lornagrl

You should see the other guy...

I need to get my roots done... and a hair cut.

Flat on my Face (part deux)

I have been walking ever so carefully during all this ice and snow to avoid falling.  I have a fear of falling.  With all these hormone treatments my bones could shatter like glass.  I'm also afraid that any x-rays may detect cancer in my bones and thus ending my "remission"  (ignorance is bliss I always say).  But today, during my lunch hour, with all the sidewalks clear of snow and ice,  I once again took a nasty spill and landed flat on my face. And for the second time hobbled back into the office shaken, and bloodied.

This time, I fell on 8th Avenue - not far from a methadone clinic.  I heard a cackle when I fell.  "man you broke your ass!!".  My boss gave me cab fare so I could go to the hospital, where a P.A looked up my nose with a pen light and asked me questions.  We skipped the cat-scan so we don't know for sure if my nose is broken.  

So after all of this, I just wanted to go home and decided to hail a cab.  One cab driver pulled up and asked me where I was going.  I told him I was going to Brooklyn - and he refused to take me.  He said "I'll only take you downtown".   I took his photo, and got his license plate number.  I'm reporting him to the Taxi Commission.

Rambling Rows Afghan .. getting there..

I'm moving along slowly but surely on this. I had to unravel one square. Something was off, I think I forgot to decrease a stitch. Probably won't get this done by this winter, but it will sure keep me warm for next.

Snow on Ocean Parkway

Move Your Money....

So it's official, I have closed (at least I think it's closed) my bank account with the TD Bank, and am now doing all my banking with a credit union.  Well apparently, others have had similar ideas.

I recently stumbled upon Move Your Money.  A website encouraging people to "move their money" from these huge profiteering, opportunistic banks and into small community minded banks or credit unions. 

I believe in this movement because I know what it's like to feel very helpless about the big banks.  I've heard many people say "it won't make any difference.  These banks are all the same." 

For the past few months I have spent  quite a bit of time on the telephone arguing over egregious fees from credit cards and banks. Some of my friends have asked me - "why don't you just pay the fee, it's only $35. Is it really worth all the stress?"   My response to this is "because that is exactly what they want me to do".  For years I have let these so called little fees slide, but $35 here, and $25 there.. it adds up.  Not to mention the ATM fees, and high interest rates.  These large banks are counting on my getting tired, giving up and just paying up.  Banks are getting away with usury because we are letting them. 

For years, my friend Liza tried to get me to switch to the credit union.  I always balked because it wasn't convenient.  The credit union didn't have a branch on ever corner, so I didn't think it would work.  But the reality is, that is exactly how big banks have preyed upon us.  They dazzle us with large marquees and fancy ads.  Let me ask you this: In a time where we can do almost all our banking electronically  AND at a time when all of these "too big to fail banks" are in danger of folding, why is it that they seem to have the money to buy/rent prime real estate in New York City?  Do we need to have a Chase, Bank of America, Wachovia and Citibank branches on every corner?  Or could it be that these big banks want to give off the illusion that they are our only option?  

Well they are not and we don't have to be dependent on them either.  If you are frustrated with your bank - take a look at Move Your Money and do some research.  (or check out the video below) They even have a data-base of small bank alternatives that you can search by zip code.  (One caveat about small banks vs. credit unions - a small bank could get usurped by a large bank, where a credit union will remain intact . Just something to think about.)

My Wrestle with TD Bank...

About a week ago I decided it was time to close my TD Bank checking account.  I have been with a credit union for six months and aside from a mishap that left me cashless in Mexico (don't get me started) I have been very happy there.

This checking account had a line of credit with a balance on it. I needed to dip into this for an emergency (see above paragraph).  Now I knew I had to pay this off before I could close the account.  So on Friday February 12th I walked into a TD Bank to do just that.  I had closed my checking account at Citibank the same way about five years ago.  I knew the drill.  Or so I thought.

First, I was not able to close the account at the teller.  I had to see someone at a desk.  No problem.  I didn't even have to wait very long. I explained to a very nice young gentlemen (let's call him Joe) all that I wanted to accomplish on this 60 minute lunch hour.  I want to A) Close my checking account. and B) Pay off the loan that was attached to it.  Now I do realize I probably had to do step B before step A but that was no problem.  I had my check book right with me. 

