MostlyGripes

TV Gripes: Be Still My Beating Heart!

2011-06-29T15:17:00.005-04:00

I’m not usually captivated by trailers and promo clips but when, during The Voice finale, NBC previewed the clip for SMASH— which seems to be based around the production of a musical about Marilyn Monroe and the team’s search for a star to play the lead role— there was no doubt that I would be watching. I love musicals and the idea that I will be able to see one every week for weeks at a time gives me the tingles. And, the potential leads (Katherine McPhee of American Idol fame and Megan Hilty of Wicked fame) both have actual talent so I anticipate that there will be some great musical numbers coming out of that show. With such a cast of esteemed actors and Steven Spielberg at the helm, SMASH can only be a hit. January can’t get here fast enough!

TV Gripes: Yes, I'm Still Watching The Voice

2011-06-15T12:42:00.005-04:00

Since it premiered back in April, I have been faithfully tuning into NBC’s The Voice week after week, not because I was so enamored with the hodgepodge concept but because it’s taken me this long to decide whether or not I want to continue watching. Convoluted, I know. With American Idol, I knew that things would become dull after the auditions round but with all it’s gimmicks, The Voice manages to keep things fresh and interesting. Still, while they are the very things that I previously used to recommend The Voice, I’ve been finding myself less than impressed with the “talent” displayed by the contestants as the competition wears on. The performances didn’t suck entirely but neither did they prompt me to run to YouTube for a replay the next day. They were simply okay, not great. The judges continue to be an interesting factor and I enjoy the bromance and flirty banter whizzing back and forth but frankly, they give effusive praise where none is warranted. Without fail. This is becoming annoying. And, they don’t always make the right (read: my) choices when selecting who they want on their teams. But what I find most puzzling is that after the chair-turning gimmick and elaborate staging with the boxing ring, producers of The Voice could not manage to pull out another of their tricks and fit 8 performances into an hour-long show instead of stretching it out over two long hours. I understand why they would do this but it doesn’t make me any more appreciative. Still, after last night, I have decided to fully embrace the crazy that is The Voice. Last night I bore witness to true talent and am eager to see how far my picks for the final showdown will progress over the course of the competition.

I’ve always felt that Adam Levine had the strongest team and after listening to their group rendition of “A Little Help From My Friends” that opinion has not changed, although the backing gospel choir probably did more for that than Adam and the actual competitors. However, strong as Team Adam is one of Cee Lo’s charge, Vicci Martinez, clearly stole the show with her performance of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene”. Talk about raw! This girl clearly knows her talent and how to use it to engage the audience. Each team has at least one person with an interesting voice (Beverly from Christina’s team; Xenia from Blake’s team, Casey from Adam’s team, and Vicci from Cee Lo’s team) and if that was enough to win competitions, they would be the last four standing near the end of the competition. Since it isn’t, we cannot discount Javier Colon who, as Adam puts it, has amazing range (and is one of my picks for the final round) nor Jeff Jenkins and Nakia, both of whom have powerful, if not entirely unique, voices. Everyone has something to recommend them and that makes for good competition.

At this point in the competition, Both Team Christina and Team Blake have the two competitors I expected in Beverly and Frenchie and Dia and Xenia respectively so no surprise there. Cee Lo and Adam and have a tendency to go left when you expect them to go the other way so it is harder to predict who they’ll have at the end but I’ll go with the obvious in suspecting that Vicci and Nakia will represent Cee Lo while Javier and Jeff (with Casey Weston as a dark horse to win America’s votes) will stand for Adam. I’m not sure what the next gimmick will be after this round but I will be tuning in next week to see if my predictions bear fruit. However it shakes down, I expect to see Vicci and Javier battling it out to be crowned The Voice. IMO, the other competitors just aren’t as ready to take a singing career to the next level.

News Gripes: Saying No To Smoking, "Sexy" Girls, and Racism

2011-05-24T11:15:00.005-04:00

The recent adjustment to the smoking ban is just another of the many reasons people can cite for why they love New York. In addition to being prohibited indoors, smoking is now also prohibited in pedestrian areas, parks, and public beaches and I can’t help but rejoice. As a non-smoker, there is nothing I hate more than having to walk through a cloud of smoke or the blowback from a smoker walking in front of me. I chose to say ‘No’ to cigarettes so there is no reason why I should have to inhale someone else’s poison. New York has been making strides with its battle against cigarettes for years and I distinctly remember a time, about a decade ago, when I was unable to leave an establishment without the stench of smoke clinging to my hair and permeating my clothing. Sweet relief was the result the first time I entered a nightclub and noticed the absence of smoke and I have since come to base my enjoyment of places on whether or not they allow smoking indoors. Now, with the new ban, I no longer have to fear the press of smoke clogging up my lungs while I picnic in the park, take in an outdoor concert or take advantage of the myriad of activities that the city sponsors year after year. So, bravo New York! My lungs thank you.

Here are a couple other interesting articles I came across recently but haven’t had time to share:

1.) While listening to The Breakfast Club this morning, I heard this story about a Canadian man who filed a false report claiming that two men, one Black and one Hispanic, robbed him of his tickets to Oprah’s farewell show. Apparently, he did not want to disappoint his wife but felt comfortable with the old standby of using "minorities" as scapegoats (remember this woman’s acid hoax?). It’s obvious that we still have a long way to go with race relations.

2.) Someone sent this opinion piece by CNN’s LZ Granderson to me over a month ago and I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind since. Fact is, as disturbing as it was to hear him describing an eight-year-old girl in such a manner, I don’t find fault with Granderson's opinion that some of the clothes made for young girls are way too provocative or that parents bear some of the responsibility in the way that they choose to spend their dollars. I have young girls in my family and have often wondered why certain skintight, midriff-baring, cut-outs outfits were designed for children. Cute as it may look on a grown woman, the last thing I want to do is send out the young girls in my family in anything that would attract unsavory attention. In the world that we live in, a healthy dose of paranoia is often necessary.

Political Gripes: On the Death of Bin Laden

2011-05-02T11:31:00.004-04:00

Understandably, the topic on most everyone’s mind is the death of Osama Bin Laden. Bin Laden is the purported leader of Al Qaeda and the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York, and certain parts of Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. Thousands were killed in New York especially and today, almost ten years later, the impact of the attacks is still felt. I still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing in the hours surrounding that terrible morning and I do not expect that I will forget the anxiety that I felt when I was trying to contact my family and could not get through right away. But what I felt does not begin to compare to the pain and agony that many felt (and still feel) when they received the news that their loved ones would never come home again. Osama Bin Laden made his mark but if he was trying to create a hole and to rip us apart by grief he failed because he could not have counted on the way that the city banded together and how the tragedy turned ordinary people into heroes for their willingness to do what needed to be done and help their fellow men.

No doubt, being able to share news of Bin Laden’s death was a great moment for President Obama who had quite a busy weekend (check out his speech from the White House Correspondent's Dinner on April 30th- hilarious!). While sharing news of Bin Laden's death, President Obama was able to provide some relief on a war that he inherited and beat back some of his critics and I would not deign to try to detract from that. Though somber, the President’s speech sparked hope that an end to war was in sight and that the removal of Bin Laden was a great step towards that goal. Making strides on ending the war on terror is certainly something to celebrate but while I have no sympathy for Bin Laden, neither will I express any jubilation at his death. I wholeheartedly believe that he deserved to be punished and to suffer for what he did but I cannot condone anyone taking another person’s life, even if he is a mass murderer. Maybe I will feel differently once the news really sinks in.

TV Gripes: The Voice

2011-04-27T12:15:00.007-04:00

In general, CBS is my most-watched TV network and aside from Law & Order: SVU, I usually give shows on NBC a pass. I made an exception for The Voice which premiered on NBC on Tuesday night in the 9 pm time slot. Carson Daly serves as host (similar to Ryan Seacrest on American Idol) while Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton are judges, of a sort. So, The Voice is a singing competition with a panel of judges and a host who greets contestants before and after their performances. From this little bit it sounds a lot like Idol doesn’t it? However, what sets The Voice apart is the fact that judges cannot see contestants as they perform and they select talent for their teams based solely on what they hear, not based on an image (what a concept!). Also, once each judge chooses their teams of eight, they will provide invaluable coaching and pit contestants against each other until they whittle their number down to four. The final four from each team will then go head to head until a single contestant is crowned The Voice. From there things get a bit convoluted… but I’m sure the producers will work it out in due time.

The premise of The Voice captured my interest, even if it didn’t blow me completely away, and from what I saw during the premiere I’ll definitely be tuning in to take a second and third look. After years of watching Idol (with the original set of judges), I know how tiring it is to watch people with marginal talent perform week after week. Still, there are things to recommend The Voice and here’re four reasons why I’ll be watching:

1.) I love the chemistry between the judges. Carson is a bit of a nonentity for me but all four judges are interesting and mesh well together; as the only female judge, Christina holds her own and especially during her banters with Adam, lets her spicy personality shine through. Adam is much more selective in exercising his options but when he does, his sales pitches are so well crafted that he could sell his own mother. Cee Lo is a colorful character and although I was surprised at some of his selections, there’s always some fun to be had when he’s around. Since I’m not much of a country fan, I didn’t know who Blake Shelton was until he came on Chelsea Lately to promote the show (somewhat) but he seems to be a funny and entertaining guy.

2.) Some of these people can actually sing. Aside from the mediocre selections who slip through the cracks with seeming regularity, a few contestants display genuine talent and throughout the two-hour premiere I felt a bit like a talent scout who matches artists with the right management company. I was invested enough that I felt bad for those who were not chosen (and rightly so). If producers would allow judges to throw some back or switch out their selections for more talented contestants in a pool of leftovers, all would be right with the show.

3.) Frenchie is back! Of American Idol notoriety (she was kicked off the show when it came to light that she posed topless to pay her way through college), Frenchie Davis did not give the best performance but I’m glad that Christina decided to take a chance on her. I’ve heard this girl blow on Idol and in the musical, Rent, and know that she is capable of much more. Hopefully she won’t disappoint.

4.) I just plain love music. Musicals, concerts, even karaoke! If singing is involved I’m there and with the entire premise of the show built around singing, The Voice is a must-watch. For now.

*Photo courtesy of NY Daily News

Random Gripes: On Friendship, Lost and Found

2011-04-22T11:06:00.004-04:00

I have a small circle of friends. I like to take time to build my friendships and I like to think that most will last forever. Of course, I am aware that there are different levels of friendship and that some were only meant to last a season but it really warms my heart when one of those forever kinds— the kind of friendship that lasts through space and time— is rekindled after a long separation. Over the past month, I have been reveling in the joy of one such phenomenon when my childhood friend S., contacted me through a social networking site.

S. and I met as children and were best friends all the way from kindergarten through sixth grade (that's the way I remember it at least). Along with V. we made a venerable trio and as the three girls who consistently scored the highest marks in our classes, we were bound to be friends (or enemies). But as we left primary school behind us and as our circles expanded to include new friends, I could sense that our trio-friendship was changing. Still, as V. ventured off and formed new friendships S. and I remained as close as ever. I took it for granted that our friendship would remain the same… until my family moved away and we promptly lost touch. For over fifteen years!

The recent advances in technology have made staying in touch fairly easy. From smart phones to emails to webcams and social networking sites, there are many ways for us to stay in touch with those closest to us. But back then, staying in touch meant making long distance calls or writing letters. For the obvious reason, calls were out— I was not paying any bills and my mother would not have me running up a huge phone bill to call S. or any of my other friends. And as much as I like to write, letters were never my favorite form of communication. Besides, my life changed completely with that move and for a long time, I could not form the words to express how I felt in that new life. To anyone. So we lost touch and I adapted to my new life and made new friends. But I never forgot the friends who I left behind.

I am not a fan of social networking sites like Facebook and while I have thought of deactivating my account on many occasions, I have resisted for one reason. Through Facebook, I am constantly reconnecting with family and childhood and high school friends. In many instances, the friendships I remember are not the same, far from it, but with S. and two of my high school friends, K1 and K2, the years seem to have fallen away. It is going on two and three years since I reconnected with both Ks and I occasionally meet either of them for brunch, happy hours, dinners and other social events. S. is a bit further away which makes these types of meetings impossible but for now it’s enough to be able to maintain regular contact and to know that I have one of my oldest friendships back. I will take care not to lose it again.

Random Gripes: Sweet Dreams?

2011-02-18T13:27:00.003-05:00

I had a dream about (rapper) Drake. I don’t remember specific details about the dream but I do remember it being along the lines of one of those Disney movies where a “celebrity” slips into a small town to hide out under the cover of dark and encounters the female lead (me, of course) and leaves a lasting impression. I also remember that I was competing for his attention with the town hoochie and trying not to be too obvious about it. And, the other woman seemed to be winning although, like those Disney movies, I’m sure that I would have persevered in the end (if only I had gotten to the end of my dream). Of course, it wasn’t all cookie-cutter. There were some unsavory bits but I’ll leave those where they belong. Moving on…

I’m not above having dreams but more often than not my feet are firmly planted in reality. Therefore, I’m having a somewhat difficult time trying to wrap my head around why I’m even thinking about Drake and about what it might say about me. I won’t necessarily hit the mute button when his songs play on the radio but I’m not much of a fan of his music either (too one-note for me). And, I don’t find him particularly attractive and have never thought much of him. So why was he in my dreams? It’s entirely possible that I was in a semi-conscious state and fabricated a story in my head (too bad I can never hold onto them long enough to write them down) but how this one came to be…I may never know.

Travel Gripes: Getting There is Half the Battle (Pt. 2 of 2)

2011-01-04T13:27:00.002-05:00

I’ve found that it can be just as fun and interesting to travel within the U.S. as it is to travel abroad. Each state has something unique to offer and while I hope to be able to fit in more of that type of travel over time, I haven’t been too thrilled with the process of getting to where I’m trying to go lately. Mother Nature has a way of reminding us that we are not as in control as we like to think and a few of my 2010 trips are evidence of that. I’ve had to adjust to delays stemming from high winds, heavy rain, blizzards, and even a volcanic eruption. But I haven’t let any of this mar my vacations and while I plan to thoroughly check the weather forecasts before venturing out in the future, I know that the mishaps add to the overall experience especially the ones we are least prepared for.

