Like Speakng a Foreign Langauge

I had recently had a couple of text converstaions with the Greek. We haven't chatted in almost a year & have now had 2 of these conversation in a month. As his last text requested the night before, "Can You Talk?" I decided to call him on my way in to the city. I left a message & figured that'd be it for almost another year. He called on the ride home from the city & we talked. About stuff. He works. A Lot. I told him about the new business & the first thing he asks is how much an hour & can he book four. He has a degree. So I asked him why. He said because he can't hold down a relationship & at least this way he'd have to go out since it's paid for. What? My response to him was "Fine. It'll pay for the Gucci sunglasses I want". He asked if I want to get together. Sure. He then asked if I drink. My resposne to him was that it depends on the company I am going to be keeping. This struck him so funny & it's now that we will go out some night this week--my choice---for drinks & conversation. Already I am wondering why I am getting into this.

Citypass Day 2: "You Ain't Got No Babys?"

Crak & I trekked back in to finish the remaining four sights on our pass that is to expire this Tuesday. We knew it'd be a looooonnnnnggggg day & were (sort of) prepared for it. We met again at 10:30 in our spot at Penn & grabbed that same subway to head right back over the the now shady Intrepid-area. We were taking the Circle Line but couldn't believe that we actually did the Intrepid on the hottest day the other day. We have a PhD & a half between us & not a "lick of sense" at all. We should have done the museums the other day. But no. We made a plan & stuck to it. Maybe our determination is the flaw in our character. But I digress.

We got on line for the Circle Line & stood in the blazing sun. We had a 1/2 hour wait to board the ship & I was taking inventory of the families around us who came much better prepared with food & snacks & coolers of drinks. We had packed our little sandwiches & a bottle of water & I was hungry at 11am so I was not sure how I'd hold out until at least 1:30. Our tour guide, David, was so informative & entertaining. He pointed out the home of Alexander Hamilton & the infamous spot of the duel with him & Burr. We saw the Jersey City developments, the Chelsea Piers, the Statue of Liberty, the Verrazano Bridge, heard all about Tribeca, Chelsea, the Village, Little Italy, China Town, references to 'Gangs of New York' & 'Spiderman', the Brooklyn Bridge (and how it's use of cables make buildings over 6 floors possible), the Manhattan Bridge, & the Williamsburg Bridge. We saw Brooklin & Queens & the old Domino Sugar Factory. It was really a great trip & I recommend it to everyone!

We got off at 1:30 & I was beyond hungry, even though I had eaten my sandwich & chips on the boat. We grabbed another subway & headed over to the MOMA. I have never been interested in seeing this musem. I wasn't now, but it was on the pass & so I was going. It was okay. Smaller than I expected & I never realized that I have passed it dozens of times & just never noticed it. We did see the 'Dada' exhibit & the Andy Warhol famous pieces of Campbells & Marilyn Monroe. I had Crak rolling her eyes when I pointed out that the arrangement of the soup was incorrect. My knowledge from my days of being a Campbells rep. stick with me to this day. We even snuck a few more Jackson Pollock's in there. I can now say yes, I have been to the MOMA.

By this time we were famished & needed to eat. We stopped at some little place called Fluffy's Bakery. I had a broccoli cheese quiche with a small salad on the side. It hit the spot. I'd have preferred the Seattle Cafe again but that was out of our way & we had a schedule to keep.

After dining, we hopped another subway to 81st to the Museum of Natural History. There I got to see the photo exhibit of the 'Yellowstone to Yukon' which was so pretty & makes me want to go west. We also went to the Rose Center & the Hayden Planetarium. There we saw the Big Bang Theory broken down for us & the new movie "Cosmic Collides". So pretty & enertaining & comfy chairs.

Back out to the subway for our final stop. We were going to the top of the Empire State Building. I haven't been up there in like 20 years. We got on a line that was filled with annoying people & waited. And waited. And waited. While waiting to enter the hallway that would take us to the elevator, we had the chance to chat with the young man at the rope. He was the one who let the line in. He asked us a few questions & then showed us a picture of his 2-month old son, Angel. He was such the proud father! Then I told him that he "is so lucky" because that is what I say to anyone with a baby because I want one. He then looked at Crak & me and said "You ain't got no babys, miss?" We both said "No". He said "Oh, you gotta have a baby". Yeah--from your lips to God's ears, Angel's daddy.

This line, however, cracked us up & we held it until we got to the top of the building. It would have been rude to laugh at him when he was so nice.

We walk out onto the observation deck & the first thing we see is King Kong. Yup. Someone in a costume taking pictures with the tourists. I am not a fan of people in costumes. They freak me out. Crak, on the other hand, is terrified. We immediately went the other way to avoid him. I took a look out at the Chrystler Building & then backed way up so that there was space between me & the people across the make-shift aisle to see out. As I am waiting for Crak, I turn to look to my left. However, on my right I hear the odd sound of a footstep that does not belong to a normal person. I whip my head around just in time to see Kong behind Crak. OH NO! I couldn't say her name & he taps her on the shoulder & she looks back & up & the color drains for her face. Oh I felt sooooooooo bad!

