Pax Romano's Ramblings

Over and Out

2010-04-18T17:11:00.000-04:00

I think I am pretty much done here - it's been a good run, and has been a lot of fun - I am still running my horror blog, or you can always catch me on Facebook.

Don't take any wooden nickles!

Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-16T05:00:00.000-04:00

Patco Station underground, Center City Philadelphia - Summer 2005

Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

"The Gates of Babylon" - off of Hollywood Blvd, (Hollywood and Highland) Los Angeles California: May 2008.

Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-14T05:00:00.001-04:00

Parking lot mural: Center City, Philadelphia - Spring of 2004

Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-13T05:00:00.001-04:00

Interior of the Curtis building - Philadelphia, PA May 2004

Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-12T05:00:00.000-04:00

German DVD's (totally tasteless) - Columbus Flea Market, Columbus, New Jersey Spring of 06

Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-11T05:00:00.001-04:00

Wolves and Virgin Mary on a pick up truck: Vineland, New Jersey Summer of 2006

Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-10T05:00:00.000-04:00

Candy store POV at the Columbus Flea Market in Columbus, New Jersey : shot in April of 2006 (notice the Amish woman in the background).

Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-09T05:00:00.001-04:00

South Philly wall mural - Spring of 2006

Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-08T05:00:00.000-04:00

I shot this off my old television screen - that's John Garfield and Shelly Winters from the film He Ran All They Way - this was just a lucky shot as the film was transitioning, it ended up looking like a double exposure. Taken in 2007 (can't recall exactly when).

Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-07T05:00:00.001-04:00

Remnants of an analogue age seen on the side of the road, Medford, New Jersey 7.29.09

Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-06T05:00:00.001-04:00

Los Angeles City Hall, photographed in June of '06 - this building's exterior was used as the facade for "The Daily Planet" in the old Superman tv series back in the 50's.

Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-05T05:00:00.001-04:00

That is Diana Mangano and Jack Casady of Jefferson Starship (The Next Generation) playing at Wiggins Park in Camden, New Jersey during the summer of 1996. This is one of the last photos I ever took on actual film. BTW, Mangano is a terrific vocalist and she nailed Grace Slick's songs.

Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-04T05:00:00.001-04:00

I take a lot of pictures, and while I am not very good at it, I usually hit on a few good shots. For the rest of April I will be featuring some of my favorite photographs:

Easter roadside, Easter Sunday 2005 Mount Laurel, New Jersey

April Photo of the Day (an ongoing project for April of 2010)

2010-04-03T10:24:00.000-04:00

I take a lot of pictures, and while I am not very good at it, I usually hit on a few good shots. For the rest of April I will be featuring some of my favorite photographs:

I shot this with a telephoto lens in Philadelphia last summer - it's a detail from a building in Center City, and I can't recall what building. Click it to see it bigger.

Fave Foto Friday : April 2, 2010

2010-04-02T05:00:00.001-04:00

Mags sent this one and I really like it; perhaps a Weegee?

04.01.2010

2010-04-01T05:00:00.001-04:00

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month ( the finale of an ongoing project)

2010-03-31T05:00:00.006-04:00

March 31st - Reason to be cheerful: Being Gay.

It's never been about parades, discos, drugging or hedonism for me (not that I have any problem with any of that - rock on if that's what floats your boat).

I knew I was Gay before I even knew what the word meant.

Being Gay has made me resilient, strong, and introspective; when you are ten years old, and realize that you are marching to a different drummer, you live in your own head, and sometimes, you find all the answers that you need right there.

Now that I am older, much older, I realize what a lucky man I am. Being Gay is just a small part of who I am, but it is an important part, and I am glad that I was dealt this hand.

March 31st's reason to be cheerful: Being Gay.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-30T05:00:00.001-04:00

March 30th - Reason to be cheerful: The Medport Diner

A stone's throw from my front door (OK, we'll you better have the pitching arm of Herman Munster), is one of the finest diners in all of New Joisey. I love this joint. Great food, decent prices and a pleasant staff. The French Toast here is the stuff that dreams are made of.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-29T05:00:00.001-04:00

March 29th - Reason to be cheerful: Low Stress Holidays

The joy of low stress holidays - what's not to love?

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-28T05:00:00.001-04:00

March 28th - Reason to be cheerful: Film Noir

Shady Dames, Gumshoes, Crooked Cops, Fog Shrouded Streets, Guns, Booze and Murder ... all in glorious Black and White.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-27T05:00:00.004-04:00

March 27th - Reason to be cheerful: Annie Hall

I feel that life is divided into the horrible and the miserable. That's the two categories. The horrible are like, I don't know, terminal cases, you know, and blind people, crippled. I don't know how they get through life. It's amazing to me. And the miserable is everyone else. So you should be thankful that you're miserable, because that's very lucky, to be miserable.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-26T05:00:00.000-04:00

March 26th - Reason to be cheerful: Gay Actors and Actresses who come out of The Closet

It does not happen often enough, but when it does, it helps the cause - for every Tom Cruise / John Travolta Closet Case their is a Neil Patrick Harris or a Jane Lynch. We've come a long way since Rock Hudson, kids.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-25T05:00:00.001-04:00

March 25th - Reason to be cheerful: Being in a Decent Relationship

I've been up and down and over and out, and I know one thing: being in a decent relationship really makes life bearable. I happen to be one of the lucky ones who got a good partner in the deal.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-24T06:00:00.001-04:00

March 23rd - Reason to be cheerful: The Godfather (film)

Make me an offer I can't refuse - I love this film.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-23T05:00:00.000-04:00

March 23rd - Reason to be cheerful: Playing Hooky.

Sometimes, nothing's better than just blowing off the responsibilities for a leisurely day all to oneself.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-22T05:00:00.001-04:00

March 22nd - Reason to be cheerful:Boulder Colorado

A good friend of mine moved out to Boulder back in the 80's, and I went out to visit him several times. I fell in love with this trippy, beautiful town almost immediately. During one of those visits, I met someone and ended up traveling back a few more times for a long distance ~~indiscretion~~ affair. What can I say, I was young and stupid. Still, I have a lot of great memories of "The People's Republic of Boulder".

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-21T05:00:00.000-04:00

March 21st - Reason to be cheerful: Horror Films

nuff said...

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-20T05:00:00.001-04:00

March 20th - Reason to be cheerful: The First Day of Spring

it has sprung at last

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-19T05:00:00.006-04:00

March 19th - Reason to be cheerful: The back-roads of South Jersey.

For the past twenty two years, I've traveled the back roads of Southern New Jersey (thanks to my job), from Burlington County to Salem County; and let me tell you, once you get off the highways and take the road less traveled, you come across some incredibly unique sights. Route 666 will take you to Cape May (or Hell)....and if you ever find yourself driving down Route 54 in Buena, keep an eye out for the roadside robots!

