Monday, December 31, 2012

Finishing 2012, Starting 2013 - The List

Another year is finishing and I must say it was a very interesting year. So much has happened this year. I can look back at it with much fondness and melancholy. Overall, 2012 was year of some major milestones in my life.

Accomplished in 2012:

  • Got a story published in an Anthology Book with my GoodReads group "Paranormal & Horror Lovers" called All The Lovely Creatures. You can download the book here.
  • I got married to the most wonderful man in the world (besides my daddy). 
  • Took 2 classes in Japanese to learn the basic grammar and language. If you are in New York City, take classes at the Japanese Society. Classes are nice, small and intimate. Join them here.
  • I obtained a new client for my personal business, thanks to my mom. Small businesses and individuals that need tax and accounting, you can email me here. Only serious inquiries please.
  • Attended my first blogging convention, BlogHer '12. 
With such accomplishments, makes my plans for the new year. I hope to at least double my accomplishments by the end of next year. I don't do New Year resolutions. I am more of a goal oriented woman. I make plans and tackle them. I can't say, "as of Jan 1st, I'm not going to eat sweets any more". That's not going to happen. I may work on my health during the year, but not quit things cold turkey. That's how you relapse. That's just my opinion. 

Plans for 2013:
  • To build my website for my personal business website
  • To publish a novella for my main protagonist. This should help me see if my character is loved enough to continue on with her novel. I love this character and hope the world will love her too. 
  • To read more books. I have gotten away from reading this past year. I've read books but not nearly as much as I used to. I may do GoodRead Yearly challenge. (I know link is for 2012, they haven't changed the date yet.)
  • To blog more. Can you believe in 2011 I posted 64 posts and 2012 a meager 38 posts? I am quite disappointed in myself. 
  • Travel
  • Renovate portions of my house
  • Continue my natural journey
  • To continue to work on my health (not like anything is detrimentally wrong with me.) It's always good to make sure you maintain your health. 
This is my official list to keep me on track. Let's see what I can accomplish 2013.
What do you want to accomplish in 2013? Leave me a comment with your plans and I will see if I can help you accomplish it or work on it together. 

To All:

May you and your family have a health, wealth and happiness!!!!

Friday, December 28, 2012

The Pervert Next Door


I moved back to NY in 2001, 5 months before 9/11. I was in my 20s and still in fighting shape (better shape than I am now). Upon my arrival, my neighbor next door to me would always say hello. I would be polite back and say hello back. Every now and then we'd make small talk about music and movies. His wife is nice.

Throughout the years I would catch him watching me. You know the look. The one where he's practically undressed you with his eyes. I still didn't pay any attention to him. Why would I? He had never made any moves on me at this time. He looked at my BFF a lot too since she was living with us at that point. We nicknamed him "Pervert".

Once everyone moved out and I was left by myself, the advances started. He would catch me in my backyard unexpectedly. I didn't cower or be afraid. I continued being myself and living my life. I stopped being very cordial with him though. I was still friendly with his wife though. He still continue to try  to talk to me. He got me once and I asked him "what about your wife? Don't you feel bad about trying to step out in her?". He bluntly said it's not like he hasn't before. I immediately felt that he was a predator at that point. I thought he was just a pervert who just got thrills by hitting on younger women. This man was much creepier.

My brother ended up moving in with me. His overt advances stopped. Then the covert ones started. He invited me and my brother to events. I would turn all invitations down. I told my brother to stay away from him and he was not good people. Then war started. He would go on my property and I would say something to him and his wife. I didn't care. This was his way to get me to talk to him. It worked for a while. It stopped when my husband moved in with me. Soon afterwards I dropped a note telling him if his vehicles are on my property without permission it would be towed on his dime. Then he stopped talking to me. Yep it took me getting married to get him to leave me alone. My husband has given him cordial salutations knowing what he has done to me. He wouldn't even respond back. My husband would say he was a weird creepy guy.

One night this year, I was home alone (brother and hubby were at work) I was dead asleep when a blood curdling screaming coming from next door. It was pervert's wife. So I did what was necessary and called the police. I was petrified that pervert was going to come after me. Took me a day or 2 to get over it. Apparently he's been beating her for years. This however was only the icing on the cake.

I was at work when my husband text me that "Pervert" was arrested for having sex with an under-aged girl! I was happy that finally something had finally happened to him. He will meet some justice. He made it to the NY Post (article here).  He even made it to Bossip.com (post here). He's gotten notoriety now. He's exposed for being a pervert. His little secrets are no longer. NYC at least knows that he's a sex offender.

I do feel bad about how this played out for his wife though. She has had to know for years that this man was no good. I am also sure that this young girl is not the only girl out there. I wish they would just come forward and let the world know that this man is no good. As I finish this post, he is home on bail. 

Since his arrest, I've had nightmares about him. This post has been my way of purging my inner demon. I want to thank you for reading this post. But it has made my chest and mind lighter. Now if my other demons could get exorcised, I'd fly high like a kite. 

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Don't Be A Victim - Know The Subways

Earlier this week a man was shoved off the platform into the tracks in a NYC subway station. The oncoming train ended up killing him as he tried to climb out of the tracks. No one close to him attempted to help the man. A tourist actually caught a picture of the man in the tracks about to be hit. He sold the picture to the NY Post.




There is enough debate on the news and the Internet. That is not what this post is about.

This post is what to do if you find yourself in the same predicament as the victim; whether you fell, was pushed or dived in to retrieve a personal item. Not everyone knows what to do in this situation. I am blessed to have a sister who has worked for MTA for over 20 years. She has taught me what to do as she was taught. I will now teach you.

Here is an example if the tracks from a subway station.



There are 3 parallel rails on the track. The 3rd one furthest from the platform is electrified. Stay clear from that rail at all costs. We need to concentrate on the 2 closest to the platform.

If you find yourself in the tracks you can do either of the following if you have the time.
a) Walk to edge of platform and climb up the steps, or
b) Pull yourself up from the track onto the platform (works easily for the tall)

If you absolutely have no time to do either of the above you must do the following.

Lay down in between the tracks Face Down. Elongate your body as much possible. There is room underneath the train and tracks.

This will save your life. You may get injured. But it's better than being dead.

I hope you learned something from this email. If you want, please share this info with your friends and family. It may save their life.

If you have other tips, leave them in the comments section.

Stay safe everyone.