To The Headquarters Of World Peace & Back, November 17th, 2009, United Nations

Well we made it, & were welcomed to the United Nations of the world, as we know it. It doesn't get any better than this, a dream full filled. The only thing that of course would actually make it the very, very best is-- World Peace. We all, of course know that!

City Scape Adventures Continued*

Getting back to where I left off--

So there we were my husband & I in the lobby of the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. My favorite museum was a no go for us, due to it's being closed to the general public on Tuesdays. There were of course people mulling about in the lobby, some of whom I suspected were in our category, a nice mix of folks, from all over. As my husband & I were sitting, chatting & gently complaining to one another with an annoyance of how we checked out everything, except the MOMA's schedule of operation on the web. "We could go the the UN." he said. "Oh I don't know about that." was my kvetchy reply, it was by that time about 3pm. "What if by the time we get there, there's a hugh line, & we can't get in for the tour, then we've gone all the way across the city & we're right outside & too late to go in like last time." We had by chance ended up in front of the UN this past June when we had gone into the city to revisit, the Lower East Side & had gone to The Tenement Museum on that trip in. The fact that we were too late to visit the UN on that date was ok, as we had all ready accomplished our goal for coming into the city that day, but there was no way, I could bear, once again, being on the outside, & looking in to what was, at one time, an ancient childhood dream.

It was then that Ruth kindly introduced herself to me, & I followed suit. "I couldn't help but over hear your conversation." she said.

"Oh that's fine", I continued, as we were sitting next to one another on one of the MOMA'S upholstered benches. "Where do you travel in from?" I asked. "I'm from North Western Canada, Saskatchewan, but live in Manhattan now, I have an apartment on the East Side, near the river." "Oh, how exciting my father grew up on the Lower East side, also near the river." I asked her how she got around as we all know how vast NYC is, the buses, the subway, the cabs, & on foot, the choices are varied. She said it took a few months & she's got it down now, & in another month or so she'd be subletting a different apartment, which is a bit further out of Manhattan. She indicated that she lived alone, & was here until her visa ran out, & found it all interesting, & exciting.

"So you can go to the UN" she continued. I expressed to her how, it would be so frustrating to once again trapes across the city & not be able to go in. "They have a phone number, & you can call." Ruth was charming with her pretty blue eyes & blond hair of mid length, a lovely portrait; soft spoken, outwardly friendly & warm. She sat graciously poised during our conversation of which when one of the Tour Guides from the museum came over to her, to say she would be with the next group to tour.

Ruth explained to me during our initial conversation that she was legally blind, so when she was describing how she got herself around such a massive city with such enthusiasm & skill I was truly in awe, & most inspired by her tenacity of calm steady determination of her life's true compass.

Meanwhile as we comfortably sat visiting, my husband was on the phone with the UN, as the MOMA staff got the number for him, but we were unsuccessful he explained, as the call took him all over the, call relay map, so to speak. When he rejoined us, I was finally able to introduce him to Ruth, as I had tried minutes before as she had extended her hand, but he was no longer sitting next to me, those moments ago, but in a flash at the MOMA's desk, determined to make that call on our behalf. Ruth & I said our goodbyes & she wished us both good luck on what ever we were going to do with ourselves, for that day in the city.

"Well, it's the UN Ruth, we've decided, & we're going to take our chances. I think you've inspired us, as this is such an International destination, & here, we've met you all the way from Saskatchewan, that doesn't happen every day, it's only fitting that we go there today, as it's meant to be." It was a most heartfelt meeting & parting, ever so brief, yet deep with human connectedness & how we on this small, small planet, do reach out in friendship & in peace, no matter how brief. Yes, the kindness of strangers, not so strange.

