Grats

I've done a little daily ritual for about eight months now. It's called gratitude lists. In the morning (sometimes even at night to wrap up the day), I create a list of everything I'm grateful for. I send it to a close circle of friends. In turn, they send me theirs. It's uplifting. Inspirational. And keeps you honest and close to what's truly important.

I'm a big fan of spirtuality and the law of detachment, the law of karma, the law of least effort, finding your purpose, pursuing your passion.

My lists are sometimes one dimensional. I am grateful for cheese! They're sometimes tongue in cheek. I am grateful for all the amazing memories at the ol' Yankee Stadium b/c the new one lacks any type of charm! And almost always centered on my family, my friends and of course, my Manhattan: I am grateful I can see the Chrysler Building from my apartment!

They're often more profound. I am grateful for manifesting even more fabulousness that I could have ever imagined! I am grateful for trusting the Universe full throttle. I am grateful the Universe has my back. I am grateful everyone's aboard on Team Vic!

They center me. They keep me grounded. They help me find the silver lining when sometimes there doesn't even seem to be one.

Just my two cents. Mellow day today...I am grateful for a mellow Friday. I am grateful tomorrow is the weekend. :)

Career Day

Hey all! Ok, I so need to update this blog and revise my website. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind! Been on the radio, Blog Talk Radio, spoke on a career panel at The Rainbow Room, and will be online tonight to answer all of your career questions for FREE, FREE, FREE!

TURN YOUR PASSION INTO A PAYCHECK WITH FREE FOUR HOUR ONLINE CAREER EVENT PRESENTED BY LIVEPERSON.COM

With the U.S. unemployment rate at its highest in over 20 years, LivePerson is hosting a free, 4-hour online career workshop this Thursday May 14 from 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. ET at http://www.liveperson.com/lp/webinar

Participants can learn how to get the job of their dreams, launch a successful business or market themselves using social media in the following workshops:

Launching Powerfully and Succeeding as a Small Business Owner led by LivePerson CEO Robert LoCascio, who founded his industry leading and publicly traded company during the last recession, financial expert Thomas Crawford, and private equity expert Max Lyon

Perfecting a Standout Resume with LivePerson career and recruitment experts Jamie Parker, Elena Kaspi, and Vicki Salemi, who will also discuss which industries are currently hiring

Marketing Yourself on Social Networking Platforms, featuring tips from LivePerson experts Jessica Smith and Myke Mansberger on how to land jobs using tools like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook

Reinvention: Turning Your Passion Into a Paycheck with career and life coaches Michael Hodosh, Rebecca Rodskog, and Jennifer Tuma-Young

ABOUT THE EXPERTS

Robert LoCascio
LivePerson CEO and Founder Robert LoCascio has built the company into a leading provider of real-time, online communications platforms, servicing more than 7000 businesses, including hundreds of Fortune 500 companies. An entrepreneur with a history of building and taking companies public, Robert was named a finalist for the Metro New York Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 Award.

Max Lyon
Max Lyon is a successful serial entrepreneur and executive with 25 years experience in the Biotechnology and Medical Device industries. He has helped to raise more than $100+ million in equity capital and has extensive experience in business management and finance. Max attended Cornell University (B.A.) and City University (M.B.A.) and was a winner in the Ernst & Young Northwest Medical Technology Entrepreneur of the Year Award competition in 2005.

Thomas Crawford
Thomas Crawford founded his firm Thomas Crawford CPA, PC and USA TAX in 1988. A licensed Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner ®, Thomas holds a B.S. degree in accounting from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York and is the author of the book Best Dog-Gone Tax Advice – Tips to Save Taxes and Worry Less about the IRS, Guaranteed!

Jamie Parker

Jamie Parker is a writing specialist who helps with writing, editing and proofreading on LivePerson. Jamie works with her clients on various projects, including resume writing, writing professional speeches, and editing Web copy. She is also a PR specialist at Shriners Hospitals for Children.


Elena Kaspi
Founder of LawScope Coaching, Elena Kaspi is a former corporate lawyer who jumped off the partner fast track to become a life coach. Today, Elena is called upon by major law firms to coach attorneys on ways to achieve work/life balance while building their career. She also consults with men and women on how they can transition in and out of the workforce and pinpoint the profession that suits them best.

Vicki Salemi
An executive recruiter with more than 13 years of experience, Vicki is an expert in recruiting, outplacement services, international HR, training, and employee relations, and regularly teaches people how to impress interviewers and land the job. Vicki is a career writer, health writer, and entertainment reporter for Yahoo, AOL, SheKnows, and various outlets. She is the author of The ABC’s of College Life.

Jessica Smith
Jessica Smith is the Chief Mom Advisor and the woman behind MomForce.com, Chief Mom Officer for Wishpot.com, and specializes in creating buzz and community through new media. Her Jessica Knows blog has an avid following, and she was recently tapped as one of the “50 Most Influential and Powerful Women in Social Media” by Immediate Influence.

Myke Mansberger
Myke Mansberger is the wizard behind the LivePerson social media marketing curtain. As the LivePerson Community Manager, he is responsible for building and maintaining the company's online personality through the use of social networking and media sites. Between tweeting on Twitter, Facebook status updates and launching YouTube video contests, he manages to generate consistent buzz to promote the experts and the LivePerson brand.

Michael Hodosh
Michael Hodosh is a personal life coach and therapist with over 15 years of experience as a counselor and psychologist.

Rebecca Rodskog
With more than 15 years of experience in the field of organizational development and change management, Rebecca Rodskog has spearheaded both large-scale, multi-million dollar projects and independent one-on-one consultations. A former executive at Accenture, Rebecca has worked with a diverse mixture of Fortune 500 companies and startups, including Dow Chemical, Chevron, PMI Mortgage Group, Country Companies Insurance, Gateway Computers, and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.

Jennifer Tuma-Young
Jennifer Tuma-Young wears many hats: entrepreneur, motivational speaker, writer, licensed coach, wife, mother, and down-to-earth 'inspirer.' She began her goal of helping women succeed first by opening a women's wellness center, and is now also the author of Little Miss Negative and the founder of Inspirista™. Jennifer has appeared on Better TV, Rachael Ray, ABC, and more, and her articles are featured in outlets such as Martha Stewart Living, Yahoo Shine, and iVillage.

About LivePerson:
Founded in 1995, LivePerson is headquartered in New York City and is a leading provider of online communication platforms that facilitate real-time engagement and live expert advice. Intelligently connecting businesses and individual experts with consumers seeking help on the Web, LivePerson’s platform creates more relevant, compelling and personalized online experiences. Every month, millions of people across the world turn to LivePerson to get the information and advice they need to succeed online. More than 7,000 companies, including EarthLink, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Qwest, and Verizon, and 30,000 individual experts rely on LivePerson to maximize the impact of the online channel.

LivePerson's online expert marketplace (www.liveperson.com) connects people seeking personalized, one-on-one information and advice with knowledgeable experts in real time. People from around the world can chat live with registered experts who sell their knowledge and advice in more than 600 categories including business, finance, personal coaching & counseling, education, health, and technology. For more information please visit www.LivePerson.com

Iconic 'dos!

What's your fave iconic hairdo? Or in some cases (ahem, Amy Winehouse) a hair don't? Check out my article in iVillage!

http://beauty.ivillage.com/slideshow/beauty_style/beauty_style_top_10_iconic_hairstyles/unforgettable_dos.html

God Bless America

Ok, now I know what you're thinking. You check out my site. You're dazzled, wowed, in awe! (note to self: stop flatterying thyself, now! hehe)...and what, no blogs for literally months on end? What is going on here?

I've been blogless. Twittering? Yes. Bloggin', not really. I really need to get back into the groove. When life takes over and you're immersed in priorities, well blogging is not one of them.

It needs to be. I am going to focus on themes for '09 yet somehow saying what's on my mind in the moment just feels right. Like right about now.

Anyone watch the Inauguration? As if you would miss it?! Of course you did, dah-ling. Although imagine my surprise and might I add chagrin that I watched it collectively in an office (there was something special about sharing the experience with others!) only to find people leaving at 12:01 to grab a bite to eat for lunch. Um, hello? History here! Yes, I know my grammar and run-on sentences are so not edit-savvy but it's past midnight and this writer's chillaxing.

Anyway, yesterday made me proud to be an American. Proud to know this is the place where dreams really do come true.

We're not done yet, however. A man has yet to become the First Husband!

All I want for Christmas is....

...sleep.

I'm not into the holidays at all this year. I hate to say it, I truly do but even when I walk by the tree @ Rockefeller Center I'm not into it. Christmas carolers, yuletide greetings, even that big ol' snowflake on 5th Ave? No, no, no.

Holiday parties? Ditched them all. Ok, I'm beginning to sound like the anti-Vicki!

Maybe it's exhaustion. Maybe it's the end of a delicious year that barely has steam left in its engine. Who knows, but the holidays to me are about family, quality time spent with them, and precious friends.

Forget the trees, forget the presents, forget the commercialism, and even the three French hens. (a la the 12 Days of Xmas...can you tell I have writer's block "write" now? ha!)

