Tag Archives: Hope

Torn Between Two Cities ……

…… well, not really two cities. There’s no way I can ever be torn between NY and Houston.
Like, ever.

But at the moment I’m feeling torn between two homes.
Which I guess is a good way to feel?

I am absolutely in love with my new home in Houston.
Deliriously and happily.
So I just might be missing it a little.
Who’d’ve thunk?

I closed on it May 1st and then I never spent another night in the other house again. Which meant a lot of tossing and turning on a not-very-comfy-futon, but I didn’t care.

The other house is now empty, except for a few pieces of furniture that Daughter #2 will pick up when that house sells.
Please God, let it sell soon.

I flew to NY on Sunday. I had planned to fly up here on the 15th, because Daughter #2 is coming up here for a few days to visit and celebrate my birthday. But then I received an email, reminding me of the Drama Desk Awards on June 1st (the DD Awards are for all things Broadway and off and off off). You see, I had purchased a ticket to these awards, but in the craziness of moving, I had forgotten that small fact.

Now, in the scheme of most things, that small fact wasn’t that big of a deal. It’s not a huge show and the ticket wasn’t expensive. But when I remembered that I had a ticket to it, I also remembered that I had a ticket to the mother-of-them-all-Broadway-award-shows …… the Tonys.
Yes, THE Tonys!!!
How could I have forgotten that?!
Evidently pretty dang easily.

So I had to change my airline ticket, because while I had no problem passing the Drama Desk Awards ticket to Daughter #3 (which she graciously took and enjoyed) there was no way on God’s green earth that I was going to miss THE TONYS!!!!

So, I left Houston on Sunday morning, planning on getting in around 4:00, thus, getting to the apartment around 5:00 which would leave me plenty of time to get ready and get to the show before 6:30, because the doors close at 7:00 (even though the televised show doesn’t start till 8:00).
Are you still with me?

Son #3 took me to the airport, but only after what became an hysterical hunt (hysterical on my part) for my notebook/calendar/keeper of important things. I take this notebook with me everywhere I travel. And I usually take it anywhere important to keep appointments and documents in it until I can file them away. Yes, I use my phone to input appointments, but having been through a computer crash a couple of times, I will never fully trust technology with all things important.
Evidently I will never trust my brain with those, either.

After about 10 minutes of searching the house, with my bags already in the Son’s car, I was in full-freak mode.
That’s because the notebook held my Tony Awards ticket.
See?
Understandable now, isn’t it?

By that time both sons had joined the hunt, even though I know that they were thinking, if not discussing with each other, that the time to put me in a “home” was not far off.

Thankfully, I found the notebook underneath some mail, and then we were off to the airport.
Where, so it seemed, half of Houston had decided to spend the day.
And they had all joined me in trying to fly on United. AND, they were all also “preferred” flyers.
I have to tell you that, being a preferred flyer, is not what it used to be. In fact, when you get in line at security in Houston, United has a “quicker” line for its’ preferred customers. And most days, that line is far longer than the “regular joe” flyers line.

So we all waited, and waited, and waited some more to get a turn at one of those “self serve” screens (which really aren’t all that “self serve” when you have to wait on an employee to come ticket your bags and give you the receipts). There were far more flyers than there were employees.
But, I finally made it through and breezed through security. The plane started boarding within a couple of minutes of my arrival so I sailed through that part, too.
I should’ve known.

Once we all got on board, an announcement was made. For some reason that no one knew, our flight was going to be delayed by about, oh … about 20 minutes. It might be bad weather in NY, but no one really knew. All they knew is that it was coming from there and we were delayed.
Again, I should’ve known.

Because a twenty minute delay is never really a twenty minute delay. And instead of saying, “we’re going to be delayed for about an hour”, they just keep repeating “20 minutes” every twenty minutes, which is mostly aggravating.

So instead of arriving in NY at 4, I arrived after 5. But, I still figured that I could get to the apartment by 5:30 or so, and have enough time to change, put on makeup and walk to the theatre.
Which I would’ve been able to do, had it not been the day of the Puerto Rican parade.

