tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127481122024-03-13T06:37:43.728-04:00SHORT STORY LIFEstuff that happenserikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-89009033342484778502016-01-11T16:31:00.000-05:002016-01-11T16:31:18.756-05:00IMPOSSIBLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I woke up this morning to the news that David Bowie had died.<br />
IMPOSSIBLE, I thought.<br />
How is that possible?<br />
Was he even human?<br />
He's been around forever and made an insane mark on humanity and art and everything and now he is dead?<br />
<br />
Unfathomable, really.<br />
<br />
I have spent all day trying to wrap my head around this news, and it hasn't gotten any easier as the day has worn on.<br />
<br />
I was just reading an article about his new album.<br />
<br />
I was just reading and article about him and Elizabeth Taylor. For realz.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ywVKrz5bYjE/VpQeDPmVdaI/AAAAAAAAAzk/_23SaqYv3sM/s1600/david_bowie_elizabeth_taylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ywVKrz5bYjE/VpQeDPmVdaI/AAAAAAAAAzk/_23SaqYv3sM/s320/david_bowie_elizabeth_taylor.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
Every time I see his picture in my newsfeed, or one of his songs pops up on the radio, my brain tries to comprehend the world where he is no longer, and fails spectacularly.<br />
<br />
Remember when Michael Jackson died? Like, that was awful too, and I woke up with MJs songs running through my head for weeks afterward. Every god damned morning. But somewhere in the back of my mind, I had suspected for some time that MJ would check out much earlier that we would hope. So when it actually happened, it was remarkably sad and tragic, but it was somehow... as we expected, I suppose.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iO3WCyuAEd0/VpQeKa5S5JI/AAAAAAAAAzs/xATxfi3BKRo/s1600/bowie%2Band%2Bjackson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iO3WCyuAEd0/VpQeKa5S5JI/AAAAAAAAAzs/xATxfi3BKRo/s320/bowie%2Band%2Bjackson.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
But Bowie? IMPOSSIBLE. He just made a new album for fuck's sake. How could he just go an die like that?<br />
<br />
I've never owned a Bowie album. I never saw him in concert. But somehow, he became such a regular part of my life that his loss is as surprizing and unbelievable as if my eyebrows suddenly disappeared off my face.<br />
<br />
Weird.<br />
I am as surprized by this reaction as I am by his death.<br />
I am still not able to process it fully.<br />
I thought maybe writing something for my long dormant blog would shake something loose, but it seems to have not done the trick.<br />
I suppose I will drive home tonight, hopefully singing along to a Bowie song that arrives on the radio, and maybe I will go and buy my first Bowie album, like a good GenXer should have done, ages ago.<br />
erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-32654758095771350802014-06-28T16:00:00.000-04:002014-06-28T16:04:13.308-04:00My Friday in Sexism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JbAZwlwGVWA/U68clRaXlyI/AAAAAAAAAyc/QEhl2S1ZWZw/s1600/downsized_0628141345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JbAZwlwGVWA/U68clRaXlyI/AAAAAAAAAyc/QEhl2S1ZWZw/s1600/downsized_0628141345.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So, this is the thing I have been walking past on my way to coffee on the weekends for a few weeks now. Every time I look at it, it makes me mad. And maybe because I am always in need of coffee when I see it, it took me this long to figure out why it makes me so mad.<br />
<br />
Because being the prettiest is important.<br />
Because being 'happy' is ideal for a girl.<br />
Because I have been dealing with this shit for YEARS.<br />
Because when I was six or seven, when I would get mad about something, and be a little bitchy about it, my dad would tell me to stop, because I was a nice girl. Which only made me more angry.<br />
Because strange men on the street feel compelled to tell me to 'smile'.<br />
Because some schmuck thought this was a good enough idea to actually make a mass produced product with this drivel on it.<br />
Because someone must be buying this shit, or it wouldn't still be in the window.<br />
Because... UGH.<br />
<br />
As a tangent to the being happy (aka NICE), as a girl should be, I was watching the Andy Murray match at Wimbledon, and the commentators were talking about Andy's new coach, Amelie Mauresmo. I know a lot has been written by this supposedly unlikely duo. The <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-11/matosevic-sparks-sexism-storm/5515132">sexism</a> had been <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/adamdavis/a-male-tennis-star-just-hired-a-female-coach-and-some-people">thick</a>. So I am casually listening to the two men talking about the match, and they throw out this little gem (paraphrased):<br />
<br />
Commentator one: "Andy has been known to get angry and frustrated on the court, and take it out on his coach by yelling at him. I wonder if he'll do that to Amelie."<br />
Commentator two: "Well, I certainly hope not!"<br />
<br />
Oh yes. God forbid that Andy Murray yell at the delicate woman during one of his on court tantrums. The delicate woman who excelled in her sport for years. Who was at one time ranked number one, won Wimbledon and the Australian Open. Who took the silver medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Who is a Fed Cup captian! Yes, please oh please, let's hope that Andy Murray treats her like the delicate, fragile woman that she is... GAH.<br />
<br />
Seriously, people. You have all totally ruined my Friday.<br />
<br />
UPDATE: A friend shared <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/hnigatu/the-realest-tumblr-posts-about-being-a-women">this</a> on facebook today. Fight the good fight, ladies!<br />
<br />erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-38955366922405570392012-03-23T19:08:00.001-04:002012-03-23T19:08:45.170-04:00I'm a Star!!!Today I was stopped by Lynette Adams of WHEC Channel 10 news at the Calkins Road Wegmans to talk about 'pink slime' in ground beef. Apparently, what I had to say made the cut! Hee. <br />
<br />
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<br />
Oh, what I would have given for some lipstick and blush... <br />
<br />
<br />erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-66265147033090771852011-10-03T17:08:00.000-04:002011-10-03T17:08:26.231-04:00Oh honey.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gpSPFs7bGrM/ToojODOywBI/AAAAAAAAAqg/FsqwVluGKZ4/s1600/Honey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gpSPFs7bGrM/ToojODOywBI/AAAAAAAAAqg/FsqwVluGKZ4/s200/Honey.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
Cold sores suck. I have been fighting the good fight since I was a wee lass, and have tried all kinds of funky things to try and get rid of the damn things. They are tricky, and since they aren't deadly killers, science seems to be kinda MEH on finding a cure, or even something that actually works awesomely to alleviate the pain and crustiness and blerg of a cold sore outbreak.<br />
<br />
Lysine worked for a good many years, but somehow just quit being effective at all. Then a friend told me to try the Abreva, but you know what, that crap gave me a rebound cold sore bigger than the one it had maybe, possibly made one day shorter. Honestly, that possible, maybe one day doesn't really make a heap of difference when the other days are still painful and crusty.<br />
<br />
So, I was trolling the interwebz one day, looking for some kind of natural relief, and I found that there are a bunch of people touting honey as the miracle cold sore remedy. Simple, bee-made honey. There is no freakin' way this is gonna work, I thought to myself. Honey? Really??<br />
<br />
Unlike many cold sore sufferers, I rarely get that tingly warning sign that an outbreak is coming, so I gotta be vigilant. Constantly on the lookout for the next attack. And the first time I sensed a crusty one coming on, I grabbed the bottle of honey sitting on my desk and put it on my lips a la lip gloss. Put it on about every two hours, and made sure I got some on before I went to bed, and what do you know, I never did get an outbreak. <br />
<br />
I was shocked, to say the least. Of course, it probably was a false alarm, I thought. No way honey, that stuff I've putting on toast and spinning into my tea all these years, could stop a cold sore dead in its tracks. But ever since that day, every single time I do the honey trick, that potential cold sore never arises! For reals!<br />
<br />
I don't know, but if stopping a cold sore is that easy, why is no one shouting this from the rooftops? I'll let you know if one sneaks though. <br />
<br />erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com0Rochester, NY, USA43.16103 -77.610921943.0683715 -77.768850399999991 43.253688499999996 -77.4529934tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-65387262598404109942011-03-08T19:34:00.000-05:002011-03-08T19:34:06.245-05:0010 Weeks In... I Don't Need No 'Poo!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mftdMMivZi0/TWQmkXaOkqI/AAAAAAAAAo8/pa6DE2UG9i4/s1600/shampoo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mftdMMivZi0/TWQmkXaOkqI/AAAAAAAAAo8/pa6DE2UG9i4/s320/shampoo.JPG" width="308" /></a></div><br />
No shampoo, that is!<br />
<br />
My current great experiment in life is to see if going the no shampoo route would work for me. Ten weeks in and everything is going quite well. There have been exactly zero people who have run from me in horror due to weird smells emanating from my head. Nice!<br />
<br />
The past year or two has been one discovery after another, culminating in the repeated crushing of the conventional wisdom of our day, and a lovely layer of simplicity threaded through my daily existence. Now I can eschew the chemical laden shampoo for good if I want, and it is awesome.<br />
<br />
Not that it was easy at first, but I have been heading for this for years (ha!). I have dry, naturally curly hair, and some time during college was told by a girlfriend that washing my hair every day was 'crazy', and that I should try every other day, or even every third day. I immediately began every other day, with just running water through my hair during the shower. A nice warm water rinse, and conditioning the ends. The result was so positive that I quickly went to washing my locks only two or three times a week.<br />
<br />
A few years later I had a stylist tell me that I washed my hair too much. It was getting all dried out and broken, so she told me to refrain from the suds to once a week at the most. When my Hispanic girlfriends whom I worked with found out, they applauded my new membership in the 'Stinky Head Club.' My hair was easier to manage, and the breakage problem corrected itself quite quickly. Even before my recent stoppage of shampooing, my stylists stopped mentioning my split ends, because I barely had them anymore! Even through sun and wind and shoulder length hair, my hair was easily healthier than it had ever been.<br />
<br />
Now I am two and a half months without shampooing, and my hair is soft and smells nice. I rinse it in the shower a couple times a week, and still put conditioner on the ends, and no one is the wiser. Until now. It didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would for my hair and scalp to adjust, and the very few days of extreme oiliness was easily masked by headbands and ponytails. I even recently discovered that I could still lighten my hair while in this 'dirty' state. Hooray! I wonder what my stylist will say the next time I walk in her salon. I have come this far, I am pretty sure I am not going back to the routine of shampoo.erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-14534440968744183802010-11-15T15:36:00.000-05:002010-11-15T15:36:10.475-05:00Holy Cow! aka - What Have I Done?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/TOGULfZWAfI/AAAAAAAAAok/v4FA2Mzs0Mo/s1600/nano.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/TOGULfZWAfI/AAAAAAAAAok/v4FA2Mzs0Mo/s1600/nano.png" /></a></div><br />
