The City of Much Noodge

Unless you’re familiar with Yiddish, you may have never heard the brilliantly descriptive term: noodge.

I LOVE that term.

Here are a few definitions I found online:

Noodge: to nag or annoy with constant complaining.

Noodge: to pester, nag, whine.

Noodge: to be nosey, pushy and a general pain in the ass.

I realize that noodges live everywhere in the world, but I would almost bet that the greater percentage of them live right here in Philadelphia.

Whenever I think of a noodge, I envision Alice Pearce from the TV show, Bewitched.


Noodges are people who are always in your business.

Always stickin' their nose where it doesn’t belong.

And they're not doing this out of genuine concern, they're doing this because they're just plain NOSEY and want to gossip about it with their next door neighbor. Who, which by the way, also gossips about THEM.

Noodges are always handing out free advice and telling you what to do. And while they’re telling you what to do, it feels as though they’re jabbing their index finger into your shoulder, and saying, “YOU. NEED. TO. DO. THIS!”

Noodges don’t comprehend the meaning of personal boundaries.

Noodges also COMPLAIN a lot.

They can‘t wait until summer gets here and then they complain about the heat. They complain about the cold of winter. They complain about the snow. And they complain about the rain. The only time they don’t complain is when it’s 75 degrees, zero humidity, sunny, and the barometric pressure is perfect.

And just to give you an example of how NOODGIE this city is, I want to share something that happened to me a few weeks ago while I was out taking a few photographs.

I was down in Society Hill, which is a gorgeous historical part of Philadelphia, yet it’s also the most uppity part of town. It’s primarily full of Philadelphia natives with blue blood, who think that only other people with blue blood have the right to be there.

Society Hills is beautiful, yet it’s clearly unto itself.

Anyway, I was standing on the sidewalk with my camera; getting ready to take a photograph of a PUBLIC garden, when this woman suddenly stuck her head out her front door and just STARED at me.

I smiled and said, “Hello!” However, she didn’t respond. But instead, slammed the door.

About a minute later, she opened her front door again and STARED at me with these suspicious eyes, as if I was a serial killer or daytime home-robber.

I said “Hello” again, but got another door slammed at me.

Finally, after the third time of opening her front door and STARING at me, I said, “Excuse me, but do you have a problem?”

She flusteredly replied, “No-o.”

I said, “Then why do you keep staring at me? All I‘m doing is taking a picture. And for your information, I LIVE in this city, therefore have just as much right to be here as you do.”

Just then....*SLAM!*

Noodge: to be nosey, pushy and a general pain in the ass.

Yup….that pretty much sums it up.

*So tell me, have you ever experienced a noodge?

From My Vampire Chronicles

As most of my longtime readers already know, I adore nighttime.

And just like a vampire….I come alive.

Not only do I come alive at night, but I simultaneously feel more relaxed and calm.

Without sounding too ‘New Age’ - my body and spirit seem to be more in tune to the energetic vibration of night.

I’m always inspired to do things like: write, edit my photographs, research topics on the internet, watch documentaries, and read.

Somehow I feel more receptive and creative after the sun goes down, as it becomes dark and quiet.

I worship the darkness of night.

There’s something so delightfully romantic and sexy about seeing city lights against a dark sky.

And now that it’s Fall, and our days are shorter, I love how darkness falls early.

I think I’m probably one of the few people who prefers shorter days and longer nights.

But hey…..that’s because I’m a vampire!

Wednesday evening after I got out from work, I decided to take a leisurely stroll through the city before going home.

Luckily, I had my camera with me so I took a few photos during that special ‘twilight time’ - between light and dark - as the city comes alive with a magic *twinkle*.

Please enjoy…..


A view of the Comcast Building

A lighted walkway

An illuminated fountain sculpture

One of the many office buildings along Market Street

A view down Market Street

A view from my apartment window

Me, getting ready to hit the streets for a little biting and sucking.

Wishing you a weekend of vampire nights everyone!

