Come on Irene!

Sorry for the title. I refrained from using that phrase all weekend but now, I had to let it out!  As all those of you who don't live in a hole in the ground know, the east coast was hit with a nasty hurricane this past weekend.  New York City was a projected Irene target so the city went through drastic measures to prepare.  

Our hospital was evacuated (first time ever!) on Friday because it was in a projected flood zone, and of course, I worked.  It was a war zone! I was amazed to see nurses, social workers, case managers, doctors and nursing leadership working together so well to evacuate over 200 patients in 36 hours (this doesn't even include discharges to home!)  I was proud to work at a place with such cooperation and care for its patients.  I went to the grocery store after work on Friday for some rations and thought the apocalypse was about to hit.  Fairway (on 74th and Broadway) was packed and they were sold out of essentials such as bananas and loafs of bread!  I'm surprised I got out of there without getting into a physical altercation due to stress level.  Last, the subway system shut down at noon on Saturday (although storm wasn't supposed to hit us until the evening and actually came the next AM instead.) We were stuck in Washington Heights so we hunkered down for the storm.

Scott and I stayed indoors from Saturday AM to Sunday afternoon.  Hurricane Irene largely missed Manhattan (though parts of Brooklyn, Long Island, Staten Island, Jersey and upstate NY are suffering greatly because of it!)  We were lucky.  Scott and I got some quality indoor time to binge eat (apparently I am not good a rationing) and enjoy each others company.  Here are some pics of the weekend.

Battle station! Scrabble, Internet, ginger snaps and white grape juice.  We're set!

Me and our one flashlight.  Apparently we were set if electricity went out because our building has solar panels. We were incredibly prepared nonetheless.

I think I watched more hours of TV over the weekend than I had in years.  We were addicted and sick of Hurricane Irene news at the same time.

I lied. We went outside once on Saturday night.  Scott braved the rain but wasn't particularly impressed.

Irene brownies. Bad idea. They were mostly gone by Sunday.

Had to capture this scrabble board because I won! (I never beat Scott at anything.)  However, apparently "Ya" isn't a word so this win may be up for debate. Scott did allow the word...so he may be to blame for his loss.

Sunday-Funday-Windday!  Hard to capture the wind on camera but it was a windy day when we finally ventured out Sunday afternoon.  The cooler air was a nice change to the freakishly humid weather we've had this summer.

We survived captivity and are still smiling. Hurray!

This is how Scott said he felt after eating so much this weekend.

Puddle and falling tree branch (twig?) behind are extent of Washington Height's damage.  We can't complain!

This was an excellent test of out ability to withstand isolating weather events in the future! Let's hope we don't have to do it again for a long time!

A Visit from the In-Laws!

Last weekend, Scott's parents, Judy and Steve, visited us from Mn!  As arts-lovers themselves, we always find ways to have fun and this time we saw two plays (both Tony nominated I should add.)

Scott, Me, Judy & Steve @ Mel's Burger Bar on W110th Street. (Great shakes!)

The first show we saw was War Horse, a huge hit of a play that started in London and involves some of the most amazing puppetry I've ever seen.  (See the Lincoln Center Theater link below.)  Another perk of seeing the show?  One of Scott's former classmates (and friend) from Temple University is in it. Austin Durant plays Chapman Carter and Manfred in the production and audience members will be stunned by his powerful voice and the fact that he's only 27 years old.  Needless to say, the show was incredible, and I would recommend it to anyone.  Excellent use of theatrical devices.

Lincoln Center Theater : Media Player

The second play we saw was much more light-hearted.  The Book of Mormon (a musical) was written by the creators of South Park (a show I don't especially like).  It was good to get away from their known characters on South Park and see how funny these writers really are!  The show does take quite the jab at Mormons, as it does at Catholics and Jews and...basically everyone.  But I think the message is good.  And the show is hilarious.  What surprised me the most is how catchy the songs are! This is definitely an album I will be buying. And good news: The show plans to tour so get your tickets soon because they WILL sell out.

