Final day in NYC... and we headed once again to times square to buy something we'd seen there, and were (again) approached by someone on the street offering us...free tickets to a David Letterman taping! No strings, definitely free tickets. As getting tickets was something Martin had looked into from Australia and we knew they were near on impossible to get, we jumped at them.
They don't tell you who the guests are until you're in, and I thought maybe it was a "not busy" night...til we get in there and...OMG OMG OMG... the first guest was Patrick Dempsey!!!! Dr McDreamy fro Grey's anatomy.. I don't watch the show, never have and probably won't but he is soooo cute. (And a daddy of twins, aaaw) so I have seen him IN THE FLESH.....LOL, lucky they didn't let me get close enough to touch him!!
Isabella Rossellini was also on the show, a lady whose beauty I have admired for many years so that was special too.
So our trip to NYC ended on such a high!!
And speaking of highs, we went to the top of the Empire State Building this morning...should I make you go to the flickr page to see the results or will I tell you now...hmmmm...it was zero visibility...but at least we beat the crowds!!!!
We took photos from the top anyway, just because you do...
Also had a call from a lovely man who I met at the Albinism conference in Adelaide the other week, the very special Rick Guidotti (based in NYC)(http://www.positiveexposure.org/) and he wants to catch up so we may change our plans slightly so we can; catching up with Rick and a possibility of catching up with the friend from Harlem again is way too important to me...
so.
tomorrow we head to long island and I have three intense days of library researching at 2 sites... so it'll be head down for a while but I will try to maintain here...or get Martin to do it. :)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
more on NYC
Wow we only have one full day left in New York City and the time has gone so-o-o-o fast !!
What have we done since the last entry...lots!
Yesterday (Saturday) we headed out to the Bronx neighbourhood.. to visit the Woodlawn cemetery. Martin knew where he was going to find the grave site we wanted so after an hour of going round in circles we asked for a map and actually found the grave site we were looking for...that of Irving Berlin. Yeah yeah a long way to go to find a guy who probably won't even end up being related to me, but it was an experience and a half!!
From the Bronx we went to visit a friend of mine in Harlem, so ventured further into Bronx area, on Martin Luther King drive. rather than get to her house hungry we called into a McD's. LOL I think we gave them quite a surprise; don't know that too many people quite like us frequent that branch. We then got a bus to the subway to Harlem and found my friend's apartment complete with 4 week old bubby....aaawww...
We took the baby for a walk through the streets of Harlem, it's a very interesting place, it changes almost block by block..the architecture, the feel...everything. And we found out that Harlem is actually Dutch in it's history, there is a Harlem in Holland...as well as a Brooklyn....
anyway we left them after a photo shoot, ha ha, and came home via the Chinese restaurant again.
Then this morning began another busy day. Lucky my ankle is holding up!
Umm...started off going to Times Square (a-gain!!) to grab some tickets for a show we wanted to see, the Harlem Gospel Choir performing at an all you can eat brunch in BB King's restaurant and grill on 42nd Street. We were able to get tix and wandered the streets of Times Square til the show started...found the Scientology centre plus masses of other stuff...
Oh, an aside...if you find a DVD shop, check it out before you go in. We thought we'd go into one with "new releases" and see if we could get a latest release DVD for the kids; you know, before it comes out back home...and it was ALL latest release pornograhy. Seriously, we backed out so fast the guy in the shop probably thought he imagined us!! it was hilarious....the shop down the road was exactly the same so we gave up on DVDs...
Anyway, we love love loved the Harlem Gospel Choir..my friend had told me she has a pentecostal baptist church next door and we could have heard them singing for free..maybe next time!...this one came with all you can eat soul food, man!! All southern fried stuff: chicken, catfish, candied yams, jambalaya..and finally martin's curiosity has been sated..grits. he didn't like them. (For my kids: it's just like semolina but potato based; very bland)
The show was awesome, so much movement and fun and joy...and it was just wonderful!
So after rejoicing with the HGC we headed by subway to Coney Island...it's a bit cold and CI was a bit deserted but we imagine in summer it would be packed so it worked out well. Rode the "cyclone" roller coaster which proved once and for all that we are simply too old for this sort of nonsense, LOL
Subway back to the city and another stroll through Central Park. Melanie, your camera would be so happy there for a few days, every time you turn around there's another beautiful image to capture, I just had to stop taking snaps and enjoy the serenity. We walked through to strawberry Fields, which is part of Central Park, in front of john Lennon's home. Beautiful and so peaceful; it's a designated quiet area. Have decided I will put "designated quiet zone" signs throughout my house. flickr page has a couple of images I think, but they don't capture it as lovely as it is.
Anyway so only tomorrow left in NYC and we're headed up the Empire State building; forecast is for overcast so we hope to see more than clouds...
Have also found a fantastic (& cheap!) coffee place right across the road so they have been kept busy..no coffee making facilities in this room...
have rambled enough, hope you managed to hang on this long, LOL.
What have we done since the last entry...lots!
