Happy New Year

I did the Times Square thing New Years Eve 1997 and have never had any wish to do a repeat performance. It is a tourist thing anyway (which is fine because I was a tourist in 1997, living in DC at the time.)

Anyhow, happy new year to one and all. Blog to you in 2005.

Good job all!

Thus far www.amazon.com has collected over $5 million in aid and the numbers keep climbing! That is already 1/3 of the original $15 million Bush pledged in aid -- and from just a nominal population of private citizens!!!! Keep going, y'all!

Tsunami victim toll is now 114,000

If you are looking for information on a U.S. citizen feared missing, contact the U.S. State Department at 888-407-4747, or, from overseas, at 317-472-2328.

so anyway --- my parents are in Bangladesh right now but are OK. My dad said they felt a "nothing shock" of 4.6 on the Richter scale, which sounds big to me. But the shock that caused the tsunami registered at twice that -- a little above 9.0 -- and apparently they could record it at 96th and Central Park West, which is on the same latitude (or so I have been told.)

There are still several avenues that people here can help. Here is a partial listing, and as always, the www.amazon.com site is still up and accepting. If you already have an account with amazon, that may well be the easiest way you can give.

Action Against Hunger
247 West 37th Street, Suite 1201
New York, NY 10018
212-967-7800
www.aah-usa.org

ADRA International
Asia Tsunami Crisis Fund
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
800-424-2372
www.adra.org

Air Serv International
6583 Merchant Place, Suite 100
Warrenton, VA 20187
www.airserv.org

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
JDC: South Asia Tsunami Relief
Box 321
847A Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-885-0867
www.jdc.org

American Jewish World Service
45 West 36th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10018
800-889-7146
www.ajws.org

American Red Cross
International Response Fund
PO Box 37243
Washington, DC 20013
800-HELP-NOW
www.redcross.org

AmeriCares
88 Hamilton Ave.
Stamford, CT 06902
800-486-4357
www.americares.org

ARMDI, Israeli Red Cross
Tsunami Emergency Fund
888 7th Ave., Suite #403
New York, NY 10106
866-632-2763www.armdi.org/" <>

Baptist World Aid
Asia Tidal Waves
405 North Washington St.
Falls Church, VA 22046
703-790-8980
www.bwanet.org/bwaid

B’nai B’rith International
B’nai B’rith Disaster Relief Fund
2020 K. St. NW 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
212-490-3290
www.bnaibrith.org

Brother’s Brother Foundation
1200 Galveston Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
412-321-3160
www.brothersbrother.org

CARE
151 Ellis Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30303-2440
800-521-CARE
www.care.org

Catholic Relief Services
209 West Fayette St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
877-HELP-CRS
www.catholicrelief.org

Christian Children’s Fund
Child Alert Fund
PO Box 26484
Richmond, VA 23261
800-776-6767
www.christianchildrensfund.org

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
South Asia Earthquake
2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI, 49560
800-55-CRWRC
www.crwrc.org

Church World Service
PO Box 968
Elkhart, IN 46515
800-297-1516
www.churchworldservice.org

Direct Relief International
27 South La Patera Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
805-964-4767
www.directrelief.org

Food for the Hungry
Asia Quake Relief
1224 E. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
800-2-HUNGERS
www.fh.org

Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres
PO Box 2247
New York, NY 10116-2247
888-392-0392
www.doctorswithoutborders.org

International Aid
17011 W. Hickory
Spring Lake, MI 49456
800-968-7490
www.internationalaid.org

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
PO Box 372
CH-1211 Geneva 19
Switzerland
41-22-730-4222
www.ifrc.org

International Medical Corps
Tsunami Emergency Response
1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90404-1950
800-481-4462
www.imcworldwide.org

International Orthodox Christian Charities
PO Box 630225
Baltimore, MD 21263-0225
877-803-4622
www.iocc.org

International Relief Teams
Asia Earthquake/Floods
3547 Camino Del Rio South, Suite C
San Diego, CA 92108
619-284-7979
www.IRTeams.org

International Rescue Committee
PO Box 5058
Hagerstown, MD 21741-9874
877-REFUGEE or 733-8433
www.theIRC.org

Latter-Day Saint Charities
Welfare Services Emergency Response
50 East North Temple Street, Room 701
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84150-6800
801-240-3544
http://www.lds.org/ldsfoundation

