Living your dreams...ticking things off your list!

It's been nearly a month since I last blogged, not that nothing has been happening rather quite the opposite, so much that I don't quite know where to start, begin or relate.  Since I last wrote I have had contact from a few great friends who shared wonderful news of achieving some wonderful things in their lives and I feel so blessed to have their influence in my life.  Whether it is having the courage to set up an organisation to assist others; publishing in your field of expertise or stepping up to the opportunities presented to you and pursuing it to achieve your dreams, this year has been one for pivotal points in people's lives, including mine.  So many great examples in my life, it is hard not to be inspired...thanks to all the Angela's, Nona's, Susan's, Melissa's and Dorinda's in my life...you ladies rock!

My vantage point view

Anyway, I am still in New York and on my last week of the program...Where has all the time gone???  My days are numbered in the Big Apple and between you and me, I am not sorry.  It has been wonderful, but I am looking forward to returning to my old humdrum life in the burbs.  This old girl has struggled to keep up with the tempo of life here and a bit of normality will be wonderful (if there is such a thing!).


The past weekend I have been able to do some of the big ticks on my list of things to do while in NY.  It has been great!

Snoopy!

BYO Ladder

It started with Thanksgiving and there is no other way to experience Thanksgiving if you are in NY than to attend Macy's Parade.  How mad do you have to be? Mad enough to stand for 3 hours in 5 degrees (c) balancing on a fence outside the Dakota Hotel (the site where John Lennon was shot) so you can get a glimpse of the passing parade and get some photo's of the big balloons.  They estimate about 3.5 million people go to watch the parade.  I figure I was not alone in my madness!  Some, from years of habitual parade attending, have worked out ways to get a good view amongst the mass crowds and this may mean bringing your own ladder, or in extreme cases arriving 3 hours earlier (6 am) and camping out for your favourite spot.  We could tell when a big balloon was heading towards our spot, because of the cheering of the crowd.  It was a great atmosphere and a big tick off my list of things to do.  In the evening a group of us went had Thanksgiving dinner at a Latin restaurant.  Not the traditional turkey and cranberry, but very yummy.  
Continuing in on my weekend of ticking the list, on Friday morning Margaret (my sister) and I embarked on a road trip.  I believed I experienced another type of madness, particularly for someone who normally drives on the opposite side of the road and there had been forecasts of snow.  This whole journey was to puruse the biggest experience on my list of "to do's" while over here. 
Our first real stop in our adventurous weekend was at a place called Scaneateles.  Talk about a postcard stop, the town sits on one a lake of the same name.  As we entered this little township it started snowing and the magic of it all was they were having a Charles Dickens festival focused on "A Christmas Carol" with the characters dressed in period costume wondering the streets.  You could not have planned it better if you had tried.  ( I have been trying to upload some photo's but it is not working!!!)  It was a true winter snow scene and experience.  My  anxiety did increase however, about the possibility of driving in the snow, this ended up being unwarranted despite all the weather forcasts indicating otherwise.  A real blessing!  Waking up the next day the car was blanketed in snow then that was the end of the snow show.  A bit disappointing from one perspective, but ever so grateful from a driving point of view. 
The next day I was able to put the big tick on my list.  
Northwest of NYC is an area called the Finger Lakes district and nestled within the district is a small town called Palmyra.  To those of us who belong to the Mormon faith, Palmyra has a special significance in the history of our church, because it was here we believe Joseph Smith, the first prophet of our church was visited by God and Jesus Christ and received the guidance to eventually establish the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints several years later. (http://www.mormon.org/joseph-smith/ ) Joseph grew up on a farm at Palmyra with his family till he was married.  So for me, it was a spiritual pilgrimage to see and understand the circumstances of these events.  
It was so cold and windy the day I visited the historical sites, I think I was the only one silly enough to brave the weather and ended up with a personlised tour of the Smith farm for my efforts.  The Scared Grove where Joseph prayed was one of the most peaceful places I have been in my life.  As I pondered the circumstances surrounding the events of the restoration of the gospel, I gained a deeper appreciation of those who have sacraficed so much, to enable us today to experience the blessings of the gospel in our lives.  I do not believe Joseph Smith would have endured the persecution and eventual martydom if he did not know for a surety of the things which he experienced.  I too have felt this surety on some level, and their are certain things I cannot deny experiencing the influence of the spirit when I read the scriptures and know of their truthfulness.  Or feeling the influence and guidance of the Heavenly Father in my life.  I don't understand all things, but what I do know, I find great strength and peace in my life.

