http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/2009_Motorcycles/2009_Motorcycles.jsp?locale=en_US#/model/xl883n
Oh yeah baby......I want this BAD!
Friday, June 26, 2009
The reality of reality!
Farrah Fawcett dies, her death overshadowed by what seems to be an even more important death, that of Michael Jackson! It fascinates me how much importance we put on these inevitable events. We make these people almost seem immortal and then are in complete shock when they die "before their time". The world came to a complete stop yesterday, as Michael Jackson's death dominated the media. Gone were the stories of Iranian protesters. People risking their lives for what they believe in, even sacrificing it, like Nedan Agha Soltan. She doesn't have a star on the Hollywood walk of fame or sold 100 million albums. She is the face of so many more in this world that die each day for freedom, and the right to democracy. Yet she as many others who fight for the same cause will be forgotten about in no time, while we continue to immortalize someone who gave us the moonwalk, scary plastic surgery, strange behavior and court trials.
Even though I too am glued to the television, waiting for the 911 tape release, when is the funeral, who's going to attend? I am also reminded again at how fragile life is. It affirms my belief that what I know to be true is each day, each minute can be the last. Yes we get caught up all the time in our daily garbage, but I try to remind myself constantly to come back to now, tomorrow doesn't matter, yesterday is done, now is what matters! It is such a peaceful place to be in. I wonder what this world would be like if we all truly lived that way. Try it! Just take a deep breath and listen to it, that's all. Pay attention to what you feel and how you feel. It's pretty amazing. You just lived in the now.......
And so maybe that's the lesson in this, no matter how much fame and fortune you have, it does not buy you time. That should be the media's angle! Reminding us of what is REALLY important. Now, family, friends, good food, good wine, or whatever your libation is, good music and love, much much love..........
Peace!
"You cannot find yourself by going into the past. You can find yourself by coming into the present." Eckhart Tolle Source: The Power of Now : A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, Page: 75
Even though I too am glued to the television, waiting for the 911 tape release, when is the funeral, who's going to attend? I am also reminded again at how fragile life is. It affirms my belief that what I know to be true is each day, each minute can be the last. Yes we get caught up all the time in our daily garbage, but I try to remind myself constantly to come back to now, tomorrow doesn't matter, yesterday is done, now is what matters! It is such a peaceful place to be in. I wonder what this world would be like if we all truly lived that way. Try it! Just take a deep breath and listen to it, that's all. Pay attention to what you feel and how you feel. It's pretty amazing. You just lived in the now.......
And so maybe that's the lesson in this, no matter how much fame and fortune you have, it does not buy you time. That should be the media's angle! Reminding us of what is REALLY important. Now, family, friends, good food, good wine, or whatever your libation is, good music and love, much much love..........
Peace!
"You cannot find yourself by going into the past. You can find yourself by coming into the present." Eckhart Tolle Source: The Power of Now : A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, Page: 75
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Working my way up the corporate ladder!
I get this call yesterday from Velma, assistant to the Hampton couple who decided not to hire me for the Summer (their loss)! Anyway turns out that the chef they hired had a tragic event happen last week. His girlfriend was in a bad accident and in critical condition. They had not heard from him, so Velma's boss thought it would be a good idea to call me and see if I could come fill in on a weekly basis. I'm not kidding! Oh yeah sure let me drop everything I'm doing, load up the car and show up so that you can fire me in a week....HA! I politely declined :)
Anyway, I had my meeting with the GM at work today and it looks as is I will be moving up. My new title is going to be "retail manager" which will mean a pay increase. I actually already had that title. It was more a case of the non spoken word......It's kind of interesting how I saw that opportunity and ran with it. It's so unlike me to be so bold and aggressive about it. But I've learned to go after what I want, and if a door opens, run through it! I'm probably going to become a Sodexo employee, which will mean more opportunities and better benefits, for me and David. Yeah Lutherans are not to big on domestic partner benefits:)
So my goal for the next 30 days is to continue increasing sales, make the place enjoyable and make good food!
Anyway, I had my meeting with the GM at work today and it looks as is I will be moving up. My new title is going to be "retail manager" which will mean a pay increase. I actually already had that title. It was more a case of the non spoken word......It's kind of interesting how I saw that opportunity and ran with it. It's so unlike me to be so bold and aggressive about it. But I've learned to go after what I want, and if a door opens, run through it! I'm probably going to become a Sodexo employee, which will mean more opportunities and better benefits, for me and David. Yeah Lutherans are not to big on domestic partner benefits:)
So my goal for the next 30 days is to continue increasing sales, make the place enjoyable and make good food!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
week in review
What's this can I eat it?
