Too Cold!

Too cold to ride. Too cold for a really long walk but just cold enough for a quick trip uptown by subway and downtown on foot.First stop, FAO Schwarz.
Really!
Some of our favorite animals.

On the way home we stopped by Rockefeller Center and took in the sights.
One of these days I'll get photos of more of the reliefs on the buildings. I just love them!
Some pocket parks. Quiet places in the midst of the hustle and bustle of our city.

Tomorrow, some more pictures from our walk, including a piece of the Berlin Wall.

Sloth-like Squid

We have spent most of this week essentially hibernating as the weather turned cold again. Seems like a good time to answer some questions.

Knitseashore asks "What will you be planting? I'm intrigued by those large pots! Will you have a balcony garden?" and

"Will you be doing the five boro bike tour in May? My husband and I signed up, along with some friends, and it will be my first time, his second. I hope those metal plates are not on the bike route, but I know at least to avoid them if they are."

Into the flower pots will go pumpkin, cucumber, pepper and tomato. Smaller window boxes will hold flowers and maybe basil. (The basil is not happy right now, I may have to reseed it.)

Five-boro bike tour is now a YES! (Assuming it does not rain -- the kids are not equipped for wet weather. Both Squidlings have agreed to miss Hebrew school for the day just to do the tour. As for "my" metal plates -- they are not on the tour. I have no promises about other plates, however. Look for us -- the kids will be sporting orange flags on the back of their bikes -- and the flags have our Squid on Wheels logo on them. We should be wearing our Squid on Wheels t-shirts assuming it is warm enough. The first rest stop, by the way, is at my school.

Ina asks: "Did you get to see Bello's bitty bicycle, lost and then found?"

Yup! It was so small and really neat. Papa Squid thinks it was taken by the Critical Mass Police. (NYC biker joke)

Meanwhile, some crafting has been going on here. Squidette made and gifted this lamb to me (no, not for Easter).Then she put this elephant hanging together for her brother.I spent today spinning and finished the 9 ounces of silk-alpaca-merino that I got from Indigo Moon at Rhinebeck this year. So far I have Navajo plied about half of it. Hopefully I will finish the plying tomorrow so that when I finish Squidette's sweater I can start one for myself.Tomorrow, maybe some riding, more likely more sloth-like behavior.

This City is a Circus

Oh, wait, no it isn't. The Circus is a Circus!

This morning the Squidlings and I headed a few blocks uptown to fight the crowds at Madison Square Garden. We did this last year and practically walked right in to the show with barely a wait to buy tickets. Today, however, we made it to our seats with barely a minute to spare. This meant that we missed the pre-show but we'll survive.
Here is the sock taking in the sights. I was a bit fearful that I might finish the sock during the performance and then have nothing to work on but it turns out that the circus requires all of my attention most of the time so very little got done on the sock.
Clowns. Yup, we were up way high.
Elephants! As always, Little Squid's favorite part.

Squidette decided that the human cannonballs were her favorite part. Hmmm ...

My favorite? The gymnasts, acrobats and trapeze artists. This tour is touted as a "Bellobration," celebrating the talents of the clown Bello. Turns out that he is a talented gymnast / acrobat as well. The courage and skill that these folks have is amazing to watch. (Read the article attached to the link. It is written by my absolute favorite clown!)

What didn't I like? The animal stuff -- except for the part where one elephant relieved herself while performing. I found it absolutely hilarious that she was dumping what seemed to be gallons of liquid and pounds of semi-solids while half perched on a stool. I found the tiger show to be somewhat cruel and the dog act to be silly. But then I'm an adult and these things are not aimed at us. After last year's show I had figured that big animal acts, aside from the elephants, were out of fashion but I see that I was sadly mistaken. Poor tigers.

Apparently Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey run an elephant sanctuary where they care for and breed Asian Elephants. I think I can deal with that. More research is necessary though, but since my first negative hit was from PETA, I'll keep looking.

Will we go back next year? Maybe.

***

The conversation is still going on regarding this post. Feel free to keep speaking up. I'm really curious as to your feelings on this subject.

