Blonde Energy... Writes Again.

Going Postal

2008-12-20T11:08:00.002-05:00

Just before my birthday, my parents sent me a present via the United States Post Office. Inside the box were two well packed items--a metal sculpture and in a separate box a ceramic soup bowl. The box was marked fragile. I made a special trip to the Post Office to pick up the box since, well, they just leave notices for boxes here. Upon opening the box, both items were broken.

The receipts were all sent to me (which took a week to come First Class Mail). I made yet another special trip to the Post office (because I had another notice of a package AND I wanted to file my claim for the over $100 in damage to my previous shipment). Upon arrival at the Post Office, and after waiting my turn in line, I was informed that the package did not have insurance and it was not the fault of the Post Office that the items were broken.

It seems the Post Office has made some changes in how they insure packages in as much as they no longer insure anything (excepting Express Mail) for any damages without the purchase of insurance on the package. I, of course, argued (pointlessly) with them. The final parting words they left me with were to the effect that I had them confused with UPS, which automatically insures their packages without additional charge.

Oh really?

As it turns out, this time of year, I had some packages to send (imagine that!). So, I took the advice of my not so friendly Postal employee, and looked into sending my items UPS. Not only did it include insurance on the package, they told me when they would deliver it--actually delivered it on that day (even to rural Northern Michigan)--and did not require anyone to leave their home, drive to a UPS center during limited hours and pick up the package.

Now, I can hear you saying, but what did you have to pay for this kind of service? Well, I did the math. The cost to send a 5 lb package Ground via UPS, with a 2-day delivery from my zone to theirs, with insurance cost $11. Yes, I was a little put off that it included a surcharge for residential delivery, but upon comparing with what the same service would entail from the Post Office (a guaranteed 2-day delivery--which they will not guaranteed), with insurance was just under $11. So, the price is comparable, but the delivery and service isn't. UPS sent me an email as soon as the package was delivered, I was able to drop the packages off after work and it did not impact when the package was delivered. Further, I didn't have to leave work in the middle of the day to ship the packages (they would have been too big for self-service at the Post Office).

Oh, and it you want a guarenteed delivery, the Post Office will get at least twice the amount that I paid to UPS.

Oh, and nothing sent was in any way damaged. The soup pot my mom sent she resent to me in the same packaging that UPS had shipped it to her in and the Post Office broke every single piece in the box. Besides, did I mention they broke a METAL sculpture--do you realize what it takes to break something like that?

So folks... don't take my word... the Post Office gave me the advice themselves... use UPS for your packages.

Pastafarian Cat Toys

2008-12-20T10:48:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, while grocery shopping at Giant, I came across the cat toy pictured to the right. To the unsuspecting eye, this is just a octopi-esque cat toy, but to those of us with a keener sensibility, it is quite obviously the likeness of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. And, as it well documented (if in this blog only), cats and the FSM have quite a symbiotic relationship.

And how did my boys react to their own "Flying 'Masegetti"? Well, Jake was indifferent, Vinnie poked at it suspiciously, but Bowie pounced the hell out of it and attempted to rip it to shreds.

A Birthday Present? Che Opens this week

2008-12-07T10:45:00.003-05:00

The International Herald Tribune reviewed movie Che opening next weekend. The movie chronicles the life of Che Guevara during the overthrow of Batista in Cuba. There is a second movie due that depicts Che's life and death in Bolivia several years later. While the IHT doesn't seem to care much for the movie that earned its star and champion Benicio del Toro the Cannes award for best international actor - male earlier this year their review is an interesting commentary on movies about revolutions in general. Particularly, I like the following from the review/summary:

Che Guevara was literally the embodiment of the romantic notion that unyielding dedication and unceasing struggle could achieve the liberation of all the world's oppressed, and this is such an attractive idea that one may prefer not to dwell on his humorlessness, his rigidity, his icy ruthlessness. Most revolutions are necessary, most end up betraying the ideals they claimed to represent, and most revolutionaries are at least mildly sociopathic. "Revolutions attract crazies; it's a well-known fact," the French leftist filmmaker Chris Marker says in his brilliant documentary essay "The Last Bolshevik" (1993). But he says it sort of tenderly.
...
"The Last Bolshevik" is about the power of images to reveal and to lie, and about the insidious effect of images on those who make them, whether innocently (as Medvedkin mostly did) or more calculatingly. Sometimes in a revolution, it can be hard to tell the difference.

