Saturday, December 29, 2007
back in brooklyn
I got home around midnight last night from spending Christmas in Austin. I couldn't believe that when I stepped out of JFK to get a cab, the air was easier for me to breathe than the air in Austin. I came back with a hacking allergy cough, but even though I woke up with the radiator heat headache this morning, I no longer had the hacking Austin cough. Ahhhh. It's good to be home.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
waiting to go out
It's Friday evening, and I'm planning on heading out for a bit, but not until 11:30 or so. I have some time, so I thought that I'd try to catch up on the NY stories. The past couple of weeks have pretty much been work, work, work.
•The other night I was working late in the glass castle and saw the fat, ugly naked guy again strolling around his apt. I wonder if innocent neighbors ever see me in my apartment. YIKES!!!!
•I sometimes have a hard time remembering that the concrete jungle that I live in is actually coastal. Well, last week I was quickly reminded of that fact when on my way to the subway in the morning a HUGE seagull swept down over my head and landed right in front of me!! That thing was almost as big as Pico!!! I personally do not care for birds, and apparently they know this and torture me. They like to fly near me and nearly give me heart attacks! I hate birds!
•Last Sunday was the NYC Marathon. It's hard to describe the experience of watching thousands of runners from all over the world coming together. For years I never went out to watch the marathon, but my current apt is on the route, so all I have to do is walk downstairs or watch from my window. It's amazing! This year I decided to have a few people over to watch. We made breakfast tacos--the smell of coffee, bacon and eggs filled my apt. Delish! We took our food out to the street to see the wheelchair racers, then the first professional women, then the professional men go by. THEN the stream of regulars runners came through for the next couple of hours. It's so much fun to cheer everyone on and yell out their names. This year we seemed to get more of a reaction from the runners. I'm at mile 11, so they're not even half way yet, but I'd probably be dead at that point. I think Laura and I stood out there for at least 4 hours cheering everyone on. And Pico was actually good this year. Last year I had her out while watching the wheelchair racers go by, and we had to go in because she kept barking at them. So embarrassing! It's like having a kid!
•Oh, on Halloween I was leaving work and I saw Connie Chung and Maury Povich going to dinner (really them not costumed people) I think they were going to Patsy's on 56th between Broadway and 8th.
•For some reason, this Halloween my female friends and I all chose to be male costumes. I had actually decided that I was going to be a member of the Junior League for Halloween, but that idea seemed to be lost on most people. Then I spoke with Laura B and found out that Laura R was going to be Mystery--the Ultimate Pick Up Artist. AMAZING!!! That show was beyond belief (of course I saw every episode. AND my friend and I even had a guy try the moves on us at a bar, and , yes, I called him on it. He tried to act like he had no idea what I was talking about--whatevs! He had his avatar and was peacocking and everything. Anyway...) So, since Laura R was going to be Mystery I had to join in and be Kosmo, the cheese-wad that won the show. We were sooo ugly! But the greatest costume went to Laura B who was Larry the Cable Guy. (See below for pics.) Well, Larry and Kosmo decided they needed to run out to the deli, and the only people that appreciated our costumes were the cops that were hanging out inside.
•The other night I was working late in the glass castle and saw the fat, ugly naked guy again strolling around his apt. I wonder if innocent neighbors ever see me in my apartment. YIKES!!!!
•I sometimes have a hard time remembering that the concrete jungle that I live in is actually coastal. Well, last week I was quickly reminded of that fact when on my way to the subway in the morning a HUGE seagull swept down over my head and landed right in front of me!! That thing was almost as big as Pico!!! I personally do not care for birds, and apparently they know this and torture me. They like to fly near me and nearly give me heart attacks! I hate birds!
•Last Sunday was the NYC Marathon. It's hard to describe the experience of watching thousands of runners from all over the world coming together. For years I never went out to watch the marathon, but my current apt is on the route, so all I have to do is walk downstairs or watch from my window. It's amazing! This year I decided to have a few people over to watch. We made breakfast tacos--the smell of coffee, bacon and eggs filled my apt. Delish! We took our food out to the street to see the wheelchair racers, then the first professional women, then the professional men go by. THEN the stream of regulars runners came through for the next couple of hours. It's so much fun to cheer everyone on and yell out their names. This year we seemed to get more of a reaction from the runners. I'm at mile 11, so they're not even half way yet, but I'd probably be dead at that point. I think Laura and I stood out there for at least 4 hours cheering everyone on. And Pico was actually good this year. Last year I had her out while watching the wheelchair racers go by, and we had to go in because she kept barking at them. So embarrassing! It's like having a kid!
