End of decades....

Cleaning out the clutter needs to be the top of any one's New Year's resolution list. I have begun mine. And Mother Nature did her job today by clearing away the snow that the Little Apple's snow plows barely got to. Thanks MN, only you could get it right!

Now I'll clean up some TCN clutter. Left vs right stuff.

I find it funny that the "progressives" are hitting hard on Obama and the J Right has calmed down a bit. Personally I was a Hillary fan until her concession. I just like smart, pragmatic and progressive thinking politicians. Just because Barack is mixed race and young for a president didn't make min a liberal or as some wacky people have thrown on him a "socialist." Never got that and still don't. The guy has always been a moderate in my eyes. And with his world view as a facilitator, the role of compromiser goes hand and hand with that stature. I think we got what we paid for. We knew with him and Hillary we were going to get out of Iraq and deeper into Afghanistan. We knew that it was going to take a long time to put the economy back in shape along with some deep Wall St. cultural changes. I knew that health care reform was going to be a beginning not and end. Like Social Security and Medicare were in the beginning. I knew the guy wasn't really into same sex stuff and wouldn't do much for awhile. Look at the toll Bill took with that in the beginning of his presidency. Actually I find Barack and Bill closer in moves than Barack and Hillary.

I guess my point is get rid of the rhetorical clutter and push your people whether you voted for them or not to move on the issues you care about. Big D always says there are no miracle answers. There are a lot of micro answers.

This year i have to decide if I am going to switch my residency from the Big Apple to down here. I have lived in the city most of my life but was born and raised down here. Now, that my life in this moment has shifted me back here, it's a dilemma.

When it comes to politics if I start to vote here I got these great battles ahead. Like get rid of the silly guys Kean and Christie. I was an independent most of my voting age life until I became a registered Democrat to be able to get some say in the primaries. Big D is not a two party system kind of guy but I'm pragmatic when it comes to politics. I'd much prefer multiple parties and governing by consensus. For Big D the independent guy for governor here was the best candidate but I was in NYC that day voting to unseat Bloomberg. We almost did it, hehehehe

After or before my resolution of getting rid of clutter, Big D wants to do something really good for the world this year. No, not world peace. I'm too pragmatic for that, it's not in our nature. I want to do something a pushes the world a little further in the direction of tolerance and understanding.

Any suggestions? let me know

Merry, merry and Happy New Decade!
Big D

To State Senator, Sean Kean, You know in your heart....

It's the right thing to do. Make jersey proud and throw politics to the wind and throw your support S-1967, the Marriage Equality bill.

remember some very smart and married men wrote this:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," plain and simple and what this country needs and really is about.

Thank you,

Big D

I sent mine, now send yours to Senator Kean

senskean@njleg.org

Dan the Man

Have to say that Dan Jacobson of the TCN can write a good explanation of what is. Well, unless he's on one of his APP rags. I mean his tirade on Asbury Partners come to mind.

But his recent articles on Sandy Hook and Red Bank's parking were on point and made it all so clear about the whys and wherefores. Loved his strategy of using Republicans to save the day. That's novel in this day and age. Can a Republican actually say yes? That is a good question. Obviously Sarah said yes too many times. LOL

So, Dan no worries about the APP. They'll either die or move on to the resting place of worn out ideas. I.E. the newspaper junk yard.

Checking in...ma bad

Yeah, ma bad. It's been two months since I wrote anything here. But now I got some things to say.

Just seems there is turn in the air here in the Little Apple, in the state, country and the world. I mean look, The City finally, yes finally, got decisive and suspended metered parking for the holidays. Yahoo! And that's more for the decisiveness of our elected leaders than for the result.

Then there was the collapse of Asbury Partners, another yahoo! If you are going to control large masses of anything you need to be visionary and those guys were surely not. How it will play out only the Guardian Angels of the Little Apple know, or not. I've said it before and hopefully my dream for Asbury will come true that there shouldn't be one big developer but many. Each having their own take and voice on transforming those barren lands taken from the Partners control.

