Good afternoon all,

So a few things goin on in my life right now.

-Some work related drama where my company through me under the bus.  I really like my job and the people I work with, but feel like it is going to be long time until i can trust the people WAY above me again.  I am not someone that takes things too personally, but what they did to me was wrong.

-not reading as much lately, since I have not had things I just WANT to read.  Although I did finish reading the book for the game Mutant City Blues, and am going to finish reading Mouse Guard.  I did finish Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson and will have a review of that tonight.

-It has now been 7 months since me and my ex broke up.  Seems like so much longer.  I hope she is doing ok, and i plan on contacting her to see how she is.  Not sure how receptive she will be to me, but that is ok. 

-My book club is coming up on its 5 year anniversary, this December.  We are trying to think of fun things to go in NYC area.  If you can think of anything that "pops" let me know.

-Here is how you know that the dating world has changed because of online/phone type things.  I met someone last week and we have been talking since then via chatting/text/phone.  It dawned on me last night as I called her and was leaving her a message, that I had not ONE TIME said her actual name to her.  Only me, but to be fair she had not done the same.  It was a very funny moment.

-Also I am from the South (via Oklahoma) and dating etiquette is different there.  Another funny thing is that in the six years that i have lived in NYC, and Astoria primarily, I have not dated anyone outside of my neighborhood.  So, when I was planning a date this weekend, I was a bit confused about whether I was supposed to pick her up still, and obviously take her home at the end of the date.  I know what etiquette dictates, but it still made me stop and wonder if there was an aspect of this I was missing.  She laughed about as well, so it is all good. 

-I really want to start writing again.  It has been about a year since I have done much of that.  Lord knows our game design isn't really going anywhere, although I hope for that to change soon.  But I am just not having that creative outlet I enjoy having.  Need to get off my ass and get into something.

That is all for now.  :)

stacey
 

 

A list of things to be thankful for.

• That I have an amazing girlfriend.
• That I have a good job and that we are financially secure (for now).
• Good health (for the most part).
• Great friends.
• The love of reading.  It is so damn important.
• My PS3
• That I live in Astoria, Queens.  It is a great place to live.
• That I took the chance to move to NYC from Oklahoma, five years ago.
• The Sci-fi/fantasy book club.  Our four year anniversary is today.
• That Lost is coming back soon.

I am sure there is more, but that is enough for now.

I feel the need to rant a bit here.  I live in Queens, New York.  One of the five boroughs of NYC.  I love New York, and I especially love Astoria, where I live. 

Saying all of that, New York is a tough place to live.  Especially if you are single and live alone (which I am lucky enough not to be in that situation at present).  Now with all of the financial crap that our country is going through, we do not have the money to pay more for much of anything.  
 
Enter the MTA.  The MTA is the organization in charge of our subway system, which incluies subways, and buses.  So, since I have lived in NYC, they have increased the rates three times.  Now they are even outdoing themselves.  A few of the proposed changes  are:

• raising the standard fee from $2.00 to $2.50 or $3.00
• raising the montly pass from $81.00 to $100.00
• Closing the W, and Z lines. 
• Express buses go from $5.00 to $7.50
• The wait between trains at night will go from 20 to 30 minutes, making it take longer to get home.

I cannot even begin to say how much this really pisses me off.  The commuters of NYC are being asked to pay for the majority of the funding for the MTA.  Don't get me wrong, I know this is crazy time and every organization is asking for public funding from the Government.  But those of us taht live in NYC cannot afford this extreme increase in how we get around the city.  Not that many people have cars, so most of us are forced to use the subway system and if they keep increasing it, people will have to move from this city.  

I for one do not want to do that.  I am happy here and this is my home. 

I am not one that usally gets angry, but this really fucking pisses me off.  But there may not be a damn thing that can be done to stop it.