First, read up: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm


Then, if you feel you have been wronged in any way by any business, today is the day to get even and voice your complaint. Whether it's a coupon they didn't take, a defective product, false advertising or just plain old-fashioned swindling, you do not have to stand for it. Know your rights. They should never be an "inconvenience" to you.


If taxpayers are expected to "bail out" companies who cannot run their businesses properly, then we better start standing up for our expectations. If Ford is getting a bailout, then I want environmentally friendly vehicles from them. If the MTA here in NY wants to hike fares then they better provide on-time service and clean the stations.


Too many companies are used to getting something for nothing (and in some cases, becoming monopolies who are allowed to get away with near-criminal price gouging). Get a return on your investment today. Speak up and make a difference.

You can either look one up on your own to follow or use the open-ended horoscopes I have written below:

Aries: March 21-April 19 You already know you CAN, today is the day to DO. Act on something you've been confident enough to do for quite some time.


Taurus: April 20 - May 20 You've been waiting for quite some time. Today is the day to stop waiting, you've earned your reward.

Gemini: May 21 - June 21 You know that big event you were invited to? Go. They need you there to liven things up. Nothing's as fun without you there.

Cancer: June 22 - July 22 Express yourself today. Write the song you've been composing in your head, the poem your heart sings when that special someone walks by. Today is the day to leave your mark on the world.

Leo: July 23 - Aug. 22 You've been trying to teach them how to do this for a while, today you will find your inspiration. Just teach it in a different way, you know how and they'll finally understand.

Virgo: Aug. 23 - Sept. 22 Enjoy solitude today. Get lost in the park or the city and find a new path home. If you feel inclined, bring a sketchbook or camera or maybe just a book to read in your new hideaway.

Libra: Sept. 23 - Oct. 22 Time can heal all wounds or open old ones. Today think upon your past in a non-judgemental view and see if you've misjudged or overlooked anyone's transgressions. Forgive or forget them today and know that you made a wise decision.

Scorpio: Oct. 23 - Nov. 21 Forget the rest of the world today and do something for you. No, I said forget them. Don't worry about what people think of you for one day and just be yourself.

Sagittarius: Nov. 22 - Dec. 21 Tell someone what you really think of them today. You know you've been dying to so just say it already and lift that weight from your shoulders. You'll feel so much better.

Capricorn: Dec. 22 - Jan. 19 Plan for your next vacation today. Decide the place, the month and what you want to do. It's okay to get excited a little early, you always accomplish what you set your heart on.

Aquarius: Jan. 20 - Feb. 18 You're always so focused on your own success and getting things done on time but this week you need to slow down and look at the world around you. Do something nice for someone else today, no matter how small, you will be loved for it.

Pisces: Feb. 19 - March 20 Volunteer yourself for a future charity project today. Whether it's Habitat for Humanity or the local Food Drive, set aside part of your calendar to enlarge your heart and share some of that overflowing love.

This sounds like a fun task to do. Unfortunately, the birds in pet stores, usually ignore me. If I really wanted to train a parrot to say all the subconcious things I never utter aloud, I'd have to buy one. If I feed them and take care of the bird, they'll probably be more willing to take instruction from and want to mimic me. Then I can grow even one step closer to being a full fledged pirate. yarrrrr...

For instruction on training your parrot to talk see this link.

You can also have the same fun with a cockatoo as I have been witness to my dad's birds singing the Barney "I love you, you love me" song back in California. It can be done if you repeat something enough.

If you can avoid it, don't spend it. Sure, you have to eat and maybe even take public transport to work, but other than necessity, do NOT spend any cash today. Either have someone cover you and pay them back tomorrow or find a free alternative to what you need.

I can do this. My metrocard was prepaid so I technically spent that money a week ago, not today. And since John is taking us to dinner tonight, I won't have to spend later either. Now to see about lunch... We have free ramen in the breakroom which breaks my diet, but won't kill me. And the watercooler plus my tea packets equals free refreshment. YAY!

Goodluck to the rest of you! Pinch some pennies today and use them to spoil yourself another day.

Acquire some earplugs. earmuffs or just put some headphones in which muffle outside noises. This day will be hard for me, personally, since I answer phones all day and LOVE music. But I will try my best to block out noises when I can.


This would also be a good day to try learning some sign language. ASL has a huge dictionary full of animated gifs for those of you wanting to learn something new or just to translate a favorite phrase: http://www.handspeak.com/tour/index.php


Once the day is over, try listing some pros and cons for this sense deprivation. Then decide how important hearing is to you and rate it on a scale of 1-10 (10 being VERY important). I will update this post at the end of the end of the day with my analyisis.

***UPDATE***
I tried it for as long as I could stand, but silence bores me. Even when it's seemingly peaceful, my mind and ears tune in to all the small noises. I love my ears. I love the sounds of this city. I couldn't ever imagine giving them up voluntarily for an entire 24 hours. My end-of-the-day rating is 8/10. I can tolerate peace when I have a headache or when my heart is racing and noise exacerbates the situation. Other than that, I really love listening. :)

If I can get ahold of a banana today, I will definately have to try this! Here are a few examples to inspire and delight you:

Right foot. Had school. Nothing exciting.

