Sweet Amber's Sanitarium

Blogs

2006-06-22T10:25:00.000-04:00

I've been writing a ton of Blogs lately, but have been posting them over at MySpace. If you'd like to play catch-up and read my Blogs from June 8-present, go to www.myspace.com/StephBKNY.

I'll try to do a copy/paste and post them here, too.

My First Great Love Is My Dad

2006-06-16T18:41:00.000-04:00

I'm going to do some bragging here: My Dad kicks ass.

My earliest memories of my Dad go pretty far back, to when I was 2 years old or so. I remember he would come home from work every night and have my sister and I find bags of M&Ms or some other treat in his coat pocket.

I remember Lisa and I getting into bed with him every Saturday morning. Mom would go make breakfast and Dad would make a tent out of the covers. We'd be under the covers, me, Lisa and our Dad, and he'd make up stories or tickle us or play wrestle. We'd stay there with him and laugh till breakfast was done.

After breakfast Lisa and I followed him to the bathroom, where he'd sit one of us on the toilet bowl tank, and the other on the bathroom counter. He'd put shaving cream on our faces and we'd pretend to shave as he did. When that was done, Lisa stayed behind with Mom and I'd go on errands with him: first to the bank, then wherever else, then back home.

Sometimes after lunch I'd join him at the TV, and we'd watch a James Bond movie or Black Sheep Squadron together. I remember how amazed I was when he told me Black Sheep Squadron is based on a real U.S. military squadron. He'd always point out the differences between fact and fiction on the show. If the show's art imitated real life occurrences, he'd explain it to me further too. Those Saturday conversations with my Dad is where my interest in history and world events started.

My childhood memories of my Dad don't stop there: there were trips on the Circle Line, baseball games, the Zoo and Aquarium (also with Mom of course). I also remember when I outgrew my first two-wheel bike, he bought me a 12-speed, just because I needed one. Not for my Birthday or any occasion, just because. He was a "give the shirt off my back for my family" type of Dad. Still is.

Even the way he treats my Mom, he is my measuring stick for all men. He used to ask me "why are you still single?" I'd tell him "it's YOUR fault, I can't find anyone who treats women the way you treat Mom." (Although I may have hit jackpot this time, no jinxes!).

When I was living on my own, he always stopped by with groceries or a home-cooked meal (from Mom of course) because he wanted to make sure I was eating well.

I can go on and on about my Dad, but this Blog is long enough so I'll sum it up. As far as Dads go, he never made me feel like I needed anything, material-wise or emotionally. There was nothing I missed out on. Not to say I'm spoiled, because as soon as I got old enough to get working papers, my parents made sure I learned the value of a dollar and how important employment is (but not at the risk of my education). I'm not saying we were The Brady Bunch either. We've had our moments, but at the end of the day, we are a family and sometimes, families fight. The love is still there though, always will be.

My Dad will be 71 years old in October. He is healthy as a horse, THANK GOD, except for a bad hip. I know I don't see him as often as I should but if the whole "yours ears ring when someone talks about you" thing is true his ears would be in a lot of pain, cause I'm always talking about him, to anyone who'll listen.

So that's my Dad. His name is Sonny. Wasn't it just nice to meet him?

You're The Cats Meow!

2006-06-15T18:36:00.000-04:00

I LOVE cats so I'm getting a huge kick out of this:

Original story here.

A(meow)rican idol

Claws are out as 10 cats vie for dream job
by sharing quarters in Meow Mix House

BY NICOLE LYN PESCE
DAILY NEWS WRITER

This cathouse welcomes peeping toms.

Since Meow Mix has launched both a kitty cafe and a tabby television station, it's no surprise that the cat food maker has turned to reality TV on Animal Planet with "The Meow Mix House."

In "The Real World" tradition, 10 cats are sent to live in a swanky apartment specially designed with felines in mind. It's stocked with an aquarium, scratching posts, loft beds and even a backyard with barbecue. The "cat-testants" - picked from shelters and rescue groups in 10 cities and tended 24-7 by members of the ASPCA - compete in various challenges to prove they are Meow Mix Material, such as purring, catching toy mice and falling asleep.

Voiceovers add a splash of drama and fun, although any onscreen romances have been nipped in the bud (each pet is spayed or neutered).

Starting tomorrow and then every subsequent Friday at 9 p.m., one cat will be evicted from the house each week in 10, three-minute long segments hosted by comedian Tom Shillue. In the Aug. 18 finale, the judges' pick of the litter is crowned feline vice president of research and development at Meow Mix in charge of taste-testing new products.

Viewers also can visit www.MeowMixHouse.com to vote for the Viewer's Choice, who also lands a job with the company. And everyone leaves a happy kitty, because each former stray is sent home to a loving family with a year's supply of Meow Mix.

City spectators can catch the action firsthand at the pet penthouse on 425 Madison Ave., or visit the Web site, where Web cams broadcast the action in real time and each mouser has a photo, bio and blog posted.

So what will get a puss booted from the house? "No missing the litter box," says promoter Keith Fernbach.

Originally published on June 15, 2006

The Dog Had Her Day!

2006-06-13T18:34:00.000-04:00

Ok so earlier I was annoyed by some co-workers (not at QSAC, but my other job, believe it or not I sort of have co-workers there). Anyway, I got some news that made my day!

My best friend, Terriann, who we call T-Rock or T-Dog or The Dog, finally met her "hero." See, so many of us live for a band, or a sports team, and it would make our day, our lives even, to be front row and/or backstage at that band's concert, or at the biggest Championship game for our team, or to even meet our fav athlete. Not Terriann. Except for Jon Bon Jovi, there is only one celebrity she covets to meet: Tom Hanks. She absolutely LOVES him! And last night *Drumroll Lars* It happened!

Apparently Tom Hanks' wife, Rita Wilson, is staring on Broadway in a play. The name of the play escapes me right now, but Terriann and her boyfriend went to see the play last night. Tom Hanks was sitting a few rows ahead of them, and during intermission she got to talk to him and shake his hand.

She said he was very personable to everyone: he signed autographs and took pics for anyone who asked, and even kidded around with the crowd. When it was finally her turn to meet him, she was shaking. He asked her if she was ok. LOL

I'm so happy for her. I know what it is like to meet someone like that: before I met Metallica, I was so nervous that Laura, Ian and Mike made sure I had a shot before I went to get my Meet & Greet pass. And before that, Kevin, Laura and Ian tried force feeding me chicken fingers and french fries, unsuccessfully I might add. LOL Once I was backstage and had met the band, I was so thrilled beyond words that I not only met Metallica, but had the time of my life doing so. In a world where so many celebrities are stuck up, it's nice to see that Oscar winners like Tom Hanks, and Grammy winners/musical icons like Metallica, really do appreciate their fans.

I told Terriann she will be riding this wave for quite some time. It's been two years since I met Metallica, and when I really sit and think and digest meeting them and how we talked and things that were said, it puts an ear to ear grin on my face. (Although I still can't watch that Met On Tour vid of me and James Hetfield, without keeping one eye closed and the volume turned down. LOL)

It gives me a huge amount of happiness to know someone with a heart like Terriann has (MY DOG!) finally got to experience something she really, really wanted for a long time. She got her "Meet & Greet" and it was a nice time, as short as it may have been. For Terriann, watching Forrest Gump will never be the same.

THE DOG FINALLY HAD HER DAY!

Thought For The Day

2006-06-13T18:32:00.000-04:00

When I die I want to be buried upside down, so certain people can kiss my ass.

Words of Wisdom

2006-06-13T18:31:00.000-04:00

I lifted this off of PPM because I know some non-Clubbers who may enjoy it:

- Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

- Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

- Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

- Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

- Eat a live toad in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day.

- If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

- If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

- It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

- Never buy a car you can't push.

- Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you don't have a leg to stand on.

- Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

- The early worm gets eaten by the bird, so sleep late.

- When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

- Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.

- Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them?

- If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?

- You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

- Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

- Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened.

- We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors; but they all have to learn to live in the same box.

- A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

- Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.

- Have an awesome day, and know that someone has thought about you today...

Quickes

2006-06-13T18:28:00.000-04:00

Quickie ..1

One day, a man came home and was greeted by his wife dressed in a very sexy nightie.
"Tie me up," she purred, "and you can do anything you want."
So he tied her up and went fishing.

Quickie ..2

A woman came home, screeching her car into the driveway, and ran into the house. She slammed the door and shouted at the top of her lungs,
"Honey, pack your bags. I won the damn lottery!"
The husband said, "Oh my God! What should I pack, beach stuff or mountain stuff?"
"Doesn't matter," she said. "Just get the hell out."

Quickie ..3

Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right, and the other is a husband.

Quickie ..4

A Polish immigrant went to the DMV to apply for a driver's license.
First, of course, he had to take an eye sight test. The optician showed him a card with the letters:

'C Z W I X N O S T A C Z.'
"Can you read this?" the optician asked.
"Read it?" the Polish guy replied, "I know the guy."

Quickie ..5

Mother Superior called all the nuns together and said to them, "I must tell you all something. We have a case of gonorrhea in the convent."
"Thank God," said an elderly nun at the back. "I'm so tired of chardonnay."

Quickie ..6

A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband. Suddenly,
her husband burst into the kitchen.
"Careful," he said, "CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Oh my GOD!
You're cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW!
We need more butter. Oh my GOD! WHERE are we going to get MORE
BUTTER? They're going to STICK! Careful...CAREFUL! I said be CAREFUL! You
NEVER listen to me when you're cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up!
Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind? Don't forget to salt them.
You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. USE THE SALT!
THE SALT!!! THE SALT!!!"
The wife stared at him. "What in the world is wrong with you? You think I don't know how to fry a couple of eggs?"
The husband calmly replied, "I wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm driving."

METALLICA!

2006-06-08T09:08:00.000-04:00

Ok so I haven't seen Metallica perform live in almost 2 years. TWO YEARS TOO LONG my friends! The past few months they have been playing some shows overseas as part of their "Escape From The Studio Tour."

Reading the message board reviews, as well as seeing the pics, setlists and info on Met On Tour (GOOD JOB JEFF!) is getting me really really psyched for when they come back to the U.S.

One thing about Metallica shows, it never gets old! During the Madly In Anger With The World Tour, they constantly changed set lists. They even played some songs that were requested on the Fan Club message board. Each show was unique and worth more than the price of admission. They seem to be continuing with that (THANK YOU LARS, for kick ass set lists, IGNORE the haters!).

Only die hard fans will appreciate this, but for instance today I heard they opened with Motorbreath, and just the other day at the Rock Am Ring show they opened with Creeping Death! UNFUCKING REAL! AWESOME!

Also, and this is what REALLY bugs me out: In honor of the 20th Anniversary of Master of Puppets (don't listen to the crap info next to the album at the bottom of my MySpace Blog, for those who do read it there too. MySpace is wrong. For ACCURATE Metallica info visit Chapter Inc.), they played the album in its entirety, in the middle of the set list. Oh, you didn't read it wrong. They played all eight songs from Battery to Damage Inc. IN THEIR ENTIRETY! Once again, I know they made Cliff proud (RIP Buddy).

Anyway, God Bless cable modems. I downloaded the shows, in both audio and video versions, in less than 5 minutes each. The audio is already on my iPod and iTunes. I have it playing now, man do they sound great! The video is in perfect condition too.

I can't wait till they Tour the U.S. again. I'd LOVE to be at a show and hear MOP played like that! And people wonder why we are addicted to this band!

To quote one of my fellow Clubberz, aka KillamAll:

"Maybe it's a craving or a habit. You have drug addicts, you have smokers, and then you have Metallica fans."

It's The Little Things....

2006-06-08T09:05:00.000-04:00

I've been with Anthony for over a year now and living with him for six months, and yet I hardly write about him on my Blog. I always mean to, but I'm so bad at typing certain things. (Say it Anthony, I'm an Ice Princess, LOL.)

Anyway I was just thinking about the little-big things, you know, those small gestures that count in a big way. I remember one time at work, a co-worker surprised me with an iced coffee, because he knows how much I like them. That totally made my day. Anthony is the king of doing things like this, at any given moment.

For my Birthday last year he gave me a digital camera. I never even asked him for one. He said he had remembered us looking at digital cameras, and I said "I wish I had one of these at the Metallica shows." He then told me, "now you have a digital camera for all of the Metallica shows next Tour." The size of the gift didn't matter. The realization that he LISTENS to me and put careful thought into my present meant the most.

Other sweet things he does:

He will return from the supermarket with instant iced coffee (I'm the coffee drinker, not him) because he knows I like iced coffee so much ("see now you can make it here whenever you want it.").

Last night I had a meeting after work. I called him during that meeting to find out he picked up some seafood salad for me, simply because he knows I like it.

If I'm not feeling well and I need him home, he will skip the gym and come straight home after work, to take care of me.

It's all the gestures that seem small, but mean so much. To know someone cares for you, loves you, listens to you and is considerate of you, is an awesome feeling.

Just in case you men do not think we appreciate the little things, you are wrong. The things you do that seem little, are actually what counts the most.

Anthony's Blog

2006-06-08T09:01:00.000-04:00

I had to share what Anthony wrote this morning. It is about our kitten and shows how damn cute she is!

Tabitha the Freak

My cat Tabitha (in my pics section) is a nut. She's very attached to me (as I am to her) but this cat needs mental help (as I do also.)

For one thing, cats hate strong tastes/aromas but this cat LOVES mint. As soon as she hears my electric toothbrush going in the morning, her ass is in the bathroom doorway, waiting for me to finish. She then wails until I pick her up and let her lick whatever toothpaste is on my lips (icky, yes...but cat lovers will empathize).

Another thing is she likes to take showers in the sink in the morning. It's like she's mimicking our adult routine; hilarious. Again with the frickin' wailing and meowing till I turn on the faucet and she gets in...drinking some of the running water, and letting the rest pour over her head/body. I guess she figures it's easier than using her own licking...dunno. At least it helps with hairballs. With all this primping you'd think she had a job to go to also...wish she did; we'd love a third income, lol.

And she literally "misses" Steph and I when we're out of the apartment. You should see how crazy she goes when we get home. But I think I have a slight edge...she's a bit more attached to me. I never thought a female cat could be so funny/entertaining but we've raised her since she was barely a month old....goes to show what love can do when it comes to raising an animal. She's a real sweetheart. Mischievious as hell sometimes and there are occasions I'd like to murder her...but a sweetheart. I'm one of the biggest cat lovers you'll ever find and I sure am glad we found her....she adds alot of fun to our household.

Chris Daughtry

2006-05-15T11:58:00.000-04:00

Ok so most of my friends have IMed or e-mailed me, saying how "pissed," "stunned," "shocked," and "devasted" they are that Chris was voted off Idol and none of us get to see the Taylor/Chris finale we hoped for.

But....*sniff sniff*....I smell something sorta fishy.

Last night Fuel BEGGED Chris on TV to join their band, but supposedly Chris has said no because he feels loyal to his band, Absent Element, and he knows they are bing signed to Arista Records soon. I actually saw the plans to sign his band in several news stories, so that's a fact, Arista wants to sign his band. That made something click in my head: Arista is owned by Sony. Sony=the almighty Tommy Mottola, and he took the Idols to Graceland. The next day Chris gets the boot. So I did some Googling and this is what I found:

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arista

Arista Records is an American record label that is wholly owned subsidiary of Sony BMG, and operates under the RCA Records Group.

So that confirmed who owns Arista, the label ready to sign Chris' band.

Hmmmm....anyone think Mattola told Idol to let go of Chris? I mean even Simon told Fox 5 News that America got it wrong. We all know in the long run Idol isn't the best place for a musician who lists Pantera, Tool, Shinedown, Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God and Mudvayne as his influences.

I love Chris but just like Bo (ok he blows Bo out of the water but go with me here) I couldn't imagine him standing there at the finale, confetti falling on him as he sings "You are the Wind That Lifts Me Up Through The Trees and Takes Me To Moments Like This" or some such Celine Dion/ Gay Aiken crap that Idol writes for the winners, either. Could you?

Oh well, at least Taylor still stands a chance....

iPod Debate

2006-05-02T11:30:00.000-04:00

Ok, I've been having this debate with myself: I want an iPod Nano, but is it worth it?

I already have the old school 20GB iPod with Clickwheel, and I love it! I'm not someone who put every CD I own on there, I actually only put the stuff I have been listening to for the last few years. Out of the 5,000 song that can fit in there, I have almost 1500. I quickly learned that live shows take up most of your GBs (thanks Metallica!). I'm not saying all my iPod space is used, I think I have about 8 GBs left.

Anyway, I'm a junkie for stuff like this. Lately I've been tempted to get an iPod Nano, especially now that it fits 1000 songs and comes in black. I always said the iPod would be perfect if it came in black. I know all iPods are now available in black, but the size of the Nano appeals to me. I think it would be convenient for biking and rollerblading.

I can't seem to decide on actually buying one because: a. I already have an iPod that works well and I love, b. if I'm getting a Nano, a second iPod, is it worth spending the money for the one that holds 1000 songs, or do I go for the 500 song model? And of course, I'd have to decide which songs I want to bike and skate too, which ones I can live without for that time period. That's a task I'm kind of dreading.

Anyone think I should say fuck it and just get the second iPod?

Missing You

2006-05-02T11:29:00.000-04:00

Three years ago I joined MetClub because my friend Christine, a MetClub member since the beginning, said I'd enjoy the ticket pre-sales and contests. When I paid my $55 membership fee, I had no idea just what was in store for me.

You see, about a month after I joined, I started posting on PPM (MetClub's message board, for those who don't know) because I wanted to find a little bit more about a contest for the Bowery Ballroom show.

(I'll use PPM names here): Instantly I became friends with Jimmyd95. I then met and totally loved Laura112 and NYTallicaChick at the Bowery. Then the friendships snowballed, and before I knew it, I had this whole other family.

We aren't just "online friends." We have spent so much time together at Metallica shows, or at ballgames, other concerts, each other's Birthdays, Weddings, housewarmings, etc. I even hired a friend I met through MetClub when he needed a job the most. I've spent hours on the phone with my "MetClub friends", crying or letting them cry to me, and more importantly, laughing. Together.

