Ode to my Green Galoshes

A haiku, appropriate for today...

In rain, others skip

away from puddles. But I

simply skip through them. 

Terrorists Your Game is Through

I know this is COMPLETELY out of left field, but I wanted to post this great article from the Op-Ed section of the Times. It's by Thomas L. Friedman and addresses how the Pakistani people should speak out against the radical terrorists who attacked Mumbai. 

Check it out here. 

I was nodding my head (up and down, that is) the whole time I was reading this. We've heard a lot of people say things like, "there's no negotiating with terrorists". Of course, those people are mostly war-mongers, but I think they're somewhat correct. I think of terrorists as that annoying kid in middle school who is ALWAYS being bad, always bullying people, talking back, and disrespecting everyone - but the worst part about the kid is that he just doesn't care about consequences or other people's feelings. You knew people like that in middle school, right? 

Because he didn't care, there was no way to reason with him. That's how terrorists are. They don't think that what they are doing is wrong, they've just been so indoctrinated in hate. So yes, to a point there is no negotiating with them. But that's why Friedman's article is so important, because it provides a solution that I agree is very viable. That is the terrorists own culture and community acting out against them, shunning them, making them realize that they are not acting for the common good, they are not in tune with the community, and no one appreciates what they are doing except themselves.

I think that's how change will happen in societies where terrorism thrives. It has to start within the society.  Terrorists have to be stopped by their own people, or else they will feel that their actions are valid and they will perpetuate. 

Anyway... I'm going to get back to work now but I just wanted to share that. 

Philly Sidewalks, Broad Streets

So last night I was up until 2:30 AM waiting for Will to get home from NH. His flight kept getting pushed back due to the wet conditions. But eventually he got in, we got like 5 hours of sleep, and now it's Monday and I'm back at work wondering exactly what I'm doing here (and wishing to God I was still in bed). 

Walking to work this morning felt like going through an obstacle course. We had to dodge some trucks that were parked right at the curb in the crosswalk, make sure we didn't get drilled into by some big construction equipment (that was so loud it practically made my ears bleed) and of course squeeze around the limping homeless people that take up 3/4 of the sidewalk. One man, who was waddling around asking people for quarters, had tucked his pants into his socks. I guess that's one way to keep your ankles warm? Or make a fashion statement? Not really sure what he was going for. 

It seems like there's always a construction project happening in this city. But I can't complain that they're keeping sidewalks walkable and streets drivable. It makes me think, though, about the budget problems the city is going through right now. We're very much in debt, which isn't surprising with the economic climate and other cities (ahem, almighty NYC) also faltering. But as with any situation like this, people are questioning what should be cut and what should stay. Mayor Nutter says he won't cut "core" services, like police forces, fire houses, and trash collection - which I think is important because we don't want more crime or dirt blowing through the streets (well... any more so than there already is). 

But he is going to cut things like library branches and city workers, and raise fees like parking tickets. (Read some of this here.) I want to jump on the bandwagon with my fellow English majors and proclaim the importance of literary outlets in the city, but I actually kind of agree with this move. I wonder how many people actually USE those libraries? And I know of lots of privately funded non-profits that work to ring literacy to the city. If they're so upset, why not get some rich donors to buy up a property and store books there? It's just as good as library. Don't get me wrong, I'd love for the government to promote reading since I think it's getting more and more unpopular as time goes on, but I think in a time like this, it's necessary to focus on getting the debt under control so that, in the future, we can have surplus to bring these services back and make them even better. 

In other news, last night I saw STELLA live and got their autographs after the show! How's that for arts and culture? 

An Uncertain Thanks

Thanksgiving has never really meant much to me besides a large group of family and sometimes friends getting together to engorge ourselves on foods that, any other night, would seem extravagant. Of course that's not something I have a problem with. And I do usually take some time to think about what I'm thankful for - my amazing family, my wonderful boyfriend, being alive and healthy, living in a great apartment in a lively city - and of course being able to watch the Philly Thanksgiving parade featuring such scintillating acts as Syesha Mercado, Mario and the Von Trapp Children (who I will be singing with at the Philly Pops Holiday Concert). 

But today I'm thinking about lots of other things going on that I'm not thankful for. One is that Zoey isn't in the house to share the day with us. And another is that I still haven't the slightest idea what to do with my life. 

I was reading an article in the Inquirer this morning that profiled people who had dedicated their lives to helping the homeless. One was the woman who founded Back On My Feet, a running group for homeless people, and another was a guy who basically started by walking up to homeless people and asking them what they needed. Now he provides meals and checks addressed to state departments so people can get identification like licenses and birth certificates. Those forms of ID help them get jobs and enter shelters. 

It's great to see these people taking something they're passionate about and turning it into life's work. They're doing so much good for the world, and they should feel really proud. I sometimes feel like I need to do something monumental like them. I feel like I have to start my own company, invent a new product, or write a fantastic blog about something totally unique that millions of people will read on a daily basis. 

But then I question whether I really need to do something so huge? Can't I just do something quiet that I love? Sure... the only problem is I don't know what I love doing yet. Well, ok that's not entirely true because I love doing lots of things - singing, writing, reading, playing with my neice and nephew, hanging out with friends - but how is that supposed to translate into an income that I can live with? And what if there's something else that I would really love that I haven't even discovered yet? 