As long as I have the above mentioned three things (along with sleep, of course), I am golden.

Now that, my friend, is a splendid holiday indeed!

We. Want. Change.

How exciting is this Election Day? Seriously, it's quite invigorating. Check out my latest quickie post for CNBC European Business!

http://tinyurl.com/6h7bsu

Tweeting in Twitterville

I used to blog in Blogger a la Big Apple Bytes. Check that - I still do. Just not as often. Somehow I find blogging, oh how shall I put this? So 2006. Or even 2007. My friend, 2008, is all about new. Innovation. Technology. And yes, TWITTER!

I do miss blogging and have been focusing my energy towards other endeavors but the fact that my September posts were slim makes me think I *should* beef this up, yes? I suppose so.

If only I could stop the constant networking (is it wrong to list this as one of my hobbies?) and continuous status updates for my new procrastination tool at night: Twitter.com. with a smile. ;)

Copenhagen Cool!

Thereøs something special about Denmark.

A certain je ne sais quoi if you will. SidebarÆ now if only I a) knew how to speak Dutch and b) knew the foreign keyboards well....oh well....cøest la vie! ha!

So there is something to be said about a non-workaholic nation. Wind power. Joie de vivre.

And those amazing castles....mwah!

Fields of Gold

As I attended a fablicious CD launch party the other night (yes, Sting really was in the house standing literallythisclose to yours truly!), all I could think in all italics was, "Things keep getting more and more delicious!!"

We didn't start the fire

As I type this blog surprisingly I initially thought it has nothing to do about baseball but alas, there's an underscore of the American pastime nonetheless. Are ya really surprised? :)

As I sat in Row V (for all of my friends out there keeping score - yes, that would be the very last row of Shea Stadium!) with air ventilation thanks to the fact there isn't any concrete in the last row of the upper deck (it's more like a gated fence which allows breezes to be felt) there's an effect to get fresh air...anyway, Billy Joel took center stage.

Or in this case, center field.

After all, this was billed at "The Last Play in Shea" -- the very last concert to be played at Shea Stadium (home of the NY Mets, yeah like I've ever mentioned them in any of my blogs? HA!) before it meets its fate with the wrecking ball.

As Billy Joel peppered the keys with Star Spangled Banner to kick off the concert, followed by Miami 2017 and Angry Young Man, we had no idea the master of music would thrill us even further.

Aside from his amazing renditions of Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, We Didn't Start the Fire, and countless others, there were special guests. The roster read like a who's who in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame!!

New York State of Mind was serenaded by Tony Bennett; Steven Tyler later took the stage for Walk This Way. Then of course there's Garth Brooks who wore a Mets jersey and bball cap (keep in mind he tried out for the team several years ago), Peter Frampton from the Who and let's not forget the A-lister towards the finale: Paul McCartney!

Yes, that's right my friend, a Beatle was in da house!!! As he crooned, "I saw her standing there," we were dazzled on a steamy night in the midst of Queens. Does it get any better than this? We beckoned Billy for an encore as he usually walks off stage before belting out Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, only to be thrilled once more! After Piano Man there was yet another treat: McCartney sang Let It Be. The official ending of the concert marked full closure.

The Beatles opened Shea with their concert four decades ago so it was only appropriate to close it as well. As floor seat recipients exited past home plate or to the right field bullpen, we instantly remembered where we were: a ballpark. The great American pastime transformed its home into an evening we won't soon forget.

In the words of The Four Seasons, "Oh what a night!"

All Star Envy

Green is a fantabulous color. It's eco-friendly. It's hip. It's hot. It's now. However, it's a color you wanna wear gorgeous, not with envy but rather style.

I am experiencing baseball's remorse. Unlike shoppers remorse where you wish you didn't buy something in this case you wish you did. As in access to All Star Game tickets at face value.

So imagine my delight yesterday when I randomly discovered where the All Stars were staying! After reading one little article indicating they're staying in a grandiose place right smack in midtown I did what any fervent fan would do.

I went there! But not before a detour. You see, en route to the xx xx I came upon the Waldorf Astoria, the old school hotel that costs way too much for a room but is always good for snagging a cab when you simply can't hail one down during rush hour on Park.

Apparently that's where the press stayed!!! Hit me while I'm down why don't ya? So I danced through the lobby to see what bits and pieces I could pick up, what vicarious scents and scenes I could amass: breakfast/press conference was held yesterday morning. Can you imagine how much fun that would have been? Walking through the lobby seeing the press incredibly excited for the Home Run derby, seeing the shuttle buses jetting to and fro the Stadium, seeing little kids wearing their Yankee gear (of course, dahling: is there any other team in existence worthy of rooting for? No, no, no!)...so I went to the other hotel, the home base for players if you will but not before seeing the Statue of Liberty on parade (they're all over town) decked out in red white and blue pinstripes right in front of the MLB offices on Park Ave.

So now I'm at the other hotel and looking everywhere for players but ahem, not a one. I left disenchanted. Keep in mind I don't get starstruck unless they're my boys of summer. I am convincing myself unsuccessfully that I'm happy this morning to be in the 'burbs away from the action during my brief hiatus from Gotham. It would be like tempting someone with something they simply can't have. That parade on 6th Avenue is going to be quite a sight....on the 6 o'clock news.

So while I feel defeated in my quest for tickets (unless you wanted to shell out $350 for the bleachers; other seat locations just got more pricey), I'll watch it on tv like the rest of America only wishing and vehemently vying to be there. Green with envy but blue and white pinstripes through and through!! xoxo

ps. Two footnotes. He doesn't deserve a footnote but I'm tired of posting RIP blogs...Bobby Murcer was a classy, personable man and ball player. The baseball world lost a gem.

pps. On a much lighter note, this has nothing to do with this blog but too funny being out of Manhattan for a day....words you *never* hear in Gotham but are funny nonetheless. If you've heard of the website Overheard in NYC this could be Overheard in the 'burbs: garage sale. Soccer practice. Little league. Morning traffic. Defrost it. Scrapbooking!!

Shoptastic!

Ok, so I have been totally slack about blogging on my very own site. My bad! Oh well...

As I'm in the 'burbs at the moment (perish the thought, Vic! I know, I know...) I took advantage of some sales this past weekend. Not just any sales.

Not fourth of July sales, no siree. I'm talkin' about the one and only outlet sales!

The place? Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets, exit 16 on the thruway thank ya very much.

The vice? Handbags, baby handbags.

Every now and then I go on a little binge, let's say. Necklaces? Check. Cocktail rings and stud earrings? Check, check. Clutch, fuschia wallet, gold wallet, and black patent snacky purse? Um, check, check, check check.

If you're like moi you come prepared. Shopping isn't an excursion. It's exercise for the mind and body. It's relaxing. Retail therapy, any one? So imagine my surprise when Coach literally had velvet ropes outside. I was nestled inside as the clock struck 9 am (you think I jest?!) only to find out the crowds amassed hours later.

The Gucci (OMG, I can't believe I'm doing an entire recap - so not the purpose but whatev...) store was very cool in terms of sales but sometimes all ya need is eye candy. Non-shopaholics can't appreciate this but those sistas out there are seriously nodding in agreement. High five!

So the ultimate verdict is in: Neiman Marcus rocks. Check it: 20% off retail for certain items like my new vice (forget Coach, my new vixen is Goldenbleu handbags and accessories!!!) plus my coupon for the VIP shopper club. I kid you not.

The ultimate treats for Vic? The red patent change purse clutch (fits all the essentials I might add) for nights on the town. The black patent duffle for every day. The fuschia patent wallet (just 'cuz) and the gold croc leather wallet (why not?). Pure bliss.

PS. Very disappointing I can not load their pic due to flash player onto my blog. Ah, well. I even texted it via phone to my sister cross-country. This, my friends, is more shopaholic than shoptastic don't cha think? ; )

The Russert Effect

Passion. Enthusiasm. Joie de vivre.

With the untimely passing of Tim Russert last week came an outpouring of love and rightly so. While I was glued to the television like most Americans, I had an insatiable appetite to learn about his successful career and happy life. After all, how refreshing was it to watch someone create their own brand, be authentic with their own self, not go for the Jerry Springer type ratings but rather, invoke a sense of intellectualism on the job.

His broad smile his passion for the job seemed contagious and here's the thing: from the clips I saw he seemed to truly embody what it means to live each day to the fullest. With passion. With integrity.

He seemed "real" and therein would explain how I found out about his death: several of my friends updated their facebook status to indicate they were terribly sad about his passing. While I was immediately shocked and saddened I can't imagine my friends nor myself doing this if let's say it was Peter Jennings a while ago. We didn't seem to have a connection to him but rather, Tim feels like one of us.

The underdog.

The guy with whom you could catch a baseball game, the guy who would seem to treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO or in this case, senator, presidential candidate or heck, even president.

