Idle Ramblings of a Slightly Mad Man

Yep, still here. 

So yesterday a few co-workers and I strolled through the city.  We started out walking through the neighborhood of Chelsea.  My co-worker J was curious about all of the blind people walking around with their canes and was inquisitive enough to ask the waitress in the diner we ate in “Are there really a lot of blind people here?”  To which I quickly countered, “This in New York, they are not really blind people, they are just creating the next new wave of style and chic.”

The waitress laughed and walked away leaving J without her answer.  When we left the diner, I had noticed that after we turned the corner, across the street was a Blind Center.  I pointed it out to J who, being very skeptical of anything I tell her (long story but she does have a good reason), asked how did I know that was the blind center.  I pointed out that it was the only building without windows so it had to be for the blind because what do they need windows for?  They can’t see anything.  I then pointed to the small sign that stated it was a blind center.

From Chelsea we walked down through the Village and Soho.  I love walking through the city on a nice day.  Everyone comes out and makes for great people watching. 

In New York, you will find people wearing the most…………………………….um…………………………….. interesting clothing.  They range from the very colorful to the barely there to the very bold.  Everyone was out and about yesterday.  I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed the leisurely stroll.

I had a Corporate meeting out in Queens last night so a group and I made our way out there.  Since I had a car I was the driver for a lot of my fellow co-workers.  My job was to welcome some of the others and there was not a better way to greet everyone then to head to the bar and start a tab on someone else’s account.  That’s right!  I started a bar tab for 30 people on my boss’s boss tab.  We all were very social by the time dinner rolled around. 

After the meet and greet we headed to the conference room for dinner.  After working all week in NYC and having to work through the weekend, I felt the need to drink.  And drink I did.  I was not the only one that was interested in having a good time. 

After dinner and the meeting there was about a dozen of us that wandered back to the bar and what was on the TV but the Philadelphia Flyers beating the Montreal Canadians.  And how does any proud Philadelphian celebrate the Flyers  winning the series?  Yep!  Celebratory  beers.   A lot of beers. 

Our group dwindled down to about 4 by the time last call was called.  Not realizing that it was so late I tried to excuse myself so I could go to bed.  You see, I had to drive out to the Hamptons by 10 AM this morning.  That only left me to about 5 hours of sleep and 5 hours to sober up before starting work.  Needless to say, I felt like crap all day today and all I want to do is go to bed. 

So now that I have given another Rambling update, I can head to bed.

G’night all. 

When the Superman movie came out with Christopher Reeve, the greatest accolade, the greatest comment, bestowed upon it was that the movie made you believe that a man could fly. 

There has not been another movie like that since. 

Until today.

I saw Iron Man tonight and I was blown away!  This movie made me believe that man could fly again.  I was in awe throughout the movie.  This is the best comic book movie based on a Marvel character in a long time. 

I would also reccommend that you sit through all the credits at the end!  You’ll be glad you did.

I like to people watch.  Anywhere people gather, malls, markets, parks, etc… are excellent place to watch people.  But the best place in all the world to watch people - New York City.

I’ve recently been working in the Big Apple and after work I hit the streets and wander through Manhattan just observing the people.  From Times Square to Central Park to the World Trade area there are plenty of places to just watch people.

People are fascinating to watch.  When in their natural state, people will do rather interesting things. 

I was walking down Madison Ave and decided to count people that just pick their nose.  While no one was full on digging their finger up to the second knuckle picking, there was the quick pickers, the wipers, the two finger two nostril cleaner and the pretend I am doing something else other than picking my nose picker.  In 5 blocks I came across 8 pickers. 

While strolling though Central Park this afternoon I observed couples kissing in the park.  Hetero couples and Homo couples.  Young couples and Old couples.  Public displays of affection was everywhere. 

Then at Times Square you have people everywhere taking pictures or filming theirselves against a backdrop of bright neon lights.  People walking with shopping bags overflowing with purchases from the stores.  If the country is in a recession, it is not occurring in Times Square.   There were people gathered in a circle watching an armless man doing back flips and front flips.  They would clap and cheer.  I was amazed that people found this as entertaining.

Then there are the people in line waiting for the doors to open on the Broadway shows.  People dressed in their finest and people that were dressed in their not so finest.  I overheard one lady proclaim that she was attending her 5th showing of the play.  Her 5th?  Did she not understand the play the first four times? 

People are wonderful.  People are interesting.  People are amusing. 

After an evening of people watching, I feel so much better about myself. 

