That Was The Year It Was - 2005

Thinking back over the past year, while it had some high points, it's not going to rank up there with Fun Years in Jackie's Life. Not by a long shot.

Not thinking of myself, when I think of the past year I feel sadness. Sadness for those whose lives have been affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (amongst others); sadness for the New Orleans that should be; sadness for those who are in Iraq fighting a war which never should have been; sadness for those who lost their lives for no good reason, and for their families.

Bologna. Yep. That fits a lot of this year for me. Thinking over 2005...

I wrecked my knee just by walking in late June. Just walking. I was out of work for over three months and had to have surgery. At this time, the knee will never be the same again. Next stop, TKR. Argh. I'm not old enough for this! While the summer off was actually kind of nice, I couldn't really go anywhere or do much of anything between not being able to walk and little cash flow. Pain hurts. My knee hurts all the time now. In that respect, it's a life-changing year for me. I already had a bad knee with the other one, but this one is dramatically worse. Most of my medial meniscus cartilage has been removed and I have advanced arthritis in the knee. Need I remind you? I'm not old enough for this! Waah.

Then there's been AOL trials and tribulations. I was a Volunteer Community Leader for nearly a decade on the service at first creating content and programming, then mainly hosting message boards. I actually hosted them -- didn't just monitor them. AOL, in its infinite wisdom, has all but killed Community on the service by hiring an outside company to monitor some boards, let the other boards and chats go to ruin all while letting anyone with a free AIM account take part. Now, instead of having folks who actually answer questions and help members, there is nothing. The monitored boards are hit and miss while the minimum wage post removers often have no clue what's on topic or not. I was so pro-AOL for so many years. I don't even know the service anymore. They're pretty much telling members not to let the door hit them on the way out. It's no longer Community. AOL no longer cares anything about their paying members in good standing. It's sad. :-(

On a more positive note, I've been heavy duty blogging. My TV blogs covering 'Big Brother', 'Survivor: Guatemala' and 'The Amazing Race' were huge successes. The 'Big Brother' one hit a half million visits in the three months of the show. I haven't quite decided what I'm going to do for the new seasons, but I'm exploring different venues, including ones which may actually pay me to blog about the shows. I come with a TV fan following, so if anyone out there is looking for a TV blogger, zap me an e-mail. Another venue may be my own domain and ads (not like AOL's annoying banner ads on their Journals product). Not TV related, my Adventures of the 2-Faced Baseball blog won a peer award for Most Creative/Original AOL Journal of 2005. That blog is on hiatus at this time, but will be resurfacing sometime soon, perhaps not on AOL.

On Good Food Finds This Past Year, I've discovered Coke Zero which I mentioned here. I've also become a Trader Joe's Trader Giotto's Imported Italian Chocolate Gelato addict. Oh... and their Garlic Roasted Chicken Sausage, too.

In other Good News of the Year: My brother, whose wife died a few years back, met the new love of his life and remarried this past summer. Due to the wedding, I reconnected with a niece (from another brother's first marriage) that I haven't seen since she was a toddler. She's about 30 now and a fantastic person. I also reconnected with her mother -- a childhood friend of my own, in addition to being my sister-in-law back in the mid-70s. My two cats, despite the fact that they'll be 13 in June, are healthy and lively. Well, except when they're sleeping, they're lively. I still have a roof over my head, which is always a good thing. I have good friends, too. So, 2005 hasn't been a horrible all 'round year at all.

In the upcoming year, while I won't make New Year's Resolutions (as I never keep 'em), I want to focus more on my photography (perhaps new equipment!) and writing in hopes to earn more money from those endeavors.

2005

A True Tragedy

The much beloved Grinch leapt to his death from a Westfield, NJ balcony earlier today in front of a crowd of shocked bystanders. In a note left behind, Mr. Grinch spoke of mounting medical bills due to health issues he's been facing for the last 40 years with his enlarged heart. Max, the Dog, expressed a bit of relief when he said, "I'm getting a bit old to drag that sleigh around anyhow." Little Cindy Lou Who, in an interview, asked, "Who will carve the roast beast now?"

The funeral will be private at the request of the lack of family, but any Whos in Whoville will be notified of the memorial service.

Weird New Jersey Part 2

"Well, I'm not uptight, not unattractive. Turn me on tonight, I'm radioactive. Radioactive. Well, its not a fight, and I'm not your captive. Turn me loose to the night - I'm radioactive, radioactive." -- The Firm

The above sheep was part of the group of four -- two goats, a sheep (lamb?) and a veal...er, calf -- I found totally unattended in a small impromptu fenced in manger sans Baby Jesus near the Scotch Plains, NJ Police Department/Town Hall. Very weird indeed. Now, I sort of understand the premise that it must be some sort of petting zoo manger thingee for the holiday. Yeah, I get that. But where are the shepards watching their flocks by night? This is New Jersey. I don't care that it was next to the police station or not. No one was near it as I took pictures. No one yelled, "Hey! What are you doing in the dark shooting the sheep?" Huh. No wonder they're radioactive. (Now I can't stop humming the song...)

And then there was the Santa by the ashtray...

What is the world coming to? Poor Santa can't even smoke indoors these days!

Weird New Jersey Part 1

So, there I was... innocently walking down one of the main streets near the police station in the neighboring town of Scotch Plains when all of a sudden...

