For those of you who wish to help the little one's follow Santa's progress, please visit the NORAD/Santa Tracker site.

Posted by: Michele at 11:12 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Follow this link to see a live feed of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Click on "Full Screen" to get your own window to Rockefeller Center Plaza and get the true feel of being a working New Yorker.

Posted by: Michele at 03:42 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Rush hour begins in Times Square this evening as word that the strike was over spread through the city like wildfire.

Woooooohoooooo! Picture Snoopy doing a happy dance... that's me!
Mercifully, state mediators accomplished in 18hrs what Pataki, the MTA, and others were not able to accomplish in several weeks.

Transit workers are told to report to work immediately!

As I walked down the street doing my errands, I heard the news of the strike being passed from one ebullient pedestrian to another. Smiles, cheers and high fives were enthusiastically exchanged between strangers. Personally, as a non-driver that depends solely on mass transit, I can't express how relieved and happy I am.

Of course, what this means is that the Union and the MTA will continue to negotiate and the Union and it's workers will be fined according to the Taylor Law. Unfortunately for the Transit Workers, their strike was for nothing as they return without a contract, concessions or amnesty.

As for me, I'm exhausted after logging in 15 miles today, walking around and helping my elderly neighbors with their errands. I know I'll sleep like a baby tonight.

Posted by: Michele at 03:41 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 Congrats on some very good news!

Posted by: zonker at December 23, 2005 02:33 AM (/y7q3)

2 So that breeze is from the entire city breathing one massive sigh of relief?

Posted by: Victor at December 23, 2005 11:26 AM (L3qPK)

3 What the union did is criminal. The leaders still deserve to be put in jail for 3 days....

Posted by: _Jon at December 23, 2005 05:00 PM (/R7YK)

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Workers crossing the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan early this morning in 22F.

I cannot believe that in day 3 of this strike there are no joint talks scheduled, instead they are talking separately to a federal mediator. However, their role is only in an advisory capacity as the parties are not in binding arbitration. The only official thing scheduled for today is a mandated court appearance and a media war that's unbelievable. So here's the current status:

- A furious State Supreme Court judge yesterday threatened to toss transit-union leaders in jail for ignoring his injunction against a walkout — calling it a "distinct possibility" they would wind up in Riker's by the end of today.

- Calling them "frauds" for striking in the name of working people, Mayor Bloomberg tore into Roger Toussaint and the Transport Workers Union yesterday for the second consecutive day as the war of words and between Public Relations consultants escalated.

- The media war entered a louder and more contentious phase, with Mr. Toussaint demanding that thorny pension issues be removed from the table before the strikers returned to work and that the Mayor, Governor, and MTA officials.

- A very angry Gov. George E. Pataki joined Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in saying that the transit workers must end the strike before negotiations could resume. Of course they could take that stance because their chauffer driven limos would ensure that they would never have to walk more than a few steps to each appearance.

- The MTA and the International Transit Workers' Union took the highly unusual steps of running television ads urging individual workers to return to their jobs. So far only a few hundred strikers have returned to work, however, those that have returned have seen their property damaged and their lives threatened.

- The MTA, in an effort to play hardball with union members, will be using the direct deposit information on their striking employees to freeze their bank accounts in an effort to obtain the 25,000 court-imposed penalty from each striker.

Don't you just love the holidays in NYC?

Posted by: Michele at 09:35 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Lines of people going home via Penn Station Commuter Rail lines to all points East (Long Island) and West (New Jersey) of Manhattan/Metropolis.

Today I began feeling guilty over being lucky enough to still have 6.5 vacation days left and not have to endure what others (like some of my coworders) are enduring. My vacation days enables me to stay home, take care of my son and help a few elderly neighbors out in the process by doing errands for them while my son is in school. I racked up a total of 13.5 miles walking during yesterday's errands. Today I racked up almost 15 by picking up various prescriptions and making bank deposits for my elderly neighbors who are shut ins as a result of the strike and the frigid temps.

