December 31, 2005

New Year's Resolutions Which I Will Probably Not Keep (Maybe)

Enjoy life more. Be less stressed. Drink less coffee (gasp!).

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December 27, 2005

No, It is NOT a Weird Skin Disease

*

During my office holiday party 2 weeks ago, a henna artist drew flowers and vines all over my right hand. If anyone ever offers to draw semi-permanent squiggles on your hand after you've had a few drinks, say no.

I am tired of the tattoo, but the design will not be completely washed/rubbed/scratched off. It has faded somewhat so it now looks like I have some funkified skin disease on my hand. It frightened my grandma during the holidays! Anyone know how to remove henna asap? Please speak up, interweb folks!

*Not actually shot by me. Not actually a photo of a right hand. Not actually a photo of my hand. Actual photo shot by Aran of her own pre-fade beautifully henna-ed hand.

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December 25, 2005

Foggy and Misty Xmas Morn

Woke up to this outside my window:



Walked through my hometown this morning; streets were silent except for the rustling of dead leaves from scampering squirrels. Seemed like the world was still asleep.

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December 23, 2005

Strike Off

Strike's off. New contract has not been negotiated. Transit workers face fines of 2 days pay for every day on strike. City loses millions of dollars from lost tax revenue. Local businesses lose millions of dollars from lost sales. Seems like no one comes out a winner from the strike.

But on a positive note, now we can stop moaning about the strike and concentrate on celebrating Festivus (or Chrismahanakwanzakuh, whatever you celebrate)! Let your friends know that you're thinking badly of them. Festivus for the rest of us!

Off to suburbia to commune w/the parents...

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December 20, 2005

New Strategy

I must show my face in the office tomorrow, but I have developed a strategy to avoid rush hour strike insanity: stay out as late as possible. That way one avoids the 6pm madness at LIRR Penn/Jamaica/Atlantic Station, and easily catch a cab home. If I'm going to lay out a strategy, I might as well make sure it maximizes the fun factor. The plan:

Wed
Post-work silliness with friend from Cali

Thursday
Exsprng Holiday Party w/the crazy ex's
Kapow! + TK Webb @Fat Baby

This could work. No way am I walking 6 freezing miles from Manhattan. No. Way. Just need to worry about getting to work now. . .

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Strike On

NYC transit strike is on!

Most everyone whom I know is planning to walk/steal a bike etc. for a 2 hour commute to their office. Except my city-dwelling co-workers who plan to work from home.

Only one person, with whom I've discussed the strike, out and out supports the TWU's stance in negotiations. Most admit either they don't know enough about the issues to form an educated opinion or immediately go on a 10 minute rant about how the TWU sucks. I'm in the I don't know enough category. Need to read up on the issue and get off the fence. . .

Edit: Check out the heated comments on gothamist. The haterade is flowing for the TWU.

Edit: Be careful of what you ask for. Was looking for non-"TWU sucks" pov, and got one. Plus I didn't need to look far. Roommate went on a rant about how MTA is evil, everyone should support the TWU and all unions "in any matter." When I challenged the "in any matter" part of her statement -- eeek, the haterade really spewed forth: "We should all strike!! Don't you know what a living wage is? I blame Bloomberg, the government; they are evil, they caused all this!" Grateful that she stopped short of calling me a capitalist pig at least. Oink.

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Strike or No Strike? Anxiety Watch Returns

It's 1:16am.

TWU has rejected MTA's latest offer
. TWU board is meeting now to decide, "strike or no strike."

Strike Anxiety: Spiked to High around midnight, but now simmering at Medium (hello, telecommuting!)

Need sleep. . .

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December 19, 2005

Older not Wiser, but it's OK

Since I hit my mid-20s, I've attempted to ignore the passage of time by keeping my birthday on the downlow. It's just another day, right? Always felt uncomfortable celebrating getting older, when I don't feel any wiser or more enlightened with turning 23, 24, 25 and (gulp) 26. Guess others are feeling the same as evidenced by the glut of "quarterlife crisis" survival manuals on the market. Anyway, I don't mention my birthday to anyone, except when directly asked "Waitaminute, isn't your birthday in 5 days?!" But every year I never get away with treating my birthday like just another day. . .and in the end, I'm glad of that. Maybe the feeling of being "with it" or wiser will hit when I'm in my 30s...or in my 80s if I'm still breathing.

