The Great Depression, or the Great New Year?

Today marks the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It's the day we remember the year gone by - the mistakes and the proud moments - and we look ahead to a new year with new possibilities. I spent this New Year with my parents in their new home, in a new city, in a new temple. I wasn't overly moved by the temple, but I appreciate the generosity it showed the citizens of the area by not charging for high holiday services (one seat usually goes for $100) and offering free meals and snacks to the community. 

The rabbi seemed to be a nice man with a heart for the seniors in his community, which seemed odd since my parents are nowhere near senior, but also warming since the rabbi's elderly parents live in the area. He spoke slowly and calmly, and everyone joined in the prayers at their own pace. When it came to his sermon he spoke of a prediction he made about six months ago. "America will wake up from the bad dream it's currently having," he said. And today, I believe it did. The Dow sank 777 points and America was officially in a financial crisis. 

But the rabbi offered a piece of advice: Stop and think about what matters to you.

How many of us were raised to believe that a good job, a big house and a large retirement fund were the measures of success? Maybe today - as we watched our money disappear at the click of a mouse and the pound of a gavel - is the day we rethink what matters to us.

L'shana Tova (for a good year) 

Flight Tip: Start at 100 and Count Down

Lately, I've become a nervous traveler. I was never like this - in fact, I was one of the best travelers I know. I blame the "weigh me" plane, but alas, I have to fly and there will be turbulence. 

Saturday morning I awoke to rain storms, fog and potential thunderstorms in the area. By the time I arrived at the airport for my 12:00 p.m. flight, I had already experienced two minor panic attacks. My parents wanted to see me and I wasn't going to let them down. 

I got on the plane.

The pilot came on the loudspeaker and announced, "Folks, it's going to be a little bumpy getting out of here, but once we're passed Philadelphia it should be smooth flying down to Florida." Philadelphia is more than an hour away. This is going to suck. I sat back, opened my book and took long deep breaths.

The first wave of turbulence took us on a ride about 20 minutes into the flight. I stopped, closed my eyes and started counting backwards from 100. I don't know what number I stopped on, but I know the turbulence ended before I reached 1. It made a huge difference in my less-than-calm composure.

I don't know where I picked up this tip, but I'll using this flight tip for future flights. (Check out the hundreds of other flight tips from other travelers.)

A Message From the Muppets

Are the candidate's campaigns confusing? Not sure you quite get the "message"? Wondering how to fill your election night? Let the Muppets simplify your campaign conundrum.

It's On...

Tonight, we will debate.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26900453/

Anyone want to talk about the issues on the table?

Are We Debating?

It's 11:00 a.m. Do you think there will be a debate tonight?

Obama's camp says he's on his way to Mississippi.

No one has heard from McCain.

Personally, I would love to see what happens if McCain doesn't show up. This could be a combination of the most brilliant and fatal political career moves in history...

Quote of the Day

The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

-Alan Kay

Living La Vida Oscar on Election Night

This is a historic election year and as such, I'm treating November 4 as my own personal Oscar night. A little history:

A a past political reporter, you can say I'm "addicted" to this time of year. It only happens every four years so I allow myself the freedom to act like a complete asshole. I pace, I drink, I yell at the TV, I scream at the states that aren't "called" yet -- it's my own personal Superbowl. My friends Bail and the Missus wanted to have a nice dinner on election night and ease into the results. Unfortunately, that simply doesn't work for me. I need room to move... I need space to breathe. I cannot be tied down to one area. So MFTM threw out a suggestion last Friday night while we consumed after-work cocktails, "Let's rent out a suite, order a ton of room service and get drunk while Frogger paces the room."  

Actually, it's not a bad idea. I found a hotel in the city that has a concierge level, and a 24-hour lounge complete with a bar and late-night snacks. I called the concierge at the hotel today to make sure the rate I found was legit (because the hotel is one of the swankier ones in the city) and Isaac, the "Tower Manager", assured me he would take great care of my needs on Nov. 4. Oh, Isaac... you poor fool.

So I booked, and here is my plan:

• Leave the office at 3 p.m. and go for a workout. I've already alerted my coworkers and managers that I'll need space during the hours of noon on Nov. 4 through Nov. 5. 
  
