Monday, September 26, 2011

So Ryan Gosling


This is my daily view.  Gas dusters to clean out my keyboard obsessively.  Kleenex thanks to the fall allergies.  Various lotions and moisturizers to maintain my girly softness.  New personalized mug with my name all over it because I'm awesome like that.  Receipts to be reimbursed for late night meals thanks to year end close.  Neat folder of important, confidential, financial paperwork (does anyone actually buy that).  Handbag-of-the-day calendar which sometimes leads to early morning research on where I can find said bags - like this one by Isabella Fiore entitled "Delilah" which can be found on avelle.com.

And finally... my inspirational Ryan Gosling picture as though I'm a 14-year-old girl with a poster of my favorite celebrity on the wall to kiss goodnight.  Not that I actually did that... I mean, that picture of Jordan Knight was just because I wanted to be cool... uh, yeah, we'll go with that.

So when Selby sent me THIS link today, I laughed, I cried, I sighed too much.  I totally get this girl and will forever subscribe to her blog for being my Ryan soulmate.  Though I will fight her when the time comes for him to choose her or me.

I love you, Ryan Gosling.  And we know I don't use that word lightly.  You are officially #1 on my Top 5.  Sorry Adrien Brody and Justin Kirk, you are now 2 and 3.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Boiling Blood

I love politics.  Most of you know that.  And I LOVE hearing what those who differ in opinion from me have to say.  They honestly interest me just as much if not more than those who believe the same way.  Because conversations with fellow left-wingers go something like this:

"I would vote for socialized medicine."
"Me too.  I would also vote for gay marriage."
"Yep.  Me too.  I also am all about ridding the world of the death penalty, lessening tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, keeping church and state completely separate, and supporting welfare and Social Security."
"Uh huh.... so..... I guess the biggest potential difference we have is Hillary or Obama?"

Boring.  However, intelligently discussing whether you're of a different mindset from my own can take on all different forms.  Some of my friends are ridiculously wealthy and understand that they sway to the right to keep the money they've worked hard for in their own bank accounts and not have to share.  Others don't like change and don't know how to deal with the idea of NOT keeping our southern neighbors out by means of a fence.  And others take the God-route and can't deal with the woman's right to choose and same-sex marriage.  No matter their reasons, I like talking to them about it.  Not even arguing.  I love them either way.

However, bigots make me angry.  Rick Perry, Sarah Palin, and Michele Bachmann have often topped my irritation-of-the-day roster.  But when someone starts ignorantly speaking against people for who they are, my blood begins to boil.

Rick Santorum is the source of today's frustration.  No... not frustration... sadness, nausea, fury, tears.

After working 13 hours today I came home to catch some of the highlights of tonight's GOP Debate on Fox News.  Yes, I'm aware of what Fox News is airing.  See above... I like hearing what everyone thinks.  What I saw was much too irritating though, so the debate will stay on my DVR for another day or two.

Amazingly brave, clearly strong, and well-spoken soldier Stephen Hill asked a question to the panel about DADT.  He got booed.  The audience booed him.  Like booed as though they were at a football game with one too many beers down their gullets.  How disgusting.


But even more disgusting??  Rick Santorum.  His first sentence in answering Mr. Hill's question is, "Yeah, I would say any type of sexual activity has no place in the military."  I didn't hear a question about sexual activity.  Gays don't just walk about looking for a place and means to have sex.  In fact, I know many more straight people who have that agenda than gay people.

Senator Santorum believes that allowing homosexuals in the military is "tragic".  How dare he?  More importantly, how dare those people cheer him?  Most importantly, I hope his bigotry keeps people from voting for him.  His irresponsibility and cruelty to a minority group is appalling.  I really hope if and when one (or more) of his seven children turn out to be gay, he doesn't wish them the same fate as he's wishing Mr. Hill and other gay Americans.  It floors me that in 2011 this is still acceptable.  I want him to stop being angry.  What is he so mad about? No one is asking him to be gay.  No one is asking to take away his rights for being a man, or being white, or being married, or being a dad, or being right-handed (or is he left-handed?).  Let people be and live their lives.  Stephen Hill just wants to go to work and not be forced to lie about who he is.  Let him be.  I'll bet Mr. Santorum's even one of those people who are anti-Chaz Bono on DWTS... which was another thing that shocked me, but I digress...