I’m pretty sure there’s a parade every day in NY somewhere. And the majority of them are probably on the small-ish side and over with in less than an hour. And most people can smile and wave and think, “Oh, how nice …… a parade!”, and then go on with their business.
Not so with the Puerto Rican parade.

I have no idea why, but this parade is known to be one of THE most wild events of the year. And not “wild in a good way”, but “wild in a “don’t go outside at all while the parade is passing way”.
Yes, seriously.

So there I was, stuck in parade traffic with a driver who made double sure that the doors were locked. I never saw the parade, but I guess the traffic was still being effected.

So I arrived at the apartment sometime near 6:00.
Which means that I had to race to unpack my dress and makeup and then get into both so that I could get out of the door by 6:15.
I think I made it out by 6:20.
I wore little flat ballet-like shoes (which matched my dress) and carried my heels (which also matched my dress) in my purse. Which did NOT match my dress but was at least big enough to hold my heels.
I looked weird.
A woman speed walking through the streets of NY, holding up the hem of her formal dress so that everyone could see the dorky shoes she was wearing and wondering where the heck she was going.
Not really.
People in NY don’t look at anyone and wonder where they’re going.

I finally got within a couple of blocks and started fitting in with the men in tuxes and more women in formals. I stopped to change my shoes before I approached the doors to Radio City.
It was so cool because the other side of the street was barricaded at the curb and there was a throng of people (is that an actual word?) watching all of us and taking pictures as we were going in.
There’s going to be an awful lot of disappointed people with me in their pics.

I had a fabulous seat, the center of the 2nd mezz, on the isle. Clear shot of Hugh Jackman. Wow!
Now, this was not the closest I’d ever been to Hugh. I saw him twice on Broadway and was much closer, but just being in the same room with him is enough for me.
So cute.

The show was terrific, he did a wonderful job hosting, and everyone had a lot of fun.
I loved keeping my FB friends apprised of all things as they happened. It made me feel like I had 100 friends there, sitting with me.
I had seen almost every show that was nominated and was happy with the way it turned out.
And happy that I videoed every musical number as it was performed. I think this is probably the one time during the year when the ushers don’t swoop in and nab your phone for taking pictures. There were phones everywhere … all night.

Sunday was a very busy, sometimes stressful, day. But it was wonderful.
Except for the fact that I woke up that day thinking it was Father’s Day. And I didn’t have time to call any of the men in my life to tell them Happy Father’s Day, until I was walking/running to the Tonys. That’s when I called my Dad, who thankfully didn’t answer, and told him Happy Father’s Day on his voice mail.
Then I felt horrible when I arrived at the apartment close to midnight and remembered that I hadn’t called the other two dads. (Don’t ask.)
I just figured I’d call them the next day.
Imagine my surprise when they were still doing Father’s Day things on the Today Show. It then dawned upon me that I just might have been a wee bit off. I opened my calendar and saw that, indeed, I was a week off.
And felt like a moron.
And yes, my dad called me later. I didn’t say “hello”, I just picked up and said, “I know it wasn’t Father’s Day yesterday. I’m a moron.”

Or maybe someone with WAY too much going on.

I’ll try to do a picture post later.
Happy Thursday.
πŸ™‚

I Think I Died and Went to Hell ……

…… at least three times this morning during barre class.
I knew I was in trouble when I started breathing hard during the warm up.
Seriously.

The only thing that got me through it was the decision to get home and cancel my spot for tomorrow’s class.
Three days in a row was a pipe dream.

Or so I thought. I ended up not canceling that class, and now it’s too late (unless I don’t mind being charged an extra $20 in addition to the cost of the class). I knew that would happen. I knew that I’d feel certain about canceling it, but that if I waited a few hours, I’d talk myself into going.
And I did.
It’s kind of like punishing myself for not doing any exercise (other than packing and heaving heavy boxes) for the last month.
So I’ll die a few more deaths tomorrow.

And then hopefully catch you up to all things NY.
πŸ™‚

You Have GOT ……

…… to be kidding me!!
I mean, really?! Do people fall for this?!

