My Life In Brooklyn

Yes, insanely wild this year! As evidence, view these two images.

The image above this text is an arch/trellis we have in the back yard.  What you see here is the top, the plants have somehow managed to extend the height of the arch itself by a couple of feet.  This is really only two – or possibly three – plants.  The second image is that of the “pee tree” in the front yard.  We planted morning glories there in the hope of not only adding some interest to the tree pit, but also as a deterrant for potential tree-climbers and other tree-pit abusers.  The plants have to be 15 feet tall at this point, the photo was shot looking up into the tree.  Both photos by Llewellyn.

I was so angry at the plant theft and sense of violation, as previously mentioned.  I moved nearly all my containers into the back yard, not without struggle because it is not a simple task by any means given the size of the containers.  I will revert to chaining them again next year, which I don’t particularly like doing but that is how it must be for now.

Apart from my anger at the incident itself, I was touched by a number of my neighbors who called or stopped by with some sympathic words and ears.  One of my neighbors presented me with some more seed (same kind of plant) so I will be able to give it a go again next year.  So sometimes when life seems all negative, there are a few glimmers of humanity there as well.  And sometimes you don’t even have to look carefully to see them.

With Flickr announcing Geotags and mapped images, I spent the better part of a day tagging and mapping about sixty Holyoke images.  I know … what has that to do with “My Life in Brooklyn”?  Nothing.  Expect I am a Holyoke / Western MA native and what I am now has to be credited in some way with my interaction with the city of Holyoke.  Anyway for those of you who may not know, I collect Holyoke (Massachusetts, not Colorado) memorabilia and I have a couple Holyoke related websites.

You can have a look at all the Holyoke images on Flicker that have been geotagged and mapped or you can just view my images.

In line with my theory regarding the existence of a dual grocery products distribution center [where higher quality items get delivered to neighborhoods of a certain demographic profile;  lesser quality items end up in my own neighborhood]; I offer yet another Associated of Flatbush entry.  We have been using Thomas’ bagel squares for sandwiches lately because — well we can actually purchase them in this neighborhood.  I am talking limited choices here.

So having bought a bag of six, there was something notably different about the bagel squares in the new bag.  Having one last bagel square in the old bag at hand I compared the two — I couldn’t quite put my finger on the difference.  Viewing the two side by side, I soon realized:

The “new” bagels squares are much smaller than those in the last bag.  Unfortunately this photo does not represent how much thinner the bread is too.  Trust me, the one on the right is significantly smaller than the other. Either Thomas’ is cutting costs by suddenly deciding to reduce product size, or – yet again — Associated Market on Flatbush gets lesser quality / seconds to sell.  Substandard items, but at the same retail price, of course.

I might need to write to the company.  I don’t care about the excess carbs in a piece of bread, but it would be interesting to know.

A while ago, like many people, I configured my Google home page and added my favorite links. GMail account, daily Sodoku puzzle, blog feeds, etc. — for easy access.  During the summer Llewellyn did the same and introduced the Eastern Bluebird cam to me. I promptly added this to my Google home page and was pleased to watch via Cornell the progress of Eastern Bluebirds, nesting, laying eggs, brooding, hatching and the babies fledging.

I found myself enjoying this particular cam.  The babies fledged on June 20th.  The nest has been empty ever since, but the cam is still there and (mostly) running.  So on my Google homepage now I have the image of an empty nest.  It is a bit sad.  I miss seeing the little birds and wonder how they are faring in the world.

The Audubon Society here in Brooklyn is on my list of places to contact.  I have a feeling there isn’t the need for “nest boxes” (part of Cornell’s “The Birdhouse Network” program) here in Brooklyn, but I want to find out because I would love to have a nest box in the back yard.  Not for pigeons of course. I keep fantasizing a misdirected parrot from Brooklyn College might move in.

Nice little slide show of my garden spanning April through August.

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/polychrome/sets/72157594248432339/

Click on “View as slide show” for full effect.

Yesterday I posted a message about the stolen plant(s) on my local neighborhood Yahoo Group, describing the pot and linking to a picture.  I asked for anyone to please let me know if they had seen anything the day before.

When Llewellyn came home yesterday after a long day at work we drove around the neighborhood looking for the missing flowers.  We knew full well only a total idiot would leave them in a front yard, but it was part of the process.  So Llew slowly drove on every street beteen Lefferts and Rogers from Lefferts Ave (north) to Parkside (south) as we carefully investigated front yard gardens.  As we thought no luck at all — though we were rewarded with a lot of strange looks from residents who were out and about.  At best the plant has to be in someone’s back yard, this is no house plant by any means.

It did make me aware of what an amazing display of plants were in our front yard, lots of yards are really tacky, no plants at all (though I can understand why), sometimes totally concrete with illegal parking spaces created in the front yard. 

After arriving home there was a message for me on the Yahoo Group.  Someone had seen the guy with my plant walking East on Midwood Street Monday evening, toting it in some kind of grocery/laundry cart.  I think tonight we will take another drive further down Midwood, just to see.  And maybe again next week when the perp thinks it is safe to place out front.

