Caleb (5 years old): I'd like it better if your room was cooler.
Me: Well the air conditioner is in your room now.
Caleb: I'll tell you what you should do. Move the air conditioner into your room and voila! your room will be cool again.
Yup my 5 year old just used the word voila...and used it correctly. What a smarty pants!
Friday, September 2, 2011
ATM - $ = Bald Bree
Costco only takes debit cards, checks or cash. I for the life of me can't remember my pin number for my Utah debit card and I left my checkbook at home. I realize this while I'm standing in the longest line ever...(stupid Hurricane Irene). I don't want to get out of line to get the money at the ATM so I hope I can somehow remember my PIN while he's checking out my groceries or that Max will be able to find where I put the PIN number. Alas neither happens.
Meanwhile, I have the light bulb idea of just getting cash from my NY bank account (I remember the PIN for this card)...I have to go to the ATM cuz there is no money in checking only savings. (pause while I attempt to explain my bank account situation and then give up cuz it's too complicated)....anyway to make a long story short the ATM machine at Costco debited my savings account $200 and spit out $20.
Now picture me with no hair because I just pulled it all out. And I've worked so hard to get it to the length it is..which makes this all the sadder.
Costco can't do anything for me, the ATM people can't do anything for me and the bank isn't sure they can do anything for me because the receipt says I got $200. If I had any hair left that would be gone by now, instead I almost cry in front of the manager at the bank. Anyone know a good hairdresser who can work miracles and is cheap??
Meanwhile, I have the light bulb idea of just getting cash from my NY bank account (I remember the PIN for this card)...I have to go to the ATM cuz there is no money in checking only savings. (pause while I attempt to explain my bank account situation and then give up cuz it's too complicated)....anyway to make a long story short the ATM machine at Costco debited my savings account $200 and spit out $20.
Now picture me with no hair because I just pulled it all out. And I've worked so hard to get it to the length it is..which makes this all the sadder.
Costco can't do anything for me, the ATM people can't do anything for me and the bank isn't sure they can do anything for me because the receipt says I got $200. If I had any hair left that would be gone by now, instead I almost cry in front of the manager at the bank. Anyone know a good hairdresser who can work miracles and is cheap??
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Detroit Ruins Map
View Detroit in a larger map
This is a map I made for an ALA online class on Geospacial techniques and mapping. It goes along with a reference resource bibliographic essay I did for my Reference class at Pratt. I wish I could show you the Google Earth version of this map that shows housing vacancy data for 2001-2010 as an overlay. It allows you to see how the empty the city has become over the past 10 years, but I can't figure out how to link it. It was really fun learning how to make the map and quite easy. I was able to link movies and pictures to each of my points of interest. Enjoy!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Echoes Among the Stars
Banned to hang among the stars
upside down unrivaled beauty
sacrificed to the sea
all because of vanity
Cassiopeia and Andromeda
stories speak of adoration
no stars are named for me.
Beloved of no one
Yet souls bear my name
What echoes will travel
from future to past like lights
forever twinkling in dual mirrors
memories leave my mouth
into the atmosphere.
They return as distorted
remnants imperfect copies
but carrying all of what
is truly me to return to earth
spotlights of destiny
I am no goddess
but in them I am engraved.
upside down unrivaled beauty
sacrificed to the sea
all because of vanity
Cassiopeia and Andromeda
stories speak of adoration
no stars are named for me.
Beloved of no one
Yet souls bear my name
What echoes will travel
from future to past like lights
forever twinkling in dual mirrors
memories leave my mouth
into the atmosphere.
They return as distorted
remnants imperfect copies
but carrying all of what
is truly me to return to earth
spotlights of destiny
I am no goddess
but in them I am engraved.
I become i
Without substance without form
like a bubble floating
Afraid to land and disappear
to leave no trace
I pop only a faint damp ring.
See me hear these words
like whispers faint
They are empty and vanish
They burst and implode
Collapse as a dying star.
The ghost of my former self
The copy in the mirror
A spark too far gone to flame
Not important
I lose my mINd
Not wanted
I lose my HEart
Not worthy
I lose my souL
Shut out
I lose my seLf
I
become
i
cease to
exist
NOTE: This has been an incomplete poem for a long time, I just thought I'd finish it this evening. I don't want anyone thinking I'm falling into the depths of despair (or the pit of despair depending on your familiarity with Princess Bride). This is from another life... it relates to a person that in reality doesn't exist anymore, which in a way is fitting. I'm glad that the me I am now is not the me that exists in this poem. I also just happen to like some of the imagery it invokes.
like a bubble floating
Afraid to land and disappear
to leave no trace
I pop only a faint damp ring.
See me hear these words
like whispers faint
They are empty and vanish
They burst and implode
Collapse as a dying star.
The ghost of my former self
The copy in the mirror
A spark too far gone to flame
Not important
I lose my mINd
Not wanted
I lose my HEart
Not worthy
I lose my souL
Shut out
I lose my seLf
I
become
i
cease to
exist
NOTE: This has been an incomplete poem for a long time, I just thought I'd finish it this evening. I don't want anyone thinking I'm falling into the depths of despair (or the pit of despair depending on your familiarity with Princess Bride). This is from another life... it relates to a person that in reality doesn't exist anymore, which in a way is fitting. I'm glad that the me I am now is not the me that exists in this poem. I also just happen to like some of the imagery it invokes.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Dichotomous Detroit
My mother grew up in Detroit, Michigan and I spent vacations there visiting my grandparents when I was little. We'd drive up through Canada and take the tunnel that let out right into downtown. My mother would promptly hit the locks on her door and wouldn't relax until we got to my grandparents house on Duchess Ave, east of Detroit. My grandfather worked for Ford and later on for some electric company (I think...I wonder if it was the American Electric Iron Company on Woodward? I'm not sure or if it was just some local place. Someday I'll need to ask).
My memories are of emerging out of that tunnel into this huge city, bigger than I had ever seen. Gawking at crowds of people on the streets, lights, White Castle...what's that mom?? The huge huge streets, some with medians down the middle and gorgeous houses. My grandparents house was a modest brick house, the neighbors next door had an above ground pool with a slide, I'd never seen such a thing. My brother and I would longingly stare over the fence and say things in a stage whisper like..."Boy, it sure is HOOOOT out here today!!" or "Whew! I feel like I'm melting, how will we ever cool down?" until the neighbors eventually asked if we wanted to swim, just to shut us up. We weren't allowed to actually ask them if we could come over...because that would be rude. Kids! If our loud whining didn't work my grandfather would get out these 3 metal wash tubs and fill them up with the hose, we'd go sit in them and then my grandmother would come out of the house with ice cream in these fantastic colored plastic dishes on stems, the ice cream would be covered in Magic Shell. Now I'm sure that there is something very unhealthy about eating something that is liquidy chocolate something or other that hardens when it gets cold...but even today if I see it on the shelves I'll buy it and eat it with Breyer's Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream and I'm transported back to summers in Detroit. I remember eating them on the screened in porch out front and in the backyard while watching my grandfather in his beautiful garden of lilies or watch him mow with one of those non powered mowers.
I remember almost giving the other next door neighbor a heart attack as I climbed across the top of the swing set. I remember thinking how weird it was that there were all these alley's behind the houses where the garbage was collected. I remember listening to a Red Wings hockey game on the radio while watching it with the sound off on the TV, because my grandfather preferred the announcers on the radio...I happen to agree. He'd also bring us small powdered donuts at least once during our visit. I also remember vaguely a trip to his work, I remember watching him fiddle with electronic stuff and him explaining that he had gotten shocked so much that he doesn't feel much in his fingertips anymore.
I remember eating at some Dutch? something or other restaurant...it was a buffet and I remember the color red and the fact it was always pretty dark and my grandfather would complain about it. I remember my grandmother would save scraps off her plate in a napkin that she would put in her purse for the dog. My grandfather drove everywhere, because my grandmother didn't know how to drive. He'd take us to the mall that had the big metal hippos and rhino's you could crawl all over. He'd take us to Belle Isle which had the coolest boat museum with a stethoscope...no telescope...no oh gosh what are those things called in submarines??? And the creepiest aquarium I've ever been in, but I wanted to go back every time we visited because if I could just make it past the really scary creepy huge tank with the big Garr fish with the sharp teeth that seemed to slink out of the dark murky recesses, I could see my favorite fish the Lion fish in the small tank in the back, next to the equally cool sea horses and then I could go back past the amazing electric eel. I was in heaven if we were there during a display of the eel's currenty power. Every single memory I have of Detroit is happy and joyous, which is why it pains me so to see the amount of ruin that is in that city and loss of so many beautiful buildings and places. Even the aquarium after over 100 years of continuous operation was also closed.