It seems that I’m in big trouble.
Here’s the evidence …… I received this postcard-sized item in the mail today:
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See?! It appears that Ms. Hudson is very upset with me!! My goodness, I have no idea how I missed that first notice!
It feels like I’m back in elementary school and Ms. Hudson is the principal who has called me into her office. Do you think I should call her??!
Wait! I have a great idea …… why don’t all of YOU call her?!!
You can tell her that I’m very sorry for whatever I did and I’ll try very hard to never do it again.
But no, I’m not giving her my bank account number.
I’m anti-social that way.
Good grief.

So I made an appointment today with a new rheumatologist. I can’t get in as a new patient until the middle of July.
Ugh.
Which means I get to deal with swollen and very pain-filled fingers, hands, toes and feet for a while longer.
Mornings are absolutely fabulous around here.
I can’t grip anything and my feet hurt when I walk.
I feel like I’m about 89.
Which means that, damn, I look good for the age I feel!
πŸ™‚

This afternoon I decided to go jump in the pool to cool off after working around the house and in the garage.
This pool feels like my very own, largest EVER, private pool:
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Yep, it was just little ol’ me at the pool.
And it was very, very nice.
The water felt wonderful.
It wasn’t too cold.
It wasn’t too hot.
It was just right.
So I swam and I swam until the bears came back.
Wait …… that’s a totally different story.
Dang! Unfortunately my brain feels as old as my body feels.

So did anybody catch “America’s Got Talent” tonight?
Because oh. my. word. those pogo stick jumpers!
Not to mention the jump ropers!!
Now I can’t decide …… should I go ahead with the plans for the Ninja course in the back yard, or just concentrate on the pogo stick/jump rope?
Although, jumping after having 6 kids isn’t as fun as it used to be.
And that’s all I’m going to say about that.
You’re welcome.

OK, time to go take a pain pill. My hands and fingers are killing me after this much typing.
Pathetic, isn’t it?
Welcome to my life.
A little fun …… and a lot pathetic.

Don’t be jealous.
πŸ™‚

American Ninja ……

…… has me captivated. Truly. Β Inexplicably.
I’m not sure why.
But I’m contemplating putting a Ninja workout course in my back yard jungle. The Sons and I could practice together and become the first mother/sons trio ever to enter.
What?
Stop laughing. One guy was 56 years old!
Of course, he didn’t get very far, but hell, he got further than most of you could go!

Actually, I told Son #3 that I could probably do the first obstacle (the one where you jump from one pad to the other), and then I’d be done. Although, I think I could totally do that swing thing and jump to the rope obstacle, but there’s no way in Hades that I could even get one of those rings moved (or the posts moved, depending upon which state’s competition you’re watching. Which brings up a question … and an accusation: Why do the contestants not have to do the EXACT same course?? You can’t tell me that hanging on to that circle thing with your feet wedged into place, is just as hard as hanging on to that log-thing with no place for your feet to wedge into! I maintain that these competitions are unfair. And I’m sure that NBC really cares about my opinion.
But at least I’ve put it out there.)
Anyway … all that to say … I have NO upper body strength. Well, that’s not totally true. The barre classes have helped me gain some strength up there, although I may have lost it all now, since I haven’t been in a class for over 3 weeks. Sigh …… that’s a hell of a lot of work to waste.
There are no barre classes down here. Not less than a 45 minute drive anyway. I’m thinking about starting a franchise here in my community. Just so I can go.
How pathetic is that?

So …… where was I?
I digress so easily these days.
Oh yeah, American Ninja. In my back yard.
Yeah.
Let’s think about it: I’ve packed up my 5,000 square feet house (with some help from friends, but mostly me). I moved most of those boxes to the new house …… by myself (the movers moved most of the furniture and the really heavy boxes).
I unpacked most of those boxes and put things away …… by myself.
I re-unpacked everything when the painters finished. And hooked up our sound system. Then dug out our old CD player (that holds 200 CDs) and wired it in, too. And it all works. (I’m more amazed than anyone!)
I’ve trimmed the trees in the back yard.
I packed up all of the stuff that we didn’t sell in the moving sale and moved it all into one room of the house and into the garage. By myself.
I helped a guy load it onto a truck today, thus leaving the house almost totally empty.
And the garage.
And the attic.

