New York Happenings: Volume X
The Springing of Spring…or something….
Hello to my lovely friends and family!
I must tell you, spring in New York City is a beautiful thing!! The fresh air (don’t mind the pollution), the budding trees (forget those mounds of garbage sitting underneath them), the Hudson River at sunset (look at the water but don’t touch or you may need a tetanus shot.) I actually am seriously enjoying the spring here! And things are looking up for me in a lot of ways! Last Friday, I was offered the position I was hoping for here at the VA! In an email I sent to some of you earlier this week, I explained my new position:
“The new job is a research assistant position with a different doctor. I will still continue to work with a psychologist I really like, Carlos Jackson, on a study (Stay-Switch), and I will work with him and the other Health Services Research & Development people (Drs Claire Henderson and Deb Kaymen) 50% of the time. The other 50% of the time I will work for an MD named Bruce Levine. He is a psychiatrist who specializes in clozapine (an antipsychotic medication that is really in class of its own), suicide and suicide prevention and focus groups. I will be doing some administrative and clerical stuff for him, as well as keeping up our department's website (www.visn3.mirecc.va.gov).….. I am already starting to feel some relief that I won't have to be involved in this horrible study much longer! “
Ok, so maybe my cut and paste job here is a little lazy. But that is how I am feeling today. In fact, the federal government has inspired my work ethic so much that I am sitting here emailing all of you in the middle of the work day. Go me. I will be moving up to my new office on Monday, April 9th. However, I unfortunately have to mind my current study until I am replaced and then train that person once they are hired. Soooooo things aren’t perfect yet, but soon they will be improved and I will be a much more relaxed person.
I also found out this week that I was accepted to Lehman College, a City University of New York school that is about a mile or so away from the VA. So I will begin taking some evening, and possibly weekend, classes there hopefully this summer, but definitely this fall. My prereqs will consist of (for sure) chemistry, anatomy and physiology (x 2), microbiology, life-span psychology, nutrition and (possibly) organic chemistry and anthropology. Thrilling I know. I am really looking forward anatomy and physiology actually. I think I will be quite good at it. I hope to have completed my prereqs by next May, and will begin applying to a couple nursing schools this winter, though if I don’t get in right away, I will continue to take prereqs so I can apply to other programs.
Now I must report 2 observations/incidences that have happened since we last chatted:
1) Another old lady budged in front of me in line. This time it was at the bank. One minute, I’m staring at the back of the head of a young, 20-something girl, and the next minute some old lady with grey hair and pink pants has edged her way in front of me. I wasn’t even at the back of the line! What is that?? I didn’t say anything however. I find it’s better to hold your tongue, especially in the Bronx.
2) New Yorkers seem to think that the world is the garbage can. I reported last month that people often just throw things on the ground instead of making it over to a garbage can. This month, I actually saw a guy eating candies that were individually wrapped on the subway, and each time the subway stopped and the door opened, he would throw his little wrapper straight out of the door onto the platform. You’re kidding me right?
In other news, Scott has been auditioning for summer theater programs and we are hopeful that he will land something this summer. However, if he doesn’t, I won’t be TOO disappointed if he has to stay in the city this summer (*wink*), despite his night owl tendencies. Oh yes, and I actually had a small solo part (the alto solo) in Regina Coeli (Mozart) at my choir concert this month. This was a big step considering last month my director asked “Who’s Lauren?” …and wasn’t kidding. I was not amused. Also, Erin and Steve are planning a move back to Minnesota in April! We are very happy for them. I think this will be great step that offers some more opportunity for them both. I never understood how they could live so close to cows anyways. Silly Wisconsin.
Anyways, after another novel from me, I am sure you are all ready to get back to your own lives, which you should keep me updated on! If you’re getting this email, you are missed! Also for you Minnesotans out there, I will be home from the evening of Wednesday, April 18th to Sunday, April 22nd. Book your times now as supplies are limited. Much love to you all. The semi-New-Yorker,
Lauren
*MWA!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Volume 9: February 07
Dearest friends,
(Be prepared...this email is a bit long-winded (which my friend Craig told me my updates tend to be. Psh, WHATEVER...))
First of all, a cockroach update. After an obnoxious week of cleaning out ALL of our cabinets and cleaning all of our dishes, setting up bait traps and killing 20-30 baby cockroaches a day, we finally thought we had gotten rid of them. We were seeing 1-2 a day. However, I went to take a shower 2 consecutive mornings and found 1 HUGE cockroach (quarter size, huge to me) and 1 HUGE water bug in the shower as I was about to step in. ICK! To make matters worse, in the past couple days we have seen a return of the dreaded roaches though not quite as bad as the first time. We continue to kill as many as we can! (Apparently we can never be buddhist monks because we wish the death of all these bugs!)
Moving on...So now I understand why adults complain about wanting to be kids again. Being an adult is HARD! And being an adult in NYC, even harder! I find myself missing the comforts of Minneapolis (cars, parking spaces, few homeless people asking you for money, nice people, AFFORDABLE HOUSING). However, as I am committed to my boyfriend of 3 1/2 years (as of tomorrow), and I know his work will need to be here (silly actors), I am determined to stick it out until I have mastered NYC. This may take some more time, but it will happen.
Today, starting my 9th month in NYC, I have some suggestions for all those New Yorkers out there. God knows if I actually commented on these things to New Yorkers I'd either get a blank stares, a mouthful of obcenities or a smack in the face. But you guys are more understanding, so here goes:
#1) Headphones (ear buds, etc) were made so that I DON"T have to listen to your stupid music on the train. Please keep in mind that people who are unaware of this fact are the ones that listen to the obnoxious rap, whiney R&B, and upbeat latino music. While everyone is allowed to have their own musical tastes, I do not want to listen to yours!! Also, its great if you invested in one of those phones that plays music. However, again, I do not want to hear it. (These people don't even bother wearing headphones. They just play their loud music from their cell phone for everyone else in the train to hear.) Annoying.Note: I received a wonderful suggestion in one of my public health classes at the U of Mn last year. If you want to make a killing in the stock market, start investing in the companies that make hearing aids, cause God knows that my generation and the ones to follow have done so much damage to their auditory receptors with ear buds and headphones that the hearing aide business will be booming in about 15-20 years. Keep it in mind!
#2) Learn how to correctly dispose of your garbage. Anyone who has visited New York knows that the city is a little bit dirty. Anyone who visits the Bronx can tell you it's a lot bit dirty. I have observed many many people tossing their wrappers, soda bottles, etc, on the ground, into the gutter in the street, etc, when there is a trash can no more than 20 feet away. I even saw one woman walking in Manhattan with a plastic container full of salad. Apparently she decided she was finished because she proceeded to just put the plastic container down in the middle of the sidewalk, midstride, and keep walking as if she hadn't just performed the laziest act I've ever seen. Ridiculous. Don't complain about how dirty the city is if you're contributing to its filth.
#3) Learn some customer service skills. I'm sorry if you don't like your job. I hope some day you get one that you like. But in the meantime, you're not going to move up in the world if you talk to me in a bored, sometimes monotone voice, don't say thank you, and barely pay attention to me while ringing up my purchases. This is especially true at drug stores such as Duane Reade and grocery stores, like the Gristedes near us. I miss the nice people at Lunds and Byerlys who ask you how you're doing and make small talk! Everytime I walk into a Star Bucks in NY, where the customer service is actually very good 90% of the time, I get a wave of relief. I think someone needs to either teach some classes to the masses out here, or some managers need to start getting rid of the workers with bad attitudes. HMPH!
February proved a difficult month for me, if you can't tell by my cynical tone in this update. I seem to be under a lot of stress. I'm still adjusting to this new city (which I would guess is one of the most difficult in the world); the year I decide to leave my home of 22 years, one of my loved-ones becomes ill and I can't be there to help out in any way; I live in a studio apartment with my boyfriend and while it's super nice to live with him, its horribly difficult to only have 1 room and a bathroom, especially with our different schedules. While I have to go to bed by around 11 each night, Scott stays up until 2 or 3 doing homework, checking his email, watching TV, etc. He has become much more considerate of this in recent months. However, I can't always ask him to go in the bathroom if he needs a light to read! I feel horrible!
The most stressful thing in my life right now however is my work situation. While in ways I enjoy this position much more than I enjoyed my position at Mount Sinai, I have come to despise the people I work for (e.g. my boss, an MD and the senior research coordinator who happens to be his cousin). I could go on and on about them, but I will just sum it up by saying that they are horribly passive aggressive, seemingly gang up on you when you do (or don't) do anything wrong, are unable to take blame for anything that is their fault and often blame me for things I had no control over, and are not understanding when I make mistakes (which I am bound to do as I am human and I am the first person to run this particular study at this location). They are off-site, and I have had to figure out all the logistics of this study on my own, with very little support from them because they just plain can't help me from where they are. I have gotten crap from the director of my program here because no one showed me how to do things and I was left to my own devices. Needless to say, I am fed up. I refuse to work for people who don't appreciate and/or acknowledge my hard work (I have enrolled more people in this study than anyone else has before), and seem to comment only on the things I screw up. SO, I am looking to take the Research Assistant/ Staff Assistant position of a friend of mine who left the VA. It would be wthin the same department but I'd be working for a different person, wouldn't be working on this VERY difficult study, and would make a little bit more money with the opportunity to make much more money in about a year. Problem is that I work for the federal government and things work VERY SLOWLY here. I've talked to the Dr who is in charge of this position and he says my taking it over is a definite possibility. But I am playing the waiting game right now until he speaks the the administrator in my department about what the job is going to be like as they are switching it up a bit. And here I sit, with my anxious tendencies, my nerves gnawing at my stomach every day that I work for those jerky people. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers in this area. I am very hopeful that a change will take place, hopefully sooner rather than later.
