02.18.08
MTA, All the way?
I remember when I was a senior in high school and my friends would dream of their ideal car. I, on the other hand, would always say that I would be riding the Metropolitan Transit Authority to my destinations.
At the time, a fare was $1.50 compared to the cost of a car, insurance, license renewal fees, maintenance, and gas. I thought since I lived in New York City, there would not be much of a need for a car. Who would have thought that I would be singing a different tune three years later?
The fare has gone up $.50. There was a 3-day transit strike. Buses can’t seem to run on time and yet the average commuter like myself has no other choice but to put up with it.
If you spent your summer here in the city and relied on mass transit to get around, you caught a tan like I did. Standing outside in the hot sun, just waiting for the bus that never wanted to come was draining. When the bus finally pulled up, five or ten minutes after the schedule said it was supposed to arrive, there is no air conditioning.
I seem to be missing a piece of the puzzle. Is there something that the MTA sees that I have not? Obviously, with high prices all around, more people will park their cars and hop on a bus or train. More riders equals more money! It is no surprise that they are once again considering another fare hike.
So here’s another thing that bugs me. There are designated buses that only make limited stops in order to cut one’s trip in half and yet they run in packs. If three limited buses passed you by, expect to wait an estimated 15 minutes for the next one. That is not very effective in my view and eliminates the need for the printed and regularly updated schedules.
You have to love these truck drivers. I totally understand that deliveries are essential to area businesses, but city buses do not have much room to move around if your truck, aside from the parked cars on both sides is blocking 95 percent of the road.
Common sense says we should exercise a bit of road courtesy.
I would love to drive myself around, but I can’t. When you rely on people, you end up suffering the most. Frankly, I’m tired of it! With gas prices the way they are, drivers in the city as crazy as ever, and car expenses through the roof; MTA is the only way to go for me and the other seven million daily riders.
So what are our options? We can either walk, bike, or catch a cab. However, the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to get around is the MTA. My prediction is that as the fare rises, good service will decline and I will have no other choice but to drive around in my little hooptie. Traffic in the city will become unbearable as it becomes overly congested. The car exhausts will pollute the small amount of clean air we have left in the city. I guess we will all have to get used to this in the coming years.
12.24.07
Me, Myself, and I
Single in New York is taboo. If you are single, female, over 30, and living in a urban city…well you’re screwed. I apologize if that sounds harsh but it’s a reality. Women are hustling and bustling and tucking this and that to attract a man and for the wrong reasons. Many women, especially those past their 30s, are scared of being alone. As they get older in age, their chances of catching a man just like their rate of fertility are slim. Can you blame them?
Women have always been told that they should have found their Prince Charming by the time they reach college. Unfortunately for many of us, the storyline didn’t follow suit. I am a college graduate still searching for my Prince Charming. A funny idea came to mind, does he even exist? Is he like Santa Claus or the Irish leprechauns that are fictional characters.
I was in a relationship for almost three years, my longest, and I found that it was a struggle to adjust to being a single gal again. Me, Myself, and I was not the easiest status to accept after being “table for two” or “a couple” for so long. I had a partner to go everywhere and do everything with me. Now that I ended the relationship, it was all gone. As always, I am not the norm and refuse to be, because I was never suited to be a follower, to be a conformist. What do I mean? Well, although I’m single, I’m rarely home and no it’s not because I work crazy hours. I was a homebody in a former life and now I love to be out with friends. Just choose an activity to do and call up some friends and enjoy yourself. Granted, we all have our own lives to lead and may not be able to meet up at the same time to hang out well then hang with yourself.
We need to change the way society classifies singles. Single people do not need to be chaperoned to the movies or to dinner. We do not need a companion to go for a walk or treat themselves to a day of beauty or whatever else. Being single is not pathetic if you’re over 30 and it does not mean you’re screwed either. I have found that this generation is finding it harder and harder to settle at the age of 30 or younger. Our parents got married in their late 20s. Nowadays, many of us don’t even have marriage, family, and the idea of settling down on the horizons because we are still trying to make the best of our youth, changing careers, becoming entrepreneurs, or traveling the world. The 30s are now the new 20s.
So ladies if you’re 30 and above, don’t worry…Mr. tall, dark, and handsome might not be around the corner but he is on his way on his own time. In the meantime, don’t stay home pacing back and forth wondering what’s wrong with you. Go out and enjoy your own company. Be sure to remember that a man loves a woman who is comfortable with herself, independent, and not clingy (in other words…you have a life separate from him.)
10.22.07
It’s Over
It’s a damn shame when you see two women fighting over a man. Where’s the dignity and self-confidence? Take for instance the video, “The Boy is Mine” starring Brandy and Monica. These two beautiful ladies arguing about a guy. In this situation, however the guy was a player. Is it validation that you’re seeking? The sad reality is when two women argue over a man, the only winner is the man who usually is not worthy. Where is the sisterhood? Let’s take a look!
I can understand why one would feel the need to fight to keep a man especially since we pretty much outnumber them eight to one, but to embarrass yourself–now that is another story.
Although I have never fought over a man because it’s child’s play, ridiculous, and quite demeaning, I have heard and seen it happen. I just can’t understand why a woman would even bother with it except if she was INSECURE with herself.