We had hoped to get up to Niagra Falls over the weekend as well, however the amount of driving we had already done, made too pooped to push on.  It was a wonderful weekend and thankful to my sister for coming with me even though our beliefs are different.  The scariest part of driving over the weekend was returning to New York City and having to navigate through city traffic with yellow cabs driving as wildly as they normally do.  I was happy to hand over the keys back to the rental company.  Amazingly for me, the car did not encounter any mishaps.  My track record for rental cars is horrific, I always seem to have a little bingle not necessarily invloving other cars, but scratching, knocking off a side mirror etc... It was a big sigh of relief  to make it through the weekend unscathed!

Diversity and Strength

One of the stand out thoughts rolling around in my head about my trip at the moment, is the recognition of the diversity and strength of peoples religious and spiritual beliefs.  I have a very strong set of beliefs, values and practices which are reflective of my spirituality.  I am not always a person who freely shares these with others, or do I think they are very evident to others, however I have a great admiration for people who live their life according to what they believe.   I will give a couple of examples.

 Yesterday, I came across two different instances of a Muslim man praying to Mecca on a street side.  In my four weeks here, I had not seen this, yet twice in one day seemed to be strange on one level.  One man knelt on a flattened cardboard box, the other on a beautiful prayer mat.  Both stopping their jobs as street vendors to observe and pray according to their beliefs.  What seems to make it even more striking is, this is being done in New York where there potentially is some strong anti-muslim perspectives.  I admired those men for living their beliefs on the busy streets of New York.

Another group of people that are more visible here are the Orthodox Jews.  I am fascinated to learn of all the different variations of the Jewish culture and religion.  One of the other social workers on the program is a practicing Jew. I have had a couple of conversations with her about her culture.  I have been particularly interested in their Shabbath (Sabbath) observance.  An hour before sun down their Shabbath begins on Friday afternoon.  From what I understand, during Shabbath they walk to where they need to go, don't use electricity or shop etc.  Even within the hospital system, it is accommodating to the beliefs and needs of the Jewish population.  In the hospital cafeteria Kosher food is served and their are Shabbath lifts which automatically will stop at every floor so the buttons do not have to be pressed.  Some may see these practices as extreme, however I'm not making comment on their practices, but on people willing to live their lives according to what they believe.  This practice is not often easily found.

LDS Conference Centre, Salt Lake City, Utah
 (it does fill up with Mormons)

My musings about these things actually started in Utah where I attended our church's semi-annual world wide conference.  Firstly, I had never been anywhere where there were so many Mormons gathered in one place and that could be particularly scary in itself, but I relished the opportunity to be gathered with others who share my beliefs.  There are 5 sessions of conference over Saturday and Sunday each lasting approximately 2 hours each.  At these sessions we hear from our church leaders including our Prophet (Thomas S. Monson) and of course the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  This is the first time I have attended conference in person.  We often get the sessions via satellite or video about a week later at home.  I find such spiritual strength and direction from participating conference.  Anyway I digress.

Protesters outside Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

Besides enjoying the spiritual feast the thing that really took me by surprise were the people protesting outside the Conference Centre.  I am fully aware and respect people do not agree with our beliefs or religion, however it strikes me as rather peculiar for people who profess to be "Christians", feel they have a right to pull down and stomp on others beliefs.   These people were not quietly demonstrating, but very vocal and denigrating.  In spite of this, the majority of conference goers went quietly on by.  I thought the protesters could have found a better way to spend their weekends, rather than hollering at the Mormons.

I don't really mind what religious, non-religious, or belief system people individually follow, I believe the common thread should be the ability to treat each other with respect and dignity.  Our ability to peaceably walk with others is indicative of the peace we find from following our beliefs.  I do not think there is anything wrong with standing up for what you believe, however I do think there is a problem when we start attacking another's beliefs.

