Shawn and I officially became engaged high above the city of New York. And so we thought it fitting to celebrate our last wedding anniversary as New Yorkers (our second overall) even higher above the city -- the top of the Empire State Building to be exact.
After a ridiculously long wait -- try an hour and a half of standing in lines, herded like cattle, on hard concrete with uniformed people screaming at you (remove your belts, move along, etc.) -- we emerged at the top for a spectacular view. The deck was crowded with tourists, but we were able to get time along each of the views, starting with East, working South (our view!), West and North. I recognized everything from that high and it was pretty spectacular.
Shawn and I each had books, and he finished his exactly when we emerged at the top of the building. So the waiting wasn't as bad as it could have been had we not planned ahead.
By the end of the trip, however, I had almost reached my limit of patience, and my back was killing me (no amount of regular exercise could prepare you for that amount of uncomfortable standing). So I was glad to take the bus home and lie down to watch the end of the basketball game (BOO hiss!).
So another bucket list item checked, another experience with Shawn and a lukewarm recommendation. There are probably faster times to go -- the elevator operator recommended early morning or nearing midnight (although that that point you'd be limiting yourself, as I assume they make you leave as they're closing up?).
Again, I don't know how to include captions in a slide show, but if you click through to Flickr, you can see my notes. I also couldn't figure out how to reorder these ...
Easy Shells in Soft Fern Take 2
I made a strip -- a chain and then single crochet back, weaved it between some open spaces and double crochets and tacked down the ends near the corners. That way the whole thing can be washed, which might not be the case if I'd used ribbon, which could shrink or otherwise unravel differently than the yarn itself. I'm really happy with how it turned out AND with the addition of the pink I know who is was made for all along -- a baby girl coming in July. Can't wait to get it packaged up and off in the mail.
Nothing quite as satisfying as a completed crochet project. I've got a couple more in progress for two babies due in August. Baby mania!
NYC: The 212 List
Area code in NYC = 212
Area code in Baton Rouge = 225
I've started following some Baton Rouge blogs/twitterers, and noticed @cheekycherry tweeting a list of 225 things to miss about the red stick. I'll be watching that closely and gleaning the goodness from her experience!
I'd like to do a similar list for NYC -- although is it possible to find two hundred and twelve things that I will miss about New York? Here it is:
Area code in Baton Rouge = 225
I've started following some Baton Rouge blogs/twitterers, and noticed @cheekycherry tweeting a list of 225 things to miss about the red stick. I'll be watching that closely and gleaning the goodness from her experience!
I'd like to do a similar list for NYC -- although is it possible to find two hundred and twelve things that I will miss about New York? Here it is:
- The cachet of living here
- FreshDirect grocery delivery
- Walkable, walkable, walkable
- Public transportation
- The New York Times, especially the New York section (and recognizing the 'hoods)
- Sunday Styles, including Modern Love
- The New York Times Magazine, especially Cooking with Dexter
- Convenient gyms -- Coles and Palladium
- Washington Square Park (after renovations!)
- The view up 5th Avenue through the WSP arch
- Duane Reade (love hate, but it's so New York)
- Staten Island Ferry (free transport/entertainment/views)
- 5th Avenue bus
- Macy's
- Rockaway Beach (in one hour I could be at the ocean!)
- Coney Island
- The Wonder Wheel
- Hot dogs
- Hawt cawfee
- Oren's Daily Roast latte
- Tim Horton's latte (technically Canadian chain BUT I will miss them)
- Mercado's Pizza
- Top of the Rock (where I received my rock)
- Central Park
- Specifically Bow Bridge
- The Ramble
- Sheep's Meadow
- Turtle Pond
- Broadway shows
- Off-Broadway shows
- NYU Tisch Theater
- St. Mark's Place
- Street Festivals!
- Street fair food -- corn dogs, $5 Thai and gyros
- Street fair purchases -- scarves, hats, jewelry, cheapie toys
- Brooklyn Bridge (free views!)
- People watching everywhere
- Union Square Farmer's Market
- Union Square Holiday Fair
- Bryant Park's Holiday Fair
- Grand Central Station's Holiday Fair
- Bagels
- PAUMC (my church)
- Forced to be efficient in space usage
- Purple flowers all around NYU campus
- NYU women's basketball team
- Empire State Building
- Flat Iron Building
- Chrysler Building
- Skyline in general -- especially from New Jersey or a bridge
- Pearl River Mart
- The Met
- Museum of Natural History (esp the whale room)
- Street performers (sometimes)
- Sidewalk art
- Street vendors -- purses, scarves, magnets, etc.
- Money saving (for us anyway)
- People want to come visit us here -- it's a destination
- The weather in the spring and fall
- The leaves changing -- esp. around the reservoir in CP
- Cheap, tasty sushi
- Our super-fast Chinese delivery joint
- Delivery Five Guys Burgers
- No need for a car (or its upkeep and expense)
- Feeling justified at buying plane tickets BECAUSE I don't have the expense of a car
- Free water taxi to Ikea!
- Bleecker Street -- history and good eats
- Fourth of July fireworks over the East River (last year the Hudson)
- The Highline
- Chelsea Market (TBD -- on my bucket list, but I imagine I'll enjoy!)
- The chance that at any moment you could see a celebrity (Vincent D'Onofrio, Minnie Driver, Chris Noth, Scott Speedman, Leonardo DiCaprio, etc.)
- Gawker Stalker (although I rarely check it, nice to know it's there so I can look up a celebrity I spot and see if anyone else noticed too!)
- Paper Source stationery store
- M&J Trimming
- Margaritas at Dallas BBQ
- Times Square, even at its most crowded -- it sparkles
- Toys R Us in Times Square (for my Owen Jay)
- FAO Schwarz
- Delivery.com and the choices in general
- Jefferson Market Library branch and its DVD collection
- The main NYC Library -- read between the lions
- Cozy Diner
- Silver Spurs Diner
- The Red Lion -- live music and pub food, a winning combination
- Views down canyoned streets
- Manhattan solstice when sunset/sunrise light and streets align
- The evening light on the buildings
- Water towers on tops of buildings
- Double decker tour bus trips!
- Statue of Liberty
- Ellis Island
- Random film sets -- on location
- My neighborhood on the big screen (not that I ever saw Remember Me, but I will!)
- Constant access -- 24 hour sections of town if needed
- The vintage stores, even though I'm too intimidated to enter
- Our Mexican place across 6th Ave
- Jane Street
- Free Bumble & Bumble haircuts
- Meatpacking District (just sounds cool ... and it is)
- Hudson River Park
- The N train to Astoria when it curves to the north -- the view
- Tompkins Square Park - so shady
- MoMA (specifically its stores/shopping!)
- Sartorial design blogs all based here -- recognizing places on those blogs
- The view from our window
- The view from our window on a rainy day -- of the students' open umbrellas - colorful!
- Law & Order courthouse steps
- Law & Order filming around town (cancellation sob)
- My chiropractor and her receptionist
- Easy access to Penn Station and Amtrak
- Madison Square Garden (even if the Knicks are terrible the games are fun)
- Discounted tickets from NYU
- Lincoln Center -- high culture is available and accessible to me!
- Window shopping on 5th Avenue -- Tiffany's, etc.
- Everything constantly changes
- The city itself is a constant
- "Empire State of Mind"
- "New York, New York"
- Snow falling on snow -- deep mounds of white beauty
- The city, silent after a heavy snowfall
- And yet never totally silent
- My ZIP code
- Our apartment's hardwood floors
- Our giant chalk board
- Walking distance to Shawn's office
- Magazines are MADE here!
- Strand Bookstore
- Giant Barnes & Noble at Union Square
- (Most of) Our Doormen
- Renegade Craft Fair
- Souvenir tents on Canal Street (and elsewhere)
- Governor's Island (another on the bucket list, but I suspect I'll enjoy!)
- The feeling downtown amid all the buildings
- Century 21
- The "abandoned" station -- Cortland Street
- PATH Train to Jersey City for suburban paradise excursion
- The I *Heart* NY logo
- Free transfer to the bus from the subway (or vice versa)
- Bronx Zoo
- Central Park Zoo (although a little pricey)
- Museum of NYC
- Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum
- Smithsonian free museum day!
- Aspects of working from home
- Anonymity even among huge crowds
- Window displays at Christmas
- Saks Fifth Avenue snowflakes at Christmas
- Rockefeller Christmas Tree and lights
- Rockettes and Christmas Spectacular
- So many TV shows set in NYC (although most not filmed here!)
- No smoking in restaurants or bars
- Calorie counts everywhere (although that's a curse if you're looking to indulge!)
- Access to any movie that's out
- The Angelika movie theater
- City Cinemas Village East (main theater used to be a Yiddish live action theater and is LOVELY with an ornate ceiling and plush, wide seats)
- IFC Theater - independent and foreign!
- Broadway Panhandler
- Surprise! Surprise! (a cool some-of-everything store ~12th Street)
- Shake Shack burgers in Madison Square Park (nom, nom, nom)
- Fresh air after rising from the stank of the subway
- Feeling like I know this place
- I can navigate the subway to any spot and feel in control
- I can figure out where I am on the island relatively easily
- Little Italy -- yummy food
- Upper West Side -- just a fun vibe in the neighborhood, especially along Columbus
- Waldorf-Astoria (despite being part of a minor shoot out)
- United Nations (another bucket list item I expect to like)
- Plethora of taxis when needed
- Car services to the airport
- Book signings - if I got my act together to go
- Internet access in the parks -- and many coffee shops
- Chumley's - secret and 86 that!
- Yankees and Mets baseball games
- Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village
- Greenflea Market
- The crazy countdown clock in Union Square
- The smell of roasted nuts on the street -- OMG, heaven
- Grand Central Station
- South Street Seaport -- and the views of Brooklyn Bridge
- Washington Square Art Show
- Music in the Park (another bucket list ... want to do this KNOW I'll love it)
- The volume of food choices -- intimidating but nice to know it's there
- New York Aquarium
- B&H Photo
- Magnolia Bakery
- Pop Up Shops that come and go
- There's a restaurant for Peanut Butter Sandwiches!
- Wall Street -- the bull statue
- Photo ops around every turn
- Including interesting graffiti
- Our neighborhood and the local NYU cops that keep things safe
- It's an island!
- NYC tap water is pretty darn tasty
- All kinds of people -- and no one will care what you wear
- Fishs Eddy
- Shopping in general
- Top Shop and H&M dotted throughout the city
- Mud Truck coffee
- Museum Mile
- Anything you need -- it's right here (almost)
- Temporary clean smell after a rain
- Loads of cool people live here
- Shops at Time Warner Center
- Ironic T-shirts
- Overhearing hipster doofus conversations
- Being within reach of culture, feeling like it rubs off on me!
- Economy Candy store
- Bodegas -- the word itself
- Times Square musicians -- subway performers
- The beauty of the city in all its grotesqueness
- A million little things I've forgotten or never knew
- It's the place where I became a wife and started my life as MW
sludge
Sometimes I get to feeling I am left with the sludge or hard bits to deal with. And I complain or cry.
I bought tickets to broadway shows for family visits. Hair and Billy Elliot. Quite a mess in times square. I don't like crowds. Also my cc was declined because of the gd tests I was doing today for the work site. I have the dough in my acct so the debit card was fine. But I miss out on points. First world woe. Stfu!
Now on the elliptical. Cake (the band) in my ears. Tomorrow is a goodbye party for Shawn and others. In westchester. Starting at 1. They said 4 or 5 originally. Some of us have jobs. I'll just be late.
Nothing has come easy this week. I am short tempered and ... I don't even know the word. Jealous? Lost? Impatient and simultaneously over and underwhelmed.
First world joy: DiNozzo!!!
Also one week to owen's next visit. Amlbo!
