Grand Central Station, New York

"Grand Central Station also known as Grand Central Terminal is at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is the largest train station in the world by number of platforms. They are on two levels, both below ground, with 41 tracks on the upper level and 26 on the lower, though the total number of tracks along platforms and in rail yards exceeds 100. When the Long Island Rail Road's new station, below the existing levels, opens (see East Side Access), Grand Central will offer a total of 75 tracks and 48 platforms. The terminal covers an area of 48 acres.

The terminal serves commuters traveling on the Metro-North Railroad to Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties in New York State, and Fairfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut.

Although the terminal has been properly called "Grand Central Terminal" since 1913, many people continue to refer to it as "Grand Central Station". "Grand Central Station" is the name of the nearby post office, as well as the name of a previous rail station on the site, and is also used to refer to a New York City subway station at the same location." Wikipedia

Grand Central Station has been featured in many movies and tv shows over the years. Its high ceilings make the space larger.

The pictures on this page are complements of sister P. She took some good ones.

An Incredible Photo; Kolmanskop, Namibia taken by Chris Gray

This photograph was made in Kolmanskop, Namibia. Kolmanskop is an abandoned diamond mine near the coast. The ghost town has several residences and barrack-type accommodations, as well as the remains of a few commercial establishments. Today the town is a photographer's dream come true. One cannot spend enough time taking in all the photographic opportunities. For this photograph I had to crawl through a small opening in a window and have my friend pass my camera gear to me.

—Caption and Photo by Chris Gray

This is taken from National Geographic's photo of the day of February 19, 2009. It looks like it could be a painting. Take a look at National Geographic's site for more photos of the day. They are all beautiful and amazing.

More Bathrooms in New York

One of the best restaurant bathrooms we saw in New York city was at Bouley's restaurant. The bathroom was large and impressive.

Ok, so what's the big deal you might ask. Well, I guess we'd expected that visiting a metropolitan city like New York would mean the bathrooms would be just as nice or even better than in a small city such as the one I live in.

However, most restaurant and theatre washrooms we visited had only one stall, or sometimes only a unisex washroom for a whole restaurant of people, when we are used to multi-stall washrooms. Often they weren't very clean, sometimes they needed soap, toilet paper, or paper towel.

Well, there we were at Bouley's on a Sunday night. We were already amazed by the decor, which I have written about in an earlier post. Inevitably when you are enjoying an amazing feast at Bouley's you are going to need to use the "ladies' room." I seem to always be the first to need a visit when I am with my family. Ever since we'd been to DaMarino's I'd always leave saying I'd let them know if the bathroom was camera worthy.

When I came back, there were some looks of anticipation...and I laughed. "YEP," I said, "camera worthy." Then there was the process of getting a photo. It's a pretty classy restaurant. We didn't feel comfortable just walking in and taking a picture, especially if people were in there. It had to be done at just the right time. One time my middle sister, P, went to take photos and Phylicia Rashad came in right after her. Needless to say, she didn't want to take a picture then.

However, we were there long enough that our persistance paid off. The pictures don't do it justice. But, it is clean, it is welcoming, it may not belong in a home, but it is a nice restaurant washroom that is comfortable, unique, lavish, and large. One more space at Bouley's that was given the Bouley care and attention.

Appreciation

So many times we forget to thank people for the things they have done. Sometimes we thank them, but we don't say what for. That may sound silly, but it helps to be specific. What are we thankful for? How did their actions impact us? Can we be specific?

We know that when children are always told thank you and that they are special, but are never told why, the words lose their meaning.

On the other hand, if we say thank you in an appropriate way, immediately and are specific about what the impact it, it makes a great deal of difference. "Thank you, for remembering to unload the dishwasher without being asked. When I got home, and found it already done, it was such a nice surprise and I could start making supper."

It carries over to the workplace and to our relationships as adults. We have to remember to appreciate what people do for us and with us, too. "Thank you for checking the numbers on that data when you did the report. I didn't expect you to do that, but because you did I was able to answer some other questions at the meeting that I hadn't anticipated." Explaining the specifics and impact of those things that people have done, whether their action has been large or small, makes all the difference.

