Five-Hour Phone Conversations

Prison Break: Episode 8

2006-10-29T19:49:00.000-08:00

The boys are back in town...

So we found out Sucre was pulling a fast one. My mom was right. Knew IT!!!!!!. But Ha Ha on them! Too bad they didn’t show T-Bag making the switch. Hate when they leave such big plot points out. Sometimes the plot holes are so obvious and then they throw us an instance that matters to the story. Bet the arc is going to come back around with them suddenly finding it so easy to get T-Bag.

How could Michael and C-Note leave T-Bag in the garage? Alone. Yeah. DUH on that one. Nice move fellas.

Why does Michael keep getting so angry? Is he that stupid? Why has he not come to expect these things already? Any why didn't he plan for all scenarios?

Ouch! How could she cut herself? YEAH! Kicking the agents ass. Why not take the gun? And why doesn’t she have one yet? It's Prison Break TV land. They have to find a way for her to stumble upon one.

I’m sorry. But how did Linc just happen to be in the same town on such an adjacent street corner? And does LJ suspect anything? Here it is. Coming back around to such an obvious plot point. Taking us for granted just to move the story along.

Love Bill Fichtner. Keep him on next season.

I knew when Sara made that call to Bruce that it would result in an attempt on her life. C’mon. Throw us a bone we’re not expecting. A new flavor. And that woman was just such an obvious set up. Shouldn’t Sara know she can’t trust anyone? Just after her father was killed and there was an attempt on her life? How could she not suspect it was Bruce? And why didn’t’ she keep the battery?

How was Sucre finding it so easy to get back up from under that tree? That current was too strong. If anything, he'd be swept under. Water pressure mean anything to you?

Nice move on Linc’s part getting the meth head to beat L.J. up. But how did he get out of the hospital? Wish they would show those things sometimes. No wonder he wanted the cooler.

Where did the rope come from that Michael wrapped around the tree? I'm still not sure why he did that with the motorcycle. Someone fill me in please.

Love the code. Very DaVinci!

So happy for Sucre! But Maricruz is taking him for a sucka!

Why didn’t Sara number the birds? Of course Agent Kellerman was going to find the last bird.

Totally not expecting Agent Mahone to be working with Kellerman. Luv these little nuggets of surprise. Is he a bad guy? Not really in the FBI? Assassin?

Quotes of the night:

Sucre to Michael: If you can get eight people out of prison, you can get my Puerto Rican ass out of this, can’t you?

Mahone's superior: I will chain you to this desk until I get some answers I cannot fertilize my lawn with.

Damnit!

2006-10-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

What will Callie do now?

Generosity 401

2006-10-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

This is exactly the type of individual I hope to become.

Football Brawling 101

2006-10-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

I think Joe Paterno could teach Larry Coker a thing or two about handling college football players. Especially after the messy melee this past weekend.

Should Coker be fired? I don't think so. It's his players who should be dismissed. They wielded the helmets and the cleats. Is college where they start to think that because they are hot shot athletes they can get away with anything? Seems to be. Although not so much in this case. Mind you, FIU is to blame as well. Just not as much, IMHO.

I'll be back to blogging about Prison Break next week. Can't wait to see how much farther Mahone will crack. Still can't believe he shot Tweener.

Prison Break, Episode 5

2006-09-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

In order of appearance:

Why is Mahone obsessed with Scoffield?

Tweener wiping his fingerprints. Does he actually think that will work?

Love how Michael put the number in the swan. So sweet. But what does it belong to? Is it a clue to the location of the money? A cryptogram? Don't leave us hangin'. Not fair.

Where is Hightower?

Loved how T-bag and Tweener met up!

How did Sucre get to 100 miles outside of Las Vegas in one day? The phone booth just happened to have chapel phone numbers of where Hector and Maricruz were getting married? C'mon. We are not stupid tv watchers.

At the municipal building in Utah? How could the polic not recognize the brothers right away?

Lincoln went to jail for a crime he didn’t commit, but if he goes back, it’s for a reason. These guys may not have been criminals before, but they all are now.

How did Sucre make it to Vegas (100 miles) in a few hours on a motorcycle?

Love that T-bag ate the map. Serves Michale and Lincoln right for actually believing him. Are all criminals that stupid? Why did they not search him better?

Line of the night: “I’d a tattooed it to my body but I didn’t have the time.”

Prison Break: Episode 4

2006-09-13T06:45:00.000-07:00

It's all about the characters, baby....

John Abruzzi: We hardly knew ye. R.I.P, my favorite mob boss. Saw this coming from a mile away, albeit after the fact. No wonder Peter Stormare has only been listed as a guest star in the opening credits. That never bodes well for a character. He did clean up well though. But where did the sudden accent come from? Let's hope this doesn't happen with Lincoln. To have Dominic Purcell's Australian accent suddenly come screaming out in the middle of a scene, would just be laughably wrong.

