Family Bonding

Allergies are kicking my butt in a big way but I can't help but feel warm-hearted when I think of all the togetherness thats been going on with my family lately. Don't get me wrong, we've always gotten along and I've always known that I can count my family as they can with me. But something feels different this season. Something extra. They say you never know what you have until its gone. Well, I am for one am thankful to realize exactly what I have while there's still time to appreciate them. There might have been an incident that made us all realize just how fleeting life is but its more likely that in my zest to be independent, I forgot about my most important support system. Make sure your family knows how much you appreciate them over the holidays and every day. Happy Holidays!

Bills, Bills, Bills!

You just keep coming! Just when I think I've seen the last of the bills relating to my recent medical situation, there you go again. When I start to believe that the hospitals, doctors, specialists have all billed me for everything they could possibly bill me for (blood work, scans, drugs, supplies, bed...), you find a way to surprise me when I open my mail box. My other bills won't wait for you to go away. Haven't I paid enough? It's Christmas for cripes sakes!When will I see the last of you?

Amazing Race: Seriously, You Thought That Was A Good Idea?

Reminiscent of the same episode last season (with the volleyball sisters), one team did something so stupid on last night's episode of Amazing Race that I cannot believe they actually thought it would be a good idea. The team of Flight Time and Big Easy--the Harlem Globetrotters--decided to incur a 4-hours penalty when Big Easy found it difficult to complete the very first task. The task: take five letters attained via voice automation and re-arrange them into a Czech(?) word. Sounds easy enough right? Not so for Big Easy. Granted, there are many possible combinations (five raised to the fifth power) so yes, this could be a time-consuming task but it is Amazing Race so the motto work smarter, not harder applies. If it doesn't sound like it could be a word, it probably isn't. But, Big Easy is not exactly the brains of the pair. After watching the three teams who would move on to the final leg complete the task (including the couple who first had to tackle a speed bump), Big Easy thought it would be wiser to incur a penalty rather than struggle further (keep in mind, another team gave him the first letter so he had a slight advantage). Boy was he wrong! While they waited out their four hours, the other teams completed their two remaining tasks. Note to Big Easy, exercising a little brain matter and trusting in your abilities yields surprising results. And, when you're down to the last leg before the finals on Amazing Race and don't know what's waiting around the corner, you're best bet is to keep racing. Four hours is too much time to sit on the sideline, especially at the start of a leg.

So Far So Good...I Think

First week back to work after being away for six weeks and...it's like I never left. I don't know what I was expecting but I thought that I would at least have to go through a re-adjustment period. Not so much. The work is the same, and thankfully, not as overwhelming as it could have been. Some people noticed I'd been gone and were happy to welcome me back; most didn't. I certainly feel different. Better! But as far as work, it's just another day/week at the office. Happy Thanksgiving!

Things On My Mind

1.) The weather...what's really going on here? It took some time to really warm up and for Summer to make it's presence known. Now that it's officially Fall, Summer is still very much here. Feels like Summer and Fall are two entities battling for dominance and we poor, hapless humans are caught in the middle. I can already feel myself getting sick from the changing temperatures. Making a decision about whether or not to keep the windows open at night is not something I want to do right now.

2.) Steve Harvey's 'Stawberry Letter'. I really love Steve Harvey's radio show mostly because it reinforces my belief that there are a lot of people out there who are much more weird and crazy than I could ever be. I've seen shows where relatives inadvertedly begin sexual relationships but until this morning, I don't remember hearing about anyone who knowingly entered into a incestuous relationship with someone they knew to be their sibling. I know it seems that there is a shortage of good men out there but when are conditions ever right for brother and sister to hook up? I can't even begin to wrap my mind around how anyone could ever... it's just wrong!

Real or Publicity Stunt?

Kanye’s foolish actions during the VMA is still sparking debate days later. Apparently, he’s pulled off the biggest stunt and fooled us all with the fake tears and tired apologies. The President of the United States was even overheard calling him a jacka** (very low of ABC for releasing that by the way). But there is at least one person that he did not fool: my friend G.

G believes that the whole scene where Kanye embarrassed the teenage girl during her big moment was all a stunt to get us all talking and keep him/them relevant. And, she does have pretty good evidence to support her theory but there are some pretty farfetched claims as well. Take G’s email response for instance:

“Kanye's whole image is to be a jerk. That is nothing new. Remember - he only needs like 1,000 fans or some rude comment he made. His new girlfriend throws cigarettes at the paparazzi. Its all cinema, good cinema, but still cinema. You're oversimplifying it, its not about record sales, its about publicity. Now kanye can demand money for interviews. Beyonce comes out looking good. they are on the cover of magazines and no one is paying attention to any one else. Everyone is talking about them. I'm very suspicious. An event that big has lots of cameras. How did they manage to get a camera on beyonce so quick? Even if they didn't stop Kanye from going on stage, the speech was long enough, why didn't they pull him off stage? MTV yanked all the footage from you tube - the only place you can go to see the incident is mtv.com. I understand why you guys are falling for it, its a juicy story, you want to believe it. Coming from someone who watched wrestling for years, I can tell when an event is staged.”

Now some of this definitely smacks of conspiracy theory rubbish. I mean does wrestling, which should be the very definition of really bad acting, really prepare anyone to judge the authenticity of someone’s actions? I too watched wrestling into my early teenage years so does that qualify me to recognize what’s real and what’s fake? But then again, I cut that cord much sooner than G did:)

Still, she has some valid point (and I don’t know the validity of all her facts, just going under the assumption that they are true): why did MTV yank all other footage everywhere but on their site? Are they trying to drive traffic to their site by capitalizing on what is their biggest stunt to date? This is something they are known for so it seems plausible. In an earlier email, I opined that if Kanye did what he did in order to boost record sales then he failed in a major way. I stopped buying cds a long time ago but from what I’ve been reading and hearing, he’s not very popular right now. But again, G did state that the ‘jerk’ bit was his approach and she later added that it’s his way of capturing our attention. And it’s true; we’re all talking about him.

To the question about the camera capturing Beyonce’s reaction shot, I answered that it is their job to know where the stars are at all time so it’s not at all suspicious to me that they would find her right away once her name was mentioned. But when I stopped to consider G’s viewpoint, I remembered that I questioned the fact that Beyonce and Taylor were both wearing red dresses (to signify girl power?) later in the show when Beyonce got to display what a gracious diva she is. Coincidence? And when G pointed out that the whole drama was wrapped up by the end of the show, it all seemed a bit too convenient. Suddenly, G doesn’t sound so crazy anymore.

So were we all fooled? Did Kanye pull off the biggest stunt to date? Were Beyonce and Taylor complicit in it? Were the people at MTV just up to their old tricks, trying to spice up an otherwise dull show? I mean, it’s no secret that viewership for award shows in general has been down in recent years. But we are all taking about this one and most likely following the latest tidbits about the surrounding drama. Are we so culpable that we would believe what is presented to us without going beyond the surface? It’s definitely something to think about.

Staycation

I'm starting a mini vacation in less than an hour. A few months ago on my last vacation, I headed all the way across the country to California. This time, I'm staying a little closer to home. There is so much that this city has to offer but I've only shown appreciation for a small part of it, even after living here for a good half of my life. So the goal, go out and explore. Of course, this will be a little tough with all the scheduled events and errands that I've put on hold for these next few days. But I'm sure my TimeOut guide will point me towards something good and I am determined to see as much as I can in the time that I have.

Proud Nevisian

In honor of Labor Day Weekend, I'd like to take a moment to share some memories about my hometown, Nevis W.I. Nevis is a tiny island (36 square miles) located in the Caribbean. Along with a group of other smaller islands, it comprises the Lesser Antilles and is near the southernmost tip of the Caribbean. I fondly remember eating saltfish and dumplings, johnnycakes. Buying a bread and cheese sandwich or a bun and cheese sandwich for lunch from Rose. Or sweets from Ms. Williams' store. Running to catch the bus to get to school. Sneaking into the neighbor's yard with my brother to lounge around in fruit trees and sample the goods. And running for our lives when the groundskeeper discovered us and chased us with a machete. Laying under a branch of a guava tree outside my uncle's home. Soursop. Sugar Apple. Custard Apple. Guinip. Tamarind. Annual trip to the gut to pick mangoes. Making mudcakes underneath our house. Playing cricket. Sports Day. My grandmother. Going to the beach almost every weekend (though I still can't swim). Going to beach after dark one night to see the crabs make their migration. Octopus. Shellfish. My extended family and childhood friends. And so many more memories. Unfortunately, it's been so long since I've visited that I don't think my childish memories will do it justice if I try to tell you about the island itself. So, check out this link and see why I love it.

