Postcards from NYC

Two Big News Items

2009-11-02T11:21:00.001-05:00

Two Big News Items to share w/you if you don't already know:

1) American Corporate Partners is a great organization/resource for military personnel who are ending their military tours and transitioning back into civilian workforce. I'm sharing this with you so you can share it with your battalion. I've just concluded a successful relationship with a woman who not only able to transition successfully back into the workforce, but she was able to leverage her military experience to get her dream job! For more info visit: http://www.acp-usa.org/

2) After intense behind-the-scenes diplomatic activity, Karzai's opponent withdraws from run-off election and Karzai is declared winner for another 5 yr term. Those on the left are crying foul, those on the right see it as an oppty to try & bring economic/political stability to a war torn unstable country. Those stuck in the middle (the Afghan citizens) are simply trying to create a decent existence for their families, out of the challenging conditions they have to deal with.

Fun, Crazy, Busy Weekend

2009-10-31T21:12:00.001-04:00

Almost getting to the point of Total exhaustion. But I won't complain because as busy as I am, its nearly not as busy as this incredible guy. It may seem to rival his schedule but not quite. The only difference between him and I, is that his children are older and THEY HAVE TO listen to him. Try reasoning with over a hundred little kids that are super excited and hyped up on sugar on sugar and you get mission Impossible just have them sit down to eat dinner!

The party I helped organize at the Y last night was a huge success. We fed over 100 kids (and their parents) a healthy early dinner consisting of Ghoul-ash, eyes of Newt (I have no idea what that was), green worms (spinach pasta), brains and baby bats salad (sea weed salad & carrots shaped as bats). Afterwards the kids helped us decorate the incredibly delicious deserts, that were made by the parents. There were some incredible pumpkin cupcakes and zucchini bread that the kids went crazy for and decorated with gummy worms, etc. There was more fun & games after they decorated their chosen desserts and ate them. we had a costume contest in 2 categories: one for the best solo child costume, and the best parent child combination costume. Last year, when someone else hosted the party, my son and I won the parent/child costume category. I was a very short Darth Vader and my son was one of my Imperial Guards. Very cool! We won a chess/checker set and a huge bag of candy that was the envy of all the kids. The candy lasted till August of this year. Between the 3 hr prep and the 3 hr. party I was exhausted, but my night was not done yet.

I then had my first meeting with a group of member that we have formed at the Y, The group's focus is to break through our current physical barriers that has kept at a certain plateau or threshold level and has not let us create the incredible hard bodies we want. The meeting was to formalize the group, set goals, create a working format and set ground rules before our first official workout. I've been needing this type of set up for almost 10 yrs now. For me, my set back has been the lack of support & accountability. My entire life I've been involved in team sports and have worked out in a team atmosphere. From volleyball, track & gymnastics in Jr. High & High School to skiing, softball & tennis in college. So when my circle of best friends, workout buddies & cheerleading squad died on 9/11 I was left with a world shattered and torn apart, and with no clue or ability of how to move forward.

Well, this morning was our first workout. It was over 2 hours long. I did the first 75 min with one group had a 30 min break (standing and running around) and 75 min with the 2nd group. We are talking, treadmill, elliptical, spinning, stairmaster, rowing, etc., etc. My knees are feeling it now!! But I FEEL GREAT!!! One of the members of our group is a former Ranger and former personal trainer, whose a bit out of shape for the past few years while raising small kids. He's made a committment to come back into the gym and get back in shape. He had to stop 3 times for about a min each time and slow down 2 other times on the stairmaster because he couldn't keep up with me... wooohooo! Same thing with the rowing. I said nothing because I still have to get to know him to figure out when and how to coax him to finish the exercises as we had planned them. I am just excited that I did everything on our exercise plan and that we did them so well. Woohoo!

