3 Months

I finally made it to the Apple Store to check my email and family blogs, and reaized that it as been 3 months since I last updated my blog. Which is a bit ridiculous, but considering I still don't have internet access at my house, I think its a bit understandable. (I know I keep saying I'll get it soon, but Im not in a big hurry to add another monthly bill quite yet.) But now that big Bro hooked me up with the good ol' rabbit ears and I have 3 channels of television to watch, I think I'll go ahead and sign up for the internet sans TV. Which works for me. Sometime soon. I swear. Hehehehe.

Anyway. I've been waitng in here for the computer with the camera hooked up to it so I could take a picture of myself, but this family of three, (college age son, and parents) has been hogging it. Much like I've been hogging this computer. So we'll have a post with no pic for now.

It got COLD in New York over the last 2 days. Nothing like 28 degree weather with 30 MPH wind gusts to remind everyone what winter in New York is really like. I'm going to have to make it to Patagonia to pick up a new pair of long unders. They are essential to survive the winter in my opinion. Especially before we get to the REALLY crappy part of winter. The 2 degrees outside part.

Christmas season is under way. Sometimes I dream of a Christmas holiday without the dark side of the retail business behind it. Then I wouldn't be as grumpy at all of these people who make us retail workers work extra hours, get no vacations during winter, and generally make the holiday season feel a bit sour. I think it's because this time of year I get to see more of the Money Spending/Marketing side of things than the family togetherness/joy of the seasaon side. On the other hand though, I do get to talk to a lot of people from a lot of different places who arent as jaded about the whole experience. Like this lady who needed to some gift boxes for the last of her Christmas shopping. You could see the tension melt from her face when she walking away since she had finished her shopping early. Plus since I'm near Christmas Central there are all kinds of awesome tourist families with matching Santa Hats or Christmas Sweaters walking around. Nothing says family unity like 5 people walking around wearing pretty much the same exact thing. Also, I need internet before Christmas so I can take pics of all of the beautiful Christmas lights in my neighborhood. Some of these people go all out. I'm also real excited to have my lil' sis over for Christmas.

Speaking of which, I need to thank Big Bro again for making it out during Thanksgiving. I couldn't get the time off that I would have liked due to the brand new job, but we had a great time. I think I enjoyed sitting around drinking beer and bullshitting with my brother more than anything else. I finished the Turkey by Sunday night by the way.

I think thats it for now. I might cut all of my hair off. If I can convince myself to spend the 120 dollars on a haircut. I hope it snows soon. Real soon. You people all know how much I like the snow. I got a fancy pair of high heels. I figured it was time to have at least one pair. And I got a fancy dress (but it was from work, so it was only $30 bucks). Now I just need a fancy party!

That family is still using the other computer so I'm out of here. It's getting sweaty underneath all of my various layers of keep warm clothes.

Monsters

My Response for Morsa

NOT AT ALL!!!

Little did we know getting off of the plane in the tiny airport in Arequipa, we would be there quite awhile. Thanks to the endless cribbage game the English-Spanish dictionary, so we could look up "wait" in Espanol we managed to pass the time. Those people must have thought we were crazy.

The sunset from the airport was very nice. Especially while talking to the woman waiting there, trying to piece enough Spanish and English together between the three of us to have a conversation, while her two boys spent the whole time racing around, climbing on things and chasing each other.

We spent a lot of time in various Peruvian airports. And a little bit of time in the Miami Airport. Which was not a pleasant experience, between the ridiculous airport security and complete lack of eating establishments. At least there was a Dunkin Donuts AND a McDonalds in the Lima Airport. But I did buy the best watch ever in Miami. It's still ticking.

What we all came to see...

One good thing is that I get to watch a lot of sunsets these days, which is always something I enjoy about the summer time. And since I get off work at 7 usually, its pretty easy to grab el pooch and head on down to the river so I can relax and the dog can get some excercise and excitement at the same time.

There is usually a fair sized crowd when it's nice out, and a fair mix of hipsters and regular people in the neighborhood perch on the rocks and wait for the sun to go down.