Tweener: Where did that body come from? He's being made out to be the stupidest of the group, so he'll probably be one of the last to go back to Fox River.

T-Bag: Ewwwwwwwwww! And I'm not referring to his hand. And how did the cops at the gas station not recognize him with the pictures being flashed all over the airwaves?

Michael: Where's the 5 o'clock shadow? How did you get Sara's cell phone number? And one tiny little detail, which harkens back to my first post of the season: How could you not destroy the hard drive?

Lincoln: Scrub city, but it works for you. Guess Michael is not loaning you his razor. Smart move removing the gun cartridge. You're turning out to be smarter than your brother. Then again, you are on the run, on the streets, something you are used to. Keep up the good work, and please keep that shirt open. Lovin' the view!

Sara: Why are you not in jail or under house arrest? Your little slip-up let eight inmates escape. Hopefully you'll redeem yourself next week when it seems you can see through "Lance."

Now for the real questions:
During the car chase, why didn't Lincoln slam on the brakes?
At the gas station: Why didn't the cops run the plates of the Jeep instead of asking who the driver was? And why were the so suspicious right off the bat?
How did the blood in the staged car wreck go from being B+ to pig's blood? And why didn't Michael use real blood? Didn't he think this thing through?

Best line of the night: "You really suck, Bellick. You know that?"

R.I.P. Crocodile Hunter

2006-09-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

It's a testament to how much the man was loved, when my fellow waiting passengers at Gate C8 at Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport payed more attention to the announcement of Steve Irwin's death than they did to GW's Labor Day speech. [Mikey: Insert snarky liberal comment here.]

Then, just yesterday, feminist author Germain Greer had to open her fat trap of a mouth and diss the man. Hey, Germ, put a sock in it! He leaves behind a wife and two kids. All you have are enemies. Especially when you publish soft-core porn photos of half-naked boys.

We'll miss the "Crikey!"

Prison Break Episode 3

2006-09-05T18:40:00.000-07:00

What is the deal with Sucre making it from Ohio to Bed Stuy in two hours? From experience, it takes at least five hours from Long Island to the middle of Pennsylvania. Based on how the rest of the episode went, switching back and forth from Michael and Lincoln to Sucre, it was too hard to keep track of what went down when. To add insult to injury, how was Sucre able to slip out of his pulled-over car when the cop was facing him the whole time? I learned something new during the segment, courtesy of Officer Money: You can get a ticket for not having your license, but you can't get arrested for it.

Nikka: Love your accent, but tonight there were too many coincidences, looking back, that is. You just happened to have cayenne pepper on your stove and a change of men's clothes for Lincoln? Let's hope you're not two-timing our duo.

Lincoln is just fine after being shot in the leg. Yeah.....Just doesn't happen that way.

How was Bellick able to get back in the prison? Much less through the gates. Aren't there cameras all over the place?

Liked that C-Note told his wife the truth. Just wished they started that scene with him making the phone call, not in the middle of it at his wife's reaction.

Absolutely LOVED the bobble-head Virgin Mary. Classic all the way! Same for the brawl in the convenience store between Bellick and Roy! And the scene in the beginning with Michael and Lincoln saying, "What are you going to do? Go back to prison?" and then laughing.

My only two real problems with this ep: Everyone's line was tapped. Why would they even bother calling anyone? Then again, if they were stupid enough to get thrown in jail, maybe they deserve to be caught.

And we all know Lincoln is not dead. He just can't be.

Next week looks like a great episode: We finally get some juice on T-Bag, Abruzzi, and Tweener. The best thing about this season is now that the Fox River 8 has broken out, we have seven storylines instead of one. No more of the gang trying to break out every week.

Just read: "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman.

Prison Break Season 2: Episode 2

2006-08-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

So many issues, so little time.

Theodore Bagwell: T-Bag, T-Bag, T-Bag. HOW THE HELL ARE YOU ALIVE?!?!?!?!?!? Also, don't you think when the vet is found and his car is discovered missing, the cops will use his OnStar record to search for clues? Or dust the car for prints? IMP, this makes T-Bag a sitting duck, but with his hand miraculously healed, who knows what he's capable of.

Tweener: How can anyone be that stupid and obvious? And it's too much of a coincidence that he found a ride to Utah on a college ride board. The show is going downhill. TV viewers are much more savvy these days. We don't want to be hit over the head with a plot point just to move a story along.

Where is Haywire?

"On the third, look out for Otis right. Keep your head up." AKA: Otis Elevators, third floor, right. This is where the show is doing better than last year. The dialogue is very clever. So many clues. Dare I say "Prison Break" is venturing into "Lost" numbers/Easter eggs territory?

