Amish

Last night mom was sitting outside in the aftermath of a storm. At night is when you get bitten my the most mosquito's. Mom also saw a track bike poser.
And to cap the last night off, tai food and a documentary about the Amish were ingested.
The Documentary is called "The Devil's Playground",

and it centers around Rumspringa the Amish rite of passage which begins when an Amish child reaches 16 years of age, and continues until they decide whether or not they want to join or leave the Amish church. Um, pretty good idea to let them choose, but it is a hugh culture shock to go from no exposure of the "English" world, to going to GODSMACK concerts.
It is fascinating to me to watch 16-21 year old Amish kids party their brains out in rural places. It is a life that I will never know.

I am also glad that mom does not wear Amish style clothing, it would be very hard to bike in that long dress.

My question is, why hasn't someone come up with an Amish bike, and done extensive marketing soley to the Amish? That is a gold mine If you ask me. The rely heavily on bicycles (and the horse and buggy. )

P.S. Rick and Katie got engaged (they are co-founders with mom of their theatre co. REDSTAR Productions) and mom gets to got to their fun party tonight! Congrats Guys!

Red Light Go

I am recommending to all you all out there to go and watch,buy,support the documentary "Red Light Go"

(totally check out the websight)

The movie is about bike messengers and Ally cat races in New York city. It is raw and honest and you are able to really get a good grasp of what it is like to be a bike messenger in the city. You are introduced to the community of messengers that are out there and I feel as if you get a true portrayal of what it is like for them on a daily basis.

No only does this movie take you on a ride, but it gets personal in just the right way, there is no glamorization of the life. You see the good the bad the ugly, and in the end you respect what they are all about more.


On a side note I have begun to envy the community of bike messenger's for their support of one another, in a profession that is solitary. They go out of their way to create a strong community with events and races and mutual support if one another is in trouble. It is not a class system, nor a private club. Any race/type/level of insanity is free to participate. But if you want to truly stand out,you gotta race and place in the top ranks of the legendary Halloween Ally cat race.
"Red Light Go" is a must see!

Team Puma

I am fascinated, in awe, have a bit of jealousy towards these guys.

Not only are all of the hard core messengers, but also great bikers that got chosen to be on the track racing Team sponsored by Puma.
They have been around for a while, and Frank and mom go to a lot of NYBMA events that they go to too, but there is something about this picture that is fantastic.
Sometimes when mom bikes by them somewhere she feels as if she should yell out how cool they are, but instead just nod's in appreciation. Squid the guy in the center of the pic, also delivers food in Williamsburg on some nights, mom sees him and they have the same bag which makes her smile!
Go team PUMA!

fun fun fun

This past weekend was a blast, or it was for anyone who's body is not covered in fur. (un it was damn hot)
To begin Mom and Frank saw "Batman" on Friday night. They thought it was a great movie. I thought that Katie Holmes sucked. They agreed with me and Frank wondered what Christian Bale is like when he is not in training for a movie. He always seems to be training his body to do something crazy.
Then there was a great "crafty" fair is Mcarren Park next to my house on Sat,and Sun. So I got to walk around and smell Porto-potties while mom looked at cute things she wanted to buy, but had no money for.
Then mom got to test drive a track bike, they went to Bike doc and the ones that they have there have no break, so thank god that there was a playground near buy. Mom decide that she is going to buy one as soon as she can afford it!
Then Frank and mom decide to do a real Brooklyn thing and go on the Brooklyn Beer Brewery tour.

Let me just say it was way fun. First off is it located right on Berry street, (mom's favorite street) it is really not as packed with people as one might assume. The beers cost 3$ and there are great choices that are not in stores. So the deal is you go, buy a beer go on the tour, and then you get a free drink ticket for going on the tour. So for 5$ (including a 2$ tip), you can have 2 fresh brewed beers and sit in a cool bricked brewery. Might I suggest choosing to have the Brewmaster's special,

not only is is a kind that changes every 2 weeks, but it has an extremely high alcohol content and as the tour guide said "Drink it if you want to wreck your day". He was right it did (in a good way).
That is what is called a good weekend.

