me... not like in a crazy way. It's more like I have two selves. One self is very cynical and thinks weddings are utilitairian in that they are nothing more than an opportunity for the families of the brides and grooms to get together. The other self is actually, genuinely, out of her mind excited that I get to do all this stuff that married women before me have been doing for 100 years. The cynical self doesn't believe for one second that people really give a shit about me and my life or care about my happiness. The other thinks that everyone is great and deserves one opportunity like this where they can be celebrated and told how special they are.
I know there is some weird feminine psychology going on here too but I'm still thinking about to phrase it.
Do you get me?
April 02, 2005
The Pope Hangs On
The Pope isn't dead yet. It's 9:20 Saturday morning, April 2.
I'm waiting for my friend Sarah's appearance as Ms. Frizzle on the TODAY SHOW but nothing yet.
The plumber was here this morning. He unclogged our drain. It was gross and I'm glad the building had to pay for that because I would have felt stupid after seeing how easy a problem it was to fix - or - perhaps the plumber made it look easy because he's a plumber.
I'm waiting for my friend Sarah's appearance as Ms. Frizzle on the TODAY SHOW but nothing yet.
The plumber was here this morning. He unclogged our drain. It was gross and I'm glad the building had to pay for that because I would have felt stupid after seeing how easy a problem it was to fix - or - perhaps the plumber made it look easy because he's a plumber.
April 01, 2005
Friday
Terry Schiavo passed away. My condolences to the family. I hope the husband stops being a dick and works out the burial details with her blood relatives. There is nothing likable about that Schiavo husband, nothing at all.
The Pope is dying. I hope for his sake that his death isn't long and drawn out and that his suffering is minimal. I always liked the Pope.
=================================================
I'm still alive.Jon and I walked from our building in Astoria, over the Queensboro bridge and then to 57th and 7th yesterday morning. I was half an hour late for work but it was a good was.My workout this morning was rough. Brandon really pushed me hard. Ouch. I was crying at one point.
=================================================
Tomorrow, I'm taking two of my bridesmaids along to register at Crate & Barrel.
The Pope is dying. I hope for his sake that his death isn't long and drawn out and that his suffering is minimal. I always liked the Pope.
=================================================
I'm still alive.Jon and I walked from our building in Astoria, over the Queensboro bridge and then to 57th and 7th yesterday morning. I was half an hour late for work but it was a good was.My workout this morning was rough. Brandon really pushed me hard. Ouch. I was crying at one point.
=================================================
Tomorrow, I'm taking two of my bridesmaids along to register at Crate & Barrel.
March 29, 2005
Johnny Cochran Dead
The man who helped the murderous O.J. Simpson get away with murderous murder died from a brain tumour. I feel bad for the family who loved him and the friends that adored him.
Even though he'll be remembered for his despicable career of getting murderers off, his family was more proud of the work he did for the community. Yes. I agree that the word community is vague but at least he did something somewhat respectable with his time and energy.
It's good to know he was dedicated to something other than collecting money from hardened criminals. I wonder if his was a painful death. He probably died a much slower death than Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. Some, including myself, might think that this is a good thing.
I will never forget that ridiculous trial and how it popularized the phrase "race card"; how it demonized the Los Angeles police department; how it widened the chasm between whites and blacks; how it taught the American public that celebrities actually DO get away with murder; and reminded the country how naive we all really are regarding the truths about human nature.
Rest in peace Johnny Cochran.
Even though he'll be remembered for his despicable career of getting murderers off, his family was more proud of the work he did for the community. Yes. I agree that the word community is vague but at least he did something somewhat respectable with his time and energy.
It's good to know he was dedicated to something other than collecting money from hardened criminals. I wonder if his was a painful death. He probably died a much slower death than Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. Some, including myself, might think that this is a good thing.
I will never forget that ridiculous trial and how it popularized the phrase "race card"; how it demonized the Los Angeles police department; how it widened the chasm between whites and blacks; how it taught the American public that celebrities actually DO get away with murder; and reminded the country how naive we all really are regarding the truths about human nature.
Rest in peace Johnny Cochran.
Tired
I'm so tired this morning.
Up at 6:00. Working out by 6:30. Leaving gym at 7:30. Ate simple carbohydrate post work out meal for breakfast by 7:45. Blowing hair dry by 8:30. On subway car by 9.
I'm achy every where.
I was going to work out last night so I took the R train which lets me out closer to the gym. There were delays on the R line due to a sick passenger at Roosevelt Ave. station and because the MTA was rerouting all trains on to the local track. By the time I got out at Steinway, 45 minutes after getting into the train, I didn't want to work out any more. So I went shopping and then got soaking wet during my walk home. My socks from last night's walk were still wet this morning.
Now I'm here, at work and I look a lot better than I feel. I figured if I dressed up, put on some makeup and looked like a felt great, actually feeling great wouldn't follow too far behind but it hasn't caught up to me yet.
I still feel tired.
Up at 6:00. Working out by 6:30. Leaving gym at 7:30. Ate simple carbohydrate post work out meal for breakfast by 7:45. Blowing hair dry by 8:30. On subway car by 9.
I'm achy every where.
I was going to work out last night so I took the R train which lets me out closer to the gym. There were delays on the R line due to a sick passenger at Roosevelt Ave. station and because the MTA was rerouting all trains on to the local track. By the time I got out at Steinway, 45 minutes after getting into the train, I didn't want to work out any more. So I went shopping and then got soaking wet during my walk home. My socks from last night's walk were still wet this morning.
Now I'm here, at work and I look a lot better than I feel. I figured if I dressed up, put on some makeup and looked like a felt great, actually feeling great wouldn't follow too far behind but it hasn't caught up to me yet.
I still feel tired.
March 28, 2005
Sore arms
I just flew in from Chicago and boy are my arms tired.
Remember that ole chestnut?
Well. I worked out with my trainer Sunday morning. We worked on arms and now I can't lift my arms over my head. I'm very encouraged and motivated by my trainer. I'm also frightened of how my arms looked in some of the pictures we took on Saturday.
Has this happened to anyone else? My shoulders have gotten so pudgy. It's the weirdest place to gain weight in my opinion and it's such a bad place to be puffy. So, I'm not upset Brandon worked my arms. I just wish I could see results immediately, although I expect to see some in a month the way this guy is pushing me. I just wish it were a month away already and I've reached those first visual signs that the gym is paying off.
I know I'm healthier. Blah blah. My already low blood pressure went down which is great. And I'm sure all the other systems are evening out too, considering I'm on a twigs and leaves kind of diet.
Anyhoooooooo. . . . .
Remember that ole chestnut?
Well. I worked out with my trainer Sunday morning. We worked on arms and now I can't lift my arms over my head. I'm very encouraged and motivated by my trainer. I'm also frightened of how my arms looked in some of the pictures we took on Saturday.