Taking the car apart....
Mom's Purple Pole beans
me in uniform
Hydraulic tools rock!
Elizabeth has resumed her duties!
Annie our "big girl" or is that a rooster in the making.....
a new friend outside our bedroom window! She's been growing........
the rollercoaster called life!
Now that I am jacked up on caffeine (cup #5) and the adrenaline I feel after completing my first 5 mile run I think I have finally come out of my depressing slump. It has been a bumpy road for about 2 weeks, where I found myself weeping uncontrollably one minute and deliriously happy the next minute. i have felt so out of whack, that I contemplated getting myself locked up and pumped full of chemicals to just get through the day. Wait I did do that, only it was our house and the chemical was vodka:) Don't worry I limited myself to 2 drinks in the evening, just enough to dull the pain.
I think it finally hit me, what we went through in the past year, and having had a lot of good times since moving back to the East coast, it triggered all these emotions in me and the floodgates just opened up. It was as if all this heavy crap was buried deep and just erupted like a volcano. Not even sure what I was thinking or feeling, but whatever it was, it needed to come out and get released. So much has happened in the past 12 months, and I just kind of shut down and kept moving forward without realizing or even respecting what I went through. I think sometimes I feel I need to be the strong one, make everything seem fine, protect the people I love around me, with no regard of what I am feeling. It must be that male macho thing:)
The road to get here was no easy task, and I guess the road ahead is no easy one either, but at least it's never boring....... and as Virginia Woolf said"peace cannot be found by avoiding life." I absolutely love that!
Karen thank you for listening to me last week and your thoughts, they really helped.
David, I love you, I know I don't say it enough, but you are so patient with me and know me better than I know myself. I would be truly lost without you!
I think it finally hit me, what we went through in the past year, and having had a lot of good times since moving back to the East coast, it triggered all these emotions in me and the floodgates just opened up. It was as if all this heavy crap was buried deep and just erupted like a volcano. Not even sure what I was thinking or feeling, but whatever it was, it needed to come out and get released. So much has happened in the past 12 months, and I just kind of shut down and kept moving forward without realizing or even respecting what I went through. I think sometimes I feel I need to be the strong one, make everything seem fine, protect the people I love around me, with no regard of what I am feeling. It must be that male macho thing:)
The road to get here was no easy task, and I guess the road ahead is no easy one either, but at least it's never boring....... and as Virginia Woolf said"peace cannot be found by avoiding life." I absolutely love that!
Karen thank you for listening to me last week and your thoughts, they really helped.
David, I love you, I know I don't say it enough, but you are so patient with me and know me better than I know myself. I would be truly lost without you!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Giving and Receiving
OK, I just need to share this with you all!
As I returned from picking herbs from my garden to make meatloaf tonight, I noticed this beautiful French Lavender plant in a small pot with a note attached. Even though it was drenched, as we got hit by yet another thunderstorm, it was still legible
the note reads..."thank you so much for the home grown greens and delicious muffins(David made) I enjoyed them both."
I tell ya, unconscious giving and receiving is a beautiful thing, this gesture brought me to tears! That's why I love living here, people don't give a shit where you came from, but do care and appreciate how you conduct yourself in the present. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such unspoken kindness.
Peace, and enjoy the gift of giving!
As I returned from picking herbs from my garden to make meatloaf tonight, I noticed this beautiful French Lavender plant in a small pot with a note attached. Even though it was drenched, as we got hit by yet another thunderstorm, it was still legible
the note reads..."thank you so much for the home grown greens and delicious muffins(David made) I enjoyed them both."
I tell ya, unconscious giving and receiving is a beautiful thing, this gesture brought me to tears! That's why I love living here, people don't give a shit where you came from, but do care and appreciate how you conduct yourself in the present. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such unspoken kindness.
Peace, and enjoy the gift of giving!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Why I love NYC!
