According to the Daily News the publicist of the original idea is none to pleased:

“I guess I’ve learned the world isn’t the idealistic place I was raised to believe it was,” said publicist Bobby Zarem, who helped create the original campaign.

“All anybody is interested in is making a buck. It’s cheap and stupid,” he added.

Kinda tacky in my books. I heart NY logo- $45k, selling out-priceless.

Finally, retitled as Brooklyn Lobster this film made on only a $200,000 budget, starring Danny Aiello and Jane Curtain is set for release on November 4th at the City Cinemas Village East, on 2nd Ave between 11th and 12th street. It’s a story that truly feels like what Brooklyn and family mean to me. Frank Giorgio, portrayed by Aiello, is the father of a typical crazy family, trying “maintain his Brooklyn pride” when the bank comes a calling to foreclose on his lobster farm. It’s a story as much about Brooklyn as it is about family and definitely a must see.

Already screened at the Toronto and Hamptons film festivals, it was shown again last night at the Film 101 course which features the creators of these films in a brief lecture/Q&A before the screening. I’ve been told that although my name is on the website with the lowly PA credit, it’s missing from the actual film credits. So check out the website, go see the film, and let me know what the answer is to the credit/noncredit “issue.” I for one will be checking it out just see Aiello work his magic on screen. Man can that guy act.

Yesterday, the director of transportation came to my office to show me pictures of potential people who could have done this. I quickly identified the offender for him. He next handed me his business card and told me the next time I ordered FD to hold up the card to the delivery guy and he would know not to hurt me. I laughed. I didn’t mean to, but what kind of response is that? I told him flat out I would not be ordering FD again, and as if scripted he said he was very sorry but to hold up the card the next time I ordered and I should be okay. He even put his cell on the back just in case something did happen so I could contact him. Great.

The other side of this was that they were doing an internal investigation with the delivery guy. They spoke to the guy today and although they could not give me any employment details they “gauranteed he would not be delivering to my area” any more. It doesn’t take a genius to read between the lines of that. Again, I said I’m sorry but I can’t use FD any longer. A few minutes ago, I received a message from the director of transportation who said he thought the last telephone conversation went badly. In return, I left him a message saying I’m just so drained I can’t go any further.

Yes, I suck at life. Yes, they won. But when things like this so consume your life, sometimes it feels like its best if you just let them win. Is this the best resolution? No. I’m a pansy, flake, worthless type of person for letting this happen? Yes. BUT as far as all the comments go, I reiterate, I always tip - just not to guys who demand one from me. And, at the end of the day, in regards to the comments section, I think that old saying should be rewritten to read “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will always crush me.” It’s over with and done with and that’s my final word on the matter.

Somedays you just need a pick me up. Today is one of those days. So I decided on the way to an appointment to be a kid again and experience one of the great treasures of NYC. FAO Schwarz. For the uninitiated, the store opens at 10AM and if you get there at 9:55, you can have the grand red carpet welcoming. A trumpeter plays, the soldiers salute, the red carpet is rolled out, and the first customers are greeted by rounds of applause by the employees.

So, my tip for today is when you need an escape, just be a kid again and go play on that big piano, go play with the big stuffed animals, and be treated by a queen if only for 5 minutes.

After hearty apologies for this not being escalated to a higher level sooner, I was given the opportunity to again address what happened. Once again, I repeated the occurrence of the non-voluntary

I spoke with Fresh Direct again, and to my surprise, my complaint is actually almost word for word recorded with them. I don

I normally order Fresh Direct once a week as you do when you are either too lazy to go to the store or just too busy with work and life in general. I’ve had problems in the past like my eggs being crushed, my entire frozen order of ice cream sandwiches and fudgesicles being completely luiquidized by the time they get to my door, but it seemed worth it just to pay $2.39 for a 16oz tub of cottage cheese as compared to $3.99 around the corner.

That was until tonight. Tipping is optional. I usually tip, just because it’s nice. I wasn’t about to tip until all the boxes were delivered and I had signed the form acknowledging delivery. The delivery guy who was a cross between Mark Wahlberg and Kevin Federline told me tipping was optional. I told him I knew. He then said “Where’s my tip?”

Aghast. I immediately decided not to tip him. Wrong answer. The guy put his foot in my door and would not let me close it, demanding his tip. I tried to close it, my heart beating faster realizing I’m a single female who lives in a studio with all my neighbors out already for the night. I think by the third time, he realized it too, pushed his way into my apartment and demanded I give him money. I gave him all the cash I had which amounted to only about $10. He left and said, “I meant tipping isn’t optional.”

I immediately closed my door, shaking violently (still currently at this moment), locking all three locks and then got on the phone to Fresh Direct. When I called they just took my name and phone number, not getting a description of the guy or letting me finish to the part where he came in, they stopped me where I said his foot was in the door preventing it from closing. They told me they would file a complaint. I accepted that and stupidly hung up.

I should call the police, but it’s only $10 and I feel like a fool. But I realized today, you only hear about the delivery men who get hurt doing their job, the flip side is never reported. He now knows where I live, that I live alone, and that I can’t fight him off. It was a stupid, stupid mistake on my part, I should have just given him the money. But tonight I realized even though I rely on delivery of my food, my dinner, and when I’m lazy, my laundry so often, I fall complacent and feel safe. I need to take more precautions, because the reality is, I give these people access to my front door, what stops them from stopping just there?

Links to the updates because people aren’t reading the rest of the tale:
Update 1
Update 2
Update 3
The Final Chapter

Be vigilent.

That’s what they always say, but how much more vigilent can we be? I’m this close to reporting that Catholic school girl playing with her cell phone next to me on the train because she’s playing some commando military game on her phone. Hello suspicious behavior. I almost feel like every time we get a new credible threat I should saranwrap myself, wear a blast proof bombsquad suit, and four gas masks.

But, the most important out of all this is whose news source do you over indulge on in times of threats? Is it CNN, MSNBC, or ABC News?

Secondly, is anyone deterred from taking the subway tomorrow morning?