I've been out from work for a week with a case of severe depression. True, I have also had tremendous arthritic pain, a flu and last week just happened to be the birthday of my dead soulmate and coincidentally the re-birthday of my first godson cat who has also crossed the rainbow bridge. And we had a flood in my kitchen caused by a clog sent down the pipeline by the "plumber" the landlord hired to fix my upstair neighbors sink. Let's just say the planets were in a particularly bad orbit.
And then the flies came.
People laugh at me. "Flies in winter?" "It's because your house is such a mess."
Then the exterminator came
"This apartment is basically uninhabitable." By that he meant that my apartment, because of floods like the one I just had and the many, many cracks in my ceiling, the walls have a terminal case of moisture. Hence the flies. It has nothing to do with my bad habits. But, there was nothing he could do about it, and in fact, in good conscience, he wouldn't.
I cleaned the house anyway, hopefully.
I bought every single non-toxic to pets and children spray. I even bought a toxic spray.
They just fly higher.
We need a new place to live. This is clear.
Now let me introduce you to NY Real Estate.
My apartment is 858 per month and rent stabilized. It is in a boring, but safe part of Brooklyn, just far enough away from Manhattan to never become chic.
If we move laterally--literally down about seven avenue blocks, our rent would be about 900. But the rent won't be stabilized and, odds are, it will be in a private house. Read: we have no rights. Landlord hates me, landlord gets rid of me. Neighborhood gets trendy (it won't), but if it did, he could bump my rent up as high as he likes as it won't be rent stabilized.
The other way--above seven avenue blocks UP, rent is about 1100 -1500. Apartments will be nicer, cleaner. The area is sort-of hopping. Just a wee-bit homophobic, anti-semitic and Republican.
If we just decide to go up avenues and streets, we hit a trendy neighborhood which is very gay. For about 1500 a month, I can get a studio which might look at a tree. It's called Park Slope, but that still doesn't guarantee a tree.
Manhattan starts at about 15oo for a whole in the wall in a horrible building.
Upper Manhattan is 1100 for a one bedroom. Apartments are old, dignified and, like mine, rotting.
The Bronx and Queens are pretty much the same as the neighborhood I live in now.
My only hope is to go for the studio w/tree in Park Slope.
If flies didn't bring diseases, I'd just live with it. They're slow, small and they like to eat, so I have nothing against them, but their germs.
I'm sure that's how a lot of people feel about me.
28 November, 2006
24 November, 2006
Happy Re-Birthday Queequeg!!
We almost forgot the miracle that happened on one Thanksgiving several years ago...we didn't forget, but we forgot to NOTE it because we were so busy dealing with our sad and cranky mommy. That's Queequeg looking both angelic and fierce while sitting on the paperwork for MommySharon's gym membership.
Several years ago...about six or so (before we were born)...our big brother Queegueg was very sick and had to be rushed to the hospital on Thanksgiving. He was in something called ketoacidosis, which we hear means the body is very, very hungry. (Henry gets anxious thinking about it.) Just a day before, the foolish covering doctor at the very nice, very reputable veterinary hospital he normally visited (his regular doctor would've known better, but was already away) had said that he was probably diabetic, but WASN'T IN DANGER of going into ketoacidosis (that hungry thing happens because you can't process your food without insulin), but she was WRONG, and MommySharon came home to find Queequeg very sick and ran him to the 24 hour emergency room at the Animal Medical Center. When he arrived at the hospital, he was like a floppy cat, but brave MommySharon and his doctors got right to him. This one pretty doctor worked very closely on him and we hear she even had to help him breathe with something like a kiss (Larry is very interested in this and will ask Dr. Boyd about this on the sly when she weighs him next time he's at the hospital). That night, he sat in ICU looking like an ANGRY, but healing Queequeg and almost a week later, he BIT THE DOCTOR! which meant he was pretty much a HEALTHY Queequeg. The doctor had been playing with him and his favorite Mr. Spider. So, it made sense to bite her because it was his way of letting her know that, thanks to her, HE WAS BACK. Two days later, he came home. And he was home for years after --except for the many times he flew with MommySharon to his GrandmaMommy's in Chicago. There he visited and playfully terrorized his sister, Cassie. We lost Quiggy over a year ago to a combination of things we couldn't catch faster than they could come at us. He was 18. We thought he would live forever. Especially given his heroic return that Thanksgiving and for the long time after.
So, on Thanksgiving night, Queequeg was re-born. Which means he shares a birthday with Karen which makes all the sense in the world since they both like to fly (and they both could be feisty and cute at the same time).
I love you Queequeg. --MommyRaine.
Us, too-- Larry and Henry
We miss you every minute of every day.