I have a class on being a reference librarian and reference resources for my graduate degree. One of the projects is a bibliographic essay (an explanation of what that is should be saved for another time). I chose to research the ruins of Detroit and examine the history behind some of these ruins. My research has taken me to look at fascinating old maps of the area, books about ruins and social economics, journal articles on increasing green space and social issues and many many websites, pictures and films. The more I research the more I realize that Detroit is a city of dichotomy, that it has two sides sometimes right next door to each other. That is it a city that is decaying but on the brink of such great things. That a neighborhood of decaying houses can be just down the street from a restored mansion. It is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I am reminded of the photo essay I did on this very subject of dichotomy during my undergraduate degree, but in a very different city, San Francisco. I have spent days and hours lost in the library and on the web happily immersed in this amazing city.
Hopefully these short movies are viewable. (I took the movies out and just have a link to the page they are on now...it was driving me nuts that I couldn't mute the initial movie.) They are amazing! Be aware there is a bunch of badly bleeped cursing and in the middle one a few off color references, but the places and hope that is exhibited in these stories is amazing! I hope to go back to Detroit someday and continue where I left off and create more good memories in this beautiful hopeful decaying rebuilding city. Watch Detroit Lives on: https://www.palladiumboots.eu/
Enjoy! PS If you want more links to pics and such they are everywhere, but I'm sure I can post some if you want.
My memories are of emerging out of that tunnel into this huge city, bigger than I had ever seen. Gawking at crowds of people on the streets, lights, White Castle...what's that mom?? The huge huge streets, some with medians down the middle and gorgeous houses. My grandparents house was a modest brick house, the neighbors next door had an above ground pool with a slide, I'd never seen such a thing. My brother and I would longingly stare over the fence and say things in a stage whisper like..."Boy, it sure is HOOOOT out here today!!" or "Whew! I feel like I'm melting, how will we ever cool down?" until the neighbors eventually asked if we wanted to swim, just to shut us up. We weren't allowed to actually ask them if we could come over...because that would be rude. Kids! If our loud whining didn't work my grandfather would get out these 3 metal wash tubs and fill them up with the hose, we'd go sit in them and then my grandmother would come out of the house with ice cream in these fantastic colored plastic dishes on stems, the ice cream would be covered in Magic Shell. Now I'm sure that there is something very unhealthy about eating something that is liquidy chocolate something or other that hardens when it gets cold...but even today if I see it on the shelves I'll buy it and eat it with Breyer's Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream and I'm transported back to summers in Detroit. I remember eating them on the screened in porch out front and in the backyard while watching my grandfather in his beautiful garden of lilies or watch him mow with one of those non powered mowers.
I remember almost giving the other next door neighbor a heart attack as I climbed across the top of the swing set. I remember thinking how weird it was that there were all these alley's behind the houses where the garbage was collected. I remember listening to a Red Wings hockey game on the radio while watching it with the sound off on the TV, because my grandfather preferred the announcers on the radio...I happen to agree. He'd also bring us small powdered donuts at least once during our visit. I also remember vaguely a trip to his work, I remember watching him fiddle with electronic stuff and him explaining that he had gotten shocked so much that he doesn't feel much in his fingertips anymore.
I remember eating at some Dutch? something or other restaurant...it was a buffet and I remember the color red and the fact it was always pretty dark and my grandfather would complain about it. I remember my grandmother would save scraps off her plate in a napkin that she would put in her purse for the dog. My grandfather drove everywhere, because my grandmother didn't know how to drive. He'd take us to the mall that had the big metal hippos and rhino's you could crawl all over. He'd take us to Belle Isle which had the coolest boat museum with a stethoscope...no telescope...no oh gosh what are those things called in submarines??? And the creepiest aquarium I've ever been in, but I wanted to go back every time we visited because if I could just make it past the really scary creepy huge tank with the big Garr fish with the sharp teeth that seemed to slink out of the dark murky recesses, I could see my favorite fish the Lion fish in the small tank in the back, next to the equally cool sea horses and then I could go back past the amazing electric eel. I was in heaven if we were there during a display of the eel's currenty power. Every single memory I have of Detroit is happy and joyous, which is why it pains me so to see the amount of ruin that is in that city and loss of so many beautiful buildings and places. Even the aquarium after over 100 years of continuous operation was also closed.
I have a class on being a reference librarian and reference resources for my graduate degree. One of the projects is a bibliographic essay (an explanation of what that is should be saved for another time). I chose to research the ruins of Detroit and examine the history behind some of these ruins. My research has taken me to look at fascinating old maps of the area, books about ruins and social economics, journal articles on increasing green space and social issues and many many websites, pictures and films. The more I research the more I realize that Detroit is a city of dichotomy, that it has two sides sometimes right next door to each other. That is it a city that is decaying but on the brink of such great things. That a neighborhood of decaying houses can be just down the street from a restored mansion. It is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I am reminded of the photo essay I did on this very subject of dichotomy during my undergraduate degree, but in a very different city, San Francisco. I have spent days and hours lost in the library and on the web happily immersed in this amazing city.
Hopefully these short movies are viewable. (I took the movies out and just have a link to the page they are on now...it was driving me nuts that I couldn't mute the initial movie.) They are amazing! Be aware there is a bunch of badly bleeped cursing and in the middle one a few off color references, but the places and hope that is exhibited in these stories is amazing! I hope to go back to Detroit someday and continue where I left off and create more good memories in this beautiful hopeful decaying rebuilding city. Watch Detroit Lives on: https://www.palladiumboots.eu/
Enjoy! PS If you want more links to pics and such they are everywhere, but I'm sure I can post some if you want.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
wha--th--ell?
I sometimes wonder why people do the things that they do...or dogs for that matter. Little tiny dachshund puppy walking behind it's owner, suddenly decides to flop on the sidewalk and roll around. The owner drags him for a couple feet before she realizes that he's just flopped on the ground. Why? I mean I've seen dogs do that in grass...but the concrete sidewalk? Did he have an itch? Did it smell good?? Who knows the mind of a dog?
Or in terms of a person...why did the lady coming out of Tea & Sympathy have 10 pens stuck to the outside pockets of her purse? Two in each color...was she afraid she was going to run out of ink? Does she lose a lot of pens? Does she like to write with all of them at once? Does she label things a lot and are they color-coded?
Or the interesting high school girl on the train who had a collection of zip ties all over her clothes. Attached to her bracelet, securing the stuffed monkey to the front pocket of her jeans, on the necklace with the hot pink binkie attached, around her belt loops, through the artfully hacked holes in her jeans. They were all white. Why? What's with the monkey? Does the monkey come off? Does she attach it to other things? What's with the binkie? Ok nevermind I don't want to know...I've seen/read Love in the Time of Cholera....not a picture I want in my head!
Do I have a quirk? Do people look and me and wonder...probably not...unless it's just to wonder what's a small town girl doing in a place like this?
Addition: This had to go in this blog spot, because this is definitely a wth moment!
I know I know you can barely see him...but he's there in white boots and white guitar and white cowboy hat....oh and lets not forget the white speedo, which the guitar is covering up. So I had to travel all the way from Utah to find a naked cowboy...that seems a bit over the top, I would have thought it would be much easier to find one of those in the wild wild west, but apparently NYC is the place to go if you are in the market. Especially if white is your thing. So why? why? and why? I dunno! He had something written on the back of his...ahems...but I didn't stick around to read it, I'm sure he was protesting something incredibly intelligent and thought provoking like save the panda's....kinda like "no....no....really I read it for the articles.... /shifty eyes" sort of thing.
Or in terms of a person...why did the lady coming out of Tea & Sympathy have 10 pens stuck to the outside pockets of her purse? Two in each color...was she afraid she was going to run out of ink? Does she lose a lot of pens? Does she like to write with all of them at once? Does she label things a lot and are they color-coded?
Or the interesting high school girl on the train who had a collection of zip ties all over her clothes. Attached to her bracelet, securing the stuffed monkey to the front pocket of her jeans, on the necklace with the hot pink binkie attached, around her belt loops, through the artfully hacked holes in her jeans. They were all white. Why? What's with the monkey? Does the monkey come off? Does she attach it to other things? What's with the binkie? Ok nevermind I don't want to know...I've seen/read Love in the Time of Cholera....not a picture I want in my head!