X

I Freaked Out In Starbucks

Sometimes when I get mad after I‘ve had enough, I can be quite the Tasmanian Devil.

I’m not one of those cool people who is always in control of my emotions. Therefore, sometimes when I get pissed.…you would never mistake me for being subtle.

It SHOWS when I’m really mad.

That’s not always the most polite way to handle things, I know, but I’ve accepted this about myself because sometimes you just have to get mad to make point - when nothing else works.

Last Thursday afternoon, I had an encounter at a Starbucks that would have tested even the patience of both Mother Theresa and Mahatma Gandhi.

Allow me to say, that this particular Starbucks is the most mismanaged and disorganized store I have ever been to. The staff is BEYOND slow, the drink orders are always getting mixed up, the condiment stand is always out of condiments, and the store in general has a very chaotic feel to it. Customers are always complaining. I myself have called Starbucks Corporate and complained about the service in this store.

I’ve been to MANY Starbucks in my life, yet I have never experienced one that should be rated X.

For X-tra HORRIBLE.

Yes, I patronize this particular Starbucks out of my own free-will, but ONLY because it’s convenient to where I work, so I really shouldn’t bitch. I should just go to another Starbucks during my breaks. But hey, I needed something to blog about, so why not VENT?

The first thing that annoyed me was when I was ordering my coffee and oatmeal raisin cookie, the cashier ABSENTMINDEDLY rang up the order of the customer standing next to me on MY debt card. And I never noticed it until after she had already charged me. I thought the total was a bit high, but since Starbucks is constantly raising their prices, I didn’t think anything about it until I looked at my receipt and saw an extra coffee drink added. And when I brought this to the cashiers attention, she said, “Oooops….I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I already charged your debt card.”

So, rather than cause a scene (because I truly wanted to) I decided to let it go and treat the person standing next to me to their coffee for the day.

Then, after waiting FIVE minutes to get my drink, I had to ask, “Excuse me, but where is my coffee?”

The cashier replied, “Oooops….sorry, but I guess the barista didn’t hear me order it.”

So, she had to RE-order it.

(another FIVE minutes past)

When I finally got my coffee, I said, “And what about my oatmeal cookie?”

She said, “Oooops….I totally forgot about it.”

Well, by this time I was FUMING. You could literally see steam coming out of my ears and a white foam forming on my lips.

I FREAKED OUT and decided it was time to cause a SCENE.

I suddenly held up both my hands and yelled, “ HOLD IT! HOLD IT! TIME OUT! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE???? First, you charge another customers order to MY debt card. THEN, you forget my coffee. THEN, you forget my cookie. Would someone please tell me what is going on here, BECAUSE I’M OVER IT!!!!”

*you could hear a pin drop*

This was when the barista walked over and said, “I’m sorry for the hold up, but I didn’t hear the cashier place your order.”

I said, “This is not the first time that this has happened to me. As a matter of fact, it happens a lot….NOW GET ME MY OATMEAL COOKIE!”

The barista RAN to get my cookie and when she handed it to me, I SNAPPED it out of her hand like mouse trap and shouted, “THE SERVICE IN THIS PLACE SUCKS!”

Just then, all the customers standing in line Boo’d me, saying, “Why don’t you try being more patient, sir?”

It was then that I spun around and snarled, “PATIENT? I’ll have you know that I’m on a 15 minute break and it took me an HOUR to get this order - AND MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS!”

*more Boo’s*

Well, let’s just say that the next day when I went into Starbucks and placed my coffee and oatmeal cookie order….

I got it in less than a minute. And for F-R-E-E.

See…..sometimes you just gotta be a Tasmanian Devil!

Signs, Signs....Everywhere A Sign

I know this may sound peculiar, but I've always held a fascination for SIGNS.

And I'm not referring to zodiac signs (although, I do hold a fascination for those too), no, I'm talking about signs you see hanging on walls, or in front of businesses on the street.

For some reason, I always find myself noticing signs and admiring the various graphics, colors, fonts and overall creativity that went into making them.

