Communicating in the City

Take this month and shove it

Just had my 38th birthday this weekend. All I can say is big friggin deal. It's just another day - especially this time of year. It's nestled in between the Christmas holiday when people are already stressed about spending money and buying gifts for everyone.

Don't get me wrong - I'm grateful for my friends and family for all their gifts and good wishes. And sure, I have a lot to be thankful for. I just wish society didn't make such a fuss - birthdays, holidays - they're all about pressure. It's assumed you're going to have a great time. "It's your big day!" Blah, blah, blah.

Well, gee, I was sick on my birthday - on the friggin' couch most of the afternoon with a nasty head cold and a sore left foot. Happy birthday!

Birthday, holidays - they're all about obligation. Gotta buy this one a present, gotta buy that one dinner.

Gotta tip my super. For what? For the leak in the bathroom that he didn't fix properly?

Or how about when you repeatedly go above and beyond for a particular person and he barely makes an effort for your big day? A text message? Really? And you call yourself a gentleman?

Or how about this one - you go to your local restaurant one night, tell the host it's your birthday and he says, "Cheers," while pouring what you think is a complimentary glass of wine. And it shows up on the bill.

Or you go to your regular beauty salon where people are surly and barely grateful for the tips you've given them. And you've just been charged a lot for a plethora of services.

Bah humbug. Wake me when it's January 2nd.

 

Long live the blog

I can't help but to chuckle at the name of my blog this evening: 'Communicating in the City'. Hell, no one communicates in New York anymore. Unless you want to call an occasional text communication. Or maybe a quick email. Or a fast Skype call. Or a Twitter message. Or a Facebook wall post.

Everything is lightning fast these days; we want to be able to log onto a website quickly and get the info we need to know; we want to hear instant responses from those we (actually) attempt to contact. Sure, social media can do that...but there's no emotional connection.

People use Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, etc to brag about their cute kids, the posh restaurant where they ate dinner, the cool city they're traveling to next, etc, etc, etc. It's merely a status thing. Look at me, I'm cool. But hey, are you really calling any of these 'friends', sending them a decent-sized email? Probably not.

Social media has made people more and more vain. No one really wants to be social. If they did, they'd pick up a phone and say 'happy birthday'; not write it on someone's wall. 

It's actually kind of refreshing when I come across people who refuse to conform to the times. The guy I've been dating for the past several months doesn't even own a computer; and his cell phone is from the dark ages. He's pretty much intimidated by the whole technology and social media scene...which might not be a bad thing if I ever want to mouth off about him on Facebook.

The social media tool that I think is the most valuable? Blogging. Hence, what I'm doing right now. People have the chance to write multiple paragraphs and spread knowledge, viewpoints and information. Blogging can be social if people decide to leave comments and interact with you. But if they don't, blogging can be an extremely personal, therapeutic way to express your thoughts. Who the hell needs an overpriced therapist when you can have an inexpensive platform to rave, vent...and dare I say it, communicate?

Thanks to sites like Twitter and Facebook, I'm seeing more and more communicators fall off when it comes to keeping up with their blogs. Hell, if people are so busy typing out their 140 characters and linking to articles and videos, and if they're spending tons of time 'checking in' to venues and posting Facebook photos, when does that leave them time to blog a good 5-8 paragraphs?

That said, I'm happy to say I'm gradually getting back into the blogging groove. It's a precious tool - one that people need to remember and embrace once again.

I feel the Earth move under my feet...

What a week for New York - an earthquake on Tuesday, a hurricane approaching this weekend. What the heck is going on??

For the first time ever, the NYC transit system has been shut down due to a natural disaster. People - including my parents - have been evacutated. They're now staying with me and luckily, they've brought a ton of food!

I dusted off my transistor radio, reloaded the batteries and located all the flashlights I could find. Loss of power is a huge possibility so you really do have to think of everything - going to the ATM for money, making sure cell phones are charged, etc.

If there's no TV, I may actually sit down and finish the book I'm reading - can't read it on the beach this weekend so I may as well read it over (most likely) candlelight.

And if there are no cell phones (or even land lines), we might all have to have actual conversations with each other - no emailing, no texting, no IM'ing, no Angry Birds. Imagine that.

Luckily, I was able to get this blog post in before my computer possibly goes.

So come on, Irene, we're all ready for you now...

I heard a pin drop

Here's a good one (consider this a follow-up blog entry to last week's):

I was out with my girlfriends the other night, minding my own business as I waited for them to get our drinks at the bar. All of a sudden I was approached by a "Wall Street" guy who came in for the kill. "I've been watching you all night." Creepy or flattering? You decide.

