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| Saturday, December 31, 2005 |
| HAPPY New Year |
Well, this is it folks, my last post of 2005. I end this year happier than I've been in a long long time. I've got my finances in order (a major spot of concern in my daily life), I've got a great job, the best friends in the world. My family is happy, safe, and healthy. And I'm in a relationship with an absolutely wonderful man. Yeah, life doesn't get much better than all that.
And I want to take a second to thank everyone who'd been reading around here. I started this thing a little less than a year ago and I NEVER thought it'd get to where it's gotten. Thank you for the comments, the emails, for stopping by. In your own way you've each made 2005 a better and more interesting year.
So here's to wishing you all the sort of happiness I am feeling at the moment. I hope you all have a wonderful and safe New Years Eve, and a terrific start to 2006.
Love,
FinyLabels: NYC |
posted by FINY @ Saturday, December 31, 2005   |
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| Wednesday, December 28, 2005 |
| A Christmas Present to Nacho |
Nacho, sweetie, this one is for you. I know you’ve been waiting for it.
A few weeks ago, Johnny Damon was signed by the dreaded New York Yankees. I didn’t write about it right away. Obviously. But it occupied my thoughts a lot less than I thought it would. I’ve mentioned before that I am not a big off-season baseball fan. There are too many rumors, too much speculation. Overall just too many people talking just to hear the sound of their own voices. Sure I have my opinions on certain deals and whatnot, but my discussions over who should be batting lead off or who should be signed to a contract aren’t exactly going to change the Front Offices decisions, so why lose precious time and sleep over it? Especially when there’s not much to spare during the holidays to begin with.
(As a side note, I completely realize how ridiculous this argument is when during the regular season I will regularly challenge the manager’s in-game decisions. It’s not like me saying that so-and-so should have been brought in in the 8th is going to change anything, but for some reason I take much more pleasure in that. Sure it doesn’t make sense, but you know what? I just don’t care.)
But when the Yankees signed Johnny Damon to a 4 year 52 million dollar deal, I couldn’t escape it. Everyone in my office was wondering if I was in mourning. People were calling from home asking if I was ok. I was getting phone calls, emails, IMs you name it. People were sending me their condolences. And sure for certain people I played it up. But in all honesty? I’m not all that upset.
I will take a moment to say that he looks absolutely ridiculous in pinstripes. I mean come on, he went from this:
To this:
Any red-blooded woman is going to tell you which one's hotter. And I could care less how CFB that was of me to say.
What I want to know is where was everyone when Bill Mueller left? I proudly wore my number 11 T-shirt to every game I went to this year. He was my kind of guy. Quietly providing the Sox with solid batting and defense. He’s the kind of player that MLB needs more of, and I was really sad to see him go. Johnny on the other hand I never really formed any sort of emotional attachment to. He always seemed fake to me. And while I will always love him for being one of the 25, I’m not going to have a problem rooting against him now that he’s on the Yankees.
Because he proved me right. I was always under the impression that everything that came out of his mouth was a part of his “image”, that it wasn’t the real him we were seeing. I can’t stand people like that. Yeah the team’s got other guys who are quirky and weird. Manny comes to mind. But they still seem real. Johnny never felt that way to me. And now he’s shown his true colors.
What pisses me off the most about the whole thing was the lying. And I am sorry but that’s what he did. All year he spouted all this “the Sox mean more to me than the money, I would never go to the Yankees, blah blah blah”. But come on, as a guy going into free-agency, you KNOW that the money wins out. Always. So unless you really mean it, don’t spout it. We’re grown ups, we can handle the fact that this is a business, and this is your job and if I was offered that much more money somewhere else then of course I’d take it. Who wouldn’t? So now it looks like he was just trying to get the fans to love him that much more. News flash to Johnny, it wasn’t necessary. We all already loved you for being one of the best lead off batters in MLB, for your contributions to the 2004 team, for your performance in game 7 of the 2004 ALCS. You didn’t need to do more than that. You didn’t need to pretend that the Sox were all that mattered. That you were going to be loyal to the hometown boys.
