Someday, Maybe As Soon As Tomorrow

Cails!  Well that was quite an adventure.  I am so glad you made it back to Norwich!  Just think, without stuff like this we wouldn't have the blues and great stories and things to look back on someday, (maybe as soon as tomorrow), and laugh and even cry (good tears!)  We know you're having the time of your life and all that but wish we were closer than a blog entry away because we miss you terribly.  Do be daring but safe and can't wait to hear all about it face to face.  Remember in the meantime, Mama and Daddy love Cailin and Grady and Connor very very much. You've got a lot of good in you.  I'll tell you a secret, I love you very very much but don't tell anyone!

Longest Day of My Life, Part II

First, that last post was from Cailin, not Kelsey, just under her name by accident. Anyway. Midnight, Sunday morning (Saturday night). Kelsey has a 1:30am train from St. Pancras Station, where our bags still are, to Luton airport for her 6am flight. After dinner, we decided to stay downtown by Charing Cross and Piccadilly Circus to see more sights and go out dancing because we didn't have a place to sleep anyway. We had a wonderful time, but then realized we needed to be back at St. Pancras. But wait! The clocks have fallen back an hour! We borrow someone's phone to check GOOGLE, which says that the official fallback time is 1:00am. So we have plenty of time! Kels' train doesn't leave for another 2 hours! Dance until 1:00am.

1:00am: Depart club, find a bus that will take us back to St. Pancras.

2:20: arrive St. Pancras. In our heads it's 1:20. Bus took 1,000,000 times longer than we expected, short on time. Better run!

2:23 Train has departed, sorry ma'am. The official fallback time is 2:00. No other trains or buses to Luton airport until 9:00.

2:28 An official tells us that there is a bus to Victoria Station. Here Kelsey can get a bus to Luton Airport and probably make it in time. There is no way she can miss the flight, all other tickets are hundreds of dollars, which neither of us have. We absolutely can not afford another ticket. This is the one option. Go to collect bags and get on that bus to Victoria Station.

2:30 Baggage Claim is closed until morning. Are you kidding me? We have no idea what to do. Seems pretty hopeless.

2:40 Resist crying. Go get food. Yell at guys for catcalling ("Unless you have a solution to my huge crisis right now, I really don't want to talk to you."). Try to find cash machines so Kels can borrow money for a bus ticket. Find 8 different ones, 8 are out of order. We have 12 pounds between us.

3:15 Wait for bus to Victoria Station with Kels. I will ship Blanky and hair straightner, stuck in the suitcase which is locked up in St. Pancras. Wait for 35min at the wrong busstop. It is freezing, our coats are in our suitcases, and because it's Halloween we are surrounded by Zombies and Butchers and Corpse Brides and Pirates, all bleeding and white and undead and drunk and singing and throwing up everywhere. We're not in the mood for this holiday at all.

3:50 Find the right bus stop and find tickets. Give all my money to Kels, hope Victoria to Luton is less than 12 pounds.

4:10 The N73 bus finally arrives! Kels now has 1hr 50min to catch a flight at an airport over an hour away. Say goodbye to Kels, still resisting the urge to burst into tears.

4:30 Sitting alone at McDonald's. Only 1.5 hours until I can collect the bags and get a coat! Decide I need my little metal Royal Guard for company. I can't find him anywhere, I've lost him in our frantic search for coins to buy a bus pass. Cry for the first time tonight.

5:00 Get kicked out of McDonald's. It closes at 4:00. Suddenly I remeber the time change, it is actually 4:00am, which means Kels might make her train after all! But I have another 2hours to wait in the cold.

4:05 Find 24hr McDonald's. Ahab the guard befriends me, tries to buy me Big & Tasty, tells me I can stay with him if I like and gives me his email address. Kelsey, where are you?! This guy is creepy. Fake a phonecall to get away from him. He yells "email me!" as I leave McDonald's.

4:35 St. Pancras station. Read with "The Joker" from Batman sleeping next to me. I'm so cold my teeth are chattering and my hands are purple.

6:00 Finally! I can get the bags. Run to the Baggage Claim, my heart sinks. It doesn't open until 7:00 on Sundays. I want to throw up. Cry #2. Four French kids in wool hats, mittens, scarves and coats complain about how cold it is. I'm wearing a cotton shirt and leggings.

7:10 Baggage opens late. Finally get my bag and Kels' suitcase, which is broken. The handle snapped off so I can't pull it along. Rig up an invention for rolling it behind me. Put on my sweater and jacket. Get the Underground to Liverpool St. Station, my train leaves in 2 hours.

7:25 "Attention Passengers, due to track maintenence the train terminates at Moorgate. Please Depart here and catch another train." Lug suitcases up 3 flights of stairs, over a platform, down another 3 flights, board the train to Liverpool St.

7:45 Arrive at Station! Go to collect pre-booked tickets from the ticket machine. Debit card not readable. Denied. Must find ticket window.

7:55 Ticket man is rude to me. I finally lose it and sob and sob and sob. I want Mama and Daddy. I look like a disaster and have been awake for 24 hours now. I've been waiting to get home for 6hours. Think about my Royal Guard and bawl even louder.

8:15 Pull myself together. Go to the bathroom (30 pence, please). Use lots and lots of cover-up, mascara and blush to bring me back to life. Use last 1.89 in change to buy a Triple Chocolate Muffin. Things are looking up. I may make it back yet!

9:02 Suitcase breaks all the way. No more handle. I look like Elaine in that Seinfield episode, carrying a suitcase in each hand like an ape. Board the train headed for Norwich.

9:39 Get off the train in Ingatestone, board a bus for Colchester.

10:29 Arrive at Colchester train station. Bathroom smells like propane gas and rotting flesh. Halloween special?

11:17 Depart Colchester on a train for Norwich.

12:22 Norwich! At last!

12:45 Catch the 35 bus back to campus.

1:05 Arrive at UEA. Start walking (like Elaine, with my bags) to the Village where I live. Realize I should start working out my upper body again, as I have to stop and take a breather a couple times.

1:31 Back in my room!!!!!!! Safe and sound! I'm so tired I'm nauseous. Just got word from Kelsey that she made her flight and arrived back home at 10:00 this morning. Am taking a shower and sleeping until tomorrow.

happy halloween!!! I am still without a costume, although Izzy designed me an angel costume complete with purple lace-up sandals... not sure how I'm going to whip that up in the next twelve hours.

Yesterday I went to Manhattan to hang out with Sarah and Tabby and Mike. We went to the natural history museum, which was just as cool as I remembered it being. for lunch we went to Shake Shack, a little burger joint on the upper west side that is really popular and always has a huge line snaking down the street. We all got burgers and shakes (well, I got a veggie burger) and it was delicioussss, well worth the wait. We took them to go and ate in central park, where a halloween spooktacular was happening, so it was absolutely packed with little children in costumes. although it was hard to navigate through the crowd of tiny zombies, we were able to explore central park quite a bit and saw belvedere castle, the marionette theater, the shakespeare in the park theater, the turtle pond and the boathouse. We also saw lots of brides and their wedding parties getting photos taken, which i thought was sort of unfortunate timing, because in the background of all their happy memories will be ghouls and other grotesque motif.

babysit Izzy last night. We made halloween themed cupcakes which she then ruined by putting blue sprinkles on top of (how does blue factor into the halloween theme?)... but they were still delicious.

Longest day of my life...Part I

I've just arrived back at my flat, after the longest day of my life. I've been awake for 30 hours, can barely see straight, and smell awful. Here's what happened.

Kels and I were supposed to stay with a friend of her's in London Friday and Saturday nights. She had a 6am this morning flight out of Luton airport, so we had to be in London, and figured we'd make a weekend out of it. 1 hour before our train left she got an email saying he was sick and going back home for the weekend, sorry, but he wouldn't be around. We had nowhere to stay. But hey, you're only young once, right? We'd simply play it by ear, find a youth hostel, a cheap hotel, maybe just pull an all nighter on Saturday since we had such early departure times anyway. We arrived in London around 8:00. Pouring rain. Cheapest hotel anyone can tell us about is 150 pounds a night, aka $300. Every hostel is booked. Finally find "The County Hotel." 52 pounds a night to stay in a room smaller than my dorm, with bunk beds. We take it. Television is smaller than my laptop and only gets game shows. Get all dressed up to go out, realize we're tired and crabby, and go to bed instead. Saturday morning we wake up early and bring our bags to St. Pancras Station, where we'll store them while we walk around London for the day. We checked out of the hotel. We go on our way. It was a wonderful day, we had a great time, finally got to see Buckingham Palace and bought the cutest little metal Royal Guard, the kind of keepsake I'll have forever. It came in a little golden bag that said "Buckingham Palace" on it. Anyway, the rest of the day doesn't matter much, until around midnight on Saturday night...(con't reading part II, above)

Adventures in London...

