I managed to remain cold free the entire winter so it makes sense that as soon as the weather started turning nice, I would catch a cold. A week ago Sunday night, I developed a tickle in my throat and the rest is history. I was congested all last week.
This week the congestion is coming and going but now I'm coughing. For me, coughing signals a cold on its way out. So hopefully, I won't have this cold too much longer.
Today is a congested day.
April 29, 2009
April 18, 2009
Moderated Comments
Has anyone else been getting excessively spammed in their comment section?
I was. So now, I'm using Blogger's Comment Moderation function.
I apologize for this because I know it kills the spontaneity of leaving comments but I was getting really tired of the spam.
I was. So now, I'm using Blogger's Comment Moderation function.
I apologize for this because I know it kills the spontaneity of leaving comments but I was getting really tired of the spam.
April 15, 2009
West Side Story
This week I'm working at West Side Story. Last night was my first night there.
It's very good.
The Spanish speaking characters speak Spanish to each other. This is difficult to understand but makes perfect sense, that when alone, people who speak Spanish would not speak English with an accent but acutally converse in their native tongue.
Karen Olivo plays Anita. I am a big fan of hers. She dances great. She has a great sense of humor. And she's really good at combining acting with singing. She's the whole package and she's a lot of fun to watch. She originated the role of Vanessa in "In the Heights" where I first saw her.
Last night's show featured the understudies in the leading roles but if I hadn't known that I wouldn't have been disappointed. But I am looking forward to seeing the regular leads.
The dancing is spectacular. The sets are minimal. The performances are consistently great. The music is tremendous and the orchestrations are emotionally charged.
My only point of reference is a performance of West Side Story at Hofstra University, that I saw many, many years ago, by the Grey Wig theater group. As enjoyable as that was, it was not a Broadway production. It wouldn't be fair to compare.
If you were to ask me if this production was worth the full ticket price, I would have to advise you that West Side Story is definitely worth it.
Note: My favorite number in West Side Story is the "A Boy Like That" duet with Anita and Maria. Last night, I cried because it was so moving. The actresses were that good.
It's very good.
The Spanish speaking characters speak Spanish to each other. This is difficult to understand but makes perfect sense, that when alone, people who speak Spanish would not speak English with an accent but acutally converse in their native tongue.
Karen Olivo plays Anita. I am a big fan of hers. She dances great. She has a great sense of humor. And she's really good at combining acting with singing. She's the whole package and she's a lot of fun to watch. She originated the role of Vanessa in "In the Heights" where I first saw her.
Last night's show featured the understudies in the leading roles but if I hadn't known that I wouldn't have been disappointed. But I am looking forward to seeing the regular leads.
The dancing is spectacular. The sets are minimal. The performances are consistently great. The music is tremendous and the orchestrations are emotionally charged.
My only point of reference is a performance of West Side Story at Hofstra University, that I saw many, many years ago, by the Grey Wig theater group. As enjoyable as that was, it was not a Broadway production. It wouldn't be fair to compare.
If you were to ask me if this production was worth the full ticket price, I would have to advise you that West Side Story is definitely worth it.
Note: My favorite number in West Side Story is the "A Boy Like That" duet with Anita and Maria. Last night, I cried because it was so moving. The actresses were that good.
April 14, 2009
Home At Last
It's nice to finally feel at home in my home.
It's so quiet in here right now. All I hear is the hum of my computer's harddrive, reminding me that I should probably blow some air in there to make sure the fans don't get clogged up.
Normally, this time of day in our last apartment, the children's grandmother from upstairs would be returning with her charges in a flurry of noisy activity. Today, at the same time, I heard the guy upstairs walk on a squeaky floor board. The floor board squeaked once. Maybe, I heard him talking on his phone but that was so faint, I can't even be sure the noise came from him. Maybe it was television.
I've been sleeping later and later every day - except for Sunday to Monday. In the wee hours of Monday, I woke up and had to lull myself back to sleep on the couch with the help of the distracting television. The brief attack of insomnia could have been brought on by the impending interview I had later in the morning - or it could have just been a random attack as happens when you have problems with sleep.
