Socially Conscious Discrimination

I'm going start this by reminding you of the times you've pulled into a crowded parking lot and wished with all your might that you were handicap (or at least had a handicap relative or friend willing to lend you their car pass). I think we can all agree that priority parking spaces for handicap are a noble consideration in a society lacking regard in most matters involving fairness. But I'm already on a tangent. What I'd like to focus on is a sign I saw in the parking lot of a newly built shopping outlet on Long Island:

I smiled at first because at first glance it seems like a noble effort but as I crouched on my front tire snapping this photo on my p.o.s cell phone a second and third thought crossed my mind. When I first saw another alternative parking sign "For Pregnant Women and Women with Small Children" I was baffled and angry. Whoever thought of placing this sign in this parking lot had themselves or their wife in mind because I don't believe for one second that out of no where whilst paving a new lot someone thought "Hey! What can we do for all the pregnant women out there?" It's a kind gesture but I find it dubious. As I find this "green" sign to be as well. There are many people out their who neglect buying an energy efficient car albeit the environment and the money they would save. These same people would then, upon learning it could help them get closer parking (meaning less walking because they're probably lazy as shit), reconsider for their own personal benefit. But why on earth should we reward them?! It's not a sales tactic, because I doubt that much thought went into it, and there's no punishment for disobeying the sign so what's being accomplished? Snobbish berating through tin signage. At least there are men at home sleeping better because by establishing this new parking system they are "helping to make a difference".

Birthday Celebration

Yesterday I learned that I share my birthday with the unwaveringly absorbing Hope Sandoval. This date is June 24^th though she was actualized 21 years my senior. It is my firm belief that people born on this number day are truly special creations and I celebrate and tip my hat to my fellow “24” spirits.

She hangs brightly from a tree

Wonders what she's gonna be

I'm aware of her game

Come and watch me, watch me come on

-She Hangs Brightly, Mazzy Star

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It’s that time of year again when you can hardly go anywhere without seeing your usual grocery list items, and beauty products sporting a certain shade of pink. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and although the overload of pink-washed consumerism may blur into another time-of-the-year event I assure you this cause is worth noticing.

The rosey colored tic-tacs and pom-pom socks may not seem aesthetically appealing (I myself was never a pink kind of girl) but the support is needed and not nearly as taxing on your daily budget as you may think. Many companies have partnered with Susan G. Komen as well as other cancer organizations to continue this fight that affects far too many of us. Breast cancer is relevant in the lives of most Americans including myself and I find it comforting to know that the corporations that seem to exist in some underground vortex of crunched numbers and endless amounts of money share in the desire to work towards a common goal. I’ve compiled a list of some of these companies so that the next time you decide not to buy cookies in lieu of your new diet, you’ll decide otherwise because you’ll actually be helping in making a difference!

• Pepperidge Farm
• Ghirardelli
• Kitchenaid
• M&M
• Yoplait
• Mott’s Applesauce
• Bumble Bee Tuna
• Orbit White Bright Pink
• Bicycle Playing Cards Ribbon Edition
• Elf Beauty Products
• Philosophy's Pink Ribbon Shower Gel
• ChapStick
• Dove Shampoos and Conditioners

Although the verdict is still out on certain food products and their relation to breast cancer (soy, for instance) there are still a number of ways to keep your body healthy and balanced which, as a result, lends itself to breast cancer prevention. These measures may seem vague in their connection to breast cancer but they’re easy enough to follow so why not!?

• Ingest antioxidants through food with naturally high amounts of vitamin E (almonds, spinach, mangos) and vitamin C (oranges, grapefruit, red and green bell peppers, tomatoes)
• Processed meats should be avoided and red meats should be eaten minimally because of their high levels of saturated fat and iron
• Eating fish and/or taking fish oil pills provides the body with omega 3-fatty acids which may keep breast cells from multiplying and dividing
• Drinking green tea daily has been shown to decrease the rate of breast cancer in wide studies

I’d like to share the website of an organization dear to my heart, as it is in memory of my mother: judisrun.org. We give to various research facilities as well as local families affected by breast cancer in need of financial support. And without getting too heavy with this post (as I have been resisting with all my might not to do) I’d like to remind all you ladies that being aware of your body is the best precautionary measure you can take. Go to your doctors appointments when that time of the year comes around, stay in tune with your emotional, spiritual, and physical health, and remember to perform self breast exams at least once a month (right after your period is the best time). If you’re unsure of how to thoroughly check for yourself this website should be of help:

Self Exam: http://women.webmd.com/healthtool-self-breast-exam

If you are bored...

...and don't feel like getting off the computer follow these steps:

1) Go to www.pandora.com

2) Create your own account

3) Click on "Create new station" and search for "Carly Simon"

4) When Pandora is done thinking and begins playing music go to the "Add Variety" option

5) Search for "Big L"

That Time The Prostitute Paid Me

It's Labor Day weekend on Fire Island (a combination of time and place that I was sure would finally drive me over the edge) and I'm back at Michael's Ristorante to help out a friend and make some quick dough. Saturday night's dinner shift was profitable overall- the number of diner's was decent, not too many counter slices, and a noticable amount of deliveries and catering. I was busy but not stuck in one area keeping my mood at the sub-bearable enjoyment necessary to stay on my toes with customers and coworkers.

