Leaping to Conclusions

AFTER ATHENA-BROKEN DOGWOOD, FALLEN ANGEL (BACK LEFT) LIAM AND HAPPY BUDDHA

These last two and a half weeks following Sandy have resulted in seeing and experiencing unfamiliar happenings. Routines disrupted.  Schedules changed.  Activities canceled. Damage to homes, breakage of trees, fallen wires, orange cones and yellow tape. People came out to see, observe, report, share stories. Some folks welcomed the forced mingling, some tolerated it, and others recoiled. Openly and silently, some accused, some judged.  Assumptions were made, followed by conclusions. These conclusions were then told as stories and taken as fact.



Last night I am watching the news and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.is speaking. He is urging us not to leap to conclusions and to be careful with words.  He is referring to the expanding General Petraeus situation but I feel he is speaking to me about my storm behavior. I have made assumptions and leaped to conclusions during these last few weeks. I was wrong a few times and I'll share with you.

LIAM AND HIS FAVORITE ROSE OF SHARON

My health club was closed after Sandy for the entire first week. I assumed no power. On Monday, November 5, a few regulars returned. I was among them. Bathrooms closed, rugs being installed. The machines were in different spots. I thought... oh no!  They are renovating, What about folks who need to be warm and take showers and exercise? Why? We are family!!! Conclusion- they are using the storm as an opportunity to fix stuff. They should be a shelter! Two days later they lost power again. The owner opened to allow members to exercise- the owner talked to me- I was only woman who came in- he told me the story of how they had flooded after Sandy, so was much ruined-that he had to change all the carpets, move each machine himself. How he had wanted to have the members come in, be warm and shower. He had opened this day just so people could come in and resume their routines. I wrote a different story by assumption. I was wrong
.

LIAM FINDS A NEW POSITION, SANDY HAS CHANGED THE VIEW

That did not stop me though, I was on a roll. I mentioned to another member (without power) that I saw someone power washing his driveway.  I expressed my intense disgust that this would be done in full view of others who do not have power. She thought a minute and said "people have anxiety, they do certain activities to comfort themselves:" I reflected on this and realized that I had assumed he was thoughtless and insensitive. Perhaps he was trying to calm his own fears and make his world controllable and routine again. Another point of view.

I continued my observations, always correct, I assumed. We live across the street from one of the North Hempstead POD (points of distribution) free water was available there. People went and received water. I was annoyed. Why do they need? This is for folks whose homes are flooded, displaced people, not people with power and supplies, they must have plenty.  I then saw these bottles of water were given to LIPA workers, to tree workers, and to town trucks on our block. I assumed greed, concluded hoarding -wrong.

We have a new normal. 

The landscape is changed

The world is askew

Time for a new point of view

We may live with storm anxiety for a long time, and peoples' actions may not be what they were before, they may be different just as all this is different.  Looking at it from another perspective is a must; Liam found a new sunny place, forward.

Woof, Woof

Marathons

LIAM MEETS ATHENA

Marathons. All kinds. The NYC Marathon becomes a target. It is canceled. The Presidential race has been a marathon; it seems we have been listening to speeches forever. And the marathon cleanup in the wakes of Sandy and now Athena. The word has several meanings. 26.2 miles.  A long journey, often arduous, sometimes seemingly never ending, a battle in 490 BC
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marathon

NYC Marathon done. Never started.

Marathon Election done. 

LIAM WATCHING DADDY PAUL WATCHING LIPA

Northeast Marathon cleanup nowhere near done.

Marathon of feelings- loss. despair, anxiety, abandonment, concern, helplessness, guilt, fear, regret, sadness, anger, disbelief, hope, insight, gratitude and acceptance as well as disappointment

It continues
Cold.
Dark
Changed landscapes

DOWNED MAPLE PERMITS SUN TO STREAM IN

There is sunlight where there was darkness -a tree once blocked the light.

People without homes. No power since Sandy. Then we have a nor'easter. And she is the first storm this year with a name. Athena.

