Justin Bieber-srsly? May 10

OK srsly-Justin Bieber? What is the appeal?





I see you one 21st century teen idol and raise you-







No comparison-and I wasn't even that into the Partridge Family! well maybe a little ;)

What do you think?

Downbeach diva dirty tricks April 09

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. The weather down the shore is spectacular. It's still a little chilly here close to the ocean, but spring (and summer) is in the air.

Speaking of the shore, Mark told me a little story this morning that really stuck in my craw. Please indulge a little exposition here-Mark and one of his friends (long story and not mine to tell) do a lot of work in rich people's houses here at the beach. If you've seen my ugly house (the downbeach edition is one) blogs you know that all evidence I've ever seen here indicates that taste is inversely proportional to wealth; that is; the richer they are, the more likely I am to think that their house and its decoration is ugly.

Well today's story proves that, at least around here, money breeds rudeness and arrogance as well! Mark and his friend were setting up in this house yesterday, along with a lot of other contractors; because of course you know that ALL the work must be finished by Memorial Day. Mark was laying a tarp down in the living room when he noticed a $20 bill laying out on the ottoman/table! So why do you think this bill was just laying out there? As a trap, maybe, for some unsuspecting dunce of a contractor?

This pissed me off no end! As a homeowner, you better know enough about the people you have working in your house to know that they a)are too honest to go grabbing at stray money laying around, and/or b)are too smart to fall for any amazing rude and arrogant tricks!

So what do you think? Am I overreacting or is this over the top?

Shut up and act April 09

Mom and I spent this past weekend in NYC; enjoying the beautiful weather, eating and drinking, perusing art on the walls and in the showcases, and generally enjoying each other's company. All in all a great weekend, and I'll have some pictures eventually, however something happened that I feel I need to tell you about.

Mom and I took in a Broadway play on Saturday. We saw Exit the King, an absurdist comedy by Ionesco, staring Geoffrey Rush, Susan Sarandon, and Lauren Ambrose (love her) and Andrea Martin, along with several others. The play was incredible-the scenario is a little far-fetched, but after reading a bit about the playwright I understand why, but compelling, and the acting was superb.

I love Geoffrey Rush in anything, Susan Sarandon should shut up and act, because she can pull it off, Lauren Ambrose is one of my favs (she could be my daughter any day), and Andrea Martin (known for SNL) was very good.

Back to the story

After the standing ovation and the second curtain call, all the actors stepped out of charachter to beg the audience to reach in to their pockets on the way out of the theater to help a NYC Aids charity! Now of course I have nothing against the charity, which I'm sure does wonderful work helping people, BUT I was not happy with the actors using their position on stage to shill for it.

SHUT UP AND ACT!

So yes, I am one of those people who wishes that actors should just keep quiet about the the politicians and charities they support, at least while the are working. Of course I think they have every right to support whomever they choose, I just don't appreciate the preaching. Mom and I paid good money, that was well spent, BTW, to see the play. However, I did not want fries with that-keep the guilt trip to yourself, thank you!

SHUT UP AND ACT!

I am not interested in the charities and/or politicians they support, and it's an insult to any intelligence I may have to think that I'll give money just because they think it's the right thing to do. I support the charities and politicians of my own choosing; it's a private matter and none of anyone's business. I expect to see a performance without having someone else's shoved down my throat. Proselytize from the red carpet, US mag, or TV talk show if you must, but keep it away from the work!

It's funny-Mom and I couldn't be much farther apart in our political beliefs, but we do agree on many other things, and this is one of them. No begging from the stage! The spell of the play was broken, and instead of remaining in the moment, we were thrust into the harsh light of someone's present reality, and we both felt in need of a shower. All we wanted from them was just to

SHUT UP AND ACT!

So-has this ever happened to you?

Didya ever just want to scream

SHUT UP AND ACT?

Something on my mind march 09

It's Caturday!




