Out! Out! Cursed Spot!!!

At the park today during lunch this guy spilled coke on my skirt / feet / shoes. I didn't have anything to wipe it off with, and he didn't offer a napkin (jerk!), so I just shook the coke off of my skirt and rushed back to the office (right across the street) to wash off my sticky feet and shoes. Problem is, I now have brown spots on my cute new green leather sandals! Ack!! I've tried scrubbing with a wet paper towel, but to no avail. I'm super-irritated. Anyone know how to get spots off of leather shoes? I Asked Jeeves, but he didn't give me any definite answers. Poop.

HELP!

My birthday is on Saturday, and I have no idea what to do with my day. Please, someone--anyone!--throw a few ideas out there!

Dinner out? Friday or Saturday night?

Go see a play? Which play?

Picnic in the park?

A night of drinking with friends?

HELP!!!

Children or Adults? It's a toss-up

We were at the Yankees/Red Sox game last night. About the 6th inning, 2.5 hours into the game (yes, that's a slow game, but that's not the subject of this post), I overheard a little girl behind us say to her parents:

"I got to see lots of people kicked out [of the game]! Who cares if they [the Yankees] win!?"

They did win, incidentally. And yes, there were lots of people asked to leave the game because they were acting like children. Which is about par for the course at a Yankees/Red Sox game.

Poopy Doopy

Wes wrote something on the subject of Crappiest Cities, and I started to comment but felt it was better served on my own blog, as it was way too long a response! So you might head over there first and check it out....

To continue Wes' theme, NYC may be the best at picking up dog poop, but horse hockey is another story. We saw 2 Mounties in the West Village yesterday right off of West 4th Street, and one of the animals 'relieved' himself right there on the street! I mean, it was quite a load, to be quite frank. So then the cops just turned their mounts and road off into the sunset! And left this big pile of crap in the middle of the street! WTF? Who's supposed to clean that up? There is not a 'doggie bag' out there big enough! Hee!

CONGRATULATIONS JAPRUF!

Hey, way to go man! Now that you're a high-powered working man, you can take us all out for champagne!!!

Let the celebration begin!

Freak Show

Bubba and I went to see this guy at Lincoln Center last night with a friend in from LA. The things people will do for publicity.

No 'Here Kitty' Needed

On a walk through Riverside Park yesterday, I spotted a girl walking her cat. Her cat. On a leash. One of those 'sling' ones that goes around the front legs so as not to jerk the pet's neck around. It was a beautiful white long-hair cat that looked completely freaked to be out there 'enjoying' the call of nature. Or maybe it was the fact that there were lots of dogs around.

The girl was on the phone, and remained there almost the entire time we sat watching her. There was no 'walking' of the cat. The cat just sat there casting furtive glances around her, ready to dart away at the first sign of threat.

Poor kitty. Dogs enjoy walks. Cats prefer to walk themselves. Or not. But definitely not on a leash. Someone should tell that girl. I'm curious how she got the cat to sit still long enough to put the sling on it anyway.

Curiouser and curiouser.

People Watching

In light of my post this morning (see below), I decided to escape the office to enjoy the nice weather and eat my lunch outside. I am lucky enough to work close by Madison Square Park (MSP), one of the prettiest parks in NYC, where Broadway crosses 5th Avenue. There are little parks within the City every time Broadway crosses one of the Avenues, but this is one of the best. It is usually brimming over with people, as there are lots of office buildings close by. Mine and Bubba's being 2 of them. So, I took my lunch outside and grabbed a spot in the sun to catch a few rays, read my book, and do some people watching (another excellent thing to do as a tourist, I might add). I am an expert people watcher, taught years ago by my Papa, who could sit in the mall waiting for Mama forever, as long as there were interesting people to watch. Which, if you've ever found yourself in the Texas Panhandle, there are.

I digress.

MSP has great people watching, due to the close proximity of office buildings as mentioned above, tourist attractions like the Flatiron Building, a playground for the kids, and the all-important dog-run. This last part makes for entertainment in and of itself, as it's hard to beat watching City dogs do their socializing at the local dog-run. Today was no different, EVERYONE was out enjoying the balmy 70 degree weather. There were lots to choose from, but my favorite characters were the group of guys walking the oval. They came around every 5 minutes or so (that's what happens when you walk in a sort-of circle), and I'd catch snippets of their conversation. One particular loop conversation I just have to share with you:

Cool guy #1: I mean, I'm pretty fast for my size (upon hearing that I look up and discover that yes, he's rather a heavy-set dude), and I can get around those bases pretty fast. But my feet hurt if I have to run hard.
Cool guy #2: Yea, but my effing feet start to hurt, too. I effing ran track and cross country in high school, and that effing s*@$ will eff up your feet, bro.