Nonetheless, I can't wait to see this movie. Indeed, I've been waiting a long time.

A question of Mensa

2008-12-07T08:55:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, while driving behind one annoying car I noticed at the stop light two bumper stickers on this hideous green insect looking car... one was an anti-abortion sticker that frankly defied the parameters of logic*. Next to this sticker was one pronouncing a membership to Mensa.

Immediately, I texted Lauren to find out if it was acceptable to rear-end a car simply because of the Mensa sticker. She assured me that it would be, and further being that they were Mensa, they should completely understand.

Somehow, I doubted that.

What you might wonder is my objection to this group? Simply put, I cannot stand the pretentious superiority they carry among themselves--touting IQ as something to be lauded over others. There was a time I actually considered joining their ranks, but it seemed so exclusionary. The only thing I had in common with any of them was my ability to do well on a test. I realize that it's a networking thing like so many other things--a fraternity of sorts--and despite my own pledging and membership to a fraternity previously, I couldn't swallow this particular group.

Then, LiveScience pointed me to an article I had somewhat forgot about in its feature today: Is Einstein the Last Great Genius? It is their article from a couple years ago reminding us that geniuses are just like us...

Albert Einstein, who came up with the theories of special and general relativity, enjoyed the company of other women while he was married. His second wife was his first cousin. He lived with her for five years before divorcing his first wife with whom he had a child before they were married.

Or, maybe, not?

There is a lot wrong with the approach LiveScience takes assuming genius also takes on a moral compass in line with popular belief. Clearly, the Mensa idiot in front of me yesterday couldn't figure out what the lines on the road were for, how to use a turn signal or that green actually does mean GO!

It does make me want to read even more, however, Malcom Gladwell's latest book, Outliers: The Story of Success. Because even as LiveScience articles point out, genius is as much about opportunity and nurture as it is nature.

*Bear in mind that most of the time I can accept the premise that anti-abortionists carry (even if I happen to disagree), but bad logic is far more annoying to me.

Why South Carolina ought secede again?

2008-11-30T16:28:00.002-05:00

As I watched the ongoing news on Mumbai this weekend, I couldn't help but notice that on Black Friday a news note scrolling across the bottom of CNN to the effect that South Carolina was offering sales-tax free gun sales as part of their Second Amendment Sale. I'm not an anti-gun person; I'm not even anti-hunting... but I am pro-gun control. Yes, I believe you have the right to own a gun... providing that you pass a criminal background check and can prove you have the requisite knowledge to own a gun.

There are some that would argue this violates the spirit of the Second Amendment. I would argue that it in no way violates the spirit of the Second Amendment than restrictions put into place on free speech violate the First Amendment.

And still, as I watch with horror the violence across this nation and indeed across the world this weekend and everyday, I can't help but remind myself, this is not about the guns... for in those places where guns are not available, people are using machetes, rocks and sticks to maim and kill each other. This isn't about guns, it is about people and our capacity for violence... and even with that admission, I don't think it wise, clever or right to promote the sale of firearms without sales tax... or to promote the sale of firearms in general.

Of course, when the mentality is to stampede someone to death at a WalMart (which seems to happen every year) over cheap goods made by child labor in a communist country, the promotion of firearms seems to make as much sense. For more on the WalMart issue, please visit the Huffington Post where Anita Thompson has done a marvelous job of the topic.

Making sense of Mumbai

2008-11-28T11:19:00.002-05:00

She writes, as if it were possible... but in my intellectualizing world, it is what I do. Blathering on and on in an effort to convince myself, if not those around me, that these kinds of situations should be used to understand our differences, bring together people and though scary be the ignition for hope and change rather than fear and digging in our heels to a paradigm that can't ever shift.

Yesterday, I saw a woman posting a comment about the deaths of some U.S. citizens in Mumbai... she was eloquent and logical in her prose about the situation until she suddenly turned from complete sentences and thoughts to an all CAPS tyraid on how Muslim Extremists should follow the Ten Commandments. Surreal.