EEK!

Oh, no! It's looking at me with an evil gleam in its eye! The EVIL EYE! ACK!

Does it BITE??? EEP!

And, not only were there unwatched sheep and goats by the police station/town hall, there was this sign. I think whoever put it up needs to go to that hypertension clinic. Spacy, dude.

Bits and Pieces

Gray's Papaya and 24 Hour Peep Show on 8th Avenue in Manhattan -- not far away from the sanitized Disneyized Times Square of today. Nice neon contrasts, though. Oh... and be sure to take advantage of the Recession Special at Gray's Papaya! I don't think they have a Recession Special at the Peep Show. Hmmm... perhaps a Receding Special?

Well, fine. Now I want a hot dog. NO! Not due to the Peep Show! Sheesh!

That's not actually my topic for the day. I don't really have a topic, per se. I want to touch on a few bits and pieces perhaps not entry worthy all on their own. So, here I go:

Coke Zero -- Sucky ad campaign; great product. Y'see, I was a Coke addict for years. Um, Coca Cola, that is. (We won't talk of my lost years here.) I preferred Coke over Pepsi as I found Pepsi rather sickeningly sweet and it's more calories, too. Some years back I made the switch to Diet Coke and even Diet Pepsi as once I went to the diet versions, I really couldn't tell the difference. Then they came out with Coca Cola Zero this past summer. It's the taste of regular Coca Cola with no calories! Woohoo! I am so there. That ad campaign has to go, though.

At times, I'm a Pepper. Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper, too?

Aging Man Ears -- Not only do they get hairy, but they get bigger as men age. What's up with that? I don't think I noticed it as a child, but now that I'm remembering what folks looked like decades ago vs. today, I'm seeing these huge Dumbo ears on aging men. Not women, mind you. Old men have big ears; big enough to take flight with if only they could flap 'em.

New Jersey State Slogan Campaign -- These are the five "finalist" slogans:
New Jersey: Expect the Unexpected
New Jersey: Love at First Sight
New Jersey: Come See for Yourself
New Jersey: The Real Deal
New Jersey: The Best Kept Secret
Oh, Gawd... those are horrible. I want: New Jersey: Got a Problem Wit Dat?

Why? Why does the elevator in my apartment building tend to die every Christmas Day? Three out of the four Christmas Days I've lived here, it's malfunctioned on the holiday. Does it know it's Christmas or what? As I type this, it's working again. But it wasn't working for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Again.

Phew! Holiday Season Almost Over!

Midtown Manhattan (NYC) was enveloped in fog early yesterday morning. I like the fog when it obscures the tall buildings -- they look like they just vanish midway up. ;-)

That's the Port Authority Bus Terminal on the right in the photo. I was heading up to Albany to visit my brother. I usually take the NJ Transit trains in and out of the city as they're faster than the buses. But, since I ended up my Albany trip at the PA Terminal, I took the bus which goes by my apartment for the first time since living here. Huh. I could get spoiled -- it wasn't crowded at all and the bus stop for that line is directly across the street from my apartment. I mean directly. No walking six blocks to the train station. It was like door to door service! Since I was getting in at 1 in the morning, very nice.

Then, as I approached my apartment door itself, I heard the BEEP of a smoke detector with low batteries. ARGH! I get inside and my carbon monoxide detector's batteries apparently went low. I had been out since before 6 AM! I wonder how long that had been going on. The cats were freaked out and my neighbors probably weren't too thrilled, either. After yanking out the batteries and assuming I wouldn't die of carbon monoxide poisoning in the overnight hours, I conked out.

Although I am still in a bit of a vegetable state as I write this, I have found my package of AA batteries and my detector is up and running again. Y'know, they should just program a voice for the detectors gently reminding me to change the batteries -- not that awful BEEP!

"It's time to change my batteries."
"Please change my batteries."
"Did you hear me? I need new batteries."
"Okay, last warning. Give me new batteries or I will beep to annoy and/or scare you, your cats and all the neighbors."
"Batteries! NOW!"
"Okay, BEEEEEEEEEEP..... BEEEEEEEEP...... BEEEEEEEP"
"Ah, you gave me new batteries. That's all I wanted. :::blink::: :::blink::::"

Happy Holidays!

NYC Transit Strike is OVER!

Okay, no deals have been made -- negotiations are still going on. It will take 10 to 18 hours to get all running smoothly again, but... the walkout is OVER!

Ah, now maybe I'll head into the city Saturday. :-)

Countdown to Spring!

Yep, now that it's winter as of today -- even though we've had winter weather for more than a month now -- it's time to think of spring!

Or not. ;-)

Some years back, before the knees were shot, winter was my absolute favorite time of the year. I'd head into work every Monday and Wednesday with the skis loaded atop the car and my ski gear ready to go night skiing directly from work. Every day off I'd head to a local mountain in the Catskills or the Berkshires. A few days off and I'd be up in Vermont or New Hampshire or Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. A week off and I'd be in Colorado or Maine or Canada. Ah, those were the days.

I still love the beauty of freshly fallen snow and, believe it or not, I really don't mind the cold so much. As long as I'm moving, not stuck in a cold wind and my knees aren't giving me grief, I still love it.

