I had to pick up my parents at the airport on Sunday night. I never get lost at Kennedy & this time I did. I missed the entrance to the Belt PArkway East & ended up going west to the first possible exit. I got off there & looped around back towards Kennedy. I looked ALL OVER to see what was around because I was driving my mother's car & I amnot familair with it. It was clear & I was able to get onto the highway when -- all of a sudden -- a motorcycle comes FLYING up on my left & was apparently furious that I took his spot on the road. He zips past us & then slows down enough that he is pacing my front end of teh left tire. He looks back & I am freaking out because he is soooo close & I was trying to swerve right so as not to hit him. He then KICKS the car! YES!!!! KICKS IT! F%$#&*^N -------- I am not saying it but you know what I want to scream.
Why is it people are filled with this entitlement crap that they can do what they want & others have to bow down to their garbage?
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Saw A Fox at Foxwoods
I know~~~corny title. It's the only clean one I can come up with. KDP & I went to Foxwoods Casino on Friday. We left right on time....1:30 & got there around 4:15. Smooth drive. No problems. No traffic. No rain. So opposite of the previous weekend.
We pulled in to the wrong entrance of the casino & had to navigate driving around the humongous complex to find our hotel. I didn't know (until I booked it) that Foxwoods is two hotels attached by stores & restaurants + a hotel nearby. We tried going to the Rainmaker side....where the very nice valet told us how to get to the Grand Pequot side. After almost getting wiped out by a bus, we found the parking garage & made in inside. It was about a mile hike to the Front Desk where we checked in.
The room was very nice. Spacious, clean, great set-up + a fridge! I was so excited because I always bring water & snapple and this allowed me to chill it for the rest of the night or for the drive home the next day.
We didn't settle in for very long because we were starving & had to grab dinner & be back in the room by 8:00. So we went to the Buffet that they had going. I am not a fan of getting food from where so many others are mingling with their hands & arms & germs near what I will be eating, but it looked well-protected & had so much to choose from that I was in.
We ate SO MUCH! I started with their salad bar.....ofcourse......and finished that pretty quickly. I moved on to the Chinese buffet they had going. I put a portion of everything that they ahd up there on my plate & each dish was fantastic. Some of it was the best I have had of that particular dish. Even the fried rice was the best I have had.
I moved on to the pasta station & tried their penne. Good. I wasn't too into the pasta (carbs and all). Besides, I can get pasta anywhere. I can even cook it myself. So I passed on the rest.
The International Buffet came next. I had some chicken, two types of potatoes, a stuffed pepper, and veggies. Yummy! I even went to the Seafood Bar next where I got shrimp & crab legs. It was all good but I am not a fan of eating with my hands & had to shell these items. YUCK! But they tasted good.
Did you think I wouldn't have room for the Dessert Bar? No Way! Ofcourse I did. I had the build-your-own sundae & a piece of chocolate cake. Both fantastic. I got more than my money's worth here.
Back to the room to change & wash up & get ready because we were here to see Nick Lachey. The Fox Theater that they have is a great venue. It's small, very comfortable, and you can see the person performing without monitors. This is quality.
It started at 9:00 with some opening act called Dirty Blonde. The strange thing is that none of them have light hair. They all had brown or black hair. I have never heard of them, nor did I know any songs. They sang for half an hour & then left. We all thought Nick was up next. But, no. Someone named Joanna performed for the next 1/2 hour set. She looked & sounded just like the girl from Dirty Blonde & I said this to KDP. She agreed & we both pondered the whole thing. I couldn't understand one word coming from her mouth but she has apparently been on MTV. I have yet to see her--but I am willing to wait.
Finally, around 10:15 Nick came out. He looked SO GOOD. Dark jeans, maroon shirt, and black blazer. He sang about four songs & then removed his jacket. This produced a lot of screaming & requests to "take it all off". There he was, dark jeans & maroon short sleeves barely covering his TREMENDOUS biceps. It's all about the arms people.
He sang a few more songs & then took off the tshirt. This revealed a black (I hate this phrase) wife-beater...and yet again...many pleaded to have him remove it all.
