Well... I've got the boyfriend thing covered but instead of just one of those things, I'm looking for both a new apartment and a new job and it's been extremely stressful. I apologize for not bloggity blogging as much during this time, but I will tell you that I have a couple of leads on both fronts, so just keep your fingers crossed for me.
We're about to close another issue at Audubon (closing means getting everything done and shipping it off to be printed), and I am happy to say I will have two "Field Notes" approx. 500 words each, a book review and a "dispatch" report in the next issue. Hooray for clips! This will likely be my last issue at Audubon so I'm milking it for all it's worth. I'll be very sorry when I walk out the Audubon door for (possibly) the last time. The staff is a group of sincere, genuinely nice people who have taught me so much and I'm sad that they have to kick me out ;)
Last Monday, Mike and I went ice skating. This was after much debate, since neither of us had gotten paid in awhile and we weren't sure if we should spend the money to go. But in the end, we concluded we both need the release. So off to Bryant Park we went (yes, Project Runway fans, same place they put up the tents for Fashion Week). It was only my second time ice skating, and Mike played lots of hockey when he was a kid, so needless to say I was clinging to him most of the time. I got the hang of it though, and didn't fall once!
I'm probably about to fall in this next one, not having Mike hold me up.
It was really amazing ice skating in Bryant Park, pretty much in the heart of midtown. Skating laps in perfect view of the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building with jazz playing in the background as I'm trying not to fall on my booty. In all, a great day and definitely worth the bucks required.
Empire State Building (the one with the pointy thing in the background, third from the right. I only say that because I saw a couple of tourists one day pointing at the Chrysler building saying 'oh, look! The Empire State Building!' Obviously there is some confusion).
THIS is the Chrysler building (skinny pretty one in the middle) and I love the way it looks when it's lit at night.
So that was a very good day. Mike hopes to have Sundays off and my goal is to go out and do "New York" things.We went to go see his sister in the upper west side to make a delicious vegetarian lasagna and I actually helped a lot. Ever since dating Mike it has been hard for me to cook (I know, I know, crazy, right?). But the lasagna turned out great, and it was a collaboration. On the way home, braving the 1 train, a man with funny braided hair and wild eyes asked us for money because he was "saving up for new shoelaces." I looked down at his shoes. They were indeed without laces... But I wondered what had happened to the original laces that came with them. When we both told him (truthfully) we had no cash, he got off at the next stop. I watched as he walked down the platform, and because we were in the first car, if he walked any further he'd be too far, behind the gate in the tunnel where passengers aren't supposed to go. I saw him run past the barrier. I told Mike, "He just ran past the platform barrier!" I stood up and pressed against the door of the subway to see him jump on to the tracks and run across to the track going the opposite way. Our train conductor also noticed, honking the horn in one constant tone as I watched the man run up the tracks, not knowing if he would be electrocuted or hit by an oncoming train. As our train pulled away, I saw him climb up a ladder to the platform. I can honestly say I haven't seen anything that scary in a long time. Generally the "third rail" is charged with electricity, and warning signs tell you not to even think about going on the tracks. It was one of the most terrifying things I have ever seen.
Each time a train comes in, I stand a little closer than the yellow line to feel the woosh as the train goes by me. You can almost feel the power of the train with the wind it creates.
That's a video of the R Train... the one I take every day on my way to Manhattan. Recently a New York Times columnist began a series about commuting in New York and he's doing different train, ferry or tram each day to document what the ride is like, what kind of people ride the train, etc (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/18/realestate/18comm.html?_r=1&ref=realestate&oref=slogin) but he has not as of yet done the R Train. I'd be interested to see what he'd say about my hometown train. It's so funny how defensive people are of their trains. Almost like a sports teams.
Speaking of, Giants and Patriots Superbowl. Holy Crap. I'm inclined to favor the Patriots because of their amazing undefeated season... But being anything but a Giants fan here will get you a smack in the mouth. So says a man on the evening news who pushed a woman who said "Go Patriots!" on the street. New York fans are harsh, man.
Again, I apologize for the long period in between posts and I ask you for your crossed fingers/good thoughts/prayers that I can find at least one of two things I'm looking for: A good room and a good job.
Goodnight!
