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January 19, 2005
White Epiphany
Last Sunday I hosted the 4th annual Epiphany party for friends and travelers. I think it may have been my best one yet. I had a great time searching for great bargains in presents that people would think I spent alot more money on than I actually did. Having a present party after Christmas is a stroke of genius I must say. My favorite find was a laptop case from the Gap on sale and with a coupon. I bought two and kept one and even at twice the price, I didn't even pay for the five minutes of labor I used when paying for the gifts.
This year I went out on a limb and decided to make crepes despite never having made them before. I've always thought it would make a fun party to have crepes and then various fixings with which to fill them. So I went out and bought a crepe pan a few months ago in preparations and proceeded to forget about it until I was ready to make them the day of the party. Talk about cutting it close. Fortunately, if my attempts failed, I could walk to the grocery store less than a block away and get something else. Even more fortunate, my crepes turned out really well. And they were so much fun to make. Once I got the basic hang of it they were pretty easy. I don't know why I thought they were so difficult. Perhaps because they are French. Maybe back in the day, they were a sign of true culinary skill but with the non-stick coated crepe pans they are a cinch. I even deviated from the original recipe a bit, adding spinach to the main course crepes and sugar and vanilla to the dessert ones. It was a lot of fun to cook and to eat and my guests really liked them. I will definitely make them again.
I had quite an eclectic group of people at the party. Guests on a spur-of-the-moment trip from Houston, guests I've known since college, old roommates, old boyfriends and my current one with a few travelers from foreign locales made it a true tribute to the original wise kings that traversed toward a star.
It also gave me a much needed excuse to finally complete moving in my apartment and clean my house! It is so much nicer to have a clean, organized apartment. I focus better, I'm more productive. And the only time I really seem to get it in good shape is just before a party.
My guests seemed very impressed with my little apartment and I must say it felt really homey and comfortable and very much like me. We talked and laughed and drank and ate until just past midnight. Promising to keep in touch this new year, we said our goodbyes and they went into the night. The next morning I awoke to find my first New York snow of the season. A small snow, but snowy enough to promise a cozy, white winter.
Posted by mermu at 01:21 PM | Comments (0)
Double Standards and the Belles of the Ball
So GWB is getting ready for his inauguration day and it's turning out to be quite a shindig. The Red Staters hope to raise $40 million in private donations, but the total cost of the whole shebang with the cost of police, additional security, platforms, logistics, etc, etc. could top $140 Million dollars. Alot of people are criticizing the Bush camp for spending so lavishly in a time of war. Add to the fact this war was facilitated by Bush with probably the Biggest Lie in American History, and I can see why some Americans are a little bitter.
The Dems are noting FDR's third inauguration and suggesting Bush should follow that great president's lead. When FDR's inauguration committee wanted to budget $20000 for his third inauguration at a time when the US was still suffering and trudging through WW2, FDR said, "I can do it for $2,000." What a statesman!
Of course when the puffed up Repubs hear this point of view they immediately go on the defense. In googling this issue, I found no less than 5 sites with the exact same article criticizing FDR. Rush Limbaugh pontificates, "Well, anytime you spend money on something it could be spent on something more worthwhile." I tend to agree, Rush. I would have much rather spent the billions of dollars we wasted looking for Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq on something more worthwhile, like funding the No Child Left Behind act that Bush got passed without funding and then abandoned. Some articles even go so far as to excuse that FDR was dealing with a war in which as many soldiers where dying in a week as have died in the two years of the Afghanistan and Iraq war. To the author of that article I challenge: Why don't you send a personal letter and explain that to all of the mothers and wives and children of soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan? Tell them that it would matter more if their son/spouse/father died with a hundred thousand other sons/spouses/fathers. Tell them their sacrifice would be more important, more worth Bush and the Repubs making a sacrifice of their own if it were compounded by thousands.
The truth of the matter is that Bush has never had to sacrifice and he probably never will. He's never learned to earn respect, or leadership; it has always been handed to him and because of that he will never look at sending men and women into danger the same way FDR, Lincoln, Clinton, or even Bush Sr. would. Even in his first term, he didn't earn our respect. Osama Bin Laden made sure that we were terrified into giving it to him. Is this why we still haven't been able to find him? I've said it before and I'll say it again: Osama Bin Ladin was the best thing that ever happened to the Bush Jr. presidency.
Even Bush supporter Mark Cuban has expressed concern about the inauguration budget. A most notable quote from this article:
Could there be anything more confusing and shocking than to read that our country was offering $35mm in aid to the areas affected by the Tsunamis, but that the cost of inauguration parties would be about $40mm?
On a final note, I wonder. When the Bush camp finally and quietly calls a halt to the search for Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq and confirms that no WMD were found in Iraq despite two years of searching, where are all of the enraged and pious Americans who demand honesty and truth out of our President? Where are the men and women who villified President Clinton for lying about an extra-marital affair in a television press conference? Is it less important to be truthful when it affects the lives and economy of Americans? Is it okay to lie in a State of the Union to the joint Houses of Congress and the American public? Where is Ken Starr to save the day and honesty and truth and justice in the White House?
What I have learned from Republicans is that it is more important to be truthful to other people about something that doesn't involve them than to be truthful about something that does. If it's none of my business, then I have a right to know. If it's something that affects me, it is my statesperson's civic duty to lie. This, above all, is why I am and will always be a Democrat.