Simple Truths has a video that goes with their book The Simple Truths of Appreciation it's just one example of how we can make a really big difference. It's a nice video.

The Flat Iron District, New York

It may not be New York's tallest building, but it is distinctive. It is also at the centre of many other great places to view. New York's Flat Iron building is an interesting landmark that takes its name from its shape; an antique flat iron.

The "Flatiron District" has been known by that name since the mid 1980s. It had been previously known as the "Photo District," due to the large number of photographer's studios. Another part of the area was referred to as the "Toy District," for the large number of toy manufacturers and the American International Toy Fair that takes place there annually.

In the mid 80s when the area became more residential, real estate agents renamed it to give it more appeal.

I like the information I also found about it in the Global Architecture Encyclopedia. This information complements what we saw and heard in our tours.

"Not well known among those not from the area, or not into historic architecture, the Flatiron Building is a favorite of New Yorkers and admirers around the world. Perhaps because it symbolizes so much of how New Yorkers see themselves -- Defiant, bold, sophisticated, and interesting. With just enough embedded grime and soot to highlight its details. The Flatiron's most interesting feature is its shape -- a slender hull plowing up the streets of commerce as the bow off a great ocean liner plows through the waves of its domain. The apex of the building is just six feet wide, and expands into a limestone wedge adorned with Gothic and Renaissance details of Greek faces and terra cotta flowers.

The building has two claims to fame -- one architectural, the other cultural. Some consider the Flatiron Building to be New York City's first skyscraper. It certainly was one of the first buildings in the city to employ a steel frame to hold up its 285-foot tall facade, but not the first. Some felt its shape (like a flatiron) was less artistic and more dangerous. They thought it would fall over, and during construction the Flatiron Building was nicknamed "Burnham's Folly."

The building's cultural legacy is a little more interesting and has passed into the local social consciousness as a fable. It is said that the building created unusual eddies in the wind which would cause women's skirts to fly around as they walked on 23rd street. This attracted throngs of young men who gathered to view the barelegged spectacle. Police would try to disperse these knots of heavy-breathers by calling to them, "23 Skidoo." This phrase has passed out of common usage, but its descendant, the word "scram" remains in a back corner of the American lexicon." Glass Steel and Stone; Global Architecture Encyclopedia

Asparagus

Here's a healthy way to cook asparagus.

1 bunch asparagus
1/2  - 1 tsp olive oil
2 pinches coarse sea salt (sometimes referred to as rock salt)
1 - 3 cloves garlic finely sliced

Take a nice firm bunch of asparagus.
Break or cut off the woody bottoms.
Wash and pat dry.
Toss in 1/2 - 1 tsp of olive oil.
Spread on a cookie sheet, or if it is barbeque season, put it on a sheet you can put on the grill
Spread the sliced garlic over the asparagus
Sprinkle on the coarse salt (don't overdo it)

Bake in oven at 350 F for about 10 - 15 minutes until tender, but not overcooked.

This particular recipe is great for someone looking for a great high alkaline recipe. It is also great if you're counting weight watcher points! And it is YUMMY. We've also cooked our sweet potatoes this way, sliced very thinly, which by the way, are also low alkaline and yummy.

Feeling Grumpy is Good for You....Who Knew???

I was recently sent an article from BBC News; the headline: "Feeling Grumpy is Good for You." The general idea of the article is that when we are in a grumpy mood we may actually think more clearly. Professor Joe Forgas, an Australian Psychology expert has done much research in this area.

Quoted in the article, Professor Forgas said: "Whereas positive mood seems to promote creativity, flexibility, co-operation and reliance on mental shortcuts, negative moods trigger more attentive, careful thinking, paying greater attention to the external world."

The article goes on to say that grumpiness can even help you to communicate better, make you less gullible and help you make better decisions.

I wonder if I could manage to benefit from those things? If I'm grumpy I think I'm more cynical, so that outweighs the gullibility. However, I don't know that I'm a better communicator. I'll have to think about that. 

It's an interesting premise in this world where we are constantly striving for positive thinking and attitudes.