Project Optimism: The Terrace

Note: Photos to come.

Last July, yes I said LAST and JULY, our terrace, our little piece of the outside world in the city, was closed for construction. There was some notice about not being up to code and the work taking approximately 4-6 weeks to complete, depending on weather. We were going on vacation when the work was supposed to start so a week beforehand we shipped our plants and grill off to my in-laws’ house, thinking we would at least have it back for part of the fall.

This was not the case. Four weeks turned into ten turned into 16. Our bedroom windows were sealed shut with plastic for three and a half months. Summer turned into fall turned into winter turned into spring. From our windows we saw other lines of apartments lose their balconies and then get them finished and reopened again and again. The weather turned warm and sunny again and still we couldn’t use our outdoor space. Our patience wore thin. It wore very, very, very thin.

We complained to management, and the super, and tenant relations. We got the runaround. Finally, I LOST it. When they were nearly finished and then stopped work on our line for an entire week I went nuts! I went down to the super sweet girl in tenant relations. I begged her to do something…ANYTHING! And then a miracle occurred and last Thursday they took down the two-by-four that was nailed across our door and removed the caution tape and we had our porch back! Just under TEN MONTHS later we have it back!

On Saturday we went to Home Depot and bought planters and flowers and seeds. Yesterday we got our grill back from the husband’s parents’ place. Today we planted petunias and grilled sliders for dinner. It may not seem like a big deal, but to us it is. And we are very, very happy to have our terrace back!

In all my excitement I forgot to take any photos! I’ll take some tomorrow and put them up I promise.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique

In Manhattan, this is unique. There are a handful of houses like this on the UES. I love seeing them among the brownstones and highrises, like a little piece of the past or the suburbs sneaking in among the rest.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Illuminated

I was walking past Madison Square Park on 23rd St. last night on my way to dinner with the husband and another couple. I love the way lights look in the city at night, especially when the Empire State building is involved. It’s a sight I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of.

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Changing Seasons

Hurricane Parenting With a Dash of Pinkeye

In case you haven’t heard, Hurricane Sexy Sandy is heading toward the east coast of the U.S. Last I checked (which was about 2 seconds ago since we’ve been tuned to weather porn most of the day) she was set to hit us any minute. Being in NYC this storm is BIG NEWS. They shut down the subway. Starbucks is closed. It’s mayhem.

In addition to being building-bound, both of the children decided to come down with pinkeye which also leaves us apartment-bound. Good times. Luckily the urgent care across and the pharmacy across the street stayed open long enough for us to get diagnoses and drops for both of them. Unfortunately, this left us unable to play with any of our building friends and confined to our apartment…ALL…DAY. I know, I know, things could be worse. But being stuck with two whiny, itchy-eyed kids is not my ideal scenario.

So we’ve tried to make the best of it. We’ve read books, we’ve baked cookies, we’ve carved pumpkins, we’ve done writing practice, we’ve watched tv and played on iPads and computers. We had to walk the halls with Declan to get him to nap. We have started drinking beer.

Hopefully tomorrow all pinkness will be gone from all eyes and we can take advantage of living in such a huge building and the wonderful community we’ve built here. We can have some playdates, hang out in the lobby, do something. I will start taking advantage after bedtime tonight when I go to a friend’s apartment to have wine with some of the other moms. I’m going to need it, it’s been a long day.

Let’s hope by tomorrow morning that the worst is over and not too much damage has been done. We’re a little concerned about losing power, which rarely happens in Manhattan. So far, it’s rainy and windy and little else. If you’re in the path of this seriously massive storm, stay safe.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Big

Almost didn’t make it this week. This is the latest art installation being built in Madison Square Park.

Right Now

We are driving OURSELVES home from my in-laws’ in OUR car!!!!

Right Now…

I am enjoying a nice dinner of Fairway salad in the courtyard of our building while my 4-year-old tries to ruin it with his incessant whining.

Woohoo Compost!!

I was JUST saying to the husband that I wished there was some way we could compost. I feel awful throwing veggie and fruit scraps and egg shells into the trash. Then we stopped by the Farmer’s Market on Saturday and low and behold…composting!!! We can take our scraps and rotted veggies and fruits, stale bread, and other compostables there on Saturdays and I can ease my conscience.

I’ve been trying to be aware of my food waste since my online friend The Frugal Girl started writing about it. Her site has a lot more about composting, food waste, frugal living, and other cool things. I’ve gotten much better about my food waste, but nowhere near feeling ready to post photos of my food waste yet. Maybe this summer…

Adventure Time!

No, not that show on Cartoon Network. Although that show kicks ass! I’ll write about it later.

I’m talking about city adventures. Here in the city, any mundane activity can turn into an adventure with kids. Our cable box remote started breaking a few months ago. Finally, we broke down and called Time Warner and ordered a new remote. No problem, right? Wrong. Despite three requests, two of them for overnight delivery, six calls, and three and a half weeks passing, no remote arrived.

So yesterday Brady, Declan, and I set out to go down to the Time Warner office on 23rd St. to obtain a new one. Unfortunately, this is not a matter of just walking or strapping the kids into the car and driving. We took the subway. In general I adore the subway. Even when heavily pregnant I loved taking the subway. I’m fascinated by all the different people, their subway habits, the forced intimacy. Taking the subway with Brady is actually really nice these days. But schlepping a baby on the subway is not always the easiest.

I put Declan in the carrier. I have the old Beco. The one that Ergo sued them for and they can no longer make. But I recommend any of the soft buckle, mai tai type carriers. Bjorns are for men! I brought the Maclaren. We used to have a Volo with Brady, but it broke soon after Declan was born and we upgraded to the Triumph. I’m a fan. It’s still light, but it reclines for napping and smaller babies. I normally make Brady walk as much as possible, but in order to hang the bag on the back of the stroller I had him ride in it.

At the subway I put the backpack on my back, folded up the stroller, and headed down. Getting the folded stroller through the turnstile is a real bitch! Probably my least favorite part of taking the subway. But if we were walking around I wanted to have somewhere to put the bag or one of the kids if Brady or I got tired. It’s hard to get it over the turnstile and then I always have a moment of panic that as I’m fighting with it someone will come by and snatch Brady. Ugh.

Anyway, both kids were awesome on the subway and we got out right by the TW office. After a quick stop at Bath and Body Works to buy fun hand sanitizer, we walked in and it literally took one minute to get a new remote. I fished the old one out of the bag, handed it to the guy at the desk, and he gave me a brand new one. Done!

So then we had lunch in Madison Square Park. One of my fave places since it’s right outside my old office and I’ve spent a lot of time there. I brought pbj for Brady and I and we stopped at a deli for some snacks.

We checked out the Madison Square Park playground. It was a hit with Brady.

Declan tried the slide.

Then D, who hadn’t napped ALL DAY, went back into the carrier and we headed home. He slept as we walked over to the subway entrance and then woke up to make friends with a little girl sitting near us. Overall, a very fun morning. I just wish going places wasn’t so physically taxing! From doing all the steps and pushing Brady with Declan in the carrier my calves are killing me today. Plus we were pretty spent once we got home. Declan took over an hour and a half nap and Brady and I vegetated on the couch.

Oh and when we went down to check the mail, just guess what was there??

A NEW REMOTE!!!