Things are tough all over...well duh, and fate being the bitch that she has our union contract up this year and we are faced with trying to negotiate with management. I was informed last night that on the table is NO raise increase and our health care costs will go up thus putting me behind in the rat race.
People are divided, some want to roll over and die, some want to strike, some want to chuck the union and save on increasing dues. Frankly, the whole idea of not getting a raise and paying more for health care makes me want to put on my Emma Goldman hat and storm Union Square.
In normal economic times we raise an obscene amount of money to help people all over the world. This year our campaign is behind, it's sad but true, however maybe it's time to reinvest in ourselves and fortify the home court a little. All of us work insane hours for very little because we believe in the mission of UJA-Federation.
As a non-Jew I have marveled at all that is done for both Jewish and non-Jewish communities. Over the past 8 years it has given me a sense of belonging to the global community. Giving something of myself to people I will never meet but all the same feel connected to.
The people I stand with are amazing and I don't think ask for very much, so I vote that we turn what we do have back on ourselves for a change. If we are taken care of then we have the morale and ability to push forward and find new ways to support our agencies. If management stripes us clean then where is the sense of doing for others when your bowl is empty.
Charity begins at home.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
EX-HAUSTED!
Now I lay me down to sleep,
leave me alone or your ass I'll beat.
Being born at night makes me prone to be active at night. This, as I have stated in past blogs does not make for a productive 9-5pm lifestyle. I wish I was a morning person, all bright and shiny and ready for the day as the cock crows, "good morning ya'll!" But I hate it....getting up because someone else says I have to be on the clock.
I wasn't meant for traditional work. I need to be allowed to sleep till whenever and create at my leisure and get paid top dollar for it. Like they said on the SAG Awards last night, if you do something well, don't ever do it for free.
Now I'm off to fight for my union benefits, we might not be SAG but solidarity prevails!!
leave me alone or your ass I'll beat.
Being born at night makes me prone to be active at night. This, as I have stated in past blogs does not make for a productive 9-5pm lifestyle. I wish I was a morning person, all bright and shiny and ready for the day as the cock crows, "good morning ya'll!" But I hate it....getting up because someone else says I have to be on the clock.
I wasn't meant for traditional work. I need to be allowed to sleep till whenever and create at my leisure and get paid top dollar for it. Like they said on the SAG Awards last night, if you do something well, don't ever do it for free.
Now I'm off to fight for my union benefits, we might not be SAG but solidarity prevails!!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Outings...
Flying solo has never been easy for me. Going out to parties, bars etc...if I am flying solo it seems to make me more introverted than when I have a wingman or partner in crime. I need balance in all things and it seems in social partners as well. The past few adventures have been aborted due to this malady. If left only on my own for too long I keep to myself and eventually make a hasty bolt for the door without good-byes or fan fair.
I should have known better to go out last night when while riding the V train downtown a homeless man with crutches started shouting at me, “what are you looking at pancake ass,” I continued to stare trying to figure out what exactly “pancake ass” meant to someone seated and facing you. Clearly my ass was away from him and I there is one thing I know about my body, my ass is NOT flat. Occasionally it’s been known to reach out and grab things off low lying shelves. Puzzled I finally averted my eyes as to not warrant further interaction with crazy town’s latest escapee.
By the time I got to the bar I knew the night was going to be in the crapper. Poppi, my main reason for the adventure, was there and we chatted for a bit, but things seemed to be on a downward spiral as the karaoke guy hadn’t showed up and personal news was less than stellar. However, I sallied forth got a margarita and found a perch to see if the night would prove me wrong and produce some merriment. Only, I really didn’t feel like being merry. I sat on Mt. Judgemore looking around for anyone “interesting” to talk to and found only a smattering of people who from ease dropping on conversations spoke a language not in my vernacular. There was no Oscar dishing or fashion opinions on what Michelle Obama had worn, no Britney, no Christina, nothing to be said on the out of control closings on Broadway, clearly I was in a gay bar but out of my element.