I bought tickets to broadway shows for family visits. Hair and Billy Elliot. Quite a mess in times square. I don't like crowds. Also my cc was declined because of the gd tests I was doing today for the work site. I have the dough in my acct so the debit card was fine. But I miss out on points. First world woe. Stfu!
Now on the elliptical. Cake (the band) in my ears. Tomorrow is a goodbye party for Shawn and others. In westchester. Starting at 1. They said 4 or 5 originally. Some of us have jobs. I'll just be late.
Nothing has come easy this week. I am short tempered and ... I don't even know the word. Jealous? Lost? Impatient and simultaneously over and underwhelmed.
First world joy: DiNozzo!!!
Also one week to owen's next visit. Amlbo!
Shopper Weekend
Saturday morning I DID get up and around, dropped my bag at Union Station and went to the National Museum of American History. I saw Julia Child's kitchen, Michelle Obama's inauguration gown and shoes (I think her feet might be as big as mine!), Abraham Lincoln's top hat, the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner and a giant locomotive engine.
I bought some post cards and Julia Child's memoir, My Life in France, which I devoured primarily on the train ride home and finished on Sunday afternoon. I also had to endure a 45 minute conversation w/ a stranger seat mate who exited at Baltimore. He kept talking and wouldn't let me read my book. I KNEW I should have put my headphones on immediately when sitting down. Usually people aren't so ... chatty. I also watched 5 or 6 Daria episodes on the ride, so everything went by really fast.
On Sunday Shawn and I went to brunch, then gym and to a new-to-us theater for Iron Man 2. Across the street is a store Fishs Eddy. It's near our dentist but I'd never gone in. It's a dishware place primarily but also cool little things and it's a wonder everything doesn't get broken because of how narrow the walkways are and how many kids were in there running around piles of dishes that were on the floor!
Anyway, after the movie we went into the store, and I bought some 212 magnets, a Drink NYC tap water T-shirt, a 212 plastic tote and some wine bottle pourers. We would have perused the ABC home store too, but it closed just as we entered. I'll definitely go back because their window displays were great and I could dream about the house will eventually set up!
Ca-ching. I'm going to need a new job to pay for my shopping habit, although I'm much better than I was pre-marriage I'd still need to cut back even further w/o DINK (double income no kids).
To the gym and hopefully home to apply to more jobs, although not sure how much computer screen time I can subject myself to today!
I bought some post cards and Julia Child's memoir, My Life in France, which I devoured primarily on the train ride home and finished on Sunday afternoon. I also had to endure a 45 minute conversation w/ a stranger seat mate who exited at Baltimore. He kept talking and wouldn't let me read my book. I KNEW I should have put my headphones on immediately when sitting down. Usually people aren't so ... chatty. I also watched 5 or 6 Daria episodes on the ride, so everything went by really fast.
On Sunday Shawn and I went to brunch, then gym and to a new-to-us theater for Iron Man 2. Across the street is a store Fishs Eddy. It's near our dentist but I'd never gone in. It's a dishware place primarily but also cool little things and it's a wonder everything doesn't get broken because of how narrow the walkways are and how many kids were in there running around piles of dishes that were on the floor!
Anyway, after the movie we went into the store, and I bought some 212 magnets, a Drink NYC tap water T-shirt, a 212 plastic tote and some wine bottle pourers. We would have perused the ABC home store too, but it closed just as we entered. I'll definitely go back because their window displays were great and I could dream about the house will eventually set up!
Ca-ching. I'm going to need a new job to pay for my shopping habit, although I'm much better than I was pre-marriage I'd still need to cut back even further w/o DINK (double income no kids).
To the gym and hopefully home to apply to more jobs, although not sure how much computer screen time I can subject myself to today!
Like Riding a Bike
Today on the walk home from the gym I saw a family.
They were at the little park, which is really just a space of asphalt and some fountains that usually aren't turned on. This is a popular place for rollerskating (there's even a class for adults!), baseball and kids riding on bikes.
The family was a mom, dad, son and daughter. The son and daughter were on their bikes, and the son was learning to ride without training wheels for the first time. His bike's training wheels were neatly laid next to the family backpack on a bench.
His parents took turns running beside him to ensure he wouldn't fall and to boost his confidence I'm sure. He made great progress, figure-8-ing his way around on the asphalt while little sister carefully wheeled her still-training-wheeled bike to keep out of his way.
Finally he fell, onto the bit of grass that's in the middle of the asphalt, and his mom caught him before he hit the ground. Immediately he popped up, looked at his dad, then his mom, and raised his arms in triumph!
He got right back on the bike and took off again. He'll have many hours of pleasure riding in his future. And I felt lucky to have witnessed his success.
They were at the little park, which is really just a space of asphalt and some fountains that usually aren't turned on. This is a popular place for rollerskating (there's even a class for adults!), baseball and kids riding on bikes.
The family was a mom, dad, son and daughter. The son and daughter were on their bikes, and the son was learning to ride without training wheels for the first time. His bike's training wheels were neatly laid next to the family backpack on a bench.
His parents took turns running beside him to ensure he wouldn't fall and to boost his confidence I'm sure. He made great progress, figure-8-ing his way around on the asphalt while little sister carefully wheeled her still-training-wheeled bike to keep out of his way.
Finally he fell, onto the bit of grass that's in the middle of the asphalt, and his mom caught him before he hit the ground. Immediately he popped up, looked at his dad, then his mom, and raised his arms in triumph!
He got right back on the bike and took off again. He'll have many hours of pleasure riding in his future. And I felt lucky to have witnessed his success.
Alexandria
Highlights from a quick trip, Thursday morning to Saturday afternoon ... writing this from the hotel room. The room includes a computer, which is pretty funny. I also have a laptop with me, but I'm a better typist on a keyboard AND already have my computer packed up.
The BEST was getting to meet my friend's little boys. 10 month old twins who are the most fun ever. I really had a good time playing with them and catching up with her. Motherhood certainly agrees with her. I couldn't be happier for her. Got a twinge of baby fever, but we're working on it!
Drink after work with some people, and it was so cheap I almost fell off my stool -- happy hour was really happy, and if I'd realized drinks were half price I might have had more than one. Although all things considered, one and done is better for me!
A coworker asked me if I'd miss anything about NYC, and I said yes, I have a list. I do, but for whatever reason couldn't think of the best things. There are the obvious -- city living, walking to most everything (which I also hate sometimes), access to museums and plays, and grocery delivery. But there's also the cachet that I'll miss -- the story/idea that I moved, gradually, from a tiny town of a few hundred to a city of 8 million plus tourists! I also know Baton Rouge will hold its own story. I can't wait to live it!
For now, I'm living up my New York life. But I can't resist the chance to do one of my fave DC things while it's within my reach. The Museum of American History reopened and assuming I can get in gear and store my bag at Union Station I'll take a final tour. I hope the Puffy Shirt is still there. I'll report back after the fact!
The BEST was getting to meet my friend's little boys. 10 month old twins who are the most fun ever. I really had a good time playing with them and catching up with her. Motherhood certainly agrees with her. I couldn't be happier for her. Got a twinge of baby fever, but we're working on it!
Drink after work with some people, and it was so cheap I almost fell off my stool -- happy hour was really happy, and if I'd realized drinks were half price I might have had more than one. Although all things considered, one and done is better for me!
A coworker asked me if I'd miss anything about NYC, and I said yes, I have a list. I do, but for whatever reason couldn't think of the best things. There are the obvious -- city living, walking to most everything (which I also hate sometimes), access to museums and plays, and grocery delivery. But there's also the cachet that I'll miss -- the story/idea that I moved, gradually, from a tiny town of a few hundred to a city of 8 million plus tourists! I also know Baton Rouge will hold its own story. I can't wait to live it!
For now, I'm living up my New York life. But I can't resist the chance to do one of my fave DC things while it's within my reach. The Museum of American History reopened and assuming I can get in gear and store my bag at Union Station I'll take a final tour. I hope the Puffy Shirt is still there. I'll report back after the fact!
FWD: Cucumbers
Not sure I believe these, but when SHAWN forwards me something I'm apt to read it.
1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.
3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
5 Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!
6.. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!
7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.
8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.
9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!
10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.
11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemicals will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.
13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!
Pass this along to everybody you know who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life's everyday problems.
Aside: my favorite way to eat cucumbers is to soak a sliced cucumber in half apple cider vinegar, half water with a sliced onion. Let it sit in the fridge together for a few hours and up to several days. Fish out the cukes and onions, salt (superfine salt is best) and devour. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. This was a Gpa Max fave.
1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.
3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
5 Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!
6.. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!
7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.
8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.
9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!
10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.
11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemicals will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.
13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!
Pass this along to everybody you know who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life's everyday problems.
Aside: my favorite way to eat cucumbers is to soak a sliced cucumber in half apple cider vinegar, half water with a sliced onion. Let it sit in the fridge together for a few hours and up to several days. Fish out the cukes and onions, salt (superfine salt is best) and devour. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. This was a Gpa Max fave.
Simply Precious Blankets for Twins
Two blankets, made with Herrschners Baby Sparkle pompadour -- one in baby green and one in yellow -- for twin boys. The kits didn't have enough yarn (or I just didn't have the right tension), so I had to supplement with Bernat Baby Coordinates, white, because the Herrschners yarns were back ordered until July.
A word about the Herrschners yarn -- avoid if you can. It includes knots and was tangled in more skeins than not. I spent about 10% of my crochet time wrestling with the yarn! The Bernat was much better.
The pattern is super easy and seemed to go quickly. It created a diagonal-type design, although it's definitely worked back and forth, repeats of four rows. A nice big blanket (about 36x48 with the edging), but I was able to make two in just about a month.
They are all packaged and ready to go; once I get to the post office they will be on their way. Here's hoping Melissa likes them!
A word about the Herrschners yarn -- avoid if you can. It includes knots and was tangled in more skeins than not. I spent about 10% of my crochet time wrestling with the yarn! The Bernat was much better.
The pattern is super easy and seemed to go quickly. It created a diagonal-type design, although it's definitely worked back and forth, repeats of four rows. A nice big blanket (about 36x48 with the edging), but I was able to make two in just about a month.
They are all packaged and ready to go; once I get to the post office they will be on their way. Here's hoping Melissa likes them!
Mari in Tompkins Square Park
This was how we spent our Saturday -- the weather couldn't have been better.
Washington Square Park didn't have any lawns open, so we trekked a little farther to Tompkins Square Park.
I'm in love with my new sunglasses, a St. Marks Place street vendor find. Purple and super dark mirrored lenses.
Juggling video to be added below, once finished processing.
Shawn Juggles in Tompkins Square Park from Mari Walker on Vimeo.
Washington Square Park didn't have any lawns open, so we trekked a little farther to Tompkins Square Park.
I'm in love with my new sunglasses, a St. Marks Place street vendor find. Purple and super dark mirrored lenses.
Juggling video to be added below, once finished processing.
Shawn Juggles in Tompkins Square Park from Mari Walker on Vimeo.
Annoyed
One of the three scripture selections for today was Acts 16: 16-34, the story of Paul and Silas in jail. Here's part of it:
The rest of the story is about Paul and Silas going to jail for this and then God gets them out and uses them to save the jailer and his family. But the preacher beleaguered the point of Paul's annoyance. Maybe it's just the WORD but annoyance seems to imply a problem with the person being annoyed. But she said that the annoyance was the Holy Spirit working on Paul. I don't understand that at all. The girl/spirit's only crime against Paul was telling the truth and calling him a slave of God. Was it the word slave? Or was it just that she wouldn't leave him alone?
But I've never felt totally comfortable with everything Paul did and wrote. I chalk it up to my lack of understanding, of course. And I seek that understanding, in a "I believe, but help my unbelief" kind of way.
I've got a whole list of things that are annoying me, although something tells me that's not really the Holy Spirit working on me. Or is it? Here's my latest annoyance/thing that's running in a loop in my head, waking and sleeping, every chance it gets. This is not necessarily something anyone needs to read, but I hope if I write it out I won't be obsessing any more.
