Nancy's New York Adventure, Part 3

Howdy!

Leslie and I are here, having a late, lazy morning. We're recovering, a little before heading out to sight see. It's a cloudy and (by my standards) cool day with a chance of some rain showers. As long as it doesn't rain too hard, I should be able to use the scooter to get places.

Last night, we went to dinner at an Irish pub. We had decided that the crowds of Blogher women were a little were a little overwhelming, and it was time for a quieter get away. Turns out, we couldn't go very far, as my scooter needed charging (my fault, I didn't do it the night before). We did cause some comment from one jerk as we entered. Seems not many red haired fat girls on red scooters come driving into the door.

It was wonderful! We had a Guinness (my first, not bad!) and ordered. When it arrived, a guy came over to ask what it was we were having. We invited him to join us, and started talking.

Turns out he was in town overnight, working for an Delta. We had a nice long chat and it was interesting to compare notes with him. He finished his dinner and we said our good-byes. We gave him our cards and he's promised to read our blogs.

After he left, we met some ladies, and discovered that they, too, were refugees from the crowds at Blogher. Comparing notes, it turned out that we had a lot in common. We were close in age and were having the same issues with the conference.

This was a good conference, all in all. The events were well done and the variety of classes and learning opportunities were great. Problem was, a lot of everything from the sponsors to the whole tenor of the events seemed to be geared towards one demographic: young Mommy Bloggers.

Now, understand. I admire Mommy Bloggers. They are funny, smart and doing a tough and vital thing, raising children is not for the faint of heart or easily frightened. I love reading their posts and love laughing and crying with them at the things kids can do.

It's just that, well... not all of us are Mommy Bloggers.

More about this, later.

New York Adventure, Part 2

So, we've done the Circle line tour (Thursday evening), walked across Broadway, enjoyed meeting new blog people and Oh, will I have some blog reading to do! The hotel is beautiful, and the meetings were informative.

I do have a complaint, however.

It's the exhibition hall. There are actually 2 of them, full of sponsors who want to give me lovely things. I got my make up done by Debra Masey last night, folks! And she asked me about butterflies.. and is going to tweet my answer... I looked MARVELOUS!

However. It's the 2nd level that is the problem. See, you have to get there by going up an escalator. I'm in a scooter this year, renting one because the wheel chair is a little hard to roll over carpeting, and I don't want to make Leslie's life any harder than it has to be. .. (ya'll, she's a fierce advocate to have on your side. And a master pathway opener. I can GET places with her in front of me...)

Anyway. We were looking for a way to get up to the 2nd level. We tried the main elevators, but it was a matter of "you can't get there from here, because there isn't really PART of here". (Complicated, I know, but it seems, technically, the exhibition hall is actually part of a second building. A different address...) We finally went down to the front desk to ask for help.

After explaining the problem to some blank faces... honestly...one of them kept repeating that all we had to do was go up the escalator, ignoring the fact that a scooter...doesn't do escalators well....after we got them to understand the problem, we had a nice gent volunteer to leave his post and show us a way to get there.

Thus began our trek.

Trek, you ask?

Yes, a trek.

We left the hotel.

We walked up the street for about half a block and went into a loading dock, and up a ramp. From there, we got into a freight elevator, with lots of other freight, junk, chairs, tables, a piano, and the garbage. Yes, the GARBAGE.

We went up a couple of levels and our intrepid guide indicated when we passed the first level of the exhibition hall..."You can come back to there from this elevator and then be in the rest of the hotel," he said.

"Ya huh," I thought, "If we can find someone to let us on..." The prospects didn't seem good. I began to worry a little about how we'd get back. Leslie was sure we'd manage. The look on her face promised that, if a way didn't NOW exist. It would by the time she was finished. I felt a lot more confident.

When the elevator lurched to a stop, and the huge door slid back, our guide had to stop the other hotel personnel from throwing...errr... loading.... more of the garbage that had been collected from the exhibition hall onto the elevator. They had to clear a small pathway to let me drive the scooter out and into the hall.

We didn't get to spend long in the hall, as our journey had taken some time to accomplish and we wanted to attend the next class session. Also, we were pretty sure there was a good chance getting downstairs might be a little...complicated.

We first had to try to find someone who would admit to the existence of the freight lift. It was, it seems a secret passage, known to only the hotel personnel, and to be protected from the untrustworthy eyes of guests...who were to assume, I suppose, that the garbage, furniture and other amenities sprang to and from the hall by magical means.

When we did, we got a somewhat pleasant surprise. It seems there is a SECOND secret passage way! And it is accomplished by going down one level on an older elevator, one that is obviously used by the hotel personnel to transport more savory items than the garbage. It was a step up...figuratively speaking....

We're going to go back up to the 2nd level, later today. The swag possibilities are a seductive draw....

Besides... we've found two of the secret passages, who knows? There might be more.

Nancy's New York Adventure.. Part 1

I'm here in New York, New York! Pinch me!

OUCH... dang, y'all are literal.

Fausta and Mamacita. I got to meet and visit with these lovely ladies last year and am thrilled to have a chance to hang out again with them. I met some new people as well.