Bill Fichtner is brilliant as Agent Mahone. Who knew the jerk from "Perfect Storm" would make out so well? Does everyone or anything George Clooney touches turn to gold?

Lincoln: Dominic you are still a looker, but that is not going to make up for your lack of reasoning. Dropping your cell phone? Dropping your toy gun? Dropping your son? Although I have no doubt LJ and dad will be reunited.

Speaking of LJ: Why was he brought down in the court house elevator? Convicts have a separate elevator. Officer Money pointed this out very astutely.

Love it that Bellick lives at home. Very creepy Norman Bateish! One thing, though: How could his mom hear his responses? They were barely a whisper.

Most stupid of all: The guards at the courthouse. Are all TV guards specifically told not to shoot at tires? At least Lincoln was hit. That was the one realistic scene in this episode.

Prison Break Season 2 Premiere

2006-08-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

Definitely a let down from last year, and way too many plot holes.

Lincoln, Michael, Abruzzi, Sucre, C-Note: When Season 1 concluded, they were all trapped in a field? Suddenly it is the next day and they are safe in the woods.

Dr. Tancredi is not dead. Out of a coma so soon. How is it possible she is so coherent?

How can T-bag be alive? Did he cauterize the stump? Last we saw, he was running off without the chopped-off hand in the Season 1 finale.

Michael didn’t clean his apartment? Get rid of his paper trail? Fix the holes in the wall?

Veronica had no cell phone access. Then she suddenly had it. Was this so the feds could come and kill her?

When were the tattoo photos taken of Michael?

How did the FBI guy get to the storage area so quickly?

Hiding in the grave? Ingenious!

R.I.P. E Chance Woods. Brilliant!

Dominic Purcell is a hottie. Must be that whole open collar shirt thing.

What is the deal with Terrence? Was he going to whistle blow?

Is it me, or did Bellick lost about 30 pounds since the end of last season (about 10 hours in tv land)? It's the Chandler-Bing syndrome all over again.

Dropping the handcuffs? C'mon. Mr. Scoffield you are slipping!

All in all, a good episode, but continuity was severly lacking.

I'm Bored (or Boring)

2006-08-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

Apparently I am a bore. Because I don't get invited to going away parties. Because even my sister forgot my 30th birthday. Because my parents can't keep my schedule straight. Sometimes I wish I could step outside of my body and be a spectator. Just to hear what everyone else REALLY thinks. About me, the wallflower. Ahh to be irresistable! Not to the point of having paparazzi follow my every move, but to be someone who's wanted there (besides Chris). So I don't like to drink during the week because I don't want to be hung over at work the next day. That doesn't mean I'm boring.

Beauty Blitz

2006-07-23T19:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight I finally got around to a task I wrote a note reminding myself to do ages ago. I know I don't save enough money. My bank account will prove that to you. So I'm starting small. I made a list of all the beauty products I own (sans make-up) to see what I can cut down on.

My shampoos:
Aveda Rosemary Mint (everyday)
Pantene Color Revival (to save my highlights)
Pantene Purity (to get all that gunk out)
Paul Mitchell Super Skinny (when I want to dry my hair straight)
Redken All Soft (everyday)
Garnier Fructise Anti-Dandruff (self-explanatory)

My conditioners:
John Frieda Sheer Blonde: Honey to Caramel (again, those blond highlights)
Aveda Deep Penetrating Hair Revitalizer (for extra conditioning)
Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Treatment (when I want to dry my hair straight)
Aveda Shampure (everyday)
Pantene Deep Fortifying Treatment
Aveda Rosemary Mint (everyday)
John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze (extra color)
Redken All Soft (everyday)

Body Lotions:
Crabtree & Evelyn Lavender
Soul Owner (for my feet)
Aveeno Positively Smooth
Vaseline Deep Moisture
Aveda Rosemary Mint
Ralph Lauren Cool

My face:
Proactiv
Origins Checks & Balances
MD Formulations

One thing's for sure. I don't need to buy anything any time soon. Not that I have anything big to save up for. I am a product whore.

How Smart Are You?

2006-06-27T20:10:00.000-07:00

We work in law enforcement, are lawyers, editors, accountants, doctors, nurses, chemists. But are we smart enough? Take this little quizlet I encountered on MSNBC.com today and find out.

Currently reading: Insatiable by Gael Greene

You Will Be Missed

2006-06-26T18:43:00.000-07:00

It's been a tough few days for those of us connected in this blogosphere. Officer Money and myself, Mikey, Dr. Z and The Future Mrs. Timberlake, Mr. Sparkle T and Ali, The New Kid, and most of all Bishop Matt lost someone very near and dear to our hearts. I didn't know Marissa that long, only about two years, but she was one sweetheart. I beat up pretty bad on the heavy bag at the gym last Wednesday after finding out. Not just because I was upset, but I was angry. It's just not fair. Death never is. Her spirit is at peace, now, though, and I hope that gives everyone some comfort.