So he proceeds to chat me up, bragging about his nearby apartment with a killer rooftop, blah, blah, blah. After he allows me to get in a few words, he then asks if I have a BlackBerry. "Yes, I do," I said. "Why?"

"Now I can give you my Pin #," he replies.

Huh? What was I - an ATM machine?

He then proceeded to explain that Pin #'s are used to BBM people. He was referring to the BlackBerry Messenger service. Obviously I don't use it. I mean, who needs it? You have calling, texting, emailing, and don't forget Skype.

That aside, whatever happened to simply exchanging phone numbers? If you like someone, you call them - it's much more personal.

Nowadays, giving someone your "digits" means something completely different. A Pin #? Give me a break.

Or...when people do exchange phone numbers, you call each other's phones so the numbers get stored. That's great, but what happens if you lose your phone or it gets stolen or it breaks? Then you're screwed because you never bothered to write the number down of a person who could potentially be great date (or relationship) material.

I'm a writer - I always carry a pen and a small memo pad in case I need to write something down. I also make sure I have a few business cards on me wherever I go. I don't solely rely on electronics to store valuable information. You always have to have a back-up.

Don't people know how to spell?

Maybe it's because I'm an Editor, maybe it's because I'm a former Spelling Bee champ, but typos really annoy me. And it's amazing how many there are in the business world.

I'm so revved up about the topic that I'm actually blogging after a six month hiatus. In case you're wondering, you will not see any typos in this blog entry.

Sometimes I'm not sure whether it's people's inability to spell certain words or just plan laziness (have you heard of spell check?), but these days, more and more documents (and e-mails) are coming my way with mis-spelled words. Some common mistakes - "your" vs. "you're" and "tomorrow" vs. "tommorrow".

A friend of mine is doing online dating and is amazed at how many women e-mail him with typos and misspellings. Gee, that's such a turn on. If the women are that careless with spellcheck, imagine how flaky they might be in real life. I'm just saying...

And don't get me started with text messages. While they're great when you're in a hurry or if you want to send quick bursts of information, they're doing a number on our grammar. People are now beginning to abbreviate in every day life.

A recent "Curb Your Enthusiasm" episode was particularly hilarious because it dealt with a character who said "LOL" rather than actually laughing. And let's not forget LMAO, OMG and TTYL. If we're abbreviating so much, how on earth are we going to become good spellers?

Society is getting so lazy that I think we're going to stop talking altogether. We'll continue to text and e-mail each other when we're sitting in the same room, and we'll continue to zone out while listening to our iPods on the train or when we're reading our Kindles or playing with our iPads. Gee, during a time when everyone can't wait to connect, no one is really physically interacting. I can't remember when someone actually looked up and made eye contact on the train. Maybe that's why so many people are single in New York and in other cities. We have too much other cool stuff to focus on; instead of wanting to meet sexy people, we're obsessed with our sexy gadgets. It's amazing that you still see so many pregnant people around; obviously some people are putting their Kindles down long enough to procreate. Must've been that long, hard winter we had...

In any event, while it's great to embrace technology, we mustn't forget the basics: how to spell, how to interact and how to truly communicate. And with that, I say GN for now...

 

Hats off to Nashville

One of the reasons I love traveling so much is that it gives me a chance to see what life is like in the rest of the world. Unlike what some of my friends think, New York is not the be-all end-all of life in the States.

Last week I traveled to Nashville on business and immediately after I arrived, I was greeted with Southern hospitality. The cab driver gave me his umbrella when a rare snowstorm blanketed the area. The hotel valet staff helped me up the slippery stairs with chivalry. A front desk employee held my umbrella as I searched for my credit card.

In restaurants, waitstaff greeted me with a smile rather than throwing a basket of lukewarm bread on the table without so much as a "good evening" (yes, I'm talking about a common occurrence in New York restaurants).

In the South, people have...manners. They're friendly; they're helpful. And they're patient. Nearly the entire state of Tennessee shut down because of the snow; traffic was backed up for miles and miles downtown and on the Interstate. Not one honking horn. People just seemed to make the best of it.

And the nightlife. Food and drinks were cheap and plentiful. The fun country-western bars had no cover charges and the music was great. I even danced with a cowboy.

In spite of the snow and freezing temperatures, people were in a good mood. And it was contagious. It put me in a good mood. Can't wait to go back.

Welcome to the dead of winter

  It's only January 14th and this winter is already exhausting. At the end of December, we were socked with nearly 30 inches of snow; the other night we got 7 more. And it's so bloody cold out! 20 degrees as we speak.

But, hey, what's a little white stuff and freezing temps, right?