LIAM OUT AFTER NOR'EASTER ATHENA

TWC thought this up. The National Weather Service does not back it.  Link below has an explanation. Many names are from Greek and Roman mythology. Next one is Brutus and he is out there.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/east-coast-storm-is-a-noreaster-to-the-weather-service-athena-to-the-weather-channel/2012/11/08/5736ea2a-29c8-11e2-aaa5-ac786110c486_story.html

LIAM SHELTERING WITH OUTDOOR ANIMALS

New friends. New shelters. Help coming. Not to all. People giving money, time, items.  Folks trying to do what they do best.  Telethon for Sandy video-these people did what they do best.  Have a listen

LIAM WATCHING ATHENA CLEANUP

What is next?
Woof, Woof

Watching, Waiting and Whacked

LIAM LOOKING FOR SANDY

Much buildup.  Many news conferences. Prepping. Waiting. Anxiety. Eating. Anxiety. Drinking-then it happened.  The wind came with a little rain.  Liam watched for Sandy.

LIAM WATCHING HIS FAVORITE MAPLE

Liam's maple in previous photo fell on Monday, October 29th, hours before Sandy made landfall. 

LIAM'S MAPLE DOWN -CONED AND WRAPPED

The wind, the maple's tenuous hold on the soggy sandy soil and above ground roots combined to pull it up and down. The sidewalk went with it.  I never heard it. Our neighbors did and gave us the play by play. A slow crackling and a gentle fall with a grace befitting its old age. No power loss, no one hurt. Power lines remain intact within its branches. All power went hours later around 5:45 PM. Hundreds of towers flashed one another with lightning like signals and most of Long Island lost power within the next few hours. It was all power, even cell, no 2G. 3G, 4G. WiFi, heat, light. Cut off.

LIAM IN THE DARK IN THUNDERSHIRT

The wind was so loud I took my hearing aids out.
Liam listened. Heard too much.

LIAM IN HIS SAFE POSITION

Took his position between the pillow and back of the couch
In the dark, waiting for the morning light

Words and phrases exchanged this week

Be safe

No power

R u ok?  

Stay safe

No cell

I have wine

Generator  

Tree down

R u ok?

We r fine
ThankYou

 Be safe, Stay safe

Woof, Woof

Bye Baby

LIAM IN HIS BUNTING OR IS HE THE BUNTING?

Liam ended up under my shawl, head on pillow.  Pooch on Pillow is Liam's doing.  Shawl on slumbering dog is his Daddy's doing.  I looked and a rhyme popped in my head shaken loose by a glass of Cabernet.  I recited  the first verse of a poem that I had not thought of since childhood.

Bye, baby Bunting,

Daddy's gone-a hunting,

Gone to get a rabbit skin

To wrap the baby Bunting in

Liam all bunched up released it from my brain. I'm thinking "the shawl is Bunting" and Daddy is hunting for more.  I remember it as being haunting, pretty and a little scary.  No one's father I knew went hunting for skins to wrap their kids in. And it sure was not comforting the way my mother presented it- a sort of angry indictment and tale of abandonment - I think now that the verse as she used it was a euphemism for "your father is drinking beer in Woodside, he'll be gone for hours since the chances of skinning a rabbit from the bar stool are slim to none." This way she got her anger out and also credit for doing a motherly bedtime story.
Click to listen-only a minute

Here is more history provided by all the wikis out there
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bye,_baby_Bunting

The meaning of baby Bunting seems to have perturbed others. The original meaning is not what I had thought it was.  Bunting is Scottish-an affectionate term for a plump baby-particularly its bottom or "bunt"  Liam-is the bunting and my shawl is the rabbit skin.

