Boredom

Here is a question for you… have you ever been so bored that you contemplated doing something that could very well get you arrested just for the sake of “shaking things up”? So bored, that one minute you thought you were reading an article and the next, you were wiping drool off the side of your chin?

Why do we do this to ourselves? How do we allow ourselves to get to this state of boredom?

Whether it is boredom in your personal life or work (or both) how do we end up on that slippery slope to sheer maddening boredom and how do we stop it … short of getting arrested?

For truly it is a slippery slope. No one awakes in the morning and says to themselves, “Self, I plan on being absolutely bored today! Yep, no excitement for me, no way, no how!”

So what do you do…?

I have been pondering this question as of late and here are some of the more conservative approaching I have created for battling boredom:

• Take a walk. Change the scenery, even if it is a walk around the office floor (but preferably outside in the crisp air)
• Do twenty-five jumping jacks. If you are at home, you will get a nice little rush, if you are in the office, the subsequent conversation will keep you occupied for a couple hours.
• Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. A familiar voice and fresh news may perk you up (make sure you do not call someone who is in a constant state of boredom themselves!)
• Pick out a new wall color for the bedroom. Even if you don’t plan to paint, the exercise of looking at color options will stimulate the imagination.
• Read that report you have been dreading while standing against the wall. Just the novelty of doing something unusual will bring an unsullied perspective to the dry material you are reading.
• Find a sound-proof room and yell! The release will do you good.
• Eat something sweet. The sugar rush may push you to do something you previously thought you did not have the energy to do.
• When all else fails… write a blog.

Those are my ideas. What’s yours?

Would love to hear your thoughts and remember, RANT out loud, RAGE against injustice and RELEASE negative energy.

Enjoy!

The Flexibility of Truth

It's been a while....
I have been off in my usual state of confusion. This time, questioning the validity of absolutes and truths.
In clarity of thought, it seems simple. There is good and evil, black and white, yes and no. But is it really that easy.

What happens when other factors come into the mix, say… someone’s job title? How clear is the vista across which the truth is evident? How comfortable is one standing in their convictions when their salary is at stake?

I am not talking about “little white lies”. Telling a girlfriend that she does not look fat in horizontal stripes is not the same as throwing someone under the bus for your own personal gain…or even worse, your own pleasure.

How is this skill developed? For rest assured, it is a skill. I find it hard to believe that babies come out of the womb knowing how protect themselves at the expense of others. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Babies are completely dependent on others from the moment there enter this world of ours.
So when and where does the indoctrination begin? School, work, in a relationship, in an affair?

I slowly, am no longer surprised when I witness people willing to tell an untruth to protect whatever it is they define as valuable. What is disheartening is that it happens so frequently, so effortlessly.

How do we rise above, because I do believe in my heart that we must rise above.
We must love honestly.
We must acknowledge ALL potential consequences.
We must cherish our friends.
We must have a safety net.
We must soar above evil.
We must breathe.

Take care, be safe, rage against injustice.

Multi-Taskers

Okay, I know I'm not the brightest light in the lamp (or the sharpest tool in the shed) but I do believe I have some talents. I have the ability to watch endless episodes of Absolutely Fabulous (Ab Fab to fans) without ever getting bored. I can shop at the drop of a hat and not break a sweat. And I can converse in sign language (well... only in the car, and at certain key moments, usually when someone has cut me off).

But the one thing I can NOT do is type an email on my crack-berry while walking down the street! I am amazed by all the uber-talented people in this great city of ours who are able to walk down the street, day or night, regardless of the crowds and type that all-important email. These savants, in fact must be related to those other mind blowing individuals who are able to read a book (or the newspaper) while strolling down the avenue. How juvenile am I, ... I can barely get the New York Times under control and folded into neat manageable sections while sitting in a lounge chair! And these icons, who should be revered, are walking down the street... book held high...without a care in the world.

Oh what it would be like... to be like them....

To not fear walking into some angry street dweller in the middle of a conversation with the Emperor Constantine...

To not be concerned with crashing into the harried businessman with his venti double latte with an extra shot and have it slosh all over you...

To know that the yellow cab will stop inches before it sends you sailing across the street, only to land on your head, in a garage can.

Oh the joy!

For now, I guess I must watch from a distance, keeping my envy at bay.

Maybe someday, I will develop that talent...

Boy does my shoulder hurt!

I woke up this morning with a small, annoying pinch in my shoulder. "Maybe I slept in a funny position", I thought. It can certainly happen when you are sharing your bed with two small but snugly dogs.
But by the time I made it to the office, the left shoulder was definitely lower than the right. A rapid fire search of WebMD did not produce any conclusive diagnosis, so I have pushed on through the day.
At lunch I had to run a few errands and pick up a couple of things... and wouldn't you know...there goes the shoulder again. Okay, maybe the canned goods from the store that I was schlepping back to the office might have something to do with it (there was a sale), but surely I do not carry SO much stuff on a regular basis that this would be the cause.... would it?

