Wednesday, July 30, 2008

 

Dali Exhibit at MoMA


Amazingly, in all of the years I’ve been in New York, I have never been to the MoMA. Well that changed on Sunday, when I went to see the Dali exhibit. It was great seeing his more famous pieces and also excerpts from his films; especially his collaborations with Hitchcock and Disney, the latter of which was actually abandoned after a few months and only finished, I believe, 6 years ago, using the original film and sketches so that it looks like Dali’s work.

And I particularly enjoyed a couple of his very humorous drawings, one of which was called something like ‘Suicide Bike Tour’, and featured a line of bikes heading towards the edge of a cliff, with some already having ridden off it, and my favourite, Groucho Shiva, featuring a six armed Groucho Marx with a phone in each hand.

I really wasn’t expecting such huge crowds and shouldn’t have been surprised at how many foreign accents there were – particularly French, or how many young adults there were. Of course, there were a few people who pretended they were alone in there and stood directly in front of paintings so that nobody else could see, but fortunately, the crowd was almost exclusively very friendly and respectful.

The picture is taken from the 5th floor where special exhibitions are displayed.

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My sandals – good to go


This is how they landed when I dropped them by my couch before heading out to the MoMA. Just thought it would make an interesting picture and I wasn’t disappointed. Hope you like it too.

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Videos from the Tibetan Prayer Ceremony

Each of these lasts one minute and they are in the sequence that I took them. If you’re hoping for spectacular dancing, you’ll be disappointed. If you hope to see something colourful, different and interesting, then I think you’ll enjoy them.

Intro to Dance of The Dakinis



Dance of The Dakinis



Excerpt from The Dance of The Black Hats



Excerpt from the Lingdro (Holy Tibetan Dance)



Another excerpt from the Lingdro (Holy Tibetan Dance)

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Sunday, July 27, 2008

 

Tibetan Prayer Ceremony: Manhattan, July 26th 2008 – Part One

What an amazing experience this was. Heidi, my friend from Boston, took up my offer to stay here for a weekend. Her ‘Tibetan brother’, Wangdak Jigmey, had organised a very intricate two-day ceremony for peace. I hope someone who knows this better than me can perhaps explain it, but Wangdak’s, brother, Shingdrup Rinpoche, is a recognised reincarnation of a Lama, but that might not be accurate. He came from India for the ceremony, and several other members of his family, Buddhist holy people, came in from several other places for this apparently rare event.

It isn’t something I had ever thought about doing, but when Heidi asked me if I would like to go along with her, I obviously had to say yes. We stayed about 7 hours. The dances in the pictures are of the Dance of the Dakinis, the Black Hat dance and parts of the Lingdro, as well as some taken during chanting and one of Shigdrup Rinpoche taken talking with a woman who amazingly, is over 80, with Heidi smiling a little behind them.

There were a lot of small kids who had the greatest time and were as good as gold, and the evening ended with a wonderful dinner or rice, noodles, lightly cooked but highly flavoured vegetables and chopped beef that was truly delicious. And then it was all hands on deck to clean up before leaving with our portion of the food display seen in some of the photos – it is a blessing to take some!

The costumes, colours, chanting, dancing and traditions were all marvellous and the people lovely and warm. You don’t have to be a believer; I’m not; but if you ever have a chance to go to a ceremony, do yourself a favour and go.

The Dance of the Dakinis
I just liked their faces. The woman in the middle is holding a prayer wheel. Each time it goes around, a prayer is sent out into the world.
This came around a couple of time. The white liquid is a ceremonial Tibetan Beer. You drink it from your hand then some people wiped their hands on their hair


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Tibetan Prayer Ceremony: Manhattan, July 26th 2008 – Part Two

This is the Lama's mother and older sister talking with Llyn Rubin, who also knows Wangdak

The Black Hat Dance

The Lama, Shingdrup Rinpoche. The woman with him is over 80 years old!When he greeted me, we each bowed and touched heads, which I understand is a sign of respect and not the greeting for all people. Heidi is smiling in the background.