Thank you to all the folks who made sure I didn't let last Friday slip away unacknowledged.

I'm older and I think I'm OK with it.

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December 16, 2005

Strike or No Strike? Anxiety Watch

All week NY (well me, at least) has been gripped with Strike Anxiety. Will the MTA and the Transit Workers Union be able to work out their concerns regarding a contract renewal? Will TWU go through with their strike threat? The last TWU strike lasted over a week! It's been a rollercoaster for my nerves.

Wed
My dept agreed to telecommute if there is a strike on Friday. Sweet!
Strike Anxiety: Low

Thursday
Went to my company holiday party thinking that there will be car service to get our inebriated asses home.
Strike Anxiety: Low

Received friend's text message while dancing to 50 Cent (yes, i went there) that there will be a strike.
Strike Anxiety: Medium

After emerging from the club and piling into cab, interrogate taxi driver about strike news. Midnight deadlines passes while we're approaching Brookyn Bridge without any news.
Strike Anxiety: Medium

Friday
Get home, listen to 1010 Wins. No strike news. What gives?
Strike Anxiety: Medium

Woke up at 6:45am. Still no strike news. Subways still running, but how long will that last?
Strike Anxiety: Medium/High

Finally new news: there will be a partial strike. I can commute to work but am not sure if I can get back home. Convinced MTA & TWU are conspiring to ruin my birthday.
Strike Anxiety: Medium/High

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December 14, 2005

When a Gap Gift Card Won't Do

It's December, the time to buy/make stuff for your loved ones and celebrate one of the values that makes modern life so great -- commericalism! Some holiday gift suggestions for the quirky folk in your life:

Arnold Schwarzenegger - Total Body Workout (the album)
I recommend checking out track #9, Ahnold's words of wisdom set to the soothing sounds of "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls. Can't vouch for the actual fitness value of this CD, but its comedic value is solid gold. (thanks, Mars)

Anything from Despair, Inc.
For the depressed, unmotivated pessimists with a sense of humor. Despair Inc.'s not satisfied until you're dissatisfied.

Crafty Goodness

Everyone likes handmade DIY stuff, especially when they're made by people who actually know how to knit, sew a straight line and work a glue gun.

Hulger P*Phone

Because cell phones are way too complicated to use. For the old-school crowd.

Already finished up my non-religious holiday shopping (does that make sense?). Well, finished most of it.

Amazing that I still do any holiday gifting as I grew up in a household where one of my dad's favorite statements is: "Insert holiday here was invented by Hallmark." My mom disagrees. Hence the schism towards holiday shopping in my family. I give holiday gifts. Mom gives holiday gifts. Dad receives holiday gifts, doesn't give holiday gifts, but will give people random stuff throughout the year for non-holiday related reasons.

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December 12, 2005

Missing: Socks & Mail

The sockmonster, which lives in my local laundromat, and the mailmonster have joined forces. Am missing 3 half pairs of socks ('cuz the sockmonster only eats 1 sock, and never eats the entire pair), and 5 days worth of mail. Not that I miss receiving bills, but c'mon! Not even one single piece of junk mail addressed to me? Must walk around the city mail-ess with mismatching socks.

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December 11, 2005

Chinese Eats in NY: Uninspired and Underrated?

eGullet conversation with Ruth Reichl on Chinese food on NYC:
"Which is all a long way of saying that after living in California, it's hard to get very excited about Chinese food in New York. We just don't have the kind of monied, sophisticated Chinese eaters who support great restaurants."

And on the absence of Chinese restaurants in the Michelin Guide:
"This is a subject I could go on forever about: Basically, Americans are racist about Chinese food. We just don't think it should be as expensive as western food. When my friend Bruce Cost had a great Chinese restaurant in SF, one of the reviews actually said, "What makes him think we should pay as much for Chinese as French food?" And he was buying from the same purveyors as Chez Panisse." [from A Full Belly]
I've eaten at many Chinese restaurants in NYC; had some mediocre experiences and some fab experiences. Never eaten at Shun Lee Palace or joints in San Francisco or Vancouver, so I can't really make a fair judgment about NY not having great Chinese restaurants compared to those cities.