Surreal also is how I learned of the situation, which is still on going as I write. Once again, at the gym, with Cat Stevens' Peace Train playing on my iPod and CNN on without sound I see the breaking news and footage that followed. It was only a few months ago that I was listening to Peace Train and inspired that our now President-Elect could actually be the One to bring the needed revolution to this country.

The irony is not lost on me... the music of a man who converted to Islam, singing his messages of peace--who had his albums steamrolled and burned in the streets of America. Which, by the way, was wrong. But, it leads me back to the paradigm in this country--the one in which people are afraid of Muslims. But like most fears, it makes no sense. Islam is no more a violent philosophy than Christianity... it is what people choose to do with their beliefs and interpretations of them. I can assure you I am far more afeared of those who are Christian in this country acting out their messages of hatred and intolerance in the name of their God than I am of potential terrorist cells.

For all our technologies and all our "advancements" we are no more civilized a society than times dating back thousands of years. We still revert to killing those that don't agree with us--and some who do--just to be sure. And while I am still hoping for a revolution, know that I think and therefore expect something other than guns and armor to win this battle ahead.

So, some stuff has happened....

2008-11-23T09:17:00.002-05:00

It's been over a month since I last posted. Times have been busy for dear ol' Nikki and writing has taken an unfortunate backseat. I'm hoping with some time off on the horizon, I might be able to get back into my mojo--or something.

I know you didn't come here for the breaking news. It's been some interesting weeks after the election. The fear that was bound to come over our president-elects safety has gripped many of his enthusiastic supporters and the economy is teetering on a deflationary spiral, which should be far more scary to people--but all I hear is "Bout time the gas prices went down!"

Despite all these things, there were some moments from election day/night that were moving, exciting and moved many to tears of joy. For the first time, there was hopefulness; perhaps some of it was blindly so, but in light of our history, it was monumental. The spontaneous gatherings--and peacefully so--were amazing. It was touching to see the 105 year old African American woman make it to the voting booth and left with her I Voted Button... that it was so touching is a true testament to the battles she alone fought and witnessed in her life. There are other things I won't soon ever forget:

--Jon Stewart's live announcement that the election had been called for Obama. (Yes, I was watching Comedy Central).
--the vision of Jesse Jackson with tears streaming down his face.
--Obama's acceptance speech, likewise, I found McCain's concession speech quite memorable.
--the pictures of the celebratory gatherings outside the White House.
--the text message from a friend that "God bless the United States of Kick Ass. Finally!"
--the Philadelphia news the next morning showing police celebrating in the streets.

Finally, because it is something so very close to my own realm of understanding...
The numerous reports out of Minneapolis from the Bob Dylan show in which during his encore, Dylan stopped, introduced the band, and after mentioning the Obama button his bandmate was wearing and said the following, "I was born in 1941 -- Pearl Harbor. Things have been in darkness ever since. Things are going to change." After which he launched into a rare encore performance of Blowin' in the Wind.

Dylan has always just let his music stand as it is, Friday was no different in New York. And as it is no different, people will try to find the message... and the answer my friend is blowin in the wind, the answer is blowin in the wind.

1963:
I have a dream...
Only a Pawn in their Game

2008:
Tonight is your answer...
Blowin in the Wind

Say what you will. Some people, they have seen a lot--maybe it means something, maybe it doesn't, but it is there... and the experiences I can only imagine and admire with awe. Either way, things are bound to happen, they always do.

The Breakdancin' Rabbi--My Yearly Colombus Day Rant

2008-10-13T18:10:00.003-04:00

Today, on the usual coffee run, I think Lauren spelled it all out for me and what's been going on: I've reached that complete washed over feeling of hopelessness. And it is true, in so many aspects of life right now. In a country where I--a lifelong feminist (humanist)--am regarded as sexist because I think the choice of Sarah Palin for the Republican Vice Presidential ticket was foolish and in no way an advancement for women, where else does one take these feelings? In a country where the undertones (and overtones) of racism and religious bigotry runs amok... what's next? In a country where my 401k tanked inside of a week, we have a campaign that is focusing on non-issues, what the fuck?

We would all be better off a country if instead of pretending we weren't bigoted in some fashion, we just owned up to our faults, took accountability for our actions and worked on the whole instead of the "mes" and really discussed the good, the bad and the hideously revolting.

Why don't we?