Whew!

The last week and a half has been super busy at work. I've been alone in the office and have had to cover every research request that comes in. The challenge (and fun) has been in answering multiple request that comes in one after the other--all involving in-depth research and all urgent--without stressing out. Oh yeah, and I still had to perform my usual duties. I think I managed fairly well but I am happy to see my co-worker and hear another voice other than my own.

The Proof Is In The Underarm Hair

With events for the Track & Field World Championship currently underway in Germany, there’s been much discussion surrounding many of the competitors. Since his record-breaking wins at the 2008 Olympics, there was the expected talk about Jamaica’s Usain Bolt who once again shattered records when he ran an astonishing 9.58 seconds in the men’s 100 meters dash on Sunday (see video). But as exciting a runner as he is to watch, speculation has momentarily shifted away from him to South African teen, Caster Semenya, and not for any good reason.

After the first-time competitor’s win in the women’s 800 meters event earlier this week, officials are once again questioning the sex of the athlete who was to be subjected to a battery of gender-verification tests but have yet to produce the results (read story). Looking at Semenya’s photo, it’s not hard to see why people are confused. There is nothing distinctly feminine about her(?) from her physical appearance to her(?) deep voice and her(?) mannerisms. However, immediate proof for me lies in the underarm hair. I’ve seen underarm hair like that before but it wasn’t on any woman. But of course everyone is different so I'll just have to wait and see what the test results reveal. Happy Thursday!

Texting Woes

I received a rather unpleasant surprise when I checked my text usage and found that I had leeway to send just over forty more texts over the next two weeks when my new billing cycle starts. I would be okay with this if I hadn't become mildly addicted to texting. I've gotten used to having entire conversations with several people on any given day. A complete turnaround considering that I find texting to be fairly impersonal. But it does have its advantages. In any case, the past few days have certainly been a lesson in moderation as I've had to be careful about sending unnecessary texts. Maybe I could have paced myself a little better if I had read this article about annoying text habits beforehand but I sincerely doubt it. Happy texting!

NYC Commute: An Experience

If you live in New York City, you’re bound to see/encounter at least one crazy/interesting thing throughout your day, almost every day. From the subway performers who insist on getting a performance in on a crowded train during rush hour to the homeless people who treat subway cars like their personal living space. As undesirable as their presence often is, they help to keep New York interesting and lend credence to the phrase “never a dull moment” that so aptly describes my city. And, as much as I might wish I owned a car during the times when they disturb my commute, they are mildly harmless and tolerable. It’s really the unstable commuters that you have to be aware of. And steer clear of.

My experience with “crazies” has been plentiful but there are a few that stand out in my mind. I should mention the baldheaded lady who was combing her head with a comb and alternatively mumbling to herself and cursing at another commuter. It was catching the tail end of their encounter that got me started thinking about the guy who is currently wanted for masturbating on the train as well as my own experiences. Not nearly as exciting as some of the other stories I’ve heard but once, I inadvertently offended a homeless man begging for change on a No.1 train. As the train was crowded, he had a somewhat difficult time making his way from one end of the train and by the time he got to where I was standing at the other end—practically straddling a pole—I instinctively leaned back from both the closeness and from the smell. More than the serious stink, I hated having my personal space invaded and he must have known that the way to punish me for the slight was to stand very close to me, staring at me for at least a minute (a minute never felt that long). But as uncomfortable as that minute was, it wasn’t as bad as the guy who asked me for a quarter and cursed at me for several minutes because I refused to give it to him. Or, the man who sat with his legs spread-eagle then complained that I was touching him when I squeezed as small as I could into a seat on one side of him. Knowing that I shouldn’t engage him, I immediately popped out of my seat and moved to stand in the middle of the train, where his curses followed me. I didn’t realize that I had remained tense until I felt myself relax when he exited the train a few stops later.

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to avoid situations such as these but there are clues that I was aware of and ignored. First, if there are lots of empty seats around someone on an otherwise crowded train, chances are you want to ignore your desire to sit, at least until seats open up elsewhere. The mumbling is more obvious, although some people will wait until you are comfortably seated before starting up. Don’t try to tough it out as those who engage in this type of behavior seemingly only need a target in which to focus the “crazy.” And then, sometimes for no apparent reason at all, someone has decided that you’re it. I find that the most important thing is to be aware of what’s going on around me. That way, I can enjoy living in this great city without subjecting myself to too much of the unpleasantness. Happy commuting!

Sexy Hair Day/Rain Day

There’s a saying, ‘when you look good you feel good, that really should be ‘when your hair looks good you feel great.’ For me, at least. I can usually throw some decent outfits together but if the hair is not right, I’m not at 100%.

So, I’ve been having a pretty okay week and knew the thing that would make it even better is a wash and blow-dry at a neighborhood salon. Can I do this at home? Sure, but it would take an inordinate amount of time to get it to some semblance of normal. I love having a thick head of hair but maintaining it is not an easy job! And rather than sexy hair, I usually manage big hair. Not the worst thing but…my hair has more potential.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature has other plans because from what I hear, heavy rains are on the agenda throughout the day. I am not one of those lucky few who escape unscathed (frizz galore) after being out in undesirable weather (humidity, rain etc) so I’m going to try my hardest to keep the sexy hair in place while enjoying the rainy weather.

I'm Back!

Ok, so I never really went anywhere but I was on a short hiatus from the blogging community (and everything else is my life apparently). I’m back now, admittedly with nothing especially new to contribute, just an enthusiasm to throw myself into being a regular blogger once again. I guess I should offer up some kind of explanation as to why I’ve been “away” so here goes:

Since I’m a very private person, very few people know when I am going through “things” and although I won’t go into details here, suffice it to say that this was one of those times. In hindsight, it seems that I’ve been heading to this point for a while now but just like a deer in headlights, I couldn’t get out of the way fast enough. However, I look at my experiences as badges of honor and have very little that I regret in my life. For every experience, I learn something new about myself. Unfortunately, it seems I have to learn some lessons over and over for them to finally sink in but dare I say it, I’m better for them. So what did I learn? Well, that’s something I’m keeping close to my chest while I overanalyze some more but I’m happy to get back to something that I enjoy doing.

Condolences

We all know that death is a certainty. People are born, they live their lives and they die. Some live full lives before peacefully slipping away. We are no less sad but these deaths are somewhat easier to handle. Not so the death of children or adults in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, or even 60s; people who still have so much life left to live. This is the case with M’s friend, Cory, who recently passed away from cancer. At age 31. For those of us who haven’t ever been in that position, we can’t begin to imagine what anyone close to Cory is going through at this time. But I am certain that Cory is gone too soon and is surely missed by his friends and family. R.I.P.

A Charge of Racial Profiling

Lately, I have been so enmeshed in my own pathetic life that I completely missed the news about an affront to prominent black scholar, Henry Louis Gates Jr. (thanks to C. for telling me about it). The story goes as follows: Gates returned home from a trip to find his front door jammed. He enlisted the aid of his driver to help him to force the door open. Apparently, while this was going on a neighbor called the police and reported that two black men were breaking into the house. The story should have ended once Gates produced identification with his address thereby ascertaining that he was in fact a resident of the home but instead he was arrested, allegedly for disorderly conduct. Now I can imagine that Gates had some harsh words for the officers and I can’t say that I blame him. If you were accused of burglarizing your own home (added to the stress of traveling and fighting to gain entrance) I’m sure you’d be a little upset too.