<br />
So I have decided to participate in the official <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">National Novel Writing Month</a> this November, and it is much harder than when my friend Jess and I did it for fun, on our own, back in March. Maybe it's because I have no earthly idea how this one is gonna end, or that I actually have some semblance of a life going on, as opposed to the sheltered life I was living back in the nascent springtime. Regardless, I spent a significant amount of time this Sunday trying to play catch up with my word count, and am still woefully behind. I have my word count widget posted here on my sidebar, and I am gonna do my best to become a first time NaNoWriMo winner!!! Wish me luck.<br />
<br />
PS - I am writing a post-apocalyptic love story... what was I thinking?!<br />
PPS - If you have taken on this 50,000/30 day extravaganza like I have, may I share two of my favorite sites to help with the writers block and desperate decision making?<br />
<ul><li>Self-induced harassment to keep writing: <a href="http://writeordie.drwicked.com/">Write or Die</a></li>
</ul><ul><li>When you can't make another decision about your stupid ass characters: <a href="http://www.resort.com/%7Ebanshee/Misc/8ball/">Mystical Smoking Head of Bob</a> </li>
</ul>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-61212213657699005972010-10-14T10:16:00.000-04:002010-10-14T10:16:20.723-04:00Rochester: A Year Later<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/TLXWfO4gOPI/AAAAAAAAAoY/ixLJB18sUwU/s1600/rochester1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/TLXWfO4gOPI/AAAAAAAAAoY/ixLJB18sUwU/s320/rochester1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
It has been a whole freakin' year! since I was unceremoniously booted out of Brooklyn by the crappy economy and moved back to what I consider my hometown, Rochester, NY. Rarely do I say this, but time surely does fly.<br />
<br />
A recent visit by my friend Fran opened my eyes to what was around me, and gave me that little burst of appreciation of the city that I needed. This really is a lovely place to have been booted to. And not for nothin', but <a href="http://www.park-avenue.org/">the neighborhood I ended up in</a> isn't too shabby. Plus, after YEARS of living with someone, I finally can afford my own place. Heading home to a quiet little apartment all my own is super nice.<br />
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Yes, Rochester isn't as cosmopolitan as other, bigger cities, but I am close enough to many <a href="http://www.marshallstreetbarandgrill.com/">bars and restaurants</a> that I can get my drink on like a New Yorker, and walk my drunken ass home, while enjoying bunnies, deer and wild turkeys wandering around in my backyard. Best of both worlds!<br />
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Having a car for the first time in 12 years has been an adjustment. I have to remind myself about things like gas, oil changes and I seem to have acquired a lead foot in all those car-less years. Not to mention I have had to carve out time for reading, something that consumed much of my commute time back in Brooklyn. It was quite the shock to realize how much reading I was doing on the subways, and how little I have been doing since I've moved here. I have a huge stack of books to be read mocking me from the corner of my bedroom. In New York, it seemed like there was never enough to read.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z38/kricka2k/farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z38/kricka2k/farm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Another benefit of having a car and being so close to the country is roadside stands. Oh my, nothing like stopping on the way home for some freshly picked blackberries, eggs freshly laid that day, or spry and crunchy lettuce cut an hour earlier. Plus, Mom had some fantastic tomatoes and gigantic garlic that busted out of her garden this year, and I got to enjoy some. Along with lush bunches of basil and mint! Next on the list is to find a good dairy that isn't afraid of raw milk and cheese. Mmmmm...<br />
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So, yeah, there certainly isn't the same immediacy here, and there are days where I miss NYC <i>terribly</i>, but Rochester has a lot going for it, and I am getting used to the vibe once again.erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-7911414998051249332010-04-29T21:21:00.000-04:002010-04-29T21:21:54.440-04:00Moonchild<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.apostropher.com/blog/img/bloodmoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://www.apostropher.com/blog/img/bloodmoon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
You know how they say that womenfolk's cycles sync up when they live together? I am prone to believe that, having lived with various amounts of ladies over the years. Have you also heard about a woman's cycle syncing up with the phases of the moon? Because I think I am experiencing this phenomenon right now, and it's kinda cool. More fun than marking the first day of my period on a calendar with a red dot (someone I know used to do that), that's for sure.<br />
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Pros: I tend to gaze at the night time sky no matter what. It would be great to be looking skyward and be all, "Oh look. The moon is waxing past it's half moon phase, I shall be proving I am a woman within a week. Off to prepare!"<br />
<br />
Cons: Ask anyone who works in an ER, the full moon is when all the crazies come out. Adding me and my PMS crazies to the mix may not be in the best interest to the general population. I mean, PMS brain and the cuckoo banana-ness of the Full Moon? A little scary.<br />
<br />
Regardless, who am I to mess with Mother Nature? If I truly am cycling with the moon, then what a great way to stay grounded in this world and universe. Truly spiritual. erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-73675395800106495022010-04-25T19:57:00.002-04:002010-04-25T20:02:44.291-04:00Things I Miss...<div> </div><div> </div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SqsDEc8xsiI/AAAAAAAAAm0/FO5380hK4h4/s1600-h/sound+of+music1.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380397554849657378" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SqsDEc8xsiI/AAAAAAAAAm0/FO5380hK4h4/s320/sound+of+music1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I left my beloved Brooklyn a few months ago, and I wanted to make a list of the things I will miss about living there. More than anything, it is a celebration of the 12 years I have spent in Brooklyn in that little apartment on 17th st. That picture above is of a free beer I enjoyed at Steinhof during last years Sound of Music Sing-A-Long. One of the many things I will miss.</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>Here's my list, in no particular order:</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>Celebrity tag - Whenever one of us see a celebrity in their natural habitat, we text each other regarding the sighting. I think the most sited celebs would be Robert DeNiro, Bebe Neuwirth and Alec Baldwin. Fun for the whole family. Now that I am in a relatively celeb-free city, my participation will be limited.<br /></div><div> </div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/S9TSwi6m6XI/AAAAAAAAAnk/tC6vnJ1c1Bw/s1600/subway.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/S9TSwi6m6XI/AAAAAAAAAnk/tC6vnJ1c1Bw/s200/subway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464223979355433330" border="0" /></a>Reading on the commute - A guaranteed hour or two a day of reading on the subway ride into the city. Also a great way to ignore the the crazy of public transportation.</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>The crazy - Whether on the subway or walking down the street, I have seen all kinds of crazy. Some very entertaining, some very scary, but all right in your face. A variety that always appealed to me.<br /></div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>Cute boys! - The city is crawling with cute boys. Unfortunately, many of the hottest are gay, but that didn't stop me from admiring the view. Honestly, you could find them everywhere.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/S9TU19ViJ8I/AAAAAAAAAns/OuDUabHIqKY/s1600/fall13.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/S9TU19ViJ8I/AAAAAAAAAns/OuDUabHIqKY/s200/fall13.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464226271370291138" border="0" /></a><div>The seasons - Spring and Fall are amazing in New York City. These are my favorite seasons in general, but the change is always welcome from the dirty dreariness of winter, or from the sweaty heat of the summer.</div><div> </div><br /><div>Impromptu drinks at Steinhof - Many a night I would get a call from one of my neighborhood friends to meet them at Steinhof for a drink. I love that place, christened by me and Fran after 9/11.<br /><br />Delivery! - Basically every restaurant, cafe, deli, diner and market will deliver pretty much anything you want, including a cup of coffee or a cup of soup. An especially awesome thing when you are home alone and sick as a dog.</div><br /><div> </div><div>Seeing the Statue of Liberty every day - Something very comforting about seeing her out there. A good view from down the block, a even better view from the Smith & 9th elevated subway stop. </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>Being a New York City snob - I know everyone outside of the city hates it, but being a NYC snob is fun. Can't help it, I loved being one sometimes. </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/S9TVpmGTsII/AAAAAAAAAn0/SASXh4Spg6w/s1600/pizza.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/S9TVpmGTsII/AAAAAAAAAn0/SASXh4Spg6w/s200/pizza.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464227158485610626" border="0" /></a>Pizza & bagels - An extension of the above. NYC has ruined me for pizza and bagels anywhere else. There are good bagels and pizza in other cities, but I honestly feel like there really isn't any comparison.<br /></div><br /><div> </div><div>The neighborhood - From the deli guys to the crew at my favorite coffee shop, they all greet me with a smile and a quick conversation. </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>Hanging out with Joanne - The awesomest roommate ever! We bonded over our love of television and Yankees baseball, and spent many an evening drinking booze, watching TV and generally having a good time. I will especially miss watching baseball, Big Brother, Lost, BSG, The Amazing Race, Survivor, Buffy (over and over) and all those stupid but hilarious movies together.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/S9TX5hpGsPI/AAAAAAAAAoE/k7htA9Ojd4E/s1600/maggie.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/S9TX5hpGsPI/AAAAAAAAAoE/k7htA9Ojd4E/s200/maggie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464229631190544626" border="0" /></a><div> </div><div>Babysitting/walking Maggie - Rhonda and Paul put their trust in me to take care of their doggie more than once. The best doggie ever, and one of the only dogs I think I could ever actually live with. </div><br />I am fine with where I am living now. There are plenty of lovely things here, and a great group of friends too, but I still get a pang every time I see a movie or TV show that shoots in New York. It was a huge part of my growing into the woman I am right now, and I will always have a big ol' spot for it in my heart.<br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div></div></div>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-49239318419323417422010-04-20T11:57:00.000-04:002010-04-20T11:57:13.593-04:00Eat your veggies.. with fat!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/S83A-N7JpOI/AAAAAAAAAnM/PZUfQ37Co6M/s1600/butter-sizzing.