The walk

Tonight, as the insanity of the thesis hit a new high, my roommate and I decided to pull ourselves from our respective laptops and take a 30 minute walk around the neighborhood. A neighborhood walk in Queens usually brings some very unexpected things. It's just the nature of the borough. After a few run ins with big dogs that made my heart rate go up, we turned onto a block we don't normally find ourselves on during a walk. Half way up the block, I thought I saw fireworks in someones front yard. I had to walk a few more yards to realize that there were not fireworks but rather fountains, lit with very colorful lights, shooting water high into the air. It's as if these homeowners are stepping up their game--they have obviously put those blow up snow globes and gigantic Easter rabbits to shame.

PS Where do people find these things?

Out and about

I am a big fan of observing others while I'm out. Sometimes, it may dip too far into staring to be considered polite. But, it usually brings little nuggets of goodness to my life.

Today's highlights:
*A woman was on line for the bathroom at Starbucks and was texting to what I assume was her friend. She texted, "No, you are not too fat. You are hot. Not fat."
*A man who had covered himself with mean looking tattoos had given himself a tattoo that the native women of New Zealand have traditionally given themselves. It was a little chin tattoo with some dots. The Maori grandmas I saw with the tattoo and this knuckle tattoo guy = same.
*A woman (wearing a winter hat with little cat ears) sat on the subway reading a book called the Birthing Partner. When our train came above ground, she called her friend and exclaimed, "Hey! Hi!" She then had a whole conversation in exclamations. I wondered if I was too cranky-NY to deal with shiny-happy people anymore. Then, I wondered if she was really the kind of person who should be around to calm someone who is birthing.

Oh NYC.

NYC 1-Me 0

Today was one of those days. It started off good--resting at home followed by a lunch at some famous chef restaurant. Then, I took to the street. I was on the search for black shoes. I searched several blocks this way, several blocks that way, and then right back to where I started. After heading several more blocks north, taking a subway up 30 more blocks, I ended up with a little bag for my iPod and tired feet. I was cross checked by an angry lady during a detour to look at lacy things, was huffed at by angry lady no. 2 as she rushed up the escalator, and was generally surrounded by too many people. Some days NYC seems to hold all of those things that keep me entertained. Today was not one of those days.

These are the rules

On my way home from a teaching test, I found myself in a bit of a situation. Normally, people coexist on the subway with little to no interaction with strangers. We all have agreed to some unspoken pact that no one is to speak or touch. Today the rules were violated.

I was sitting close (but not too close) to two people. Then a woman got on the train and wedged herself between me and the woman on my left. There was not nearly enough room for her to fit--she had to sit on the edge of the bench and I was smooshed into the man next to me. I became obviously distressed. I was touching not one but two people! I had to get out of the situation without violating the no speaking rule. After a moment of panic, I stood up. I am sure that I had mildly pissy look on my face--allowing other people on the train to know that I would never so blatantly violate the rules.

Then, I sat in someones seat who got off the train at the next stop. Then, the lady who knows no boundaries got off at the stop after that one. Then, I realized my disgust at the situation may mean I have lived in NY too long.