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It's winter and I'm inside most of the time. Never one for a lot of television, I have happened upon some good trash TV.
Love is in the Heir on E! is about a rich heiress who comes to America to pursue her dream as a country western singer. Daddy foots the bill and is continually disappointed in Princess Ann Clair's choice of deadbeat guys and fancy spending habits. Poor Ann is at a total lose in the real world and Daddy threatens to cut her off. Oh the stress! In one episode, she goes to a temp agency looking for work. Her salary requirement? Ten thousand dollars a week. Makes me glad I'm a working class gal.
Next, is the Surreal Life on VH1. I don't miss an episode of this reality-based formula show. Take B and C list celebs, put them in a house and give them zanny odd jobs to complete. It's the most work some of these peeps have done in years. It's nice to see famous people put their pants on one leg at a time like the rest of us!
Finally and most recently, is the much-anticipated (Ok, by me anyway) Michael Jackson trial. Court TV is my home base for all the sorted details. I'm gripped by this trial and I long for the days when people believed Michael was floating on air. Innocence is lost for everyone involved and that’s sad. You will find me glued to this coverage and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I know good trash when I see it. ;)
I offered this picture to JPG magazine for publication. Their theme for the submission was- Lost. I took this picture of my niece on the front lawn, it’s always been a favorite of mine. It’s reminiscent of Andrew Wyeth's Christina's World. I love the ambiguity; is she lost and crying or happy and laughing?
Photo by: Liz
Most jobs give new employees ninety day probation. This is supposed to be the time they decide if it is working out for both parties. Once you make it off probation you are hired. The idea is that short of stealing or punching out the boss, you won't be fired. The company is invested in you and you are home free, in a manner of speaking.
In the long run probation doesn't mean squat. Employers will put a person back on probation after years of employment. I've seen it happen. They use reasons like, declining job performance. Not that it has happened to me you see, but I've witnessed others being demoted to this anxiety ridden status.(An employer threatened to put me back on probation once, after I complained about being pulled everyday to other locations.)
Any employee (or associates as they are sometimes called) can be fired at any time for any reason (trumped up or real). Blocking unemployment is harder for employers, but they still try. Why? I do not know, they usually loose on appeal.
Some places have about five levels of probation that you are required to endure. It’s seems to be more about the company stalling your benefits. Most new employees make it off probation barring extreme cases of repeated tardiness. The employer hired you because they needed the help and they don’t relish the process of searching for and screening new hires.
Let’s face it, they will keep you for as long as they like you, and you will stay for as long as you like them.
It's winter time again and that means my voice is shot. It's more raspy than usual and in the mornings it's non-existent. I drink hot coffee and tea but I have to be out in this weather at the same time. I bundle up and always, always have a scarf on but it doesn't seems to help. I open my mouth and nothing comes out but a croak.
Last night I went out to La Collina with my financial planner and accountant, plus some others. The salmon was very good and the company delightful.
I love Philly and it's Main Line area. I've been hanging out there for years now. No matter where I go Philly will always be home base for me, everything is here in one big eclectic mix just the way I like it.
My cousin's husband, Peter Reinhart will be in Philly soon doing the Book and the Cook. I hope to cover the event in some form or another. Peter will be the featured author Lacroix at Rittenhouse. Tres chic!
Go Eagles! As you can imagine the tee shirts and banners are everywhere. Lots of folks clamoring to attend the actual superbowl and the rest are planning parties. A superbowl party might actually be fun this year.
Are you like me? Do you like to send your online friends ecards for different occasions? The Cirque du Soleil ecards I sent during the holidays were a huge success. I got so many responses. The cards were really special, very well done.
Recently, I was invited to participate on the Hipster Cards website in an advisory capacity. Lynda the owner and operator of the site, comes up with the slammin ideas and I'm part of a panel that gives her feedback. Feel free to join in on the fun, everyone's two cents is welcome. Her cards are witty and stylish and best of all free, so bookmark the site and send your pals an ecard just because.
My Personal Favorite
Recently I have been catching Project Runway on Bravo. The thing that is blowing my mind on this show are the two designers, Jay and Nora that sport scarves on there heads most every week. Not cheap bandanna's, but the 32"X32" silk scarves that ladies wore in the 1950's. I am loving this look people.
I've always loved to see a classy silk scarf on a woman's head. I guess its because I grew up watching Rhoda. How amazing did she look week after week? So chic, so fashion forward.
