Moby captures how we all feel in this photo........T-I-R-E-D.
Our last drive on the road trip made sure to remind us how happy we are not to have a car in New York. This last leg started out easy enough, though by then, we'd gotten sick of our iPods and switched to NPR. Central Pennsylvania, however, seems not to acknowledge NPR, and instead features limitless stations of Bible Study. Interested in world news and politics, and an update on just how many houses John McCain owns? Sorry, today, we'll be bringing you the birth of Jesus and how to educate your workplace on these stories and more as you spread your faith (true topic). Sigh.
But we pressed on through bad, bad east coast drivers (sorry, friends) who actually need signs reminding them not to tailgate and dots on the road illustrating where they should keep their cars to prevent slamming into those in front of them. And we pressed on through all the parts of New Jersey that weren't Princeton. And then she spoke - our navigation system - and warned us about the horrific traffic on the George Washington Bridge (Friday at 6pm - you don't say?). So she re-routed us through the Holland Tunnel. Here's where lightness turned to dark.
Take the worst Bay Bridge traffic you've ever sat in, multiply it by LA's 405 on a Friday at 5pm, add a little Vegas Strip, and raise it to the power of 10. Now pee all over that. There you go, that's the Holland Tunnel.
Our saving grace came when we finally made it to the Upper West Side, turned down our street, and spotted a car pulling out of a parking spot that just happened to be in front of our building. Thank you, God. It appears that listening to even 30 seconds of Bible Study netted us a parking score.
Our apartment is as we expected - certainly small compared to our home in SF, but reasonably sized and comfortably appointed for our purposes here. I could bore you with the details, but will just say it's in a pre-war building on a gorgeous block right off Riverside Park, just two short blocks from one of the 3 dog runs there. Moby is pumped.
We spent the bulk of yesterday correcting the wrongs that one might expect to find in a New York apartment - a painfully slow-draining tub and missing drawer handles, for example. But we also immediately realized the joy of instant gratification in a city that will pick up and deliver just about anything.
Today was spent with our friends Xin-Hua and Ryo (who lives on the Upper West Side). And tomorrow marks Brad's first day at the office and my first full day as a housewife with no housework.
Awesome.
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2 comments:
HA HA!! That's what you get for making a mockery of us East Coast drivers and our knack for tailgaiting! You have met traffic at it's best (Worst) in New York City. I suggest you let the truck collect dust and learn the subway system. Also just once stare at someone for longer than 7 seconds, I want you to fully experience a NY temper since you've met the traffic. The temper sounds like "filth and flarn" but really is a nice way to say Welcome to NY.
Hey, I used to live on 113th right off Riverside. Please give my regards to Le Monde (on Broadway). Also, be sure, underline SURE, to check out Dinosaur BBQ. Don't wait, go tomorrow for lunch. Walk up Riverside Drive and where it splits you'll see the "East" version circling back around but take the Drive downhill. You'll see the elevated subway line emerge above and it'll look scary (to a wimpy West Coaster). Just follow your nose straight ahead to 130th - just a couple of blocks from the split. It is insanely good, lots of not-your-normals on tap and any of the BBQ you pick is Can't Miss. My personal favorite are the BBQ wings - all meat, no friend/oily-ness.
There is also one of the best but very crowded supermarkets around across the street, Fairway Market.
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