Lutheran World Relief
South Asia Tsunami
700 Light St.
Baltimore, MD 21230
410-230-2700
www.lwr.org

MAP International
PO Box 215000
Brunswick, GA 3121-5000
800-225-8550
www.map.org

Mercy Corps
Southeast Asia Earthquake
Dept. WPO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208
800-852-2100
www.mercycorps.org

Northwest Medical Teams
PO Box 10
Portland, OR 97207-0010
503-624-1000
www.nwmedicalteams.org

Operation USA
8320 Melrose Avenue, Ste. 200
Los Angles, CA 90069
800-678-7255
www.opusa.org

Oxfam America
Asia Earthquake Fund
P.O. Box 1211
Albert Lea, MN 56007-1211
800-77-Oxfam
http://www.oxfamamerica.org

Plan USA
Asia Disaster
155 Plan Way
Warwick, RI 02886
800-556-7918
www.planusa.org

Project Concern International
Asia Tsunamis Press List
5151 Murphy Canyon Road Suite 320
San Diego, CA 92123
858-279-9690
www.projectconcern.org

Project HOPE
Asia Tsunami Response
255 Carter Hall Lane
Millwood, VA 22646
800-544-4673
www.projecthope.org

Relief International
11965 Venice Blvd. 405
Los Angeles, CA 90066
800-572-3332
www.ri.org

Save the Children
Asia Earthquake/Tidal Wave Relief Fund
54 Wilton Road
Westport, CT 06880
800-728-3843
www.savethechildren.org

SAWSO (Salvation Army World Service Office)
South Asia Relief Fund
615 Slaters Lane
Alexandria, VA, 22313
800-SAL-ARMY

Stop Hunger Now
SE Asia crisis
2501 Clark Ave, Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27607
888-501-8440
www.stophungernow.org

US Fund for UNICEF
333 East 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
800-4-UNICEF
www.unicefusa.org

World Concern
19303 Fremont Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98133
800-755-5022
www.worldconcern.org

World Emergency Relief
2270-D Camino Vida Roble
Carlsbad, CA 92009
760-930-8001
www.worldemergencyrelief.org

World Vision
PO Box 70288
Tacoma, Washington 98481-0288
888-56-CHILD
www.worldvision.org

What a stupid "witch".

Do we produce garbage here or what???

INCITEMENT WATCH: ANN COULTER “TO THE PEOPLE OF ISLAM”

Washington Post, 12/29/04

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32621-2004Dec28.html

And we leave you with a belated and un-Christmasy Christmas thought given to us by none other than that the liberal-blasting, knock-you-off-your-seat Ann Coulter, as posted on her Web site last week. Stand back, people, here it comes:

"To The People Of Islam: Just think: If we'd invaded your countries, killed your leaders and converted you to Christianity YOU'D ALL BE OPENING CHRISTMAS PRESENTS RIGHT ABOUT NOW! Merry Christmas."

When we asked Coulter what the response was to this little ditty, she e-mailed us: "It's a big hit!" We bet.

Easy direct way to help tsunami victims

OK --- www.amazon.com is collecting for the Red Cross via their homepage. They have already raised over $1 million but a lot more is needed. Overnight the death toll rose over 100% to about 76,000 people, and it is expected to get worse.

Another very simple thing that everyone should do anyway is SAVE WATER! I know this cannot directly help the victims but it is predicted that the flooding tidal water will contaminate existing water supplies. And then I go work at the spoiled gym and see bottles of water -- practically full! -- getting dumped in the trash. I take these home and fill the pan on top of my radiator, water my plants, put it in my pet bunny's dish, whatever.

Carousel art

I went to the Carousel Art exhibit at the UBS Art Gallery in midtown Manhattan. It features the carved wooden carousel animals from 1890 to 1920. Among the gorgeous but admittedly typical horses, there was a giant white rabbit, a camel, a greyhound, a giraffe, a tiger and an elephant (oh my!).

The elephant was my favorite!

The gallery is located at 1285 Avenue of the Americas, between 51st and 52nd Streets, and is free. It is located on the ground floor (you can see it from the street, actually) and is open 8 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday.

For thos ewho can't make it:
www.carouselworld.com

even more spoiled attitude

I cannot believe some members of the gym.