Upon waking during my last day in Virginia, I knew that getting home would be a problem. There wouldn’t be any broken down buses this go-round but the snow that had started the night before now blanketed everything in sight and instead of abating, seemed to be gaining traction. As cozy as my stay had been, I needed to get home so despite the disappointment I felt during the first leg of my trip, I was actually happy that I had decided to take the Chinatown bus instead of flying. They were unlikely to cancel, even during whiteout weather. And when our bus loaded up and took off at a steady pace and only slightly behind schedule, I held out hope that we would arrive at our destination with a two hours delay, at most. Wishful thinking. At 12 hours, my return trip would be just as excruciatingly long as my arrival. Still, as long as the ride was, I was happy to be in a bus and not in any of the numerous abandoned cars we passed on the highway.

My fellow passengers were much more quiet that previous ones, making it easy for me to sleep off and on throughout the first few hours. It was only when we finally made it to the tunnel and had to wait over half an hour for the snow plows to clear the way before they seemed to really come alive. By that point, most of us had been sitting on the edge of our seats for several hours and had been constantly relaying news of our progress to concerned friends and family. But when one passenger decided to exit the bus to ask the policemen why they were blocking our way, several others took it as an opportunity to joke and make fun of her. Looking back, I can understand the change in our collective mood. Although I wouldn’t allow myself to think about anything but making it home, I’m sure that some of us thought that we would have to wait out the storm at some point along the way. Thankfully, we made it to our destination and I got home less than an hour later.

The recent blizzard reminds me of the first blizzard I ever faced, over 10 years ago, not so much because it was almost as fierce but because I couldn’t make it home before it reached its highest point. I remember going to a party thrown by one of my mother's friend earlier that afternoon. By the time my mother was finally ready to leave, the blizzard was picking up speed and instead of taking the risk associated with taking a cab, my mother decided to accept our host’s offer and spend the night. My mother doesn't feel completely comfortable unless she's in her own home. I'm like her that way so when she told her us to get ourselves together the next morning, I was more than ready to go. Unfortunately, the blizzard was still going strong and although we were able to find a taxi to take us part of the way by taxi there was just no escape from the biting cold, burning throat and stinging ears. We had to have trekked home in the snow for at least an hour and while this blizzard was less dramatic and although I was only exposed to the extreme weather for up to 15 minutes, recalling that time that had me anxiously sitting on the edge of my seat all the way home.

Travel Gripes: Getting There is Half the Battle (Pt. 1 of 2)

2010-12-28T15:20:00.006-05:00

Undoubtedly, the biggest news surrounding the Tri-State area has been the blizzard that blew through on Sunday and pretty much paralyzed the area through most of Monday. Today, things are getting back to business as usual but last I heard there was snow accumulation of upwards of 20 inches in NYC and I felt just how strong the winds were during my brief foray outdoors on Sunday and Monday. Staying in was definitely the best course of action but since I was returning home from a holiday trip when the blizzard started, I had no choice but to hunker down and hope that I made it there as quickly as possible, with little incident. You see, with a whole day and a half off from work and the promise of an extended weekend, I took the opportunity to book a trip to visit family in Virginia. During the previous weekend, I’d taken a bus down to D.C. and before I could even leave the city, what had started off on a high note quickly went south when I arrived at the pick-up location and came upon the mass of people who were clogging up the sidewalks waiting for their delayed bus. My bus was in turn delayed and it took over two hours of standing in the freezing cold before the bus arrived and we were finally on our way. At the time, I thought that that was the worst that could happen but apparently, I was overly optimistic that nothing would mar the holiday weekend.

In general, I hate traveling during major holidays. There are always too many people in one place and inevitable delays. But it’s a necessary evil. And although I very much wanted to be home on Christmas with the rest of my immediate family, I could not go back on my promise to visit one particular family member who would be alone for the holidays. So I sucked it up and prepared myself to tack on at least another hour to my trip. But I could not have prepared myself for how long my estimated 6-7 hours trip actually lasted. Imagine this, we’re steadily rolling along for close to an hour after pulling away from a rest stop in New Jersey when the bus suddenly slows down and pulls off to a soft shoulder. The driver briefly steps out to check on something and is starting up again within a few minutes. My thoughts at that point were that he really needed a cigarette or to empty his bladder and I couldn’t begrudge him that, as long as there weren’t any more sudden stops. But that was exactly what happened. Not only once but three more times the bus started and stopped before the driver finally announced that he would have to pull into a strip mall close by and we’d have to wait about two hours for another bus! Throughout the stops, a few of my fellow passengers went up to the bus driver and asked him to tell us what was going on. Not an unreasonable request, considering we were paying customers and we were expecting our next and final stop to be in Virginia, not Delaware. But since the driver claimed not to speak any English, he pretty much ignored all questions and said nothing more than he felt that he needed to. One can imagine how someone would react to being ignored in such a manner but that’s Chinatown customer service for you!

The Chinatown bus companies have a long, storied history of poor, rude service, cramped buses and uncommunicative drivers and I saw evidence of this when I boarded the bus. The only words spoken to the customers were instructions to have their tickets available and when a passenger complained that his seat was wet, they told him to sit down. When he refused, the drivers told him to get off the bus and wait for another one and started pulling off before he’d gotten a chance to comply. If this was a sign of things to come, I missed the memo completely. In all fairness, if the proprietors and drivers were bad, the customers weren’t much better either. Many were loud and inconsiderate…but one can concede that their behavior manifested as a result of our shared circumstance.

When our bus broke down, instead of sitting quietly, napping, reading, or doing any type of constructive activity, most of the fifty plus passengers took the opportunity to socialize. Some made frequent trips to the liquor store and smoked and drank steadily for the over fours hours that we had to wait until another bus showed up. Some stayed on the bus and talked in loud voices to the people around them. And some gossiped about the people drinking on the sidewalk. One woman in particular seemed to feel duty-bound to give play-by-play announcements of other people’s activities. When people ran across the parking lot to find a restroom, she reported on it. When a group made yet another trip to the liquor store, she mentioned that too and made her disdain clear. Every word spoken and every action taken was an opportunity for her to comment. And judge. For me, she was one of the most annoying passengers because of her know-it-all, holier-than-thou attitude and strident voice that seemed to reverberate in my ear. Just my luck that she had the seat directly behind me! Of course, the real drama didn’t start until some of the drinkers were drunk enough to feel put out by the fact that we were well beyond the estimated two hours wait and there was no bus in sight and no forthcoming news from the driver. As if this would help our cause, a few of the drunks proceeded to curse and threaten the driver with bodily harm if a bus didn’t show up within a certain amount of time. This went on a few more times and thankfully, the driver survived each encounter unharmed. But I was relieved when a state trooper arrived (someone called to report the bus driver?) and these episodes came to an end. Since I was sitting in the second row, I couldn’t help but witness the exchanges and while the developing drama added interest to what could have been an otherwise dull trip, it shamed me. These were not people who I wanted to spend any considerable amount of time with and I’d have to consider other options when making travel plans in the future.

If I thought that our remaining 3 hours drive would pass in peace and quiet because of the late hour, I was once again proven wrong. Shortly after the state trooper arrived to question the driver and make some calls, another bus pulled up and we were quickly underway. We had first boarded the bus around 3 pm and it was now sometime after midnight. Clearly, many of us were tired but some people, mainly the drunk people, weren’t ready to pass out or let us rest. While the bus was in motion, the walked up and down the aisle, passed out liquor to anyone who wanted some, spoke in loud voices and generally made a nuisance of themselves. Some of the other passengers yelled at them to sit down and shut up and it was another hour before the bus finally quieted down and peace reigned. When I finally disembarked from the bus just before 4 am (a whole 12 hours from when I first boarded), I bitterly regretted that I had purchased a round trip ticket. I was not looking forward to repeating any part of that experience.

Check back for part 2 wherein I recount my attempt to brave a blizzard in order to get home.

Random Gripes: I'm the only moron in the world to get a JAYWALKING ticket!

2010-12-20T21:31:00.010-05:00

A couple weeks ago, I received an email from 20SB announcing their eighth Blog Swap. I'd seen such emails in the past and had given a passing thought to participating but had never taken the necessary steps. You see, a Blog Swap involves featuring the post of a fellow blogger and being featured on their site in return. I have contributed to a friend's blog before but I haven't as yet featured anyone else on this blog. Sure, some of my friends have an open invitation to send me content or ideas they want to see me explore but having someone contribute an entire post is a new experience. And because I'm all about the experience, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to swap with guest blogger Africanlegend, who apparently had a recent run-in with law enforcement that he wants to share with us. Check him out:

I have long and distinguished resume of highly unlikely things that happen to me, I can regretfully report that I must add another.

January 2010….I AM ONE OF THE SELECT AND DISTINGUISHED CLASS OF ASSHOLES THAT HAS MANAGED TO GET A JAYWALKING TICKET.

THE STORY…..

It was a fairly mediocre Friday night, in fact in my memory, quite possibly as ordinary as Fridays can get. I was sitting in my living room. It was cozy, I felt safe and secure. Suddenly, I heard my phone vibrate and sprung up as if somebody poured a bucket of ice cold water on me. My friend Brian was downtown having fun and like a cancer the joy in his voice spread and I began to feel like a loser sitting on his couch on a Friday night: voluntarily. I jumped up to join him but quickly thought for a minute about the fact that I could hear my phone vibrating (doesn’t that defeat the purpose of having a “vibrate” setting?).

I arrived downtown. It was busy. There were drunken douchebags everywhere stumbling around. It looked like a moving Abercrombie catalogue with drunk models bumping their heads to bad hip-hop music. I finally found Brian and he was with two extremely crazy, unstable Englishmen, Matt and Ellis. Immediately I entered the bar the decided to relocated to another bar. Total alcohol consumption 0-1 beers.

The street was busy. We were at a four way stop and we decided to cut across the road to meet another walk signal (See: FIG A). My friends moved quickly across so I sped up to 1.75 times the speed of a casual walk. When I caught up with them, I proceeded to pat Brian on the back in some kind of boyish, “wow it’s good to be out” gesture.

Two seconds later we were apprehended by a couple of cops on bicycles. The Bicycle laden cops had got their perps and like a terrible cliché it happened to be four foreigners: a black dude, two Englishmen, and a Puerto Rican. In the back of my head I was thinking, “Oh no, somehow this will be filmed and I’ll end up being used in some anti-foreigner propaganda on FOX.”

A few minutes after we got caught…

Officer: Saw you crossing in the middle of road, I’m gonna have to right you up!

A.L: For what?

Officer: A traffic violation…

A.L: But I’m not in car?

Officer: You don’t have to be buddy. It’s Jaywalking!

A.L: HA HA HA…oh man like that segment on Jay Leno’s show...wait, seriously? Wait, I thought that’s not a real law. Is it?

Officer: You bet it is!

A.L: They arrest people for that? But it’s walking?

I started grinning and laughing under my breath, half-expecting that both officers would suddenly start stripping and our friend had played a distasteful practical joke on us.

Officer: SIR! Do you think this is funny? DO YOU THINKING THIS IS FUNNY!?

A.L: Well sorry sir but honestly, yes, a little funny. I just didn’t think anyone actually got tickets for stuff like this!

I realized I should just shut up. The cop finished writing me a ticket, looked at my Arizona ID and suddenly softened his aggressive tone.

Officer: You have an accent, where are you from?

A.L: Excuse me sir?

Officer: I mean you do not sound like you are from around here. Where are you originally from?

A.L: (puzzled) I am from exactly where my ID says, no place different.

Officer: OK? I was just trying to make conversation (in a tone suggesting that in this whole transaction that somehow I was the asshole).

A.L: Sir, forgive me if I don’t feel like a casual chit chat after getting a JAYWALKING ticket worth (I looked down)…holy Sh@T...!

MEANWHILE…

I looked across and the Matt/Ellis/Brian situation was panning out in a grossly less civil manner. Brian is telling a short, stalky officer that his mom is a lawyer and will throw the book at him. Matt was saying something non-aggressive but because of his English accent, which I admit even I don’t understand sometimes, he must have sounded like a Chelsea Football Club hooligan about to fight with an opposing fan. The officer that attended to me rushed over and grabbed Matt.

In any event, we all decided it’s better to just leave. As we were walking away, Matt began to vent to us, using a few choice words that wouldn’t fly in a class room. The officers, who had retreated by now to about 15 yards, heard him in the distance and in a bizarre change of mood, decided he needed to be arrested? Before long Matt was licking the wall while being handcuffed ~ FML

A few minutes later, we were sitting on the sidewalk watching Matt being tossed in the back of a paddy wagon. A black officer arrived at the scene of the crime. I thought I could at least reason with him, if for no other reason, because of our co-blackness but he didn’t listen at all. All he did was just repeat the same sentence over and over again as if a DJ was scratching a killer remix with a sample of his voice. I shook my head and walked away while he continued to mumble the same line over and over again. I began to suspect that at least this set of officers had smoked something tonight, and it was not for medicinal purposes.

CONCLUSIONS………..?

Yes you can get a Jaywalking ticket! They aren’t made up…

Yes it CAN cost $150…..which strangely is double the price of the ticket you get for running a red light, which may actually result in you running over someone that is jaywalking, but all that is semantics!

Don’t hang out with Englishmen….

If you are black, don’t expect the black cop to help you. He is one of them.

If you are comfortable and content just sitting there relaxing on a Friday night and you get a call from one of your buddies…SIT YOUR ASS DOWN AND READ A BOOK!

Keep Griping!

To learn more about Africanlegend and to see what nugget I had to share with his audience, check out his blog.

