Nosce te Ipsum

Questioning the darkness

While longing for the light

Condemned by curiosity

I dare myself to fight

Beckoned by What If

I need to deaden whats inside

Before this unforgivable intrigue

Unleashes the demons that I hide

No mi gustas.

Ok. I have a problem.

A skunk problem.

Yea, so about two weeks ago a skunk decided to crawl under my place and spray its everlovely glory all over the place, and so my apartment reeks from top to bottom of skunk juice. Amazingly, you can't smell it outside of my place... which led my landlords to believe it wasn't serious. But after having to burn 10 sticks of incense everyday, spraying Febreeze on my clothes, bedding and couch for two weeks, I've had enough.

I invited my landlords into my smelly abode and they recognized the problem and are kindly taking steps to resolve it somehow. Hopefully, the smell will disappear soon...



Chey's New House Rules and Notices

1. Spiders: I admire your ability to create fantastic silk webs of art and I accept you as a part of Earth's family in creation. However, please understand that I alone pay my rent, which means that if I find you mooching and living in my quarters you will be fined $5000, cursed at, and then promptly squashed.

2. Skunks: DO NOT under ANY circumstances spray under/above/around my house... I am more than happy to offer you this map with directions to the homes of local sexual predators and domestic abusers that I am certain will understand and apprecitate your generous act of repulsive behavior.

3. Woodpeckers: First - my house is not a tree. Second - you need to work on your rhythm skills. Third - how in the heck do you get your droppings to land on my windows???!! What kind of aerial maneuvers do you have to pull off to accomplish that?!?


Actually, nevermind. I don't want to know...

Friday Fun Fact

I was almost named Amber or Tiffany.

Yikes!!

Is it?

01101001 01110011 00100000 01101100 01101111 01110110
01100101 00100000 01110111 01101111 01110010 01110100
01101000 00100000 01101001 01110100 00111111

Paris Train - Beth Orton

Now your sitting on a Paris train laughing at your own jokes again
Sun splits the trees into beautiful broken light
Never cry more tears than you could hold in your hands
When all the world's airbrushed
It's a sacred bond of trust

Sometimes, sometimes I see right through the scenery
The first place that's on my mind the last place I find each time
Sometimes, I swim beyond the scenery
The last place that's on my mind
The first place I find each time

Now I'm sitting on a Paris train molten ash falls like rain
Fire burns the trees it's a beautiful fatality
Love the way you stand your ground sea moves as mercury
To break its perfect skin
To dare to dive within

Sometimes, sometimes I see much more than is good for me
The first thing that's on my mind the last place I'd look each time
Sometimes, I slip inside the imagery and
The last thing that's on my mind's
The first thing I'll do each time

Stars racing to burn out
Just stars racing to burn out
A storm waiting to break
Like trees standing black against the sky
This was inevitable, inevitable

Sometimes, sometimes we can see beyond our history
The last place you hope to find the one that's been there all the time
Sometimes, sometimes we can swim beyond the scenery
And the first place that's on your mind
The first place you'd find each time

This was inevitable, inevitable

Props

Btw, 98% of the pics belong to Tammy. You can tell because she's got mad photography skills and if you click the pics, you'll get better idea of what I'm talking about.

As for the other 2%, well, I took some with my camera phone, so they're blurry.. kind of like my memory... lol And the Latitudes pics are from the website.

NY pt3

...So we're all dolled up and ready to hit the town... and we're hungry. We find this tiny little Italian place across the street from the Chicago theater and have our pre-show appetizers. I spent 50 bucks on two drinks, cheese and tomatoes, and a cannoli. But it was worth it... I kid you not, it was the BEST cannoli EVAR known to mankind!!! Yea. It was good. Then we saw Chigaco (cuz 'when you're good to mama...') and it was sooooo good! Quite different from the movie, but filled to the brim with talent and good music. Tammy and I sang (and danced!) along to every number... good thing no one was sitting behind us... ;] Afterwards, we were still hungry and filled with energy from the show, so we walked to Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. We wandered around a bit, then went back to the hotel to catch some zzzz's.

Saturday... ah yes. We finally got to sleep in a bit. (Which means we got a late start, but no worries... its a vacation remember? ;] ) We decided to go and take the boat to Liberty and Ellis Island, but the wait was insane and tickets were on hold. While we were there, we did see some pretty entertaining performers, how do I say, comedic breakdancers? lol. Anyways, we cruised back up and headed for Central Park... which was beautiful. The weather was perfect. Blue skies, row boats, chess boards, swans in the pond, ice rink... I could go on and on. We walked over to Rockefeller and FAO Schwartz and then meandered around going in and out of various shops. We made it back to our hotel between 8 or 9, Tammy and Erika went back to the room while Michal and I scouted for a nice place for all of us to chill and be posh. We found a great bar/lounge called Latitude. They had a dj that night and the four of us thoroughly enjoyed ourselves... ;]

Sunday we got an earlier start and headed back to visit Ellis Island. By the time we got there and sat in the theater, we were all so so so very tired. But the whole experience was quite powerful and educational. That evening, we went back to Brooklyn to hang out with Michals family some more and enjoyed their company and warm hospitality.

Monday (earrrrly Monday) we checked out and got back on a plane to come home. =[


Waiting at Hard Rock, after Chicago...















A beautiful shot in Central Park...




















Some monkeys we saw hanging around a fountain...




















A photoshoot for Vanity Fair...




















A hardcore chess game... concentrate!




















Rockefeller center...















Radio City Music Hall and NBC studios...
















Ellis and Liberty Islands...
