That said, I'm avoiding the city as much as I can until the transit strike is over. I have to go in on Monday. With all the macho posturing between Roger Toussaint (head of the TWU) and Bloomberg/Pataki, I don't see this one ending soon. I hope the fact that the international (or is it national?) related TWU folks disagree with Toussaint's actions help to shut the strike down.

By Monday!

As Good as it Gets - NJ Side of the MTA Transit Strike

At least New Jersey has the edge in the NYC MTA/TWU ILLEGAL transit strike. That is, as long as we want to get into Manhattan (Midtown or Lower), not one of the other boroughs or Uptown. PATH (NY/NJ Port Authority) trains are running to lower Manhattan; NJ Transit commuter trains are running into and out of Penn Station.

I feel sorry for the transit workers -- Toussaint is leading them to ruin! At this time I feel every fine the state can throw at the union is justifiable. While I tend to sympathize with the plight of any worker, an illegal strike is not the way to go about things. One of the sticking points is the retirement plan for new workers. Hey, wake up! In this day and age, most private companies have no such plan -- it's all 401K, etc. You cannot expect the government employees to have such packages when they don't exist for anyone but them. Sheesh.

I hope the union goes bust, but it's a shame that the workers who have no choice but to abide by the union will be suffering. Get over it, Toussaint... and get the hell out of Dodge.

Another NYC Transit Strike Deadline Looms

At midnight today the Transport Workers Union had 2 private bus lines in Queens go out. Now, those two companies have been without a contract for three years! They're being absorbed by the MTA, yet won't face the Taylor Law penalties that MTA workers will face - lose two days pay for every one day on strike.

They're back at the bargaining table again and it's possible city buses and subways might not be running come midnight.

I'm in for the night.

I want to know who decided this contract would come due right before the holidays...! Whatever they do, they should change the date on the renewal. It's not only bad for New York City, the commuters and the tourists -- it's a horrible time for the families of the workers! Sheesh.

Get it over with, MTA and TWU! This cat and mouse game -- will there be a strike, will there not be a strike -- it's foolishness. And, this is not the time of year for it!

/rant

We Interrupt This Blog...

... to bring important news out of New Zealand where Santa Clauses Went on a Rampage. In a movement called Santarchy, dozens of drunken Santa Clauses pillaged and vandalized.

It's an odd world, yes it is.

Trying Charles' Milestones and Events

Inspired by Charles (Cinisoul), I'm going to try Milestones and Events in my life...

When I was...

1 - Troy, NY. I don't remember it.

2 - Still Troy, NY, still don't remember it.

3 - Still Troy, NY - taught myself to read and write that year, broke my right collarbone on Christmas night, switched to lefty, then back to right hand in the summer.

4 - Don't really recall - moved to CA that year.

5 - Kindergarten in West Covina, CA with a teacher named Mrs. Bowser. We had baby rabbits in class. When asked who had permission to bring one home as a pet, I raised my hand. No, I didn't have permission, but we kept him anyway. I named him Pinky (red eyes, albino rabbit). I took tap dancing lessons, danced at an exhibition at DisneyLand and photos of me from dance were displayed in Beverly Hills photography studio window.

6 - Part of the year in CA, part moved back east to Colden, NY. We moved around a bit. I recall East Aurora and another town outside of Buffalo, too. Dunno what was up with that. Lots of snow. Tons o' snow. *Added note: The move to CA and back were both drives cross country where I saw sights like the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, etc.

7 - Moved to West Haven, CT. I walked to school and remember big rats on the way. I was five blocks from the Sound and would wander over there to find dead sharks washed ashore, horseshoe crabs. The swamp near us caught fire. My brother and I found a kitten and my parents let us keep him -- thus, Mittens was my favorite cat of many more to come. We played ball in the vacant lot on the block with boys named Ricky and David Nelson... while 'Ozzie and Harriett' was on TV, though not the same Ricky and David Nelson! I got my first straight A's that year and found it would be expected of me from that point on.

8 - Moved back to NY, to Latham (outside Albany) where I was when President Kennedy was assassinated and my little brother was born. Then it was onto West Sand Lake (Rennsalear County) east of Troy. I was put in a class where I was asked to read aloud in my first hour there (3rd grade). I remember pronouncing the word "laughter" wrong, then correcting myself. I was yanked out of that class and thrown into the "advanced class" where the teacher didn't believe in giving A's thus making my parents mad at me. I got some out of her, but I actually had to work for them. I was used to sliding through with them in second grade due to reading skills. I also got my first eyeglasses that year.

9 - Still in West Sand Lake. I fished on Hartz Pond. I hiked. I climbed trees. I climbed the fence to the horse boarding farm nearby and rode on the horses bareback until I fell off. I swam in nearby Crystal Lake and found out what leeches look like. I teased snapping turtles and caught crayfish. I saw what happens when a chicken's head is cut off and had nightmares. I held hands with my first "boyfriend." I was back to straight A's in school. My parents were happier. Saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan that year and thought they'd never be as big as Elvis.

10 - Moved to Round Lake, NY (Saratoga County). New school, kept my straight A's a goin' on. On dark stormy nights, listening to Mrs. Hara-Hara playing the 1847 Ferris Tracker pipe organ at the auditorium across the street was absolutely spooky. I fell in love with NYC that year due to school and family trips. I read everything I could about it and was fascinated. Although I was buying Monkees albums, I was more into Simon and Garfunkel. I saved my money and bought a guitar thinking I'd be a bohemian folksinger in the years to come... in NYC, of course.