Insecurity, whether we choose to accept it or not, puts us in vulnerable positions which lead to senseless behavior.
We are all grown, well at least I would like to think so, and that means we need to get over ourselves.
If a significant other chooses not to love us anymore then let it go. Harassing and stalking the person and embarassing yourself by looking pathetic is not going to increase your chances of rekindling the old flame. It will only push him or her further away. I mean think about it for a second.
Can you imagine yourself returning to your boyfriend or girlfriend after he or she has called you over five times and constantly interrogates you as if you were a criminal? I don’t think so. If you yourself were in your right frame of mind, you would assume that this person has lost his or her damn mind and you need to keep your distance for your own safety.
In the end, your unacceptable behavior adds to the list of other issues that arose in the relationship which led to its demise.
04.18.07
Girls Today, Women Tomorrow?
As I sat on the bus heading to downtown Brooklyn, I overheard the conversation of a group if high school aged girls and shook my head in disgust.
These girls just sat on the bus and called each other derogatory terms, just for fun and without embarrassment.
The use of the b-word has become so common that it is equivalent to the name Betty or Patricia. The funny thing is none of the other passengers on the bus even flinched.
Thoughts of the future ran through my head and worry came over me. Was I looking at the future? Would they grow up to become productive members of society or the ones to bring it to its demise?Yes, the youth of today are the future of tomorrow. I have heard that over and over again.
As I looked at those girls, I wondered if they really were the future. Since we all would claim they are, the future isn’t looking too bright.
When I was in high school, I was shocked to hear those words come out of people’s mouths. I thought to myself that I would never utter those words. It was not lady-like. Those words were inappropriate and did not reflect my level of intelligence.
It’s a shame that society is not moving forward, but backward. We have been so desensitized by the common use of the b-word that is has made its way into our everyday language. I have heard the b-word so often that I wonder if we as a society are incapable of constructing a sentence without the derogatory term.
How can women call their fellow sisters, mothers, aunts, and nieces the b-word and complain when men do the same? What message are we relaying to our husbands, brothers, fathers, uncles, and nephews?
The fact that we feel at ease when we call other women the b-word, simply tells men that we do not respect ourselves or our sex.Can you look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I love myself?” Can you look at other women despite their ethnicity, culture, or creed and say, “that is my sister and I respect her?”I just can’t seem to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
The b-word has become an honor to have. Countless shows on television showcase two or women fighting over a man 95 percent of the time, yelling out a variety of names.
Why do we continue to give men that pleasure? It just doesn’t make sense. Are we thinking before we speak? before we act? Mothers, your daughters look up to you. Set the right example. Restrain yourself and your tongue. Society will thank you for it. I will thank you for it.
Have you noticed that you are oppressing yourself? We can no longer blame men for keeping women under their thumb. We are doing a pretty good job ourselves.Women, unite and do your share in eliminating the use of the b-word from the world for future generations.
previously published in the Brooklyn College Kingsman 2/13/07
04.17.07
Sworn to Protect?
Disgust. Disappointment. Pity. Anger. Those are the words that come to mind as I heard of another life left hanging in the balance as a result of someone’s irresponsible actions.
It is too often that I hear of a young man or woman struck by a vehicle, because the person behind the wheel was under the influence of alcohol.
Billions of dollars are being spent to remind Americans that driving while drunk is dangerous for you and everyone else on the road. Time and time again, those pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
Recently, 23-year-old Nickossi Mathurin was heading home from work yesterday when his vehicle was struck by a drunk driver. What makes this tragic story stand out? An off-duty police officer was behind the wheel of the car that struck him.
Now, he lies helpless in his hospital bed surrounded by family and friends praying for his speedy recovery after suffering a head injury.
I am baffled when I think of how hypocritical it is for police officers, the men and women entrusted with providing a secure environment, are the same ones committing the crimes.
It is a damn shame to think that police officers sworn to protect and serve the public are the ones mowing down their own neighbors with their vehicles.
Whether you are in you uniform or not, you are not above the law. There is no justification for being drunk behind the wheel.
I cannot understand how you can live with yourself the next time you pull someone over for drunk driving when you yourself have done the same.
Shame on you 41-year-old Police Officer John Duggan, a detective no less. If I could, I would demote you and every other officer who has been in your place one time or another to work the street beat. You bring shame to
New York’s Bravest and all New Yorkers.
I was always taught to respect men and women of authority. Mom used to tell me that whenever you are lost look for a police officer and he or she would figure out a way to get me home safely. If the men and women we have put in a position of authority continue to violate the law they swore to uphold, what do we teach our children?
Do we continue to tell them that police officers are here to protect you when they are the same ones who abuse you? the same ones who drive drunk behind the wheel? the same ones who harass you?
Let me make this clear, I am not trying to generalize and say that all police officers are the same. I know they are not. There are a lot of good officers on the force. It’s unfortunate that we have to hear that one did this or the other did that. Once was involved in mob activities or the other was paid off to protect a drug dealer.
There are times when I wonder how do we distinguish between a good cop and a bad cop. Truth be told, there are no signs unless you look really closely. I just hope that the good outnumber the bad for all of our sakes.
previously published in the Brooklyn College Kingsman 2/15/07
