Hyper-criticism
The usual suspects (the hyper PC crowd) are up in arms over Target’s “illegal alien” costume.
Thing is–the costume is a space alien!
*shakes head*
10/18/2009
Where The Wild Things Are
Saw the film today with The Sister.
A very deep film–and a bit on the sad/dark side too. I doubt most children who see the film will be able to pick up on many of these themes though.
Wasn’t overly impressed or excited by the film.
I liked the book much better.
Cranberry Season?
I’ve looked at two grocery stores here in my area, and have yet to see cranberries on the shelf.
It’s cold enough for it to be cranberry season, no?
~
So I went out to my coworkers birthday party last night at Chemistry Lounge which is located all the way out in South Ozone Park.
It’s a nice place, and is rather large, especially for a club/lounge. The DJ who spun last night did a very good job and really got the place popping.
The club was located in what looked sort of like a small strip mall type set-up…with an IHOP two doors down. sadly though, the IHOP isn’t open 24 hours!
The only downside to all this was my commute there. Coming from the Upper East Side I had to take a 4 or 5 to Fulton street and transfer to an A train. That was easier than it sounds. En route to the club, likely becuase of the Yankees-Angels game, it took what seemed like an eternity for a downtown express train to come on the 4/5 line (while 4 or 5 different uptown express trains went by). Getting out to the club on the A wasn’t bad either–the trains till ran express.
Coming home, at some ungodly hour of the morning though–that was a different ballgame. The Rockaway boulevard platform is outdoors, and because of construction, the first train that came was a shuttle to Euclid Avenue. So I took that, then had to transfer to the A–which was running local. So half awake, I endured the A running local, then at the Broadway-Nassau stop, navigated the maze that is the Fulton Street Station, to the uptown 4. Then after waiting quite a while, a train finally came and I made my way back to the UES–where I got off the train to find it pouring. *Sigh*
Nonetheless, I had a good time, which is what counts. Now I’m just very, very, very tired.
10/17/2009
Off to party!
In what some may see as the equivelent of the sight of pigs flying….
I’m headed out this evening to party at a club with some friends.
(Yes, my mother is very excited to hear that I’m actually going out)
Off for a long trip on the A-train to Queens
Surprise party
The other day the sister mentioned that she’s having some people over for a [Columbia homecoming] party.
I thought no big deal.
This morning as I’m leaving for synagogue, I notice that she’s bought a lot of bagels.
Then when I come home from synagogue, the apartment is full of people. No biggie I figure.
It looks like they were playing beerpong this morning (isn’t it a bit early?) Then I look out on the balcony–and there’s a keg!?!?!
I didn’t know it was going to be that kind of party! Do beer and bagels even go together?
Oh–and we’ve apparently got leftover bagels here. Anyone want some? They’re from H & H Midtown Bagels (the place is Kosher too!)
10/16/2009
Stretch Marks–Hooray!
Normally, when one thinks of stretch marks, they think of them as a blemish on one’s skin.
While doing some laundry, I put on a sleeveless shirt (consider it my “laundry shirt”), I noted the development of some stretch marks on both arms. That can only mean one thing–increased growth–and my arms are even leaner than before!
Yay for the visible signs of the addition of muscle!
10/15/2009
Baloon Boy Story
I didn’t get to follow the baloon boy story much as I was overwhelmed with work. From what I’d heard from a co-worker, it sounded like the boy was trapped in the helium baloon.
My first thought was how does one get trapped in a baloon?
Second, if it’s a helium baloon, how could one survive without oxygen?
[I realize I'm such a science dork]
Zapped!
A brief storm of stress hit me today at work…and my body seems to have zapped.
Hopefullly this is just a temporary fluke…and a cup or two of green tea will help reset my system.
10/14/2009
Whither old school discipline?
Mom Arrested for Washing Kid’s Mouth With Soap!?!??!?!
Whaat is our society coming to???
10/13/2009
Coolest T-Shirt evar!
(or at least the coolest one I’ve seen today)
I sent it to my sister, and she basically gave me the “what the heck is this” response
Good day at the gym
What at first just seemed to be a static workout in the gym today…became much more pleasant when I nailed a 10lb PR in the floor press!