Lesbian parties seem like a slow way to die. As someone who prides themselves on being a host of note these functions always seem like someone’s after thought instead of being the focus. At the other end of the spectrum I have never, NOT had fun at a gay bar. There’s a joy that is usually tangible an energy, maybe because there is the underlining promise of sex in the air, but whatever it is the girls are lacking. Or maybe I’m lacking in my inability to participate without backup? Whatever the case it goes on the list of 2009 Change or Die policy reform. It is a brave new world afterall…..
I should have known better to go out last night when while riding the V train downtown a homeless man with crutches started shouting at me, “what are you looking at pancake ass,” I continued to stare trying to figure out what exactly “pancake ass” meant to someone seated and facing you. Clearly my ass was away from him and I there is one thing I know about my body, my ass is NOT flat. Occasionally it’s been known to reach out and grab things off low lying shelves. Puzzled I finally averted my eyes as to not warrant further interaction with crazy town’s latest escapee.
By the time I got to the bar I knew the night was going to be in the crapper. Poppi, my main reason for the adventure, was there and we chatted for a bit, but things seemed to be on a downward spiral as the karaoke guy hadn’t showed up and personal news was less than stellar. However, I sallied forth got a margarita and found a perch to see if the night would prove me wrong and produce some merriment. Only, I really didn’t feel like being merry. I sat on Mt. Judgemore looking around for anyone “interesting” to talk to and found only a smattering of people who from ease dropping on conversations spoke a language not in my vernacular. There was no Oscar dishing or fashion opinions on what Michelle Obama had worn, no Britney, no Christina, nothing to be said on the out of control closings on Broadway, clearly I was in a gay bar but out of my element.
Lesbian parties seem like a slow way to die. As someone who prides themselves on being a host of note these functions always seem like someone’s after thought instead of being the focus. At the other end of the spectrum I have never, NOT had fun at a gay bar. There’s a joy that is usually tangible an energy, maybe because there is the underlining promise of sex in the air, but whatever it is the girls are lacking. Or maybe I’m lacking in my inability to participate without backup? Whatever the case it goes on the list of 2009 Change or Die policy reform. It is a brave new world afterall…..
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The BBC is killing me....
As a huge fan of BBC programming I have come to realize that they are trying to kill me.
Case in point, last year I discovered this great series called HEX, sort of a Buffy meets Hogwarts with a lesbian subplot. Hot, hilarious, fun I got hooked immediately only to find out that it got cancelled after the second season with no final resolution. ARGH!!!! Suddenly I was flashing back to the dirty dirt that HBO pulled with Carnivàle. I still haven’t fully forgiven them for pulling the rug out from under me on that especially with how season two ended!!!
Now, through the best new cable network Ovation!!! I think of it as what BRAVO used to be before NBC bought it and turned it into all reality all the time crap, sans of course Top Chef & Kathy Griffin, (I have since lost interest in Project Runway, it’s lost it’s flair even though Tim Gunn is still making it work).
Back to my metaphorical death, this week I found a mini-series called, “Lost in Austen”, produced by the BBC about a young girl so enraptured by the book “Pride and Prejudice” that she ends up trading places with Elizabeth Bennet through a cupboard door in her upstairs loo. Not quite the wardrobe of my dreams, but a handy device for traveling back in time into a work of fiction. Amanda Price our heroine finds her 2008 self in her dream world only to be a fish out of water, whose presence influences the characters causing the original book to go off the rails.
Now, as I am working on a piece called, “Killing Jane Austen,” I thought this would be fun research on a topic that I find annoying and repetitious especially for books that have been around for 200years. I have been toying with the idea of calling it, “The Death of Mr. Darcy”, since his pompous ass can’t keep his hands off the impressionable young minds of girls the world over.
