mental map October 7, 2009
Posted by onemonkeyshow in Inwood, My opinion - and my opinion counts, just me, randomality, specifically gotham.1 comment so far
Miligram defined the idea of a mental map of a city. He suggests that every inhabitant of a city has a different view/map of the city. He would have people draw a city from their memory. An example compared two women – one from Jersey City, and one from the upper west side of Manhattan, and they both drew Manhattan. The one from Jersey City showed detail and many more things (locations, stores, restaurants, etc.) in midtown as she frequently comes in to see a show. While the second woman’s map showed great detail on the UWS, and very little in midtown or downtown. So I decided to draw my own mental map of NYC. It’s very interesting, and you can certainly see where I spend my time. Inwood (where I live) is very detailed – and even includes two locations in the Bronx (Target and Planet Fitness…so true). Other than that, there is detail in the UWS where we do a lot of shopping & eating, some detail in Chelsea, and more detail in the area where I work. But according to my map, there is nothing on the east side of Manhattan. Pretty interesting view of the city. Try it for your city – I’d be very interested to see some other mental maps!
to the people on Isham who let their poor puppy whine and moan all day and all night… September 28, 2009
Posted by onemonkeyshow in Inwood, My opinion - and my opinion counts.1 comment so far
I understand that dogs – especially puppies – can develop some separation anxiety. I understand that sometimes you just have to let them whine a bit so they can get used to you not being there. But it’s not JUST up to the puppy – they can’t learn it on their own. You have to take an active role. Positive reinforcement – encouragement – rewards. But unfortunately, that’s not what you’re doing. Instead, over the weekend, we awoke to the sounds of a whining, moaning, desperately crying puppy – who then cried throughout the entire afternoon – and who then also cried each night for a couple of hours. It’s horrible and heart-wrenching. And if it were sporadic I might just understand and be sympathetic. But your puppy cried for HOURS – and does so every single day. So here’s my warning promise to you:
Either start showing some love and affection for your poor, desparate dog or I’m going to do my best to try and figure out which apartment you’re in, and I’m going to take steps to have the situation dealt with by some professionals.
And I’d hate to even think this, but I certainly hope you’re not the same apartment that had a baby screaming for 5 hours yesterday. If you are, then you’re more fucked up than I originally thought and need an intervention.
some new apartment photos September 11, 2009
Posted by onemonkeyshow in Inwood, The Husbands, finding more joy.add a comment
I only have a couple, but I’ll go ahead and post them. We’re very happy in the new apartment. Max (and both of us) has finally gotten somewhat used to the 5 flights of stairs! For some reason I can’t find the pics of the important rooms, like the kitchen. But here’s an idea for you…our 2nd bedroom, little hallway shot (notice the photo of Kate that Beth took), and the long hallway with my photo wall. And last but not least, Keith took a photo of this bug that came in the window one day. 
livery cab: my new philosophy September 10, 2009
Posted by onemonkeyshow in Inwood, just me, specifically gotham.add a comment
When I want to get somewhere in a hurry, taxi is usually good. Like last night heading to our Samba class (by the way, my hips got a freakin’ work out in the Samba class)! In Inwood, you can’t get a taxi. Well, you could if you called one. Or if you wanted to stand on the street for 1/2 hour until a yellow taxi drives by. So you flag down one of the many, many, many livery cabs (black cars, as I call them). So we take them all the time. Now here is where my new philosophy comes in. If I get into a livery cab, as I did last night, and tell the driver my destination (in the case of last night, I said “56th Street and 8th Avenue”). And he cannot understand me – or reaches for his GPS – or starts driving in the wrong direction: get out. That’s right, I make the driver stop the car, I get out, and I flag down another car.
I refuse to argue; I refuse to try to understand broken english; I refuse to play charades to give you an address; and I refuse to give you money. If you can’t understand me, then you can’t give me service. It’s not my fault. I used to feel guilty when someone that couldn’t speak English wasn’t able to understand direction like “56th Street and 8th Avenue” – now I feel nothing. It’s not my fault, and you are unable to provide me service. The fault lies with you. So just understand that you MIGHT have to pick up someone that only speaks English – and don’t get angry when they hop out of your car to find another.
good morning, inwood September 10, 2009
Posted by onemonkeyshow in Inwood, guest post, nature...or those living things all around me.add a comment
Keith took this photo early this morning looking out our bedroom window:
quick note about dog walkers/sitters in inwood September 8, 2009
Posted by onemonkeyshow in Inwood, The Husbands, do some good, just the facts.5 comments
For about a year we’ve been employing Kathy as our dog walker. We met her through New York Dogs dog walking/sitting services. After utilizing her services through that company, she convinced us to just hire her directly. Probably a mistake there, but we went ahead with it. Things seemed fine despite a few oddities (lost dog dish, etc.). However last week we hit a wall. We hired her on Tuesday to take care of Max for the long Labor Day weekend (handed over the cash and the keys to our new apartment that day). On Friday, we were standing in Penn Station – 40 minutes before our train was scheduled to leave – and her “associate” Debby called to say she couldn’t find the keys. An hour later we were both extremely livid. After trying to contact Debby for 45 minutes (desperately trying to find out what happened to the keys, and what we could do to fix the situation before our train left – and only ever getting her voice mail) we realized there was going to be no agreement reached between our so-called dog-sitters and us.