Just for the record, the internet here is supposed to be free wireless.. so far everyone has had a dickens of a time getting online at all, and the speed is a little slow. I however, have not had that problem. Why? Well, see, my wireless card in my computer is not working right now. I am using my Verizon wireless connection. Verizon, I love you. (No, I wasn't paid for that opinion.)

What service do you use and how would you review it?

Rain Storm

I have a blog friend, named Ellison (hi, Ellison!) who says it rains in Houston like a cow pissing on a flat rock. He has a point:

I wanted to post this on June 6, but somehow, Blogger was having troubles that day, and then... I forgot.

We're mostly cloudy today, with lots of big, white, fluffy clouds that promise only short, intense bursts of very scattered rain showers. This one, on June 6th, was somewhat isolated, in that only a small area ( where we were!), was affected. However, in about 45 minutes, we got about 2 inches of rain.

We were stuck in an Ace Hardware store, and at one point, tho we'd parked within about 12 feet of the front door, we could not see our red van.

Yep, our friend, Ellison is right.

Cow, meet Rock.

Work

Here at work, we've been working summer hours. For us, that means longer hours, as the students are out of public school and want courses during the day. The good news is that I'm working longer hours, so that's a little extra money.

The bad news is that our enrollment seems a little down from last year. Yah, actually.. this is bad news. A lot of our students are traveling this summer. With the US dollar down, their money is going farther and they're going farther and longer... A lot are also visiting Korea this month. Ah, well, there's always next month.

Good news is that we're still getting one or two new students every day. (We'd like to get 5 or 6, but we'll take what comes..) Another piece of good news is that we've got some super new tutors. They know their stuff and are working out well with the students. We've got a super new math tutor and two new Reading/Writing tutors who have taught SAT courses.

We'd like to expand our SAT courses, and want to do it with some quality teaching. SAT course preparation is big in the community we serve and if the older child in the family is enrolled, we can get the younger child in, as well.

I never took the SAT...I took the ACT. I'm not sure, given the amount of stress involved with this test, and how VERY important it has become in determining which schools a child can get into, that I didn't get really lucky. There seems to be some advantages to being born in the middle of the 20th century....

There are a lot of good online sat prep courses, that use real teachers and lots of practice. I'd sign up for them, if I didn't know a good real life tutoring center. I suspect, given the emphasis on performing well, I'd probably sign up for both the online courses and real life courses. Any way that you can address as many modalities as possible for learning has got to be to your benefit.

Have I mentioned, however, that I'm glad I don't have to take the SAT? And I LIKED taking standardized tests!

A Present from My Youngest Friend

I have a very special web friend. She's 6 years old and I've known her since she was just born. A couple of years ago, we began to chat online. She has red hair, like me!

I love her very much.

A Brief Reflection on 50 years

Yep, I'm 50, today.

Dang. Somehow, I'd always thought of OTHER people being 50, never me. Though, now that I'm here, it doesn't feel all that different from ....49.....

I'd like to see another 50 or so, just for curiosity's sake, if for no other reason. Probably won't make it there, but it's a goal. I'd like to ride a horse again, I'd like to go camping again, I'd like to...

Well, so many things, I'd like to do again.

I'll manage some of them.

What will you do?

Fighting the Good Fight

Yep, it's a good fight, and one we're usually on top of. Not this year. A combination of busy and sick meant that the morning glory vines got ahead of us in the side yard. I will also confess to a little neglect. I was working on the front yard and ignoring the back, partly because of priorities, and partly because...well...after we found Spitty Kitty in the backyard, I just didn't want to go there for a time.


I think there's an empty pot under that bump in the vines... they're running over what is usually a clear little decomposed granite floored sitting area. It's carpeted with the morning glory vines.


These have just about engulfed a hose caddy. At least they're having the grace to bloom, too. Also under there are hibiscus...that aren't coming back this year. I've been holding out hopes.. but I think they are gone, killed by the unseasonably cold winter this year.


The good news? Monster is coming back and may be the only plant with enough vigor to overtake the morning glory vines. He's still a shadow of his former self, but is getting there.

'Pup and I are fighting them back. I'll have an after picture if we win.....

Presents

As I've mentioned several times these last couple of weeks, I've a milestone birthday coming up. I think turning fifty is a milestone, isn't it?

So, as I probably won't be getting many presents from anyone but maybe my mom and 'Pup... I thought I'd go shopping online and have some fun choosing some things I'd get for myself...if I weren't saving for a trip.

For example, I think I would like a spy pen. Why? Oh, now...remember, this isn't necessarily practical or anything.. it's just kinda cool. I'd have loved to have had one of these as a teacher, though. I could have videoed little "Johnny" and SHOWN his parents what a little .. oh well.. dang!

My practical side keeps finding things with USES! I need unusably frivolous and hedonistic! Awww heck. I think I'll just limit my self to anything I WANT, useful or not.

