Change For A Nickel

It took a while but I was able to migrate about four months of posts to this new location. Talk about a total pain in the ass! I had to copy and paste each post from the old location to the new one. Unfortunately I was not able to bring across comments. Or should I say, I just didn’t feel like it. If you want to post comments on old posts then be my guest. That’s just too much work! Also, my posts from 8-8-06 and prior are still in tact at the following location which will also be posted on my ‘About Me’ page.

Old Change for a Nickel Posts

I’m also working on pointing my domain (www.changeforanickel.com) to this new location so everything will look like it did before. I’m still working on things and hopefully everything will be back to normal soon.

-pauly

Thank God for the end of the taint!  OK, get your heads out of the gutter.  I’m referring to the current week between Christmas and New Years.  I know there are supposedly 12 days of Christmas following the 25th of December and oh yes, Kwanzaa is still in full swing (supposedly) but who would know?  I even tuned in to 93.9 the Lite which has been playing Christmas music since Thanksgiving and they are back to their regularly scheduled play lists of mediocre elevator music.  Thank God for Whoopi Goldberg!

Don’t even bother turning on the news.  The news shows have put their second string news anchors in force this week.  I’ve heard more fumbles and bumbles over reading copy than I care to count (Diann Burns, where are you?!).  Lest I forget the mid-season break for TV shows.  I’ve been in cliff hanger hell since my favorite show, Battlestar Galactica left me high and dry until mid-January.

But it isn’t all bad.  I get to catch up on all those movies I recorded on my DVR from the free Starz weekend on DirecTV.  Think I will be watching Chicken Little tonight!!  This is also the week I don’t mind going to work because there is no traffic on the roads and there is practically nothing to do.  Everyone is gone!  I can get caught up on all the important things, you know.  Like my bills, news reading, game playing and of course journal writing!  All in all not a bad taint week.  Hope your week wasn’t too bad either.

Have a safe and happy New Year!

Whew! I think I came out this weekend unscathed. It was rough and tumble there for a minute but on the whole, about what I expected. My Holiday weekend started Friday night with a last minute invite to a Chicago Blackhawks game by my friend Rob. Not that I’m a Blackhawks fan but since his company has a skybox they could be playing tiddledywinks on that rink and it would be all good! I must say that if you have not experience a live hockey game it is a must! The fans are crazy and cute. I was a little disturbed when one fight broke out and a little blood was spilled on the court. The jumbo cam took a close up of the red stain on the ice and the place went ape shit! I thought I was in Madison Square Garden!!

Saturday evening I was invited to a party where the theme was deep fried everything! Everything was delicious (of course!)  but you know I got that high cholesterol thing!  The only saving grace was the host was vegan so we had dishes like deep fried asparagus, olives, squash and sweet potatoes. We also had deep fried french toast, doughnuts and apple fritters. I think I need to make an appointment with the cardiologist stat!

Sunday my friend Benjamin had a dinner party that he has dreamed of having for quite some time. It was mostly for his family but a few friends including myself were prvileged to take part in this monumental event. Dinner was served slightly later than anticipated and there were a couple more relatives than expected (OK, there was a fucking tribe in there!) my boy Benjamin pulled it off as only a Princess of his stature could! Congrats Benjamin!

Monday my friend Oscar hosted what has now become an annual pot luck brunch (originally started by Rob) at his new apartment. I look forward to this brunch every year because it is always nice and relaxing to hang out with old friends before I have Christmas with the family or as I like to call it, the fire pit. I knew it was going to be “One of those” Christmases when my dad called me and I could smell the booze on his breathe through the receiver of the phone. I was not going to go over that house without proper ammunition. I had a bottle of wine I was saving for another occasion but this was an emergency and the seal had to be broken. I think I popped the cork on that bottle before I even took off my jacket! At some point I ended up at my sister’s apartment and my crazy ass cousin Larry was in town trying to mack on my sister’s friend and asking for money at the same time. Question: In what ass backward world does that turn on a woman?? That demanded more booze and some wine (thanks sis!) while I watched this surreal show unfold.

And I say again, Whew! What a weekend. Sorry for the long post but it was a long weekend!!

I’m in a bah-humbug type mood right now.  I was just going to post a nice holiday message on my blog site when I noticed it was all FUBAR again!  I’ve decided to move my blog to this new site but it will not be easy as there is no import tool from my old site.  What a piece of shit!!!!  So now begins (as you can guess) the airing of grievances! 

The company I work for pissed me off again this year.  Once again they sent me a HUGE gift box.  This year it was full of assorted cookies.  I can’t stop eating the damn things.  My gut feels like a mound of cookie dough!  How about cash, Mofo!!!

That idiot in the White House needs to be impeached.  How many ways and from how many people do you need to hear the word “losing” does it take for this moron to get his head out of Cheney’s ass and do the right thing?  The only legacy this moron will leave the country is 3000+ dead soldiers.

OK, guess I didn’t have that many grievances.  Lucky for you!!  I think 2 is enough.  So who wants to challenge me in feats of strength??

 Happy FestiHanaChristmaKwanza!!

Love Pauly

It’s about 2AM (Saturday night/Sunday morning) and I had just left the Darkroom night club after hearing DJ Lego, one of my favorite DJs. The music was bumping and so were the people! As usual, I had to get some food to soak up the booze. And nothing soaks up booze better than a giant slice of pizza from the all night pizza joint! I waved down a cab, the guy asked me where I was going before I got in the cab. I told him Palmer Square. As I was trying to open the door this asshole floors it and almost takes my hand with him! You would have thought I was waving a gun at him the way he drove off! It makes you wonder how threatening I was at that moment. Let’s see. I’m pretty drunk and I’m sure my eyes were glazed over. Or maybe it was the giant slice of pizza? Could it have been my destination of Palmer Square which is in the heart of yuppieville Logan Square? Or could it have just been the fact that I’m black?? Who the fuck knows. I just know I was pissed off!

