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1. Took today off, as a personal day (last one for the year - we have to use them before November 22 or they just pay you for them. I'd rather have the time - then lose half the money to taxes).
Got up at 5:45 am anyhow - to do laundry at 6AM. It's the best time to do it. No one is down there, no one is taking the elevator. Etc. I time it so I'm in the elevator and in the basement by 6AM on the dot. (Once or twice I came down late and ran into folks. But I've figured out the day I pick counts. Friday mornings - is a good pick. Note don't pick holiday mornings, afternoons, yes, mornings no.)
Then around 10 am, took the train two stops away to vote. Early voting is held at the YMCA Armory. And it was the most pleasant experience I've had voting in NYC. Spread out. No lines. The only downside was their magic pens were hard to use. I struggled with them - the ink didn't come out well. Other than that? Pleasant. People wore masks. Volunteers kept things moving. Not crowded. And had plenty of time to figure out the ballot.
I may do the early voting from now on - it's from October to November 6. Doesn't happen the Monday before Election Day, but it is on the weekends in NYC at least.
Also the fast track ticket they send in the mail - is helpful. No looking up names or anything. They just take a picture of it on their computer, I sign the computer screen. Then off to fill out the ballot and scan it. (I kind of miss the old lever machines, but I get why they felt the need to change it. )
Picked up a sticker from an old guy in a Mets T-Shirt, and Vote stickers on him everywhere. He was also wearing what appeared to be, overalls. (I do not understand the appeal of overalls. They are like jumpsuits - hard to get off to go to the bathroom.
Anyhow, stopped off to get water at a small deli (which seemed to be doubling as a liquor store) then head off to the park to walk home. I opted to walk through Prospect Park home as opposed to taking the subway two stops. It's just a 30 minute walk, and it was a beautiful sun streaked day, with temperatures in the upper 60s.
( two more pictures )
As you can see, it is a large and pretty park, perfect for fall foilage.
It's what I needed. And it was in the upper 50s and 60s today, close to 70 degrees. Certainly felt like 70 degrees. By the time I got home, I was drenched in sweat. I was wearing a long sleeve cotton shirt and windbreaker, and both were drenched in sweat by the time I got home. Turned the windbreaker inside out to air out, and threw the shirt in the laundry (annoying, just did laundry this morning, but I can live without the shirt for a week or so. I'm doing laundry more often now because of frigging hot flashes.) Then took a shower.
2. Afterwards, I listened to my audiobook version of "Project Hail Mary", which in some respects is better than the book version - the guy reading it excels at doing different voices - either that or they have a cast. But this didn't feel like a cast, not enough of a pause.
***
3. Been watching Alaska Daily - which feels a bit like Lou Grant meets Northern Exposure. It's enjoyable, and leans more towards Lou Grant than Northern Exposure, thankfully. Perry and Swank are quite good in the lead roles. But I'm fond of the supporting character that are being built up gradually.
The mysteries are also rather interesting - with a heavy focus on political corruption.
It's among the few shows that my mother also watches. (She likes mysteries and soap operas, actually she has fairly eclectic taste like I do. With the vague difference being, she doesn't tend to like supernatural shows, superhero shows or sci-fantasy as much, although she does watch them from time to time. And I'm admittedly not a fan of straight mysteries or episodic procedural mystery series.)
***
4. For dinner, I intended on making a spinach and cheese quiche aka Quiche Lorraine. Had the gluten-free crust baking in the oven - when I discovered, whoops no spinach, or onions or bacon. So I substituted chopped broccoli, proscuttio, with cheddar and parmesan. Turned out tasty, and better than expected. In short, it wasn't a cooking disaster. I rarely have them - since I know how to cook, and how to follow or modify a recipe when required. My mother and grandmother taught me how. They followed recipes too, but like myself, tended to intuitive cooks, who would venture away from it from time to time - and pull their own twist on it. Probably out of boredom.
***
5. Still don't know what killed my cousin. Have come to the conclusion that I don't want to know or am better off not knowing - and to treat it as a gift. There's likely a reason they haven't told us. They want him to be remembered for how he was in life - not how he died. And some causes of death can overshadow what we were in life
Grief is an odd thing. Kind of a spiral. I spiral up, I spiral down, and then back again.
But the sunshine and warmth helped today, along with walking among the trees. Was annoyed to walk by yet another newly planned (under construction) work site for a housing development - or luxury residential housing. It was originally a Baptist Church and School, with a broad and well tended grassy yard in front, with flowers. Behind is the Park Slope Stables - which is still located to the side and slightly behind the structure. The new building means more people in the park, on the streets, in the stores, and on the subways. These developments remind me of there are too many real estate developments in NYC and far too many people.
On tap:
* visiting with Wales - to plan and pick a retreat for Thanksgiving
* cleaning house (I have these gnatty little flies I can't seem to get rid of - not that cleaning (vaccuming, swfiting, and straightening will take care of them)
* watching House of Dragon, Andor, Witcher, and whatever else I might find that grabs my interest.
* revising my novel.
