The Re-Occurring Dream

Dreams are funny things. I'm not talking about "dreams" as in our aspirations, but the left over synaptic firing that happens when we close our eyes at night. I always remember my dreams. At least the gist of them. I know a lot of people who never or rarely remember them. I feel sorry for them. I also have a strange connection with my sleeping universe in that I can wake myself up from dreams. This is a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it.
If the dream is really a nightmare, it's a good thing. I once dreamt I was being chopped up, or was about to be, by an elderly woman wielding a chainsaw. She had already cut up everyone else in the room, and by that I mean a 'lover' of sorts that I had somehow entangled myself with.  I was avoiding this fate by pretending I was dead. In a snap second I decided I had to get out of there and the move had to move fast to make it past her. I had blood and human tissue splatter all over and looked up to see her standing in a doorway with what I am assuming was maniacal laughter- at least that's how I imagined any words coming out of her mouth- and I JUMP as high as I can, some how jumping perfectly between the doorway and the chainsaw that is flying around. Then I realize, this is not possible stupid. Wake up. and I wake up. I'm a little scared so I call for my dog to come and sit near me. Then I rub my eyes and check my legs for giant cuts, get a glass of water and go back to bed. What's funny is the "not possible" element was me jumping between the doorway and the chainsaw- not the whole dream.

Now if the dream is really a good dream, I also wake myself in the same sort of state of disbelief. I once dreamt I was having a typical day, wandering the streets of some made-up mental city that was in part not made up- it had elements of places I've been just all combined plus some things I'd like to see in those places all combined into the perfect 'reality'. I run into some friends and we make plans to meet up later at a concert and have a few drinks. I continue my wandering and find my as-of-yet-met-in-my-waking-life- human that I am apparently engaged in a long term affectionate, but cheating relationship with. We decide we're going to finally leave our currently disgruntled partners. Insert faery tale like kiss...So I'm touched, and it's finally going to be okay, and I can stop lying and blah blah... then I say, this isn't real stupid. Wake up. I'm not condoning cheating here- I'm not doing it in my waking life or anything- I don't do that. It was that weird notion that whatever we had been through (and isn't it funny in dreams how there is a back story that is clear in the dream but makes no sense when you wake up), it was finally going to be a success and obviously from that perspective we were like Romeo and Juliet more or less except fate wasn't going to throw the Death card at us. Woohoo love and stuff. So when I wake up from this I'm disappointed that I didn't get to have the concert with my friends nor am I about to make out with the hottest person alive. Nope, just me, hugging my pillow and swallowing a motrin with a glass of water.

Everyone has them. At least one. I have two re-occurring dreams, or at least themes in dreams. Neither ever make sense and almost always end up the same. Sometimes they are ever-so-slightly different enough to fool me into thinking it's a different dream. Then comes the punch line.
The first one:

Jumping turned flying. Typically, some sort of small animal tells me to jump and reach the sky or jump up and get something from a tree. I always meet the animal, and lets call it a rabbit, because usually it is one, with disbelief. I can't jump. I'm afraid of heights. These are truths. I can't jump higher than a tree! I certainly can't fly and I don't really want to: I like the Earth. I don't like looking down at it in microscopic form. The urging of this animal to do this compels me to give it a try so I start jumping. Each jump gets more and more weightless until finally, I'm sort of floating. Then I realize I can't get back down. This is met with horror. It's also met with a small degree of excitement because I feel like I've mastered the art of weightlessness and nothing can really touch or catch me. I can't really tell what I want to do. I also realize at this point that this has happened before and I knew it was going to happen again- it's an unnatural and hidden talent of mine: I can defy gravity. I hate it in many ways because I really am afraid of heights and although I have faith in my ability once I'm up there, I long to be on the ground. Then it happens wake up stupid, you don't have to be afraid because you're dreaming and this is impossible. I have twists on this dream where I see a friend and show them how to do it. What's funny is I'm terrified and usually the friend really wants to know how so to hide my fear and to get someone up there performing this unnatural talent, I tell them to start jumping too and eventually we're floating around like we're in the bubbles in Wonka's factory. It's fun then, and sometimes I even fly to a large tower where I get a glass of wine, sit on the air as if I'm in a chair and sip it with who ever my partner in crime is. That's the wake up stupid part. Sometimes I can't show them how to jump right so they never can fly and I get really sad that I'm stuck up there forever, alone and without them. Another twist is suddenly I start tumbling to the ground at increasing speed. Just before I hit the bottom I bounce back up higher than ever and I start vomiting. Then I start choking on my vomit. Then comes the waking up part because I realize I'm not actually choking but actually have swallowed a feather from my pillow.Weird I know. I've never bothered looking this up because I'm afraid it means I need therapy.

The other dream is less clear because I don't think I play myself in this dream but more like different versions of myself. It changes from small me to adult me. I've had this dream as long as I can remember. I think it is why I've never liked to swim- diving into water especially annoys me and has never seemed fun to me at all. Gym class was my bane in grade school during swim time. I hated it. I could swim but pretended I couldn't just so I didn't have to jump into water that was above my head. Anyway, back to the dream. It always starts out with me in a car seat so I assume I am a small child. I'm in a car seat and it's winter. I'm riding in the car with my parents in the front and we are about to go over this bridge near my Aunt Carol's house. We are going home. The bridge is the sort that makes the whir sound from the car tires hitting it and I'm fairly sure it's metal, the whole thing including the road. Just as we turn to go on the bridge the car goes careening into the river. I'm stuck in the car seat and the car is filling up with water.  My parents have disappeared. My lungs ache and I am about to die from drowning. a few fish swim by... I notice they are happy, just swimming and wonder why I can't just swim away.
Suddenly I realize I have a knife and cut myself free. This wasn't an accident: I'm actually being followed by some evil enemy although it's more like a military and I'm more like an assassin that has information they want. I have to find my parents. They took them. I don't really think about the fact that I was a little kid 10 seconds ago and now I'm an adult again. A long adventure persists wherein I'm on the run. Sometimes I can't run and I keep falling only to look behind me and see a bus about to run me over so I roll to the side in the nick of time. Sometimes I'm hiding behind a wall of sandbags and shooting at them- maybe with a gun but usually with a bow and arrow. So I'm clearly an antiquated spy. Eventually I find my parents and run up to my father to tell him I'm being followed. This part never changes: He shoots me in the back of the head as I turn to look for my mother. Sometimes I say to myself, this has happened before, this is the ___ time he's shot you. My neck gets hot and my head starts to hurt. I run for my mother who is smoking a cigarette and tells me to take a shower because she can't take me to the doctor all filthy and covered in blood. I start to panic because it doesn't make sense. I try to gauge the extent of my injuries so I make the mistake of touching the back of my head and note a gaping hole and clumps of hair. The bullet pops out. It's actually a BB. I am less worried now- at least it wasn't a shot gun shell. I start trying to wash my neck and face and then it happens you are stupid. This is a dream. Wake up. When I wake up my face is usually wet from drool. Yes, gross I know but that's the truth. Blood on my face in a dream is drool in real life. I'm really upset at my father typically, for shooting me. I'm really pissed off at my mother for telling me to shower when I am missing part of my head. Then I'm just happy it's just the damn dream. I wash my face, drink a glass of water and go back to bed. The other possible way it works out is I just sit there after my father shoots me and wait to die. Yeah, dismal I know. But it's strange, he walks away apologizing and I pick up a toad and look at it while waiting to die. I don't do anything but sit there. Eventually I realize this can't be real because I'd be dead already: I've been bleeding like a sieve and it's all over everything. Wake up idiot. You're dreaming again. 
I haven't looked this up either because I'm sure Jung would say it points to parental issues: like we don't all have those.