The interview went so well that I came across as overqualified for the position. No need spending the energy on describing to you this job which I wasn't sure about anyway because I'm not getting it.
Besides, tomorrow I have a second interview for a job I'm seriously considering. It's a phone interview. I have to call in at 2pm. It makes sense, since most of the job will be spent talking on the phone.
It's so quiet in here right now. All I hear is the hum of my computer's harddrive, reminding me that I should probably blow some air in there to make sure the fans don't get clogged up.
Normally, this time of day in our last apartment, the children's grandmother from upstairs would be returning with her charges in a flurry of noisy activity. Today, at the same time, I heard the guy upstairs walk on a squeaky floor board. The floor board squeaked once. Maybe, I heard him talking on his phone but that was so faint, I can't even be sure the noise came from him. Maybe it was television.
I've been sleeping later and later every day - except for Sunday to Monday. In the wee hours of Monday, I woke up and had to lull myself back to sleep on the couch with the help of the distracting television. The brief attack of insomnia could have been brought on by the impending interview I had later in the morning - or it could have just been a random attack as happens when you have problems with sleep.
The interview went so well that I came across as overqualified for the position. No need spending the energy on describing to you this job which I wasn't sure about anyway because I'm not getting it.
Besides, tomorrow I have a second interview for a job I'm seriously considering. It's a phone interview. I have to call in at 2pm. It makes sense, since most of the job will be spent talking on the phone.
April 11, 2009
Weekending - April 10, 2009
This was a somewhat busy week.
Monday night, as I mentioned before, Jon hosted a trivia game. I played on a team with my friend Kory and his girlfriend. We came in third place out of four teams. Not my best showing at trivia, but then again my most knowlegeable teammate was hosting the game and couldn't play with me.
The rest of the week:
Tuesday, I ran errands in Astoria, using the bus system which takes a lot of time but does get you where you need to go. One of those errands was finding a hand rake so I could do some gardening in the front yard. At this point, gardening involved cleaning up leaf litter. Tuesday I spent an hour gathering my third bag. The front yard is starting to look better but still needs a lot of cleanup.
Wednesday I dedicated to Passover at my parents' house in Long Beach. I got there early in the day so I could help my mother and we worked together to create a successful Seder. For me, the preparation is the best part - especially when you have somebody with you.
Thursday, my mother dedicated to helping Jon and me with our window treatments. This involved a lot of driving around. My mom and I went to Home Depot, spent some time getting blinds for our windows. She and I hung the blinds, then we hung a curtain, then we went to Staples so I could print out multiple copies of my resume for Friday's interview. She was with me the whole day. She's a good mom.
Friday, I dedicated to my job interview. Even though it was at 11:30, I left the whole day open for it because you never know if you're going to get that second interview on the same day. But it wasn't necessary because the interview went quickly. And I still got the second interview. Yay! That is scheduled for this coming Wednesday. After the interview, I came home just in time for Time Warner Cable's 5th visit to our house. Jon and the technician finally found a solution for frequent and annoying internet outages. Last night, I was incredibly bored which coincided with being incredibly tired so. It worked out.
Today, I've already done laundry. I woke up at 7 to do it and wouldn't you know it? By 7:30 the laundry was already crowded. Amazing since it opens at 7.
And now I've blogged.
Next on the list is ironing, Facebook and a shift of work tonight.
Monday night, as I mentioned before, Jon hosted a trivia game. I played on a team with my friend Kory and his girlfriend. We came in third place out of four teams. Not my best showing at trivia, but then again my most knowlegeable teammate was hosting the game and couldn't play with me.
The rest of the week:
Tuesday, I ran errands in Astoria, using the bus system which takes a lot of time but does get you where you need to go. One of those errands was finding a hand rake so I could do some gardening in the front yard. At this point, gardening involved cleaning up leaf litter. Tuesday I spent an hour gathering my third bag. The front yard is starting to look better but still needs a lot of cleanup.
Wednesday I dedicated to Passover at my parents' house in Long Beach. I got there early in the day so I could help my mother and we worked together to create a successful Seder. For me, the preparation is the best part - especially when you have somebody with you.