I think my problem is that I have all these grand ideas of unique adventures and profound experiences and finding what I'm truly passionate about, but I don't know  how to go about discovering these things. And sometimes I don't think I need to. Sometimes I think just living is enough. But living doesn't pay the rent. 

I want to resolve something right now, that I'll start looking for what I'm passionate about and working toward making a career of it, but I know I probably won't. The best I can do is give thanks that there is so much out there to discover, and give thanks that I have hope I might discover it... someday. 

People Love Cute Sh*t

It's true. This weekend I was at home along with my older brother, who is planning on getting a dog for his family. He was showing us pictures of puggles online, and, as puggles are cuter than a pudgy baby with cake all over his cheeks, you can bet there were endless squeals coming from the women in the house. Even Will couldn't help but say "aww" a few times. 

Then last night as Will and I were walking home from work (in the dark... thanks Winter) we saw a woman walking an itty bitty puggle. I thought my heart would burst. Will asserted that if we ever got a dog, I'd probably dump him because there wouldn't be enough love to go around. I had to agree. 

And today, I got into work and did my daily "delay for about an hour by reading online news publications" routine, and what should I stumble on but an article in USAToday that talks about online time-wasters, and highlights the 24-hour puppycam which I just recently discovered. 

It's affirmed, folks. People love looking at cute sh*t. Well, at least women do. Round-the-clock puppies, daily bunnies, tiny monkeys wrapped around people's fingers - there's no shortage of aww-inducing material out there to appease even the most sensitive lady's cute tooth. USAToday thinks the sorry state of the economy adds to our affinity for adorable and innocent images, but I'll posit that we'd look at this cute sh*t even if we all had salaries over 100K. Hell, we'd probably buy the cute sh*t for ourselves... not just look at it. 

I'm not prepared to understand this phenomenon. What does cute even mean, anyway? It's an abstract idea, and I'm sure different people use it to define different things. I mean some people think hairless cats are cute. But if I had to venture a guess I'd say women have this caring and motherly instinct, and when they see small or innocent looking creatures, they just want to coddle them. Or blast their ear drums with a high-decibel exclamation of pure joy. 

Of course with my luck, when I clicked on the puppycam this morning, it was "offline". The injustice. How else am I supposed to get through my day besides watching adorable fluffy balls running all over each other and occasionally sleeping? 

Instead, I had to Google image search pictures of puggles. Enjoy. 

The First Snow-ell

I'm taking a break from the Excel-induced coma work has put me into to tell everyone that it just SNOWED for the first time this winter... at least enough to be seen by multiple people and elicit a few cries of, "Yay! It's so pretty!" It's over now, but for one, glorious moment, thousands of tiny white flakes swirled around outside our 18th floor office windows. 

After the humid mess it was last week, this sudden blast of cold and flurries really makes it feel like holiday time. And lord knows I LOVE holiday time. The commercials start in with tinkly music, stores fill up with cozy sweaters, and of course 97.5 plays 24/7 Christmas music, which I admit I've been listening to for the past 2 weeks. (Mariah Carey's All I Want for Xmas? Brilliant.) I can't wait until everyone is together for Thanksgiving and Christmas in a warm, bright house, surrounded by a happy, giving atmosphere. It gives me chills just thinking about it! 

NOTE: I'm Jewish. But Hanukah feels different than Christmas. It's a little more solemn, a little more educational (or maybe that's just because I have to keep explaining it to people), a little more sparse and spread out, and it involves less family. I'm proud to be a Jew, to eat latkes and celebrate 8 nights of illumination. But let's face it, Christmas generates more excitement. 

Is She Really Gone?

Sadly, yes. Zoey is gone as of 1PM today. It was a day she would have loved - sunny, a fall chill in the air, ideal for playing frisbee or bundling up and going to the park. But instead she laid in her bed and occasionally got up and wobbled outside. She was so unsteady, disoriented, almost like she was drunk. And her face was all swollen because her failed kidneys made her retain water. 

My stepmom and I sat around for hours waiting for something to happen. I'd look at her every once in a while and hope that miraculously she'd be better... that she'd look like herself and start wagging her tail and get up and run to me. But she mainly just slept. Still it was nice to have her there and alive. Her body was warm, her fur was soft, there was still comfort in her presence. But we also knew something had to be done, that she couldn't live everyday like this. 

So at 1PM the vet came with his needles and his sedation and he put her to sleep. I didn't watch, but my dad said she looked peaceful and didn't at all react, which meant she probably didn't feel anything. Someone who loved her was there with her every step of the way, and we know she felt very loved. 

Now I'm not sure how to feel. At the time we were all sobbing. But it's over. There's no more question about her health, she's just... done. Her absence in the house was very palpable and sad. We went out for lunch and when we got back we really expected to hear her bounding down the stairs to greet us, as if she was waiting on my parents' bed until we got home. But there was nothing. And right now I feel kind of numb. I'm all cried out, not over it but not steeped in it. 

It'll be a hard few days, but we have to believe it was the right thing to do and she's in a better place now. 

The Fuzzy Ears of My Zoey

Today was a sad day in the Scharf house. Our 11-year-old yellow lab Zoey isn't doing very well. Her kidneys are failing, and they're trying to find out why and treat her, but if they can't find anything wrong and the treatment doesn't work, then there's really nothing we can do about it. She won't eat, she's in pain, and she's having trouble getting around, so my parents were weighing the option of putting her down if she doesn't get better very soon. 

