MetaChat - Friday 3-point update

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30 March 2012

Friday 3-point update →[More:]
1. I had a great flight home - there was nobody in the seat next to me, so I could spread out and managed to get some sleep. I took my own food on the plane - a huge box of fruit salad that cost $5 from a Korean store in Queens, and which contained about two pounds of assorted yummy fruit, all ready to eat. Definitely a better choice than the microwaved plane food.

2. Lucy is really glad to see me, and after walking round the flat meowing loudly (telling me off for leaving her, I think) she won't leave me alone now. But I need to clip her nails, because she wants to do 'tready-paws' on me and her nails are like needles.

3. I feel so very lucky to have such wonderful friends who (astonishingly to me) welcome me into their homes and their hearts. I got to see Eideteker at his improv show, I went running with Gaspode, one night TPS, Stynxno and I babysat Gaspode's kid, a gang of us had a great Sunday lunch in Astoria, I went to a fabulous 'secret restaurant' with rmless2, I had dinner at the Plaza Hotel, I went to the theatre with TrishaLynn to see a show that none of my London theatre friends have seen (!), I ate the best burnt ends BBQ sandwich I've ever tasted, I hung out with lots of NY friends, both bunnies and non-bunnies, and some time over the weekend (jetlag permitting) I'll try and get my photos up online. I took lots of pictures of things off the beaten track, quirky buildings and stuff like that, and a couple of times as I took a picture I thought "BoringPostcards will love this one!"

So, how's your Friday looking?

post by: Senyar at: 09:02 | 38 comments

Senyar, you are a wonderful person. So, no surprise.

Thanks for coming out and supporting my 'art.'

posted by Eideteker 30 March | 09:16

1. Feel like I should feel like a pedophile this kid was so young. I am so skipping class. Things are going to be interesting in Spanish on Monday.

2. Bye bye, styling, hello, post bath relaxation. I am taking today off in protest of the hegemony.

3. I forgot what cuddling was like. Hmm. I wonder if I could pull off looking like Megan Draper but acting like Don.

You are keeping a secret restaurant from us?

posted by ethylene 30 March | 09:18

Senyar, one of these days I am going to have to come up to New York to meet you when you come to the American side of the pond!

1. Frantic last minute packing/shopping before we leave on our great slog back to the US. Tomorrow we are off to Sao Paulo, then Sunday we leave for Amreeka. Whoopee!

2. Premature nostalgia for beach living is setting in.

3. We have been having a number of "despedida" dinners this week, which are basically little goodbye parties. As such, I have eaten way too much, too many days in a row, and I think next week I will survive on salads and plain white rice.

posted by msali 30 March | 10:57

1. The shirt I put on this morning is way too short (there's no skin showing when I stand up but you get a good 3-4 inches of maternity panel, and I hate when that shows). It was too late to change by the time I realized this.
2. We really need to get to Costco this weekend and stock up on bulk food items! I need options!
3. I got my wining ticket to the Mega Millions jackpot tonight (now up to an estimated $640 million). Very excited to become rich!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 30 March | 11:36

3a. And now the office just did a mini-pool, 15 chances! Surely I can't lose.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 30 March | 11:44

Aw, sweetie. It was so awesome to see you again, and I totally mean it when I say that if you're wanting to hang in Brooklyn during your next visit, our futon bed is yours. And that also goes for seeing everyone else in Astoria during lunch... I really hope I can make time in my schedule to come to more gatherings!

1. Between the hours of 7 am and 11 am, I got more paperwork done here at home than I've ever gotten done while at the office. Conclusion: I need my own office with a door that closes.

2. Today it's warm and sunny, yesterday it was cold and windy. I am totally looking forward to the steadily nice, cool, and warm part of spring.

3. I'm flying to Austin, TX for a friend's wedding in May and we're using my tax refund to stay at this hotel. Because, Lord, do I need a vacation.

posted by TrishaLynn 30 March | 11:55

Senyar - that sounds like an awesome vacation.

