Of Abandoned Buildings and Neil Gaiman

Hey, Friends.

Yesterday was a good day.  It started out with a nice walk with my friend (we'll call her Gertie to keep it nice and anonymous) and ended with an evening at the Fisher Center at Bard where we got to be the first people on the East Coast to see the first episode of American Gods, followed by a discussion with Neil Gaiman and Bryan Fuller.  Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.

I had to take some photos, of course.  I took a lot of photos, actually.  You see, when Gertie and I picked the location for our walk we decided on a park we hadn't been to in a while.  I somehow managed to totally forget that there was this awesome abandoned building full of graffiti there. Needless to say, once I saw it I had to go in and check it out.  Gertie chose to stay outside as she was afraid the building could be falling down, or the roof could collapse -- you know, little things like that. Probably a wise and sensible decision, but I chose to go on in.  I mean, it looked sturdy to me, and she'd be right outside to call 911 if it should fall on my head.

Looks like a nice, sturdy brick building, right?

Not creepy at all

We went around to the back to make our approach, as I remembered the back half of the building being pretty much wide open for easy access.

Exploring an abandoned building. pic.twitter.com/ScBI4gAFds

— Tammy (@tammyshampoo) April 15, 2017

That should give you a pretty good feel for the building as I entered.

There were a couple other people inside who must have come in from the front of the building.  Not gonna lie, they startled me at first.  There was a bag in the corner that looked like it had some clothes and a mattress, so I was afraid it was going to be a pissed off person that was living there and wanted me out.  Nope.  Just two fellow explorers checking out the scene.

I happen to love graffiti and consider it to be art.  I know if you handed me a can of spray paint I could never pull off anything this good.  I had to take pictures.

This was my favorite

I don't know, but it looks happy

Flower

Stay classy

Fair question

"When it's something you live for".

I don't know if these are song lyrics or what, but there were random phrases throughout the building.

The corner of a larger area that said Peace

The wall next to it

Closer view of the artist's statement

Not at all creepy that there's a rope hanging from the ceiling over the one raised object on the entire floor.  (It wasn't a noose.  I checked.)

Pyramid and eye

A much less colorful corner

Cherish this moment

"If I could change my name I'd run away" -- can't read the last word

After I had my fun time playing in the abandoned building, we ventured back out on our walk.  It really is a beautiful area.  Things are just starting to look green and Spring-like.  It also makes it easier to notice things.  The last time we were here the leaves were all on the trees, everything was in full bloom.  Yesterday you could see much further off the beaten path.

I wouldn't advise eating the fish.  It is the Hudson River. To each their own.

Never knew that building was back there. 

There were a lot of fallen trees and damage that had occurred over the winter.

Little bit of greenery

Washed ashore

Some jackass felt the need to tag a tree.  Really doesn't surprise me that they wrote this either -- they clearly give as much of a shit about the environment as this administration.

Ruins of a building

Back along the water's edge

It really was a beautiful day to get outside and spend time in a park. That also means following the rules.  You are not supposed to be camping or setting fires in this particular park, and yet there were clearly people doing both of those things.  We could see the tents down by the water from a distance. More troubling, you could also smell the fire.  Now, I'm going to assume that they knew what they were doing and had made the fire safely and responsibly.  It is more than a bit disconcerting to be walking through the woods and suddenly smell fire -- especially when said woods are dry as hell and full of dead, fallen trees and last autumn's crunchy leaves.  It's like walking through a tinderbox.  It's stupid to do at all in an area that does not permit camping or fires, dumber to do it when it is an area full of incredibly flammable material, and idiotic to do it when you would be trapped between the Hudson River behind you and a fire in front of you with no escape. Don't be like these people.  Enjoy nature and follow the rules -- keep yourself and others safe!

Later that evening I went with friends to see Neil Gaiman and Bryan Fuller discuss the new Starz series American Gods at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard.

It's a really cool building

They said we were the first people on the East Coast to get to see the first episode.  I'm a big fan of Neil Gaiman to begin with, so this was fantastic!  I can't wait to see the whole series when it starts airing later this month.  I'm not going to share any spoilers, but I did take a few pictures.  If you're just dying to know what it's about you can Google it, or read the book!

Neil Gaiman giving the introduction.  Yeah, we had good seats.

Discussion with Bryan Fuller

Up close and personal

So that was my Saturday, Friends.  Pretty damn good day.  I hope you had a great day as well. 

Happy Easter or Passover if you celebrate -- or just have a terrific Sunday if you don't.  

