Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Not Enough Days in the Week
Tuesday night: Met a friend for dinner in the West Village
Wednesday night: Waited an hour to have dinner at The Meatball Shop http://www.themeatballshop.com/ Delicious, yes, but waiting an hour to eat at 9:30 is a bit silly
Thursday night: "Experienced" Sleep No More. http://sleepnomorenyc.com/ Unlike my roommate, I hadn’t read any spoilers, but I don’t know if that would have made me feel less inhibited. As soon as we walked into the hotel (setting for the drama to unfold); we were handed masks a la Phantom of the Opera, but with the complete face, which does not work with a no-nose to hold the mask intact, and instructed to not say a word..that only causes me to giggle.
Our host spoke with a fake accent; I’m thinking, okay, this is a bit too much drama from the get-go. We were told that we could either wander the rooms/hotel floors on our own, or as I discovered later, follow certain actors as they were playing out scenes. The experience was supposed to be based (loosely) on Macbeth but so was the adaptation that Allan Cumming did a few weeks back; now I feel the need to see the classic, pure version to unmuddle my mind.
The set and dancing were amazing, but once was enough.
Friday night: I decided to man up and rent a bike for the afternoon. Yes, I’ve bungee jumped, sky dived, and tried scuba diving, but I’m a chicken little when it comes to riding a bike. I haven’t done it forever, and I’m not so slick when it comes to rounding sharp corners. All that aside, we rented a bike from “Bike and Roll” and hit the pathway. Once we got out of the cluster of people, where we picked up the bikes, the pathway was really nicely paved and there was a great view of the Hudson. Yay me!
After getting our land legs, we had a few celebratory margaritas and then headed to a concert at the Bowery Ballroom (nice, intimate venue) hear Bob Schneider http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowery_Ballroom
Saturday night: After a lazy day recuperating, we rallied to see a co-worker’s husband Improv graduation performance. ..it was a very long hour, with an encouraging smile plastered to my face.
Sunday night: Did a Netflix marathon of “Orange is the New Black”…good stuff
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
One Week In
My NYC adventure started off fast and furious: I arrived Wed. night (June 26) from LGA, went up 6 flights up stairs (owner of the building is remodelling and barracading the elevator from use), dropped off my bags, and took the train to Murray Hill to say farewell to a co-worker's family bar. After 22 years, the Third and Long was closing due to its rent being doubled.
I worked from home the next couple of days, trying to absorb my surroundings inside the loft and in my new neighborhood. The loft has no air conditioning; which I was forewarned about, but I foolishly assumed it would have a window unit or overhead fans. They do have overhead fans, but they don't work, and are instead used to hold a string of chili pepper lights and/or origami.
My roommate (Kate) and I have tried several creative adjectives to describe the space; Kate chose "bohemian" I asked Kate if bohemian means dirty. My description of choice is "French fun house" no, that does not mean "house of ill repute" too hot for any of that to go on. The main living space makes sense, one big open space with an L-shaped, cat hair infested couch, an office area and open kitchen. The main bedroom is off of this area, and is partitioned off by two sliding paneled doors. Once you walk past the kitchen, this leads into the boys room; where I'm staying. Besides the overwhelming smell of cat, I had my choice of bunk beds or a cot to sleep on. I suppose I could mix it up, but I chose the cot.
To get to the bathroom, you have to go out a door, from the main space, through an artist space (our friend's father-in-law, who lives upstairs, is the artist Bernard Aptekar http://www.aptekar.net/bernard/ besides his large, pieces of work hanging or propped in the space, there is also a maze of tools we have to go through, one being the circulur saw. It's always an adventure going to the restroom at night. Once you get to the bathroom, they have a tri-pod lamp resting around the tub for light, since the overhead one doesn't work. Yes, I often think how precarious that is. I could move the lamp but then I would be in darkness as I'm standing in the deep, dirty tub. Oh, excuse me, the deep, Bohemian tub. Ok, that's a summary of the space.
