  amber flickr photos 345 wall, the bitchinville broochtastic noise comissioner coat furnace, the inbetween intermeddler matters of little... melancolin... oh, bitter dicta raefried beans red elephant sherrying worldwide starlets...  07/01/2003 - 07/31/2003 08/01/2003 - 08/31/2003 09/01/2003 - 09/30/2003 10/01/2003 - 10/31/2003 11/01/2003 - 11/30/2003 12/01/2003 - 12/31/2003 01/01/2004 - 01/31/2004 02/01/2004 - 02/29/2004 03/01/2004 - 03/31/2004 04/01/2004 - 04/30/2004 05/01/2004 - 05/31/2004 06/01/2004 - 06/30/2004 07/01/2004 - 07/31/2004 08/01/2004 - 08/31/2004 09/01/2004 - 09/30/2004 10/01/2004 - 10/31/2004 11/01/2004 - 11/30/2004 12/01/2004 - 12/31/2004 01/01/2005 - 01/31/2005 02/01/2005 - 02/28/2005 03/01/2005 - 03/31/2005 04/01/2005 - 04/30/2005 05/01/2005 - 05/31/2005 06/01/2005 - 06/30/2005 07/01/2005 - 07/31/2005 08/01/2005 - 08/31/2005 09/01/2005 - 09/30/2005 |
Thursday, August 28, 2003 I don't know America par example: I don't know men who wont stop and ask for directions when they're lost. I don't know women who shop at Talbots or through the Speigel catalog. As far as I know, I am not acquainted with any Republicans. I am in my late 20's yet none of my friends in my age range have any children. I don't know anyone who has bought any Ricky Martin albums. I know few people who are overweight. nothing much Not much is new. Some tidbits: I found some allright records in the lobby of my building today including 2 Sweet Pickles Gang records which I used to love when I was a kid. A lot of people are moving in and out of the building and throwing stuff out. The guy in the next apartment gave us an Atari with a whole bunch of games. Sort of on a lark I took out a trashy-looking book by comedienne Rita Rudner from the library and once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. It wasn't the deepest or greatest literature but it was way better than I expected. Lately I've been spending a lot of time reading and drinking. I need a new project of some kind. whatcha eating? an archive of Dept of Health inspection results for most New York City restaurants http://ibihost1.com/nycdoh/web/html/rii.pl Tuesday, August 26, 2003 the moon is made of green cheese I believe that I have an innate desire for melted mozzarella cheese. Maybe it's because I grew up around so much good pizza. I don't think that being 1/4 italian makes much of a diff. Tonight I am using my parents roof to look at Mars since it is the closest it will ever be in our lifetimes. My answer to: are you more interested in outer space or the bottom of the ocean? is definitely the bottom of the ocean but outer space is pretty friggin cool too. Sunday, August 24, 2003 questions What non-essentials do you spend the most money on? What sexual practice do you find most unappealing? What is your favorite article of clothing? Describe it. What food do you eat most often? If you could travel anywhere right now, where would it be? Name some of your favorite comedians. What's your problem? If you could be a race or ethnicity other than the one you are, what would you be? What do you do when you wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep? What did you want to be when you grew up when you were 5? Are you more interested in outer space or in the bottom of the ocean? What's your least favorite movie? What's the worst thing anyone ever said to you? Which time of day do you like best: Noon, Midnight or 6am? Do you ever have violent fantasies? Could you kill a chicken? How about a cow? Which bothers you more, roaches or mice? What's your favorite TV channel and why? Would you blow up an airplane full of people to save your family? Would you rather travel backwards or forwards in time? If stranded on a desert island, would you rather have a stack of books or a stack of records (and equipment to listen to them on)? What's your favorite game? Thursday, August 21, 2003 it's worse than I thought... http://www.nypress.com/16/34/news&columns/cage.cfm I've been preoccupied and haven't put up photos lately      The first 2 photos are from the blackout. #1 is lots of people crowding around trying to buy batteries and transistor radios and beer while the stores were trying to shut down. #2 is some of our neighbors who were hanging out in front of the building with us that night. The other 2 photos are mere silliness (Rahmin left his lunch in the microwave for too long after it was done and it stuck to the plate). Wednesday, August 20, 2003 bliggy blog It's interesting what people choose to put in their blogs. Some are great and put me to shame. Others suck so bad I wonder why they even try. Ooh, I'm a bitch. Two things that some other blogs do which I really don't like: Some people go into extensive detail about mainstream current events in their blogs even though this info is obviously accessible to everyone. Why not post something we don't or can't otherwise know. Something less mainstream or something more personal. Ranting about pet issues good. Something with meaning, feeling. Bloggers who post stuff that can be understood by their circle (obvious inside jokes, constantly mentioning names of friends with no background and no reason why this would be interesting to anyone else) then why make it publically available? I do not claim to be the most fascinating blogger out there but I try not to do those things. surreality so surreal it is to be unable to hear. Since the blackout of Thursday/Friday, I've been hearing of many people who are now a bit frightened of taking the subway. We replaced our DSL with cable modem and man, it's fast. I still need a job. School starts in 2 weeks. His coffin was creamated Rahmin gave a deposit on a turntable coffin (case) to a nearby electronics store. Post-blackout they were apparently looted and the whole store has been burned down. Bummer. According to news reports, most of the looting during the blackout was around here. Not here here but nearby on Flatbush and Nostrand Aves (half a