Latitudes lounge...





















The booth in the far corner on the right next to the fireplace... good times. >;]


















=]

=o

I'm giving my first Asl talk in two days!!!

=o

NY pt2

...Wednesday evening we drove to Patterson, (a rare moment, for Michal was driving and I was navigating) got some chinese food and checked into the Patterson Inn. Trouble followed us soon, for the plumbing in our room decided to stop cooperating that night. Four women sharing one bathroom, yea, its gonna happen. But no worries, we all just had to hold it until...

...Thursday morning, when we walked to Patterson for tours. (Make that, walked 'briskly'...) The sights were wonderful, we got to see so many departments, murals, and the grand auditorium. We were even able to get a special peek into the language translation department - more specifically - Sign Language. (Yay for us!) But my personal favorite was the A/V tour. Michal had a friend there and we were able to go behind the scenes (literally) into the Audio/Video department. We went onto the soundstage where they were preparing a new set for something special (and at the moment, confidential), went into dressing rooms, soundbooths and saw old props... all very cool to nerdy girl here.

Friday we had to take off, this time heading towards Jersey City to stop by the Stanley Theater. We made it there safely and smoothly (thanks Tammy and Michal!) and spent the early part of the afternoon at this magnificent theater. If you're ever in Jersey City, you have to check it out. Another gorgeous building fully restored and a work of art in itself. I would elaborate, but wouldn't even know where to begin. Hopefully, I'll get pictures up soon! Afterwards, we headed back to Manhattan to return the rental car and check into our hotel. Lots of hailing and waving later, we lured a taxi driver over to drive us and our baggage to the Milford Plaza. We all cleaned up and got all schnazzy because we had tickets to see Chicago on Broadway that evening....


Check... check one...















Breakfast in bed... my friends are so good to me. =]















The Stanley Theater lobby... breathtaking.




















The chandalier and second level...














Our luggage. My (ONE) bag is on top. lol...
















;]

NY pt1

You know, it seems like I everytime I come to post something, I have no idea where to begin because I've waited soooo freaking long to post a blog... ah, well. Such is the life of a self-proclaimed procrastinator.

So yeah, New York. Holy queso, where do I start? It was an absolutely amazing trip. Not only was the weather great, the sights glorious, and the experience unforgettable, but all of the people on this trip... true beauty. I say that because, you know how it is. You go on a trip to some grand location, and everything is beautiful... but the service is so-so, the people you meet are average, and the friends/family you go with get (for lack of a better work) agitating. But this trip was different. 99% of the people we encountered were pleasant and friendly, and the group of friends I travelled with were exceptionally compatible - supportive, encouraging, responsible, self-sufficient, and just plain FUN. (And I should also throw in "long-suffering" because afterall, they had to survive ten MORNINGS with me!! Scary!! lol) This trip would've been so mediocre without them...

Travelling wise, we got to see and explore many different parts of New York... we had a nice variety of walking (lots of it!), driving and also utilized public transportation.

First, we stayed in Brooklyn at a hotel called Bossert. This building is a fully restored work of art. I'm not even exaggerating. Chandeliers, spiral stairs, velvet curtains, carved celings... everything was absolute beauty. Not to mention we had the Manhattan skyline for our viewing pleasure. My friend's aunt took us to Chinatown, Little Italy and Soho on Saturday, where we mostly just wandered around and explored. We ate chinese food for lunch, (Mochi balls for dessert!) cannoli's and coffee for afternoon break, and killer pizza for dinner.

Sunday we spent the morning in the Jamaican district/area and did some service work there. I had my first Caribbean meal - chicken Roti - and it was yummy! We went to a Jamaican meeting that afternoon and afterwards we had a lovely bbq with Michal's family and some new friends.

Monday we went to Brooklyn Heights and toured a few Watchtower buildings. Educational, encouraging and upbuilding... that evening we rented a car and drove up to Wallkill, NY. It took quite a while to get there, because of traffic and rain, but we made it there safely and without getting lost. (At this point, I'd like to mention that for the majority of the driving portion of our trip, Tammy drove marvelously, Michal navigated superlatively while Erika and myself were in the backseat acting like a bunch of adolescent goobers, goofing off, dancing, eating and whatnot.) We stayed at a hotel called the Harvest Inn. It was modest, but very clean and wellkept.

Tuesday went to Watchtower Farms and visited the new printing and shipping departments. It was mind boggling... It was also raining, but it was beautiful. The trees were just changing colors and the hills were so green... That evening we went to a mall in some little town outside of Wallkill and had lots of fun riding escalators and shooting Red Bull commercials. =P

Wednesday we went further into the countryside and did some wine tasting. Mmmmm yes... We then drove up to Lake Minnewaska (I have no idea how to spell that...srry!)and it was incredibly glorious. By then, the rain had stopped and it was blue skies as far as the eye could see. The lake was smooth as glass with white rock jetting out, making nice sunning areas. We went further up and around the lake, exploring the forest that surrounded it and had a great time enjoying nature, and yes, shooting more scary movies filled with action and drama - being stalked by purple mountain lions, saving a woman from falling off the cliff, and rescuing our friend from a sasquatch...

Our view from Bossert...
















View from Towers Building...















A way cool shot of the Brooklyn Bridge from Towers...















The nations narrowest residential building is exactly four Californiana wide. lol.






















The view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the backseat, and Tam's excellent driving skills...
















Lake Minnewaska...















The Now and Then photo... my fave. =]
(L to R: Me, Michal, Tammy & Erika)















One of many gorgeous red trees...




















The view from one of the wineries in Wallkill...















;]