To date, that is definitely the worst case of racial profiling I have ever experienced. Most cab drivers just ignore me. They usually have their ‘for hire’ light on and drive by pretending they don’t see me. There have been several instances of me trying to wave down a cab and the ‘for hire’ light suddenly goes off. That’s pretty bad. But this is the first time someone took the time to pull over and talk to me then jet off. That one pissed me off more than anything. Why even bother stopping? From now on I’m going to start taking down cab companies and licenses then report them. But that means I will have to carry around a pen and paper while I’m buzzed to get this info?? Kind of makes you want to drive when going to the bars!!!

PS- the next cab I waved down took me home.

I recently saw an interview of Tammy Faye Messner’s son. He is now a “punk” preacher? During the interview he stated that Tammy had inoperable stage iv colon cancer. I knew she had been battling cancer for some time but did not know it had progressed to this stage. I have been a big fan of Tammy Faye’s for a long time. She has a spirit like no other person I have ever seen. I know that sounds crazy coming from me, of all people. So I was personally touched to find out about her condition because my mother also died of cancer. And I thought my mom was fabulous! Below is a letter I sent Tammy yesterday.

*She was told at the beginning of this year that she had a year to live.

Dear Tammy,

My name is Paul and I have been a fan of yours since the PTL days. I never thought I would be one to sit and watch someone preaching on TV but your down to Earth personality cut through the glitz. Even to this day when I get a chance to catch you on TV I am never disappointed. You truly live the message. You are a true follower of His teachings and I knew that when you went to visit the man with AIDS at a time when people with AIDS were considered pariahs. My brother and a good friend died of AIDS about a decade after your visits. I believed you helped the nation understand a little better that the person with AIDS is just that, a person.

I recently saw your son being interviewed on one of the news shows. Wow, he has grown up from those PTL days! He mentioned on the show that you were still battling cancer. I thought your cancer had gone into remission. Excuse me. I thought it was gone! Sorry to hear that it is back. My mother also had cancer. She fought it for several years before she was called home. Tammy, you have prayed for and given so much of your energy to others I want you to feel comfort in the fact that I am sending some of my energy to you. Just keep fighting!

I want to let you in on a secret. There is a question that often gets asked, “If you could have lunch with anyone in the world who would it be?” Tammy, I have always wanted to have lunch with you! I have always felt that you were one of the most genuine, down to Earth people I have never met! My friends tell me I’m pretty funny too. I’m sure I have a couple of stories that would make you laugh. I know how good it can be for the soul!

I hope this letter finds you in good spirits especially during the holidays. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Love and Blessings,

Gang, once again the holidays have snuck up on us like a Shi’ite sniper on a Sunni stronghold. With 12 shopping days until xMas you may be in a panic because you have not yet found that perfect gift for your loved ones. Well fear not! Below I have provided links that should help with those last minute gifts and will show your loved ones how much you really care.

Here is a gift that will remind your loved one 365 days of the year what you really think of them. My favorite month has to be August!!

Click here for that ambitious, overachiever in the family. This soft plush gift is just what they need while staying up all night thinking of ways to rule the world.

How about a holiday movie to get you and the family in the xMas spirit?! I’m sure they spared no (taxpayer) expense producing this gem!!

And finally, If your loved one is truly genuine of heart then you definitely want to shop here.

Many of you will be traveling back home to visit loved ones. To have a truly joyous holiday you should plan your trip carefully. Remember, without proper planning you could end up stuck someplace like the airport, bus station or a foreign country without a way to get out in time! Hopefully these suggestions and travel tips will help you have a safe and happy holiday!

You’ve heard about it over and over and OVER again for the past few weeks. But what the hell is everyone really talking about? I’ve heard rumors that along with fixing the whole mess in Iraq it will cure the common cold! Now that’s one hell of a report!!! But don’t take my word for it. Read it for yourself. Don’t waste your money at Border’s or B&N. You can read the entire Iraq Study Group report right here from Change For a Nickel!!! OK, I kind of borrowed the file from some other lesser site. It’s a free country…and a free file

The Bears won again this Sunday no thanks to Rex (eyebrow wax job) Grossman. I was in Paris for Thanksgiving and had a great time even though I got the “stomach flu” for a day. I’m quite angry with my friend Carrie. She and I flew out standby and got business class. It was like another world. Who could imagine intercontinental flying could be nice? I think we even had champagne before take-off? And wine throughout the flight. Did I have salmon?? Holy crap! I found myself peaking back behind the curtain to see what the peasants were doing. Poor bastards cramped in coach. It was enough to make me… get another glass of wine and nibble on my hors d’oeuvre tray of prosciutto and cheeses!

But alas the flight back was coach all the way. It wasn’t so bad because I actually got a pretty good seat by the exit and forward bulkhead. Lots of legroom. However I was stuck sitting next to this short antsy guy who was all of 105lbs soaking wet but who was moving around in that seat like he was 250lbs! I wanted to smack him! He must have gotten up a dozen times to pull crap out of the overhead storage. Carrie, you should have never given me a taste of that kind of luxury. Now I will always know what I’m missing every time I fly international. I will be forced to cram in the ass end of the plane sitting next to that obese guy or that couple with the toddler that steps on my toe or my personal favorite, the family that smelled of BO on my first trip to Paris. Yeah, fun times.