Pepper and Maggie making music together

Who would have thought that the day would come, when these two gems would finally tolerate each other and make purring musicals together - this morning I had a chance to catch a glimpse of this and record a few seconds of it.

Simply put - pure joy

Elsie on early mornings

Elsie likes to sit by the window and beg for caresses - see for yourself



She is also very playful

CSA first day pickup

Today I picked up the veggies - first day - I was almost last - only two boxes left, but the veggies inside were impeccable.

Red leaf lettuce
Boston lettuce
Radishes
White radish
Rhubarb
Spinach
Watercress
And surprisingly a small box of strawberries

All looks fresh and healthy - can't wait for Ewa to have some of it.

Memorial Day, Our Leisure Day

Today's memorial day and we made it a Memorable day too.

We bought food (Samosa, Yellow pea frittes, baguettes, humus, veggies, strawberries, cherries, and carbonated watter), which we started eating the moment we lay down, and we didn't stop until we were somewhat satisfied with ourselves.

Then we proceeded to a lethargic rest of the day with the help of the sun and, the sound of the waves, and the light strokes of cool air of the day - it was not hard getting lost in a sea of peace.

Elsie - Playful little thing

Elsie woke up with a playful bone this morning - and here is what she did for a good 5 minutes - before deciding it was time to get more beauty sleep (click on the image to get the slideshow)

A day of leisure

There isn't much to say on a day of leisure - but to see how it was spent... one word: relaxing (click on the image below to see the complete story).

La Boheme - orchestra seats

So I decided to rush for the city and watch "La Boheme", with Anna Netrebko as mimi... Though I did not reserve or purchase any tickets, hoping that I would be able to get stand up ticket in the family circle section (I did call the booth to make sure there were tickets available), but the show was sold out... and there were no ticket's left.  On my way out, I heard some people trying to sell their tickets, so I approached them... They asked me how much I was willing to pay, and they told me that their tickets were for $170.00 and $155.00, and I said I was willing to pay as much as $40.00... I got the $155.00... orchestra seat - a very good seat.

One thing I have noticed is that the sound is not as good from the orchestra seats, you can see the stage very well, but the sound is not as good as from the family section, and I have also noticed that in the orchestra section, people make lots of noise and they talk a lot - that was very disappointing.  Despite all the minor troubles, the performance was magnificent.

Stumbled

Some interesting stumble uppons


http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/AO9k8L/www.papervision3d.org/demos/panorama/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/8jxz3x/www.dafont.com/en/top.php
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/65tYMm/de-war.de/eurekacarpark.html
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1TV5fC/passfail.squarespace.com/: never thought boarding passes were so interesting.
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1H33Nt/www.geekarmy.com/cool/484/elton-johns-improvisation/: haven't seen him... - they say he is a great musician - not amused... but funny.
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/AJtJNM/citysounds.fm/ - neat page of sounds
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/AJtJNM/citysounds.fm/ - hmmm - don't know but nice design

Carmen at the Met

Last night I decided to go and watch the new Opera production of Carmen.  I left work and arrived with 10 minutes to spare.  I was really lucky to have found a parking spot on 56th street, in front of the 24 hours diner (same avenue where Fordham University is at).  


Once the car was parked, I started running towards the theater, I still needed to get a ticket - preferably a standing ticket.  The air was cold and it was cutting through my throat, by the time I arrived to the sales booth, I was told that it was all sold out.  While I was catching my breath, I noticed several gentleman at the door trying to sell their tickets (scalpers), so one of them approached me and asked if I needed 1 ticket.  He had a family circle seat, and he wanted $50.00, to which I paused and said I was not interested, then he asked me how much would I be willing to pay... I said $35.00, he replied that the ticket cost him $40.00... I said that perhaps another day, then he said that he would settled for $40.00 (with only 2 minutes to go before the opera would have started) I decided that this was fair for the new Carmen production, so I paid.


I was now heading towards my seat, my throat wast itching (I was concerned that I may have caught a cold (taking NYQuil as I am typing this entry),  but I decided it was all worth it.  When I found my seat, I was next to 2 german youths, they asked me how much I paid for the sit (they said that they attained theirs from a scalper)... I replied "$40.00, and you?"... they said "...$50.00"...and then they congratulated me.


To my left I had a gentleman that was a bit eccentric and emotional - he kept on moving during the entire show, and he kept of dancing on his sit to the rhythm of the music.  In front of me, I had students - this section of the opera is always packed with students and their teachers - the student in front of me was leaning forward, hence his head covered the center part of the stage, but this matter little since I was there to listen to the opera.


