Angels and Roommates

The city i live in is know for it's art, it's culture, it's fashion.....and it's high cost of living. The HIGH cost of living. So how can i be here???? It's easy---i have angels.  I've always had angels and i
am sure if you were to examine your life, you too would have many.

Roommates are a necessity for many of us living in the city.  I've had my share and not just in this city.

Before i moved here and after my second divorce i decided to go back to school.  While in school i lived in many rooms in many houses. I also house set.  I stayed at a house while a friend and angel transformed the house into the first bed and breakfast Inn in Eugene, OR.

 Some of the living situations required roommates, and some of them were horrible.  One had a boyfriend who was a coke dealer and arranged for someone to come in while i was at school and steal thousand of dollars worth of jewelry that i had acquired during my marriages.  (Little did they know that because of that horrible experience i would create a line of jewelry made of glass and copper and brass instead of diamonds, emeralds, gold and platinum.)

One of my roommates and one of my angels was the one who suggested i take a metalsmithing class.  "Oh! Dan's class is an easy A. You need some hours so give it a go and besides you'll have some new jewelry". said Dominique.

A. D. Original was created out of that experience and at the age of 44 i discovered i was an artist.  Who'da thunk it.  Not me.  I found out i was, and am, an artist. I loved working with metal.  I combined some glass, at first in the form of marbles, with the metals-- copper and brass, and put them together in various forms.  A new life opened up for me.  Thanks Dominique.

My friend  and angel Denise had moved to NYC as had my daughter.  Denise and her husband had a two bedroom apartment. The invitation was extended for me to stay if i decided i wanted to try the NYC market.

Another friend and angel arranged an art sale in Medford, invited me to participate with him and lo and behold i earned enough money for a plane ticket to the city of my dreams.  I said goodbye to my mother, with whom i had been living, my friends and family, and i was off.

I had a place to live. There were, however some glitches in the arrangement.  My friends welcomed me with opened arms, however the fellow tenants didn't. Being the third adult living in the apartment was in violation of some sort of  lease agreement and  i had to leave after a couple months.  In the meantime I found a little boutique on Madison Ave that agreed to carry some of my line on consignment.  Oh Boy i was on my way--but i need new living arrangements.

My only option at the time was to move into the apartment in Hell's Kitchen with my daughter, son-in-law and grandson.  I loved the area but living in a tiny space with three other people was a hardship for all of us and most of all for my daughter and her family.

The next and most precious of my angels came to my rescue. Bobby, whom i affectionately call Booby, invited me to come be his roommate on the first floor of the same apartment building as i was now living.  Booby is my son-in-laws brother.  Oh--Lucky me!!!

My gentle angel, in the form of Booby, transformed my next 21 years in Manhattan.  His tiny apartment had a neat little loft at one end that was built by Booby to house his frequent visiting guests. There was a ladder to climb and enough room for a single mattress. One couldn't stand up but who cares--i had a place to live---with an actor, who had a gazillion friends, and extensive knowledge of New York city living.  I'd hit the motherload.

B. painted the space a perfect orange with white trim, built some shelving for my jewelry supplies, found some carpet and i  began my life as a jewelry designer in Manhattan. I could sit all day, listen to my tv or radio and make orders that were sent to me from my friend and rep in Oregon.  I still needed a part time job so my daughter suggested i try "Nicolina's" who might not only hire me to work but might take on my jewelry line as well.  More angels.

I was hired and so A.D. original and myself  began a great 6 year run at Nicolina's, a fabulous little boutique in the theater district. Sales were moderate but good and my line soon became the property of quite a few celebrities of the theater.

The beautiful little unique boutique closed with the sudden death of the owner.  It was a sad day, not only for the employees, but for the whole community in general.  Nicole was the only one who could make Nicolina's work and sadly she was no longer with us.

Booby came home one night and said "Ann, ya know, there is a thrift shop opening up across the street and they're looking for someone to take over and set up and run the place.  Go check it out.  I think it's something you could do."  Ya right Booby.  I don't like thrift shops and i've never done anything like that.  "You have lot's of retail experience so, just for fun, go over and check it out"
My dear angel must have told me several times over the period of several days of the opportunity across the street so just to get him off my back i went.

I was hired.  The work was extensive and hard but i loved it.  I loved the people, the experience of doing the design myself. The gig lasted 8 years and was fulfilling but physically taxing.  My jewelry design work had slowed down along with my enthusiasm for pumping out the same designs over and over and over again.

Shortly after i moved in with my angel, he suggested i sign up for an apartment in Manhattan Plaza.  I would be on a waiting list but it was a choice opportunity for anyone in the theater or living in the neighborhood as it was a government subsidised housing unit created specifically for the performing arts. %20 however, had to be rented to neighborhood, elderly, or handicapped.  I would be considered neighborhood.

