I received a message from the old realtor last night around 8:30pm, asking if J and I were moving out early because the new tenants were hoping to move in early and if we wouldn't mind if the new tenants came over this Saturday and took measurements. J and I were less than pleased about the situation. I understand they would like to move in early because they're really excited about living there. That's fine. We are not moving out early, but there was no harm in asking. However, asking to go back into our apartment and take measurements is something I would never ask to do - ever. It's fucking rude. Yeah, I understand you're really psyched to be moving into our shoebox-sized fourth floor walk-up with the BFI truck in the alley that wakes us up every morning at 7:30 even on weekends and holidays, but take a chill pill. We have one more month there, and we just want to be left alone. We don't want two strangers coming into our place and taking measurements. The place is small; if you have furniture, then cut those pieces in half because they probably won't fit through the door. I e-mailed the realtor and told him that if they want to take measurements a week before, then fine. If they need measurements before, then I will measure the place for them. Fucking idiots. I would love to tell these people to look up the word "imposition" in the dictionary, and then get back to me. If you want measurements, wait until you actually move into the place and take them yourselves.
This is annoying. Ever since, McDonalds and Wendy's started selling healthier choices, everybody is jumping on the bandwagon. Now, Dunkin' Donuts, a place known for its coffee and (surprise!) doughnuts, is providing customers with a new line of "healthy" products. This is stupid. Have you seen the people who go to Dunkin' Donuts? Nobody is buying an "egg white turkey sausage flatbread sandwich". They're buying coffee with lots of cream and sugar and glazed, frosted, dipped, and sprinkled doughnuts! Hello! It's called Dunkin' Donuts for a reason. Healthy people don't go to Dunkin' Donuts. It's a place for the working class joe who just wants to pick up a hot coffee and maybe a couple of bear claws. Why do companies do this? They have a good product, and yet they try to change it and add new items nobody wants. I live in New England, where there seems to be a Dunkin' Donuts every other block or so, and I can tell you there are lines out the door of people who just want to buy coffee. Nobody is there buying their cappuccinos or espressos because that's what Starbucks is for. Guaranteed, when they come out with these new sandwiches, nobody will buy these either because if a person wants to eat a healthy breakfast, then they will go to Au Bon Pain or just eat a bowl of cereal at home. This is land of the Munchkin' - not home of the egg white sandwich.(Via USA Today)
They had a guinea pig festival in Peru. This is where they dress up their guinea pigs in adorable outfits and pose them for cute pictures, all while feasting on - guinea pigs. It would be the equivalent of an American chicken festival, only we dressed the chicken in costumes and paraded them around while we were gnawing on fried chicken. It's warped; however, Peru is a third-world country. Guinea pigs may be cute, but they're also (gasp!) food for Peruvians.
I want one - a big, fat one. He could be a playmate for my cat, Peter. I just hope Peter wouldn't try to eat him. Maybe if I dressed up the guinea pig that would show Peter that he was off limits because what cat wants to gnaw through a pair of guinea pig pants. (Via Best Week Ever via Telegraph)
I'm a huge fan of Mad Men, the AMC series about a bunch of hard-drinking, chain-smoking, and soul-searching men and women who work for an ad agency in the 1960's. It's hands down the best show on TV right now, and if you haven't seen it, check it out on ON Demand - they're playing all of season one.
Last night's season two premiere met all my expectations. As the season opens, Don Draper seems to be stuck in some mid-life crisis, now that two years have passed, and he's 36 years old, still in the same job and living the same life. His doctor tells him he needs to slow down, not drink as much, and bring the smoking down to one pack a day. As he eats his breakfast in a dingy bar with a shot of Scotch, he notices the man next to him reading a book called: Meditations in an Emergency. Don is intrigued by the book. He asks the guy reading about the book, but after the guy takes one look at Don in his suit and tie, he writes him off as just another soul-less corporate guy. He tells him he probably wouldn't like it. Later in the show, you see Don reading it in his office. If anybody needs to meditate, it is indeed Don Draper.
We also see him take his beautiful, but emotionally broken wife, Betty out for a romantic Valentine's evening at a fancy hotel. He wisks her away to a hotel room, and they make love, but in the middle of it, Don has some performance issues. This brings up a lot of questions. Has Don lost all intimacy with his wife? Was it just the one time, or is this a recurring problem? Is Don in love with another woman? It was a sad moment. Betty blamed it on the drinking and that they hadn't eaten anything, but you could tell it was heartbreaking for her. She loves Don, but she knows he is unfaithful to her. All she wants is Don's undivided attention and love. However, Don is so lost as a person that he doesn't know what he wants. It always seems as if he knows he should really love Betty, but he can't, and he doesn't know why or how.
