Forgetful moments

This past weekend I had SEVERAL forgetful moments.

First, I ran out of dish detergent on Friday and kept forgetting to pick it up at the drug store or super market all weekend, therefore I had to use my shower gel to clean my dishes.

Yes, it’s true, you didn't read that wrong.

Incidentally, shower gel works great on dirty dishes in case this ever happens to you. And what’s really cool is that your dishes end up smelling like tropical coconuts instead of sunshine lemons.

Just call me the 'Martha Stewart' of emergency household situations.

Saturday evening after I finished washing the dishes, I absentmindedly forgot to return the shower gel to bathroom so that when I went to take a shower and got myself all wet, I suddenly discovered I had NO shower gel sitting on the side of the bathtub.

Oh, SHIT!

And what made matters worse was that I had also left my bath towel on my futon sofa bed, thus I had NO towel to dry myself off before walking thru my apartment to fetch the shower gel in the kitchen.

Oh, DOUBLE SHIT!

So, what do think I had to do?

Yup….I had to traipse thru my apartment dripping wet and NAKED!

I actually thought about using some toilet paper to dry myself off, but you know how wet toilet paper annoyingly sticks to everything.

No, the only thing I could do was to go 'commando.'

It’s kind of fun tip-toeing naked over a slippery titled floor; clutching anything you can grab your hands onto so you don’t fall and knock yourself unconscious when your head hits the ceramic toilet seat, and the paramedics find you three days later in your birthday suit.

And being a man, you have no idea how nice it feels to have cold air suddenly hit your PRIVATES; making them shrink to the size of two macadamia nuts and a Vienna sausage.

NOT a pretty sight.

Anyway, I ended up retrieving both the shower gel and bath towel, unscathed.

But I’ve noticed myself being very forgetful lately, and I’m really concerned.

Gee….I wonder if it could have anything to do with the signs of AGE?

I am a camera

One thing that’s been quite evident about having my new-ish camera, is that I’ve noticed myself noticing more. I’m pretty much an observer by nature, but now that I’m searching for interesting things to capture on film…I find myself gazing up, down, and all around me.

I’m so glad I got this camera. Thanks again, mother and brother. Love, ya!

I’ve joyously had some time off from work lately, so I’ve been bopping around the city snapping photos every afternoon. Therefore, I would like to end this weeks posts with images of Philadelphia.

The thing I enjoy about this city, is its architecture. It is a city that displays both charm and grandeur, and is very deeply embedded with history.

We have everything from English, Roman, and French influence within the design of our city’s buildings.

There is also a bit of modern architecture splashed in between.

Society Hill and Old City are perhaps my two favorite areas of Philadelphia. They’re basically the same area, yet with two distinct flavors.

Society Hill is the oldest part of the city, with its cobblestone streets and elegant brownstone homes. You can feel the energy of American history here. The buildings actually speak to you.

Old City is very much like a mini SoHo in NYC. Lofts, art gallery’s, European-style taverns, and unique boutiques line the streets. It has a delicious rawness to it.

Philadelphia’s architecture is candy for a photographers eyes. And like with most historical city‘s, I think Philly looks its best during the fall and winter months. For some reason, those two season’s bring out its vintage ambiance.

Here are some photos of various areas within the city.

(you may click on any photo to enlarge if you wish)

Please enjoy……

The old Stock Exchange Building in Society Hill.


One of the many cemeteries in Society Hill. I have such a fascination with walking thru cemeteries. Especially old ones.

Philadelphia’s oldest street, Elfreth’s Alley.

A view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge overpass on 2nd St. in Old City.

Shops and art galleries in Old City.

The new Comcast Building. Isn’t it spectacular?

A rustic French-style café off Rittenhouse Square. Oui, Oui!

The art deco-style Hotel Palomar.

This is a view from my apartment window. William Penn atop City Hall.


*thank you guys for stopping by and sharing in my tour.

Wishing you a picturesque weekend everyone!

X

Why I would rather take the train and skip flying

Last Saturday, I took the train into a wonderful little artsy and gorgeous town on the outskirts of Center City called Chestnut Hill, and was reminded once again of how much I love trains.

Out of all modes of transportation, the train is my absolute favorite way to travel.

If there was some way to take a train back to Europe or Asia, I would definitely choose it over flying or boating.

There is something so relaxing about the movement of a train. After only a few minutes of traveling, I begin to get very peaceful and sleepy.

And the train is perfect for someone like me because I like to travel fast, but on the ground. Plus, I get to view the scenery while whizzing through the various towns and countryside’s.

