November on the Subway

11/27 It’s just starting to get really cold here. This morning as I was coming up from the still-warm subway tunnels, and there were three tiny sparrows sitting on the steps, no doubt warming themselves. It was so sweet and wonderful to see them.
11/13 There was a group of young teenaged girls on my train today talking and laughing fairly loudly. It was nice to have pleasant chattering and laughing in the morning – though it’s such a different world from when I was coming up. They were talking about all the normal who-likes-whos but alot of their friends are openly bi and lesbian. Surprising, but good.

In passing…

11/05 So the New York Times has been publishing a series of articles about sleep, one of them being a study of nightmares and how they are an important way for the mind to settle out the fears and troubles of the waking world. This inspired me to take up a dream journal again – I’m on quite an internal journey of late and this seemed like a great way to proceed. So the other night I settled down with a notebook and pencil nearby and prepared my psyche to dream-out whatever negative things it might be holding in. And that night I had a really hot dream about making out with Brad Pitt – a surprise and a treat let me tell ya! Who knew those were the sorts of things my psyche was hiding from me. God bless you New York Times. God bless you.

October on the Subway

10/31 There weren’t any costumes on the subway today. There was a shirtless, amazingly hot gladiator walking down 23rd St. though. Good way to start the day! It’s funny how in a city where you see pretty much everything, even on a day of costumes, a shirtless hot guy – especially in a cape – still guarantees a second glance.

10/30 Today on the subway the L trains were running at capacity and I had to let the first train to my stop go by. When the next one came I really felt like I needed to get on or I’d be late to work. A few people managed to squeeze into the car – I actually had my leg in the train and hoped there would be some shifting and I could make it on. A woman in the doorway said out loud but to me “Too full. No room. Sorry.” etc. etc. People settled in and seeing there wasn’t going to be any space I stood back and the train generally got ready to leave. Suddenly a man appeared at the door I was in front of, took one look, and SHOVED his way into the car despite the “No rooms!” etc. from the vocal woman. She was so mad! She huffed and puffed and sort of thrashed her way away from the man and actually out of the train onto the platform! The man totally didn’t react. No one moved for a moment – I was stunned that she gave up her spot. Then I realized that even though the number of people on the train hadn’t changed, without the woman in the door there was room for me to get on! So I did. It was good stuff – I think I’m in love with that guy.

10/26 There was a kid listening to heavy metal VERY loudly today on the subway. Kid blasting heavy metal + sense that no one’s really watching him = air guitar. (=AWESOME.)

10/19 Today on the subway: Anthony Soprano look-alike on one train, actual actor that played Finn on the next.

10/18 Today on the subway I saw a man who had on a nice dress shirt, slacks, decent shoes – who wasn’t carrying ANYTHING else: no jacket, no satchel, no iPod, no newspaper even. It seemed so strange to me and looking around, he really was an anomaly – everyone puts on some sort of armor to go out into the city.

10/8 Today on the subway there were two young guys engrossed in a lively conversation when I got on the train. After about five minutes of chatting they went quiet and put on their iPods. Finally, as we pulled into a stop in the city they turned to each other and without taking out their earphones or saying anything or seemingly giving any sign at all, gave each other a fist pound and one got off the train. It made me laugh happily – I hope I have a friend like that one day.

September on the Subway

9/26 Today on the subway there were no delays, there was room to stand, and all my trains ran on time. I read The Stranger on the way and listened to Thom Yorke. 100% good.

9/25 Today on the subway I was sort of crammed in front of the doors. The train pulled into a station and the doors opened for the normal span of time, then as they closed a man and a large woman get up and hurriedly try to push their way out onto the platform. The guy starts sticking his arm in the closing doors, stalling them but not getting them to open. Finally the doors open and the tense, waiting couple attempt to rush out of the train, the woman using poor, tiny, unsuspecting me as a springboard to push off from! I wish you could’ve felt her giant, strong forearm braced and pushing off from me – it was so exaggerated it was genuinely hilarious and I laughed pretty much the whole way into work.

9/24 Today on the subway I saw a married couple I have noticed a few times before. They seem so happy and contented together. I hope I see them again.

9/22 Today on the subway I had my headphones on but slowly realized that the woman across from me was reading a book aloud. All of the people around us were acting as though they didn’t notice. She read right through yawns and sniffles as though she didn’t want to break the rhythm of her reading for her audience. It made me giggle – it felt very typically NYC.

9/21 Today on the subway there was a woman in a full burqa – no eye slits, full head and body
covering, and gloves. I had never seen one that covered so much.

9/20 Today on the subway someone had a Boston Terrier in a bag right at eye level with me. It was a bit surreal to turn around and be looking directly into such a strange, non-human face.

9/19 Today on the subway there was an incident on a train farther down my line and our train was was held still for maybe 15 minutes. The train we were waiting for had to be released by the police before we could go on.

9/18 Today on the subway a man was STARING at me. It took him forever to look away even after I’d made the obligatory I-can-feel-you-staring-look-away eye contact twice. He was also muttering under his breath.

9/17 Today on the subway there was a young man dressed in a very nice suit as though going to a job interview. He was blasting some California-rock-sounding band so loud I could hear the music through his headphones. It made me happy – I hope his day went well.

9/14 Today on the subway I think the man next to me smelled my hair.

9/12 Today on the subway the L was late and we were jammed in – it was the tightest I’ve ever seen a train. There was a woman speaking in a very loud voice in what I think was Swedish. Her voice was piercing in the otherwise silent, packed car.

9/11 Today on the subway a man was bleeding from his head.

It’s the Little Things

1.) I love it when the scissors catch so that you can cut a big piece of paper in one stroke.

2.) When dogs chomp away at a big spoonful of peanut butter for an excessively long time.

3.) I love it when the air is warm and the wind just starts to get that crispness that tells you autumn is coming. It makes me excited for the changing seasons and autumn in New York.

4.) I love coming home after being away for a few days and opening my door and getting a big whiff of me – my laundry, my things, my space. It’s so comforting.

5.) I love seeing the moon during the daytime.

6.) Finding money in my clothes!

7.) I love watching a large flock of birds fly in patterns.

8.)When the moon creates a wide, bright reflection on the water – I bet it’s good luck to swim in that.

A List.

Hypotenuse. Ignominious. Colossal. Lavishes. Onomatopoetic. Sibilance. Mammoth. Sobriquet. Lasivious. Ennui. Obsequious. Plebian. Blase. Quixotic. Prosaic. Atrophy. Egregious. Fricasee. Pachydermatoid. Loquacious. Hyperbole. Triumverate. Zaftig. Archipelago. Mellifluous. Emollient. Rechauffe. Sesqipedalion. Commodious. Hasp. Indefatiguable. Hyperbole. Triumverate. Zaftig. Archipelago. Mellifluous.