In other news, one of my best friends from the time I was 3 got engaged over New Years to her lovely boyfriend (now fiance) on a carriage ride in central park. So sweet! :) Jodie Flaherty and Brian Murray will be getting married in the June of 2008 and I can't wait for another Flaherty wedding to take place. Congrats you two! Also, my sister and her lovely husband sold their house in Monroe, Wisconsin (as of yesterday) after months of difficulty getting someone to buy it in their remote town. (This was quite surprising to me as their house is ADORABLE! Just far away from a lot of things). My dad started chemo this past Monday (2/26) and thankfully seems to be doing well so far. Please also keep him in your thoughts and prayers that the next 6 months will go as smoothly as this first session of chemo has. Finally, as this novel length update is coming to a close, I would love some words of encouragement from those of you who have been in my position (e.g. my Aunt Janie who moved to Chicago when she was younger and says I remind her of herself from those days). I know things will be ok. I have a wonderfully understanding boyfriend who even is letting my rearrange our apartment in a way that will be most homey to me so I can feel more settled. I am super excited. (I love planning.) So, I think March will be better. Looking to make a few changes, and can't wait for Spring in NYC.
Love to all,
Lauren
p.s. I encourage all of you to go online and look up Narcissistic Personality Disorder...this is the epitomy of my boss.
(Be prepared...this email is a bit long-winded (which my friend Craig told me my updates tend to be. Psh, WHATEVER...))
First of all, a cockroach update. After an obnoxious week of cleaning out ALL of our cabinets and cleaning all of our dishes, setting up bait traps and killing 20-30 baby cockroaches a day, we finally thought we had gotten rid of them. We were seeing 1-2 a day. However, I went to take a shower 2 consecutive mornings and found 1 HUGE cockroach (quarter size, huge to me) and 1 HUGE water bug in the shower as I was about to step in. ICK! To make matters worse, in the past couple days we have seen a return of the dreaded roaches though not quite as bad as the first time. We continue to kill as many as we can! (Apparently we can never be buddhist monks because we wish the death of all these bugs!)
Moving on...So now I understand why adults complain about wanting to be kids again. Being an adult is HARD! And being an adult in NYC, even harder! I find myself missing the comforts of Minneapolis (cars, parking spaces, few homeless people asking you for money, nice people, AFFORDABLE HOUSING). However, as I am committed to my boyfriend of 3 1/2 years (as of tomorrow), and I know his work will need to be here (silly actors), I am determined to stick it out until I have mastered NYC. This may take some more time, but it will happen.
Today, starting my 9th month in NYC, I have some suggestions for all those New Yorkers out there. God knows if I actually commented on these things to New Yorkers I'd either get a blank stares, a mouthful of obcenities or a smack in the face. But you guys are more understanding, so here goes:
#1) Headphones (ear buds, etc) were made so that I DON"T have to listen to your stupid music on the train. Please keep in mind that people who are unaware of this fact are the ones that listen to the obnoxious rap, whiney R&B, and upbeat latino music. While everyone is allowed to have their own musical tastes, I do not want to listen to yours!! Also, its great if you invested in one of those phones that plays music. However, again, I do not want to hear it. (These people don't even bother wearing headphones. They just play their loud music from their cell phone for everyone else in the train to hear.) Annoying.Note: I received a wonderful suggestion in one of my public health classes at the U of Mn last year. If you want to make a killing in the stock market, start investing in the companies that make hearing aids, cause God knows that my generation and the ones to follow have done so much damage to their auditory receptors with ear buds and headphones that the hearing aide business will be booming in about 15-20 years. Keep it in mind!
#2) Learn how to correctly dispose of your garbage. Anyone who has visited New York knows that the city is a little bit dirty. Anyone who visits the Bronx can tell you it's a lot bit dirty. I have observed many many people tossing their wrappers, soda bottles, etc, on the ground, into the gutter in the street, etc, when there is a trash can no more than 20 feet away. I even saw one woman walking in Manhattan with a plastic container full of salad. Apparently she decided she was finished because she proceeded to just put the plastic container down in the middle of the sidewalk, midstride, and keep walking as if she hadn't just performed the laziest act I've ever seen. Ridiculous. Don't complain about how dirty the city is if you're contributing to its filth.
#3) Learn some customer service skills. I'm sorry if you don't like your job. I hope some day you get one that you like. But in the meantime, you're not going to move up in the world if you talk to me in a bored, sometimes monotone voice, don't say thank you, and barely pay attention to me while ringing up my purchases. This is especially true at drug stores such as Duane Reade and grocery stores, like the Gristedes near us. I miss the nice people at Lunds and Byerlys who ask you how you're doing and make small talk! Everytime I walk into a Star Bucks in NY, where the customer service is actually very good 90% of the time, I get a wave of relief. I think someone needs to either teach some classes to the masses out here, or some managers need to start getting rid of the workers with bad attitudes. HMPH!
February proved a difficult month for me, if you can't tell by my cynical tone in this update. I seem to be under a lot of stress. I'm still adjusting to this new city (which I would guess is one of the most difficult in the world); the year I decide to leave my home of 22 years, one of my loved-ones becomes ill and I can't be there to help out in any way; I live in a studio apartment with my boyfriend and while it's super nice to live with him, its horribly difficult to only have 1 room and a bathroom, especially with our different schedules. While I have to go to bed by around 11 each night, Scott stays up until 2 or 3 doing homework, checking his email, watching TV, etc. He has become much more considerate of this in recent months. However, I can't always ask him to go in the bathroom if he needs a light to read! I feel horrible!
The most stressful thing in my life right now however is my work situation. While in ways I enjoy this position much more than I enjoyed my position at Mount Sinai, I have come to despise the people I work for (e.g. my boss, an MD and the senior research coordinator who happens to be his cousin). I could go on and on about them, but I will just sum it up by saying that they are horribly passive aggressive, seemingly gang up on you when you do (or don't) do anything wrong, are unable to take blame for anything that is their fault and often blame me for things I had no control over, and are not understanding when I make mistakes (which I am bound to do as I am human and I am the first person to run this particular study at this location). They are off-site, and I have had to figure out all the logistics of this study on my own, with very little support from them because they just plain can't help me from where they are. I have gotten crap from the director of my program here because no one showed me how to do things and I was left to my own devices. Needless to say, I am fed up. I refuse to work for people who don't appreciate and/or acknowledge my hard work (I have enrolled more people in this study than anyone else has before), and seem to comment only on the things I screw up. SO, I am looking to take the Research Assistant/ Staff Assistant position of a friend of mine who left the VA. It would be wthin the same department but I'd be working for a different person, wouldn't be working on this VERY difficult study, and would make a little bit more money with the opportunity to make much more money in about a year. Problem is that I work for the federal government and things work VERY SLOWLY here. I've talked to the Dr who is in charge of this position and he says my taking it over is a definite possibility. But I am playing the waiting game right now until he speaks the the administrator in my department about what the job is going to be like as they are switching it up a bit. And here I sit, with my anxious tendencies, my nerves gnawing at my stomach every day that I work for those jerky people. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers in this area. I am very hopeful that a change will take place, hopefully sooner rather than later.
In other news, one of my best friends from the time I was 3 got engaged over New Years to her lovely boyfriend (now fiance) on a carriage ride in central park. So sweet! :) Jodie Flaherty and Brian Murray will be getting married in the June of 2008 and I can't wait for another Flaherty wedding to take place. Congrats you two! Also, my sister and her lovely husband sold their house in Monroe, Wisconsin (as of yesterday) after months of difficulty getting someone to buy it in their remote town. (This was quite surprising to me as their house is ADORABLE! Just far away from a lot of things). My dad started chemo this past Monday (2/26) and thankfully seems to be doing well so far. Please also keep him in your thoughts and prayers that the next 6 months will go as smoothly as this first session of chemo has. Finally, as this novel length update is coming to a close, I would love some words of encouragement from those of you who have been in my position (e.g. my Aunt Janie who moved to Chicago when she was younger and says I remind her of herself from those days). I know things will be ok. I have a wonderfully understanding boyfriend who even is letting my rearrange our apartment in a way that will be most homey to me so I can feel more settled. I am super excited. (I love planning.) So, I think March will be better. Looking to make a few changes, and can't wait for Spring in NYC.
Love to all,
Lauren
p.s. I encourage all of you to go online and look up Narcissistic Personality Disorder...this is the epitomy of my boss.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Volume 8: January 07
Dear friends,
Just when I thought I had gotten so used to New York that I had nothing new to write to you about, I was proven wrong. To get you up to speed on our window situation, so this story will make more sense to you, I'll let you know that Scott and I bought some new drapes last month. We have blinds on our windows but they're white and tons of light still gets in, so we bought some drapes to go over them and they've been oh so helpful in the sleep department! However, Scott was finding it difficult to get out of bed in the AM because it was so dark, so I told him I'd open the drapes in the morning to let in the natural light. This was quite helpful for him.....
