What do you think? Should I have gone with the B&W?
-Bitter
Monday, December 3, 2007
Me, week seven
I did a new self portrait over the weekend to submit to contest running in one of the Flickr groups I belong to. I kept debating between the black and white version and the color. I finally decided to go with the color.
What do you think? Should I have gone with the B&W?
-Bitter
What do you think? Should I have gone with the B&W?
-Bitter
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Excuse Me? . . .
I had to run to the bank today, so I stepped out during my lunch break. It’s fabulous outside, perfect Fall weather. Overcast, cool, but not windy and frigid. I walked past the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day balloons on 77th Street and continued on to Broadway dodging taxis, barricades, and construction areas. This part of town is nice to walk around, since there usually aren’t many tourists.
The bank didn’t take much of my time, so I thought I’d stop off at Fairway and grab a salad. I crossed the street, dodged through the pedestrian traffic and abruptly stopped when I caught sight of the swarm of people attempting to get inside. Um, perhaps the day before Thanksgiving wasn’t the best day to hop inside a grocery store to grab something to eat.
I stepped to the curb and looked across the street. Starbucks? Yeah, I guess they’d do.
I eyed the offerings in the deli section of Starbucks and decided to grab the Avocado Turkey sandwich on whole grain bread since I love avocado. (FYI-it wasn’t that great.)
I stepped to the counter and handed over the sandwich to the young girl standing behind the counter. “Anything else?” she asked.
On the spur of the moment I decided to get a drink, “A tall vanilla crème, no foam please.” I smiled.
“No foam. Whip?” She said back.
Whip? Oh, “Yes, whipped cream please.”
She punched a few things in on the screen in front of her, then held up a shiny red bag. “Are you interested in picking up a pound of our Christmas-“
“I don’t drink coffee.” I smiled politely, she looked at me like I had just grown another head. Yes I know I was in place that was built and marketed around coffee, but hello, I just ordered a cup of steamed milk. You’d think that if I liked coffee I would have ordered it.
“Does anyone in your family drink-“
“I’m single.” I was starting to feel like I was on the phone with my credit card company, you know, when they try to sell you all those security bells and whistles on your card for only $872/month.
“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” she said.
I couldn’t believe it. My Thanksgiving plans (or lack thereof) were none of her concern. My eyes swiveled between the number displayed on the register and the pointed eyes demanding an answer. $9.XX? Was that the right amount? I mumbled something about double checking the price wondering if she had charged me for a Grande, after a glance at plastic container I remembered the sandwich was $6.25. So yeah, the amount was about right. I handed over my debit card.
She swiped it, then leaned forward and asked pointedly, “So, do you have plans for Thanksgiving?” I just stood there, flabbergasted.
“Excuse me, but can I just have my receipt?” I pointed at my card and the paper she had clutched in her hand.
She shoved them forward. I said, “Thanks,” spun on my heel, and walked away.
I suppose you had to be there, but I was so taken back by her reaction to me not wanting to buy a stupid bag of Starbuck’s Christmas Coffee Grounds, that I was furious for about 15 minutes.
Fern (not her real name) thinks I should have leaned right back toward her and said, “Why yes, I do have plans. I’m working at the soup kitchen, would you like to donate several bags?” (Fern works at the soup kitchen all the time, and so the quip came readily to her mind.)
The Starbuck cashier’s lack of tact coupled with the vibe that I got from her implying that it was not okay to be single is what set me over the edge. That she did it so vindictively and pushily left thinking, “Excuse me?”
-Bitter
FYI: I do have plans for Thanksgiving.
The bank didn’t take much of my time, so I thought I’d stop off at Fairway and grab a salad. I crossed the street, dodged through the pedestrian traffic and abruptly stopped when I caught sight of the swarm of people attempting to get inside. Um, perhaps the day before Thanksgiving wasn’t the best day to hop inside a grocery store to grab something to eat.
I stepped to the curb and looked across the street. Starbucks? Yeah, I guess they’d do.
