Monday, December 31, 2012

Ciao, baby

Well, 2012 is almost behind us and I say ciao, baby.  Not that it was a terrible year for me personally, but I'm ready to move on.  Even though 2013 looks like it's going to start on a sour note with the fiscal cliff and higher taxes all around, I'm still optimistic about the next year.  I'm anticipating positive changes in the new year.  We all should try to start 2013 with a clean slate or at least not let the sorrows of 2012 continue to consume us.

Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Back to the Grind

Well, after a few days off, I returned to the grind of work.  Back to the subway.  Back to the midtown crowds.  Back to paying for lunch.  No more days of sitting around in sweatpants and snacking on junk food while watching The People's Court and other assorted daytime TV programs.

It was hard to get into the swing of things, but not too hard since I checked my work e-mail a few times during my vacation.  It's actually nice to work between Christmas and New Year's because the office is quiet and a lot of folks are still on vacation.  Still, given the choice, I think I would have preferred to have the whole week off this year and return to work in January.  Unfortunately, that wasn't an option.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Evanston, IL

I spent a few days in Evanston, IL and had a great time. Evanston is such a cute city with great houses and a quaint downtown. In spite of the freezing temperatures during my visit, I enjoyed being in the Chicago area. It's always nice to get away from home for awhile.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Mistaken Identity

Yesterday morning, while I was at the laundromat, a woman approached me as I was pulling my clothes out a dryer and said, "Jennifer?"  My name is not Jennifer.  Never has been, never will be.  The woman had mistaken me for someone else.  This has happened before to me.  When I was in Michigan a few years ago, a woman called out to me (well, not to me, to someone she thought was me) in the parking lot of the strip mall on Orchard Lake Road near Northwestern Highway because she swore I was someone else.  Are there really that many women who look like I do?  I find this hard to believe.  Maybe we all have a twin somewhere in the world, but what are chances we have multiple lookalikes?  And how come I've never seen any of my own lookalikes?  My sister said jokingly that they're living in an alternate reality.  "Jennifer"and the others are living their lives someone while I live mine elsewhere.  We're coexisting and our paths will probably never cross in life.  And maybe that's for the best.

Friday, December 14, 2012

People Are Nuts

I had hoped to end this work week on a positive note since I feel like my blogs have been overly depressing lately, but with the shooting in Connecticut today, there's not a lot of positivity to go around right now.

People are nuts.  That's the only reason I can come up with to explain why someone would kill a bunch of children.  What makes a person snap and do something so awful?  What makes a person get out of bed, grab a gun, and go on a killing spree?  It's another sad day in America.  Some nut job shot up a mall in Oregon earlier this week, an assassin shot a guy on the 58th Street in broad daylight, and a psycho pushed a guy onto the subway tracks.  Madness. 

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Elmo is Tainted

Elmo is tainted.   I hate to say it, but it's true.  I was watching Michael Buble's (aka Mikey Bubbly) Christmas special last night on NBC and when the time came for him and Elmo to do their skit, I couldn't watch it.  I've never been a huge Elmo fan anyway because the Sesame Street I grew up with didn't have Elmo.  The Sesame Street I loved growing up in the 70s had Big Bird, the Count, Cookie Monster, Kermit, Mr. Snuffleupagus, and Oscar the Grouch.  And, the Sesame Street I grew up with didn't focus on the men or women behind the puppets and costumes.  It was all about the characters. 

The whole thing with Kevin Clash and his underaged paramours has just left a bad taste in my mouth and that bad taste has, sadly, trickled down to Elmo.  I don't even know if Kevin Clash was the puppet operator and voice of Elmo on Buble's show, but it didn't matter.  Just hearing Elmo's baby voice and seeing him with Bubbly made me flip the channel.  Kevin Clash is so closely associated with Elmo that it's hard to separate the two.  If he had just stayed behind the scenes and did his job as one of the many anonymous people who work to bring Sesame Street to life, no one ever would have heard about him and maybe his private life would have stayed private.  I suspect some or maybe all of Clash's accusers are hustlers out to make a buck.  But Clash displayed poor judgment in getting involved with these guys.  It's just a bad situtation all the way around.

On a more positive note, I did enjoy Bubbly's Christmas special (in spite of Elmo, Blake Shelton, and the weird duet with Bing Crosby).  His duet with Rod Stewart was particularly good along with his rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" at the end. 

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Lincoln vs. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter

I saw Lincoln this weekend at BAM.  The theater was packed.  I don't believe there was an empty seat in the house.  Given the film's critical acclaim, I was anxious to see it.  Unfortunately, I was nodding off during the first hour.  Things picked up for me in the second hour and final half hour, but it was still a snoozer.  I did enjoy the performances, particularly James Spader's performance as Bilbo.  Everyone's praising Daniel Day Lewis (as they should), but there should be an equal amount of love for James Spader.  (And, as a side note, I like fat, older James Spader.  That double chin suits him and I've been a James Spader fan from the 80s.)  I just felt like I didn't really learn much about Lincoln, the man from the movie.  Honestly, I felt I learned more about Abraham Lincoln from reading the book and seeing the movie version of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.  I know that sounds kooky, but entertwined with the fictional stuff about Lincoln being a vampire hunter was real information about the man himself, his upbringing, and his adult life. 

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Sweating the Small Stuff

I constantly sweat the small stuff and, although I've gotten better at breaking this habit as I get older, I still do it from time to time.  I suspect a lot of people do.  It's hard not to!  When I read about the British nurse who killed herself because she'd unknowingly put a crank call through to Kate Middleton's nurse, all I could do was shake my head.  Bad things happen and we all make mistakes.  Yet this woman took her own life presumably because she transferred a crank call and Kate's medical condition was publicized.  Yet this nurse left her children without a mother because she was so humiliated by a prank that didn't really harm anyone.  What a shame.  Life is too short to spend it worrying about (A) things you can't control; (B) things you had control of but messed up; and (C) things that haven't happened yet (and my not happen at all).   When mistakes happen, you have to try and figure out the best way to resolve the problem(s) that occur as a result and work to ensure that the mistakes won't happen again.  We're all imperfect.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Holiday Spirit

As the Christmas season kicks into full gear, I am trying to get in the holiday spirit, but it's hard.  Bad news keeps bringing me down.  My manager lost his job today.  ("Merry Christmas!  You're fired!") Some crazy dude pushed a guy onto the subway tracks (right down the street from my office) and killed the guy.  The fiscal cliff is looming.  What a depress-fest.  All of the aforementioned buzzkills were out of my control, but that doesn't make me feel any better.  The country as a whole needs a pep talk.  Where's Zig Ziglar when you need him?  Oh, he died last week. 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Skyfall