Late this afternoon, after attending a noontime parade with some other parents, my son and I went home to rest up for the next event on our schedule, another parade. Parents and kids from our neighborhood participated in a small Halloween Parade sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. There was a nice group of between 80 & 90 kids and parents, all with very unique costumes. My son, who by then was Halloweened out - just wanted to dress up comfortably in jeans and a Yankees tshirt and cap - to help me with car/crowd safety. Unlike my son, I was in the mood to dress up, and I put together a gypsy outfit, much like the one you see below. The only exception was the sleeves, which were just barely off the shoulders. After all, I am a middle-aged mom. I carried a tambourine in my hand to get the kids, parents and driver's attention, when they were inching too close to us (we had to share the road).

We walked for 3 miles in the parade and then ended at the local community center (my feet were killing me by then). There they had a free party for members of the Kiwanis Club, one of the sponsored the parade. We got to go as guests of 2 members who are trying to recruit me as a member. A live band played and there was some great snacks & appetizers donated by local restaurant merchants. It was truly a really well organized and fun event. After the party we all retreated to the home of our party hosts to rest and relax before the next and last event of the day - trick o' treating.

We kept our trick o'treating simple and went only to homes and apartments where we knew the residents. Michael, who helped escort the kids up the steps was surprised to receive candy and money. On the way home he said he was happy with the unexpected loot he got and is looking forward to using the change to buy deeply discounted Halloween candy next weekend.

We just got home, having barely beat the rain, and with our feet perched and resting, we're sitting in front of the tv (a rare thing) eagerly awaiting for the Game 3 between the Yankees/Phillies to start.

I'm looking forward to reading your posts of your own Halloween events or adventures. Hope they were fun! .

WSJ: The Sex-Housework Link

2009-10-21T00:23:00.004-04:00

In The Wall Street Journal today there's an article entitled: The Sex-Housework Link. Provocative title isn't it?

The article is reporting about a study done by two sociological scientist in which they found that the more housework you do, the more often you are likely to have sex with your spouse. Funny, that's not been my experience.

An interesting read and the stats are even more so. I'd like to have a word with both, the scientits who conducted the study and the WSJ writer.

Net Neutrality & Elections

2009-10-19T15:33:00.002-04:00

This article from the Wall Street Journal (Facebook & Twitter Join Net-Neutrality War) brings to light the camps entering the Net Neutrality fray on the FCC's proposed rules and proposed legislation. Below is FCC Chairman Genachowski's big announcement along with info on where you can learn more and where you can eventually be able to give your 2cents worth for Congress and the FCC to consider.

Yes, I know, that's 2 min of your life you will never get back, and YES it lacks details and substance despite all the anticipated angst from rumors, and all the hyperbole from business and tech sites. However, its precisely because of that hyperbole and rumor-mongering that we, as free devoted netizens of the cybersphere, need to remain vigilant of what's going on, lest our beloved gov't lose sight of "OUR" interests and succumb to the demands of lobbyists protecting their large corporate clients.

How interesting that the average Joe, or Joe the plumber for that matter, was not in present in the jam packed press room at this announcement. Nope, only reporters,lobbyists and industry execs from telco's, isp's, internet business companies, etc., were present. Which means, we (the netizens of the world) have to ensure that our interests are considered and protected when it comes to any proposed rules.

TO learn more about 'Net Neutrality' you can begin by reading the legislation and tracking its progress as it goes through Congress. If you scroll down at the Tracking link you will be able to see the latest news on it, who publicly supports and opposes the bill. I encourage you to write your local Congressional Representative directly and freely by clicking through the previous link. Let them know how you feel after reading all the material. Our Congressional Representatives do read letters and on occassion use them in their speeches to persuade their peers.

Below you will find some news articles about this from one source. I will be pulling from a few others resources soon and will post them here as I go along. In the meantime, please read what the WSJ has to say about Net-Neutrality:
Net-Neutrality in the Spotlight
Net-Neutrality Speech Draws Strong Reactions

Gotham Crushing Small Business Dreams?

2009-10-19T12:58:00.000-04:00

Apparently this article at the City Journal seems to think so. Now I understand why 20 businesses in a square mile radius of where I live have gone out of business this past year, 10 are hanging on by a thread and 16 more have only 3 to 6 months operating capital left.
I have volunteered with my local Chamber of Commerce to consult one-on-one on how these businesses can create an online presence and also market themselves and their products in order to compete more effectively in their market place. Lets hope I can help!