Currently sitting at an internet cafe by Trafalgar Square, in London. This trip has been...an adventure. What do you get when you put two girls with no money in the city? A hotel bunkbed for £50 and a sleepover in the bus terminal...will write more when I get back to Norwich tomorrow morning. The good news is I went to Buckingham Palace and have tons of pictures...

Meet Izaih!

How about this cute little face! Izaih is our new redhead! He woke up this morning and turned to me and said "let's talk!" Then he cupped his ear to listen and said "I think I hear that kid getting his clothes ready." He is very, very sweet. You all would love him.
All else is well with us too! Love, love, love the blog and reading all of your stories and seeing your pics, especially your smiling faces.
all our love to you.
Patty

Cailin?

Are you there?  Hello?  Oh she must be at the library.  DOING SCHOOL WORK!!  Love you.

Love you all.  Peace.  Peter

Pickies

Here are some pictures from Kelsey's visit: Me at a Mexican restaurant, where we had lunch the first day, us in The Square on campus, us in our halloween costumes, WARRIOR PRINCESSES! We made the capes by cutting up a black, floor length skirt from the plus-size section of ASDA (a member of the Wal Mart family). The awesome swords also came from there.

We have another Halloween party to go to tonight. Round 2! woohoo!

When we last spoke...

I had said a quick (so as to avoid not being able to say) goodbye to Grady at 139 Calyer Street and headed north towards the great unknown of Marion Street Mobil Gas and Car Repair.  Driving towards New York, New York it was wonderful having Grady to navigate, reading mapquest directions and looking for signs.  Driving away from New York, New York I had a piece of paper that had to be read under a dome light with 54 year old eyes.  Glasses needed for driving, not needed for reading. 

Turn left on 1st Avenue, go 2 blocks and turn right on 3rd, take 5th left on 6th, immediately get into left lane, now get into right lane, back into left lane and oh we're sorry you missed your turn, you're lost.   Oh good, there's a MacDonalds we went by a MacDonalds on the way in.  I'm golden.  I'm not sure who Major Deegan is but I love his highway and how it turns into Interstate 87 which heads towards Albany.  If you remember nothing else, benefit from this advice.  Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.  If you should forget this, Tony in the wife-beater tee driving the 1992 Ford LTD will remind you.  Ah that single middle finger raised ever so respectfully.

Around 1:30 AM I decided to call it quits at the Rhinecliff exit.  After a surprisingly restful sleep at the Comfort Inn and Suites I continued north.  At Marion Street Mobil Gas and Car Repair I was informed by Byron that we were looking at approximately $3,000 in repairs.  "Of course once we get the top off that engine who knows what we will find.  These things get overheated and oh I don't even want to think about it!"

At this point I'm realizing the telling is taking longer than the actual so...
Enterprise Rent a Car has nothing available until later in the day.  Taxi to train station, ticket to Port Henry.  Arrange with Beth to pick me up at Port Henry.  Signals on track go out.  Train slows to 20 MPH from Fort Edward to Ticonderoga.  Beth we're going to be late take your time.  Arrive in Port Henry 1 hour late.   Ferry ride across Lake Champlain.  Made it without sinking.  Home again, home again jiggidy jig.

I think tonight I'll sit on the couch, have a cold beer and watch the World Series.  Tomorrow is another day.

Love you all.  Peace.  Peter

Back in the big apple

back in brooklyn... not without some trouble. I had a ticket for a 7:00 train out of Albany. Daddy drove me to the station, picking me up at 4:00 and thus allowing ample time for wrong turns, etc. Had we anticipated the actual mishap, we would have left about 72 hours before that...

We were about 40 miles outside Albany when the temperature gauge started spiking and we crawled along to Saratoga Springs (mile marker 34.6-- how many times did you have to say that to the people at AAA, Daddy?) before smoke started pouring out of the engine and our poor little car took its last breath. After a long and frustrating phone call to the dopes at AAA who insisted on spelling Bridport like the CT town ("NO G! There's no G"), the tow truck arrived well after dark.

It might have been fun riding up in the big cab, except for the fact that trailing behind that big cab was a $3000 estimate and a ticking clock, which gave me about ten minutes to make it to the station.

We got dropped off at a Byron's Mobile in Saratoga and Tom was very helpful in throwing a phone book at us so Daddy could inquire after a rental car. Unfortunately, neither Hertz, Enterprise or any other company had after hours rentals, and it looked for a moment like we were up the creek without a paddle.

Turns out you don't need a paddle when you can ford the creek with a U-Haul van.

Daddy rented the van and we hauled ourselves to NYC, arriving at 139 Calyer St shortly after 11:30 pm.

I worked all day yesterday, and Izzy's parents got home at midnight, so they got me a car service to take me back. My driver was Mike, a 250 pound Italian guy who proceeded to tell me how light he was on his feet. He was a boxer, he'd been boxing for 24 years; "I'm forty-four now. I don't look it because boxing keeps me in such great shape, but believe it or not, I'm forty-four." (I believed it).

He trains kids in his neighborhood to box, for self defense. Ernesto is his best student.

"One day Ernesto comes into my class, and he's all black and blue, ya know? And I say, Ernesto, your dad done this to you? And he just starts crying, ya know. And he says, 'he come home drunk again,' and I says, 'no one hits one of my students, ya know?' and so i goes over to Ernesto's one day and I wait for the father to come home, and he's sober, right? And this is a good thing, 'cause I want 'im to retain what I got to say. and I says, 'what's your business beating up a nine year old kid, huh? I know this might not be my business, but I gotta be concerned when I see my student come to class with a bruise on his face-- i know it didn't come from me or the other students, cause we respect eachother, see?' and Ernesto's dad, he says, 'he's my kid, i can do what i want.' and so I punch him. Just deck him across the jaw, ya know? and he falls on the ground and I says, 'that's what Ernesto feels like. Don't you forget it.' and you know what? Ernesto's 12 years old now, and his father hasn't touched him since. and ya know what? me and his Dad, we get along fine now. he's in that Alcoholics--whaddya call it?-- Alcoholics annonymous, yeah that's it. and he goes to church now. And Ernesto and I gonna go to a match in Jersey next weekend."

okay Mike, good luck with that.

Happy Birthday, Connor!

I'm going to try to reach you by every avenue (maybe not snail mail) to wish you a happy start on your twentieth year. I left a message on your cell phone. The one other place would be at your email address unless I come to your room in Stewart. Wouldn't you love that?

Renee reminded me that at some point when you were little, probably at one of Renee's birthday extravaganzas for your sisters, you said, "I wish I were a twin." (Actually, you probably said, I wish I was a twin.") Well, this is your day for getting special attention, so be glad you don't have to share it.

Don't forget to vote.
GrAnn

Kelsey's Visit

Hi Fam! Sorry I haven't written in so long! Kelsey arrived last Friday night, and she's here with me until Sunday. On Friday we're going to London and staying there until Sunday morning, when she flies back to Paris.
We had a bit of trouble finding eachother on the first night. I arrived at the train station at midnight to wait for her, her train was supposed to get in at 12:20am. I was pretty much the only person there, it was freezing, and all the bathrooms were locked up. I had to go veryyyy badly. But I waited, and waited, and waited, and finally a train pulled in from London and I was so excited to see her! I stood by the gate as every passenger got off. Every passenger excpet Kelsey. I went up to the gaurd, no, no other trains would be arriving that night. So I ran down the street to a club where all my flatmates were (dressed in theme for the Where's Waldo? party, I may add) and tried to use Richard's phone to get online so I could look on facebook for her phone # (of course I hadn't written it down, and of course she didn't have mine). Unfortunately I couldn't read any of my messages. So I ran back to the train station to try to catch a bus back to campus so I could read my messages, write down her number, and try to get a hold of her. It was freezing, I was all alone, and the busses only came every 45 minutes or so since it was now 1am. Plus Kelsey was lost in the big ol' city of Norwich (or possibly delayed in Paris because of strikes, or possibly blown up by some terrorist...we've been getting travel warnings lately, and one never really knows...). So I began to cry. I looked pretty pathetic in my pink party dress and frye boots, shivering, alone, waiting for a bus. Then, out of the dark, I see a blonde with lots of baggage (literally, she had many bags) running/waddling towards me. "Kelsey? Kelsey!" It was Kelsey! We ran into each others arms like long-lost sisters.
Turns out she'd taken a bus, not a train from London. She thought I'd forgotten about her until she remembered she'd told me to wait for the train. She had to get a lift from a taxi over to Surrey St. Station, where we were finally reunited. It was all very dramatic.

