Oddball: Beer and Flowers

This display made me laugh right on Second Avenue in New York City.

A Challenge to Bloggers as Community-Building Comes to a Screeching Halt

I learned today that WordPress, who hosts this blog and a bajilion others worldwide, will no longer run their weekly photo challenges and writing prompts. By participating in the photo challenges, I have been privileged to view beautiful photography from around the world and right in my city. Many of us follow each other’s blogs so we don’t miss a post. I am lucky but new and future bloggers won’t have that opportunity.

One last time, here is my contribution to a challenge: Twisted. We were asked to show something that is rounded. This subway station connects the E and M trains with the 6. It was an efficient transfer point while I was commuting for a late-night short-term project. I don’t recall ever using that station much; indeed, I initially forgot about it and took a more time-consuming route.

Delights Behind The Woodhaven Gate

I should have been grocery shopping but instead, detoured to the park on a beautiful, clear Sunday.

Forest Park, in the middle of New York’s largest borough, is  a 500-acre woodland with playgrounds, trails and horses.  At the Woodhaven Gate entrance (one of many for this huge park) the only horses were part of the beautiful carousel, the centerpiece of the tiny Amusement Village. This carousel is originally from Massachusetts and dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, replacing the previous one which was destroyed in a fire in 1966.  It’s a gentle ride, as are all the amusements in the village.

7 Diversions for the Overworked

*Here’s a gratuitous picture of beautiful Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan on a snowy afternoon.*

Lots of work leaves little time for blogging, but here are seven things I’ve noticed lately:

Grammar for Non-New Yorkers

On this National Grammar Day, let’s reflect on how those of us from New York City use language to define our geographical lineage.

Probably the most popular New York-ism is how we queue up: The English-speaking world stands in line, except us. We wait on line.

We Are Judged By Our Jobs, And Those Jobs Play Hard-To-Get

Amazing how we self-identify — and are identified by — our jobs.

Storytelling Without Expression

Photo challenge accepted: A Face in the Crowd. “Without facial expression, can you tell how someone is feeling?”

Still Not Silent: Scenes from the Second (Annual?) Women’s March

Early reports estimate that 120,000  attended the 2018 Women’s March in New York City, less than a third of last year’s turnout, but the ideals and anger were no less powerful.

The Linda Life’s Best of 2017

Christmas and finishing up my coursework kept me from blogging for a while, so imagine my delight when the WordPress Photo Challenge was announced: Favorites of 2017!

The post that created the most dialogue was about my participation in the Women’s March on the day after the coronation election.  I’m so proud of every participant at every march location.

Rounded at the New York Public Library

I often find myself in Midtown Manhattan near the iconic main building of the New York Public Library. So, for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge featuring the word “rounded,” here are some shots taken in June, 2017 of the interior.

The Glow of City Construction

It was too beautiful a night to go straight home after class, so I walked to the next subway station. What I saw made me audibly say, “What the hell?” The office building I worked in for many years is under renovation; an entire section is open, with no walls or windows. The interior lights glow in the night sky.

The Pedestrian at the Walkathon: Weekly Photo Challenge

I recently took part in a little two-mile fundraiser walkathon in Northeast Queens, New York. It was on a beautiful pedestrian and bike path, with Little Neck Bay on one side and a busy highway on the other. 

Sadness from the Puerto Rican Diaspora

Hurricane Maria triggered a sadness that almost makes no sense: I am a second-generation New Yorker but most of my grandparents were from Puerto Rico.

Layers of Architecture in Lower Manhattan

Lower Manhattan shows how buildings old, new and under construction can coexist.

Greenery Atop A Renowned NYC Structure

Right in the heart of New York City’s newest up-and-coming neighborhood is a 7-acre green roof, on the fourth level of the Jacob Javits Convention Center. And on a rainy Tuesday in August, I got to tour that roof.

The New American Workplace

Courtesy WeWork

I have a love-hate relationship with the modern way of doing business.

Companies are increasingly assigning tasks to non-staff freelancers, creating a flexibility that allows them to pay only for work that needs to get done. It allows industry to sidestep the requirements to offer health insurance to these project workers, since the assignments are not long enough to qualify the workers for benefits. (And in the uniquely American  view, healthcare is in the same category as savings plans and gym discounts.)

Shopping Collages

Manhattan browsing can be a treat for the eyes,  like this collage of costume jewelry and scarves for sale at the Theatre District Shopping Court near Times Square. The prices weren’t as excessive as I would have expected, given the popular location.

Like any other travel destination, New York has abundant opportunities to overpay for silly things. I would suggest that, in general, you shop where the locals shop.

My New York: Bridges

New York is a city of five counties divided by water. We rely on our bridges and tunnels to get out of our home boroughs to, well, everywhere else.

The Delta Musings

So I don’t know all the words after all.

I just learned that “delta” means, according to Merriam-Webster, “a piece of land shaped like a triangle that is formed when a river splits into smaller rivers before it flows into the ocean.” I’m picturing a lazy river spilling into the Pacific Ocean, gentle waters turned wild.

Or a playful winter weekend with a dear pal in balmy Florida, then returning to the cold and seriousness of New York City.

Remsen Cemetery: A Reminder Of Our Transience

When Jeromus Remsen went off to fight in the Revolutionary War, could he have imagined his remains would rest in what would become a busy little urban triangle, in sight of Trader Joe’s, Staples, Bob’s Discount Furniture and a car wash ?

I Tried to Bokeh a Bouquet

Bokeh is such a pretty photographic style: one item is clearly visible and everything else is softly out of focus. How hard could it be, I thought, to set my camera’s aperture as wide as possible, with a fast shutter speed?