ALCS @ Yankee Stadium

2009-10-18T00:01:00.002-04:00

(NY Daily News)

Its game 2 and the score has been tied.since the 7th. We are now in the middle of the 11th inning. My son insisted he wanted to stay up and watch his beloved Yanks but at 9:30pm I prevailed upon a sleepy boy to go to bed and he went without protests as long as I fulfill my obligation of a play by play recount of the games's highlights. .

My son is so looking forward to Monday when I will be leaving work early to pick him up at school and watch the entire game on TV.. I'm looking forward to it too as its an opportunity for us to bond and for him to make some memories.

=====================================================================

Update: After 5 hours and 10 min, and 7 tied innings, the Yankees were finally able to score in the 13th inning on an Angels error. I will take the win however I can get it. I am just grateful the weather in Cali is in the mid 60's. It will be a nice change for them. Okay, must get sleep as I have a full schedule tomorrow. I have the Jets and Giants games to watch. : )

Lord Vader to you!

2009-10-11T23:05:00.005-04:00

This is me last year, killing time at a cafe before a meeting. Sadly, this cafe no longer exists. Its yet another casualty of the severe economic downturn we are experiencing in NYC. Too bad its closed, it was my oasis in the storms during the day at work. My great escape... the place that lured me with the promise of quiet surroundings with soothing music and a great cappuccino, such as the yummy one below.

And how did I manage to drink with a mask on, you might ask? Well, through a straw that was placed through a small hole in my mask, which I covered with black duct tape. I wore that mask all day long and even to two departmental meetings without taking it off. It brought smiles to faces and light chuckles to busy hearts and minds. Me, I had a ball the entire day.

What will I do this halloween? I really don't know. Do you have any suggestions on what I might do? .

Sports in NYC

2009-10-11T11:15:00.002-04:00

Ironic, NY has more colleges than any other city in the US. The irony is that unlike the rest of the country, we don't really have a decent college football team to support. Hell, most colleges don't even have a football team so there is nothing to cheer about during football season. Mostly, because there isn't a decent team to be found anywhere within the city limits.

So our entire sports focus & hunger goes onto our professional teams. So when players say the NY fans are the most incredible fans in the world, they're right!

Yay for the Giants, the Yanks & the Rangers!!!

Pics of NYC week of 9/20

2009-09-25T18:37:00.006-04:00

An aerial picture of sun bathers in Central Park's Sheep Meadow at noon this past week when temps reached 86F.

The reason people in NYC are always outside: the size of apts. Here's a pic of a complete studio apt from the front door.

The reason I will search far and wide for a hidden oasis in NYC, such as this place....

the oppressive crowds are sometimes just too much to handle!On this particular night it took me 20 min to walk 3 blocks to my subway stop. Is it any wonder we're everyone's favorite target?

Pics of NYC week of 9/13

2009-09-18T18:50:00.005-04:00

As I lay in bed coughing my brains out I looked through my laptop for pics I took this past summer.

I entitled this Weeds grow in Brooklyn. They were on a rooftop of a building of someone I know. Manhattan seems far away doesn't it.

A 60 yr old sign in the industrial section of town a few miles away. See, NYC isn't always about skyscrapers.

Not only do NY developers create their own pools and beaches... they create their own palm trees too. And to make it more useful and decorative they go one further... a tree with electric palms!

Went back to my Dr. 'cause I felt like crap all weekend. My doctor's office was so packed I raised the window shade to get the illusion of space in his overcrowded office. This was the view he had. No wonder the shades were down. I amused myself for the next hour by trying to decipher the variuos images.

Skaters Gather to Pay Tribute to a Legend in NYC

2009-08-18T00:19:00.003-04:00

Generations of Skaters Gather to Pay Tribute to a Legend in NYC

August 17, 2009 By COLIN MOYNIHAN - New York Times

The noise of skateboard wheels thrumming on wooden ramps echoed near the Brooklyn waterfront in Greenpoint on Saturday night, where a semisecret skating spot called the Autumn Bowl is located inside an old brick warehouse.