11 - Had a sixth grade evil teacher (still in advanced classes). She was cruel and nasty. I skipped school for days on end and became suicidal. Thankfully, the school skipping was noticed and exposed the treatment I was receiving. I was removed from her class, went back to my straight A's and stopped being a suicidal 11 year old. I read my Mom's copy of 'The Valley of the Dolls' unbeknownst to her. I read everything I could get my hands on and that was there.

12 - Became involved in both the anti-war (Vietnam) and civil rights movements. A hippie was born the year before the Summer of Love. Unfortunately, this "hippie" had what was called "cat glasses", white frames at that. Huh. Some hippie I was! I started going to all the rock concerts at nearby SPAC, often riding my bike and sneaking through a hole in the fence. I was still getting my A's just floating through classes. I went to Manhattan with my art teacher and a few selected students and checked out the Guggenheim. That was the year I decided I wanted to be artsy... and loved NYC even more. :::grin:::

13 - First for a lot of experimentation that year. First beers -- two and I got sick as a dog and couldn't drink beer for a few decades. First Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill Wine at anti-war protests in Albany and Schenectady, better than the beer experience but still touchy to my stomach. First marijuana. Oh, no! That was to be a part of things for years to come (though it's now been over 20 years since I last had any). At an anti-war protest in Albany, a man in his 20's walked up to me and asked if I wanted to take a trip. I told him I couldn't; my mother was picking me up soon. Only as he walked away did I realize he was talking LSD. I felt so kid dumb at the time! I was still getting my straight A's and not working to get them.

14 - High school and, due to my grades, they put me not into just advanced classes, but things like Physics! Physics in 9th grade! Ack! I had to study, but kept that A average going on due to a mark above an A - an H was 5 points. I got H's in Health, French, English and History off and on throughout the year evening out the B in Physics. I ended the school year with above an A average, or a 4.2. I was put on independent study in many of my courses and was a lazy intellectual doing last minute cramming and paper writing. I discovered LSD. Now, I don't recommend drugs. They can mess you up. But, the times were different and I myself was a different person than I am now. I wuz a hippie; I told ya that! I was going to change the world and find out the true meaning of life. Or something.

15 - Pretty much the same as 14. Kept the grades up while being a rebel quietly -- my parents didn't know or perhaps didn't think I was as into things as I was as the grades stayed A's. I went to all the big concerts -- Janis Joplin, the Doors, the Who, the Rolling Stones, etc., ... and spent lots of time in a haze.

16 - A very eventful year. Leading into it, my Mom spent the whole summer at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester being a guinea pig for what's now gastric bypass surgery. It was to kill her before long. I left high school after 11th grade and started college at 16, moving out of my home. My father suffered a collapsed lung at work and it was found he had cancer. He would die five months before my mother. From that point on, I was on my own... with no home to return to. Numerous friends and relatives were killed in Vietnam (or returned not the same) or in car accidents. I thought the Grim Reaper was following me, jotting notes on who to knock off next. I kept up with my experimentation bit and tried avenues such as Transcendental Meditation (hippie I still wuz). I worked, went to school and partied.

To be continued...

Preserve Your Memories, They're All That's Left You

This photo is from Christmas 1958. I'm the one in the middle eying the robot while I obviously got a tea set and a doll from Santa Claus. The drums weren't mine, either! Bah, humbug... sexist pigs! :::grin:::

The joy was shortlived that day. That night I fell out of bed and broke my collarbone, thus coming up with one of my first memories -- standing inside watching as my brothers skated on the backyard where my father created an ice rink with the hose. I had my new double runner skates (from Santa), but couldn't skate due to my sling. It was inside looking out, but a feeling of looking in from the outside... a defining bit which would follow me throughout my life. An observer...

Oh... and it's obvious that my mother cut our hair, isn't it?

"I prefer boysenberry more than any ordinary jam. I'm a Citizen for Boysenberry Jam fan." - Paul Simon

Overheard on NJ Transit Train...

...Saturday evening heading into Manhattan, a huge (I mean huge, we're talking 6'4" or so) black transvestite dressed to the nines with a guy who looked like a working shmoe...

(S)he: So, you're buying my ticket right?
He: I work all kindsa hours. My wife has sex with two men. I'm 37 years old and it's now my time to shine.

Um.

Okay, more than I wanted to know, I think.

It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn

... and the wettest, too! I love to take night shots without a flash or tripod just for the heck of it. ;-) I took these this morning at the Plainfield Train Station while awaiting the first NJ Transit train on my way to work. It was dark. It was wet. It was chilly, but a heat wave compared to the -8 (Fahrenheit) we had overnight the night before. It was perfect for night shot experimentation. If you click on them, you'll see large versions.

Those Darn Cats!

These are my two constant companions, roommates and best friends. He (Teaser) is a camera ham; she (Scherzo) always closes her eyes for photo sessions. She does have eyes. She really does. You won't see her eyes unless you happen to visit me because she always closes them when I go to take pictures. Always. Both cats will be thirteen years old this coming June. I've had them since they were each about six weeks old. My old veterinarian in CT gave me them about a month after my older cat died at about 20 years old. He just knew I had to have a cat or two in my life.

