Gotham Gal

The Best Laid Plans

The best laid plans aren't always perfect. 

This past weekend we were going to Austin for the Austin City Limits Music Festival.  Hurricane Rita was certainly a distraction.  We knew that we'd be OK weather wise and travel wise but should we take the possible risk of tornado's?  20,000 refugees in Austin from other parts of Texas.  Bands were canceling.  Such a positive event shouldn't be enjoyed on a downer type weekend so we canceled on Thursday night.  Such a drag but there is always next year.

We had everything in place.  Kids were taken care of.  My mom came up and watched the crew so we could still check out of town and we did.  We took to the East End of Long Island which was just glorious weather wise.  There is really nothing like checking out of the craze for a few days.  We are now recharged and raring to go.

Alas, the best laid plans are not always perfect.

Mike Bloomberg

I have been a NYer through the Koch Administration, the Dinkins Administration, the Guilliani Administration and now the Bloomberg Administration.

This city is not an easy place to run.  The diversity, the budget, the challenges are extreme.  It takes a strong leader.  Someone who is smart, understands budgets, understands negotiations, understands the city. 

I have been overwhelmed with the amount of email from country wide Democrats asking me to get behind Freddie Ferrer.  The comments are from he supports our ideas, you should support the Democrats, etc. 

This is where I think politics should change.  I certainly vote on people that support my ideas and values.  Guilliani had no morals which is the one thing I couldn't stand about him so I didn't vote for him.  He had no passion for the under privileged.  Koch was a master but sort of lost it in the end.  Dinkins was a nightmare. 

Bloomberg actually stands for what I stand for.  He is really a Democrat in Republicans clothing.  Or one could say he is a moderate Republican or a conservative Democrat.  There is a big middle ground that you can call yourself what you want but it could easily be a Republican or a Democrat in the center. 

If the Democrats want to have control of this city again then put up a candidate that is a leader.  Mike Bloomberg has done a terrific job running this town.  Sure there are always things that he could do better but in general the city has survived major budget changes, many negotiations, changes in the school system, etc.  I could only imagine what a nightmare this town would have been like today if Mark Greene was our mayor. 

Freddie is not a leader.  I would not feel confident of his leadership.  We lived through 9/11 and now see the disaster of Katrina.  Mike Bloomberg would not only navigate the problems but lead this city on the right path.  Freddie couldn't.  He's a nice guy but he isn't a leader.  That is why I like Mike. 

In the end I vote for leaders who stand for what I believe in.  There might be a day when I vote for a Republican in the White House if I felt that they would be a great leader and had my beliefs at heart.  I doubt it would happen but it could.   

I hope I stop getting the emails begging me to support Freddie.  Let's be real.  Put out a real leader and people will get behind them.  Put out a weak person and you need the emails to beg for support.  That to me says it all.

Rebuffs

Is it possible that there is a turning point in the ever arrogant Bush Administration?   

Harry Reid, the Democratic leader of Nevada, said he would oppose the Roberts confirmation.  He expects that Roberts is opposed to abortion and questions his commitment to civil rights.  The best quote from Reid is "I'm not too sure if his heart is as big as his head".  Good for Harry.  I hope others follow suit.  This decision shouldn't be looked at as a political statement but as a decision that will affect Americans lives for years to come.

Another slam is from the poet Sharon Olds, winner of the National Books Critics Circle Award.  She was invited by Laura Bush to attend the fifth National Book Festival on the National Mall in Washington.  Olds, who found the invitation appealing said "But I could not face the idea of breaking bread with you (Laura Bush) I knew that is I sat down to eat with you, it would feel to me as if I were condoning what I see to be the wild, highhanded actions of the Bush administration.   So many Americans who had felt pride in our country now feel anguish and shame, for the current regime of blood, wounds and fire, I thought of the clean linens and your table, the shining knives and the flames of the candles and I could not stomach it".

Bravo on all accounts.  It is about time. 