23 November, 2006
22 November, 2006
For November 23, Karen B.Hunter's Birthday
I had a simple afternoon, skipped work, went to the doctor who told me I was depressed (news!) and need to see some sort of bone specialist so I can get stronger pain meds as my arthritis is bigger than he can handle. Afterwards, as the stores were packed and EVERYONE (not just poor me) was moving like a snail, I was able to go food shopping which was always great fun with you. You were right that it was as fun as anything we did. I was searching for organic and pet friendly things and on the way, I passed a jar of organic "triple cocoa" and thought of the time we went around from Starbucks to Starbucks sampling their new hot chocolate drink.
Like this post, I am intending many things for tomorrow, but I may not get out of bed which will not be your fault. If I do get out of bed, it will be for you.
You used to pat my head, even when my hair was a mess. Such a simple thing, but I miss it so.
I failed you. When you wanted a friend, I wanted more, when you wanted more, I was angry with you. But, we never stopped talking to each other no matter what. Literally, from the moment we woke up until we went to sleep, except for the time you went to Cuba, which may have been your happiest time of all, and it was without me. I guess I've had moments in rehearsals where someone has understood me perfectly and you have not been there. But, I wish you were and being with you was almost always like those moments in rehearsal. Except when I was too stubborn just to take you in. You were only that stubborn occasionally and usually it was because I hadn't taken any care of myself at all. I wish I could have, always.
So many wishes now...
Happy Birthday. I hope it's an adventure, wherever you are.
Like this post, I am intending many things for tomorrow, but I may not get out of bed which will not be your fault. If I do get out of bed, it will be for you.
You used to pat my head, even when my hair was a mess. Such a simple thing, but I miss it so.
I failed you. When you wanted a friend, I wanted more, when you wanted more, I was angry with you. But, we never stopped talking to each other no matter what. Literally, from the moment we woke up until we went to sleep, except for the time you went to Cuba, which may have been your happiest time of all, and it was without me. I guess I've had moments in rehearsals where someone has understood me perfectly and you have not been there. But, I wish you were and being with you was almost always like those moments in rehearsal. Except when I was too stubborn just to take you in. You were only that stubborn occasionally and usually it was because I hadn't taken any care of myself at all. I wish I could have, always.
So many wishes now...
Happy Birthday. I hope it's an adventure, wherever you are.
20 November, 2006
Chilled
It's finally seasonably cold, and I have very little momentum.
My cats have colds, but are otherwise okay.
All I want to do is go home and go to bed.
My cats have colds, but are otherwise okay.
All I want to do is go home and go to bed.
16 November, 2006
10 November, 2006
My students voted
One good thing --- nearly all of my students voted. All of them knew who was running for what. And at the end of the day, one of my students asked about the Attorney General's race in New York! And he said Rush Limbaugh was an idiot and was glad Rumsfeld resigned.
07 November, 2006
NTSB Report out for Cory Lidle's plane
They're saying it was the wind and that he made too sharp a turn and the plane might have stalled because of this.
Here's the link
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061103&content_id=1731227&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy
Here's the link
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061103&content_id=1731227&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy
01 November, 2006
Halloween
I wanted to write this like a spooky fairy tale, but I lack the sense of humor.
Here goes:
For the past year, I have been working at a school under the leadership of a new principal. The hallmark of this principal's young tenure has been TIME. She declared ZERO TOLERANCE for lateness, adding up lateness by the minute. Even when a colleague was ill, she was given no leeway. Our entire staff now races to work to be early or on time. That we don't see students for one or two hours because our administrative duties come before the commencement of classes at 4pm is immaterial. This is a rule my principal has meant to enforce and we know that. Some of us have the pay deductions on our check to prove it.
Or so I thought.
Periodically, our school has fire drills and students are evacuated at 9:15. Previous principals had allowed students to return after the drill to continue to work until the close of business -- 10pm. This principal dismisses the students at 9:15 and does not allow them to return. Furthermore, she encourages the staff to leave early. She does not give OFFICIAL LICENSE to leaving, and in fact, has sometimes taken back offers to allow people to leave early. But, last night she had the Dean of Students aggressively lobby the faculty to leave early. Still, when confronted she did not give official permission for staff to leave. So, staff left at their own risk.
Even when she was an assistant principal, our current leader was very interested in cutting our school day short. She often pressured me to put my equipment away early -- even if it meant taking computers out of students' hands.
Meanwhile, when others and I have been late, we have been seriously penalized. Our current principal has openly discussed how little she likes our schedule, particularly the lateness of it.
So, there I was last night, in my room, waiting to leave at the OFFICIAL close of business. Without official sanction, I wasn't taking any risk. My cat has an echocardiogram on Sunday and I can't afford to lose pay. Plus, I am not a big fan of hypocrisy. It seems to me that if TIME is so important, then it should not lose value as it increases; if we enforce the start of the day so strongly, why suddenly become lax about the end of the day?