I saw Skyfall over the weekend and enjoyed it.  Daniel Craig is not my cup of tea looks-wise, but he was great as James Bond.  It's nice to see a mature man kicking ass!  I also liked that the movie gave him some ethnically-diverse love interests.  I don't believe there was one hot blonde in the movie (unless you count Judi Dench).  The little homoerotic scene with Craig and Javier Bardem was interesting and quite entertaining (at least for me it was). 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

MTA=Manhattan Transportation Authority

Once again, the F and G trains will be out of service this weekend.  The trains were down for the weekend before the week of Thanksgiving and now they will be out of service again a week later and replaced with shuttle buses.  When I called the MTA to find out why the trains will be down for yet another weekend, I was given the standard answer about "track work" being needed.  As much as I love Brooklyn, it's times like this that I wished I lived in Manhattan where the subways are always running.  Sure, track work is done in Manhattan also, but at least you have other options if your particular line isn't running.  You can walk a few avenues and catch another line that is up and running if your particular line isn't.  Out here in Brooklyn, you're pretty much forced to take the dreaded shuttle buses if the trains aren't running. 

I will never be convinced that the service disruptions are equal between boroughs.  Manhattan gets better treatment than other boroughs because it's the moneymaker.  That's where the tourists are.  That's where the money is.  The MTA honchos must think, To hell with the people who live and work in Brooklyn.  They can suffer.  It's not right.  I understand track work is necessary and usually that track work is at least staggered a few weeks between service disruptions, but this every other weekend thing is not right. 

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Subway Solicitation

When I was on the F train coming home from work tonight, a young black woman got on the train with two young children and asked for money.  Through the music on my headphones, I could hear her saying something about needing money because of Hurricane Sandy, but I didn't catch the entire story.  As a rule, I don't give money to people who pander on the subway and I didn't pony up any cash for the woman I saw today either.  I am strongly against panhandling and it's also against the law to solicit for money on the subway in New York (although I doubt the cops crack down on it).  But I get really annoyed when I see people (women mainly) panhandling with their kids.  They know they're likely to get money if they're with a child, particularly a young child or a baby. (The woman I saw today snagged a few dollars from someone on the train likely because of the two small children she had with her.)  Dragging your child around while you beg for money just isn't right.  If you want to panhandle on your own, more power to you, but don't pull your kid into it.   

As for the woman I saw today, I don't know what her situation was.  Perhaps she and her kids were truly in need, but there are a lot of social programs available to women with children in New York that help with housing and food.  There's no reason to exploit your kids while you beg for bucks on the F train.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Back to Work Countdown

Well, the long holiday weekend is almost over and it's back to work tomorrow.  I woke up this morning to find out my apartment:
1. Had no heat
2. Had no hot water.

Lovely.  Thankfully, both issues were resolved by the afternoon.  At least I didn't have to go to work.  Taking a cold shower when it's 30-40 degrees outside (and when you don't have heat inside) is no fun. 

I planned to see more than one movie during this Thanksgiving weekend, but I only saw one: Flight.  It was quite good.  Denzel Washington was great, as he usually is.  I give it two thumbs up.  Maybe I'll make it to see Skyfall and/or Lincoln later this week. 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Book Club Blues

I went to my bi-monthly book club meeting in Philly on Sunday and was surprised (and annoyed) to discover that I was the only one at the meeting who had read the 400+ page book The Shoemaker's Wife.  The woman who had suggested the book didn't even come for the meeting.  Frustrating!  I never would have read the book if I had known no one else would read it either!  Granted, we had three books to read and I read two of the three, but The Shoemaker's Wife was clearly the longest and the most time-consuming.  At least we only have two books for the next meeting and I suggested one of them.  (And the one I suggested is NOT 400+ pages either!) 

Friday, November 16, 2012

Open on Wednesday...Closed on Sunday

Today, around 1:00 pm, I bought a ticket for next Tuesday night's performance of the Broadway play The Performers, starring the terribly underrated and hugely talented Cheyenne Jackson and the Fonz himself, Henry Winkler.  Around 4:00 pm, I was on Google news and happened to see a headline that The Performers was closing on Sunday!!!  The play just opened this Wednesday (although previews had been ongoing since October 23).  Granted, the reviews were not good for the play (although the reviews I read did praise Cheyenne for his performance) and I figured the show would probably close early, but I didn't think it would close in less than a week!  So, at 4:30, after work, I went back to the box office for a refund.  Bummer!  I guess I should have gone to see it in previews.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Public Water Fountains

I don't drink from public water fountains anymore.  After seeing one too many people putting their mouths over the part of the fountain where the water comes out, I had to give them up for good.  I've also seen people letting their dogs drink from public water fountains in the park.  Nasty!  Now I'm no germophobe.  Just living in New York forces you to deal with unsanitory conditions pretty much on a daily basis when you leave your home.  Between subway poles, stairway rails, and ATM's, the world is not a clean place and that's just the way it is.  But putting your hands on something that may have been touched by many, many other people is a far cry from putting your mouth on something that may have been touched by many, many other thirsty people (or thirsty animals).  Ugh!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Great

After a day that started fine and ended poorly with me frustrated and annoyed after being bounced from one Verizon representative to another, I got off the subway and saw a woman barfing into a garbage can on the platform.  Great.  Just what I wanted to see after dealing with Verizon.  At least the barfer made it to the garbage can.  When you're sick, you're sick.  I've been there.  During my undergraduate college years in Detroit, I barfed into a garbage bag on the Dexter bus coming home from classes at Wayne State.  People moved (rightly) away from me on the bus, making me feel like more of a leper than I already felt.  Public illness is rarely pretty, but it happens.  I hope that lady on the platform is doing better.  Her day was clearly a lot worse than mine!

Monday, November 12, 2012

What the What?

What is going on with people?  First we find out about General Petraeus and his extra-marital affair and then we find out the Elmo guy, Kevin Clash, had an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old.  Ugh.  Some folks just have trouble keeping it in their pants and, as a result, lives are ruined.  Sad. 

Friday, November 9, 2012

Country Strong

Lately, I've been having a country revolution of sorts. I am thoroughly enjoying A&E's Duck Dynasty. I find the show funny and entertaining and I'm glad to have another program to watch since White Collar, Royal Pains, and Burn Notice aren't on right now. Duck Dynasty might seem like a strange choice for a Detroiter in Brooklyn, but my tastes in television books, music, etc. frequently run against the norm.