He sang a 98degrees song and sang two from his upcoming album. They were borderline porno songs....but I can't wait to get that cd. He then went to change again & came back out in the traditional black pinstripe button down shirt with the jeans & looked fantastic. He sang a Led Zeppelin song & the remainder of his album. Lachey was a great entertainer. He pleased the masses. The age range was from 8-78.....even groups of senior citizen women (late 60s-early 70s) were there with their tour shirts on to support him. Also, the audience was about 20% male. Fathers, brothers, boyfriends, husbands......all there drinking beer & watching the show. It was amazing.
The show ended close to midnight & KDP & I decided to explore the casino. We wandered a bit, got a drink at the bar & then played some of the slots that looked interesting. I think we wrapped it up around 1:30.
Classic KDP moment: there are two double beds in the room. We settle into our respective beds for the night. I hear (in the darkness) "This bed seems small". I respond to the voice in the dark "They're double beds". She says "Whose? Your's or mine?" HAHAHAHAHA I lost it. She then cursed me out & threatened to throw stuff at me but she knew I wouldn't give it back. I am more apt to keep it (if it's something I want) or chuck it into the hallway to watch the other person have to go get it.
We check out the next morning & head over to the outlets. Tanger has an outlet on 95 in CT. and it was a good stopping point. We wandered through there for a bit & then continued home. We hit the Bronx & KDP detoured to Manhattan to Build-A-Bear because it was double-points weekend & she wanted to rack up her stuff fur stuff points.
We also stopped for Panera & enjoyed their new Crispanis. I rolled in around 8:30 having yet another good weekend. This is 4 out of 5 weekends that I have been away. I have no plans to go anywhere this weekend. Who is up for a trip?
We pulled in to the wrong entrance of the casino & had to navigate driving around the humongous complex to find our hotel. I didn't know (until I booked it) that Foxwoods is two hotels attached by stores & restaurants + a hotel nearby. We tried going to the Rainmaker side....where the very nice valet told us how to get to the Grand Pequot side. After almost getting wiped out by a bus, we found the parking garage & made in inside. It was about a mile hike to the Front Desk where we checked in.
The room was very nice. Spacious, clean, great set-up + a fridge! I was so excited because I always bring water & snapple and this allowed me to chill it for the rest of the night or for the drive home the next day.
We didn't settle in for very long because we were starving & had to grab dinner & be back in the room by 8:00. So we went to the Buffet that they had going. I am not a fan of getting food from where so many others are mingling with their hands & arms & germs near what I will be eating, but it looked well-protected & had so much to choose from that I was in.
We ate SO MUCH! I started with their salad bar.....ofcourse......and finished that pretty quickly. I moved on to the Chinese buffet they had going. I put a portion of everything that they ahd up there on my plate & each dish was fantastic. Some of it was the best I have had of that particular dish. Even the fried rice was the best I have had.
I moved on to the pasta station & tried their penne. Good. I wasn't too into the pasta (carbs and all). Besides, I can get pasta anywhere. I can even cook it myself. So I passed on the rest.
The International Buffet came next. I had some chicken, two types of potatoes, a stuffed pepper, and veggies. Yummy! I even went to the Seafood Bar next where I got shrimp & crab legs. It was all good but I am not a fan of eating with my hands & had to shell these items. YUCK! But they tasted good.
Did you think I wouldn't have room for the Dessert Bar? No Way! Ofcourse I did. I had the build-your-own sundae & a piece of chocolate cake. Both fantastic. I got more than my money's worth here.
Back to the room to change & wash up & get ready because we were here to see Nick Lachey. The Fox Theater that they have is a great venue. It's small, very comfortable, and you can see the person performing without monitors. This is quality.
It started at 9:00 with some opening act called Dirty Blonde. The strange thing is that none of them have light hair. They all had brown or black hair. I have never heard of them, nor did I know any songs. They sang for half an hour & then left. We all thought Nick was up next. But, no. Someone named Joanna performed for the next 1/2 hour set. She looked & sounded just like the girl from Dirty Blonde & I said this to KDP. She agreed & we both pondered the whole thing. I couldn't understand one word coming from her mouth but she has apparently been on MTV. I have yet to see her--but I am willing to wait.