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-18T05:00:00.000-04:00

March 18th - Reason to be cheerful: Dirty Franks

I first discovered this funky little dive during the summer of 1987. Located on the corner of 13th and Pine Streets in Philadelphia, Franks is the kind of place you either love or hate - I love this place, and have even taken my sainted mother here (a homeless man tried to get her to buy him a drink). If you are ever in Philly, and really want to enjoy a corner bar with some actual atmosphere, Franks is must see!

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-17T06:41:00.001-04:00

March 17th - Reason to be cheerful: Saint Patrick's Day

My last name may be "Romano", but thanks to my mother's side, some Irish blood runs through my veins. So yeah, I do fly a green flag on March 17th - Erin Go Braug, piesanos !

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-16T05:00:00.002-04:00

March 16th - Reason to be cheerful: The City of Los Angeles

L.A. first cast a spell on me many moons ago when I spent a "lost weekend" there. A few years back, I returned and found that the place I had dubbed, Babylon was still as vibrant, scary, beautiful, repulsive, seductive and as crazy when last I laid eyes on her. Some leave their heart north of this city, mine is in a bar on Sunset Blvd, waiting for me to return to retrieve it.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

March 15th - Reason to be cheerful: Tuner Classic Movies

Because life in black and white, is often better than in living color.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-14T05:00:00.000-04:00

March 14th - Reason to be cheerful: The Return of Daylight Saving Time

The first real sign of spring!

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-13T05:00:00.003-05:00

March 13th - Reason to be cheerful: French Toast

French toast, nuff said.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-12T05:00:00.000-05:00

March 12th - Reason to be cheerful: Layla by Derick and the Dominoes

Possibly the most perfect piece of rock music ever, Layla was said to be written by Eric Clapton over his unrequited love for George Harrison's (then) wife, Pattie Boyd ... it's all a rather soap-opera-like back story. Personally, whenever I hear this song, I get goosebumps. From the rollicking intro to the, seemingly, endless instrumental coda, Layla is the kind of song that wraps you in its arms and does not let go until that little bird chirp at the very end . A very wise woman once said that hearing this song is like getting a dozen long stemmed roses. For the back story on Layla CLICK HERE.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-11T05:00:00.001-05:00

March 11th - Reason to be cheerful: Gloria Grahame and Frank Sinatra in It Happened in Brooklyn

I mean, come on, Gloria Grahame and Frank Sinatra...

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-10T16:47:00.000-05:00

March 10th - Reason to be cheerful: American Graffiti

This is one of my "desert island films" - a movie I would take with me and watch over and over, and never grow tired of. I know it's billed as a comedy, but I've always seen it as a bittersweet homage to the end of an era - just months before the death of JFK would knock America on its collective ass. We focus on a late summer's night where the concerns are mostly automotive or hormonal...and the whole thing is set to a treasure trove of golden oldies. George Lucas might have been the man who brought us Star Wars, but American Graffiti is, in my humble opinion, his real masterpiece. This one always puts a smile on my face.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-09T05:00:00.001-05:00

March 9th - Reason to be cheerful: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I was born in the City of Brotherly Love (South Philadelphia to be exact) and lived there until I was 12. When we moved to the suburbs, I missed Philly. I missed the gritty streets, the corner stores, the music that seemed to come streaming out of every open window on a warm summer's night, the smell of a million different foods that hit you when you walked down 9th street, the trolley that shambled up our street sending off sparks from the electric cable wires above, the goofy but earnest celebration of New Years day with the Mummer's parade, the shady guys who offered the neighborhood kids ten cents to run errands for them ... but most of all I missed the Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and friends we left behind. When I got older, I learned to appreciate the history of my home city as well as it's peculiar beauty - I once heard someone call Philadelphia, "Athens on the Delaware"- maybe that's a bit overstated, but it works for me. Whenever I go back to Philly, I understand that you can indeed go home.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-08T05:00:00.001-05:00

March 8th - Reason to be cheerful: Rhapsody In Blue by George Gershwin

Hands down, one of the most gorgeous pieces of music, ever. A little bit of jazz, a touch of classical, a hint of Broadway...to me, this piece always evokes a romanticized version of Gotham at sunrise, and then slowly stretching and waking up until the entire city is in full gear and full glory.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-07T05:00:00.002-05:00

March 7th - Reason to be cheerful: Academy Awards

I love watching the Oscars. The airhead starlets in bazillion dollar frocks, the dreadful musical numbers, the confusing technical awards, the sour puss look on at least one of the contender's face when he or she does not win ... The Academy Awards, March 7th's reason to be cheerful.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

March 6th - Reason to be cheerful: Seth MacFarlane

I only started watching Family Guy last year (but that's me, always late to the party) - and I was instantly enamored with the cartoon's take-no-prisoners-vibe. Later on I found American Dad and then The Cleveland Show. I was really interested in the brains behind these crude but insanely intelligent cartoons, and that's where I found Seth MacFarlane. Not only is he bright, with a seemingly endless knowledge of pop culture, but he can also sing (and let's face it, kids, he's easy on the eyes). Mr. MacFarlane, March 6th's Reason to be Cheerful!

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-05T05:00:00.000-05:00

March 5th - Reason to be cheerful: John Garfield

You know, nothing makes me happier than stumbling across a John Garfield film. He was the quintessential Hollywood Bad Boy, and one of the greats of film noir. From The Postman Always Rings Twice to He Ran All the Way, nobody did it better than Mr. Garfield.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-04T05:00:00.003-05:00

March 4th - Reason to be Cheerful:

"Gee Officer Krupke" from the film, West Side Story. Nothing makes me smile more than this scene from the 1961 film...here's a link to that very number.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-03T05:00:00.001-05:00

Let me get this out of the way, I despise the month of March, with the same passionate dislike I have for November. Nothing of any good comes from either of these months (so sorry if your birthday is in November or March), that said, I defy March to bring me down this year, so for the next 31 days, I will post something that makes me happy .

March 3rd - Reason to be cheerful:

The artwork of the late Keith Haring, especially this one of Andy Warhol as Mickey Mouse. All of Haring's work makes me smile...such bright colors and such child-like themes (OK, well some of his work was very sexual, and I can't lie, that makes me smile as well)...what's not to love?

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-02T05:00:00.001-05:00

March 2nd - reason to be cheerful:

Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow, one of the greatest albums of all time - pure pop filtered through a sugar coated, psychedelic haze. Not a bad track on this one, it always puts a smile on my face.

Laughing in the Face of My Least Favorite Month (an ongoing project)

2010-03-01T05:00:00.001-05:00

March 1st - reason to be cheerful:

Maggie and Julius...aka Margret Dumont and Groucho Marx

Hey Jude

2010-02-28T11:11:00.001-05:00

I've been following a story about a wealthy New Yorker named Gigi Jordan who allegedly murdered her eight-year-old son, Jude. Apparently, Ms. Jordan fed her child Ambien and Xanax causing the youngster to die of an overdose. When police found Ms. Jordan in a posh Manhattan hotel, she was said to be babbling incoherently, and, according to paramedics, near death herself.

