Always respect your elders...

Let me start off by saying that I think elderly people are great!  In my current position I talk to elderly people a lot...even though I sometimes have to increase my volume and slow my pace, they are easy to speak with and they have actually witnessed so many things I've only read about. For example, I recall when I was on a tour of the Bronx Library Center with members of the Bigelow Society (Library donors). I was making conversation and I asked an elderly lady whether she had seen Lincoln Center's South Pacific.  Her response was, "No. I saw the original."  The original debuted in 1949!  Old folks are cool...she saw the original South Pacific.

Anyway, on Thursday I went to the theater, a regular past-time for the elderly, and saw Part 2 of the two-part The Brother/Sister Plays by Tarell Alvin McCraney at The Public Theater.  I'm not going to comment on the plays or give a review except to say I enjoyed the shows (Part 2 contains two plays The Brothers Size and Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet), I recommend that you see it, and Andre Holland (one of my favorite young black actors) is wonderful.

So during intermission I went to the bathroom.  The Public's bathrooms are terrible - entirely too small with only three short stalls and two sinks.  I was at one sink and two women (one elderly and one middle-aged) left their stalls at the same time and had a little "dance" over who would use the second sink.  The elderly woman elegantly gestured for the younger one to use the sink.  I was already in the process of washing my hand, my sink's water was running, and the elderly lady dashed her hands under my running water.  I thought, "Oh, she's wetting her hands before getting soap."  But no sooner had I thought that, she was reaching for a paper towel.  I was shocked, so I said,

[Sweetly, almost sing-songy] "You must use soap."
"Soap?"
"Yes, soap. In these times, you must use soap."
[Hesitation] "Oh, well I'm not going to be eating anything."
"Well, remind me to not touch any door knobs that you touch."

I mean, there is H1N1, the regular flu, colds and all kinds of germs and this old lady, who is at risk of dying if she gets most illnesses,  had the nerve to reach into my water, then not use soap!  I never say a contrary word to the elderly but her nasty act completely blew me away and I couldn't keep my mouth shut.  She should know better!  I know men leave the bathroom without a proper washing (GROSS!!), but LADIES, and elderly ladies at that, I expect better, especially when other women are around.

But of course elderly folks don't care one bit about what anyone has to say, so true to form after her two second hand-wetting, she slowly eased her way out of the bathroom, despite my mini-lecture.


I went back up to the theater and took my seat, and then as punishment for saying a negative word to that woman, I was stricken with an elderly affliction - falling asleep during the middle of the play. *sigh*  The play was good, so I don't know what came over me.  What I do know is that I won't reprimand another elderly person again...I don't want to fall and break a hip or experience some other common elderly ailment.  Ha!

I'm a New York Socialite!

Each year the Library does its big benefit, Library Lions, and as a member of the Development staff we're asked to work the event.  I love getting dressed up. But in previous years we've been forced to wear all black. UGH.  I love to dress up, but black is not what I like to wear - I like color.  So last year I had to break out my old prom dress...GASP(!) because that's the only fancy black I had.  Thank the lord I had been going to the gym, because ten years later, it still fit.  But I know what you're thinking, you wore your prom dress from 1998??? Sounds like it could be a disaster.  Well, it wasn't because I have a good eye and try to choose classic pieces. As you can see, it's an elegant Nicole Miller dress (purchased for $50 from TJ Maxx) that is as good today (last year) as it was then (eleven years ago) and will be good into the future (to Infinity and BEYOND!). 

But this year, I purchased a new black dress (I don't repeat) only to learn three days before the event THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WEAR BLACK!!!  I was estactic, but also annoyed because the person organizing the event had the nerve to say, when asked what we should wear, "I don't mandate color. It's a formal event, so what you wear should be appropriate to that."  I turned to my colleague and said, "She's a damn liar, she mandated color all last year.  What is she saying?"  But I took her at her word and decided to not wear black. And I think that was a good choice, because BAM...

Here I am on the New York Social Diary, courtesy of photographer Patrick McMullan.  Yeah, I'm working (literally working...I had to staff the silent auction table) the event and we were Patrick McM's test shot, but it's a good picture and my dress looks really pretty! I decided to go for something more playful this year.  So if someone is ever googling me, they'll probably come across this NYSD page, admire my dress and then concoct a story about my social life. Maybe they'll think I'm a B.A.P...LOL!

The Perks of Being a Year Older

So I turned 29 and that's cool, but turning a year older is generally just great - you get gifts and special treatment from friends, family and sometimes co-workers.  Take a look at all my lovely friends who came to my pizza party, treated me (!), AND played with old-school toys and wore pizza hats!!!

I also love the special treatment that companies are showing their customers.  I received special birthday greetings from Coldstone Creamery, Sephora, Dave & Buster's, Uno's Chicago Pizzeria and Carnival.  Thank you random companies for my automated birthday greeting.

I especially thank those companies that gave me something for free.  I got $10 in free game play from my fave place Dave & Buster's aka adult Chuck E. Cheese, three mini lip glosses from Sephora, a free entree coupon from Uno's and my favorite freebie - a "Like It" with a free mix-in from Coldstone Creamery.  At one time, Coldstone was looser with its freebies and coupons, sadly, no longer.  So I have to take advantage of the free ice cream, even if it is only once a year, and I did!

BEHOLD...cinnamon ice cream with pecans and coconut.  They didn't even charge me for my second mix-in and they sang to me.

In preparation for the 3-0, I must join more of these birthday clubs...it's these little perks that make aging so much better.

Being 29 is very much like being 28

Let me tell you, being 29 is just like being 28.  LOL  I didn't expect things to change over night, but I certainly didn't think I would be reliving summer 2009. What do I mean by that?  Well, you'll see.

As I was pin curling my hair before bed, something flew toward my face.  I brushed it out the way (assuming it was a fruit fly) then I laid myself down to sleep and prayed the Lord my soul to keep.

So I'm sleeping and I'm dreaming (I can't remember what about) and then I heard..."Wheeeeeee...wheeeee..." I don't know if you understand what I'm describing, but my friends it's the sound of a mosquito buzzing in my ear. NOOOOOO!  I had been tormented by these rotten insects for most of the summer.  I threw my covers off and sat up in bed and thought, "At least I'm waking up right before I have to get up."  I looked at the clock and it said 2:36AM!!!  I guess this was Ms. Mosquito's way of saying "Happy Birthday Shay!" 

I looked around for my Cutter repellent wipes, which thankfully (and unfortunately) were still nearby and I wiped down my face, and attempted to sleep again.  It worked until again I heard ""Wheeeeeee...wheeeee..." in my ear. This time around 5AM!!! *sigh* At least it was only an hour before I had to be up.  Anyway, I did fall back asleep and still got up in time to carry on my normal routine - Catch Train, Go to Gym, Go to Work.

Here I am at work taking care of business on the phone (it was an actual phone call, not a staged picture) and in the next minute taking a "Surprise!" picture of myself.

Basically, work proceeded as normal and I had an enjoyable day that, shockingly, was very much like the day before...when I was 28. *shaking head* I thought things would be different...jk jk. :P