Racism is such a messy topic and I really hate to revisit and rehash but sometimes we really have no choice. I do believe that racism is alive and well in America. It is visible and ever present. More than anything, I’m really tired of the automatic dismissal of people who believe that they have a legitimate right to claim that they were targeted because of their race, simply because we now have a black president. Give me a break! Finally, after dozens of white men before him, a black man was finally elected to the highest position and racism suddenly becomes a non-issue? That’s an easy enough statement to make when you haven’t ever been a victim of racism. Unfortunately the history that this country was built on cannot be wiped out simply because of one act.

Personally, racism is the very last option that I allow my mind to consider whenever I encounter anything that seems foul for no good reason. But incidents such as the one involving Gates are not uncommon throughout America. As I read about it, I was reminded of another incident in Boston where blacks were essentially stripped of their basic rights and were treated as criminals. All because of a white man’s accusation that a black man killed his wife. Ironically, it turned out that the ‘grieving husband’ was the was the killer but police action sent a message that blacks are and will forever be second class citizens whose rights could be stripped at will. America still has a long way to go but that’s just my opinion. Read some of the comments that follow this article to see why I still worry.

TV: New Shows

With a massive move on the agenda, this was quite a busy week at work. All activities not directly related to the move were put on hold for another time (I finally have a minute to breathe- at the end of the work week). Outside the office, work was definitely on my mind but I still found time to think about the potentially good news that I received regarding an extracurricular activity. And of course, I tuned into some of the new shows (and some not-so-new favorites) that TV networks have been trotting out all week. Most notably of the new crop are Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva, TNT’s Dark Blue, and Bravo’s Miami Social. First, Miami Social totally sucks and is in no way DVR-worthy. The show follows a group of friends in their professional and personal lives. Predictably, there’s lots of “heartfelt” discussions about relationships. We’ve seen so many shows like this (think Housewives of ...), do we really need another? I don’t think so.

Both Dark Blue and Drop Dead Diva, on the other hand, delivered all that they promised and more. The former is the latest from Jerry Bruckheimer (CSI franchise) and centers around a special team of undercover agents who infiltrate criminal enterprises on a regular basis. The storyline is great and so far, it seems like the characters are well-written. I can’t wait to see how they are developed over the course of the series, although I suspect that this particular show will be much darker than any of the CSI series. Drop Dead Diva by contrast is light comedy fare featuring a size two, unemployed ditz-type whose soul leaps into the body of a plus-size lawyer when they both die around the same time. One interesting fact: the main character still has her old memories but is now smarter than she’s ever been thanks to her new brain. How could that be? Still, from the first episode and from the preview of the entire series, this comedy promises to be heartwarming and is actually funny. Happy weekend!

From PC to Mac?

I’ve always been a PC person. I’ve never really been tempted to use a Mac over a PC and given the choice between the two, I’ve always chosen PC. I have nothing against Macs but I am most familiar with the PC interface so it makes sense that I would make it my choice. However, that might be about to change.

I’ve owned a Sony VAIO for close to five years and for the most part, have enjoyed it very much. When I can get a decent connection (often) it runs very fast and the graphics are great. There have been many minor issues involving my VAIO but I can only think of one MAJOR problem: the ac adapter input (and the input jack) unraveled making it hard to charge the PC. However, that problem was resolved with (costly) repair to the input jack (although it shows sign of reverting to its previous state over time) and purchase of a new AC adapter. Sony is not exactly known for extensive battery life so I could not ignore the problem if I wanted to use my PC for any length of time. There was also one or two times when I could only see a black screen even though the PC had completely powered up. However, I chalk this up to lack of use over several months (before the abovementioned repairs) as the problem seems to have corrected itself. But every time a new problem crops up, the thought that I need a new computer would inevitably follow. The latest incident (last week) involved liquid and I was in a frenzy to quickly find its replacement because I was sure that my computer would not recover from that one. But within a couple days, it did. Still, I am pressing on with my search for my next computer.

Among the computers I looked at and am considering are: Toshiba Satellite, Dell Studio, HP Pavilion, and Apple MacBook Pro. By far, the MacBook Pro is my favorite due to its sleek design, extensive battery life (~8 hours), and numerous features. Before I knew anything about it, I wanted it at first sight. It is the only one of the listed four that I wanted to take home with me with few reservations. So what’s holding me back? The cost for one. At over $2000, it is definitely not something that I would buy on impulse- I can wait a few months for the price to drop (hopefully). Another thing that worries me is the fact that the battery is built into the computer and so not easily switched out. Also, I am not familiar with the Mac interface so finding my way around it has not been the easiest task. But I can learn to adjust. And considering all of the problems that I’ve endured with my PC, these are truly minor issues. I am definitely leaning towards making the switch from PC to Mac but the decision is far from made. I’m open to suggestions either way.

Pastimes

I spent a good portion of last night walking around downtown. M and I started with dinner around St. Marks place but since we had not planned beyond dinner we wandered around a bit walking in the direction of LES, came back up to Union Square and eventually ended up at West 4th. I haven’t gotten that much exercise in a long time and boy did I need it! But all that mindless walking around in a quest to find something to do lead me to think about the neighborhoods I frequent and what I do when I’m there. In no particular order, St. Marks Place, Fort Greene, downtown Brooklyn, West 4th, and Soho are some of my favorite places to chill. And when I say chill, I really mean eat (mostly). That’s another thing I realized: most of my outings usually include food. Even when I go out to see a movie, a concert, or perform some activity, I will ultimately end up at a restaurant/bar. And, although I don’t like/crave food enough to consider myself a foodie, I spend way too much time thinking about what I’m going to eat for lunch. In any case, the following is a sampling of places that serve tasty, reasonably priced food and/or provide decent entertainment: Burrito Loco(Mexican), Galanga(Thai), Café Orlin, Yaffa Cafe, Milon(Indian), and Groove(American bar). Happy Friday!

No Sympathy for Steve McNair

I’m listening to a local radio station and I’m surprised and appalled at how callous and unforgiving some people can be. The radio deejay asked listeners to write in or call in and tell her their opinion about the recent slaying of former football star, Steve McNair. The majority of callers seem to believe that because McNair stepped outside his marriage and was engaged in a relationship with the woman who killed him, he was not a good father to his sons. And, he got what was coming to him. Since when does cheating justify murder? I’ll usually take the moral high ground in most situations but the punishment does not fit the “crime.” These people go too far. Even if we don’t factor in the fact that he was separated from his wife at the time when he was engaged in this deadly relationship, how can anyone believe that murder is ever justified? It is not our place to judge the deeds of others. Besides, the circumstances surrounding McNair's death does not take away from who he was as a person--good or bad. I really fear that our humanity is slipping down the drain when I hear about things like this.

So Sad I Almost Cried- But This is Funny!

I’m still a little sad about Michael Jackson’s death. It occupies a great portion of my thoughts and I’ll still watch any TV program having to do with his life and music. The memorial that was held in Los Angeles yesterday is probably as big as its going to get and was a fitting tribute for someone who’s as big as MJ was. It was while watching the outpouring of grief from MJ’s family and celebrity friends that I felt something stir within me. Now, emotional displays are not my modus operandi—I prefer to grieve inward— so when I felt that sudden urge to cry, I knew Michael Jackson’s death had affected me more than I had originally thought. So, is it bad that I find this Chris Rock sketch and this Eddie Murphy comedy bit so darn funny?

What!? A Cell-Phone?

A little earlier this morning I received a call from my adorably cute niece. She was calling me from her after-school/summer program just to see how I was doing. She was calling from her cell-phone. At one point in our brief conversation, I heard her telling some of the other kids to be quiet. Why is it so noisy, so early in the morning at her program? More importantly, why was she on her cell-phone? I’m still reeling from the shock that her mother thought that my six-year-old niece is responsible enough to have a cell-phone. Last Thursday, her father called and told me to write down a telephone number before dropping the bombshell that it was my niece’s number. Since then, my niece has called me almost everyday just because. It’s cute how excited she is about owning a cell-phone but this is one of those instances where I believe she’s too young. At this point, I can only hope for the best and be happy that someone is helping me to use up more of my anytime minutes.