Here is what impressed me most:

• The stage was nicely done
• The ballet dancers that start opening both first acts (the first act and the one that starts after the intermission).
• The Spanish stomping and clapping dancers.
• The music was nice, forte, energetic, and well done (not history maker, but very enjoyable)

I think this Opera is very worthwhile to attend to.  I am happy for having spent those $40.00 on such occasion.

Crepuscular... she is

Today, while trying to finish up in the morning before heading to work, I noticed that Maggie started exercising and demonstrating her crepuscularity.

She is probably dreaming on how she will be catching her next mouse...

Maciej's move (part II)

So after Avatar's show at 23:20 (ending at 1:40AM) we headed for the van and decided to jus doze off a few hours prior to heading for Maciej's new home.









We must have slept about 3-4 hours, before we decided to head over the new apartment. We arrived around 7:00AM, and we decided that since Maciej needed to work today at 11:00AM, and the keys were going to be handed at 10:00AM, that perhaps we could get ahead of the game and move most of the light items.







Luckily the street was empty and there were no cars parked. We also lucked out because today, being Monday, we could only park across the street - there was a car parked on the wrong side of the street, to which almost parked behind of, but right at that moment we saw the traffic agent pull up a write up a ticket... Hence we parked on the on the other side of the road.


OK, so we started to move some items into the apartment, very quietly... Because we didn't want to disturb anyone... We moved stuff (about 65%) if the van contents... That was great... It was about 8:15 AM, and in less that 45 minutes we could finish up... Perfect timing.


Since we had plenty of time, Maciej decided to buy se breakfast, we headed towards this bagel store (very similar to Syosett's one)









At first I was just going to have a toasted bagel, since all these stores tend not to have vegan spreads... Wait this is the city... So... Ta-daaa











So I decided to get me an everything bagel with scallion tofu spread - not too bad


The shop was well stacked and it was very inviting and clean


From a small sweet bakery







Nice variety of cheeses





Even strings of cured mushrooms







So Maciej placed and pay for our breakfast orders...







And we headed back to our van where we ate our well deserved priced














Since things were going so smooth we figure that we could head to the rental agency and get the keys... So we drove off hoping to get the keys and finish moving in...well our fate decided that this was too easy... The agency mentioned that they have not revceived the lease, and hence the keys could not be surrender...


Things would start complicating a bit... To begin with we now had items in the place to which we didn't get keys for... Maciej had to be at work at 11:00AM... It was unclear when we would be getting the keys if at all...The van was alloted for only 1 day, so an additional day would incur double charges... Yes, things were getting more interesting...


So Maciej would be calling, through out the day, until finding out the final outcome...


The street where the car was parked alliowed ony for 2 metered hours fro 9:00-19:00... And I had to find somewhere warm because we had not much gas left in the van...


And found...

and

and

Luckily there was a WholeFoods about 4 blocks away... So I parked myself at wholefoods for 1hr & 45mins, before heading back out to place more credits on the meter.

Finally after 8 hours of waiting and going back and forth Wholefoods and the cargo-van, I received an SMS from Maciej, indicating that the keys would be arriving at 5:00 PM, then when I met with Maciej, it seemed that we were going to stay on the street for one more day... Maciej called again and persevered on his quest to obtaining the keys to his new apartment... we finally attained confirmation that the keys would be surrended to Maciej... and the rental office was only 2 blocks from the new apartment (thank you....)  At this point it was 5:35 PM ( 1 hour and 35 mins passed the rental car expected returned time).


Once we had the key (victory!) we started unloading the remaining items left in the van (yes - we did unload some items in the morning, since the door was unlocked, before the building main entrance was locked)

it was already dark... but finally, Maciej had his place...

It was now 6:35 PM and Enterprise Rent-a-Car would be closing at 7:00PM, would I be able to return the car in 20 minutes (we are by Houston Street, and the rental was about 50 some blocks away)... I decided to give it a try... and made it, they only charged us for 2 more hours...and the gas that I did not place in the tank...(we saved on an extra day and the extra tax and insurance cover)


When I got back to Maciej's new place, we decided that we had to have a nice dinner to celebrate... Maciej invited me to a very nice Indian Restaurant on 6th Street, Raj Majal, next to Taj Majal - between 2nd and 3rd Aves.  We order a full course of meal - starting with a soup

Followed by an appetizer of 2 samosas and 2 pakoras

Followed by the vast main courses

It was delicious... and well deserved... After 2 days of adventure and a few unexpected set of events... we made it.


After dinner Maciej walked me to the subway station, from where I headed to Penn Station, and eventually arrived home

where I was expected and welcome with one final task to fulfill...

