Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Hazards of teaching at a hearing college..

I accidently annoyed another professor tonight whose class was one floor below mine. During the lesson one activity required small group work in which students were told to form small circles with their desk/chairs. Then when it was all over this lady peers into my classroom, opens the door then leaves then changes her mind. She comes back in a not so nice way 'could your students PICK up their desk & chairs not DRAG them across the FLOOR!?' I didn't even think at first I didn't even understand her. Then I am always too nice said we would try to avoid that but hello! I mean seriously we were noisey like a few mins tops! Give me a break lady! Buy some ear muffs but a little noise is not the end of the world. Get a GRIP! :}

Thursday, February 14, 2013

A new Red Bull convert

I wrote a letter (via FB message) to Red Bull pledging my allegiance to them. Even more so when I researched the product ingredient. Totally pro-health which pleases me no less! I wonder if I will get any response?


[Red Bull]
I got to say you have a new customer as of today. My story is a little unique and LONG but I think you will appreciate it nonetheless.
I have several times since Red Bull launched years ago tried your product but the taste is a bit intense for me and I have generally steered away from it.

Today however as an adjunct professor working 2 jobs one in NJ and one in NY I am extremely busy as you can imagine! Anyways I found myself in between classes tired as heck when I saw my students come in with cans of Red Bull and after a minute or two I asked one student "what's the deal today? Why is everyone drinking Red Bull?" He said "oh they're giving them away for free downstairs" and I nodded and  plan. He added one of the women giving them away was in our class! I was like wow, really? Cool!  But I leaned over once more and continue to add some changes to my lesson. I decided there was still some time left before class starts and asked him if there was a long line downstairs for it? I don't know what his response was (I'm Deaf) But what a doll, he offered to go down and get one for me. I sheepishly accepted with a "are you sure you don't mind? He went down and brought me up a sugar free one. Along with the cutest Red Bull key chain! I laughed at one particularly (if you want to know which one, see my FB cover photo) He informed me the Red Bull student wanted me to have it. I opened it up and it was the sugar free one and I took a sip, just as I remembered, Red Bull taste is deAfinitely unforgettable! I went ahead despite my initial response to reject the taste because I wanted to give your product a real test. Does it live up to all the hype around it? Some of the students laughed at me as my face scrunched up I can't explain it. Its not the actual taste, perhaps sour or intensity of it, I don Your team member walked in decked head to toe in Red Bull gear and I loved it! This student who works for you will go far! Keep her! I hope perhaps this summer you will reward her? Because if she hadn't been there that day or in my class I probably wouldn't have even bothered! [I will be happy to give you the students name at the end of the Spring semester to avoid any conflict of interest.] 
Fast forward 15-20 minutes later as I am reviewing materials I paused and announced to the class, looking at your Red Bull team member saying I do believe the Red Bull worked as I have more pep, springing-ness (if that's a word) it really made a difference in a very tired professor's life! I appreciate your product now and already plan to buy some when my budget can afford. I am sure you know adjunct teachers have no benefits or paid well and living in NYC adds up. But trust me I already spotted a sale of Red Bulls I think at CVS currently buy 2 for $4 and you betcha I am!
Thank you Red Bull 
-DC


This one was my favorite!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Feeling like a teakettle tweaking!

My archnemesis thinks he will defeat me. Poor little idiot, he has no idea who has had just enough of his nonsense. If it continues for much longer, I will take a major risk and go straight over his head to the top of the ladder and tell it like it is. And let the chips fall where they may :-V
The saddest thing is, he keeps giving me plenty of ammo to win my case, that's if I don't open my mouth up too much and say something regretful. I am happy to say it is unlikely I am the master of my (emotional) domain!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Dense fog? That's putting it mildly

Boy, I don't think I have had the fortune to see so many different weather systems in a relatively short amount of time. Since Hurricaine Sandy came trick or treating its been a crazy few months weather wise! We were just visited briefly by the Nemo Blizzard, I had hope the snow would melt enough so I wouldn't have to shovel before work today. That was not the case but it wasn't too bad and didn't take that long. But my what a FOG! You couldn't see but right in front of you practically! And it made me batty earlier on 80 west once I departed the city driving in the freezing rain and seeing other drivers *ahem NJ* who didn't have their headlights! Hello, you there in the dark vehicle, I almost didn't see you when I tried to change lane. Turn on your lights moron!!! 
Then after work I thought the fog had cleared up and even the rain was minimal. Yet as soon as I got to the George Washington Bridge it was FOG city all over again. I couldn't see the city at all next to me as I drove over. And its kind of fitting mood for today. I was very sick last week with probably one of the worst stomach viruses ever. Apparently its a superbug that infects within 24 hrs and it knocked me backwards, forwards, upside down and I was in a private hell for a good 24 hrs but felt like eternity at the time. Walking around my apartment like a hunched like a walker from The Walking Dead.


I don't know how someone took my photo above but I am in much better shape than I was a week ago, promise! Yet I am still not fully recovered. I was surprised earlier today when teaching to find my brain acting all fuzzy and by the time I finished teaching the 2nd class I felt like crap. The worst part of it all is I have been staying home for about 3 weeks straight now! I went to see a movie once, watched the Superbowl with the Coons where I picked up the plague from them :/  And this weekend went out once to eat with a friend here locally in the neighborhood but even that wore me out. I haven't been out dancing, visiting friends or much of anything. They say if you don't have your health, you don't have anything. I agree, when you don't feel well for long periods without a break it can wear you down.

