As Political as I'll Get

I don't want to make this a political blog but wanted to share a new tshirt that I ordered, that I'm sad will not arrive until Super Duper Tuesday.

I've had a candidate crush on Obama since 2004 when he spoke at the Democratic National Convention. I was so excited to hear that speech and when he was done I found myself giving him a solo standing ovation from my living room. Many things about his campaign have inspired me but none so much as the humanity, natural presence and excitement that he has brought to the democratic party. Yes, he has a "rock star" persona, but he comes by it naturally. He inspires people.

A cute story I read from Bill Richardson talking about Barack that endeared him to me futher:

"I had just been asked a question -- I don't remember which one -- and Obama was sitting right next to me. Then the moderator went across the room, I think to Chris Dodd, so I thought I was home free for a while. I wasn't going to listen to the next question. I was about to say something to Obama when the moderator turned to me and said, "So, Gov. Richardson, what do you think of that?" But I wasn't paying any attention! I was about to say, "Could you repeat the question? I wasn't listening." But I wasn't about to say I wasn't listening. I looked at Obama. I was just horrified. And Obama whispered, "Katrina. Katrina." The question was on Katrina! So I said, "On Katrina, my policy ..." Obama could have just thrown me under the bus. So I said, "Obama, that was good of you to do that."

If you live in one of the green states below be sure to vote on February 5; preferrably for my pal Barack.

As a lifelong conflict avoider I've removed comments for this post. I decided I'd prefer to campaign for my candidate without potential public arguments or commentary. Feel free to email me directly if you feel strongly.

Star Spotting #8

Kelly Ripa is so nice! She was coming out of my office building today (Miramax is on the 14th floor) and she held the door open for a guy delivering printer cartridges. When the three of us were just standing there, her holding the door, him not going, I decided to go. Kelly held the door open for me. What a nice person. Additional observation: she is itty bitty.

Odyssey Years

I ran across this article a long time ago and keep going back to it. It's very insightful and explanative of my generation. I hope you enjoy.

The Odyssey Years (David Brooks) - New York Times

Tappy Tap Tap Tappy

So a couple of weeks ago I had one of the worst days I've had in a really long time, nothing seemed to go right.

Three separate people seemed to have issue with where I was standing, or how I was folding my newspaper on the subway and this all happened before work. Then the day pretty much went downhill from there. So I was telling my friend Marc "just watch, I'm going to get hit by a car on the way home." Well, I didn't get hit by a car on the way home that night, if that's what you think this post is about.

I got hit by a car the NEXT night. Ok, "hit" is my way of being dramatic. It was a little tap, tappy, tap tap. I was walking across Spring Street en route to the gym (AT the crosswalk, WITH the walk sign) and I feel something hit the back of my right leg. I turn around and lo and behold, it's a car.

Everyone within a block's distance just stopped moving to see how I'd take it. The man and woman at the crosswalk just asked if I was ok and because it felt like a large dog brushed against my leg said, yes, I was fine. The driver did pull over and the passenger asked if I was ok, and I could only muster "Yes, but watch where you're going!"

I didn't even get dirt on my pants they barely brushed me but I can now say I was hit by a car. And let me tell you, calling Marc to tell him I was hit by a car, just 24 hours later...priceless.

**This post was not as funny as I had intended. I'm really very ok, and the streets of New York are, in fact, very safe. Lighting never strikes the same place twice, right? I think this should go on my New Yorker bingo card. Tapped by car....check**

iPizzle Button Pushing

Out of curiosity, what is the first song that plays when you go directly from powering your iPod on then hitting Play/Pause?

Some background before I admit why this is on my iPod. My friend Erica and I used to regularly have dance parties to the song "Faded" which she got on an album called Now That's What I Call Music Vol. 5.

The song that plays when I hit Play from the iPod Menu..."Aaron's Party (Come Get It)". Yeah, Aaron Carter. A pre-pubescent kid rapping about a party he's going to have while his parents are at a movie.

I am THAT cool.

27 Dresses

I don't think I often discuss movies on my blog so I thought I'd have a go at it.

