It is way cold. When I took Miss Murray out this morning, I knew that there would be no relaxed trip up to Central Park today. Too cold.
However I had to come into work this morning for the opening of the
Museum's new Polar ice skating Rink which is not only eco friendly because it's not real ice but plastic and it is outdoors! I absolutely wore the right coat but the wrong shoes. I wore stylish boots for an earlier shoot and forgot the guiding principal: be warm and be comfortable.
This has been a killer week in terms of being very busy and having to work nights and some part of this weekend.
In addition to all the craziness at work, we had our parent teacher interviews at Friends for Kate who is absolutely doing gang busters at school. She has some great teachers and asks good questions, both at school and at home. However i think we need to work on her leadership skills because if she is too bossy than she will be a leader of no one....
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Wordsmith
So my favorite expressions right now are "What a noonoo brain." That's for Sarah Palin and then anybody else who seems to fit right in. "Fuck a duck" which everybody in my office uses all day. Ya know, it's the stress. And then "Are you barking?" That's my current fave because the British are so understated...
We watched 60 minutes last night broadcast their interview Barack Obama's first major interview since being elected and I thought it was splendid and a major event. Arnie got it. I got it. But Kate wanted more information about his family which is pretty normal i think. When the Johnson girls moved into the White House, I used to fantasize about how that would be. Not for long, but enough to enjoy the day dream.
And then last night we emptied our coin jar and discovered that it toted up to $200. Cause for a family discussion. Go out to dinner, put it in the bank, or buy really great christnas presents. So we comprimised and everybody got $25 and then we are putting the rest into a stock that we can watch. Carefully because we must be noonoobrains and absolutely barking to do this now.
We are now the owners of one share of Warren Buffet's heretofore amazingly high perforing Berkshire Hathaway. I am thrilled. I don't want to climb the Materhorn but I've always wanted to own some Berkshire Hathaway stock. some=one. And I've rationalized this expenditure as being educational for Kate because she will start following the stock market. I certaily will.
Specially since this morning she pitched a fit about taking a cab to school and I fianlly worked my way through all the grown u- caveats, it's not raining, we're trying to save money, it's not so cold, and what do you mean you want to get there early? Ok, spend your allowance. To my shock she said fine, here's $5. Do you think that's because she received a $25 windfall last night.
I'm worried about my Christmas present....
We watched 60 minutes last night broadcast their interview Barack Obama's first major interview since being elected and I thought it was splendid and a major event. Arnie got it. I got it. But Kate wanted more information about his family which is pretty normal i think. When the Johnson girls moved into the White House, I used to fantasize about how that would be. Not for long, but enough to enjoy the day dream.
And then last night we emptied our coin jar and discovered that it toted up to $200. Cause for a family discussion. Go out to dinner, put it in the bank, or buy really great christnas presents. So we comprimised and everybody got $25 and then we are putting the rest into a stock that we can watch. Carefully because we must be noonoobrains and absolutely barking to do this now.
We are now the owners of one share of Warren Buffet's heretofore amazingly high perforing Berkshire Hathaway. I am thrilled. I don't want to climb the Materhorn but I've always wanted to own some Berkshire Hathaway stock. some=one. And I've rationalized this expenditure as being educational for Kate because she will start following the stock market. I certaily will.
Specially since this morning she pitched a fit about taking a cab to school and I fianlly worked my way through all the grown u- caveats, it's not raining, we're trying to save money, it's not so cold, and what do you mean you want to get there early? Ok, spend your allowance. To my shock she said fine, here's $5. Do you think that's because she received a $25 windfall last night.
I'm worried about my Christmas present....
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The last 2 months efore Xmas
That is the countdown to Christmas and the New Year which are for me absolutely jammed packed with Must do's and gotta spend. Normally I would love that and all those articles about how people feel guilty about spending money....bag humbug. If I
had it, I'd spend it with pleasure, with gusto. But this year I'm looking to skate through in a frugal waltz with necessity. I'm actually trying to find joy in the depression. Actually just carrying a Christmas tree home may be a good thing this year. Kate always wants to do that since we did it the first year. But I'm so lazy that I like to go way west to the piers and choose a beautiful tree, bargain for it in the style of my father who always wore a hat and gloves on these hunting forays. But the difference is that I then want to have it sent. So this year we're gonna carry it back. In fact, if anybody wants to know how I'm economizing -- this it.
We're still playing fall soccer outdoors and unfortunately we've been rained out for the last 2 or even three weeks. But for the winter we get to play at chelsea piers which I hope will be fabulous because it's a far newer facility than Pier 40. Although Pier 40 with its enormous outdoor green and acrobatics on the upper level is a pretty astounding surprise here in the City. i've always hated chelsea Piers because of the parents that used to accompany their children to ice skating...whining. It's not just at soccer.
And next week the Museum will be opening an ice skating rink with artificial ice. I once saw such a rink in China in 1999. It was an indoor rink in the south China town of Nanning and people were quite happy to be ice skating in August! The Museum rink will be open from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm and that should be a great place for a date and a cuppa hot chocolate.
So, my greatest news -- forget world peace and other obtainable goals -- is that Kate ate cheese souffle for dinner. It was the offering of the evening but who knew that she would actually eat. Maybe I can add it to the
other 5 items of food that she will ingest. yowza, yowza.
and I may just give into my latest lust and buy an iphone. More will be revealed on November 22.
had it, I'd spend it with pleasure, with gusto. But this year I'm looking to skate through in a frugal waltz with necessity. I'm actually trying to find joy in the depression. Actually just carrying a Christmas tree home may be a good thing this year. Kate always wants to do that since we did it the first year. But I'm so lazy that I like to go way west to the piers and choose a beautiful tree, bargain for it in the style of my father who always wore a hat and gloves on these hunting forays. But the difference is that I then want to have it sent. So this year we're gonna carry it back. In fact, if anybody wants to know how I'm economizing -- this it.
