And a way we go!

Bleah, fell behind in my blogging duties!
Anyhoo I've mostly been concentrating on the
move the past few weeks. A week ago Sunday
the movers were suppose to come but they
were running late and storage is only open
from 1030am-130pm! So we had to have the
movers come last week Tuesday. They were
great! For 3 hours, 3 men, a HUGE truck, 5 flights of stairs then
driving to Queens for storage
only cost me $240 (all 3 men got $15 tip
included in the total)! I was quite please.

Then the rest of the week last week I
focused on settling in Blondies apt with
Jack. We re both so much happier, I had no
idea how miserable we were at the old apt.
The 1st day I woke up at Blondies place,
I woke up feeling GOOD, rested. Not tense
like before.

Saturday I spent the day with Blondie &
Szymanski. It was fun, we brought baking
clay to make stuff with. Blondie showed
me the neatest trick to make roses. I also
made a cute little bottle with 2 Xs on it to
symbolize booze. Ironically Eddie made a
purple, gray dragon and later we put the
little booze bottle into his hands so when
you hang the dragon, he looks sprawled onto
the wall, the booze explains why ;)

Watched a few movies here and there. Saw
BattleStar Galacia movie called "Razor",
well done, Jack & I watched it twice. We
also watched this ultra religious movie
called the "Time Changer." It was hilarious
and really harmless movie. I have been
catching up on all of my reality shows
like "Flavor Flav 3", "Scott Baio 46 &
Pregnant" and "My Fair Brady, Maybe Baby?"

Last week was winter break for most
of NYC public schools so it was good
timing for the move. Next weekend we
will be looking at apts all day Sat & Sun..
Because of the looming recession, rent
prices have come down some. We might even
be able to stay in Manhattan! See see..

Guess who I saw?

Mathew Broderick :-)

Yep, see I was leaving Penn Station, when I
boarded what I thought was the 1 train uptown
but instead, I accidently took the 2/3 train
downtown. So I arrived at 14th st, walked
over to the uptown side, and stood there
waiting for the 2/3 train uptown (to go to 96th
st, then switch to the 1 train).
Anyhoo...
A guy wearing a red winter hat, blue jeans
and backpack comes down the steps to the platform, I only caught a
glimpes of him
but I did immediately think Mathew
Broderick. When I went to doublecheck, I
could only see the back of his head. Being
me I "casually" walked over to the
other side to see if the 1 train was
comming and to sneak a peek to see if it
was him and it was. We made eye contact.
He didn't smile or frown. Just looked at
me with a deadpan facial expression. I kept
my cool but I'm sure he knew I recognized
him. I knew it wasn't his first time meeting
a Deaf person. I remember Blondie and or
Szymanski telling me about a party they
attended a few years ago and he was
there, but I didn't go to that particular
party so I never saw him back then. Now
theirony of seeing him today waiting for
the 2/3 uptown train was memorable.
I always read about how actors/esses being
glad that they live in New York City
because usually residents leave them alone.
With that in mind, I went ahead and worked
on a Suduko puzzle that I started on
the NJ tranist train. Then the 2/3 train
arrived. He boarded a different car then
me. Its amazing to me when I think about
all the famous people who live or
schmooze here in NYC. Makes me glad I moved
here.

Slushi

The snow has turn to slush, due to the icy rain
today. At least the weather has warmed up
some. Been packing on and off the past few
days. The movers will be here Saturday. I'm
not gonna miss my 2 roommates at all, just
gonna miss seeing/feeling the 1 train as it
whizzes by my apt window. And living 1.5
blocks from the train was an additonal perk.
But the apt itself, the lack of restaurants,
or stores will not be missed by me. Nor will
having to go up and down 6 flights of stairs
for laundry and only 1 washer ever works!

Cain and Blondie are so kind to let Jack &
me crash at their studio till March 6th,
by then we shouldve found an apt for
ourselves. See see?

Not a whole lot happening, just focused on
the move, and work. I recently created a 10
day lesson plan for my student teaching. My
cooperating teacher likes my lesson plan and
had been using it. It feels good to help her
out as she was always doing everything last
min! She seems relieved to have a "step by
step" guide in which not only do I state the
intended learning objectives and activities
but how to teach the lessons themselves.
Next week is winter break for my student
teaching so I will only work at NJ and TC ;)
I don't mind the time off.