If you really think about it, a sign is a very important part of having a business because it reflects the essence of what's inside - it tells a story. Therefore, a sign has to GRAB you, and then make you want to come in.

I will often spend the day walking around the city; taking photographs of signs that catch my eye.

Monday was a flawlessly stunning day, here in Philadelphia.

Bright, clear skies. Sunny and cool.

Perrrrr-fect!

(I was even able to wear a light jacket)

So I grabbed my camera and a grande' Starbucks coffee, and off I walked down to one of my favorite sections of Philly, called, Old City.

Allow me to share some signs with you……

Wishing you a SIGNified weekend everyone!

X

Oh No.....Jury Duty!

Friday night when I got home from work and opened my mailbox, I extracted a white and green envelope baring those DREADED words.

JURY DUTY - IT’S YOUR TURN!

And I love how they use an exclamation point at the end of TURN!

As if they’re saying, “SURPRISE! And you BETTER show up or you may be held in contempt of court, and subjected to a $500.00 fine and/or 10 days in prison.”

10 days in PRISON?!?!?!?!

Honestly, I think that’s a bit extreme, don’t you?

Let’s see, I either have the choice of showing up with the possibility of getting selected for the jury and making a whopping $9.00 per day, OR, I can not show up and possibly end up paying a $500.00 fine and/or spend 10 days in prison in a lovely semi-private cell with a non-private toilet, and NO windows.

*tapping my chin*

Decisions, decisions.

Well, I think I’ll choose door #2.…NOT show up.

Actually, I’m not going to NOT show up, however I AM going to plead hardship because I work as an independent contractor, therefore I don’t receive the benefit of being compensated for jury duty absence.

This happened to me two years ago, when I was called in and got out of it because I told them that I was my only financial provider, so if I missed work I couldn’t pay my rent and would end up living on the street in a cardboard box; selling pencils.

Graciously, they granted me a pardon and said that I wouldn’t be summoned again for five years.

Excuse me, but it’s only been TWO years. Can’t they COUNT????

Anyway, I plan on mailing in my hardship request today to see if they will pardon me once again, because the summons date is right after Thanksgiving Day and I CANNOT miss work during one of the busiest times in retail.

So pray for me, okay? And hopefully I’ll be granted another pardon.

Because I really don’t relish the thought of spending 10 days in prison with a toothless cigar-smoking roommate named BIG BEN; being forced to play ‘drop the soap’ in a shower stall.

OUCH!





Note: if you have some extra time this week, please take 3 minutes and view the video on my sidebar. The music is utterly haunting (from the movie "Edward Scissorhands"). It's a touching tribute to my favorite actress of all time - Vivien Leigh. To me, Vivien Leigh was a beauty beyond belief. Please enjoy.

More Lines On Your Face

One of the things I love about my job is that I occasionally get to meet customers who are obviously looking in some kind of magical bathroom mirror that reflects what they want to see, rather than what’s there.

Having been in the cosmetic industry for over 26 years, I’ve learned how to be tactful when consulting with a customer about the condition of their skin.

No one (especially those who are moving up in age) wants to hear that their skin looks worn and tattered.

Therefore, I will always point out the positives of a customers skin first, then gently move into suggesting products that will assist in reversing skin damage and also prevent future damage. I will NEVER ask a customer their age because that’s just not cool.

A few days ago, a gentleman walked up to the counter at which I was selling a new line of men’s skincare; inquiring as to what shaving product I would recommend for him.

He was a nice-looking guy who must have been somewhere in his 40’s, but his skin showed severe signs of early aging - deep wrinkles, uneven texture, and sun damage.

I started by first asking what kind of skin he had - was it normal or sensitive?

He said, “Sensitive.”

So, I suggested a shaving cream because a cream is better suited for someone with sensitive skin. But he immediately cut me off, “No, no, no….I don’t want to use a shaving cream, I prefer to use a shaving gel.

I asked, “Why?”

He said, “Because I like a gel better.”

I replied, “Well, you said your skin was sensitive, therefore I’m suggesting a shaving cream because it gives more cushion to the skin, thus less razor burn and irritation.”

