Xmas Review

We are back in LI after our sojourn down South to shrimp country, Beaufort, South Carolina. There was good times, good food, and generally not-so-good weather. But despite the occasional torrential rain, our Christmas spirit could not be dampened (man, I love me a good cliche!). The story in pictures...

See more pics on my flickr account!

Sweet!

How awesome is this? My brother and sister-in-law bought me a goat for Christmas!!

Now, before you go picturing me in the back yard of my long island apartment milking goats with my new Montenegrin family, check out the organization below who will ensure that said goat gets to the right family in need:
How awesome is that?!

D and I are off today to South Carolina for holidays with Mom and Erin. We're looking forward to some warm temperatures, lots of shirmp, and sitting on the back porch overlooking the marshy low country with mint juleps in hand.

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Festivus for the Rest of Us to you all.

Photo Essay

Photo Essay in which our Hero attempts to re-educate himself on the art of tying a Windsor Knot.

Library

I love the local library.

I love that there are these places you can go and "borrow" books, CDs, Movies (VHS or DVD) and much much more! Even magazines, though I am not certain you are really allowed to take those home. I love walking into the library and seeing dumb kids getting tutored by the elderly; that really warms my heart. I love seeing the bank of computers in the back always in use by every walk of life. I love that the library hosts discussion groups, book clubs, movie afternoons, and computer classes (not that I have ever been to them, but I like knowing I could go to go to a Mystery Monday Meeting, if I felt so inclined). I love that late fees are a mere $.05 per day. Suck on that, Blockbuster!

What I don't love are my local librarians.

Each time I have had the displeasure to interact with my librarians, who, sure look nice on the outside with their knit sweaters and plaid long skirts, I feel like a chastised child.

For example, last night I hit the local L to return some books and check out some new ones. Normally this takes me a long time, as I am particular about what I read. Or at least the condition of what I read. I don't like certain kinds of paper or covers. But I digress.

I had requested a copy of Martha Beck's The Joy Diet be sent to my local L. Because being on a food diet isn't enough, I must also check my joy. (side note: each time I try to type the word "joy" I mistakenly type "job"... Hmmm, I wonder why?? Maybe it's because I am in a Starbucks at 8:26 a.m. watching all the worker bees get their fuel before heading to the office. *sigh. I miss being a worker bee too, but I have an interview later today so cross your fingers for me).

Where was I?

Oh right, so I had requested Martha Beck's The Joy Diet. I love Martha Beck's writing. If you haven't read Expecting Adam, please do so immediately. I don't know why she gave this book this title, The Joy Diet, as I am fairly certain that she isn't attempting to restrict the joy (job) people bring into their lives, but rather improve it. She should have called it The Joy Lottery or The Joy Binge or something.

Did I mention I have had a lot of coffee?

I went to the service island at the library and waited for the librarian to get off the phone. Once off, she pointed to the main counter, I was supposed to ask them about my held book.

So, at the main counter, I had this conversation with the librarian, let's call her OLGA (Omnipotent Librarian Greatly Annoyed)

Me: Good evening, I was wondering if you have a book that I had requested- (interupted)
OLGA: Your card?
Me: Oh, yes, here it is.
OLGA: You wanted The Joy Diet?
Me: Yes, that's the one.
OLGA: (strumming her fingers on the desk looking deeply into the computer). Hm. Well, you requested this a long time ago.
Me: I suppose so, maybe about a week and a half ago.
OLGA: don't you know that we only hold books for three days?
Me: Oh, no I didn't know that. No problem.
OLGA: Only three days, that is the rule.
Me: OK, it's OK, I will go check the stacks-
OLGA: You should have come here before to get the book.
Me: Well, yes, but I was busy, I went to Chi-
OLGA: You can look for the book in the stacks.
ME: Right, thanks.

I have developed some kind of Library Envy. There are libraries ALL OVER Long Island. There must be four or five within five miles of my house. All the other ones look so pretty, big, with large windows and pretty landscaping. I drive by them and imagine a bevy of friendly librarians who look like Mrs. Cunningham helping their patrons with their reading needs and serving cookies and milk to those dumb kids. A girl can dream, right?