Thursday, my mother dedicated to helping Jon and me with our window treatments. This involved a lot of driving around. My mom and I went to Home Depot, spent some time getting blinds for our windows. She and I hung the blinds, then we hung a curtain, then we went to Staples so I could print out multiple copies of my resume for Friday's interview. She was with me the whole day. She's a good mom.
Friday, I dedicated to my job interview. Even though it was at 11:30, I left the whole day open for it because you never know if you're going to get that second interview on the same day. But it wasn't necessary because the interview went quickly. And I still got the second interview. Yay! That is scheduled for this coming Wednesday. After the interview, I came home just in time for Time Warner Cable's 5th visit to our house. Jon and the technician finally found a solution for frequent and annoying internet outages. Last night, I was incredibly bored which coincided with being incredibly tired so. It worked out.
Today, I've already done laundry. I woke up at 7 to do it and wouldn't you know it? By 7:30 the laundry was already crowded. Amazing since it opens at 7.
And now I've blogged.
Next on the list is ironing, Facebook and a shift of work tonight.
April 07, 2009
Shades of Green - Monday Night Trivia
Jon led one of 5 rounds at Shades of Green's Monday night trivia. Tony Hightower led the other four.
Both men did a great job.
My team came in third place. Our team name was "Birthday of a Nation" because one of our team members was celebrating his birthday.
Fun was had by all.
Both men did a great job.
My team came in third place. Our team name was "Birthday of a Nation" because one of our team members was celebrating his birthday.
Fun was had by all.
April 05, 2009
Creativity Returns
Moving out of our old apartment has improved my spirits. Improved spirits means writing on a regular basis can resume!! Depression can be so pervasive. I was depressed living in that old apartment. And when I am depressed I cease participating in activities that I find enjoyable. I should have known I was that depressed but I didn't until now. I just didn't feel like writing because all I could think of writing about was how unhappy I was. Of course, now I seem to be devoting hundreds of words, blogpost after blogpost, to my previous sadness.
But it's therapeutic.
And I might write a few more posts about it.
And I might write a few preachy posts about taking responsibility for your happiness, because Jon and I did that when we moved.
If you are unhappy in a situation - truly, deeply unhappy - to the point where it is effecting your life in a negative way, you are responsible to get yourself out of it or to change things. It's hard but that's what it means to take care of yourself, to work on yourself.
But it's therapeutic.
And I might write a few more posts about it.
And I might write a few preachy posts about taking responsibility for your happiness, because Jon and I did that when we moved.
If you are unhappy in a situation - truly, deeply unhappy - to the point where it is effecting your life in a negative way, you are responsible to get yourself out of it or to change things. It's hard but that's what it means to take care of yourself, to work on yourself.
April 04, 2009
Shades of Green - Monday Night Trivia
Our friend Tony started a new pub quiz at Shades of Green in New York City. It's on 15th Street and Irving Place.
Jon is hosting with Tony and it should be good. Although I know Jon's category, he's not telling me what he's doing so I'm completely in the dark. Meaning, I can play on your team but you won't have an advantage. It's not cheating. Or if I play on your team, I could sit out Jon's round.
Anyway, just go and have some fun.
Shades of Green - 9 p.m.
Jon is hosting with Tony and it should be good. Although I know Jon's category, he's not telling me what he's doing so I'm completely in the dark. Meaning, I can play on your team but you won't have an advantage. It's not cheating. Or if I play on your team, I could sit out Jon's round.
Anyway, just go and have some fun.
Shades of Green - 9 p.m.
There's No Place Like Home
I'm finally starting to feel comfortable in our new place. The old apartment is becoming a distant memory. Sleeping late is not coming naturally yet. I'm still on the schedule kept by the children of our previous upstairs neighbours. I wake up one minute before they do, expecting to hear the two year old falling down and crying or the four year old running and then jumping into his parents' bed. I'm conditioned in the same way I used to be when the alarm clock woke me every morning for my office job. One minute before the alarm clock would go off, I would wake up expecting it to ring.