I know it's best, but it's hard to say goodbye to someone who's been such an integral part of your family for so long. We got Zoey when I was 11, and she was the greatest dog we could have asked for. She was kind and docile, never barked or growled at anyone, showed lots of affection, loved our family and everyone she encountered, and she also had more intelligence than most of the dogs I've interacted with. 

And as crazy as it sounds, she was like my sister. She's currently in a 24-hour veterinary hospital, and Will and I went to say goodbye to her before we left Yardley and went back to Philly. I gave her a whole speech, as if she was a human. I told her I was sorry she had to be there, but we just wanted to give her the best chance of staying with us as long as possible. And of course I told her over and over that I love her. I felt a little insane, like 'why am I telling such deep things to a dog', but I think all pet owners have some sense that their pet understands complicated feelings like that, and I hope she understood and knew that I meant it all. 

There's still a chance we'll get good news, but I have a hard time expecting that. In the meantime, I hope she's not in pain and I trust that my parents will make the right decision. 

And... sorry if that was totally corny but I felt like I had to write something about the hairiest (but greatly loved) member of our family. 

World Champs WHERE? Philly!

Since we had to watch a few World Series games in DC, where there were Rays fans abounding, it was GREAT to get home and be able to watch them in Philly. We were planning to go out Sunday night and watch game 4 in a bar, but when we got back to our apartment and saw this news story plastered all over the place, that idea was scrapped. 

It's a pretty scary situation to hear that people who live less than a block away from you were attacked by a man with a butcher knife. And it's not even like it was a helpless woman by herself, it was a couple. So even if I'm with Will, I can't feel entirely safe. We haven't heard much about it this week but they still haven't caught the guy, so it still makes me uneasy. Maybe with all his publicity last weekend he's decided to go away. Let's hope so. In any city I suppose these dangers exist, but you never think it'll happen so close to your apartment, to people so similar to you (they were a 25-year old couple living together). 

After hearing about that, Will and I went around the apartment and picked out blunt objects we could use to hit someone over the head with, if need be. We also thought about buying a taser gun. Haven't yet, but I sure feel safer now that I have mace. 

And on to a much better piece of news: THE PHILS WON THE WORLD SERIES! It was absolute mayhem here Wednesday night. Bars were packed, people were wasted, Broad Street was hopping, guys were climbing on light poles, women were flashing people... it was just absolutely crazy. But in a good way. It was a huge, glowing ball of energy and happiness. Then Friday was the victory parade and that, too, was insane. Trains stopped running, people couldn't walk on the sidewalks... it seemed like the whole world was in Philadelphia on Friday afternoon. But again everyone was celebrating and being nice to each other and it was just wonderful. Here are some pics that I got, enjoy. I know Philly will be enjoying for the next year!

Broad Street Wednesday night

Broad Street Wednesday nightBlanton - the pitcher who hit a homerun!
Utley and Howard, the dynamic duo

The trophy!!!

Washington, Washington

Last weekend Will and I took a much-needed vacation to DC. Although I resent DC because I feel that Philadelphia was the nation's FIRST capital and doesn't receive as much credit, I still enjoyed myself. It's a fun city, with lots to see and do and, of course, a lot to learn about the U.S. of A. We covered all the touristy stuff, like: 

The capitol Building - Which I kept confusing with the White House. 

The White House, where we saw security guys training an attack dog. 

The National Archives, where tourists elbow their way in to see old paper.

The Lincoln Memorial, which, despite what this picture may lead you to believe, was swamped. 

And Arlington National Cemetery, where I wasn't allowed to take inappropriate pictures. 

But Will's favorite part was the Air and Space Museum. Now up until a few days before our trip, I thought it was actually called the Aaron Space Museum. Yes. I thought it was named after a

 guy named Aaron. But it is really a museum about AIR AND SPACE. I have to admit it was pretty cool, although unlike Will, I didn't get a massive boner when we went inside. My favorite part was seeing the recreation of Skylab, because it reminded me of Wet Hot American Summer. 

I think MY favorite part of the trip was the Newseum. It's all about the history of Journalism, and it has some great exhibits on 9/11, Pulitzer Prize-winning photos, and presidential election commercials, to name a few. I think it was worth the $20 we paid to get in, but perhaps for that amount of money they could leave the cafeteria open at all hours. 

There you go. Our trip to DC in a nutshell. 

Celebrating European Colonialism

It's Columbus Day, and I've worked it so that I am totally free - no selling admission to hungry tourists or organizing mismatched shoes at the Gap - just me, the TV, and hopefully a run and some shoe shopping. Oh and if I work up the enthusiasm, I may also clean the apartment, which has gotten filthy. When you have a job that's exhausting, and I assume most people do, it's easy to come home, plop yourself down on the couch, and spend the night watching House reruns followed by the Daily Show and Colbert Report. Then clothes and dirt and mail and dishes pile up around you and one day you just scream, "I CAN'T LIVE IN THIS FILTH!" and clean it all up. Perhaps today will be that day. 

But tonight is a must-watch TV night, as the Phils are battling the Dodgers in the 4th game of the NLCS postseason, which they lead 2 games to 1. But it's in LA, and they got killed last night in LA (and throughout the regular season) so it's really imperative that they get their act together and win this. 2 games to 1 is dangerous. 3 games to 1 is pretty much a guarantee.

