These Days I Barely Get By; I Don't Even Try

I've been meaning to write a state of the union address.

What a mess.

To start.

That's about all there really is to say, right?

I just got home from seeing a Beck show and for a second I forgot that the economy is in an absolute toilet. Not just here, but in England and across Europe.

I think it was at the first chord of 'The Golden Age' that I put aside my dance moves and really started to ponder everything going on. Aside from the usual complaint that I don't have insurance, I'm now thinking about people rolling around in dustbowls soon enough. I'm not talking about the Richard Fulds of the world who managed to put away approx 20 MILLION before the collapse. I'm not talking about the gentleman in the top hat cruising down 7th Ave in his ROLLS ROYCE as I was making my way to the poor girl's transport to get to the Beck show on 175th St. and Broadway.

I'm talking about all the people who got laid off and are now wondering what the fudge to do next when no one is spending and no one is hiring. Oof. Let's discuss a friend of mine who was recently laid off and is now pregnant. I'm sure she wouldn't want me to go in detail. She'd prolly shoot me if she knew I'd clicked 'publish post' on this one, but it's on my mind.

I won't even get into the election. My last two votes were a sham. Stolen. I don't have much faith in the next set of events. I might move. I really have nothing keeping me in any one place these days. I know I said that last time, but when there's some slimey hoe forcing her daughter to have a baby and trying to take my right to choose when and how to have my own, I will fucking leave.

Have you brushed up on your Maureen Dowd these days? If you're anything like moi, I will say you have. If not, keep posted to nytimes.com for her updates. She more than adequately and justly gives the play-by-play on that feminist disaster.

Here's the link to her latest posts in any case: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists/maureendowd/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=maureen%20dowd&st=cse

To conclude, (and thereby back to Beck), can't I go back to the days when I was hanging around listening to 'Loser' or 'Where It's At?' or even 'Devil's Haircut?' I'd give anything for those bygone days.

This One Goes Out To The One I Love

Ha, I gotcha!

I bet you were thinking I was gonna write an epic poem about the Other M.

Oh, but no.

I actually mean good ol' buddy Loch Ness.

Chin up, dear Buddy.

Sometimes I think of you as St. Francis of Assisi. I always thought he was a pretty lovely saint in that he loved all animals and took any under his wing. I say take full custody of El Joven Pantalones. What do you have to lose? Poor lil Pant's owner clearly has forgotten he exists. (insert big frown here)

AND...just in time...

Pet Blessings 2008

Christians everywhere celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 by having their pets blessed in the spirit of this patron saint of animals and ecology.

http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/francis/blessing.asp

Don't think I've gone off the deep end here, folks. I wouldn't consider myself highly religious, but I do value the well-being of any living thing on this earth. Animals are our best pals, and deserve unconditional love no matter how you choose to manifest this devotion.

I know what you're thinking: 'What about that bunny you had who you disparaged at every turn, you two face slimeball!?'

In my defense, I wasn't prepared to take care of a 'special needs' animal. I always felt maybe Pancakes was abused in a former life, and truth be told, I wasn't the one to socialize her. I didn't know how.

I don't know where I'm going with this other than to make note that if the new roomie is abandoning her dog responsibility, that dang Pants is the luckiest Pug on the planet to have Loch Ness be the one to pick up the slack.

{i just pulled that St. Francis bit from a lesson in Mrs. Kilgen's 2nd grade class!}

In Memoriam

In Memoriam:

In loving memory of Raymund Wu: hardworking businessman, loyal husband, loving father and grandfather. There is no better legacy than enduring love. All who knew Raymund spoke of his generosity, care, and good spirit.

In life, you are lucky if you can grow and learn in the presence of positive, loving family. I can't say enough how much 'Gunggung' adored his grandchildren, and vice versa. On the day of his wake, I saw his wife, Stella, staring dutifully down at her husband with whom she'd shared her life. I couldn't help but think, that despite having to part, reminding us all of our human condition, she must have felt so happy knowing she got the most out of her life with him: two beautiful daughters, 5 gorgeous grandchildren, a lovely home their work and strength provided.

In death, the only solace is to remember the joys in life and to continue to honor the people who bring us this joy.

Topshop, America?

I will definitely say one of the best things about being in Europe is coming back to America with Topshop items and bragging to friends in this sort of tone:

'Oh, yeah? You like my (insert item here). Well, it's only sold in Europe. Yeah, sucks you can't get your own.'

Oh wait, only I do that, you say? Whoops! In any case, this was all before the stock market crashed and I could actually think about going to Europe on vaca. Seems like a sad, sad, long and distant dream now. Anyway, come to find out Topshop is opening an American element to their website.

www.topshop.com

Now, you can browse in prices inflated to match our dollar! Thanks, Topshop!

I've already purchased two hats and a bag! I would show you a pic of the bag, but for some reason, it's no longer on the site (british or usa version). I take it to mean it's sold out?