At the end of the episode, you see Don in a trenchcoat and hat, smoking a cigarette while walking the dog late at night. He looks as if he just stepped out of a film noir - a mystery man treading through suburbia on a cold winter's night. You see him mail something; it was the book he had been reading. He had written a little message in the inside cover, "This book made me think of you." Who could he be sending it to? Rachel? Midge? Or, is it a new mistress - somebody we haven't met yet?
Robert Rodriguez is re-making Red Sonja, the campy 1980's warrior movie, starring Brigitte Nielsen as the buxom red-headed female version of Conan the Barbarian. Yeah, it sounds about as good as it was. So, why in God's name is there a need for a remake?! This time Red Sonja is played by the curvaceous Rose McGowan. On a side note: when I was a little girl, I totally wanted Brigitte's Red Sonja mullet. I thought that look rocked.
This poster is cool.
This one, not so much. The whole licking the blood off of the blade is repulsive. This falls under the title: Trying too hard to be sexually suggestive. Yeah, we get it. The blade is a phallus. This poster is definitely geared towards guys who get turned on by looking at scantily clad comic book chicks. Not to mention, she looks like a tranny. What's going on with her hair?? The whole thing is terrible. Ick.
Esquire has a strange article about what it's like to have multiple personalities.
"Physical relationships are a challenge. Daniel is a male self in a female body. If Daniel happened to become conscious while one of us heterosexual women was involved with a male, he would panic. It probably seems like I’m complex, moody, and inconsistent, when the truth is that each one of us is simply being ourself. Raven is a shaman, whereas Jackie is wary of anything she considers to be new age and refers to people who believe in this as “a pack of crystal-danglers.” Some of us drink Scotch and others don’t drink at all. Each of us has come into being as naturally as you did. It’s just that we happen to share one body."
It seems like it would be scary. How do you have any control over your personalities? Do your personalities know there are others? What if one of your personalities commits a crime, and then you are punished for it? How do you sustain a relationship with a significant other? The mind is a mysterious wonder. It's amazing to think that a personality can break off into fragments and create new ones.
As you know, I have been promoting Bitchbuzz, a website geared to the feisty, smart woman. Last week, I told everybody that I had some exciting news, but I wanted to wait. Well, I wanted to let all my Love Bytes readers that this chickie will be one of the contributing writers for BitchBuzz. I will be writing for the Life, Culture, and News sections. I am ecstatic to be working with such a fabulous bunch of talented women writers.
This pop culture whore is thrilled. I hope to see you all there!
That most apartment owners are total fucking morons. J and I have been posting several ads on Craigslist about twice a week. The only responses we got were from complete idiots. Take for example the woman who had a condo she wanted to rent, but she never got back to me, even though I e-mailed her twice and talked to her husband (he said it was still available). Then, there were the people who would e-mail me one sentence: "I have a great apartment in (fill in the blank)." Okay, that's awesome and all, but I forgot my crystal ball at home - so you need to tell me a little more than where it's located.
There was one crazy woman who responded to my ad by telling me that her apartment was like being in the country and there were a lot of birds. Great, will those birds be flying me to work by any chance because I'm looking to know how close this place is to public transportation, not how many Tufted Titmouses land in the birdbath! I e-mailed this woman twice asking how much rent was, and every response was vaguer than the next. Her last one was: "You have a cat, right?" I imagine she'd be a great landlord. I would call her because the pipes had burst, and cluelessly she would ask me who I was and where did I live, and if I had seen the Goldfinches this season. This is the reason why we have decided to go through a realtor. And, that's another rant altogether.
"Batman may have found himself on the wrong side of the law.
London police are reportedly investigating actor Christian Bale for allegedly assaulting his mother and sister.
The Sun newspaper in London says "The Dark Knight" will be quizzed by cops about a Sunday incident in the Dorchester Hotel, where he allegedly scuffled with his 61-year-old mom, Jenny, and 40-year-old sister, Sharon.
The two women filed a complaint, according to the paper.
Bale, 34, was allowed to attend last night's British premiere of the film."
Christian, NO!! Say it isn't so!! You're the caped crusader for god sakes. You're supposed to defeat the villains of Gotham City, not your poor 61 year-old mother. (Via NY Post)
You could be this poor model who has to pose in a Diesel jeans ad with his hands tied behind his back while wearing a bull's head. Wtf! Is this supposed to make us want to buy jeans? Copyranter had one of the funniest headings to this ad: "Hello? HELLO? Is the shoot over?". It makes me smile every time I read it. I don't know why it hits me so funny, but it does.
On a side note: I comment so much on Copyranter's blog, I think he might file a restraining order.