But that’s just rational anger. And not even anger. I find myself feeling kind of “eh” about the whole thing. Am I worried that the Sox now have no CF and no SS and a LF and SP who both want to be traded? Hell yeah. But I have to assume that the guys in the Front Office know a hell of a lot more than I do (even with all the upheaval). That may be misplaced trust, but it is what it is. The free agent market this off-season has been ridiculous. Guys are getting signed to outrageous contracts for way more than their worth and way longer than they should be. So I am going to applaud the Sox Front Office for a moment and say I am glad their not out there trying to sign just anyone.
That said, can we please sign SOMEONE soon? It’s almost January fellas, and I don’t know that I can get in shape in time to play centerfield.Labels: Boston, Red Sox, sports |
| posted by FINY @ Wednesday, December 28, 2005 |
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| Thursday, December 22, 2005 |
| "The Strike Is Over"? |
I know I know, I haven't written about Johnny's departure from the Red Sox yet, and I will, I promise. But for the moment, I need to share what just happened. Having not wanted to walk across the bridge once again, I am working from home and sitting in my living room which is right on 4th Ave in Brooklyn. I just heard a cop car going down the street saying over it's PA system "The Strike is over".
But I just turned on the 12 o'clock news, and it seems that the TWU is still in a meeting to approve the workers going back to their jobs and even if they DO we won't have subways for at least 24 hours (while they get the subways back up and running safely). Hmmm. Well, at least it's a step!Labels: NYC |
| posted by FINY @ Thursday, December 22, 2005 |
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| Incoherent |
That’s how I feel right now. Completely incoherent. There is SO much rattling around in my head (a head that is completely frozen by the way). I’m just going to bullet point my random thoughts cause that’s all I can get out right now.
*  This picture (from MSNBC) is of the subway stop I get on to go to work every morning. The one four blocks from my apartment. The one I had to walk straight past today.
* The walk itself was actually quite interesting. I map quested it before I left, and it estimated that it was approximately four and a half miles. I found a half used disposable camera in my dresser and used the rest of it up on the way. Photos included my subway stop with barricades on the stairs, a city bus that the NYPD had taken over to transport officers that had a ghetto NYPD sign duct taped to the side, an uphill shot of the people walking over the Manhattan Bridge with me, a couple of photos of the NYC skyline from the bridge, with the Brooklyn Bridge in the foreground, a few more closed subway stops, some army vehicles that were blocking off Madison Avenue, etc.
* Some interesting things about the walk: not many people walking over the Manhattan Bridge. MANY people walking over the Brooklyn. The streets are eerily quiet. Without the rattle of the subways under your feet and the roar of the bus engines, just having the cars around was weird. And I think a LOT of people stayed home because there weren’t as many people on the streets as I thought there would be. I did see one subway running over the Manhattan Bridge. I had read in the Times that there would be 5,000 workers still operating trains over the rails just to keep the system safe for whenever the strike ends. So at least the Union was thinking ahead in that respect.
* I’ve been reading over at the Unions blog (which allows comments by the way … some VERY interesting reading over there) and am finding it very hard to choose whether I am supportive of the Union or the MTA. Because actually, I want to kick both of their asses. I have no doubt that the MTA isn’t operated well and that they’ve probably tried to screw their workers both in the past and with these negotiations. However, I know no one who makes the kind of money that they do and gets the kinds of raises that they do, for doing a job that, in most cases, doesn’t even require a BA. I know they do a tough job, I am sure the conditions aren’t great, but THAT’S WHY THEY HAVE THE BENEFITS THEY DO! They already get more $$ and better benefits than most workers, and now they want more. Seriously, if they get what they’re asking for it’s enough to make a girl consider taking the test to be a train operator.