Life happens and naturally some of us have lost touch or simply don't talk as much as we used to. Yet there are others I have gotten even closer with. Lately we all have been getting back in touch steadily, and fuck it feels good. Tracy and I have been texting and calling regularly again. Yesterday I called Teresa, and her boyfriend (and my friend) Jameson answered, and we talked for a few.

I think I need to get back on the ball with keeping in touch steadily. Although I always think of everyone and have always missed everyone I have not seen, or haven't seen in maybe a few months, I almost forgot just how much!

I've said it once and I will always say it: I have met the best group of people, even when we bicker, through my love for Metallica.

xoxo

Quote of the Day

2006-04-19T15:55:00.000-04:00

"Maybe it's a craving or a habit. You have drug addicts, you have smokers, and then you have Metallica fans."- Killam All (MetClub/PPM member)

24

2006-04-18T10:40:00.000-04:00

Who watched it last night? Constant twists in this show. Do you think Jack actually gave the tape to Henderson, or is the recorder empty? Is Agent Pierce dead? Looks like Logan has his wife whacked next week. And what happens to Heller?

Six more hours of this season, I'm going to have a stroke.

File This Under "ONLY IN NEW YORK" or "ENTER CHAOS"

2006-04-06T10:43:00.000-04:00

Baseball season is underway, which means the Mets-Yankees rivalry is getting into gear.

I know what you're thinking, it isn't even a week into the season and there is already controversy between the cross-town rivals? Yep, thank the NYC press for that! This time the beef involves a song. Yeah you read it right. The press has the teams, the closing pitchers in particular, all hyped up about....*drumroll Lars*....Metallica's hit song, Enter Sandman.

Mike & the Mad Dog, two sports radio talk show hosts who love to run off at the mouth without having all the info, are responsible for the "Sandman Controversy." Yankee closer Mariano Rivera uses "Enter Sandman" when he comes in from the bullpen. Across the river, the Mets new closer, Billy Wagner, uses that very song for his intro on the mound. Since Rivera has been a Yankee for about 10 years now, and Wagner is a newcomer with the Mets, the radio duo have declared the Mets' Wagner, a copycat.

According to Mike & the Mad Dog and Yankee fans everywhere, since Wagner just arrived in NY, he should surrender the song to Rivera, and pick a new one for himself. Wagner, however, has used the song since 1996, before Rivera started using it. This was enough to set off a debate (I kid you not) among superstitious fans and players over who "owns" the song and whose pitcher has the right to use it.

The verdict came in, thanks to Metallica management:

New York Daily News -
http://www.nydailynews.com
Song belongs to Met-tallica
BY ADAM RUBINDAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Wednesday, April 5th, 2006

Not only should the Mets play "Enter Sandman" when closer Billy Wagner takes the mound at Shea, the manager of Metallica says they should turn up the volume.

"Frankly, they could have played it louder as far as I'm concerned," said Peter Mensch, the band's manager and a Mets season-ticket holder. "My comment is: Go Billy."

A day after Wagner closed the Mets' 3-2 Opening Day victory with Mensch in attendance, sports-talk radio erupted, with Yankee fans railing at Wagner's entry music - the same song used by Mariano Rivera in the Bronx.

For the record, Wagner used the song first, even if it's synonymous in baseball circles with Rivera's entrance.

While with Houston during Wagner's rookie season in 1996, teammate Jeff Bagwell disliked the lefty's entry music, George Strait's "They Call Me the Fireman," and persuaded Wagner to switch.

Rivera didn't begin using the song for another three years. Yankee Stadium personnel had been so struck by the crowd reaction in San Diego the previous season when Trevor Hoffman entered games to AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" that they sought to find an anthem for Rivera. Scoreboard operator Mike Luzzi brought in a bunch of CDs and the Yankees tested different tunes, including Guns N' Roses' "Paradise City." They settled on "Enter Sandman," which drew the best crowd response. Rivera didn't even know anything about the band.

"I met (Metallica's) James (Hetfield) last year, but I don't listen to that kind of music," Rivera said. "Everyone just identifies me with the song. I listen to Christian music."

The album containing "Enter Sandman" - known as "Metallica" or the "Black Album" - has sold 14.6 million copies in the U.S. alone and 20 million worldwide since its release in August of 1991. "Enter Sandman" was the first of seven Grammy winners by the band Wagner loves

I know Mariano's got it. Lord forbid, the Earth should crumble if two people have it," Wagner said after his first Mets save.

Rivera said he has no problem sharing. "If the guy feels comfortable using the song, then let him be. I know Billy. He's a great guy. He has all my respect....To all the people that are fighting over this, I appreciate the loyalty."

As for Mensch, he even tried to help recruit Wagner. After learning Wagner was a Metallica fan this winter, he told Mets officials to relay to the free-agent closer that Wagner could be on stage during a concert if that would entice him to relocate to Flushing.

"I haven't quite told Metallica," Mensch said with a laugh. "He can sing backup vocals."

Literally, I called up people I knew at Shea Stadium. That morning, when he was coming to New York, before he signed, we called up and said, 'Tell Billy Wagner, if it means anything, that the manager of Metallica is a season-ticket holder and will put him on stage the next time he's in New York. Or we will reroute the tour.'"

The Mets have long-standing ties with Metallica. Mensch recalled sending Sid Fernandez a set of band T-shirts in 1987 after learning the portly pitcher liked Anthrax.

"XXL," Mensch said.

The two struck up a relationship and Fernandez joined clubhouse attendant Vinny Greco at a Metallica concert at Nassau Coliseum. The duo hung out with the band backstage.

Not that Mensch hates the Yankees. He's tight with Randy Johnson, another Metallica fan.

"I have no beef with Mariano using it," Mensch said. "As long as he's saving games for Randy Johnson that's fine."

Now that we (well Peter Mensh) settled that, can baseball fans get back to talking about....*gasp*....baseball? Time will tell.

Only in New York. Only in New York.

iPod/iTunes Update From Yesterday

2006-03-31T12:44:00.000-05:00

I called Tech Support at the place that fixed my computer. The guy stayed on the phone with me but also did a Net-meeting with me, and I gave him permission to access my computer from there. It was weird seeing my cursor move around when I wasn't even touching the mouse.

He asked me to name one song he can find on my iTunes that wasn't on my iPod.

"Ozzy Osbourne, Crazy Train."

I heard him mumble "nice." Then he starts scrolling through my iTunes. "A Perfect Circle, Alice in Chains, Aerosmith. You have good taste." Of course I said thanks. So he sped up and started straight for the O's. He stopped before the O's though, at....METALLICA. LOL He was drooling over how much Metallica I have on my iPod, till he finally got to Ozzy and started fixing my iTunes.

Basically because the hard disc on my computer was new, my iTunes account wasn't fully authorized for use on th e"new" computer. Once we took care of that, I was able to automatically update my iPod to match my iTunes Libray. YAY! MY music is back!

F'ing Modern Technology

2006-03-30T09:35:00.000-05:00

My computer, which is over 3 years old and has been abused with music downloads and Metallica pictures, had a stroke about two weeks ago. My boyfriend took in to a local computer place and not only did they repair it, they saves ALL my files, got rid of all viruses and hooked me up LOVELY with all kinds of expensive Microsoft Office programs, Nero, Norton's Corporate Edition, etc. You name it, if it kicks ass and is new, it's on there. All for a measly $340.

So why am I mad? Because I downloaded a song on iTunes right before the computer went into cardiac arrest. Now that it is fixed, and my iTunes Library is on there in full swing, I couldn't wait to update my iPod with the music I had downloaded. I checked iTunes and sure enough all my music is there, so I hooked my iPod into the computer and started the update.

SON OF A BITCH! For some reason iTunes decided to take 58 songs off my iPod, including the newest downloads. WHY WHY WHY WHY! UGH! I updated the latest version of iTunes and iPod software onto the computer. It had to run all night for this (fucking dinosaur dial-up. My NEXT move is DSL). This morning, after the software updates were done, I updated my iPod AGAIN. One of the 58 missing songs were added. I know for sure two of the missing songs, because I listen to them almost every day.

It's gonna be real fun sitting down and comparing what is on my iTunes to my iPod, so I can list what is missing and somehow get them back on my iPod. Re-adding (is that a word?) those 58 songs (again!) will be easier than the disaster that would have been if I had to re-add all 1,182 songs, but it is still going to be a pain in the ass.

Blog, Blog, Blog....

2006-03-29T09:22:00.000-05:00

I don't know why I let so much time pass between Blogs.

"I'll take LAZY PEOPLE for $500 Alex."

I really have no excuse. The office here isn't all that busy and I have a computer at home. I always have things going on, or something to say to someone, but laziness steps in and the next thing I know, it is about a month between Blogs.

I have friends who Blog every day, or more than once a day. I don't know how they do it. Maybe it isn't just laziness. Maybe part of it is that I do not want to share my every thought with the online world. Maybe there are things I'd rather not post, because they are private. Good or bad, when something is posted on the internet, it is up for comment, ridicule, scrutiny, you name it.

I learned that the hard way. Actually, not the hard way, just an aggravating way. The green eyed monster rears its ugly head when happy things are posted, whether it is on a Blog, or a message board. I've deleted nasty comments on my SweetAmber Blog because people are spineless enough to comment annonimously with hateful words. The nastiness comes from ignorance of course: not knowing me at all, or not knowing me well enough. I've noticed the positive comments, the intelligent input on a subject matter, comes from friends, or strangers who happened upon my Blog but are comfortable enough to leave their name.

I once wrote a Blog about homosexuality and the Bible. One Blogger commented annonimously, and all he/she had to leave as comments were idiotic, unintelligible jibber jabber. I had other comments in that Blog by friends and strangers who left their names. While not all of those comments were in agreement with what I had said, they were well-thought out arguments, and I enjoyed them. Bottom-line: it's ok to disagree, just do it in a mature manner. Then cooler heads will prevail and we will have an adult discussion, possibly learning from each other. The "I'm right, you're wrong so you must be stupid" approach is so juvenille that it belongs in a schoolyard, where I left it when I was 12!

So yes, when I think about it, some of those things turn me off to Blogging, which is a realy shame, because the writer in me loves the idea of a Blog, the opportunity to write about what I want, when I want, at the length I want. Whether it is a heavy topic, or just a joke I want to share, Blogging should be fun. At times, I look at it as a chore.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

2006-03-17T16:01:00.000-05:00

As I was goin' over the Cork and Kerry mountains.

I saw Captain Farrell and his money he was countin'.

I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier.

I said stand and deliver or the devil he may take ya.

I took all of his money and it was a pretty penny.

I took all of his money and I brought it home to Molly.

She swore that she loved me, never would she leave me.

But the devil take that woman, yeah for you know she tricked me easy.

Musha ring dum a do dum a da.

Whack for my daddy-o,

Whack for my daddy-o.

There's whiskey in the jar-o.

Being drunk and weary I went to Molly's chamber.

Takin' money with me and I never knew the danger.

For about six or maybe seven, yeah in walks Captain Farrell.

I jumped up, fired my pistols and I shot him with both barrels.

Musha ring dum a do dum a da.

Whack for my daddy-o,

Whack for my daddy-o.

There's whiskey in the jar-o.

Now some men like the fishin' some men like the fowlin',

Some men like ta hear, ta hear the cannon ball a roarin'.

Me? I like sleepin' especially in my Molly's chamber.

But here I am in prison, here I am with ball and chain, yeah.

Musha ring dum a do dum a da.

Whack for my daddy-o,

Whack for my daddy-o.

There's whiskey in the jar-o yeah.

Whiskey in the jar-o.

Musha ring dum a do dum a da,

Musha ring dum a do dum a da hey,

Musha ring dum a do dum a da,

Musha ring dum a do dum a da hey....

INSERT WITTY TITLE HERE :)

2006-03-09T09:32:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I haven't been into Blogging lately. It's not that I don't have anything to say. It's just that my time is consumed with so many other things, that when I do have a free moment, I want to keep it just that, FREE.

The last time I wrote an actual update, I told you all I am now selling Tupperware. That's been a lot of fun. I'm into my second month now and really like it. If anyone wants to join me, just e-mail me at StephBKNY@my.tupperware.com and I will tell you how you can host a party or sell it yourself. It's some nice extra money and it doesn't consume that much of your time.

In addition to that, I have been busy at home. In a new apartment there is always something to do. Recently I have the living room, dining room and kitchen painted. Anthony's sister paints and she did a great job. We chose mostly rag painting and one long wall has stripes. Lookin' good! Very Extreme Home Makeover LOL

What else have I been up to? Anthony and I had our parents over for dinner. They all seem to get along well, which is great. Tabitha, our kitten, is still a maniac. Some things never change.

My sister went back to Niagara Falls to give it another try with her loser husband. Why I'll never know but it's her life.

I could have seen Metallica perform at the Sundance Film Festival thanks to a MetClub contest, but I passed. I didn't enter because it was announced so last minute, so money and schedules didn't permit. It was the type of contest where you can take someone, so had I had advanced notice, I would have had Anthony come along. Even though I didn't enter, some of my friends did, and they won. They also invited me as their guest, but again I passed for several reasons. Metallica is doing some shows overseas, but I'm not an overseas traveler (yet) so I will just wait for U.S. dates. I really am dying to go to another show. I haven't been to a Metallica show since the end of 2004. My last concert in general was last April, almost a year ago! It was Black Label Society, GREAT SHOW! For me to go a year without a concert is a record for me, but in the past year I either didn't have the money when one I liked popped up, or I just couldn't get tickets when I tried (damn you Billy Joel! LOL).

Oh, and another year of American Idol is among us! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Taylor Hicks and Chris Daughtry. And Mandisa is my girl! We will see if it goes well for these talents or if they get screwed ala Bo Bice and Constantine Maroulis. Stay tuned....LOL

Oh, and this coming Sunday marks one year for me and Anthony, a Blog will be posted on that when the time comes. I guess, for now, that's all folks!

Letter To My Pets

2006-02-17T09:10:00.000-05:00

I saw this on a message board and had to post it here:

Letter to My Pets:

When I say to move, it means to go someplace else, not to switch positions with each other so there are still two of you in my way.

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. All other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note that placing your paw print in the middle of MY plate and food does not stake a claim making it YOUR plate and food.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help in your quest to reach the bottom first, because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think that I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort.

Dogs and cats actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to one another, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, and try to turn the knob, or get your paw under the edge of the door and try to pull it open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Honest.

Also, I have been using the bathroom by myself for quite some time -- canine or feline attendance is not mandatory.

I can't stress this one enough -- kiss me, THEN go smell the other dog's/cat's behind.

To pacify you, my dear companions, I have posted the following notice on our front door:

Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit and then Complain About Our Pets ---

1. The pets live here. You don't.

2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why it's called "fur"niture.)

3. To you, our pets are just animals. To us, they are an adopted son/daughter who happens to be hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

4. Dogs and cats are better than kids because:
---- They don't ask for money all the time
---- They are easier to train ---- They usually come when called
---- They don't hang out with drug-using friends
---- They don't need a gazillion dollars for a college education, and
---- if they get pregnant, you can sell the children. : - )

You'll Love it at Levitz? NOT ME!

2006-02-13T14:41:00.000-05:00

Ok, so on New Years Eve I walked into Levitz and purchased a dining room set. I made a delivery date for February 4th. One week later, I went back to Levitz to purchase the matching buffet table and hutch. The same man who sold me the dinning room set sold me the buffet table and hutch. AFTER taking my money and setting the same February 4th delivery date (I was so happy I would get all the pieces on the same day), the salesman tells me he doesn't want to panic me, but the dining collection I ordered may be discontinued and I may not get my merchandise. I told him since I paid in full, there should be a tag on the pieces in the warehouse, with my name on it. He told me that is the way it works in a perfect world, but Levitz' warehouse isn't big enough, so they have a first come first serve delivery system.

In other words, I placed my order on New Years Eve and scheduled a February 4th delivery date. If another customer comes in a week later, buys the same item but has it delivered before my date, they will get my table, so if there aren't any tables in the warehouse for me, I'm just screwed.

In order to ensure my items are delivered, we moved the delivery date to January 19. Shortly before the delivery date, I'm told that the table and chairs will arrive on January 19th, but the buffet table and hutch will not be in the warehouse until January 30, so they are still scheduled to arrive at my house on February 4th. Fine.

So January 19 comes. The delivery time is set between 11am and 3pm. They came at noon. GREAT, until I inspect my furniture for damages.

The table is whitewash wood and ceramic tile. One spot on the whitewash wood is clearly discolored. One of the legs of one of the chairs is broken in half. While the delivery guys were still there I got the warehouse on the phone. I'm told to return the one chair and keep the table. The following week they will bring me a new chair and exchange the table.

So the next week, try #2, the new chair comes in perfect shape, the wood on the table is immaculate, but one of the tiles is cracked! Back goes the table. I didn't accept the exchange.

Three times a charm, right? Not if you shop at Levitz. The third table came, again with a crack in one of the tiles. UGH! Realizing that a tile cannot be repaired but wood can be refinished, I call Levitz' customer service. Under warranty, they will come next weekend (February 18th) and repair the damage on the table. The woman I spoke to said it was a smart move to return the tables with the cracked tile, because they cannot replace the tile. Gee, ya think?

In the mean time, I found out that my buffet table and hutch were in fact discontinued. After having a minor fit, my refund checks are in the mail. Needless to say I will not be returning to Levitz for furniture.

This whole thing was like a $1400 lottery: if you get all your items, YOU WIN! YAY! Bonus prize: they arrive in perfect condition.

The point of this Blog is to vent my frustrations and let everyone know (in case you already did not know) that Levitz sucks! They need to change their slogan because I'm so not lovin' it at Levitz.

If you want furniture that lasts longer than IKEA, give the business to your local Mom and Pop stores, take my word for it, don't shop at Levitz.

My New Part Time Gig

2006-02-03T13:14:00.000-05:00

http://my2.tupperware.com/stephbkny
stephbkny@my2.tupperware.com

So in my latest quest to make an extra buck, I have signed on as a Tupperware consultant.