I was in the mood to see "P.S. I Love You" tonight but since it is now only playing in Times Square; New Yorkers typically don't venture there for any reason other than to catch a show (Broadway not AMC). So, Nicole and decided to go see "27 Dresses" instead. For a bonafide chick flick, I have to admit, it was worth the $11.35 I paid to see it.

The best part (don't worry, no spoilers here) was when a character walks into her sister's spacious, luxurious, easily $3000 a month Manhattan apartment and says "Your apartment! It's so tiny!" and the entire theater (me included) gasped indignantly. Take a moment, and visualize. The line was nothing about yo' mama, no one trash talked you favorite team or neighborhood. Someone criticized the size of an incredibly large Manhattan apartment. The nerve.

IMDB is TOO WISE!

Ok, while trolling my typical pop culture sites I ran across a familiar face. REX MANNING! For those unaware of Rex Manning, he is a very entertaining character from one my favorite movies from high school "Empire Records". Thank you to Fuse for playing it the other day, I needed a refresher for this shocking information.

I wondered, what's Maxwell Caulfield been up to? Um, for one thing being married to Juliet Mills for the past 27 years. Who is Juliet Mills you ask? Um, Tabitha from Passions!!! That's right, Michael Carrington from Grease 2, aka Rex Manning from Empire Records, aka Maxwell Caulfield is married to TABITHA from Passions.

I cannot even show you side by side pictures because it is too upsetting. You'll have to Google them yourself. This serves as a warning...don't go to IMDB for information unless you're ready for the truth.

IMDB...so wise

So I made a shocking discovery today. I'm watching a little "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (why can't I pass up a HP movie when it's on, regardless of how many times I've seen it?) and Moaning Myrtle comes on. I was thinking, "I hope that she has a good career and isn't just Moaning Myrtle". They never show her at the premieres and I'm assuming she's the same age as the other characters.

Um, or she's 42. Yeah, Moaning Myrtle is played by Shirley Henderson who some of you may remember as Jude from the two Bridget Jones' movies. Oh and she's Scottish. And anyone who is anyone knows "If it's not Scottish, it's crrrrrrahp."

Two New States!!!

This weekend I gained two states on my states to see.

I went to Killington, VT this past weekend with some girlfriends to not ski. Well, they were planning to ski while my friend Rommi and I were going to sit and kick it. The weather did not cooperate however and the girls were unable to ski/snowboard due to poor weather conditions (most of the snow was melted and there were freezing rain conditions). We had a great time nevertheless (as always) and headed out in Killington. Perks of the weekend (in no particular order)...

• An entertaining drive up to Vermont in Gertie (our white minivan)
• Stopping at the biggest liquor store I've EVER been in
• Having some DELICIOUS chili at the lodge
• Hot tub action
• Watching KU basketball game at the Lookout (Rock Chalk Jayhawk!)
• Seeing Captain Morgan at the bar and getting swag + Rommi/Roxie wardrobe switch
• Being driven home from the bar in a MINI BUS! No "short bus" jokes please
• James "Kari Kelley" Taylor tearing up the dance floor "it was like butter"
• Trip to Target near Springfield, MA (Shout out Jenn Rooke!)
• Dinner at Panera
• Crossing TWO states off my "need to see" list. Massachusetts and Vermont: check and check. Twelve to go!

A Whole Bowl!*

Hey guys! We won a WHOLE BOWL OF ORANGES! Though the game/awards pics are not up yet, I thought I'd provide a pictorial representation of what a bowl of oranges looks like**...

That's right! The University of Kansas won the WHOLE BOWL. Now, I know that many of you said, "KU? They're not deserving of a BCS bid!" Well, I want you to think about that next year when an unknown team that HAPPENED to go 6-6 last year shows up

Yeah, we may have had a marshmallow season, but we showed up to WIN tonight. I'm not saying it was pretty, but we pulled it off impressively. Not bad for a team that was not likely many of the players first choices. Coach Mangino - hats off to you.

*Note: Roxie may or may not have been completely sober when writing this post. Read at your own discretion.

**I found a picture of the bowl of oranges. I'm happy.

New Pictures

I've published some new pictures from recent events on my Picasa site. I like Flickr but Picasa is an easier upload, free, and more space. You can link to it just like Flickr - I added the link to the side.