Happy 4th of July

I love holiday weekends! I love the idea of barbeques, overeating, shopping the sales, catching up with friends and family. I will definitely make time to do all of those things in addition to sleeping in (an extra 30 minutes), laundry, cleaning and because it’s Independence Day, watching fireworks. This year, because the actual holiday falls on a Saturday, many of us have been fortunate to get the preceding Friday off from work to get a jump on our plans. Usually I would use such an opportunity to wait in long lines to catch the bus down to the DC/VA area. But after being away a week ago, I wanted to stay close to home. Besides, I distinctly remember missing home every fourth of July that I’ve been away. There’s just some about being at home (in NYC) during a major holiday. There is always so much to do and the excitement is something to be experienced. If only the rain would ease up for the next few days... Happy fourth everyone!

Mini-Road Trip: California

I recently returned from a week-long vacation to California. It was my first visit to California and surprising, it was not as warm as I thought that it would be. Temperatures hovered around the mid-60s and when we did make it to the beach, the water there was very cold. Still, the trip was a nice and mellow one and rather than give you an extensive list of all the things that we did, I’ll provide a few details in 10 bullet points of what I remember most clearly. Of course, the ultimate highlight was spending a week catching up with friends but as we all know, its all about the experience:

1. I have a rule about street/subway performances: if it’s entertaining, I will give a dollar; more if I love it. But a smart aleck-y, annoying street performer at the Walk of Stars almost made me want to take my dollar back. After his ragtag group did a little dancing, the self-proclaimed “little Mexican” proceeded to whine and curse his audience, probably hoping to shame us out of more of our money. Well, that didn’t work in the least (the audience dispersed fairly quickly) but he was funny and it was entertaining watching him try to run game on us.
2. Again at the Walk of Stars, a man came up to me and asked me to buy him a beer. Shouldn’t he be offering to buy me a drink?
3. Realizing how truly tiny the feet of some of Hollywood’s leading men really are was a snickering moment. Unfortunately, I can’t think of any names at this time.
4. Being locked out of the place where we were staying in Redondo Beach and sitting in our car waiting for our host because we selected the wrong house keys was not very fun. Admittedly, there were three of us so we probably should have gotten it right but in our collective defense, the directions were misleading.
5. Being advised not to order the fish cakes by our waitress at a Thai restaurant was a first for me. Of course, Thai Elvis is the premiere form of entertainment so the fish cakes are not the only things that are fishy about the Palms Restaurant.
6. My friends and I were referred to as “light, brown, and dark” by an overweight, middle-aged white man at the beach. No comment on that one.
7. We spent a lot of time eating at various restaurants but Broadway Grill, which featured Motown Mondays, was one of the better ones. The food was so-so but the entertainment was what made this place great. Of course, we kept the party going in our little corner after the band wrapped up their set.
8. Being splashed, several times, during our whale watching tour (where we didn’t see any whales and few other sea creatures during our 2 hours plus boat ride). We were too lazy to move from our perch and we ended up serving as entertainment for our fellow passengers.
9. Being pulled over by the cops after we made an illegal left turn was mildly exciting. It wasn’t completely our fault and we got off without a ticket but that cop in California is the nicest one I’ve ever encountered.
10. Pebbly sand and cold water are what I now think about when I think about California beaches

Things we learned from our experience:
A road trip throughout California is not easily achieved in a week; expect lots of driving.
A free breakfast is the best breakfast i.e. stay at Embassy Suites

*pictures featuring the beautiful scenery and places we visited will follow shortly*

Death of a Legend

By now everyone has heard the news: Michael Jackson is dead. A mere day after I returned from the state he called home, I was beyond shocked to learn that this larger than life man is no more. Of course, the suddenness of it most likely contributes to the shock I still feel in the days since. I had spent a lazy Thursday catching up on recorded programs that I missed while I was away. Hence, I had not tuned into any of the local channels and when my brother sent me a text that simply stated “Michael Jackson died” I didn’t want to believe him. I grilled him for further details but he could only tell me that it had something to do with a heart attack. Once the program I was watching ended, I switched over to a local news channel and when I didn’t immediately hear news of MJ’s death, I believed it a little less. But then my sister switched over to CNN and it was there that we learned that he was in fact hospitalized, not dead. I started to believe that there was a chance for a full recovery but then further reports stating that he’d suffered from cardiac arrest and was in a coma were released. Hope dimmed a little at this point and quickly disappeared with the next report: the King of Pop is in fact dead.

Despite your personal opinions about Michael Jackson’s private life, there are very few people who can say that MJ did not touch them in some way through his music. Since his sudden death, I have continually sought out programs that celebrate his life and music. I can’t seem to get enough. Some of my favorites of MJ’s many hits include Man in the Mirror, Wanna Be Starting Something, Smooth Criminal, and Bad. Some of the tributes I’ve witnessed thus far (okay, just BET) have done him little justice and I can only hope that those scheduled for this week do a better job of celebrating the life of a legend. As I mourn Michael Jackson’s passing with the rest of the world, I find comfort in the fact that his music will live on through time.

Vacation is Here

Not much to say except I'm on vacation! Happiness ensues. Unless I can get computer/internet access while I'm away, I will not be posting again until the end of the month. If I'm not too lazy, I'll keep notes on my travel that I can share here when I get back. If not, there're always pictures. Please try to carry on without me :)

Vacation Almost In Sight

Over the past couple weeks I’ve been preoccupied with my upcoming vacation. All plans seem to center around my vacation, from what I need to get done at work to what I need to buy or get done at home before I head off to have fun in the sun. I have no doubt bored some of you with these details but it's almost over. I hate the thought of adding to the pile of work that will be waiting for me when I get back so the goal has been to get through as many of the pesky tasks that I have avoided doing until now. And, more than anything, I fear forgetting to pack something that I will need so needless to say, I’ve been running through a mental checklist of what I’ve done, what I’ve packed, and what I still need to do. This is in addition to planning details of the trip as far as hotels, activities, transportation, flights etc. In a word, it’s been an overwhelming experience which is probably why I so enjoyed the distractions of this past weekend.

Hanging out with K and T is always a fun experience and this past Friday was no different. During this outing, we visited Café Habana in Nolita. I especially liked my snapper dish as the smoky flavor reminded me of the shellfish that I grew up eating on my home island. From there we made our way to Emack and Bolio’s Emack and Bolio’s so that we could have something sweet to “cleanse our palates.” The ‘chocolate eruption’ ice cream flavor was tempting but I went with the mango instead. We capped the evening off with a movie at The Angelika and while The Brothers Bloom is not something that I'd had any intention of seeing, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend it for a good laugh and intelligent story line.

The rainy weather on Saturday thwarted my plans and made staying in seem an attractive prospect but I made up for it with my trip to City Island with family the next day. It had been a long while since I’d been there so I was once again surprised at the small town feel of it. It seems that every time I venture outside the slice of New York that I’m familiar with I’m surprised, happily so, that these places exist so close by. It was definitely a nice pace from the rat race that is city life. But, the weekend is over now and my vacation is even closer at hand so it’s back to the rat race, the mental lists and last-minute planning.

Natasha = Prostitute

I recently learned that the name “Natasha” is not so desirable in some parts of the world as it is in Russia and in some areas in the U.S. In fact, as my Turkish friend reported to me, it is down-right undesirable in his home country. There, 'natasha' is a common slang word that refers to prostitutes of Slavic descent. Thankfully, he doesn’t hold this against me and does not think badly about me, despite my name:) I didn’t catch the history of why my name was selected to refer to women who came over from Russia etc to (unwillingly) ply their trade but I am endeavoring to make the effort to find out. I was so surprised by this discovery that I ran some internet searches and found that yes, ‘natasha’ and its meaning is in fact documented in a dictionary somewhere. I shared this information with my younger brother and he—who is probably much more well-read than I am—reminded me that he had already told me about ‘the natashas’ and the Eastern European sex trade years ago (apparently I was not listening). He also told me about a book on the subject, The Natashas, that he had read and found to be very informative. Looks like I’ll be adding this to my reading list and making a note to change my name when I visit Turkey.