Bear

Clouds and Sun 2

Clouds and Sun

Space

Sometimes the internet is still amazing. The live feed from the Space Station is better than the daily NASA briefings. Lots of examples of real life math or physics problems in those. You Engineers out there might like that! But anyway. It's a very strange and beautiful thing to see live feed from space, and see the shapes of continents and countries float by. I think you can get this on the NASA channel. If you get the NASA channel. I got the link from Thom Yorke, on the Radiohead blog.

The picture is from Hubble.

UnDark

To lighten things up a bit. Since my pictures are dark. (I usually take pictures when I walk the dog. And that's usually at sunset or just after!) Here is a picture of my dog sleeping on her back. And looking silly. It took her maybe a year to feel comfortable enough to sleep on her back while people were around. Now its a fairly regular occurence. Which is good for me, because it always makes me giggle to see a dog sleeping upside down.

These Days I'm Retired

Doodles

Sunset and Shelby

Stormy

Ode to My Ma

It's been my birthday meal on numerous occasions, and I've been getting pretty good at cooking fried chicken. I know it's not the healthiest thing to eat, but I only cook it like once every 2 months or so. But I'm getting pretty good. This batch turned out crispy and delicious. Now if I could nail down the gravy.

To Look At

Money From Air

So the other day I spent most of the day in Queens helping my good friend N. take boxes to the post office, and keep him company while he packed up the rest of his apt. since he's off to the beautiful city of San Francisco. I was outside the post office standing guard while the boxes were being into an ever growing pile on the sidewalk. (79 TOTAL!!! - although some of them were kinda small - the size of the CD boxes we used to keep the Now Playing stock under the counter at Red Cat.)

As I was waiting there this old guy walked by, paused for a second to look over the pile of boxes and then as he caught my eye, to be polite, I smiled and asked how he was doing. He smiled, and asked me what all the boxes were for. I told him that we (N. and I) were moving to San Francisco, which was a small lie, but seemed faster than explaining that N. was moving to San Francisco to live with his girl, and they were taking turns finishing school.

He asked why we were moving, with the "Why the Hell Would Anyone Leave?" attitude that most lifelong New Yorkers have, and told me that it was dangerous and I should watch out for earthquakes. He then told me he was from Czechoslovakia and that when he was young, and in the Armed Forces he had been stationed in Pasadena for awhile, but couldn't find a way to make a living out there after his tour was done. After a couple of years of scraping by, he moved to Queens and somehow got involved in the music publishing business, without actually knowing a single thing about it. He soon opened up his own business and the ASCAP money started rolling in. At some point he started making Muzak of pop music and then selling it to companies in Czechoslovakia , and Hungary, and a lot of other countries that were under the communist regime. Apparently he made good money. But it gets better.

Again he told me I shouldn't leave - because things only happen like that in New York City, and in New York "You can get money from the air" and told me another story of how sitting down to breakfast with a friend he regularly did business with, and ended up meeting and shaking hands a bigwig from Sesame Street. As they were talking, they started wondering if there was a market in Czech. for Sesame Street, but at the time Czechoslovakia was still a Communist country, and of course, wasn't open to showing very young children American TV.

My new friend waited patiently, and after the regime fell he picked up the phone again, and through various connections ended up successfully bringing Sesame Street to many of the formely Communist countries all because he happened to sit down to breakfast with friend, and happened to meet Mr. Sesame Street. All he claims he had to do was sign papers and it was a huge hit. I guess thats what bringing Western Television to newly democratic countries is good business, since he now owns 3 different properties in Queens, one in Manhattan, and an estate in upstate New York, which I guess is pretty good for making money from air.

So I know it's a long story, but it does seem like these kinds of things happen easier in this city. I guess it's easier to meet the people with power, or money, or that are in a position to help you out, especially if they also have something to gain from the situation. I don't know. I just keep in mind that it is possible to make money from air in this city. Because right now, that's all I'm trying to do.

Sunset

Now that the days are longer again, there will probably be less pictures of stuff at night. Maybe. It will still be light by the time I walk the dog, which is usually when I see, or bother to stop and take a picture of what is around me.