There's nothing to wake me now except the expectation of something that is no longer going to happen, so hopefully, I'll make the appropriate adjustments and learn to sleep late once again.
With that said, I feel more relaxed than I have since before we moved into the "nightmare apartment". We only lived there 10 months but they were 10 long months, the last five of which were particularly hard.
Every day at 1 p.m., our downstairs neighbour would come home and start shouting at his wife or into his cell phone. Every morning, I could hear the two of them starting there day off on the wrong foot, always angry words and doors slamming. And when they had company, it used to sound like they were visiting in our living room, they were so loud. They also had an obnoxious habit of watching the same homemade video at the same time every day, loud enough that I could hear their recorded family members talking in a language that sounded like Greek. And they hated us. They were always banging on their ceiling because we walked too loudly. I'm still walking toe-heel, toe-heel to keep my footsteps quiet.
Every night, our first next door neighbour would have people over to watch her very sophisticated HD television with those speakers that can be placed anywhere but hers were placed against our shared wall. When her and her friends cranked that thing up, it sounded like they were watching TV in our apartment. And I would complain like the nerd that I am. But hey, we weren't living in a college dorm. It was an apartment building with rules about not make loud noises after 11 p.m. She ended up moving back to Chicago because she lost her job. She also ended up being the least of our problems in the end. She ended up spending a lot of time at her boyfriend's house. The noises that used to eminate from her place, disappeared.
Every day, our other next door neighbour would smoke copious amounts of pot - enough to stink up the entrance way to our apartment. Because of the stink, every night at 1 a.m., he would turn on his air conditioner which made sleeping in our former bedroom like sitting on the wing of an airplane. It woke me up every time it came on. I don't think I've had a decent night's sleep in months and months and months.
Now I'm sleeping deeply. I just have to work on sleeping past 7 a.m.
There's nothing to wake me now except the expectation of something that is no longer going to happen, so hopefully, I'll make the appropriate adjustments and learn to sleep late once again.
With that said, I feel more relaxed than I have since before we moved into the "nightmare apartment". We only lived there 10 months but they were 10 long months, the last five of which were particularly hard.
Every day at 1 p.m., our downstairs neighbour would come home and start shouting at his wife or into his cell phone. Every morning, I could hear the two of them starting there day off on the wrong foot, always angry words and doors slamming. And when they had company, it used to sound like they were visiting in our living room, they were so loud. They also had an obnoxious habit of watching the same homemade video at the same time every day, loud enough that I could hear their recorded family members talking in a language that sounded like Greek. And they hated us. They were always banging on their ceiling because we walked too loudly. I'm still walking toe-heel, toe-heel to keep my footsteps quiet.
Every night, our first next door neighbour would have people over to watch her very sophisticated HD television with those speakers that can be placed anywhere but hers were placed against our shared wall. When her and her friends cranked that thing up, it sounded like they were watching TV in our apartment. And I would complain like the nerd that I am. But hey, we weren't living in a college dorm. It was an apartment building with rules about not make loud noises after 11 p.m. She ended up moving back to Chicago because she lost her job. She also ended up being the least of our problems in the end. She ended up spending a lot of time at her boyfriend's house. The noises that used to eminate from her place, disappeared.
Every day, our other next door neighbour would smoke copious amounts of pot - enough to stink up the entrance way to our apartment. Because of the stink, every night at 1 a.m., he would turn on his air conditioner which made sleeping in our former bedroom like sitting on the wing of an airplane. It woke me up every time it came on. I don't think I've had a decent night's sleep in months and months and months.
Now I'm sleeping deeply. I just have to work on sleeping past 7 a.m.
April 03, 2009
It's So Quiet In Here
It's so freakin' quiet in here. It's wonderfully quiet, like a hotel. You know how hotel rooms are really, really quiet? Well it's quiet like that. I'm having trouble getting used to it.
April 02, 2009
We Have Moved
On Monday, the move went smoothly the most part. With the blessed help of two friends, we were able to return the moving van by 3. The most stressful part of the move was moving the couch.
