november

I fell behind again. 

Here's November in photos:

Democracy Plaza (Rockefeller Plaza) on 11/4

The line to vote on 11/5

This was from the end. It wound all the way inside PS 75. 

Took me almost 2 hours!

Polling place!

First snow of the season!

Me, Nor'easter Athena, and the horrible quality of Instagram

Playing chess with a five year old. 

I haven't played since I was closer to his age than my own.

(He won.)

Hanging in bookstores.

Love this.

Publication day! 

Always fun when you love a book like I love this one.

Thanksgiving! 

DC with the kid brother

The tour guide in the Capitol building was a little long winded 

so we entertained ourselves...

Third time doing the "tourist" thing in DC

First time for the Museum of Natural History

I think this was the American History Museum? 

They all ran together in my head.

First time at the Air and Space Museum too.

Counting down the days!

So excited.

Spying the Rockefeller tree for the first time

sandy

I feel very fortunate that my experience with Hurricane Sandy only consisted of the photos below. . . . 

Sunday, October 28th

Wednesday, October 30th

Subways down. 

I walked from 93rd to Rockefeller Center for work. 

Bus line at 93rd and Broadway

"The crane" around 57th St. and 7th Avenue

The surrounding streets are still blocked off and it is still hanging there. 

Central Park at Columbus Circle entrance

This is nothing compared to other parts of the city/state and other states.

Sunday, November 4th

Volunteers waiting outside St. Jacobi Church

Sunset Park, Brooklyn

"Occupy Sandy" relief volunteers sorting and preparing food for hard-hit areas

These volunteers were clearly a "well-oiled machine".

new utrecht av. station

(Brooklyn)

goodbye fp

FP has been so good to me. (Even if only for 2 1/2 mos.) I've loved my time there. 

Parody FP book jackets were displayed during the "goodbye party"

"The bar" was around the corner so the booze theme was only fitting.

night of butterflies

Last night, while watching a couple of my favorite six-year-olds, I discovered I am a butterfly whisperer. 

We were reading before bedtime  when a butterfly escaped from the homemade mesh-and-cardboard cage-like thing they have hanging above their couch. They are raising several Monarchs--from egg, to caterpillar, to butterfly to... you know. (Usually they release them right after they mate but weather delayed everything and now it is too cold for them to fly free. )

After some initial shrieking and my telling the girls to "Calm down just a little bit please. It's OK. I'll catch it." I was able to actually catch the darn thing with the help of some Tupperware and a colander. I'm actually really proud of the colander idea. It then stayed on the kitchen counter until their dad came home and we ushered it back into its home. 

The picture is horrible but hopefully you can see it.

After the girls went to bed I was sitting on the couch watching TV when I noticed another escapee. I quickly and quietly got up, stalked the thing like a ninja, and caught it with my BARE HANDS. 

I freakin' rock. I'm totally adding this to my resume. Right under "Balloon animal making artist". But that's a story for another day. 

cranberry bog

A cranberry bog in Rockefeller Plaza?

Sure! 

uggie in the house

Uggie, the dog from the Academy Award-winning film The Artist, was in the office today to sign copies of his new autobiography. 

Here he is greeting his public

Scores of his adoring fans, mostly women, queued up in giddy anticipation, snapping photos and whispering to one another about how good-looking and gentlemanly this charming man is. 

I was one of those women. 

I felt equal parts ridiculous, guilty*, and elated by the fact that Uggie made my Tuesday just a bit better. 

*I'm sure Uggie is well taken care of and has lots of plush green pillows and dog treats at his many pie-de-terre's, however, it just felt like a lot for such a little guy. Even if he is a star. 

i like it

Gonna ride this merry-go-round

and dance like the night is never ending.

Gonna get so high on life

you won't be able to bring me down.

The Dixie Chicks 

exactly

"apple picking" with new york cares

Lawrence Farms Orchards

Newburgh, NY