Comedy Gripes: No Fairplay in Comedy

2010-12-17T16:11:00.005-05:00

I might have mentioned that I had a few friends visit me this summer, all arriving within a week or two of each other. Whenever I have visitors, I try to plan activities that I know will interest them and while I think I did an okay job of it this time around, I would sometimes find myself thinking of activities that might have made for an even better visit for my friends. Such was the case when I casually mentioned to G. that I wish I had thought to get tickets to the Chelsea Lately show when she is in town. Chelsea’s comedy style is often dry and biting and can be summed up with the expression ‘take it or leave’. I thought G. would fall into the former group, and she did for a time, but now she is firmly in the other camp. She could think of nothing worst than sitting in the audience at the Chelsea Lately show.

Because it sometimes seems as though I live under a rock, G. sent me this clip as explanation for why she is no longer a fan of Chelsea Handler. Apparently, the comedian went much too far in perpetuating existing race stereotypes (i.e. all black women want to marry ex-cons and all black men end up in prison) and criticizing other minority groups. According to G., this has been going on for some time and even minority comedians who sit on Chelsea’s panel during the opening set are not immune from her criticism. So, while she was initially okay with it, G. feels that is has gone too far and that Chelsea’s joke are in poor taste. And, they’re not funny!

Now, I watch the show on occasion as a sort of nightcap before I fall asleep and thus far, I haven’t heard anything that I found offensive. Additionally, I watched the video and while it is not the most comfortable thing to hear, I wondered how this was different from the jokes that black comedians tell about people from other racial groups. Fair is fair, right? Not so, says G. Rather, she feels that blacks have hardly been on the receiving end of fair and instead, often have to be accommodating. I had to pause and think about this because on the one hand, G. is right. Blacks are still rebounding from a few hundred years of neglect and while some may think that we are at a point where we can say that everyone is equal, there is still evidence to the contrary. For instance, when blacks speak up or act out in any way, they are viewed as confrontational and reprimanded in some way. For whites, overly emotional behavior is simply seen as a personality trait and shrugged off. Obviously, we live in a world where there are shades of gray and things are far from clear. But consider this example and you’ll see G.’s point.

On the other hand, do we have any right to expect that whites will hold back when we so freely paint insulting images of them and of each other, all in the name of comedy? Should jokes about minorities be limited to minority comedians while white jokes are open to all? Will we ever get to a point where we can say fair is fair and have evidence to support that expression? Something to think about…

Travel Gripes: Homegrown Travel, Las Vegas Edition (Pt. 3 of 3)

2010-12-15T14:37:00.018-05:00

I've heard the expression ‘everything's bigger in Texas’ but after my most recent trip to celebrate a friend's birthday, I think it should rightfully be changed to 'everything’s bigger in Las Vegas.' Truly! I used to marvel at the fact that Macy's at Herald Square stretched all the way from 6th to 7th avenue and across two city blocks. But after witnessing the magnificence of the resorts in Vegas— miles and miles of hotel and casino real estate big enough to house roller coasters, theaters, nightclubs, restaurants, and more— I haven’t looked at Macy’s the same way again. While planning this first visit to Las Vegas, N. and I were not wise to the layout. We foolishly thought that one block in our respective cities was equivalent to one city block in Las Vegas and that our hotel, Mandalay Bay, would be well within walking distance of at least mid-strip, although it was located at the south end of the strip. After all, everything looked to be so close together on the maps. How wrong we were! Most resorts stretched upwards and spanned well over a mile. On the plus side, we got plenty of exercise on our daily jaunts. On the other hand, unless one of us had a burning desire to visit another casino, say Treasure Island, we often limited out late-night excursions to casinos that were easily traversed to and from Mandalay Bay on foot.

Our first night in Vegas was…a snooze, but a well-needed one. The plan was to drop off our luggage, freshen up and go down to the casino and/or one of the lounges. Of course, we neglected to take into account that we’d both be working a full day before boarding our flights and that when we arrived, we would have lost three hours with the time change. So what actually happened is that my flight landed just after 10 pm and we arrived exhausted at our hotel just before midnight. Instead of freshening up, we rested up…and woke early the next morning. Sadly, we weren’t quite over our jetlag from that first night because the next night, we again laid down for a rest just after 10 pm and woke up much later than the hour we had planned for that would have had us out the door and flashing our VIP wristbands before the midnight deadline. But while we were catching up on sleep and adjusting to the current time zone those first two nights, we managed to pack a lot into our days.

For breakfast we didn’t stray too far from Mandalay Bay. Our hotel was home to three cafes/buffets and we were content to start our mornings off in a leisurely manner before heading out to explore each day. By chance, we spent a good portion of our time at the MGM Grand (ironically, this was my first choice for accommodations). Since we were situated at one end, MGM Grand seemed to be our connecting point to the rest of strip and each day found us there either gambling (low-risk) and indulging in the free drinks, taking in the Cirque Du Soleil show, Ka, eating what would be our best meal for the entire weekend at Fiamma Trattoria, and patronizing the ultra lounge, Tabu where a group of bachelors tried to convince us to dance on their table. Of course, we also popped into New York New York, Cesar’s Palace and a few other casinos, made time for shopping at the Miracle Mile Shops, took in a low-budget but entertaining variety show, V, and based on the recommendation of a local, ate a truly horribly dinner at Planet Dailies in Planet Hollywood. The Eiffel Tower observation deck was a must-do because it offered amazing views of the entire strip and parts of downtown. We also had a bird’s eye view of the water show in front of the Bellagio and as good as it was up high, it was even more spectacular when we stopped by the posh resort to get a more close-up view. Finally, at N.’ s request, we spent our last day learning about one of the man-made wonders close by, the Hoover Dam. We lucked out with a knowledgeable tour guide who also tacked on stops to the welcome sign, through parts of the downtown area, and across the entire strip, all accompanied with factual tidbits. Quite a bargain! Although we would have loved to have seen it, making it to the Grand Canyon required more time than we had to spare but it really would have been a shame to get so close and not see at least one of the United States’ great accomplishments.

Unfortunately, while we managed to do and see a lot, there were a couple things on our must-do list that we missed out on. After our all-day trip to the Hoover Dam, we had little time in which to eat a quick, overpriced dinner at Border Grill before taking the tram to Excalibur and trekking over to MGM Grand, where we would catch the monorail across the strip near Casino Royale, the closest stop for our ultimate destination, Treasure Island. We burned a fair amount of calories in our attempt to get there before the Sirens of the Cove show started. Only, when we got there, rather than performing the pirates and sirens were posing for pictures! Apparently, because of high winds and inclement weather, the 8:30 pm show had been cancelled. Yes, Vegas was cold and windy! We had the option to check back around 10 pm on the off chance that the next show would go on. Or not! Since we’d already planned to stop by the Flamingo to catch the George Wallace comedy special, we decided against staying and headed southward, bypassing the volcano show at the Mirage. Other than temporarily sheltering us from the cold, the outdated bright pink confection that is the Flamingo was a bust. The comedy show was close to being sold out except for two tables in the back of the room. For N. and I, that just wouldn’t do. We’d luxuriated in the orchestra section when we saw Ka and just couldn’t bring ourselves to pay good money for bad seats. So, we took the only option left to us: headed back to our hotel to get club-ready. Although we had early flights the next morning, we made the most of our last night, flashing our VIP passes at the Foundation Room, the Cathouse, and grooving at a couple of the open area lounges. None could be considered the best clubs I’ve ever been to but I dare say that they made for a fitting end to a trip to fabulous Las Vegas.

Travel Gripes: Homegrown Travel, New Orleans Edition (Pt. 2 of 3)

2010-12-13T13:16:00.015-05:00

Independence Day found me smack dab in the middle of a weeklong trip to New Orleans. While G., C. and I had briefly discussed heading down for the Essence Festival in separate conversations last year, no plans were ever formed. This year, planning was quickly underway and everything came together beautifully to the point that months in advance, four of us had both flights and concert tickets in hand. G.’s family hosted and were the epitome of southern hospitality. We ate great local food (jambalaya, gumbo, po’boys), slept in comfortable beds, and basked in good company. While our main purpose for being in town was to attend the concerts and related events, we took full advantage of the opportunity to soak up the culture of a truly unique city.

Insisting that we wake up before 5am so that we could go watch the Steve Harvey Show as it broadcast live at the Convention Center was not one of my brighter ideas. On the occasion when my eyes try to open at such an hour, I usually force them close in my attempt to get another hour or two of sleep in before I have to get up and start my day. But since we were on vacation...We might have survived the morning if we hadn’t spent the previous night barhopping in the French Quarter but since we did, most of us were in crash mode for the better part of the morning. But it’s all about the experience right? Other than that first day, G., C., V., and I enjoyed leisurely mornings followed by days spent shopping, dropping in on the conferences at the Convention Center, people watching, taking the ferry, daiquiri runs, family barbeques, and checking out the changes around town since Hurricane Katrina.

By far, some of our best concert moments include second line dancing with some wanna-be pimps, getting up close and personal with Chrissette Michelle and Estelle in the super lounges, and watching the Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys performances from the floor of the Superdome. How we got to the floor is a story in and of itself, one that includes a complete loss of dignity, crawling across entire rows of people so that we could get to the security entrance that would give us the best chance of gaining access to the floor where our hook-up was saving premium seats for us. Under normal circumstances I don’t like to beg. I abhor it. So having to beg and being rejected multiple times before the guards took pity on us and finally allowed us entrance left me feeling a bit like groupie that first night. It was more than I was willing to take so being questioned by security and asked to produce a floor ticket while my friends looked on was enough to send me over the edge. I was ready to bite someone's head off and would have surely been kicked out of the arena but thankfully our hook-up came by in the nick of time and helped salvage what could have been an embarrassing end to an interesting evening. Yet, it only took Mary J. walking out on stage to bring us all to our feet and help us forget just how precarious our position really was. Behold, the beauty of great music!

Coming up, highlights of my recent trip to fabulous Las Vegas!

Travel Gripes: Homegrown Travel, Chicago Edition (Pt. 1 of 3)

2010-12-10T12:56:00.007-05:00

I love to travel! There’s nothing quite like the excitement I feel when I am getting ready to go off on another adventure. I am not so much a fan of the process of getting there (who wants to be bothered with long flights and airport security?) but once I am there, it’s all about hitting the ground running. I like to intersperse moments of relaxation into my travel but it is by no means my main goal. Rather, I like to fill my days seeing as much as possible and participating in as many local activities as I can before falling into bed from exhaustion each night. I get pretty good sleep at home so when I vacation, my focus is on being an active participant. Of course, if some of the activities are of a restful nature that’s fine too.

I've been fortunate to have taken a few great trips this year and as the time when I will start planning my next adventure abroad nears and as I feel the claws of wanderlust slowly sinking in, I’ve taken some time to reflect on some of the trips that contributed to making this year such a great one. I wrote extensively about my trip to Spain this past Spring and since that visit marked my first time in Europe, it's understandable that I would bask in remembrance. But I've been remiss in sharing some of the fun that I had right here on the home front. Hence, this series of posts with highlight my visits to Chicago, New Orleans, and Las Vegas.

Chicago

I kicked off New Years with an extended weekend in Chicago (by way of Milwaukee) and from the moment I arrived, sleep became a valuable commodity that I could ill afford. Just the way I like it! After my delayed flight finally touched down on a snow-covered runway, I had just enough time to drop my luggage off and eat a quick dinner before G. was shuffling us out the door to meet up with V. and hit the town. This set the tone for the long weekend in Chicago. Our days started late in the mornings at which point we'd eat a leisurely breakfast, head out for sightseeing and shopping, and return home early in the evening for a home-cooked meal, courtesy of G. We'd then relax for a bit before preparing ourselves for nights that ended in the wee hours of the morning, where we’d go from club to club and party to party. We didn’t waste time thinking about too much beyond the moment. So, it's only fitting that our last night in Chicago would have us returning home from a reggae club after 3am and waking up an hour or so later so that I could make my 6am flight home. I was very much awake and on the edge of my seat, watching the minutes fly by but I don’t think I would have changed much (the misadventures contribute to the fun but the cold was another thing altogether). That last night in Chicago was arguably our best one and when I finally made it home a few hours later, I had plenty of time to defrost and catch up on the sleep I'd missed over the past few days.

A fun time was had in Chicago but if I didn’t mention just how cold it was there, I’d be painting too rosy a picture. It was freezing cold! There were moments when I questioned why I was standing outside in the cold, waiting in line to get into a club. G. and I would huddle up to the other club-goers, trying to share our collective body warmth. Granted, unlike a lot of the other people, we at least were wearing our coats and scarves. But in bone-penetrating cold like that, nothing short of staying indoors is ever quite enough. I have never been a fan of extreme temps and although hard to avoid given where I live, I try to stay out of it as much as possible. So Chicago for New Years would seem like an odd choice. I can only chalk it up to invitation offer and acceptance, available vacation time, and impulse. I’ve found that my best trips were the ones that I either planned at the last minute or booked almost immediately. No chance for over-thinking to ruin well-laid plans!

Check back over the next few days for highlights (with pics) of my visits to New Orleans and Las Vegas.

News Gripes: NPR Out of Touch with Reality

2010-10-21T16:06:00.004-04:00

I came across this news article about NPR’s firing of journalist, Juan Williams, and I was shocked at what I read. The article basically states that Williams was fired for a comment that he made about his feelings toward Muslims while appearing on “The O’Reilly Factor”. In rehashing Bill O’Reilly’s comment during his appearance on “ The View” and the drama it stirred up, Williams admitted:

“...when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.”

While not the best thing he could have admitted to, I understand where he is coming from, especially in light of 9/11 where Islamic extremists used airplanes as weapons of mass destruction and caused enduring and irreparable damage. I saw this as a very real and honest response; NPR saw it as a reason to give Williams his walking paper. I watched the clips and I don't see a valid reason for why he was fired. He expressed his feelings, something many people can relate to, and while some of us saw complete honesty in an arena where this is rare, NPR saw a case for bigotry. When people are punished for expressing their personal opinions, no matter how unpopular it may be, it’s no wonder we live in such a guarded society where those in the know feed us drivel instead of telling us the unvarnished truth.