Why? Part II

2006-06-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

When it is bitter cold in winter, and 90% of our body heat leaves through our head, do we never cover up the noggin? Even when we are sleeping.

Do we have to pay to mail a letter?

Am I actually feeling sorry for Britney Spears?

Can't I get Chris to eat vegetables?

Can't I just tell off my micromanager of a boss once and for all?

Aren't weekends longer?

Can't I make my blog more fun to read instead of biting off other's ideas?

Blue M&M's? Discuss.

Jerky? Ewwwwwwwwwwwww

And the piece de resistance: WHY did Ben Roethlisberger have to be such a total and complete IDIOT with a capital DUHHHHHHHH!!!! Raise your hands and middle fingers if you think he'll get one whopping fine for disregarding the advice of his coach, Bill Cowher. Of course, his head was hard enough that he only had a concussion and knocked most of his teeth out. And you know he won't suffer any loss of love from his fans in the keystone state. I'm sure he's a good guy, and smart in a way we have yet to uncover, but did he have to ride his bike (the fastest land bike) without a helmet when he's so careful to wear one on the field? Check out this article for a rather astute take on the entire incident.

Currently reading: The Brothers Bishop

Habitat Revisited

2006-05-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

When I began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in 2002, little did I know how big a part of my life it would become. First up, New Zealand. I always wanted to travel, so this was the perfect opportunity. 20 hours and half an Ambien later, we landed in Auckland. It was there that I met Valerie who has since become a great friend and team leader for my trip to Poland in 2003. This second venture was my favorite. The team was mostly young folks so we all got along great, going out after hours and keeping the mood light on the work site. Val is leading my next trip to Romania in September (this will be my fourth. Stay tuned to this blog at that time for tales of my extreme adventuring in Dracula's castle). Third up was Hawaii. I have always wanted to go there, and I was not disappointed. In the relaxation factor of the trip, that is. I would never return to Hawaii with Habitat. The affiliate was so poorly organized. Very discouraging. Of course, I contributed to the bad taste this trip left in my mouth be getting involved with a fellow team member, alienating most of the others and becoming quite pathetic in the process. Would Dan want to see me when we got home? Was he the one? I'm sure being in paradise (and it is PARADISE) contributed to this. I wish I had never done this trip, and won't return to Hawaii unless it is for vacation only. The only nice thing about it was Vi and Barry Lazzer, a couple I now consider friends. As you can guess, Dan and I no longer speak.

Speaking of friends, Habitat has introduced me to some individuals I hope to know for life. People you just get along with automatically. These are the best friendships. This past holiday weekend I got to see four of these great persons: Dave, Brad, Billy, and Tess from the Poland trip. We laughed until our sides hurt and then some. It was just nice, and comfortable. And I miss them now, because I didn't expect to see or talk to them again and we came together as if almost no time had passed. I didn't realize how much I missed them until now when I miss them because I got to see them. Brad will be on the Romania trip, as well. It's always nice to see a familiar face in a foreign country.

States I Have Visited

2006-03-11T21:39:00.000-08:00

Thanks to fellow blogger, Marla, I found a way cool site everyone should check out. On my list of things I want to do before I die, I'm adding "Visit all 50 states."

Heaven Help Us

2006-01-27T20:15:00.000-08:00

What happens when we die? What is that exact moment like when we are passing over? My Aunt Helen passed away in December so this question has journeyed through my physche more than once. And I just wanted to put it out there to anyone who feels like answering. Personally, I'm scared to find out. But fascinated, as well.

On a smaller note, I want to give a shout out to Mikey for inspiring me with his "Listening to" series, to start doing the same with my books.

Just read: He's Just No That Into You By Greg Behrendt
Currently reading: Good Harbor by Anita Diamont

Why?

2006-01-20T22:35:00.000-08:00

Do we drive on parkways and park in driveways?

Do celebs get all the free swag when they can pay for it?

Are air marshals so conspicuous?

Is Michael Musto of The Village Voice so arrogant?

Is James Frey getting ripped a new one for embellishing a few details? Whatever happened to the old adage, "Just because it's in print doesn't mean it's true"?

Why does James Wolcott feel the need to blow smoke up Michael Moore's ass? See the current issue of "Vanity Fair" with Lolita Lohan on the cover.

Why is no one commenting on my blog?

Potpurri...

2006-01-13T20:09:00.000-08:00

5 Simple Rules to Live By:
1. Free your heart from hatred
2. Free your mind from worries
3. Live simply
4. Give more
5. Expect less

What is the big deal with Philip Seymour Hoffman? Is it just me, or does he remind you of a really creepy pedophile? And Chloe Sevigny? Am I the only one who thinks she has the talent of cardboard? Liev Schrieber: Saw him on my way to work a few weeks ago. Why didn't I ask for an autograph? He's way more than Cotton Weary. And not too bad looking to boot. Naomi Watts is one very lucky gal.