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Tibetan Prayer Ceremony: Manhattan, July 26th 2008 – Part Three

Wangdak, about to lead out the other men for the first act of the Lingdro, followed by pictures from the other acts. Amazing costumes!






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Saturday, July 26, 2008

 

The New York Subways - Let them off first, please

Damn, a lot of New Yorkers are stupid when it comes to the subways! Even the smart ones! A certain ethnic group, which I will not mention for fear of being called a racist, even though the truth is perfectly evident for those who care to see and admit it, purposely gather in front of doors and when possible, push onto the trains before anyone has a chance to get off. The general manners of other people seem to have gone down markedly in the last few years.

It was never quite like London and many other cities, where most people stand to the sides of the doors to let people off first, as is the correct and sensible etiquette, but the numbers of the selfish, ignorant, complete fucking idiots seem to have mushroomed in a very short while.

There have always been occasions at busy stations when I just had to barrel through the crowds blocking my exit and it is true that mostly, a simple condescending glare suffices for room to be made, but why can’t these people work out a very simple truth that shouldn’t be a problem for a person of very limited intelligence to comprehend?

They want to get on the train. They get impatient as large numbers get off, blocking their entrance. So they grudgingly make enough room for those exiting to do so in a single file. When they notice people piling in through neighbouring doors and taking he seats they were eying, they get upset and push past those who have still been unable to alight due to their own extreme stupidity and self exacerbating impatience.

Why is it so difficult for them to figure out that if only people got off faster, they could get on faster? And the way that this could be accomplished is if they stand to the side of the doors. Exactly how stupid are they really? Is it even measurable?

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Central Park


There is not much of a story with this picture. I took it when on my way to the Symphony in The Park last week, but it somehow didn’t fit in that post. It had been my first time in the park for more years than I care to remember and it really is a magical, wonderful place. Like Boston’s Emerald Bracelet, which includes the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, (http://sceneandheardinny.blogspot.com/2008/06/last-days-in-boston-part-one_03.html) it was designed by the great Frederic Law Olmstead. Now there was a man who knew how to design parks. Has anyone ever compared?

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Saturday, July 19, 2008

 

An MTA commute from hell

On Thursday, I left work at 6:15 and should have missed the worst of the rush hour. But while I was waiting, 3 R trains came and 1 W. When the N finally came, it was quite crowded. Somehow, it contrived to find congestion ahead. I had my music on but know that whenever one of the new trains stops, there’s an automated message ‘informing’ passengers of congestion ahead, and although I didn’t hear it, I could tell that it had played several too many times by the looks on people’s faces.

Once off the Manhattan Bridge, when we merged with D trains on the track, the stop start became ridiculous. I watched two R trains pass us by. Between Pacific and 36th Street, the R makes 4 stops that the unfortunately labelled ‘express’ train misses, but still they were just too fast for us.

At 36th Street, I could take no more and switched to the waiting R train. This was probably the third of those I initially ignored. So it really did have congestion ahead. I don’t think we ever went more than 50 yards between stops and each time, the conductor apologised and gave us the standard spiel. The last one and a half stops must have taken 20 minutes and the announcements turned frustration into annoyance.

As I finally got off the train, I asked the conductor why he had to make the same announcement every single time. He responded that it was his job. This begs a question in my mind: Are the majority of conductors who would not feel compelled to make this announcement every minute not doing their jobs? And is it the job of conductors to annoy the hell out of passengers? I could email this question to the MTA, but I know I would get a form response that will have little to do with my question, with the final result being that I would just be more irritated than I already am!

Incidentally, the journey into work had taken me 50 minutes. The reverse trip took 85.

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Symphony in the Park – my loo break!


It took quite a while to navigate through probably 300 people and finally reach something other than grass. From there, it was only 50 yards or so to a row of portable toilets. If that word is distasteful to Americans even in the setting of a concert with maybe 40,000 in attendance, I would appreciate someone posting a suitable alternative here. Rest Room? I really don’t think so!