•Oh, on Halloween I was leaving work and I saw Connie Chung and Maury Povich going to dinner (really them not costumed people) I think they were going to Patsy's on 56th between Broadway and 8th.
•For some reason, this Halloween my female friends and I all chose to be male costumes. I had actually decided that I was going to be a member of the Junior League for Halloween, but that idea seemed to be lost on most people. Then I spoke with Laura B and found out that Laura R was going to be Mystery--the Ultimate Pick Up Artist. AMAZING!!! That show was beyond belief (of course I saw every episode. AND my friend and I even had a guy try the moves on us at a bar, and , yes, I called him on it. He tried to act like he had no idea what I was talking about--whatevs! He had his avatar and was peacocking and everything. Anyway...) So, since Laura R was going to be Mystery I had to join in and be Kosmo, the cheese-wad that won the show. We were sooo ugly! But the greatest costume went to Laura B who was Larry the Cable Guy. (See below for pics.) Well, Larry and Kosmo decided they needed to run out to the deli, and the only people that appreciated our costumes were the cops that were hanging out inside.
Monday, November 5, 2007
too tired
I've been neglecting the blog. I'm very overworked and tired. Soooooo sleeeepy!!! And I have like one comment on all of my blogs. Is anyone reading these? (Ok, I get bitchy when I'm tired...)
Saturday, October 27, 2007
winter is coming
Not much has been going on here this past week, well, not much that would be of interest to others. Winter is well on its way, and I think I'm the only person in the tri-state area that is actually excited about this. I like the cold weather (within reason). I grew up wearing shorts on Christmas day and can count on one hand the number of times it snowed in Austin. I like wearing lots of layers, tights, boots, gloves, scarves...you get the point. I, however, could do without the gray sky and rain that we've had all week.
I guess it's appropriate with the gloomy weather and all that last night I went to see Morrissey play at Hammerstein. I love Morrissey, and I've never thought of his music as all gloom and doom, but some songs do fit the bill. The show was AMAZING!!!! My only complaint is that I didn't get to hear some of my faves, but we would have been there all night if I had gotten my way. Here's the setlist that I copied from the website:
Intro: Klaus Nomi
Stop me
Billy Budd
All you need is me
Irish blood english heart
Shoplifters of the world
Gang lord
That's how people grow up
Tomorrow
I just want to see the boy happy
Death of a disco dancer
The loop
Jack the ripper
Crashing boors
Please please please
Find out for yourself
Sister I'm a poet
Goodbye will be farewell
Throwing my arms around paris
Stretch out and wait
Life is a pigsty
How soon is now
((Encore))
First of the gang to die
Again, AMAZING!!! But here's my dream Morrissey show:
Alsatian Cousin
the boy racer
certain people I know
come back to Camden
Frankly, Mr. Shankly
Glamorous Glue
Golden lights
I don't mind if you forget me
the last of the famous international playboys
the national front disco
our frank
panic
piccadilly palare
reader meets author
rush and a push...
sing your life
sweet and tender hooligan
this charming man
tomorrow
tony the pony
vicar in a tutu
you have killed me
you just haven't earned it yet baby
Ok, better get back to that damn book I'm designing...
I guess it's appropriate with the gloomy weather and all that last night I went to see Morrissey play at Hammerstein. I love Morrissey, and I've never thought of his music as all gloom and doom, but some songs do fit the bill. The show was AMAZING!!!! My only complaint is that I didn't get to hear some of my faves, but we would have been there all night if I had gotten my way. Here's the setlist that I copied from the website:
Intro: Klaus Nomi
Stop me
Billy Budd
All you need is me
Irish blood english heart
Shoplifters of the world
Gang lord
That's how people grow up
Tomorrow
I just want to see the boy happy
Death of a disco dancer
The loop
Jack the ripper
Crashing boors
Please please please
Find out for yourself
Sister I'm a poet
Goodbye will be farewell
Throwing my arms around paris
Stretch out and wait
Life is a pigsty
How soon is now
((Encore))
First of the gang to die
Again, AMAZING!!! But here's my dream Morrissey show:
Alsatian Cousin
the boy racer
certain people I know
come back to Camden
Frankly, Mr. Shankly
Glamorous Glue
Golden lights
I don't mind if you forget me
the last of the famous international playboys
the national front disco
our frank
panic
piccadilly palare
reader meets author
rush and a push...
sing your life
sweet and tender hooligan
this charming man
tomorrow
tony the pony
vicar in a tutu
you have killed me
you just haven't earned it yet baby
Ok, better get back to that damn book I'm designing...