Break-Up Songs

I have been listening to a lot of break-up songs lately. I guess I like the drama of it all. The complacency of something steady can be nice but there is just something about those words that speak of rollercoaster emotions and love gone bad that keeps drawing me back to listen once again. Songs like “Epiphany” and “Blame It On Me” by Chrisette Michele, LeToya Luckett’s “Not Anymore”, Maxwell’s “Pretty Wings”, good old Carl Thomas' "Emotional", and the old standard from Gladys Knight and the Pips, “Neither One Of Us.” I could come up with an extensive list but I'll stop here. It probably would make more sense for me to ‘feel’ these songs so deeply if I were actually contemplating a break-up. But I’m not, not at all. In fact, I don’t have anything going on that is serious enough to even warrant a break-up. Maybe this is just what good music is all about: songs that make you think and feel even if you’re not currently experiencing the same things.

Blogs Need Love Too

This post is dedicated to the “friends” (and I use this term loosely) who have yet to show my blog some love, consistent love. It’s been around for two months now and I’m still hearing excuses about computer problems, losing the link, not having access to the site at work, too much work. All BS! I’m not writing a book here! It only takes a quick few minutes to see what the heck is on my mind on any given day. I’d pay your blog the same courtesy, if you had one. And yes, there are some days when I have nothing I really want to talk about and I throw something up anyway. I’ll excuse you on those occasions but can you at least meet me halfway and at least skim a few posts so that when I ask if you’ve checked out my blog yet I won’t have to think along these lines? I’m really thinking about cutting you all off completely but I don’t think you’d notice even that. I know my blog is not for everyone and yes you might even find it boring but when I told you that I was going to do this and then sent you the link didn’t you think I would want your support? I mean, I read it but do I have to be the only one? I thought we were better than that. All these years you’ve known me, I’ve kept in touch with you through time and space and still you disappoint me this way. I really have to start shifting my priorities because obviously, my blog isn’t anywhere on your list. I realize that I am coming off as whiny but you have driven me to this point. And yes, I do realize that my plan to shame you into showing the blog some love is pointless since you don’t read it and won’t know I posted this but I will make sure you get this note. Happy Friday!

Me, Controlling? I Think Not!

A male friend told me that I was controlling, that I want to be the one in control especially as it relates to my relationships with the opposite sex. I usually dismiss him when he makes stupid comments like that but since he’s known me for many years and is my go-to for a male perspective, I humored him, heard him out, and asked for clarification. In a nutshell, he said that I always like things to be on my terms, to go where I want to go when I want to go and do what I want to do. When I asked for a basis for his assessment, he informed me that it was due to a combination of information that I shared with him and his experience in the role of my friend. His problem is that he thinks he knows me better than I know myself and I also know that his reasons are purely selfish ones. I’m more than happy to go with the flow from time to time, to let someone else take control. I want to be able to sit back and have someone else exert some energy to get things going- as long as I don’t have to wait too long for that to happen. If I like your idea better than mine I will acknowledge that and act accordingly. If I think my idea is better then it will take a lot to get me to budge but ultimately, I’m not one to cut off my nose to spite my face. I’m nothing if not agreeable! Do I like having my way sometimes? Yes, but things don’t have to go my way for me to be okay with them. And really, who doesn’t like having their way once in a while? Maybe he just used the wrong term because that doesn’t necessarily make me controlling but in any case, “S”, you can just take your stupid opinion and shove it!

"N" Word What?

This little guy is schooling grown folks on why the "n" word should be eliminated from our vocabulary. Love it!

Over My Limit But Under Control

I have never been drunk a day in my life. I’ve been pleasantly buzzed and a little bit tipsy on several occasions but never drunk. I am happy that I can continue to make that claim but it was a near thing, and at a work related event no less.

Last night, the law librarians association of which I am a member held its annual meeting at a wonderful locale (river view, park vistas). Very nice! As a committee co-chair, I had responsibilities to fulfill beyond the usual socializing/networking. But I didn’t allow myself to think about them when I grabbed my first glass of red wine off the tray of a passing server as soon as I arrived and proceeded to smash a cream-filled appetizer into my jacket. Or when I spilled my nearly empty second glass on my hand and on the floor a mere minute before I saw my co-chair walking to the front of the room and realized that our names had just been called. That’s right, we were expected to speak to a room filled with close to 200 of our peers and I was a mess! But thankfully, I didn’t realize it at the time. I just knew that I was ready for anything and that whatever was coming out of my mouth seemed to make sense to the crowd I was facing despite the jumble in my head. I'm sure that we could have improved on execution but it looks like we got effort covered.

There is something to be said about the power of alcohol. I can give a good speech if I really know my topic and practice ahead of time but knowing that doesn’t make me like doing it any more. While last night’s audience was much larger than any other that I’ve faced in the past, the speech was also the shortest that I’ve ever been expected to give. Basically, I didn’t have to memorize anything- just make sure I mention a few things. But after a couple glasses of wine, the warmth in my tummy was spreading all over and it all seemed like it would be a piece of cake. I was buzzed. And with my third glass, lots of giggling, flirting, and declarations about having had too much to drink, I realized that I was moving towards tipsy. One more and I would have been drunk but the sensible part of my brain refrained and got me on my way home. Nobody wants to see a drunken me, least of all me!

Lebron the Brat?

I usually don't concern myself with the antics of professional athletes but I'm annoyed on Lebron's behalf re this article. The writer essentially describes Lebron James as a spoiled brat after he walked off the court without congratulating his opponents after his team was kicked out of the NBA finals over the weekend. Instead, Lebron kept his head down, got dressed in a corner in the locker room and silently waited for the team bus to leave the arena. Obviously, he was devastated by the loss. Could he have put forth a better attitude? Certainly. But I understand why he kept to himself. I understand the pain he must have felt after he had given his all and it still wasn't enough. For a guy who has consistently and singlehandedly carried his team on his shoulders, I understand how it would seem that he was the one most affected by the loss. Camaraderie goes out the window when you look around and see that you're all alone--in good and bad times, but especially the bad. I'm not surprised that he chose to internalize alot of what he was feeling. So I say to Lebron, if you want to be a brat, I don't blame you. Now. When he finally gets some help and he's still a brat, then I'll be more than happy to call him on it.

Another Article Criticizing Obama Politics

In light of GM's intent to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (a temporary measure), this article criticizing President Obama's politics seems relevant. How will Obama manage this process? Not only will there be more job loss but another $30 billion of U.S. federal funds will be infused into the failing company. I'm finding it hard to see a win for the people. There has been calls for Obama to take a more hands-on approach in managing this and other failed enterprises that the government now has a stake in but is this really where we want our president to focus his attention? Granted, our failing economy is perhaps our greatest trouble spot at the moment but there has to be a better way to turn the economy around rather than sinking money into big businesses that continue to let go of their most important resources, their workers. Something has got to give, and soon.

Finally!

Friday couldn’t get here fast enough this week. Why is it that the short work weeks always seem to drag on forever? My motivation to do much of anything barely got off the ground and I had to exert a considerable amount of effort to stay focused at work. As a result, I was exhausted by the time I headed home most days. Since I didn’t have the distraction of new episodes of my favorite shows, minimal energy levels, and since my favorite reading position is lying prone in bed, I basically fell asleep before 10 or 11 most nights. Now that Friday is here and I can look ahead to the weekend and a fresh start next week, things are finally starting to look up. These things helped me to get through this week:

1. Butterkist Ginger Cookies
2. YouTube/Online radio
3. Fanta Orange Soda
4. Daily calls from my brother re: his problems before I’m fully awake
5. A particularly graphic text from my crazy friend
6. Thoughts of all the fun I’ll have on my vacation

Long Weekend Blues

Why is it always so difficult to recover from a long weekend away from work? I did everything that I was supposed to this weekend: caught up with friends and family, went to a barbeque and ate grilled food, read, watched movies, shopped, booked my next vacation and relaxed. But now that's over and I haven't completely recovered from my lazy days. If it’s taking all of your effort to stay awake and be productive, you might want to take a look at this list. It’s a little too late for me to get to started on some of these but I feel like I’ve made marginal progress just by processing the ideas in the article.