Has this happened to anyone else? My shoulders have gotten so pudgy. It's the weirdest place to gain weight in my opinion and it's such a bad place to be puffy. So, I'm not upset Brandon worked my arms. I just wish I could see results immediately, although I expect to see some in a month the way this guy is pushing me. I just wish it were a month away already and I've reached those first visual signs that the gym is paying off.
I know I'm healthier. Blah blah. My already low blood pressure went down which is great. And I'm sure all the other systems are evening out too, considering I'm on a twigs and leaves kind of diet.
Anyhoooooooo. . . . .
Propeller Island City Lodge
Sarah linked to one of the rooms at the website for Propeller Island City Lodge commenting that it is one of the creepiest you could possible sleep in, that it was reminiscent of crime dramas and condemned buildings. I looked at that room. She was absolutely right. It is horrible looking - positively frightening. You would have nightmares sleeping in there. You would imagine rats nibbling your fingertips while you were taking your morning crap.
I was curious to see the other jail cell style rooms in the hotel and I found that every room at the hotel is different and designed to make you feel as if you are sleeping in an artwork of some sort. Some of the rooms are just flat out weird - like this one where you sleep next to lion cages. (for families with hyper children no doubt). This one looks like it could have been Martha Stewart's jail cell. There is this room that shows respect for the solitary traveler by not making them take a bed wtih twobeds or a bed too big for one person. It looks like a nice place to go for a weekend getaway.
But I think this one is the coolest. It's the flying bed room and looks like it really messes with your concept of gravity.
I was curious to see the other jail cell style rooms in the hotel and I found that every room at the hotel is different and designed to make you feel as if you are sleeping in an artwork of some sort. Some of the rooms are just flat out weird - like this one where you sleep next to lion cages. (for families with hyper children no doubt). This one looks like it could have been Martha Stewart's jail cell. There is this room that shows respect for the solitary traveler by not making them take a bed wtih twobeds or a bed too big for one person. It looks like a nice place to go for a weekend getaway.
But I think this one is the coolest. It's the flying bed room and looks like it really messes with your concept of gravity.
March 27, 2005
Shopping for the Dress
Here is a picture of me in the back seat of the car kind of dreading the day ahead. I wasn't feeling very well when I started out the day. As you may recall I was feeling kind of down. 
Sandy picked me up around 10 and we started out. We went to pick up my mom in Long Island and then we headed out to Lillette's in Baldwin. I took this picture to the right, sitting in the backseat, while staring out at the dunes along the Loop Parkway and then the Meadowbrook. I was trying to cheer myself up, wish away my headache, put on ahappy face. I wasn't feeling very optimistic that we would find a dress. Sandy knows one of the consultants and thought we should start there so I could have anice time. I trusted her.
And boy am I glad I did. When we first walked in it looked like a zoo. There were large groups milling around the various brides looking through the racks of dresses. There was a little girl running around waiting totry on a flower girl dress. There was a young woman posing in front of the mirror, trying on her dress for the last time. I don't respond well to crowded busy situations like this, so I let Sandy and my mother walk me through the aisles showing me dresses. When I met Lydia I told her I didn'twant a strapless dress but that's all I've been seeing in the magazines. She talked to me a few minutes and then started pulling dresses. We went into the dressing room and began. The first dress she put me in was strapless. My 43" squared shoulders helped convince her that strapless wasn't the look for me. She agreed and we tried on a few more dresses.
The first dress I fell in love with was this one to the right. I had an emotional response looking at and then seeing myself in it. Wow. I thought this was the one. Two dresses later, this one became a blur. I chose the dress we tried on two dresses later. If you are in my bridal party you've seen it. But the bridal party and my mom and Jon's mom are the only ones.
You'll just have to wait like everyone else. I found a beautiful dress that is perfect for me. In spite of my agonizing headache, the day had a happy outcome. Who thought I would find my dress in less than two hours. None of us did. We didn't even have the cash for a down payment but thankfully the store took $20.00 down.
If you are looking for a dress, you should go to Lillette's Bridal Shop in Baldwin. They will take really good care of you and find a dress that matches you perfectly.
Sandy picked me up around 10 and we started out. We went to pick up my mom in Long Island and then we headed out to Lillette's in Baldwin. I took this picture to the right, sitting in the backseat, while staring out at the dunes along the Loop Parkway and then the Meadowbrook. I was trying to cheer myself up, wish away my headache, put on ahappy face. I wasn't feeling very optimistic that we would find a dress. Sandy knows one of the consultants and thought we should start there so I could have anice time. I trusted her.And boy am I glad I did. When we first walked in it looked like a zoo. There were large groups milling around the various brides looking through the racks of dresses. There was a little girl running around waiting totry on a flower girl dress. There was a young woman posing in front of the mirror, trying on her dress for the last time. I don't respond well to crowded busy situations like this, so I let Sandy and my mother walk me through the aisles showing me dresses. When I met Lydia I told her I didn'twant a strapless dress but that's all I've been seeing in the magazines. She talked to me a few minutes and then started pulling dresses. We went into the dressing room and began. The first dress she put me in was strapless. My 43" squared shoulders helped convince her that strapless wasn't the look for me. She agreed and we tried on a few more dresses.
The first dress I fell in love with was this one to the right. I had an emotional response looking at and then seeing myself in it. Wow. I thought this was the one. Two dresses later, this one became a blur. I chose the dress we tried on two dresses later. If you are in my bridal party you've seen it. But the bridal party and my mom and Jon's mom are the only ones.
You'll just have to wait like everyone else. I found a beautiful dress that is perfect for me. In spite of my agonizing headache, the day had a happy outcome. Who thought I would find my dress in less than two hours. None of us did. We didn't even have the cash for a down payment but thankfully the store took $20.00 down.
If you are looking for a dress, you should go to Lillette's Bridal Shop in Baldwin. They will take really good care of you and find a dress that matches you perfectly.
March 25, 2005
Bumming Out
I signed up for my gym's Buffed Bride program and I had a bit of a shock this morning. My personal trainer (yes. I chose the sadist that tortured by calves) weighed and measured me this morning. My weight hasn't changed in two weeks. My measurements are too embarrassing to mention.
After learning this sad news, I had to work out with Brandon. He's a nice guy, good natured, funny. I worked hard and he made me laugh throughout the workout. He didn't give me a moment to feel upset about the weigh in.
But now, that I'm at my office and it's a little bit quiet, I have to ruminate over what I learned this morning and I feel sad, very sad and disappointed. I've been working out for over a month and I haven't gotten anywhere and on top of that I start shopping for my wedding dress tomorrow. This means I have to get measured again.
I'm very concerned that the bridal shop my maid-of-honor is taking me to isn't going to have any dresses big enough for me to try on and that would make me cry, really cry if that happened. But at least my mom and cousin will be there. My cousin is my maid-of-honor in case you haven't been following the score card.
