Twitteleh (Twitter for your Jewish mother)

Continuing with my ethnic humor, I've included the video above thanks to my friend "Twitch" for tweeting about this and bringing it to my attention.  Twitteleh is Twitter for your Jewish mother.  However, I think this could apply for nearly everyone's mother.  No offense Mom - I love talking to you and you never seem to obsess about whether I'm wearing a sweater (or not).

pHarmony: Mike & Afrouz

While I don't know Mike & Afrouz personally, I do have a friend attending their wedding.  Check out this very funny wedding save the date for their big day later this year.  I love the way they poke fun at Persian stereotypes as well as those annoying dating commercials which seem to be everywhere these days. Enjoy and please share with your friends.

Human Statue of Liberty

This photo was taken in 1918 and included more than 18,000 soldiers from Camp Dodge.  The photograph is entitled "The Human Statue of Liberty".  Thanks to my Mom for passing the photograph along. It is really pretty amazing to think about all the work that went into creating such a photograph.

Excuse me, but don't I know you?

Today I had a meeting at the W Hotel in Washington, D.C.  I was the first to the meeting so I settled into the lobby to kill time when I noticed someone familiar sitting across from me.  At first I could not place the face but quickly realized that it was will.i.am from Black Eyed Peas.  I'll be honest, I did not know his name and had to Google the band to get it when I got home, but I was proud of myself for recognizing him.  

If he was the only person I saw today, I would not have bothered to write about it, but when I was queing up for my flight home I bumped into a neighbor who was disembarking from my plane which had just arrived from Boston.  Then about an hour later (well actually two because my flight was delayed due to problems at Logan) when I was disembarking in Boston I saw David Gergen who lives in the Boston area and teaches at Harvard University.  I have to admit, it provides insight into how much of a nerd I am that I was more excited to see David Gergen than my neighbor or the pop star will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas. 

Sex in the City 2

This photo was plastered across from Bryant Park where Fashion Week just concluded on Thursday, February 18th.  Although I was not able to figure out how to post the official movie trailer on my blog, you can watch the two minute clip by visiting, http://www.sexandthecitymovie.com/.   The movie is scheduled to open Friday, May 28th, 2010 and will include several guest stars like Penelope Cruz and Liza Minnelli as well as some guys who are easy on the eyes like the handsome Dhaffer L'Abidine and the attractive New Englander, David Alan Basche.

Martinis and Manhattan

 

In my previous entry I referenced my trip to New York. Because it was an all day meeting, I went down the night before and met up with co-workers for a bite at Otto Enoteca in the East Village. 

After dinner, I spent a few hours catching up with a co-worker at our hotel bar.  The first picture is a slightly buzzed version of me proudly showing that I just ordered my second martini.  The second photo is the view of Times Square that I had from my seat. 

Thanks Krista for taking these pictures from your phone.

Do you have a healthy work/life balance?

Earlier this evening I returned from New York City where I had spent the day in a team meeting.  Sitting in the conference room and seeing all of our accomplishments spelled out made me realize just how busy my entire team has been and will remain through our fiscal year.

I believe that I am better than most of my peers at disengaging and finding what I like to think is a healthy work/life balance.  As many of my blog entries indicate, I make the most of my vacation and leave very few days each year to carry from one calendar year to another.  However, I think that I am an atypical American in this way.  It seems to me that many of us either hoarde our vacation time or find it hard to  make the most of our time outside of the office. I have to wonder why Americans in particular seem to "work to live" rather than "live to work".  For many, I realize financially there may be few options and during an economic downturn I am definitely the exception (having planned a large and fairly extravagent vacation like last year's trip to Australia).  However, I think that it is important to get away and disengage.  When you think back over the past year - do you think you have a healthy work/life balance?

The lion sings tonight

On Monday, March 1st at 7:00pm the cast of Disney's Lion King will be performing at Club Cafe in Boston. Tickets cost $25.00 and all proceeds will go to benefit The AIDS Action Committee of MA.  You can purchase tickets online HERE.