When I die, I want to be recycled.  In this age of green living, I want to do everything and anything I can to help save the planet.  Starting with my body.

I want my organs harvested and used.  I want to donate my organs to help others.  Any organ that cannot be transplanted to another body I want to donate to schools and universities to study and use in classroom learning.

I want my blood and fluids to be used and recycled too.  I don’t know if you can recycle blood, bile or urine but it is something that should be looked into.  Who knows what uses we could find for it.  Who knows, bile may be the next fuel source for cars.  Or milking my mucus for lubricants. 

I want my bones to be used for glue, or turned into fertilizer, or buttons for clothes or even used for a dogs chew toy. 

And my flesh, I would like my flesh to be cut from my bones and used to feed the homeless or used for dog food or something like that. 

I don’t think any part of me should be wasted.  I’ll be dead, so what do I care happens to my body.  But if we are going to recycle, let’s get serious!

People handle grief in many different ways and people like to remember the dead in their own meaningful ways but what I don’t understand is people that will plaster across the rear windshield of their car a memorial with all the information of that individual which should be placed on the headstone, not rear window of a car. 

Driving into work this morning is a Dodge Magnum with a rear window full of what amounts to an obituary.  It was large writing, contained a picture/image of the deceased, birth and death dates and noting that the deseased was a loving cousin, sister, brother, mother, aunt, uncle, neighbor, homeroom mother, scout leader, gang member, father and animal lover.  

It was almost like it was being shoved down my throat that this person had died and I had better recognize!

I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but when something like this is shoved in my face, and no, I really could not avoid it as this vehicle was in front of me in bumper to bumper traffic, but when this is shoved in my face I guess I have to just vent about it. 

If you want people to read about  and remember the dead, place an obit in the newspaper like everyone else.

The Philadelphia Soul is an AFL Football team, for those that may not know.  I am a season ticket holder.  I have been now for a few years.  My wife and I go and have a great time.  We don’t get many dates out together much and this is one thing we both look forward to.

So we went to yesterday’s game and while in the main concourse we were stopped by a gentleman asking if we would be interested in “upgrading” our tickets.  I was skeptical at first, one because it seemed like an odd question and two, I really like where my season tickets are located.

The guy started to explain that we would be sitting down behind the end zone.  Again, I was reluctant because I have sat in end zone sections and I am not a big fan watching the game from those end zone seats because of the net and uprights that can be in your line of sight.  Then as the guy went through his explanation, I started to put two and two together and realized, before he even said the words, that he was talking about the two recliner seats that are part of the Aarons Lucky Dog seats that are in the end zone, below the uprights and the netting.  These seats are almost like sitting on the field. 

Of course my wife and I said yes and before the game started we were led down under the Wachovia Center and guided to the seats.  We then were introduced to Melissa (one of the game hosts) and briefed as to what will happen when she speaks to us and we are presented to the crowd.  My wife was nervous.  She is not someone that enjoys all eyes on her.  After our promo appearance we were able to relax and enjoy the game. 

I have to say that I always wondered what one had to do to win those seats and now I know that it is totally random and being lucky.  What a great way to watch a game. 

From those seats we saw tons of action, got close to the players and action on the field.  At the end of the game, for the last 3 minutes of the game, Soulman (the team mascot) sat with us and cheered on the Soul as the won their 5 game in a row this season. 

Rewatching the game (I DVR’d it) and putting it in perspective, it was not a very interesting game, it was a rather dull game.  Many penalties by both teams, Moten and Mance did not play well defensively for the Soul, in my opinion, and on field action was rather tame.  But being down there in those seats made it one of the best games I have ever attended. 

Thanks to the Soul for such a great promotion and giving to average fans the best seats in the house. 

I won’t say that I did it under protest but I was not really 100% into getting the procedure done.  I was very apprehensive but I did it because my wife wanted me to get it done. 

I got my teeth whitened.  I went through the same vain procedure that the rich and famous go through.  I have to say that the results were great.  My teeth are whiter but it was not a quick and easy procedure.

I arrived at my dentist’s office and spent the next 2 hours in a chair that was not made for any person to spend 2 hours in.  I would rather sit in economy class on an airplane for 6 hours. 

I am not sure of all the exact dentist terminology or anything but basically they take some before pictures and then force this mouth opener thing into your mouth.  It looks like those torture BDSM devices that I have only see pictures of on the internet.  It was very uncomfortable, especially for 2 hours.  I felt like I could have swallowed an entire roll of Bounty Extra Quilted paper towels. 

