(un)Official LIC storm report

The wind and rain picked up as it got darker out, but I went to bed around midnight.  Then around 5 am Irene woke me up.  The wind and rain were pretty loud so I quickly checked Twitter to see what was up.  No big news so I rolled back over.  I was surprised to be woken up by sunshine this morning around 9am.  The sunshine was short lived but the storm was essentially over.

I stayed inside a few more hours per the Mayor, but by one I had to get out.  Armed with my camera, phone, and some cash I took a walk around the hood.  Not much to see.  There was one window out in one of the high rises under construction and I saw one tree down, but it looked half dead.

More disturbing is the fact that the subways are still down and almost all the stores and restaurants were closed.  Sweetleaf was open so I bought a latte just because I could, but now I'm back in my apartment and the city is unsure the subways will be up and running for tomorrow.  I wish Irene had ruined the workweek instead of the weekend.

Sweetleaf still boarded up, but open

Stormy skies over Manhattan

IRENE!!!!

My first real hurricane... not real excited.  As channel 7 just said, "she's putting the motion in the ocean".  I was spreading the news at work today about "knowing your zone" and preparing evacuation kits and filling bathtubs (I guess I'll fill my sink, I don't have a bathtub).  I dug out my flashlights and stopped by the grocery store tonight.  What are people buying in NYC?  Water, bread, peanut butter, chips, and beer seemed to be the top sellers.  The craziest thing yet is that MTA is shutting down Saturday at noon.  I'm in zone B, which means I'm not being evacuated, but only a few blocks away from zone A, which was told to move to higher ground.  The building I was living in last year at this time is being evacuated and they are warning people above the 10th floor to move down.  

Anyway the weather was pretty lovely today and I have several magazines and knitting to keep me occupied.  

And something that makes me happy everyday on my way home...  When entering the subway and you swipe your metro card it may tell you one of four or so things.  1) Please swipe again 2) Please swipe again at this turnstile 3) Insufficient fare or 4) Go  Well the middle turnstile at the northwest corner of 41st and 7th ave tells you...

GOO

Makes me smile every time.

On the side of the road

During one of my "training runs" I ran by some wooden boxes in a trash pile by the curb of a nearby restaurant.  They looked pretty cool so after I finished my two miles I circled back to investigate.  There were about six or so old crates and they were fairly clean and in good "rustic" shape.  So I grabbed two.  I would of taken two more, but they were kind of heavy and awkward.  I wiped them down and set them up in my living room.  One is holding old magazines I want to keep and the other has some of my yarn and knitting supplies.  I think they look great and complement my urban country decorating scheme.

with my knitting basket, which is made from recycled rubber

yarn!

I've been hanging some more things on my walls lately....

Socrates Sculptures Summer 2010

A week or so ago I biked over to the Socrates Sculpture park to check out the new installations and the farmers' market.  As usual there were some great pieces and some uh interesting pieces.  The market was small, but I found some veggies to take home.

I thought this was pretty

neighboring building

house chimes

Hallet's Cove

not sure what this is trying to say about John Deere

to market to market to buy a fat pig

from outerspace

Grow bottle

During lunch the other day I was reading O magazine in the Reading Room in Bryant park, one of Oprah's favorite things was a grow bottle from Potting Shed Creations and there was a discount code so I decided to order one.  They are recycled wine bottles turned into kits for growing herbs.  I ordered the basil one but the discount code was expired (darn old magazines in the reading room).  I still ordered it and finally received it two weeks ago.  The instructions were long and complicated so I let it sit a week, but last weekend I put it all together.  Much to my surprise they sprouted in 4 days!  The instructions included spraying them with water each day and keeping it covered with a bag until they were an inch tall.  So day I finally got to remove the bag and sit it in a warm and sunny place.

Under the stars

Every Friday this August the parks department is showing movies in Gantry State Park.  Last Friday was The Man Who Would Be King a 1975 film staring Sean Connery, Michael Caine, and Christopher Plummer.  I got free popcorn and the grass was crowded but not packed, very delightful, but somewhere between India and Kafiristan I decided I had enough.  Next week is the Lion King (can't wait!) (notice royalty theme).

movie under the stars & lights of Manhattan

Bike upgrades

Ever since I started taking spin classes where I strap my feet to the pedals, when I climbed on my road bike things just didn't feel right.  After a little internet research and talking to some friends I decided I wasn't ready for clip in shoes.  I went to my local bike shop where they hooked me up with some toe clips (and installed them! yea for shopping local).  I also picked up a bell, because NYC requires you to have one and last time I road there were a few people I wanted to ring/warn/scold.  I've only gone on a few short rides since I've gotten the new additions.  I haven't had trouble getting out of the toe clips, but still have trouble getting in.  

What's the trick?  

ring ring

i'm so fast now