I honestly never truly watched Meet the Press, however sometimes I'd put it on the tv for background noise if I was actually awake that early on a Sunday (yes, I know it's 10:30 am but with NYC time it equates to 7 am everywhere else!) so of course we know he's no longer with us and his funeral invoked attendance from the highest offices of our government - past and present - watching this morning with substitute Brian Williams just seemed, of course, there was something missing. Someone special.

As I watched the footage last week and was amazed by his intellect and questions he asked candidates years ago to only emerge as they befuddled their words and retracted promises, you know what? We could all learn a thing or two from our "friend" Tim who must of us like yours truly never even met.

He lived with integrity. I'd simply assume that he jumped out of bed every the morning to prepare for the Sunday broadcast - shouldn't we all feel this way - how lucky we truly are? How blessed we are in this life?

First class all the way

One more thought, a musing if you will from Fishbowl DC...

Kotb Remembers Russert
NBC's Hoda Kotb told this touching story on 'Today' yesterday:

Kotb: I flew from New York to Washington. I'm in the airport, I'm waiting for my flight, and I'm sitting there. And this guy walks up to me, he's in charge of the U.S. Air counter, and he says, "Hi, I'm Mario. My heart is broken about Tim." And I said, "Thank you, we all are."

"Every time he came to the terminal he called me Super Mario!" And I said, "That 's so sweet." So he said, "Can I see your ticket for a second?" So he took my ticket, it was like 10c, and he came back to me and said, "Tim always flew in 1D. He only wanted one seat, the aisle, he liked the aisle, he liked the first seat. Today, you fly in 1D -- Tim's seat." And that's the card. Can I tell you, I looked at Mario, Super Mario, and the thing that touched me about him is Tim touched everybody.

I want my MTV!

Ah, backstage at MTV's TRL!! Or in this case, TR Elle (for the Legally Blonde reality show). I often wonder what I would do if I didn't live, breathe, and inhale this intoxication better known as adventures in Manhattan. Honestly, I simply don't know.

I've been to MTV before but this time was different. Special. Here's the thing: everyone I interacted with was super nice. And I could pretty much tell faux from the real thing and they were the real thing.

I'm really tired right now so this blog doesn't exactly pop with juicy splendor but my point is this: June is rockin'!

Celeb sightings

Yes, I really did send this e-mail last night. Funny thing is I'm immune to celebs. Sure, I interview them but you can't be all ga-ga. The Yanks on the other hand, completely different story. :)

Check it:

On 5/8/08, Vicki Salemi wrote:
Michael Kay lives in my 'hood! I was more starstruck last night when I saw him after the game (I was in my Yankee gear, of course) than when I interviewed the entire SATC cast!

Channeling Carrie Bradshaw

So I went to a private screening on the new SATC film on Saturday for an exciting assignment. Oh my, what a gem. Seriously! A genuine pure bred hit. The characters we love are back, sparkling brighter than ever. The stories are richer with heart, with depth.

I couldn't help but wonder: as the movie opens with a statement that most twentysomethings move to New York for labels and love, what my own life be like without our iconic heroine, Carrie Bradshaw?

I didn't come to New York looking for love. Forget that, I thought - I just wanted a life. Living in the north Jersey suburbs does not a social life or sizzling journey make.

I was wooed by Manhattan, press event after press event, interesting people after their own aspirations. It's like he was courting me. Still is. The funny thing is, three years later, the honeymoon ain't over.

The relationship is only just beginning. It's blossoming, it's blooming and as I sat in the plush seats of the press screening in the heart of midtown Manhattan, I was channeling the best of me.

My inner Carrie, you know, the witty fashionista we're all rooting for, most importantly, the author, was shining. As many of my single New York friends allude to the show on a daily basis (similar to how you could be in a conversation with someone and instantly break into Seinfeldisms, "Yes, he double-dipped the chip!" or a fave in the ladies room, "Can you spare a square?"), I can't imagine not having this show in my life.

Yes, we know it's in re-runs and even the most muted episodes on TBS don't thwart us faithful New Yorkers whose friends here serve as surrogate families. But as the actors and writer/producer/director said yesterday during the press junket, this show hit on a zeitgeist of culture. It happened at the right time, the characters connect with viewers. They're archetypes.

We're them. They're us.

We can relate so I can't imagine living in this metropolis in the midst of the scene and much to my chagrin sometimes the trendy yet btn (bridge-n-tunnel) crowd of the Meatpacking District, sans our SATC (Sex and the City).

Our favorite characters are back and yes, they're spectacular.

Divine Intervention

I knew the Yankees were going to win today. Maybe it was the fact that Pettitte was on the mound. Or the fact that my boys have been losing so much lately they were bound to win during their road trip.

It was something more like divine intervention as in the Papal visit to the House that Ruth Built. As I stood on 62nd and Lex by mere coincidence of a Pope sighting (truth be told I was en route to Bloomie's!) I realized this was more than a UN-assembly-the-president's-in-town-type-of motorcade brigade.

It was bigger. This was larger than life.

As onlookers got excited by the looming helicopters and countless police cars in anticipation of his quick drive-thru, regardless of everyone's beliefs, we realized this was too cool for school (ok, my bad. Vic's tired and is trying to think of something more prophetic but alas...)

The overcast skies parted ways as sunshine beamed downward. The Pope wasn't only in 'da House of Manhattan, he was en route to the House that Ruth Built, the one and only baseball cathedral.

The write stuff

In this recession you may read the headlines and not be shocked to learn the housing market's in a slump. Recession this, layoffs that.

What really needs to be underscored in these blight times is the ability to up your own game. Instead of the negative, let's talk positive shall we?

How about getting your game on? Rising your own personal stock, taking the bull by the horns to run, baby run. We're talkin' about your brain power, your mojo, your moxie.

The place? The Hyatt @ Grand Central Station on Saturday.

The purpose? The annual ASJA (American Society of Journalist and Authors) Conference.

The result? A lot of learning mixed in with a ton of networking.

I adore meeting fellow authors and journalists. We play the same game. Sure we have different specialties and markets but we're all in this marvelous journey together. Honing our craft, working on deadlines, I feel like there's always room to get more creative, sharper, better.

Even if that means continuing to burn the midnight oil (ok, maybe that's just me but I truly only get the juices flowing after 10 pm!).

I've attended a variety of conferences in the past, you know the kind where you're snoozing during a session or wondering when they'll refresh the snacks. Well, this one was different.

Special.

Empowering.

When you love what you do and you're immersed in it with people who are genuinely interested in the stories you're writing and vice versa, well that's the silver lining to working 24/7.

Among the numerous lessons learned this weekend one of which I'll share with you: work smarter, not harder. Don't be a perfectionist, if you have done the work to the best of your ability recognize it and move on.

The House That Ruth Built

I heart Yankee Stadium. I truly do. It’s the baseball cathedral. A place where the die-hards go to worship their men in pinstripes. The House that Ruth Built. It’s an icon.

So why in the world are they tearing it down? Even Jeter said the new stadium won’t be the same. I loathe the new stadiums like Petco Park in San Diego and whatever they’re calling the one in San Fran (Pac Bell? They change it just about every two years). They’re sterile. They’re corporate. They scream of greed and luxury boxes.

Yankee Stadium, on the other hand, is gritty. It’s old school.

Ah, memories. The place is full of ghosts, you can count on that. And games etched in my mind since I was 7.

As I was cheering on my Yanks tonight at the rescheduled Opening Day, I couldn’t help but notice this: two seats away were two little girls wearing their pink Yankees shirts. Blowing kisses to Jeter on the field. Too cute. They understood the game but at times couldn’t understand what the crowd was doing or better yet -- why.

As Joba stormed the field in the 7th to take ownership of his mound - and rightly so, that hurler can throw a fastball at 95 mph - we went crazy. You could tell it’s been a long winter and we ached for our boys of summer. As people in my section shook hands, after all they’re season ticket holders and see each other on a regular basis, I watched the girls. They loved the game. They looked like little Yankee fans, in fact we all did, in the mammoth stadium.

So little Nicole asked what was going on/why we were clapping. After all there was no baseball action on the field at the moment, just a 22-yr old pitcher running to the mound.

Then I noticed the woman next to me, must’ve been in her 60s. She’s a season ticket holder for like what, 32 years? Will that be me 35 years from now (nah, JK! More like 25 years - scary thought!)...she LOVES her Yanks, always has, always will.

So as I noticed the budding little Yankee fans learning the game juxtaposed against this veteran and then feeling like a little kid myself every time I enter the stadium, I know this baseball religion will always be part of my summer ritual. Better yet, across generations we all have something in common.

On Opening Day people are friendly. They’re happy. Ecstatic! With a play-off like atmosphere coupled with excitement in the air, we were also a bit melancholy. The new stadium is not necessary. We have no choice. I can guarantee you this: the last day of the season will be a very sad one indeed.

And if you think I’m die-hard, you should check out the fan with a tattoo of the stadium on his bicep. Or the guy who said yesterday that he cut his vaca short in Disney with his fam to fly home for Opening Day.

It’s nice to be among my brethren, my fellow parishioners in the House of Yankees.

The Business Beat!!!