From time to time, G. sends me NPR articles that she thinks I might find interesting and I’ve even signed in to log my opinion on the rare occasion. But I am not a regular NPR subscriber. If I were I would have to think twice about tuning in, in light of how they handled the Juan Williams situation. In a country that purports, or rather, expresses free speech and readily provides a platform for radical types to spout extreme and often nonsensical viewpoints, it's hypocritical that someone can be fired for expressing his or her honest opinion. It’s a real shame when we have to guard our words because we are afraid of what the consequences will be.

Movie Gripes: "Killers" Bored Me To Death!

2010-10-14T11:56:00.008-04:00

Killers has got to be one of the worst movies I’ve seen in a long time. It was not a movie that I had any real desire to see but since it was freely available at the library, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to check it out. Wrong! I wish I could get back the hour and forty minutes that I spent watching this atrocity but alas, try as I might, I can’t seem to eradicate it from my memory. Not yet. Hopefully the next ten movies I watch will go a long way towards accomplishing that.

Killers star Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher as a successful couple who met while on vacation and fast-tracked to marriage. They lead a seemingly pleasant life until his past as a “licensed killer” catches up to him and he becomes Target No.1. The movie is categorized as an action flick and while there was plenty of shooting, blowing things up, and hand-to-hand combat to round things out, it was a major snooze fest. Not interesting at all! First, the chemistry between the leads was nonexistent but I think this has more to do with the actors themselves. Both lack any kind of charisma and while she’s prone to histrionics that can be gratingly annoying after a time, he’s just…bland and without affect. I don’t how he ever got into acting but this farce of billing him as such has gone on long enough. If ever someone truly deserves a Razzie, it’s him. And her.

Of course, the dialogue and plot didn’t exactly deliver anything praise-worthy either. Picture this, a couple lives in a close-knit community, blissfully unaware that friends, co-workers and neighbors alike are plants just waiting to be activated and get the kill order. This is a stretch even for real-life t*******ts and we all know how effective certain organizations have been at using sleepers to infiltrate entire countries. But I digress. The dialogue is flat and cheesy at best and I was hard-pressed to crack even one smile. Trust me, I laugh over the stupidest stuff but this was even more than I could handle. I knew the movie was going nowhere when a half hour in, we were still exploring the couple’s coupledom and listening to their trite conversations. Seriously! I should have stopped it at this point but I chose instead to let it play on while I found other distractions. Killers pretty much lost me at the beginning because when it finally delivered several action sequences in close succession, I was not moved. Nothing about this movie excited me.

I’ve heard people say that best part was the end when describing a really bad movie, play, or whatever. That expression fits Killers perfectly. When the credits rolled and I heard the lyrics “I’m fed up…” I knew that at least one other person realized that this movie was no prize. Before it wrapped, Killers managed to drop one last stink bomb because the resolution has got to be the most convoluted part of the movie. Unfortunately, good or bad, I still hate to give away the ending of anything so I’ll say very little else about it. I will add that Mr. Magnum P.I., Tom Selleck, disappointed me because up until that point, I thought that he was the movie’s only saving grace and the only one in Killers who really saw it for what it is: a load of crap!

Book Gripes: The Four Agreements

2010-10-13T16:28:00.010-04:00

I’m not a fan of self help books. I am not completely averse to those books that tackle intangible issues such as a happiness and personal growth and try to sell people on a particular concept. But I don’t buy that we can reach these very personal goals through someone else’s methods. One-size-fits-all does not apply and I believe that we dictate our level of growth and happiness. Do we really need someone to tell us this or try to sell us on their methods? It is with this ambivalence that I recently read Don Miguel Ruiz’s, The Four Agreements , which is promoted as a guide to personal freedom.

The Four Agreements are:

Be impeccable with your word
Don’t take anything personally
Don’t make assumptions
Always do your best

Although a mere 130 something pages, this little book took quite a bit of time and effort to read, not because the concepts were difficult to grasp but because I had very little interest in reading it. I wholly agreed that the Agreements were reasonable but I found the details designed to clarify them to be unnecessary. The fact that I was able to finish is a testament to my determination. Sheer willpower! I knew a few pages in that I would not glean anything more from this exalted text than I had already gathered from the book jacket when I first picked up the book from my local library. So why did I bother? Well, G. said that she liked it and when my friends recommend books to me, I like to give them every possible chance before forming a final verdict. And, for the most part, the book jacket was mildly interesting. The Four Agreements are certainly not new concepts but while I would often tell myself to do something or the other, I never looked at it as making agreements with myself. So I often broke these “Agreements” without giving it a second thought. If this little book did anything, it solidified the idea that I can and should internalize certain ideals and live accordingly. Still, if anyone asked for my opinion, I would tell them to read the jacket and skip the rest. Happy reading!

Event Gripes: The Wedding & The Dress

2010-10-08T14:47:00.004-04:00

Have you ever been to a party where you hadn't planned on staying until the very end and then you looked up as they were turning on the lights and realized that that’s exactly what happened? Well, that was my experience when my friend K. got married. I’d known about the wedding for quite a while but in the last two weeks leading up to it, I discussed it with friends and family with annoying frequency. Actually, I didn’t talk about the wedding so much as I discussed what I would wear to it. You see, I don’t wear dresses too often and the wedding would be a formal affair. I refused to show up in pants or basic black. Care needed to be taken and I needed to go shopping!

Unfortunately for my friends, I mentioned every shopping foray every chance I got. Since I went shopping a few times each week in search of a dress, this was more often than I like to admit. And when I finally found two dresses two days before the wedding, I needed to try them on and get my sister’s opinion, send pictures to G. to get her take, show pictures to my co-worker and a few others to get their feedback and generally annoy everyone with talks about what I would wear to the wedding. Even the bride was not immune from my dress talks but since it was her day, I tried to keep it at a minimum and leave the focus where it needed to be, on her. In any case, when it came down to choosing between my two options we were all in agreement and if the compliments I received at the wedding are anything to go by, I made the right choice. Of course, I also needed accessories which in turn led to even more annoying chats. I was a monster, but one who was well put-together come wedding day.

The wedding itself was a wonderful affair. The venue was elegant and featured a beautiful view. The bride was stunning in her original dress and unique updo and she and her new husband made for an adorable couple. Their wedding was a perfect blend of traditional and unconventional touches which seemed perfectly suited to the pair. Of course, during the receptions there were the incidents you expect to find at a wedding what with people getting stumbling drunk but nothing could have detracted from the happiness that radiated around the room.

As much fun as I had, I was initially worried about not knowing too many people at the wedding. Even after I was allowed to bring a friend along for company. I wanted the evening to be about sharing in K.’s enjoyment, not trying to generate conversation with strangers out of thin air. My worry was for naught. When I arrived, I immediately saw some recognizable faces and as the evening wore on, I caught up with some about what’s been going on with them and I met some new faces who were as happy to be there as I was. But more importantly I simply enjoyed being in that moment! Between sampling the Southern-style food, taking pictures in the photo booth, laughing at some of the hilarious antics and toasts, dancing to songs I didn’t know or hadn’t heard in a long time, and sharing in my friend’s joy I had a blast! I only hope that all of my yet-to-be-married friends also know how to throw parties that elicit this much fun.

Hair Gripes: Fear the Chop

2010-09-30T15:45:00.005-04:00

When I first BC-ed i.e. Big Chopped (yep, I know the terminology ) about a month ago I could have related to this woman, a little bit. I want to emphasize the “a little bit” part because while I can relate to her having certain expectations and mentally preparing herself to stop at a certain length, that’s where it ends. Yea, the hairstylist messed her hair up but I think she’s taking things too hard and not giving herself much of a chance to really own her new look. I mean, I'm looking at it, and it came out good in the end. Isn't that what matters? I’m sure there are plenty of people who’ve told her how cute her new do is but I do understand that she is the only one who needs to believe it to be true. I'm sorry that she is not enjoying her natural journey to the fullest but I am and I think my hair looks fabulous post-BC. Check out my "Big Chop" story over on Back To Curly, a fabulous natural hair blog, and tell me I’m lying. I dare you!

Music Gripes: Real Soul

2010-09-17T12:20:00.004-04:00

I only needed to hear Leela James (Tell Me You Love Me) and Raheem Devaughn’s (Bulletproof) duet, Mr. Incredible, Ms. Unforgettable, once before I knew that I loved it. What’s not to love? This song exudes soul from the first note to the last. And, both artists are great in their own rights. In my opinion, they are underrated artists who are among the few who set the standard for what real music sounds like in an age where one song is starting to sound the same as the next and when fewer songs manage to move you and make you feel something with one listen. This song does that. It touches your soul and I at least, want to hear it over and over again. Happy soulful weekend!

Fashion Gripes: Choice Accessories

2010-09-08T15:59:00.009-04:00

I learned a tangible truth not too long ago. It was a lesson that as a former fashion student I should have learned long ago. But even as a student, I was more interested in prints and bright, funky colors than in anything else. Sure I could help someone else pull a fierce look together but I often stopped short of pushing the boundaries of fashion when it came to my own appearance. Make no mistake, I was no fashion slob! I knew what looked good on me and I knew when it was time to switch out the clothes that I was hanging on to in the vain hope of losing the pounds that I gained over the years. So how could I completely miss out on the fact that it’s not only about what the clothes look like or how the hair is flowing but also the choice of accessories that pull a look together?

I’ve always been a fan of belts and shoes but not so much so of jewelry. Part of this stems from the fact that I had a habit of losing things so when I would receive pricey bracelets or the like as presents, it seemed safer to leave them at home in my jewelry box. Also, I was more into small, tasteful jewelry- the kind you can wear with any outfit- so I am truly surprise at how much fun I’m having playing with dangly earrings and chunky bracelets and selecting the right pieces to go with whatever look I’m trying to achieve on a given day. By far, my favorite piece of accessory is the headband. I can no longer visit a store and leave without first checking out the hair accessories and over the past few months, I’ve amassed several funky finds. Headbands are definitely deeply intertwined with my overall look. Of course, it all started with the hair. When I first made the decision to transition to a more natural state, headbands felt like a necessity to cover unsightly roots. Now that I’m all the way natural, it’s all about the fashion. I wonder where else my hair journey will lead me?

Hair Gripes: I Am Not My Hair, Am I?

2010-08-31T15:57:00.006-04:00

I have a confession. Lately, it’s been all about my hair. It’s all I think about and inevitably, it comes up in almost every conversation that I have. I’ve become one of those people who can’t stop talking about myself, or rather, my hair. Yet, knowing that I am being this way, I can’t help but continue. Why? Because more than anything, I am excited about the changes that I am going through, about my journey from relaxed to natural. I am enjoying experimenting with organic products, trying out different styles, and I like touching my hair and feeling my natural textures coming through. I don’t think I’ve ever been this obsessed with my hair. Sure, when I used to get relaxers I would touch my hair often, feeling my roots to make sure they were as straight as they could be. But this feels different. This time, I feel gratified to know that what I am touching is my natural hair and not something that is achieved with chemicals. I like that it’s mine alone. And that I love it!

So far, this natural journal is liberating me in a way that I never thought I wanted to be but I sometimes feel that my identity is just a tad bit wrapped up in my hair. This has been on my mind a lot more since I made the decision to take the next stop and go in for “the big chop” (will write about this in another post). I’ve worn short styles before but I don’t think I’ve ever been so anxious about losing hair. I must admit, I am a little scared, not so much about losing the length but more because I'm not sure what I will find after and how I will feel about it. Don’t get me wrong, I can sing the lyrics to India Arie's I Am Not My Hair at the top of my lungs and mean it. But when I reflect on those times when my hair has affected my mood I wonder how much stock I really put into the role my hair plays in shaping my identity. I’ve always been of the mindset that when your hair looks good you feel good. So what if I don’t like my hair in its natural state? Will I be in a perpetually funky mood? I seriously doubt that this will be the case because as I've been trying out new things throughout my transition and learning more about my natural hair, I am finding it surprisingly easy to embrace the bad (when my hair experiments fail) as well as the good (success).

Hair Gripes: On Transitioning

2010-08-06T10:59:00.003-04:00

Over the past year I’ve been going through a sort of metamorphosis, mostly where my hair is concerned. Sometime last summer, I made a subconscious decision to eschew relaxer treatments in favor of letting my hair grow out naturally. In the natural community, this process is called ‘transitioning’. I’m still not sure how I arrived at that decision but even when I have difficulty taming my mane, I am confident that I made the right one. For me. Through the doubts and confusions of where I am in the process, what my hair will look like or feel like when I get to the end of it and what I can do next, I am also excited at the possibilities.

I’ve been fortunate in the sense that I know that I am not alone in my transition from relaxed to natural. As I have opened up about my experience, I have discovered several friends who have taken different routes but who are essentially going through the same thing. Some went directly for ‘the big chop’ to immediately rid themselves of all of their chemically treated hair while others took a more gradual route, getting regular blowouts and cuts over a period of time. I am doing neither. I haven’t yet decided which route I want to take. But as I work on figuring out my next steps, I have to say a big ‘thank you’ to my friend and natural hair guru, C., who offers advice, answers any questions that I may have, helps me to pick out products, and who featured my hair experience in this post on her site, Back to Curly, which goes into details about everything having to do with natural hair. I have found that in the process of documenting my hair journey, I am learning a lot about myself and about my hair. Happy Friday!

Random Gripes: Meetup = Fertile Ground

2010-07-30T15:23:00.007-04:00

I generally do well at large social events but I’m not the greatest at networking. I can activate my social skills at will and make it through any situation but I don’t always feel the need to. For this reason, as much as I like to find opportunities to get out and do things, I generally shy away from joining Meetup groups. If I were to form my own group, membership would cap at 10 or 12 people. I have nothing against larger groups but I prefer to create conditions where I can actually get to know the people who are in my social circle. When that circle is upwards of 100, that’s not really a realistic objective. Besides, I view many of these groups as ideal opportunities for lonely men on the prowl to scope out women and therefore, not my idea of a good time. But when K. sent me the invitation to join a large Meetup group, I accepted. Despite the prowling men, the objectives of the group were of great interest to me and I actually like going to events and doing things with my friends. Go figure.

