Archive for January, 2006

31
Jan
06

No longer a phone person When I was younger, I co…

No longer a phone person

When I was younger, I couldn’t be pried away from the phone. I got it from my mother, who would talk on the phone endlessly to her friends. By the time I was a teenager, we had three lines in the house – one for my mother, one for me, and one so that my father could receive business calls in peace. The worst punishment was the removal of my phone. I felt like I’d been exiled from the communicative world.

Something has happened in adulthood. I now hate the phone. I have my select few friends that I talk to, but for the most part, the phone is a colossal pain in my ass. I’ve become one of those people that I never previously understood — the ones who watch the phone ring, and then, at some point, check voicemail to make sure it wasn’t anything important.

Maybe it’s because I talk on the phone all day long during work. By the end of the day I’m all talked out. Or maybe it’s because I’m too accessible. Between e-mail, phone and cell phone, someone always wants something.

I haven’t shared my phone-hating revelation with my mother. She’d think that the ‘real Gina’ has been abducted.

30
Jan
06

The radio show . . . on Friday was a lot of fun, …

The radio show . . .

on Friday was a lot of fun, even though I was extremely nervous.

People were calling in asking strange questions — as if they thought I was a sex therapist, or something. I had to fight to keep from laughing at some of them.

One guy called in to say that his girlfriend’s doctor told her that her sex partner was too large for her. I still don’t understand why he called, other than to make sure that the entire city knows that either he’s well endowed, or that his girlfriend is as tight as a drum. I don’t know which.

Lorrie, my best buddy, streamed it from NY, and I talked to her afterward. Even though I thought that I radically sucked, she, in true Lorrie style, managed to make me feel much better. She actually liked my advice, believe it or not. You gotta love friends who know how to make you feel good.

On another note, does anyone know if you can eat too much sushi? I eat it so often that I think my mercury levels are going to go through the roof.

25
Jan
06

Gina B. on the Radio! Yesterday, my editor called…

Gina B. on the Radio!

Yesterday, my editor called to tell me that my presence was requested on a radio show. I called him back, and as it turns out, it was a call to appear on the morning show of WGCI, which is the number one urban radio station in Chicago (for those of you who live elsewhere).

I will join Crazy Howard’s relationship hour on this Friday morning (the 27th) at 9:00 am, and I should be on for about 40 minutes, which is a loooong time to turn me loose on a mic. I really don’t think they know what they’re doing. :-)

The other thing is that I always have to make sure that I’m not being referred to as a ‘relationship expert.’ I don’t have an MD or a PhD, nor have I had a multitude of extremely successful relationships, therefore, I consider myself a Relationship Commentator, because I’m observant, analytical and verbose. The producer and I had to have a conversation about that because he’s so sweet — he wants to promote me as much as possible — but I avoid hype about that, just because I don’t think my love life is exemplary, therefore I shouldn’t be touted as an expert.

In fact, being a relationship columnist does nothing but make me want to remain single. Everyone loves telling me their horror stories, which is great because it gives me wonderful material, but at the same time, it makes me so happy that my life is devoid of a certain brand of drama.

But I digress. . . the point is — check out WGCI on Friday, January 27 at 9:00 am CST. If you don’t live in Chicago, you can listen online. Look at the top right side of the screen for the “Listen Live” link.

I only hope I don’t say anything embarassing, which I inevitably do in interviews. Oh well.

24
Jan
06

Stuff So, in case you hadn’t noticed, I gave up m…

Stuff

So, in case you hadn’t noticed, I gave up my former blog address. It seems like, the minute I gave it up, somebody else took it! I don’t even think the person has the same name as me, I think this person just assumed the name. Weird.

The other thing is that my inbox is being clogged with notifications of the Jamie Fox special that’s coming on tomorrow night. Something about NBC not publicizing it because he refused to have any white guests on his show. If you’re reading this, and have given serious thought to passing that message around, do me a favor and leave me off of your list. I swear I’ve received about 15 of those messages already, and it’s getting old.

The other problem is that I don’t really like Jamie Fox, and have no plans to watch his special. Sure, he was great in Ray, which was an undeniably good performance. (Although I was keeping my fingers crossed for Don Cheadle to win the Oscar for Hotel Rwanda) I liked him in Any Given Sunday. However, I have a problem with his attention-getting antics. I can’t point to anything that he’s done, specifically . . . well . . . maybe I could if I chose to put my mind to it . . . but he always seems to be saying “look at me! look at me!”

Now . . . there are those who will disagree with me and say that, because he’s a man of color, this is what he must do in order to get his fair shake. I don’t know about that. There are recognized minority entertainers who don’t share his demeanor.

Besides . . . I always think of him as Bunz in Booty Call. Yeesh!