We haven't really done much since she arrived. Just hanging out, watching a lot of television, eating a ton (aka ordering Pizza at 3am, just cause we can) and dancing our butts off at LCR, the student club on campus (kind of like the Bunker except EVERYONE goes and it's the size of an actual city club). SO that's all, I'll let you know more as we have more adventures.

Daddy, I heard about the UHaul van. you kind of cursed yourself with that post, eh? Hindsights' 20-20. Hope you got home ok.
Alex, I laughed out loud at those pictures. Great poodle. And you're all still single??

love to all.
xo

Seconding this morning's entry from Peter - thanks Alex, for yours! I have printed an enlarged version of Dammit and his walkers for our refrigerator.

And I foresee another opportunity for some or all of those hooligans to get together for a meal off campus. We're celebrating Connor's 19th here on Thursday, 11/04. By then the elections will be behind us.......... Don't forget to vote.

GrAnn

Another into the fold

Welcome, welcome, welcome Alex!  Great pictures, keep them coming.  So glad to have you here.

We had a great time the other night.  Dinner at Mister Ups with Grady, Erin, Connor, Alex, Patrick, Felix, Matt and about 300 happy (read possibly overserved) Midd alums.  It was so much fun, can't wait for the next excuse to get together.  Cails, we missed you.

I'm back at Erin's after 10 days with Bauer the Saint Bernard at Phinney's.  The number here if anyone needs to reach me and my cell is out of reach is 443-8022. 

I went for a great run yesterday which turned into a hike after getting lost in the woods behind Breadloaf.  I was following blue blazes for quite awhile on a trail but somehow got off and had to follow a stream.  The blog seems to be themed around Rosses who spend an awful lot of time getting lost.  Or a short amount of time getting lost and a long time getting unlost!   Eventually came out on 125 just below the Snow Bowl.  A good steady rain had freshly fallen leaves soggy and soft and muffled and you get to a point where your shoes are so wet you stop caring where you step and just enjoy the woods. 

I'm thinking one more ride on the motorcycle as the weather has started turning towards the backside of fall.  We've seen a few spits of snow and deer season and Thanksgiving approach.  Grady and I head to Albany this afternoon for her return (boo hiss!!) to New York, New York but we'll probably take the car.  Hopefully we'll find the train station but chances for a wrong turn somewhere 'tween here and there are good!  Until then stay in touch.

Love you all.  Peace.  Peter 

A picture paints a thousand words...

Dear All,

The debauchery that took place during Connor, Patrick, Felix and my weekend in NYC can scarcely be guessed at. Words cannot do justice to the time we had, but here are some pictures:

Felix, Connor and Dammit walking next to central park:

This photo was taken after Felix said "I never thought i would ever walk a poodle on the upper east side in my entire life."

The mildly chaotic sleeping arrangements:

Patrick decided that this was the comfiest bed in the world so hardly ever left it during the daylight hours except for Monday morning. Monday morning, Connor and Patrick cooked us an amazing breakfast.

All in all it was a fantastic weekend and I look forward to hosting these hooligans in the city again!

whistle pig

also, i have been blogging for Raj about Whistle Pig whiskey. The first piece is online. Check it out: http://whistlepigwhiskey.blogspot.com/

542 Market Rd, Bridport, VT 05734

That's where this Ross is now. So great to be home! I went to Two Brothers last night to see people and i ended up staying and talking to everybody for like three hours-- then a few other waitresses and I went to Tori's house (Tori is also a waitress at Two Bros, she's the greatest), and we made nachos and milkshakes and talked and talked and talked until about 12:30 am. everyone liked my hair except one of the cooks who said he had been in love with me with my long hair. luckily i don't share the sentiment so i don't care what he thinks.

D'artagnan slept with me all night last night. love that red hair shedding all over my clothes.

hoping to make it to the homecoming game today, or maybe the dance this evening. Although i didn't bring a dress home with me, so that might be an issue. hmm...

The Big Apple

For anyone who didn't know, Alex and I spent the last weekend with a few friends in New York City! We stayed with his mom in her apartment in the Upper East Side. It was a beautiful apartment and it was great to get home cooked meals for four days!
They have a great 15 year old deaf poodle named Dammit, and I felt quite swanky walking a poodle in the Upper East Side. If Alex ever gets around to it, there are some pictures of from dog walking in Central Park that he's planning on posting.
We mostly just hung out with friends in the city and slept a lot. On Monday I spent the day with Grady in Brooklyn. It was great to see her and her lovely new apartment and meet her roommate. I had to find my way back from Brooklyn to 97th street by myself on the subway, and it did not go well. I got stuck in rush hour subway traffic and took so many wrong trains. But anyway, I found my way back, without asking for directions once, and when I got back, we had dinner with Alex's godmother in her apartment in the projects, she was hilarious and very eccentric. Afterwards, Felix (a friend who was staying with us) and Alex went to a jazz club in the West Village. Me and Pat didn't feel like paying $20 so we spent the night with Pat's roommate's friends in Brooklyn.

I will fill everyone in with more details when I see you for my birthday dinner (very exciting!) next week, right now its time for me to take an end of the week nap.

Cailin and Grady - have you returned your absentee ballots?

And Connor, I can apply for one for you if getting to the polls is going to be a hassle.

This election is so close!
GrAnn

My e-mail

psross32@gmail.com

Daddy, I need to send you an important email. What is your email address again??

Please reply ASAP.

A man walked down the street with a banana in his ear...

So a panda walks into a bar.  The bartender says, "can I help you?"  The panda says, "yeah do you have anything to eat?"  The bartender says, "sure, what can I get you?"  The panda orders mac and cheese, eats it all, stands up and shoots the bartender.  The manager runs over and says, "hey, what in the world are you doing?"  The panda says, "look me up in the dictionary."  The manager goes home that night and sure enough under Panda he reads; a mammal; native to China.  Eats shoots and leaves.  Ba da boom.  Thank you, thank you.  I'll be here all week.  Be sure and try the veal.

Let's be serious for a Second...

I'm getting the feeling that nobody youtubed that video I told you all about, "The Happiest DJ in the World," because if you all had you'd be emailing me about how HIGH-LARIOUS it was.

seriously, youtube it. I watch it about 6 times a day. I love this man.

Brilliant Idea!

At Connor's Birthday Dinner, will somebody Skype with me so I can talk to all of you at once? Just let me know what time (your time) you'll all be gathered around the table, and maybe Connor can bring his laptop, and you can call me so I can wish him a happy birthday and say hi to all of you!

Last night was Salsa night...SO FUN!! We got there an hour late so missed the beginner lessons, I wasn't very good. But at least I have rythm (I got it from my Mama) which is more than I can say for most of the people there. We had such a good time that we joined the Salsa and Latin Dance Society, and we have our first lesson tonight. By the time I get home I'm going to be the best Salsa dancer north of the Mexico border.

Guilty!

I finally have a few minutes to try and catch up on stuff.  We have been very busy at the inn with foliage business.  Our last tour bus of the season is in house now through this Wednesday and then it should slow down.  I am housesitting at the Phinney's for a week or so and am without internet access.  And the dog ate my homework and the sun got in my eyes and the alarm didn't go off. 

