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March 31, 2005
Hudson's 3, Raccoon's 1
Posted by nikl at 11:21 AM | Comments (1)
Baby Mama Indeed
Some of you have probably heard the Fantasia song, Baby Mama 
.
Now, let me preface by saying that women who find themselves on their own with a child and make it works, PROPS. However, it seems that it's become way too glorified in pop culture to have a baby with someone you are so detached from as to only be connected by the child (that's not my husband, not even my boyfriend, that's the father of my child - Baby Daddy. That's not my wife or girlfriend, that's the mother of my child - Baby Mamma). To live off of welfare checks (which not all single mothers do, but seems to continuously be tied in when "baby mamas" are mentioned in pop culture).
Over the past few weeks I've gotten into numerous discussions about the fact that while the song is catchy (catchy does not, btw = good), the message that it sends and its huge popularity can be a little scary. My sister played us a song last week called Step Dad (I think) which is basically a children's chorus and a rapper going back and forth. The children's chorus says they are hungry and/or need something, and the rapper answers back with "shut up." The basis of the song is that he's just gettin' with the mama and could care less about her kids. GREAT IDEA. Marvin Gaye, where are you?
ANYWAY, Rick Smiley did a parody of Baby Mama, and I must say, thank God. [Edit 4/13/05: Apparently it's actually not Rick Smiley, as someone commented, though on a different post]
Posted by nikl at 10:30 AM | Comments (4)
March 30, 2005
The Cycle Continues
It was long overdue. Yesterday, I bought a new phone. As Randy and Curtis will attest, the old phone was just not doin' it. It was the first and only Bluetooth enabled Sprint phone, and it sucked ass. Big time. Though it was Bluetooth enabled. The new one's merits remain to be seen, but already it's more user friends, the UI is more intuitive and it's got a built in camera. I mean...
Posted by nikl at 04:38 PM | Comments (0)
Today, I Take You To Get An Abortion
Posted by nikl at 04:31 PM | Comments (0)
March 29, 2005
THIS, Is Hours and Hours of Fun
Beth Gaston Moon, GO!
Posted by nikl at 11:01 AM | Comments (0)
March 28, 2005
Damn those Raccoons
They are back. They are so back. And they are everywhere. They've taken to knocking. It is my belief that they are knocking to give off location. When they do it (at all hours of the day and night), it sounds like an actual real live human being is knocking at the front door - or perhaps on the wall right next to your HEAD.
The traps have been out for days, but they've figured out how to get the bait without getting in the trap. Beasts.
And now I'm dreaming about them. Two nights ago, they were man-sized, like the Yeti, and they were chasing me all over the house. I woke up sweating. Last night, there were SCORES of them. I looked out the window and they were all over the backyard. I went to get my camera, but when I went to take a photo, they would all take off running like a swarm of so many buzzing bees. They would do a circle around the suddenly gigantic yard (it looked like the hills at Gabe's wedding). As soon as they would come back into sight (it would take long enough that I would put down the camera and give up on them coming back), I would grab for the camera and it would start all over again.
Help.
Posted by nikl at 02:56 PM | Comments (0)
Michigan --> Mexico?
Gabe (the boy), are these guys the southern branch of your Michigan Malitia dudes?
Posted by nikl at 02:07 PM | Comments (1)
And We Wonder
Are you kidding? This is just what we need. more calories for breakfast.
Posted by nikl at 12:28 PM | Comments (0)
Cart Interface
This shopping cart interface is, well, cool.
Posted by nikl at 08:47 AM | Comments (0)
March 27, 2005
Maya in the Hizzie
Maya Azucena was in tow for a show this weekend.
In addition to getting to hang out with her and Christian, the show kicked major butt. The place was packed. We had about 115 people (a record for the event we were a part of) and there were 3, count 'em, 3 encores. That's some love.
Posted by nikl at 08:58 PM | Comments (1)
March 25, 2005
I'm All Shook Up
More later, but here are the photos
Posted by nikl at 06:34 PM | Comments (0)
!?!?!
When these people try to bring Terri water, and then they are interviewed, why do the reporters NOT TELL THESE PEOPLE THAT SHE CANNOT SWALLOW.
And hello, people who need feedinig tubes do NOT FEEL HUNGER OR PAIN.
Nutrients, meet FOOD. Food, meet NUTRIENTS.
Where did the logic go??????
Posted by nikl at 05:33 PM | Comments (0)
March 23, 2005
Great Idea
Hey, here's a hint. She needed a feeding tube - SHE CAN'T DRINK BOTTLED WATER.
Sheesh.