At one point near the end of my navigation, with me appearing to have no grass options available to me, a rather shapely, pretty, smiling young lady invited me to take the path to her rear. And a fine path it was, adorned by a rare, fine cleavage protruding above her low cut jeans. I did manage to smile at her face as I passed, but confess it went against my more natural inclinations!

There was a long row of maybe 20 little cabins, each with its own queue. Naturally, the further away from where the bulk of the people are coming from, the smaller the line. I am ever grateful that so few people can be bothered to work this out!

When there was only one person in front of me, someone came out of the cabin to my left, saying “I don’t know about that one!” He was shaking his head and muttering about the unpleasantness. Those around me, obviously veterans of the portaloo experience, took it in our stride, although I did make comments that I wasn’t sure exactly what he expected and also that you really have to suspend your normal standards for these occasions – either that or wait for 3 or more hours until the concert finishes and you get home!

The woman behind me offered her place to the heavily pregnant woman who was next in that line, but she accepted her fate and stayed put. Finally it was my turn. The urinal had been stuffed with plastic, so I ignored that. Everything else was as I expected. If you look down, you will see things you’d prefer not to see, but how many of us successfully avoid looking, even though we already know we shouldn’t!

As I left, I held the door open for the woman behind me and said: “Well this one is just lovely!” Chuckles all round as I prepared to brave the crowds for my return journey. I ended up about 8 blankets behind my gathering. Not too bad. And then the concert began.

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A Symphony in the Park story

Blankets, and at times bodies, were very tightly knit among the crowd. Negotiating one's way through certainly wasn’t easy. I saw a couple of people almost losing balance and many just stop, trying to figure out the best routs, entirely oblivious that there might have been a dozen people behind them.

My story is strictly of my imagination, but involving a real couple who were navigating their way through the various obstacles, about half an hour before the concert began. A well to do Russian couple; he looked like a man who plays golf; a well groomed 60 something, a little extra weight but cares about his appearance and basically in shape; his silver hair, impeccable. From behind or the side, his wife looked to be in her 30’s. She was quite the beauty. Of course, if her hair had ever been allowed to change from the classic Russian Blonde colour, she undoubtedly wouldn’t look quite so young in distant profile. Facially, she was still stunning, but her husband obviously wasn’t a cradle robber.

As he continued making a path for them, unperturbed, she fell further and further behind. She had had enough. It was written all over her face that she found the entire experience utterly distasteful. Young people in shorts at a classical concert? Common people? But classical music is for the cultured! It is for respectable people! Her sneers and look of disdain said all this to me of what she was thinking.

At one point, she stopped, hands on hips in classic ‘I’m not going one step further’ fashion, and called to her husband. I think he was used to her complaints and she was used to him ignoring them. Undoubtedly there would be words when she caught up and more still when they got home. And then they were gone. I knew I would blog her story, or more precisely my version of her story, which I told to the ladies who had missed this amusing interlude. I do love people watching!





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Symphony in the Park

Last Tuesday, July 15th, I went with Trish and a few of her friends – all women – I love her get togethers (!) – to the Symphony in the Park on the Great Lawn at Central Park. The weather was perfect. It started warm and with moderate humidity, and as it got darker, both of those counts fell and the acoustics improved.

So many people! I can’t imagine how anyone would find anyone else if not for cell phones. I watched an endless stream of people searching for friends, as Trish and I had done when we arrived: “Can you see the Sponge Bob balloon?” “Yes! Ooh! Lime green dress? I see you!”

The evening really was perfect, and while I have already forgotten most of the music that the New York Philharmonic played, I will never forget the evening. There’s something about a gentle sunset almost choreographed to classical music that makes it possible to imagine you are feeling the sunset, or at least completely in tune with it. Bliss!

When the encore was played, the William Tell Overture, I had pangs wishing I was in London watching the Proms. In New York, the music was appreciated. In London, the crowd would have been up, linking arms, humming, swaying and getting a little rowdy in a very good natured way. Yes, even some classical music can be enjoyed other than genteelly!