Grandpa Ted

Mom's Grandpa Ted passed away this morning. He was 86 and in fair health. He had triple bi-pass sugary 13 years ago, and was living as strong as he could after that. He died in his sleep laying in bed next to his wife. Apparently he was in no pain what so ever, he just died. His wife woke up at 2:30am and went to the bathroom and he was fine, and when she woke at 6:30am he was cold.
The fact that he is dead is really sad, but mom can't figure out weather or not she is sadder that his wife woke up and found him dead next to her. That image is so awful to her.
Mom has not seen her grandpa in a while, but all her memories from childhood are bright and shiny. He was a good man, who was a good father to his 5 kids. He was in the Navy and traveled a lot but always was there if his kids needed anything. He got remarried after he divorced his first wife, to Marianna an amazing German lady with flaming red hair, green eyes and an accent to boot. She made him a better man, and never tried to become anyone's mom or grandma against their wishes. That is why we all loved her more.
I hope that Ted Swanson (Grandpa Ted) Rests in peace. And his memory continues to live on.

Stand-up (comedy)?

Last night mom went to see her friend Roy do Stand-up comedy.

Roy was really funny, and he has the ability to make fun of himself, and also point out the obviousness of some situations in a way that makes you like him a whole lot more.
Mom is always weary of going to see stand-up because if it is bad, it is really bad and you are stuck watching. And the worst part is that there is no 4th wall, so if you try to leave you get pointed out and made fun of or just put totally on the spot. It is always the bad comic who has the balls to yell at you when you are trying to gracefully slink out. Another bad thing that can happen if the comic is bad, is that you end up having shivers and bad images of what they are trying to be funny about. For example a snotty nosed Long Island girl yelling in a Chinese accent about how she got a Brazilian wax forced upon her. Um, forgive me but I don't need that image in my head.
The great thing about Stand up is that when it is good it is pee in your pants, hold your breath so that they keep going good. Last night there was this one guy who was a bit metro-sexual, talking about P-Diddy in "Raisin in the Sun", on Broadway, and how everyone around him was acting, and he was just P-Diddy the rich rapper from NYC. Now I am no comedian, and my delivery is off, so it does not sound as funny but the point was that when big stars do Broadway they do not act, they are themselves and the funny part is when everyone around them is "init" and acting up a storm.
Listen, if you want to see for yourself go find
"Becky and Claudia's Supreme Offering"
Graham Lounge - 8pm
312 Graham Ave
b/w ainslie and devoe st
Every 4th Wednesday of the month.
I will leave you with my favorite bit from last night. Claudia one of the founders of the event said "I am one google search away from being fired". Mom knows how true that is!
So go see some Comedy and you can decide for yourself if you want to stay or "Stand-up" and walk out.

It's half marathon Time again

So mom is going to do it again. She is going to run another half marathon on August 10th. Every year Frank does something crazy for his birthday, and this year is no exception. He is going to do a half iron man. That means Swimming, Biking, Running, in that order. Mom is going to do the 13 mile run with him, I feel it should be easier for her this time agound. She has already done it once, she knows that it is doable, and her fear that he body will quit is unfounded, so why not.
The only con that she is coming up with in her head, is that it will be much hotter, and the training that she will have to do will be in July, the hottest month.
Oh well, I guess that I get to look forward to a month of really great salt licks!

I hate when mom's are right

There is nothing like being slapped back to reality by a parent. Last night mom called her mom, (who we will be calling Grandma) and got into a big fight.

