If not you, then who?

This phrase was brought to life for me when I was a camp counselor. Our director asked us to be aware of trash around camp an pick it up. He planted the phrase in my brain, if not you, then who? To this day as I walk down the street and see a piece of trash I think of this phrase.

Here in NYC this phrase is alive and well-sometimes for good and sometimes for not. It would be surprising to see people here in the city applying this phrase and actually picking up trash off the sidewalk. The way I see this phrase come to life for me the most though is on my commute. It has come to life for me in a whole new way. I have learned that if I don't assert myself someone else will. If I don't fill in the space on the train or the stairs someone else will. Along the same lines if I don't give up my seat for a child or older person who will.

In summary, step into the gap, make your way around people so you can make the train, give up your seat, and remember you're the WHO.

Street Noise

I live on a busy street in NY and it always has something going on no matter what un-Godly hour is on the clock.  We have enjoyed more than one interesting episode of 80 proof idiocy and even witnessed a few breakups from the bedroom window.

On one lovely evening I was awakened by an enormous amount of shouting only to see six fall down drunk 20 somethings stumbling and yelling outside.  They were making no sense but trying to look cool on their phones. I wish I had their number so I could tell them to keep moving! 

Another night, I had what may have been THE ultimate grumpy New York experience.  It was the middle of the night and one guy was screaming who knows what at a light pole and the second guy leans out of the window and begins screaming obscenities at the first guy for a solid 20 seconds.  This was of course followed by 2-3 other people yelling at the 2nd guy to knock it off.  All of this was happening at around 3AM.

Just a couple nights ago I enjoyed a true display of affection when one guy was daring his girlfriend to run him down with her SUV.  She tried repeatedly but was never able to connect.  While this was disturbing...I am not sure whose team I was on.  

I will close with some sound travel advice.  Get a hotel room as high and as far away from the street as you can.  You want NO part of a low hotel room facing an avenue unless you are hoping to spot some drama.  

Good Luck!!

Three Wide...

No this post is not about how New Yorkers love Nascar.  I am pretty sure they do not have an in the closet obsession with Jeff Gordon.  Three wide in the city is a dead giveaway for tourists as well as really annoying locals.

If you happen to find yourself walking down the sidewalk and you are three wide most likely there is someone behind you plotting your demise.  This city is all about hustle and bustle.  If I can't get by you on the sidewalk, no matter how great of a picture of the Empire State Building you are trying to get, I am not happy.  New York is not a vacation for me and I need to get to work, lunch, or back to the train.  My primary mode of transportation is my feet so I need to go the a bit above the speed limit when possible.

Look, we all slow down to read our phones or look at a store front but just like the road get out of the way if you are going to slow down.  Consider the sidewalk a street, stay in your lane and move with the flow of traffic.  This is LOCALS and tourists and by all means never block the stairs to the subway.  This may get you bumped (shoved) down the stairs by accident.

It should come as no surprise everyone in New York is in a hurry to get somewhere!

I'm Wearin' It!

Today it is nearly 60 degrees in New York City!  Yes, it is early December and no this is not normal. Millions of people are dealing with the problem of what to wear.  Most people in NY have to choose between winter clothes or summer clothes.  There is just not enough closet space to go around.  I went from a closet I could have slept in to a closet that I can't stand in.

Once the winter clothes come out there is no going back.  I never understood this fact fully until you see people wearing huge down filled coats suited for 10 degrees in the middle of a warm day.  Once those coats, sweaters, and hats are out they wear them.  You want to blend in just wear a big coat and headphones no matter what is going on around you!

I am not sure if this is laziness or just the city acknowledging the inevidable!

Dorm Life!

Oh how I love apartment living!  I love being in an apartment building...most of the time.  A few days ago my neighbors decided they wanted to see if they could make themselves deaf.  I was hoping they could get it done sooner than later since it was getting close to my bedtime.

I really felt like I was living in a college dorm all over again.  The big difference was that I did not feel like I could knock on the door with a few beers and hang out.  I instead felt like the old stogy neighbor that just wanted to go to bed.  It is a funny how time can change your view of things.

This particular neighbor has been a frequent offender (OK it was just twice but I need my sleep) of my ears with late loud noise.  I guess it is all a trade off. Instead of having to cut grass and shovel snow we are listening to someone else's music when I should be listening to the sound of my ZZZs.

It is nice to have a concierge in the building that can deal with it when I do not feel like the confrontation. So I have learned that either I need to suck it up and take some drinks over or just get over myself.  In reality, I am sure I will call and complain again but such is life!

Christmas Tree Shopping

I was wondering how people would be able to get their Christmas trees here in the City.  Well, now that we are at the start of the holiday season I have my answer.  Most people are familiar with pulling into the Christmas tree lot and picking out the perfect tree.  Then the attendant loads the tree onto your car and off you go.  As with many things here, we do it a bit different.

In New York there is not any empty land for a tree lot and there are millions of people that do not have cars.  I would love to see a tree tied to the top of a taxi but find that a bit unlikely.  The bus though is an option, we have heard that people will carry their tree on the bus to get it home.

The trees are sold right on the sidewalk.  The seller looks the same as anywhere else in the country.  Having done a bit of research for this post I can verify there seems to be a couple strings of lights and a cute small dog wearing a jacket at nearly every stand you walk by.  The trees are then tied up so that they can be carried back to the apartments throughout the city.  There seem to be lots about every 10 blocks helping to ensure people do not have to carry them too far.

Life here is not always easy but it is always interesting!

A Thanksgiving Tradition in Real Time

For over thirty years we have watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade each and every Thanksgiving. We have talked for years about making the trip to New York to see the parade but just hadn't made the jump to do it. With our move here though we were able to stand in amazement of THE PARADE of all parades.

Thankfully the hardest thing we encountered on our way there was navigating a few closed streets and tolerating the cold while we waited. Our spot was in the middle of Times Square at Duffy Square which provides the tkts red steps. These steps provided a great view of the bands, floats and balloons. 

Kids around us fussed a bit as we waited but come 9:30am their eyes were as big as saucers and they were enthralled.  You could hear kids shout, "Mommy, Mommy here comes the American Guy (aka Uncle Sam)" or "Look, look it's Buzz Lightyear." Their happiest moment though was when Santa rode in on his sleigh.

The biggest surprise came though after the parade ended. We were sure the crowds would be endless and would swallow us up. Instead, we walked down the steps, across 7th Ave and the crowd thinned.  We expected a long wait for a train since 3.5 million people came out to watch the parade. Nope, the station was relatively dead and only a handful of people were waiting on trains. We were amazed and hopped on our train only after a few minutes and were home by noon.

If you have been wanting to come to see the parade yourself, it is worth the trip, just bring warm clothes and some hand warmers for the wait.