I freakin love Kate Moss' line. I would buy every single thing cept as I mentioned before, we're in a sever recession. Check it out, though, in case you want to splurge before we all end up in dust bowls again ;)

wwwwaaaaa

waaaaaaaaaaaaa

The Importance of Being Earnest, Redux

Annotated Bibliography

Here are some things I want:

1. Insurance (so I can get my bum leg to physical therapy.)

I still don't have this and need it desperately. I was thinking of going shopping, but it puts a damper on things when it hurts to walk. It says so much about this country that I'm a working citizen, but don't have insurance. Makes me want to puke. It's going to make me really puke once I somehow get insurance and find out what's actually wrong with me.

2. a hair cut (so that dryness and tangling will no longer halt my daily schedule.)

So I ended up getting a hair cut by the stylist of a friend. I've always loved my friend's hair cuts, but she definitely has differently textured hair. Nonetheless went and got a lazy haircut. I hate having to explain in full detail what I need a stylist to do, but turns out I should have done just that. I mentioned thoroughly layering my hair in a choppy fashion to get out all the old dead odds and ends. I left with my hair still full of split ends and and a general dryness signature of my hair after months of not getting a cut. I finally chose my own place, which I should have done instead of taking the easy way out. Mousey Brown on Lorimer in BK. Jenn totes knew what I needed and now my hair feels so fresh and so clean clean.

3. wax: legs and bikini (shaving for like 14 years has finally gotten to my skin.)

Eh, I got new razors. Does that count? I did though find a place I felt would wax my legs at a decent price. As per nether regions, still being incredibly shy and fearful.

4. an apartment (again, can't tell if i'm being picky.)

Shoot me in face. That's how much I really want to talk about this topic.

5. a brand new wardrobe (I feel like I haven't gotten new clothes since last fall.)

After throwing what I would call a growns-up person tantrum, M took me to Woodbury Commons. I made a killing at Espirit and definitely got some classic winter/fall gear. Still desperately need shoes, boots, and a down coat.

6. new glasses (I love my glasses now, but need an update.)

I still have to make time to do this. Not sure when. I also need some new contacts. It's somewhat low on the priority list.

7. a puppy (for good measure.)

Mr. Bojangles, when are we gonna meet? I was watching some god show on the Animal Planet last night and really got the dog itch. M says we can get a dog once I pop out two kids. Um....riiiiiiigggghhht.

8. a new ipod (I haven't had one since...06? Can't even remember.)

I caved and got a 'classic' black ipod. Let's see how long til I run it into the ground. I needed it though. I can't stand New Yorkers on my commute to work: the hissing assholes, the wailing children, the moaning preacher. They can literally all go to hell.

9. gym membership (i'm fat.)

So being that my knee is an absolute wreck, I've taken to just not eating! That solves that! No, but really. I'm eating a lot less in an attempt to fit into the clothes I have. I literally don't fit into some of my clothes and I find myself appalling disgusting. Like, who the hell let the fatty into my body? Oh right, that was me and my penchant for wine, bourbon, cookies, cakes, pasta, cheese, mexican food, pastries, pernil, rice. I can go on.

xoxo

The Purse Dig

Hot dangit do I hate the inevitable purse dig.

Ladies, y'all know what I'm talkin' 'bout!

You have a handful of groceries and get to your front door only to have to set all the bags down to search for your keys. I hates it!

Or, you're getting your morning tea or coffee and decide to pay cash. Teller asks you for like, 3 extra cents, and there you are holding up the line for 3 freakin pennies...cos you know they are in there, somewhere.

I tried to alleviate the purse dig in large totes by employing the 'pouch system' where everything is neatly stored away in its own pouch.
1. money items: wallet, change, receipts
2. beauty items: tissues, lip gloss, eye drops, mirror, bobby pins
3. electronics: ipo (yeah, i got a new one; that's for another post), Blackberry

Seemed like a pretty solid plan that worked well when changing bags. Here's the issue: I found myself endlessly digging through pouches!

When will it end?

The Other M bought me this awesome cowhide, reversible shallow purse with accordian-style pockets. It was much easier to organize in a shallow handbag.

I was all excited to have everything in its right place, as the song says. Then when I was in shoe shop trying to pick out some new fall shoes and noticing how terribly fat I've gotten, the strap to cow purse broke!

I have to get a new strap. The bag is vintage and had a janky strap to start, but I'm sure my fat arm tugging on the thing all dang day didn't help matters.

Does anyone know a good leather worker?! I could bring it to Honduras, but...that's a long trip.

I Love That Song, Too!

When I lived in SF (which pains me to say, mind you), our neighbor would wake me up at roughly 9:30AM every Sunday with Madonna's Hung Up. Sometimes he'd let the whole Confessions on a Dancefloor album roll through but mostly it was Hung Up--on loop!

I can get down with that album. I owned it. I shook my sassafrass to Hung Up all the time--in 2006. Not sure what place that song and album had on a Sunday morning in 2007.

Anyway, those days are behind me and since the excitement of my return to New York is all but faded, I take comfort in the little things. Yesterday I woke up to our upstairs neighbor playing the new Radiohead album, In Rainbows. I quite love listening to any Radiohead album straight through. When I lived alone, I'd play a setlist from my itunes or seeqpod.com before I went to bed. Radiohead was often included in those mixes so it was a nice return to form on a weekend after a long, long week.

This morning neighbor pal played Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode, another of my favorite songs. After that he played Blur! I don't know you neighbor, but I love you.

Ps, Welcome to the new subscribers to Get Up On This!