When I left today to meet Barbara for lunch, I almost went back to get my camera. The trees looked beautiful with about an inch of snow on the branches. Looking down looked like a big slushy mess. The super was out putting salt out. I gingerly navigated the steps, and gingerly navigated the slush. I couldn't tell if it were slippery -- couldn't figure out if it were icy slush where my foot would slide or if it was just slush.
Made my way to the restaurant doing the old lady shuffle. We went to Sotto Cinque, rather than our usual scrambled eggs at Jackson Hole, because I'd mentioned Sotto Cinque's $9.95 lunch special where you get an appetizer and an entree. A good deal.
I was so disgusted about work that I did something I rarely do -- told Barbara I was going to have a glass of wine. Of course I'll drink wine, but rarely at lunch. So I had this great glass of Proseco and Barbara had chianti. We were trying to think of an excuse to celebrate, other than ourselves, and I remembered it is International Women's Day so we toasted women all over the globe and ourselves.
She had bruschetta for the app and pesto linquini. I had a house salad and toretllini with peas and mushrooms. Then to continue the celebration, we split a piece of cake that turned out to basically be chocolate mousse cake.
By the time we left the restaurant two hours later, the snow had stopped, much of the slush had melted, Barbara was heading to the grocery store to buy fixin's for beef stew (yum yum and a great day for it) and I headed home to aggravate myself with work.
Happy International Women's Day!
Friday, March 8, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Life's Little Ironies
The last time I was in a romantic relationship was a number of years ago. At the time, this man gave me a stock tip that had been given to him by one of his clients. So I bought some.
Over the years, this stock has done nothing but go up. And, over the years, I didn't like that it was the one last reminder of this guy, but when I saw the $$$, I thought oh well. I can bear up.
About six months ago, the original company was bought and I was given the choice to get a pay out for my stock at a set amount or just let it ride and take shares in the purchasing company. I thought I'd take a chance. I orginally bought it for $14/share. At the time of the purchase, it was $40/share and today it's at $57 a share.
I have to say (well, of course, I'm pleased it's profitable) that there is something totally ironic about this... maybe I'll think of these dividends as reparations for his lousy behavior -- and it keeps paying! Sometimes there is just a bit of justice in the world.
Over the years, this stock has done nothing but go up. And, over the years, I didn't like that it was the one last reminder of this guy, but when I saw the $$$, I thought oh well. I can bear up.
About six months ago, the original company was bought and I was given the choice to get a pay out for my stock at a set amount or just let it ride and take shares in the purchasing company. I thought I'd take a chance. I orginally bought it for $14/share. At the time of the purchase, it was $40/share and today it's at $57 a share.
I have to say (well, of course, I'm pleased it's profitable) that there is something totally ironic about this... maybe I'll think of these dividends as reparations for his lousy behavior -- and it keeps paying! Sometimes there is just a bit of justice in the world.
What Monster Storm?
Maybe by the end of the day, I'll be eating my words, but despite the hysterics and so-called team coverage and weather vans of the local media, showing us horrid blizzardy film of what's headed our way, there is not a flake in sight as of 11 am.
What was comical yesterday is one weatherman showing a map of snow accumulations as of that time and the entire map had zeroes on it.
2:00 pm update -- We had a smattering of a flurry that lasted about 5 minutes. That's it.
4:00 pm update - No more snow, but the local news is still pimping, "HOW MUCH SNOW IS COMING OUR WAY?!?!?!?!?!?!?"
6:15 pm -- Still no snow here, but what Mary says in her comment is true. People living 30 miles north of us have snow. The most common phrase is "north and west of the city" -- that's always where all the snow is. But for us, nada... as of right now.
9:15 pm -- A few tiny flurries, but nothing else. We'll see what happens overnight.
What was comical yesterday is one weatherman showing a map of snow accumulations as of that time and the entire map had zeroes on it.
2:00 pm update -- We had a smattering of a flurry that lasted about 5 minutes. That's it.
4:00 pm update - No more snow, but the local news is still pimping, "HOW MUCH SNOW IS COMING OUR WAY?!?!?!?!?!?!?"
6:15 pm -- Still no snow here, but what Mary says in her comment is true. People living 30 miles north of us have snow. The most common phrase is "north and west of the city" -- that's always where all the snow is. But for us, nada... as of right now.
