E.B. White - Charlotte's Web
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
Flight to Russia
I am in Russia now. The flight was long and sleepless. Many thoughts were coming to my head when I was staring out of the plane window. First thing is that this world is absolutely beautiful. And then I was thinking that these trips, twice a year, are great dividers of the time. It is so obvious that you cannot help but thinking: so, what did I do during this period of time between my trips home. I realised that it was five months since I came to New York. From one hand, 5 months is not that much. But from the other it's a decent chunk of life. What happened during these months? I found job, Mike found job. We are living together. We were in DC for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mike had his 24th birthday and we went to Six Flags for it. We had our 6 year anniversary. I met Galya. I didn't meet Tatiana. I am filming and didn't start digitizing yet. I don't know, is it a lot or not? I don't know.
Right now, we are getting ready for New Year's dinner: lots of shopping, cooking and cleaning. My family and I are very happy about it and very excited about coming celebrations. It's a lot of fun to be in Russia for New Year.
Right now, we are getting ready for New Year's dinner: lots of shopping, cooking and cleaning. My family and I are very happy about it and very excited about coming celebrations. It's a lot of fun to be in Russia for New Year.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Gii Part Deux
Last night I decided to make an attempt number two. I promised myself that it will be the last one, and that I won't do anything extreme.
After work I went to H&M and spent two hours buying clothes for my sister and myself. Then I went to TJ Max to buy a suit case, because it seems like all the stuff I bought to bring home won't fit my old luggage bags. I got a very nice Polo suitcase 28" - which is big enough (I hope) for all that presents. Then I put all the clothes I bought as well as my hand bag to my new suit case and rolled it to the metro station. At that point I realized that it was few minutes after 9 already. So, I decided to go back to Nintendo World. When I was there in the morning, I heard that they are giving out tickets from 10 to 11pm. With such ticket you can get one of the consoles in the morning, when the store opens. So why not to try and get one of those tickets and come back in the morning?
I was number 60 or so in line when I came to Nintendo World at about 9:30. I guy ahead of me, went to the beginning of the line to check what was going on. When he came back, he said that they will give out tickets from 10 to 11pm. No harm to wait for 1,5, I thought, and started waiting.
This time, I noticed more interesting things about the crowd. First, remember I mentioned young men? Now, I could clearly see that most of them were there not for the first time. By far. They all knew each other, they knew what will happen and at what time, they were very well prepared: chairs, warm clothes, beverages, they knew local pizza place and coffee shop. They were constantly talking about how much and where and how many they sold on auctions. It was their business. I saw more ugly stuff later: those who are more savvy with the process brought handicap, homeless, immigrants who don't speak English to stay in line for them. Two, three, six for one of those businessmen. "You go here, you stand there, why won't you there where I told you to be? you don't understand English?" A person who was standing after me, brought his employees: six Mexicans who barely spoke English, to wait in line all night while he planned to go home right after they will get tickets. Ones he asked them if they were cold and bought them coffee. First 10 people in line were better prepared than others: they put carton boxes on the ground and all around them and covered in sleeping bags were playing cards.
10:10 nothing. 10:15 nothing. 10:25 nothing. Around 10:30 two or three men started to walk along the line carrying Nintendo brand bags with something inside. "Miss, do you want Wii? Last one! 477. Last one! Miss?" Don't you think it was stupid to do it? People who came there to stand in line for the whole night would not buy this "cat in the bag" for double price (listed price for Wii is $249). But someone bought it.
10:40 more intimidation. Tourists passing by yelled: "all sold out, go home" or "I can't believe you are here for Wii, I am from Virginia and you can buy it anywhere there" (Excuse me, what was she talking about? She had no clue, I am sure!). "Businessmen" in their parked cars along the line were constantly updating ebay web pages on their laptops.... 10:55 nothing. 11:05 I walked to the beginning of the line and looked at the windows of the store: custodians were swiping the floor, at the back of the store two young people were tediously moving boxes to the counter with huge Wii sign above it. Screens at the store windows were flashing with Wii commercials. First people in line, lying in their sleeping bags on the ground (0C, 30F outside), were watching this commercials non-stop. I left. Wheels of my new suit case swished softly on quiet streets. Mike will understand, I know.
