MoMA Day

Today I went to the MoMA for the first time. It is in a beautiful, recently renovated, building in the heart of mid-town Manhattan. I was as impressed with the building as I was with their collections. Every walkway has a view through to other floors and down to the first floor, and every window looks out onto nearby buildings or the interesting sculpture garden.

The highlight of any modern collection is the Impressionist floor for me. The MoMA holds many famous pieces and a good cross-section of most of the familiar artists. We also toured some of the current exhibits.

It was an wonderful day, and, as my friend put it, "It feels like we're on vacation." And really it did, meandering around with people speaking many different languages, docents leading their school groups, and being able to break away from the usual routine for a day.

Wordsworth Rap

This is so clever. Check out the Wordsworth Rap.

My mom used to say that if they could just put history lessons into TV commercials, my brother would be a genius. He used to be able to recite commercials verbatim, but not remember schoolwork quite as well. True for most of us - there's something about a jingle, some rhythm, that makes it easier to memorize without trying.

This Rap tune I can take. I think they're onto something.

What a weekend!

We are having a beautiful weekend here after a few weeks of rain and cooler temps. Perfect for doing some yard work and opening all the windows. Yesterday, after running a few errands we had our first fire of the season in the backyard (right). I think it was just so nice to be finished with such a sad, emotional week as we heard the tragic details at VA Tech. My heart goes out to the families & friends, and to all of us who are affected in some way.

Kitchen Reno update:

The demolition begins May 7, revised 2 weeks due to a revised cabinet delivery date of May 21st (week of). We did receive our sample cabinet door and still like it, thank goodness. Yesterday, we looked at granite slabs at a warehouse in Jersey City. We have never done this before. Its very daunting, winding your way through mountains of granite, trying to decide what might work. We have reserved 2 slabs, and brought home a teeny piece from which we are supposed to extrapolate to a full kitchen in our minds. This is no small choice, impact-wise and costwise ... but how can you ever be sure of any of your choices until its all done - and then its too late if you've made a mistake.

Then there's the packing up and preparation. I have packed up about 70% of the kitchen, finding all kinds of junk we never use. We have enough Nestle mugs to open a store. Today I covered the dining room furniture and moved it all to the far wall from the kitchen. Still lots to do, and still there will be a last minute panic I'm sure.

Other:

I'm just back from 3 days in Dallas doing an interesting study. Always fun for me to see my colleagues again since I work from home. Don was in Chicago for part of the week while kids managed a couple of meals on their own - I think "Wendy" helped one of the nights. Spring Hockey season begins tonight with Bryan playing, Don coaching and me managing. (Carolyn cheering? She'll be home getting ready for the coming week.)

Car:

My poor car is still in the body shop and I don't know when it will be ready. I will likely get a rental this week now that I'll be home for the next few weeks. My arm is doing fine.

... and now you know the rest of the story.

Feeling lucky

Oh-la-la, yesterday I had a car accident. I was pulling into a parking lot that is wide open off a windy road. I don't usually go to this store although I've been there before. I was checking for oncoming traffic as I was going forward, saw open parking spots, turned left into the lot, and then all of a sudden I was stopped dead with my air bags deployed. I hit a telephone pole! I did not see it at all. It sits on its own in the middle of a wide open entrance to this store. I'm guessing that the angle I turned in on put the pole right along the frame of my side window and windshield, but I didn't see it until I hit it!

Luckily I am fine, I was alone, and no other cars came along to hit me. No one else was involved. It happened so fast, as you know if you've ever been in an accident that you hadn't seen coming. I've only been in a couple of smaller accidents and in my worst one, I saw the guy coming for me from behind. That was worse because I tensed. Ouch! This one, I was relaxed as can be! I only bruised the inside of my right arm, which I can only guess was from the steering wheel. Yes, I was wearing a seat belt - no I wasn't on my cell, changing the radio station, sipping coffee or putting on make-up.

Again luckily, a man heard it and came to see if I was okay and two other drivers stopped to help. When I finally had the presence of mind to look at the man who was there, I realized I knew him - the father of one of Carolyn's friends. He stayed with me until Don came (I was only about 10 minutes from home), which was so nice of him and the store gave me ice for my arm. So the car will be repaired and my arm is doing fine - nothing broken. No one else was involved. Phew.

