Oh Maria

"One day you’ll find that I have gone But tomorrow may rain, So I’ll follow the sun"

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 11:41:17 -0500

“One day you’ll find that I have gone
But tomorrow may rain,
So I’ll follow the sun”

- The Beatles

My father died on Sunday morning. We weren’t close, he lived in the Philippines where I was...

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:50:37 -0500

My father died on Sunday morning.

We weren’t close, he lived in the Philippines where I was born. Amongst his many occupations, translator, diplomat, professor, sociologist, etc - was journalist. For nearly 20 years he had written a regular weekly column for a national newspaper. It was subscription only to view and I had never bothered. I changed my mind after I found out he was gone. One of his last columns was entitled Near Death Ruminations.

“I will pass away and the last who will have memories of me, assuming a normal life expectancy, is Lakan Uhay, our nine-year-old only son. I will be forgotten. I will just be a name to the children of all my children. This is the reality. And now I accept it. I do not fight it. Not anymore. To an ephemeral wisp, that suffices.

The acceptance sans bitterness is gradually energized by the resolve to consolidate and strengthen my present core-relationships: my wife, Joycie, my children, my very few but very caring friends - Mayita, Jackie, Vita, Joji, Linc, Romy, and Tikoy. I must keep them in my heart and mind always. I must make our relationship vibrant. To make them happy. To share my life with them and theirs with mine. That is more than enough.

Perhaps in the end, this is a way of conquering Death and triumphing over Life.”

I wish I did not have to read this at work. I wish we had spoken this year. In the end, I find myself alone, wishing.

I randomly just got a prime seat and ticket to the inauguration - any of you monkeys going too?

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:17:53 -0500

I randomly just got a prime seat and ticket to the inauguration - any of you monkeys going too?

Is there a moral conscience in NYC?

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:55:00 -0500

Last night I came home to find a woman knocking frantically on my apartment door. I was a little confused and scared because she was absolutely frantic. I’ve rarely seen friends and family that panicked, let alone a stranger.

I’m so sorry! But….I need help! I’m so sorry!
Umm, it’s ok! What’s wrong?

Her hair was a mess, there were tears falling down her face in torrents - but she didn’t look like someone to be worried about. She looked, and was dressed like, a typical working class Brooklyn mom whose world had fallen to pieces. The words whizzing in my head were FIRE MUGGING RAPE.

I….I….

The door opened, my downstairs neighbor appeared.

Do you live here too!

He shrugged and nodded, as bewildered as I was.

I live down the street, my name is Janine - I’m so sorry but I need help and I don’t know where to go. I was mugged a few days ago, I had to cancel all of my cards and they’re coming in the mail - but my daughter is coming out from the hospital. They say they won’t release her unless I have money. I’m so sorry!! I’ve lived here for thirty years, but the people keep changing and moving and I don’t know any neighbors anymore. Please, I’ll cook you dinner, I have my wedding ring if you want to hold it as collateral, anything.

The neighbor and I stood there, not knowing what to say as she convulsed into sobs. Eventually:

How much?
24 dollars.

We looked at each other and each took out 12 dollars. We refused to take her jewelery, but did take both her cell and home number because she insisted. We told her to keep warm, and get home safe, and wished her luck.

I guess I’m going to call her tonight and check up - not for the money, just to see if she’s okay.
Even if it was all a ruse to get money, I couldn’t care less. Although, I really don’t think it was.

No sirs, thank YOU. soupsoup:kaytee:ihavegoodtaste:(via...

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:51:00 -0500

No sirs, thank YOU.

soupsoup:kaytee:ihavegoodtaste:(via barackobama.com)

YES!

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:45:34 -0500

"Real love amounts to withholding the truth - even when you’re offered the perfect opportunity..."

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:44:43 -0500

““Real love amounts to withholding the truth - even when you’re offered the perfect opportunity to hurt somebody’s’ feelings. I wanted to say something to this effect, but my hand puppets were back home in their drawer.””

- David Sedaris

Colin Powell endorses Obama

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:26:00 -0400

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Sunday that he will be voting for Sen. Barack Obama, citing the Democrat’s “ability to inspire” and the “inclusive nature of his campaign.” (via CNN)

Hmm…I had a feeling that adding Sarah Palin would greatly upset a strong portion of McCain supporters. Smart men.

Though admittedly, her performance on SNL, (or rather Amy Poehlar’s Palin rap), was pretty awesome.

Me and P Rudd.

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:15:00 -0400

Me and P Rudd.

Are there any other women out there who voted for Hilary Clinton, extemely insulted by Sarah Palin?

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:05:42 -0400

Are there any other women out there who voted for Hilary Clinton, extemely insulted by Sarah Palin?

Aww…! Btw, though I know you must be sick of it, I love...

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:57:13 -0400

Aww…! Btw, though I know you must be sick of it, I love your description as wide-eyed. You got some gorgeous baby blues on you, lady.

caro:

They’re so famous.

I cannot help but love the afro.

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:16:00 -0400

I cannot help but love the afro.

gregcbrown: (via risingtensions)

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:30:08 -0400

gregcbrown:

(via risingtensions)

'Gossip Girl' filming report

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:28:00 -0400

YES! I am LOVING the gossip girl…gossip.

caro:

FYI: POSSIBLE ‘GOSSIP GIRL’ SPOILER ALERT

David and I were taking a cab uptown last night sometime around 10 PM, when the driver told us he’d have to turn west on 49th St. because a block of Madison Avenue was closed — it looked like construction to us. We were just going up to 63rd, so we told him that it was OK and we’d just get out and walk from there. So we did.

