Greene Light Photography: That looks reeeeaaaaallllyyy familiar

Greene Light Photography: That looks reeeeaaaaallllyyy familiar: "Every professional photographer has their own niche. Some do portraiture, some do events, others do weddings, and the list goes on. For thos..."

Wednesday Wonderings: What's going on under Hayden's hat? #1

It's Wednesday and the middle of the week makes me think about the interesting questions in my world. Here is the question bouncing around under this week's hat. Feel free to comment on the question (or the hat, the hat for that matter). I may even give away something for the comment that makes me laugh (or think) the most. Have fun with it! 

(You know I had to start with THIS one! Bought it online)

 

Why is Staten Island still a borough? Isn't there another designation that we can give it...like locale or vicinity? I'm just saying.  Maybe we could trade it to New Jersey in return for Liberty Island. It seems wrong that the Statue of Liberty has a NJ address...

These are my thoughts...what are yours?

Hold on!!! Wait for me!

"Oh no daddy I got it."

That came from my daughter's mouth and sent chills down my spine. It had reared its ugly head earlier than I had expected! What am I referring to, you may ask?
Independence, that's what!
For the first two years of her life my daughter needed one of us for virtually everything: eating, mobility, clothing, bathing, everything. Slowly but surely, as humans do, she became more and more proficient at walking, then running; at eating, then feeding herself; at helping us dress her, then picking out her favorite tutu! She is growing and we're having a hard time keeping up with her...at least I am. At least once a week, my wife and I look at each other and wonder where is the little kid that we brought home from NYU or the child who we thought would never get the hang of eating solids. She is truly coming into her own and I'm very proud of her...and sad.

I have always wanted a little girl for a number of reason, one of which being because I wanted a child I could teach and share things with. Boys discard their parents for more 'fun' things far faster than girls do. Girls tend to want to hang out with mom and dad more then their male counterparts. I knew that if I had a girl, I'd have a learning buddy well into her teens...right up until she starts to think daddy is lame and starts to get embarrassed by me. But that's not for a while right, I thought? My baby girl is going to look to me for a long time as her source of knowledge, assistance, and fun.

Nope, I seem to have underestimated that time line and baby Greene is already figuring things out on her own. Now, she still loves her daddy and we will always have our drumming/dancing sessions when I get home, but she's definitely cleaving her own independence. I hope she doesn't go too far though... I have a bunch of museum dates planned for us....

These are my thoughts ...what are yours?

Oh NO you don't!

Last night, my wife hailed a cab and he wouldn't let her in until she told him where she was going. It was midnight, she had just gotten in from out of town, and she was standing outside of Penn Station. She reminded him that he wasn't allowed to do that and that he was obligated to take her where she wanted to go. He then promptly turned off his light, declared that he was now off duty and the proceeded to pick up a white couple down the street. Yes, people; this is still happening! But that's not the point of my post today. My wife took down his hack number and called 311 to file a complaint . She agreed to come out to a hearing just to make sure this guy didn't get away with that behavior. And THAT is my point.
In this city, (and maybe others but I live here) people get away wit h a ton of stuff because no-one wants to go through the hassle of holding them accountable. I wager that cabbies get away with doing that kind of thing all the time because, unlike my wife, no-one wants to go through the whole process of documenting this stuff. Contractors are able to provide crappy service with no history of their misdeeds. Companies provide bad service with nary a call to Better Business Bureau. Even when there are people who stand up for what's right, these reporting agencies make you jump through hoops just to say that someone sucks!
But it's not just businesses and service people. It's regular folk too. My favorites: the cutters! You know who I mean: the people who see you waiting patiently and decide that they are too good for the archaic practice of forming a queue! I have NO tolerance for these people. However, unlike a lot of people who would simply say "did that guy just cut the line? Now that's just wrong!" ...to themselves, I put people on BLAST! I'm the guy that will shout them out like they stole something because to me they did! And we need more people to call people out when they do stupid stuff or break the rules or the law, for that matter, right in front of us.
There is a new concept of bystander-ism that purports that we all have a responsibility to not stand idly by as these things happen. I think that our city would be much more pleasant (not saying that it isn't but it still has room for improvement) if people didn't do grimy stuff just because they know they can get away with it. So stand up to those cutters, litterers, cell phone users on buses, and the jerks who pee in the elevators in the projects! And people, if you see someone standing up for what right and it looks like they are getting a hard time from the perpetrator, don't let the guy get his ass whooped by himself!! There is strength in numbers! Help a brother/sister out! Let's make this a better place, folks!