Sock-ret Pal Reveal and an Update

First, thanks to Socky-the-second, Emily.Wonderful goodies and the socks fit just right.

***

For those of you who have expressed concern -- and to those in who I have confided my fears -- thanks for your understanding and kind wishes. I went back today for a follow-up and if my face fractured it did so in an almost imperceptible manner. I go back in another two weeks. In the mean time this adventure has given me the kick in the tush that I needed to make an appointment with my g.p. for a physical. It's been too long ... she's probably totally forgotten me ... which is why I haven't done this before. You get in to kind of a cycle once more than a year has gone by.

Kind of funny story -- early on in my relationship with our pediatrician I did not make a single call, from the time of the kids' annual physical one year until it was time for the next one. When I did call to get the appointments, they thought I'd left the practice! (This is why they take me in as soon as I call between physicals, I just don't do it and never have.) Yes, I do better for my kids then I do for myself. This is also why we do dentist and optometrist en masse with all four of us taking back to back appointments. Forces the adults to go and saves trips.

Thoughts on the Medical Professions

A couple of months ago I posted a meme containing "things you don't know." One of them was my hesitancy around medical professionals. I know that my anxiety around medical folk is not rational -- after all, I have two degrees in Biology and the second one was done at a medical school. I know my science. After my adventures over the last week or so, I have tried to figure out what it is that makes me nervous. I have come to some conclusions and feel the need to share them. These are my own opinions and stem from my own experiences. They are not meant to demean or insult anyone. (And I don't think that they do.)

My Conclusions

One: Medical folk are like anyone else, there are really good ones and really bad ones, just fine ones and so so ones.

The EMTs I have encountered (and I meet a lot of them in my line of work) all really seem to care. I haven't met a brusque one yet. The ones who treated me on Saturday were lovely and caring and gave off oodles of concern. We will forgive the odd helmet comment -- everyone is entitled to a verbal faux pas.

I've never met a nurse I didn't like.

On the MD end, however, I've met all kinds and they are the ones who drive my anxiety issues. There was the pediatrician who, when told that I was lactose intolerant, gave me lactose-free formula for my breastfed child. Um... breastmilk has lactose in it. When I mentioned this I was met with "well if you want your child to have colic ..." This was the same woman who walked out of a well child visit 3 times without even an "excuse me." Gee, I know that emergencies come up but at least have the courtesy to utter those two words especially if you are leaving me in the middle of a sentence. By the time Little Squid was a year old I had gotten up the courage to leave her and found our current pediatrician. We rarely see him beyond annual physicals but when we do he is wonderful. From Squidette's adventures with puberty to Little Squid's migraines, the man is just super supportive. I don't want a doctor who prescribes lots of drugs, just one who really listens and makes judgments based on the whole story. The fact that he spends tons of time with us is the cherry on top of the sundae. I see the insurance statements, I know that for his hour with us (half an hour for each kid) he gets only a smidgeon more than I do for two hours of overtime. I know teachers are undervalued but I also, honestly, would pay more for this doctor's services.

Then there was the clinic doctor last week who was wearing a dirty lab coat and didn't seem to believe me when I said I was injured in a bike accident. For his five minutes with me (maybe), he received, from the insurance company and copay combined, the equivalent of more than an hour's overtime for me. Do I feel the experience was worth it? Nope. I left with my stitches intact (fine by me) and a slightly dirty feeling.

Then there was the gyn who was wonderful while I was having my kids but then not so good with issues that arose afterwards. Fine, everyone has their forte. Loved his manner, hated that he never returned calls from a patient who rarely called. He reinforced the feeling that my questions do not deserve answers. He also reinforced the stereotype that doctors always run late. A friend hooked me up with a gyn who really listens to my issues and works with me to solve them. She also doesn't make me feel negligent when I go too long without a visit. The first gyn took my insurance, the second does not. Again, fine by me, the fee is not so outrageous as to keep me from going when I have to but then we are not fiscally challenged and do not have major medical issues. I'm sure there is someone equally as wonderful out there who takes my insurance but I played that field for a while and couldn't find her.