But it wasn’t construction—it was Gossip Girl! There was a night scene getting filmed outside the Palace Hotel, which is on Madison between 50th and 51st, and which (as we all know) holds quite a prominent spot in the show because it’s owned by Chuck Bass’ dad. We were actually walking on the opposite side of Madison past what we thought was a construction site because of all the trucks parked around it, but then when we saw a crowd of teenagers gathered around, I was like, “DAVID, THEY’RE FILMING GOSSIP GIRL!”

We stuck around for about a half hour and watched. Here’s what appeared to be going on: some kind of event that involved men in tuxes and women in quasi-formal (but mostly cocktail-length) dresses was taking place at the Palace. The scene we saw began with the character Jenny Humphrey, in a beautiful but shockingly short flapper-ish tube dress (white with black ribbon decoration and a poofy skirt) and mile-high heels, rushing out the front door of the Palace looking slightly distressed.

Jenny runs to a thirty-something couple milling around outside the Palace, also in formalwear, and asks them something frantically. (We could not hear any dialogue.) Before the conversation has much time to get away, Jenny’s dad Rufus shows up behind them in a casual tan jacket and pulls Jenny away. She seems to be trying to explain herself; looks like Little J. has done something stupid again.

Then, Lily van der Woodsen, Serena’s mom and Rufus’ former girlfriend/roadie from his Johnny Rzeznik days, exits the same door that Jenny did, wearing a beautiful, floor-length navy silk dress. Seriously, Kelly Rutherford (the actress) is stunning. Jenny seems to be trying to explain her predicament, whatever it is (I need to know!!!!) to Rufus and Lily, who by the way we have not yet seen on the show this season.

A minute after Lily comes out, someone else exits the front door of the Palace—A COP! He joins the dialogue, which again we were unable to hear, and the scene ended somewhere shortly thereafter. Now, here is the catch: there was only one cop, and plenty of other formalwear-clad guests were chilling outside the hotel, so it can’t have been an all-out catastrophe. That rules out terrorist attacks, hurricanes, large-scale coke busts, and armies of streakers. Although, I presume, it could have been a single streaker or a small-scale coke bust. But really, what did Little J. do this time?!

Aside from that, we were just sad we did not see either Chuck or Nate.

No F-ing Way.

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:08:30 -0400

Palin’s town billed rape victims to get evidence

By MARY PEMBERTON

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — When Sarah Palin was mayor of Wasilla, the city billed sexual assault victims and their insurance companies for the cost of rape kits and forensic examinations…

Lawmakers became involved in 2000 when reports began coming in that police departments were charging sexual assault victims for the kits and the forensic exams, which cost from $300 to $1,200 at the time. The kit, a package of sample containers, swabs and other medical supplies, is used to collect evidence from women after they are attacked.

Then-Gov. Tony Knowles said Thursday that Wasilla was unique in the state in charging rape victims for the cost of doing the law enforcement necessary for solving the crime.

The bill passed the Legislature over the objections of Wasilla police chief Charlie Fannon, who said it would require the city to come up with more money to cover the costs of buying the rape kits and doing the exams.

-via The Associated Press.

Seriously? While Sarah Palin was governer she made rape victims pay for their own rape kit? I wonder…if they couldn’t afford the 1200, could they still get one, or forfeit their right to an exam? This can’t can’t be true. There is no feesible explanation for this. And yet.

"Dear Mother: I have written to tell you my worrying secret. Now don’t cry when you read it because..."

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:07:00 -0400

“Dear Mother: I have written to tell you my worrying secret. Now don’t cry when you read it because it is neither yours nor my fault. I suppose I will have to tell it now, without any nonsense. To begin with I was not meant to be an athlete. I was meant to be a composer, and will be I’m sure. I’ll ask you one more thing .—Don’t ask me to try to forget this unpleasant thing and go play football.—Please—Sometimes I’ve been worrying about this so much that it makes me mad (not very).”

- Samuel Barber, aged 9

I’m a New Yorker now. This is where I work and love and have made my home. For the first time...

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:52:00 -0400

I’m a New Yorker now.

This is where I work and love and have made my home.

For the first time in a while, it feels more like a memory and less like today.

I work next to Midtown.

My sister works in the financial district.

My friend work and live all over, from the Bronx to Staten Island.

I know boys serving in Iraq.

I know men reconstructing Afghanistan.

I’m beyond unnerved, no matter what I tell myself.

I don’t know what I hate more, the events of that day, or the aftermath.

Usually, it’s the aftermath.

But when I see footage of smoke and fire again-

I remember being in that classroom.

So many of us Jersey kids knowing our parents were in New York or worse

That they were, for certain, in the Towers.

-I’m not really sure.

Regardless,

Candles will be lit in my house tonight

And I will mourn so many things.

Be well.

Things Sarah Palin Doesn't Believe In

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:40:25 -0400

Besides the well known fact that Governer Sarah Palin does not believe in Global Warming or Homosexuality (they can be converted into heterosexuals “through the power of prayer.” -Washington Post); one of her lesser known attributes as Governer was the attempted banning of the books for having “non-christian” themes. Here’s a few examples:

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Forever by Judy Blume
Harry Potter 1-4 by J.K. Rowling
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
One Day in The Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Our Bodies, Ourselves by Boston Women’s Health Collective
Silas Marner by George Eliot
Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

Really Mrs. Palin…you find Judy Blume too controversial? And Harry Potter? And Shakespeare? Shame on you. But shame on us, if you’re elected.

And I love that I saw you on your birthday in NY and got you...

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:53:51 -0400

And I love that I saw you on your birthday in NY and got you shots!! Tell your friends they’re phenomonal!

biancarocksout:

Heart in a Cage- The Strokes

I love the Strokes. I love this song. I love New York.

This is why it hurts.

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:51:17 -0400

This is why it hurts.