Maciej is moving to a new place (Part I)

Today we were helping Maciej move to his new apartment - the story is broken into two parts because it will take two days to move.  The current apartment needs him out by 12:00 noon - but they gave him a break and let him stay until 5:00 PM - the new apartment does not allow Maciej to move in until 12:00 noon the next day - so in between... well here is the story...


So the day started after my morning Vinyasa class - I went and caught the 12:49PM train to Penn Station - followed by the E train to 50th street.  The cargo van to rent is from Enterprise Rent a-car, but the store does not open until 15:00, and I arrived at 14:00 to 50th street, since it was lunch time, I decided to get something to eat, specifically a falafel from a place near by, which was highly recommended by Ewa: Azuri Cafe, located on 465 51st Street, between 10th and 9th Aves.

View Larger Map


And I ordered a platter... what a platter - delicious - see for yourself:

a bit pricey - but the taste is very worthy, and one doesn't leave hungry after the platter, but the next time I will order what others proposed, going for the Falafel on pita (not the platter) that should run for about $5.00 instead of $14.00.


After my meal, I still had about 1 hr before heading for the rental van... eventually the time arrived and I headed to the rental agency on 48St on 11th Ave.  When I approached the attendant, I found out that the Enterprise Rent-a-Car office for cargo-vans was not the current location, but rather 48St between 5th & 6th Ave.  It was not too bad of a walk, but that also meant that I would be 30 minutes late to meet with Maciej.


I finally attained the cargo-van, without any issues, and Maciej had disassembled all the furniture (good man!) - so by the time I arrived, all we had to do was to go down 3 flies of stairs and load the van - we were parked very close to the main building's entrance - near a fire-hydrant.  Within 2 hrs, we were totally packed - and ready to go.


Here is the last set of itmes that Maciej and I had to carry to the van - as you can see, he is ready and happy to start our moving adventure.

  Here is a picture of the cargo-van, fully packed.

The last picture of Maciej standing and closing the doors (while taking this picture I lost one of my gloves, which Maciej found on the road - good thing because I was about to give up on the glove, but the night was going to be very cold - so I am very happy Maciej did not give up on finding my lost glove)


Now that we were packed, we had to figure out a plan, we decided that driving the car to LI would put additional cost on gas, and also risk additional chances of avoidable events, so we opted to stay in the city - but it was only 19:30, and we had lots of hours ahead of us prior the arriving of the next day...  So we headed to Lincoln Square's Movie Theaters and purchased the latest show, 23:20, of the movie Avatar.  On our way to purchase the tickets, we took a memorable picture at the entrance of Lincoln Center's Plaza:

  And since the movie would not start until another 3 hours, we headed for the near by Barnes and Noble's Bookstore, where Maciej grabbed a couple books (one of them about Rockefeller).

  And then... we headed to watch the movie...the theater was practically empty - perhaps 15 people... it was nice and quiet...


(to be continued...)

Working late - freebies make us work longer hours

Tonight is an NHL free game viewing night, so we (the team) will stay in a room (the war room), sitting on the same desk...


It is rather boring, but as long as nothing goes wrong we will be ok...

Simon Boccanegra

So I missed Carmen on Thursday - worked didn't permit, but I wanted to listen to Simon Boccanegra (since Sirius didn't transmit it) and I made it to the Met 5 minutes before it started - I had to also find parking, which didn't take too long, and it was free - though I left the opera once to make sure that where I parked was a legal spot (yes, I was concerned that I parked somewhere wrong, it was too easy getting the spot).

I didn't know what to expect of the Opera, I only knew that Placido Domingo was playing the main role, and then to my surprise Director Levine was conducting the orchestra.  Needless to say, the opera ended being a pleasant surprise... I would say that the story has similar trades to Rigoletto's: destiny, piety, love... considering that both operas were written by Giuseppe Verdi, I am not surprise that both felt very similar.  The music was very pleasant to listen too (a bit predictable - but otherwise it may have turned unbearable or less accepted for the crowds, that would include me)


The opera was a full house, and once again, I purchased standing sits - I wanted to contact Ewa, but I knew it was Friday and a last minute decision, at 6:30PM I decided to run for it.

Cats make most meaningful use of laptops

An image is worth a thousand words

  Carrots and Pepper use to practice "laptop" everytime they had a chance.

You don't need thieves when you can rob yourself... :)

Yesterday at the Met, I left my iPhone on the shelf, and when I came back... it was still there - forgetful that I am... Today at the gym I left the iPhone again... This time when I came back - it was gone...


