wha--th--ell?

I sometimes wonder why people do the things that they do...or dogs for that matter.  Little tiny dachshund puppy walking behind it's owner, suddenly decides to flop on the sidewalk and roll around.  The owner drags him for a couple feet before she realizes that he's just flopped on the ground.  Why?  I mean I've seen dogs do that in grass...but the concrete sidewalk?  Did he have an itch?  Did it smell good??  Who knows the mind of a dog?

Or in terms of a person...why did the lady coming out of Tea & Sympathy have 10 pens stuck to the outside pockets of her purse?  Two in each color...was she afraid she was going to run out of ink?  Does she lose a lot of pens? Does she like to write with all of them at once? Does she label things a lot and are they color-coded?

Or the interesting high school girl on the train who had a collection of zip ties all over her clothes.  Attached to her bracelet, securing the stuffed monkey to the front pocket of her jeans, on the necklace with the hot pink binkie attached, around her belt loops, through the artfully hacked holes in her jeans.  They were all white.  Why? What's with the monkey?  Does the monkey come off? Does she attach it to other things? What's with the binkie?  Ok nevermind I don't want to know...I've seen/read Love in the Time of Cholera....not a picture I want in my head!

Do I have a quirk? Do people look and me and wonder...probably not...unless it's just to wonder what's a small town girl doing in a place like this?

Addition: This had to go in this blog spot, because this is definitely a wth moment!

I know I know you can barely see him...but he's there in white boots and white guitar and white cowboy hat....oh and lets not forget the white speedo, which the guitar is covering up.  So I had to travel all the way from Utah to find a naked cowboy...that seems a bit over the top, I would have thought it would be much easier to find one of those in the wild wild west, but apparently NYC is the place to go if you are in the market.  Especially if white is your thing.  So why?  why?  and why?  I dunno!  He had something written on the back of his...ahems...but I didn't stick around to read it, I'm sure he was protesting something incredibly intelligent and thought provoking like save the panda's....kinda like "no....no....really I read it for the articles.... /shifty eyes" sort of thing.

Can you read the leaves as well?

I found a tiny and delightful restaurant, Tea & Sympathy, it's between 12th and 13th on Greenwich Ave. It is right next to it's brother restaurant A Salt and Battery.  /snort  Out front sits an english cab and in between the two restaurants is the tea shop, manned by a very handsome cashier.  Tea and Sympathy is where you'd take your 7 year old daughter for a treat or your best girlfriend for a chat or your classmates to discuss rare books.  I think A Salt and Battery is there so the boys don't feel overwhelmed by tea and frills, plus it's not really a man sized restaurant, I don't think they'd fit too well.

The restaurant seats 23 at 9 tiny tables and it was packed!  There is no room to wait inside so you have to sit outside while you hope it doesn't rain or snow.  I can hardly believe that the english accented waitresses could even fit between the tables to wait on everyone.  I made it just in time before they stopped their breakfast menu.  I debated between bangers and mash and the scones with clotted cream (butter...people, nothing gross...sheesh!) and jam.  Finally settled on the scones, which were delicious.  Along with a pot of Chai tea, my favorite.

I am horrible at pouring tea, first off I had no idea all these little things would come streaming out of it into my cup...OHHHH that's what this strainer thingy is for!  Ok I'll suck it up this time and I remembered to use the strainer there after.  I certainly wouldn't make it as Kate Middleton...I dripped and spilled and just couldn't quite get that pot to just pour without making a mess.  Oh well, that's what I get for being raised American...I CAN pour coffee quite well.  Each time I finished a cup of that delicious tea, I looked at the bottom of my cup and saw these leaves floating around and thought...where's one of those tea leaf readers when you need 'em?  What does my future hold? Am I going to survive this school and single motherhood thing I've got going on?  It sure would be nice to know at least a little something...don't ya think?

PS tell your friends about Tea & Sympathy I'd highly recommend it!!