Yesterday (Saturday) we headed out to the Bronx neighbourhood.. to visit the Woodlawn cemetery. Martin knew where he was going to find the grave site we wanted so after an hour of going round in circles we asked for a map and actually found the grave site we were looking for...that of Irving Berlin. Yeah yeah a long way to go to find a guy who probably won't even end up being related to me, but it was an experience and a half!!
From the Bronx we went to visit a friend of mine in Harlem, so ventured further into Bronx area, on Martin Luther King drive. rather than get to her house hungry we called into a McD's. LOL I think we gave them quite a surprise; don't know that too many people quite like us frequent that branch. We then got a bus to the subway to Harlem and found my friend's apartment complete with 4 week old bubby....aaawww...
We took the baby for a walk through the streets of Harlem, it's a very interesting place, it changes almost block by block..the architecture, the feel...everything. And we found out that Harlem is actually Dutch in it's history, there is a Harlem in Holland...as well as a Brooklyn....
anyway we left them after a photo shoot, ha ha, and came home via the Chinese restaurant again.
Then this morning began another busy day. Lucky my ankle is holding up!
Umm...started off going to Times Square (a-gain!!) to grab some tickets for a show we wanted to see, the Harlem Gospel Choir performing at an all you can eat brunch in BB King's restaurant and grill on 42nd Street. We were able to get tix and wandered the streets of Times Square til the show started...found the Scientology centre plus masses of other stuff...
Oh, an aside...if you find a DVD shop, check it out before you go in. We thought we'd go into one with "new releases" and see if we could get a latest release DVD for the kids; you know, before it comes out back home...and it was ALL latest release pornograhy. Seriously, we backed out so fast the guy in the shop probably thought he imagined us!! it was hilarious....the shop down the road was exactly the same so we gave up on DVDs...
Anyway, we love love loved the Harlem Gospel Choir..my friend had told me she has a pentecostal baptist church next door and we could have heard them singing for free..maybe next time!...this one came with all you can eat soul food, man!! All southern fried stuff: chicken, catfish, candied yams, jambalaya..and finally martin's curiosity has been sated..grits. he didn't like them. (For my kids: it's just like semolina but potato based; very bland)
The show was awesome, so much movement and fun and joy...and it was just wonderful!
So after rejoicing with the HGC we headed by subway to Coney Island...it's a bit cold and CI was a bit deserted but we imagine in summer it would be packed so it worked out well. Rode the "cyclone" roller coaster which proved once and for all that we are simply too old for this sort of nonsense, LOL
Subway back to the city and another stroll through Central Park. Melanie, your camera would be so happy there for a few days, every time you turn around there's another beautiful image to capture, I just had to stop taking snaps and enjoy the serenity. We walked through to strawberry Fields, which is part of Central Park, in front of john Lennon's home. Beautiful and so peaceful; it's a designated quiet area. Have decided I will put "designated quiet zone" signs throughout my house. flickr page has a couple of images I think, but they don't capture it as lovely as it is.
Anyway so only tomorrow left in NYC and we're headed up the Empire State building; forecast is for overcast so we hope to see more than clouds...
Have also found a fantastic (& cheap!) coffee place right across the road so they have been kept busy..no coffee making facilities in this room...
have rambled enough, hope you managed to hang on this long, LOL.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
NYC
Heading out for another day of scouring New York....Martin did his three bridge walk yesterday; the Brooklyn, the Manhattan and the Williamsburg bridges all in one hit. He was pretty knackered when he got to pick me up, believe me! He also went to the top of the Rockefeller centre.
On Thursday he went over the 59th St bridge, the one made famous in the Simon and garfunkel song way back when. He says he didn't sing the feeling groovy song while he did it but I do wonder.
We went back to Times Square last night, which was just a bit busier than when we were there the other day LOL.... Friday nights are a party night I guess.
Wandered round Times Sq looking for food but nothing took our fancy or made our wallets ha[[y so cam back to the unit and went to a tiny chinese restaurant a few doors down. Masses of food plus they threw "sodas" in cos we said no to soup and egg rolls and cheaper for both of us than a lot of the places in TS were for one!
We think we'll head back before we leave.
Martin had dunkin donuts last night...chocolate glazed doughnut means chocolate dough..mmmm he said....so he's compared Hungry jacks / Burger King, Mcdonalds, just waiting to try KFC...
ah well NYC awaits plus catching up with a friend today so it's all good!!!
On Thursday he went over the 59th St bridge, the one made famous in the Simon and garfunkel song way back when. He says he didn't sing the feeling groovy song while he did it but I do wonder.
We went back to Times Square last night, which was just a bit busier than when we were there the other day LOL.... Friday nights are a party night I guess.
Wandered round Times Sq looking for food but nothing took our fancy or made our wallets ha[[y so cam back to the unit and went to a tiny chinese restaurant a few doors down. Masses of food plus they threw "sodas" in cos we said no to soup and egg rolls and cheaper for both of us than a lot of the places in TS were for one!