Ok two items to note as I post this. Do I realize blogs should be posted every day? Yes. Do I love to write? You bet. Have I neglected this blog? *Big silent pause*....um....yes. So consider this post for February! This journo has been too busy working on deadline but...for the really big news?

My business blog was picked up for syndication by CNBC in Europe!

http://www.cnbceb.com/Blogs/Featured.aspx

Pearls of Wisdom

Words of wisdom from Vivacious Vicki!!

*life's a marathon, not a sprint

*if you work 24/7 like moi that's ok - you're working while others are resting, I honestly believe people who are successful worked their arses off; they didn't get to that level by accident or by loafing! They also got to that level by learning. Taking risks. Being smart. And surrounding themselves with good people.

*sometimes you get what you pay for

*time is often more precious than money. Don't save a few bucks like taking a local bus from the airport which will take you 2 1/2 hours instead of a 40 minute cab ride.

*bling is beautiful! But you risk the possibility of overaccessorizing, watch out for the matchy-match.

*Don't waste calories on bad chocolate!

*You can never be too rich or too thin or too happy....wheeeeeeeeeee!

*Cupcakes really do make you feel better.

(yeah, and you thought all of my pearls of wisdom were gonna be serious? HA!)

*Manhattan is the center of the universe (I am so not kidding!)

*Always be the best you that you can be, be your authentic self, be comfortable in your skin

*Ask the universe (not the NYC Universe silly, THE Universe) what you want. Check that - you have to know what you really truly madly deeply want first. Then ask and sit back and let it happen. Kidding! Go after it, go, go, go, what are you waiting for???

*Yesterday's history, tomorrow's a mystery, today's a gift that's why we call it the present! ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Superbowl picks! (Er, rather -- Super Tuesday!)

If you didn't know any better you'd think this was a huge game, the Superbowl of politics, if you will. Check that, it's more like a marathon, a long race where endurance is key (not to mention fundraising money to go along with it).

There I was in New Orleans a few weeks ago. The purpose? Biz trip with colleagues. Around 10 pm there was some blackberry action going on as everyone checked the "score." That's right, it was the big night of Iowa. Go candidates, go!

There was a big debate tonight which instantly brought me back to that "game day" moment in N'Awlins as everyone checked "the score."

Granted, I'd pick my Yankees any day of the week but alas, it's winter and spring training is only a mirage, similar to those snacky gold peep toe heels I recently bought. You can see 'em, you can almost taste it but you know there's a few more weeks before you can enjoy it.

So yeah, I'm watching the debate and caught the end mainly because I just walked in the door but I digress. Here's the kicker: it matters not what was said by whom (how'd ya like that for some present particple action? A grammarian I am not just wanted to sound spiffy - ha!) but what comments stung the most. What slinging went on, what was the best combo of the one-two punch?

As for the best part? Anderson Cooper asked the candidates questions regarding Ronald Regan (don't ya love how I'm writing this as if it's an int'l audience; you probably saw more of the debate than I did!) and what he'd think of all of them and I'm sitting here saying yes, he's the umpire! The referee, whatever, he's the chair umpire of the tennis match going back and forth back and forth and slamma gamma, slam dunk. Schwarzenegger's endorsing McCain.

And now they're doing the play-by-play going over the "highlights" and key moments of the game. Um, I mean match.

Um, I mean debate. (Sidebar: OMG! OMG! They just said on the recap that Mitt needed to "score a touchdown!" Yes, this is a sport and confirms the whole premise of this blog. Yay me!)

Isn't this what it's all about - kinda ironic Fox nixed the idea of candidates having commercials during the Superbowl. But wait, that is a sport that's a marketer's dream and if the Superbowl is marketing and the presidential race is a sport, well then, what is America?

The lipstick building

I don't get it. I don't see it. It's almost like one of those psych Rorschock (spelling?) tests where you look at a blob on a piece of paper and say it reminds you of a butterfly. There's a building in midtown affectionately known as "The Liptstick Building" because of its ravishing red hue with granite and oval shape and resemblance of you guessed it: lipstick.

Is it just me? I don't see it! Okay, that's all I have for today, weak I know. I promise the next blog will be juicier!

The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!

Alright, the original title of this blog was RIP but how morbid? Several thoughts, none of which are in any order of preference...

The day started with Oscar nominations - hooray for Juno! Brilliant script, terrific acting. As for the backstory? The tunes, baby the tunes. The NY Times reported the story on it yesterday and how movie soundtracks haven't hit it big since the mid to late 90s and here are kitschy new tunes...

Heath Ledger's passing...so sad. Which leaves me to this: would you rather be able to take stock of your life and stare death in the face or simply fade into black? (Now I know what you're thinking: Vic, how morbid! How gloomy! How glum! Oh wait - if you're Tom Cruise it would be "How Glib!" but wait that's right that's only if he's calling you dimwitted - LOL - and btw, how much do we think Katie had plastic surgery at some point? I do! I do! Her stylist rocks though...)

I don't like going there but if we must, we must. Be sure to tell everyone you love that you LOVE 'em and throw in some hugs and kisses while you're at it.

Now back to our regularly scheduled blog about minor things...after all aren't life and love the only things that truly matter?

I'm a huge fan of The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. HUGE! I'm very big even on personal time making sure it's ROI: the most bang for your buck. Is it scintillating conversations with amazingly fantastical (yes, I so made that word up!) ambitious people? Of course! So imagine my delight to discover this show a few months ago which inspires and embraces the entrepreneurial spirit.

Emme was on it tonight. I read about her recent diagnosis of cancer in a recent issue of People Magazine. She has tenacity and spirit! Go Emme, go! For a show which sometimes moves me to create synopsis on my myspace blogs (didja ever wonder if there should be a plural like synopsi? Like alumnus and alumni? ha! Okay maybe not but....) tonight it was kind of introspective. And while I am not a big fan of the new segments and A-listers, sometimes it's more fun pulling for the underdog or little engine that could, well I couldn't help but wonder.

Isn't it through life's struggles when we see we're the most resilient? The most triumphant? You see who your true friends are and what people are really made of? Just babbling when I should be blogging....ha!

So I'm looking at an apartment earlier in the week, one in my 'hood but *slighty* bigger if you call 100 sq feet and MAJOR closet space bigger (I do! I do!) and the woman was telling me how she had a spare phone which was great during the blackout. Um, hello random flashback circa 2003 (I'm thinking it was '03?) Just like the other woman selling another apartment gave wayyyyyyy too much information (TMI lady, TMI!) regarding why the apartment was refinished with new hardwood floors. Do I really need to know the former resident passed away and had deteriorating health in a wheelchair which scuffed the floors and had handrails on the walls? Methinks NO in all caps! Is this a stream of consciousness or what....Gawd, sometimes (translation: always and forever) I really love to write.

So the Giants won the penant (or whatever they call it in football land...). Whoopdee. Blah-di-dah! The only reason why I'm half-smiling? Well, whatever Superbowl par-tay I end up going to will be fandangalicious. Do I hope they win and beat the undefeated Patriots? You bet! Do I care? Um, quite honestly, not really...

...22 days til pitchers and catchers report to spring training! Baseball diamonds...bring on the bling!

On the Eve of the Iowa...

...caucuses. Carcasses. Whateva. I was just looking for a catchy subdek.

A few quick thoughts as I am working (ahem, procrastinating!) while watching the 11 o'clock news, News 4 New York, we're for New York! (yes, there's actually a jingle that I sang as I typed this....)

*is Mayor Bloomberg going to run for president? Methinks yes! Esp from the way he's talking on the news tonight.

*how much do the Knicks stink?

*is Conan O'Brien a "scab" for crossing the WGA (Writer's Guild) since he used to be a member when he wrote for SNL et al? YOU BET! See, here's the dealio: they're part of a guild, a really tight union. You're supposed to report people if they write for specific companies during the strike - that kind of union. Well, Jay and Conan were told to go back on the air or else their staffs (sidebar: why isn't it stavs for plural kinda how roof is roofs it still sounds weird 'cuz it should really be rooves if I ran the world, that is...) will lose their jobs. Interesting little pickle they're in.

So they're not allowed to do monologues. See how important the world is with writers? The Golden Globes may be cancelled w/o writers. So anywho -- I've heard the actors in SAG may not go on Jay/Conan b/c then they would also be crossing the picket line. (Letterman, on the other hand, well he's a smarty pants. He owns Worldwide Pants, the production company of his show and some other dude. So they settled with the writers for their own agreement).

They get paid as contract work and in NYC after 6 (or is it 7?) weeks on strike they get unemployment. Ok, gotta get back to biz'ness...

High ho, high ho, it's off to work I go...(insert whistling here)...

Cosmopolitan Campus: this is my New York!

There's something about being in the press room @ Madison Square Garden. And then scootin' to see a concert side stage. Asking Fall Out Boy deep questions about Uganda (spelling?). And Menudo. And the Jonas Bros. And all the hip musicians of today. That's just it - not yesterday. Not fashion forward. I'm talkin' 'bout TODAY. Translation: living in the moment. Forgetting the past, it's all a memory...the future is unfolding, today is what we have NOW....