Because we live in two Americas--yep, that's right, two... the ones that believe spam emails are reliable sources of news because someone said they looked at snopes.com and the ones that delete them.

And what does this have to do with a breakdancing Rabbi and Colombus Day?

Good question.

We "celebrate" a holiday today in honour of a man who gets all the credit for discovering the Americas... apparently, we were lost. It brings honour and recognition to the European colonization of the Americas while at the same time further denying the long history of manifest destiny that has destroyed cultures and histories of the indigenous. No doubt an abundence of children were misfeed history today.

On a side note, I was pleased to learn that Venezuelan Presidente Hugo Chavez changed the paradigm of the holiday back in 2002: changing it to Día de la Resistencia Indígena (Day of Indigenous Resistance). Bravo Chavez!

Which leads me to the breakdancing Rabbi... in Lauren and my extended conversation about bigotry, misunderstanding and hopelessness, we came about to the holidays... and how certain holidays get preference and acceptance. Discussion on how we get Christmas off but not Chanukah, and that lead to her pointing out that means 8 days of dancing and spinning a dreidel with no time off from work. And in the course of this meandering conversation, the end result was my determination that the Jews came up with breakdancing.

Factually, that is grossly inaccurate by all accounts I can find and was previously aware of... in the moment, however, it was hysterically funny. And just because I came across this video of a seemingly nice Hassidic Jewish guy breakdancing, I felt the need to share.

October hath arrived...

2008-10-08T18:57:00.002-04:00

...let us usher in the apple picking season officially! I say officially because this weekend found me picking apples. Driving all over NJ. Walking all over Midtown Manhattan. Shopping all over the greater Philadelphia area. Watching an abhorrently ridiculous VP debate. And visiting with my parents.

And now the week finds me catching up on insane numbers of emails and meetings... oh my, the meetings! I'm looking forward to a weekend to get some rest.

In the meantime, I am enjoying my 100th or so viewing of the Sex and the City Movie and for better or worse, eating a third of the days calories in chocolate. It is certainly less painful than watching the endless talking heads related to the economic crisis, the punditry and anything with Palin talking. It has been a long time since that kind of moronic construct has entered the political stratosphere... and I say that in full acknowledgement of the last 8 years of tyranny. Palin puts to shame even the legacy of Dan Quayle.

And now, I am off, to continue watching my movie, to do some writing and to prepare a tasty non-chocolate snack.

The great debate, part 1

2008-09-28T15:51:00.002-04:00

Now, there is a lot of chatter among peoples about the debate this last Friday... who won and on what issues? Depending on the camp the story changes. So, I thought it was only appropriate to put my two cents in on the issue of utmost importance.

I don't know what McCain's advisors were thinking, perhaps a mechanism to keep him alert and awake when his head nodded down, but he came away the biggest fashion loser of this debate.

Check out the tie, which is so red, white and blue busy that it doesn't even photograph right. Frankly, it also accentuates his age, because not only does it emphasize the comb over and stodginess, it looks circa 1947.

An while this photo does neither justice, Obama's fashionability clearly surpasses that of McCain; and that is clearly a significant factor when selecting your next president. It shows a lot more than one migght think... this is, after all, the biggest job interview of them all...

Latte thinking

2008-09-27T13:28:00.002-04:00

It has been a while since I blogged on the subject of living with an eating disorder, and as I was walking through the grocery store today, feeling somewhat empowered (and skinny) for not having eaten and drinking only a latte (nonfat, of course) in the last 20 or so hours and calculating the calories from yesterday... that it was indeed time, again. Why? Because I need to write and this is one of the prominent thoughts pre-occupying my mind.

I rationalized the logic in the car home; I haven't worked out in a week, I ate cheese yesterday and *gasp* bread. But I know it isn't really logic... and I know I'm using the absence of food like a drug--the rush of the control to a control-freak is a tempting morsel to not eat. The signs were there early this week... travel to Minneapolis and the fastidious calorie counting that begins the moment I have to set foot in an airport. No longer do I suffer from the fear of flying that used to cause dreams of planes falling from the clouds that held them up... oh no, that has long since been replaced by other, more terrifying notions--like dining out. I didn't do too badly, by comparison to my trip last month to the Land of a Million Lakes... and though there was a moment of panic when my salad arrived sans dressing on the side, but dripping from the leaves of lettuce on the plate before me, I held it together and ate the salad--dressing and all.