The rest of the weekend was spent dining and shopping in SoHo. (Oh darn ;) ).  We visited a store that is a huge favorite of Judy's called Versani which features handcrafted, beautiful jewelry.  I was spoiled a bit and Steve, Judy and Scott all chipped in to buy me some one-of-a-kind wood embedded hoop earrings.  They are awesome.

Looking forward to spending more time with Judy and Steve when I visit Minnesota at the end of June!  It was nice to be able to share "our city" with them!

#97 Spring has...sprung?

365 Blog Challenge: Post #97

I'd just like to verify that that is not sunshine in this photo...it is simply glare.

I don't know what the rest of the country is like, but let me be the first, or the 8,000,000th to complain about this spring in NY.  I can count the number of sunny days on one hand.  Scott and I have broken at least 3 umbrellas.  It is cold and wet and rainy and certainly uninspiring, and you'd think after the crap winter we had in NYC, Mother Nature would give us a break.  But we must have done something to piss her off.  Maybe it's all that pollution in the Hudson?  Anyways, the trees are budding, the flowers are abloom, and the rain keeps falling.  I am aware that Minnesota got snow last week, but consistent cold and rain for all of March and April?  How about a break?  Looking forward to breaking out some flip flops...you know...when we top our current temp of 55 degrees.  Stay warm!

#91 Zoe and Heather visit NY!

365 Blog Challenge: Post #91

As mentioned a few days ago, we were lucky enough to have my sister-in-law, Heather, and our niece Zoe visit us in NY last week!  They were here for 3 days, and they were packed full of dolls, junk food, toys, and plays! A 5-year-old's dream! (And very fun for the rest of us as well!)

We all took a 20 minute carriage ride through Central Park. We tried to ignore the taunts of the protesters who think the horses are being mistreated.  How could they taunt this cute 5-year-old??

Zoe and Mama Heather, about the time that Zoe said this was the best day ever.

We really ran Zoe ragged on the first day.  She conked out sound asleep on the subway on the way to get dinner in Soho.  However, for those of you who watched her video posted a few days ago, you can attest to the fact that she got her groove back after this cat nap.

Breakfast at Alice's Teacup!  I have been wanting to take a little girl there ever since going there my first time for a friend's birthday, and Zoe is the perfect age to appreciate the Alice and Wonderland themed restaurant.  She had her first tea party and tried tea for the first time and liked it!

Unkie Scott got Mango tea.

Aunty Lauren got this cup of coffee that was almost the size of her head (but delicious! Very impressed with their coffee!)

The nice gentleman at the front register let Zoe wear some fairy wings while we finished breakfast.  She was  so caught up in all the excitement that she didn't even seen Cynthia Nixon walk in as we were leaving (though she wouldn't have known her if she did. But Unkie Scott and Aunty Lauren knew!)

Zoe stops to smell the flowers.

Love watching Scott take care of Zoe. What a good uncle!

Heather and Zoe at MOMA.  Zoe lost interest in this museum very quickly. 

My favorite picture at MOMA, and it's of words.  Is this a surprise?  

Zoe and her Mama on the ferris wheel at Toys R' Us in Time Square.  Zoe confided that riding a ferris wheel was one of her dreams and didn't throw a hissy fit about not getting the Barbie car like some other girls we saw.

In the midst of all the lights and dazzle of Time Square, Zoe paused, put her hands on her knees and screamed.  She'd found Starbucks.  And here is Mister Starbucks who offered to take a picture with her after she got her Madelines (cookies).  Grandma Judy, you've created a Madeline Monster!

Unfortunately, I wasn't paying attention while deleting some old cruise photos on my camera and accidentally deleted some FAO Schwartz and American Girl Store photos. :(  Also, while we loved the play, didn't take many pictures there.  We sure had fun! Aunty Lauren had so much fun that she developed a cold, but it was worth it.

#86 A visit from 2 of our favorite ladies...

365 Blog Challenge: Post #86

You may (or may not) have noticed an absence in my posts the last few days.  That would be because Scott and I have been entertaining two of our favorite ladies: Scott's sister, Heather, and our 5-year-old niece, Zoe.  We have had so much fun!  Who knew there was so much in NY for kids to enjoy?  We've hit up the American Girl doll store, FAO Schwartz, Mary Poppins the Broadway musical and eaten TONS of tasty treats.  After gaining 5 pounds on our cruise, I quickly lost three after working 3 straight shifts and eating less.  However, I may be back to my post-cruise weight again after all the sweets we've had.  I'll post pics in the next day or so, but I wanted to give you a preview of my niece's talents- She's an independent spirit who loves to sing and dance so we were not wholly surprised when she broke out into dance randomly in a pizza shop on Sunday night.  Wish I had those moves!