So it all began last Wednesday I believe. I was finishing a bowl of Kix, and in a hurry as I usually am in the morning. I walked over with my bowl to open the drapes for Scott, and God only knows what happened next, but the rod that holds the drapes came crashing down directly onto my bowl of Kix...Kix and milk are EVERYWHERE! On the drape, on the blinds, on the couch, on the floor, on my clothes. Plus there are little Kix rolling around all over the place. And I was actually on schedule that morning to get to work on time before that happened...so much to my chagrin, I had to wipe up my mess before I left for work.....moving on.......Last night I didn't get to sleep until about 12am for various reasons, and I woke up at about 2 to use the bathroom, which is quite common for me. Scott was just getting ready for bed, so I did my thing, got back in bed, and got all annoyed when he asked me to turn the lights on for him so he could see his way to bed and get his phone plugged in, etc For some reason, Scott goes over to the sink on his way to bed and yells out "Cockroach!" Now...I've gotten used to the occasional cockroach (remember when I cried after I killed my first one? Yeah, I'm past that stage. I just want to rid the world of those little bastards!).....but then Scott yells "2 cockroaches.....3 cockroaches....4 cockroaches....5 cockroaches...10 cockroaches! OH MY GOD! WE'RE INFESTED!!!" There I am, laying in bed, just flinching every time he says he's found another one, and then he's freaking out, I yell at him to get the raid, and then we're in for a 2 hour raid spraying, drawer emptying, cockroach killing, dish cleaning, garbage emptying nightmare. Quite frankly, it was a night from hell....and honestly, Scott is the only person I would want to go through that with! I know someday we'll look back and laugh...and I hope you're laughing now, because I'm sure its quite humorous to anyone it didn't happen to. However...it was creepy...gross...and thats not even the end of it........so due to the excess of Raid we sprayed in our Apt, we're practically high off of cockroach poison, and we crack open our window and turn on all our fans to try to get the smell out. I even sat by the window, trying to breath fresh air because the smell of raid was beginning to make me nauseated. Finally, around 4am, we had done all we could do, killed all the ones we saw (most of them were babies, but in a way, that's even grosser because that means they were probably just born recently, BLECH!), had dishes soaking in the sink, and I closed the window (the one which only has 1 drape on it right now because the other one is being washed this evening because it got some milk splashed on it in the Kix incident). I started lifting up the blinds to lock the window, and what happens? You guessed it.....the entire set of blinds just falls off the window onto the floor! We had only half the window covered by the drape, and the other half looking out into the street from our first floor apartment. I was ready to cry. But we're able to get the blinds back up despite the fact that half of one of the slots the rod goes into is broken off. Oy vey.
So here I sit at work, exhausted because I didn't actually fall asleep until 5am because I was afraid Scott and I would die from the Raid fumes if we fell asleep. I am dreading going home because about half of our dishes are sitting, soaking in soapy water in the sink, and I'll have to clean them all. And I am really hoping to avoid the smell of Raid for the next couples decades, as I think it will make me nauseated from now on. End of story.
In other news, Scott auditioned Saturday morning for Santa Cruz Shakespeare, which is a summer Shakespeare festival in Santa Cruz, CA. He got called back on the spot! So I'm hopeful this will work out for him. This would get him some professional theater under his belt, and that would be wonderful for his resume. However, he doesn't want to get his hopes up because he knows how the industry works better than I and doesn't want to be let down if he doesn't get cast. But we're proud of him just for being called back. What a stud!
Work is going fine for me, despite the fact that I have 2 highly neurotic bosses (seriously...I have stories which can be shared another time), which really adds a damper to an otherwise nice position. However, it just lets me know that this is not what I want to do for the rest of my life, and inspires me to keep my butt in gear on the road to nursing school (which I'll hopefully be starting in Summer or Fall of 08). I can't wait!
Scott and I have also discussed moving once he is done with school in the spring of 08. Manhattan is quite expensive, and I wouldn't mind being in a little bit more slow paced area. So we're going to look up in Riverdale, which is a nice little community in the northwest corner of the Bronx, right below Westchester county (which is like the suburbs of New York. Nice and expensive!) And we're also going to look in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, as it is a up and coming little artsy area only a few subway stops from Manhattan. It really depends on where I get into school, and if Scott gets a NY or LA agent. Who knows. In 2 years, we could be headed for LA, though I think we'd prefer to stay on the east coast where things are quite so California. Who knows what the future has in store!!
I hope all is well for all of you. For those of you I saw over my trip home in December, it was great to see you!! And I will be back April 18th-22nd. Pencil me in your calenders! Also, thanks so much for all the well-wishes about my dad. He is scheduled to see the oncologist this week, so I'll keep those of you interested updated on how he's doing. So far, he's getting his good spirits back and feeling more normal (especially thanks to our family MD, Pam Cain who we love). Keep in touch you all! I love hearing from everyone and miss everyone dearly! Love from the city,
Lauren
p.s. One more thing I'd like to share is that one night after work as I was walking to the subway, some guy actually said "Hubba hubba" to me. He said this in a flattering way, yet I was in shock because I had just worked out at the "Bee-Fit Fitness Center" at the VA, was sweaty, and stuffed into my brown puffy winter jacket like a stuffed potato. But whatever. Apparently guys in the Bronx...or maybe NY in general, have lower standards. Or maybe they just like girls who look like sweaty potatoes. MUCH LOVE ALL!
Just when I thought I had gotten so used to New York that I had nothing new to write to you about, I was proven wrong. To get you up to speed on our window situation, so this story will make more sense to you, I'll let you know that Scott and I bought some new drapes last month. We have blinds on our windows but they're white and tons of light still gets in, so we bought some drapes to go over them and they've been oh so helpful in the sleep department! However, Scott was finding it difficult to get out of bed in the AM because it was so dark, so I told him I'd open the drapes in the morning to let in the natural light. This was quite helpful for him.....
So it all began last Wednesday I believe. I was finishing a bowl of Kix, and in a hurry as I usually am in the morning. I walked over with my bowl to open the drapes for Scott, and God only knows what happened next, but the rod that holds the drapes came crashing down directly onto my bowl of Kix...Kix and milk are EVERYWHERE! On the drape, on the blinds, on the couch, on the floor, on my clothes. Plus there are little Kix rolling around all over the place. And I was actually on schedule that morning to get to work on time before that happened...so much to my chagrin, I had to wipe up my mess before I left for work.....moving on.......Last night I didn't get to sleep until about 12am for various reasons, and I woke up at about 2 to use the bathroom, which is quite common for me. Scott was just getting ready for bed, so I did my thing, got back in bed, and got all annoyed when he asked me to turn the lights on for him so he could see his way to bed and get his phone plugged in, etc For some reason, Scott goes over to the sink on his way to bed and yells out "Cockroach!" Now...I've gotten used to the occasional cockroach (remember when I cried after I killed my first one? Yeah, I'm past that stage. I just want to rid the world of those little bastards!).....but then Scott yells "2 cockroaches.....3 cockroaches....4 cockroaches....5 cockroaches...10 cockroaches! OH MY GOD! WE'RE INFESTED!!!" There I am, laying in bed, just flinching every time he says he's found another one, and then he's freaking out, I yell at him to get the raid, and then we're in for a 2 hour raid spraying, drawer emptying, cockroach killing, dish cleaning, garbage emptying nightmare. Quite frankly, it was a night from hell....and honestly, Scott is the only person I would want to go through that with! I know someday we'll look back and laugh...and I hope you're laughing now, because I'm sure its quite humorous to anyone it didn't happen to. However...it was creepy...gross...and thats not even the end of it........so due to the excess of Raid we sprayed in our Apt, we're practically high off of cockroach poison, and we crack open our window and turn on all our fans to try to get the smell out. I even sat by the window, trying to breath fresh air because the smell of raid was beginning to make me nauseated. Finally, around 4am, we had done all we could do, killed all the ones we saw (most of them were babies, but in a way, that's even grosser because that means they were probably just born recently, BLECH!), had dishes soaking in the sink, and I closed the window (the one which only has 1 drape on it right now because the other one is being washed this evening because it got some milk splashed on it in the Kix incident). I started lifting up the blinds to lock the window, and what happens? You guessed it.....the entire set of blinds just falls off the window onto the floor! We had only half the window covered by the drape, and the other half looking out into the street from our first floor apartment. I was ready to cry. But we're able to get the blinds back up despite the fact that half of one of the slots the rod goes into is broken off. Oy vey.
So here I sit at work, exhausted because I didn't actually fall asleep until 5am because I was afraid Scott and I would die from the Raid fumes if we fell asleep. I am dreading going home because about half of our dishes are sitting, soaking in soapy water in the sink, and I'll have to clean them all. And I am really hoping to avoid the smell of Raid for the next couples decades, as I think it will make me nauseated from now on. End of story.