Do I have a quirk? Do people look and me and wonder...probably not...unless it's just to wonder what's a small town girl doing in a place like this?
Addition: This had to go in this blog spot, because this is definitely a wth moment!
I know I know you can barely see him...but he's there in white boots and white guitar and white cowboy hat....oh and lets not forget the white speedo, which the guitar is covering up. So I had to travel all the way from Utah to find a naked cowboy...that seems a bit over the top, I would have thought it would be much easier to find one of those in the wild wild west, but apparently NYC is the place to go if you are in the market. Especially if white is your thing. So why? why? and why? I dunno! He had something written on the back of his...ahems...but I didn't stick around to read it, I'm sure he was protesting something incredibly intelligent and thought provoking like save the panda's....kinda like "no....no....really I read it for the articles.... /shifty eyes" sort of thing.
Can you read the leaves as well?
I found a tiny and delightful restaurant, Tea & Sympathy, it's between 12th and 13th on Greenwich Ave. It is right next to it's brother restaurant A Salt and Battery. /snort Out front sits an english cab and in between the two restaurants is the tea shop, manned by a very handsome cashier. Tea and Sympathy is where you'd take your 7 year old daughter for a treat or your best girlfriend for a chat or your classmates to discuss rare books. I think A Salt and Battery is there so the boys don't feel overwhelmed by tea and frills, plus it's not really a man sized restaurant, I don't think they'd fit too well.
The restaurant seats 23 at 9 tiny tables and it was packed! There is no room to wait inside so you have to sit outside while you hope it doesn't rain or snow. I can hardly believe that the english accented waitresses could even fit between the tables to wait on everyone. I made it just in time before they stopped their breakfast menu. I debated between bangers and mash and the scones with clotted cream (butter...people, nothing gross...sheesh!) and jam. Finally settled on the scones, which were delicious. Along with a pot of Chai tea, my favorite.
I am horrible at pouring tea, first off I had no idea all these little things would come streaming out of it into my cup...OHHHH that's what this strainer thingy is for! Ok I'll suck it up this time and I remembered to use the strainer there after. I certainly wouldn't make it as Kate Middleton...I dripped and spilled and just couldn't quite get that pot to just pour without making a mess. Oh well, that's what I get for being raised American...I CAN pour coffee quite well. Each time I finished a cup of that delicious tea, I looked at the bottom of my cup and saw these leaves floating around and thought...where's one of those tea leaf readers when you need 'em? What does my future hold? Am I going to survive this school and single motherhood thing I've got going on? It sure would be nice to know at least a little something...don't ya think?
PS tell your friends about Tea & Sympathy I'd highly recommend it!!
Addition 3/26: I went there with my friend Erica today and it was just as good as the first time, with the added bonus of fantastic conversation! Bangers and mash...yum yum! Chocolate vanilla tea...to die for! Next menu choice Welsh rarebit (which we found out has nothing to do with rabbits, but really seems as if it should) with a side of mac n cheese...I'm pretty sure that's what Erica will get that too. I'm thinking a cute tea pot and a strainer and some sort of tea recipe book if there is such a thing is really something I need to get/do (plus there's that cute guy that works there...he's probably gay, drat!) ...as well as visit Shoegasm which is just down the street....just the name begs me...pleads with me to shop there!!
The restaurant seats 23 at 9 tiny tables and it was packed! There is no room to wait inside so you have to sit outside while you hope it doesn't rain or snow. I can hardly believe that the english accented waitresses could even fit between the tables to wait on everyone. I made it just in time before they stopped their breakfast menu. I debated between bangers and mash and the scones with clotted cream (butter...people, nothing gross...sheesh!) and jam. Finally settled on the scones, which were delicious. Along with a pot of Chai tea, my favorite.
I am horrible at pouring tea, first off I had no idea all these little things would come streaming out of it into my cup...OHHHH that's what this strainer thingy is for! Ok I'll suck it up this time and I remembered to use the strainer there after. I certainly wouldn't make it as Kate Middleton...I dripped and spilled and just couldn't quite get that pot to just pour without making a mess. Oh well, that's what I get for being raised American...I CAN pour coffee quite well. Each time I finished a cup of that delicious tea, I looked at the bottom of my cup and saw these leaves floating around and thought...where's one of those tea leaf readers when you need 'em? What does my future hold? Am I going to survive this school and single motherhood thing I've got going on? It sure would be nice to know at least a little something...don't ya think?
PS tell your friends about Tea & Sympathy I'd highly recommend it!!
Addition 3/26: I went there with my friend Erica today and it was just as good as the first time, with the added bonus of fantastic conversation! Bangers and mash...yum yum! Chocolate vanilla tea...to die for! Next menu choice Welsh rarebit (which we found out has nothing to do with rabbits, but really seems as if it should) with a side of mac n cheese...I'm pretty sure that's what Erica will get that too. I'm thinking a cute tea pot and a strainer and some sort of tea recipe book if there is such a thing is really something I need to get/do (plus there's that cute guy that works there...he's probably gay, drat!) ...as well as visit Shoegasm which is just down the street....just the name begs me...pleads with me to shop there!!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Why Being a Parent is Fun...or 5 things I have learned in honor of my 5 kids
1. Kids will eat anything (dirt, baby wipes, watch batteries, the tips of matches, pepto-bismol, anything out of a box, cat food, grass) but they will not eat anything that takes longer than 15 min to make, that has little green things in them (usually that's fresh basil or some other spice), or potatoes. Also just a note of caution if you make an ice cream cake and even hide it in the freezer outside half of it will be eaten by the next day…I have yet to figure out how to prevent this.
2. Boys will not cry if they think they will get in trouble for it. An example from my son Max who took a pocketknife and decided to cut the weeds in the backyard with it and promptly stabbed himself in the leg…he knew he wasn't supposed to be using it so he came in the house and cleaned himself off. Bandaged himself and sat on the couch and read a book. I found out cuz he was walking funny and I called him on it.
Boys will cry if they think it will get someone else in trouble. Same son who is crying hysterically cuz his older brother wrestled him to the ground and sat on him because he thought Max took something of his….go figure that one out…cuz I'm thinking being sat on didn't hurt half as bad as stabbing himself in the leg.
Girls cry all the time. Because she is the baby of the family and is sure that the brothers will get in trouble for whatever it is that is distressing her.
3. Kids have extremely strange sleeping habits. They won't go to sleep when they are supposed to…at night. They do fall asleep on the 5 minute trip to the store and then are cranky when you have to wake them up. And they can fall asleep anywhere and in any position. (on the wood floor, folded in half, with half their body off the bed, curled up in a ball between the wall and the vacuum cleaner, on the stairs, strapped into a car seat, on the toilet, etc…)
4. As early as age 3 boys come to two of the most profound realizations of their life. Profound because I have heard men over 50 bragging about this ability as if it was acquired from extreme hard work and dedication instead of just being a blessing of anatomy. Realization 1: Boys can pee standing up. Realization 2: (this being the profound one) I can now pee anywhere I want. To which they promptly go experimenting with this by peeing in interesting places (the heating vents, on their sister) until they find the coolest place of all…OUTSIDE…. "Hey anyone here in this family know why I can't get any flowers to grow in this spot here right by the front door." No one knows till I find all of them outside in the front yard peeing away into my flowers. I have noticed that this continues to be the favorite place of all adult males.
5. Boys hate to shop. Lets see how many clothes racks we can destroy in 5 minutes so Mom will end this dreaded excursion so we can go home and play Guitar Hero. This is not necessarily something I learned just an affirmation of long held belief, but Girls love to shop. My daughter Mira at age 2 hugging all the clothes we go by saying "I love you! I love you!" and who has the girlfriend shopping speak down by age 3 "oh that is beautiful…you look pretty in that….no not that one it's not as nice….."
Friday, March 11, 2011
Musings on the Commute
I have to wonder if this is a bit strange, I'm not sure... My subway line travels under...actually I'm not sure if it is under anymore...anyway, under Ground Zero. I can see some of the work through the windows of the subway as I gain glimpses between the plywood sheeting they put up while they are building the memorial. I feel as if I need to have a moment of silence every time I fly past. I am essentially riding through a graveyard and it pierces my heart each time. Maybe it will fade after the hundredth time I travel through. I wasn't even here when it happened...I was 3000 miles away, but the thought of being there...the idea that if time were different, if my life had moved at a different pace it could have been me on that horrible day. I am moved that I am traveling on what seems to be sacred ground and I get slightly emotional. Is that strange?