Haven't been wearing my hearing aid at all,
except when I work at TC.. Its been
frusturating for Jack because he knows
some ASL, he hardly ever uses it. So I de-
cided I was done playing "hearing impaired"
girl that I wouldn't be voicing or using my
hearing aid all the time like I have been for
the past 1.5 yr while dating Jack. This caused
me a lot of stress because I knew I wasn't
being true to myself or being who I am..
Hopefully, he will start using more ASL or
else we won't be doing much talking :-(

Tmw is Valentines Day. No plans as far as
I know. I think with the move this year, neither
of us are feeling VDay. I don't know, Jack
doesn't seem big on any holidays... I've never
had 1 nice romantic valentines day EVER. My
ex was too cheap to do anything...

Well I'm almost back to NYC, gonna nap
and then head to my 2nd job at 4pm...latah

Happieeee birthday Baba!

These photos are from the UWS 80th st/Amsterdam ave where after the
game
ended, people spilled into the streets
chanting "Lets Go Giants, lets go!"
and "Defense, defense, defense!" it was
so cool to be around the energy of all
these happy folks who rooted for the
Giants. Even at one point a firetruck
whooped (played their sirens a little)
by the crowded waving thumbs up
and cheering along with the rest of us!

Today is Baba's bday and I wish I was
in PA 2 celebrate with her but it will
have to wait till Spring Break in March.
I think Jack and I will take Baba out to
dinner to this wonderful Italian place
she introduced to me and Jack over
the winter break. They had the best
bread and olive oil, as well as their
pasta, yum!

Last nite I watched the Superbowl with
Cain and Syzmanski. Cain made us french
toast and bacon for dinner, a nice meal.
Anyhoo the 1st three quarters of the
superbowl was painfully slow. Finally
the game picked up in the 4th quarter and
in the last 1-2 mins of the game, Giants
scored a major touchdown that had me
and Cain jumping up and down! We were
estatic they won! Destroying the Patriots
winning streak of 18-0! Whee of course I
felt somewhat conflicted with my family originating from Boston but
having lived
in NYC for the past 4 years I was rooting
for my city! I'm deafinitely a newly converted Giants fan! Go Giants!

Not much else is new, watched "I am
Legend" with Will Smith. It was a bootleg
copy so Jack had to repeat everything
that was said but luckily it wasn't a
talkative movie. Very much a rip off of
Charles Heston's movie "Omega Man." Still
fun to watch, the end of the world movies.
I also caught "two for the money" with Al
Pacino and Mathew McCoughtney. Pretty
good movie as well.

Signing Avatars

I am not really knowledgeable about online Avatars but King sent me this link and I HAD to share it with you all. "The Forest" by Jason Stewarts. In case you're not familar with avatars like me, it means

"Avatars are icons or representations of users in a shared virtual reality. Within online virtual communities and Internet forums, avatars are pictures that users display alongside thier contributions to represent themselves. Avatars have also become popular in instant messaging and are also referred to as buddy icons." From Pinkmagazine.com

What's even more interesting is people end up spending their "lives" in these online virtual reality/worlds. People exchange monetary value items and people in REAL life are making a living in these virtual worlds. Absolutely mind boggling to live a life online instead of there here ad now.

Presidential Drag Queens

Mom's friend Rich sent these to me :-)

Colin Powell

Jimmy Carter

John Kerry

Idiot Bush!

Damn the man

Who created cinnamon rolls! McDonalds in
the past year added cinnamonmelts to
their menu and lately I've been ordering
that for breakfast when I'm at Penn Station
going to NJ! Bad idea I know but damn the
cinnamonmelts are GOOD! I will just do
a little more walking ;-)

Yesterday I stopped by Cains place for a
short visit. We watched a show called
America's Most Hated Family! It was
about a church group/cult in Westboro,
Kansas (I think?) that preaches "God
Hates Fags!" and that they rejoice when
soldiers die over in Iraq because it is
"God's Will." Very interesting, tight-knit
group of narrow minded individual who
when confronted with their illogical belief
systems often balk with replies like "I
don't want to talk about it anymore." Or
"that's a silly question." Or even better,
"Any real human being on this earth would
know the bible backwards and forward."
This group isn't even interested in re-
cruiting new members, just interested in
picketing, blaming the Jews for Christ's
death. The church leader/pastor is one
angry man with too much power among
his followers. If you get a chance to catch
this program, I recommend you do because
this group makes the mormons look like
saints!