In other news, Scott auditioned Saturday morning for Santa Cruz Shakespeare, which is a summer Shakespeare festival in Santa Cruz, CA. He got called back on the spot! So I'm hopeful this will work out for him. This would get him some professional theater under his belt, and that would be wonderful for his resume. However, he doesn't want to get his hopes up because he knows how the industry works better than I and doesn't want to be let down if he doesn't get cast. But we're proud of him just for being called back. What a stud!
Work is going fine for me, despite the fact that I have 2 highly neurotic bosses (seriously...I have stories which can be shared another time), which really adds a damper to an otherwise nice position. However, it just lets me know that this is not what I want to do for the rest of my life, and inspires me to keep my butt in gear on the road to nursing school (which I'll hopefully be starting in Summer or Fall of 08). I can't wait!
Scott and I have also discussed moving once he is done with school in the spring of 08. Manhattan is quite expensive, and I wouldn't mind being in a little bit more slow paced area. So we're going to look up in Riverdale, which is a nice little community in the northwest corner of the Bronx, right below Westchester county (which is like the suburbs of New York. Nice and expensive!) And we're also going to look in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, as it is a up and coming little artsy area only a few subway stops from Manhattan. It really depends on where I get into school, and if Scott gets a NY or LA agent. Who knows. In 2 years, we could be headed for LA, though I think we'd prefer to stay on the east coast where things are quite so California. Who knows what the future has in store!!
I hope all is well for all of you. For those of you I saw over my trip home in December, it was great to see you!! And I will be back April 18th-22nd. Pencil me in your calenders! Also, thanks so much for all the well-wishes about my dad. He is scheduled to see the oncologist this week, so I'll keep those of you interested updated on how he's doing. So far, he's getting his good spirits back and feeling more normal (especially thanks to our family MD, Pam Cain who we love). Keep in touch you all! I love hearing from everyone and miss everyone dearly! Love from the city,
Lauren
p.s. One more thing I'd like to share is that one night after work as I was walking to the subway, some guy actually said "Hubba hubba" to me. He said this in a flattering way, yet I was in shock because I had just worked out at the "Bee-Fit Fitness Center" at the VA, was sweaty, and stuffed into my brown puffy winter jacket like a stuffed potato. But whatever. Apparently guys in the Bronx...or maybe NY in general, have lower standards. Or maybe they just like girls who look like sweaty potatoes. MUCH LOVE ALL!
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Volume 7: December 06
Dear all,
How the time has flown. I sit here in my dad's office in my Minnesota house, realizing I've resided in the crazy city of New York for 7 months. Does that mean I should be adjusted? I'll be leaving MN tomorrow which is always tough for me. New York sure isn't home yet. Though I'm working on it. Some days, I feel fine as can be. I have a good job, an amazing boyfriend, believe it or not I have friends in NY now. But Minnesota will always have a large place in my heart. Plus, I've never lived more than 20 minutes away from my parents, and I'm a big baby and I miss them! As some of you know, it has been especially hard for me to be away lately as my dad had colon surgery on December 8th and took much longer to recuperate than expected. In fact, we didn't even know if he'd be home from the hospital in time for Christmas. Luckily he made it home Christmas eve, and though I know it's been tough on him to be up seeing our holiday guests, I think he knows that him being home was the best gift we could have asked for this Christmas. Please keep him and my family in your thoughts and prayers in the next few months, as my dad continues to receive treatments to bring him back to the healthy Dad that we know and love.
Alright...so I know this letter has started off being a bit more of a downer than usual. And don't you worry, I have a few interesting New York stories up my sleeve which I plan to share with you. It has just been a difficult couple of months for Scott and his family, as well as my family, in terms of our loved-ones health; and quite frankly, we can't be cheery and interesting all the time. Good thing we have each other. :) But on to crazy New York happenings:
1) A week or so after Thanksgiving, when the holiday spirit rightly began to rear it's head in NY (as opposed to after Halloween which is just ridiculous), I stood in the subway station, attempting to read before the 1 train came for my morning commute. Across the tracks, on the downtown side, were many people, including parents and their children, probably on their way to day care, school and work. Sitting on the bench sat a man, presumably homeless, reading a newspaper. I was drawn away from my reading when the man announced in a loud voice "Huh, well look at that. I can't believe it. SANTA CLAUS DIED! No Christmas this year!" Oy. Naturally, I rolled my eyes. The ranting of the mentally ill are not unusual in New York, and if you ignore them, they often stop. However, apparently this guy was feeling especially crazy this day as he didn't stop here. "Did you hear that everyone?!?!" He screamed. "Santa Clause died! Ah ha ha ha! No Christmas! He'd dead!" This man continued his ranting and raving about the supposed death of Jolly Old St Nick for a couple of minutes until the downtown sub came. The arrival of the train, however, did not prevent many parents from having to comfort their young children, including the man and his daughter who were sitting on the bench next to the raving man. Even after the dad moved off the bench with his daughter (no older than 4), she continued to stare in frightened disbelief at the claims of this guy. A funny thing about this story, is that down the bench from Mr.I'm-going-to-announce-the-death--of-Santa-Claus-in-front-of-young-children-a-month-before-Christmas, sat an older man, homeless, who I'd seen many times. And while homeless, and quite frankly a bit dirty, there sat a rotund man with long white hair and a white beard, snoozing at the end of the bench. My nick-name for him before this incident was Santa Claus...but apparently not many parents want to point out to their children a possible Santa Claus who lives in the subway station. Typical New York craziness.
2) The other substantially interesting story happened just a few days before I came home for Christmas. I decided that I should buy some of my new friends some slippers from Old Navy for a nice (yet cheap...because I'm poor) little Christmas present. Yes...I'm trying to buy their friendship....JK.... Anyways, as W125th street is on my way home from work, I decided to try the Harlem Old Navy. Word was that there was a Marshall's right next to it, and I could always do a little browsing (yes...BROWSING) for myself after being kind and generous to my friends. After getting off the sub at 125th, I hopped on the M60 in order to go east to Old Navy. As the bus sat at a stop sign, I looked out the window and saw a man in a strange, yet familar military uniform. I also saw a woman carrying a red, green and black flag, and I saw some people making signs, as if it were there for a protest. Man, I thought to myself, that sure looks like the black panther get-ups they used to wear. I wonder if red, green and black are the black panther colors. Naturally, right before the bus began to move again, I glanced to the left of these protesters and realized, this was my stop. Old Navy was right to the left of the group. Great. BUT, I thought I saw some police officers trying to move the protest further down the street so I figured I'd be ok. I got off at the next stop and headed toward the store. Unfortunately, the protest had only moved right IN FRONT of the Old Navy store, and Lauren, being the street smart girl she is, decided to go on in. I didn't even know what they were protesting. Why would I be against Old Navy? They have great quality clothes for absolutely decent prices. As I started to walk in, a guy took my by the arm (not violently or anything), and said, "You can't go in there. Theres a nation wide boycott on Old Navy." Guys...I really needed to get these Christmas presents. Boycott or not, I was determined to get what I came for. So I told the guy sorry and kept walking. He continued to try to convince me not to go in until he finally gave up and just handed me a flier. As I got into the familiar cement floored setting of Old Navy (and didn't see the slippers I came for), I glanced at the sheet and saw the headline, "50 shots/50 days", or something along those lines. This protest was to promote the "New Black Panther Party" boycott against white businesses due to an unarmed? black man being shot 50 times in Queens the night before his wedding. White businesses were supposed to be boycotted for 50 days. This was supposedly to stop "police terrorism". I'm not sure I understand the logic in this. And there was a silent protest in Herald Square the weekend before, which included members of the NAACP. For some reason, the New Black Panther Party was just a little bit more intimidating than the NAACP in this case. I got my tail out of there once I realized that I had just walked right through a black panther protest. I just made sure I saw some cops by the exit before I left. I still have the flier if anyone is interested in seeing it. Crazy. And yes, I am a genius for going in. I know.
Those are the big NY events of late. Some other fun tidbits include the fact that Christmas trees are sold right on the side walk, often outside of little bodegas on the street. This made the city feel quite festive, and man, did it smell good walking to the subway at 103rd as there were 2 stands on my way. What else? Oh, I got yelled at by a man for walking across the street at a walk signal and not "watching the cars" coming at me. I don't know. New Yorkers are not all bad. But if intereact with the wrong one, its bad news. I also think I saw Cynthia Nixon walking near Columbus Circle. Does anyone know if she lives near there? That would be my 2nd celebrity sighting, my first being Ethan Hawke near Lincoln Center about 2 months ago.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, whatever it was (Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, Christmaka, Kwanzakah, Hannukakwanza, Christmkwanzukah). And I hope this email was more entertaining than it was sombering. But no worries. Us Bachnicks perservere. We are confident we will get through this difficult time and my dad's health will return. Much love to all. Have a fabulous New Year. Love to all, Lauren
How the time has flown. I sit here in my dad's office in my Minnesota house, realizing I've resided in the crazy city of New York for 7 months. Does that mean I should be adjusted? I'll be leaving MN tomorrow which is always tough for me. New York sure isn't home yet. Though I'm working on it. Some days, I feel fine as can be. I have a good job, an amazing boyfriend, believe it or not I have friends in NY now. But Minnesota will always have a large place in my heart. Plus, I've never lived more than 20 minutes away from my parents, and I'm a big baby and I miss them! As some of you know, it has been especially hard for me to be away lately as my dad had colon surgery on December 8th and took much longer to recuperate than expected. In fact, we didn't even know if he'd be home from the hospital in time for Christmas. Luckily he made it home Christmas eve, and though I know it's been tough on him to be up seeing our holiday guests, I think he knows that him being home was the best gift we could have asked for this Christmas. Please keep him and my family in your thoughts and prayers in the next few months, as my dad continues to receive treatments to bring him back to the healthy Dad that we know and love.
