Tuesday, January 31, 2017

clean slate

I've been on a blog hiatus. There just hasn't been much to write about, or more pointedly, much I can write about.

Even my latest activity is far from interesting.

I got approval in early November from the wonderful David K at the Apple Store on Madison to return my one-year-old nightmare of an iMac. back in love (with Apple)

After months of deliberation and internet research, I decide on the 13 inch MacBook Pro with Touchbar. I'm a little worried about having such a small screen but I'm sure I will adjust. 


Yesterday I buy the new computer. I will return my old  iMac in a few days, after I do the dreaded selective data transfer. 

This morning my iMac freezes (yet again) and the ever-spinning rainbow won't allow me to do anything. I turn off the computer (not the way I should but my hitting the power button), wait a few minutes, and then reboot. But this time when I reboot, I get an unfamiliar screen with an icon that simply says test, instead of the icon with my account name on it. 

I call Apple.  I press all sorts of keys. Rob, the senior technician knows what he is doing. Finally, after twenty minutes,  I am on. But my account isn't. All my data has been wiped off my computer. My hard drive is empty. And worse, my Time Capsule backup appears to be empty as well. "I've never seen anything like this," Rob says. My heart sinks and I literally feel my palms start to sweat. I am lightheaded. I say, "But it's there somewhere, right." Rob, still calm, replies, "I hope so." Not the answer I want.


But then I think, well, I have an iPad and iPhone, both with a lot of stuff on them. And I did backup my photos and documents last night onto an external hard drive. And maybe it's a good thing to start over. Even if my new start is only with a computer.


So I spend the day ignoring my iMac and setting up my new laptop. Surprisingly, as soon as I open my MacBook Pro, it is already populated with all my bookmarked sites, my calendar, my contacts and my emails.


It'll work out, I'm sure. 


The only good thing? it's kept me focused on something other than the news.



Wednesday, January 25, 2017

life

I have much to say, but little to write.

Some things are too personal. Or involve other people. Or would be just plain boring to read about.

But my life is busy with stuff I don't want to be busy with.

I mean, how interesting is it to hear the details of my $35/month cable bill increase? Because Time Warner is now owned by Spectrum — and because my TW bill has been "grandfathered" in — and because the new Spectrum bill for the same service is much higher — there is nothing to negotiate.

Then there's the month long problem I've been having with my new Kindle Oasis not charging. That horror story would be worthy of a few blog posts but really, even with a satisfying outcome (a new Kindle), how interesting would the details of that be?

Oh, and I'd be remiss in not mentioning that my recent paychecks barely cover my food. Returns for the past two weeks have been 47% and 51% of sales. Almost $11,000 in returns means a teeny tiny paycheck. Pretty close to minimum wage.

Two weeks ago I fortuitously meet the head of Marketing in a Via.  I email her the next day and briefly tell her about myself and suggest a meeting. I even prepare a small presentation. I picture myself in a corporate job. I'd be good. Today she writes back," I'l reach out to your HR partner to set something set up in the next few weeks. "  Honestly, I don't even know what that means, except it doesn't sound encouraging.

I still have my Apple iMac that keeps crashing and making me miserable. I've been trying to see if my potential savior David M at the Apple store on Madison will take it back in favor of a MacBook Pro —  I'm still vacillating between the compact, easy to carry, 13 inch, and the bigger screen 15 inch. That is, if he'll take it back at all. 

I wake up in the middle of the night haunted by the stuff I don't write about.

I am anxious and over-thinking everything.

I am even considering meditation. M says it helps.

I need something.





Friday, January 20, 2017

watched, waited, missed

Regardless of one's politics, inaugurations are historic events.

I wake up with an unsettled feeling. I can't believe this is really happening. It still feels surreal. Donald Trump as President feels so wrong. But it is what it is, and today is the day. 

I had a TV in my office when I worked in television. Watching historic events (or even just soap operas) was easy.  But there are no TV's in retail. Why give shoppers a reason to be distracted?

So today I have to settle for watching the inauguration on a phone. Not great, but better than nothing.

A few of us gather around Minx's iphone. 

Paula White, Trump's spiritual advisor, is speaking.

We watch.  We are all stunned that this is happening. 

Bobby keeps pointing out the lack of color among those attending. He's right. 

We all agree that Melania looks great. Her blue coat feels very Jackie-esque.

We sympathize with poor Hillary. How tough it must be for Bill to be standing with the other presidents and thinking, today should have been about my wife making history.

Chuck Schumer speaks. His distaste for Trump's politics is only thinly disguised.

Then Mike Pence is sworn in. He looks the part but his beliefs scare me.

We listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  

When is Trump going to to take the oath of office? Really, that's all we want to see. 

Then the connection dies.

"Hurry up. Someone. Fix it."

Someone does. It doesn't take long. Just a few minutes.

The Star Spangled Banner is being sung.

Now Trump is giving his speech.

"Isn't the speech given after the swearing in? "I ask.

"No before," someone says.

"Are you sure we didn't miss it?"

"No, definitely not," a few say.

We listen to the speech. 

Then three different members of the clergy each give a benediction.

"Doesn't a benediction follow rather than precede the swearing in?" someone asks.

"No, we didn't miss it," says another.

We continue to watch.

At least it's a dead day and we're not foregoing sales as we wait for those important few minutes when Trump is sworn in.

But then people start to leave — including Trump and his family. 




There's always YouTube.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

"I'm sorry; our hands are tied."

I can no longer open the 3-gallon bottles of water that I get delivered from Poland Spring,  now called Ready Refresh since Nestle bought it.

Apparently the packaging on the bottles has changed, and the plastic on the cap is impossible to get off. I have cut myself with a box cutter trying to open the bottles, and have even enlisted the help of both my strong handyman and next door neighbor. 