Dentists fall in the same categories. When I moved in with Mike, he was still using his pediatric dentist and she was kind enough to add me to her caseload for a few visits. When Mike needed more adult-type work done we started using a dental clinic that took our insurance but used the pediatric dentist for Squidette. While we loved her, Mike's sister hated her. Said she had no patience for the nervous. Shows how people view others through different lenses.

Regarding that dental clinic ... well we no longer use it and pay a premium for the dentist that we do use. He takes our entire family since our pediatric dentist retired. As a person, I love him. As a dentist I also love him. He has his "thing" -- very much concerned with cosmetics where we are not -- but he doesn't push. We've watched the staff shift and settle as he has established the practice and I like the staff that has stuck around. He also cared enough to call ahead and make sure that his friend saw me last week. I found out later that I was "slipped in" to the schedule before official office hours began. Says a lot for both my dentist and my new doctor. (My dentist had also "slipped me in" for a quick look-see and the patient he kept waiting was very understanding. (Something about my green face, I suspect.))

Two: Support Staff can make or break a patient's experience

Yo Doctors! Don't forget about your staff! You can be the nicest, most concerned medical professional in the world but if your staff is brusque or doesn't give you messages, YOU will get a bad reputation. A rough dental hygienist will kill your reputation for a light touch. The receptionist who says "I recognized you" when walk in and I've only met her by phone -- a gem. A stable, rarely changing, caring staff says a lot about you as a person. Remember the gyn from before -- his staff was constantly changing -- hence the communication problems. A long-time assistant will know the patients who call for the smallest thing and those, like me, who rarely call. My pediatrician's staff is like that. The receptionist will move heaven and earth to get me in if I say I need to see the doctor because she knows that if I call then I have to be worried -- because I never call.

Support staff that lets patients know if a doctor is running significantly behind ... priceless! Support staff that stacks the patients like cordwood and estimates a one to two hour wait when the waiting room is bursting ... well, let's just say that we walked out of there without ever seeing the doctor.

My only two E.R. experiences have left me without complaint. I only have the one personal experience and the one ancillary experience when my mother-in-law had a stroke. Taking the latter experience first -- they were great! Kind, caring and professional. (The kind and caring went a long way for the worried family.) As for my own experience, also professional -- they did their job and I have no quibbles. I do not expect caviar service from any E.R. and certainly not Bellevue which is probably the busiest E.R. in the city. The E.R. was quiet when I went in. I was seen, treated and released fairly quickly. The resident who stitched me up couldn't find some stuff but he got it all sorted out in the end. Everyone and everything was clean and professional. No complaints other then I probably should have been told not to carry my bike out of there since the exertion is probably what reopened a part of my wound and sent me back a few minutes after leaving. I'd have no problems going back there. By reputation I know they do good work even tho my dentist said "Bellevue!" with a tone in his voice. (Two different links to Bellevue -- it really has an interesting history.)

Three: Time is Money?

In my profession, time is not money. We put in far more hours then our salary structure takes in to account. Time is only money if we are tutoring at market rate and not at contract- negotiated overtime. We are expected to have at least one graduate degrees and lots and lots of continuing education in order to keep current. Gee, much like doctors. Teachers, however, see our clients in groups of 34 at a shot. Do I begrudge my salary, no. This is what I chose to do with my life and it makes me happy. At the same time I have to recognize that other professionals are more realistic in the valuation of their time. If they can essentially self-value, then they do it. Good for them. I could do it, too, I just chose not to.

I am not the kind of person to ask a medical friend or relative for advice. I'm too embarrassed and why should they work off hours and for free? No one expects me to tutor in social setting. When I find a Doctor I like, I stick with them, even if they do not take my insurance. Some things are worth the money. Having someone who believes me (ie., bike accident, not spouse beating) is very important. Our last visit to the pediatrician ended with him reassuring me to call with the slightest question. Given how rarely we see him, this went a long way towards allaying my medical phobias. My experience at the clinic did not but was mitigated by the caring attitude of my dentist who steered me to someone like-mind.