But that’s neither here nor there, my point being is that Miss Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper) and Miss Christina Cole (Caroline Bingley) starred in HEX. It’s cruel and unusual punishment to place these two in a sweeping period piece romance when you know that they are NEVER going to touch each other. However, since Amanda is from 2008 there have been many randy, hilarious exchanges, for example to get Mr. Bingley to turn his advances away from her and toward the appropriate Jane Bennet she tells him she’s a lesbian. His 18th century reaction is priceless….so I do enjoy the shock and awe factor of centuries clashing, probably left over from my fondness of “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” I still have a crush on that actress that played Joan of Arc. Hahah!
Actually, now after ranting I feel at peace with the whole scenario. I enjoy both actresses and have followed their work since HEX. I guess I just feel cheated out of knowing what happened to my demon fighting dead lesbian ghost. Oh well.
Tune in next week to hear how I feel about them remaking “Dr. Zhivago,” with Keira Knightley, IS NOTHING SACRED!!!!
Case in point, last year I discovered this great series called HEX, sort of a Buffy meets Hogwarts with a lesbian subplot. Hot, hilarious, fun I got hooked immediately only to find out that it got cancelled after the second season with no final resolution. ARGH!!!! Suddenly I was flashing back to the dirty dirt that HBO pulled with Carnivàle. I still haven’t fully forgiven them for pulling the rug out from under me on that especially with how season two ended!!!
Now, through the best new cable network Ovation!!! I think of it as what BRAVO used to be before NBC bought it and turned it into all reality all the time crap, sans of course Top Chef & Kathy Griffin, (I have since lost interest in Project Runway, it’s lost it’s flair even though Tim Gunn is still making it work).
Back to my metaphorical death, this week I found a mini-series called, “Lost in Austen”, produced by the BBC about a young girl so enraptured by the book “Pride and Prejudice” that she ends up trading places with Elizabeth Bennet through a cupboard door in her upstairs loo. Not quite the wardrobe of my dreams, but a handy device for traveling back in time into a work of fiction. Amanda Price our heroine finds her 2008 self in her dream world only to be a fish out of water, whose presence influences the characters causing the original book to go off the rails.
Now, as I am working on a piece called, “Killing Jane Austen,” I thought this would be fun research on a topic that I find annoying and repetitious especially for books that have been around for 200years. I have been toying with the idea of calling it, “The Death of Mr. Darcy”, since his pompous ass can’t keep his hands off the impressionable young minds of girls the world over.
But that’s neither here nor there, my point being is that Miss Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper) and Miss Christina Cole (Caroline Bingley) starred in HEX. It’s cruel and unusual punishment to place these two in a sweeping period piece romance when you know that they are NEVER going to touch each other. However, since Amanda is from 2008 there have been many randy, hilarious exchanges, for example to get Mr. Bingley to turn his advances away from her and toward the appropriate Jane Bennet she tells him she’s a lesbian. His 18th century reaction is priceless….so I do enjoy the shock and awe factor of centuries clashing, probably left over from my fondness of “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” I still have a crush on that actress that played Joan of Arc. Hahah!
Actually, now after ranting I feel at peace with the whole scenario. I enjoy both actresses and have followed their work since HEX. I guess I just feel cheated out of knowing what happened to my demon fighting dead lesbian ghost. Oh well.
Tune in next week to hear how I feel about them remaking “Dr. Zhivago,” with Keira Knightley, IS NOTHING SACRED!!!!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The hook up....
It's great to have friends with the hook up. I used to have mad Broadway Ticket hook ups when I worked for The Really Useful Company. For example, I received two tickets to Jerry Seinfeld's, "I'm Telling You For The Last Time," from a grateful concierge who I got house seats for; looking back I could have sold them for crazy dinero but instead took Vinnie for a night of comedy we both treasure till this day.
A friend recently hooked me up with a sneak peak DVD of United States of Tara Episodes 1-4, and all I have to say is people GET Showtime NOW!! Toni Collette is amazing; Diablo Cody is a genius and my favorite screen writer at the moment. I mean Juno could have been a fluke but she writes in such a fresh smart way that she proves without a doubt she's got staying power because you never know what her characters are going to do or say next.
