Sorry once again for the long absence. The last couple of weeks have been extremely hectic. As a few of you know, my father had cancer surgery in New York City in mid-April, and returned to the city on May 17th for what was supposed to be a routine check-up. However, due to complications, the doctors decided to keep him in the hospital.
My grandmother (not this one, the other one) was admitted to a hospital in my hometown shortly before my father’s April surgery and remained there due to kidney problems. After my parents returned to
New York for my dad’s “check-up” on the 17th, her condition worsened. Last Sunday, she had a severe heart attack, depriving her brain of oxygen for many minutes, and resulting in serious brain damage.
My mother, sensing that the end was near for my grandmother, left
New York on Monday to return to
North Carolina . As my grandmother’s condition continued to worsen, my dad’s condition was slowly improving. Though he was never in danger of bowing out, it was good to see him in a better mood and with some of his colorful personality back. He was discharged from the hospital on Friday, and I chose to accompany him back to North Carolina. Our flight took off at 8:45pm. Grandma passed away at 8:10.
May the second half of 2005 prove happier than the first.
Happy Birthday to me! At exactly 2:35 this afternoon, I will officially be 23 years old (what do you expect from an accountant?)!! I'm starting to feel it in my joints. :-)
I'm off to San Diego tomorrow for some much needed rest and relaxation. But I'll be back next week with pictures, and hopefully a few good stories!
First, I must tell all of the New York ladies out there (if any of you do in fact read this blog), that shopping bags do not equal fashion accessories. This unhealthy trend became abundantly clear to me the other morning on the train when I saw two women carrying a Barney's shopping bag and a Polo Ralph Lauren shopping bag, respectively, as normal totes. Of course, there's nothing wrong with carrying a shopping bag to, say, put an extra pair of shoes in, or to carry one's lunch. However, if you're coming from THIS part of Brooklyn and using a shopping bag with Barney's emblazoned on the side, it's quite obvious that you're just trying to show off. What makes it worse is that everyone knows you don't or can't shop there regularly, because otherwise you would have a real bag from the store instead of a shopping bag. Really, now. Just use a normal shopping bag. You're not impressing anyone.
Second, I know that I'm single and all, and perhaps I'm giving off a vibe, but when did it become okay for grimy old men to sit down next to me on the train and start feeling my leg? I was sitting in one of the older subway cars (with the little multi-colored bucket seats) on a rather crowded train, one seat away from the edge. The person next to me got up to get off the train, so a guy whom I had not noticed because I was so engrossed in my book, squeezed into the seat. So far, just a normal ride on a crowded train. However, I notice that his left hand, which I had thought was just inadvertenly wedged between his leg and mine, is moving a little too much. Then he starts rubbing my leg with his finger! Well of course, I moved my leg away (as much as one can in those seats), and his fingers proceed to stretch out and follow me. Fighting the urge to get up (basically because I didn't want to give up my seat), I scooted over as far as I could while giving him a dirty look (and probably receiving one from the person on the other side of me). Finally he got the hint, put his little hands into his lap, and then got off at the next stop. Earlier in the year, I had a somewhat similar experience with a woman on the 4 train, but that was more flattering than anything else because she was pretty hot (yeah, I'm gay, but I know a hot woman when I see one) - she's entitled to try her luck. But this guy, *shudder*.
Phew, okay, those are my two for the day. I feel much better now. :-)