I think I need a nap.

So yeah, I might be able to train for this Ninja show.
But now that I’ve typed all of that out, I don’t think I want to.
Wow, that was a quick turn around.
So much for American Ninja.
At least that saves me a lot of time and effort in putting one of those dang courses in the back yard.
I think I’ll fix a margarita instead and watch the wild life from the back porch.

So yes, the house is pretty much empty.
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The last time I saw it this empty was the day that Jim and I were deciding to put an offer on it.
Back in November of 1997.
But who’s counting?
Besides me.

So does all of this mean that I can qualify for American Ninja?
Hell, no.
It just means that I’m tough in other ways.
And I admire those who do qualify.
And I really admire that tiny little woman who made it over the “Warped Wall” …… the first woman to ever do so.
You go, tiny woman!!

For those of you (and I’m certain that it’s most of you) who have no earthly idea what I’ve been talking about …… NBC …… Monday nights. Watch it just once.
And you’ll be hooked.
Or go read a good book.
Whatever.

Tonight Son #3 kept his crown of the king of grilling …… at least in my book. He made ham steaks with a jalapeΓ±o sweet and sour marinade that was very, very good.
And, he suffered through the burning that he got on his hands and face from cutting up, and grilling, the jalapeΓ±os.
No kidding, I thought for a moment that I was going to have to take him to the ER. He ran upstairs and jumped into the shower while I Googled “what to do for jalapeΓ±o burns” — mustard, rubbing alcohol, yogurt, or fresh lime juice …… I wasn’t sure if this was going to help him, or get him ready to be put on the grill.)
Thankfully, the shower seemed to help.
The mustard didn’t do all that much.

But the ham steaks were wonderful.

In other news (I really should just try to write every day, rather than every few days because SO much goes on around here that it creates wickedly long posts. Sorry.)
World War III is going on in my back yard.
Granted, it’s only between two parties, but that’s all it takes to start a war, right?
It seems that we have a raccoon who thinks he can waddle around my property, taking whatever he wants.
Which is a bit better than our first thought: Son #3 put up humming bird feeders, filled with the red sugar solution they love. When I woke up the next morning, I noticed that one of the feeders was gone. So I went outside and noticed that it had been tossed down the hill. After it had been drained.
After it had been carefully un-hooked from the stand Son #3 had hung it on.
Our thoughts? Some big, fat bully of a hummingbird was terrorizing the other little birds and stole all of our bird juice.
And then we put more thought into it …… and decided that it was some big, fat pig of a raccoon, who had carefully unhooked it, guzzled it all down, burped, and tossed it down the hill, like a Chicago Bears fan going through a 6 pack. (I lived in Chicago and I have a tiny love of the Bears so I can write that. Ha!)

Well, I waited a few days and then put a bit of the red stuff into the feeder and re-hung it.
Then, that same evening, Son #2 was in the kitchen and there was a shattering noise outside. I, being the deaf and aging old woman that I am, thought the sound came from the TV (just shut up, ok?!). He looked around and said, “What the hell was that?!” I said, “What?”. He said, “There’s something out there.”, while pointing outside.
And in that instant, I knew. I may, or may have not, uttered a swear word as I vaulted over the furniture and ran outside.
And there, broken into a hundred shattered pieces (or maybe 20), was the very beautiful, glass bird bath that Son #3 had brought home.
Why that fat SOB wanted to take a bath is beyond me, but he has crossed me too many times.
So now there’s a trap outside where the bird bath used to be. With a can of cat food in it as a lure.
A lure that fat slob didn’t go for last night.
We may have to try something else.
Son #3 swears that a Reeses cup will do the deed.
All of you Houston-area Peeps ought to love that! It seems that even our raccoons here in KW are snobs! They won’t go for anything less than chocolate!
WTH?????
I guess I’ll go pick up some Reeses tomorrow.
I’ll keep you posted.

