One of the most irritating things to me is when someone answers a query by asking "why not?" For example, if I asked you, "Why would you smoke cigarettes?", I would want to slap you if you answered, "Why wouldn't I smoke cigarettes?" I find it absolutely stupid to answer that way. Sadly, these are the types of answers I tend to hear when it comes to politics. Which is why I won't watch any of the debates on TV.

When someone asks a question, I expect a direct answer. It's obvious that when one isn't given, the person answering is trying to avoid something. It's all such a waste of time to me. Just give me an answer and leave it at that. It also tells me that you have no confidence in the subject or yourself. So, rather than answer directly, you skirt the issue.

So, as to not skirt the issue: this Tuesday, don't vote for McCain. He's just McBush. Later.  ¶ 10:41 PM 1 comments

  The husband and I have talked about the inevitability of moving out of Manhattan. Most likely our first stop will be Brooklyn. Call it a short-term goal. Truth is, we both feel the need for something new. So, you could say that what we really are talking about is moving out of New York City. Call it a long-term goal.

One of the biggest reasons I want to move out of New York City is because I never want to turn into one of those nasty, old, white women who seem to populate it. Ok, before anyone gets on my case. They aren't all white. They aren't all women. But the ones I tend to remember are those. I guess I am referring more to the attitude they bring but it seems to be predominantly old, white women. I like to call them something else but I'll try to keep this not-so-crass.

I wonder why anyone would think that being nasty to someone who works in customer service would get them better treatment? What I really wonder is why people think that talking down to someone would get them a more polite response. Case in point: if you yell or command me around, I don't care if you are buying something. I am going to acknowledge you, help you get what you need if possible, and get you the fuck out. I won't smile and be courteous. I don't feel I need to. I don't feel anyone needs to. You need something from me as much as I need something from you. Try being nice about it. I will if you will.

Which brings me back to why the husband and I are talking about moving. When we first broached the subject, he asked me what reason I had for wanting to go. I said, "I never want to become one of those old biddies who have lived in the City too long and complain about how everything thing is too expensive, and how people were nicer in the past, and how the City has become unlivable but yet, they stay in their rent-controlled apartment, collecting plastic bags, and free newspapers, while pushing their granny carts to the local bodega to buy a roll of toilet paper and an apple." Call it a never-ever goal. Later.  ¶ 11:37 PM 1 comments

  Conchita Martinez (ESP)

If you don't know who Conchita Martinez is, you could absolutely be forgiven. Very few people outside of the tennis world would know who she is. But, in 1994, on a sunny summer day, Conchita Martinez did what I consider the impossible. She won Wimbledon.

If you don't follow tennis, then you probably don't give a crap. But I follow tennis, so I do give a crap. I consider her winning Wimbledon the equivalent of a minor league team winning the World Series. I mean, a softball team has catch, can swing at balls, and plays on a diamond BUT certainly not at the level or environment most major league baseball teams do.

Conchita Martinez was a clay tennis court specialist. If she could not slide on it, then it was not something she did well on. Her grip, her topspin, her movement... everything was about clay court tennis. But at Wimbledon, in 1994, she beat Lindsay Davenport (the 1999 champion), Lori McNeil (a fast-court, serve-and-volley specialist), and the grand dame of grass court tennis, Martina Navratilova, to reign as champion.

I remember the moment she won. I was slack-jawed. I was speechless. I was in awe. I still watch footage of the match once in a while and wonder who she ever won. She played some damn good players. I mean, Lori McNeil had defeated Steffi Graf that year.

Anyway, I am still in awe and looking back, I am much more appreciative of her feat. It may sound silly but these are the type of moments that help remind me that if you really put your mind to something, you can achieve it. Later.  ¶ 11:23 PM 1 comments

  I sometimes have to remind myself that one should not go to the gym everyday. Sometimes, a body just needs to rest and not be put through some sort of workout. Since I don't have to be at work until 2:00pm, I had plans to lift and do some cardio.

At 7:00am, I got out of bed to kiss the husband goodbye and felt my back. Not in a bad way. I was lifting last night when I slightly strained my back. It was tired and I had not listened to it. I used to say that to all my fitness students: "Listen to your body. It will tell you what it can do."

After saying my goodbye, I crawled back into bed and did not get up until 10:00am. It felt good to sleep in. I don't always get that chance, so I gladly took it this morning. I actually have another chance to sleep in again tomorrow (I have inventory on Sunday, so I need to take a weekday off). I think I will take it.