Maybe it was seeing people tonight from Jersey from my ol' life long gone and fast forgotten. Sure you don't forget your roots but you can't deny how far you've come. How miles may not be far in distance but honestly you might as well be worlds away from this cosmopolitan campus.

I love my Manhattanites. My New Yorkers, my peeps. We have self-imposed subway curfews. We love jukeboxes in little pubs to blast "Mr. Brightside" from the Killers. We love our cupcakes and bday parties. We can't get enough of AM New York in the morning, can't stand bicycle messengers who run red lights or cabbies who have their cab light on yet continue to drive an empty car. We tolerate walk-ups, always have a MetroCard in our wallet, we live in tiny apartments with kitchenettes (but hey, how often are we really home), and we avoid Rockefeller Center at xmas time. Perish the thought, I know but have you tried walking by there in ten minutes - takes at least thirty and loses all appeal! (My vice instead? Madison Ave, baby. Madison). We aren't enthralled by the light show @ Grand Central Station, rather we're running to and fro to catch our train or jet to a magnificent soiree.

This is my NEW YORK! I chant with glee while running cross-town to catch a bus which splashes on me in the middle of a rainstorm which showers rays of sunshine...you know what? I couldn't be happier.

That's just it. This city never gets old. There are always new trials and tribulations, new hopes and dreams, new facebook friends, new adventures and memories for keeps. This place is a fantabulous story unfolding before our eyes. Like the Cellar Bar @ Bryant Park Hotel to the Marriott Marquis (if we really must go there. After all, the Times Square jaunt is literally a less than annual thing -- do we hafta?). Uptown, downtown, the Amazing Race in between. Buh-bye history you're so 2005...

ps. here are lyrics to Avril's tune, "The Best Damn Thing." Just some food for thought. ;)

Let me hear you say hey hey hey!
Hey hey hey!
Alright, now let me hear you say hey hey ho!
Hey hey ho!

I hate it when a guy doesn't get the door
Even though I told him yesterday and the day before
I hate it when a guy doesn't get the tab
And I have to pull my money out and that looks bad (Yeah)

Where are the hopes, where are the dreams
My Cinderella story scene
When do you think they'll finally see

That you're not not not gonna get any better
You won't won't won't you won't get rid of me never
Like it or not even though she's a lot like me
We're not the same

And yeah yeah yeah I'm a lot to handle
You don't know trouble but I'm a hell of a scandal
Me, I'm a scene I'm a drama queen
I'm the best damn thing that your eyes have ever seen

Rockin' out to the Jingle Ball Press Pass - LOVE IT!!!!!

Quote of the Day

"Work is work and family is everything."

Yes, Vivacious Vicki is waxing poetic about a quote heard on E! True Hollywood Story but hey, I know a good quote when I hear it! Buh bye.

The Glamourous Life!

There I was. Thursday night, 7:30 pm. Back entrance of the Natural Museum of Natural History (UWS) in Manhattan, baby, Manhattan.

At long last, the seatfilling gig came to fruition! Talk about A-list!! Several thoughts:

*first, there is nothing like walking backstage. A certain adrenalin rushes through me as I walk past the green room, the press room....AHHHHH!!! "I SO BELONG HERE!" I say to myself in all caps!

*as we hear the dealio on the 4-1-1 on Seatfilling (speak when spoken to, how to gracefully get in and out of a seat, yada yada), I am pumped.

*we enter the small theater and low and behold yours truly scoots to the fifth row, stage right. SCORE! And to think, at the time I didn't know that would be my home for the next three hours!!

*I chat it up w/ my seatfilling peeps as the guy behind me somehow snuck into the cocktail party pre-show, as we hear Anderson Cooper start the show while the production folks tell us when to applaud, we get to see the behind the scenes, etc.

*as for the musical guests? Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, Norah Jones & Wyclef Jean. Among the celebs were Sarah Duchess of York, Jimmy Smits, and I can't recall since I'm desensitized to the celeb factor. All I know is the show honored every day heroes doing extraordinary things.

That's all I have to say. In essence, it was a truly amazing night, a seatfilling gig like no other (in case you're wondering this isn't a paid gig but to enjoy a live awards show like that, well, it's kinda priceless).

Giving Thanks!

Ah, Thanksgiving. To my American peeps reading this, you know the dealio. What's a better holiday than this? (Next to my fave, Halloween, of course). Family. Food. Tradition. TIME OFF! So this year as I give thanks for the typical - you know a roof over my head, family and true friends as we text message each other -- an annual ritual around noontime -- I also give thanks for the atypical. Being back in Manhattan on a relaxing yet chilly day. Getting all my Xmas presents purchased already so I don't have to deal with the holiday frenzy and instead can revel in the spirit of the season (okay, how trite did that comment sound? My bad!) And yes, above all, my gym membership @ Crunch (could not find the logo for the attachment) but New York Sports Club, whatever. Rockin' out to tunes on my iPod. The fact that I won't work on articles til at least this Sunday. Like I said, relaxing, thankful, in a word, feeling pretty blessed.

Nocturnal Warhol's Tale of Two Joe's!

Ok, this blogaroo will be a bit disjointed but here goes:

*Nocturnal, yep that's me. Why is it sometimes I finally feel awake at 8 pm and am wired til 3 am, yet am back in full functionality by 8 am? I suppose I shouldn't question it but ah...

*Andy Warhol wrote a book, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol. It's quite marvy! My hero Atoosa is posting it on her youtube Alpha Kitty series (you seriously must check it out, dahling). She takes aspects of his book and makes it relevant to teens. As for some of his insight, well it's pretty out there but other stuff not so much. He talks about out takes. For instance, all the film that ends up on the cutting room floor - like Esther Williams in her swimming movies - what if someone missed hopping on the swing and swimming and lost her job? Well that outtake would be funny and a whole film of it would be even funnier.

*A Tale of Two Cities. I had a massage at Bliss Spa two weeks ago - hooray, right? Wrong. This is one time in which you *don't* get what you pay for. The massage was $150 for 75 min (I had $50 left over from a gift card and hey, it was my bday!!!!) so I deserved a treat. Only thing is the room was VERY hot b/c the W Hotel cranked up the heat. There was no relaxing music, no aromatherapy. I think I like my $75 massages much better in the 'burbs. But definitely not Budapest. That's all I'm going to say as it relates to the tale of two cities or in this case, massages.

*Joes!!! Joe Torre signed with the Dodgers - good for him! Seriously, good move. Guess what? The Yanks have one of the smartest, shrewdest managers around who plays small ball - the bunt, sac fly, whateva it takes!! Joe Girardi. As for the '08 season? Bring it! (And whatever you do, please bring back Posada, Mo, and Pettitte!)

Confessions of a non-seatfiller *sigh*

See Vicki get psyched.

See Vicki get all dressed up with her party shoes on.

See Vicki get disappointed. BOO! (total sidebar: I've never seen the episode on Seinfeld where Kramer was a seatfiller but it's kind of funny how everything goes back to Seinfeld, no?)

Such was my night on evening's past (ok, fancy schmants pants way of saying last night!). I've yearned to be a seatfiller for at least five years and I've been dying to go to the Glamour Mag. Women of the Year Awards for about four years since I tried to win the seatfiller lottery a few times and never won.

Enter 2007! This year is magical, let me tell ya. So when I got the news on my bday it was fabu!

So I went there tonight. All dressed up, ravishing red lipstick PLUS gloss - now, you know I meant business.

After checking in and receiving a white rose upon arrival, at Lincoln Center all of the "help" assembled into a little holding area. About 200 of us chatted it up with the more seasoned seat fillers who've been there/done that, came again.

We learned the do's and don'ts of seatfilling: if someone needs your seat you gracefully stand up and leave. Speak when spoken to. It's not the time to hand your new demo to someone (she was serious!) or ask for an autograph (perish the thought!)

After chatting with the fellow seatfillers (very weird convos like, "So, have you ever been a seatfiller before?") THREE (count 'em, three!) hours surpassed of being on our feet which equated to one hour into the awards show, we were not needed.

Apparently not ONE seatfiller got in the house. The FULL house. The seats were already full, hence no need to fill them (Sidebar: apparently there are two roles in seatfilling. The person who gets the lucky opportunity to actually be seated the entire time and others who get out and about the entire time for people on bathroom breaks, etc. Who knew?!)

Well, if we wanted we could have stayed about 20 min if seats opened up but that was a long shot. As for the departing gift for those of us who left early? Putting our name on the VIP list for future events this year.

*Sigh*

PS. as for the lesson learned? Apparently they actually sell tickets to this event so next year I won't have to actually work it! But above all, what I am really craving is the press pass. Ready, set, next November!

Website relaunch....coming soon!!!

Ok, so what has Vic been up to lately you ask aside from gallivanting throughout Europa, meeting deadlines with her usual 1 am bedtime and other fun projects?

A revamped website to be launched soon will include photos, an updated bio, new clips, and music!! (Can anyone say salsa?)

