Project 365

2007-11-14T22:12:00.001-05:00

I was on my way home today, and who did I see on the subway but Dr. Zizmor! Dr. Zizmor is New York's most famous dermatologist.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

2007-11-14T22:06:00.000-05:00

I sent my kindergarteners on an "alphabet scavenger hunt" to find a letter somewhere in their classroom.

2007-11-12T20:57:00.001-05:00

The place where I get my shoes repaired (because it seems so much less taxing than buying new shoes) is, like, straight out of 1957. The guy always has to climb up on a stool to rifle through plastic bags of unclaimed shoes.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

2007-11-12T09:08:00.001-05:00

Here's what happens when you wait until 11:45 to take your Picture of the Day. Yowch.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

2007-11-12T09:04:00.000-05:00

If you look closely at this picture of Marissa chowing down on Magnolia's peppermint icebox cake, you may actually be able to hear her jaw cracking.

Friday, November 9, 2007

2007-11-12T09:02:00.002-05:00

OOOPS!

Thursday, November 8, 2007

2007-11-12T09:02:00.001-05:00

Ooops.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

2007-11-08T18:18:00.001-05:00

I gave my kindergarteners foam stickers (thanks to Phil) and asked them to "label" them (typically they try to label their picture stories by writing the first sound they hear). Most of them did a good job!

2007-11-06T20:49:00.001-05:00

OK, slight disappointment today: It was my first Election Day ever in a real voting booth, and I was uber excited (because I am a nerd). But I thought it would be awkward to take photos of the voting booth with a real camera, so I used my cell phone camera instead. But for some reason, only the first (and definitely least attractive) photo came out. Oh well -- it was still a thrilling experience, made even more so by the abundance of elderly Jewish female volunteers with lipstick on their teeth!

Monday, November 5, 2007

2007-11-06T20:47:00.001-05:00

The leaves are finally starting to change!

Sunday, November 4, 2007

2007-11-06T20:45:00.001-05:00

Here's where I was standing for six hours or so during the New York City Marathon. The streets were empty when I took this picture, but they soon filled up with world-class runners like Paula Radcliffe, Catherine Ndereba and Tegla Loroupe just inches from me! Thrilling bonus: Lance Armstrong! If you look closely at the TV broadcast of the marathon, you can see Phil and me cheering the women on.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

2007-11-06T20:43:00.001-05:00

My baby cousin Tyler is already popular with the ladies. Here he is blowing a kiss goodbye to a girl at another table while his daddy looks on.

Friday, November 2, 2007

2007-11-03T08:22:00.001-04:00

I bought new monkey slippers at Target. They improved my life 1000%.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

2007-11-03T08:20:00.001-04:00

I don't like ravioli...but apparently I like pumpkin ravioli! Especially when it's cooked for me by Julia and Marissa.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

2007-11-03T08:19:00.001-04:00

Halloween on Austin Street.

Tuesday, October 20, 2007

2007-11-03T08:15:00.000-04:00

Prudence, Mr. Bear and Griffin Magnolia are happy in their new home.

2007-10-29T17:28:00.002-04:00

The best thing about Mondays is that I get out of school at 2:20, which means I always have time for a lovely autumn afternoon jog past Halloween displays like this one in Forest Hills Gardens.

2007-10-28T10:24:00.000-04:00

A runner boogies down to the tune of Springsteen's "She's the One" (as performed by some Poland Spring band) after the Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff 5-mile race in Central Park. The race started on 67th, and Phil and I couldn't find a parking space until Amsterdam and 80th, so we had to sprint to the starting line and we just barely made it!

2007-10-27T18:22:00.001-04:00

Forest Hills now has a Trader Joe's (!), which features this mural of the Whitestone Bridge. Queens represent!

Friday, October 26, 2007

2007-10-27T18:21:00.001-04:00

After Hannah played her first-ever game of pinball, she and Phil decided to hunt some moose. Just don't shoot a cow!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

2007-10-27T18:17:00.001-04:00

I only drink tea when I'm sick...sigh.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

2007-10-27T18:16:00.000-04:00

Aaargh! It's those darn kindergarteners that make me miss my picture of the day every freaking Wednesday.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

2007-10-27T18:15:00.001-04:00

A surefire way to cheer myself up: artificially orange food.