I eyed the offerings in the deli section of Starbucks and decided to grab the Avocado Turkey sandwich on whole grain bread since I love avocado. (FYI-it wasn’t that great.)
I stepped to the counter and handed over the sandwich to the young girl standing behind the counter. “Anything else?” she asked.
On the spur of the moment I decided to get a drink, “A tall vanilla crème, no foam please.” I smiled.
“No foam. Whip?” She said back.
Whip? Oh, “Yes, whipped cream please.”
She punched a few things in on the screen in front of her, then held up a shiny red bag. “Are you interested in picking up a pound of our Christmas-“
“I don’t drink coffee.” I smiled politely, she looked at me like I had just grown another head. Yes I know I was in place that was built and marketed around coffee, but hello, I just ordered a cup of steamed milk. You’d think that if I liked coffee I would have ordered it.
“Does anyone in your family drink-“
“I’m single.” I was starting to feel like I was on the phone with my credit card company, you know, when they try to sell you all those security bells and whistles on your card for only $872/month.
“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” she said.
I couldn’t believe it. My Thanksgiving plans (or lack thereof) were none of her concern. My eyes swiveled between the number displayed on the register and the pointed eyes demanding an answer. $9.XX? Was that the right amount? I mumbled something about double checking the price wondering if she had charged me for a Grande, after a glance at plastic container I remembered the sandwich was $6.25. So yeah, the amount was about right. I handed over my debit card.
She swiped it, then leaned forward and asked pointedly, “So, do you have plans for Thanksgiving?” I just stood there, flabbergasted.
“Excuse me, but can I just have my receipt?” I pointed at my card and the paper she had clutched in her hand.
She shoved them forward. I said, “Thanks,” spun on my heel, and walked away.
I suppose you had to be there, but I was so taken back by her reaction to me not wanting to buy a stupid bag of Starbuck’s Christmas Coffee Grounds, that I was furious for about 15 minutes.
Fern (not her real name) thinks I should have leaned right back toward her and said, “Why yes, I do have plans. I’m working at the soup kitchen, would you like to donate several bags?” (Fern works at the soup kitchen all the time, and so the quip came readily to her mind.)
The Starbuck cashier’s lack of tact coupled with the vibe that I got from her implying that it was not okay to be single is what set me over the edge. That she did it so vindictively and pushily left thinking, “Excuse me?”
-Bitter
FYI: I do have plans for Thanksgiving.
Monday, November 19, 2007
First Snow
Snowflake, originally uploaded by JJSchad.
I'm happy to announce that I saw snow this morning on my way to work, yes, I'm talking about those white little flurries that float through the air before dying a miserable death by melting.
Anyway, NYC's first snow of the season last year came in February. So I'm thinking that since I've sighted snow already, and it's only November, that we might actually have a winter this year. What do you think?
-Bitter
Friday, November 16, 2007
Winter's Eve, at lincoln square
Guess where I'm going to be on Nov. 26th?
"The Lincoln Square Business Improvement District and presenting sponsor Time Warner will host the 8th Annual Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square, New York City's largest holiday festival featuring free entertainment, family fun, food tastings, in-store activities and shopping around and about this colorful and vibrant neighborhood... all following the Lincoln Center Holiday Tree lighting ceremony at 5:30pm!
On Winter's Eve, stores, restaurants, cultural organizations and public spaces in the district will be buzzing with activities for both children and adults. At the same time, sidewalks along Broadway from Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle to 68th Street will be alive with performers, street musicians, jugglers, stilt-walkers and more, making for a festive fun-filled stroll through the streets of this dynamic Upper West Side neighborhood.
WHEN: Monday, November 26, 2007, 5:30 PM – Lincoln Center Holiday Tree Lighting, 6:00 PM – Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square
WHERE: From Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle to 68th Street along and around Broadway and Columbus Avenue.
BY SUBWAY: Take the 1, A, B, C, or D train to 59th Street & Columbus Circle or the 1 train to 66th Street and Broadway.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: 212.581.3774
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