New York In My Rear View Mirror?

Just as our ancestors followed water and wildlife for sustenance, I am not opposed leaving New York for a new job.

New York City is my birthplace and my home. I live in the neighborhood I dreamed of living in back when I was in college. It is fun and friendly, safe and pretty by New York standards.

The Dense Lights of the New York Skyline

The best way to appreciate the New York City skyline is from across one of the rivers, where you can get the panoramic view reflected off the water.

A brief subway ride under the East River from what we call “The City” takes you to Gantry Plaza State Park, a strip of shoreline facing Manhattan’s East Side. I rarely go to the neighborhood without a visit to this park. The sensible, walkable design and the beauty it presents remind me why I still live here.

A Wish for Spring on a Raw Day

The blizzard that was forecast for New York City turned out to be strong winds, some snow and icy rain.  Whew! I used this stay-inside day to complete a final exam and to block a newly-discovered air leak in the apartment. Strong winds will do that. In one class we had to copyedit a tomato recipe that looked so good that I plan to make it for tonight’s dinner.

Not Being Silent: The March on New York City

About 399,999 protesters and I shut down Midtown.

I attended the Women’s March on New York City with a friend and the Center for the Women of New York. We assembled in a midtown hotel lobby where I bought a commemorative pin and sash from the Center; they need the money and I wanted a memento that I can use again. I helped myself to complimentary coffee as added fuel.

Naming In New York

New York City is five counties of unique areas that need names, as well as addresses, to locate. They are worth the hunt.

They are so wholesome that they opened this shop immediately after last year’s blizzard. The hearty lamb meat pie was delicious.

New Horizons: Things Are Looking Up

Midlife is a strange and exciting time to be job-eliminated.

I had a lifetime of caring for other people (I am the oldest of five so the responsibilities started early.) I can now sensibly think of shifting gears and earning a living at work that I love. But what?

Union Square’s Seasonal Transformation

The calendar and political climate have caused New York’s Union Square to make dramatic changes in just the past two weeks. Politics and the holiday shopping season collide.

Many gathered at the park to speak of their discomfort with the presidential election results. It was a friendly scene; I thanked one speaker for urging protesters to select one thing to be activist about rather than be overwhelmed by the big picture. This turned into a casual conversation between two people  who were, clearly, older than most of the rest of the attendees. This is Union Square at 14th Street on November 10:

It’s No Longer Enough To Be Born In America: A Midlife Hispanic View of the American Presidential Election

President-elect Reality Show Host has shown open disdain for Hispanics, and that doesn’t bode well for me. Long ago it was preferable to “pass” for an another ethnic group rather than look Spanish. I can but have enough self-respect to answer honestly. “What is your heritage?” “What is your ethnic group?” “Are you [fill in locally acceptable nationality here.]?” Hispanic.

The Hudson River at Dusk

In Midtown Manhattan it’s so easy to forget that New York is a city of active rivers, with shipping and ferries, sightseeing boats and sights to see. This is the view at sunset near where I currently work in New York City.

The Water Heroes of 9/11

I wasn’t planning to post about the fifteenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, but I was sent this video. Among the heroes of the day were ordinary working people banding together as rescuers. I’m honored to share their collective story.

The Mirror Challenge While Laughing

Funhouse mirrors are not just for carnivals.

Celebrating Life in the Sharing Economy

Last May I alluded to the new economy, one based on sharing rather than owning, on dealing with new ways of being employed.

And right about that time, I unexpectedly became a roommate.

Summer Sunset

In the summer, daytime doesn’t give up without a fight.

With the city in the distance, these commuter train tracks pick up the vivid oranges of the setting sun before the cool darkness takes over.

Looking Up From The Phone

After a long commute and a much longer day at work, this is what greeted me as I climbed the stairs up from the subway. The next day was as hot as that ball of sun promised it would be.

Cameras Partner to Catch Drivers

An expensive, annoying pest is proliferating high above New York City streets: traffic cameras.

Local law sets the driving speed limit at 25 miles per hour, which is 40.23 kilometers for my metric friends. It’s part of the weirdly-named Vision Zero initiative and has reportedly saved lives. I still believe it’s overkill.

City Summer

Wow, have I gone soft!

I live on the top floor and what I remember most from science classes is that heat rises. I’m reminded of that every day that I wait for my landlord to replace the broken air conditioner.

I grew up without air conditioning. That was my normal. We did what we always did, just sweaty and, probably, a little stinky. If it became unbearable we took quick showers or ran through people’s lawn sprinklers. And yes, the year I lived in the Bronx I enjoyed the fire hydrants with all the other kids. Three life lessons in one: tough enough to handle the water pressure, grateful that someone (illegally?) opened the hydrants up for us, nimble enough to dodge the cars because we were, after all, in the street.

City Respites and Trees That Curve

One of the few things the City of New York does consistently well is build parks. It’s a strange claim to fame for a metropolis but we really have some nice parks.

This park is in a residential area across the water from LaGuardia Airport. I like how the curve of the trees let you see the airplane landing in the distance. By the way, this is the airport  that was rightly insulted by none other than our Vice President. 

A New York Landscape: Early Spring at the Fort

Early for an appointment with a camera in my pocket, I detoured to Fort Totten  for a  walk.

Sad to Glad: Cheering Up In The Salt Marsh

Driving on the Boulevard, I stopped for a think at a nature preserve. I felt a lot like this windmill: weathered, with resting places for everyone but me.

BUT a brief walk revealed beauty in the chilly, stark surroundings.