I detest flying for many reasons, but mainly because I’m not too keen on subjecting myself to a strip search and a proctology examination while walking thru airport security.

(especially without a proper lubricant)

Also, the thought of plummeting to the earth because one of the planes engines falls off, is not on my top-five favorite ways I would wish to die.

I mean come on, that would HURT.

Now, I WILL fly because I don‘t like being afraid of things. I force myself, however only after I’ve had a bottle of wine and one or three Quaaludes, so that when I arrive at my destination I walk off the plane looking like Bette Midler in the movie The Rose.

No, that’s not true….

I fly totally straight, which is why I can’t stand to fly.

And I didn’t always use to be like this until I was coming home from Europe back the in the 80’s, and the plane flew thru a HUGE hurricane for almost 30 minutes. I never came so close to making a ‘poopie’ in front of 185 passengers.

Talk about TURBULENCE. It felt like we had been thrown into a food processor set on puree. The plane rolled up and down and tilted left and right, while the engines roared and grind as if they were eventually going to exploded. When I turned to look out my window, I saw nothing but complete blackness--and this happened in the middle of the day!

It was HORRENDOUS. I sat there clutching the armrests of my seat, white as a ghost and sweating like I had just taken a 90-minute hot yoga class. My traveling companion had my right hand in her left hand, as she dug her 4" fake nails into my palm. I prayed to every spiritual deity in the Universe; swearing that if I ever lived through this I would be kind, loving and forgiving to all mankind, and never use the word ’fuck’ again.

Well, guess what? My prayers were answered! No sooner did I surrender all hopes of surviving, I looked out my window and saw the faint image of New York City’s LaGuardia Airport runway in the distance.

*sigh of relief*

And as soon as the wheels touched the ground, the entire cabin of passengers began clapping and cheering while the pilots voice came over the intercom….

“Sorry for the rough ride ladies and gentlemen! And the reason I didn’t come over the intercom sooner was because we temporarily lost our radar connection with the control tower, and I had no idea where we were flying. Therefore, I didn’t want to alarm you.”

OH. MY. GOD.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And as I ran out of the cabin, I thought to myself….

I will never get on a FUCKING plane again!

A doctor's bedside manner

Preface: This post is not intended to blanket all doctors because I know there are many medical professionals out there who genuinely care.

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I didn’t share this story with you earlier because I was quite upset, and I know myself better than to speak before I’ve had time to process an unpleasant experience.

Question: What happens to certain doctor’s bedside manners?

Could it be that some doctors forget them the longer they practice? Or could it be that some never really had them to begin with?

By bedside manners, I mean remembering to treat their patients with human compassion instead of only relating to them as something physical.

I realized that doctors are schooled to treat the body, however some of them could greatly use additional training on how to treat the soul inside the body.

As most of you recall last summer, I was treated by an oral surgeon who drained a tooth abscess I encountered. But, what I didn’t totally share with you back then was the manner in which I was treated.

I was referred to him by another dentist who could not perform the surgery, and he had forewarned me that the oral surgeon could be rather gruff, but that he was an excellent doctor.

Gruff is not the word.

When he saw the condition of my tooth he immediately went into a ferocious sermon about how serious this abscess was, and how could I have let this happen by not coming in sooner.

I mean come on, the guy has been an oral surgeon for umpteen years with diplomas and accolades decorating his office walls, so you can’t tell me he hadn’t seen an abscess that was ever bad before.

He barked out his plan of action as if he were a drill sergeant in the army; scaring me to death about how by him performing this surgery, I could possibly be left with permanent nerve damage and a scar on my skin.

I understand that a doctor is obligated to warn you of the possible side effects to any surgical procedure, however I don’t think they’re obligated to tell you in such a harsh tone. He actually told me that my condition was so serious, he should send me to a hospital.

Now mind you, I was in NO physical pain nor did I feel sick. When I told him that I had been self-treating this abscess with alternative natural medicine and energy work, that’s when he really got angry. As if I was foolish enough to believe that anything but traditional medical treatment would be of assistance.

The way in which I was being disrespected, I should have stood up and walked out of his office. However he had me so scared and confused, I felt stuck there; with no alternative other than to let him do it.

I opted for a local anesthetic rather than a general because I didn’t have anyone who could walk me home after the surgery. My friends were at work, so I didn’t have anyone to call that afternoon.

I also knew that by choosing a local, I would possibly feel pain. And I’m sure this procedure would have been tender regardless of who did the surgery, but the manner in which this guy worked on my tooth was like he was doing it out of a feud he had with illness.