Here's to hoping I will feel better a week from now on President's day! A little humor to help along the way :]


As I learned this morning


And for the finale I say begone Collar of Shame, welcome Cone of Happiness


Friday, February 01, 2013

Won a few battles but not the war

Proud to report I won a few 'battles' today. I successfully negoiated a much lower rent increase for renewing my lease over the next 2 yrs. And I also got an exemption letter from the leasing agent for any possible future MCI (Major Capital Improvement). MCI is a NYC rental code that allows for owners to up current lease holder's rent for repairs or upgrades done on their building. Imagine to my surprise last August when I got a letter informing me of this. So its nice to know that my rent will NOT change!
Then I was able to get my internet service not only excuse me from the upcomming monthly internet rate free increasements, but they knocked off $5 off my monthly current rates AND upgraded my services to faster speed. I read online its vital to ask to speak what's called the RENTENTION dept, which only duty is to keep their customers from leaving. I was glad I held my ground and it took about 40 mins but now I'll be paying $5 lessa month, w00t!
Lastly I got one company to waive their late fee because I never received a bill from them. And I did make an online payment. The rep was eager to oblige and it didn't take much convincing which is a nice change of pace.
I am however unhappy to learn that Baba's services are not up to par and the standards have been a major disappointment :(
At least she's home.

My newest obsession...kind of

For years I have been a person who asked for freebies and samples. I remember a really cool class I took in 7th grade, probably one of the few rare good memories from that period of my life but anyhoo. It was a class based on consumerism, I don't remember the exact name, although I wish I did! I even remember my teacher was a petite dirty blonde and I remember finding her class fascinating! Back then teachers encouraged students to write letters. To their favorite authors such as I did in elementary and I recall the author sent be a standard but signed letter and a pin of some type. The author was a Newberry winner too, again can't remember the name yikes!

So this class on consumerism is where I learned that processed food generally has bug parts. Just a sad fact of life. It is protein after all. Hopefully since that time but knowing the FDA maybe things have improved in terms of bugs. But this teacher also asked us to pick a favorite item of ours and then write a letter to the company telling them why we liked their products. I of coursed picked Anais Anais perfume which at the time my mother's best friend Judy wore and as the Amazon Goddess she was, she ooze sexuality and I loved that about her. I adopted that perfume as a pre-teen and for a while my grandmother would buy me some but then she buy it too often I had 3 bottles at one point. Now I am of course years later all out. I must buy some soon for both me and Baba. She loves that scent as much as I do. The company Cacharel was kind enough to mail me 5 small tiny bottles (not the vials today) but real glass bottles of some really nice stuff, which of course both impressed my teacher on 2 accounts, my 5 little perfume values superseded my peers results from their companies and she wanted those perfume. Mom too I recall being very happy with the result and I gave her one I think it was Gucci? Channel? I don't know but some famous top of the line perfume that still popular today by those with money :)

Writing about my perfume kind of makes me sad too because from what Mom told me, Judy's disease, she has Huntington's is of course getting worse with each passing year. Looking back I regret not having been more forgiving of Judy when Papa died. I developed a grudge, something I picked up from a few family members but its not a trait I strive to have now and days. Judy wouldn't come to Papa's funeral and I wanted her there and it was expected she be there but she just couldn't do it. I don't remember the exact reasons why but from that moment on, we were never as close again. Compounding by years of on and off friendship between her and Mom. And at one point, the incident that severed the ties for good was when Judy hit/punched my Mom in the face! Ugh I am not surprised that 27% of people who have Huntington's kill themselves. It may be politically incorrect to say this but I do support the right to die if you reach a point of unbearable chronic, horrific long drawn out death such as suffocating to death from fluids or becoming a vegetable with no dignity or quality to life. If we do it for our pets why are we not humane to a person's right to exit life with dignity? I miss Judy.

My health lately has forced me to focus on work and then the rest of the time conserve energy to keep the neck problems from flaring up. Its a real nuisance compounded with this chronic heat induced headache by the heating systems in NYC. I have to keep reminding myself, use saline, be proactive with the OTC for migraines and try to use a lame ass neck collar at home which I am not sure if it helps or aggravates? Its too soon to say? I just brought it last weekend on Sunday night. And man I had that headache from hell for a good solid 5 days or longer. It almost came back today but I nipped that in the bud quickly by taking the OTC, saline and then taking a rather twilight nap that I didn't wake up feeling refresh from because I never really fell asleep ugh. But at least NO headache.

Been feasting on Matzo ball soup, perfect for the cold weather. For a while there I was feeling so sick from the headache I was suffering bouts of nausea which really sucked. I never did throw up but geez Louise no thanks! It wasn't bad enough that my headache felt like torture that I would've confessed to anything! And light bothered me not because I saw lines but just made it worse.

I was successful in defeating a virus that tried to takeover my laptop, hooray!

And since I've gone back to my hobby of requesting samples I have also been entering contests. So far I have won two. I am waiting for the prizes to arrive (mind you both are candy related, less that $5 total) but a win is a win right? Plus some of the samples I've received have been awesome!

I hope to have a little fun this weekend. Last weekend I was able to have a little fun Sun evening despite the raging headache my friend Lisa Simspon and I saw the movie "The Impossible" about the terrible, devastating tsunami from 2005. It was the 1st time using Sony Glasses. I liked them but they weigh too much that it began to hurt my nose and actually left an indentation, OUCH! I had no choice tho because it was the only way to follow the movie. I hope they become lighter in weight because right now too HEAVY!

This weekend I hope to actually get out some. I already have plans for Sunday Superbowl, whee!

And yeah I have been kind of antisocial. I really just haven't had much energy or relief from the headache/neck pains. When I don't feel well I just shut down. That's me, it will pass. I am not depressed but frankly my energy is just so limited these days. As Baba and I both know, pain wears you out. And worn out I am.