First thing Joe had to do was get on the phone.  Not sure why, but he was on the phone for a few minutes.  I heard the words, "letter" and "bring it back to the branch" and "fax over".  None of these phrases gave me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.  When he hung up the phone he told me that the first step was to pay off the loan, and then I had to go home, write a letter explaining that I was closing my account.  Bring the letter back, and THEY would fax it SOMEWHERE and then after that my account would be closed in a few days.  I said "Look, this is not the first checking account that I have closed and I have never had to jump through many hoops.  Why all the steps?"  Joe just shrugged his shoulders and said that's what I would have to do.  I then replied "Well what if I just pay off the loan and never come back.  What will happen then?"  He said that the account will remain open.  Finally after speaking to his manager (at my insistence) we all agreed that we could just type the letter out there, I would sign it, and they would fax it.  However the account would not be closed for at least three business days.  Now this was worrisome because I did not want to be hit with anymore fees.  I had no money left in the account.  No worries Joe said.  That's not going to happen. 

So I wrote out a check for the balance and, silly me, I made the check out to TD Bank instead of myself which is what I was supposed to do.  I managed to get them to accept the check anyway after an argument.

Needless to say this took up my entire lunch hour. 

So what happens on Tuesday?   My checking account is still not closed and they automatically deducted/charged me a minimum payment on the loan that I had paid off on Friday.  That took a one hour phone call to straighten out plus an argument with a supervisor.  The "account department" couldn't handle this so they sent me to the "loan department".  The loan department reversed the charges.  I again asked them to "please, close my account so this doesn't happen again.".  I was told the account was scheduled to be closed the next day.

So the next day I log on to my account and I see that I have been charged with a $35 overdraft fee for the $26 that they took out without my authorization to pay for a loan that I had already paid off.  I called TD Bank again and this time the bitch on the phone wouldn't tell me anything about my account because even though I could give her my social security number, my mother's maiden name, my account number and my blood type,  I couldn't remember with absolute detail the last transaction I made (except closing the account).  All I could remember was a cash with-drawl in Mexico and because of the peso USD translation I couldn't be exact.  SUPERVISOR.. this person had a brain and was able to explain about the overdraft fee.  I said,  PLEASE for the love of all things holy can you please just CLOSE MY ACCOUNT I WANT TO BE RID OF YOU PEOPLE.  I also pointed out that if they had closed my account like I asked them to last week, we wouldn't be going through all of this. 

She reversed the $35 overdraft fee and assured me my account was closed.  I asked her to send something to me in writing to confirm that this account was indeed closed.  I haven't received a thing. 

The account is still open. 

Blue Jeans (Midtown Manhattan) (Fashion District)

Ice Tree

I could have
I should have
I could have flown
You know I could have
I should have
I didn't go

Icicle - Tori Amos

Knitting Projects 2010

I'm working on two projects at the moment.  The first is a scarf for my buddy Brad in O-Town (shout out to ya Brad).  I got the idea for this project from  friend, former co-worker and cat sitter Lauren. (thanks lauren).  I picked this project because it has a bit of a challenge to it.  It's my first ever cable-knit.  I went back and forth on the colors. I'm making this from the yarn I bought at that yarn store close-out on Coney Island Avenue. Plus Brad wanted a scarf.   

I've had some trouble with this one the way.  I've dropped some stitches which is strange because I'm not really a stitch dropper.  I'm using slightly smaller double pointed needles.  I wonder if that's the issue? 

The second project is going to take a little longer. I need another blanket around the house and I thought "heck just make one". I went to Stitch Therapy in Park Slope to pick up some yarn because I intended to crochet it. But I saw a sample of this project in the store and had to try it. This project will also present a bit of a challenge but still fairly simple. So far I think I'm off to a good start.

Photos (btw I bought that D90)

The only reason I am posting this photo is because the girl's back is to the camera. I was stopping in a CVS to buy some furniture polish and Windex.  A 13 year old girl was caught/accused of stealing $129 worth of merchandise. The cops kept asking her "why are you stealing". This a little blurry because I took the photo as inconspicuously as possible.

Wake up call...

I just learned that Jennifer Lyons - of Survivor fame - died today.

I don't watch much television and loathe reality television, so why did this capture my attention?  Why did I know who Jennifer Lyons was? 

Because she was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer in 2005. I found her on a Google search because In 2007, I was clinically diagnosed with stage IIIA breast cancer.  I looked at her survival as a source of hope.

But she died today. 

This news is a jolt from my office chair.  Something I don't need to be reading while taking a quick break from a stressful job.  So many thoughts are running through my head.. when did she have a recurrence? 2005 was five years ago.  I've survived over two years, what does that mean?   Maybe her disease was more advanced than mine.  I was IIIA, maybe she was IIIB or IIIC?  

But then again, I know people who were diagnosed at Stage I just a few years ago who are now dead.

Here's a scary little snippet I found on the 'net.  Granted it's from a text book at least ten years old:

Palliative Treatment ( Advanced Disease ) - Stage III breast cancer may be treated either with : a) systemic therapy ( either hormonal or chemotherapy ) to determine the effectiveness of the systemic treatment and to reduce the bulk of tumor; b) with local therapy, which may be either mastectomy followed by radiation therapy or radiation therapy alone. The median length of survival after effective treatment is 18 to 24 months.