Later on it was revealed that Jude was severely autistic.

Public opinion was swift and predictable, people were calling her a murderer and a monster. Comments on websites were ablaze with finger pointing and cheap shots. And while I understand the outrage (how can one not?) - it is clear that those screaming the loudest, have no idea what it's like to deal with a severly autistic child, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you know me, you know that I work in human services, and as such, I see, first hand, the toll that raising a child with special needs takes on a family. Of course, not every case is horror-story; but many of them are.

I've met mother's of autistic children who are physically and mentally bruised due to the daily challenges they face. I've sat with grown men who have openly wept in frustration over the realization that no matter what they do, their child will never reach a functional level. I've dealt with parent's well into their 60's who have to figure out who will care for their child once they are no longer able to do this. I've seen single mothers get screwed over by insurance companies who will not pay for even the most basic needs for their child. I've listened to parents tell me that they've exhausted their personal savings to pay for therapies and treatment's for their child. I've met siblings of disabled children who feel cheated over the fact that their parent's must expend most of their time and energies on the sibling who is disabled, leaving the non disabled child as an after thought...

One time, a mother of a twenty-two year old, severely autistic adult said to me, "I sometimes wonder if he would be better off dead". I shuddered when she said this, and then looked around her living room where I was sitting, at the holes punched in the wall by her son, at the sofa cushions that were torn apart by her son, at the pile of unpaid bills stacked on the coffee table in front of me as she had to quit her job and stay home with her son. I did not say anything back to her, she needed to vent, and I hoped that by getting this off her chest, she'd never act upon it - of course she wouldn't. Eventually, we got her son placed in a group home, but it took a very long time; and before he was placed, the woman suffered a heart attack. Sadly, it took that turn events to get things rolling beyond a snail's pace.

Getting back to Gigi Jordan's situation; I've always chalked up the cases I deal with to the fact that the families on my case load are mostly, blue collar. I think that if they had the resources, they could cope. But looking at Jordan - she was a woman of means, she had money and connections - and still she could not find the help that her son needed. What's wrong with this picture? When a mother who can afford everything her child needs, still feels so hopeless that the only way out is to kill her child - what lesson are we to take away from this tragedy?

I have no answers on this one, none at all.

You can read about Jordan HERE and HERE.

Fave Foto Friday: Life Magazine Portraits

2010-02-26T05:00:00.000-05:00

* the following photos where found on the net and are all supposed to be portraits from Life Magazine - I do not hold the copyright to any of these, nor am I am making any money from showing them - OK?

Here's my hero, Groucho Marx surrounded by a gaggle of gams while looking for a needle in haystack, or maybe an ant on the lawn.

Lucille Ball, the Queen of Comedy and a fire-breathing dragon, or so I have heard.

The Chairman of the Board meets the King of Sunday Night - Frank Sinatra and Ed Sullivan.

Good night, and good luck: Edward R. Murrow...take heed, kids, this is what a real journalist looked like.

And finally, Here's Milton Berle - jeez, people sure did smoke a lot back in the day.

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Finally, here is our Miss Magnolia in her ill-fated Broadway comeback in 1941's I Am Madam Satan. With a cost of over ten million to mount this epic, the backers lost their shirts when the show closed down after only two performances.

The Winter of My Content

2010-02-23T05:00:00.000-05:00

I already miss the snow.

I miss the gentle beauty it brought to the landscape.

I miss how it accentuated the holiday season...

...how it made the sides of buildings look like they were festooned with teeth from a crystal dragon.

I miss how the sun made dramatic shadows.

I already miss the way it made me look at things

I especially miss how it made the night transform into something magical.

And while all good thing must come to an end...

I'd like to forgo the next few months of dreary, rainy weather,

and wake up when summer is in full bloom.

* all pics by yours truly

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 02/21/10

2010-02-22T05:00:00.001-05:00

Good Morning from Utopia New Jersey, where we find the snow-pack slowly melting away as we brace for several days of soaking rains. I'd prefer more snow, but you can't change the weather, so there is no reason to complain.

Today in 1956, Elvis Presley had his first number one hit in America, Heartbreak Hotel.

If you are feeling like the Father of Your Country, and it's your birthday today, cross the Delaware, because you share the date with George Washington.

And today's quote comes from the first president: "Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company. "

Today's obscure term is "Fire Extinguisher". It was used primarily in the 1920's and has nothing to do with putting down some flames - do you have any idea what it meant?

Here's wishing you all a productive, peaceful day.

Fave Foto Friday: Small Town Edition

2010-02-19T05:00:00.001-05:00

Eagle eyed readers will notice that this photo is being used in the header of the blog. It's a picture of Main Street in Maple Shade New Jersey, the sky was just gorgeous when I shot this last Sunday. I balanced the camera on the roof of my car, and you can see the reflection of the sky on the car's hood. That steeple in the back ground is Our Lady of Perpetual Help church (or as the locals call it, "Old Ladies Prison Home"), my uncle was the sexton there up until the day he died several years ago.

We Are the Rich, We Are The Famous - or - A Man of a Certain Age Watches "We are the World 25"

2010-02-15T17:40:00.000-05:00

So, I recently watched the video to We Are the World 25 - a remake of the classic, We Are The World. Remember that old chestnut; a group of ~~egos~~ singers crowded together and sang a treacly melody, the profits of which, were used to assist the famine victims in Africa.

This time the egos have landed again singing to benefit those affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

Yeah, yeah, I know a good cause.

OK, so the first thing that bothers me is Jamie Foxx using the word "amazing" when introducing the song. You know me, I hate the overuse of that damn adjective - so there's that.

Anyway the song kicks off and here is this little boy singing, who is he? Why is he opening up the song? Is he a star? Was there a rider in Michael Jackson's will indicating that if anyone ever redid this song, a prepubescent child would have to sing it? Whatever, he was awful.

Then a a bunch of other people start singing, I did not recognize half of them. Eventually, Barbara Streisand shows up - she sings her line, does not even break a sweat, and for a split second, the younger generation is shown how it is done.

Celine Dion is there as well, she looks like she's in pain. Her voice makes my ears bleed.

Pink sounds good. Long live Pink.

A couple of these guys are using vocoders, WTF? Are their voices that weak they need to use studio trickery? Oh wait a second, of course they do, what was I thinking.

Wyclef Jean is singing in Haiti's native tongue, which is, as I understand it, a combination of Creole and French. Good for him, but he sounds like he's yodeling. His singing gives me a headache.

They also added a bunch of new verses to this song, as if the original wasn't dreadful enough.

When we finally see a group shot, I notice Gladys Knight and Brian Wilson in the crowd. Excuse me? One of the greatest soul singers of all time, and one of the geniuses of rock, and neither got a solo? Who did they have to step aside for, T Pain?

I gagged when Jamie Foxx started doing his lousy imitation of Ray Charles.