“Jon has told me a million times he loves me and wants to marry me...A friend asked if we have a new date set, and I said, ‘Absolutely not. We are taking it easy this time.’ I still believe that he is my fairy tale. I will get what I want.” - Ana Maria Macedo, the woman who was jilted by her fiance after planning her dream wedding (Via Page Six Magazine)
Something about this quote makes me think Jon made the best decision of his life.
Brideshead Revisited, the beautiful, lush 1945 classic by Evelyn Waugh is being made into a movie. I can't wait to see it. At the moment, I'm reading Brideshead Revisited, a book I picked up a couple years ago, but put it down after a couple of chapters. I'm trying it again, and this time I love it. It's a fantastic book with wonderful characters and luxurious surroundings. I'm only on Chapter Two, so only a few characters have been introduced so far.
In the film version, Matthew Goode plays the ever so nostalgic Charles Ryder. He's also the adorable British actor who played Mandy Moore's love interest in Chasing Liberty. When I told my girlfriend who is a huge fan of the book, that he was playing the lead, she was really excited. I mean, he's no Jeremy Irons like in the 1981 television mini-series, but he's pretty damn sexy.
J and I have a new favorite show, and it's called I Love Money on VH1. They play the new episodes every Sunday around 11:30am EST. It's great because I'm usually in my jammies, and I cozy up on the couch with a blanket to watch the hilarity of a bunch of reality TV show castaways trying to win $250,000. It's a fantastic way to spend a lazy Sunday.
The Entertainer is my favorite. If you're not familiar with him, then he was one of I Love New York's suitors. You may have seen clips of him, sharing a bubble bath with New York and sucking on her toes - gross! J and I think he needs his own show because he's so funny and dare I say, entertaining. We think he should have a show where he moves out from his parents' basement and tries to find roommates and live on his own. The roommates would have to be really introverted and nerdy though. It would be like a modern day Odd Couple . He's always walking around with a crazed look on his face, and when he says something, he MEANS it! His moods go from 0 to 60 within seconds. One of my favorite parts of I Love Money yesterday was when The Entertainer consoled Destiney, a Rock of Love reject, as she cried and told him how she was super emotional because she was starting her period any minute. His response was so classic: "That's okay. Sometimes I feel like crying too.", ha ha.
Some other highlights were: Chance finding out he had to kiss Mr. Boston during one of the competitions; Mr. Boston pretending to puke in a bucket, so he would look like a weak competitor; Heat standing around half in the bag all the time; The Entertainer telling Megan he thinks she's a "trouble-maker", and Heat not standing up for Destiney when she had an altercation with Chance.
Watch the video to see Chance and Mr. Boston in the kissing competition.
Apparently, the artist behind this crazy creation feels as if there is a pink flamingo infestation sweeping the nation and it needs to stop. Why else would he come up with this wacky and funky garden sculpture called Flamingo-Away? I think it's fantastic. I love things that are weird and innovative. If I had a yard, I would totally get one. (Via Perpetual Kid)
Cate Sevilla, the funny and fabulous blogger and freelance writer, just released big news on her blog, CupCate that a new site geared towards intelligent, strong women is ready to launch. It will be called BitchBuzz. I can't tell you how excited I am to hear that a cool and funky site for chicks with brains and brawn is becoming a reality.
"BitchBuzz is a kick ass new website that serves as a sexy, smart alternative to the women’s weblogs and magazines of today. Providing refreshingly uncensored views on pop culture, sex, relationships and technology, BitchBuzz is the ultimate lifestyle guide."
This is a great day for all the women who are looking for a site that doesn't mock them, intimidate them, or just make them feel like less than the beautiful creatures they really are. BitchBuzz launches August 4th.
I also have some very exciting news, but I'm going to hold off until the time is right.
I can't stand the women who brag about working out. They somehow slip the subject into every conversation. The most annoying part of it is that it's not actually bragging - it's more complaining. Only it's ridiculous complaining like if you said: "I hate having too much cash in my wallet because it makes my bag too heavy." These are the types of complaints: "Oh, my trainer banned me from the gym because I've been working out too much."; I've had to get all my clothes altered, and it's costing me an arm and a leg." My favorite and the one I hear all the time from annoying women is: "I'm so sore from working out! I can hardly move." It's fine if you hear it once, but not every single frigging day. We get it! You work out. Good for you. Now, get out of my face, so I can eat my Ho-Ho's in peace.