I balked again as i was only planning on being here for, three months, six months, one year, five years and on and on. Booby said "Ooh! just do it you never know". So i did.  Time and life passed.   8 years i was on the list and renewing every year. Finally i was in, my apartment was ready.

After 30 years of no home of my own, i not only have my own place but i have a place fit for a queen--or at least an upwardly mobile serf!! At a price i can afford. My nest is on the 19th floor. My view is spectacular, my building well maintained and clean, my neighborhood exciting and busy and the transportation, for me, is right outside my door. There is a whole exciting world out there for me.  I'm a little slower and and a little less mobile but i am in love with my life and all the wonderful people in it.

My  years here have certainly been full of ups and downs.  My angels have been many, my devils-few.  Life is good.

Sexual Reassignment of "Funner".

Those who know me are aware of the obsession i've acquired for goldfish.  It all started with the goldfish my former roommate gave me to care for, while he relocated.  "Jonah" was a smart and long lived fish who ended up staying with me till his death a year or so later.  I buried him in the quiet garden downstairs amongts the flowers.

I was given a small 10 gallon tank, also from my former roommate, and thus started on a goldfish adventure.  I grew to love Jonah and enjoyed seeing him swim back and forth in the environment i created for him. Several weeks after his passing, i decided to get another fish, maybe two or three.

Since that time i've had several.  My fish have survive from a few days to several years and in that time i have grieved their passing but quickly gained knowledge to help them survive longer with the help of the informed pet store staff . It's not as easy as it sounds.  One 10 gallon tank can ideally sustain one gold fish.  WHAT!!!! I wanted several different kinds swimming around.  Well it doesn't work, as i've learned the hard way.  My last purchase, several months ago, was for two fish which i named "Jo-an and Jackson"

Fish, like humans, have different personalities--some are smarter than others.  At one point i purchased a "Fish Training Kit"  Yes, fish can be trained just like other animals using food as the incentive. The kit sits in my cupboard, unused, except when i  break it out to show people the cute miniature basketball net and soccer net with the appropriate balls to match. There is an instructional DVD included. I had big expectation but it still sits in the cupboard unused.

Jo-an was quick to pick up the idea of how to get the food.  First a kiss on the finger, then the food.  Jackson, however would wait for the food to sink, and therefore didn't have to work as hard.  He was shy and i think Jo-an picked on him.  That can be a problem as fish too can become a bullies.

I had been having problems with my filtering system.  Goldfish put out a huge amount of ammonia in the form of waste.  My one filter with a combo charcoal for goldfish, wasn't enough.

They became listless as i tried different remedies.  One morning i woke up and found one of my fish belly up.  Oh! shit.  I hate when i loose a fish.  They're goldfish for god's sake but again they are part of my home and i love them, and care for them, and they aren't suppose to die so quickly.  Well, sometimes they do.

I quickly disposed of the fish.  I scooped him up with the net, (I thought it was Jackson) with my eyes closed.  The quiet garden was closed so, i'm sorry to say, the New York sewer system was the final resting place for my fish.

OK---I'm going to go get another filter so i now have two filters , and i'm just going to have one fish, Jo-an. (I thought).  I must make the remaining fish comfortable and happy alone in a well cared for well filtered tank.  Finally i'll use all that i have learned and see what happens.

Days pass and the remaining fish perks up--the new filtering system is working.  However i'm noticing that the remaining fish is skittish and is shy about coming to the top of the tank to kiss my finger to get the food.  DAMN. I think it is Jackson that survived instead of Jo-an.  How could i not know.

Gold fish change color as they age and if they had any distinguishing marks while young, they seem to disappear with time. That happened to Jackson.  He lost his black markings.  I was lost. What do i do--i'm now not sure which of the fish survived.  Jo-an was always the stronger and smarter fish.  I thought she would be the one to survive--now i'm not sure.

While skyping with my daughter one day i was relaying my fish tale of woe.  Since i didn't know really, which sex survived, it became clear to me that the fish needed a sexual reassignment, i just needed to declare the fish a female and call her "Funner".  One problem remained----"Funner" was not living up to her name. She's slow to react and skittish and i'm not liking that. I was feeling sad that my fish was not as smart as i'd like.  My darling, animal loving daughter said "Mom the fish can't help it---maybe she's mentally challenged" OMG, i now have a challenged fish that's had a sexual reassignment and i now can love and appreciate her for who she (or he) is.  She is a little slow but after several months now she is coming up to the top of the tank to visit. Her home is pristine and she is exploring and thriving.

Goldfish have enriched my life.  I love having them.  I take good care of them, talk to them and redecorate for them, so they don't get bored with their surroundings.  When someone says to me "Ann, you should get a cat".  I say "Why--i have my sexually reassigned, mentally challenged, wonderful goldfish "Funner".