But I do agree about the Reichl's take on American attitudes towards Chinese food. I fear that General Whatsisname's Chicken and other greasy take-out offerings are what many Americans believe is all Chinese cuisine has to offer. Maybe what Chinese diners value in their cuisine (i.e. texture of shark fin in shark's fin soup--so delicious!) is just too different for many diners in this country to appreciate? Maybe the loud environment (in both noise level and decor) of many Chinese restaurants, puts some people off their appetite?

Need to go to SF or V sometime, if only to compare food notes.

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Music Nerd Alert in NY Times

The World's Most Popular Gay Postmodern Harpsichord Nerd

Photo by Tim Broddin

Gotta love NY Times headline writers!

My first introduction to Owen Pallett/Final Fantasy was at Webster Hall back in February; he had the audience mesmerized with his violin and diy visual effects (overhead projector and colored plastic sheets). The crowd was completely silent when he was performing; I didn't hear any murmuring or background conversation at all -- not bad for an opening band whom only a handful of people in the city knew.

Article mentions that his next album will hit this spring: "a song cycle based on 'the eight schools of magic' in the ultimate geek game, Dungeons and Dragons." Okaaaay. I have no idea what these schools of magic are...but am looking forward to more nerdy songs about ghosts.

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December 06, 2005

Kickstart Your Morning Mix

I listen to this in the mornings on the way to work. Gives me a much needed audio jolt.
Ready for another day. Bring it!

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December 05, 2005

PSA for the Ladies: HollaBackNYC

If you're a woman in NYC, chances are you've recently been verbally or physically harassed by a stranger on the street. Take comfort and vent about your experience in HollaBackNYC.

Damn, I remember training myself when I was thirteen to ignore verbal harrassment. Later took the ABC Afterschool Special approach and tried to educate harrassers that calling my friend "brown sugar" and making remarks about and/or trying to touch my breasts/ass/crotch was not appreciated. Uh, that didn't seem to work. When I was in Mexico a few years ago, an idiot tried to convince me that my friend and I really did like being sexually objectified and called racist names. Wtf?!

Then I grew older, more impatient and started screaming at these assholes. Which may not be the smartest thing to do when the asshole is driving an eight-wheel truck alongside you. Now I don't completely ignore all harrassment, but I don't put myself in a potentially dangerous situation and confront every harrasser.

Thank you, HollaBackNYC, for making me feel less crappy.

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December 04, 2005

New Elefant

Elefant disappeared for what seems like ages...but they're back. Marketing campaign for their next album, The Black Magic Show (April 2006), has kicked off; spotted a sidebar ad and paid download promo on Pitchfork last Friday. Maybe they'll start playing shows in the spring?

Liked their first album and am digging The Clown, the teaser track from the new album. But not enough to dislodge "Love Will Tear Us Apart" -- it's still stuck in my head. Blargh!

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First Snow

Woke up to this:




First snow of the fall (what's left of it). I love weekend mornings just after a snowstorm -- for a few hours a hush falls, leaving a small pocket of calm in a sometimes chaotic city.

More snow is on the way.


Listening to:
Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (been running through my head all day, not sure why)


Edit: photo of the heels on 11th street minus snow.

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December 01, 2005

Rock & Roll Evacuation - Feb 7

Almost a year after its release in the UK, Electric Six's SeƱor Smoke is finally hitting stateside! (A ridiculous delay; tragedy that it took the boys so long to sign with another label. Anyway, it's all good now.) My favorite tracks from the "new" album: "Boy or Girl?" (which they didn't play at their last local gig, grrr.), "Jimmy Carter," and of course "Pleasing Interlude No 1" and "Pleasing Interlude No 2." Preview tracks off their myspace.

And if that wasn't enough excitement, E6's 3rd album will be released autumn 2006. Ai!

Craptastic Photo of 4 of the E6

This band is insane fun live. Also will be swinging by a few days afterwards to trigger a dance epidemic at Bowery Ballroom (Mars, thanks for the FYI re: show). Few more months before it's time to gather the hardcore fans again...

Edit: Just found out the Metropolis Records, E6's new label, also distributes Apoptygma Berzerk's music. Memories...I loved their music during my college days. Not as fun or funny as E6, AB is more angsty (dare I say,
goth?) synth pop. And no, I was never a goth.

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