Back to the work out, Brandon was very supportive and told me he is going to help me. He gave me a diet plan to follow which is ridiculous but should work. I have to eat five times a day now. That means, 3 times at work I have to eat meals. I'm glad my boss is a nice guy. Dieting is soooo stupid. I really hate it. So I'm going to try to look at it as a lifestyle change rather than a diet.
Maybe then it won't seem so gay.
After learning this sad news, I had to work out with Brandon. He's a nice guy, good natured, funny. I worked hard and he made me laugh throughout the workout. He didn't give me a moment to feel upset about the weigh in.
But now, that I'm at my office and it's a little bit quiet, I have to ruminate over what I learned this morning and I feel sad, very sad and disappointed. I've been working out for over a month and I haven't gotten anywhere and on top of that I start shopping for my wedding dress tomorrow. This means I have to get measured again.
I'm very concerned that the bridal shop my maid-of-honor is taking me to isn't going to have any dresses big enough for me to try on and that would make me cry, really cry if that happened. But at least my mom and cousin will be there. My cousin is my maid-of-honor in case you haven't been following the score card.
Back to the work out, Brandon was very supportive and told me he is going to help me. He gave me a diet plan to follow which is ridiculous but should work. I have to eat five times a day now. That means, 3 times at work I have to eat meals. I'm glad my boss is a nice guy. Dieting is soooo stupid. I really hate it. So I'm going to try to look at it as a lifestyle change rather than a diet.
Maybe then it won't seem so gay.
March 23, 2005
What A Night
Wow. Trivia was packed. There were 18 teams and every seat in the house was filled.
It was great but I'm running late and I hate to bathe and get going to work.
It was great but I'm running late and I hate to bathe and get going to work.
March 22, 2005
Tuesday Night Trivia
I am taking a break from American Idol tonight to host Tuesday Night Trivia. I will also be showing off my new engagement ring if anyone is interested in seeing it.
Tuesday Night Trivia is played every Tuesday night at the Baggot Inn in New York City at 7:30 pm. I would provide a link but I can't work the BLOG THIS linking tool.
Because we are taping The Amazing Race tonight we can't tape American Idol. If you are feeling generous and would like to do me a favor (no pressure), please tape American Idol for me.
Thank you.
Tuesday Night Trivia is played every Tuesday night at the Baggot Inn in New York City at 7:30 pm. I would provide a link but I can't work the BLOG THIS linking tool.
Because we are taping The Amazing Race tonight we can't tape American Idol. If you are feeling generous and would like to do me a favor (no pressure), please tape American Idol for me.
Thank you.
March 21, 2005
Monday Snuh
I had hard time getting it going this morning.
BANK
I went to my bank to deposit my paycheck. I asked the teller if she was finding this Monday particularly challenging and she said, "Yeah. The weather makes it harder." A woman in line behind me was giggling as she butt in and ejaculated, "Oh. It's all in your head. Hee hee hee." I ignored her even as she was wishing me a good day. For some reason, her niceness was working in direct conflict to my grumpiness. Then I went to the Citibank further up the block to make a deposit for my boss. While it took me 5 minutes to get in and out of my personal bank, I spent 25 minutes at Citibank waiting for the lunkheads in front of me to get the money for their cash drawers or whatever. And to make matters worse, that EXPRESS DEPOSIT machine Citibank has for customers in a rush was completely broken.
ITCH
Work was fine. Unfortunately, I just wasn't feeling it today. Perhaps it was because my night's sleep was interrupted by an itchy foot. I couldn't get my foot to stop itching. From 3 am to 4:30 I was up with an itchy foot. No matter how I tried I could not scratch the itch. Around 4:30 and after 5 applications of moisturizer the itching finally went away. It was the strangest thing. So. . .by 2 this afternoon I was really feeling the burn of lack of sleep which lately has meant a pretty bad headache. I did leave the office at a reasonable hour, made the trains. All went well. Whew.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
I tried to get home early so I could prepare my trivia rounds. I rested my head for 10 minutes before starting my audio round. The round came out great, except for one mistake. I hadn't left enough hang time between two of the songs so I went back to retape the last four songs. My tape machine broke. I have one of those units where the CD, Radio and Tape player are all in one. I've had it since I've moved to Queens. It finally broke down. The machine started eating my tape. I tried another tape just to be sure. It ate that one too but alas that was our last tape!! So, that meant a walk to the 99 cent store to get a new tape. When we got home I redid the round again but I had to use Jon's hand held tape recorder and tape my round holding to the speakers.
It's been a while since I've done that but it still came out okay. It reminded me of pleasant childhood memories when my friends and I would use the tape recorder to create our own radio programming.
After being at the computer all day and every day since I started my job and we've been having SPAM, VIRUS and SPYWARE problems with our computer, I decided to construct my CURRENT EVENTS ROUND the old fashioned way - with a newspaper, pen and paper.
Hopefully Tuesday will be a better day.
BANK
I went to my bank to deposit my paycheck. I asked the teller if she was finding this Monday particularly challenging and she said, "Yeah. The weather makes it harder." A woman in line behind me was giggling as she butt in and ejaculated, "Oh. It's all in your head. Hee hee hee." I ignored her even as she was wishing me a good day. For some reason, her niceness was working in direct conflict to my grumpiness. Then I went to the Citibank further up the block to make a deposit for my boss. While it took me 5 minutes to get in and out of my personal bank, I spent 25 minutes at Citibank waiting for the lunkheads in front of me to get the money for their cash drawers or whatever. And to make matters worse, that EXPRESS DEPOSIT machine Citibank has for customers in a rush was completely broken.
ITCH
Work was fine. Unfortunately, I just wasn't feeling it today. Perhaps it was because my night's sleep was interrupted by an itchy foot. I couldn't get my foot to stop itching. From 3 am to 4:30 I was up with an itchy foot. No matter how I tried I could not scratch the itch. Around 4:30 and after 5 applications of moisturizer the itching finally went away. It was the strangest thing. So. . .by 2 this afternoon I was really feeling the burn of lack of sleep which lately has meant a pretty bad headache. I did leave the office at a reasonable hour, made the trains. All went well. Whew.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
I tried to get home early so I could prepare my trivia rounds. I rested my head for 10 minutes before starting my audio round. The round came out great, except for one mistake. I hadn't left enough hang time between two of the songs so I went back to retape the last four songs. My tape machine broke. I have one of those units where the CD, Radio and Tape player are all in one. I've had it since I've moved to Queens. It finally broke down. The machine started eating my tape. I tried another tape just to be sure. It ate that one too but alas that was our last tape!! So, that meant a walk to the 99 cent store to get a new tape. When we got home I redid the round again but I had to use Jon's hand held tape recorder and tape my round holding to the speakers.
It's been a while since I've done that but it still came out okay. It reminded me of pleasant childhood memories when my friends and I would use the tape recorder to create our own radio programming.