We're still playing fall soccer outdoors and unfortunately we've been rained out for the last 2 or even three weeks. But for the winter we get to play at chelsea piers which I hope will be fabulous because it's a far newer facility than Pier 40. Although Pier 40 with its enormous outdoor green and acrobatics on the upper level is a pretty astounding surprise here in the City. i've always hated chelsea Piers because of the parents that used to accompany their children to ice skating...whining. It's not just at soccer.
And next week the Museum will be opening an ice skating rink with artificial ice. I once saw such a rink in China in 1999. It was an indoor rink in the south China town of Nanning and people were quite happy to be ice skating in August! The Museum rink will be open from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm and that should be a great place for a date and a cuppa hot chocolate.
So, my greatest news -- forget world peace and other obtainable goals -- is that Kate ate cheese souffle for dinner. It was the offering of the evening but who knew that she would actually eat. Maybe I can add it to the
other 5 items of food that she will ingest. yowza, yowza.
and I may just give into my latest lust and buy an iphone. More will be revealed on November 22.
Friday, November 7, 2008
The Day After
Well, metaphorically speaking because actually it's several days after. Arnie and i went to bed early and neglected our civic duty to Kate and refused to let her watch the returns come in. Well, refuse is a harsh word. I was scared that McCain would win and I would have 4 years of trying unsuccessfully to distinguish Sarah Palin from Tina Fey. Bingo I am in good shape because Biden and Obama neither look nor sound alike.
In spite of riotous celebrations in Harlem, most of the people I know let out with a few cheers and heartfelt thanks that we didn't go over into the abyss. But now I really have to stop reading the newspapers because it's all so grim...except for the weather which this November is amazingly warm. We are all still in light jackets and the idea of Thanksgiving and Christmas are pretty foreign. It's not cold enough and the idea of randomly spending money that you may not have for too much longer is pretty scary. Apparently I'm not the only one and that's the case for millions of consumers across the country.
However all that frugal talk aside, Kate's new rug arrived and looks gorgeous. I don't know that I ever had wall to wall carpeting in my bedroom and my bedroom growing up was the maid's room. But Kate has very large room and now she has a very large green rug which is gorgeous. Just no spilling of milk or vomiting please.
In spite of riotous celebrations in Harlem, most of the people I know let out with a few cheers and heartfelt thanks that we didn't go over into the abyss. But now I really have to stop reading the newspapers because it's all so grim...except for the weather which this November is amazingly warm. We are all still in light jackets and the idea of Thanksgiving and Christmas are pretty foreign. It's not cold enough and the idea of randomly spending money that you may not have for too much longer is pretty scary. Apparently I'm not the only one and that's the case for millions of consumers across the country.
However all that frugal talk aside, Kate's new rug arrived and looks gorgeous. I don't know that I ever had wall to wall carpeting in my bedroom and my bedroom growing up was the maid's room. But Kate has very large room and now she has a very large green rug which is gorgeous. Just no spilling of milk or vomiting please.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Our Dog Only Poops on east 72nd Street
Well,thats not true today. But I was beginning to think that a cab ride uptown and the smell of Central Park were the essential ingredients for this dog to do what she needed to do.
However this Election Day -- can you believe that it's actually here? -- she, too, seemed to get the message that this is a time for change. Arnie and I went to vote at 6:00 am and we had to join an already long line. Eureka. Unfortunately the poll watchers and poll helpers are usually rude and incompetent. Parr for the course but when they are stupid on top of that, it's teeth grinding time. However all that comoplaining aside, I was out of there in 15 minutes. Arnie may still be there for all I know even though I offered to let him change his name to Slate and vote in a more timely fashion.
Now it's tooth grinding time tonight as we watch the returns come in which we will do as a family. I really think we should be watching them with someone who voted Republican so that we can spend the entire night screaming at each other. That's actually something that I enjoy but maybe after 2 years, it's enough. But still I have that sneaking urge to take the entire subject on....we have been ever so polite and not really rammed the subject home with family or friends. Of course we know about our friends, it's just our family that seems to be inscrutable...
Because I'm off today I also have the great pleasure of picking Kate up from school. Something that any working mother wants to do more often than not. And today the rug guys are here to install Kate's new carpet which will be a great and one hopes pleasant surprise for her.
However this Election Day -- can you believe that it's actually here? -- she, too, seemed to get the message that this is a time for change. Arnie and I went to vote at 6:00 am and we had to join an already long line. Eureka. Unfortunately the poll watchers and poll helpers are usually rude and incompetent. Parr for the course but when they are stupid on top of that, it's teeth grinding time. However all that comoplaining aside, I was out of there in 15 minutes. Arnie may still be there for all I know even though I offered to let him change his name to Slate and vote in a more timely fashion.
Now it's tooth grinding time tonight as we watch the returns come in which we will do as a family. I really think we should be watching them with someone who voted Republican so that we can spend the entire night screaming at each other. That's actually something that I enjoy but maybe after 2 years, it's enough. But still I have that sneaking urge to take the entire subject on....we have been ever so polite and not really rammed the subject home with family or friends. Of course we know about our friends, it's just our family that seems to be inscrutable...
Because I'm off today I also have the great pleasure of picking Kate up from school. Something that any working mother wants to do more often than not. And today the rug guys are here to install Kate's new carpet which will be a great and one hopes pleasant surprise for her.
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