OK, that’s it.
For now.
But as you all know by now, there will be plenty to write about tomorrow or the next day.
Never a dull moment.
You’re welcome.
Happy Tuesday.
πŸ™‚

I Wonder ……

…… what the hell was I thinking??!
These last two days I’ve been packing up the house by myself.
Alone.
Solo.
A five bedroom, 5,000 square feet house.
This.
Is.
Insane.

The first two days I had the help of a few friends, for which I am very, very grateful.
Especially after doing it by myself.

Yesterday the packing became very emotional, so maybe it was a good thing that I was alone.
Although if I’d had someone to help, maybe they could’ve done the emotional stuff.
Like the refrigerator that had a multitude of magnets on it.
Magnets that we collected from every place we visited/vacationed.
And from every Broadway show we’d seen.

I didn’t really see that coming.
I was just working my way through the room, and then I was next to the fridge. So I grabbed a bag and started removing the magnets.
And about 30 seconds in, the wave hit.
And then another, and another, and another.
Sigh ……

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And then there was this:
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The wall that I measured the kids on every August.
Deeper sigh ……

I had a desk that had a glass top on it. Beneath the glass I had placed pictures. A whole lot of pictures, from many different years and stages. I loved having those pictures there.
I didn’t love having to gather them back up, although I did smile a lot at the memories.
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And then there were these two items that Sons #2 and #3 made me, back in their pre-school days. I hated to part with them, but I had to be realistic.
Sometimes realisms sucks.
Beyond belief.
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Now my study looks like this:
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Which is kind of how I feel right now …… empty.

And exhausted.

I know that I’ll be ok, and that I’ll be glad to have all of this behind me …… no matter how difficult it is in the midst of it.

Before I post this and head off to bed, I’ll show you something a bit different.
At least a bit different for all of us down here.
The real estate market here in our community has gone a little nuts.
It’s definitely a seller’s market (other than me as a seller).
And just to show you how hot it is in my neighborhood …… here’s a sign that went up yesterday:
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Can you read that?
Note that it’s not “for sale”, but “coming soon”!
What the what?!?!

I’ve never seen those words on a real estate sign.
I can only imagine the tizzies and the frothing at the mouth that’s going on around here, just at the thought of another house going on the market.
I may have to hunker down and keep all the windows and doors bolted when that house actually becomes available.

I hope I’m done moving when that happens.
πŸ™‚

Can You Say ……

…… ewwwww!?

I found this today, underneath the shelves in my closet:
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Now, I know that this little can of Nutri System Chicken and Barley Stew, isn’t that awful looking.

Unless you look at the dust bunnies on the lid:
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And then check the “best used by” date:
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Yes, you read that right. Best by May 2009.
Ewwwwww!

Although I have to say, this little can is pretty tame and boring compared to what Jim and I found in our first house down here in TX the day we moved in:
A pair of fuzzy handcuffs on the top shelf in my closet.
I kid you not.
I thought about leaving a pair for the next couple.
And then chickened out.

So chicken and barley stew is pretty blase.
But I have to wonder, why the heck would you keep a can of that in your bedroom closet?
Maybe the husband had been put on the Nutri System diet by his wife, and he tried to hide the boring food.
What?! It’s plausible.

Today I started packing at 9:30 this morning. My wonderful friend, Vicki (Texas Vicki, not Oklahoma Vicki) came over this morning and jumped right in to the packing. She also came over on Tuesday, along with three other friends, to pack.
Vicki is the first friend that I made when we moved down here. She’s very special to me.
People who are named Vicki tend to be pretty wonderful friends. πŸ™‚

I’m so grateful to all of the friends who volunteered to come over and help. I didn’t have to ask, they just came.
That’s what friends do.
And that’s pretty wonderful.

We packed until around 2:30 or 3:00.
I’m trying not to feel overwhelmed, but dang, there’s a lot of stuff to pack up. Tuesday we packed most of the day and it felt like we hadn’t even made a dent.
Today it seemed that we made a small dent.
But there’s still so much left to do.
And not enough boxes available.
And my back won’t shut up.
And yes, I may be whining.
But I’m allowed.
My back hurts and my heart hurts.
I expected that.
The heart …… not the back.