After being at the computer all day and every day since I started my job and we've been having SPAM, VIRUS and SPYWARE problems with our computer, I decided to construct my CURRENT EVENTS ROUND the old fashioned way - with a newspaper, pen and paper.
Hopefully Tuesday will be a better day.
March 19, 2005
The Village
I rented THE VILLAGE from On Demand. I can't say that this is M. Night Shayamalanaolin's best movie. But even a bad movie from M. Night is better than most.
The suspense is agonizing as the viewer is forced to wait and see where M. Night will place his cameo. Oh and then of course there is the suspense created by the story, for the story and through the story.
The unfortunately named Bryce Dallas Howard gave a compelling performance as the girl who sees the world through the blind eyes of hope and love. I found myself crying with her and for her more than once because her acting was so believable. It's hard to play blind but she didn't do too badly. My uncle is blind, really blind, so I grew up knowing how blind people look when they talk to you. I have never seen an actor accurately portray blindness. With that said, she didn't too badly. There were times when you actually believed she was blind and others when she didn't look the slightest bit blind.
Movies and television would have you believe that without the cane and dark sunglasses you can't tell when someone is unsighted. That's not true. Blind people look blind. I've met several and there was never any mistake that they could not see. They just don't use their eyes and that has a very specific look - a glazed over, not using their eyes kind of look.
Still Bryce Dallas Howard did a good job. Her character's name was IVY - a much better name than her given one. Other performances of note came from Joaquin Pheoniz, Michael Pitt and Cherry Jones. Sigourney Weaver was okay - still stunning even without makeup. William Hurt remains to this day one of the most OVERRATED screen actors but he was well cast as the unspoken leader of THE VILLAGE.
I recommend the movie highly. Yes. It does have a silly aspect to it but I would still like you to encourage the able imagine of M. Night by watching his films.
The suspense is agonizing as the viewer is forced to wait and see where M. Night will place his cameo. Oh and then of course there is the suspense created by the story, for the story and through the story.
The unfortunately named Bryce Dallas Howard gave a compelling performance as the girl who sees the world through the blind eyes of hope and love. I found myself crying with her and for her more than once because her acting was so believable. It's hard to play blind but she didn't do too badly. My uncle is blind, really blind, so I grew up knowing how blind people look when they talk to you. I have never seen an actor accurately portray blindness. With that said, she didn't too badly. There were times when you actually believed she was blind and others when she didn't look the slightest bit blind.
Movies and television would have you believe that without the cane and dark sunglasses you can't tell when someone is unsighted. That's not true. Blind people look blind. I've met several and there was never any mistake that they could not see. They just don't use their eyes and that has a very specific look - a glazed over, not using their eyes kind of look.
Still Bryce Dallas Howard did a good job. Her character's name was IVY - a much better name than her given one. Other performances of note came from Joaquin Pheoniz, Michael Pitt and Cherry Jones. Sigourney Weaver was okay - still stunning even without makeup. William Hurt remains to this day one of the most OVERRATED screen actors but he was well cast as the unspoken leader of THE VILLAGE.
I recommend the movie highly. Yes. It does have a silly aspect to it but I would still like you to encourage the able imagine of M. Night by watching his films.
Obituary For A Buffalo
This is an old obituary from a 1905 issue of the NY Times. Jon found it doing some research for an article he's writing.
This is the 100th anniversary of the sad demise of Lady.
=====================================
LADY, THE BUFFALO, DEAD
Lady, the pet buffalo of the New York Zoological Garden in the Bronx, is dead. She was a fine seven-year-old animal and well behaved enough to deserve her name. An autopsy was made on her body yesterday, and it was found that a piece of wire which she must have swallowed had reached her heart, pierced it, and caused her death.
Lady was one of the famous herd of buffaloes assembled by the late William C. Whitney. The animal came to the zoo from the vast Whitney forest reservation in the Adirondacks some years ago.
She was seven years old and had quite a romantic history. She was the mate of Black Beauty, the king buffalo of the Bronx Park flock, who two years ago killed his [rival] after a violent domestic quarrel. Then he was mated to Lady. Her sweet disposition had such charms that Black Beauty has been a changed buffalo since Lady became his queen.
Acting Director H.R. Mitchell of the zoo said last night that the piece of wire found in Lady's heart, was of the kind tied about bales of hay and that she probably swallowed it with her dinner on Saturday. She was found dead that evening.
The old attendant at the buffalo reservation who knows best says Lady came to her death in trying to eat up a barbed wire fence that separated her from the inclosure where Black Beauty was browsing.
This is the 100th anniversary of the sad demise of Lady.
=====================================
LADY, THE BUFFALO, DEAD
Lady, the pet buffalo of the New York Zoological Garden in the Bronx, is dead. She was a fine seven-year-old animal and well behaved enough to deserve her name. An autopsy was made on her body yesterday, and it was found that a piece of wire which she must have swallowed had reached her heart, pierced it, and caused her death.
Lady was one of the famous herd of buffaloes assembled by the late William C. Whitney. The animal came to the zoo from the vast Whitney forest reservation in the Adirondacks some years ago.
She was seven years old and had quite a romantic history. She was the mate of Black Beauty, the king buffalo of the Bronx Park flock, who two years ago killed his [rival] after a violent domestic quarrel. Then he was mated to Lady. Her sweet disposition had such charms that Black Beauty has been a changed buffalo since Lady became his queen.
Acting Director H.R. Mitchell of the zoo said last night that the piece of wire found in Lady's heart, was of the kind tied about bales of hay and that she probably swallowed it with her dinner on Saturday. She was found dead that evening.
The old attendant at the buffalo reservation who knows best says Lady came to her death in trying to eat up a barbed wire fence that separated her from the inclosure where Black Beauty was browsing.
March 18, 2005
Clean
This computer is clean. My newly updated virus software found and fixed 8 viruses and quarantined one.
Just one more download. I'm putting spybot back on the computer to protect us against a recent plethora of popups that are no doubt responsible for giving us a virus in the first place.
Just one more download. I'm putting spybot back on the computer to protect us against a recent plethora of popups that are no doubt responsible for giving us a virus in the first place.
Cranky and Tired
i feel cranky and tired.
went to bed at 10:30 pm and woke up at 8 am.
perhaps i am cranky because of the technology problems that are plaguing me this week.
perhaps i am tired because i am not eating enough.
still working out regularly. still kind of liking it.
will work out tonight. perhaps that will help with the crankiness or perhaps not.
hmmm.
went to bed at 10:30 pm and woke up at 8 am.
perhaps i am cranky because of the technology problems that are plaguing me this week.
perhaps i am tired because i am not eating enough.
still working out regularly. still kind of liking it.
will work out tonight. perhaps that will help with the crankiness or perhaps not.
hmmm.