This is down by the East River, looking towards the Williamsburg Bridge, so you can see downtown Brooklyn underneath. If you look close, you can see the Manhattan Bridge. The best part about walking down to the river during sunset, is that it's one of the few times that the water looks blue instead of green or brown. I'll take the good camera, instead of my phone down there next time, and maybe I'll be able to get it.

Buildings

I haven't been able to log on to blogger for about a week and a half. I don't know what the problem was, but it is working a little better tonight. Maybe I was missing a Safari update or something. I finally posted this picture the first time through Flikr, but by that point I was annoyed and didn't feel like writing.

But anyway. Hi! I'm still alive.

Warmer

Today was the first actual warm day of spring. Or at least one of them. I believe it got up into the 70's today (or it was supposed to) All of the New Yorkers were (and are still) out in their New York glory. But as Bungalow Bill might point out...I didn't get a picture of a single one of them. I spent the afternoon wandering around Manhattan (after walking in over the Williamsburg bridge) but didn't remember to get the camera out until it was almost dark. As usual. Maybe one of these days I'll take a picture during the day. Of a person. Not a building under construction. In the meantime however...here you go!

Notice the blossoms on the first picture - SPRING!!!

At Night

Outside

I meant to post this picture a while ago. I think I took it back in January. It's about that time of night again to walk the dog, and I'm really dreading going outside. My options are, wear a ridiculous amount of clothing and be warm or wear a normal amount and be cold when the wind blows too hard.

I know I'm picking option number 1, but it sure would be nice to be able to walk the dog without Long Underwear, Long Socks, Jeans, A T-Shirt, A Sweatshirt, and depending on my mood, my Orange Coat, or maybe my Long Black Coat. Also, don't forget the Hat, Gloves, and possibly a Scarf. Man. Summer seems good right now!

Not Special

So I was sitting here trying to figure out what exactly Morsa means by not special. A pile of wood put out for the trash is not special. I don't think this picture is spooky like the last ones, so maybe that's it.

Wood + Not Spooky = Not Special?

Anyway.

I typed in wood grain into good ol' trusty Google to see what I could find. This time around I found a website that is throwback to the days of the internet when everything was basic HTML, and stuff was for free. Also, there are lots of wood grain textures if you ever need them.

Ahhh, the good old days. Remember when the internet seemed kind of pointless in a good way?

Wintertime Tree

Shadows

Sad and Evil

A Cancer Drug's Big Price Rise Disturbs Doctors and Patients

I fixed the link by the way...

Where Winston Smith Worked

They say that history belongs to those who write it.

Ghost

Breakfast

a.) a package of mushrooms (partially eaten)
b.) a package of sliced ham (open, slices eaten)
c.) soft drinks, unopened (diet mountain dew, propel fitness water, pepsi)

So I came across this scene one morning at about 10:00 am. I can't decide if it was someone's extremely strange half-eaten breakfast, or someone's groceries - which doesn't explain why the mushrooms and ham were eaten. I mean, I don't think a dog, or a rat would neatly open the packaging, and I can't imagine a dog who would eat mushrooms anyway, so I doubt it's someone's dropped groceries.

Maybe it was the end of a wild party?

27 degrees, feels like 16

It got VERY cold last night and this morning. When I walked the dog last night the weather channel told me it was 17 degrees, feels like -1. (I like how they say that - feels like - wind chill factor must sound too "sciencey"). It wasn't too bad in the sun though, and when the wind wasn't blowing. hehe.

Snow.

More. It's certainly turned into a mess now though.

Suprise

That's better. I agree with Pa. I like it better upright! It's amazing this picture came out this well, considering it was taken with my phone, during a snowstorm, with a bouncy dog, but mostly because I couldn't tell AT ALL if the lens of the camera was pointed at me and I only took one picture. So it's amazing. I really like the snow in Shelby's whiskers. That's how you can tell we had been outside for awhile.

My pants got wet and then they froze. Good thing I was well layered!

Snow. You can't really tell how high the snow was. Regularly, it was at my knees. We walked through some drifts that were up to my thigh. It was pretty.

Color

It's fun to play with the light and take pictures of the same thing. There is no flash or shutter time option so it's basically all about figuring out which angles have the least amount of streetlights. It changes the color a lot.

Sharper

This one is one of the more in focus ones. I don't know which I like better for sure.