Alright...so I know this letter has started off being a bit more of a downer than usual. And don't you worry, I have a few interesting New York stories up my sleeve which I plan to share with you. It has just been a difficult couple of months for Scott and his family, as well as my family, in terms of our loved-ones health; and quite frankly, we can't be cheery and interesting all the time. Good thing we have each other. :) But on to crazy New York happenings:
1) A week or so after Thanksgiving, when the holiday spirit rightly began to rear it's head in NY (as opposed to after Halloween which is just ridiculous), I stood in the subway station, attempting to read before the 1 train came for my morning commute. Across the tracks, on the downtown side, were many people, including parents and their children, probably on their way to day care, school and work. Sitting on the bench sat a man, presumably homeless, reading a newspaper. I was drawn away from my reading when the man announced in a loud voice "Huh, well look at that. I can't believe it. SANTA CLAUS DIED! No Christmas this year!" Oy. Naturally, I rolled my eyes. The ranting of the mentally ill are not unusual in New York, and if you ignore them, they often stop. However, apparently this guy was feeling especially crazy this day as he didn't stop here. "Did you hear that everyone?!?!" He screamed. "Santa Clause died! Ah ha ha ha! No Christmas! He'd dead!" This man continued his ranting and raving about the supposed death of Jolly Old St Nick for a couple of minutes until the downtown sub came. The arrival of the train, however, did not prevent many parents from having to comfort their young children, including the man and his daughter who were sitting on the bench next to the raving man. Even after the dad moved off the bench with his daughter (no older than 4), she continued to stare in frightened disbelief at the claims of this guy. A funny thing about this story, is that down the bench from Mr.I'm-going-to-announce-the-death--of-Santa-Claus-in-front-of-young-children-a-month-before-Christmas, sat an older man, homeless, who I'd seen many times. And while homeless, and quite frankly a bit dirty, there sat a rotund man with long white hair and a white beard, snoozing at the end of the bench. My nick-name for him before this incident was Santa Claus...but apparently not many parents want to point out to their children a possible Santa Claus who lives in the subway station. Typical New York craziness.
2) The other substantially interesting story happened just a few days before I came home for Christmas. I decided that I should buy some of my new friends some slippers from Old Navy for a nice (yet cheap...because I'm poor) little Christmas present. Yes...I'm trying to buy their friendship....JK.... Anyways, as W125th street is on my way home from work, I decided to try the Harlem Old Navy. Word was that there was a Marshall's right next to it, and I could always do a little browsing (yes...BROWSING) for myself after being kind and generous to my friends. After getting off the sub at 125th, I hopped on the M60 in order to go east to Old Navy. As the bus sat at a stop sign, I looked out the window and saw a man in a strange, yet familar military uniform. I also saw a woman carrying a red, green and black flag, and I saw some people making signs, as if it were there for a protest. Man, I thought to myself, that sure looks like the black panther get-ups they used to wear. I wonder if red, green and black are the black panther colors. Naturally, right before the bus began to move again, I glanced to the left of these protesters and realized, this was my stop. Old Navy was right to the left of the group. Great. BUT, I thought I saw some police officers trying to move the protest further down the street so I figured I'd be ok. I got off at the next stop and headed toward the store. Unfortunately, the protest had only moved right IN FRONT of the Old Navy store, and Lauren, being the street smart girl she is, decided to go on in. I didn't even know what they were protesting. Why would I be against Old Navy? They have great quality clothes for absolutely decent prices. As I started to walk in, a guy took my by the arm (not violently or anything), and said, "You can't go in there. Theres a nation wide boycott on Old Navy." Guys...I really needed to get these Christmas presents. Boycott or not, I was determined to get what I came for. So I told the guy sorry and kept walking. He continued to try to convince me not to go in until he finally gave up and just handed me a flier. As I got into the familiar cement floored setting of Old Navy (and didn't see the slippers I came for), I glanced at the sheet and saw the headline, "50 shots/50 days", or something along those lines. This protest was to promote the "New Black Panther Party" boycott against white businesses due to an unarmed? black man being shot 50 times in Queens the night before his wedding. White businesses were supposed to be boycotted for 50 days. This was supposedly to stop "police terrorism". I'm not sure I understand the logic in this. And there was a silent protest in Herald Square the weekend before, which included members of the NAACP. For some reason, the New Black Panther Party was just a little bit more intimidating than the NAACP in this case. I got my tail out of there once I realized that I had just walked right through a black panther protest. I just made sure I saw some cops by the exit before I left. I still have the flier if anyone is interested in seeing it. Crazy. And yes, I am a genius for going in. I know.
Those are the big NY events of late. Some other fun tidbits include the fact that Christmas trees are sold right on the side walk, often outside of little bodegas on the street. This made the city feel quite festive, and man, did it smell good walking to the subway at 103rd as there were 2 stands on my way. What else? Oh, I got yelled at by a man for walking across the street at a walk signal and not "watching the cars" coming at me. I don't know. New Yorkers are not all bad. But if intereact with the wrong one, its bad news. I also think I saw Cynthia Nixon walking near Columbus Circle. Does anyone know if she lives near there? That would be my 2nd celebrity sighting, my first being Ethan Hawke near Lincoln Center about 2 months ago.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, whatever it was (Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, Christmaka, Kwanzakah, Hannukakwanza, Christmkwanzukah). And I hope this email was more entertaining than it was sombering. But no worries. Us Bachnicks perservere. We are confident we will get through this difficult time and my dad's health will return. Much love to all. Have a fabulous New Year. Love to all, Lauren
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Volume 6: November 06
Hello friends,
It has been made known to me that I haven't sent out a New York Happenings edition for a while....so I thought to give you some cheer before this Thanksgiving weekend, I'd write to tell you about my exciting New York life. Ok...if not cheer, entertainment?
First things first. I know each one of you has been dying to find out the answer to the burning question: HOW DO NEW YORK CHILDREN TRICK OR TREAT?!? Or I suppose some of you even wonder if there are children in New York. (Believe it or not there are a lot!!) As for trick-or-treating, now get this....the kids go from store to store to get candy! Forget houses! (There are none here anyways). You wouldn't believe the streets! Filled with miniature Minnie Mouses, super heros, princesses. I even saw a miniature elmo, and he was carrying an elmo candy bucket as well. This pleased me quite a bit. At first I thought it was deja vu but I came to my senses. The kids parents even dress up as they walk along the street with them (and I'm talking Broadway here)...lots of time matching their kids or carrying on a theme (Think seeing a small Harry Potter and a life sized Dumbledore). I was enjoying these refreshing festivities when I witnessed a travesty to our times....there were dogs dressed up for halloween....Here are my thoughts on that: Unless the dog is a teeny-tiny chiuaua without any fir and its below zero outside, dogs are not supposed to wear clothes. YOu might think its cute to dress them in plaid jackets or gap hoodies or raincoats (come on people, I don't even have my own raincoat)...but how do you think the dog feels? Ridiculous! That's how! Dogs are not meant to wear clothes. However, many people (ESPECIALLY New Yorkers) disregard this fact and dress their poor pups like children. Also, despite my dislike for dressing up dogs, I'm gonna have to shamefully admit that some of the halloween dogs were pretty darn cute. I saw a dog dressed as a bat, a dog dressed as a dog (don't ask), a weiner dog dressed as a hot dog, and my personal favorite, a little terrier dressed as a bee....however this little bee was pooping on the sidewalk like I've never seen a bee poop before.
So that was Halloween, during which I was not distributing candy to little kids (because kids don't trick-or-treat in apartment buildings or anything), I was at choir. Yes folks, you heard me right. I've joined a choir. It's called the New York Cantata singers and its the professional group of the Choral Symphony Society. My director is over 90 years of age which may explain why I got into the professional group instead of the community group....you know...hearing loss? Not really. He doesn't have hearing loss though he is legally blind due to macular degeneration, but he does well with what he can see and I'm enjoying my group. Our first concert (that I'm performing in) is on December 3rd and we're singing Bch's Christmas Oratorio (yes...the WHOLE thing...its LONG and HARD but BEAUTIFUL!!). If any of you will be in the NYC area that day, let me know because I have to sell 10 tickets and I barely know more than 10 people outside of work here. By the way, check us out on the web!http://www.choralsymphonysociety.org/ http://www.choralsymphonysociety.org/nycantata/index.html
Speaking of work, its going well (minus a little reaming out incident by my not-boss...ask if you must know). I've recruited 4 people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder for my study and one is already enrolled. We started doing our cognitive testing this week. I'm also being trained in EKGs and phlebotomy (although I've already been trained in both, boo to federal governement beaurocracy) so that I can perform these things on my research patients. I've also met a lot of very nice people! it's a much more welcoming place than my department at Mount Sinai, and I enjoy it.