9:15 pm -- A few tiny flurries, but nothing else. We'll see what happens overnight.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Loose End
Not much going on, but I'll take this opportunity to complain all the way back to my plumbing problem at Christmas. As you may recall, I submitted the Rotor Rooter invoice -- $654 -- to the real estate management company on January 3, after repeated phone calls. At the time, I was told, "Sure, just send it and we'll reimburse you."
Not yet.
After 30 days, I didn't say anything because I know some companies send out checks on the 31st day or whatever. Yesterday when I was writing this company my maintenance check for March, I was reminded that I hadn't been paid.
I went through the annoying phone tree and left this guy a message; the tone was neutral to terse, not nasty, but I did say that I've waited 60 days which is a reasonable expectation to be paid in that time. I left my phone number, but, of course, no courtesy call was returned.
I was telling my client about this during our morning talk and he said it's a way he and his wife disagree -- his wife thinks you should only call when you have something concrete to report -- like "the check is now in the mail", but he thinks you should call even if all you say is "I got your voice mail and I'll investigate." I'm in that school too, but the class doesn't seem to be crowded.
What I have decided is next month when I pay my maintenance, if I have not been reimbursed, I'm deducting it. Don't believe that's legal, but at least it will get someone's attention when I'm in arrears. I'll include a note why I'm paying this amount. By then, it will be 90 days. I was thinking that there is an annual meeting of co-op owners where they present a list of who is in arrears, and I don't care if my name is on it for this reason. One way or another, I'm getting paid for this.
I started this personal mental rant -- like "I've been a co-op owner since this building was first converted; I always pay my maintenance on time blah blah blah" -- the "how can they do this to me?" and then I stopped myself. This is not personal; they are just disorganized and no one particularly cares if I get paid or not.
Having said all this, and even after this hassle, I stand by my decision to hire the plumber myself. I would have had crap water oozing from my sink all Christmas Day and it would have been a whole lot worse. So I don't regret what I did in paying. It got fixed.
Not yet.
After 30 days, I didn't say anything because I know some companies send out checks on the 31st day or whatever. Yesterday when I was writing this company my maintenance check for March, I was reminded that I hadn't been paid.
I went through the annoying phone tree and left this guy a message; the tone was neutral to terse, not nasty, but I did say that I've waited 60 days which is a reasonable expectation to be paid in that time. I left my phone number, but, of course, no courtesy call was returned.
I was telling my client about this during our morning talk and he said it's a way he and his wife disagree -- his wife thinks you should only call when you have something concrete to report -- like "the check is now in the mail", but he thinks you should call even if all you say is "I got your voice mail and I'll investigate." I'm in that school too, but the class doesn't seem to be crowded.
What I have decided is next month when I pay my maintenance, if I have not been reimbursed, I'm deducting it. Don't believe that's legal, but at least it will get someone's attention when I'm in arrears. I'll include a note why I'm paying this amount. By then, it will be 90 days. I was thinking that there is an annual meeting of co-op owners where they present a list of who is in arrears, and I don't care if my name is on it for this reason. One way or another, I'm getting paid for this.
I started this personal mental rant -- like "I've been a co-op owner since this building was first converted; I always pay my maintenance on time blah blah blah" -- the "how can they do this to me?" and then I stopped myself. This is not personal; they are just disorganized and no one particularly cares if I get paid or not.
Having said all this, and even after this hassle, I stand by my decision to hire the plumber myself. I would have had crap water oozing from my sink all Christmas Day and it would have been a whole lot worse. So I don't regret what I did in paying. It got fixed.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
My Two Obsessions
I heard this news yesterday and I forgot to mention it. You know my obsession with Crown Victoria cabs because they are big, roomy and easy to get in and out of. Unfortunately, NYC wants to phase them out in 2014. At first I thought that meant no Crown Vics after 2014 but it means cab companies can't put *new* Crown Vics on the street after 2014 so that was good news in that it gave me 2 or 3 more years.
Yesterday, coming home from the restaurant, I got a Crown Vic cab and made my typical comment about how much I like them and will be sorry to see them go. The driver told me amazing news. The ruling has now been changed, and the deadline was bumped from 2014 to 2018. I was beside myself with joy.