Hopefully the City will see the opportunity to step up to the plate and encourage positive progress rather than letting some investment group have their way. Did you ever look at the book Lost New York? You could cry seeing all the great buildings lost to idiotic thinking. Now think of Lost Asbury Park and all those empty spaces allowed by idiots of days gone by. Don't cry, fight for your city.

Now lets chat about some other things going on. I read today that there is a push to legalize same sex marriage in our state. It lost it's momentum but it's coming back. Personally I believe government should stay out of the marriage business. But like Tom Duane, NYC politician, said on NPR in response to question on why the government needs to be involved. Basically he said to make it fair and right straight people would have to give up their government sponsored marriage to make civil unions equal to all. And I agree with him there is no way that would happen and the only way is to equalize it all by law.

Equal rights is what this country should be about. Don't you get tired of racism and sexism? Even though it's built into our culture we need to stand up and fight for the rightful needed change. With a 53% divorce rate in this country, i think it's only fair that everyone gets their chance to be part of the statistics...lol..Ok, ma bad again. Truth is the more progressive states have a lower divorce rate, what's that about? hmmmmm.....

But for our Little Apple, marriage by all is a great commodity to be resourced here. One weekend I saw three marriages performed on the beach. Just imagine the joy and income it brought to our city. Asbury the marriage capital of the world! Sweet. Lets get it done! Call your people in Trenton today!

On a lighter note. Saw the Mayor at Langosta's anniversary and benefit for the Hispanic Resource Center. He asked me if I could fluff his glass of wine. I said I'm going to put that on my resume....

Big D, Fluffer to the Mayor
Only in the Little Apple Kids

Ma bad, Big D will try to mo better here.....

Oh check this out:
http://ridavio.blogspot.com/2009/11/making-of-aranea.html

4 years of Tricky Manuevers

From where I sit, well, stand actually because I'm always on my feet, I get into the "Asbury Conversation" a lot. It's the one about remembering the past, expectations of the now and the "what I think?" of the future of our Little Apple.

Ok, the past: things I remember- the Albion Hotel (would of made a great south beachesque hotel), the Mayfair and St. James (what were they thinking tearing them down, we would of had the best performing arts center in the state), The Paris Cinema (Red Bank Cinema anyone?) and the obvious- the carousel, the Ferris wheel (yep, I'll keep on nagging about it)...the Savoy ( check my last posts)....the list goes on.

The present: that part of the conversation is tough. Expectations are high. What did we get? A solid reality that the Little Apple is moving (organically) forward and it isn't going backwards (unless we get our own Katrina and acts of god are forgivable). I said last year that you wouldn't see the "New Little Apple" for 5 years and I still believe that we have 4 more years coming. No, it won't be finished but it won't be a desert of empty eminent domain lots either. (For better or worse as the Reverend says).

A Past, present and future moment: The powers that be, The City and the developers. That reputation of corruption and lack of visionary leadership that haunts us here. With the new Mr. Mayor Man there is an expectation, cynical albeit, that there will be change. In my experience there is no change just a progressive, and hopefully, transformation to a better city. It's out job and duty to make that happen not the politicians and developers. We are the check and balance of the city.

Side note: Parking.....ask the powers that be and they can't give you a straight answer. HELLO!!!

Ok, the Future as Big D sees it. The powers that be will slowly get it because of OUR relentless castigation. We will see movie theatres, more businesses, yep, more condos, we'll see that the owners of the Berkeley actually took charge of the mammoth and made it to a interesting hotel, that functions, there will be my Ferris wheel and I'll move here from Ocean Grove and run to be the next Mr.Mayor Man..........

VOTE Big D!!!!

The Politics of Dancing @ Big D's B'day Bash

Last night was the Mayor's Ball but I absconded with it and made it my birthday bash. Nice crowd showed up and we wined and dined and danced the night away. Though I couldn't get Mr. Mayor Man out on the dance floor. I got the feeling he's got higher sights that keep dancing low on his priorities. Oh well, maybe he will at the Governor's Ball in a few years.

Thanks Jake

Thanks for the shout out in the TCN Jake and sorry about the bed bugs...uuuugh. Don't know if we ever met but maybe I'll see you at the Mayor's Ball Saturday. Say hello sometime.