So, to all you folks who exercise everyday, STOP. Take a day off. Sleep in. Have some breakfast. Sip your tea. Relax. Later.  ¶ 12:34 PM 0 comments

  Let's say you are at the store and decide to pick up a box of malted milk balls. You probably can't wait to dig into that tasty milk chocolate with the crunchy malted center. So, you probably are thinking that the main ingredients of this tasty delicious candy would be chocolate, malt powder, and milk. You would be right UNLESS you pick up a box of WHOPPERS. Here are the first three ingredients of that brand of candy:

Sugar
Fractionated, partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil
Reduced protein whey (milk)

Not the first three I would expect. It only gets worse:

Corn syrup Solids
Whey (milk)
Corn syrup
Malted milk
Cocoa

In addition WHOPPERS also contain 2% or less of carob, sorbitan tristearate, soy lecithin, resinous glaze, natural and artificial flavors, tapioca dextrin, calcium carbonate, and salt.

I am appalled!!!! What I would think would be the first three ingredients are actually the last two. This is exactly why I shop for food where I work. I have never been a conspiracy theorist but these fucking companies (in this case Hershey) are poisoning us!

I bought the WHOPPERS on an impulse because they were right next to the register at a store I was in. I will never ever buy them again. As a matter of fact, I will never ever buy mass market chocolate candy. I am disgusted. I should bring the box of candy box and tell the store that I want to return them because I did not realize the ingredients were what they were. Wonder what their reaction would be. Later.  ¶ 10:25 PM 2 comments

  It's cold outside. I was supposed to go out dancing with an old friend. Said old friend has a habit of bailing on me. Without even calling. I even took a disco nap. Mainly because I was just so tired. The week has been too long and too busy. And it really is not over since I have to teach tomorrow morning. But after which, I will be free for the rest of the weekend to hang with friends. And, from the looks of things, I am going to be busy this weekend catching up.

I had to cancel on a friend tomorrow morning. We were going to head over to a big designer "friends and family" sale. I may go Sunday morning before I meet my sister for brunch. I hate canceling get-togethers with friends but lately, I have been having difficulty keeping appointments and balancing my time with them and my time alone. Time alone has won out a lot. Not sure what the reason is for me just being... anti-social.

So back to my old friend who bailed on me tonight. A large part of me is a bit glad. It's cold enough outside that it would have been a chore for me to go out. Plus, I could really use the rest before tomorrow morning's teaching. In the end, I am fine with not going out. But for some reason, I am slightly miffed that he didn't even just text to say he was bailing. I guess this is the universe giving me a taste of what it feels like to cancel on friends.

Going forward, I'll try harder not to. Later.  ¶ 12:08 AM 5 comments

  Frisbee. I don't get it. You stand in one place and throw a disc. The other person catches it. Or not. Mostly, I see not. They pick it up. Throw it back. And the point is...?

Maybe I don't get frisbee because I didn't grow up in America. I remember my sister's friend introducing me to frisbee when I was visiting from Nigeria. I didn't get it then. I don't get it now. It's not like you are trying to get it past someone. Or as if you are trying to score some points. It all just seems so... repetitive... and pointless.

I understand it's something people do when it's nice out and they're just hanging out. But wouldn't reading be a much more productive endeavor? Someone once told me it was for the exercise. So, stand and throw. Catch, stand, and throw. A little running. Maybe. But mostly, I just see people throwing it to each other. Still don't get it.

I guess it's the same thing as people throwing a football or a baseball to each other. Again, something more American to me. I grew up playing sports. Even our "friendly" games were competitive. Maybe it is an American thing I will never understand. I can sort of accept football and baseball because you are practicing your throw for a game. But frisbee? Not so sure. Later.  ¶ 9:14 PM 1 comments

  What is the weirdest thing you have ever done when laughing? Twice in the past two weeks, I have strained my neck laughing so hard. I am not really quite sure how I did it. I think I laughed so hard that I tossed my head back quickly and strained a muscle. The first time it hurt badly for two days. The bad part was that I had to teach a class in a large room and not being able to turn my head was not a good thing. The class turned out fine. My neck was just in pain.