* staying chipper and relaxing. I hit the proverbial wall this week and kind of needed a break of sorts to clear my head, and heart.
Got up at 5:45 am anyhow - to do laundry at 6AM. It's the best time to do it. No one is down there, no one is taking the elevator. Etc. I time it so I'm in the elevator and in the basement by 6AM on the dot. (Once or twice I came down late and ran into folks. But I've figured out the day I pick counts. Friday mornings - is a good pick. Note don't pick holiday mornings, afternoons, yes, mornings no.)
Then around 10 am, took the train two stops away to vote. Early voting is held at the YMCA Armory. And it was the most pleasant experience I've had voting in NYC. Spread out. No lines. The only downside was their magic pens were hard to use. I struggled with them - the ink didn't come out well. Other than that? Pleasant. People wore masks. Volunteers kept things moving. Not crowded. And had plenty of time to figure out the ballot.
I may do the early voting from now on - it's from October to November 6. Doesn't happen the Monday before Election Day, but it is on the weekends in NYC at least.
Also the fast track ticket they send in the mail - is helpful. No looking up names or anything. They just take a picture of it on their computer, I sign the computer screen. Then off to fill out the ballot and scan it. (I kind of miss the old lever machines, but I get why they felt the need to change it. )
Picked up a sticker from an old guy in a Mets T-Shirt, and Vote stickers on him everywhere. He was also wearing what appeared to be, overalls. (I do not understand the appeal of overalls. They are like jumpsuits - hard to get off to go to the bathroom.
Anyhow, stopped off to get water at a small deli (which seemed to be doubling as a liquor store) then head off to the park to walk home. I opted to walk through Prospect Park home as opposed to taking the subway two stops. It's just a 30 minute walk, and it was a beautiful sun streaked day, with temperatures in the upper 60s.
( two more pictures )
As you can see, it is a large and pretty park, perfect for fall foilage.
It's what I needed. And it was in the upper 50s and 60s today, close to 70 degrees. Certainly felt like 70 degrees. By the time I got home, I was drenched in sweat. I was wearing a long sleeve cotton shirt and windbreaker, and both were drenched in sweat by the time I got home. Turned the windbreaker inside out to air out, and threw the shirt in the laundry (annoying, just did laundry this morning, but I can live without the shirt for a week or so. I'm doing laundry more often now because of frigging hot flashes.) Then took a shower.
2. Afterwards, I listened to my audiobook version of "Project Hail Mary", which in some respects is better than the book version - the guy reading it excels at doing different voices - either that or they have a cast. But this didn't feel like a cast, not enough of a pause.
***
3. Been watching Alaska Daily - which feels a bit like Lou Grant meets Northern Exposure. It's enjoyable, and leans more towards Lou Grant than Northern Exposure, thankfully. Perry and Swank are quite good in the lead roles. But I'm fond of the supporting character that are being built up gradually.
The mysteries are also rather interesting - with a heavy focus on political corruption.
It's among the few shows that my mother also watches. (She likes mysteries and soap operas, actually she has fairly eclectic taste like I do. With the vague difference being, she doesn't tend to like supernatural shows, superhero shows or sci-fantasy as much, although she does watch them from time to time. And I'm admittedly not a fan of straight mysteries or episodic procedural mystery series.)
***
4. For dinner, I intended on making a spinach and cheese quiche aka Quiche Lorraine. Had the gluten-free crust baking in the oven - when I discovered, whoops no spinach, or onions or bacon. So I substituted chopped broccoli, proscuttio, with cheddar and parmesan. Turned out tasty, and better than expected. In short, it wasn't a cooking disaster. I rarely have them - since I know how to cook, and how to follow or modify a recipe when required. My mother and grandmother taught me how. They followed recipes too, but like myself, tended to intuitive cooks, who would venture away from it from time to time - and pull their own twist on it. Probably out of boredom.
***
5. Still don't know what killed my cousin. Have come to the conclusion that I don't want to know or am better off not knowing - and to treat it as a gift. There's likely a reason they haven't told us. They want him to be remembered for how he was in life - not how he died. And some causes of death can overshadow what we were in life
Grief is an odd thing. Kind of a spiral. I spiral up, I spiral down, and then back again.
But the sunshine and warmth helped today, along with walking among the trees. Was annoyed to walk by yet another newly planned (under construction) work site for a housing development - or luxury residential housing. It was originally a Baptist Church and School, with a broad and well tended grassy yard in front, with flowers. Behind is the Park Slope Stables - which is still located to the side and slightly behind the structure. The new building means more people in the park, on the streets, in the stores, and on the subways. These developments remind me of there are too many real estate developments in NYC and far too many people.
On tap:
* visiting with Wales - to plan and pick a retreat for Thanksgiving
* cleaning house (I have these gnatty little flies I can't seem to get rid of - not that cleaning (vaccuming, swfiting, and straightening will take care of them)
* watching House of Dragon, Andor, Witcher, and whatever else I might find that grabs my interest.
* revising my novel.
* staying chipper and relaxing. I hit the proverbial wall this week and kind of needed a break of sorts to clear my head, and heart.