What I have to wonder is how many people actually have these dreams? You know, re-occurring ones. If I can tell myself to wake up, why can't I change the outcome? I'll take any suggestions as to these answers and would love to hear your stories if you have any... until then, I'm taking a nap and hoping for a trip to a castle with a jester and all...

Image no. 1: from Mr. Preising's Dream Views Blogspot, 2010
Image no. 2: Pauline McGee, 1987

Tackling Sneezing... and Each Other.

So... I know you've all been patiently waiting for me to return to rambling about something more in the political argument segment (yes, that was sarcasm) so I'm going to do it... as cliche as it is, I'm going to talk about health care reform. I can't really begin to cover all the issues tied into this, otherwise you'd be reading a novel- and then you really wouldn't care- so forgive me for some points left out.
I have to say, I can't understand why ANYONE would be against providing adequate health care to every citizen in the country. I don't really care what political position you hold, or what your beliefs are. There's no reason to NOT support promoting life and health.

Now on to the arguments I've seen all over facebook the last few days...

This is a form of socialism/threat to "freedom"  Okay so I'm going to try to not be irate when considering this perspective. First of all, this is far from a socialist state... I have to wonder if anyone that makes this statement even knows what socialism is. Didn't the McCarthy Era end years ago? I mean really people, this is all you have to scream every time anyone makes a step toward social reform?

 In terms of a threat to freedom- remember the Patriot Act? Now that is an extreme threat to freedom in so many ways yet oddly enough, the people against health care reform are the ones that didn't even notice it passed. Nor did they seem to mind that in general, the previous administration, alloted power to the president to ignore congress and the judicial branch entirely (based on the notion of "unitary government" or at least, Bush's interpretation of such) as the president sees fit. This sounds more like a dictatorship (never mind socialism) than anything having to do with health care reform. The government still doesn't control the economy. That's a key part of socialism. In fact, I'd be willing to wager that the corporations control the government. Now that, should scare you all... I know it scares the hell out of me on a daily basis.

This is handing out benefits to the "lazy": I am not lazy. I have worked since I was 14 years old. I have paid medical bills that have exceeded my ability to pay, even having had some sent to collections and later paying them off with whatever extra cash I had. I work very hard but that doesn't mean I can afford, as a single person, to pay $300/month to insure myself.  Not to mention that although I pay in full to see a doctor if I have the flu, or pay in full to go to the dentist, I am generally treated sub par. I once asked a dentist, upon visiting for a cracked tooth, if she thought I would need my wisdom teeth out soon. Her response was," What do you want me to look at, you don't have insurance." I'm educated, I've been to college. I'm paying for that now. I pay rent, I pay for a vehicle, I pay taxes, I pay social security, I pay for my own food, I pay for utilities, I clothe myself... This means that even though I am a productive and contributing member in our nation, I simply don't make enough to meet these costs plus insurance. I don't mind paying taxes toward health care, but I simply cannot afford to spend even 25% of my wages to have insurance. Does that make me lazy? I am still the working class, however low on the spectrum I am compared to the CEOs of banks and Wall St. firms that just stole billions, who ironically, I am expected to help bail out with my menial (a comparative statement) pay while they complain about this bill.  Regardless as to income, we ALL deserve an equal opportunity to see a doctor when ill.

This isn't a game or a competition between classes: it's simply the right thing to do.This isn't a hand out to me. It's a thank you. It actually makes me proud for the fist time in years that our nation actually recognizes it has citizens instead of simply lofty goals for consumption of resources globally.

Now, lets get to the real point here: people think the term "social welfare" means "welfare" in terms of medicaid and food stamps. They think it refers to socialist food stamps (which may be my next band name as of this second.) Social welfare actually refers to the well-being of the social body. In order to have a productive and loyal social body (which is necessary to maintain strength as a nation) a state must ensure that body's well-being. I can say I full-heartedly agree that our current "welfare" system is seriously flawed and I can honestly say I support drug testing and checking in on persons that collect medicaid and food stamps for over a year to see if they've applied for jobs or have attempted to get an education or skill through the various programs offered to help these people get on their feet. I can't tell you the number of times someone has offered to sell me their food stamps with a case of beer in their hand.  Yes, that, is a wild abuse of federal money: unchecked recipients of full-on benefits paid for by you and yours truly. The problem is... the current welfare system hasn't been reformed in YEARS, it isn't up to snuff. Social welfare programs that might aim to reform this are constantly cut from the federal budget in lieu of military spending (or saving the economy...) and those programs would also be targeting education and other programs that might curb this behavior. Those programs also mean a "middle-step" program for the working class that can't afford medical coverage. I mean think about it: I work full time and can't afford medical benefits. If I were collecting food stamps and medical benefits and went to work only to find I can now afford food but no doctor... why would I work? So while I understand the frustration with "welfare" as we know it... That is not what anyone is talking about with health care reform. What health care reform is about is our future. Our social body and our well-being as individuals so we can be as strong a population as possible. (Whether or not the US being a strong state again is something I really have conflicting ideas about for the sake of this aspect of the argument... I support it.) Stop calling me and all the other working class people who can't afford medical coverage lazy: we can all call ourselves lazy and selfish for not having addressed this 20 years ago.
* To clarify: I am not talking about someone temporarily collecting welfare benefits to get on their feet. Nor am I talking about the disabled. I am supportive of a state helping its citizens realize their potential and I am supportive of a nation state taking care of it's less advantaged. Actually, according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (which the US signed), Article 25, a state has the responsibility to provide adequate health care to it's citizens. This means ALL of them. (I urge you all to read that Declaration, you'd be amazed at exactly how many articles the US is violating: Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