Random Stuff
On Sunday when we were in Cortland, I bought some hazelnut candles at Pier One imports - on sale 4/$1. They smell outrageous.
======================================
Our computer caught some kind of virus. I spent four hours Wednesday night downloading and updating our virus software, Ad Aware and Spy Sweeper. No virus was found although much spyware was found and discarded.
=======================================
I'm trying to install VERIZON DSL at my office - to replace the 3x as expensive RoadRunner. I don't know how to judge the DSL service yet because it's not yet installed. Wednesday, a technician came to change our wiring from fiber to copper. This disabled our fax machine because that is the number where we installing the DSL. The fax machine was supposed to be working again yesterday but alas it was not. Turns out the building wiring does not work with copper and we have to reinstall the fiber connection and get our old service back and start from scratch. I don't know what happened with the second technician last night because I left the office at 5:45. My head was aching with a pounding lack of understanding about how phones operate.
=======================================
Today is Friday and on Sunday, Jon and I are officially booking the temple for our wedding. This temple has a full catering facility, so the whole affair will take place there. The gardens are lovely so the photographs can be done there as well. Wahoo?!?! Now all that's left is the DRESS, FLOWERS, PHOTOGRAPHER, MUSIC.
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As I mentioned yesterday, I'm co-hosting trivia on Tuesday night with the Wounded Liberal (see link on right). We are having a meeting tonight to plan our attack on our unsuspecting players.
=======================================
If you run into someone you know and they are talking to someone that you don't know, do you go up to them and interrupt and go through motions of introductions, or do you leave them alone because they are having private and intense discussions? No seriously, I'm asking. What do you do? I never know what to do, so I err on the side of caution and leave everyone involved alone.
What do you do? What do YOU do?
======================================
Our computer caught some kind of virus. I spent four hours Wednesday night downloading and updating our virus software, Ad Aware and Spy Sweeper. No virus was found although much spyware was found and discarded.
=======================================
I'm trying to install VERIZON DSL at my office - to replace the 3x as expensive RoadRunner. I don't know how to judge the DSL service yet because it's not yet installed. Wednesday, a technician came to change our wiring from fiber to copper. This disabled our fax machine because that is the number where we installing the DSL. The fax machine was supposed to be working again yesterday but alas it was not. Turns out the building wiring does not work with copper and we have to reinstall the fiber connection and get our old service back and start from scratch. I don't know what happened with the second technician last night because I left the office at 5:45. My head was aching with a pounding lack of understanding about how phones operate.
=======================================
Today is Friday and on Sunday, Jon and I are officially booking the temple for our wedding. This temple has a full catering facility, so the whole affair will take place there. The gardens are lovely so the photographs can be done there as well. Wahoo?!?! Now all that's left is the DRESS, FLOWERS, PHOTOGRAPHER, MUSIC.
=======================================
As I mentioned yesterday, I'm co-hosting trivia on Tuesday night with the Wounded Liberal (see link on right). We are having a meeting tonight to plan our attack on our unsuspecting players.
=======================================
If you run into someone you know and they are talking to someone that you don't know, do you go up to them and interrupt and go through motions of introductions, or do you leave them alone because they are having private and intense discussions? No seriously, I'm asking. What do you do? I never know what to do, so I err on the side of caution and leave everyone involved alone.
What do you do? What do YOU do?
March 17, 2005
Train
Subway travels grow increasingly difficult. People riding the 4,5 and 6 lines yesterday were treated to a day of signalling problems that stopped that line dead in its tracks.
This morning's commute was just weird. There are no problems that I know of on the N/R/W line yet the trains were slow, crowded and irregular. When I transferred for the local at 34th street, I had to let two trains pass. The first was so delayed it ran express. The second was so crowded, I decided to wait for the third.
If the trains had been running well, I could have been at work at 9:15 but instead I walked through the front door at 9:40. I still have bragging rights for the day because in spite of being late I was still the first one here.
Time for coffee.
This morning's commute was just weird. There are no problems that I know of on the N/R/W line yet the trains were slow, crowded and irregular. When I transferred for the local at 34th street, I had to let two trains pass. The first was so delayed it ran express. The second was so crowded, I decided to wait for the third.
If the trains had been running well, I could have been at work at 9:15 but instead I walked through the front door at 9:40. I still have bragging rights for the day because in spite of being late I was still the first one here.
Time for coffee.
March 16, 2005
23rd Street Shuffle
So, I left home early to get to work early to get an early start only to get stopped dead in my tracks at the 23rd St. station at Bway. People were moving at a crawl up the steps that lead you out. I still managed to get to work first. That's always good for one-up-manship.
Things are going well at my new job, so far. I'm actually doing fun and creative stuff and I'm being treated with respect for my intelligence, ability and experience. It almost seems too good to be true. I hope it lasts. Sometimes when something seems too good to be true it often it is.
Did I mention that I am co-hosting trivia next week at the Baggott Inn? More details to follow. Must start my day now.
Bye.
Things are going well at my new job, so far. I'm actually doing fun and creative stuff and I'm being treated with respect for my intelligence, ability and experience. It almost seems too good to be true. I hope it lasts. Sometimes when something seems too good to be true it often it is.
Did I mention that I am co-hosting trivia next week at the Baggott Inn? More details to follow. Must start my day now.
Bye.
March 13, 2005
Ponder This
We stopped at a Ponderosa on the way home, in Stroudsberg. At the salad bar, at the Ponderosa, I had an opportunity to ponder many things.
Why is the salad bar so shitty? Why did everyone at the Ponderosa salad bar seem to have an excessive weight problem? How come every time I think about taking some mashed potatoes, a 400 pound person gets in my way? Why was almost every table full with fat families at the Ponderosa? If you could have seen the selection at the salad bar you would understand - fried chicken wings, macaroni and much cheese, pizza, stuffing, gravy, and every fattening thing under the sun that you wouldn't expect in a salad bar. Even the salad and dressings were fattening.
More upsetting were the obese clientele. Just being in there made me want to run to the gym and push people off the treadmill so I could climb on and run for my life. There was a family sitting behind us that couldn't stop laughing, burping and emitting other sounds beyond description.
Surprisingly, my sirloin tips were very yummy. My baked potato was cooked well, very well - a little too well. The skin was completely carbonified. In the middle of my baked potato was a large mound of butter which I removed. I eat butter with complete freedom but that was too much even for me. Jon ordered the seafood platter which was also surprisingly good except for the shrimp which seemed to have completely given its will over to butter. If we needed it, there was melted butter on Jon's plate as well as tartar sauce and a greasy crabcake.