To end this email off with a last bit of cheer, let me relate to you a story of a whipe out I made just this morning. Some of you may not know this but quite a few subway stops in NY are actually above ground (as in a good 20-30 feet above ground.) This morning, while walking down the stairs from one of these such stops, looking swanky as ever, the heel of my boot got caught in the cuff of my pants and I tripped forward, beginning to fall down this steep mountain of bumpy metal. Luckily, I caught myself on the railing and held on tight, but the momentum I had started kept me going until I had swung around (looking UP the stairs) and landed my knees on the edge of two different stairs...and then slid down one or two more. To be honest ladies and gents, this hurt my pride more than it hurt my now sore and bruised knees. But I'm sure I'll get over it. It had to happen at one point in time or another.
I know I'm leaving lots of things out like my fun experiences with my friend Mary who came to visit a couple weeks ago and stayed in the worst hostel in the world (and she would know!). But the time has come for me to wish you all have a tremendous holiday, and if you want to hear one of Scott's good stories, ask him about the barking man on the church steps. Happy Holidays you all.
Love,
Lauren
It has been made known to me that I haven't sent out a New York Happenings edition for a while....so I thought to give you some cheer before this Thanksgiving weekend, I'd write to tell you about my exciting New York life. Ok...if not cheer, entertainment?
First things first. I know each one of you has been dying to find out the answer to the burning question: HOW DO NEW YORK CHILDREN TRICK OR TREAT?!? Or I suppose some of you even wonder if there are children in New York. (Believe it or not there are a lot!!) As for trick-or-treating, now get this....the kids go from store to store to get candy! Forget houses! (There are none here anyways). You wouldn't believe the streets! Filled with miniature Minnie Mouses, super heros, princesses. I even saw a miniature elmo, and he was carrying an elmo candy bucket as well. This pleased me quite a bit. At first I thought it was deja vu but I came to my senses. The kids parents even dress up as they walk along the street with them (and I'm talking Broadway here)...lots of time matching their kids or carrying on a theme (Think seeing a small Harry Potter and a life sized Dumbledore). I was enjoying these refreshing festivities when I witnessed a travesty to our times....there were dogs dressed up for halloween....Here are my thoughts on that: Unless the dog is a teeny-tiny chiuaua without any fir and its below zero outside, dogs are not supposed to wear clothes. YOu might think its cute to dress them in plaid jackets or gap hoodies or raincoats (come on people, I don't even have my own raincoat)...but how do you think the dog feels? Ridiculous! That's how! Dogs are not meant to wear clothes. However, many people (ESPECIALLY New Yorkers) disregard this fact and dress their poor pups like children. Also, despite my dislike for dressing up dogs, I'm gonna have to shamefully admit that some of the halloween dogs were pretty darn cute. I saw a dog dressed as a bat, a dog dressed as a dog (don't ask), a weiner dog dressed as a hot dog, and my personal favorite, a little terrier dressed as a bee....however this little bee was pooping on the sidewalk like I've never seen a bee poop before.
So that was Halloween, during which I was not distributing candy to little kids (because kids don't trick-or-treat in apartment buildings or anything), I was at choir. Yes folks, you heard me right. I've joined a choir. It's called the New York Cantata singers and its the professional group of the Choral Symphony Society. My director is over 90 years of age which may explain why I got into the professional group instead of the community group....you know...hearing loss? Not really. He doesn't have hearing loss though he is legally blind due to macular degeneration, but he does well with what he can see and I'm enjoying my group. Our first concert (that I'm performing in) is on December 3rd and we're singing Bch's Christmas Oratorio (yes...the WHOLE thing...its LONG and HARD but BEAUTIFUL!!). If any of you will be in the NYC area that day, let me know because I have to sell 10 tickets and I barely know more than 10 people outside of work here. By the way, check us out on the web!http://www.choralsymphonysociety.org/ http://www.choralsymphonysociety.org/nycantata/index.html
Speaking of work, its going well (minus a little reaming out incident by my not-boss...ask if you must know). I've recruited 4 people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder for my study and one is already enrolled. We started doing our cognitive testing this week. I'm also being trained in EKGs and phlebotomy (although I've already been trained in both, boo to federal governement beaurocracy) so that I can perform these things on my research patients. I've also met a lot of very nice people! it's a much more welcoming place than my department at Mount Sinai, and I enjoy it.
To end this email off with a last bit of cheer, let me relate to you a story of a whipe out I made just this morning. Some of you may not know this but quite a few subway stops in NY are actually above ground (as in a good 20-30 feet above ground.) This morning, while walking down the stairs from one of these such stops, looking swanky as ever, the heel of my boot got caught in the cuff of my pants and I tripped forward, beginning to fall down this steep mountain of bumpy metal. Luckily, I caught myself on the railing and held on tight, but the momentum I had started kept me going until I had swung around (looking UP the stairs) and landed my knees on the edge of two different stairs...and then slid down one or two more. To be honest ladies and gents, this hurt my pride more than it hurt my now sore and bruised knees. But I'm sure I'll get over it. It had to happen at one point in time or another.
I know I'm leaving lots of things out like my fun experiences with my friend Mary who came to visit a couple weeks ago and stayed in the worst hostel in the world (and she would know!). But the time has come for me to wish you all have a tremendous holiday, and if you want to hear one of Scott's good stories, ask him about the barking man on the church steps. Happy Holidays you all.
Love,
Lauren
Monday, October 23, 2006
Volume 5: October 06
To my friends and neighbors,
Nope...thats a lie. Not friends with any of my neighbors other than theone who walks his irish wolfhound (a HUGE dog...almost goes up to myhip!) down the street in the evening. His dog is named McGee and is the sweetest puppy ever.
*See 1st attachment...another Irish Wolfhound. Anyways, McGee's owner always waves at me when he sees me which makes mefeel like part of the neighborhood, despite the fact that I only knowhim and Scott, and our neighbor Tikao, an asian man in his early 60s whobasically is our gardener on W105th. We're convinced he eaves drops onour conversations but I don't think we have any proof....And so here I am again my friends. Writing you from the exciting and STRANGE city ofNew York! I have begun to settle in to my new job (w/ a few bumps alongthe way) and am enjoying it thoroughly! I have 2 great friends out here, Erica (best shopping partner in NYC, Lindsey is best in Mn) and Ben (my dinner mate when Scott has rehearsals), and a wonderfulboyfriend who is caring, sweet and nutty, just like me. Here are someof the events of the past month,
1) The first, and most shocking event of the past month took place in abar called "Vintage" near Columbus Circle. We went out for happy hourwith Scott's classmates and were having a jolly old time when ourwaitress said the unthinkable to me: "You know, you look a lot like AnnaPaquin...ARE you Anna Paquin?" *HALT!* I was JUST mistaken for acelebrity in New York. I must be hot. Jk. But I was quite flatteredthough I explained to the waitress I thought Anna Paquin was quite a bitskinnier than me. For those of you who don't who Anna Paquin is, she isknown for winning an oscar for best supporting actress at around age7?....and playing Rogue, my favorite super hero in the X-Men movies.See picture attached for comparison.... Now...if you disagree with this kind waitress, please don't tell me,because she's not the first to say I resemble Anna Paquin, and I quitelike to think I do...so keep your opinions to yourself. *wink* Moving on....
2) The same night as that waitress's "celebrity" encounter, Scott and Ifollowed his classmates to the apartment of one of his classmates, a definite Anson Mount Look-Alike. Hisapartment was BEAUTIFUL including 2 stories and a patio out back.Apparently though, those Columbia students are just too rowdy becauseafter being there for about an hour and a half, who should we see on thetop step of the patio but a "friend" NYPD officer shouting about howdisrespectful we were and how this was "NOT" a house party. Scott's classmate and his roommate James calmly stepped up to the plate and weedled their way out of a ticket, getting only a warning....and Scott and I, along with his classmate Maury and his wife, snuck out the front door, down the hall and onto 59thStreet....the last time I ran from the cops was my freshman year incollege at a house party at the Univeristy of Minnesota....apparently,cops in NY are no less tolerant of us young folk.
3)This story coorelates with the last photo attachment on thisemail....the walker....Take a look at the picture and use your spatialcognition skills to picture pushing the walker forward so it falls ontoits front. Got this picture in your head? Walker laying on it's frontside? That would be how we saw an old lady using her walker whenwalking back from the grocery store one evening. And no, she didn'tlook comfortable. My first inkling was to stop and help her correct thewalker's position, but having been a 5-month experienced New Yorker, Idecided to let it slide while noting to Scott that the lady was usingher walker incorrectly. A few minutes later we heard someone screamingbehind us "Get off! Get off!" Who was it but this crotchety (and crazy?)old lady trying to fend off a nice young gentlement trying to help herresituate her walker. About a week later, I saw the lady again, walkerincorrectly postured and all, and yelling at someone to "MIND THEIR OWNBUSINESS!" Apparently she's quite sensitive. WHat a nut.