Quotes, Folks

Hey, Friends.

The other day at work I was doing research on a project.  I was looking for quotes from various authors for a display.  I really loved a lot of them but couldn't use them for the display for various reasons -- too long, not relevant to what I was trying to do, etc.  Rather than forget them completely, or have to try to hunt them down again, I decided that I should gather them all in one place.  Why yes, that place would be here.

There's literally nothing more to this post.  It's just going to be a bunch of quotes that struck a chord with me and I wanted to save them for later.  Maybe you would enjoy reading them as well.  Maybe not.  Feel free to skip out now if this just isn't your thing.

(Bonus question: can you figure out what all of these people have in common other than being authors?  Give yourself a prize if you can...something nice.  Pretend it's from me for being super proud of you. )



"The hell of it is, I know the answer.  The answer is that you never, ever, rely on another person for your peace of mind. If you do, you're screwed but good.  Not right away, maybe, but sooner or later. You have to -- I don't know -- you have to learn to live with yourself. You have to learn to turn back your own sheets and set a table for one without feeling pathetic. You have to be strong and confident and pleased with yourself and never give the slightest impression that you can't hack it without that certain goddamn someone.You have to fake the hell out of it."  -- Armistead Maupin

"Some people are born mediocre, some people achieve mediocrity, and some people have mediocrity thrust upon them." -- Joseph Heller

"Feelings of longing seemed to burst from her heart; they ran in all directions, like streams of blood, seeking out paths to all the places in the wide landscape where she had lived, to all her sons roaming through the world, to all her dead lying under the earth." -- Sigrid Undset

"Credo quia absurdum -- I believe because it is absurd." -- Robert Ludlum

"Loneliness becomes a lover, solitude a darling sin." -- Ian Fleming

"We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be." -- May Sarton

"Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.  Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe, the less taste we shall have for destruction." -- Rachel Carson

"There are always some lunatics about.  It would be a dull world without them." -- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

"Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent." -- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

"This is what you should do: love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take your hat off to nothing known or unknown to any man or number of men...re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss what insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem." -- Walt Whitman

"I know you think that when you're 35, 45, 55, you'll be different. But I'm going to let you in on a bit of a secret. You're going to look different, and your life is going to be different, but in your head you'll always be that 16-year-old girl." -- Francine Pascal

Please Don't Ask Me

Hey, Friends.

There is nothing I dread more than someone asking me what I think of the new guy they are dating. Maybe that makes me a terrible person, but it's the truth. Close friends that I've known for years? Go right ahead.  I know you well enough to go there, and I've probably met the guy several times and know him at least a little bit by this point.

If we aren't really that close?  Please don't ask, and my opinion should have zero relevance.

1) Does he make you happy?
2) Does he treat you well?
3) Does he seem like a decent human being?

There you go.  I'm happy that you're happy.  Please leave it at that and let's not delve any deeper.

I found myself in this situation recently, in case you hadn't figured that out by now. It was so uncomfortable!  This wasn't a close friend by any measure, and I had met the guy on accident a couple of times when we happened to be in the same place at the same time.

It was odd to me that she was even asking my opinion.  We don't see each other all that often.  I don't feel like I know her well enough to even gauge if she was asking because she really wanted an outside perspective, or if she was just looking to be told what she wanted to hear.

Thankfully she didn't press the issue, just started gushing about how wonderful he is, all the great things that make him so fantastic.  I'm happy for her.  She went through a really bad end to a 4 year relationship a few months ago.  I'm more than willing to sit and listen to her excitedly talk about him for as long as she wants.

But when she got to the part where they are already planning a vacation together?  I had to ask if that wasn't moving a little fast.  I don't want to rain on her parade by any means, but that seems rushed to me. They have only been seeing each other a couple of months. She, of course, thought otherwise and went on at length to explain why they thought it was a great idea.

I told her to go for it then.  They had obviously put some thought into it and were convinced it was a fabulous idea.  Clearly nothing I said was going to change her mind if she practically bit my head off for daring to ask the question.

She talked about him for a while more before we parted ways.  I told her I was glad she was so happy, and he seemed like a good guy.  He really does from what she said and from the couple of times I met him. I'm happy to see her so happy again. She made it very clear that she thought he was made of all things awesome and that any thought to the contrary was wrong and unwanted.

I hope that the next time I see her they are still together.  I honestly do.  I want to see her continued happiness, and I hope it works out for them.

