Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta

Sadie (2 months)

Don't forget to visit Carries blog for more Foto Fiesta Fun!

"Three Things My Husband Doesn't Know About Me" -Sans Drowsey

In Drowsey's comment section she sorta tagged me to play this meme game What my husband doesn't know about me.

Since neither she nor I are married it's a little bizarre...so I figured WTF go for it. I'm hormonally challenged the last few days, going from bowl of bitchy to feeling frisky. I'll bite!

Let's see what my husband doesn't know about me:

1- AH, HEY I'M OVER HERE....I EXIST...YOOOOHOOO!

2- I am a 37 year old virgin and all the amazing sexual tricks I happen to know are gifts from the heavens just for him. [barf]

3- I never fart in bed...it's always the cats, always.

Just Some Fun Videos

Stunned By The Bowl

If you have cats or have had cats you'll appreciate this post.

Here's a photo of her on my table to show you her current size. Imagine this little thing having the below happen to her. About five minutes before these photos were taken, on my Sunday morning no less, I had to rescue Sadie from her own foibles. As I was changing the litters this morning and sweeping the mess they left me on the floor and dumping the cruddy duddy into the toilet, with my back turned I heard this strange crashing plop sound. And there she was in the toilet, stunned as stunned could be. You'd have thought she would be wrangling around trying to get out. But no, she was so freaked out I guess that she couldn't move. Half her body, the lower half was submerged in the toilet water filled with litter from the floor. Wet as wet can be. I don't have photos of that moment. It would not have been right to stop and let her stay there while I ran for the camera.





I immediately scooped her up, LMAO and plunked her into the sink and rinsed her off. While not too happy about that she did let me do it.

My Attempt At Animoto

A little comic relief is needed after the heavy post yesterday. Thanks for all the comments! I will response soon. I have another post today below this fun one. Don't forget to check it out as well. I set them both to post this morning. Blogger chose the order. So fun first, thinking second :-)

I am copying Drowsey's idea and made videos for free at Animoto.com. I uploaded way more photos than this shows and thought I was making a longer video but after uploading I found out that this is what I get. I chose this music and the starting point of the music and somehow the images were perfectly in sync to the lyrics. So even though the last image is not what I would prefer to leave you with, it is appropriate and rather funny, if I do say so myself. Hope you have a good laugh.

I learned you can remix it again. Second attempt with some new images.

Third try.

One more...


Can YOU be a part of my life?

New Energy Saver Lightbulbs Are Bullshit

I said this in an earlier post where I went further and lambasted my Ex, DTM for trying to verbally clobber me about him being so environmentally friendly and trying to beat me down for not agreeing with him!

How the hell can this be good for us? Aren't we trying to get rid of mercury in the shots we give our children and the fillings in our teeth?

Please my fellow American's when are we going to wake up and stop being so ignorant and reactive and non-balanced and switch from one extreme to the other. Much like many are saying they will do by voting for Obama. Going from one extreme to the other! And by the way please see the videoespecially if you are of the mindset that Obama is the anti-bumbling Bush! He's just as much a bumbling idiot as Bush is portrayed in the media!

We are doing the same over reactionary action with the bottled water industry. We find out how much sludge it creates to make the plastic and suddenly the same people who swore off tap water will now suddendly no longer buy bottled water. These same people will buy pre-packed food wrapped in plastic, cans of liquids and bottles of liquids NEVER giving thought to the process it takes to make those items or how much pollution it produces.

We have become a lazy society that doesn't think and allows other to think for us. Slogans! We get pulled to slogans. Recently at the Figment event I met with some costume guys. I had to hold my laughter when he told me why he was having his booth: to promote halloween and dressing up and educating children against the big bad corporations that made the holiday about candy.

I didn't want to be confrontational and didn't see what good place it would take me so I just let it go. But I am willing to bet he didn't even know why he should think that halloween was corrupted by the big bad corporations who made it about candy.

Where's the balance? He could have said he wanted to educate children about the origins of halloween and the idea behind costumes and make the emphasis more about the costumes. But that would be a positive message and that doesn't sell as well I guess.