Sunday, October 21, 2007
New York Cares
No, I'm not referencing Interpol, I'm talking about the volunteer organization here in NYC. Yesterday was New York Cares day. I was one of 6,000 or so volunteers to go to designated schools around the 5 boroughs and help paint, garden, etc. I've been trying to get more involved with helping out, but I wasn't expecting what I was thrown into.
My friend, Gloria, was in charge of one of the groups for the day. I knew I was going to have to trek to some school in the East New York section of Brooklyn. From all I know about this neighborhood (from the news, etc) is that there would be a good chance that I'd be shot on my way from the subway to the school, but to my surprise, the neighborhood was very well kept and clean. I was running a little late and missed to group of people who were walking as a group from the subway. It was about a 10-15 minute walk to the school, and I got a few, "Hey, Baby" comments, but I try to react with a laugh or at least an acknowledgment, especially when I am out of my element, and I've never had a problem. So, I make it to the school, check in, and wait for a bit. The vice principal of the school comes in to welcome us and explain the school. (what?) We had been told ahead of time to not bring bags and that our cell phones would have to be locked up, but I thought that maybe the rules were really strict. No, that was not the case. The school that we were assigned to is basically a prison!! It's a juvenile detention facility that is also a school. The kids live there, and their crimes range from very minor offenses to very serious ones. Ok.... We were told that they would be walking around the hallways, and to not acknowledge them.
I was put on the mural painting projects, so we were in the hallways of the school. It was rather claustrophobic because ALL doors were locked at ALL times. If we needed to get out of the hallway to go to the restroom or something, we had to be escorted by one of the teachers with keys to the doors. And as we were told, groups of the kids came by wearing their prison scrub outfits. They are escorted around by two teachers--one if front and one in back of the line the kids have to walk in. They have to walk with theier hands behind their backs as if they are cuffed. They look like they're in a chain gang. It was really sad because some of these kids looked like they were 12 years old!!!!
Later on I was transferred to a mural down in the girls' section. Right now there are only 9 girls at the facility. There are a ton of boys! Needless to say, it was a real eye-opener. While down there we were talking to one of the teachers who told us that the average stay at the facility is about 30 days, but there were some kids who had been there 2 years. And at one point, two security guards went racing through the hallway because something was up. The teachers told us to stand back, but laughed and said, "the kids can't behave for even one day?" I really admire these people who work with incarcerated kids (that's how they defined them). They all seemed to be the nicest, most genuine people, and they were so appreciative and thankful for our work.
It was an exhausting day, but it was really worth it!
My friend, Gloria, was in charge of one of the groups for the day. I knew I was going to have to trek to some school in the East New York section of Brooklyn. From all I know about this neighborhood (from the news, etc) is that there would be a good chance that I'd be shot on my way from the subway to the school, but to my surprise, the neighborhood was very well kept and clean. I was running a little late and missed to group of people who were walking as a group from the subway. It was about a 10-15 minute walk to the school, and I got a few, "Hey, Baby" comments, but I try to react with a laugh or at least an acknowledgment, especially when I am out of my element, and I've never had a problem. So, I make it to the school, check in, and wait for a bit. The vice principal of the school comes in to welcome us and explain the school. (what?) We had been told ahead of time to not bring bags and that our cell phones would have to be locked up, but I thought that maybe the rules were really strict. No, that was not the case. The school that we were assigned to is basically a prison!! It's a juvenile detention facility that is also a school. The kids live there, and their crimes range from very minor offenses to very serious ones. Ok.... We were told that they would be walking around the hallways, and to not acknowledge them.
I was put on the mural painting projects, so we were in the hallways of the school. It was rather claustrophobic because ALL doors were locked at ALL times. If we needed to get out of the hallway to go to the restroom or something, we had to be escorted by one of the teachers with keys to the doors. And as we were told, groups of the kids came by wearing their prison scrub outfits. They are escorted around by two teachers--one if front and one in back of the line the kids have to walk in. They have to walk with theier hands behind their backs as if they are cuffed. They look like they're in a chain gang. It was really sad because some of these kids looked like they were 12 years old!!!!
Later on I was transferred to a mural down in the girls' section. Right now there are only 9 girls at the facility. There are a ton of boys! Needless to say, it was a real eye-opener. While down there we were talking to one of the teachers who told us that the average stay at the facility is about 30 days, but there were some kids who had been there 2 years. And at one point, two security guards went racing through the hallway because something was up. The teachers told us to stand back, but laughed and said, "the kids can't behave for even one day?" I really admire these people who work with incarcerated kids (that's how they defined them). They all seemed to be the nicest, most genuine people, and they were so appreciative and thankful for our work.
It was an exhausting day, but it was really worth it!
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