Photographs of the New York City skateboarding pioneer Andy Kessler decorated the walls inside the warehouse, and bouquets of roses sat on a table next to handwritten messages addressed to Mr. Kessler, who died last week at age 48 after an allergic reaction to an insect sting.

In another sort of tribute, dozens of skaters took turns whizzing around a 2,500-square-foot, 7-foot-deep birch skateboarding bowl, as a boom box blared songs by the Beastie Boys and the Who.

Among the 200 or so people who showed up to remember Mr. Kessler was Tony Alva, a champion skater from Santa Monica, Calif., who many believe epitomizes West Coast skating and who said that Mr. Kessler embodied “the spirit of New York.”

“He carried that flag higher and bolder than anyone,” Mr. Alva said as he stood in a wide alleyway next to the warehouse. “He skates with me today.”

More than 30 years of skating the homemade ramps and rutted streets of New York City left plenty of marks on Mr. Kessler, including scrapes and scars from bone-shattering collisions. And in many ways, Mr. Kessler left an equally strong impression on the city.

They called him the Godfather, and as a teenager on the Upper West Side in the 1970s he skated at places with names like the Death Bowl, an abandoned pool in the Bronx, and Suicide Hill, a steep slope near the banks of the Hudson River. He also became a member of a group of graffiti writers and skaters who called themselves the Soul Artists of Zoo York and who helped define East Coast skating.

“Andy was like the president, the king,” said an artist called Zephyr, who was part of the group.

As a teenager Mr. Kessler skated on the fringes of the city, using planks pilfered from construction sites to create makeshift ramps. Later, after wrangling with the New York City parks department, he designed and helped build one of the city’s first sanctioned skate parks, at 108th Street and Riverside Drive. It opened in the mid-1990s at a spot where he had first skated 20 years before. Other skate parks followed.

The renegade roots of that time seemed distant on Saturday morning as a handful of young skaters there signed forms that exempted the city from liability, then — wearing helmets, elbow pads and kneepads — rolled briskly along. One young skater, wearing a red helmet, paused at the mention of Mr. Kessler’s name.

“Who doesn’t know him?” asked the skater, Anthony Rojas, 11, from Washington Heights, adding that he thought the park “needs some more ramps.”

There was more talk of Mr. Kessler that evening at the Autumn Bowl, where young skaters who wanted to acknowledge his legacy gathered with longtime friends who had rolled with him as teenagers through nighttime streets. Skating luminaries from California mingled next to Mr. Kessler’s mother and sister, who had recently arrived from Florida.

“He had a wonderful heart,” said Mr. Kessler’s mother, Ruth. “If anybody ever needed anything, Andy would help them.”

But underlying that generosity, friends said, was a blunt willingness to sometimes ruffle feathers.

“We loved him for his straight-up candor,” said J. J. Veronis, 46. “That boldness was like an avenue he would open up right in front of you to follow.”

For some time Mr. Kessler traveled a path of passionate abandon, friends agreed. But after giving up drinking and drugs more than 20 years ago, he declared his dedication to others seeking sobriety, answering the phone late at night to offer counsel, or taking struggling comrades on trips away from the narcotic temptations of the city.

Sometimes, during those journeys, he would cite skating as a simile for a healthy life. And some friends extended that thought on Saturday while analyzing Mr. Kessler’s skating style. Steve Olson, a well-known skater from Los Angeles, called him “a soul skater.” Mr. Veronis, who grew up with Mr. Kessler in the 1970s, called him “the artful dodger.”

Mr. Kessler never stopped skating, but it was more or less inevitable that would he slow down somewhat as he aged. Five years ago, while skating in SoHo, Mr. Kessler wiped out. In the resulting crash, he dislocated a femur, damaged his pelvis and broke a kneecap.

More recently, he had been surfing in Montauk, N.Y., partly in an effort to spare his body further battering, friends said. Mr. Kessler was on a surfing trip there last Monday, when he received a sting from a wasp that resulted in cardiac arrest.

