Me and Sullie

Yesterday morning I looked on the news web site and found out that the flight crew from the flight 1549 Hudson River emergency landing was going to be at City Hall to get the keys to the city. I looked at the map and figured I could be there in 10 minutes. I was, but things looked awfully empty. It turns out that Sullie and Co. were getting their award indoors rather than the traditional ceremony at the steps. At least it gave me a chance to get to know the neighborhood. So far, I hadn't veered much off the path of the subway station to my office.

A one-week veteran

Things are now proceeding with metronome-like precision. I get to the platform in Merrick eight minutes early, and stand at the yellow line next to two regulars, waiting for car number 3. As we were getting off the platform at Penn and marching up the stairs two by two to get to the A train, I had a feeling of Deja Vu. It reminded me of the opening sequence in Fritz Lang's classic film Metropolis. My last remaining source of frustration is the Metrocard. I should be able to buy rides $20 at a time, but every machine I've tried gives me the option of a seven dollar ticket or a single ride. My supervisor says that such a thing cannot be, so we are going to go to the Franklin Street station at lunch time and we'll see for ourselves. Eventually, I will buy an 80 ticket with my March monthly pass.

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrdTdp5UF-M&feature=related

The 7:32 from Merrick

I'd forgotten how different the LIRR is when you are on a commuter express. The regulars know to the inch where to stand on the platform to get the opening doors. Once inside, you have exactly one second to assess the seat situation and make your move. After that, it is a case of creating your cocoon of newspaper, Ipod and coffee, take up as little space as possible and ignore all of those other people dressed in black. Unlike weekend trains, you never hear the punching of tickets when the conductor goes by, since nearly everyone has a monthly pass. I leave mine showing and then forget it's there, usually not even noticing when I'm being checked. Merrick is the last stop of three, so the miles just melt away and 45 minutes later you are getting off. The true hardcore commuter will not even stand up until the train has made it to the station platform. Then it's the subway. I'm getting partial to the downtown A - even though it's more crowded, there are only 2 stops before Canal. The other subway has 8 stops. Then I get to my office on the 7th floor and look out the window to see the very tip of the Empire State Building if it's a clear day. Then I work, but that's a different blog.

Doomsday

On Halloween day, 2006, we went to Greenwich Village to catch the festivities at the dog run, as dogs are dressed up in funny costumes to the amusement of everyone but the dogs. As we were driving down 5th Ave. towards the arch, we could see that something was very wrong. There were burned out hulks of cars - looked like a multi-car accident. Once we got closer, it was a 20 car accident. Actually, it was a movie company taking over the streets around Washington Square for a movie shoot - the end-of-the-world or at least end-of-New-York film "I am Legend." As we walked down McDougall street, we were only 5 feet away from Will Smith. Unfortunately, he was in his trailer, so we didn't actually see him.

3 days in the City - day 1

We've lived on Long Island since 1990 and have not, in that time period, spent the night in New York. Recently an old friend of ours offered us her apartment on the upper West side while she was out travelling. With my teaching duties and so on, we figured out that we could do two nights starting Thursday. Also, our friend told us that she had tickets to the first regular performance of "My Fair Lady" at Lincoln Center for Thursday, and we were welcome to use them. Since Lincoln Center was across the street, that sounded pretty good. Also, the performance starred Kelsey Grammer and Brian Dennehy, and we had never been to Lincoln Center, so it actually sounded fabulous.

Our New York adventures

At first we had an excuse. We had just moved out to Long Island from Arizona, and we wanted to know about interesting places so we could show off to visiting Arizonans. Now, 17 years later, we must face up to the truth. We just enjoy exploring New York City. Every block is steeped in history. Mark Twain walked these streets. Lincoln debated Douglas here. Teddy Roosevelt tried to reform the place. George Washington said farewell to the troops here. September 11 happened here. There is nothing like it and never will be again. In these blogs we'll try to convey the sense of excitement that we feel about our adopted city.