Here's a sneak peek:

Vicki Salemi is passionate about writing. As a freelance writer, author, editor, blogger (Women for Hire), and XYZXYZ!!!, nothing is more exciting to her than working on deadline to create a sparkling piece.

Hooray! Can't wait - should be relaunched within the next four weeks. Stay tuned...

Class Act

Class. Dignity. Pride. Respect. Intellect. Loyalty. Trust. If you think these adjectives just described the Yankees brass in the front office, as if!

Instead, they describe Mr. Joe Torre. A man who not only managed the Yanks to twelve consecutive post-season romps, but became a personable face on the cold corporate franchise. As much as I love love love my Yankees you know what? Good for Joe for realizing their offer was an insult.

As much as I want Jorge, Mo, and Pettitte to return to the Yanks next season, guess what? The suits cut their nose to spite their face. By offering Joe a one year deal with options being very cheap (it was more the principle of the matter), they're going to pay bigtime in millions to lure the three pinstriped players back.

It'll be a very weird season next year. The last one in the House that Ruth Built. When Joe bid adieu, so did the pride of the Yankees.

A few postcripts:

*Where oh where is the captain, Derek Jeter in all of this? Come on, Jete at least issue a statement on how the Yanks were blessed by the leadership of Torre in a team otherwise known as the Bronx Zoo.

*Kudos to Ian O'Connor!! He's the sports reporter for the Bergen Record (my hometown newspaper!!) who happened to call Steinbrenner the night before the Yanks lost...a call which Steiny answered. As for the naysayers who are saying it was a set up? Cut the guy some slack. He's a diligent reporter doing his job, doing a fine job and landed the interview. What a "get"! And then he gets rebuked by...none other than the media.

*As for who will manage the Yanks next or Torre's next move? Well, here in NYC the rumor is Mattingly and that Torre will manage the Dodgers in LA or an NL team -- dare I say the METS!!! Rumor in the Salemi fam is that Torre will become the cross-town team's manager with Willie as bench coach!!!)

No matter what, Yankee fans exhale a sigh of discontempt for the organization we feel insulted all of us as it insulted him with a bogus offer. If you did not want him to return (why would you be such a fool?), well just be forthright about it. Don't be sly. Or cunning. Or tell the man motivation is needed (ahem, his record speaks for himself as the second most winningest-is that a word? who cares!- manager in Yankee history behind Joe McCarthy.)

*Am I still going to root for my team? Yes. But they're just pawns in the cold corporate giant better known as the Yankees...as much as it really is a business more than a sport you know what? There is a way to be a professional and quite another way to be a coward by backing him into a corner with a bum deal that was not negotiable.

Nice guys DO finish first.

The Cup of Life

"I'm gonna leave my soul on that stage tonight," proclaims an exuberant and rather buff Ricky Martin.

Yes, that's right my friend, yours truly just came home from a Ricky Martin concert @ the Garden. As in the one and only Madison Square Garden!! (You know, the one which changes its floor depending on the occasion like basketball, hockey or huge concert! Like the time I was covering an event backstage in the press room and accidentally went into the wrong room and was standing literally next to the headboard of a basketball net - those things are big close up!)

Sure, it was high energy for an otherwise mellow Sunday night which I desperately needed to chill but you know what? Aside from his showstopping performance in The Cup of Life singing, "Woke up in New York City (a la Livin' La Vida Loca), Maria, and a cool new tune I adore (by the way, no Shake your Bon Bon, what's is up with that? Though the song was missing from his repertoire he made up for the shakin' on the stage.), there was something deeper to the concert. There is more to that man than his hip shakin' ways and salsa-like Latino sounds.

What's so cool about the Rickster is this: he is passionate. He wears his heart on his sleeve and puts 110% into it. So my question to you is this: when it comes to life are you gonna dance, baby dance? Or are you gonna lip sync your way through?

He waxed poetic about life. Love. Gratitude. Faith. This man, well, he's certainly read The Secret. He gets it. And then I thought what an incredibly powerful position he's in: he's uniting people with music. Think of the positive influence - sure some of his fans may not realize his depth (like the 19-something girls screaming at the top of their lungs behind us while one of them shouted during his prophetic soliloquy, "Shake your pelvis like Elvis!" -- yes she totally said that - you'd think I make this stuff up?!) -- I think he's capable of more positivity than just spreading some joy through his talent of performing. Stage presence, that he has but there is something more emerging...(plus, I kinda know this cuz one of my editors flew to Miami last year to interview him and said he was absolutely kind and amazing).

Kinda like how Al Gore is empowering us, he's passionate, he's on the world's stage and making a positive difference. I see big things in store for Ricky, I truly do. He gets it. Living in harmony, creating a positive swirl - as he said headline after headline of the newspapers is poison, you know what?

It's my passion to write - check that, my mission - to fill it with positivity. With empowerment. With, for lack of a better word, sunshine.

Kinda ironic as my sweet friend and I left the Garden and hopped on the 1 train out of the corner of our ears (that is, once our hearing is restored, hehe)....a street performer on the 34th and 8th playing Livin' La Vida Loca, saxophone street hip hop style.

Joe Rules

Okay, despite the dip in temperatures the word on the street is this: Joe Torre rocks. And unfortunately he'll be fired. Our generation's Casey Stengel, well it's a sad thing when a manager who has led his team to the playoffs TWELVE consecutive years is fired because his PLAYERS could not perform well in post-season.

As for my ideas about his replacement? Besides the fact it'll be a whole new Yankees team (Posada and Pettitte already suggested their departures too) it's just weird. Anyway people are saying Mattingly but I'd love to see Girardi. The man is from the school of hard knocks and knows his bball.

Anyway just Vic's two cents. No matter what, the run was good while it lasted. Sparkling. And now, sad.

Joe Rules!

Joba Rules

Okay there's nothing like the Yankees in the playoffs. There's a certain fever in the air. People wear Yankee caps all around town (heck they even wear 'em in the offseason). I even signed a HUGE shirt outside Modell's today @ 42nd with something like Go Yanks, I can't recall...So the fact that my Yanks are close to elimination doesn't concern me. They didn't play up to their ability. Am I losing faith? Nope. I'm just a realist.

So....there's a saying in New York called Joba Rules. It's not like "Vicki Rules, she rocks!" rather it's the rules of this pitcher. For the number of innings he pitches in the middle innings he needs that many days off. Pitches two innings, off two days. So people are saying "Joba Rules" and we all know collectively what we're saying. It's become a catch phrase. It's on t-shirts. It's en vogue.

You know what? The Yanks had an awful season so the fact they made it this far, well, it's special. I like Joe Torre though except for the bad pitching move he made in Game 7 of the World Series in '01. Gonna get the axe.

What up with the bicycle lanes in SoHo and Chelsea?

What up with taxi cabs with floral decor (you think I'm kiddin?) on their front hoods?

What up with the fact that I'm tired yet I'm really awake? Aghhhhhhhhh!

Gotta motor. Peace out.

Taxicab Wisdom

What happens when you hop into a taxi and within five minutes you almost get in THREE (count 'em: three) car accidents?

You put on your seatbelt and pray for the best.

New York State of Mind

Most of my blogs as you can see were based on my whirlwind vaca!! (And as you'll notice practically all of them have major typos - keyboards are different in foreign countries - letters are in different spots as are unusual punctuation marks!) A few items to note and then I'll wrap up to get back on track with the Big Apple Blogs!!

*Contiki this, contiki that, what's up with that? For anyone reading this b/tween 18 and 35 I *highly* recommend contiki!!! You get to travel with people your own age, have fun, relax, and better yet -- no worries.

The tour manager and bus (can anyone say Road Trip? Good, I knew you could) make it hassle-free and better yet you get to meet incredible people from all corners of the globe. Personally I've met the most fascinating people through these vacations and find their friendships, backgrounds, and overall enthusiasm for life to be unmatched by anyone else. :)

*You know how it's nice to get away but it's even more special to come home? My apartment even feels BIG! There's nothing like seeing New Yorkers stroll on the sidewalks on a beautiful autumn day, playoffs are upon us (sorry to all those Mets fans -- but hey maybe they'll overtake the Phillies for first place by tomorrow?), and the random street fair is in full effect which you simply stumble upon as well as the brilliance of getting back into a routine, sleeping in your own bed, and eating fruit and being healthy again....net net:

Six countries (Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, France!!), three currencies, four languages...1,300 pictures taken by moi!!
Cost of a 2-day museum hopper pass in Paris: 30 euro
Mona Lisa book @ the Louvre: 8 euro
New shoes from the Latin Quarter in Paris : 89 euro
Hello Kitty watch from Budapest: 2,950 forent
Night on the town in Prague: 900 crown

Strolling through charming cities, learning the history, devouring the art, meeting new friends from around the world and creating new memories?

PRICELESS.

PS. The only issue? Super exhausted. I need a vacation. ;)

The DaVinci Convo

Sure the novel, The DaVinci Code was a bestseller and although the movie produced lackluster results at the box office, one thing's for sure: there's no denying the stellar impact the Mona Lisa has had the past few hundred years.

