Not Weird, I'm Eccentric - A Jackie Blog

Life Goes On -or- Is It All Homemade Bologna?

2006-12-27T09:34:00.000-05:00

James Brown and President Ford both gone within a few days, but life goes on. Both men played a bit of a role in my own life, James Brown probably more than Gerald Ford. As a small white girl with red hair, I used to try to mimic James Brown's dance steps (probably cute at the time, but so not as good as he was) and his music was a part of my growing up days. As for Ford, to me he was a welcome respite from Nixon as I was in my huge activist days o' life when he took over the presidency.

But life goes on and, for all I know, it could all be homemade bologna.

The Jesus Ladies in their church hats, woolen coats, support stockings and sensible shoes still arrive each morning at the train station to spread the Word. Yes, you too can be saved, just read the Watchtower.

A street drunk named Willie insisted on reading a passage from the Bible to me. I couldn't help but note that his bookmark was an Union County Jail release stub. Ah, but Willie is basically okay; he's only harmful to himself and alcohol is his demon, not Satan.

New Jersey is the Garden State and, while some areas are really beautiful country, where I live is part of why the state is the most densely populated state in the country. Urban living in the 'burbs, so to speak. Living in a rather rough small city with big city crime woes hasn't been challenging for me. The gangbangers shoot each other up on a nightly basis as of late, but they just nod and say "How ya doin'" or "hola" as I walk by. I don't interest them. I don't look wealthy enough to rob and I'm so out of their element that they don't know what else to do but nod and say hi.

There I was standing awaiting a taxi near the train station one rainy night last week. All of a sudden, men with badges on chains and guns scoot by me from somewhere and arrest the barber from the hair shop next door. Um, okay. I've seen what I thought was him dealing drugs on the corner before but dismissed it as my own imagination as no one would be so foolish to deal on such a well-traveled public street corner. Right? I've even exchanged "how ya doin" with the guy and talked about the weather. We've even shared a cab. He never offered me drugs. I'm not sure if I should be offended at being dismissed or happy. I fear I must be getting old or something. Years back, street dealers offered me drugs. Not that I took them up on their offers, mind you. But, sheesh, at least they asked.

I overheard a New Jersey urban variation on the Verizon "can you hear me now" cell phone bit the other day. A man was yelling into his phone, "Can you hear me?" "Hey, do you hear me?" "Dammit, if you hear me, speak up!" "Well, if you're hearin' me, why the #%$ don't you just say somethin' an' let me know so I don't go on like a ^#$@in idiot!" I guess Verizon wouldn't want to use that in their ad campaign.

The homemade bologna just keeps keepin' on.

My exciting news from a while ago has turned pretty much to dust. I should know after all these years not to count on something before it's a done deal. But I'll keep makin' the bologna and exploring my wasted potential. I'll keep watching both the Jesus Ladies and the gangbangers with a watchful eye from the outside as I look inward.

So, This is Christmas...

2006-12-25T17:41:00.000-05:00

A homeless man sleeps by one of the lions at the NYC Public Library.

I may have posted this photo before - I took it a few years back. However, I've been in one of those reflective moods today. The holidays are a bittersweet time for me as the last time my family was intact and had a "normal" holiday was over 30 years ago. Yes, I have good memories, but I can't help but wonder what it would be like to know my parents on an adult level. My brothers and I are spread throughout the country and spend the holidays apart for the most part. When we do get together, we realize how little time we've actually spent together in the larger scheme of life. I have one brother I haven't seen in about 30 years. No, we're not estranged, per se. We lost touch for a few decades, then talked on the phone and corresponded a bit, then he dropped out again.

Ah, well... So, this is Christmas...

"They said there'll be snow for Christmas, they said there'll be peace on Earth, but it just kept on raining, a veil of tears for the Virgin Birth..." - ELP

IM n UR Mind... and I won't stop singing.

2006-12-03T18:09:00.000-05:00

I know it's a bit outdated by now, but John Scalzi and Editor Jeff from AOL had this l33t bit a'goin' on a while ago. And, I was waiting for my cat to stay on my sneaker long enough to snag a shot. Why she does that, I don't know. But the second I take shoes off, especially sneakers, she's on 'em.

Thank you for visiting Bill, Charles and Beth (and whomever else may have been by). I hope you all have good holidays ahead!

I've been in a waxing nostalgic mood the last few hours and I know who's to blame. This morning, as per my Sunday morning habit, I watched Sunday Morning on CBS. One of the segments had to do with Yusuf Islam, or as I knew him in a previous life, Cat Stevens.

I was enamored with his music when I was a teenager and into my college days, then he vanished off the music scene when he converted to Islam. He's recently picked up the guitar once again and I have yet to check out his latest efforts. But, as Cat Stevens, he was magical and mystical. In breaking up with my first "serious" boyfriend, "It's a Wild World" played in my mind whenever I thought of him. "On the Road to Find Out" touched upon my own journey finding out about myself. And on and on. Even to this day, my cat (not the one pictured) is named Teaser and that's quasi-due to Teaser and the Firecat.

So, I couldn't take anymore. A few hours ago, I hit up my vinyl. Now, after listening to some of the music of my teen years, I've gone all nostalgic and dreamy. Stevie Wonder's Talking Book album, Moody Blues On the Threshold of a Dream, all of my Cat Stevens collection. Dang if the music doesn't take me to the same place it did all those decades ago. I'm glad I still have some turntables and my vinyl collection.

Of course, I could update a bit of the music for the current state of the Internet. For example, "In the Beginning" (Graeme Edge) of On the Threshold of a Dream, could be:

First Man: I think, I think I am, I think.
Establishment: Of course you are my bright little star.
I've miles
And miles
Of files
Pretty files of your forefather's fruit
And now to suit our
Great computer
You're magnetic ink.
First Man: I'm more than that, I know I am, at least, I think I must be.
Inner Man: There you go, man, keep as cool as you can.
Face piles
And piles
Of trials
With smiles
It riles them to believe
That you perceive
The web 2.0 they weave
And keep on thinking free.

There. How easy was that?

Tonight I'll be blogging The Amazing Race 10 on my TV Blog, but right I'm just a Hard-Headed Woman waiting for Longer Boats comin' to win us. Stop me before I break out my James Taylor, Jim Croce, Simon & Garfunkel, and Gordon Lightfoot stuff.

Has It Been Since May?

2006-11-07T19:23:00.000-05:00

Yikes! This shot was taken yesterday and I didn't touch that blue sky up at all. And, even more interesting, it's New Jersey!

I apologize that it's been since May between posts here. I've been concentrating on the television blogging hoping for professional and freelance work in the field. A few things have worked out with that - folks at Turner Broadcasting are sending me press kits (which are way cool), I've become the TV Section Editor for Blogcritics.org, earned some actual money over the summer with my TV blog, and have extended my reach in the field. I also have something in the works for a few months down the road, but I can't go into that right now. It's not set in stone and I don't want to jinx it.

In other news, my knee is growing increasingly worse. I haven't been able to go photo stomping as I used to do and settle for just getting back and forth between work and home. I'm putting off a knee replacement as it would involve a longer hospital (or rehab hospital) than I can be away from home. With the other surgeries, I led them to believe that I had someone here to help. With this one, it will be tougher. I'm not so worried about myself. If I can get around on crutches in the apartment, I'm fine. It's not a huge place and there are no stairs. But, still, they're talking a few weeks minimum in a hospital. My two cats are too old to be boarded - they'd freak out. And, the only friend around here I'd trust with a key recently moved to California.

Oh, well. I'll keep putting it off.

How are you?