On another note, during the Presidential campaign, the Bush administration destroyed a runway in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  The Bush crew landed with George in tow and all his cargo which damaged the runway.  They were told that the runway was too soft for the weight of what they were bringing.  They didn't care although when other candidates arrived they were gracious enough to land elsewhere.  So now there is damage to the tune of $2.1 million.  The Bush crew offered $600,000.  Just like they run the country.  Just a small amount but not enough to cover all the expenses.  They must be horrible tippers at a restaurant. 

Career Women?

Have women finally figured out that it is impossible to have it all?  Can you really be a full time high powered executive and a full time homemaker, and be the best at both?

Interesting article on the front page of the NY Times called "Many Women at Elite Colleges Set Career Path to Motherhood".  Smart intelligent women going to top schools are already figuring out that when they hit their 30's and have kids, it will be time to refocus that career. 

As a person who has gone through many careers, I found the data interesting but not surprising.  I look back at when I was working like a dog full time with young children and it was very hard to do both. Frankly I look back and am not sure how I did it all.   I am lucky that I don't have to work at the present time but I certainly feel the urge to do something that would intrigue and challenge me mentally during the week but only under my schedule.  I like being there for the kids.  I think they get a lot from it too and by the way, so does my husband.  He can focus on what he needs to and now worry about the kids, the day to day, the other stuff.  That is my job. 

An interesting quote from Cynthia E. Russett, a professor of American History who has taught at Yale since 1967.  She says "At the height of the women's movement and shortly thereafter, women were much more firm in their expectation that they could somehow combine full-time work with child rearing," and then she goes on to say "the woman today are, in effect, turning realistic."

It is interesting. What is realistic?  Everyone should be able to have the best education that they can possibly get.  Expand your mind, broaden your horizon.  If you choose to take a different path than the supposed working norm after 10 years, why not?  Teaching your children, helping with the school, working with a non-profit organization, whatever you choose.  I would hope that these statistics wouldn't be of concert to the Admissions Departments at any University or College.  An educated society is better off no matter if you are working or not. 

Maybe the statistical information that has been documented should make us think of other ways to create balance.  Career and parenting.  Companies of all sizes should create better situations for part-time jobs that are still making an impact.  There is an entire work force of people who have a lot to give but aren't given the opportunity to do it in their terms. 

The majority of families actually have to have 2 incomes to survive.  This article really focused on women that had a partner that allowed them the opportunity to stay at home and probably  not change their lifestyle that much.  Did the women's movement of the past 30 years really make a difference? 

The answer is probably yes and no.  Yes women have more choices but no they still can not do it all.  Dr. Bushnell from the University of Pennsylvania said young women today, in contrast, are thinking and talking about part-time or flexible work options when they have children.  "People have a heightened awareness of trying to get the right balance between work and family."  This is good news.  Perhaps thinking aloud about this issue will create changes in the work force.

Something has to give and unfortunately it is usually your family life when you are working.   I am not sure that I have the answer on to how to create the perfect balance.  After all, I am not working right now but I have certainly told our daughters many times that they should think about careers that they can have forever that will be flexible for them when they have children, if they choose to stay home or even if they choose to be there when need be. 

If I had to go back and do it all over again, I'd think more about the careers that I chose.  I'd love to be able to find something that gets my juices flowing every day but allows me the ability to be home  by 3pm and still get some errands or whatever I need to do in the first few hours of the day.  I'm available for about 15 hours a week.  15 hours can make a big impact somewhere. 

I hope by the time our daughters graduate college there are more opportunities for life balance.  The article seems to say that people are just making choices one way or the other.  It would be great to have a little bit of both.  Stronger on the home front at times and stronger on the work front at other times. 

As my daughter Jessica said after reading through the article, "It's tough being a woman".

New Podcast

Our newest podcast is up.   Good week.  Listen to it live.

Enjoy!

Jerry Nadler Speaks

Jerry Nadler held a mini news/photo op conference in front of our kids school, LREI, this past Friday.  He spoke about one of his agenda's against bullying.  He wants to create a law against it.  Good for him.  He couldn't have picked a better spot to discuss anti-bullying.  Our school thrives on the respect of others.  Bullying doesn't happen.  I am not involved in the particulars but however they are teaching that respect they should consider bottling it and sending it out to other locations.  Respecting others creates better self esteem for all. 