Finally, around 10:15 Nick came out. He looked SO GOOD. Dark jeans, maroon shirt, and black blazer. He sang about four songs & then removed his jacket. This produced a lot of screaming & requests to "take it all off". There he was, dark jeans & maroon short sleeves barely covering his TREMENDOUS biceps. It's all about the arms people.
He sang a few more songs & then took off the tshirt. This revealed a black (I hate this phrase) wife-beater...and yet again...many pleaded to have him remove it all.
He sang a 98degrees song and sang two from his upcoming album. They were borderline porno songs....but I can't wait to get that cd. He then went to change again & came back out in the traditional black pinstripe button down shirt with the jeans & looked fantastic. He sang a Led Zeppelin song & the remainder of his album. Lachey was a great entertainer. He pleased the masses. The age range was from 8-78.....even groups of senior citizen women (late 60s-early 70s) were there with their tour shirts on to support him. Also, the audience was about 20% male. Fathers, brothers, boyfriends, husbands......all there drinking beer & watching the show. It was amazing.
The show ended close to midnight & KDP & I decided to explore the casino. We wandered a bit, got a drink at the bar & then played some of the slots that looked interesting. I think we wrapped it up around 1:30.
Classic KDP moment: there are two double beds in the room. We settle into our respective beds for the night. I hear (in the darkness) "This bed seems small". I respond to the voice in the dark "They're double beds". She says "Whose? Your's or mine?" HAHAHAHAHA I lost it. She then cursed me out & threatened to throw stuff at me but she knew I wouldn't give it back. I am more apt to keep it (if it's something I want) or chuck it into the hallway to watch the other person have to go get it.
We check out the next morning & head over to the outlets. Tanger has an outlet on 95 in CT. and it was a good stopping point. We wandered through there for a bit & then continued home. We hit the Bronx & KDP detoured to Manhattan to Build-A-Bear because it was double-points weekend & she wanted to rack up her stuff fur stuff points.
We also stopped for Panera & enjoyed their new Crispanis. I rolled in around 8:30 having yet another good weekend. This is 4 out of 5 weekends that I have been away. I have no plans to go anywhere this weekend. Who is up for a trip?
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Boyds & Baskets & Bears, Oh My!
KDP & I had plans to drive to Gettysburg after my dumb meeting on Friday. We were on our way to Boyds Bears & their 2nd Annual Longaberger Basket Festival. I was beyond excited.
I was supposed to pick her up around 5:30 to begin the 4 hour drive there. But, if you remember clearly, the weather was not cooperating & it was pouring. What should have taken 30 minutes to drive took an hour. I only got there at 6:00. She ran out to the car, threw her bags in & off we went.
We did not get out of the NY area until close to 8:30. We literally crawled on the Southern & the Belt to the bridge. Staten Island was not any better. We just sat there for the longest time. I had been hoping to cross into Pennsylvania to eat dinner at Cracker Barrel at 7ish but that was not happening. We ended up stopping at the first place we saw----a rest stop in NJ & having to choke down Burger King. EW! It was horroible. And we were tired. And we were not even close to our destination.
We got on the road & drove. And drove. And drove.
We should have arrived at 9:30 had all things gone according to the plan. We got there at 12:15 am. UGH! I couldn't see straight. All I wanted to do was get uot of the car & stretch.
I tried to sleep, but it wasn't easy. I had that car/humming thing going on with my head & body. You know the kind--when you've been in a car WAY TOO LONG and the momentum hasn't stopped even though the vehicle has?
We got up the next morning & headed on over to the Homestead. We got there at 10 am & figured that would be more than enough time before our basket-making session at 1:00. We were so wrong. There was so much more to see & do than anticipated & we had to scarf down lunch at 12:30 to just make it to our weaving stations.
We had made reservations to weave our own baskets. It was so cool! We were side-by-side & Eric was supposed to be helping us. He started me off & then went to KDP. All-of-a-sudden, he disappears. The man helping the stations next to us, Tom, said that Eric gets frightened by "pretty girls" and that's why he was scarce. Nice save. Tom was nice & he & I chatted a lot about my job, his job, and just how much time it takes to actually become a skilled basket weaver.
It all sounds corny, but these baskets are quality & way too expensive. But so pretty that it is easy to get conned into becoming a rep. for the company.