There was a lot more, most of it pretty lame.

Look, I hope this stunt raises a ton of money for the folks in Haiti, and if you have not already, please send some money, but as for the video and song, you would do better sticking red hot pokers in your ears - the effect will be startlingly similar.

Uncle Pax's Almanac: President's Day 2010

2010-02-15T08:48:00.000-05:00

Happy President's Day from Utopia, New Jersey. It's a sunny morning here, though we are due some more snow this afternoon and evening, probably not much, and certainly not as much as we saw last week. But, as I always say, I'll take snow over rain any day!

On today's date in 1879, U.S. President Hayes signed a bill that allowed female attorneys to argue cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Chances are you enjoy questioning the status quo if today is your birthday because you share the date with Galileo Galilei.

Today's quote is one of those unvarnished truths, spoken by ex President, Jimmy Carter," Republicans are men of narrow vision, who are afraid of the future."

Today's obscure term is food related, do you know what "Adam and Eve on a raft, and wreck 'em" is?

Here's wishing you a presidential day free of wrecked rafts.

Saint Valentine

2010-02-14T10:04:00.000-05:00

While we are busy with candy, hearts and flowers today, celebrating Valentine's day - I've always been interested in exactly why February 14th was designated as a day to commemorate love.

I went back to a posting I did on this very blog on February 13th, 2005, and found the following:

I was talking to a friend on the phone yesterday. He works for UPS and told me that they (the UPS drivers) refer to Valentine’s Day as “Little Christmas”; that is because it is the second busiest time of the year for them for delivering parcels.

We talked about the roses and candy that are bestowed upon objects of desire and wondered to each other how this day came to be. He said to me the he understood that Saint Valentine was a Catholic martyr who may have had his tongue removed and was later beheaded.

“Imagine that”, I added, “This year show your Valentine how much you love them by cutting your tongue out!”

“Wait”, he added, “Show them you REALLY love them by having your head removed and sent to your lover amidst a bouquet of blood red roses!”

We laughed at this Stephen King moment and continued getting more disgusting with our ideas for real Valentine’s gifts.

Later on I went on-line and read a little bit about the history of Valentine’s Day (and here’s an aside, does anyone recall when it WAS known as Saint Valentine’s Day?). There is all kinds of interesting stuff out there about the day including various tales of Saint Valentine. He may have been a priest who, while in jail, defied a Roman Emperor and continued marrying young couples. Said young lovers, would send him their wishes written on flower petals and leaves (hence the ritual of “Sending Valentine’s”). Most of the stories about him do indicate that he was killed, but I could not find anything about him having his tongue removed.

Interestingly, the holiday seems to be for the birds; that is, there was a common held belief in Europe that birds chose their mates on the 14th of February, so why not people?

Fascinating, from beheaded holy men to mating birds, today we set aside a day that the card makers and candy pushers make a bundle on; all in the name of love.

Well, no matter how you are spending the day, here's wishing you a wonderful Saint Valentine's Day!

Through an Icicle

2010-02-13T12:38:00.001-05:00

So I come across this pretty impressive icicle this morning on my balcony:

...and then I move in closer, and shoot it again...

...then I get right on top of it and see the world distorted...

...finally, I pull back for this one...

Fave Foto Friday: Arbus x 3

2010-02-12T04:58:00.000-05:00

In a Diane Arbus mood this morning...

****

And From the House of Thunderpussy comes this shot of Magnolia and a gal pal trolling the snow choked streets of Philadelphia last week - though exactly what they were trolling for, we may never know.

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 02/11/10

2010-02-11T05:00:00.000-05:00

A Good and Frosty Morning to all from Utopia where we survived yesterday's snow storm. Totals might not have been as big as we were warned, but it still was a terrific snow event and supposedly, we've set some kind of record with the amount of snowfall we received this winter. And this does not look like the end of it, no sir, more snow is being predicted for Monday. We shall see!

On was on this date in 1916 when Feminist Icon, Emma Goldman was arrested for speaking out on birth control.

You are full of bright ideas if today's your birthday, because you share the date with Thomas Edison!

Today's obscure term is "back seat bingo" - do you know what that means?

Today's quote is from Christopher Isherwood who once said, "What irritates me is the bland way people go around saying, 'Oh, our attitude has changed. We don't dislike these people any more.' But by the strangest coincidence, they haven't taken away the injustice; the laws are still on the books."

Here's wishing you all a day full of good things and no injustices.

Night Blizzard...

2010-02-10T18:49:00.000-05:00

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 02/10/10

2010-02-10T05:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning from Snowy Utopia, New Jersey. Yes, we are currently in the midst of our third major snow of the winter season, and so far, this one is shaping up to be a real doozy!

On today's date in 1982, Bismarck, ND, experienced its 45th consecutive day of subzero temperature readings which tied the previous record long string of subzero daily lows ending on the same date in 1937.

Take an extra lap if today's your Birthday - you can join Mark Spitz who was born on this date in 1950!

Obscure term of the day: "Got your glasses on". Got an idea what that means?

Dorothy Parker gives us today's quote: "It serves me right for putting all my eggs in one bastard."

Here's wishing you a day full of softly falling snow, and a lack of egg carrying bastards!

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 02/09/2010

2010-02-09T05:00:00.001-05:00

Good Morning From Utopia, New Jersey and Boy Howdy we are getting ready for our second snow storm in less than three days...the weather service is calling for an additional foot of the white stuff on top of this past weekend's event. As always, you'll hear no complaints about this development on my part: bring it on, sez I!

On today's date in 1989 , a winter storm continued to bring rain and snow to southern California. Snowfall totals ranged up to 18 inches at Olancha, with three inches at Palmdale.

If today is your birthday, and you feel like doing a little bump and grind, well that's becuase you share the date with the late, great, Ms. Gypsy Rose Lee!

Today's obscure term is "off time jive" - care to venture a guess as to what that describes?

And in honor of the upcoming blizzard, the following quote: Advice is like snow - the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper in sinks into the mind. - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

No matter what the weather, here's wishing you a day full of clear skies and smooth sailing!

The Snowstorm of 2010 - The next day

2010-02-07T16:56:00.001-05:00

I know that the further south you go, the higher the accumulation went; that said, after all of the bluster and brouhaha made by the weather talking heads, I don't think this was that dramatic of a snowstorm. Looks like a bit over a foot, and a lot of it is cleared off the roads...the picture above was shot late in the afternoon in Mount Laurel NJ.

Here's the view of the late, great Olga's in Marlton. As you can see, routes 73 and 70 were pretty clear - a tad slushy, but no major shakes...

This is a picture of the old Farmer's Hall in Mount Laurel. Click it to enlarge and you'll see how nifty the late winter sun looks highlighting the recently face-lifted old building...