* This was/is interesting for a day. I’m going to have stories to tell my kids and whatnot. But past that? It’s cold, people. Really really cold. And I am one of the lucky ones. My walk only took 2 hours. Millions of other people are not so lucky. Millions of others can’t get to their jobs. Millions of people are going to lose pay, possibly their jobs depending on how long this goes on. Yes, the Union workers are getting fined every day, but it’s New Yorkers in general who are getting screwed here. Union workers had a vote to authorize this strike (or should I say, to authorize the union to call a strike if they needed to). The MTA had a choice at the negotiating table. The rest of us? We had nothing to do with this. And we’re the ones stuck footing the bill. Because remember we’re the ones who pay these people. And when the MTA can’t afford what the workers are requiring with this strike, fares will inevitably rise.
So yeah, I’m bitter. And incoherent. And cold.
Please God someone stop this damn thing.Labels: NYC |
| posted by FINY @ Tuesday, December 20, 2005 |
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| Strike |
It's on. NYC transit system has officially shut down. Manhattan Bridge - Here I Come!
But first a quick stop at Wallgreens to get a disposable camera. Oh if only I had my digital camera that I am getting for Christmas right about now!!!Labels: NYC |
| posted by FINY @ Tuesday, December 20, 2005 |
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| Monday, December 19, 2005 |
| Here We Go Again |
Two bus lines in Queens have already had workers go out on strike, and tonight is the supposed "official" deadline for the subway workers and bus operators of NYC.
But how seriously are we supposed to take this now? One deadline has already passed and the two bus lines that went on strike have been without a contract for 3 years, are exempt from the Taylor Law because technically they are still private workers, and only interupted thousands, not millions of commuters. Those poor people were clearly the sacrificial lambs.
So tonight, I have no contingency plan, other than the use of my two feet. Hell for the first few days it might even be interesting. It'll be a "story" to tell my kids. For the first time ever I'd be able to use the whole "I walked in the cold, uphill BOTH WAYS" due to the Manhattan Bridge protion of my walk.
But that's if this actually happens. I don't think it will.
Then again, if it does, I am going to be sticking some very cold feet in my mouth tomorrow.
Edit: it is now 11:05. I just finished watching a statement by the MTA spokesperson Tom Kelly in which he said that the MTA had put a final proposal on the table, that the TWu had rejected the offer, and that they then promptly left the building and went back to the Union Hall. Shit. I wonder how many layers I can fit underneath my jacket. Pretty glad I kept my old LL Bean ski jacket around right about now. Who cares that I haven't used it in years. Could come in VERY handy tomorrow. Shit.
Edit again: time is now 12:24. Still no word. My buddy Derek (who is a reporter for the Daily News) posted this thison his blog. Labels: NYC |
| posted by FINY @ Monday, December 19, 2005 |
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| ... Go to Galapagos |
When I first arrived in New York I did so in order to accept a job at a college textbook publisher in midtown. I was working for seven different people. I WAS Peter from Office Space. Now, years later I look back onto those years and think: “Why in the hell did I stay in that job for so long?”
At the same time that I joke around with my friends about how terrible my time there was, I will always be grateful to the company for one thing: introducing me to some truly wonderful people.
I was reminded of this on Friday night as Meegan, KO, KO’s husband, The Buddhist, and I filed into the Paradise Factory Theater, bracing ourselves for, well, God only knew what. We had all met because of our time at The Company, and we were there to support the family member of another former coworker.
 DC actually used to be one of my seven bosses. She was one of the good ones (ok in truth only one of them was terrible, I loved the rest). DC comes from an interesting family, filled to the brim with musicians. Her brother Chris, was the one we were there to see. A member of the popular NYC band The Knockout Drops, Chris is currently starring in a sort-of-one-man-show called “Escape from Bellevue”. And seriously, if you’re in NYC on a Friday or Saturday before The middle of January, you really should go check this show out.
 Now, knowing Chris, I am never going to be able to write an objective review of the performance (I’ll leave that to Newsday). I will say I was amazed that a show about Chris’ alcohol and drug abuse and his multiple trips to the famed mental institution, Bellevue, had me laughing as often and as hard as it did. The mix of monologues, Drops songs, and various videos were simultaneously poignant and hilarious. (My favorite, by FAR was the video “The Whore Whisperer”).