#70 Pre-Cruise Pampering!

365 Blog Challenge: Post #70

Well, thank you!

Today was a busy day!  Scott and I leave tomorrow for our 12-day vacation including a 10-day cruise.  I decided to treat myself to a day of pampering to prepare.  I found a cute little nail salon called Victoria Nails next to my allergist on 27th and Park which was reasonably priced, and a cute little woman named Lee took care of me.  Brow wax, manicure, pedicure, and complementary shoulder rub all for $40 including tip?  Such a deal.  Scott encouraged me to go for a "dark plum" color.  I didn't think that was very cruisey but though I'd do it to please him.  However, apparently OPI's "Lincoln Park After Dark" is closer to black than purple.  No matter.  Lee did a great job, and I shall return to Victoria Nails for another occasion (and once my funds are repleated.)

OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark...don't mind my giant feet.

#63 NY Restaurant Conspiracy....

365 Blog Challenge: Post #63

Ok, conspiracy is a strong word. But has anyone else noticed a lot of little restaurants around the city are "closed for renovation"? How about the fact that these closures correspond time wise to the city's requirements to post the letter grade given by the NY health inspector in your restaurant? I theorize that these closures for renovations are actually closures for "Quick, let's get our sh*t together so we don't have to close our restaurant forever! Set the rat traps!"

An "A" grade, most often seen at chain restaurants.  I cut off the top of the sign cause I rushed the shot.  There was a lady sitting at the counter behind this sign, and I didn't want her to get creeped out that I was taking pictures of her.

A "B" grade, do you really want to eat at a place that got a "B" grade?  Doesn't that just make you question why they didn't get an A?  Was it the hair balls they saw sitting in the soup you just ordered?  And why can't these guys take care of their "B" grade sign, let alone their restaurant?  

Naturally I didn't get a picture of the one I saw today that was "closed for renovation" but they're out there....Just a theory....

*Note- After I finished typing that, while I was traipsing around NY trying to find restaurant grades to take pictures of, I came across a small cafe with a yellow sign that said "Closed by order of the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene"...or something like that.  I really wanted to take a picture of it, but there were two guys standing outside of it who seemed confused and a bit upset.  I am assuming they were employees of the cafe so I felt it'd be insensitive to take a photo.  So much for being a hard core journalist.

#59 NY's inflow and outflow...

365 Blog Challenge: Post #59

New York attracts young adults for various reasons: school, job opportunities, the ability to say "I lived in NY", etc.  It takes people in, wines them, dines them, abuses them, cultures them, and then more often than not, let's them go.  As I've been in NY for almost 5 years, I have made a number of good friendships, and seen more than a few of my close friends depart for other cities, other opportunities, other lives.  Thankfully, the draw of New York continues to even late 20-somethings as I've recently found out 2 good friends will be moving out to NY this year.  Also, I have made a couple new NY friends who aren't exiting anytime soon. Here is the exit and entrance list:

Exits:

Me and Erica, 2007

Erica- In NY for her masters in Art History from NYU.  Exited NY to get her PhD in Art History from the University of Minnesota.

Gumby and Julia S. (now married!)

Julia S.- Came to NY to be close to a boyfriend who she eventually broke up with and met a better boyfriend, now her husband.  Exited NY for medical school in Virginia.

Amy- Came to NY for her masters in psychology from NYU.  Exited NY to get her PhD in psychology from Temple University in Philadelphia.

Me and Amy in the Financial District

Julia V- Came to NY with her husband who is a PhD candidate in Columbia University's religious studies program.  Exited NY (thankfully just to Brooklyn) to start a family.  #1 is on the way in June!