This Yahoo message was a huge relief to me.  I had spent most of yesterday harboring suspicions toward everyone on the street — Llewellyn suggested it could be a follow-up reminder after the rat incident.  I was even thinking it could be the New York Times delivery guy who does use a car and has been forgetting to leave a paper at least once a week, necessitating phone calls of complaint.  Anyway the fact it was not someone on my own block provided some comfort.

A local neighborhood guy who serves as a liaison to the police said I should call it in to the precinct.  I see that as a waste of time, but maybe I ought to do it anyway.  Just not ready to let go of this yet.  But seriously there is a major drug problem on my corner, and if they don’t even bother to respond to my calls about that, about a guy entering a warehoused apartment without authorization, noise issues, what the hell can I expect from New York’s Finest on a mere plant theft?

Answer:  Zero, nada, nothing.

The first year I started to working with my back-yard garden and the front-yard containers it was an experiment.  I wanted green and beauty and life around me and each of those were indeed the results of what was really a little effort and some money.  And care of course.

After a year of gardening, the unexpected happened also: my discovery that nurturing plants through weeding, watering, feeding provided food for my soul too — a sense of serenity and well-being.  Now my garden is a haven of (usually) quiet: a place to read or meditate, or sit with Llewellyn to speak about our respective days.  Sometimes coffee and newspapers in the morning, othertimes watching the sun set and seeing the lightening bugs flash around us.  For me there is a sense of continuity being in the garden.  It takes me to many childhood days — whenthe honeysuckle blooms the fragrance reminds me of my grandmother’s house in Holyoke. And so on.

That is why this morning when I looked at my front yard containers and saw one missing it broke my heart.  This was the container of Rudbeckia, nutured from seed I love their fuzzy foliage and the brilliant blooms were just beginning.  But, someone stole the entire container, which was large (20″ pot, 3′ high with plants) and quite heavy — my guess is premeditated with a car.  I went inside and had a good cry, called Llewellyn, had another good cry, walked around the neighborhood streets in case it was a stupid thief (no luck) then returned home and moved everything else into the back yard.

Thanks for ripping out my soul, asshole. I hope you rot in hell.

Is IRV (Instant Runoff Voting) the solution to the current campaign woes in the 11th District? The Progressive Populist just published this article on the Brooklyn race, describing how it would help.

And no, the author’s surname is not a coincidence.

There have been some interesting views, a division essentially, on what is apparently a neighborhood fixture: a guy who sells drums, fans, and other Afro centric articles.  Evidently this guy, who is said to be homeless and an unlicensed street vendor, usually sells his items on Canal Street, but has recently been camped out on Lincoln Road in front of the Prospect Park subway station.

Some people have expressed annoyance at his lewd commentary toward women, public urination, noise, garbage, etc.  Others are defending him.

But the bottom line is if you happen to live, say, across the street from where this fellow is camped out there is certainly nothing good about it.  Personally I could care less about licensing, or the items he sells.

Behavior does concern me.  I still cannot comprehend people thinking lewdness is okay. Nor the public urination, which is — pardon the expression — a personal pet peeve of mine.  Okay, assuming the guy is actually homeless I can understand the necessity for public urination.  But the park is across the street from his current “campsite” why not just be a good fellow and do the neighborhood a favor.

On my street public urination is rampant.  And it has nothing to do with homelessness.  It has to do with laziness and convenience.  The first year I moved to this street I dubbed the tree in front of my house the “pee tree” and though we have since pruned the tree and added more outdoor lights to discourage using the tree as a pee station, I still wear heavy-duty gloves to plant or weed the tree pit.

The first year I lived here, I went outside when I saw males approach the tree.  I even saw two women direct their children toward the tree pit and begin to pull the pants off the kids — a behavior I rudely interrupted; suggesting perhaps a spot in the gutter would be an improvement since at least the city cleans the gutter three times a week.

“Why not, dogs do it?” the women angrily asked me.

“Are you putting yourself on the same level as dogs?” I asked.

They essentially told me to fuck off, which was fine with me.  Not for the first time and probably not the last.  Food for thought for everyone and the tree pit was pee-free that day. 

Now also on my street is a hair braiding salon and a regular hair salon located next door to each other.  Some of the women who work in these places bring along their children and leave them outside to play on the street.  It is not uncommon to see 6-8 kids playing out on the street all day long.  Unsupervised little kids aged 2 - 8.  These little kids are public pee-ers in training as well as being under the influence by the local thugs.  Perhaps it is disruptive for the kids to enter the salon to use the toilet. One was hit by a car a couple years ago — seriously what does it take for people to learn having a five year old baby-sit a two year old is not a good idea.

I understand cultural differences, I do.  Really.  But people also need to adapt to the laws and conventions of their adoptive country.  And people need to look after and train their children.

Sorry, I have no plans to lower my expectations. Politically incorrect? Maybe, but I don’t care.