How Can People Have No Personality?!

We've all met these kind of people. You ask a question, they give one word answers. They tell you a story that is about as dry as the desert. It could be your coworker who strictly comes into work, does their job without saying boo to you, and leaving at the end of the day. It could be the guy or girl you went on a date with last week. Or it could be your waiter or waitress at the last restaurant you went to or your neighbor you always dreaded bumping into.

How is it that people can have no personality?

But maybe the better question is: if they have no personality, do they even know it? And if so, why aren't they doing anything to change it!

What I think is that people with no personalities, ultimately are satisfied with marrying others with no personalities, and thus, continue to breed that of the same kind.

And what are we left with? More bland people in our society who a) do not know how to laugh at a joke, b) do not know how to start a conversation and c) ultimately, do not bring anything to the table!

Times Square: I Can Never Fully Appreciate You

It was at about 1:00am last night when I had my ritual walk to the train through Times Square on my way home from work (no, I'm not a stripper at a gentleman's club, but a production assistant at SportsNet NY), did I realize something.

I work on 51st and 6th, a mere one avenue away from the heart of Times Square. As you can imagine, unlike most places at 1:00am, I'm not the only one on the streets in New York City. Joining me are the saxophone playing beggers, the homeless and their cardboard signs, and yes, the tourists snapping photos.

It was at that moment that I realized, I'm never going to see Times Square the way the tourists do, or in fact, the way it should be seen. As a New Yorker, Times Square is like the swine flu. Our fast-paced lifestyle cannot handle the slow sightseers, the constant street vendors shouting at us, or the ticket offers thrown our way.

But what I find sad is that I can't be a tourist in my own city. Heck, I've wanted to see the Conan O'Brien show for a long time, but not once did I actively pursue it while he was here. I go to LA for a week and BAM, I see The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

So now that I realize this, the next time I pass through Times Square, I want to at least try to remind myself that it's one of the coolest attractions in the world. And maybe, through my haste to get from place to place, I'll find it in my heart to stop and ask that tourist snapping a photo if they want me to take it with them and their family in it.

Top 3 of the Week: My Favorite Board Games Growing Up

1) Dream Phone
You’reeeee righttttt. I reallyyyy like youu.
You boys out there wouldn’t appreciate the true joy us girls got out of guessing who was the right catch for us. Nothing was more painful than hearing “I know who it is, but I’m not telling, HA HA.” Each clue brought us closer to our dream boy, and if we held the phone as tight as we could to our ear, we would actually be able to hear it. But once we did finally make it to the end, if it was a hottie like Steve or Dale, well, it was that much sweeter.


2) Life
Not sure what I enjoyed most about this one—the chance to be a doctor and make a steady income, or becoming a proud parent of a pink or blue peg. Either way, you couldn’t go wrong with the game of Life. That is, unless you never bought life or fire insurance, then you were doomed.



3) Scattergories
One of the few games I still enjoy and have the patience for, Scattergories was an easy “end it at any round” game that tested your skills on, well every letter of the alphabet. Not always a fan of the categories (Brooke Blvd can be a street name!) or that dice (Qu? Um…let’s roll again…), but it’s still a classic favorite.

Find a Penny--LEAVE IT?

Do you remember the saying, "find a penny, pick it up?" Maybe you're more familiar with the phrase, "pick a penny up on heads for good luck." Well nowadays, I bet you even some homeless people can't be bothered with what has become an almost meaningless currency: pennies.

How is it that pennies, which mind you, do ACTUALLY add up to what some of you might consider REAL MONEY, is so insignificant to us? I'll tell ya, if Abe Lincoln didn't show his face on the $5 bill, he'd be pretty pissed about this treatment.

But the ironic part about this, is that as lazy as we are about picking up a penny or finding the effort to reach into our bag or pocket for it, we're still kicking ourselves when we're at the checkout line and are one penny short.

The result? Well some cashiers say "don't worry about it" which again, proves how pointless the penny really is to our economy.

But sometimes the cashier isn't that nice.

And what do we get for it?

Well handing her that nickel ensures us four more of these insignificant pennies in return!

Joke of the Week!

Did you hear who won American Idol?

Top 3 of The Week: American Idol Finale Thoughts

1) And the winner is...Kris Allen?
Hey, it could happen. And if so, America has a lot of explaining to do. Sure, I enjoy Allen's performances, but the winner of American Idol? C'mon. Kris' charming smile and apparent sex appeal has surprisingly catapulted him into the top-2, knocking out finale favorite, Danny Gokey in the process. I'm not a huge Adam Lambert fan (his theatrics are indulging and his high-pitched notes shatter all my windows), but if he doesn't win, it just ain't right. The guy is a rockstar.