Trains, Ferries and Subways--Part 4
I'm often surprised at the conversations I hear float around me...not to mention some of the behavior that goes on.
I listened to two people talk about their jobs as funeral directors and how they have "stitched" certain relatives..."oh I stitched my husband, my mother and my cousin...who died." Really? they died? Gosh I hope so considering you stitched them! Mmmk
And then there were the business men who were talking about all the female sales reps in their work place. Not only were all of them incompetent, but for these men it was exactly how they expected it to be and had the male chauvenistic tone of "it is what it is...I mean really what can you do...they are female...who can expect them to do any better". I have to wonder if they are as good at their jobs as they think they are...I doubt not. Now I don't really consider myself a feminist but I bristle when I hear stuff like this. Grrr
Couples really really making out on the ferry seems to be pretty normal.
Lots of singing while listening to ipods, some good, some really bad.
People who think they can beat the closing doors on the subway and get stuck between the two doors...that one actually kinda freaks me out...cuz what happens if the driver doesn't notice? Shudder....
Funniest thing though was the kid wearing the low riders whose pants actually fell down. Haha...snort!
So why is it that public transportation seems to encourage people to behave as if they are walking around in "the cone of silence" from Get Smart? Is it the idea that the more people are surrounding you the more privacy you have because there is such a flood...a sensory overload of people? I'm not sure...but it makes the 3 hours goes by pretty quickly.
I listened to two people talk about their jobs as funeral directors and how they have "stitched" certain relatives..."oh I stitched my husband, my mother and my cousin...who died." Really? they died? Gosh I hope so considering you stitched them! Mmmk
And then there were the business men who were talking about all the female sales reps in their work place. Not only were all of them incompetent, but for these men it was exactly how they expected it to be and had the male chauvenistic tone of "it is what it is...I mean really what can you do...they are female...who can expect them to do any better". I have to wonder if they are as good at their jobs as they think they are...I doubt not. Now I don't really consider myself a feminist but I bristle when I hear stuff like this. Grrr
Couples really really making out on the ferry seems to be pretty normal.
Lots of singing while listening to ipods, some good, some really bad.
People who think they can beat the closing doors on the subway and get stuck between the two doors...that one actually kinda freaks me out...cuz what happens if the driver doesn't notice? Shudder....
Funniest thing though was the kid wearing the low riders whose pants actually fell down. Haha...snort!
So why is it that public transportation seems to encourage people to behave as if they are walking around in "the cone of silence" from Get Smart? Is it the idea that the more people are surrounding you the more privacy you have because there is such a flood...a sensory overload of people? I'm not sure...but it makes the 3 hours goes by pretty quickly.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Facial Structure??
Tell me if this isn't the best pick up line ever....even though by the end of the conversation you'll know it really wasn't.
--Do you work at the 42nd branch?
Its been a loooong day! I've traveled into Manhattan twice, which if you've read previous posts you'll realize it's a 3 hour commute for me. All I have eaten all day is a piece of pizza and a peppermint patty. I'm tired and I have the beginning of a really huge headache. Thursday I take a cab home because it is close to 10pm when I finally get off the ferry. Sometimes I have to wait a while for a cab, but tonight thank goodness there's one that can take me right away. I hop in the front seat since there is a couple in the back. I hop in and tell the driver (who oddly enough is a young and quite good looking young man wearing a fedora....odd because of the good looking part...usually it's old very strange men or just very strange looking men...anywhooo) I tell the driver where to take me. He looks at me and asks, "By any chance, are you a librarian?"
I'm sure I looked like a deer caught in the headlights, I'm thinking what the....how the....where did that come from? Considering I am a librarian I think this is the best pick up line ever, even though I know it's not. This is some talent he has and I'm sure he puts it to good use. :P I say "Well, actually I am." He laughs and I can almost see him do a fist pump except he's driving and he says "I knew it!" Conversation goes as follows:
--Do you work at the 42nd branch?--No, I used to be a librarian I'm going to school to become a real librarian.
(pause) ....ummm but working at that branch would be awesome! (it's the schwartzman building downtown...gorgeous research branch of NYPL with the lions out front...here's a pic)
--It would be like ghostbusters!
--Haha...mmm yeah...(yes I freely admit I suck at flirting, this being single is a complicated thing I haven't had to deal with for a while)
--So why did you think I was a librarian? (I probably shouldn't have asked this)
--You seem quiet, timid almost (I'm thinking but didn't say...and you got that from me giving you the cross streets of my address??)
--Oh I thought maybe it was the glasses, haha
--Well and the clothes you are wearing (I have a long grey winter coat on...all he can see are my jeans and pink converse sneakers)...oh and your facial structure, (...my facial structure...what does that mean???)...definitely a librarian. (my brain is going over time...should I tell him I'm not quite sure that's a compliment, what do I say to that I have no idea what he means...I'm not timid...am I? maybe I am...hmmm how do I show I'm not timid...I'm going into full on critique mode instead of flirting back or at least trying to assess if he is insulting me or not...my facial structure??? It's my nose isn't it?)
Conversation flowed pretty well after that, I told him my theory on Kindles after he asked what I thought about them, he asked if I had any weird experiences being a librarian...sadly I had to tell him I worked out in a small town and can't remember any weird experiences...although I'm sure it would be different here. We chatted about the fact he has a huge box of Twinkies in the car...I asked if they were there to keep him awake...yup he works until 5am he likes being up late. He even offered me one...but I declined. Unfortunately this is when I showed up at my door and had to get out. Which is what I did...I actually wouldn't mind continuing the conversation if only to find out what the facial structure comment meant...is that like saying she has a nice personality?? I'm just super curious. I wish I had at least gotten his name, so I don't have to think of him as the-good-looking-cab-driver-in-a-fedora. But I don't think well on my feet, I guess I am a timid librarian...hopefully a little better than Mary in her non George world in It's a Wonderful Life. I look forward to more conversational practice though I obviously need it.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Rex Libris :)
Ahhh I love being a librarian...if only it could be this cool. :)My review of Rex Libris (Graphic Novel)
I have a Goodreads site and I wrote this when I was still the librarian of Rockwell Charter High School. I bought the book because I knew it would appeal to the boys at the school and really wanted to encourage them to come to the library. It worked! Not to mention that one of my TA's told all the other TA's that it was required reading and convinced all of the kids that wanted to be TA's in the future that they had to read it too. It flew off the shelves. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I only wish I could buy a copy of the library bound edition for my personal library.
I bought this book not knowing anything about it, solely for the fact it was about a librarian "superhero" and for the fantastic cover art, for the High School at which I am the librarian. It is a terrific find. My 2 sons ages 12 and 14 LOVED it and are anxious for me to get the rest of the comics so that they can see what happens. My 12 year old's favorite part is the fact that Rex constantly has a book with him and uses the knowledge he gets from within his books to defeat the bad guys.
Cool things to see :)
http://www.jtillustration.com/rex/dewey_secrets.html
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Iron Man
Monday, February 21, 2011
Trains, Ferries, and Subways--Part 3
2/19/11--This is a short entry but by far the most emotional so far.
As I was sitting at the ferry station, I noticed a man coming towards me. He was so obviously gay, I thought oh my goodness I can't wait to write about him. His walk, his mannerisms...the clothes he was wearing...He was a tall, thin, african american man. He had his long hair wrapped in a turban like twisty thing, and his beautiful skin and large eyes were amazingly accented by the pure silver eyeliner outlining his eyes, his lashes were lush and heavily mascara-ed. He was impeccably dressed and minced as he walked. He took these short steps, walking almost on his tip toes so that he almost glided...if he wasn't so bouncy.
He sat behind me and asked me, "young miss, could you tell me what time the ferry arrives?" "I believe they come every half hour, so 9:00" "thank you...oh I'm sure I could have used these old trifocals to look at the ferry schedule over there, I can see anything from a million miles away with these things." He made me smile, it made for a pleasant way to start the day.
He called someone on the phone, calling them honey and 'chile. I thought he was sweet and he started telling his story, "yes he came over for dinner, he presented me with flowers and a ring and said all that about being life partners..." I stopped listening but I felt happy that he had found someone...unfortunantly I missed the explanation for what happened next..."I turned him around and he was all blue in the face, I had to lay him down on the ground and do chest compressions. I was on the phone with 911 and I was able to get him breathing until the medics came, but he died on my floor. They just left him there and I had to maneuver his body onto the bed. I wasn't weirded out...I mean yes I was touching a dead body and that is strange, but it was still him..."