Monday, October 22, 2007

2007-10-27T18:14:00.001-04:00

Watching Heroes save the world leaves Phil exhausted.

2007-10-21T17:10:00.001-04:00

Um, could this Halloween display get any cooler? Yes, it could: The inflatable ghost slowly disappears back into the pumpkin and pops out again!

Saturday, October 19, 2007

2007-10-21T17:07:00.002-04:00

Listening to classical music, I am deeply immersed in the New York Times Book Review of Alice Sebold's new novel (apparently it's terrible).

Friday, October 19, 2007

2007-10-21T17:07:00.001-04:00

:::hangs head in shame::: On Friday I just plain forgot. Aargh!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

2007-10-21T17:06:00.001-04:00

Another sign that randomly cracks me up: "Ridgewood Furniture -- God Bless America." As you can see, the neighborhood where I work is pretty patriotic.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

2007-10-21T17:05:00.000-04:00

OK, yeah, there is no photo for Wednesday, as I was too busy being deathly ill...again.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

2007-10-21T17:03:00.000-04:00

I pass this on my bus ride home, and it's always cracked me up for some reason that it's called "Community Beer." I tried to frame the shot to include the "Community Beer Salutes America's Heroes" (you can see the police department shield and the beginning of the American flag on the right), but it's difficult to do from a moving bus.

Monday, October 15, 2007

2007-10-21T17:02:00.001-04:00

Every pictureblog needs a classic "old dude on a porch" shot.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

2007-10-21T16:59:00.000-04:00

Pretty flowers outside the organic grocery store where I do my food shopping.

2007-10-13T17:13:00.001-04:00

I think this is one of my fave photos ever on Project 365, and I took it with my cell phone. I was at the Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City on a break between my teaching certification exams.

Friday, October 12, 2007

2007-10-13T17:11:00.000-04:00

It was the first day where temperatures actually felt like fall! I took this picture of the Irish Cottage, a restaurant/bar down the block, to celebrate.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

2007-10-13T16:51:00.000-04:00

After I trudged home in a torrential downpour, I made hot chocolate and lit this candle to relax.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

2007-10-11T20:19:00.001-04:00

There is no picture for Wednesday. I was so tired after teaching kindergarten all day that I was in bed by 9:15 pm. As I drifted off to sleep, I fleetingly remembered that I hadn't taken a picture. But unlike last week, I was too tired to get up and do it. Sigh.

2007-10-09T20:25:00.001-04:00

Attempting to get creative for my first and second grade classes.

Monday, October 8, 2007

2007-10-09T20:22:00.000-04:00

In honor of the taxi's 100th anniversary this fall, lots of cabs in the city have flowers like this, designed by local schoolchildren, painted onto them. I think they're pretty!

2007-10-07T18:45:00.001-04:00

Mom and Dad test out the dining chairs at IKEA.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

2007-10-07T09:01:00.000-04:00

Gay boys in Chelsea. Evening at Rocking Horse = better than Prozac.

Friday, October 5, 2007

2007-10-07T08:57:00.001-04:00

I contemplated visiting this "PSYCHIC MASTER TAROT READER ADVISOR" on my lunch break from work...because heaven knows I could use some guidance.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

2007-10-07T08:55:00.000-04:00

I got back up out of bed to take this photo of Where the Stuffed Animals on Rachel's Bed Sleep When It's Bedtime for Rachel. That's how re-committed I am to Project 365!

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

2007-10-07T08:52:00.000-04:00

Nightstand essentials, clockwise from the lamp: bite guard to stop me from grinding my teeth in my sleep; alarm clock; glasses; Disney Princess chapstick; earplugs (no longer necessary now that I am adjusted to the white noise of my air conditioner); picture of Daddy and baby Rachel walking on the beach; picture of Mommy and baby Rachel eating chocolate ice cream; random stuffed Brandeis lion.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

2007-10-07T08:51:00.001-04:00

It doesn't feel like fall outside, but I bought this pumpkin to remind me that it is.