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/S83A-N7JpOI/AAAAAAAAAnM/PZUfQ37Co6M/s320/butter-sizzing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462234098192458978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I recently learned that some of the most important and healthful anti-oxidants (Vitamins E, D, A, etc.) are <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/What_are_Fat_Soluble_Vitamins">fat soluble</a>! This means that they need <span style="font-weight: bold;">fat</span> to be absorbed through the intestines, or as I like to think - ride on the fat - to do us any good.<br /><br />So, my question is, how do all the low-fat people out there expect to get their beta-carotene and their retinol? Eating your veggies without fat is literally pissing your anti-oxidants away. I suppose you could just cram down extra servings of veggies, or pop copious amounts of supplements and hope for the best. But I have a better idea: cook your veggies in butter!! Or, if that's too scary, how about frying them up in bacon fat? YUM.<br /><br />Honestly guys, the more I read, the more I am sure that animal based saturated fats are the way to go in this life. Yet another reason to cook those yummy veggies in tasty, tasty butter!erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-61154466497149564672009-10-03T21:59:00.001-04:002009-11-29T22:41:19.099-05:00Right Now, I HATE The Salvation Army...<a href="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/GilRuiz1/troopers_salvation_army.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/GilRuiz1/troopers_salvation_army.jpg" /></a> HA HA HA HA HA!!! Now that is a funny picture (thanks <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">GilRuiz</span>1 over on <a href="http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/GilRuiz1/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">photobucket</span></a>). Normally, I have nothing against The Salvation Army, and what happened to me was probably my fault, but still, it was one of those things that made me so mad...<br /><br /><div>I recently moved outta Brooklyn, and had a lot of good crap to hand over to The Salvation Army. The night before I was gonna go to the SA, I got out my roommates old lady cart and packed it up with about 40 books, two bags of clothes, a bag of shoes and some other odds 'n' ends. The first load of what I expected to be another two or three trips. I got up the next day all ready to get rid of all this stuff that has been cluttering up my place for years, and I drag the full cart down the stairs from our second floor apartment and head down 6<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> ave towards <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Flatbush</span>, where the closest SA was, about 20 blocks away.</div><div><br />After blocks and blocks, dragging the old lady cart through intersections and over uneven sidewalks, breaking a pretty good sweat for September, I finally get there, and find out that they have closed that store and moved to Quincy St. WHERE THE FUCK IS QUINCY ST???? </div><div><br />I was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">SOOOOO</span> pissed. If that cart was mine, I would have left the damn thing right there on the sidewalk. I seriously was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">thisclose</span> to ditching the damn thing and walking home. So, after cursing a bunch, I turn around and start wheeling the damn thing back home. I was definitely one of the mumbling people on my walk back. I honestly considered leaving bags and books randomly in front of buildings on the way home. No one would know where it came from, but it would be free stuff for everyone! Then I considered leaving it in the park for anyone to have. Maybe the homeless and downtrodden would like my free crap. Then I got all guilty about leaving my crap strewn all over my neighborhood, and didn't do any of that.</div><div><br />When I got home, I knew I wouldn't be able to drag that heavy cart back up all those stairs, so I took out all the bags and unloaded the books onto the front stoop, reloaded the cart, and pulled it back up into the entryway. I left it there and headed back out to grab some groceries and a coffee, things I was planning on doing on the way back with an EMPTY CART! By the time I got back home I had cooled down and got pro-active on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">interwebs</span>. I found a thrift store on 5<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> ave & 16<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> that will take everything. After all of that, I was only four blocks away from a thrift store that would take all my crap!!!!!!! And, the kicker is, the stuff they <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">didn't</span> want for the store, they would donate to... wait for it... The Salvation Army! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Arrrggghhhhhhhh</span>....</div><div><br />But good news in the end, I suppose. Sometimes it's hard to be good. *sigh* </div>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-38937669286426975612009-07-29T00:57:00.000-04:002009-07-30T00:55:28.949-04:00Jericho: Season Three!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SnElrS9SRHI/AAAAAAAAAmE/1dnmv9-M-nw/s1600-h/jericho+comic.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 307px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364110056928461938" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SnElrS9SRHI/AAAAAAAAAmE/1dnmv9-M-nw/s320/jericho+comic.jpg" /></a><br />OOOoooOOooOoOoooOOOooooooo, <em>Jericho</em> comic!<br /><br />The news isn't that new, but the <em>Jericho</em> panel at last weeks Comic Con in San Diego got me all excited for the new <em>Jericho</em> comic. According to <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22250">this article</a> over on <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/">CBR</a>, the <em>Jericho</em> comic will be a continuation of the story, and has been dubbed 'Season Three' by <a href="http://devilsdue.net/">Devil's Due Publishing</a>, the comapany publishing and distributing the comic. They will pick up the story from the season two finale, and is sheparded by many of the original writers of the TV show. The other cool news is that the number of issues have been increased from four to six issues, giving us two more books of Jake/Hawkins/Stanley/Mimi/Beck/Heather, etc. goodness!<br /><br />I was a casual comic book reader when I was a kid, mainly reading friends comics, but never was really a big fan. I got back on the comic train when a friend handed me 'The Watchmen' in the summer of 1990 (thanks, Mark & Rob!), and I was blown away. Someone turned me on to the <em>X-Files</em> comics at one point. My latest comic fun has been the <em>Buffy</em> and <em>Firefly</em> comics, a natural (for me) extension of my Joss love. So I am familiar with the joy of comics, and I am really excited to have a reason to go into my local comic book store and ask for <em>Jericho</em>.<br /><br />BTW, if you think there isn't a comic store near you, I bet there is, and you can find it using the <a href="http://www.comicshoplocator.com/default.asp">ComicShopLocator</a>.<br /><br />Some awesome quotes from the Comic Con panel (via CBR):<br /><br /><div><blockquote>Dan Shotz looked to the audience and impassionedly said “Thank you for this!” He later enthusiastically said of the "Jericho" fans “You guys are the greatest marketing team in the world…you brought a major corporation to its knees and<br />made them bring back the show…you guys are the reason there is a Season Two, you guys are the reason for a Season Three in the comic book, and we have a lot more<br />to come because of you.”<br /></blockquote><blockquote><p>Regarding the plot of the new series, Steinberg said “I think the show has been leading to a civil war, and rather than avoid it we decided to do it. So it’s a great big, giant war”. {Oh YAY!! - me]<br /></p><br /><p>Asked if we will we see a return of the Ravenwood paramilitary organization, Steinberg answered “Nobody’s off the table; they were our favorite villains”. [YAY! again - me]<br /></p></blockquote><blockquote><p>Regarding acquiring the rights to do the comics, Zreik said “We couldn’t do this comic without the cast being on board, because we are using their images, and they all signed off and are excited."<br /></p></blockquote></div>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-6280262181028994652009-07-23T20:41:00.001-04:002009-07-23T20:43:19.491-04:00Everyone May Hate Me For This....<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SmkDFluzxKI/AAAAAAAAAl8/_P4xS9XdMYY/s1600-h/baby.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361820225923957922" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SmkDFluzxKI/AAAAAAAAAl8/_P4xS9XdMYY/s320/baby.jpg" /></a>Look at the cute baby. They are <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">soooooooooo</span> cute! But I have a silly problem going on, and many of you may hate me for this, but that is a risk I am willing to take. Because I am sick of all the babies being 'so smart!'. How many stupid people do you know? There is no way that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">every one's</span> baby is 'so smart!'.<br /><div></div><br /><div>I totally and completely understand the power of The Baby. I don't seem to have a Biological Clock tick-tick-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">tickin</span>' away, but put me in the presence of a cute little baby, and I am toast. I rarely fall into baby talk, but I will make faces and generally act like a love sick puppy. But I draw the line when I start hearing the "S/He is so smart!".</div><br /><div></div><div>My take, is that we, as adults, have a hard time believing that kids are probably more advanced than we assume. We think that because they are little, they couldn't possibly know anything. But kids are insanely intuitive and observant. I am sure it is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">inherent</span> survival skill as they don't have the social skills or the physical strength that we as adults rely on. </div><br /><div></div><div>Children are sponges, right? We all know you just have to say 'fuck' once in front of one for them to run with it - much to the embarrassment of their parents. So there is definitely the 'teaching' factor to contend with. Kids with parents who engage and stimulate their kids will have more precocious babies on their hands, and maybe they seem smarter because they have been challenged. But I think that we, in general, tend to underestimate the smaller ones among us. And that is why I cringe every time someone coos, "S/He's so smart!"