It's Leaflets Three, Let Them Be Season

2006-05-15T18:09:00.000-04:00

Yep, poison ivy! It's one of my favorite plants to photograph, but don't ask me why. Right now it's in the stage here where some leaves are lush and full while new leaves are showing their colors. As far as I know, I'm still not allergic to its toxin, but I don't test it. I took this shot at the Bridgewater NJ Transit rail station. They cut down most of the vines last summer, but it's hard to keep poison ivy down for long.

Of course, there are prettier plants out and about such as the orchid below. But they don't last as long as the poison ivy! The shot below was taken in my NJ 'hood. The woman living in the house is a flower fanatic, but keeps it safe with a high chainlink fence. I took the shot between the links. Can't keep me out!

In other news, I read up on how to keep an alligator from attacking you. Yes, I know the chances of an alligator attacking me here in New Jersey are probably slim to nothing, but one can never prepare enough! Or not.

In yet other news, AOL members reading this might be interested in this article I posted on Blogcritics.

Um. I have no more news! Later, alligator! (See...I knew they were around!)

Through the Cracks...

2006-05-07T18:38:00.000-04:00

Yes, once again... I LIVE! I'm alive! This photo was taken in Plainfield, New Jersey - a flower growing through the crack of a wooden fence.

Thank you to those who've left comments. I've been working on the TV blog, writing and now editing for Blogcritics and working for a living (sigh to the last). My knee is still creating problems, so I haven't been photo-stomping much. But, I do live. And eat. Of course, I eat.

I Live, I am Alive, I Really Am

2006-02-22T19:19:00.000-05:00

This is what happens when I find a dirty little snowman on a stick near a nasty snowbank. Instant celebrity.

Yes, I'm alive. Thank you Charles and Beth for asking. I'm in a bit of a doldrums sort of state. My knee's been bugging me; work at my job has been busy and just blahs have set in a bit. Beth, your blog looks fine -- I didn't get notice of your question until today while I got the notice from the one you made inquiring about me a day or two ago.

I've also been putting a lot of effort trying to get my The (TV) Show Must Go On... to a bit of a pro kind of status. Probably delusions of grandeur or something, but I'd actually like it to really take off like my 'Big Brother' blog did last summer. Ah, but with possible financial gain. Today I posted my first entry at Blogcritics.org (a sinister cabal of superior bloggers, blah, blah...) and hopefully that will get some more attention for the blog. Blogcritics.org: American Idol - Girls' Night Up is the entry.

Other than that, my personal life has been sort of um... boring. Yeah, that's it!

Cat Juggling For Fun and Profit

2006-02-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

I took this shot in the illustrator mode of my digital camera. It seemed fitting. It's the view from the Plainfield, NJ Train Station. At one time, the fronts of these buildings were rehabbed. Alas, the backs of some are nasty and one is now bearing the red/orange condemned markings (the one in the middle). It looks like they sure were something in their heyday.

In other stuff:
Don't juggle cats. They don't like it and they have claws.

Charles Done Did It. He Tagged Me!

2006-02-06T21:28:00.000-05:00

So, why do I have a blue man with ear buds on the train pictured here? It's all because of Charles! He was tagged by Chris and then tagged me! I'm not sure who I'll tag... most of the folks I would tag have already been tagged. Hmmm...

I fear some of this will show my age. Um... I don't have an IPod or MP3 Player. I do burn CDs from playlists, so that's what I'll use.

Why the Blue Man? Because. Oh. I go for a rather unusual mix. You've been warned.

My playlist (or tracks) from my homemade CD in my player:

Blue Man Group - from 'The Complex': Sing Along (w/Dave Matthews)
The Dave Brubeck Quartet: Take Five
Arrested Development: Tennessee
Percy Mayfield: TV Mama
The Doors: When The Music is Over
Muddy Waters: Got My Mojo Workin'
Big Mama Thornton: Little Red Rooster
Dave Matthews Band: So Much to Say
Dirty Vegas: Days Go By
War: Low Rider
Ween: Voodoo Lady
Leonard Cohen: Tower of Song
Smashmouth: Walking on the Sun
Harry Nilsson: I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City
Moxy Fruvous: Spider-Man
Rolling Stones: Sympathy for the Devil
Beatles: Instant Karma

I'll Tumble For Ya...

2006-02-05T21:43:00.000-05:00

Two boys from the 'hood show off their gymnastic skillz.

Actually, they're pretty good. They're perhaps nine years old. The one in the white shirt (his mom must love him tumbling in mud) can do at least 7 backflips in a row. Perhaps I could have bent like this when I was nine, but I couldn't do backflips without a prop like a diving board or skis.

Four Things

2006-02-01T12:06:00.000-05:00

On her journal, Francis asked for four things...

Okay, here's mine:

FOUR JOBS I'VE HAD IN MY LIFE
Roller Skate Guard (Teenage job -- roller skating rink. I was the one skating with a whistle.)
Store Detective
Bookkeeper (No, not a BOOKIE! Sheesh!)
Emissions Inspector for the state of CT

(That's nowhere near my entire job experience and none of those do I do now)

FOUR MOVIES I WATCH OVER AND OVER
Rear Window
The Thin Man
Fallen
Wizard of Oz

FOUR TV SHOWS I LOVE
The Late Show with David Letterman
Survivor
Amazing Race
C.S.I.

FOUR PLACES I'VE BEEN ON VACATION
San Diego
Colorado (skiing numerous places)
Maine (skiing, whitewater rafting)
Montreal (just because it's a cool city)

FOUR FAVORITE FOODS
Anything chocolate, anything!
Steak (yes, I'm an evil carnivore)
Sausage stuffing
Cauliflower (I like broccoli a lot, too!)

FOUR PLACES I'D RATHER BE
There's no place like home. :-)

A Rat For Omar

2006-01-29T19:55:00.000-05:00

I call this shot "A New Jersey Rat For Omar." There I was, just innocently walking by the Budget Rent A Car in Plainfield, NJ, looking to photograph the Mutant Cats With Short Legs and HUGE Heads and something made me jump. It was an immense RAT atop of one of the cars! Um... okay, it was a plastic rat, so I was able to get a shot. I've tried to take shots of real rats at Newark Penn Station and on the subway tracks and they move a bit too fast for my camera. This one sat still. Don't ask me why there was a big plastic rat atop a rental car. I don't know. Hey, it's New Jersey -- anything can happen here. And usually does.

Frosty Buns!

2006-01-24T22:50:00.000-05:00

Yep. I call this shot Frosty Buns. Frosted Buns? A cold butt, nonetheless

Not too much going on here -- work, eat, sleep, write the TV blog. Oh. And watch TV.

I realize that since I tend to spend time waiting at the train station, I tend to observe stuff there. Yesterday, I went on a rant about the bums.

Today, it's the feral cats in the 'hood around the station. It's not really a rant, per se. More of an observation.

There are MUTANT cats living there! Really! They're short with short stubby legs and HUGE faces. Huge, I say! They look healthy enough, but rather like cartoon cats. There's at least three I've seen, most likely inbred. I can't get close enough with the camera out to get a clear shot, but I'm on a mission. I will photograph the Mutant Inbred Feral Cats with Short Legs and Huge Faces of the Plainfield, NJ Train Station.

Maybe it's a new species!
;-)

Neat. The news says to expect thundersnow tonight. Mutant cats and thundersnow. Who says life isn't a thrill a minute?

All That We See or Seem...

2006-01-23T21:37:00.000-05:00

<--- I see dead people -- NJ Transit train.

Although, unlike the recent case on a NYC subway train, this woman was alive. I think she was, anyway. Hmmm... I got off the train before her. Perhaps she wasn't? Oh, NO!

I know I've been absent for a few days. Besides work and life, I've been messing around a lot to get my TV blog off the ground. I had to remember HTML. Duh. If I close my tag, it helps. And, in the sidebar, I have to specify image size or it's a wee little thang. Duh. In my defense, I was messing around with it while tired.

So, what else? What else?