While training at the gym a week ago, Gabi told me I have strong ankles. Don't know why, but the got me very excited. I'm training to be a fitness instructor, so this gave me a little boost. Now, if I could only get that left hip flexor to work for me, all would be good.

Just read: Nickeled and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America
Currently reading: He's Just Not That Into You
Recommend: Prozac Nation
Watching: Sex and the City
Dinner: Cozymel's in Westbury
Breakfast tomorrow: Rockville Center diner

Things That Make You Go Hmm...

2006-01-06T21:14:00.000-08:00

My office building put in a Starbucks last year. Bad move! Anyway, moving on. The building also happens to be across Park Avenue from a Yeshiva University dorm. Yesterday as I'm waiting for my decaf, grande, skim, no-whip Mocha (just try and say it five times fast), three Yeshiva girls were waiting for their order. As the tallest girl received her Venti drink (coincidence; for those unschooled in the art of ordering at the 'Buck, Venti is the tallest drink), she softly muttered a what-I-can-only-imagine-to-be Hebrew blessing. Only once before have I seen such an unexpected moment. The first was a few years ago right outside of Penn Station. Carla and I were walking to work and as we passed a small church at the same time as a young man, he blessed himself. We just kind of looked at one another saying, "Ohh...." I've thought about that moment a lot over the years. Don't really know why. It was just so touching.

Tear.....

Happy New Year!

2006-01-01T20:49:00.000-08:00

So, a new year begins. Sans hangover. I have no resolutions, just a list of things I hope to accomplish. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Save at least $6,000.
2. Get back in shape. This one shouldn't be so hard. My old gym, New York San Da (www.nysanda.com), asked me back to be an instructor. I'll be teaching heavy bag classes, resistance training, and cardio classes. Did I mention it's a martial arts gym? The kickboxing team has won all sorts of awards. So bring your glove and wraps. For the guys, don't forget your cups!
3. Be nicer at work. This may be hard since I work for a micromanager and got NO RAISE this year.
4. Put a nice dent in my reading list. It's gotten so long, I had to computerize it.
5. Convince Chris that's it's OK to eat broccoli. He has this aversion to anything green.
6. Get more people to leave comments on this blog. It's not doing so well in that department, save for Chris (shesanicegirl.blogspot.com) and Tom (mrsparklet.blogspot.com), my fellow bloggers.
7. Get out to volunteer more. I'm in the process of signing up for another Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org) build. So far I've been to New Zealand, Poland, and Hawaii. This build in September will be in Pititsi (Pea-tesht), Romania. It will be my first in almost two-and-a-half years. Hawaii, although absolutely fabulous, is only good enough for perfect vacations. Don't go there expecting to get any work done. Because you won't.

What do you hope to accomplish in 2006? So far, Chris is volunteering in Mississippi and Tom gets to finally cut into his med school cadaver.

Christmas Greed v. Christmas Need

2005-12-23T22:18:00.000-08:00

So this year, Chris (my boyfriend) and I wrote out lists of gifts we wanted from the other or just in general. But I started to feel extremely guilty for wanting it all. At one point I thought of telling him to not get me anything beyond what he already had. Or to make a donation somewhere of the remaining balance of what he planned to spend. Surely a shelter or charity could use the money for meals or coats for the homeless (BTW, New York Cares is collecting coats until Dec. 31). The worst part was occassionally thinking, "Crap, I forgot to ask for the 'Felicity' DVD or gift certificate to Scoop." So one night I brought this up, and Chris said, "Don't feel guilty. That's just how the cards were dealt." I wouldn't wish to be homeless on anyone, even my worst enemy. If I'm the least bit cold at night, I crawl under my down comforter, thanking God I have a warm bed. But there are so many who don't even have that. And that is what I feel bad for. Because here I'm asking for all of this stuff I want but don't really need when so many don't have as much.

So here's my question to all of you, should we feel guilty for asking for gifts at Christmas?

Do You Like (Scary) Movies?

2005-11-16T23:40:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's because I'm reading, "The Historian," about the search for Dracula, aka Vlad Tepes, aka the Prince of Darkness. And whether you believe the Bram Stoker version or defer to Romanian lore, you have to admit, the man was kind of freaky. I've even started sleeping with my Rosary beads. I'm not the most religious person, but a little extra protection from the Man upstairs can't hurt. I think my fellow blogger Tom can attest to that. Anyway, to make a long story even longer, this got me to thinking about movies that freaked me out so much, I couldn't watch them a second time. You know the type: You know when the bad scenes are coming up now, but that only makes things worse. Here are some examples:

American History X: Saw it once straight through. Haven't been able to do that again, and don't want to. Here's just one reason why: There's one particular scene in the beginning where Edward Norton (who was robbed of the Oscar) chases a black kid down the street, catches him, and forces him to put his open mouth on the curb. He then raises his combat boot-clad foot only to bring it down HARD and crush the kid's skull. The accompanying sound effects didn't help at all. One heavy movie.