Being someone who practices energy work, I am very sensitive to someone’s touch because I can feel their personal energy. Deeply. And this guy had one of the most disturbing energies I have ever felt.

He was extremely rough; working like a jackhammer. It felt as if I had barely any Novocain at all. He never once asked me if I was in pain, nor did he seem to care. He was so far removed from any human feelings, that all he was concerned about was removing this abscess because it was pissing him off.

I could tell from his touch, he was a doctor who only knew how to treat illness one way. Attacking it.

Thank god he had a compassionate and caring dental assistant working with him, because she was the one who got me through the pain by telling me to breathe deeply, and that the procedure was almost over.

After he was done, he continued to bark orders about how I wouldn’t be out of the woods for 24-hours because the infection could possibly spread through my entire body; making me seriously ill. In that case, I was to rush myself to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Again, I realize it’s a doctors job to tell you the truth, however it is the manner in which he told me that was the issue.

He quickly scribbled a prescription for penicillin and pain killers on a pad, and then added his cell phone number to call him if I had any concerns.

As soon as I got home, I literally broke down and bawled. And not because I was in any pain, but because I could still feel this man’s imprint which made me sicker than any abscess.

It took me days to feel normal again.

I debated on whether or not to call him back and tell him how I felt, but opted not to because I wanted no further contact with this doctor. Besides, I had learned my lesson.

The lesson to always follow my intuition. And that if this should ever happen to me again, walk out.

Did he successfully remove the abscess in medical terms?

Yes, he did.

However, let me go back to what the other dentist said…..

“he had forewarned me that the oral surgeon could be rather gruff, but that he was an excellent doctor.”

Really? An excellent doctor?

Well, allow me to share something with you, excellent doctor…..

“Medicine is not only a science; it is also an art. It does not consist of compounding pills and plasters; it deals with the very processes of life, which must be understood before they may be guided.”

~Philippus A. Paracelsus~

Have a great weekend everyone!

X

The Secret of Trader Joe's

Not only do I enjoy shopping at Trader Joe’s because of their consistently outstanding customer service, great selection, and super-low prices, but I also love that they play the best music while you’re shopping.

Every day of the week they feature a different genre.

Sometimes it’s Disco, sometimes it’s Reggae, and other times it’s R&B.

Last Friday afternoon it was Motown. And can I just tell you how much I LOVE the sound of Motown???

I truly was born with the rhythm of a brotha. Well, in this case….a sista!

At one point they played, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by the Supremes.

So there I was standing in the frozen food section, trying to decide on whether to get the box of microwavable brown rice or jasmine rice, when all of a sudden I started lip-syncing and dancing like a drag queen getting ready to go onstage; giving a killer impersonation of Diana Ross.

I don’t know what came over me, but all my awareness of anyone else around simply vanished. In my mind, it was only me, a microphone, The London Palladium, and a spotlight.

Luckily, the woman standing next to me was getting into the music as much as I was, so I knew I wasn’t the only crazy person in Trader Joe’s. And not only was she rockin' out to the music, but she was simultaneously text messaging on her phone, while never missing a word or beat to the song.

And as I looked around, I noticed that most customers were also enjoying the music.

Okay.....maybe not as FESTIVE as she and I were, but they were moving their hips and conservatively singing along with the song.

By the time I got up to the checkout line, practically the whole store was singing the reprise….

“Ain’t no mountain high enough (WOO!)….Ain’t no valley low enough (OW!)…..Ain’t no river wide enough (HEY!)….to keep me from yoo-oou!”

The guy standing behind me started laughing and said, “Would you just look at everyone’s head bopping to the music. It’s contagious isn’t it?”

(and as I snapped my fingers in a Z-formation) I said, "It sure is!"

So, this got me thinking….

Maybe that’s the whole point of why Trader Joe’s plays such awesome music. Perhaps they secretly know that whether consciously or subliminally, good music always moves a person’s soul to feeling happy.

And when they’re happy….

….they stay longer, and BUY MORE GROCERIES!

Just call me Miss Ross, y’all!

Strolling and shopping down 5th Avenue (Pt.3)

One of the coolest things about NYC, is the availability of diverse shopping.

Contrary to the high-cost of living in this city (which it definitely is), you can also find things that are very inexpensive because of all the great bargain stores that are readily available.

Allow me to also add, that NY is a city of awesome convenience. It runs 24/7, so if you ever need something in a hurry, and at an unusual time of the day or night, you can walk out your front door and most likely get it.