We get to a breathing point in the night where dinner dies down and the late night drunks aren't jonesin' for pizza just yet and that's when she walked in. Just another customer at first, slightly demanding, with long brown hair, prominent rack and Louis Voutan bag. Then she grabs me. And begs for my help. "Listen, I'm from LA I have NEVER been here before but I have to leave. Help me get home, I can't be here."

"Okay, relax, let me see when the next ferry leaves."

"I just came here for the weekend and my friend is drunk, she just left with a random guy. She doesn't even know where she is. And I don't run with those kinds of people. (Um, yes you do.) I just want to get out of here." She grabs my arm "I will give you a hundred dollars if you get me home."

"Sure, okay. The next and last ferry isn't for an hour so why don't you order some food and we'll figure this out."

Now I don't get offers like this often, or ever, and I wasn't very comfortable with it. I mean, I was bussing tables and serving slices that night, I would have been lucky to make a hundred bucks on my own working honest and hard and this chick wants to give me enough money to support my drinking habit for the next month just for showing her where to walk? I figure, she's probably exaggerating about the exact amount of money, and it's in my nature to help whether there's money involved or not so I'll just go along as I usually would.

"I need to 2 glasses of wine now." (Hey we could really be friends)

So I set her up with the two wines that make the most sense: my favorite-shiraz, and that mixed red bottle we've been trying to get rid of. And I'm on with the rest of my work.

A few minutes later I'm helping another customer and I see her waving me over out of the corner of my eye. I go over when I'm finished with what I'm doing to hear the same story again. I try to calm her and walk away and just as I turn she squeels "And I just found out my boyfriends cheating on me" So I sit.

"He was seen bringing another woman into his building. And I'm not that sad but I better still get my 15 grand a month."

"Right right" is what I say before registering her last comment. 15 grand alimony from a man you weren't married to? I'm lost. Although I don't let on because I'd honestly rather not know.

"I'm not heartbroken I just need that money. I don't love him, he just pays me"

Now I don't run with people like this woman but who am I to judge, it's not like I'm rolling in it.

"Well that's just disappointing then. Fuck him for being a little boy, but your lucky you don't care about it. That money is your support system but it's worse when you care." I tell her, trying to create a bond.

Her phone rings. She hands it to me, "I can't talk to her, you do it" And suddenly I'm her personal assistant.

The rest of the details would make you knaw at your own skin from irritation and boredom but long story-short she left $34 tip on a $34 bill and gave me another $80 after walking her to the ferry (I rolled her suitcase down there also[who the fuck am i?!])

Judge me for accepting the money but the woman was evil, and it was her cheating old mans cash anyway. And that's how I got paid for saving a hooker in distress.

Everyone slips up sometimes, even Aliens.

At the exact moment I turn to head back to the restaurant with my plastic gray wagon, successfully done with the last of 4 Labor Day '09 pizza deliveries I saw in the sky a cloud shaped like a flying saucer and thought: Of course! Extra terrestrials have the ability to shift molecular form. That's how they've gotten around us all these years...but they weren't too clever about it this time because that cloud is OBVIOUSLY a space ship.

This is not my photo but this craft is similar to the one I saw.

Autumn is Falling

I absolutely adore the "back to school" season but there is one key thing missing in my life this year: school. I honestly love and look forward to the start of a new semester and going to class but it's time to be a big girl and I will cope with this loss by falling back on my autumn comforts. Comforts are classics and though this time will be marked by growth I'm glad to have them.

First and foremost are my Standard Fall Tunes- As summer winds down I can't help but relish in my greasy girl ways and tune in to some Mazzy Star, Garbage etc. Then as Halloween approaches I'm ready for my annual Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins kicks (holiday decor reference not relevant). And as the temperature lowers even more I indulge on the daily in some Billie Holiday. Needless to say, for me, fall sounds like the grungier times in countries history, primarily the 90's, and if you can't understand why I'm sorry for you.

Second is the Back-To-School Clothes- Since I work an unpaid job, have loans to pay very soon, and recently moved back in with Dad the shopping will be kept to a minimum this year. But that didn't stop me from impulse buying these amazing shoes an hour ago whilst online "window shopping". Along with the buying of new clothes is the wearing of garments that cover my arms and legs. Two weeks ago I would have shrieked at the thought of a sweater but snuggling up in some warm rags sounds oh-so-choice right now.

Third would be getting back into Routine-This summer was amazingly erratic. I didn't spend more than 2 weeks in one place and it felt so good. I strutted around Spain (pictures to come), drove to Miami, worked in New York, and played in Philadelphia. But to settle back in one place and get my daily process underway will feel good. It's all about balance and what I need now is equal amounts of work, play, healthy living, and creativity.

With that said I'm starting to feel a little better about no longer being a student. I'm going to continue my education on my own anyway and as an end-of-post-gift (they're very common, really) I leave you this classic clip: