Ali's Blog

Christmas 2007 in Maine: Other Highlights

2008-01-01T21:34:00.001-05:00

Apologies for not finishing up the highlights of Christmas 2007 in Maine. JT regifted his stomach virus and I was out for a few days. Actually, I should say that I was chained to my apartment for a few days. With the cat. And a whole lot of cable channels with nothing worthwhile to watch.

Other highlights of Christmas were:

My father ensuring that the one toilet remained operational:

Christmas Eve lunch spent serving the homeless in Augusta with my dad:

A trip to Freeport, the home of LLBean:

JT, reading his "I Live in Tokyo" book, courtesy of me.

Christmas 2007 in Maine: Nothing Says "Merry Christmas" Like a Night in a Super-8

2007-12-23T22:31:00.000-05:00

Unbelievably, my mother suggested that we find new accomdations for the evening. So we grabbed our luggage and made haste to the local Super 8, making sure that the door did not hit us on the way out. I think we shouted words of comfort to Mer as we ran into the night, but I can't be sure.

The Super 8, while not receiving many stars, did have one coveted thing - cable TV. We initially found The Wizard of Oz, but decided to scan the guide for other options. And am I glad we did, because we came across...

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation! While the film is a crack up throughout, the line that had my parents and I in tears was, after the arrival of both sets of grandparents, Audrey asking, "Mom, would it be rude to ask the grandparents to stay in a hotel?"

Christmas 2007 in Maine: The Day of Reckoning

2007-12-23T21:41:00.000-05:00

On Friday the 21st I took the bus to PA to hitch a ride with my parents to my sister's place in Maine. Airline prices were way too high for Maine in December, so I opted to drive 8 hours on Saturday with my parents instead. The day dawned early - way too early for me - and I figured that if the plague was spreading on the tundra, I could avoid a shower and just go back to sleep. I called at 6 am to get a read on the situation. She assured me that, while JT wasn't 100%, he was on the mend and no one else showed any signs of gastro-intestinal distress. I remained skeptical and inwardly thought we should wait another day, but there was no denying my mother access to the Promised Land - the home of her grandchildren.

We arrived around 4 to find , my brother-in-law, somewhat ill. But Mer was fine, as was , my 2.5 month old nephew. Besides, we had already driven 500 miles - we weren't exactly going to turn around and go home.

Fast forward a few hours... after dinner and the kids' bedtime. Kris was on the sofa, head in his hands, looking vaguely ill. My father and I decided to head to downtown Gardiner, the next town over, for a breath of plague-free air and exercise. We also took time to identify our tipping point - the moment where we would cut our losses, head home, and ensure that the toilet/person ratio was adequate before the plague enveloped us. We decided that my sister was it... if she fell, it was all but guaranteed that we would fall too. Kris had spent Wednesday night taking care of JT, so it wasn't out of the realm of possibility that he would get sick. Alas, we returned to find Kris in full blown plague mode.

And So Christmas 2007 in Maine Began

2007-12-23T21:15:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday morning, I awoke to an email from my sister. , my 2-year old nephew, spent the night vomiting with some version of the stomach flu. Since my parents and I were heading to Maine on Saturday, we had immediate flashbacks to Christmas 2001. Then, a similar ailment had infected my cousin's son. Similar to the bubonic plague, the virus was transferred to everyone within a 50 foot radius. It was a pretty ugly 24 hours at my parents' house. However, at least the odds of having a bathroom when needed were pretty good... 3 toilets to 4 people. My sister's place on the other hand... 1 toilet to 5 adults. I pleaded over email for Mer and Kris to rent a heated port-a-potty. My father predicted that fights could break out over JT's potty chair. My brother-in-law, Kris, offered to put a bucket in the basement with a toilet seat. My parents had been in Maine for Thanksgiving and had a jolly time discussing this very prospect. Now it was staring us in the face.

Thanksgiving in Berlin and Prague

2007-12-12T21:50:00.000-05:00

I'm a few weeks delayed in posting about my completely fabulous trip to Berlin and Prague. Even working from Arup's Berlin office for 3 days was a lot of fun. I got a TON of work done and was still out by 5. What a novel concept. But on to the more exciting things! 2 things I noticed though (1) I HATE smoking. Cannot stand it. Will bitch about it at every opportunity. Think that smokers are absolute morons. And cannot FATHOM how Germany has not banned it in restaurant and bars. Unacceptable. and (2) Berlin and Prague were damn cold for November. Was not prepared for that.

Berlin: Sascha, being the kind man that he is, greeted me at Tegel. Such a great airport - the setup is such that you clear immigration and customs and get your baggage within 20 minutes. And be on the bus into the city in another 5. Call it German efficiency if you must, but it was pretty impressive. Especially after the pain of accessing Newark, JFK, or Narita. Kasia , a close friend from Tokyo, who now lives in Poland arrived in late afternoon. How terrific is she? She took a taxi 3.5 hours to see me, only to turn around and take a train back 7 hours. As a reward, we went out for sushi, miso soup, edamame, and Asahi. Followed by some German beer. And I stayed awake through the entire evening! Sunday, we gave Kasia a quick tour of Berlin - Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, etc. and off she went, back to Poland. Quick trip, but so great to see her and catch up AND introduce her to Sascha.

Sunday night Sascha and I went to his sister's apartment... and I met his parents. Seriously, went MUCH better than expected! I spoke some German, but mostly Sascha (and Uta and Stephan) did a great job translating and making me feel included. Props to them. His mom brought his baby book, which was terrific. And interesting - life in East Germany looked just like life in Pennsylvania. Clearly there was a lot of propoganda fed to us in the 80s. Hell, Uta had Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA album!

The early part of the week was pretty normal. Fun to go to work and come back to dine with Sascha. No take out sushi or bowls of cereal that week. We went to the top of the Reichstag one night, although unfortunately, it was pretty foggy, so no views.

My photos are here: Berlin Photos, November 2007

Prague: Thanksgiving morning, we took a train to Prague. Not the fast ICE trains, but a typical regional train. Beautiful city, although definitely a place to visit in the late spring, summer, or early fall. Sascha and I did a ton of walking and even more eating and drinking. We found Thanksgiving dinner - a must for me. He was less than impressed, but sucked it up - all for love. During our trip, we choose our pubs based on the beer on tap. If we'd tried it before, we moved on. Otherwise, in we went. We tried a lot of beers - it was pretty cold out and all the walking was exhausting. What else is one to do other than pop into a pub for a 1/2 liter of beer to relax and revive. And surprisingly, we weren't drunk at any time during the trip. Of course we covered all the major sites, sometimes more than once.

My Prague photos are here: Prague Photos, November 2007

Lack of Motivation

2007-12-12T21:42:00.000-05:00

I finished my Christmas shopping today! One would think that would motivate me to move on to Christmas cards. Not so much. I just have no desire this year. Perhaps it is because I don't think much can top last year. I mean, really, how many geisha photos have you gotten over the years? I'll tell you - 1. Me. A lot also is that since I had my computer stolen, I don't have a lot of addresses and don't feel like hunting people down? Or the thought of sending out 100 hand written cards suddenly gives me motivation to do just about anything else. I'm talking the gym. Bills. Anything. So, I'm just saying... no need to wait with baited breath by the mailbox for my card. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

CanStruction

2007-11-10T22:01:00.001-05:00

Went to the coolest exhibit last night... CanStruction. It is an annual design competition of architects, engineers, and other groups to design giant structures made entirely of cans. The purpose is to raise awareness of hunger and at the end of the competition (Thanksgiving week) all of the cans are donated to food banks in the area. It isn't a NY thing - it happens in 100 cities (find your city). And yes, it does sound a little strange, but there was a huge Kermit the Frog, a globe which was accurate using green colored cans for land and blue for water, 2 polar bears like the Coke commercials, a piggy bank, a Lightening McQueen, a Caney Island Cyclone (done by colleagues at Arup), a toaster with white bread that even had tan crust... really impressive. The entry fee is one can of food. Highly recommend. Here are some photos of last year's competition:

Ali in the Great White North

2007-11-06T21:44:00.000-05:00

It wasn't white (yet), but I did spend this past weekend in Randolph, ME visiting my sister, brother-in-law, nephew #1 JT, and very very new nephew #2 Drew. THEY ARE SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Honestly, kind of made me want one... =) It was really great to go up there - finally get to see JT in action - he's no longer a baby, but now a toddler. And really great to see my sister as a mom (although when she refers to "mom" and means herself, I still look around for our mother). She's so patient with them, although definitely has no fear of using a time-out, which is great and decidedly underused these days. JT definitely tries to push the envelope by throwing things, but she won't put up with it. Wish there were more mothers like her out there! She was even patient with me when, in my attempt to "help" in cleaning up the kitchen, I threw away locks of hair from JT's first haircut. Oops! Luckily, Kris, Mer, and I dug through the kitchen garbage (and even more luckily, they toss dirty diapers immediately) and found it. Probably would have been disowned. And not by Mer, but our mother!

Do Not Mail Catalogues

2007-10-18T21:45:00.000-04:00

Big pet peeve - junk mail. Especially from non-profits. And doubly especially from retail establishments. Like the do not call list from a few years back, there is now Catalogue Choice. It doesn't work as smoothly as the do not call list - you actuallyhave to search for the catalogues you get and request to be taken off. But it is a start. LLBean sends out 250 million catalogues a year... that's insane! So, get off the catalogue list and save a few trees.

1 Year Ago Today

2007-10-17T20:36:00.001-04:00

I left Tokyo... OH MY GOD! It has been a year!? That is just inconceivable to me... in so many ways, it feels like it was years ago. I don't really think about Tokyo (unless I'm on the NYC subway and then I think about it lovingly), but friends-wise... all the time! Wonder what people are doing, if there are still going to our same haunts... I do always find it weird to know that things still happen even if I'm not there (which I sounds very egotistical and I don't mean it to be).

What do I miss about Tokyo? Friends (obviously), noterity, having every weekend to myself with no obligations, safety of Japan, feeling like I could postpone real adulthood for as long as I stayed, amazing customer service, the cab drivers with the white gloves and the automated doos, the punctuality of the subway, the response I got from people when I said I lived in Tokyo, the response I got from people when I said what I did for a living, availability of new, well-traveled people to meet on an unlimited basis, ease of meeting and making new friends, close proximity to the rest of Asia for vacations...

What do I not miss about Tokyo? My 300 sq ft apartment, not knowing what was going on around me most of the time, being crushed on the subway every day, not understanding the culture, the pressure of wondering what I'm doing with my life, wondering when I should leave, the 20 hour saga to get home, feeling rather big and unattractive for months on end.

What do I love about NY? Being able to participate in anything and everything, having a ton of organizations to participate in, meeting tons of other urban planners who are as excited about things going on in the city as I am, trip to my parents is a 1.5 hour bus ride and costs $37 RT, open houses, working for a company that I can see myelf working for for many years, being back in touch with old friends, English everywhere...

I cannot say enough good things about living abroad and would recommend it to anyone before they could even finish the question. It is, by far, one of the BEST decisions I have ever made. I'm definitely happy to be back in the States though, if just to recooperate before heading off again in a few years time.

Real Estate...

2007-10-14T21:20:00.000-04:00

One of the things I wanted to do when I moved back to the US was start looking into buying a place. I'm potentially slow on the uptake, but now I see the value in buying over renting. That said, I'm currently sharing an apartment, so my rent is much less than it would be on my own, whether I buy or rent. Anyway, I've spent the past few months doing passive research online (NYTimes, real estate brokers) and talking ad naseum with NY friends (and poor Sascha). It isn't as depressing as I thought it would be. Although, I did go and see 3 places today...

(1) 298 Garfield Place, a co-op in a beautiful brownstone, 1 block from Prospect Park. Great location, nice looking building, but the inside... reminded me of my great aunt's place. And for $399K, I could buy an apartment with 1 closet. No, not one closet in the bedroom... I mean, 1 closet IN THE ENTIRE APARTMENT.

(2)475 Sterling Place, a new development. Big - definitely big. And good closet space. Another bonus, it is on the "wrong" side of Washington Avenue so interest rates are lowered. Also low monthly maintenance. But I'm not enthusiastic about new construction - it just felt cold. No character...

(3) 786 Washington Avenue, a condo in Prospec Heights. It has been rehabbed nicely, although a little too architect-y for me. Brick exposure, decent light, GREAT bathroom (although small). But the best part - the kitchen had enough space for a 1/2 size fridge. That made my Tokyo fridge look large. $350K for a half-sized fridge.

I'm aware that I need to compromise when dealing with real estate in NY... light, location, price, space, interior condition, closet space... but really, 1 closet for an entire apartment (and no, it was not walk in or anything one would consider big) or a 1/2 sized fridge? Come on!

Welcome Drew Glendon

2007-10-10T20:43:00.000-04:00

I'm an aunt again! Mer had another baby boy early this morning. He is healthy, weighed a pound less than his brother, and mom is doing well. I had sushi and a beer as a toast to him.

Disturbing Sighting

2007-09-04T22:40:00.000-04:00

Halloween crap in a Duane Reade on 9th Avenue in Chelsea.

It is still summer for the love of God.

Evening with David Letterman

2007-09-04T22:08:00.001-04:00

After nearly running over the head of the Americas Region to get to the Letterman Show on time, I realized... we might not be seeing our former Commander in Chief. Which was confirmed when we arived on 53rd Street and saw the long, long line of black SUVs parked on the north curb, the hoards of fans on the south, and big men in dark suits, with sunglasses and earpieces in between. So we waited outside with anticipation (and sadness - he was leaving, we were arriving)

But, the show was still fantastic. We had VIP seats thanks to Chuck and had the front row of the balcony - an unobstructed view. They started with some stand up, then the CBS Orchestra sans Paul Schaffer played for a little bit, and then Dave came in. It ended up being the show that will be aired on Friday September 7th. Guests were Rachel Ray, Frank Rich, and the Arctic Monkeys (a British band - quite good). He was pretty darn funny most of the time - great way o spend the night.

Made me really want to see the Daily Show and the Colbert Report... but I just checked and tickets are sold out for the next year. Insane.

Another Year Passed

2007-09-03T22:33:00.000-04:00

I am now officially 33... have been for 1 hour and 31 minutes (9:02 pm). Why is it that the years now seem to go by so much faster? I never really understood why "older" people (defined as anyone more than one decade older than me) didn't enjoy celebrating their birthdays - didn't even bother to tell people about them. Still not sure I'll ever get to that stage (after all, a birthday is a day to be yourself unapologetically), but my birthday has started to be met with a bit of sadness. And yes, a few tears. It isn't that I look back and wish I had done things differently... after all, I did tons of great things this year - moved back to the States, traveled a lot (7 new countries!), found a great new job in NY, reconnected with old friends, have met great new ones, even (gasp!) met a terrific and very cute (and very forgiving) man... but still sad. Another year gone - another year further into adulthood. Another year where I live in a rented and shared apartment (with someone I'm not dating or married to) and most of my possessions could fit in a small U-Haul.

On a happier note: I am one year closer to retirement. And I did have a great birthday with friends in Prospect Park. Thanks to all who came out to celebrate. I'd share pictures, but some b*stard stole my camera in July.

Here's my horoscope... got to say, with this, it is a wonder I got out of bed today.

It's an unusual day today, and your judgment might not totally accurate ... you are likely to get caught up in the finer, mostly irrelevant details that don't have much to do with what you need to be focusing on right now. A friend's hot social life may be interesting, but hearing all about their latest fling isn't going to help you get done what you need to get done! Give yourself time in the morning to prepare your day and get a better grip on the forces around you.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2007-09-03T22:27:00.001-04:00

Sascha and I are going to see the David Letterman Show tomorrow night (props to Danielle's brother Chuck for getting us the tickets)... and the guests are....

DRUM ROLL...

BILL CLINTON!!!
and Patti Sciafla (Bruce Springsteen's wife)
HOW EXCITED AM I?!?!?!?!

How Walkable is Your Home?

2007-08-21T22:00:00.001-04:00

Walkability is the new 'bility' catchphrase... sustainability is so 2006. Many urban planners are using it to define neighborhoods instead of density, which for some inane reason seems to scare the bejesus out of people and sends them running back to surburbia. Walkability measures the number of amenities that are within walking distance of an address or block. Amenities include groceries, schools, hospitals, drug stores, transit, etc... all the things that people generally need on a regular basis. A higher number shows a more walkable neighborhood.

What is your Walk Score? Windsor Terrace/Park Slope - 95 Baby!!

Update on Buying with a Conscience

2007-08-18T22:29:00.001-04:00

Thanks for the support on buying with a conscience. I decided to not only boycott Circuit City, but also support a local retailer (J&R). Kill two birds with one stone, as that is something else I have been trying to do since I returned stateside. Even coffee - very minimal Starbucks visits... Connecticut Muffin around the corner from my apartment and Porto (sic) Rico Coffee Company in Soho. (And others of course, but these are the most common.) Alas, I digress...

Great thing about J&R.... they match competitors prices! So, my new Toshiba was purchased at Circuit City prices. All my stress was for naught and I saved myself $150 just by asking. I think the direct quote from the J&R salesguy was "Wow, Circuit City is really screwing us with this one."

Interesting City Comparison

2007-08-18T21:31:00.000-04:00

Sascha sent a comparison of NYC and Berlin. Not entirely sure why NY was chosen as the comparison city... would have thought there were other more comparable US cities. But interestng data - curious to know some of the sources.

Ali in the Alley

2007-08-11T09:19:00.001-04:00

To send off Jonathan (a colleague who is one of the funniest guys I've ever met - reminds me of my friend Sascha in college... self-depricating, great delivery, side achingly funny every time), 20 of us from work headed over to Chelsea Piers for 2 hours of bowling. I'm really not very good, but last night - OH MY GOD - on FIRE! The first game was crap, as per my usual. But game #2 - I turned into a hustler. I should have bet on it. I bowled a 139! And since we decided to handicap it (after Dave had a 151 the first game), in theory, I bowled a 167. So exciting... although now my arm and hand are sore. From 2.5 hours of bowling. Pretty sad actually.

Buy with a Conscience?

2007-08-04T13:00:00.000-04:00

Finally getting around to researching a new laptop to replace the one that was stolen. (My father loaned me his for a few weeks so I didn't go through extensive withdrawal. The first few days were pretty rough though!) I've loved my Toshibas in the past, so I'm sticking with them. I found one that I want and Circuit City has the best price (by $120!) of anywhere else online that I can find. What are you waiting for? Get the Amex out and get to work! Not so fast...

Circuit City recently fired 8% of its workforce because "workers were being paid too much and that the company would replace them with new employees who would earn less." (NYTimes article April 4, 2007 - and a shout out to my parents who told me about it.) Which really irks me. (Sascha would say - typical America.) Wonder why people are defaulting on their loans and why there is so much insecurity in the middle class... this gives a bit of a clue. The constant drive to improve the share price and screw the regular employees wherever and whenever possible. I understand the desire to improve efficiency and yes, there are definitely times that layoffs need to happen. But come on... did the executives consider taking a pay cut? God forbid. The CEO is expected to earn $2.17 million this year (Forbes). I cannot fathom the "value" that he, or any of the other senior executives, add to merit that level of compensation. Honestly, none. Which leads me to question whether I should support an organization that operates like this. But on the other hand, don't they all?? This is America.

So, should I save myself $120 and buy from Circuit City (and feel guilty) or should I spend it on a company that hasn't obviously screwed their workers (and feel slightly morally superior). If I don't buy from Circuit City, am I even making a statement - can little me actually make an impact by directing my money and purchases elsewhere?

Really though, someone has to do it. And every little bit helps. I don't shop at Wal-Mart ever. I buy toiletries that specifically say "no animal testing." I buy organic dairy products when they exist. I avoid companies that have been written up for operating sweatshops in developing countries. Why should I support a company that treats employees like crap?

I caved

2007-07-29T22:48:00.001-04:00

and joined Facebook. I know, feeling kind of like a sucker. And it is amazing how much time can be wasted doing absolutely nothing. Ingrid, Polly, and Kiwa were all raving about it... figured how could 3 smart women be wrong? Did connect with a guy I went to pre-school with - or at least he is now listed as a "friend". Wonder if we will actually exchange emails or anything.

I was BURGLED!

2007-07-22T21:29:00.000-04:00

I'm now an official New Yorker - my apartment has been burglarized. It happened last Wednesday, sometime in the afternoon. I came home to find my computer, camera, Palm Pilot (yes, I still have one), $50, and all of my laundry quarters gone. Vanessa's camera, watch/heart monitor, and penny jar (!!!) were taken as well. The morons left the Wii though, even though the box was prominately displayed in Vanessa's room. Clearly not the most intelligent bunch given that people line up pre-dawn to buy one. So angry! Get a f*cking job like the rest of us and contribute to society. Get one ounce of moral fiber. Stop looking for the easy money, get an education, and do something with yourself and your life. Man I miss Japan!! This kind of thing happens so rarely - people would not bring shame upon themselves or, more importantly, their family. Here - no one gives a crap.

Luckily I bought renters' insurance right before I left for Israel, but now I'm wondering how worthwhile that is. I have to pay a $500 deductible and I only get reimbursed based on the specs of my stuff that was stolen. Given that my digital camera, which worked wonderfully and took great pictures, was given to me as a gift in 2001, I'm thinking I'll get $50 for it. My computer, purchased in September 2005, which had all of my digital photos and all of my financial information (including a credit report), is probably worth $600. But, worked great and there was no need to buy a new one. For a long while. Now I have to waste my time and money to get the police and insurance companies involved, show proof of ownership (I actually had to go to my parents to find stuff this weekend), fill out all the forms, and for what? $150 (after the deductible)? When it is going to cost me more than $1000 to replace things. Which does make me ask why bother with insurance, unless there is a big chance of fire (since flood is not included in basic coverage)...

Mark this day in history

2007-07-15T22:33:00.001-04:00

This day should be noted across the board... I got not 1, not 2, but 3 frequent flyer seats on 3 different airlines for the same itinerary. Since I have minimal vacation left, Sascha will be coming to America the next few months, with the next trip the first week of September. The ticket prices are crazy - $800-900! So I figured, why not try and get a frequent flyer ticket? I felt hopeful - I've spent enough time flying that I've got all the alliances covered - maybe there would be something around the time he wanted to visit. But wow - I called all three and they ALL had availability and at the lowest mileage (50K - which is crap. It used to be 35K). They aren't direct, but still... Crazy! Maybe I should play the lottery.

Sascha's Israel Photos

2007-07-15T08:51:00.000-04:00

Sascha is a much more avid photographer than I am. And he's got a better camera. Here they are: Sascha's Israel Photos

Flat Maya Visits Israel

2007-07-08T22:10:00.001-04:00

Flat Maya accompanied Sascha and me to Israel. You may ask, who or what is Flat Maya? Flat Maya is a life-sized cut out of Chetna and Aravind's elder daughter Maya . At the preschool, each child lay on the floor, had a cut out made, and then colored themselves. The purpose is to send the flat children out to travel so that the kids can discuss it later. Flat Maya has gotten some serious frequent flyer miles - she's been to Italy with Chetna's parents and to Israel with us. Soon she might be on her way to India. I guess Flat Maya really like countries that start with "I".

Flat Maya definitely had an active vacation. She traveled all over Israel and was photographed at all the important sights. Unfortunately, sometimes it was too windy for Flat Maya to come out and play. However, she still experienced all the aspects of Israel from inside a nice, warm, and dry backpack. I think we left the zipper open a little so she could peek out.

Her first stop was Jerusalem and after a good night's sleep, she visited the Old City of Jerusalem. Because the Western Wall (or the Wailing Wall) is such a famous Jerusalem landmark, this seemed to be the best location for a Flat Maya photo.

After a few days, Flat Maya grew weary of all the religious sites and wanted to move on to some adventure. We rented a car and drove through the Judean Desert to the lowest place on Earth - the Dead Sea at 1,320 feet below sea level. Flat Maya was too pulp-y to take a dip herself, but she did watch the other tourists experience 10X the salt found in the regular ocean and saw Jordan on the other side of the Sea.

