More on New York, New York

The Flatiron Building, or Fuller Building as it was originally called, is located at 175 Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan, and is considered to be one of the first skyscrapers ever built. Upon completion in 1902 it was one of the tallest buildings in New York City. The building sits on a triangular island block at 23rd Street, Fifth Avenue, and Broadway.

I found myself agape, admiring a skyscraper — the prow of the Flatiron Building, to be particular, ploughing up through the traffic of Broadway and Fifth Avenue in the late-afternoon light.
– H.G. Wells (1906)

The building, which took its name from the shape forced on it by the triangular lot it was built on – the Flatiron block, so called because it was shaped like a clothing iron – was officially named the Fuller Building after George A. Fuller, founder of the company that financed its construction. Locals took an immediate interest in the building, placing bets on how far the debris would spread when the wind knocked it down.



Offices in the "pointy end" are in huge demand as they have an unobstructed view of the Empire State Building.



They must also have a good view of a lot of water tanks. Notice the Empire State building peeking over the buildings?

Marmite Toasty recommends this amusing diversion. It put a smile on my face.

Information on my Package

I finally got some information on my package after having waited for it for quite a while.






The digital camera I broke back in the end of December or early January was finally repaired and being shipped back to me - I love getting UPS package information in my e-mail box. Once I get the camera back I can go back to trying to take that ultimate squirrel picture! I really like this camera - its a Pentax Optio V-20 and it is about the size of a cell phone but has a 3 inch viewer on it.



I asked my brother to bring his dog, Jane into work today. I've not seen my little fur-niece in a while. It was really nice having her hang out with us today. I'm going to ask my brother to bring Jane into work more often since I can't really manage a dog on my own yet.

I wish I could have taken some pictures of you folks when you read the title of this entry! Somehow, I think Lainie would have approved of the title.

Hope you have a good weekend.

Dog Slippers

In the wee hours of this morning, in the darkest of the night, I had a very vivid and life-like dream.

The dream was so vivid I felt as if I was awake...I was dreaming about me being asleep on the sofa, when cold and shivering, I dreamt I woke up and put my cold feet down beside the sofa - and before they hit the ground, they softly encountered the warm, silky-soft fur of a long-haired and faithful dog. Ahhh, Dog Slippers.



My dog always slept on the floor immediately beside me on the sofa. And if for some reason I awoke and went to bed, she would get up, follow me into the bedroom and lay down beside the bed. For years, each and every morning, when I woke up and braced myself to face the day ahead, I would swing my feet out and slowly lower them - and tell my dog "Good morning!" by softly rubbing her with my feet.



For some reason - last night I mentally went back in time in my dream - and re-enacted this soul-healing, spiritually-reassuring routine. She has been gone now for some years - and badly missed and not even slightly forgotten.

Depression is...

Depression is like a tidal wave pulling you further in.
You don't feel up to facing anyone or anything.

Depression is a huge emphasis on feeling sad and low.
You feel like you're in a dark place with nowhere else to go.

Depression is like you're falling deeper into a black hole.
Your mind feels violated and as though you have no control.

Depression is having little energy or lack of motivation.
You feel tired and don't want to engage in conversation.

Depression is used in the wrong context by naive people.
They don't understand the seriousness of how it affects people.

Depression is isolation, withdrawal, low self-esteem and more.
You will never understand it unless you've been through it before.

- Lauren White