20
Jan
06

Good for Google What the hell is wrong with the B…

Good for Google

What the hell is wrong with the Bush administration? (Aside from the obvious) First they’re listening in on phone calls, and now they want to know what we’re searching for on the internet. WTF? They claim it’s a way to protect children online, but I think it’s yet another Big-Brother-esque ploy created by our country’s biggest mistake.

Google is apparently being less than forthcoming with this information, which is fantastic. I would hate to have to stop using Google because they’re giving info to the government. That would suck.

20
Jan
06

Happy Friday I love Friday for so many reasons. …

Happy Friday

I love Friday for so many reasons. First and most obvious, it’s the end of the work week. Second, because it’s column day for me (more on that later). Third — it’s GARBAGE DAY!! Yippee! As I’ve exuberantly blogged in the past, I love garbage day. The prospect of eliminating unnecessary crap from my house is nothing short of fantastic. Okay, I just had to express that.

The new column, which is in the current issue of RedEye, is all about the perils of trying to rehab a man. Grab it, or click here to read it online.

My poll for the day . . . have you ever dated someone who was seemingly mis-matched for you? Like maybe someone of a different nationality, or someone from an entirely different socioeconomic status? How did that turn out? Did it work, or did you end up breaking up because of the difference?

Get back to me FAST because there’s a deadline that relies on it.

THANKS!!

17
Jan
06

And the bad idea award goes to . . . Eminem for …

And the bad idea award goes to . . .

Eminem for re-marrying Kim, his formerly estranged wife. I wonder if he still wants to stuff her in the trunk? Hmmm . . .

17
Jan
06

Once again! My friend Chris F. sends people to th…

Once again!

My friend Chris F. sends people to this site for the SNL “Chronicles of Narnia” rap, so, to make it easier, I thought I’d repost, and move it a little higher so that people don’t have to read all of my bitch posts to get at it. Although if you’re interested, I can bitch with the best of them! :-)

14
Jan
06

I’m behind First of all, the column dropped on Fr…

I’m behind

First of all, the column dropped on Friday. It’s not my fave, which is probably why I was uninspired to send the normal reminder. Oh well . . . check it out if the mood strikes.

Right now I’m sitting in a cafe on the very near west side that has free WiFi, which is essential. There’s a body odor emanating from somewhere, although I can’t narrow it down. Who’s the funky culprit? I really don’t want to know. I’d just love it if he’d do the world a favor and add soap to his grocery list.

This morning I worked out as a guest at the David Barton Gym. It is seriously the darkest gym I’ve ever been to. The premise is that it’s supposed to be cool and kind of trendy, but I literally can’t see a goddamned thing no matter which room I’m in. The weight area is literally lit like a nightclub, and the locker room? If I’d mistakenly brought one brown shoe and one black, I wouldn’t know the difference until I walked outside. The steam room is lit with tiny spots that emerge from the floor. I almost sat on someone.

There were these two blondes who might’ve been 30 (but were probably about 24, given the way those girls tend to show their age) in my locker bay — and by the way, you have to bring your own lock — and I, trying to be friendly, made a mention of how dark it is. They glared at me and said nothing. They’ve made an enemy. It became my mission to glare at them wherever I saw them in the gym. I know, I’m spiteful and punitive, but seriously . . . fuck them.

I actually chuckled visibly when I saw one of the beeyatches actually working out in Ugg boots. UGG BOOTS? For a workout? No wonder she has a sour look on her face. She’s so fashion-challenged that it’s ridiculous. EVERYONE knows that the de rigeur footwear fashion statement in the gym is a cute pair of Pumas (which I wasn’t wearing), or high-tech cross-trainers (which I WAS wearing).

When I returned to the locker room, they were finished with their muk-a-luk impeded workouts, and I said a terse “excuse me” as I passed them in the locker area.

On another note, I’m thinking that the entertainment media needs a new focal point. Why else would they care that Brad didn’t tell Jennifer that Angelina is pregnant? If my marriage crumbled in front of the entire world, and my estranged husband was dating Angelina Jolie, the hell if I’d want him to call me to tell me that she’s pregnant.

What would be the point? To say “Gee, honey, I know that you’ve suffered greatly because of the fact that I can’t keep it in my pants, but now — to add insult to injury — I’ve gone and knocked her up. Just thought I’d be considerate and tell you before the Enquirer gets ahold of it.”

Jeez.

12
Jan
06

Just a thought . . . Does anyone else think that…

Just a thought . . .

Does anyone else think that Zulema from Project Runway bears a striking resemblance to Miss Jay from America’s Next Top Model? Could it be because neither of them know what to do with their hair? Hmmmm . . .




 

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