I personally think he would love this to be the truth since chasing bunnies is part of the joy of his nightly walk. The following link explains

http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2010/04/1697.html
The same night Liam was wrapped in his "bunting I was reading Joan Didion's memoir "Blue Nights" of grief and regret about her deceased daughter.  I was astonished to find several references to this nursery rhyme in her book. The version of this song as she sang it to her daughter was Bye Baby Bunny, not Bye baby Bunting.  Guess as a writer she knew "the Bunting" was the baby and modernized Bunting to Bunny so her daughter would understand. Its use in Ms. Didion's memoir is poignant and sort of a goodbye.

Probably the rhyme can be whatever one wants it to be. 

Liam is wrapped in his bunting 

No one is going hunting. 

If I have some wine

I may write the last line

Woof, Woof

NYCWFF

LIAM THINKING OF WINE AND NYCWFF

I worked for the Government and we thrived on acronyms. They usually formed real words.  Like SALT and PEPPER which were abbreviations of computer programs. NYCWFF, though not a cutesy word, is an acronym for the New York City Wine and Food Festival where much salt, pepper and other spices are present.  My Virgo pal and I attended three TimesTalks with four Chefs, who are also Food Network stars, Top Chef Masters, TV personalities, hosts, authors, event speakers, restauranteurs- some even have been tagged "their own brand"

LIAM'S FOOD FESTIVAL

1- Bobby Flay and Giada.  Videos : New York Times Events
They were in a two person interview format.  Giada took the mic from the moderator, Julia Moskin, and really never let it go to Bobby which was cute and the source of good natured teasing among the three. We were not permitted to take pix or videos and unlike a Springsteen concert they mean it.  I was able find a clip up top on the TimesTalks website. Worth a few minutes. Bobby and Giada play off one another well. They have a talk show planned for fall 2013 and Bobby envisions it to be like a "Regis and Kelly" Not another "The Chew" which is talking while cooking and chewing, theirs more talking and then cooking and chewing.
a choice of links follow-each a little different
http://nytimes.whsites.net/timestalks/videos/
http://nytimes.whsites.net/timestalks/

THIS IS IT FOR LIAM

2- Paula Deen, dog Lulu, hubby Michael in the audience.
Lulu was a fine guest with an orange bow to match the Times Talk decor. She joined Michael in the audience when the talk got serious.

LIAM AT HOME- NO TV APPEARANCE

Paula was a revelation to me. The buzz in the theater before she came out was palpable and wow, is she loved!  I have been critical of her pushing butter, her hiding her diabetes and representing a drug company. She explained it all and I believe her. She is loyal, funny, spontaneous and irreverent. Many folks in the audience seemed to have met her and others had been inspired by her. Paula referred to Twitter as Twatter, and a tweet as a twat until the moderator, Kim Severson, affectionately cautioned her.  She left the stage to a standing ovation and a convert in me. Here she is from earlier this year.

3-Marcus Samuelsson 
Marcus was the intense fire of the day-like the Ethiopian spice-berbere-shown on the book jacket  http://www.ethiopianspices.com/html/products.asp
Interviewer, Sam Sifton, was warm and engaging in their exchanges-a mutual like and respect evident.
Marcus wore a red vest, red sneakers and a cap (and more)  He talked of his life story.  Marcus has a new memoir. Yes, Chef.

LIAM PROMOTING MARCUS

Riveting.  His energy is so strong and he projects it like a laser at the audience. I had two personal encounters after the lecture. He invited me to ride the elevator with him, I was rooted to the spot, could not move and the doors shut in my face. Then later he emerged from the men's room and there I was and again I could not approach. That's okay. He addressed me, smiled at me, offered me a ride.  Note to self- if Marcus Samuelsson offers you a spot in his elevator the answer is " Yes, Chef."  Here he is, reading from his book.

and then Butter-the restaurant of Chef Alex Guarnaschelli.. I will remember that soup and those scallops forever.  I have a clip of Alex. She is sitting right where I was when I waited for the rest room.
http://www.butterrestaurant.com/

and Liam stayed hope with Daddy. Their bromance continues. Glad I have women friends.
I was gone many hours- more than a half day.
Liam was waiting at home- had some wine waiting to hear my stories so we could start the blog.