There was a small electrical fire Monday night -- started in an isolated area of the men's locker room, apparently. We evacuated the building, and about 10 firefighters arrived on the scene and took care of it. You could smell the copper wires burning. People were such jerks about being told to leave. One guy in the pool actually said "I'm in water, so I won't burn."

It was not so bad that we could not be in the lobby 3 floors below (good thing too, as it was 19 degrees outside.) People down there were jerks too. One girl came up to me (I am in uniform, of course) and says "I know this is a bad time but I brought a guest today and we just got here, can we have our guest passes back?"

I looked at her and said "You know, it IS a bad time and I don't work the desk. But if you come back another day and explain the situation, I am sure you will get your passes back."

Another girl entered the building while the firefighters were upstairs (there are about 100 people in workout wear in the lobby and 5 firetrucks outside -- wouldn't you think that would provide a clue?) She turns to me (I am by the door with some members) and says , "Is this a temporary thing or going to go on for a while?"

I say, "It's a FIRE so however long it takes is however long it takes."

And some other woman bitched at me that she has been SUCH "a couch potato" all day and needed her workout. Well, Couch Potato, your dumbass can go turn into a French Fry by walking up into the burning building. Which one guy did, saying his wallet was in the men's room and he was going to go get it. A massive firefighter with an axe convinced him he should not be doing that. ha ha

and yes -- FDNY firefighters ARE cute!

Those girls were really from Queens

At Queensboro Plaza station on the N & W lines (which go to Astoria), there is a massive building with the word "Silvercup" on it. In the 1930s, it was a bakery. However, today it is Silvercup Studios, where they produce such TV shows as "Sex and the City" and "The Sopranos".

I'll bet your Manolo Blahniks that you did not know that.

Even more ways to help tsunami victims

This comes from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR):

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. MUSLIMS URGED TO HELP TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
(Washington, D.C., 12/27/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today asked members of the American Muslim community and all people of conscience worldwide to offer humanitarian assistance and pray for the victims in Sunday’s tsunamis in southern Asia.

The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group also expressed condolences to the families of the victims. "We are deeply saddened by the news of the tragedy in southern Asia," said CAIR Chairman Omar Ahmad. "We extend our sincerest condolences to the families of those killed and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured as a result of the earthquake. CAIR is working on identifying relief organizations that will provide aid to the affected areas."

The underwater tremor - the world's biggest earthquake in 40 years - struck deep in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Sumatra, triggering tidal waves up to 30 feet high that obliterated villages and seaside resorts in six countries across southern Asia. An estimated 20,000 people have been reported killed thus far in the devastation. As more information comes in from different countries, officials are expecting the death toll to rise.

HOW TO HELP
The following organizations have announced that they will take part in relief efforts to assist the victims of the earthquake:

ISLAMIC RELIEF WORLDWIDE RESPONSE launched an effort to get medical supplies, tents and sanitations facilities for the victims of the earthquake. To donate, send checks to Islamic Relief, 1919 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506, call (888) 479-4968, or visit: www.irw.org

ASIA RELIEF, a Maryland based nonprofit organization, is accepting donations of nonperishable food items, clothing and toys for victims of the tsunami in Sri Lanka. Cash donations are also being accepted. To contribute, drop off donations anytime at 19409 Olive Tree Way, Gaithersburg, MD, 20879. Contact Seyed Rizwan Mowlana at 301-672-9355 for more information.

ISLAMIC CIRCLE OF NORTH AMERICA (ICNA) Relief has established an Indonesia, India & Sri Lanka Relief Fund to provide food, medicine, clothes, tents & other urgently needed supplies. To donate, visit www.ReliefOnLine.org or send checks to 166-26 89th Ave Jamaica, NY 11432, Tel.718-68-7028.

The INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT societies in south Asia have begun to mobilize staff and volunteers to affected areas to assist with the immediate needs. Emergency assessment and first-aid teams have already reached some of the affected areas. Call 1-800-435-7669. Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

CARE Australia teams from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India and Thailand are traveling to affected areas to gauge the impact of the disaster. Donations can be made through the CARE Australia website (www.careaustralia.org.au) or by phoning1-800-020-046. Other relief organizations that have established similar funds should notify CAIR by sending an e-mail to: cair@cair-net.org.