After a day of baking hot sun (highs in the triple digits easy!), it was time to hit the road again. Northward we went... to the Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights and around to Haifa. Not all in one day of course. Flat Maya made another appearance at the Baha'i Gardens in Haifa because the views from the top of the Gardens were too good to pass up.

All the outdoorsy-ness of the past few days left Flat Maya feeling a little restless. She needed some retail therapy and really really wanted to stick her cute flat toe in the Mediterranean, so off to Tel Aviv we went. Markets galore in Tel Aviv - below Flat Maya went shopping for fruits, vegetables, breads, a variety of fetas, and spices at the Carmel Market. Unfortunately, her toe was still too pulp-y for the Med, so she had to settle with playing in the sand.

10 days flew by for Flat Maya... and as she realized in Italy, the vacation was over way too soon. So she bid Sascha "auf Weidersehen" and "ungefaehrliche Flugreise" and she boarded her flight back to New York.

Haifa and Nearby Day Trips

2007-07-08T22:09:00.001-04:00

After driving all through north and northwest Israel, we were happy to arrive in Haifa, although like Tiberias, it took us a couple of rounds to find the hotel. In my overzealous (some would call it anal retentive, I would call it proactive) attempt to plan the trip, I erred. I booked us for 2 nights in Haifa, when really, we needed only one and could have spent a second night at the awesome B&B in Arbel and seen a few more areas in the Golan and Sea of Galilee area. Ah well, live and learn. The hotel was ok - it definitely grew on us (positively) after the initial impression. Extra bonus - a hearty breakfast, garden, free parking and good access.

After consulting our handy travel guides, we went over to the German Colony, a street that has been restored with interesting architecture and tons of outdoor cafes and restaurants. The weather was awesome, so it never occurred to us not to sit outside and enjoy a view up the main street to the Baha'i Gardens, which are beautifully lit up at night.

Wednesday we drove an hour to Akko (or Acre), a walled city from the Crusader period (12th Century), although of course, it has been modified, burned, rebuilt, destroyed, and refurbished since then. Great walking because it is a city in which people still live and work, amongst all the archaeological ruins. However, the heat was pretty brutal, so by the end of the day, I was so tired and bitchy that I pretty much banned viewing ruins from the rest of our trip. Our mid-afternoon snack consisted of a trip to an Arabic bakery where we selected a bunch of cookies to sample. Damn tasty. Although not healthy. But on vacation so really, do I care?

Back in Haifa, being the dutiful transport planner, we had to take the only rail transit in Israel - which is really more of a funicular than true mass transit. Anyway, it is definitely the best way to get to the top of Mt. Carmel to take in the views of the city. (And definitely, the view that makes the city look attractive.) At the top of Mt. Carmel is a promenade with nicely landscaped areas for seating and observing, so we took advantage and rested for a bit. It also gave us a view of the Baha'i Garden from above - a beautiful open space in the middle of Haifa that is totally closed off, unless you've made a reservation or are Baha'i. Not a fan of that concept... especially in a city seemingly in need of universally available open space. Sascha had the brilliant idea that we could walk dinner, which required us walking all the way down the mountain. Great concept except that it was surprisingly difficult to find streets that went through - due to the big park in the middle that prohibited access. No, I'm not bitter.

Thursday it was time to head to Tel Aviv. But on the way, after Sascha's great suggestion, we stopped in Zichron Ya'akov, a cute Napa-esque town with Carmel Wine Cellars. Happily, my turn to drink and Sascha's to pour and spit. Relaxing place to spend a few hours and break up the short drive to Tel Aviv

My pictures of Haifa and Akko can be found here:

Haifa and Akko

Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights

2007-07-04T10:08:00.000-04:00

Heading north from the Dead Sea, we drove again through the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Since I was driving, Sascha took photos of the Israeli checkpoints and they can be found in his Picasa album. Luckily he has a good zoom capabilities, so it wasn't totally obvious when we drove by.

We drove through Mt. Gilboa, a range of mountains north of the West Bank. The scenery was great and from above we had a terrific view of the farmland further north. We had an amazing lunch at the Herb Farm at Mt. Gilboa - a family run restaurant that has great food, but the portions. Good God. Enormous. So much so that Sascha had to drive - I needed a nap as I was having food coma and still fighting jet lag.

We made our way to Tiberias to spend the night. Tiberias is nothing to write home about, so we decided to stay at a B&B that was written up in both our books. In our quest to exit Tiberias, we passed the same gas station 3 times, made the same U-turn twice, got a bit testy with one another, and almost gave up. But, we persevered and found Shavit Guest House in Arbel, about 15 minutes from downtown Tiberias. (Sascha's genius was able to establish which B&B we wanted - the books were unclear - by comparing the phone number on the welcome sign. Nice job.) It was operated by a super cute Israeli couple and the surroundings were terrific - a great garden, superb restaurant (the Israeli breakfast - OMG!), and the rooms were actually one-bedroom apartments, complete with a jacuzzi.

On our way out of the Lower Galilee area, we took in the view over the Sea of Galilee from Arbel Cliff. Not too shabby. We made our way into the Golan Heights, stopping at the Golan Heights Winery in Katzrin. Fortunately for Sascha, I was driving so while I poured and spit, he drank and napped. The Golan Heights are beautiful with views into Syria and Lebanon, as well as of Nimrod's Castle and Banias Waterfall. Moving westward to
Haifa and Akko...

My pictures from the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights:

Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights

The Dead Sea and Masada

2007-07-01T22:07:00.000-04:00

We drove for about 60 minutes through the Judean Desert and, in theory, through the West Bank to reach the Dead Sea, the lowest point in the world. Now I have a better idea of what journalists mean when they refer to a place as the "Israeli-occupied West Bank." The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) protects these areas, so driving through is relatively safe.

We arrived in Ein Gedi, one of the oases on the banks of the Dead Sea. Not sure what I expected, but it was even smaller then I expected - 2 or 3 places to stay, a field school, a public beach, and no restaurants. Oh and a spa, which we didn't visit - too late in the day. We did find the time to take a dip in the Dead Sea. Very strange indeed. And damn, that salt burned. In places that burning should not occur. Not comfortable. I finally made Sascha get out so we could leave and I could take a proper shower. It was that bad. Dinner was spent with two other German guys who were traveling through Israel... I could make out bits and pieces of the conversation, although they everyone was nice enough to speak English for me. Or Sascha translated. Lucky him. We ended the night with a beer on at the hostel's terrace overlooking the Dead Sea and Jordan beyond.

Morning came early though - 4:45 am, I think - so that we could climb Masada before the heat of the day set in. Temperatures this time of the year are baking hot and they sometimes close the climbing path. No fear though - there is gondola for the slackers in the group. Which was not us - until the way down. We started the climb up a little before 6 am. And who was in line with us but a family of Cornellians! Seriously... we are everywhere! Sascha and I wanted to beat the average time of 45 minutes for the climb and we did, in 44:50. The climb actually wasn't that bad and it was helped by some clouds that kept the sun at bay for a bit of it. A top Masada, we wandered around and explored the sight and watched a few 13-year olds being bar-mitzvah'd. Mazaltof!

After taking the gondola down so that we could make breakfast at the Youth Hostel (remember - no restaurants to be found and we'd just hiked a big rock), we drove off, heading north through the West Bank to.... The Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights

My Dead Sea and Masada pictures are here:

Dead Sea and Masada

Jerusalem

2007-06-30T22:07:00.000-04:00

Airport security for me was pretty lax, whereby lax = not checking my passport when I checked in and, while Continental segregates Tel Aviv passengers after another security check, it was a cursory check of my carry-on bags. Sascha, on the other hand, flew El Al and received the full Israeli welcome - before he even checked in. Every bag was taken apart, every piece of clothing taken out, and he was searched as well. Took 1.5 hours for him and about 10 minutes for me. But who cares - we were going on vacation! After arriving (my flight was 3 hours delayed due to crap weather in NY) we found each other (his Brooklyn t-shirt helped), found the sheruts (shared taxis), and made our way to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was a great place to start the vacation... so much to see and you haven't yet exhausted yourself by looking at 10 mosques and 15 synagogues yet. We stayed at the 3 Arches YMCA, which seemed a little random to me. In my mind, the Y is a place with a pool and a gym, not somewhere with a hotel and restaurant. But, overall great place to stay - terrific location, cute rooms, good restaurant that is open every day (which is key during Shabbat). Working around the sabbath was a challenge - needed some planning in advance because every museum or tour is closed between mid-day Friday and Sunday morning.

Our first stop on Friday was Yad Vashem, the memorial to those killed in the Holocaust. Not the most uplifting way to start our vacation, but had to be done since it closes at 2 on Friday and reopens Sunday morning. Highly recommend - it was a very impressive compilation of information and artifacts. (I also must admit, it was a bit strange wandering through the museum with someone from Germany.) Later in the day we wandered through the alleys of the Old City and found our way to the Western Wall (Wailing Wall), made a few stops on Via Dolorosa (the route Jesus walked carrying his cross from his indictment to his crucification and burial), and got our first view of the Dome of the Rock/Temple Mount. Luckily we also found a great (and open) restaurant - Nafoura. It is located near Jaffa Gate inside the Old City with a cute back garden that abuts the Old City walls. Terrific Middle Eastern food and super refreshing lemonade and did I mention that it was open on Friday night?

Saturday, using Sascha's impressive negotiating skills, we hailed a taxi to the Mt. of Olives to get a view of Jerusalem as a whole. Who knew it was so hilly (answer - not me)? On the way back to the Old City, we stopped at the Church of Mary Magdalene (a Russian Orthodox church) and Dominus Flevit (a church that preserves the New Testament story of Jesus' prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem). The latter provided a great photo moment through a window with a cross of the Old City, Temple Mount/Dome of the Rock, and other religious sites around the city. Back in the Old City, we took in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (many believe this to be the place where Jesus was crucified, died, buried, and rose from the dead) and tried, unsuccessfully, to find a way in to the Dome of the Rock/Temple Mount. It has been closed to non-Muslims for the past few years, but rumor has it that some people get in if you get there at the "right" time. Clearly, that wasn't the time we were there. Later in the day we walked to Ben Yehuda Street, a pedestrian mall with tons of cafes, shops, and restaurants. Pretty dead when we were there because of course, it wasn't sundown on Saturday yet. But many restaurants open at 8, so we bided our time with a beer and terrible nachos. I was hungry, what can I say. And there was NOTHING else open except McDonald's.

Sunday we went on the Western Wall Tunnel tour, which takes you below the street level and shows people the history of the walls. You also get closer, within 95 feet, I think, of the Dome of the Rock/Temple Mount, which is closer than the Western Wall open to daily visitors. It gave a great historical perspective of the entire Old City. Note you can't order the tickets online and you can't walk up and buy tickets, you have to call in advance. We struggled to find the rental car place, but we eventually succeeded and... next stop, The Dead Sea.

My Jerusalem pictures are here:

Jerusalem

Leaving for Israel in 25 hours!

2007-06-26T21:23:00.000-04:00

How excited am I?! I'm off for 10 days to Israel with Sascha and Flat Maya. He says it is a "short" vacation. I say, welcome to employment in a non-European country. We're going to Jerusalem, Ein Gedi on the Dead Sea, Haifa (with some day trips from there), and then to Tel Aviv. Definitely not long enough, as I would love to go down south to Eliat and go to Petra (in Jordan), but you have to draw the line somewhere and honestly, with all the recent stuff going on, I'm more than happy to draw that line well north of the Gaza Strip.

JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge - Fun, Until the End

2007-06-22T22:48:00.000-04:00

Wednesday night was the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge, a 3.5 mile race through Central Park. 37 Arupians ran it, along with 14,963 of our closest friends. And they repeated it on Thursday night for another 15,000 participants. (Although 30,000 pales in comparison to Frankfurt's 67,000+ a few weeks ago.) It was a great night for a run, but I went out WAY too fast (for me at least) and ran an 8:40 minute first mile. Which meant that I was walking by mile #2. Those damn competitive juices... and my inability to recognize that I am no longer 22 (mind you, not that I ran too quickly then either). I was hoping to be sub-30, but unfortunately finished at 32:10.