I'll probably never forget being in DTM's home with him totally going off about the environment and showing me proudly how all his lightbulbs were this new kind and needing me to stoke his fragile ego and tell him how I thought he was so smart. But I just couldn't. I couldn't stop thinking how ridiculous he sounded and how wrapped up in himself he was at the moment and how important it seemed to be to him.

As I said before, I will NEVER have one of these poisonous bulbs in my home ever!

Being A Jew

Before I sit down to write my promised blog post on race as I see it, I wanted to give you a little about me. If you're new here and haven't read the top part of this page, you should know that I am Jewish.

I used to have more liberal thoughts on dating and felt very strongly for most of my younger life that it didn't matter what religion or race/color someone was, that people were people and you love who you love. OK it is true you love you love who you love but here's my experience that has changed me and made me the person I am today.

I loved with every fiber of my being a Mexican man. Loved him more than I could ever imagine I could ever love another human being. In fact that relationship taught me what love feels like to me, real love. I thought I loved others before and I probably did. But this man I loved unconditionally. And for those of you who knew me when, you really know that sentence is true.

I have always prided myself on being the kind of person who lived her morals and values and was pretty relentless in that, watching others talk bullshit but never live the talk.

And so I ended up knowing him through a very interesting channel and falling madly deeply in love. I never thought of him as My Mexican. Here's the thing most of you really do not get. You are probably insulted by that last sentence but it is the truth and so it stands. To him I was his Jew and the Gringa. And he wasn't the only one either.

I really think this is lost on most younger Americans and possible many Canadians too as our cultures are very similar. We're very idealistic and we think everything revolves around us and how we think life should be. And most of us really have no clue how the rest of the world truly lives. I don't mean visiting another place and eating their food and touring around. I mean immersing ourselves into other cultures, sort of hiding into the background and really listening to them when they think we aren't listening. Because the truth is most other cultures have big issues with being polite, which many of us in our culture would label as lying.

Quick example into the Mexican and South American Culture. Many people from those places will say yes to a request of yours because it would be impolite to say no and they feel very obligated. Someone who grew up in the same country would never even ask what we would see as no big deal to ask, never getting into this position. The fallout is that either that person never shows up to the said event or place and later you hear such apologes about why they couldn't get there, when they never had any intent to go in the first place or the person is quite resentful and you can tell with how they treat you during that time. I have experienced this many many times and it bothered me so much because I didn't realize this was what was happening. It had to be pointed out to me.

Now this is not a judgement, it is just something that is. Once you understand it you can decide to accept or not but you know how to behave with people from those other cultures and it makes your own life much happier. I can tell you for me, this was hard because in this country it is a huge value to be a strong woman and feel and act empowered. It's such a big part of who I am. So to ask for something is so natural to me, but to someone outside of this country while I was getting the polite answer, the action didn't match and it infuriated me. I didn't understand. It just wasn't viewed in the same way. We weren't "playing the same game."

So back to the original point. We have a very idealistic way of looking at life, especially our youth. Me included in that, at least for most of my life.

But in spending so much time with The Plant (the Mexican I loved) I got a very private glimpse into a world most of you will never truly see. It bothered me to no end to hear myself be refered to as the Gringa while he took calls from fellow Mexicans including his good friends back home. No amount of explaining or being upset was going to change this either. It bothered me that when describing others he would refer to them as the French girl, the black guy etc...And I know I was la Judea.

Before you write to me that that is only one person...which is the typical liberal response, which I could in and of itself blast into smithereens as it really is such an empty response, I will tell you he wasn't the only Mexican I ever had a relationship with nor the only man from a Spanish speaking culture I ever dated. I have a history of dating hispanic men not from my country. And I'll divulge now, which will probably shock you later when I write about race etc... that a couple have even been here illegally. Each and every time I experienced the same thing with regard to being La Judea and listening to how they spoke about other people. These cultures think nothing of it and they cannot understand why we get ourselves in such a twist about this stuff.

So you see it really is only in this country that I am even considered White. Which the correct term is caucasion. Which is why I say race/color. And so for future posts you'll understand when I purposely write the word color, you'll understand rather than attack. Because mostly, our anger at all these supposed racists statements really come from lack of understanding and our own ignornance which make us project onto others our anger, where we start to call people racist when in fact what is being said, or the action we witness truly had nothing to do with race at all.

