Monthly ArchiveMarch 2007
Lyd writes 19 Mar 2007 08:22 am
Hoofing it
Curtis was sweet enough to escort me to work yesterday. I was excited to show him that I totally knew my way around the big city. We hopped the F train and transfered to an A to take across the East River into Manhattan. Once on the A, the conductor said, “The A is running on the F line today.” Wha? We just got off the F, and this train has a big A on it. Maybe she misspoke.
Nope, the A’s next stop was on the F line. We got off at Essex/Delancey in hopes of taking a J train down to the Financial District. Of course the J was running on a weekend sked, and the end of the line was one stop short of our target station. We got off at City Hall and speed-walked 0.7 miles to work.
I was ten minutes late, and I’d given myself almost a full hour for my commute, just in case. Ugh. I walked in and my boss said, “Survive the weekend trains?”
Young padawan still has much to learn.
Lyd writes 16 Mar 2007 08:11 pm
Things for which I’m grateful
- waterproof shoes
- late-night and 24-hour dining options
- March Madness
- Curtis and Tiger making it to NYC ahead of the ice storm
- chamomile jasmine tea in a pot for two, with honey
- weather with character
- Wi-Fi hotspots
- TV show episodes available online
- Burt’s Bees
Lyd writes 14 Mar 2007 01:09 pm
My own two feet
On account of the temperature hovering around 70 degrees in Brooklyn today, I decided to take to the streets. After another nice breakfast of slow-cooked oatmeal and a nonfat latte at Naidre’s, some window-shopping, a new wallet, and a yummy bagel at Bagel Hole, I stopped into a pet store to make preparations for the arrival of Prince Tiger. Worried about having to maneuver a cat tower, litter box, litter and food back up to the apartment, I was delighted to discover that this pet store – and all the others – have free delivery.
As if I wasn’t thrilled enough in the first place to ditch the car, the car insurance and the gas money, I have been ecstatic to find that life without a car is a cinch. When mom and I emerged from Bed Bath & Beyond in Chelsea last week with armfuls of crap, an employee fastened a handle to the air mattress box, then a doorman escorted us to the curb, hailed us a cab, and loaded in our purchases.
Why the heck can’t all cities work like this? Public transportation that crosscuts the whole city, reduces pollution and is affordable to all; fewer cars with fewer accidents and less gas consumption; more walking for the good of public health; more jobs with the high demand for cab drivers, train operators, and personal service employees; extra money for small businesses with delivery tips and customer loyalty. It all sounds very Utopian, and NYC sure is compared to L.A. and S.F. I’m sure I’ll feel less warm and fuzzy once I get mugged.