This is an economic disaster in the making The free market. Let's consider some of the basics of such, in particular the fact that competitive pricing drives prices down. Now, a public option will in fact force large insurance carriers to offer competitive pricing to it's customers. Is this a bad thing? It may even allow for smaller start ups to begin and therefore produce more jobs. I understand that businesses are afraid of being "forced" to help cover the cost of insuring employees. I just don't understand why to the fullest extent: A healthy employee is a happier and more productive being. More detail in next segment...

Great, wait times will be longer at the doctor Have they ever been short?! I also can't believe the complete selfishness in this commentary. So, you're saying you'd rather see a child die because their parents couldn't afford to take them to the doctor than wait for your annual check up appointment? I understand the issue with the plan perhaps over-booking doctors/nurses/medical personnel. It's my feeling that along with this, the government should be taking some of the money we spend sending our countrypersons overseas to fight in the name of... I'm not sure what... in a completely futile war, should be spent paying for medical personnel educations (jobs for educators) as well as to help ensure they have the proper equipment and tools to complete their jobs (jobs for medical equipment sales._ This means bringing home the troops, ending the wars and focusing on our state, and our citizens instead of worrying about what other states are doing. *Let me insert here that I have NOTHING against our troops so let me explain before you start yelling at me for being "unpatriotic": I believe the wars shouldn't have been fought to begin with. I commend the courage and efforts of our brothers and sisters that help defend our nation. What I don't commend is a government that goes to war senselessly and thinks so little of human rights- including our soldiers': don't forget their treatment upon returning home by good old Uncle Sam. It also means focusing on creation of facilities (jobs in construction.) It also means targeting the scams that pharmaceutical companies have been pulling for years via over-charging and holding onto valuable medicines. I realize this is a lot to ask but doesn't it piss you off at all that antibiotics cost so damn much? What about cancer drugs? I mean we're talking about life and death in many cases all because someone "owns" the rights to a drug and can control the price. This is a huge part of the problem.
Oh and I'd like to see ERs stop charging people $100 for motrin. Bastards.

The problem here is we've made the field of medicine so commercial, at least in terms of pharmaceuticals and medications... it has lost it's roots: helping the ill and saving lives. This is an important part of reform. I really can't think of how ANYONE besides a pharmaceutical corporation could disagree, regardless as to your stance on politics or social welfare in general.   *Let me state here I am not talking about all of the doctors and nurses that bust their arses to help people every day. I'm talking about the cost of their educations, malpractice insurance, and cost of operation- all of which are largely controlled by much more powerful sources/corporations. I am also hyper-aware of the commercialization of education and believe me, I know the cost hurts.

All the screaming of racial slurs and homophobic statements.  I can't say anything about this. The people that do this speak for themselves as uneducated fools. I really think this clinging to one's self never works... I mean maybe it makes you feel like part of the group for a while. In the end, he who stands alone is the first to fall.

In the end, I have to say, I think this was a long time coming. I believe that this country has waited far too long on this issue. I do not think the current bill is perfect. I do not think it will solve everything. I do think it opens to door to more discussion and more reform. I think it's a start on a very long road of the recovery of the America we were taught to believe in as children: the reformist, progressive, adaptable nation. The former colony that rid itself of poor treatment from it's leaders when England refused to take care of it's people. This isn't about right or left. This is about human beings and about the responsibility of a government to it's peoples. It's time to go back to loving each other and supporting our nation. That means all people in our nation. It's important to ensure our childrens future. It's important for unity. After all, we can fight together or we can fight apart but in the end....  fighting with each other instead of addressing the problem(s) really doesn't seem intelligent. It's time we stand together and start rebuilding. Tomorrow isn't far beyond the horizon...
Until next time, I wish you all good health and happy days,
Scrappy

All images once again pilfered from google images. 

Space and Hyperventilating

Although my blog was taken over by the restoration of the restaurant for 6 weeks, it is now returning to it's regularly scheduled program as the restaurant is now up and running! Stop in and get yourself a drink and a meal!! We're all very excited and looking forward to things returning to normal- if you can call the LDC that! Thank you to everyone! 
***Please be advised that this blog will now revert to it's initial state: including massive doses of sarcasm, politics, cursing-  even making up new and interesting curse words- and lastly, general random thoughts that in all likelihood, no one but me cares about. If you were just checking in to check on the LDC, thanks for dropping by but feel free to censor my rambling out in the future... 

I was contemplating a blog on space... why? Space used to make me hyperventilate when I was a kid. No seriously, I'd literally hyperventilate in the car... and now, if I really think about it... it probably still would. 
It all started because my science teacher in 4th grade told us that the sun could have solar flares and that a meteor could hit the Earth at any time.  This insight led to my little kid brain freaking out completely and honestly believing that we would all be dead in the next 24 hours if I didn't do something to stop it. Ironically, prior to this knowledge I really wanted to be an astronaut. I didn't think space was dangerous, I thought it was curious and full of new things to see. And of course I took great pride in memorizing all the planets, trying to learn every constellation out there, and even attempting to learn about the planets' various moons and the length of each "day."  I learned we really don't know anything about space. Except that it's dangerous out there. The sun can give us sunburn AND potentially create an Earth-sized bonfire. Star Trek isn't real, neither Kirk nor Picard could save me from being disconnected from my space shuttle.  Space is still growing and it'd be easy to get lost if I went on a space mission. Suddenly choosing a profession like "fireman" was making a lot more sense to me. Except, I had this nagging feeling that it wasn't safe for anyone here either. 