Posted by nikl at 12:10 AM | Comments (0)
March 22, 2005
LOL
1. We should all know that a few hours ago, instead of laughing out loud at something, I literally said "LOL!" I may have to put myself in a program.
2. My friend Beth's play by play of "We are the World" nearly killed me. I think that's what made me say LOL.
3. Or maybe it was her writing in this post.
Posted by nikl at 03:12 PM | Comments (0)
Idiots vs. People who have conversations
Now that I'm dating a conservative and my coffee buddy/"most interacted with" co-worker " tends to take the conservative POV, I find myself weighing issues more often and more actively than usual. Which I like. But it's re-irritated an issue that always drives me insane, which is that of labels/parties.
Those of you who know me well know that I have conservative tendencies of my very own. One of my best friends (who is a conservative) is constantly telling me that I'm the most conservative liberal she knows. And see, typing that, I have trouble labeling myself a liberal. Because to a lot of people, "liberal" comes with a reaction equal to that of the one you had when you just found out that my boyfriend is a conservative (if you had that reaction, which most of you probably did and have when I told you previously). That reaction tends to lead to a litany of assumptions, judgments and general hard feelings. Discussions become unnecessary, b/c you "already know what that type of person thinks. It's those kind of people who are responsible for/thinks that [insert issue here]."
Well, no. It's just like any other type of "other." Black people. Gay people. Asian people. Poor people. Rich people. You might grow up never knowing a certain type of person, making lots of assumptions about them and what they think, see media and have limited interactions that support these assumptions. Then one day, you are forced to deal with this person on some sort of unavoidably human level. You work with them. They're in a group with you at church. You're assigned them as a roommate. And then you discover that they are human too - which you knew, but maybe you forgot all that "being human" really encapsulates. And you discover that guess what: As much as you think you might, you have no idea what they are thinking, why they are thinking it, and how they came to think what they do. And maybe, just maybe, even if it just strengthens your way of thinking, they may have some information/insight that you do not have.
And why do people assume I am liberal? B/c I'm a woman? B/c I'm black? B/c I'm "creative" and "artsy"? B/c I have lots of gay friends? Does that mean I automatically think affirmative action is a good idea? That I'm pro-choice? That I think the government should fund the arts? That gay marriage is right? I resent the fact that people:
a. think I "must" feel a certain way about something just b/c of how I was born, and
b. don't understand how I might not feel that way
c. won't listen or even ask why I might have a thought different from what they assume
d. once I question the issue at all, try to label me the other way.
So, I've decided that we should do away with the party/thought labels and adopt something a little more accurate.
1. People who are close minded asshole idiots, and
2. People who are willing and able to have intelligent conversations, share ideas, opinions and information, and potentially agree to disagree, but still treat each other like human beings and just as importantly, give issues the individual thought and consideration each one separately deserves and needs in order for us to remain a thinking, functioning, free society.
Ignorance and close mindedness are bad, but the people who are able but not willing to fall into the 2nd category are the worst.
That is all.
PS - I read This post immediately before writing this.
Posted by nikl at 01:03 PM | Comments (0)
Not That it's Not Mad Tired
But NBC has extended ER for 2 more years. I know. I'm lame. But I still like it!
Posted by nikl at 11:52 AM | Comments (0)
March 16, 2005
Super Fade
My iTunes just took me from Tiffany Evans' acapella version of the Star-Spangled Banner into 50 Cent's "In The Club" with a 6 second crossover fade and it was HOT.
That is all.
Posted by nikl at 04:37 PM | Comments (0)
March 10, 2005
You Know You Are Living in 2005 When
Some of these are lame, but some of these are funny:
You know you're living in 2005 when...
1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is
that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You go home after a long day at work you still answer the phone
in a business manner.
7. You make phone calls from home, you accidentally dial "9" to get
an outside line.
8. You've sat at the same desk for four years and worked for three
different companies.
10. You learn about your redundancy on the 11 o' clock news.
11. Your boss doesn't have the ability to do your job.
12. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see
if anyone is home.
13. Every commercial on television has a website at the bottom of the
screen.
14. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't
have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a
cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
15. You get up in the morning and go online before getting your
coffee.
16. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. :)
17. You're reading this and nodding and laughing
18. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this
message.
19. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 o n this list.
20. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on
this list.AND NOW YOU'RE LAUGHING at yourself.
Posted by nikl at 04:31 PM | Comments (1)
Wall To Wall Sondheim
As Michael said, how psyched would I be about this if I were still 15? All Sondheim all the time from 11PM - 11PM next Saturday at Symphony Space in NYC.
The funny thing is, as Michael also said, is that I still kinda wish I could go. Especially since half the people performing are friends or acquaintences. Which is another entry in itself.