I know! I am so sick of people bumming change and/or cigarettes that I may go off on the next bum I see. Now, I'm not talking the really bad off ones. I'm talking chronic rather bum than work bums. Cigarettes are expensive. I know it's not a good thing that I smoke, but I do. I work. I pay for my cigarettes. I have never asked a stranger or even a nodding acquaintance for a cigarette in my life. If I had no money, I'd not smoke before I'd ask a stranger for a cigarette.

At the train station this morning, two of the street folks in a row tried to hit me up for a cigarette. If I didn't have one for the first, what made the second (3 feet in back of the first) think I had one for him? "Do you have a spare cigarette?" :::I check my pack::: "Nope. The pack only had 20 in it. If there was 21, I'd give you the spare." I have no spare cigarettes. I have no spare quarters. If, by some quirk of fate I have extra money on my hands, I know where I'd like to donate it. And, it wouldn't be to the bums at the train station.

Today when I got off the train, a rather scruffy young man (albeit with a $400 leather jacket) tried to hit me up for $2. "I need two bucks. I took the train here from Staten Island for a job interview and I'm two bucks short for my ride home." Well, he should have thought about how much it cost before he left Staten Island. He's not in Kansas anymore. If he bought a one way ticket, how was he expecting to get home? It's off peak to head from the city early in the day and to head to the city during rush hour. A phrase comes to mind -- Off Peak Round Trip Ticket. I don't just go off to Philly without having proper funds to get home. He shouldn't head to Jersey without the proper funds. A bus would be a good lot cheaper to get from here to Staten Island-- at least two dollars, I'm sure. It's only about 10 miles away, but the train tracks don't go that way. He'd have to go to Newark by train and then PATH, subway. It doesn't bode well for any job he may or not have applied for, either. I hope he wasn't applying to be a financial planner.

/rant

Sunrise, Sunset

2006-01-20T21:21:00.000-05:00

Sunrise, Sunset... at the Plainfield, NJ Train Station today.

Alas, I almost had the day off. I was on the verge of a day off from work... almost there! I got up this morning and was ready to leave for the train station when I heard on the CBS morning news that the trains were all delayed on my line. Neither the news nor the NJ Transit website said how delayed. So, I ambled to the train station arriving right at the time the train should be there instead of my usual 5-10 minutes earlier. Sure enough, an announcement was finally made saying all trains were suspended indefinitely.

Ah, good! I had to wait for my boss to arrive at work and then called to tell him I was going to go eat breakfast and would check back to let him know.

Then it happened.

I heard a train, so I went back to the platform to peek. It stopped. It was heading to go to "the yard" -- a sort of parking lot for trains.

They took me to work.

I was on time.

Sigh.

GRR to the Aliens Upstairs!

2006-01-18T16:06:00.000-05:00

Well, I met the Aliens Upstairs. I also met the Man I Didn't Know Lived Downstairs. Why?Because the ALIENS UPSTAIRS FLOODED MY BATHROOM!

Argh.

I did NOT need the hassle today, a day off from work in which I just had pleasant little plans. Now my bathroom ceiling is in pieces all over the floor and I'm just waiting for things to stop dripping before I have a huge clean-up chore to do.

Here's what happened. I decided to nap a half hour. No sooner did I lay down then I heard an odd dripping. I could hear the shower running upstairs. But the dripping I heard sounded a bit closer... like on the tile ceiling. I looked up. Within less than a minute, my ceiling tiles began leaking right near the frame seams. Okay, I grabbed my bucket to catch the water. In the meantime, all along the seam started streaming water. ACK! I ran to the closet and grabbed my oldest blanket (one I don't mind losing if need be) and tried to catch the water with it... or absorb it... or something. I ran upstairs to tell them to turn off the water.

Okay, the Male Alien finally came to the door with Baby Alien in his arms. I could hear their shower running. I explained the problem and asked him to turn off the water. He didn't seem ruffled at all.

"I'm serious. My bathroom ceiling is going to come down. You really have to turn off that shower."
"Okay, I'll call the super."
"Right now, you have to get that water turned off. My ceiling is going to come down."

He didn't even call out to Wife Alien to turn it off.

I returned to my apartment where water was flowing heavy from the ceiling outdoing my poor blanket and bucket.

Someone knocked on my door.

"I'm your neighbor downstairs. There's water leaking into my bathroom."

I wasn't even sure anyone was living down there after the last tenants moved out. I thought maybe, but he makes no noise. I explained the water was coming from upstairs and I couldn't keep up with it, that I told them and they finally just shut off the shower. We decided we would both call the super in case they didn't.

I no sooner finished with him and returned to the bathroom wondering how I was ever going to get the water sopped up when... the bulging tile let loose with about five gallons of water and crashed to the floor after glancing off my shoulder. I noticed the Aliens From Upstairs leaving in their car.

I called the super AGAIN, then went downstairs to the Neighbor I Didn't Know Existed to let him know there may be a new rush of water, but it should end. He seemed quite nice -- at least it gave me the opportunity to let him know to let me know if my noise ever bothered him. He told me he never hears me. (Aha!)

Finally, the super came and told me he'd be by tomorrow to put up new tiles. I mentioned that new tiles wouldn't stop it from leaking. He said he had stopped by up there, but they weren't home. Fine. Create a catastrophe and don't even wait for the super. I told him it was definitely related to the shower running, not the toilet, sink or bathtub itself. He thinks they may have no shower curtain. I personally doubt that as they certainly have taken showers before without flooding my apartment. I think the caulking may be bad and perhaps she aimed the showerhead more towards the wall or something.But... dang. If someone came knocking on MY door telling me I was flooding their apartment, I'd run to turn the water off. While Male Alien was polite enough, no sense of urgency.

Now I don't like the Aliens Upstairs.

Pointless Ponderings and Pointed Points

2006-01-17T18:01:00.000-05:00

Watching the rats on the subway tracks (NYC)

All, right. Some things have been on my mind, so this entry will be about them. Some are indeed just ponderings, perhaps with no point at all. And the others are outright points, mayhaps a bit rant-like. (As opposed to a bit ratlike.)

Why do geese fly in basically organized patterns and other birds don't? Why must they constantly honk as they fly? Why aren't geese migrating south like they did years ago? Are there geese in London or Seattle? Are they always flying circles lost in the fog and honking?

Then there's birds. Is there a hierarchy for position when birds are gathered on power wires? What are they talking about? Are they planning to overthrow the world?

Why doesn't NJ have a bottle/can deposit program? It would give children and folks who need it some spare change and people may stop throwing their bottles and cans all over the state.

Why must I always live under people who drop stuff a lot? I don't drop stuff daily. Am I out of the loop? Should I drop more things on my hardwood floors in the wee hours of the morning? For that matter, am I the only person in the world who wears soft soled shoes and takes them off immediately upon entering my apartment?

Why has one of my cats taken to dragging his waterbowl across the kitchen, thus slopping out most of the water? Then he sits there meowing and looking at his water bowl until I fill it. Should I just invest in a fresh water fountain for his desire for fresh water on demand?

Where do shopping center seagulls sleep?

Why are some roads/bridges abbreviated into acronyms or nicknames and others aren't? For example, no one says the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway -- it's the BQE. Yet the Van Wyck isn't the VW. The George Washington Bridge is often referred to as either the George or the GWB. You don't hear the Verrazano Bridge being called the V. The 59th Street Bridge, actually named the Queensborough Bridge, should be named the 'Feelin' Groovy' Bridge. Bah-da-da-da-da, feelin' groovy.

That's about it for now. I'll be watching some TV and blogging about the 'Americal Idol' and 'Love Monkey' premieres, as well at taping 'Law and Order: SVU' tonight. Ah, tomorrow's my day off from work. Good.

BRRR! It's Cold, Baby!

