Good to be an Aquarius

For the last several days my horoscope has been indicating that some journey I am on is about to come to a close. And today I get this:

Today you will reach your destination, but you might not realize that you've arrived. With all the energy you've been directing toward the journey, your vision is blurred as to the reality of your situation. So wait things out today, and don't make any rash decisions -- you've got to give yourself time to settle into the way things are and fully realize that you are finally, undeniably done! To make a change now would be shortsighted

So, should I be so surprised that today I received a great job offer? Naturally the "journey" is the job search that has occupied nearly every waking thought since I left EF on August 23rd. Clearly the stars have dictated this latest development; thank god I was born under the sign of Aquarius! Yippieee! I have taken the weekend to think over the position, but I am pretty sure I am going to take it. What a relief to know that a regular paycheck will be making its way into my bank account again. I am really excited about the challenge of the position I am about to take on as well as working for this particular company.

2007 is going to be a great year!

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best...

...Way To Be Immortalized For All Eternity?

From LifeGem, "because love lives on", diamond creators:

To desire a LifeGem diamond can mean only one thing. You have experienced a love without equal. You have had someone truly special in your life and mere words simply will not do.

Love knows no boundaries. Love knows no end.

LifeGem...

The LifeGem^® is a certified, high-quality diamond created from the carbon of your loved one as a memorial to their unique life.


Oh yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, you heard me right. Now you can have the carbon from the cremains of your loved one converted into a beautiful diamond ring or pendant. I don't mean any disrespect to those who find this touching, or to those who have purchased one of these "keepsakes", but this is kind of creepy to me. Several of the testimonials refer to their gems as the name of the loved one whose body creadted it. Such as, "Joe is such a beautiful gem". The willies... that gives me the willies. Ashes to Ashes, Dust to... Diamonds?

You can even have your beloved pet made into a gem! But please, as LifeGem requests, "You do NOT need to send the deceased to our location in Chicago."

Prices run from about $3,000 to $25,000 per gem. Need a discount for the whole family? Take advantage of their Family Plan. Want to own a piece of history? Bid on one of the Celebrity LifeGems about to go on sale! Check out Project Beethoven LifeGem. Yes! You could wear a piece of Beethoven himself around your neck or finger!

Everyday Heros

I saw this in the news today and am just in awe. Have a look for yourself.

Man who fell on NYC subway tracks saved

By DEEPTI HAJELA, Associated Press WriterTue Jan 2, 10:31 PM ET

A quick-thinking commuter saved a teenager who fell on the subway tracks by pushing him down into a trough between the rails, allowing an approaching train to pass right over them, police said.

An 18-year-old man had some kind of medical problem Tuesday and fell onto the tracks, which are a few feet below platform level, police said. Wesley Autrey, of Manhattan, saw him fall, jumped down onto the tracks after him and rolled with him into the rut between the rails as a southbound train was coming in.

Autrey said he initially tried to pull the man up to the platform but had to decide whether he could get him up in time to avoid both of them getting hit.

"I just chose to dive on top of him and pin him down and pin myself down," he said.

The train's operator saw someone on the tracks and put the emergency brakes on. Two cars of the train passed over the men — with about 2 inches to spare, Autrey said — before it came to a stop.

The subway trough, which is used for drainage, is typically about 12 inches deep but can be as shallow as 8 or as deep as 24, a New York City Transit spokesman said.

Neither man was hit by the train, police said, and Autrey, who had his two young daughters traveling with him, refused medical attention. The rescued man, whose name had not been released, was taken to a hospital, where he was in stable condition.

Onlooker Patricia Brown said Autrey, a Vietnam War veteran, "needs to be recognized as a hero." Others cheered him and hugged him outside the train station.

The incident took place around 12:45 p.m. Service on the line, which runs between the southern tip of Manhattan and the Bronx, was suspended for about 45 minutes.

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?