Then back at work…it was a lot of busy work that I had to get through. Oh well. I’ve got some projects to tackle.
10/12/2009
Working Day
It seemed like with the exception of Federal, State and City government related offices, everyone else was at work today in the City!
All the companies in our office building were open. There was trading on the NYSE (so finance companies were obviously open).
What was a bit frustrating, for me personally though, was that I had a few questions for some insurance companies…who were of course closed (These were gov’t related plans, that’s why).
Oh well…that means more to do tomorrow. Thankfully I got through a lot of busywork today.
10/11/2009
Simchas Torah Recap
What a fun weekend! Granted, I spent most of it in/at Synagogue…but it was a great way to wrap up the Fall holiday season.
Shmini Atzeret davening came and went. Nothing extra-ordinary with it (so to speak). One major thing however, was the man who proclaimed after having an aliyah, that as an act of penance for his “wrongdoings” (his words)–that he was going to sponsor 5 kiddushim! What was the best part about it was the sincerety of the man. Sure, the fact that he’s sponsoring the kiddushim is great, but it was the sincerity and honesty with which he did it that really resonated. Oh, I even made it to shul in time for kriyat shema! [That almost never happens, especially since I don't use an alarm clock on Shabbos].
Simchas Torah evening was just plain old fashioned fun. The police had closed down the street to traffic, so everything took place outside–so there was literally dancing in the street!
To fuel the fun, a group of yeshiva bochorim walked ~3 hours (~8-9 miles) from Crown Heights to the Upper East Side to celebrate at the Chabad house as well. And they were walking back home too! [How they were going to accomplish that is beyond me–based on how tipsy most of ‘em were).
The celebration was fun and well, simply joyous. There was a size-able crowd present (2-300 I’d guesstimate) with people of all ages and denominations. Of course there were many l’chaims going around, but people were just there having fun, enjoying themselves–and the children (a lof of them were there too) took part in the fun.
Today, shul started later than usual, as it took a while to make a minyan. In fact, I can’t remember, but I may have been the 10th person to arrive (and I showed up a bit later than services were called for). Nonetheless, shul today was a lot of fun again. A much, much smaller crowd, but it was still very warm, open and friendly. (And having a Kiddush mid-service–excellent!)
And now it’s back to the regular weeks I go…
Browns win!?!?!
In what can only be a fluke…the Browns finally won a game!
Although they did it without a touchdown (6-3)
A sign of devine intervention perhaps?
(Maybe that last thought came from my spending most of the weekend in/at shul)
10/9/2009
Obama’s Nobel Prize
Yeah…I don’t understand it either.
Then again, the “Peace Prize” is pretty much worthless in my book. I care more about the prizes for chemiistry, physics and physiology/medicine much more.
[I needn't say more, because by this point int he day, you've likely heard it all]
10/8/2009
Rise of the “girlymen”?
The headline is a play on words from the old Hans and Frans SNL skit–for those of you not familar with it.
The article in the Daily Mail (UK) is: Taking the pill for past 40 years ‘has put women off masculine men’
Since it’s known that “the pill” does alter a female’s hormone levels, could the authors of the study be on to something?
On the other hand, what effect have evolving gender roles/ideals had on how women view men?
10/7/2009
Medicare Victory
Made my weekly call into our local Medicare contractor today, to check on the status of our provider’s application (note: to change an address, a provider must submit a completely new application to Medicare).
It took the people at Medicare 7 weeks, but at long last, the application was finally approved!
This ends 5 months of back and forth with Medicare and sending in applications and paperwork. (Read my prior posts on this subject for the whole saga).
Anyway, with my excitement of finally having the application approved–my day went pretty well.
Thing is however, that it apparently takes Medicare’s computers 7-10 buisness days to update the data…so we can not submit claims until that time.
What really struck me as odd was that not only does it take so long to update computers–but apparently they don’t work autonomously on non-business days?
Good bye Edwards!
Browns deal embattled WR Edwards to Jets
Will he actually be able to hold onto the ball with the Jets?