2006-01-16T23:09:00.000-05:00

<------ Not to be confused with a PARKING Garage, mind you.

"Hey! Get that car out of here! This is a NO PARKING garage!"

Dang, it's frigid outside. (Heh. She said "frigid.") Ever since that cold front went through on Saturday night and killed the tree, it's been brutally cold. It wouldn't be so bad except that we had such a mild streak of weather immediately preceding the latest. More ice is expected for the commute home from work tomorrow, then it's going to be 50 degrees again on Wednesday.

I think I'm getting dizzy.

Kee-RASH -or- If a Tree Falls on Jackie, Does Anyone Hear It?

2006-01-15T10:10:00.000-05:00

My Apartment Building This Morning

I heard the crash last night as the ice and snow were coming down and the wind was howling. The power blinked, but came back on. Of course, it blinked long enough to knock out the entry I was writing for my TV blog. Grr. This is the half-dead huge pine (of some sort) tree from the House of the Women Who Wear Business Suits and Drive Luxury Cars next door. I said a few years ago when the landlord was having iffy trees on our property taken down -- that tree was going to fall eventually. Last night was eventually. If not for the huge strong pine (of some sort) tree in the front of our building, it would have crashed into the building itself. As it is, it's really damaged the good tree ripping huge limbs down, so that one may have to go, too.

That is, when they decide to do something about it. All they've done so far is block off that entrance of the parking lot and put caution tape up.

I'm glad I live in the back wing of the building. :-)

New Jersey's New State Slogan

2006-01-12T23:16:00.000-05:00

New Jersey: Come See For Yourself

Yep, that's the slogan they chose. Feh.

I could fix it!

New Jersey: Come See For Yourself... then run! Run as fast as you can! Get out while the getting's good! RUN!

Wednesday, Glorious Wednesday

2006-01-11T11:58:00.000-05:00

Man Vs. Nature -or- A New Jersey Sunset

I took the above photo of last night's sunset from near the Bridgewater, NJ train station. Sometimes in New Jersey, it seems that all of nature is behind a chainlink fence.

So, I'm sure you're wondering what's so glorious about Wednesdays, huh? Well, perhaps for most, they really aren't glorious. But for me? Glorious! Y'see, I work Saturdays... so Wednesday is usually a day off for me along with Sunday. The bad part is I don't really have a weekend. However, with my knee the way it is, it's nice to work two days, day off, work three days, day off. It's supposed to rain here later this afternoon, but I'll find the glory anyway. I'm free! I shall bubblebath! I bought a new kind of foam bath which is exquisite indeed -- Pecksniff's Gardenia & White Peach -- "Asked for therefore made." Hey, if I don't indulge myself, no one else will.

In other stuff, I have a new television blog up and running. Instead of having a blog for each show I watch and, due to time restraints, not being able to talk about shows that I'm not specifically following on a dedicated blog, this one will encompass all. So far, I've talked about the new 'The Four Kings' show and touched on the cast for the upcoming 'Surivor: Panama - Exile Island' on the blog. I'm sure I'll talk about tonight's (finally) NEW 'Lost' episode! Please stop by -- I added Feedblitz to make subscribing easy there and hope the blog will hop. I'd love to hear your thoughts about the shows. Um... I don't watch soaps, though. So I won't be blogging soaps at all. But other shows are fair game.

Dogs Aren't Clothing!

2006-01-10T23:20:00.000-05:00

It's a cruel, cruel world.

This clothing donation bin has been up for a few months. I like to see the overflow. Two days ago, there was a tower stereo system. There have been several bicycles. But, today... the worst. The saddest. :::sniffle:::

In other news of the day, I was lucky enough to sit in front of a teenage boy and his date on the train as I was coming home from work. They looked all of about 16. They were heading into the city to see the Rangers at Madison Square Garden tonight. He was trying to impress her with all his oh-so-worldly NYC and hockey knowledge. She was answering almost everything he said with this annoying loud HEH HEH HEH laugh in between about every third word she uttered.

Oh... my... God. Make them stop. Throw the teeners from the train! Help! It could be worse. Coming back from the city late at night after any sporting event (Yankees, Knicks, Rangers, Mets, Jets, Giants... whatever), the train fills with loud drunks. I guess I'd rather the kids.

Ha! Revenge of the Mouse

2006-01-09T00:15:00.000-05:00

I just came across this news story on AOL -- AOL News - Discarded Mouse Returns to Set Home Ablaze

I don't want mice in my home. (They wouldn't like it with the cats, anyway.) But they are living creatures. I would never burn a living creature alive. Well, except for gypsy moth caterpillars. But they don't scream.

Sunday Morning Snippets

2006-01-08T10:08:00.000-05:00

<--- New Jersey Transit, this stop - Suspicious Acts, NJ.

Hmmm... didn't Elvis sing a song about that? Oh. Suspicious minds. Never mind. ;-)

It's Sunday morning. I know I've been lackluster... okay, absent... from the blog the past few days. I have a cold and my knee has been acting up. Thus, I've been grouchy.

But, here I am. I haven't worked into my full state of grouchiness and the knee is doing okay this morning. I have noticed a few things I wanted to write about the past few days, so here are some snippets o' stuff --

I saw that, in Turkey, three young siblings died of the bird flu. I understand cultural differences and all, but I'm floored by how they caught it. They played with the heads of slaughtered chickens like balls for several days! Huh? What's up with that, I ask? That creeps me out on many levels. It's macabre, for one thing. And, even before bird flu, it just seems germ-ridden and unhealthy. Why didn't they just toss rocks? Perhaps they didn't have toys, but playing with dead chickens' heads just seems so, so wrong. Plus, the chickens were slaughtered because they were ill. So, they were playing with sick dead chicken heads. It just doesn't make sense at all to me.

Lou Rawls died. I had to explain to someone at work who he was. I feel old.

While walking on the block I saw the James Whitmore Bushy Eyebrows Man and he bellowed out a hearty hello. He has the old man eyebrows, not the young Whitmore.

Barry Cowsill's body was identified. Sigh. He apparently was a Katrina victim, but reading about him, it appears he was a victim of himself first and foremost. Drugs. I had a crush on him back when Indian Lake was the scene you should make...

I realized that Kenny the street drug user/dealer on the next block who knows better than to ask me for a cigarette has been gone since my return to work in October. I'd guess locked up. Good. He was annoying -- a hustling cokehead.

Why does my cat think I should pet him every time I glance his way?

One good thing about vacation being over is that I'm getting up early enough to catch the WCBS 2 Crew (NYC) in the morning. The show runs from 5 to 7 AM and I usually have it on until I leave before 6:30. Ah, great -- looking to link their website, I found they have a blog going. Cool. Dave Price is the zany, sometimes going too far, annoying little brother type that many of us know. But he's a hoot on Dance Friday. I like the snarkiness of Jim Ryan going up against him. Shon Gables and Vanessa Alfano are fun, as well. Is there real unrequited love between Vanessa and Dave? Oh... and I have a bit of a crush on Mario Bosquez. If he shows up on other newscasts filling in, I smile. Brett Larsen is a cool gadget geek, too. If you're in the area and not in the mood for straightlaced serious stuff... check 'em out. Anything that can make me smile at that hour has to be a good thing. Oh. And they do report the news, too.

There. Those are my Snippets. :-)

"But I knew (I knew, I knew, I knew, I knew) she had made me happy (happy, happy).Flowers in her hair, flowers everywhere. I love the flower girl." - The Cowsills from 'The Rain, the Park and Other Things'

Only in Weird New Jersey - The Mad Monster Mobile

2006-01-05T21:32:00.000-05:00

Things like this make it all worthwhile to carry a digital camera wherever you go...

Now, mind you, I have absolutely no clue what the Mad Monster Mobile was doing parked at the Westfield (NJ) Train Station. I saw no monsters wandering about other than the usual Manhattan commuters. They can be scary, but...!

