New York - 1

Pin It

From Delta Flight DL3 - Seats 39 A, B, & C

Pin It Don’t you just love New York in the fall?

I am not sure if I will or not, but I can only assume that I will do so – after all – I loved it in the summer.

I am composing this post from 30,000 feet aboard a Delta 747, a flight bound for New York City. Duration? 3 ½ hours.

Did you know that Delta offers free wireless on their flights until January?

Yeah, I didn’t know that either.

Last night I commenced packing for this trip; it was about 8:00. As I started deciding which items were essential and vital, I suddenly felt the incessant desire to have my home ready for Christmas for when I got back. You know, to walk in from my trip and to have that warm Christmassy feeling - to have my house be cozy and welcoming.

I retrieved the decorations I’d stored since Christmas in September and began to place these strategically around the house. From my iPod I began a playlist of Christmas jazz.

It was such a good feeling.

I lit a pumpkin spice candle and allowed its scent to permeate my home as I festooned the house with the customary seasonal adornments. Small white lights burned from the tree and the counters, glossing the room with subdued light as the ornaments and decorations filled my living room and kitchen.

I checked the weather outside; the rain that had been falling from the heavens earlier turned into a medley of tumbling snowflakes. I have to admit that at this point there was a distinct feeling of Christmas which seemed to be alive and well in my home.



I stood on the porch and watched the drifting flakes fall from the darkened skies in the light of the streetlamp. I stood there for several minutes breathing in the cold of the evening.

It was invigorating.

I went back in the house and started to pack for my trip, deciding which items would be important, and which would not. I made sure that I had enough underwear and socks to last for seven days…it’s always nice to have clean underwear when you’re away from home.

I thought of New York.

I thought of my brother and my sister-in-law whom I’d be visiting soon.

I smiled.

I awoke early to a gray sky morning. It was cold and dank. I set out for the airport amidst snow, gray clouds, and gutter slush thrown up from other vehicles on the freeway via my good friend, Julie, who’d willingly braved the elements to get me to the airport.

Aren’t good friends amazing?

At the airport I was privy to a full body scan.

Seriously.

I felt like I was a contestant on one of those game shows where the person is allowed into the glass box full of money which blows all about them and they flail all about trying to snag as much as humanly possible (and looking like a complete buffoon as they do so). Only this great glass box looked far more Star Trekian than the one on The Price is Right.

Having passed my shortwave x-ray (which – as you can read here – gave the viewers to the screens an unabashed view of my all) I moved through the concourse to the right gate, arriving 5 minutes before boarding. The deicing of the wings and exterior of the plane added an extra 15 minutes to our ground time, but I didn’t mind. The Sky Mall magazine kept me entertained with items that made me wonder just how in the world I’ve lived my whole life without them: self cleaning dog lawn mats, insect vacuums, giant cupcake molds, and secret pen video cameras.

Totally James Bondian…yeah, all items.

When I found my seat on the plane, it came to pass that the flight was only about ½ of the way full. As a result, I ended up with three seats to myself. I’m currently stretched out leaning against the airplane wall and writing this blog post with a full can of Minute Maid Cranberry Apple Cocktail and a full cup of ice.

Could life possibly get any better?

Yes it can…I’ll be in NY in just a few hours riding the spidery network of subways to get to my brother’s house.

Life, my friends, is good.

P.S. (Funny to say that in a blog post, isn’t it? However, since it means post script, I suppose it’s appropriate). Since I plan to be in New York for a few days, if you live in the area I’d love to meet you. Please click on the Z-Mail link and shoot me a message. If not, I can always entertain myself in the Big Apple…

The Wickedness of Oz

Pin It

When I was a kid, I remembered watching “The Wizard of Oz.” I loved this move. There was something about it that always seemed to take me away to another place…not a place you get to by boat or train. It’s far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain…

Maybe it was also from the fact that The Wizard of Oz only came on once—maybe twice a year that made it so captivating. We’d make popcorn, grab blankets, and settle down on the living room floor to enjoy this tale of a young girl whisked away from all that she knew and loved, to literally go on a whirlwind adventure. In fact, even after we’d recorded it on videocassette, we’d still find ourselves watching it on TV, commercials and all…

What can I say? There was just something about this movie that was captivating.

Now, fast-forward a slew of years to the present time.

This past summer I took a trip to New York for a week to visit my brother and his wife. During that time I had many opportunities to see the sights, and have some great experiences. One of the things I was able to do was to see ‘Wicked’ at the Gershwin Theatre.

Entering this building was magical. I found myself spellbound as I took a seat next to complete strangers whom—after a few minutes—didn’t seem so strange, after all were all there to share a common experience.

At a signal from the conductor, the orchestra struck the first chords of the overture, which hushed the talking of the crowd. The lights dimmed, signifying that the production was about to begin. As the music rose and climaxed, the lights ignited the stage, and I found myself slipping away into a not-so-familiar memory.

The story that was being laid out was not exactly the one that I’d remembered.

I found myself drawn into the exchange between the wicked witch of the west, Elphaba, and Glenda, the good witch of the north. The play began to unfold, telling the story of their unlikely friendship, and their differing points of views on the society known as Oz.