Around the same time I started actually contemplating song lyrics and became terrified by Bowie's "Ground Control to Major Tom"(otherwise known to the human race as... fair enough, I get it: Space Oddity). That was the icing on the cake. Done. If I went into space I'd probably be forever disconnected from the entire planet and lost. Eventually I'd run out of air and die. Holding my breath wouldn't help- I asked my Dad, who had no clue what I was talking about and inadvertently just told me,"If you were in space in a car, in a space ship, in anything, if you didn't have oxygen you couldn't breathe." He had no idea all of my questions about whether the car was "air tight" or if you could breathe your breath back and forth with someone else forever were spawned from legitimate fears of the end of the planet. Over. No more space fantasies. 


I was also unintentionally and completely unknown to myself meditating occasionally when I was a kid. I only realized much later in life when I started teaching myself to meditate that that is what I was doing. Mainly, I'd do it on the bus or in the car, staring out the window as things passed by. I'd be off in my old world- thinking without doing so- and I'd suddenly have this feeling like I "got it", so I'd be frantically trying to recollect what I was thinking or what it was I "got" and could never fully do it. Then I'd try to get to that point again but of course, you can't when you're forcing it... It made me either really excited or really nervous. Really nervous...Really excited. I wasn't sure which.  I was certain (incorrectly of course) I knew how everything worked- without words or explanation, or even knowing what this "everything" was since I had no idea where my brain had veered- but I absolutely had to figure it out so I could tell someone. Anyone. They could validate it and then I'd know why I was on Earth, what Earth was doing, and maybe then space wouldn't be so scary... 

Close your eyes and consider this: You are floating outside the Earth looking back at it. Could you even do it? I mean yes, you probably envisioned whatever satellite picture you've seen of Earth from space and you're thinking I'm an asshole for asking if you could do it. Okay, now really envision you are NOT on Earth and you are just looking at it. The actual thing. Not a picture. Okay, now slowly consider turning your back on Earth. Nope, can't see it... just endless nothing-something out there. Now you're floating away, you turn back to grab a glance and the Earth looks like a levitating beach ball floating in nothing-something. There is nothing protecting this beach ball from anything. It just is. It's just there. There are billions of people meandering around living in their 'little world', and that whole big mess is floating unprotected and in the most insignificant way possible in a potentially infinite amount of nothing-something. Oh and you're alone while they're doing that. Just you and the nothing-something. What's at the edge of that? No clue. Is there an edge? How could we ever know when all science and math is created based on man's constructed tools of measure? What if one isn't one?! Then everything is wrong: nothing is anything but a representation of something which makes no sense if the representation is less than accurate by even a hair. Unless of course, we're satisfied with "good enough." For the most part, we are.

This is where I'd start hyperventilating as a kid. This is where I still hyperventilate when I'm really focusing on it, and not just because of space but because it brings forth an infinite number of questions regarding existence and reality (hence the blog name.) Luckily right now I'm too busy typing and living in my own little 'world' to be really seriously considering the complete lack of security the Earth in and of itself offers (let alone the effects of the things that exist on Earth) because it's just another insignificant thing floating in nothing-something with all the other insignificant things floating out there- even if we rarely consider that because we're too absorbed in our day to day lives. Which really, in the context of space, don't really exist. I mean they do but only in the sense that a spec of dust behind a chair does. 


The forever horrifying part:  The non-point point....
Frantically searching and analyzing every little thing to find a "point" to it "all". Good luck. You're crazy if you even want to know. My fear as a kid was that I'd realize there wasn't one- I (we) am (are) insignificant- and I am pretty sure it still is... space is endless and infinite. We like to think it's "there" and we're safely "here" but really, we're part of it. More than likely, a completely insignificant part of it and the 'point' is probably not quite as abstract let alone as important as we'd like to think. So all of the things we do to "improve" and "advance" and make Earth "better"... moot. At least from a big picture point of view, and by that I mean REALLY BIG picture. However, if I stick to not thinking about space, I remember there's here and now. After all, it's the day to day meandering that makes our lives our lives, right? Right? I'll settle on that in lieu of hyperventilating for today. 

All images pilfered from google images. None of them belong to me except the feeling the cartoon girl has in her chest as she breathes into that paper bag...

shiny, pretty things... one week to go!

It's been a couple of weeks since last there was a visual update of the restaurant... we've come a long way! The place is looking better than ever! We've had a few minor set backs and frustrations (ie: having the hardwood done twice, and I won't even try to explain the baby changer situation!!) but all in all, we've moved along quickly; it's amazing to have it revert to looking like a restaurant instead of an abandoned building! We're looking forward to nixing our construction roles and getting back to what we do: mixing the drinks and cooking some fabulous foods for your enjoyment!

Nicole built us a lovely new host stand, sans the electric fence requested around the wait list: everyone agreed that was a little harsh on my part!

A view from the bar...

Carol was enjoying herself as Pippy... 

Dylan and I are having weird fantasies about espresso-ed out small children with mechanical limbs over this... notice the new bar top is looking sleek and beautiful!

There are of course, numerous photos that couldn't make the cut... we're saving a few surprises for your viewing consumption while you're enjoying your Rigatoni ala Vodka and Cuban Mojito...

We have quite a few fun things planned for opening week, we're aiming for early in the week, it has not been fully cemented but... cross your fingers and toes!

Monday- Friday: The Lost Hours from 3-6 pm- 1/2 off pints, $1 off glasses of wine and well drinks!

Monday: Wine Lover's: $10 off bottles of wine- all day!

Wednesday: Jazz Jam, 8 pm!

Friday (open until 11pm): First Friday with EL Downey's art and The Grady Girls' music!

Saturday: 1/2 off pints until 5pm for Parade Day, and in the evening The String Band starts at 7pm!