All that paled in comparison though as we lost Hitesh, one of our teammates on Wednesday night. And no, I don't mean he got lost in Central Park. He died. No one is sure exactly what happened, but he collapsed around mile 2 and he was not able to be resuscitated. He was in his late 30s or early 40s, not obese (before you jump to that conclusion), and was a mechanical engineer who had been with Arup for about a year. He and I talked before the race - he was a little worried since a whole group of us were near the starting line and he was worried that it meant that he would have to run fast. I laughed and said that wasn't a problem - just make sure that there is enough room for people to pass and that people just ran at their own speeds. I only knew him from softball, but he was one of those people who was always smiling and always friendly. This was his first season playing softball - ever. So we explained that softball was a bit like cricket and he understood. He even went so far as to play the outfield without a glove. Fabulous. Anyway, quite sad... and a little spooky - I've never had a conversation with someone who died 30 minutes later.

Super Green Building

2007-06-22T22:27:00.000-04:00

The Municipal Art Society had a happy hour on Tuesday night to introduce the Urbanists (members of MAS in their 20-30s) to Cook and Fox, a green architectural firm, and their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum-certified new Bank of America building at 1 Bryant Park. It is still under construction (opening in 2008), but when it is finished it will be the greenest skyscraper in America. Just amazing all the various aspects that they have built into it - with the permission of BoA and of the Dolan family, the owners of the property. Tons of the products used came from within a 500-mile radius of NY, such that transportation is kept to a minimum. Much of the energy is generated on site, since so much is lost in transmission. The building is shaped in such a way to enable light to filter to street level and it doesn't (tremendously) overshadow Bryant Park. All trucks that bring items on pallets must also leave with the same number of empty pallets. Just really cool, novel ideas for construction and energy efficiency. And for not much more money than regular construction costs. Makes me feel MUCH better for banking with the big boys - even though they continue to swallow up the small fish.

I was tagged - so here you go.

2007-06-18T22:49:00.001-04:00

Deena finally decided to start posting again... was starting to think she'd vanished into the great Tokyo void, but she recently resurfaced. Enough so to tag me. Thanks Deena. So, here are the rules:

1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

(1) I get cold after I eat. Anything. Soup. Cold. Hot chocolate... warm momentarily, but still cold. Ice cream. Cold. Sandwich. Cold. Always been this way - don't know why.

(2) I feel guilt for just about anything and I beat myself up over the most inane things. Yep, I can make these sweeping generalizations about myself - only because they are totally true! My daily coffee... guilt - I should be saving that money, I shouldn't be using plastic tops. Even though it is $2 and I always ask for the iced coffee in a paper cup, so at least am not using the big plastic cup. A trip to the store when I can fit almost everything into my backpack, but end up with 1 plastic bag. Yep, saved 10 bags, but still feel guilt over the 1 I did take. Gym... went, did most of my work out, but beat myself up because I skipped 1 exercise and didn't do cardio. Does it matter that I was starving and was about to start gnawing on the rubber barbels? No. Really - the list is endless. Times like these I think I need a therapist.

(3) I will skip any meal but breakfast. If I have a big night out and wake up at 2 pm, my first meal is still cereal. Or pancakes. If I have to be up at 4 am for a flight, I still eat breakfast. I love it. And I have NO IDEA how so many people out there skip it. I can actually eat only one meal a day (no, I don't do it often) and that one meal must be breakfast. LOVE IT. Not surprising when work friends in Japan said "you seem like a brunch kind of girl." You think?

(4) I make my bed. Every day. Always have, always will. I make other peoples' beds too (Sascha)... or at least I really really want to and have to talk myself out of my OCD tendencies (Christine).

(5)I read Ask Amy, Dear Abby, Tell Me About It, and Daily Dish
everyday. Not at work. But at some point during the day. And no, I'm not embarrassed by this.

(6)I can talk myself out of almost any purchase (except food or one more drink). Usually due to #2. i.e. do I really need another t-shirt or other article of clothing?

(7) I'm a list maker. I list where and how I spend my money. Everyday - thank god for Microsoft Money! I list what I need to accomplish for the weekend - even laundry, which you would think would be patently obvious when I am down to my last pair of underwear, but needs to be on the list anyway. You know why? So I can cross it off and feel like I've accomplished something. Because if I don't have a list, I don't feel like I did anything. And if I don't feel like I did anything, I feel that I wasted a day or a weekend. And then... yep, just reference #2.

Honestly, that's all I've got. Will give it some more thought and perhaps update...

And like Deena, I don't know that 8 people read this blog, let alone 8 people who actually have their own blogs. So,

Mayuko - dying to hear more about BKK
Lowly - loving the Tokyo updates
Chelle - maybe I'll see you in NY someday... no pressure or anything. =)
Abby - wish you made it to NY more often
Janet and Gary - hope you are having a good time in Shanghai
Pip - hope Oz is treating you well

A Great New York Day

2007-06-09T15:58:00.000-04:00

Today was one of those great New York days... I woke up bright and early to meet a friend from work and 2 of her friends so that we could run a 10K in Central Park. It was the NYRR New York Mini 10K - the first road race specifically for women and 2007 was its 35th anniversary. 3,500 participants this year... which unfortunately meant that Olivia, Sash, Ana, and I were not really in contention for the prize money. But we all finished - which was our goal. I ran about 1 hour (36 seconds over), which I was pretty happy about - especially since I did have to walk a bit and had nothing left at the end to do more than lift my feet across the finish line. Happily, no pictures to document that.

After the race, we decided that we had earned a good brunch. But since we were pretty disgusting, we wanted to find a restaurant with suitable seating that would set us apart from other diners... lest we put them off by our disheveled and smelly appearance. Ended up at the Cub Room in Soho - open air.

I finally did what I've been talking about doing for months... I FINALLY bought a bike! YAY for me... I bought it at Metro Cycles near my office. It has a seat like a couch. Seriously. No sore a*s for me! I biked back along Hudson River Park, across the Brooklyn Bridge, and back through Park Slope to the Green Market on the far side of the park (at Grand Army Plaza) and picked up some flowers. Just so great to bike home from the market in 10 minutes as opposed to the 30 minute walk. Can't wait to put it to more use.

After a shower - I was a little stinky - I took the bible... my weekend New York Times to the local cafe for a frappe - coffee, ice cream, etc. I noticed that there was a street fair on 9th Avenue - right around the corner from my apartment. Love these things, although I'm sure after one summer in NY, I'll grow tired of the repetition. But I was entertained for a while... had a 10 minute massage (again, I deserved it!), bought some bamboo, and just wandered around.

Finally took in a viewing of Ocean's Thirteen... talk about topping off a great day... 2.5 hours with that many attractive men in every scene. Sign me up for another viewing!

Long Weekend in Berlin

2007-06-09T15:27:00.000-04:00

I went to Berlin over Memorial Day weekend to see Sascha and see Berlin. LOVED Berlin! Really was hard pressed to come back to NY and it wasn't just because there is a super cute boy on that side of the pond. Berlin is a really walkable city and it just has a great feel - lots of cafes, outdoor spaces, great public transit - a place you want to be. Fun too because I could practice my German - at least trying to understand and read... I shy away from speaking because I know I'm not speaking correctly. We walked a lot - saw all the major sites, went to an exhibit on East German work and life at the German History Museum, went to Potsdam, ate, drank... all good stuff. We also met up with his sister Uta, her partner Stephan, and their super cute 5-year old son, Julius. I brought my German-English dictionary, but luckily (for me) their English is quite good. I even read an English children's story to Julius - although Sascha had to translate line by line since Julius hasn't started learning English yet. Can't wait to go back!

Below is a link to my pictures.

Berlin

Stupid Me

2007-05-02T14:48:00.000-04:00

I'm flying to San Diego today for a conference and am stuck at the airport. Adding insult to injury, the airport is JFK. I'd like to blame it on the airlines, but it is most definitely my fault. I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I was pretty lackadaisical about getting to the airport with more than an hour to spare. So I arrived with less than an hour before departure. Again, let me reiterate what a moron I am... because they would let me check in, but they wouldn't check in my bag. The alternative was to carry it on with me... but wait, I have liquids (because who can travel without them!)... so I'd be rejected at security. The result, my NEW flight now leaves at 5:15. Which has since been delayed until 6:01 (and it is only 2:30 now...). I begged and pleaded and got absolutely no where. It is amazing how unhelpful and inflexible airline personnel are these days - when you can find one that is. Shocking really. They definitely need a refresher course in customer service!!

The Original Sushi Pillow

2007-04-30T23:29:00.000-04:00

Check out the Original Sushi Pillow potentially the strangest and weirdest, but still really cool home decorating item I've seen recently. Not sure why anyone would want one (minus the edamame body pillow), but I am seriously tempted to purchase one. Just because. It is SUSHI!

Sakura Matsuri

2007-04-29T20:28:00.000-04:00

Just because I'm living in New York now, there's no reason why I can't still celebrate the blooming of the cherry blossoms. Luckily, there's a bunch of trees and a great festival at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Unfortunately, the trees aren't at their peak - which is INSANE, it is almost May! Maria, Cordy, and I went anyway. And realized, for future reference, that next year, we CAN bring something to sit on and perhaps even sneak in some food. Don't think we'll be able to do the beer though. Tragedy. (Although there is food to purchase... hot dogs for sale right next to bento boxes... at least the hot dogs aren't PART of the bento boxes).

Beyond Belief at the Tribeca Film Festival

2007-04-26T23:06:00.000-04:00

I just returned from seeing the first of my three Tribeca Film Festival movies. Tonight was Beyond Belief, a documentary about 2 September 11th widows who decide to move past their grief by starting Beyond the 11th, an organization dedicated to assisting Afghani widows and their families. So many things about the movie were amazing (some would say "Beyond Belief") - that these two women who lost so much (and gave birth 1 and 2 months after 9/11) could not only find it in their hearts to want to do this, but could find it in their minds to get it together and actually make it happen, that there are (according to the documentary) over 500,000 Afghani widows, most of whom face poverty with little family support in a country and culture that tells them every day that they are second class citizens, and that all of these women could find something positive every day and exhibit hope and desire to improve their lives.

Which leads me to question why I'm not doing more... I always say that women's rights matter, I find these stories heart wrenching and despicable - how can we, who have so much, allow such destitution to continue? How can we support - ne prop up - countries that allow 50% of their population to be voiceless pieces of property (a la Saudi Arabia)? But yet, tomorrow, I'll go on my merry way, drinking my $3 coffee, eating a $10 lunch (50% of what it would cost to send a kid to school in Afghanistan by the way), and continue to do nothing. Pathetic really... I never feel like what I can afford to give is enough, so I procrastinate on giving at all (especially the past year - yikes!). Now that I'm no longer working in development, I don't even have my job to fall back on any more - as in "I spend months every year living in developing countries, trying to make them better - I'm absolved the rest of the time." I was all fired up after Motherland Afghanistan and did I do anything. No. I easily slipped back into the routines of my life. One of my constant CONSTANT struggles - guilt of not doing enough (and lately that not enough = nothing) vs. utter despondency when you think about all the needs, inequity, and plain old unfairness out there.

More as a place holder for me, than a plea for you, but if you feel like making a contribution, here are a few places to donate:
Care International
Women for Women International
Beyond the 11th

And more US States to See

2007-04-25T22:40:00.000-04:00

Notice that most of the middle is empty... and for what it is worth, I think the color should be blue. =)

create your own personalized map of the USA
or check out ourCalifornia travel guide

So Many Countries Still to Visit

2007-04-25T22:36:00.000-04:00

Thanks Chelle for giving me this link. Clearly shows that I have a lot more traveling to do!

create your own visited country map
or check our Venice travel guide

Back in Boston

2007-04-19T22:31:00.000-04:00

I just returned to Boston after 4+ years away. (And an apology to any Bostonians who are reading this - I got in at 9 tonight and am leaving at 4 tomorrow.) Very very strange to be here... almost like I never lived here before. I couldn't remember which T lines went where... got off at South Station and was somewhat surprised that the Red Line went there. Exciting times on the T though - HUGE progress... They have a Charlie card (touch free fare cards), great new entry/exit gates... quite professional. And actually usable with luggage, unlike the Subway. Dying to ride the Silver Line too. I think I'll need to come back with my camera. =)

My dinner consisted of a Smoosh-In at Hershell's - where they take hard ice cream and mix in some candy (my choice is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups). Always a healthy choice. It was too late for "real" dinner, but I was peckish. Ok, I admit, I'd been planning this "dinner" for days.