I am off today and am going to try and play some golf with Elias my sous chef who has never played golf before.  I think he is more keen on driving the cart really fast than actually playing golf but it is a beautiful crisp autumn day so the Ralph Myhre Golf Course should be a great place to spend the afternoon.  Then a bunch of us are heading to the Shoreham Inn for dinner.  Woo Hoo!!

It was great to hear from you yestereay Grady; your voice always brightens my day.  And you seems to have a great knack for calling at just that time when my day needs brightening.  Cailin, I so miss your voice and can't wait to hear it again.  In the meantime I am thoroughly enjoying your written voice. 

Connor, Grady tells me you were going to hook up with her in the city.  I told her to remind you about the requirement for at least 250 words from both you and Alex detailing your weekend!

Until we meet again, stay in touch.

Love you all.  Peace.  Peter

where in the world are the rosses, indeed!

For Heaven's sake, where is everyone?? Grady and Grandma Ann seem to be the only ones who have anything to say anymore. Pops? Mummy? Connor? Patty? I've just about given up on the others.

As for me, things are still wonderful over here, not too much new to tell you. It's getting colder everyday, and I've forgotten things like hats and mittens, so I may have to make a trip into town soon for those. Saw a really cute pair of leopard print mittens at H&M...hmmmm...
I'm starting to get over my cold, but still am the annoying girl who blows her nose in class. EVERYONE is sick though. My Creative Writing professor came to class the other day wearing a bright orange sweatervest with blue skulls all over it (the most garish, ugly article of clothing I have EVER seen) and a blue and white striped scarf and a box full of throat lozenges, which he passed around to "all the students feeling ill." He looked like a caricature of a sick person. Grady, thank-goodness you're not in that class, there was so much sniffling and snorting and sucking of lozenges you would have lost it.

I miss everyone lots and lots. xoxo
(p.s. if the link didn't work, youtube "happiest DJ in the world." Daddy, I wish I was watching it with you because I know you'll just die of laughter).

watch and laugh

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiCOmqvWUaw&feature=player_embedded

Grady!! you are really moving! What does the mother do? the father? Maybe it's an unusual weekend. Whatever, it's employment, right? And during the week?

Just curious,
GrAnn

Big plans for this weekend. Ballet class, 7 year old's birthday party, monopoly game, pony rides at Park Slope harvest festival, g-rated movie, arts and crafts (accessories for an 8-year old's "dark angel" halloween costume), New York Public Library to return books (to the kids' section), baking cookies, scootering through Prospect Park, pajama party for two with delivery pizza and an 8:30 bedtime-- pink pajamas a must.

awesome.

Oh Miss Gradsie

Just remember you got a lot of good in you.  Love you whether you're in Manhattan, Brooklyn or on a subway to the Moon.

Love you all.  Peace.  Peter

out to lunch

why am i so unaware of what's going on around me? Tonight it was pouring rain and i had a meeting with Isabella's parents to go over stuff for this weekend. I got soaked because of course i didn't have a raincoat or umbrella. Katla cried and cried and cried all day so i was tired anyway when i got to the meeting. i just wanted to be home.

On the way back, i got on the train, leaned back, closed my eyes and put on my headphones. I didn't realize I was on the wrong train until i was already in Manhattan. Jeepers, so out to lunch.

Updates from UEA

That child is so stinkin' adorable!! How about that little boy (Damien?)...seen any more of him?

Bo, I want to hear all about this ISS! way to go! I got detention once in highschool because I didn't turn in my driver's ed homework, and cried so hard they let me have "private detention" with Ms. Gibb's before school started so I didn't have to sit with all the "bad" kids. How does it feel to be a bad kid now?

Things are going well over here, classes are in full swing. I have a crush on my Modernism professor. His name is Jeremy, and he doesn't look any older that 23 or 24. But he has a PhD. He does Gertrude Stein and T.S. Eliot impressions (which are HORRIBLE) and can never figure out how to turn the lights on or off. He's very charming. Unfortunately he's only my professor for lecture, I have a different teacher for my modernism seminar, who has long, thinning black hair and an abnormally long torso and wears really ugly maroon shirts. He's nice and funny too, but not quite as fun to look at.

My nights here are becoming very tame. Usually Dom, Richard and I curl up on my bed with some sort of chocolate and watch "The Inbetweeners" online. It's a British show that kids are addicted to over here, and it's hysterical. About these 4 boys in high school who are definitely not cool but not quite total losers either, and they get into lots of trouble. Connor, you would like it a lot. Youtube "The Inbetweeners" and watch from season 1. very funny.

Mama, you would be so proud of how domestic I'm becoming! Okay, I still can't keep my room clean to save my life, but I'm a great cook now! And I do the "washing up" every night. It's not called "Doing the dishes" over here, and the dish soap is called "Washing up liquid."

Poor Kara has become the butt of all the jokes. They steal her all the time and hang her from things and make jokes about "The Silence of the Lambs." Sometimes I get ransom notes. Luckily I found out Richard has a little stuffed dog named "Digby" or something like that, which I plan on stealing as soon as he leaves his door unlocked.

My toilet broke the other day. It wouldn't flush. Luckily before it broke there was only pee in it, so I didn't have to deal with that. But it took two days for maintenence to come fix it, and you know what a small bladder I have. I had to walk to campus everytime I needed a bathroom. Some of the flatmates invited me to use their "loo", but I can't pee when someone else is listening. Very awkward. All fixed now though, so I can pee at my leisure.

That seems to be mostly it. Kelsey has booked her ticket and is coming on the 21st! We're probably going to go to Ireland together once she gets here, and then spend another weekend in London before she has to go back to Paris. She's telling me lots of stories from Paris and the french are SNOBS. She can't wait to get out. They're so mean to her and hate Americans. Also, it's not anything like the MaryKate and Ashley movie "Passport to Paris," which she finds incredibly dissapointing.

love you all! I got a wonderful card from Grady this morning! So the trans-atlantic mail service does work, in case that's what's stopping you from writing.
XOXO

From 1155 Cider Mill

Grady- love the hair cut!!! so cute. and stop taking the subway after 9 PM!
Cailin- love your stories about your adventures. had the werewolf song in my head all day.
Connor- stop smoking!
Beth- yes, girls' night...when?
Peter- what is the best way to cook any kind of food? hints? (take out?)

Marley is on the road lots now so watch out! Bo-may or may not have a story to tell you about an in-school suspension! Bo! my kind, gentle soul!

Brianna spends 1 to 2 nights a week with us. Here are some pics of her being a goof ball.

Grady, your independent streak and self reliance are remarkable! Think of the stories you are putting in the bank! I love you. GrAnn

And Cailin, great photo in the phone booth, but dancing in 6 inch heels? I love you, too. GrAnn

i am just not meant to see movies in this city.

The showtime was 8:40... according to the gps on my phone, it would take 22 minutes to get there by subway, so i left at 7:55, leaving ample time for travel incompetence, to which I fully own up. So I got on the G train heading toward Church ave, got off at lorimer, and was about to transfer to the L, which takes me directly to manhattan, but there was a sign:

12 noon Friday to 12 noon monday: No L train. Please find an alternate route.

alternate route? I don't do alternate routes. Alternate routes are not drawn out for me nicely on my phone.

So I knew that if I went north to Queens, completely backtracking and in the opposite direction, I would be able to connect to the E train, which goes into Manhattan as well. So I got on that train, but by the time I transferred to the E it was 8:52, and the movie had been playing for 12 minutes. I knew there would be a later show somewhere so I proceeded. I had to leave the subway because I don't get any service on my phone underground, and I needed to get online and check movie times. So I found out that the movie was playing at a theater in Chelsea at 9:45.

So I ran back down to the subway. "There has been a delay. Thank-you for your patience"... my train was delayed. I finally got on. It was 9:15. Now on the train, I am confident that I will make it on time when I see the 23rd street station whipping past the windows, and the announcer comes on "attention ladies and gentlemen, this E train will not be making any local stops due to construction." ughh, 23rd street is a local stop. 23rd street is where I need to be.

So I get off at the closest stop, 34th street, and sprint the 11 blocks to the theater (not before walking towards 9th avenue, thinking I was walking towards 8th)... and made it just barely in time, sweating, and in a terrible mood.

The color was broken on the movie. I watched the first fifteen minutes in bright glaring red that hurt my eyes and gave me a headache.

