dreaming in shades of grey

and for those of you who said you only dream in b&w...

dreaming in color

Sometimes I dream in color, and I don't mean the images are color vs b&w. I mean sometimes my dreams are entirely fields of color. This was a dream I had last week that I have been trying to create on my computer.

I remember the feeling of the dream was that feeling that happens as summer turns to fall. And I remember these orbs of color just kind of floating up/falling down and blending into each other... I think I am finally at a place where I like how it is working together. I still may play around with it all a little more though.

When you dream, what do you see?

summer to fall ombre

Gaby Germaine 2011

Weathered the storm

It looks like the worst is over. There is still potential for more raining and gust of winds today, and the mayor has asked us all to stay inside (so of course I will). But it is much quieter here.

We did not get too many gusts of wind up where I live. Some of the loudest were in the late night early morning hours.. and thankfully from what I can see looks like it did not amount to much damage in my neighborhood. A few tree branches are down, but not sure what the rest of the park outside of my view suffered.

My apartment faired well. Some water damage in the Bathroom (the window in my shower had some leaks, but best place for a water leak I suppose ;) And my roommates ceiling has some water damage too. All and all I am glad we were prepared for the worst case, and it turned out to be not necessary.

I am a little bit tired. I stayed up to keep my eye on the tornado watch we were in (every seasoned midwestern girl knows its better to stay awake and find out if that changes to a warning, than call it a night) It is funny because when this all started I kept thinking... "man I wish this were a tornado. I know how to handle that..." never did I consider the thought that hurricanes produce tornados also... but it makes sense when you think about it...

I am off to take a nap, and enjoy a day of staying in and working on some projects. I am not sure what will happen with me going to work tomorrow yet... It is all kind of dependent on the subways being up and running. (I live 17 miles from work) But either way it will work out, I might just work from home.

Hope this found you all safe and sound also!

Gaby

Flashlights

I don't think there is a single flashlight or D battery left in this city. I finished getting a bunch of my have to prepare items done this morning and decided that I would walk to the target in the bronx (it is about a mile walk) to A. get some exercise before being in for a day or so, and B. to get a book for the storm. It was wild to see so many isles like this.

I am home now with no intentions of going out again. It is starting to sprinkle...

Water...

(empty shelves where water once lived at my grocery store)

Hey All,

So just because there is so much to do to get ready and there is no way to be able to contact you all and give you all updates... I am hoping this blog can serve that purpose for the time being. I am preparing for Hurricane Irene to hit the city I love, my home, New York.

Thankfully, in general, I am a person who is happy to prepare or plan ahead, and have felt relatively ready for it even before the warnings. I have of course been stocking up on extras though... just to be triple safe. And am gearing up for tomorrow to be a day of battening down the hatches (or taping windows up as it were). But I want all of you to know that I am in as good a spot in the city as I can be. My home is well above the flood zones. So much so that I am not even listed in a zone evacuation area on the map. My building is filled with wonderful caring and loving people who I have deep friendships with and know we will all be looking out for each other.

I have to say as I have been preparing for the worst I am hoping and praying for the best. Subways are shutting down at noon tomorrow and will soon be followed by the bridges being shut down. I have been back and forth how I feel about this, being here on the island. Yes, I feel prepared and ready for it, but I do like the idea of land around me.. it is that midwesterner in me I guess. I am ready also if I decide tomorrow morning I should evacuate, but for now the plan is to stay and ride the storm out.

I could not help but chuckle as on the news tonight the said the worst of the storm should be from 2:00 Am sunday to 2:00 pm sunday... lol, only 12 hours.. sigh. I am just assuming we will not have power. But if we do I will try and post updates here for everyone.

To all of my dear friends and family who have been calling and e-mailing me, Thank you so much! Your thoughts are so kind and much appreciated. I wish that I could just call you all up and have a nice long chat after the storm to tell you I am A-Okay. But I will have to play that by ear based on electricity and cell charge-ability.

I will keep you all posted to the best of my ability,

Much Love,

Gaby

mmmmmmm........

Oh goodness me I want one of these so badly right now! Those of you who are Bajio fans know exactly what yumminess is hidden under that lettuce.... mmmmmm....

The Legend...

You know you work in a great office when this is on the bulletin board in the break room.

(and yes, I took a sword)

atmospheric electrostatic discharge

Some Friday nights I am glad I just stayed home... This is the view into the courtyard behind my building. This storm was relentless!

Also This is what happens to your camera when there is just too much light in the sky before it can adjust its settings... These kind of make me want to watch Poltergeist.

Some days I somehow even manage to amaze myself....

The best way to explain that statement is to share a g-chat conversation that I had with my roommate on my lunch break today.

me: So I look like Quasimodo...

Brook: have you been crying?

me: no I have one eye that is swollen and puffy and red

and I am too embarrassed to tell anyone why

Brook: mosquito bite?

rubbed lemon juice from your salad in your eye?

me: I have just been saying I woke up with it swollen shut (which is not a lie)

Brook: on man

me: I fell asleep reading face first into the corner of my book...

basically I poked myself in the eye for 5 hours

Brook: I'm biting my lip

my eyes are watering

ummm

me: I'd tear up too but... well that would be a mess

I would much rather have (insert co-workers name here) think I have some rare eye disease

than know what a dork I am

...I need an eye patch

Brook: HAHAHAA

ok

it burst out

oh laughter