Being the snow lover that I am, I can't wait for the next alleged storm which is supposed to hit sometime on Tuesday and continue on in the day on Wednesday...if mother nature comes through, someone might have a six day weekend (snow day on Wednesday, vacation day on Thursday, furlough day on Friday, and Holiday on Monday)!

The Snowstorm of 2010 - after dark

2010-02-06T22:52:00.000-05:00

The Snowstorm of 2010

2010-02-06T11:02:00.000-05:00

icicles just outside my front door...

the birds are well fed...

our shovel broke in the last snow, had to revert to one of those emergency shovels you put in your car...it gets the work done - with double the effort...

winter idyll...

winter idyll 2

Fave Foto Friday (from the Thunderpussy collection)

2010-02-05T05:00:00.000-05:00

Magnolia displaying the talent that made her so popular.

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 02/04/10

2010-02-04T05:00:00.001-05:00

Good Morning world, and greetings from Utopia, New Jersey as we hunker down for what might be another major snow storm in this neck of the woods...will it be bigger than the Decmeber blizzard, only time will tell. It seems that Punxsutawney Phil was right when he called for six more weeks of winter. As long as it's snow filled, you'll hear no complaints from this end.

It was on today's date that the Patricia Hearst drama began as the( then )19 year old college student was kidnapped from her apartment in Berkley California.

Get to the front of the bus if today is your birthday, becuase you share it with American Civil Rights icon, the late Ms. Rosa Parks!

Today's obscure term is, "Mitt me kid!" Any idea what that would mean if anyone said it to you?

And today's quote comes from Lily Tomlin who said, "Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain."

Hope you all have a great day, and find nothing to complain about!

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 02/02/10

2010-02-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Groundhog Day! Today's the day when Punxsutawney Phil let's the world know if we've an early Spring on the way, or six more weeks of Winter to cope with. For all things Groundhog day CLICK HERE.

It was on today's date, back in 1940 that Frank Sinatra made his debut with the Tommy Dorsey orchestra.

Make a Fountainhead style birthday cake today in honor of your birthday becuase you share the day with Ayn Rand.

Today's obscure term is, Sticks of Tea. Any idea what that means?

Today's quote: The snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches. ~e.e. cummings

Here's wishing you a day of sunny skies , no matter what Phil says!

Uncle Pax's Almanac 02/01/2010

2010-02-01T05:00:00.001-05:00

Good Morning, and welcome to the first day of February, 2010! The weather in Utopia has reverted back to winter. This past weekend we had freezing temperatures and a few inches of snow. Today promises clear skies and continuing cool weather.

It was on today's date in 1979 that Patty Hearst was released from jail after gaining a presidential pardon for her part in the SLA bank robberies .

You say it's your birthday? Well, if that's so, you share the day with late Mr. Clark Gable.

Today's obscure term is Chicago Overcoat ... any idea what that means?

Your quote of the day: The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards.

- Arthur Koestler

Stay warm and here's hoping you discover something less than obvious today!

Fave Foto Friday: Weegee Time

2010-01-29T05:00:00.000-05:00

It all started when Mags emailed me this photo:

...something by one of my all time favorite photographer, Arthur Fellig AKA Weege...

...here's the man himself with a couple of fans....

...he started out as a press photographer in New York City and Newark New Jersey...

...but his photos of the urban flotsam were so intriguing, he began taking pictures just for art's sake.

Many of Weegee's works put me in mind of a Tom Waits song, or a Raymond Chandler novel...

...full of shady dames, freaks, dicey dudes and inner city decay...

...that's not to say he was blind to joy or innocence (as can be seen in the photo above).

This is my all time favorite picture of his "Couple in a Voodoo Trance" ; a copy of it has been hanging in my bedroom for over fifteen years...

How can you not be intrigued by these images?

for more about The Master, CLICK HERE

Vaffanculo!

2010-01-28T18:37:00.000-05:00

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 1/28/2010

2010-01-28T05:00:00.000-05:00

Buon Giorno from Utopia New Jersey where the waning days of January have brought us some bone chilling temperatures. Well, maybe not so chilling today, but we are dropping back to 30 degrees come Friday. Snow on Saturday? One can only hope.

On today's date in 1813 Pride and Prejudice was first published in England.

Make an artistic mess if today is your birthday, as you share the date with Jackson Pollock!

Here's your obscure term of the day: "Bug Eyed Betty" - any idea what it means?

Of all people, Gallagher gives us this bit of wisdom: " Don't you wish there was a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence? There's one marked 'Brightness,' but it doesn't work."

Hope you all have a wonderful day, and that your TV's as bright as you need it to be.

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 01/27/10

2010-01-27T05:00:00.002-05:00

Góðan daginn from Utopia, New Jersey. It's a partly cloudy day today, not much going on weather-wise here at least - once again they are hinting at snow for this weekend, we shall see.

On today's date in 1977, Roots, premeired on the ABC Network .

If today is your birthday, join Keith Olbermann in celebrating! K. O. is 51!

Today's obscure term is in the form of advice, "Don't take any wooden nickels" - do you know what that means?

The Quote of the day: "A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything." It is credited to Friedrich Nietzsche

Here's wishing you a great day, and a lack of any type of currency made from cellulose fibers.

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 01/26/10

2010-01-26T06:00:00.001-05:00

Guten Morgen from Utopia, New Jersey where we are drying out from yesterday's deluge. Today, the temperature has dropped some thirty degrees from our high of 60 on Monday. Winter has come back, now where is the snow?

Today in 1962, The Catholic Church banned The Twist decreeing it as "impure" - molesting altar boys, though, was still permitted.

If you are in birthday mode today, you are in great company as today is the birthday of the late, great Ms. Earth Kitt.

Yesterday's obscure term, "cinder dick" was commented on by constant reader, iasa who said, "I actually know what a cinder dick is. Is that sad? Instead of using it in reference to a railroad guard though, I think i will start using it in reference to a boyfriend. He's always asleep by midnight, stopping all the fun."

Today's obscure term is "k balling", and no, it's not sexual in any way. Care to figure it out?

Our quote of the day comes from the late Frank Zappa, who said, "In the fight between you and the world, back the world."

Here's wishing you a wonderful day and a TKO against the world if you are feeling pugilistic.

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 01/25/10

2010-01-25T05:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning and Good Monday from Utopia New Jersey where soaking rains and wicked winds are on tap for the day. While many of us might prefer snow, it seems that this winter, which started off promising with an early season blizzard, is going to end up just being rather run-of-the-mill.

It was on the date back in 1915 that Alexander Graham Bell spoke to his assistant (Thomas Watson) using a telephone. Bell was in New York and Watson was in San Francisco - thus, long distance was born!

If today is your birthday, don't be spooked by the fact that you share the date with horror film director, Tobe Hopper.

Today's obscure term is "cinder dick", and it has nothing to do with Prince Charming's appendage on his wedding night - care to venture a guess as to what it means?

Today's quote is from Mohandas Gandhi who said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." - I could not agree more.