Rumor has it that Verna Turbulence (drag queen extraordinaire) will be hosting the program "The Lion Sings Tonight" so in addition to raising money for a very worthwhile charity, having fun singing along (or like me just listening), and laughing at Verna's course sense of humor - it is sure to be far more interesting than your typical Monday night.  Fight off the winter blues by warming up with friends at the Club Cafe benefit for the AIDS Action Committee of MA.

Another snowy day in Boston

Don't mind the background chatter; I was on my 3rd consecutive hour of calls and needed a brief distraction.  This is the view from my Harrison Avenue condo in Boston's South End on Tuesday, Feb 16 at 4:00pm.
I miss summer.

Taste of the South End - March 9, 2010

Attention all foodies... The annual Taste of the South End is fast approaching so mark your calendars and purchase your tickets.  This year's program will draw 45 of the neighborhoods' restaurants to the BCA so you can sample delicious culinary creations that will leave your mouth watering.  Even better, by participating you will be supporting a very worthwhile local charity that is near and dear to my heart, The AIDS Action Committee.

To stay up to date on what is happening you can follow the Taste of the South End on Twitter. To see what the event is all about you can view the photos from last years event, by linking here.

Be sure to purchase your tickets online - HERE.

This is a late posting on Valentine's Day, but better late than never. I hope all the Viola's and Peggy's out there have had a wonderful day.  Special thanks to Damien from 2 Cents Worth Down Under where I saw this Valentine's Day greeting first posted.

Same Sex America

Showtime is now playing a documentary that follows several same sex couples who contemplate marriage after Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to legalize gay marriage.  Watching this documentary reminded how emotional it was leading up to May 17, 2004 and how important the state elections that followed were to help GLBT allies in the State House win re-election.

Fast forward 5+ years later and this is no longer a controversial subject in MA. The state estimates more than 16,000 same sex couples have been married, and with one of the lowest divorce rates in the country - same sex marriage clearly has neither compromised the institution nor stopped people from wanting to get married. 

If you also write a blog, consider sharing this video.

"Same Sex America"

For more about the history of this debate in MA you can read more here.

Why we need the ACLU

College student Nick George was handcuffed, interrogated and jailed for hours at the Philadelphia airport when he tried to bring English-Arabic flash cards on the plane to study on his flight back to school. 

Living in Boston and having lost close friends who were on flights that took off from Boston on September 11, 2001, I appreciate efforts to make flying safer.  However, I don't understand why individual liberties need to be compromised in that effort.

"We do not give up our constitutional rights when we choose to fly by plane."

This is why I really admire and support the work of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).



For more information about what the ACLU is doing to help protect the LGBT community you can link here.

Quiet on the set

According to a study from UMass-Boston, Massachusetts can build a stable movie sector with the help of the state's tax credits and facilities.  Now mind you, nobody is asserting MA would become a Hollywood East (thank god), but it could help bring more jobs and spotlight my home city, Boston, and surrounding communities in movies for years to come.

Film tax credits have been controversial. Critics claim that the $$$ generated is short-lived and mostly benefit movie moguls; not the state. But it is difficult to refute the fact that more than 30 films and television shows have been filmed in the state since the tax credit has been offered.  More over, the UMass-Boston study said that the film industry in 2008 created about $1 billion in economic activity in Massachusetts, and every dollar spent directly generated nearly another dollar in activity.

According to the article in today's Boston Globe, Film projection, while the tax credits have helped the state they are not the sole reason for Hollywood's interest.  The Globe article says, "Massachusetts offers a variety of locations - urban, rural, and coastal - and a world-class city, Boston, which is attractive to movie executives and stars."  I agree and think it is a great way to showcase my home city and New England.

Soixante-dix-sept jours

Right now the weather in Boston is pretty grim.  We have not received the blizzard everyone was forecasting, but the day has been chilly and grey. 

In lieu of thinking about the weather, I've decided to focus on my pending trip to Paris.  Thinking of Paris does not dispell my latest bout of GetMeTheHellOutOfHere Syndrome, but it does prove to distract me from how ugly it is in Boston right now. 