Even though it happened I feel lucky. Drive safely and buckle up!

Coffee - food for thought in this story

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:

"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups ... And then you began eyeing each other's cups!!!"

Now consider this; the coffee is life ... job & money. The cup is your position in society. The cup is a tool to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change, the quality of the life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that has been provided us.

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Enjoy your coffee!

Another NJ Driver

Upon reviewing my blog and I noticed that I didn't report on Bryan's Driving Test outcome on Monday morning - he passed. Thank goodness! Actually, although its seems like he's already been driving forever, this year-long learner's permit it not a bad idea. Bryan has driven through most types of traffic and weather, and has a good understanding of where things are. So by the time he finally took his test, we were all very confident about his driving abilities. I've heard other parents say this too about their children, so I'm now thinking maybe this NJ system isn't so bad.

Tonight Bryan suggested that he go pick-up Chinese food for dinner. I'm liking this! He is driving Don's 4Runner which is getting up there in years (actually, in mileage, but you know how those Toyotas just go and go forever). Don got a new car about a month ago.

There are rumblings that they (NJ MVA) may push back the licensing age ANOTHER year starting with Carolyn's year. She would have to be 18 before taking the test. Not only will it reduce the part-time worker pool, but it will mean her first year of driving on her own will be in a new town, wherever she choses to go to college, or that she won't be driving her first year because she's a college freshman. That just doesn't make sense. And anyone who's birthday is late in the year will not even be able to drive themselves to college or work! No matter what the age of a new driver, there will always have a year of adjustment, you can't change that! Just plain silly.

Crossword Addiction

I love crossword puzzles. My parents have done them for years, but I was never especially interested until I saw my friend, Linda, doing them at the bus stop when we lived in Maryland. We both had kindergartners at the time (which means that you spend your entire day at the bus stop, or so it seems). I started to bring my crossword puzzle to the bus stop too.

Mondays we didn't need much help, but by Thursday and Friday, we would sit on the curb working through the tougher clues together long after our girls had hopped on the bus. I owe my addiction to Linda. Then there were the follow-up phone calls when a new brainwave hit one of us. Every crossworder knows that a short break from the puzzle can net a windfall of new possible solutions when you return. The brain works on them all day. All you need is just one more word and away you go again, square by square, towards another solved puzzle.

Crossword puzzle people are easily spotted because they use words like "philatelist" in a sentence (Pete) or they prefer to commute by train rather than by car so they can work on puzzles (Denise) or they are never anywhere without a pen nearby, including the water closet (Me).

For those who are with me on this crossword craze, check out the movie Wordplay. It is great. I laughed at myself at one point when I was feeling the suspenseful build-up to who was going to win the annual NYTimes crossword contest, as if I was watching Rocky (the first one!)!!! The thrill of victory and oh the agony of defeat. It is a documentary featuring Will Shortz with appearances by John Stewart and others.

I'm not crossword contestant material but I have learned a few tricks of the trade ... which I've been known to discuss at dinner parties! Alas.

Since my last post ...

Bryan turned 17 and tomorrow takes his Driver's Test. (Have to be 17 in NJ.) We are all looking forward to him being able to drive himself to/from work, hockey, school, etc. And, I'm sure we'll worry a lot more too. We celebrated his birthday in Florida.

We're just back from a week in Florida, visiting the folks and the usual sites. Great weather this trip so enjoyed most afternoons on the beach. Also drove down to U. of Miami for a campus tour. Its a beautiful campus - the kids just couldn't imagine having to go to classes in such hot weather. It probably won't make the short list but we thought we might as well check it out. From there we went to South Beach where we had a late lunch and enjoyed people watching in the art deco landscape.

Bought a new cell phone finally, after putting up with my old one too long. I appreciated the feedback I got from everyone. We ended up getting a couple of Samsung SCH-u540 which were free with our Vz credit and rebate. We like 'free'! It takes nicer photos than our older phones - a sample above: the kids at the Singer Island/Palm Beach inlet.