What does that mean? It means if you decide to host a Tupperware party at home or your office (or even online!) I will be your consultant. It also means you can purchase Tupperware through me, via my web site .

Please feel free to contact me about this, and if you know anyone who loves Tupperware (your Mom, aunt, sister, cousin, girlfriend, wife, co-workers) please forward my info to them, or theirs to me! I would love to answer their questions and sell them some Tupperware.

This isn't Mom's old Tupperware. It has the same endurance, quality and lifetime guarantee, but it's new look fits today's modern kitchens!

So visit visit www.my2.tupperware.com/stephbkny or simply click on one of the Tupperware graphics in this Blog, to visit my site and shop online, or contact me so we can set up a Tupperware Party!

http://my2.tupperware.com/stephbkny
stephbkny@my2.tupperware.com

Everything I Need To Know, I Learned From Crayola

2006-02-01T14:48:00.000-05:00

We could learn a lot from crayons:
Some are sharp, some are pretty,
Some are dull, some have weird names,
And all are different colors....
but they all exist very nicely in the same box.

Blah Blah Blah Blah

2006-01-18T12:29:00.000-05:00

Ever get that feeling where your spirit is willing but the flesh is weak? That's me right now. Due to windy, rainy, shitty weather, I'm in a dreary mood. It is making me feel tired (I think I was born tired but that's besides the point), headachy, and just, well, blah.

I'm supposed to be writing a different Blog today, a heartfelt one that has been a long time coming, but I don't want my dreary mood to put a damper (no pun intended) on what I want to say. In addition to affecting my mood, I think this weather has sucked the energy out of me creatively. Like I said, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Even iced coffee isn't helping energize me right now, and that's the beverage my boyfriend calls "your version of crack."

Maybe I will muster up some energy later, providing I don't get blown away in the windstorm (Did I mention I lost my good umbrella?). In the meantime, if it is sunny and warm where you are: BITE ME!

The Feng Shui Way

2006-01-10T09:39:00.000-05:00

The Christmas tree and other related decorations came down on Sunday. Following that, Anthony and I did a little rearranging of the living room.

We switched the location of the sofa: it went from being against the right-hand wall to being against the wall where the windows are, so it is now facing the entrance to the living room. In front of the sofa, of course, is the coffee table. To the right of the sofa, in the corner, is one end table. Off to the side, where the sofa once was, are two recliners, with an end table between them. We added lamps to each end table.

It may be hard to visualize if you have never seen my place, but believe me, it opened up the room so much, and the lamps are a great touch in lieu of overhead lighting.

Last night, when I got home from work, I did some feng shui in the den. I basically just organized it's storage space, moved the sofa over (yes we have two sofas) and placed an end table next to it, and added a lamp there as well. That also opened up the room, and made it very comfy in there.

I always tell Anthony how each apartment I move into gets bigger, and this proved it. My past two apartments were constructed for specific fits. Believe it or not, they did not allow for much, or any, feng shui. I have to admit, I dig the whole feng shui thing: it made a world of difference in terms of open space and our frames or mind regarding those two rooms.

Happy Festivus!

2005-12-28T09:53:00.000-05:00

With Festivus Pole in hand, here is my list of grievances for 2005.

*People who put more time into Reality TV and less time into their own reality
*Supervisors who micromanage and enjoy torturing their employees
*Yankee fans, all of them!
*90-year olds who win mega-millions: At that age do they really need all of that money?
*Gossipy people
*Selfish people
*Cheap people (Open your wallet, you can’t take it with you!)
*People who do not walk fast enough and are holding up everyone who is behind them (a HUGE rush hour pet peeve)
*Mean, nasty, spiteful people
*People who think their shit doesn’t stink, when in fact, it does

That list was off the top of my head. Maybe when I’m in a real pissed off mood I can air out some better grievances. Now to complete the Festivus celebration, I must perform feats of strength (which for me means walking into a COACH store and walking out without a new bag!)

Is There a Santa Claus?

2005-12-23T10:35:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite Christmas stories. It dates back to 1897!

An 8-year old girl named Virginia was starting to doubt the existence of Santa Claus because her friends were telling her he is fictional. She asked her father, a doctor, if Santa does indeed exist. He wasn’t sure how to answer the question, so he told her to write a letter to the New York Sun newspaper. He assured his daughter that the Sun would have the correct answer.

Entitled “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,” here is the Letter to the Editor, and the Editor’s reply, as it appeared in the newspaper:

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

Is There a Santa Claus?

We take pleasure in answering at once thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

Dear Editor--

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

-- Virginia O'Hanlon, 115 West Ninety-fifth street.

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Merry Christukahwanza!

2005-12-09T11:05:00.000-05:00

Back in my day, if you were Catholic you celebrated Christmas, and if you were Jewish you celebrated Chanukah. Kwanza, at least for us, didn't exist.

I went to a Catholic elementary school. We lived in an Italian neighborhood, so it was "Merry Christmas," without question, from the moment Thanksgiving was over right up until it was time to say "Happy New Year." I attended a public high school, and just out of common sense, I would wish my Jewish friends a Happy Chanukah, and they would return the favor by wishing me a Merry Christmas. If someone said they didn't celebrate either holiday, or weren't religious, then I would wish them a Happy Holiday, in the name of spreading good cheer. We all did that. No one questioned it, at least not verbally. Today things have gotten out of hand.

In an effort to coddle people of all faiths, the PC-obsessed population is slowly chipping away at every Catholic/Christian tradition that I have ever known for my 30 years. The automatons otherwise known as reporters have been hyping up the debate: Do we allow prayer in school? Do we say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? Is it a Christmas Tree or a Holiday Tree? Ironically, I have yet to hear the words: "Is it a Menorah or a Holiday Candle Holder?" I am not putting down anyone of non-Catholic/non-Christian faith and/or their holidays. I'm just making a point: Catholics and Christians are getting the shaft because PC-obsessed liberals are afraid to offend those whose winter Holidays of faith have yet to be commercialized by Hallmark.

In my quest to make sense of this all, I Googled the Christmas tree. It didn't start out as a symbol of faith. Courtesy of HistoryChannel.com:

Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21 or December 22 and is called the winter solstice. Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs reminded them of all the green plants that would grow again when the sun god was strong and summer would return.

It didn't take long, however, to find a religious tie-in. FYI, all religious ties to the Christmas tree, found on Google, were to the Catholic and Christian faith. During this aspect of my research I learned that the Christmas Tree became a religious symbol for early Christians because its roots reach into the earth and its foliage points up to Heaven, reminding us of eternal life. Other legends surrounding the Christmas/Holiday tree incorporte Adam and Eve, and the birth and death of Jesus.* I have yet to find a tie-in to Chanukah, Kwanza or even Ramadan.

In closing, I will continue to celebrate my Christmas holiday the only way I have ever known, with no remorse or regrets to how I may not fit into this PC-scene. And if you see me, please wish me a Merry Christmas, as I am Catholic. If you are a loved one, you will find a gift from me under my Christmas tree, and your Christmas card will be in the mail. If you are Jewish, I will wish you a Happy Chanukah, and your greeting card will wish you a Happy Holiday, simply because I have yet to find a box of Happy Chanukah cards. Don't blame me for that, take it up with Hallmark. And don't forget to light your Holiday Candle Holder. Oppps....I mean your Menorah!

*http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/xmastree.htm

New Rules For 2006

2005-12-07T08:49:00.000-05:00

(Someone posted this on a Metallica message board. This is HILARIOUS!):

New Rule 1: Stop giving me that pop-up ad for Classmates.com! There's a reason I haven't talked to these people for all these years: Because I didn't particularly like them when I was in high school, and I am certain that I'll like them even less now. Besides, I already know what the captain of the football team is doing these days: mowing my lawn.

New Rule 2: Don't eat anything that's served to you through a window unless you're a seagull. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was found in a bowl of Wendy's chili. Hey, it cost less than a dollar. What did you expect it to contain....filet mignon? Luckily, it was only a finger! Had it been a whole hand, Congress would have voted to keep it alive.

New Rule 3: Stop saying that teenage boys who have sex with their hot young teachers are permanently damaged. I have a better description for these kids: Lucky Bastards.

New Rule 4: Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here's how much men care about your eyebrows: do you have two of them? Okay, we're done.

New Rule 5: There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket, water, but without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. There's your flavored water.

New Rule 6: The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the asshole. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a "decaf grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one Sweet-n'-Low and one NutraSweet," ooh, you're a huge asshole.

New Rule 7: Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass. And it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You're just high and stupid.

New Rule 8: Competitive eating isn't a sport. It's one of the seven deadly sins. ESPN recently televised the US Open of Competitive Eating, because watching those athletes at the poker table was just too damned exciting. What's next, competitive farting? Oh wait. They're already doing that. It's called "The Opie and Anthony Show" or "The Don and Mike Show."

New Rule 9: If you're going to insist on making movies based on crappy, old television shows, then you have to give everyone in the Cineplex a remote so we can see what's playing on the other screens. Let's remember the reason something was a television show in the first place is the idea wasn't good enough to be a movie.

New Rule 10: No more gift registries. You know, it used to be just for weddings. Now it's for babies and new homes and graduations from rehab. Picking out the stuff you want and having other people buy it for you isn't gift giving, it's the white people version of looting.

New Rule 11 (and this one is long overdue): No more bathroom attendants. After I zip up, some guy is offering me a towel and a mint like I just had sex with George Michael. I can't even tell if he's supposed to be there, or just some freak with a fetish. I don't want to be on your web cam, dude. I just want to wash my hands.

New Rule 12: When I ask how old your toddler is, I don't need to know in months. "27 Months." "He's two," will do just fine. He's not a cheese. And I didn't really care in the first place, I only asked to be polite.

------------------------------------

My comments on the NEW RULES:

New Rule 1: There are some people from high school whom I lost touch with, that I actually think about now and then , yet I ignore Classmates.com as well. I think I signed up a long-ass time ago, under the diress of my sister. We went to the same school.

New Rule 2: The finger in Wendy's chilli was a set-up, yet that rule is still hilarious. I recently heard a gross White Castle drive-through story, so I say abide by Rule 2.

New Rule 3: A man wrote this. I'm willing to bet the Ranch on it.

New Rule 4: See my comment on Rule 3.

New Rule 5: I'll never understand the flavored water thing myself.

New Rule 6: Starbucks coffee makes me major wired, so I've become a loyal Dunkin Donuts gal.

New Rule 7: I have a tatoo on the small of my back. It isn't a Chinese symbol, it is the Metallica Ninja Star. I picked because it has personal significance for me. A tattoo should be meaningful and representative of yourself, not trendy. My seconed tattoo won't be a Chinese symbol either. I know because I just picked it out.

New Rule 8: I thought competitive farting was dinner at the in-laws (just kidding!).

New Rule 9: What can I say here? He has a point. Making a TV show into a feature movie is as great a sin as a Brady Bunch 2-hour Reunion show that airs 10-15 years after the show went off-air. Or a Growing pains reunion, or The Nanny Reunion. The list goes on.

New Rule 10: I like Gift Registries because they let you know what to get the fussy best friend or random person who's party you were invited too (like a co-worker, this does happen). There was actually an episode of Sex & The City that touched on registries and how single people miss out because there isn't a "You're Single" shower. You had to have seen it. It was cleverly written and made every single woman I know sit back and think "They are right!" The point was, single women get the shaft because they aren't engaged or having children. Where are our free gifts?

New Rule 11: I agree with this. I'm perfectly capable of grabbing my own hand towels and dispensing my own soap. I learned how to do this as a toddler. What's next? Will someone offer to wipe my ass?

New Rule 12: This is terrific! He took the words right out of my mouth! I'm not going to tell you I'm 360 months old, so please use years and half years when divulging your child's age.

This Just In....

2005-11-30T10:40:00.000-05:00

There will be no Nativity Scene in Washington , DC this year. . . 2005!

The Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that there cannot be a Nativity Scene on the White House lawn in Washington , DC this Christmas season. This unfortunate decision isn't for any religious reason.

Though the committee searched for months, they simply have not been able to find three wise men and a virgin over the age of four in the Nation's capitol.

The committee did find that there was no problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable.

Tis the Beginning of the Holiday Season

2005-11-29T11:59:00.000-05:00

My four-day weekend started early when the office closed at 3. On my way home I stopped at Keyfood to get ingredients for my M&M cookies and Rice Krispies Treats for Thanksgiving. The Christmas bug bit me once I got home, because I quickly took out my Christmas boxes and put up everything that doesn't go on the tree. Once I was done with that, I made dinner and we I went to bed. Thanksgiving activities included a special breakfast, watching the parade as I baked, and then heading to Anthony's parents' home for dinner. His Mom made a very nice spread.

We braved the Black Friday crowds in search of the perfect [artificial] tree (I will include pics in a future Blog). We picked out a beautiful 7 1/2 footer. Once home, I trimmed the tree while Anthony watched for a few minutes before he headed out to do our laundry. The rest of the weekend was about relaxing. We did minor errands on Saturday (the butcher and food shopping) and celebrated his Step-Dad's Birthday on Sunday. It was a very quiet weekend and we really enjoyed ourselves.

Now that all of the decorating is done, it is time to dive head-first into gift-shopping mayhem! Tis the Season!

Giving Thanks

2005-11-23T21:09:00.000-05:00

My boyfriend keeps a Blog on his myspace page. Recently he has written two Blogs that mention me. In one Blog, he calls me "Chef Steph" and brags about my home-cooking. In another Blog, which he wrote for Thanksgiving, I am the first on his list of what/who he is giving thanks for this year.

I have to reiterate something that the both of us say to each other quite often: if you sat me down a year ago, and told me that one year from now I'd be living in the Bronx with this amazing person who truly loves me, I'd ask " what are you are smoking, and why aren't you sharing any of it?"

The truth is, for the past two years I have had a lot to be thankful for not only on Thanksgiving, but every day of the year. From the birth of my nephew, to having a roof over my head, friends old and new, family, and a long list of other cool experiences (meeting Metallica and everything I saw and did since being in the MetClub is right at the top of the "experiences" list), I must say, I'm being smiled down upon. Anthony certainly tops my list this year. 2004 was fun-filled, but between the action there was still a void. After the ball dropped on New Years Eve, and the confetti cleared, I was hopeful that 2005 would be different as far as the single life goes. I was hopeful, yet cynical. I spent Valentine's Day with my "married" friend Charlie. Prospect? Hell no. Charlie is gay and married to another friend of mine. Two weeks later, I "met" Anthony.

We started talking online the very last day in February and had our first date two weeks later. I never thought he would make the two-hour train ride from the Bronx to Brooklyn (going home for him made it a four-hour train ride for the day). But he did. To his credit he showed up for the first date. And the second. And the third. He just kept showing up. The rest, as they say, is history.

For that, I am thankful.

Once Again, He Is My Hero Of The Day

2005-11-17T00:04:00.000-05:00

Every so often something or someone makes you smile from within. You know what I’m talking about: that warmth, that feeling of sincerity that surfaces from deep down in your subconscious, your soul. I’m not talking about the everyday things that make us smile from within on a regular basis: kind words from a co-worker or your boss, the comfort you receive just by talking with your family, the touch of someone you love, that look your significant other gives you that tells you exactly how they feel without using words.

All of that is priceless, but what I am talking about today is the unexpected, rare moments provided by those people and places it is least expected.

In a previous Blog I talked about an encounter I had with James Hetfield of Metallica. I talked about my Meet & Greet which took place back in March 2004. During that time I shared a personal story with James, one that explained how one of his songs helped me through a rough time in my life. Click Here For The Story.

Aside of that heart-felt moment, James and I actually kidded a bit. To make a long-story short, I teased him about being the “Fonzie of Heavy Metal” because no one in metal is cooler than James Hetfield. He got a kick out of the Happy Days reference so much that he made sure I told the camera what I had said. It actually made a video on one of Metallica’s Official Web Sites. The link to that vid is listed to the right of this Blog.

From that point on it became a running joke between us (and everyone else James came across, as far as I know. His bodyguard told me that James went backstage and told everyone that he is Fonzie. I know for a fact he told Lars, because Lars was talking to me when James was interrupting us by repeatedly saying “I’m Fonzie! I’m Fonzie!”). He even went so far as to do the Fonzie thumbs up and “AYYYY” while on stage (but off mic) when he would see me (I always had front row, on the coveted Rail). He actually did it during quite a few shows. At one point during the Tour I gave him a picture of The Fonz, but had superimposed his face over Henry Winkler. This was at the very end of the Tour. As he looked at the pic, he said he deals with being called The Fonz every day. ;)

Just a few days ago Metallica played a couple of shows with The Rolling Stones. My friend Matt had a Meet & Greet and mentioned me to James Hetfield. This is an excerpt of Matt’s story:

“….James came in and came to our end of the line. I thought I would be more nervous than I actually was around him. I have heard he can be very intimidating but being this is the first time I had met him I didn’t feel that about him. He had a very calm demeanor. He wasn’t too high and he wasn’t too low. Very even keel. I shook his hand and I don’t remember what I said exactly but I told him that StephBKNY [Blogger’s edit: StephBKNY is my name on the Metallica board] said hello and I reminded him that she called him Metal Fonzy during the Portland 2004 M&G. He smiled and immediately remembered who she was and asked how she was doing. He mentioned that she was at ALOT of shows on the tour and that she could always bring a smile to his face at least once a show. He told me to tell Steph that he said 'hello', shook my hand and he moved on down the line. I was thinking, 'Wow, I just met James Hetfield!'”

WOW! I would bring a smile to James Hetfield’s face at least once a show? ME? Brooklyn? That is one of the greatest compliments I have ever received, given who it is coming from. I’m at a loss for words except to say that once again, James Hetfield has given me that smile from within, that warmth. Once again, he has made my day, possibly my year. Once again, I have a reason to say kind words to this man. Yes, Metallica’s music is angry, yet it makes me so happy. Aside from the music, all of my experiences since joining the MetClub: all of the contests I won, meeting the band, the friends I have made, the shows, the Road Doggin’ it, have all been worth more than their weight in gold. When I first signed up for the membership I had no idea what was in store. I have to say I got way more than my money’s worth, more than I bargained for.