A few weeks ago I had my eyes examined -- to get contact lenses and some prescription sunglasses. The doctor was very kind and gave me a sample pair of contacts and asked me to wear them for a couple weeks to decide if the prescription would work (my eyes had been bothering me when wearing contacts and it felt like I couldn't see very well when wearing them). If the contacts are fine she said she would write the prescription for me, and if I wanted I could order contacts. The sunglasses purchase was fine, in fact I really felt good about my choice and the saleswoman who helped me/sold them to me.
I did not get my eyes dilated at my original eye exam because Shawn was out of town and I'd rather he be with me to walk me home -- not that it really affects your vision and the eye place isn't too far away, but still.
Fast forward two weeks and I've decided the contacts are great. I call and speak to a different saleswoman -- someone I don't like and with whom I have a history, although I don't know that she could really remember me on the phone.
Back story: when I first got my glasses at this place the frames I selected cracked the lenses. It was just a couple weeks after I'd had them when I came in, and this woman rudely told me tough luck, I'd have to buy new glasses. I looked past her to the doctor, who remembered me, and she intervened, making it right. I was able to get new lenses, which again cracked, so I got new frames without additional expense (other than my time and the hassle of course).
Anyway, I call and this woman answers, so I tell her my contacts have worked out and I would like to know the prescription. She reluctantly tells me what I find out later is incorrect. (So if I'd ordered elsewhere I'd have had contacts that didn't work for my eyes.) Then she gives me a tough sell (granted, that's her job) about a rebate and how they're the lowest price AND that I can swap any contacts I have left unopened for the correct prescription. So I go ahead and order, ask her about making the eye dilation appointment and she suggests that I make the appointment once the contacts are in. OK.
Ten days later and I still haven't heard from them about whether the contacts are in. So I call and she's the person who answers the phone and hatefully tells me that she called me already and yes, they are in. I say OK and that I'll come get them. I go in later that day and she tells me twice more that she called and left a message, insisting that I must be mistaken. I'm kind of like "who cares" I am picking them up now, OK?
She can't swap out my old boxes of contacts because they're older than a year. Understandable but seems like something she should have told me over the phone instead of using it as the sales pitch (she also had my record open to know that my contacts would be at least that old).
I get pretty upset with the way she's treating me and blaming me for her oversights and mis-speaks, so after I ask her about scheduling the dilation I change my mind and decide I never want to have to see her again. I say nevermind and leave. Of course I realize she didn't give me a receipt, which I'll need for the rebate. So back I go to get one, and she gives me attitude about that too, saying I already have a receipt. I told her I bought them on the phone, so I didn't get a receipt, so she reluctantly prints me one.
I want to write a letter, complain or something. But what would that accomplish? They can't refund me anything (although I'd like to return my contacts in case she's working on commission!), and the only thing I can think to ask is that she be retrained so other people don't need to be treated this way by her.
The only way this could be the Holy Spirit working on me is that I should pray for her. And hope that her life gets better. Maybe I should call another day to schedule the dilation -- May is healthy vision month, after all, and the dilation is already paid for as part of my eye exam.
Clearly I need to get over myself. Working on that now. Crochet post coming shortly.
16:16 One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling.Read the rest here.
16:17 While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation."
16:18 She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.
The rest of the story is about Paul and Silas going to jail for this and then God gets them out and uses them to save the jailer and his family. But the preacher beleaguered the point of Paul's annoyance. Maybe it's just the WORD but annoyance seems to imply a problem with the person being annoyed. But she said that the annoyance was the Holy Spirit working on Paul. I don't understand that at all. The girl/spirit's only crime against Paul was telling the truth and calling him a slave of God. Was it the word slave? Or was it just that she wouldn't leave him alone?
But I've never felt totally comfortable with everything Paul did and wrote. I chalk it up to my lack of understanding, of course. And I seek that understanding, in a "I believe, but help my unbelief" kind of way.
I've got a whole list of things that are annoying me, although something tells me that's not really the Holy Spirit working on me. Or is it? Here's my latest annoyance/thing that's running in a loop in my head, waking and sleeping, every chance it gets. This is not necessarily something anyone needs to read, but I hope if I write it out I won't be obsessing any more.
A few weeks ago I had my eyes examined -- to get contact lenses and some prescription sunglasses. The doctor was very kind and gave me a sample pair of contacts and asked me to wear them for a couple weeks to decide if the prescription would work (my eyes had been bothering me when wearing contacts and it felt like I couldn't see very well when wearing them). If the contacts are fine she said she would write the prescription for me, and if I wanted I could order contacts. The sunglasses purchase was fine, in fact I really felt good about my choice and the saleswoman who helped me/sold them to me.
I did not get my eyes dilated at my original eye exam because Shawn was out of town and I'd rather he be with me to walk me home -- not that it really affects your vision and the eye place isn't too far away, but still.
Fast forward two weeks and I've decided the contacts are great. I call and speak to a different saleswoman -- someone I don't like and with whom I have a history, although I don't know that she could really remember me on the phone.
Back story: when I first got my glasses at this place the frames I selected cracked the lenses. It was just a couple weeks after I'd had them when I came in, and this woman rudely told me tough luck, I'd have to buy new glasses. I looked past her to the doctor, who remembered me, and she intervened, making it right. I was able to get new lenses, which again cracked, so I got new frames without additional expense (other than my time and the hassle of course).
Anyway, I call and this woman answers, so I tell her my contacts have worked out and I would like to know the prescription. She reluctantly tells me what I find out later is incorrect. (So if I'd ordered elsewhere I'd have had contacts that didn't work for my eyes.) Then she gives me a tough sell (granted, that's her job) about a rebate and how they're the lowest price AND that I can swap any contacts I have left unopened for the correct prescription. So I go ahead and order, ask her about making the eye dilation appointment and she suggests that I make the appointment once the contacts are in. OK.
Ten days later and I still haven't heard from them about whether the contacts are in. So I call and she's the person who answers the phone and hatefully tells me that she called me already and yes, they are in. I say OK and that I'll come get them. I go in later that day and she tells me twice more that she called and left a message, insisting that I must be mistaken. I'm kind of like "who cares" I am picking them up now, OK?
She can't swap out my old boxes of contacts because they're older than a year. Understandable but seems like something she should have told me over the phone instead of using it as the sales pitch (she also had my record open to know that my contacts would be at least that old).
I get pretty upset with the way she's treating me and blaming me for her oversights and mis-speaks, so after I ask her about scheduling the dilation I change my mind and decide I never want to have to see her again. I say nevermind and leave. Of course I realize she didn't give me a receipt, which I'll need for the rebate. So back I go to get one, and she gives me attitude about that too, saying I already have a receipt. I told her I bought them on the phone, so I didn't get a receipt, so she reluctantly prints me one.
I want to write a letter, complain or something. But what would that accomplish? They can't refund me anything (although I'd like to return my contacts in case she's working on commission!), and the only thing I can think to ask is that she be retrained so other people don't need to be treated this way by her.
The only way this could be the Holy Spirit working on me is that I should pray for her. And hope that her life gets better. Maybe I should call another day to schedule the dilation -- May is healthy vision month, after all, and the dilation is already paid for as part of my eye exam.
Clearly I need to get over myself. Working on that now. Crochet post coming shortly.
Decision Made
We signed a lease yesterday on an apartment. It’s a one bedroom on the sixth floor of a tower-style apartment complex near campus. (No sense burying the lede.)
After seeing 10 places, the decision came down to location. With the great unknown of my job prospects and not wishing the additional expense of two vehicles (or a hassle-y commute for Shawn in any case), we decided to cross out any options not on the LSU bus line. That left five choices (although the ones we crossed off included some really nice ones – you get more for your rental buck farther away from campus).
One that was on the bus line but furthest away was in an unsafe neighborhood. (Thanks to Shawn’s boss for giving us the heads up on that, i.e. avoiding the murderous part of the city!)
We were able to stay in a 3 bedroom apartment that Shawn’s department rents for visiting faculty. The complex is on the busline, so we checked out their one bedrooms. They’re in the older part of the complex and were a little funky and dark. Maybe if we’d had a better leasing agent we would have more seriously considered it, but after staying there it also didn’t seem like security or safety were top priorities and it wasn't within walking distance to Shawn's office, so we crossed that complex off the list.
We saw two places that were in walking distance. One was really close, but really expensive (and a lot of space – 2 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms) and didn’t have a pool (not a must have, but would be nice, especially for the rent).
The option that came in second was a small Garden District condo on the bus line, but not in walking distance. The neighborhood is great otherwise, and we'll probably look to buy in that area, but to start we decided we wanted to be as close to Shawn's job as possible. Location won out.
The other apartment choice that was within walking distance was the one we chose. A slightly farther walk than the 2 bedroom condo, but with more amenities and a much lower price tag. There’s a pool and hot tub at this complex (only closed when it’s below freezing, which isn’t often).
We only looked at places that included a washer/dryer. We’re ready to leave lugging laundry in our past. The place we chose has a stackable washer/dryer, much like what I had in my Alexandria apartment.
We’ll certainly have more space than our current NYC apartment, with a separate bedroom, a balcony overlooking the pool and a bangin’ open kitchen with granite counters. There’s a ginormous closet, which will easily fit our needs. But if we find ourselves in need of extra storage space the complex has additional storage closets (usually on your same floor) for $1/square foot/month. Convenient and cheap!
A parking garage is included – and it’s connected to the towers. So we’ll be able to drive up to the sixth floor, park our car and walk into the apartment. Our (still to be purchased) vehicle will be in covered parking … and how convenient?!
Everything except electricity is included. We pay that separately. But cable, internet, water, etc. are included. So it really works out to be an affordable choice. Things will be even easier once I secure employment, but that’s another post entirely! (Although if you know anyone in Baton Rouge looking for a communications professional, let me know.)
The one negative of this place is tied to its biggest benefit – location. Because we’re so near campus we’ll be living among students, and in fact it seems like this place may be a little bit student oriented (although on the high end, so these will be entitled rich kids whose parents pay the rent).
The apartment’s walls are concrete, so we’ll have some measure of noise dampening, plus there are rules about noise that might be enforceable. And students can’t be all bad, can they?
We’ll find out August 12, which is our move in date. My end work date seems to be set, so I will have a week in New York to myself to cross off any last items from my bucket list, and to indulge myself in my pseudo-romance with this crazy city.
We have a 10-month lease (oddly), so if we don't like it we can find something else, or maybe find a house to buy in that time. In any case, bring on the Red Stick (I realized the Baton Rouge = Red Stick once we got there).
Here are some photos from our trip, and you can view them directly on Flickr. I expect to write a couple more posts about our trip this week, so stay tuned.
Click thru to see the captions.
After seeing 10 places, the decision came down to location. With the great unknown of my job prospects and not wishing the additional expense of two vehicles (or a hassle-y commute for Shawn in any case), we decided to cross out any options not on the LSU bus line. That left five choices (although the ones we crossed off included some really nice ones – you get more for your rental buck farther away from campus).
One that was on the bus line but furthest away was in an unsafe neighborhood. (Thanks to Shawn’s boss for giving us the heads up on that, i.e. avoiding the murderous part of the city!)
We were able to stay in a 3 bedroom apartment that Shawn’s department rents for visiting faculty. The complex is on the busline, so we checked out their one bedrooms. They’re in the older part of the complex and were a little funky and dark. Maybe if we’d had a better leasing agent we would have more seriously considered it, but after staying there it also didn’t seem like security or safety were top priorities and it wasn't within walking distance to Shawn's office, so we crossed that complex off the list.
We saw two places that were in walking distance. One was really close, but really expensive (and a lot of space – 2 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms) and didn’t have a pool (not a must have, but would be nice, especially for the rent).