American Psycho: Christian Bale at his best, before he became known to the masses as Bruce Wayne. Another great movie, but I don't want to see it again. Tried that already and covered my eyes during the bad parts. I know what you're thinking: Why be scared when you know what's coming up? Trust me, you watch the menage a trois scene where he takes a rather rusty tool and procedes to shove it up the woman's *****, and you see the resulting blood. You don't want to go back there.

Schindler's List: This is one of my all-time favorite movies. And I've only seen it once. Never really wanted to see it before but then I went to Poland in August and September of 2003. Toward the end of this goodwill mission (it was with Habitat for Humanity), we did a little touring around. Who would have ever thought that Auschwitz and Birkenau would be places you'd want to visit willingly, considering the attrocities that went down there under Hitler. I almost got sick and had to run out when we were taken into the gas chamber. There was a small tribute to the victims, and no picture or video-taking was allowed. Out of respect, you see. Talk about feeling history. Talk about feeling horrible. Did not need to see the oven or the rooms of hair and clothing and shoes taken from victims. But, I think the worst part had to be the railroad tracks and lone chimney stacks, each standing for bunk houses where the Jews were packed like sardines. These were left just for that purpose. To remind. Needless to say, I rented the movie when I got home. I had to. And I cried the entire time. I recognized all of the scenes in the movies, including the Jewish ghetto in Krakow. Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley were superb. Ralph Fiennes, as well, although he was the most despicable. But I don't want to see it again. The material is just too much to deal with. Having been there. Imagine living through it.

Thank god the sun still comes up every day, on a world I like to hope can only get better, in which I have the power of choice. Can't you just hear the violins?

The Ugly Side of Hate: Is There Any Other?

2005-10-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

I was thinking of discontinuing this blog, but then I saw something that totally changed my mind:

I cannot even find adequate words to describe what I saw on TV tonight, but I'll try as best I can. How does one become a racist? Honestly. Did the very first racist wake up one morning and suddenly decide, "I don't want to like anyone else anymore. I'm superior. The rest of you are subhuman"? Because I'm totally confounded trying to understand how people can be so easily influenced to hate so purely and with such vehemence. I was switching between "ER" and "Primetime Live" tonight because there was a segment on Primetime I had to see, and which I ended up watching with my mouth hanging open in disbelief and my mind reeling. I first saw the preview yesterday. It began with a general introduction, showing twin girls performing onstage, then segwaying into how they sing hate music. They call themselves Prussion Blue, in celebration of their German heritage and blue eyes. There's nothing scarier than seeing little, naive (and believe me, they are; they don't know any better) spawns of Satan "Heiling" Hitler. Let me tell you how sad it was when Cynthia McFadden asked these girls, "What does MUD stand for?" And they answered right away, "A nonwhite." Worst of all? The learned this from their mother who learned it from her father.

The extent of this hate: The swastika appears everywhere in this family. The grandfather brands his cattle with a swastika (which, by the way, had to be registered), has the hate sign on his belt, and decorates his truck with it. I'm telling you. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Then when Ms. McFadden asked the mother what a racist was, she replied, "Anyone who believes in the purity of their race." Her devil daughters also said, when asked what they hope for the future, "To stay white. For our people to stay white."

The ABSOLUTE worst part of all: The minions decided to do a nice thing for the Hurricane victims and send a care package to Mississippi. But only if their box went to white people. Needless to say, it ended up at a stand that sold confederate souvenirs. One women looked at it saying, "It has all this literature about white people." No one wanted it. And there was another angry confrontation, where another lady said, "If y'all are only here to serve white people, then leave. Just go."

I have news for you girls, kharma is a bitch. And will kick you in the ass. And then when you fall down, it will keep on kicking. When you got thrown out of that state fair because of your music, maybe you should have taken a pause.

This all makes me so angry, so angry. I can't imagine anyone being that way. I don't see how it is possible. I'm just totally disgusted. And disappointed.

Questions of the week? What makes you so angry, that you can't stand it?

Texas Is Mad Hot, Yo!