Tim and Jamie Lyn Callahan

Julia V., our friend Ellen, Karen

Jamie Lyn- Came to NY for her work with Ingersoll Rand.  Exited NY to be closer to her new husband who is in the Navy. They now reside in Virginia Beach, VA.

Karen- Came to NY for Columbia's ETP nursing program, will graduate with her DNP (doctor of nursing practice)! Exiting NY for Chicago to do her DNP residency with her dad who is an MD.  She and her hubby Paul will be missed.

New NY Friends:
Rachel- A 2nd year resident at my hospital who I bonded with during a particularly critical month on our medical cardiology floor.  Turns out she almost became a nurse and then became a doctor (an excellent one) instead.  No wonder I like her.

Hazel- A sales assistant at JP Morgan who I met in my creative writing class. We share an intense love of books and hope to have writing dates together soon!

Incoming:

Brad, Partho, me in 2006

Brad- Brad and his boyfriend, Partho, came to visit us within a week of Scott and me moving into our first apartment together (317 W 105th), and they helped us put our furniture together!  Then they graciously slept on the floor because the pump to our air mattress broke.  They didn't even complain.  Partho is an MD and will be working at Mount Sinai.  Can't wait to have them!

LMA

LMA- Lauren Michelle Anderson, a friend from swimming class when we were in preschool, and then junior high, high school and the U of MN, is an international girl.  She is currently living in Argentina, working for a law office and perfecting her already amazing Spanish.  I don't know the details of her move yet (she just informed me of it last night), but I can't wait to see her in October.

Thank goodness for NY friends, new and old.

#51 Hateful Things

365 Blog Challenge: Post #51

In my creative writing class, my teacher recently had us do a writing exercise by creating a list of hateful things. We were allowed to interpret this as we like. I found all the items on my list reflected the differences in class and respect between people in NYC and people in MN. This is not to say there aren't classless, rude people in MN. They're just more difficult to find. Items on my list included littering on the subway, having ridiculously loud cell phone conversations and playing music so loud that the people standing 5 feet away from you can hear it through your headphones (As a healthcare professional, I also must remind you that you're damaging your hearing beyond repair...start investing in hearing aid companies for my generation...).

This morning, while walking to the subway to go to the airport, I found another hateful thing on the sidewalk in front of a neighboring building.

BOOO!

Are you serious? You can't leave four blocks of cement at peace and let them dry overnight?? The part that really gets to me is that no one cares about your name or your graffiti or your "art" except you! Leaving your mark there is incredibly disrespectful and selfish! You're disrespecting every person who lives on this street who wants their neighborhood to look presentable. Maybe these are ideas are too complicated for the Washington Heights misfits, but I'm pissed.

And I kind of sound like an old woman. But I don't care. I work my butt off to pay taxes so the city can make repairs and some jerks ruin the whole thing because they're bored. Get a frickin' life.

#47 Things to look forward to...

365 Blog Challenge: Post #47

After a dull, dreary and snowy winter, I can not wait for the snow (some of which just fell last night) to melt and the trees to bud and the sun to shine on us in NY.  I know winters around the country have been terrible.  If this is the new trend for winters, I think I'm gonna need a sun lamp and a bigger travel budget because this has been the worst NY winter in my 5 years here.  Between many snow storms, colder than average temperatures (no, not as cold as Mn but I've become a wuss), and lots of overcast days, I need some sun!

Luckily, Scott and I have lots to look forward to this spring!

First stop for me is Minnesota this weekend where I look forward to seeing my family (in-laws included!), reminding Dani who her favorite Auntie is, and seeing my sister-in-law's new house in Victoria, Mn.  We have gotten a skype tour but not quite as good as the real thing.  Going home is usually a good stress reliever for me.  Just being able to get places door to door by car is a treat!  I leave this Thursday and am hoping the weather allows me to get to Mn on time. Maybe not so tropical but fun nonetheless.

Next month, as mentioned before, Scott and I are going on a Caribbean cruise!  Yes, I am a little nervous about being in the middle of the ocean and not being able to see any land.  But from everything I hear, you're in your own little community on the ship so it's not so scary.  And the ship appears to be amazing!  Scott and I have challenged each other to climb the rock wall.  And we plan to go into the rain forest in Panama.