That "older" cat was one I obtained as a kitten in my first apartment out on my own. He was Kerm, the original Firecat (see Cat Stevens - Teaser and the Firecat). So, when the little grey tabby was such a tease, he became Teaser. Now, Scherzo (pronounced Skair-tsoh) is a classical music term for the lively bouncy part of symphonies and operas. It also means joke or jest in Italian. So, I have a Teaser and a Jester, so to speak. She has an almost perfect music note in her facial markings. Music (though I can't sing worth anything, nor do I play any instrument well at all) has always been a part of my life... just like cats.

But... those darn cats!

I can't get any privacy here, none at all. If I'm at the computer, he's taking up the chair with the pillow on it set up for elevating my bad knee and she's behind my chair. If I go to go to the bathroom, she has to race ahead of me to get there first. If I go to the kitchen, both race to beat me there... yeah, watching me wash the dishes must be fascinating, huh. When I go to bed it's a competition between them who will get the favorite Cat Spot -- it's a big bed and that spot would be where the pillow for the other person would be if there were another person. But, no... there are two cats vying for that one spot instead. If she gets it, she stares at me purring loudly and he sits on the bed making whimpering noises. If he gets there first, he curls up purring while she stands about waist level trying to purr even louder.

They have a love/hate relationship with each other. She's a groomer sort and he'll go to her when he feels like it. They will cuddle together on occasion. However, they also torment each other. If he's in the computer chair, she's found that she can spin the chair around. If she's coming out of the bathroom, he hides around the corner in the hallway to ambush her and run away. They have face-offs and swat-offs. Nothing's like watching two cats trying to stare each other down. Heh.

Contrary to popular opinion (of those who don't know cats), they both retrieve and fetch. With her, I end up hiding whatever she's fetching or it will be brought into my bed with her headbutting me to play in the middle of the night. When bored, they'll bring their toys into the bathtub (dry) where it's more fun or something. My downstairs neighbors must love that.

While she's grown a bit more sedate (and FAT) over the years, he's still the Crazy Cat running amok through the apartment. He puffs his fur all up, jumps sideways and thinks he can hide behind a sneaker when we play "I'm gonna get that cat!" He starts the game by tagging me with his paw and running. If I don't play, he just hops all around me all puffed up like a Halloween cat until I break down and play.

My cats. I think I'll keep them. :-)

Transit Strike? They Better Get THAT Straightened Out!

This is a shot I took of the tree at Rockefeller Center, Manhattan. I couldn't get that silly soldier to move.

What would possess the MTA and NYC to have a transit contract which comes up for approval in the holiday season? Huh? Tonight's the deadline and right now it's still 50/50 on whether there will be a strike at midnight. Grr. Now, I don't depend on the MTA for my daily stuff -- NJ Transit isn't involved in this. I can get back and forth to work or into the city. NJ Transit trains and buses and PATH trains can get me to the city, but once I'm there I depend on subways to get around. Grr! If a strike happens, it's gonna be Gridlock City. Cars coming in below 96th Street must have four passengers, cabs will be able to charge flat fees and pick up multiple passengers. More folks will be taking their cars to work (even with the passengers) and the streets that are clogged now will be more clogged. Grr. Fix that, NYC... I got stuff to do in town and a bad knee! And that's just thinking about ME! People who work in the city, tourists... real problems! A lot of folks working in Manhattan live in surrounding boroughs and often don't own cars. NO STRIKE! I beg ya, no strike!

Just Chillin' and Chilled... and Chilly, Too

Ah, New Jersey! Used parts? Oh, my! Not body parts, I hope! *Note: The body of a mob dude was found in the trunk of a car a few miles away just last week. Eep!

Oh... and don't smoke the used oil, please.

I edited this shot using layers as explained in this entry leaving the red in color and the rest in black & white.

It's cold here tonight. I'm talking February cold. It's supposed to dip down into the single digits, perhaps near zero (Fahrenheit).

Eep.

I need hot chocolate.

Can I Rest Now, Please?

"So, you watched the movie, right?"
"The Alfred Hitchcock one?"
"Yeah! So, you in?"
"Sure! Just wait until the next human comes along!"
"Maybe we can get the grackles to help us. It's too bad a lot of the geese flew south or we could have real fun with this!"

Is this a new plot on the part of the gulls to take over the world? Or, have they been here before?



Have you ever had one of those days that you seem to run behind all day? Well, this was one for me. Instead of hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock, I turned it off. I woke up in time to throw clothes on and all but run to catch the train. And, it seems like it's just now that I'm catching up.

Work was hectic and frenzied (partly due to a hectic and frenzied boss). I run the accounting office at my workplace -- amongst other things, but that's my main focus. Last week on the day I took off my replacement made an error which snowballed and landed in my lap today. Argh. I worked through my lunch, then left in time to run to the train to go home.

Then I got home and signed on AOL. What...? I have 124 e-mails under my ETV Jackie name? What the heck? I look -- they're mostly from my 'Survivor: Guatemala' AOL Journal where all I had done was post short updates on last night's finale. I thought spam, but no. I looked at the comments -- some were telling me I shouldn't have won. Well, no... I wasn't on the show, so I shouldn't have won. AND I DIDN'T WIN! Sheesh! I saw a person I know who works for AOL TV Channel online and asked her if the journal was linked anywhere unusual (it's always on the 'Survivor' TV page and often on the page at Keyword: TV TALK). Okay, it was linked to the main Welcome Screen of AOL all morning. That'll do it. It picked up over 5,000 hits from 7 AM to 4:00 PM ET.