</div>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-28602955963441205172009-05-26T21:26:00.002-04:002009-05-26T21:36:18.214-04:00LazyBones (and other things)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/Shxx_r-fqII/AAAAAAAAAlc/tyDnDWEaxYw/s1600-h/procrastinate2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340268597105109122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 317px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/Shxx_r-fqII/AAAAAAAAAlc/tyDnDWEaxYw/s320/procrastinate2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Lazy. Bored. Uninspired. Coasting. Extreme procrastination... all those words apply here. I came over here to see what was in my Drafts, and was shocked! to see that I hadn't posted anything here since the beginning of the year!! Those of you who know me, know that I have had plenty of free time lately, so I will not bore you with my excuses (even though I got plenty of 'em!!). I am not a proficient blogger at.all., but over four months??! Really, that's lazy, yo. </div><br /><div>Not that I haven't had stuff running through my brain. There are a few drafts here with potential, just seems that follow through has vanished the last few months. So, to my faithful readers (all three of you!), I am, once again gonna try and get it going. No, really. </div><br /><div><strong>TELEVISION</strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/Shx0kLqA5GI/AAAAAAAAAlk/Y4t3bqce8sI/s1600-h/life2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340271423107687522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/Shx0kLqA5GI/AAAAAAAAAlk/Y4t3bqce8sI/s320/life2.jpg" border="0" /></a>First of all, I would like to mention that NBC made my shit list this year by cancelling <em>Life</em>. I know, I know, NBC gave it a second season, even after it's so-so first season ratings, a season that was cut short after the writer's strike. It just seems that NBC gave up on it, constantly switching up time slots and giving it very little promotion. Smart, fun and sexy, with a great streak of revenge and redemption running through the sunny streets of LA, it was what all other cop/procedural shows aren't, and that was why I loved it so much. So, we lose a great show like <em>Life</em>, and get bombarded, once again, by more cop/medical/procedural shows that bore me to tears... *sigh* I want to love my television shows. Unfortunately, the ones I love seem to get the ax over and over. Maybe it's me? NBC also unceremoniously axed <em>My Name Is Earl</em> (on a cliffhanger no less!). Oh the pain. They did let <em>Chuck</em> squeak by, and I am glad, but dammit! bore-fests like <em>Law & Order</em> drone on for yet another season.<br /><br />Fox cancelled <em>Terminator</em> (boo!!), but renewed <em>Fringe</em> and <em>Dollhouse</em> (YAY!); NBC cancelled <em>Medium</em> (boo!!) but CBS snatched it from the jaws of death (YAY!); ABC killed <em>Pushing</em> <em>Daisies</em> and <em>Dirty Sexy Money</em> months ago (boo!!), but are at least showing the unaired episodes on Saturdays this summer (YAY!); The CW cancelled <em>Reaper</em> (boo!!) and picked up the <em>Melrose Place</em> reboot (double boo!!); ABC is renewing <em>Scrubs</em> (ugh, so over that show). There are plenty of new shows to talk about, but I am all tuckered out with the end of the TV season, and much too invested with baseball to think about those right now. There will be another time for that.<br /><br /><strong>BASEBALL</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/ShyAH7a7e3I/AAAAAAAAAls/AQ_5wlx6HxM/s1600-h/yankees.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340284131852647282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/ShyAH7a7e3I/AAAAAAAAAls/AQ_5wlx6HxM/s320/yankees.jpg" border="0" /></a>TeeHeeHee! This kinda stuff makes me so happy. Something about loving a team so many people despise is very appealing to me for some reason...<br /><br />Anyhoo, baseball has started, and so far so good. The Yankees had a shaky April, but they seem to have gelled as a team, and May has been lots of fun. Mark Teixeira has become a rock star on the field, and now that A-Rod is back, a hitting machine as well. CC Sabathia has gotten his pitching groove back, and Nick Swisher, while slumping at the moment, is a delight to watch. I haven't been to the new stadium yet, but from what I hear it is awesome. Can't wait to go (even though I will miss the old place - lots of memories there). So, once we get Jorge off the DL, and the bullpen really settles (although the bull pen rarely ever really settles, IMO), we should have a fun season watching those boys run around in their tight pants. Now, if we can just beat those darn Red Sox!<br /><br /><br />That's all at the moment. There are more things rattling around in my head, and I will do my best to get them out here, hopefully in an entertaining way. :Derikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-21561540099061945372009-01-31T15:44:00.005-05:002009-01-31T15:53:02.379-05:00WTH??!!<div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SYS5PJKTbtI/AAAAAAAAAlM/kVIl-n4nGEw/s1600-h/golfer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297562731502857938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 199px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 295px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SYS5PJKTbtI/AAAAAAAAAlM/kVIl-n4nGEw/s320/golfer.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>You're telling me there are still <a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/01/whites-only-clu.html">whites-only country clubs</a> in this day and age? Really???! It's 2009! What.The.Hell. </div><br /><div></div><div>You'd think this guy would have helped end that ridiculousness years ago.</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297563250692292290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 193px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SYS5tXStfsI/AAAAAAAAAlU/pEoU_EkPyvw/s320/Tiger_Woods.jpg" border="0" /></div>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-10234611698155435132009-01-20T13:26:00.009-05:002009-01-20T17:23:31.679-05:00WoooHooooo!!!!<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SXYVtuinpEI/AAAAAAAAAjY/MErSWEVU9Wk/s1600-h/obama5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293442287352128578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SXYVtuinpEI/AAAAAAAAAjY/MErSWEVU9Wk/s320/obama5.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I can't believe this day is finally here. I've never had a better reason to have a glass of champagne at noon.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293471772000335202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SXYwh9ajNWI/AAAAAAAAAkI/gBSYV7knHzQ/s320/obama9.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293502948396684434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SXZM4qiq1JI/AAAAAAAAAko/VKTKjKr4m54/s320/obama13.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Amazing, the amount of people who showed up. I hope they continue to show up in the days to come.</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293442694212117154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SXYWFaNmYqI/AAAAAAAAAjo/iNcMzb2RwCk/s320/obama4.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293502951599298674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SXZM42eO2HI/AAAAAAAAAkw/Wbujjl-68l4/s320/obama14.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293443042712795330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SXYWZseouMI/AAAAAAAAAjw/QLGF_rg3VFY/s320/obama6.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Every one is so freakin' happy!<br /><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293471778493668178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SXYwiVmrm1I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/3MlEXT0a4KM/s320/obama10.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p align="center">You tell 'em, Mr, President!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293443414674406898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SXYWvWJMffI/AAAAAAAAAj4/60qCyTFbHSM/s320/obama7.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">It must be said, our new President is handsome!</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293471779763342402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SXYwiaVZTEI/AAAAAAAAAkY/K0f_mClJRRE/s320/obama11.jpg" border="0" /><br />OMG, they are so damn cute!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293471769796959906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SXYwh1NOXqI/AAAAAAAAAkA/po65dDL2eqU/s320/obama8.jpg" border="0" /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/">The Huffington Post</a> for letting me pilfer these pictures from their site.<br /></p>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-45147462124033084802008-11-21T20:48:00.005-05:002009-01-14T23:59:02.840-05:00The Eww! of the Apocalypse<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SW6zWzSda5I/AAAAAAAAAi8/LFOP-M3jV_c/s1600-h/Ontherag.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291363816513039250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SW6zWzSda5I/AAAAAAAAAi8/LFOP-M3jV_c/s320/Ontherag.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>**WARNING: If you don't like even thinking of a woman's menstrual cycle, let alone like reading about it, then this post is not for you. If you keep reading, you may find yourself in the middle of a bloody mess. Heh. **</div><br /><div>What would you do if you were a woman who was still menstruating, and an apocalypse of some form hit? </div><br /><div>As some of you may know, I am a fan of the show <em>Jericho</em>. No really, I am (hee!). So, as a consequence of my love for this show, I have been exposed to some lovely people who consider themselves Survivalists, and it got me really thinking about what a person would need to survive if some horrible, The-Shit-Hits-The-Fan scenario happened. Since I live in a city, my best bet is to get the hell out of Dodge ASAP, but what then? Stashes of canned food, water and medicine are the things we all think of. Conserving, growing your own food, basic sewing and handyman skills would be helpful. Those of us living here in New York City were encouraged to assemble a Go Bag after 9/11 filled with things like ID, money, solar radio, and stuff like that. </div><br /><div>Then one day, my roommate and I were talking about what we would do in that kind of a scenario, and it dawned on us, what about our periods? Should we start stockpiling maxi pads and tampons, just in case? If we're hustling outta town, how big of a pack would you need to carry your freakin' feminine hygiene products?!! It was a dilemma that gave me pause, and a subject I hadn't seen discussed in my limited exposure to my Survivalist friends (maybe because most of them are either men, or post-menopausal women). </div><br /><div>Imagine my glee, when the greenies over at <a href="http://grist.org/">Grist</a> decided to do a test drive of the eco-friendly fem products out there for us planet friendly types. Turns out, there is an answer to my dilemma, and it doesn't include carrying a heeee-oooooge bag full of <a href="http://www.seventhgeneration.com/Ultra-Thin-Pads">Seventh Generation Maxi Pads</a> (Although those suckers are completely awesome! Really, give them a shot, you will LOVE them).</div><br /><div>All right ladies (and curious gents), time to suck it up, this is where is gets a little dicey for you squeamish types.<br /></div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291356991158127970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 113px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 162px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SW6tJg3CjWI/AAAAAAAAAis/pCfPUfVx0WI/s400/keeper.gif" border="0" /><br />The first option? <a href="http://www.keeper.com/">The Keeper</a>. A reusable menstrual cup that would replace your tampon. It is made of latex (they have a silicone one too for the latex allergic), and you just empty that sucker, rinse it out, and reinsert. The maker says they last for ten years. Plenty long enough to get you through a pretty hearty apocalypse, IMO. </p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291357296087170962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 110px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 110px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SW6tbQzyf5I/AAAAAAAAAi0/lokOCs6TP7o/s400/luna.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>For those of you like me, who have a hard time with those applicator free tampons, and the thought of using a diaphragm makes you kinda uncomfortable, there is the second option, the <a href="http://www.lunapads.com/Department.aspx?DeptID=8">Lunapad</a>. A washable maxi that comes in pretty colors and many different sizes, to accommodate our varying levels of the crimson tide. </div><br /><div>Both of these options would fit nicely in your Go Bag, and with all the stress of a potential apocalypse, the last thing you would want is to have to worry about finding a non-looted stash of disposable Lady products when the inevitable time-of-the-month rolls around. </div><br /><div>If you'd like to read up on the brave testers comments on these and other green-like Lady products, you can find the results on Grist here <a href="http://www.grist.org/advice/products/2008/11/07/">(pads)</a>, and here <a href="http://www.grist.org/advice/products/2008/11/18/">(cups and tampons)</a>.