A few days after we return from the cruise, we have a couple special visitors coming- Heather (my sister-in-law) and Zoe (our 5-year-old-niece).  Scott has been trying to get those 2 out here for as long as I can remember and we can't wait to spoil our niece a little bit in a NY way.  We're going to see Mary Poppins and definitely will make a stop at Dylan's Candy Bar.

Last, as summer approaches (still seems so far away!), Scott's parents are going to come stay with us for a few days.  Speaking of being spoiled, they are always gracious enough to take us to a show or two while they're in town and this time we're seeing The Book of Mormon, a musical by the creators of South Park, as well as possibly War Horse in which one of Scott's former Temple classmates, Austin Durant, is making his Broadway debut.

So God, just get me through these next few dreary days (can't complain too much, no work!) and then we'll have some exciting stories and photos to share.  Hang in there troops. Spring is just around the corner!

#40 So THAT'S why the trains sucked yesterday...

365 Blog Challenge: Post #40

Yesterday, while enjoying my new desk chair, Scott texted me from work to report that the trains were running terribly.  This isn't exactly news on a weekend in NYC.  The MTA often does track work over the weekend and trains run wonky because of it, skipping entire sections of Manhattan while the MTA uses our tax dollars.  However, Scott, who left for work around 11:45am, was onto something yesterday.  Apparently, a Brooklyn man went on a killing spree through three boroughs over the last two days killing 4 people and injuring many more.  His escapades ended on the subway, the #3 train, where he stabbed a man in the head and neck (the man lived, phew).  This was just after the suspect had gotten off the #1 train which is the line Scott and I take from our northwestern apartment to the main areas of the city.  Kinda freaky.  Even freakier, he got off at 34th street which is my stop for work.  However, he apparently avoided the platform and stairs and walked directly across the tracks to the #3 train.  (What about the 3rd rail??)

Does this make me feel unsafe on the subway?  Not really.  There are crazy psychos everywhere.  Let's just hope there are no more using MTA anytime soon.  For more details on this story, see the CNN article and the NYTimes article by clicking the links.

#24 Restaurant Week- Devi

365 Blog Challenge: #24

This week is restaurant week in NY, and Scott and I decided to take advantage of it for the first time and had lunch at Devi on E 18th Street.  I think Scott and I played Tom Colicchio and Padma (of Top Chef) very well as we dined on this fancy, gourmet Indian food by chefs Suvir Saran and Hemant Mathur.  (Actually, rumor has it Padma actually dines here.) The restaurant itself is gorgeous, and my picture of the table setting below doesn't begin to do it justice.  It is decorated with lush, warmly shaded upholstery; flowing, transparent cloths; and beautiful colored lamps hanging from the ceiling. (The website has better pictures than I can provide.) It feels elegant, but otherworldly, the moment you walk in. 

Let me begin by saying I am not food critic.  In fact, I may have one of the most simple palates on the planet.  However, I could appreciate the quality of this food, even if not all of it was my favorite. 

I loved the silver plates on the place settings which we
didn't actually eat on but were beautiful anyways.

We ordered from the Prix Fixe restaurant week lunch menu and both started with the Chicken Apricot Seekh Kababs.  These were delicious, a little spice in the chicken with sweet, delicious apricot chutney underneath.  (All of the chutneys at Devi were amazing, sweet and not too savory.)

For our main course, Scott and I went in different directions.  He ordered the vegetarian Paneer Stirfry which had the most amazing sauce, buttery and so smooth, and I ordered the Tandoor-Grilled Lamb Chops with Spiced Potatoes and Sweet and Sour Pear Chutney (yum chutney).  Mine may have been a mistake.  I don't doubt the quality of the dish, but I learned very quickly that I'm not quite a lamb chop kind of girl.  I'd only ever had lamb in gyros (not just street meet, from actual quality Greek restaurants) and am used to the tougher slices of meat with that earthy, lamb flavor.  The lamb chops at Devi were very tender and I could tell beautifully seasoned, but the actual flavor and texture of the meat did not agree with me.  I felt like I was eating one of little Bo Peeps sheep and Scott (surprisingly) ate most of my chops.  Luckily, we also ordered a side order of Butter Chicken (tikka masala), which had a similar sauce to that paneer stir fry but a little less rich.  We happily dipped our naan (the best naan I've ever had) in the extra sauce.

