Introduction to my Blog

               I have been told that I am quite a storyteller.  My Daughters roll their eyes when they hear me start, as they feel they have heard them all, more than once.  As a practicing Dental Hygienist for over 30 years, I learned pretty early in my career that I was not going to be universally loved by my patients.  As a matter of fact, my Mom upon hearing what I wanted to study in college was “grossed out” as she felt that going to the dentist was akin to having a Baby.  For so very many reasons, I thank God for my chosen profession, as I have been able to give my Family a fairly comfortable life. 

                As always, I digress, but one of the ways I have always tried to make my Patients as comfortable as is possible in a dental chair, I would tell stories, and listen to theirs.  Putting people on their back has a funny way of getting them to open up, in more ways than one.

Air Force Academy, a photo by jorge_dfw on Flickr.

                Besides my Girls, Family, and Friends, my biggest passion in my life is probably travel.  I started by visiting my Uncle who was a Chaplain in the Air Force, visiting him at different Bases along the East Coast while I was in high school.  Then after college, since I had lived at home, I desperately needed to move and grow.  I took baby steps and moved to the Air Force Academy where my Uncle was then stationed.  That was like being a kid in the proverbial candy store.  Having gone to an all girl Catholic high school followed by Dental Hygiene school which was virtually all girls, being surrounded by 4000 young men in uniform was a pretty heady experience.  And fun!

Clockhouse #1 @ Rookery Park in Yoxford, England

                I fell in love with one of those Cadets, married very young, and found myself living in Texas on the Mexican border.  Very interesting.  From there we spent three months in Tuscon, Arizona on our way to England for three years.  That was when the travel bug bit hard.  We lived on an honest to God English country estate in the countryside northeast of London.  My Officer and not so Gentleman flew often in Germany, so I was able to explore Bavaria.  Another time that His squadron had to go fly in Italy, I joined a group of Wives and we met our Fighter Pilots to play in Italy for a week. 

                Unfortunately my life and career as an Officers Wife was short lived as my not so Gentleman left us for a Christian Lady, so after going through a bit of a nightmarish hell for a year in Texas, again, I came back to Boston to raise my Girls in the bosom of my wild and wacky love-filled Irish Catholic clan.

                The travel bug that bit me oh those many years ago has been fulfilled in many various ways over the years.  I think I’ll begin this blog with the story of my “Winter in Manhattan Odyssey” that I gifted myself last year.

Winter in Manhattan: Birthday Weekend

"Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning."   Gloria Steinem

from Garoche H

               Saturday I had plans to meet with the Lady in Sutton Place neighborhood who found me through Craigslist.  But first K and I had the day to spend together before she went to work at her relatively new job at The Gingerman, a beer “joint” in mid-town which reminds me of being in the HofbrauHaus in Munich.  They even have beer for wine lovers, I know, because I’ve had one.   We started our day by going to brunch in the East Village at our favorite little French Bistro, Flea Market. (131 Avenue A, 212-358-9282).

               Then a nice brisk walk to have foot massages in Chinatown.  Foot treatments are one of the things that you can have done really cheaply in New York..  I found a page in the latest issue of Time Out Magazine detailing deals on foot treatments, so we made appointments at Relax Foot Spa at 202 Hester Street (212-226-8288).  The best $25 I have spent in years (usually $30).  It was an hour of bliss.  We got over the clothes neck and back massages as well as part of the treatment! 

"The Brook" made from recycled windshield glass

               On the way we stopped into a neat Art-Antique shop, Galleria J Antonio at 47 Avenue A where I indulged in the most expensive impulse of my life.  My first piece of original art to go into my mental retreat in Maine.  It is gorgeous!

               Off to work for K.  And back to Midtown for my meeting.  Upon opening her door, my soon to be winter "Roomie" looked at me and said that I was exactly what she expected.  I ended up spending two hours with Her, her Daughter, and Partner!  My home for my winter in Manhattan Odyssey has been found!  My new Roomie is a fascinating Lady with a great, if bittersweet story who welcomed me into her home and life for weekends for the winter!

               After leaving the lovely apartment, I treated myself to Paul Winter’s Winter Solstice Concert at the Cathedral of St John the Divine.  It was magical, mystical, and glorious, as was the Cathedral that has been on my to do list for years.  (Word to the wise, in order to get cabbies to take you anywhere in Manhattan, you must know the cross- streets of where you’re going.  I found two cab drivers who had no clue of what, or where the Cathedral is..the biggest Church in the world!  I had to call my new Roomie for help!)