OK, so another great weekend spent in the city, this time's reason (as if I need one to go) was a prelude to Kent's birthday which kind of coincides with Belmont races. Arrived on Friday night, took the bus in, so much easier! And a better choice for me, since I seem to always take a wrong turn and end up in Jersey City or heading uptown when I should be going downtown. This way I get to Port Authority on 41st and 8 ave, just walk through some double doors and get into a cab, and say Houston and Avenue A, but only after calling Kent to verify the cross street, because I've only been there a million times.
Friday night was relatively calm, we had some pizza with appropriate alcoholic beverages :) got to sleep at a reasonable hour. Oh and got Kent and JR hooked on Chelsey Lately, E network, if you haven't seen this show, its a must, the midget sidekick called Chewy should give you enough cause to investigate! At around 4am Mike the 90 or is it 120 pound dog woke me up thinking he could kick me off the couch so he could sleep there....yeah no! Not gonna happen.......
Saturday, another trip to the OTB this time to bet on Belmont Races, and even though I was not going to bet on any horses this time around I somehow had a change of plan, maybe it was the vodka screwdriver ( a requirement, as you all well know from my last OTB experience). I had expected the place to be busier, but was not disappointed by the scenery. A guy wearing pants resembling shiny garbage bags, tucked into oh so fashionable cowboy boots passed me on my way to the betting booth. The very vocal Latin and African American Ladies dressed as if they were going to a fancy dinner at Mickey D's, outside were not short of entertainment. I'm not often grossed out by public places, but man I wish I had some sort of disinfectant hand lotion. Even though I didn't touch anything in this place, we even brought our own pens (courtesy of Kent, he's had some experience in this) I felt the need to run back to the apartment and take a sanitizing shower!
After placing our bets, we headed to Essex market to pick up some last minute items for the Birthday dinner. Essex market is kind of a farmers market with a roof on it, we went to the cheese man, 1 because he's supposedly cute, and 2 they have a great selection of cheese. 1, didn't work, he wasn't there.....The market is amazing, all this great produce, meats and fish, with somewhat of an eclectic feeling. I was expecting to see sawdust on the butcher's floor, you get the picture :) One more stop at Russ & Daughters for some gefilte fish, chicken liver and rollmops (pickled herring rolled and stuffed with onions)
Back to the apartment, a quick nap and this time I was Kent's assistant in the kitchen! I think after my last cooking stint, he was too nervous to let me have the reigns. He likes to have everything in its place and super clean, I like to make a big mess :) Time before the race was spent watching Bridezilla (Kent and JR, had never seen this show, what the hell is wrong with these people) We particularly enjoyed the bride, who bitched about her cake being $500.00, when she can get one for a $100.00.....oh and her dress was turquoise, which she brought back to the tailor because it wasn't showing enough cleavage. The poor tailor tried explaining to her that those parts under her arms, should not be shown, and is not considered cleavage, that's just plain fat honey! But as usual Bridezilla got her way.....much to my delight!
The race was an exciting event, my horse Summer Bird started out in the lead, but of course no horse can keep that up. However it came in second, so I still won some money. Actually everyone in our group either picked the winner, second and our third place. Ted who joined the party at race's end could hear all of us screaming as he walked towards the apartment door. It was safe to say that all our winnings covered the food and booze :) for the night. After dinner we watched the moon rise (almost full) JR, confirmed this after going online, putting to rest the numerous debates on whether it was or wasn't. Then we were entertained by 2 bikers parked outside the building searching the street for the drugs they dropped. Well at least that's what we wanted to believe, we even went as far as to spy on them with binoculars, until one of them saw us and asked if we had a flashlight! JR obliged gladly, ran down with a Maglite, (can be used as a defensive weapon if needed) and proceeded to tell them that we were admiring their bikes, hence the spying..... turned out that one of the bike's battery's was dead. But still doesn't explain the looking around the street. I think I might have missed something in that story... maybe someone can help me out.
I can't remember who decided we should go out, although I think it was Ted! Anyway bar/club destination became "the hose" within walking distance of Kent's apartment. Although if you were to ask him, he would have a different take on it. The complaining started soon after our walk there. JR came to me and plotted for us to get a cab, which Kent did not want to get into, nor did he want to walk....anyway, we hailed a cab "discreetly" I grabbed Kent's arm and dragged him into to the cab, less than 5 minutes later up a flight of stairs we found ourselves in a narrow bar with strange young people.....it's going to be hard for me to describe some of the characters, there was the guy wearing 1920's swimwear 
and some other guy wearing a suit and shoes with the same stripe pattern as the fore mentioned swimsuit example! Anyway I really shouldn't talk , I apparently had a lot of steam to blow off and danced my ass off much to everyone's entertainment, witnessed by Kent periodically bursting out in uncontrollable laughter. Anyway, it got late and Kent and Jr went home, Ted and I stayed on to watch a very strange performance by someone in a black body suit including head, a large white wig, fake eyes attached to covered face,some guy banging on drums and this strange black think screaming!