Looking Back

I found this picture at my grandmothers last week and have just fallen in love with it. The little boy all the way to the right (next to the Mamma) is my grandfather, August "Gus" Arado. His cheeky little smile kills me! We aren't sure about the occasion for which this picture was taken, but likely either a 4th of July or maybe even after my Great-grandfather, who had immigrated from Genoa to Chicago, was inducted as an American Citizen. It must have been taken sometime in the early 1920s.

Permit me to get a little sappy for a moment. I found it appropriate to stumble upon this picture during the Thanksgiving holiday, as it truly made me pause and give thanks to the proceeding generations who made great sacrifices that have enabled me live such a cushy life.

Other favorites from my photo safari include:

My Grandmother around 1920

My grandmother (bottom left) with her sister and parents. Check out the car behind them!

My grandmother and her sister are again in this picture, I don't know who the other kids are. I wouldn't want to mess with the two blondies in the upper left, but I dig the bows in their hair.

My grandfather is on the far left with his brother and sisters. I think he sort of looks like Harry Potter. Must be the glasses and floppy bangs.

My Grandfather playing cards with the boys. Must be around the 1950s.
My Gram doing a hula-hula dance
Oh yeaaaahhh, the 1970s (must be around '78 or so). I dig my parents matching plaid and my aunt and uncle's matching glasses. My Gram is the most fashionable of the bunch!

Guess what....

I am blogging from BEVERLY HILLS (chicago)!

Oh yes, it's a balmy 50 degrees outside, where is my bikini?? Any moment a waiter will be by with my martini and fresh mango. I am sure Lindsay Loh will be around any minute baring her crotch. Oh, poor Lindsay.

Seriously, I am hanging with my mom and grandma in Chicago for the holiday. I was able to get a decent flight deal at the last moment and flew out yesterday. We're about half an hour or so out of downtown in the outskirts of the city limits. It seems like most of the buildings around were contructed in the 50s or so, although it looks like tons of old places have been recently knocked down to make more room for the superstores. Funny that a lot of the old buildings still standing have these marquis on them, or is it marquees, I don't know, I was never a good speller, but that is a whole different story. Anyway.

The marquees, for the most part haven't changed since 1978 by the looks of them. A dry cleaner we passed earlier promoted in big black block letters:
ED EARS TODAY THANK OU

I know, a picture would have been better, but I didn't have my camera with me at the time. Moving on...

My gram is the cutest thing ever. Check her out here in the 50s:


She's nearly 89 now, and doesn't get around so well anymore, but she tells the best stories about our family in Chicago, especially during the 30s and 40s. I spent a large part of the day trying to replicate copies of her old pictures with my digital camera. Hopefully some will turn out well, like the one of my Gram wearing a hula grass skirt. Or my grandfather playing cards with the boys. Or the entire family standing in front of a huge black locomotive engine in 1935 or so. I will definitely be sharing later on, so stay tuned.

My first thought when they put me in the wheelchair was...

"Oh shit! I don't have health insurance!"

Ok, yes being a little of a drama queen here. Let's rewind.

I got a call last night from the local blood bank, where I have given before, asking me to come in as the local blood supply is very low. Sure, how about tomorrow? So I go to the local blood bank, just a few blocks away, and get started. Registration take forever because each time they have to go through my travel resume to make sure I am eligible. It doesn't matter that each time they get the same story, it's part of the process each time.

The "giving" process was easy. It really doesn't bother me at all as long as I don't watch what is happening. I give pretty regularly so there aren't really any surprises. The fun began after I went to the recovery table to enjoy some free juice and snacks. I was feeling a little light headed, but nothing too serious and then all of a sudden I hear someone yell, "Nurse!" I thought, uh-oh, sounds like someone needs help. Oh, and oopps, that person is me-- and next thing I know I am waking up to a strange environment feeling like someone was rousing me out of the longest nap ever. I was out cold. I fainted.

This was kind of cool since I had never fainted before in my life. After they revived me, they put me in a wheelchair and sent me back to the beds where I had given blood. Thats when I got scared about the health insurance. Yeah, still working on that.

Well, don't let this little tale stop you from giving blood. It's really ok... I have don't it at least 20 times and this is the first time I ever fainted. I blame the Weight Watchers, actully. I mean, surely it's the diet's fault right?