</div><br /><div>My advice? If you have even the slightest hint of the paranoia I have, get yourself one of these doo-dads just in case, and throw it in with your extra ID and protein bars. Plenty of women are using them as we speak. Me, I have not gotten so green that I am ready to make the leap, but I have switched to a healthier disposable, and that is better than nothin'. </div><br /><div></div></div>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-61477653263594485862008-11-04T14:43:00.009-05:002008-11-05T01:16:41.528-05:00It's Finally Here!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264890475608835714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SRCl_jQAhoI/AAAAAAAAAhg/lalOdoaTByI/s400/vote.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>After weeks and months of chomping at the bit, I finally got to vote today! Any of you who have even glanced at this blog know who I voted for, but today, that is beside the point (mostly). Because today, there was voting!</div><br /><div>I have been voting at my polling place for over eleven years, and I have never seen anything like what I saw today. I went at 11:30, right before lunch, and there were lines and crowds all over the place. And my fellow neighbors were pretty cheery about the whole thing (the bake sale out front may have helped with that. I bought a brownie!). </div><br /><div>After voting, and running some errands in my neighborhood, I stopped at the local liquor store to get a bottle of wine for the election party I am going to. The guy behind the counter told me it was the busiest Tuesday he had ever seen. We both figured there would be a lot of celebrating this evening. The woman in front of me was buying bottles of champagne. I happen to live in an extremely blue neighborhood in very blue city in solidly blue state, so there is much hope here. </div><br /><div>Even though it looks good for my guy to win, I am actually really and truly impressed in the amount of Americans voting this election. I was raised to believe that voting was important, and I hope that we now have a whole new group of people, young and old, who feel like their voices do matter. That maybe, we can have a say in how and where our government takes us. I am an optimist at heart, so I can't help myself. </div><br /><div>So, I hope all of you get out there and vote. And keep voting in years to come. Okay, I can't help myself, I gotta post this pic! Looks like fun!</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264896792959471474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SRCrvRNxT3I/AAAAAAAAAho/Br3I64PzDFk/s400/obama1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div>UPDATE! 1:14am November 4th, 2008: Hooray!! President Barack Obama, our 44th President of the United States of America. I am thrilled.<br /><div></div>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-91972799724659475402008-09-24T20:37:00.010-04:002008-09-24T22:35:01.748-04:00ENOUGH!!!Today's flailing about of the McCain campaign has lead me to this. I wasn't gonna go on an angry rant over politics this year. I have made it clear that I am a Democrat, and I am supporting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Obama</span> whole-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">heartedly</span>, but this ridiculousness is really just too much.<br /><br /><div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249754139456363090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SNrfk1Bu2lI/AAAAAAAAAg0/57bfwnprVGA/s320/mccain.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Have I shown my hand too early? Too bad. I am sick and tired of the lies and shenanigans going on with the McCain/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Palin</span> camp. Today, we heard McCain suddenly claim that things were so bad, so dire, that he, <em>and only he</em>, could go to Washington and save us all! In that shocking moment, he also told us he was suspending his campaign, and asked that Friday's debate be postponed. Because he can't do more than one thing at a time? Or is it because today's polls show him sinking? And now.... NOW, the McCain camp is saying that they want to <a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/mccain-camp-let.html">delay the VP debate</a> as well. <em>I am shocked!</em> (end sarcasm). </p><p>I would like to just inject a personal feeling here (I know, why start now?). In all this craziness with Wall Street, McCain is coming off as desperate, while the calm and thoughtful remarks from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Obama</span> seem much more Presidential. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Obama</span> hasn't been running amok changing, day to day, what he thinks is the next best idea. </p><p>And don't even get me started on the continuous lies that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Palin</span> has been spewing, over and over on the campaign trail. Selling that plane on e-Bay (lie), saying 'Thanks, but no thanks' on that bridge to nowhere (lie), and her now well known penchant for banning books and her extreme Pro-Life positions that make most of us <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">blanch</span>. Her extreme notions are apparent in how she runs Alaska as well, as this <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html?_r=1&oref=slogin">New York Times article</a> spells out nicely. </p><p>As things have gone along, we've seen McCain repeat the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Palin</span> lies over and over. Is this because he doesn't know any better? Or because he just doesn't care? Either way, it makes him look bad in my eyes. </p><p>So that brings me back to today. McCain cancelled a scheduled appearance on the David Letterman show, citing he was needed immediately in DC, but was caught, by Letterman, recording an interview with Katie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Couric</span> instead. In fact, McCain isn't going to DC until tomorrow (Thursday), because he is appearing at the Clinton Foundation event here in New York City tonight. Wow, another lie... are we still <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">surprized</span> by this? Here is David Letterman's reaction to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjkCrfylq-E">McCain's cancellation</a>, hot off the YouTube presses (Letterman is pissed...).</p><p>Honestly people, I can't take much more of this. I'd like to quote one of my favorite lines, one that I say to myself regularly these days: <strong>Dear Republicans, I am so sick of your shit!<br /></strong></p><p>In closing, I will post this picture, which is currently my beloved wallpaper on this very computer. Vote <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Obama</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Biden</span>!!!!!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249762586612623634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SNrnQhIuaRI/AAAAAAAAAg8/DI0F96k4avE/s400/ObamaBidenRealChange.jpg" border="0" /></div>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-20828830662809419492008-09-01T11:59:00.015-04:002008-09-02T02:46:47.826-04:00BlackJack Fairgrounds - Jericho Roadshow<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241086112086612162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SLwUDOwn2MI/AAAAAAAAAfk/Ojay9BTWRrs/s320/1blackjackfg.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Welcome to the September Blog Carnival, Jericho Roadshow Edition! This months theme is 'Jericho Minstrels: Fan Fiction, Videos, Poems and Songs'. And we have a lot of fun stuff to get to, all thanks to the passion of the fans who love their show, <em>Jericho</em>. Many thanks to all the creative Rangers out there who help keep the spirit of Jericho alive!</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241188672004590898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SLxxVAOijTI/AAAAAAAAAfs/y2Z9uBXzelg/s320/beck.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>First off, Fan Fiction! Those of us familiar with fandoms in general know all about fan fiction. We have several Rangers who have put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and taken us on some fun journeys through their stories. <strong>KrzyKat</strong> has given us the adventures of <a href="http://krzykat.home.comcast.net/~krzykat/">The JLA Squad</a> (Jericho Liberation Alliance), out saving Jake, and helping keep Jericho safe from mysterious strangers. <strong>Xtemeroswellia</strong> over on LiveJournal has a nice little Jake/Heather story called <a href="http://xtremeroswellia.livejournal.com/689668.html">"Worth The Wait"</a> for all those Jeather fans out there (very satisfying!), and another LJ fan, <strong>Revelininsanity</strong>, has written a story about Gail Green finding out about Jake being held captive and a peek into her life away from Jericho called <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/jericho_fic/42263.html#cutid1">"The Sun Moving"</a>. Fascinating. <a href="http://www.jerichofanfiction.com/">Jericho Fan Fiction</a>, a site I must admit I didn't even know existed (much to my dismay... what kind of Ranger am I?), is chock full of stories for all you fan fiction junkies. <strong>Fantasy_cat</strong> has written a post-Bonnie-death piece with Stanley and Mimi called <a href="http://www.jerichofanfiction.com/index.php?topic=1527.0">"Surprise You"</a>. Also, there is <strong>Stephensmat's</strong> response to the Songfic challenge over on Jericho Fan Fiction, a story about Eric and Mary's beginnings called <a href="http://www.jerichofanfiction.com/index.php?topic=1073.0">"Eyes On Me"</a>. Stephensmat also has some Dale/Skylar fic to check out. Heck, there is plenty over there to keep you busy. Check it <em>all</em> out, you will be pleased, I'm sure. </div><br /><div>A poem!<strong> Raycheetah</strong> has channelled his inner Shakespeare and regaled us with a sonnet to accompany flowers to Nina Tassler called <a href="http://boards.nbcuni.com/universalHD/index.php?s=cfbb0561b7d72b58c45d23cb9e0626ce&showtopic=1378&st=40&p=20709&#entry20709">"Transmission From Jericho"</a>, reminding her that we are still here, and still thinking of her. Lovely!</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241198544911949810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SLx6TrrFX_I/AAAAAAAAAf0/OtZRlOFMqlg/s320/emily.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div>Video? Have we got videos for you! As most of you know, our Rangers are prolific video makers (just type 'Jericho' into the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a> search and you'll see what I mean), and we have some great submissions this month.<br /><br /><strong>Bombwatcher</strong>, maker of all those awesome siggies over on the CBS boards, has given us a video in tribute to all the great actors on <em>Jericho</em> called <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgbBQbrsjTk&eurl=http://www.jerichochannel.tv/video/224996-some-gave-all.html">Some Gave All</a>. Stanley and Mimi are the sweet subjects of <strong>Ldyoutlw's</strong> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKp5tk72ZZo">Between Your Heart and Mine</a>. <strong>Xwarp</strong> has taken a silly look at our favorite deputies Jimmy and Bill with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HENMIIKdXoc">Cops In Jericho</a>, and <strong>Ka4ist</strong> gives us <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgmYHkm7mpE">Robert Hawkins: CBA</a>(Certified Bad Ass), which is a hoot! And finally, <strong>Gwen</strong> has found these sweet vids of Pamela Reed (Mamma Green) reading the children's story "Stellaluna", <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmGLWjEpCEY&NR=1">Part One</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqBtQoYKhwA&feature=related">Part Two</a>. Very cute.