Since joining the group a few months ago, I’ve only managed to make it to two events spread months apart. The most recent event consisted of live music, free appetizers and chocolate. How could I pass that up? This time around, I sent out my own invitations and T. accepted and came along. Now, my friend T. is a flirt. It’s a fact as I know it. She calls it being nice and friendly but I know better. Even though I don’t usually have opportunities to see her in action, I’ve read some of the exchanges that she’s had with members of the opposite sex. Maybe I should be taking lessons from her…but in any case, the girl got skills! At the event, I don’t think it was so much her skills as it was her radiant personality (:-) that had the weirdest guy in the building beeming in on her and latching on as if for dear life!

Mr. Weirdo approached our group with a cheesy “Hey, hey. How you doing?” and proceeded to place his hand on T.’s shoulder and shift her so that he could eyeball the area where her nametag was attached. Above her chest. Not cool! If that were me, the evening might have taken a different turn but T. and I operate differently when faced with situations like this one. So while I tuned him out and returned to my pleasant conversation, she smiled and engaged in polite conversation with Mr. Weirdo. Big mistake! When T. threw out a Hail Mary and tried to engage others in their conversation, Mr. Weirdo wasn’t having it. He kept talking to T. Only. And when she excused herself to use the restroom, he hung around the area looking around, not engaging with others and presumably waiting for her return. And when she tried to keep a low profile and hide behind others, he ferreted her out and asked her where she’d been. When she dared to engage in other conversations, he continually stuck his head in and tried to draw away her attention. But by this point, T. had her blinders on and he was on permanent ignore. Finally, as we were wrapping up our conversations on the sidewalk before heading home, we noted Mr. Weirdo’s exit and saw that he hovered where we stood for a minute before continuing on his way. Whew! As annoying as he might have been, I gained immense pleasure from watching all this. But T. probably was not as amused. Hopefully, she won’t run into him at any future events. Happy Friday!

Random Gripes: Cool Venues But Room For a Little Nitpicking

2010-07-29T15:09:00.006-04:00

I’m usually not one to complain (more like express opinions :) but within the past week, I attended two events that gave me real reason to gripe. When I arrived at these events, my sole intention was to have a good time and for the most part, I did. But in both cases, my opinion about the venues dimmed a little at the very end.

First, I participated in a beach event organized by relatively new group, Urban Escapes, in partnership with Crunch Fitness. Urban Escapes motto is “get out of the bubble” and for the most part, they organize trips for young professions who are looking for adventure outside the city. As far as I’m aware, they function in Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston, and NY. Recently, I participated in the Crunch Surf Trip which consisted of a bus ride to and from Long Beach, LI, lunch, yoga (not very practical on sand), volleyball, and anything else you would want to do on a beach. At $40, this was a reasonably priced trip (considering transportation alone) and for an additional $40, they even threw in surfing lessons for beginners. Since I have yet to master the art of swimming, this was not an option for me but I spent plenty of time hitting volleys (or trying to) back and forth on the volleyball court and splashing around in the surprisingly cold ocean on such an awesomely hot day.

Our guides were pretty cool, fun, friendly people and I could definitely see myself going on another trip with the company but they almost got on my bad side when my friend and I returned from washing the sand off to find the area where our group had set down our towels deserted! We’d hustled to make it to and from the restroom within the 10 minutes that they said that we had before our departure but alas, we were too late! We didn’t know where the bus was parked but we didn’t worry much. Not too much anyway. We retraced our steps to the parking lot where the bus had parked that morning but once again found that area empty. So we did the only sensible thing that we could think of, we wandered around hoping to catch sight of the buses while we rang the numbers that were provided in the confirmation email. No answer and no buses! And, just as we were about to despair that we might have to figure out how to get to the nearest LIRR station, we turned a corner and saw them…pulling off! Apparently, our guides hadn’t noted our absence and were not intent on looking for or waiting for us. Not cool! I had already notice that organization was not the company's strongest suit when I boarded the bus the first time but the thought never crossed my mind that I would be stuck in Long Island. In any case, we flagged down the bus as it passed us and was able to board with little more effort. Crisis averted!

Shakespeare in the Park was a slightly different but no less dramatic experience. I was fortunate enough to be given a pair of tickets to see The Winter’s Tale which starred Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Without A Trace) and a slew of others. The performances were inspired but it took all of my concentration to translate Shakespearean English into Modern English. Still, I laughed, I gasped and generally had a good time…until the show ended and the actors took their bows. I positioned my camera to take a picture of the cast and as soon as the flash went off, an usher was at my elbow calling me “ma’am” and demanding that I delete the photo. She was very serious and came across aggressively so I played along pretending to delete the photo. I was cool until she asked me to hand over my camera so she could check that I had in fact deleted the photo. She walked away without further protest after I told her that she would not, in fact, be touching my camera. But of course it did not end there.

At the exit, I was accosted by a security guard but this time, he saw that I had my phone in my hand and asked to check it to see if I had any photos. I grudgingly complied and opened up my album, although, I couldn’t help but wonder what they would have done if I had refused. But it was late, I was tired and my camera was safely tucked away in my bag. I didn’t care enough to put it to the test. I did end up deleting the photo because it was dark and out of focus but as I relive the experience, I wish I had kept it. Just because. If I manage to get tickets to see Merchant of Venice who knows what will happen…

Travel Gripes: Italy is Calling…Still!

2010-07-28T15:38:00.004-04:00

Today I listened in as two men talked about their respective vacations to Italy. Their enjoyment could not be mistaken. I also had a brief conversation about my desire to visit Italy with someone who’s been there at least eight times. The advice that I received from my conversation partner wasn’t just to go but to hurry up and go. And, when I arrived at the library a short while later the When in Rome DVD was one of the first movies that I noticed. These things all happened in quick succession and I’m starting to think that these are signs that it’s time for me to make my dream of visiting Italy a reality.

I have been yearning to visit Italy for several years. I came close last year. I planned every details and presented them to the two friends who would be traveling with me for their approval. But when it was time for us to actually purchase tickets for our flights they both backed out (I was not happy about that: Grounded Traveler). And somehow, I found myself in California instead. Italy vs. California- there’s really no comparison and while I had a relaxing trip, I might have enjoyed my visit to California more if I hadn’t been thinking that I should be in Italy the entire time that I was there. But I managed to suck it up and decided that this year would be the year. I would make it to Italy even if I had to travel with a bunch of strangers. So, again, I researched the various tour groups, read the reviews, scoped out the selected hotels and as much as I tried to find a package that was in my budget and that suited me and the experience that I sought, I couldn’t submit myself to pay for a tour that did not meet the meager standards that I had set for it. Too much time on a bus, visits to tourist traps and stays in crappy hotels are not my idea of a good time. I might have been a bit more melancholy about the fact that I still have yet to make it to Italy if the opportunity to visit Spain hadn’t come up and if I hadn’t had such a great time there . But Italy is never far from my mind and at times I ponder what’s really holding me back from just picking up and going once and for all.

I would have said that having travel partners is a big part of why I haven’t ventured too far away but since Spain, I’m beginning to realize that solo travel is not as scary as I had imagined. I still believe that a good travel partner adds to the experience but it is no longer a requirement for me. And what about the time? And cost? Those are very real barrier, time more so than cost. While I am willing to sacrifice in other areas (clothes, entertainment etc.) when I am presented with travel opportunities, there is just not enough time (time off from work to be more specific) to see all the places that I want to see. I'm evidence of societal conditioning at work because I do believe that security is something to strive for so leaving my job to travel the world for extended periods of time is not something that I am considering at this stage. Unfortunately, my travel plans will have to fall within the confines of my PTO days. But I like to think that I use my time well. I don’t have enough vacation days to see Italy the way that I want to this year so it is once again back at the top of my list for next year. I believe that things work out the way that they are supposed to and with my upcoming milestone next year, I’ll have even more incentive to ensure that I finally make it to Italy!

Random Gripes: Thoughts & Ramblings

2010-07-23T14:23:00.006-04:00

I've been in a weird mood lately. On the one hand, I feel this urgent need to accomplish some of the things on my extensive "list"- from getting my driver's license, becoming a better cook, improving my career prospects and my writing craft, learning to swim, to ride a bike, and the many other things that I feel I should do well but don't necessarily do at all. I've been doing my research to see what I can do to start whitling down my list yet at times, I don't feel like doing much of anything. Lots of time spent thinking and not enough action. However, I have been putting thoughts into words as the first step of making them a reality and to that end, I am becoming inately fond of making lists (remembering where I put them is another issue entirely). I am not sure why I have become so introspective as of late. Maybe it's because I am nearing 30. I have some time before I get there and I do not dread reaching this glorious age but as I draw closer to it, I can't help but think of all of the things that need to be crossed off my "list". I once heard this quote: "never put off til tomorrow what you can do today" which henceforth, I am adapting as my new life motto. It's becoming too easy for me to say 'I'll do it tomorrow' and let things fall through the crack. If I am to reach the goals that I set for myself, I need to hold myself accountable. Happy blazing hot weekend!

Random Gripes: Vacation!!!

2010-06-29T23:49:00.010-04:00

Vacation time is here once again! Over the past couples days I've been running around getting what I need to ensure that my upcoming summer vacation will be a success. I did some last minute shopping, picked up a book for the ride, and got a lovely blowout as well as a much needed pedicure (which I promptly messed up when I got home and stubbed my toe- classic klutz!) But nothing will dull my excitement at this much needed break. My bags are packed and friends, food, and fun await. All thats left for me to do is enjoy!

*will update when I can*

Music Gripes: BET Awards, Chris Brown, Prince, and Everybody Else

2010-06-28T13:57:00.009-04:00

Award shows, and the BET Awards in particular, know that in order to keep viewers coming back you have to give them something to talk about the next day. However, about an hour into the 3-hours long show, I thought that the BET Awards Show had missed the memo this year and was quickly on its way to becoming a snooze fest. Despite leading with heavy hitters like Kanye West, Usher, Alicia Keys, and T.I. the energy level was noticeably low to this blogger. No doubt, Kanye West’s opening of the show with a performance of Power while standing on a mountaintop a la Moses and special effects cranked way up was something magical to watch. But did it blow me away? Not really. Added to this, Usher’s follow-up slow number and Alicia Key’s compilation of her various hits did not impress. The show was going nowhere fast. Thankfully, the performances featured in the second hour kicked things up a notch and reminded me of why I continue to watch the BET Awards Show year after year (especially after the disaster that was last year’s show).

As the host, Queen Latifah gave it a good effort. In her opening, she shouted out popular rappers and other entertainers, performed a rap to the beat of Drake’s Say Something and throughout the rest of the evening, she paraded some of the characters that she played in various movies and series (Hairspray, Set It Off, Just Wright) onstage. She’s certainly not the best host the Show has ever seen but it was a good effort nonetheless. However, the real highlights of the show came via the performances. There were quite a few "good" performances throughout the evening but the ones that stood out for me were the various tributes, the gospel medley (although Kirk Franklin is better at directing than he is at singing), and the Diddy-Dirty Money (why do we keep indulging him with these silly name changes) collaboration with Rick Ross, T.I. and Nicki Minaj. I have to admit that I was a little worried when Queen Latifah first announced him because as we all know, Diddy-whatever is not at his best when he is performing by himself. But then the beat dropped and the energy level skyrocketed and I scaled back on the low expectations that I had fostered since I first heard his name. The man definitely knows how to put the right combination of people together.

Singer Tyrese’s tribute to the late Teddy Pendergrast was nothing to sneeze at either. Crooning to an audience of women waving panties in the air, Tyrese’s smooth moves and rich mellow tones did Teddy proud. He wasn't too hard on the eyes either. And then there was the Prince tribute. The camera continually returned to capture Prince’s reactions throughout performances of some of his hits by Trey Songz who bordered on cheesy, Janelle Monet who is a new hot one to watch, Esperanza Spalding who had a nice fro but was not otherwise memorable, Alicia Keys who scared me for a minute when she climbed on top of the piano with her pregnant belly but who gave a great performance and Ms. Patti LaBelle. Patti Labelle was clearly Prince’s favorite. He did not seem moved or even amused by most of the other performances but when Patti sang Purple Rain, he was on his feet, laughing and clearly enjoying the diva. Apparently, a divo giving a diva her due! I got the sense that Prince would not have made it to the BET Awards Show if he wasn’t the guest of honor. From what I was able to piece together from his short speech, he stayed in his hotel room for much of the show and only arrived just in time for his tribute. And, he didn’t even perform any of his hits. Has Prince really gotten too big for the likes of BET? I think that would be a fair assessment!

At each award show, BET has been known to dig through its closets and drag out entertainers who hadn’t been in the spotlight for years, some of whom (in the months following the show) saw new life breathed into their flat-lining careers. Maxwell was one such entertainer a few years ago although I dare say, his comeback was inevitable. El Debarge was clearly this year’s artist in need of a recharge but was last night also Chris Brown's second chance at redemption? No doubt, CB will be forever associated with the beating that he gave ex-girlfriend Rihanna. We’ve seen his efforts to offer up apologies fall flat and we’ve heard news of declining records sale. We’ve seen spoofs like this one that make it clear that CB was tried and found guilty in the court of public opinions. He was definitely feeling the consequences of his actions, as well he should! But could that all be at an end after last night?

Last year, I was very disappointed in the obviously hasty performances that were meant to honor the King of Pop. This year, Chris Brown did a much better job of honoring Michael Jackson when he sang some of his more memorable hits (The Way You Make Me Feel). However, after a dance sequence, CB became choked up when he attempted to sing the lyrics to Man in the Mirror. Publicity stunt? That’s certainly the sentiment spreading across the net, a sentiment that is supported by the fact that by the end of the show, CB was awarded the Fandemonium award, an award chosen by the fans. What better confirmation does he need that he still has a thriving fan base? Whether it really was a publicity stunt or not CB played it just right. Who can help but soften up at the sight of a man-boy crying and being overcome by his emotions, expressing remorse? And with that single act, he did what his appearance on Larry King Live and numerous tired apologies couldn’t; Chris Brown resurrected his music career! I believed him when, while accepting his award, CB promised his fan that he wouldn't let them down again. I believe that, or rather, I believe that he won’t let himself get caught next time.