I was biking around downtown Little Apple yesterday, beautiful day. Sounds like there new and interesting things in the works. I don't want to jinx them so I'll hold my tongue.

In my travels I was eyeing this building on Bond. There was this alley next to it and I drove in. I totally forgot about the Savoy Theater that sits behind the building on Mattison. I kind of remember from when I was a kid that there was a community theater in there years ago. my brother did lights for them. I also remember being told that the Savoy has very rich history. One thing I was told years ago is that it was part of the Negro Vaudeville Circuit in the early part of the 20th century. Don't know if there are ghosts there, they should have Kathy from Paranormal check it out, but I'm sure its got a lot of memories that shouldn't be lost.

The Little Apple needs more places for art and culture and the Savoy is just sitting there. Damn if the powers that be let me have it ...............

Have a great day!
Big D

Wow, it's been a month!

So, me and 60 other people were naked in the Convention Hall arcade this past Saturday night. Now that was an Asbury experience! We all gathered to be a part of the Angelo Musco photo shoot. Only in the Little Apple can an event like this really work. There were men and women of all shapes, ages, colors and sexual orientations. After ten minutes of being in all of nothing you could feel everyone start relaxing because we all felt we were part of a monumental artistic event.

Having been a performer, I have been on stage and screen in the all buff, so, it wasn't a weird experience for me. I think if this was in the Big Apple there would be some competitiveness to "be seen." But here it was a real lets make art atmosphere. I think everyone left feeling they were not only part of a historical artistic moment but an essential part of it.

I believe that being essential is what you get from the people here and it is what makes the Little Apple unique and wonderful.

Now, if only Mr. Mayor Man was there! Naked!

Where's the ferris wheel?

I keep asking for one but.....
We don't need a theme park just one little really huge ferris wheel. It should be housed in a little green building that says Palace Amusements on it. Ok, ok put Tillie on the side too.

But I want it that the gondolas on the ferris wheel come up out of the building. And they have cool weather gondolas so the wheel can turn all year round.....yippppeeeeee!!!

Feeling Guilty

I saw Julia and Julie last night and felt a bit guilty about not posting enough. There's always an excuse but then it's always an excuse.

Well, we just passed mid summer here in the Little Apple. Finally the fish are a jumping and the cotton (tomatoes) are high.... Had our first mini heat wave...Monday was killer. The boss decided we would have our weekly manager meeting on the beach. I got fried, looking like a steamed lobster. Be nice if summer lasted to October.

As we unwind our way out of this quagmire of an economic downturn it looks like there's a bit of action heating up here in the Little Apple. A couple of new restaurants are getting built. Now if we could get Apple to open an East Coast office and start a little silicon beach here the tides would really turn.

Anyone see USA Today yesterday? Interesting, Front Page no less, article on AP.

now, if it was up to me I'd make half the Esperanza hulk into a hot club and banquet hall. The other half I'd make the hottest performing arts center on the East Coast! Just leave it as is and light it well. Ok, and add windows and bathrooms. Ok, ok...heat and A/C too. That's it!
Oh and then add a ferris wheel and it would be great. I need to talk to MM (Mattison Marquette) and MMM (Mister Mayor Man) about this. Eminent Domain anyone?

Talk soon,
Big D

WOW, Health Care reform

I am so amazed that the right can railroad this important conversation on health care....again. Got to admire them. Look at the wacky guy in the TCN. He'll say anything to be read. It's the same with these anti-health reform guys. They are so so so organized. If Obama gets some semblance of health reform passed, I think we as Americans should shout out big time about his unbelievable ability to make change in this country.

If he fails, there's not much to lose accept our health. You have got to admire the health insurance industry for their seemingly sincere support for reform when you know they are funding the crazed misinformed demonstrations at these town hall meetings.

It's kind of a paradox that obviously poor or out of work people are being paid to fight the programs that will help them. It's all about the cash i guess.

All about the cash

Richard

Wow, it's been a month since i posted, ma bad..but Mr. Mayor Man......

So, I get my first parking ticket. I had pulled in front of a cop car giving tickets and went to pay at the machine. later I came out and had a ticket on my car. The ticket was issued at 5:20 pm and I had my receipt for the space that said I paid at 5:20 pm. What gives? Like he didn't see me pull in and and see i went to pay for my space? Hmmmm......awareness is so important in the job description of a cop, isn't it?