Metallica: James, Lars, Kirk, Rob, the MetClub staff, fellow Clubbers, etc. found a way to permanently etch a place for themselves in my heart. It is nice to know that I brought smiles to James’ face, since he [unknowingly] always does the same for me. Isn’t it funny how life works out sometimes?

Moved In!

2005-11-15T12:19:00.000-05:00

Time flies doesn’t it? My last Blog was posted a few hours before my move to The Bronx. Since then so much has happened. Anyone who has moved knows how hectic it can be, just getting settled in, and that is where 95% of my energy has gone in the last three weeks. Yes, three weeks. November 12 was our third Saturday there (including the move day). It is hard to believe. Anthony and I feel as if we have been there longer. We concluded this is due to the fact that we have had so many things to do since we got there: unpacking, furniture shopping, general shopping, errands, etc.

I’m going to try and tell the condensed version of the last three weeks.

Anthony’s antique armoire broke right outside of his parent’s house. My 6-drawer dresser broker right outside of the new apartment. Thank you IKEA! (*ad sarcasm*) I was aggravated because I had a 5-drawer dresser and armoire waiting for me in Manhattan (semi-new from a friend) and we have no way of picking it up.

The cats were in the back of the truck in their carriers and it was their longest ride yet. We kept them in their carriers (which we put in the den) while we emptied the truck. We didn’t want to have to worry about where the cats were while unloading our things. Once everything was moved into the apartment, it was time to let the cats out of their carriers. The kitten was un-phased by it all. I wish I could say the same thing for the boys. I think Tyler took a while to leave his carrier and when he did he hid under the sofa that is in the den (it is the red sofa from my old living room, so it is familiar to him). Poor Jeremy, who is always a good boy, wouldn’t budge out of the carrier. A while later I hear him meowing and as I walk in to den I smelled that all too familiar smell pet owners dread: someone shit somewhere in the den. Anthony and I looked everywhere but couldn’t locate the “housewarming gift” from the cats or cats. Sure enough, the smell was right where Jeremy was! The poor thing shit himself! I lifted him out of his carrier to find the evidence. Somehow he managed to not sit in it. I cleaned the carrier and comforted him. When I put him down, he hid in the bathroom.

That was October 29. Anthony and I had a four-day weekend because we took off Halloween and November 1 to get settled. We pretty much went non-stop from there. Poor Anthony got sick a few days after the move and was home for the week due to doctor’s orders. In between unpacking and cleaning the new place, filling the fridge, etc., Direct TV came and installed service. We also scrambled to get a new bedroom set. We had no choice: without the armoire and dresser, we were short on closet space and most of my clothes were still in boxes. The bedroom set came on Tuesday, November 8 (at 8:45PM to our dismay). Luckily I was off for Veteran’s Day, so I set that whole day aside finally got my clothes out of boxes and stored away in the dresser. We are done, for now.

We still need a dinette set and a bookcase for the den. On the “things we don’t need but want anyway list” are: a new entertainment center for the entertainment system in the living room, and a new desk for the computer. Anthony’s parents gave us their old living room set (they just bought a new sofa, etc. so it was good timing). The set is cozy and in good condition. We really like it. Come January a new living room is on our list too, but I do like the one we have now. In case you are wondering, I still have my living room furniture from Ovington Court. It is all in the den, where it will stay. We want the den to be a chill out/computer/reading room.

So that is pretty much it. That is what I have been doing, getting settled. It does feel all settled in now, all cozy like home. Well, it is home! The cats grew to love it after only a few days. I’m lucky that way, they adjust quickly.

I have to say, I do love the new digs. We have a brand new bathroom and kitchen, so everything is immaculate. The new carpeting in the living room and den (that Anthony and I picked out) looks awesome too. This past week was the start of us sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying it all. It really feels like home, sweet home!

No Sleep Till....The Bronx?

2005-10-29T12:04:00.000-04:00

As I sit here typing, it is a little past midnight. To my left, all of my possessions are boxed up and ready to go. This is my last Blog in Brooklyn. Tommorrow I am off to live in The Bronx. It is somewhat weird to me because in my 30 years I have never called anywhere home other than Brooklyn. It also feels familiar, because it is the same Borough my Mom grew up in, in a neighborhood ten minutes away from where my Grandmother and Aunt still live. I have spent so much time there between Holidays and other familial whatnots that it doesn't so much feel like a move to a different Borough, but a move to a different neighborhood.

Going back to calling a place like Brooklyn my home brings me back to an old Blog my friend Spider once wrote. In the Blog he questioned whether home is a place or a feeling. I think it can be a combination of both, but I digress. Rather than rehash his entire thought on the definition of home, I'll say this: home is where the heart is, and although I love Brooklyn dearly and my heart will always be there I found out I have a new home. It is with Anthony. Home, no matter what the Borough or neighborhood, is where he is.

As of November 1, I am not only moving The Bronx, I am going home. I'm both excited and nervous to start this life with him. I can't wait to see where it leads us.

P.S.
Before everyone goes into a state of "I can't believe she is leaving Brooklyn" shock, just remember: You can take the girl out of Brooklyn, but you can't take Brooklyn out of the girl.

So Annoying!

2005-10-25T11:38:00.000-04:00

So two weeks ago my landlord says someone wants to come see the apartment on 10am that Saturday. Anthony and I get up on what feels like the butt-crack of dawn for the weekend (7am) and P.S. the woman never showed up. Fast forward to last night.

My apartment looks like who did it and ran: there are boxes everywhere because I'm in the midst of packing and organizing the move. She calls me to say a woman wants to see the apartment. My landlord ASKED me when it was ok for someone to come by. I returned her call and told her it wont be ok till Sunday, when I move. To make a long story short, she is annoying me. She is insisting that it is ok for a stranger to waltz into my apartment in the shape that it is in, at a time when things are hectic for me. I'm trying to split my time between finalizing my move (there is also the chore of calling the utility comapnies, DirectTV, etc.) and cleaning the new place before Saturday, all while keeping what is left of my sanity intact.

I'm all paid up with rent for the month of October. I still live there, I think I have rights to say who comes by and when. I think I need to start drinking more, or maybe I should start smoking something. Anything. I just need some sanity.

Ok, This Feels Weird

2005-10-24T11:58:00.000-04:00

I just called Con Ed and Verizon to change my accounts over. Verizon has given me a Bronx phone number! AAAAHHHH! LOL This will take some getting used to!

What A Weekend!

2005-10-24T10:42:00.000-04:00

Anthony and I spent 90% of the weekend packing. Most of Sunday was spent at my parent's house, where we celebrated my Dad's 70th Birthday (Happy Birthday Dad!). It is now Monday morning. I'm tired and my muscles ache. I still have some packing to do (a few knicknacks and my clothing). Wednesday night I will be cleaning the new apartment, which means I will be exhausted Thursday. I have a four day weekend coming up, and even though most of it will be spent moving, unpacking and getting settled, I'm quite excited.

My mind is shot right now, so I'll right more later!

Excuse Me While I Tend To How I Feel....

2005-10-19T14:00:00.000-04:00

I know I have been MIA, not only on this Blog, but on some of the message boards I visit, and on instant messenger, e-mails, phone calls, basically all communication tools. If I have put you on the back burner, I apologize.

The thing is, I've had a lot going on between apartment hunting, job-hunting, the situation that inspired me to job-hunt, and my sis and her son being back home permanently.

The apartment hunt went well. Anthony and I found a beautiful place in Pelham Bay. It has two bedrooms, an eat-in-kitchen, a breakfast nook, full bathroom and living room. Everything in the kitchen and bathroom is brand new and immaculate. This weekend the landlord is installing new carpeting in the living room and second bedroom (which we are turning into a computer/reading room). We got to pick out the carpeting, so that was awesome. We move in the last weekend in October.

As for everything else, it has been stressful on me. Yesterday I almost had a breakdown but Anthony talked me off the proverbial ledge. I promise to be back to my normal, social self as soon as I find a new job with better pay. Until then, to quote the lyrics of James Hetfield, "excuse me while I tend to how I feel."

Things That Stick In My Craw: The At Work Edition

2005-10-11T09:54:00.000-04:00

I sit at the front desk at work. When I am away from my desk because I am at lunch, working on a project, or out for the day, there are 3 different women who sit here to cover phones for me. I have a few pet peeves I would like to rant about here:

1. My desk is neat and organized. When I leave it, even for five minutes, I expect my desk to remain neat and organized. The women who cover for me leave it looking like a truck drove through it.

2. My Boss gave me a Mike Piazza mouse pad for Christmas. Lately when I come back to my desk I see ink doodles on it. This outrages me. The mouse pad is my personal property. Since none of us work at Shea Stadium or for the MLB, I’d like to think they know that as well. So why deface someone else’s mouse pad? I don’t go around drawing on their desks, although my Boss suggested I do so.

3. I have pictures on my desk of my Metallica Meet & Greet. So it is four pics with me a different guy in each. My boyfriend’s pic is my wallpaper. Please do not confuse the four of them. I realize these women do not know who the men of Metallica are, but “Your boyfriend’s pic fell down by accident” is still a ridiculous statement. Last time I checked, my boyfriend’s name is Anthony. Not James. Not Lars. Not Kirk. Not Rob. ANTHONY. And he works for a law firm, not a heavy metal band. Thank you. Please listen closely next time I mention his name.

4. Making me wait five minutes longer to return to my own desk because you are finishing up Yahoo! Games is unacceptable. When I am back from lunch, please take your belongings, log off and go slack off at your own desk.

I’m at my Witt’s end. I can’t comprehend why it is so difficult to respect others and their property. “Do unto others as you would have others do unto yourself.” I don’t think that is too much to ask.

When Every Sign Says NO PETS ALLOWED

2005-09-30T17:06:00.000-04:00

My boyfriend just sent me this listing on Craigslist. The poster is obviously a frustrated pet-owner who is apartment hunting. Since my soon-to-be-ex-landlord had major beef with our two-month old kitten, we can relate.

I'm posting this Craiglist Listing, because it is entertaining and funny. I may be wrong, but this man/woman is slightly mad about many landlord's no pets clause.

WHY DENY MY PET A PLACE TO LIVE???
Reply to: anon-101018058@craigslist.orgDate: 2005-09-30, 2:39PM EDTWHY DO YOU NEW YORK LANDLORDS ADVERTISE FOR APARTMENTS WITH ALL KINDS OF PRICES FOR RENT, REQUIREMENTS FOR A+ CREDIT, FEES OR NO FEES, AND ALOT OF OTHER "REQUIREMENTS" BUT THEN YOU LIST "NO PETS" IN YOUR ADS??? DON'T YOU LANDLORDS KNOW THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE IN NEW YORK CITY OWN & LOVE THEIR PETS DEARLY AND THEIR PETS ARE A PART OF THEIR FAMILY? YOU LANDLORDS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO HEART AND NEED TO GIVE THAT "NO PETS" BULLSHIT A REST.

DOGS ALLOWED AVENUE at CATS PERMITTED BOULEVARD
google map yahoo map

yes -- cats are OK - purrr
yes -- dogs are OK - wooof

this is in or around EVERYWHERE

no -- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Fee
Disclosure: WHY CAN'T MY DOG/CAT LIVE THERE TOO?????
Listed By: LANDLORDS - WHY DO YOU REJECT PETS???
101018058

Just For Laughs

2005-09-21T11:03:00.000-04:00

Someone e-mailed this to me. I know my girls will appreciate this:

Man driving down road.

Woman driving up same road.

They pass each other.

The woman yells out the window, PIG!

Man yells out the window, B I T C H!

Man rounds next curve, crashes into a HUGE PIG in middle of road, and dies.

Thought For The Day: If only men would listen...

Thought For Today

2005-09-14T14:15:00.000-04:00

Some people are like Slinkies. They're really good for nothing, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

There is someone who I'd love to push down a flight of stairs right now. And I'd have a cheering section, too. But I wont. I wasn't raised like that, and frankly this jerkoff isn't worth going to jail for. I'm making a public promise to myself: I will breath in and out deeply, go for walks, have some cocktails, basically do things that help me relieve stress. When is Metallica Touring again? I NEED TO SET MY ANGER FREE!

The Great M & M Tragedy of 2005

2005-09-13T10:14:00.000-04:00

My nephew will be two years old next month. My sister does not give him too much sugar and chocolate, yet he has an M & M addiction. A few days ago he asked her for more M & Ms. He had already had some that day. She told him “No M & Ms.” He had to wait till tomorrow. That night as he slept, my sister heard him talking in his sleep, in a whimper he said “M & Ms, M & Ms.”

My sister laughed quietly so she did not wake him. How can you not laugh? A two-year old had a nightmare about M & Ms. I guess when you get your next M & M and where it is coming from is a huge problem for a two-year old. Oh, to be two again!

Sweet Six Months

2005-09-12T21:54:00.000-04:00

So today marks six months that me and Anthony are together. When we first met, I was [extremely] guarded because over the past 5 years, I'd made a profession out of bad dates. My non-existant love life was a circus, a form of entertainment and amusement for my family, friends and co-workers (we all remember the $20 burrito dinner date). The last time I had been in a relationship where a man said"I love you" it ended five months later, with him saying "I don't want a girlfriend for the summer." At 25 years old, I thought I had heard the last of that excuse in high school. I had been wrong.

But I'm digressing.

While most of my date stories may make a very funny book one day, the point of this Blog is Anthony, me and six months. Without getting too personal on the internet, Anthony is exactly who I have been looking for. He makes me laugh till my stomach hurts, he is there for me on every level that is important to a relationship, and he is the order to my chaos. (Insert sarcastic "You couldn't possibly be chaotic" comments here. LOL) It doesn't matter who pissed me off or how, when he is around, it all goes away. He manages to make me happier every day. Surprised? You shouldn't be. Just look at the smile on my face. My mom says you can't wipe it off of me.

The next chapter is that we will be getting a place together very soon. We are both excited about it. We wonder where it will be, what it will look like etc. We plan a November 1 move. We also share a kitten who I have written about here. She turned 2 months old yesterday.

I think that's it for now. I'm actually too tired to write but I wanted to share the six-month anniversary mark, and a little bit about how I feel in my relationship.

Baseball Old Timer's Help Katrina Victims

2005-09-06T13:00:00.000-04:00

Old Timers Ballgame to Benefit Hurricane Victims on Eve of 9/11

On Saturday night, September 10th, QSAC (Quality Services for the Autism Community) will be holding their 3rd annual “Legends of Baseball – Believin’ Again” charity game at Ducks Stadium in Central Islip.

QSAC has committed to share half the proceeds of all ticket sales from the charity game to hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Former baseball legends (many of whom played with the New York Mets) include Jerry Grote, Ron Swoboda, Ed Kranepool, Bud Harrelson, Art Shamsky, Ed Charles, Joe Pignatano in addition to Yankees’ Ron Moschitto, future Hall of Famer, Lee Smith, Red Sox’ Chuck Schilling, Cubs’ Tony Balsamo, and Pirates’ Fred Cambria will play community leaders including Mix 102’s DJ Paco Lopez, News 12’s Rich Hoffman and Chris Sanders. The night will be topped off with a fireworks display by Grucci Fireworks.

Tickets, which are only $10 each, can be purchased by calling 718.728.8476 ext. 2059 or ext. 1700. Ducks Stadium is located at Citibank Park, 3 Courthouse Drive, Central Islip.

QSAC is a 30 year-old organization serving people with autism throughout New York City and Long Island. www.qsac.com

When It Rains, It Pours

2005-09-01T10:45:00.000-04:00

This has been my week so far:

On Tuesday morning my $300 HDTV burnt out. It is under warrantee so I have to look into where Magnavox wants me to send it. This sucks one more than one level because it is my bedroom TV and I love nothing more than watching my Direct TV in bed.

Wednesday (last night) I get a $250 cell phone bill. Never in my life! I swear! I have no idea how I talked so much in one month. Normally my cell phone bills are the minimum amount and I have leftover minutes. Go figure!

Thursday (this morning) one of my adult cats, Tyler, has a urinary tract infection and has to be taken to the Vet ASAP. Since I'm at work, I'm giving my best friend some cash to go take him to the Vet for me. She is out of work and can use the money anyway. Since she doesn't have the key to my apartment, I called my landlord to tell her to let my friend in. In conversation, I told my landlord that my friend will be taking my cat to the Vet. She (the landlord) then decides to tell me that she "meant to talk to me about the cats." She is fine with my two adults cats whom I moved in with, but the new kitten has to go. She "can't take three cats." I keep my apartment cleaner than hers and they are quiet, so I'm not sure what she meant. When she gets the rent tonight, I plan on asking her why the 7 week old kitten is being evicted.

I was going to ask her if my boyfriend can move in but I can tell that is a no-go. I'm pretty sure the last tenant wanted his girlfriend to move in and she said no, so he moved out. I say this because when I first moved in (over a year ago), she said her old tenant had a girlfriend and "just couldn't be alone" and that was why he moved. I didn't ask her to elaborate because I had just met her. Ironically, she has a live-in boyfriend. Now, I'm 30 and my boyfriend is 36. We want to take things to another level, so I guess I will be apartment hunting with him. We will be looking for a place that will take three cats. I think of my cats as my kids, so I'm not getting rid of any of them. The first two I have are brothers (same litter) so I wont separate them. As for the kitten, I'm already attached to her.

Can we start the three day weekend NOW?!

Quick Rant Part II

2005-08-31T01:03:00.000-04:00

So this man who owns the deli around the corner from me got a kitten a few months ago. At under a year old, possibly 6 months, the kitten got pregnant. He gave her kittens away to customers. That was in the Spring or early Summer.

Tonight as I'm walking to the deli, I see his cat. She is obviously pregnant again. When I said something to the deli owner, his reply was a somewhat fed-up "I need to give her away." I suggested he just get her fixed so she doesn't get pregnant again, but his response was, again, that he is going too give her away. This disgusts me. He is going to give away a cat that needs to be spayed and now he has a new litter to find homes for. This is why there are strays everywhere. What happened to common sense? This cat should have been spayed in the first place, or at least after she gave birth to her first litter. Giving birth to more than one litter isn't good for a cat's health, neither is prolonging getting her spayed.