The mover's friend with the truck did not show up on Monday which was very scary. But the mover assured us that the couch would be moved the next day. When we double checked with him on the phone on Monday night, he did not sound 100% confident that his friend with the truck was reliable. So on Tuesday morning, as soon as the internet was enabled, I found four movers who could perform the task should we need it.
But it turned out not to be necessary.
We thought it had to be carried up and down 10 flights of steps and across the roof of our former building. Our movers managed to get the couch into the elevator. At first, I thought that we were overpaying because the move ended up being easier. But then the movers got to our new place. And guess what. The couch didn't fit through the front door.
The mover took our window apart and that is how our 85 inch long couch was transferred from the great outdoors to the cozy interiour of our new home.
It is now enjoying the same new quiet life we are.
The mover's friend with the truck did not show up on Monday which was very scary. But the mover assured us that the couch would be moved the next day. When we double checked with him on the phone on Monday night, he did not sound 100% confident that his friend with the truck was reliable. So on Tuesday morning, as soon as the internet was enabled, I found four movers who could perform the task should we need it.
But it turned out not to be necessary.
We thought it had to be carried up and down 10 flights of steps and across the roof of our former building. Our movers managed to get the couch into the elevator. At first, I thought that we were overpaying because the move ended up being easier. But then the movers got to our new place. And guess what. The couch didn't fit through the front door.
The mover took our window apart and that is how our 85 inch long couch was transferred from the great outdoors to the cozy interiour of our new home.
It is now enjoying the same new quiet life we are.
March 29, 2009
Moving Day Monday
Monday is moving day and I'm a nervous wreck.
I'm not sure why really.
All that is getting moved tomorrow is the furniture. Everything else is already at the new place.
My parents came by today and helped us move every little thing that isn't furniture.
It's all set. We have plenty of help. We hired someone to move our couch. The U-haul is rented.
The new place is an absolute disaster. I started setting up the kitchen tonight but started to get overwhelmed. Hopefully, I'll have mostly everything put away and organized by the end of the week.
I'm not sure why really.
All that is getting moved tomorrow is the furniture. Everything else is already at the new place.
My parents came by today and helped us move every little thing that isn't furniture.
It's all set. We have plenty of help. We hired someone to move our couch. The U-haul is rented.
The new place is an absolute disaster. I started setting up the kitchen tonight but started to get overwhelmed. Hopefully, I'll have mostly everything put away and organized by the end of the week.
Social Saturday
Jon and I took a break from our monotonous moving schedule and spent the day with family and friends.
In the morning, we went to a Bar-Mitzvah at an Orthodox temple, where the women sat two stories above the men. That was the first time I attended a service like this. Much to my annoyance there was no ladies room up there on the third floor where the ladies were sitting. Our synogogue was conservative when I was growing up. Everyone prayed together and the bathrooms were on the same level.
The Bar-Mitzvah boy read his portion well and gave a lovely speech. The affair afterwards was at the Regency hotel on Park Avenue. The food was scrumptious but the affair was chaotic and crowded with people talking everywhere and children running around. It was possibly the most hectic Bar-Mitzvah I've been to. But it was great fun. We saw a lot our family which is very important.
Then in the afternoon we celebrated with our good friend on the occasion of her birthday. This party was at another hotel - the Algonquin - on 44th St between 5th & 6th avenues. I had two fabulous martinis and participated in several amazing conversations. It felt like a real good old-fashioned New York literary party. I remember attending one of those in the early 90's. What I mean by this is that most of the guests were writers and the discussions were superbly intelligent and challenging and friendly and all those other good things that make getting to know people interesting.
I was pretty wiped out when we got home last night. And it was absolutely fabulous not to think about moving once the whole day.
My parents are coming today. They have a car and I'm hoping that in three trips we'll be able to move our remaining boxes and our clothing. Maybe even our computers.
Tomorrow, ideally, Jon and his friends will only be moving our furniture.