We think we'll head back before we leave.
Martin had dunkin donuts last night...chocolate glazed doughnut means chocolate dough..mmmm he said....so he's compared Hungry jacks / Burger King, Mcdonalds, just waiting to try KFC...
ah well NYC awaits plus catching up with a friend today so it's all good!!!
research
So maybe you're wondering how the research / study is going? Amazingly.
Spent a few days at Brooklyn Public Library's central branch talking to their staff and partners in kids literacy.
There are things happening here that are amazing inspirational and just so good! (superlatives fail) I will be doing up proper reports of course, but just know that in this Brooklyn population of 2.5 million (yes our whole state's population is served by this one library service through many branches) is very strongly supported in the area of early childhood literacy.
I have met people who work with kids with disabilities, kids in detention centres, homeless shelters, teen mums....so many of the people we ('we' being middle class-ish Anglo Saxon home owning people) simply never see. To deny their existence is ignorance, to presume they had other choices is arrogant and to assume someone else can / should / does help them is downright dumb.
I am in awe of the work these people are doing and I'm only half way through!
I haven't even been able to type up my notes yet, my head is so full of the things we talked about, I'm not sure how to fit it all together! Lucky i also have an mp3 recorder so can catch the bits I missed.
So...short answer? The study is going fabulously.
Spent a few days at Brooklyn Public Library's central branch talking to their staff and partners in kids literacy.
There are things happening here that are amazing inspirational and just so good! (superlatives fail) I will be doing up proper reports of course, but just know that in this Brooklyn population of 2.5 million (yes our whole state's population is served by this one library service through many branches) is very strongly supported in the area of early childhood literacy.
I have met people who work with kids with disabilities, kids in detention centres, homeless shelters, teen mums....so many of the people we ('we' being middle class-ish Anglo Saxon home owning people) simply never see. To deny their existence is ignorance, to presume they had other choices is arrogant and to assume someone else can / should / does help them is downright dumb.
I am in awe of the work these people are doing and I'm only half way through!
I haven't even been able to type up my notes yet, my head is so full of the things we talked about, I'm not sure how to fit it all together! Lucky i also have an mp3 recorder so can catch the bits I missed.
So...short answer? The study is going fabulously.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Americans
I was going to write and ramble about what we can learn from Americans...well, we can learn how to be nice! Most of the shops and businesses we have been to have offered more than exceptional service. I really thought I'd get sick of hearing "have a nice day" because we parody it so much in Australia, but you know what? When it's said so genuinely and with such a big smile, you just don't get sick of it. (This includes checkout operators, Mcdonalds...right through). Every person makes you feel as though if you hadn't walked into their store, their day wouldn't have been complete. And that's before they hear the accent and get excited about "you Aussies"
I don't know how to replicate that attitude; if I could bottle it, I'd be a millionaire. Maybe becuase they struggle more to find a job? Maybe because it's just what's expected? I have no idea! Maybe it's becuase they grow up knowing they're part of something bigger.
It frustrates me when I hear library people complaining about the people who use their facilities. Maybe they smell, maybe they're homeless, maybe they're not our kind. I think that's where we can come unstuck. Our business (public libraries) isn't just for the well read, literate and polished few, it's for everyone and everyone who walks in the door has to be special. Believe me, they have way more problems with homeless smelly people in their libraries here, as most businessses must, and there is certainly a level of intolerance (signs saying 'seating time 30 minutes with purchase of food'- 'no restrooms' - etc. proliferate) but as a general rule, the reaction of staff towards their customers is amazing. I have rarely been in a store five minutes without being offered help and not in an intimidating way...more "can you find what you're after?" and then politely left alone, but acknowledged nonetheless.
The only times we haven't had good service has been would you believe in some of the hotels we've stayed at. And these people are in the business of serving tourists...gnnnaaahh but enough about them already.
Maybe it's because I have also just read "You want fries with that" a book about a guy who gives up his career in marketing to do menial work...and what he learned from that about attitudes and so on.. but I don't think that's all of it.
I'm looking for the clue. I know if I asked someone they'd say it's because they really are happy to see me...so I shall don my detective hat and pursue this avenue of thought.
I don't know how to replicate that attitude; if I could bottle it, I'd be a millionaire. Maybe becuase they struggle more to find a job? Maybe because it's just what's expected? I have no idea! Maybe it's becuase they grow up knowing they're part of something bigger.
It frustrates me when I hear library people complaining about the people who use their facilities. Maybe they smell, maybe they're homeless, maybe they're not our kind. I think that's where we can come unstuck. Our business (public libraries) isn't just for the well read, literate and polished few, it's for everyone and everyone who walks in the door has to be special. Believe me, they have way more problems with homeless smelly people in their libraries here, as most businessses must, and there is certainly a level of intolerance (signs saying 'seating time 30 minutes with purchase of food'- 'no restrooms' - etc. proliferate) but as a general rule, the reaction of staff towards their customers is amazing. I have rarely been in a store five minutes without being offered help and not in an intimidating way...more "can you find what you're after?" and then politely left alone, but acknowledged nonetheless.