So two weeks ago I call Ready Refresh. They tell me that the new packaging allows for consumers with newer model coolers to use these bottles and the caps. Apparently the coolers are configured to puncture the bottle caps, thus not needing to remove them first. Very nice if you have a new cooler; not so nice if you don't. I don't.

I've owned my cooler for many years without problem. And now this. So I call Ready Refresh.

"No problem," the customer service rep tells me. "We'll arrange to deliver to you an easy-to-install kit for your old cooler."

Perfect. Except it doesn't arrive.

I call again. Same thing happens. No delivery on the promised date.

And so I call a third time.  After a 15 minute hold "while I investigate," Laurie comes back on the phone with bad news. "I'm sorry but those kits are no longer in stock. In fact, they were never available for this branch. They were only distributed in California."

"Okay," I say. "So what's the solution if you live in New York?"

And the answer that Laurie gives me, and this is a direct quote, is, "I'm sorry. Our hands are tied."

Really Laurie?  Then untie them.

So I ask for a supervisor and get Christine Gueriere. Her solution is better, though far from perfect.

She'll give me a cooler with a free rental for two years. But after two years? "We can negotiate then."

So for now at least, I'm happy. 





As is my super who got my old, perfectly-working cooler.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

a must-see Broadway show

I rarely cry anymore.

I'll be the only one in the theater dry-eyed after a sad movie. Didn't even shed a tear watching the heartbreaking Manchester by the Sea.

But tonight, Susan and I go to see a play, based on Jill's recommendation a couple of months ago when she said, "Trust me on this. Buy tickets now."



So we did. And she was right. 

Incredible performances. Gorgeous music. Compelling story. An absolutely amazing Ben Platt. One heartbreaking scene, particularly if you're a single mom. And Monica Lewinsky seated in front of us.

This is a show worth seeing. And unlike most theater I go to, there wasn't a single thought of leaving at intermission.

It was that good! 


Monday, January 9, 2017

january funk

There are barely any shoppers at Saks this past weekend.

Just lots of returners.

Snow and cold do a good job of keeping people at home. Except for those determined to return that gift grandma got them, or the coat they liked last month but don't like anymore. 

In short, business is dismal.

Then I learn that because I had to take substantially from my disappearing retirement fund, I now owe $15,000 in taxes, that I have no idea how I'll pay. 

I am stuck, still wondering, how can I earn an income that can sustain me? 

I have no answers. Just lots of questions and sleepless nights.

Saturday, January 7, 2017

a rule meant to be broken

611 is the name of the cafeteria at Saks. The numbers, taken from the store's address (611 Fifth), give it an aura of sophistication that doesn't exist.

First, its hours don't coincide with the store hours.  If you work past 4:30, which everyone does, you need to exit the store to find a place to eat. And on a weekend night, that's not easy.

Second, it's not subsidized. Eating at 611 costs more than picking up something at Agata Valentina, my local gourmet grocer.

Third, the long shared tables are often unclean. Sticky drink remains and crumbs are often scattered on the table tops. 

Fourth, many of the diners (all store employees) think it's perfectly okay to watch videos and TV shows on their phones with the volume up. Is there no thought that screams, "Gee, maybe the woman next to me isn't interested in hearing my face-time conversation?"

And finally...

I have accepted the rule that if I want water in a cup I must pay 11¢. The rationale is, "Cups cost money and in the past, people have abused the privilege of free cups. You're not paying for the water or the ice, just the cup."

I don't bring my own cups to work, so I've reluctantly accepted this rule.

Today I buy hot tea; I switch to tea whenever I have a cold.

$2 for a tea bag. So I get two cups of hot water and go to pay. 

"That's $2.27."

"How's that?"

"$2 for the tea and 27¢ for the second cup of water."

"But I thought the cost of a cup is 11¢."

"Only if it's cold water. Hot water is more."

"I don't understand. If I'm only paying for the cup, and not the water inside it, what difference does the temperature make?"

"I don't know, but that's what it is."

"Okay, then this is cold water."

I'm charged $2.11.

Stupid rule averted! 

Sunday, January 1, 2017

a day of small accomplishments

I wake up with watery eyes and a scratchy throat.  Great timing for getting stuff done that requires staying home.

I make a hard-cover blog book for my blog postings. Usually it takes two volumes per year. Today I see a 30% off coupon for the site I've been using (blog2print) so I make a book covering July through December 2016 (the first half of the year has already been booked). It feels cathartic, even though I can't imagine ever sitting down and reading through them. Perhaps these books will survive and a 100 years from now people can take a peek into the every day life of a New York woman who loves being a mom and hates growing old —among other things.

I've watched over 50 movies this year, including 19 in December. I'm ready for the first round of BAFTA voting.  I take this role seriously. After thinking pausing and rethinking,  I am comfortable with choices I make for the nominations.

I clean out my freezer. I won't be buying anymore chicken to freeze. I give 3 pounds of Costco boneless/skinless tenderloins, vacuumed packed in December of 2015, to Aziz, my favorite doorman. I also hand him a new package of Costco frozen salmon wondering what I was thinking when I bought it. 

Next comes my makeup purge. Pencils for the eyes and lips that haven't touched skin in years. Powder blushes that have long been replaced by ones I like better (my two favorites being Dior Rosy Glow 001 in Petal and Cheek Fabric Powder Blush #502 by Armani). Old brushes that are probably still good, but have been replaced by the fabulous Wayne Goss brushes (I especially love #13).

I remove everything from my medicine cabinet, clean the inside glass shelves and back mirror, then toss everything I haven't used in the past month.

I had planned on cleaning cleaning both my linen and clothes closets but my cold takes over and I lose all energy.