In the morning, we went to a Bar-Mitzvah at an Orthodox temple, where the women sat two stories above the men. That was the first time I attended a service like this. Much to my annoyance there was no ladies room up there on the third floor where the ladies were sitting. Our synogogue was conservative when I was growing up. Everyone prayed together and the bathrooms were on the same level.
The Bar-Mitzvah boy read his portion well and gave a lovely speech. The affair afterwards was at the Regency hotel on Park Avenue. The food was scrumptious but the affair was chaotic and crowded with people talking everywhere and children running around. It was possibly the most hectic Bar-Mitzvah I've been to. But it was great fun. We saw a lot our family which is very important.
Then in the afternoon we celebrated with our good friend on the occasion of her birthday. This party was at another hotel - the Algonquin - on 44th St between 5th & 6th avenues. I had two fabulous martinis and participated in several amazing conversations. It felt like a real good old-fashioned New York literary party. I remember attending one of those in the early 90's. What I mean by this is that most of the guests were writers and the discussions were superbly intelligent and challenging and friendly and all those other good things that make getting to know people interesting.
I was pretty wiped out when we got home last night. And it was absolutely fabulous not to think about moving once the whole day.
My parents are coming today. They have a car and I'm hoping that in three trips we'll be able to move our remaining boxes and our clothing. Maybe even our computers.
Tomorrow, ideally, Jon and his friends will only be moving our furniture.
March 28, 2009
Progress Apartment
Just about everything we own is packed into boxes. And a lot of what we own has already been moved over to the new place.
Before Jon and I rode our bikes over there yesterday, I thought we were walking half a mile, maybe 3/4 of a mile with our shopping carts to get there. But according to the reading on Jon's mile-o-meter, it is a fraction more than a mile.
Which explains why these little walks have been wearing me out. I thought I was walking 1 mile total round trip. Turns out every back and forth excursion is over two miles. That is why I decided yesterday, after my third trip, to just pack up what we had left and leave the moving for Sunday and Monday.
Today, Jon and I won't get much moving done. We received a rare invitation to a family event which we didn't want to turn down.
But tomorrow, my parents are coming - with a car. We plan to move the rest of our boxes and hopefully most to all of our clothing.
Imagine that. A car. We really should get one of those.
Monday we have an actual moving truck. We don't think moving our furniture will take that long.
You might think it's crazy that we've been making these trips all week. But I've moved enough in my life to know that any steps you can take to minimize your stress on "moving day" should be taken by the people who wish to have a quick move.
I have a headache.
Before Jon and I rode our bikes over there yesterday, I thought we were walking half a mile, maybe 3/4 of a mile with our shopping carts to get there. But according to the reading on Jon's mile-o-meter, it is a fraction more than a mile.
Which explains why these little walks have been wearing me out. I thought I was walking 1 mile total round trip. Turns out every back and forth excursion is over two miles. That is why I decided yesterday, after my third trip, to just pack up what we had left and leave the moving for Sunday and Monday.
Today, Jon and I won't get much moving done. We received a rare invitation to a family event which we didn't want to turn down.
But tomorrow, my parents are coming - with a car. We plan to move the rest of our boxes and hopefully most to all of our clothing.
Imagine that. A car. We really should get one of those.
Monday we have an actual moving truck. We don't think moving our furniture will take that long.
You might think it's crazy that we've been making these trips all week. But I've moved enough in my life to know that any steps you can take to minimize your stress on "moving day" should be taken by the people who wish to have a quick move.
I have a headache.
A Suprising Number of Hits
I haven't been paying much attention to this blog, as you know. I hardly ever check the stats anymore. But last night, out of boredom, I decided to check how many readers have been coming here lately.
Yesterday, I had nearly 1,000 hits - all interested in a post from 2005 about Willie Aames. In June or July of 2005 I wrote about hearing his name mentioned in conjuction with Celebrity Fit Club and I posted a picture of him dressed like Tarzan.
He's in the news lately because he's fallen on hard times.
I'm sure whoever is finding me in their Google searches is greatly disappointed by the 5 or 6 lines I wrote that day.
Anyway, I thought you'd like to know that.