So, i look at the ticket and say that's wrong. And I figure I'd make a photo copy and send it in so the ticket would be dismissed. Ahhhh...problem is they don't allow you to plead not guilty with evidence down here. Okay, I'm from the city and that's the norm there. i.e. you can send in a not guilty plea.

But i was on a mission. My ticket said I had a court date at 1:30pm...cool. I could go before work...Uhhh not so easy. I called and was told the court date has to be at 8am on a Friday. 8AM!!!
FRIDAY!!!! ROAD TRIP WEEKEND!!!....Damn, I'll be working 14 hours Friday, Saturday and Sunday...uuuughhhhhh!!!!!!!!

So, out of principle, I went to court. Had to wait 2 hours for the judge to dismiss it. Which took like 30 seconds. Mr. Mayor Man, it's wrong. We should be allowed to plea not guilty by mail as long as we have good evidence (or not) like in the Big Apple.

Richard

Summer in the Little Apple

Summer is a concept that all this rain is making just a hopeful wish. Here's my wish list for the moment. (not in any priority order and ever changing and growing)

1- More businesses that aren't foot traffic based like software companies, design firms, etc.
2- (Though I prefer other people having children then me) More kid friendly spaces, events and activities.
3- A six-plex movie theater with two screens devoted to independents like in Red Bank.
4- A real Arts Center for theater, music, dance and the visual arts. (because I'm a theater director and want to learn to play the cello..hehehe)
5- Parking that makes sense for the Little Apple this year. Get people to come and charge them down the line. Find a way that all the employees have safe and affordable parking so they don't worry about it and can do their work.
6- More diverse development and developers so the Little Apple gets a non-cookie cutter look.
7- Sunshine 82% of the time

What's on your list?
Big D

MMMM part #3

Yeah I guess I was getting harsh again so....I'm going to do the Michael (named after my friend who has codified the WASP rules) like Rule#3- Ignore the situation and it will go away. or Rule#5- Don't get emotional go in the bathroom.

So, I'll just do the Michael when it comes to those guys, it goes like this......................................................................................................................



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that's it...hehehe

MMMM...part 2

Guess I was a bit harsh in my last post. I realized it when I kicked one of our infamous MM never working right doors out of frustration. Yeah frustration at the sophomoric way of being that has morphed here on the boardwalk of the Little Apple. Reminds of the little guy in Berlin playing Go Fish with his mistress while the city burns. Or it could be a song called "Boulevard of Broken Promises" sung off key. A distasteful place I have no interest ever visiting once I have been burnt. Damn, there are so many adages like "fooled once and....fooled twice....blah, blah, blah..."

Have you ever felt like you were being treated like a second class citizen? Yeah? Well, that's how I feel today. The good thing is that the distastefulness doesn't last for me. I follow my friend Michael's advice to "ignore the situation and it will go away." So, unless backed against the wall, silence is golden when dealing with the MM crib for me.

Viva la......!!!!

MMMM......

I'm bad....don't write here enough...guess i need more discipline....oh well

mmmmm.....i think I'm losing my hard on for MM,,,that's madison marquette...small letters intentional

I used to be a fan but they have gone the way of all dictatorships and think they have risen above the law. it's not a legal law I'm thinking of but one of being caring of the people they represent. I let my belief that putting all your eggs in one basket was dangerous should be repressed for the good of the bigger picture. But that picture has turned a lighter shade of pale.

Like all totalitarian societies, MM has gone the way of all leaders who put their interests before the good of all. They convinced the media, TCN, that they have have the support of all but don't realize that underneath the civilities of trying to function in this controlled society that the ones most affected are in the midst of great unrest.

The opposition isn't strong yet but it is growing slowly in a very healthy way. The best way because it isn't thrown in your face..it will show up slowly yet strongly....as should be.

Mandate for Nuttin'

Hmmmm...17% of the voters voted...why's that? And then you get the Tri City News saying it was a sweep by the incumbents....gotta laugh at that one. Math's not my thing but if the incumbents got say 2/3s of the votes, that's like they got 12% of the registered voters to actually make the effort to go vote. Some mandate huh?