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241202749702732802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SLx-IbvU_AI/AAAAAAAAAf8/ecgUXy8ne2Y/s320/heather.jpg" border="0" /><br /><strong>Larissa</strong> has started up a Jericho podcast! It's called <a href="http://www.jerichopodcast.blogspot.com/">Future Traditions</a>, and she has various other <em>Jericho</em> related tidbits for you to chew on.<br /><br /><strong>Maybei</strong> has pointed to the <a href="http://www.radiofreejericho.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=129">The Nut House</a> over at <a href="http://www.radiofreejericho.com/phpBB2/index.php">Radio Free Jericho</a> with some fun stuff going on, including a screencap story called <a href="http://www.radiofreejericho.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=129&t=3637">Emily Bakes A Cake</a>. A little gentle ribbing of our favorite blonde bombshell of <em>Jericho</em>. Also over at RFJ is a <a href="http://www.radiofreejericho.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=147&t=3429">spiffy stationary</a> design by<strong> Jojocat1</strong> to use for sending your letters to CBS/Paramount, and they also have some fun <a href="http://www.radiofreejericho.com/cards/index.php">Jericho e-cards</a> to send to your friends for Halloween, or just because (including some of the motivators made by me!).<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241291296761470978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SLzOqjPQYAI/AAAAAAAAAgM/FkFyx1wIOS8/s320/hawkdarcy.jpg" border="0" /><br />As you can see, we have a great depth of creative Rangers out there on the Internet, entertaining us with their stories and songs and pictures. I hope that this sample has inspired you to sit down at your own computer and share your love for <em>Jericho</em> with everyone!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241291295990913458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SLzOqgXimbI/AAAAAAAAAgU/uFqCFniMau8/s320/jake1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div>Honestly people, if this face doesn't inspire you, I don't know what will!<br /><br />Special thanks to Gwen over at <a href="http://www.jericho-kansas.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx">Jericho-Kansas, Inc.</a> for all her hard work and keeping the Blog Carnival going. Thank you so much for letting me host this month. It was my pleasure. October's edition of BlackJack Fairgrounds will be Cast and Crew interviews, and I know there is a great treasure chest full of them across the Internet. For info on past and future hosts, you can go <a href="http://blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_3497.html">here</a>.<br /><div><br /></div><div></div>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-849339400213573022008-08-12T21:34:00.002-04:002008-09-02T03:06:21.217-04:00I Am Infected With National Pride*<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241312942343847378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SLziWfUP_dI/AAAAAAAAAgc/uIkh8hA7zOc/s320/beijing.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Oh the Olympics, how I love you so!</div><br /><div>Just wanted to make a quick post about the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing. Regardless of how I feel about China, they did a bang up job with the Opening Ceremonies, and Michael Phelps has been kickin' ass so far. So much fun.</div><br /><div>I grew up in a pro-Olympics household, and every four years we would gather around the TV for all the spectacle and fun of the Summer and Winter Games. I have very fond memories of all those Olympics, and now as an adult, I get all excited whenever Olympic time rolls around. </div><br /><div>Badminton? Yes. Track and Field? Oh, yes. Swimming, gymnastics, diving, equestrian, table tennis, volleyball, handball, tennis, rowing, baseball?! More and more. I will watch just about any sport they put in front of me, and I cheer and yell from my couch. </div><br /><div>Just think, in two years we get the Winter Games! So great. Okay, enough of this, I gotta get back to the games!</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241316237608911666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SLzlWTIqgzI/AAAAAAAAAgk/jHfelqbluZs/s320/gold.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>*Thanks to the guy at the wine store, who when I asked him if he had 'Olympic Fever', he responded with "I am infected with national pride!", inspiring this post, and giving me a kick-ass title. Hee!!</div>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-14892464169648482422008-08-10T22:17:00.006-04:002008-08-11T23:11:08.772-04:00A Tale of Two Cities<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-ZzxJsxsI/AAAAAAAAAUk/kqFgCBct6IM/s1600-h/plane.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233070406674204354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-ZzxJsxsI/AAAAAAAAAUk/kqFgCBct6IM/s320/plane.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I recently took a trip to Rochester, NY, my hometown, and Toronto, Canada, Rochester's sister city on the other side of Lake Ontario. They were both to visit friends, and I had a great time in both cities. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233070549047872850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-Z8DiOjVI/AAAAAAAAAUs/TVy_GhLfgOk/s320/rochester.jpg" border="0" />First up, Rochester! (Isn't it pretty?)<br /><br />I headed out to Western New York via JFK and JetBlue to attend my good friend Deanna's wedding celebration. After having to get up at some ungodly hour, I landed in Rochester on a Friday morning and was greeted by my lovely Mother. We got in the car and headed to Honeoye Falls to hang out and chill.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233071930759221810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-bMez4kjI/AAAAAAAAAU0/zgA06yJgdPA/s320/dons_house.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />I had plans to meet Don and his fiancee Kelly for dinner. So I got in the car and drove to Rochester, pulling up in front of a house I did not recognize! Look at it, it looks so pretty! Good job, Kelly. After some hanging out and such, we went off to <span style="color:#ffff00;"><a href="http://www.bealestreetcafe.com/">Beale Street</a></span> for dinner and it was yummy! I had a pulled chicken dinner and stuffed myself good. Then out for a drink or two at the bar before I had to call it a night. I always have so much fun hanging out with these two. Thanks for dinner guys!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233073139485110930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-cS1ql8pI/AAAAAAAAAU8/KlcZx8nOjb4/s320/finn+abode.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />Saturday was Deanna and Tom's party. They threw a nice soiree in their backyard, and it was catered by <a href="http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/rochesterIndex.php">Dinosaur Barbeque</a>! Barbeque two nights in a row! w00t!! This was great. I got to see some of my oldest friends at this party, and we all kinda fell right back into that comfy, homey kinda vibe you can only feel with people you've known FOREVER.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233073744740290786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-c2EarEOI/AAAAAAAAAVE/v6QMhHJ_HWA/s320/deanna+and+karla.jpg" border="0" /><br />Look! It's Deanna and Karla! YAY! Needless to say, as usual, I didn't take many pictures, because I was too busy chatting and having a good time. But Karla got her hands on my camera phone and took a few pics. Heh.<br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233074626783773330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-dpaSOgpI/AAAAAAAAAVM/IWZVNqPPqt0/s320/wes+and+john.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Karla's lovely husband Wes, and Deanna's younger brother John. </div><div></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233074632089732322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-dpuDRBOI/AAAAAAAAAVc/l1O1K4UPCPc/s320/paulie.jpg" border="0" /></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>Paulie... posing. Heh. </div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233074630561947362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-dpoXA3uI/AAAAAAAAAVU/yF2O1g_W6CM/s320/juliana.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><br /></div><div>John's lovely daughter Juliana (isn't she cute?) (OMG, John is a daddy?... weird).</div><div></div><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233075058227533778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-eChib19I/AAAAAAAAAVk/NkT3DiVp7fE/s320/kricka.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Me in mid-whatever. Thanks Karla... </p>No pictures of Deanna's older brother Mark, but we had a nice conversation or two, and it was great to see him as well. It was crazy hot and humid, but the party was a great success. I finally left after it got dark and the air was thick with mosquitoes. Thanks Deanna and Tom for such a great time, and a fun trip down memory lane.<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233078252174187058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-g8b6qGjI/AAAAAAAAAVs/ee49oUW7BzI/s320/heather+jada+kara.jpg" border="0" />I started out Sunday with a visit to Heather and her awesome girls, Jada and Kara. Looks like the tooth fairy has been VERY busy here. We took off to go blueberry picking, but Mother Nature let loose with a big ol' rain storm, so we went to Dunkin' Donuts instead. Hee. That's where I got this awesome picture. After donuts and goofiness, we headed back to Heather's and commenced the weaving of tote bags. It was supposed to be a crafty project that the girls would help us with, but it soon became clear that Heather and I were way more interested than the girls in this project, so we wove and chatted while the girls hung out with us. I always love getting crafty with Heather. Hmmm, I wonder how those totes turned out.<br /></p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233079911845109394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-idCrCnpI/AAAAAAAAAV0/2jTWEIV62Ps/s320/frontier.jpg" border="0" /><br />After my visit with Heather, I met my brother Zach over at the Brewery to say hi to Jane and some her friends before we headed off to a <a href="http://www.redwingsbaseball.com/">Red Wing</a> game at <a href="http://www.ballparkreviews.com/roch/frontier.htm">Frontier Field</a> . This was my first visit to Frontier, and it is a great little ballpark. We got some <a href="http://www.zweigles.com/">Zweigles</a> and beer and sat down for some baseball! (honestly, Zweigles white hots may be the best.hotdogs.ever!) It was great to hang out with Zach, something I don't get to do often enough, until Mother Nature once again made an appearance and the rain came a pouring down. We decided to cut the game short since we weren't decked out in rain gear, and headed home. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233081002529752386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-jchyhhUI/AAAAAAAAAV8/BEEw943ieVk/s320/dr+kissack.jpg" border="0" /> Monday I went down to Dad's office (after having my 40 year old eyes examined on Saturday), to drop off my glasses and have lunch with Dad, Zach and Jane. Nothing like a good meal at Critic's! Hee. So, everyone went back to work and I went back to Mom and Dad's to pack and try not to freak out about getting on a plane. It was a quick little trip, but I got to see everyone and I had a really good time. Rochester in the summer is so pretty. I'm glad I went.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233082126120594482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-kd7fdLDI/AAAAAAAAAWE/aHyN6rJ4CVc/s320/the+falls2.jpg" border="0" /><br />I got this rockin' shot of the falls on my camera phone! Yay for me.