Freshly Blogrolled

I've recently gotten into Penelope Trunk's "Brazen Careerist" columns on Yahoo! Finance and posts on her blog. I like her fresh angle: providing career-slash-life advice to younger workers. Her columns always make me think of subjects in a new way, regardless of whether I agree with her 100 percent or not. Plus, she always seems like she's having fun writing and disseminating her ideas, and that makes me enjoy her work even more. (Ramit also had a nice post featuring a review of Trunk's new book the other day.)

We women need more good career role models such as Trunk, especially with the depressing news about gender roles that seems to be popping up more and more often lately. (Read this story from the Times about the lack of women in Hollywood power roles and this one about young girls and their attitudes about career and money for a couple of examples.) On a related note, am I the only one who feels like the interest in and defense of feminism has taken on a bell-curve shape recently, with the head count of women concerned with preserving our rights taking a nosedive? Seems like we're falling back on old stereotypes more and more each day.

Take The Dangerous Book for Boys, for example. I realize what the author is trying to sell and what demographic he's trying to reach, but apparently it's okay for him to say this: "I think we've come through the period when we said boys and girls were exactly the same, because they're not. Boys and girls have different interests, different ways of learning, and there's no real problem in writing a book that plays to that, and says, let's celebrate it. Let's go for a book that will appeal to boys." Well, in that case, let's reinstate the old ideas about men and women. In fact, why don't we separate out the girls and boys in first-grade classrooms and teach the girls baking and the boys mathematics, because the sexes are different and each set wants to learn different things.

Do any of you also feel we're backsliding? Let me know in the comments if you think I'm off my rocker.

And, Ms. Trunk, consider yourself blogrolled.

He Can Train Me Anytime...

Fantastic episode of Work Out tonight. I am obsessed with the show, and not just because I tend to enjoy most lesbian entertainment. And I'm straight. I know, it doesn't add up.

I was ready to write the show off after last week's lame-o group therapy session and the narrow focus on Jackie's new "relationship" with "lesbian" trainer Rebecca (who is so totally a straight girl -- and really childish and annoying to boot, but she's beautiful, so I understand why Jackie would give her a whirl).

But this week's show was fantastic for two reasons:

1. SkyLab client Meghan is a writer at Star magazine, and when her trainer started calling her out for missing workouts and being less than dedicated to her health, she had a nervous breakdown right there on the treadmill. I was completely in Meghan's corner on this one. She works at Star magazine, for God's sake! Her boss is Bonnie Fuller! She's probably lucky to get time to use the bathroom at her job, let alone fit in workouts. I'm surprised she was cleared to do this reality show, unless it's viewed as some sort of a cross-promotional deal between Star and Bravo. Who knows.

2. I have a new television boyfriend, and that person is trainer Peeler. (Yes, as in apple. Or potato.) I don't know much about him other than that he has a syrupy Southern accent, and the way he used positive coaching to get his client through his workout today made my heart melt. I scrolled through some of his blog online (yes, I am that dorky), and although I don't want many, oh, facts to spoil my adoration at this point, I did read that he has a great work ethic and Southern values, and, guys, that's about all you need to earn solid standing in my fantasy sex life. (Along with a nice dose of provocative masculinity, of course.) Here's a pic of him for the ladies. (That's him sitting down, but the other guy isn't half bad, either. Yum.):

Good Times

I got my first iPod a few months ago, so I've been going through old CDs looking for music that I can fill it up with. Random "Rhythm is a Dancer" find? Gym playlist. Old mix CD from an ex-boyfriend? Some damn good James Brown to groove to on my commute.

And then I unearthed this CD from Fitness magazine that my friend D gave me eons ago (probably a freebie that someone gave him).

Here's part of the playlist:

"Save Tonight" by Eagle-Eye Cherry
"Steal My Sunshine" by LEN
"Hey Leonardo" by Blessid Union of Souls
"As I Lay Me Down" by Sophie B. Hawkins

Now, tell me you can't remember exactly what you were doing when at least one of these songs was being overplayed way back in the late '90s. For me, I'm brought back to a time when I regularly shopped at DEB, drove around my Midwestern town singing to the radio with my guy friend J during breaks from college because we weren't old enough to go to the bars, and dated the most inappropriate guy I could have possibly picked for myself on my college campus. Good. Times. Sing it, Sophie!