VH1 just released a statement that Bret Michaels' reality "dating" show, Rock of Love is back. Apparently, Ambre Lake and Bret's relationship fizzled (big surprise). VH1 is renewing Rock of Love for a third season. It will be called: Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels. I couldn't make this up if I tried! This show will take place on Bret's tour bus as women compete to be his #1 rock skank. If this show is going to be anything like the first two, then I can't wait. Who knew watching a bunch of desperate, drunken groupies fight for an aging, wig-wearing (allegedly)80's rock has-been could be so entertaining! (Via Reality Blurred)
I've spent the day frantically e-mailing leasing agents at various apartment complexes and cruising the pages of Craigslist like it's my job. I've also received a few responses to my ad - all of them were really, really bad. Some guy wanted to know if my boyfriend and I would like to share a house with a random couple. Another guy wanted to know if I wanted to live in a town I've never heard of.(I wonder if it's close to public transportation, ha ha.) I'm so determined to find a nice place for our little family - J, the kitty cat, and myself - that I will stop at nothing!
Also, it's been so tough seeing pictures of HUGE apartments, compared to our current shoe box, and then being able to close the page when I see that it's out of our price range. I start daydreaming about having a place for all my stuff, and it makes me so happy. Right now, I have all my books and knick-nacks in boxes. We didn't have enough room for them. I just keep hoping that one day we will have a beautiful place that's big enough for everything I own and cherish. I love my things, and I want to be able to see them again.
"Calling on the press to protect the common man from the potential corruptions of satire is a strange, paternalistic assignment for any journalist to give his peers, but that appears to be what The New Yorker's detractors desire. I don't know whether to be crushed by that realization or elated by the notion that one of the most elite journals in the land has faith that Joe Sixpack can figure out a damned picture for himself.
How did we arrive at the point where a simple wisecrack like Blitt's causes such a hullabaloo? Has the public's taste for barbed drawings waned since the Paul Conrad, Herblock, Pat Oliphant, and Bill Mauldin heydays, or have the voices of the would-be bowdlerizers gotten stronger? Shall we don blinders and erect barriers so nobody is offended or misled?
Only weak thinkers fear strong images. The publication that convenes itself as a polite dinner party, serving only polenta and pureed peas, need not invite me to sup."
Today, I feel like I'm floating. It's as if I'm just going through the motions, but I'm not really there. I don't feel anything. I don't know if I need a coffee, or a part of myself is separating from the rest of me because it's so sick and tired of all the stress lately. J has been looking for a job for months, and we're trying to find an apartment before August (we have to move at the end of August). Life sucks right now. I can't wait until things turn around. In the meantime, every day feels like Groundhog Day. Everything is exactly the same, and nothing ever gets any better. I'm at work, but I'm just sitting here staring at my screen. I guess everybody has days like these. Maybe floating isn't a bad thing if you know it's only temporary.
It just seems as if Nordstrom is trying too hard. Was the model in a wheelchair necessary? And, why is she standing in the last panel?? This is the strangest sales catalog I've ever seen. (Via Jezebel)
Yeah, I went there. It was a bad pun, but I had to do it. The McDonalds in Chicago has a huge egg billboard that "cracks" open during the hours eggs are served in the restaurant. How awesome is this! (Via Adrants via Adland)
I'm dying to check this out the next time I'm in the bookstore. Goodnight Bush is a new book parodying the classic children's book, Goodnight Moon. How fitting for such a man child as George W. I wonder if he says good night to the bowl of mush like in the original book. And, if you think about it, the bowl of mush could be a fitting metaphor to describe America's deteriorating economy. (Via Boing Boing)
Today, I took a vacation day from work, and I am going to be spending it with my girlfriend at the beach. I need a day of fun in the sun right now. It will be good for me. I've been very stressed lately. Sometimes, you just need a break - even if it's for just one day.
Apartment hunting sucks. I've been perusing the pages of Craigslist, hoping to find a nice apartment, and there's zilch out there. I've also responded to several realtors, the majority of people who post ads for apartments, telling them exactly what my boyfriend and I are looking for and to please contact me if anything comes up. Nobody responds. You wouldn't believe the shitholes people are trying to rent nowadays. And, I love seeing an ad for a place that doesn't even have a dishwasher in the apartment or a washer/dryer in the entire building. The best is when an ad says: "Laundry close by", which basically means if you want to get any of your whites done, you'll have to walk a few blocks to the local laundromat. Bish, pls! I stopped going to laundromats in my 20's. Or, it says: "has laundry hook-ups". We rent for chrissakes. Do you think we have a full washer/dryer set that we just cart from apartment to apartment?!
I also like seeing "no utilities included", and then you find out that this old, drafty apartment with high ceilings and shitty windows from 1957 is heated with oil. Oh, great sign me up! I have a $700 old gas bill from my LAST apartment that I'm still paying off because the place had god-awful windows and the ceilings were very high. The place was freezing cold all frigging winter, and yet our gas bill was $400 a month. I bet those ceilings were toasty warm though.
Also, nobody wants to live in your shitty apartment with the indoor/outdoor carpeting. It's gross.