2005-08-05T18:35:00.000-07:00

I had been looking forward to this vacation for soooooooo long (my first since Ireland last year), visiting myAunt and cousins in Dallas. I know what you're thinking: A family vacation and with her mom, sister, and nephew? Who does that at 29? But let me tell you: HUGE house, central A/C, inground pool and hot tub. I sat by the pool and read for five days. And saw so many movies: The Notebook, Hotel Rwanda (Don Cheadle is a god), Spanglish, both Shreks, The Aviator, National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation. It was so relaxing just to relax. And I finally got that massage I've been needing. Only bad thing about that: The girl masseuse talked so much, and it was all about restaurants. Listen, I don't need to hear about Babe's fried chicken and mashed potatos while I am trying to relax. I'm lying there for you to knead my muscles and push all the toxins out of my system. Covered in oil, I was needing a swim, so after my Aunt Susan and mom picked me up I threw on my bikini and sunscreen and hit that pool. We had a bit of a trial getting my nephew Ryan in the pool (he's only two-and-a-half), but once we did and he had the thrill of his life jumping off the side thousands of times, it was impossible to get him out. He cried and we all felt bad, but it was time for dinner. This was Friday when my cousin Scott slaved all day on a FABULOUS dinner: racks of ribs with his own custom BBQ sauce, burgers, baked beans, salads, etc. First he marinated the ribs overnight in apple cider, then he smoked them for seven hours Friday afternoon. And there were plenty of leftovers.

What was that you said? Oh, you were drooling. Rightly so.

Sleeping accomodations, on the other hand, were not so wonderful. I was stuck sharing a room with my mother, one full bed for the both of us. Needless to say, this arrangement only lasted one night and I slept on an air mattress for the rest of my stay.

The weather was definitely better than NY. Sure it was plenty hot, but there was no humidity. I'd take that over the sweltering sweatbox that has been all of Manhattan for the past week. I am so glad that tomorrow the temps are falling to the 80s with lesser humidity. I HATE the humidity.

My youngest cousin, Drew, is no longer so tiny. I remember holding him when he was born, as my mom and Aunt watched me like hawks. Gees, I was 12: I knew how to hold a baby. He is now 6'6" and a star forward on the basketball team. When we left for the airport, he picked me up for a goodbye hug because I couldn't reach up that high. He and Scott were so great with Ryan. Sharing boxes of their old toys and building tents of couch cushions and blankets.

On the way home, the plane movie was "Mad Hot Ballroom," a movie I have been wanting to see for monthi. This is a documentary that followed children from three NYC public schools, PS 112, PS 115, and PS 156 (I think), as they went through 10 weeks of dance instruction last year en route to the city ballroom dance finals. You will fall in love with these kids and their instructors, especially Mr.Rob. Any man who can dance scores high in my book. Sure, those of you out there who can't picture 11 and 12 year-olds willingly putting themselves through this may be thinking, "How totally gay!" Well, you know what, go sit in a corner and hone those social skills that will get you nowhere in life, FAST. When you see the energy and joy these kids' faces after they realize they are THAT fantastic, you will want to join me at the finals next year. Speaking of which, does anyone have any info on this dance program?

TTYL. I have a fun-packed day tomorrow of softball and chowing down. Lata!

It's Been Awhile

2005-07-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

It's summer, and my life is boring. I work every day, in the sweltering heat of stinky NYC. I say stinky because in the past week the first scents to greet me in the morning have been the stank of urine, pidgeon dirt, and the joy of getting stuck in the trail of EXTREME garbage odor from Sanitation. Needless to say, when I get to my office, I stay there, in the A/C, until the day is over. On Monday, I'm already looking forward to Friday, to lazy days at the beach; to building sandcastles with my nephew; to my Caribbean vacation in October.

But, I digress....

I'm really here to talk about the little things. The tiny moments of sunshine that make me giddy at unexpected moments. The smell of fresh-cut flowers in the morning, when not inundated with garbage or dirty birds or pee. Yes, I actually do stop and smell the flowers. It's not just a cliche. Seeing an old couple holding hands so gently that you can tell through this innocent gesture how much they still love one another after decades together. Finding out my boss is going to be out for a few days. Woo Hoo! That means I get to leave work early. Discovering $5 in my winter coat, which promptly gets spent at Starbucks. I swear, that coffee juggernaut is proliferating faster than cockroaches after the apocalypse. But I can't resist the Mocha Fraps or Decaf Lattes.

There I go again...

Might as well quit while I am ahead. Have a pleasant tomorrow!