I mean, you can't beat that.

Touristos

Today, I wish I was a tourist.

As Bubba and I were walking to work this morning, we passed a couple sitting outside at a cafe, enjoying their bagel and iced coffee. This is probably the first morning in Manhattan where it's feasible to actually sit outside at 8 AM and not be too cold. It's beautiful outside, and a crime that I should be stuck inside at my cubicle with no shot of the outdoors unless I stand up. But that's another topic for another post. Anyway, I found myself wishing we were that couple. Sitting there, idly watching the guys across the street pour concrete for the high-rise going up next door, checking out the guide book and deciding what to do, or not do, with our day. When I travel, I really enjoy getting up with the 'locals' and watching everyone else go about their daily business around me (at a decent time of course....I'm on vacation after all!). Most often there is not really time to do this, as there are usually much better things to see than the guy opening up his store next door. But this is what makes travel so great....experiencing someone else's 'normal' life, if only for a short time.

This is one of the things I love about living in New York. On my short walk to work, I fall into the category of 'local' that tourists (who are up early enough) get to see going about their regular, every day lives, mundane as they might be. A few are jealous that they are only visiting and wishing they lived in such a cool city with an urban lifestyle, and a few are probably thinking 'Look at that poor schmuck having to WALK to work!' I pass a few dozen people on my walk from the subway every morning, most of whom are doing the same thing as me....hating that it's a week day and they had to get up and actually go to work this morning, wishing they could just skip and enjoy the beautiful weather outside. But every once in a while I pass someone who isn't going to work, and is just happy hanging out.

One of these days, that's going to be me.

A tourist in my own city.

Good Friday

I'd say 'Happy' Good Friday, but it's not really happy, is it? I mean, Christ died today, and while I am grateful that he did it for me (and rose again on Sunday, I might add), it's still a little weird to say 'Happy Good Friday to ya!'

Regardless, today is a day of reflection for Christians everywhere. Enjoy your Easter weekend, and maybe reflect on the tremendous sacrifice our Lord paid for us (while enjoying your chocolate egg, of course).

Show Time

I have a concert tonight. It's the last one of the season (not counting the extra concert for my director that's not part of the 'Juilliard' program), and I'm SO ready for it to be over! I enjoy singing...it's my gift, it's what I do for fun....but I've had rehearsal EVERY NIGHT THIS WEEK, and have dress rehearsal today from 2-6 before our concert at 8! I think that's a little excessive. But, if you'll check out the repertoire we're performing (and the 4 premiers we're singing along with Carmina Burana), there are going to be lots of famous people there tonight (Oscar and Tony winners among them), and we have to be extra good. I'm actually pretty excited, it's going to be a great show. Not your standard classical concert. This is going to rock!

But I plan on splurging for a massage soon....

We Were Bad Today

So, Bubba and I skipped a church function we had RSVP'd to today. We were not leading or doing anything of any importance, so it wasn't that big of a deal, except that we'd already said we'd be there. And, that japruf was expecting us there. We let him down, and now I feel like he won't like me anymore. And that makes me sad. But it was nice to have a day off. I have choir for the next 5 days in a row. That's right. FIVE. And I had a concert last night. Not looking forward to more rehearsals and another show on Thursday. Ugh. So that's why I skipped. That, and Bubba and I were not speaking to each other on the way there and just decided it wasn't worth it. Sorry japruf.

VICTORY!!!

I'm happy to report a minor victory for The Little People. The insurance lady called me back this morning (I KNOW! Prompt service that is greatly appreciated from the Big Bad Insurance people!), and everything is taken care of! She called the provider, and they were the ones that made the error, so I will be issued a new EOB and will owe nothing! Hurray!

Thank goodness, because I was really not looking forward to parting with my $265, OR looking for a new girly doctor. Take my word for it guys, it's not the easiest thing to do to find someone you like. Or, I should say, don't mind having ~down there~ poking and prodding.

So, all's well that ends well! Thanks for your comments and support.

Wes, I would be all for government sponsored/provided health care if I didn't ever have to 'file' anything with anyone! Where all you had to do was show up for your appointment, and maybe pay a co-pay or something. I don't mind a flat rate at the beginning of the appointment. It's the paper work and huge bills you get slapped with after the fact that are enough to make you a crazy person!

The Biggest Scam Going

Health Insurance (which is an oxy-moron, if you ask me.)

