Recommended Reading

Last Christmas my parents gave me a great book from my wish list (because they are rock stars).

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

Many people will find this a bizarre request, and perhaps even in poor taste for a holiday wish list, but it has become one of my favorite books. I recognize that it will not be recorded in history as an important piece of literature, but it was an entertaining and (surprisingly) intelligent book.

If I didn't have a headache tonight, I would take the time in this post to explain why I think so. But since my head is pounding, I am simply going to suggest that you give it a chance. Why not? You never know. You might like it. And it might even help to enlarge your literary boundaries. This has been the case with me. Just last night I stopped at the Borders in Columbus Circle and purchased a Jane Austen novel, which is something I never would have done before. I am engrossed in the book and have already read eleven chapters. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has held my interest thus far, and I don't think I will lose interest in it before the end.


Okay, so Seth Grahame-Smith has expanded on the original text to create a new "edition" of Jane Austen's original novel, but I think it has really enhanced the story. True, I never read the story in its original form, but I can't help thinking that the addition of the undead in the English countryside has enriched the bantering and prattling on of the characters. And for those offended by these changes, please note that according to an article I read in The Week, "85 percent of the original text hasn't been touched". Isn't it worth sacrificing 15 percent of the original writing to get more people interested in such a classic piece? I think so. (I'm even willing to let people on the subway see me reading Jane Austen now, without embarrassment!)

Fight on, Miss Bennet!

Año Número Uno

Today marks one complete year of me living in New York City. I still love it.

I will not be celebrating this milestone here in the City, however, because in four hours I am supposed to be out of bed for a ski trip to Hunter Mountain. Just a day trip. It's been years since I donned a pair of skis. We'll see how it goes. My knees feel older than they did in 2002. Or was it 2003? My mind is slipping, as well.

I can't wait to see what Year #2 has in store for me.

For now, I suppose I should go to bed.

Taking Candy from a Stranger

While waiting for the D-train to Harlem from the Atlantic-Pacific Terminal in Brooklyn a few nights ago, a woman on the platform told me that it makes her think about going out at night when she has to wait on the D-train. This started a discussion about the reliability and frequency of specific trains and how that affects our decisions and plans.

She seemed like a nice lady and as the D came into the station she told me to enjoy my evening. And then as we were walking into the same door of the train she handed me a bag of Mango Balls candy and told me if I ever go to a 99-cent store I need to get these because they are really good. She insisted I take them and showed me that she had another bag in her purse. She also told me where I could find a 99-cent store in downtown Brooklyn and that Mango Balls are available at CostCo and BJ's, as well.

I have to be honest. They weren't the best candies I've ever tried, but getting them as a gift from a nice lady made them some of the best candies I've ever received as a gift. It just reinforces the sense of camaraderie I love about New York City and is another example of the acts of kindness and love I see around me as I traverse the streets and tunnels.

P.S.- I gave her a bag of gummie cola bottles (one of my favorites) as I was getting off the train. Share the love, right?

My First Christmas Gift of 2008

This wasn't on my list...

... but you gotta love those company party white elephant gifts.

I Love My Chucks

These are the Converse All-Stars that I love.

They are my default shoes now.

These are the socks I love to wear with my Converse All-Stars.




I am afraid that in the coming months they aren't going to be pounding as much pavement as they normally do. My feet have been getting chilly out there in recent days. Perhaps I'll try thicker socks before I decide to relegate my shoes to warm days. I'm not sure I can stand the thought of putting them away.

A Simple Joy (courtesy of YouTube)

This afternoon I saw a young woman watching YouTube on her laptop in the Starbucks cafe. The first time I noticed her she was smiling. The second time I noticed her she was laughing. I couldn't hear her from across the room, but her head was moving and her mouth was open in a wide grin. I think she was trying not to draw attention to herself, but she also didn't seem able to keep herself from at least silent laughter. And that made me smile. Even now, a few hours later on the train, I am smiling as I think about it. I can't help myself. I love simple joys like that.

Limbo

I knew it was too good to be true. I was on my way to work at Starbucks for a morning shift and I only had to wait for the L-train for five minutes. At 4:50 in the morning, that's not a bad wait time.

Oh wait, what the electronic announcement at Lorimer Station meant to say was, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the next Manhattan-bound L-train will depart in approximately five minutes. The wait-time you didn't spend on the Lorimer platform will be made up for in the tunnel between Bedford Avenue and First Avenue."

But since I didn't hear that announcement, I got my hopes up that I would actually be early to work, rather than sitting on a stationary train somewhere between Brooklyn and Manhattan for at least sixteen minutes. Some poor guy has actually started snoring on the bench across from me. I wish I was tired enough for a nap this morning.

I always complain if they don't give us any information. After hearing the worker in the compartment near me telling someone over the radio that he can't hear her, listening to an electronic buzzer going off in the tunnel, and watching an MTA worker walk along the train passage next to our car, they made the announcement that there were workers on the track in front of us. I am grateful for that. Though I think I could have done just fine without the repetitive automated announcement, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we're being held momentarily by the train's dispatcher. Please be patient." You never know though. The MTA probably spent way too much money on a psychological study to determine that even repetitive, generic announcements will help people be more patient when they are in a hurry and stuck in the limbo of a dark subway tunnel somewhere beneath the City or the East River.

Though I often take notes while I'm out and about, this is the first time I have posted on my blog via my mobile device. Here it is, folks. Raw reporting from the streets, bridges and tunnels of the City. I love my BlackBerry.

And our train has finally made it to 8th Avenue and I am late. (Yes, please. I will have "whine" with my cheese.)