Woof, Woof

I will Follow her

LIAM WAITING FOR THE DAY'S PLAY

There is a lot of following going on in the world of Social Media.  Twitter.  Blogs.  FB page subscriptions. If you follow you may be followed back. A courtesy connection. Then a possible relationship. You receive feedback, updates, photos.  I follow people on Twitter, they follow me.  I have blog followers and I follow back. In the non-virtual world I have a follower.  He lives in our house.  He waits to play, toy ready.

I would say he is a stalker but that implies malice. My follower is Liam.  He is everywhere I am.  As I type this story (his blog) he is sitting next to me, occasionally looking up, sometimes staring, licking latte foam.

If I leave this room he will follow, leaping from his window couch perch.

If I pause and do not come downstairs immediately, Liam will wait at the foot of the staircase- looking up at me.

LIAM AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS

 Or he is gazing upon me with a question-Are we going out now?
There is a song recorded years ago that echoes in my mind and fits this situation with a little gender adjustment "I Will Follow Him" sung by Peggy March. My version is Liam howling "I Will Follow Her"
Yes, Peggy is alive and well and singing - Her hit "I Will Follow Him" was recorded in 1963 when she was 14. It came out right after she turned 15 and she became the youngest female artist with a number one hit.
More about her
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_March

and here she is -click for a listen



Conversely, outside of our home, "I Will Follow Him" is my anthem as Liam turns the tables and runs for squirrels, rabbits, birds...There is never a chance that he will follow me when wildlife and nature surround him-add in tossed pizza crusts, candy bar wrappers and other food rejects that have missed the garbage can and I am the follower.

FOLLOW ME

You follow me

I follow back. 

A connection. 

A relationship.

Woof, Woof

Woman Cave

LIAM IN THE WOMAN CAVE

You may have heard of the term "man cave" a room, basement, garage, shed, den, where the man hangs out and may invite friends to join in- a sanctuary where he has all his "man" comfort and special interest treasures. Here is a definition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_cave

there is a website for man caves pix, take a look
http://www.oddee.com/item_97008.aspx

I have a woman cave. It evolved slowly. I needed a place to sleep. I have restless leg, sleep apnea, nightmares, anxiety attacks, body temperature changes-all wrapped up in a neat package and all or some of the above present each night.  I had to find a space for myself to thrash about.

NEED A PLACE TO SLEEP

My cave is the den which is really the smaller of two back rooms in our house. Over time-several years- I have included my books, my devices, journals, my schedules. The books that inspire, remind and please me are on display on the back rim of the couch.  See next photo. I do rotate them occasionally. Liam likes the cave. He sometimes sleeps in it which makes for a very crowded couch.  Our two parakeets also live in their apartment within the cave.

PARAKEETS KAYSAR AND KRISTIN LEFT

I am never alone in there. Liam comes and goes but the birds are always in residence. Oh and yes, that TV is very old, has that big back-works fine though

LIAM WITH LIAM NEESON ON TV

 
Unlike the "man caves" shown up top the woman cave is really only mine for sleeping. It is the den in the day. And a office. It has the land-line on which we still receive messages; mostly doctor appointment reminders and hang-ups. The desk is there-that is where Paul does the bills. The den is used to watch DVR'd shows. 


Liam only uses the woman cave/den/office if  I am in it or Paul is or both of us are. Or when his namesake Liam Neeson is on Kelly and Michael.  Otherwise Liam will wait for my return as he does in the photo below. I think he knows that if my wine is there I will be back.

LIAM WAITS FOR ME

I can stay up late reading until my klonopin kicks in or wine or cumulative sleeplessness. I guess the woman cave is really a multitasker, serves several functions, not a place apart. It is only a woman cave at night, so it is part time.

Let me restate.
I have a part time woman cave. Night Time, not full time. After all most of the other rooms are mine also.  Liam's too. 

Woof, Woof