• Check-in to hotel and depending on where the results are for the day, take a nap.
  
• Wake in time for appetizers on the 15th floor lounge and a pre-election drink with friends.
  
• Give room service menu to MFTM and Bail and tell them to just "keep it coming" while I find a comfortable spot in the lounge to stake out of the night.
  
• Possibly order an in-lounge pedicure from the hotel spa.
• Let the night move on with my personal bartender, personal concierge and close friends who are brave enough to stick out this night with me.

There will be tears, laughter, and a lot of nervous energy. And that's just on my part. But I'm feeling good about not being alone on election night, because if things go terribly wrong, I'll need a shoulder to cry on (and friends who will keep me from fleeing to the airport and escaping to another country).

Cure for the Common Chaos...

...dinner with a good friend at a hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant.

Share some pasta, a bottle of wine and a good conversation, and you'll soon forgot about all the other conversations from earlier in the day.

Writers for Peace: Sicily 2009

I'm helping to organize a conference in June 2009 for writers so if you're interested, stay tuned.

The format will be blend of writing and local culture. We'll experience gourmet Sicilian food, culture, the valley of the temples and also work with literary agents and authors to craft our scripts. The theme is "Writers for Peace" and I think the timing is perfect.

My agent has been on my back for my book manuscript since June and it's still not finished (sorry, Tracey). I can't seem to find the hook... It's not for lack of information, creative characters or story lines, but I'm having trouble tying the end to the beginning and I need a creative outlet. So I've turned my focus to helping run this conference in June - more details to come soon, but right now here's what we're looking for: Sponsors!

The Writers For Peace conference will give away scholarships and awards in a variety of topics to those writers promoting peace in their prose.

Matters of the Heart

The 30-something-singles of the world have a tragic feat ahead of them -- we spent a majority of our 20s focused on getting out of our parent's shadow, making it on our own and finally finding a financially-stable place in this downward-spiraling economy. Look around the restaurant the next time you're out to eat -- it's likely the majority of the people dining out are those who fit this mold. We're confident, successful and we spent over a decade saving up for the next great depression. This core group of us didn't focus on marriage or children, and now that we're successfully stable we've turned our desire to the bedroom, and we secretly envy our married friends who were smart enough to do that years ago. Alas, here we are... and to those 30-somethings who still have a spark left in them I'm here to tell you: Dating is so complicated.

One friend put it perfectly: Dating today is more like a job interview... there is no romance in meeting someone new. It's an interview process that focuses on three questions: 

1. Are you smart enough?
2. Are you pretty enough?
3. Will my friends think you're smart and pretty?

Answer "no" to any of the above and the interviewer has moved on to the next candidate. Don't mistake me, ladies -- we do the same thing. The older we get the more focused we are on the things we have already mastered ourselves, and we're looking for someone who can match that inner-intelligence. 

If my friend set me up with you, you must something of a worthy individual, because my friends are exceptional people, which by default makes you exceptional in your own right. So if we can't connect what does that mean? You don't think I'm attractive enough for you? You don't think I'm smart enough for you? You don't think your friends will think I'm attractive or smart enough? 

I look around the table at my single friends and I think to myself, "I wouldn't even fix any of them up with the men I've out with!" I have one man friend who's been in my life for a while and he has described our single group of friends as "intimidating" and "unapproachable." Well, to that I say, if you've dated the men we have you would be slightly picky, too.

I've dated just about every man on the spectrum. The playboy, the druggie, the hippie, the dreamer, the clueless, the dependent and the one who got away. What I've learned through all of this is that with each date, I learn more about myself. But for God's sake... I know me! I've spent 33 years getting to know me! Just once, I want a date that doesn't feel like an interview. I want to sit across the table from someone I've emailed thanks to set-ups, who claim to be one person and turn out to be that person. What's with the front? Why do people - both men and women - put on a facade that they think will attract the opposite sex?

So what is it? What makes women and men today so complicated? Are we really complicated, or do we just have a better understanding of what we want, and we aren't willing to negotiate? We didn't negotiate when it came to our education, our careers, our finances. So does it make sense that we don't negotiate when it comes to matters of the heart that happen in the bedroom?

Simple Living: Apple Picking

If a bit of serenity is what you crave, head out of town and go apple and/or pumpkin at Russell Orchards in Ipswich, Mass. 