Addition 3/26:  I went there with my friend Erica today and it was just as good as the first time, with the added bonus of fantastic conversation!  Bangers and mash...yum yum!  Chocolate vanilla tea...to die for!  Next menu choice Welsh rarebit (which we found out has nothing to do with rabbits, but really seems as if it should) with a side of mac n cheese...I'm pretty sure that's what Erica will get that too.  I'm thinking a cute tea pot and a strainer and some sort of tea recipe book if there is such a thing is really something I need to get/do (plus there's that cute guy that works there...he's probably gay, drat!) ...as well as visit Shoegasm which is just down the street....just the name begs me...pleads with me to shop there!!

Musings on the Commute

I have to wonder if this is a bit strange, I'm not sure...  My subway line travels under...actually I'm not sure if it is under anymore...anyway, under Ground Zero.  I can see some of the work through the windows of the subway as I gain glimpses between the plywood sheeting they put up while they are building the memorial.  I feel as if I need to have a moment of silence every time I fly past.  I am essentially riding through a graveyard and it pierces my heart each time.  Maybe it will fade after the hundredth time I travel through.  I wasn't even here when it happened...I was 3000 miles away, but the thought of being there...the idea that if time were different, if my life had moved at a different pace it could have been me on that horrible day.  I am moved that I am traveling on what seems to be sacred ground and I get slightly emotional.  Is that strange?

Trains, Ferries and Subways--Part 4

I'm often surprised at the conversations I hear float around me...not to mention some of the behavior that goes on.

I listened to two people talk about their jobs as funeral directors and how they have "stitched" certain relatives..."oh I stitched my husband, my mother and my cousin...who died."  Really? they died?  Gosh I hope so considering you stitched them!  Mmmk

And then there were the business men who were talking about all the female sales reps in their work place. Not only were all of them incompetent, but for these men it was exactly how they expected it to be and had the male chauvenistic tone of "it is what it is...I mean really what can you do...they are female...who can expect them to do any better".  I have to wonder if they are as good at their jobs as they think they are...I doubt not.  Now I don't really consider myself a feminist but I bristle when I hear stuff like this.  Grrr

Couples really really making out on the ferry seems to be pretty normal.

Lots of singing while listening to ipods, some good, some really bad.

People who think they can beat the closing doors on the subway and get stuck between the two doors...that one actually kinda freaks me out...cuz what happens if the driver doesn't notice?  Shudder....

Funniest thing though was the kid wearing the low riders whose pants actually fell down.  Haha...snort!

So why is it that public transportation seems to encourage people to behave as if they are walking around in "the cone of silence" from Get Smart?  Is it the idea that the more people are surrounding you the more privacy you have because there is such a flood...a sensory overload of people?  I'm not sure...but it makes the 3 hours goes by pretty quickly.

Trains, Ferries, and Subways--Part 3

2/19/11--This is a short entry but by far the most emotional so far.

As I was sitting at the ferry station, I noticed a man coming towards me.  He was so obviously gay, I thought oh my goodness I can't wait to write about him.  His walk, his mannerisms...the clothes he was wearing...He was a tall, thin, african american man.  He had his long hair wrapped in a turban like twisty thing, and his beautiful skin and large eyes were amazingly accented by the pure silver eyeliner outlining his eyes, his lashes were lush and heavily mascara-ed.  He was impeccably dressed and minced as he walked.  He took these short steps, walking almost on his tip toes so that he almost glided...if he wasn't so bouncy.

He sat behind me and asked me,  "young miss, could you tell me what time the ferry arrives?"  "I believe they come every half hour, so 9:00"  "thank you...oh I'm sure I could have used these old trifocals to look at the ferry schedule over there, I can see anything from a million miles away with these things."  He made me smile, it made for a pleasant way to start the day.

He called someone on the phone, calling them honey and 'chile.  I thought he was sweet and he started telling his story,  "yes he came over for dinner, he presented me with flowers and a ring and said all that about being life partners..."  I stopped listening but I felt happy that he had found someone...unfortunantly I missed the explanation for what happened next..."I turned him around and he was all blue in the face, I had to lay him down on the ground and do chest compressions.  I was on the phone with 911 and I was able to get him breathing until the medics came, but he died on my floor.  They just left him there and I had to maneuver his body onto the bed.  I wasn't weirded out...I mean yes I was touching a dead body and that is strange, but it was still him..."

