Its Hows-ton Street Not Houston

Heading back to BK I noticed a cute guy and his mom fresh off the train. He had his phone out in GPS stance and they both shared that quintessential “Where in the Hell are we now?” look. I took one step down into the depot before stopping, turning around, then walking towards them and pulling one of my earphones out.

“Where are you headed?” I asked with a polite smile. Absolutely love that look of surprise mixed in with relief. “How do you go East on 14th?” There are a few ways to tell but it gets too involved. Instead I just pointed then asked, “You're sure? The bulk of the city is that way.” as I pointed West. Quick check on the phone and I got nods, so I was back on my way home feeling all Samaritan-y.

Don't really do it to be helpful though. For whatever reason I still find it novel that I can give directions in downtown New York. In utter defiance of my rural Utah upbringing. *lol*

One of New York's Lights Went Out

Zelda Caplan died yesterday. She was one of the iconic people I first thought of when moving to New York. Though tragic the setting was cosmically perfect… front row of a show in the middle of fashion week. I still laugh thinking about her Old Navy commercials.

The Proverbial Calm

There's been some rain but mostly today it's overcast but bright out. Currently some birds are singing. Hard to believe what's just south of me.

The reporters out on the front lines are pretty brave. Most are being fairly objective considering. There's still that line between warning http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifand sensationalization. One reporter in Virginia Beach got tongue-tied which this flasher made a well-timed appearance in…


The worst for me will be tomorrow morning. See how long the power holds out…

Irene, She is a Comin!

Periodically checking in on CNN's live report and taking in the ExxonMobil advertisements. I guess it's been a decade since Bob visited so there's some anxiety in the air. Local supermarket was packed and most of the gallon+ water containers were gone. Buses and trains shut down tomorrow at noon with taxis going until the Mayor says stop.

Have most of the basic supplies lined up. Found the local hurricane information online. Looks like the area evacuation center is a high school a few blocks away. I'm pretty far into north Brooklyn so I don't expect much, thankfully. Apparently some of the high risk areas have mandatory evacuations declared.

Currently the storm is a Category 2 though it's expected to be a Category 1 once it makes landfall south of the state. See what happens in the next twenty-four hours.

Should check on some of the fundamentalists. I'm willing to bet they attribute the earthquake earlier this week and the Irene's impending visit to the Marriage Equality Act…

Umbrella

This isn't snow, it's rain! Nature fails.

Hint Hint!

On the side of a bus: Your roommate is dating the flu.

Missed

On the train today four French-speaking tourists got on and sat nearby. I love listening to French… nothing like native speakers to remind me how poorly I speak it. They were rattling on as if no one around could understand them—mostly true. They were annoyed with the weather and hoping to find Times Square. I almost spoke up.

Unfortunately I remember the polite but pained expressions of my friends from Lausanne when I butchered their language. Plus the guy sitting next to me was way too cute (dark features with pale blue eyes!!). So I sat there with a bemused expression on my face while picking out snatches of meaning from their prattle.

My courage finally peaked a few seconds after I got off the train. *sigh* Won't let that happen again! Next time, cute or not, I will frighten tourists with my boldness and poor ability to communicate.

Not Exactly a PSA

Walking around in Chelsea I saw a three ads for ManHunt today and the third made me laugh. Someone had written “Cock Commando” atop the ripped Latin guy who was holding up his shirt, showing off impossible abs. I found the homophobic inscription amusingly redundant—like saying Soccer is gay.

It's funny these ads were posted at all. Like any gay man in Manhattan needs to be reminded that ManHunt is out there. And we all know hooking up with that poster boy would involve money and/or an STD. Love this city.

Missed Snapshot

Getting off at 6th Ave stop on the L line I noticed an HRC bumper sticker had been stuck to the ground next to some benches. For whatever reason, that really struck me. That the events, fanfare and Parade from the weekend were done yet continued to have an effect. Almost stopped to take a shot with my iPhone but the lighting was horrible. And the image I wanted to capture wouldn't have been possible to frame with all the people anyway. Still… a good moment.

Falling On My Head Like a Memory

Funny how poorly New Yorkers deal with rain.

I remember being in Trader Joe's one rainy day where the line was one tenth what it normally is. The cashier said that most people stay out of inclement weather. Since I enjoy being out in it I hadn't made the connection. Yet I see it everywhere now.

Vitesse!

The pace of this city still surprises me. Was reading an interview with Renzo Rosso, owner of Diesel, last month where he was talking about shaking things up. The next day I noticed his new ads on bill boards, sides of busses, et cetera. Yet walking around last week they were all gone. The only place I saw them was at the actual store on 14th. Crazy.

Get Out

I was heading downstairs to the machines after some cardio when a knot of oldsters made me take a hard right through equipment. Thought it was odd since the classes were usually upstairs. Was adjusting the lat machine when a Bally person came up to me. I pulled my earplugs out to hear her say they were evacuating the bottom floor. Then I could smell the smoke.

Upstairs I could see the fire truck so I went up to the doors. A yellow police ribbon started at the corner of the building and encompassed the Radio Shack next door. Then there was a fuchsia HazMat ribbon around the man hole cover where smoke was coming out. Nice.

Was surveying one or two of the fit guys waiting beside me when they announced the whole building was being evacuated. I had my wallet on me but my coat and keys were in the locker room downstairs. I went up to the reception desk asking if I could retrieve them, rushing down after getting a nod. There were a bunch of men still in there changing but I didn't feel like trying.

So the day after the biggest blizzard I've seen in a couple of years I'm walking around downtown, sweaty, nasty, and in gym clothes. Didn't feel self-conscious at all. Love this city!

Blending In

Was crossing the street to a Starbucks when a slow-ass rickshaw almost ran me over. After it passed there was a flood of people coming at me so I puffed up and charged forward. It's really hard to miss me so the first three people gave way. Then some couple holding hands decide to continue their hand-lock despite me slicing directly between them with no where else to go. Now separated I hear the bitch call after me, something like, "Thanks a lot, moron." I don't acknowledge it outwardly, but inwardly I'm thinking, "Take your lovers shit somewhere else. Welcome to the streets of New York."

Definitely more comfortable here now.