There is the saying "time is money" and I know that is the case for doctors. The more patients they see in a day, the more money they bring in. Overhead costs have to be paid and I understand that they can be steep. Many insurance companies do not reimburse at what I view to be a fair rate -- my insurance company included. Should I switch to one that reimburses more, at a greater cost to me? Probably. Am I going to? No. I have a few doctors who take it and those who don't ... I pay full price.

A family like mine, coming with minor issues, is not a cash cow. A doctor who values time as much as money is a gem, a flower to be appreciated and cultivated. If any are reading this ... Thanks. (And if you want to read a really good essay about the time versus money thing, click here.)

(That said, it should also be noted that I coordinate a program for kids who want to be ... you got it ... Doctors. During my periodic visits to our partner hospital with my students,l I do get, you guessed it, nervous.)

Bits and Pieces

For those wondering about Passover, I found a really short version yesterday. It hits the main points. Enjoy! Need an explanation? Feel free to ask.

Cute Otter video tho I hear that my favorite Otter already knows.

How does a Squid prepare her home for Passover? She brings these up from the car.

I have BIG plans for this summer. There is one more bag of soil and another pot still in the car. Now to just finish clearing construction debris off of the balcony.

Yeah, bringing up the planting supplies and opening the matzoh is about all we do. Papa Squid did LOTS of cooking of yummy food. Pot roast and chicken soup with matzoh balls, compote and home made almond macaroons. Yum! Yes, the bread is still in the house but it won't be touched until next Tuesday evening. We Squid are more of "in the spirit" observers instead of "letter of the law." That said, I'll be cleaning up matzoh crumbs for the next week. (Please note, we are Squid and as a species are not kosher.)

Today, shopping for wedding clothes -- my kid brother is getting married in May and I need a dress and Little Squid needs a suit. Papa is taking Little for the suit and Squidette is taking me for a dress. In return, I will take Squidette for shoes to match her dress. Given how fast these squidlings grow, it did not make sense to do this any earlier. I'll take the camera and see what sites we can get for you guys!

Foggy Day

Some foggy shots of Lower Manhattan from our ride this morning. (All fog shots taken from outside Castle Clinton.)



Built as fortification, Castle Clinton later served as an arts center and still later as the precursor to Ellis Island as an immigrant receiving center. It now serves as the ticket purchase point for the ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and is a convenient bathroom stop during our rides. (Yes, the helmeted ones are Squidette and Little Squid. Mama Squid is wielding the camera and Papa Squid is using the Castle as mentioned above.) Heading around the tip of Manhattan and back north again, we came upon this building ...
and this metal plate. Yes, the scene of the crime accident. Current theory is that my front wheel got caught against the edge and the forward momentum of my back wheel -- in a slightly different direction -- sent me skidding and falling. No, you will not find evidence of my fall here -- it rained last night.
Then on to get some fresh horseradish for the holiday. And pickles, too!
Then back home for a total of 11.7 miles.


These? Oh, these are my anniversary present from Mike. Isn't he sweet!Happy Passover to all who celebrate!

Awake at Last!

Both me and my city!

Forsythia! My absolutely favorite flower because it implies that winter is finally over.

The first street fair of the year! Also a sign that winter is over in New York City. (23rd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues)
This has got to be the first day in over a week where I am awake and actually feel awake. Yea!!! Now to use that energy to clean up this place for the holiday.

Times Square and the Road Home

Not as many photos this time because by the time the concert let out we just wanted to get home and get to sleep. I promise to go back during the day so you can have some contrast, however, I find that Times Square is most exciting after dark.

The Barrymore and Biltmore Theatres
Benash Delicatessen. Don't you think there should be a space in the name?
Carnegie Deli where Mike and I enjoyed our first dinner as a married couple.
One Times Square -- from which the fabled ball drops on New Year's Eve. Don't hold your breath for a New Year's shot. No way am I being jammed into a pen with no access to a bathroom for multiple hours in the cold. Nope, not doing it. Yes, Times Square is named after the New York Times and no, it is not a square but rather a triangle or trapezoid.Contrary to what I wrote earlier, we did not go biking today. The weather is too damp and iffy with regards to rain so we did the grocery shopping instead. If it is sunny tomorrow morning we will go for a ride before going out to my folks for the first Passover Seder.