Speaking of music, how great are Alison Krauss and Union Station? I love them! I am not a fan of country music, but I do enjoy Alison Krauss. Her voice is so beautiful to me.

I think we all should step out of our comfort zones from time to time and not be ashamed to admit the things we like just because they go against the expected demographics.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Over and Out

The election is over (thank God) and Obama won (thank God again). I'm sure many Americans, regardless of how they voted, are glad the whole shebang is over. The election process just dragged on too long. Too many commercials, too many debates, too much ridiculousness.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

No Meat Below 42nd Street

Following the huge post-hurricane power outages in midtown and lower Manhattan, I've been warning my coworkers not to eat from establishments below 42nd Street.  Call me paranoid, but I just don't believe every resturant or grocery store that was out of power last week got rid of every single perishable food or beverage.  One of my coworkers laughed at me, but he won't be laughing when he has botulism!  (OK, maybe he won't have botulism, but you get my point.)  I have to give these businesses another week to get back up to speed before I buy food from them. 

In other news, I read people complaining on Gothamist about not getting little stickers that say "I Voted" after they voted today and I realized I also did not get a sticker.  I used to get them when I lived in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan (I believe), but nothing from New York.  Where's my sticker????  I hate to sound like a child, but a sticker would have been nice.  Thanks for nothing, New York Board of Elections!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Getting Back to Normal?

Things are slowly getting back to normal in New York.  At least many of the subways are running to and from Brooklyn again.  (Hooray!)  The gas situation still seems to be a problem.  I saw the super of my building leaving on a bike with a gas can in the basket on the front when I got home from work tonight.  That's not a good sign. 

I'm looking forward to election day tomorrow.  I do hope everyone who can vote does vote.  To quote the Occupy folks: This is what democracy looks like!  My sister recommended picking up a bottle of wine or champagne to enjoy while watching the results to either cry into or cheer in celebration of the results.  I'm hoping any tears shed tomorrow night will be tears of joy.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Priorities

The New York Marathon has been canceled.  Better late than never, I guess.  Why Bloomberg et al didn't make this decision earlier in the week is a mystery to me, but it's done and, hopefully, resources slated for the runners can be put in place to help people in need.  I suspect Bloomberg didn't anticipate the tremendous backlast he'd receive over his decision to keep the marathon scheduled.  A news report I saw said that huge generators that could power hundreds of homes were brought into the city to power marathon clocks.  What sense would it have made to use generators in this capacity when people in the surrounding area have no power?  Ridiculous!  At least with the cancellation, local government has shown that its priorities are more in line with the serving the public it was elected to serve rather than special interest groups like the New York Road Runners.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Commuter Chaos!

The commute from Brooklyn to and from Manhattan has been a challenge, to say the least, this week.  Yesterday, I was able to get on an express bus and travel with relatively little problem.  But not today!  Today was a clusterfuck.  I left home at 6:30 am and got to work before 9:00.  After waiting for about half an hour to catch the same express bus I'd taken yesterday, I walked to the F train station to try and catch a train to Jay Street.  After 15 minutes of waiting and no train, I caught a bus to the Barclay's Center.  That was a mistake.  With the lines for the shuttles wrapped long and deep, I ended up hopping into a cab with three other folks to get to Manhattan and it was well worth the money.  The ride home was relatively drama free because I was able to get in a bus near the start of the route and leave a little early to beat the rush.  I don't know what tomorrow will hold, but I'm glad it's Friday so I only have one more day of this commuter hell for awhile. 

Stupidity on Parade

I really think the decision to continue with the New York Marathon on Sunday is a mistake.  People are suffering in New York.  Why should valuable city resources be used for a bunch of runners rather than for the people who need them?  Sunday's race will be the epitome of stupidity on parade.  Shame on the marathon and city honchos who are pushing this event.  Ridiculous!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Transportation Troubles

In the aftermath of the Frankenstorm that hit the East Coast, getting around has proved to be a challenge. Forced to return to work today, I had to find a way to get from Brooklyn to Midtown via bus and I did. The ride was long and the traffic was bad, but I made it and many other folks made it, too. I am grateful I didn't lose power at my apartment and grateful I live in Brooklyn. When my bus crossed the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn and I saw the lights on, I was glad to be one step closer to home. (Get the lights back on for folks, Con Ed!) At least some subways will be back on track tomorrow. Unfortunately none of them will be running between Brooklyn and Manhattan, so it's back to the bus for me. But I'm not complaining. Like a lot of folks, I'm making the best of a bad situation.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Stop the Madness!

Well, the Tigers blew the World Series.  Bummer.  But, on the up side, the San Francisco Giants aren't really getting any press for winning since the news is consumed with wall-to-wall Frankenstorm coverage.  And, speaking of the news, the networks are really going overboard with storm coverage.  It's out of control.  Do we really need to see reporters standing in the rain or on the beach?  I don't think so.  Stop the madness already. 

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Foodtown Frenzy!

The last day of calm before the dreaded Frankenstorm fully rolls into town was filled with chaos in the search for food and water.  I went to my local Foodtown grocery store this afternoon and was shocked by the throngs of people in search of food and water.  I've never seen that little grocery store so crowded and out of control.  The lines!  The chaos!  The lack of bottled water!  I managed to snag a bottle to supplement my meager stash at home, but I couldn't get a 24-pack like I'd planned because the shelves were bare.  Clearly, I should have gotten up and out earlier to beat the rush.  If the power goes out and my gas stove ceases to function, I figure I can get by on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  At least I was able to snag a loaf of wheat bread and a jar of Skippy as I fought through the Foodtown crowd.  Prepare to hunker down, folks!  It's going to be a long night!

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Back to Brooklyn

I have returned to the Borough of Champions from my southern jaunt just in time for the Frankenstorm (aka Hurricane Sandy).  Great.  I missed the Hurricane Irene fanfare because I was out of town when it blew through town.  I was glued to CNN coverage while I was away, but nothing happened in my area so, for me, it turned out to be a great big nothing burger.  I have my doubts about the Frankenstorm also.  I'm not really believing the hype at least not yet.  In any case, I guess I need to get my laundry done and errands run tomorrow before the deluge comes (IF it comes). 