On a different note, Cain offered to let
Jack and I use his apt for a month. He's
leaving next Tues and returns March 8th.
This is PURR-fect timing! It buys Jack
& me an additional 3 weeks! Now I can
get my deposit back and use it for a new
apt in March/April. Part of me wants to
stay in Manhattan but only if the rent
is affordable and that the apt has SPACE.
Otherwise, it has to be Queens!

Today my Uncle David is having Gall-bladder
surgery. I hope things go by without any
trouble. My uncle David is such a good guy.
When I was little he would play 'Pretend'
with me. I wanted to be Wonder Woman, I
think I made him into Spiderman, I can't
recall the details, only his willingness to
entertain me when I was small and often
easily bored (same holds true today for
my ability to become bored/restless fast-
its the ADD).

This week is the beginning of a new
semester at the school where I student
teach. Its nice because I'm being exposed
to 3 different new classes. Plus my
coorperating teacher is actually using my
suggestion of a reward system for class
room management. With kids you have to
give them an incentive. School is like work.
When we go to work, we get paid or some
kind of reward. I think the same applies
to kids. A reward or possibility of a reward
helps kids to stay focus on a task when
they stray from the intended goal. It really
helped me when I worked at MSD.

Man, its rainy here, makes everything look
so bleak, bah!

Apple Pie never tasted so good!

Last Saturday nite, Szymanksi, Blondie and I all met up for a slice of the awesome sour cream apple walnut pie. I don't even like apple pies but this was DAMN and I mean DAMN good pie! If youre ever in NYC, you must try the Little Pie Company or better yet, order online and have them send you one at home. You'll be glad you did!

Poor Blondie, deal with the education beauracies in order to start her student teaching in LI. She will have to commute 2 hours each way! And she has to jump through so many hoops in order to start. She was very aggravated by this and we let her stew.

Later Blondie headed home and we went to visit Cain. We were gonna play pool but time escaped us. It was good to see him. He offered me some good advice. Later I met Szymanski's friend Asha and Robyn. I just loved Robyn. She is one cool lady. She lives in NJ, works fulltime and takes classes part time. She has a girlfriend and two cats. One cat is deaf-blind and the other one I think is just deaf. Robyn is so vivacious that I was glued to everything she had to say! I hope our path cross again down the road.

Yesterday I puttered around 125th st, brought a new winter hat, I think I lost mine a few weeks ago. The same goes for my gloves. Picked up a few other items and came home. Made Jack and me fried chicken with cheddar cheese shells, yummy. We also watched the movie Zathura. What a great movie! It kicks Jumanji's ass! Way better, a lot of fun!

As for moving, its still up in the air if Jack and I will stay at my apt for one more month or move out Feb 15th? We have to decide soon. Right now tho, it's a new work week, I'm ready for it!

Jesse L Martin

Whee!
I forgot to mentioned yesterday that they were filming right on the corner of the street where I live. Szymanski dragged me over to see the set and surprise surprise, it was Law and Order's Jesse L. Martin a.k.a. Detective Green being filmed on the corner of 124th and Broadway. How cool is that? Ironically the director was the same guy from the L&O CI that I was an extra for. He always seems to wear a bright orange winter coat.

Today was my first day back to teaching undergrads, unfortunately I was in the wrong classroom, and spent 15 minutes trying to find my students. When I finally did, the classroom I was assigned to does not have any type of media console or LCD Projector which made my powerpoint useless. It seems to be the 1st day of class "curse." But anyways it was great to see so many familar faces. I have 4 to 6 new students as well.

As you know, Heath Ledger died yesterday, possible suicide? They have made a final ruling on the cause of death. Its a shame because he was so young! How could someone that famous and good looking feel so alone that they have no other choice? Although maybe it was an accidently overdose??

1 reason why I love UPToWN

This afternoon Szymanski and I hit a dollar
store in Northern Harlem and we spotted
this guy here, the newest spokesperson
4 Scots Toilet Paper!
A lot of the stores off of Broadway
have cats that greet the consumers.
I love NY!

A case of the NASTIES!