The ferry came and I had to get up and leave.  I wanted to tell him I was sorry and how horrible that was!  I wanted to ask him why they just left his partner there on the floor?  I wanted to ask if he had said yes or no to the proposal? But he was still talking on the phone and I didn't want to interrupt.  I was so sad for him.  I hope he is ok.  What a place I live in, that I get to peek into so many different lives...I move in and out of this persons frame of reference, and at each point of contact I learn about someone, or I get a smile that makes my day better or I smile and make their day better.  How lucky am I?

Tourist attraction

I am now a tourist attraction!  Let me explain...I saw a couple (obviously tourists from the huge camera around their neck) grab a man that rode the train and ferry with me and ask him if they could take his picture.  He wasn't famous and he wasn't strange or odd looking...quite simply he was a New Yorker and as such he and all the rest of us New Yorkers (it is so awesome to be able to be included in that group) we are now subjected to being in any number of touristy pictures just based on the fact that we live here.  It's a weird concept.  I don't feel like a tourist attraction, but I live in a city that boasts millions of visitors every year,  I'm one by default.  I wonder how many tourist pictures I'll wind up just from the action of walking in the background?  I have already been asked numerous times for directions while exiting out of the building my classes are in in Manhattan.  I have yet to be asked to take a picture for someone, but I have been captured in a tourist photo while walking behind the subjects on my way off a subway.  If they decide to keep the picture I'm now in some random person's album of their vacation as background.  Isn't being a New Yorker a wonderful thing!

Low Riders

I am amazed that this style is still around!  Why does it continue to persist?  Do these boys really think it makes them look more attractive?  Their pants half way down their legs, their baggy underware showing...as they waddle around constantly pulling them up so they don't slip all the way down...cuz THAT would be embarrassing!!  I mean seriously if we already have a good view of your underware why does having your pants around your ankles seem less fashionable?  Why don't they just get rid of the pants all together...it's not like we aren't missing much and this way they can show off their gams.  Plus it gets rid of the problem of the pants actually falling down when they are being chased by someone.  I spend half the time hoping they are just gonna puddle around their ankles while traveling up the stairs so I can watch them struggle to get back up again...nonchalantly.  The other half the time just wanting to pants them as they walk by.  They must not have mirrors at home and they certainly don't have any idea idea how they look while they are walking.  It does not create that manly man swagger that should have...instead it looks like they have a full diaper and have to waddle cuz it's chafing the inside of their legs.

Oh well to each his own, I just hope that sometime in the near future they will think of something else to wear.  Even those skinny girl jeans that the emo boys wear are not as annoying as this fashion statement.  I'd like to meet who started it and ask him his motivation.  It has to be somewhat satisfying to see something you created take off in such as fashion as to secretly humiliate every boy that wears their pants around their thighs.

Kindle Nation

I have noticed that a lot of people on the Subways have Kindles or Nooks.  I have caught myself looking at them and thinking wow I wonder what intelligent book they are reading...Proust...Poe...Collins?  And then I have to laugh...who knows what they are reading, a steamy romance novel perhaps.  We'd never know!  When you used to have to tear off the covers of your pulp fiction and trashy novels while riding public transportation...those are days gone by.  Now we can all get Kindles and look like the intelligent readers we want to be.  Read on!!

Trains, Ferries and Subways--Part 2

2/3/11--There were actually two guys who got on the train carrying a sheet of plywood...thank goodness it wasn't rush hour, I have no idea where they would have put it.

So the U.S. Coast Guard sometimes guards the ferries as they go back and forth between Manhattan and the island, which is a little unnerving only because it doesn't happen everyday.  So what happens on those certain days that they are patrolling.  Now what I can't figure out whether that is a harpoon on the front of the boat or a really big and pointy gun.  If it's a harpoon...why do they need a harpoon?  What are they protecting us from...Moby Dick?

Side note for me to put on my Goodread's list.  I saw a girl reading House of Leaves, the cover looked really interesting.  And yes books are judged by their covers!  I should have asked her if it was any good, before she left the subway.

2/5/11
There was a very sweet man with his 1 year old son on the subway.  He was just so dang sweet with him, kissing him and hugging him.  The woman across the aisle from me keep making ahhh'ing noises over it.  I can't blame her, I wanted to do the same thing.