The ferry came and I had to get up and leave. I wanted to tell him I was sorry and how horrible that was! I wanted to ask him why they just left his partner there on the floor? I wanted to ask if he had said yes or no to the proposal? But he was still talking on the phone and I didn't want to interrupt. I was so sad for him. I hope he is ok. What a place I live in, that I get to peek into so many different lives...I move in and out of this persons frame of reference, and at each point of contact I learn about someone, or I get a smile that makes my day better or I smile and make their day better. How lucky am I?
As I was sitting at the ferry station, I noticed a man coming towards me. He was so obviously gay, I thought oh my goodness I can't wait to write about him. His walk, his mannerisms...the clothes he was wearing...He was a tall, thin, african american man. He had his long hair wrapped in a turban like twisty thing, and his beautiful skin and large eyes were amazingly accented by the pure silver eyeliner outlining his eyes, his lashes were lush and heavily mascara-ed. He was impeccably dressed and minced as he walked. He took these short steps, walking almost on his tip toes so that he almost glided...if he wasn't so bouncy.
He sat behind me and asked me, "young miss, could you tell me what time the ferry arrives?" "I believe they come every half hour, so 9:00" "thank you...oh I'm sure I could have used these old trifocals to look at the ferry schedule over there, I can see anything from a million miles away with these things." He made me smile, it made for a pleasant way to start the day.
He called someone on the phone, calling them honey and 'chile. I thought he was sweet and he started telling his story, "yes he came over for dinner, he presented me with flowers and a ring and said all that about being life partners..." I stopped listening but I felt happy that he had found someone...unfortunantly I missed the explanation for what happened next..."I turned him around and he was all blue in the face, I had to lay him down on the ground and do chest compressions. I was on the phone with 911 and I was able to get him breathing until the medics came, but he died on my floor. They just left him there and I had to maneuver his body onto the bed. I wasn't weirded out...I mean yes I was touching a dead body and that is strange, but it was still him..."
The ferry came and I had to get up and leave. I wanted to tell him I was sorry and how horrible that was! I wanted to ask him why they just left his partner there on the floor? I wanted to ask if he had said yes or no to the proposal? But he was still talking on the phone and I didn't want to interrupt. I was so sad for him. I hope he is ok. What a place I live in, that I get to peek into so many different lives...I move in and out of this persons frame of reference, and at each point of contact I learn about someone, or I get a smile that makes my day better or I smile and make their day better. How lucky am I?
Tourist attraction
I am now a tourist attraction! Let me explain...I saw a couple (obviously tourists from the huge camera around their neck) grab a man that rode the train and ferry with me and ask him if they could take his picture. He wasn't famous and he wasn't strange or odd looking...quite simply he was a New Yorker and as such he and all the rest of us New Yorkers (it is so awesome to be able to be included in that group) we are now subjected to being in any number of touristy pictures just based on the fact that we live here. It's a weird concept. I don't feel like a tourist attraction, but I live in a city that boasts millions of visitors every year, I'm one by default. I wonder how many tourist pictures I'll wind up just from the action of walking in the background? I have already been asked numerous times for directions while exiting out of the building my classes are in in Manhattan. I have yet to be asked to take a picture for someone, but I have been captured in a tourist photo while walking behind the subjects on my way off a subway. If they decide to keep the picture I'm now in some random person's album of their vacation as background. Isn't being a New Yorker a wonderful thing!
Those baby blues...
Low Riders
I am amazed that this style is still around! Why does it continue to persist? Do these boys really think it makes them look more attractive? Their pants half way down their legs, their baggy underware showing...as they waddle around constantly pulling them up so they don't slip all the way down...cuz THAT would be embarrassing!! I mean seriously if we already have a good view of your underware why does having your pants around your ankles seem less fashionable? Why don't they just get rid of the pants all together...it's not like we aren't missing much and this way they can show off their gams. Plus it gets rid of the problem of the pants actually falling down when they are being chased by someone. I spend half the time hoping they are just gonna puddle around their ankles while traveling up the stairs so I can watch them struggle to get back up again...nonchalantly. The other half the time just wanting to pants them as they walk by. They must not have mirrors at home and they certainly don't have any idea idea how they look while they are walking. It does not create that manly man swagger that should have...instead it looks like they have a full diaper and have to waddle cuz it's chafing the inside of their legs.
Oh well to each his own, I just hope that sometime in the near future they will think of something else to wear. Even those skinny girl jeans that the emo boys wear are not as annoying as this fashion statement. I'd like to meet who started it and ask him his motivation. It has to be somewhat satisfying to see something you created take off in such as fashion as to secretly humiliate every boy that wears their pants around their thighs.
Oh well to each his own, I just hope that sometime in the near future they will think of something else to wear. Even those skinny girl jeans that the emo boys wear are not as annoying as this fashion statement. I'd like to meet who started it and ask him his motivation. It has to be somewhat satisfying to see something you created take off in such as fashion as to secretly humiliate every boy that wears their pants around their thighs.
Kindle Nation
I have noticed that a lot of people on the Subways have Kindles or Nooks. I have caught myself looking at them and thinking wow I wonder what intelligent book they are reading...Proust...Poe...Collins? And then I have to laugh...who knows what they are reading, a steamy romance novel perhaps. We'd never know! When you used to have to tear off the covers of your pulp fiction and trashy novels while riding public transportation...those are days gone by. Now we can all get Kindles and look like the intelligent readers we want to be. Read on!!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Trains, Ferries and Subways--Part 2
2/3/11--There were actually two guys who got on the train carrying a sheet of plywood...thank goodness it wasn't rush hour, I have no idea where they would have put it.
So the U.S. Coast Guard sometimes guards the ferries as they go back and forth between Manhattan and the island, which is a little unnerving only because it doesn't happen everyday. So what happens on those certain days that they are patrolling. Now what I can't figure out whether that is a harpoon on the front of the boat or a really big and pointy gun. If it's a harpoon...why do they need a harpoon? What are they protecting us from...Moby Dick?
Side note for me to put on my Goodread's list. I saw a girl reading House of Leaves, the cover looked really interesting. And yes books are judged by their covers! I should have asked her if it was any good, before she left the subway.
2/5/11
There was a very sweet man with his 1 year old son on the subway. He was just so dang sweet with him, kissing him and hugging him. The woman across the aisle from me keep making ahhh'ing noises over it. I can't blame her, I wanted to do the same thing.
Sometimes there is some really good busking at the ferry and sometimes not so much. Today was a good day. Nicola sounded great! I wish I had a few bucks to put in her guitar case.
I spent the day wondering...what's in those subway tunnels, it would be cool to explore if I can forget about all the bugs and rats in there. I also noticed that The Lady has her back to Jersey, for some reason I always thought that she had her back to NYC...I'm not sure why. There is also a really interesting church in between two sky scrapers across from the ferry. It looks so tiny but beautiful. Additionally I think Batman or Bruce Wayne lives on top of one of the skyscrapers right near Battery Park. It's a fantastically cool looking building, I'd love to see what it looks like inside. Who lives there? Is it just an office building? And last thought of the day was yup Newark really is the bastard step child, it is trying so hard to be a "real" city, but when you look across the river to Manhattan....there just isn't any comparison. Poor Newark.
2/9/11
On the subway I noticed the man sitting across from me. I really want to know what his story is. He was an older white man. He reminded me of a music producer or movie producer who used to do indie labels, but wasn't quite at the top of his game anymore. He just doesn't want to admit it, so he continues to play the part. He had white hair and it looked longish from the front...it was all in dreds. I wanted to ask him what was up with the hair. When he got up and walked off the subway I wanted to run after him and beg him to let me take a picture, because when looking at him from the front was hair that was trying too hard, but when seen from behind was amazing. His dreds were done up in a fancy ponytail in the back, the amazing part...his hair hit the back of his knees and he wasn't a short man. I really want to know his story!!
Two film students on the train talking about script stories and lamenting the...and-he-was-never-seen-again-until-he-was-dug-up-3000-years-later scenario. It cracked me up, plus they were super serious about being too serious about movies and how it was ruining the drive to actually want to go to school, since all they were learning was how to be serious about movies.
Three 20 something young men with expensive suits on the ferry. They were discussing playing black ops. They actually reminded me of a really stuck up pally in WoW. I hated co-tanking dungeons with him, because he was a gear snob and not a very great tank...but he sure thought he was. If I closed my eyes I swear they all sounded like this guy when he would talk in vent...eugh!
2/10/11
The very loud gang members who sat behind me on the ferry...they sure were happy and very very loud...almost drunk loud.