4) My job has been a good experience...and an interesting one in itself.To remind you all, I am a clinical research coordinator working for theMental Illness Research and Education CLinical Center (AKA MIRECC) at the Bronx VA Hospital. I am a federal employee which means I had towash my hands, dry them, get them wet again, and submit my fingerprintson an electronic finger print gatherer (probably not the official title)to the guys at Washington. I can never do anything wrong again....they'll know who I am. ;) That'snot the only interesting thing. Apart from walking through a metaldetector everyday when I get to work (well...it is the BRonx!), I see aslimey smiling picture of our good old president, George W Bush. Now,for those of you who know my liberal political beliefs (and sorry to myfamily members who I know don't approve of them), this is hilarious. I walk into work and see a snarling picture of the person in this world Idislike the most. Who would have thunk. Another LESS funny experienceat work, which basically knocked the wind out of me, was when I turnedin the hours I had work before I was an official federal employee for mybackpay. THe administrator in my department asked me where I had comeup with that number for the hourly rate and I explained its what Ithought we had talked about in the interview and what was posted on theadvertisement online. Remember friends, I left my prior job for those"HUGE" pay increase...but oh no, the advertisement was off...by $7500 ayear. Sick. Thats how I felt. As tears welled in my eyes, myadministrator tried to comfort me and get to the bottom of whose mistakeit was which is ended up being his....Luckily...they're good people I"mworking for....(And they also realize I could take legal action againstthem for false advertisement, etc)...and are making up the different tome from a different area. But, it was a bit scary for a while and NOTfun to think I had not had a pay check for 4 weeks and was only going tobe making 900 more than what I was making at Mount Sinai. Geesh! But noworries, it all worked out.
5) As some of you know, I have been traveling at least once a week onthe Long Island Rail Road (which is a nice little get away if you askme) to West Brentwood, New YOrk where sits Pilgrim Psychiatric Center,which was at one point in time one of the largest psychiatric facilitiesin the country. This place is so classic...very "One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest". I"llhave to take some pics for the next email since I won't be visitingthere much more. I go out there to learn how to administer theneurocognitive tests I'll be giving to the patients with schizophrenia.Anyways... back to the rail road. Last week, when I was on my way backfrom the asylum...(haha..its not really an asylum...but I hear it usedto be bad)...I moved part way through the ride into a car that I hopedwould be more quiet so I could sleep. About 20 minutes into my ride,the train stopped at Hicksville I think it was....and stayed there. Icouldn't figure out what was going on until I saw some nurses gatheredaround some seats about 6 rows in front of me and across the aisle, andthe train conducter standing out on the platform looking for something.As the EMTs arrived (ambulances), I overheard that someone had had aseizure on the train. Man did I want to get up and do something tohelp. But knew I had no idea what to do, and there were already peoplethere who could help. Anyways, they just wanted to take this boy, about18-19 years old, to the hospital to make sure he was ok after thisseizure, when the poor kid started seizing again! This time I heard himbecause I think he had been in the middle of talking when itstarted....and as the EMT took him from under the shoulders and draggedhim to the exit of the train he was still seizing and twitching his headback and forth.
Never a dull moment in NYC I tell you! I've applied to a school outhere also (CUNY Hunter) to take my prereqs for nursing school (fromwhich I plan to become a nurse and then a nurse practitioner), and willlet you know how that all works out. Scott and I are off right now toan offbroadway matinee! Hope all is well with all of you and I hope tohear from you all. Much love everyone, Lauren
Nope...thats a lie. Not friends with any of my neighbors other than theone who walks his irish wolfhound (a HUGE dog...almost goes up to myhip!) down the street in the evening. His dog is named McGee and is the sweetest puppy ever.
*See 1st attachment...another Irish Wolfhound. Anyways, McGee's owner always waves at me when he sees me which makes mefeel like part of the neighborhood, despite the fact that I only knowhim and Scott, and our neighbor Tikao, an asian man in his early 60s whobasically is our gardener on W105th. We're convinced he eaves drops onour conversations but I don't think we have any proof....And so here I am again my friends. Writing you from the exciting and STRANGE city ofNew York! I have begun to settle in to my new job (w/ a few bumps alongthe way) and am enjoying it thoroughly! I have 2 great friends out here, Erica (best shopping partner in NYC, Lindsey is best in Mn) and Ben (my dinner mate when Scott has rehearsals), and a wonderfulboyfriend who is caring, sweet and nutty, just like me. Here are someof the events of the past month,
1) The first, and most shocking event of the past month took place in abar called "Vintage" near Columbus Circle. We went out for happy hourwith Scott's classmates and were having a jolly old time when ourwaitress said the unthinkable to me: "You know, you look a lot like AnnaPaquin...ARE you Anna Paquin?" *HALT!* I was JUST mistaken for acelebrity in New York. I must be hot. Jk. But I was quite flatteredthough I explained to the waitress I thought Anna Paquin was quite a bitskinnier than me. For those of you who don't who Anna Paquin is, she isknown for winning an oscar for best supporting actress at around age7?....and playing Rogue, my favorite super hero in the X-Men movies.See picture attached for comparison.... Now...if you disagree with this kind waitress, please don't tell me,because she's not the first to say I resemble Anna Paquin, and I quitelike to think I do...so keep your opinions to yourself. *wink* Moving on....
2) The same night as that waitress's "celebrity" encounter, Scott and Ifollowed his classmates to the apartment of one of his classmates, a definite Anson Mount Look-Alike. Hisapartment was BEAUTIFUL including 2 stories and a patio out back.Apparently though, those Columbia students are just too rowdy becauseafter being there for about an hour and a half, who should we see on thetop step of the patio but a "friend" NYPD officer shouting about howdisrespectful we were and how this was "NOT" a house party. Scott's classmate and his roommate James calmly stepped up to the plate and weedled their way out of a ticket, getting only a warning....and Scott and I, along with his classmate Maury and his wife, snuck out the front door, down the hall and onto 59thStreet....the last time I ran from the cops was my freshman year incollege at a house party at the Univeristy of Minnesota....apparently,cops in NY are no less tolerant of us young folk.
3)This story coorelates with the last photo attachment on thisemail....the walker....Take a look at the picture and use your spatialcognition skills to picture pushing the walker forward so it falls ontoits front. Got this picture in your head? Walker laying on it's frontside? That would be how we saw an old lady using her walker whenwalking back from the grocery store one evening. And no, she didn'tlook comfortable. My first inkling was to stop and help her correct thewalker's position, but having been a 5-month experienced New Yorker, Idecided to let it slide while noting to Scott that the lady was usingher walker incorrectly. A few minutes later we heard someone screamingbehind us "Get off! Get off!" Who was it but this crotchety (and crazy?)old lady trying to fend off a nice young gentlement trying to help herresituate her walker. About a week later, I saw the lady again, walkerincorrectly postured and all, and yelling at someone to "MIND THEIR OWNBUSINESS!" Apparently she's quite sensitive. WHat a nut.
4) My job has been a good experience...and an interesting one in itself.To remind you all, I am a clinical research coordinator working for theMental Illness Research and Education CLinical Center (AKA MIRECC) at the Bronx VA Hospital. I am a federal employee which means I had towash my hands, dry them, get them wet again, and submit my fingerprintson an electronic finger print gatherer (probably not the official title)to the guys at Washington. I can never do anything wrong again....they'll know who I am. ;) That'snot the only interesting thing. Apart from walking through a metaldetector everyday when I get to work (well...it is the BRonx!), I see aslimey smiling picture of our good old president, George W Bush. Now,for those of you who know my liberal political beliefs (and sorry to myfamily members who I know don't approve of them), this is hilarious. I walk into work and see a snarling picture of the person in this world Idislike the most. Who would have thunk. Another LESS funny experienceat work, which basically knocked the wind out of me, was when I turnedin the hours I had work before I was an official federal employee for mybackpay. THe administrator in my department asked me where I had comeup with that number for the hourly rate and I explained its what Ithought we had talked about in the interview and what was posted on theadvertisement online. Remember friends, I left my prior job for those"HUGE" pay increase...but oh no, the advertisement was off...by $7500 ayear. Sick. Thats how I felt. As tears welled in my eyes, myadministrator tried to comfort me and get to the bottom of whose mistakeit was which is ended up being his....Luckily...they're good people I"mworking for....(And they also realize I could take legal action againstthem for false advertisement, etc)...and are making up the different tome from a different area. But, it was a bit scary for a while and NOTfun to think I had not had a pay check for 4 weeks and was only going tobe making 900 more than what I was making at Mount Sinai. Geesh! But noworries, it all worked out.
5) As some of you know, I have been traveling at least once a week onthe Long Island Rail Road (which is a nice little get away if you askme) to West Brentwood, New YOrk where sits Pilgrim Psychiatric Center,which was at one point in time one of the largest psychiatric facilitiesin the country. This place is so classic...very "One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest". I"llhave to take some pics for the next email since I won't be visitingthere much more. I go out there to learn how to administer theneurocognitive tests I'll be giving to the patients with schizophrenia.Anyways... back to the rail road. Last week, when I was on my way backfrom the asylum...(haha..its not really an asylum...but I hear it usedto be bad)...I moved part way through the ride into a car that I hopedwould be more quiet so I could sleep. About 20 minutes into my ride,the train stopped at Hicksville I think it was....and stayed there. Icouldn't figure out what was going on until I saw some nurses gatheredaround some seats about 6 rows in front of me and across the aisle, andthe train conducter standing out on the platform looking for something.As the EMTs arrived (ambulances), I overheard that someone had had aseizure on the train. Man did I want to get up and do something tohelp. But knew I had no idea what to do, and there were already peoplethere who could help. Anyways, they just wanted to take this boy, about18-19 years old, to the hospital to make sure he was ok after thisseizure, when the poor kid started seizing again! This time I heard himbecause I think he had been in the middle of talking when itstarted....and as the EMT took him from under the shoulders and draggedhim to the exit of the train he was still seizing and twitching his headback and forth.