Walking to one side gave me a clue. Ah, Zacherley -- the "Cool Ghoul" from WABC-TV (Channel 7 out of NYC) and later out of WPIX, Channel 11 (Secaucus/NYC) in the 60s and through at least some of the 70s. I remember him from about the mid-sixties or perhaps even earlier. Looking at the website, he started out in the Philly area. What's even more amazing is that he's alive and doing appearances (perhaps why the Mad Monster Mobile was parked at the train station). Why am I surprised? I'm surprised because he was born in 1918! Perhaps he's something other than human? Could it be?

The other side of the Mad Monster Mobile -- gotta love the Creature from the Black Lagoon! --

Of course, he could be living in the Mad Monster Mobile judging by the pile up of junk on the dashboard. It looks like 87 year old man stuff!

Only in New Jersey would people look at me taking pictures of the van and not notice the van itself.

Oh, My... 3 Question Personality Test

2006-01-04T19:10:00.000-05:00

Hmmm... some of this is scary spot on, some a bit off. It fails to mention my personal insecurities which would divulge that, in a room of smart people, I would feel woefully inadequate. ;-)

Your Personality Is

Rational (NT)

You are both logical and creative. You are full of ideas.
You are so rational that you analyze everything. This drives people a little crazy!

Intelligence is important to you. You always like to be around smart people.
In fact, you're often a little short with people who don't impress you mentally.

You seem distant to some - but it's usually because you're deep in thought.
Those who understand you best are fellow Rationals.

In love, you tend to approach things with logic. You seek a compatible mate - who is also very intelligent.

At work, you tend to gravitate toward idea building careers - like programming, medicine, or academia.

With others, you are very honest and direct. People often can't take your criticism well.

As far as your looks go, you're coasting on what you were born with. You think fashion is silly.

On weekends, you spend most of your time thinking, experimenting with new ideas, or learning new things.

The Three Question Personality Test

Phirst Photo Taken in 2006

2006-01-04T13:14:00.000-05:00

AOL's "blogfather" John Scalzi asked for the first photos taken by bloggers/journals in the New Year. I'm a bit late in reading his request, but here's my first shot of 2006. Exciting life that I lead, I was home with my two cats as the ball dropped. Shortly after midnight I tormented both cats with my camera, but this was the first shot -- my cat Teaser. I later tormented them with the radio remote car, but that would be another entry.

Responding to Comments and Other Stuff

2006-01-04T11:04:00.000-05:00

A winter sunset over Plainfield, NJ.

Huh. It's my day off from work today. I have the Martha Stewart show on in the background. Today's show is focusing on redheads. Cool. I'm one! (But don't look on the show for me because I'm not there.) Did you know that natural redheads only occur in two out of every hundred people in the United States? Now, she has Conan O'Brien on the show. I'm not sure if I want him to be the spokesperson of redheaded folks everywhere, but it's better than me being on TV. ;-) Like him, I had that orange-y red hair when I was very young and it darkened a bit over the years. I think that may have been because, as a child I spent a lot more time outside in the sun than I did as I got older. To this day, my hair is a lighter red in the summer than in the winter. Well, except for this past summer which I spent in solitary confinement -- my apartment due to knee surgery.

If you want to know all about redheaded facts, check this site out. On her Redhead Facts page, she mentions what I wrote a few days back -- no grey hair at all, what's turning is turning white or a sandy color.

But redheaded stuff isn't the reason for this entry. I want to respond to a few comments from the other day's entry. Charles, also known as Cinisoul on AOL, asked how the thieves got the ATM out and didn't just go to the register. I think it was an ATM on the outside of the building. At that hour on that day (New Year's Day evening), the drug store would have been closed. I would guess the crooks had to pry from the building with a vehicle. I could be wrong, though.

As for safety, this will sound very odd, but my town is rough. However, as a middle-aged (sigh) white woman, I'm much safer than a young black male or a Latino male. I can walk through a crowd of gangbangers, give a nod and get a "hello" back, probably because I'm no threat to them. I'm not a good victim sort -- they don't scare me and I don't look like I have much money on me, no furs, no jewelry other than a watch. I'm not involved in the street lifestyle as they know it; not into drugs, drinking or hanging out. They see me walking here or there in the daytime hours and I'm basically respectful (give a nod, say a Jersey 'how ya doin' at them) and, as a result, they don't give me any problems. But, if I were young and especially a male, I'm sure it would be an entirely different story. They prey on rival groups, young males in particular. I'm neither. They probably don't know quite what to make of me. So, they end up nodding and saying hello. ;-)

And then Lori over at Dusty Pages wanted to know more about Pharoah's Texas Weiners in Plainfield. For some odd reason, there's a Texas Weiners explosion in New Jersey. There's a Newark/Italian style hot dog, popularized by places like Jimmy Buff's, but lots of Texas Weiner type places. The guy behind the counter at Pharoah's is an Egyptian immigrant -- a hardworking young guy who's there from open to close, friendly and will go on and on about the opportunities in America for those coming here if given the chance. I thought he was the owner, but he's not. Pharoah's Texas Weiners opens at 6 AM and closes after the dinner hour sometime. Yes, they serve hot dogs. But they serve about everything under the sun. I often get a breakfast sandwich there on the way to work. I could get grits with it, but... um... no. It's sort of a luncheonette place with a huge variety on the menu from hot dogs to prime rib and a full breakfast offering. It's reasonably priced, clean, friendly and definitely a Jersey Good Thing. Y'see, in New Jersey you can get grits with that gyro. There's another Texas Weiners place a block away, but that's more just hot dogs... open 24 hours a day, though!

The New Jersey Baby Jesus(es) Caper

2006-01-03T23:24:00.000-05:00

Proving New Jersey can be twisted at times...

This news comes from Sayreville, most commonly known in recent days as the hometown of rocker Bon Jovi. Four local teens from that town stole over 25 baby Jesus figures from manger displays throughout the area. Their plans? "We were going to burn them." Their reasoning? "We were bored." Hey, I know Sayreville isn't a thrill a minute, but they could have just worn cowboy boots and hats, grew big hair and learned to play guitar.

In the 'hood...

2006-01-02T11:57:00.000-05:00

I went to the local bodega around the corner earlier today. A white woman was in there -- a white woman I don't know. Now, I realize that sounds a bit odd as I myself am indeed a white woman. But, y'see, in my town, that's a minority and I know most of the folks around the neighborhood. There are other white women, sure. But I live in a mainly black and Latino rising area. I'm also a regular at the bodega and know most of the customers who frequent the store. This is the store that gives me free gum, for Christmas they gave me two 2 liter bottles of brand name soda of my choice. Not a huge gift, but it was nice of them. They're good guys at the bodega.

But, back to the white woman...
Two regular black male customers and the two Latino store owners were chatting as a sandwich was being made for the woman. I bought my cigarettes and she commented on how expensive everything was here. One of the guys asked her where she was from. Indiana. Um... in Plainfield, NJ, huh? Now, that has to be a bit of a culture shock unless she came from an urban area.

One of the customers asked, "So, what brings you here?"
"I bought a crack house."

So, I couldn't resist... I asked, "Is this an operating crack house? An investment property? Or did you kick the crackheads out?"

She laughed and said it was a bit of a problem to get them out, but she and her husband picked up the house for 50 grand and it should be worth $240,000 by the time they're through rehabbing it. The neighbors are great, she said. She lives down an adjacent street, so I'm not all that familiar with her 'hood, but I know this town. It has some really bad Camden-like neighborhoods, but overall it's good people just workin' for a living.