mile?). I'd have thought places like East New York would have experienced more looting than us but perhaps there's nothing to loot over there. Does this mean that we live in the ghetto? Tuesday, August 19, 2003 unable to destroy Last night, when we were talking before sleep, Rahmin sorta coined a new word: Obliterite: unable to get rid of or remove ...like illiteracy for destructive purposes. Monday, August 18, 2003 hearing? what hearing? So, obviously due to the blackout my Dept of Labor hearing has been pushed back. As I type this I am on hold with the hearing board to find out when it has been rescheduled to. In other hearing events, I can't hear. I am on antibiotics for my ear infection(s) and am no longer in any pain but my ears are still not working correctly. Everything is very underwater-surreal. Apparently I am a young child. I searched hearing loss due to ear infections on Google and the only info I got back was re: young children. Bah. Sunday, August 17, 2003 ghetto lantern We bonded with our neighbors lots. Usually people in this building don't relate much. Photos coming soon... I cooked grilled chicken sandwiches by candlelight. During the blackness I had an ear infection with head pressure so I was more out-of-it than just the darkness alone would cause and what was there to do but talk to the neighbors, listen to my little AM radio and drink Seagrams 7 the latter making me further fuzzy. Besides the ear pain, I enjoyed the whole thing much. Unforuntely no DJ gig Friday night @ Swim. Boo-hoo but we'll do it again. Many people I rarely see planned to come so I hope they still come next time. Rah DJ'ed that night anyway cause they called him last minute but I was sick, Josch couldn't get down and Heather's in Frankfurt or thereabouts anyway. Thursday, August 14, 2003 separating the donkeys from the asses Over these past few weeks I have been under a lot of stress and I'm real cranky cause I'm sick, like a child. These are bad things but have enabled me to get my priorities straight in a new way. It has allowed me to see who is really a friend when it comes down to it and who is a pussy who doesn't deserve a second thought. Of course I have emotions about those whom I thought were friends actually being unable to show any care or concern or stay in touch (at least a tiny bit), but ultimately, on some level I already knew that certain people are deficient and for that notion to have been crystallized during a no-b.s. time of my life is very helpful. As for others, so many people have been so wonderful and helpful and have enabled me to see what I can expect from those close to me. I am a giving person and I cannot expect less. Tuesday, August 12, 2003 dying for a living wage The official income to qualify as poor in our country is about $16,000/yr. I am seeing a lot of job ads asking the applicant to jump through hoops and to have jumped through many hoops in the past (multiple skills/qualifications) for about $25,000/yr. This not a living wage in NYC and frankly it seems like an insult. As much as I would like to be working right now, I can't bring myself respond to jobs like that (and this is several thousand dollars per year above what is considered to be "poor"). One of the suckiest things in the world is to work your ass off at a job which requires lots of time and energy and STILL not be able to live at all comfortably. A person which would remain in a situation like this is either an idiot or is going to build up a lot of animocity towards said job (and is ultimately end up performing the work in a crappy way) since they are not even being compensated for living expenses (unless of course they have a trust fund or mommy and daddy's financial support or a sugar daddy/mommy). If I was an employer I could not, in good conscience, expect anyone decent to apply to or accept such a position. As for me, I am not expecting much. I am sick of working for myself. Most clients need so much hand-holding and are not willing to pay professional wages (and I don't charge a lot) and frankly, I cannot do it anymore. struedel, brattwurst and lots of pollen Allergies kicking my ass. Ear and throat, ugh. Rahmin has been playing lots of eastern european music today, mostly German. I just posted up new photos and the photos from Sam Ulano's birthday party on Sunday: http://www.renegadelemonade.com/photos.html and http://www.renegadelemonade.com/ulano.html More a little later... Monday, August 11, 2003 I am SO tired today. Thursday, August 07, 2003 August 15... is going to be quite a day. I just got my hearing date from the Department of Labor: August 15. I am also DJing in a public place for the first time ever that night. For those of you who don't know, the slimeballs I used to work for (who will from hereon be referred to as "the pigs") exploit most of their laborers and consistently evade taxes by misclassifying most of their employees as freelancers when these people meet the criteria for being fulltime employees. The pigs are a bunch of rich men who have had money in their family for generations and think that they are invincible (even though they're actually ridiculous people). I was their fulltime employee for 11 months, hands down. I did the research. I know. I should be eligible to collect unemployment insurance but if this case remains ruled in my favor, a lot is at stake for the pigs. They will have to pay back all of the payroll taxes that they evaded during my work for them with up to 35% in penalties. Also, if I win, it will set a legal precedent for all other workers whom they have exploited in this manner and could potentially add up to tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars taxes that the pigs will be required to pay back to the IRS. If it got really bad, they could even potentially be nabbed for many other things too like many different illegal labor practices, emotional abuse and software piracy. I took my case to the Department of Labor and after much