Posted by mermu at 12:40 PM | Comments (1)
January 12, 2005
Pru's Musings at Martini Madness
It's been months since Pru and I have been able to hang out. Finally last night we went out for a few rounds of drinks at Madison's in Hoboken. Tuesday night is Martini Madness where every Martini is half price. You'd be amazed at the ration of men to women. I'd guess there are about 3 or 4 men for every girl in the bar. All those pent up financial-district-working Hoboken men looking for the cheap date. That, or the extremely drunk one.
Somehow Pru and I got on the subject of men and sex (Wonder how that happened?) and Pru asserts,
"Smart Women always sleep with the man on the first date."
A woman must know if the man is compatible in bed as soon as possible. What good would it do to fall deeply in love with a man only to find out he is appalling in 'le boudoir'? A woman in love will suffer and suffer and try to pretend it doesn't matter. But, Oh how it does matter. The only way to truly know if you are physically compatible is to give him a test drive and then you'll be sure he's worth the time and energy of getting to know as a person.
At face value this seems very practical. What do you think?
Posted by mermu at 08:06 PM | Comments (2)
January 07, 2005
Continuing Saga....Earth Un-Linked
I am still battling with Earthlink to a) release my line so I can get DSL from a reputable provider and b)refund erroneous charges to the tune of $665.00 on my credit card. This whole scenario has been such an ordeal, but I have learned so much about the DSL process.
Aside from the grossly negligient way Earthlink has handled my account, I have discovered there are so many more reasons why it is not the best choice for DSL. Here's a (mostly) unbiased review of Earthlink DSL.
Reason #1: It's more expensive. Verizon DSL is $29.95/month and they give you a wireless router so that you can hook up all computers in the home. Earthlink is $39.95/month, you have to buy your own wireless router and there is an additional charge for each additional computer which uses the line.
Reason#2: Earthlink is not actually a DSL provider. It hires Covad to provide service for it's customers. This effectively makes Earthlink middle management which is not effective at all. Any technical issues must go through Earthlink, to Covad, back to Earthlink, and finally to you etc. etc. ad infinitum. Since we all know the quality of customer service at one of these mammoth corporations is dubious at best, imagine having to sift and wade through the myriad of representatives at TWO companies to handle a situation. Covad still must communicate with the company that owns the telephone line (in my case Verizon) so that makes THREE companies involved in something as simple as canceling an account.
Reason #3: They just suck.
So I think I've finally got a start on squaring things away. After marathon phone calls teleconferencing myself, Covad, and Earthlink we think we've figured out Earthlink's error and a disconnect order has been issued. I should have a free line by early next week. After calling my credit card company and teleconferencing Earthlink, I've disputed the charges on my account and earthlink has promised to have a refund issued in 3 business days. Upon receipt of this refund, I will rescind my dispute.
This whole process has taken around 4 months, and 20 hours worth of phone calls.
Do you think I should I send Earthlink and invoice?
Posted by mermu at 02:52 PM | Comments (3)
January 05, 2005
You think your Relatives are Nuts
This just in
Texas producer Stephen Dyer (Ball in the House, Finding North) has a new film out on video. It's called Relative Evil and stars Jonathan Tucker, Jennifer Tilly and David Straithern. It's a slice of life indie-film about a young kid trying to overcome his past despite some pretty heavy influence from his family and friends. It's an interesting picture and well worth the rental. Besides that, this film has the dubious honor of having me as a bookkeeper in my early bookkeeping days.
Besides that... this film has a cameo by none other than Jonah Marsh, also known as Lisa Petersen. Lisa graced the stages of Trinity HS around the same time I was playing women 50 years my senior at Richland HS. In this movie, Jonah/Lisa gives a brutally honest portrayal of a young mom in rehab. She's an extremely gifted actress and I hear a great writer as well. She's currently working as a writer's assistant for some guy who wrote a little screenplay called, "Apollo 13".
For those of you not in the know when it comes to the film biz, getting an indie company or film off the ground is grueling, once-you've-completed-one-task-twelve-more-are-in-its-place kind of work. If you have Netflix (which I love) or that Blockbuster equivalent, or even if you just rent alot of movies, then you should rent this one. You'd be supporting the arts and helping out Texas Filmmakers. And think, if we make a dent, maybe I can hit Stephen up for a part in his next big movie!
So get this movie from your local video store. If they don't have it, pitch a fit and raise some hell until they get it. Once you've seen it you can tell me what you think here.
I'd love to see what you have to say.....
Posted by mermu at 08:59 PM | Comments (0)
January 03, 2005
Unimaginable Woes
After Earthlink refused to honor the billing agreement we made when I ordered DSL at the new place, I decided to cancel my service and go to Verizon. Verizon it seems is just as stupid about starting my service as Earthlink was. (Let's hope they can get it done in less than three months which is what it took Earthlink.)
I wouldn't be so upset about large corporations taking their customer service jobs overseas if I didn't feel like it was just a flimsy excuse to provide bad customer service. I've had to wade through mumbling, barely recognizable English with people who had no idea about how their employer worked or how to give good customer service. I am literally about to pull my hair out.
It turns out that Earthlink, true to form, has done a bang up job of screwing up my account. In addition to overcharging me astronomically for services I wasn't provided, they've failed to notify their service provider, Covad, to cancel my account. Supposedly Verizon can't do anything until this happens. While I'm really pissed at Earthlink, Verizon isn't off the hook. It would have been nice to have this information before the first Verizon cancellation, about 4 hours of phone calls, and approximately 6 representatives from an "undisclosed location."
Tune in next time for the continuing saga....
Posted by mermu at 08:37 PM | Comments (0)