Additional names will be added to a list on CAIR’s website, www.cair.com. CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered inWashington, D.C., and has 29 regional offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.

One way to help tsunami victims

http://www.mercycorps.org/home/

As many of you already know, it is really terrible as about 22,000 people have been killed in SE Asia and East Africa due to the 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tidal waves. They predict that, unless help gets there fast (and much of the world is scrambling to help the stricken countries), existing water and food supplies will be contaminated by the tidal waters. There is no dry land for people to bury their family members.

When I read about this, it pisses me off even more how spoiled the residents of Manhattan's Upper East Side behaved this past weekend at the YMHA because the new LCD television screens with personal DVD/CD player weren't being installed fast enough. I very nearly told some people to kiss my a$$ if that's their biggest problem in life.

A greeting

This Muslim wishes you all a Merry Christmas.

It is also worth noting that it is the birthday of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan. He was born in Karachi on December 25, 1876.

Merry Shopping!

It's the final countdown and I am staying out of the malls. Good luck to the 12 million people who reportedly have not started their holiday shopping yet -- and the 75 million who said they are only a quarter done. Did you not notice the Christmas decorations that went up back in October?

Voice of authority at Port Authority

One thing I discovered in 2003, a year before I officially moved to New York, is that you can't sleep in Port Authority bus station. For one-- they won't let you. For another, there are more fights in there than at the Whitney Museum (see "The Culture Wars", December 18, 2004).

I was on my way from Boston to Atlantic City and I had to change buses in New York. I had a 3-hour layover in the middle of the night. The bus station was really full -- so full that police officers regularly walked by yelling for everyone to produce a valid bus ticket or they would be arrested for vagrancy. Luckily, I did indeed have one and therefore avoided going to jail.

Next, people were yelling and fighting. Most of the fights seemed to be started by employees of the bus station. One housekeeper hit a Latino man because he was leaning on something she needed to move, so he cussed her out (seriously, she should keep her hands to herself anyway.) So what does she do but go crying about it to her supervisor, who then threatens the guy "I'm gonna get you, Chicano! Just you wait!" To which the Latino man just said "Whatever!" (Good for him!)

A cop then yelled at a girl that she had too much attitude when asking him a question. "You give all that attitude and then you expect a smiling face in return? I don't think so!"

Ha ha. It was about 5 a.m. then so I got my bus and rode the hell out of there!

Quote of the day

My friend SSQ wrote to me:

You know -- I never understood as a child why it ws called happy hour. Now I know. Cuz the others hours may not be so!

very clever

The kebab vendor on my street corner in Astoria invented a unique way to keep warm. We are having mild weather for December anyway (if it is too cold, the vendor doesn't come out).

He took an aluminum baking dish (the kind you get for 30 cents at the supermarket), filled it with charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid, and set fire to it so it was nice and warm.

We're Number One!

I read today that actor Wesley Snipes sued New York Monday, charging that it had no jurisdiction to seek his DNA in a paternity suit filed in Indiana by a woman he said was crack-addicted and mentally ill.

This follows an article I read yesterday that New York is the city that most people sue.

Muslims allowed to wear head scarves in ID photo

and I say GOOD! People are always yelling that a driver's license is a form of identification. True, but it is primarily a document that you have proven you can safely operate a vehicle.

Besides, a really religious Muslim, wearing the head scarf, is not likely to imbibe and be a drunk driver. so maybe all the self-righteous people yelling (like on certain racist family I know up in MA) ought to stick that in their shotglass and chug it.

Pissy pee!

I was in the Grand Avenue station today (after a lunch-hour trip to the library) when I noticed a man peeing in the corner. Gross.

However, he showed a lot more reverence than the man I saw at 7:45am yesterday who let his dog pee ON A CHURCH! I am Muslim and I think that is terrible. The church was on 80th and Lexington and, if they were out at that hour, I assumed the man lived near there. For all his tony Upper East Side address, he sure lacks class.

A luxury ride to a cupcake

I had just left the Magnolia Bakery when I saw a limosine pull up in front of it and the chauffeur helped out two women (they were not famous) who then stood in line outside to get cupcakes.

Mean people suck

They most certainly do! Both the American definition of "mean", which is "Nasty", and the British, which is "cheap".

Today in NoHo, I met someone who was both.