I also took Acela today... first time ever. It was clean, spacious, on time and if it weren't for the MOST ANNOYING GIRL EVER sitting in front of me, it would have been a thoroughly pleasurable experience. Alas, this ditzy blonde girl talked on the phone, talked to her friend, talked and talked and talked the entire 3.5 hours from New York - Boston. And to top it off, she was a typical New York girl - loud, vapid, bad accent, and totally unaware of her surroundings - awful. The guy sitting next to me and I were exchanging sarcastic comments about her while she was having her 30 minute mindless mobile phone conversation. That was a pleasant way to spend some time.

Arup 0-1

2007-04-14T19:00:00.000-04:00

Last night was the opening game of the corporate softball league. We'll be playing about 12 games from now until the end of August any night of the week. Last night was a quintessential NY evening - the game was in Central Park. I was hoping Bette Midler would be there, a la Seinfeld, but no dice. The game started at 6:50, so we were able to get 3 innings in... even with the reduction of balls and strikes (2 strikes, 3 balls allowed), innings tend to take a little while. I started as catcher for the first two innings and, in a surprising twist, actually made contact with the ball when I was up at bat. Of course, I hit it foul and proceeded to strike out, but it is a step in the right direction.

After freezing our asses off for 45 minutes outside, we retired to a bar on 79th and Amsterdam for some well earned beers and wings. Not the healthiest dinner, but damn tasty. And I finally got to meet a bunch of people who I've seen in the office, but never spoken with.

Kabul Opportunity

2007-04-12T21:47:00.000-04:00

I got an email (from a US company who does work overseas) earlier today asking me to submit my CV to be a transport planner for a USAID project in Kabul. Hmm... let me think about that. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

I did find out though that I probably will be going to India in May. Fun times! Now if I could just get the State Department to return my passport. ARGH!

Kasia and a Professional Wrestling Event

2007-04-05T17:06:00.000-04:00

Kasia, a close friend from Tokyo who recently moved back to America, went to a professional wrestling event earlier this week. (Background, in her former job as a music and entertainment industry promoter, she dealt with this event in Tokyo. So, when they passed through her native Detroit, she got a free ticket and felt obligated to go to see her former colleagues.) Her email to me the next day:

anyways, i got ridiculously depressed because the venue was full of 80,103 people who came to watch the show - and it was just one of the stupidest things ever. it hit me that it represents everything i disagree with: violence, pornography, and just nothing intelligent. entertainment? i don't think so....

the entire time i kept thinking "America is going to hell..."

Class without the Stress

2007-04-02T23:02:00.000-04:00

I had my first German class tonight... so much fun. How awesome is it to take a class just for the hell of it? Just to try and learn something?

The Elephants Are Here

2007-03-29T23:19:00.000-04:00

Tuesday night the elephants arrived in NY for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Because they can't get the trains into Manhattan (or maybe because they can't get the elephants off the trains in Manhattan), the trains stop in Queens and the elephants and horses are unloaded. Then the NYPD and Department of Transportation shut down one tube of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel and escort the elephants and horses into Manhattan and across 34th Street to Madison Square Garden. It happens around midnight... so I convinced some friends (Maria, Josh, and Adeena) to come with me to see this spectacle in action. Maria and I, in a bit of OCDness, got there waaay early - 10:30 pm. So, we had enough time for an ice cream and to scout out the best possible viewing location. There were tons of barricades, which gave us a good tip off as to where to stand. We ended standing on E 34th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue, right at the tunnel exit... in the first row. Excellent piece of real estate, if I do say so myself. (For those of you wondering, this occurs like an elephant motorcade... police motorcycles escort the elephant train across 34th Street blocking each successive avenue, such that only 2 avenues are ever blocked at the same time. Really is an amazing thing to see.)

(Note: Thanks to Flickr photos - mine didn't turn out so well.)

First Celebrity Sighting

2007-03-26T21:40:00.000-04:00

Exciting times in the Big Apple - I had my first celebrity sighting today. No doubt I've probably passed other people in Soho or Tribeca and just never noticed, but this time it was quite clear. I guess a few cameras gave it away. Anyway, in honor for the upcoming last season of the Sopranos (starting April 8th - we have HBO!), I saw Steve Schirripa aka Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri. Alas, not filming anything for the Sopranos, I think (I would have called in sick had that happened). He was in Washington Square Park milling around with some camera and sound men. Didn't attract much attention. Still quite a large guy.

Life at 2920

2007-03-24T01:58:00.000-04:00

My mom rescued a cat... not to keep, but to find a new home for. Obviously the 3 dogs that currently reside at 2920 provide enough fun and excitement for Tom and Louise. Besides, my sister is the cat person in the family. Anyway, I came home from work tonight to find this email for the ages waiting in my inbox. From my father...

Things have deteriorated even further here at 2920. Mom wanted to go for a walk so I hooked up Hoover and went outside. After some extended time Mom emerged with the Rat on a leash and carrying the cat - carrying the freakin' cat! Off we went with the Rat circling Mom's feet looking for a place to take a dump, the cat trying to run for the bushes, and Hoover straining to get at the MomCat while choking on her own slobber. Meanwhile I'm trying to climb inside my coat as I picture the neighbors standing at their windows watching those nutcase animal people go by. Not a good day.

Ah yes, life at the homestead. Makes me want to run right over to Port Authority and hop on the next bus home.

Reading

2007-03-24T00:44:00.000-04:00

I love to read. Really - love it. I believe I can thank my mother for that trait - she's a elementary school reading teacher and she instilled a love of books in both my sister and me. She took us to the library every 2 or 3 weeks when we were growing up so that we could pick out new books. This heritage has also made me a bit skeptical of people who don't read... Unfortunately though, my mind is like a sieve... I read books and forget them. Titles, authors, plot, characters. Everything. I'm not entirely sure why that is. Maybe I read too fast? Christine's mom said that she couldn't believe how quickly I got through some books the summer I lived with her parents on Long Island. But really, I think that it is just that my reading comprehension has never been superb (thinking back to the SAT - yikes... thank god for the math section). Maybe it is because I read for fun - not necessarily as an educational tool, so I'm just reading to read, not to retain some larger piece of knowledge. Of course though, that would always nice to have. But I am so envious of people who read and retain... they spout off this book and that book and it isn't until they are pretty well into the story line that I think, hmm... this is pretty familiar. Wonder why? Oh because I READ IT LAST WEEK!

7 WTC

2007-03-20T21:50:00.000-04:00

I was just at an interesting lecture on Congestion Charging sponsored by the NY Academy of Science at 7 World Trade Center, the first building to be rebuilt since 9/11. Really beautiful architecture - spacious, light, and sparse decoration, but warm and inviting all the same. The most interesting part though was the elevators. They are still banked in 10-12 floor increments,
but they have a keypad where you type in your floor number, it then tells you which elevator to take and it groups everyone else who is waiting for an elevator to that floor on the same elevator. I.e. the elevator does not stop on multiple floors - you get direct elevator access to your floor. Although one problem - if you hop in the wrong one, you are kind of screwed, since there are no buttons in the elevator (other than open, close, emergency). Really cool - wish our building had one.

Quitting Crap Jobs!

2007-03-13T22:37:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Deena and Kiwa for taking the plunge, escaping from nightmare bosses, and handing in your resignation. Isn't it such a relief?!

My Biggest Fear has Come True

2007-03-04T20:11:00.000-05:00

OK, maybe not my BIGGEST fear, but definitely a fear.... I am officially trapped in the United States of America. I have no passport. I have no way out. I cannot leave. Hell, I cannot even travel to Canada or the Bahamas right now. I am seriously without the ability to travel abroad. So this is what drug withdrawal feels like.

I sent my passport in to be renewed - it expires in September and usually needs to be valid for at least 6 months in the future. Makes me sad though... now I'm going to check in and people are going to think that I'm a newbie traveler (gasp!). All that time with my butt squashed in an economy seat, days and days of jet lag, all that effort to get stamps and visas, and now, it'll be a crisp, new, unstamped, virgin passport. (With potentially the worst picture of me of all time.)

I did just book a ticket to Berlin though - Memorial Day weekend. So at least I do have a ticket out of the country. Just lacking that other important documentation.

German Boy in New York

2007-02-27T23:14:00.000-05:00

This past weekend my friend Sascha, a guy I met in Laos and Cambodia who lives in Berlin, came to New York to visit. It was a terrific weekend... he'd never been to the US, let alone NY, so there was tons of tourism, as well as me constantly badgering him as to his impressions of NY. He is certainly not the first person I know to never have set foot in the US (gasp!), but he's the first friend I've been lucky enough to show around. I have to say though, when your first introduction to America is a shitty air terminal at JFK, followed by a 45 minute ride on the A-train, it really doesn't bode well for good overall impressions of the city. Doesn't help that I was 30 minutes late getting to JFK either. (Although, had his plane not been 30 minutes early, I would have actually been on time and could have provided the proper greeting.)

We did tons of touristy things and walked and walked and talked and talked. Or at least I talked... as usual. I introduced him to upscale Brooklyn living by showing him Brooklyn Heights and the Promenade and since it was night, we got to peer into the amazing apartments on the river and he got an introduction to apartment envy. He badly wanted to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, but as you can see from this picture, the weather, while sunny, was not exactly conducive for a 30 minute stroll across open water while exposed to high winds. It was DAMN cold everywhere.

We ate well (Blue Ribbon Sushi, The Chocolate Room, Cafe Linda, Watana... doing our part for Brooklyn!) We went to the top of the Empire State Building , strolled Fifth Avenue , meandered through Central Park, got some culture at the MoMA, took in the lights of Times Square , saw the World Trade Center site, wished for some luck at the Stock Exchange , and marveled at the Macy's at Herald Square .

Makes me wonder what there is left to do when he comes again in April. Hmm... maybe the Brooklyn Bridge.

The Memories

2007-02-27T22:31:00.000-05:00

Ah, the memories of a snowstorm in Ithaca. Note the opening info... 14 years ago was my freshman year. Campus closed and I was stuck working 18 hours at the Statler serving all the guests who were snowed in. Not a great weekend for tips. And all my friends were out having fun playing in the snow.

Traying down Libe Slope

Me Flabby

2007-02-26T23:20:00.000-05:00

Yikes - a friend was visiting this weekend and he took a picture of me from the side/back... YEOW! The result, 45 minutes of cardio today and all the weight training as recommended by my personal trainer. Will be going back again tomorrow. And the next day. God knows this body isn't getting any younger.

Fresh Direct Virgin

2007-02-15T21:04:00.000-05:00

I am no longer a Fresh Direct virgin... I made my first order minutes ago. Great concept - do your grocery shopping online and have it delivered. And you pick a short delivery window. They also give tons of recipes and then you can select to buy all (or whatever you don't have) the products. There's also a great selection of organic and local products too. While some of the products may be a little more expensive, I don't have to pay for a massage to straighten out my back from lugging all of the stuff home. A win-win.

Maybe New York isn't as big and impersonal as it seems

2007-02-14T20:44:00.000-05:00

That's a big maybe, but my mind is opening to the idea. On my way home from the gym tonight I had an encounter that doesn't happen very often in large impersonal cities. Luckily it was not a man exposing himself either - that happens far too frequently, I'm sure. It snowed and sleeted today, so the sidewalks were pretty messy - especially in front of construction sites or where people were just too damn lazy to get out a shovel. Anyway, on my way home from the gym, a older gentleman stood to the side and waited for me to pass and as I was walking by, he wished me a Happy Valentine's Day. How can you not smile at that?