That’s what I love about urban living….it’s all self-contained.

That, and the fact you can walk everywhere. And I LOVE to walk.

To be honest, I’m someone who will often shop a bargain rather than designer, because quite frankly, I can’t afford it. And even if I could, I would rather spend money on traveling.

However, I can still appreciate ogling over quality design. You haven’t lived until you’ve walked down 5th Avenue; pretending you’re Ivana Trump with an unlimited Platinum American Express Card, while licking the designer store windows with your tongue.

(just make sure you have mouthwash handy)

Armani, Coach, Tiffany, Chanel and Dior, all decorate 5th Avenue.

Here are a few designers.….

Cartier


Bvlgari

Bergdorf Goodman and Van Cleef & Arpels

Chanel and Dior

The Plaza Hotel, also along 5th Avenue. Anytime I see this view of The Plaza, I’m reminded of the final scene in the movie The Way We Were, with Streisand and Redford.

Katie: “Your girl is lovely, Hubbell.”

Directly across the street from The Plaza, is F.A.O. Schwarz toy store. The front doorman was so kind to pose for me while taking his photo.

The big piano that was used in the Tom Hanks movie, BIG.

I took this one for you, Nitebyrd. The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. All the holiday decorations were still up in the city last week.

I took this one for you, Valerie. Cabs lining up at a traffic light. Typical in NYC.

Thank you all for sharing in this day-trip with me. Hope you enjoyed.

I heart you NY!

Wishing you an Empire weekend everyone!

X

Megabus, Times Square, and Broadway (pt.2)

I was originally going on this trip with a dear friend of mine, who two days before we planned to go, fell sick with a very bad cold so she naturally had to decline.

Therefore, I went by myself.

Normally I travel into NYC by train, but I wanted to experience something different, so I took the Megabus.

All in all it was a very pleasant journey, other than the bus was 45 min. late departing Manhattan, and that the passenger seats were designed for people who have the body shape of a #2 pencil.

I’m 5’ 7” and weight 140 lbs., so my seat was doable. However, for someone who might be larger I think it’s a bit uncomfortable.

Take for instance the gentleman who sat next to me on the outside seat, returning to Philly.

He was about 6’ 1” and built like a football quarterback. It was heartbreaking to watch him try and contain his burly frame into one of the seats. His poor arms and legs were smushed together until he looked like a large rolled up Sunday edition of the New York Times being crammed into a tiny mailbox.

About 10 min. into our departure he fell asleep, and this is when it got to be uncomfortable for ME. As his body started to relax his legs began to spread apart; moving over and pressing against mine. Then, as his arms began to relax his left elbow began creeping over into my seat; landing on my stomach. Lastly, as his head began to relax it tilted over ONTO my right shoulder.

At this point the guy was practically lying on top of me, and we hadn’t even been on a first date!

If anyone had walked by and seen us, they would have naturally assumed we were partners cuddling in our seats, while returning from our honeymoon in The Big Apple.

I felt like saying, “Excuse me sir, but I don’t even know your mother’s maiden name yet, so GET THE HELL OFF ME!”

However, he was as cute as a teddy bear sleeping, so I didn’t want to disturb him.

Besides, who am I to deny myself a cheap yet totally innocent thrill?

Another thing that was amusing on the Megabus, was using the bathroom.

I beg you all to try to stand and urinate while a bus is moving. Let’s just say that I got it everywhere except INTO the toilet. I now realize that the trick to using the bathroom on a bus is while it’s traveling on a straight road, not while it’s SHARPLY turning down an off ramp. By the time I finished, it looked as though it had rained BUCKETS in the bathroom.

Bus traveling tip: Don’t drink coffee at least 48 hours before riding a two-hour bus trip. And if by chance you have to go….HOLD. IT. IN.

Here are some photos of magnificent Times Square and Broadway.....


A view down into Times Square, the heart of Manhattan. There is so much energy there, it's like experiencing sensory overload. Everything is bright, loud, and electrifying!

Humongous, colorful billboards line the street; advertising current Broadway shows.

Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch in A Little Night Music. Sean Hayes in Promises, Promises.

Sardi's, the infamous hangout for theater people. Actors and audience members are seen here both before and after performances. Sardi's is where you'll find caricature portraits of actors scattered on the walls.

The Broadhurst Theater. Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice.

The Majestic Theater. The Phantom of the Opera.

The Lunt-Fontanne Theater. Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth in The Addams Family.

"There's no business like show business."

