Attended Red Cross Orientation

I attended my first Orientation meeting and Fulfilling Our Mission course at the Silicon Valley Red Cross in San Jose on Tuesday 17 Nov.
The two classes explained what the Red Cross does and how as a volunteer, one can help. Seems there is various things that can be done, I would like to do Disater Services and helping servicemen and women. I did notice that many of the courses are not offered regularly. There has to be a demand for some of the course in order to be offered.
Looks like there can be areas I can help and look forward to being part of the Red Cross.

Museum of Modern Art in New York City

Today I went to go visit the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan(11 West 53 Street, 10019-5497) for the first time in almost 20 years and since major rework was done on it several years ago.
I took the F-Train subway in 71-Contentital Ave Station in Forest Hills and got off at 47-50th street. After walking a few blocks, the MoMA was in the middle of the block. After paying and getting a paper map, I started to explore this wonderful space.
The musuem has 6 floors of various exhibits from the different eras of modern art. As usual most of the art which I enjoyed is from the period before WWII in the 1920's. Everything afterwards appear more abstract and more "selfish" in my crude eyes.
It seems most of the crowd in the musuem was tourist, as I heard many different languges spoken throughout the hallways.
I truly enjoyed seeing the famous work by Picaso, Miro, Dahli, Klimt and van Gogh. I walked each of the 6 floors through all of the galleries and noticed that I really should have one of those Audio Guide machines as there is much information to take in. Some of the art work have numbers which one type into the Audio Guide and information is given.
At the information desk in the first floor, the lady behind the booth told me they had ran out of the free Audio Guides. She told be to go to the 6 Floor where there were more. I did, handed the attendent my Drivers Licence for collateral and headed back to the galleries to review some of the art work which caught my eye.
One thing that was disappointing to me was seeing the art work by Edward Hopper called "House by the Railroad" in an out of the way space behind the elevators, which most people would not see. Hopper is my favorite artist and this piece was the museum first ever purchase. Seeing it in a place away from the crowds to see was rather disappointing.
All in all the gallery is laid out nicely with many representation of what is know a modern art displayed equally throughout all the floors. I recommend visiting if you are passing by New York.

Some pictures I took during my visit can be seen in the public Facebook link below.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37837&id=1507778102&l=08c718bbcc

Visited the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site

On Monday 02Nov09, I visited the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site which is on 20 Vesey Street (At Church Street) in lower Manhattan, directly across the World Trade Center "Ground Zero" site and Saint Paul's Chapel. The "preview site" shows some of what the main memorial will house and be like once it is completed. The final 9/11 Memorial is expected to be completed on 9/11/2011.

There is no admission into the Museum. It is only one large room with different artifacts and information around the museum. The farside wall from the entrance is a screen with a video showing interviews of those who were at the World Trade Center on 9/11/01. In the center of the room holds a small scale model of the Memorial and its location in the final World Trade Center area.

Along the wall are images of the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentegon. There are some samples of the artifacts which will be displayed in the final Memorial including a helmet use by one of the New York City firefighters during that day. Some screens are scattered around the room, with more information on the museum, images of more artifacts and related projects of remembering and learning from 9/11.

One part of the museum had a small sound room called "Share Your Story" in which visitors can sit down and for 3 minutes speak on what they were doing during the events of 9/11. I decided to record my feelings and what I did that day. It will be part of the memorial once it is openned.

I purchased some pins and magnets, they said the money goes to the Memorial fund. I also picked up some information on the Musuem and related causes.The small office which houses this 9/11 Memorial Preview Site had enough information and interaction to keep my attention on the final completion of the 9/11 Memorial.

http://www.national911memorial.org/site/PageServer?pagename=New_Home

http://voicesofsept11.org/dev/index.php

http://makehistory.national911memorial.org/

Saw the USS New York passing the World Trade Center

The Navy's newest ship, the USS New York, arrived in New York City for commissioning ceremonies on 7 Nov 09. The ship's bow was made of 7 tons of steel from the World Trade Center. I really wanted to see her enter the harbor as 9/11 meant alot for me.

I left early from Forest Hills, Queens, taking the Long Island Railroad train at 6:19am and stopping at Penn Station then switched to the 3 subway line to get off at Chambers Street. I arrived at the World Trade Center site at 7am. The place for viewing was on the North Cove of the World Financial Center where there is a marina. I took a place along the rail facing the Hudson River. The skyline of New Jersey was vi sable from across the river. The weather was typical November weather for New York, cool and a bit wet. There were already a group of Marines and police getting ready on the shore.

