Cooler than You: Stupid Things I Say and Do

As I sit here in the wake of another 80 hour work week--which is also attributing to my disdain as of late--and not having had a genuine day off in more than three months I battle writer's block and securities of social design.  Alone again . . . a tisket, a tasket that matters far more than it should, as most days I'm not home long enough to fully sleep to shake off the exhaustion.  Instead, between fits of sleeping and hustles to side streets and subways the snow begins to fall and the the air has chilled low enough to allow the truly ingenious--or cheap--to chill beer and other consumables in the open, frigid air.  I haven't resorted to that--as of yet--as my ginger beer is still in my refrigerator and every morsel of consumable food is packed and stored so that the city's real undesirables--roaches and fucking mice--can't make their way into it. Yet, on those subways from western Queens, to eastern Queens, to the Queens/Brooklyn border, to east Brooklyn, to ea...

Well, as most of the world knows (even if they don't celebrate it) Christmas just came and went . . . and in the western sense I celebrate it with gifts.  Of course, since I am American scores expect me to celebrate it in terms of mounds of cheap crap bought from local chain stores or procured via the internet and home delivery.  Yea, well . . . that didn't happen.  Just as I was (and am) serious about not buying clothes (bras, knickers, sock, and jeans are the exceptions . . . with my jeans now coming from a local maker when I purchase my next pair sometime in 2014--I bought two pair this year (from Turkey)) I am serious about the handmade gifts.  I am long done trying to shop for people.  For the few people I gift, they all know . . . orders and requests are permitted.  And trust me, the people who get handmade are pretty slim in number.  Why? I only gift people who matter and who will appreciate it.  Also, handmade . . . well, a shockingly larg...

Somewhere along the way Christmas happened, or so it seams.  It certainly has been a busy fall.  So damned busy, but in all fairness I can't really complain as that means that things are good . . . or at least in my book it falls that way.  I will say that from my list of fall makes I have one archer and one more blouse to make up.  Really, how awesome am I? Oh, those two hoodies . . . but those aren't needed until I jet off to Amsterdam in late March.  I sew, a lot, I know. Though, Christmas this year is from my sewing machine, knitting needles, wine vendor from the market, or my own kitchen prowess.  I make no bones about it, as well . . . I'm not keen on box stores, shopping for trinkets that are forgotten about in a month, and at this point most people in my life have things they want and need. Gifts this way are really gifts then, meaning more and at least hanging around a bit longer.  If you've been following along on Instagram you sa...

Here's a little story of UPS. A handful of months ago I got married...my UPS guy was nice, and lovely, and polite. There was a handful of packages from wedding gifts, there was stuff I ordered to make wedding hoopla with, there were random purchases along the way. None– the– less, the man was friendly. He buzzed the building's buzzer and waited 45 seconds to a minute before buzzing again. We chatted about dogs, his kids, his wife...random banter along the way. Then...then...the holiday season came, with holiday trainees showing up on this block. Then...then...the delivery hell began. Early purchase packages...one showed up last week. The delivery person was new, clueless, and not wholly friendly. Then, last night stupidity turned into moronic behavior. When I got home around 2:30 there was no UPS delivery. My husband got home around 6:30...still no package. For the rest of the evening we were home, someone always here. Around 8 pm we were on the stoop. Still, no delivery no...

Christmas needs to stop throwing up on my fall.  Seriously.  Thanksgiving, the gloriously mystified American holiday, is still a week away.  Yet, everywhere I look white lights, colored lights, red holiday coffee cups, and signs of Christmas trees and the impending wraps for presents underneath abound.  The reds and greens post a stark contrast to the brilliant golds, reds, and oranges of fall leaves.  Fall needs no decorating, as the leaves and changing plant life do the job splendidly.  Instead, in the uber fast world of consumption and bringing in the highest dollar amount fall has taken a backseat to the high consumption and fast-paced Christmas Season.  I sigh.  I sigh some more.  I’ve always had a fond affection for fall.  The changing leaves, the smell of dying leaves in the air, the smell of fires for the first time of the coming months.  The browns and tans.  Sweaters, sweater dresses, and boots s...