It did not start out as a fight but it escalated to that place quick. All mom was trying to do was explain that she was so excited, that Frank helped her craft a great resignation letter for the job that she was supposted to be quitting today.
Wham, that remark that mom made sent Grandma over the edge, and got mom on the defensive really quick. Grandma started explaining to mom is a loud tone with fast words that is was incredibly stupid to quit the job she is at now just for the sake of it, when she does not have another job lined up.
Grandma was saying that it's great to be all romantic about eating canned soup and PB&J sandwitches untill mom finds another job, but that there are realities that come along with being unemployed. These realities are that Rent needs to be paid, ConEd needs to be paid, (so that the air conditioner works and I don't Fry). Little things like, I need dog food, and mom needs shaving cream need to be bought. All those things cost money and when there is no money coming in there is no money to be spent.
Grandma said it is uneducated, selfish and makes mom look bad to give a fine job up, just because mom does not like it with all her heart. Grandma did say that mom could feel free to quit as soon as she gets that other job and not to worry about giving the full two weeks.
Damn this, Mom did not want Grandma to be right, and grandma was not trying to be mean or all "I told you so," but after 2 hours on the phone mom relented and said that she would think about holding off handing in her resignation letter until she though it all out.
Damn it, Damn it , Damn it. Mom is so mad that she has to continue to be here a bit longer. It does not seem fair, but then again Grandma pointed out that life is not, and unfortunately no one is there any more to help her out finantially if mom is broke.
That's the reality and the facts and that is the hardest idea to swallow.
That idea is not the way mom was raised, and she has been fighing it for a long time now. It just sucks to her, to really realize that she is the one who is in charge now of her money, lifestyle and needs. And if she wants something, she is going to have to make it happen. The sad fact is that she had to learn it at 25, and not at 18. So many of you out there already knew that, we know. But today is the day that mom became a grown-up. And there is no little party to celebrate, Just a welcome to the real world lunch brough from home in tupper ware.

This is the moment

For someone who is on the broke side of the fence mom has been in a really good place mental. She is happy, excited and I doesn't mind getting up at 7am to walk me. What?
This past Friday she and Frank went to this new restaurant that mom's friend Shannon knew. It is called "Lodge" and it is all cedar and Ski like. Well It smells like it. They ordered these great hamburgers and French fries, got red wine and had great conversation. The place has these great wrap around windows like "Little Giant", but a very large bar area. I would recommend it, cause it is good but I would not tell you to run there. It is a bit expensive for the sake of it, and the menu choices are meek.
Today is also a good day because mom is going to give her notice at work, she can't afford to but she can't afford not to. Does that make sense? She needs to do this so she can start looking for a job that she really wants.
To explain further, to get a job that she really want she has to be clear about what she is good at, and explain to people she is interviewing with what she can bring to the job. Mom has to demand more of herself and she has to demand more of the places that she works. She ended up at this place she is now out of desperation and fear that she would never work again.
That fear is untrue. Mom is a college graduate with experience and know how that she can bring to a job. It is silly to think that she has to be a receptionist/ Administrative assistant at a place that has nothing to do with what she is all about and what she likes. Just because she needs a job. And neither should she have to stay there and wait it out , until she gets another job, because she can't interview for other jobs properly while she is still in a job.
Also she is not going to use the job she has now as a reference so why the hell should she stay. That's like telling a PHD candidate, hey while you work on your dissertation at night , during to day to survie you have to work at MC Donalds to pay the bills. That is how she feels. And to change her situation It is going to have to be drastic. And somepeople will think that's stupid but they do not have to get up every day, and go to her job, She does. It is her life and she is the one who has to live it, and it may seem like she should just stick it out and wait until insurance kicks in and get her pay checks as long as she can, but fuck that It is not worth slowly wasting away in the chair loosing all her creative energy for a small pay check that makes her want to die.
(yes she is being self indulgent and spoiled, we know)

In case u wanted to know

This is the bike that mom wants to get and Will get next.

It is a Langster, and she will have Frank put a front and back break on it. But is cool, cause it is single gear, with a flip flop tire!

Also when mom was sick she read "Valley of the Dolls" again and is now obsessed again.

the book is better than the movie, but then again you get to see the "dolls" in action.