Pistachio Kulfi

Mango Sorbet and Mango Panna Cotta

Finally, we had dessert.  I ordered the Pistachio Kulfi (kulfi is "traditional Indian ice cream") and Scott got the Mango Panna Cotta

with mango sorbet.  Again, I preferred Scott's dish to mine, though mine was extremely interesting.  A pistachio ice cream, strong hints of ginger with caramelized pistachios and cream.  However, I think Scott's mango sorbet was the best thing I tasted there besides the naan.  It was so refreshing and tasted like the ripest, most delicious mango ever.

Devi was definitely a good experience and maybe some day, if we have lots of extra money hanging around, we can go back.  At the least, it was an adventure for our taste buds and I recommend it to any foodie in NY.

#20 New York Nicknames

365 Blog Challenge: Post #20

The following are excerpts from the article in this week's Time Out New York magazine titled A History of NYC Nicknames by Jenna Flannigan.  I thought these were some interesting little tidbits.

New York The British took control of the colony in 1664, and the troops who annexed the area dubbed it after their commander, the Duke of York. Since there was already a York in England, King Charles II crafted yet another excellent application of the word new
.
The Empire City Legend has it that George Washington, while tramping through the woods north of the city, proclaimed, “Surely this is the seat of the empire!” The nickname wouldn’t filter through the press until an 1836 Illinois newspaper described NYC as “the Rome of America, the Empire City of the New World.”


The Big Apple No origin story is completely reliable, but this appellation has a bookworthy history: In Origin of New York City’s Nickname “The Big Apple,” authors Gerald L. Cohen and Barry Popik trace the term from the big Red Delicious apples grown in Iowa in the 1870s, which were regarded as the most special version of the fruit. Years later, a 1920s horse-race writer for New York paper The Morning Telegraph overheard stable hands using the phrase to describe NYC’s racetracks, which represented the big time. In the 1930s, black jazz musicians used the nickname to refer to Harlem, then to the city overall. It then lost popularity until 1971, when it was used for a New York Convention and Visitors Bureau PR campaign. 

The City that Never Sleeps New York’s insomnia is well known: The first print reference is from a 1912 story in the Fort Wayne News, about NYC erecting the world’s largest gas plant, ensuring that the metropolis would “add to its title of the city that never sleeps that of the city that never grows dark.”

Michelle and James Nevius, NYC tour guides and authors of Inside the Apple: A Streetwise History of New York City, also included information on the history of the borough names as sited in the article.

Manhattan
According to some sources, the isle’s moniker is derived from the local Lenape word “Manahatta,” which translates to “hilly island.” Other Native American terms—menatay, meaning “island,” or better yet, manahachtanienk, meaning “a place of general inebriation”—may have played a role, too. 


For more nicknames, check out the link above!

# 6 There are days....

365 Blog Challenge, Post #6

Having lived in NY for almost 5 years, I've had many people tell me how envious they are that I live in Manhattan, how exciting it must be, never a dull moment.  To be honest, Manhattan is great.  There is an energy and a vibe here that I know I would miss should we ever choose to leave.  However, there are days....