There are few things as American as hayrides and apple-picking. It's been years since I've donned my ripped jeans, old t-shirt and ratty tennis shoes

 for a 45-minute drive from Boston to the Ipswich orchards. 

Russell Orchards is open May through November. The farm stand features homemade donuts, pesto and fruit wines. A walk through the animal farm lets children pet everything from ponies to pigs, and the friendliest of the lot is always the calm goat herd. The family cat Popcorn rests easily on the haystack outside the farm store.

Hundreds of families had the same idea on this crisp Sunday. No matter... everyone is here for one thing: a little simple pleasure before the complicated Monday inevitably begins.

"I thought I was going to be something by the age of 23..."

Home sick this week and lots of time with the computer, in bed, and On Demand.

Today's movie that rocks, "Reality Bites."

It's been years this I've watched this influential Gen-X flick and toward the end of the movie, the most pivotal quote.

"I thought I was going to be something by the age of 23," says Winona Ryder's character Laney to Ethan Hawke's "Troy."

It's been over a decade since I was 23...

Where did you think you would be at 23?

Quote of the Week

Former presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, to Katie Couric: "Look, I owe the American people an apology. If I had beaten the old man, you would never have heard of the kid and then we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

--Democratic National Convention, Denver 2008

Bedroom Secrets: New Bedding Makes for Better Sleep

Those who know me best know of my random insomnia - it comes, it goes, it sucks. I've had this problem since college - back then, the solution was weed; today it's Nick-at-Night. Regardless, it's an unfortunate effect on my mid-afternoons. The focus drains from my brain and I find myself reading a sentence two to three times to understand its meaning. This isn't every night, mind you, but once in a great while the nights go on forever.

This was my past few weeks, until last night...

My friend The Missus and I took to a day of shopping in Kittery, Maine. I had high hopes for fall fashion, but instead left the clothing stores with two silk shirts and one fall jacket. As we worked our way around the Premium Outlets, we stumbled upon Linens & Things. I walked in, went to a bedding and immediately felt the urge to sleep. Maybe it's because it was a bed, or maybe it was the soothing patterns of brown sea flowers on a crisp white background. Of course, it was one of the more expensive items in the store. I debated it for a bit... is it worth the money? Do I need new bedding?

It had been years (I won't tell you how many) since I had purchased new bedding so that was an easy answer. I walked in circles around the store trying to find a bedding that was comparable to the one I fell in love with at first sight. My friend the drunk Missus walked around the store with the rolling ladder -- I think she was hoping I would find something I loved on the top shelf so she could climb the ladder. Turns out there was nothing I wanted more. I took the comforter, bed skirt and pillow cases to the checkout and cashed out. The total of this purchase was more than the other purchased combined from the day, but I couldn't wait to get home.

I tore the bedroom apart last night and put together my new bed. I crawled into the comfort of my new comforter around 11 p.m. and for the first time in years, I hit "snooze" when the alarm went off at 6 a.m. and slept soundly for another hour.

The Best Spot in Boston for Drinks

I'm actually afraid to share this bit of wisdom for fear that word will get out and my new favorite place will become the next see-and-be-seen spot, and I will not be able to get a seat at the bar, but I'll take my chances and plead that you, too, keep it a secret.

The best spot in Boston for drinks is The Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel. 

Upon arriving at the lounge, the maitre d will kindly seat you and your party at a reasonable spot that accommodates your entourage. You might be seated at a table, a bar lounge or a sofa - it doesn't matter as there is no bad spot in this civilized place. You may choose to order a

 glass of wine from their extensive wine list, or have a martini made especially for the likes of those who frequent the Four Seasons. Order a cheese plate or the trio of fries and sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. And for those of you with a sweet tooth, fear not... every Friday and Saturday night there is a dessert buffet that rivals the likes of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory and will put most pastry chefs to shame.

The Four Seasons is without a doubt one of the classiest hotels in the city and it should be noted that drunk, stumbling stragglers are not admitted. However, this little piece of luxury on the Boston Common treats its patrons with class, and that ain't so bad after a long week at the office.

Craig Ferguson: Go Vote!

Listen to Mr. Ferguson - he knows what he's talking about. Get out and vote - Puff-Diddily does it.