Guess I'm living on borrowed time. 

It's important to describe  the clinically part.  A little known fact about breast tumors - doctors do not know the size of a tumor until it is surgically removed.  In other words - tumors can be smaller or bigger than they appear on a scan.  Additionally when tumors are aggravated by,  say -  someone drills into your chest or smashes your breast between two pieces of plexi-glass until you scream for mercy - they tend to create a wall of scar tissue which can also make a tumor appear larger on scans.  Now when I was diagnosed I got the express treatment and I had all these tests done within a few days.  My stage III diagnosis was determined by the size of the tumor which could very easily have been more scar tissue than tumor. 

Also - I had neoadjuvant therapy which means they did chemo first than the surgery.  They chemo was supposed to just shrink the tumor - but instead the chemo obliterated it.  As a matter of fact - I had a normal MRI between my 7th & 8th chemo treatment. So I never got an accurate measurement of my tumor.  As for lymph nodes - I just had one (that they could confirm). 

So in short - I may have actually been Stage IIB which has a much better prognosis.  And the longer I go without evidence of a recurrence the better my odds of celebrating my 50th birthday.

Today I went to B&H on 9th street to look at the Nikon D90 camera.  I'm due for an upgrade.  I decided to wait a bit before I purchased it.  Now I'm having second thoughts.  Perhaps I should buy it now. 

I feel so lucky to be alive. 

Church Avenue with American Flag...

There has been one big change since I left Kensington. The G train now goes to Church Avenue. For my commute this works out pretty well, because I can still transfer to the A from the G but for others I'm not so sure. Seems like the G train clogs up the station and slows down F service. I've especially noticed this going into Church from Manhattan. Reason? G train service starts and ends on Church and they use the local track. Now why not use the express track? That way the G train won't disrupt the already slow F service.

Other Blogs...

Back in March, many NYC bloggers (including myself) mourned the sudden death of Robert Guskind of Gowanus Lounge and since that sad day the Gowanus Lounge website had remained silent, inactive. 

Robert was very kind to me.  He frequently featured my photos and sometimes even linked back to this site. 

However a few weeks ago and with a lurch in my stomach, I noticed new posts on my Google Reader.  It seems that Guskind's wife sold the Gowanus Lounge domain.  This new version launched with a similar mission to Guskind's vision: 

Gowanus Lounge is an informal review of News, Business, and Life in New York as well as in the US as a whole. Expect to find our rants about Real Estate, the economy, Religion, and even pictures of life throughout this great land. We’ll review hotels and restaurants that we want you to know about – basically everything is open and you’ll see this website take shape as time goes on!

Not sure if there focus is going to be on Brooklyn or not. It is clearly missing Guskind's heart and soul which is what makes a blog interesting in my opinion.  Are they really passionate about their topics or are they hoping to bank on the recycled domain?  We shall see. There is a very interesting post on the Brighton Beach Baths. This post was deleted ...for some reason.

And speaking of heart and soul I recently discovered some very good blogs written by those that are passionate about their topics.

The first is F.I.P.S or (F***** in Park Slope). This blog totally rants and raves about Park Slope life from complaining about stroller nazi's (they are called breeders) to reporting about movie stars volunteering at the food co-cop.  It may have splattering of anger.  But really, what's wrong with that?   Rock on F.I.P.S. 

The second one is really my most favorite blog right now: Kensington Stories.  Unlike the now dead in the water Kensington Blog (which I feel was originally more focused on gentrifying Kensington as quickly as possible) this blog really has a lot of warmth and is written by Ron Lopez a Kensington native.  A tour through this blog will pull you into Church Avenue circa 1970. I love this blog!!  

While on vacation I was sorting through some old(er) photos to put up and I came across this photo of a tossed out couch...A Gowanus Lounge/Robert Guskind specialty.  Here's to you Robert...

34th Street Station - NYC 2009

What I Accomplished (did, get done) in 2009..

In an effort to avoid remaining static.. I want to start listing what I accomplished in each year.  I was partially inspired by Dooce year in photos.. here goes..

1) Went to Mexico.

2) Moved out a very tiny apartment at the end of the earth in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn and moved into an apartment big enough for my furniture.

3) Got a new kitten, a playmate for more poor cat who is left alone in the apartment all day.  Zelda loves Ophelia, Ophelia is merely tolerating.

4) Moved back to my old stomping ground Kensington, Brooklyn.

5) Hit my two year anniversary mark.

6) (and there is not photo for this one) I applied to college because it's time I was respectable.  (more on that another time.

Happy New Year..