It did eventually get fixed, but on the return trip I got on the A train (the A, C, and E trains are all on the same line, just like the 1,2,3, trains or 4,5,6 trains or N,Q,R, trains etc...) I figured that the A train would make all the same stops that the E train makes, because that is how it usually works with trains that run the same line. But no. I'm sitting there waiting to stop at Ely ave, and the stops keep whizzing by and before I know it I'm in Harlem. I was so confused and so tired and so frustrated and I wanted to cry but I didn't want to look vulnerable because I was now in a sort of sketchy part of town.

I made it home at 2:30. It was a disastrous evening and the movie wasn't even that good.

Arrrrrroooooooo (werewolves of London)

I made it to London and back this weekend! We had a wonderful time, Hallie and I took the train in and met up with Annie and Hafsa who are studying there and Teresa who came in from Paris. They're all Middkids. Unfortunately we got in a little later than we thought we would, so didn't have time to do all the touristy things like see Buckingham palace and London Bridge, which was kind of dissapointing. But Kelsey is coming to visit me in a few weeks, and I think we'll go together.

At night we met up with more American kids that Teresa knows and we went to a club called Mahiki (look it up online!), well known for being Prince Harry's favorite club in London. We didn't see him, but the rumor is that he's there frequently. It's also been in the tabloids a lot with pictures of Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Emma Watson, Kelly Osborne, etc. It was so much fun! The best music! We danced for 3 hours straight (and I was wearing 6in heels!) and had the best time. All the kids we went with were really fun, great dancers, and we knew all the songs so we could sing along.

Hallie and I stayed with Hafsa in her flat, which was great because we didn't have to worry about paying for a hotel or hostel.

Here's a picture of me in a phonebooth. These and the red busses were the best part.

uncanny resemblance

holy twins batman, that guy looks just like you!

heading off to manhattan to take in a movie. alone. what else is new?

Connor spotted in England...??

This picture was taken at a club in downtown Norwich, I found it in one of my friend's "photo albums" on facebook....Connor, when did you leave Middlebury for Norwich? How come you haven't stopped by my room to say hello? And when did you start smoking cigs?

I've been occupied all day with church: prepping the coffee brew and service, rehearsing and singing with the choir, talking with the RE (Religious Education) kids about activism, insulating the basement of the Fenn House (next to our new sanctuary building) as our part of the 10-10-10 work day devoted to energy-saving projects. (Peter, the new chef at Two Brothers is a UU. Maybe you better think about getting religion!)

Then, home and working to save from possible frost tonight as many as possible of the fabulously healthy geraniums I grew from seed last year and have kept going this year from cuttings.

How I love checking in (first thing in the morning and last thing at night) on this blog to discover how the dearest people in my life are faring and/or what they're up to.
GrAnn

Pasta Cookery 101

After the pasta is cooked run it under cold water if you are not going to use it right away.  Run it under hot water if you are going to use it right away or simply drain and stir with hot sauce.  After it has cooled, drain very well and then toss it with a small amount of vegetable oil. 
if you have already cooled the pasta and it is one big glob you can try running it under water to try and break it up and then oil it.

Hope this helps.

Love you all.  Peace.  Peter

what self control?

I gave in. I am currently eating it. It is coconut cake. It is the most delicious cake I have ever had.

Green CAKE

Renee told me yesterday about this confectioners Cake Man Raven in Greenpoint that is known for being the home of Red Velvet cake. Its supposed to be the best red velvet cake there is, or something... so obviously I had to check it out. (Renee's words: "you deserve cake"... don't know if that's quite true, but deserving or not, I figured it was something I could not miss). So I went this morning after church (didn't get a thing out of the sermon: redvelvetcakeredvelvetcakeredvelvetcakeredvelvetcake.....) and after some confusion in regards to my whereabouts, i found the Cake Man! Unfortunately, he had just sold out of his last piece of red velvet, and he said it would be about two hours until another cake was ready, so I had to settle for a bright green cake, whose flavor I am not quite sure of, but if was aesthetically appealing. I have yet to eat it. First I had to clean the apartment and do all the dishes and make myself a healthy lunch (veggie burgers, yumm) because if I had had immediate gratification it would not have tasted so good. so now it is sitting in my refrigerator and I am trying to see how long I can go without eating it, because as soon as I eat it, it will be gone (something seems flawed about that logic...)

Other than that, I have been watching a lot of seinfeld and thinking about all of you.

Daddy, what is the best way to make pasta unstick? I made an entire box of orzo the other night, forgetting, domestic person that I am, that pasta gets much much bigger when you boil it, so now I have about two months worth of orzo and it is all in one big tupperware container and pretty much a solid block. hints?

Got the nannying job. yay, i am now employed... and don't intend to quit this one.

Woo Hoo...

I like Gradsie!!  I mean I like Gradsie's haircut.  I love Gradsie.

Love you all.  Peace. Peter

39 minutes ago! a live visit (though one way) with Grady! Grady, you present fantastic in sight and sound! (How's that from the family grammarian?) I will be playing the video over and over - you have really come through with the pictures we needed to believe you made this bold move! Your smile, your voice, the message ................. Love, GrAnn

in case the video doesn't work...

"at least you got it cut in New York where you won't be meeting any boys."

Hello All-
I so love to read this blog - not sure I feel the same about contributing - I am not having a love affair with all that is British, nor am I immersed in the elevation of my mind, nor do I have a new hairdo that makes me ever so Glam. I am just here, doing the same old, same old and holding down the fort for all of my far flung children. Of course, I am so happy you are experiencing new things. Cannot wait until we are all together again. I do hope that all of us, and I include all Rosses and their significants, can get together when everyone is back home, to share in good laughs, stories and perhaps even a grog or two.
Until then, keep those writings coming - As I've said before - this blog is the highlight of my day.

Miss Kelsey - would love to hear more from you. Your one line was a poor excuse for blogging.

Marley and Bo - Pictures are good but want to read your own "voice". You must be having some fun or funny experiences of your own. Do share!
Patty - Do we still work for the same institution? Can't believe I haven't run into you at all. Would love a ladies night any time you are up for it. Let's get Grandma Ann to come along as well. Pete you can come too.!!!!
Love and Hugs to all you beautiful people.
Mama

All business

Grady and Cailin, I found that you are both registered to vote in Middlebury and filled out forms requesting absentee ballots for you. Yours will come to your Calyer Street address, Grady and you have to snail mail it back to the Middlebury Town Clerk. Maybe they'll even supply an envelope. You will get a ballot by email, Cailin. I suppose your ballot can be returned electronically. There should be clear instructions. October 27 is the deadline by which the ballots must be returned.

Connor, are you registered in Bridport? As a Middlebury College student you can vote in Middlebury but you have to get on the Middlebury checklist. I don't know what the system is for changing your town of residence.

Love,
GrAnn

A Sample...

Here's a sample of what I have to read for class...

Mildred's Umbrella, by Gertrude Stein
"A cause and no curve, a cause and loud enough, a cause and extra a loud clash and an extra wagon, a sign of extra, a sac a small sac and an established color and cunning, a slender grey and no ribbon, this means a loss a great loss a restitution."

WHAAAAAATTTTTT are you talking about Gertie?

Figs and Fudge

Yes Daddy! I've noticed that about people in the rain! It makes me laugh. The other thing that cracks me up is when people trip and then look very intently behind them like, "What in the world just tripped me?" as if it matters, now that you're flat on your face.

Today was the most beautiful day we've had here yet. The next 3 are supposed to be very sunny and warm, a wonderful weekend! I started out my day reading in the square. In the middle of campus there is a square with steps leading down into it, like an amphitheatre. It's like the quad on a New England Campus, people sit on the steps and read and eat lunch and drink coffee and talk to friends, and sometimes people play guitar in the middle. I had a great time reading in the sun with my coffee and people watching (GREAT outfits).