As the play continued, I found that my own perspective was beginning to change. In many ways, it was like that moment when somebody told you additional news that altered your original thought processes toward a particular situation. You found yourself discovering things you were never privy to, simply because you weren’t allowed to know those subtle bits of information which then change everything…suddenly, you found that you understood; you realized why a person did what they did.

It wasn’t long before the witch, who’d previously been one of my least-favorite characters, was rapidly becoming my favorite…and it was all from being allowed to see things from another vantage point; from a precipice from which I’d never before been allowed.

When the production was over, I sat alone in the theatre for a few minutes, sorting out the two stories—one from my childhood, and one from the here and now; both the same, yet with vast differences between them.

Soon, an usher notified me that I’d need to leave as there was another showing, and they were about to begin seating. I stood and made my way to the exit where I found the bustling streets of New York awaiting me.

As I made my way toward Broadway Avenue, I realized that there were certain things in this world that looked different to me now. I would like to think, that in some small way, that I have been changed as well—for good.

And, if you're interested…here is this, and this. However, whatever you do…don't click on this one.

Finally, as for the photos on this page, I sadly only took one of them. The rest were pilfered from the Internet. Of course, it would happen that I couldn't find the reference sheet I'd made so I couldn't tell you exactly where I found them all from. Of course, I could re-look them up, but I'm lazy...

While in NY

Pin It While I was in The Big Apple, I knew that I’d only be there for a week; yet there was far too much for one pair of enthusiastic eyes to see in that limited timeframe. While one might argue that there was plenty to be viewed in the expected touristy places like Ellis Island, The Empire State Building, as well as a melee of places situated in and around Broadway, this was simply not enough—I wanted to see it all.

In the city, the subway is a quick transit from one locale to another—a spidery network linking the city in an underground circuit of tunnels; however, in riding the underground I was missing out on far too much of what could be seen on the surface. There was only one way to combat this miry predicament, and that was to travel by foot as much as possible, by which I would be able to bathe myself in the sights and sounds which would be happening all around me.

Walk I did, seeing old cathedrals and beautiful architecture



I saw John Lennon’s “Imagine” and strawberry fields in Central Park, along with the fountain from Enchanted though, admittedly, that last one was because I’d gotten lost—I hadn’t been searching for it.



I discovered the hidden location of The Shop Around the Corner from You’ve Got Mail which, consequently, was a cheese and antique shop which had closed a few months before, so instead of taking a photo of the grimy windows and darkened interior, I instead dug up a photo online of when it was still in its glory days. (image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlposse/2935474398/)

I headed to Grey’s Papaya for a dog and guava—the place where Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks’ characters partook of a paltry meal after their ‘friendship’ had been formed near the end of the movie.



I even discovered the locale where their paths crossed at the beginning of the film when that song by The Cranberries is playing while the beginning credits are still flashing intermittently here and there on the screen (which, consequently, was only across the street from Grey’s Papaya).

I walked to a trove of other sites from movies including those from Buddy, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Legend, and Ghostbusters. After all, who can visit New York and not take the time to see the infamous firehouse headquarters—who you gonna call? I did try to gain access to the building—I’d loved to have tried the fire pole, but it was locked and a keypad door was the only way into the building. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a code.

Curses.

I walked the flower district, and through various marketplaces; I even found the restaurant storefront used for the taping of Seinfeld.

Brilliant.

Taking to the streets was a great solution, and good friend back home served as tour guide via the Internet, utilizing Mapquest, Google Earth, and various search engines and web pages; together we spent several days combing the city and finding these hidden treasures. However, these treasures did not come without a price on my end; the problem was that I’d completely destroyed the arch supports in my shoes, they having not been constructed for the serious wear and tear I’d been putting them through the past few days—after all, there had just so much to see.

I felt like I was going to die. My feet were aching and my back felt like that of a seventy year-old man.

I was spent.

I called my tour guide and asked directions for one more destination. This one, a bit more off of the beaten path; my friend did not let me down. It wasn’t long before I found myself slipping through the gate of Manhattan’s smallest park—completely alone. Strangers shuffled past the gated entrance, but hardly anyone seemed to notice the existence to my own private sanctuary. I moved to one of the paint-peeled benches and eased my weight off of my burning feet. I opened my water bottle and allowed the cool water, like liquid silver, to run down my parched throat.

The sounds of the city were muffled as I sat alone, slipping into my headphones and allowing myself a moment or two of solace. After being amidst the crushing deluge of people for so long, it was nice to be secreted away—to be a single entity once more. I felt that this park had been constructed solely for me and for me alone.

I allowed the images of my earlier days’ adventures to rise to the surface of memory as the sounds of Sliding Down cascaded all around me, wrapping me in a familiar blanket of remembrance.


I don’t know how long it was that I sat there, but no one came. For as long as I was there, the park was mine.

This was yet another beloved moment of my trip to New York, and one I will not soon forget.

It soon came time to head to the subway. I was to meet up with my brother and sister-in-law. Tonight was to be the night we headed out for Indian food.

As I left the park I closed the gate behind me, looked back at my dear, new friend, and smiled.

New York - The Museums

Pin It While I was in New York I had the opportunity to visit three different museums.

I had planned on writing a blog full of the words I’ve come to love to use, but it’s already much too late this evening; therefore, I’ll instead let the images speak for themselves.

Goodnight.