Photo by Rhonda Dorsett

Winter in Manhattan Odyssey: Holiday Markets in New York City

"The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents." - O. Henry, short story writer

Grand Central

               After the illuminating, if frustrating and disappointing, experience with VRBO Man’s apartments, I did some shopping at the Grand Central Holiday Market in Vanderbilt Hall, picking up many goodies.  The Holiday Markets in New York are awesome.  They are filled with interesting things from lovely artists and artisans, and many things can be found for reasonable prices.  There are many other great shops at Grand Central as well.  The food court is tremendous.  And, the main Hall is magnificent.  During the Holidays there is a laser light show.  (Grand Central’s renovation was one of Jackie Onassis’ last projects, a gift to all of us.)

The Pond at Bryant Park

               I’ll digress a bit here to tell of the other Holiday Markets.  Bryant Park has one as well as a skating rink for the winter (which is free, a rare occurrence in NYC!).  Bryant Park is one of Manhattan’s many treasures.  Situated right behind the main branch of the New York Public Library (the site of Carrie Bradshaw’s ill-fated wedding to Big!) it’s truly an oasis between 5^th and 6^th Avenues and 41^st and 42^nd streets.  In the summer time there are movies and concerts.

Inn @ Irving Tea Room, from its website

from Joolie T

          Another is at Union Square Park, at 14 St and Broadway.  Also, on the park is one of New York’s best farmer’s markets.  It is another urban oasis (Central Park, the Emerald Necklace in Boston) designed by Frederick Law Olmstead.  Thank God for that man! In the same neighborhood my family enjoyed a wonderful High Tea a few years ago at the Inn on Irving (56 Irving Place between 17th & 18th Streets).

Time Warner Center

Central Park South is the site of the final major Holiday Market.It is directly across the street from the Time-Warner Center at Columbus Circle which always has a tremendous Christmas light display. Around the city many smaller Christmas fairs and markets popup. Another great one is at St. Bartholmew's Church on Park and 51st Street. . 

St Bart's, from its website

The Campbell Apartment, from its website

               Within a short time at the Grand Central Market I felt like a veritable bag lady(unfortunately not like Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman”!)  So, I thought I’d treat myself to a glass of wine at one of my favorite places anywhere for a cocktail.  (It was my birthday after all!).  The Campbell Apartment at Grand Central is a real treasure.  The owners describe it this way: “The Campbell Apartment is a spectacular one-in-a-kind space (within a one-of-a-kind space).  Formerly the luxurious office and salon of a ‘20’s mogul John W. Campbell, this fully refurbished space revives the lifestyle of that storied era.  The breathtaking interior features intricate architectural details and craftsmanship including extensive wood work, a balcony, a decorative beamed ceiling, an immense leaded glass exterior window, and a massive stone fireplace.”  My family was quite impressed with me when I discovered it a few years ago.  Alas the secret is out and it was mobbed that night. So, I picked up a bottle of wine, and a piece of chocolate mousse cake, and went home to K’s apartment.  I very happily got into my pj’s, onto bed with my treats, and watched Christmas movies.    

             I have these New York’s websites on my favorites list: http://www.nycgo.com/ and http://newyork.timeout.com/.  I check these out every time I go to Manhattan to see what’s happening.

               

Winter in Manhattan Odyssey: VRBO Man

     "Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory."  George S Patton

               Earlier in the fall, I had asked K if I may come down to Manhattan for my birthday weekend to play.  So, I made arrangements to meet with some people in regards to my “Winter in Manhattan Odyssey."

Original Hester Street Market, from its website

Today's Hester Street Fair, from its website

               Arriving really late Thursday after a long day at work, we slept in a bit, and on the morning of my birthday headed down to SoHo to do some shopping.  Most importantly, a lovely long lunch at a small restaurant we had found while playing tour guide for my brother and his family, the Kentucky branch of my family.  The Savoy was on Prince Street, and it was a pleasure both times I‘d been there.  (Alas, it’s now closed with the owners re-vamping the space and menu.)  Off to do a bit of Christmas shopping, as K went to work.  I was looking for an inside version of the Hester Street Market.  Found it, and also found the perfect Christmas gift for a co-worker.  Don’t you love when that happens?! 