We made a beeline in the other direction & finished up at the top. Down we went in the speedy elevators & over to the nearest Starbucks because I was hungry again. We snacked & rested & then made our way back to Penn to hop a train home. This all seems like not much but it took us 12 hours from start to finish. I got on a 9:40am train & arrived back at the station at 9:40pm. That's a lot to do!

Another hot, funfilled, touristy day with Crak. Always a good time.

Don't You Love It When A Song Is Stuck In Your Head For Days? Want One?

I have three songs in my head & they seem to work on rotation. The first is that Panic! At The Disco song I wrote about. Driving me batty. The second one is "Copa Cabana" by, none other than, Barry Manilow. I have no idea why. I don't even remember the last time I heard it but it's there. Over & over & over again. Finally, I saw a birthday card Monday night that is just too cute & it's the "Happy Birthday" song but altered. It has a hippo, a bird, two ewes, and a deer at one point. And, you can just guess what it says: "Hippo Birdie Two Ewe. Hippo Birdie Two Ewe. Hippo Birdie Deer Ewe. Hippo Birdie Two Ewe". Lol~~~I love that!

What The Heck....Is 'Pants Off Dance Off'?!?

Why is Jodi Sweetin the host of "Pants Off Dance Off"? This is some show on fuse that people try out each week to be a stripper. They all get $200 for dancing on tv & taking off all of their clothes. There are the usual scrawny girls who just haven't bought their tickets to Vegas yet. But then there are the larger people....the not-so-pretty people, and the old people. EW! And why is Ms. Sweetin the host? I asked that already but I had to say it again because it's so odd. Tell me you don't know who she is. 'Stephanie' from "Full House". Why why why are people taking off their clothes? Don't we have enough of that on television already?

And~~sorry for the interruption but I am watching 'Friends' & Crau will love this: they are playing "Phoebe Ball" and she just asked Monica 'what is your favorite thing about trees?" And the answer that Phoebe is going for is........?

Okay~~back to tacky tv & stars who ar trying to make some kind of comeback & going about it completely wrong. I can't believe that people will strip for $200! I am not sure why I am surprised by this but I am. What is happening to society? Whoah...loaded question. Chalk this all up to the heat.

Could Someone Please Explain the Meaning of

What in the world does the song "I Write Sins Not Tragedies", from Panic! At The Disco, mean? I looked up the lyrics to see if reading them would help them sink in, but nope. I hear that song constantly. I turn on the radio. It's playing. I change the station to avoid it. It's playing on the next station. I have no idea what they are talking about!! The bridesmaid says to a waiter that the groom's bride is a whore? And then later on the 'groom'(?) says "at least our marriage is saved"? How is it saved if your new wife isn't faithful? And if people at the wedding already know about her affairs (including membes of teh waitstaff) then is there a point? Or is there really no point to this headache called music (holy cow--just aged myself) and it's that whole 'new style...push limits....kurt cobain movement in another direction type of thing?

I don't think I am reading too much into it since I have yet to comprehend it. I had to ask Crak about the reference in Bon Jovi's 'My Life' about Frankie. I had no clue that it's Frank Sinatra. Maybe because I didn't put the "I did it my way" together with the name. Nevermind the fact that I have never heard Frank Sinatra referred to as Frankie. See why I ask these things.

Not A Fan of When

people you haven't heard from in two years drop into your life with an email out of the blue & want to know how things are going. And it's always followed up with "We should get together for a short breakfast or lunch or something". It actually said that. I haven't seen or heard from this person in two years. I went to their wedding, was there for the various festivities, was asked to send a gift when the baby was born, but never got to see the baby in question (I wonder if there really is a baby). Baby is almost three and I get the email of "Well, how are things?" What? How are things? Do you really care or is it that you are so bored & your friends are not available because they don't have children & you are looking for someone who may be free to tell your good fortunes to? Be honest. Because an offer of "short breakfast or lunch" is not really worth my time when it's been over two years. If getting together is that much of a chore but you need it to be long enough to declare how the construction on your new house is going, your job & marriage & vacation & child, then just write it in the stupid email. Don't make me drive out there to meet at a restaurant while someone watches the child in question so I again do not meet the child, don't get to see the spouse I watched you marry, or even get an offer for "lunch" in general. Because the last time we met, it was a "short" deal where you had scheduled to meet another friend for coffee in the afternoon that Saturday right after we were to have lunch. Everything is too cataloged & runs more like a work day filled with meetings rather than a genuine "how are you" session.