As a Jew I have the unique ability to blend in and hear truly racists anti-semetic rants. It's usually a shock to the offending person to know he was just caught. I have had people tell me I am going to hell, and people in my own neighborhood where I live today rant about the cheap jews this or that, and this is a neighborhood with many observant Jews. Let's just say I have heard many a thing because people think I am Italian and not Jewish. And you see right there, that tells it all.

Why am I telling you this? I am telling you this because when I do finally find my way to writing that piece on race, which is going to take me some time, I want you to , or at least hope that you realize that although you might be reading things that you find shocking or just didn't expect to read from me, you realize I am no Jesse Helmes or for that matter no Sharpton, who I feel is extremely divisive and a true racist.

Here's a video that I think touches on the many points I just made in my post today. I ask that you watch the following video with an open mind and a new eye. Leave your personal knee jerk reactions behind. Watch it full through. LISTEN to what the company's CEO says about his company and adverstising.

July 4, 2008 At Belle Harbor

As it turns out I was in Belle Habor for the 4th of July, which is a very upscale part of Far Rockaway. I really had no idea where I was going. I just thought Rockaway is Rockaway, I didn't know Belle Harbor was part of that area. This is the neighborhood where this happened two months and one day after the 9/11 tragedy. And that was only a few blocks from the house I was visiting that day.

I was invited to spend the day with my friend Jae and her family and go to the beach. But the weather was so crummy I decided to stay home most of the day and to go visit her and her family in the late afternoon. That way I wasn't on top of these people that really don't know me and I don't wear out my welcome.

Because this community does not allow street parking on holidays and weekends I had to take the bus. This turned out to be quite pleasant and easy. I have a bus stop right outside my building and the transfer to the second bus is only about 10 minutes down the road from my initial starting point. I just stayed on that second bus until the last stop. The entire trip took about an hour. I met a very funny old lady on the bus who chatted me up.

This old white haired lady with lots of chin hair that would not tell me her age started asking me a lot of questions. "Where was I going?" I told her to my friend's house on the beach in the Rockaways. "OH. What town?" I answered her that I didn't know, just he Rockaways. Honest to g-d I didn't know there were more than one there. She gave me one of those funny looks. Hmmm.

I offered her some of my Utz pretzels and she politely declined and told me how she gets a huge bag of them at Waldbaums for half price and goes through them in two days. Later with my friend her family I learned as they brought up the topic of Utz pretzels, not me mind you, that apparently you can only get them in the northeast and it's a Pennsylvania Dutch Country thing really. Since I never really lived outside of the Northeast I didn't know this. So I didn't know why getting them was such a special thing to this woman or the fact that she knew of this place to get them at such a great deal. But boy was she excited. I think she was a bit deflated that I didn't share in her excitement at the moment. Sorry nice old lady, I didn't know it was something special at the time.

So she goes on to ask me if my friend is going to supply dinner and how late will I be there.

I say, "UMM...I dunno, never thought about it. I suppose so as it is the 4th of July."

Old Lady, "Well it's good you have your pretzels because it just might be your dinner. Did you bring a jacket?"

Me, "No."

Puzzled look from old lady with slight brow raise as if to say this girl is young and dumb.

Old Lady, "You know it gets cold on the beach at night."

Me,"It's 90 degrees now how much could the temperature drop. I'll be fine. I have been taking care of myself a long time."

Old Lady, " I have lived in NYC longer than you are probably alive!"

I smile and say, "Wow you've been in NY for more than 40 years huh?"

Quizzical look, onced over. Silence. Silence. Then, "Yes I have," With a big smile remembering that she had to actually answer me.

She kept mentioning that when she was really young like me, blah blah blah. So I finally said to her, "How old do you think I am?" She didn't want to answer. So I said to her, "How old are you?"

Old Lady, "I AM NOT GOING TO TELL YOU!"

I reply, " Well I am middle-aged." And she tells me there is no way that I am.