After work I went to H&M and spent two hours buying clothes for my sister and myself. Then I went to TJ Max to buy a suit case, because it seems like all the stuff I bought to bring home won't fit my old luggage bags. I got a very nice Polo suitcase 28" - which is big enough (I hope) for all that presents. Then I put all the clothes I bought as well as my hand bag to my new suit case and rolled it to the metro station. At that point I realized that it was few minutes after 9 already. So, I decided to go back to Nintendo World. When I was there in the morning, I heard that they are giving out tickets from 10 to 11pm. With such ticket you can get one of the consoles in the morning, when the store opens. So why not to try and get one of those tickets and come back in the morning?
I was number 60 or so in line when I came to Nintendo World at about 9:30. I guy ahead of me, went to the beginning of the line to check what was going on. When he came back, he said that they will give out tickets from 10 to 11pm. No harm to wait for 1,5, I thought, and started waiting.
This time, I noticed more interesting things about the crowd. First, remember I mentioned young men? Now, I could clearly see that most of them were there not for the first time. By far. They all knew each other, they knew what will happen and at what time, they were very well prepared: chairs, warm clothes, beverages, they knew local pizza place and coffee shop. They were constantly talking about how much and where and how many they sold on auctions. It was their business. I saw more ugly stuff later: those who are more savvy with the process brought handicap, homeless, immigrants who don't speak English to stay in line for them. Two, three, six for one of those businessmen. "You go here, you stand there, why won't you there where I told you to be? you don't understand English?" A person who was standing after me, brought his employees: six Mexicans who barely spoke English, to wait in line all night while he planned to go home right after they will get tickets. Ones he asked them if they were cold and bought them coffee. First 10 people in line were better prepared than others: they put carton boxes on the ground and all around them and covered in sleeping bags were playing cards.
10:10 nothing. 10:15 nothing. 10:25 nothing. Around 10:30 two or three men started to walk along the line carrying Nintendo brand bags with something inside. "Miss, do you want Wii? Last one! 477. Last one! Miss?" Don't you think it was stupid to do it? People who came there to stand in line for the whole night would not buy this "cat in the bag" for double price (listed price for Wii is $249). But someone bought it.
10:40 more intimidation. Tourists passing by yelled: "all sold out, go home" or "I can't believe you are here for Wii, I am from Virginia and you can buy it anywhere there" (Excuse me, what was she talking about? She had no clue, I am sure!). "Businessmen" in their parked cars along the line were constantly updating ebay web pages on their laptops.... 10:55 nothing. 11:05 I walked to the beginning of the line and looked at the windows of the store: custodians were swiping the floor, at the back of the store two young people were tediously moving boxes to the counter with huge Wii sign above it. Screens at the store windows were flashing with Wii commercials. First people in line, lying in their sleeping bags on the ground (0C, 30F outside), were watching this commercials non-stop. I left. Wheels of my new suit case swished softly on quiet streets. Mike will understand, I know.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Gii
Today I woke up at 6, got ready very quickly and went to Rockefeller Plaza 10. There is a Nintendo World store there... I thought I had a chance to buy a Wii console for Mike as a Christmas present, but I failed miserably. I saw the organized line starting one block before the store. The line mostly consisted of young men and older people, I assume, parents who are ready to sacrifice anything in order to get this miracle present for their beloved children. Not really anything, because you can get one of those consoles on ebay for double or triple price. So, these were people who don't want to pay that much or cannot afford it.
I came to the beginning of the line and asked two middle-age women when they came. They said at 10pm last night. "If we knew, we would never-never do it. It doesn't worth it," said one of them. I said: "I think he will forgive me, if I get him one after Christmas." I know that Mike won't mind at all, if I give him Wii after Christmas. Besides, we don't have time for presents this week anyway. (We are leaving for DC Saturday morning.) AND the present he is giving to me is also coming after 26th. So, why did I wake up today at 6 and instead of going to the gym went to that store? What was I thinking? I am telling you what. I was walking on deserted Times Square thinking that Ryan (Mike's cousin) will be jealous if Mike gets one and he won't. I was thinking that I would be a really cool girlfriend much better than others... OMG - that's exactly EXACTLY what Nintendo wants me to think! Alright, taking a big breath, I am not going to fall for it... We are exchanging presents after I come back from Russia. Period.
