Tussle

On the eve of my one year anniversary in NYC, I am reminded that I shouldn't get too comfy...

This is the story of how I got into a "tussle" with a guy taller and wider than I am @ my subway stop.

Before I swiped my card I saw he was coming down the stairs but knew I had plenty of time to swipe and go thru, plus there were other open exits. So I look down to swipe my card and there he was. I was going in and he was trying to force his way out. I told him I needed to get thru because I had swiped and then he insisted HE needed to go thru and then there was the power play which I wasn't gonna win and I said "God Damn You" and he finally shoved thru and said "Fuck You" to which I dittoed him and then he laughed his Jabba The Hutt laugh because he is such a man that he pushed past a woman smaller than him and left her tangled in the spinner.

I detangled and I had to get the booth person to let me thru the door since I'd wasted my swipe. AFTER all that the MTA person who apparently witnessed it all asked if I was alright. I told him I was just pissed off and thought - thanks for having my back! Sheesh.

And guess what?! I had been talking to my mom on the phone and completely forgot she was on the line until afterwards so she heard it all! She totally disapproves of the "f-word" used but later commented in an email that my bro can just get behind me when he visits the Big Apple because I know how to take care of myself - I'm my grandpa's granddaughter. ;) And boy was my adrenaline running!

After I got in the city the Cosmos must have wanted to balance my day as the Starbucks worker made a Grande instead of Tall for me (but I did pay for the Tall) and a stranger sharing the elevator w/ me @ work said - Have a good day Dear - have a good weekend! So simple, but it made me feel better! :)

What a city! ;)

Angels in Progress Reading - 1

Naked Angels is a great production development program that offers readings every month and on occasion puts on a program called "Angels in Progress" in which readings of plays are performed by celebrities. The best part? It's free to the public! (Donors make this possible - and a list of donors revealed that Steven Weber is one of them.) So, I went to the first of a few I made reservations for tonight. Here was the line up-


Prix-Fixe by Jon Robin Baitz

Directed by Trip Cullman

A delicious tasting menu of four courses prepared by Jon Robin Baitz.

Amuse Bouche: My Beautiful Goddamn City

Appetizer: Shuddering to Think

Entree: Coq Au Vin

Dessert: It Changes Every Year

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Keith Nobbs, Henry Stram, Fred Weller, Didi O'Connell and Blythe Danner

Danner struck me as someone that would be great to work w/. Very supportive and giving as an actress. Wasn't sure what was going on w/ Broderick as he seemed to have a bit ADD as he kept looking out into the audience - maybe there was someone there he knew? He just seemed distracted. One one-act had him act & cluck like a chicken...that was interesting.... ;)

For the most part, each actor had their turn at reading stage directions and it annoyed me that some very obviously didn't think much of the duty. I know it's not a character but it's still a very important element of the show - especially a reading. If the words are mumbled or tripped over it kind of ruins the rest of the elements.

The one-acts themselves were an interesting assortment. From actors portraying a chicken couple about to get slaughtered to Mother's Day being celebrated w/a twist (the Mother's were celebrating w/their child's partner, not their child).

I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more!

On my way back I transferred at Bryant Park and they were showing the Yankees game on the big screen. I tried to get in on some of the giveaways prior to going to the reading but was too early and now all the giveaways were over. I heard the announcer say - Maybe it's time for Joba.

As I continued on to the subway @ Times Square I narrowly missed a bum spitting on the ground and having it land on my shoe. Ahhh, New York! ;)

Before I go...

Today, "leisure" was the key word. Although incredibly sore, my friend was somewhat glad to have someone there to get her up and moving as laying in bed for the day sounded like a pretty good idea.! ;)

We headed out for brunch at a place my friend highly recommended only to discover that they apparently had a management change as it took 10 minutes to get water once we were sat (that even took awhile) and 30 minutes to get our food in which part of it was cold and some parts were missing completely. A family sitting near us had to hunt down their own flatware and another group that was waiting and waiting just to get their beverages finally left. (I think it would have been different had the wait staff actually been acknowledging those that were waiting but they were just ignoring.) It wasn't until my friend got up and complained to the manager that they finally decided to help - by then though we decided leaving was better and had breakfast at A.B.P. instead.