Sometimes there is some really good busking at the ferry and sometimes not so much.  Today was a good day.  Nicola sounded great!  I wish I had a few bucks to put in her guitar case.

I spent the day wondering...what's in those subway tunnels, it would be cool to explore if I can forget about all the bugs and rats in there.  I also noticed that The Lady has her back to Jersey, for some reason I always thought that she had her back to NYC...I'm not sure why.  There is also a really interesting church in between two sky scrapers across from the ferry.  It looks so tiny but beautiful.  Additionally I think Batman or Bruce Wayne lives on top of one of the skyscrapers right near Battery Park.  It's a fantastically cool looking building, I'd love to see what it looks like inside.  Who lives there? Is it just an office building?  And last thought of the day was yup Newark really is the bastard step child, it is trying so hard to be a "real" city, but when you look across the river to Manhattan....there just isn't any comparison.  Poor Newark.

2/9/11

On the subway I noticed the man sitting across from me.  I really want to know what his story is.  He was an older white man.  He reminded me of a music producer or movie producer who used to do indie labels, but wasn't quite at the top of his game anymore.  He just doesn't want to admit it, so he continues to play the part.  He had white hair and it looked longish from the front...it was all in dreds.  I wanted to ask him what was up with the hair.  When he got up and walked off the subway I wanted to run after him and beg him to let me take a picture, because when looking at him from the front was hair that was trying too hard, but when seen from behind was amazing.  His dreds were done up in a fancy ponytail in the back, the amazing part...his hair hit the back of his knees and he wasn't a short man.  I really want to know his story!!

Two film students on the train talking about script stories and lamenting the...and-he-was-never-seen-again-until-he-was-dug-up-3000-years-later scenario.  It cracked me up, plus they were super serious about being too serious about movies and how it was ruining the drive to actually want to go to school, since all they were learning was how to be serious about movies.

Three 20 something young men with expensive suits on the ferry.  They were discussing playing black ops.  They actually reminded me of a really stuck up pally in WoW.  I hated co-tanking dungeons with him, because he was a gear snob and not a very great tank...but he sure thought he was.  If I closed my eyes I swear they all sounded like this guy when he would talk in vent...eugh!

2/10/11

The very loud gang members who sat behind me on the ferry...they sure were happy and very very loud...almost drunk loud.

The girl putting on mascara without a mirror on the moving subway.  I was waiting for her to poke her eye out.  Besides I don't think she looked any different when she got done...I don't think it was worth the risk of injury.

I wish I looked like the girl sitting across from me.  Thin and beautiful, with hardly any make up on.  Quirky but stylish clothes, I loved it from her lace up army boots to the leg warmers and funky tights and chunky sweater.  She even had pink in her wavy brunette hair.

The little 2 year old girl across from me that pitched a fit when her mom tried to get a scarf around her neck.  The girl did NOT want that thing on...and the reason.  "MOM!  I can't talk with this on!" I thought of Mira, that is totally a Mira excuse.

2/12/11

There was a lady outside the ferry who was screaming about Jesus.  She was Asian and had a super deep voice and seemed very upset that we didn't all know Jesus.  I'm never sure what to think of those people.  It is not how I would choose to express my faith, but who's to say her way isn't valid?  I'm just not sure that it gets across what Jesus is all about, I think it just makes most people embarrassed for her instead of getting them to think about Jesus.  But maybe she touches that one rare person who actually needs to be screamed at to be saved?  I don't know.

The man screaming directions for the subway into his phone on the ferry.  His phone kept cutting off, so he had to repeat the directions like 7 times.  I'm not sure if the person on the other end was deaf or he just happened to talk super loud.

There was a pirate on the ferry...complete with large nose ring!  He looked like Barbarossa, but not quite as cool.  I'm not sure why he was dressed up...I'm pretty sure we are no where near Halloween.  Although I should have looked all over for Jack Sparrow...now THAT would have been awesome!

Barbershop quartet on the subway busking for money on the subway cars.  I really wish I had money to give them...they were way more deserving than the "homeless" guy who was "down on his luck and had not eaten all day"  yet was wearing jeans more expensive than I can afford.

The friendly little girl who waved to every person who got on the subway car.  She was very sweet.  A little bundle of happiness in a world that often doesn't look past their own private bubbles.