The news staggered friends, and they began gathering at the KCDC Skateshop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where the shop owner, Amy Gunther, planned Saturday’s memorial along with Mr. Kessler’s far-flung friends.

Common experiences emerged. For everyone he had aided within the world of skating, it seemed, there was also somebody who credited Mr. Kessler with helping him or her steer clear of drugs or alcohol.

Harry Jumonji, 41, from the Lower East Side, said on Saturday night that Mr. Kessler took him to Montauk last week to get him away from the heroin he was in the midst of quitting.

“He saved my life,” Mr. Jumonji said. “I wish I could have saved his.”

Andy's Montauk Memorial

2009-08-16T23:14:00.001-04:00

Andy was a loving person who touched the lives of many, as a result he had many really good and devoted friends. Not the kind of friends that do lip service, but the kind that would jump in to do or help on any of Andy's projects if he so much as hinted he needed help. So its no surprise to me, who knew him for over half his lifetime, that all his friends would want to do something to honor his memory.

I was unable to go out to Montauk a week ago to honor my dear friend and to finally meet some of his wonderful surfer friends, whom he loved as much as us city folks. I'm grateful that one of his Montauk buddies pointed me to a picture of the memorial (above) at Mastastico, a site authored and photographed by Mr. Lentini, another friend of Andy's. If you click through that picture you will see that the surfers had done a very unique paddle service. In this one they have joined hands and said Andy's favorite prayer.

The NY Times posted a halfway decent obituary describing his life, that would have annoyed Andy. Of course had he complained to me I would have said to him, "What do you expect, no one gets everything right these days, especially the media!"

As for the photo... Andy would have been very touched. It's an incredibly beuatiful photo that shows how much Andy was loved out there.

Friend & Skate Hero Andy Kessler Dead @ 48

2009-08-12T02:04:00.001-04:00

(Andy w/Tony Alva)

(Andy christening his design at Owl Head skate park)

I received the sad news on Tuesday from a mutual friend that my dear old friend, Andy Kessler, had passed on. My immediate reaction on the phone was: "GTF outta here... & don't kid like that!" After a long pause that was followed by a deep quivering sigh, I said: "Stop it right now! IT"S NOT FUNNY!" You see, Andy and his friends were notorious kidders and jokers. He always had me smiling and laughing.

But the silence was too heavy to ignore. I said nothing hoping it was all a big mistake. After clearing the lump in his throat several times he was finally able to tell me about Andy's last day as told to him from another friend. Details are unimportant, the facts are that after a day of glorious surfing with friends, he got stung by a wasp which caused a severe allergic reaction and ultimately a cardiac arrest.

I was stunned and in disbelief. It was my son's birthday and Andy, who had successfully convinced me that 10 was the perfect age to start skateboarding, was supposed to go and help my son pick out a skate board. He was to begin teaching him how to skateboard later that week. I couldn't wrap my head around it. "But, he was supposed to be here for my son's birthday party?" I said stupidly. Andy was nothing but very reliable and loyal. When he said he was going to be somewhere he was, come what may. My thoughts then shifted to my young son. He idolized Andy and was so looking forward to learning how to skate from one of the greatest and nicest legends on the East Coast. I chose for Andy to teach him because my knees are shot from decades of crashes and accidents from skating conditions that were crude and primitive. Being the bolder of the 2, whenever Andy didn't want to skate something I went ahead and tried it sometimes with disastrous results.

After barely saying good bye I hung up the phone still in a state of shock. "Andy... gone?" I then became angry over the time I wasted in the last 8 months healing from my last injury instead of hanging with him. I then thought far back to the start of our long friendship as teenagers skating the lower east side.

Our friendship was forged on our love of skating, music, movies & mtgs. Our birthdays were only a few days apart and my most favorite memory was our joint celebration of our 25th birthday - we're both geminis. It the main reason we got along so well. We understood each other at the soul level. I have many pictures of us together, but the pictures of the 24hr celebration of our 25th birthday are what comes to mind immediately when I think of Andy and our past together.