The option that came in second was a small Garden District condo on the bus line, but not in walking distance. The neighborhood is great otherwise, and we'll probably look to buy in that area, but to start we decided we wanted to be as close to Shawn's job as possible. Location won out.
The other apartment choice that was within walking distance was the one we chose. A slightly farther walk than the 2 bedroom condo, but with more amenities and a much lower price tag. There’s a pool and hot tub at this complex (only closed when it’s below freezing, which isn’t often).
We only looked at places that included a washer/dryer. We’re ready to leave lugging laundry in our past. The place we chose has a stackable washer/dryer, much like what I had in my Alexandria apartment.
We’ll certainly have more space than our current NYC apartment, with a separate bedroom, a balcony overlooking the pool and a bangin’ open kitchen with granite counters. There’s a ginormous closet, which will easily fit our needs. But if we find ourselves in need of extra storage space the complex has additional storage closets (usually on your same floor) for $1/square foot/month. Convenient and cheap!
A parking garage is included – and it’s connected to the towers. So we’ll be able to drive up to the sixth floor, park our car and walk into the apartment. Our (still to be purchased) vehicle will be in covered parking … and how convenient?!
Everything except electricity is included. We pay that separately. But cable, internet, water, etc. are included. So it really works out to be an affordable choice. Things will be even easier once I secure employment, but that’s another post entirely! (Although if you know anyone in Baton Rouge looking for a communications professional, let me know.)
The one negative of this place is tied to its biggest benefit – location. Because we’re so near campus we’ll be living among students, and in fact it seems like this place may be a little bit student oriented (although on the high end, so these will be entitled rich kids whose parents pay the rent).
The apartment’s walls are concrete, so we’ll have some measure of noise dampening, plus there are rules about noise that might be enforceable. And students can’t be all bad, can they?
We’ll find out August 12, which is our move in date. My end work date seems to be set, so I will have a week in New York to myself to cross off any last items from my bucket list, and to indulge myself in my pseudo-romance with this crazy city.
We have a 10-month lease (oddly), so if we don't like it we can find something else, or maybe find a house to buy in that time. In any case, bring on the Red Stick (I realized the Baton Rouge = Red Stick once we got there).
Here are some photos from our trip, and you can view them directly on Flickr. I expect to write a couple more posts about our trip this week, so stay tuned.
Click thru to see the captions.
Quick Dispatch from the Red Stick
For whatever reason I can't seem to upload images. I only have a few to share. Might be because I'm in the living room of the apartment and the router is in the bedroom so there's not enough connection to upload? Who knows? I'll sort it out later.
Lots of good choices for apartments, but hard to make a decision. Location, amenities and space are our criteria, although not necessarily in that order ... and we're trying to figure out what's most important. Washer and dryer are non-negotiable for us.
The NICEST places we've seen are farther away (but no students, which is the trade off), but they won't know August availability for another month or so, meaning we couldn't square things away on this trip if we chose one of those properties.
Lots of things to think about. But every place we've seen has a pool that's open year round. Whee!
The place we're staying is pretty nice and they have one-bedrooms available. We swam last night under the stars -- really nice. The heat hasn't been unbearable at all, but of course it's only May, so upper 80s with medium-high humidity. Our mettle will really be tested in August, but we're up for it.
Went to the grocery store to get cereal and milk for Shawn. The aisles are so wide and lovely. AND they sell hard liquor in the grocery store! (I took a picture of that.)
Plenty more to report, but almost out of laptop battery and we need to get going today. Possible job interview ... but not sure the interview will happen though because they need someone to start ASAP and I have a definite start time of August at the earliest. But I've got my dress, panty hose, heels and jacket to change into if the interview is on.
Praying for the right work situation to come through for me one way or another.
Plenty more to report, but for now adieu.
Lots of good choices for apartments, but hard to make a decision. Location, amenities and space are our criteria, although not necessarily in that order ... and we're trying to figure out what's most important. Washer and dryer are non-negotiable for us.
The NICEST places we've seen are farther away (but no students, which is the trade off), but they won't know August availability for another month or so, meaning we couldn't square things away on this trip if we chose one of those properties.
Lots of things to think about. But every place we've seen has a pool that's open year round. Whee!
The place we're staying is pretty nice and they have one-bedrooms available. We swam last night under the stars -- really nice. The heat hasn't been unbearable at all, but of course it's only May, so upper 80s with medium-high humidity. Our mettle will really be tested in August, but we're up for it.
Went to the grocery store to get cereal and milk for Shawn. The aisles are so wide and lovely. AND they sell hard liquor in the grocery store! (I took a picture of that.)
Plenty more to report, but almost out of laptop battery and we need to get going today. Possible job interview ... but not sure the interview will happen though because they need someone to start ASAP and I have a definite start time of August at the earliest. But I've got my dress, panty hose, heels and jacket to change into if the interview is on.
Praying for the right work situation to come through for me one way or another.
Plenty more to report, but for now adieu.
Success at Green Flea
This is a tile coaster I got at Greenflea this weekend. It's a Sunday flea market on the Upper West Side (I think my second favorite NYC neighborhood after ours). I could probably spend hours there, but I went specifically to get this tile, to complete my set. Now I have a tile w/ Oklahoma, Maryland/Virginia, our neighborhood in NYC and Louisiana. They're really cool -- made by a woman without a website, although her card does list one, www.onthefringe.ws. She makes bigger ones that serve as trivets (not that this photo has any scale -- my bad -- I think they're about
There was also a craft fair going on in the neighborhood, which I didn't allow myself to peruse. With an upcoming move I need to UNLOAD stuff rather than purchase more. That's not something I'm strictly adhering to of course!
Another photo from the weekend -- Saturday's Salvation Army drop off (clothes I've ungrown) and gym run. On Broadway -- a funny advertisement for something or another. I think NYC will break your heart.
We're all packed. Tomorrow's the trip to Baton Rouge, so coverage from that will start this week. I'm still undecided about taking my laptop, but in any case Shawn's will be with us so I can do some posts, and I'll be tweeting with my cell about fun things I see (and probably not-so-fun, seeing as how I'm a constant complainer). Wish us luck in finding our next home!
Post with No Name
Tap tap. Writing on the elliptical. Swoosh swoosh.
I think I figured out how facebook knows who to recommend even if you have no friends in common. Could it be ... someone looks at your profile and suddenly are recommended? Minor revelation. Happened because my MiL joined the network.
Tomorrow we leave for Baton Rouge. I hope we find our new home easily.
A minute left. Pics to post of my weekend exploits. For now.
I think I figured out how facebook knows who to recommend even if you have no friends in common. Could it be ... someone looks at your profile and suddenly are recommended? Minor revelation. Happened because my MiL joined the network.
Tomorrow we leave for Baton Rouge. I hope we find our new home easily.
A minute left. Pics to post of my weekend exploits. For now.
Sun Soaked Saturday in Central Park
On Bow Bridge in Central Park. Photo by Chris (or Jennie?). Cropped to remove a random girl on the right.
I took other pictures of some flowers and random letters for my ABC projects. I stupidly didn't take a single picture of our guests, although I probably shouldn't post other people on my blog anyway.
They did take a photo of us in the ocean life room at the museum that I'll have to get from them to post -- their camera is a newer version of mine with a more powerful flash. My camera just turned out a lighted Shawn in a dark background instead of showing the big blue whale.
Pink flowers near my library (took this photo last week during some rain -- love the water droplets)
Purple flowers on top of Bow Bridge
Hearts and arrows flowers (or something) near the Central Park Zoo (Penguins of Madagascar!)
Things I Don't Know
Chris and Jennie came to visit this weekend and it was super fun and super exhausting. We wore ourselves out at the Natural History Museum (dinosaurs, "dum dum" and ocean life -- oh my!) and then walking in circles (almost) in Central Park. Why don't I have a sense of direction?! We couldn't have asked for better weather though -- really idyllic. Then dinner in the Village and a Broadway musical, La Cage Aux Folles.
OMG that was so good, possibly one of my top plays we've ever seen (and thinking back we've seen a few in our time here. I've saved most of the playbills and think maybe I could frame them or at least keep a scrapbook with them after our New York days are the past). Anyway, the show is basically the movie Birdcage, back in the 90s with Nathan Lane and Robin Williams (which is possibly based on the play in the first place). I just thought it was fantastic -- the songs and especially the love story.
It's a relatively new show -- opened in early April, and I'd definitely recommend it. We were able to get tickets and were in the very last row of the top section BUT we could still see and it was great. This is in the same theater that Boeing, Boeing was in, which we saw with Shawn's parents a summer or two ago. There are quite a few more shows I'd like to see, but not sure I can part with the money for the tickets! We'll keep an eye on the NYU discount tickets though, and maybe I can squeeze in another show when my family visits and definitely when Shawn's parents' visit!
Today was less exciting, as it was raining and drab. We slept in, then went around looking for bagels, check. Then to the Strand and Broadway Panhandler. Pizza and relaxing in the apartment for the rest of the afternoon. Sometimes it's good to just catch up, and they got to see "our" New York -- i.e. sitting on our butts! Also relived the entire bedbug story, which was obnoxious on our part!
But seriously, I'm realizing again just how much we DON'T know about New York. Where are the best bagels? I don't know. Where can you get the best pizza? I don't know, although we like Pizza Mercato. Where can you get the best NYC style cheesecake? I don't know. Where's a good place to have dinner? I don't know.
I guess part of it (the good place to have dinner) is not trusting our own taste: there are places we like but don't think they're necessarily "good" places to take people to, and we don't frequent restaurants that are in the top spot guides because of cost, exclusivity or what-have-you. Seems a bit ridiculous in a foodie city like New York to not be sampling new restaurants and taking advantage. I think it's just how we roll.
OMG that was so good, possibly one of my top plays we've ever seen (and thinking back we've seen a few in our time here. I've saved most of the playbills and think maybe I could frame them or at least keep a scrapbook with them after our New York days are the past). Anyway, the show is basically the movie Birdcage, back in the 90s with Nathan Lane and Robin Williams (which is possibly based on the play in the first place). I just thought it was fantastic -- the songs and especially the love story.
It's a relatively new show -- opened in early April, and I'd definitely recommend it. We were able to get tickets and were in the very last row of the top section BUT we could still see and it was great. This is in the same theater that Boeing, Boeing was in, which we saw with Shawn's parents a summer or two ago. There are quite a few more shows I'd like to see, but not sure I can part with the money for the tickets! We'll keep an eye on the NYU discount tickets though, and maybe I can squeeze in another show when my family visits and definitely when Shawn's parents' visit!
Today was less exciting, as it was raining and drab. We slept in, then went around looking for bagels, check. Then to the Strand and Broadway Panhandler. Pizza and relaxing in the apartment for the rest of the afternoon. Sometimes it's good to just catch up, and they got to see "our" New York -- i.e. sitting on our butts! Also relived the entire bedbug story, which was obnoxious on our part!
But seriously, I'm realizing again just how much we DON'T know about New York. Where are the best bagels? I don't know. Where can you get the best pizza? I don't know, although we like Pizza Mercato. Where can you get the best NYC style cheesecake? I don't know. Where's a good place to have dinner? I don't know.
I guess part of it (the good place to have dinner) is not trusting our own taste: there are places we like but don't think they're necessarily "good" places to take people to, and we don't frequent restaurants that are in the top spot guides because of cost, exclusivity or what-have-you. Seems a bit ridiculous in a foodie city like New York to not be sampling new restaurants and taking advantage. I think it's just how we roll.
Purple Tights at the Theater
The play itself was a good time. It was a sit-where-you-want kind of affair and a pretty intimate set up, especially considering the large cast (maybe 20-25 students, many of whom played multiple parts). It was a Hollywood satire in three acts, and each act was almost an HOUR long. I guess getting your money's worth is the name of the game, BUT by the end the actors were tired and so were we.