The girl putting on mascara without a mirror on the moving subway. I was waiting for her to poke her eye out. Besides I don't think she looked any different when she got done...I don't think it was worth the risk of injury.
I wish I looked like the girl sitting across from me. Thin and beautiful, with hardly any make up on. Quirky but stylish clothes, I loved it from her lace up army boots to the leg warmers and funky tights and chunky sweater. She even had pink in her wavy brunette hair.
The little 2 year old girl across from me that pitched a fit when her mom tried to get a scarf around her neck. The girl did NOT want that thing on...and the reason. "MOM! I can't talk with this on!" I thought of Mira, that is totally a Mira excuse.
2/12/11
There was a lady outside the ferry who was screaming about Jesus. She was Asian and had a super deep voice and seemed very upset that we didn't all know Jesus. I'm never sure what to think of those people. It is not how I would choose to express my faith, but who's to say her way isn't valid? I'm just not sure that it gets across what Jesus is all about, I think it just makes most people embarrassed for her instead of getting them to think about Jesus. But maybe she touches that one rare person who actually needs to be screamed at to be saved? I don't know.
The man screaming directions for the subway into his phone on the ferry. His phone kept cutting off, so he had to repeat the directions like 7 times. I'm not sure if the person on the other end was deaf or he just happened to talk super loud.
There was a pirate on the ferry...complete with large nose ring! He looked like Barbarossa, but not quite as cool. I'm not sure why he was dressed up...I'm pretty sure we are no where near Halloween. Although I should have looked all over for Jack Sparrow...now THAT would have been awesome!
Barbershop quartet on the subway busking for money on the subway cars. I really wish I had money to give them...they were way more deserving than the "homeless" guy who was "down on his luck and had not eaten all day" yet was wearing jeans more expensive than I can afford.
The friendly little girl who waved to every person who got on the subway car. She was very sweet. A little bundle of happiness in a world that often doesn't look past their own private bubbles.
There were actually workmen working on the Bleeker St. station, it was pretty cool!
Until next week! I love this city and I'm so blessed to be here. I can't believe I get to travel past the Lady every time I go into the city. I can't believe I can visit the New York Public Library and walk these streets! I love seeing all these different people.
So the U.S. Coast Guard sometimes guards the ferries as they go back and forth between Manhattan and the island, which is a little unnerving only because it doesn't happen everyday. So what happens on those certain days that they are patrolling. Now what I can't figure out whether that is a harpoon on the front of the boat or a really big and pointy gun. If it's a harpoon...why do they need a harpoon? What are they protecting us from...Moby Dick?
Side note for me to put on my Goodread's list. I saw a girl reading House of Leaves, the cover looked really interesting. And yes books are judged by their covers! I should have asked her if it was any good, before she left the subway.
2/5/11
There was a very sweet man with his 1 year old son on the subway. He was just so dang sweet with him, kissing him and hugging him. The woman across the aisle from me keep making ahhh'ing noises over it. I can't blame her, I wanted to do the same thing.
Sometimes there is some really good busking at the ferry and sometimes not so much. Today was a good day. Nicola sounded great! I wish I had a few bucks to put in her guitar case.
I spent the day wondering...what's in those subway tunnels, it would be cool to explore if I can forget about all the bugs and rats in there. I also noticed that The Lady has her back to Jersey, for some reason I always thought that she had her back to NYC...I'm not sure why. There is also a really interesting church in between two sky scrapers across from the ferry. It looks so tiny but beautiful. Additionally I think Batman or Bruce Wayne lives on top of one of the skyscrapers right near Battery Park. It's a fantastically cool looking building, I'd love to see what it looks like inside. Who lives there? Is it just an office building? And last thought of the day was yup Newark really is the bastard step child, it is trying so hard to be a "real" city, but when you look across the river to Manhattan....there just isn't any comparison. Poor Newark.
2/9/11
On the subway I noticed the man sitting across from me. I really want to know what his story is. He was an older white man. He reminded me of a music producer or movie producer who used to do indie labels, but wasn't quite at the top of his game anymore. He just doesn't want to admit it, so he continues to play the part. He had white hair and it looked longish from the front...it was all in dreds. I wanted to ask him what was up with the hair. When he got up and walked off the subway I wanted to run after him and beg him to let me take a picture, because when looking at him from the front was hair that was trying too hard, but when seen from behind was amazing. His dreds were done up in a fancy ponytail in the back, the amazing part...his hair hit the back of his knees and he wasn't a short man. I really want to know his story!!
Two film students on the train talking about script stories and lamenting the...and-he-was-never-seen-again-until-he-was-dug-up-3000-years-later scenario. It cracked me up, plus they were super serious about being too serious about movies and how it was ruining the drive to actually want to go to school, since all they were learning was how to be serious about movies.
Three 20 something young men with expensive suits on the ferry. They were discussing playing black ops. They actually reminded me of a really stuck up pally in WoW. I hated co-tanking dungeons with him, because he was a gear snob and not a very great tank...but he sure thought he was. If I closed my eyes I swear they all sounded like this guy when he would talk in vent...eugh!
2/10/11
The very loud gang members who sat behind me on the ferry...they sure were happy and very very loud...almost drunk loud.
The girl putting on mascara without a mirror on the moving subway. I was waiting for her to poke her eye out. Besides I don't think she looked any different when she got done...I don't think it was worth the risk of injury.
I wish I looked like the girl sitting across from me. Thin and beautiful, with hardly any make up on. Quirky but stylish clothes, I loved it from her lace up army boots to the leg warmers and funky tights and chunky sweater. She even had pink in her wavy brunette hair.
The little 2 year old girl across from me that pitched a fit when her mom tried to get a scarf around her neck. The girl did NOT want that thing on...and the reason. "MOM! I can't talk with this on!" I thought of Mira, that is totally a Mira excuse.
2/12/11
There was a lady outside the ferry who was screaming about Jesus. She was Asian and had a super deep voice and seemed very upset that we didn't all know Jesus. I'm never sure what to think of those people. It is not how I would choose to express my faith, but who's to say her way isn't valid? I'm just not sure that it gets across what Jesus is all about, I think it just makes most people embarrassed for her instead of getting them to think about Jesus. But maybe she touches that one rare person who actually needs to be screamed at to be saved? I don't know.
The man screaming directions for the subway into his phone on the ferry. His phone kept cutting off, so he had to repeat the directions like 7 times. I'm not sure if the person on the other end was deaf or he just happened to talk super loud.
There was a pirate on the ferry...complete with large nose ring! He looked like Barbarossa, but not quite as cool. I'm not sure why he was dressed up...I'm pretty sure we are no where near Halloween. Although I should have looked all over for Jack Sparrow...now THAT would have been awesome!
Barbershop quartet on the subway busking for money on the subway cars. I really wish I had money to give them...they were way more deserving than the "homeless" guy who was "down on his luck and had not eaten all day" yet was wearing jeans more expensive than I can afford.
The friendly little girl who waved to every person who got on the subway car. She was very sweet. A little bundle of happiness in a world that often doesn't look past their own private bubbles.
There were actually workmen working on the Bleeker St. station, it was pretty cool!
Until next week! I love this city and I'm so blessed to be here. I can't believe I get to travel past the Lady every time I go into the city. I can't believe I can visit the New York Public Library and walk these streets! I love seeing all these different people.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Dirty Harry
Friday as I'm going to pick up kids from school, I get Caleb in the car. As I'm setting my GPS...yes I know but there are so many dang one way streets it's just easier if Ms. Garmin tells me where to go. I'll figure it out on my own eventually, but the last thing I want to have happen is getting lost while trying to pick my kidlets up from school. :D But I digress....As I'm setting all this up an very tall African American man talking on a cell phone is walking past the car. Caleb says (quietly thank goodness)
"Hey you man! You lookin' at me? You wanna piece of me?"
Now I KNOW he hasn't seen Dirty Harry...so the only thing I can think of is that I think there is a line in Kung Fu Panda like this...but it was pretty funny nonetheless.
"Hey you man! You lookin' at me? You wanna piece of me?"
Now I KNOW he hasn't seen Dirty Harry...so the only thing I can think of is that I think there is a line in Kung Fu Panda like this...but it was pretty funny nonetheless.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
I've always wanted an indoor swimming pool!!
Ever try going without a washer and dryer for almost two weeks? Not so bad when you're single or maybe if there are just two of you...if you have that extra stash of emergency ugly underware somewhere. But try doing that with 5 kids...yeah not so much fun.