When first getting on the bus at the transfer point, the bus was packed tightly with people. By this point it was pretty empty and I had just noticed as we had been yapping it up for so long I wasn't paying attention to the rest of the people.

I said to her, "Wow look at this. There were so many people and now nothing!"

Old Lady says sarcastically,"I don't think the people on the bus would appreciate being referred to as nobody."

I just burst out laughing and so she had to as well. I said, "Lady you are so damn literal!"

There were other funny moment with her but well let's move on to the photos below.

I was waiting for my bus tranfer and saw this fire in the direction I knew my bus had to take.

Here's a little bit from the bus ride crossing the first bridge.

Here's the view from the backyard of Jae's house.

The lifeguards on the beach all in orange.
I love this picture of Jae. She is adorable in her pink shoes.

On the way to the fireworks on the other side of Belle Harbor from the beach, we passed this cop car that had pulled over some young kids driving.
This is the view of Howard Beach from where we were standing. It was to the right of us. you could also see lower Manhattan and Brooklyn from this location but of course it was dark.
I found this on my neighbor's door when I came home.

You Suck And YOU Know Who YOU Are!

This is just one of the reasons I hate corporate America. And one of the reasons why I am so glad I found what I love to do and I am doing everything I can think of to do so that I can launch/build my own private practice and hope that I can sooner rather than later get it to a fully financially thriving and stable practice that covers every expense I have plus some.

And before you start telling me how great it is in Canada let me just tell you that it isn't so rosy up there either. I have met with and emailed with more than a handful of Canadian women with stories that would make you cry.

In the U.S. the people in control are the insurance companies. In Canada it is a governmental system. Power is power and the mindset is the same. The only difference are the group of idiots denying life-saving treatments or benefits. Shit is shit!

I have a sick mother. Thank goodness she has insurance and has been able to get her treatments for the last 10 years. So don't think I don't realize that it works well too.

The problem is that in THIS case there isn't room for a fuck up! Sorry but there really is no other word for it. When it comes to healthcare it is often life or death. So it isn't ok when there are stories like this even if they are the few rather than the majority. It's just not!

SICKENING! JUST SICKENING!

My Day At Governors Island

Immediately coming out of the train I was met with this site.
They wanted me to pay to take a photo with them. I think NOT! Do I really look like a tourist?

Here is one of those horrid fake waterfalls that cost the tax payers way too much to make.

Here's the group I came to support and help. I am not in the photo of course but this is the energy work I do as well.

Just some guy taking a photo and not paying me any attention. :-)

I'd Rather They Didn't Sell Them In 12 Packs

This idea comes from the above logo. You can click on the logo and be sent to the land of Kidzarama for some fabulous fun creative posts. She lives in the land down under with her Wonder Hubby and two kids, Wren and Bump.

So I am pondering the title of the post which comes from her idea. Truly the only thing that comes to mind are condoms.

Too intimidating. Usually when something is sold in that amount of quantity they label them family packs.

In this case they ought to call them No More Family Pack.

Think about it! I am single, not dating and well 12 is such a big number to achieve and puts way too much pressure on this woman. Right now I'd settle for a nice bloke who treats me well, with respect and loving kindness, and we buy them in 3packs for a while until I feel confident that we can make it to 12!

Happy Independence Day!

It's the 4th of July, The United States of America's Independence Day!

I'll be at Rockaway Beach with some friends today. Woohoo! I'll be enjoying the fun and the sun.

Lately my posts have been very fluffy. It's not because I don't have anything to say so much as I am working on my own FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. I am working hard to launch and build my business and working with some other women to create a stronger company and temping at the same time.

I'm tired. A LOT!

So while Malcolm comes lurking here a lot waiting for my post on race it's not been here for him to read. I'd like to think that he is enjoying the lighter posts and at some point would partake in their spirit and comment on those too. It's good to get out of our heads and learn the feelings and fun of sillier, lighter moments and blog posts. They have just as much value as the long thought out deep ones.

But don't fret they'll be back. When I am not sure but they will. There's too much stirring up there for it to not land on this blog.

In the meantime I hope you all enjoy your July 4th, the fireworks and the true spirit of the day.

Wordless Wednesday