agony, I won. I started collecting my unemployment. Then the pigs appealed the case and they won. After 2 rulings, the only option is to take it to trial. Now it's court time, baybee. To make matters worse (for themselves), the pigs are claiming that they paid me as my LLC (company) even though I have a big pile of pay stubs showing direct deposit into my personal bank account (not company account) and a 1099 with my personal name (not my former company name) and personal social security number on it. I don't know how on earth that second tier of the case could have been ruled in their favor. Something's fishy. I have tons of evidence and they have none. Needless to say, though, this bs has been going on for 6 months now and is really stressing me out. If I win I get to collect my unemployment insurance which will be very helpful and the pigs will be forced to comply with labor laws (at least in my case). If I lose I will have to pay back all of the unemployment I received in the past but the ruling can be appealed up to 2 more times so I have that as recourse. I have 2 witnesses to bring to the trial. Cross your fingers for me, everyone. Fawaz al-Jawahara It's been quite some time since we saw the squirrel but now he's back! Rahmin named him Fawaz al-Jawahara. Since he is a modern day terrorist, he may as well have a name that fits his role. I am allergic to office work. Really, seriously. Working in an office makes me feel disconnected from the natural world, lonely and sad and like crying because it's all so sterile and low-brow and I end up feeling polluted from the recycled office air (which is incidentally the topic that set Rahmin's asshole of a father off on a drunk rampage, trying to attack me which was the last time Rahmin ever spoke to him). I'm allright in an office if I have a purpose; many many tasks which aren't too boring enable me to block out the horror which exists around me. The reason I bring this up is because I have an interview at a temp agency tomorrow. Temping is the worst because you are always out of place because you are always temporary and there is usually nothing to do but take in the soft-toned, sterile surroundings and watch all the office drones walk by and ignore you. Waaaaaaaaah... I am babysitting tonight and tomorrow night, though, which is the flipside. Being around children is the opposite of office work. It makes me happy. It feels real and not at all sterile and kids are always saying something interesting and cool. My cat Polly didn't make sounds for the first year of her life. Maybe even longer. Then, as time went on, she found her voice, more and more with each passing day. Now she is a bonafide loudmouth. RRRRRREOW! She yells. She can modulate mid-meow as though she's expressing something really important and she changes her tone to express her disdain and annoyance when we don't respond quickly enough. Wednesday, August 06, 2003 meaningless things I am getting 2 super cool records that I won on eBay. Perhaps I shouldn't be spending money on things like this but since I am actually DJing at a bar next week and I could potentially want to do more of this type of thing, it seems like an investment. I will play these awesome new records when I spin at Swim Bar next Friday night. Everyone reading this needs to come. It's going to be a big ol' party. I'm on from 8-9 and 2-3. My eyes are unhappy: teary and crusty in the mornings. Tuesday, August 05, 2003 je n'ecrite pas concernant ce weekend         Monday, August 04, 2003 3 resumes, 4 business-related phone calls, one small meal... I recently read Bridget Jones' Diary because my mom lent it to me while I was sick and it's simple and innocuous enough to be good bed-reading. If you don't know, in the beginning of each entry she lists how many calories, cigarettes, servings of alcohol, etc. she consumed that day so perhaps, as a joke, I should do what I did above in my blog each day. Ha ha. I have an interview tomorrow at a restaurant in Ft. Greene. It looks like a great place but it's a bitch of a commute. At least 2 trains, likely a bus as well. Blah blah blah. More later. Sunday, August 03, 2003 No Compassion In a world where people have problems, In a world where decisions are a way of life... Other people's problems, they overwhelm my mind. Compassion is a virtue but I don't have the time. So many people have their problems. I'm not interested in their problems. I guess I've experienced some problems, But now I've made some decisions. It takes a lot of time to push away the nonsense You take my compassion and push it as far as it goes. My interest level is dropping, my interest level's dropping. I've heard all I want to. I wont listen anymore. What are you, in love with your problems ? I think you've taken it a little too far. There's nothing cool about having a problem, Don't expect me to explain your indecision. Go talk to your analyst, isn't that what he's paid for You walk... you talk... you still function like you used to. It has nothing to do with your personality or style. Be a little more selfish it might do you some good. -David Byrne Friday, August 01, 2003 plink pinko it's raining and I don't feel like going out anymore. Maybe I'll feel different in an hour when I have to leave...  The other night when it was real late and I had been working for hours and was trying to unwind before going to bed, I was watching TV and discovered that we get the Game Show Network. I know this isn't exciting for many of you but for me, it's awesome. I especially enjoy the old episodes of the Newlywed Game (I never realized that the couples argued so much on TV) and Press Your Luck (the newer version with the 3-D Whammies sucks).photo (I know the photo quality is awful. I fixed it as much as I could): my sister (and some Jane Magazine staffers) hanging out with Zach from saved by the bell (Holly's the one directly to the left of zach). Ohmygawd!
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