This was supposed to be our “forever home”.
So much for “forever”.
I don’t think I’ll ever think someplace is “forever” again.

Today’s emotional bomb hit when Vicki and I were packing up the game room.
I had climbed up on a counter to reach a very high cabinet, and found things I’d never known were there.
Evidently Jim made huge accordion files of every vacation we went on, and stashed them in that cabinet.
I never knew.
And while I knew that he was a bit anal (he was an accountant, after all) and kept files of everything, I didn’t know that he kept ticket stubs, flight tickets, brochures, etc. from everywhere we’d been. He didn’t tend to save things like that.
Or so I thought.
And now the tears flow.

God, I miss him.

In other news, my friend Anne came over and helped me pick some colors for the walls. I have no ability to come up with something like that. But she did a fabulous job and now I’m pretty excited. I’m going to pain the family room and my bedroom and bath.
Well, “I’m” not painting it, but you know what I mean.
It’s going to be wonderful and colorful.
Whoop!

I’m building up quite a stash of things that I’m getting rid of. I plan to have a “moving sale” in a couple of weeks. To hopefully get rid of all of the stuff I can’t move over.
Stuff that none of the kids want.
Things like a leather sofa with a queen hide-a-bed, a pool table/air hockey table that I wish I had room for, a lovely bedroom set with a king head & foot board, a 50″ flat screen TV, a receiver, exercise equipment, a GE french door stainless fridge, an older fridge that makes a great second fridge, a stand up freezer, and all kinds of kitchen stuff, games, videos, etc.
I could probably outfit two houses with all of the stuff in that house.
πŸ™‚

I think I’ve given myself a headache.
So I’m going to watch the football draft now.
Now that the Texans had the first pick.
Whoop!

While I’m Waiting ……

…… for workmen to come long after their appointed time …… what a shock! …… I decided to update you guys.
Cuz I’m just nice like that.
And I have nothing to do since everything has been unpacked and all of that stuff has been thrown into a closet or two.
Because I have no furniture in which to put all that stuff.
It’s going to take me a couple of years to get this house set up.

I love this house.
I love it so much that I’ve been sleeping over here since last Friday.
On a not very comfortable futon.
My back is screaming at me.

It’s strange. The pain started behind my left shoulder blade, then moved to the center and spread behind both shoulder blades, and now today it’s behind my right shoulder blade.
What the what?!

Of course, this morning on the Today Show they talked with two doctors who said that one of the signs of a heart attack in women is pain behind the shoulder blades.
Which means I should’ve died Monday night.
Whoop!

Seriously though, I know it’s not that kind of pain. It’s definitely muscular.
It’s a dang good thing I don’t have to go to barre class. I’d most likely just slump down and cry.
And therefore, look like an idiot.
Another whoop for not doing that!

While packing up my bathroom yesterday, I came upon the first of what may be several emotional bombs.
But I did ok.
After a bit.
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These tiny things are casts. The green one was for Son #1, when he broke his arm at the age of 3. So tiny!
The other two were for Daughter #3,when she broke her arm the week after Son #1 got his cast removed. She was 5.
They both fell from separate jungle gyms.
When Jim met me at the orthopedics office (which I went straight to for the daughter, rather than to the pediatrician, the e.r. or a clinic …. it wasn’t my first rodeo), I told him as I was filling out the paperwork and the description of the accident, “If this happens again we’ll have to find a new ortho. I’m sure CPS would find it hard to believe that our children are that clumsy on jungle gyms.”

But, thank the good Lord, no one else suffered the same playground accident.
It’s possible that’s because we made sure they were terrified of those child-marring, nightmare-inducing, demonic jungle gyms.
πŸ™‚
The casts went into the trash.
Thus, the pictures.

As for the packing, thank the good Lord again, that Loews gave such clear instructions …
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… because we all certainly know how migraine-inducing and Mensa-challenging it is to fold a box.
Seriously?!