Megan's own rant:

People should keep their dogs on leashes in a city!! Yesterday as I was tossing the ball for Rogue in the backyard (who has a very long but attached lead to play on outside), a dog came running down growling and barking from behind the backyard. As a result, Rogue, who is going blind and more and more often behaves like a cranky old lady, freaked out and started barking and growling and I sliced my hand up fairly well trying to dissipate a dog fight. Then, as it would happen, as we were heading back to the front of the house to come inside another dog came prancing over- this dog was friendly and Rogue typically doesn't mind her but due to being freaked out from the almost attack in the backyard she started attempting to escape again. Put your dogs on leads people! Not only for their safety (ie: getting hit by a car) but for the safety of other dogs and dog owners not to mention cats and squirrels! 

As many of you know, my father had a massive heart attack on Valentine's Day and had to have a stent placed. He's doing super well but I'll admit, he's impossible to get to sit still and rest! This weekend he was hauling wood until my sister yelled at him...He also keeps asking for steak, bacon and butter covered things! To be honest, I think he's joking about the food- he has no aversion to healthy eating... my mother would feed him candy bars and bricks of cheese otherwise so this is a good thing!  I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who contacted me and offered support, help, etc... it was really great of you and very much appreciated!

Happy weekend!

Scrappy!

Floor fumes or Murder Mystery Dinner Theater?!

This week's end saw the kitchen completed for the most part, the re-upholstering of the benches and the  hardwood get a make over... Everything is shaping up very nicely. Unlike the the tile guys, the hardwood guys do not let us walk on the floor- and I didn't even try to break the rules. As they were laying the first coat we observed with awe the beauty of the sanded and treated hardwood... End result: the staff becomes crazy due to fume inhalation... 

The floor look really good- this is one coat in, the finished result will be amazing! 

A shine-y kitchen is made:

Chuck goes crazy on us...

A struggled ensued but in the end, it was made to look like a suicide... Caught on Film! Did anyone watch Cops this week to see if Chuck is on it? I thought they might include him on the episode where the one guy huffs paint and has it (silver) all over his face and torso... 

Fume inhalation?! Guesses welcome!

                                                               

Due to tragic events associated with Carol's downfall, Nicole has lost her mind...

The ladies of the hour and some LDC love...

                                                      

Taking a break from ordering replacement items to pose for a photo op! 

We are all getting really excited at the prospect of picking the reopening date...
To clarify a few around town rumors that have circulated back to us:
1. The LDC is not and will not be sold to someone else! It wouldn't be the LDC then and really, who could do a better job than the current ownership?! Are you thinking? Exactly: no one.
2. We are not reopening solely as a catering space. That's plain absurd! Your favorite quirky restaurant will be back with a few improvements just as it has been since 1994.
3. We are in fact reopening! We didn't let prancing deer ruin our years of work and we are certainly not going to let water!


Megan's Personal Banter...
As I have neglected my occasional banter in lieu of updating everyone on the status of the LDC, I thought I'd share an 'In other news' segment...

1. Did anyone besides me notice that scientologists are reaching out to Haiti? I hear John Travolta flew in his personal jet to offer relief. What are they going to do, use their overpriced mood rings to cure starvation and lack of housing and water?! Aren't the Haitians too poor to be scientologists? I mean what purpose is there? Recruits to scrub the decks of the pending mothership?!

2. Is Sarah Palin really going to make a bid for the presidency in 2012 or is she really just trying to take over Avon? I'm thinking she could redeem herself by taking adult english and history courses and becoming a spokesperson for Phonics.

3. How could a Jonas brother say Bob Dylan "can't sing"?! I didn't even know who these Jonas boys were until a few weeks ago (apparently they are super famous products of Disney?) and I can't believe some pipsqueak pop star would have the gaul to say that. I mean, yeah Dylan has some issues on occasion with the drugs and the staying upright but his voice is legendary. What have the Jonas brothers contributed to music? In fact, I'm wondering if they'll even exist anymore by the time this is posted.

and lastly...
4. Run-in with camouflage pants lady at the Belmar. I am fairly certain she has a crack and/or severe alcohol addiction but she offered these two bits of advice (listen closely):

• NYC is VERY dirty and you need to wash your hands two times per day when you are there. This will help you to not get the flu. 
• If you don't have a shower, tub, tooth brush-or a bathroom at all- it is best to bathe in a seedy bar sink. Utilize: a soapy water pool in the sink to first scrub your body thoroughly and then a wet a paper towel to rub on your teeth for that public restroom sheen....

And that kids, is priceless information. I swear I need a camera to capture the people that take a liking to me so someday I can write a book of all of the interesting outlooks I've come across...

Have a wonderful week!
Scrappy

The Restore-Ant End of Week Tres

Progress!!! We've been making quite a bit of progress; this week's end saw some visible results!!! Yes, Like the sort you get when you actually mop the floor at home (ie: I'm a firm believer in the hands and knees sort as opposed to a mop in general) or... at closing time as opposed to utilizing the 'one hand swash buckle' you're scrubbing at it with both (I'm thinking of Silvia's "How to Mop" Lectures here.)

Things are coming together nicely! You wouldn't believe the lists our happy crew blows through on a daily basis... Everyone has been doing a really great job at keeping their spirits up and getting the job done!

Here a few snippets of going from flood zone to food zone:

We also have a few really great surprises in store...

What could they be?! Guesses are welcome...

I also have to say the guy(s) laying new tile have the patience of anyone willing to talk to me after 2 bottles of Bordeaux. I've probably never felt so in the way of someone doing something yet, so much like I wasn't exactly offending them. STAY OFF THE GREY SPOTS!!!

I'm starting to get antsy about putting it all back together! I can barely wait! If you know me, you know I am really a closet-neat freak (maybe borderline OCD- some of you will be happy to know I can sometimes make it 3 days without changing my sheets now...) and I am Sooo excited for how pristine and detailed the clean up and replacement is. Employees beware: the new sidework sheets are coming!

Thanks again for checking in on the blog and on us! Thank you to everyone out there who has been kind enough to bring us lunch! It's been incredibly helpful especially since leaving covered in paint or wood stain is no fun and we are starving by lunch every day. Thank you!!!

Until next time...

Scrappy is signing off.

p.s. I don't know what happened with the formatting in this blog. Blogger is a bit sluggish on the formatting end...

The Naked Restaurant with Many Lists

Here's a wee update on the restaurant with shoddy cell phone camera photos. The heat being blown into the restaurant is helping get everything dry... and keeping the restaurant warm because it would freeze to death otherwise: it's been stripping itself down faster than a 17 year old girl playing strip poker!