The only times we haven't had good service has been would you believe in some of the hotels we've stayed at. And these people are in the business of serving tourists...gnnnaaahh but enough about them already.
Maybe it's because I have also just read "You want fries with that" a book about a guy who gives up his career in marketing to do menial work...and what he learned from that about attitudes and so on.. but I don't think that's all of it.
I'm looking for the clue. I know if I asked someone they'd say it's because they really are happy to see me...so I shall don my detective hat and pursue this avenue of thought.
New York
We arrived in New York city yesterday morning, having taken the "redeye" from Portland, then the subway across from JFK airport.. so were barely conscious for a few hours. However, after a few hours sleep we headed out to view this city so many people rave about.
It's tall! Lots of very tall buildings and signs and people..and yellow cabs. We only got to Times Square area and a bit of Central Park...but it was great! Beautiful weather so people were out in their hundreds and hundreds and hundreds in the park.
Still trying to get my head round the fact that we're here! The bridge from movies, the lake from movies, the buildings from the same....and us! Slightly surreal.
Wandered around a bit...past brownstones and apartments, so pretty! I
have a library site visit today and tomorrow with Brooklyn Public Library, and hoping to catch up with some online friends over the next few days (yes I'm sure they really are who they say they are) while doing more sightseeing. Martin is going to be playing tourist, LOL, going on lots of subways and visiting places I don't mind missing out on.
He has had a hot dog from a street vendor and lots of cherry coke, cherry pepsi and dr pepper's so he is having the true experience!!
It's tall! Lots of very tall buildings and signs and people..and yellow cabs. We only got to Times Square area and a bit of Central Park...but it was great! Beautiful weather so people were out in their hundreds and hundreds and hundreds in the park.
Still trying to get my head round the fact that we're here! The bridge from movies, the lake from movies, the buildings from the same....and us! Slightly surreal.
Wandered around a bit...past brownstones and apartments, so pretty! I
have a library site visit today and tomorrow with Brooklyn Public Library, and hoping to catch up with some online friends over the next few days (yes I'm sure they really are who they say they are) while doing more sightseeing. Martin is going to be playing tourist, LOL, going on lots of subways and visiting places I don't mind missing out on.
He has had a hot dog from a street vendor and lots of cherry coke, cherry pepsi and dr pepper's so he is having the true experience!!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
longview, washington state
Rain! We wondered what it was and then we cast back into our memories and there it was. Rain. wet stuff falling form the sky. LOL the locals have had more than enough thank you very much but we are enjoying its novelty.
We arrived in Longview on Sunday night and I had my first library site visit yesterday, which was wonderful; again the staff are more than helpful and happy to share their stories positive and negative. The Longview library is huge (in comparison to ours...but it serves a much bigger population of course) and has a great feel to it; I'd want to go there if I lived here!!
we went for a drive around Longview while we had the car and saw some amazing homes and areas; it's a place which, as a tourist, you'd never come to unless you needed to, and it's so nice!!
Martin visited the post office to post off some postcards and Annika's leftovers. :) Pity he hasn't got a car, apparently the PO at Rainier - not far away - is about the size of Tanunda's and is 1000 feet above sea level so cold and snowy....oh shucks; he'd have loved that.
we leave tonight via Amtrak to Portland Oregon so we can catch the "red eye" to NYC...we arrive about 5 am, so we're looking forward to seeing New York.....
Ooops Martin is packing up around me so I think that means its time to finish up and pack the laptop. will post many random and rambling thoughts I have had about Americans and what we can learn from them later.
We arrived in Longview on Sunday night and I had my first library site visit yesterday, which was wonderful; again the staff are more than helpful and happy to share their stories positive and negative. The Longview library is huge (in comparison to ours...but it serves a much bigger population of course) and has a great feel to it; I'd want to go there if I lived here!!
we went for a drive around Longview while we had the car and saw some amazing homes and areas; it's a place which, as a tourist, you'd never come to unless you needed to, and it's so nice!!
Martin visited the post office to post off some postcards and Annika's leftovers. :) Pity he hasn't got a car, apparently the PO at Rainier - not far away - is about the size of Tanunda's and is 1000 feet above sea level so cold and snowy....oh shucks; he'd have loved that.
we leave tonight via Amtrak to Portland Oregon so we can catch the "red eye" to NYC...we arrive about 5 am, so we're looking forward to seeing New York.....
Ooops Martin is packing up around me so I think that means its time to finish up and pack the laptop. will post many random and rambling thoughts I have had about Americans and what we can learn from them later.
Monday, April 21, 2008
no more Astoria
Finished up in Astoria today....went for a farewell look at a few places we love here...and discovered the local (Astoria) Lutheran church is called Bethany Lutheran...same as our church back home!!
we went for a drive along the Oregon coast to Cannon Beach, which is where you'll find Haystack rock from the Goonies movie (of course). Oh so scenic along that drive, and the Oregon coast is beautiful. haystack rock bigger than I thought! the beach would be so busy in summer, I imagine, there are a lot of hotels inns etc around as well.