He obviously has her to just keep at the store, but that doesn't mean she deserves less love and attention than a house-cat. People suck.

End of rant.

Want To Get Your Band's Name Out There?

2005-08-26T11:57:00.000-04:00

Two of my friends are producers for an off-Broadway play called ONCE AROUND THE SUN. It is about a struggling rock band trying to be heard in a radio world of American Idol winners. I wrote a review of it on this Blog. The show is awesome and the music is iPod worthy.

This one actor, Jesse Lenet, he is hilarious. He plays Dave, the stoner bass player. Anyway, Jesse decided that he wants to wear the t-shirt of a different band for each performance of the show. All you have to do is contact the show's producers (in this case my friend Gary) and find out how to sumbit your band's shirt.

Shirts must be new, size Medium, and have your band's logo on it.

The producers of ONCE AROUND THE SUN will contact you and let you know when it will be worn on stage.

To submit a T-shirt, contact: Gary@Maffeiproductions.com
Fax: 212-244-5561

Or mail a letter to:
Maffei Productions
330 West 43rd Street
#3
New York, NY 10036

P.S. So far Black 47 has sent in a shirt, among a few other bands.

It's A Miracle! LOL

2005-08-26T11:55:00.000-04:00

In the Blog titled NEW KID ON THE BLOCK I told everyone about my new kitten and how I am waiting for my two 4 1/2 year old male tabbies to accept her. Well *drumroll Lars* They have!

It took them Sunday, Monday and some of Tuesday, but as of Tuesday night, Wednesday, last night and this morning, the hissing and hiding has stopped! As a matter of fact, they watch her with these looks of affection. When I put her in her box or close her in the bathroom, they look at me like I'm the bad guy. They get these sad looks as if to to say "why did you do that?" LOL It's cute.

Anyway, I feel like a miracle worker! From what other cat owners tell me, this is relatively fast!

The New RENT

2005-08-25T15:43:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I was invited to the opening night preview of a new musical. This Blog is a long-time coming. I'm highly recommending tat everyone catches this while they can. It is currently in NYC for a limited engagement, but I will get back to those dates and other info later.The new musical is about, well, music. And it is a story every rock fan/musician/starving artist can relate to.

Once Around The Sun takes place in New York City circa now. The play opens up with a rehearsal performance by B-Side, a rock band struggling to be heard in an era where pre-fabricated pop and hip hop stars are dominating the airwaves and easily wooing record executives. B-Side's band members are: Kevin, a Rob Thomas look-a-like who co-writes the lyrics and music, plays rhythm guitar and sings; Skye, the female vocalist and keyboardist who shares co-writing duties with Kevin, who is also her fiancé; Ray, the passionate lead guitarist, Richie, the silent drummer; and Dave, the comical/lovable stoner bass player. It then takes us to the wedding of a couple we never see. Minus Skye, the band acts as back-up to Lane Stevens, the troubled, alcoholic wedding band leader and uncle of Kevin.

Struggling with their dream of making it big verse their current reality, the band bitches and moans about their day job, the lack of people who attend their gigs, and an acquaintance named Waldo, who is enjoying his 15 minutes of fame thanks to his win on American Idol. [One character calls the show American I-suck, and they All agree that no one talented ever wins].

Cast in the shadows of their American Idol acquaintance, B-Side shares the stage with Waldo, therefore forced to go on at 2am and perform in front of the remaining 7 people. Notorious music diva/record executive Nona Blue approaches the band. They are pumped because they are under the impression that she wants to sign them all, only to learn her interest lies solely in Kevin. Kevin is now faced with a decision: does he leave his girlfriend, band mates, friends, and family behind to pursue his dream?

I wont make this post a spoiler, so you will have to go see this play for yourself. I, in fact, saw it twice. Once Around The Sun has appeal to music fanatics beyond the Broadway realm. It’s mix of pop, rock, swing and R&B. There are at least three of the songs that I cannot get out of my head. They can easily crossover from theatre and become radio hits.

Once Around the Sun is at the Zipper Theatre in NYC and has a limited engagement (until October 16). The theatre itself is cool: in the front there is a bar/lounge and when you enter the actual theatre, the seats are old, comfy used car seats. You can also take your drinks into the show with you.

The Zipper Theatre is on West 37th Street in Manhattan. For ticket info check out www.oncearoundthesun.com (the web site has limited previews of maybe 5 songs of the 21 in the show).

Love At First Sight, Plus The Green Monster Makes An Appearance

2005-08-25T10:35:00.000-04:00

When I took Tabitha home on Sunday evening, she received mixed reviews from my two cats. Jeremy, ever the lovey dovey, gave her one paw up. He didn't hiss at her. In fact, he was curious about her from the start. He sniffed her, sat near her or slept next to the box she slept in. At the same time, he seemed sad.

Tyler, on the other hand, gave her arrival two paws down. Tyler, who is a Momma's boy, thinks he owns me. In fact, he even has jealousy spurts with Jeremy, who is from the same litter as Tyler and whom I brought home the same day as Tyler. Every so often, when Tyler sees me holding and kissing Jeremy, he will wait for me to put Jeremy down, and then pounce on him. Even when I put Jeremy down and immediately pick up Tyler, he manages to still go after his brother. With that in mind, the hissing and hawing Tabitha received from Tyler was no shock to me.

On Sunday they weren't ready to accept her 100%. I didn't expect them to, it was their first meeting. Tyler did hissing and hiding. Jeremy just sulked when he wasn't watching her or sniffing her. They came out of hiding when I went to bed. They each got into bed with me and laid in my arms. I guess they needed reassurance. I petted them and fell asleep.

On Monday, there was more of the same as on Sunday, except now Tyler even hissed at me. Boy was he pissed. I decided to take time and give the three of them equal attention. I let Tyler and Jeremy know they are my #1's and that Tabitha is a little girl who they shouldn't feel threatend by. Call me crazy but I think it worked because....

On Tuesday they started to pick up their moods. Jeremy no longer looked sad, he had his bounce back in his step. Tyler was hissing less and stayed out of hiding for pretty much the whole day. They each approached Tabitha to sniff her, even if she was in her box, they would look into it and check her out.

As of Wednesday (yesterday), it seems as though they both now give her two paws up, although when she chases them to play, they run for it. LOL

It will be interesting to see what happens tonight, although I do think love is in the air. Like I said earlier, Jeremy had a hiss-free curiousity about Tabitha from the beginning. He wants to love her. When Tabitha sees Jeremy, she wants out of her box bad, and when she is walking around and gets near him, she purrs. It's the cutest thing. She is 5 weeks old and already has a boyfriend!

New Kid On The Block

2005-08-23T11:10:00.000-04:00

On Sunday my boyfriend and I took in a new baby kitten. It's a girl, a mix of tabby and calico. I took her to the vet today. So far all is well with her. She is 5 weeks old and her name is Tabitha.

Here is a pic of her standing up in her box: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/StephBKNY/DSCN0238.jpg

My other two cats, twin male Tabbies, are 4 1/2 years old and have to get used to her. Tyler hisses at her here and there, and Jeremy goes to smell her and stares at her but otherwise doesn't seem phased. He even laid down near her box this morning. She is only 1 pound 3 ounces! Bambina!

More pics:
Jeremy and Tabitha after they went nose to nose: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/StephBKNY/DSCN0237.jpg

Tabitha and Anthony:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/StephBKNY/DSCN0221.jpg

Tabitha checking out her new pad: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/StephBKNY/DSCN0219.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/StephBKNY/DSCN0226.jpg

Tough Questions: Food For Thought

2005-08-12T11:18:00.000-04:00

I got this in an e-mail: THE BOTTOM INFO IS THE BEST!

Question 1: If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion?

Read the next question before looking at the response for this one.

Question 2: It is time to elect a new world leader, and only your vote counts. Here are the facts about the three candidates.

Candidate A.
Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologist. He's had two mistresses. He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.

Candidate B.
He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college and drinks a quart of whiskey every evening.

Candidate C.
He is a decorated war hero. He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an occasional beer and never cheated on his wife.

Which of these candidates would be your choice? Decide first... no peeking, then scroll down for the response.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Candidate B is Winston Churchill.
Candidate C is Adolph Hitler.

And, by the way, on your answer to the abortion question: If you said YES, you just killed Beethoven.

Pretty interesting isn't it? Makes a person think before judging someone.

Wait till you see the end of this note! Keep reading...

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember: Amateurs...built the ark.
Professionals...built the Titanic

And Finally, can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 500 employees and has the following statistics:

* 29 have been accused of spousal abuse
* 7 have been arrested for fraud
* 19 have been accused of writing bad checks
* 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
* 3 have done time for assault
* 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
* 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
* 8 have been arrested for shoplifting
* 21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
* 84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year...

Can you guess which organization this is?

Give up yet?

it's the 535 members of the United States Congress. The same group that crank out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line.

Did You Know?

2005-08-02T15:55:00.000-04:00

Since I'm rethinking my occupation, I figured I'd post a mini-resume, "Did you know?" style, so here it goes:

*Did you know I majored in journalism at Kingsborough, where I was editor-in-chief of the campus paper and a member of the Associated Collegiate Press? Under my leadership the paper won top honors. I interviewed various politicians such as Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Anthony Weiner.

*I appeared on NY 1's Inside City Hall, participating in a round-table discussion regarding Mayor Guiliani's choices for Board of Education president, in the mid-1990s. I sat with two journalists and an NYU professor. I was scared shitless. My mom still has that on tape somewhere.

*I went on to study communications at NYU, while working full time as a journalist. As a journalist I covered campus/CUNY politics, fashion, pop culture, sports, retail, and the tobacco and oil industries.

*I worked as a Human resources executive for two years at Bear Stearns, where I was active in organizing the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of NYC for 2001/2002.

*I used to moderate a major Mets message board. I stepped down when it became a conflict of interest with my current job (we work closely with the NY Mets).

*Currently I work for a non-profit agency. I feel as though I have worked in every aspect of the agency. My only consistency here is the Fundraising Department. No matter what else I do, I'm always part of Fundraising. To quote my boyfriend (now that I know I can Blog about him) I've had more positions [at the non-profit] than the karma sutra.

*I met my boss through ex-Mets manager Bobby Valentine.

*I've been 30 for over a month now. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

Quick Ramblings

2005-07-15T11:43:00.000-04:00

I realize I have posted in a while. I've been really busy since my last post, and a little lazy. Recently, a few things have been on mind mind:

*I grow increasingly unhappier at my job each day. I do not like my new responsibilities. The tasks are tedious, extremely simple (a monkey can do this) and I do not have enough work. My mind needs to be challeneged, and it is not happening here. I also need more money. That isn't happening here either. The problem is, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. Funny, my uncle is retired and still says that about himself.

*The London Bombings freaked me out. I had flashbacks of 9-11. At first news of the bombings, a friend who is from London said she didn't understand why someone would do something like that, and she didn't like that her home was now "a vortex of fear." I know how she feels. More flashbacks for me: she spent days trying to track down friends. She found two in the hospital and they will be ok. One was found dead. RIP Jamie Gordon, Kat says you were wonderful. Seeing people in London with MISSING persons flyers, and knowing they are about to hear dreaded news, gave me flashbacks as well. That was New York almost 4 years ago. I wasn't the only one who had 9-11 flashbacks. Everyone I know went through it this past week. What Londoners don't know yet is, the pain never goes away, it just gets easier to live with.

*I have about 5 Blogs in DRAFT form. I'm still determined to finish one in particular, maybe this weekend.

*One Blog in a draft which is now out of date is about Americal Idol. I think it was fixed. I mean, Constantine got voted off before Scott Savol? And Bo Bice loses the finale to Farmbot (Carrie Underwood)? Ok, the girl has a nice voice, but she has no stage presence. She looks shell-shocked as she sings. Is she performing or waiting for someone to shoot an apple off of her forehead? I think she won because Simon wanted her to win. I do not think our votes actually count. Every music critic and DeeJay had Bo winning, AOL had him winning too. Everyone I know voted for him. A Top 24 Idol who I know, interviewed fans on the red carpet during the Finale and couldn't find one Carrie supporter, they were all there for Bo! I smell bullshit!

So, I'm almost a month into my 30's, and I'm still in transition mode about a few things in my life. Is this a second coming of age, or an early midlife crisis?

Waiting To Exhale

2005-06-22T11:56:00.000-04:00

*Takes a deep breath*

So yeah, I’m 30. It happened yesterday, and there was nothing I can do to prevent it. I’m officially at that age where my back goes out more than I do. My first grey hair has sat eagerly on the left side of my head, for about a year now, anxiously awaiting this day. “30,” said the grey hair, “when she turns 30, I will have friends, I will start to multiply.”

I’ve never put any sort of highlights in my hair, nor have I used hair dye, so when I reach for that box of Clairol in Duane Reade, everyone will know my secret: I am turning grey. It comes gift-wrapped with “30.”

*Takes a deep breath*

I’m sitting at my computer feeling very Carrie Bradshaw: I’m a Never-Married who still is unsure of what she wants to be when she grows up. I dabbled in journalism (if five years as a professional is dabbling), which is my passion, but “retired” when I decided I wanted a life outside of a career. So here I sit, mulling over my life, where I have been and where I am going.

30 *sigh*

I recently read an online “Survivor’s Guide To Turning 30.” Written by a women who just turned 30 herself, she laments about things all too familiar for me: familial pressure to get married (even if you are pathetically single), pressure to have children (even if you don’t want any), and the self-imposed pressure to stay young (even though you can’t). The later really bugs me. I feel like I should be a new superhero: The Time Fighter! Leaping tall buildings in a single bound! Dodging little SOBs who call me “Ma’am!” Wage a war to extend my lease in the 20-something fountain of youth! But alas, that is simply a fantasy….

The author of the aforementioned “Survival Guide….” suggests many activities an incumbant 30-year old should do before the big day, plus she suggests survival tips for the actual day itself ("don't let mom bring up marriage unless you are already married! You are not Bridget Jones!"). Another game-day activity is to make a list of all of the amazing things you have done….and gloat!

Rather than bore you all with a written list of amazing things that I have done, allow me to just say that after making a mental list, my 20s were indeed, amazing. They were a roller coaster of ups and downs, but admittedly I wouldn’t even trade in the downs for some extra ups. Those moments –the good, the bad and the ugly—made me who I am today. They cheered me up, helped me stand tall, matured me, molded me, kicked my ass, tore me down and taught me how to pull myself back up, and stay up. For now.

I’ve accomplished some [not all but a fair amount of] goals that I set, met some amazing people (even the ones I butt-heads with factor in, because I’ve learned a thing or two from them), seen a decent amount of sights and cities, laughed a lot, cried a lot, basically ran the gamut of emotions and instabilities. So why is turning 30 such a big deal to me?

I’m beginning to realize that I’m mulling over the question “where am I gong?” because my real paranoia about turning 30 lies within my own great expectations. Will my upcoming 30s live up to my roaring 20s?

I'm only in my second day of my 30s, so I guess I will have to wait and see.

Favorite Quotes

2005-06-16T22:09:00.000-04:00

The following are random quotes, from books, movies, or interviews, that I like for various reasons. Just thought I'd share them here.

"If you sit there, and you know that everything you do is honest, and just a natural and instinctual extension of yourself, then there you go." -Lars Ulrich

"I choose to live not just exist." - James Hetfield

"Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here." - Melvin (Jack Nicholson), As Good As It Gets

"What if this is as good as it gets?" - Melvin (Jack Nicholson), As Good As It Gets

"Those left standing will make millions writing books on the way it should have been..." - Incubus

"Life is a boomerang, what you give, you get back. - Dale Carnegie

"The only things of true value in life are invisible." - Unknown

"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity." - Albert Einstein

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."- Albert Einstein

"A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste.' - SweetAmberNYC

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." - George Carlin

"You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." - Yogi Berra

"When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before." - Mae West

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars...” - Jack Kerouac

"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire

A Packed Square, Some Good Eats And The After Effects

2005-06-09T10:04:00.000-04:00

Ok so last night after work I had dinner plans. I got out of work at 5 and dinner wasn't until 7:30 so I had some time to spare. I walked over to the Virgin Records Megastore in Times Square. I figured I'd checkout some tunes, maybe buy some Cds, check out a the placment for a band called Pray For The Soul of Betty, shit like that.

I get to the block and it is mass confusion. TRL is across the street so I wasn't sure what was going on. I asked two girls "what is this? What's going on?" They enthusiastically replied "Shakira is here." So I said "Great I guess I'm not going in then." They laughed. They didn't know I was a little annoyed.

I walked up to a security guard and asked him if any part of the store is open for shopping. He said "not till 7:30." This didnt work out for me cause dinner was at 7:30.

Since I have absolutely no interest in Shakira (I can't even name any of her songs), I left and headed to Rockefeller Center to do window shopping.

Anyway I ended up having dinner at a restaurant called Bolzano's. It is in Shubert Alley (45th Street between 8th and Broadway). It is opening to the public on Friday, I was invited for a test run. Free top shelf liquor, free appeztizers, entree and dessert. We only needed to leave a tip. After a tough two weeks at work, I enjoyed some Strawberry stolis and 7-up. I arrived home full, tired, and feeling no pain. I'm still tired, and still feeling those drinks. I'm not even sure I'm making sense right now, but that was my evening.

So ok, New Yorkers, go eat at Bolzano's! It was excellent. The chilean sea bass kicked butt.

Busy Busy!

2005-06-03T11:44:00.000-04:00

Ok, so it is Friday morning, almost noon. I'm sitting in my office, in Astoria Queens. The walls are bare, boxes are piled up, my desk drawers and filing cabinets are empty. The only thing unpacked is my computer and phone. That will go soon, too. We are moving this week to a location in mid-town Manhattan (Click here to read an earlier Blog about the move). Work has been chaos between Fundraisers and this move. I have several blogs saved as drafts and hope to get one up tonight: My semi-rant on the outcome of American Idol.