Well, now that I have got that off my chest, I will step down from my soapbox before it collapses under me and I break my neck!  Next time, I will try and not be so serious

Halloween 2010

Halloween, what can you say?  I lived four and half years in the US previously, but nothing from those years really stood out about halloween.  New Yorkers really seem to get into it, starting even the previous weekend with kids walking around in costumes in the parks.  I think there must of been halloween parties around.  Over the weekend it was not only the little kids who were into dressing up, but the big kids as well. Surprisingly though, the costumes did not really have a sort of "scarey halloween" theme to them.  Many were pretty normal...Cat women, Trekkies, Cookie Monster, plenty of Harry Potters etc and that's even the adults.  In some ways at home, Halloween seems to reflect the more a blood dripping ghoully side of it.  Any way, I still think it is a weird holiday. 

Decorations

There was a big halloween parade on at Greenwich Village, but I was all over it, so couldn't be bothered going, I am sure there would of been a lot of interesting sights down there. It is the start of the holiday season over here.  The next big celebrations will be Thanksgiving.

Picking the pumpkin!

Award winning carving.

One of the things which has stuck out this time to me is the pumpkins. I am amazed at the pumpkins  and it seemed to go to peoples head.  I heard  Dunkin Donuts advertise pumpkin flavoured coffee and donuts.  Donuts I can understand, a bit like Lady Flo's pumpkins scones (for Queenslanders), but coffee????  I should of  been on the look out for pumpkin flavoured hot chocolate! There was even some pumpkin cheesecake, but I had to control myself and not taste it.  The only sweet way I like pumpkin is a dessert my mother makes  she calls Gramma Pie.  Yummy!!!

Pumpkins!

I didn't see to many carved pumpkins around the place, but I went to a farmers market at Union Square in town on Saturday and saw some great ones.  There are pumpkins of all different sizes and shapes.  Here are some of the photo's.  I have bought some pumpkin since being here which I thought was Jap pumpkin, to mash and eat...not the same, very different.  

Trunk: trick or treating

I went to a Halloween Party last night at Church with some friends I knew from Brisbane, Kerry and Tuata Angus.  They live in Scarsdale one the suburbs of New York and it was great to get out beyond the city.  I caught a train up which was an adventure in itself.  The trains lines are not part of the subway system, so I had to transfer from a subway to a train station.  I thought the stations would be in the same place. Wrong!  I came out on to the street from the subway, a very disorientating experience if any of you have done it, particularly when the area is unfamiliar.  Surfacing from the subway, I found myself in the middle of a Harlem area.  Ok for during the day, but still a bit un-nerving.  I found the station however, then had to figure out which train I needed to catch.  Just when I thought I had mastered  getting around New York via public transport, I find I don't really know very much at all!  To make a long story short, I eventually caught the right train, but when we started speeding past all these stations I realised I was on a express train.  Lucky for me the next stop was only two stations on from where I had to be, so I caught another one back making sure it wasn't and express back to New York City!

A Mummies boy!

Halloween Princess

 The party was a Chillie cook off and then a trunk trick or treating.  Instead of walking from house to house, the kids go from car to car in the Chapel carpark.   People open the trunks of their cars (car boots to us Aussies) and the kids make their way along trick or treating.  I thought this was a pretty good and safe way of doing it.  Although, I wouldn't liked to have been in primary or nursery on Sunday with all the kids hyped on sugar! The church members got really into dressing up.  It was a fun activity and the Chillie was great. 

I'm not sure how many of you keep up my waffling, but you will have to excuse my bad english and missing words.  I have a bad habit of doing this, I try fix it up before sending however don't catch all my mistakes.  I have also yet to work out the fine art of setting up the pictures and text so they match up, but anyway not bad I think for a MS!  

Take care and hope you had a Happy Halloween!

Doggies and the Big Apple

Sign found on nearly every tree!

I know I have been a bit slack with my posts.  There is so much to let you know about and I keep getting more behind each day.  I thought I would take a thematic approach to a couple of blogs to give you a slice of New York life.

As most of you are aware I am avid dog lover and at one stage dreamed of being a Vet. It is a dream I haven't entirely let go of yet! Sorry all you cat lovers, I'd rather have a soppy dog than a feline.