Monday, October 1, 2007

2007-10-07T08:14:00.000-04:00

Mondays = special ed kindergarten, special ed fourth grade, third grade, ESL first grade, second grade and at long last, my prep in the final period of the day.

2007-09-30T14:14:00.001-04:00

Need a haircut and some fresh air? Kill two birds with one stone at the Austin Street Fair!

2007-09-29T17:30:00.001-04:00

Since I was a little girl, I have had three baseball wishes:

to be on the big screen DiamondVision
to see a perfect game or a no-hitter
to see a bench-clearing brawl

Today at Shea, my third wish came true and my second wish almost came true, as John Maine almost went eight full innings of a no-hitter, the bullpen cleared out for a big fight against the Marlins' pitcher, and the Mets beat Florida 13-0!

Friday, September 28, 2007

2007-09-29T11:04:00.001-04:00

Happy birthday, Emily! I also ran into two Brandeisians at the restaurant. One of them is engaged, which I already knew from Facebook, but I didn't want to say, "I know! I saw it on Facebook!" so I pretended I didn't and said, "Oooh, congratulations!" And that's why Facebook complicates lives.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

2007-09-29T11:03:00.001-04:00

Boobs, Peppermint Patties and face masks -- pretty much a perfect evening with the ladies.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

2007-09-29T11:02:00.001-04:00

Harvest moon! Ooooh.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

2007-09-29T11:00:00.001-04:00

My first graders were so naughty that I made them write a letter of apology. Presumably the huge stick figure with the sad face and no legs is me trying in vain to teach the class, and the sad-faced head in the corner is the naughty little girl who spent the class stealing stickers.

Monday, September 24, 2007

2007-09-29T10:20:00.000-04:00

The new apartment: home sweet home and already a mess.

2007-09-23T21:34:00.001-04:00

Caitlin tackles the Adventure Course at Alley Pond Park.

Will Project 365 continue? Stay tuned!

Saturday, September 22, 2007

2007-09-23T21:32:00.001-04:00

The holiest day of the Jewish year didn't leave time for photos. Also, I'd already decided that Project 365 was dead.

Friday, September 21, 2007

2007-09-23T21:31:00.000-04:00

Work, and then Target, and then temple.

No photographs.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

2007-09-23T21:29:00.000-04:00

The view of the sunset from my new apartment as Marissa, Phil, Phil's dad and I worked to put together my bookshelf and DVD tower would have made a great Project 365 shot. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me and didn't think to take a picture with my cell phone.

Project 365: dead in the water once again.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

2007-09-23T21:27:00.000-04:00

After seeing these priceless hats in the $.99 store across the street from my school, I was glad I had my camera and ready to attack Project 365 with renewed vigor!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

2007-09-23T21:24:00.000-04:00

Back in the saddle on Tuesday, I snapped this picture of our living room filling up with my packing.

Monday, September 17, 2007

2007-09-23T21:22:00.000-04:00

...hereafter referred to as The Day Project 365 Died.

It's true, folks. I went to school, worked in my office until almost 5, and then drove out to Melville for an orientation for Newsday's Review Crew. I planned to take my picture of the Newsday offices, but there was so much traffic out to the Island that I was in a hurry by the time I got there, and...I forgot.

I forgot to take my picture of the day.

2007-09-16T20:13:00.001-04:00

Moving day! Good thing Phil is a genius at putting together IKEA furniture...and I am a genius at freaking out.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

2007-09-16T20:11:00.000-04:00

My uncle gives his grandson a kiss at our Rosh Hashanah family gathering.