We then headed back to Longview washington to our hotel room...the hotel is across a park from the library; how cool is that! There's a 24 hour Safeway beside us with...you guessed it, a Starbucks. LOL.
Drove around Longview while we still have the car...sorry, the Mustang... then decided we were hungry and found a Sizzler. Yep, the defunct in Australia restaurant chain is alive and well in the USA. So Martin overindulged on the salad bar and dessert bar...
He has to take the car...sorry the Mustang... back tomorrow; think he's alreaady missing it.
we went for a drive along the Oregon coast to Cannon Beach, which is where you'll find Haystack rock from the Goonies movie (of course). Oh so scenic along that drive, and the Oregon coast is beautiful. haystack rock bigger than I thought! the beach would be so busy in summer, I imagine, there are a lot of hotels inns etc around as well.
We then headed back to Longview washington to our hotel room...the hotel is across a park from the library; how cool is that! There's a 24 hour Safeway beside us with...you guessed it, a Starbucks. LOL.
Drove around Longview while we still have the car...sorry, the Mustang... then decided we were hungry and found a Sizzler. Yep, the defunct in Australia restaurant chain is alive and well in the USA. So Martin overindulged on the salad bar and dessert bar...
He has to take the car...sorry the Mustang... back tomorrow; think he's alreaady missing it.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
AAAH-storia
Is luvverly. drove here from Longview WA through forests of pines and a beautiful big river.
Martin very happy because the Budget rental was upgraded from a Pontiac to a Mustang. Brrm Brrmm. He's giving me heart attacks driving on the wrong side of the road every now and then...
so we hit Astoria amid sighs and "aw perty" it's very very picturesque here. went to Mikey and Data's homes (from the Goonies) and the school where they shot kindergarten cop. Budget rental manager recommended an eatery here and it was amazing. A huge plate of smoked chicken with a couple of salads was $7....after San Francisco and seattle it was nice to eat "normal" food at a reasonable price! The place is called "rollin' thunder" and the guy who owns it is a race fan....no a racing junkie, LOL...he could talk cars til midight I reckon!
We bought me a new camera...in Walmart. It's not as lovely as the other one but it's pretty good. I think people don't understand about my visual problems because I've learnt to hide them and pretend I see better than I do; so the 3 inch screen on the back of the panasonic was absolutely amazing for me, and the controls didn't need me to squint to see what I was doing. So if it seems I'm going on..that's why. :) I'm sure I'll get to like this new oone, I just won't have had the time to get used to it as I did the other one. enough of the poor me...
The Walmart we went to had a Mcdonalds in it...yeah really...and the Safeway supermarket here in Astoria has a Starbucks. we cruised round Safeway LOLing and taking photos of stuff; a couple of people aked why and we told them they have forty different ice cream flavours and more "candy" "cookies" and cake than we do so it was all pretty interesting.
The B&B here is nice too, the lady is very proud of the home; it used to be a convent apparently, and there's a little chapel downstairs where she has held weddings. A very quiet location and they're making sure I have a gluten free brekky (hurrah!)
Martin very happy because the Budget rental was upgraded from a Pontiac to a Mustang. Brrm Brrmm. He's giving me heart attacks driving on the wrong side of the road every now and then...
so we hit Astoria amid sighs and "aw perty" it's very very picturesque here. went to Mikey and Data's homes (from the Goonies) and the school where they shot kindergarten cop. Budget rental manager recommended an eatery here and it was amazing. A huge plate of smoked chicken with a couple of salads was $7....after San Francisco and seattle it was nice to eat "normal" food at a reasonable price! The place is called "rollin' thunder" and the guy who owns it is a race fan....no a racing junkie, LOL...he could talk cars til midight I reckon!
We bought me a new camera...in Walmart. It's not as lovely as the other one but it's pretty good. I think people don't understand about my visual problems because I've learnt to hide them and pretend I see better than I do; so the 3 inch screen on the back of the panasonic was absolutely amazing for me, and the controls didn't need me to squint to see what I was doing. So if it seems I'm going on..that's why. :) I'm sure I'll get to like this new oone, I just won't have had the time to get used to it as I did the other one. enough of the poor me...
The Walmart we went to had a Mcdonalds in it...yeah really...and the Safeway supermarket here in Astoria has a Starbucks. we cruised round Safeway LOLing and taking photos of stuff; a couple of people aked why and we told them they have forty different ice cream flavours and more "candy" "cookies" and cake than we do so it was all pretty interesting.
The B&B here is nice too, the lady is very proud of the home; it used to be a convent apparently, and there's a little chapel downstairs where she has held weddings. A very quiet location and they're making sure I have a gluten free brekky (hurrah!)