The town was a wealthy one at the turn of the century. I'm talking into the 1900s, not the 2000s. Its nickname is the Queen City, thus named for all the Queen Victorian homes within its borders. So many gay folks have snapped up the historical homes in some areas that Plainfield has been called a "gay mecca" in some online articles. My own 'hood isn't in any of the historical districts, but has a few fine rehabbed homes amidst the apartment buildings and churches.

The murder rate went up this year, alas. But, I feel safe, nonetheless. I find Plainfield the sort of town where I can walk down the street and folks actually say hello -- folks from all walks of life, from many cultures. I'll admit I don't walk around a lot at night, but I don't trust a lot of cities at night when there aren't many people other than the denizens out and about. I enjoy getting to know the people around me. I enjoy the diversity that is Plainfield. I like going to the Latino bodega, the Jamaican corner store, the Egyptian run "Pharoah's Texas Weiners," the Hindu run corner store, the Mexican bakery, the soul food luncheon, the Vietnamese take out... if this was a milquetoast town, it wouldn't be as enjoyable for me. As it is, it makes me feel good to be a part of the cultural soup.

The local news tends to tell the bad things about Plainfield. But, as a four year resident of the city and an "outsider" in many ways, I have to say there's a lot of good about the town and its people. But, shhh... we'll keep that a secret between us.

In other local news, I was listening to my police scanner last night. Yeah, there were shots fired (kind of normal in a few neighborhoods). Yeah, there were plenty of domestic disputes and a few fights. But, there was one unusual event. Someone (had to be more than a few someones) actually stole the ATM machine from Scott's Drugs in the center of town. We're talking the whole thing! How they did it, I don't know. The cops found it about an hour later and fussed about how much it weighed. The fire department had to respond with a truck which had a lift as it weighed well over 500 pounds. On my last hearing about it, the cops said they doubt any fingerprints could be recovered and don't seem to have any suspects.

I have an alibi. I was home listening to my police scanner. ;-)

100 Things About Me

2006-01-01T14:10:00.000-05:00

Well, I've never done one of these in any of my blogs, past or present. So I thought I'd give it a try. Heck, I may learn something about myself.

1. I don't type right. I don't look at the keyboard, but I don't use all my fingers.
2. I am woman. (Hear me roar.)
3. I was born in upstate NY (Troy), but have lived in two additional states.
4. I currently live in NJ.
5. Work transferred me here in 1994.
6. I joke about it, but I actually like living here.
7. I'm close enough to the city to go into Manhattan after work.
8. I lived in southern CA for two childhood years.
9. I'm very nearsighted, but my eyeglasses aren't thick. (Phew!)
10. I have two cats.
11. I live in a quasi-large apartment building.
12. I started college when I was 16 years old.
13. I was in 'Who's Who in American High Schools' -- but to this day feel it's a scam to sell the book.
14. I consider myself a lazy intellectual.
15. I lived in CT for a year as a child.
16. I lived in CT for about 15 years as an adult.
17. I was transferred to CT by my workplace. (Seeing a pattern here.)
18. When I was a child I mistakenly thought I could sing.
19. When I was 9 years old I got my first typewriter -- a portable Royal manual one.
20. I thought I'd write the Great American Novel.
21. But I was wrong.
22. I'm older now than my parents ever lived to be.
23. Offline, I'm a loner.
24. If I were male, neighbors would think I was a mysterious serial killer or something.
25. But since I'm female with two cats, they probably think eccentric spinster.
26. I smoke cigarettes.
27. I used to smoke other substances, but that was decades ago.
28. I think I like every Alfred Hitchcock movie ever made.
29. I have an autographed Edward Gorey poster framed in my living room.
30. I think the new neighbors upstairs are aliens due to odd humming noises.
31. I have three brothers, no sisters.
32. I was a tomboy as a child.
33. In my teens I used to rollerskate nearly 40 hours a week when time would allow.
34. I learned to waterski when I was 9 years old.
35. When I was 10 I wanted to be a professional waterskier in Coral Gables, FL.
36. I've never been to Coral Gables, FL.
37. As an adult, I got into snow skiing.
38. I have trophies from ski racing.
39. I still have all my ski equipment.
40. I no longer ski due to bad, evil knees.
41. I was an outcast in school, but had my own little group of good friends.
42. I've worked for the same company since 1977 with a five year break in the 80s.
43. They feel I'm too young to retire.
44. My knees don't feel too young to retire.
45. I have a PlayStation and still can't finish Crash Bandicoot.
46. I'm a reading fanatic.
47. Since I first went online in the early 90s, I read fewer books than pre-Internet.
48. I like all kinds of animals.
49. But I don't want to own an elephant.
50. Is how old I turned in 2005. Ack.
51. I have red hair.
52. White is sneaking in, but no grey at all.
53. I've had two surgeries on one knee, one on the other.
54. I never had my tonsils or appendix removed.
55. I've had a large annoying mole on the back of my neck all my life.
56. Maybe someday I'll have it removed.
57. I like some of the reality TV genre, but not the "dating" shows.
58. I was mesmerized by the TV show 'The Fugitive' when I was a small child (original series).
59. I also liked 'The Lone Ranger' and 'Leave it to Beaver.'
60. I was a felony suspect for a while at my workplace a few years back.
61. But I was innocent.
62. I took a lie detector test given by the NJ State Police in the case.
63. It was an interesting experience.
64. The actual embezzler fled instead of taking the lie detector test.
65. All my life I've told myself stories in my head to fall asleep.
66. I guess they're boring stories, huh?
67. I like taking leisurely bubblebaths.
68. I collect cat stuff.
69. No, I'm not one of those cat hoarders. Cat stuff, not actual cats. Two are enough.
70. Stephen King is my favorite author.
71. I've met him (above) and have a signed book and pictures of us to prove it.
72. I've studied the classics in literature, but King is still my favorite author.
73. I have a virtually meaningless degree in English.
74. I should have studied computer science.
75. I love beng alone.
76. I'm scared of being alone if I ever make it to "elderly."
77. I like all kinds of music, but gangsta rap not so much.
78. I love living where there are four actual seasons.
79. I love my digital camera and have it with me everywhere I go.
80. I'm a neat and orderly freak at work, but not at home.
81. I still use dial up on my computer.
82. I like saying hello to my neighbors in the elevator, laundry room or hallways, but don't want them dropping by to visit.
83. Cellphone use everywhere annoys me.
84. People trust me, even strangers. Example - In NYC Port Authority earlier this week, while waiting in the queue at the gate for my bus, a woman asked me if I would watch her luggage and place in line while she went to the restroom. She was gone almost ten minutes. I coulda made it to the Cleveland bus with her stuff by then. But I didn't.
85. I went through some wayward years, but managed to stay out of trouble.
86. I like to cook.
87. But I'm a fussy eater.
88. I average less than six hours of sleep a night.
89. I'm a night owl at heart.
90. I'm usually up before 5:30 AM for work.
91. I prefer Letterman over Leno.
92. I like to think outside the box. Perhaps I should be segregated from the general public so I can think better.
93. I've been a naturally good speller all my life. Well, at least since the time I started to read and write.
94. When I was in third grade, my reading level was that of a high school senior.
95. I'm not sure how smart that makes me. I think it was because I loved to read.
96. I love New York City but can't afford to live there.
97. I like to people watch -- street theater!
98. I still have some unpacked boxes in closets from my move to this apartment four years ago. I wonder what's in them.
99. I have a collection of gourmet hot chocolates. I should go have a mug.
100. Are we there yet?

To Start the New Year...

2006-01-01T10:26:00.000-05:00

... I always wanted to know exactly what file extension I am. After all, it's a question I've pondered for years searching for myself, wherever or whomever I might be.

I can rest now.

Which File Extension are You?

That Was The Year It Was - 2005

2005-12-31T17:19:00.000-05:00

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

2005-12-30T16:44:00.000-05:00

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

2005-12-29T21:31:00.000-05:00

"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

2005-12-29T09:28:00.000-05:00

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

2005-12-28T09:51:00.000-05:00

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!