Ok, you might say that people were happy with what is that they saw no reason to go vote. Then you can say a lot of voters felt it didn't matter...I'd vote for that one for sure.

Ok, it's Sunday and in my world I need to get back to work....have a great one
Big D

Peter's Mint or Mercurey Retrograde

Derby day and Peter brought some mint from Kentucky....nice way to end the day here in the Little Apple....a nice Mint Julip....mmmmmm

I said to Pete last night "that was smooth for a Friday night." He was like "yeah, because the people that come out on Fridays are cool." Well, here it is Saturday night edging onto 1am. The Zombies came walking by early in the night and I guess our hurricane rated windows that leak let some of them in. Ok, it's First Saturday here in the Little Apple so it brings out some unknowns. The ones that ask for things that no one ever asked for before. You know the ones that make you reinvent the wheel without taking the car for a test drive.

The Maker's Mark of my mint julip won't allow me to be bitter and I don't feel that way at all. I guess I'm getting used to it. Unfazed by the petty shenanagins of the milleu. NJ Jaded.

Seems we are settling in. Anticipating the coming summer. Everyday is a new experience for us and everyone here on the boardwalk of the Little Apple.

Recipes for Tragedy

If you have been reading this blog you get that I'm in the service biz. I was talking last week to a regular customer about an incident that happened. Nothing too dramatic but a mini drama. I said the thing some people don't get is that if they were just nice they would have a really good time. The problem is that some of these RFTs (recipes for tragedy) tend to go to sarcasm and rudeness to their service people and expect to have it all work in their demented scenario of how it all should be and then have a beautiful night (see below PPs)....ahhhh...sorry, it never works that way.

So, a few days later I experienced a major RFT group at my place. All seemed good at first and I knew one of the group so I went over to see how they were doing. Then the major RFT of the group ripped into me like I had destroyed her life. I was like, wow, where did that hostility come from? Later on in this RFT travesty I found out that there was some underlying back story going on. I thought it was amusing but decided to keep out of the limelight on this one. But RFTs are like belligerent drunks (and that probably was the real cause of this drama) in that they don't disappear without an obnoxious fight...and the RFTs at this table were looking for a fight.

What's a Big D to do? Well, for me its a big "here's your check and good night". Which has the subtext in this drama of that if you want to be a complete asshole you got to pay for it and by the way we've had a long day, so get out!

Needless to say that subtext doesn't sit well with belligerent RFTs and they always move towards confrontation and more obnoxiousness. Which the RFTs in this group did with great gusto. Honestly I felt bad for the woman with the group who almost cried and said "this is the worst birthday I....blah, blah, blah". Well honey, you choose the people you celebrate with, so, the piece of your personal puzzle you are missing is that with RFTs, its not your party but theirs and you probably don't even realize that they stole your day and to top it off, you didn''t have a clue they did it. But I guess its the old Captain of the Egyptian Swimming Team syndrome. You know, where do they swim? In de Nile.

Maybe I have that Big Apple jadedness. Hmmmm....... Nah...Not really, because I really like people. I just can't stomach the B & T assholesness and the "What are you going to do for me?" bullshit.

The RFTs of the world make me want to take up the banner for Banning the Banal!

The planet is on the verge of collapse and we have to deal with mediocrity? Why?

Ok so this endless blockbuster went on like this. They were leaving and the major RFT tells me "this place sucks" which I curtly respond "Ahhh....No, its just not the place for you, so goodnight." Then the super QEA (queen entitlement of Asbury) of the group says to me that there was need to be condescending. I paused a second and thought for the eternity of a micro moment, what reality are you living in? But responded, "whatever, go, leave" The QEA wants to keep going with me and I say, ".....no, no, just get out."

Only in the Little Apple Kids....

Stranger in Paradise

Oh my! I did it. I rented my condo in the city and then rented a Uhaul and centuries of books, clothes, art, glassware, furniture.....etc. etc. etc. and became full time Jersey Shore!!!!