That followed my small world occurrence in running into Nick who was boarding the same car on the same train at the same time. It shouldn't be that small world - he does live 4 stops from me and works a few blocks away. But, he normally bikes to work and works longer hours. Anyway, it made me feel a bit like maybe I do live here. Kind of like when I ran into Sarah at Tokyu Foodshow early in my tenure in Tokyo. It just made me feel like maybe I do know people here.

Motherland Afghanistan

2007-02-06T23:24:00.000-05:00

In a bit of culture for the week, I went to a viewing of a new documentary called Motherland Afghanistan at the Asia Society.

Here's a preview with sound. While this preview is pretty negative towards the US' role in Afghanistan (from a financial perspective), it is not the main theme or even a common topic. It is the story of the filmmaker's father returning to Afghanistan in 2002 and again in 2004 to both work as an OB/GYN and teach Afghani doctors how to treat patients/perform surgeries. Really well done and tells both the smaller story of his return after 30 years away, as well as the greater story of what is going on in Afghanistan and what the issues are, especially for women.

It is being shown on PBS this Tuesday, 2/13 at 10, although please check your local listings.

Dentists

2007-02-06T23:17:00.000-05:00

I hate going to them. Sorry, Mer, but I just hate going. That awful thing they used to scrap the plaque off that sounds like a thousand nails on the chalkboard. Even when they use their toothbrush - the sound just reverberates in your head. AWFUL. With all the technology out there, can't they find something to reduce the sound??? Adding injury to insult, they found a cavity today so for my Valentine's Day gift to myself, I'm having a filling. Fun and exciting times here.

Winter

2007-02-05T21:58:00.000-05:00

SUCKS. It is so unbelievably cold... and yes, I know I'm whining. Also, please feel free to point out that I survived 4 years in Ithaca, 2.5 years in Boston, and it isn't like I grew up on a tropical island. But damn, it just won't end and my office is like a meat locker too. Even the men I work with have commented about how cold it is in the office. If they are cold, that 110% insures that I am freezing my a*s off. I've actually gone to the kitchen sink, turned on the hot water and held my hands under for a few minutes to thaw them. The Hong Kong office is looking better and better...

Neighborhood Cheerleader

2007-02-04T09:34:00.001-05:00

The local Allentown newspaper asked for people to write in about their neighborhoods (in a good way) and one former neighbor wrote in about my mother. How terrific! My mom has always been a baker - can't remember ever having store bought cookies, other than an occasional Oreo, and she always spread the wealth around the neighborhood. (While also ensuring that she baked us a batch of cookies so my father, sister, and I didn't pilfer the gift.) What a terrific mom and damn good neighbor (even when I give her a lot of crap about baking 47 different kinds of Christmas cookies). Well done Mom!

Letter to the Editor:
My family moved to Allentown 30 years ago. We were welcomed into our new neighborhood in Meadowbrook by many of our neighbors. One special neighbor, Louise Davis, became our family ''cheerleader'' of sorts. She would stop by with home-baked cookies at every special time in our lives: births, school success, game wins and Christmas (when she always made our favorite buckeyes).

She was also the first to call or stop by during periods of illness or death in the family. One favorite memory is that very early in the morning on the birthday of anyone in our home, Louise would drop off a birthday card and a plate of her delicious cookies.

Now, many years and a move later, when the subject of birthdays comes up, our children recall with great fondness how Louise always made so many days even more special for all of us. More than anything, she showed us all that she cared.

Patricia Mullin

Center Valley

Welcome Naia Rose

2007-02-01T22:46:00.000-05:00

Kelly and Jason, two of the most fantastic people I've ever met (and I'm not just saying that because they invited me to stay with them in Colombo for weeks and weeks), are the proud parents of Naia Rose. She was born Monday, but I'm a bit delinquent in posting. Super cute, although given the her parents' gene pool, that is not a bit surprising. I also have no doubt that she will be saving the world as soon as she learns to walk and talk, just like Mom and Dad.

Worst Memory Ever

2007-01-29T19:17:00.000-05:00

Yet again, proven that the world is super small. Today I walked into a meeting with some city officials and a few other firms we are partnering with on the East River Waterfront Redevelopment. I scanned the room not thinking I would see anyone I know and there was a girl (woman - she's my age!) who knew me and knew that I had been "somewhere in Asia." For the love of God, I couldn't place her. I mean, I figured I HAD to have known here since grad school - she works for the City Department of Transport and no one I know from pre-MIT does this kind of work. Um, no, she would be the one person from pre-MIT that does this kind of work. =) Problem solved - we went to college together, although she was a year after me. Crazy how small the world is... Second time in 2 months that this has happened! Do I just know too many people (that's what I'm hoping) or do I have early onset of some debilitating brain disease. (Hope not, no healthcare yet.)

Birth Giving Machines

2007-01-29T19:02:00.000-05:00

You have to love the politicians in Japan. The Health Minister, in a speech to local politicians, referred to women as "birth giving machines." Here's the article from BBC. The overall theme of the speech was to call on women to do their best to have children to stop the population slide in Japan. Hmmm... obviously the woman's fault. Yep, the entirety of Japan's future rests on 50% of the population. No pressure or anything. Feel no guilt for the slow decline into oblivion. Obviously can't possibly be something that men could do anything about, right? Like maybe participating in child-rearing, showing up at home sober before the last train every night? Like maybe participating on the weekends as opposed to going, yet again, to work another 12-14 hour day? What about the government - provide or incentivize private day care? How about companies changing their attitudes towards married women in that maybe she can work (although not 14 hours a day) and be a mother at the same time, as opposed to the current 50s mindset of married = resignation. But yes, Japan's decline is obviously due to women. The Health Minister should really adjust to the times... it is 2007, not 1957.

Transit Museum

2007-01-27T16:29:00.000-05:00

Cordy and I went to the NYC Transit Museum, which was FABULOUS! I seriously can't say enough good things about it and even you non-transit buffs (or foamers in transit-speak) would find it interesting and enjoyable. Definitely a kid friendly place too. It is housed in the old Court Street station in Brooklyn, so the main exhibits are on the mezzanine and then old rail cars are on the platform tracks below. They had some interesting exhibits - documenting the reconstruction of the subway tunnels under the WTC after 9/11 (worked 24/7 and it still took 9 months to get the 1/9 running through there again... the PATH, a whole other story) and Robert Moses and the building of the Triborough Bridge. And of course, they have the Transit Store transit store - where you can buy every sort of NYCT thing you could ever want. I'm proud to say that I resisted buying much. But I now have some great ideas for Christmas gifts for next year.

Working World Is Looking Up

2007-01-27T16:25:00.000-05:00

Happy to say that I am feeling much better about work these days. (Except for the fact that I have to be working at all!) Had a conversation with my boss and he was clear about what he is trying to do in the office - policy, planning - and that that is why he hired me. Phew - was seriously pretty worried... couldn't imagine that he actually thought I should be modeling or really developing physical structures.

I'm also loving being back in corporate America. Free bagels/muffins on Fridays, should be getting an Arup mug with my name on it any day now, discounts at gyms and with T-Mobile. Had 2 free lunches this week too. Terrific! And it is also fun to be in a more relaxed environment. Not that the company I was working for was hardcore by Japanese standards, but in comparison to the US? Very. It is just nice to run out for a coffee without getting eyeballed and having to explain why I should actually decide to leave the office for 10 minutes.

The Start of a New Job

2007-01-23T22:10:00.000-05:00

Kind of reminds me of college... I loved looking through the course catalogue and imagining how awesome the classes would be and then bam, within a week, I was already thinking, hmmm... should have taken another one. It isn't that bad since luckily the people seem pretty cool. Unfortunately though, I'm a little iffy on the projects. Traffic studies, parking projects, modeling... this is not what I do, not what I signed up for, nor what was discussed during the interviews. Actually this is why I didn't pursue the NYC office, since that is the vast vast majority of their work. I am ever hopeful though, as my boss has transferred out here permanently (for 1-2 years) and he's a transit planner. Here's hoping that the project pipeline changes a bit - there is the possibility of some work in Boston and DC as well, which would be great. Not much travel, but potentially more up my alley.

Still haven't quite mastered the commute time either. I keep thinking like Tokyo - my commute should always be X minutes since the trains are always on time. Not so in New York unfortunately. Yesterday was 35-40 minutes (so much so that I was actually a little bit late on my first day!) and today was 25... and even with my Starbucks stop, I was 5-10 minutes early.

Last Night of Unemployment

2007-01-21T22:45:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow I reenter the working world. =( And I just realized that I don't actually have an alarm clock. My mobile will have to suffice. Perhaps I should have used my Amazon gift certificates for that instead of a subscription to Vanity Fair and Cooking Light, and 2 books re: New York and Brooklyn. Really though, I don't oversleep. Somehow I lucked out with that gene. Also had to iron... man why didn't I take my shirts to the dry cleaner last week? Definitely high high HIGH on my to do list for this week.

I capped off a great 3+ months of unemployment with dinner with Nick, a friend from college (who I don't remember meeting until Chetna and Arvy's wedding in Delhi in 2000, although others tell us we met earlier). We scouted 7th Avenue and picked Nono, a cute New Orleans cooking place in the 'hood. We haven't t seen each other in a long time - reunion in June was the last I think. And I'm happy to say he hasn't said "I told you so" re: my move to New York. Now that we're both living in Brooklyn, we'll have to get together more often - and convince our friends that they should come to us, instead of us going to them. Manhattan - so last year.

(**Picture is from Las Vegas 2001)

Vietnam Pictures on Snapfish

2007-01-20T19:52:00.000-05:00

All three countries are done... wasn't as painful as I expected.

Link to Vietnam Photos

Hummous

2007-01-16T14:27:00.000-05:00

YEOW! I just had a bit of hummous for lunch (with other stuff) - THIS is what I missed in Tokyo. So so good. Went for my first grocery shopping experience in the US. A bit overwhelming to say the least. So much stuff to choose from, organics, regular stuff, low fat, fat free, totally 100% fat, god - how does one do this every week?

Rome

2007-01-16T10:29:00.000-05:00

I just returned from a lovely lovely long weekend in Rome. I'm so excited to be living on the East Coast - now I can do this more often. (That said, if I lived in London, I'd be able to do it a lot more often.) I'd never been to Rome (or Italy for that matter) and it definitely lived up to its billing. Fabulous sites, amazing food, and completely drinkable wine. =) There was a lot of walking - but in Rome, somewhat like Tokyo, it is fun. Tiny streets that curve this way and that, with piazzas around the corner. Great streetscapes, interesting architecture, cute little Smart cars everywhere and most everything there is to see is totally walkable. The weather was pretty good too - a bit cloudy/overcast 2 days, with the other 2 bright and sunny. And it wasn't cold - well, I'm always cold, but really, it wasn't cold at all.

I saw the Trevi Fountain , Parthenon Spanish Steps , St. Peter's Square , Vatican Musuems (including the Sistine Chapel), climbed to the top of St. Peter's Basilica , the inside of St. Peter's , the Colosseum , the Forum , Galleria Borghese (highly recommend, but get the audio guide), Villa Borghese, and a whole bunch of other stuff that I can't quite remember. Really just fabulous and I'm so glad that I went.

Living in New York

2007-01-10T14:35:00.000-05:00

Moved in yesterday! Kind of crazy... spent 10 years fighting a move to New York and I've finally given in. Really liking Park Slope - I wandered around the neighborhood yesterday, checking out cafes, book stores, gyms. All quite nice. And the best part - woke up this morning and went for a 30 minute run in Prospect Park. Beautiful!

Also visited with two of my college roommates and their offspring. And I thought having twins would be a good idea... think again.

Start Date Postponed - Oh darn!

2007-01-03T23:14:00.000-05:00

Just got an email from the guy I'm going to be working for asking me if I would mind postponing my start date by 2 days. Yeah, really, I mind. Are you kidding me!? An extra bonus 2 days of unemployment. YAY!

