Houston Disaster charities, FYI

Hurricane Harvey: How You Can Help

Full list  – in the article @ Houzz.

I donated to charities who provide immediate, face to face relief: Greater Houston Community Foundation and Nechama Jewish Response to Disaster.

Also, one one my vendors – R.D.Weis flooring company – offered to deliver your donation of new/newish clean clothes down to Houston. Go thru your closets, pack your donation and send it to them to the address provided. I filled two bags: one with clothes, one with footwear (rubber boots, etc) and will bring it to their NY office on Tuesday.

Thank you for your help.

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Rooftop cinema,

last in season

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Floating party

Climbing up (or back, as our timeline demands) the stair, we plop right in the middle of breathtaking panorama

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Perfect beach day

The idea was to get to the 7:15 ferry from Bay Ridge to Wall st, and in 7 min to hop on the Seastreak to Sandy Hook – it’d be their first trip of the day, and round trip ticket cost $30 (later ones jump to $46). Naturally, I’ve overslept and then took too long brewing espresso and packing my beach bag. I ran the last blocks to the Pier 6 and still missed the ferry boat by 5 min!

The new ferry service from Bay Ridge to Wall st started in June, I took it once before (pics forthcoming, if you so desire), as a trial ride. The boats are all new, sparkling clean, and very fast, although 5 intermediate stops add to 50 min ride. It takes me 20 min of brisk walk to get to the pier (which is good for my daily 10K steps goal). Despite the over an hour commute I’d gladly take it to/from work if only MTA included the cost into their monthly card.  A ride cost $2.75, just like the subway’s, and it is now additional $2.75.  As I’m already paying ~$120 for the Unlimited metrocard, including buses, it’d be too dear to double the monthly price if I’m to add the ferry.

However, I love being on the water and welcome the option of taking ferry to the beach on summer weekend.

As it happened, my being late for the Seastreak and thus missing the Sandy Hook ride was a blessing in disguise for my wallet. As it turns out, the NYC ferry service now runs all the way to Rockaways! What’s more, the Rockaways’ line stops at Sunset Park pier (which is 1 stop from Bay Ridge, see map at the Ferry’s link above), and the transfer is free!

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making a list & checking it thrice

I really do need a vacation. Exhausted, slept all Saturday – and the week wasn’t anything special, just a regular step-forward-two-steps-back annoyance. So I have to tick off  all chores on the list in one instead of two days.

Weather in Hungary and Slovenia is unseasonably cold, I now have to be very selective and pack carefully. My layover in Helsinki is only 40 min, so I am not taking a big case, only carry-on.

My itinerary is complicated: starting by 5 days in Budapest (Pest side), then on the 29th taking an overnight train to Ljubljana (transfer in  Saltzburg), then at 6:30am taking a ride-share van by company called GoOpti to the Adriatic coast, to resort town Portoroz, where I booked 4 nights at spa hotel. Between salt scrub massages and sea mud body wraps I hope to take a ferry across the waves to Venice – no ticket yet. Then on the 4th at 4am – GoOpti van will pick me up and return to Ljubljana train station, this time for a day-long ride back to Budapest, this time to Buda side, where all the famous baths are spread around the Castle and couple of museums. Morning of May 6th should find me at the hotel’s lobby waiting for a shuttle ride to airport, then British Airlines will fly me home.

Frankly, I feel a bit uneasy re: whole enterprise. Logistics have been difficult, and the chain can break at any link, ruining the whole sequence. Doesn’t make for relaxing mood. But…too late to cancel, and all I can do is to wait and see if my nervousness justified or, hopefully, not.

I’ll say good bye now  – and you tell me what do you want me to bring from my travels.

 

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Suddenly, Spring

…and so is my cry di jure: Where to go on vacation?

Actually, I do know this time: Magyar! But will be appreciative of recs, suggestions, tips and advice. Have any?

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Happy Coming NY’s Eve!

I have broken with tradition to celebrate  the newborn year at home, under Christmas tree, surrounded by bowls of salad Olivier. I am joining Jesse’s party at Gander. Planning to take pictures until defeated by open bar.

Where will you be partying at midnight? I wish you all, rare readers(c), fun evening and a prosperous new year ahead!

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