BLANK



BLANK



BLANK

Got to get back to you on this one
Big D

The Ts of the Politecho world

Isn't there an election coming up in this Little Apple? I don't hear much about it....guess it's a done deal. What's that about? All I know about the powers that be are that they have T names most often. You'd think they would have J names like John or Jim. And a few Michaels thrown in. Go figure.

So what's the game plan for the new season Mr. Ts? Not just about the budget but the vision and direction of the city. The thing I like about Barack is he's out there town meeting-ing and telling his spiel and vision. Wish that happened more here. I even offered to do a State of the City address to one Mr. T's chagrin.

I heard rumors of a art center. Now that would be visionary news. Culture is everything. Art is the only thing that lasts in time, think about it. So Mr. Ts what have you got up your sleeve...do tell. I have been saying for years to eminent domain part of Cookman (rumor has it there is going to be some cheap digs to scoop up there soon anyway) and build an arts center. The money would have been there a year ago....guess now we'd have to wait until 2010. But the funding would show up for a well thought out project for the whole city. Hey if Barack can think of health care in these dire economic times, why can't the Big Ts do the same with Big D's Cultural Center?

Slightly Slacky

Hmmm....I'm not sure but I'm sensing a change since Jake exposed me. For one thing, Yeah, I want to write more and another thing is there are some strange and wondrous goings on that even before being outed I would of been careful in exploring here in my blog about the Little Apple. I'm still having that dilemma about how far to go.

But the change I noticed specifically this week is that people are showing up as kooler KPs than the uhhumm... the PPs. The power of the press I guess. Thanks Jake.

One Little Apple thang is the Boss is in town. Yahoo! That always brings a little pep to the Little Apple though the guy confuses me. I met him this fall on the boards and he seems like a really nice down to earth guy. But he seems a bit removed from the community of the Little Apple. Next time I run into him I'll have to ask him what that's all about.

There a lot of people around town I'd luv to have a Jay Leno sit down with.

Damn, Jake took my shirt off.....Oh Boy!!!

Now, what do I do? Like I said, DAMN, I've been disrobed by Jake the internet observer of the TNC (Tri City News for those who aren't in the local know). I could of said unmasked but Jake likes to show his naked torso. So, I thought it was apropos. Mmmm....Then I could of said I was castrated but that would allude to thoughts of the penis...and we we wouldn't want that here in the Little Apple...or would we?

Ok, to clarify to Jake and you who wouldn't know :-), I call myself Big D...because I'm tall and D (in correlation with my other blog "Big Dick's Big Apple") is an euphemism (or is it a dysphemism) for my surname...now, the "size matters" is a speculation for the desirables or undesirables..hehehe..but we could talk Jake.....

Hmmm...What's a Big D to do? Please tell me. My first reaction was to stop writing here ever again. I mean Jake was quick to point out I do not write here enough anyway. Slacker was what he called me. Boy, I'd love to be a slacker but it's not in my family's genes. Look at my sister, she makes my head spin how she multitasks, macrotasks, and microtasks simultaneously. I'm a smaller yet bigger version of her I guess. My friends in the city always ask me how I am enjoying retirement? I laugh and say it's great I only work 12 hours a day because the bars close two hours earlier down here, i.e. not my usual 14. I would love to write more but when I told my sister that my secret retirement party was the week before Memorial Day she gave me the "Yeah Right!" look. She recommended that Jake and I switch jobs for awhile so I could get some writing done...what do you say Jake? :-)

Any hoo, since he dismembered me, as it were, I have this dilemma. Can I ever rant again about the goings on here in the Little Apple or do I have to be that good guy and only rave?....hmmmm....it's a paradox. I am definitely not and would never hopefully find myself comparable to the other journalist I call "The Silly Guy" in the TNC when it comes to my ranting. No misObamaisms here.

Jake, I'm not sure but I guess it is a Zen responsibility what words you send out into the world. My idea in writing this blog was to reflect on the comings and goings of the people and policies of the Little Apple. When I want to take the black and white and gray it, I tend to get poetic and metaphoric....not quite Zen in my book.