I guess once a theatre dork, always a theatre dork.
Posted by nikl at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)
Out and About in The Lou
Last night the fun of Randy in town began.
We (Em, Randy, Cameron and Randy's friends from the show) started out at Kitchen K, where the atmosphere was cool, the drinks were good, but they tried to close at like 11. WHAT? So we moved up the street to Lucas Park Grill where they were much more respecfully open until 1:30am. And they were so not pushy when it was closing time and we were the only ones left (unlike the confused waitress at Kitchen K at ELEVEN O'CLOCK).
A good time was had by all. And that is all.
Posted by nikl at 09:40 AM | Comments (0)
March 09, 2005
Beginner's Luck
Last night, the Hollway's taught me how to play Hearts. Somehow, I won. Kelly will sympathize with this phenomenon, as when she taught me how to play Rummy 500 (or whatever it's called), I proceeded to win as well. Maybe it's just that people take pity on my because I know how to play 2. whole. card. games. Cameron will appreciate me mentioning that he "took 22 points in the beginning in the name of education" - my education. And without those 22 points, he would have won blah blah blah.
:)
Posted by nikl at 01:47 PM | Comments (0)
March 06, 2005
Their Eyes Were Watching God
I didn't mean to watch this tonight because I had way too much to do, in addition to getting to bed at a decent hour (which is passing as I type). But my mom was watching from start to finish, and in between loads of laundry and trips across the family room for this or that I was sucked in. By the last half an hour I was not getting a thing done.
I don't know how I missed reading the book all these years (I actually have this vague recollection that I have been assigned this book at least once - if not twice - and have just never actually read it). In short it's about a woman who has two unhappy marriages, then meets a man everyone is sure is bad news, but who makes her feel more alive than she's ever felt. What everyone else has to say at one point almost causes her to walk away - which struck me. It also struck me that no matter how many stories like this we see, we insist of being a generally shallow and materialistic society. Stories about emotional freedom, trust, love and honesty and how powerful they can be. How much there is to gain by facing the fear that comes with fully embracing all of the above. That deep down, we're happiest, most fulfilled when we're realizing our full potential as human beings to experience all of the above.
Posted by nikl at 10:45 PM | Comments (0)
March 05, 2005
Happy Birthday Mardra!
Last night, Mardra had a rockin' costume party. Photos are here
Posted by nikl at 10:24 AM | Comments (1)
March 04, 2005
Comments Fixed
I love the web. and I love Mike Halbrook.
That Mike Halbrook, ALWAYS THINKIN'.
Posted by nikl at 04:02 PM | Comments (2)
March 03, 2005
Hilarity
Go to my friend Beresford's friend Teddy Goldstein's website and scroll down to the "Driving Telemarketers Crazy."
whew.
Posted by nikl at 03:25 PM | Comments (0)
March 02, 2005
Lost
I'm going to register now, as I'm watching LOST on DVR, and before we see it (if we even do), that I forgot to say last week that when the asian guy was giving the other asian guy his daughter's dog, the daughter was watching something on TV and the fat guy was on it. I rewound it twice. I'm sure of it. That is all.
Posted by nikl at 08:38 PM | Comments (0)
And, Scene
That's it for me this season. I'm done watching Idol. Mikelah crazy blasphemed Billie Holiday and the judges complimented her on it.
Finished.
Felt good to free up so much recording room on the DVR.
Amazing Race however, is the B.O.M.B. Rob and Ambah are going to rock the hizzie. I'm totally rooting for them and I don't care who knows it. I will be sad when they are eliminated. But even without them, the season looks grrrrrreat.
Posted by nikl at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)
March 01, 2005
The Return
My mom and sister returned from South Africa on Sunday night. Here are some photos my mom took on her trip.
Posted by nikl at 04:27 PM | Comments (0)
The Brady Bunch, First Season
My friend Kay, wrote a review of the new Brady Bunch DVD here. She's a witty one, that Kay Petorson.
Posted by nikl at 02:00 PM | Comments (0)
Necessary? No. But Cool? YES.
Pizza function to be integrated into new Sony game.
Posted by nikl at 12:30 PM | Comments (1)
Yeah - I'm a Little Bit Country
iPod shuffled up (one of) my favorite Kenny Rodgers tunes this morning - Rueben James
--
Gossip of Madison County died with a child
And although his skin was black
He's the one that didn't turn his back
On the hungry white child with no name, Rueben James
Rueben James
You walk the pretty fields of my mind
Faded shirt
Weathered brow
Calloused hands upon the plow
Loved you then and I love you now, Rueben James
--
Don't argue. That's good stuff.
Posted by nikl at 09:25 AM | Comments (0)