               Now it was time for me to check out VRBO Man’s apartments. The arrangement we made was that I would go to his offices in the Grammercy neighborhood, pick up some keys for apartments in Midtown on the east side, and leave some identification as safety for him. (I brought an expired passport.)  VRBO Man would not be available as he was getting ready to head south for the winter.  Getting to the office was easy, building, okay.  The offices were interesting to say the least!  Five or six desks crammed into a room surrounded by piles and stacks of “stuff” (comforters and sheets, boxes of dishes, glasses, tea kettles, toasters).  Manning these desk were some  harried young men in constant motion, on the phones, totally ignoring me.  There were two rooms off this main one.  One was filled with paint, the cans obviously having been used.  In the next room were more desks, and I could see a man, about my age, on the phone, very busy.

               Finally, a nice young man asked if he could help.  He didn’t have a clue what I was talking about.  He passed me off to another young man.  This guy heard me, and I showed him the email on my I-phone for the addresses that I was supposed to be checking out.  He went into the second office and grabbed some keys.    He gave me the keys, with the addresses written down, took my expired passport, and off I went again.

Outside K's 42nd Street Apartement!

               I jumped on the “T” (having lived just outside Boston most of my life, I tend to call all mass transit the “T”).  One stop on the 6 line from K, not bad, I thought.  I love walking the neighborhood streets of Manhattan.  There are some incredible buildings mixed in with the concrete towers of which many are beautiful.  As I neared the addresses, I was loving the buildings I was passing.  Then I got to a very nondescript one with the address I was looking for.  That’s okay, I‘ve stayed in a few apartments in the East Village that started out that way, and the apartments were really cool.  Not so with these three.  To begin, I couldn’t get the key out of the door getting into the building.  A young woman coming out told me that that door was left unlocked.  After fighting with the key for a few minutes I simply took it off the key chain and continued onto the second door.  It worked.  (Thank God I had a couple sets of keys so I had another one for the outside locks.).  The apartments were clean, but I simply didn’t feel anything for them.  The light was non-existent in any of them.  And, light is huge for me.  (Part of the agreement I had started working out with VRBO Man was that with my given budget, I’d be willing to move among his different apartments depending on the availability.  In theory, I thought that would be a fun thing to do.  I was beginning to have my doubts.)

               Upon leaving the third apartment I literally bumped into the Young Man from the office.  He was showing the apartments to some people.  I told him about the key and he had already retrieved it.  Great.  One problem solved. 

               Back down to the office in Grammercy.  As I went back through the hallway with the piles of comforters (in bags at least), and into the office, again to be ignored for a few seconds, then with blank stares again, followed by confusion as to where my passport was, I realized that this was not the way, or the place, I wanted to started each weekend of my Winter in Manhattan Odyssey.  I simply emailed VRBO Man and said thanks, but no thanks.

           

Winter in Manhattan Odyssey: Grouchy G..

         "I am where I am because I believe in all possibilities."  Whoopi Goldberg

            On a day when I swore I was done with Craig, again, I couldn’t help myself, I responded to an advert which I thought may have brought me to my second most promising lead.  It was an interesting ride with G. I think there’s some cultural differences, and according to some scathing reviews on the internet, she’s just not that easy to deal with.  But, I didn’t need to be her best friend, and she has some apartments in good neighborhoods.

     “Hello,

      I'm interested in your place, it looks lovely.  I am giving myself the gift of "Winter in Manhattan".  Now that my Daughters are grown, it's time for some bucket list dreams to accomplish!  I'll be coming down weekends January through March.  What are your plans?  Shall we chat?

Thanks, Kathy”

      Reply from G (aka Grouchy G):

“i own many apartments

Nightly $150

monthly $3500

5star  highrise onthe 49th floor

52inch faltscreen tv wifi dsl internet, spa pool

my offi e hours 5am - 5pm only”

Now, when I first started using emails, etc., I was taught by my Daughters that using capital letters was considered yelling in computer speak, so I’m not sure what G’s usage would be considered.  But, again, she has some nice looking places on the internet, so I continued, even with the negative reviews playing on my mind…

We played some email tag (all of G’s in “capital letters”), talked on the phone, and set up an appointment for my Daughter to meet her (she lived very close to the Corinthian) and check out an apartment.  K got screamed at for calling too late at night (8p.m.) and not calling to confirm the appointment hours before, but eventually saw the place.  