A Walk to Carnegie Hall

Many years ago, my mother-in-law decided that she wanted to go to concerts at Carnegie Hall and that her son was going to go with her. For a few seasons it was a bonding experience for mother and son and I stayed home with the kids. It worked for all of us -- they had a night out and I had a quiet night alone, once the kids went to bed. When mom passed away, we inherited the tickets for the upcoming season and I started going with Mike. This year we renewed the subscriptions and now periodically hustle uptown for an evening of wonderful music.

On our last trip I remembered my camera and so you get some NYC highlights on the walks to and from Carnegie Hall and our apartment.

Twins Pub -- I know that they used to have an all-Twin waitstaff but I do not know if it is still true and googling was no help.

The New Yorker Hotel

Alvin Ailey
The Morgan Mail Facility (USPS), site of a major anthrax scare in 2001. Next to and connected to it on the south is another postal building where a supermarket was supposed to go on the first floor. Never happened -- probably due to the anthrax scares.The GHI Insurance building from which far too many communications will be coming in the following weeks.

The Cheyenne Diner. An old-fashioned stainless steel faced diner. Nope, never eaten here.

Later -- the walk home. Now to go do some biking.

On the Road Again

After extensive preparations, which included making sure that I had my knitting, we headed out. It was a short ride -- to Chocolate Haven, the Greenmarket and home but I got back on my horse bike. I was nervous, so nervous that I almost cried, but by the time we remounted after the Greenmarket I had my nerve again.
The verdict? I rode almost 500 miles last year, I'll do the same or better this year.

(The sock, by the way, was barely a ruffle this time last week. Lots of waiting room knitting and some intermission knitting have created a cuff, a heel flap, heel cup and most of a gusset.)

Later, some NYC pictures including Times Square at night.

Music !

Squidette got in to Music Camp! Off the waiting list! It's free! To celebrate, we got her these . Now to figure out what to do with Little Squid.

We went to a concert at Avery Fisher Hall last night and I was smart enough to: 1. bring my camera and 2. find the balcony during intermission. Hence you benefit from both day and night pictures of some of the Lincoln Center Buildings.

Avery Fisher Hall (day shot only) Home to the New York Philharmonic and site of the Stuyvesant High School graduation and hence fond memories.

The New York State Theater, home to the New York City Ballet and the New York City Opera.

The Metropolitan Opera House

The Fountain where I once chased a suitor (not Papa Squid) and bopped him on the head with my high school yearbook. He still kept asking me out. Some guys just can't take no for an answer.The plaza in front of the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. I love the stars in the trees!

***

For the curious, I no longer look like Franken-mommy though half my face is still a bit green. My dentist sent me to a friend (read: nice doctor) to have my stitches removed and to be evaluated for additional damage. While I do not like the concept of Dentist, I do like love my dentist. After slipping me into his schedule this morning and checking me out (I thought I might have chipped a tooth), he even called his friend for me and arranged everything. Sweetest words of the day (uttered by the office assistant of my new Park Avenue Plastic Surgeon): "your co-pay is ..." They took my insurance!!!

And look what Mike got me!

My Face is Green!

and it hurts to sneeze!

Yes, I am wallowing in this, somewhat. I usually do not complain when I am hurt or sick but not this time. The green is not too obvious in this latest picture but even Mike noticed it. I know that green is good ... it is the bruising fading. So, to cheer it on, I added a matching green Cookie Monster band-aid. *grin* Yes, if I am trying to downplay this then Cookie Monster is not the way to go but if I am trying to dispel a rumor of beating-by-student then I think I've got just the right touch.

Yes, if anyone is paying attention, I am wearing a bicycle charm on my neck. It was my mother-in-law's and I think it makes the point -- if only to me. I will be back on my bike!