So, I poked through all the comments making sure none were TOSable, removed a few for using a slur towards homosexuals and then had to get writing my actual review/recap I've been posting weekly on my Blogspot 'Survivor' blog (since banner ads). Well, now tonight BOTH blogs have the recap because I posted to the wrong blog without thinking.

After recapping the three hour show, I finally started my dinner. I ate at 9:30! Ack.

I think I may be having a panic attack due to rushing at a furious rate all day.

I can't breathe.

Ack.

Ack.

Hmmm... maybe it's a hairball? :::looking suspiciously at my two cats:::

Need sleep. Need sleep.

Ack.

I'm Retro-Pop (Culture) and Proud Of It

Yep, I'm retro-pop (culture) and darned proud of it. I've paid my dues, so I can sing the blues. All you hep cats out there just don't know where it's at. I've been there, done that and have the scars and vinyl to prove it. :::grin:::

I hear I'm out of the demographic since I hit the magical mystical 5-0. Not so, not so! While I embrace lots of modern day pop culture, I'm Retro-Pop at heart. And I like that place, so leave me be. Retro-Pop is the bop, trust me. Would I lie to you?

Today I've got on my Rhino Records 4 CD boxed set of 'Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968.' If you hit that second link, you can get the tracklist for the set and even listen. So, today the Aliens Who Moved in Upstairs were jolted by the Electric Prunes at precisely 11:45 AM ET. Heh. I don't have it playing incredibly loud, no. But there are some tracks I just have to crank. 'Too Much to Dream (Last Night)' was one of them. It also had me dancing around my apartment with my cat, but that may be a tad too much information. Wait until 'Wooly Bully' and 'Louie, Louie' play. Then we're talkin' dancin'! The set has some filler material (in my mind, perhaps), but then it's got:

• Too Much to Dream - Electric Prunes
• Dirty Water - Standells
• Psychotic Reaction - Count Five
• Farmer John - The Premiers
• Talk Talk - The Music Machine
• Incense and Peppermints - Strawberry Alarm Clock
• Diddy Wah-Diddy - Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
• (We Ain't Got) Nuthin' Yet - The Blues Magoos
• Let It Out (Let it all Hang Out) - The Hombres
• Sit Down, I Think I Love You - The Mojo Men
• Journey to the Center of the Mind - The Amboy Dukes
• Wooly Bully - Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs
• Louie, Louie - The Kingsmen
• I Want Candy - The Strangeloves
• Little Bit of Soul - The Music Explosion

There's a bit too much Chocolate Watchband, but the Beau Brummels, the Remains and others make up for it all. I have a lot of the original hits on the original 45s somewhere in a box, but this is much better. I'm sure my neighbors think I'm a hippie now.

Remembering Richard Pryor

Last night I heard the rather sad news that Richard Pryor has died. In a way, it's not all that surprising as his health has been bad for so many years. But, I still found the news saddening. I'm part of the generation who boosted Pryor to his well-deserved stardom, then watched as he self-imploded in the 80s falling into the downward spiral of drugs and what they can do to a person. Cocaine in particular, in its various forms, can ruin a life wasting any potential and creating a non-person who just seeks out the next line. I know all about it. It's slow suicide; may as well just put a gun to your head and get it over with quickly. That is, unless you can get by the drug and escape from its grasp. Pryor seemed to do that only to fall ill with MS. Sigh.

It's as hard to believe that Richard Pryor was 65 as it is to know that I hit the half-century mark just a few months ago. Although recent Pryor memories are that of a man whose body is wasted by disease, in my mind he'll be the edgy guy we all tuned into watch on 'SNL' to see if he would get stuff by on the live show. He's the guy who, despite a definite black/white controversial stance in his comedy, brought both the black and white crowds together on his campus and small towns circuit tours before his world of fame really hit.

"We bad, we bad..."

You'll always be so bad that you're good, Mr. Pryor. Rest in peace.

Ten Things That Make Me Happy

Keep off the grass! Um... what grass? I see no grass. The final snow tally was 6 1/2 inches where I live, over 9 inches where I work. And, of course, it's not winter yet! :-)

Steven (SEPINTX) sent me a meme - (sometimes)photoblog: Ten Things That Make You Happy

Whiskers on kittens and long woolen mittens, these are a few of my favorite things! Er... okay, that's cheating, but feel free to hum the tune as you read this entry.

I think I'm thinking in a seasonal kind of way with some of these due to the weather, but here goes:

1. When my two cats are purring.
2. Cookies warm from the oven.
3. The excitement in small children looking at holiday lights.
4. Days off from work. ;-)
5. Helping others.
6. Laying down the first tracks in fresh powder (skiing).
7. Being with good friends.
8. Bubble baths (or mineral salts baths).
9. Fixing things. (Remember, eccentric not weird. Perhaps a touch of nerdism.)
10. Curling up with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate on stormy winter nights.

Now's the tough part. I have to find five folks to tag for this. Hmmm... Francis, Charles, Gull (I know it's a bit off topic, but someone stole Omar already!), DBP2000 (DustBunnyProtector) and we'll see if this last one responds -- Joe, JournalsEditor.