From the first day I arrived in New York, I was amazed at the number of dogs that are here.  No matter what time of day or night, people are walking their dogs.  And where do people live...in apartments.  How do keep a dog in an apartment????  I feel so sorry for them (the dogs) and from my casual observation I think it has caused some serious neurological damage to these dogs.  I think if you were to do a study on these dogs, I believe you would find that they suffer with depression or at the least confined space syndrome (a newly recognised disorder).  Who heard of a dog not being able to run around a back yard; roll in the grass(and whatever else it finds);  there is no healthy butt sniffing or excited bark talk!

The pet store where you can find more
than you ever imagined for your dog!

It seems to have a dog is the "in" accessary, particularly French or Italian Bulldogs.  Talking about accessaries, I am floored at the doggie stores stocked with toys, clothing, bags and other contraptions for the well heeled dog.  I will have to try and take a picture of a dog carry bag which people use.  You can get one with handles or on wheels like a suitcase, so pooch can be carried wherever he needs to go.  If this is not up to scratch, I kid you not I have seen it, dogs get pushed around in prams.  This was in Central Park, where eccentricity is at its peak! Last Saturday night I even saw a cat being taken for a walk on top of a pram.  I tried to take a photo, but I was on a bus and couldn't get close enough.  I am not sure if there was a child or a dog in the pram!!! Only in New York!

Another doggy note, is there seems to be very few places where dogs are not permitted.  I have been in all sorts of stores and owners bring their dogs along...Barns & Nobles (books), grocery stores, cafes and even on the plane!

You might not be able to see this too clear, but a couple of well
coiffured dogs and the door man!

Outside of Saks 5th Ave

Unfortunately, I have not yet spied a spotty dog.  I am sure I will eventually come across one.

Enjoying a $2 NY hot dog!

 So, this is a town who loves their dogs and accommodates them in every conceivable way.  There is a community service who will even assist feeding dogs or animals when people get hospitalised.

Being here has changed my mind about getting a dog at home.  I have been reluctant in considering having a dog at my place because I only have a small courtyard, however according to NY standards I have plenty of room for a couple of Great Danes or Mastiffs.

Well until I find some more doggy tales, I will let you chew over the life of man's best friend in the big apple!

Rainy days...rainy nights in NY

The rain that Brisbane has been hogging has finally made it to New York and I got stuck in it without a brollie or rain coat.  Lucky a little water won't hurt me.  This week I have been doing a bit of exploring when we have finished for the day at the hospital.  There is another Australian social worker staying at the apartment I am in and we hit the streets together often getting slightly lost, but eventually catching the right subway train to get home.

Last night we headed downtown to Macy's, the biggest department store (floor space) in the world.  In reality it is a bit all too much, but fascinating none the less.  Inspite of the variety offered by Macy's, I found an even better store....Goodwill (Op Shop) in Manhattan. On the racks were Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klien and many other designers...if only I was size 2!  I have found some other bits and pieces to make the apartment a bit more comfy...radio, clothes airer, desk lamp and a couple of tops as well.  All I need is to find a comfy lounge and I think I could live here for quite a while.

I should put you in the picture about the apartment I live in.  The building is owned by Mt Sinai Hospital and they own many properties in the local area.  Our apartment has 3 bedrooms with one person in each.  We share a bathroom and the kitchen.  We don't have a living room or a place to eat.  We often dine on my balcony (when it is not raining!) balancing our dinners on our laps.  Each room has a single bed, desk and chair, built-in wardrobe and a shelf.  That's about it.  So that's why I have been hunting down bits and pieces to make the place more liveable.  The program provided some plates, linen and other kitchenware which scholars from previous years have acquired.   I will be adding to this collection with things I have accumulated during my stay.  So very basic on one level, but all your needs are met.  I think if I did an Ikea makeover of my room it would be very comfortable.  It certainly is big enough.

We have been getting to know some of the key people at Mt Sinai hospital this week.  I have been very impressed with the level of professionalism and how open they are sharing their expertise with us.  There is so much to learn, and participate in I think the 8 weeks will go very fast.  The first one is all but gone.