After lecture Olivia and Chloe and I took the bus into the city. We went a little further down than I've ever been, to the open air markets. There is a giant castle (a real, live castle, with towers and high, high stone walls!) sitting on top of a hill, and below it are these markets, so you feel very medieval! They've been there for 900 years! There were tons of little stands where you could buy anything you desired: postcards, fudge, hot dogs, sausage, fish and chips, pleather jackets, gold watches, jewelery, piggy banks, tutus, purses, gloves, scarves. You name it. There was a spice vendor that was selling every kind of spice in big glass jars. You asked for some and she poured it onto a scale and put it in a little paper bag for you. It smelled delicious and spicy. There was a cheeseman and a butcher, and a man who only sold linked sausage. Next door was a candy booth, with the brightest colored fudge and marshmallows and gummy candies. They sold some boxes you could send home to family. "Grandpa's Gift" featured a car, a fishing pole, and a motorcycle. "Mother's Gift" was all decorated in pastel tulips. These boxes were very dusty, and looked like they'd been hanging there for a while. We bought some coffee fudge.
They also had so many fruits and vegetable stands full of fresh veggies. Bunches of orange carrots, figs, Chestnuts, peppers, boxes of brussell sprouts. Olivia made me buy a fig because I've never had one before. It was good but didn't really taste like Fig Newtons at all. Daddy, I kept thinking of you because I thought you would love to be in that market. Think of all the recipes you could make using those veggies and cheeses and meats and spices! Also you and Grandpa and Connor would be in heaven, because every other booth sells hotdogs and chips (french fries). In case you don't like Deb's Deli, you can turn around and eat at Charlie's Tea Stall (which did not, in fact, sell any tea).
There are also lots of regular clothing stores all around. Norwich has some of the best shopping. Many stores were having sales so we bought a few essential things (like leopard print dresses and scarves).

I love it here so much. The city has so much character, and it's not full of tourists because no one knows about it. The UEA gets a bit of flack because it is really ugly, all done in cement because the architect did it in the Brutalist style, but the students are very defensive of it. I actually like that it's kind of ugly. It's like the ugly puppy dog that no one wants but who people grow to love best of all.

Mama, I hope one day you make it back here with me. You would just die, you'd love it so much. Yesterday the bus drove by a little school that was painted blue called "Bluebell Primary School." It was on Lovelace Road. I imagine that if you have to go to school it is best to go to Bluebell Primary on Lovelace Road, where all the teachers probably smell like applesauce and give out shiny stickers for good behavior.

Before I Forget

I was noticing.  People do funny things.   When they walk in the rain they scrunch their neck and shoulders like this will somehow keep the rain off.  If they are sitting in a chair and someone walks behind them they bend forward but don't move the chair at all.  When they cross the street and a car is coming they will look like they are hustling across but they really aren't moving any faster.  Kind of like Victor Nuovo out for a jog.

Hair will grow back.  And children will return.  It is the hope that keeps the smile.

Love you all.  Peace.  Peter

BILL BAILEY!!

actually, I DO know of Bill Bailey...but from a Saturday night Live skit

and yes, Daddy did tell me not to. Sorry Daddy. hair grows back. But I would have always wondered...

No kidding!?!?!? I thought her father told her not to do that. I LOVE that you did that Grady! But come on - share the pictures. What did you do with the shorn locks - locks of love?

The Dixieland was wonderful! We were transported back to 1954 evenings in Boston when we were Wilbur de Paris groupies. "Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home." You're all too young.

GrAnn

Grady's haircut

Grandma, she got it cut again! A pixie cut. very short. She looks much better than Carol Burnett but it will never, ever get boring to tease her about it. So keep the Carol Burnett jokes a-comin'

And I thought I was edgy for buying navy blue nail polish today.

new email

Please make note of my new e-mail address.  Hopefully scammers are not reading this post.

psross32@gmail.com

Thanks all.

PATTY, go back to the September archive and find "Where were you to tell me not to?" for a great photo of Grady.

Peter, please send me your email address. I got a "mail delivery failed" message.

And Kelsey, Bienvenue. Comment ca va?

GrAnn

Did you go that short Grady?!!!!!!

Gradsie we need a photo! (now that i am an expert at uploading them, ha!)
can't wait to see the new mod look!

Welcome Kelsey!!

Also welcome to kelsey. what a fink.

She cut her hair people...

again...

Grady, I was just hoping that was Carol Burnett!!!!

Here's the scoop on an absentee ballot. They told me at the Bridport Town Clerk's office that you are not on the Bridport checklist (of registered voters.) You can go to www.sec.state.vt.us and register by email, I think. I'll send you an application for an absentee ballot although actually I think that may be possible by email as well. See what you can discover at that website. I'll check with my buddy Ann Webster, Middlebury Town Clerk, at choir tonight and get the last word. You would send your application for a ballot to the Clerk of whichever town you decide to register in - Bridport or Middlebury?

And Cailin, we'll get you a ballot, too. The Bridport Town Clerk seemed to think you had registered in Middlebury.

And Connor???

Next year, Marley. Driver's license this year; old enough to vote next year.

GrAnn

seriously, i get no comment about Carol Burnett?

BONJOUR!!

I finally figured out how to post!!!

Hello everyone!!!!

Me Too Everyone

You guys are great.  Beyond great!  We are super busy here at the inn through next week, though I am going to try and hook up with you Connsie Connie Connor at some point.  Maybe we'll do a Parents' weekend of our own in November.

Anyway, no real time to write right now but I am reading and am so impressed with everyone.  My heart soars like an eagle!

Love you all.  Peace.  Peter

Guess what I did?

Marley, this is a very good look for you...

Hahaha lovin' the dog costume. Especially with the Birks. Bo, you look super intense! Don't be surprised if your Christmas present this year is a jersey from one of the English teams. All the boys here watch soccer, but none of them play it (don't tell anyone I called it soccer instead of football...)

Grandma Ann, would an absentee ballot make it to me and back by the election? (Grady, way to beat me to it. I was actually THINKING of this a long time before you said anything. So I am actually more responsible. HA!)
Grandpa Jim, enjoy that dixieland band! Someone was playing a banjo outside my window last night while I was trying to read. Quick, banjo joke! What do you call perfect pitch? When you throw the accordian into the dumpster and it lands on top of the banjo. Har har.

Connor, at the banquet every year the men's crew team serenades the lucky lady on the novice team that they think would never go for any of them. This year they picked a lesbian, and everyone agreed whole-heartedly that they had a better chance with anyone else. You and Alex may chose a different path to take.

I'm going to London this weekend! Hallie and I are meeting Hafsa, Teresa, and Anne (all Middlebury girls that we know studying in London or Paris) and celebrating Hallie's birthday. We're taking the train in on Saturday morning and only staying the night. Goal: get a beefeater to smile.

Boy oh boy oh boy, am I enjoying this medium! now including photos from Patty - which I bet came from a camera of Jake's (at least the action shots of Bo - maybe Marley in the dog suit also.) Congratulations on becoming a licensed driver, Marley!

You're right, Connor, "my's" is definitely not a word. .... "Alex's and my fridge" would do it. So would "our fridge." It would probably be OK to write Alex' fridge using the s sound of the x for the possessive, but "Alex's" is better, I would say. Otherwise it might sound as though Alex and the fridge were both empty. I love being the family grammarian.

Choir rehearsal tonight - then Gr Jim and I are going to have dinner downstairs at Two Brothers to the Dixieland music of the Bud Leeds Ensemble. woo hoo. Which makes me think, Connor, where are you and Alex appearing

Quick Update on Marley and Bo

Marley and Bronwyn dressed up as dogs and led the Woofstock Parade through town last weekend!
Bo playing a little soccer. (his mom must have dried those socks a little too long)
AND Marley just passed her driver's license test!

You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling

Well, its my first midterm week here at college.
My first midterm was for my European history class on Monday morning at 8, and it went very well, I think. Tomorrow I have my Economics midterm. I know I've been telling you all that I love econ and am thinking about it as a major, but Professor Wunnava sent us a practice exam this week and I could answer less than half of them, so I might have been a bit hasty. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.
Other than that, school is going well, I got my first A! Along with a handful of B's (and one C).

Ben and Jerry's, unsurprisingly, seems to be a motif in this blog. Alex and my's (Grandma Ann, I need some help with grammar here. Is my's correct? It doesn't look it) fridge has been empty for a while now, so last night we went to MiddExpress and got a bottle of orange juice and a pint of Ben and Jerry's. I let Alex pick out the flavor so we got boring ol' chocolate brownie or something.