American Heart Walk: GOAL ACHIEVED

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your contributions to the 2008 American Heart Walk, in support of ... me! Thanks to your donations, I've achieved my fundraising goal of $500 - all of which goes to the research and resources needed to fight heart disease and stroke.

Tomorrow is the 6-mile walk/run - coming along for the ride are my friends The Missus and Bail. I'll hand in the donation form and head out along Storrow Drive, along with thousands of others who are devoted and dedicated to fighting heart disease.

Thanks for your support!
xoxo
Frogger

The Great Heart Walk

This Saturday, Sept. 13, I'll be participating in the American Heart Association's Heart Walk - an annual fundraising event that raises money to fight heart disease and stroke. I'm going for the 6-mile run (!). The American Heart Association holds a special place in my heart, and in the hearts of members of my family. I've missed the walk the past few years because of travel, but this year I'm in town and I'm walking/running!

Want to walk with me?

Want to donate toward the cause?

Email me at wheninromeblog@gmail.com and I'll send you all the information.

A Stay on the Vineyard

Coming up: Another flight on the 'you weigh too much' plane and a stay on the beautiful Martha's Vineyard. 

I'll head to MV at the end of the month for a stay on the island. The purpose: off-season finds. On the list of things to hunt for:

• Art
• Vineyards/Wine
• Unique shopping
  

Martha's Vineyard is one of my favorite places in New England and since I'm familiar with the island, it will be easy to get around and find the "hidden" spots. Of course, if you have any suggestions... send them along.

Emergency Summit at the Marliave

Last night, there was an emergency state of the union meeting at the bar around the corner.

The issue: Work.
The question: Does content generate revenue? Do we still have jobs?
The conclusion: Drinks lot of wine.

A bottle of wine, two additional glasses of wine, and one martini later we came to a few conclusions:

• Content is king.
• Dating is not easy; awkward dates are the worst.
• We will gather on election night at a TBD bar near my home so that I can pace around and take breather-breaks during the counting process, as necessary.
• Politics plays a role in everything - from running the country to running a meeting.

This Friday starts with a hangover and a to-do list you can't imagine, but it also signals the beginning of the weekend, and that is good.

Girlfriend Getaway Contest

Givetoyourself.com is a Web site dedicated to girlfriend getaways and if you're lucky, you can win a free trip with your closest gals!

Givetoyourself.com is sponsoring a competition to select the top 20 girlfriend getaway experiences for 2008. If you're a woman at least 18 years of age, send in your details about your favorite girlfriends getaway experience. You could win a complimentary resort weekend getaway!

You'll need photos, videos and at least 800 words describing your girlfriend getaway vacation. Learn more here: www.givetoyourself.com.

Thursday Night Drinks...

...for a Friday a.m. hangover.

That's how this day goes.

Things to do in Florida (when it rains)

With Florida becoming a more traveled-to destination on my itinerary list, I'm faced with the challenge of finding new things to do in Florida. Obviously, the beach is nearby and there is always a pool in someones backyard, but what happens when it rains? Here are list of things to do in Florida when it rains:

1. Go to the beach. Yes, the beach. There are plenty of beach-front restaurants with indoor seating. Grab a window table and watch the storm roll in while you sip a tasty drink or enjoy a fish sandwich.
2. Head to the outlet mall -- any of them. There are hundreds of strip malls in Florida -- find one you like and start shopping.
3. If you're visiting Florida during hurricane season check with the local Red Cross and see if they need any items for displaced families. Get a list and then get shopping! You'll feed your need to shop and also something nice for others.
4. Rent a good movie and pop open a bottle of wine. It doesn't matter if you're not outside, it matters that you're not in the office.
5. Grab your camera (and an umbrella) and head outside. It might be raining, but it's the perfect opportunity to take pictures of a tempered waterfront. (Watch out for lightening.)

Martha's Vineyard Food & Wine Festival

If you love wine, and you love the simple pleasures of Martha's Vineyard off-season, don't miss the 2008 Martha's Vineyard Food & Wine Festival, which starts Friday, Oct. 17. This year's guest of honor is Margrit Biever Mondavi, and over the weekend there will be 13 different culinary events to help pair wine and food.