We didn't leave the homestead until 4:00 & still had to drive 4+ hours home. We were so lucky that there wasn't any traffic coming home & it was smooth sailing. I believe I stumbled into the front door--basket & all---around 9:30.
I had a basket that I made (I keep saying I am now one step away from becoming an underwater basket weaver) filled with bears & birds, and kittens, oh my!
So--anyone want to buy a basket?
I was supposed to pick her up around 5:30 to begin the 4 hour drive there. But, if you remember clearly, the weather was not cooperating & it was pouring. What should have taken 30 minutes to drive took an hour. I only got there at 6:00. She ran out to the car, threw her bags in & off we went.
We did not get out of the NY area until close to 8:30. We literally crawled on the Southern & the Belt to the bridge. Staten Island was not any better. We just sat there for the longest time. I had been hoping to cross into Pennsylvania to eat dinner at Cracker Barrel at 7ish but that was not happening. We ended up stopping at the first place we saw----a rest stop in NJ & having to choke down Burger King. EW! It was horroible. And we were tired. And we were not even close to our destination.
We got on the road & drove. And drove. And drove.
We should have arrived at 9:30 had all things gone according to the plan. We got there at 12:15 am. UGH! I couldn't see straight. All I wanted to do was get uot of the car & stretch.
I tried to sleep, but it wasn't easy. I had that car/humming thing going on with my head & body. You know the kind--when you've been in a car WAY TOO LONG and the momentum hasn't stopped even though the vehicle has?
We got up the next morning & headed on over to the Homestead. We got there at 10 am & figured that would be more than enough time before our basket-making session at 1:00. We were so wrong. There was so much more to see & do than anticipated & we had to scarf down lunch at 12:30 to just make it to our weaving stations.
We had made reservations to weave our own baskets. It was so cool! We were side-by-side & Eric was supposed to be helping us. He started me off & then went to KDP. All-of-a-sudden, he disappears. The man helping the stations next to us, Tom, said that Eric gets frightened by "pretty girls" and that's why he was scarce. Nice save. Tom was nice & he & I chatted a lot about my job, his job, and just how much time it takes to actually become a skilled basket weaver.
It all sounds corny, but these baskets are quality & way too expensive. But so pretty that it is easy to get conned into becoming a rep. for the company.
We didn't leave the homestead until 4:00 & still had to drive 4+ hours home. We were so lucky that there wasn't any traffic coming home & it was smooth sailing. I believe I stumbled into the front door--basket & all---around 9:30.
I had a basket that I made (I keep saying I am now one step away from becoming an underwater basket weaver) filled with bears & birds, and kittens, oh my!
So--anyone want to buy a basket?
Convocation Crap
The last post I left off with should have detailed the first major meeting of teh new academic year. It's great. Twice a year we are forced to sit through the same lies that never change. Crak, Blessed Mary, & I did not pay much attention to what was going on. We write notes, play hangman, and Crak has been bringing Time Out NY with her to entertain & plan the nights out that keep escaping us.
The meeting ended rather early before the lunch break. Our group does not like to waste time & we wanted to move up our afternoon dept. meeting to 11:30 so that we could eat lunch & then (hopefully) go. We volunteered Crak to go ask the chair if we could have the meeting & the chair said no. ??? Why, you ask? She needed "down time". Time to relax & unwind from the 2 1/2 hours we had been sitting there. I understand this, but come on. Who doesn't want to get out early?
Disruntled, Crak & I went to the cafeteria where we tried to put together tables for our department. SOmehow--a bunch of oddly-mixed stragglers sat with us. Crak was so hoping that the chair would do her socially inept routine & tell them that they ahd to leave, but this didn't happen, much to our dismay.
Surprisingly enough, while eating burnt pasta (I know--don't ask) the chair held our meeting over lunch. SHOCKER! It was quick, short, and sweet.
We had a stupid fire drill & one more info session & then it'd be time to bolt. I was leaving soon after this pointless meeting to go to Gettysburg & Crak asked me if I was "giving an adress". I did not get this when she asked....I blame it on having had to sit through the mindless drivvel.