Corinthian Apartment Building, from its website

      “Good Morning G,

      Thank you for showing my daughter your apartment.  She said it would be great for me.  The views are "to die for".  (I'm all about sunsets and sunrises!)

      Now here's my dilemna:  I have a budget of for my "Winter in Manhattan Odyssey".  I appreciate the rate of $150 you have offered me.

       I was thinking of 26 nights total in my dream..Friday & Saturday nights, with an additional Sunday night on the long weekends in January and February.

      That brings me above budget by $900.  So, I could cut out a few weekends, which would lessen the commitment I made to you.  Will that work for you?  Would you still be able to give me the $150 a night rate, if I cut out 3 weekends?

     Thanks, again, for your time, help, and consideration.  Kathy”

“i am in the  business to be fully booked 365 days

to accomodate you is , i acutally have to leave an apt vacant to your convenience ?????????????

NO IT IS NOT NEGOTIABLE”

        “G,
          I never expected you to leave an apartment vacant.  I appreciate you are in business and not just doing this for the fun of it.  I too have to work very hard for a living.  How I wish I could come down and truly just live the dream...I guess I assumed you'd still be filling the apartment when I wasn't there..I do also know that the winter months can be slower, so I again assumed (incorrectly, obviously, but you know what assuming does...) that having a sure bet of 20 booked nights by November for the slower months might be a win-win for both of us..( I was planning on sending you the dates I could get down there immediately so that you could have filled the apartment in the times I wasn't coming down).
        Apparently this won't be a good situation for either of us.  I was looking forward to meeting, working with you, and enjoying your lovely apartment.  I'll continue my search.  And, best wishes keeping your apartment filled 365 days a year.  Kathy”

“ i, apologize 

i need to know the dates!

if the apt is rented monthly you are out 

All i can say "TODAY" 

its booked Nov13- 18th (paid for)

i can assure you 7 days in   advance which apt is not  taken monthly.

it will always be $150  a night irrelevant which apt
( penthouse/ 2bedroom/ 1bedroom)its always $150”

                    “G, 
                     Sometimes it's so hard to communicate by email..misunderstandings are too easy...I am perfectly willing to go to any apartment you have open on any given weekend (it will give me a chance to explore different neighborhoods).  I am really glad this will work out, after all.  I was really looking forward to meeting you!   Anyway, at lunch, I will email you the exact dates I'd like a place to lay my head in Manhattan!
Take care.   Kathy”

“thank you, for giving me an opportunity

G”

“Thank you back.  Kathy”

 Finally, after some more crazy emails, for both of us I’m sure, and a very heated phone discussion that I have absolutely no clear understanding of, I decided life was far too short to fulfill dreams with somebody like crazy grouchy G.  (I’m pretty sure I did tell her that as well!)

            So, it presently stands that I am completely done with Craig and his list, at least as far as finding apartment vacation rentals or sublets for my Winter Odyssey in Manhattan.  When I go to Manhattan in a few weeks to play and stay with K for my Birthday weekend, I have open appointments to meet with the Lady in Sutton Place, and another Man I found through VRBO who has a few apartments in different neighborhoods.  He says he’s willing to work with me on my budget as long as I don’t mind moving among his places.  I’m not worried.  It’s been an adventure already, a sometimes frustrating, but always an educational, and interesting one.  And, what would an Odyssey in New York be without its misadventures and drama?!

              

Winter in Manhattan Odyssey: Pius

"The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly.  Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive."                                                                                                                            Eckhart Tolle

 Two days after I had made the decision to put my Dream into action, and started sending out countless requests on places, I woke early and couldn’t sleep anymore.  As it was Saturday, I decided to get up, do a bit of writing, and figured I’d get a nap in later.  (I love naps.  I think we should adopt the European custom of siestas in the U.S.).  But before I started writing, I had to check my emails to see if any interesting options had come my way ala Meg Ryan in one of my all-time favorite movies “You’ve Got Mail”, although I wasn’t, and am not looking for a secret love affair, well, not with a person anyway..but with a city.. That’s not a new story, is it?.