ALSO I ended up with the worst seat because of the woman who sat next to me after we had to be seated. She was very large, so encroached into my seat terribly, causing me to have to veer into Shawn's territory (he didn't mind, and he was on the aisle). The seat to her left was EMPTY so she could have pushed her excess that way instead of into me. How awful am I to want to complain about it? Pretty awful. And my fat-acceptance guilt wouldn't let me move seats, although we could have relocated to a seats more on the side. It was a LONG play, but my back feels better today so hopefully the awkward seating didn't do lasting damage.
Hey - this is post #777. Kind of a dud, but what are you gonna do?
Retail Therapy: Pier One Coffee Sleeve
They had these, and they weren't marked with a clearance tag. I had gone to Pier One back in December on a mission for these very things (saw them in a magazine as a stocking stuffer idea). I balked at the $4 price then, but thought what-the-hey this time. Of course if I'd checked the receipt and realized they were only $1 I would have bought several more for future gift giving. They had other designs too, but this was my favorite.
I like to treat myself every few Sundays to a Tim Horton latte. For whatever reason this Canadian chain makes the best, sweetest latte, and it's just skim milk, foamed up, with espresso. I drink it on the bus ride down Lexington. BUT the TH by my church doesn't always have the little sleeves for the cups and my hand gets hot or I have to waste an extra cup. Problem solved with this beauty ... assuming I remember to pack it in my pocketbook.
Always something.
FWD: Bounce this Around
Very clever marketing if Bounce had anything to do with this (note that the message doesn't say "fabric softener sheet" and plays on the product name):
Subject: Fwd: Bounce This Along!
The U.S. Postal service sent out a message to all letter carriers to put a sheet of Bounce in their uniform pockets to keep yellow-jackets away. Use them all the time when playing baseball and soccer. I use it when I am working outside. It really works. The insects just veer around you. All this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer!
1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.
2. Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.
3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.
4. It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
5. Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.
6. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.
7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
8. To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.
9. Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.
10. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing
12. To freshen the air i n your car - Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.
14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
15. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the lose hairs.
16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
19. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.
20. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.
21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.
22. Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe lovebugs off easily with the wet Bounce.
Quick, bounce this along within the next 5 minutes! Nothing will happen if you don't, but your friends will be glad to hear these hints!
Update: This apparently is not 100% accurate. See http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/
Subject: Fwd: Bounce This Along!
The U.S. Postal service sent out a message to all letter carriers to put a sheet of Bounce in their uniform pockets to keep yellow-jackets away. Use them all the time when playing baseball and soccer. I use it when I am working outside. It really works. The insects just veer around you. All this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer!
1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.
2. Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.
3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.
4. It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
5. Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.
6. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.
7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
8. To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.
9. Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.
10. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing
12. To freshen the air i n your car - Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.
14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
15. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the lose hairs.
16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
19. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.
20. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.
21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.
22. Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe lovebugs off easily with the wet Bounce.
Quick, bounce this along within the next 5 minutes! Nothing will happen if you don't, but your friends will be glad to hear these hints!
Update: This apparently is not 100% accurate. See http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/
Eighth Letter
I've made it to the 8th letter of the alphabet in my ABCs of NYC project. I have random letters from the rest of the alphabet too ... just doing them methodically one-a-day, as they come.
While I had my camera out I took some pictures of myself in my new blue scarf. It's got a pretty pattern in it that's invisible in the pictures and that I didn't notice when I bought it (they come wrapped in cellophane pouches, although there are copies that are out to be touched). I love it!
This is me, post-workout, no makeup (natch) and you can also see the denim jacket I "borrowed" from my mom. I wear it every day! I've got my iPod going -- The Song Remembers When from my "sad" playlist. (I've got problems, I know.)
Laying on the bed and fanning my hair/the scarf out was inspired by those Amazon Kindle commercials -- I think they're clever and cute, although to be honest I have no desire to own one and pay $$ for books digitally. I might reconsider if you were able to check out books for it from the library, which kind of defeats the business model.
While working out I perused my iPod, looking for something I haven't listened to a million times on the elliptical (April 15 marked six months of solid, regular working out with little additional music, save The Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D.) -- I found Cam'ron's Come Home With Me -- a truly vulgar record that had one pop-ish hit "Hey Ma" on the radio during my Stillwater years, and that song was what prompted me to buy the album.
I remember buying the CD in an OKC Target on a trip home, popping it in and listening. There's a song Welcome to New York City that features Jay Z. I really liked it (I still do, once I listened to it today), but I remember thinking "oh, maybe this is a sign that I need to move to NYC," a thought that scared the stuffing out of me.
Sometimes the scariest things end up being the best, especially when the coincide with things you always knew you wanted, like my marriage to this man.
Auntie M Loves Uncle Shawn!
While I had my camera out I took some pictures of myself in my new blue scarf. It's got a pretty pattern in it that's invisible in the pictures and that I didn't notice when I bought it (they come wrapped in cellophane pouches, although there are copies that are out to be touched). I love it!
This is me, post-workout, no makeup (natch) and you can also see the denim jacket I "borrowed" from my mom. I wear it every day! I've got my iPod going -- The Song Remembers When from my "sad" playlist. (I've got problems, I know.)
Laying on the bed and fanning my hair/the scarf out was inspired by those Amazon Kindle commercials -- I think they're clever and cute, although to be honest I have no desire to own one and pay $$ for books digitally. I might reconsider if you were able to check out books for it from the library, which kind of defeats the business model.
While working out I perused my iPod, looking for something I haven't listened to a million times on the elliptical (April 15 marked six months of solid, regular working out with little additional music, save The Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D.) -- I found Cam'ron's Come Home With Me -- a truly vulgar record that had one pop-ish hit "Hey Ma" on the radio during my Stillwater years, and that song was what prompted me to buy the album.
I remember buying the CD in an OKC Target on a trip home, popping it in and listening. There's a song Welcome to New York City that features Jay Z. I really liked it (I still do, once I listened to it today), but I remember thinking "oh, maybe this is a sign that I need to move to NYC," a thought that scared the stuffing out of me.
Sometimes the scariest things end up being the best, especially when the coincide with things you always knew you wanted, like my marriage to this man.
Auntie M Loves Uncle Shawn!
Peering Into Other People's Lives
What Falls Away: A Memoir by Mia FarrowMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Finished today, and while I knew the Woody/Soon-Yi story, I'm filled with disgust anew, as I was just a teenager when that was all going down ... and a teenager in the middle of the country at that, but even I heard about it and was appalled. Her early life was less known to me -- her parents and marriage to Frank Sinatra. I absorbed this book in about a day and am left wondering what's happened since 1997.
My First Five Husbands...and the Ones Who Got Away by Rue McClanahanMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I dig reading about other people's lives, and I loved the story of a Golden Girl. Liked that she grew up in Oklahoma, that Manhattan feels like home and how mobile she has been throughout her life.
Festive
The first street fairs of the season were this weekend -- two right in our neck of the woods, two days in a row. Oh the joy of eating a Gyro (and for Shawn a $6 Thai food combo and $2 Thai iced tea). The joy of wandering the cramped stalls -- fingering glass pendants ($2 + $1 for a cord) and dodging the aggressive massagers -- browsing the T-shirts with funny (and not-so-funny) sayings.
My true weakness is the pashmina stands -- $5 per scarf OR 3 for $10. Although I have several -- black and two shades of purple -- I've been longing for a bright blue and bright pink to liven things up. It isn't like I'll have many cold days this winter, but they're nice even in moderate weather or for indoor air conditioning. You can guess what I purchased today at the street fair!
The fair was also rife with letters -- I could probably get a complete set just from photos of that. As it was I only took a few, although it's the LOOKING and actually paying attention to how much language is printed in-my-face that excites me the most. (Clearly it doesn't take much.)
The street fairs are high on my list of things-I'll-miss about NYC.
My true weakness is the pashmina stands -- $5 per scarf OR 3 for $10. Although I have several -- black and two shades of purple -- I've been longing for a bright blue and bright pink to liven things up. It isn't like I'll have many cold days this winter, but they're nice even in moderate weather or for indoor air conditioning. You can guess what I purchased today at the street fair!
The fair was also rife with letters -- I could probably get a complete set just from photos of that. As it was I only took a few, although it's the LOOKING and actually paying attention to how much language is printed in-my-face that excites me the most. (Clearly it doesn't take much.)
The street fairs are high on my list of things-I'll-miss about NYC.
Laughing all the Way
Also realizing that graffiti is going to be an excellent source of lettering for this project. It seems somewhat rare to find individual letters, although I'm sure I can Photoshop or crop creatively.
Had an impromptu dance party when an exceptional song came on the radio. But then I realized one person can't make a party. I kept dancing anyway. Bring 'em out, indeed. And THEN "Like a Virgin" comes on ... oh dear.
And webcamming tonight!
Read: Dead Until Dark
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine HarrisMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Recommended by my friend Koki, in part because they are set in Louisiana, where Shawn and I are moving in ~3 months (yikes!). Koki said I should get as many of these lined up as possible because once you start you won't want to stop.
I didn't have QUITE the same reaction (i.e. I can wait until book #2 in the series is ready for me at the library), but did really enjoy the quick read.
This was written in 2001, and I am not sure how that fits in the timeline of the Twilight books, which I haven't read. I did watch the first Twilight movie on Showtime. I've never seen True Blood, the HBO series based on these Sookie Stackhouse novels.
Bottom line: liked the book a lot, will likely request and read the others. It's also one of those books that clearly was written by an amateur/isn't polished. I expect future books in the series to be edited a little more ... or something. ALSO it's one of those books that made me think "I can do this."
BUT we were in the Union Square Barnes and Noble this weekend after seeing Date Night (a movie I can't recommend enough -- LOVED it and its sweet happy marriage message).
Anyway, at the bookstore (which we'd never been to before ... guess we get stuck in a Strand rut, but we went mainly to find the latest Crochet Today magazine -- mission accomplished), I was overwhelmed by all the books -- and the idea that so many people DO write and are published. I guess just gave me pause about whether I CAN write something ... anything.
ABCs of NYC -- A
Got this idea from reading DearBaby and the idea of a collage for a baby name using images from around your home.
I’m not pregnant, as much as I might like to be, and I don’t have baby names picked out. Since we’re leaving NYC I thought I would start collecting letters for a future baby name collage.
My goal is to get a couple complete sets of the alphabet from images of letters around the city. It’s surprising just how much text surrounds us — in the form of advertisements, building plaques, road signs, subway cars, etc.
Here’s my first “A” — from the Astor Place subway, which I take to get to church uptown.
More to follow and I'll try to keep it in alphabetical order. I took a LOT more pictures on Sunday -- walked about 30 blocks after donating platelets on the East Side. I'll repeat this project in Baton Rouge ... and maybe even see if I can get a set of letters in Indiahoma?!
I’m not pregnant, as much as I might like to be, and I don’t have baby names picked out. Since we’re leaving NYC I thought I would start collecting letters for a future baby name collage.
My goal is to get a couple complete sets of the alphabet from images of letters around the city. It’s surprising just how much text surrounds us — in the form of advertisements, building plaques, road signs, subway cars, etc.
Here’s my first “A” — from the Astor Place subway, which I take to get to church uptown.
More to follow and I'll try to keep it in alphabetical order. I took a LOT more pictures on Sunday -- walked about 30 blocks after donating platelets on the East Side. I'll repeat this project in Baton Rouge ... and maybe even see if I can get a set of letters in Indiahoma?!
Ketchup and Pickles, Please
What was the origin of the Heinz pickle pin?
Henry Heinz attracted traffic to his 1893 Chicago World's Fair booth by offering a free gift— a small green pickle charm, which later became a pin. The pickle pin is one of the most famous merchandising giveaways in history and has become a popular collectible.
I also got an Amazon pre-order in the mail today -- Trisha Yearwood's second cookbook. Homewrecker or not (I maintain NOT), her cookbooks are awesome, although many of the recipes aren't "legal" it doesn't hurt to pore over the pictures. And maybe this cookbook is different than her last and has less carb-filled foods. I haven't read through it yet.