There were actually workmen working on the Bleeker St. station, it was pretty cool!

Until next week! I love this city and I'm so blessed to be here.  I can't believe I get to travel past the Lady every time I go into the city.  I can't believe I can visit the New York Public Library and walk these streets! I love seeing all these different people.

Trains, Ferries and Subways...Part 1

So my commute to school looks like this...walk a mile to Train station--->Train to St. George Terminal in Staten Island--->Ferry to Manhattan--->(if they are working on the subway station under the new WTC then a bus first to the Chambers St entrance) Red 1 Subway to 14th St--->walk to Pratt Manhattan.  Reverse for return trip and it's a 3 hour round trip excursion.  Lots of people watching to be had...so I thought I'd record some it.  I know it interests me, I can't be the only person who finds other people interesting.

1/13/11
On the Ferry: A mom with a really neat double stroller, I've never seen one like it...but it has a baby seat in the bottom where the basket for stuff would normally go...very cool if I was planning on having a baby or twins or something.  She sits next to these Russian girls who immediately start cooing when she picks up the baby.  It is such an automatic response, I know...I wanted to coo too but I refrained.  The mom's little girl waved at Lady Liberty as we went past her.  (side note: she is beautiful and I will never tire of seeing her on each trip, the same goes for the city skyline and the view out my living room window of the Verrazano bridge...its all just beautiful!)

A man who was excitedly waving to no one.  Maybe he just didn't want to be alone that day.

Kids were making quacking noise for the whole ferry trip...that was awesome...not.

At the ferry station in Manhattan there are bird chirps that come over the loud speakers...I guess it's supposed to be soothing and actually it is, I like it.

On the subway: A guy asked me for directions...I had to tell him I had absolutely no idea, I was new to the city.  It was in fact the first time for me...on the subway by myself.

A baseball player spent the entire subway ride stretching in the aisle.

The baby next to me decided that he wanted to be part of the conversation and just started yelling, the parents couldn't get him to be quiet...it was very cute.

1/14/11

Not really on a mode of transportation, but worthy of mention since I'm a single girl.  Met a (good looking...unless he's bald under the ski hat) guy named Kyle at orientation in Brooklyn.  Talked for about an hour and walked out of orientation where he promptly hopped on his bike and yelled...see you around campus.  Too bad for him I'm never on that campus.

The 3 old guys who meet  everyday on the ferry home.  They were comparing beer cans.  LOL mmmk

Saw my first rat on the subway...omg they are huge.  I better never have one in the apartment or I'll never stop screaming.

1/20/11

The WTH couple on the ferry--she was a cute asian girl with multi colored hair and funky clothes and lots of piercing--he was a bum.  I'm serious a bum...long long scraggley ugly hair, baseball hat, horrid clothes.  But she was estatic to see him...or maybe it was the really big can of beer he brought her.  I dunno but gosh they were mismatched.

Goofy old guy reading the newspaper...he had reading glasses and a magnifying glass to read the paper and he read with his mouth open.  His tongue working in his mouth and sometimes sticking out sorta licking his lips.  His hands had long nails and were working man formed.  Was he married? I don't know if I could deal with it.

Another thing not on public transportation but it is a warning on wearing low riding jeans in public...I introduce "Crack Man" from Professor Irene's class.  Ugh why did he have to sit in front of me??  I mean if it was a cute ass maybe...but this was not so much...

1/22/11

The only person of note was not a person but a pigeon who flew into the ferry and landed at my feet.  Sorry birdie I'm not the bird lady from Mary Poppins...shoo....shooo rat with wings!!

I did meet a family from North Carolina.  I commented on their point and shoot camera, which had a screen in the front so you can take self portraits.  It was cool.  They asked me about where to buy purses, I didn't know...I only know Canal St and they wanted the actual thing...that and Uggs...  Anyway, they asked why I had just moved there so I told them I was going to school and mentioned Pratt.  Well, apparently they are trying to get their son to apply to Pratt so they asked a ton of questions about it.  It was fun to talk up the school.

I'm sure I'll have more later....Class for tonight was cancelled due to snow, so no stories from today, but maybe on Saturday :)