Wednesday, March 23, 2005
10003, baby
I should so call Pea and go to bed. It's 10:30 my time--my time!!--after all. Funny though, what adrenaline will do to a girl. Thank gawd for it, really, as w/o it, I would have collapsed in an airport restroom hours ago. The eyelids, so heavy...
Anyway, the part that matters: I'M HERE! Here: sitting w/ laptop in the plushest chair my bootay has ever, ever graced, feet crossed at the ankles and resting on an equally plush leg rest, a one Empire State Bldg at my back, glowing orange-red against a black NY sky.
So my plane touched down at approx 6:20 p.m. I fetched my gargantuan luggage, relying on my new favorite, the Smarte Carte, to steer us outside and into the forty person-long *taxi line.* I called Pea, shared the magic, then jumped into my designated car. The driving was pretty benign, really, and my driver wasn't as animated as I'd hoped. Ah well. He dropped me, twenty minutes later, in front of 324, where I arranged my bags in a heap and plopped down to wait for Joe, brother of the woman letting us the place.
I ended up waiting about twenty minutes, during which time I met next-door neighbor Marilyn, who was taking her collie on an evening stroll. I'd put M at around 55, maybe 60. As it was obvious I was moving in, she asked where I was from, why I had chosen New York, etc. I told her about my publishing aims, to which she replied, "Oh really? I was an editor at one point--for Better Homes and Gardens." So this is how it happens, thought me. Ah, connections. :) Anyway, she was perfectly nice, although right away I knew I wasn't in Seattle anymore. She had a way about her, just real unhesitating in her delivery. Like, at one point I sort of half-mumbled something, and I got a pointed "what?" in return. It was the tone more than the word, of course. Not rude, just like, "come on, let's have a conversation." It forced me to speak louder and to look right at her while speaking--a great practice for me to get into. What else. I also met Millie. I met her before I met Marilyn, actually. She stands not an inch taller than 4'10, and if I had to guess, she's German. Very warm, I can tell already, and to hear Marilyn speak of her, she's the resident cat lady/bird feeder. Fantastic.
Oh, so our neighborhood: M confirmed that we don't have a true affiliation. Apparently we're members of the Gramercy Park Neighborhood Association, although just north of us is Stuyvesant Park--originally populated by WWII vets in the 50s. Also, Union Square isn't far off, nor is the greater East Village (still not sure what all this encompasses). From what I could tell en route to 324, there are pah-lenty of reasonably-priced restaurants nearby; I even ordered takeout/delivery from a corner noodle house, Mee. Frankly, I can see no good reason to stray from Mee, ever. My *diet menu* selection (essentially anything vegetarian, according to Mee) of garlic stir-fried snow peas, Chinese broccoli, straw mushrooms and eggplant over brown rice left little to be desired. Tomorrow, come lunch, that will have changed, as I plan to top every meal w/ an even better one--par for the course in this foodtastic city, no? I pledge to eat six meals daily, in order that I may experience the full range of NYC fare. Mark my word, yo.
I'm going to take more pics in a few here. Rebecca, film director and official #5C dweller, has great taste. Lots of deep dark browns, Asian art prints and photography, overall earthy, organic feel... It's quite soothing. Plus, not only do we have our very own bedroom, but a Futon as well, just waiting for you to take advantage of. Get here!
Oh, so as nice as the digs are, I have one complaint: she's got too much. I mean, the place is by no means cluttered--on the contrary, her closets shelve the nicest, neatest sweater stacks. Cut from the same cloth, that Rebecca and I. BUT, I have my own clothing--and like her, too much of it. It looks as if Pea and I have one closet to share, and well, that simply ain't gonna cut it. Hmm. I am here first...
Same holds true for bathroom misc. While I'm all for Q-tips and shower poofs, I'd rather supply my own, you know? But as it stands now, hers run rampant. As I don't imagine she intended a *what's mine is yours* type of arrangement, thus far I've taken the liberty of stowing some select items of hers beneath the sink.
Dangit, I have a feeling the night's nowhere near over. Hell, I still have to scour the pages of the latest Time Out NY, figure out what tomorrow looks like...
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Glad to hear you made it safe and sound Was thrilled to hear about said futon, won't be long until I will be needing that. Keep the food updates coming! Mmmm...
Oh I well. More to come, prolly tonight. Um, okay, so is that a fire alarm I hear? Gotta go. :)
k-me
FINALLY, you made it to NYC!!!! Enjoy it all. You better make it out to Flanigans.
Yeah, well you'd better tell your sis to be there next time!