This is the email I woke up to (I have lost the pictures of the "interior of the apartment" that he sent): 

The Building @ 205 E 16th Street Thanks for your interest in my apartment. I am a professional piano/music theory teacher, I'm easy going and friendly. I like Music and have deep interest in traveling. I respect every religion and love to hang around with people and i am definitely not a trouble maker and very helpful in nature. I am currently living in London - UK  and I will be here for long that is why am looking for a clean and responsible person to live in my apartment. The apartment is located at:   205 E 16th St , New York, NY 10003, United States   Its a spacious and lovely 1 Bedroom,1 Bathroom fully furnished apartment with utilities included and pets are allowed. The apartment is currently empty and you will be the only occupant to live in the whole apartment. I want you to know that I am a kind and honest man and I spent a lot on my property that you are interested in renting, so I will solicit for your absolute maintenance of the apartment and I would want you to treat it as your own, I would like you to keep it tidy always and I also want you to let me have trust in you as I always stand on my word, the rental fees is $1000 per month including utilities and the damage deposit is $500. First month rent and deposit is require to move in.   I know you will be wondering why the rent is so cheap. Well I am not after the money, what am after is the welfare of my property. I will like you to drive by today to view the exterior of the building for you to know where the apartment is located and get back to me so that I can forward the full interior pictures to you to have an idea how beautiful and spacious the inside looks and we can proceed to the application form. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards Pius

For the rest of the day, emails went back and forth.  Pius had given a phone number which could not be reached.   Pius desperately wanted me to "rent his place", and wire him money (do not, ever, wire money anymore..)  My Daughter actually went to the building and spoke to the Doorman to discover he had never heard of this person.  Huge scam.  Big lesson learned, again, this time never to be ignored.  If it sounds too good to be true, IT IS!

Winter in Manhattan Odyssey: Searching for My Pied a Terre in Manhattan

"Patience and Perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." John Quincy Adams

The fun began.  I had given myself a realistic budget, so as not to break our bank.  I reached out to Everybody I know who has connections in Manhattan asking for any leads.  I then sent out many requests through VRBO.com as I had worked with VRBO in the past, especially finding wonderful apartments in Italy a few years ago for my 50th birthday celebration.  And, I went to my friend Craig.  I have had great luck and success in the past on Craigslist, renting and home swapping.  I have also been scammed.  So, I thought I was a Pro in all departments.

I was quickly brought to the realization that sub-letting, or renting, an apartment on my budget in Manhattan was next to impossible.  I know and appreciate that I could have probably found something in one of the other boroughs..but ala Kate Hudson in “Raising Helen”  I wanted to be a Manhattan Girl, at least for my first adventure “living” in New York City.   I also realized that being infinitely naïve, it is very easy to get caught up on a scam on Craigslist (more on that in a bit).

Sunset in Maine

 My younger Daughter expressly told me not to post anything on Craigslist.  Too late.  I had literally just posted this:  “Hello, I promise in advance I am a sane, professional woman with two homes.  Having raised my Daughters (for many years as a single Mom) I can start fulfilling some "bucket list" dreams.  A major one: living in New York City.  Although I am still working full-time as a Dental Hygienist in Boston, I'd love to winter in New York on weekends.  Anyone with a 1 bedroom, or studio, that is able to help me with my dreams?  I am limited in funds.  I know, a crazy dream, but hoping somebody out there in Craigslist world has empathy, and the ability to share in this crazy economy!  (Somebody heading south, teaching away, or has a pied a terre that is not used in the winter?!)  Besides the rent I could pay we could perhaps also arrange a home swap with our retreat in Maine in the good weather ....I would ideally love to come down January through March, for long weekends, sometimes longer if I can rearrange my patient load.  Thanks in advance for your help, and consideration.  (Scammers..let's not waste each others’ time, okay?!  My Daughter who lives in New York will help me in researching my home away from home for the winter!)”

               I actually got a few responses to that.  One came from a Lady on Staten Island to which I promptly said thanks, but no thanks.  I have a family funny story about Staten Island, but that’s for another time.  Another promising one, actually, came from a Professional Lady in the Sutton Place neighborhood.  She described Herself as a Lady my age but young in spirit with many younger friends.  My Husband thought that sounded a lot like someone he knows well!  We planned to meet when I went for my Birthday in December.  My dilemma with that is, I had thoughts of being alone.  Do I want to be in somebody’s home with them?