I was walking down to Bleecker Street when a man approached me and handed me a bumper sticker that said "Mean People Suck." he asked me if I could help out with the homeless. I said sure. He asked if I could start with a million dollars. I said I might have to give back the bumper sticker in that case, but I was sure I had something smaller I could give.

While I was looking in my wallet, the solicitor handed a bumper sticker to a man walking with his girlfriend and asked him the same thing. The man said he had no small bills left. The solicitor said "Oh that's all right -- we'lll take big ones!"

The man just turned and walked away. AND he kept the bumper sticker!!! What the hell!

The dichotomy of New York

I saw a man digging in the trash cans on Lexington Avenue, and putting the soda cans he found into a shopping bag from the fancy department store Barney's.

The Culture Wars

I went to the Whitney Museum of American Art on Madison Avenue today. I really liked the Hopper exhibit on the 5th floor.

However, while walking through the Isamu Noguchi exhibit on the 4th floor, I was disturbed -- as was everyone else --- by two men getting into a fist fight because apprently one had insulted the other's wife.

The man whose wife was insulted was easily the tallest man in the entire museum. He was a foot taller than the guy he was yelling at and shoving, and all the security guards rushing to break it up. One fellow museum-goer got in between them and said gently to the affronted man, "This is not the place for this."

It certainly wasn't, seeing as there was a group of schoolchildren on a Saturday field trip one room away, and they could hear the yelling and cursing.

I went down to the lobby/gift area, as the museum was due to close soon and I just didn't want to be around them. At that moment, the guards had apprehended the two people and were marching them down the stairs (where I was, leaving the building.) Walkie-talkies crackled as some remote guard said "Just get them out of the building."

In the gift shop area, there was a door to the security office. I heard the one guy meet up with his wife (who is so fugly with a pooched-out stomach that I don't see why that other guy told her to "get naked", which was apparently the insult that started it all.)

"Did you hear me get him to apologize?" the man asked her, laughing.

"Yes!" she said, laughing back.

You. Stupid. Jerks.

Trust the Man

That's the name of the movie they were filming on E. 10th Street in the Village tonight. my friend DRS and I walked by it and read the notice placed on one of the parked cars. Apparently, it is a typical film about couples in New York trying to balance their love lives with everything else, but it is set in the 1930s (according to the notice). So are they balancing their love lives with the Great Depression, then?

this is from www.imdb.com

Plot Outline: A 'dramady' about rich white New Yorkers and their relationships, how they have so much time on their hands that they can't help but get into trouble and jeapardize the only thing that really matters- love.

Ugh.

The rumors are true

People in New York are address snobs. I am becoming amused by people's expressions when I tell them I live in Queens. I stopped telling them that I really like it there because they get this amused look like "Of course you do, dear. Just keep telling yourself that."

At least there aren't any dogs in sweaters in my 'hood. Our dogs can beat up your dogs!

really terrible

I saw a woman get hit by a van on my way to work this morning. She was crossing in the middle of the road when the van struck her. Everyone on the sidewalk was screaming.

At first I hadn't realized the van had struck a person --- I thought a garbage can had been in the street or something because so many items where thrown around. Then I realized that it was the woman's belongings that had been flattened and scattered by the impact.

I called 911 and the police and ambulance got there very fast. I could see many people on their cells doing the same thing. The woman was alive and awake, she was crying. There was no blood but who knows what is happening internally.

Despite being a Democrat ....

I have to say that I really liked the Bush twins. They seem like so much fun! And today in the Washington Post, there is an article about how Jenna Bush will take a teaching position at a school in DC's Columbia Heights neighborhood, teaching minority teens from low-income homes, in a curriculum that involves French and Spanish immersion and an emphasis on community service. She was initially going to work a similar job in Harlem here in New York! I used to teach in Columbia Heights to similar teens, so I feel that Jenna is a girl after my own heart and I have nothing but admiration for her.

Save the kebabs!!

Donate to the Street Vendor Project, which helps the City's 12,000 pushcart vendors meet all legal requirements to earn their living. Do it before December 31 and it is deductible on your 2004 taxes.