Well then, seeing as how I am lacking in the permanent markers and spray paint department, I tagged something a little less permanently. My water bottle up there will be in the fridge at work so it will be semi-public. It's also illegible, imo. It's kind of fun writing my name in some goofy way, but I envy the real graffiti artists of the world who can manage to make things so illegible yet so beautiful at the same time.


Some examples of their work can be found on a simple Google search. Maybe some of them can help inspire your own graffiti today. :)

*ahem*


When I was just a wee girl, I grew up in the emerald hills of Dublin, Ireland chasing fairies across the marsh. I played with their flittering forms all morning until my mother would call me in for lunch. We would have a sliver of fresh cheese, warm and soft. It was nothing like that cold, hard cheese the cold, hard people of England enjoy. And I would hear the low whistle of the leprechauns calling in the meadow and I would be off, in a dash. I stayed there playing with them until well after dusk. Many times, I would miss dinner just to frolic an hour or two longer. My mother let me stay with these fae folk because, as she oft said, they were my 'kin'. And so it was, that midway into my formative years, my own wings began to emerge. By the time I was eighteen I had flown so far and so high beyond the Isle that I was lost. I flitted about weakly, desperate to find land, until I found myself falling, tumbling and crashing into Antartica. Weakened and, taking refuge among the people of the winterstalked land of snow and ice, I would soon lose my wings to frost bite and depression. That is why, my child, I do not have the power to fly today.


But I can still see fairies.

This whole concept kinda icks me out, to be honest. I mean, it sounds great on paper and in theory but actually going through all that? Ew. And for those of use who've had cancer scares and medical poking in those areas, we're not too keen on the whole idea of doing it for fun. Well, maybe not "fun" but voluntarily just to feel better about ourselves.

I don't have much to suggest on this. There are a million new age health sites pushing colon cleaners as the fix-all for everything. I just don't buy it. Anything that amazing and supposedly perfect for every ailment would be more widely used and accepted in real medical use. It wouldn't be some hack doctor who got his degree online. Just sayin.

Apparently, there is a real chemical reason that recovering addicts from other substances turn to chocolate. According to the book, you'd have to consume about 25lbs. of chocolate to get addicted enough to crash, burn and then crave the treat. Interesting in theory, but not worth the sugar shock coma I'd find myself in after eating that much chocolate.

Instead, I'm going to recommend a chocolate I have come to love. It's the new Cherry Cordial Hershey Kiss that came out, I believe, around Valentine's Day or New Years. These things are delicious. And, if you are like me and loved the flavor of cherry cordials but not so much the texture of the cherry inside, these are perfect. All the flavor in a smooth little package. :)

So today's task, if you want to keep it sane, is to simply INDULGE your sweet tooth. Treat yourself to something decadent today. You deserve it.

The book says to try and spend the bill just to see if anyone will take it, but since this is a crime punishable by 15 years in prison, I'll pass on that half of the task and recommend anyone here in the US do the same.

As far as MAKING one, just for curiousity and art's sake, don't try scanning it. most scanning and image editting programs are already set up to detect scanned money and stop you and, in same cases, report you. If you don't believe me, I tried scanning my $2 bill to photoshop it for a project about "precious items" and Photoshop gave me a huge warning and error.

I'm sure there are other ways to get around it and you could always use or write your own image editting software.

Or you could just get some green markers, blank printing paper and have fun with the kids playing 'Bank'. It's much more relaxing and 100% less illegal. :)

I like this task. Though I modified it a bit from the book (anyone who has the book will know why), I still think you can learn a valuable lesson in empathy without having to turn it into a religious experiment.


I have been worrying about the homeless a lot this past week. Mainly because it's so cold outside and I know they don't have a heater to go home and complain about being "too high" like I do. It's incredibly humbling when I stop and think about it. Though I have done several things in my past to try and help clothe or feed the homeless in San Antonio, I've never done anything up here in NYC for them.


Today, I will actually reach out and do something... Bring me your 'cold and huddled masses' and I will give them food and a blanket. :)

It's easy once you get the word flow going. Just write what you know, what you feel. Keep it natural, keep it raw and, if you think you've written a masterpiece feel free to give yourself a big break. Send the demo to:


Death Row Records
PO Box 3037
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

***as a response to the top image, I do not think all rap songs are riddled with cuss words. I think they are just over editted on TV because the tight-lipped conservatives at the FCC still think words have "evil powers" and should be editted. I also think it's dumb that the N word is bleeped out in music, but "Cracker" and "Whitey" are not. Just stop editting people and let them express themselves already. It's 2009... -_- ***

I don't fancy myself hip or talented enough to drop a new rap album on the market. But, in the style of beatniks and bards before me, I do consider myself a poet.

The city's covered in snow

and I know I won't go

If I don't have to go

where you want.

Chem's a joke anyway

since we can't play

at least not the way

I want.

So please speak English

if you wanna teach this

you'll never reach us

like that.

In fact, while you're out there nabbing sweeteners from the coffee shops, why not restock your entire condiment cabinet? I know I can use some more ketchup and soysauce...


For you fellow condiment hunters, stay aware of refrigeration needs and expiration dates! Remember: when war and poverty cause economic downturn, sugar and salt will be two things you cut back on and miss. Save up now! <3