1. After an insanely busy past 5 or 6 weeks at work (mostly relating to fiscal year end) things are suddenly very calm. Many people took off today, so there's almost no email or fire drills to deal with - which is damn pleasant.

2. Meeting a friend for a burger and beer on lunch, which is a perk of working home I don't take advantage of nearly enough.

3. Looking forward to a quiet night at home with Mrs Agogo - watching TV and then sitting in bed, each reading on our Kindles (my current book: Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York That Changed Music Forever).

posted by Slack-a-gogo 30 March | 11:57

Slack: Which five years is that, and why?

posted by TrishaLynn 30 March | 12:04

Interested to hear your opinion on that book, Slack. I've seen some mixed reviews.

posted by ufez 30 March | 12:09

TrishaLynn: the book covers music from New Year’s Day 1973 to New Year’s Eve 1977 (although they sidetrack into a lot of prehistory to give some context). It was a period of great experimentation and musical growth - the seeds to quite a bit of great music for years to come sprouted up during this period. The book criss-crosses back and forth across many genres and scenes - including punk, hip-hop, salsa, disco, rock, avante-garde, classical, and jazz.

My draw to the book was for the pre-punk/new wave CBGBs scene, but the book pleasantly surprised me by being so much more. I doubt I ever would have read a book on New York's salsa scene of the 70's before this - but now I've added a whole new genre to my musical purchase wish list.

posted by Slack-a-gogo 30 March | 12:17

ufez - the book isn't perfect, but I'm enjoying it enough so far (about half the way through it) to recommend it to anyone interested in reading about a concentrated time and place of musical history. The book is more of an overview - not spending too much time on any one event or record: sometimes it's just a paragraph or two, seldom ever going into one point for more than 2 or 3 pages before moving on. The only negative thing I had seen about it was that author places himself into the book too much, which I disagree with. He was a teenager during this period and makes a few personal asides, which I think actually adds to the enthusiasm of the era. For me the best part of the book is that it's another tool to put some of this stuff into context with what was else was happening at the time.

posted by Slack-a-gogo 30 March | 12:26

1. Slow day at work. Sneaking off at lunchtime with my Bear to go to our local aquarium and commune with my soulmates, the sea otters. Inspired by them, then repairing with Bear (after animal care duties) to local sushi joint for dinner.

2. My dog has a new trick. Each AM when I wake up, I find his long nose on a throw pillow beside my head, his eyes staring soulfully into mine. This melts my heart, every morning. So he always scores a tummy rub.

3. Winter weather, i.e. rain, wind and chilliness, is not letting go of Seattle yet. Looking forward to upcoming mid-April trip to Orlando with my Bear. Though will really miss the pup and kitties.

posted by bearwife 30 March | 12:43

TPS, won't you be cross when I, a johnny-come-lately-who-doesn't-even-live-in-New-York, wins the MegaMillions? I bought a ticket yesterday. Unlike the UK lotto (where you have to be physically present and resident in the UK to play), the NY Lottery allows visitors to buy tickets (and win!).

posted by Senyar 30 March | 12:47

TPS: the mega-millions lottery has even made the headlines over here in Europe... Good luck!

posted by altolinguistic 30 March | 12:56

Turns out the office pool got 25 tickets! So 25 pool chances, 1 chance with Stynx. How could I lose? I'm still surprised the Mega-Millions allows people outside the country to win!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 30 March | 12:57

Senyar, your visit sounds delightful! So glad to hear the flight home was comfortable.

1. Last night I played in a charity Jeopardy game at a local high school. (My mother signed me up for her team without letting me know; luckily for her, I was both free and happy to attend.) Our team missed semi-finals by a tiny margin, but it was plenty of fun. The high school students running the show were fabulous: engaged, funny, and they lit up the stage. Such a pleasure to see!

2. The Fella and I just returned from a mid-day run to the locally owned old-school doughnut shop. I grabbed one at random from the bag, bit into it (raspberry jelly), and said "Oh. My. GOD." It's been decades since I had a homestyle doughnut and I kinda forgot they were so different from mass-market doughnuts.