So let's see...
In my tote bag I have (which, by the way is canvas with leather trim... lighter than the usual all leather version I tend to carry during the winter):

• a pair of shoes
• sunglasses
• reading glasses (two pair)
• leather ring-bound date planner (I need that feel good sensation of checking things off a paper to-do list!)
• couple of file folders
• 3 Crain's Magazines to read on the bus
• iPod (for when I don't want to read on the bus)
• Makeup bag (really, more of a 1st aid kit with 5 lip glosses..what can I say, I was a girl scout)
• another leather case for all those little items that will get lost if they are not in a little leather case (okay!!! it's an excuse to buy a cute little leather case)
• breakfast and lunch
• umbrella
• tissues, hand sanitizer...other little items
• wallet (oh, and let's talk about the wallet... why do I have over EIGHT DOLLARS IN CHANGE in my wallet!?!?)

Okay, I'm beginning to see the writing on the wall. But I can't be the only woman who carries this much stuff on a daily basis. Especially as a commuter... what if I need something, I can't exactly run home at lunchtime.

Please let me know I am not alone... share some of the items you tote to-and-fro daily!

Maybe I should run to Duane Reade and buy some Ben-gay before I go home....

Negative Vibes!!!

Happy Friday!!! I am about to meet a good friend for an adult beverage (or two) but before I do, I thought I would , once again, ask one of those annoying little questions that nags at me...

Why can some people not be happy for others? How are they able to make themselves feel better (even only for a moment) by trying to make someone else feel worst? Do they not realize they have NO control over how I feel? They can say whatever they want... and in fact, I will PURPOSELY respond in the opposite of their expected response... just to piss them off!

These people are amazing...if you want to share something positive, they will come up with something that happened two hours or two days ago, and turn it into a major catastrophe (that you caused, of course) in some vain pathetic attempt at control over your joy. It's laughable!

They really need to take a deep look inside... and when they get over the echoing from the emptiness of where their soul should be, they need to find something else to focus on!

So everyone, raise your glass and make a toast and say a small prayer for those with no souls!
Let's pray that they find happiness within themselves...
Let's pray that they find joy by themselves...
Let's pray that they find bliss in a simple positive word...

and let's pray they find themselves in a zip code that is not mine!

Have an adult beverage and laugh out loud, even if you have to laugh at yourself!
Joy to all!

What's on T.V.

As I type this entry, the sky has opened up and the heavens have unleashed a torrential downpour. Or as one of my office mates stated, "the angels are crying". This weather instantly makes me wish I were home, curled up on the sofa, watching T.V. Which brings me to my question of the day...

What is on T.V. these days? Is Days of Our Lives still on channel 4, and is Bo still hot!??! And what about all of those infomericals? Who creates those things anyway? Is there a company called "Infomericals 'R Us" that churns out these products and corresponding T.V. ads? If I had a product I wanted to sell on T.V., who do I call? Do I have to create and warehouse 100,000 items to be available to sell or can I just sell my idea for the product and let someone else do all the leg work?

T.V. is a very strange animal. Did you know that the Scifi channel is now the SyFy channel? Why the change? What difference does that make? Was there another SciFi channel somewhere fighting for the rights to use that abbreviation?

And what about HBO and Showtime....Why are there multiple versions of these channels yet they all play the same shows at different times of the day?

And speaking of replaying the same shows... what is the marketing ploy that TNT is trying to sell. Let's take one show and replay it 7-8 times over the course of three days (typically Friday through Sunday). Is there really not enough good television that my only option is to watch Blade every other 2 hour block! What they are really saying is, "It's the weekend!! Don't sit here and watch T.V., get out and be with friends! Need some incentive, fine, we won't put anything good on for the whole weekend". At least, that's what I'm hearing.

Ah well, where's my book....

What are they doing?

I love riding a commuter bus. I get on, put on my iPod and immediately fall asleep...usually. There are some days like today, however, when I stare out the window for the entire trip. It's amazing what some people will do in their cars when they think no one is paying attention, and this morning was no exception!

The first lady I noticed was putting mascara on as she was driving down Route 80...Route 80 of all places!!! We were not in stand still traffic, we were going the speed limit, the legal speed limit that is. You know what they say about Route 80 -- go 80 on 80 or go home [okay, so that's what I say, but it's true]!

The next gentleman was feverishly typing/texting as he was checking information in his paperwork on the passenger's seat.

Another young man was singing (and dancing) at the top of his lungs at 6:30am (I guess it's a good way to stay awake that early).

Amazing...
and by the way, who are all of these people talking to at 6:30 in the morning?! If you just left home, shouldn't you have said everything you needed to say to your significant other/ kids/ parents ... why are you waiting until you are in the car? afraid of face-to-face confrontation?