I knew intuitively that one day I would be found out and like the novel I'm trying to write "I Disappear" I would do just that. In that novel, a guy writes about his life after the collapse of the world. He doesn't know if anyone will ever read what he wrote. He doesn't know that even if his writings are read, when that would be. Would it be in a year, ten years or 300 years? He wonders if whoever reads his work will understand the references, idioms or even the language. Most of us think that "now" is what is and what will be. But everything evolves and transforms...more Zen there huh? lol..nah, I'm not a Buddhist ..I say I'm a Bachian Universalist....Google that! LOL

Ok, it's Friday night, turning into almost morning, the DJ is winding down and I'm here slacking off by wondering if throwing my opinions and observations of this extraordinarily new and novel universe the Little Apple out onto the waves is a great idea. But then there is the thought of allowing them to bounce off of that sculpted torso to drop into the moonlit sea.........

What's Big D to do? Hmmmm...

State of the Little Apple Address

Wouldn't that be cool? A town hall state of the city address. Now if I were king, I'd do it. There's so much mush to be addressed, assessed and digressed in our Little Apple here in Asbury Park.

Top Topics: There is the L-A relatedness to the state of morbidness of the global economy and how this little apple that could, will. Then there is the audacity of hope syndrome on the Ave called Cookman. Hmmm...I mean, what's happening there? Hello! In the short time, when the fireworks begin at the phoenix walkway of boards that fronts the beautiful sea, Madame Marie's kiosk will be a buzz with divining about the diving. Fashionistas of the post Williamsburg set meeting organically with the annually challenged princesses of the suburbs of our metro little apple at the local cup of joe. East Side, West Side all around the town....bring it on! Oh yeah, that West Side...we forget about them. Even the silly guy, the un-readable paean of conservatism, would need a cocktail to tackle that one. pi

Word is....and should be told by "the guy" that the Little Apple is going to be surfing the wave of recovery and gently landing on the beach of this Atlantic Atlantis. Its going to be an arduous and exhilarating ride with bumps and travails. It's going to be a model to the un-locals of how a this small city is going to beat the odds and rise to the crest of the coming wave. Surfing in speedos, now that's a image to wrap your thighs around.

Ok, I guess my State of the Little Apple would be filled with delicately veiled humor yet very poetic, a read between, on top of, and around the corner of the lines kind of address. I mean, damn, everybody knows everybody here. Best to be obscure and colorful then pointed and too realistic. N'est pas? Through my old motto, "Don't be subtle!" out the window and start afresh with pragmatic wish fullness. The perfect paradox in the paradigm called Little Apple.

Service with a smile

I guess we all are in the service industry somehow. I know I smile a lot :-)

Sometimes in the Little Apple it's "grin and bare it" but for the most part its pretty good. My friends in the Big Apple ask me how's the life down here. To me it's a bit of like being in a bubble. Everyone knows each other so the anonymity factor is not a given here like in the city. Even writing this blog can give me concern. I don't want to be too negative about a place I like but want to write about "what is" and it can be a dilemma. You know, the old adage "don't open a can of worms". So, I try to be a bit illusive here about the true subject matter because of what I do in the Little Apple and the people I hang with....almost everybody...LOL

I was thinking the other day about these little cards that some service industry people are required to have (and pay for) in the Little Apple. I'm trying to ween myself off the Little Apple acronyms so I won't even say the name of the card. I just don't get them. Supposedly the state gave the towns the ability to issue these service cards. Basically they are just IDs. You don't take a test to qualify for them you just give an ID. It's not like you are took a course in something that the card quantifies. Whats the point you might ask? You got me? But the going answer is for the city to make a little extra cash. Now in the Big Apple you got increased ticketing and fines to meet the budget gap but do we need that in the Little Apple?

Se!rvice with a smile my dear......that's what its all about. Its not rocket science but some people, those people, never seem to get it. Look at the parking situation at the oceanfront. What were they thinking? Spending thousands of dollars, tens of thousands, for consultants, meters, and installation for what? To create confusion and frustration in a time when the Little Apple needs to grow....gently. A time to embrace our new guests in the city. It's like that little card....too complicated for a simple need. get people here to work, to spend and to enjoy.

Guess simple isn't popular these days...who knew?

Now, if I was king.........hah!