Here's wishing you a all a great Monday free of any cinder dicks, unless of course you like that sort of the thing!

The Week In Review

2010-01-23T11:31:00.000-05:00

*Massachusetts chooses style over substance and a former Cosmo Pin Up wins the late Ted Kennedy's seat.

* New Jersey welcomes a new Governor who will do his best to woo big business, dismantle the unions, and ultimately continue to fuck over an already fucked up state.

* Southern California was pummeled by rain storms and mudslides. It never rains in California, but girl don't they warn you, it pours, man it pours.

* The relief efforts for Haiti continue, climaxing in a low key, widely televised telethon that was actually pretty entertaining and contained a few great performances.

* Conan said goodbye (and got a nice severance to the tune of 40 million), Leno goes back to the Tonight Show, and life goes on.

* And last, but certainly not least, it looks like the well fed and the uninformed in this country will get what they want as it appears that Health Care Reform (at least not the version we all wanted) is NOT going to happen.

So how was your week?

Fave Foto Friday : Rat Pack Edition

2010-01-22T05:00:00.001-05:00

Dean, Sammy and Frank, share a laugh backstage at the Sands Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada circa 1960 in this uncredited photo. Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 01/21/10

2010-01-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning and Salutations from Utopia, New Jersey. Let's take a second today to keep the people of Haiti in our thoughts, and if you have not already, please make a donation to the charity of your choice to help even if it means skipping lunch, or not buying something for yourself.

The weather in this neck of the woods is sunny and cold, well, colder than it's been in a week. Some say snow for tomorrow, we shall see.

On today's date in 1793,King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine.

If you are blowing out the candles on your birthday cake today, you share the date with the late, great, Wolfman Jack!

The Obscure term of the day is "Bank's Closed" - it was used in the 20's and 30's and had nothing to do with the local savings and loan closing down. Any idea what it means?

Today's Quote is: "The world's as ugly as sin, and almost as delightful", it was said by Frederick Locker-Lampson

Here's wishing you a delightful day, and remember to make a donation that would benefit the people of Haiti!

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 01/20/10

2010-01-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning, America: The weather remains unstable and downright crazy on the West Coast. It was reported that a tornado touched down in Orange County California on Wednesday (STORY HERE). Meanwhile, In these neck of the woods, it's sunny and clear. Some of us are still waiting for winter to return with the gusto it had shown back in mid-December. The past few weeks have been somewhat mild.

It was on this day in 1964 that the album, "Meet The Beatles" was released in the USA; and popular music was never the same!

Today's obscure term is "church-key" . If you know what a church-key is (and it's got nothing to do with unlocking a chapel) you've probably been around the block a few times.

If you are celebrating your birthday today, you can join director David Lynch for a some cherry pie and a cup of coffee - Mr. Lynch turns 63.

Today's quote is "Punctuality is the virtue of the bored." and it was said by Evelyn Waugh, who, no doubt, was late for all appointments.

Here's hoping you are on time for everything today, and if you're in SoCal, stay dry and try not to get flung over the rainbow!

Scott Brown: Pretty Is, As Pretty Does.

2010-01-19T20:59:00.000-05:00

"In Scott Brown we have an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, tea-bagging supporter of violence against women and against politicians with whom he disagrees."

— Keith Olbermann

How does that old saying go? We get the government we deserve: Scott Brown, made for these superficial times.

Uncle Pax's Almanac 1/19/10

2010-01-19T05:00:00.002-05:00

Good Morning From Pax Romano Inc. Headquarters in Beautiful Utopia New Jersey: Looks like it's going to be sunny today - much better weather than they are having out in (normally sunny) southern California; looks like forty days and forty nights of rain for the City of Angels and it's environs.

Citizens of the Garden State are welcoming Chris Christie as their new governor today. Civil servants are quivering, conservatives are clapping their hands in anticipatory glee,while everyone else is probably unaware of the fact.

For all you old hippies, try and digest this little fact: had she lived, Janis Joplin would have been 67 today!

Today's obscure word is xanthic. It means yellow in color.

Albert Camus give us today's quote:In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.

Hope you are enjoying your own invincible summer today, no matter what the weather!

Uncle Pax's Almanac 1/18/10

2010-01-18T06:00:00.003-05:00

Good Morning Mr. & Mrs. America, and all the ships at sea. Today is January 18th, 2010. The weather in these parts is still a bit soggy, but things should be clearing out soon enough. Still no sign of snow yet, but I am sure we will get some more before this wacky winter is over with.

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Do something in memory of this honorable American who was taken away from us much too early in his life. More than that, keep his memory and his dream alive.

The obscure term of the day is "Soda Jerk". Your job is to look up this term, discover the meaning, and try and use it during a conversation with someone today. Come on, I know you can do it , and your friends will think you are the cat's pajamas when you do!

If you are celebrating a birthday today, you are in great company as Cary Grant would have been 105 years old.

It's only 14 days until Groundhog Day. What will Punxsutawney Phil predict concerning Spring this year?

Today's quote comes to us from Dr. Tom Leher who said, "I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up." Amen to that!

Here's hoping you have a great day and that the only jerks you deal with are Soda jerks, and that anyone who should, will keep his mouth shut.

Uncle Pax's Almanac : 01/17/10

2010-01-17T08:41:00.000-05:00

The blog is getting stagnant again - in order to remedy this situation, I came up with an idea - a daily almanac-style posting, let's see if it works, shall we?

Good morning from Utopia, New Jersey. It's Sunday, January 17th, 2010 and the weather in this neck of the woods is wet, cold and miserable. For the record, the Farmer's Almanac predicted, "sunny, then rain and snow, seasonable" for the period of January 13th through 20th, for this region; well, we had the sun, and now the rain is here, let's see if we get that snow!

The word of the day is Draconian ; impress your friends and neighbors and use it in a sentence! You'll probably be able to fit it in when talking about work.

Born today: If today is your birthday, you share the date with first lady, Michele Obama.

Spring is a mere 71 days away. Independence Day is 167 days from now, Halloween is 286 days away, and Xmas will be here in 341 days.

Today's quote comes to us from Herbert Hoover who said, About the time we think we can make ends meet, somebody moves the ends.

Here's hoping you stay dry, and all your ends are meeting today.

Fave Foto Friday

2010-01-15T05:00:00.000-05:00

Belive it or not, this photo by Andreas Gursky, 99 Cent II Diptychon is said to be the most expensive photo ever sold, for $3,346,456 in a Feb. 2007 Sotheby’s auction.

***

Meanwhile, here's Mags rolling the dice, and showing off a bit more of herself than is probably proper for a woman of her breeding!

Here's How You Can Help Haiti

2010-01-13T17:24:00.000-05:00

CLICK ON ANY LINK TO SEND A DONATION!

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS

AMERICAN RED CROSS

MERCY CORP

UNICEF

Seven Things...

