Jackhammers and navy ships

21 05 2008

That’s what Conrad is experiencing today.

The apartment building next store is being gutted. Of course, as it dates back to pre-WW II, this means they will keep the facade and rip out everything else. Last week we lived with the interior demo. We were happy on Friday when the truck finally drove away. Silly us, we thought they were through. Conrad is working from home today. He told me the truck is back (complete with backup sounds and the melodic crunching of concrete in the belly of the iron beast). What’s more, they’re using a jackhammer to break up the stoop (providing the food for said beast). So, that’s not a conducive work environment.

And then the buzzer rings. Why? Well, they’re not selling our building. They promise. But the appraiser was coming by with a real estate agent just to look around. Probably for insurance reasons. Wink wink. Nod nod. Right — tell that to the Craig’s List posting we saw. Anyway, they were about to barge in, unannounced, to our apartment. Good thing Conrad was there, and good thing he was up & dressed for work! So, that’s really not a conducive work environment.

But tally ho! The ships are in town! That’s right kids, it’s Fleet Week. The historic week proceeding memorial day when myriad military ships flood the harbors, unleashing troves of fine military men upon the city. Ahem. Oh wait, those were the days of yore. Today, NYC’s ban on nuclear vessels means the # of ships allowed to dock on Manhattan piers are numbered. But it is the biggest turn out for a few years, and the docks are even expecting a return of the international display with a single ship from Canada. Yay to our brother up north! So … Conrad ducked down the street to a park bench, fired up the wireless, and worked from the shoreline, watching the (slow, painful trickle) of ships parading up the Hudson. Until it started to rain.

So much for a conducive work day, Conrad! (Maybe this remote working thing isn’t so easy in NYC after all.)


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Categories : new york, work scenes

Living like a local – stoop views

19 05 2008

Monday morning finds Conrad and I recovering from a great weekend at home. We were plan-less on Friday night, so in our “we live in NYC, there must be something free/cheep we want to do” movement, we caught a late show at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade … a comedy club where entrance costs < $10 each.

Saturday was a day for spring cleaning. Our apartment has been dirty … with real dirt. Open windows on a ground-floor apartment of a pretty major NYC road mean lots of street grime may there way onto and through our window screens. Blech. So now that the trees are mostly done spitting out clouds of pollen, it was time for the semi-annual deep clean. It was actually fun because we could see the progress we made. Saturday night, even better, we met up with Kelly, Factor, Marty & Natasha (“Natty Bo Bo” I believe she may soon be nicknamed???) for a little outdoor movie fest. In Raleigh, this would mean about an hour in a parking lot, a 10 minute walk from car to random field laden with camp chairs, and a night under starry skies. In NYC, the rules were simple: “Food allowed; chairs provided.” Nice. You see, in small NYC apartments, there really isn’t room for most people to stock pile those lovely camp chairs. So we took the train to trader joe’s, picked up some snack foods, and walked on down to an empty parking lot where folding chairs were set up facing a painted brick wall … y voila, projectors be envious. The sprinkle of rain showers did not keep us away; I’m sure from the back it was quite the scene with couples nestled together under small umbrellas, determined to watch the movie and have a good time.

Sunday, even better, Amerstdam Ave held it’s 24th annual UWS street festival. This meant from about 75th to 90th, Amsterdam Ave was closed to cars and open to vendors selling grilled corn, giros, hamburgers, hot dogs, Thai food, Indian food, socks, sheets, mops, jewelry … just about anything you may (or may not) need. We wandered up to our Sunday farmer’s market just as the rain really started coming down… so the trip was pretty fast. Sunday ended as Sunday’s should … curled on the couch watching reruns of bad movies (Indiana Jones, the trilogy … I considered it research).

Oh, and I nearly forgot our big event. Whilst cleaning I held up the dusty DVD player Conrad has been “saving” for an unnamed friend. “It’s going,” I said. “But it works!” said he, “fine, we’ll drop it at Salvation Army later today.” But wait. We live in NYC. We stuck a note on it: “Works. Free” and set it on the stoop, the thing was gone in less than 5 minutes … and we saved ourselves a trip to the donation store AND a dust-catcher. Now that’s how the locals roll.


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Categories : new york

Kauai impressions

5 05 2008

They call it the Garden Isle for a reason. Wow. This place is lush. Now, to that point, anyone who knows the Osmons know that when the family gathers, we attain the Power of 3 and become Quasi Supernormal Incremental Precipitation Inducers. So maybe picking a place that ranks as The Wettest Place on Earth was asking too much.

Kauai lighthouseWe arrived Friday night late – hungry. Our guidebook recommended a hole in the wall for noodles they call Saimen. Man, it was rustic, local and quite tasty. Saturday was a tour of one of the state park beaches and a drive north to see the stretch of the island north of us. We visited a little hamburg stand, popped into a grocery store, and road the road till it ends. Beaches along the way are amazing. We were lucky to also be there for Lighthouse Day. When you see our pics, you’ll see some pictures of Great Frigate Birds, Nenes (Hawaii’s mutated Canadian Geese), Red Tailed Tropic Birds (really), Albatross, and some other stuff.  The lighthouse was pretty neat too.

The next day we drove south, to the end of that road and beaches in the south. Each one is more picturesque than the next. I guess that’s why we don’t really have any pictures of them. We took our first snorkeling dip on Sunday. Wow. We were barely 3 feet off shore when we found fish. Lots of fish. Fish of many colors, shapes and sizes. It was like swimming in a fishtank. Except for the Hawaii waves that beat the tar out of you while you’re attempting to keep your head under the water to watch the fish and your snorkel tube free of the very salty water. :-)

Today we’re booked on a noon kayak tour up a little river. We’ll pass a fern grotto, and then visit what is marked in bold letters on our map as the Secret Falls. Shhhhh. Heh, I’m sure there will only be 200 or so people who stumble upon this secret at the same time as we do!

So … more stories and pictures as we can. Just a little taste to rub it in and let you know that we’re loving the sun, the sand and the tropical food & adventures. Oh. You’re working aren’t you. Yeah, sorry about that.


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Categories : family, travel

Hawai’i here we come

2 05 2008

We just got a call from American Airlines that our flight has been delayed so much that we’d miss our connection .. so we’re leaving now at 5am instead of 7am to catch an even earlier flight. The fates are even with us on this one … knock on wood it’ll all work out.

We’re headed to Kauai’i … Conrad’s bringing his laptop so I hope to get a couple of blog posts & pics added while we’re there. But if all is quiet on the blog for a week or so, don’t hate us for having a fun time in the sand and sun!


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Categories : family, travel

Knock, knock

1 05 2008

Heard on “Top Chef” … and Conrad loved it (note: you must say it out loud to get it)

Knock knock

> Who’s there?

Smell Mop

> Smell Mop Who?

!

hee hee

Did you get it? try it again, say it out loud (a southern accent works best), and think like a 3rd grader :-)


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Categories : friends

May your troubles be less, your blessings be more

1 05 2008

And nothing but happiness come through your door.

… I do love that Irish blessing. And I love the forward I got from my good friend Griffin. Enough to share … I hope to weave some of these into my life…

39 Life Tips (because I took out #40, “Send this to everyone you know” – blech.)

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep .

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, ‘My purpose is to __________ today.’

5. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy .

6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer . They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water.. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn . Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16 . Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more . It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

23. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’

26. Forgive everyone for everything.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. GOD heals almost everything.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

33 . The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel , get up, dress up and show up.

35. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!) Hey I’m thinkn of ya! =)

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.


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Categories : friends, general knowledge, greener living, work scenes


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