2005-12-27T10:11:00.000-05:00

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!

2005-12-24T18:17:00.000-05:00

NYC Transit Strike is OVER!

2005-12-22T17:00:00.000-05:00

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!

2005-12-21T22:39:00.000-05:00

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

2005-12-20T23:05:00.000-05:00

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

2005-12-19T21:07:00.000-05:00

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...

2005-12-18T18:12:00.000-05:00

... 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

2005-12-18T12:02:00.000-05:00

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

2005-12-18T10:57:00.000-05:00

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...

2005-12-17T21:41:00.000-05:00

...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

2005-12-16T21:28:00.000-05:00

... 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!

2005-12-15T11:07:00.000-05:00

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!

2005-12-15T08:48:00.000-05:00

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

2005-12-13T20:12:00.000-05:00

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?

2005-12-12T22:11:00.000-05:00

"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

2005-12-11T12:01:00.000-05:00

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

2005-12-11T09:53:00.000-05:00

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

2005-12-10T20:44:00.000-05:00

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

2005-12-09T10:43:00.000-05:00

<----- 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...

2005-12-07T23:20:00.000-05:00

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!

2005-12-07T08:56:00.000-05:00

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

2005-12-06T19:41:00.000-05:00

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

2005-12-05T21:56:00.000-05:00

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!

2005-12-04T11:40:00.000-05:00

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...

2005-12-04T10:53:00.000-05:00

... 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.

Big Night at the Rock...

2005-11-30T20:41:00.000-05:00

This is the view that rarely, if ever, they show of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in NYC -- pre-season as it's being set up.

And, these are the skaters at the overpriced rink at Rockefeller Center, also pre-gala event. It's indeed a lot of fun, but the hourly fee to skate is a bit prohibitive unless you're deadset on skating there.

So, am I skating there? Am I watching the tree as it's lighted tonight? Nope! I'm home. The special is on TV now, but I'm switching in a few minutes to 'Lost.' What can I say? I can always go see the tree with merely humongous crowds instead of gigantic colossal wave of humanity crowds. I need my 'Lost' fix.

In other things, I'm very discouraged with AOL these days. Oh, yeah, I've been discouraged before and, as long as I stay a member, I'm sure to be discouraged again. They say they understand the member complaints about the banner ads, yet the ads remain. The disclaimer added today is not the answer. The correct thing for them to do is to remove the ad banners from AOL Member Journals, while keeping them on the free AIM Journals. They royally screwed up with this move. As it could be said, "They done did do us wrong."

Since my TV blogs have followings, I'm thinking of moving them into a paying sort of venture. I love writing and I love writing those blogs. There are opportunities outside of AOL Journals where I can receive payment for doing what I love. Would I be a sell out for commercialism? I dunno. Now that AOL Journals for paying members have ad banners, I'm a pawn for marketing and AOL is making money off of my writing and any popularity my TV blogs may possess. Heck, if anyone's going to be making money off my writings, I should at the very least get a cut.

'Lost' is on. Must watch!

Fa La Jolly Elf Socks

2005-11-29T23:34:00.000-05:00

Above: A holiday window all done up Lower East Side Style (NYC) -- Lava lamps, screaming skulls and hookahs, these are a few of my favorite things. ;-)

Below: One of the animated windows at Macy's on 34th Street (Midtown Manhattan) as in 'The Miracle on 34th Street Macy's.'

'Tis a wondrous culture clash....!

However, right now, instead of Christmas, it's feeling more like 'Sometimes I Feel it's Raining All Over the World.' It's warm, in the 60's Fahrenheit, and stormy right here right now. Thankfully, it didn't start until after I got home from work and was inside for the evening. Yay! Thanks for small favors!

Anyone who knows me knows I take NJ Transit commuter trains to work. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm one of those evil anti-cellphone kinda gals. Tonight on my way home from work there was a young woman who was not only talking way too loudly on her cellphone, but she also said "know what I'm saying" - "you know what I'm saying" in between about every fourth word she uttered! Ack! Two pet peeves wrapped up in one in this girl! Plus, she was loud! I so wanted to look over the seat back at her and say, "Yes! I know what you're saying. The whole world, or at least this train car, knows what you're saying! We can't miss what you're saying because you're so DARNED LOUD! Shut up!" Then, in my fantasies, I grab the cell phone and stomp on it.

Alas, all I really did was give her a dirty look when I got up to exit the train. Or, would that be detrain?

You don't want to hear my thoughts about cellphone use in restaurants, theaters, stores and other public places. I don't want to know your personal life. I can't imagine who you must be talking to on the 6:40 AM train or why you can't go an hour without gabbing!

Snippets and Prisms in the Sky

2005-11-27T10:32:00.000-05:00

It's not really a rainbow as it wasn't raining. The prism of light you see on the right is as viewed, with the sun on the left. I took this shot in Bridgewater, NJ this past Wednesday afternoon about an hour before sunset. I was mesmerized by the prism, but the shots of it alone didn't show balance. Or something. ;-) It was cool. I love seeing these things in the age of digital cameras... which mean I always have a camera with me!

Another holiday weekend is wrapping up for most of America. It's not so much for me as I worked both Friday and Saturday so I didn't travel to feast with loved ones. The closest relative is about 400 miles away and to travel that and back in one day, then go into work early the next morning... it's too much. I did my solitary feast thing and had a good day with it.

I didn't go to stores for the big sales, either. Eww. I don't like the rush of humanity... or lack thereof, at least when thinking humanity. I hate crowds; I hate waiting and I'm really not thrilled with the general public out in public places, especially masses of them. I'll find my bargains online or at quiet times like a Wednesday morning or an early Monday evening. I tend to avoid malls on the whole even though I live in the Land of Malls -- New Jersey. If I want to suffer the crush of fellow humans, I'll go into Manhattan. At least it's good street theater there as opposed to NJ shopping malls. Plus, I can carry my camera and take pictures without a second glance as so many have cameras in the city. Around here, taking pictures of people gets noticed and I may have to see those same people again.

On and off all weekend I've been listening to Q104.3's Top 1043 Classic Rock Songs. Good stuff, lots of memories for this aging child of the 60's. As always, each song takes me back in time, at least in my mind, to where I was and what I as doing at the time. While I'd love for my knees to be good again, I treasure the times in which I came of age. In many ways, it feels like I never grew up, although I don't do some of the crazy things I did in my youth. (Or, as they say around here, in my "yoot.") I'm admittedly a bit jaded, but I still have those hopes and dreams... "hang onto your dreams, my friend. If they end, simply pretend you can build them again..." -- apologies to Paul Simon. I guess I do a lot of pretending and the years keep going on.

The holiday season tends to be a bittersweet time for me. I lost both of my parents five months apart when I was young. My brothers scattered across the country and there has been no "home" to return to for decades now. Yes, invites, but it's not my family and it's not the same. I've come to peace with it over the years and know that I'm thankful for what I have. However, with such focus on families, it's not always easy when you have no family, per se. People don't really think of it when they ask if you're going home for the holidays. Some people have no home in that way of thinking. I have my own home that I cherish in a solitary kind of way, but even so... the holidays can take a toll on the state of mind front.

So, I take a trip back in my mind to the days when I thought Santa's elves were the dark spot I could see in a light bulb, spying on me to report back to the Big Man. Back to the days when I would awake well before dawn with excitement and thrills for the day. Back to the days when I believed the world would never change and I would never age...

Ice, Ice Baby

2005-11-23T22:04:00.000-05:00

From early this morning, this is what happens when the landscapers don't turn off the sprinklers and temperatures go below freezing. Ice, ice, baby!