Jake and I watched them back to back and we can't wait for Episode 5!! This is the downside to getting the hook up, now I have to wait a MONTH for the rest of the world to catch up!!!? Unfortunately the L Word Final Season Episodes 1 & 2, plus the first 2 episodes of Secret Diary of a Call Girl were also on the DVD. Ugh, guess Big Love and the anemic Grey's Anatomy will just have to do until then....it was worth it though, a perfect way to spend a sick day in bed.
A friend recently hooked me up with a sneak peak DVD of United States of Tara Episodes 1-4, and all I have to say is people GET Showtime NOW!! Toni Collette is amazing; Diablo Cody is a genius and my favorite screen writer at the moment. I mean Juno could have been a fluke but she writes in such a fresh smart way that she proves without a doubt she's got staying power because you never know what her characters are going to do or say next.
Jake and I watched them back to back and we can't wait for Episode 5!! This is the downside to getting the hook up, now I have to wait a MONTH for the rest of the world to catch up!!!? Unfortunately the L Word Final Season Episodes 1 & 2, plus the first 2 episodes of Secret Diary of a Call Girl were also on the DVD. Ugh, guess Big Love and the anemic Grey's Anatomy will just have to do until then....it was worth it though, a perfect way to spend a sick day in bed.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Bitter...
This was my idea. When asked by mister broadway to find a star vehicle for an actress of some ilk I set off like a hound after a good bone. A few guidelines to follow, a comedy, a revival of something that hasn’t been done in at least 10yrs, and something that people would want to see again with new jazz hands and fresh ideas…..Noel Coward is beyond one of my favorite playwrights. I suggested Blythe Spirit to him with my “dream” cast, a bit younger than the one coming down the pike but still a must see cast to get bums in seats. He hadn’t read it, worry #1. After he did he said he didn’t think the female rolls where strong enough, worry #2. Shortly after being shot down, I saw the press release for this production. Shaking my head with complete disbelief with a smattering of ironic agony I quietly said to myself in my 9 to 5 cube, “why won’t anyone listen to me,” I’m a theatre whore, it’s my church, my vitality, I might be young but I know what I’m talking about.
With veiled cockiness I told him about production plans for BS, he chortled, “it’ll still be a hard sell,” As I stared blankly at what I knew was a lie to hide his misstep, I looked above his head at the Hirschfeld of him and thought to myself, “Oh, Al whose gonna draw me someday when this grasshopper finally gets the chance to be heard?”
Photo Phriday (Happiness is...)
Tequila has a bad rap. Most people don't understand the peppery complexness of this ancient elixir. Tequila was first produced in the 16th century near the location of the city of Tequila; the Aztec people had previously made a fermented beverage from the agave plant, which they called “octli” before the Spanish arrived in 1521. When the Spanish conquistadors ran out of their own brandy (see I am timeless and can be found all over history..lol), they began to distill this agave drink to produce North America's first indigenous distilled spirit. *shout out to wiki for the facts, what did we ever do without the internet?
Some people have an adverse reaction to licking, slamming and sucking, luckily for me it has never led me to the porcelain god for penance. Tequila is my economical beverage of choice, Scotch / Whiskey being my first, but I tend to lean to the more expensive barrel aged “water of life” that my ancestors imbibed in therefore it is a treasured and rare occurrence in these hard times, so I default to the silver fire water that brings out the best in me.
If there was a Margaritaville I would most certainly live there, always keeping an eye on my shaker of salt as not to lose it. Napping lazily to the hum of a blender and the soft tones of a steel drum as the alcohol works its way to all those achy places you can’t reach. Suddenly the baby leg feels like dancing and my humor hits the sweet spot of not caring and letting loose my wild imagination. Someone should really bottle that stuff….oh wait they do.
