This story would fall under the "Only in New York" category. Yesterday I was in Times Square flyering for the Gazillion Bubble Show, which I can do to make a little extra money. I had my bike locked to a sign about half a block away from where I was standing. Usually when I lock my bike in Times Square, people use the basket as a trash receptacle (how rude!) Yesterday someone left some very interesting items in my basket. There was a half eaten sandwich, a couple empty water bottles...but there was also an unopened bottle of Dr. Brown's Black Cherry Soda, which I took home. Also, a folded piece of paper which I was curious about, so I read it...
Um...random! Why was this left in my bike basket? Seems like the kind of information you wouldn't want to leave laying around. Also, did I just drink Serena Williams' black cherry soda?
After about 4 months of biking around Manhattan, I can say that my bike is probably one of the best purchases I've ever made. I can't believe the years I lived here and DIDN'T have a bike. I had thought about getting one a few times over the years, but never had that push to make it happen until the MTA threatened fare hikes, potentially raising the price of a monthly Metro Card from $81 to $103! That was just too much for me to handle. The online petitions began and the politicians began negotiating in Albany, but I decided to be proactive and not let politicians decide things for me for once. If the MTA was going to raise fares and cut service, I wasn't going to be needing their services anymore.
Riding my bike has changed several things about my existence here in New York. First of all, the every day rite of passage of the New York resident, taking the subway, is no longer part of my life. This is both good and bad (but mostly good). I miss the (good) subway performers, the time to read or listen to my iPod, the people watching, stopping at the subterrainian news stands to grab a soda or snack. I do NOT miss the bad smells, the late trains, the construction, the over-crowded cars, the people not respecting my personal space, or the rats running down the tracks. I especially do not miss having to wait a half hour or more to get a train if I'm travelling in the wee hours of the morning.
When I started riding my bike, I thought maybe I would be reluctant to do it at times and make excuses to not do it ("It looks like it's going to rain" or "I'm tired"). This is SO not the case. I have been known to ride when it is sprinkling and then been caught in a downpour. One day I arrived at work literally wringing out my pants, looking like I'd been thrown in the river. But it was a small price to pay for me. I take my chances with the weather gladly. The other potential problem of being tired hasn't really been an issue either. I remember saying that I thought maybe I wouldn't want to ride my bike to work on Saturdays because I work such a long day, I might dread having to ride my bike home. On the contrary, I get new energy when I ride. Where as I used to drag myself to the train station and sit like a zombie on the ride home, now when I hop on my bike to leave, the exercise wakes me up again, and I feel refreshed.
The other night, I ventured out of Manhattan on my bike for the first time, and rode to Queens to spend a long night hanging out with Eduardo and some other friends. When I was finally ready to leave, it was after 5am. Eduardo told me I could leave my bike and take the train, but I wanted to ride home. When I started out, it was still dark, but the sun slowly began to rise as I rode towards Manhattan, following the people going to start the early shift at work and the trucks hauling the breakfast carts to set up on the busy corners of the city. Instead of feeling tired and miserable, just longing for my bed (as I know I would have been if I'd been on the train), I enjoyed seeing the city wake up, the lack of cars on the road, and when I got home around 6:30am, I didn't even fall immediately into bed. Once again, the exercise gave me a second wind, and I stayed up a while eating breakfast and watching the morning news.
So, I can't really see a downside to bike riding around the city. It saves time, money, and it's great exercise! I've lost a few pounds and my pants fit a little looser since I started riding. And now when I hear friends complaining about the MTA, I just think to myself, "I beat the system!"
I love New York, and I love sports...particularly baseball. And I love this commercial:
I completely stole this off a New York Times blog. I found myself laughing at the simple creativity. It may or may not resonate as strongly with a non-New Yorker. See how many of these you get:
During the cold and dark Berlin winter days, I spend a lot of time with my boys in their room. And as I look at the toys scattered on the floor, my mind inevitably wanders back to New York.
Christmas in the Big Apple (Does Anyone Really Call it That?)