I blame Annika
No not really, Annika..... just thought it made a more interesting title. :)
However, why didn't you drill into my head about tax? And tipping? And toilet bowls?
we keep forgetting tax. In Australia it's illegal to advertise anything without GST added but here, it seems it's illegal to put (plus tax) after anything...so we head to pay for things with exact money and have to scramble to find three ...five... twenty one cents or whatever because we just forget!
And we also forget to tip people...then we walk away and say "should we have tipped them?" So hard to know...some places have a tip bowl, so it's obvious they want one, others...hmmm... it's too grey for me. I like "no tipping" or "tip absolutely everyone absolutely all the time" LOl
And toilet bowls? What is this? Not a water restrictions area? It may sound inane but honestly when a bowl is half full of water it's a bit daunting wondering if you'll overfill it !!!! Just joking of course but in Australia the water in the bowl is just past the pipey thing, here..it's half way up the big bowl. very confusing, at first we thought the plumbing was on the blink! Lucky we didnt' question it, can just imagine the staff trying to work out what our problem was.
So while it's unfair to blame Annika, it's a fun thing to do, and I know she can take it cos she would have known the toilet wasn't on the blink
However, why didn't you drill into my head about tax? And tipping? And toilet bowls?
we keep forgetting tax. In Australia it's illegal to advertise anything without GST added but here, it seems it's illegal to put (plus tax) after anything...so we head to pay for things with exact money and have to scramble to find three ...five... twenty one cents or whatever because we just forget!
And we also forget to tip people...then we walk away and say "should we have tipped them?" So hard to know...some places have a tip bowl, so it's obvious they want one, others...hmmm... it's too grey for me. I like "no tipping" or "tip absolutely everyone absolutely all the time" LOl
And toilet bowls? What is this? Not a water restrictions area? It may sound inane but honestly when a bowl is half full of water it's a bit daunting wondering if you'll overfill it !!!! Just joking of course but in Australia the water in the bowl is just past the pipey thing, here..it's half way up the big bowl. very confusing, at first we thought the plumbing was on the blink! Lucky we didnt' question it, can just imagine the staff trying to work out what our problem was.
So while it's unfair to blame Annika, it's a fun thing to do, and I know she can take it cos she would have known the toilet wasn't on the blink
Saturday, April 19, 2008
bummer
We went back up to the top if the Space Needle here in Seattle last night and took some amazing photos of the city lights..it was so cold here it snowed at the needle yesterday and while we were there it was very icy, in fact lots of ice forming on the observation deck.
The city is so pretty at night...remind me again why we take people to look at the night lights of Adelaide, will you???
Woke this morning to download my photos to the computer and realised...no camera. I remember having it whe I made coffee in the lobby..to warm our hands up... in the elevator I felt my umbrella strap round my wrist so didn't click I didn't have the camera strap there. (Black case on a black table top...) Yeah remember the $3 umbrella and not the $600 camera...
have rung the reception desk and checked the area myself but no camera anywhere. So somone somewhere has a beautiful panasonic digital camera with a big 3 inch screen. We can't afford to replace it so I'll have to have a not so beautiful camera for the rest of the trip....and of course the camera was the most important part so I have photos to use in my presentations .... aaaarrrggghhh.
Yes it's insured but as the receipts for it are at home there's nothing I can do til I get back there.
I'm cross but i think Martin is crosser :)
I have been so careful everywhere not to leave anything out of my sight and double checking everything... ah well I'm sure there'll be more on this saga later.
Today we head by train to Longview in Washington state and then we're hiring a car to drive to Astoria, Oregn for the night. Back to Longview on Sunday and first "official" library site visit on Monday.....
So stay tuned!!
from grumpy me. :(
The city is so pretty at night...remind me again why we take people to look at the night lights of Adelaide, will you???
Woke this morning to download my photos to the computer and realised...no camera. I remember having it whe I made coffee in the lobby..to warm our hands up... in the elevator I felt my umbrella strap round my wrist so didn't click I didn't have the camera strap there. (Black case on a black table top...) Yeah remember the $3 umbrella and not the $600 camera...
have rung the reception desk and checked the area myself but no camera anywhere. So somone somewhere has a beautiful panasonic digital camera with a big 3 inch screen. We can't afford to replace it so I'll have to have a not so beautiful camera for the rest of the trip....and of course the camera was the most important part so I have photos to use in my presentations .... aaaarrrggghhh.
Yes it's insured but as the receipts for it are at home there's nothing I can do til I get back there.
I'm cross but i think Martin is crosser :)
I have been so careful everywhere not to leave anything out of my sight and double checking everything... ah well I'm sure there'll be more on this saga later.
Today we head by train to Longview in Washington state and then we're hiring a car to drive to Astoria, Oregn for the night. Back to Longview on Sunday and first "official" library site visit on Monday.....
So stay tuned!!
from grumpy me. :(
seattle 2
Aw man this place has to stop being fun!
Of course we're cramming everything into a short space of time which helps.
Last night we went to the top of the space needle to have a look at the city from above. beautiful! Going back tonight to do the night time recci on the view.