The Naked Walkway. The walls are getting their hair, okay, paint, done currently with massive blow dryer heat and fans to get that oh-so-wind-blown-look:

The Naked Bar. I think it's really sad without it's Grey Goose... but even more sad without the Knob Creek! The bar floor area has been drying really nicely. We finished getting everything out of the bar today... getting closer to having the surface and countertops repaired! The Earth mural has dried well! Including the Little Owners around the globe! We were all really worried about this and are happy that it has turned out so well.

Bar patrons may be familiar with a naked friend of ours at the bar: Hector! He survived the flood and is helping us out in the office:

The Naked Office. We've been working in our makeshift office, making lists, checking them twice and in some cases re-checking them twice and re-writing them 10 times per day. This (right) is my desk area at the moment which looks strikingly similar to my desk typically, although I generally keep the giant pile on my left! This giant pile is my current to-do list... well, actually it's a bunch of to-do lists that need to be combined...As you can see, we've all made ourselves at home... well... relatively speaking anyway! Ah and yes, there are phones again so we're taking calls from the outside world. Note below, the actual office is naked... All the way at the end by the window is where I normally sit. It feels huge in there right now compared to how it usually is!

I have more photos but the truth is, they didn't come out well enough to show anything. In terms of when you'll be able to get your rigatoni ala vodka fix taken care of, or join us for The Lost Hours (happy hour), our estimate was 4-6 weeks on Monday.

The time change thing is working out well for me- to some degree. I get this surge of energy at 9 pm which is funny considering I am up quite early. I've also done more work than anyone has ever done at any gym in a month in the last few days! This is partially because I think gyms are dirty and partially because well... treadmills? Really?! Running in place is so unsatisfying! Although it's not quite as strange as those things people sit on and pedal while reading magazines: that is not exercise! In any event, by the end of this I'm up for arm wrestling challenges for money again... any takers?!

Until the next time I ramble...

Jeunet's City of Lost Children @ the LDC?

You'll soon know what I mean if you don't already:

(pilfered from google)
Now gaze yonder below!
So... the clean up process is continuing. The good news is it looks like science fiction which seems to be working some what well with the incredible shock we all feel as we try to decide what to do next. The floor is not alive... even if you don't believe me. No, those are not tubes feeding the fake kids I made up in the basement. They are pretty successful little tubes for cleaning up water.I have to say I'm really grateful to work for such wonderful people. Although everyone is a bit overwhelmed thinking of things that need to be done and compiling excessive lists of what to do when, everyone is in a pretty good mood and is working together to laugh whenever possible. I have to hand it to them, I'd either be crying or poking someone's eye out right now if this were my restaurant. I really, really love these people! They are truly wonderful human beings and I am so very grateful to know them. I have been here for years and I have to admit I get a little teary eyed myself when I think of how destructive water can be. No lemons with this but if you're feeling nostalgic you can pretend the giant yellow tubes are lemon rinds floating above what was a huge indoor pool last Thursday! It works out well because the clear tubes look like straws...
I'm still getting a lot of humorous messages and calls regarding the children I don't have. I keep wondering if the press has corrected that error but I have enough to do and no, I haven't called them. I also never read the local paper because it doesn't carry the NY Times crossword and there are too many supermarket ads.

Thanks again for all of the calls and concern everyone has expressed. We've been working on getting our calls forwarded (the lines are down) so... soon, you should be able to reach us at our normal number. Also, forgive us if we can't get back to you right away- there have been a lot of calls and there are many we are making regularly. As I am sure you can imagine, we've been really busting our bums to talk to everyone and actively respond but also have our hands tied with many other things. We look forward to reopening and celebrating with the community. Thanks so much!

One last thing is the total time change for me. I'm used to working at 4pm and therefore waking up any time between 10am and 1pm so this day thing is really... interesting. I did get up early for class but it has been a month since that was necessary and aside from that, this last semester didn't require me to be there before 10:50 so... I think I'm slowly going to turn into a morning person! Just kidding... I love the night.

Take Care!

Scrappy

when it rains it pours... and a bucket don't do sh%$

So... I hereby recant anything I have said about food prostitution and wanting a day off because it looks like I'll be having several days to weeks off... That's right folks... the restaurant has been flooded.

This picture is was taken as the water started to slow in flow. If you look at the upper right you can see some of it still falling down. They had tried to catch the water in 60 gallon garbage cans which filled up in minutes...

Shall I tell the story? Too bad, I'm going to anyway. At approximately 1 o'clock yesterday I arrived at my place of employment, the Lost Dog Cafe to say hello as I was heading next door to the Hair Company to have this mop of a lion's mane soothed. I was in mid-snippage when one of the other managers came rushing over to ask me for a key to a room on the fourth floor of the building as there was a water leak and they thought it was coming from the top floor all the way down... I explained that I didn't have the key but there was a spare in a key box we have in our office. A few minutes later in rushes, Ms. McKenna, one of the owners yelling, "Megan, Megan you have to see this, it's insane, it's raining in the restaurant, there's so much water!" Thinking that there was a leak I shrugged and thought, 'why don't they just get a bucket?' Then a patron came through the Hair Salon and said it was absolutely insane in there and that water was just gushing all over. Then the fire department ordered the building evacuated. Mind you, my hair was still being cut and still needs some work but was nicely evened out and yes, looks awesome! I walk over and stood there in utter disbelief. There was water falling from the ceiling the length of the place (and it is not small...) It looked as if Katrina was happening again but only inside this building. The wrath of god poured down... take that how you will. Some helpful interpretations: the building is crying because X (employee) is moving, the building was angry, like a cranky old lady with a runny nose, or as a cook stated to facebook: the building was pissing on us... the real reason: the landlord does not heat the empty 4th floor and a water main/part of the sprinkler system exploded.