I am appropriately mellow after some drinks and good fresh fish for dinner, but I still have something on my mind that's bugging me for the third day now. I'm going to tell you a little story I heard the other day, and I want to hear your reaction, both the immediate knee jerk and after couple minutes of thought; that is if you will indulge me. Thanks in advance.

So I heard about this older couple who got married a couple years ago, after living together for several years. During the time before the engagement the man gave the woman some beautiful diamond earrings,


and then a diamond ring and bracelet for the engagement.





Flash forward to two years later, when the man throws in the woman's face the fact that all the jewelery is completely and utterly FAKE! She takes it to be appraised and finds that he is telling the whole truth and the lot isn't worth a hundred bucks. WTF???

Now I don't know these people but I understand that the man could well afford the real thing-it seems this may be the reason that no one suspected that it was fake.

So-before I tell you about MY reaction to this story, I want to hear yours.

What do you think?

Signs you are a grownup 10/9/08

This blog has been rattling around in my head for a while now and it needs writing, so I'm going to attempt it. Before I go any further, however, I think a disclaimer is in order.

I understand that many people find that becoming parents allows/requires them to grow up and let someone else be their top priority (other than a spouse which is a whole different thing.) I have no children and have never experienced this phenomenon, so please bear with me. Oh-and as always, feel free to call me on any and all content of this blog. Just be nice while you're doing it LOL

1) The world does not revolve around you.

This is one of those about which parents may have a jump on me, but it is crucial to growing up. Not only does this include the ability to put other people's needs before your own, but also understanding that not everything that happens in your world is about you. People may be pissed off or upset and just taking it out on you-relax and laugh them off. If you really have done something to piss them off, you'll probably find out sooner or later.

2) Your parents are people too.

Insight on this does not necessarily come with parenthood, although you'd think it would. However, I know some parents who still don't get it.

The people who birthed and raised you are just as flawed as all the schmos out on the street, and the hero worship of childhood has to be replaced by embarassment, then skepticism that they made it this far through life, and then finally some understanding and recognition that they are somewhere in between. Of course some parents are abusive and that's another paragraph.

For those of us lucky enough to have wonderful but flawed people as parents who only wanted the best for us, this realization is crucial to having an adult relationship with them and letting the percieved slights and other bullshit fall away. Everyone makes mistakes, and if you know in your heart that your parents loved you and did the best they could, it's time to let that baggage go (believe me, I do know otherwise very bright and accomplished adults who haven't figured this out yet-WTF?)

On the other hand, if you were abused by your parents, my heart goes out to you. However, if you can't move on from that abuse and be in control of your own destiny, then you are carrying baggage around that is weighing you down. Let it go...

2)Accepting that not everyone will like you.

All of us will come up against people that just don't like us, for one reason or another. Sometimes this is caused by an actual word or deed on our part for which there can't (or won't) be amends made, or is the result of jealousy or some percieved slight. However, this is usually just about a conflict of personalities and cannot be helped. Grown-ups understand this and don't dwell on it-after all, don't we all have those people that just rub us the wrong way? How presumptuous to think that we don't elicit the very same reaction in someone else.

The time that this really can rear an ugly head is when one of your friends has a friend that you just don't like and who just doesn't like you. This can make for some interesting interactions, to say the least, and can be uncomfortable for the mutual friend. I had this experience in high school; one of my good friends had a friend from her neighborhood that I never liked. Her personality and attitude annoyed me, and even though she might have snubbed me at some point (I really don't remember), it was the way she treated our mutual friend that really got under my skin. Now I'm no saint and I know I had days when I wasn't the greatest friend, but this person consistently took advantage of my friend and treated her like shit. Needless to say, we avoided each other like the plague. I really don't know what she thought of me or if she knew I was on to her, and still could care less. What a using bitch!

The funny thing is that the same type of thing seems to be occuring here on Myspace. Some of the friends of one of my friends don't seem to like me very much and I really don't know why. Believe me, I'm not losing any sleep over it, but it would be nice to know. I don't think I ever did anything to deserve their disdain, but oh well-whatever. I'm a big girl and it doesn't impact me one way or the other; it's just another opportunity to observe people's interesting behavior and shake my head.