Music Gripes: Celebrating the Life of Michael Jackson, On the Anniversary of His Death

2010-06-25T15:03:00.002-04:00

On this date one year ago, the world was rocked by the news of the passing of the “King of Pop”. In my post, Death of A Legend, I expressed the shock that I felt when I first heard the news of Michael Jackson’s death. I still feel some of that shock today that this truly international, larger-than-life superstar is no longer around to grace us with one more hit. But when we look at what he’s already given us, it doesn’t seem so sad. I, like all his other fans, will be remembering the life of Michael Jackson through his music and through the tributes that will be held in his memory throughout the weekend. I will be popping in the CD when I get home but you can check out your favorite songs on the Michael Jackson Channel on YouTube. Happy remembrance!

Music Gripes: Introducing Michael Franti & Spearhead

2010-06-24T12:19:00.004-04:00

Why haven’t I heard about Micheal Franti & Spearhead until about a week ago? As repetitive as I think Pandora radio is sometimes, they occasionally surprise me and introduce me to artists that I hadn’t heard about before. Such was the case when I first heard Micheal Franti’s Say Hey (I Love You) for the first time. When the tunes first started straining through my earpiece, I remember unlocking my phone so that I could see the info and commit the artist name and song title to memory for future listening. I was instantly captivated and as soon as I could, I took to YouTube in hopes of finding more by this “new artist”. There, I was rewarded in the form of another great song, Nobody Right Nobody Wrong and still I want to hear more. But why haven’t I heard about him before now? He’s fresh, interesting, soulful and more, basically everything that translates into good music. And, he’s been making those soulful tunes for about twenty years! From the way that Micheal explains it in a Billboard interview, he and his band adopted a grassroot approach where they took to the streets and brought their music directly to the people. And slowly but surely, the word is spreading one person at a time. I, for one, am happy that it’s finally reached me (consider this post as my effort to pass it on) and for the first time in a long time, I am contemplating buying CDs again.

Random Gripes: All I Can Say is 'Wow'

2010-06-18T12:50:00.004-04:00

In a story reported in today's Wall Street Journal a deceased heiress, Gail Posner, left only $1 million of her entire estate to her only son. The staff made out much better, culling a total of $26 million among them while the dogs received $3 million for their care and the rights to remain in the home. What's wrong with this picture? It says a lot about her son that he got the worst end of the bargain. Although, I can't really see $1 million that you didn't have before as a bad bargain. In any case, as with every situation where the children of the rich don't make out like they thought they would, this is one for the courts to figure out.

Travel Gripes: Snapshots of Madrid, Toledo & La Alberca, Spain

2010-06-16T13:38:00.013-04:00

What can I tell you about Spain? For someone who is as private as I am, it is sometimes difficult to determine how much to share. Would I be divulging too much if I mentioned names and showed faces? On the other hand, would I be doing it a disservice if I glossed over some of the details that made my visit so special, only sharing tidbits that my filter deems okay? I think the answer lies somewhere in the middle and it was with this slight reservation and this openness to experiencing something new that I jetted off to Spain. By no means did I see all that Spain has to offer. A fraction of a fraction maybe— enough to whet my appetite and leave me wanting more. But not enough to quench my thirst. I’m fully aware that there is a great big world out there and that I have a serious case of wanderlust to see as much of it as possible. That’s not exactly accurate. I don’t just want to see it, I want to experience it to the fullest extent. I want to breathe in culture and hold it inside me. I do not want to play tourist! One of the reasons why I enjoyed my time in Spain so much is because I got to eschew being a tourist for most of the time that I was there and just experience it. Through the program that I was apart of and through the people I met, I came away with more than a superficial view of a great country.

La Alberca

Though the time was short and although opportunities to travel through Spain were not plentiful (because of my work schedule), I saw just enough of Spain to know that I want more! First, La Alberca is not a place that I would have chosen to spend an entire week of my time, had I planned this trip completely on my own. The best way that I can describe it is as a well-preserved medieval village. From the villa where I was staying, the town center is a leisurely 20-minutes walk. I have always been a little geographically-challenged but even so, it’s almost impossible to get lost in La Alberca. It’s that small! I will say though, if you’re not careful when taking the back route through the dirt and the bushes, you could find yourself lost in the woods. And when taking the main road, being vigilant of oncoming traffic is a must. I didn’t see too many guardrails in La Alberca but I guess that goes along with preserving the town in its historical state. Although I’ve sworn that I could never live in a small town again, I did not mind being a 4-hours drive away from the closest major city. The mountain views, stretches of green, soft breezes, I was feeling it all. I felt at peace in La Alberca. And I had a great time connecting with wonderful people. So I enjoyed it.

Toledo

One of the perks of making new friends in La Alberca, is that I had a wonderful tour guide in M.I. when I made a day trip out to visit her hometown. Once the capital of Spain, Toledo (Toh-lay-doh, not to be confused with Toledo, Ohio) is another well-preserved town but if I didn’t have M.I. to show me around, I would have gotten lost a few times. Every turn produced streets that were narrower than the ones before and from what M.I. said, there’s one particular street where you could stretch out both arms and touch the other side. I don’t think I saw that street but if I did, I wouldn’t remember. After a while, the narrow streets started to blend together in my tired mind and I could not have gotten back to my starting point to save my life. But I really enjoyed learning about Toledo’s colorful history, seeing the chains that are all that’s left of those persecuted during the Spanish Inquisition, and meandering into a few of the numerous once-churches/mosques/synagogues that are now museums and bars. And the views- standing at a point where you could see the beautifully crafted buildings, some of which seems to have been built on top of each other. In a word, spectacular! But I was yearning to get back to Madrid…

Madrid

The word that immediately comes to mind when I think of Madrid is energy. It pulsed everywhere- in the building walls, on the beautifully cobbled streets, and in the air. On many occasions, it simply took my stepping outdoors into the beautiful weather for me to truly feel awake and energized. I love that feeling. I had become embroiled in the Spanish culture during my visits to La Alberca and Toledo and although I was only able to spend a few days in Madrid, there was much that I wanted to see and do. Tourist-y things. Unfortunately, I was thwarted at many turns. A visit to Prado Museum was on my must-see list but because of the way the schedule worked out I had to settle for the Reina Sofia instead. There, I saw some really weird art and was forced to contemplate this idea of what art really is. What are the criteria? Who set them? I’m not sure if I would refer to a series of tubes meant to depict the circulation system or an empty room with polka dots pasted to the wall as art. But there they were in the Reina Sofia nonetheless. The Palacio Real (Royal Palace) was another place that I anticipated seeing but upon arriving there on the scheduled day, I saw that it was closed for “official ceremonies.” I did not get to tour the royal rooms or sit on any of the thrones but I did console myself with a walkthrough of the courtyards.

Visits to Parque del Retiro, El Rastro for bargain shopping, and a Thai restaurant (Bangkok Thai) with an ideal view for people-watching were activities on my list that I did manage to complete, but only just (I did not spend nearly enough time just soaking up the sun because with so much to do in so little time I was always on the go). There was a lot of landscape to cover in a short time so I was only able to view small areas of the park on two different occasions. Similarly, El Rastro spread so far down the street that in my effort to visit as many booths as possible I only had time to take a cursory look at the goods before I had to catch the bus to Toledo. Nonetheless, I did not leave empty handy and I was glad that I got to experience it at all.

By far, some of the best parts of my time in Madrid were the evenings that I spent socializing and just being with some of the people I met in La Alberca. It was with them that I enjoyed an elegant dinner at Ginger and a more casual but tastier meal (including specially prepared ham) at Corea Restaurant, saw a bad movie (Time Travelers Wife) with Spanish subtitles, had wine and croquettes at the San Miguel Market, and visited a smoky disco (Torero). I was ambivalent about this last activity because although I danced, drank, and had an overall good time in good company, I wasn’t too pleased when I caught the distinct scent of the smoke that clung to my clothes and to my hair when we finally decided to leave in the wee hours of the morning (Spain has yet to ban smoking indoors so be prepared to leave any place smelling like a cigarette.) Still, I wouldn’t trade any of these experiences and I look forward to experiencing even more when I return in the near future.

Takeaways:

A little Spanish goes a long! The owner of the hostel where I stayed did not speak any English and there were a couple occasions where our limited knowledge of each other’s languages led to miscommunication. Thankfully I was able to grasp on to words that I recognized and make sense of what I was hearing before I was kicked out of my room a day earlier than anticipated.
Experience cannot be rushed! When traveling, don’t over-plan. Leave plenty of time to just be.

Sports Gripes: Kobe’s One-Man Show Falls Short

2010-06-15T13:12:00.004-04:00

I’ve been peeking in periodically to see what’s going on with the biggest things going on in sports lately- the NBA Finals and FIFA World Cup. Over the weekend, I watched as Germany destroyed Australia with four goals to nil and as the U.S. and England scored one goal each. The soccer matches have been much more exciting to watch than I had anticipated and watching them on Univision has provided additional opportunities for me to learn some Spanish. There are words that I hear every couple minutes and I can now add “pelota” and “sigue” to my ever-expanding vocabulary. Now, I am naturally rooting for the home team and would love it if the U.S. actually had a chance at winning but I am not particularly concerned about the outcome of the matches. I am however very much concerned about the outcome of the showdown between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers.

I’ve always thought of Kobe Bryant as a selfish player but even I had to feel bad for him that his teammates practically left him out on the court by himself during game 6 on Sunday night. And if he got angry with them about it, he’s justifiable. The Lakers’ game was nonexistent! I’m no fan of Kobe and the Lakers but there was a time when I would have cheered for them over all except the home teams. Back when Shaquille O’neal was still there. When Shaq moved to the Miami Heats so did my cheers. I no longer have any reason to cheer for the Lakers and I’ve taken great pleasure in the beatings that the Celtics have laid on them over the last two games. Although things started off a little rocky when they lost the first game of the series, I was confident that the street-tough team that I had first come to admire when Kevin Garnett (arguably one of the best players in the league) made the move (finally) from the sorry Timberwolves a few years ago, would gain their footing and rally back to victory. Whatever Boston had to trade to get Garnett was worth it because they’re doing just that! Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and other supporting cast are great players but I truly believe that Garnett is the difference-maker. With two games left in the series and only one needed to win it all, I’ll be tuning in to see the Celtics clinch the title in L.A. and send Kobe crying and cursing for the last time this season.

Music Gripes: Drake Fesses Up, Rihanna Played Him!

2010-06-11T23:14:00.009-04:00

G. gave me the heads-up about an article that’s supposed to be coming out in the N.Y. Times on Sunday. Supposedly, in the article, rapper Drake admits that he had a fling with Rihanna and goes into some details about the singer’s treatment of him. According to the news circulating the Internet including on this site, Drake says that Rihanna used him as a “pawn” and strung him along. Just like’s he’s done with many women. It may be little of me to admit this but it’s always good to hear when guys get a taste of their own medicine.

The fact that the industry-proclaimed ‘second coming of hip hop’ got his heart broken is not newsworthy to me but it got me wondering about how many celebrity relationships are really built on love and mutual attraction and how many are generated in some publicity machine. Obviously, since a lot of these people are in the same industry they are bound to see a lot of each other. It’s not farfetched to believe that they would form mutual attractions and develop true feelings. In fact, there are many celebrity couple who seem to be blissfully happy together (whether they really are is another story). But you have to wonder about some couples. Are they together because of something real or because of what the other person can do for their career?

We can look at Rihanna’s situation and see why being paired with Drake would be a good look for her. I mean, he’s garnered a lot of publicity surrounding his music even before he put out his first album! I’ve heard of other artists who’ve made a name for themselves from mixtapes but none of them were the answer to the claim “hip hop is dead”. Not before Drake. Or so they say. I’ve heard the singles that Drake released and they’re okay but I don’t really know what all the hype surrounding him is about. Who really knows? I just know that if it’s true that Rihanna really did give him a taste of what he’s been dishing out, she did womankind a good turn.

TV Round-Up: “Glee”, “Huge”, "Drop Dead Diva"

2010-06-09T13:58:00.007-04:00

Glee's season finale aired last night and I have to say, I loved every minute of it. I loved every performance and was particularly touched by the last two songs from students to teacher and the one from Shuester to his students (I particularly like this version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel "IZ" KamakawiwoÊ»ole ever since I first heard it during an episode of Cold Case). Undoubtably, this season has had it's ups (Idina Menzel) and downs and I haven’t always been pleased with the song choices or the cast’s rendition of them (ex. “One” - hated it!) But last night I was not at all disappointed. I’m a child of the 80s so having the New Directions group perform a Journey mash-up was the way to go to hook me. Frankly, pretty much any pop/rock/easy listening songs that came out in the late 70s through the 80s is A-okay with me. But Journey is definitely one of my favorites. I didn’t mind the set performed by Vocal Adrenaline either (I can see how they could have won). And although I didn’t like Jesse’s voice too much the first time that I heard him sing, I ‘m taking a second look after last night. Santana is another one who has been steadily growing on me. To me, Rachel’s voice tends to get whiny at times and Mercedes is the diva with the big voice but characters like Santana, Puck, and Tina continue to draw me in with their rich unique sounds. I really liked that everyone got a chance to showcase their voices in the finale and I look forward to seeing what's in store for next season.

While watching Glee, I happened to look up long enough between commercials to notice that ABC Family is premiering a new show, Huge. Gee, I wonder what this one is all about? And who else but Nikki Blonsky would star in it. I seem to recall a lifetime movie that was based on a similar premise-accepting yourself for who you are beneath the surface and so on -and you know who was the star there as well. But I’m not complaining. I happen to like these type of shows, where you know that everything will be okay in the end, and I actually think that Nikki is a good choice to play the lead. Will it be a good show? I don’t know but I’m hoping.