A Tuesday Afternoon In New York, With The Sky Being The Limit*

I only began this blog New Year's Eve two years ago. One of my earliest post's included a song my son was able to install for me, in one of those earliest enteries-- "I Have A Dream", by ABBA. When I was appromaxtely 9 years old I had a small neighborhood Puppet Show at our house. All my friends attended, I can't say I really recall what the script might have been which I wrote out, but I do know the acting included singing & dancing of the puppets for the performance. It was my one gal show. I only charged probably a dime or so for the ticket admission [& yes I hand made the tickets] which I sold to the neighborhood kids. My first ever event for the public grossed probably a dollar. I was so very, very proud, as this was an event I was sponcering for the UN. All of us kids were most familiar with the work of the United Nations due to the many years we participated in "Trick or Treat for UNICEF", we would all say-- "Pennies for UNICEF", when people would open their door. It was the best Trick or Treating that we could have ever done, & that was the way Halloween was celebrated for many years. One of the most thrilling moments of my life was when I received a "Thank you Letter", from the UN, a most memorable moment for this 9 year old & my dream had begun, to some day work for the UN when I was all grown up.

Decades upon decades later, my husband & I have been fortunate enough to be able to pass on such a simple dream of so very long ago, as two of our three sons, participated in "Model UN", in both high school & then college. So in this way the dream lives on.....

Yesterday my husband & I were all set to see an important exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, the MOMA in NYC. We checked everything of what we considered to be of importance before leaving: car- check, money-check, train schedule/which station to leave from- check, now we are what I would consider to be experienced museum goers, so we deliberately planned this trip for a Tuesday, as museums are known to be closed on Mondays, well not the MOMA! The MOMA is closed to the general public at large on Tuesdays, & specifically open on Tuesdays for guided tours for people with handicaps & disabilities. So there we were, in the lobby of one of our favorite museums, in a gigantically hugh city, feeling like the line-- "All dressed up, & nowhere to go."

Until we met Ruth, from Western Canada sitting next to me in the lobby........

{*To be continued, as the story that is to follow, is way too intricate & the words are still formulating--

{Also-- I guess today was a hard day at the blog, regarding spelling & the like. Thank goodness my husband brings this to my attention so I can make the corrections. Please excuse my occasional cryptic spellings, & what it does to the English language, oye*, now that's some kind of word.}

Don't You Just Love A Train Station--

The gal you see in front of the ticket window had really great hair. I left mine to be down & rather out there. I asked my husband earlier before leaving if I should go ahead & pin it up. "Na", he said, "keep it down, that, with the sunglasses, you look very urban, I like it." So there I was as, el natural as I could be, for a hair do that is.
Open ended, round trip tickets for two, we took the 11:05 Am, out of New Haven, a very sweet, & just all that you need kind of station.

My most favorite train station, [though the one in L.A. is quite nice], it is the one, the only, "Grand Central Station"!

Monday's A Good Day To Plan A Mini Jaunt--

Monday, Monday, thus a new week. I worked over the weekend as it was my rotation, we take turns working every third weekend in our office. For the most part it was a fine weekend to be on, I had just one out of town student that need care, as she was suffering from an upper respiratory infection, not quite the flu, but only time will tell on that. All the other students had meetings, or sporting events schedule. On Saturday the weather was a bit messy, but everything went on as scheduled, including an out of town, cross country event.

Last week I began one of Cesar Millan's books-- "Be The Pack Leader". I want to give this process with Dolly my very best as she is a very strong pup, both in will & physical strength. She pulls a great deal on the collar when we go for walks & tends to need a lot of correction, but she has a sweet nature & I can tell when she gets it right & I approve, she is most pleased with herself, which is a good sign, but as Cesar says-- it is mostly instinct, & the dog will revert to her instinct always, so establishing control, pack leader-dom, is of the up most [pup most], importance. This certainly keeps me on my [dogie] toes, several walks a day, up & down the driveway, & out by my garden [no matter the weather], I just plain enjoy the challenge & the discipline. No report cards yet for her or me, it's a bit too early in the process.