 Baseball has always been a sport that I understood, but i've recently become a really big Phillies fan. I can name the majority of players on the team (pitchers may or may not be included in that) and have seen enough games and know enough about the players to be able to hold my own in a discussion with boys. For instance, I know we can't count on Ryan Howard in this postseason, and we've really got to look to Victorino, Burrell, and Utley for the big hits. Or, we could just put Brett Myers in as a designated hitter. 

See... didn't you just forget you were reading a girl's blog? Probably not. But I'm proud of myself and fan enough to make a shout-out and say GO PHILS tonight! BEAT LA!!!!

Oh, the Things One Sees

On Sunday morning we went out to grab some Dunkin' Donuts breakfast, and instead of bringing it home we decided to sit in Washington Square and eat it. As we were approaching the fountain to find a bench and settle down, I saw a dirty man standing by the water and taking off his socks and shoes. 

Before I knew it, his pants were rolled up and he was slogging around in the fountain water, picking up all kinds of change and shoving it into his battered pockets. 

Was I surprised? Not really. It was a bum taking change out of a fountain. I commend him for his resourcefulness. I was, however, amused when a little girl walking through the park with her dad ran straight up the fountain and started leaning over and having a conversation with the homeless guy. Well, it was less of a conversation than the little girl asking "What are you doing in there?" and the bum answering in some incoherent rambling that included the words "rain" and "quarters". Probably also some cursing. The girl was leaning over so far to listen to her new friend that I thought she was going to fall in. I also wondered what the hell her father was thinking in not pulling her away. But he looked a little homeless himself. 

Anyway... for your viewing pleasure (sorry the quality is so bad, I took it from my phone): 

In other news, I have to proclaim my new-found love for NPR podcasts. Yesterday I downloaded Saturday's "Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me" to my shuffle, and it made me laugh out loud as I was walking down the streets of Center City. Now I'm off to listen to some of the songs off Dar Williams' new CD, Promised Land. 

Ciao!

Working Stiff in Philadelphia

My new life of part-time jobs has begun! And I haven't gotten a paycheck yet to see how little i'm making, which probably explains why i'm so jolly right now. 

My first impression is that my time isn't as open as I'd like it to be - and it's really confusing to keep track of everything that i'm doing all at once! Also... the Gap operates on military time so it takes math to figure out my schedule. Oh, math is also involved in working at cash registers (which, by the way, is totally as fun as I had imagined it to be when I was 8 years old). Blech. Math. And a lot of it. 

But I am finding it pleasurable to walk to work, especially since it means I get to see the city at odd times (like 9 on a Saturday morning) and busy times like rush hour. And it isn't so bad dealing with tourists. Most of them are, aside from being pretty dumb, really well-meaning and some are even interesting to talk to like a guy today who was from the Netherlands but attending med school at UPenn. It's also very encouraging to find that the city you live in is an exciting place for so many people. They love the Liberty Bell! They want extra gift shop bags to take home as souvenirs! They are extra-enthusiastic about looking at the foundations of Ben Franklin's house... and OF COURSE they've already seen his grave. Philly is a hot destination, and why shouldn't it be? It's a hotbed of historic wonders, plus we've been ranked the ugliest city in the nation 2 years in a row! 

Plus... the discount I get at the Gap is phenomenal. 

And in terms of stress, I have so much less of it right now. No long drives where i'm gritting my teeth trying not to yell obscenities at other drivers. No crazy deadlines to meet. No horribly unreasonable client requests (except maybe the woman today who asked for an audio tour for her 2-year-old because... "her brother and sister have one and she's going to want one too, just like the iPod"). 

It ain't half bad so far. But I still gotta give it time. 

So You Wanna Quit Your Job

I did it. And I finally feel comfortable enough to talk about it. I gave my two-weeks notice at my job last Monday, which means today is my last day. I've been postponing talking about it because I'm a weirdo and think that somehow I'll jinx myself by making my resignation public. I also didn't want to mention my new jobs lest I also risk jinxing them. How silly. But here it is... in all its public glory.

Alas, my glamorous life as a direct mail copywriter is no longer, and I'm embarking on a new life of part-time jobs and a badly paying editorial internship. But all my new jobs are in Center City, so I won't have a 40-minute commute to deal with! I'm extremely excited about that, and here are some more things I'm excited about:

• Exploring a new field I think I'll like (Journalism, despite that I've heard it's dying and the pay is despicable)
• Working in retail... it's a weird thing to be excited about but I liked answering phones in a Dr.'s office so who knows?
• Working with people my age
• Being able to WALK to work
• Having the flexibility to do some stuff on the side... classes? volunteer? anything's possible!

And... now what I'm a little scared about:

• Strange working hours that include evenings and weekends
• A drastic cut in my income/benefits
• Leaving the people I got to know at my job
• Having to learn 3 jobs at once... all of which I know nothing about

It's all very new and confusing, but I have to say i'm more happy about it than anything. I'm young. I deserve to do some exploring (and even some living paycheck-to-paycheck). I deserve to work in the city I live in, and not spend almost 2 hours each day in a stressful commute.

Most of all - I trust myself and I trust my decisions. And if it doesn't work out... there's always grad school.

So true...

Saving gas, and saving the country from hicks, one step at a time.

