You can be a superhero too: The Hero Factory
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
NYC Elephant Walk 2009
Someone told me last year about the annual Elephant Walk, but I didn't make it out. I wanted to be sure that this was one thing I did before I moved away from New York, so last night five of my friends and I stayed up until after 1:00am on a weeknight (hey, we're not young undergrads anymore!) to see this once in a lifetime sight: ten elephants, nine horses, and two ponies walking across 34th street in Manhattan.
When the Ringling Bros. circus comes to town, their mile long circus train is too long to come into the city. If it did park at Penn Station, could you just imagine trying to get all those elephants up the escalators? So, every year the circus train parks in Long Island City and the elephants walk through the Queens-Midtown Tunnel and across 34th Street to Madison Square Garden at about midnight.
It was a chilly night at 32 degrees, so we waited inside a Dunkin Donuts on 34th between Madison and Park in anticipation of the elephants' arrival. We went straight after class, so we had a couple hours to goof off.
Poor Laura came after work, so she was unprepared for the cold wearing just her scrubs and a jacket. When we ventured outside as the time drew near, we had to find creative ways for her to stay warm, like standing in a phone booth to block the wind.
Unfortunately, my little camera and the lack of light doesn't do this justice, but it was so exciting to watch all the elephants walking trunk to tail so close to us. As they passed, we started walking along toward the subway, and people were running to keep up. Elephants walk surprisingly fast, faster than they look. The whole night, we just heard people randomly yelling (in anticipation, for the arrival, and for the parting) "Elephants!" It was a great experience, feeling that we were part of this New York tradition, waiting with hundreds of other strangers just to see elephants walking in the street. Definitely fun, and definitely worth the lack of sleep. Thank God for coffee!
When the Ringling Bros. circus comes to town, their mile long circus train is too long to come into the city. If it did park at Penn Station, could you just imagine trying to get all those elephants up the escalators? So, every year the circus train parks in Long Island City and the elephants walk through the Queens-Midtown Tunnel and across 34th Street to Madison Square Garden at about midnight.
It was a chilly night at 32 degrees, so we waited inside a Dunkin Donuts on 34th between Madison and Park in anticipation of the elephants' arrival. We went straight after class, so we had a couple hours to goof off.
Poor Laura came after work, so she was unprepared for the cold wearing just her scrubs and a jacket. When we ventured outside as the time drew near, we had to find creative ways for her to stay warm, like standing in a phone booth to block the wind.
Unfortunately, my little camera and the lack of light doesn't do this justice, but it was so exciting to watch all the elephants walking trunk to tail so close to us. As they passed, we started walking along toward the subway, and people were running to keep up. Elephants walk surprisingly fast, faster than they look. The whole night, we just heard people randomly yelling (in anticipation, for the arrival, and for the parting) "Elephants!" It was a great experience, feeling that we were part of this New York tradition, waiting with hundreds of other strangers just to see elephants walking in the street. Definitely fun, and definitely worth the lack of sleep. Thank God for coffee!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Stealing coworkers
Last week someone took my Coke Zero out of the fridge at work. I was a little peeved, but I realized that leftover sodas from meetings often get put in there (though Coke Zero is never one of the sodas provided). So, I started putting my name on my drinks. No biggie.