I haven’t gotten around to watching the complete premiere episode of Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva as yet but what I saw during the first ten minutes is causing me to pause. Seriously! An impromptu song-and-dance number featuring Paula Abdul? Is that how they really want to start the season off? I’ve heard Jane sing in past episodes and why not, old girl has a good voice. But seeing it in this episode, the whole dream sequence in the food court strikes me as just a tad…cheesy. Here’s hoping the rest of the episode is better than the first ten minutes.

Between Sleep and Social Life

2010-06-07T15:43:00.006-04:00

I’m exhausted! I haven’t had good, quality sleep in at least two weeks. Between entertaining visitors and actually having an active social life, sleep is starting to seem more like a novelty than a necessity. I can’t remember the last time that I slept for more than a few hours at a time, even when I had the time to sleep. This would be okay if I were still fully functional without it. But no, I’m sluggish and it takes twice the effort to perform tasks that I mindlessly complete on a regular basis. But I don’t mind sacrificing a few hours of sleep if I have a good reason and lately, I’ve had some pretty good ones.

First, homegrown friends are always good company but having friends from out of town visit is one of the best reasons for hitting the town. Every night was a late night. And, with events like film festivals, cooking competitions, food tasting and wine consuming, it’s understandable why I would forgo a few hours of sleep. Just the other day I saw an indie film titled The Prospects at the Brooklyn International Film Festival and I highly recommend it. So funny! I was also hoping to see Cost of A Soul but alas, SOLD OUT! From the trailer I can tell that I would have enjoyed it. In fact, I don’t think I have ever been disappointed by any of the indie films that I’ve seen in the past. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I knew absolutely nothing about the film and so went in not knowing what to expect, only hoping for the best. Or it could be that only the best indie films are weeded out from among numerous other submissions before being presented to a wider audience. Unlike the drivel that the Hollywood machine churns out! Whatever it is, I’m all for the independent films that show that quality work is thus in spite of the budget, not because of it.

Interesting Lyrics: Lyfe Jennings' "Statistics"

2010-06-02T12:26:00.002-04:00

I was going to let this song speak for itself but I feel that it is appropriate to share a brief exchange that I had about it:

G: I'm tired of men giving advice to women. Basically they are saying, we will take advantage of you if you let us. How about men use some discretion and don't take advantage?

Me: Interesting idea. However, we are responsible for our own actions. We cannot dictate what anyone else does. As nice as it would be for men to actually be nice guys who do the right thing, we have to do our part to not have the bad things done to us, even if we do mess up from time to time.

The Alicia Keys Situation: My Two Cents

2010-06-01T13:25:00.003-04:00

Ok, so I’m super late to the party. But that’s never stopped me from putting in my two cents. G. just happened to mention that Alicia Keys was pregnant which led to a discussion about the ex- Mrs. Swizz Beatz and the open letter to A. Keys that she posted on twitter. Apparently, this was posted about two years ago and I somehow missed it. First, I must make it clear that I don’t condone anyone who enters into a relationship with someone else who they know to be married, celebrity or not. I do not abide cheating on the part of any of the parties involved. Still, I took issue with some of what Mashonda had to say.

First, this “open letter” is not something that I nor anyone else needed to see. I don’t know why she thought that A. Key’s tweets had anything to do with her but since she did and it’s out there, I also take issue with that fact that she seems to make this an issue solely between herself and A. Keys. Where is Swizz Beatz’ responsibility in all this? He was the one who made vows to Mashonda but yet, all of her ire is directed to the so-called other woman. As women, we sometimes seem to think that it’s the other woman who should bear the brunt of our pain and while I feel that they do have some responsibility, the man who committed themselves to us has even more so. Unless some woman drugged him, tied him down and raped him, any man can open his mouth and tell a trifling woman to back up off of him.

I also take issue with the fact that Mashonda seems to think that she and A. Keys need to get along in order for Swizz to be involved in his son’s life. In a perfect world, that would be peachy but I just don't think that she should make that a condition for them to be able to raise their son together. She has no right and who really knows if A. Keys will still be in his life 5 years from now anyway? If things do not work out, someone else will take her place. If Swizz is good to his son, he has a right to be in his life. It has nothing to do with anyone else, not A. Keys or anyone else who might take her place.

I get that in light of her personal situation the types of songs that Alicia Keys sing about seem to paint her a as hypocrite. But apparently, I have a much easier time of separating the artist from the person. Earlier this year, I went to see A. Keys in concert and thoroughly enjoyed myself. And yes, I admit to being titilated when Swizz made a brief appearance on stage. What can I say? I centainly didn't spend the three hours being mad at A. Keys for whatever's going on in her personal life. But I have friends who said that they no longer like Alicia Keys' music because she is a trifling broad. Hmm, I can’t remember what they said about R. Kelly and his penchant for peeing on teenage girls. We have this tendency to put celebrities on a pedestal and when they dare to fall, we give it to them hard! And maybe, rightly so. We like to think that they maintain their celebrity status because of us, the fans, and that we have rights to that image. I don’t think it’s worth arguing that point but I will say that we have no rights to the person underneath it all. At the end of the day, we answer only to ourselves and to God.

The Futon

2010-05-24T13:50:00.001-04:00

This past weekend was a busy yet somewhat unproductive one. I had many errands scheduled- things that needed to get done inside and outside of my home. But I did less than half of them. It might have something to do with the fact that I went on an impromptu shopping trip that ran longer than expected or the movies that I just had to borrow and needed to watch before the weekend ended or any number of little things that I just had to do. Whatever the case, I had a good weekend and the one thing I needed to have done— the assembling of my new futon— got done.

‘Handy with tools’ is not a phrase that I would use to describe myself. In fact, my klutziness decrees that I stay far, far away from sharp objects or anything that could possibly do me harm and I have countless burns and bruises that will attest to what happens when I don’t. In theory, assembling a futon doesn’t seem to be a very difficult job. How difficult would it be to follow some instructions, to match my finished product to images of the one provided by the manufacturer? Even besides the fact that the parts for my not-quite-standard futon arrived in two packages rather than the one package that a standard futon would come in. Surely I could have managed! But I wasn’t taking any chances, I left the task to my brother. Really, what would I have done without him? Less than two hours after he started and with some fussing about wonky tools, he was done. And my futon was ready to be tested after which, I was even more happy with my choice. Happy Monday!

So It Continues…

2010-05-19T13:11:00.002-04:00

Ever since my return from Spain, I have developed a new obsession: becoming somewhat-fluent in Spanish. When I see something that is written in Spanish, I pull out my trusty translator and I translate it. I’ve warned friends that I may break out speaking Spanish at any moment and I’ve stayed true to my word. Para practicar, hablo en espanol con mi amiga, K. And even though we both have limited knowledge of the language, I feel like I am learning. Un poquito. Besides, I am thoroughly enjoying myself in the process. I’m willing to try almost anything that will help me improve my language acumen. Most recently, at K’s recommendation, I’ve even started watching a couple telenovelas- “A Corazon Abierto” y “El Clon”. So far, no entiendo nada porque hablan muy rapido! I just can’t keep up. Not yet anyway. But I will keep watching and keep practicing. I am determined that the next time I visit to Spain (because I will definitely return) I will be able to communicate at least as well as an expat.

N.B. I will eventually get around to writing about my wonderful trip, just not today  Happy hump day!

Spain: A Love Affair

2010-05-11T13:02:00.007-04:00

I recently returned from what can only be described as the most awesome vacation ever! Two glorious weeks in Spain! You know a vacation is great when you hate to leave when it’s time to return home. I usually like nothing more than returning to my apartment following a vacation and locking myself in until it’s time for me to return to work. That was definitely not the case this time around and I was happy that I chose to stay until the absolute last day. Simply put, I love Spain!

It’s a pretty well known fact that Spain is a country that is rich in culture and I definitely got a dose of that while I was there. But I think what really makes Spain great are the wonderful people who I met, some of whom have become good friends in a very short time. I have to give kudos to a program called Pueblo Ingles, through which I was able to make connections with forty plus wonderful people who I might not otherwise have met. The age range ran from 21 up into the 70s (our group ended up with a somewhat younger crowd because of the volcanic eruption) but we all seem to find a common bond through which we could communicate (in English) and by the end of our week together, we felt like we were leaving old friends behind. I can not effectively put into words how the program affected me. Let’s just say that I am still sad that it ended. Scenic photos and details about the places I visited to follow…

Volcanic Disruptions

2010-04-19T12:46:00.003-04:00

There is a saying that when we make plans, God is somewhere laughing at us. This is proven true every time there is a natural disaster, and most recently with the eruption of the Eyjafjalljoekull volcano in Iceland. In the past, I’ve always been slightly removed from these disasters, from the earthquakes in Haiti, China, Chile, tsunami in Thailand, mudslide in Uganda, various hurricanes in New Orleans and throughout the Caribbean, among other deadly natural disasters. But the volcanic ash that is spreading across Europe may just put a major crimp in my travel plans. I really can’t, in good conscience, gripe about this though or about any issue where safety is the main concern.

After spending copious numbers of hours planning my next adventure, booking a flight, finding a hotel, planning activities, and packing, I now have to face the fact that I may (just maybe) have to settle for a stay-cation as time continues to creep closer with little change in the situation. I’ve been keeping a close eye on the updates of airports closing and re-opening across Europe and chances are good that I may get to my destination, but slightly later than I need to be there (I always knew my habit of cutting things close would one day come back to bite me). But a change to vacation plans isn’t the worst that can happen right? There are thousands of people who are stuck in foreign countries where they don’t speak the language, are low on funds having come to the end of their vacations, are lacking the medicine they need to survive, or those who spent days traveling by cars, trains, ferry— any way they could— just so they could make it home. There are cash-poor nations whose very survival depends on the goods they are able to export to Europe and small farmers who have to watch helpless as their livelihood go to waste. Although, I do think it’s right that the European transport ministers are erring on the side of caution, despite the frustrations that it incites in many. Again, better safe than sorry!

Cooking Joy

2010-04-16T12:50:00.004-04:00

I’ve been bad. I’ve cooked once in the past few weeks. Not good for someone who’s trying to get better at cooking. Still, my cooking excitement continues! These days I even get excited when I go shopping for cooking utensils and other home essentials. I spent an inordinate amount of time picking out a saute pan and I even salivated over a stainless steel set that I thought would fit in perfectly with my imaginary dream home. What’s gotten over me? I’m feeling a bit…domesticated. Hmm.

I’ve toyed around with the idea of signing up for a series of cooking classes. The ones that most interested me were the series on Asian Cooking and the Essential Cooking series at the Institute of Culinary Education . Why these two? Well, I count Asian food, particularly Thai, among my top 3 favorite types of food to eat (the other two are Caribbean and Italian). I often find myself ordering from my favorite Thai restaurant on average of once a week, pretty frequent for me. But then I decided that I could learn as much as I would in a classroom through true experimentation in my own kitchen. Why not make use of the cookbooks laying around my apartment? I mean, how bad could it be? I try it, it's either good or it's not. I'll still eat it. So, the cooking classes are on still on hold. For now, I’m still experimenting with seasonings (more to come on this). Happy eating!

Waving Bye to "Ugly Betty"

2010-04-15T13:23:00.005-04:00

If you plan to watch any of the episodes of the last season of ABC’s “Ugly Betty”, read no further. For everyone else, Betty has come full circle from her time as a geeky, fashion-challenged assistant at Mode to her posh London gig as a stylish editor in need of her own assistant. Who but Betty would have employers find her and offer her once-in-a-lifetime opportunities when she wasn’t even looking for a job? Unbelievable aspects aside, and although I was prepared for this moment after having to scramble around to find the showings each week, I am sad to see it go. But really, where else could they go with the storyline? Betty was completely transformed and moving on to a different phase in her life. A completely different show. The end. I’m sad that so many loose ends had to be tied up in one episode thereby leaving little room for the over-dramatizations that the show is known for. But I’m not sad that most everyone seems to have their own version of a happy ending, trite though some of them may seem. Mark is back to dating his stalker, Amanda finally found her dad, Justin is happily out of the closet, and Hilda has the family she’s always wanted and is moving to Manhattan (for a die-hard Queens girl like Hilda, did not see that one coming. And how did they find a reasonably priced home in such an overpriced city?) That’s all well and good but Wilhemena Slater being nice! Just for the sake of it, with no agenda? Unbelievable, but less so than Daniel thinking he’s in love with Betty, enough to give up his lucrative position and follow her to London. Since when do people give up positions that were handed to them on silver platters? So he has a conscience, I’m fine with that. But there is something so surreal about the fact that all is right in everyone’s life. No drama whatsoever! Anti-climatic. If only true life were that neat and tidy (we'd all be bored). Still, “Ugly Betty” will be missed by this blogger.

Glee - OK

2010-04-14T16:23:00.006-04:00

So, Glee (season 2) premiered on Fox last night and it was just okay for me. A little pitch problem (Randy Jackson voice). Okay, just kidding but it really wasn’t as good as I remembered it being from last season. As a general rule, I will watch almost anything that involves some singing (a la Broadway) but with last season’s success I’ve come to expect a bit more from Glee. So why wasn’t I thrilled? I can’t quite put my finger on it. I do remember thinking that the ‘New Directions dude’ did not blow me away with his singing (after that lead-in about his legendary status) but I did like the harmony between his and Rachel’s voice (or maybe I just love duets). Also, Rachel was a bit much with the drama queen bit. And, the whole feeling of betrayal on the part of the choir when Rachel finally got a boyfriend, well, a bit of an overreaction no? Although, it is pretty plain to see that things will not end well for Ms. Drama Queen in that regard- a good enough reason to keep watching. I liked the idea of building a theme around a single word, hello (kinda clever if you think about the fact that it’s the first episode after a long break), and I loved the cameo by Idina Menzel (I still think that she is Rachel’s doppleganger) and I can’t wait to hear her bust one out! So my verdict, Glee got off to an okay start with some potentially interesting story lines and room for improvement. I’ll keep watching.