<br /><br />Two weeks later I got back on a plane (eesh), and headed out for my first international flight to Toronto. I finally got to use my passport!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233084380218693250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-mhIqUloI/AAAAAAAAAWM/VTEeXrr62dY/s320/toronto.jpg" border="0" /><br />Thank you random user of <a href="http://photobucket.com/">photobucket</a> for this great picture of Toronto. Isn't it pretty?<br /><br />First of all, I would just like to say, I hate to fly, and my experience flying out of LaGuardia on American Airlines didn't help. I swear to god, I will never fly with this carrier ever again. They were horrible. But once we got over the lake (which really is huge, thus being a Great Lake, I suppose), seeing Toronto out the window made the hassles okay. Plus, I had the great pleasure of sitting next to a very chatty Afghani woman who constantly was being yelled at by the flight attendant for not following ANY of the rules, and for telling me some interesting stories about her recent visit to Afghanistan. She was very sad about the state of her home country, and thought it may be another 20 years before she goes back. Very sad.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233102570780198658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-3D9yJhwI/AAAAAAAAAWU/Jv4RSkVNn3w/s320/0802081520.jpg" border="0" /><br />So, I went to Toronto to vist Fran, who is on tour there with <a href="http://www.avenueq.com/">Avenue Q</a>. Plus, I love Toronto. The picture above is the hotel from the mezzanine level. It was very nice, and apparently Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton stayed there back in the day. Fancy!<br /><br />After my $60 cab ride from the airport (!!), I hung out in the hotel until it was time to meet Fran for dinner. It feels like forever since I had seen her, and it was good to just hang out and have a yummy meal (I had a veggie bowl at the aptly named <a href="http://www.fransrestaurant.com/flash_site/index.html">Fran's Diner</a>). After dinner Fran went to work and I went back to the hotel and just chilled. We met at the hotel bar for a few drinks after work (the suggestively named Consort Bar) and then headed up to the room to hang out and watch some The West Wing. Awwww, just like old times!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233109850847938370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ-9ruJjh0I/AAAAAAAAAWc/nRMW9B34Xjs/s320/st+lawrence.jpg" border="0" /><br />Saturday Fran had to work two shows, so while she was at the theater, I hoofed it around Toronto. I checked out Yonge St., where there was a kickin' little Turkish festival going on, and stumbled into the Gay section of town, which was, of course, very cute. After another yummy dinner at Fran's Diner, Fran went back to work and I continued walking around the neighborhoods. I discovered Front St. which had their weekend street market going, and I met a really nice local woman sitting in a park and we chatted about all kinds of stuff for an hour or so. After work Fran and I did the same thing. Drink at the bar (this time with some of her fellow Avenue Q-ers), and up to the room for more The West Wing (yes, we are old, and like to hang out and watch old TV shows. Deal with it).<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233110917716226770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SJ--p0ixstI/AAAAAAAAAWk/XMuWquwIoW0/s320/jamie+kennedy.jpg" border="0" /><br />Sunday, Fran only had one show, and I had promised (okay, insisted) to take her out for a belated birthday dinner. Literally, I found this place last minute, and it was PERFECT! (yes, I stole this picture straight from Fran's blog.. thanks Fran!). <a href="http://www.jamiekennedy.ca/v5/restaurants.html">Jamie Kennedy's Wine Bar</a> was awesome. Exactly what I wanted, and the food was yummy squared. I highly recommend it to anyone heading to Toronto.<br /><br />The rest of Sunday was kinda a blur, as there was much drinking and meandering about the city. Otherwise known as FUN! Oh wait! We went to the CN Tower!! As the sun went down, we took the elevator up, up ,up and took in the views. We could see the soft glow of Rochester on the other side of the Lake. Pretty. The CN Tower is an obvious touristy thing to do, and well worth it, in my opinion (and I will not put a picture here, as I did not take one, and most of you know what the place looks like).<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233438140836791778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SKDoQtqOxeI/AAAAAAAAAWs/bdokYfHTCVk/s320/toronto+islands.jpg" border="0" /><br />Monday was Fran's only full day off, so we started off with a wonderful breakfast at <a href="http://www.overeasyrestaurants.com/index.html">Over Easy</a> on Yonge St. A great breakfast place that filled us up good! And then off to the Toronto Islands (check out the old-school pic I found online). Monday happened to be a civic holiday in Toronto, so we and several others waited in line for the ferry's to the islands on a hot, cement slab, all sweaty and cranky. Once on the ferry (we went to Ward Island, initially), the cool lake breeze cheered us up, and once we landed, we were greeted by an island full of adorable cottages and a sweet boardwalk.<br /><br /><div>It was yet another gorgeous Canadian day, and, being New Yorkers and used to walking forever, we walked all the way to Centre Island where we found a wee amusement park and farm with chickens and horses and pigs. Fun for the city folk!</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233440637205721762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SKDqiBW9sqI/AAAAAAAAAW0/6J5lPEHAWVU/s320/0804082056.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>As much fun as we were having, and as lovely as a day it was, we finally had to catch the ferry back, because we had tickets for a Blue Jays game! We got there a little early, so we got to see them open the dome! After a quick nosh, we got our seats and waited for another Avenue Q-er to show up, Annika. Fran and I had on our Yankees caps, and Annika showed up with he Red Sox hat, and we settled in for a Roy Halladay pitch-fest. Normally, as a Yankee fan, it is my duty to root against Roy Halladay, and to not mingle with Red Sox fans, but we were in Canada, and we cheered and chatted and had a good ol' time. Thanks Annika, for all the good Canadian beer and popcorn!</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233441736284063762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SKDrh_vqSBI/AAAAAAAAAW8/lhxKsKmgpfY/s320/0804082058.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Thanks to Fran for getting us great first base line seats, and the Blue Jays kicked the A's butts, 6-1. The A's fans sitting in front of us moved away pretty quickly after the game started. Hee. </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233443068671303138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SKDsvjRiHeI/AAAAAAAAAXE/190iBn4L45g/s320/necropolis.gif" border="0" /><br /><div>Tuesday was my last full day in Toronto, and Fran and I made the most of it. We went to the <a href="http://www.mountpleasantgroupofcemeteries.ca/our_cemeteries/toronto_necropolis.asp">Toronto Necropolis</a>, one of the oldest historic cementaries in Canada. Coooooool. I would like to thank the completely hot concierge at Fran's hotel for finding this cementary, and printing out a map for us. Seriously guys, Brandon was smokin', and he was kind enough to flirt with me every time I saw him after that. And then we hopped in a cab and went over to the Redpath sugar museum. Very cheesy. It was in a little shack out behind the factory, and we giggled our way to it. A self-guided tour, we learned a little about sugar (Paris lumps?), and killed some time. Hey, not every tour is a slam bang, people!</div><br /><div>Fran had to go off to work, so I spent my last evening hanging out at the hotel, where I found this little gem in the room mini-bar (okay, I found it a few days earlier, but didn't get a pic until the last night):</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233444462212885586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SKDuAqnvLFI/AAAAAAAAAXM/uBIFdmlUWXA/s320/0802082008.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233444469770838402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SKDuBGxsYYI/AAAAAAAAAXU/MAdDWXRZbUk/s320/0802082009.jpg" border="0" /><br />TeeHeeHee!! Now, I ask you, would you ever find something like that in a fancy-ass hotel in America? No sir, you would not! I'm not sure if this is good news or bad, just a little window into the differences between our two countries. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>So, it was time to go. I hopped on the Toronto subway to get to the airport after making a sleepy goodbye to Fran. After passporting my way back into America, I got on an Air Canada flight home. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Here, I must give props to the lovely Air Canada crew. Like my experience with American Airlines, there were some bumps along the way to getting on board and off the ground, but very much unlike AA, the Air Canada people were so kind and cheery, it barely felt like a problem. Customer service is everything, I tell ya'. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I happened to be the only person sitting in the Emergency Exit row, so the flight attendant came over and gave me the drill. Telling me, in the case of an emergency landing, how to look out the window to make sure the door was clear of fire or wreckage (!!), and how to open the door and toss it out the plane. She told me I could then exit the plane, unless I felt like being a Hero, and helping others off. The whole time she was looking at me like, if we land in an emergency, chances are, all this would be moot, as I freaked out a little in my head, embellishing the already horrifying thoughts of a plane crash in my head. Thanks Air Canada flight attendant lady!</div><div></div><div></div><div>Toronto and Rochester. Two really nice little cities on opposite sides of a Great Lake. Who wins in the nice-a-thon? Gotta give it to Toronto, where even the people begging for change are polite and well spoken (and decidedly way less crazy than your typical New York City change beggars). Although after visiting Rochester, I don't have a wallet weighed down with all that crazy Loonie and Toonie Canuck change!<br /></div><p></p>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-65453998190118332342008-06-19T16:39:00.008-04:002008-06-19T16:58:25.839-04:00Fun in The Slope!<div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SFrESm3MX7I/AAAAAAAAAUE/-4faNrIvIvc/s1600-h/seventh.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213695342583504818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SFrESm3MX7I/AAAAAAAAAUE/-4faNrIvIvc/s320/seventh.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Last weekend we saw a couple of fun fun fun things going on here in Park Slope. The annual Seventh Heaven street fair happened, even though we were dodging raindrops (ok, downpours) for the bulk of the morning, lots of people showed up to join the festivities. There were artists and crafters, t-shirt and baubles sellers, lots of different food vendors and music. The fun of a good street fair here in New York City is the diversity of goods. From the schlockey tables of discount goods, to the cheezy t-shirts, to some really astounding jewelery and art. Everyone loves to walk 7th Avenue and hang out with their neighbors, buy some stuff and eat some good food. I am glad that the weather clamed down and let us enjoy the day.