Right now it is difficult to assess total damages- everything is not dry yet. Today management met and we tried to start compiling lists of things that are wrong and may need to be replaced, and start organizing what to do when, who to call... It's all very overwhelming. Most of the refrigeration units/freezers, compressors for all the coolers, computer systems, printers, bar equipment, etc... It's early to say for certain but the hardwood floors look like they are starting to buckle in spots (which may settle by next week once all the water is out, which is good news), the leopard print wall is peeling ever so slightly, the white tile walk ways are buckling, the new counters behind the bar are bubbling... the Earth mural the LDC has had in every restaurant since it's inception in 1994 is looking a little rough... The restaurant had 4+ inches of water covering the floor, there was water flowing down the 4 flights of stairs like a waterfall, water was pouring out of windows on the higher floors, and the basement had over a foot of water in some spots. Having worked for the LDC since 1996, it was sad and painful to see the labor of love that is most of our second homes sink like Atlantis.

The community has been very kind. People have called offering a hand from a number of places including customers, friends of the LDC, bands, distributors. Thank you! The Kilmer Brasserie brought us over lunch today which was both delicious and very helpful. I'm very grateful to live in a place where the community can pull together in times of need and we are all very ecstatic to have the support. The plus side to this whole debacle was seeing staff members that weren't even working come down to offer a hand and try to salvage anything we could, it really reminds you how much we are all part of something and how important the place is not just in terms of being part of the community and a local business as opposed to a chain but also how everyone there really treats the establishment like home and when the family needs help we get it out there. We have a great staff. In terms of reopening-- we don't know as I said, how long it will be. I can say we've had estimates from 10 days to over a month. We are a small local restaurant but we do employ 40 people... Right now everything is a blur as everyone is slightly nervous and anxious to figure out what we can do to get us up and running again. I'll keep you posted.

Ah and a little humor: The Press and Sun Bulletin- the world's easiest to read newspaper- reported that I stated I had 2 children, ages 10 and 17. They meant to have quoted a co-worker who actually has children. I do not have children! I am 27- a 17 year old kid?! A lot of people have gotten a kick out of this and even congratulated me and said,"Wow we never knew you had kids!" That's because I don't!!! To read the article and humor yourself while trying to imagine me with kids, click this link: http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20100114/NEWS01/1140400/Broken+water+pipe+closes+Binghamton+restaurant

I'll keep you updated... until then... this is Scrappy Signing off.

annoying things in email and a top hat

I hate it when I open my email and see something titled "Job Offer" and it is some probably non-existent company, trying to get me to take surveys and participate in focus groups. FOCUS?! I can't even focus on my life for more than 25 minutes let alone a product... I doubt I'd be trying any products I'd deem worth evaluating... I wonder how many little kids in China that make that shit get to participate in surveys and focus groups about these products? I think they should get the job offers first seeing as how you can make up to $550/week (supposedly), then maybe they wouldn't have to work in factories.

Another annoying thing is of course the general spam. I don't know what I have done to receive so many ads for viagra. I assure you dear scammers, I do not need viagra.

I have also apparently won the UK lottery about 200 times (no joke) and have several unknown relatives from Hong Kong and Cape Town that have kicked it and left me fortunes. Uhm? I am not saying it's impossible that I have relatives in these places but I am fairly certain it is not so... Not only that but why the hell would they leave me any money? What I feel bad about is people that actually respond to that crap and get their credit card or social security numbers stolen and utilized. I know this happens only because someone I know (and no, I wasn't friends with this person) actually did this and received a check which was of course, fake... This is America people, money never just gets handed to you! I can't believe people actually fall for that nonsense.

I was telling a friend yesterday that I am interested in re-vamping my style by constantly donning a top hat. Her response was that then people would expect me to talk fancy all the time because I'd look fancy. I tried to argue at first that I did in fact "say fancy shit all the time." Cursing is apparently not fancy. Then I tried to argue that I could defy convention and curse like a truck driver while wearing a top hat. To which she stated, "abort" but mainly because if I should have to start talking fancy she might and she doesn't want to. I'm still considering the top hat though... fancy talk or not. I mean I think she just likes to use the word "abort" because I once asked her and my fellow charming co-workers to write down one sentence each re: a really hectic night at work. Since for whatever reason, there were a lot of children that particular day, many of which were also poorly behaved and ended up sitting in her section (which then looked like hippie jamboree), she wrote,"ABORTION!!!"

Stolen From Google:

Note I am not naming her because well, she's since "moved up" in the world (read: she has to get up 'stupid- early' BOO!) as many slingers o' food and charm do... after having precisely that thought about 5 million times, and not always re: children.

Yeah and I've lost you...

It's a New Year!(?) (But I keep writing the date wrong.)

Lately i've been less than compelled to do much of anything. I'm not depressed or in a sullen state of sorts if that's what you're wondering- I don't get the winter blues. I LIKE THE WINTER!!! I think I had school-is-over crash and as a result, have been compelled to rebel against anything that says I have to do anything. Another dilemma being I've (some what) reverted to being 14 and thinking being a rock star was a better career choice after all. I can't even try to talk myself out of that one, because spending days anti-social and holed up with my piano and guitar (and Rogue) are satisfying even if I spend 8 hours perfecting one particular part of a song and don't really accomplish much at all. Hey, it's cheaper than seeing a movie.

I've also been doing the quitting smoking thing which is trying at times. Some days I don't smoke at all, others I have one or two. Much better than the 30 or so I was convinced I had to have to be alive two weeks ago. Oh and since I never followed up: I don't really drink much at all these days. I am not certain I made it 30 days without a drop of wine but I think I did a pretty good job of training myself to not drink a magnum at a time. I still like a nice bottle of bordeaux with a meal... and I do mean a bottle.

I've had a few ideas lately for artistic projects and have been slowly working on fulfilling those. It's been a long time since I've had the time or tenacity to focus on detail and it is reassuring in a good way to cut, paste, glue, scribble, color, sketch, mold, manipulate and wire some resemblance of life together in a quaint (read: strange) creation of sorts. It's liberating. It makes me wonder why we bother living any sort of fast paced life where we don't have time to focus on just... thinking? I have to be careful with such things because I have a tendency to over-indulge in the fantasy realm (see above aspirations to be a rock star as opposed to going to grad school.) It's almost like I get a twinge of freedom and have to avoid any responsibility for that time period. Maybe my 7th grade therapist was right and I am actually a tea pot that takes quite a bit of time and then boils over with unstoppable force...