The dentist then puts a lot of numbing lotion on your teeth and gums and then some cotton wads and then pulls out this laser gun looking thing and starts to zap your teeth.  This gun puts out some heat.  How do I know?  Where the dentist missed with the numbing lotion on the gums, I got burned.  And, with that thing shoved in my mouth to keep it open, it did not allow me much of a chance to talk, yell or complain.  Kinda makes me want to get one of those things for the wife and the kids.  The mouth thing, not the laser gun.

So for 2 hours I lay there getting cooked and my mouth getting stretched.  After it was all done I was instructed that I am not to drink anything of color.  As some of you know, I am a tea junkie.  Not being able to drink tea, hot or iced, is torturous for me.  I was never a big soda drinker and Kool-Aid is for kids.  Basically, I am reduced to water for 2 days. 

After the numbing agent wore off, slight pain started to set in and suddenly my teeth were sensitive to everything, hot, cold, liquids, air, my tongue, etc…  And since my teeth hurt, I had a headache too.  I came home from work and went right to bed, at 5PM. 

My wife is happy.  She thinks that it looks sharp. 

The things we do for love.

While out Christmas shopping, my wife and I found the AeroGarden.  I found it interesting and wondered about it.  I asked around if anyone had any experience with it and no one in my circle of friends had.  I didn’t think much about it after that.

Then, on Christmas morning, I opened up a box to find that I was now the owner of the AeroGarden.  I found that it was easy to set up and put together.  The kit had come with Cherry Tomatoes, Lettuce and Herbs.  I decided that I would start with the lettuce.  I mean, c’mon, how can you screw up lettuce.

Within two days of placing the cups in their little holders sprouts started to appear.  I was on my way to my first batch of lettuce and soon, about 2 weeks later, my first salad.

The taste and flavor of the lettuce was refreshing.  I was pleasantly pleased how much lettuce was produced and how well it tasted.  I have pinched off three meals worth of lettuce so far from my AeroGarden and have at least one more to pick.  I am not sure how much longer the lettuce will continue to grow but I do know that I am happy with this product.

I am thinking that next I will try the herbs and see how they do.

Has anyone here tried the Aerogarden?  What have your experiences been like?

I say that with complete seriousness!

And I have good reason to make that observation too. 

My daughter is in the Brownies and this morning was their cookie sale at the Wawa.  For those that don’t know what a Wawa is, it is a convenience store, like a 7-11.  But better.  It originated in the suburbs of Philadelphia.  In fact, around here it is required that you live within walking distance of a Wawa.

Anyway, I was with my daughter at the Wawa because my wife’s grandmother passed away the other day.  I wanted her to rest and sleep in so I took my daughter.  At the Wawa we had a small table set up and the girls politely asked if anyone wanted to buy any Girl Scout cookies.

There were a lot of people walking past and lots of people to ask and I was beginning to notice a trend throughout the morning.  White people would very rudely and very purposefully, ignore the girls.  It was  very shocking that White People could not take a moment to even speak to the girls a no or a no thank you.  Some were on cell phones and tried to use that as an excuse not to talk and others just looked away.

Black people, Indians, and Asians were all polite enough to at least respond with no’s and get off their cell phones and respond but White’s would rather snub a child.  It was embarrassing and it was making me angry. 

White People, you need to wake up and get your heads out of your asses!  These are little girls that don’t deserve to be ignored and snubbed.  You embarrass your race with your actions.  It takes a second to say no or no thank you. 

To those that were polite enough to talk to the girls, Thank you!  Remember that even if you don’t want to buy a box of cookies, at least acknowledge the girls asking and politely say no or no thanks. 

I was wrong.  I can admit to being wrong.  I am man enough to cowboy up when I am wrong.

As I reported before, just a few days ago, I was not into watching this years Super Bowl.  I really did not have much at stake nor did I have a team that I really wanted to win.  I said that I was uninterested in the game and that it would be boring.  But as the game played on it was becoming more and more clear that the Giants just might have a legitimate chance to pull a win. 

The Giants first possession almost told the tale of how the game was going to play out.  By taking nearly half of the first quarter time off the clock, the Giants offense showed that they can control the Patriots defense. 

Fast forward to the fourth quarter and the Giants are still within striking distance of a win and an upset, the final drive of the Giants had me out of the kitchen and sitting on the floor in front of the TV.  It was one of the most exciting finishes to a Super Bowl in a long time.  Congrats to the Giants on their win.