2007-09-14T20:29:00.000-04:00

At some point in the next two weeks, the contents of these three carts will become my new apartment. For now, though, my parents demonstrate their awesomeness by pushing a couch, two lamps, a bookshelf, a DVD rack, a TV table, a coffee table, wine glasses and two potholders around IKEA on flatbed carts. I demonstrate my own awesomeness by digging my Brandeis staff ID (circa the summer of 2005 when I worked at Admissions after graduating) out of my wallet, passing it off as a student ID ("I work at the campus center"), and getting a 10% discount. Sweet!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

2007-09-14T20:28:00.001-04:00

OK, I admit it: I slacked off bigtime on Project 365 this week and had to resort to taking pictures of my food three days in a row. (Tuesday's original photograph of my Martha's Country Bakery napoleon was fortunately replaced with a shot of the interior of Martha's Country Bakery itself.) Fortunately, it being Rosh Hashanah, there was no shortage of delicious food to photograph.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

2007-09-14T20:26:00.000-04:00

What would the Jewish new year be without tasty treats?

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

2007-09-14T20:24:00.001-04:00

The charming inside of Martha's Country Bakery, whose pistachio cupcakes are even tastier than Magnolia's!

2007-09-10T20:02:00.001-04:00

Another train photo. This one is on the M line, also a first time ride for me. I was on my way to see In the Shadow of the Moon, a great documentary about the Apollo astronauts who went to the moon.

2007-09-09T17:24:00.001-04:00

Marissa and Dave at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K in Central Park. Dave's team, JP Morgan Chase, was the top fundraiser with $265,618.45.

2007-09-08T20:29:00.001-04:00

Saturday night. My idea of a good time.

Friday, September 7, 2007

2007-09-08T20:20:00.001-04:00

My first time on the J train. At the 75th St stop, I saw two men laying on their stomachs with their faces planted into the concrete, handcuffed, while someone on the platform screamed something about "motherfuckers." It was a faster trip than the bus, but...I'm not sure if I'll be going that way again.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

2007-09-08T20:18:00.001-04:00

Honestly, I have a better photo of this (as seen from the window of the Q58 bus) from another day, but that's the day I decided to put up the photo of the sign with the horrendous grammar. Oh, well.

2007-09-05T20:04:00.001-04:00

The view from my office window. (I told you Project 365 would get boring for a while after I started working.)

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

2007-09-05T20:03:00.001-04:00

After my first day of school, I needed a long nap with Mr. Bear.

2007-09-03T11:25:00.000-04:00

This Miss Bindergarten character is much better prepared for kindergarten than I am.

2007-09-02T19:06:00.001-04:00

I befriended this birdie outside Trumpets on the Bay, a restaurant in Eastport where I had brunch with my parents.

2007-09-01T21:39:00.001-04:00

Dinner at an Italian restaurant on Eighth and 52nd. I really, really like the Pepto Bismol-colored Easter-looking hat of the woman in center left.

Friday, August 31, 2007

2007-09-01T15:35:00.001-04:00

My desk...already a mess. Pretty view, though. That's a framed photo of my student teaching class up in the right corner.

2007-08-30T19:53:00.001-04:00

Is this not the most egregiously ungrammatic sign you've ever seen? That Eats, Shoots and Leaves lady would have a fit.

2007-08-29T21:14:00.001-04:00

Mr. Met makes a historic second appearance in this Project 365 diary, this time nattily dressed as he greets fans for the "Mets at the Movies" event at the Ziegfeld Theater. Let me tell you, you haven't watched a baseball game till you've watched it in an ornate movie theater with Mr. Met, Cowbell Man and a sold-out crowd doing the traditional "Joseeeee Jose Jose Jose" chant to...a movie screen showing SNY.

2007-08-28T22:14:00.001-04:00

Summer's last dinner at Rocking Horse in Chelsea. The frozen margaritas? As strong as ever!

2007-08-27T14:01:00.001-04:00

This, at 73rd and Broadway in Jackson Heights, Queens, is the best street cart food in New York City. How do I know? Because Sammy's Halal won the 2006 Vendy Award for the best street food in the city. And the fact that we have such a thing is just one more reason why I love New York.

2007-08-26T18:23:00.000-04:00

The NYPD: keeping Forest Hills safe from yarmulke-wearing pre-teen boys on scooters!

2007-08-25T22:19:00.001-04:00

...then he flipped the egg into his hat and created a volcano out of an onion! Ah, good hibachi times.