Also, if you can't get enough of old classics, you MUST tune in to Dr. Blogstein's Radio Happy Hour tonight at 9 p.m. EST so I can finally show all y'all exactly how seriously I take my karaoke. I'll be singing as well as competing, American Idol-style, against everyone's favorite native South African with the sexy-as-hell accent: Neil. (Clearly, I will win, but let's be nice to him anyway, 'kay?)

Delicious Dish

After an early evening trip to the gym today, I got inspired to cook something. Yes, an actual recipe involving actual chopping of vegetables and actual heating of food that does not involve a microwave. It was a big day for me.

I had been eying a recipe in Self magazine's April issue, so I went for it: I made the Fettuccine with Shrimp dish, and it was completely worth the hour it took to make it. Which is not that long, considering that I shared it with the Boyf, who was so impressed with my sudden culinary genius he had two helpings, and I still have a healthy portion to take to work tomorrow. Bonus: After eating it, I didn't feel as though I had negated my previous workout with a ton of fat and sugar calories.

I highly recommend trying the recipe -- and sneaking sips out of the bottle of white wine you'll need to buy in order to make the sauce. A note: I even substituted dried basil because every grocery store in Murray Hill was out of the fresh stuff, and it turned out just fine. Happy cooking (and boyfriend/girlfriend-impressing).

Reality Check

For some reason, I think more dudes read this blog than ladies, but this is a post that I think everyone will appreciate:

The JANE Guide to Breast Health (Um, NSFW. At all.)

Here's the opening graf to the boob slideshow:

"Seventy percent of women say they are unhappy with their breasts. That might be because we don't often get to see what natural breasts look like, and are instead bombarded with false images of "perfection" that leave us feeling bad about ourselves. That's unacceptable. So we found 23 women—of all shapes and sizes—to pose topless and show the world that we're all perfect (which doesn't require a boob job)."

Never thought that staring at endless pictures of breasts would make me feel great about myself and my gender as a whole, but that's exactly what happened. You go, girls. Now where's the slideshow of guys?

Gaffes and Gaffers

I really, really, really like Netflix. If given the chance, I can spend hours rating movies I've seen and placing new movies into my queue (usually at #1,587 or similar because it's going to take me at least four score to actually watch them all).

Another cool thing about Netflix is that the site recommends films that you might like based on other films you've already seen and rated. Usually the recommendations are pretty predictable, like, "You'll love...Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price because you loved Super Size Me."

But today, as I was scrolling and rating as per usual, I came across this recommendation:

"You'll love...Madonna: The Confessions Tour because you loved Brokeback Mountain."

Way to stereotype the gays, Netflix! I'm not sure many gay men would argue with your pick, but honestly! Keep those assumptions to yourself, lest the entire movie-viewing country feel it's okay to assert that every gay man loves body glitter and techno and every gay woman digs the LPGA.

Listen Up

Tune in Tuesday to hear Dr. B and me try and make sense of this whole Don Imus debacle on Dr. Blogstein's Radio Happy Hour. (I say: Good riddance.) We'll also be talking to the "deaditor in chief" of Girls and Corpses magazine. Really. And I'm kind of getting nauseated just thinking about it, so I'm going to save my audible retching for when we're live on the air.

Go to Blog Talk Radio at 9 p.m. EST sharp Tuesday evening, or download it for later -- say, while you're enjoying a nice stroll along a lake filled with Canada geese.

New York Disney

The Boyf and I watched a great old movie today: John and Mary, starring Dustin Hoffman and Mia Farrow. It's set in New York in the late '60s. I like comparing old New York to the sanitized version of New York we know now.

Case in point: Early in the film, Dustin asks Mia where she lives. She replies (and I'm paraphrasing a bit here): "Murray Hill. It's nice. There are trees on the streets, lots of men with little dogs, and only two stabbings a week."

The Boyf and I couldn't help but crack up at that one.