Well, that’s all for now.
The security guy is here and I need to get back to watching, “Out of Africa”, seeing if he needs my input or assistance.
Busy, busy!

It’s Time to Admit ……

…… that I have acquired a rather large case of …… sidewalk rage.

I’ve never actually heard that term, but I can definitely attest to the reality of the feeling.
And I’m not alone.
Here’s a perfect example:

OK, maybe I’m not that bad …… yet.
But only because I haven’t actually hit a car like that …… though I’ve definitely thought about it.

I can confidently say that most New York drivers (not all, but most) are the rudest drivers on earth. The second their red light turns to green, they’re honking at the front car for not anticipating that change before it occurred.
And/or they’re honking at pedestrians who are just standing on the curb …… I guess that’s just in case one of them decides to throw themselves off of the curb and into the oncoming traffic.

But the thing they do that drives me crazy (and other pedestrians) is trying to make a right on red, when we (the walkers) have the right of way. Just like the cab in the above clip. They try to sneak, or barrel, their way through the crossway like they own it.
And while I have never punched a car, I have given the evil eye quite a few times.
Those of you who know me, know that’s a pretty scary sight.

Sidewalk rage is not limited to anger against drivers.
In fact, it’s probably not the drivers who cause the most amount of rage.
It’s other pedestrians.
More specifically, tourists.

Now, I’ve been a tourist in this city many times. So I get it. Most of the time.
Up to a point.
For instance, if I have to walk around, through, or close to, Times Square, I keep the rage at bay. I know that’s the biggest tourist spot in the city (world) so I expect people to act like idiots vacationers.
And I give them a pass.

But in other areas of town, like around my neighborhood, there are no passes.
Being a tourist does not give someone the right to act like they’ve never walked on a sidewalk before. Or to act like they’re the only people on that sidewalk.

I walk like a New Yorker.
I’ve always walked like a New Yorker.
Fast.
It doesn’t seem fast to me, but I’ve heard complaints over the years (I’m talking to you, Dawn!). I don’t know why I walk that way, anymore than any of you know why you walk the way you do.
My children seem to walk fast, too.
I’m guessing they had to do that, in order to survive any family vacation.
And make it back home.

Here’s what clueless tourists do (in no order of rage-inducing):
-They walk 3 to 5 abreast …… taking up the entire width of the sidewalk, making it difficult to pass them by without knocking one of them to the ground (no, that hasn’t happened …… yet).
-They walk along and then suddenly stop short, causing anyone behind them (who’s most likely been trying to pass them) to either run smack into them, or run into someone else while trying to dodge them.
-If it’s raining, they seem to think they’re the only people who have a right to hold an umbrella, thus not moving theirs out of the way for an on-coming umbrella.
-They tend to stop at the top of an escalator. I know!!!!
-They tend to stop in doorways, thus blocking said doorways for others trying to walk out, or in.
-They walk very, very slowly.
-They expect all traffic to stop while they take a picture of a pigeon. (Now, I will stop for most picture-taking. I’m rarely in a hurry, I just walk fast. But if you plan to do a photo shoot on a NY sidewalk, you’re on your own. And good luck.)
-They take pictures with the Naked Cowboy. ‘Nuff said.

So yeah, sidewalk rage.
It’s something that just seems to come over you when you move here.
At least that’s how Daughter #3 explained it when she told me she had it.

See? I’m really not the only one.

If you come to NY, just be careful.
And try to not block the sidewalk, OK?
πŸ™‚

A Piece of My Mind ……

…… has been given to that bloody E Harmony site.
And yes, I just used the word bloody. That’s probably because I’ve been watching House Hunter’s International and listening to British and Australian home buyers.
And it seemed to fit.

As I’ve said before, I don’t have a lot of pieces up there left to give, but I truly loathe that site.
I haven’t deleted my account yet because I purchased a 3 month plan, and I’m determined to stick it out until the bitter end.