And what do you do after seeing an hour and a half long show about the rocky path to sobriety? Well of course you go to a bar and get yourselves some drinks. So as our crew sat there drinking beers reflecting on the show and generally shooting the shit, I was reminded of how lucky I was to stumble across such great people. Even if it did mean a year and a half of torture.Labels: music, NYC |
| posted by FINY @ Monday, December 19, 2005 |
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| Thursday, December 15, 2005 |
| 6 Hours and 30 Minutes ... |
... I keep thinking they can't let this happen. They can't actually cause this kind of disruption that will affect 7 million people. Can they?
Oh they can, and they might. The MTA and the Transit Workers Union now have a little more than 6 hours to resolve their contract before all New York City subway and bus workers walk off the job.
I don't know how much press this is getting outside of New York. But for those of you who don't live here, or have never lived here, I don't even know if you can fully comprehend the kind of chaos that is going to ensue if this strike goes through.
7 million people a day ride the NYC subways and busses. 7 MILLION. I am one of the lucky ones. If this strike actually happens (and I still can't even wrap my mind around the idea that that might be true) my company is sending a car to pick up three of us who work in my department and live relatively close together in Brooklyn. But it's costing them $120 to get us into the office and back to our homes. If this goes into next week, I have to turn to my other options:
1. Walking. This would involve a 20 + minute walk to the Manhattan Bridge, a walk across the East River, and then 50 some odd blocks to the office. It would take hours. And it's in the 20s. Have I mentioned that it is supposed to rain/sleet/snow tomorrow?
2. The Long Island Railroad. While the LIRR is under the MTA umbrella, they are members of a different union. The trip, because I would need to take the LIRR from Brooklyn to Queens and THEN into Manhattan on a normal day would take approximately an hour and a half. But that's on a normal day. Not on a day when two boroughs full of people are trying to do the same thing. Not on a day when LIRR has implemented "Emergency Schedules". Not on a day when NYC was brought to it's knees.
Again, I am one of the lucky ones. Between the car coming for me tomorrow, and the fact that the LIRR is a mere five blocks away from my apartment, I can still get around. Will it be hard and a pain in the ass? Of course. But I can do it. There are hundreds of thousands of people out there who are nowhere near as lucky. Who's walks to work could take them longer than their work days themselves. Who's access to things like the LIRR and car services are virtually non-existent.
I'm not going to get into a "The workers are right" or "the management is right" because honest, at this point it doesn't even matter. The MTA and the workers union now hold the fate of NYC residents and tourists in their hands. Why do I have a feeling we're all fucking screwed.Labels: NYC |
| posted by FINY @ Thursday, December 15, 2005 |
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| Free Lunch |
Upon appearing at the brand new Supreme Court building at 320 Jay Street in Brooklyn (it just opened this past Spring) I was actually a bit excited. I was participating in our justice system. How cool is that? (yeah, I’m a dork, but you all knew that already).
The Juror Selection Room in the courthouse is massive. With very comfortable cushioned chairs to sit in, a completely separate lounge complete with coffee, snacks, and soda, and a multimedia system throughout (with which we watched a TERRIBLE juror orientation video hosted by Diane Sawyer) I took my seat, hunkered down with my book, and got to reading.
The Court Clerk who called the names and explained various exemptions was actually quite funny. My favorite quote being:
The next group of people I am going to ask to step into the clerks office are those who were called to serve but who no longer live in Brooklyn. Please take out a copy of a recent utility bill, indicating your new address, and bring it into Room A. We’re also going to want a very good explanation on why the hell you’d want to leave Brooklyn.
Ok, maybe it doesn’t sound funny now, but trust me, this guy killed!
Once the Clerk was done calling exemptions and three different sets of jurors had been called for cases, the rest of us just sat around. This was the part of jury duty I was prepared for. I talked to my little brother on my cell for a while. Texted with the Twin. I read a LOT about Ted Williams (meanwhile, why did I never finish this book when I first started it a year ago, this thing is fantastic!). I actually started to enjoy being able to relax and just BE.
Around 12:30 we were told we could go to lunch. We had to be back at the courthouse at 2. An hour and a half lunch? How decadent! So I wander over to TGIFriday’s. grab a seat at the bar and order myself a Sam Adams and a Chicken Quesadilla. Hey, if I’m serving jury duty I might as well indulge a little, right?