Change

When mom needs a change, little things start happening in her life that are beyond her control. Things like getting bad news on a series of things mom wanted, the cap of her tooth falling out, getting sick, picture flying off the wall. All these are signs that something needs to change. But then there are still some great moments admiss all the bad ones that clarity comes through, and things feel alright. Those moments are the ones that keep her going. And other simple delights such as making dinner with Frank, biking and beating other people on the bridge. Coming in to work sweaty and not caring.
But then another sign that mom needs to change something in her life, is when she starts cutting my hair, using the dustbuster too much, cleaning for the sake of it and dreaming up different colors to re-paint her bedroom. I actually think that she is going to re-paint the bedroom because the lilac color that she has now sucks. I think that she should paint it the same color that Kris has her bedroom.
Now to the point, what is the change that needs to be made. It think I'll leave it up for speculation.

Friday Fun and Pigging out

Frank took mom to their favorite restaurant last Friday and they ate like Pigs.
Let me start with the place. "Little Giant", is the name, it is located on the corner of Orchard and Broome.

(Frank knows one of the owners Tasha from a job he used to have, she's on the right.)

The decor is tasteful, original and the ceiling is brick. The bathroom down stairs it one of mom's favorite kinds. It is under the stairs, tiled with little small while pieces, and it feels very private.
All of the seats upstairs have pillows and there is a large wrap around window that all the seats face. The food is American, but with a twist of Greatness.

For example, they get most of their ingredients from the Farmers Market in Union Square and everything is fresh and made to order. For and appetizer they got this dish called "Curds and Way", it was a really large piece of cheese coated in a bit of oil and salt served with some garlic crusted bread. For Drinks they got these special mixed drinks that mom has only seen made there.
Their main course was so amazing that my mouth waters just thinking about it. Mom got a duck confite salad, which was two pieces of roasted duck on the bone, served over white grilled asparagus, and an onion mixture. Off to the side of the plate were grilled peaches and a slice of Blue cheese. Seriouly that combo, who would have thought it would be that good? It was so unbelievable!
Frank got the Steak, which was not the steak that they got there before, but it was just as good. It was served in slices, with an assortment of beans and greens. The steak itself was tender but not juicy. And the fixings were melt in your mouth good.
Ok here's the kicker the dessert. . .
Frank knows the owner but they were not expecting this. They ordered the item called "Milk and Cookies" It came as 3 fresh baked cookies all different types, and glass of Milk with a shot of Creme do Coco. And for Free the owner sent them her specialty, fresh Vanilla Ice Cream with a granola brown sugar topping, smothered in cherries and to the side was a shot of expresso you pour over the top! No joke that dessert was soo good, they were not able to talk after the meal.
Little Giant I think will continue to be their favorite place, provided it does not close ever! I highly recommend going there when you have some money to spend and are hungry and ready to have your taste buds go wild!

Sick as a dog

Mom has been out of commission Since Sat, she was so sick that she had to miss two days of work this week. Some might say that, that is a great long weekend but not if you are hacking up a lung and can't swallow the whole time! Finally she is back at work today, but not without symptoms. It sucks being sick in the summer.

momma is sick but mass's are cool.

Well, it has happened mom has gotten sick. We think that it is strep. She does not have health insurance yet because it has not kicked in, She has to wait until August for her insurance to kick in, to problem is that she is not going to be at her job until then, so there has to be a back up.
What do people do who are sick, who don't have health insurance or can't afford it do? Well they go to free clinics! And wait in line with the mass's.


Speaking of Mass's, my friend Emily just told mom about a pic that was taken last summer at the First ever critical mass in Brooklyn. Emily is in Green, Frank Next to her on right and mom sitting on her bike, trying to look cool, but way out of her element.
Frank and mom went that critical mass right as they were starting to date, and mom got half through the ride and her tire flatted. It was funny cause it was one of the first times she had been on a bike in NYC. Frank had borrowed the bike from his roommate whom he was sub-letting from, and the bike was shit, and had a peddle back brake. For all you all who are bikers tonight is another critical mass in Brooklyn. You should go!
It is funny how far mom has come in a year. She went from not biking at all to being a total bike commuter and lover. Thanks to Frank for being so patient with mom, and teaching her all about bikes, and biking in the city. Now we all know what mom's next step has to be . . .the track bike!

new friend?