Instead, Kathy hardly seemed to care at all that there was a possibility that Max might be left alone, locked in our apartment for 4 days because of her negligence. She suggested that maybe her sister could come take a look at Max. However – our train having already left, and the fact that NO ONE COULD FIND THE KEYS TO OUR NEW APARTMENT made that suggestion laughable. Instead, we fired Kathy (and her multiple associates) over the phone – had to pay an extra $100 to change our train tickets, and then had to pay $130 in taxi fares to get a set of keys to our amazing friends Angel & Paul in Yonkers so they could watch Max for us. And to top it off, Kathy really didn’t care. AND our keys are still missing – including the one that requires a hefty deposit from our landlord. Amazingly, somehow Debby managed to get into our building to leave our refunded money in an envelope under our apartment door.
Of course, our first thought was to cancel the trip entirely (which would have been further financial loss) – but thank god we have such amazing friends as Angel & Paul. Had we received the phone call from Debby even 45 minutes later, we would have been en route to DC and things would have been even more difficult.
So my point to all of this? I just want to make sure everyone in Inwood is aware. Max is basically our child. And we entrust his care with people like Kathy when we leave town and cannot take him with us. And to have that trust so horribly dashed scared, frustrated and angered me to no end. Kathy is one of the predominate dog walkers/sitters in Inwood, yet I would urge you to make sure you are safe-guarded if you hire her. As she suggest to us, we apparently should have had someone that could have given her another set of keys (because it was obviously our fault that she lost her set in the first place).
I will never utilize Kathy or her associates as our dog walker/sitter again, nor will I ever refer to her to anyone. In fact, should someone ask me in the future, I will be honest and tell her I don’t trust.
Happily though, Max had a fantastic weekend with Angel & Paul – he told us all about it when we got back last night.
watching the rain from our apartment August 2, 2009
Posted by onemonkeyshow in Inwood, The Husbands, nature...or those living things all around me.add a comment
gotta love the farmers market August 2, 2009
Posted by onemonkeyshow in Inwood.1 comment so far
green onions, cute little carrots & a beautiful red onion
craigslist to the resuce July 27, 2009
Posted by onemonkeyshow in Inwood, The Husbands, just curious, randomality.add a comment
We’ve been selling a few things on craigslist – you know, those things that just don’t make the cut to the new apartment. Bikes, DVD rack, bookshelf…still have 2 more items. Anyone in the area interested? Cheap!!!!
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- $75 or best offer
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- 50″ wide x 44″ deep x 33″ high
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- free – it’s going on the street on Friday
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- 72″ long x 36″ wide x 30″ tall
a farewell to our apartment July 17, 2009
Posted by onemonkeyshow in Awww...friends, Inwood, The Husbands, family, guest post, those that shape us.add a comment
(from Keith)
Last night was the last time Chris and I would sleep in our apartment of four years. Being the mushy, over-sentimental person that I am, I couldn’t help but get slightly choked up as I prepared for bed. Despite its flaws, this apartment always seemed to have a quirky personality of its own. Each room offers shadows of our past – some good, some bad- that had come to define us in so many ways.
I remember painting its walls during one of the hottest NYC summers on record and getting high from the mixture of fumes and dehydration. I remember Chris’ grandma venturing to the city solo for her first time and how much that meant to him. I remember Lana and Jason asking us to be godparents. I remember the fight with my sister that changed everything. I remember our wedding rehearsal, in which I never thought we could pack so much love from family and friends (plus a TV camera crew) into such a confined space. I remember our first real Christmas tree. I remember drinking beer and watching an OSU footbal game with my brother, in an attempt to bond as we never had. I remember our drunken Oscar party. I remember the quiet passions that shall otherwise go unamed here. I remember the hope of election night as Obama became president. I remember Quelf and Loaded Questions and drinking and laughing. I remember the tears in my Mother’s eyes as she and my Dad toasted their gay son, who had just announced his intention to marry the love of his life. I remember Chris and Max endlessly chasing one another in a circle, over and over and over again.
So, thank you 98 PTE, apartment C. It is time to move on now but you will always hold a dear place in my heart. You were the first time in my life that I had found more than just a place to live. I had a home.