Hearing my sisters talk about being homesick has made me realize how happy I am I stayed in Vermont. I have only recently understood what a great place it is to live, and spending time among city kids and generally snobby people has made me really thankful for the Green Mountain State. Although, both England and New York sound incredible and Alex's travel tales have made me want to go see the world. Speaking of which, I am going to stay with Alex and his mom in New York for our long October weekend, which means I will get to see the big city and my big sis!

This weekend is parents weekend, although I don't think either of my parents know about this, or really need to explore Middlebury much more. I will be meeting Alex's mom and her boyfriend, and I'll be getting treated to dinner twice, so that should be fun.

In other roommate bonding news, we try to have at least one night a week where we watch a movie together (We get made fun of a lot). So far they have been James Bond and one of the Indiana Jones movies. We were also perusing scenes from "Top Gun" (every college guy wishes he were Maverick or Goose) and have decided that, to win over the ladies, we are going to perform "You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling" a la Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. Girls of Middlebury College, prepare to be wooed. (If you do not know the scene I'm referring too, you should rewatch "Top Gun".)

Well, I have one more class before I can get back into bed and get some more sleep, so I'm off to Spanish.
Hasta luego!

I'll get on the absentee ballot tomorrow, Grady. Good for you!
GrAnn

Grandma, how goes the election work? Will you send me an absentee ballot when the time comes?

Chicken Tikka Masala? I think not.

Oh yeah, forgot to tell you, I quit my job at the Indian joint. Not too smart, given my current financial status, but relief never tasted so sweet.

Also, I was scared of my Indian mafia boss, so I told them that there had been a family crisis and I had to leave New York indefinitely. Mama, you would have been proud of my acting skills, I was all shaky and teary and they felt awful for me. HA! so they are sending the check home to Vermont, because giving them my brooklyn address would not have been very consistent with my fib. So be looking for it in the mail, then will you send it to me?

My address here: 139 Calyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11222

no apartment number or anything.

Why so sad, little Pookie?

This is who I had the pleasure of spending today with. And when I say it was a pleasure, I am selling the child short. Hands down the best company NYC has to offer (I can say that because Lauren and Ken never read the stinkin' blog anyway)...

I am now sitting for KC three days a week: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Tues and Thurs it will just be Katla (pictured above, for those that don't know), and Wednesdays will be Katla and Freyja, which should be a hoot and a half. Katla and I are already bonding really well; KC said that she hasn't been this well-behaved and smiley ever in her life (which isn't actually saying that much since her WHOLE life has been all of three months...but still).

KC belongs to this Park Slope parent network (Park Slope is her neighborhood in Brooklyn) where parents post different things, including inquiries for sitters and nannies. So KC has been passing those on to me, and today this woman called me back and said she is very excited to meet me, and I have an interview with her on Saturday. Her daughter's name is Isabella, and she is 8. The gig would be Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 7:00, which works perfectly for my schedule with KC. Shawn (the mother) also said that because she and her husband are out of town for business a lot they will want me to stay overnight some days, which I really don't have a problem with, especially since the pay would be quite good. This couldn't come at a better time, seeing as my credit card got declined last night over a pint of ice cream.

Seeing as I'm in Brooklyn and all the health food nuts flock here with their hemp clothes and flannel and berets, I thought I would try to fit in and sit at an internet cafe drinking kale and spinach juice (these juices are all the rage here). Blech, I gagged the whole time. But it is advertised as being very good for your skin, which I feel might counteract the toxins that settle on me as I walk down the city streets.

Isn't Richard like 19 years old? As his pseudo-older sister, don't you think you'd better tell him that getting married this young is an awful idea? Seriously, talk some sense into this boy.

I love my flatmates

I really do! We are just like a little family. Every night we all cook dinner together, it's kind of like dinner at GrAnn's (of course, not as good, but a still a taste of home). I've been having a lot of rice and pasta. One favorite: Sauteed onions, tomatoes, jalapenos and garlic, with grilled chicken breast all mixed in with brown rice and cheddar cheese. Very simple to make, very healthy, very delicious!
All the kitchens in the buildings in the Village have huge windows and are stacked on top of each other, so around 6:00 if you look across the street you can look up the building and see all five stories cooking dinner. Last night a bunch of people were dancing in one window, so we started dancing, and they noticed us and we had a dance off. It was a real laugh, especially since we couldn't hear their music and they couldn't hear ours, and we don't even know them. Just two kitchens, kickin' it old skool.
Connor would definitely get along with the boys in my flat. Every night they all open up a can of beans, or a can of potatoes, or a can of mini hotdogs in sauce, or a can of spaghetti, or a package of ramen, and that's dinner. Last night Richard had 12 sausages and 3 pieces of bacon and canned potatoes and beans for dinner (because he had a "stressful" day).
The other night Richard proposed to his girlfriend, and is engaged! He rode the train home and bought a 200 pound ring which is ten times more than he can afford and proposed and she said yes! So today he bought a bottle of champagne and little plastic wine glasses and we toasted him and Dom for getting a job and all of us for surviving the first week. Then I taught them "A Toast To Where We Girls Was Born" from the Marx Bros. Go West! "Mississippi! Alabama! Louisiana! North Carolina!" They think I'm funny and want me to stay the whole year.
Yesterday we took a walk through Earlham park. It was foggy and rainy. I thought I'd be depressed about all the rain but am learning to love the weather. It makes everything seem slower, not as fast paced. The woods smelled like a wet basement, in a pleasant way. They all agreed that walking in the woods was one of their favorite things to do, so I think we're kindred spirits. One thing I've noticed about people over here is that they're all very comfortable with who they are. They're not afraid to be nice. No one is putting on airs, or trying to act cool, or macho. No one has an attitude (at least none of my flatmates). Even the guys are comfortable enough with their masculinity to admit that they love walks in the woods and moss on the trees and the smell of rain. And they sang "Build Me Up Buttercup" for me last night at Karaoke.
They tease me all the time and since the Missing Kara incident always steal her and I find her hanging from the telephone cord and hiding places.
We're planning on putting up a Christmas tree for the holidays and doing secret santa. I'll be sad to leave them.

ok, cool kids....

My flatmates and I at Karaoke night...don't worry, I study too (currently powering through Gertrude Stein).

Alright, old folks

When you go to write a blog, there is the Title box, then under that is the big white box that you write your post in. In the top left corner it says "font," in the top right corner it says "preview." in between those are lots of little pictures. To add a picture, click on the little landscape (mountains and blue sky). If you rest your mouse over it it says "add image" (very small print, will need glasses). It then gives you the option to "add image from your computer." click "browse" and select the picture from the file you've saved it in (ex. "Peter's picture library" or something like that). Click upload and you should be all set.

Same goes for the link. click on the image that looks like a globe wearing reading glasses. It will ask for the URL and just copy paste it in.

Hope this helps!!

Posting photos

Patchico and everyone else.  I think you can enter the URL of an image that's already online and insert it into your post.   Control C allows you to copy.  Then once you are in your post you can hit Control V to insert.  Because I'm the administrator my site may be different but at the top of the post before it is posted there is a menu bar with an icon of a photo.  Clicking on this should allow you to insert an image also.  Good luck.  Don't worry you can't hurt anything so feel free to experiment.  Hope this helps, I am by no means a computer whiz.  Anyone else out there?  Cailin?  Grady?  Connor?  Marley you've done this before.  Anyone under the age of thirty?

Love you all.  Peace.  Peter

Help!

any help on how to upload photos or links?!
please.

3 posts in one day!

I just remembered this story that I thought you all would find funny, a typical smooth moment of mine.

I was on my way to class on Friday and was very lost, campus is so big that it takes forever to get anywhere. I knew I was already late and was hurrying, and finally found a building that said CD Annexe on it. "Yes! Finally!" I walked in and looked all over and couldn't find classroom 0.27. A map on the wall said it was through a different entrance. So I walked all around the building, trying to find another door, all of which were locked. Next door was the Islamic center. "Maybe they hold seminars in there..." I thought. It was really my last hope. I guess I was too stressed out to notice the sign that said "Sisters' entrance" because I walked around the corner to the "Brothers' entrance" where about 9 bearded Islamic men were standing. They looked at me like I was a ghost. "Oh no," I thought, "this is definitely not right. And I've probably just disrespected them by walking into the brothers' entrance. oh no oh no." There was no playing it cool, I definitely couldn't pass this off as "Oh, just looking for my friend." or something like that. "So sorry!" I stammered and turned and ran away. Boy was my face red!