Having a new puppy, with all that they require is almost like being on a new born's schedule, but of course quite a bit easier. Between all that I'm already involved with, our family & home, job, conservation work, interfaith & faith based group work, & upcoming book publishing project. Due to all of this, my original Peace Garden had become less than pleasing, so today, after puppy care I went down there to sort out, & remove some of the less than desirable objects, which have become way too shabby & weather worn. I am now pleased to report that just by doing some very minor things, symmetry has been restored.

Tomorrow my husband & I plan on leaving this tree house early, as the MOMA [the Museum of Modern Art] in NYC, is our destination, for the Bauhaus exhibit. The great outdoors of our natural world & the museums of the world are our most favorite places to go, & theatre too, but tomorrow it will have to be theatre in the raw, limited to-- "people watching". Gotta go, as trains leave early.

{The above photos are of original locomotions taken at the Henry Ford Museum, outside of Detroit, Michigan-- Labor Day 2009, with admission to the museum free, in honor of the American Worker, each & every Labor Day.}

Puppy Chomping Good

Well we did it, Dolly went with me to work this morning, [what an overly protective Mom I am]. She & I did a mini walk in the yard at 7:35am before leaving & in 5 minutes or less, we were heading down the drive. Luckily I wasn't behind a stream of yellow buses, which tends to happen when I run a bit late, but even when that occurs, I still manage to be in our office by 7:55 or 7:00AM , right on the nose.

My boss arrived around 8:20 or so, she knew the pup was going to be in the car as she had called me before coming in to update me on a matter of importance, it was then that we both had a good laugh regarding my present situation of my recovering dog in the car, my first patient of the day. She knew that my plan was to go outside at about 10:00 or so for another "walk the pup session", but I was told, "You might want to go out there about now." she said. "Looks to me like Dolly's a bit excited, & looks like she got herself some foam which is shredded all over your car." "Oh that's probably her foam bed. I put it in there with her for comfort, I didn't think she'd chew on that.", I replied.

So I finished up temporally & went out to the parking lot to check on her. Well I do work at a school, & wouldn't mind saying, "The dog ate my homework.", as much as that's a great line. What I can say is-- well let me put it this way, do they make beige duck tape to match this seat?

*{The above photo of Dolly was taken today in the parking lot of the local Dunkin' Donuts, during our lunchtime. We shared a multigrain bagel, non toasted, with low fat cream cheese. I had vanilla coffee, extra light with one sugar, Dolly had water, extra clear, cold & fresh. It was all, "just right."}

You're Looking Swell Dolly

Dolly my pup has returned after a 24 hour stay with the Vet. She is 7 months old now, & in order to be a true responsible pet owner it was necessary for me to have her spayed. Definitely a big deal on any body, & she the sweet, strong gal of a pup that she is, did very well! Dolly makes fast friends where ever she goes, & the Veterinarian & her Assistant, couldn't stop raving about her excellent behavior. Mutts, there's something about a mutt, such mystery & puzzlement regarding the legend of their lineage. I have been told repeatedly by my wonderful Vet, that any of the minor bad habits she may exhibit can definitely be worked through & corrected. I was told she's a herding dog, & herding dogs she said want to nip to get the stock herded to where they want them. Interesting, because I wondered why she insists on wanting to gently nibble, yet she stops immediately when I correct her. So it's just a matter of discipline on my part, which is no surprise, how else do we get anything worthwhile done. I'll say his-- Dolly's been a great teacher, she & I are both pretty new students on all of this. The spirit & love of the nature of a sweet dog is a great motivating factor. "Dolly it's so nice to have you back where you belong."

{I think Dolly will be traveling with me to work in the morning, as her dog-pen area where she stays when we're not home, equipted with one of those cute insulated igloo dog houses, probably won't do. The area that's set up for her is really on a man made sand lot, nice for all other times, but won't do for the next week or so as we have this fresh abdominal incision to keep clean, so until she's healed up a bit more, she'll be under the watchful eye of moi'. Wishing you good healing Dolly, can't help it, you've got that cuteness thing going, she sure can look goofy, our newest comedian. Last call for our mini dog walk, as day is done.}