A small light in the face of fanaticism.

If Jesus came back and saw what is going on in his name, he would never stop throwing up. -Max von Sydow, "Hannah and Her Sisters"

I've seen that moment in the movie a few times, but each time I see it or read the quote I smile and feel a little better about all the religious nonsense that happens in this crazy world.

I find religious fervor and fanaticism to be not only preposterous and a sign of mental weakness, but what people do in the name of "faith" boggles my mind and makes me sick.

Obviously, people's religious convictions and private beliefs are a.) none of my business; and b.) completely respectable in the way that everyone's personal and subjective experiences are (this is my disclaimer).

But judging other people... well, suffice to say, it makes me crazy.

So in the midst of waiting in line at the pharmacy or check out line at the supermarket and being barraged by Jesus songs, I look at this quote and giggle.

Happy Holidays!

Getting your car towed, improv & the gym

Whatta day yesterday was. I run out the door all cheerful-like to move my car at the designated street cleaning time (yes, I live in NYC) and round the corner, keys in hand to see... nothing. The whole block is clear of cars. At the very end are a couple of work trucks with their lights flashing and then I see it... a small red sign that the PIC and I did not see the night before as we parked in the dark: NO STANDING 7AM - 7PM.

FUCK!!!!!

So I hussle my butt back to the apt and immediately call my husband with that resigned feeling of facing a sliver of doom settling into my heart. We both beat ourselves up for a few minutes before I say, "Hey! It happens" and we move on.

I spend an hour on the phone with one of my brothers steeping more and more in denial at the reality waiting for me: The Brooklyn Tow Pound.

Well, first I call the Dept. of Finance for NYC and get directed to the Replocation office ("I think your car has been Relocated, if there are work trucks on the block? On the actual block? There's work being done? Yeah, I bet it's been relocated.") where a woman answers the phone and says, "There's work being done on the block? On the actual block? Yeah, it's probably been relocated to... somewhere else in your neighborhood." Me: ...Is there a way to tell if it's been relocated? Her: You just have to... look around... your neighborhood, for your car. PAUSE Me: What? Her: Just look around your neighborhood. Me: Is there a way to confirm that it has, in fact, been relocated. Her: Oh... well, the woman who can help you with that has gone to lunch, so you'll have to call back in an hour or so. Me: Ok, thank you.

So then I called the Brooklyn Tow Pound and the woman answered the phone in a voice SLIGHTLY above a soul-deadened whisper. No inflection: brooklyntowpound. Me: Yeah, I think my car was towed. DEEP SIGH Her: plate# Me: It's a CA plate. SILENCE Her: Hello?
Me: Yeah! Her: plate# Me: [i give plate #] Her: Yeah, we got it. Me: And where are you, exactly? Her [suddenly booming, crisp voice]: SANDS AND NAVY STREETS. Me: What do I need to retrieve it? Her [back to monotone]: licenseregistrationinsurancecard. Me: My registration is in the car. BEAT BEAT SIGH Her: we'll see about that when you get down here.

So I get a ride from a good friend of mine who when he sees the exterior of the tow pound says, "Jesus, it looks like Auschwitz!" And it does.

I wait in line for 2+ hours with about 30 other grumbling people and finally pay $185 (which does not include the TICKET we also got... bastards) and get a slip and am told to "wait by the fence".

By this time it's 6PM and I'm late for trying to get to my improv class in the city. I'm standing in the pitch dark in Auschwitz Tow Pound by a collection of fences with a receipt in my hand.

I start walking towards a guard booth at the entrance to the Pound and one of the 3 city cops inside sticks his head out of the heated booth and yells across the empty lot, "Maam?? Can I help you?!" I yell back, holding up my receipt, "Where do I collect my car?" and he says, "Wait by the fence!" I gesture to where I was just waiting and he nods and closes the door.

I wait.
And wait.
And wait.

Then I walk over the other police booth shining like a beacon in the night and ask someone else what to do. He tells me that I should wait where I was and a van will come take me to my car.

I wait a few more minutes and a police van shows up, lets two guys off and picks me and one other guy up. She drops him off first and then asks me what kind of car I have. I say, "Blue Honda Civic". We drive around and it's hard to see the colors of the cars it's so dark. She says what I think is: It's a dark night. I chuckle and say: yeah, it is. Her: DARK or LIGHT honda? I mumble and say: Oh, dark. It's this one on the left.

Then driving into Manhattan to try to get to my class which I did end up making, just, 3 separate people PUT THEMSELVES in front of my car separately, consecutively and within about 4 minutes. I was driving slowly and carefully through the East Village and first a crack addict with her tummy hanging is just walking down the middle of the right lane on Houston. Just... walking, and talking... to herself.

Then 30 seconds later a homeless man in a wheelchair is wheeling himself (very poorly) in the street and I barely see him, but luckily do. Then about 2 minutes later I'm driving through a green light and a kid on a skateboard comes careening in front of my car, he gets into my headlights and freezes, scared. I stop. He bends down, grabs his skateboard and runs across the rest of the intersection.

Needless to say, I was glad to get the fuck out of my car and leave it in a lot for class.

Happy Thanksgiving & Bond

I hope you had a fantabulous Thanksgiving like I did. I spent it at a friend's house with a good group of people and a really good dinner. I made Wisconsin Mac n Cheese and a Pumpkin Ginger cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (both recipes are available on my recipe blog here: http://badgalcooks.blogspot.com/)which ROCKED. So did all the other dishes my friends put together. I got wasted and had a fine time doing it. So there.

I saw the new Bond tonight and after reading horrible reviews of it and hearing disparaging comments about it I had few expectations.



The PIC and I went to our local animal shelter to pet kitties in cages, I went to the gym and then we went and saw "Quantum of Solace". It was fine - not nearly as good as "Casino Royale", in my opinion, but as my husband pointed out, "it was a lot better than any Roger Moore Bond, or Pierce Brosnan". Which is true.

I don't like the blurry fight/chase scenes where you can't really tell what's going on, but I love Mathieu Amalric who plays the villain and Daniel Craig once added more dimension than many previous Bonds. Judi Dench, as always, is a pleasure and delight to watch.

Now - on to work on my many sewing projects this week which you can monitor on my quilting blog! How fun.
http://badgalquilts.blogspot.com/

Happy Holiday Season officially. Don't kill yourself when you've heard 300 holiday songs in public places. Just drink more eggnog.