After the fireworks, which ended at 10:15, it took quite a while to exit the park and I got home pretty much on the stroke of midnight! So it isn’t something I can do too often with work and a 6am alarm the next day. But anyone who has ever thought about going really should. Take a blanket, wine and food and enjoy!


A sea of knees

Climbing over a wall to exit the park. What are those spots that appear whenever I take a piture of the sky at night?



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Another sign I am getting older

Last Sunday, I got on the train from Bay Ridge into the City, and sat 2 seats away from a young woman who looked like a porn star. She was very Swedish looking, with overly blonde hair, and wore the caked on make-up. Her tight pants revealed shapely legs; her tight top revealed a more than ample bosom. She wore 6” heels with a 1” platform and swung her crossed leg rather eye-catchingly. As I approached, she smiled sweetly, pouting her full lips.

While I certainly wouldn’t doubt her very obvious charms, I settled in to reading my book! This is something that not too very long ago would have been impossible for me, as the distraction would have proved too much for my concentration. I was aware of her looking over at me a few times and did side glance her a couple of times, but I’m really not looking for the type of encounter that might have resulted had I engaged her, so made no attempt to catch her eye. Am I getting old?

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Thursday, July 17, 2008

 

Bay Ridge nightfall light and a road-works update

These pictures were taken on Wednesday, July 9th, as night was falling on what was supposed to have been a very stormy night. I took them because the light was so different and spectacular, and have posted them in the order they were taken, even if pictures 2 and 3, looking South towards the Verrazzano Bridge and East on 86th Street look considerably lighter. Where you see road-works, that is my block. What looks like an open lane doesn’t go all the way to 4th Avenue, but is left open for people to get into driveways and for deliveries.

The deep holes that were first dug in March have been re-dug, and metal plates have appeared all along the near lane, perhaps to cover holes or maybe just to put them somewhere! Two nights back, the contractors were working loudly at the intersection when I got home at midnight and were still at it half an hour later, but I was too tired for them to keep me awake. They then put the plates down and haven’t been seen since. I seriously think they’re making all of this up as they go along. I wonder if they get paid for the nights they don’t work or if they have a few other roads up like this, making occasional appearances at each. It really is a disgrace! 18 weeks and counting!






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Tuesday, July 08, 2008

 

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards: READ IT!!!!

This book is brilliantly written and entirely engrossing. Not to give anything away, as it is stated on the back cover, the book begins in 1964 when a doctor delivers his own twins and gives away the second baby, who was born with Down’s Syndrome.

He isn’t a bad guy and had what to him were compelling reasons for his deception. But it haunted him, and by association also his wife and son. It affected the lives of others too. The characters are so well written, you feel for all of them

I must warn you though. 20 or so pages from the end there’s a passage that you shouldn’t read in public unless you have no problem at all crying. This morning I was very sweaty when I got on the subway and I think I got away with it; the couple of tears that sneaked out of my left eye as I turned away to collect myself, indistinguishable from the beads of perspiration running down my face.

If you do read it or have read it, please post your comments here. I can’t imagine anyone won’t count this as one of the better books they have ever read.

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14th floor view of Manhattan Rush Hour traffic

My office building is just to the east of the Avenue of The Americas (That’s 6th Avenue to New Yorkers). As I walked past an empty conference room just after 4pm today, I saw a wall of taxis, both in on the street and in the reflection on the building on the other side of the street. I ran to get my camera and took two snaps. This is the better of them.

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Monday, July 07, 2008

 

Endless road works on 86th Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Last October, my half of the block between 3rd and 4th Avenue was dug up for work on the Water Mains. For a full week while I was between assignments for my old employer Business Edge, I had no water for several hours a day. The following week, they worked on the other half of the block. By the time they were done, the road was a disgraceful, uneven patchwork. I wondered why road can be laid in a day in England, completely evenly, whereas here, it takes so much longer and the workmanship is pathetic. Of course I really know the answer. The more money the contractors are allowed to milk, the more they will attempt to milk.