Nothing to Read

I’ve run out of books to read and need a good book recommendation. In the meantime, I’m rereading a light summer book that I reviewed a year ago. Of all the books that I have reviewed over the last year, this is the only one that I can unequivocally say that I liked. It’s called Lovehampton (see my review) and yes, it is chick lit. I am not at all ashamed that I often indulge in books kindly referred to as “women’s fiction.” Works by Emily Giffin are smartly written and are a particular favorite. I am sure that I offend many of my colleagues in the library world by admitting to this fondness for “women’s fiction” (I'm not even going to touch on my list of favorite romance authors) but I know that I am among good company. They are popular for a reason and often relatable and very entertaining. Of course, I wouldn't dare limit myself to a single genre. I also read memoirs, historical novels, biographies, self-help and more—usually based on recommendations though. Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto is possibly one of the best books I’ve ever read (thanks C) and I am open to trying more books written in the same vein. I have this lofty idea that I will one day read all of the great books but I’m in no real hurry to get started.

Preparation H: More Than Itch Relief

While listening to the radio this morning I heard some news about an additional use of Preparation H, beyond manufacturer expectations. Apparently, the hemorrhoids cream can also be used to temporarily shrink fat cells and is commonly used by male body builders to decrease the appearance of fat around their stomachs. This has been a known secret for many years so it seems I’m late, once again. I wonder how the first person stumbled onto this secret. Did he (it had to be a guy) just one day decide to lather it all over himself instead of just on his butt? Did his friend dare him to do it? But I guess it makes logical sense, if it decreases swelling on your butt, it’ll probably do the same in other areas.

I Really Wanted to LOVE Glee

I’ve been humming the melody to “Don’t Stop Believing” ever since I saw the teaser for the new Fox Series, Glee, a few weeks ago. It looked like it would have several of the things I like: comedy, quirky characters, and lots of singing. Not since the premier of Ugly Betty had I been this excited about a new show. But alas, Glee doesn’t deliver on what it promised in the teaser and I think the root of the problem lies in it being too much.

There were definitely some things I liked about Glee:
1. There is that one girl who adds a gold start every time she signs her name (center) who reminds me a bit of Idina Menzel from Wicked and Rent (Taye Diggs' wife). I definitely see some diva quality in this character.
2. Some of the minor characters—cheerleading coach, football coach, principal—were interesting, if one-note, and I see entertainment potentional in them.
3. The musical selections were agreeable (who doesn’t love vintage Journey?) and the closing performance was nice and heart-warming (the kids can actually sing and have great harmony.)

I just don’t know if these few things are enough to entice me to invest an entire season of TV-watching time. Plus, there were things that I didn’t like:
1. The incessant humming throughout multiple scenes was beyond annoying. As much as the show would like to have the feel of theater, it’s just not there.
2. Aside from the Idina clone, the main characters as a whole are unexciting. Factor in the other dry, overly-neurotic, one dimensional characters and the lights dim a little more.
3. I’m not opposed to having multiple viewpoints featuring first-person narratives. I’ve experimented with the method myself and see the benefits of it providing insight into the psyche of several characters in an ensemble cast such as this but it doesn’t seem to be effective here. Or rather, I’m not feeling it! Character development might be better accomplished through dialogue between characters rather than through monologues.
4. Finally, Glee tries too hard to be entertaining and in my opinion, it fails.

Now, I’m not going so far as to write the show off completely. There are several shows that didn’t impress me out the gate but later grew on me. In fact, even if I don’t watch an entire episode, I’m amenable to tuning in for at least the last few minutes. If my predictions are correct, they’ll have a performance every week and that at least is worth seeing.

President Obama is ND

Ever since the announcement about President Obama giving the commencement address at this year’s graduation was made, I’ve been a little ashamed of my alma mater. The University of Notre Dame’s name has always been associated with tradition, prestige and service but the controversy that protesters stirred up over Obama’s impending visit is enough to tarnish the golden dome, just a little. School officials handled the entire incident fairly well and implored the Notre Dame community to welcome the President with an open-mind. But as usual, it is the negative voices that rang loudest. For months leading up to the event, many Domers followed the events that precipitated the President’s visit through the news and through school newsletters. Each time ardent protestors played a prominent role but on May 17, 2009, good, common sense won out. What protestors failed to understand is this fundamental idea that you can better refute an opponent’s position if you know his or her argument. But even more basically, if we close ourselves off to ideas and politics that are not in keeping with our own, we cut ourselves off from opportunities to grow and learn.

Even with his choice of topic (abortion) and even though he would be addressing a crowd mainly comprised of Catholics, I’m really not sure why this grew into such a controversy when we’ve had many speakers pass through campus whose ideas we did not agree with. But we welcomed them and were respectful. The class of 2002 got George W. Bush and made the most of it. I vaguely remember Vincente Fox, President of Mexico, being on the podium at my graduation but can’t remember much beyond that. I’m sure that the class of 2009 won’t soon forget President Obama's address. He stayed calm when dissenting voices spewed hateful words and it was a proud moment when Domers tried their best to drown out negativity with shouts of “We are ND” and “Yes we can.” The speech itself is entertaining and informative and a great thing to witness.

Homeless in India

I’m annoyed that I felt the need to comment on those crappy articles at all. But tripe like this is easier to swallow than living conditions in India. There were many who criticized the film Slumdog Millionaire for its depiction of the country at large but there are many for whom slum-life is a daily reality. In particular, one of the child actors from said movie was living in a shanty until his home was recently destroyed, leaving him homeless. The Indian government promised his family a new home a few months ago but they have yet to follow through. It’s disheartening to see people living way below poverty level, even more so when it’s a child.

Really Stupid Articles

There are times when I have to ask myself why I click on a particular link when I know going in that it will be something stupid. Sometimes the teasers are good enough that I just want to know. But there is no excuse for this one. I knew going in that it was stupid and still I clicked. So what if a football player wants to change his name, and not just to any other name but to one that literally translates into eight five. (I guess he didn’t realize that his jersey number is 85 which would be ochento y cinco en Espanol.) I remember reading about this several months ago and even then it was stupid. Now they’re back to quibble over how his new name (yes, he legally changed it) will appear on his jersey: “Ochocinco” vs. “Ocho Cinco”. Really, is this what they think people want to read about?

And this one. Why does this woman get so much coverage? What’s with public fascination about women whose main goal life is to personally populate a small city? (Hello, Jon & Kate!) I can’t say that I was disappointed when I heard that she was going to have to get a hysterectomy (14 is more than enough) but I’m over anything else that has to do with this woman. How long does 15 minutes last? Enough already!

Spotlight on Carl Thomas

I love Carl Thomas. There is so much emotion in his voice that when he sings it does something to me. I think he is one of those underrated artists with amazing talent that is not properly harnessed. A big part of that is due to the fact that he was signed with Bad Boys Records label and that subsequent representation is not properly promoting him as a brand. There is a general consensus in the music industry that Diddy is only after making a quick buck with his artists. He pimps them out through a couple albums then immediately puts them back on the shelf where they fade into obscurity. There is little time for artist development when the next big thing is right around the next corner. What’s even more atrocious is that his artists can’t even live high off the proceeds of past hits because their contracts are such that they get paid as little as possible.

I recently learned that Carl Thomas left Bad Boys soon after the release of his second album, Let’s Talk About, and silently cheered on this decision but it doesn’t seem to have served him well. I was chagrined to learn that he had released an album, So Much Better, in 2007 that I knew nothing about. That just goes to show that it wasn’t promoted well and whatever we may think about Diddy, whenever his artists have an album out he makes sure that we know about it, especially since it contributes to his bottom line.

It’s really a shame that more people don’t know who Carl Thomas is. I still listen to cuts like "Emotional" (from his debut album of the same name) and "Summer Rain" on a regular basis. And "Rebound" (second album- click on title to listen) is one of my all-time favorite songs. If I have one regret it's that I wasn’t able to see him when he was performing at a park concert near my home a few years ago. It would have been great to hear him without studio affect. But I can’t say that I would trade the experience (trip to Hawaii) that I had instead. I only wish that I could have arranged it so that I could've gone on the trip days after the concert.