Yesterday was Gran's birthday. Wahoo! We had a nice talk, and it sounded like she had a great day with a mini party during Women's Circle at church when they gave her flowers and each brought her a card. Someone else gave her a Happy Birthday balloon.
Gran gave me advice on the too-small "easy shells in soft fern" blanket a few posts back -- just add more border. So I pondered that, looked at my pattern books and realized it was very do-able. So I've started on that and it's looking good. I should be able to add 4-6 inches in border and it will be a lovely, giftable blankie. Good thing too -- the yarn is so soft it would be a shame to waste on a doll baby (hey Diannia!).
And yes, that is a lunch bag hanging on the wall in the background. We make use of ALL the available storage space in this joint. I actually have some light things stored inside the lunch bag!
Frothy Read: Eleven on Top
Eleven on Top by Janet EvanovichMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
After picking it up on the shared bookshelf in the laundry room, I read this book mostly on the elliptical machine. It's not tough stuff or high literature but it kept me smiling. And the audio versions of volumes 1-5 or so were part of the soundtrack of my drive east in 2004. They're just so mood lifting and F-U-N. Recommend.
Rattling Around
I helped a coworker find a lost document by locating the hidden Outlook temporary folder. She had worked on this thing for hours, always saving, but she hadn't done SAVE AS when she started working on the attachment. I felt like a rock star when I finally figured it out ... of course I took it upon myself to trouble shoot. Some habits die hard. Other technical things aren't going as smoothly, but in the next day or two they should resolve themselves. (Knock on wood.) Today I posted the job announcement to find my replacement. That was not easy. And due to the technical difficulties it's still not complete. UGH.
Shawn woke me up this morning pre-7 a.m. to tell me he was going to the gym ... in case I woke up I wouldn't freak out. Yeah, I would not have woken up. He woke me up BEFORE he was ready to go ... and proceeded to eat his cereal while I laid there trying to drift off. I eventually did and slept so soundly I didn't hear him come home, shower and leave again.
He found out when the gym opens -- 7:30 a.m., which actually seems late. I guess NYU kids like to sleep in as much as I do!
It's hotter'n a mug in here, and I'm getting perilously close to plugging in the AC and turning on its fan. Right now I've just got my mini fan set on top of the AC -- probably not the best solution but air flow is air flow. I guess I'm just being cheap and thinking the mini fan uses less power than the AC fan.
Shawn's birthday gift finally arrived -- a picnic blanket that folds into its own carrying case. Should be handy for sitting on the dirt-they-call-a-lawn in WSP ... or even partaking in a little Sheep's Meadow action. Oh, New York. Will also be good for the beach -- yahoo!
Shawn didn't like his other gift -- a leather keychain with an "S" embossed on it. Don't know what I was thinking. I should have had them put a "W" on it ... then I could use it instead! But someone with an "S" name will get a gift when she comes to visit in early June!
Shawn woke me up this morning pre-7 a.m. to tell me he was going to the gym ... in case I woke up I wouldn't freak out. Yeah, I would not have woken up. He woke me up BEFORE he was ready to go ... and proceeded to eat his cereal while I laid there trying to drift off. I eventually did and slept so soundly I didn't hear him come home, shower and leave again.
He found out when the gym opens -- 7:30 a.m., which actually seems late. I guess NYU kids like to sleep in as much as I do!
It's hotter'n a mug in here, and I'm getting perilously close to plugging in the AC and turning on its fan. Right now I've just got my mini fan set on top of the AC -- probably not the best solution but air flow is air flow. I guess I'm just being cheap and thinking the mini fan uses less power than the AC fan.
Shawn's birthday gift finally arrived -- a picnic blanket that folds into its own carrying case. Should be handy for sitting on the dirt-they-call-a-lawn in WSP ... or even partaking in a little Sheep's Meadow action. Oh, New York. Will also be good for the beach -- yahoo!
Shawn didn't like his other gift -- a leather keychain with an "S" embossed on it. Don't know what I was thinking. I should have had them put a "W" on it ... then I could use it instead! But someone with an "S" name will get a gift when she comes to visit in early June!
Static But Moving
Two days in a row - Friday and Saturday - I walked all the way to the gym before realizing I didn't have my wallet (and therefore the ID needed to get into the gym) with me. Both were a direct result of having had my wallet in an actual purse the nights before -- going to "God of Carnage" on Thursday and the movie "Greenberg" on Friday.
Both times I turned my happy butt around, got the wallet, waved to the doormen (who really couldn't care less) and walked back to the gym for a standard workout. Not exactly a far piece to get to the gym, but still a bit of extra walking.
Hopefully that compensates me from no Easter exercise*. The gym was closed (seems random and NYU is about as secular a place as it gets), but I didn't even do any NYC style walking although the weather was perfecto for it.
Instead Shawn and I trekked uptown for church (is it wrong that I prefer worship when things aren't SO crowded?), rode a bus down Lex to Astor Place (luckily we didn't try a 5th Ave bus, since it would have detoured around the Easter Bonnet Parade!), had brunch and then lounged on the dirt-they-call-a-lawn in Washington Square Park. Seriously it stinks! And the renovations probably won't be complete before we move, so we'll have put up with all this construction for naught.
Despite the dirt, we had a pretty good lounge. Overhearing random conversations of hipster doofuses is a nice pastime, and I managed to read the Sunday Times and write most of a letter to Gran. Double score.
Now to finish that letter, prepare some dinner (FreshDirect delivery today ... possibly the thing I'll miss most about NYC? Definitely in the top 5) and get pumped for Butler v. Duke. We'll see how it rolls.
*Although we didn't work out on Easter Sunday we also did not partake in any Easter candy or treats. I asked Shawn if he was sad that I didn't make him an Easter basket with his faves (Reese's pieces) or my fave (Cadbury Creme Eggs). He said no -- the right answer.
Both times I turned my happy butt around, got the wallet, waved to the doormen (who really couldn't care less) and walked back to the gym for a standard workout. Not exactly a far piece to get to the gym, but still a bit of extra walking.
Hopefully that compensates me from no Easter exercise*. The gym was closed (seems random and NYU is about as secular a place as it gets), but I didn't even do any NYC style walking although the weather was perfecto for it.
Instead Shawn and I trekked uptown for church (is it wrong that I prefer worship when things aren't SO crowded?), rode a bus down Lex to Astor Place (luckily we didn't try a 5th Ave bus, since it would have detoured around the Easter Bonnet Parade!), had brunch and then lounged on the dirt-they-call-a-lawn in Washington Square Park. Seriously it stinks! And the renovations probably won't be complete before we move, so we'll have put up with all this construction for naught.
Despite the dirt, we had a pretty good lounge. Overhearing random conversations of hipster doofuses is a nice pastime, and I managed to read the Sunday Times and write most of a letter to Gran. Double score.
Now to finish that letter, prepare some dinner (FreshDirect delivery today ... possibly the thing I'll miss most about NYC? Definitely in the top 5) and get pumped for Butler v. Duke. We'll see how it rolls.
*Although we didn't work out on Easter Sunday we also did not partake in any Easter candy or treats. I asked Shawn if he was sad that I didn't make him an Easter basket with his faves (Reese's pieces) or my fave (Cadbury Creme Eggs). He said no -- the right answer.
Unexamined
Put my Chucks on for the first time this spring. Ah, bliss.
If I don't write something down will I remember it? Not to-do's or phone numbers, but experiences. Memories. My life.
I've been writing about it for more than 20 years -- the first being a diary with a lock and pink pages. It may have been Hello Kitty and pretty sure Auntie Sue gave it to me.
I've been "blogging" or "online diary-ing" about it for more than 10 years. A decade or more of (somewhat public) navel gazing.
To what end? To remember it? To stretch my writing muscles? To feed my narcissism? Just because?
I don't know what I'd do otherwise. So this continues.
If I don't write something down will I remember it? Not to-do's or phone numbers, but experiences. Memories. My life.
I've been writing about it for more than 20 years -- the first being a diary with a lock and pink pages. It may have been Hello Kitty and pretty sure Auntie Sue gave it to me.
I've been "blogging" or "online diary-ing" about it for more than 10 years. A decade or more of (somewhat public) navel gazing.
To what end? To remember it? To stretch my writing muscles? To feed my narcissism? Just because?
I don't know what I'd do otherwise. So this continues.
A Peek Down Lucy Liu's Dress
Last night Shawn and I went to the theater -- a Broadway show. "God of Carnage" with Dylan Baker, Janet McTeer, Jeff Daniels and Lucy Liu. The show was crazy, but we enjoyed it.
We sat in the second row -- the only way to go. It was the same theater where I saw The Country Girl with my mom and sister a couple years ago.
Because we were so close we could see everything -- from the spit coming out of the actors' mouths ... to RIGHT DOWN Lucy Liu's top! She's very pretty. VERY pretty.
The show itself was pretty pretentious and a little preachy, but overall we liked it. And love the idea that we can do things like this so easily. Being in Times Square is still a little magical -- the lights, the crowds, the tourists. Not something to do every day but I like knowing that it's just a few stops away on the train.
There are lots of things I love about -- and will miss about -- New York. I plan to chronicle them here in the time we have remaining here. We're having gorgeous weather this weekend AND the final NCAA games are tomorrow.
Good Friday to you.
We sat in the second row -- the only way to go. It was the same theater where I saw The Country Girl with my mom and sister a couple years ago.
Because we were so close we could see everything -- from the spit coming out of the actors' mouths ... to RIGHT DOWN Lucy Liu's top! She's very pretty. VERY pretty.
The show itself was pretty pretentious and a little preachy, but overall we liked it. And love the idea that we can do things like this so easily. Being in Times Square is still a little magical -- the lights, the crowds, the tourists. Not something to do every day but I like knowing that it's just a few stops away on the train.
There are lots of things I love about -- and will miss about -- New York. I plan to chronicle them here in the time we have remaining here. We're having gorgeous weather this weekend AND the final NCAA games are tomorrow.
Good Friday to you.
Going to the Bayou
Apologies to those on my e-mail list who also read my blog, but I couldn't NOT post this here. I actually could not post it until now, although I wrote and sent this message on March 13.
Shawn has accepted a position at Louisiana State University! We will be moving from New York to Baton Rouge in early August and are really looking forward to the next phase of our lives.
Shawn will be an assistant professor with a teaching load of one and one, and he’ll have a lot of great opportunities for collaboration. And the school’s color is purple!
Beyond permanent employment and a clear career path for Shawn, the move to Baton Rouge will provide a home base and some life luxuries I’m really looking forward to: more living space (a real bedroom!), a washer and dryer, and a car. I’m giddy just thinking about the positive changes in store for us, but there’s also a bittersweet feeling about leaving New York that has surprised me.
Our time here has been filled with ups (getting engaged at the Top of the Rock) and downs (remember the bedbugs?). The long goodbye to the city has begun. We will be doing all the touristy things we haven’t yet done and enjoying a final spring in the city. Someone told me that New York is an easy place to visit once you’ve lived here, but I know won't be the same.
We are both over the moon about this opportunity and all the future holds for us. Go Tigers!
Shawn has accepted a position at Louisiana State University! We will be moving from New York to Baton Rouge in early August and are really looking forward to the next phase of our lives.
Shawn will be an assistant professor with a teaching load of one and one, and he’ll have a lot of great opportunities for collaboration. And the school’s color is purple!
Beyond permanent employment and a clear career path for Shawn, the move to Baton Rouge will provide a home base and some life luxuries I’m really looking forward to: more living space (a real bedroom!), a washer and dryer, and a car. I’m giddy just thinking about the positive changes in store for us, but there’s also a bittersweet feeling about leaving New York that has surprised me.