Hmph! This morning on my way to
Penn Station from my apt, I boarded
the 1 train which was packed like sardines
in a tin can. Then at 96th st, I got off to
switch to the 2/3 train (express) and ofc
it was just as packed but I saw an opening
in one of the cars and boarded. Meanwhile
a dipshit guy was standing by the entrance
of the train and was standing in a way
that blocked me unnecessarily, sorta puffed himself up. I moved in
anyways because
people have to make room for other people.
He had the nerve, the nerve! To elbow me
into my chest directly! Ooooh no he didn't!
But he did. And I told him quite loudly
don't you EVER elbow me in the chest
again. Then he tried to play the "angry
black man" muttering, saying nasty things
to me while reading his newspaper (which
was actually in this other ladys face
because there's NO ROOM 2 spread ur
arms out to read!- that's just selfish!).
Then I let him have it, told him if he
elbowed me again, I was gonna make sure
I elbowed his FACE! Then I added that if
you want SPACE to read ur newspaper
you take a cab but otherwise SHUT UP!
Funny thing was I didn't even have my
hearing aid on so I never knew what he
said but I knew what he was aiming to
say. Other men on the train started to
intervene and I was able to move away
from him. But I wasn't gonna let him bully
me. I don't care what color you are, you
DON'T elbow a woman in the chest,
period! He's lucky Jack wasn't there or he
wouldve knocked this guy into next week.
Well this week has been going pretty
good. Went back to student teaching and
now I'm headed to NJ for my students
some of them didn't finish their final
exam videos so I'm meeting w/2 of them
today.
My sleeping habits was thrown off
schedule during the break so I'm having
a hard time getting back to my
"working" sleeping schedule. Next week
all of my jobs start back up.
Over the break I realized I've gotten
a major case of the blues. One thing I
hate about depression is, sometimes it
can sneak up on you and you don't even
realize it. I think I mistakened my
depression as just being tired and
overworked. And in some ways that's
true but in other ways I was also
feeling more sensitive than usual. The
past few days I've been feeling more
even, less moody. Its still there but not
as intense.
Also finding out about my friends mother
who passed away only compounded my
depression. Plus I'm currently re-defining
two relationships I have with two
different people. To make it more healthy
all around. I have a bad habit of trying to
please everyone else instead of myself.
Now I'm trying to strike a balance that
works for me and my relationships. I think sometimes I forget
relationships like
everything else in life its not static
but rather fluid, evolving, changing. Its
just hard for me to figure out how to go
about re-defining these 2 important
relationships by doing so in a fashion
that works for me instead of against me.

I have a hard time

Saying goodbye to people who have died.

Recently I learned of an old close friend of
mine, who's Mother died Dec 3rd. I admit I'm
very sad she died before I got to see her. I
let the years go by, and always chalked up
to money limitations in why I didn't visit
my dear friend & her family. In HS her Mother
when I stayed at her home. Stayed up late
at night, both of us insomanics, talking
as one kindred spirit to the other. She had
a warm reassuring southern voice and charm
that made you want to lean in further to
soak up more. She was a true Lady and
I'm gonna miss her, especially if I go back
down 4 a visit. Which I so badly want 2 do.
Its gonna be hard. I've been there several
times over the years. I still know the 1st
floor of the house layout, room for room.

So in other news, I've been packing up. I
figure now is better than later when my
schedule is more hetic.

Still mulling over thesis ideas. Tmw will meet Blondie 2 have her show
me one of Columbia U library where she found articles for one of her
research papers.

Jigsaw Puzzles

Since I can remember I've always been a fan of jigsaw puzzles. At the house I grew up in, jigsaw puzzles often would begin in the kitchen or dining room. Which usually led it to be moved onto a fold out card table. The card table would be placed stragetically in the living room so people could work on it over time.

Over the recent break in PA, I brought a cheapie 550 piece jigsaw puzzle of the solar system. Which Jack joked that it looks like "the Solar System during rush hour" because of the placements of the planets, as well as their sizes, adding distortion of what the picture was. Basically instead of the typical paper print, it had the kind of hologram, with the lines. Kinda like on those cheap pins that look like margarita glasses that you get free from a bar or spring break event. The same kind of texture and effect was this puzzle surface. Sometimes it didnt help me because I couldn't see the colors effectively. But no matter, I worked on it for about 5 days here and there. Finished it on NYE. It was nice doing one.