Also, I read this morning in People mag that one of Todd Palin's favorite foods is Spam... with Peanut butter on it. I'm thrilled this is what we've come to, really thrilled.

12th and Market - The Gallery

Last night, after gorging myself at the Phillies roller coaster-like loss to the Marlins (SERIOUSLY, guys, getting everyone's hopes up and then leaving men on base is worse than blueballs! Or so I've heard...) I was driving home and heard some disturbing news on the radio.

Foxwoods Casino is in talks to relocate to The Gallery at Market East!

Oh, what horrible news this is. Casinos in general are just bad news - drunk gamblers stumbling around at all hours of the night, increased traffic, people driven into debt by excessive betting and then taking it out on the community - all around there's not much good that can come of it. Sure it might provide some jobs and increase tourism, but there are more sanitary ways to create jobs and are gamblers really the types of tourists we want in the Philly? I think it's safe to say we don't want to become another Atlantic City.

But then to take all the negatives about casinos, and plop them right down in the MIDDLE of a city that's already having trouble with people beating others with hammers on the subway... well that's just adding insult to injury.

To be fair, I don't actually know if casinos elevate crime. And I've gambled myself and find it fun (craps, anyone?) so I don't think all gamblers are lowlifes. But when I think about the sorry state of the Gallery and Market Street as it is today, I don't see converting it into a casino as a step up by any stretch of the imagination. I mean you've got Chestnut, with its restaurants, cafes, and delis, then Walnut with its theatre and quality shopping... and then there's Market Street with its trash, abandoned buildings, graffiti-ridden bus stops and public transportation nightmares... it deserves a better revitalization plan than a flashy slot-machine haven.

Is that really what we want people to see when they step off the train for the first time? Or when they venture from City Hall to Old City to partake in the historical treasures of Philadelphia? I think not.

The Great High-Fructose Corn Syrup Debate

Maybe it's a good thing that the Corn Refiner's Association (basically a lobbying group for said industry) has created a commercial promoting High-Fructose Corn Syrup. Maybe it means they're scared of losing sales because people are becoming more health conscious! We can only hope... If you haven't yet seen the commercial, which definitely freaked me out when I saw it for the first time the other day, check it out here.

It bothered me at first, but that was just because I had a generally negative attitude toward HFSC. My senior year I did a project on childhood obesity, and our research led us to conclude that the advent of HFCS contributed to the rise in obesity that is rampant today. It provided a cheap way to domestically produce sweetener that made food more appealing, jacked up calorie content, and gave things a longer shelf-life so people were more apt to buy in bulk since they weren't worried about things going bad (also the food was less expensive).

Now these reasons have nothing really to do with the actual chemical makeup of HFSC, just the economic and eating-habit-changing implications of the sweetener. This commercial, and its Internet counterpart sweetsurprise.com, focus more on promoting HFSC because it is "natural", has no more calories than table sugar, and is completely "safe" by FDA standards.

I won't argue that they're claim isn't true, mainly because I'm not in the mood to do that much research. But I will say that I think they're missing the point. You can give HFSC as many positive labels as you want, but the really issue is that people are eating TOO MUCH of it. And maybe that's because of commercials like this and people who rationalize that "natural" =" good for you" without actually thinking about it.

Everyday we get conflicting messages about food consumption - fad diets that fade and are replaced with completely different diets, government regulated guidelines that may or may not be influenced by lobbyists (like the CRA), certain trigger words that make us feel good (or bad) about what we're eating (such as trans-fat, lo-fat, fat-free, and all that other stuff most of us don't really understand) - and this commercial just adds to the confusion.

So I'm going to conclude that a) the commercial is unsettling and should be taken with a grain of salt and b) "all things in moderation" is a pretty good mantra to go by. So sure, reach for the HFSC (it's in pretty much everything you eat, anyway), but then maybe for a later snack you'll grab an apple or some carrot sticks. How's that for a compromise?

This girl only sleeps with butterflies

You gotta believe this blog is pretty important to me when I pry my eyes away from the House marathon long enough to make an entry!

This was another philtastic weekend in the 19107. On Friday night I discovered where everyone and their mom in the city has been hiding on the first Friday of the month - that would be First Friday in Old City. It's a great cultural event when the art galleries stay open late and serve wine and goodies (but you have to get there early to partake in those). It was amazing how packed the sidewalks were, and walking through the galleries was like being part of a herd of cattle. Despite the crowds and the heat, it was a worthwhile way to spend a Friday night. 

One of my favorite collections was by a guy named John James Pron, a professor at Temple. It was called Philapocalypse, and it depicted neighborhoods in the city with fragmented grids, buildings missing, and people scattered like the world was ending. Check it out here. I'm no art critic or even an enthusiast, but it was innovative, easy to "get", and interesting to look at. A+. 

Saturday, in anticipation of hurricane Hanna dropping a deluge on the city, we decided to go to the Natural Science Museum. Most of it was old-hat... reconstructed dinosaur bones and stuffed panda bears. But what I really appreciated, and what was probably my favorite part of the weekend, was the Butterflies exhibit. 

It was... in a word... magical. The setting was a very bright, plant-filled room where butterflies of all shapes, sizes, and colors flew free - often right into the people walking through. It seemed like they were everywhere. If you looked closely in the leaves you could see them perched all over, and some were camouflaged so you didn't realize you were seeing a butterfly until someone else pointed it out. 