He retorted, “I realize that, but I always think of OLD men using a shaving cream.”

That was my first clue this guy was fighting the clock.

I said, “OLD men??? (laughing) I’ll have you know that “I” use this shaving cream and I’m not old.”

Where upon he blurted, “I know you’re not old, but you have more lines on your face than I do.”

*excuse me????*

That was my second clue this guy had been looking though a magical bathroom mirror which made things appear smaller than they actually were.

But instead of telling him what I really thought of his WORN and TATTERED skin, I simply said, “Okay….let me recommend a great shaving gel.”

And after he walked away with his purchase, I thought about what I truly wanted to say to him.

I wanted to say….

“Do you have any idea what your skin REALLY looks like?

My lined RECTUM!”

Wishing you a line-free weekend everyone!

X

Fear Of Failure? Or Fear Of Success?

I owe my inspiration for this post topic to SuziCate @ A Water Witch's Daughter, who wrote an awesome thought-provoking and enlightening post last week, entitled, Feeding The Beasts Within.

(so thank you, Suzi…..x)

Suzi expressed how we are all hungry beasts with a need to feed our desires for success, to be heard, and to be known. Yet, even though we desire these things there is a part of us that fears failure, ridicule, and being misunderstood.

Within her post, she said something that really caught my attention and hit home.

She said….

“It seems our biggest obstacle is fear.

Maybe the things we fear aren’t so large after all.

Maybe we just allow fear to grow out of hand.

Very possibly we are afraid to know our own power.”

And the line that hit me the strongest was….

“Very possibly we are afraid to know our own power.”

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Back when I first started my acting career, I went through a period of paralyzing fear.

I feared being judged. I feared being ridiculed. I feared not being good enough.

And to be perfectly honest with you, I was judged, I was ridiculed, and I wasn’t always good enough (at first).

Yet, I pursued and did it anyway because I refused to allow these things to stop me from doing what I enjoyed.

But that fear, even though it lessened throughout the years, never fully left me; always lurking within the recesses of my mind.

Then, at some point, I began to wonder if it really wasn’t failure I was afraid of, but rather success.

Or, as Suzi said… “afraid to know my own power.”

Could it be that I was actually afraid to experience my own personal power?

Yes, it was.

Because once I acknowledged my own power, I could no longer deny it.

And once I achieved success, the challenges would get greater.

I realized it was much easier for me to deny my own power, so I would never have to know success.

And I know that sounds strange because we all believe we want to achieve success.

However, think about it.

Once we discover our own power and achieve success….what will we do with it? Where will we go?

And that is where the fear lies.

My New Commenting Format: Disqus

Well…hold on to your hats folks!

Yes, I’ve installed yet ANOTHER new commenting format on this blog.

And why?

*first, put your hands over your ears because I’m going to get loud and rant*

BECAUSE I’M SO SICK OF BLOGGERS COMMENTING FORMAT, I COULD RIP BOTH MY EYEBROWS OFF!!!!!!!!!!

*sorry for all the CAPS, but I’m utterly sick of it*

So, I decided to add Disqus.

I realize that getting use to a new commenting format can be an adjustment, but I believe in the long run it will be a more reliable system. I know many people who use Disqus on their blogs, and very successfully.

The whole reason for trying out these new formats is to make commenting more easy for you.

I totally understand that technical glitches are bound to come up with any commenting format from time to time, however Blogger technical issues are getting OLD and WAY too frequent.

Between last week and this week, I received EIGHT emails from people who said they had issues commenting. And, btw, thank you all for letting me know. And these were not only issues from people using other blogging platforms, but Blogger users as well. In fact, I have had trouble leaving comments on several other Blogger blogs, therefore I understood their frustration.

With Blogger it’s a hit or miss. Some people have no problem commenting, while others experience it a lot. Some weeks it works well, other weeks it SUCKS ELEPHANT DICK!