So, I've been having insurance issues for several months now. I changed jobs back in October, and thus changed insurance providers (of course). Once I received my new insurance cards, I called my girly-doctor to make sure that they took my new insurance and to schedule my annual exam. They assured me that yes, indeed, they took my insurance, and I made an appointment for 6 weeks away (the earliest she could see me--after all, her priority appts. go to the preggos, which is fine with me). The was late Nov., the week after Thanksgiving. I go, everything's cool, I pay my co-pay, and even have some lab work done. I get the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for what I think is my exam, but what turns out to be my lab work. No biggie, it does not surprise me that the hospital my Dr. is affiliated with is slower than the private lab they send everything to.

So then I get an EOB in January from my OLD insurance, stating that they did not pay the $265 because I was no longer covered by them. Duh! Still haven't gotten an EOB from my new insurance for my exam, and then I get a bill from my Dr. in the amount of $265. I realize what has happened....my Dr.'s office (and the extremely competent people that work there....note the sarcasm) filed the claim with the wrong insurance, even though I gave them my new card and information, and they even have it on file! I call the dr.'s office to clear it up, and the lady said they would promptly file with my correct insurance, so don't pay the bill you just got. Great, I wasn't planning on it anyway!

Fast forward to last week, when I finally receive the EOB from my NEW insurance (confusing, isn't it?), stating that my dr. is out-of-network and they won't cover my $265 bill, but that it will apply to my deductible. MWHA? This can not be the case! I have a strict In-Network-Only policy (luckily I don't really have an special doctor's I have to go to and I'm not really that picky), so if, when I called my dr. back in the fall, I was told that she was not in-network, I would have simply changed doctors. So I call the insurance company today, and sure enough it was listed as out-of-network. I assured the woman with the insurance company that my doctor was in-network, I even looked up her status today on the provider's website. She was very polite, said she would place an inquiry with the plan provider and call me back this afternoon with more information. (I still don't understand how you can have a plan administrator, who I called today, that is different from the plan provider, the people who actually pay your doctor when a claim is filed. It's all very strange to me, and seems like an absolute waste of time, paper, trees, people, and money. But anyway....) I appreciate her responsiveness, but still. I am going to be really pissed if my dr.'s 'network status' changed and the website just isn't updated. Because then I have to pay $265 for an exam that is completely routine and falls under the category of 'Annual Physical,' which my insurance clearly covers under their policy statement. Provided I'm In-Network. URG!!!!!

Health Insurance is a SCAM!!! Dealing with it is enough to drive you to the mental institution! Which, of course, isn't covered under your plan.

Overheard on the Subway

Teen Girl 1: Whatever, I was, like, 4 when you were born, and you were, like, 2. I've done WAY more than you.
Teen Girl 2: No, you were, like, 2 when I was born. That's not that much different.

HUH? What kind of crazy math do they teach in school now?

Smokey Haven

We're off to the Smokey Mountains tomorrow! I need a vacation!

See you when we get back!!

Bored

I'm bored. Bored with work, mainly. I like my new job, but it's boring. It's hard to make it to lunch some days, let alone 5 o'clock. I need something new to keep me entertained. There are SO many other things I can think of to do besides working. Especially now that it's starting to look more like spring. I love spring. We are having a taste of it right now. I actually went out this morning on an errand WITHOUT MY COAT! Crazy, I know. Makes me want to garden or something. But, rest assured, we'll get another cold snap in the next month or so and I'll be cursing Mother Nature.

Newbies

Hey y'all! Got some new blogs for ya to check out!. Go on over and say howdy!

Bubba's Mom and Bubba's Sis are two special ladies who raised my husband into the man he is today!

Confession

I love to watch 'This Old House.'

I am not a homeowner, but I LOVE old houses, so I still think it's cool that people go through the hassle and expense of renovating old homes. Old houses have character and stories to tell, and I just love old details. In my opinion, they really don't make 'em like they used to. My friend Gina is living the dream in Ohio, although some of her stories (like the absolutely tiny bathrooms) are a little scary. But the thought of taking a monument to the past and either restoring it to it's original condition, or having a vision of how to make a great old house even better, just really appeals to me. Must be the do-it-yourself person inside of me.

Of course, I don't actually have the funds to have such a house, but it's a dream of mine. Maybe some day.

Mother Nature Has A Wicked Sense of Humor

Today is March 2nd.

It's SNOWING in NYC.

Meanwhile, Texas is experiencing very abnormal temperatures (for this time of year) in the upper 70s and 80s, and in some cases 90s, depending on where you are in the great state.

Good times.