I did find the right classroom eventually, and someone else was later than me so it wasn't too bad.

Greetings from the basement

Hello family!

I love love love my new neighborhood. Yesterday was so sunny and fall-ish and Ellina and I walked around the neighborhood and found a park, where there is an open track (which I am going to go run on this afternoon) and there are all these soccer fields and a lot of youth soccer going on. Also there was a farmer's market happening, and there was this winery there, and-- a very tricky sales tactic, I think-- a very handsome young man selling his wine. And he called me over and said that I just had to try the new cabernet, and he flirted me right into buying a bottle. But not to worry, I will drink only in very small increments and only with the most classy companions. although, if said gentlemen is there every saturday morning, you might have to stage an intervention of sorts.

Also, there are so many 24 hour markets in the neighborhood (the Polish never sleep!), and it is nice knowing that, should I get a craving for ben and jerry's at four-thirty in the morning, immediate gratification is only one block away.

Oooh, also, two blocks from my apartment is "pay-as-you-wish yoga," so I will most definitely be partaking in that. I may find inner sanctity yet!

it is quite easy to get to manhattan from Greenpoint, just a few subway transfers and I am happy to say that I have already become quite adept at the journey.

The only thing about the apartment is that you can hear everybody walking around upstairs, and their kitchen is right over our bedroom, so this morning I heard all these clanking pots and pans and it sounded so close, I thought someone must be in our kitchen. So I grabbed a heavy-ish boot and crept to our kitchen and it was empty, and I thought, "how did they hide so fast," and retreated, then heard the noises again and was thoroughly peeved that someone was helping themselves to breakfast from our cupboards. But when I jumped out again, there was still no one, and I realized that it was the neighbors above us, innocently going about their morning.

Miss you to pieces. Any visits planned for the near future? There is a very comfortable couch in the kitchen, and, I was relieved to find out, cable tv.

Kara is found!

Ok, a night full of bad dreams and a morning spent going crazy with worry, I just ran into one of my flatmates in the kitchen. I told him my stuffed animal had disappeared and he started laughing and opened the cupboard under the sink and pulled Kara out (poor thing had been there all night) and apparenly Chloe (another flatmate) had taken her when I was out and they'd hidden her, thinking it was hilarious. NOT FUNNY.

But, the good news is, I can stop worrying, because Kara is back.

Kara is lost!

I can't find Kara (my stuffed animal lamb) anywhere! She's completely disappeared! Last seen in my room around 8 last night, gone by 1am. Nothing else is missing. I've searched my room high and low (and in a room that's 8ft by 12 ft there aren't so many places to look) and cannot find her. This is a very sad day. Where are you Kara?

Earlham Park

Two of the last three days have been sunny! Today is beautiful, but I slept in and missed the morning, which I hate to do. On Thursday I took advantage of the gorgeous weather to go for a run through Earlham Park. It is a park I pass every day on my way into Uni, with big iron gates and lots of huge trees and it is always very misty and foreboding. It reminds me of Jane Austen. Mama, you would love to walk in it! I've been wanting to explore it since I got here. I took the path towards the back, past the cafe (yes, there's a cafe in the park, that sells ice cream and pasties) and ran along the river. This took me back into the woods, where there are lots of little trails through the trees, which all covered in moss and ivy. It's so green here, because of all the moisture. Very fairylandish. I saw rabbits and magpies. I passed a couple of old englishmen walking their greyhound. I came out by the back of the school and saw the rugby team practicing. Eventually I made it to the Broads, which is marshland and a giant pond (more like a lake) which is very cold and deep. People were sitting playing guitar on the docks. It was a great run. Hoping to make it out for another one this afternoon.

I'm getting along so well with my flatmates, they are really the sweetest people. Yesterday I was taking a nap (I had 6 hours of class in row!) and I hear this knocking on the door. "Cailin, we've bought you a present!" They had bought me a little Chelsea Football Club piggy bank! Then this morning Richard woke up early to get me a ticket to the Freshers Bash tonight, because he knew I hadn't bought one yet and wanted me to be able to come with them. They all like to tease me about American things. Last night they were making grilled cheese and were doing it all wrong (using sprinkle mozzarella instead of chedder, for one thing) and when I told them how I would make it they said "Well, never argue with an American about food. You won't ever win that one."

My classes are great, but there is so much work for them! Besides the primary reading (a novel a week for each class) we also have secondary reading, which is critisism for the novel or author (in the form of journal articles or books ). My professor said that we're expected to work a 36hour week as a student, so while 8 are class hours, the other 28 should be spent on homework. Also, my schedule is great because I have Monday and Tuesday off and only one class on Wednesday and Thursday, but Friday I have all 3 seminars at once (seminars are 2 hours long), which is exhausting!

Grady's apartment looks adorable! But going from Penthouse to the basement...I guess the good news is that now you have nowhere to go but up!

Connor, you would probably get along with the guys in my flat very well. They went into the city at midnight the other night to wait in line to get the new FIFA 11 for their XBOX. Which I'm told is MUCH better than FIFA 10. And 9, and 8, and 7...

Off to go for a run and read Robinson Crusoe and The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas.

In the words of Ellina, "I love you more than the Atlantic seperating our souls."

Where to take Kelsey for dinner when you visit Paris

Kelsey-
How many of these have you been to?

http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2010/10/paris-restaurants/

Grady's House

Grady's Apartment house at 139 Calyer Street in Brooklyn, compliments of Google.  She has the apartment in the basement.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=139+Calyer+Street,+New+York,+NY&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.150864,56.162109&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=139+Calyer+St,+Brooklyn,+Kings,+New+York+11222&ll=40.729999,-73.95877&spn=0,0.010943&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.727369,-73.955589&panoid=FUj9Fdg9Y7EXuKbNM0Xbvw&cbp=12,349.04,,0,5.07

Moving in, moving on

I drove down to New York, New York yesterday to help Grady move from the lowest point of Manhattan to an incredible Polish neighborhood in Brooklyn.  I'll let her tell you about the neighborhood as she gets out and explores but I can say it is very different from the lowest point of Manhattan.

The GPS I was using (relying on) crapped the bed at a point just north of the city which was really not nice at all.  I mean I was perfectly capable of getting to a point just north of the city.  It's the damn city I need directions for.  As in, I believe I missed my turn.  As in, I don't think the George Washington Bridge is the same thing as the Holland Tunnel.  The good thing about the lowest point of Manhattan is it is relatively easy to find.  Go south old man.  Until you can go no further without a Staten Island Ferry ticket.

We got Grandpa Jim's pickup loaded and headed for Brooklyn.  After paying $44 for a half hour of parking.  The good thing about the new neighborhood; there is no charge for parking.  The flip side of this of course; there is no parking.  Anywhere.  Except in front of fire hydrants.  Quick unload the truck.  Haul the boxes and bed down the sidewalk to 139 Calyer Street, which is a very cute 2 story (with a basement, where Grady lives) brick building.  Note to Grady.  Next time use packing tape to seal the bottom of the boxes so your undies don't end up all over the sidewalk in front of 139 Calyer Street.

After depositing the worldly possessions inside we took a quick walk about to find a place to eat.  Not speaking or reading Polish we had a hard time deciding where to eat.  The first restaurant we walked in looked okay but the only thing on the menu I recognized was borscht and sprigowkgrthsidiotsky and I was in no mood for beets.  So we ended up getting a slice of pizza and an eggplant calzone.  Wonderful to see the Poles and the Italians getting along.

Good by Gradsie!  Have fun.  Be sure to come home in December.  Or before if you want.  But have fun.

Leaving the city should be easy.  Go north old man.  Mapquest had me following signs for LaGuardia Airport which just didn't seem right but was.  And looking for the Triboro Bridge which seemed right but wasn't.  Note to Mapquest.  The Triboro Bridge has been renamed the Robert F Kennedy Bridge.  And I don't know who Major Deegan is but he owns a great highway that goes north and gets you out of the city and onto the New York Thruway and eventually back to Vermont.

Love you all.  Peace.  Peter