At the end of the bar is this guy: late twenties to early thirties, Asian, missing two teeth, one on either side of his mouth, and very clearly socially awkward. He said hello as I sat down, we exchanged a few “small talk” type sentences you know, “Oh looks like it’s going to be a long day” “At least we got a long lunch” blah blah blah. His food arrives and I bow out of the conversation happy to be back reading my book.
As he leaves, Jury Guy smiles and says goodbye. I continue eating and reading for another half hour before asking for my check. The bartender looks at me and says “It’s already been paid for.”
Huh?
If you read other female NYC bloggers, things like men buying them drinks at bars and sending them over to them seems to happen quite frequently. This is not the case with me, and probably because the bars I frequent are just not those kinds of places (who has time to buy a girl a beer when it’s a tie game in the bottom of the ninth with David Ortiz at the plate and two strikes). So not only is this uncharted territory for me, but for someone to buy my entire lunch?! And leave with nothing more than a “Bye”? I was confused. And a little bit concerned. We still had three hours left in that room, was I required now to sit with him and make completely awkward conversation? I just wanted to read and relax damnit! Clearly I needed advice.
I called my Mom:
“Well you have to at least say thank you!”
I texted The Twin:
“You are under no obligation” (Ok, well of course he was going to say that…)
I called Meegan:
“Oh you totally don’t have to talk to him!”
I texted MM:
“ No!! Play Dumb!!”
Ok, the consensus was clear (and yes, I did need that many people). I didn’t have to talk to the guy. So back to the jury room I went. I was a little late, and sat in the second row so as not to have to walk past him, or mistakenly make eye contact. With a room as large as the one we were in, I was pretty safe.
Then came the announcement just an hour after we got back from lunch that we were being let go for the day … and get this: Jury Duty was over! No going back for a day or five. See you in six years! They dismissed us by last name, handing us our receipts of service and off we went. Apparently Jury Guy’s last name was Chen because he was dismissed much earlier than I was. As he walked past my seat at the front of the room I said thank you for lunch, he said you’re welcome, and that was that.
So I got to relax all day, read my book, and I got a free lunch. Who said Jury Duty was bad?!Labels: dating, misc., NYC |
| posted by FINY @ Thursday, December 15, 2005 |
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| Wednesday, December 14, 2005 |
| Jury Duty Day 1 |
| Well folks, I am off to my first day of jury duty. Armed with some work, Leigh Montville's biography of Ted Williams, and a notebook, I am sure I can keep myself occupied today. I am still in that romantic phase of the jury duty experience. The "Wow, I am going to be participating in the justice system, this is so fantastic!" However, by tomorrow, I am told that fun, whimsical feeling will have been beaten out of me. So here is your job for the day: give me ideas to keep myself entertained tomorrow. From everything I've heard from others who have served in NYC this is not going to be a one day thing, and by day two I am going to be flat out pissed off to be there. I don't want to be bitter, help me people! Labels: NYC |
| posted by FINY @ Wednesday, December 14, 2005 |
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| Monday, December 12, 2005 |
| Only The Red Head |
I get a call this afternoon on my work phone:
ME: Good afternoon this is Finy
The Red Head: Good afternoon Finy.
ME: Oh my God, Hi! How are you?
The Red Head: Doing ok, how you doin'.
ME: Ok, ok. What's up?
The Red Head: So let me ask you something ... where are your offices?
ME: 26th and Madi ... wait, why?
The Red Head: Cause I am standing on 50th and Park and want to steal you away from work to get a coffee.
Of course a coffee turned into a beer at a bar nearby, as tends to happen with The Red Head, but good Lord was that the best surprise ever. I finally got to give him that hug I had wanted to for so long and to just sit there with him for an hour. And as he left all I kept thinking was, only the red head could just show up at my door like that. It's good to know some things never change.Labels: friends |
| posted by FINY @ Monday, December 12, 2005 |
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| Without Heat and Without Hope |
I’ve mentioned before that my landlord does not live in the country. I’ve mentioned before that while he sits, warm and happy in the Dominican Republic we have gone without heat on numerous occasions. This weekend, it went much much further than that.