While in Paris a few years ago, vintage Hermes scarves were all the rage; even more coveted when in their original orange box. The price was almost as much as a brand new one ($295.00). Most were from the 1970's and frankly I wouldn't have been caught dead at a dog fight with those ugly, unflattering old lady prints on my head. I passed them by not wanting to waste money better spent in a great restaurant.
After watching Bravo, I'm ready to comb Goodwill's far and wide. If you plan on rocking a scarf as I do, please remember it has to be a 32" X 32" square. Also, I have noticed the designers wear it covering their ears with no hair showing at all.
Oh, I can't wait to get my hands on a couple of extra bucks! Goodwill here I come.
Not just for women anymore! Designer Jay is fashion forward.
Young designer, Nora discovers the value of a classy head scarf.
Take the quiz below....
 | You scored as Drama nerd.
What's Your High School Stereotype? created with QuizFarm.com |
MAD TV did an insightful and highly amusing skit tonight. Stephanie Weir plays a drama queen instructing a class on how to turn anyone's problem around so that they become the topic detracting attention from there own flaws. In the skit the students are supposed to hand in a paper. One student claims to not have her paper then stands up and proceeds to tell the class of her tragic week breaking down sobbing sucking everyone into her vortex of pity.
I have known a few drama queens, mostly men as a matter of fact. Then there is my Grandmother, I don't care what you say, how big or small, she manages to bring it back around to herself. I've dated a few guys like that start out attentive but quickly (a matter of weeks/months) the relationship turns into one giant pity party/ therapy session for them. I listen and listen giving feedback to their insurmountable problems; never do they find peace and I'm left drained of my life's blood in the process.
Drama queens turn up at work all the time. You know the type whatever ailment someone has he or she can top it. If you had cancer once, they had it twice. If your knee hurts there hand hurts. It's a no win situation and again zapped is the best way to describe the feeling you are left with after an interaction with them.
Do drama queens know they are drama queens? Sometimes I think it's the only way they got attention at home or they are still mimicking a parent who was histrionic. Mostly I believe this brand of royalty is just deflecting their attention from something they themselves are scared to death to deal with or have you see about them.
The Queen herself Courtney Love
Today I came home for lunch and took a short nap. I dreamt the ex-policeman and I were going to places I couldn't afford for lunch. I wasn't eating and felt out of the loop because he was inviting other people along. When we returned to work he went to the boss and told him all my faults with the job. I was so hurt, I thought he liked me and then I woke up still feeling uneasy and headed back to work.
About 15 minutes later...
Ok, so I'm back and work and we are all standing around. By now I've shaken off the dream and I'm happy it's not still raining. I see my partner (the ex-cop) and I greet him warmly. As we are standing there in a room full of people the boss walks in. Jokingly he asks, hey how is Liz doing on the job anyway? My partner says great with a big smile and we all chuckle.
Is that weird or what? Was that a premonition or did my intuition tell me the boss would be checking on my job performance eventually? You tell me because I'm still stunned.
All week I have been working with a retired police officer. Funny huh? Well it became really amusing when
he started singing the praises of Bush, Reagan and Eisenhower then slamming Clinton. He referred to liberals as tree huggers and cop haters (1 Adam 12, 1 Adam 12 we have an insult in progress, need back-up). He proudly shared with me the long line of police officers in his family. Now hang on to your hats here is the kicker; I kept my mouth shut and listened. The truth is I really like the guy and he has been super nice to work with. Am I gaining some perspective in my old age? I let this sincere person have his opinion with no debate from me. I think I just value my serenity and want to carefully choose my battles. I have to tell you on the inside I was coolly laughing & thinking, "If only you knew buddy, if only you knew."
In more ways than one, I'm feeling disconnected. Between not accessing my laptop and sleep deprivation, I'm living on coffee these days. My phone service is down and my eyes are at half mast. Slowly, slowly pulling it all together but its taking longer than I expected. I'm truly enjoying most of my days, but taking it a day at a time. A call to the phone company may resolve some things, a better sleep pattern will resolve other things, but the upcoming three day weekend is gratefully anticipated.
Saturday's girl's night out was really a night in for myself, Jeanna and Nicole.
We gathered at Jeanna's place for pizza, diet pepsi and shoefly pie/cheescake. We parked on Jeanna's brand spanking new furniture, threw a duraflame on the fire and watched Garden State (Three thumbs down) and Dodgeball (A kickass riot). Topics of discussion included: breasts, Christians, and Vince Neil's hair. Speaking of hair, Jeanna trimmed and colored mine.