By end of the week, I embraced my food fears and ordered a grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch. My bowing to the mercy of a long-time comfort food in the face of a week of high stress was inevitable... as was the feeling to follow.

I joked with a colleague on Friday that a heavily populated meeting schedule (especially) during the noon hour was my key diet strategy, but the reality is that it only serves to piss me off if there is no time for a coffee run. I have a real relationship with the trio who serve me coffee nearly everyday of the week... despite the fact that they barely speak English and despite my ordering the same thing almost every day for the last year, never know what I want... it's a special bond.

Last weekend was my one year anniversary in PA, and I love it. But I started thinking, it is also nearly that two year marker since I was practically forced into therapy... though I have continued on my own (one of these days, it will be fashionable again--or did it never lose its chic?). I'd like to think I've made some progress--even on days like this when my anxiety it high, my head feels like it will come off my shoulders and food is an enemy to be watched with a keen eye.... it's good to know I'm not alone, it will get better and I can at least recognize what I'm doing--even if I am not ready to be brave enough to take that next step.

Zim and Eugene

2008-09-21T17:35:00.001-04:00

A former colleague asked me to spread the word... Zim and Eugene is quite a funny web cartoon. Enjoy!

Blessed Workouts?

2008-09-20T19:23:00.002-04:00

When is a water-stained ceiling tile not just a water stained ceiling tile? When a woman in a weight loss center in Kansas sees Jesus in it. Guess we will be seeing it on eBay soon... I'd make some kind of snarky comment about faith, capitalism and all that, but it would be too obvious.

The systematic subjugation of arbitrary paradigms of higher level eschelons beyond our control?

2008-09-15T19:51:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago, I was in a training on diversity (admittedly, I have been in a lot of trainings these last few weeks) and there was a reference to our technological growth with the expectation that in so many years, computers will have the ability to out think people.

All I can say is, not unless Microsoft's stronghold takes a few chinks... not their systems, oh, no, those can't handle anymore dents in the armour, but their mind numbingly genius marketing stronghold. Good god, if they ever partner with Starbucks.... eww, I gave myself icky chills.

Nonetheless, the statement was what some might call, wholly illogical. While I understand the concept, I have to debate the validity of the argument. Why? Because do we understand the capacity of the human brain? No. Do people create computers? Yes. Can we build something greater than we can understand? Well, most of us cannot. And depending on how the election goes, none will evolve to that point, either.

But, here is the real reason I don't buy into this "prediction." Last week, I parked my car at the mall to go walking with a friend and then have dinner. In the process of getting out of my car, changing my shoes, etc. I locked my keys in the car. The window was cracked, but not enough to reach in and for once I had my sunroof closed. So, we went into the mall, got a tow truck number, called. They arrived within 5 minutes and unlocked the door. Indicating he wasn't going to charge me. As the nice man was walking away, yours truly locked the door and closed it--realizing that the keys remained still in the ignition. And again, he unlocked the door, no charge.

What does my moment of idiocy say about possible evolution of the human brain and technology? None of them, no matter how advanced, will ever be flaw-free. And much like the chicken or the egg question (which no doubt were both simultaneous placed in a nest by a higher power*), one has to wonder, does the creation of technology cause brain melt-downs or... were both created in the "perfect" image of their makers?

*Just in case this election doesn't go my way, I'm evolving into a mode of survival. My lack of religious identity will remain firmly intact.

Sad, but not overly surprising

2008-09-14T09:56:00.001-04:00

Writer David Foster Wallace apparently hanged himself this weekend and is dead at age 46.

Oh, the horror

2008-09-04T19:56:00.002-04:00

Innocently I am sitting here with the TV on when what should flash before my startled eyes but a flash of sparkly red and the voice of Richard Simmons... Yoplait could really do better for a spokesman. Aren't they trying to sell their yogurt, and not cause regurgitation?