*Stay tuned on Friday, when I will conclude with a shopping trip down 5th Avenue, and other various photos of NYC.

New York City and its big balls (pt. 1)

Okay, where do I begin?

First, let me say that my title photo is the perfect image to express how I truly see NYC.

It’s a city with BIG balls. Which is why I love it so.

Second, my legs are still killing me because I walked 41 blocks, two times. That’s 82 blocks! And thank god it was blistery cold because it kept me moving. I stopped once to eat lunch, and another time to grab a cup of coffee and a muffin. Other than that, I walked around like a pinball on speed.

Tuesday night when I got home, I felt like I had just participated in a triathlon while running through mid and upper Manhattan. My legs felt like stone, my feet burned, and I was physically exhausted.

However…..

Anytime I spend the day in The Big Apple, I come back feeling charged with bolts of creative electricity. The second my shoes hit the pavement, it’s as if something in the ground fills me with a euphoric energy.

And no matter how much time goes by without returning, perhaps even as long as a year, whenever I arrive it’s like I never left. I always feel at home, moving and grooving with its thriving pulse.

It is a tremendously populated city that moves at a unison pace. But trust me, once you’re there, the pace becomes delightfully contagious. Because it pulls you in and gives you energy.

I also find true New Yorkers to be friendly, approachable, and very helpful.

I’ve decided to share selected photos and stories of my trip, over a period of three posts. I took MANY pictures. So many, I had to change the batteries!

I didn't get down to Greenwich Village to visit The Leather Man like I had planned (tee, hee). The next time I go back, I‘ll spend the day in the west Village. Manhattan Island is massive, so it’s hard to see everything in eight hours.

Today, I would like to share a few photos of where my love affair with this city began. Here is where I lived, four out of the five years I resided there. It is located on 65th Street, between Madison and 5th Avenues. We only paid $280.00 a month back in the late 70’s and early 80’s. I don’t even want to THINK about what it’s going for now.

Most of you will recall a post I shared last year about how I use to sometimes throw my cats' poop out the window; landing in the tenants' balcony below my apartment.

Remember that post?

Well, THIS is the apartment I did that in.....

My partner and I lived here together. That was so long ago, yet seeing this place again brought back so many vivid memories. I actually got a little emotional standing here; remembering. It felt very therapeutic.

The apartment building didn’t always have the green shrubs in front. That’s new, and I really like the addition. I think the building has since turned condo or co-op.

Also, the bottom street-level apartment (to the left) was not always an apartment. It use to be a tailor shop. How things change!

And before walking away, I was curious to see if any of the present tenants where throwing cat feces out their windows.

So, I looked down at the pavement….

Holy cat poop, Batman!


Have a super-pooper weekend everyone!

X

*Stay tuned on Monday, when I will share my traveling experience on the Mega Bus, and various images of exciting locations throughout NYC.

My new camera, a trip to NYC, and making a decision

After working like a banshee this past Christmas retail season, I decided to treat myself to a digital camera and a day trip into my favorite city on the east coast.

I rarely indulge in extravagances, but I used the money that my wonderful mother and awesome brother gave me this year for Christmas, to finally get a camera. I would like to start taking my own photographs and sharing them as narratives on some of my blog posts, so I felt it was time.

Allow me to interject here that because I’m a Libra, making a decision to purchase something is like trying to push a 900 pound elephant wearing a pink tutu, through a key hole. It’s IMPOSSIBLE.

Well, not actually impossible, but extremely painful.

I think I would almost rather have red hot chili peppers rubbed on my nipples, than make a purchase decision.

And what I find incredibly ironic is that I can easily make a decision on something life-changing, however ask me to decide on the blue shirt versus the green shirt, and you’d swear I was making a choice that would dramatically affect the rotation of planet earth.

So after much research, I purchased a Nikon Coolpix L22. It’s easy to use, has excellent features, and was reasonably priced. The reviews I read on it were very positive.

Later, I’ll upgrade to something more advanced. But I think this camera will give me some great practice and a lot of enjoyment. It also takes movies!

Tomorrow morning (Tuesday), I'll be heading into NYC for the day to walk around, soak up some of that creative life-force energy, and take loads of images with my new camera.

I’m so excited!

And yes, I’ll be sharing about my trip and some photos on Friday’s post.

I’ll be gone all day and won’t get back into Philly until late, so I won’t be online at all tomorrow.

Oooooo....

And I will most likely be spending some time in Greenwich Village, hanging out at The Leather Man; trying to decide on whether I should purchase the black leather shorts or chaps.

Wish me luck!