Tickets are $100 and proceeds will benefit the Martha's Vineyard Museum.

Life in Beverly Hills: Living in 90210

The first (and last) time I was in Beverly Hills was 1999. My BFF and I hopped a plane to Los Angeles to survey the scene. I knew some people who lived in LA at the time so we could stay for free. That was about all they were good for.

The first few days of our visit we spent sitting around waiting for other people to get their crap together. Everyone in LA drove SUVs -- at the time, that was the "new" car and even though it didn't snow in LA and no one really needed an SUV, everyone had one. We went to someones house party where we knew absolutely no one, and walked around the beach aimlessly until my BFF had enough and said, "screw these people." We rented a car -- a white Dodge Stratus -- and set off to see LA. It was the best part of our trip. After four days of doing nothing (thanks for our pitiful hosts) we spent our last day on Sunset, Rodeo, Hollywood Blvd, and in Universal Studios. We lived up the 90210 zipcode and if there was a Brendan, Dylan or Steve around -- they would have undoubtedly shown us a good time.


Let's not forget, that this trip came on the heels of 90210 ending -- the close of an era for some. No more Andrea Zuckerman. No more Steve Sanders. No more Peach Pit. So it's not without reason that I succumbed to the TV last night and watched the premier of the NEW 90210. Friends, times have changed since the days of Brenda and Kelly. Let's review:

1. 1. Skinny little bitches. I do not recall Brenda and Kelly looking this thin. In fact, Ms. Taylor and Ms. Walsh looked downright healthy compared to the 'next generation' that is parading the halls of West Beverly High today.


3. 2. Nat is back! I think this is actually the only angle of the show I enjoyed. Because without Nat at the Peach Pit, there is no 90210. But he's using a fancy espresso machine, which is so unlike Nat. Still, he's the only reason I might tune in again.

3. Who is the father of Kelly's son? Dylan? Brendan? Bring back Steve! In the old 90210, there would have been a pregnancy scare and Kelly would have confronted one of the men and then turned to Donna for support while she peed on a stick.

4. I'm still uncertain as to what Brenda's role is in the new 90210, but I know this... if she's the true Brenda, she'll scam on the hot teacher who is hot for Kelly.

5. Blow jobs within the first two minutes of the show. Blow jobs in an SUV outside the front doors of the school. Classy, kids. My parents would have got up from the sofa, walked to the TV, turned it off and politely told me and my sister to go do our homework and never mention the show again in the house.

What did we learn from last night? Times have changed -- dramatically. I'm not sure I'm ready to embrace the new 90210. The new 90210 makes the old 90210 look like Pleasantville. I don't know if Nat would approve of the blow job-school scene, had he known about it. I think Nat would have served up a milkshake and a plate of fries, and talked to "the kids" about how he used to court the ladies in the old days. And they would have laughed. And all would be good in the land of 90210.

Bring on the Cristal

I never liked Florida. Until this weekend. This weekend was the first time I enjoyed Florida, and I credit that in part to the bottle of Cristal we popped to christen the parents new home. 

There was birthday cake, a bottle of Malbec and Phoebe the dog all around the table as the champagne flowed. 

If you're heading to Florida in the near future, here are some travel tips to keep you kicking around the state:

• Don't go during July, August, or September. It's too hot, even for the Floridians.
  
• Don't go during July, August, or September. It's hurricane season, and no matter what part of the state you're visiting, you're going to feel the effects of one or more hurricanes.
• Take a moment to watch a sunset. The Florida sunsets are pink and purple and they are simply beautiful. 

p.s. If you do happen to vacation in Florida during hurricane season, and you're not affected by the hurricane, head to your local Red Cross and find out who was affected and what they need. Many Red Cross stations are set up in the areas that aren't affected by natural disasters so they rely on the people in those areas for support. Everyday items like shampoo, diapers, toothpaste and shaving razors are necessities that some people are living without. 

The Best Doctors Offices...

... are the ones with free Internet access!

As I sit here waiting, an IV in my arm and completely uncaffienated, I am comforted only by the fact that I am able to access the outside world via the wireless connection in the waiting room.

On the other hand, this online addiction might be precisely the reason I'm here to begin with. Whatever... let's just get this done with so I can have some coffee.