==================================
Leaving the Ponderosa, we got stuck in some traffic on Interstate 80. We still aren't sure what happened. Gradually the traffic slowed down. We noticed police cars on the other side of the divider and then, after about a mile of this, we noticed there were no cars at all moving in the opposite direction. Not one. We crawled for about half an hour, seeing Delaware Water Gap Firemen and NJ State Troopers all along the way and again no oncoming traffic. At the point where our traffic jam opened up, we finally saw where all the cars were stopped like a parking lot. I'm happy we weren't going in that direction because after that it was smooth sailing all the way back to New York.
If anyone knows what happened on Interstate 80 near the Delaware Water Gap, March 13 between 7:45 and 8:30 pm, please let me know. We didn't see anything that looked like an accident or a fire or a shooting or a terrorist attack or a car jacking or etc.
Why is the salad bar so shitty? Why did everyone at the Ponderosa salad bar seem to have an excessive weight problem? How come every time I think about taking some mashed potatoes, a 400 pound person gets in my way? Why was almost every table full with fat families at the Ponderosa? If you could have seen the selection at the salad bar you would understand - fried chicken wings, macaroni and much cheese, pizza, stuffing, gravy, and every fattening thing under the sun that you wouldn't expect in a salad bar. Even the salad and dressings were fattening.
More upsetting were the obese clientele. Just being in there made me want to run to the gym and push people off the treadmill so I could climb on and run for my life. There was a family sitting behind us that couldn't stop laughing, burping and emitting other sounds beyond description.
Surprisingly, my sirloin tips were very yummy. My baked potato was cooked well, very well - a little too well. The skin was completely carbonified. In the middle of my baked potato was a large mound of butter which I removed. I eat butter with complete freedom but that was too much even for me. Jon ordered the seafood platter which was also surprisingly good except for the shrimp which seemed to have completely given its will over to butter. If we needed it, there was melted butter on Jon's plate as well as tartar sauce and a greasy crabcake.
==================================
Leaving the Ponderosa, we got stuck in some traffic on Interstate 80. We still aren't sure what happened. Gradually the traffic slowed down. We noticed police cars on the other side of the divider and then, after about a mile of this, we noticed there were no cars at all moving in the opposite direction. Not one. We crawled for about half an hour, seeing Delaware Water Gap Firemen and NJ State Troopers all along the way and again no oncoming traffic. At the point where our traffic jam opened up, we finally saw where all the cars were stopped like a parking lot. I'm happy we weren't going in that direction because after that it was smooth sailing all the way back to New York.
If anyone knows what happened on Interstate 80 near the Delaware Water Gap, March 13 between 7:45 and 8:30 pm, please let me know. We didn't see anything that looked like an accident or a fire or a shooting or a terrorist attack or a car jacking or etc.
Cortland Weekend
Friday night Jon and I drove up to Cortland to visit with his parents. Getting out of the city took about an hour. Getting through the snow at the end of the trip took about an hour and a half. The hours in the middle were relatively easy.
We visited a friend of Jon's mother. Esther is nearly 100 years old. This is my second time seeing her. She is old but young at heart.
Today we visited with Eva, another friend of Jon's mom. She is younger than Esther but a little bit shier about her age. I'll respect her privacy and keep it to myself. In 1939, her parents moved their immediate family from Austria, to her aunt's house in the Bronx. She talked of being a refugee and told us about a friend of hers who had been involved in the Kindertransport program arranged by the British to get Jewish children out of lower Europe. Most of you probably saw the special on HBO. But I've never met someone who knew about it intimately. I enjoyed meeting Eva. She is a lovely woman and a good raconteusse.
Today, Jon and I hit the Walmart and Super K-Mart in Cortland. We made away with some good bargains. My favorite bargain are the Fruit of the Loom cotton sports bras that I got at 3 for $10.00. But we got all sorts of stuff; a new lamp/magazine rack; a garbage pail with lid for the kitchen and other sundries.
We're heading back home soon and tomorrow we'll be back to our daily grinds. How nice it was to get out of town for the weekend, even up in snowy Cortland.
It's nice to visit family so do it when you can.
We visited a friend of Jon's mother. Esther is nearly 100 years old. This is my second time seeing her. She is old but young at heart.
Today we visited with Eva, another friend of Jon's mom. She is younger than Esther but a little bit shier about her age. I'll respect her privacy and keep it to myself. In 1939, her parents moved their immediate family from Austria, to her aunt's house in the Bronx. She talked of being a refugee and told us about a friend of hers who had been involved in the Kindertransport program arranged by the British to get Jewish children out of lower Europe. Most of you probably saw the special on HBO. But I've never met someone who knew about it intimately. I enjoyed meeting Eva. She is a lovely woman and a good raconteusse.
Today, Jon and I hit the Walmart and Super K-Mart in Cortland. We made away with some good bargains. My favorite bargain are the Fruit of the Loom cotton sports bras that I got at 3 for $10.00. But we got all sorts of stuff; a new lamp/magazine rack; a garbage pail with lid for the kitchen and other sundries.
We're heading back home soon and tomorrow we'll be back to our daily grinds. How nice it was to get out of town for the weekend, even up in snowy Cortland.
It's nice to visit family so do it when you can.
March 12, 2005
Reality TV
The Contender
The Apprentice
Survivor
The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race is not produced by Mark Burnett but somehow it is still good.
Mark Burnett could make anything into a reality show and I would watch it.
He should do a show for geeks.
The Apprentice
Survivor
The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race is not produced by Mark Burnett but somehow it is still good.
Mark Burnett could make anything into a reality show and I would watch it.
He should do a show for geeks.
March 09, 2005
I Can Walk
After three days of agonizing pain, I can finally walk like a normal person. Wahoo.
This morning, on the train, for the first time, I started envisioning myself as a bride. Ever since Jon proposed, I envisioned the wedding but from my POV or what I would be seeing; Jon waiting for me at the end of the aisle; our guests as I passed them on the way to the chupah (sp?); my parents on either side of me each holding an arm. But I never thought about how I would look to everyone else. This morning, I saw myself with my hair and makeup done, in my dress with a big smile on my face and it made me happy.
It's strange making the transition from someone with very low self-esteem to someone with normal self-esteem. Someone should write a book about the things you can expect when the improvements you've been making on yourself and the changes you strive to make in how you think about the world, actually start to work.
It's nice when you can actually start worrying about things that matter instead of things that don't.
You know what I mean if you know what I mean.
This morning, on the train, for the first time, I started envisioning myself as a bride. Ever since Jon proposed, I envisioned the wedding but from my POV or what I would be seeing; Jon waiting for me at the end of the aisle; our guests as I passed them on the way to the chupah (sp?); my parents on either side of me each holding an arm. But I never thought about how I would look to everyone else. This morning, I saw myself with my hair and makeup done, in my dress with a big smile on my face and it made me happy.
It's strange making the transition from someone with very low self-esteem to someone with normal self-esteem. Someone should write a book about the things you can expect when the improvements you've been making on yourself and the changes you strive to make in how you think about the world, actually start to work.
It's nice when you can actually start worrying about things that matter instead of things that don't.