Thank God!!! Aclamaciones!!! aka Cheers ya'll!
Some people have an adverse reaction to licking, slamming and sucking, luckily for me it has never led me to the porcelain god for penance. Tequila is my economical beverage of choice, Scotch / Whiskey being my first, but I tend to lean to the more expensive barrel aged “water of life” that my ancestors imbibed in therefore it is a treasured and rare occurrence in these hard times, so I default to the silver fire water that brings out the best in me.
If there was a Margaritaville I would most certainly live there, always keeping an eye on my shaker of salt as not to lose it. Napping lazily to the hum of a blender and the soft tones of a steel drum as the alcohol works its way to all those achy places you can’t reach. Suddenly the baby leg feels like dancing and my humor hits the sweet spot of not caring and letting loose my wild imagination. Someone should really bottle that stuff….oh wait they do.
Thank God!!! Aclamaciones!!! aka Cheers ya'll!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
GOAL GOAL GOAL HEY HEY HEY!!!
The longer you live the more your learn about yourself. I'm not much of a sports fan. I enjoyed playing sports in school and recently have a deep thirst for Wii Bowling but overall I can take it or leave it. Going to a live event can change ones perspective.
Last night I was treated to sky box seats at The Garden to watch the Rangers, i.e. New York's Hockey Team, play in an Original Six Match with Canada. Thanks to one of the founders of Master Card I can safely say that this is the only way to roll at the Garden. Frankly I could live in a sky box. It's not unlike my magic treehouse apt, except the view of men slamming each other into glass walls is infinitely better.
The box itself is huge with a bar side:
a lounge side:
and a bathroom big enough to cause some trouble in...
Something happened when the puck hit the ice I was suddenly stricken with Sports Autism. I went into myself and could not really speak accept for the occasional OH! ARGH! ECK!! OH GOD!! WATCH OUT!! I refused alcohol until the game was over which is clearly a sign of the Apocalypse and only really "woke" up during the Zamboni intermissions. It shocked me and my friends. Who knew? That a small black puck could make me focus, maybe I should set one on my desk at work?
Anyway, we had a GRAND time, really the best was when we were leaving and we rummaged through all the other boxes like we were tomb raiders leaving with a nearly full bottle of Absolute, beer, cookies, cheese and a other bottled beverages. I knew I should have brought my bag, that bottle of Dewars could have been MINE!!! LOL!!
So sports fans I recommend going to the big shows. Especially if you can find yourself in a free sky box it's really the only way to sing the GOAL SONG!!!
Last night I was treated to sky box seats at The Garden to watch the Rangers, i.e. New York's Hockey Team, play in an Original Six Match with Canada. Thanks to one of the founders of Master Card I can safely say that this is the only way to roll at the Garden. Frankly I could live in a sky box. It's not unlike my magic treehouse apt, except the view of men slamming each other into glass walls is infinitely better.
The box itself is huge with a bar side:
a lounge side:
and a bathroom big enough to cause some trouble in...
Something happened when the puck hit the ice I was suddenly stricken with Sports Autism. I went into myself and could not really speak accept for the occasional OH! ARGH! ECK!! OH GOD!! WATCH OUT!! I refused alcohol until the game was over which is clearly a sign of the Apocalypse and only really "woke" up during the Zamboni intermissions. It shocked me and my friends. Who knew? That a small black puck could make me focus, maybe I should set one on my desk at work?
Anyway, we had a GRAND time, really the best was when we were leaving and we rummaged through all the other boxes like we were tomb raiders leaving with a nearly full bottle of Absolute, beer, cookies, cheese and a other bottled beverages. I knew I should have brought my bag, that bottle of Dewars could have been MINE!!! LOL!!
So sports fans I recommend going to the big shows. Especially if you can find yourself in a free sky box it's really the only way to sing the GOAL SONG!!!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Turning the page.
