So, I’ve been here a month. And I’ve learned a few things that I will share with you now.
Driving in New York is foolish. There is almost no reason to own a car. I have to invent excuses just to use my car. Twice a week, they clean our street, one side on Tuesday and the other on Thursday. So once a week, for two hours I have to move my car, double park on the other side and let the dirt Zamboni make its way down President St. And God help you if you are one of the people who is on the side that get’s double parked in. You are stuck. What I do, is use that 2 hour window to drive around, run errands and get the oil flowing through my engine again. Last week I drove to the local Costco and bought cases or Seltzer water. (If you want to be a true East Coast Elitist, you have to drink Seltzer. It’s the law.) This week, I intend on visiting the Brooklyn Museum. Next week, I might get crazy and drive into New Jersey!
Do you know why the New York marathon is the biggest marathon in the country? Because people in New York don’t walk. They run. All the time. Or at least that is how I interpret it. I am a good foot taller than Elizabeth. My legs are much longer than hers, but when we walk down the street, I have a hard time keeping up with her. And it isn’t just her. People here really know how to move. Now it could be my five years in Austin. There I learned how to mosey and am very good at it. When I walk, you can here Dale Evans and Roy Rogers singing “Happy Trails”. I stroll. I’m not in a hurry. In New York, everyone is always five minutes late to where ever they are going and where ever they are going is the most important place or event in the world. Little old ladies cruise by me, even when I am trying to walk fast. It’s kind of embarrassing. I hope that as time passes, I too will be able to cover the streets of the city like a Gazelle. Right now, I just try to stay to the right. Although that can be a challenge, because much like Gazelles or Antelope, New Yorkers never move in a straight line. They are always weaving, even if there is nothing in front of them. I suppose that keeps the snipers from hitting them….
Driving in New York is foolish. There is almost no reason to own a car. I have to invent excuses just to use my car. Twice a week, they clean our street, one side on Tuesday and the other on Thursday. So once a week, for two hours I have to move my car, double park on the other side and let the dirt Zamboni make its way down President St. And God help you if you are one of the people who is on the side that get’s double parked in. You are stuck. What I do, is use that 2 hour window to drive around, run errands and get the oil flowing through my engine again. Last week I drove to the local Costco and bought cases or Seltzer water. (If you want to be a true East Coast Elitist, you have to drink Seltzer. It’s the law.) This week, I intend on visiting the Brooklyn Museum. Next week, I might get crazy and drive into New Jersey!
Do you know why the New York marathon is the biggest marathon in the country? Because people in New York don’t walk. They run. All the time. Or at least that is how I interpret it. I am a good foot taller than Elizabeth. My legs are much longer than hers, but when we walk down the street, I have a hard time keeping up with her. And it isn’t just her. People here really know how to move. Now it could be my five years in Austin. There I learned how to mosey and am very good at it. When I walk, you can here Dale Evans and Roy Rogers singing “Happy Trails”. I stroll. I’m not in a hurry. In New York, everyone is always five minutes late to where ever they are going and where ever they are going is the most important place or event in the world. Little old ladies cruise by me, even when I am trying to walk fast. It’s kind of embarrassing. I hope that as time passes, I too will be able to cover the streets of the city like a Gazelle. Right now, I just try to stay to the right. Although that can be a challenge, because much like Gazelles or Antelope, New Yorkers never move in a straight line. They are always weaving, even if there is nothing in front of them. I suppose that keeps the snipers from hitting them….
I am in love with the New York City Subway system. And like any loving relationship, sometimes I wish I had a gun. Most of the time, the subway runs very well. It gets me from where I am to where I am going in a reasonable fashion. But when it goes bad, oh man oh man. My numbers may be a little fuzzy, but around 945 billion people ride the subway in NY each day, (give or take a billion). So if say a train derails, or someone has a heart attack or there is a fight that requires the police to show up (ALL of these things have happened in the past 4 weeks while I have been commuting) then the entire system slows or stops. And that can be frustrating, tiresome and hot and sweaty. On the other hand, there is every type of person you can think of on the New York City Subway at any given time. Want to see three different types of Jews all within 10 feet of each other? Got you covered. Throw in an Iranian and a Palestinian as book ends? Done. Looking for cross dressers? Name your flavor. Smelly people? The New York City Subway is an olfactory smorgasbord! And let’s talk about crazy people and religious zealots! Holy Crap! It’s a non stop festival of wacky! I used to have a bad habit of falling asleep on the El in Chicago or the Subway in Los Angeles. Not happening here. Too much going on. Now I am trying to perfect my subway soundtrack. I put my MP3 player on and try to find music that is appropriate. Here’s what I have deduced so far. Music made by people who were probably riding subways while they were starting out as artists is usually the best. Here are the bands or musicians so far that pass the subway test; The Who, Isaac Hayes, Jim Croce, Billy Bragg, The Nails, Billy Joel, Del Amitri, Fine Young Cannibals and Miles Davis. These artists, so far make the ride on the subway all the more enjoyable.
If you have never been to New York City, you are depriving yourself. I am very much enamoured with this place. The people, the sights, the sounds and the smells all make for an amazing experience that really can’t be described. Come. Visit. We can go for a run….
If you have never been to New York City, you are depriving yourself. I am very much enamoured with this place. The people, the sights, the sounds and the smells all make for an amazing experience that really can’t be described. Come. Visit. We can go for a run….