The weather has been so weird here -- an unusually dry stretch at the beginning of summer with horrendously high temperatures and drought warnings. That was followed by a monsoon season that flooded areas. Then, for November, it was the warmest one on record until just a few days back. Now we're due some snow for overnight and into tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! It should all go away as the temps go above freezing in the afternoon. Snow this early in the season around here never sticks around, not even if it snows a foot. It would be gone before Santa's big night. I hope the weather doesn't put a damper on the Macy's Parade in the morning. Nope, I won't be there. I often go the night before to watch them inflate all the big balloons on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, but it's too darn chilly out there and my knee wanted to be home, warm and cozy. So, here I be.

I have to work Friday and have no relatives within several hundred miles, so it's going to be a restful, peaceful kind of day for me. I'll do my luxury bath thing, relax, watch the parade on TV, get caught up with some taped shows, read, mess around on the computer and have a good time indeed. I had a few invites from friends, but it's a family day. My own plans suit me just fine. I bought a small boneless turkey breast with apple cranberry stuffing and I have all the makings of a nice little feast for one. Well, for more than one as when I go and cook like that, I plan for leftovers. I started my restful holiday with a nap after returning home from work tonight. :-)

I hope all who read this have the holiday they want... whether it be with family or friends, watching football and eating a hearty feast!

Gray Day, Not Much to Say...

2005-11-21T22:24:00.000-05:00

This is a shot I took of the early morning skies over Plainfield, NJ today. Yep, a storm is moving in -- a classic Nor'easter, albeit mostly rain. It may end as a wet snow, plus snow squalls are a possibility for Thanksgiving Day. Oh, well.

My cat is weird. Actually, both of my cats are weird. No, they're not eccentric like I am, just weird. As I type this one cat has her face in my empty sneaker pushing it about the floor. The other one tends to go into Halloween cat mode with the arched back and puffed up tail jumping across the kitchen sideways. Odd, odd cats. I should mention these aren't kittens. They're both 12 years old; they'll be 13 next June. Weird, weird cats.

Thankful stuff:
1. The on and off again elevator was working when I came home with my arms full of groceries after work today. Phew!
2. I panicked early today at the balance listed on an ATM slip I received. Apparently the printer is going and the first digit of my balance didn't print, but it is indeed there. Phew!

Gripes stuff:
1. The Aliens Upstairs decided to vacuum their hard wood floors at 9 PM this evening. Where is their Roomba? After all, that roaming about is what first made me decide they were aliens! It's a lot quieter than the actual vacuum.
2. AOL still has its ugly nasty ad banners on my AOL Journals.
3. My knee hurts today. I'm guessing it's the weather. I have to go back to the orthopedic surgeon in a few weeks for a follow up appointment. It's certainly not bad enough right now to be taken out of work again or have immediate surgery, but I'm popping Aleve on a regular basis. I still have the heavy duty pain pills, but that's a last resort. I can't take them and function at the same time.

That's all she wrote...

Sigh...

2005-11-20T18:32:00.000-05:00

I call this shot "Doo Doo Doo Lookin' Out My Window." This was taken the day before yesterday from my living room and its almost full wall of window. Since then the leaves have been falling like rain and I can totally see the House of Women In Business Suits Who Drive Luxury Cars next door -- barely visible in this shot, the white on the lower left.

I miss J-Land. I'm taking my stance, but I wish it had never come down to this. I feel I must stand up for my principles and I honestly like a lot of stuff about Blogger productwise so much better. I've felt violated by AOL before and I feel that way again. They don't care about paying members. It's sad that a company can care so little about the folks who have supported it over the years. I don't believe when they sell ad space that they promise any certain areas and ads go wherever. The wherever doesn't need to include personal blogs of paying AOL Members. I link my AOL non-blog page using the members.aol.com format instead of the AOL Hometown addressing, thus sparing my Jackie's Stuff page from banner ads. They could do that sort of thing for Journals. Will AOL listen? They rarely do. I guess we'll see.

In other Gripes:
1. Do NOT put your feet on the train seats, idiots! I have to sit there! Have you NO common sense? (Inspired by a person trying to be oh-so-cool with her IPod and Converse sneakers all over the train seat the other day.)
2. Another train Gripe -- Dang! If you want to talk to each other, sit together! Stop shouting across the aisle to each other! I don't want to hear you!
3. An Apartment Building Gripe -- Sheesh! The elevator has been on the blink on and off for three days! What's its attraction to the basement? Some of us have bad knees! Don't fix it so it works a few hours, just fix it!

Other Stuff:
I watched the NBC 'Dateline' show about the death of John Lennon this past Friday night. It's hard to believe it's been 25 years, or will be next month. In a way, I have a tie to that night. I was downsized by my company along with the guy who took the famous shot of John signing Mark David Chapman's album. Yep, the photographer who took that photo and I were downsized and I haven't seen him since. He took the severance package and left the company; I was offered another position and a raise. That was about 10 years ago -- I had just been promoted and relocated to New Jersey when the ax fell. Being a Stranger in a Strange Land but with a company I've been with pretty much since 1977, I took the position offered and I still work for them... still in NJ. (Whatever!) But I have no clue where Paul Goresh, the photographer, is these days. I hope life is being good to him. They mentioned the shot and showed it on 'Dateline' but didn't mention his name, nor interview him. He actually talked quite a bit to Chapman that evening. Paul was a non-dangerous Lennon spotter and shooter (camera!) those days. I've photographed the Dakota building myself, but never people who live there. It's a very intriguing building. 25 years post-Lennon. Life goes by way too fast...

Still Playing Around

2005-11-20T10:13:00.000-05:00

Yep, I'm still playing around with all the settings and formatting here. I've changed the comments settings to Allow All so folks don't need a Blogger account to comment. (Sorry about that, Bill.)

I've started a Blogspot 'Survivor: Guatemala Take 2' blog leaving links on my featured AOL one (which is still featured). This week may see the 2-Faced Baseball and my 'The Amazing Race 8: Family Edition' blogs coming to Blogspot as well. To be honest, as I get more used to it, I actually like the formatting and a lot of other things on Blogspot more than the AOL Journals product. However, as a ten year member who's usually positive about AOL, I would go back if they take the horrendous ad banners down.

I don't eat Quiznos; I've never been in their doors. I have ongoing battles with the Bank of America and treasure my Wachovia account. On principle, I just can't support any of the companies featured in those crass annoying ad banners on my AOL Journals. So, here I am.

Meanwhile, in life itself, it's shocking that Thanksgiving is coming up this Thursday! Yikes. I remember when I was a small child time moved so slow, especially as the holidays approached. Nowadays, I blink my eyes and another year is gone. The photo featured here is one I took of John's Meat Market in Scotch Plains, NJ. It's a fantastic place with some of the best and friendliest customer service I've ever seen. It is a bit costly, but the butchers take great care to make the customers happy. (Unlike AOL -- I had to get that in there!)

Oh, my knee! With the advent of chilly temperatures, my knee has been acting up some. No, it's not as bad as pre-surgery. I can tell it's a mix between the arthritis and residual operation/missing cartilage woes. I'm not in pain all the time or anything -- I just have to be careful. If I pivot, watch out! Ow! But I'll live. And, it's certainly better and more dependable than it was. Note: I will not be running any marathons. Additional Note: I never wanted to run any marathons anyway.

The bad thing about AOL J-Land spreading all about is that I have to gather the links to reconnect with all my friends. I've been a bit scarce this week, but I'll be seeking y'all out and getting my feeds going to visit your new bloghomes.

New Jersey Bike Riders are Nuts!

2005-11-15T23:16:00.000-05:00

Even the squirrels have an attitude. "Yeah, I drove the bike into the building. You gotta problem with that?"

Hmmm...

2005-06-24T11:53:00.000-04:00

Y'know...I'm setting this one up as a back up.

That's okay. I'll play more with it soon. :-)