My head lock onto the dissapointment on myself - but I was composed - I think I am just very mad with myself - why I keep forgetting things, I held the thought and then let go (just like meditation said - don't hold onto things - don't get attached...)


I sent a text message to the iPhone, and hopefully, whomever decided to take it decided to return it to the "lost and found" section of the gym.


Latest update:  I called at 2:00PM to see if someone decided to return the iPhone... someone must had, or they found the iPhone when I was away and the staff placed it in the safe box... In short, I have my iPhone back.

Finishing work for the daya

So finally after leaving for mom early afternoon (12:30 PM), I finally made it to the datacenter with a few hours to wait for - I sat on the floor for about 2 hours, and waited for the copies to finish...


I have not gone to the data center for a long time, so to my surprise, I had no longer access to one of our floors (5th floor) - luckily the floor with the systems was different one (2nd floor), but the 5th floor has a nice cage where I could at least sit down on a chair with a desk... not so lucky on the 2nd floor.

I end up sitting on the card board box for a few minutes, but my back was not able to handle it, so I found the floor more comfortable...sitting in lotus pose.

The room is a bit warm because, though the entire data center is air conditioned and very loud, when you position yourself behind all the servers, you get all the heat from the system's fans.

What a mess of cables... but the systems are working - just hope nobody has to trace anything...

  By 2:00 AM I was all done - hurray!

Turandot at the Met

After dropping mom, I had to head back to the city, because I had to pickup a drive, but things weren't quite ready, I had to work on the drive contents by slowly copying content out from one drive and in to a portable USB drive - each copy of set of files could take from 20 mins to 1.5 hrs.  Traffic back to the city was pretty brutal, specially on the Queensborough Bridge.

Once I arrived the city, I settled myself at Lincoln's Barnes and Noble bookstore, where I could finish my work.  Working with the backups would take some time, one of my largest files 90GB, which would have needed to be broken into 1.5GB files, and then transfered to the USB drive, would take about 2.3 hours, so I decided to start the process, and considering that I had enough time, head to the Opera to watch Turandot.

I wished Ewa would have been able to stay in the city, so we could have enjoyed this Opera together, Ewa always praises Turandot - I guess when Pavarotti sings it, there is every reason to praise any opera.


I ran to the Opera house, I only had 5 minutes left, and at 7:55PM I was by the ticket counter, where I was given a few choices - $80.00 sits and $17.00-$22.00 standing sits, well  I picked the standing ticket... and I liked it a lot - though my body did feel the lengthy standing and the hard floor (very thin and barely cushioned carpeting).

The house was almost sold out, but only a few standing sits were purchased, this was nice, since I had more space for myself, as a matter of fact, there was nobody on either side of me, and I was next to the staircase, so I could see the stage without having to overlook anything...

I found the story very cruel, specially towards the end, a bit cold - I felt sorry for Liu (the platonic lover of Calaf).  The Met did a great job with the stage scenes and the performers did very good reflecting Chinese opera dancing moves and singing tone, specially the Turandot's three ministers (Ping, Pang, and Pong) - they acted like the actors in the Chinese opera (if you ever want to suffer for a few hours - you can watch, and listen, to a Chinese opera and you'll see what I am referring to).


The main characters did not sound as good to my ears as I would have hoped for - this is probably because I am not used to Turandot, being this my first time - it just didn't sound appealing nor it was pulling my soul begging for more or to never stop. Maria Guleghina (posing as Turandot) sounded like she was screaming rather than singing, and Salvatore Licitra (playing Calaf) was somewhat shy and not pouring his soul out - I am particularly referring to "Nessun Dorma", given that this is the song that Ewa has played most for me in Turandot.  When I heard "Nessun Dorma" from Pavarotti, he held his notes, and he lengthen the finale by Licitra was nowhere near.


One of the greatest pleasures in the Opera was seeing the musicians leaving the stage, this time I was able to see them in person, usually Ewa and I would have stayed until the lights were on again, but since I wanted to check on the progress on my computer work and the time was approaching 11:10PM (Barnes and Nobles closes at midnight), I needed to leave as soon as the opera was over - leaving the place this soon avoided the mass crowd traffic.  On my way out I was surprised to see 4 musicians leaving from the highest floor - how did they get there?  Is there another set of musicians upstairs?

I wouldn't mind going again and perhaps see if I learn to appreciate them more, most likely is my inexperience that leaves me feeling that Turandot has been underperformed.  I would like to hear what Ewa's opinion is with regards this performance.  They also will play Turandot on Jan 23rd and 28th.


Tomorrow... today is Carmen - I hope I can watch it too, I wonder if Ewa would like to come and see it along.