Our time here has been filled with ups (getting engaged at the Top of the Rock) and downs (remember the bedbugs?). The long goodbye to the city has begun. We will be doing all the touristy things we haven’t yet done and enjoying a final spring in the city. Someone told me that New York is an easy place to visit once you’ve lived here, but I know won't be the same.
We are both over the moon about this opportunity and all the future holds for us. Go Tigers!
My Own IT Technician
Last night I spent a couple hours playing with Blogger in Draft and ended up with a new-ish look for this blog. It's wider ... which was one of my main dislikes about the old template choices ... and I tweaked the colors a bit more. I really like the new template options but decided against a photo background. Maybe later.
Next up -- making silvermari.com the home of this blog and doing away with the few outdated pages that live on that domain now. I think I've got the steps to do that, just need to implement them. And it's possible the blog would be down for a couple days, so I'll have to be strategic. The blogspot URL will still work -- just forward to my domain.
I think I can make tabs within the blog and have a static "about" section, or just have my crochet project posts together ... still exploring and mulling. But I think I've convinced myself to stay with blogspot and it's Google-y goodness instead of the hassle of transferring/updating to a WordPress blog. It's also made me think about my old Tripod blog and whether I could/should port over some of those entries. It would give me a more robust archive, which could be good for SEO.
Related techno-wizardry. I got a new work computer. It came in a box ... with no instructions. There is a docking station that seemed pretty self explanatory, but who knew? I did manage to figure out how to get everything working -- laptop in the docking station, connected to monitor, etc. And I can switch back and forth relatively easily to the old tower (because I've inevitably forgotten to wipe various things off the tower and need to look up some settings, etc.). This is the same computer that had my login set as "Mary" ... setting off the snit fit of a couple weeks ago.
I've also read through (top-line) all the posts on this blog, modifying a couple ... everything seems OK now, but we'll see. It was fun to travel back in time. Like talking to younger versions of myself. I really do write like I talk, although I'm not sure the people who tell me that mean it as a complement. Meh.
Next up -- making silvermari.com the home of this blog and doing away with the few outdated pages that live on that domain now. I think I've got the steps to do that, just need to implement them. And it's possible the blog would be down for a couple days, so I'll have to be strategic. The blogspot URL will still work -- just forward to my domain.
I think I can make tabs within the blog and have a static "about" section, or just have my crochet project posts together ... still exploring and mulling. But I think I've convinced myself to stay with blogspot and it's Google-y goodness instead of the hassle of transferring/updating to a WordPress blog. It's also made me think about my old Tripod blog and whether I could/should port over some of those entries. It would give me a more robust archive, which could be good for SEO.
Related techno-wizardry. I got a new work computer. It came in a box ... with no instructions. There is a docking station that seemed pretty self explanatory, but who knew? I did manage to figure out how to get everything working -- laptop in the docking station, connected to monitor, etc. And I can switch back and forth relatively easily to the old tower (because I've inevitably forgotten to wipe various things off the tower and need to look up some settings, etc.). This is the same computer that had my login set as "Mary" ... setting off the snit fit of a couple weeks ago.
I've also read through (top-line) all the posts on this blog, modifying a couple ... everything seems OK now, but we'll see. It was fun to travel back in time. Like talking to younger versions of myself. I really do write like I talk, although I'm not sure the people who tell me that mean it as a complement. Meh.
Easy Shells in Soft Fern
This blankie ended up smaller than I expected, 28 inches square, but it's so soft that I expect to give it to its intended mom-and-baby anyway. It really is an easy pattern, from the book Dale gave me, and I picked a complimentary border from the same book that worked out really nice.
I have several more projects in the works, found out about some more babies-to-be and placed a little order at Herrschner's. I have the makings of 1-2 more blankets here and no shortage of patterns I want to try. I'm on a roll here!
I have several more projects in the works, found out about some more babies-to-be and placed a little order at Herrschner's. I have the makings of 1-2 more blankets here and no shortage of patterns I want to try. I'm on a roll here!
A Cake for the Day He Was Born
I baked a cake today!
Shawn's birthday is tomorrow. Happy, happy day!
The cake was OK -- a little tough for some reason, probably was over mixed but made from scratch and with LOVE! I got to use my PURPLE Kitchen-Aid mixer. Wedding present for the win.
Click on his photo to see more images from the cake baking process on Flickr.
There's probably a way to use Picasa to show a slideshow of them here, but all this baking tuckered me out. And the basketball games. Yowza! My bracket is a mess. But so fun to watch the games.
There's a chill in the air here - after a warm weekend when we sat outside in Washington Square Park. Crazy weather, but soaking it up anyway.
Shawn's birthday is tomorrow. Happy, happy day!
The cake was OK -- a little tough for some reason, probably was over mixed but made from scratch and with LOVE! I got to use my PURPLE Kitchen-Aid mixer. Wedding present for the win.
Click on his photo to see more images from the cake baking process on Flickr.
There's probably a way to use Picasa to show a slideshow of them here, but all this baking tuckered me out. And the basketball games. Yowza! My bracket is a mess. But so fun to watch the games.
There's a chill in the air here - after a warm weekend when we sat outside in Washington Square Park. Crazy weather, but soaking it up anyway.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel BarberyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The language in this book is superb. It seems even better knowing that it was translated from French. The characters are incredible. I felt like I could see them. I forced myself away from my usual gulping of words, paragraphs, pages and savored each brief chapter (one is a single sentence). Certain passages gave me pause, made me think and I'm still ruminating on what it all means, especially with the unexpected ending. Highly recommended. This book was a gift from a colleague.
View all my reviews
Pinwheels in White
This is a stunner -- a pieced baby blanket made for my cousin Kelli. It took a lot of time because of the 52 individual motifs and putting them together. The border was a dream and I crocheted backward for the first time (reverse half DC - nice). I can't wait to hear how it goes over at the baby shower this weekend. I got it finished and sent just under the wire!
Filters
I realize now that I am way TMI with some of the things I tell coworkers. And yet I'm stifled in others (not by my own choosing). Will be glad when this is behind me and my message is no longer controlled by others.
Ever heard of Walker Coon Hounds? I hadn't until Shawn's buddy suggested we get one. Oh brother. Puppies are cute though.
Shawn is activating my new SIM card to use in my old phone and de-activating the SIM card that's in the lost/stolen phone. I'm not sure if it was just lost in the dishes when the table was cleared or if someone picked it up and didn't turn it in to lost and found. I didn't have an "ICE" (in case of emergency) contact ... and the only number labeled other than a name is "WORK" ... so if it is ever found maybe someone will call work. Dummie returns, and I'm going to put it behind me. Things fade with time so this will be less awful later.
Another lovely mental break down is that I forgot the cord for my work laptop in the office. Thankfully the cord to my personal laptop fits/works (Dell to Dell compatibility for the win), but I still hope they'll send it to me. I couldn't get confirmation that it was even still there. Guess it's a big pain to walk into a room and look on the floor. Geez, could I be any crankier?
Likely if I don't get something to eat soon.
The last time I was this stressed and forgetful was during CNS -- I left my entire purse on the shuttle bus to the car. I remember chasing the bus all around Annapolis until it got to the depot. I did get my purse back then, but it was an ordeal. I guess being flaky isn't an exception ... just part of my nature and I'm not as together as I'd like to think. Wah.
End of broken record.
Ever heard of Walker Coon Hounds? I hadn't until Shawn's buddy suggested we get one. Oh brother. Puppies are cute though.
Shawn is activating my new SIM card to use in my old phone and de-activating the SIM card that's in the lost/stolen phone. I'm not sure if it was just lost in the dishes when the table was cleared or if someone picked it up and didn't turn it in to lost and found. I didn't have an "ICE" (in case of emergency) contact ... and the only number labeled other than a name is "WORK" ... so if it is ever found maybe someone will call work. Dummie returns, and I'm going to put it behind me. Things fade with time so this will be less awful later.
Another lovely mental break down is that I forgot the cord for my work laptop in the office. Thankfully the cord to my personal laptop fits/works (Dell to Dell compatibility for the win), but I still hope they'll send it to me. I couldn't get confirmation that it was even still there. Guess it's a big pain to walk into a room and look on the floor. Geez, could I be any crankier?
Likely if I don't get something to eat soon.
The last time I was this stressed and forgetful was during CNS -- I left my entire purse on the shuttle bus to the car. I remember chasing the bus all around Annapolis until it got to the depot. I did get my purse back then, but it was an ordeal. I guess being flaky isn't an exception ... just part of my nature and I'm not as together as I'd like to think. Wah.
End of broken record.
THE WORST
I'm on the train to NYC. Acela wifi hasn't done much besides stress me out. I did get to catch up on my non-work blog feeds. I have been WAY off reading my work feeds. A lower priority than production.
I am exhausted -- totally and completely, as always after the big day of events. I'm even more upset because of the phone situation. It's 100% my fault, but dishonest people don't make things easier when I make mistakes like this.
Shawn was able to turn on something called "family map" to see where the phone was. And he could see it was in Arlington, VA. So either a waiter pocketed the phone when clearing the table or (less likely) it fell in the cab (I split the first cab from the auditorium to the hotel, so I had to slide across and had my purse and backpack). The auditorium people said a guest must have taken it (I know they can't actually do anything about the wait staff but it would have been nice to admit it). And would it even be theft if it was just left there? I'm wondering if I can report it stolen. I never would have lost it if I haven't had to tweet about the event. Whatever.
I still have my old phone, and I was actually a better texter on that phone anyway. I didn't lose contacts because they're backed up on the old phone and I have an excel file backup of numbers. Still, I'm just SICK over the carelessness. I like to be together, and so often I am not. Just ... ridiculous.
The wifi is super slow and I'm so hungry. I don't know how long this train ride is but I should probably go look for some food. I am really hating on myself though.
I am exhausted -- totally and completely, as always after the big day of events. I'm even more upset because of the phone situation. It's 100% my fault, but dishonest people don't make things easier when I make mistakes like this.
Shawn was able to turn on something called "family map" to see where the phone was. And he could see it was in Arlington, VA. So either a waiter pocketed the phone when clearing the table or (less likely) it fell in the cab (I split the first cab from the auditorium to the hotel, so I had to slide across and had my purse and backpack). The auditorium people said a guest must have taken it (I know they can't actually do anything about the wait staff but it would have been nice to admit it). And would it even be theft if it was just left there? I'm wondering if I can report it stolen. I never would have lost it if I haven't had to tweet about the event. Whatever.
I still have my old phone, and I was actually a better texter on that phone anyway. I didn't lose contacts because they're backed up on the old phone and I have an excel file backup of numbers. Still, I'm just SICK over the carelessness. I like to be together, and so often I am not. Just ... ridiculous.
The wifi is super slow and I'm so hungry. I don't know how long this train ride is but I should probably go look for some food. I am really hating on myself though.
come uppance
lost my phone. very distraught. had it all day and must have left it on the table at the dinner. it's on vibrate so even if it were in something or someone picked it up (or if it fell out in the taxi?) it wouldn't ring.
i have a lot of expletives to say. but it's just a phone and will be a hassle to replace but whatever, i can do it. i will just be glad to figure something out.
EFF.
i got my come uppance (?) because i was teasing someone about picking something up/forgetting something. and then i go and do this. i'm so tired and upset.
i have a lot of expletives to say. but it's just a phone and will be a hassle to replace but whatever, i can do it. i will just be glad to figure something out.
EFF.
i got my come uppance (?) because i was teasing someone about picking something up/forgetting something. and then i go and do this. i'm so tired and upset.
Guitar World
Being in Dupont Circle takes me back in time a little bit. That was the main subway stop during my DC summer internship (gasp, NINE years ago ... surely that's not right, but it is).
I would ride the bus from the Georgetown dorms and walk to my internship office. (If I'm remembering correctly I did not take the subway every day, although I could be wrong.)
There's the guitar shop where David found strings ... David the ringer for Justin Timberlake. Wonder what happened to him.