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Sweet Tea Overload

During my days of leisure in the South, I've been overindulging on sweet iced tea. This is not good. The sweet tea is so tasty, but too much of a good thing never turns out to be good in the end, does it? Once I get back to Brooklyn, I'll have to go on a water detox.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Southern Hospitality

While I'm away from Brooklyn relaxing in the South this week, I'm enjoying the hospitality of Southerners. It's a nice change from the aggressiveness of New York. I also was surprised to see Vernor's ginger ale on sale down here. A little taste of Detroit in Alabama. Go Tigers!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

The Rematch

After a day that ended not on a good note, I'm actually looking forward to working my frustrations out during tonight's second Presidential debate.  Hopefully, the second showdown will be more robust than the first one.  In other rematches, the Tigers play the Yankees again tonight.  (Go Tigers!)  I feel bad about Jeter going down during the last game.  Maybe it's time for Derek to give up the game for good.  He'd make a great ESPN anchor. 

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Sinister

When I saw the trailer for the movie Sinister, I was genuinely frightened. But after actually seeing the movie, I realize I overreacted. The movie was good and had an interesting plot, but it's not something that will keep me awake quaking in fear tonight. I was annoyed to keep hearing the actors say that people killed in the film were "hung." People are "hanged" not "hung." Stockings are "hung" by the chimney with care, not people.

Go Tigers! Kick some Yankee butt tonight (except Jeter's).

Friday, October 12, 2012

Eddie Munster, You Just Got Schooled

Last night's VP debate was certainly more entertaining that the Presidential debate a week or so ago.  Biden and Ryan both came ready to rumble and rumble they did.  Ryan (aka Eddie Munster--the widow's peak, you know) got taken to school by Grandpa Munster (aka Biden).  Although Grandpa's constant interrupting did annoy me at times, I thought he was on point most of the time and bringing up things that Obama should have brought up during his own debate with Mittens (the 47% comments, the auto bailout, etc.).  I hope the POTUS was taking notes.

When I look at Eddie Munster, I often can't believe this guy and I are the same age.  (I also can't stop staring at the widow's peak, but that's another issue for another time.) Eddie and I grew up in the 70s and 80s, yet his mindset sometimes seems like it's from the 50s.  I can understand Mittens having that "Leave It to Beaver" mentality, but I don't get it with Eddie.   

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Dress for Success

I have noticed lately that more and more people are not exactly dressing for success in the workplace.  Maybe I'm old school, but I was under the impression that you should be clean and your clothes should be clean and ironed (if wrinkled) for work.  On the subway this morning, I saw more than one poorly dressed person heading to work.  Stains on one man's pants, lint balls on another's jacket, a woman whose shoes were falling apart, a man whose shoes were in need of a little polish.  And these were not people who looked like they were unable to afford some detergent, a lint brush, a decent pair of flats, or a tube of shoe polish.  Sadly, I really think the standard for dressing for work has just declined.  In my own office, I frequently see women wearing leggings, flip flops, and wife-beaters and men wearing jeans and tee shirts.  And the company I work for has a dress code that bans these items.  But that dress code has, apparently, gone the way of the dinosaur because it doesn't seem to be enforced at all.  They really should just scrap the code entirely if they're not going to enforce it.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Music

In my Saturday post about The Master, I neglected to mention the wonderful Ella Fitzgerald version of "Get Thee Behind Me, Satan" that was played in the film.  It's such a great song and hearing it in the movie was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing film.

In other music news, I really wish Michael Buble (Mikey Bubbly) would do some touring or, better yet, do a long-term Vegas show like Celine Dion.  I'd pay to see that.  I don't understand the Bubbly hate.  He's so inoffensive, yet some folks just like to hate on him.  Leave Mikey alone!  His music is soothing!  No, he can't dance, but in the live performances I've seen from him, he puts on a good show and is very entertaining.  Stop the Bubbly hate, haters! 

Saturday, October 6, 2012

The Master

I went to see The Master this afternoon.  About an hour into the movie, I felt the same way I felt about halfway through watching The Blair Witch Project:  duped.  The Master has some wonderful performances by Jaoquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman and the film is beautifully shot, but there's no "there" there.  There's no real story.  It's just 2+ hours of Jaoquin being drunk and picking fights and Hoffman talking in circles.  One thing I did take away from the film is that when people are at a low point in their lives, they are vulnerable to the influences of a cult and that vulnerability is presented quite realistically in The Master.  I just wish the film had shown Hoffman's story rather than Jaoquin's because it probably would have been a more entertaining film.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

No Love for Big Bird

I'm still trying to recover from last night's first presidential debate.  What a disappointment!  Not only was it boring, but Obama seemed to be asleep at the wheel and Jim Lehrer was awful.  They should have let Gwen Ifill moderate.  I'm sure she would have done a better job of keeping the candidates on point.  But even more disappointing than Obama's performance was Mittens bashing PBS and Big Bird. What???  I highly doubt the public funds PBS receives will make a dent in the booming deficit.  Still, this is what Mittens focuses on for cuts.  Right.  PBS is one of the few great public television stations and they show a diverse array of programs.  I grew up watching Sesame Street and the thought of cutting funding for a show that helps so many children learn is just a travesty.  Shame on you, Mittens!  Big Bird should give Mittens a big beatdown!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Can't Wait for the Debate!

I'm looking forward to the first presidential debate tonight.  I highly doubt it'll be the rumble in the jungle the media is hyping it up to be, but I hope it's at least entertaining.  I refused to watch any of the conventions, choosing to ignore that propaganda, so I'm ready to watch the candidates themselves square off man to man.  As one of my co-workers often says, "Let's get it on and poppin'!"

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Haircare Blues

I read a post on Jezebel written by a black woman complaining that she couldn't find anywhere to have her hair done in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn because the salons there don't cater to clients with "African" hair.  Yes, in a perfect world, any licensed beautician should be able to do any kind of hair, but we don't live in a perfect world.  Frankly, I'd rather have my hair done by someone who either has hair like mine or is accustomed to working with hair like mine than someone who is unfamiliar with the kind of hair I have.  

Friday, September 28, 2012

Subway Observations

On my way to work this morning, I saw a woman with tattoos on her feet.  She had a tattoo of a man in a panama hat one one foot and something I can't remember on the other.  What kind of people have their feet tattooed???  I kept thinking that must have hurt like hell.

On the way home from work, this woman proceeded to talk loudly to herself from Manhattan to Brooklyn.  She wasn't a your typical self-talker though.  She didn't look homeless and she wasn't old.  She looked like she was in her late 20s or early 30s and well-dressed.  But she was nuts.  Talking and cursing about how she'd been wronged by someone.  People, wisely, ignoring her ranting but I wanted to clap when she got off the train at Jay Street. 