I haven't been able to complete a full blog, or a thought for that matter, because of my schedule. When I am not at work I either have plans or I just go home and pass out. Basically, the spirit has been willing but the flesh weak. Tonight when I am home I plan on blogging. Tommorrow I have to get ready for the Tony Awards, which is on Sunday, so it will be a busy day of girl stuff: hair, manicure, pedicure. I need to get that stuff done on Saturday because none of these beauty salons are open on Sunday. Plus, I have to pick up my gown. After being out on Sunday night at the Tonys, etc., work on Monday is the official move, and Tuesday we unpack.

I used to complain about slow days, now I'm begging for one. The thing is, once everything is boxed up at my office, it will be very slow here at work until Tuesday, when we will be unpacking and have use of computers and phones. So if all goes according to the outline of this move, I will have absolutely nothing to do, no phone, no computer, no paperwork, for most of today and all of Monday. Maybe it is time I start reading The DaVinci Code again. It will pass the time as I sit and wait for the phone to ring. Sounds exciting, huh? *Rolls eyes*

Ok, I have to get back to packing. Look for the American Idol blog later on or early tommorrow. I'm a little peeved that my rocker boys didnt win (hell, one was voted off way too early!). I know the Finale was over a week ago, but I have this need to vent about it here. And isn't that what a blog is for?

The Good Ol' Days

2005-05-12T00:08:00.000-04:00

My Random Thoughts For Today (yes, these really are MY THOUGHTS, they didn't come from some e-mail forward). I'm may add to this as the day drags on.

Remember when....

Atari and ColecoVision were the only competing home video game systems? Pac-Man, Breakout, Asteroids, Centerpede, Donkey Kong and Frogger!

Saturday mornings meant cartoons, SchoolHouse Rock ("conjunction junction, what's your function?" *"I'm just a bill, and I'm sittin' here on Capitol Hill"), and mini-Menudo videos, complete with english subtitles?

MTV played all videos, all the time, commercial free? It was when video killed the radio star!

And speaking of the death of a radio star....remember when every guy had to wear one glove and that trademark read and silver leather jacket from the "Beat It" video? That was back when Michael Jackson was black!

Ah, the good ol' days!

The Ridiculously Amusing Stories That Make The News

2005-05-09T09:56:00.000-04:00

THESE ARE THE STORIES THAT MAKE ME MISS BEING A JOURNALIST (SORT OF!):

(Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: Apparently, to get a traffic ticket!)

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...EMPLATE=DEFAULT
May 9, 8:46 AM EDT

Chicken Ticketed for Crossing the Road

RIDGECREST, Calif. (AP) -- Linc and Helena Moore may have finally learned the answer to that age-old question: Why did the chicken cross the road? Because the chicken doesn't know jaywalking is illegal.

Kern County Sheriff's Deputy J. Nicholson does know, however. The deputy issued a ticket on March 26 to one of the couple's chickens for impeding traffic on a road in Johannesburg, a rural mining community southeast of Ridgecrest.

The Moores arrived in Superior Court on Friday to plead not guilty to their chicken's alleged transgression. A trial was scheduled for May 16.

Nicholson has declined to discuss the matter, but sheriff's Sgt. Francis Moore said chickens on the roadway have been a problem in the community of 50 residents. Officials didn't believe it could be resolved by simply issuing the couple a warning.

"Sometimes you have to let people talk to the judge," Moore said.

The chicken's owners say they believe they were cited because they were among several people who complained that sheriff's deputies haven't done enough to control off-road vehicle riders who damage roads and create dust and noise in their neighborhood.

Sheriff's officials say that isn't so, adding they are doing what they can to keep off-roaders away from the area's homes.

"The chicken thing has nothing to do with the motorcycle thing," Moore said.

© 2005 The Associated Press. All contents © 2005 Daily News, L.P

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The say one man's trash is another man's treasure, but do you really need to buy someone's urine?

Casino Buys Spears' Alleged Pregnancy Test
May 4, 3:15 PM EST

Online casino Golden Palace has spilled $5,001 for Britney Spears' alleged home pregnancy test. "It's hard to put a price on Britney Spears' urine," Golden Palace spokesman Drew Black told The Associated Press Wednesday.

Golden Palace says it purchased the test from Ottawa radio station Hot 89.9, which insists the test was retrieved from the trash outside Spears' Los Angeles hotel room months ago. The station didn't leak news of the test until Spears and husband Kevin Federline revealed her pregnancy to the public last month.

"We don't know for certain, of course," said Black. "Obviously, it's her alleged pregnancy test. I wasn't there when she took the test."

Golden Palace saw some buzz potential in the baby-making analyzer.

"When we saw this particular item was up for grabs, we knew it was something we wanted to have to add to the collection of oddities we've amassed over the past several months," said Black.

Other off-the-wall items owned by Golden Palace include a sandwich resembling the Virgin Mary, a Doritos chip that looks like the Pope's hat and a haunted cane.

Black said Golden Palace is looking into going on tour with the out-of-the-ordinary objects.

Last month, the online casino paid $15,100 to a Connecticut woman to name her newborn GoldenPalace.com.

Not So Deep Thoughts

2005-05-04T09:39:00.000-04:00

(Allow me to use some Brooklynese while writing this post. Thank you.)

In recent news we had a runaway bride. Jennifer Wilbanks, a 32 year old Southern belle, left her fiance, John Mason, four days before they were to be married. The lavish wedding was comprised of a 28-person Bridal party and 600 guests who were to believe Wilbanks was abducted. Paging reality: the minute I heard this story I knew the flake took off on her own.

She fled to Vegas, then Albuquerque, when she phoned 911 to report her own kidnapping. You've all heard this story. You cannot watch the news or read the newspaper or news web sites without seeing a headline about the runaway bride, so I'm going to cut to the chase and vent a little:

*Steps onto soap box*

Can you imagine that dumb fuck still wants to marry that crazy broad? Apparently nationwide humiliation makes the heart grow fonder: all this time I thought it was absence that does the trick. Apparently, I was wrong.

Here's my helpful tip of the day: If you do not want to marry someone, don't get engaged! Don't plan a society wedding, as a matter of fact, don't even plan to elope! STOP WASTING YOUR TIME AND THE TIME OF THE POOR SCHMUCK WHO THINKS YOU ARE THE ONE!

*Steps off of soap box*

I, for one, could have been engaged twice. Had I gone through with it and gotten married, I also could have been divorced twice. Those two men simply weren't who I want to spend the rest of my life with, so I was straight forward and wouldn't even allow them to spend money on an engagement ring. Why can't people think ahead? Oh wait, Wilbanks did think ahead, she bought her ticket to "freedom" a week before her wedding day. Of course, she did this after the wedding was paid for!

Oh, and here's the kicker (as if it couldn't get any better!): not only does Mason still want to marry Wilbanks, but he publicly stated that he wants her to be the mother of his children!

The minute I heard Amy Fisher, the L.I. Lolita, had gotten married, I sat back and had a thought: I'm clinically sane and still single, yet that looney tunes attempted murderer is married, psychosis must be "in." Although Wilbanks is a different kind of looney tunes, this recent story only proves my point.

In the words of Jim Morrison, people are strange!

The Single Life: We Are An Urban Tribe

2005-04-25T14:44:00.000-04:00

"It's a shame nobody has come up with a cure for this disease of being perpetually single. It must be some kind of genetic defect or something that members of the opposite sex can sense."-GP

GP is a 31 year old man, straight, handsome, a total sweetheart, fun to be around and completely single. Like most 20 and 30- something singles, he is frustrated. And while no one may have a cure for the genetic defect of being perpetually single, someone has come up with an official name for it. You see, whether he knows it or not, GP is a member of an urban tribe the U.S. Government labeled The Never Marrieds.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Never Marrieds are urban-dwelling men and women between the ages of 25 and 39 who, like GP, are perpetually single. If you are part of this Tribe (I'm a member!) than you are far from alone (ironic, considering the Never Marrieds I know constantly complain about being alone). In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau has identified the Never Marrieds as one of the fastest growing groups in America. (Ah, strength in numbers?)

Being in this not-so-exclusive Tribe comes with a Catch-22: Never Marrieds are both hurtful and helpful to society. By spending our 20s and 30s spouseless, who are we hurting besides our mothers? SOCIETY! According to research, family values are at stake: we aren't getting married, so we aren't having children, those with children are single parents, and Never Marrieds tend to be more promiscuous. Research also shows unmarried males are likelier to commit crimes. So, in addition to having Mom kavetch about your single life, now the U.S. government is sending some guilt your way! (I don't get enough pressure from family to get married, now I have "experts" telling me that if I do not get married I may contribute to the demise of familial society?)

Ok, Singles, breathe. There is a bright side to the Never Marrieds Catch-22: We are helping the sanctity of marriage by not jumping into the institution of it so quickly. Part of the reason why Never-Marrieds, well, never marry is simple: we wont settle. We know exactly what we want, and the older we get, the more certain (and mature) we are about finding that special someone. We are seeking out the perfect soulmate and will continue to run through the jungle of bars, clubs, parties, office flings, blind-dates and internet romances till we find THE ONE AND ONLY. Since we are being so precise and fickle in our search for a soulmate, we are more likely to be content with who we chose to marry, therefore a Never-Married who leaves the Tribe is less likely to get divorced. Indeed, every cloud has a silver lining!

As for me? I turn 30 this June. I have nine years to remain a member of this fun-filled Urban Tribe. Like most Never Marrieds I refuse to settle, so only time will tell whether I do harm to the familial structure of this country, or if I better the statistics by marrying and never divorcing.

Stay tuned....

Ethan Watters wrote the story that inspired my Blog. It was published in the New York Times back in 2001.

Click here to read WE ARE AN URBAN TRIBE in its entirety

Click here for more on Urban Tribes

Creative Dilemma

2005-04-21T12:56:00.000-04:00

Previously, I've mentioned that I was asked to contribute a Metallica-fan story for a book. I was flattered by this and immediately agreed to contribute. I already knew which story I would share. I submitted the very Blog I posted here about a month ago, titled SOME KIND OF TRUE STORY.

The editor came back with some comments, some of which make me uncomfortable. If you remember (if not go re-read the story!) I gave James Hetfield a print-out of a post I had written on the fan club message board aka Poor Posting me. The editor wants me to call it a letter, not a post. He also wants me to elaborate by breaking the song down line by line. Originally I had just a few key lines from the song interpreted in the post that I put up on the message board and inevitably handed to Hetfield. (Sidenote: I gave James the message board version because I wanted him to read it exactly how it was posted: I wanted him to feel the sincerity of the very moment I decided to publicly share what his lyrics did for me. End Sidenote.)

I'm uncomfortable with the editor's suggestions because the reader is mislead in a few ways:
A.) if the reader is led to believe I handed James a letter, the reader will get a "To James, yada yada yada Love, Stephanie" feeling. I clearly state that I wrote something for the internet, for fellow Metallica fans, and that I never imagined James would actually read it. In fact, when I did hand the post to James, I never signed it. He simply saw it was written by StephBKNY (that is my message board name).

B.) I'd rather not share my interpretation of the entire song with the general public when I didn't share as much with the songwriter (again, that would be Hetfield!). It will give the reader the impression that James read a version of my story he didn't actually read.

C.) Interpreting the song line by line means I must revisit those emotions. Frankly, it is a trip I'd rather not take.

So now I sit here thinking, what do I do? I didn't sign a contract, so there are no legal obligations to submit my story. I'd like to e-mail the editor and request he pull my submission. Of course, I will give him an explanation, he certainly deserves that. I'm just not so sure if he will still respect me after I go back on my word.

A Short Note To My Readers

2005-04-18T11:42:00.000-04:00

Some of you have asked when will I post a new blog, and why has it been a few weeks since my last post.

I hope to post something new (other than this!) either today or tommorrow. I have not posted anything lately because work/home has been so busy this past month that I rarely have the time to write for myself. When I do have the time to sit and breath, my mind becomes jelly: I find myself staring at the computer screen, struggling to form a cohesive thought. I'm sure you all know what that can be like.

I actually have three or four topics saved as a draft in Blogger, one of which was inspired by a friend. Like I said, hopefully I will post one of the topics I have been working on, either today or tommorrow.

I'm also trying to finish the second draft of a story I am writing for a gentleman who is putting together a collection of personal experiences regarding Metallica fans and the band. I'm about two weeks late on that and although I have kept the publisher updated, I'm still sure he wants to ring my neck right now. Like I said, my other activities and lack of sleep have put my writing on the back burner for a bit.

I'm at the office now, so I'm going to go back to the grind. Thanks for being interested in my Blog. I promise I will get back to regular updates.

Another Angel Get His Wings

2005-04-02T15:45:00.000-05:00

Pope John Paul II, my religious leader since I was three, died today.

RIP Pontiff, you are now safely home.

I am home in heaven, dear ones.
Oh, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in heaven at last.

Did you wonder why I so calmly
Trod the valley of the shade
Oh! but Jesus' love illumined
Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me
In that way so hard to tread;
And with Jesus' arm to lean on,
Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still:
Try to look beyond earth's shadows,
Pray to trust our Father's Will.

There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand,
Do it now, while life remainth -
You shall rest in God's own land.

When that work is all completed.
He will gently call you home;
Oh, that rapture of that meeting
Oh, the joy to see you come!

THIS JUST (IN): New Lies!

2005-03-30T10:59:00.000-05:00

So this is the newest post on the myspace group dedicated to a liar who makes Pinocchio look honest. The italicized parts are posted by the group's moderator. The bolded part is the new lie she is passing on:

Posted: Mar 29, 2005 7:33 PM

So I'm chatting back and forth with a woman (who will remain anonymous) and she heard a lie that none of us have heard yet, I think. hehehe

________________________________________________

.....i even tried to do a backround check on him ,but nothing panned out.I checked out the staind web site where there was a brief history on arron and where he grew up and info on his dad(Ted) justin said his dad was murdered!!! hmm arron says he still speaks to his dad on the road . anyway he told me in later im's that his dad invented jordach jeans!!!

_____________________________________

that's right ladies, we all missed out. We could have been heiresses to the Jordach jeans fortune.
LoL.kisses,Ch*

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is classic stuff! It just keeps getting better and better! Consider this the laugh of the day!

Liar Liar

2005-03-21T14:24:00.000-05:00

Ok, so you all may or may not remember Mr. Inconsiderate. He is a man I dated that has no clue about respect for a woman. Apparently, he isn't familiar with the truth, or being comfortable in one's own skin, either.

When I wrote that blog, dated February 4, it had been three days after he tried contacting me again. If you recall, I met Mr. Inconsiderate on a web site called myspace.com. Interestingly enough, his web of lies (no pun intended on the 'web' reference) have caught up to him. It seems he has crossed the wrong woman. About two weeks ago, a woman from myspace started contacting the girls on Mr. Inconsiderate's "Friends List" to warn them of his lies. He tried defending himself by sending out a mass e-mail bulletin, stating "this psycho is obsessed with me, don't listen to her. Those who know me, know she is lying."

I sat there thinking, "I don't know you. And I think you're a liar."

Apparently, I'm not alone. This woman also started a myspace group, Just (in) Lies for all of Mr. Inconsiderate's ex-girlfriends. She invited all of the woman on his Friends List. 37 have joined, with many more anonymously submitting their tales of lies regarding this man.

The group is hilarious, a true symbol of women's empowerment and unity. These women aren't crying over him, nor are they fighting. Instead, they have banned together against him, forming friendships and swapping stories of when they all dated him (there are many overlaps) and how he lied to each of them.

The moderator uses the group as a community service of sorts. The groups description states: "This group is to compare and contrast the stories and lies of a myspace whore. His name is Justin "Gambino"...I decided to start this group because of the colorful nature of this boy's lies...No bitterness here ladies please...We're not against each other, we're just trying to blow up his spot and inform the rest of myspace so the nonsense can stop. I swear that I'm not some tainted lover trying to get revenge...I'm just a girl who hates Lies and the Lieing (sic) Liars that tell them ;)" She has even posted some pics of the said liar.

Among this man's lies (there are many more not listed here):

*He uses four different last names: Gambino, Lewis, Cantor and Perov
*He claims he is a member of the Gambino crime family, and that his father was whacked before his eyes when he was 5
*His brother is Aaron Lewis, lead singer of rock band STAIND
*He works for an entertainment management firm as their NYC rep
*His part-time gig consists of working in the distribution department for AM New York, a free tabloid in New York City
*His home in Brooklyn is [always] under construction, but it is a temporary home until his apartment in SOHO is complete
*He offered to buy one girl a BMW (apparently he offers outrageous gifts that never are given or he buys, buys, buys things for each girl)
*He said his mom has a summer home in Sydney, Australia
*He claims to know/be friends with many rock stars and porn stars
*He either claims to have never been married and is childless, or will say he is going through a divorce and has a 10-year old daughter
*Some women were told he is 29, other's were told he is 36
*He has a myspace page where he claims his name is David and he is 18 years old
*He proposed to one woman, giving her two rings: both were fake, one fell apart

Now among these women, he either uses the same lies, or changes it up a bit. If you have a kid, so does he, if you are in your 20s, he is 29. If you are in your 30s, he is 36. One woman he dated had cancer when she was younger, so he told her his cancer is in remission. Mental problems? of course.

No one knows where he really lives, or who he really is. I'm pretty sure he doesn't know either. This myspace group is informative on many levels. It is also piecing the puzzle together. We all think he really works for French Connection, because the one gift we all received from him is FCUK fragrances.

There is no purpose to this Blog other than to entertain and inform everyone of the liars who are out there. Take notes, read the myspace group dedicated to his lies, and hide your wife and kids. A true looney is on the loose.

Oh, one last note: the moderator is going to invite him to his own group shortly. I'm pretty sure she will notify myspace.com regarding this "whore" as well.

I'll keep you posted.

Mindless Fun: What Ice Cream Flavor Are You?

2005-03-14T15:31:00.000-05:00

Your Icecream Flavour is...
French Vanilla!

You're a smooth and silky suave type! You exude class and you believe in tradition. A classical taste who doesn't like things to be too flashy or showy. Climb the Eiffel tower of taste with a spoonfull of you! Oui Oui!

What is your Icecream Flavour?

