OCTOBER HIATUS

Just like the title says, I'm taking a brief hiatus. During the month of October.

Though not explicitly declared, I will be returning to the blog on 1 November (again, maybe not entirely obviously, but 1 November 2012).

09.30.2012 "32 Reasons to Watch Football"

It's only four weeks into the NFL regular season, which means it's not too late to become a fan. Not sure which team is best for you? Outside of the geographical preferences that most people have when selecting where to pledge allegiance, use this to guide your choice.

Courtesy of Stacy Lambe at BuzzFeed, I bring you "32 Reasons to Watch Football." (and here is the link to get there).

Source: http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8ut2yilFZ1qhpvj5o1_1280.jpg

My thoughts on the list? It's sad that the best they can do for the Chicago Bears is Jay Cutler. 

09.23.2012 Emmys

It's been awhile since I've posted, and I'm sure this is not the most intuitive return to my writing but happening either way. Welcome to the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, and let's not talk about the Emmys. Let's instead talk about the red carpet coverage provided by E! this year.

Aside from listening to Ryan Seacrest chat up random celebrities and act like he's totally besties with everybody (I said "besties," because it's how I imagine Ryan Seacrest talks about his best friends in show business.. not because I like that word), there was one particular aspect of this year's red carpet that I loved.

The "mani cam."

Yes, you heard me correctly. Let's not just talk about the dresses (because, honestly I could talk about that all day) but let's force actresses to "walk" their fingers down a miniature red carpet in a box to show off their manicures. If you thought American culture was ridiculous before, no ordinary eye roll will be sufficient here.

09.05.2012 Community Laundry Room

Doing laundry is a necessary evil. If you think otherwise, you should consider changing your mind. Do laundry. Don't be disgusting. Public Service Announcement.

If, like me, you no longer have the luxury of your own washer and dryer and are subjected to the trials of a shared laundry room in the basement of your apartment building, you have experienced the shared dryer. All dryers suggest that you clean the lint trap BEFORE each load. No, thanks. I'd rather not be touching the lint of a neighbor-stranger. I'll clean my own lint, and you do the same. Deal? 

09.03.2012 Made In America Festival

Source: Made In America

How did you celebrate your Labor Day weekend? Did you relax with your family? Did you partake in an old fashioned, American barbecue? Did you appreciate the end of summer (and an extra day away from the office) by going all in on some outdoor sports? Possibly. Probably. But did you go to Philadelphia, see Jay-Z  perform with Kanye West (not to mention also see the Liberty Bell), and charge the cell phone of a DJ named Milkman while working at a phone charging tent during the Made In America Festival? I'm guessing you didn't.

If you weren't partying in Philadelphia this past weekend, you weren't partying. I don't need to really say much about it, considering the line-up should speak for itself. Add in Budweiser as a sponsor along with  more mid-calf high socks than any frat house could handle, and what more could you want (beside Duracell Powermat phone charging tents- I work for Duracell, don't worry about it) from a Labor Day weekend?

Question answered. You could want this photo. Jay-Z curated the music festival, so it's only natural that Beyonce would make an appearance. But RON HOWARD? Hold on. RON HOWARD? Seriously. Ron Howard makes it a party. Always.

Source: popdust.com

08.30.2012 Street Parking Standards

Instead of making this a story about my first experience with street parking in New York City, let's not put the focus on my near panic attack driving around the Upper East Side and instead focus on the nature of street parking in Manhattan.

I'm not going to park somewhere with a MuniMeter (who pays for street parking?), and I'm definitely not parking in a garage (we're not even going there). Hence, I found myself driving back and forth on the one-way streets between 1st and Park Ave., slowing losing my mind the further north I migrated. By the time I reached the 80s (street numbers, not the decade, though I'm not sure why I'd need to clarify that), I had started hallucinating open spaces where fire hydrants, driveway entrances, and bags of garbage overflowing from the sidewalks would eventually stop me.

Then, I park. Floating gracefully above the front of my car was a simple sign, much like this one:

It's a Thursday night, and I am parked under a sign that would quite clearly tell most people that you won't be able to keep your car there through the following evening, which was my intention. In the momentary insanity induced by the parking spot search from hell (even worse than a suburban mall during the holiday season sales), I decided that a broom through the "P" was not the same as a normal "no parking" symbol.

My car is still sitting under this sign, and I will be moving  my car in the morning. Who cleans streets from 11 to 12:30 on a Friday anyways?

08.29.2012 Stew Leonard's

There was once a time when I lived in a magical place called Connecticut. And in this magical place, there was a magical grocery store called Stew Leonard's. It's a store with a petting zoo, singing food robots, and the most incredible selection of cupcakes. It claims to be the "World's Largest Dairy Store," so what's not magical about that?

It would make more sense if it were in Wisconsin (America's Dairyland/coolest state ever), but that's a separate point.

And if you ever happen to pass a Stew Leonard's during "Hoedown" season, you must stop in. Don't want to ruin the surprise, but it's totally worth it..