It's been a long week.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Clean Hands

Clean Hands is available for sale on Amazon.  Yea!

http://www.amazon.com/Clean-Hands-ebook/dp/B009EUCDFC/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348530414&sr=1-2&keywords=clean+hands

An Open Letter to Mittens and Wife

Dear Mittens R-money and Mrs. R-money:

You two have forced me to abandon my self-imposed rule to make this blog largely apolitical in nature.  Who are you people?  Are you really Michiganders?  Were you truly born in Detroit?  Detroiters are scrappy.  Detroiters don't whine.  Detroiters aren't aloof to economic hardship and the suffering of others.  Michiganders know what hard times are like.  What's the expression?  When the country gets a cold, Michigan catches the flu?  Perhaps you both are no longer truly Michiganders.  Perhaps you've been gone from the mitten state for too long to truly understand what real Michiganders are like.  Maybe you're both too far removed from reality to know what your fellow citizens are going through.

Friday, September 21, 2012

What the F, Part Deux

In anticipation of this weekend's service disruption on the F line, I planned to hit my local Trader Joe's on the way home from work today.  Unfortunately, the F train was f-ed up early!  A disabled train was stuck at the 7th Street stop so everything was messed up.  The announcer on the F train I was on told everyone at West 4th Street that the train would terminate at Second Avenue, so I got off that train and caught the A train to Jay Street.  No F trains were running at all at Jay Street, so I walked down to the Atlantic Terminal, caught the Q there, and walked home from the Church Avenue stop.  What a pain!  What a hassle!  At least I had on comfortable shoes and the weather's lovely tonight, so I didn't mind huffing it a little.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

What the F?

I just found out the F train will be down and out in my part of Brooklyn again this weekend.  It was just down two weeks ago! And, once again, the subway will be down during the Brooklyn Book Fair.  The same thing happened last year and I complained to borough president Marty Markowitz.  (A lot of good THAT did.)  Yes, shuttle buses will be available, but it's still a pain.  Getting around when the subways aren't running is a huge problem.  Doesn't the MTA realize how much people depend on the subway around here?  Apparently not.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Sleeping Beauty

We're all tired. Tired from work. Tired from dealing with others. Tired from life in general. But that doesn't mean you take a nap on the person sitting next to you on the subway! The guy sitting next to me on the F train this morning kept falling asleep and leaning his head on my shoulder! Then I'd shove him off, he'd apologize, and then fall asleep and the whole sad routine would start all over again. Finally, I just got up and offered the seat to a woman who was standing, telling her she was welcome to sit next to Sleeping Beauty. She, wisely, declined the offer. If you're that tired, maybe it's time for a second cup of coffee. Don't make a stranger your own personal pillow!

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Hardcore Pawn

Lately, I've been watching the TruTV show "Hardcore Pawn."  For those not familiar with the show, it focuses on a pawn shop in Detroit.  The show is a hot mess:  ridiculous, ghetto, and strangely entertaining.  I don't know who's worse, the people who come in to pawn their stuff or the family running the pawn shop.  The way the family members talk to each other is awful.  And the customers who come into the shop to pawn their goods are awful, too.  My hometown is not shown in a good light on this show, but that's what, sadly, makes it so entertaining.  I read that "Hardcore Pawn" is the highest rated show on TruTV.  Clearly, I'm not the only one watching these shenanigans.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Holding the Huffy

During these last remaining days of summer, I've been trying to get outside and walk in Prospect Park as much as possible before it turns cold and dark.  It's during these walks that I really miss having a bicycle.  When I moved to Brooklyn from New Jersey nearly three years ago, I got rid of my bike, figuring it was just one more thing that would take up space in my apartment.  However, I now regret that decision.  Yes, it would have been one more thing to take up space in my apartment, but I also would have used it more than I did when I lived in Jersey.  I could have ridden my KMart Huffy to Prospect Park and beyond.  Now if I want to get around the park, I have only my two feet to take me from one part of the park to the next.  New York is suppposed to get a bike-sharing business next year (since things didn't work out this year to get the program organized), and I'm looking forward to that, provided rental kiosks are actually available in Brooklyn near the park.  I could always buy a bike but, as with everything else in New York, bicycles are incredibly expensive.  And I'm not talking about those wonderbikes that I see Lycra-clad people whizzing through the park riding.  I'm talking about plain old ten- or three-speed bikes (preferably one with a little basket attached to the handlebars).  Good luck finding a bike for around $100 in this city.  I could kick myself for not holding on to my Huffy.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Ban on Big Pop

Well, Mayor Bloomberg must be happy that the Board of Health approved his ban on big pop.  (Being a Detroiter who now lives in Brooklyn, I'm sticking with "pop" over "soda."  Suck it, New Yorkers!)  Obesity is a problem not only in New York but throughout the country.  However, banning large soft drinks won't solve the problem.  So you cut the size of a Coke down to 16 ounces.  That doesn't stop someone from enjoying that Coke with a Big Mac, large fries, and an apple pie.  Food and drink both contribute to obesity, but I don't see Bloomberg advocating for a reduction in the size of a Baconator (at least not yet).

If someone wants a 32 ounce Coke or Mountain Dew, then I feel that person should have it.  If someone wants to eat three Big Macs, that person should do so.  Selling large portions of any food or pop shouldn't be against the law.  Bloomberg should have tried to lobby businesses like restaurants and movie theaters to reduce the sizes of their portions rather than forcing an across-the-board ban. I really hope this pop ban is overturned and never becomes law.  It's just one more example of government overreach. 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Keep the Lights On

I saw the indie film Keep the Lights On and found it interesting.  I also had a troubling reaction to it that I'll explain.  First, for those who don't know, the movie focuses on the relationship between a documentary filmmaker and his boyfriend who works in publishing and is also addicted to crack.  It's based on the real relationship between filmmaker Ira Sachs and literary agent Bill Clegg.  I read Bill Clegg's autobiography about being in drugs during his relationship with Sachs, so I was curious to see the movie version from Sachs's point of view.  The movie version was a lot more graphic than I thought it would be, but I quickly got over that.  Throughout the movie, you get a front row seat to witness the trials and tribulations of this couple as they deal with one partner's drug addiction.  While I did feel sympathy for the director who was in a constant state of worry over his boyfriend who would disappear for days on a drug binge, I actually felt a little more sympathy for the drug addict. In spite of his addiction, he managed to hold down a job, something he constantly threw in the face of his filmmaker boyfriend who didn't work a regular job, had been working on a documentary for years, and whose income seemed largely bankrolled by his family.  I think I found myself taking the side of the addict more because, as previously mentioned, (A) he held down a job, (B) he actually seemed to be the practical person in the relationship (except when he was drugged out, of course),  (C) he was American (the filmmaker boyfriend was German), and (D) he was better looking.  I'll admit it, one of the reasons I felt more sympathy for the crack addict was because he was better looking.  That's terrible, I know, but it's the truth. 