Find out at Go Quiz

Some Kind of True Story

2005-03-08T12:53:00.000-05:00

Musicians create the music they love with the hope that someone out there will be equally moved by it. Music entertains, it also inspires emotions and provides therapy for its listeners. I never understood that concept until Fall 2001, when I finally found that all-encompassing piece of music. That was also the first time in my life I needed to find it.

I am a New Yorker. Like every other New Yorker, on the morning of September 11,2001, my life changed forever. In a few short hours, I forever lost friends, my sense of security and the only skyline I have ever known.

I was pretty close to the action on that catastrophic day, so when I finally made the terrifying journey home, I was pretty fucked up. FUBAR is a good word for it. I've never been scared of anything in my life, but that night, and for three months after 9-11, I couldn't move. I was practically a vegetable. I'd look behind my back when I got undressed, as if I was the next to be attacked and the attacker was waiting near my window. I only got out of bed to feed my two cats, and then quickly got back into bed. My friends were barging in to make sure I was eating. When nighttime came, I laid in bed with every single light in my apartment on. And while I was able to get into bed, I wasn't able to sleep. Everytime I closed my eyes I saw the plane go through that second tower (something I had seen with my own eyes through my office window). I was having endless conversations with myself and with my missing friends, trying to will them to life.

I started to avoid the TV and even the radio out of fear I'd catch some late breaking horror story on the news. Like I said, I was FUBAR (Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition, in case you didn't know).

Well fast forward to Metallica. When I was sick of living in total silence (minus my ringing phone and doorbell), I decided to play my CDs (still avoiding the radio). I grabbed the Master of Puppets CD and went straight to track 4, totally out of sarcasm, because I felt like, "Shit, I belong in a sanitarium, why not play the song?"

Well I heard the song differently that night, 3 months after that awful day. I sat in my room and thought, "Shit, this is NOW, this is what just happened!" This song is so old yet is was so new to me that night.

I found myself playing it endlessly, just Sanitarium, nothing else on MOP. Each time I played the song it took me somewhere else. I went from having all those unnamed feelings of insecurity and depression and fear, to growing angry. And I drew strength from that anger.

"No locked doors no windows barred no things to make my brain seem scarred."
So when will I feel like me again?

"Build my fear of what's out there and cannot breathe the open air. Whisper things into my brain assuring me that I'm insane."
Ok, time to try closing my eyes and keeping them closed, I wont see those planes, I refuse too.

"Listen dammnit we will win....got some death to do...."
Fuck it, fuck Osama, fuck whoever did this to my friends. Payback is a bitch and the U.S. military is a motherfucker. The terrorists will get theirs.

I probably played the song 40 times that night. And that night, for the first time in three months, something happened: I got changed for bed and I didn't look behind me. I closed all of my lights and got into bed. And I closed my eyes and went to sleep. The next morning, I had breakfast. I was me again, not completely but getting there. It's amazing how timeless and effective one song can be.

That song provided me with the inspiration and therapy I needed during the darkest time of my life. It was then that I became a full-on Metallica fan. I needed this band, I needed their music. Metallica became the band I turn to for therapy. If I am in a bad mood, their music changes that, and when I am already in a good mood, a Metallica song puts me in an amazing mood. Put me inside a venue where I am about to see this band live, and I am in my happy place.

After Sanitarium took me out of my depression, I always fantasized about one day sharing my story with the band, most notably James Hetfield, the main lyrisict. On a sunny, Spring day in March 2004, that fantasy became a reality.

I won a Meet & Greet backstage pass through Metallica's fan club. I flew to Portland, Oregon, armed with a camera, some sharpies, and a printed-out copy of something I had written on the fan club message board: the story of how Sanitarium healed me. Rather than share this with the entire band, I decided to hand the folded up print-out to the man himself, James Hetfield. With Metallica's one-man camera crew filming, I nervously handed James the message board post. I even tried downplaying it by rolling my eyes as I did so, and stating "it's just a post from the fan club message board, read it when you have a chance."

Once James held the post, I summarized for him, fighting emotions as I stood there, eye to eye with my lyrical hero. If I can remember correctly, I informed him that he would be hard-pressed to find someone in New York who did not lose at least one person that day, and because of that, we all needed to help each other through it, which wasn't helping me at all. I needed to find an outside outlet, something removed from New York City and that day. "I found you. This post talks about the song that helped me."

As I spoke I saw tears filling James' eyes. I was upsetting someone whose music brings me joy. I changed the subject by saying, "before we take a picture, may I have a hug." I made sure the next few minutes I spent with him were filled with laughter. The Meet & Greet was over. Off he went to prepare for that evening's concert. I don't even remember whether or not he still had my letter, or if he had handed it to his bodyguard.

I left the backstage area and met up with my friends. Godsmack, the opening act, was still performing. My friends had managed to get us a sweet spot on the standing room only General Admission floor. We were front and center, leaning on the Rail. Only Arena security and the road crews were in front of us. Still in a haze from having met, and had a great time, with my favorite band, I wondered if James would read the letter I gave him. Four songs into Metallica's set, Sanitarium began to play. My friend grabbed my hand, exclaiming, "It's your song chickie!" The fact that they were playing the very song I mentioned in my letter did not phase me, because as any Metallica fan can tell you, it is played often. The in-the-round stage made it difficult for me to see James perform the song. I was somewhat disappointed. In fact, he never made his way near me at all. Suddenly, Kirk and James were away from a mic and in front of me, playing Sanitarium's outtro. As the song ended, James pointed at me and mouthed "You!" He then tapped his heart, leaning back slightly and shaking his head, his face sympathetic. He stood up straight and pointed at me again, "That was for you!"

I stood there shell-shocked. Not only did he read what I had written, but he empathized. In a spilt second, a hundred thoughts all surrounding 9-11 and what I had gone through raced through my head. It then hit me: the man who indirectly helped me, the man who's words healed me when family, friends and crisis counseling all failed me, stood in front of me, and sent me another message, this time a direct one: "I get it, and I'm sorry." I cried as my friend embraced me. She was crying as well.

That moment gave me closure: I was able to let James know the impact Metallica's music has on me. It also permanently etched a soft spot in my heart for James Hetfield.

One of these days, I will thank him for that.

Adam & Steve

2005-02-28T10:36:00.000-05:00

In the beginning, God created man, and named him Adam. Adam needed a companion, so along came a woman named Eve. Let it be written, let it be done: man and woman unite in love, lust, and [eventual] betrayal of trust.

For anyone raised Catholic, or anyone who isn't located underneath the center of a rock, this is our first example of relationships. Man meets woman. Man falls in love with woman. Man is betrayed by woman but still builds a life and family with her. So what happens if one day, man meets man and falls in love?

"If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads." -Leviticus 20:13

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders. -I Corinthians 6:9

"God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." -words written on signs carried by protesters at anti-same sex marriage rallys.

Allow me to digress briefly: I spend a lot of time online. I'm a geek at heart. Message boards are a hobby of mine and I post on several. One such board is dedicated to politics. Back when the presidential campaign race was heating up, a wave of political discussion threads popped up on PPM (Poor Posting Me aka The Metallica Club's private message board). There were so many threads that the mod gave politics its own section (yes, metalheads have them there smarts, too!). About a week after the presidential election they closed the political forum, and from there, a few Clubbers (that is what Metallica calls their fan club members) spun off their own Political Discussion message board. This brings me back to same-sex marriage. It has been quite the heated debate on the Political Discussion forum.

One Californian woman who is a member of MetClub and the political forum, a happily married heterosexual mom, stated brilliantly:
"Marriage is marriage. It is not a religious institution and no one suffers from it. If same-sex couples want to marry, fine. Let them lose their asses in a messy divorce just like everyone else."

I concur.

It is also my opinion, that if a same sex couple is living together, caring for each other, and acting like a married couple in all ways with the exception of a marriage license, is it fair that they are not entitled to share insurance? If one half of a same-sex partnership dies, is it fair that the survivor is not entitled to his/her partner's life insurance and estate?

My answer is no.

I'm part of a very tight-knit old fashioned Catholic Italian family. I have recieved all of my sacraments (with marriage being the only one waiting in the wings. And yes, marriage is a sacrament in the Catholic church). Throughout my childhood and for most of high school I attended church every Sunday, and on holidays. I'd go to confession. I do not attend mass that ofetn anymore but I still have my faith. I pray and I [try] to follow the commandments. So taking all of that into consideration, I should be against same-sex marriages.

I am not.

I do not think it is a sin to be gay, and I do not think it is a choice either. A majority of my friends, plus a cousin of mine, are gay. They will each tell you the same thing: They didn't wake up one morning and decide to be gay. They were always gay, they just denied it because it isn't what society accepts.

Every mother tells her son/daugher how she can't wait for them to get married and have children. We are all raised to be heterosexual. If a child turns to his or her family one day and says "I'm gay" does that mean the parents did something wrong? No. Does that mean the gay individual wasn't raised right or taught the right things? Absolutely not. It just means they are attracted to the same sex. It just means that on an intimate level, they choose to be male-male or female-female.

I think it is hypocritical to be against same-sex marriage, but pro opposite sex marriage. People get married because (we hope!) they love each other and are committed to growing old together. Marriage is an offical declaration of two people's love for each other. Why be against that?

The bottome line is: if they aren't hurting me or you, why try and hurt them by telling them they have no right to be married?

I know one man who disagrees with me so passionately that he quotes the Bible each time he replies to one of my posts on the topic.

This is what he said to me during the discussion:

[Quote]"It is written in the Bible that 'Love is the greatest of all,' and that people should 'Love your neighbor, as you love yourself.' I think there are many types of love, but the kind of love that two gay people want, was made for a man, and a woman by the creator. Like you say, when God judges men, and women, straight, or gay....he will judge them according to how they loved their neighbor. However, God will also judge them according to how they loved him, and if people put him at the very top of their priority list. I'm not saying those who marry someone of the same sex are going to hell. I don't believe that. I think you CAN love God, and believe in him, and yet also choose NOT to follow the teachings of God's word. (sinning.) " [Endquote]

To that man and anyone who agrees with him, I say: The type of love gay people want is the type of love we all want. Don't criticize it, celebrate it. Celebrate the type of love you embrace for yourself as well. In a world where there is so much more hate than love, I think it is very non-religious of anyone to condem sincere love. Just because a man may intimately love another man, or a woman intimately love another woman, does not mean they are incapable of putting God at the top of their list.

Love, in any form, doesn't interfere with faith, if anything, it strengthens your faith.

Bullshit Babble Part I

2005-02-20T14:23:00.000-05:00

1. I'm addicted to coffee. I need to drink at least 16oz a day. AT LEAST. In the morning I will go to Dunkin Donuts and get a 16 oz hot coffee, iced coffee, latte or Coolata. Then, I will have my second coffee either at lunch, on the way home from work, or during the evening.

I can drink a large cup of coffee before bed and still fall asleep. It's in my veins.

2. I have a 16-month old nephew, he is also my Godson. He lives a 7-hour drive or a one-hour Flight away from me. I wish I could see him every day. I'd settle for every weekend.

3. I love the Mets. It isn't easy loving them, but is love ever easy? They are my team, through thick and thin. Coffee runs through the course of my veins, but if you cut me, I bleed blue and orange. Being a Mets fan has taught me important lessens for life: love, hate, anger, joy, sadness, disappointment, celebration and forgiveness. And let's not forget hope: there is always another pitch, another out, another at-bat, another inning, another game, another season. Wait till next year. There is always a second chance.

4. I love music. All types, except for the boy band (or shall I call them girl bands?) bubblegum pop shit. I also don't care for 99% of what is played on MTV, when they do decide to play music. I love a lot of the old 80s rock and metal. I also love Billy Joel. Basically, if you can write your own lyrics and write/perform your own music, I respect you, because it means it is actually your music, it means the words you sing and the music you play comes from your heart. You are sharing your emotions, your talent, not someone else's.

5. I love my job. I really do. I may not make much money, but I don't mind getting up in the morning and going to the office. I love my responsibilities at work, I love the people, I love the goals the company strives to achieve and does achieve. Isn't that more important than getting to that next box in the salary category of questionnaires?

6. I think I have met the best group of people, even when we bicker, through my love for Metallica. God Bless the internet!

7. I will always love New York, but I miss the old New York, the one I knew right up until September 10. 2001. I have a magnetic attraction to New York: whenever I fantasize about someday leaving, my emotions pull me back.

8. I went on a date with a man who told me: "I bet I can get you to fall in love with me and give up your cats." I wonder what ever happened to that guy? ;)

9. I'm not a fan of band-wagon Patriotism. Where were all the U.S. flags before 9-11? My same friends who teased me for having an American Flag bikini back in the 90s, have gone out and bought all sorts of U.S. Flag items in recent years. This bothers me because I am always proud of the U.S. Flag, even when it is not trendy.

10. The word hero gets tossed around a lot. My true hero is my paternal grandfather. He came to America when he was a teenager, learned the language, served in the United States Army, and raised a family. He was a painter (to this day people see my last name and ask if I am Freddy the painter's granddaughter), a husband, father and grandfather. And a homeowner. He passed on his Italian values to his children, yet raised Americans. He never forgot where he came from (Italy) but always had respect for America. He lived the American Dream. I respect people like that, this is also why I respect Lars Ulrich.

Misery Loves Company

2005-02-15T19:23:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I was feeling kind of bummed because the guy I wanted to hang with didn't accept the invitation. It turns out that my friend Charlie was feeling bummed too. He had given his husband a card the night before and it was kind of disregarded. Then yesterday morning Charlie woke up to realize his husband never got him a card for Valentine's Day. Not only that, but there would be no romantic dinner for them because his hubby had a meeting last night that he could not get out of.

We decided to make it a friends night in. After work we went and got some Smirnoff Ice drinks, Wine Coolers, and a variety of Hostess cakes (Snowballs, Yodels, etc.) and went back to Charlie's place. We ordered pizza and just hung out, watching TV, talking, laughing hysterically, venting about men. We had a blast. Now I don't even know why I was bummed yesterday.

Once again, Charlie was one of the best dates I've ever had. Being with Charlie was way better than being at home alone, where I probably would have wallowed in self-pity (and the Oscar goes to.....)

I know there are quite a few of you who joined me on an Anti-Valentine's kick. I hope things brightened up for all of you last night!

Designing Women

2005-02-13T23:25:00.000-05:00

So my Mom has a new mission: repaint her entire house. My Dad is "thrilled." While he welcomes the chance to sit back and watch some other sucker paint his and my Mom's two floor co-op, he realizes this is not without headache. See my Mom had a brainstorm inspired by Trading Spaces: sponge paint the whole house. Sponge painting consists of mixing two different shades of paint and painting it on the walls with a split-sponge. It gives the paint a rustic, patchy, spotted look. It actually looks as cool in person as it does on Trading Spaces. I know this because I have already seen my Mom's newly sponge painted kitchen.

While this new adventure in interior design would make Ty Pennington proud, the painter my parents' hired was less than thrilled. Not only was he clueless on how to sponge paint (Mom guided him step-by-step), but he said it isn't "a real paint job" and instructed my parents to not tell their friends and neighbors that he did it. Ya gotta love old school craftsmen.

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree
I moved into a new place last May, a few days before Memorial Day weekend. Between work, family, friends, baseball and a quiet lil band called Metallica, I have yet to add finishing touches to my new kick ass abode.

Yesterday I went window shopping at home furnishing stores. I hit jackpot! I found the curtains I need for my kitchen and bedroom. I also found the two other finishing touches for my bedroom: a black wrought iron full-length mirror, and a wall mirror for above my dresser.

I found the perfect curio for my living room. Its square-shaped design is comprised of muted silver and glass. The muted silver matches the legs on the other furniture in my living room, such as my coffee table and computer chair. The curio will hold my porcelain Disney collectibles. I also picked out a wood end table for the left side of my sofa. The end table also doubles as storage for a blanket. Eight mini mirrors carefully placed to form one design will hang over my sofa. My living room is black, white, red and silver/grey.

The coolest touch to my living room will be on the wall across from my sofa. I stole this idea from Trading Spaces (unlike my Mom, with this idea it is not Ty that will be proud, but Vern). I found black clock hands that stand by themselves. Surrounding the clock, in lieu of numbers, will be wrought iron tealight candle holders. KICK ASS!

Of course purchasing these final pieces to my decorating puzzle translates to one online order, trips back to the furniture stores on 86th Street, Linen N Things and IKEA (YAY!). Oh, and let's not leave out my friends, the Benjamins! When I think about a finished, completed apartment, I get so stoked! As soon as it is complete, I will host pics and include them on a future Blog.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

2005-02-12T23:07:00.000-05:00

This week has been about change: adjusting to one I have known about for quite some time, and learning of two new changes. I'm going to discuss these changes in chronological order.

Moving On
The first of these three changes is one I have know about for the past few months. It involves my friend "The Dawg." The Dawg just recently turned 30 and is making a respectable, life changing adjustment: she is leaving Brooklyn. That's right ladies and gentlemen, it is possible for Brooklyn breeds to leave, and do so happily.

The Dawg has actually been undergoing some life changing events for almost a year and a half. A few months before her 29th Birthday, her boyfriend of 6 years broke it off with her. She thought, well we all thought, they would marry one day. At age 34, he said he isn't ready to get married. Odds are, he will never be ready, but that is no longer The Dawg's problem. Once the relationship ended, the first change she had to adjust to was the single life. She also had to accept that she spent much of her 20s with one man, something she now chalked up as a waste of time. "I should have him arrested," she has said several times, "he's a theif, he robbed me of my 20s."

Well The Dawg is adjusting well. Like I said, she is making a big change: moving from her hometowm, family and friends and heading to the suburbs of Pennsylvania. She will also be leaving her job, a non-profit publishing company to whom she has been a loyal emplyee for about 6 or 7 years now. And she isn't doing this alone: she is making the move with her new man: a one-time friend from work turned boyfriend.

So Congrats to The Dawg. She turned 30 during the first week of February and already her 30s are shaping up to be more exciting than her 20's. After all, he 30s will see a new state to call home (it will also be the first time she is not living with her parents!), a new job and a new man to share it all with.