You can donate by sending a check to:

Street Vendor Project
666 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10012

or online at http://streetvendor.netfirms.com/

Phantom movie opens Dec 22

I saw on the morning news that the "Phantom of the Opera" movie opens Wednesday, December 22.

so sporty

Yesterday, in Flushing, Queens, I saw a French bulldog sporting a red nylon windbreaker with a hood. The sleeves were rolled up for him. He looked cute as opposed to dumb like all those frou-frou dogs on the Upper East Side. Viva las Queens!

My list is complete

I finally ate one of these from Buttercup Bake Shop and believe me, it is delicious:

Sour Cream Spice - A dense cake packed with all your favorite spices, filled with walnuts and raisins, Iced with cream cheese frosting.

(See "Yet Another reason to love Buttercup Bake Shop", Wed, Dec 5, 2004)

And now the list is complete!! Carry on with your bad self!

A window into the world of theatre

THE Bloomingdale's (the original Bloomie's on Lexington and 59th Street) has dressed up its windows with scenes from "Phantom of the Opera" and pipes out the original Broadway cast recording of the songs so that those on the sidewalk can enjoy it as well.

This is in part to promote the upcoming "Phantom of the Opera" movie starring Minnie Driver. I am still not sure when it actually comes out, but I know that it is soon.

Yet another place to buy holiday crap!

There is a Christmas market set up in the Southwestern corner of Central Park, near Columbus Circle and the Times-Warner building (which I discovered I can see when riding the N or W trains to Manhattan from Astoria.) Ever more crap on sale! Yeah!

Stayin' Alive at the Y!

John Travolta was at the Y, promoting his new movie "A Love Song for Bobby Long". I have no idea what the movie is about (I had to work my shift upstairs in the gym part of the Y.) But it is so cool that the man was in the vicinity!!!

and with that "It was a teenaged wedding and the old folks wished them well!" (Pulp Fiction, 1994)

"Well you can tell the way that I walk that I'm a ladies' man, no time to talk!" (Saturday Night Fever, 1977)

I said to my fellow trainers that we should go down to see him and just start doing his signature dances from the films, but of course that would be a surefire way to get us kicked out and probably fired.

This is not the Red Lobster, folks!

That is what Ginger, our diva hostess last night at Lips restaurant in the Village, told us before we started playing Bitchy Bingo and enjoying the drag queen lip-synching show.

There is a show every night at Lips, but Bingo night is Wednesday. After the $15 minimum (can be spent on either drinks or food or both, and I would say opt for drinks because the food was definitely not the draw there last night), and generally insulting everyone in the room by calling them Bitch and comenting on their hair, clothes and shoes, the divas start the Bingo game. Prizes last night included a 23-ounce Cosmopolitan drink and a $30 gift certificate to their brunch (which would include the blah food.) But it was a good time anyway!

The divas danced and felt up the audience. Jen was the best dancer -- her rendition of Olivia Newton John's "Physical" involved bouncing on a very staid guy's lap. Regine did a very on-point impersonation of Cher (I have a picture of me and Regine before she got into Cher costume.)

The main bitchiness occurred between Ginger and Linda Simpson, the two divas calling out the Bingo numbers, as they cracked on each other.

Linda: what did Ginger say after she lost her virginity?

Ginger: What did I say ?????

Linda: Daddy, get off me! You're crushing my cigarettes!!

Ginger: oh HA HA! How is Linda Simpson like a bowling ball?

Linda: How?

Ginger: They both get picked up, fingered and then thrown into the gutter!!

Linda: OH!!!

Linda got the last laugh on the audience, though. "So, I know many of you are from all parts of New York. How many of you are from Queens?"

Many of us, including myself, raised our hands, proud of our borough.

"Oh!" she said. "I'm from normal parents myself!!!"

Yet another reason to love Buttercup Bake Shop

Their prices are cheaper for the same exact product at the Magnolia Bakery!

I went to Magnolia last Tuesday and saw that they, too, have started producing special cupcakes of what is traditionally sold as a large layer cake i.e. Lady Baltimore, German chocolate cake, etc.
However, theirs cost $2.25 each, while Buttercup only charges $1.75 each.

My favorites, in order:

Lady Baltimore (because it is delicious and I love Baltimore-DC area) - An almond-flavored white cake filled with coconut, candied cherries, cookie crumbs and almonds, Frosted with gooey meringue ("boiled icing"), Topped with coconut, cookie crumble and cherry halves.

Chocolate - A rich, chocolaty cake made moist with buttermilk and sour cream.