Not sure what time sleep came, but did not get up until 1pm Sunday....:)Went to a Animal Rescue Benefit at some bar in the East Village where $20.00 got you all the cheap booze and food you could eat! I had a Coke and some greasy parm chicken sub, which combined with the Rollmops and chicken liver I ate earlier did not serve me well! Bus back home at 6pm bed by 9pm.
Hampton's next weekend!
I think it is safe to say I am catching up for the years spent in purgatory (Reno)!
Thank you all for another great time!!!!!!! Love you all!!!!!!!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Drill at the fire station
last night was a very informative and interactive session at the fire house. We have a bunch of donated props in the back of the station, a car and mobile home, which come in handy for exercises.
Our exercise was to learn about different ways of accessing the interior of a crashed car, to stabilize or assist in extracting the victim. First take out the "cribbing" tote bags out of the truck, and use cribbing blocks to stabilize car under 3 crucial points. I found this to be rather primitive. Wood blocks stacked and shimmied under the frame of the car? I asked if this was really the only way to get the job done, surely there must be some hydraulic system out there than can do the job more efficient and safe? I guess when you rely on your funds coming from donations, one is limited to what one can buy! I think I mentioned something about looking to join another fire station, one that is better equipped and modernised! Knowing my clumsiness I will get my hand crushed as I shove one of these 4X4 under the frame of a car.
Some of the other primitive tools we have to access the car, are lawnmower blades wrapped on one hand with duct tape. When placed on metal and hit with a mallet the blades will cut through the metal, as was demonstrated when the door lock was smashed in and we need to access the locking mechanism through the metal!
A hay hook comes in handy to smash windows, of course my thought was, this poor person just got in a car crash and now a guy in a fire suit is approaching the car swinging a large hay hook at him or her. Screwdriver with fore mentioned mallet will also do the trick to cut metal.
One thing I noticed our instructor failed to mention was, first approach the car and see if any of the doors are unlocked and can be opened without the use of caveman tools!
Also used an electric saw to cut trough the main frame of the car, as I got almost through the metal, the vibrations of the saw made my whole body shake and my brain was slushing around in my skull giving me an insane headache. I also had to be careful not to swing the blade throught the imaginary victim once I got throught the metal. Well guess what, I decapitated him/her!!!!
Our exercise was to learn about different ways of accessing the interior of a crashed car, to stabilize or assist in extracting the victim. First take out the "cribbing" tote bags out of the truck, and use cribbing blocks to stabilize car under 3 crucial points. I found this to be rather primitive. Wood blocks stacked and shimmied under the frame of the car? I asked if this was really the only way to get the job done, surely there must be some hydraulic system out there than can do the job more efficient and safe? I guess when you rely on your funds coming from donations, one is limited to what one can buy! I think I mentioned something about looking to join another fire station, one that is better equipped and modernised! Knowing my clumsiness I will get my hand crushed as I shove one of these 4X4 under the frame of a car.
Some of the other primitive tools we have to access the car, are lawnmower blades wrapped on one hand with duct tape. When placed on metal and hit with a mallet the blades will cut through the metal, as was demonstrated when the door lock was smashed in and we need to access the locking mechanism through the metal!
A hay hook comes in handy to smash windows, of course my thought was, this poor person just got in a car crash and now a guy in a fire suit is approaching the car swinging a large hay hook at him or her. Screwdriver with fore mentioned mallet will also do the trick to cut metal.
One thing I noticed our instructor failed to mention was, first approach the car and see if any of the doors are unlocked and can be opened without the use of caveman tools!
Also used an electric saw to cut trough the main frame of the car, as I got almost through the metal, the vibrations of the saw made my whole body shake and my brain was slushing around in my skull giving me an insane headache. I also had to be careful not to swing the blade throught the imaginary victim once I got throught the metal. Well guess what, I decapitated him/her!!!!
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