Spent today day scouring seattle.....started off with the Columbia tower which is apparently twice the height of spaceneedle, and again saw Seattle from the air...which was nice, and the building has very speedy lifts!
Then we went to mecca...sorry, the seattle public library. what can I say that hasn't already been said about this building? Left a line of drool in the kid's area...soo colourful!! Past the Microsoft 200+ seat auditorium the up one flight to the...ahem...Starbucks Teen Area....what sponsorship can do, huh?
oh was pleased when the bus driver told me last night that there wasn't a fuss when the library building was being constructed as the people of Seattle are library supporters and users, but there was some resistance to the building of a second sports arena..one just for baseball one just for football and right next to each other. Gotta love it when people love you. :)
Then...after our vast excitement at the library (seriously, it was a-ma-zing...and their promotional gear...WOW...see my flickr page) we wandered to the Pike Place markets to see the F.I.S.H. guys do their stuff. I figure basically you have to like being a showoff...meh I can do that. :)....they were just cheeky - but everyone expects them to be, if you're cheeky in a library people think you're weird.
Bought an apple the size of two of my fists and it was so gorgeous there was apple juice running down my arms...also went to the very first Starbucks...and didn't buy a starbucks! Instead went to "seattle'e best coffee" which actually started the year before starbucks (1970 as opposed to 71, in case you were wondering)
Then we caught the worlds shortest monorail back to our hotel. We got on put our bags down and were finished...well it felt like it!!
Martin has found his way to the museum of science fiction, yay for him,so I am hereupdating this and flickr and grabbing a nap while he bonds with dr who, ET, darth and a 1.21 gigawatts.
Oh breakfast here in the hotel? 26 items on the menu? The only thing on the menu not containing wheat was a meat patty. Grrr. Pike Markets had a few places where wheat free / gluten free was available so have stocked up for the net few days.
Of course we're cramming everything into a short space of time which helps.
Last night we went to the top of the space needle to have a look at the city from above. beautiful! Going back tonight to do the night time recci on the view.
Spent today day scouring seattle.....started off with the Columbia tower which is apparently twice the height of spaceneedle, and again saw Seattle from the air...which was nice, and the building has very speedy lifts!
Then we went to mecca...sorry, the seattle public library. what can I say that hasn't already been said about this building? Left a line of drool in the kid's area...soo colourful!! Past the Microsoft 200+ seat auditorium the up one flight to the...ahem...Starbucks Teen Area....what sponsorship can do, huh?
oh was pleased when the bus driver told me last night that there wasn't a fuss when the library building was being constructed as the people of Seattle are library supporters and users, but there was some resistance to the building of a second sports arena..one just for baseball one just for football and right next to each other. Gotta love it when people love you. :)
Then...after our vast excitement at the library (seriously, it was a-ma-zing...and their promotional gear...WOW...see my flickr page) we wandered to the Pike Place markets to see the F.I.S.H. guys do their stuff. I figure basically you have to like being a showoff...meh I can do that. :)....they were just cheeky - but everyone expects them to be, if you're cheeky in a library people think you're weird.
Bought an apple the size of two of my fists and it was so gorgeous there was apple juice running down my arms...also went to the very first Starbucks...and didn't buy a starbucks! Instead went to "seattle'e best coffee" which actually started the year before starbucks (1970 as opposed to 71, in case you were wondering)
Then we caught the worlds shortest monorail back to our hotel. We got on put our bags down and were finished...well it felt like it!!
Martin has found his way to the museum of science fiction, yay for him,so I am hereupdating this and flickr and grabbing a nap while he bonds with dr who, ET, darth and a 1.21 gigawatts.
Oh breakfast here in the hotel? 26 items on the menu? The only thing on the menu not containing wheat was a meat patty. Grrr. Pike Markets had a few places where wheat free / gluten free was available so have stocked up for the net few days.
Friday, April 18, 2008
See-attle
JUST arrived in hotel in Seattle...so can't comment much about it yet; about to head out to the space needle which is within throwing distance.
Hey the hotel we're staying in...has complimentary ..as in FREE, not stuff that tells you how nice you are - starbucks coffee in the lobby!! AWESOME!!!
Hotel is in the middle of an upgrade from retro to modern and has a 26 item brekkie as well. Mmm think we'll be putting weight back on.
SO enjoyed the time in San Francisco, so here's a very quick rundown...
+ positives, - negatives...
+ People were friendly
- Lots of displaced people, very sad.
+ Nice pace to the place, as in not rushed or too busy
- No gluten free food!! One can only take so much salad unfortunately.
+ Coffee available anywhere and most places, when serving brewed coffee, do free topups.
- Mmm Reeses and Hersheys chocolates avaiable everywhere...
+ Public transport exceptional.
- No shade at some tourist places. :(
+ I love paper toilet seat covers! Might steal a packet to take home....
So there in a nutshell are our thoughts....oh hang on martin says the water really does flush the other way.
So NOW there are our thoughts in a nutshell, LOL
Off to see Seattle, home of Starbucks, Amazon and the Pike Place fish markets!!