What I can't for the life of me figure out is who is taking the drinks from UNDER MY DESK!! I bought a case to keep at the office, and I put it under my desk at my cubicle. It's easier to just grab one from there each morning to put in the fridge, but I know there were three in there when I left last week, and today there was only ONE left!! Hello? Do people think I'm not going to notice? I'm pretty sure it's the woman who cleans our floor, as I know everyone who works close enough to me to come by and see that I have the soda. Either that, or it is some mysterious elf or leprechaun. It remains a mystery, but I will have to find a new safe spot for the future.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
It's Official or Wedding Invitations and Babies
I mailed our wedding invitations last week and also told my boss that Michael got a job at Nationwide Insurance, so we're moving to Ohio. That makes everything feel very official. Of course, the wedding planning has been in the works for a long time now, and Michael was offered the job earlier this year, but now that people are invited and my boss knows I'm leaving, it makes everything feel so much more real. May is going to be a crazy month for me. I'm going to rent a car and drive from NYC to Columbus, drop my stuff off at our new apartment and continue to Bloomington for Michael's graduation on May 8th. Then, we're both headed up to Chicago for my brother's undergrad graduation on the 11th from Wheaton College. Back to Bloomington to get Mike's stuff, drive it to Columbus, drop it off and turn around and drive across the country to Phoenix to get ready for the wedding on the 23rd. Our honeymoon will be in Hawaii from the 24th-29th. Then, we'll drive back to Columbus from Phoenix. I hope the Previa is up for the job.
On a side note, a crazy high number of people I know are having babies. My boss is having twins, and they're due on the same day as the wedding, though she's not on the guest list. My roommate's sister is due on May 21st (the roommate is invited but not the sister). On the guest list, however, are four pregnant women- due May 14, May 25, early June, and late July. I hope it's not contagious :-) I'm not ready just yet!
This sparked my curiousity, and I discovered that August is actually the most popular birth month according to the U.S. Census, with 387,798 taking place that month in 2006.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/births.htm>
Also, I am in love with the census website. There is fascinating information there! For example: Facts for Features: Mother's Day
On a side note, a crazy high number of people I know are having babies. My boss is having twins, and they're due on the same day as the wedding, though she's not on the guest list. My roommate's sister is due on May 21st (the roommate is invited but not the sister). On the guest list, however, are four pregnant women- due May 14, May 25, early June, and late July. I hope it's not contagious :-) I'm not ready just yet!
This sparked my curiousity, and I discovered that August is actually the most popular birth month according to the U.S. Census, with 387,798 taking place that month in 2006.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/births.htm>
Also, I am in love with the census website. There is fascinating information there! For example: Facts for Features: Mother's Day
Crazy Love
At 22, Leslie Morgan Steiner seemed to have it all, a Harvard diploma, a glamorous job and apartment in NYC, and a handsome boyfriend. But this golden girl was hiding a dark secret. She'd made a mistake shared by millions, she fell in love with the wrong person. Crazy Love Leslie Morgan Steiner Book Trailer
Thursday, March 12, 2009
returning crumbs
When you open a new bag of chips and half of the bag or more are in tiny pieces because some careless worker smashed them in delivery or stocking, or some inconsiderate customer smooshed them trying to reach something else, don't you just want to return the bag? I do. I want to take them back for a bag of whole chips. Alas, that is entirely too much effort for food that isn't even good for me.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
My Life in Song
Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a song title.
Pick Your Artist: Jewel
Are you male or female: Stronger Woman
Describe yourself: I’m Sensitive
How do you feel about yourself: Innocence Maintained
Describe where you currently live: 1000 Miles Away
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Barcelona
Your best friend is: You Were Meant for Me
Your favorite color is: Deep Water
You know that: Who Will Save Your Soul
What's the weather like: Becoming
If your life was a tv show, what would it be called? Life Uncommon
What is life to you: What’s Simple is True
What is the best advice you have to give: Jesus Loves You
If you could change your name, what would it be: Adrian
Your favorite food is: Sweet Temptation
Pick Your Artist: Jewel
Are you male or female: Stronger Woman
Describe yourself: I’m Sensitive
How do you feel about yourself: Innocence Maintained
Describe where you currently live: 1000 Miles Away
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Barcelona
Your best friend is: You Were Meant for Me
Your favorite color is: Deep Water
You know that: Who Will Save Your Soul
What's the weather like: Becoming
If your life was a tv show, what would it be called? Life Uncommon
What is life to you: What’s Simple is True
What is the best advice you have to give: Jesus Loves You
If you could change your name, what would it be: Adrian
Your favorite food is: Sweet Temptation
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