He then told me that his boss, the guy who owns the fleet of cabs, was offered 30 new Crown Vics, configured for cabs, at this amazingly low price because the seller knew he better get rid of them fast. So his boss decided to buy the cars since it was such a good deal. And then, six weeks later, the law got changed to 2018. So the fleet owner REALLY got a good deal. Now that was a great business decision. And I'm happy I'll be riding in roomy luxury for a few more years.
When Marilyn was here this week, one of the things we did was clean out two drawers -- my sock drawer and my catch-all junk drawer in my bedroom. I wish I had taken "before" photos, but the sock drawer was a packed full jumbled mess of socks, knee high stockings, orphaned socks, etc.
I had started to notice that my white socks were getting dingy with strings of elastic occasionally coming off -- and it had probably been years since I bought any new ones. So I bought some news everyday-type socks and it was in with the new, out with the old. Yes, I dumped totally serviceable socks that were past their prime.
And here's the after:
Yesterday, coming home from the restaurant, I got a Crown Vic cab and made my typical comment about how much I like them and will be sorry to see them go. The driver told me amazing news. The ruling has now been changed, and the deadline was bumped from 2014 to 2018. I was beside myself with joy.
He then told me that his boss, the guy who owns the fleet of cabs, was offered 30 new Crown Vics, configured for cabs, at this amazingly low price because the seller knew he better get rid of them fast. So his boss decided to buy the cars since it was such a good deal. And then, six weeks later, the law got changed to 2018. So the fleet owner REALLY got a good deal. Now that was a great business decision. And I'm happy I'll be riding in roomy luxury for a few more years.
When Marilyn was here this week, one of the things we did was clean out two drawers -- my sock drawer and my catch-all junk drawer in my bedroom. I wish I had taken "before" photos, but the sock drawer was a packed full jumbled mess of socks, knee high stockings, orphaned socks, etc.
I had started to notice that my white socks were getting dingy with strings of elastic occasionally coming off -- and it had probably been years since I bought any new ones. So I bought some news everyday-type socks and it was in with the new, out with the old. Yes, I dumped totally serviceable socks that were past their prime.
And here's the after:
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| I confess I have opened the drawer a few times just to admire it. |
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| And this is the catch-all junk drawer. Lots of garbage, some things put back in their proper place, and one item remains: a sewing kit. Yeah, as if I do a lot of mending! |
Friday, March 1, 2013
Friday Fun
Ok, so here's the rundown... First some pictures from earlier in the week of the Second Avenue Subway:
So now it's off to lunch with Cristina who is here visiting her daughter and son in law. We met at Demarchelier which is this lovely (but expensive) bistro type place. I haven't been to Paris in a long time, but this is one of those places where you really do feel as if you're in Europe. Anyone I've taken there has commented on it. So waiting for Cristina, I look at the menu and spot something I will NOT ever be ordering.... can you spot it? (Hint: 8 arms)
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| This building is actually on Second Avenue. I feel bad for the people who live on the low floors of this apartment building as their sun is totally blocked. The Avenues are typically four lanes, so the Subway takes up two lanes and car are left with two. |
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| More subway mess. |
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| This is ground level of the multistory temporary building. Try navigating the sidewalks around all of this -- add in the mice migration, water sometimes shut off, electricity sometimes shut off, underground blasting which I hear three or four times a day and you'll know why I say I hope to live long enought for ONE ride on this subway. |
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| Looking down Second Avenue -- it's just so torn up with no end in sight. Supposedly there will be a stop here at this corner but who knows where it's goiong. |
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| Here's Cristina and we had a multi-hour lunch just catching up as I had not seen her in more than two years and we had a great time. We both ordered the prix fixe lunch. I had salad and an omelette. She had pate and coq au vin. I always order an omelette when I go there for lunch because somehow they make them so thick and puffy... am not quite sure. Oh, and wonderful French bread. Then we had creme brulee and cappucino. Quite the feast for a Friday. |
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| Here's the view from my seat. It's basically banquettes along one wall and tables along the other. Cristna also brought me a lovely candle and some truffles. I wore real shoes (as opposed to Crocs), something that had to be drycleaned, makeup and jewelry. Yes, I was an adult today with the "ladies who lunch."
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