OT-Commuting in NYC

Hi all- Thought you might like a little humor in the morning. Yes it is a bit of whining, but honestly, I just thought it would be funny. And since I've been at work since 6am, I have the time to be creative. As you know, the NYC TWU has decided to take a little holiday. I though I would share with you a typical commute in the life of a New Yorker. Day 1: Hail Cab. Watch as hundreds of cabs go by filled with people. Hail Cab. Hail Cab. Hail Cab..... (you get the drift). Wonder if I will ever feel feet again in the tropical New York Weather. Prepare to give up and go back to the apartment. Stare suspiciciously as a Toyota Camry comes up. Small women asks if I want a ride. Think to self- "I don't know this woman. She could be a nut case. But she is a 90 pound nut case. If she doesn't have a weapon, I could squash her. But what if she has a weapon? I can sit in the backseat and bolt if necessary." Officially become a New York City Hitchhiker as I climb into the Camry. My benefactor is from Brooklyn. She has 3 roommates. Her boss told her not to come to work, and since she had the car, she drove her roommates to work. The first one gets done at 11:30 (roommate works on a morning news show). Since the driver doesn't want to pay for parking ($40), she decides to drive around picking people up. As a reward for her good Karma and contribution to her gas fund, I give her five dollars. Cheap taxi ride I have ever taken in NY! Afternoon- After walking from the office (42nd and 2nd) to the doctor's office (on 61st and York) for an appointment, I emerge to find most of the midtown avenues roped off by police. I opt to walk home. Nice walk but cold. I stop in the Dairy(fourth oldest building in Central Park, now a tourist store) in Central Park to get warm (Do you know they are STILL selling GATES maps, postcards, and books-- that was a year ago)?! I go home and de-thaw and start calling the car service (Carmel Limo) to see if they will indeed pick me up on Thursday morning as promised. (I am leaving for San Francisco to visit family and Michele!) I can't get through to them. At 11, I give up and go to . DAY 2: I couldn't sleep, and wake up at 3am. Hey, if I can't sleep, why should the car service? So I called them at 3am. They could not guarantee my transport in the AM tomorrow. So I made reservations for 7pm tonight and reserved a room at the "beautiful Sheraton Newark Airport" resort and spa. Still couldn't fall asleep. So I started walking to work. COOOOOOLLLLLLLDDDDDD. Finally broke down and hailed a cab with three other people in it. Got a tour of the city for only $10! Went to Penn Station, West Village, Alphabet city and came back up here-- SOOO sleepy- actually got caffeine (yep, I need it that bad) at Starbucks and came to work. You can be very productive at this hour! This is just a ! We should have strikes more often.

Oh boy Andrea!! Sounds like fun---not! I don't know if I could do that on a regular basis...let alone even take a transit sytem. I am lost when one of our cars is being worked on. I don't like not being able to get up and go when I want to. I guess having a vehicle is something I take for granted. I don't think I'd make it in New York.--- -------It's up to you New York...New York.... -------da da da-da-da...da da da-da-da...da da da-da-da -------Id like to wake up in a city that doesn't sleep...... -------Just to be a part of it..... Ah well....I have been up since my husband left for work at 6 this morning. I have been wrapping Christmas gifts....and hiding them so little man doesn't find them. (Heee heee heee....I feel like a little elf) Have a good Hanakuh...(I hope I spelled that right?) And enjoy your trip to SF and give Michele a big hug for me!!!! (Hi Michele ) Mandie

Thanks Mandie- You have a great holiday too! At least I am getting my exercize in (about 3 miles yesterday).

Hey Andrea, I heard this morning that the TWU will be fined a million dollars a day for as long as they strike. Maybe this will motivate them to get back to work. We almost went to NYC for C-mas this year. We would have been right in the middle of that mess. Have a fabulous time in SF. What a great city! ~C Leigh Happy Hannukah!

What kind of job do you have that you are there at 4:00 a.m.?