However, I also won't be surprised if it all falls apart before they ever take that vacation.  I don't know her that well, but even I can tell that he is just screaming "rebound".  He's pretty much the polar opposite of her ex in every way.  The things she listed as these fantastic qualities he possesses right now are the same things I have listened to her bitch and rant about before -- things that annoy her to no end. What do I know?  They say opposites attract.

Back to my point, if I ever had one.

Why do we put our friends in these situations?  I can understand asking a close friend if you really want to hear their opinion, someone who knows you really well and who you know will tell it like it is.  I know how helpful that can be, especially if there is some inner doubt within yourself.  But random acquaintances?  It is so awkward. Say anything less than flattering about the guy and you end up pissing off your friend and/or hurting her feelings.  And there is also the possibility that she is going to repeat that shit if the relationship lasts. At the same time, do you really want to encourage someone in a direction that doesn't seem like it's going to work out?  You don't want her to rush into another heartbreak.  (If he seems like he's abusive all bets are off -- I'm straight up telling you that whether you want to hear it or not.)

Maybe it's just me.  Maybe I suck at this type of thing.  I'm single and probably the last person you should be asking.  I've kissed my fair share of frogs without finding a prince. I excel at attracting the wrong guy.

So please don't ask me.  Spare us both from the awkwardness that I will inevitably bring to that conversation no matter how much I try to avoid it.

It's Been A Long 24 Hours, Kids

Hey there, Friends.

Shortly after posting last about being an idiot and going out to explore in the blizzard, my furnace decided to stop working.  Blizzard raging outside, no heat inside.  Fun times.  It's been a long 24 hours, to put it mildly.

My Mom jinxed it.  I was on the phone with her and she started to say that at least neither of us had lost power or anything.  I tried to stop her.  Literally 15 minutes after I got off the phone with her the pilot went out on my furnace.  I have re-lit the thing successfully many times, but it was not happening yesterday.  I could hear the wind whistling down the chimney, and the flame on the lighter would go out as soon as I stuck it inside.

This is why I always make sure to take a shower before a big storm hits.  No, really.  I've been through stretches of four days with no power/heat before.  You don't now how much you miss your hot water and shower until it is unavailable.  Be prepared and start fresh in case the worst should happen.

I started keeping a list of what was going on in the notes on my phone.  I was really bored and getting quite frustrated that I couldn't get the damn furnace to work. I also developed the hobby of bird watching with Jazz-kitty.  No judging -- I find ways to keep myself entertained.

Join me, Friends, as we recall the past 24 hours of fun!

--Pilot out around 2 pm.

--Turn on the faucets to drip cold water so the pipes don't freeze.  Check!

--Try re-lighting the pilot again.  No dice.

--I think I'm going to start baking things now to keep the house warm-ish.  It should totally work.

--Find the electric heater and get that shit plugged in.

--Made a cake.  Currently roasting parsnips...because that's all I have and it should take a while.

-- 5 pm pilot still won't light.  Should maybe just try this once an hour.  Really don't want to blow myself up in the process.

-- Taking lots of pictures of the birds.  Kind of a new hobby that has developed.  I hope you like birds, Friends, because you are about to get to see a shit-ton of pictures.

There are little birds, sometimes blown right out of the Rose of Sharon

At least this one is kind of sheltered between branches

On the ground, under the feeder

In flight

Hanging by my neighbor's garage

Different bird, same windy location

Crows in the tree

This guy was pushy!

Blue Jay, pinned to the neighbor's garage roof by the wind

Bird eating popcorn.  (I know it's popcorn because I threw it out there for them.)

Waiting for the bigger birds to clear out

Crows are here

Feeding frenzy

Crow in the snow.

I told you there were a lot of pictures.

-- 6 pm  Going to light some candles.  I know it won't make much difference in terms of temperature, but it will give the illusion of being cozy.

-- Going to make fish and baked rice pilaf for dinner.  That's a good reason to keep the oven running a little longer.

-- 8:15 pm  Pilot still won't light.  I really hope it is just the wind and it hasn't died completely.  I love you, furnace!  Please, please keep working!

We've spent some quality time together in the last 24 hours

-- I f*%king hate spiders!!!  The cellar is full of them.  Each trip down to the furnace is nightmare-inducing.  

-- Well, at least the cake looks nice.

-- 9:30 pm.  I give.  Wind is still howling outside.  I'm cuddling under a blanket in front of the little electric heater. I'm closing every door in the house that I can to trap the heat in here with me.