We are 5 days into 2009 and I can’t believe how ticking 2008 off my life has made me feel absolutely FANTASTIC!!
Spending New Year’s Eve party hopping with my friend Shana we heard the resounding war cry from everyone, “thank god that’s OVAH!” It was overwhelming to hear it wasn’t just me who had the worst year in recent memory. Both friends and complete strangers seemed to finally be unburdened with the weight of 2008. I surmised that it was the 8 to blame for all the unending BS, backsliding, bad luck and general crap that seemed to loom around every corner we turned this year. If you notice the 8 is two circles that complete the infinity loop or circle of stupid which I have come to call it. No matter how hard we tried this year we all just kept looping back on ourselves in a perpetual state of repetition unable to break the cycle. We got nothing done and nothing good could happen to push us forward into a better place. Collectively we were all behind the 8 ball.
However, we are now coming around the final bend and being flung like a catapult via the graceful arm of number 9, flinging us forward into a prosperous future full of hope, change and optimism. People at work are like, “What’s wrong with you?” “Why are you so happy?” I can’t help it. Something is in the air, the water or just deep in my brain that says enough! My time in my cube is dwindling and I can hear in the distance the call of the girl who first came to New York. She thought anything was possible, she believed in joy and magic. Even when her life was so dark she knew that the light was just waiting for her. Without a fight life marched right over me with excuses and obstacles; I lost my focus, my dream.
Only I can hear her, whispering that it is time to take hold and wring the life I want out of this soggy bottom bog. “There is nothing you can’t have or do, you just have to ask and expect the best from yourself for yourself.” I mean I think it’s her, but it could be Oprah.
Taking baby steps for the baby leg, changing bad habits that aren’t good for me spiritually, physically or mentally will not be easy but they must be done. Saying yes to opportunity and no to my inner critic, fear will not hold me any longer. 2012 is close at hand and if I want to survive Armageddon I’ll be damned if I’m going to face it fat, lame and alone!
2009 is the beginning of my Victory Tour so get a ticket it’s going to be one heck of a show!
Spending New Year’s Eve party hopping with my friend Shana we heard the resounding war cry from everyone, “thank god that’s OVAH!” It was overwhelming to hear it wasn’t just me who had the worst year in recent memory. Both friends and complete strangers seemed to finally be unburdened with the weight of 2008. I surmised that it was the 8 to blame for all the unending BS, backsliding, bad luck and general crap that seemed to loom around every corner we turned this year. If you notice the 8 is two circles that complete the infinity loop or circle of stupid which I have come to call it. No matter how hard we tried this year we all just kept looping back on ourselves in a perpetual state of repetition unable to break the cycle. We got nothing done and nothing good could happen to push us forward into a better place. Collectively we were all behind the 8 ball.
However, we are now coming around the final bend and being flung like a catapult via the graceful arm of number 9, flinging us forward into a prosperous future full of hope, change and optimism. People at work are like, “What’s wrong with you?” “Why are you so happy?” I can’t help it. Something is in the air, the water or just deep in my brain that says enough! My time in my cube is dwindling and I can hear in the distance the call of the girl who first came to New York. She thought anything was possible, she believed in joy and magic. Even when her life was so dark she knew that the light was just waiting for her. Without a fight life marched right over me with excuses and obstacles; I lost my focus, my dream.
Only I can hear her, whispering that it is time to take hold and wring the life I want out of this soggy bottom bog. “There is nothing you can’t have or do, you just have to ask and expect the best from yourself for yourself.” I mean I think it’s her, but it could be Oprah.
Taking baby steps for the baby leg, changing bad habits that aren’t good for me spiritually, physically or mentally will not be easy but they must be done. Saying yes to opportunity and no to my inner critic, fear will not hold me any longer. 2012 is close at hand and if I want to survive Armageddon I’ll be damned if I’m going to face it fat, lame and alone!
2009 is the beginning of my Victory Tour so get a ticket it’s going to be one heck of a show!
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