I've been asked to go into work on Friday to alternate with my colleague and give her a break and also to train the temp that will be covering for me part of next week while I'm using the remainder of my vacation time. So I'll be joining other New Yorkers in going over the 59th St bridge. walking all the way to work. I will start walking at 10:00am and will walk a total of 11 miles one way. Let's see if I'll still feel guilty or if I'll be cursing everyone involved as the wind off the East River hits me. I'll try to blog once I get into the office. I have a feeling I'll need to based on some of the quotes from NYers I've read (I've posted some of these on my companion site as the language is too colorful and too funny to pass up).

To answer a question some of you have asked in emails and calls, "How long do I think this strike will last?"

Well, if we look at TWU's strike history:
1966 Strike - January 1st, 1966 to January 13th, 1966 - 13 Days
1980 Strike - April 1st, 1980 to April 11th, 1980 - 11 Days
My guess: knowing the union leadership very well ... 12 days, which would mean this strike wouldn't be over until January 1st.

BTW, Friday I'll be picture blogging while walking over the Queensborough Bridge (see Turk 182, Spiderman 1 & 2 movies for a feel of this bridge).

Posted by: Michele at 05:06 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Current wind chill: 16F on bridges it feels like 6F

NYers are feeling lots of anger, frustration, and tremendous resentment towards the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the Transit Workers Union (TWU) and it's sister unions, such as the Railway Workers Union who have vowed to not cross the picket line and bring in residents from NJ and Connecticut into the city. They will only travel as far as the city limits which for most will still be too far away.

As for me, my boss asked me to come in tomorrow instead of taking a vacation day, as I had originally planned. But earlier this evening I was informed that due to Railway Union's support of the strike, my son's after school program would not have enough staff to care for all the enrolled students. So, I will be staying home and doing the mommy thing (which I always enjoy) and will drop him off at school and pick him up at the end of the day and will spend some time doing some fun holiday crafts together. I'm really looking forward to this.

So, since I'm done with all my christmas responsibilities (shopping, gift wrapping, mailing of overseas gifts, making cookie dough and pie filliing) I am free to really enjoy my holidays, and no one, and I Mean No One: not the MTA, not the TWU or sister unions, not the Governor (who fell down on the job by not calling in a federal mediator), are going to ruin this holiday for me.

I hope the boneheads at the MTA will learn their lesson and make sure that the next contract ends in the spring and not in winter. Also, next time they have a 1 Billion dollar surplus, since they don't have shareholders to answer to, they might consider using that money to fix the problems in the system and enter in good faith negotiations instead of giving tourists (not those of us who support this system year round) 1 Billion Dollars worth of free rides 3 weeks prior to the strike deadline.

So lets talk about the cost of this strike:
- a loss of 400 million dollars in revenue per day
- a major disruption in the lives of 8 million NYC residents and 5 million out of state residents that travel in to NYC on a daily basis.
- endagering the lives of the sick and elderly who will be unable to get through the incredible traffic to get medical attention they need.
- Children being put at risk as there's no way a parent can reach a child quickly in case of an emergency.

Me, I'm luckier than most, I have the vacation time and it's really slow at work.

Posted by: Michele at 08:27 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Now that I'm amongst the living, and as per the rules of the game, I'm posting the logo of Derek's Avalanche who beat my beloved Rangers. Just remember guys (Ted/Derek), it ain't over till the fat lady sings!






More Hockey Sucky news:
Going to Torino as part of TEAM USA are 3 team members of the Devils and 3 from the Islanders. What the hell happened to selecting some from the Rangers? I guess leading the Atlantic Eastern conference isn't good enough to get into TEAM USA. Nope you have to be from such loser teams as the Devils to get in or an over the hill type like 43-year-old Chris Chelios (Red Wings).

Well, they deserve to lose in Torino for picking such sub-par players!

Posted by: Michele at 02:46 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 hey! Hot damn, someone's paying attention! y'know, anytime Sakic gets a penalty shot...He's just money.

Posted by: Derek at December 19, 2005 03:26 PM (FloaD)

2 It's because all the good players on the Rangers are playing for European Olympic teams

Posted by: Victor at December 20, 2005 10:33 AM (L3qPK)

3 I've always liked Chelios... he's from around here. Yeah, he's getting old, for a player. Only thing I can think of is that they are looking for a leader with tons of experience...