Self-Proclaimed Snow Day Off

<----- This was the view of the Jersey 'hood from my apartment windows just about the time I was due to be at work. My windows are indeed clean -- that's snowflakes the size of Tokyo coming down.

I can't help it the sun is shining out there now.

We got about six inches of snow, my knee was really being uppity -- aching and clunking when I walk. So, I took the day off. I'm sure they weren't too happy with me. But, then again, I wasn't too happy that they scheduled me on the day I have physical therapy early the next two weeks after I asked them not to do so. I made the appointments for what's my regular day off. They agreed I would be off. Then they scheduled me this week and next for that day. I have two personal days I wasn't going to use as I was off so long on disability. But, gee... I'm using one today. What comes around goes around. Plus, my knee is literally being a pain. Even though the sun is out now, it's cold and snow is all over the place. I'm staying inside and warm.

I have foodstuffs aplenty, too! I stopped at both Trader Joe's and Stop & Shop in Westfield last night after work. Stop & Shop had some good deals on nice little steaks if you had their card, which I do indeed have. I bought my staple stuff there and went more for the goodies at Trader Joe's. Mmmm... Trader Joe's goodies. Ah, blessed snowstorm!

More on my mind...

I call this shot "Walking in rhythm." Or, it could be called "The Ladies of 42nd Street." No... not that kind of ladies! Sheesh! It's 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue near the New York Public Library!

Now they're saying chances are good for a new 'significant' snowstorm here. We'll see.

In other ramblings in my frazzled mind, I have an Apartment Living In Urban New Jersey story to tell...

Y'see, my rent is due on the 1st each month with a 5 day grace period before late charges are incurred. Okay, I usually pay it on the first and since the landlord started up online payments, I tend to go for that avenue. For those who mail or bring the rent to the management offices, a bill is placed under the apartment doors supposedly five days before the first. Well, I came home from work after 5 PM on the 5th of the month (day before yesterday). Lo and behold, there was one Chinese delivery menu and the way late bill. Anyone depending on it would automatically be late. There was a scribbled "if you've already paid, disregard" note on mine. Of course I already paid. Sheesh.

The envelope felt fatter than the usual one sheet, so I refused to disregard and I opened it. Huh. Inside there was a paper saying they're considering installing DSL television service for the building and asking me to respond whether I'm interested or not. Hmm... if it's cheaper than my Comcast cable, in a minute I'm there! I thought, "Wow, my building is catching up with the times!"

Then I went to my kitchen to wash the dishes I left from the morning. (Hey, I live alone; I can leave dirty dishes in the sink if I want to!)

There was no water. Apparently they're doing something repairwise to the building which is making them turn off the water and/or heat for various periods ranging from 1/2 hour to more than a few hours daily all this week.

How do I expect them to come through with dependable DSL service when I can't depend on running water near the dinner hour?

In Whose World? Not MY World!

I admit it. I'm a television junkie. I was raised on TV, sort of kind of. I grew up with the switch from black and white to color. But, that's not the topic here. Trust me, I have something else on my mind, albeit related to TV.

Commercials. Yep, you heard me. I want to know who's writing them and in whose world they live. It's certainly not my world. I can tell you right now that if I were to have a party and folks started dancing around with Dirt Devil broom thingees, making messes and performing choreographed cleaning... well, I'd have to call the cops. I'd have to. They've obviously escaped from the Hospital for the Criminally Insane. I don't want them in my apartment.

Another commercial not in my world is giving a Lexus as a Christmas gift. Who does that? I want luxury cars for the holiday in lieu of gift cards at Borders Books and Music! The only form of transportation I've ever gotten for Christmas was a bicycle. Okay, before that I got a tricycle. Who are these people giving $40,000 cars for Christmas? Am I in the wrong social circle or what?

No Show Snow, For the Most Part

Tracking alien lifeforms in New Jersey. Oh, okay... they're seagull footprints in a dusting of snow on a sidewalk. Last night's ballyhooed snowstorm left about an inch (atop of what we received over the weekend) where I live and even less where I work. So much for that. What we have isn't going away anytime soon, though. The temperatures this week are more keeping with January than early December.

Tonight is the next to last week of 'The Amazing Race.' I'm so hoping the Weavers go buh-bye. If you watch the show, please drop by my The 'Amazing Race 8: Family Edition' Blog. I love visitors! :-)

Various, Sundry, Snowy and Gnarly

Above is the Gnarly, as promised. It's gnarled tree branches covered with snow. Oh, so it's a bit of the Snowy, too! Yesterday's snow stayed throughout the night and into tonight. It doesn't look like it's going to go away anytime soon as we're in for about four more inches tonight.Great timing -- it will be snowing through tomorrow's morning rush hour. Sigh. The worst should be on Long Island and 'down the shore.' Now, don't ask me why they say it like that. It's New Jersey. I can't explain it. But it's 'down the shore' nonetheless. Me? Um. I'm up the inland, I guess. ;-) I'm about ten miles inland from Staten Island, about fifteen miles from Newark.

There. Gnarly and Snowy covered. Check. Onto Various and Sundry...