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Grammatically Challenged

I was reviewing the profiles of single men on a website recently and I was totally disappointed with the terrible writing skills shown by many of the men seeking women. How hard is it to write simple sentences that describe yourself and your hobbies? I like to go to the movies. I like to go dancing. Sentences like these aren't Shakespeare yet many men on the dating site (and these were men in their 40s) seemed simply unable to write a basic description of themselves. This is really sad. Some would blame the public school systems where these men were educated and while I'm sure a lousy public school education contributed to some people being grammatically challenged, I don't fully believe this is why grown men are writing sentences like, "How u doin?" I went to public schools and I learned how to read, write, and spell.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Doogie Howser, MD

I have had nothing but problems trying to find a primary care physician in New York.  I had such a great doctor when I lived in New Jersey, but finding someone just as great in New York has been a challenge.  I saw a new doctor today and he looked like a child.  Aside from being physically small (probably 5'4" or 5'5" at the most--an issue that I still believe is linked somehow to the environment in New York), he didn't even look like he weighed 100 pounds.  Oh, and did I mention he looked like a child?  He really looked like he was about 15 years old.  But, he seemed to be a nice guy and was very thorough.  I hope it works out or I'll be back on the hunt for someone else to deal with my occasional ailments. 

Saturday, September 8, 2012

My Neighbor the PItA

My upstairs neighbor is really being a PItA tonight. (PItA stands for pain in the ass.) I don't know what he's doing up there but he's awfully loud doing it. At first I thought maybe he was rearranging furniture, but no one rearranges furniture for hours. Whatever he's doing, I wish he'd stop doing it. Communal living is annoying sometimes.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Summer Boots

Why oh why do women on the East Coast wear tall leather boots in the summer? This makes no sense to me. In Michigan, we wear leather boots when it's cold out, not when temps are in the 80s and 90s. I saw a woman yesterday wearing a nice summer dress with tall leather boots. Ridiculous!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

The Stolen UHaul

When I read that a UHaul truck that the Secret Service rented to use during Joe Biden's visit to Detroit on Labor Day had been stolen outside of a downtown hotel, I was saddened, but not surprised.  I'm constantly complaining that Detroit gets a bad rap, but when things like this happen, it's hard to defend my hometown.  Yes, vehicles are stolen in Detroit.  Yes, crime occurs in the city.  But does that mean the entire place is a wasteland?  That no one in the city cares about anything or anyone?  No!  Detroiters have a lot of heart and many want the city to succeed and return to greatness.  But these tasks are hard to accomplish when hoodlums come out of the woodwork and gain all the glory (and media attention) with their misdeeds.  No one wants to hear about positive changes going on in the city when the headlines scream about every terrible thing that's going on.  Bad news gets more attention than good news, unfortunately.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Post-Labor Day Blues

Since Labor Day signals the end of summer, it's only fitting that today's weather in New York was cloudy and dreary.  Just perfect for the end of summer and the return to work and school.  Great (not really). 

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Cut the Fat

I was on the F train this afternoon and saw another anti-obesity ad sponsored by the City of New York and wholly endorsed, I'm sure, by the mayor. The ad said "Cut the Fat" and had a picture of a chocolate covered donut for the letter c in cut, a double (or maybe it was a triple) cheeseburger for the letter e in the, and a stack of potato chips to replace some letter (I forget which) in the word fat. The only thing this ad did was make me want a donut, a cheeseburger, and some chips. Oh and I wanted to wash it all down with a big, sweet soft drink. I'm sure that's not the message the city is trying to get across here.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Red Hook Summer

I saw Spike Lee's "Red Hook Summer" today and found it...interesting.  My stepmother had seen it a few days ago and recommended it and I'd wanted to see it myself, so I finally did.  I know the Red Hook part of Brooklyn, but not well.  Back when I had a car, I'd drive through it on my way to Ikea.  I thought the insights on gentrification in Brooklyn were great.  I read an interview with Spike in New York Magazine where he wondered where gentrification was going to end in Brooklyn.  He wondered if people would go out to Coney Island and, after that, into the Atlantic Ocean.  I was surprised to see new housing going up in Red Hook (as shown in the movie) right across the street from the projects.  And I'm sure that housing won't be/isn't affordable housing either. 

One of the things I liked about "Red Hook Summer" was that it discussed the migration of black Americans from the South to the North and back to the South again.  This movement within the black community is so interesting to me.

Red Hook Summer was about 40 minutes too long and some of the acting wasn't that great.  (And I won't spoil it for others by revealing the big conflict that develops later in the movie.)  But, in spite of these minor complaints, I thought it was one of Spike's better films. 

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Weirdos

People are strange. The woman I sat next to in the subway this morning kept making weird noises and her left leg kept shaking. Maybe her meds hadn't kicked in yet. Whatever he reason, I changed trains when the express came across the platform just to get away from her. Let someone else have the pleasure of her weird company.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Locked Up Abroad

I confess, I love watching "Locked Up Abroad" on the National Geographic channel.  I am fascinated with how seemingly normal people go from being law-abiding citizens to international drug smugglers practically overnight.  These folks are often strapped for cash and a friend or acquaintance asks if they want to make some quick money smuggling hash out of Thailand (or something like that).  It's amazing how fast a person can just turn into a criminal.  In every case, the smuggler knows what he or she is doing is wrong, yet the person still does it!  Then, if the smugglers are able to actually get away with their smuggling once or twice, they often get addicted to the thrill.  They beat the system, so they feel lucky.  But their luck always runs out and the next thing you know, they're in a Turkish prison (or some other foreign hell hole) for ten years (or more) and suffering through daily beatdown from their fellow inmates.  Being in an American prison, I suspect, is bad enough.  But being locked up abroad has got to be absolutely awful.  You don't speak the language, you don't understand the country's judicial system, you don't get a fair trial, and the US Consulate can't help you.  If you commit an illegal act in a foreign country, what is the United States supposed to do for you?  I guess they can contact your family back in the States and tell them you're locked up abroad!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Subway Reading

With so many people reading on electronic devices like Kindles and iPads, I can't be nosy and see what my fellow subway riders are reading. I like to see what books other people are reading. The reading habits of others make me wonder about what kind of person the reader may be. For example, was the guy I saw reading The Infinite Jest tonight on the subway a David Foster Wallace fan or just a poseur who wanted to impress others with his highbrow reading selection?