"Window Seat" Parodies

2010-04-12T09:42:00.004-04:00

Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the last couple weeks, you've heard about Eryka Badu's controversial new video to her latest track, "Window Seat". While pleasantly entertaining, there's nothing particularly special about the beat or the lyrics (for me) but the fact that Ms. Badu strips completely naked while walking down a public street in Dallas has made people stop and think, and question. People seem to fall into two different schools of thought: those who find the video empowering in the message that it sends and those who believe that Ms. Badu is an attention-seeking sex-fiend. And, a bad example for her children. Frankly, I did wonder about the fact that there was a kid or two on the street as Ms. Badu was filming but I don't see much difference between what she did and what the band Matt & Kim (who inspired Ms. Badu's video) did in the over-populated Times Square in New York a few years ago. They certainly caught people's attention, like Ms. Badu did, but I don't recall them catching as much of the backlash. Double standard? I think so! Regardless, i'm not here to discuss whether Ms. Badu is right or wrong but to share this and this, two parodies of "Window Seat". You knew the parodies would follow, right? Enjoy!

Double Down: Here's to Your Health!

2010-04-06T11:24:00.004-04:00

With construction for a new KFC currently underway in my neighborhood, I have a bit of interest in the goings on of this fast food chain. This bit of news that I’m about to share with you is slightly old but still timely. Apparently, KFC is premiering a new bun-less sandwich on April 12th called the double down (see images here). Now a bun-less sandwich sounds healthy, right? After all, you're cutting out the waist-busting carbs. Not this sandwich, never mind the grilled option. I love bacon but slapping a few pieces of pork and cheese between two pieces of fried/grilled chicken breast does not a sandwich make! This combo cannot be good for anyone! From where I stand, it seems like the double down (specifically the fried option) was especially designed to clog the arteries and induce a heart attack. And it’s true what they say, you are what you eat. Beware of the double down!

I feel queasy just thinking about this sandwich. Does this sound appetizing to anyone?

Enough is Enough, Steve!

2010-04-05T10:48:00.003-04:00

Why does it seem that every time I turn around, Steve Harvey has some money-making scheme he’s trying to push to his readers. He’s pushed his clothing line, his comedy shows, award show, mentoring programs, various website, and his relationship book. Next up is a gala (according to him, it’s not for everyone) and a dating site (which I refuse to name here). The one thing that all these things have in common is that they require you to come up out your pocket to support Steve. I listen to the Steve Harvey Morning Show on a regular basis but I’m really starting to get disgusted by his endless greed. I know a few people who have stopped listening to the show for this very reason. Instead of always asking your listeners to give you their hard-earned money, why don’t you focus on making your comedy shows funny for a change?

Cooking 101

2010-04-02T11:10:00.006-04:00

Cooking and baking are recent and developing hobbies of mine and I will be writing more about my attempts to perfect a dish and about other topics related to cooking. I will also be sharing flavorful recipes in upcoming posts. But first, you ought to know a little about my cooking history.

I once baked a pan of chicken legs and thighs that was completely flavorless. They were coated in some kind of green concoction that my mother liked to mix up and that I mistook for seasoning. Not the case at all! It could have been a colossal waste but bless my dear brother, he can eat anything. The rest of us couldn’t choke down more than one or two pieces but he didn’t let anything go to waste. In hindsight, this memory from my teenage years characterizes a lot of my cooking attempts to date: the best of intentions marred by mishaps.

During my teenage years, my mother would call me to sit in the kitchen while she prepared dinner. I wasn’t an active participant during these times, merely an observer. I think my mother believed that by having me watch her, I would pick up on the steps that she took to prepare meals. And while I did learn how to make some very basic dishes, I consider the overall experience a failure. I learn best by doing and frankly, I just wasn’t all that interested in learning how to cook at that time (especially since it took me away from my precious books). So, it’s ironic that I now wish that I had paid closer attention and asked a lot of questions then. Yet, on the other hand, I am having so much fun trying out different recipes, experimenting with seasoning and developing different flavor palates now that I can’t begrudge the effort it took to get me to this point. Lately, I set out to cook a dish not knowing which seasonings I would add to it and what flavors I could cull out of it. I leave myself open for surprises and I am satisfied if it’s at least edible. But on those occasions when everything comes together, it’s one of the best feelings in the world. Happy cooking!

Black & Beauty

2010-03-31T10:51:00.005-04:00

Usually when I hear the acronyms NPR, words like boring and stuffy automatically come to mind. I formed my opinion of NPR solely on my memories of being subjected to boring talk radio as a passenger in other people’s cars. I know, our memories are faulty and I can admit that I might have been wrong to form an opinion based on so little. The NPR that exists in reality is far from the one I carry in my memory bank. And, on the occasions when G sends me crazy links like this one, I think that it might be worth my time to check out the site more often and maybe even listen to some of the podcasts. If it produces articles that really makes me think then it can’t be all that boring, right?

No doubt, some of us have discussed the idea of what is considered beautiful, especially in black communities. And it is a known fact that women, especially, modify their appearance to fit an ideal of what is considered beautiful. So it really is no surprise that women in Jamaica (and other parts of the world) use skin bleach to try and lighten their appearances. I’m guessing those days where “black is beautiful” was the slogan that many lived by are far behind us. I personally believe that the many shades that we come in is part of what makes black so beautiful. Does any other race struggle as much as blacks do with the color of their skin? I sincerely doubt that. Unquestionably, some of this is shrouded in history where light was right and dark skin was likened to ugliness and all things bad. But we’ve made great strides since then. So why are we regressing?

The situation in Jamaica highlights just how willing some of us are to be lead. Back when a curvaceous figure was the thing, women were popping chicken pills despite the danger from poisoning attached to them. And now that that's changed, they're scrambling to remodel themselves. They cause damage to their skin in their attempts to be on the “right” side of color. They inject their faces to get that fresh look, and cut themselves apart to achieve the youthful figure that is supposed to be attractive to men. Just how far are we willing to go? Many of these beatification tactics list death as a potential side effect and still we continue. Is there nothing that we won’t do to meet someone else’s standard of beauty?

Nice to Meet You, Neighbor!

2010-03-30T14:49:00.003-04:00

“I bet the neighbors know my name…” Why does that song (and particularly that line) keep running through my head? I’ve liked the song since the first time I heard it about a month ago. In fact, the more I hear from Trey Songz, the more I am growing to like him. Hmm. It’s puzzling because it usually takes a lot more than a nice mellow beat and a catchy line for me to get hung up on an R&B song but there’s something about it… I guess it could have something to do with the fact that I really do think my neighbors now know who I am (if not my name).

After having water raining down on you from the upstairs apartment, it becomes kinda hard to ignore your neighbor. I swear I never saw my downstairs neighbor before last night but as soon as he knocked on my door, I knew exactly who he was and why he was there. I am truly sorry for the incident but usually when I flush my toilet, water goes down the hole- it doesn’t elevate, spill over and cause water damage to two other apartments. I feel bad not only for the inconvenience that my innocent act might have caused but also because there was no graceful way for me to remove half my collection of bras while they hung drying in the bathroom as the neighbor and the super stood in my tiny bathroom. But we live in a modern times right? At least my bathroom was clean. Guess I’ll just have to think twice about flushing from now on.

Pure Ignorance

2010-01-20T13:28:00.004-05:00

So, G has been sending me links to NPR articles that clearly indicate that the world is filled with more ignorant people that I could ever have imagined.
First, there's the wife of the evangelist who writes a tell-all book explaining why she chose to stay with her husband after he cheated on her. I would be hard-pressed to follow her example if I were in her position and my husband cheated on me with another woman but I'm sure I would be able to understand where she was coming from. But another man? It's no longer just an infidelity issue. Clearly, her husband is gay and they are both in denial of that fact. So while she can forgive him for cheating, she has to let him go so he is free to be who he is. As G pointed out, homosexuality is not something that needs to be forgiven. It is what it is.
Next, there's the guy who wants to create an all-white basketball league. I could list a bunch of reasons why this would be a bad idea from a financial standpoint, regardless of the social aspect but I'll refrain. I don't see any way for this idea to even get off the ground floor but I have learned not to underestimate the strength of the ignorant people who make up a great part of this world.

Gmail Propoganda

2010-01-07T16:24:00.006-05:00

I recently signed up for a gmail account mainly so that I could stay in touch with a friend over the course of the day. Obviously, I already had a Google account (for Google Books or something) which allows me to maintain this blog. I am content with my existing Yahoo! email accounts but unfortunately, Messenger is no longer supported at my friend's job site, hence the switch. Since I was putting forth enormous effort to create an account that I did not want or need, I figured that I would make it one that I could use for professional purposes. I never gave much thought to the "image" that my email address projected- my only concern was that it was easily identifiable as mine. But then my friend sent me this NPR marketplace article which clearly shows that Google is trying to take over the world, one email at a time. I think that Google is a wonderful tool but I generally like to arrive at realizations without too much outside influence. Apparently, you are considered "uncool" and send the wrong message to hiring managers if you still use aol or hotmail or some other supposedly outdated email extension, anything other than gmail. Oh wait, Yahoo! is okay but if you really want to be taken seriously, gmail is the way to go. Anyone else see what I'm seeing? I'm almost tempted to try and test out this biased theory but I think it would be much more satisfying to keep my "okay" Yahoo! email address on my resumes after all, at least for the time being:).

Cold but Happy

2010-01-06T12:19:00.004-05:00

I spent New Year's weekend in Chicago and had a blast. Despite the freezing cold! It's always the misadventures that you remember and smile over days later. Like when we waited out in the cold for about half an hour in a vain attempt to get into Crobar (after champagne toasts at another party) and finally gave up when we realized that we were getting too old to wait on anybody. Guess we were too cheap to shell out the "two and a quarter" that it would take for us to get bottle service and gain immediate admission. As we walked to G's warm car, we felt a little sorry for the people huddled together in their cocktail dresses and the drunk people walking barefoot because they couldn't get a cab. Why do people think it's okay to be out in the cold without a coat or any kind of protection just because its NYE? And when our next stop was far from full, enough so we could feel a cold draft in the air, we took it all in stride and still managed to end on a happy note. Total money spent: $20 for club admission for two people (regular admission was $35 per person). We made the most of that and the next two nights. I do believe that the fun we had at Wild Hare on our last night more than made up for all of our misadventures.

Family Bonding

2009-12-23T12:11:00.004-05:00

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!

2009-12-17T12:57:00.004-05:00

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?

2009-11-30T12:01:00.003-05:00

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

2009-11-25T11:29:00.004-05:00

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

2009-09-24T10:33:00.003-04:00

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?

2009-09-16T11:24:00.004-04:00

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

2009-09-09T16:17:00.003-04:00

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

2009-09-04T12:24:00.006-04:00

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!

2009-09-02T12:17:00.003-04:00

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

2009-08-20T10:43:00.009-04:00

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

2009-08-18T14:05:00.007-04:00

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

2009-08-14T11:06:00.004-04:00

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

2009-08-13T11:51:00.002-04:00

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!

2009-08-12T14:11:00.000-04:00

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

2009-07-31T13:05:00.005-04:00

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

2009-07-23T13:42:00.004-04:00

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

2009-07-17T16:52:00.003-04:00

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?

2009-07-13T14:57:00.005-04:00

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

2009-07-10T16:02:00.004-04:00

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

2009-07-09T16:06:00.002-04:00

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!

2009-07-08T14:12:00.003-04:00

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?

2009-07-06T11:11:00.004-04:00

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

2009-07-02T14:23:00.004-04:00

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

2009-06-30T14:56:00.003-04:00

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

2009-06-29T11:20:00.004-04:00

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

2009-06-16T16:55:00.002-04:00

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

2009-06-15T15:47:00.004-04:00

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

2009-06-10T14:32:00.005-04:00

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

2009-06-09T15:19:00.003-04:00

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

2009-06-05T09:49:00.002-04:00

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!

2009-06-04T11:28:00.006-04:00

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?

2009-06-03T13:35:00.003-04:00

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

2009-06-03T10:25:00.003-04:00

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?

2009-06-02T15:46:00.006-04:00

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

2009-06-01T10:34:00.005-04:00

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!

2009-05-29T10:31:00.005-04:00

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

Movie Roundup: Dance Flick

2009-05-27T15:37:00.006-04:00

I’ve been doing quite a bit of movie-watching over the past few weeks. If it was slated as a big-ticket item, chances are I saw it. I thoroughly enjoyed X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Angels & Demons, and Obsessed and Star Trek and Terminator Salvation were both okay for me. However, it pains me to admit this because I really like these guys but Dance Flick truly sucked! I was in the mood for comedy and thought that a dose of Wayans brothers was just what I needed but I was so disgusted by the bad, cheesy jokes that I left halfway through the movie. I expected it to be stupid and funny, not stupid and corny and after awhile, I couldn’t work up much energy to crack a smile. There’s just too much that was bad for me to make a comprehensive list here, just know that it was money not well spent! I really expected better from the Wayans- all of whom (except Damon Sr. unless he showed up after I left) had a role or some sort of cameo- based on movies like Scary Movie 1 & 2 and White Chicks. Obviously they know how to do funny but I didn’t see any in Dance Flick. Methinks it’s time for them to grow-up and move beyond their comfort zone. Until they do, I’m passing on anything written and produced by the Wayans. Dance Flick was just that bad!

Long Weekend Blues

2009-05-26T11:47:00.007-04:00

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

2009-05-22T11:27:00.006-04:00

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

2009-05-21T10:22:00.003-04:00

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

2009-05-20T13:38:00.012-04:00

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

2009-05-18T10:50:00.003-04:00

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

2009-05-15T13:43:00.004-04:00

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

2009-05-15T13:19:00.004-04:00

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

2009-05-14T16:08:00.005-04:00

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.