He was the kind of person that when he smiled it was from his heart. His smile and sense of humor were so electric they would light up a room. And his hugs? I once told him that his hugs where therapeautic and healing. You could feel his appreciation for you when he greeted you, because he filled his embraces with love.

We discovered that we both had the need... "the need for speed!" Only I eventually turned to motorcycles and skiing to satisfy that need (because my body couldn't take any more injuries). He continued with his torrid love affair with skating and moved on to surfing to give his own body a break. Still, he was nothing but loyal and passionate to his main love - skateboarding.

Andy, I cherished you. I will miss your beautiful heartwarming smile, your warm caring spirit and your loving hugs. Thank you for enriching my life and that of so many others. The NY skate scene will never be the same, and neither will Central Park or Riverside.

BTW, God's not sending you back this time because your work here with us is done. So enjoy rippin it in heaven with no worries!

High Line Park

2009-06-27T22:33:00.006-04:00

New York City's newest park which is still under development - High Line Park. It used to be an elevated freight train rail system which has been abandoned now for over 40 years. For info about the park or events taking place there, please visit their website.

In the summer it will be a great place to hide away from the hot steamy streets below, as the elevation of the park walkway is several flights above street level and provide a natural breeze from the Hudson River.

Please stop by, visit and enjoy the incredible wild landscape. If you can imagine what it would look like, as you walk alongside abandoned railway tracks, its very similar with one big difference, the weeds and wildflowers are contained and planted with a specific horticultural framework, which volunteer residents helped develop.

Bella Luna

2009-06-08T23:10:00.000-04:00

Missing Summer Wishing it were here.

2009-06-01T23:04:00.000-04:00

I think if I lived in a rural area I wouldn't miss it as much because I would be amused by spring flowers. There has been a bit of too much cold damp weather and my knees don't like it, so they long for warmth.

Most excitement I've had in weeks!

2009-05-28T21:05:00.001-04:00

To Service Members & Their Families

2009-05-24T00:12:00.004-04:00

Having lots of project related things on my mind and unable to sleep. I turn to You Tube for some right brain creative input and some interesting music. You tube never disappoints. Tonight’s gem is perfect, as I have a couple of big projects coming up in support of Service Members and their families – in particular the little ones. Now I’m smiling, feeling better and finally sleepy. Enjoy the music!

Sleepless in NY

2009-05-20T19:58:00.002-04:00

Been working on many projects, some which are global, and I was so tired as I headed downtown to a meeting that I fell asleep on the train and wound up in Brooklyn. Now there's nothing for me to do there but go across the platform and come back. I almost started to fall asleep again, but when I noticed I decided to stand up instead. That way I was sure not to wind up in the Bronx.

Just 5 more weeks of this and all my projects are over. Yay! Then I can sleep till noon, if I want to.

Lighthouse Challenge

2009-05-15T23:49:00.003-04:00

Here's something I used to do years ago and wish I had time for now: The "Lighthouse Challenge." If you visit 10 Long Island lighthouses (pictured above is the Long Beach Bar Lighthouse at Peconic Bay) this Saturday at your own pace, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., you'll receive a commemorative souvenir at the end of the journey. Individual lighthouse fees apply. For info call 631-661-4876, or visit: http://lilighthousesociety.org

Tough day to be a New Yorker

2009-04-27T18:59:00.012-04:00

Um, lets see... the Private high school with 40+ reported cases of Swine Flu is less than 3 miles from my home. Its prime tourists season here in the city and we are overrun with Senior Class Trips that are just starting to make their impact on the sidewalk. I can only try dodging people left and right in order to get to meetings w/clients and colleagues on time, all the while trying to look cool and professional in 90F temps while wearing a wool blend suit and high heals.

As I'm dashing about in Lower Manhattan, trying to talk to my son's teacher on my cellphone, I suddenly hear the roars of jet engines above me and a silhoutte of an all to familiar shadow on the sidewalk. As I look overhead I freeze. I'm unable to utter a sound, while others manage to scream. My son's teacher, who is oblivious to what's happening,continues talking and has just informed me that a classmate's of my son has just returned from vacationing in Mexico. Her words trail off as I look up at the sky and see the jet approach a tall building a few blocks away. I hold my breath, unable to move, as others run amock around me. We are all wondering how can this be happening again.