Here's hoping

2008-08-30T22:20:00.002-04:00

I’ve been happy lately, Thinking about the good things to come,

And I believe it could be, something good has begun
Oh I’ve been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one,

And I believe it could be, some day its going to come
‘Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train,

Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again

--Cat Stevens, Peace Train, 1971

I was somewhere around mile 5 on the elliptical this afternoon when this song came into rotation and couldn't help but be inspired toward my mile 6, and as CNN blared campaign issues across the screens, inspired by the possibilities. Don't get me wrong, my cynicism remains firmly intact, but as I see people starting to come together, starting to actually feel something like (do I dare use the word) hope... there comes an enlightenment. And while I am painfully aware of the reality behind the hope, the notion that there is in our midst a mobilizer, an inspiration... the crest of the wave that even those blind to the sea can tell is the verge of a time worthy enough to make note of now (pundits be damned).

As for my cynicism, I'll give it a break for the moment... because otherwise, the use of a Cat Stevens quote while talking of Barack Obama might trigger another boatload of emails that make me sad and angry.

Omnivore's Hundred

2008-08-19T20:21:00.003-04:00

Chotilde at Chocolate & Zucchini challenges us to take on Andrew Wheelers Omnivore's Hundred.

1. Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2. Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3. Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4. Optional extra: post a comment on Very Good Taste, linking to your results.

My list is below. Even though there are 29 I've not tried, I only marked a few that I wouldn't consider... for some reason or another.

1. Venison*
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Phở
13. PB&J sandwich *
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes*
22. Fresh wild berries*
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans*
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper (not a whole one!!)
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava*
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas (an allergy to wasabi prevents future consumption)
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar (not at the same time)
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects (probably not intentionally)
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/€80/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala*
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut*
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer*
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano*
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee*
100. Snake

* An asterisk marks the items I'm particularly fond of.

Green Belt... a non-accessory career accessory

2008-08-16T14:16:00.003-04:00

The last week has found me a student of Six Sigma... formally. In a mere five days I was barraged and completed Green Belt training in Minneapolis. Unfortunately, I didn't see much of the city--at all. A 730-530 daily schedule, pending migraine and raging bout of insomnia found me vending my dinners quickly and not as efficiently as I would have hoped from the Mall of America, which was the only thing relatively close.

To those who have asked or would ask... I did not shop -- for much the same reason as I did not do much of anything else. I tried desperately and without much real effort to find a sweatshirt without a hood (lack of sleep and migraine combined with overpowering AC made me VERY cold all the time). But a pair of shoes did catch my eye at Steve Madden...

I did, however, meet some great people, and some folks with whom I work daily with, but have never had the pleasure of meeting live and in person. And, I did accomplish the purpose of the trip... as I am somewhat certain that I passed the final exam. The coming weeks will find me embarked on my certification journey... Pareto charts beware.

As usual, my travel was riddled with delays, the unusual and inanely dumb. After a mere three some hour delay out of PHL on Sunday night, we were told the ramp would be reopened and we would be 7th in line for take off... keep in mind, prior to the ramp again being closed (thunderstorms) we were told we were 3rd in line for take off. The following happened...

--the guy 5 rows up started to freak out at the sound of the engine gearing back up and demanded to know what was wrong with the plane, causing panic to those around him. The flight attendant gave the usual elevator speech, which was not easily digested.

--The guy next to me, who already voiced his belief that the airlines were out to get him personally, began pontificating further the conspiracy theory with the gentleman in front of him--both of whom on occasion looked to me for affirmation.

--The woman next to me had 5 conversations in her cell phone before looking at me and asking if I thought the flight attendant would let her off the plane. She did not understand the concept of being on an active run way--no where near the gate. Apparently, they do things a bit differently in Kansas City.

--The idiot man who had to be damn near 7 feet tall (and was as dumb as he was tall) decided he simply could not wait to go to the bathroom. I had encountered him in the airport when he did not seem to comprehend that his backpack was an extension of his body and it really did bother me when it smacked me in the head twice. Not only could he not hold it... he felt the need to get his backpack out of the overhead, put it on and casually stroll to the back of the plane. I had hoped we would take off with him in there, but we did not.

--Meanwhile, the conspiracy raged on my right as I was instructed to "LOOK" out the window and provide my assessment on why planes were not taking off quickly enough... did I notice there was a good 4-5 minutes between planes???

The flight home was not nearly as annoying or reportable... but I have come to the conclusion that men of a certain age, wearing a certain style of yuppie backpack with 2 small children in tow, have completely diminished any brain cell activity--apparently in exchange for sperm and EMS (that's Eastern Mountain Sports, not emergency medical services) gear. No doubt karma will come back to kick them in the ass when their 17 year old daughters come home with the fear flavor of the moment... and I plan to be in the airport to witness this 14 years or so from now.