Hey the hotel we're staying in...has complimentary ..as in FREE, not stuff that tells you how nice you are - starbucks coffee in the lobby!! AWESOME!!!
Hotel is in the middle of an upgrade from retro to modern and has a 26 item brekkie as well. Mmm think we'll be putting weight back on.
SO enjoyed the time in San Francisco, so here's a very quick rundown...
+ positives, - negatives...
+ People were friendly
- Lots of displaced people, very sad.
+ Nice pace to the place, as in not rushed or too busy
- No gluten free food!! One can only take so much salad unfortunately.
+ Coffee available anywhere and most places, when serving brewed coffee, do free topups.
- Mmm Reeses and Hersheys chocolates avaiable everywhere...
+ Public transport exceptional.
- No shade at some tourist places. :(
+ I love paper toilet seat covers! Might steal a packet to take home....
So there in a nutshell are our thoughts....oh hang on martin says the water really does flush the other way.
So NOW there are our thoughts in a nutshell, LOL
Off to see Seattle, home of Starbucks, Amazon and the Pike Place fish markets!!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
sf day 2
I think we may have walked about a zillion miles today. :) Caught a cable car to fisherman's wharf then walked to the golden gate bridge (yes walked)..okay it's only about 5 miles... nice walk but nice to have it finished as well.
We came back via Lombard street - crookedest street in the world - and Borders books - good combination.
We are exhausted but it's been a very full and interesting day!
Started the day with me visiting SF public library and Martin visiting Mythbusters lot. The SFPL were having an FOL booksale which was exciting.. :).. and Mythbusters don't open their doors to the public (oooh)
We head to Seattle tomorrow which could be interesting
We came back via Lombard street - crookedest street in the world - and Borders books - good combination.
We are exhausted but it's been a very full and interesting day!
Started the day with me visiting SF public library and Martin visiting Mythbusters lot. The SFPL were having an FOL booksale which was exciting.. :).. and Mythbusters don't open their doors to the public (oooh)
We head to Seattle tomorrow which could be interesting
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
My heart is in san francisco!!
We have been in SF 2 days and I'm in awe. I love this place!
Our hotel room is a bit blaah, in that its weeny weeny, and..twin beds! After sharing a king sized bed with a female friend at the conference last week and now a single bed each with my husband...lol.
The hotel dude gave us the wrong wireless password so we've only been able to get on tonight....
Hmm...where to start?
Yesterday (Monday) we arrived around lunchtime in SF and spent the afternoon walking around. Union Square is 3 blocks away..Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Banana Republic, nine west, Brooks Brothers, all those names you hear about? they're all there. lucky I don't buy clothes, huh?
Today (Tuesday) was great, we caught a bus over the GG bridge to Sausolito - which is so pretty!! -then came back for a break then to the painted ladies (set of terraced houses) and have just come back froom Pier 39 where we had tea.... a pretty full day seeing as we walk so much of it.
San Francisco is a nice place; the streets are clean and wide....but sooo many "displaced" people. A couple sleep outside our hotel, and this morning when we wandered round we passed so many people sleeping in doorways, it is amazing. martin's a bit stunned that they come up and directly ask for money..."Dave" sat beside us on the bus tonight, told us he's just lost another job and is on his way to the hospital because they have to feed him if he goes in. He also told us not to take drugs, because they ruin your life.
Weather has been beautiful, just like at home, in that it's warm and sunny. Freezing cold came in within about 20 minutes tonight. Our room doesn't have air cond. but has a heater. The windows open though! (Knew that when we booked, figured it wasn't going to be hot!)
Our hotel room is a bit blaah, in that its weeny weeny, and..twin beds! After sharing a king sized bed with a female friend at the conference last week and now a single bed each with my husband...lol.
The hotel dude gave us the wrong wireless password so we've only been able to get on tonight....
Hmm...where to start?
Yesterday (Monday) we arrived around lunchtime in SF and spent the afternoon walking around. Union Square is 3 blocks away..Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Banana Republic, nine west, Brooks Brothers, all those names you hear about? they're all there. lucky I don't buy clothes, huh?
Today (Tuesday) was great, we caught a bus over the GG bridge to Sausolito - which is so pretty!! -then came back for a break then to the painted ladies (set of terraced houses) and have just come back froom Pier 39 where we had tea.... a pretty full day seeing as we walk so much of it.
San Francisco is a nice place; the streets are clean and wide....but sooo many "displaced" people. A couple sleep outside our hotel, and this morning when we wandered round we passed so many people sleeping in doorways, it is amazing. martin's a bit stunned that they come up and directly ask for money..."Dave" sat beside us on the bus tonight, told us he's just lost another job and is on his way to the hospital because they have to feed him if he goes in. He also told us not to take drugs, because they ruin your life.
Weather has been beautiful, just like at home, in that it's warm and sunny. Freezing cold came in within about 20 minutes tonight. Our room doesn't have air cond. but has a heater. The windows open though! (Knew that when we booked, figured it wasn't going to be hot!)
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