Posted by: That 1 Guy at December 20, 2005 06:58 PM (UuXC9)

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My hands are finally starting to feel a bit better! Unfortunately, in order to keep them that way it means that I have to continue to focus on writing smaller posts, not an easy task for me. Mistress of brevity I am not. One of the things I have to give up in order to safe guard my hands is my private Medieval Kingdom a multi-player online game in which I am a Queen and Benevolent Ruler.

Now don't you roll your eyes at me! I didn't pick this role, it was assigned to me by the game's program after answering about 80 questions. I actually wanted the role of female warrior or witch, but the program had other ideas. It apparently believed I was a better Queen and Benevolent Ruler than a Wench. According to my profile:

"This type of Ruler is found in most of the thriving kingdoms of the time.

You are the idealistic social dreamer. Your overriding goal is to solve the people problems of your world. You are a social reformer who wants everyone to be happy in a world that you can visualize. You are exceptionally perceptive about the woes and needs of humankind. You often have the understanding and skill to readily conceive and implement the solutions to your perceptions. On the positive side, you are creatively persuasive, charismatic and ideologically concerned. On the negative side, you may be unrealistically sentimental, scattered and impulsive. Interestingly, your preference is just as applicable in today's corporate kingdoms as it would have been back in medieval times."

As a beta tester for this new game set in a Medieval World, developed by one of my tech friends at work, I was able to modify my Kingdom based on the vision I had for it and the agreements I forged to prevent war or plundering by neighboring Kings, some who were not so benevolent. At the time my friend developed this version, he didn't have many wenches, witches, warriors or damsels in distress, heck, he didn't have many women players period! So naturally I thought I would have a little fun. Although, I really got into the game, I really didn't get to explore the depth of my role within my kingdom. I was left wondering if I'm able to brandish a sword as Queen Boudicca did in defense of Brittania or if I would be forced, as Maid Marion was in the Robin Hood stories, into an arranged marriage of convenience.

I'm unable to give you any more details because I signed a non-disclosure agreement. Though I have temporarily given it up, I must say I do miss playing. It's my version of a fun medieval re-enactment. I'll be able to say more when the game is released next year.

Posted by: Michele at 10:48 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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This post can also be entitled:

Beware of Amazon and etoys failure to deliver goods as promised. On 11/29 I ordered a number of toys and gadgets from Etoys via Amazon with original estimated delivery of 12/11. Not only did they not communicate with me about the delays in fulfilling my order, When they finally admitted to the delays I requested a cancellation as per their policy and now they are not allowing me to cancel the order. I have been in a battle with etoys and amazon because they have tied up my money and are trying to force me to accept a post Christmas delivery date for my son's and nephews toys.

I wonder what they expect me to tell my son, nephew and the other children I bought toys for on Christmas when there are no presents under the tree. Sorry, Santa wasn't able to deal with me honestly?

BTW, I'm not the only one having bad experiences with Amazon, blog bro Jon is also having a hassle of bait and swith policy with them.

Posted by: Michele at 04:26 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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My Christmas is being interrupted on 2 counts. Right now IÂ’m in the Emergency Rm. where IÂ’m being treated for an allergic reaction to something (donÂ’t know yet to what). So IÂ’m being pumped full of drugs and waiting for a couple of hours for the reaction to stop before IÂ’m realized. Side effects are a permanent grin on my face from the drugs. Also funny/insightful thoughts spring up, courtesy of all the drugs. LetÂ’s see in a few days if this post makes sense or if I can blame this week on a full moon.

First, a couple of observations on the planning for this strike. The pre and post-9/11 contingency plans have been updated and the information was made available to the public a few days ago. All large corporations had received a draft version of these plans last week. At my firm, we activated our Disaster/Emergency Business Recovery Plan. Because of my security experience I was recruited to develop a plan for my department for our current location. The neat thingÂ… I was given free rein which resulted in the plan being finalized 48hrs before the strike deadline. Having thought I was done I went home and returned the next morning to find my cubicle had been ransacked the night before, and several personal belongings stolen. As a result I spent yet another day with our security staff, this time dealing with the theft.