3)Understanding your romantic patterns

This is something that people who always seem to make the wrong choices need to acknowledge and understand, and actually is applicable to friendships too. If you seem to have a pattern of attracting or being attracted to losers, it's time to reevaluate your own motives and thinking-many times we are our own worst enemies.

4) Acknowledging your own flaws and easing up on yourself

No one is or will ever be perfect, and the less time we spend agonizing over our faults the better. Of course making the same mistakes over and over requires a good hard look at why, and all of us can and should always attempt to improve ourselves, but there's a good chance that we'll all go to the grave with some faults and blots on our record-we're only human!

5) Comfort in your own skin

Under this category I include-not worrying so much about what other people think, striking out on your own road and not trying to follow the crowd, AND maybe the most important, not trying to make yourself into someone's perfect match/dream man or woman.

This last one affects us all at one time or another-we find someone we think we love and try to make ourselves into the person we think they want. This is a recipe for disaster from the first moment-we will never be anyone else but ourselves, and the quicker we understand that the happier we will be. One can only pretend for so long, and what a rude awakening when the truth comes out! Grown-ups are comfortable in their own skins, and when they display that confidence and pursue the things that fulfill them, they will find happiness and hopefully, love.

6) Finally, understanding that life is a journey and along that path we will learn much about ourselves and the world.

That said, there are many things we will never know, understand, or experience, and when we acknowledge this fact, we may breathe a big sigh of relief. There are only so many days in one's life, and choices must be made. Realizing the fact that the more we grow and experience, the more we realize we don't (and may never) know is quite a revelation.

So-I think I'm done. I know this is too long, and if you made it all the way through I thank you and ask-

Do you agree? and What can you add?

Thanks again!

When "coffee" is not coffee

A little rant today-I know I'm on vacation but this is something that irks me continually and today I have the time to bitch and moan about it.

I really love my coffee-I don't have many vices (hah-wouldn't you like to know!) but FRESH coffee is one of them. I buy my coffee from La Colombe,

and it's the best that I've ever had. (I've never been to Italy, so I'll reserve judgement on the best in the world).

La Colombe is served in all the best restaurants in Philly, and many in NYC (soon to conquer the whole East Coast!), and the blends are very good; my favorite is their Corsica blend, but they have a French Roast type, and a decaf as well as a couple others. However, the MOST important factor in a good cup of coffee is the FRESHNESS! It's not enough to grind the beans yourself, although that helps; the most critical element is when and where the beans were roasted. La Colombe roasts their beans right in Philly, a couple miles away from their shops on Rittenhouse Square and in Manayunk, and they sell a lot of it and fast; this is what makes it SO GOOD.

Okay-you're wondering about the supposed rant..well now that I've explained my coffee snob/purist secrets, the rant will make so much more sense.

When Starbucks and their ilk started peddling coffee to the masses, some marketing genius decided to give the people all the sweet, yucky shit they desired and call it coffee. I really don't have a problem with lattes or soy milk. but when they add all those flavored syrups and who knows what else to the poor coffee, IT'S NOT COFFEE ANYMORE!!! I know, they use cutesy names like Frappachino and whatever, but in their scramble to appeal to the masses, these boneheads/geniuses (take your pick) drowned out the coffee, and it pisses me off. WTF is this?

Pat and I went to the Main Street Coffee shop this morning, and the place was mobbed with people looking for some cold refreshment after standing outside in the sun at the auction. I ordered an iced coffee (which, yes, I put some sugar and cream in) and Pat an iced decaf latte, but the damn blender was whirring up a storm making all these syrupy sweet delights and I just had to shake my head at the inanity of it all. The coffee was fresh and good but these numbnuts were obliterating it-

again I say-it's NOT COFFEE!

Rant over-back to your regularly scheduled ponies.