Eye Candy

2005-06-28T19:56:00.000-07:00

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skillfully, mysteriously) her first rose

or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility: whose texture
compels me with the colour of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens; only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands

--e.e. cummings

What catches you eyes or ears? Have the words of a song, or a book, or even one perfect flower ever made you stop and think, "Wow, I need to slow down more often." In college, I got into the habit of underlying favorite quotes in assigned readings, or writing them down and posting them on my bedroom walls. The first I happened across by chance, when I wasn't paying attention in Spanish 102, when I was doing homework for another course. Of course, most of the time I didn't keep up with the readings, but I did come across a jewel or two, or several dozen. I even have my favorite quote memorized (check out "Old Goriot" by Balzac, it's in there), and I keep the rest in a folder. Most of these come from books I should have read in school, but didn't or didn't enjoy. When I finally read them on my own, and could take my time, sipping at a cup of tea, I enjoyed them so much more. There is just nothing inherently fun when you have to analyze a book. For some literary gems, check out these winners:

Jane Eyre
Prozac Nation
Emma
The Kite Runner
Sense and Sensibility
Little Women
The Great Gatsby
Roots
The Jungle
The Scarlett Letter
Memoirs of a Geisha

I've read and love them all.

Is Batman An American Psycho?

2005-06-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have seen "Batman Begins" and can I say...AMAZIN'!!! The best movie of the summer. Even beats out Episode III. Christian Bale, an absolute perfect choice. For those of you out there who are huge fans like me, you know he has a penchant for choosing, shall we say, characters that fall on the darker side of the spectrum. "American Psycho," "The Machinist." He's so dedicated that, like Morgan Spurlock did for "Super Size Me," he let his weight do the talking for "The Machinist" and "Batman Begins." Especially for the former, for which he lost 65 lbs, hovering at a dangerous 121 lbs; then gaining 100 lbs. for Batman. If you watch closely, you can see in certain spots of "Batman" how skinny he still was from "The Machinist." In my not so humble opinion, he is long overdue for some serious accolades. He is too underrated. But then again, that is a blessing in disguise. With that lack of widespread recognition, he can sneak under the radar and make each character his own. No studio exec expects great things from him, so he has the freedom to create greatness without the weight of the studio's money, the freedom to surprise everyone.

As for Katy Holmes, totally unnecessary for the movie, especially since she allowed her supposed fiance to storm the premiere and steal Christian's thunder. Placing yourself in her shoes, how could you not know the medial maelstrom would be focused on Tom? She hasn't had a career since Dawson's Creek, and now she has to go and get in the way of someone who already has a more promising career than her, who is sure to receive more accolades than her. No wonder she is not being asked back for any sequels--and there is sure to be at least one.

Now, Liam Neesom and Gary Oldman. So wonderful to see them in opposite roles. Oldman playing eventual Commissioner Gordon and Neesom, the bad guy. Morgan Freeman, what a choice to make after "Million Dollar Baby." He's Bruce Wayne's Q (for those who are not James Bond fans, this is the gadget guru). And Michael Cane: Absolutely perfect choice for Alfred.

Go see this movie, and let me know what you think.

Question of the week: Who is your favorite underrated actor?

Just Another Brick in the Wall

2005-06-21T19:36:00.000-07:00

Every morning I walk up 34th St. past Macy's and Foot Locker and Sbarro's, Dunkin' Dounts, Payless. And most of these mornings I pass the same homeless guy, sitting on a random stone step in some random doorway. Most days he has a sign; on those days when he doesn't, his dog Abigal joins him, sitting on a ratty blanket, looking so sad. Again, he's homeless, and the dog is only with him somedays. I used to think this dog was a stray, but then one morning I suddenly felt so guilty from racing past all the other mornings, that I stopped and gave the guy my breakfast. We ended up chatting, and I found out he's married with five kids; that the dog comes with him on the days it doesn't stay with his wife. That he has cancer and a broken arm, but won't take the medication because Social Security is giving him too much of a hassle. I did feel sorry for him, especially when he would suddenly yelp in pain and grab his arm or side. But, what is he was faking? Just the other day, I saw him talking to a man, and none of this was happening. Was it just a sob story? I mean, there are free clinics in the city where he could go for medical attention. Now, I feel awkward stopping again. Perhaps I'll just drop in a few dollars, and continue on my way. I can't solve all the problems in the world.

It starts....

2005-06-16T23:03:00.000-07:00

Can you remember no love, pride, deep-fried chicken, your best friend always sticking up for you, even when I know you're wrong?
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze-dried romance, five-hour phone conversation, the best soy latte that you ever had, and me?

Ahh, the poetic wonder that is Train. If you haven't guessed by now, I am a huge fan of Pat Monaghan and the boys. Solidified by an acoustic set they did at a Tower Records in the Village two years ago. Absolutely phenomenal. If only they'd tour more often. "Meet Virginia"--their best song, by far, tied with "Drops of Jupiter," "My Private Nation," "I'm About to Come Alive." Somebody stop me. If you've ever seen the band perform, you know what I'm talking about: They actually look like they are having fun out there. No mindless head-bobbing, or lip-synching (Britney, are you there?). Voices that can carry a tune, singers that crafted their own career, that weren't churned out by the Disney assembly line.

Seriously, someone shut me up now....