Buttercup Golden Cake - Yellow (or vanilla) cake topped with buttercream.

German Chocolate Cake- A light sweet chocolate cake, filled with coconut pecan filling

Red Velvet Cake - (often mistaken as a Southern dessert, but actually invented at NYC's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where I once had the good fortune to stay) - Yellow cake with a hint of cocoa, dyed a deep beautiful red (tastes like a light chocolate cake), Iced with cream cheese frosting

and this one I have to try ......

Sour Cream Spice - A dense cake packed with all your favorite spices, filled with walnuts and raisins, Iced with cream cheese frosting.

YUM!!!!!

Such a well-brought-up trash can

I had lunch at the Queens Center Mall by my job today. When I threw away my trash, a motion sensor on the trash can activated and a robotic voice said "Thank you." It was very startling.

That, and it made me realize that trash can is more polite than many people I know.

Hail to everyone under Times Square!

The 42nd Street subway stations for the N,Q,R,W trains and the A,C,E trains (as well as the 7, 1, and 9) are all connected with underground tunnels and staircases that span the all of Times Square. In fact, today I had to go from the 42nd Street - Port Authority station (after I got off the A train) to the 42nd Street - Times Square station (to get the R train.)

During this underground sojourn, I saw the following:

1. A guy playing the accordion for tips

2. A guy playing a bamboo flute for tips

3. A guy lying on the floor and yelling about white guys, with a tool box and a black and white cat next to him.

4. Two different newsstands

5. Several construction workers.

There are even shops selling clothes and flowers on the Port Authority side, all AFTER you enter the subway system. It is a veritable underground city.

Speaking of the library -

On 41st Street, starting from across the street of the NY Public Library (at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue) is Library Way. You walk down 41st Street several blocks towards Grand Central Terminal.

On the sidewalk, engraved on gold plaques, are literary quotes from several great authors.

The holiday markets are here!

Now you can buy all sorts of holiday crap from various holiday markets that have set up, just for that purpose!

1. Union Square -- 14th Street Station.

2. Bryant Park - on 42nd Street by the New York Public Library.

3. Grand Central Terminal - 42nd Street as well.

I am sure there are several more buond to crop up.

Ralph Kramden lives!

My favorite statue in New York City stands outside Port Authority Bus Station on 42nd Street. It is a replica of Jackie Gleason as his "Honeymooners" character Ralph Kramden, who was a bus driver on the show.

$15 per kilo

Last night, I gave a training session to a very nice guy from England. He told me he worked in finance and, in fact, used to trade coffee. He said that is why he cannot align himself to going to Starbucks and paying $3 and up for a cup of coffee when he knows it trades for $15 a kilo, which is an entire huge box.

I agree. I hereby declare myself caffeine-free as far as Starbucks and other coffee joints are concerned.

Such a beautiful view

My boss has a great view of the Manhattan skyline from her office. I stare past her head at the Empire State Building whenever I want to appear lost in thought in our meeting. The thought I am lost in usually involves the Buttercup Bake Shop in Midtown Manhattan. I have decided to go there tonight. What a productive meeting!!!

DC Diaries back in action

I have been terribly remiss about my DC blog but am back to it -- never fear! It just doesn't go in chronological order. Oh well!

www.dc-diaries.blogspot.com

A magical scenic ride

The other day, I boarded the 4 Express train.

It left the Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall stop and rose outside on its elevated track to Brooklyn.

This ride offers you a fantastic view of lower Manhattan, complete with all the famed buildings and construction of the new World Trade Center. You ride alongside the famed Brooklyn Bridge and if you look in just the right direction, you can also see the Statue of Liberty. It is a magnificent view indeed, and I have seen it both during the day and all lit up at night.

What sucks is, both times I have seen it, it was because I had missed my stop in Manhattan and was now on my way to Brooklyn, precisely where I didn't need to be.

Yet another reason to love the Village

I was in the Village last night and I noticed that people down there have normal-sized dogs and none of them are wearing SWEATERS. This is a welcome change from all the tiny yappy things on the Upper East Side, dressed like they just went to Old Navy.

I asked my friend DRS why there were so many tiny frou-frou dogs in that neighborhood and he pointed out that nobody had room for a 'real-sized" dog.

Fine, but that still doesn't explain the sweaters.