To Beg or Not to Beg

I don’t like begging. It’s a matter of pride. I’ve been known to say that I would rather starve than beg (extreme, I know). Even asking for the smallest thing makes me a tad uncomfortable. And I’m not particularly good at it either. That’s the main reason that I overlook sales-type jobs that include selling a product, an image, or an idea. I can do it if I have to but I’d prefer not to. Today I did it (for a good cause) and found that it was not as distasteful as I remembered it being.

Years ago when I was still in college I saw an ad for a sales job in the paper and against my better judgment I showed up for the orientation. It was then that we were told, or rather shown, what we would be doing. Basically, we would set up on a street corner and use cheap gifts to try to entice people to sign up for credit cards. No doubt that this trick works- it’s how I’ve come to have multiple credit cards that I don’t remember signing up for and until a few years ago, couldn’t keep track of. Colleges really should ban credit card companies from setting up on campus. Most teenagers just aren’t ready to be fiscally responsible. We need only to look at the current state of our economy to see proof of this. But I digress. Since that first meeting was merely an orientation, I didn’t get paid for that day (probably a scam) but the experience did help me to develop awareness when I found myself in a similar situation. That next time, I skipped the orientation altogether and felt better for spotting the scam before I had wasted any of my time. However I am finding begging to be an easier task when it’s done, not for myself or in the name of greedy corporations, but to further a worthy goal. By the same token, people generally feel better about giving when they know that it's for a good cause.

Celebrity(?) Sighting

I am no longer sure what classifies one as a celebrity but for the purpose of this post, I am expanding it to include reality TV personalities such as Hung Hyun. Hung is the Season 3 winner of Top Chef Miami and I had the pleasure of seeing him yesterday afternoon (he’s one of my favorite contestants). He was departing a crowded D train that I was waiting to board and struggling with what looked to be a heavy bag (of cooking ingredients?).He was dressed casually in a beige t-shirt and jeans and his hair is exactly the same. My fellow straphangers and I watched for what felt like a full minute for him to make his way through the crowd and allow us to board. He kept his head down most of the way but when he did look up, there is no mistaking that it was him. I wish I had thought to ask him for the name of his restaurant but oh well. I’m glad to see he hasn’t gotten too big to ride the trains.

This brief encounter with Hung reminded me of some of the other close encounters that I’ve had with celebrities. There was Don Cheadle, also riding the train, years ago around the time Hotel Rwanda came out. There were only a handful of people in our car so I had an unobstructed view of him. He pulled his hat low and kept his head down when he caught me staring at him. I guess keeping the head low is typical celebrity behavior. At the West Indian parade 3 or 4 years ago, Buju Banton was sitting on a truck and ducked his head when he saw that I was trying to take his picture with my phone. He didn’t look up for a long time and by then, the truck had already moved beyond my camera phone’s reach. He is still my favorite reggae artist though. Much more recently 50 Cent came to my office and seemed very pleasant in that he kept his head held high and even smiled when he caught me staring at him. I guess he couldn’t exactly avoid me as I was standing in the hallway, specifically waiting for him to exit the bathroom. Of course, since I work in a professional environment I conducted myself accordingly. I’m sure these guys have all appreciated my restraint but maybe next time I see a celebrity, I’ll at least say hello.

Weekend Update: Next Day Air, The Amazing Race, The View

Next Day Air premiered in theaters this weekend and although I didn’t see it (not yet), I really wanted to. The kicker is that very few people seem to want to (It ranked #6 on the weekend box office chart with crap like Ghosts of Girlfriends Past placing ahead of it). This is one of those ‘hood’ movies that do not command the respect of a major Hollywood blockbuster. Without seeing the results, I could have bet that a lot of people chose to see Star Trek instead but this movie looks so funny (see the trailer for yourself). And with a cast like Wood Harris, Mike Epps, and Donald Faison (Turk from ‘Scrubs’) it practically guarantees laughs. This reviewer compared it to Friday and gave it a mixed review but it’s been awhile since I’ve seen a ‘hood’ movie and I could definitely use some of their brand of humor right about now.

The season finale for The Amazing Race aired last night on CBS and although I find all the contestants to be amazingly annoying, I’d come too far not to watch one more time. The final three teams included Victor and Tammy, Margie and Luke, Cara and Jaime. Margie and Luke were ahead going into the final challenge but alas they completely crashed and burned when Luke’s memory failed him. One small hiccup and frustration completely got the best of him. I don’t usually gloat at other’s misfortune but a part of me was somewhat mollified by the fact that they were the last to check in at the final pit stop. Of the three remaining teams, they were by the far the most annoying. NB: you can watch entire episodes of the show on cbs.com – no need to wait for a repeat on the travel channel.

The View photos coming soon…They’ve been transferred to my laptop so I just need to upload them here. It’s surprising more complicated than it sounds. FYI, Steve Harvey is the guest today.

Well, It’s No ‘Project Runway’

Like many faithful viewers of ‘Project Runway’, I was devastated when I first learned that the show was moving to Lifetime. Sure Heidi, Tim, Nina, Micheal Kors and the quirky contestants would be making the move as a whole but it wouldn’t be on Bravo. It just won’t be the same on Lifetime! I love a good Lifetime drama every now and then but they’re not exactly known for their reality series. In my mind, reality has always been Bravo’s niche from ‘Top Chef’ to ‘Millionaire Matchmaker’ or the ‘Housewives’ series. So whose brilliant idea was it to sell one of their best shows to Lifetime? Guess I’ll be tuning into Lifetime a lot more now, that is, once they get the court mess sorted out.

Having accepted that the move was a done deal, I was a bit ambivalent when I learned that Bravo was premiering ‘The Fashion Show’ (Thursdays at 10 pm), obviously to replace ‘Project Runway.’ I was skeptical that it could compete but I was curious to see their concept. First, Isaac Mizrahi and Kelly Rowland (of Destiny’s Child) serve as hosts, judges, and mentors rolled into one. I get Isaac as a choice (he could serve as a stand-in for Michael Kors) but what qualifies Kelly as a fashion judge. Bravo must have anticipated this line of thinking because in one of her first sentences she explains that she’s sat in the front row of many fashion shows for the past eight years. That would mean that anyone who attends fashion shows could have filled that role but I’m not going to judge (anymore than I already have). I expected Isaac to be colorful but Kelly surprised me with her candor. Still, she’s no Heidi and this is no ‘Project Runway’. Fern Mallis rounds out the panel of regular judges and I’m biased but she definitely does not have Nina’s eye for the smallest detail.

Second, instead of contestants presenting their garments solely for the judges’ viewing, ‘Fashion Show’ features an audience of industry people (including Elie Tahari who served as guest judge) who have the opportunity to give their opinion about what they liked and disliked. A brilliant idea actually. But the catchphrase “we’re not buying it” is not as eloquent as “you’re out” (in Heidi voice) followed by “auf Wiedersehen.” And then there’re the contestants. Many colorful characters have passed through ‘Project Runway’ over the entire history of the show but ‘Fashion Show’ seems to have recruited every weirdo that they could find. There’s Merlin the over-the-top, arrogant jerk who you’ll either hate or hate (yes, I said hate twice- no mistake). And James-Paul (the challenge winner) for whom the term creepy is apt. And the fabulous Reco (who I predict will win fan favorite) and Kristin (I think that’s her name) the girl who can’t sew. But as a whole, this group definitely knows their fashion and I can see myself coming to enjoy the show. So while ‘Fashion Show’ does not have the panache that ‘Project Runway ‘does, fashion is fashion and who am I kidding, weird people make for great TV. For those reasons I will be tuning in every week.

Grounded Traveler

I’m the worst sort of traveler. I fantasize and make plans for vacations that I hardly ever take. It’s not that I’m unwilling to leave my home or even that I don’t have the means to do so. I am and I do. It’s more that I like company when I travel. If I don’t have a friend accompanying me or one awaiting me on the other end, then the idea loses appeal. Suddenly, the fantastic trip that I had imagined is clouded with images of me holed up in my hotel room (only coming out in the daytime to take in the sights) due to my fear of being accosted on foreign soil. So much for soaking up the culture! But a woman traveling alone can’t be too careful right?