As we are also ALL PAID to be at school until 10, I felt the need to email my principal and her assistant, as well as the our local and regional superintendent. It's not fair for us to cut our school day short, unless it is done so officially. I don't want to be at the mercy of inconsistent policy. I also don't want to make a practice of leaving early just because everyone else "thinks it's okay."
Of course, the administration and staff are all angry with me for "ruining it for everyone." But, what did I ruin -- those who left could have been held responsible to the superintendent without my informing her of what happened. We are all on camera so there is proof of last night's mass exodus. Moreover, I am just asking for policy to be fair.
One of my colleagues insisted to me that, as I know the principal is always going to enforce the time of the start of our day, I should just accept that she will only break the rules later in the day. I should accept the unfairness because it benefits teachers who want to go home early. That doesn't make sense to me. I should let the principal break rules when she wants to or break them over my back, as it were, when she chooses.
And when people complained that I am causing them to suffer and that I am "wrong" to tell about their breaking of the rules, I am reminded of my colleague who needed to come in late last year because of illness. What was the staff's response? Did they come to her defense and say that it wasn't fair to ask her to be on-time when she physically couldn't? To the contrary, they went running to the principal to complain. So, who's sorry now -- even if I didn't care about the rule and THE STUDENTS who are affected by it, I would still not be inclined to assist anyone in breaking a rule for convenience. If rules are to be applied indiscrimately, even to the sick, then, at least, they should be applied evenly. Or, should we tell our students that they should try to get away with cheating -- and that it's okay, so long as most people do it.
Here goes:
For the past year, I have been working at a school under the leadership of a new principal. The hallmark of this principal's young tenure has been TIME. She declared ZERO TOLERANCE for lateness, adding up lateness by the minute. Even when a colleague was ill, she was given no leeway. Our entire staff now races to work to be early or on time. That we don't see students for one or two hours because our administrative duties come before the commencement of classes at 4pm is immaterial. This is a rule my principal has meant to enforce and we know that. Some of us have the pay deductions on our check to prove it.
Or so I thought.
Periodically, our school has fire drills and students are evacuated at 9:15. Previous principals had allowed students to return after the drill to continue to work until the close of business -- 10pm. This principal dismisses the students at 9:15 and does not allow them to return. Furthermore, she encourages the staff to leave early. She does not give OFFICIAL LICENSE to leaving, and in fact, has sometimes taken back offers to allow people to leave early. But, last night she had the Dean of Students aggressively lobby the faculty to leave early. Still, when confronted she did not give official permission for staff to leave. So, staff left at their own risk.
Even when she was an assistant principal, our current leader was very interested in cutting our school day short. She often pressured me to put my equipment away early -- even if it meant taking computers out of students' hands.
Meanwhile, when others and I have been late, we have been seriously penalized. Our current principal has openly discussed how little she likes our schedule, particularly the lateness of it.
So, there I was last night, in my room, waiting to leave at the OFFICIAL close of business. Without official sanction, I wasn't taking any risk. My cat has an echocardiogram on Sunday and I can't afford to lose pay. Plus, I am not a big fan of hypocrisy. It seems to me that if TIME is so important, then it should not lose value as it increases; if we enforce the start of the day so strongly, why suddenly become lax about the end of the day?
As we are also ALL PAID to be at school until 10, I felt the need to email my principal and her assistant, as well as the our local and regional superintendent. It's not fair for us to cut our school day short, unless it is done so officially. I don't want to be at the mercy of inconsistent policy. I also don't want to make a practice of leaving early just because everyone else "thinks it's okay."
Of course, the administration and staff are all angry with me for "ruining it for everyone." But, what did I ruin -- those who left could have been held responsible to the superintendent without my informing her of what happened. We are all on camera so there is proof of last night's mass exodus. Moreover, I am just asking for policy to be fair.
One of my colleagues insisted to me that, as I know the principal is always going to enforce the time of the start of our day, I should just accept that she will only break the rules later in the day. I should accept the unfairness because it benefits teachers who want to go home early. That doesn't make sense to me. I should let the principal break rules when she wants to or break them over my back, as it were, when she chooses.
And when people complained that I am causing them to suffer and that I am "wrong" to tell about their breaking of the rules, I am reminded of my colleague who needed to come in late last year because of illness. What was the staff's response? Did they come to her defense and say that it wasn't fair to ask her to be on-time when she physically couldn't? To the contrary, they went running to the principal to complain. So, who's sorry now -- even if I didn't care about the rule and THE STUDENTS who are affected by it, I would still not be inclined to assist anyone in breaking a rule for convenience. If rules are to be applied indiscrimately, even to the sick, then, at least, they should be applied evenly. Or, should we tell our students that they should try to get away with cheating -- and that it's okay, so long as most people do it.
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