Sunday, August 26, 2012

City Kids

I feel sorry for the kids in my neighborhood who have to have their birthday parties in Prospect Park. City kids like these don't have their own backyard to use for birthday parties or family barbecues because they often live in apartment buildings where green space isn't accessible. So they and their families have to schlep to the public park and party there. Because I grew up in a house with a yard, I just think it's sad that many kids in New York won't have the opportunity to grow up in a single detached home. But you do the best you can with what you have, right?

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Urban Scavengers

While I was out running errands this morning, I passed by a woman rummaging through someone's trash in the hunt for discarded plastic and glass bottles and aluimum cans that can be recycled for five cents each.  Apparently in New York, it's acceptable to go onto someone else's private property, and rummage through that person's trash.  In Detroit, that kind of thing might cause you bodily harm (or at least end with you getting your feelings hurt).  But in New York, it's another day in the city.  I'm not against someone taking discarded bottles and cans to get a few dollars if the items are placed in a public trash can or even in private trash set at the curb for collection.  However, I am against strangers going onto private property and rummaging through someone's garbage.  That just doesn't seem right.  I know these urban scavengers don't mean any harm, but trespassing is trespassing. 

Friday, August 24, 2012

Crazy Baby

Before I get to the crazy baby part of this post, let me just focus on the crazy for a moment. What is wrong with people??? Going nuts and pulling a gun is no way to resolve problems. Some people have a truly frightening lack of control.

Now as for the crazy baby part of my post, what's going on with Prince Harry? In his case, sadly, what happened on Vegas didn't stay in Vegas. Why is it always the baby of the family who cuts up and gets a bad wrap? The baby's gone crazy! As the baby of the family myself, I feel for Harry. Sometimes the baby needs to go a little crazy (in a good way that doesn't harm others).

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Make New York Your Gym

Since Mayor Bloombucks is bombarding subway riders like myself with ads urging New Yorkers to stop drinking sugary soft drinks, cut down on eating junk food, make the city our gym, I've decided to take him up on some of his advice.  The "Make New York Your Gym" ad suggested riders get off the subway a stop ahead of your normal stop and walk the rest of the way to your destination, so I did this today.  I got off one stop before my own and enjoyed a nice walk home alongside Prospect Park.  One of the reasons I like my Brooklyn neighborhood is its accessibility to the park.  I wanted to live somewhere with green space within walking distance and I have it.  I really need to start taking more advantage of the park's proximity to my apartment.  It's a great park and walking really is a good way to get some exercise in during the day.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Environmental Factors=Stunted Growth?

Call me crazy, but I've noticed a lot of short (and I'm classifying short as 5'5" and under) people in New York.  And not one specific group either.  I see short people of all colors, races, and, ethnicities.  On any given day, when I'm in the elevator at work, I often tower over others in the car and my height is average (5'7"), or at least what I thought was average.  I am seriously starting to wonder if there are environmental factors that have stunted the growth of many New Yorkers.  Is there something in the air or the water?  When I lived in Philadelphia and Detroit, I never noticed an overabundance of the vertically-challenged.  But in New York, I can't help but notice it.  

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Tats

I have noticed more and more women with tattoos lately. And not small, demure tats of a rose on an ankle or a heart on a wrist. I'm talking about full-blown tattoos on the arm, neck, chest. I don't get it. What is the appeal?

Monday, August 20, 2012

Sparkle

I saw the remake of Sparkle and liked it.  I am still partial to the 1970s version, but the remake had its moments of greatness, particulary during the musical numbers.  Whitney Houston's rendition of "His Eye is on the Sparrow" brought tears to my eyes and I wasn't the only one boo-hooing in the theater.  I don't know if it was the message of the song, the fact that Whitney died so tragically, what was going on in the movie at the time the song was performed, or all of the above, but the tears were flowing.  I also enjoyed the version of "Jump" in the movie.  I hadn't heard that song in years and I'd forgotten just how great it is.  Detroiters like myself will surely enjoy seeing a movie set in our hometown that doesn't have the backdrop of the city looking like something out of Robocop.  I was happy to see Baker's Keyboard Lounge featured.  Although I'm sure the movie was filmed in California or Canada or someplace, it looked like the real Baker's in the movie.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

People You Love to Hate

I often enjoy reading the Sunday Routines of various New Yorkers in the Sunday NY Times, but today's article featured the kind of guy who is asking for a takedown.  Here's the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/19/nyregion/robert-hammond-of-the-high-line-indulges-in-meditation-and-cereal.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

This guy goes on about mediating, eating homemade fruit smoothies prepared lovingly, I'm sure, by his boyfriend, and riding a woman's bike (complete with a basket on the front) around the city.  Oh, and he also enjoys a nice bowl of cornflakes (organic, of course) for dinner.  Oy!  When I read this article, I had to laugh because the guy came off as the kind of pretentious, annoying Manhattanite that people (like myself) just love to hate.  He is the embodiment of gentrification in New York City.  Is this what Bloomberg wants?  Apparently.  Sad.


Saturday, August 18, 2012

Unleashed

People really shouldn't walk around with unleashed dogs. I was walking many feet behind a man with two huge great dane sized dogs and the guy took one of the dogs off the leash, causing me to divert my path away from him. The dog may have been perfectly trained not to attack, but I decided not to test my luck and find out how well-behaved (or not) he or she was.

Folks, unless you're at a dog park or in the sanctity of your own fenced home, keep your dog on a leash!

Friday, August 17, 2012

Trader/Traitor

I stopped at the Brooklyn Trader Joe's and saw that, once again, the checkout lines have been reconfigured.  It really doesn't matter how they run the lines, that place will still be incredibly crowded.  My hipster-ish cashier asked how my Friday was going and I told him, "It's great now that I'm off from work!" Amen to that.  I read an article in the NY Times awhile ago where someone complained about the overly-chatty cashiers at Trader Joe's, but I'd rather have a friendly, talkative cashier rather that a mean, surly one. 

As for the traitor part of this post, I'm posting a link to a blog post to Gwen Ifill about my cousin:

http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/blog/breaking-through-four-years-later-artur-davis-r

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Three Questions of the Day

1.  Why can't some women stop touching their hair?
2.  Why are Crumbs cupcakes so tasty?
3.  Was a remake of Sparkle really necessary?