Created By Eugenie and I- A diorama of what we imagine our friend's "dungeon" looks like... We are calling it RackPack since 3 bras were utilized in the making of this very functional diorama/backpack.

overview: the whole thing as we were working on it. note you can hang it or put it on your back very similarly to how you would wear this bra/corset combo in real life...

from a distance, as it was coming along

up close of final scene/imagery... it was interactive as you could twist the computer and whipping wire man from the top! very Sassy...

I'll try to get some of the photos of us trying it on as a backpack and then you'll see the utility. It's the perfect gift for a teenage boy, a porn lovin' girl or I don't know that weird kid in biology class... includes sex toy, alcohol, computers and a fine lace interior: priceless.

Music that I've been listening to all the time of late:

- Uncle Earl's She Waits for Night. It's my bluegrass love shining through. I love anyone willing to use a fiddle or mandolin to belt out their existence. I also love anyone with riverdance sounding toe tapping in the background. I've been seriously contemplating taking up the fiddle to show some respect for my Irish roots. I also secretly like torturing my neighbors by learning a new instrument every few months. By learning I mean I play by ear and screw up a lot and play the same riff over and over and over until even I am annoyed with me. At any rate, I like some of the old-time sounding bluegrass on this album a lot. I've always been a pretty huge fan of folk music- again, the old kind and old style saloon music because my Great Grandfather liked that stuff. Comforting to a degree maybe...

-The White Stripes' Get Behind Me Satan. I have loved this album from day one but it has come back to me lately. I don't know if it's my need to hear what I consider old school electric guitar or my sheer state of rebellion... Great album, Rita Hayworth included.

-Anything Amanda Palmer. Maybe this goes with the bra diorama? I've loved the Dresden Dolls for years but have suddenly had a reoccurring need to hear them and her solo work all the time. There's something comforting about someone willing to talk about life in an ordinary way. Okay so 'ordinary' by my terms may not go over well with everyone else's lunch-- a bit sarcastic, cynical, humorous, honest, trashy yet classy and completely topsy turvy all at once- or on a fluctuating basis... Oh and the cabaret shows... I mean who couldn't love AFP? I am making it a goal to see her live this year. Buy the albums kids, any of them from the self titled first one from the Dresden Dolls to Yes, Virginia and No, Virginia to her solo record, Who Killed Amanda Palmer?... and buy them from her/the dresden dolls directly because there's some sort of record company war (what a surprise): http://www.amandapalmer.net/afp/

- Carla Bruni's "Il Vecchio e il Bambino" on Comme si de rien. That's a beautiful song (I have no idea what it means really, I don't speak Italian and just enjoy singing along to the song.) From what I've read, a very famous Italian folk song from what we'd call in America, the Dust Bowl-type-era. I just made that up but I imagine the dust bowl and this song would have had tea.

That's all for now.

Happy New Year!

xo

Rubik's cubes and Spelling Bees

At the moment I'm giving up on the agonizing task of keeping up on every tiny detail of every political event on a global scale. That's right folks, I've tired of it, however temporarily, and am about to write a "normal person" blog.

Several distracting life elements have graced me of late. Some of which are positive, some of which negative (but with a positive end result?) and some in general "just there".

A.) I am embarking on a 30 day alcohol free (wine included) spree. This is something I had already planned on but solidified after a long weekend of ridiculousness culminating in my firm stance following through beginning this last Saturday. Why?

1. I woke up Saturday believing that my life was over- even if I couldn't remember why or even think of what exactly happened to make me believe that, well... that's just the point could I not remember or was that just another irrational thought popping into my paranoid late 20s what-the-hell-am-I-really-doing-head? Either way, I don't need to even wonder.
   
2. I have several times over internet diagnosed myself (again, irrationally and stupidly) as an alcoholic based on the notion that instead of increasingly building a tolerance eventually alcoholics have none at all: nevermind that I have drank increasingly less for about a year now steadily and honestly decreasing a tolerance save one or few random days where I can drink like superhero. Further, I also took the MAST (Michigan Alcohol Screening Test) and scored a 6 which indicates issues (but is NOT a diagnosis!!)
   
3. My mother is an alcoholic and a drug addict and honestly, I feel it necessary to test my will power being that I am addicted to things like cigarettes, the news, futile relationships and yes, maybe all foods made from dairy. I figure I should start while I am ahead and still have doubts as to whether or not I actually have an actual issue.
   
4. I think I am developing anxiety issues and am certain that hangovers do not help. Note number one. Further, hangovers get worse as one ages and there is nothing worse than spending an entire day sick because you are an idiot.
   

And so it goes. 30 Days of sobriety. Today is day 3 and I honestly don't miss it much (although, it wasn't as if I drank every day before) which is some what reassuring considering what all of the literature says about withdrawal and what not.

B.) Lately I've honestly forgotten how to spell. I know this is something that sounds like it is not a big deal in the age of spell check but it really irritates me! It's not every word but rather, random ones. I'll sit and keep retrying to type it only to have that sad and discouraging underlined misspelled word indication keep reappearing until I have to google the word and figure it out. At that point I am usually surprised that I didn't remember it and annoyed that I was a first rate speller once but appear to be losing that skill. Is my head just becoming too full of made-up words from anthropologists and other social theorists? The annoying component of that is that it is useless in everyday communication unless I want to sound like one of those people that utilizes big words just to sound smart.

C.) I don't own a tv but am addicted to the following programming: 30 Rock, Californication, Bones, V, Weeds and on occasion Nip/Tuck. Only two of those am I addicted to without shame. Also, television programming is very distracting to getting work done. It is really nice to vegetate and watch someone else misstep but I must waste hours per week hunting down these shows online and watching them instead of actually being productive. The plus side is I am more "normal" and instead of just watching news shows, I actually have at least a small amount of information to contribute to casual conversation. The negative: I used to not watch any tv... for years and it wasn't as if I was completely horrible then either.

D.) I have been teaching myself the piano on a regular basis of late. Finally! This is a good thing. I am also teaching myself the mandolin. It is really nice to return to doing something I really love to do even if it means I spend less time researching Illegal Immigration in Italy and Human Rights Violations in Ecuador. Some how it seems much better than say... tv.

E.) I recently solved my Rubik's cube although I am going to admit, I don't know how and I could probably not do it again if I tried!


That concludes this blog of nonsensical things! And it felt okay to not be writing about abstract ideas and social critiques for once! Updates later on the 30 day thing...