In other news, Venus mag contacted me and asked how I wanted my name to appear on the photo credit for my piece in the Spring issue. I went way out on a limb and said, Liz Fine.
Vince Neil Before and After Photo:VH1
In November/December2003 I did an interview with my good friend Aaron. This guy was always into body modification and nothing was too extreme. Aaron decided to follow the family tradition of medicine and is now a paramedic. Check out the following insightful declaration Aaron made on his weblog with reference to his know-how on the mean streets of Detroit.
2005/01/05 19:16 We get called to a slum nursing home on Detroit’s east side Priority 3 (no big deal priority) for "stomach flu like symptoms", we get there to find an 78 year old dude lying flat in his bed. I go there, and try to wake him up, nothing, dig my knuckles into his sternum to see if he is alert to painful stimuli, nothing. Reach down, no pulse. So we have a CPR on our hands. Of course this is the one call I don’t bring our jump kit, which contains all our emergent supplies in on (because of the nature of the call), so my partner begins chest compressions, and I run back to get the backboard, and jump kit. I get back up to his room give him a quick few rescue breaths, prepare my stuff to intubate. Give a few more breaths; open his mouth, and bam. Fucking pukes everywhere, which is not unexpected, but still startling. Anyway, by this time, he was already on a backboard, so we flip him on his side, and without exaggeration, a liter of fluid comes out of this man. The most vile smelling substance you've ever smelled. Flip him back over, try to intubate again, and bam, same thing. So I decide fuck it, lets get him out of here, since we are only 3 mins from the hospital.
We get to the hospital, put the guy on the heart monitor, and he has a fucking rhythm. I look at it for a second, and realize it's an internal pacemaker still working on the dead guy. Pretty creepy.
Well, I sat around for a min while my partner did paperwork; I got to watch them close his eyes for the last time (his eyes were open the entire ordeal). So I’ve seen mans ultimate destiny before my eyes.
My final thoughts on the subject. Live every day up as much as you can, it’s not pretty in the end. ~ Aaron
Last month I mentioned that spring 2205 will be an important time of year for me. Now it seems that Venus magazine in their infinite wisdom has decided to also publish a piece by yours truly. This time my words will be accompanied by photos I took so that’s fiercely exciting for moi. Venus is a publication that is available at Barnes & Noble bookstore. Check it out!
Have you ever started a brand new job and then been 45 mins. late? Well, thats what I did today. You see I'm working a split shift now and I was on time in the AM (6:15) and late for the afternoon. Did I get called on the carpet? You better believe it. I totally owned up to it being my mistake. I didn't blame anything or anyone or make excuses (no deaths in the family etc.). I apologized and assured my employer it would not happen again (fingers crossed). What really happened to tardy Liz you might be asking? It's this simple; I laid down for a nap (see AM start time) didn't set the alarm and overslept. Period. Tomorrow is another day, right?
"In the new year, I will live one day at a time. I will make each day one of preparation for better things ahead. I will not dwell on the past or the future, only on the present. I will bury every fear of the future, all thoughts of unkindness and bitterness, all my dislikes, my resentments, my sense of failure, and my disappointments in others and in myself, my gloom and despondency. I will leave all these things buried and go forward, in this new year, into a new life." ~ Look to this Day by: Alan L. Roeck
*What a wonderful reflective time of year. I hope everyone who reads this blog will help me practice these principles.*
They call it the Mummers Strut
On New Years Day in the city of brotherly love, we have a tradition called the Mummer's Parade. The comic and fancy brigade along with others, march down Broad Street past the throngs of people, stopping at the judges to take home the prize in each division. Lot's of the mummers originated in South Philly (Yo! Adrian) and it was families that made up these tight clubs. Like some of Philadelphia they weren't the most diverse of clubs. Philly can be clannish; dividing up neighborhoods according to ethnic groups.
The Philadelphia police department, under Mayor Frank Rizzo was notorious for abuse and brutality much the way LA is known now. I recall the Move disaster (under Mayor Wilson Goode) and of course the whole Mumia Abu-Jamal controversy still rages on bitterly between Mumia supporters and the fraternal order of police.
I love Philly generally speaking. It is like a neighborhood and anything you want is here for your pleasure. Philly is as gay friendly as San Francisco, it is as racially diverse as the old melting pot herself but most of all it's home.
Health and Happiness to us all in 2005.
God Bless,
Lizzy XO