And the Starbucks where I figured out that what I really like to drink -- mocha frappuccino (can you say sugar rush?) and first ate an espresso brownie. (Don't judge, I'm from the middle of nowhere! Starbucks was a big deal to me when I was 20!)
Everything came together swimmingly for tomorrow. I know I'll have trouble sleeping tonight, but tomorrow night's sleep will be BLISS.
I would ride the bus from the Georgetown dorms and walk to my internship office. (If I'm remembering correctly I did not take the subway every day, although I could be wrong.)
There's the guitar shop where David found strings ... David the ringer for Justin Timberlake. Wonder what happened to him.
And the Starbucks where I figured out that what I really like to drink -- mocha frappuccino (can you say sugar rush?) and first ate an espresso brownie. (Don't judge, I'm from the middle of nowhere! Starbucks was a big deal to me when I was 20!)
Everything came together swimmingly for tomorrow. I know I'll have trouble sleeping tonight, but tomorrow night's sleep will be BLISS.
Topaz
Checked into the hotel in DC for the work event. Was quite the ordeal to get here ... an hour behind schedule and just ... yech. I didn't plan food so got super super hungry.
As a member of this hotel reward thing I get a "raid the honor bar" thing -- $10 worth of free honor bar stuff. Oh man, I was so hungry and took a look through the offerings. There was a King Size Snickers bar -- a COLD king size Snickers bar. You'll be proud to know that I abstained and managed to get to a restaurant (where I had a hamburger, but still...). I wish there were a way to ask for a "no sugar" or "low sugar" honor bar. Or maybe I should have just said no thanks to the key. I don't want to leave the free $10 of food though -- probably enough for one bottle of water. Oh brother.
The hotel room itself is SWANK. Bigger than our apartment (minus the kitchen). There's a seating area with a couch -- a PURPLE couch. OMG! The bed is huge and plush. The TV is ginormous. There's free wifi (another perk of this hotel reward thing) and a sitting area for make up application. HA! And this week I'll actually be wearing some makeup. Hope I remember how to put it on. Also Topaz is my birth stone.
I had my meeting with the mystery letter writer. She does live in a rehab place or halfway house. Nothing was clear except she wants to move to Oklahoma (specifically Tulsa), where she thinks that she will get more for her money (probably true BUT Tulsa is still a city). She didn't ask me specifically for anything, but I will pray for her and over the situation. She suggested going to a museum or city garden together, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable doing that. BUT I didn't know how to say that, so she probably thinks I will call her. And I'll have to feel guilty about that for a while.
Daylight savings time is killing me. I had to get up earlier than normal to get to church before the service to meet with this woman. And then with the time change it was even EARLIER, basically I woke up two hours earlier than a normal Sunday and one hour earlier than a normal workday! This week will be full of odd times, given that I have to wake up earlier and actually commute tomorrow and Wednesday, and of course Tuesday my day starts at 7 a.m. and will last until 10 p.m. or thereabouts.
Here's hoping for a smooth, easy and successful day of events.
As a member of this hotel reward thing I get a "raid the honor bar" thing -- $10 worth of free honor bar stuff. Oh man, I was so hungry and took a look through the offerings. There was a King Size Snickers bar -- a COLD king size Snickers bar. You'll be proud to know that I abstained and managed to get to a restaurant (where I had a hamburger, but still...). I wish there were a way to ask for a "no sugar" or "low sugar" honor bar. Or maybe I should have just said no thanks to the key. I don't want to leave the free $10 of food though -- probably enough for one bottle of water. Oh brother.
The hotel room itself is SWANK. Bigger than our apartment (minus the kitchen). There's a seating area with a couch -- a PURPLE couch. OMG! The bed is huge and plush. The TV is ginormous. There's free wifi (another perk of this hotel reward thing) and a sitting area for make up application. HA! And this week I'll actually be wearing some makeup. Hope I remember how to put it on. Also Topaz is my birth stone.
I had my meeting with the mystery letter writer. She does live in a rehab place or halfway house. Nothing was clear except she wants to move to Oklahoma (specifically Tulsa), where she thinks that she will get more for her money (probably true BUT Tulsa is still a city). She didn't ask me specifically for anything, but I will pray for her and over the situation. She suggested going to a museum or city garden together, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable doing that. BUT I didn't know how to say that, so she probably thinks I will call her. And I'll have to feel guilty about that for a while.
Daylight savings time is killing me. I had to get up earlier than normal to get to church before the service to meet with this woman. And then with the time change it was even EARLIER, basically I woke up two hours earlier than a normal Sunday and one hour earlier than a normal workday! This week will be full of odd times, given that I have to wake up earlier and actually commute tomorrow and Wednesday, and of course Tuesday my day starts at 7 a.m. and will last until 10 p.m. or thereabouts.
Here's hoping for a smooth, easy and successful day of events.
Snit Fit
Technology is really killing me. Today my router/modem/something decided to randomly block all access to my work VPN and email server. So for about two hours I was effectively offline and using gmail to work.
And now that the connection is done, whatever the IT guy did when he remotely accessed my system wiped out my Firefox settings. The font looks different (I even reset it and don't know how to get it to look right) and ALL my bookmarks -- pouf, gone. Luckily most of them are on my Firefox on another computer and/or are Google Bookmarks that are not browser-specific, but BIG dud to see my carefully laid out bookmark toolbar wiped out. Slowly rebuilding it, but that's not a big deal BECAUSE I finally got the new work computer I'd been promised for more than half a year and would need to transfer bookmarks anyway.
I turn on said laptop (finally making sense for working remotely, two years later) and see my login name as Mary. I flipped out (I was already dealing with the connection issues and didn't know the problem was in my router/modem yet). I've worked there nearly four years and my name still gets messed up? Pissy pissy pissy!
I spent like 5 minutes with the new computer and was able to reset my name to be Mari. It's still wonky and I'll need to spend time installing some other programs, but I'm much calmer. I need to remember to act with kindness ... snit fits are not at all flattering, trust me. And they get me exactly nowhere.
And now that the connection is done, whatever the IT guy did when he remotely accessed my system wiped out my Firefox settings. The font looks different (I even reset it and don't know how to get it to look right) and ALL my bookmarks -- pouf, gone. Luckily most of them are on my Firefox on another computer and/or are Google Bookmarks that are not browser-specific, but BIG dud to see my carefully laid out bookmark toolbar wiped out. Slowly rebuilding it, but that's not a big deal BECAUSE I finally got the new work computer I'd been promised for more than half a year and would need to transfer bookmarks anyway.
I turn on said laptop (finally making sense for working remotely, two years later) and see my login name as Mary. I flipped out (I was already dealing with the connection issues and didn't know the problem was in my router/modem yet). I've worked there nearly four years and my name still gets messed up? Pissy pissy pissy!
I spent like 5 minutes with the new computer and was able to reset my name to be Mari. It's still wonky and I'll need to spend time installing some other programs, but I'm much calmer. I need to remember to act with kindness ... snit fits are not at all flattering, trust me. And they get me exactly nowhere.
Weirdness Waits
Correspondent to the crazies?
I got a letter yesterday -- to this address although the apartment was incorrect. Mysterious return address in Queens.
Reading the letter ... it's from someone at church. I can't tell if the church gave her my address (my checks have the old apartment number on them, so it's impossible for me to get them to understand I've moved because they base everything on the money, honey) or if she gave the letter to the church office to address (different ink and the handwriting looks a little different on the address itself, although I'm not entirely sure).
Whatever the case, the letter talks about Stillwater, Oklahoma, and begs me to call her. (My name and former church were listed in the bulletin when I transferred my membership ... and yes, I didn't transfer membership to either my Maryland or Virginia churches ... and I should have joined the NYC church sooner, but hindsight, 20-20 and all that.)
The letter asked to call between 1 pm and 5 pm "for reasons she would explain." So I tried around 2 pm and got a busy signal. Hit redial a few times, still busy. Had a bunch of work stuff crop up, on and on, but just before 5 I remembered to try again and the call went through.
She practically cried and still wasn't clear about what she wants from me other than to talk. I'm going to meet her before church on Sunday. Just what I need.
I have a feeling she's living in rehab or something because she talked about where she lives as the ghetto, not a nice place, but basically seemed to imply that she has a curfew and ... I don't know. It all seems very sketchy BUT I think meeting in the church can't be too bad and maybe she's just a lonely person who needs to talk. I seem to know another person like that ... (hello, my name is Mari and I'm terrible at making friends.)
Speaking of my ability to demolish seemingly strong friendships, I dreamed about Sage last night. It was so real and bizarre. I think it was prompted because we saw a woman with the EXACT same face as Sage at the NYU women's basketball games at Stevens.
That in itself (the championship game) was a lot of fun, but I seriously think we were were the ONLY two NYU fans there. There were a few other people from NYU but I think they were all members of the athletics department and therefore couldn't cheer/boo/whatever. We harassed the opposing fans (who were sitting all around us) ...
I have a seriously loud clap, the gym was otherwise quite and I would do a rhythmic clap during NYU's key defensive moments. That made the Stevens fans so upset and annoyed that they started doing it to NYU when Stevens was on defense. It's very effective. I guess my Big 12 cheering skills came in handy there. (And the NYU women won the game/tournament ... although it came down to luck I thought, since their defense was utter poo.)
So I'm a fan, but not a fan girl in that I can't bring myself to actually speak to the players/tell them good job or that I enjoyed watching them compete this year. So I do it semi-anonymously on a blog that they'll never read.
Go Violets!
I got a letter yesterday -- to this address although the apartment was incorrect. Mysterious return address in Queens.
Reading the letter ... it's from someone at church. I can't tell if the church gave her my address (my checks have the old apartment number on them, so it's impossible for me to get them to understand I've moved because they base everything on the money, honey) or if she gave the letter to the church office to address (different ink and the handwriting looks a little different on the address itself, although I'm not entirely sure).
Whatever the case, the letter talks about Stillwater, Oklahoma, and begs me to call her. (My name and former church were listed in the bulletin when I transferred my membership ... and yes, I didn't transfer membership to either my Maryland or Virginia churches ... and I should have joined the NYC church sooner, but hindsight, 20-20 and all that.)
The letter asked to call between 1 pm and 5 pm "for reasons she would explain." So I tried around 2 pm and got a busy signal. Hit redial a few times, still busy. Had a bunch of work stuff crop up, on and on, but just before 5 I remembered to try again and the call went through.
She practically cried and still wasn't clear about what she wants from me other than to talk. I'm going to meet her before church on Sunday. Just what I need.
I have a feeling she's living in rehab or something because she talked about where she lives as the ghetto, not a nice place, but basically seemed to imply that she has a curfew and ... I don't know. It all seems very sketchy BUT I think meeting in the church can't be too bad and maybe she's just a lonely person who needs to talk. I seem to know another person like that ... (hello, my name is Mari and I'm terrible at making friends.)
Speaking of my ability to demolish seemingly strong friendships, I dreamed about Sage last night. It was so real and bizarre. I think it was prompted because we saw a woman with the EXACT same face as Sage at the NYU women's basketball games at Stevens.
That in itself (the championship game) was a lot of fun, but I seriously think we were were the ONLY two NYU fans there. There were a few other people from NYU but I think they were all members of the athletics department and therefore couldn't cheer/boo/whatever. We harassed the opposing fans (who were sitting all around us) ...
I have a seriously loud clap, the gym was otherwise quite and I would do a rhythmic clap during NYU's key defensive moments. That made the Stevens fans so upset and annoyed that they started doing it to NYU when Stevens was on defense. It's very effective. I guess my Big 12 cheering skills came in handy there. (And the NYU women won the game/tournament ... although it came down to luck I thought, since their defense was utter poo.)
So I'm a fan, but not a fan girl in that I can't bring myself to actually speak to the players/tell them good job or that I enjoyed watching them compete this year. So I do it semi-anonymously on a blog that they'll never read.
Go Violets!
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