One of the social workers who is a pioneer in health Social Work Helen Rehr, is 90 years old and still comes in a couple of days a week to work.  She is such a wealth of knowledge and wisdom as well as being very generous.  She is sharing with all five us in the program tickets to various events in New York.  Tomorrow night Marie (other Australian Social Worker) are off to Julliard the premier school for the arts in the US to attend a concert.  Helen is also organising a private tour of an art exhibition and to the Jewish Museum.  MS may start to be a bit cultured...anything can happen in New York!

If the rain holds off, Marie and I are hoping to do a cycle tour through central park on Saturday!  Well till next time stay happy and stay posted...

Janis

New York Here I am.....

Salt Lake City Temple early in the morning

View from my apartment balcony...the trees = Central Park

I'm sitting here in my apartment on Park Ave in New York and it is hard to believe it is really happening to me.

I had a fantastic week in Utah before coming over her to New York.  I was blessed to attend our church's semi-annual conference which was a wonderful spiritual boost.  I also got to spend some time with some good friends Denyse and Dorinda who I haven't seen for years.  Those few days with friends helped calm my anxiety about participating in the program.

I flew into New York on Saturday after spending what felt like the whole day flying.  I left Salt Lake and flew into Chicago...what an amazing airport.   It just went on and on.  I want to know is, where are all those people flying to?...there just seemed like thousands of people coming and going.

The next bit of my trek east was the worst flying I have done in many years - Chicago to New York.  I am not petite by any stretch of the imagination, but I sat next to a man who was rather large (so much so that he couldn't put his arm rest down) and took up part of my seat.  Lucky for me on the other side was a tiny asian lady.  The unfortunate part of the trip related to me being short and having a direct nose to armpit connection with the man taking up my space next to me.  I tried turning this way, then that way however, nothing seemed to enhance my situation.  By the time we were touching down at La Guardia airport, I was making a desperate search for the sick bag.  An hour and forty minute flight that close to someone's armpit was too much for this MS.  Breathing fresh air and a puke got me feeling ok again...but that was a long flight and a waste of a sandwich!

My apartment is on the 12th floor with a balcony which has million dollar views.  I can see Central Park if I look to my left and down 98th Street to my right I see one of the bridges (I haven't figured out which one yet).  The weather has been magic, beautiful clear skies and relatively warm.

When I walked to church on Sunday, I walked down Park Ave.  It is such a different way of living.  These really flash apartment buildings each with their own doormen and little gardens out front.  Very typical New York. One thing I am really amazed about is the number of dogs around.  I just can't imagine them living in apartments...all sizes, shapes and colours.   Obviously its the accessary you have to have in this area.

I had my first day at Mt Sinai.  We had a bit of an orientation.  I thought Royal Brisbane Hospital was a rabbit warren...Mt Sinai literally has tunnels under the hospital linking all the various buildings so you don't have to go on the streets.  The hospital itself covers several city blocks.  We had to do a urine test to check to see we are not using drugs...I hope I pass.  I have never had to do one of these before.  This week is mainly meeting and greeting people.

Well I think I will close this off for the night.  Hope all is well with you where ever you are and what ever you are doing.

Love

Janis

What Are the Odds??

I am sitting at the airport waiting for my flight to Salt Lake City.  It is 1.10 pm here which means approximately 6.10 am at home.  I have been up half the day and I am lucky to be making any sense.  It has been very long day already.  I flew out of Brisbane on Wednesday morning and had a great send off courtesy of the Burns family who were there to see their son Dane off on his mission to Johannesberg.

Flying from Sydney to San Fran my neighbour for the flight had more in common with me than coming from Australia.  Get this...her name was Janice and she was heading to New York to present at a conference.  She works in a community organisation.  How about that for coincidences?

Another coincidence...Dane leaving on his mission and then a missionary was on the plane from Sydney with his Dad returning home.

Well until next time...stay happy!

PS: I will be wonderful to stop flying today!

The Reason Why

I have decided to venture in to the world of blogging, a very unknown world for me, because I am about to head over to the US for 3 months.  I thought this might be a way to keep people at home informed about my travels and adventures.  I am still unsure how it all works, but I guess I am about to find.