On Friday I received a call from Grad Student Roommate saying that the women from the office under our apartment had called Keyspan because they smelled gas. Well, that can’t be good, I thought. It wasn’t.
When Keyspan showed up to check for the gas leak they found that though there wasn’t a leak, there WAS a problem with our ventilation system. They immediately shut off our gas. To the entire apartment building. Why? Because if they hadn’t we all ran the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Ok, good reason.
But what this left us with was NOTHING. We have no heat. Ok, that I’m kind of used to. But it’s in the mid-thirties right now. And all those little tricks we used to use to get through the heatless days? Namely taking hot showers and baking a lot to warm up the kitchen? Useless. Why? Because no gas also means no hot water and no use of the stove. That’s right, I can’t be warm, can’t shower, and can’t cook anything other than stuff I can make in the microwave. Let’s just say I am less than happy.
Oh and to add insult to injury? Our bathroom flooded yesterday.
With both roommates gone all weekend I was left in a very cold apartment all day (and well into the night) on Saturday trying to coordinate the various efforts of Keyspan, our super, my landlord, the plumber, etc. I was and am so freaking bitter, you have absolutely no idea.
So for now I am living out of a backpack that is sitting on the Twin’s floor. I went back once Sunday to spend time with Tessie and to get clothes for work today, but that was it. Tonight I am going to brave the cold if only because I HAVE to get stuff done. I can’t just not live in my apartment for God knows how long!
But you can bet this: no way in HELL am I paying rent for this shit.
And if anyone knows how to track people down in the Dominican Republic and very quietly get rid of them, I would appreciate an email.Labels: apartment, misc. |
| posted by FINY @ Monday, December 12, 2005 |
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| Friday, December 09, 2005 |
| Just a Thought |
| Was the sound of snow falling the first occurence of "white noise"? Labels: misc. |
| posted by FINY @ Friday, December 09, 2005 |
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| Wednesday, December 07, 2005 |
| Good Luck, Olerud |
It’s ironic that last night I wrote a post about not writing about baseball and just hours later am about to do so, but the Boston Red Sox made an announcement last night that deserves mention.
 37 year old first baseman John Olerud is officially retiring from the game of baseball. In his 17 years in the game he won three Gold Gloves and made two All-Star appearances. He was a soft-spoken, classy player, the kind of guy that Major League Baseball needs more of, and he will be missed.
Olerud was the kind of guy that you just could not dislike as a person. As a player, sure his batting numbers had declined and his speed since his foot injury was absolutely subpar. But he was just such a class act that even being on the Yankees couldn’t make me not like him.
So thanks, John, for ending your career with the Sox. I’m incredibly happy that I got to see you play in as many games as I did (and not just because I don’t trust Kevin Millar’s glove at first). You were a comfort to have at first base and your swing was a thing of beauty to watch. You’ll be missed.Labels: Boston, Red Sox |
| posted by FINY @ Wednesday, December 07, 2005 |
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| Tuesday, December 06, 2005 |
| 15,000 |
Miles From Fenway has hit a milestone, and since I failed to even notice the last one I thought that this one was worth mentioning. At 7:33 this evening my 15,000th hit was recorded. And yes, I am going to call out that lucky visitor.
So, Mr. Or Ms. Roadrunner user from New York, NY, how are you? Thank you for visiting my blog. Judging on your short visit and your referring site (baseballsavant.blogspot.com) I am more than sure that you were disappointed to find that I have not spoken about baseball in quite some time. There are many reasons for that, the main one being, I hate dealing with rumors and am more of the, “get back to me when Spring Training starts” kind of fan (with the notable exception being my dismay at losing Theo Epstein because that’s really got to put a cramp in assembling a team in the off-season, no?). This makes me less of a fan in some people's eyes, but I see little point with getting wrapped up and emotionally involved in things that may or may not happen. I do that too often in my life already :) .