I've heard that when a butterfly lands on you, it's a sign of fertility. If that's true, I must be ovulating like crazy. 

If you're interested in more pictures and would like to comment on my skills as an amateur photographer, visit my Flickr site. 

And now it's Sunday and so beautiful out you'd never know that we had a monsoon yesterday. Fall is in the air... and maybe it's a good thing, since we're a little tired of the sweat and the electric bills that reflect our air conditioner usage. But I sure will miss the green grass and the colorful blooms and the way the yellow summer light hits the trees and the bricks. Also, I'll miss talking to my boyfriend on Thursdays, Saturday and Sundays... as he'll be too busy watching football to pay any attention to me :)

Postmodernism and Politics

Or... "How the liberal ideas instilled upon me by my English professors seem to make their way into my everyday life at an astounding rate"

So after Palin's speech last night where she equated herself to a "pitbull with lipstick" (and if you need help visualizing that, the following picture is for you),
I was browsing through the news to read some reactions and I came across this quote by Mitt Romey, referenced from MSNBC.com:

“And at Saddleback, after Barack Obama dodged and ducked every direct question, John McCain hit the nail on the head: Radical Islam is evil, and he will defeat it. Republicans prefer straight talk to politically correct talk.”

To me, this shows the inflexibility and single-mindedness of the repubs. They take one signifier, and equate it to a single word that is meant to instill fear and negative reaction, as in Radical Islam = evil. This is totally anti-postmodern, because postmodernism says that things have plural meanings and interpretations. I think Obama's tendency to not immediately categorize our enemies in a negative light shows his progressive attitude and intelligence. He is willing to speak with them, perhaps hear what they have to say, in the hopes that that will improve relations with them. McCain, on the other hand, wants to regard them as incorrigible and argue that the only way to deal with them is to bomb them to heck. Absolutely deplorable. Yet another reason why I'd be devastated if Obama doesn't make it to office.

Also, I think this article is worth a read. It's from the LA Times and by author Gloria Steinem, so of course it's another harkening back to my days as an English major. Though... I never read anything by her.

Ok and I just have to say that I started this blog with the intention to write about my experiences in the city and the past few entries have been largely political. I'm not going to apologize but I am going to say that it's because this is what's on my mind currently. Also, I'm bored at work. I hope once these two issues resolve themselves, I can get back to what I really want to be talking about.

Deconstructing Sarah Palin

With all the buzz around the Republican National Convention right now, how can you NOT be thinking about Sarah Palin? I know I can't get my mind off her, and it's not because she's a good-looking woman!

A few days before she was announced as VP choice, when rumors were swirling about Tim Pawlenty and Joseph Leiberman as possible Repub running mates, my step-mom made the point that if McCain picked a female running mate, he'd be golden with the bitter Hillary supporters who couldn't let go of their so-yesterday candidate. I hadn't thought about this before, but it made a LOT of sense. Fortunately, I hadn't heard of any females who were seriously in the running so I wasn't overly worried.

But then came Palin's announcement, and I thought, "Crap. A new haven for Hillary supporters and bad news for the O-bomb." THAT was before I knew anything about her, and now that I know what she's really like, I'm MUCH more confident that Obama had a better chance.

The woman seems like a nutjob! Bygone beauty queen, never even had a passport until last year, pro-life mercenary, anti-gun control, has 5 kids with strange names like Bristol, Trig, and Track, and now it's revealed her 17-year old is PREGNANT? And the Repubs are OK WITH THAT? Even DEFENDING her? If that news came out about a democrat, they'd be all over it as a case of lost responsibility and proof that pre-marital sex has hellish consequences. But no... she's "every woman" now that she has problems just like the rest of us.

Not ME, though. I never had that problem. And I don't see anything to write home about in Sarah Palin. Except maybe that she used to look like Katherine Heigl. Anyone else agree with me here?
















She's not a VP... she only plays one on TV.

Naked People, Terrorists, and Me

As a new notch in the bedpost of interesting stuff I've seen on the streets of Philly, lets add NAKED PEOPLE. I mean bare-naked. Ok, fine, they had aprons on so not full frontal, but definitely full rear. And of course if you looked hard enough at the right moment (when the wind was blowing or they were bending over) you could see a bit more. Not that I tried. The street was full of people taking pictures and pointing, and one guy near me leaned to his friend and said, "I can see it now - major pile-up in Center City caused by naked people on street". Amen. 

This was Wednesday, outside of the environmentally-friendly soap/cosmetics store Lush. They were promoting their products that don't require packing, which is good for the environment because it cuts down on waste and shipping costs. I've never been inside the store, but it smells nice... and I'm interested to see a "shampoo bar"... so maybe next time I'll venture in. And that has nothing to do with the fact that I'm hoping more naked people are inside. 

Flash forward to my subway ride to the Hospital at UPenn (not sick, just going for a yearly). There's this guy sitting near me, and he's decked out in what looks like Muslim garb - a long tunic (over baggy jeans and Timbs, mind you) and a cloth on his head. He's white, but he has a really long beard. Kind of an anomaly, and I wouldn't have thought much of it except that he was talking with a young boy who was sitting across from him and shaking this small blue vial. I thought at first it was a lighter, and maybe he was teaching the kid to shake the lighter fluid (do people even do that?). But I looked closer and it wasn't a lighter, just a small tube-like object with liquid in it. 