Yesterday Charlie finally finished installing the outlet so I could plug in my dryer and fixed all the electrical, so I was able to exclaim for the first time in my life. OH MY GOD! I'm so grateful I can finally do laundry. Yes I was actually excited to begin. I put the washer and dryer just where I wanted them. Placed some flowers in the window. Set up the laundry baskets and loaded them full of every single article of clothing we all own. Placed the ironing board just so...put the kitty litter box so it was out of the way and invisible and quite possibly almost unsmellable. Put away my boots, the scale (like I ever use it...who wants to be purposely depressed) and basically set up everything nice and neat. I even put a nice cushy rug down on the floor....over the floor drain (its so unsightly...what could possibly go wrong?) And started my first load of laundry. Excellent everything worked out perfectly! Put that in the dryer and started my second load. The dryer dinged just as the second load finished. I opened the door and stepped in....SQUISH!! WTH?
I looked at my soaked feet to find a pool...a swimming pool...a lake filling up my laundry room. My first thought was...oh crap, I hope it doesn't leak all over the downstairs Charlie will not be happy. Quickly followed by...ugh I have to clean all this up and figure out what happened. After much grumbling and walking around with a blanket under my feet and mopping my heart out, I figured out the drain hose wasn't properly tightened and remedied the situation post haste. So what did I learn? Well first my rug is now not covering the drain...oh lovely drain! Second make sure everything is tightened before starting a washing machine for the first time. Oh and I'm pretty sure I'm over the indoor swimming pool fantasy, I think I pass...it's a pain in the butt!!
Yesterday Charlie finally finished installing the outlet so I could plug in my dryer and fixed all the electrical, so I was able to exclaim for the first time in my life. OH MY GOD! I'm so grateful I can finally do laundry. Yes I was actually excited to begin. I put the washer and dryer just where I wanted them. Placed some flowers in the window. Set up the laundry baskets and loaded them full of every single article of clothing we all own. Placed the ironing board just so...put the kitty litter box so it was out of the way and invisible and quite possibly almost unsmellable. Put away my boots, the scale (like I ever use it...who wants to be purposely depressed) and basically set up everything nice and neat. I even put a nice cushy rug down on the floor....over the floor drain (its so unsightly...what could possibly go wrong?) And started my first load of laundry. Excellent everything worked out perfectly! Put that in the dryer and started my second load. The dryer dinged just as the second load finished. I opened the door and stepped in....SQUISH!! WTH?
I looked at my soaked feet to find a pool...a swimming pool...a lake filling up my laundry room. My first thought was...oh crap, I hope it doesn't leak all over the downstairs Charlie will not be happy. Quickly followed by...ugh I have to clean all this up and figure out what happened. After much grumbling and walking around with a blanket under my feet and mopping my heart out, I figured out the drain hose wasn't properly tightened and remedied the situation post haste. So what did I learn? Well first my rug is now not covering the drain...oh lovely drain! Second make sure everything is tightened before starting a washing machine for the first time. Oh and I'm pretty sure I'm over the indoor swimming pool fantasy, I think I pass...it's a pain in the butt!!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Trains, Ferries and Subways...Part 1
So my commute to school looks like this...walk a mile to Train station--->Train to St. George Terminal in Staten Island--->Ferry to Manhattan--->(if they are working on the subway station under the new WTC then a bus first to the Chambers St entrance) Red 1 Subway to 14th St--->walk to Pratt Manhattan. Reverse for return trip and it's a 3 hour round trip excursion. Lots of people watching to be had...so I thought I'd record some it. I know it interests me, I can't be the only person who finds other people interesting.
1/13/11
On the Ferry: A mom with a really neat double stroller, I've never seen one like it...but it has a baby seat in the bottom where the basket for stuff would normally go...very cool if I was planning on having a baby or twins or something. She sits next to these Russian girls who immediately start cooing when she picks up the baby. It is such an automatic response, I know...I wanted to coo too but I refrained. The mom's little girl waved at Lady Liberty as we went past her. (side note: she is beautiful and I will never tire of seeing her on each trip, the same goes for the city skyline and the view out my living room window of the Verrazano bridge...its all just beautiful!)
A man who was excitedly waving to no one. Maybe he just didn't want to be alone that day.
Kids were making quacking noise for the whole ferry trip...that was awesome...not.
At the ferry station in Manhattan there are bird chirps that come over the loud speakers...I guess it's supposed to be soothing and actually it is, I like it.
On the subway: A guy asked me for directions...I had to tell him I had absolutely no idea, I was new to the city. It was in fact the first time for me...on the subway by myself.
A baseball player spent the entire subway ride stretching in the aisle.
The baby next to me decided that he wanted to be part of the conversation and just started yelling, the parents couldn't get him to be quiet...it was very cute.
1/14/11
Not really on a mode of transportation, but worthy of mention since I'm a single girl. Met a (good looking...unless he's bald under the ski hat) guy named Kyle at orientation in Brooklyn. Talked for about an hour and walked out of orientation where he promptly hopped on his bike and yelled...see you around campus. Too bad for him I'm never on that campus.
The 3 old guys who meet everyday on the ferry home. They were comparing beer cans. LOL mmmk
Saw my first rat on the subway...omg they are huge. I better never have one in the apartment or I'll never stop screaming.
1/20/11
The WTH couple on the ferry--she was a cute asian girl with multi colored hair and funky clothes and lots of piercing--he was a bum. I'm serious a bum...long long scraggley ugly hair, baseball hat, horrid clothes. But she was estatic to see him...or maybe it was the really big can of beer he brought her. I dunno but gosh they were mismatched.
Goofy old guy reading the newspaper...he had reading glasses and a magnifying glass to read the paper and he read with his mouth open. His tongue working in his mouth and sometimes sticking out sorta licking his lips. His hands had long nails and were working man formed. Was he married? I don't know if I could deal with it.
Another thing not on public transportation but it is a warning on wearing low riding jeans in public...I introduce "Crack Man" from Professor Irene's class. Ugh why did he have to sit in front of me?? I mean if it was a cute ass maybe...but this was not so much...
1/22/11
The only person of note was not a person but a pigeon who flew into the ferry and landed at my feet. Sorry birdie I'm not the bird lady from Mary Poppins...shoo....shooo rat with wings!!
I did meet a family from North Carolina. I commented on their point and shoot camera, which had a screen in the front so you can take self portraits. It was cool. They asked me about where to buy purses, I didn't know...I only know Canal St and they wanted the actual thing...that and Uggs... Anyway, they asked why I had just moved there so I told them I was going to school and mentioned Pratt. Well, apparently they are trying to get their son to apply to Pratt so they asked a ton of questions about it. It was fun to talk up the school.
I'm sure I'll have more later....Class for tonight was cancelled due to snow, so no stories from today, but maybe on Saturday :)
1/13/11
On the Ferry: A mom with a really neat double stroller, I've never seen one like it...but it has a baby seat in the bottom where the basket for stuff would normally go...very cool if I was planning on having a baby or twins or something. She sits next to these Russian girls who immediately start cooing when she picks up the baby. It is such an automatic response, I know...I wanted to coo too but I refrained. The mom's little girl waved at Lady Liberty as we went past her. (side note: she is beautiful and I will never tire of seeing her on each trip, the same goes for the city skyline and the view out my living room window of the Verrazano bridge...its all just beautiful!)
A man who was excitedly waving to no one. Maybe he just didn't want to be alone that day.
Kids were making quacking noise for the whole ferry trip...that was awesome...not.
At the ferry station in Manhattan there are bird chirps that come over the loud speakers...I guess it's supposed to be soothing and actually it is, I like it.
On the subway: A guy asked me for directions...I had to tell him I had absolutely no idea, I was new to the city. It was in fact the first time for me...on the subway by myself.
A baseball player spent the entire subway ride stretching in the aisle.
The baby next to me decided that he wanted to be part of the conversation and just started yelling, the parents couldn't get him to be quiet...it was very cute.
1/14/11
Not really on a mode of transportation, but worthy of mention since I'm a single girl. Met a (good looking...unless he's bald under the ski hat) guy named Kyle at orientation in Brooklyn. Talked for about an hour and walked out of orientation where he promptly hopped on his bike and yelled...see you around campus. Too bad for him I'm never on that campus.
The 3 old guys who meet everyday on the ferry home. They were comparing beer cans. LOL mmmk
Saw my first rat on the subway...omg they are huge. I better never have one in the apartment or I'll never stop screaming.
