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.

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. 

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!

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). 

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.

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!

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. 

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).

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.   

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.

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! 

Go Tigers!

That's it.  Just "Go Tigers."  Yea!

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.

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!

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'!"