I came to the beginning of the line and asked two middle-age women when they came. They said at 10pm last night. "If we knew, we would never-never do it. It doesn't worth it," said one of them. I said: "I think he will forgive me, if I get him one after Christmas." I know that Mike won't mind at all, if I give him Wii after Christmas. Besides, we don't have time for presents this week anyway. (We are leaving for DC Saturday morning.) AND the present he is giving to me is also coming after 26th. So, why did I wake up today at 6 and instead of going to the gym went to that store? What was I thinking? I am telling you what. I was walking on deserted Times Square thinking that Ryan (Mike's cousin) will be jealous if Mike gets one and he won't. I was thinking that I would be a really cool girlfriend much better than others... OMG - that's exactly EXACTLY what Nintendo wants me to think! Alright, taking a big breath, I am not going to fall for it... We are exchanging presents after I come back from Russia. Period.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
thoughts about life
That was a busy week. Holidays involve a lot of promotions and commercials, and that’s what we are doing in Penny Lane. It is good, though, because I like when it’s busy at work and there is plenty for me to do. At the same time, I always meant to write something for my blog and I literally had no time or I was too tired by the time I had time. Uf!
Today is Friday, and this morning was a difficult one. First, because it is Friday. Second, I had Pub last night, which means I was working till 2:30 a.m. Waking up at 7 after that was a torture, getting out of the hot shower was a torture, deciding on what to wear was a torture and not having a breakfast with Mike was a torture. There is an early session today, so I had to be extra early at work and I had to sacrifice breakfast in order to get to work in time. Oh yeah, and it was freezing cold today! -6 C which feels like -16 C, according to weather.com (21 and 3 in Fahrenheit). So, do you feel my morning? Torture, sacrifice, freezing… But despite all that, I have a good mood! I just need to survive.
The thought that keeps me busy these days is that I have wrong life attitude. I noticed that I don’t live in the presence, which is wrong. I am always looking forward to some future change and basically instead of enjoying present days and I am fully into planning or anticipating something that will happen. For example, right now I am trying to come up with a plan for Valentine’s Day. I am looking through the dozens of Web sites with information about bed and breakfasts around New York. Some of them look really great and the price is affordable. There are some difficulties and problems as well, but it is fun planning. It is a small example. There are bigger issues, like my life status. It’s a great year in New York, I have a good job: not the most challenging, but everything else is absolutely perfect. I live with Mike in a cozy room and everything is great between us. I do fellowship, I am in an interesting city, I meet new people and some of them are becoming my friends, I am going home for vocations. But I spend my days thinking: so, what is next. Why? I should just enjoy what I have; and what next will be next. I’ll try to work on it.
Meanwhile, I am shopping for presents, preparing Christmas cards, doing extra hours in the pub for some extra cash I will need for holidays: regular December. Happy December.
Today is Friday, and this morning was a difficult one. First, because it is Friday. Second, I had Pub last night, which means I was working till 2:30 a.m. Waking up at 7 after that was a torture, getting out of the hot shower was a torture, deciding on what to wear was a torture and not having a breakfast with Mike was a torture. There is an early session today, so I had to be extra early at work and I had to sacrifice breakfast in order to get to work in time. Oh yeah, and it was freezing cold today! -6 C which feels like -16 C, according to weather.com (21 and 3 in Fahrenheit). So, do you feel my morning? Torture, sacrifice, freezing… But despite all that, I have a good mood! I just need to survive.
The thought that keeps me busy these days is that I have wrong life attitude. I noticed that I don’t live in the presence, which is wrong. I am always looking forward to some future change and basically instead of enjoying present days and I am fully into planning or anticipating something that will happen. For example, right now I am trying to come up with a plan for Valentine’s Day. I am looking through the dozens of Web sites with information about bed and breakfasts around New York. Some of them look really great and the price is affordable. There are some difficulties and problems as well, but it is fun planning. It is a small example. There are bigger issues, like my life status. It’s a great year in New York, I have a good job: not the most challenging, but everything else is absolutely perfect. I live with Mike in a cozy room and everything is great between us. I do fellowship, I am in an interesting city, I meet new people and some of them are becoming my friends, I am going home for vocations. But I spend my days thinking: so, what is next. Why? I should just enjoy what I have; and what next will be next. I’ll try to work on it.
Meanwhile, I am shopping for presents, preparing Christmas cards, doing extra hours in the pub for some extra cash I will need for holidays: regular December. Happy December.
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