As if all of this werenÂ’t enough, I let my co-worker pick up a late lunch for me because I had been dealing with the security staff and the NYPD most of the day, and 6 hours later IÂ’m in the emergency room full of drugs, trying not to scratch and experiencing not a care in the world.

Now about the strike, I am angry with the private independent MTA Board that manages the operations of the NYC Transit System, which employs close to 40,000 workers, and let the negotiations lag until the 11th hour. As if that wasnÂ’t enough, the idiots announced it had a 1Billion dollar surplus, after a 30% increase in the fare 3 months ago. They were crying poverty before the fare increase, they publicized the surplus to the high heavens not even a month ago, and now theyÂ’re crying poverty all over again by saying by the end of 2006 they will experience a 3Billion dollar deficit. This is plain, boneheaded idiocy on the part of the Board and they should all be removed. All the individuals on this Board, along with their spokespeople, display such unbelievable arrogance, that I would love for EricÂ’s cousin, Brad, to neuter them, as he does his bulls, except I want a dull cut, a hard yanking and without anesthetic.

Other unions have now joined the transit workers, in a strike threat, in solidarity with and for the transit workers struggle. In doing so they are now holding city residents hostage. In anticipation of a strike, all sporting goods stores are holding huge sneaker sellathons.

As for me, aside from being mad as hell, IÂ’m lucky enough to be able to telecommute for some of my job duties, however, for the rest IÂ’ll have to walk the 9.5 miles to work (part of that over a very high bridge that spans 1.5 miles over the East River). My plan: IÂ’ll be using my remaining vacation time for the duration of the strike. In the meantime, I think IÂ’ll make a few voodoo dolls out of medical gauze strips and send them into the labor negotiation room.

Yep, that should do it. That should work off my anger and frustration with all the parties involved.

Posted by: Michele at 12:52 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 I'm sorry to hear of your trip to ER. I trust someone is caring for your son and the drugs haven't caused you to forget about him? Also, when you are done there, could you save the extra drugs for me? I need that happy place for a little while.

Posted by: _Jon at December 16, 2005 01:10 AM (/R7YK)

2 Ouch my friend! Glad the drugs are good, sorry as all get-out that you are there. As for the board, consider the other method of neutering which is just a rubber band done very tight at the top of the sack. Cuts off the blood flow, and eventually what is below just falls off... Good luck and yell if you need to vent!

Posted by: Laughing Wolf at December 16, 2005 06:03 AM (5cMH5)

3 I hope you find out what sent you there. Stay well!

Posted by: vw bug at December 16, 2005 06:52 AM (SCN6v)

4 .. dang... get well soon, girl.. and just let me know if you want Brad to land at Laguardia or JFK...

Posted by: Eric at December 16, 2005 07:49 AM (r5XsL)

5 ACK! I hope you are doing better from your ER trip. I always hated going there. I hope they catch your cubicle thief as well. I can't believe someone would do something like that in a company.

Posted by: Contagion at December 16, 2005 07:37 PM (Q5WxB)

6 Voodoo doll for you :-) http://threeclicks.com/voodoo/v2.htm

Posted by: Harvey at December 18, 2005 09:54 PM (ubhj8)

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Please note that reprinting does not mean approval or endoresement of this action.

Newspaper Article Title: Bloody St. Nick By MARLENE NAANES and ANDY GELLER - EXCLUSIVE TO THE NY POST

Ho, ho . . . no!!!!!

Slay bells are ringing outside a $3 million brownstone on East 18th Street in Manhattan, where, rather than yourtypical jolly St. Nick, a skinny, bloody-bearded Santa holds a knife in his left hand and the severed head of a doll - blood gushing from its eye sockets - in the other.

This 'tis-the-season-to be-creepy display - which has drawn no small amount of community ire - can be found in thefront yard of Joel Krupnik, 58, and his wife, Mildred Castellanos, 43, who said they are protesting the commercialization of the Yule season.

more...