As the plane starts to climb and move away from our skyline and heads towards New Jersey, I begin to breath and look around to see others frozen in place, many are crying. A pregnant woman has slumped down onto the sidewalk clutching her womb with both hands. Some are New Yorkers, but others... the tourists, who can't fathom the possibilities, ask to no one in particular, but loud enough hoping someone will know the answer and can reassure them: "Are they supposed to fly that low?", "Is this how planes fly into NYC?", "I thought they're not supposed to fly that close anymore?" Everyone else, the New Yorkers, those of us who remember remain either silent while others wail and cry, waiting to see if the plane will turn around and come back for another with a better aim.

My anger competes with the painful memory of that painful event 8 years ago. It was the same kind of warm day. It was the same beautiful clear blue sky, which you could see for miles. Suddenly, I'm back there again.... Years erased in single moment in which the sound of jet engines flying close overhead forces me to struggle and make sense of things in a split second. Fighting back tears, I focus on evaluating the situation... am I in imminent danger? Are others? What course of action should I take first. Flashes of that day of long ago crowd my mind and vision. The unmistakable smell of jet fuel is seared in my brain signaling danger. As I come back to reality I see the jet has not returned and instead is flying towards Newark. My safety does not bring relief for there are many people in NJ that I care about and whose loss would cut deep...yet again. My phone chirps letting me know that our building, who was just buzzed by the airliner, has been evacuated and we are told to stay away. I begin the slow walk up towards midtown rather than take the subway. I figured I have better chance of survival above ground than inside or under.

[Five hours later]
Memo to the White House Staff: You are just a bunch of F*#%ing Idiots!

I just want 5 friekin minutes alone in a room, with the A$$ that made the decision. That's it, just 5 minutes and no interruption.

Historic Staten Island

2009-04-18T21:41:00.003-04:00

I'm exhausted after a day of exploring a number of historic sites in Staten Island. In the morning we explored the Conference House, seen above, best known for the meeting which took place between Ben Franklin, John Adams and Edward Rutledge, representatives of the Independence Movement, and Lord Admiral Howe, representative of King George's Colonial Government. During their meeting which took place on September 11, 1776, both parties met to try and find a quick end to the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, any attempts to reach a peace agreement was rejected by both sides and the Revolutionary War continued for another 5 years. The vibes in that entire place and was awesome. One could almost feel the military presence and revolutionary spirit of the past come alive.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent at the Village of Historic Richmond Town. The village is a collection of 28 landmarked buildings dating between 1670 and 1907 which are still fully functional according to the time periods they were constructed in. Its funny because at one point during the tour I had to go to the bathroom and asked if there were facilities anywhere nearby and they explained that all the outhouse were not open yet as it was still too cold to have them running properly. I then was told that at the end of our tour I would be able to use the bathroom in the museum which was also the general store as they had modern facilities there, such as electricity and running water (how quaint!).

For the remainder of the week I'll be posting pictures of my visit to the Village of Historic Richmond. For today the above picture will have to do.

Moon and NYC

2009-04-12T00:21:00.003-04:00

Today was another busy day in the life of ME. However, I managed to slow down just enough to drop in at the Museum of Natural History to take my son and his 2 young buds to walk through a few exhibits in the biodiversity pavilion. We then headed to my favorite space in the place, the gem and mineral area, where they were able to roam and play secret agent. I gave them tasks such as find a rock that has crystals inside that are purple and thin and jut out from the rock like spears and tell me what the name on its plaque; or find a Tourmaline mineral and come back to me and describe what it looks like. Thus I spent 2 fun hours in my favorite place with 2 six year olds and a 9 yr old. It was a great way to spend an afternoon that was a true adventure for them.