Yesterday, I had nearly 1,000 hits - all interested in a post from 2005 about Willie Aames. In June or July of 2005 I wrote about hearing his name mentioned in conjuction with Celebrity Fit Club and I posted a picture of him dressed like Tarzan.
He's in the news lately because he's fallen on hard times.
I'm sure whoever is finding me in their Google searches is greatly disappointed by the 5 or 6 lines I wrote that day.
Anyway, I thought you'd like to know that.
March 23, 2009
Monday
Good Monday to you all!!
I write this post as two little children run around upstairs creating the noises equivalent to that of two baby elephants.
I spoke with our new landlord. She is really, really nice. I had to ask her to move out a couple of items from the apartment.
Jon went back and forth all day yesterday bringing our stuff over but I haven't gotten up the motivation yet. But I did do our laundry which was really piling up.
My goal today is to clean the floors and measure the windows. I also have to figure out how we're going to get all our stuff into our smaller but much, much quieter apartment.
I write this post as two little children run around upstairs creating the noises equivalent to that of two baby elephants.
I spoke with our new landlord. She is really, really nice. I had to ask her to move out a couple of items from the apartment.
Jon went back and forth all day yesterday bringing our stuff over but I haven't gotten up the motivation yet. But I did do our laundry which was really piling up.
My goal today is to clean the floors and measure the windows. I also have to figure out how we're going to get all our stuff into our smaller but much, much quieter apartment.
March 21, 2009
Saturday in the City
It's a long Saturday. That means I'm working two shifts at Blithe Spirit. HooorrraayyyY!!! But it's still a long, long day.
Our day got off to an early start when we went to pick up the lease for our new place. Jon and I tried out the new keys, took a look around and then swiftly walked back to our current apartment so we could go to work.
It's hard to believe that we are moving again, only 10 months after our last move. We really hope it will be for the best. We worked really hard to find this place.
We looked at a lot of apartments that we found on Craig's List. At first, we looked at as many apartments as we could listed under NO BROKER's FEE. We found decent apartments but none of them were quite right. If Jon and I were two friends looking for an apartment to share than any of the places we found under NO BROKER would have been find. But they weren't good enough for grown up married people of advancing years.
Once we decided to go with a broker, a whole new world opened up to us. We started seeing better quality apartments. We found a great broker and we decided on the one we'll be moving into slowly, starting tomorrow.
I took care of the utilities - we are keeping the same phone number. I still have to fill out my change of address info for the post office. We hired someone to move our incredibly large and impossible couch. And we have several friends helping us with the big move a week from Monday.
I wish I could fast forward to the part where we've been living there comfortably for a few months already. But that is the light at the end of the tunnel, isn't it. It's getting through the tunnel that's tough. Right?
Our day got off to an early start when we went to pick up the lease for our new place. Jon and I tried out the new keys, took a look around and then swiftly walked back to our current apartment so we could go to work.
It's hard to believe that we are moving again, only 10 months after our last move. We really hope it will be for the best. We worked really hard to find this place.
We looked at a lot of apartments that we found on Craig's List. At first, we looked at as many apartments as we could listed under NO BROKER's FEE. We found decent apartments but none of them were quite right. If Jon and I were two friends looking for an apartment to share than any of the places we found under NO BROKER would have been find. But they weren't good enough for grown up married people of advancing years.
Once we decided to go with a broker, a whole new world opened up to us. We started seeing better quality apartments. We found a great broker and we decided on the one we'll be moving into slowly, starting tomorrow.
I took care of the utilities - we are keeping the same phone number. I still have to fill out my change of address info for the post office. We hired someone to move our incredibly large and impossible couch. And we have several friends helping us with the big move a week from Monday.
I wish I could fast forward to the part where we've been living there comfortably for a few months already. But that is the light at the end of the tunnel, isn't it. It's getting through the tunnel that's tough. Right?
March 18, 2009
Blithe Spirit
Work is picking up for me. This week I'm working 8 shifts at the Shubert Theater and I'm delighted that Blithe Spirit is playing - a positively delightful Noel Coward play. It stars Christine Ebersole and Angela Lansbury.