There are days, like today, when being surrounded by thousands of people at any given minute and not having your own space wears on you.  Maybe you're having a bad day, maybe you've just gotten bad news or maybe a bad mood just swooped down out of nowhere and enveloped you.  All you want is to be alone or with your loved one at home.  But it's three in the afternoon.  Taking a cab home from the east side to Washington Heights would be a slow, financial nightmare. You could take the M86 across down and catch the 1 train, but then you'd have to walk the seven minutes home and how your body already hurts from hours and days of being on your feet.  Maybe, you say to yourself, you'll catch the 4 train up to Yankee Stadium and catch the Bx6 bus.  That brings you right outside your apartment building.  You'll even have time to read your book.  You get on the 4 and thankfully you get a seat only to realize you don't understand why the author of this book has dragged this dead girl's history into the story when the book would suffice as a memoir, and it's downright depressing either way.  Then, after boarding the Bx6, you're sitting next to an irritatingly loud couple, trying to read the book you don't like in the first place and feeling your sorrow start to swell in your gut.  You think back to the days of your car, however unimpressive it was, the solace of an empty interior.  The radio playing terrible music that at least you could belt to in privacy, and wallow in your mood.  You miss being able to walk outside without stepping on the heels of hundreds of slow walkers who walk four-across on the sidewalk (which should be illegal anyways).  And you miss going home to a place, a building, a locale, where you alone live with your loved ones.  Instead you're surrounded by more strangers in more apartments, stacked on top of on another, where you hear your neighbors pounding above you despite the fact that they started their construction project over a year ago.  You look across the river at New Jersey and you think life is probably easier over there, easier than being confined to this island with millions of people from all walks of life, some who have no consideration for other people's space and others who have so much consideration (or self-involvement) that they hide in a shell and are unfriendly and closed off and couldn't give you a smile to save their over-priced designer shoes.  

Yes.  There are days like this.  Not many.  But they're there.  They are to be expected.  And then your husband comes in and kisses you on the cheek and you remember that things are OK.  And things will look brighter tomorrow, be more exhilarating, more fresh.  And you sit down and enjoy your solace, as you know it will be interrupted the moment you walk out your apartment door.

New York Happenings: June 09 Edition

Friends & Family,

Well, its very sad that this is the first email you'll be receiving from me for quite a while.  That whole accelerated nursing school/selling jewelry/planning a wedding/studying for boards thing got in the way of a regular newsletter from me.  But I'm sure many of you understand and now that I am unemployed and not a student for at least a year, I hope to improve my game a bit and send these a bit more regularly!

It looks as though it has been 6 months since I sent my last email which is very sad.  But obviously a TON has happened since then!  The most exciting thing happened in the last week, which is that I passed my nursing boards and am officially a registered nurse and I get to put RN after my name.  What a good feeling that is!  I am currently searching for jobs but a bit nervous about finding an ER/ICU job (which I want) as a new grad.  I am going to hold out for a few weeks and try for these before I give up and attempt to get a med/surg job which I'd probably have to work for about 6 months before being able to transfer to an ER or ICU.  But I'm sure the experience would be good.  It just may delay my going back to school for a bit.

My last months of school involved community health, OB (of course I loved this) and my integration (basically an internship) in a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) which is where patients go directly after surgery. Though the PACU doesn't seem like a place I'd choose to work, I met some wonderful wonderful ladies at Allen Pavilion (about 220th and Broadway) and learned a lot.  I enjoyed myself quite a bit. Pics are included in the link above. I started studying for my boards in late March and just took them on June 1st.  It was a long stressful time and Scott and my immediate family know I was a bit unpleasant during this time.  I apologize for that. ;)  

On May 20th, I had my white coat ceremony and received my diploma for my Bachelors of Science.  Click "white coat ceremony" to see pictures.  My parents as well as Erin and Steve came into town for the event which meant the world to me.  Also during that trip, Erin and another bridesmaid of mine, Jamie Lyn, hosted a bachelorette part for me at Japas, a sushi and karaoke bar in midtown.  It was one of the best times of my life!  I'd show pics but...then again...maybe not.  Lots of fun.

Scott is doing well.  Trying to get out to audition as much as possible.  He was cast in a paid, regional show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We were excited he got cast but sad to have to be apart for an unknown amount of time.  The show ended up falling through due to some reckless business men (the director and the producer) and Scott was stuck in Florida for an extra week because they wouldn't pay for peoples tickets back to New York.  They also still owe Scott a week's pay.  I am including a link  to an article about the whole horrible situation.  Not a good experience for a first paid acting job, but Scott remains upbeat which I am amazed at.  He got back to New York and immediately started working full time a Snug Harbor Productions, the general management company where he was office manager on and off before he left.  He just finished working there full time due to a few of their productions falling through, and has begun reviewing his drinks to get a bartending job. (He attended bartending school in February.)  He is hopeful about a couple recent auditions and we will of course keep you updated on his success. :)

So we've got a big day coming up 2 months from Monday!  That would be our wedding day! And we look forward to seeing many of you there!  Now that the boards are done and all I have to worry about is finding a job (all I have to worry about...ack!!!), I am beginning to get more excited and details are coming into place. I have learned that I am a terrible wedding planner and not a big fan of dealing with little details so I am very indebted to my mom and Scott's mom, Judy, for all their help!!