The Boston Museum of Fine Arts had free admission so we explored that before I had to head back to NYC. Parts were closed but I still saw plenty. The Egyptian display is fascinating as are the extra tidbits they post w/ the painting info. Isabella and the Pot of Basil and Watson and the Shark really struck me. I found it interesting that a painting of the Battle of Bunkerhill was not started until years after the painter had witnessed it - so it was very much open to artistic interpretation... The "giant baby head" statues in front of the museum (you can see one on the right hand side of the pic) were modeled after the artist's grandchildren. Nice thought but still kind of weird...

Run, Sarah, Run!

Rise and Shine and time to head out for the big run.

The check-in area was inside Seaport World Trade Center and the race started just outside the building. Lots of vendors were set up and the environment was nothing I'd experienced before. As my friend stretched and warmed up (and I became "Official guard o' stuff" ;)) I went over the various new running terms/things I learned from my friend and took note of what others were saying around me...

- Goo:a pouch of sugar, well, goo. Runners sometimes wear the pouch of goo hooked to their shirt by a safety pin so they can just jerk on it and it's immediately ripped open to gulp and get an extra kick. Many times, it is at one of the "rest stops" where water and the like are handed out during the marathon.

- Tiny sensors are tied to the runner's shoes to accurately monitor the runner's time and to see if they are keeping on course or not...so much for a cab ride! ;)

- Although many people train with ipods/mp3s in their ears it is highly recommended that runners DON'T have music in their ears when they run a marathon so they are fully alert in case of non-alert drivers that veer onto the route, etc. I noticed that some chose to ignore that rule - my friend managed to make a friend during the route so they were able to talk and cheer each other on to pass the time...

- Something I heard one runner say to another, "Just try to get yourself in another world for 7 miles."

- One guy was wearing a Shamrock Hat and I wondered how long that would stay on during the run...

As I continued pondering and observing, I had my friend take a pic of me and how I prepared for her race... lol.

Time to line up - thankfully for us "stuff holders" there was a Dunkin Donuts right in line with the start line so we could watch while waiting for breakfast! ;)

As the time came closer to my friend's predicted arrival I stood poised with my camera and a few of her Boston friends arrived just in time to see her finish!

The adrenaline lasted for a bit, after she cooled down and related her experience to all that were present, we headed to her place so she could clean up and we could get a meal. When we were on our way again she became more and more aware just how much the unexpected sunnier than usual day had affected her. We had lunch in Central Square outside (our food was brought out and sat in the "waiters station"long enough for us to worry whether a hovering homeless person's cigarette ashes were going to become part of our meal...ulky) and then we walked near Harvard Square upon which we started a search for A.C., ice cream and shoes that wouldn't cause sores on my heel - go figure, I wasn't even the one that ran!

We found A.C. and ice cream, well, sorbet... at Finale and my friend told the waiter to keep the water coming! Their desserts were beautiful and they have an overhead mirror set up in the prep area so you can watch them putting it together, too.

After a quick stop for flip flops we headed home so the runner could recharge.

Later in the evening, it was time to refuel again so we met more of my friend's Boston friends at Asgard where I got a beer as big as my head and my friend had a celebratory drink...or two. ;)

Return to Boston

Back in Boston for Memorial Day weekend and to cheer on my friend who is running her first half marathon tomorrow.

This time around, the weather made it much easier to enjoy the outdoors there! I arrived early in the afternoon, so we grabbed some lunch (pic is of me trying a Middle Eastern Beer, Alamaza, recommended by my friend) and then walked over to see what we could see @ Earth Fest.

On the way there we passed MIT and another pic opp stop.

When we got to the festival Cracker was on stage and LOTS of people were watching. There were various booths around promoting various things - Like "Don't Mess w/ the Zohan". My friend posed by the standee of Zohan and people were in line for free haircuts (not by Zohan). They were also giving away movie postcards/posters.

Lots of food samples like free mini bags of Puffins cereal and the Whole Foods tent was giving away cans of corn!

The intent was to stick around until Cake hit the stage but the crowd got to us so we journeyed on and took a break at a little coffee shop (non-Starbucks) and then after more various pic opps (including the Paul Revere statue and a shirt we found on display in a window that every Bo. Sox fan owns or wants to...) we eventually wound our way over to Little Italy (Villa Francesca) where Sarah carbed up for her run and I carbed up to cheer her on - teehee.

All too soon it was time to call it a day so the runner could get her zzzzzzzzzzz's....although, since it was her first run it proved to be more difficult than planned - too excited!