So while I'm taking a break from researching possible thesis ideas, I decided to google "jigsaw puzzles' and what I came across was fascinating to me :)

Jigsaw invention is credited [from wikipedia] "to John Spilsbury, a London mapmaker and engraver, is credited with commercialising jigsaw puzzles around 1760[1]." It started out as wooden based and usually for children. Not until the Depression did jigsaw popularity sky rocketted. Check out "Who Does Jigsaws Puzzles?" from jigsaw-puzzle.org. I'm intriqued to learn more about the variety which I didn't know existed. For example a 2-D Globe Puzzle (from Wikipedia)- Another type of jigsaw puzzle, a kind of cross between 2-D and 3-D puzzles, is a globe puzzle. Like a 2-D puzzle, a globe puzzle is made of cardboard and forms a single layer. Like a 3-D puzzle, the final form is a three-dimensional shape. Most globe puzzles have designs representing spherical shapes such as the Earth, the Moon, and historical globes of the Earth.

I brought a 2nd puzzle as well before leaving PA. This puzzle is a picture of the famous "Leg Lamp" from the movie A Christmas Story. I didn't bring it with me. Thinking, best to wait till Jack & I move. Butttttt today at Barnes N Nobles I spotted one of the Family Guy. How could I resist?

45+ roommates

(I started this yesterday- and ended up putting it in the draft folder
to finish today)

Well I'm sitting at HSBC, waiting for a copy of the cashiers check I
gave L when I moved in Sept 06. Unfortunately the newest roommate has
created so much stress in my home environment that Jack and I decided to
move out. We're looking for a place in Queens somewhere.

Anyways out of boredom I decided to make a list of roommates ive had
since age 15 at MSSD till now and its well over 45 people. Looking back
I feel the best roommates I had were...

At MSSD (High School)
MaryNance
Neeky
Hildur

During my College days
Sorry

When I worked in MD @ MSD
Mona Lisa from the Pananma

Since moving to NYC, Ricky was the best!

Who I wished I had been a better roommate to would be
Knob, I left her often in a roach infected, falling down apt bc I was so
caught up in my own drama of trying to fix a broken relationship with my
EX! She deserved better.
And to Zee, again due to my own drama, of the breakup with my EX. And I
didn't keep up with the cleaning and care of the apt.. I always felt it
hurt my friendship with Zee and even tho she says she forgave me, it
still bothers me.

Today its about 18 degrees, I'm on my way back to the same HSBC bank
because as usual the system was down. That's the story of their life...
To pick up the documents I need.

I've had a major falling out with Szymanski and I'm not sure it can be
repaired at this point? Ofc I care for her but not at the cost of my own
well being or of Jacks either.

Tmw I will see Blondie, much needed visit to get my mind off of heavier
matters. Sometimes life piles snowballs of stress and lately I feel
slammed by these snowballs. It will pass. It always does.

I'm hoping Blondie and I go to DPHH, I haven't gone in FOREVER! And I'm
not too tired, finally!

I had a weird dream last night that Jack said to me, I want 3 or more
kids. And for some weird reason I gushed back, "me too..." Jesus 3 kids?
Hmm I want to be married 1st b4 having even 1! Maybe its symbolic, that
we both want 3 things in the future, just what they are, I'm not sure?

No New Years resolutions for me. Every day I believe its up to the
individual to be a better person regardless of

A cat can love a rat!

At the Vet

For my cat Tom, and I'm in the waiting room when I saw a poster called
"A Dog Purpose" from a 6 year old boy. The story explains how a family's
dog was very old and sick with cancer. So they decided to euthanasize
the dog at home with the vet there. They worried about the 6 year old
boy and how he would react. When the dog died the family wondered
outloud about how the animal lives are shorter than humans and the
little boy piped up "I know why."
He then added "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good
life. -like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" then
he continued "well dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have
to live as long."
God I started to tear right up!

Happpieeee Birthday

Rob & Dave!
See you tmw for the bday party!

Our president wannabes views on disabilities

Thanks Knob!
http://www.aapd.com/News/election/070804comp.htm

Brr!

Windy is putting the weather mildly, its downright nasty cold

This is HYSTERICAL!

My friend John sent this to me, he's the one on the far left side!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1431606530

Now check out me and Jack! (UPDATE) Er-scratch that, didnt save or I didnt do it right, will try again tmw night

Enjoy!