Today, my co-worker Erica and I were sitting in our office when I said, "What would they do if we just walked off the job? Like, what would they say if I just screamed out, 'FUCK this BULLSHIT!', gave them the hand to talk to, and stormed out." Erica whipped around and said, "I am so scared that you just said that because I was just thinking that." We started laughing and started creating more scenarios that made me laugh so hard that I pushed my chair back from my desk and whipped my head back... hence, straining my neck, again.

It still hurts a little. But I can turn my neck. All in all, a small price to pay for the laughter. Later.  ¶ 11:02 PM 0 comments

  I am going to force myself to type something positive even though I really want to type something negative. The positive thing is that my negativity does not stem from my personal life. But, I guess, that is the case with most people right now. So, here goes.

I never thought I would love drinking beer. Then again, the beer I knew growing up was swill: either European stuff that was meant to get you drunk or American stuff that had as much flavor profile as the cardboard box it came in. I thought I would not have a taste for it; that is until I had a short stint as a beer buyer at my place of employ. It's kinda like wine. You have to try a lot to learn how to taste it. And like wine, I enjoy the lighter stuff. Not calorie-wise. I prefer the pale ales. My suggestions: Delirium Tremens, PorkSlap, Blue Moon. If you want something more caramel-like and deeper in flavor try Delirium Noctornum or something if you want something more amber try De Koninck.

There is a restaurant in the City called Markt. They sell a lot of great beers. I highly suggest you sit by the bar and down a few. I also highly suggest their moules and frites. Always a tasty good time. My friend Janice and I have spent a few evenings there imbibing and dining.

So there, I wrote something positive. As a matter of fact, I have no plans tomorrow after I teach my classes, so I may just stop by the bar at Markt for lunch and enjoy some time being by myself. Later.  ¶ 12:59 AM 0 comments

  Girlie Show, Drowned World, Re-Invention, Confessions... and now Sticky and Sweet. Yup, kids... that's five of her concerts. I would have gone to Blonde Ambition but, for some bizarre reason, my mother would not let me. Who the hell knows why.

So, tomorrow evening, Janice and I will be attending our third Madonna concert together. As I said, it will be my fifth. We are bringing along my co-worker Maria and her best gay friend, Anthony. It is their first time. They are very excited. I am very excited. Janice is very excited.

I was talking to an acquaintance about Madonna a while back. She (and by she, I mean a very nelly queen) went into some diatribe about the cost of tickets being ridiculous for some old hag's concert. At that point, I told her that I had secured tickets for Tuesday night's Garden show. She begged me to sell her a ticket. Right.

I am always surprised at how people who go to a concert cannot have fun. I mean, you paid quite a lot of money. Why not even try to enjoy yourself. And if you hate Madonna, fine... give the ticket to someone who will enjoy it. Why bother going if you don't really want to. There are a bunch of other folks who would love the chance to see her. I mean, I know I won't enjoy Janet Jackson's concert, so I don't bother.

Anyway... I am very excited that two of us in the group will be going for the first time. I remember the first time I went to see her. I was in awe. It was all that I wanted it to be... and much more. I'll probably still go when she turns 70 and does her senior citizen's tour. Because, even then, I know I will enjoy myself. Later.  ¶ 11:09 PM 1 comments

  Normally, I can let things slide off my back at work. Not today. Today seemed to be one thing after the other. Within the first two hours, I had basically become one gigantic bitch. To be honest, I am always a bitch at work. But always a fun bitch. The kind of bitch that says something catty... to your face. And means it. But today, I added mean to the "catty". It was not pretty.

I wonder about the people we get at work sometimes. A friend once jokingly referred to them as "monkeys." He meant it as a cutesy thing because he actually liked monkeys. I would never refer to them as monkeys because monkeys are actually self-motivated, smart, ingenious, and interesting. Most of the people we employ are not that. They can barely answer simple questions. And today, they were quite the bunch. Seriously empty.

My "mother-in-law" said that I have very little faith in mankind. That's almost true. Actually, right now, I have almost no faith in mankind. At least the mankind that we employ. It's sad really. Because, when you think about it, what happens when these people are old enough to make an impact on their community? It's hard to believe they will have any sort of impact let alone a positive one. Sad indeed. Later.  ¶ 9:48 PM 0 comments

  Two things: I can see a school from the rear window or my home. I guess that makes me qualified to become a School Superintendent.

And we wonder why our youth have delusions of grandeur. Later.  ¶ 10:31 PM 0 comments