There were many reporters setting up their gear and various representatives from the Services including Marines, Coast Guard, Police, Fire Department and what looked like reenacts for the New York Artillery.

At about 7:45, we all looked south along the Hudson River and can see the fire boats spraying water into the air. Some of the water was colored red and blue. We can also see the silhouette of the USS New York in the distance. The camouflage of the ship made it hard to see her in the distance. There were several helicopters floating around the ship as she approached. A about 8am, someone on the shore congregation started to sing the Star-Spangle Banner.

At about 8:15am the ship was coming directly into our view and the ship slowed down. We can see the sailors, marines and crew on the deck of the ship giving us a salute. We then heard the "pop" of the rifles on board the ship giving the shore a 21-gun salute. I was kind of disappointed with this as I was hoping the salute was from her large guns but what why would I think that? Just after that the New York Fire Department Bagpipers were playing "God Bless America".

The ship began to start and speeding up, heading north on the Hudson River where the USS New York will dock at Pier 86 next to the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. As the ship headed north, the various fire trucks, police boats, fire boats blew their horn in response. Shortly afterwards the gathering of people began to brake up at about 9am, heading to what ever the day will hold. The USS New is to be officially commissioned on Saturday 7 Nov at the USS Intrepid site.

It was a long morning and afterwards was glad to head inside the World Finanical Center, Winter Garden shops and restaurant area and grabbed a cup of coffee and danish. It was a very historic day and I was very glad that I could make it.

Godspeed to the USS New York and her crew.

Pictures on my Facebook Link which anyone can see.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37023&id=1507778102&l=2e26b3c123

Video

Video(Facebook)USS New York approaching from the Hudson

http://www.facebook.com/v/1245241740323

USS New York arriving in front of the World Trade Financial Center

http://www.facebook.com/v/1245373703622

Bagpipes playing as the New York stops in front of the World Trade Finanical Center

http://www.facebook.com/v/1245234340138

My Mother's Birthday Party

My mother celebrated her 60th birthday on Halloween Eve. My family arranged for a dinner party at the local Italian/Brick Pizza Brick Oven restaurant called Dees on Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills.
Most of our extended family was there from my mother's father, sister and cousins. It was good to see everyone together as it has been awhile for me to see them all.
There was about 18 of us at the very large table setting the restaurant arrange for us. The food was really delicious and plentiful. Everyone was taking lots of pictures for this one time event and catching up with each other lives. I had lasagna with a nice bolognese sauce.
My nephews handed my mother the present me and my brother picked out, a Wii with a Fit -Wii accessory. This was something she really liked and intends to use.
During the dessert, the nice service staff brought over my mother's rice pudding with a candle as we all song 'happy-birthday'. A very nice treat.
Can't believe my mother is 60 years olds as I always remember her being a young women even since I was a kid. I know there will be many more and hope to come home for more birthdays in the future.

Heading Home to New York City

I'm flying home to New York City for some needed break from my job/next-opportunity search. Also it will be my mother's birthday and will be the first time celebrating her birthday in a very long time.
While I am there, the new Navy ship, USS New York will get her commissioning near the Intrepid Museum on the Hudson river. The bow of the ship was made of steel from the World Trade Center. There is a lot of sentimental reasons I wish to see this new ship.
Can't wait to eat my familiar New York style pizza.

Informational Interview for LEED/Green Industry

I have been thinking about changing directions in my career and thought about going into the "green industry" and earning a LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification to rate builds on how well they meet "green" standards.

Of course, I know nothing of this so I asked the building manager at my former employer to explain what is LEED and how to obtain a certification. We met at that modern establishment where all important things are talked about, Starbucks.

She showed me reference material from a Brightworks workshop she had gone through recently to obtain her certification. There is lots of name of standards which need to be memorized as the test is all rout. She explained that there are different areas which LEEDS cover from home to site certification.

I noticed in my recent search for new opportunities that certifying new construction as being "green" under the LEED's definition will be in high demand. I wish to pursue something more flexible in nature then relaying totally on project work which can end withing fiscal years and leaving you looking for another job.

During this informational interview, I was given much to think about and a point to explore further. More information from the US Greenbuilding Council This line of possible career is very interesting to me and will definitily gather more information to determine what needs to be done to enter this field.