One can only surmise, how many more centuries it will be displayed in the Louvre with its own special glass and velvet ropes.

It got me thinking. If Leonardo were alive today what would he think about the acclaim to the painting? The enigmatic smile and how the painting was stolen in the early 1900s? I bought a book about the history of the painting which is really quite fascinating. Think about all of his other works as well as artists other masterpieces as well. Rodin has the Thinker but he also created countless other pieces of art. Hmmmm...

Between seeing the Mona Lisa and all the photogs, um I mean tourists at the Venus de Milo statue, I also couldn't help but wonder: if this were in real time what would the acclaim be?

For instance, Venus's arms and hands are both missing and yet it adds to the appeal of the statue. The twisted pose is not unlike statues of its time period.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_de_Milo

Seeing all the tourists take photos reminded me of red carpet arrivals except a lot quieter (after all, it's not like they're saying, "Look here, Venus, over here! Over the shoulder Venus, over here...!!!") but I wondered with Leonardo what we could find out from his genius if we could tap into a live conversation today?!

VS: Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule, I know you've been busy the past twelve months doing the press junkets for DaVinci Code and pumping sales for the DVD but what are your thoughts on how this has become such an iconic painting throughout the years -- when you were painting it what thoughts were going through your head?

LDV: You typically don't create a painting thinking oh, it'll be the topic of conversation for centuries so it was purely the creative process. I paint because I love it and to share it with this many people is truly a gift. As for the iconic piece, that kind of just happened. I got lucky I guess.

VS: That said, do you feel that your background as a scientist and engineer has completely been overshadowed by one painting?

LDV: That's a price to pay at being so talented (chuckles). Seriously, I don't feel like anything is taking precadence over anything else, it's merely what sells right now. La Gioconda (Mona Lisa) is doing really well in the market and has the track record to prove it.

VS: Do you feel like you need a new contract for merchandising?

LDV: I am in the process of getting a new forensics accountant but yes, we are crunching the numbers so I don't get shortchanged!!

VS: Let's talk a little bit about the enigmatic smile.

LDV: Ok, what do you want to know?

VS: It's had such a profound effect and others have gone so far to analyze the arms at rest, the background, etc. Were you drawn to her smile or was it drawn to you? That is, why do you think it's more profound than your other paintings?

LDV: It just kind of happened. The creative process was in full force. I was rocking out to The Black Eyed Peas on my iPod and kind of lost myself in it. Part of it was her relaxed nature as a subject and part of it was my interpretation....

VS: What thoughts were going through her head at that moment with that mysterious smile?

LDV: "I will be a celubutante for years upon years!" (laughs!). Not sure but all I know is she signed a waiver to all rights so unfortunately she doesn't get any of the press coverage or proceeds from calendars, reproduced prints, holiday cards, and even the fluorescent flip flops they're currently selling at La Louvre.

VS: Interesting point. That said, what's next for you?

LDV: The sequel! ;)

The Big Apple

I really should know why the greatest city in the world (Ahem, Manhattan baby!) is called the Big Apple.

When I first moved here I was captivated by this city's history and its original name, New Amsterdam, and read something about the Big Apple as it relates to jazz.

Anywho, without further ado here is the full explanation according to Wikipedia:

The "Big Apple" is a nickname or moniker for New York City used by New Yorkers. Its popularity since the 1970s is due to a promotional campaign by the New York Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Its earlier origins are less clear.

One explanation cited by the New-York Historical Society and others is that it was first popularized by John Fitz Gerald, who first used it in his horse racing column in the New York Morning Telegraph in 1921, then further explaining its origins in his February 18, 1924 column. Fitz Gerald credited African-American stable-hands working at horseracing tracks in New Orleans: "The Big Apple. The dream of every lad that ever threw a leg over a thoroughbred and the goal of all horsemen. There's only one Big Apple. That's New York.''

Two dusky stable hands were leading a pair of thoroughbred around the "cooling rings" of adjoining stables at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans and engaging in desultory conversation.

"Where y'all goin' from here?" queried one.
"From here we're headin' for The Big Apple", proudly replied the other.
"Well, you'd better fatten up them skinners or all you'll get from the apple will be the core", was the quick rejoinder.
In the 1920s the New York race tracks were the cream of the crop, so going to the New York races was a big treat, the prize, allegorically a Big Apple.

In 1997, as part of an official designation of "Big Apple Corner" in Manhattan, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani summarizes the rest of the story:

Eleven years later, many jazz musicians began calling the City "The Big Apple" to refer to New York City (especially Harlem) as the jazz capital of the world. Soon the nickname became synonymous with New York City and its cultural diversity. In the early 1970s the name played an important role in reviving New York's tourist economy through a campaign led by the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau. Today the nickname "The Big Apple," which replaced "Fun City," is the international description of the city and is synonymous with the cultural and tourist attractions of New York City.
Therefore, it is only fitting that the southwest corner of West 54th Street and Broadway, the corner on which John J. Fitz Gerald resided from 1934 to 1963, be designated "Big Apple Corner".
According to PBS's Broadway: The American Musical miniseries, Walter Winchell used the term "Big Apple" to refer to the New York cultural scene, especially Harlem and Broadway, helping to spread the use of this nickname.

A documented earlier use comes from the 1909 book The Wayfarer in New York by Edward S. Martin. He wrote (regarding New York) that the rest of the United States "inclines to think the big apple gets a disproportionate share of the national sap."[1] Etymologists have been unable to trace any influence that this use had on the nickname's popularity.

Postcards from Paris

Ok, ok so I'm cheating. I'm back home in my NYC 'hood and I couldn't be happier. BUT....after checking out six museums in Paris there's nothing else to say other than this, very poetic so go with me here... ;)

"I was ensconced in velvet!" -- George Costanza a la Seinfeld

Granted, he wasn't referring to the breathtaking waterlillies of the De l'Orangerie (I need to check spelling on this museum but whatever...) though that's exactly how I felt. It was experiencing the rapture, the brilliance, the beauty of Monet's waterlillies as the four large panels in an oval room enveloped the senses. Ahhhhh....Let's not forget the Dorsay where the countless Impressionists fill the old converted train station (sidebar: I wonder if 100 years from now our Beaux Arts beauty of Grand Central Station on 42nd and Lex will be converted into an art centerpiece?)

Or how about the Mona Lisa and her enigmatic smile? Or the Venus de Milo at the Louvre? Or the countless Rodin sculptures -- did not realize how many sculptures he created and wondering how he cranked them out? Meaning, where did he get his inspiration and how frequently did he sculpt? Did he work on The Thinker and put it aside to work on it again or did he get consumed by the art and create it in one or two sittings? Hmmmm....

Like I said, it's being ensconced in velvet.

Ravishing Red Fever

Ravishing Red Fever
Current mood: pensive
Originally posted Sept 19 in Prague


The title to this blog has nothing to do with the topic.

Ok, ok, it kinda/sorta does. I'm talking about Red. Not ravishing red but Soviet red as in Communism.

Who knew this vaca would be so educational? And here I thought I'd come to Europa to have a blast and a shopping whirl?

So I went to the Communist Museum here in Prague today. It's quirky, sure but you can't deny it's a huge part of history. I was shocked to learn about every facet of life was controlled by the Communists as well as the socialist thinking -- how everyone is seriously supposed to be laborers and think mainstream, not want different classes/be jealous/hatred for upper class, and it's indoctrined in their everyday lives through schooling, work, agriculture, as well as pervasive through their space program.. Check that, it WAS indoctrined (Gorbachev rocked! Who knew? Why didn't I appreciate this when I was younger and in school? Why was it so irrelevant back then but in the bigger picture it completely impacted world events?)

Well, the Czech REpublic used to be Czechoslovakia (spelling, I know, I know, hehe)...and then in '89 there were uprisings, I saw it on a film.

Sidebar: how funny was that I literally whipped out my little notebook to jot down some ideas/take notes and wouldn't cha know it? My little separate piece of paper flew directly into the exhibit!!!! Of course it was agriculture so when I went to grab it I kinda lost my balance and kinda fell into the dirt....too funny!) There was also a section on spying which makes you think as well how many informants that government had and who/how many spies they may still have today, hmmmm....

So yeah, '89 isn't that long ago when you think about it....and to put it in a bigger context it was the same time the Iron Curtain fell, as well as the revolts in Tienamman Square in China.

Remember that student who risked his life as an army truck I believe drove over him? Why is it always students who feel empowered? What happens to us adults - do we just go with the mainstream? Are we programmed a certain way? (Another sidebar: they showed propaganda of what Russians used to tell/show their people as to how Capitalism=US was bad). Kinda remined me of the Kennedy museum I went to in Berlin which said more than once how they often staged photo ops with their kids, etc. to show Camelot. None of the Kennedy exhibits I've EVER been to in the US ever said something about posed photo ops. Now there's a good publicist if I ever saw one! ;-)

Which got me thinking: could you imagine being a journalist in '89 with all of the world's events going on? Talk about front page news day after day...