Never a dull moment in NYC I tell you! I've applied to a school outhere also (CUNY Hunter) to take my prereqs for nursing school (fromwhich I plan to become a nurse and then a nurse practitioner), and willlet you know how that all works out. Scott and I are off right now toan offbroadway matinee! Hope all is well with all of you and I hope tohear from you all. Much love everyone, Lauren
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Volume 4: September 06
Hey guys,
Time for another fun-filled update from the city that never sleeps.
Actually New York does sleep! And they sleep late! I'm used to people
working from 7-3 or 8-4 in Mn but most people don't start here until 9:30.
And everything closes by 11 or 12. So either I'm using that cliche for the
wrong city (quite possible) or its a load of baloney.
I feel as if I am writing a Babysitter's Club book. I have to tell all the
readers each time to look at the bottom of this email to read prior editions
of my little news letter just like the author had to explain Kristy,
Claudia, Dawn, Mallery, etc in everybook and had to do it differently each
time. A little annoying if you read as many of those books as I did. To the
point, if you're new to this list, check out the earlier editions of this
email at the end of this one...just in case you need a good laugh.
Anyways, I'll begin with this past month's events.
1) I began work (though still not officially due to the slowness of the
federal government) at the Bronx VA. I was electronically fingerprinted by
this HR guy who many believe may have Aspberger's syndrome which is like a
mild form of autism. Not the biggest people person I've ever met. One
minute he's being jerky about my questions, the next minute he's taking
about how much he likes Minnesota and how his wife is from SD and then he's
being jerky again. Anyways, the federal goverment now has my prints so I
better not do anything bad after this.
2) I quit my job at Macys. Apparently I've made a hobby of quitting jobs
lately. The job at Macys was getting old pretty quickly, especially because
I'd work all week, sometimes 12 hour days, just to have to go to work on the
weekend. Boo. So I quit and now the VA is my only job. If only I could
become an official employee so I could get paid. :(
3) I attended my sister's beautiful wedding and got a brother-in-law in the
process. Despite certain speakers making fools of themselves and then
puking in my parents bedroom (and I'm not referring to me or the groomsmen),
the wedding went off without a hitch! (Erin, my sister, my feel
differently). But Scott and I and Scott's parents and the Snover boys and
Jill and the Flahertys and my aunts and uncles (not to mention my cousin Eli
who apparently was a hit even though I didn't get to see him dance) had a
damn good time dancing the night away! Jill K's sister Missy even had a
cute boy chasing after her! Life was good. I especially loved seeing 3 new
cousins! Mallory, known for her ears and one dimple; Krisitin, actually my
cousin's daughter who had adorable curly blonde locks and cute full cheeks;
and Patrick James, my same cousin's new son who I didn't get to spend much
time with because he was either eating or sleeping a lot of the time. (I
hear babies do that.) It was also nice to see my Uncle Jim give the homily.
So many people were involved. I can only hope my own wedding is as well
attended by family and friends. Don't worry though folks. At this rate, it
won't be for about 10 years.
4) The people in the Bronx are a little rougher around the edges than people
in most parts of Manhattan. I saw 2 women almost get into a brawl over a
bus seat that one of the women had her bag on (she was carrying like 3
bags.) THe lady who was sitting with her bags was british and had a cat in
one of the bags so when the other lady started yelling about how she
couldn't rest the a bag on her back (Actually just on the ledge slightly
behind the rude lady's neck) I couldn't help but laugh. What a waste of
energy all that bitchyness was.
5) I went to a dog park in Riverside Park with my friend Ben who has
recently moved out to the city (Hurray!) Ben was dogsitting his roommates
husky Inkadou, who we think might be autistic. He's not really like regular
dogs. Hes only 6 or so, but he barely responds when you pet him and is
quite aloof, going off and playing by himself or following other dogs when
they played but not being involved. Perhaps I need to make a DSM-D for dogs.
(Diagnostic manuel for mental illness). I'll look into it.
6) Ben was also present at the Key West Diner (yes...its in New York...not
Key West...but quite festive I may say...tropical even) when Erica and I
overheard the man behind us saying something about dead girls and his friend
responded "Oh, so it was THAT kind of brothel!" We were slightly concerned
but chose not to approach the issue. Ben was clueless but we filled him in.
Hope all of you are doing well. I am feeling quite good here lately and am
really looking forward to the fall here. I love fall anyways but the cool
fall air in the city is so crisp and great! I'm sure I left some fun event
out but I'll have to save that for next time! Love to all! W/b if you can
find time. Love,
Lauren
The New New Yorker
Time for another fun-filled update from the city that never sleeps.
Actually New York does sleep! And they sleep late! I'm used to people
working from 7-3 or 8-4 in Mn but most people don't start here until 9:30.
And everything closes by 11 or 12. So either I'm using that cliche for the
wrong city (quite possible) or its a load of baloney.
I feel as if I am writing a Babysitter's Club book. I have to tell all the
readers each time to look at the bottom of this email to read prior editions
of my little news letter just like the author had to explain Kristy,
Claudia, Dawn, Mallery, etc in everybook and had to do it differently each
time. A little annoying if you read as many of those books as I did. To the
point, if you're new to this list, check out the earlier editions of this
email at the end of this one...just in case you need a good laugh.
Anyways, I'll begin with this past month's events.
1) I began work (though still not officially due to the slowness of the
federal government) at the Bronx VA. I was electronically fingerprinted by
this HR guy who many believe may have Aspberger's syndrome which is like a
mild form of autism. Not the biggest people person I've ever met. One
minute he's being jerky about my questions, the next minute he's taking
about how much he likes Minnesota and how his wife is from SD and then he's
being jerky again. Anyways, the federal goverment now has my prints so I
better not do anything bad after this.
2) I quit my job at Macys. Apparently I've made a hobby of quitting jobs
lately. The job at Macys was getting old pretty quickly, especially because
I'd work all week, sometimes 12 hour days, just to have to go to work on the
weekend. Boo. So I quit and now the VA is my only job. If only I could
become an official employee so I could get paid. :(
3) I attended my sister's beautiful wedding and got a brother-in-law in the
process. Despite certain speakers making fools of themselves and then
puking in my parents bedroom (and I'm not referring to me or the groomsmen),
the wedding went off without a hitch! (Erin, my sister, my feel
differently). But Scott and I and Scott's parents and the Snover boys and
Jill and the Flahertys and my aunts and uncles (not to mention my cousin Eli
who apparently was a hit even though I didn't get to see him dance) had a
damn good time dancing the night away! Jill K's sister Missy even had a
cute boy chasing after her! Life was good. I especially loved seeing 3 new
cousins! Mallory, known for her ears and one dimple; Krisitin, actually my
cousin's daughter who had adorable curly blonde locks and cute full cheeks;
and Patrick James, my same cousin's new son who I didn't get to spend much
time with because he was either eating or sleeping a lot of the time. (I
hear babies do that.) It was also nice to see my Uncle Jim give the homily.
So many people were involved. I can only hope my own wedding is as well
attended by family and friends. Don't worry though folks. At this rate, it
won't be for about 10 years.
4) The people in the Bronx are a little rougher around the edges than people
in most parts of Manhattan. I saw 2 women almost get into a brawl over a
bus seat that one of the women had her bag on (she was carrying like 3
bags.) THe lady who was sitting with her bags was british and had a cat in
one of the bags so when the other lady started yelling about how she
couldn't rest the a bag on her back (Actually just on the ledge slightly
behind the rude lady's neck) I couldn't help but laugh. What a waste of
energy all that bitchyness was.
5) I went to a dog park in Riverside Park with my friend Ben who has
recently moved out to the city (Hurray!) Ben was dogsitting his roommates
husky Inkadou, who we think might be autistic. He's not really like regular
dogs. Hes only 6 or so, but he barely responds when you pet him and is
quite aloof, going off and playing by himself or following other dogs when
they played but not being involved. Perhaps I need to make a DSM-D for dogs.
(Diagnostic manuel for mental illness). I'll look into it.
6) Ben was also present at the Key West Diner (yes...its in New York...not
Key West...but quite festive I may say...tropical even) when Erica and I
overheard the man behind us saying something about dead girls and his friend
responded "Oh, so it was THAT kind of brothel!" We were slightly concerned
but chose not to approach the issue. Ben was clueless but we filled him in.
Hope all of you are doing well. I am feeling quite good here lately and am
really looking forward to the fall here. I love fall anyways but the cool
fall air in the city is so crisp and great! I'm sure I left some fun event
out but I'll have to save that for next time! Love to all! W/b if you can
find time. Love,
Lauren
The New New Yorker
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