2010-01-11T19:44:00.000-05:00

On my other blog, I was recently given an award - upon receiving said honor, the recipient was supposed to post seven things about themselves that others might find interesting ... well, I don't know how interesting these points might be, but here they are (with nifty retro illustrations!) - oh, and I posted these items here as I don't think they fit the theme of my other blog.

1: I Love Kool-Aid. Really, I do. I don't know why, but there is something about stirring up a pitcher of this fake fruit flavored beverage that is so damn comforting...

2: I Love Traveling on Trains: What can I say? Just something I really enjoy.

3: Gay Bars Bore Me to Death: I know, take away my toaster oven ... actually, I'm really not fond of straight bars either ... but I do have an affinity for those dark, smoky, corner bars; shot and a beer joints - what can I say, I have simple tastes.

4: I Think that 85 Percent of What's on Television is Dreck : Were it not for movie stations, The History Channel, Family Guy and the handful of decent programs on cable, I'd never turn the set on except for background noise.

5: I Wish the Future They Promised Us Was the One We Got

6: I Am A Born Again Atheist: I really wish I could believe in god, but I just cant.

7: Halloween is my Favorite Holiday (with the 4th of July running a close second).

for more nifty illustrations, go to PLAN 59

Come now, gentlemen, your love is all I crave

2010-01-09T12:40:00.000-05:00

Now why can't the business meetings I attend be like this? That's Mick Jagger in Performance: The song is called, "Memo from Turner".

Fave Foto Friday : Weather Edition

2010-01-08T10:13:00.000-05:00

This winter will be one for the books, no doubt. The photo above was taken in Omaha, Nebraska by Nati Harnik for the Associated Press. Doesn't it look like something from a sci fi movie?

***

Meanwhile, the sun is always shining on our Miss Magnolia - here she is soaking up the rays with a gal pal at her winter retreat in Varadero, Cuba.

Fuck You Very Much

2010-01-07T19:00:00.000-05:00

Today the New Jersey senate voted against legalizing marriages for gay men and women, and I wanted to say something profound about this...but I am too fucking angry to come up with anything other than a knee jerk reaction.

So be it.

What the fuck is wrong with lawmakers who kowtow to the fucking religious right, the asinine family values crowd, the Rush Limbaugh/Fox News loving assholes who yearn for a time when they were the fucking majority...a bunch of shit-for-brains morons who manage one thing only; to keep our society stagnant, stupid and scared. Jesus, if it was up to these assholes, we'd still own slaves!

Argh!! How the fuck can the marriage between two men, or two women have any type of negative effect on anyone? Where is the logic? Does logic even figure into this thing? Of course not!

With that in mind I just want to say, FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU, and FUCK YOU, to anyone and everyone that would deny me or any other gay person in this land a basic right.

I Love this Song So Much, I Want to Marry It...

2010-01-06T21:14:00.000-05:00

BOUGAINVILLEA WALTZ - by Jay Spears...

So full, so ripe, so juicy... yes it's corny, it's also twisted and romantic ... the Parisian-like accordion accompaniment just puts it over the top...give a listen, I think you might enjoy it.

Cell Phone Snaps

2010-01-05T19:06:00.000-05:00

So I was at the supermarket picking up my lunch yesterday and saw this staring me in the face. It was all I could do not to to yell out, "ME! ME!" I can not believe that the unwashed masses still read crap like this; more than that, I can't fathom that the sexuality of anyone is that earth shattering - then again, what do I know?

Officeland Adventures In Furniture Moving: carted this fine crafted piece of furniture to the parking lot today so that I could toss it into the back seat of a fellow drone's car, so that she (said fellow drone) could transport said fine crafted piece of furniture to the home of one of our consumers. Oh never mind that we are not supposed to be moving furniture, never mind that at all - we play fast and loose with the rules at Officeland these days.

My Dream Date with Carrie Fisher

2010-01-02T13:04:00.000-05:00

Having devoured Carrie Fisher's latest tome, Wishful Drinking, I am left with a burning desire to meet her, to sit down and listen to her retell me these tales of her Hollywood upbringing, her ongoing battle/love affair with narcotics and alcohol, and her propensity for turning men bald and/or gay. Yeah, I know, I should have seen her one woman show (which is basically what the book is based on). Well, I did not see the show, so I will continue to imagine my dream date with Ms. Fisher.

...first I pick her up at Philadelphia airport, she's traveling light so there's only really one bag and that will fit in my car...immediately we hit it off, and she starts telling me about her (mostly absent) father, Eddie Fisher, and how he hails from Philadelphia-specifically, South Philly; so with that in mind, I drive over to the City of Brotherly Love's land of Cheestakes, Mummers and Mafioso; the same place, ironically, that I hail from...we stop in to the Melrose Diner for breakfast and she starts talking about her father, she loves him, but does not like him - I really can't blame her, he sounds like a real cad...later on we drive back into Center City and stop at TLA video on Rittenhouse Square and pick up a copy of "What's The Matter With Helen" and "Mother" - two of my favorite films that star Carrie's Mom, Debbie Reynolds. She reminds me that whenever her mother calls she says, "Hello dear, this is your mother, Debbie"...as it turns out there's one of those sci fi conventions going on in town, we stop in and instantly, Carrie is swamped by geek boys of every age, shape and size, and they all tell her how much Princess Leia meant to them, and still does. We both have a good laugh over this, and she reminds them that her likeness as the Princess can be found also as a shampoo bottle and a Pez dispenser... after the convention, we head on over to a coffee house and suck down a couple of cappuccino's and Carrie starts talking about her ex husband, Paul Simon. When "Graceland" starts playing on the jukebox at the coffee house, we figure that's a sign and take our leave ... I figure it's time to prove to her that familial dysfunction does not just thrive in that hotbed of craziness that is Hollywood, no, it can also be found in the quaint little homes of the blue collar town in South Jersey were I spent my formative years. Carrie and my mother really like each other, and that's no surprise, if you ever met my mom, she'd remind you of Debbie Reynolds as well. My father tells her that he was a big fan of Eddie Fisher. She smiles politely and then rolls her eyes when she thinks no one is looking. After a huge Italian meal, we leave my parent's house and head on over to public library where we search for the "Abnormal Psychology" text book that feature's Princess Leia's face in the section entitled, "The Biology of Bipolar Disorder" ...

...now that we've found the book, we both start laughing uncontrollably, which causes the stern-faced librarian to shush us both and ask us to leave ... the car ride to her hotel is filled with stories about rehab, Cary Grant as a drug counselor, and, of course, the tale of the gay friend of hers who died in her bed...naturally, when Carrie asks if I want to spend the night in her room, I defer as I know that a gay man who sleeps in Carrie Fisher's bed might not make it to the morning - then again, since she herself has admitted to turning men both gay and bald, I ponder the chance of defying death and waking up straight as well as with a head full of hair! Nonetheless, it's been a great day, and after I drop her off, I tell her that I'll swing by in the morning for breakfast and she promises to tell me more stories...I am all smiles, she's my own Scheherazade, and I can hardly wait for more tales; one thousand and one hysterically dysfunctional date nights.