-- Midnight.  Going to sleep on the couch in front of the heater.  Doesn't make sense to move it to my bedroom which is cold and start warming it up all over again.

-- Woke up at 2 am.  Jazz-kitty decided it was time to snuggle.

-- Think a plow went by some time around 4 am.  Something shook the house.

-- 6:48 am woken up by a text saying there will be a delayed opening at work.  Didn't get much sleep anyway.  Time to make some coffee.

The house was actually still pretty warm.  Thermostat was reading that it only dropped to 57.  I like to think that my "bake whatever I can" scheme helped.  In your face, naysayers!

And just about 21 hours later...

I have heat!!!!! Let the rejoicing begin!!!!

— Tammy (@tammyshampoo) March 15, 2017

Now to finish up that pesky snow removal.  Thank goodness for my Dad and his snowblower!

 My neighbor, Walt, and I had a discussion about opening a ski resort for the neighborhood wildlife.  Small yards lead to large piles of snow.  They are taller than me!

View from the cellar window during the last trip to visit the furnace in Spider Land

Snow removal in progress

There's my Dad!  And this pile in the front? Comes up to my chest.  I would guess about 4 feet high.  All the snow drifted onto my side of the driveway.

This is the view of my house from the street.

And just about noontime today the driveway was cleared and my car was free from its snowy cocoon. If my Dad hadn't come over I would probably still be outside shoveling.

I went to the store like half an hour later.  I just needed to get out of the damn house.  Coffee and cat food...the staples for keeping the peace in my house.

So, the last 24 hours pretty much sucked, Friends.  I try to make make my own fun and just suck it up and deal.  Nothing you can do but try to make the best of it when trapped in a shitty situation.  Let's look at it as a learning experience.  What deep insights can I take away from this mess?

1) I don't like being cold.  I don't mind the cold so much, but extended periods of time being cold is not fun.  I know, I know, "57 is not that cold!"  It really isn't.  But it still sucks.  That is no one's first choice of temperature to live in.

2) At least the furnace wasn't totally dead.  I was really worried and stressing over that.  The poor thing is like 50 years old.

3) Fun fact: I get cranky when I'm cold for extended periods of time and don't get any sleep. Like I was seriously bitchy before I had my coffee this morning.  Sometimes being single and living alone is a blessing in disguise. At least I didn't take it out on anyone but myself.

4) Choosing to stay home is relaxing.  Being trapped in the house is not.  I probably wouldn't have minded so much if I had heat.  As it was, I was so ready to go anywhere by the time I got my car cleaned today.

5) I never realized how popular my yard was with the neighborhood birds.  It's like the coolest hangout on the block!

I'd like to thank my dear brother for not telling me how great the weather is in Florida (he's there for work).  I'm sure the weather in Texas is also delightful if he is back home at this point. 

Did you get to enjoy the blizzard?  I hope things went smoother for you, Friends.  Appreciate your heat and the ability to get in your car and go whenever you wish.  I know I do.

Damn It, Stella!

Hey, Friends.

So....we are currently having a blizzard here.  You might have heard about it.

Being the dumbass idiot fool curious person that I am, I decided to go take a little wander around outside in the blizzard.  I mean, the birds were out in the back yard. How bad could it be?

Pretty damn bad, as it turns out.

The snow was over the top of my boots before I ever made it out of my driveway.  A plow came down my street at some point in the past, as the plow wake comes up past my knees, and I kid of attempted to hurdle over it.

It's also cold -- really, really cold when that wind kicks in.  My phone-hand was bare while I was taking pictures and video, and it was numb by the time I got back inside.

Don't be like me, Friends.  Look at my pictures, watch my video, and experience the storm vicariously through me.  Stay inside where it is nice and warm.

Squirrel made a tunnel through the snow in my yard

The birds have declared my back steps to be their safe space for the storm

Good thing I filled the bird feeder yesterday

That's looking down toward Main Street.  You can barely even see the closest building.

So I made a video of my explorations.  Normally I would have taken more photos, but:

a) it was freaking freezing 

b) the snow was continually getting my phone all wet

c) I thought a video would capture it better

For your viewing enjoyment....

But really, why does it sound so weird and distorted at the end?  

So that's it, Friends.  I'm going to stay inside and drink some coffee.  Maybe I'll make another foray outside again later.  

Right now I have to go prop a chair up against the door of my front porch as the wind keeps blowing it open.  Fun times.

And I think a bird just got blown past my window.  It didn't look so much like it was flying as being tossed through the air.