Afterwards, we relaxed at Starbucks; me with my latte, the kids feeling very grown up with their kid's hot chocolate, while I people-watched and eaves-dropped on the conversation of 3 precocious boys recounting their adventures and the best part of their day. It was truly great fun!

Greek yogurt & Museum nudes

2009-04-06T13:41:00.008-04:00

This is my new addiction... this delicious yogurt that is. The pills? They're just my vitamins. You see I've been eating very badly (from the floor vending machine) on the go and my body & tummy have been suffering as a result; so today I decided I needed a little culture with my city life. See, you don't have to live in Nebraska to miss out on culture.

Still, yogurt is about the only place I've been getting my culture these past few weeks. But there's hope on the horizon. Instead of lunch meetings this week and next, I've convinced my clients meet me at museums next week. I've promised to then leaving them there to browse freely the rest of the afternoon while I head back to work. At least that way I get to walk through the collections on the way in and (if I choose a different exit) on the way out.

Tomorrow I've got an appt with a client I've only briefly met twice. We're meeting in front of the Morgan Museum at 2:30pm. He requested a personal tour of several galleries. Since my firm is a major contributor to this museum, rather than guiding him myself, I've arranged for a private guide to give us some gallery highlights of what he's most interested in seeing. I did a virtual tour earlier today in order to make sure we steer clear of the nudes as we talk, so the conversation will be focused and won't go anywhere other than business. I'm really looking forward to going to this museum as I've not been there in over a decade and many improvements have been made to the building and their collection.

Hopefully, if all goes according to plan, I'll be getting my culture elsewhere in the next 2 weeks. No worries though, because if all else fails, I'll be taking virtual tours after Easter of the Vatican Museums and the Louvre. That's where I've decided to spend my evenings, on a mini-virtual European vacation of sorts. Care to join me? I'll gladly discuss any painters, paintings and/or period or style afterwards.

Either way, may you find peace and joy this holiday!

Too busy to post

2009-04-02T16:18:00.003-04:00

See my desk, and the printouts of my busy calendar for the next 2 weeks? See one of the project description summaries which is 15 pages long. I highlight only the parts that involve me so I can figure out how much time I have to dedicate to this particular project. I stopped to take pics midway because I was going cross-eyed & batty)!

See the document w/the official seal? That's the Official 55 pg summary of the NYS Budget that was recently approved by legislators (which is actually several thousand pages long). There's that work, then there's those lovely standing teleconferences I have to participate in to discuss the impact of upcoming items to clients the world over... Oh joy!

When I'm done with all that, I then have to somehow find time to read, analyze & synthesize the longer version of the NYS Budget for my bosses; all while finding time to work on my current projects. How do I ever fit it all in?

In my parental role I have the following exciting deadlines I have to keep an eye on:

April 12 - Team Science Fair Experiment Conducted
April 18 - All Day visit to the Colonial Farm in Staten Island NY
April 19 - Final Meeting of Science Fair Team Re: Experiment Results
April 20 - Report on Life in Colonial Times (1700 - 1790) 5 typed pages
April 25 - National Science Scholars Test - for scholarship awards
April 30 - Standardized Science State Test
May 1st - Science Fair Project Due
May 7th - Science Fair Powerpoint presentation before Science Fair Judges (I kid you not! Yes, he is only 9; and yes he's in 4th grade!)

Then there's my personal daily/weekly goals of exercise, meditation, yoga, and my creative pursuits (writing), which are essential to me living a stress free and spiritual life. Yes, as of late its become a true balancing act of grace and courage to see what gets done, what's delayed and what becomes a wishful temporary fantasy for the moment. Sigh!

Still, I amaze myself by somehow managing to keep my 20 balls in the air, and rarely but deliberately, only dropping one or 2 at a time out of necessity in order to ensure that the others stay aloft.

My gratitude for the skills that I've been blessed with are boundless! So I hope you know, that though I don't visit you in your digital home, that it does NOT mean: "Outta Sight, Outta Mind!" It just means that I'm meeting with you on a super-conscious spiritual level where I pray for your happiness & well-being as I think of you and smile.

I pray you remain well! Peace, Love & Light!