I've been reading a lot about an article, featured in "O" Magazine, written by a New York Times writer, Ellen Tien titled, "Divorce Dreams". Unfortunately, the article is nowhere to be found online. However, I did find an excerpt. This woman writes an article about her bumbling, doof of a husband, and how much she secretly detests him. She says she "thinks about divorce every day". It's tough for me to form an opinion on this because I haven't read the full article. Many people think it's wrong of her to air her dirty laundry on a such a public forum. I'm curious to know if she had told her husband that she was going to be writing an article about her seemingly loveless marriage. Maybe she told him, and he didn't listen. Maybe she played up the disdain to gain publicity, or maybe she really despises the guy and could care less what he thinks anymore.
On a side note, I had no idea what the word "chyron" meant. Apparently, it's the the scrolling news ticker found at the bottom of the TV screen. Who knew!
This is an excerpt from "Divorce Dreams":
“Will and I remain if not happily married, then steadily so. Our marital state is Indiana, say, or Connecticut - some red areas, more blue. Less than bliss, better than disaster. We are arguably, to my wide-ish range of reference, Everycouple…Still, beneath the thumpingly ordinary nature of our marriage - Everymarriage - runs the silent chyron of divorce. It’s the scarlet concept, the closely held contemplation of nearly every woman I know who has children who have been out of diapers for at least two years and a husband who won’t be in them for another 30. It’s the secret reverie of a demographic that freely discussed postpartum depression, eating disorders, and Ambien dependence (often all in the same sentence) with the plain candor of golden brown toast. In a let-it-all-hang-out culture, this is the given that stays tucked in…To be sure, there will be throngs of angry women who will decry me for plunging a stake into the heart of holy matrimony. “My husband is my lifeline,” I’ve heard said (and that’s bad news for the aorta). “My husband and I never fight” is another martial chestnut - again, bad news (not to mention a big fat lie), since according to the experts, the strongest relationships are the ones in which people can continually agree to disagree. “My husband is my best friend,” others will aver. No. Your husband is not your best friend. Your best friend is your best friend. If your husband is your best friend, what would that make your best friend - the dog? When a woman tells me that her husband is her best friend, what I hear is: I don’t really have any friends…This is not to say that dismantling one’s marriage will automatically bring happiness; it’s the idealization of marriage that needs to be shredded, along with itss accompanying bumper sticker WIVES MAKE BETTER WOMEN. If we stay, we stay because we decide to, not because our ankles and wrists have been locked into societal expectations. If, after various efforts, we finally leave, we have the confidence to be the leavers and not the left. Having choices is the cornerstone…”(Via Susan's Day)
What do you think? Do you think it was wrong of her to write such a scathing article, or do you applaud her for her honesty?
Last night, I was watching the finale to The Real World: Hollywood aka the most entertaining season of The Real World you're probably not watching, and I saw a quick preview for the new Real World/Road Rules Challenge called, The Island. It's a total ripoff of Survivor. The only difference is it's cast with a bunch of MTV's finest: a bunch of dysfunctional attention whores who can't let go of their 15 minutes of fame. Even on the last season of The Real World, many of the former castmates were all hanging out at an L.A. bar together, desperately trying to get on camera when the new Real World cast dropped by. To think that there is a bar out there where these people all hang out together is beyond pathetic. It's almost like they've been exiled to some alternate universe where they co-exist with only each other. Oh, that's right. They do. It's called The Real World/Road Rules Challenge. (Via MTV)
I was going through my Photobucket album, and I came across the old logo to my former online dating column, Monique Dating Naked. Colette is my middle name! I'm not sure who came up with the name, Monique Dating Naked. I'll be honest. I think it might've been me. It's pretty ridiculous, I know. I think my editor and I were looking for a name that would best convey sexiness and the candid advice I doled out to my lovelorn readers. The logo cracks me up. The funniest part is they even had t-shirts ha ha. God, I wish I had bought one.
Last night, J and I had the AC going full blast and a fan turned to the high setting in the living room. It was about 80 degrees and humid. We live on the 4th floor in the middle of the city. It's like a sauna up there. We ended up moving our mattress into the living room just for the night. I saw this picture of kids playing in the Frog Pond in Boston, and I had to post it. You can almost hear the laughter and screams. I love how the massive wall of water looks like a shattered piece of glass. Water is so magnificent when captured on film. It's able to change shape, color, and even texture. (Via The Boston Globe)
I read this in the NY Times Laugh Lines blog, and I just had to share it. It's hilarious because it's so true!