Here's the kicker: I got scared thinking this guy had explosives and was training this little kid to use them. I thought they were going to blow up the subway train. I know this is totally irrational and 99.9% most likely not true, but that's what crept into my mind. 

And I wonder what makes us... well... me, because I can't speak for others... think things like that about people we don't even know? Does my society tell me to fear people dressed like Muslims? Does my religious background? The media? I think it's a combination of all of those things. We hear about people flying planes into buildings... who are they? Muslims. We see images of Osama Bin Laden and associate him with danger and violence, and then we see a man who is wearing similar clothing and think the same thing. It's hard to separate the images from the emotions. 

But I think naked people on the street is something we can all agree puts a smile on our faces, right? 

Washington Square is for the birds

On Saturday I had myself a few hours alone while Will was up at school running (jogging) in the alumni race. I decided my first mission was to go to the park and read. So at about 4 I packed up a blanket, a Cosmo, and the most recent City Paper and trudged off to Washington Square. It's really close to our apartment so we go there often, just to sit or watch little kids try and climb into the fountain. 

So there I was, reading about the latest summer fashions and what guys like most about blow jobs, when I notice a sudden influx of pigeons. They're wobbling around my blanket, making that throaty rumble, and they're flying low over my head. 

My first thought was, "Cool! They're filming a remake of that Alfred Hitchcock movie right here in Philly!" But looking around some more didn't reveal any camera crews or boom mics. So my next thought was "I'm gonna get shat on. Where are all these birds coming from?"

Then I saw this guy... 

Yes - a little old Chinese man (shouldn't he be in Franklin Square?) was feeding the birds right near my blanket - hence the fluttery commotion. 

I respect his regard for the animals. Who's to say pigeons aren't worthy of our attention just because they're filthy rats with wings? But seriously, dude. Other people are trying to enjoy the park without getting bird crap in their hair. 

Moral of the story: Sow your seeds in another park. And men really like blow jobs. 

The Sunday Effect

I want you to think back REAL hard to the days when you were in middle or elementary school. There? Good. Remember how Sundays felt? After having a great weekend with no work, visits to friends, sleeping in, and all the lazing around you could manage, Sunday night came and as the sun sank in the sky, an empty pit welled up in your stomach. Back to school tomorrow? Already? It was like you wanted to slow the clocks so Monday would never come.

I hated that feeling. It was the same feeling I got at the end of August when I knew school was about to start. I'd sit out on the driveway, watching the purple clouds swirling in the sky, and I'd wish that I could spend my whole life outside playing instead of cooped up in a classroom. Even in college it was bad. A lot of people I knew couldn't wait to get back to school. Not me. I loved being around my family and having reunions with my high school friends. Also at home there was no pressure to present yourself well every day, no stress of "is there something going on this weekend?" or "am I going to trip and send my lunch flying everywhere in the dining hall?"

And even now... I'm completely out of school, yet I still get that feeling around this time of year. The air starts to get a little crisper. The mornings and nights are colder. You start to see your own breath hang in the air. The sun goes down earlier and earlier... days get shorter. And though there's no "back to school" to worry about, there's still a sense that change is coming. It might just be the season, or it might be something else, something you're not expecting.

I wonder how long it'll be before the Sunday Effect goes away. Maybe never?

Let me wax political

I can't profess that I am a political person. I would last probably 5 minutes in a serious political discussion before I got frustrated/outwitted, and then I'd try my best to move the subject to something lighter like bunnies or the latest Adam Sandler movie. But this election has perked my ears and I've been listening to NPR and reading newspapers to learn about the candidates and the race. It's an important time in our country and in my life, and how better to feel some semblance of control than to be a part of the political process?

I started out a staunch Obama supporter. There was just so much fervor for him, especially among people my age and celebrities I identified with. I appreciated his idealism, his education, and, yes, even his elitism. What I figured was that I'd rather have someone in office who had young, educated people behind him than someone who attracted blue-collar, toothpick chewin', gun-totin' Americans. I admit I was on the bandwagon.

And now that it's much further into the race, I've learned that Obama isn't all halos and hope. I mean he is more so than McCain, who's all straight-talk and patriotism, but Obama's been selling out recently. His ads try to paint him as identifying with the middle class Americans he had put down earlier, and I think that reflects the political system in this country - you have to get everyone to like you to win. It has made me like Obama a little less, but I'm still behind him because his stance on the issues is in tune with mine.

And I'm certainly not a McCain supporter. He's running a much less respectable race. He's bashing Obama and playing on the fears of Americans. Want the economy to slip further? Vote Obama. Want to deny offshore drilling and keep gas prices high? Vote Obama. Want Paris Hilton in the White House? Vote Obama. Now I think this is all ridiculous and nasty, but it's working.

Today Reuter's released a poll that shows McCain leading Obama by 5 points for the first time:
Check it out here.

And yesterday in the New York Times, David Brooks wrote this article about McCain's tactics and their effectiveness with voters:
Read it here.

My immediate reaction to this news is disappointment. It makes me think most Americans are idiots. They'll believe anything blindly (for instance that Obama's a muslim) and they are susceptible to the cheap tactics of fear-mongering and hearsay.

