"Only In New York"

"Only in New York"... a simple line it may be... but always true to its heart.

I just missed the biggest spontaneous event of New York City of 2009. Our very own first blizzard of the season. What seems to be hundreds of people gathered together to spontaneously start a snowball fight of the century. Strangers from all corners of the world joined in on the fun; tossing snow at each other with no worries of retaliation. The event took place at Times Square at 1am in the morning... still bustling with people.

No one was hurt, no gun was pulled (unlike D.C.), and everyone was a target... all captured by a photographer. This sensation sprung life of its own and even has its own Facebook fan site.

Just two days ago I was talking with my sisters about moving out of NYC. I was complaining of the cold and the snow I had to shovel. I have many reasons to want to leave, but just a simple story of a snowball fight makes me think again. Perhaps us diehard NYers are so desensitized to the world that we don't stop to appreciate the simple things the city as to offer anymore. We can't seem to appreciate our city for all that it's worth. All those that visit NYC often leave with three words on their lips, "I love NY!". We even have a t-shirt for this phrase!

Reading the comments left by tourists at the different websites, make me feel proud of being a NYer. :) Maybe I'll even buy lunch at a street vendor cart again... afterall... "only in NY".

"Blizzard 2009 | Snowball fight Times Square" Photos

CNN iReport Coverage

The Destiny

So, it's that time of year again where we get all dressed up to please the powers that be at work. I have my company holiday party tonight on the boat "The Destiny". We will be departing from the World Yacht Marina (Pier 81) at 8pm and won't return back to the pier until midnight.

I decided to bring my sister along this year. I'm just so tired of going alone year after year. I figured that it would also be a good experience for her as well. Hopefully my co-workers will make the departure time... they all claimed to be going, but all left work early to "get dressed". In actuality, a lot of people didn't think the boat party is a good idea.

In either case, I'm just looking to enjoy myself with some good food and views of Manhattan and the outer boroughs. I just hope the night air wouldn't be bone chilling.

A long night lies ahead... I better put on some lip balm... otherwise my lips would get all sore from ass kissing. LOL...!

1 Lost, 1 Accident, 2 Gains

This past weekend was anything, but the usual weekends that I've been having.

I lost one long time friend, not to illness, but to a decision I felt I needed to make. Letting go this friend was something that I felt I had to do. When someone doesn't see you or treat you like the friend you thought you were, what do you do?

If you have spoken to this friend a few times regarding how you felt about your friendship and nothing changes, what do you do?

If you share your life experiences with this friend and this friend doesn't reciprocate, what do you do?

I felt that it was clear, that I wasn't a friend this individual valued. Perhaps our values and our ideas of friendship are just too different. It is okay. Life has taught me that if things were meant to be, they would be. In this case, forging a friendship with all its chinks is just not going to happen. Sometimes letting the ornate piece fall apart will be more natural; at least the piece will have history if not a future.

After losing this friend, I had a car accident. Luckily no one was seriously hurt. I was stopped at a red light behind another car on Ave J and Ocean Parkway, when a dark Honda Accord hit me from behind. My airbag did not deploy.

Moments after I was hit, I thought that I was dreaming. I thought that I was dreaming about losing a friend and that I was dreaming that I was awoken by a car accident. As I came out of this nightmare, I realized that life did throw me two fast balls and I was only able to fend off one. What a way to end on a Friday night!?

I dialed 911 from inside my car and gave them the details of my location. I slowly then crept out of my car to check my car and to confront the other driver. My neck and head had a slight throbbing pain and some soreness. I got her name and cell phone number and filed a police report. I told her that she shouldn't need to worry too much as I wasn't the type of person to take advantage of the situation, but that if I needed medical care afterwards, I would contact her.

She seemed sincere in her apologies and told me that she had problems with her contacts when she failed to stop. I accepted her apologies, but still told her that if I needed medical care that I would contact her.

Before anything got any worse, I scheduled an acupuncture session at my school the following day. They inserted needles on my neck, back, arms and legs as a preventive measure. They also applied a minty liniment on my neck and back as they heated my upper back with a medical heat lamp. I also asked several of my classmates to administer the back, neck, and shoulder tuina protocols on me. As of this moment, I still feel fine and believe that I don't have any lasting injuries.

The rest of my weekend was a busy one with family. I enjoyed it very much.

Since I received so much TLC from strangers at school, I decided to pay it forward by treating two patients on Sunday with tuina. It was a lot of work for me as I was still feeling a bit mentally and physically drawn; not to mention the fact that I had an egg sized bruise on my left hand between my thumb and index finger. But, receiving two very gracious emails this evening more than made up for it. :)

The following emails are from the two patients I treated this past Sunday. After all this, I gained two very encouraging messages of inspiration; messages, that I hope one day will come from more of my friends.

Email from Patient YF:

"Just wanted to let you know that I felt pretty good today after yesterday's Tui Na, especially since it's the third day of my you know what...lol

I was pretty much pain free throughout the workday, and my muscles overall were not as tight as usual.

Definitely 80% improvement from yesterday! Today i didn't feel that intense throbbing ache and tightness that I usually experience during my period. Just a little bit. I hope it'll stay that way.

Thanks for all the time and effort you put into the Tui Na yesterday. It really helped.

So......when can I book my next appointment with you? ...lol..."

Email from Patient CM:

"You're a miracle...my head doesn't hurt anymore..my ear or throat
either..lols Thanks! Chinese meds and techniques do wonders! Enjoy
class."