2) Team Dioguardi
Now most people I talk to are not a fan of the rookie judge, but I actually like her contributions, and almost find myself agreeing with her more than Simon. If anything, her following Randy proves just how useless his critiques are (This is a singing competition and YOU CAN SINGGG!!! --seriously, enough.) Now what I didn't like about Kara throughout the season is that she's uber sensitive and can't take a joke, especially when it's coming from Simon (who mind you, has a pretty big in with the producers of the show). So don't be surprised if like the many Idol contestants, Dioguardi's 15 minutes of American Idol fame might be over after this season.


3) Looking back at my Predictions
I'd like to think I was pretty spot on with my American Idol predictions. Interestingly enough, I left off Kris Allen, because after all, I didn't even think he'd make the top-13, let alone the top 2! (Sorry, but without air time in the early rounds, how can America relate to the guy?) I still think Adam will succeed win or lose, and well, seeing Jorge Nunez win it all would have been just plain adorable!

NASCAR—Really, America? Really?

Really, America? You really enjoy watching cars go in circles, over and over and over again? And somehow, I’m in the minority for not enjoying it? NASCAR gets higher ratings across the country than most sports, including hockey.

Granted, I’m a New Yorker, and well, you can probably guess NASCAR and its country music-loving fans are not prevalent here, but I still don’t see the fascination with this “sport” that involves so much repetition it will make you dizzy just watching!

Top 3 of The Week: Awkward First Date Moments

1) When The Bill Comes
This is where the "Are you a gentleman?" test comes into play. Ladies--you're right to offer to pay your way. Gentleman--if you accept, you are not a gentleman at all. If you can't treat a lady and attempt to make a good first impression on the first date, when can you?



2) When You Say Goodbye
Ok, let the awkwardness begin. If you're traditional and don't kiss on the first date, you can delay this move until it ever reaches a 2nd. But at some point, one of you is going to awkwardly go for a hug/kiss on the cheek while the other is diving headfirst with your tongue hanging out. If you're on the same page? Well then that's dating chemistry!



3) When You Realize Your Not Interested
Ok, sometimes all it takes is one minute to realize the person is not for you. So do you purposely show that your not interested or do you carry on as normal, potentially leading them on? We're all guilty of the next step: fading someone out. As easy as it is to say "sorry you're not my type" after dating them, it's not easy for us at all. Our preferred method? Gradually fading them out until they get the idea your just not into them. It's cruel, and we hate when it's done to us, but we all do it anyway!

Stop Getting Offended When I Yawn!

Let’s set up some scenarios:

A) I stayed up all night for work or school-related reasons, and am meeting up with you for brunch the next day.

B) I’ve been really sick and am having a hard time sleeping, but am still planning on going to dinner after work with you that day.

C) You are a boring person and I find you the least bit interesting, but am still going to meet up for drinks with you after work.

Now let’s say I yawned while each one of these scenarios took place. You mean to tell me, that I am a rude and obnoxious person for having offended you while you speak to me?

To me, and maybe I’m wrong, yawning is a natural function that is due to lack of proper sleep or maybe a tiring day--NOT by having a conversation with someone.

Maybe HOW you yawn can be perceived as rude—perhaps you are intentionally mocking the idea that you are bored, but the ACT of yawning should not be considered offensive!


Notice how I put scenario C in there. Even if you bore me, it doesn’t mean you are responsible for my yawns, it just means you’re plain boring (Don’t ask me why I’m still hanging out with you).

But, heck, I yawn when I’m out dancing, does that mean I’m bored? NO.

Does that mean you’re a terrible dancer? NO.

Does it mean I’m tired? YES.

So stop getting offended.

Top 3 of the Week: Naïve Thoughts I Had As a Child

1) Babies Were Made By Kissing
Before “Mature Night” in 4^th grade, I had this notion that a child was brought into the world by the art of kissing, in which the saliva of the male was transferred to the female, and bam…she’s pregnant! Aww, sweet innocent Brooke, who thought the below-the-belt tools given by God were just for show.

1) Babies Were Made From Kissing

Until maturity night in 4th grade, I was under the impression that a child was reproduced from parents kissing, and that the saliva was the reason why. And here, I thought the below the belt tools from God were just for show.

2) Tiny Little People Sat in Traffic Lights

Now don’t ask me why I thought these tiny humans only existed in this device, but how else could I explain that a red light turned green as soon as our car approached it? My theory? Well, a little oompa lumpa was at the control switch and peaked out of his hole to see approaching cars.

3) Heaven Was Set Up Like Bleachers
Everyone says when people die, they go to heaven and look down on us, right? Well, as a child, I couldn’t help but think “how is there enough room in the sky for EVERY dead person to see us?!” So I had a theory that heaven was operating like a huge stadium, in which each year, every row shifts down one aisle for a better glance of the world. Yes, imagine the likes of Abraham Lincoln and Elvis Presley standing up on New Year’s and making their way down to the next row. Hey, this one still has a fighting chance to be right…

Kids say the darndest things, don’t they?!

Non-Joke of the Week

If I hear one more attempt at a Swine Flu joke, I'm going to purposely get the disease and cough all over you.

STOP IT ALREADY!