8. Manager Who Refuses to Recognize the Words Small, Medium, and Large I understand, you’re a corporate guy and thus must abide by company policies by calling the different sizes by their Starbucks Christian names of Venti, Grande, etc…. But if I ask you for a small, don’t act like I’m speaking to you in that Native American langauge we used in World War II to deliver coded messages …
7. Intern Who is Buying for the Entire Office Wearing an all-white or striped button down shirt, this guy shows up with a legal pad full of hastily scribbled orders. “Yeah, I’m gonna need 24 tall skinny soy lattes with sugar free hazelnut extra hot … and 32 grande no caff cappuccinos with light whip cream, sugar free hazelnut and vanilla with white chocolate mocha. And …
6. The Writer Who Wants You to Know He’s a Writer Being a writer is a pretty cool occupation, but unfortunately you can’t tell someone’s a writer just by looking at him. And having to tell someone you’re a writer is way less impressive. Therefore, these people go to the busiest Starbucks and pop open their iMac, making sure their screen is clearly displaying a full page of text (or clear screenplay format for those in Los Angeles) …
5. Overly Happy Line Greeter/Order Taker At some point, the Starbucks Corporation realized that their growing legions of employees didn’t have the best people skills. Their answer was to create their own version of the Wal-Mart greeter who also takes your order …
4. Complicated Order Guy Who Needs his Coffee Right … Now. When you order coffee, it shouldn’t sound like you’re giving the pass code to a missile defense system …
3. The Guy Who Hates Starbucks But Goes There Every Day Armed with armchair political rants, this guy is the world’s biggest bore and the world’s biggest hypocrite combined into one big [expletive] …
2. Study Groups Hey, [forget] the library with all its “room” and “group space.” It makes way more sense to go to an incredibly busy and crowded Starbucks with tables that have insufficient space to lay your books …
1. The Person Who Peruses the DVD Section as if He Might Purchase. It’s really great when you’re waiting in line behind somebody only to realize that he’s not in line, but instead deciding whether or not he wants to purchase the “Pursuit of Happyness” DVD. “Gee, what’s this movie Pursuit of Happyness about? I didn’t hear of it last summer when it grossed over $100 million.” Read more … (Via Laugh Lines via Holy Taco)
J and I thought it would be funny if we took a silly picture of Peter with a Juno DVD on his head. As you can see, he wasn't as amused by the idea as we were. In fact, he was really pissed off.
This is one of my favorite songs of the moment. It's beautiful, and Adele's voice is so rich and textured. She's been compared to Amy Winehouse, but I think she is 10 times better. The whole album is great, but this is definitely the track that will make you stop and listen to it over and over again.
"Prejudices are what fools use for reason." - Voltaire
I'm usually a huge fan of Tracie Egan, editor of Jezebel and lascivious blogger, best known for writing about her very intimate experiences. She's a cross between Cynthia Heimel, Erica Jong, and Tucker Max - if he were actually intelligent and witty. I enjoy her writing, and I even had her blog listed in my blog roll. She's dirty, funny, and her writing is no holds barred. I love writers who are cutting edge and willing to put themselves out there. She and Moe Tkacik, co-editor of Jezebel and a writer for The Washington Post most recently, appeared on Lizz Winstead's, comedy writer and feminist, show, "Thinking and Drinking" in NYC. This is a platform where she interviews smart men and women, discussing the media, politics, gender issues, and anything else Lizz has on her mind. I was thrilled to hear that the two Jezebel girls were being interviewed - until I saw the video. The night was a debacle. The video is cringe worthy to the 10th degree. After seeing this, I was embarrassed to be a woman.
Why the hell are these two supposedly intelligent women, who are also self-proclaimed feminists, making asinine statements like: "The thing about the rapists of our generation, is that they all use drugs, they all have some sort of drug they use on you, so it's good to feel, and I don't know if this has happened to me or if I just drink too much..."!! What are you talking about??!!
Now, I realize they were drunk, and they felt blind-sided by the whole rape issue - this all according to Tracie's post on her blog, but I don't care how drunk you are. If somebody asks you to discuss rape, then talk about rape as it is: a heinous act that ruins millions of women's lives. Don't discuss rape like it's not a big deal because it is a big deal - a very big one. I'm still horrified by how flippant they both were, especially since rape is such a sensitive topic. If you feel as if you're not qualified to speak about it - then fucking don't. Shut your mouth. Don't go on to say you've never been raped because you're so smart and intuitive; thereby inferring that rape victims are stupid and have poor judgement. I'm not even a rape victim, and I found their comments vulgar - so I can just imagine what a woman who has been raped thinks of these statements.
The most nauseating statement of this travesty was Moe's response to Lizz's question on why she had never pressed charges when she had been date raped in college: "Because it was a load of trouble and I had better things to do, like drinking more."
Well said. So, hear that all you women out there: If you're not smart enough that you end up getting raped, don't bother reporting it because it's a waste of time. He probably won't rape anybody else. He's harmless. Just pour yourself another drink and fuck some strange guy. Oh, and don't forget to use the pulling out method because it's "the most fun way of not getting pregnant". Excellent message to the young woman of this generation, especially since these two are viewed by many as some kind of third-wave feminist icons.