Are you late to work at 6:30am? Is there a conference call with employees in Russia that you can't miss? Or are you just putting in your order for your egg white omelet and latte at the location deli on the corner near you job?

I bet you are already familiar with some of these people...they are your boss, your cube mate, your brown-nosing coworker down the hall. You get into work only to find that you have 3 voicemails/ emails from them waiting for you! REALLY?!?! It couldn't wait until 9am?? They are probably emails their boss as well so they can look dedicated and on task so early in the morning (do people still fall for that)?

Not me. my iPod is filled with songs I haven't listen to in months and if not that, I can always try to catch a few ZZZs.

Where's the Beach?

As I was leaving the Port Authority heading downtown this morning I was struck with momentary confusion..."where's the beach?" I wondered. Surely there must be some type of sandy area for vacationing people to relax on a wonderful striped blanket and soak up the morning sun! But wait, these people don't have chairs with them... they don't smell like coconut suntan lotion (you know the one, we've all used it). In fact, they are not carrying straw beach totes or Land's End canvas bags at all. They are carrying designer handbags and briefcases!!! Oh my gosh, they are going to work!!!

Where do they work?!?!? Where is it okay to wear a backless, linen halter dress to the floor with flip-flops (unless of course you are selling backless, linen halter dresses) ?!?!?

Where can women wear white cotton crinkle skirts where you can see the rainbow pattern printed on their bum and that's okay?!?!

How are jeans that look like you played beach volleyball in them and shredded them on the rocks and coral okay for the office?

I am certainly not saying that in 80+ degree weather people are expected to come to work in a navy Brooks Brother's suit, but coverage of the main part of the upper torso (back and front) would be nice. I'm also tired of hearing the "Three Little Piggy" theme every time I look down when I am on the elevator.

Please people, for the sake of all things good and holy, there is no beach on the 15th floor! Cover Up!

Wednesdays in the Big Apple!

I dread coming to the city on Wednesdays. If I could, I would call in sick every Wednesday, although I think that would be a pretty obvious pattern. You know why of course?! it's matinee day! All of the people in live in New Jersey (closer to the city than I do) and the other foreign countries, like Long Island and Connecticut, come into the city for their "outings". These people live 50 miles or less from the greatest city in the world and they are coming in for the 1st time in YEARS!!!! Really?!? How does that happen!??! What are they DOING in NJ, CT or Long Island?? Dreaming of being on that 'Real Housewives..' show?!?

And for goodness sakes, could someone tell them how to dress and behave when they come to the city?!? Oh yeah, I guess that's what I'm doing, so here goes, in no real order of importance:

• First classic rule of being in the city...Stand on the Right, Walk on the Left.
• Please don't wear clothes that you bought in the mall in an effort to "look like a New Yorker". The beauty of the way New Yorkers dress is that it can not be labeled, bought or sold.
• If you are on an escalator, do not stand backwards to the direction the escalator is travelling, do not put packages down on the steps next to you and for goodness sakes, don't attempt to make obnoxious comments about "those New Yorkers are always in a rush". Yes we are, we have somewhere to go and no time to listen to you reminisce about the last time you were in the city, 20 years ago (I'm not kidding, I heard a lady talking to a friend last week).
• Which brings me to the next point, before you get on the bus, PRACTICE WHISPERING. No one wants to hear all of your business, your 3 year old grandchild's accomplishments, or the fact that you might have to dig up the septic tank!
• Socks and Birkenstocks are NOT okay.
• Restaurants are for eating, not commuter buses. I don't want to smell your hero on an hour plus bus ride stuck in traffic when I had to skip lunch for an endless meeting.
• Please do not walk arm-in-arm down the street with your twelve best girlfriends (mother, neighbor, grandmother, and classmate from 20 years ago). Although I am quite adept at walking in the middle of the street to get where I need to go, I shouldn't have to!
• And lastly (for today anyway) save the cell phone for emergencies (like the sign on the bus says)! I do not need to hear you debate with your significant other about the pros and cons of Chinese over Italian.

Okay, now that that is off my chest, I can face my commute home... wish me luck!

Just another rainy day...

It raining, I have to be at work, and the bus was late... what a wonderful day! So why is it that people look up at the sky in utter confusion as if they do not know where the rain is coming from?
Why do women wear pants to work and complain all day that their legs are wet (here's a hint, wear a skirt)!
Why do people drive SO slowly in the rain...really, practice in a parking lot if you are not comfortable driving in the rain, but please do not slow down my commute.

I guess we are all creatures of habit. It just that some of the habits are enough to put a true New Yorker over the edge [which is what this blog is about].

So if you are a frustrated New Yorker ( a real New Yorker, not someone who moved here last year), I am sure you will find camaraderie with my posts!
Rant out loud, Rave at the beauty all around, release fear and frustrations!