Ok, just one more relaxing blog to post before I go my merry way and check out some more stores, ahhhhh....

Backwards blog, Czech-style!!

Backwards blog, Czech-style!!
Current mood: relaxed
Original blog posted Sept 20


Ok, my friend is waiting for the computer so I'll make this snappy.

Lookout, it's a backwards blog, Czech style!! bring it!!!

1:41 am -- just got back from clubbing from an awesome place in Praha but alas the townies invaded...

But tired but that's b/c we rocked out to Ricky Martin, C&C Factory and crazy fun times with contiki folks, working off our dinner...the type we're you're dancing, wearing ravishing red lipstick, talking about travel adventures with everyone, whipping out the Yankee Cap (yeah, you know I'm from NEW YORK!! My boys are so in the playoffs!!!)

...with traditional folk dancers and crazy funky meat...

....barely made it to dinner b/c I scrambled back from....

....negotiating prices @ the Charles Bridge, amazing views, where I purchased two really cool charms in wood and negotiated the price with the woman, hard to translate crowns in my head AND dispute prices (note from a street savvy New Yorker: never ever pay asking price when you're buying something on the street!) after amazing photo ops...

....in the Castle District!!! No worries, no stress, no NY stuff, it all simply melted away as I roamed, enjoyed, even watched random dudes painting the buildings!!!

....so imagine my delight after seeing the one and only Golden Arches!! Yes, my friends I enjoyed a Big Mac AND fries, literally an annual outing...after all, calories don't count when you're on vaca! Too funny, ketchup is a rarity as they keep it behind the counter and charge more for ONE little packet (it's like ahem, at least two please?) whatever...

...but alas that was after my boat cruise around this majestic imperial city....

....but infortunately there are tourists galore!!! What would this imperial place be like during the height of tourist season, I wonder...

....so imagine how I scooted around the Jewish Ghetto visiting the synagogues -- after all Hitler and his CRAZIES wanted to open a museum of the Extinct Race (how completely messed up is that?!) and decided it was gonna be in Prague....so there were lots of artifacts to check out and whatnot...thankfully they were so wrong in their prediction but Prague ended up relatively unscathed from WWII bomb attacks....

...and that's after waking up late, snoozing it, deciding this is one of the best vaca's ever.

Ah.......

The art of the cupcake

I could tell as soon as Brad from Sydney asked about what makes a good cupcake, he wasnt reqdy for the response: Sorry for the typos but this keyboqrd is killing me§

You see; in Manhattan cupcakes qre THE snack of choice: Zhether itùs at a book launch party or late night in the West Villqge (after all, Magnolia closes at ONE am and yes, they so have a bouncer!

My international contiki friends (more on this later, theyùre my absolutely favorite type of friends to meet) were amused. In the city that never sleeps cupcakes apparently guess what? Cupcakes are the en vogue treat. For instance, a friend of mine and I caught up a few weeks ago on a Friday night.

Exhausted, burned out and yes, completely tired we decided upon cupcakes instead of happy hour. Low and behold at Buttercup Cafe it was the place to see and be seen! As the door kept opening and closing as people picked up orders, sat to dish with a friend we knew we were onto something.

Anyway, keyboard is fixed -- hooray! This is the funny thing about blogs it's like you're talking to yourself, only with an audience and yet my voiceovers in my head which had a nice Aussie/Kiwi/Canadian flair (again, more later on contiki and how it rocks!), well it's getting back to English. And yes, the keyboard is fixed b/c the nice internet cafe dude realized I type fast and was having problemes...anyway must log off soon b/c Yankee playoff tickets go on sale, did ya really think I would be in Paris online at an internet cafe if I didn't have a mission?

Anyhow, there are THREE categories that make a good cupcake, hence the chuckling from my friends and rightly so:

Cake consistency -- as in, does it fall apart like Magnolia or does it stay moist and rich like CRUMBS?

Ratio of icing to cake -- is it evenly distributed or does one compensate over the other and if so, is that necessarily a bad thing? ;)

And third of all, the icing itself. Personally I'm a huge fan of CRUMBS but Buttercup is pretty darn yum too.

Ok, enough about cupcakes. I'm getting hungry. JK!

Taxicab hailing 1Ö1

Taxicab hailing 1Ö1
Current mood: nostalgic
Original blog dated Sept 24 in Budapest

Ok, where is the frikkin ZERO kez on this computer_ and oops forgot question mark is below, hehe....

I love the fact that Iám from New Zork. Thereás a certain special something about it, a specific spark, a joie de vivre if zou will...

And one of teh best parts about it? Zou can pull it out of zour back pocket anz time zou want.

For instance, there is no pace here. As in stroll, leisurelz, no rush, no worries. As for Vicster on a mission? As in so manz places, so little time -- get outta mz waz or Iáll run za over! Move it, busta or Iáll accidentallz step on zour foot -- oops, my bad -- NOT!!!

But I digress. Suddenlz as if itás been repressed, zou get to wake up the New Zawk out of a deep slumber.

Such was the case last night as we went out for a quiet night of drinks at an outdoor cafe. Went to hail a cab and BOOM! Out of nowhere, dusting off teh New Yorkese, mz right hand goes immediatelz in the air, firmlz, confidentlz, shaken not stirred.

Gawd, I reallz love New York.

Hot dogs, hot dogs everywhere!

hot dogs, hot dogs everywhere!!!
Current mood: distressed
Original blog posted Sept 18 in Germany

The ICK factor is in full effect.

Rock me, Amadeus

Rock me, Amadeus
Current mood: happy
Original blog posted Sept 22


Viva Vienna''' (ok, where the heck is the excalamation point right now_ and question mark for that matter....sigh)

Iám kinda cheating since Iám in Budapest, more latah''1

But as for Vienna, it rocks! (zaz, found the excalamation point above the 4 kez now if onlz the z and y would be switched up again...)

Was in Austria Fri night into Saturdaz, so not long enough''1 But alas, it was bliss, a Mozart Mecca and reminded me of Madison Ave.

"It's like I died and went to chocolate/shoe heaven!" -- Laura from Calgary

You gotta have Wa

Current mood: awake
Original blog post Sept 19


Greetings from Praha! (Prague!)

What a gorgeous city! Incredible! Castles galore! Everywhere you turn this magical little majestic gem screams Europa!! After all, they use the crown (28 = 1 euro) and guess what? No Starbucks in sight - wahoo!

A few quick thoughts which I simply must spew like the chunks I hurled last night after a nasty hotel dinner (Ok Vic, TMI! TMI!!!)

Several thoughts actually:

For contiki alums, I HIGHLY recommend Getaway Tours. You have lots of free time in cities and if there's not synergy with the group and 1/4 of the group is departing us tomorrow to do whatever but most are staying on for Vienna and BudapeSHT (what up with the pronunciation?)

Regardless, it's so less structured it's fabuloso!!!

And have ya noticed the keyboard is normal again - hooray? Even though I totally feel like I'm in a very foreign country as you have to point to stuff as you order food, etc.

And now without further ado, my blog!!!!

There I was, senior year of college. Second semester as our professor introduced himself as Spike. Very cool. He also mentioned he gives pop quizzes, so not cool. And desepite the 3:10 (sorry about the typos - by the way I'm in a hairdressers internet cafe - random I know but overlooking the cutest little buildings outside - hooray!!) pm class, the kiss of death in the spring for spring fevah next of course to hte dreaded 8 am....so yeah, it was Anthropology of Sport.

He had us study all sorts of sports such as baseball in the US as well as Japan, cockfighting, etc. Now, there's a little book he has us read called You Gotta Have Wa - granted I forget what the Wa stands for - I think it's the spirit or the culture or something but the premise is this: in Japan baseball is a completely different game. Sure, it has the same rules but guess what? It's good to end the game in a TIE.

That's right, I said a TIE. This way, you don't disgrace the other team.

And if you hit a homer? A curtain call basically doesn't exist, esp since it would disgrace the other pitcher. Kinda ironic since Matsui's very first day as a Yankee several years ago ended up in a grand Salemi on Opening Day - he was bashful to say the least for his curtain call.

So normally when I do celeb interviews, CEOs and whatnot, I always end the intvw with a question: What is the one thing I haven't asked which you'd like our readers to know about you?

Always in press mode, I've mixed it up a bit. I'm so intrigued by everyone on our trip I'm more intrigued by asking questions and listening so I keep asking everyone from different countries - great icebreaker btw - what sport is big in their country.

Here's some food for thought:

US - duh!!!

Canada - hockey (double duh!!)

Singapore - table tennis and water polo (go figure)

New Zealand - rugby and net ball (I asked my new friend Nigel to spell it b/c honestly I thought he said knitball -- it's basketball for women without bouncing it and without a baseboard or whatever you call it to the net)

Australia - cricket, rugby, Aussie Rules Football

England - cricket, soccer

S. Africa - rugby and swimming

And apparently there's a rugby tourney going on right now for the quest for the World Cup - who knew?

Ok, that's all I have on this subject. It was better in my head, oh well, WA!