Tonight, some good music -- if I can stay awake.

Forgetful and Crochet

This morning I had to turn the corner to drop Squidette off at school because there were two police vehicles where I usually stop. Having dropped her in front of school, I continued north on First Avenue to drop off Little Squid. Several blocks later I heard a small "mom?" from the back seat. Oops, I had forgot to drop Little Squid off at school. Two left turns and a few blocks later I managed to get rid of the kid and made my way to work.

Since today is Tuesday, the knitting club did meet and I got a couple of the girls started on crochet using the sparkly hooks that KnittyOtter sent us. I love hooking kids on a new hobby! We lost some time due to a building collapse nearby that had me jumping up every few minutes to steer kids around the shut down subway lines. The I had to kick them out early so I could deal with my facial issues.

***

Not for the Squeamish. You have been warned!

I did get lots of knitting done today while waiting as a "walk-in" to finish the work on my face. After an hour of waiting for the walk-in (expected) and another 30 minutes in an exam room, I finally left ... with an appointment to go back on Thursday and the stitches still intact.

The entire cuff of my second ruffle sock is now done and I am working on the heel.

I was once again let go sans aesthetic covering (more understandable this time) but I am continuing to cover up in public because of my small degree of vanity and my belief that a bandage is more "attractive" then my bruised and stitched eye. Ick. I tend not to be vain but this is one area that does bother me and so I am doing something about it. Little Squid saw my bare face this morning and was a little freaked. I do not like to freak out my kids or my colleagues. Hence, the bandage. If there is anyone out there who really thinks that I should leave it uncovered in public, let me know. I'd love a good reason. Meanwhile I will continue to cover and to keep my hair tied back. (I also think my glasses might hit it a little. After all, they caused the damage to begin with.) (Mike thinks it is not very noticeable without a bandage.)

Oh, and the doctor did not seem to really believe my story. Hmm ... the number of people who think I was beaten is truly amazing. There is now a rumor going around school to the effect that I was attacked by a student. Given that I spent most of Friday all excited about riding over the weekend, I find that one odd. The rumor that I did it rollerblading is more understandable. I do rollerblade. I know that the E.R. people believed me, after all, I had my bike with me. *g* Yup, Mike folded it and sent it along in the ambulance with me.

Really guys, it was asphalt that did this!

No update tomorrow, we have concert tickets for the New York Philharmonic. (Just the adults, thank you very much.)

Fun Stuff

Mike discovered this today, its about a guy who walked every single street on Manhattan Island. Squidette thinks we should do it on our bikes. Sound good to me!

Mike also discovered this, I just love Dave Barry!

You think Mike has too much time on his hands?

Did anyone else notice that Tellitubbies are making a comeback? Eek! Squidette had a Tinky Winky doll when she was younger but that was about it. They never usurped the Muppets in this household.

Yesterday we watched The Muppet Movie. One of my favorite lines is uttered by Big Bird "I'm on my way to New York City to try to break into Public Television." Love that movie. When I was 12 my folks took me to see it at some huge Manhattan movie Palace and I remember being swept away from the very first minute. Seeing Kermit on the big screen practically made me squeal with emotion and seeing a Kermit doll on the shoulder of a little kid, afterwards, made me jump with excitement. The only other Muppet movie that brought that kind of reaction was Muppet Christmas Carol when the new voice of Kermit debuted. That was kind of sad. I admit it, I cried when Jim Henson died.

***

Looking for a picture of me? Go here. Things are looking better. I got to freak out lots of people at work today. One male student actually came up to me and softly asked if I was o.k. Sweet kid. Apparently it was the sight of the bandage that bothered people, not my red and puffy eye (which I guess is not too apparent from a distance and behind my glasses). And to think, one of the reasons I am wearing the bandage is to keep people from freaking out. (Mainly Squidette.) Also to keep my hair away from the area. And my glasses. The sight of stitches is kind of weird. I was, you see, originally released from the E.R. without anything covering the wound. They put one on when I had to go back for reasons that are too disturbing to share.