1/20/11
The WTH couple on the ferry--she was a cute asian girl with multi colored hair and funky clothes and lots of piercing--he was a bum. I'm serious a bum...long long scraggley ugly hair, baseball hat, horrid clothes. But she was estatic to see him...or maybe it was the really big can of beer he brought her. I dunno but gosh they were mismatched.
Goofy old guy reading the newspaper...he had reading glasses and a magnifying glass to read the paper and he read with his mouth open. His tongue working in his mouth and sometimes sticking out sorta licking his lips. His hands had long nails and were working man formed. Was he married? I don't know if I could deal with it.
Another thing not on public transportation but it is a warning on wearing low riding jeans in public...I introduce "Crack Man" from Professor Irene's class. Ugh why did he have to sit in front of me?? I mean if it was a cute ass maybe...but this was not so much...
1/22/11
The only person of note was not a person but a pigeon who flew into the ferry and landed at my feet. Sorry birdie I'm not the bird lady from Mary Poppins...shoo....shooo rat with wings!!
I did meet a family from North Carolina. I commented on their point and shoot camera, which had a screen in the front so you can take self portraits. It was cool. They asked me about where to buy purses, I didn't know...I only know Canal St and they wanted the actual thing...that and Uggs... Anyway, they asked why I had just moved there so I told them I was going to school and mentioned Pratt. Well, apparently they are trying to get their son to apply to Pratt so they asked a ton of questions about it. It was fun to talk up the school.
I'm sure I'll have more later....Class for tonight was cancelled due to snow, so no stories from today, but maybe on Saturday :)
What I've learned...
*I'm stronger than I think I am...I can do this! It's like Josh said when told how crazy it was that we had moved everyone across the country to NYC..."Well, she had to do it."
*I thought I was only directionally challenged in game on WoW...but apparently it bleeds into real life. Thank the Lord for GPS...but since I don't take it with me when getting off the subway the chances that I'll go the wrong way out of the subway entrance are pretty high.
*It only took me 10 min of standing in front of a metro card kiosk to figure out how to add money to my metro card...and I'm in graduate school....I'm not sure what I think about that.
*When Prof. Yockey heard I traveled from Utah in a car with 5 kids and a cat he said I should get course credit for that...should I hold him to that... maybe push for extra credit??
*When living in an old apartment you cannot plug two things into the same wall socket...eventhough there are two spaces and the other thing that is plugged in isn't on...I learned very quickly where the circuit breakers were.
*Also what is the difference between too hot and too cold in an old apartment in regards to the shower...apparently less than a millimeter. Where is just right? I feel like a deprived Goldilocks.
*When it snows in NYC it's not kidding around, but WOW is it beautiful the whole sky lights up in the reflection of the flakes...no need for night lights for the kids at night. Also a Thank you God for 4 wheel drive I'm so glad my Jeep has it.
*What to do when the dryer you own has 4 prongs and the plug only has 3...shoving it in doesn't work and so far neither does trying to get the landlord to replace the outlet so the apartment is up to code...meanwhile I'm almost to my stash of emergency underware...please please Charlie fix the outlet, not the emergency underware...anything but that!
*In order to register the kids for school I need to have a signed rental agreement (check) and a utility bill....ummm I've been in the apartment for less than a week how in the name of all that is holy am I supposed to have a utility bill??? So can I still register my kids for school...who knows?
*Yay there is a Costco in Staten Island...but not a Wal-mart (but I'm ok with that) and everything here closes at 8 pm at night...weird.
*Why are all the windows nailed shut...on the list to ask Charlie when he finally gets around to the doing the walk though with me.
*I am constantly worried that my heating oil will run out, because I have no idea how long it is supposed to last and Charlie still has yet to give me a key so I can check it. I am almost to a paranoid level. Please God please may it be like the woman who had a little bit of flour and a little bit of oil and no money to buy more for food.
*Becoming a librarian requires A LOT of reading...who knew? /snort
*I thought I was only directionally challenged in game on WoW...but apparently it bleeds into real life. Thank the Lord for GPS...but since I don't take it with me when getting off the subway the chances that I'll go the wrong way out of the subway entrance are pretty high.
*It only took me 10 min of standing in front of a metro card kiosk to figure out how to add money to my metro card...and I'm in graduate school....I'm not sure what I think about that.
*When Prof. Yockey heard I traveled from Utah in a car with 5 kids and a cat he said I should get course credit for that...should I hold him to that... maybe push for extra credit??
*When living in an old apartment you cannot plug two things into the same wall socket...eventhough there are two spaces and the other thing that is plugged in isn't on...I learned very quickly where the circuit breakers were.
*Also what is the difference between too hot and too cold in an old apartment in regards to the shower...apparently less than a millimeter. Where is just right? I feel like a deprived Goldilocks.
*When it snows in NYC it's not kidding around, but WOW is it beautiful the whole sky lights up in the reflection of the flakes...no need for night lights for the kids at night. Also a Thank you God for 4 wheel drive I'm so glad my Jeep has it.
*What to do when the dryer you own has 4 prongs and the plug only has 3...shoving it in doesn't work and so far neither does trying to get the landlord to replace the outlet so the apartment is up to code...meanwhile I'm almost to my stash of emergency underware...please please Charlie fix the outlet, not the emergency underware...anything but that!
*In order to register the kids for school I need to have a signed rental agreement (check) and a utility bill....ummm I've been in the apartment for less than a week how in the name of all that is holy am I supposed to have a utility bill??? So can I still register my kids for school...who knows?
*Yay there is a Costco in Staten Island...but not a Wal-mart (but I'm ok with that) and everything here closes at 8 pm at night...weird.
*Why are all the windows nailed shut...on the list to ask Charlie when he finally gets around to the doing the walk though with me.
*I am constantly worried that my heating oil will run out, because I have no idea how long it is supposed to last and Charlie still has yet to give me a key so I can check it. I am almost to a paranoid level. Please God please may it be like the woman who had a little bit of flour and a little bit of oil and no money to buy more for food.
*Becoming a librarian requires A LOT of reading...who knew? /snort
Isn't that what everyone would do?
So I'm a single/divorced mom of 5 kids, I've stayed at home with them for 13 of 15 years I've been a mom. I haven't been in school for 16 years and I don't have many skills that look good on a resume. So I decided that since I have the opportunity to do so, I should grab for what I really want. I applied to Pratt Institute, which is primarily an Art and Design School (usually ranked in the top 10) and it has the oldest accredited Library and Information Science program (which is why I applied). I mean com'on it's in Manhattan!! You get to have classes taught by librarians in the NYPL and go to Florence and Prague and London. They have a dual masters program that will give me a MLS and a History of Art Masters. Plus the Brooklyn campus stands in for the Harvard campus in the TV show Fringe. Neato! How could I resist! All I have to do is get an apartment in NYC, financial aid, and move across the country. Given the fact that my application was accepted...wouldn't anyone else in my position do the same thing?
So I tried to sell my house...that was a no go and it got rented to some polygamous family from down the street...poor man with like 3 heckling and pregnant wives. What was he thinking...what were they thinking...but I digress. I packed up my 3500 square ft house into a trailer (many many many thanks to my best friend and her husband...I don't know what I would have done without them). I mailed (thanks again to Branden) a bunch of stuff to my parents, who had agreed to let my 5 kids and myself take over their small house for a few months. Packed my kids and a cat into a Jeep Commander and drove from Utah to Rochester, NY (with a small stop in Savannah, GA just because).
I had no job (still no job and running on the hope that we'll make it with financial aid) and still no apartment in NYC but my hopes were high. Living with my parents wasn't at all what I had hoped it would be, but if I had gone there with my eyes unclouded it probably turned out much like most people would expect when you combine two differently run households into a tiny house. Thank goodness for the YMCA, Cynthia, my Aunt and Uncle, Trinity and Koininia Fellowship. Three weeks before the term was supposed to start I finally got an apartment in Staten Island. Packed up the 5 kids and the cat again into the Jeep Commander and too much stuff that the Jeep probably would have exploded if my very kind Aunt and Uncle hadn't let me drop some stuff off at their house. Drove the 6 hours to the apartment and attempted to move in. So here we are...I still don't have the kids registered for school and the schools are a bit scary. I have to commute 1 1/2 hours to school and then back again (up hill both ways in blinding snowstorms all year round...hehe). I have to fit all my stuff and 5 kids oh and don't forget a cat, into an apartment that is maybe 1200 square ft. But it's New York City!!! Think of all the stuff we can do. I'm sure anyone else in my position would have done the same thing. Right!??
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