You know what I mean if you know what I mean.
March 08, 2005
Blogger Roll Call
akaChris saw the musical Lion King on Friday night and recommended that we all see it.
The Anonymous Bloggette wrote about The Anonymous Blogger.
The Anonymous Blogger received 125 comments.
Baby Quentin has a new hat and remains cute.
CandyBlueKite has stopped communicating in words altogether.
Caren bought a new ipod. (use it in good health. Ptoi. Ptoi.)
Human Oddities shrank her cat so it could fit in the palm of her hand.
New Jersey White Trash had trouble controlling his car some time in the last couple of days.
Phil at Phil's Spin Zone is still apartment hunting.
Sarah is getting paranoid at Sarah's Entertainment.
Wendy Fournier's old webblog disappeared and I can't link to her new site without it. (hint, hint)
The Anonymous Bloggette wrote about The Anonymous Blogger.
The Anonymous Blogger received 125 comments.
Baby Quentin has a new hat and remains cute.
CandyBlueKite has stopped communicating in words altogether.
Caren bought a new ipod. (use it in good health. Ptoi. Ptoi.)
Human Oddities shrank her cat so it could fit in the palm of her hand.
New Jersey White Trash had trouble controlling his car some time in the last couple of days.
Phil at Phil's Spin Zone is still apartment hunting.
Sarah is getting paranoid at Sarah's Entertainment.
Wendy Fournier's old webblog disappeared and I can't link to her new site without it. (hint, hint)
March 07, 2005
What a Pain in the Calf
This morning walking around is more difficult than it was yesteray. I can't put my heels to the ground. You should see me walking around. I look ridiculous. All in the name of beauty. If working out hurts this much every time I do it, I'm never going to lose weight.
Okay. So I sound upset and negative. It's discouraging to learn what your body can't do anymore. I know I'm not that old but there is a reason why most athletes are past their prime by their early thirties. The body just wears down. Again, I'm not saying my body is falling part or anything, I feel the effects of getting older.
Walking around this last hour, I'm already exhausted. My mother has friend with Rheumatoid Arthritis. This woman lost a whole lot of weight just from being in pain. Pain is tiring. I'm thankful that my pains are self inflicted and will heal. My mom's friend will always have R.A.
But knowing that other people are sicker doesn't change the fact that my calves hurt more than I remember them ever hurting. You can walk a mile in another man's shoes to get idea of what his life is like before you judge him, but it doesn't do anything to change your life. . .just your mind.
Okay. So I sound upset and negative. It's discouraging to learn what your body can't do anymore. I know I'm not that old but there is a reason why most athletes are past their prime by their early thirties. The body just wears down. Again, I'm not saying my body is falling part or anything, I feel the effects of getting older.
Walking around this last hour, I'm already exhausted. My mother has friend with Rheumatoid Arthritis. This woman lost a whole lot of weight just from being in pain. Pain is tiring. I'm thankful that my pains are self inflicted and will heal. My mom's friend will always have R.A.
But knowing that other people are sicker doesn't change the fact that my calves hurt more than I remember them ever hurting. You can walk a mile in another man's shoes to get idea of what his life is like before you judge him, but it doesn't do anything to change your life. . .just your mind.
March 06, 2005
Sunday Morning Classics
Saturday, I worked out with Brandon. I'm considering joining my gyms BUFF BRIDE program, so I auditioned a trainer. Brandon worked me pretty hard. I'm having some trouble moving around today. My calves are suffering the brunt of it. Every time I sit down and get back up, they feel like they did when I woke up this morning. Tight and weird. Straightening out my legs is the hardest part.
I'm starting to hate the women at the gym that treat the locker room like their personal bathrooms. I particularly dislike it when women lotion up in the gym - their feet, their legs, their bellies. Yuck. The truth is I don't like to be around naked strangers. I go to the gym in my gym clothes so I don't have to change. I shower at home so I don't have to walk around the gym naked subjecting strangers to my pale, naked flesh.
The other women I hate at the gym are the ones who work out with their hair down and full of hair spray. They often wear velour sweatsuits and garish makeup and don't hesitate to show as much of their bodies as humanly possibly - to the point where they are almost indecently exposed. Some of those sweatpants ride pretty low beneath the belly. These women are often in my way as I'm trying to get to my locker to retrieve my coat or to put my headset away. They can often be overheard having ridiculous conversations about the stupid things their boyfriends did or said.
With that said, I like my gym. The equipment is great, the locker room is clean (but I'm still fearful of Athlete's Foot), and the instructors know what they are talking about. There are so many trainers walking around, you can always get help with anything you need or advice/instructions on any of the machines.
Brandon is a good instructor. He even called me this morning to see how I was doing. Naturally I told him I was having trouble walking and that I was generally stiffening up all over.
I'm starting to hate the women at the gym that treat the locker room like their personal bathrooms. I particularly dislike it when women lotion up in the gym - their feet, their legs, their bellies. Yuck. The truth is I don't like to be around naked strangers. I go to the gym in my gym clothes so I don't have to change. I shower at home so I don't have to walk around the gym naked subjecting strangers to my pale, naked flesh.
The other women I hate at the gym are the ones who work out with their hair down and full of hair spray. They often wear velour sweatsuits and garish makeup and don't hesitate to show as much of their bodies as humanly possibly - to the point where they are almost indecently exposed. Some of those sweatpants ride pretty low beneath the belly. These women are often in my way as I'm trying to get to my locker to retrieve my coat or to put my headset away. They can often be overheard having ridiculous conversations about the stupid things their boyfriends did or said.
With that said, I like my gym. The equipment is great, the locker room is clean (but I'm still fearful of Athlete's Foot), and the instructors know what they are talking about. There are so many trainers walking around, you can always get help with anything you need or advice/instructions on any of the machines.
Brandon is a good instructor. He even called me this morning to see how I was doing. Naturally I told him I was having trouble walking and that I was generally stiffening up all over.
March 04, 2005
The Apprentice
Yes. I watched the Apprentice last night. It was the entree to am appetizer of Survivor. And it was yummy.
The show focused on the downfall of young Audrey. That team just didn't like her. I don't know what she did but I bet a lot of it had to do with her being younger and prettier than everyone else. People just resent the hell out of young, beautiful people. I liked her. I admire people who don't rely on getting by on their looks and she wasn't on that show merely because of her looks. If that were the case, Angie would never have made it on or some of those sycophants from the other team either.
There is this pompous asshole, (John from Apprentice 3 - I put this here so everyone who searches for his name can come here and see I think he is a pompous asshole) on the street smarts team. He does not like Audrey, so whatever she did there was no way he was going to support her. If anything, he undermined her authority the entire show. What can you do? Audrey was the team leader, see. And she put John in charge of promotions and I think as soon as she assigned him the task, he decided he wasn't going to do shit for her.