These are my thoughts...what are yours?

Greene Light Photography: Ooo Ooo Ooo me Me ME !

Greene Light Photography: Ooo Ooo Ooo me Me ME !: "Business has been good. I have been able to balance my career and my art. At the same time, enough people have noticed my work for me to mak..."

We like to WATCH....

I was talking to my wife the other day after she caught me peeking into her shirt. She told me to quit it and then wondered why I was sneaking around, trying to catch a glimpse of something that I could see and do see every day. I reminded her about one of the things that women never seem to understand about us: we are visual creatures. Furthermore, men love gets sneak peaks at something that's supposed to be covered up. It is the sole reason for lingerie! Ask any man which is sexier to him, a woman standing in his bedroom doorway completely naked or a woman standing there wearing some revealing lingerie. Most men go for the latter! Why? Because men love sneak peeks. (note: this is in no way to imply the totally naked woman won't get our attention too. Feel free to employ THAT tactic too!) An entire industry caters to that one truth about the heterosexual male species. Unfortunately, women never seem to want to believe that it's actually true. I'm here to tell you all that it is.


It starts early too. As adolescents, we don't want to necessarily sleep with every girl in school buuuuuuut if we could sneak a peek at a forbidden body part, most men will admit to that basest carnal inclination! And this applies even to the girls that we weren't attracted to! There is something about being able to say, "I saw something I wasn't supposed to" that is exhilarating. We ARE hard wired like that. Regardless of whether you believe it or not, it's true. Sorry....LOL


I think that it is unfortunate that women don't function this way as well. I often feel at a loss for things to do that are comparable to the donning of lingerie for my wife. Any "sexy" outfits created for men will always have the OPPOSITE effect to the one that was desired. Men, don't do it. I promise you it will NOT end well!


So what is the solution. Women, I refer you to the famous Cosby episode where grandpa Huxtable recanted a story about a burlesque dancer who would "show a little bit of shoulder, then take it away". Grandma Huxtable was furious because that memory was SO vivid in his mind. Men remember things like that....always. Why I still remember when my wife....ummm....errr....well....let's just say it was memorable...


So if I can give one piece of advice it would be for women to believe the truth: men like to watch. Ladies, give 'em something to look at.
These are my thoughts....what are yours?

The New Industrialists pt 2.

So I haven't posted since May so I figured I would get back into the swing of things with something useful!  So I decided to once again talk about those ever industrious people in NYC and surrounding areas that are making their talents work for them with small cottage industries, also affectionately known as the "side hustles". My last post about what I called the new industrialist made quite a few connections for people and I thought it would be helpful to spotlight some more of the people around me doing great things in addition to their 9-5. So here we go again.

Of course I have to start with Greene Light Photography again! I think they're amazing, if I do say so myself. Since the last post the website (www.greenelightphoto.com) has added information and some new projects.

Since the last post, Hartlyn Kids has also grown and they just launched their new website (www.hartlynkids.com) AND their signature book line has been announced. The first book will be available this summer and they promise to take your child around the world with their stories. Check out the site, buy a passport, and travel globe with Aisha and Christine.

Now I must admit that I did not know what an ethnomusicologist was before I met Free nor had I ever knowingly met one. But now I have! In fact, I now know TWO because Free and Aja are about to launch a blog designed to expose you to music that generally doesn't reach your eardrums but is waiting to be heard by you. Self described as the Anthony Bourdain of music, they seek out they seek out and find amazing music they believe the world needs to hear. Look out for them and in meantime follow Free and Aja on twitter.com at @ajaAndfree for updates on their blog and where they're listening next.

With the real estate market in the state that it is, you need a steady hand guiding you through the process. Dave Frederick provide just that for your home ownership needs in the Queens and Nassau county areas. Visit Long Island Dream Homes or call him at (917) 359-2224 and let him help you pick out the right home for you and your family.

And lastly, even the people that I spotlighted in this blog can use the next service. I'm taking the time to advertise their business but none of these businesses will ever make out of the 'hustle' stage unless they utilize someone like Marsha Prospere and Chi Vinson to market their business effectively. Lilliput Media will make sure that your business has an resonant presence and you won't easily be forgotten. Check them out at www.lilliputmedia.com or email them at info@lilliputmedia.com. You won't be disappointed.

Well that's all for now.
These are my thoughts...what are yours?