</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213697113086293058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SFrF5qf89EI/AAAAAAAAAUM/1j1ZmuErm3A/s320/knit2.jpg" border="0" />Then, over on 5th Avenue, I stumbled across the latest public performances of the <a href="http://www.artichokedance.org/Artichoke%20Dance%20Company/Home.html">Artichoke Dance Company</a>. They had four locations along the avenue that were marked by colorfully knit markers, like this one on the railings leading into Ozzie's coffee shop. Once I went inside (to get an iced coffee), I realized that there was a perrformance going on right then! Two women at one of the tables performing a piece silently. Seems that if i had known about this beforehand, I could have gone to their website and downloaded the music to my iPod, and listened along. It is a brilliant idea, giving everyone a peek into their dance project, but not bothering those who weren't interested by blasting music into their day. </div><div><br />Once I realized what was going on, I went back up the avenue to see the other spots where performances were going on. One was in the display window of a clothing boutique, and the other was inside The Gate, a local watering hole that I used to frequent in my younger days (it is a bit of a haul from my apartment).<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213698637805836642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SFrHSaha2WI/AAAAAAAAAUU/7gwJ9_9dHio/s320/knit.jpg" border="0" /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213698785405047394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SFrHbAX0EmI/AAAAAAAAAUc/yBlh6x8x-Ys/s320/knit1.jpg" border="0" />After checking out their website, I see they are gonna be out this Sunday once again. I may just have to check them out!</div><div> </div><div></div><div>One of my favorite things about living here is stumbling upon random stuff like this. And this weekend is the Gay Pride parade here in Brooklyn. Now that is always a kicker!<br /><br /><div></div></div>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-88854344090436771322008-06-05T22:23:00.006-04:002008-06-05T22:45:44.800-04:00Sick Of It!<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SEijsKi3_AI/AAAAAAAAAT8/9C0NMZHIMKA/s1600-h/motivator+obama.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208592948194180098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SEijsKi3_AI/AAAAAAAAAT8/9C0NMZHIMKA/s320/motivator+obama.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The Hillary bashing continues...<br /><br /><div></div><div>Ms. Clinton has said she will suspend her campaign on Saturday, endorse Mr. Obama, and ask for party unity, but the television pundits are still kicking her. Today her camp issued this statement: 'Hillary is not seeking out the Vice President slot', but I have heard many TV pundits snarkily say, 'But she will take it if it's offered.'</div><br /><div>DUH! And what the hell is wrong with that?!!</div><br /><div>This goes back to when she ran for Senate here in New York State. All they could say was, 'She just wants to be President.' <em>SO WHAT?</em></div><br /><div>When Mr. Obama ran for Senate, did people whine about how he wanted to be President? When any number of of men have run for public office, did anyone ever say, 'He just wants to be President?' For the love of God people, what the hell is wrong with wanting to be President? It must be because she, as a woman, has the audacity to have some ambition. I say it again.... What The Hell Is Wrong With That?!!!!?????</div><br /><div>This campaign has opened my eyes to a level of misogyny in this country that I had been blind to, and I am angry. Don't get me wrong, I will back Mr. Obama all the way. Anything is better than another four years of a Republican in the White House, as far as I'm concerned, but back the hell off Hillary. When you look at the numbers, she got just as many votes as Obama. She freakin' won one of the very last primaries. Just because people fell madly in love with Mr. Obama, that means that the woman should should just bow down and give up?</div><br /><div>Can you tell I'm pissed? Because I am. It's like until Hillary lies down and shuts up, these people will not be happy. And <em>that</em> offends me to my core. </div><br /><div>I am still hoping that somehow, Hillary can get the VP nod. I think she would be a great asset to an Obama White House. But we are several weeks away from any such decision, and ultimately I will back Mr. Obama on whomever he chooses. But for the love of God, back off my gal Hillary!!!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208592128611635026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SEii8dXKz1I/AAAAAAAAAT0/iT1rtBYpnQ8/s320/clinton_obama.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p> </p><p><em>*Motivator courtesy of ZenLizzy from the TWoP boards</em></p>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12748112.post-31786308497000359442008-05-15T11:27:00.001-04:002008-05-15T11:28:20.867-04:00Black Jack Fairgrounds Blog Carnival<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SCxWEWxMedI/AAAAAAAAATk/5OVrGDae7Ng/s1600-h/skeet+21.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200626302537464274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SCxWEWxMedI/AAAAAAAAATk/5OVrGDae7Ng/s320/skeet+21.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Far be it from me to turn down a reason to post a picture of Skeet (aka Jake Green in <em>Jericho</em>). Welcome to this week's Black Jack Fairgrounds. I am Erika, and I will be your host.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200414350196373938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SCuVTGxMebI/AAAAAAAAATU/4zMa5Kzqa7I/s320/motivator+jericho13.jpg" border="0" /><br />Those old crones <a href="http://margieandednasbasement.blogspot.com/">Margie & Edna</a> have posted a little something about where to watch <em>Jericho</em>, on a typically circuitous route, through the <a href="http://margieandednasbasement.blogspot.com/2008/05/national-strawberry-month.html">strawberry patch</a>. Thanks ladies for pitching in!<br /><br /><strong>Jane</strong> has renamed the Famous JerichoMonster blog to simply <a href="http://jerichomonster.blogspot.com/">The Monster</a>, commenting on all television, and the frustrating practices the networks employ to decide on our favorite shows fates. Here she comments on the latest Jericho fan <a href="http://jerichomonster.blogspot.com/2008/05/nuts-nuts-and-more-nuts.html">nutty protest</a>, shelling Nielsen with two palettes of nuts, protesting their antiquated ratings system. This latest protest was orchestrated by <a href="http://jerichoboard.cbs.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?listMode=-1&nav=messages&webtag=CBSMBJericho">Jericho message board</a> regular NorsU, and the effort has gotten some media attention as seen <a href="http://jerichoboard.cbs.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=CBSMBJericho&tid=26997">here</a> and <a href="http://jerichoboard.cbs.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=CBSMBJericho&tid=27012">here</a>. Jon over at <a href="http://alvarezgalloso.wordpress.com/">El Noticiero de Alvarez Galloso</a> has given his take on the annoying Nielsen system: <a href="http://alvarezgalloso.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/jerichos-nutty-fans-protest-nielsens-ratings-system/" rel="bookmark">Jericho’s Nutty Fans Protest Nielsen’s Ratings System</a>. When will they learn, we will not go down quietly?<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200376889491618130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SCtzOmxMeVI/AAAAAAAAASk/NYG5dYYAS_k/s320/motivator+save13.jpg" border="0" /><br />Also, the letter writing campaign to CBS Paramount continues. Info <a href="http://jerichoboard.cbs.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=CBSMBJericho&tid=26544">here</a> and <a href="http://www.radiofreejericho.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=128&t=3319">here</a> for the two of you who may not have the addresses memorized by now (hee!).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.radiofreejericho.com/phpBB2/index.php">Radio Free Jericho</a> has got all kinds of fun stuff going on to keep the fans happy and motivated. Check out the silly <a href="http://www.radiofreejericho.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=129&t=3637">Emily Bakes</a> saga in the <a href="http://www.radiofreejericho.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=129">Nut House</a> or hone your survival skills at the recently revamped <a href="http://www.radiofreejericho.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=50">Survival of the Fittest</a> section to prepare for the next who-knows-what. <a href="http://www.radiofreejericho.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=145">Schumi's Useless Fact of the Day</a> culls fascinating and funny tidbits from her very large brain, and Clare Carey, aka Mary Bailey, owner of Jericho's favorite watering hole, Bailey's, answers<br /><a href="http://www.radiofreejericho.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=137&t=3742">fan questions</a> here. Thanks, maybei, for helpfully pointing out the going's on over there.<br /><br /><strong>Outlaw</strong>, one of our more creative Rangers, has started up his own online series that is a companion to the goings on in Jericho, called <em>Grapevine, TX</em>. He has posted his awesome <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dg4r4rbYos">trailer</a>, along with another great <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_R4brvP7tQ">promo</a> by the equally creative <strong>Darthleland</strong> over on <a href="http://youtube.com/">YouTube</a>. Looking forward to seeing the show guys.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200412859842722210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SCuT8WxMeaI/AAAAAAAAATM/91zoArvO_OA/s320/motivator+jericho14.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="http://www.jeritopia.com/">Jeritopia</a>, chat room extraordinaire, is still hosting several weekly chats, including the <a href="http://jerichoboard.cbs.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=CBSMBJericho&tid=25792">Great Jericho ReWatch</a> chat on Tuesdays, and the <strong>Monthly Birthday Bash</strong>, this month celebrating May birthdays on Sunday, May 18th at 9pm ET. Come on over and join the fun! No really! I was never a chat room type, but this place is loads of fun.<br /><br /><strong>RubberPoultry</strong> has been keeping every one's spirits up with his graphic skillz, most recently with his <a href="http://jerichoboard.cbs.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=CBSMBJericho&tid=26771">Jericho Linen</a> collection. He also just posted a quick note from <a href="http://jerichoboard.cbs.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=CBSMBJericho&tid=27016">Karim Zreik</a>, giving us all hope that there is still some kind of life yet for <em>Jericho</em>.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200411983669393778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SCuTJWxMeXI/AAAAAAAAAS0/8dG4MV75m5I/s320/motivator+save6.jpg" border="0" /><br />Whew! Hows about that folks? The Jericho Rangers are a busy bunch. Thanks to all for submitting your stuff. Extra special thanks to Amy Vernon over at <a href="http://remote.lohudblogs.com/">Remote Access</a> for being such a great <em>Jericho</em> fan and for asking me to host this week. It was fun. And don't forget to keep your eye out for more Jericho goodness in the next few weeks, and here is where you can <a href="http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_3497.html">submit your posts</a>!. <strong>Gwen</strong> over at <a href="http://www.jericho-kansas.com/">Jericho-Kansas.com</a> is our next host on May 29th. C'mon guys, give her some love!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200412271432202626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_rWmfcf6K7aw/SCuTaGxMeYI/AAAAAAAAAS8/kJ5YTf5UALE/s400/jericho7+rs1.jpg" border="0" /></div>erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919621440729346304noreply@blogger.com7