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall

Apparently, a hard rain DID fall in Brooklyn and flooded many streets including Ocean Parkway.  What a mess!  Yesterday, we had fires in the subway tunnels and today we've got flooding.  Brooklyn, the borough of champions, is really taking it on the chin this week.

In more uplifting news, "White Collar" and "Royals Pains" are back on USA this week.  Yea! 

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

F is not for Fabulous

Trying to get home from work today on the F train was a disaster!  Chaos on the rails!  Apparently there was a fire or something on the Mahnattan Bridge and some of the trains that travel that route were diverted to the F line.  We'd move, then we'd stop.  Then we'd move and stop again.  For a claustrophobic personon like I am, being stuck on the train between stations is a nightmare. 

When the subways are running without delays, they're great.  But when something goes wrong, things get really screwed up.  Why do these problems always seem to occur during rush hour??? Frustrating!

Monday, August 13, 2012

The Crossing Guard

I don't understand why the crossing guard at the corner near my apartment building is out there year round. I don't believe the elementary school down the block even has any students right now. Summer school has to be over, right? Maybe the guard just enjoys putting on her glow-in-the-dark lime green vest and standing on the corner because she doesn't have anything better to do with her day.

Kate Bush and the Spice Girls

Let me just say that I'm annoyed NBC didn't show Kate Bush's performance at the closing ceremony of the Olympics.  I guess they figured not many people would know who she is (and they're probably right).  Still, I watched her performance of "Running Up That Hill" online and I thought it was great.  But, although I'm annoyed over the Kate Bush snub, I did enjoy seeing the Spice Girls (and I'm not ashamed to admit that).  They threw down!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Praise for the Quiet Car

I took the train to Philadelphia yesterday and sat in the quiet car on the way back. What a joy to be able to sit in silence rather than hearing screaming children and other people's conversations.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Fifty Shades of Gay

I was reading some celebrity gossip last night and came across a story about author Bret Easton Ellis Tweeting that actor Matt Bomer wouldn't be a good choice to play Christian Grey in a movie version of Fifty Shades of Grey because he's gay. I don't know that I agree with that. If he's a good actor, shouldn't he be able to play any role? First disclaimer: I have not read Fifty Shades so I have no opinion on the book itself. Second disclaimer: I did meet Matt Bomer last year when "White Collar" was being filmed at the office building where I work and he was adorable, so my feelings about him might be biased. I don't want to see Matt as Christian Grey because it seems like a sleazy role! I hated seeing him be a sleaze bag willing to share his wife in Magic Mike! But, again, I'm biased.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Beasts of the Southern Wild

So, once again, I have failed to agree with the critics.  I just saw Beasts of the Southern Wild and I didn't enjoy it.  The acting was great and it was beautifully shot, but I felt it was the same old sentimental sludge Hollywood keeps churning out.  Haven't we seen this story before?  The poor child having to fend for herself in the cruel world.  The troubled (in this case alcoholic) parent.  The terrible living conditions.  Triumph over adversity.  Blah, blah, blah. 

I couldn't figure out why two women seated in the theater row ahead of me were laughing throughout the movie.  There wasn't much to laugh about.  Being poor, living in a Southern shack, and surviving Hurricane Katrina-like conditions aren't exactly things I consider funny, but apparently these women found them hilarious.  Maybe they had a few drinks before the movie.  Maybe I should have had a few.  I probably would have enjoyed the movie more if I had. 

Three Questions of the Day

1. Why was there no hot water in my apartment yet again this morning? Frustrating!
2. Why can't I get "Quando, Quando, Quando" out of my head??
3. When will flip flop season be over??

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

The Devil in White City

After finally finishing The Devil in White City this afternoon on the subway ride home, I wondered why this book is such a huge bestseller.  It's been on the NY Times bestseller list for years!!  I don't get it.  I found it long and tedious and I struggled to finish it.  I guess there are a lot of people out there who are interested in reading about Chicago architecture and the Chicago World's Fair.  I love Chicago, but I don't have the patience to read paragraph after paragraph about building construction, fair attendance, and groundskeeping issues. 

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Three Questions of the Day

1. Why was there no hot water at my apartment this morning?
2. Why isn't Cheyenne Jackson a bigger star? The man is a triple threat! He can sing, dance, and act!
3. Why does Michael Buble's version of "I'm Your Man" sound so great while the Leonard Cohen version sounds so awful (at least to me)?

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Killer Joe

Why oh why was Clarence Carter's song "Strokin'" played not once, but twice in the movie Killer Joe?  And, speaking of Killer Joe, that movie was coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs.  Nuts.  Crazy.   I'm still trying to figure out what that tomfoolerly was about.  But, one thing that was interesting to me was the portrayal of poor white folks.  You rarely see these kind of lower-class white people depicted in movies or on television anymore, but they're out there.  Hollywood, I guess, just doesn't want you to see them.

Social Networking and Brooklyn Gentrification

After growing tired of Facebook and its annoying e-mail updates, I ditched it entirely and haven't looked back.  I tried Twitter and lasted three days because I felt like a stalker "following" people.  So now I'm trying a blog which, hopefully, will be less aggravating and a lot more fun.

Since this blog is called "Detroiter in Brooklyn" I figure I should write frequently about Brooklyn and Detroit.  The Brooklyn neighborhood that I've called home for the past two and a half years is Kensington.  In the short time I've lived here, I've noticed it becoming more and more gentrified.  I suspect new people moving into the area are seeking refuge from the higher rents of Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, and elsewhere.  Now this is good and bad.  It's good because no one wants to see their neighborhood deteoriate into a place that's undesirable to live.  (I'm from Detroit, so I have first-hand knowledge of living in a place deemed undesirable.)  However, it's bad because gentification leads to higher rent and no one wants that either. 

In other news, I can't believe Federer got spanked by Murray in the Olympics today.  How did that happen????

Saturday, August 4, 2012

First Blog Post!

My first blog post!  Woo hoo!  I watched Serena whip Sharapova during the Olympics this morning.  Woo hoo again!  She made it look effortless, but I'm sure it wasn't.  It's a lovely day in Brooklyn and I plan to get outside and enjoy the good weather while it lasts.  Hopefully, I won't see any men wearing capri pants while I'm out, but I have a bad feeling I will.  Man-pris???  I don't get it.  Are your ankles hot?  It's not a good look, fellas.  Sorry.