3. The doughnuts have sapped me of ambition. Whatever I was going to do today has vanished; I just want to sit here and eat doughnuts.

posted by Elsa 30 March | 12:58

1. The local electronics store, which lists "DVD repair" on its ad, won't fix my 10-year-old DVS/VHS player. (The DVD player won't read any disc; the VHS is fine.) I hate the throwaway society we live in.

2. The trees around here had bloomed about half of their pretty pink petals when the weather turned cold again. They're now sort of halted, stunned, not sure what to do next; those poor little petals are starting to fall sadly to the ground.

3. Generally grumpy these days.

Now I want a doughnut.

posted by Melismata 30 March | 14:26

Me, too. I was eating a blueberry bagel when I read about elsa's doughnuts and the bagel didn't seem so satisfying any more.

posted by Ardiril 30 March | 14:46

Melismata and Ardiril, you might be gratified to hear that I ate two and now I feel no-so-good. That might not stop me from eating another in a bit, though.

posted by Elsa 30 March | 14:48

1. Crappy, crappy night. About four hours of sleep and [surprise!] my period started.

2. Didn't realize until this a.m. that I had taken none of my meds yesterday including insulin. Oops. That would, partially, explain the crappy night. My period explains most of the rest. Our schedule was rather out of whack yesterday, which explains the not taking meds. Can I have a do-over?

3. The other part is that I'm sick; running a fever type sick. And that would finish out the trifecta of a crappy night.

[Could I bitch and complain even more? Oh yes, but we'll just leave it at 3 points.]

PS: Have I mentioned how jealous I am of the NYC bunnies? Only once or twice? Good.

posted by deborah 30 March | 15:29

Send me some doughnuts! I want doughnuts.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 30 March | 15:50

Donuts. Or Indian food. Or cheesy pasta.
It feels like holiday blowing off class. I never blow off class.
Such a delinquent.

posted by ethylene 30 March | 16:01

Man, now I want a donut.

Anyway,
1. I did something to make my leg mad and so I've got hip flexor inflammation, bursitis, and sciatica all on my right leg. Been in shitty pain for two weeks. Worse, I can't exercise or do my kickboxing stuff.

2. Went to the doctor as it had gone on too long and she's worried about hip degeneration, which I haven't even bothered to look up because why scare myself before seeing the ortho?

3. SPRING! That's happy. And I just took my meds again so I'm feeling no pain and no need to think very hard.

posted by lysdexic 30 March | 16:05

TPS, when you win the lottery and buy your vacation cottage in Maine, I'll take you to the doughnut place.

posted by Elsa 30 March | 16:11

1. Baked some focaccia.
2. Peppers, onions, and lots o garlic sliced.
3. Water for pasta coming to a boil.

Just waiting for the rest of the family to get home.

posted by Thorzdad 30 March | 16:17

1. Finished up one-off job this morning. Supervisor found one oopsie. Bummer. I wanted it to be perfect. All fixed now.

2. Lawnmower wouldn't start. It's not the battery. Afraid it's the starter, but will have to do more sleuthing. Since I work from 6-3 tomorrow there will be time to tackle it after I get back from work.

3. I've been feeling totally crappy lonely and weepy all week. And my sewing machine broke, just after I spent money getting it tuned up. At least I can tear it apart and get a replacement part from a good online retailer.

3a. I get to be around smiling people for 9 hrs tomorrow. Hope mgl is right about the forced happy being contagious. I'll have the satisfaction of a paycheck to boot!

posted by mightshould 30 March | 16:21

TPS, when you win the lottery and buy your vacation cottage in Maine, I'll take you to the doughnut place.

Wrong! When I win the lottery, I will come to Maine and buy the doughnut place! Donuts for all bunnies! We ship worldwide!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 30 March | 17:18

1. 14 hour day yesterday, teaching and then parent-teacher conferences. Man-oh-man am I glad to be home. Not too many parents, though, last night or this afternoon. Maybe 10%.

2. Jon is bringing me meatballs! MEATBALLS! It's this new all-meatballs all the time restaurant near Union Squre. The only thing better would be meatballs AND donuts!