Both of us live near Murray Hill, and we like our neighborhood, but all New Yorkers know that Mia's characterization couldn't be further from the truth now. The gay men of yesteryear have been replaced by grunting, flip-flop-wearing frat boys, and the stabbings have been ousted in favor of overpriced boutiques helmed by nasty saleswomen. It's more like, "Only two sorostitutes blowing their chunks in the gutter a weekend," or "Only two or three drunken brawls on Third Avenue a week."

So I said one prayer of thanks for not having to worry about being stabbed on my walk back from the Boyf's place, and I said one prayer of wish that I hope reaches the heavens by the time doors open on the new condos that are now going up on every side street in Midtown:

"Please, Lord, don't let the jerks from Thursday's Post story price me out of my walk-up."

My Financial Accountability: Day 4

Newbie to NYC's Spending Journal for Mid-April (cont.)

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Breakfast, two hard-boiled eggs and a cup of grapes: $3.16

Lunch, delicious curry with chicken: $9

Two Bud Lights: Free, courtesy of very cool friend A

Pilsner Urquell: $8 at a semi-chic West Village haunt

Cab back from semi-chic West Village haunt: $10

Total for 4/12/2007: $30.16

I'm getting too old to be cute about this: I'm frittering away my money on alcohol and cab rides, but that's sort of the New York way, is it not? If one does not drink, one does not socialize-slash-network nearly as much. And therein lies the rub. I sometimes wish I had either the inner confidence or the disdain for society that would enable me to be a hermit.

My Financial Accountability: Day 3

Today...was more difficult than the past two days. But because I have awesome friends (and, apparently, a suddenly raging social life) who tend to foot the bill for booze when the spirit moves them, I spent roughly $57 less than I would have if I were going it solo.

And here we go:

Newbie to NYC's Spending Journal for Mid-April (cont.)

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Breakfast, two hard-boiled eggs and a cup of grapes: $3.16

Lunch, a turkey burger sandwich and a Diet Coke: $8.44

Bud Light at neighborhood bar: Free (thank you, Red)

Cab to fancy downtown restaurant I really had no business dining at: $8

Glass of malbec at fancy downtown restaurant I really had no business dining at: $13

Tip for meal at fancy downtown restaurant I really had no business dining at: $20

Roundabout cab route back from fancy downtown restaurant I really had no business dining at: $10

Total for 4/11/2007: $62.60

I consider today a success, well, considering. And not an espresso shelled out for yet. Take that, New York magazine grad student!

My Financial Accountability: Days 1 and 2

You know what's disappointing? Having to pay the IRS a somewhat hefty sum due partly to a ton of freelance work one did in the year 2006. That scenario, coupled with my desire to buy plane tickets to see my friends who are states away this summer, has caused me to reevaluate -- or at least become more aware of -- how I spend the mad money that's in my pocket. And, friend, I want you to join me on this journey. (This, of course, does not include the money I save regularly for my emergency fund, rent/bills, random money I add to my mutual funds, and my 401(k).)

So, in the spirit of New York magazine and other budgeters who have come before me, I present:

Newbie to NYC's Spending Journal for Mid-April

I want to do this for a week at the very least. Let's get on with it, shall we?

Monday, April 9, 2006

Banana -- $.35

Laundry (washer and dryer -- heck yes, I do my own laundry) -- $5.25

FICO credit score online at myfico.com (this was something I've been meaning to get for some time, and thanks to my new favorite website retailmenot.com, I saved 20 percent) -- $12.76

Total for 4/9/2006: $18.36


Tuesday, April 10, 2006

Breakfast, two hard-boiled eggs and a cup of grapes: $3.16

Lunch, falafel sandwich and Diet Coke: $5.75

Two glasses of wine with roommate at a steakhouse in the neighborhood: $20

Total for 4/10/2006: $28.91

Heckles/words of encouragement/bursts of creativity welcome in the comments section.

Tonight, Tonight, Tonight

Check me out tonight at 9 p.m. EST on Dr. Blogstein's Radio Happy Hour. The doc and I will be talking to the author of the controversial new Mickey Mantle novel, as well as discussing what the heck's up with that Sanjaya kid on American Idol.

Click here to listen, or download it for later.

Memo to All Men: Watch What You Say

Today's post comes courtesy of S in Minnesota, who knows funny and unbelievable when she sees it. Scroll down for the punch line. As S said in her e-mail to me, "I might have stabbed him, too."