But then I wonder if I'm susceptible to peer pressure and following a candidate just because my liberal arts education tells me it's the right thing to do? I also feel guilty for judging my fellow Americans, and being an elitist in assuming that middle-class, less educated people shouldn't have as much of a say.

Despite all my reservations, I think I'm doing the right thing for me in supporting Obama. I believe in what he believes in, and sure he's doing a shoddy job right now, but he's gotta do what he's gotta do to get in the White House and start making real change, right?

Maybe from now on I'll be a little more open to the other side. That way I'll feel less guilty, and more like my vote is informed and convincing.

Don't want to make this a habit but...

As my title suggests... I don't want making fun of Comcast news headlines to be a daily thing on this blog, but I just HAVE to share these little nuggets from today:

• Amorous disabled turtle on the move
• Campaign encourages buttocks clenching

I mean, if that doesn't make you want to read, what does?

Oh, Comcast

In case you're not from Philadelphia (or you've been living under a rock), the city has pretty much been taken over by communications giant Comcast. They have a huge new building in the financial district which, to me, looks unfinished. But what do I know about architecture? And it's hard in these parts to get any other provider for your TV, Internet and phone.

Point is... Comcast is GREAT, and my cable would probably go black if I didn't say that. But what I love MOST about Comcast is the news headlines on their homepage, comcast.net. Do they get paid per people who read these stories? Because the headlines are nothing short of sensational. Here's a sampling from today's selections:

• Baby whale thinks yacht is its mother (no explanation needed)
• Brooke Hogan sings her pain (who doesn't?)
• Bird droppings in skin products? (better yet, why not just stand outside at the beach?)
• Obama hugs, then tears into McCain (sounds kinky)
• China confiscates bibles from Americans (I thought the "bible-toting" American was just a stereotype)
• Phelps' win extra special at Peete's Grille (WTF is Peete's Grille? And can I have fries with that gold medal?)

I have to admit, they pull me in sometimes. But it's just cheap. This is not real news! Thank god for NPR.

The Festival of Living

This weekend was... in a word... cultural. And it demonstrates another aspect of the city that I LOVE, which is that you can walk a few blocks and always find something delightful going on that you had no idea was happening. 

On Saturday we went on a walk. It was hot, 

but with the breeze as you walk it was bearable. And the way the sunlight hit every building and tree and created shadows on the road made strolling totally worth it. We made our way up Pine Street and found ourselves at a craft fair/farmer's market near South Street. There were vendors selling crafts, photographers displaying their local work, and fresh fruits and vegetables laid out in a colorful array. 

After that pleasant surprise, we made our way to Penn's Landing where we found an Indian (the country) festival going on complete with vendors, performers, and the sweet smell of curry

 wafting through the tents. We stopped to watch some children singing and some women dancing in bright orange costumes and tinkling bells on their ankles. Then we browsed through the clothing and jewelry being sold. Finally we made our way home. 

Then Sunday we went back to Penn's Landing for a Carribean music festival. The acts included rappers, reggae singers, and dancers all wearing colorful flags to represent their home countries. 

We always hear about the U.S. being a "melting pot" of cultures and ethnicities, but a lot of times (and I'm guilty of this) we stick to what we know because it's safer. This weekend was great because we branched out and saw some different populations that inhabit the city -- making it the colorful, diverse place it is. 

Cars under the South Street Bridge to Penn's Landing

Sculpture on the South Street Bridge

Steps up to the back of Independence Hall

All Sounds Considered

Last night, after dinner (frozen-chicken-patty-parmesan and macaroni pasta) there was a half hour or so where Will and I just sat on the couch playing our respective hand-held gaming devices. No TV, no music, no computer. Of course there was the sound of my clicking away on an ancient game boy trying to win Tetris, and Will's stylus scraping as he worked through Brain Age calculations on his DS. But for the most part it was quieter than usual... almost silent.

And it was nice to hear all the sounds of our apartment and the city outside. The steady gurgle of our goldfish's tank. The rattling of our loose windows in the slight wind. The laughter and gossip of people walking by. The whoosh of cars and the heavy revving of buses. And occasionally distant thunder, after large flashes of lightning that outlined Pennsylvania Hospital with a white glow.

One of the immediate things I loved about our apartment was the front windows. We have very high ceilings, and we're the first apartment in the building so we look right out onto the street through high, wide windows. It's something I've always imagined my dream dwelling would have... wonderful, large windows to let in a lot of light and provide a fabulous view. When we're lucky enough to be home during the day, we get just that. And it's just as exciting at night watching people all dressed up and walking to bars with their friends, or strolling holding hands with their sweethearts, or even just seeing the headlights of cars as they roll along Pine Street.

In the city you're never alone, and the sounds and sights from our apartment confirm that. There are constantly people moving, joking, rushing to be somewhere... there's always an open bar or grocery store or taxi cab... a potential dangerous situation or reverential moment.

And that's just one of the many reasons I LOVE living in Philly.

Exit at Callowhill, left on 6th

Welcome to my third attempt at a blog.

Not that my other blogs were unsuccessful (however one measures "blog success"). It's just that I wanted one with more of a general theme. So this is where I talk about living in the city for the first time, trying to find out what I want to do with my life and working toward it, and having a good time meeting people, doing stuff, and seeing places around Philadelphia. Probably also a few pictures of said people, stuff, and places. Enjoy!