Anyway, I wish I had some fun little gizmo to give away, but unfortunately you’ll just have to deal with a virtual Finy hug and be content that I know you are special.Labels: blogging |
| posted by FINY @ Tuesday, December 06, 2005 |
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| Monday, December 05, 2005 |
| Who Knew Doing Nothing Could Be So Much Fun? |
Seriously, this was one of the most glorious weekends I've had in a really really long time. And I did absolutely nothing of consequence.
The weekend consisted of this:
* Meeting up with The Twin at his studio, having some beers with him and his coworkers, going out to grab food and a few more beers at a bar, heading back to The Twins place no later than midnight.
* Waking up somewhere around 1pm, getting up, grabbing coffees and bagels and heading back to The Twin's place to read the Times, and watch some Band of Brothers.
* Leaving the Twin for all of three hours to go back to my place and clean a little before he met me there.
* Grabbing drinks with Meegan, KO and her husband (who of course did his damndest to embarrass me since I had The Twin with me. I think The Twin bore it pretty well.)and going back to my apartment by 1am.
* Getting up at around noon on Sunday, getting Dunkin Donuts before heading to Target (where we saw a black Santa, I thought that was freaking great. Not like a toy black Santa, the Santa at the mall was black. I love my neighborhood) and various other stores with The Twin before returning home to watch …
* … the Pats game. Basically we cuddled up on the couch for four hours, did nothing, surfed the internet a bit, read a little, and watch the Pats beat the Jets.
* This was all followed by dinner at Applebees before The Twin headed home around 10.
It was seriously bliss. I’m in deep on this one. And it’s scaring the hell out of me. But in a good way I guess.Labels: dating, misc. |
| posted by FINY @ Monday, December 05, 2005 |
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| New NYC Rules? |
This morning, as I was heading into a subway car, a woman stopped me, pointed to my coffee cup, and said "Be careful, the new rules take effect today." Seeing that the train I was about to get on was actually the wrong one (it was a D train, I need to take the N) I stepped back towards her and asked her what in the hell she was talking about.
"You can now get fined $25 for eating or drinking on subway"
Say WHAT?! I knew it was illegal to drink alcoholic beverages on the subway, and that much makes sense to me. But you're trying to tell me that now not only do I  have to deal with jam packed subway cars filled with noisy, annoying, and rude people, but you want me to do it all without the assistance of caffeine? I'm sorry that is NOT going to work for me.
So I tried to do a little research. I searched everywhere on the MTA website. I even googled "new rules" + NYC subway. This is all I came up with: From the New York Times but it makes no mention of said "beverages" rule.
I hate blogging about something as mundane as my commute to work, but this is a level one priority in my eyes. Because you REALLY don't want to talk to me in the morning before I have my coffee and if people are no longer allowed to caffeinate themselves on their morning commutes, I don't think it's a stretch to say we're going to see a rise in aggravated assaults in the NYC subway system.
So if anyone has any idea what the hell this woman was talking about, I would very much appreciate the heads up.
And with that, I am going to go grab another cup of coffee.Labels: NYC |
| posted by FINY @ Monday, December 05, 2005 |
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| All in My Head |
Have you ever had those times in your life when literally every moment is consumed with one single issue? When, no matter what you're doing, it's there, gnawing away at the back of your brain, begging you to pay attention to it?
That's where I am right now. And it's why I haven't updated in a while. Because I can't bring myself to write about it yet, and to be honest, knowing who reads this, I am not sure I should.
Work has been a good distraction. To the point that I've stayed late all week just so I wouldn't go home and do what I've done every night for the last two weeks: sit on my bed, stare at episodes of the West Wing, and not hear a word of it because I am completely zoned out.
There are so many things I've wanted to write about here. The multiple movies I've gone to see this month, the recent Red Sox acquisitions, how great it feels to feel secure with the Twin, the list goes on and on.
But every time my fingers near the keyboard they just hover there, unable to get past the barrier. This is my effort to get past that. To not worry so much. To not think too hard. To get the hell out of my head and back into the world.
It's a step anyway.Labels: work |
| posted by FINY @ Friday, December 02, 2005 |
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