City Pass Adventures

Crak had asked me ages ago if I wanted to become a tourist in the city & buy the citypass that offers you a huge savings to see major atractions. For 1/2 the price, you get to see the Guggenheim, the MOMA, the Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid, the Empire State Building, & take a 2-hour cruise on the CircleLine. The catch? It must be used within a 9-day period. That doesn't sound bad, but with conflicting schedules & time-restraints, it isn't easy either.

We agreed to start our adventure yesterday. We met at 10:30 in Penn & had planned on the Guggenheim, the Intrepid, and the Museum of Natural History. What we didn't really plan on was the 110-degree temps we were to battle for the day. I had eaten breakfast but it didn't feel that way to my stomach & I announced my arrival to her with the usual "I'm already hungry" which would plague me all day. We hopped a subway & headed up to 46th st. & then had to come back above ground to walk from 8th Ave to 12th & 48th. UGH~~~the heat! It was inescapable. The minute we walked out of Penn & into the subway area it hit. And was going to get worse. We walked (rather quickly) to the Intrepid & were pretty sticky already & it was barely 11:00.

It wasn't very crowded there & we did everything there was to see. We started with the Growler, a submarine used during WWII. We took the 15-minute tour & climbed through those small porthole doorways, almost cracking our heads on the top. We saw the missiles that were fired from this sub. We giggled all the way through it as well. What made me laugh the most was Crak exclaiming "We were underwater?!" We then headed back to sea-level & over to the exhibit that had the Concorde. I was in awe of this plane & so happy to be able to walk through it. What amazed me the most was how tiny this plane is in person. It was cool to walk up the stairs & be able to walk down the center aisle of the aircraft & see how the "other half" lived for a time.

Oh so hot! We were dripping by this point. Way too hot. And I am not exaggerating. We were soaked. And we were now on our way onto the actual Intrepid Aircraft Carrier. Very cool. We began at the lowest level--the galley. Leave it to us to start where there would have been food. We proceeded up to the midship level & looked at all of the exhibits there & head the history of various planes & military personnel. By the way~~did you know it was George Washington who began the traditional honoring of the Purple Heart? He had it made from a silk-like material & presented the first one in 1781. I was impressed that such a time-honored tradition is so old.

We even made our way up to the flight deck. There we saw the A-6 & one of the retired F-14s. However, this one was painted white with red & blue stripes. The ones I am used to are gray. And it's impressive to say that I saw the last flight (with my brother assisting the aircraft) just over a month ago. And here one is for people to see. So awesome.

EW! SO HOT! We walked out of the exhibit & back towards 50th & 8th. We had to stop along the way for lunch....remember me? Still hungry. We found some little lunch spot called Seattle ...something......and I had a very yummy california wrap & salad on the side. What made me oh so happy was that both had avocado in them. HEAVENLY! We sat & refreshed & breathed in the cool air-conditioned air until it was absolutely pushing the limits of time.

Back out into the scorcher & over to another HOT subway station & work our way to the Guggenheim. That's on 5th & 89th. ???????? Yeah. A completely different section of the city. Needless to say, we were still soaked when we entered but at least it was nice & cool in there. I have never been in this museum before & was so happy to finally see it. However, I am so shocked at how small it really is. I guess when you can get lost in so many of the others in Europe (that Crak & I have gotten lost in) this seemed too easy. We saw that new exhibit for Zada Hadid & I liked a couple of her images and was most impressed with the car she designed.

I was also happy to see the Jackson Pollock exhibit but it baffles me how one man can paint random colored lines & drippings on a page & then have multiple "untitled" ones hanging in a museum. I have a ton of things like that from art classes over the years & they aren't even hanging on my mother's refridgerator.

It was already 2:00 & I had to be home before 5 to meet my family for dinner. We were going out to celebrate my cousin's birthday. Another sweaty & disgusting ride on the subway got us back to Penn at 3:40. This is where Crak & I parted ways. She was headed to the CUNY grad center (so jealous) & I was headed to the nearest Starbucks before I got on my 3:55 train. I had to wait 10 minutes to get a greentea lemonade (worth it though) & then race over to the board & down the stairs with the other lemmings to fight for a seat on the train. I did get one (thankfully) and had a 45 minute ride home. I was so disgusting that I didn't want to sit in my car for fear of ruining the interior with the sweat that was going on. It was beyond gross. And I know this is all very tacky to share & so unlike me, but I am blaming it on the heatstroke I may have suffered.

I had a good time with Crak but we only finihsed two of the three exhibits we wanted to complete. This is a bit of a set-back. However, the woman who sold us the citypasses didn't record the date on the cover so we may be able to break out of that nine-day restriction rule. Good for us! We are hoping to go back in on Friday but with the threat of rain looming in the forcast, we shall see.

I love being a tourist in my own backyard.