Friday, August 24, 2007

2007-08-25T11:34:00.000-04:00

I admire a guy who can carry boxes of popcorn on his head. It was Fiesta Latina Night at Shea Stadium -- vamos Mets! My boys beat my dad's boys (the L.A. Dodgers), 5-2.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

2007-08-25T11:32:00.000-04:00

In the history of wastes of my time, today's new teacher orientation will likely go down as the biggest. After I went truant during lunch, I took this photo in Union Square.

2007-08-22T19:23:00.001-04:00

...and the #1 reason for becoming a teacher: Because it matters.

2007-08-21T13:11:00.001-04:00

Day 6 of being in the house: still sick. But the wonder cat? Still cute.

Monday, August 20, 2007

2007-08-21T13:08:00.001-04:00

By Day 5, I had pretty much lost the will to live completely and was reduced to watching "Aly and AJ's My Super Sweet 16 Playlist" on MTV. Who are Aly and AJ? Apparently they are teenage popstar sisters who enjoy My Super Sweet 16 and...don't believe in evolution.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

2007-08-21T13:06:00.000-04:00

Day 4 of being confined to the house: What you see in this picture was pretty much the extent of my day, with the addition of an America's Next Top Model marathon on MTV. Bless you, Tyra Banks.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

2007-08-21T13:04:00.001-04:00

I think the way my gaucho capris landed on the chair makes it look like there's an actual butt still in them. But it's possible I'm still delusional from my illness and you're just looking at a picture of my bra.

2007-08-17T20:26:00.001-04:00

OK, hmmm. The Project 365 people don't give great guidelines on what to do when you're sick in your apartment all day. Hence today's split-screen photo of Dad reading the newspaper and watching Set For Life (some...game show? involving...colored lights?).

2007-08-16T19:25:00.001-04:00

I'm pretty sure I have West Nile Virus, but in the indomitable spirit of Project 365, I dragged myself out to the Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce's "Jazz Thursdays" to capture this shot. (I chose this one rather than a photo of the actual jazz concert because there's something about the look on the face of the man in the bottom left corner that cracks me up a little bit. I mean, as much as I can crack up as someone with West Nile Virus.)

2007-08-15T18:06:00.001-04:00

The infamous Shoot the Freak human target game on the boardwalk at Coney Island -- who knows if it'll survive the Coney Island development purge after the 2007 summer season? I didn't even realize until I got home and looked at the picture that this guy is wearing an Israeli jersey. (The Hebrew writing on it says "Maccabi Tel Aviv.")

2007-08-14T21:01:00.001-04:00

You know, I really don't want this to be Project 365 Pictures of Rachel's Cat, but I was folding my laundry today, left the room for mere minutes, and came back to find this. It seems the wonder cat was powerless to resist the warmth of fresh laundry, and I was powerless to resist taking his photograph.

Monday, August 13, 2007

2007-08-14T14:21:00.000-04:00

At a truck stop somewhere in Virginia: showers and actual cowboy boots for sale. In the parking lot, we saw a car with a Confederate flag sticker on it, just like I was promised I would see in the South!

Sunday, August 12, 2007

2007-08-14T14:19:00.000-04:00

Carrie dives off the Mighty Pelican and into Lake Wylie.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

2007-08-14T14:15:00.001-04:00

Caitlin and Carrie with our inflatable friend -- Charlie the Fighting Crocodile!

Friday, August 10, 2007

2007-08-14T14:06:00.001-04:00

We went whitewater rafting at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, a man-made rapids course and an Olympic training facility. Alas, Carrie did not fall out of the boat...until our guide tipped us all out backwards.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

2007-08-14T14:04:00.001-04:00

...and we're off! At 6:00 am, we begin our 13-hour road trip to South Carolina.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

2007-08-14T14:01:00.000-04:00

Carrie and Caitlin carbo-load at UJ's in anticipation of our monster road trip to South Carolina the next day.

2007-08-07T19:18:00.001-04:00

The Worst Packer Ever: winner and still champion. The wonder cat (at top left) doesn't seem to mind.