Woman shot during foiled St. Paul robbery under arrest

BY MARA H. GOTTFRIED
Pioneer Press

Article Last Updated: 04/09/2007 03:25:05 PM CDT

A woman shot by a store clerk shot Saturday in St. Paul is under arrest on suspicion of robbery, police said today.

Angel Kaster was shot near the collarbone and remained at Regions Hospital in St. Paul today, said Tom Walsh, a police spokesman.

Kaster, 30, hasn't been charged, but the case will be presented to prosecutors to consider charges, Walsh said.

Charges aren't expected against the clerk, Susan Khalil, because she acted in self-defense, Walsh said.

Khalil, who is eight months pregnant, had her 2-year-old daughter with her behind the counter at the Super USA store at Maryland Avenue and Earl Street on Saturday night. Joseph Khalil, Susan's husband, owns the store and had run out for an errand.

Kaster came in the store, and threatened her with what she was pretending was a gun in a paper bag, police said. Susan Khalil, 33, shot Kaster with a gun that her husband kept behind the counter.

In 2004, Kaster was convicted of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon for stabbing her boyfriend.

Kaster and her boyfriend had been at a bar and then went to his Bayport home, according to a criminal complaint filed at the time. The man said Kaster "snapped" after she said she wanted to lose 10 pounds and he replied she should lose 20 pounds, the complaint said.

Kaster came at the man with four kitchen knives, the complaint said. The man required surgery to repair wounds in his stomach and cuts on his back.

The Day Is Mine, Trebek

Our computers at work are not top-of-the-line (read: they suck), so sometimes I have to wait, precious seconds trickling by, for my internet browser to load.

Today, as I waited for my e-mail -- I mean, important work-related research -- to refresh, a message popped up on the bottom of the screen:

"Download of 'infinity' successful."

Awwwesome. If that's not the best message an inanimate object has ever relayed to me, I don't know what is. My reign over time and space begins riiiiiight...now.

Senseless Tragedy

When I saw all of the TV and internet ads that had the A Christmas Story theme this past holiday season, I thought the trend was gratuitous and rather unoriginal. Now, it seems that there was a reason for it: a fitting final tribute to a man who gave my generation a holiday classic.

Back in 2005, when I was still living in New Jersey, my roommate at the time heard I had never seen A Christmas Story. When the holidays rolled around, he ordered me to curl up on the couch in our drafty living room that never quite felt like home to watch his copy of the DVD. And I did just that, right under the pinkish glow of the Christmas tree lights and near the toy train set my roommate had set up earlier that month. That's one great memory I have of that apartment: feeling cozy, happy, and not a little bit childlike as I finally watched all of those scenes I had heard my schoolmates talking about all of those years.

Rest in peace, Robert Clark.

Think Fondly of Me

Be sure to tune in TONIGHT at 9 p.m. EST to Dr. Blogstein's Radio Happy Hour, where the good doctor and special guest host Jaime from The Girl Also Blogs (she's filling in for me again) will expound on such philosophical subjects as The Sopranos and a blogosphere quasi-scandal. Click here at 9 p.m. sharp to listen and/or give the doc a piece of your mind.

Rest assured I'll be back at Radio Happy Hour next week, though. I just have to have a meeting with my parole officer, er, bookie -- um -- therapist, ahem, swami tonight. You know how it goes.

You Want Cute? I'll Give You Cute.

I am so on a roll with the past week's cuteness theme. Hence, I'm going to present to you the Cat Proximity Graph, drawn by the brilliant Randall at xkcd.com.

I'm not a cat person (or an animal person, even), but I have a soft spot for the Boyf's parents' cat. Don't tell anyone this, but I've been known to sing Sinatra's "Mack the Knife" to that precious kitty, except replacing "Mack" with the cat's name. Yes, about that professional help you've mentioned: I am seeking it.

UPDATE: Dammit, "Mack the Knife" is Bobby Darin's song, not Sinatra's. Thanks, Neil, for the correction. Harrumph, I hate being wrong.

"It's Winter Bullsh*t."

As a fan of both The Apprentice and absurdity, I laughed until tears came to my eyes at one mini television show in particular that was on Acceptable TV this past weekend.
















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