Instead of Blogger always concentrating on adding new widgets and improving the appearance of our blogs, it would behoove them to first consider focusing their attention on improving this ANCIENT commenting format that dates back to 3000 BC.

I know Blogger is a free service, but so is Wordpress. However, they do a MUCH better job at giving their users a reliable, professional, and up-to-date commenting format.

Blogger has its strong points and advantages too. And I’m grateful to have had my blog here for so long, but COME ON BLOGGER!

Get with the program and give us a better commenting system.

And one that works more than 50% percent of the time.

Okay….I’m finished with my rant.

*deep cleansing breath*

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What I thought I’d do, is give you all some assistance in logging in to make a comment for the first time, so that it’s as easy as possible.

Directions:

First, click on the comment link below this post.

You will notice that comments are embedded below the post as in my other commenting format, but with a twist. The comment box is ABOVE all the comments so you won’t have to scroll ALL the way to the bottom to make your comment - ALLELUIA!

Begin, by typing your comment in the box. When you’re finished, click on the POST AS button on the lower right hand corner of the box, then choose which option you would like to use and log into that account. If you simply choose to log in as a guest, just fill out the information in the boxes (including your email address, your name, and your blog URL using the option link) and then click on POST COMMENT. And VIOLA…you’re done!

For those of you who already have a Disqus account, just log in as usual.

For those of you who wish to sign up for a Disqus account, just click on the LOG IN link (located on the upper right hand corner above of the comment box) and you can register. It’s fast and easy! You can even add your own avatar.

I’ve noticed that more and more bloggers are using Disqus as their commenting format, so it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to eventually sign up for an account yourself.

One of the GREATEST things about Disqus is that it allows comment threading so that I can respond to your comments directly BELOW your comments - ALLELUIA!

Also, if you register for a Disqus account, reply comments can be sent directly to your email address so you are aware of my replies, if you choose that option.

I have enabled comment moderation like before, so you will see a little pop-up window after you post your comment that says your comment is being held in moderation before publishing.

I’ve tested this new format on my practice blog and it really seems to work smoothly on Blogger. It was also incredibly easy to install by placing the code in a widget on my sidebar - it was a snap!

If you ladies or gents experience any issues with this new format (now or in the future) PLEASE don’t hesitate to email me so I am aware of it.

Thank you. Have fun and enjoy Disqus!

Have a GREAT weekend everyone!

X

Update: Ooops, I almost forgot...I would like to thank both Babs and Meleah who so graciously gave me their feedback and advice about Disqus. Thank you, ladies...you were a HUGE help!

Birthdays, Age, And Time

Yesterday, I celebrated my 56th birthday, but the strange part about it is that I actually forgot it was by birthday until I checked my emails in the morning and discovered a dear friend of mine had sent me a Happy Birthday wish.

DUH!

And I immediately thought to myself, “How the hell could you forget your own birthday, Ron?”

But then I remembered a time when I was a kid and my mother said something to the effect, “The older you get the less birthdays seem important.” However, at the time I thought she was NUTS because as a kid, you can’t WAIT until your birthday arrives so you can get birthday cards, a birthday cake, and TONS of presents.

I also remembered a time when I was a kid and my mother had forgotten her birthday, which I thought was totally INSANE because how could ANYONE forget their birthday????

Yet, here I was….forgetting my birthday too!

I pondered this throughout the day and began to wonder if why we get to the point where we forget our birthdays is because, as my mother shared, they just don’t seem so important anymore.

But WHY do they don’t seem so important anymore?

Could it be because of time?

Have you ever noticed how as we getting older, the more time seems to speed up?

As a kid, things like, waiting for our birthday, Christmas, summer vacation, or waiting to be old enough to get our driver’s license seemed to take an ETERNITY.

As kids, we seem to PUSH time away from us.

Yet, as adults, we seem to PULL time toward us.

So, the older we get….time seems to get closer.

And faster.

And shorter.

Therefore, we lose track of time.

Therefore, lose track of our birthdays.

Therefore, lose track of their importance.

Which is a good thing.

Which is why I should continue to forget my birthdays…..