The meeting ended rather early before the lunch break. Our group does not like to waste time & we wanted to move up our afternoon dept. meeting to 11:30 so that we could eat lunch & then (hopefully) go. We volunteered Crak to go ask the chair if we could have the meeting & the chair said no. ??? Why, you ask? She needed "down time". Time to relax & unwind from the 2 1/2 hours we had been sitting there. I understand this, but come on. Who doesn't want to get out early?
Disruntled, Crak & I went to the cafeteria where we tried to put together tables for our department. SOmehow--a bunch of oddly-mixed stragglers sat with us. Crak was so hoping that the chair would do her socially inept routine & tell them that they ahd to leave, but this didn't happen, much to our dismay.
Surprisingly enough, while eating burnt pasta (I know--don't ask) the chair held our meeting over lunch. SHOCKER! It was quick, short, and sweet.
We had a stupid fire drill & one more info session & then it'd be time to bolt. I was leaving soon after this pointless meeting to go to Gettysburg & Crak asked me if I was "giving an adress". I did not get this when she asked....I blame it on having had to sit through the mindless drivvel.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
They're Back
So it was Day One back at -----------------. I can't even bear to say the name of the location. You all know where I was. Oh yeah. And it was brutal. The classes are HUGE. The students were not always told to go to the correct classroom on their schedules. How can a place that is in business as a higher ed. institution get so many simple things wrong. I had two classes there beginning at 8:25......then ran to do 2 at the farm.......then went back til 10:30 at night at ---. I am so tired. I am too old to be keeping such a rigorous schedule.
I could do thins a couple of years ago. But it does take it's toll on me. I crashed 10 minutes afer getting home. This will keep up for the next eight weeks. UGH!
I must say that I have moved into a new cube. It's spacious. It has cabinetry. It has a phone. It's MINE! And--even funner--Crak is an aisle away on the other side of someone else's cube. We're going to drive him crazy. As it is, she came into my cube to find out my number & then called me. I could hear her over the cubes & on the phone. We were cracking up! I feel so bad for the cubby people. Crak & I agreed (in fits of giggles) that they will petition to have us crammed back in to some random office together because there will be no rest. Ah--good times.
I could do thins a couple of years ago. But it does take it's toll on me. I crashed 10 minutes afer getting home. This will keep up for the next eight weeks. UGH!
I must say that I have moved into a new cube. It's spacious. It has cabinetry. It has a phone. It's MINE! And--even funner--Crak is an aisle away on the other side of someone else's cube. We're going to drive him crazy. As it is, she came into my cube to find out my number & then called me. I could hear her over the cubes & on the phone. We were cracking up! I feel so bad for the cubby people. Crak & I agreed (in fits of giggles) that they will petition to have us crammed back in to some random office together because there will be no rest. Ah--good times.
Monday, September 11, 2006
A Moment of Silence
As everyone knows, today marked the 5th annivesary of the day our world changed. My heart & prayers go out to all on this day.
Continuing the Literacy Campaign
I just read and assessed the diagnostics from the farm tonight. Can anyone read and comprehend the words in front of them anymore? The essay topic posed to the two classes was something along the lines as follows:
Select a story from your childhood. Discuss it's significance in your memories of your childhood. Was this a book read to you? Was this a family story passed down through generations? Summarize the story and respond to the topic.
I read the first essay & it was about a book called "Freddy the Frog". Good! The next essay was about the Shining, then Night, and then Twelve Angry Men. It continued from there. I had one about The Green Mile, another of The Catcher in the Rye, and two about Go Ask Alice.
These are not childhood stories. These are middle/high school required readings. I believe one-third did the assignment as requested. The other 2/3? Don't get me started. And these are supposed to be my smart students.
A Looooonnnnnnngggggggg Semester Lies Ahead!
Select a story from your childhood. Discuss it's significance in your memories of your childhood. Was this a book read to you? Was this a family story passed down through generations? Summarize the story and respond to the topic.
I read the first essay & it was about a book called "Freddy the Frog". Good! The next essay was about the Shining, then Night, and then Twelve Angry Men. It continued from there. I had one about The Green Mile, another of The Catcher in the Rye, and two about Go Ask Alice.
These are not childhood stories. These are middle/high school required readings. I believe one-third did the assignment as requested. The other 2/3? Don't get me started. And these are supposed to be my smart students.
A Looooonnnnnnngggggggg Semester Lies Ahead!
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