I mostly just delete men every few days now. That’s because they have never, EVER sent me a good match. Every single one is accompanied with the words, “This match is outside of your settings, but it might work.”
I have no idea why they’ve never, EVER, sent a match within my settings (which are actually quite broad), but last night’s email of “outside matches” was the last straw.

I went on line, pulled up my profile, deleted everything I had written in the “More About Me” section and then wrote this:

A little more about me

I’m getting ready to leave this site because eHarmony has been a negative experience for me. I feel completely invisible on this site. Do you men NEVER make the first move??! What is it that you’re afraid of? I’m fine with men who are “outside” my settings (which are the only kind I get), but I’m not fine with always having to be the one who initiates, who sends the “smile” (gag!). I’ve done it, plenty of times, but haven’t had a man respond. I’m fun, funny, independent, spiritual, healthy and fit, smart and I love adventure. I’d rather be single the rest of my life than stick around here.

Yes, I really wrote that, clicked “save” and then closed up shop.
And guess what happened?
Oh, of course you know what happened because … REALLY?!

So now I’m in communication with a guy who read that within 30 minutes of my edit and then wanted to “get to know me”.
Go figure.

In other non-on-line-dating news, I think barre class almost killed me today. After I came home I was so exhausted that I had to go take a nap. An hour later I didn’t feel much more rested. So today was a quiet, stay in the apartment kind of day.
I think I need to eat some more protein.
I have class in the morning again.
If you don’t hear from me for a few days, you can safely assume I died.
Or maybe I’m in a coma …… resting.
πŸ™‚

He is Risen ……

…… He is risen indeed.
πŸ™‚

We had a very nice Easter weekend up here in NY.
Yesterday the weather was warm (in the high 50’s!) here and oh, so beautiful.
After I went to barre class I went to see a play (which was horrible) and then spent time walking through the Park. It was a very popular spot this weekend.
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This little guy and his mom were having pictures done underneath the beautiful trees with all of the white blossoms. Β You can’t really tell, but he was dressed as a bunny, with ears and a tail. Β Too cute.
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I’m not sure what was going on, but suddenly there was a herd (not sure what to call a group of them?) of policeman on motorcycles in the Park.
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As I was leaving the Park I saw this woman. Β And instantly started humming, “Tuppence, tuppence….” (hopefully you recognize what depressing song was going through my head). Β Because she was totally feeding the birds. Β Lots and lots of bird seed was in that bag.
For pigeons. Β Also known as rats with wings.
Or Jim. Β πŸ™‚
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I went up to the top of my building last night to hang out with some friends. And I took these pics of the park, which is now getting green.
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We have a fantastic view from up there.

Then I came back to the apartment to hang out and relax. Oliver was obviously intent on doing the same thing.
He was snuggled up against me, sitting up like a human, with his legs stretched out. He was very, very relaxed. Β I took these picture from above:
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He finally decided to stretch out …… with his front feet curled in front of him:
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He leads a very tough life.

This morning we got up and started getting ready to have friends come over for an Easter pot luck lunch. I also watched Ed Young’s Easter service from Houston, which made me feel more connected to Texas. πŸ™‚
Daughter #3 had invited several of her friends from church (including her BF!). They all brought yummy dishes (the most popular was the box of Texas kolaches — which means NOT fruit filled, but sausage and cheese and jalapeΓ±o-filled!). Those disappeared very quickly.

We played a lively round of Apples to Apples and then it was time for several of us to go to church.
Yes, our church services are on Sunday nights (it’s a church plant from Texas).
Daughter #3 and I were supposed to go out with the guys that I met Friday night at the supper club. We had reservations for 8:00, but one of the guys has been sick all day so we had to cancel. We were disappointed but hopefully I’ll be able to meet up with them while I’m in Houston next month.

So that was my weekend. Nothing exciting, but very nice anyway. The temps were cooler today, but it still appears that maybe we have finally reached spring time up here. πŸ™‚

A word of advice for any theatre-loving peeps: if you ever think about going to see the play, “Under My Skin” …… don’t.
Keep your money.
You’re welcome.

I hope you all had a peaceful and blessed Easter.
πŸ™‚