Posted by: Michele at 01:12 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 Well, I'm glad they've got holiday spirit... :-/

Posted by: Harvey at December 13, 2005 08:58 PM (ubhj8)

2 It may be inappropriate, but they have a good point. It's kind of funny too. You wouldn't hear all this griping about the exact same display if it were October.

Posted by: Ted at December 14, 2005 06:48 AM (blNMI)

3 Well, I guess since they're Jews, it can be forgiven that they don't actually know their history about Santa Claus who actually DID exist and was a Bishop of Myra known as St. Nicholas and is very important to Catholics and Orthodox Russians. You should read up about him. He was known to be a very generous man and his vestments were red, white and gold, and green, white and gold, just as the vestments of the clergy are today during the seasons. It's really a beautiful story that encourages people to give without expecting to receive, but if you don't know the story, of course you are going to think that it's all commercialism. Commercialism just like Christian Spirirt is something one holds in their heart, it all is how you take it. Blessings, Dianna

Posted by: Dianna at December 15, 2005 02:28 PM (GXSNL)

4 I went back to read my first line and it sounds deragatory, though it isn't meant to be. I meant it that since they are Jewish they would have had no reason to learn about the history of Santa Claus which is basically a simplified version of St. Nicholas and how the story came to be. Just to clarify.

Posted by: Dianna at December 15, 2005 06:22 PM (GXSNL)

5 To be honest, I don't find it that disturbing. There is a certain humor to it, and I can see their message. I look at it this way, if the guy down the street can decorate his house for christmas and dress as santa on Halloween, why not this?

Posted by: Contagion at December 16, 2005 07:41 PM (Q5WxB)

6 Santa Claus represents goodness, happiness and laughter. Little children are thrilled when they hear Santa is coming to town. Life is hard enough without seeing a cherished symbol bloodied and trampled upon. To see Santa murderously holding a bloody knife with a child's BLOODY HEAD in his hand is despicable! I am so upset, I can't believe this is my NY, the New York I was born in and raised in. The New York I work in and live in. What has happened here? First off, these people are the sickest and nastiest lowlifes imaginable - creatures that think they are being clever or cute... It is injurius, defaming, cruel, insulting to the highest degree, and gas has ruined my Christmas. Christmas is a very important time of the year to people throughout the world. Santa Claus is a cherished symbol of all that is good, and of love and giving. Children everywhere need Santa Claus to believe in the merriment of giving. To read the above comments is to see callousness taken to an all time low. Does the law no longer have decency? Can't these despicabe acts be stopped?

Posted by: Vivien at December 19, 2005 08:17 PM (c6QxB)

7 Funny, I complain to my family every Thanksgiving that their gas has ruined MY holiday! Small world huh? Speaking of Hallowe'en, this display is CONSERVATIVE compared to some displays of that ilk I've witnessed. This wouldn't cause one single eyelash to bat if erected in late October. Most people would probably see it as funny. And Rita? Disconnected? Dang, you ain't kidding! My HEAD is spinning! Tell me the truth -- that post IS a joke, right? 'Emence'? 'Distroy'? 'privilage'? 'neavou riche'? 'There' and 'thier' for what is properly 'there'? And the grammar itself! I laughed, I cried, I projectile vomited!

Posted by: We Don't Need No Steenking at December 24, 2005 09:25 PM (zZizN)

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You say "the city" and expect everyone to know that this means Manhattan.

You have never been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building.

You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park at 3:30 on the Friday before a long weekend, but can?t find Wisconsin on a map.

Hookers, pimps, and the homeless are invisible to you.

The subway makes sense.

You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual.
more...

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1 LOL! Now, honestly, how many apply to you?

Posted by: Ted at December 08, 2005 12:30 PM (blNMI)

2 That's *really* spooky. Brought back a lot of memories!!!

Posted by: zonker at December 09, 2005 12:38 AM (/y7q3)

3 I can identify with many of those - from the plus and minus!

Posted by: _Jon at December 09, 2005 11:01 AM (g9Y9+)

4 Fabulous. I think I've been away too long though only knew about 70%, looks like I need a trip back to NY.

Posted by: Sgt Hook at December 10, 2005 09:09 AM (jlMVG)

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