Anacronym City

There are the PPs, the perfect people, the ones that expect perfection but know its impossible. They find a subconscious pleasure in finding fault. But I want to talk about the KPs, the kool people of the Little Apple. They are the ones tha appreciate effort whether its perfect or not. They bring themselves into the conversation in a positive and productive way. They are the real people who made the Little Apple a place on the rise. As the PPs where pulling it down, the KPs stood to the side and did the substantial work to build it up. hat's off to the Kool People....and their dogs. they all have them. The Little Apple, the city of rescued dogs.....hmmmm.....an interesting metaphor I think.

Being on the QEA or the KB

I first wrote about the QEAs...queen entitlement of Asbury syndrome ...well, I guess the more blatant encounter here in the Little Apple is the KBs, the know betters...I'm telling you it's a disease running rampant in our village and we need to get a bailout ASAP. Classic example that I came across last night, she says to me "I used to be in the... business so I know" while she puts her hand on my arm. Now, I'm not one to get squeemish when someone touches me but my skin crawls when a KB patronises me with handlock on my person. What did I do you might wonder? I belted her and last seen she was half under a table. JUST kidding! I did the usual, "the customer is always right" thaaaang. I mean while thinking "are you leaving soon?" hehehehe

The funny thing is I'm getting used to the QEAs and KBs and I'm finding ways of smacking them back with a smile and gentle humor. Yeah, I love a new challenge.

discreet or just incest?

Life in the Little Apple becomes more clear to me as the weeks go by. I was used to a certain amount of anonymity in the Bigger Apple. Even there, in the smaller community of friends, family and co-workers, it was the norm to have a certain privacy. I think that's because in NYC we move very fast, we are like a sound bite on CNN to even our closest friends. To enlarge on our on going story we have to make the choice to just stop and take the time to really connect and communicate.

In the Little Apple, there is this need or assumption of a necessity to be careful about showing up and being on view. More fish bowl than ocean. I get it but I guess I have this inert resistance to being captured, like in a photo, and being seen forever as that guy in that photo.

So, what does one do? I mean not to be classified in an instant and even though once captured to be constantly observed? It's tough when you are an outgoing people person like Big D.It's my mission at the moment to be constantly a surprise to the viewer of my ongoing YouTube life. That way that photo becomes a memory and the in the moment snapshot becomes just that...an instant of a life in motion.

I observe often here in the Little Apple how people stop or pause in their lives. Retire to the life here as it were. I see it in the local media and the people I see quite often here. I guess my quest to constantly being in motion and growing will not only bring benefits to myself but might have a small impact on the lives around mine.

So, in my world, Friday begins the week for me.....Got to get to work that is....see you, I'm sure...hehehe

So it begins again.....

I have this on and off blog about life in the city. I was thinking the other day....what about my life here in the Little Apple. Someone I know said be careful what you write, so, of course I can't turn down a challenge. I feel an opinion is just that and open polemics are healthy even in Steppford.

I really find the incestuousness of the Little Apple very revealing. It's like everyone knows but they don't until you drop a hint. Then everything spills out.

I didn't start this blog to be indiscreet. My motto at work is "We're discreet, we only talk among ourselves". :-)


Ok, so, I'm guilty! I have some of that acronym I made up after working here in the Little Apple, I call it QEA, Queen Entitlement of Asbury syndrome. In the city, where I have been most of my life we have what we call the bridge and tunnels...people from Jersey, Long Island, wherever. Here in the Little Apple we have the reverse. People from the city who...just know better. Me,I always said I want to die when I know everything. I guess that's how I keep young because I don't know that much. hehehe

Ahhh..this "Little Apple" called Asbury Park. The nickname came to me the other day when I was thinking about this idiosyncratic hamlet of diversity at the shore. I grew up down here and moved to the other apple, the Big One, to be all I can be, joining the army of aspirants that flock to the city of dreams. Came back more full time last year to work on a project and have been enjoying the sunny, cloudy, snowy...brrr days of the beachside.

Now being a QEA isn't only attributed to gays but to all who forget to give in to what is here in our Little Apple. I'm learning. Damn, I hope that doesn't mean what It could mean...uuugh...aging.

Until next time,
Big D