I guess that's my cue to lull myself to sleep somehow and try not to be angry about bigots... I have another looooong work day ahead of me tomorrow.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Bookish Babes Are Where It's At

Yes.  I'm behind in blogging.  Heck, I'm even behind in my own writing outside the blogsophere.  September is crazy, and I'll fill you in on that later.  But for now... an article by Ryan Britt about how bookish babes are hot.  See, ladies?  There are guys out there who like smarties (and not just the candies).

*I stole the picture from Ryan's article but wanted to keep his formatting intact.  So just go to the link and read it.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

I Should've Worn Green...

To quote Selby's words and sentiment, "Painful Beauty.  It's what I need."


We're seeing Follies tonight.  I need it.  That kind of beauty that only comes from incredible art.  Not to mention that when I first saw the show in early 2001, I was moved like I had never had theatre move me.  It made me know I needed to be a part of something like that.  It sealed the deal to move to NYC.  It solidified a number of things on a much deeper level than I even knew I had.  I think I can honestly say it changed my life.  And I hope to recapture some of that tonight.  I need the reminder.  I need the inspiration.

Thank you, Stephen Sondheim, for lyrics like this...
You take one road,
You try one door,
There isn't time for any more.
One's life consists of either/or.
One has regrets
Which one forgets,
And as the years go on.
The road you didn't take
Hardly comes to mind,
Does it?
The door you didn't try,
Where could it have led?
The choice you didn't make
Never was defined.
Was it!
Dreams you didn't dare
Are dead.
Were they ever there?
Who said!
*Also excited to see how Bernadette Peters handles a role like Sally... We shall see!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

It's 9/11, so I guess I should write something...

Every year on 9/11 I've spent a few minutes thinking about that day 10 years ago.  As a New Yorker though, it's something I think about on a semi-regular basis.  The anniversary doesn't have to trigger thoughts.

Each morning I get an update from Pat Kiernan and the oh-so-adorable Bobby Cuza on NY1 as they provide a progress report of the construction.  Upon meeting someone new, the question of how long I've lived here always comes up.  My response, "September 2001," never fails to bring on the questions of whether I considered leaving after the attacks.  When kayaking on the beautiful East River, seeing the hole in the skyline is a constant reminder.  Tourists ask how to get to Ground Zero (tourists always ask me for directions - less since I'm not a blond anymore... funny).  Reading "World Trade Center" lit up as the final stop on E train will always spark a memory of the first time I took it downtown in 2001 when Gina Garner came for a visit.  I was not prepared for what I would see -- smoke still emanating, streets blocked off, and most vividly burned into my brain, an office desk atop the heap of debris.  The desk that someone sat at.  A desk similar to my own at work.

This year there seems to be an eerie quiet sitting top of the usually bustling city.  It's a bit deserted.  We've been issued warnings about terror threats which has kept a lot of people in the outer boros or pushed them out of the city altogether.  I, however, will be spending money tomorrow (ya know, boosting the economy).  I'll go for a run in the morning and view the skyline as I know it in 2011.  Then I'm heading in have brunch with a friend and see "Book of Mormon".  After that I'll hang with more people who make me smile.  I plan on laughing.  A lot.

While I appreciate all the American flags, moments of silence, and send-ups to NYC, DC, and PA on Facebook, I still hate that "Never Forget" slogan.  A slogan for something dreadful that I lived through.  New Yorker magazine has a special tribute this week to 9/11.  I've tried to read some of it, but it's just too difficult.  I was fortunate enough to not actually know anyone in the towers, but the vivid pictures and stories brings back the intense melancholy that I felt in the days, weeks, and months following that day.  Never forget?  How in the world could I?

My skyline before and after 9/11/2001

*After Osama bin Laden was captured, I wrote a recap of my personal 9/11/2001.  You can find it HERE if you really need yet another recap of that day.