What are you doing to forget about the awful weather... or are you fortunate enough to be somewhere warm and sunny?

Men on football

In honor of the Super Bowl, which took place yesterday, here is a classic skit from the 80s show, In Living Color.



Thanks to Bill in Exile for sharing this video clip. It is a bit dated but remains funny for sure.

http://twitter.com/bosguy

Gold Dust Orphans

Phantom of the Oprah

February 26th - March 28th

The Gold Dust Orphans Theatrical Company is doing what they do best - making a parody of pop culture by using well known and respected storylines as their source of inspiration.  In this latest production, PHANTOM OF THE OPRAH, Ryan has reached out to and is starring Varla Jean Merman.

I'm excited to see how the classic musical and iconic Winfrey will be interpreted in this latest production.  I have yet to get my tickets, but will certainly pick a night to go with friends.  If you've never attended a Gold Dust Orphan play - it is quite the experience and I would encourage you to check it out.  For more information call (617) 265 6222.

Jennifer Coolidge in Boston this weekend

Today I read on EdgeBoston that New England-native, Jennifer Coolidge will be appearing at the Wilbur tomorrow night. I'm so bummed I'll miss her performance. Every time I watch this woman, she has me clutching my sides because I'm laughing so hard.  Maybe I'll be able to see her next time she performs in Boston. 

In the interim, I'll just refer to this clip which showcases Jennifer ad lib her way through a movie I loved called, Best in Show.

Free stuff to do in Boston this weekend

Friday, February 5th is the first Friday of the month which means the South End's many artist galleries at 450 Harrison Avenue will be open to the public. Parking is plentiful and you can spend a couple of hours looking through some very unique galleries.  If you get thirsty after all that walking there are several lounges and restaurants just steps away (sorry those are not free). 

On Saturday and Sunday right next to 450 Harrison Avenue on Thayer Street, sixty designers, artists and artisans are attending the 1st Annual Cabin Fever Indie Gift Show. According to the website, cabinfevershow.com, you can choose from all sorts of gift items.  The show is put on by the people who run the South End's SoWa Open market.  I'm thinking of stopping by - they have asked that everyone pay $2 admission - which is nearly free (esp. when you consider parking is free). If you happen to be unfamiliar with the South End check out their website which provides directions.

Obama takes questions at GOP conference

Late last week, two days after his first State of the Union speech, President Obama met with Republican members of the House of Representatives to talk about their differences.  It is quite interesting to watch. I don't recall a recent administration doing something similar, but perhaps they did and I just missed it.  Regardless, I thought this worth sharing for anyone who is also at their heart a political junkie.


President Obama Takes Questions at GOP House Issues Conference from White House on Vimeo.

Life is what we make it or so the saying goes, but what happens when we give up on our aspirations and chalk them off as 'unrealistic'?  Its human nature to want more and question ourselves, but there is a big difference between happiness and something close to happiness.   

I'm writing this, because today I was catching up with a friend who no longer lives in Boston but was visting.  As long as I've known this individual they have never been aware of how truly special they are; perhaps it was that characteristic which initially gave me pause long enough for a friendship to formulate because we met in the most unorthodox of ways.

While catching up, my friend said something to the effect of, "I don't think you can have it all and I'm okay with that." By having it "all" I believe they meant being in love with someone who returned that feeling.  This friend has been dating someone who sounds very nice and considerate but who was not necesarily more intimate than a close friend. When pressed if my friend missed that initimacy the reaction was something akin to "its been so long since I've had that, and I'm content now - I think that would just complicate my life."

Oy - am I missing something? I've questioned myself plenty. I've wondered out loud (sometimes wistfully) what my life would be like with someone else, but I've never been resigned to my life with my partner.  This friend I speak about is incredibly intelligent and equally thoughtful. They have had more than their share of knocks, and I wonder if that is why they believe this is as much as they can hope for in a partner.

What does a good friend do in this situation?

I would sooner cut myself open than hurt this person, and I would never want them to break up and a few months down the road wish they had stayed together because they were alone and lonely.  Where are my single and unmarried friends?  What would you have said? What would you do?