Charles (Cinisoul) asked how I edit photos such as the turkey in my previous entry -- where part of the photo is in color, the rest is black and white. I use an editing program which allows me to work with layers. My programs I do it with are cheap or free -- PhotoStudio5 which came with my Canon scanner or Gimp. The latter is free software. PhotoShop and others, any which will allow you to work with layers, can do the trick. To strip my method to the basics:

• I copy the photo (in full color) and create a new layer (so I basically have two full color identical shots)
• Then, on the first layer, I de-saturate the entire photo, thus turning it to black and white.
• I choose the freehand select tool and cut out the outline of the part I want to be in color. Depending on how intricate the item is, this can be done in one fell swoop or bit by bit.
• Once it's outlined (selected) or by section, I just cut. That will bring up the color from the second layer.
• When I'm satisfied with the image, I save. That will merge the two images into one. And there... you have a turkey in color in front of a black and white store.

Different programs will work a bit differently, but that's the basic idea.

More Various -- I added a little Bloglet thingee on my sidebar. If you enter your e-mail address there and sign up, you will receive an e-mail note each night that I make an entry here. I believe it's the full text, but I doubt photos will show. It's not instant with each entry like AOL Alerts, but it is once and day and you'll see what I'm rambling on about. Please subscribe! :-)

A Tad of Sundry -- Grr, New Jersey's second within the past few years bear hunt started today. Sigh. Why can't they just leave the bears be? For the most part, black bears really don't hurt folks. Of course, they shouldn't roam around urban areas, but I feel in suburbs and rural areas (yes, NJ has rural areas - it is the Garden State, after all)... just leave them be. Don't feed them; secure your trash. You shouldn't be letting your pets roam anyway. I spent some of my youth in areas of upstate NY where black bears were sort of commonplace. No one got ate by 'em. You use common sense and don't mess with them, but they generally do no harm. If they're in your trash, you can make noise from a distance and they'll usually run. If they're up in a tree, after you say "cool, it's a bear" -- you leave 'em be. They'll find their way down and be on their way. No need to call the SWAT team. There aren't many where I live, but when bears wander into a city area like this, yes... they must be moved away. Here they bearnap 'em, tag 'em, tattoo them and pull a tooth (to determine age, I think). Then they release them in wooded areas of the state.

Under both Various and Sundry categories -- In NYC, the MTA says they'll now be dolling out fines for rules which have always been rules. You can't jump the turnstile when your MetroCard refuses to work. Okay. You can't put your feet on the seats. Good one, though I recall my first remembered encounter with that back when I was in college and cops were on all the trains (circa '72 or '73). A cop actually would hit feet on seats with his baton! You only put your feet up once, for sure! You can't carry open beverages. Well, that one may bother some, but I've had coffee spilled on me. Good one. No rollerskates, standing on skateboards or straddling of bike. Okay. Oh... no packages on empty seats! Phew -- only when seats are full. Phew. No panhandling, etc. About the only rule in effect that I haven't heard fines for is the No Spitting rule. Hey! I want a fine for Spitting on the subways! Fix that.

Back to the Snowy -- I just peeked out the window. A light snow is falling. Oh, my... it's a freakin' winter wonderland. /sarcasm

He's Still There!

I found that John's Turkey is still gracing the Meat Market as of a few days ago, now touting spiral cut hams instead of his feathered friends. What I find really odd is that the market is closed and they leave him out. Trusting butchers they are. I used layers to keep the turkey in color while making the rest of the shot black & white.

I'm Dreaming of a White Sunday Morning...

... just like the ones I used to know...

This morning's view out of my living room wall window looking towards the House of Women in Business Suits Who Drive Luxury Cars here in New Jersey --


Ignore the stacked DVDs. I didn't feel like moving them. We received about 3 or 4 inches of snow, now it's turned to some sort of nasty sleet or frozen rain.

In other news, the Aliens Who Moved In Upstairs seem to be gone for the weekend. Yay. Now, they're not as bad as the previous upstairs neighbor, but it's still more relaxing not to hear any noise from above. At least they don't fight. However, since they've become more comfortable in their alien environs, they tend to let the child run more and wear shoes on the hardwood floors more. Not as bad as the elephant walking previous tenant (who was maybe 5'2" and 100 pounds but shook my windows when she walked), but... it's nice they're away. I, for one, just never understand why couples with children move into one-bedroom apartments. At times I'm not even thrilled sharing my limited space with my two roommates -- my cats. No privacy at all, I tell you!

Of course, the weather isn't the best for my Knasty Knee. Between the lack of cartilage post-op and the arthritis, if it could scream, it would. "Move me to Arizona! I want dry heat!" Yep, that's what it's saying. And, nope. I don't want to move to Arizona. It's a gorgeous place to visit, but my heart is in the Northeast and, more specifically, the NYC area. This is where I want to be, bad knee in the winter snow and all. Well, I might actually prefer being in my own brownstone in the West Village in Manhattan, but that ain't gonna happen in view of financial realities. So, Jersey I am and Jersey I be.

In yet other news, I actually have Chanukah plans this year, a first for me. I'll be heading up to Albany for a holiday Chanukah bash at my brother's place on the 26th. His new wife is Jewish, so it's adding a new cultural thing in the midst of our rather twisted family. I hope I won't be expected to dance to traditional songs or anything. ;-)

In even other news, today (according to AOL, though I think it's a bit off) is my 10 year anniversary of my AOL account. Boo-rah. Or something. The last few years they've saddened me more than made me feel like a valued customer. That's a shame.