Jerry is a big guy but he looks much better than last time I saw him.  Keep it up Jerry!

Jefferson reopens

The Jefferson restaurant on West 10th Street reopened.  They had been closed the last few months.  The owner was ill.  The menu appears to have changed a bit.  New chairs in the front bar area which look extremely hip and comfy.  I have always liked the space but never loved the food.  I'll go back and give it a chance again on the reopening.  Will keep you all posted.

The Burger Joint

Bleecker Street continues to change.  As the neighborhood changes, so does the street. 

There are 2 new openings on Bleecker, right off 6th Avenue on the East side.  One is The Burger Joint.  The menu is pretty basic.  Burgers, fries, pie of the day, sodas, floats, shakes and that's it.  I hope they succeed.  Their chances are higher than others because they already have 2 places downtown.  They know exactly what they are doing.  Haven't tried one yet but promise to this week.  FYI - the prices are $1 for a burger.

The other restaurant that just opened last week is Maroons Smokehouse.  It is located on the West side of 6th Avenue on Bleecker right before Carmine Street.  Maroons other location is a gem on West 18th Street between 7/8th.  Jamaican influenced food.  The best fried chicken and great margaritas.  I have always had a good meal there.  The portions are huge.  I will most definitely be checking out their newest restaurant, in my neighborhood on Bleecker, in the near future too.

How Disrespectful

George Bush is working very hard on getting his polls back up.  He is making a variety of promises.  Is New Orleans going to become a testing ground for the Bush Agenda?  Private schools, private Government fixed by Haliburton (their favorite company previously run by Dick Cheney).  God knows how much money is going to go down the drain.  Sort of like the Federal Government today.  Tons of money spent the past 6 years on National Security and we have none.  Hmmm.  Where did it all go? 

Let's take a look at Iraq.  What is truly happening in Iraq?  This week 150 people were blown up in broad daylight on the streets of Baghdad.  George is doing a helluva a job.  Maybe the guy needs therapy to understand why he has closure issues. 

The picture of George Bush stepping off the plane to shake the Governor of Louisiana's hand before his speech left me speechless.  He was dressed like he was about to go on a hike.  Big clunky boots, old khaki pants and a rolled up shirt.  How disrespectful.  Here is the leader of our country.  He is coming to Louisiana to speak to our country about how he is going to lead our Nation past this disaster.  Shouldn't he be wearing a suit?  Creating an image of leadership?  God, we wish we had a Parliamentary system. 

I, for one, thought his appearance disrespectful.

The Rolling Stones

We have every album the Stones every put out.  Funny enough, last night was the first time we ever saw them in concert.  I was on the fence about going...hey, these guys are old enough to be my father.  But, off we went praying that the god's were with us and we weren't rained on since the forum was Giant Stadium. 

I was thrilled on all counts.  How Mick Jagger can prance around like a 15 year old on stage every night is amazing.  Both Mick and Keith should donate their bodies to science when they leave us.  They still rock.  What is more amazing is that they are still loving what they do.  How many times do you think these guys have played "Brown Sugar"? 

The best part of the show for me was when all 5 of us (after all this was a family event) danced,  yelled and sang "Satisfaction" and everyone knew every word.  The guy who sat next to Josh, who was probably around 55, whispered in Josh's ear, "you are going to tell your grandchildren about this show."  He could be right.

As one of my extended family members said (my brother's best friend since they were 8) after going to the concert on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. "It's absolutely bizarre that these guys are 60.  If they played all their favorites, the concert would be 6 hours long.  Though one could make a case for other bands, The Stones are, to me, the greatest Rock and Roll band of all time, all things considered." 

After seeing these guys last night, he is absolutely on the money.  The Rolling Stones are by far the greatest Rock and Roll band of all time.  I even think the kids would agree.