I would like to think of myself as an adventurer but if I’m being honest, I’m really not. And forget spontaneous (I believe in having a plan). Paranoid is a much more apt description. If there is anything that could go wrong, I imagine that it will happen to me. So, instead of being the type of traveler who jets off to three or four countries each year, I find myself-more often than not-grounded. Like now! I’ve been talking about going to Italy for awhile but now that I know I would have to make the trip alone, I find myself reconsidering. Ok, not just considering. The trip is definitely off as far as the immediate future is concerned. Still, Italy is at the top of my list of places to visit and even though I won’t be seeing it in the next couple months, I am hoping to get there within the next year. Hopefully.

Amazing Race: Three Days Later and I’m Still Annoyed at Jen

I have been watching The Amazing Race for quite a few seasons now and this is the first time I can truly remember being annoyed at a contestant. Sisters, Jen and Kisha, have made questionable decisions throughout the entire race for which they probably should have been eliminated before now, but Jen deciding to stop for a bathroom break before checking in was beyond ridiculous. This was no typical check-in. Had they raced directly to the pit stop, the sisters would have been one of three teams competing on one last leg for a million dollars. Instead, they stopped so that Jen could pee thereby allowing another team to narrowly sail ahead of them and lock them out of the final (they'll have you believe that they lost for another reason but we know the truth). Really, what were they thinking? Ok, I understand that her bladder was full and she really had to go but considering their purpose for being in the race couldn’t she hold it for one more minute? And, her bladder would not have been so full had she not torn the Chinese delicacies (scorpions, grasshoppers, starfish etc.) into bite size pieces and chased each bite with water. Everyone knows that the trick to eating unpleasant things is to wolf them down without tasting them. The cheerleaders got it so in this, they bested the athletes. Sadly, it’s been obvious from the beginning that strategizing was not Kisha and Jen’s strong suit but this seemed a pretty straightforward decision: pee or race for the finish. I know what I would have done.

Twitter-Hater: Is It Just Me?

For some inexplicable reason, I am really starting to hate that word "twitter". And don't forget "tweet". Maybe its because the root word that jumps out at me is twit, which is probably the word I would (ignorantly) use to describe a person who is on twitter. But I know some of you (who I know to be intelligent beings) twitter on a regular basis. Not to mention Oprah, Barbara, and Tyra. Can somebody tell me, what is the appeal here? I get that people can follow your comments in real time but doesn't facebook already provide for that. And what about the phone, email, messenger? With so many communication tools currently at our disposal, I am finding it very hard to see the usefulness in twitter and I have absolutely no intention of opening an account. I plan to stick with that decision even though I didn't initially see a point in joining facebook before I finally caved:)

Bird Flu, SARS, Swine Flu… What’s Next?

I continue to be surprised that there are diseases (newly and yet-to-be discovered) that can still have such a severe impact on us. I mean, we live in a very advanced society. We’ve developed cures or found a way to prolong life for diseases and viruses that, in the past, if you were found to have them would mean an immediate death sentence; HIV and certain types of cancer are examples. Yet, we have nothing to safeguard us again seemingly common viruses that exist just across the border. What’s most troublesome is that we can unknowingly put ourselves in harms way and shatter our peace of mind just by going about our daily business.

With hundreds of people packed tightly into a small space, the second (and thankfully, shortest) part of my commute has always been a harrowing experience. The ride is no more than two stops and lasts less than ten minutes but they are the worst few minutes of my day (anyone who takes the E train during rush hour knows what I mean). I didn’t think it could get any worse but with the recent outbreak of swine flu, every sneeze is now a cause for alarm and paranoia quickly sets in. Where before I could easily dismiss or attribute such occurrences to allergies or the common cold, I am now anxious and alert to any symptom that could in any way be related to the swine flu. In my worst moments, I envision our society turning into one where we have to wear gloves and cover our mouths with masks (standard procedures) to protect us from numerous incurable diseases that permeate the atmosphere. Clean fresh air, if such ever existed, would be a thing of the past. Every time the WHO raises the pandemic level, it seems that we are getting closer to this point and even if the CDC does find a cure for swine flu very soon, it’s almost guaranteed that something else will come along and set us in a state of panic just like SARS and the bird flu before it. Frankly, we are too advanced a society to so easily fall prey to such viruses as swine flu and I can only hope that the CDC, WHO, and anyone else in a position to safeguard us against them can position us offensively rather than us having to adapt a defensive approach when the next virus hits.

Golf Pants

Now thats a confident man. I love it!

Annoyances

It’s clear that winter is behind us but I wasn’t quite ready for this shift to summer-like weather (although it hasn’t gotten too bad yet). I can’t stand extreme temperature because too much heat saps my energy and freezing cold depresses me. And yes, 90 degrees is extreme considering we’ve been in the 50s and 60s since the start of spring. This annoying tendency of the weather to jump and dip at will lead me to reflect on other things that I find just a tad annoying.

1.) Unreliable transportation- when it takes me an additional hour to get where I need to go (Greyhound), I consider that poor service. And, I don’t appreciate having to pay $22 more each month (MTA) when service is slated to be cut. Where’s my money going?

2.) (Uneasy) quiet- I like my peace and quiet but there’s a reason why I’m in no hurry to own a house. I feel secure at the thought of 50 other renters packed around me when I go to bed at night. There’s no better reminder of this than being alone in a house out in the boonies with very little outside noise.

3.) Poor internet connection- especially when I have the momentum to whittle through those projects on my list. It’s almost guaranteed that I will be booted off a server within five minutes of connecting to it. I just can’t afford to pay for my own internet right now.

4.) The pain of breaking in semi-new shoes- we try shoes on in the store and they feel great. Not so great when you wear them outside for the first time. I usually give up on certain shoes after wearing them once. Sometimes, I forget about the pain I experienced the first time and give them another try. Not always the best idea but a necessary step since they’re on their way to becoming comfortable throughout the third wearing. But the times leading up to that point…a little painful.

5.) Passive aggressive people- need I say more? We all know them; life would be so much easier if everyone would just “say what you need to say” (love this song!)

Coming Clean About Astrology

Some time ago I ran into a problem, the breadth of which was beyond my capabilities. I talked it over with some people (and to God) and I spent some time going over it in my mind but still it didn’t seem to be enough. So like most people looking for answers, I went to the internet and ran a Google search. Not surprisingly, the results were plentiful but what I found shocking was the number of people who seemingly had experienced the same exact problems that I was having. What’s even more surprising is that I found astrology forums where users somehow connected their issues to being born under a certain sun sign to be the most helpful. Frankly, I think that people who immerse themselves in astrology are weak-minded and susceptible to anything. They are so reliant on what other people say they are supposed to be like (based on their birth date) that they live their life to fit a mold rather than carve their own way. (Please note that this opinion refers only to people who feel they need to consult their psychics/charlatans and their charts to tell them how to live.) But after realizing that I was connecting to the words of these people with their varying levels of belief, I had to reconsider my position. I still don’t buy into all that astrology BS and I probably never will. But somewhere along the way, I felt myself bending to allow for the possibilities that astrology (certain ones-like eastern zodiac-more than others) is not a complete hoax. Therefore while I can’t say definitively that I believe in astrology, I do think that profiles about the zodiac signs do contain some grain of truth and I am now more open to exploring what I read about it rather than completely dismissing it off hand. Definitely not on my way to developing my birth chart or anything like that though.

*I have used astrology and zodiac interchangeably throughout this post. I may be wrong in doing so since I know absolutely nothing about either.

Beyonce Audio Hoax

Tearing someone down who's at the top of their game is something that critics have always loved to do and it seems that they're at it again with this audio. Listen and judge for yourself. They would have us believe that this is Beyonce performing a terrible rendition of her hit "If I were A Boy". Ok, I've heard her do the riffs and there's enough of her voice to plant seeds of doubt (as to her talent) but I don't buy it. For one, I've seen her in concert and heard her sing a capella, including the breaths she took throughout. The girl can sing! Second, Beyonce is a consumate professional and has been at her business too long to give a performance like that. If she truly couldn't sing and needed the help of a recording, I'm sure she nows how to do a convincing lip sync after all this time. Despite this hoax, I plan to purchase a ticket to her upcoming concert first thing in the morning. I may not care too much for her as an actress but she is one hell of a performer and she knows how to put on a great show.