3. You're 50 times more likely to be murdered by a spree killer.than win mega millions. That said, we have five tickets.

(never deny a pregnant woman donuts.... I fear for Stynx)

posted by Pips 30 March | 17:30

I think I heard of that meatball place! Sounds delicious!!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 30 March | 17:32

When I win the lottery, I will come to Maine and buy the doughnut place! Donuts for all bunnies!

Well, yeeeeeah, that's what I was secretly angling for. I will set up a blanket fort in the back and live there.

posted by Elsa 30 March | 17:48

No need! I will build a beautiful mansion guest house in the back.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 30 March | 17:50

YOU CAN'T STOP ME from sleeping in the bakery, closer to the doughnuts.

Old-school doughnut-shop bonus: when we pulled up and saw the building surrounded by old-model sedans with American flag decals and "I love my [dog breed]" bumper stickers, I announced confidently that the tables would be colonized by a dozen old dudes in windbreakers and driving caps...

... but when we went inside, it was all elderly women chatting about their sons' dogs and their husbands staying in bed all day. They were having such a great time that I couldn't even begrudge them their hissed stage whispers of disapproval over my blue hair.

posted by Elsa 30 March | 18:06

Mmmm doughnuts . . .

1. My dad brought me a lotto ticket with numbers I gave him. He said he'd take 5% if I won. Sounds like a fair trade to me.

2. Kitty cat is eating much better thanks to the prednisolone and fancy green pea & rabbit(!) hypoallergenic food. She's eating better than I am :) I hope her appetite stays when we start reducing the drug dose.

3. I finally pulled together all the crap that needs to go to Goodwill and cleaned out the hall and linen closets a bit. A friend has been on a massive cleaning spree the past few weeks and it seems to be rubbing off on me.

posted by bluesapphires 30 March | 20:33

1. Feeling rather melancholy tonight.

2. Have been practicing my photography lately.

3. I, too, would like to go to New York.

posted by Twiggy 30 March | 20:52

1. Insanely busy, stressful, emotional week at work. So much to do, and about 2/3rds of the group I work with are getting laid off next month. Insert laments about the company hollowing itself out, too many bosses not enough workers, death spirals etc, here.

2. I usually drive over to the train station and back, going to and from work, but today I got up early enough to walk to the bus stop and leave the car at home. Whenever I do this, I come home and unlock the front door and the cats are caught COMPLETELY off guard. They usually hear me park in the street outside and at least 2 (of the 3) meet me at the front door. Days like today, I open the door and it's like you just busted a dorm room full of kids smoking pot. Cats waking up, rolling around, and suddenly flying EVERYWHERE, going "OMG HOW DID HE GET HERE WHAT TIME IS IT OMG" This always makes my day.

3. Going to see this show tomorrow night and I can't wait.

posted by BoringPostcards 30 March | 21:25

1. Grocery shopping. I brought 3 large bags with me; Chase The Bagger puts about 4 items into each one, and then wants to know if I have more bags. *sigh* I may have to start bagging my own like I saw people do in Europe.

2. Work is finally slowing down somewhat, though it will not get really comfortable again for a month or so.

3. House guest coming, so, house cleaning.

posted by JanetLand 31 March | 13:54

BoPo, that observation of your cats made me laugh out loud! Thank you for a great mental picture!

1. I didn't win the lottery, ah well. So I still have to work.

2. Was talking to a 90 year old customer today. Innocent enough, until he began telling me about his sex life and the fact that he has a "girl in China". He is a WW2 vet, and has been to China 14 times, so perhaps an offspring? No such luck (he's sterile due to mumps as an adult - yes I learned all this in 15 minutes). His "girl in China" he met when she was 19; she is now 31. He's put her through college, and sends her $700.00 a month. Made sure to let me know he lives in a 10 room house in a rich town, all alone. My "creep" indicator was on overdrive.

3. I was glad for a rainy day, though I wish I could have spent it home in my pajamas.

posted by redvixen 31 March | 19:19

BoPo's description of his surprised kitties gave me a good laugh, too. They are such interesting little beasties.

posted by deborah 31 March | 19:47

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