Yesterday, I didn't let the weather stop me - I shot video in frigid conditions - outdoors - all over Brooklyn. It was exteriors galore for a training video I'm producing. 

Sure, I love writing and editing; I do it all the time as Editor of simply...but there's something exhilarating about shooting footage. Not talking heads so much, but nature, images, buildings, scenics - the crazy landscape that is New York City.

In spite of chapped hands and not feeling my toes after awhile, I was warmed by the pleasure of being able to capture every shot, control every moment...I even made a few new friends along the way. It's funny how much attention you get when you lug a camera and tripod around. One thoughtful passer-by even helped me navigate a huge mound of snow. Gotta love it.

The weather may be brutal but there's something special about winter in New York. It's cozy. Radiators hiss and clang as the heat comes up in our apartments. Trudging through snow and slush and sliding on icy pavements bring people together - New Yorkers unite on half-ass plowed streets and bitch and moan about the inconvenience of the powdery stuff which by now is black with soot and yellow with...well, you know (hint: it comes from a dog).

Ah, winter in New York. I wouldn't have it any other way.

A real snow job

Christmas weekend, New Yorkers were slammed with a last-minute blizzard that packed a punch on the 5 boroughs. Three days later, many side streets remain unplowed while cars remain buried in mounds of snow.

Unsurprisingly, Mayor Bloomberg has taken plenty of heat about the weak cleanup job. Is the Sanitation Department understaffed due to the holidays? Perhaps. Whatever the case, it's unacceptable. We live in New York City; not Oshkosh.

My street alone has seen several stuck cars, with elderly people afraid to leave their homes for fear of falling in the snow or on slippery pavements. Traffic (even to local destinations) has been a nightmare for motorists.

If there's a silver lining in all of this, it has to be how New Yorkers have joined together to help their neighbors as well as complete strangers. I've witnessed countless situations where good samaritans have assisted people with pushing their stuck cars or helping the elderly cross the street.

I, myself, was given a hand by a chivalrous guy who helped me navigate a huge mound of snow on Monday. And yesterday, one of my neighbors whom I barely know, came up to my apartment to help me fix a broken appliance.

The snowstorm has also allowed for the opportunity to bond with others. One of my neighbors had me over for tea the other day - something that probably would never have happened if we weren't snowbound.

Fortunately for everyone, rising temperatures are on the way which means a big meltdown. The blizzard will soon be a thing of the past, but one thing is for sure, it won't be forgotten anytime soon.

Forget Paris

  Residents of North America who want a slice of French life don't have to travel thousands of miles across the Atlantic. Instead, you can head to Quebec City - merely a 1-hour plane ride from New York.

I did just that recently for the first vacation I've had in 5 months. Somehow I managed to break free of my laptop and video camera and travel lightly up North. Okay, I brought my BlackBerry but I barely checked it (I swear).

All these years I had heard about Quebec City being more charming than Montreal but had yet to check it out. Well I'm glad I finally did: the old architecture, pretty flowerboxes and neverending cobblestones were reminiscent of my trip to Brittany last year (minus the broken foot, thankfully). 

And the food! Sorry, Brittany, I had better crepes in Quebec.

Even a $28 Kir Royale at Le Chateau Frontenac didn't get me down.

Without this blog post sounding too much like a travelogue, let me just say how nice it was to be among a warm group of people who really seemed to enjoy life - whether lingering over an omelet in an outdoor garden or sipping one of Canada's 8% proof beers (guess that would make anyone relaxed!).

Last year there was only one murder committed in Quebec City. My guess is that it was committed by an out-of-towner.

All in a day's work

I've said this before and I'll say it again - do not be deceived by thinking people have it easy when they work from home. The truth is, it's much harder to work out of your house.

Sure we don't have to deal with chilly, rainy days like today or lousy subway commutes or wondering who's eavesdropping on our conversations in the cubicle next door. What we do have to deal with is the ability to achieve a successful work/life balance.

For example, it's now 8pm. I've been working since 9am - sending out emails, conducting Skype interviews, writing up articles and logging video footage. I haven't eaten dinner, nor have I called back 2 of my friends. Why? I'm a slave to my desk. If I see my laptop, I will want to go on it, whether it's to Tweet, respond to an email or research a story idea. Hell, I've been on my Mac so much that my eyes are now starting to burn. Could glasses be in my future?

When you work in an office, you know at some point you have to go home. You can leave your work at the door (in most cases) and can more easily focus on your evening activities.

That in mind, I will now attempt to prepare some dinner (a different kind of work!) and unwind a bit. I hope.

And for a sneak peak of some of the projects I'm working on, be sure to watch this page!!