Frank's brother Jonno got a new dog. He named him Milo!

He is half chow and boxer and right now he is only 4 months old. He lives in St.Louis, but maybe I will get to see him one day. I think I could stomach a plane ride for a good cause. Mom told me that Milo is going to be way bigger than me, and that for me to get to see him I have to stop peeing in the house forever. This is a deal I won't have trouble doing, see ever since moving to Greenpoint I only had one accident, and that was the first day, and it was because I was scared. We only live one flight up now, so even if mom leaves me for 14 hours, like she did on Sunday. I can hold it! Milo here I come!

This is all I have to say about the weekend

Mom and Frank built the new office for Transportation Alternatives!


Mom


Frank

and . . .

thank god Kris came and helped!

Tell me this is a joke.

This is a posting on Craigs list in the Pet section.

My Alligator needs a loving home
Reply to: anon-76643572@craigslist.org
Date: 2005-06-02, 3:21PM EDT


I picked up a small aligator down in Florida a few years ago and now he's grown too large for my studio apartment. He's a real charmer named Larry and he's completely trained. He eats whole raw chickens (Perdue oven stuffer roasters are his favorite) and raw ribeye steaks as well. He's trained to releive himself in the bath tub and mostly sleeps during the day (when he's not watching soap operas). Larry rarely snaps and is an absolute pleaure to be around. He's also fond of children and small animals so don't worry, they're completely safe around him.

If you think you might have the space and would care to adopt this unique exotic pet, please email me immediately and we'll make arrangements. Teeth and claws have recently been cleaned. FREE delivery.

It's hard to distinguish

Recently as mom has been biking way more regularly, and her commute to work has been something that she has been looking forward to a lot. Since our apartment is in Greenpoint mom goes down Manhattan Avenue takes a right on Eagle street, goes over the way cool Pulaski Bridge, ends up in Queens goes down some stupid streets and ends up at the Queens bridge. She goes over that and swings a left on to 1st ave in Manhattan, takes another left onto 63rd goes to 3rd Ave and up one block to 64th Street, and is then at work!
Sounds like a hellish ride but really it takes 20 to 25 minutes, depending how much she pushes it on the bridge. With all that said the morning rush hour biking zone is new to mom.

This is what her commute would look like if more people biked to work.
Anyway, She has been finding that her concentration has to be so spot on, and weather she is tired or not her body takes over and makes her pay super close attention to everything around her. She has 25 minutes of intense concentration and adrenalin rushing and then stops cold, has to get off the bike and go sit at a desk. That is the hardest part, the intense raw feeling she has to stomp out in order for her not to be a maniac in the office. The transition from the commute to sitting behind the desk for the first half an hour feels like the same thing. She answers the phone with ferver, talks to coworkers fast and quick, and then has to go to the bathroom and look in the mirror to remind herself she is not in traffic, dodging cars and pedestrains. After that she crashes and has to drink more coffee to keep awake.
It's hard to explain, but all that can be said is that the zone extends into more than the bike commute!

Old pool

Mom has a fascination with the park and the empty pool that is right near our house in Greenpoint.

She walks me by all the time and tells me that a long time ago the pool was all fixed up and beautiful and a great summer hang out, it was Brooklyn's largest swimming pool which opened in 1938.

I sometimes wish that I was alive back then so I could run and frolic in the great clean park area. Now it is filled with graffiti and ruin. The pool closed for good in the late 1970s, so it has had a while to sit and get nasty. It is just so sad that there was just not enough money to keep it open. Back in the park and pools hay day it was a hopping area to be around, and really created a community feel. Mom feels really sad about missing out on experiences that happened when new york was not just a city. When there were a lot more open areas and the large pools, parks , gardens, and waterfronts were not forbidden zones to walk in.

Now if you trespass in the pool are you could go to jail. I am tempted to get loose and sneak into the pool so mom has to come in and get me!
Oh and by the way. This is Frank's apartment building the old historic Astril Apartments on Franklin Street.