I hope that the past 6 months have brought you only good things! And i look forward to continuing our correspondence now that my life is a little bit more relaxed!  Love to all. Happy Summer,

Lauren Bachnick RN

Plumbing Disaster

Living in New York City, usually in very old buildings, you expect some things to be a little faulty.  A dripping sink, a noisy radiator, even in our last building when the bathroom ceiling caved in from above us due to a neighbor's flooding.  In our current apartment, it's the bathroom.  The sink leaves something to be desired in the draining department....slow, slooowww draining.  And the bathtub is so old, it has the shower head in the middle of the tub and requires 2 shower curtains because of the way it is exposed and not between 2 walls.  Scott and I noticed on Sunday that both our drains seemed a little slow, and after a trip to Target (which left me sore because I bought far too much to carry home with me but did it anyways), we used some draino-type solution and unclogged both the sink and the tub.  We were happy as clams.

Yesterday morning, I noticed water creeping up my ankles as I showered and was saddened to realize after I got out of the shower, that the water was not receding at all.  In denial, I told myself it would go down before Scott showered an hour or two later.  However, while sitting in my Peds class, I received a frantic call from Scott to call our super because we had about 5 inches of water in our tub from both of our showers and the water wasn't going anywhere.  A few minutes later, I received another call from Scott which went to voicemail, and he told me that his wise father, Steve, had suggested we try plunging the drain to see if we could unclog the mess ourselves.  I got home from my 8 hours of pediatrics, and went to plunging. I got out 2 huge hairballs, one that resembled (in shape and size) a mouse.  But the tub would still not drain. And now we had brown crap, assumingly from the pipes, sitting in the water.  At this point, I ran up to the bodega near our apartment to buy some more draino, however all they had was generic extra strength drain cleaner for $2.50.  I wasn't especially hopeful, but I bought the bottle anyways, proceeded to pour the whole thing in the tub and nothing happened. 

So now our tub is full with brown muck and harsh declogging chemicals which are not in fact declogging anything, and Scott reminds me that he has an interview with a voice over agent tomorrow and it would be helpful if he could shower.  His wise father once again suggests to use that we scoop our the water into the toilet and flush it down so at least Scott can stand in the shower tomorrow.  After scooping most of the water our, I continue plunging until I realized I'm only plunging to procrastinate doing my homework. So I stop and write up a careplan and call my sister.  I talk to her husband, also named Steve, who was a plumber's apprentice for about a year, and he says the only thing we can really do without having to call a plumber (we're a little short on funds now) is continue plunging and flush the drain with hot water occasionally.  I try this for a while to no avail.  My arms are now sore, and the plunging action has officially taken the place of my work out for the day.  I think of it like CPR. People don't realize just how exhausting it is!

Scott finally arrives home from his play, to which no one attended so it was cancelled.  Eventually, he takes up the plunging and flushing with hot water.  But still no drainage.  We're about to give up when Scott again talks to his wise father Steve who suggests yet another technique to increase the plunging pressure. We try this late into the night...until about 11:20pm to be exact when we received a phone call from the doorman that our downstairs neighbor had issued a noise complaint. (After speaking with him today, he informed me it sounded like the ceiling was going to come down on him and his wife.)  Scott explained to the doorman that we were having some plumbing problems, to which he was scolded because we shouldn't be doing our own plumbing apparently (though I don't know if plunging can be considered plumbing at this rate.)  He suggests we fill out a work order form (we had already tried to call the super but he never responded, and I was convinced we weren't allowed to have the building maintenance people work on our apartment because of some details in our sublet agreement.)

This morning, around 9am, a friendly maintenance man arrives at our door with some sort of plumbing equipment. Half an hour later, he leaves with the drains perfectly patent.  Scott and I are sore and exhausted.  We have company coming on Thursday and a party to give on Saturday.  Who knew a little work order form could have saved us all that stress (and plunging.) Such is life I suppose!