After I had been working in Boston for a week or two, I came back for the weekend to find the curb side lane of my side of 86th Street dug up for the entire length of the block. And so it stayed for maybe 3 weeks, until they switched the work to the middle two lanes of the road. There were deep gaping holes for weeks and I wondered how so little could be accomplished in so long! Were they prospecting for oil? Can’t be. It isn’t a wildlife reserve here, and that’s where W wants to drill.

As the weeks went on, the deeper holes were filled in but the middle lanes remained closed. Then at the beginning of June, they started work on the next block over, between 4th and 5th Avenues. It was frustrating for bus riders, as for months they couldn’t catch a bus on this block until 4 in the afternoon, and now they couldn’t catch one for two blocks. The work on that block was only done after dark and then not into the midnight hours, so of course it was even slower than on my block.

In my 4 weeks off work, I saw three men dig a hole a short way from my building, just one day. Unless I blinked and missed it, the only other workmen seen on this block in those weeks were those sitting in the digging machine, engine running, apparently taking a break.

Today I came back from work to find that the ‘work’ on my block had once again shifted. Now, both lanes on my side of the street are closed and traffic is confined to the other half of the road. I can’t say that I’ve noticed much happening on the next block either.

I wonder how this time is being justified and how much is being paid for this disgraceful sham. I will take a picture of the ‘workmanship’ when they finally re-open the road. I expect that it will have to be closed again at some point to be re-surfaced. Jobs for the boys? Money under the table? Perhaps those questions are rhetorical. A total disgrace? Nothing rhetorical about that one and no doubt about the answer either!

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Sunday, July 06, 2008

 

The Country Girl

Last night I saw the play The Country Girl at the Jacobs Theatre. I definitely enjoyed it, although I think it started rather slowly. The best thing about it was the stars: Frances McDormand, Peter Gallagher and, saving the best for last, Morgan Freeman. What a great actor he is. What a thrill to see him acting live on a stage. One of the great actors of our time. Such a pity I didn’t think of pulling out my camera for the curtain call until I saw a couple of flashes, by which time it was too late. But picture or no, I will not forget.

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Saturday, July 05, 2008

 

The Lower Manhattan Skyline at night

Last night, Carrie had a small gathering at her apartment on the Lower East Side. Apparently, some are now calling the area LoHo, as it is lower on the island than SoHo. I think they are showing a distinct lack of imagination. Pity they couldn’t have called one of the two areas BLo Ho!

We watched the South Street Seaport fireworks from her balcony. As they began, a pigeon changed direction in front of us and headed straight into them. Such a pity I didn’t have my camera at the ready, as it could have been a spectacular picture. The camera was sitting on the kitchen table and I didn’t want to get up and miss anything, feeling quite sure that if I did move, the fireworks would end. When one of the others made a comment about the camera, I finally ran to get it, and as I sat down, the last of the fireworks died down. It was a comic moment.

I took a picture of the Business District with the veil of smoke hovering over it, and another about half an hour later. That smoke actually would have made for another spectacular picture as, towards the end, a bright red flare was partially obscured behind it, lighting the sky to the left and merely making the smoke glow, to the right. The third picture is of the Manhattan Bridge in the near distance (is that an oxymoron?). I could see the East River between buildings, but the dark water doesn’t show in the picture. I believe that what looks like a Full Moon is actually a drop of rain on the camera lens. But I think it looks cool!





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New job report

I have much to learn! I have spoken with two of the people I work with, both of whom work in Chicago. Nothing except for the methods is different to what I have done before, but working on my first report, I see I have much to get used to. And I’m sure that I will handle it no problem and thrive. I definitely have the aptitude for this work and nobody expects me to be expert immediately. Actually, they are really nice and have been apologising to me for not spending more time with me.

As for the New York office, the people I am working in the same area as are really nice and apparently they do sometimes socialise after work. My commute is just under an hour and I am a 5 minute walk to the Rockefeller Center, so on nice days, that is where I will head to with a salad and my book. Talking of books, I am currently reading The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards. It is beautifully written and entirely captivating. I have to recommend this to everyone.

Overall, after just 4 days, I am very happy with this job move.

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