A Look Back at the Decade Past in Pictures (Fave Foto Friday Special Edition)

2010-01-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

A handful of images from the past ten years, some horrid, some amusing, some unassuming...and you survived it all!

The Best of 2009

2009-12-30T21:59:00.001-05:00

This has been a screwy year, no doubt. From the nut case tea-baggers, to the health care debacle: terrorism, illness, trickery and fuckery, in general, were every place you looked. That said, let's take a look at some of the nicer aspects of this past year:

+++

* Back in January Barack Obama became the 44th president of these United States and made history as the first African American to be elected to that office. It seemed like after eight years of mispronunciations and fiddling while America burned, we had our hope back. Of course, it remains to be seen what President Obama will ultimately achieve, but for a few minutes back on January 20th we were all basking in the glow of What Might Be...oh, and we also got to see Aretha Franklin rocking that hat!

* My kid sister was the third woman in my immediate family to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and while that's bad news, the good news was, they got the whole thing and the fucking cancer had not spread anywhere.

* Thanks to that otherwise evil bitch, Facebook, I reconnected with two old friends of mine this year. One was a pal from my high-school days, and another from my college years. The high school buddy, who now resides in sunny So Cal, came back to the Garden State this summer, and managed to throw together an impromptu mini reunion - it was great seeing so many folks from the old days, a real tonic for the soul.

* Me? Published? It appears so. Thanks to a connection from my other blog, a piece I wrote is going to be featured in an upcoming book on slasher films. I can't tell you how much this thrilled me, and when I learned that I was in, I pretty much called everyone I know.

*There were some incredibly well made films released this year, Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, Paul Solet's Grace and Woody Allen's Whatever Works to name three...

* Popular music has really been leaving me cold of late. And I get it, the music being pumped out today is for a younger generation, and boy, they are welcome to it. Most of it sounds like a bunch of overproduced crap to my ears. So imagine my pleasant surprise when I discovered Jefferson Starship's Jefferson's Tree of Liberty. The old warhorse band came back and with a new female lead singer, and a couple of older familiar voices, patched together a surprisingly gorgeous tapestry of folk tunes and popular songs, stripped them down, and re-imagined them as a soundtrack for an ailing nation.

+++

What will 2010 hold? Well the older I get the more I understand that rhyme I heard years ago: nothing ever changes, only time rearranges ...

Here's wishing you all find your best of the upcoming year!

A Cold Day In the City

2009-12-29T15:45:00.000-05:00

Inside the (relativley) warm train station at Woodcrest.

cityscape

telephoto close up of the PNB tower.

stacked alleyway parking.

sun drenched (and sub-zero wind whipped) Academy of Music.

city hall xmas tree.

end of the line

Ivory Soap and Denim - Lest We Forget

2009-12-27T14:37:00.000-05:00

She was a blond beauty from New England with aspirations of becoming a fashion model and actress, he was a handsome man from a showbiz family in Beverly Hills who also longed for legitimate fame. Ultimately, the blond beauty and the handsome man found their fame...but it was probably not what either of them had in mind originally.

Her name was Marilyn Ann Briggs, but the world would come to know her as Marilyn Chambers, the porn actress who became a household name due to her pre-porn stint as the model seen on boxes of Ivory Soap detergent. Once it was revealed that the Cybil Shepard-look-a-like's face was in laundry rooms across America, Chambers hit the big time. Her porn films became must-see, screened at legitimate movie houses. A brief singing career followed as well as a staring role in David Cronenberg's Rabid (and frankly, Chambers was pretty damn good in it). Unfortunately, Chambers' time in the legitimate spotlight did not last long, and eventually she returned to adult entertainment. There was that stunt when she ran for vice president (with Charles Jay) , and from time to time she'd show up on talk shows or in interviews about the so called "golden age" of skin flicks, but for the most part she was forgotten by most until her death early this year at the age of 56.

The handsome guy was John Robert Stillman, who'd eventually be known as Jack Wrangler. After he'd done some legitimate stage and radio work, Wrangler found his way into the burgeoning gay porn movement of the mid 70's. Due to the fact that Wrangler could actually act, he was a breath of fresh air in skin flicks. What made him an icon was the fact that he seemed to redefine the image of what a gay man was. Wrangler's persona was of a denim wearing, blue collar, all American guy, who just happened to enjoy having sex with other men (and considering when he hit it big, gay men had very little in the way of role models; Paul Lynde's bitchy queen persona or Rock Hudson's closet case image were pretty much the only choices). Keeping everyone on their toes, Wrangler eventually moved on to straight porn (he reportedly claimed that he lost his virginity to a woman on screen), and then he went and married singer, Margret Whiting (some twenty years his senior). Of course, Wrangler never claimed to go straight, nor did he disown his past which he spoke of freely. In his later years, he created a second career for himself producing and writing Broadway shows. Unlike Ms. Chambers, Wrangler seemed to have had a pretty good ride. He died this past spring at the age of 62.

I wanted to write about Marilyn and Jack as this is the time of the year when you'll see a lot of memorials to the celebrities we've lost, and I did not want these two to be forgotten, as they were just as important to popular culture as Michael Jackson or Farrah Fawcett. And for many, they were iconic figures who helped push, for better or worse, the envelope a little further .

Rest in peace, Marilyn and Jack.

Start Your Valentine's Shopping!

2009-12-26T09:01:00.000-05:00

I stumbled upon this display of Valentine's goodies this morning at around 8:15. Yup, one day after Xmas and already they want you to spend on the next fake holiday!

Xmas Loot

2009-12-25T16:07:00.000-05:00

After weeks of fretting and spending, the gifts are opened and all is well with the world. Here's hoping you all got what you wanted and deserved this morning!

Fave Foto Friday: Merry Christmas Edition

2009-12-25T07:16:00.000-05:00

"A Visit from Grandfather" - Phildelphia : Griffith & Griffith, c1897.

Not a creature was stirring...

2009-12-24T22:00:00.003-05:00

Family is gone, my beloved is sacked out, and here I am for the umpteenth Christmas Eve of my life - being kept company by the fire which is slowly dying, and the tree filling the living room with muted shades of green, red and blue.

This is my absolute favorite time of the Holiday season, late on the night before Christmas. Everything is blessed silence, contentment and calm. Presents remain untouched, expectations are high, Santa is still riding the dark winter sky... I wish I could bottle this feeling and open it up whenever I need it.

Wherever you are, whoever you are with, whatever your circumstances, I trust you are feeling at least a touch of this impossible serenity now, I trust you feel , even if it's only momentarily, what I am feeling.

I wish you a Joyous Christmas, I wish you a Brave New Year. All anguish pain and sadness leave your heart and let your road be clear.

Thank you Keith Emerson.

And to all a goodnight.