I've watched the clips several times, and I've viewed the full one-hour video of the show. I wanted to make sure I saw it all. I wanted to hear everything they had to say. I would never write an article like this from just the sound bytes alone. After viewing the full video, it made me even more disgusted because they acted like they really didn't care about anything, except for maybe drinking and the occasional lay. They weren't passionate women like I had imagined them to be. They just sat there, looking complacent and bored. It was their time to shine and show off their intelligence and strength, but they didn't.
I'm not sure if they were trying to be funny. I think there were moments where they were making an effort to be funny, but failing miserably. Most of the time, they just seemed like they didn't give a shit. I saw their complacency and nonchalant attitudes indicative of this generation of women - especially white, middle-class, and educated women. These women have everything they want in life and more. They have the world at their feet. They don't have to fight for anything because it's already there. During the show, Lizz Winstead comments on how the feminists of yesterday have fought for everything to get the women of their generation to this place in society.
Tracie and Moe should not be viewed as new wave feminist role models. They have no idea what feminism means - which was evident if you watched the video. What they should be viewed as is good writers who know how to engage their readers and keep them entertained. I don't view them as bad people, just misinformed. Do I think they should apologize to their readers and fans who have put them on a pedestal? No, I don't. They don't owe anybody an apology, except themselves for looking at the world through a set of blinders just because they are too lazy to take them off.
For all of the efforts of the feminist movement for the past forty years, these girls just set women back about twenty in one night. You can blame it on "irreverent" drunkenness, but I blame it on utter stupidity, ignorance, and a bourgeois sensibility not to care about anything but yourself. (Via Shoot the Messenger)
These photographs are beyond amazing. Alexey Titarenko took these stunning photos in St. Petersburg, Russia using long exposure shots. The results are hauntingly beautiful. Believe it or not, these are crowds captured on film. By using a slower shutter speed on the camera, the crowds appear as shadowy apparitions. It's as if we are catching glimpses of the ghosts of St. Petersburg as they pass through. (Via BLDGBLOG)
As many of you know, this blog used to be entirely about love and relationships. I am a former dating columnist for an online magazine, and I created this site to talk about my experiences with dating and relationships, as well as give advice to those who ask for it. As the site progressed, I got a little burnt out from writing about the same topic day in and day out. I guess you could say I'm Carrie with ADD. I like the freedom of being able to write anything I want - basically anything that amuses me at the moment. Now, the blog is pop culture, art, news, and once in a while I like to throw in some relationship/dating stuff.
Just recently, I came across an e-mail in my inbox from an incredibly articulate, intelligent woman who was asking for some much needed love advice. It brought me back to the days of being a dating columnist and how much I loved helping women with their dating problems. I spent my 20's in constant misery as I dated, loved, and lost. I went through a lot, and I've always wanted to share my experiences and the lessons I learned from them with all women who are going through now what I did then.
This is the e-mail I received:
I'm 38 and seem to be having a premature mid-life crisis. I just feel very much unfulfilled in both my personal and professional life. That's disheartening at this stage in life. I always thought that by 38 I would have everything together, yet in many ways I'm still searching.
I guess this was precipitated by a recent breakup. Its not that I'm terribly heartbroken, since we only dated for 2 months, not nearly enough time to fall in love. Its just the manner in which it happened that dealt a blow to my self esteem, and really made me look inward.
It happened last week. We met at a cafe and after finishing dinner he decided to break the news. In my old age I've lost my patience with insensitive men and I was just so annoyed by his business-like demeanor and the whole premeditated, choreographed way he planned things. For instance, he had me meet him there rather than going there together, obviously so we would go our separate ways afterwords. The moment got the best of me and my frustration took over. I sarcastically thanked him for the dinner, got up and calmly walked over to his side of the table and then WHAP! I slapped him across the face and stormed out.
The resounding whack caught everyone's attention and undoubtedly caused him much embarrassment. I feel badly because I know it must have stung and left a red mark. I hope I'm not becoming psychotic. I didn't think I was capable of such behavior. I should swallow my pride and call him to apologize but it's just so difficult to do.
In retrospect, maybe I was more frustrated with myself than with him. The fact that I'm still unattached at 38 and just got dumped in public by someone five years my junior is not very inspiring. I really do feel like I'm at a crossroads in my life, but I'm not quite sure what to do about it.
Dear 38 and Frustrated, I hope things are going better for you since you wrote. I know break-ups, even the brief ones, can be painful and self-esteem crushing experiences!