My annual Christmas post is a little late, but better late than never, right? Anyway, it is late with good reason because I had a very fun but very hectic week with my family in New York! I moved into the Harlem House where I got to house/cat sit for the week last Sunday night. I spent the next several days moving presents, laundry, food, my cat, etc over to the house in small trips. Oh, I should mention I worked a 40 hour week last week too, so it wasn't like I had vacation time to get things done! Anyway, I got the house in good shape and fully stocked with gifts and Christmas food by Wednesday (Christmas Eve) when my parents and brother arrived. They were supposed to get into Newark Airport at around 12:30pm and meet me at work. Then I had arranged tickets for them to see The Marvelous Wonderettes (one of the shows playing where I work) at 3pm. Well, that didn't go according to plan as their flight was delayed a couple hours and they ended up getting into Newark at 2:40pm. So, they didn't make the show. But it was no big deal because I just pushed the tickets to another day.
I ended up getting off work early (Merry Christmas to me!) and met up with my family at Penn Station around 4:30pm. We made our way up to the house, dropped off the luggage, and then headed back to midtown for our dinner reservation. We had a nice meal and then walked over to Rockefeller Plaza to see the Christmas tree. Then we headed up 5th Ave to look at the shop windows and decorations. Then we went to Soldier McGee where Eduardo was working and he met my family for the first time. We had a drink and relaxed while Eduardo popped over every now and then to chat. We stayed a while, then went back to Harlem and wrapped gifts until about 2am! Eduardo came over when he got off work and we all stayed the night there.
Christmas morning was great. We started with a nice breakfast and then opened stockings and presents. Here's my annual list of what I got!
From Mom and Dad:
- Matching scarf, hat and gloves
- A fun T-shirt
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for Wii
- A new colorful watch
- Lost: Season 1 on DVD
- Other clothes including a shirt, tank top, some sweats, and a sports bra
- Mario Party 8 for Wii
From Marylin:
- Assorted Victoria's Secret lotions
- Prince Caspian on DVD
- A new digital camera (my old one is broken)
- A nice sweater
- Underwear
- Candy
- Carmex
- Hairbands
- iTunes gift card
- Vanilla Bean Noel shower gel from Bath and Body Works
- A Wii and accesories!
The rest of the week went by fast. Dad left for Cincinnati Friday afternoon, but Mom and Adam stayed through the weekend, and we did some more fun stuff including going to the South Street Seaport, ice skating in Central Park, and finally seeing the Marvelous Wonderettes after they had missed it Christmas Eve. I had such a great time this year. I think the combination of being able to see my friends, family and boyfriend for Christmas in the most Christmas-y place ever made it an unforgetable year. I'm sad that it's over, but I'm looking for nothing but good things in 2009.
Here's a few photos from the week:
Dad and Adam Christmas morning (just after I'd gotten my new camera!)
Eduardo holding his nephew Victor
Mom and Adam at the South Street Seaport
Marylin and I skating in Central ParkI've recently gotten a glimpse of several happening around me that make me appreciate where I live. This is mostly because lately I've been running all over Manhattan doing the bidding of Studio 42 (see previous post for what Studio 42 is), but rather than begrudge them for it (and I really can't because I love my non-paying job), I take these opportunities to enjoy the living city around me.
So, the other day I was walking near Times Square and saw some big trailers parked on the street, which means some movie or TV show is probably shooting near by. It isn't an odd sight in New York. I started to walk more slowly to see if I could figure out what was filming, and I saw this on the trailer...
...and that made me smile.
Yesterday I was riding the bus, sitting towards the back, reading the Total Money Makeover, and I heard someone's cell phone ring. I looked up and realized the ring tone was the theme to the original Superman movies. And here's where the story gets good. The man with the cell phone raised both of his hands over his head, fists clenched, in his best Superman pose. I looked at him in amazement, but I didn't feel bad about staring since I would guess that's what he was going for. He held his pose until I can only guess that he knew the phone was about to go to voice mail, and then lowered his arms and answered the phone casually. And that made me smile.
A few days ago I was running some errands in the theatre district and walked by the big bad Scientology building located on 46th Street here in Manhattan. Usually I see a few dianetics pamphlets scattered on the street near the building. But this time I noticed a group of people across the street from the building, with signs and pamphlets yelling "Scientology is a lie!"
And that made me smile.
And just one more thing that makes me smile. I'm not sure if the IO cable commercials play in other states, but in New York, they are super popular. Here's the latest and I laugh pretty much every time it comes on!
I like it even better in Spanish, but unfortunately couldn't find that on YouTube.