Meanwhile, on the other team, the woman in charge of promotions without any direction from her team leader, decided all on her own, to go around and acquire exclusive rights on promoting the same kind of event.
So of course, Audrey's task failed and it looked like her fault because it looked like she didn't delegate authority. John brought her down and I've worked with people like him - people who will only work hard to promote their own self interest. The only mistake Audrey made last night, was stepping up to be team leader. Chris should have stepped up and Chris should have been fired. That guy is just weird. He's a dipper and a spitter and he was chewing tobacco during the task while dressed up as a clown and scaring the shit out of children.
She was out of there because that team didn't support her. Last week's candidate got fired because she showed really poor judgement in choosing the idea for her task and then pushing it forward. John was a dick last week too by the way. Audrey got fired because she became team leader.
The show focused on the downfall of young Audrey. That team just didn't like her. I don't know what she did but I bet a lot of it had to do with her being younger and prettier than everyone else. People just resent the hell out of young, beautiful people. I liked her. I admire people who don't rely on getting by on their looks and she wasn't on that show merely because of her looks. If that were the case, Angie would never have made it on or some of those sycophants from the other team either.
There is this pompous asshole, (John from Apprentice 3 - I put this here so everyone who searches for his name can come here and see I think he is a pompous asshole) on the street smarts team. He does not like Audrey, so whatever she did there was no way he was going to support her. If anything, he undermined her authority the entire show. What can you do? Audrey was the team leader, see. And she put John in charge of promotions and I think as soon as she assigned him the task, he decided he wasn't going to do shit for her.
Meanwhile, on the other team, the woman in charge of promotions without any direction from her team leader, decided all on her own, to go around and acquire exclusive rights on promoting the same kind of event.
So of course, Audrey's task failed and it looked like her fault because it looked like she didn't delegate authority. John brought her down and I've worked with people like him - people who will only work hard to promote their own self interest. The only mistake Audrey made last night, was stepping up to be team leader. Chris should have stepped up and Chris should have been fired. That guy is just weird. He's a dipper and a spitter and he was chewing tobacco during the task while dressed up as a clown and scaring the shit out of children.
She was out of there because that team didn't support her. Last week's candidate got fired because she showed really poor judgement in choosing the idea for her task and then pushing it forward. John was a dick last week too by the way. Audrey got fired because she became team leader.
March 03, 2005
Blah blah blah
Blah blah,
Blah blah blah blah blahing blah. Blah blahed blah blah. Blahblah blahblah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blahing blah. Blahgity blahminator. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah.
Blah blah blah blah &$*%&(# blah blah blah blah blah.
Blahrly,
Blah
Blah blah blah blah blahing blah. Blah blahed blah blah. Blahblah blahblah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blahing blah. Blahgity blahminator. Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah blah.
Blah blah blah blah &$*%&(# blah blah blah blah blah.
Blahrly,
Blah
March 01, 2005
Matthew Modine
Matthew Modine is the guest star of Law & Order: SVU. Could he be looking for an Emmy? Or did the Law & Order people decide that their show needed more muscle than Ice T and Chris Meloni? Whatever the reason, it's working. The show is a standoff between Detective Stabler played by Meloni and a serial child rapist/murderer played by Modine. Both men are excellent actors - what a treat for the viewers of the Law & Order shows. To me, the Law & Order shows continue to be the best police dramas on television. I am never disappoined and love the shows so much, I find myself watching reruns on TNT often.
========================================
I worked out and watched the beginning of American Idol. The show was a little disappointing tonight. The women, (Seacrest keeps referring to them as "the girls"), were lackluster as a group. Not that I can sing anywhere near as well as most of those young women but each one of them seemed to pick a song that wasn't quite right for her. But at least they kept me company while I was using the Elliptical machine.
========================================
I worked out and watched the beginning of American Idol. The show was a little disappointing tonight. The women, (Seacrest keeps referring to them as "the girls"), were lackluster as a group. Not that I can sing anywhere near as well as most of those young women but each one of them seemed to pick a song that wasn't quite right for her. But at least they kept me company while I was using the Elliptical machine.
American Idol rocked last night. That weird, sleezy Frank Sinatra wannabe from Long Island is definitely going to be voted off. . .I'm sure of it. His performance was so average. Actually there were only three or four good performances that really stood out last night. The rest ... there really isn't an IDOL in the lot of them.
====================================
Well the snow fell. I looked out the window and I don't see 7 - 10 inches which is fantastic. I love it when the weathermen are wrong with their dystopic predictions.
====================================
My new job is still going well. I'm having a good year.
====================================
The most important thing I've learned in the last two years is the powerful effect a positive attitude can have on those around you. People like to be around happy people. It makes them feel good. I remember a time when I would open my mouth at a party and the negativity would chase everyone away. It took a long time for me to connect the dots. When I act happy, I can't get people to leave me alone. And people tell me things and confide in me. If you act like you want to be where you are and believe it, people will come to you. I'm sorry I had to learn that lesson so late. But I guess some people are just late bloomers socially.
I'm not saying be fake. I'm just saying don't be negative. If you have nothing positive to say, don't say anything. If you disagree with someone at a dinner party, you don't have to do it outloud. You don't always have to express your opinion. Sometimes it's okay to be one of the crowd. And whatever you do, don't act desperate. People will smell it on you before you enter the room.
====================================
Well the snow fell. I looked out the window and I don't see 7 - 10 inches which is fantastic. I love it when the weathermen are wrong with their dystopic predictions.
====================================
My new job is still going well. I'm having a good year.
====================================
The most important thing I've learned in the last two years is the powerful effect a positive attitude can have on those around you. People like to be around happy people. It makes them feel good. I remember a time when I would open my mouth at a party and the negativity would chase everyone away. It took a long time for me to connect the dots. When I act happy, I can't get people to leave me alone. And people tell me things and confide in me. If you act like you want to be where you are and believe it, people will come to you. I'm sorry I had to learn that lesson so late. But I guess some people are just late bloomers socially.
I'm not saying be fake. I'm just saying don't be negative. If you have nothing positive to say, don't say anything. If you disagree with someone at a dinner party, you don't have to do it outloud. You don't always have to express your opinion. Sometimes it's okay to be one of the crowd. And whatever you do, don't act desperate. People will smell it on you before you enter the room.
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.
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.
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.
===========================================
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.
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**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!!!!!
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.
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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.
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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.
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At 9, I will watch American Idol for a third night in a row.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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Thanks to the holiday, I got to enjoy another Monday off with Jon.
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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.
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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.
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Thanks to the holiday, I got to enjoy another Monday off with Jon.
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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.
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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.
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
February 18, 2005
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.
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.
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.
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Liza Minelli is performing live this week at the Westbury Music Fair.
Is anyone actually going to see her?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!!!!!
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
February 06, 2005
Saturday
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.
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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.
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 |
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.
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.
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