Now, some of the things I'll be looking at in the next week are going be sale items, but not all. I'm going to go all out for myself and have some hedonistic choices mixed in with my (usually) practical and pragmatic preferences. I'm hereby giving myself permission to be unabashedly and thoroughly acquisitive. Don't judge.. play along! What would YOU buy for yourself if money and practicality were no object? Seriously.. put it in the comments. I'm taking suggestions, too!

Communication

I wonder, sometimes, how we managed. Nowadays, we have almost instant communication through the Internet with friends, enemies, acquaintances and outright strangers. Yet, at only 49 (almost 50!), I can remember learning about the post office and how it was a marvel for getting letters and packages to us from far away in only a few days. When how to write post cards and letters, how to type, how to make a long distance call was part of the lessons at school. And the telephone, oh the wonder of it all! You could pick up the phone and call anyone. It was a marvel to my great grandmother to speak to us, with her in one city and us in another.

Now? A lesson in how to place a phone call would get a funny look from even first graders. I dare say, most of the younger elementary students have never HEARD of a typewriter. Indeed, many of the high school kids I have worked with are hazy about what one would look like. A grammar book I was using had a picture of one and the student asked where the monitor was. When I explained it didn't have one and that a person was responsible for making the the machine print directly on the paper (I didn't even try to explain "keys"), she looked at me as if I HAD to be kidding her...

Post cards are another thing the kids have almost never seen. Oh, they're made, and there are even sites online where customized postcard printing is offered. I even get some post cards in the mail from companies offering deals on things....and I suppose, that's where post cards are, now...a new part of the junk mail that feeds my compost pile. (I just love a good shredder.)

What'cha gonna do? I can't begin to predict where all this is going. I just hope to be around long enough to enjoy the journey...

Froberg's Nursery

I forgot, in my post about Froberg's Farm, to mention the nursery the family opened in November. It sells mostly fruit trees, with a concentration on citrus. The trees were very healthy and a good size to plant. Their prices are very reasonable and the selection is great. I found a couple of trees I'd like to have, a Mexican lime (to replace one I lost this winter) and a variegated pink lemon. I didn't buy them, as I'm running out of places to put them and well.... money is tight right now, as I'm saving up to go to Blogher in New York this summer.


They've got some peach, pear and plum trees...


Lots and lots of citrus,

and even a variety of avocados!


The avocados are the most expensive, at about $50 dollars a tree, but they're healthy and not all that common to find around here.

It's worth a trip out there again, later this summer, when I've a little more money (work hours in the summer are longer), and maybe I'll get that variegated lemon after all....

I Miss My Kitty

I miss Lady SpitFire. She's left a gap in the household. You wouldn't think an 8 pound kitty would take up that much space, but the memory of her is still with us. The places she loved to sleep are still there and, in one place, I've just not had the heart, yet, to fluff out the imprint, the little depression on the back of the couch she left. It's hard to put my hand down, and not have her there, and she's missed when we come home, as she's not there to say hello.

I think even 'Pup misses her. The other Saturday, he picked up his brother after leaving me off at work, and instead of going into his office, the two of them went to CAP (Citizen's for Animal Protection). CAP is where we've gotten our dogs, and we drop by their thrift store sometimes. So, the two of them went and while the bro-in-law went to talk to the dogs, 'Pup ended up snuggling the kittens. Seems the people at CAP welcome anyone who wants to come and snuggle kittens. There are never enough hands to help socialize the babies so that they can be adopted.

I hope the two of them do this more often. I think the bro-in-law needs to feel useful (he is mentally challenged), and would do good as a dog walker. 'Pup isn't so good at walking, the doc is rumbling about replacing one of his knees, but he's a champion kitty snuggle-r.

If we end up with another kitten (NOT something I'm pushing for with two dogs in the house), I think it will be because he decides to bring one home. If he does, I hope it's not a calico. Lady SpitFire has the calico shaped hole in my heart just now. I think....a tabby...or perhaps a kitten that looks like it's wearing one of the tuxedo shirts and white spats... I've always had a weakness for tuxedo kitties...

It would be good to have a kitty outside in the garden again. They're companionable souls, garden kitties. They give you time to work, but stay close enough to keep you company. They rarely dig holes and do their bit to keep your garden squirrel and mole free.

I do miss you, Spitty-Kitty. I hope you're waiting, with your momma BrainDog, at the Rainbow Bridge.

Stuff and Such

It's almost my birthday. It's funny, this is the first birthday I've had in a long time that seems to make much difference to me. I guess the number, 50, is a milestone. Half a century...is a long time. It has been a very long time since I was a little girl... and that throws me a bit. It just doesn't seem that long.

'Pup and I have been talking about what we'll do for my birthday and our 10th anniversary. The celebrations will be modest...neither of our families seems to make a big fuss about milestones for either of us, so we're pretty much on our own.

I'll be looking for a good sale on something 'Pup needs for his present. I suspect it will be something electronic related. Personally, all other things being equal and if we have the money, I'd like to get the two of us a Droid. (Y'all, I've told you before I've a strong streak o'geek in me.) Barring that I suspect it will be something along the lines of some extra data storage. Our current phones are working just fine( tho they've begun to show signs of stress), and use the same micro cards that are in the link above.

Oh well..one can dream, can't one?