But being home is good. Even if every muscle in my body aches and my migraine is still weaving its tendrils around the lobes of my brain.

Another Truth Sayer

2008-08-09T16:37:00.000-04:00

Sad news. Bernie Mac has died.

Basketball

2008-07-31T20:26:00.002-04:00

LA Sparks player Candace Parker's jersey is currently outselling Kobe Bryant and LeBron James... could be her dunks (the seond WNBA player to dunk--and has done it twice) or it could be her recent suspension for the melee with the Detroit Shock... I'd like to think, though a Detroit fan, that this little nod to the women's league is all about the talent, because Parker is amazingly talented a player.

Speaking of the Shock-Spark brawl of last week, Cheryl Ford--my favorite WNBA player--is out the rest of the season with a torn ACL after trying to restrain a teammate. So sad.

Sell out?

2008-07-30T21:08:00.002-04:00

For a long time, I have had this image of Lenny Kravitz--a musician capable of taking his music to another level that can inspire and move people to action. Perhaps it is how he channels those who came before him, perhaps it is a naive hope of mine to see something transpire in a world where a revolution is truly needed. I held a momentary glimpse when I first heard "Love Revolution" the song has the vision and the movement behind it to do just what I thought Kravitz was capable of... until tonight when I saw this commercial for Kohls, featuring Kravitz and friends.

And a thought occurred to me.

Maybe Kravitz is who I thought him to be as an artist, he's just going another route. Like Andy Warhol before him, sometimes you have to test the boundaries of what is acceptable in art. We already know commercialism links work... but it is such a contradiction to think about a Love Revolution with shopping at a Kohls. Maybe it's a statement. Maybe it's a paycheck. I really don't know, but in order to make sense of this for me, I have to turn to the theories of abstract art.

LiveStrong

2008-07-30T18:40:00.002-04:00

I'm happy to annouce the team that I walk with in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer has a team in Philly for next month's LiveStrong Event. Solo Strutters USA has expanded!!

Duelling Worlds

2008-07-29T22:19:00.002-04:00

There's been much talk these days of whether we live in one world or if in the USA there are two worlds... indeed, Whoopi and her View co-worker got into a scrap over this very topic a week or so ago and even Barbara Walters could barely get a word in.

And I think the question of whether we live in one world or two is really oversimplifying the issue. There is no one world, there is no two-worlds... look around you and you will see that my world and experience is quite different than many others, and theirs mine... it isn't the P.C. thing to say, but we live in a caste-world, even in the USA. And that is as close to a 1-world description as we will ever get to.

Living in this world, though, doesn't mean that we can't all come to a common understanding; an understanding that the human condition -- the needs and fundamental physics -- are all the same. Sadly, that is where the breakdown happens; and it happens big--because here in the US of A, we don't fuck up small.

Despite my sarcasm and belief that the problem that exists is far grander in scale than what is portrayed (and that is part of the problem), I remain optimistic. Optimistic that there are people who get it, optimistic that the basic good in people will prevail, optimistic that with the right leaders hope can enlighten the rest. We've seen this happen; it's amazing and scary and exciting and long over due of late.

I don't believe the fundamental differences will dissipate, in fact, I would hope they don't, but there is a link between all the worlds that exist. We found it before, we can certainly find it again.

Coco

2008-07-26T23:52:00.004-04:00

This week, Lauren alerted me to the fact that Shirley MacLaine was going to be playing fashionista Coco Chanel. I adore Shirley MacLaine, I can't wait until the miniseries airs (on Lifetime)... Here is my favorite piece of the interview she gave, and one of the reasons I love MacLaine:

"She (Audrey Hepburn) told me I should play Coco Chanel. I said: 'Well, Coco Chanel was a little scrunched over and very short.'
"And she said, 'But the spirit of the woman is what matches your spirit.'
"Now I found Coco to be everything between generous and rude, so I don't know what Audrey meant. But she was obviously right."
But wasn't Coco Chanel a lesbian?

"Well, just because you play the whole field, doesn't mean you are a lesbian." MacLaine replied.