I have done some amazing things already; I not only saw an amazing performance of Alan Cumming in Macbeth at the Barrymore theater (3rd row seats); we got his autograph on the playbill, I've walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to Prospect Park, had homemade pasta in Chelsea Market, found my way to and from work (accomplishment in itself), and we had plans to go to a dance party (The Freedom Dance Party) in Central Park last night (Tuesday, July 2).
We made it to Central Park, but we didn't make it to the dance party because I noticed that my bag felt light...it was, my wallet had been stolen. I called the last place I had been, they didn't have it, so we walked back to the restaurant and asked again. No luck. I have an app that stores my credit card information so I called and cancelled the 3 credit cards I had in my wallet. A charge of $193 was already on my Corporate American Express. The thief had purchased $193 worth of NJ transit tickets.
Once I got home, I signed up for a one year identity theft protection plan. Now, I have to figure out how to replace my driver's license (it's my Texas address) with either another Texas one or get a Chicago DL, and go through security at JFK without a DL (I'm flying to see my sister this weekend). After some research, I should be should be okay to travel after a strip search and my company id.
Kate was impressed by my good attitude but I'm beyond irritated with the inconvenience this ass clown is causing, and to top it off, he took a brand, new book of stamps...bastard!
Ok, I'm off to the bank to try and get a temporary debit card..wish me luck!
I worked from home the next couple of days, trying to absorb my surroundings inside the loft and in my new neighborhood. The loft has no air conditioning; which I was forewarned about, but I foolishly assumed it would have a window unit or overhead fans. They do have overhead fans, but they don't work, and are instead used to hold a string of chili pepper lights and/or origami.
My roommate (Kate) and I have tried several creative adjectives to describe the space; Kate chose "bohemian" I asked Kate if bohemian means dirty. My description of choice is "French fun house" no, that does not mean "house of ill repute" too hot for any of that to go on. The main living space makes sense, one big open space with an L-shaped, cat hair infested couch, an office area and open kitchen. The main bedroom is off of this area, and is partitioned off by two sliding paneled doors. Once you walk past the kitchen, this leads into the boys room; where I'm staying. Besides the overwhelming smell of cat, I had my choice of bunk beds or a cot to sleep on. I suppose I could mix it up, but I chose the cot.
To get to the bathroom, you have to go out a door, from the main space, through an artist space (our friend's father-in-law, who lives upstairs, is the artist Bernard Aptekar http://www.aptekar.net/bernard/ besides his large, pieces of work hanging or propped in the space, there is also a maze of tools we have to go through, one being the circulur saw. It's always an adventure going to the restroom at night. Once you get to the bathroom, they have a tri-pod lamp resting around the tub for light, since the overhead one doesn't work. Yes, I often think how precarious that is. I could move the lamp but then I would be in darkness as I'm standing in the deep, dirty tub. Oh, excuse me, the deep, Bohemian tub. Ok, that's a summary of the space.
I have done some amazing things already; I not only saw an amazing performance of Alan Cumming in Macbeth at the Barrymore theater (3rd row seats); we got his autograph on the playbill, I've walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to Prospect Park, had homemade pasta in Chelsea Market, found my way to and from work (accomplishment in itself), and we had plans to go to a dance party (The Freedom Dance Party) in Central Park last night (Tuesday, July 2).
We made it to Central Park, but we didn't make it to the dance party because I noticed that my bag felt light...it was, my wallet had been stolen. I called the last place I had been, they didn't have it, so we walked back to the restaurant and asked again. No luck. I have an app that stores my credit card information so I called and cancelled the 3 credit cards I had in my wallet. A charge of $193 was already on my Corporate American Express. The thief had purchased $193 worth of NJ transit tickets.
Once I got home, I signed up for a one year identity theft protection plan. Now, I have to figure out how to replace my driver's license (it's my Texas address) with either another Texas one or get a Chicago DL, and go through security at JFK without a DL (I'm flying to see my sister this weekend). After some research, I should be should be okay to travel after a strip search and my company id.
Kate was impressed by my good attitude but I'm beyond irritated with the inconvenience this ass clown is causing, and to top it off, he took a brand, new book of stamps...bastard!
Ok, I'm off to the bank to try and get a temporary debit card..wish me luck!
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