The Einstein of Dogdom

2007-01-03T22:27:00.000-05:00

My father has determined that Cagney, our adopted chihuahua (who was willed to my parents by the lady across the street), is the most intelligent of our menagerie. At night, when Cagney wants a lap to sleep on (usually my father's) and both the couch is occuppied by a person and the other chair is occuppied by Hoover, he acts as if he wants to play, thereby enticing Hoover off her chair (since Hoover ALWAYS wants to play), and then he hops up on the chair, using it as a springboard to my father's chair. Quite bright for a dog.

New Year's Eve - Why Do We Bother?

2007-01-01T11:36:00.000-05:00

Kim and I have come to the conclusion that we are over New Year's as a celebration... or at least as a night to go to the bars. She even said it last night, while we were having a fabulous, yummy, delectable dinner at Morton's - "This is the highlight of the night." And tragically, she was right! We went to RiRa, an Irish pub in Arlington, which was mobbed as we knew it would be. But for some reason, we went anyway. It always happens - New Year's Eve arrives and no one really wants to do anything major and really would rather stay home, but yet you, especially as a single "you", feel like you can't possibly stay home. You should be out. You should be mingling, socializing... doing something other than sitting on your butt, which again, is what you'd rather be doing. Although we did look super cute, if I do say so myself.

Laos Pictures on Snapfish

2007-01-01T11:26:00.000-05:00

2 countries down and 1 more to go!

Link to Laos Photos

I won't be homeless!

2006-12-31T20:06:00.002-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year to me! I won't be homeless in New York!! No need to scrub off of friends (again) or live in a cardboard box in Central Park... I have a home, a bed, a real KITCHEN! (And a bathroom with a fabulous rainshower shower head.) I'll be sharing with another girl - a, on first meeting, cool Australian girl. I feel like I should have my own place - I'm 32 after all. But, since I don't know Brooklyn that well (or Manhattan for that matter) - just what my friends tell me - and I'd rather save as much as possible in the hopes that one day, soon, I'll be able to buy a place - I decided to sublet for a while.

Here was the posting on Craig's List (living room picture above)

A sun-drenched room on the Park - steps away from the F train, the movie theater, shopping and grocery stores. Amazing Neighborhood! Apartment is shared with a laidback, mid-20's Australian, urban professional woman. In your large room are 2 windows facing the privacy of the back of building, view of trees and foilage. The room has a huge sliding door closet and ample storage space above. Full size bed provided if needed. The apartment is pre-war, in great condition maintained by owner. Hardwood floors and high ceilings throughout, comfortably furnished. Eat in Kitchen, large living room with TV, et al. Wireless available. Also brand new laundry in basement and bike rack. Apartment is on the first floor. Park is just across the street with the entrance to the F train right there at 15th street. Wonderful building and neighbors. Looking for a female professional with references. Can be a student, sorry no pets. Responsible, tidy and respectful of noise and roomate 9-5 work hours. Must be small cat friendly and a non-smoker.

Here's a map for Ali's New Home

A Bickerson Family Christmas

2006-12-29T11:58:00.000-05:00

Kris, my brother-in-law, has renamed the Davis family... we are now the Bickersons. I believe that I played a large role in that renaming, since the family (minus yours truly) was in Maine last year and did not receive the new naming. The Bickersons continued the fun on the 10 hour odyssey back to Pennsylvania... we saw snow , found a Starbucks, sat in traffic , and got to listen to Father Bickerson complain (again and again) about the automated arm on the EZ-Pass Lane entering Pennsylvania on I-78. The fun was overwhelming.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T11:54:00.000-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

I'd forgotten the fun of celebrating Christmas with a child... probably because, until JT came around, I was the youngest kid in the family. A lot of fun! My father got him an Elmo hand puppet - quality entertainment for the whole family. JT is excited by the drum (made by street children at Blue Dragon Children's Foundation in Vietnam), although he is MUCH LESS enthusiastic about the Vietnamese conical hat.

My father also purchased a bunch of political T-shirts for the family - tragcially wrongly indoctrinating JT early ("Liberals Take the Short Bus"), although I have been trying to provide him with a proper education by reading him the Sunday NY Times Week in Review. I have a feeling it is a lost cause in this family.

Cooking is underway - and I'm just sitting around emailing, searching for an apartment, and writing this. My father is cooking - a rarity in my 30 years, although it has been increasing in frequency in the past few years. It is a scary sight and still worth documenting...

Cambodian Pictures on Snapfish

2006-12-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

Finally - 1 country down and 2 more to go.

Cambodian Pictures Link

JT's First Christmas

2006-12-24T09:11:00.000-05:00

Technically his second... but (1) he was 2 months old and (2) his favorite and most awesome aunt (hint: me) wasn't there. His presents have been amassing - complete with his conical hat from Vietnam. We put it on him yesterday, but like all hats, he's less than enthusiastic about it. Perhaps it'll be useful when he goes to kindergarten and needs a show and tell item.

Trek to Maine

2006-12-24T08:58:00.000-05:00

My parents and I made it to Maine yesterday without any homicides. I was a little worried that we would make Section A of the local paper - "Holiday tragedy: Daugher takes revenge on parents." Actually, the 6 state journey wasn't so bad... although I do think the 16 hours from BKK - JFK last week went a little more quickly, but then again I did take sleeping pills. The highlight of the trip (other than standing in a long long long line at a Starbucks on the Thruway) was a stop at the New Hampshire Liquor Store. You have to love a state that has exits on all major interstates right across the Massachusetts state line dedicated to a liquor store. AND, they have liquor stores on each side of the interstate, so no need to even cross over. What a store it is... An overwhelming selection - wine, wine, wine, and hard alcohol. No beer though. We didn't have much room in the car, so we only bought what would be consumed at Christmas. We'll be stopping again on the return journey. Merry Christmas to me!

And my next home will be...

2006-12-22T14:14:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK! (in case the Statue of Liberty didn't clear it up for you.)

After days of deliberation and angst, I decided to accept an offer from Arup. It came down to an offer from Steer Davies Gleave in London, Arup in New York (which, for those paying attention to earlier posts, was the firm I interviewed with in San Francisco), and Booz Allen Hamilton in DC and it was a TOUGH decision - terrific firms, excellent opportunities, smart and interesting colleagues, and vibrant cities to live in (some of you may disagree on the vibrance of DC but I do love it!). I decided to choose Arup because I felt that if I didn't get some US experience soon (i.e. transport and planning knowledge and US contacts) I might not be very marketable to US firms and transit agencies in the future.

I'll be working as a Senior Transport Planner and most of the projects are in the city (as opposed to the 'burbs or somewhere requiring a flight), which means that I get to (try to) affect the urban landscape of New York - how cool is that!? The other bonus is that Arup is a British firm with its headquarters in London, so in a year or two, I can transfer there and live the good life in London or I can transfer to San Francisco or even the promised land - Sydney.

Merry Christmas to me!

New York

2006-12-20T17:34:00.000-05:00

Spent some time in New York over the weekend, visiting new babies... they are everywhere. I first hit Chetna and Aravind's to meet Ayana (6 days old) and because they had my warm weather clothes. Then I headed uptown to meet Sabine (9 days old). I also got to accompany Martin, Daniella, and Sabine on their first foray as a family into the great outdoors.
Also, I caught up with Maria (fresh in from Tokyo) late Saturday afternoon for a bit of non-baby conversation. One would think, for a single woman, that would be refreshing. But seeing as how we'd both had exceptionally long days (mine included a flight from BKK, her's from NRT), we were babbling by 6 and asleep by 9.

Welcome Ayana!

2006-12-18T11:22:00.000-05:00

Babies, babies everywhere - especially from those who resided at 105 N. Quarry from September 1995 - May 1996! Congratulations Chetna, Aravind, and big sister Maya on the birth of Ayana on 12/10. I'm a bit delayed, but only because certain family members and friends neglected to send the email announcement. You know who you are!

I am not so bright

2006-12-18T10:41:00.000-05:00

Instead of taking away my father's Internet access, I decided that I'd go to the local Starbucks (finally got one in the Lehigh Valley) and use wireless. Great idea, since my relatively new laptop has wireless access... at least it says it does, although I've never gotten it to work. So, I tried a few things, but really, what the hell do I know? So, I called Toshiba for assistance. Which cost me $35. All to be told that there is a switch on the front left corner of my laptop that turns on wireless capabilities. (A) Why would there be a switch? Every other computer just works. (B) $35 for that? (C) I am an idiot. But, since I am posting this from Starbucks, I am proud to say that I am an idiot with a working wi-fi connection. OK, back to research to make a job decision. JUST MAKE A DECISION FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

Small World

2006-12-13T19:35:00.000-05:00

While in Saigon I realized what a small small world it really is... Sara and I were out wandering around (I was looking fruitlessly for some lacquerware that I saw in Hanoi) Friday afternoon and we needed a banana shake to revitalize us. A friend had recommended having drinks at the Rex Hotel, so up we went to the top floor, which had an outside area overlooking the surrounding streets. As I stepped off the elevator, I heard a woman calling my name, fairly surprised. Turns out it was a girl I went to college with - she was on her honeymoon doing a cruise that started in northeastern Asia (maybe Seoul, can't remember) and ends in Singapore. I have no idea how she actually remembered my name - I couldn't remember hers for the life of me.

Taro Card Reading

2006-12-13T19:34:00.000-05:00

I've always wanted to have a taro card reading (or a palm reading by someone who was reputable - is that possible?), so while I was in Singapore, my friend recommended a taro card reader. She was FABULOUS! According to her:

(1) 2006 was a rough year and not one that I should have made any major decisions. (Oops - didn't get that memo.)
(2) 2007 is a much better year with new things evolving
(3) Based on my numbers, I'm ambitious, creative, bubbly, spontaneous (no!), jovial, sense of humor, am hot tempered, must focus on tasks as I tend to think too much and too fast and get sidetracked, manage time, money, and health well, can nag easily, am domineering (who, me?).
(4) London is a good opportunity, but after about 2-3 years, you'll start to wonder what you are doing there and will look for other things to do
(5) New York is a better opportunity where you'll meet new influential people and gain great knowledge.

She said more, but I can't remember. Nothing bad - that's what I'm paying her for!

Singapore - Re-entry into Civilization

2006-12-11T19:28:00.002-05:00

Ah Singapore, the beacon of civilization and order in SE Asia. It is just so refreshing to arrive in Singapore after any amount of time in developing countries - everything is pristine, clean, orderly... just night and day from Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Indonesia.

First things first, I stayed with Vonita. Yet another friend who was willing to come to the airport to greet me. She has a lovely lovely apartment in Robertson Quay - a nice posh area a short cab ride from the center of things. Lovely in that it was clean, I had my own room and bathroom (and the shower had a door - oh my!), flat screen TV (with The West Wing Season 6), wi-fi, a stunning pool, and cafes, wine bars, restaurants, and spas within close proximity. Reading that does make me wonder why I left. It was great to actually spend time with Vini, since she left Tokyo a year ago and my recent trips to Singapore have been brief dinners as I was there on a layover.

Of course, since it is Singapore, there was shopping to be done. You'd think that after all that time in Hoi An, I'd be shopped out. But no, tons of cute work or weekend wear in creative Asian styles that actually fit people like me. And they are relatively inexpensive. A win all the way around. There was also a lot of pampering to be done - some highlights to cover up my grays, a facial to remove all of the dirt and stuff from 5 weeks of backpacking, and a pedicure - can't resist one of those. Ever.

Mainly though, I just hung out at Vonita's while she was working... it was a done deal once I saw that she had Season 6 of The West Wing. Saw all but the last episode.

Janet and Gary also made time to have dinner with us at this great Belgian place on the river - mussels and unlimited chips. Terrific to catch up with them, especially since they are moving to Shanghai in early 2007. BTW, Gary, welcome to the world of unemployment! Isn't it great to hand in that resignation letter?

Shopping in Hoi An - What you need to know before going

2006-12-10T20:27:00.000-05:00

Josh and Adeena, take note... time spent in Hoi An needs proper planning. The town is a World Heritage Site, which ensures that the buildings and town layout are well-preserved. Also means that it hasn't been overrun with vehicles and large hotels, making it a great place to relax and hang out. Hence why it is a big stop on the backpacker circuit. Most importantly though, for a reason that I can't fathom, Hoi An has a huge HUGE concentration of tailors who will make pretty much any piece of clothing, in any design, in any fabric, to fit you. And it is CHEAP. And most of it is good quality. Sounds like an ideal destination to me.

