Time Outside

Even though this month’s Nablopomo theme is work, I’m taking a little time off tonight. It is a cool, star-filled night in The Zone. At this very moment, WineGuy, WT, Moose and I are listening to a terrific guitar concert in the park. Jim Hearst and Rob Eicks are playing — not sure of their spellings. Hearst is a fearsome player with a nice voice. Eicks is a master of the dobro, a steel-string resonator guitar.

As I’ve said before, music is balm for my soul, which is increasingly troubled by my own Voldemort.

Small Wonder

Despite Wizard being typically difficult lately, he a volunteered to help with something today. I have to make a spinach-artichoke casserole for a teacher luncheon tomorrow at the Snooty School. I’m congested and coughing with a cold, so Wizard asked if I needed any help. He assembled the ingredients, chopped, and cooked and now the casserole is in the oven.

Excuse me? Is this the same kid who threw a physical tantrum 2 days ago because I wouldn’t buy him the iPhone 5? An alien pod must have taken over my child. And now, he’s a actually washing the dishes he used.

Small wonders, indeed.

Library Louse

It’s the first Tuesday in November. I don’t have much on my mind today … except for the future of my country and my friend’s state house race in Nevada. I came to the public library this morning to check out a book and waste a little time before meeting a friend for lunch. I signed up to use a public computer, and I find myself seated next to the weirdo of all weirdos.

General Germophobe sits next to me viewing all kinds of strange Manga. His right hand is encased in a plastic sandwich bag as he trolls the Internet. I keep catching slightly disturbing images in my peripheral vision. I swear he’s auto-stimulating himself because I hear him breathing hard or grunting regularly. Ew and EW!!

Sorry for the cursory post, but I’m going to puke if I sit next to this guy any longer.

Heartbreaking

The images coming out of New York and New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy are devastating. They pale in comparison to the sounds of citizens wailing to go home but home is now piles of storm-strewn rubble. Last night, NBC Universal broadcast “Coming Together,” a concert to raise money for Red Cross relief efforts in the Tri-State area. Famous NY-NJ performers returned to Rockefeller Center to lend their voices to the fundraiser. Christina Aguilera opened the show with her hit “Beautiful”. It was forgettable in her inimitably glottal, melodramatic, overdone way.

Jon Bon Jovi’s medley of “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” and “Livin’ On A Prayer”  moved me to tears. Whether this guy rocks out an arena of thousands or plays an intimate acoustic set to camera, Bon Jovi knows how to connect with an audience. He chose the right songs with the right message delivered in the right way to accomplish his goal. Bon Jovi is one of the good guys who pays it forward. We should all do the same. If you’re reading this post contemporaneously with the disaster, texting REDCROSS to 90999 on your cell phone will donate $10.00 to the Red Cross. If you’re reading this post soon or long afterwards, please make a donation to the American Red Cross or even your local chapter.

Living in hurricane central, we in The Zone fully understand Mother Nature’s wrath. However, when storms hit us, oppressive heat and humidity usually follows, not the first bite of winter. Cold and wet and homeless is no way for anyone to start the holiday season. Click here to see how else you can help. Do what you can. In the meantime, Jon will sing you out.

Marathon Maybe

At the moment, NYC is getting a lot of press regarding clean-up efforts after Superstorm Sandy. [This does not imply that New Jersey does not deserve more coverage or more assistance.] Today’s hot topic is the New York City Marathon. Mayor Michael Bloomberg stated that the race will go on as planned, stating that city residents would want the boost to the local economy and the national media attention. Possibly true, but at what price?

The race traditionally starts in Staten Island, at the foot of the Verrazano Bridge. Monstrous storm surge inundated Staten Island only a few days ago, and the island is a muddy, crippled mess. There’s hardly any power. There are few relief supplies, and yet Mayor Bloomberg and the New York Road Runners (race organizer) will allow some 44,000 runners to further trample the island and the rest of the storm-battered city. Is it the wrong decision? Even though NYRR will pay for the police officers, firefighters, and first responders on duty, it’s still wrong to divert those public servants away from serving the still-vulnerable community. The city’s first duty is to protect its citizens, not to subject them to further intrusion and harm. However, one cannot ignore the $340 million that last year’s marathon pumped into the local economy.

It’s a terrible conundrum. Frankly, I’m unsure of my own position. On the one hand, I want to see New York devote as many resources as it can to taking care of its own — including insuring the viability of Election Day next week. On the other hand, last year my dearest friend, MB Walker, showed me what dedication, preparation, and sacrifice is required to train for and complete the New York City Marathon. How could you deny someone the opportunity to participate in a race for which they have trained for years? In the end, Mayor Bloomberg made a Solomonic decision.

N.B. As of about 5:30 pm today, Mayor Michael Bloomberg officially canceled this year’s marathon. While I’m sad for the runners, I’m happy with the ultimate decision. NYC just cannot take one dime or one officer away from its neediest citizens right now.

Save Me, Staten Island

This evening I watched Anderson Cooper’s news program featuring Joe Molinaro, the Staten Island borough president. I was shocked to hear that Molinaro announced that people should not donate money to the Red Cross because the Red Cross wasn’t helping New Yorkers. As is turns out, Staten Island received absolutely no relief or help from the aid agencies until today. Why? Because Staten Island residents complained loudly and often to their leaders, who, in turn, got a little national press coverage. It was precisely that airtime which prodded some aid over the Verrazano Bridge and into yet another community devastated by Superstorm Sandy.

I mean, really. Those Mob Wives need our help as much as anyone else. Right?

It Was 20 Years Ago Today