School's Out: Well, at least this one is
I've been following the WB11's news coverage of the Catholic school closings in Queens and Brooklyn very closely. I was raised on Bay 20th Street, where my parents still live. From grades kindergarten through 8th grade, my sister and I attended the school across the street: St. Finbar.

The adjacent church is also my parish, well technically it isn't anymore, because I have moved, and so has my sister, but in our hearts that is our church. While I was not baptized there, I did receive my other first sacraments at St. Finbar. My sister, unlike me, was baptized there and like me, received all of her sacraments there as well. She even flew home from Niagara Falls, NY last May to have her first born baptized there.

Anyway, with all of this sentimental attachment to St. Finbar, you can imagine my shock (somewhat) and sadness that this school is scheduled to close. I really hope they can get a budget together to save the school.

What is especially shocking to me is something I saw on the WB web site. It states that St. Finbar school has a student population of 164. I did the math and when I was attending that school, the population was 576! Kindergarten through 8th grade had two classes each, and each class held between 30-32 students. Of course this decline in attendace is due to the lack of Catholics in the Diocese. The communites in which these schools are located in are changing. I've seeen the change for many years now. In fact, the Diocese has sited this as the reason the schools aren't doing well financially. To back-up its claim, the Diocese has pointed out that there were 7,000 less baptisms in 2003. WHERE ARE ALL OF THE CATHOLICS?

I'm trying to have hope that by some miracle they will remain opened, but should St. Finbar close, it will be very surreal to visit my parents and know the school across the street no longer functions.

Movin' On Up: To The WestSide
Earlier in the week the Executive Director of the agency I work for called the administrative staff into a meeting.

Before I continue, here's some background info on the agency: it is a non-profit agency which privides programs and services for children and adults with autism. It is Queens based, with several schools, group homes and administrative offices located throughout the Borough.

Keeping that in mind, here is the third change for the week (things do happen in threes, don't they?): the executive director announced that the administrative staff, i.e. anyone under the umbrella of the executive director, fiscal, payroll and human resources, will be moving to a new office in Manhattan this summer. Since I am the Staff Recruiter, I fall under that umbrella. This news thrills me for more than one reason: it cuts my commute in half, and I am back in Manhattan.

While the Astoria section of Queens is kind of cool, nothing beats Manhattan. There is better shopping and better food, so lunch hour wont feel so limited, plus there is an array of choices for after-work entertainment.

There are a few things I miss out on in Queens that I will welcome back in my daily life once we get to Manhattan. For instance, Astoria lacks delis, real delis, the kind that make great sandwiches and give you a pickle with it. It also lacks a bookstore. That's right, walk up and down Steinway Street and you wont even find a mom and pop bookstore, let alone a Barnes & Noble. This always bothered me, because very often I like to go check out new books and even read a little on my lunch break. I also think books make great gifts, so it was always a pain in the ass to have to stop in Manhattan on my way home, just to purchase a book.

Oh, and another thing that makes it great to be getting back to Manhattan: I am a hop, skip and jump from Madison Square Garden. This is an added convenience for attending concerts, and should a NHL season ever see the light of day, I can easily see my Rangers without missing the start of the game.

Quite a few people in the agency live in Queens or Long Island, so they are kind of bummed. Me? I wanted to kiss my Boss. We are scheduled to make this move in June. Ironically, I turn 30 that month. I guess The Dawg isn't the one who's 30th Birthday gave her the gift of change.

ATTN: BELT SALESMEN, VIRGINIA AWAITS!

2005-02-09T15:18:00.000-05:00

This is undoubtedly the funniest thing I have read all day, possible all week:

Bill Sets Fine For Low-Riding Pants

Here's a lil something to make chain Pepsi drinkers like me happy....

2005-02-09T14:44:00.000-05:00

A Pepsi A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

MONETTE, Ark. - A woman who drinks a Pepsi a day marked her 105th birthday Tuesday. Mitchell was born in Blytheville on Feb. 8, 1900, and lived on her own until a broken hip sent her to the Monette Manor nursing home at age 101.

"I've been drinking Pepsi-Cola for a long, long time," Rebecca Mitchell said. "I drink one every day."

She has seven children, 13 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, 11 great-great grandchildren and two great-great-great-grandchildren. Her son Roy E. Mitchell was killed in European combat during World War II. The other six are scattered in Arkansas, Georgia and Illinois.

Mitchell married on Christmas Eve 1916 and she and her husband Roy stayed together 54 years until his death in 1960.

"When I think about my mother's life, it's really amazing all the things she's experienced and seen," her son John Mitchell said. "She went from living on mud streets to blacktop to concrete."

MTA: Massively Terrible Automobiles

2005-02-09T10:49:00.000-05:00

Ah the NYC Subway. It has a friendly lil slogan: MTA Going Your Way! I beg to differ. I have been riding the MTA (Mass Transit Authority) trains and buses steadily since I was 14 years old. I have to say, quite often, the MTA does NOT go my way.

Exhibit A: This morning's commute
Normally I leave early for work, but this morning it was tough to get out of bed so I left just in time: not late, but exactly the time I need to leave to arrive at the office at 9am. I walked two blocks to the 71st Street station. I take the D and transfer at 36th Street to the N, which brings me to my stop in Queens, where I work. I can also catch the N at 62nd Street, but it is a walk I'd rather not do every morning, so believe it or not, transferring trains actually makes my commute easier. But I digress.

As I was saying, I arrived at the 71st Station and there was the D train, halfway in the station, doors closed and cars empty. As it turned out the train stalled and had been sitting there for so long that the conductor had the passengers exit the train. Anyone in the back cars had to walk up front so they can exit. All commuters at 71st Street were told there are no Manhattan bound D trains, so we were given two winning options.

Winning Option #1: Go to the other side of the station and take the Coney Island bound D train to Coney Island and get on a different Manhattan bound train, or

Winning Option #2: Walk to 62nd Street and get the Manhattan bound N train.

We were told we would be given vouchers at the token booth (which will be non-existant one day, oh joy!) so we do not have to pay an additional fare.

You'd have to be from NYC to understand the idiocy and inconvenience of winning option #1, so I took winning option #2. I retrieved my voucher and treaded on to 62nd Street. By some miracle (apparently they really never cease) I caught the N train right away, was able to get a seat and arrived to work a few minutes early.

Exhibit B: Inclement Weather
The MTA cannot handle this. If it drizzles, everything starts running like the Little Engine That Could. I'm sorry, but the last time I checked, New York was mapped as a major city that can handle any obstacle. But again, I digress, because the MTA is in a class of its own.

Just a few months ago, during the first heavy rain of Fall, the MTA went into a holding pattern. To make a long, stressful story that should remain un-revisited short, that morning was a nightmare. I took the scenic route to nowhere. Literally. I found myself all over the borough of Brooklyn in a quest to find some mode of transportation (yes even car service failed me this day) that would get me into Manhattan or Queens. My journey started at 7am and ended at 1PM when my Boss finally phoned and said "Stay home, it's not worth it, you wont lose time off for this."

Apparently anyone who did make it in to work that day arrived between 12PM and 1:30PM. Please keep in mind that these people live in Queens. These people have 20-30 minute commutes, tops, and still had the same horrendous experience I did. The only reason they made it in that day is because they had no bridges or tunnels to go through, they just had to wait for the trains to decide they can tread on during rain and flooding.

Ah, the NYC MTA, Going Your Way!

Now I Really Love JetBlue

2005-02-08T22:28:00.000-05:00

New York Daily News - Home - JFK's spa has riders on cloud 9

I may have to get to the Airport earlier from now on! JetBlue has put a spa in their terminal at JFK! If you click on the link, you will see a news story about this. The idea is to provide passengers with relaxation during stressful Flight delays, Standby or missed connections.

The services are provided by Oasis Spa and include: a 60-minute massage ($95), haircuts (starting at $25) and manicures ($25). There is even a spa store (did you forget to pack shampoo? LOL) that ties in with the Oasis Spa's in Manhattan.

I know, I sound like I'm giving this free advertising, but I always Fly JetBlue, so I'm really excited about this! I think it is really cool. Maybe you have to be a chick to understand it, because my other girl friends are psyched too. LOL

Stupidity and Selfishness Run Amok

2005-02-07T09:52:00.000-05:00

Allow me to introduce you to the new face of stupidity and selfishness, or as I like to call him, my brother-in-law. This is a man who was lucky enough to nab my sister for a wife. No man will find a more devoted soul than her. Together, they have a 16 month old son who defines love, life and absolute perfection in a toddler's body. So, you would think a man this lucky would be appreciative. You would think this is a man who got what he deserved out of family life. Well if you think that you are wrong on both counts.

Ironically, my brother-in-law has a very unselfish profession, he is a firefighter. That's just about where his unselfishness starts and stops. When he gets home, it's a different matter altogether. Let me just say that this is a man who's stupidity and selfishness holds no barriers or limitations, but today, I will focus on one particular example of his stupidity and selfishness.

A few days ago he received the results from his physical exam. There are two red flags in his physical: the first being that he is a candidate for emphysema. If he does not stop smoking he will have severe lung problems in the next 5-10 years. The second red flag was a high iron count. What causes a high iron count? I'm glad you asked! Too much alcohol consumption. Basically he needs to stop drinking or his liver and other organs are in jeopardy.

My brother-in-law just turned 38. Like I said earlier, he is the father of my 16 month old nephew. When my sister discussed smoking, drinking and possible health problems with him, he let her speak her mind and then proceeded to tell her he will not quit smoking or drinking. Hello asshole!

Last night was Super Bowl Sunday. He sat on the sofa, alone, watching the game and drinking his beer and smoking his cigarettes. This is a man who feels he needs to drink and smoke. This is a man who would rather skimp on what he buys his wife and child so he can have money for cigarettes and beer. Basically, his selfishness may kill him at an early age and leave my sister a young widow and my nephew without a Dad at an early age.

How can you be the father of any child, let alone such a small one, or someone's husband, someone's loved one in general, and not give a shit about being around for them? How can you have so much to live for, and not care to live?

R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find Out What It Means To Me

2005-02-04T15:41:00.000-05:00

This blog might as well be called: "Nothing But the Truth Part Deux."

I always joke, that in my quest to find Mr. Right, I keep coming across Mr. Right Now or Mr. No Way In Hell. Well last month, I found the fourth Stooge in that mix: Mr. Inconsiderate.

I met Mr. Inconsiderate on a web site called myspace.com. I didn't sign up on myspace.com to find Mr. Right. I signed up because quite a few friends already had, and twisted my arm to do so as well.

Sometime back in December I started talking to Mr. Inconsiderate. He wasn't a bad guy at first. He slipped under my radar. I thought he was a great guy: we had so much in common, held a conversation easily on so many levels, and genuinely had a good time together. He even had me believing we were at the same place in life.

We went on what I thought to be five perfect dates: partly because we got along so well, and partly because he knew exactly how to treat a woman. There was something weird, though: I felt as if he were trying to buy me. Let me explain by outlining out five dates:

Date #1:

We go out to dinner at this sushi place in the village. During dinner he reaches for something in his suitcase and pulls out an iPod. I mention I plan on buying one for myself. The next day he e-mails me: "Merry Christmas, I ordered you an iPod." He even had it engraved. I was shell-shocked and freaked out by this. I told him I cannot accept such a gift so soon, especially after the first date.

Date #2:

We go to an Italian restaurant near my house. Great food. Before we order appetizers, he hands me a bag full of expensive perfume from FCUK. Not iPod expensive, but still overwhelming for the second date (geez I hadn't even kissed him yet!).

Date #3:

We go to Mezcals, this great Mexican restaurant in Bay Ridge, and he gives me a Metallica DVD.

Date #4:

We head to Roll N Roasters. Why? Because we both love that place and are craving it. This time he gave me a DVD for a gift: Cliff 'Em All, about Metallica's deceased bassist, Cliff Burton (I'm a huge Metallica fan). It was sweet, but he never needed to bring me anything. We always have great dates.

Date #5: We order in chinese at my place and watch the Cliff 'Em All DVD. This is where we have a great conversation about our families and how we grew up.

All five dates happened in two weeks. Then, one weekend in January, he had a whole plan: lets go to eat at a new place in Tribeca on Saturday. Then on Sunday we will do dinner and a play. This is where it all went wrong.

To try and shorten this already long blog, let me just say that on Saturday he stood me up. Sunday he gave me some excuse for the night before, but said we are still on for that evening. Well, he stood me up again. That's right: two nights in a row. The next day he tried apologizing through e-mails. When I finally told him what he owes me is a phone call, and that gifts are meaningless, it is respect I want, he went MIA. Well it has been about three weeks and he is contacting me, through e-mails. He is being apologetic (begging forgiveness, actually), but I'm so over the games. Basically, I accepted his apology but told him I will not see him anymore.

I just don't get it: how can a grown man be so oblivious to consideration and respect?

If there are any single, interested men reading this, allow me to give you the same advice I gave Mr. Inconsiderate:
Don't buy me what I can get in a store. I can buy all that stuff myself. What I want from a man is priceless: I want respect, consideration, physical and emotional love, and companionship.

My search for Mr. Right continues....

Is it Spring yet?

2005-02-03T14:38:00.000-05:00

Ground Hog's Day was yesterday, and the lil bastid saw his shadow. Six more weeks of winter. Oh joy!

Nothing But The Truth

2005-02-03T11:49:00.000-05:00

Someone sent me this in an e-mail, and I think it can apply to both genders. Read on, I'm sure I will revisit this topic later.

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH:
1 . If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away. If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay.

2.. Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior.

3. Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.

4. Stop trying to change yourselves for a relationship that's not meant to be.

5 . Slower is better.

6. Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.

7. If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no, you can't "be friends." A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend.

8. Don't settle.

9. If you feel like he is stringing you along, than he probably is.

10. Don't stay because you think "it will get better." You'll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better.

11. The only person you can control in a relationship is you.

12. Avoid men who've got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women. He didn't marry them when he got them pregnant, why would he treat you any differently?

13. Always have your own set of friends separate from his.

14. Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you. If something bothers you, speak up.

15. Never let a man know everything. He will use it against you later.

16. You cannot change a man's behaviors. Change comes from within.

17. Don't EVER make him feel he is more important than you are...even if he if more educated or in a better job.

18. Do not make him into a quasi-god. He is a man, nothing more nothing less.

19. Never let a man define who you are.

20. Never borrow someone else's man.

21. If he cheated with you, he'll cheat on you.

22. A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you.

23 . All men are NOT dogs.

24. You should not be the one doing all the bending...compromise is a two way street.

25. You need time to heal between relationships... there is nothing cute about baggage...deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship.

26. You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you...a relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals...look for someone complimentary...not supplementary.

27. Dating is fun...even if he doesn't turn out to be Mr. Right.

28. Make him miss you sometimes...when a man always know where you are, and you're always readily available to him- he takes it for granted.

29. Never move into his mother's house.

30. Never co-sign for a man.

31. Don't fully commit to a man who doesn't give you everything that you need. Keep him in your radar but get to know others.

So I'm popping my blog cherry

2005-01-09T15:45:00.000-05:00

I've put this off enough, it is time to write a blog here. It's funny I had this saved as a draft, with only a title. I had it saved from January 9 and it is now February 2! Talk about procrastination! It's not that I dislike this web site, it's just that I had started writing some blogs on myspace.com. Too many of my friends are on myspace.com (believe it or not I only add actual friends to my page on myspace, I'm not in some competition to have an insane amount of people in my friends list) so I decided I will use Blogger when I want to write my own private thoughts and share them with a select fewer people than those on myspace, or not share them at all.

Basically, if you are reading this, than you either have a lot of time to search for random blogs, or I have read your blog so hey, why can't ya read mine as well?

Ok, I think I'm done with my first random blog. I promise the others will be entertaining and contain interesting content!

Sweet Amber's Sanitarium

Blogs

My First Great Love Is My Dad

You're The Cats Meow!

The Dog Had Her Day!

Thought For The Day

Words of Wisdom

Quickes

METALLICA!

It's The Little Things....

Anthony's Blog

Chris Daughtry

iPod Debate

Missing You

Quote of the Day

24

File This Under "ONLY IN NEW YORK" or "ENTER CHAOS"

iPod/iTunes Update From Yesterday

F'ing Modern Technology

Blog, Blog, Blog....

Happy St. Patty's Day!

*INSERT WITTY TITLE HERE* :)

Letter To My Pets

You'll Love it at Levitz? NOT ME!

My New Part Time Gig

Everything I Need To Know, I Learned From Crayola

Blah Blah Blah Blah

The Feng Shui Way

Happy Festivus!

Is There a Santa Claus?

Merry Christukahwanza!

New Rules For 2006

This Just In....

Tis the Beginning of the Holiday Season

Giving Thanks

Once Again, He Is My Hero Of The Day

Moved In!

No Sleep Till....The Bronx?

So Annoying!

Ok, This Feels Weird

What A Weekend!

Excuse Me While I Tend To How I Feel....

Things That Stick In My Craw: The At Work Edition

When Every Sign Says NO PETS ALLOWED

Just For Laughs

Thought For Today

The Great M & M Tragedy of 2005

Sweet Six Months

Baseball Old Timer's Help Katrina Victims

When It Rains, It Pours

Quick Rant Part II

Want To Get Your Band's Name Out There?

It's A Miracle! LOL

The New RENT

Love At First Sight, Plus The Green Monster Makes An Appearance

New Kid On The Block

Tough Questions: Food For Thought

Did You Know?

Quick Ramblings

Waiting To Exhale

Favorite Quotes

A Packed Square, Some Good Eats And The After Effects

Busy Busy!

The Good Ol' Days

The Ridiculously Amusing Stories That Make The News

Not So Deep Thoughts

The Single Life: We Are An Urban Tribe

Creative Dilemma

A Short Note To My Readers

Another Angel Get His Wings

THIS JUST (IN): New Lies!

Liar Liar

Mindless Fun: What Ice Cream Flavor Are You?

Some Kind of True Story

Adam & Steve

Bullshit Babble Part I

Misery Loves Company

Designing Women

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

ATTN: BELT SALESMEN, VIRGINIA AWAITS!

INSERT WITTY TITLE HERE :)