I've been looking forward to this show since I heard that Lansbury and Ebersole were going to be doing a show together.
Angela Lansbury is really great to watch on stage. She's amazing. It's hard to believe she's in her 80's. And Christine Ebersole is just delightful.
Well. Everybody in the play is great, to tell you the truth but I'm particularly fond of those two actresses.
Go see it.
I've been looking forward to this show since I heard that Lansbury and Ebersole were going to be doing a show together.
Angela Lansbury is really great to watch on stage. She's amazing. It's hard to believe she's in her 80's. And Christine Ebersole is just delightful.
Well. Everybody in the play is great, to tell you the truth but I'm particularly fond of those two actresses.
Go see it.
March 14, 2009
The Dollhouse
I've been watching the Dollhouse - the new show by Joss Whedon. It's good. It stars Eliza Dushku who plays a blank woman who gets a new personality on every show.
It kind of follows the same model as Quantum Leap or Sliders but Joss Whedon has put his mark on the genre.
There is a lot intrigue but already the writers are going to the same old TV show plotlines that other cop/adventure shows follow. For example the last show took place at a Branch Dividian type cult compound.
As much as I like the show, I don't think it's going to live past one season.
It kind of follows the same model as Quantum Leap or Sliders but Joss Whedon has put his mark on the genre.
There is a lot intrigue but already the writers are going to the same old TV show plotlines that other cop/adventure shows follow. For example the last show took place at a Branch Dividian type cult compound.
As much as I like the show, I don't think it's going to live past one season.
March 12, 2009
Blogging - What's That?
It's amazing how much I've lost interest in maintaining this blog. I was so good for so long, blogging every day for years but I've lost interest in it lately. A lot of that could be because I've been a little down about not finding more work and living in this apartment. We liked the apartment at first, but grew to dislike it because of the neighbors. And regarding work, I was hoping to find a something that paid a little better when I first started looking in September, but my job search coincided with the start of the Second Great Depression.
But we are turning things around. Jon and I found a new apartment that will give us more privacy for less money. It's a little further away from the subway, grocery store and laundromat, but I'm willing to make that compromise for peace of mind and a better quality of life.
The apartment is pretty nice. It's the main floor of a three family house. Everything is new with the exception of the floors - fridge, fixtures, etc. And it's near Astoria Park which brings us a little closer to nature.
The best part is we won't have to listen to our downstairs neighbour coughing up his lung every morning or yelling at his wife. We won't have to listen to the little boys upstairs (as cute and sweet as they are) falling down and crying and running and riding their bicycles (not kidding). We won't have to smell our neighbors whacky tabacky or here his air conditioner coming on at one in the morning even in the winter time (I hate when he does that. It always wakes me up).
I'm glad to get out of here. It's a shame too. Because the apartment could have been nice had it not been for the shoddy construction that allows everyone to hear what everybody else is doing.
Maybe a new environment will be more conducive to writing.
And if you haven't checked out my sock monsters in a while, do. I've added a whole bunch. Vexillia Sock Monsters
But we are turning things around. Jon and I found a new apartment that will give us more privacy for less money. It's a little further away from the subway, grocery store and laundromat, but I'm willing to make that compromise for peace of mind and a better quality of life.
The apartment is pretty nice. It's the main floor of a three family house. Everything is new with the exception of the floors - fridge, fixtures, etc. And it's near Astoria Park which brings us a little closer to nature.
The best part is we won't have to listen to our downstairs neighbour coughing up his lung every morning or yelling at his wife. We won't have to listen to the little boys upstairs (as cute and sweet as they are) falling down and crying and running and riding their bicycles (not kidding). We won't have to smell our neighbors whacky tabacky or here his air conditioner coming on at one in the morning even in the winter time (I hate when he does that. It always wakes me up).
I'm glad to get out of here. It's a shame too. Because the apartment could have been nice had it not been for the shoddy construction that allows everyone to hear what everybody else is doing.
Maybe a new environment will be more conducive to writing.
And if you haven't checked out my sock monsters in a while, do. I've added a whole bunch. Vexillia Sock Monsters
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