It can get crazy and overwhelming though, so before you go, here's a check list to ensure that you maximize your purchases (otherwise known as contributing to the Vietnamese economy - makes you feel a lot better when you put it that way!), but minimize your time spent at the tailor. There is a great beach 4 km away (I heard, Typhoon Durian cancelled that trip), as well as other day trips from the town (I heard, Typhoon Durian cancelled all day trips). Which resulted in more time spent tailoring. I definitely did my part for the Vietnamese economy

(1) What clothes do you want made? Suits? Shirts? Pants? Dresses? Going out clothes? Coats? Jeans? Shoes? (Pretty much anything you want.) My personal opinion was that simpler is better - these tailors aren't exactly gunning to be the next Armani - but one girl on the tour had some pretty impressive evening dresses made, so maybe it is worth a shot. Consider pockets, waist height, seriously, everything.
(2) Start early: Review magazines, catalogues, and your closet. Cut out (or photograph) anything you think you might want made. You can contemplate any season too, since they have every fabric out there - cotton, silk, wool, cashmere, denim, etc.
(3) Set a limit - whether it is monetary or airline imposed luggage weight, you've got to have some kind of limit. Otherwise, it could get ugly. If all else fails and you buy too much, you can buy additional luggage very cheaply. I did.
(4) Once in Hoi An, survey a few tailors (seriously, just pick a street or two) for their fabric selection and tailoring skills. Most have items that they've made hanging all over the store. Show them your pictures, or look through their catalogues to see what they can do. Most importantly, don't feel pressured to get measured straight away.
(5) Bargain - if you buy multiple things, you might get a discount (although the Vietnamese were not very generous on discounts)
(6) Make sure you schedule at least one fitting. Pretty much everything I had made needed some sort of alteration, although it was nothing major. Then when you see the quality of the products, you can put your orders in for additional clothes. Heaven!

Good tailors:
Yaly, 47 Nguyen Thai Hoc - huge huge place with 200 tailors on the premises. Even had a J-Crew catalogue
Thinh Tanh, 53 Le Loi Street - great quality over a range of items made
Lana 94 Le Loi Street

Shoes:
Thu Tam, 70 Tran Phu Street
53A Le Loi Street (Sister of the owners of Thinh Tanh)

Welcome Sabine!

2006-12-10T12:05:00.001-05:00

Congratulations Daniella and Martin on the birth of Sabine on 12/7. Can't wait to meet her and see you on Saturday.

Good Morning Vietnam

2006-11-29T04:07:00.000-05:00

Not even sure when my last post was, but I've moved on from Laos to Vietnam. Talk about culture shock. Which is strange since I've been in this part of the world for 3 weeks and I've been working in developing countries for years. I flew from Luang Prabang to Hanoi on Saturday night... and the drive from the airport was eye opening. So crowded, so much neon, and so much traffic. After LP it was like night and day! Didn't see any accidents, but more than a few near misses. Decided not to go high end (Hanoi Hilton - the real one, not the prison) and just checked in to the hotel where I was meeting the next Intrepid tour (the hotel is nothing to write home about, so no need to give the address for future Hanoi visitors). Did a bit of wandering on Sunday through the Old Quarter... I don't think they could pack in any more buildings, although I'm sure they try. Met up with Tour Group #2 on Sunday night - 2 couples and a set of friends from uni... many many Aussies... and many who are still referring to uni in the present tense. But, a good cool bunch of people, so no worries here.

Monday we went to the Blue Dragon, a Australian charity/orphange that helps street kids, for breakfast. So impressed by the people who start these types of things - so selfless to give up the comforts of Australia (or the US or UK) for the chaos and poverty of Hanoi (or Phonm Penh). After breakfast we went to Halong Bay for an overnight boat cruise - beautiful limestone islands jutting out of the water - sort of like what is near Ko Phi Phi in Thailand, if that helps. The boat was pretty comfortable and all for us - food was terrific seafood buffets for lunch and dinner. Can definitely get used to that!!

Tuesday we drove back to Hanoi and had the afternoon free. Robin, from Havertown of all places!, and I went to the Hao Lo Prison (the other Hanoi Hilton) for a bit of a tour... interesting the propaganda about how well the Americans were treated during the Vietnam war... they received mail from their families, could play sports while incarcerated... at least that what the pictures showed... but a bit doubtful on all those tidbits of info. We also got a bit of culture at the water puppets show, which was actually pretty cool, although no doubt if it had lasted more than an hour, I would have had to bail.

Wednesday we saw Uncle Ho - dead as he has been since 1969. Was a pretty impressive monument/masoleum (sp?) though, although totally against his wishes supposedly. A few of us also went to the Military Museum - saw some of the USAF planes that were shot down, which was slightly disturbing.

Other than that, been doing a lot of window shopping and thinking about what clothes I want made in Hoi An. Can't wait!! Also been braving death by crossing the streets and taking a motorcycle as a taxi. Always a hair raisng experience, but at least with crossing the street, the motorcycles just seem to move around you like water - just keep moving a slow and steady pace and you should be ok. I hope!

Thanksgiving in Luang Prabang

2006-11-20T20:59:00.000-05:00

It is that time of year and I'm totally psyched that even though I'm not in the US (or in Tokyo), I'll still be able to celebrate (and eat) Thanksgiving. With friends too! It definitely doesn't feel like Thanksgiving - I'm in shorts and a tank top and am about to go swimming at some waterfalls outside of LP, but fear not, I have hunted down a proper dinner for Thursday! Sascha and Andre are here until Saturday too (they are then off to Krabie, Thailand for a week - got to love the German approach to a vacation), so they've agreed to come with for turkey, stuffing, and all the extras. I didn't have to beg and plead too much - just promised much stimulating conversation and the ability to deflect Sascha's zingers. Here's hoping it is better than the Colombo Hilton last year. (They only had turkey + Indian curries and whatnot. A random random assortment of turkey day festivities. Disappointing!) Both are hoping to see a tofurkey... but we're dining at a very upscale French restaurant, so he shouldn't hold his breath.

(Left: L'Elephant Brasserie; Middle: Sascha enjoying his first Thanksgiving turkey and assorted fixings; Right: Dessert, including pumpkin!)

Vang Vieng

2006-11-20T20:54:00.000-05:00

When I received the itinerary for the Intrepid trip there was definitely a long long list of places I'd never heard of. On top of that, we were spending what I thought was a short time in places like Ventiane (capital of Laos) and hitting places like Vang Vieng - where the hell is that?! Quickly learned where it was - 3 hours north of Ventiane and about 6 hours south of Luang Prabang. And, best part - it turned out to be AMAZING!!! It is obviously a stop over for those traveling between V and LP, but it is a place that most people end up staying longer, if they can. The whole purpose is tubing (or kayaking) down the river. Along the river are bars and other things like swings and trapeze that you can play on. Other areas are just bamboo platforms over the water where you can sit, with a cold Beer Lao of course ($1 for 640 ml!), and chill for a bit. Ange and I spent some QT at the first trapeze place - even corralled the boys (Andre, Sascha, and Francisco) who were kayaking for a bit of fun. We did intelligently forego the swing thing - way way too high and we decided that if we stopped, we'd feel that we'd need to participate (no doubt the boys would peer pressure us into it!). Met a bunch of other travelers along the way and received pointers for LP and points beyond. Was a bit exhausted - as tubing for a few hours can be (I'm actually being serious here!) - so Francisco and Sascha towed me in for the last bit (after completely drenching defenseless little me with their oars). Quite quite QUITE fun! Highly recommend adding VV to any itinerary.

Transport Dream Come True

2006-11-17T05:15:00.000-05:00

Tuesday was a BIG transport day. We started with a minibus ride to Sung Treng (b-a-d road, but they appear to be working on it). In ST, we boarded 3 few "fast boats" to travel up the Mekong. Those babies were FAST and LOUD! A few of the tour group were a bit worried, but no worries here. That portion lasted an hour - in the open water with the sun beating down. Not a pretty sight. At the end, we practiced our balancing capacity while schlepping our bags across wood planks and up some rather rickety steps. (I was successful, but just barely. Sacha earned himself a few beers by carrying his stuff and Angela's - an impressive feat. Esther's luggage was far too heavy for any of us to handle, so out came a few dollars and the problem was resolved.) Only here did we actually get the exit stamp for Cambodia. Which would then make you believe that the entry stamp for Laos would be right next door. No - that would require a 1.2 km hike (luggage on our backs, except for the 3 slackers who paid for a car ride) to the Laotian border crossing. On that end, we were picked up by 2 minivans for the trip to the ferry crossing to Don Khong Island (in the 4,000 Islands). All that travel was EXHAUSTING, but quite fun to see and experience the many modes. see, this is why you take a tour - never would have figured that stuff out on my own!

Motorcycling to see the Dolphins

2006-11-17T05:06:00.000-05:00

On Monday we were in Kratie (Cambodia) for the day/night. Small town, but it is the place to go and see the Irawaddy Dolphins - fresh water dolphins that look a little more porpoise-like than dolphin-like. The fun part was the trip to/from the docks - each of us on the back of a motorcycle (moto) seeing what rural Cambodian life/housing is like (see below). We made sure that Aartie, our fearless doctor, had a helmet - it seemed like her brain should have more support than the rest of ours. My first time on a motorcycle and I can see why people love them, although there is no fear that I'll be buying my own ever. The drivers were all very nice, although they commented on how "cold" it was, and none were too speedy. Got some great photos of Sascha and Angela on their bikes. The dolphins were plentiful as well and we got to watch the sun set on the Mekong. Fabulous low key day.

Phnom Penh

2006-11-17T04:50:00.000-05:00

We spent last weekend in Phnom Penh... (drove there from Siem Reap, stopping to climb the 810 steps of Phnom Suntuk, eat some spiders, and snack on some frogs - I passed on the latter two options). Interesting city, although not one to move up on your list of places to go. We did go to S-21 (the premier prison of the Khmer Rouge - disturbing doesn't quite describe it) and to one of the Killing Fields. People estimte that between 2-3 million died during that regime, stunning, which is why so much of Cambodia's population is under 20. Can't find my data, so will have to update later. That afternoon some of the group went out to a restaurant in buildings on stilts over the water - we all claimed a hammock and just hung out, drinking beers, and eating great local food... all for about $2 each. Gave me time to finish my Economist - although I already knew the outcome of the elections (YAY!) Another highlight of PP was eating at the Veiyotonle Restaurant, which apart from having excellent food, also is an NGO that gives all its profits to an orphanage started by the couple that owns the restaurant. There are 24 kids staying there and on Saturday and Monday nights at 8 pm, they perform various Cambodian dances in costume. So cute, you just want to adopt one!

B-List Celebrity - That's Me!

2006-11-17T04:33:00.000-05:00

Difficult to post anything lately - we've been in rural Cambodia and Laos, so Internet access has been sparse (and super slow)! Besides, would much rather be out and about enjoying things over here. =)

We've come to realize what it feels like to be a minor celebrity here. Earlier this week we took a few boat trips on the Mekong (in Cambodia and then to access Laos) and all along the way, people who were working on the slopes along the river stopped and waved to the strange looking people in the boats.

Wednesday, Sascha, Andre, Chris, Francisco, me, and Angela went on a 35K bike ride around Don Khong Island (before picture above) and throughout the entire trip kids would run (seriously - at full speed - one little kid even tripped and fell in his excitement) just see us ride by. In the beginning, we were very culturally aware -yelling out "sabadee" (Sp?), but after Chris bailed out sick, I had to get a new bike due to a flat, and the oppressive heat just beat us down, our cheeriness definitely faded a bit. It didn't help that we had no idea where we were and our only directions were to keep the water to the right (clearly made sense - we were on an island!) Still, glad we did it - in retrospect. But I'm not sure I'd recommend for future Don Khong visitors.