I think it's so easy these days to feel as if there's something missing in our lives. We are bombarded on a daily basis with messages to marry, have children, make lots of money, have an amazing career, and retire with a million + plus dollars. It's ridiculous, and very few people can actually achieve it all. It's so easy to look at our lives and think, "My life is missing something because I don't have (fill in the blank}". From your e-mail, you seem like an intelligent woman who knows what she wants in life. You've lived life, and you've had many experiences to get you to this point. You say you aren't happy with your professional or personal life. Not many people are, and the ones who say they are - usually are lying lol. You have to constantly tell yourself that you are doing the best you can.
Try to work on one aspect of your life at a time. What part of your life makes you the unhappiest? If it's your personal life, then start focusing your energy on building up yourself first. Engage in things that you love. Maybe it's going out to dinner with girlfriends, cooking, hiking, taking a class, reading, yoga, or just relaxing at home while watching one of your favorite movies, etc. The key to finding a great guy is making yourself happy first. The more positive energy you exude, the better quality guy you will find.
I love that you smacked Mr. Two Months. It's like something out of a Bacall and Bogart movie. It may not have been the most rational or PC thing to do, but it was pretty damn fabulous if you ask me. I have to suggest some great books: Why Men Love Bitches (there's also a new one called Why Men Marry Bitches, although I haven't read it) and He's Just Not That Into You. They are fantastic books for women, and it doesn't matter if you're 20 or 50; every single woman out there can appreciate them.
If you are unhappiest with your professional life, then start reading up on ways to either move up in the company or finding a new career/job. There are also great classes you can take on the subject of advancing your career. It might be something to look into. And, you never know, but you could meet a great guy who is in the same boat as you in class with you. Just a thought ;-
I really appreciate you reaching out to me. I hope you find all the happiest in the world.
Am I the only one who thinks this lamp rocks? This "Midsummer Shade Light" from MoMA is so beautiful. It reminds me of those snowflakes children make out of white tissue paper. What a great lamp for a bedroom. It's just so delicate and precious. I want one! (Via MoMA Store)
J and I have to move out of our place by the end of August (thank God). I don't think either one of us can take those four flights of stairs any longer. Last weekend, the realtor called me and told me that he was showing the place to a couple who really wanted it after seeing pictures. This was on Friday. I rushed home from work early, busted through the door, immediately started complaining to J about what a shithole the place was. The bathroom was filthy. There were crumbs all over the kitchen counter. The floor needed to be vacuumed. And, my boyfriend's recliner is so gross. It has stains all over it. It reminds me of that show, Frasier and how much he despised his dad's ugly, old recliner. Well, I absolutely detest this monstrosity of a chair. It looks like something right out of a trailer park. We have a nice place, and this disgusting chair just doesn't fit with the whole look I'm going for. Usually about every three months, I'll go off on a rant to him about his chair. I can't wait until we have enough money, so I can finally get rid of that thing once and for all. Mwhahahaa!(evil laugh)
Friday, I was right out of my mind, trying to get the place into tip-top shape for these people. I got the apartment looking so great that even I couldn't believe how warm and inviting it looked. Apparently, the couple couldn't as well, and they decided to take it. Poor bastards. They have no idea what they just signed up for. Four flights of stairs seems great at the time, but then the first time you try to carry groceries up, you're ready to kill somebody by the time you get to the top of the stairs. Also, these people can expect a 7am wake-up call EVERY morning as the restaurant behind the building has their dumpster emptied by a huge BFI dumptruck. Think crashing wine bottles, lots of beeping, and booming. It's really relaxing, especially when you're trying to sleep in on the weekends or even holidays! There was one time the dumptruck got stuck on the dumpster, and we reveled in the dumptruck guy's misfortune.
Now begins another chapter where we have to check out a bunch of places, which are usually overpriced shitholes and get all stressed out because we can't find anything decent. The plan is that we are going to start looking now, so it won't be as stressful and soul-crushing as it usually is. Last Sunday, we drove up to a huge apartment complex outside of the city, where we had agreed to meet the real estate agent. When we got there, we were about an hour early, so we parked the car and observed the people going in and out. Yikes. Let's just say, we were less than impressed with the tenants. It was a downright scary crew, definitely not people you want to be living next to. Needless to say, we didn't stick around. I called the agent and told him it wasn't for us.
Okay, I must confess that I've been watching A&E's Psychic Kids with Chip Coffey, and I really like it. I'm a huge closet fan of paranormal shows like Paranormal State, Ghost Hunters, and the bone-chilling show, A Haunting (you won't sleep for days). I think it's because I've always been frightened of the paranormal and all its mystery. I'm also afraid of the dark, which is ridiculous because I'm 32! Last night's episode featured two girls who claim to encounter negative spirits, a demon infested home, and the always entertaining psychic medium, Chip Coffey. This is a clip where they go to one of the girl's recently abandone haunted house. Creepiness ensues.
